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Category: housing

  • MIL-Evening Report: Late counting continues in several seats, with Goldstein and Melbourne among those too close to call

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne

    With 78% of enrolled voters counted, the ABC is calling 85 of the 150 House of Representatives seats for Labor, 39 for the Coalition, zero for the Greens and 10 for all Others, with 16 still undecided. The Poll Bludger has Labor ahead in 94 seats, the Coalition in 41, the Greens in one and all Others in 14.

    Undecided seats can be sorted into several categories. In some seats, the Australian Electoral Commission selected the incorrect final two candidates, and is slowly redoing this count with the correct two candidates. From the small number of votes that have been realigned, the ABC has estimates of what the two candidate vote will be when all current votes in that seat are realigned.

    This category applies to Greens leader Adam Bandt’s Melbourne, and he’s currently estimated to be trailing Labor’s Sarah Witty by an estimated 2,896 votes. The ABC says the sample of votes counted so far may be skewed against Bandt.

    Other seats in this category are Labor-held Fremantle, where a teal is estimated to be ahead by just 196 votes, Labor-held Bendigo (Nationals lead Labor by an estimated 1,285 votes) and Labor-held Bean (an independent leads Labor by an estimated 206 votes).

    This election was a disaster for the Coalition, yet they are likely to gain Bendigo, which Labor won by 61.2–38.8 at the 2022 election.

    Bradfield, Goldstein and Kooyong are teal independent vs Liberal contests. The Liberals have surged on postals in all three, and Liberal Tim Wilson will regain Goldstein if the remaining postals behave like current postals. The teals look better in Bradfield and Kooyong.

    Bullwinkel, Menzies and Longman are standard two-party contests. Labor should win Menzies, and is more likely than not to win the other two, once left-leaning absent votes start being counted.

    Calwell is currently undecided because both major parties’ primary votes slumped. It’s possible that an independent could win from third or fourth by getting ahead of the Liberals then using their preferences to beat Labor.

    In Monash and Flinders, the Liberals are beating Labor, but a teal independent is close behind Labor and may move ahead of Labor after preferences from the Greens and other minor candidates. The Liberals will probably defeat the teal if these are the final two.

    Ryan and Wills are Labor vs Greens contests. In Ryan, the contest is to finish second, then beat the Liberal National Party on the other left party’s preferences. The Greens are just ahead of Labor in Ryan at the moment. Wills is a standard two-candidate contest that Labor is currently winning comfortably.

    We won’t have a national two-party result for some time

    Current national primary votes are 34.8% Labor (up 2.2% since 2022), 32.1% Coalition (down 3.6%), 11.8% Greens (down 0.4%), 6.2% One Nation (up 1.3%), 1.9% Trumpet of Patriots (down 2.3% on United Australia Pary’s 2022 vote), 7.6% independents (up 2.3%) and 5.6% others (up 0.5%).

    The Coalition does best and the Greens do worst on early postals, which have been added since election night. Absent votes need to be posted back to their home electorate before they can be counted. On these votes, the Greens do best and the Coalition does the worst.

    As the major parties’ primary votes are low, there are many seats where Labor and Coalition candidates will not be the final two. There are currently 28 “non-classic” seats, where one of the major parties did not make the final two.

    The electoral commission’s first priority is to determine which candidate has won every seat. Once this is finished, they will conduct a second count in all non-classic seats between the Labor and Coalition candidates. When all such counts are completed, we will have a final official two-party result, but this won’t happen for at least a few weeks.

    The ABC’s current estimate for the two-party vote is a Labor win by 55.0–45.0, while The Poll Bludger estimates a Labor win by 54.1–45.9. The electoral commission’s current figure of 54.7–45.3 to Labor excludes all non-classic seats.

    Adrian Beaumont does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Late counting continues in several seats, with Goldstein and Melbourne among those too close to call – https://theconversation.com/late-counting-continues-in-several-seats-with-goldstein-and-melbourne-among-those-too-close-to-call-255868

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ambitious Fleet Decarbonisation Strategy approved by Councillors

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    The Climate Change and Sustainability Committee considered the local authority’s Fleet Decarbonisation Strategy.

    The Council has already slashed carbon emissions by switching 18 of its refuse vehicles to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil rather than diesel – delivering an estimated annual reduction in CO2 emissions of 500 tonnes.

    Now the Council is looking to build on this success by using new technologies to further reduce the emissions from its vehicles.

    The Fleet Decarbonisation Strategy states a mixed model of decarbonisation will be required, with HVO and diesel used until advances in technology increase the range of electric vehicles,or enable hydrogen to be used as a viable and affordable fuel source.

    Refuse Collection Vehicles (RCVs) based at outlying depots in Blairgowrie, Crieff, Kinross, and Pitlochry will transition to using HVO fuel by June 2025, potentially saving 725 tonnes of CO2 per annum.

    The report also sets out the need to invest in additional charging points to support the transformation of the council’s fleet of small vehicles – cars and vans under 3.5 tonnes – to electric vehicles.

    Councillor Richard Watters, convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s Climate Change and Sustainability Committee, said: “The Scottish Government has set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the next five years and reaching net zero by 2045.

    “Cars, vans and lorries all produce greenhouse gases, so it is vital we take steps to reduce these emissions.

    “There is already fantastic work underway in Perth and Kinross with many of our bin lorries now running on HVO instead of diesel. Although this is a more expensive fuel, it is already significant reducing our CO2 emissions.

    “Expanding this scheme, and remaining alert to other new technologies will help us meet our net zero targets and reduce pollution in Perth and Kinross. This is not something that will happen overnight, but it is crucial we set out a roadmap on how we reach that destination.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Greens unveil plan to end rip-off rents

    Source: Scottish Greens

    05 May 2025 Housing

    Housing is for living in, not for grotesque profiteering.

    More in Housing

    Scotland needs robust rent controls that will save renters money, say the Scottish Greens who have published plans to end rip-off rents with their proposals in the upcoming Housing (Scotland) Bill.

    Independent analysis from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre shows that renters in a two bedroom flat would have saved at least £1000 per year if the model proposed by the Greens had been in place since 2019. It shows that someone renting a two-bedroom property in Lothian would now be at least £272 a month better off.

    Amendments lodged by the Scottish Greens would mean that rent will increase no more than the cost-of-living or increases in wages. And for those areas where rents are already too high, Councils could put in place lower increases, freezes or rent reductions.

    Along with proposals to end winter evictions, allowing tenants to withhold rent for poor quality properties, and to force absentee landlords to sell derelict properties for housing, Greens are working to ensure that everyone has a warm, safe and affordable home.

    Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman said:

    “Nobody should be put in a position where the lion’s share of their income is being spent on paying rent, leaving them with very little left to pay for food, heating and electricity bills, or to simply enjoy their lives.

    “All parties agree that we are in a housing emergency, but we need to start acting like it. The proposals we have published will ensure a robust system of rent controls that will support tenants and end rip off rents.

    “Our proposals would give stability to households and families on the frontline of the crisis, and make sure rents are fairer across the board going forward.

    “By tying rents to average earnings, we are establishing an important principle that rents should not rise faster than renters’ ability to pay.

    “Homes are for living in, not for grotesque profiteering. The Housing Bill was introduced by the Scottish Greens. It gives us the opportunity to transform the broken housing market and protect renters all across our country.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: To safeguard human rights we must protect civic space and the right to peaceful assembly, OSCE leaders say

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: To safeguard human rights we must protect civic space and the right to peaceful assembly, OSCE leaders say

    Youth protesting (Shutterstock/Eugenio Marongiu)

    VIENNA, 5 May 2025 – A vibrant civic space in which everyone contributes to public and political life is increasingly challenged by growing threats to freedom of peaceful assembly and severe challenges faced by human rights defenders through discreditation, criminalization, and direct attacks, OSCE leaders said as a two-day conference began today. 
    Almost 300 participants from across the OSCE region registered for the meeting in Vienna, which brings together representatives of OSCE states, international organizations, civil society and human rights defenders to discuss current trends and challenges as well as good practices and lessons learnt in ensuring respect for the freedom of peaceful assembly and the protection of human rights defenders.
    “Human rights defenders speak out for those who are most vulnerable, under attack, or unable to speak for themselves. They do this despite the risks to their lives and personal safety,” said Ambassador Vesa Häkkinen, Finland’s Permanent Representative to the OSCE and Chair of the Permanent Council. “In this tense security environment, independent and steadfast work for democracy and human rights is especially needed, and it is important that the OSCE provides space for civil society to speak up and be heard.”
    While the work of human rights defenders and full enjoyment of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly are widely recognized as essential in a democratic society, practice shows that civic space is shrinking in numerous countries across the OSCE region. Human rights defenders face serious challenges to their work and their personal safety, both those working in their home countries and those in exile. At the same time, restrictions to freedom of peaceful assembly are increasing, and authorities fail to recognize or safeguard this fundamental right.
    “Ensuring respect for every individual’s right to freedom of peaceful assembly is a commitment made by all OSCE countries,” said ODIHR Director Maria Telalian. “And yet the growing restrictions on peaceful protests are a visible trend across the region, while civil society and human rights defenders face numerous and increasing obstacles in carrying out their important work.”
    For too many human rights defenders, intimidation and sometimes physical violence are an everyday occurrence. The number of so‑called “foreign agent” laws, both in force and in the making, has surged in the OSCE region, adding to the discreditation and stigmatization of human rights defenders, and putting them at further risk. Human rights defenders are increasingly finding themselves and their activities criminalized and censored and their rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association unlawfully restricted, massively impacting their ability to work.
    Key topics of the discussions will therefore be to explore effective ways of safeguarding civic space for the future, how to strengthen respect for the rights of peaceful protestors, independent monitors of assemblies, and human rights defenders, as well as how to better respond to the challenges they face in their work and how to strengthen support and protection of human rights defenders in practice.
    Freedom of peaceful assembly is a cornerstone of democratic societies and a fundamental human freedom, which OSCE participating States have committed to guarantee without discrimination. The right to defend human rights is also firmly anchored in the commitments made by all OSCE states to uphold democratic principles, including the right of every individual to seek assistance and assist others in defending human rights, and the need to protect human rights defenders and their important work.
    Supplementary Human Dimension Meetings are a platform for the OSCE’s participating States and OSCE institutions, as well as international organizations and civil society, to exchange views and good practices in order to find common solutions for the challenges facing societies across the OSCE region. Today’s discussion is the second SHDM of 2025, following a first meeting to discuss the role of media in conflict and humanitarian crises against the background of international humanitarian and human rights law. There is one more SHDM planned for this year.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Municipality Finance issues a GBP 50 million tap under its MTN programme

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Municipality Finance Plc
    Stock exchange release
    5 May 2025 at 10:00 am (EEST)

    Municipality Finance issues a GBP 50 million tap under its MTN programme

    On 6 May 2025 Municipality Finance Plc issues a new tranche in an amount of GBP 50 million to an existing benchmark issued on 7 March 2024. With the new tranche, the aggregate nominal amount of the benchmark is GBP 550 million. The maturity date of the benchmark is 2 October 2028. The benchmark bears interest at a fixed rate of 4.375 % per annum.

    The new tranche is issued under MuniFin’s EUR 50 billion programme for the issuance of debt instruments. The offering circular, the supplemental offering circular and final terms of the notes are available in English on the company’s website at https://www.kuntarahoitus.fi/en/for-investors.

    MuniFin has applied for the new tranche to be admitted to trading on the Helsinki Stock Exchange maintained by Nasdaq Helsinki. The public trading is expected to commence on 6 May 2025. The existing notes in the series are admitted to trading on the Helsinki Stock Exchange.

    UBS Europe SE acts as the Dealer for the issue of the new tranche.

    MUNICIPALITY FINANCE PLC

    Further information:

    Joakim Holmström
    Executive Vice President, Capital Markets and Sustainability
    tel. +358 50 444 3638

    MuniFin (Municipality Finance Plc) is one of Finland’s largest credit institutions. The owners of the company include Finnish municipalities, the public sector pension fund Keva and the State of Finland.
    The Group’s balance sheet is over EUR 53 billion.

    MuniFin builds a better and more sustainable future with its customers. Our customers include municipalities, joint municipal authorities, wellbeing services counties, joint county authorities, corporate entities under the control of the above-mentioned organisations, and affordable social housing. Lending is used for environmentally and socially responsible investment targets such as public transportation, sustainable buildings, hospitals and healthcare centres, schools and day care centres, and homes for people with special needs.

    MuniFin’s customers are domestic but the company operates in a completely global business environment. The company is an active Finnish bond issuer in international capital markets and the first Finnish green and social bond issuer. The funding is exclusively guaranteed by the Municipal Guarantee Board.

    Read more: https://www.kuntarahoitus.fi/en/

    Important Information

    The information contained herein is not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into any such country or jurisdiction or otherwise in such circumstances in which the release, publication or distribution would be unlawful. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, any securities or other financial instruments in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

    This communication does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The notes have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or under the applicable securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: In its soul-searching, Australia’s rightist coalition should examine its relationship with the media

    ANALYSIS: By Matthew Ricketson, Deakin University and Andrew Dodd, The University of Melbourne

    Among the many lessons to be learnt by Australia’s defeated Liberal-National coalition parties from the election is that they should stop getting into bed with News Corporation.

    Why would a political party outsource its policy platform and strategy to people with plenty of opinions, but no experience in actually running a government?

    The result of the federal election suggests that unlike the coalition, many Australians are ignoring the opinions of News Corp Australia’s leading journalists such as Andrew Bolt and Sharri Markson.

    Last Thursday, in her eponymous programme on Sky News Australia, Markson said:

    For the first time in my journalistic career I’m going to also offer a pre-election editorial, endorsing one side of politics […] A Dutton prime ministership would give our great nation the fresh start we deserve.

    After a vote count that sees the Labor government returned with an increased majority, Bolt wrote a piece for the Herald Sun admonishing voters:

    No, the voters aren’t always right. This time they were wrong, and this gutless and incoherent Coalition should be ashamed. Australians just voted for three more years of a Labor government that’s left this country poorer, weaker, more divided and deeper in debt, and which won only by telling astonishing lies.

    That’s staggering. If that’s what voters really like, then this country is going to get more of it, good and hard.

    The Australian and most of News’ tabloid newspapers endorsed the coalition in their election eve editorials.

    Repudiation of minor culture war
    The election result was a repudiation of the minor culture war Peter Dutton reprised during the campaign when he advised voters to steer clear of the ABC and “other hate media”. It may have felt good alluding to “leftie-woke” tropes about the ABC, but it was a tactical error.

    The message probably resonated only with rusted-on hardline coalition voters and supporters of right-wing minor parties.

    But they were either voting for the coalition, or sending them their preferences, anyway. Instead, attacking the ABC sent a signal to the people the coalition desperately needed to keep onside — the moderates who already felt disappointed by the coalition’s drift to the right and who were considering voting Teal or for another independent.

    Attacking just about the most trusted media outlet in the country simply gave those voters another reason to believe the coalition no longer represented their values.

    Reporting from the campaign bus is often derided as shallow form of election coverage. Reporters tend to be captive to a party’s agenda and don’t get to look much beyond a leader’s message.

    But there was real value in covering Dutton’s daily stunts and doorstops, often in the outer suburbs that his electoral strategy relied on winning over.

    What was revealed by having journalists on the bus was the paucity of policy substance. Details about housing affordability and petrol pricing — which voters desperately wanted to hear — were little more than sound bites.

    Steered clear of nuclear sites
    This was obvious by Dutton’s second visit to a petrol station, and yet there were another 15 to come. The fact that the campaign bus steered clear of the sites for proposed nuclear plants was also telling.

    The grind of daily coverage helped expose the lateness of policy releases, the paucity of detail and the lack of preparation for the campaign, let alone for government.

    On ABC TV’s Insiders, the Nine Newspapers’ political editor, David Crowe, wondered whether the media has been too soft on Dutton, rather than too hard as some coalition supporters might assume.

    He reckoned that if the media had asked more difficult questions months ago, Dutton might have been stress-tested and better prepared before the campaign began.

    Instead, the coalition went into the election believing it would be enough to attack Labor without presenting a fully considered alternative vision. Similarly, it would suffice to appear on friendly media outlets such as News Corp, and avoid more searching questions from the Canberra press gallery or on the ABC.

    Reporters and commentators across the media did a reasonable job of exposing this and holding the opposition to account. The scrutiny also exposed its increasingly desperate tactics late in the campaign, such as turning on Welcome to Country ceremonies.

    If many Australians appear more interested in what their prospective political leaders have to say about housing policy or climate change than the endless culture wars being waged by the coalition, that message did not appear to have been heard by Peta Credlin.

    The Sky News Australia presenter and former chief-of-staff to prime minister Tony Abbott said during Saturday night’s election coverage “I’d argue we didn’t do enough of a culture war”.

    Dr Matthew Ricketson is professor of communication, Deakin University and Andrew Dodd  is professor of journalism and director of the Centre for Advancing Journalism, The University of Melbourne. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: At least 20 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza – Civil Defense

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    GAZA, May 5 (Xinhua) — Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 20 Palestinians, including women and children, on Sunday, local authorities said, amid intensified ground and air operations, continued shelling and drone attacks on residential areas.

    At least 11 people, including seven women and three children, were killed in an airstrike on a tent housing displaced families in the al-Mawasi area west of Khan Yunis, Mahmoud Basal, a spokesman for the Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza, told Xinhua. Four more people from the same family were killed earlier in the day in the same area.

    In another area of Khan Yunis, a woman was killed and others were wounded as a result of shelling of a residential building in the Al-Amal area. Another strike on a tent near Abasan al-Kabira killed a young man and wounded several others, Basal said.

    In central Gaza, one woman was killed and several people were wounded when a drone struck the home of the Abu Huwaishel family in the Nuseirat refugee camp. Northern Gaza was also hit, with one man killed, his wife and others wounded in a drone strike on Al-Nakheel Street in the At-Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City.

    According to M. Basal, rescuers have recovered the body of another victim of the attack on the school in Beit Hanoun.

    Eyewitnesses reported continued Israeli bombing and helicopter gunship attacks on residential buildings in both the northern and southern parts of the enclave. Artillery and air strikes also hit homes in the Shujaiya and At-Tuffah neighborhoods. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Oma Savings Bank Plc’s Interim Report 1.1.-31.3.2025: High costs and declining market interest rates weighed on the result, work to strengthen OmaSp continues

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OMA SAVINGS BANK PLC, STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 5 MAY 2025 AT 9.45 A.M. EET, INTERIM REPORT Q1

    Oma Savings Bank Plc’s Interim Report 1.1.-31.3.2025: High costs and declining market interest rates weighed on the result, work to strengthen OmaSp continues

    This release is a summary of Oma Savings Bank’s (OmaSp) January-March 2025 Interim Report, which can be read from the pdf file attached to this stock exchange release and on the Company’s web pages www.omasp.fi

    CEO Karri Alameri: High costs and declining market interest rates weighed on the result, work to strengthen OmaSp continues

    ”I had the honour of starting as the CEO of Oma Savings Bank at the end of March. In recent weeks, I have engaged with the bank’s personnel, customers, and stakeholders across Finland. These discussions have underscored OmaSp’s strong customer relationships, employee commitment, as well as comprehensive range of services, and personalised service model. These elements provide a solid foundation for OmaSp’s next phase. It is clear that we must continue refining our policies and evolving our ways of working. Trust in the Company is rebuilt through actions.

    The comparable profit before taxes for the first quarter was EUR 4.6 million and the comparable cost/income ratio of 54.4%. Profit and profitability were burdened by increased operating and personnel expenses, as well as lower net interest income due to declining market interest rates.

    The increase in costs is primarily attributed to the implementation of the risk management action plan (the “Noste”) initiated in summer 2024. The final investments in the project were made as planned in the first quarter, and new operating models are being integrated into daily operations. Total investments in the Noste project reached EUR 9.1 million over its duration. What is more, we continue to act on the findings of the supervisory assessment.

    Net interest income decreased by 18.3% compared to the comparison period, totalling EUR 46.9 million. The decline is due to fallen market interest rates. The volumes transferred from Handelsbanken have contributed to the development of net interest income as market interest rates have declined.

    Fee and commission income and expenses (net) remained nearly at the level of the comparison period, amounting to EUR 14.7 million.

    The mortgage loan portfolio increased by 3.0%, the corporate loan portfolio by 0.4%, and the deposit base by 2.7% from the level of the previous year.

    Impairment losses on financial assets totalled EUR -22.3 million in January–March. Approximately one-third was related to the update of the calculation model for expected credit losses (ECL), another third to increased allowances in the portfolio, which is being wound down in a controlled manner, and the remaining third to other impairment losses on the loan portfolio due to the general uncertain economic situation.

    Additionally, a provision of EUR 3.0 million was made for the first quarter to prepare for potential sanctions from the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority (FIN-FSA) due to deficiencies identified in the final inspection report on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing. The FIN-FSA’s audit covered the period prior to December 2023. Measures to rectify the deficiencies were initiated while the audit was underway last year.

    Customer and employee satisfaction at an excellent level

    Following the Handelsbanken acquisition, we gained 10,000 new customers last autumn, and the integration has progressed smoothly. We have 48 branches covering all key growth and regional centres in Finland. In January–March, approximately 800 new customer relationships were established organically per month. OmaSp has a strong customer base of over 200,000. We are committed to offering services to households and SMEs across our network.

    Our customer and employee surveys indicated that satisfaction has remained at the excellent level of previous years. I want to extend my gratitude to our personnel for their exemplary work. Committed and motivated personnel are crucial to OmaSp’s future success.

    OmaSp’s financial position is stable, with a good solvency and liquidity position. The total capital (TC) ratio further strengthened to 17.7% at the end of March. The accumulated equity exceeds EUR 583 million.

    I look to the future with confidence. We will continue to develop our operations, invest in our core business, and strengthen the customer experience for both existing and new customers. Our strategy aims for profitable growth.”

    January–March 2025

    • In January–March, net interest income decreased by 18.3% compared with the same period last year. Net interest income totalled EUR 46.9 (57.4) million.
    • Mortgage portfolio increased by 3.0% during the previous 12 months. Corporate loan portfolio increased by 0.4% during the previous 12 months.
    • Deposit base increased by 2.7% over the past 12 months.
    • From January to March, fee and commission income and expenses (net) decreased mainly due to lower lending commissions compared to the comparison period, 2.6%.
    • From January to March, total operating income decreased by 18.9% compared to the comparison period. In the first quarter, comparable total operating income decreased by 19.8% and was EUR 59.5 (74.3) million.
    • From January to March, total operating expenses grew in total by 31.9%. The growth is mainly explained by the costs of the Company’s ongoing extensive risk management development projects, the authority processes and the promotion of a controlled winding down plan related to the non-compliance with the guidelines. In addition, the number of personnel increased compared to the comparison period due to business arrangements, the opening of new branches and the strengthening of the risk management processes. Other operating expenses were in total EUR 22.2 (16.4) million, of which the development costs of the risk management action plan and investigation costs amounted to EUR 5.3 million.
    • Comparable total operating expenses grew by 27.9% in the first quarter and were EUR 32.2 (25.2) million. Of this amount the risk management action plan (the ”Noste”) amounted to EUR 3.3 million. The measures implemented in the first quarter completed the action plan initiated in the summer of 2024.
    • For January-March, the impairment losses on financial assets were in total EUR -22.3 (-23.1) million. During the reporting period, the Company updated the calculation model for expected credit losses (ECL) as part of a larger operational programme and development of risk control. The total impact of the updated model increased the ECL by approximately EUR 8.5 million. In addition, the amount of impairment losses was impacted by an increase in allowances in the controlled winding down of the portfolio, which had an impact of approximately EUR 5.7 million. In other credit portfolio, impairment losses amounted to approximately EUR 8.1 million, and the development was particularly affected by the overall economic uncertainty.
    • For January-March, profit before taxes was EUR 3.1 (24.7) million and comparable profit before taxes was EUR 4.6 (25.6) million.
    • In the first quarter, cost/income ratio was 57.4 (35.2)% and comparable cost/income ratio was 54.4 (34.1)%.
    • In the first quarter, comparable return on equity (ROE) was 2.5 (15.5)%.
    • Total capital (TC) ratio was 17.7 (15.6)%.
    The Group’s key figures (1,000 euros) 1–3/2025 1–3/2024 Δ % 1–12/2024
    Net interest income 46,880 57,369 -18 % 213,097
    Fee and commission income and expenses, net 12,439 12,766 -3 % 50,745
    Total operating income 60,074 74,080 -19 % 270,068
    Total operating expenses -34,240 -25,958 32 % -111,004
    Impairment losses and financial assets, net -22,322 -23,112 -3% -83,379
    Profit before taxes 3,111 24,668 -87% 74,589
    Cost/income ratio, % 57.4% 35.2% 63% 41.3%
    Balance sheet total 7,517,814 7,531,291 0% 7,709,090
    Equity 583 026 527 426 11% 576,143
    Return on assets, ROA % 0.1 % 1.0 % -88 % 0.8%
    Return on equity, ROE % 1.7 % 14.9 % -89% 10.7%
    Earnings per share (EPS), EUR 0.07 0.60 -88% 1.80
    Total capital (TC), % 17.7% 16.9% 5% 15.6%
    Common equity Tier 1 (CET1), capital ratio % 16.5% 15.4% 8% 14.4%
    Comparable profit before taxes 4,617 25,626 -82% 86,656
    Comparable cost/incme ratio, % 54.4% 34.1% 60% 37.8%
    Comparable return on equity, ROE % 2.5% 15.5% -84% 12.4%


    Outlook for the financial year 2025 adjusted

    OmaSp updated its expected credit loss (ECL) calculation model in the first quarter and made a provision to prepare for possible sanctions following the final inspection report from the FIN-FSA on anti-money laundering and terrorist financing. These had a total one-off impact of approximately EUR -11 million on the results. Overall economic uncertainly has further increased. Therefore, OmaSp maintains its earnings guidance on the Group’s comparable profit before taxes to be EUR 65–80 million for the financial year 2025, with a clarification that the figure is expected to be below the mid-point of the range.

    Business outlook and earnings guidance are as follows:

    The outlook for the Company’s business for the financial year 2025 is affected by the decline in market interest rates and the continued high level of costs due to IT investments and system improvements required by risk management and quality processes. In addition, the Company continues to invest in customer experience on different channels. The uncertainty of the operating environment and economic situation affects the development of balance sheet items and comparable profit for the financial year 2025.

    Oma Savings Bank Plc provides earnings guidance on comparable profit before taxes for 2025. Earnings guidance is based on the forecast for the entire year, which takes into account the current market and business situation. Forecasts are based on the management’s insight into the Group’s business development.

    We estimate the Group’s comparable profit before taxes to be EUR 65–80 million for the financial year 2025, with a clarification that the figure is expected to be below the mid-point of the range (comparable profit before taxes was EUR 86.7 million in the financial year 2024).

    Oma Savings Bank Plc

    Additional information:
    Karri Alameri, CEO, tel. +358 45 656 5250, karri.alameri@omasp.fi

    DISTRIBUTION: 
    Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd
    Major media
    www.omasp.fi

    OmaSp is a solvent and profitable Finnish bank. About 500 professionals provide nationwide services through OmaSp’s 48 branch offices and digital service channels to over 200,000 private and corporate customers. OmaSp focuses primarily on retail banking operations and provides its clients with a broad range of banking services both through its own balance sheet as well as by acting as an intermediary for its partners’ products. The intermediated products include credit, investment and loan insurance products. OmaSp is also engaged in mortgage banking operations.

    OmaSp core idea is to provide personal service and to be local and close to its customers, both in digital and traditional channels. OmaSp strives to offer premium level customer experience through personal service and easy accessibility. In addition, the development of the operations and services is customer-oriented. The personnel is committed and OmaSp seeks to support their career development with versatile tasks and continuous development. A substantial part of the personnel also own shares in OmaSp.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Solargik launches SOMA Pro, the next generation of its AI-powered platform for intelligent solar tracking, diagnostics, and control at Intersolar 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • SOMA Pro is a fully integrated software and hardware system that delivers real-time visibility and full remote control.
    • AI-driven optimization: Proprietary algorithms increase yield and proactively prevent losses.
    • Ground-truth loss attribution: In-house model recovers up to 6% in lost energy by pinpointing exact performance gaps.
    • End-to-end SCADA visibility: SOMA Pro unifies tracker behavior, site production, and inverter-level diagnostics.

    Munich, May 5, 2025 (8:30 AM CET) – Solargik, a global pioneer in photovoltaic energy solutions headquartered in Jerusalem, today announced the launch of SOMA Pro, the next generation of its intelligent monitoring and control platform, at Intersolar 2025. SOMA Pro is the first tracker-native software system that fully integrates monitoring, diagnostics, and performance control – enabling operators to increase yield, reduce downtime, and unlock deeper insights into plant operations.

    SOMA Pro, Solargik’s AI-powered platform, is built into the core of the company’s own tracker hardware, drawing on live-data from motion control, site-wide sensors, power meters, and inverter systems. Its integrated design breaks down silos common to third-party SCADA systems or bolt-on controls and provides operators with real-time visibility and full remote control over tracker positioning, energy flow, and site-wide performance. Optimized for complex terrains and light conditions, SOMA Pro allows precise management of energy production – whether remotely stowing the site or fine-tuning behavior at the single tracker level.

    “With SOMA Pro, we’ve redefined how solar installations can be managed – especially in environments where traditional systems fall short,” said Gil Kroyzer, Solargik’s CEO. “By combining our lightweight tracker technology with an intelligent control system designed in-house, we offer a level of adaptability, insight, and flexibility that helps operators extract more value from every site.”

    Integrated architecture for unmatched reliability

    SOMA Pro is Solargik’s own proprietary SCADA platform that seamlessly integrates production monitoring, tracker configuration, and component diagnostics. This unified architecture reduces operational complexity, improves site stability, and eliminates the data blind spots that plague third-party monitoring tools.

    AI-driven optimization: Proprietary loss attribution with actionable results

    At the heart of SOMA Pro is Solargik’s in-house AI performance model, capable of identifying and quantifying energy loss down to specific rows or components. Leveraging advanced machine learning algorithms, the platform achieves detection accuracy exceeding 95%, enabling operators to recover up to 6% in lost energy. Its predictive analytics support targeted maintenance and strengthen EPC contractor collaboration – protecting long-term asset value.

    Real-time operational intelligence, not just monitoring

    Learning from real site conditions, SOMA Pro continuously optimizes tracker positioning based on dynamic elements of the solar plant, such as irradiance, cloudiness, wind speed and topography. Through a cloud-based interface, operators gain full command of tracker tilt, stow modes (manual or automatic), and production status – from the entire site down to an individual tracker or inverter – enabling faster response to changing conditions and improved energy yield.

    Intersolar launch and media availability

    Solargik will officially debut SOMA Pro at Intersolar 2025. Journalists and analysts can schedule executive briefings and live demonstrations by contacting the Solargik media relations team or requesting a meeting here.

    About Solargik

    Solargik is a global leader in photovoltaic tracking and energy management, specializing in intelligent, terrain-adaptive solar systems that deliver strong performance in complex and constrained environments. Its lightweight, single-axis trackers are engineered for maximum efficiency on slopes up to 30% and in agrivoltaic applications. Powered by the proprietary SOMA Pro SCADA platform, Solargik provides integrated control, real-time diagnostics, predictive automation, and performance optimization. Field-proven across more than 100 projects globally, Solargik helps operators maximize output, reduce costs, and unlock the full potential of every site. Founded by solar industry veterans, Solargik is committed to advancing smarter, more adaptable solutions for the future of renewable energy.

    www.solargik.com

    HEAD OFFICES
    48 Emek Refaim St.
    Jerusalem 9314205
    Israel

    MEDIA RELATIONS — GLOBAL
    Eliav Rodman
    Solargik
    eliavr@solargik.com

    MEDIA RELATIONS — EUROPE
    Giovanni Ca’ Zorzi
    Cohesion Bureau
    giovanni.cazorzi@cohesionbureau.com
    +33 7 84 67 07 27

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU summed up the results of the regional qualifying stage of the Biotournament

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    On April 27, the qualifying round of the student BioTournament was held for the third time at NSU. Five teams took part in it: two from Novosibirsk State University, the TPU team, the team of SSMU (Tomsk) and MIREA-RTU (Moscow), as well as the team of RNIMU named after N. I. Pirogov (Moscow).

    The first place was taken by the team “What is ML?” RNIMU named after N. I. Pirogov. The second place was taken by the team NSU “GeneShtab”. The third place was shared between the team NSU “myauRNK” and the team “SibGMU “μ-sli”. The prize-winning teams of the tournament received an invitation to the final stage of the tournament in Pushchino and memorable prizes.

    — We are pleased with the interest shown by teams from other universities in the event that we are holding. Despite the fact that the teams of SSMU and RNRMU named after Pirogov have already participated in other qualifying stages of the Biotournament held this year, they came to play here and provided good competition to the NSU teams playing “on their home field”. It is also worth noting that we have seen many of the participants, team leaders and jury members among the “tournament players” for many years and not only within the Biotournament, which, from our point of view, emphasizes the demand for this competition format, — said Elena Stolyarova, team coordinator and one of the tournament organizers.

    To participate in the tournament, participants had to assemble a team and solve six creative scientific problems compiled by leading research fellows, associate professors and candidates of biological sciences. The teams presented their solutions in turn, and also acted as opponents and reviewers of the solutions of their rivals. All actions were assessed by a jury consisting of candidates of biological sciences, research fellows of biological institutes of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and teachers.

    — The qualifying round was intense, this year the first round of scientific battles was five teams, which seriously increased the emotional and mental load. But thinking over tactics was interesting and exciting. Our team prepared for this event for two months, gathering in a cozy circle in the coworking reading room and discussing ideas for solutions and their implementation. Our colleagues from other teams generally showed a decent level of opposition, by the second half of the day all the participants were in full swing, and sometimes it seemed that the air could be cut with a knife from excitement. Naturally, we plan to attend the final stage next autumn and bring back even more new acquaintances, ideas and, possibly, awards, — shared his impressions Yaroslav Gaburov, captain of the GeneShtab team, a third-year student of the Faculty of Natural Sciences of NSU.

    For the team “What is ML?” from the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, this is the 12th tournament in the last three years. This time, the team competed with an incomplete lineup and a limited set of tasks, but the correctly chosen tactics allowed them to overcome all difficulties and win the qualifying round of the tournament.

    — The opponents were worthy and strong — among them, several teams with extensive tournament experience. It was interesting to observe how guys from different universities and specialties approached solving problems — this added variety to the discussions. The atmosphere was exciting, sometimes tense (how could it be otherwise!), but at the same time, the Biotournament is traditionally distinguished by a respectful culture of debate, which is very important for scientific events, — said Valentina Krokhaleva, captain of the team “What is ML?”, a 5th-year student of the Medical Biochemistry International Charitable Foundation of the Russian National Research Medical University named after N.I. Pirogov.

    As Valentina notes, tournaments are not only scientific battles and testing of one’s skills and knowledge, but also a great opportunity to escape from the usual schedule for a while and change the environment.

    — I was very happy to return to Akademgorodok after six years. We were lucky with the weather. On Saturday we walked around Akademgorodok all day, got to the student festival “Internedelya” on the campus territory and in the evening we reached the Ob Sea, — added Valentina Krokhaleva.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MENG AND BENNET PRAISE USDA EFFORTS TO CUT RED TAPE AND EXPAND SNAP BENEFITS TO INCLUDE HOT FOODS

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Grace Meng (6th District of New York)

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) and U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) announced today that they wrote a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins praising recent state-led efforts to expand Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to include certain hot food purchases. 

    Currently, SNAP contains an outdated provision that limits purchases to food that needs to be prepared at home before it is consumed or specifically cold prepared foods. However, states can individually apply for waivers from the federal government to increase the types of foods included in SNAP for beneficiaries in their states. Secretary Rollins recently supported an effort in Arkansas to include hot rotisserie chicken in the state’s SNAP.

    Meng and Bennet reintroduced their bipartisan, bicameral Hot Foods Act in March, which would remove this prohibition and allow all SNAP recipients, regardless of which state they live in, to use their benefits to buy hot foods like prepared rotisserie chickens, hot sandwiches, soups and more.

    In their letter, the members wrote, “As you know, for more than 60 years, the law governing SNAP has prohibited beneficiaries from purchasing hot, ready-to-eat foods with their benefits. This outdated restriction means that while a parent can use SNAP to buy frozen chicken and spend over an hour preparing and cooking it, they cannot purchase a hot rotisserie chicken to serve their family immediately. This policy no longer reflects the realities of modern American life or the diverse needs of SNAP households.”

    Of the more than 42 million SNAP participants, including 2.8 million New Yorkers, nearly 70 percent of them are children, elderly, or those with disabilities. The ability to purchase hot and ready-to-eat foods would provide much-needed flexibility to those who rely on this program to supplement their nutrition and dietary needs.

    A copy of the letter can be viewed here.

    Originally introduced by Rep. Meng in May 2023, the Hot Foods Act has 80 cosponsors. It is supported by The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), First Focus Campaign for Children, Feeding America, Hunger Free America, and the National Association of Convenience Stores.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: BW Energy: Makes FID on Maromba field development in Brazil  

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BW Energy makes FID on Maromba field development in Brazil  

    BW Energy is pleased to announce the final investment decision (FID) for the Maromba development offshore Brazil based on a capex-efficient development with an integrated drilling and wellhead platform (WHP) and a refurbished FPSO. The development targets 500 million barrels of oil in place in the highly delineated and tested Maastrichtian sands. First oil is planned by end-2027 with expected plateau production of 60,000 barrels of oil per day. The development will more than double BW Energy’s total net production by 2028 and has short pay-back time.    

    Project highlights: 

    • Initial six production wells from the WHP 
    • The WHP will be a converted drilling jack-up with up to 16 well slots and production- and test-flowlines connected to the redeployed FPSO BW Maromba (ex. Polvo) 
    • A second six-well drilling campaign will fully leverage the established field infrastructure and allow for appraisal and testing of other reservoir horizons  
    • BW Maromba refurbishment and life extension work is already underway at the COSCO yard in China 
    • Total investments of USD ~1.5 billion, split USD ~1.2 billion for the initial development and a further USD ~0.3 billion for the secondary drilling campaign 

    “We have spent time on optimising the Maromba development plan and concluded on a highly competitive concept with a repurposed jack-up platform and FPSO, repeating the approach we very successfully applied in Gabon. Maromba will enable BW Energy to deliver industry-leading organic production growth and position the Company for further low-cost developments of known potential developments. We expect to unlock significant shareholder value in all realistic oil price scenarios,” said Carl K. Arnet, the CEO of BW Energy. 

    Capex-efficient development concept  

    The development comprises six initial Maastrichtian horizontal production wells with dry-trees and artificial lift by downhole Electric Submersible Pumps (ESPs). Production will be transferred from the WHP to the spread moored FPSO Maromba for treatment, storage and offloading to shuttle tankers. The WHP will be installed in ~150 meters of water depth with full drilling facilities. Once installed, the infrastructure will also enable the planned secondary six-well drilling campaign and provide potential for future development phases with low-cost infill wells, potential water injectors as well as allowing appraisal and production of multiple proven reservoirs outside the main Maastrichtian resources.    

    The FPSO Maromba is currently at the COSCO yard in China, undergoing initial refurbishment and life extension work following completion of condition assessment and FEED.  The FPSO is designed with 1 million barrels of storage capacity. The total liquid capacity will be 100,000 barrels per day with oil production capacity of 65,000 barrels per day and water treatment capacity of 85,000 barrels per day.  

    BW Energy has agreed to acquire a jack-up with complete leg extensions for USD 107.5 million. The rig will undergo a limited conversion to serve as an integrated drilling and wellhead platform prior to installation on the field.

    “The repurposing of existing energy infrastructure enables reduced investments and shorter time to first oil with significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions in the development phase, as compared to installing new production assets,” said Carl K. Arnet, the CEO of BW Energy. 

    Attractive field economics  

    BW Energy expects to invest approximately USD 1 billion before first oil and a further USD 200 million to complete the initial drilling campaign before end 2028. This will be followed by USD 300 million for the additional six wells in the second campaign with completion before end 2030.  

    BW Energy anticipates Maromba to achieve a competitive production cost, averaging less than USD 10 per barrel over the first five years, underpinning robust project economics. 

    Estimated project IRR exceeds 30% at oil at USD 60 per barrel Brent and break-even at 10% IRR is around USD 40 per barrel Brent. The heavy oil from the Maromba is expected to trade at a discount to Brent of approximately USD 7.5 per barrel.  

    The development will be financed through existing cash and undrawn facilities, cashflow from operations, and separate infrastructure financing solutions related to the FPSO and WHP. The Company is also evaluating a range of financing alternatives, including a corporate facility, reserve-based lending, trader financing and the potential issuance of bonds.  

    BW Energy has also received a commitment by the main shareholder BW Group for a USD 250 million shareholder loan facility.   

    The Maromba field 

    Maromba is located 100 km off the Brazilian coast in the Campos Basin. Nine wells were drilled in the license between 1980 and 2006, with oil found in eight of these across various reservoirs. The development project targets 123 million barrels of 2P reserves (management estimates), with potential additional resources from other reservoirs to be appraised along the development. BW Energy acquired 100% ownership in Maromba in 2019 for a total of USD 115 million, of which USD 85 million remains to be paid to the sellers at predefined milestones. Magma Oil holds a 5% back-in right in the Maromba licence which is expected to be executed upon first oil.  

    BW Energy is following all the steps of the approval process with the Brazilian O&G Regulator (ANP) and with the Environmental Agency (IBAMA). The Company will now proceed with contracting of long-lead items and services, as well as finalising the financing agreements.   

    More information on the Maromba development will be shared in connection with the first quarter 2025 earnings presentation held at Teatersalen, Hotel Continental in Oslo, Norway, 09:30 CEST on 5 May.  

    The presentation can also be followed via webcast on: 

    VIEWER REGISTRATION • Q1 2025  
    https://events.webcast.no/viewer-registration/9LwLZF1X/register   

    For further information, please contact: 

    Brice Morlot, CFO BW Energy

    +33.7.81.11.41.16
    ir@bwenergy.com  

    About BW Energy  

    BW Energy is a growth E&P company with a differentiated strategy targeting proven offshore oil and gas reservoirs through low risk phased developments. The Company has access to existing production facilities to reduce time to first oil and cashflow with lower investments than traditional offshore developments. The Company’s assets are 73.5% of the producing Dussafu Marine licence offshore Gabon, 100% interest in the Golfinho and Camarupim fields, a 76.5% interest in the BM-ES-23 block, a 95% interest in the Maromba field in Brazil, a 95% interest in the Kudu field in Namibia, all operated by BW Energy. In addition, BW Energy holds approximately 6.6% of the common shares in Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. and a 20% non-operating interest in the onshore Petroleum Exploration License 73 (“PEL 73”) in Namibia. Total net 2P+2C reserves and resources were 599 million barrels of oil equivalent at the start of 2025. 

    This information is considered inside information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. This stock exchange release was published by Regine Andersen, 05 May 2025.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: 5 huge climate opportunities await the next parliament – and it has the numbers to deliver

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Skarbek, Climateworks CEO, Monash University

    Australians have returned an expanded Labor Party to government alongside a suite of climate-progressive independents. Meanwhile, the Coalition – which promoted nuclear energy and a slower renewables transition – suffered a historic defeat.

    Labor also looks set to have increased numbers in the Senate, where the Greens are likely to hold the balance of power.

    These numbers mean support for progressive climate and energy policy in Australia’s 48th parliament is shaping as stronger than the last. So what does this mean as Australia seeks to position itself as a leader in the global net zero economy?

    In its first term in government, Labor laid the groundwork for stronger climate action, including legislating an emissions-reduction target and putting crucial policies and organisations in place. The next parliament will be well-placed to build on these foundations. Here, we explain where key opportunities lie.

    1. National emissions target for 2035

    By September this year, all signatories to the global Paris Agreement must set emissions reduction targets out to 2035.

    Labor is waiting on advice from the Climate Change Authority before setting its target. The authority’s initial advice last year suggested a target between 65% and 75%, based on 2005 levels.

    Some countries have already set their targets. The United Kingdom, for example, will aim for a reduction of at least 81% by 2035, based on 1990 levels.

    2. A firm plan for net-zero

    Australia has committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Getting there will require innovation and investment across the economy. In the last term of government, Labor began
    developing net-zero plans for each economic sector. They comprise energy, transport, industry, resources, the built environment, and agriculture and land.

    The plans are due to be finalised this year. They will act as a tangible map for Australia to meet both net zero and the 2035 emissions-reduction target, and are keenly awaited by state governments, industry and investors.

    This policy area presents the broadest opportunity for the crossbench to exert influence for greater ambition, scale and pace. Neither the 2035 target nor the sector plans need to go through parliament – however they could feature in broader parliamentary negotiations.

    Separately, the Safeguard Mechanism will be reviewed in 2027, during this parliament. The policy aims to reduce emissions reductions from Australia’s biggest greenhouse-gas polluters. It is key to reaching net zero in Australia’s industrial sector, and an important moment to ensure the policy reduces emissions at the rate needed.

    3. Bidding to host COP31

    Australia is bidding to host next year’s United Nations global climate talks, or COP, in partnership with Pacific Island nations. The bid was opposed by the Coalition.

    A decision on the COP host is expected in June. If Australia succeeds, the federal government will seek to use the high-profile global gathering to showcase its climate credentials – and there will be high expectations from Pacific co-hosts. So all policy between now and then really matters.

    4. An energy system to make Australia thrive

    Energy produces about 70% of Australia’s emissions. Tackling this means reducing emissions from electricity through renewable generation. Elsewhere in the economy, it means switching from gas, petrol and diesel to clean electricity.

    The government’s plan to reach 82% renewable energy by 2030 remains crucial. Australia’s electricity system is expected to reach around 50% renewable energy this year. But there is more work to do.

    A review of the National Electricity Market is due this year. It is expected to recommend ways to promote greater investment in renewable generation and storage. This includes what policy might follow the Capacity Investment Scheme, a measure to boost renewables investment which will be rolled out by 2027.

    Faster action on the renewable shift can also be achieved through the Australian Energy Market Operator’s next Integrated System Plan – the nation’s roadmap for guiding energy infrastructure and investment.

    Labor also has scope to improve energy efficiency, and better match energy demand and supply – especially at times of peak energy use. The government’s commitments to subsidise home batteries, and expand the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, will help achieve this. The crossbench, including the Greens, is likely to seek greater investments to reduce household energy use and costs.

    Beyond this, Australia’s electricity grid needs to be double the size of what’s currently planned, to power the entire economy with clean energy.

    5. Leverage clean energy export advantages

    Australia generates about a quarter of its GDP from exports – many of them emissions-intensive such as fossil fuels, minerals and agricultural products.

    In his election victory speech, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged Australia to seize the moment at a time of global economic disruption. Key to this will be building on the Future Made in Australia agenda and ensuring Australia makes the most of its competitive advantages as the world transitions to net-zero.

    This will include:

    • leveraging a strong reputation as a reliable trade partner
    • capitalising on our world-leading solar and wind energy resources to produce low-emissions goods for export
    • developing the industry around critical minerals and rare earths needed in low-emissions technologies
    • helping metals and minerals sectors achieve net-zero emissions pathways.

    This will be central to trade negotiations in the years to come. Realising Australia’s green exports aspiration requires action abroad as well as at home.

    A game-changing decade

    This decade is crucial to Australia’s future economy, and to the success of Australia’s long-term transition to net zero emissions. Our work has shown Australia can slash emissions while the economy grows.

    The question now is how quickly the re-elected government – indeed, the next parliament – can realise Australia’s ambition as a renewable energy superpower.

    The next three years will provide vital opportunities and they must be seized – for the sake of our energy bills, our economic prosperity and Australia’s reputation on the world stage.

    Anna Skarbek is on the board of the Net Zero Economy Authority, SEC Victoria, the Centre for New Energy Technologies, the Green Building Council of Australia, and the Asia-Pacific Advisory Board of the Glasgow Financial Alliance on Net Zero. She is CEO of Climateworks Centre which receives funding from philanthropy and project-specific financial support from a range of private and public entities including federal, state and local government and private sector organisations and international and local non-profit organisations. Climateworks Centre works within Monash University’s Sustainable Development Institute.

    Climateworks Centre is a part of Monash University. It receives funding from a range of external sources including philanthropy, governments and businesses. Businesses such as mining companies and industry associations have previously co-funded Climateworks’ research on industrial decarbonisation, and may benefit from policies mentioned in this article.

    – ref. 5 huge climate opportunities await the next parliament – and it has the numbers to deliver – https://theconversation.com/5-huge-climate-opportunities-await-the-next-parliament-and-it-has-the-numbers-to-deliver-255772

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: After its landslide win, Labor should have courage and confidence on security – and our alliance with the US

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joanne Wallis, Professor of International Security, University of Adelaide

    The re-election of the Albanese Labor government by such a wide margin should not mean “business as usual” for Australia’s security policy.

    The global uncertainty instigated by US President Donald Trump means Australia’s security landscape is very different today from when Labor was first elected in 2022, or even when its Defence Strategic Review was released in 2023.

    As we argue in our recent book, the Albanese government faces increasingly difficult questions.

    How can we maintain our crucial security alliance with the US while deepening partnerships with other countries that have reservations about US policy?

    And, given Trump’s recent actions, how much can we continue to rely on the United States and what are the potential costs of the alliance?

    With a massive parliamentary majority, the new government has an opportunity for bold thinking on national security. This is not the time for Australia to keep its head down – we need to face the rapidly changing world with our heads held high.



    Read more:
    Blaming Donald Trump for conservative losses in both Canada and Australia is being too kind to Peter Dutton

    Trump 2.0 is not the same as 1.0

    We do not advocate Australia step away from the US alliance. We are also realistic that decades of defence procurement mean Australia is heavily reliant on US defence materiel (and its subsequent sustainment) for our security.

    The deep interoperability between the Australian Defence Force and the US military is something alliance sceptics too readily gloss over: much Australian military capability cannot function without ongoing American support.

    At the same time, many alliance advocates underestimate the impact of the new challenges we face. Some assumed a continuity between the first and second Trump administrations. However, we are not convinced the lessons learned from Trump 1.0 are still valid.

    A key difference between Trump 1.0 and 2.0 is the effect of his move away from respecting international law.

    For example, the US has voted with Russia against UN Security Council resolutions condemning the Ukraine war, withdrawn from the Paris Climate Agreement and World Health Organization, and damaged relations with NATO allies, among many other actions.

    As a middle power, Australia has long relied on the “rules-based order” to advance its foreign and strategic policy interests.

    Even if “normal transmission” resumes under a new US president in 2029, we are concerned the Trump administration’s structural changes to the international order will not easily be wound back. American soft power has been decimated by cuts to the US State Department, USAID and international broadcasting services. This will also not be rebuilt quickly.

    A second difference is there are few “adults left in the room” in the Trump administration.

    The advisers who kept Trump in check during his first administration have been replaced by loyalists less likely to push back against his ideas and impulses. This includes his long-held grievance that allies have been exploiting the US.

    The Albanese government needs to think more deeply about how to hedge against dependence on the US. This means investing in relations with other partners, especially in Asia and the Pacific, and working with them to promote the laws, rules and norms that maintain stability and predictability in global affairs.

    An idealistic vision for the future

    We are also concerned that many in the national security community base their policy recommendations on the assumption that war between the US and China is inevitable, and such a conflict could draw in Australia as America’s ally.

    Rather, the Trump administration’s preference for “deals” opens the possibility the US and China might come to an arrangement that will affect US presence and leadership in our region.

    Australia may not be prepared for this. The new government must engage in more open discussion about how we would maintain our security if the US does pull back from the region or makes decisions Australians don’t support.

    As a start, we need to consider how Australia can better pursue self-reliance within the alliance structure. We need a range of strategic options in the future that don’t rely on an outdated image of the US as a reliable partner.

    This debate should be guided by what we call “pragmatic idealism”.

    Rather than accepting the way things are, the government and members of the national security community need to re-imagine how things can be.

    We argue the Albanese government should draw confidence from its thumping electoral win to articulate a politics of hope, opportunity and possibility for our future security. This needs to drown out the cynicism, passive acceptance and learned helplessness that often characterises Australian national security debates.

    We are conscious that being “idealistic” is often dismissed as impractical, naïve “wishful thinking”. But the new government needs to demonstrate to Australians it has the courage to face the diverse, interlinked and complex security challenges we face – potentially on our own. These extend to issues such as cyber attacks, transnational crime and climate change.

    Practical steps

    As a first step, the Albanese government urgently needs to commission an integrated National Security Strategy that considers all the tools of statecraft Australia can use to respond to these challenges.

    This means engaging more with partners in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. In particular, Australia should consider investing more heavily in information programs and public diplomacy as the US withdraws from this arena.

    The government must also engage better with the public and be more transparent about its security options and decisions.

    On AUKUS, for instance, the government must build its “social licence” from the public to sustain such a massive deal across generations. Australians need to be better informed about – and consulted on – the decisions they will ultimately pay for.

    This also includes being upfront with Australians about the need for greater defence spending in a tumultuous world.

    It is understandably tempting for the new Albanese government to continue a “small target” approach when it comes to the US. This has meant minimising domestic debate about the alliance that could undermine support for AUKUS and avoid risking the ire of a thin-skinned Trump.

    But the government needs the courage to ask difficult questions and imagine different futures.

    Joanne Wallis receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the Australian Department of Defence, and the government of South Australia. She is a Senior Nonresident Fellow of the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C.

    Rebecca Strating receives funding from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

    – ref. After its landslide win, Labor should have courage and confidence on security – and our alliance with the US – https://theconversation.com/after-its-landslide-win-labor-should-have-courage-and-confidence-on-security-and-our-alliance-with-the-us-255598

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Costa, Newhouse, Curtis Push to Unlock Federal Funding for Western Water Infrastructure

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

    WASHINGTON—Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21), Congressman Dan Newhouse (WA-04), and Senator John Curtis (R-UT) introduced the Restoring WIFIA Eligibility Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at strengthening water quality and storage infrastructure across the Western United States. “Water is the lifeblood of the West, and as climate change intensifies drought and weather extremes, we must invest in reliable, modern water infrastructure,” said Congressman Costa. “Our legislation will provide California and San Joaquin Valley water managers with the tools they need to expand water storage and ensure clean drinking water in our communities.”  “After meeting with several water conservancy districts across Utah over the past few months, one thing is clear: Utah’s rapid population growth is placing significant pressure on our community water resources,” said Senator Curtis. “This bipartisan legislation would make it easier for local governments and utilities to invest in critical water infrastructure projects—helping ensure we can meet the growing needs of our communities.”“Federal irrigation, clean water, and wastewater projects are essential to rural areas like Central Washington, but a lack of resources for maintenance and repairs puts our water infrastructure at risk. This legislation gives our local water managers the tools they need to sustain long-term projects and guarantee clean, safe water that our communities, farmers, and ranchers rely on,” said Congressman Newhouse.”As we face the ongoing challenges of water scarcity in the West, the introduction of the Every Drop Counts Act and the Groundwater Technical Assistance Act represents a useful step toward ensuring a sustainable future for our communities, ecosystems, and farms. These bipartisan efforts will not only enhance our capabilities for groundwater recharge but also empower local agencies to innovate and implement solutions that restore our vital aquifers. Together, we are laying the groundwork for a resilient water supply that supports agriculture, the environment, and the needs of our growing population,” said Rick Borges, President of the Friant Water Authority.“The Restoring WIFIA Eligibility Act provides much-needed reforms related to technical issues that substantially limit access to WIFIA loan funding for facilities under federal ownership, regardless of the method of loan repayment,” said Cannon Michael, Board Chair of the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority. “We thank Rep. Costa for his leadership on this issue. Given the significant infrastructure improvements needed to improve the reliability of water supplies for the Water Authority’s members, it’s critical that every funding tool be available to improve affordability for the farming families, disadvantaged communities, and wildlife and wildlife enthusiasts who are reliant on the Water Authority’s members for their water supplies.”BACKGROUNDCalifornia’s San Joaquin Valley, one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world, depends heavily on complex water delivery systems to sustain its economy and rural communities. However, the region is grappling with drought, groundwater depletion, and strict water quality standards. The Restoring WIFIA Eligibility Act would update the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA), originally enacted in 2014. This legislation accelerates investment in the nation’s aging water systems by offering long-term, low-cost loans for major water projects. This bill would clarify that federally owned water infrastructure, when operated by non-federal entities such as California’s Friant Water Authority and the San Luis Delta-Mendota Water Authority is eligible for WIFIA financing.Access to WIFIA financing will enable San Joaquin Valley water agencies to invest in infrastructure upgrades, including groundwater recharge, surface storage, and conveyance improvements.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Xi Jinping urges all-out efforts to search and rescue people after two excursion boats sank in southwest China /more/

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday called for all-out efforts to search for and rescue people in the water and treat all those injured after two sightseeing boats sank in southwest China’s Guizhou Province.

    The incident occurred on the Liuchong River in Qianxi County City at around 4:40 p.m. on May 4, leaving three people dead and 14 missing. A total of 60 people were hospitalized.

    Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, gave important instructions, calling for maximum efforts to carry out search and rescue work, properly handle issues related to the dead and provide support to their families.

    Stressing that several emergency incidents have occurred in various regions of the country in quick succession recently, resulting in deaths and injuries, the Chinese President called on local authorities and relevant departments to learn lessons from these tragedies, resolutely eradicate carelessness and strengthen the responsibility of all parties involved.

    Xi Jinping stressed the importance of strengthening security measures in tourist attractions, major public facilities, residential areas and passenger return routes during the International Labor Day holiday to curb the tendency of frequent serious accidents.

    In turn, Li Qiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee and Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, ordered that all efforts be directed to the search and rescue of missing persons, as well as to providing medical assistance to the injured. He stressed that, given the approaching end of the May Day holidays, local authorities must conduct comprehensive safety checks and eliminate potential risks at key facilities and in key areas in order to prevent and minimize the occurrence of various serious incidents.

    In accordance with the important instructions of Xi Jinping and the orders of Li Qiang, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Zhang Guoqing led a team of responsible persons to the scene to lead the search and rescue work and eliminate the consequences of the incident. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Israeli army calls up tens of thousands of reservists to expand Gaza offensive

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    JERUSALEM, May 4 (Xinhua) — Israel’s military has begun issuing “tens of thousands” of draft notices to reservists to expand its offensive in the Gaza Strip, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said Sunday during a visit to a naval base, vowing to step up pressure on the Palestinian Hamas movement to free hostages.

    “This week we are issuing tens of thousands of draft notices to our reservists to strengthen and expand operations in Gaza,” said E. Zamir. “We are increasing the pressure to bring our hostages home and defeat Hamas.”

    He added that as part of the expanded offensive, the army would operate in “additional territories” of the enclave and destroy “all military infrastructure.”

    E. Zamir said that reservists will also be sent to other areas, including the northern border with Lebanon and Syria, as well as the occupied West Bank.

    Earlier over the weekend, Israeli forces struck more than 100 targets in the Gaza Strip, including militant cells, underground infrastructure and military camps, the IDF said.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition partners have vowed to continue the war until Hamas is completely defeated, despite growing pressure from the Israeli public for a ceasefire to free the 59 hostages Israel says are still being held in the Gaza Strip.

    In March, Israel ended a two-month truce with Hamas and resumed air and ground fighting. More than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli offensive began in October 2023, according to Gaza health authorities. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Explosion and fire in residential building in Moscow, two dead

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Moscow, May 4 (Xinhua) — An explosion followed by a fire rocked a residential building in southwestern Moscow on Sunday evening, killing two people and injuring several others, the Russian Emergencies Ministry reported.

    Earlier, the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations for the city of Moscow announced that a fire had started on the ninth floor of a residential building. Two apartments caught fire, and the floors between the eighth and ninth floors collapsed.

    Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported on Telegram that the causes of the explosion are being established. “Fire and rescue units, city services, and doctors are working quickly at the scene,” he wrote. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s SAIC Motor signs deal for joint electric vehicle brand with Huawei

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    SHANGHAI, May 4 (Xinhua) — Shanghai-based Chinese automaker SAIC Motor on Thursday signed an agreement to set up a plant to produce vehicles and auxiliary battery units for its new electric vehicle (EV) brand, developed jointly with telecom giant Huawei, in the Lingang New Area of China’s Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ).

    According to SAIC Motor, the plant’s production capacity at the initial stage of the project will be about 250,000 vehicles per year.

    The move follows a partnership formed earlier this year between SAIC Motor and Huawei. In February this year, the two companies signed an in-depth cooperation agreement to jointly launch the SAIC Shangjie brand.

    Tech giant Huawei is already collaborating with four other EV brands, namely AITO, Luxeed, Stelato and Maextro, under its Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA). Tech support from Huawei, such as adaptive driver assistance and AI cockpit solutions, has given new impetus to partner automakers.

    SAIC Shangjie brand products will be equipped with Huawei’s intelligent mobility solutions, said Zhu Yong, head of SAIC ShangJie, adding that the intelligent electric vehicles will target the mid- to high-end market, with customers mainly including household consumers and young office workers.

    The first model under this brand is a mainstream SUV priced at around 200,000 /around $27,800/, which is expected to hit the market this fall. The SUV will be available in two versions: a pure electric version and an extended range version. The pure electric model will have a range of over 600 km on a full charge.

    By joining the HIMA family, SAIC Shangjie brand will help further lower the price range of cars co-developed with Huawei to 200,000 yuan to better tap the vast market, Zhu Yong said.

    SAIC Shangjie’s project is expected to increase the scale of the already leading new energy vehicle (NEV) industry in Lingang New Area, home to Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory, to 300 billion yuan, said Li Xiangcun, an official with the Lingang New Area Administrative Committee.

    Currently, there are more than 200 automobile-related companies in the Lingang New Area, forming an ecosystem covering automobile production, research, development and testing. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Mile Plains — Missing person: Help the RCMP find Lyndsay Moorhouse

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    West Hants RCMP Detachment is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 43-year-old Lyndsay Moorhouse, from Three Mile Plains. She was last seen on May 4 in Three Mile Plains.

    Moorhouse is described as 5-foot-2 and approximately 200 pounds. She has medium-length blond hair, blue eyes, and glasses. She is believed to be wearing jeans and a black hoodie.

    Moorhouse is known to frequent the Halifax area.

    Investigators believe that she may be driving a blue 2019 Hyundai Elantra, Nova Scotia licence plate GEB 779. The image included is a stock photo of the vehicle.

    When someone goes missing, it has deep and far-reaching impacts for the person and those who know them. We ask that people spread the word through social media respectfully.

    Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Lyndsay Moorhouse is asked to contact the West Hants RCMP Detachment at 902-798-2207, or 911 in an emergency. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A rubbish election: voting in Australia produces mountains of waste – but there’s a better way

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa M. Given, Professor of Information Sciences & Director, Social Change Enabling Impact Platform, RMIT University

    More than 18 million Australians voted on Saturday, after walking past countless corflutes, reading campaign flyers and reviewing how-to-vote cards.

    The 2025 federal election was Australia’s biggest yet, with 710,000 more people on the electoral roll than in 2022. The Australian Election Commission amassed 250,000 pencils, 240,000 vests, 80,000 ballot boxes and 5,000 rolls of tamper-proof tape to stock some 7,000 polling places.

    So, what happens to these materials after polling day? Some are warehoused, ready for reuse next time around. Others are repurposed. But every election also generates a mountain of waste for landfill.

    It doesn’t have to be this way. Australia needs to mandate a cradle-to-grave approach to creating, using, recycling and disposing of election materials. Meanwhile, electronic machines and online voting can reduce the need for paper ballots, just as social media campaigns can reduce paper mail drops.

    Magill School in the Sturt electorate, like most polling centres, was wrapped in lightweight plastic posters.
    Clare Peddie

    Where do election materials go after the polls close?

    In response to inquiries from The Conversation, the Australian Election Commission said most AEC materials, such as tamper-proof tape, vests and pencils, are stored between elections at counting centres. Other materials, such as cardboard voting booths, are recycled or donated to schools or charities.

    Most councils require corflutes to be collected within seven days of an election. But no rules govern reuse or disposal. Corflutes are made from polypropylene, a lightweight plastic that is technically recyclable. But it’s not a straightforward process, so most recycling facilities reportedly cannot accept this waste.

    Some candidates donate corflutes to schools, childcare centres and charities, because the white reverse side can be used to mount artworks.

    Second-hand corflutes have also been used as shelters for homeless people, heat shields for bee hives, or to repair damaged skylights. But no doubt many end up in landfill.

    Are there alternatives?

    Many countries are “greening” their elections. In 2019, India’s election commission directed parties to eliminate single-use plastic including corflutes. In 2024, the United Kingdom’s Westminster Foundation for Democracy outlined strategies for reducing election “pollution”, addressing supply chains and packaging.

    Australia relies heavily on disposable election materials. While many of these can be recycled, it’s better to avoid single-use materials.

    Parties could also display how-to-vote instructions on posters at election sites, rather than handing out individual flyers that are recycled or thrown away.

    In 2022, the AEC introduced plain brown cardboard screens and ballot boxes, saying they are easier to recycle and reuse than previous versions “wrapped” in purple-and-white branded paper. However, Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers says elections will probably always be “highly manual and resource-intensive exercises”. We disagree.

    Could Australia use electronic or online voting to reduce waste?

    Other countries are introducing online voting to reduce waste. One study in Estonia found the carbon footprint of paper-based voting was 180 times greater than internet-based voting. More than 50% of the population voted online in 2023.

    India introduced electronic voting machines in 1982 and mandated them, nationwide, in 2004. In 1999 alone this saved 7,700 tonnes of waste.

    The United States introduced mechanical voting machines in the 1890s, punch cards and scanned ballots in the 1960s, and “direct-recording” electronic voting machines in the 1970s. Today, touch screens are used in many voting booths, with paper records for auditing. Now just 7% of districts rely on paper ballots and hand-counted ballots are rarely used.

    Yet electronic voting machines are not without controversy. Security concerns after the 2016 US election resulted in 94% of districts shifting to optical scanning, and use of “direct-recording” electronic voting machines almost halved.

    Ireland invested €50 million (A$88 million) into electronic voting machines in 2002, but they were never used due to concerns about potential tampering.

    Australia should explore secure options for electronic voting machines and online voting. In its response to The Conversation, the AEC said this would be a matter for parliament to consider, because the law currently demands that elections are in-person events.

    Can social media campaigning help?

    Social media enables candidates and voters to engage in new ways. For instance, Labor senators Katy Gallagher and Penny Wong took part in a Facebook “pop quiz” on April 29, which had 55,000 views. But social media can amplify misinformation, so consumers need to fact-check what they see and hear online.

    Combined, the parties and affiliated groups spent more than A$39 million on advertisements on YouTube, Facebook and Google during the 2025 campaign. The AEC had to update its authorisation guidelines to cover podcasters and other content creators.

    This mirrors global shifts towards social media campaigning. During Canada’s 2025 campaign, Liberal leader Mark Carney (who went on to be elected prime minister) created a video with celebrity Mike Myers, reaching 10 million views.

    While such creative approaches may engage voters, they still carry a carbon footprint. Carney and Myers’ video likely produced about six tonnes of CO₂ emissions due to the energy and electricity used in production, streaming and viewing.

    Mike Myers and Mark Carney used social media creatively in Canada’s 2025 election campaign.

    Text messages also connect candidates with voters. Clive Palmer’s Trumpet of Patriots party sent 17 million texts the election campaign. This equates to 240kg of CO₂ emissions from energy-hungry data centres and personal devices.

    This is less than the emissions the average Australian produces in a week. However, the unsolicited texts riled many voters, many concerned about privacy and who wanted to opt out.

    What’s the solution?

    Australia should mandate a reduction in the disposal of election materials.

    Some print materials may always be needed, because not all voters can access digital content or vote online. But the current situation is unsustainable.

    Global experiences show innovation is possible. Australia can reduce its reliance on new, physical materials, while maintaining public trust.

    Australia’s newly elected officials have an opportunity to green future elections, adopting a more sophisticated approach to voting in a digital age. There’s no excuse for producing mountains of plastic and paper waste every three or four years. Our nation deserves better.

    Lisa M. Given receives funding from the Australian Research Council. She is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and the Association for Information Science and Technology.

    Gary Rosengarten receives funding from the Australian Research Council, Australian Renewable Energy Agency and the Renewable Affordable Clean Energy for 2030 CRC, and is a non-executive board member of the Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity.

    Matt Duckham does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. A rubbish election: voting in Australia produces mountains of waste – but there’s a better way – https://theconversation.com/a-rubbish-election-voting-in-australia-produces-mountains-of-waste-but-theres-a-better-way-255780

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese astronauts back from six-month mission with record-setting space tasks

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    The return capsule of the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship, carrying astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, touches down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, April 30, 2025. The three astronauts are all in good health condition, according to the China Manned Space Agency. (Xinhua/Ma Jinrui)

    The return capsule of the Shenzhou-19 spacecraft landed smoothly Wednesday in the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, with the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) declaring the mission a success.

    By 2:02 p.m., the Shenzhou-19 crew, Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, had all left the return capsule. They had spent 183 days in orbit and are all in good health, the CMSA said.

    The mission set a world record for the longest single-time extravehicular activities (EVAs), and witnessed two historic milestones, namely, Commander Cai Xuzhe fulfilling the most EVA tasks to date in China and the nation’s first female flight engineer aboard the Tiangong space station.

    Cai has carried out five EVAs in two spaceflight missions, meaning he has completed more EVAs than any other Chinese astronaut.

    “Gazing at the beautiful blue planet countless times in space, I am constantly reminded that this is our shared home, one that we must all work together to protect,” said the 48-year-old mission commander, sitting in a chair in front of the capsule.

    Astronaut Cai Xuzhe is out of the return capsule of the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship at the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, April 30, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

    Song Lingdong is the first post-90s Chinese astronaut to conduct EVAs.

    “We have transformed the dedication and hard work of all the researchers into fruitful scientific achievements,” said Song. “We are extremely proud of that.”

    Wang Haoze is China’s first female spaceflight engineer to enter the space station.

    “It feels wonderful to be home, to feel the solid ground beneath my feet once again,” said Wang. “I am now confident and capable of taking on even more challenging tasks in the future.”

    The Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship, launched in October 2024, separated from the space station combination at 4 a.m. After undocking from Tiangong, the spacecraft executed a fast return mode, said Mao Yongjun, an expert from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

    At 12:17 p.m. (Beijing Time), the Beijing Aerospace Control Center issued a return command through the ground station, and the orbital capsule of the Shenzhou-19 spaceship separated from the return capsule.

    Then the brake engine ignited, and the return capsule separated from the propulsion capsule. The return capsule touched down at 1:08 p.m. at the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the CMSA said.

    The return of the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship, originally scheduled for Tuesday, had been postponed due to unfavorable wind conditions at the Dongfeng landing site, according to the CMSA.

    This return mission featured two technological improvements. Helicopters and search vehicles were equipped with BDS-3 terminals, thus enhancing positioning accuracy and efficiency for ground recovery, Mao said.

    According to Mao, a laser meteorological radar was installed near the landing site to obtain detailed wind field data, boosting forecast accuracy from kilometers to within hundreds of meters.

    Astronaut Song Lingdong is out of the return capsule of the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship at the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, April 30, 2025. (Xinhua/Bei He)

    LONGEST SPACEWALK

    During the mission, the Shenzhou-19 crew completed three EVAs, setting a world duration record of nine hours for single-time EVAs, said CMSA spokesperson Lin Xiqiang at a previous press conference.

    The crew successfully resolved an unexpected payload adapter jamming problem during their first EVA, ensuring the success of subsequent experiments, Lin said.

    China’s Feitian (“Flying in Space”) extravehicular suits have demonstrated exceptional reliability, having been used for 19 EVAs since the Shenzhou-12 mission, and the most frequently worn suit has been used 17 times, according to Lin.

    Lin said that the space station’s robotic arms, which can be connected and “crawl” on the exterior of the space cabins due to their unique designs, enable astronauts to access all EVA areas.

    Additionally, the coordination support system between space and ground has been refined to provide robust professional backing for EVA planning, real-time control, cross-system collaboration and emergency response.

    Astronaut Wang Haoze is out of the return capsule of the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship at the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, April 30, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

    RECORD EXPERIMENTS

    The Shenzhou-19 crew accomplished multiple scientific firsts aboard the space station.

    For the first time globally, they achieved orbital preparation of spinor Bose-Einstein condensates using an all-optical trap, said Lin.

    In Tiangong, the crew established the world’s first space-based optical lattice platform for quantum simulations, with atomic temperatures cooled to tens of picokelvins, reaching an internationally leading level.

    The trio has successfully bred three generations of fruit flies in orbit, collecting over four terabytes of video data documenting their growth, sleep patterns, locomotor activity and reproductive behaviors.

    Upon return, researchers on the ground will analyze the samples brought back by Shenzhou-19 to study the effects of microgravity and a hypomagnetic field on living organisms.

    They have participated in 88 projects spanning space life science, microgravity, fundamental physics, space materials, space medicine, and new space technologies, achieving notable results, said Lin.

    The Shenzhou-19 mission generated over 102 samples of 13 types, which have been returned to Earth for in-depth analysis by scientists. These studies are expected to produce scientific outcomes in fundamental research, new materials, space radiation effects and hypomagnetic biological mechanisms.

    A CMSA video clip has revealed the Shenzhou-19 crew conducting an in-orbit trial of a specialized in-cabin robot — a pipeline inspection system. The astronauts constructed simulated pipelines of varying diameters to assess the robot’s mobility, successfully demonstrating its ability to navigate through pipes of different sizes.

    The pipeline inspection robot, featuring 23 degrees of freedom, draws biological inspiration from echinoderm animals like starfish and sea cucumbers, mimicking their tube feet with an innovative movement mechanism.

    Equipped with an intelligent control system, it processes real-time sensor data to precisely calculate its position and location, enabling navigation through the space station’s pipe network while maintaining operational safety in confined spaces.

    The crew’s work log recorded the human-machine collaborative experiment with an intelligent flying robot “Xiaohang” designed by the Harbin Institute of Technology.

    The voice-controlled intelligent robot can assist astronauts with multiple orbital operations, including taking photos, inspections, materials management and product state examination.

    During the mission, the Shenzhou-19 crew carried out tests using brainwave experiment device and the data will be used to investigate how gravity impacts the processing of visual motion information and to reveal the cognitive and neural mechanisms of human perception in microgravity.

    Last November, the three Chinese astronauts connected with some Bulgarian youth via video links, sharing their space exploration experiences and answering questions about their work and life aboard Tiangong.

    In December, an art exhibition themed “I Love My Motherland” took place simultaneously on the space station and in Beijing and Macao. This marked the fourth exhibition aboard Tiangong and the first to occur in both space and on Earth. The exhibition featured 75 artworks selected from over 20,000 submissions by Chinese teenagers. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Pilot FTZs in China’s coastal regions unwaveringly deepen opening up

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    As China marks the 10th anniversary of establishing three pilot free trade zones (FTZs) in its coastal regions, the country has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to deepening reform and advancing high-level opening up.

    Over the past decade, the pilot FTZs in Tianjin municipality and provinces of Guangdong and Fujian have yielded numerous achievements in institutional innovation, trade facilitation and industrial development.

    EXPERIMENTAL POLICIES

    In the Nansha area of the Guangdong pilot FTZ, citizens and tourists can hail a self-driving vehicle, which runs across the district populated by about a million residents.

    Pony.ai, a Chinese autonomous driving technology developer, set up its research and development center in Nansha in 2017, the year after its establishment. At the time, China had yet to introduce policies on autonomous driving. With the pilot FTZ’s policies, Guangzhou chose to pioneer and experiment with drafting regulations, paving the way for the legalization of autonomous vehicle road testing.

    The policies of pilot FTZs have benefited both domestic and international businesses.

    In response to the needs of airlines and maintenance enterprises, authorities in the Tianjin pilot FTZ have tailored and introduced bonded maintenance policies, enabling aviation companies worldwide to enjoy more convenient services for both routine maintenance and passenger-to-cargo conversions in the pilot FTZ.

    Under the previous customs rules, aircraft conversions required prepayment of import duties and a deposit of approximately 10 million yuan (about 1.39 million U.S. dollars), which would be refunded about six months after the completion of the three-month conversion process. At the same time, maintenance companies had to lease warehouses in a bonded zone for parts storage.

    However, since 2019, the Tianjin pilot FTZ’s bonded maintenance initiative has removed the deposit requirement, enabling foreign aircraft to be serviced in this zone without upfront capital expenditure.

    This initiative saves the aircraft maintenance company Tianjin Haite Aircraft Engineering Co., Ltd. approximately 50,000 yuan a month in warehouse rental costs, as it can now store maintenance components in its own facility. “Our overseas revenue has soared from 2 million U.S. dollars in 2019 to 15.5 million U.S. dollars in 2025, thanks to the zone’s bonded maintenance policy,” said Li Han, the company’s deputy general manager.

    The Fujian pilot FTZ has also implemented multiple experimental policies to boost cross-border trade, including streamlining the administrative approval process, shortening the customs clearance period, and granting equal treatment to domestic and foreign enterprises.

    Taking customs clearance as an example, Fujian has offered one-stop customs clearance services for companies in the pilot FTZ areas, which allows them to apply for customs clearance without docking the vessels. The policy has reduced logistics costs by 28 percent and improved customs clearance efficiency by 30 percent on average.

    Zhongjing Petrochemical Group Co., Ltd., a polypropylene producer located in the Fuzhou area of the Fujian pilot FTZ, requires substantial production materials imported from overseas each year. Under the traditional customs declaration model, vessels must wait for the declaration and inspection of all cargo before unloading, incurring daily port stay-over costs of up to 360,000 yuan per vessel.

    The local customs authority conducted on-site research and tailored a “compartmentalized declaration and inspection upon unloading” supervision model. This has resulted in an average reduction of one day in the operational cycle for individual vessels.

    Huang Min, deputy general manager of the company, said the new customs measures have improved the efficiency of their raw material turnover by nearly 30 percent. “This is particularly crucial for bulk hazardous materials such as propane, which have high demands for storage and transportation timeliness.”

    The optimization of the customs clearance process ensures continuous operation of production lines. “This year, we plan to expand our production capacity and anticipate importing approximately 2.6 million tonnes of propane and other materials, with the new model expected to save us over 20 million yuan in port stay fees,” Huang said.

    DEEPENING OPENING UP

    “The three pilot FTZs have comprehensively deepened reform and led high-standard opening up with high-level modern industrial clusters,” Meng Huating, a commerce ministry official, told a press conference last week.

    The Guangdong pilot FTZ has seen its total trade volume surge from approximately 110 billion yuan in 2015 to around 740 billion yuan in 2024, achieving an average annual growth rate of over 24 percent. The Fujian pilot FTZ has 138,000 newly established enterprises, 8.8 times the number before its establishment. The official said that the Tianjin counterpart has attracted an average annual utilization of foreign investment exceeding 2 billion U.S. dollars, contributing more than 40 percent of the city’s total actual foreign investment while occupying just 1 percent of its land area.

    In the Qianhai and Shekou areas of the Guangdong pilot FTZ, authorities have been attracting more global talent as a move to drive deeper opening up.

    To solve their work and living problems, global professionals can visit the Qianhai International Talent Hub, a one-stop center offering 700 government and business services, including streamlined visa and work permit processing.

    The hub has also launched an “In Qianhai” online portal, which has provided employment information, business policies and other customized support for 48,000 people.

    To make financial activities more convenient, the Tianjin pilot FTZ has established over 3,000 Free Trade (FT) accounts to bolster cross-border trade and investment for domestic and international enterprises, with transaction volume surpassing 1.15 trillion yuan.

    Previously, companies needed to have multiple accounts and go through intricate processes — including currency conversion — to procure foreign goods. FT accounts now enable direct payments in Chinese currency, renminbi, and foreign currencies through a unified account, offering flexible financing solutions and competitive onshore-offshore exchange rates.

    Bank of China has customized financial products by integrating FT accounts with local specialized industries, such as leasing and shipping logistics, providing one-stop services like online freight settlement, asset trading and cross-border financing.

    “FT accounts streamline cross-border transactions, reduce costs and enhance returns for businesses,” said Sun Yong, vice president of the bank’s Tianjin branch.

    With a global eye, the Xiamen pilot FTZ area in Fujian has been facilitating more convenient trade by taking advantage of its coastal location with ports and shipping facilities.

    The area is endeavoring to build a hub connecting the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, while building an interconnected economic corridor. So far, 122 shipping routes named after the “Silk Road Maritime” have been opened, linking 46 countries and 145 ports.

    To date, China has set up 22 pilot FTZs. In 2024, they attracted 28.25 billion dollars of foreign direct investment in actual use, accounting for 24.3 percent of the country’s total, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

    China established its first pilot FTZ in Shanghai in 2013, with the major mission of trialing transformative reforms in government functions, the country’s financial system, trade services, foreign investment and taxation, and pilot policies that could later be applied across the country.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: At 4,534 meters above sea level, they help monitor world climate change

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    In the early morning, Shi Kaihao struggles to run against the wind. The sharp breeze cuts through his clothes, but he is focused on his task: dragging a two-meter-diameter hydrogen balloon to the sky.

    Twice a day, with the help of his colleagues, he fills the balloon with hydrogen, hangs sensors that measure temperature, humidity, wind speed and other meteorological data at the bottom of the balloon, and releases it into the air.

    Shi, 28, works at the Tuotuohe Meteorological Station at an altitude of 4,534 meters, located at the source of the Yangtze River in the city of Golmud, northwest China’s Qinghai Province.

    This photo taken with a mobile phone shows a staff member inflating a weather balloon at the Tuotuohe Meteorological Station in northwest China’s Qinghai Province, March 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Linhai)

    Since its establishment in 1956, meteorologists have been stationed there, obtaining precious meteorological data and contributing to the climate observation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known as “the roof of the world.”

    Releasing balloons in this high-altitude area is no easy feat, considering the oxygen content in the air is less than 60 percent of that at sea level and the maximum wind speed reaches 17 meters per second. Even in spring, temperatures remain far below freezing, and the thin air makes every movement exhausting.

    “Sometimes, some of our slighter colleagues get dragged by the wind while running to release the balloon, ending up thrown hard to the ground,” said Shi.

    In addition to upper-air meteorological observations, he and his colleagues carry out fieldwork including permafrost monitoring, temperature measurements and ecological surveys.

    This photo taken with a mobile phone shows a staff member adjusting a meteorological observation device at the Tuotuohe Meteorological Station in northwest China’s Qinghai Province, June 30, 2024. (Golmud’s meteorological bureau/Handout via Xinhua)

    Miao Peilin, head of the station, said the upper-air detection measurements contribute to global meteorological data exchange, providing a vital reference for studying worldwide weather patterns and climate change on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

    “Despite various hardships, we know that our meteorological observation data is of great significance,” said Miao, 36.

    The station now has nine workers. Miao not only works with the team on daily weather monitoring tasks but also takes care of his colleagues, aged between 25 and 30. He said many young people struggle to adapt here, spending years in solitude.

    “After working here for a while, even traffic in the city feels scary,” he said.

    A staff member operates a meteorological observation device at the Tuotuohe Meteorological Station in northwest China’s Qinghai Province, March 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue)

    The station keeps a cat and this lively little companion brings joy to their otherwise quiet and routine-filled days.

    Over the decades, the station has witnessed enormous changes. Wang Shengcang, the observation center director of Golmud’s meteorological bureau, used to work in the station for 12 years, starting in 1993. Back then, before the railway line had been built, he and his colleagues had to hitch a lift on trucks to get to the station from the city proper. The trip took up to two days if it was snowy. Supplies were scarce, often little more than potatoes and cabbage.

    “A monthly letter from home became my meager comfort,” said Wang, now 54.

    The working conditions there have greatly improved, with makeshift facilities transformed into brick-and-mortar houses and dormitories with an oxygen supply.

    Staff members pose for a group photo at the Tuotuohe Meteorological Station in northwest China’s Qinghai Province, March 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue)

    Equipment upgrades have also enhanced meteorological data automation and accuracy. In 2023, the new BeiDou satellite-based navigation sounding system became operational, enabling real-time acquisition of second-level atmospheric data during the ascent, float and descent stages of weather balloons. This significantly enhances vertical atmospheric sounding capabilities and greatly improves meteorological support for disaster prevention and mitigation.

    Data from the Tuotuohe Meteorological Station shows that over the past 30 years, the average annual temperature in the area has risen by 1.1 degrees Celsius, annual precipitation has increased by 13.8 percent, and the number of sandstorm days has decreased from an average of 11.1 days per year to 5 days compared with the 1971-2000 period.

    Zhang Chengxiang, head of Golmud’s meteorological bureau, said that rising temperatures and increased precipitation confirmed the warming and humidification trend of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. At the same time, the decrease in sandstorms and strong winds is attributed to ecological conservation efforts such as desert control and grassland restoration in nearby regions like the Sanjiangyuan, an area that contains the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers.

    “The data serves as strong evidence of climate change on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and provides important references for permafrost research and ecological management on the plateau,” he said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China unveils draft of its first-ever environmental code

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    China is poised for a significant enhancement in its green efforts as a draft of the country’s first-ever environmental code was unveiled on Sunday.

    The draft, submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) for a first reading, comprises 1,188 articles in five chapters including the general provisions, pollution prevention and control, ecological protection, green and low-carbon development, legal liability and supplementary provisions.

    Once adopted, it will become China’s second formal statutory code, after the Civil Code, which was adopted in 2020. The compilation of the environmental code was initiated in 2023.

    An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 5, 2024 shows a view of Yuehu Park and city skyline of Ningbo City, east China’s Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

    China formulated its first environmental protection law in 1979. Ever since, the country has rapidly advanced its legislation on environmental protection. Today, China boasts over 30 laws, more than 100 administrative regulations and numerous other legal documents in this field, forming a relatively comprehensive legal framework.

    The compilation of the code facilitates the systematic integration of legislation, fills gaps in the legal framework, elevates the status and authority of eco-environmental laws, and makes their enforcement and compliance more convenient, said Wang Canfa, a professor at China University of Political Science and Law.

    China has long been a champion of green development. After decades of sustained efforts, the country has emerged as a global leader in improving air quality and expanding forest resources.

    An aerial drone photo taken on May 14, 2023 shows people walking at the Changxing forest farm in Dongxing Town of Rongxian County, southwest China’s Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

    In 2024, China saw significant improvements in its air quality. The average concentration of PM2.5 in cities at or above the prefecture level was 29.3 micrograms per cubic meter, a year-on-year decrease of 2.7 percent. The country is also home to the world’s largest total human-made forest area. In 2024 alone, China planted 4.45 million hectares of trees and improved 3.22 million hectares of grassland.

    However, the country’s drive to strengthen ecological conservation remains at a critical stage, facing considerable challenges, and the mission to build a Beautiful China and advance modernization in harmony with nature still requires significant and sustained efforts, Shen Chunyao, director of the NPC Standing Committee’s Legislative Affairs Commission, said on Sunday during an ongoing session of the top legislature when explaining the necessity of the draft code to lawmakers.

    During the session, scheduled from April 27 to 30, the lawmakers will review the draft environmental code, and other legislative bills.

    The draft outlines China’s overall requirements for green and low-carbon development. It establishes principles and guiding provisions on issues related to climate change and carbon peaking and neutrality goals, giving full consideration to both international and domestic situations and the need for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

    China will also engage in international cooperation on climate change, participate in, contribute to, and lead global climate governance efforts, according to the draft.

    An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 1, 2024 shows the scenery of Mount Chomolhari in Yadong County of Xigaze City, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

    “Addressing climate change is a global challenge,” said Zhang Zhongmin, a professor at the law school of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law. He added that the draft balances both international and domestic efforts, emphasizes mitigation and adaptation, and includes provisions for international cooperation, which will help enhance its international influence.

    The draft also includes provisions for preventing and controlling pollution in various fields, specifically addressing air pollution, water pollution, soil contamination, as well as issues related to solid waste, noise, radioactive pollution sources, chemical substances, electromagnetic radiation, and light pollution.

    The ecological protection chapter of the draft emphasizes the importance of safeguarding ecosystems, specifying that the country will enhance conservation efforts for forests, grasslands, wetlands, seas and marine islands, rivers, lakes, deserts, snow-capped mountains, glaciers, and croplands. It also calls for the advancement of major projects focused on protecting and restoring key ecosystems.

    An aerial drone photo taken on July 6, 2024 shows short-finned pilot whales swimming in the waters east of Hainan Island, south China. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)

    “The promulgation and implementation of the code will promote the integrated protection of air, water, soil, and biodiversity, as well as the coordinated management of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, and deserts,” Wang said.

    China’s environmental law codification seeks to strike a balance between economic and social development and environmental protection, in contrast to some countries that focus primarily on either environmental preservation or economic gains, Wang said.

    Speaking to the media, Lyu Zhongmei, vice chairperson of the NPC Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee, said that China’s environmental code should be rooted in the country’s national conditions, while also drawing on best practices and learning from the experiences of the codification efforts of other nations.

    “Having a separate chapter on green and low-carbon development is something that has never been done in other countries, and it is a significant feature of China’s ecological environmental code,” said Lyu. “This highlights the important value of our efforts in compiling this code, which is to implement the new development philosophy.”

    Highlighting the code’s global significance, Lyu said that, based on the fundamental concept of sustainable development, the code will become a landmark achievement in global ecological progress, offering a legislative model for other countries to follow and leading the way in the development of ecological law worldwide. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Torres on GOP “Skinny Budget”: A Full-On Assault on Working Families, Trump’s Plan to Make America Unsafe Again

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

    May 02, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35) issued a statement on the administration’s plan for Fiscal Year 2026, calling it a dangerous, extremist blueprint ripped straight from Donald Trump’s playbook — a plan to Make America Unsafe Again.

    “Let’s be clear: this isn’t a budget — it’s a declaration of war on working families. Republicans want to gut the programs that keep our kids in school, our families healthy, and our communities safe — just to bankroll tax cuts for billionaires and Trump’s MAGA cronies. Even by their own math, the Trump-Musk budget slashes $163 billion from domestic investments — a brutal 23% cut,” said Torres. “These aren’t just numbers on a page — they’re programs that families in the Inland Empire rely on to make ends meet. Meanwhile, Republicans want to gut $880 billion from Medicaid, raid Social Security, and permanently freeze over $400 billion owed to the American people. All to protect yacht-buying tax breaks? Not on my watch.”

    The Trump-Musk budget would: 

    Raise the Cost of Living and Harm the Economy

    • Evict hundreds of thousands of seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities by slashing affordable housing programs — and force homeless shelters to halt operations, even as more than 771,000 people are experiencing homelessness.

    • Zero out the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, turning off the heat and air conditioning for 6 million households.

    • Eliminate the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, forcing more than 1,000 mayors and governors to abandon street, water, and sewer improvements and vital services for youth and seniors.

    Decimate Public Education

    • Make it harder for students to afford college by need-based financial aid for 1.7 million students by cutting Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) and ending the Federal Work Study Program for more than 500,000 students.

    • Eliminate English Language Acquisition programs, cutting services for over 5 million English learners.

    Make Americans Less Safe

    • Slash funding for public safety by cutting resources at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

    • Eliminate thousands of FBI positions, including intelligence analysts who help prevent domestic and international threats.

    • Defund grants to prevent hate crimes and protect civil rights.

    • Cut weather satellite funding, crippling storm forecasting and emergency response capabilities during natural disasters.

    Make Communities Less Healthy

    • Eviscerate the CDC by eliminating dozens of programs — from HIV/AIDS, tobacco, and asthma prevention to maternal health and emergency preparedness.

    • Slash substance use prevention and treatment programs at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, undermining the fight against opioids.

    • Cut food assistance programs, including the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which provides food assistance for seniors.

    • Slash NIH funding by 40%, halting progress toward cures for cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and more.

    • Eliminate air pollution control programs, increasing Americans’ exposure to harmful pollutants.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Torres, Padilla, Schiff, Slam DHS Immigration Enforcement in Pomona Harming Economy, CA Communities

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

    May 02, 2025

    Lawmakers urge DHS to “focus enforcement against those who pose a legitimate risk to public safety and to work with Congress on a pathway to citizenship for the immigrants who are essential to our economic success

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representative Norma Torres (D-Calif.-35), U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), condemned the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) indiscriminate immigration enforcement raids in Pomona, California as part of President Trump’s cruel mass deportation agenda that are terrorizing California communities and harming the economy. The lawmakers demanded answers on recent egregious DHS enforcement actions — without notice or coordination — including the arrest of at least 10 day laborers outside of a Home Depot, the detainment of a small business owner at gunpoint outside of his barbershop, and an enforcement raid at a Pomona auto body shop conducted with the Riverside County Sherriff’s department.

    Padilla, Schiff, and Torres underscored the deep distrust and economic chaos these enforcement raids foster, hurting entire communities and national supply chains and keeping consumers at home out of fear.

    “We write with deep concern regarding recent immigration enforcement actions conducted in Pomona, California, that have caused widespread fear, disrupted local businesses, and harmed community trust in law enforcement,” wrote the lawmakers.

    “Enforcement actions that indiscriminately disrupt immigrant communities – particularly without transparency or local coordination – threaten not only individual rights but also the economic stability and public safety of entire cities like Pomona,” continued the lawmakers. “Pomona’s small businesses are already feeling the impact. Customers are afraid to shop. Workers are afraid to show up for work.”

    The lawmakers highlighted that California’s economy — now the fourth largest in the world — relies on the contributions of immigrant labor, as immigrants and their children make up the majority (55 percent) of California’s workforce, with immigrants alone comprising 34 percent of the state’s population. Last year, undocumented immigrants contributed $87 billion in household income, $66 billion in spending power, $50 billion to Social Security, and $14 billion to Medicare. They emphasized that immigrant workers make up a significant portion of California’s leading agriculture, health care, and construction sectors. Immigrant construction workers comprise over 40 percent of California’s construction workforce, and are already doing essential work to help Los Angeles County rebuild from the devastating wildfires earlier this year.

    The lawmakers stressed that rather than indiscriminately targeting long-term residents with no criminal records, DHS should work with Congress to help provide these immigrants with a pathway to citizenship. Senator Padilla previously introduced the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act, which would create a pathway to citizenship for immigrant essential workers, including Dreamers, as his first bill in Congress.

    “While no one disagrees with targeting violent criminals for deportation, the enforcement actions in Pomona demonstrate that the Department is indiscriminately targeting all noncitizens for removal — including those who have no criminal records and who have been living in and contributing to our communities for decades,” added the lawmakers.“These actions do not make us safer and are contrary to the ideals that we all stand for. We urge you to instead focus enforcement against those who pose a legitimate risk to public safety and to work with Congress on a pathway to citizenship for the immigrants who are essential to our economic success.”

    The lawmakers concluded their letter by demanding information on the raids, including why local officials were not notified and what steps DHS is taking to rebuild trust with immigrant communities.

    “We urge your Department to review these operations carefully and to recommit to an immigration enforcement strategy that prioritizes public safety, upholds civil rights, and reflects the economic realities and moral values of our nation,” concluded the lawmakers.

    Senator Padilla blasted the Pomona immigration raids last week, emphasizing that indiscriminate immigrant enforcement hurts our communities and economy.

    Full text of the letter is available here and below:

    Dear Secretary Noem,

    We write with deep concern regarding recent immigration enforcement actions conducted in Pomona, California, that have caused widespread fear, disrupted local businesses, and harmed community trust in law enforcement.

    According to press reports, the City of Pomona in our home state of California has been at the epicenter of recent immigration enforcement activity, much of which has been conducted without giving notice to local officials:

    • On Tuesday, April 22, Martin Majin-Leon, a long-time resident and small business owner, was detained at gunpoint in front of his barbershop, terrorizing his family and community. He was released after 30 hours, but the trauma persists. Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval expressed frustration, commenting to federal officials that they were “terrorizing our community.” Reports suggest DMV records may have played a role in his targeting, raising concerns about data-sharing between state agencies and federal immigration authorities.
    • Meanwhile, that same day, federal immigration enforcement agents detained as many as 20 day laborers outside a Home Depot in Pomona, where witnesses saw agents arrive in marked and unmarked vehicles around 8 a.m. The Pomona Police Department had no prior knowledge of the operation, and conflicting reports have persisted regarding whether U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), or other federal law enforcement entities were responsible for the detentions.
    • Later that week, on Friday, April 25, another major enforcement action occurred at Moon Auto Collision in Pomona, executed jointly by Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies and Homeland Security Special Response Teams under the auspices of a narcotics warrant. Pomona city officials, including Mayor Tim Sandoval, were given no prior notice. Mayor Sandoval, upon visiting the scene, underscored the devastating impact these operations have had on community trust and the economic health of local businesses.

    Enforcement actions that indiscriminately disrupt immigrant communities – particularly without transparency or local coordination – threaten not only individual rights but also the economic stability and public safety of entire cities like Pomona. Pomona’s small businesses are already feeling the impact. Customers are afraid to shop. Workers are afraid to show up for work. One local business owner told reporters, “Customers are scared. They are not coming to buy anything. They are not coming to get repairs done.”

    While no one disagrees with targeting violent criminals for deportation, the enforcement actions in Pomona demonstrate that the Department is indiscriminately targeting all noncitizens for removal — including those who have no criminal records and who have been living in and contributing to our communities for decades. These actions do not make us safer and are contrary to the ideals that we all stand for. We urge you to instead focus enforcement against those who pose a legitimate risk to public safety and to work with Congress on a pathway to citizenship for the immigrants who are essential to our economic success.

    California’s economy – now the fourth largest in the world – demonstrates the strength and contributions of immigrant labor. Immigrants and their children comprise 55 percent of California’s workforce. Immigrants alone account for 34 percent of the state’s population and paid $168 billion in taxes last year, while generating over $400 billion in spending power. Undocumented immigrants contributed $87 billion in household income and $66 billion in spending power, alongside $50 billion to Social Security and $14 billion to Medicare.

    Additionally, in the wake of the destructive wildfires that devastated Los Angeles County earlier this year, immigrant construction workers—who make up more than 40 percent of the workforce in California—are essential to the community’s ability to rebuild and recover. Put simply, in critical sectors such as agriculture, construction, and health care, immigrant workers are indispensable to our community.

    Accordingly, we respectfully request answers to the following:

    1. Why weren’t local officials in Pomona notified about recent enforcement actions?

    2. Which federal law enforcement entities were involved in or aware of these enforcement actions?

    3. Has DHS responded to local law enforcement’s request for answers?

    4. What protocols exist to coordinate with local law enforcement and elected officials before conducting large-scale enforcement actions?

    5. How does DHS plan to comply with the April 29, 2025 court order from the Eastern District of California barring Border Patrol agents from detaining or arresting individuals without reasonable suspicion of illegal presence, as required by the Fourth Amendment?

    6. Was California Department of Motor Vehicles data accessed in the case of Martin Majin-Leon?

    7. What safeguards exist to prevent improper use of state data for immigration enforcement purposes?

    8. What steps is DHS taking to rebuild trust with immigrant communities that have been traumatized by these events?

    We urge your Department to review these operations carefully and to recommit to an immigration enforcement strategy that prioritizes public safety, upholds civil rights, and reflects the economic realities and moral values of our nation.

    Thank you for your prompt attention to this urgent matter.

    Sincerely,

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia can no longer take a ‘business as usual’ approach to the US. On security, it’s time for courage and confidence

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joanne Wallis, Professor of International Security, University of Adelaide

    The re-election of the Albanese Labor government by such a wide margin should not mean “business as usual” for Australia’s security policy.

    The global uncertainty instigated by US President Donald Trump means Australia’s security landscape is very different today from when Labor was first elected in 2022, or even when its Defence Strategic Review was released in 2023.

    As we argue in our recent book, the Albanese government faces increasingly difficult questions.

    How can we maintain our critical security alliance with the US while deepening partnerships with other countries that have reservations about US policy?

    And, given Trump’s recent actions, how much can we continue to rely on the United States and what are the potential costs of the alliance?

    With a massive parliamentary majority, the new government has an opportunity for bold thinking on national security. This is not the time for Australia to keep its head down – we need to face the rapidly changing world with our heads held high.



    Read more:
    Blaming Donald Trump for conservative losses in both Canada and Australia is being too kind to Peter Dutton

    Trump 2.0 is not the same as 1.0

    We do not advocate Australia step away from the US alliance. We are also realistic that decades of defence procurement mean Australia is heavily reliant on US defence materiel (and its subsequent sustainment) for our security.

    The deep interoperability between the Australian Defence Force and the US military is something alliance sceptics too readily gloss over: much Australian military capability cannot function without ongoing American support.

    At the same time, many alliance advocates underestimate the impact of the new challenges we face. Some assumed a continuity between the first and second Trump administrations. However, we are not convinced the lessons learned from Trump 1.0 are still valid.

    A key difference between Trump 1.0 and 2.0 is the effect of his move away from respecting international law.

    For example, the US has voted with Russia against UN Security Council resolutions condemning the Ukraine war, withdrawn from the Paris Climate Agreement and World Health Organization, and damaged relations with NATO allies, among many other actions.

    As a middle power, Australia has long relied on the “rules-based order” to advance its foreign and strategic policy interests.

    Even if “normal transmission” resumes under a new US president in 2029, we are concerned the Trump administration’s structural changes to the international order will not easily be wound back. American soft power has been decimated by cuts to the US State Department, USAID and international broadcasting services. This will also not be rebuilt quickly.

    A second difference is there are few “adults left in the room” in the Trump administration.

    The advisers who kept Trump in check during his first administration have been replaced by loyalists less likely to push back against his ideas and impulses. This includes his long-held grievance that allies have been exploiting the US.

    The Albanese government needs to think more deeply about how to hedge against dependence on the US. This means investing in relations with other partners, especially in Asia and the Pacific, and working with them to promote the laws, rules and norms that maintain stability and predictability in global affairs.

    An idealistic vision for the future

    We are also concerned that many in the national security community base their policy recommendations on the assumption that war between the US and China is inevitable, and such a conflict could draw in Australia as America’s ally.

    Rather, the Trump administration’s preference for “deals” opens the possibility the US and China might come to an arrangement that will affect US presence and leadership in our region.

    Australia may not be prepared for this. The new government must engage in more open discussion about how we would maintain our security if the US does pull back from the region or makes decisions Australians don’t support.

    As a start, we need to consider how Australia can better pursue self-reliance within the alliance structure. We need a range of strategic options in the future that don’t rely on an outdated image of the US as a reliable partner.

    This debate should be guided by what we call “pragmatic idealism”.

    Rather than accepting the way things are, the government and members of the national security community need to re-imagine how things can be.

    We argue the Albanese government should draw confidence from its thumping electoral win to articulate a politics of hope, opportunity and possibility for our future security. This needs to drown out the cynicism, passive acceptance and learned helplessness that often characterises Australian national security debates.

    We are conscious that being “idealistic” is often dismissed as impractical, naïve “wishful thinking”. But the new government needs to demonstrate to Australians it has the courage to face the diverse, interlinked and complex security challenges we face – potentially on our own. These extend to issues such as cyber attacks, transnational crime and climate change.

    Practical steps

    As a first step, the Albanese government urgently needs to commission an integrated National Security Strategy that considers all the tools of statecraft Australia can use to respond to these challenges.

    This means engaging more with partners in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. In particular, Australia should consider investing more heavily in information programs and public diplomacy as the US withdraws from this arena.

    The government must also engage better with the public and be more transparent about its security options and decisions.

    On AUKUS, for instance, the government must build its “social licence” from the public to sustain such a massive deal across generations. Australians need to be better informed about – and consulted on – the decisions they will ultimately pay for.

    This also includes being upfront with Australians about the need for greater defence spending in a tumultuous world.

    It is understandably tempting for the new Albanese government to continue a “small target” when it comes to the US. This has meant minimising domestic debate about the alliance that could undermine support for AUKUS and avoid risking the ire of a thin-skinned Trump.

    But the government needs the courage to ask difficult questions and imagine different futures.

    Joanne Wallis receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the Australian Department of Defence, and the government of South Australia. She is a Senior Nonresident Fellow of the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C.

    Rebecca Strating receives funding from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

    – ref. Australia can no longer take a ‘business as usual’ approach to the US. On security, it’s time for courage and confidence – https://theconversation.com/australia-can-no-longer-take-a-business-as-usual-approach-to-the-us-on-security-its-time-for-courage-and-confidence-255598

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Far right candidate leads Romania’s presidential election rerun: exit polls

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Exit polls showed that George Simion, chairman of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians, took the lead in the first round of the Romanian presidential election rerun on Sunday.

    According to the exit polls conducted by the Center for Urban and Regional Sociology (CURS), Simion garnered 33.1 percent of the vote, followed by Crin Antonescu of the electoral alliance Romania Forward with 22.9 percent and Mayor of Bucharest Nicusor Dan, an independent candidate, with 20.9 percent.

    In another exit poll carried out by the AVANGARDE Socio-Behavioral Studies Group, Simion secured 30 percent of the vote while Antonescu and Dan both had 23 percent.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Singapore’s ruling party clinches landslide victory

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    The decisive victory of Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party in Saturday’s elections gave Prime Minister Lawrence Wong a strong mandate in his first electoral test, extending the party’s 66-year rule in the city-state.

    The PAP secured 65.57 percent of share of the popular votes and won 87 of 97 parliamentary seats. Analysts said the landslide victory ensures that it has “outright political legitimacy” at a time when Singapore’s trade-dependent economy is being challenged by geopolitical tensions.

    Wong thanked the voters for a “clear signal of trust, stability and confidence”.

    “Singaporeans too can draw strength from this and look ahead to our future with confidence. The results will put Singapore in a better position to face this turbulent world,” Wong said on Sunday.

    Tan Ern Ser, an adjunct principal research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies in Singapore, said the PAP “has a strong mandate and competence to help Singapore steer through the treacherous waters ahead”.

    David Black, founder and CEO of polling firm Blackbox Research in Singapore, said Wong has delivered a “decisive victory” for the PAP, giving the party an “outright political legitimacy in their own right”.

    According to a preelection survey conducted by Blackbox Research, the rising cost of living and soaring home prices were top concerns for voters.

    Champa Ha, a 34-year-old researcher, said her salary can barely catch up with the rising cost of living. “I’m worried that someday I might be priced out of a life in Singapore.”

    A 30-year-old marketing executive expressed satisfaction with the PAP’s performance in the past five years but voiced frustration over the government’s decision to raise the goods and services tax. She said she hopes more can be done to help Singaporeans cope with rising living expenses.

    James Chin, a professor of Asian studies at the University of Tasmania in Australia, said Singaporeans are largely worried about living costs and the threat to their rice bowl.

    “With Singaporeans thinking that the state of the economy is in trouble because of what (United States President Donald) Trump is doing in the international arena, they believe it’s better to go to the PAP,” Chin said.

    The main opposition Workers’ Party held on to the 10 seats it won in 2020. However, the WP polled consistently above 40 percent in the wards they lost, and introduced new candidates with strong credentials.

    Voters did not reject the WP outright, said Eugene Tan, an associate professor of law at Singapore Management University. “They signaled that they recognized the WP’s role, but (they) want it to measure up first.”

    MIL OSI China News –