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Category: housing

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Small-scale Test Survey of 2026 Population Census

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Small-scale Test Survey of 2026 Population Census 
         Hong Kong will conduct population census in 2026. The purpose is to obtain up-to-date benchmark information on the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the population of Hong Kong and on its geographical distribution. Such information is important to the Government for planning and policy formulation, and the private sector and academia for business and research purposes respectively.
     
         A sample of some 9 000 quarters located in the Eastern District, Kwun Tong, Sham Shui Po and Tsuen Wan has been selected by the C&SD for the Small-scale Test Survey. Households in the selected quarters will be required to provide information on demographic and socio-economic characteristics. The C&SD will also invite households to provide opinions on the questionnaire design and the census operation.
     
         Households selected for this Survey will receive a notification letter issued by the C&SD. They can follow the information provided in the notification letters to complete the questionnaires through the “Online Questionnaire System”, or call the Census Hotline 18 2026 to conduct telephone interviews. Census officers of this Department will also visit households not yet responded to conduct face-to-face interviews.
     
         The C&SD reminded households that if they have not provided the C&SD with their contact information, the C&SD will not initiate call, send email or SMS to them. Each census officer will wear a vest uniform and carry a Government Identity Card / Enumerator Identity Card and a Certificate of Identity issued by the C&SD for verification. Households can call 18 2026 to check the identity of census officer.
     
         This Survey is conducted under Part IIIA of the Census and Statistics Ordinance (Chapter 316). Information collected regarding individual persons and households will be kept in strict confidence.
     
         For enquiries about the Survey, please call 18 2026.
    Issued at HKT 10:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Business and Politics – RMA reforms will help drive economic development, says EMA

    Source: EMA

    The Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) strongly supports the government’s direction of travel around the two new acts for reforming New Zealand’s resource management laws.
    The current Resource Management Act (RMA) is highly complex and frustrating, says EMA Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald.
    “It has been too difficult to build the infrastructure and houses New Zealand desperately needs,” he says.
    “The proposed changes will allow for more efficient development while respecting environmental protections and property rights.”
    Simplification and standardisation of our resource management systems is desperately needed.
    A streamlined and consistent approach is vital for encouraging economic growth and facilitating much-needed infrastructure development across the country, says McDonald.
    “It’s frustrating for many of our members to find themselves needing new consents to expand existing facilities, such as sawmills, when they already have permission for such activities.
    “The new system should eliminate these unnecessary hurdles, and we strongly support the government’s efforts to ensure that land use is enabled unless there are significant impacts on others or the environment.”
    Spatial planning is critical to ensuring we have sufficient land available for future urban development and the commitment to regional spatial plans allows local decision-making and guides the direction of development while ensuring we have the right infrastructure in place.
    Businesses in New Zealand know protecting the environment is a point of difference for the country, so we look forward to the government providing clear guidelines on environmental limits, says McDonald.
    “The EMA has worked closely with BusinessNZ, Infrastructure New Zealand and the Property Council over the past seven years to help shape these reforms.
    “Our members have played a strong role in guiding this process, and we will continue to work with them, our partners and the government to ensure these reforms are implemented successfully before the next election.
    “We are confident that these new laws will be the foundation for better planning, improved economic outcomes, and enhanced environmental stewardship.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why isn’t there an opposition leader to unite Democrats in the US?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samuel Garrett, Research Associate, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney

    In just two months back in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump has tested the limits of the US Constitution, from overhauling immigration to drastically reducing the federal workforce and dismantling government agencies.

    With Republicans now in control of both the Senate and House of Representatives, Congress has so far shown little sign it will stand in Trump’s way.

    The judiciary is the other branch of government that can check the power of the president. However, the Trump administration has appeared increasingly willing to simply ignore decisions handed down by judges.

    There has also been a notable lack of unified opposition from the Democratic Party.

    Congressional Democrats are demoralised and deeply divided over how to respond to Trump. They face criticism, too, over their apparent lack of strategy.

    This has led some to ask why the United States lacks a formal political opposition leader.

    How opposition leaders operate in other countries

    In the American political system, the loser of the presidential election doesn’t retain a position as leader of the party in opposition. Instead, they tend to disappear from view.

    Kamala Harris is considering a run for governor of California — and could well attempt another run for president in 2028 or beyond. But she hasn’t remained a vocal counterpoint to Trump since he took office.

    By contrast, in countries with Westminster-style parliamentary systems, such as Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada and India, the main party not in power selects an opposition leader from among their ranks. In most countries, this position is defined by convention, not law.

    The opposition leader in many countries serves as the main face — and voice — of the party not in power. They work to keep the government accountable and are seen as the leader of an alternative government-in-waiting.

    What it takes to lead the opposition in the US

    During Trump’s first term, the Democratic speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, was widely recognised as the de facto Democratic opposition leader.

    A skilled negotiator, Pelosi was largely able to unite the Democrats behind her to lead the opposition to Trump’s legislative agenda — famously ripping up a copy of Trump’s State of the Union address on the House podium in 2020.

    As Senate majority and minority leader, Republican Senator Mitch McConnell successfully blocked swathes of legislation during Barack Obama’s presidency. He even thwarted a US Supreme Court nomination.

    In the 1980s, then-Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill led the Democratic opposition to Republican President Ronald Reagan’s domestic agenda, without resorting to obstructionism.

    However, for an opposition figure to have this level of influence, they usually need decades of experience, political skill, and a party in control of the House or Senate.

    The Democrats no longer have a majority in either chamber and are no longer led by Pelosi. Hakeem Jeffries has been the House minority leader since 2023, but without the speaker’s gavel or control of any committees, he has limited influence.

    Party discipline is typically far more unwieldy in the United States compared to other countries. In Australia, for instance, crossing the floor to vote against your own party is very rare.

    Unruly party caucuses make it significantly more difficult for a single party figurehead to emerge unless they command near-universal party loyalty and respect among their members in both chambers.

    Will Democratic cracks shatter the party?

    The Democratic caucus, already strained by Joe Biden’s late withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, is now even more fractured.

    The Democrats continue to grapple with their resounding defeat in November, which saw the party lose ground with almost every demographic across the country. Polling shows public support for the Democrats has slumped to unprecedented lows, with just over a quarter of voters holding a positive view of the party.

    Most dramatically, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer defied fellow Democrats (including Jeffries) by voting in favour of a resolution in recent weeks to avoid a government shutdown. His decision sparked an uproar from his party colleagues.

    Visual images of the party’s disarray were also on clear display during Trump’s joint address to Congress earlier this month. While some representatives protested loudly, others followed leadership instruction to remain silent.

    Democrats were in near lock-step on almost all issues during Trump’s first term, as well as Biden’s presidency. Now, some are calling on Schumer to step aside as minority leader — and for the Democrats to coalesce behind a younger, more outspoken leader such as Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

    Where next for the party?

    In the fractious debates now consuming the party, some see parallels with the emergence of the Tea Party movement within the Republican Party during Barack Obama’s first term in office.

    The current Democratic division could result in the emergence of a stronger dissident faction within the party. And this could push a harder line in opposition to Trump, no longer toeing the line from party leadership.

    Yet, while the political outlook for Democrats may appear bleak, electoral turnarounds can happen quickly in the United States.

    Few expected a demoralised Democratic party to turn John Kerry’s heavy defeat to George W Bush in 2004 into a generational victory just four years later. Similarly, after Obama decisively won reelection against Mitt Romney in 2012, few Republicans could have predicted they’d soon be back in power with Trump.

    But, as was the case 20 years ago, the soul-searching process will be painful for the Democrats. Whether it’s Ocasio-Cortez or another figure, the 2026 midterm elections are likely to be the best opportunity for a new central leader to emerge on the national stage.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Why isn’t there an opposition leader to unite Democrats in the US? – https://theconversation.com/why-isnt-there-an-opposition-leader-to-unite-democrats-in-the-us-252384

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Synchronised bleaching: Ningaloo and the Great Barrier Reef are bleaching in unison for the first time

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zoe Richards, Senior Research Fellow in Marine Biology, Curtin University

    Ningaloo Reef from the air. Violeta Brosig/Shutterstock

    This summer, an intense marine heatwave struck off northwestern Australia, driving sea surface temperatures up to 4°C above the summer average. The large mass of warm water has slowly moved south from the Kimberley region and through the Pilbara, leaving a wave of underwater destruction behind. Now Ningaloo Reef is bleaching in earnest.

    The Great Barrier Reef is bleaching too in the waters from Cape York down to Townsville.

    This appears to be the first time these two World Heritage-listed reefs have bleached in unison. Bleaching may also hit the World Heritage reef at Shark Bay in Western Australia.

    How bad is it? I have just returned from Ningaloo Reef, where I saw widespread bleaching and the first signs of coral mortality. Up to 90% of the coral found in shallow areas of the northern lagoon had bleached. Bleaching doesn’t automatically mean death, but it severely weakens the coral and jeopardises survival.

    At Ningaloo and further south, the heatwave is still unfolding. In coming months, we can expect to see some coral mortality, while other corals will survive the bleaching in poor health only to succumb to disease or other threats such as Drupella (coral-eating snails). Other corals may survive but struggle to reproduce, but some particularly hardy corals with the right combination of genes for surviving this event are expected to live on.

    Why is this happening? No surprises here: our greenhouse gas emissions trap more heat in the atmosphere. Over 90% of the heat pours into the oceans, pushing surface and deep water temperatures higher for longer periods of time.

    How bad has the heat been?

    Coral can tolerate brief periods of higher temperatures. But in response to prolonged heat stress, coral polyps expel their symbiotic zooxanthellae algae. They appear to do this to avoid further tissue damage from toxic reactive oxygen molecules which build up as the coral begins to stress. But these microalgae supply sugary food to the coral polyps in exchange for a home. Without these nutrients, the coral can starve.

    Heat stress is tracked using a measure called “degree heating weeks” (DHW) – essentially, how much above-average heat has built up in an area over the previous three months. Bleaching can begin at four DWH, while eight DHW can kill some corals.

    At Ningaloo, the heat has been off the charts – levels of up to 16 DHW have been recorded, the highest on record for this location.

    On the Great Barrier Reef, bleaching is underway in the northernmost section. This is the sixth bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef this decade. Early data suggests there is severe heat in places, ranging from six to 13 DHW in intensity and alerts remain for more heat and bleaching to come.

    Bleaching is usually worst for corals growing in shallow water, such as the calm lagoons created by fringing or barrier reefs. Lagoons often have clear waters with high light penetration and limited flushing of water.

    Ningaloo in hot water

    Over ten days, we recorded the health and type of every coral we saw at 21 sites along Ningaloo Reef, from Coral Bay to the northern tip of North West Cape and into Exmouth Gulf.

    The worst affected area that we observed was a 30 km stretch at the northern end of the North West Cape, the peninsula along which Ningaloo Reef runs. Here, we saw mass bleaching – up to 90% of corals partly or fully bleaching and some corals were already dying.

    Fast-growing corals from the Acroporid and Pocilloporid families were hard hit, as often seen in other bleaching events. But we also saw slower-growing and normally hardy corals bleaching, such Lobophyllia, Favites and Goniastrea.

    Even the massive Porites corals in the lagoons were suffering. These giant boulder-like corals are the old growth and sentinels of the reef. Many of these ordinarily resilient corals are hundreds of years old and have survived past smaller bleaching events. But this time, they too are severely suffering.

    Not even ocean-facing corals exposed to more water flow were safe. We found 30 to 50% of the corals on the reef slope were bleached to some degree. Coral diseases such as white band disease were already affecting many flat plate corals. These diseases often follow marine heatwaves, as they take advantage of coral’s weakened immune systems and the disruption of the symbiotic relationship between coral polyps and their algae.

    The timing is especially bad for Ningaloo’s corals, which usually spawn around five days after the March full moon, which fell on March 19 this year. By contrast, corals on the Great Barrier Reef tend to spawn between October and December.

    For the reef to recover quickly, it needs yearly influxes of new coral recruits. But if corals are struggling to survive, there is a risk they will not be fit enough to reproduce. Corals take three to six years to become reproductively viable and if bleaching impedes reproduction, it could greatly reduce the number of larvae available to replenish the reef. In addition to that, if immature corals bleach and die, there’s a risk several generations of corals could be lost before reaching maturity.

    Fortunately we did observe healthy and reproductive corals along the outer rim of the lagoon at Coral Bay, and locals have recently reported seeing spawning near Coral Bay. This suggests some coral were indeed healthy enough to spawn.

    What will happen next?

    As the southern hemisphere heads towards winter, the oceans will begin to cool off. That doesn’t mean the threat is over – oceans are only getting hotter.

    If we continue on our current path, simultaneous east and west coast bleaching events could become the new normal – and that would be devastating for our reefs, marine biodiversity, the blue economy and the wellbeing of Australians.

    Zoe Richards receives funding from the Minderoo Foundation. This work was undertaken by the Coral Conservation and Research Group at Curtin University in partnership with the Minderoo Exmouth Research Laboratory.

    – ref. Synchronised bleaching: Ningaloo and the Great Barrier Reef are bleaching in unison for the first time – https://theconversation.com/synchronised-bleaching-ningaloo-and-the-great-barrier-reef-are-bleaching-in-unison-for-the-first-time-252906

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New planning laws to end the culture of ‘no’

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government’s new planning legislation to replace the Resource Management Act will make it easier to get things done while protecting the environment, say Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop and Under-Secretary Simon Court.

    “The RMA is broken and everyone knows it. It makes it too hard to build the infrastructure and houses New Zealand desperately needs, too hard to use our abundant natural resources, and hasn’t resulted in better management of our natural environment,” Mr Bishop says.

    “Replacing the RMA with new legislation premised on property rights is critical to the government’s mission of growing the economy and lifting living standards for New Zealanders.

    “In our first year in office we repealed Labour’s botched RMA reforms and made a series of quick and targeted amendments to provide relief to our primary sector, such as repealing the permitted and restricted discretionary intensive winter grazing regulations. We also passed the Fast-track Approvals Act to make it much easier to deliver projects with regional or nationally significant benefits. 

    “Cabinet has now agreed on the shape of the Government’s replacement legislation, signalling a radical transition to a far more liberal planning system with less red tape, premised on the enjoyment of property rights.

    “Turning our economy around requires changing the culture of ‘no’ that permeates decision making in New Zealand. Whether it’s aquaculture off the coast of the South Island or a new green building replacing a heritage gravel pit next to a train station in the centre of our biggest city, the RMA has obstructed growth instead of enabling it. 

    “That’s all about to change. Enough is enough. 

    “Last year, the Government set ten principles for the new RMA system and tasked an Expert Advisory Group to work at pace to test and further refine these principles and develop a blueprint for reform. The EAG delivered their blueprint earlier this year.

    “Cabinet has agreed that the EAG Blueprint delivers a workable basis for a new planning system and has made in-principle decisions on a range of new features for the system, drawing upon the EAG Blueprint.

    “Economic analysis undertaken on the Blueprint’s proposals show that they are estimated to deliver a 45% improvement in administrative and compliance costs when compared to the current system. Similar analysis done on the last Government’s RMA replacement estimated that it would deliver only a 7% reduction in process costs.”

    Key features of the new system include:

    • Two Acts: A Planning Act focused on regulating the use, development and enjoyment of land, along with a Natural Environment Act focused on the use, protection and enhancement of the natural environment. 
    • A narrowed approach to effects management: The new system will be based on the economic concept of “externalities”. Effects that are borne solely by the party undertaking the activity will not be controlled by the new system (for example, interior building layouts or exterior aspects of buildings that have no impact on neighbouring properties such as the size and configuration of apartments, the provision of balconies, and the configuration of outdoor open spaces for a private dwelling). Matters such as effects on trade competition will be excluded.
    • Property Rights: Both Acts will include starting presumptions that a land use is enabled, unless there is a significant enough impact on either the ability of others to use their own land or on the natural environment. This will reduce the scope of effects being regulated and enable more activities to take place as of right. There will be clear protection for lawfully established existing use rights, including the potential for the reasonable expansion of existing activities over time where the site is ‘zoned or owned’. There will be a requirement for regulatory justification reports if departing from approaches to regulation standardised at the national level. Compensation may happen for regulatory takings in some circumstances. There will be an expansion in the range of permitted activities.
    • Simplified National Direction: One set of national policy direction under each Act will simplify, streamline, and direct local government plans and decision-making in the system. Direction under the Natural Environment Act will cover freshwater, indigenous biodiversity and coastal policy. Direction under the new Planning Act will cover urban development, infrastructure (including renewable energy) and natural hazards. 
    • Environmental limits: A clearer legislative basis for setting environmental limits for our natural environment will provide more certainty around where development can and should be enabled, whilst protecting the environment.
    • Greater use of standardisation: Nationally set standards, including standardised land use zones, will provide significant system benefits and efficiencies. The new legislation will provide for greater standardisation, while still maintaining local decision making over the things that matter.
    • Spatial Plans: Each region will be required to have a spatial plan, focused on identifying sufficient future urban development areas, development areas that are being prioritised for public investment and existing and planned infrastructure corridors and strategic sites.
    • Streamlining of council plans: A combined plan will include a spatial planning chapter, an environment chapter and planning chapters (one per territorial authority district).
    • Strengthening environmental compliance monitoring and enforcement: To safeguard the environment, a national compliance regulator with a regional presence will be established – taking over a function currently done poorly by regional councils. 

    “Common sense ideas like standardised zoning will be a key feature of the new system. Right now, every individual council determines the technical rules of each of their zones. Across the country there are 1,175 different kinds of zones. In Japan, which utilises standardised zoning, they have only 13”, Mr Bishop says.

    “Standardising these zoning rules will take pressure off ratepayers and make it easier to build more homes for Kiwis. It will also enhance local decision making, allowing elected local representatives to focus more time on deciding where development should and should not occur in their community, and less time on the enormous amount of technical detail that goes into regulating that development.”

    The Phase Three RMA replacement is a key commitment in the National Party’s election manifesto, and its coalition agreement with the ACT Party.

    “The RMA is akin to a gale force headwind battering against any attempts to develop anything anywhere,” Mr Court says.

    “Our population has grown while our infrastructure has crumbled. If we want to retain our status as a first-world nation, we need to build.

    “We need to develop homes, schools, hospitals, and roads. We need to develop ports, windfarms, gas fields and farms. Without good infrastructure and easier access to resources, how can we achieve the quality of life New Zealanders expect of a developed nation in the 21st century?

    “The RMA’s scope is far too broad and allows far too many people to rely on far too many reasons to object and tangle progress in webs of absurd conditions.

    “We must rationalise the system to ensure a tight scope where only those affected get a say, and at the right time. We cannot have Tom, Dick, and Harry weaponise the planning system to block progress from the opposite end of the country.

    “We believe that the best way to stop unnecessary red tape is attach a price to it. The new system will protect landowners against regulatory takings, enabling them to seek recourse if found that unjustified restrictions have been placed on their land.”

    “There’s a lot of work still to do, but this Government is committed to delivering these reforms to unlock the economic growth we need to improve the lives of all New Zealanders.” Mr Bishop says. 

    “We intend to begin work immediately on working through the policy detail, introducing two new Acts into the House before the end of this year.”

    Editor’s note:

    Please find attached:

    Fact Sheet – Resource management reform

    Report from the Expert Advisory Group on RM Reform. Blueprint for resource management reform: A better planning and environmental management system.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: This might be the most important thing the Government does

    Source: ACT Party

    Welcoming Cabinet’s agreement on the shape of laws to replace the Resource Management Act, ACT Leader David Seymour says:

    “Ditching the RMA and passing new laws centred on property rights might be the most important thing the Government does.

    “Why can’t young New Zealanders afford homes? Why are power bills so high? Why can’t I buy McDonald’s in Wanaka? Each question has a common answer.

    “The Resource Management Act is a 913-page monstrosity that has strangled New Zealand’s development potential. The RMA empowers objectors from any part of the country to block us from building homes, wastewater treatment plants, power plants, and roads.

    “ACT has been beating this drum for more than a decade. I remember campaigning on it before I first entered Parliament in 2014. There’s been plenty of tinkering round the edges since the Act was passed in 1991, but only now are we seeing wholesale reform, delivered by ACT’s Simon Court alongside Chris Bishop.

    “The reforms announced today are based on ACT’s 2022 paper, Building New Zealand and Conserving Nature. By refocusing resource management on the protection of individual property rights, we dramatically reduce the range of people who can interfere with the use of someone else’s land.

    “One law will govern urban development and planning, while the other will protect the environment. It’s never made sense that the same laws that protect Fiordland National Park also determine whether a horse paddock in Helensville can have two homes built on it.

    “The legacy of these reforms will be more productive activity, more high-paying jobs, and affordable housing. That’s how we give young Kiwis confidence to build families and futures here in New Zealand, and I’m very proud of the role ACT and Simon Court have played.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview with Mark Riley, Weekend Sunrise, Channel 7

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    Mark Riley:

    Treasurer, thank you for speaking to Weekend Sunrise.

    Jim Chalmers:

    Thanks very much, Mark.

    Riley:

    About your fourth budget, quite a feat in itself. The energy rebate extension, $150, half the amount of the first rebate. Why?

    Chalmers:

    This is hip pocket help for households, and that’s because we know that the cost of living is front of mind for most Australians and it’s front and centre in the Budget. This is another 2 quarters of energy bill relief, which recognises that even with all the progress we’ve made together on inflation, people are still under pressure and the Budget is designed to respond to that.

    Riley:

    Does that mean that after these 2 quarters, say the end of the year, people won’t need further assistance on their energy bills, they’ll start coming down?

    Chalmers:

    It means that there’s another 6 months worth of assistance and relief. We’ve provided 2 rounds of energy bill relief already. That’s played a really important role, taking some of the edge off these cost‑of‑living pressures.

    What we’ve tried to do here, in the most responsible way that we can, is to continue that for another 6 months. $150 off people’s power bills, more hip pocket help for households, because we know people still need it.

    Riley:

    Will you review it after that 6 months and see if it’s needed for another 6 months?

    Chalmers:

    Yeah, we keep these cost‑of‑living measures under more or less constant review. One of the defining features of the first 3 budgets, and will be again in the fourth, is doing what we responsibly can to help people with the cost of living. We know, as I said, that cost of living is front of mind for a lot of people and that’s why it’s front and centre in the Budget.

    Riley:

    So, this isn’t all the cost‑of‑living relief in the Budget? There will be more?

    Chalmers:

    We’ve already made it clear last Thursday, the Prime Minister announced that we’ll make medicines cheaper as well. What people will see on Tuesday night is really that the primary focus of the government’s fourth Budget, just like the first 3, is easing cost‑of‑living pressures, but also at the same time as we strengthen our economy and make it more resilient in the face of all of this global economic uncertainty.

    Riley:

    So, a couple of things have been suggested. Household battery subsidies for people to install them in their homes. Is that on the cards?

    Chalmers:

    First of all, I’m not going to foreshadow all of the elements of the Budget. We’re obviously aware that people have put that proposal to us.

    Riley:

    Of course. Is it a good one?

    Chalmers:

    The focus of the energy elements of the Budget is this energy bill assistance. $1.8 billion, a very substantial investment, but a responsible one as well, which recognises the pressure people are under.

    Riley:

    Some months ago the PM said he was looking at a fixed fee model for childcare. So, parents didn’t pay more than about $10 or $20 a day. What’s happened to that idea? Is that something that’s being accepted by the government?

    Chalmers:

    What we’ve announced already at the end of last year and what will be funded in the Budget is what’s called our 3‑day guarantee. That’s an important step towards that universal early childhood education system that we want. We can’t get there from A to B in one step when it comes to universal childcare. And that’s why we’re investing more money in building more childcare centres, especially for not‑for‑profit providers and especially where areas where there’s a real need, the so‑called childcare deserts. So the Budget will have that money for new childcare centres, it will have money for the 3‑day guarantee. These are important steps towards that universal system that you’re asking about.

    Riley:

    And just checking, that’ll be it for childcare in this Budget?

    Chalmers:

    There won’t be the fixed fee model that you’re talking about. That’s because we need to get there in interim steps. We know that the Prime Minister, the Minister, myself and others, we are real enthusiasts for early childhood education. We think it’s a game changer for families and especially for children. It also helps people to work more and earn more if they want to. That’s why we’re big believers, that’s why it’ll be an important feature of the Budget.

    Riley:

    Ok. A pre‑election Budget, which is interesting in itself. So, you’re going to empty the bank? Are you throwing the kitchen sink at it?

    Chalmers:

    No, it won’t be some kind of free for all of public money as I’ve made clear on a number of occasions. Cost of living will be the primary focus, but we’ll provide that cost‑of‑living relief in the most responsible way that we can. And we’ll also do it in a way with it where we’re not neglecting our responsibilities to the future.

    We know that there’s a lot of global economic uncertainty. What’s happening in the US and China, Europe and the Middle East casts a shadow over this Budget. There’s a lot of unpredictability and volatility in the global economy. So, in addition to that cost‑of‑living help, we’ll also be investing in making our economy more resilient because that’s the best way to build Australia’s future.

    Riley:

    And will there be measures in this Budget that we won’t hear about on Tuesday night that will be released during the election campaign?

    Chalmers:

    As I made clear, I think last week from memory, a lot of what’s in the Budget has been announced already. I mean, the big game‑changing investment in strengthening Medicare because more bulk billing means less pressure on families. That will be an important feature of the Budget – one of the most important features of the Budget already announced. There’ll be a small number of announcements to be made during the course of the election campaign, as you would expect. You’ve seen a few of these, Mark, over the years.

    Riley:

    Just a couple.

    Chalmers:

    But there’ll be some important initiatives announced on Tuesday.

    Riley:

    In the cost of living space as well?

    Chalmers:

    We’ve made it clear already cheaper medicines and some extra help with electricity bills. We’ve also got in the Budget the cuts to student debt, which is about cost of living as well. People will see a real focus on Tuesday night on the cost of living, but also making our economy more resilient in the face of this global uncertainty.

    Riley:

    Are you confident this is going to be enough to get you re‑elected?

    Chalmers:

    It remains to be seen. You know me, Mark. You know that I don’t take outcomes for granted when it comes to elections. What I am confident about is that we’ve made the right decisions for the right reasons. And I genuinely believe that if you have the right values and the right priorities, and if you take those right decisions for the right reasons, the politics will take care of themselves.

    Riley:

    Treasurer, thank you very much for speaking with Weekend Sunrise.

    Chalmers:

    Thanks.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Cash, confidence, consumption: How China’s policy kit fuels consumers’ wallets?

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China unveiled a comprehensive policy package recently to boost consumer spending, reinforcing its commitment to making consumption a key driver of economic growth.

    The 30-point plan aims to strengthen consumer confidence by a whole set of measures including promoting income growth and reducing financial burden.

    Analysts described the pro-consumption push as an innovative move that underscores the government’s commitment to a people-oriented approach and its focus on investing in human capital.

    The holistic initiative, which combines fiscal, financial and regulatory tools, aligns with priorities outlined in this year’s government work report, which positioned “expanding domestic demand” as a top priority.

    A key aspect of the plan is its focus on tackling prominent constraints on consumption through three main measures: boosting spending power by increasing incomes and easing financial burdens, delivering high-quality supply, and fostering a consumption environment.

    As the world’s second-largest economy navigates domestic and external headwinds, policymakers are counting on the spending power of its 1.4 billion consumers to drive economic growth.

    Greater capacity, willingness to spend 

    Central to the plan is an unprecedented emphasis on demand-side support to bolster household consumption capacity through measures that foster reasonable wage increases, expand property income channels, and boost farmers’ earnings.

    For the first time in a policy document on boosting consumption, the plan explicitly highlights the importance of stabilizing both the stock and property markets, outlining targeted measures in a bid to “enhance spending power, stabilize expectations, and strengthen consumer confidence.”

    “There’s considerable focus on increasing both the capacity and willingness of households to consume,” Lynn Song, ING Chief Economist for Greater China, said in a note.

    The plan integrates consumption growth with improving livelihoods, introducing measures to ease household burdens in areas such as childcare, education, healthcare and old-age insurance, Li Chunlin, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said at a press conference following the release of the initiative.

    Accordingly, China plans to explore a childcare subsidy system, increase fiscal subsidies for basic old-age benefits and basic medical insurance for rural and non-working urban residents in 2025, and appropriately raise basic pension benefits for retirees.

    The plan’s increased focus on tackling livelihood problems aligns with this year’s government work report, which pledges to “direct more funds and resources toward investing in people to meet their needs.”

    Increasing fiscal spending on human development and social safeguards not only helps create a sustainable consumption expansion mechanism but also reflects an approach where economic growth and the improvement of people’s well-being mutually reinforce each other, according to Jin Li, vice president of Southern University of Science and Technology.

    Expansion of trade-in program to boost demand 

    In a broader push to bolster domestic demand, China renewed its consumer goods trade-in program, increasing funding from last year’s 150 billion yuan to 300 billion yuan through ultra-long special treasury bonds.

    This year’s initiative also extends subsidies to more electric gadgets and home appliances including smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches.

    The push builds on the success of 2024, where 150 billion yuan in subsidies generated over 1.3 trillion yuan in sales across autos, home goods, and electronics, highlighting the program’s role as a near-term economic stabilizer.

    Amid strong policy support, e-commerce giant JD.com reported a 13.4 percent year-on-year revenue increase in Q4 2024, marking its highest quarterly growth in nearly two years, while its operating profit skyrocketed to 8.5 billion yuan, compared to 2 billion yuan recorded in the same period the previous year, the company’s latest performance report showed.

    This growth aligns with broader consumer optimism. Some 54 percent of Chinese consumers feel financially better off than a year ago, a 10-percentage point leap from the average in 2024, according to a report released by the German bank on Tuesday, Bloomberg reported.

    The upbeat findings suggest China is increasingly reaping the benefits of the government’s efforts to boost household confidence and consumption.

    Beyond immediate stimulus, policymakers are aiming for “bigger-picture themes” that will take time to unfold. The plan stressed the need to implement a paid annual leave system, ensuring that workers’ rights to rest and vacation are legally protected.

    “More flexible leave policies could encourage the more crowd-averse consumers to travel and spend,” Song said, noting that reform in the holiday system will result in “more aggregate demand.”

    Furthermore, the policy bets big on tech-driven consumption, prioritizing “AI+” innovations like self-driving vehicles, brain-computer interfaces, and robotics, underscoring China’s vision to integrate high-tech advancement with premium consumer experiences.

    Sustainable consumption growth 

    China’s intensified focus on domestic demand not only emerges as a necessity but also creates a wealth of opportunities.

    The urgency is evident as external shocks coincide with challenges in old growth engines, yet within these challenges lies unparalleled potential. China’s 1.4 billion consumers, bolstered by an expanding middle class of 400 million, the world’s largest, form a powerhouse with vast purchasing potential.

    Effective implementation of the pro-consumption action plan is of utmost importance, said Li, noting that challenges such as subdued consumer confidence and unmet consumer demands remain, requiring “significant” efforts to address them.

    The synergy between dozens of central departments will be strengthened to roll out specific policies, while local governments are encouraged to put forward nuanced measures in light of local conditions, the NDRC deputy director noted.

    “This year’s attention to boosting consumption, combined with last year’s relatively low base, will help consumption growth recover to mid-single-digit growth in 2025,” Song said. “Any further growth would likely hinge on a sustainable recovery of consumption.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China urges loosening car quota rules in consumption boost plan

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    As part of broader efforts to stimulate domestic demand, China has called on cities to further refine their automobile quota systems to better accommodate households without cars of their own, following a series of favorable policies rolled out across the world’s largest auto market.

    The country on March 16 made public a plan on special initiatives to increase consumption. This plan, issued by the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council, calls for shifting auto consumption policies from “purchased-based controls” to “usage-based regulation” and ensuring car ownership eligibility for families that have been unsuccessful after long waits as part of the car lottery system.

    Metropolises in China, including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, have long placed ceilings on car purchases by adopting car lottery systems to combat traffic jams and air pollution, while in recent years, local governments in these and other cities have been introducing new policies to meet increasing demand and raise the quota of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in the car license quota allocation process.

    In January this year, Beijing’s transport authorities announced that 100,000 passenger car license quotas would be allocated in the Chinese capital in 2025 — 80,000 of which will be for NEVs.

    Notably, Beijing will this year also issue an additional 40,000 NEV license quotas aimed specifically at households with no cars of their own. This selection will be based on a point-based ranking system, rewarding those who have been waiting for a long time and prioritizing fairness.

    Similarly, Tianjin Municipality in north China released 30,000 quotas for carless households in 2024, while Hangzhou, a tech hub in China’s eastern Zhejiang Province, has relaxed its eligibility criteria to allow individuals who have applied unsuccessfully at least 48 times to receive alternative car license quotas.

    Shanghai, also in east China, a city which uses an auction system to sell a limited number of license quotas to fossil-fuel and hybrid car buyers, is another location which has sought to lower barriers to car ownership.

    The economic hub’s authorities said at the end of last year that the city would reduce its contribution requirement periods in terms of the social security fund and the paying of individual income tax by non-local residents from three years to one, thereby expanding access to car licence quota auctions.

    Jia Xinguang, executive director of the China Automobile Dealers Association, said that given the plan released on March 16 — related cities can further boost consumption by encouraging citizens to trade in old vehicles.

    Regarding the “usage-based regulation” noted by this plan, cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou have already enforced plate number restrictions, along with tech-enabled traffic solutions.

    In the case of Hangzhou, an AI-powered “City Brain” monitors the city’s traffic in real time and issues alarms for potential congestion, enabling traffic authorities to adjust traffic lights based on vehicle flow. With more than 3,700 parking lots linked to the platform, citizens can park their cars more easily, enjoying a seamless experience that allows them to “pay after parking,” thus preventing traffic jams caused by parking problems.

    “Due to frequent traffic jams, I had long been hesitant to buy a car. But with improvements in traffic management, I’m now considering giving it a try,” said Li Xiang, a Hangzhou resident. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Harnessing the Benefits of Regional Cooperation and Integration

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Transcript

    The rapid growth of the Asia and Pacific region into a global economic powerhouse can be fully understood through the crucial role of deepening regional cooperation and integration.
     
    In recent decades, the region has made remarkable strides in integration through the accelerated growth in trade, investment, movement of people, and―importantly―knowledge.
     
    Asia’s trade integration is drawing closer to that of the European Union, with intraregional trade shares increasing by 10 percentage points from 1990 to 2023. 
     
    Foreign direct investment within Asia has grown, with 52% of FDI from 2013 to 2023 coming from within the region, boosted by investments in services, digital industries, and green sectors. 
     
    Financial integration has lagged behind trade and investment. 
     
    Yet it remains a critical conduit for translating the region’s existing and future savings into regional investments.
     
    Expanding markets and income has made Asia a crucial source of remittances and tourism, beyond pre-pandemic levels. 
     
    For several economies in the region, they have become financial lifelines.
     
    While the region is backed by strong regional cooperation and partnership, growing risks of geopolitical tensions and global fragmentation calls for renewed attention to the benefits of regional cooperation and integration in better cushioning external shocks.
     
    The region needs to broaden, deepen, and modernize its free trade agreements and investment treaties.
     
    Also, existing regional financial arrangements must upgrade their effectiveness to safeguard the region’s financial stability.
     
    Digitalization must ensure it helps facilitate the secure movement of people, money, and ideas; and lower transfer costs.
    Tourism can thrive only if improved connectivity―along with liberal air transport and visa policies―can expand regional travel opportunities.
     
    With these efforts, regional cooperation and integration will increasingly contribute to economic prosperity, help tackle the climate crisis, narrow the digital divide, and navigate geopolitical challenges in the coming decades
     
    To learn more, please read the Asian Economic Integration Report 2025. 

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: The most important thing the Government will do

    Source: ACT Party

    The Haps

    At least one left wing chat room went ballistic about last week’s Free Press. The idea that men are oppressed seemed to trigger them so badly they missed the central point: The world is not made up of groups oppressing each other, but individuals trying to make the most of their time on earth.

    The most important thing the Government will do

    New Zealand in a nutshell is the best land in the world that you can’t build a home (or a quarry, or a road, or a water treatment plant, or a power station) on. Nearly every major problem we face begins with the difficulty in getting consent to build things.

    Why are young people disillusioned and leaving the country? Why are poor households spending over half their income on housing? Why is the Government spending billions on rental subsidies? Why are a worrying number of people facing retirement still paying rent? Why is the economy infamously imbalanced towards housing? It’s too hard to build houses and the services that connect them together.

    In this area ACT’s, and especially Simon Court’s, hard work in opposition is paying off for the whole country. Late last year Cabinet signed off on the engine room work Simon has been doing with RMA reform Minister Chris Bishop.

    The work started in 2022 with ACT’s paper Building New Zealand and Conserving Nature. The paper contains the details that Cabinet signed off as shaping the Government’s new Resource Management laws.

    It begins, “ACT proposes a shift in principle on Resource Management. At present the underlying principle is the 1980s paradigm of ‘sustainable development.’ This has never been defined in a way that is practical to implement… Instead, the principle of resource management should be to preserve the enjoyment of property… On a property rights basis, they can do anything that does not harm others’ enjoyment of property. It dramatically reduces the range of people who have an interest in someone else’s use of their own property.”

    Therein lies the heart of the Government’s reforms, based on ACT’s Coalition commitment to “replace the Resource Management Act 1991 with new resource management laws premised on the enjoyment of property rights as a guiding principle.”

    It says laws plural and there will be two laws under the Government’s reforms. One to guide urban development and planning, and another to guide environmental protection. As ACT has long said, it’s never made sense that the same law protecting Fiordland governs whether a horse paddock in Henderson can have two homes built on it.

    Building and Conserving Nature carries on to set out other principles; how water should be taken, how discharges to land and water should be managed within environmental limits, and how nationwide codes would replace every council reinventing every wheel for basic activities. These ideas also shine through in the Government’s plans, and they will make an enormous difference to the future of this country.

    Reforms like this make us proud to support ACT. The basic ideas of less regulation and more respect for private property rights are core party philosophy. They’re also becoming real with the Government’s reforms. Most importantly they are the solution to our country’s deepest problems.

    When the next generation can see their pathway to living in a property-owning democracy, the whole society changes. People who are physically invested in the community, with the security to build a life and start a family if they choose, are different types of citizens.

    Making it easier to build a water treatment plant, a road, a subdivision, and a home at the end of it may be the most important change this country can make, and it’s ACT what did that.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: The Gift of Water: How the Lesotho Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project is Transforming Lives

    Source: African Development Bank Group

    “Water is life; when there is no water, it is as if there are no people living.”

    These profound words from ‘Masechefo Sechefo, a Community Councilor at Ha Sekete village, capture the essence of existence in rural Lesotho before the African Development Bank’s transformative intervention.

    In a country where water ironically constitutes 30% of the nation’s GDP, many rural Basotho paradoxically lived without access to clean water. This stark contradiction defined daily life until the Lesotho Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project began changing the narrative in the communities.

    The Lesotho Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project is connected to the Metolong Dam Water Supply Programme, a collaborative initiative between the government and partners.

    The Long Walk For Water

    Before the project, women and girls in villages across Maseru and Berea districts would wake before dawn to begin their daily ‘pilgrimage’ to distant springs and unprotected wells. The journey often stretched more than a kilometer each way, with women carrying heavy containers while navigating challenging mountain terrain.

    “Where we used to fetch water, it was so far that there could have been challenges, perhaps the risk of being attacked or harmed by criminals,” recalls ‘Masechefo.

    At Sekete Primary School, the situation was equally dire. Headteacher Sello Matlali remembers: “We had to send children to fetch water from the unprotected wells around our communities. It was about one and a half kilometers walk from the school.”

    This daily expedition meant losing children’s classroom time and productive hours for women. Worse still, the unprotected water sources harbored pathogens causing diarrheal diseases that disproportionately affected the community’s most vulnerable members.

    A Project That Flows Like Life Itself

    When the African Development Bank’s initiative reached these communities, it didn’t merely install infrastructure – it unleashed potential.

    The project, set to conclude in March 2025 after more than a decade of implementation, has delivered remarkable results: 190 kilometers of pipeline to distribution networks, water storage reservoirs with a total capacity of 3.48 million liters, and 166 public water points serving approximately 28,266 people across eight zones in Maseru and Berea districts.

    The numbers tell only part of the story. Moses Tembo, the project’s task manager at the African Development Bank, highlights the impact: “From the data collected through the project, you could see that many people’s lives have been changed. Most people were drawing water from springs and unprotected wells, and the incidence of diarrheal diseases was quite high.”

    Beyond water supply, the project expanded sanitation infrastructure, – constructing 266 sanitation facilities for vulnerable households and 284 toilets at schools and healthcare facilities.

    A massive water reservoir constructed as part of the Lesotho Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project

    “It Was Like Our Birthday”

    At Sekete Primary School, the transformation has been profound. “When water was supplied, it was like our birthday,” Sello Maltali exclaims, his eyes bright with emotion. “The African Development Bank came to our rescue when we were in serious problem.”

    The school now boasts eight water taps and proper sanitation facilities – eight toilets for boys, seven for girls, and a dedicated facility for children with disabilities. This thoughtful design has created an inclusive learning environment where all 500 students can focus on education rather than basic survival needs.

    “We live the life we never lived before,” Matlali reflects. “We forget the past. We talk of it as history.”

    The impact extends beyond convenience. The school has witnessed increased enrollment and reduced disease transmission. Students can now pursue agricultural education, which teaches them self-reliance and food production skills.

    Women Liberated, Communities Transformed

    For women like ‘Masechefo, the project has delivered more than water – it has brought dignity and safety. “This project has brought a big change in our lives and our families. There is cleanliness in our homes and on our bodies.”

    The transformation has touched every aspect of community life. Residents found employment during construction— collecting stones, laying bricks, mixing cement, and completing roofing work. This approach ensured that the community benefited from the completed infrastructure and the process itself.

    Mamosili Kikine, the project’s technical adviser, explains: “The beneficiaries are using water for different purposes, like cooking and washing. The schools and clinics in these zones are also benefiting.”

    Climate Resilience: Protecting the Future

    As the base project nears completion, an additional component introduced in 2019 focuses on climate resilience. This component educates communities about preserving watersheds and forests to ensure sustainable water resources.

    “Lesotho is very much dependent on water for its economy and the wellbeing of people,” task manager Tembo explains. “The water reserves 10 years ago, 20 years ago, are not the same at the moment.”

    By protecting water sources through this education, the project aims to secure these life-giving resources for future generations.

    Water: A Celebration of Life

    As the African Development Bank joined in celebrating World Water Day on March 22, the communities served by this project understand its significance profoundly. They have experienced life with and without clean water –and know which they prefer.

    “Without water, there is no life,” declares headteacher Sello Matlali. “Water shortage is death. We cannot have food. We cannot bathe. We cannot wash our hands. We are vulnerable to disease.”

    The project’s legacy extends beyond pipes and reservoirs. It has fundamentally altered the relationship between communities and water – creating not just consumers but stewards of this precious resource.

    For the people of Lesotho’s rural communities, water is no longer just a substance—it’s the embodiment of possibility, dignity, and future prosperity. In a country blessed with abundant water resources that benefit neighboring nations, the African Development Bank has ensured that Lesotho’s citizens can finally share in this natural wealth.

    And for that, as Sello Matlali puts it, “It is very joyous.”

    A Nurse’s Story

    Mots’elisi Makhele, the only community health nurse serving approximately 2,000 people in her rural community, has witnessed a remarkable transformation thanks to the African Development Bank’s water supply and sanitation project.

    “We used to have a small community tap where 2,000 people would queue, and because of the drought, we wouldn’t have enough water some days,” Makhele recalls, adding that this single tap served everyone—elderly women, small children, and her clinic.

    Community nurse Mots’elisi Makhele stands by the tap that previously served around 2,000 people and indicates the houses now connected to modern facilities constructed through the Lesotho Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project.

    The health consequences were severe. “I couldn’t do normal birth deliveries because there was no water,” said Makhele. “There was an increased rate of waterborne infections, and I had many babies with malnutrition because the water was not clean.”

    The African Development Bank project transformed the community by providing individual household taps and proper sanitation facilities. The clinic received two proper toilets and a washing station where patients can wash their hands.

    The impact has been profound. “After initiating this project, the incidence rate of diarrheal diseases and malnutrition has decreased,” Makhele said excitedly.

    A stream that Kesete Village residents relied on for water before modern facilities were constructed through the AfDB-Funded Lesotho Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project.

    Deteriorated sanitation facilities at Hamaja Primary School prior to the intervention.

    New sanitation facilities at Hamaja Primary School built under the Lesotho Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project. The project delivered more than 266 sanitation facilities for vulnerable households and installed 284 toilets in schools and healthcare facilities.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Unveils New Refrigerator Lineup Equipped With Screens and Enhanced AI Vision Inside Feature

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics today announced the global rollout of its latest lineup of smart refrigerators, reinforcing the “Screens Everywhere” vision introduced at CES 2025. This expansion includes the introduction of the 9-inch AI Home screen1 on the 4-Door, 4-Door French Door and Side-by-Side refrigerators, as well as an enhanced Family Hub screen on select French Door and Side-by-Side models. An enhanced AI Vision Inside2 feature is integrated on select 4-Door and 4-Door French Door models, refining food identification and streamlining meal planning to ensure a more intuitive kitchen experience for users.
     
    “By offering a wide array of refrigerator options across type and also screen sizes, we are expanding choices to meet diverse household requirements,” says Jeong Seung Moon, EVP and Head of the R&D Team for Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics. “Consumers can enjoy greater flexibility in choosing fridge designs while benefiting from the AI-powered smart home experience Samsung provides.”
     
     
    A Smarter Way To Manage Food, Home, Family Communication and Entertainment
    Samsung’s new refrigerators incorporate the intuitive 9” AI Home screen and 32” or 21.5” Family Hub screens, which are designed to enhance four key areas of daily life: Food, Home, Family Communication and Entertainment. The first category, food, is especially powered by the upgraded AI Vision Inside, which adds four more food items to the list of recognizable types for a total of 37. Furthermore, adding on to fresh food items, AI Vision Inside can now also recognize processed food items. Refrigerators with the enhanced AI Vision Inside will recognize and recommend users to save processed food items that have been placed inside multiple times, allowing up to 50 items to be saved with designated names.3 Based on the improved food list, the screen will provide tailored recipe recommendations and meal planning,4 making home cooking more seamless and personalized.
     
    Beyond food, the screens also enhance smart home connectivity. The latest advancements provide deeper integration into the smart home ecosystem, making the refrigerator a central hub capable of controlling connected appliances throughout the entire home. With the integration of Map View, users can monitor and control Samsung appliances and even third-party smart home devices5 like lights and smart plugs. There’s also SmartThings Energy,6 which helps users track and optimize their energy consumption, facilitating greater efficiency in everyday life. The intuitive display provides users with access to a great deal of information about their home, with users also being able to issue voice commands through Bixby.7
     
    The new Daily Board feature keeps everyone informed and connected. Placed at the heart of the home, the refrigerator screen delivers real-time updates throughout the day — whether it’s the morning weather and schedule before heading to work, or daily energy consumption reports in the evening. Users can also easily access their schedules through voice commands and receive tailored responses. By recognizing each family member’s voice and replying accordingly, Bixby will serve as both a helpful assistant for the entire household and for each person individually.8 Additional family-focused features include a shared gallery for storing precious memories and a calendar to help with daily planning.
     
    Samsung’s latest refrigerators also redefine entertainment in the kitchen, allowing users to stay engaged while cooking or spending time with family. With Spotify integration, users can listen to their favorite music or podcasts directly from their fridge.9 SmartView Mirroring enables seamless screen sharing from smartphones or Samsung TVs, and the dedicated gallery feature lets families display their favorite photos, adding a personal touch to the kitchen.
     
     
    The Next Generation of Refrigeration

    The 4-Door Refrigerator is designed to meet the needs of modern households with its innovative features.10 The 9” AI Home applied on select models allows the refrigerator to integrate seamlessly with the smart home ecosystem. Models that incorporate Hybrid Cooling technology11 keep produce fresh for even longer, while also allowing extra space12 by utilizing a peltier module that is compact in size for cooling. By utilizing the conventional compressor and the Peltier module together, AI Hybrid Cooling is capable of providing additional cooling whenever necessary, such as when the internal temperature increases or when AI predicts a potential rise.13 When users put in a large amount of groceries after shopping or open the door multiple times in the summer, the Peltier module will assist the compressor to maintain a consistent internal temperature.
     
    The 4-Door Refrigerator also comes in Kitchen Fit design, allowing agile installation that requires only a tiny gap of just 4mm from the sides and 20mm from the top. Also, the refrigerator’s doors have been enhanced with SpaceMax insulation technology that uses less amount of high-efficiency insulation, increasing the space in the doors by 56% compared to previous models equaling 10L in capacity.14 Users can also enjoy convenience with the wide opening door that opens more than 90 degrees, and the food showcase to store frequently used items.
     

     
    The 4-Door French Door Refrigerator, launching in North America, is available in various configurations, including a 32” Family Hub and a 9” AI Home. This flexibility allows users to choose the best fit for their kitchen. The Auto Open Door15 feature ensures hassle-free accessibility with just a gentle tap, making it accessible to everyone in all kinds of situations to effortlessly access the inside of the fridge. It also has a Beverage Center that includes a water dispenser and a 1.4L Auto-Fill Water Pitcher that is dishwasher safe16 and BPA free.17 Apart from ensuring that fresh, filtered water is always available, the pitcher also allows users to infuse their water with fruits and herbs.
     

     
    The Side-by-Side Refrigerator also offers multiple screen options, including the 21.5” Family Hub and 9” AI Home.18 The model, featuring an Auto Open Door that opens up widely makes it simpler to reach stored items,19 is designed for users who prioritize easy access and organization. Select European models are equipped with Hybrid Cooling technology — as seen in the 4-Door refrigerator — to maintain freshness by preventing temperature fluctuations.
     
    All three types of refrigerators come with the AI Energy Mode feature, allowing users to reduce energy consumption by up to an additional 10%.20 Users can choose to activate the mode always or when electricity bills are expected to exceed the preset target.
     
    With these latest innovative solutions, Samsung continues to push the boundaries of the connected kitchen, transforming the refrigerator into an intelligent hub that enhances food management, smart home integration and entertainment. By seamlessly blending AI-enabled convenience with energy efficiency, Samsung is redefining how users interact with their appliances and bringing the future of the smart home to life.
     
     
    1 A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required to access the AI Home, our network-based service, including apps, and other smart features available through your refrigerator. You may need to use a separate device e.g. your laptop/desktop or mobile device, to create/log into a Samsung Account. If you choose not to log-in, you will not be able to enjoy any features available on the AI Home, such as the services available on the SmartThings App and the phone call features. Recipe recommendations and Bixby accessible through the AI Home utilize AI (based on deep learning models, which may be updated periodically to improve accuracy). To access your AI recipe recommendations, click on the ‘Food’ service within the SmartThings App in the AI Home menu.2 Available on select T-Type and French Door refrigerator models. As of April 2025, AI Vision Inside can recognize 37 food items like fresh fruits and veggies. If the food is not recognizable, it may be listed as an unknown item. AI Vision Inside cannot identify or list any food items in the fridge door bins or freezer. It recognizes food items based on deep learning models, which may be updated periodically to improve accuracy.3 Processed foods are limited to those that keep a certain packaged form. AI Home recommends to save the item after it has been input more than 4 times during 30 days.4 Requires login to the Samsung account. The recommendations and meal plans may not fit personal preferences in some cases.5 A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required. Third-party devices must by SmartThings compatible.6 Available on Android and iOS devices. All devices should be connected to Wi-Fi or other wireless network, and registered with a single Samsung Account. The energy usage and estimated cost shown in SmartThings Energy may differ from your actual usage and cost. Availability may vary by country, region, service provider, network environment, or device, and may change without notice.7 Bixby is Samsung’s brand of Internet of Things (IoT) voice assistant. Its service availability may vary depending on the country, language, and dialect.8 Available starting from 2025 May through over-the-network update. Customized answering is available on select usage cases such as accessing Calendar, Gallery, Find my Phone.9 Available in all countries excluding China, Qatar, Yemen, Russia, Sudan10 Available in North America, Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia and the Middle East in 2025. Available screen sizes may vary.11 Available on select models of the 4-Door refrigerator in 2025.12 Based on internal testing, compared to existing Samsung RF9000D model (RF65DG9H*-Global, RF23DB99*-NA/LATAM)13 The Peltier element is a semiconductor-based component that cools using just electricity, without refrigerant. It operates when either the temperature in the refrigerator rises above the normal range or AI predicts that the temperature will rise in 5 minutes due to a long period of food storage or cleaning, based on an analysis of the user’s refrigerator opening and closing pattern.14 Based on internal testing, compared to Samsung RF60DB9KF*** model launched in Korea. The capacity may vary by models, region, and feature specifications.15 An automatic closing function is not available. The actual angle that the doors open may vary due to the installation circumstances and usage conditions, like storing heavy items in the door bins. The user may need to adjust how the refrigerator is installed if the doors don’t open properly. The touch sensors can be turned on/off from the display or SmartThings app and the default setting is ‘Off’. The Auto Open Door function may be activated inadvertently by contact with any body part or by a child or pet.16 Tested for 125 cycles in accordance with the “Mechanical dishwashing resistance of utensils” test method (BS EN 12875-1:2005) and certified as dishwasher safe by SGS.17 Bisphenol A (BPA) is found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, which are often used in food and beverage containers, and has been linked with possible adverse health effects.18 Available in Europe, Southeast Asia, China, the Middle East, Africa and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).19 You can select the door opening level using the SmartThings App (SmartThings is available on Android and iOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required). The ‘Wide-open’ option automatically opens the door by an angle of 80 degrees or more, but the door does not close automatically. The ‘Semi-open’ option reduces the force required to open the door, and automatically closes the door after a certain period of time if the door is left open. The actual angle that the doors open may vary due to the installation circumstances and usage conditions, like storing heavy items in the door bins.20 The test results are based on a comparison of the factory setting temperature when using AI Energy mode and without using AI Energy mode. Results may vary depending on the usage conditions and patterns. AI Energy Mode can be activated in SmartThings Energy, which is available on Android and iOS devices. SmartThings Energy requires Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Yukon shares What We Heard report on proposed new Contaminants Regulation

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Government of Yukon shares What We Heard report on proposed new Contaminants Regulation
    jlutz
    March 20, 2025 – 2:15 pm

    The Government of Yukon is sharing a What We Heard report summarizing feedback on the proposed new Contaminants Regulation that would repeal and replace the existing Contaminated Sites Regulation and the Spills Regulation.

    The proposed new regulation aims to enhance environmental protection by updating standards, clarifying expectations and ensuring effective contaminated site remediation. The government sought feedback on key provisions of the proposed new regulation, including updated contaminant standards and spill reporting thresholds, transferring responsibility for contaminated sites, streamlining the permitting process and further defining how contaminated sites are designated.

    The government engaged Yukon First Nations governments and industry stakeholders from August 6 to September 30, 2024. This engagement was a follow-up from broad public engagement in 2018 and provided an opportunity for these governments and organizations to share final comments.

    Participants were generally supportive of the proposed changes to the regulations. Considerations raised during the engagement included:

    • ensuring transfer of responsibility for contaminated sites is open and transparent;
    • allowing flexibility in standardized permits for site-specific remediation;
    • providing opportunities for affected First Nations to be involved in managing contaminated sites;
    • keeping site investigations and assessments flexible and straightforward to avoid delaying remediation; and
    • ensuring remediation facilities are built to protect human health, the environment and Indigenous rights. 

    This valuable feedback will help shape the final Contaminants Regulation, helping to ensure it is effective, practical and responsive to the needs of Yukoners. By strengthening the management of contaminated sites and spills, the Government of Yukon is taking an important step toward protecting the territory’s water and land while unlocking economic opportunities through the redevelopment of remediated sites, including much-needed housing.

    Thank you to the representatives from Yukon First Nations governments, industry, business and environmental consulting firms who weighed in on our proposed new Contaminants Regulation. Once completed, this new regulation will streamline and simplify permitting processes and make it easier to remediate, develop and sell contaminated properties. This is an important step our government is taking to build a modern framework for regulating contaminated sites and spills that prioritizes the wellbeing of Yukoners and the environment.

    Minister of Environment Nils Clarke 

    Quick facts

    • The Government of Yukon invited 172 representatives from over 80 organizations to provide feedback on the proposed new Contaminants Regulation. 

    • Online information sessions were attended by 35 participants and 14 written submissions were received as part of the engagement. 

    • The Government of Yukon previously engaged with the wider public, Indigenous governments and groups and industry on the proposed new Contaminants Regulation in 2018. The government re-engaged Indigenous governments and groups and key industry stakeholders in 2024 to update their feedback due to the time that has passed since 2018.

    Media contact

    Laura Seeley
    Cabinet Communications
    867-332-7627
    laura.seeley@yukon.ca

    Kyle Nightingale
    Communications, Environment
    867-334-5922
    kyle.nightingale@yukon.ca 

    News release #:

    25-122

    Related information:

    What We Heard report: Engaging on a new Contaminants Regulation
    New contaminants regulation engagement

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Consumption, innovation offering economic momentum

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends the opening ceremony of the China Development Forum 2025 and delivers a keynote speech, in Beijing, capital of China, March 23, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s economic transition is gaining momentum as initiatives to boost consumption and drive innovation take center stage, which will inject greater certainty into the global economic landscape and provide broader space in which multinational companies can thrive, officials and executives said on Sunday.

    China will combine robust policy support and the unleashing of market forces as it strives to achieve its economic growth target of around 5 percent this year, and policymakers are well prepared to introduce new incremental policies if necessary, Premier Li Qiang said in Beijing at the opening ceremony of the two-day China Development Forum 2025.

    The recent dynamism observed in China’s consumer market, particularly in the film, winter sports and cultural tourism sectors, has pointed to the vast potential of the country’s domestic economic circulation, Li said.

    The theme of this year’s forum is “Unleashing Development Momentum for Stable Growth of the Global Economy”.

    Han Wenxiu, executive deputy director of the Office of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs, said that China is set to enhance people’s consumption capacity, to ensure they have the financial means and the willingness to consume. These initiatives go beyond merely promoting economic growth and productivity, he said.

    The initiatives also seek to increase the income of urban and rural residents, optimize the income distribution structure and elevate the share of household income in overall national income, Han said.

    Liu Shijin, former deputy director of the Development Research Center of the State Council, noted that “China faces a critical transition from an investment- and export-driven growth model to one fueled by innovation and consumption”.

    “While structural imbalances in consumption present major challenges, resolving them could unlock growth potential comparable to that once provided by the real estate sector. This transformation would establish a foundation for sustained medium-speed economic growth, ensuring stability for China’s economy in the years ahead,” Liu said.

    Premier Li stressed at the forum that the continuous emergence of technological advancements by Chinese tech startups such as DeepSeek and Unitree Robotics has showcased the country’s immense capability for innovation and creativity.

    Minister of Finance Lan Fo’an, said that this year, China will scale up its funding to the sci-tech sector to expedite breakthroughs in critical and core technologies, stressing that a variety of policy tools will be used, including tax incentives and investment funds, to drive the “AI Plus” initiative and foster the growth of emerging and future industries.

    Policymakers are committed to implementing measures that promote the development of the private sector, providing tangible assistance to enterprises, so that they can innovate and thrive, Lan said.

    Executives attending the forum said that amid the growing uncertainties in the global economy marked by rising protectionism, it is more important than ever for nations to open up their markets and for businesses to pool their resources, in order to jointly tackle challenges and achieve shared growth.

    “We expect China to remain an engine for global growth in 2025 and across this decade,” said Georges Elhedery, group chief executive of HSBC Holdings, adding that he is confident that in the long run, China will remain a thriving, sustainable economy at the heart of global trade and investment and at the forefront of innovation.

    Cristiano Amon, president and CEO of Qualcomm, told China Daily that he was excited by the innovation from DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence startup.

    “Our Chinese partners are very excited at embracing AI, and Qualcomm will expand our cooperation with them in the future,” Amon said, adding that he believes technology will play an important role in spurring economic growth.

    Li Lecheng, Party secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said that China has become the world’s second-largest contributor to the global open-source community and the fastest-growing country in this field.

    An open-source community is a collective of users, developers and contributors centered around a project in which the source code is freely available for modification and redistribution.

    “We will support foreign-funded enterprises to establish research and development centers in China, and to further promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the country,” Li Lecheng said.

    More efforts will be made to facilitate the translation of scientific and technological progress into practical applications, he said, adding that the country also encourages foreign enterprises to participate in such initiatives.

    Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca, said the strong signals from this year’s Government Work Report, which reaffirmed China’s commitment to science, innovation and opening-up, are highly encouraging.

    “We have been investing in science and innovation for many years in China, and we plan to invest even more in the future,” Soriot said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump’s ‘transactional foreign policy’ hits deadlock

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    In the two months since taking office, U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has been aggressively pursuing its foreign policy agenda under the belief that everything is subject to “deals,” triggering wide backlash in international society.

    The essence of Trump’s foreign policy is “purely transactional,” said an article on the U.S. website The National Interest.

    “All I know, is… deals”

    “My whole life is deals. That’s all I know, is deals,” said Trump following his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron about a month ago.

    When it comes to the means to facilitate these deals, as Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, put it, “We could do that with carrots, and we can do that with sticks.”

    On the issue of the Ukraine crisis, to facilitate negotiations between the parties, the Trump administration threatened that Russia would face U.S. sanctions if it refused to participate in talks, and that Ukraine would lose U.S. aid if it declined to negotiate.

    The United States has also coveted Ukraine’s resources, initially demanding rare earth elements, followed by oil, natural gas and other mineral resources.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky strongly opposed these demands at first. His fiery clash with Trump at the White House on Feb. 28 shocked the world, prompting the United States to suspend military aid to Ukraine and cut off intelligence-sharing.

    When they spoke by phone on Wednesday, Trump even suggested to Zelensky that the United States could help run, and possibly own, Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, according to a statement by the U.S. presidential administration.

    On the Palestinian question, Trump demanded that Hamas release detained Israeli hostages, threatening that “or it is OVER for you” on March 5 in a post on Truth Social.

    Trump also proposed to “clean out” Gaza in late January and used the suspension of aid as leverage to pressure Egypt and Jordan to accept Palestinians.

    To address the issues of illegal immigration and fentanyl within the United States, the Trump administration wielded the “tariff stick” against Mexico and Canada. According to the Trump administration’s logic, these two major problems were caused by Canada and Mexico, and if they are not resolved, tariffs will be imposed.

    Trump also set his sights on Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark.

    He said that the United States would take control of Greenland “one way or the other,” refusing to rule out economic or military coercion. Trump said he would consider imposing tariffs on Denmark “at a very high level” if it resisted his offer to acquire the territory.

    Referring to Trump’s book where he talks about his experiences as a hotel developer, Sina Toossi, a fellow at the U.S. think tank Center for International Policy, told AFP: “He approaches diplomacy the way he approached real estate in ‘The Art of the Deal:’ — escalate tensions, maximize threats, push the situation to the brink of disaster and then, at the last minute, strike a deal.”

    “Transactional foreign policy” reaches impasse

    “My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier,” Trump declared in his inaugural address on Jan. 20. But how effective is his “transactional foreign policy?”

    After Trump’s phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, U.S. media believe that Russia has in effect rejected the U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire plan for Russia and Ukraine.

    The Washington Post reported that the call between the U.S. and Russian leaders highlighted differences more than agreement.

    Meanwhile, Ukraine is also dissatisfied with the proposal to halt attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure within 30 days, hoping to extend the ceasefire to include other civilian infrastructure.

    Zelensky said that Ukraine has no intention of transferring the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which the Trump administration is interested in.

    As with Ukraine, Trump has pledged to bring “peace” to the Middle East, but his failure to facilitate “deals” through coercion and pressure has led to the rekindling of the flames of war in Gaza and Yemen.

    After “full coordination with the United States,” the Israeli military resumed large-scale airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, signaling the collapse of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

    Additionally, the U.S. military began large-scale military operations against Yemen’s Houthi group on March 15. In retaliation, the Houthis claimed to have attacked U.S. aircraft carriers multiple times.

    After the Trump administration launched its “tariff war,” many countries implemented countermeasures. On March 12, the Canadian government announced a 25-percent retaliatory tariff on 29.8 billion Canadian dollars’ (20.7 billion U.S. dollars’) worth of U.S. goods.

    On the same day, the European Commission declared that the European Union (EU) would impose retaliatory tariffs on 26 billion euros’ (28.3 billion U.S. dollars’) worth of U.S. goods starting in April, targeting items such as beef, poultry, whiskey and motorcycles.

    Trump’s tariffs “are an act of self-harm,” The Economist said in a recent article.

    Trump’s remarks about Greenland have also increased anti-American sentiment on the island. To protest Trump’s remarks about acquiring the territory, an anti-American rally was held on March 15 in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, with thousands of demonstrators marching to the U.S. Consulate there.

    Danish and EU officials also voiced their support for Greenland. “I believe that Greenland will remain part of the Danish Commonwealth for quite some time,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said recently.

    “To all the people of Greenland and of Denmark as a whole, I want to be very clear that Europe will always stand for sovereignty and territorial integrity,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday.

    The Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun commented Thursday: “Another major offensive has begun in the Middle East, and Russia declined to endorse a full ceasefire in Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump’s diplomacy based on deals has apparently stalled.”

    A more dangerous world

    Analysts believe that the root cause of the impasse in “transactional foreign policy” lies in Trump’s sole focus on U.S. interests. He disregards the demands and needs of others, especially those of conflicting parties, and makes no effort to address the underlying issues.

    “For Trump, foreign policy isn’t about carefully negotiated peace deals. It’s about performance, leverage and crafting a narrative that sells,” Toossi said.

    Trump’s ability to create bargaining chips out of thin air and force concessions through coercion and inducement rely on the United States’ military and economic strength, analysts said.

    The essence of his “transactional foreign policy” is nothing more than coercion diplomacy rooted in power, serving the narrow self-interests of the United States. Rather than solving problems at their root, it ignores the concerns of relevant parties and pressures them to accept U.S. terms.

    “Team Trump claims that its dealmaking will bring peace and that, after 80 years of being taken for a ride, America will turn its superpower status into profit,” said The Economist in an article.

    “Instead it will make the world more dangerous, and America weaker and poorer,” it added. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: US, Ukraine conclude ‘productive’ talks in Riyadh: Ukrainian DM

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced Sunday that the talks between U.S. and Ukrainian delegations have concluded in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh, saying the discussion was “productive and focused,” with “key points including energy” addressed.

    In a post on social media platform X, Umerov, who led the Ukrainian delegation, emphasized that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s goal is “to secure a just and lasting peace” for Ukraine and Europe at large, claiming, “We are working to make that goal a reality.”

    The Ukrainian and U.S. teams met earlier in the day in Riyadh.

    According to the Ukrinform news agency, the Ukrainian delegation also included State Secretary of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Oleksandr Karasevych, deputy heads of the President’s Office, Pavlo Palisa and Ihor Zhovkva, as well as Deputy Energy Minister Mykola Kolisnyk.

    The talks came almost two weeks after a previous meeting between the two sides in the Saudi port city of Jeddah saw Ukraine okay a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire plan in exchange for Washington lifting its pause on military aid to and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

    Notably, the meeting precedes the talks between U.S. and Russian delegations scheduled for Monday. Media reported late Sunday that the Russian delegation has arrived in Riyadh. The delegation includes Grigory Karasin, chairman of the committee on international affairs in Russia’s upper house, and Sergey Beseda, adviser to the head of Russia’s Federal Security Service, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said earlier.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Macao intl parade promotes beauty of cultural integration

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    With a verdant Loong (Chinese dragon) made of bamboo, a handmade armor performance from Japan, and an elephant hat dance from South Korea showing up in front of the Ruins of St. Paul’s, the “2025 Macao International Parade” officially set off on Sunday.

    People participate in the 2025 Macao International Parade in Macao, south China, March 23, 2025. The 2025 Macao International Parade celebrating the 26th anniversary of Macao’s Return to the Motherland was held on Sunday. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka)

    These were part of the 83 performing teams from various cultures across the world.

    Upholding the spirit of “Love, Peace and Cultural Integration” while promoting Macao’s designation as a “Culture City of East Asia 2025,” this year’s parade featured local groups and participating groups worldwide, totaling an estimated 1,800 artists.

    The local team, “the Funny Old Tree Theater Ensemble,” performed about the Earth, suggesting that different cultures share one home. Vong Weng Chon, a team member, said that as a Macao resident, he was pleased to make new friends from different backgrounds. “It’s lively and exciting,” he added.

    As another “Culture City of East Asia 2025,” Huzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, brought the dance of bamboo leaf Loong. Zhu Zhengguo, a member of the performing team, told Xinhua that it was an honor to bring their traditional treasure to this event. He was also happy to see and communicate with other art groups.

    Italian artist Ilaria Fioretto was impressed by Macao’s cultural atmosphere. “Here, we have the possibility to interact with different cultures … It is a treasure to know different artists from different countries,” she added.

    According to Macao’s Cultural Affairs Bureau, the parade is a signature festive event of Macao. Since its first edition in 2011, it has entered its 11th edition and has become one of the events celebrating Macao’s return to the motherland, drawing the participation of residents and tourists from around the world.

    The parade procession set off from the Ruins of St. Paul’s and passed through old streets and alleys in the historic center of Macao. The final performance held at Sai Van Lake Square marked the opening of the “Culture City of East Asia” program, where various performing groups staged a vibrant and artistic celebration.

    “It’s hard to put my feelings into words,” said Ms. Tang, a tourist from central China’s Hubei visiting Macao for the first time. She waited in the crowd to see the parade, describing the experience as a “surprise.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Celebrating early warning collaboration on World Meteorological Day

    Source: Australia Safe Travel Advisories

    23/03/2025

    Issued: 23 March 2025

    Today is World Meteorological Day and an opportunity to recognise the contributions of national weather and water agencies across the world.

    The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the specialised agency of the United Nations for meteorology, operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences, commemorates World Meteorological Day on 23 March each year. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the WMO.

    The Bureau of Meteorology continues to play a leading role in supporting Pacific Islands nations to prepare for and respond to the impacts of severe weather and a changing climate. The Bureau engages in several initiatives in the Pacific region aligned to this year’s theme of “Closing the early warning gap”.

    In partnership with the Pacific Meteorological Council, the Bureau supports the Weather Ready Pacific (WRP) program, to enhance early warning systems and increase climate resilience in the Pacific.

    As part of the initiative, the Bureau provides technical guidance and advice to help the Pacific improve its infrastructure, systems and training.

    General Manager of International Development, Dr Andrew Jones said the program supports the Pacific region in benefiting from advances in forecast and warning systems for weather, hydrological and oceanic events, enabling increased accuracy specificity and lead times of forecasts.

    “Severe weather events devastate Pacific Island communities through loss of life and damage to homes and infrastructure, agricultural lands, livelihoods, and economies,” Dr Jones said.

    “Climate change escalates the Pacific’s vulnerability to extreme events by increasing their intensity and/or frequency.

    “The Bureau supports Pacific meteorological leaders in providing technical guidance and advice to ensure that every Pacific Island person will be safer from severe weather and the impacts of climate change.”

    The Bureau also works with stakeholders in Pacific Island countries to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate variability through the Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific (COSPPac) and, in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization and the Papua New Guinea Weather Service, the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems Papua New Guinea (CREWS-PNG).

    Dr Jones said Papua New Guinea’s diverse topography and highly variable rainfall means a limited rain gauge network is insufficient to accurately assess rainfall distribution.

    “The Bureau’s technical advice of extensive and uniform coverage of satellite-based precipitation observations provide a more precise picture of rainfall,” Dr Jones said.

    “CREWS-PNG closes the early warning gap, benefiting over 200 users in agriculture, water, energy, and emergency services with improved decision-making and climate resilience.

    “Meteorology operates outside of political and geographical boundaries. The Bureau works with partners in other countries, sharing information and resources to benefit people in Australia and around the world.”

    Find out more information about the Weather Ready Pacific (WRP) program here: Program Summary and about World Meteorological Day here: World Meteorological Day

    ENDS…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese premier pledges further opening up

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends the opening ceremony of the China Development Forum 2025 and delivers a keynote speech, in Beijing, capital of China, March 23, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Sunday pledged to unswervingly advance opening up and cooperation amid rising global instability and uncertainty.
    Li made the remarks in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the China Development Forum 2025 in Beijing.
    China will continue to welcome enterprises from around the world with open arms, further expand market access, actively address the concerns of businesses, and facilitate the deeper integration of foreign-funded enterprises into the Chinese market, he said.
    The increasing global economic fragmentation, coupled with rising instability and uncertainty in today’s world, underscores the growing need for countries to open their markets and for enterprises to share resources, in order to address challenges and pursue common prosperity, the premier said.
    He said China will safeguard free trade, and contribute to the smooth and stable operation of global industrial and supply chains.
    China has set its full-year growth target at around 5 percent for 2025. Li said the decision reflects both China’s profound understanding of its fundamental economic conditions and strong confidence in its governance capacity and future development potential, and pledged efforts to strengthen policy support while stimulating market forces in order to achieve the target.
    The country will implement more proactive and impactful macro policies, further strengthen counter-cyclical adjustments, and introduce new incremental policies when necessary to provide strong support for the sustained improvement and stable operation of the economy, Li said.
    The country will continue to advance the building of a unified national market and unclog bottlenecks in economic circulation to create a better development environment for various business entities, he added.
    Li pointed out that around this year’s Spring Festival, the Chinese economy has seen a surge of phenomenal highlights, with new growth drivers gaining strength across various sectors, which will inject sustained and robust momentum into the economy.
    The China Development Forum 2025 is scheduled from March 23 to 24. The theme of this year’s forum is “Unleashing Development Momentum for Stable Growth of Global Economy.”
    Around 720 people, including entrepreneurs, government officials, experts and representatives from international organizations from home and abroad attended the opening ceremony of the forum, hosted by the Development Research Center of the State Council.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: 24 March 2025 New West Coast homes ready for whānau Local iwi last week blessed a new nine home development in Hokitika. Neighbours and members of the community were invited to look through the homes before tenants moved in. It marks the most significant development completed in Hokitika to date.

    Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

    Julia Campbell, Regional Director Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast, says “More than half the people who’ve been on the social housing register and waiting for a home in the Westland district are in need of a two-bedroom home, so the completion of this development is a significant milestone for the town”.

    “These homes will give the people who have moved in a chance to put down roots in a stable environment, in some cases for the first time in many months. Having a warm, dry home can make such a difference to people’s health and wellbeing.”

    Ms Campbell says a specialist placement team has worked closely with the tenants. “During pre-housing conversations, we’ve spoken to people about their connections to the community and any support they may need to live well in their new home in the future. Our team will continue to support everyone who will be living there to settle in well into their new homes and community.”

    Construction began in February last year of the homes, which Kāinga Ora purchased earlier this month from developer KR Construction Limited. There are currently another seven Kāinga Ora homes under construction in Hokitika. See more of what’s happening in the West Coast region.

    Some of the new state homes in Hokitika

    Page updated: 24 March 2025

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal Reviews Progress of Urban Development on his visit to Odisha

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 23 MAR 2025 5:47PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs and Power, Government of India,Shri Manohar Lal reviewed the implementation and progress of key urban development initiatives and infrastructure projects.

    Highlighting the potential of Odisha’s urban centers, the Minister emphasized the need to develop Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, and Khordha as Growth Hubs to drive regional economic development. The focus will be on improving infrastructure, encouraging industrial and commercial growth, and promoting sustainable urbanization through strategic planning and public-private partnerships.

    A major point of discussion was the proposal for developing a new city as part of the Greater Bhubaneswar area. The Hon’ble Minister assured support for the project and advised the State Government to explore funding opportunities under the 15th Finance Commission and the Urban Challenge Fund.

    To promote sustainable urban mobility, the Central Government has approved the deployment of 400 electric buses for Odisha under the Pradhan Mantri e-Bus Sewa Scheme. The Minister also reviewed the proposed Bhubaneswar Metro project and reaffirmed full support from the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs to address the city’s growing public transport needs.

    In a key housing initiative, Bhubaneswar served as the launch site for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). The proposal for 50,000 new houses under PMAY-Urban (PMAY-2) was discussed, and the Hon’ble Minister assured continued coordination with the State Government for its expeditious approval.

    The Minister lauded Odisha’s progress under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), particularly in achieving milestones such as the 24×7 water supply project currently underway in 18 cities.

    Under the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, the state has shown commendable improvements in sanitation and waste management. The Hon’ble Minister directed the State to prioritize clearing legacy waste sites to reclaim land and create greener urban spaces.

    Further, the Hon’ble Minister emphasized intensified implementation of the PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme, urging the State Government to ensure wider outreach and faster credit access for street vendors across Odisha.

    The visit reflects the Centre’s commitment to strengthening urban development and improving the quality of life for citizens through close cooperation with State Governments.

    ****

    SK

    (Release ID: 2114183) Visitor Counter : 21

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 2-week residential programme trains senior and mid-level election officials from Bhutan in election administration

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 23 MAR 2025 5:16PM by PIB Delhi

    The 2-week residential capacity development programme on election administration for 40 senior and mid-level officers from Bhutan concluded on the 21st of March 2025 at IIIDEM, New Delhi. The Hon’ble Election Commissioner of Bhutan also participated in the programme. The programme was held from the 10th to the 21st of March 2025.

    Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar along with ECs Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi met the Election Commissioner of Bhutan Mr. Ugyen Chewang during his call on at ECI on the 18th of March 2025. A valedictory session was held on the 21st of March at IIIDEM. DEC Shri Ajeet Kumar in his opening address, reiterated India’s commitment to deepening electoral cooperation and capacity-building engagements with Bhutan. Former CEC Shri T.S. Krishnamurthy also shared his insights on the robust institutional credibility developed by the ECI over decades.

    The valedictory session concluded with a vote of thanks from EC of Bhutan, Mr. Ugyen Chewang, followed by the distribution of certificates to all participants. The interactive, case-study based training programme covered key aspects of election management, aimed at enhancing electoral management capabilities, sharing international best practices, and fostering stronger institutional cooperation between India and Bhutan.

    Based on the request of the EC of Bhutan, a two-night visit to Rewalsar, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh was organised from the 15th to 17th March 2025, a revered site associated with Guru Padmasambhava, who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan. The Bhutan EC also planted a Ficus Religiosa (Peepal tree) sapling on campus signifying the mutual values of peace, sustainability, and spiritual wisdom that both nations share on the 19th of March.

    Regular training programs and visits characterise ECI’s engagement with Bhutan.

    ******

    PK/RP

    (Release ID: 2114179) Visitor Counter : 30

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: APEDA Flags-off of Goli Pop Soda – India’s Iconic Goli Soda for Global Markets

    Source: Government of India

    APEDA Flags-off of Goli Pop Soda – India’s Iconic Goli Soda for Global Markets

    Revival of Goli Soda marks a major step in promoting India’s homegrown beverages globally

    Goli Pop Soda successfully enters USA, UK, Europe, and Gulf markets with strong consumer response

    Posted On: 23 MAR 2025 11:26AM by PIB Delhi

    The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, proudly announced the global resurgence of the traditional Indian Goli Soda, rebranded as Goli Pop Soda. This iconic beverage, once a household staple, is making a remarkable comeback on the global stage, driven by its innovative reinvention and strategic international expansion.

    The product has already made strong inroads in global markets, with successful trial shipments to the USA, UK, Europe, and Gulf countries. A strategic partnership with Fair Exports India has ensured steady deliveries to Lulu Hypermarket, one of the largest retail chains in the Gulf region. Thousands of bottles have been stocked across Lulu outlets, receiving an overwhelmingly positive response.

    In the UK, Goli Pop Soda has swiftly evolved into a cultural phenomenon, appealing to consumers who embrace the fusion of traditional Indian flavors with a modern twist. This development represents a significant step in showcasing India’s rich beverage heritage on the global stage.

    To commemorate this milestone, APEDA supported the flag-off ceremony organized by ABNN on 4th February 2025, marking the official global launch of Goli Pop Soda. The event reaffirmed India’s commitment to promoting authentic, high-quality products and reinforcing its presence in the international beverage market.

    The revival of Goli Soda, which had nearly disappeared due to the dominance of multinational beverage companies, marks a significant milestone in India’s efforts to promote and export authentic, homegrown food and beverage products. By blending nostalgia with modern packaging, Goli Pop Soda has successfully reintroduced the essence of this beloved drink to contemporary consumers worldwide.

    What sets Goli Pop Soda apart is its innovative packaging, featuring a unique pop opener that recreates the nostalgic fizzy burst Indian consumers fondly remember. This thoughtful rebranding has captivated international markets, positioning the drink as an exciting and trendy product.

    Additionally, APEDA facilitated and featured Goli Pop Soda at the International Food & Drink Event (IFE) London 2025, held from 17th-19th March 2025. The event provided Indian entrepreneurs and exporters a valuable platform to connect with international buyers, explore new business collaborations, and promote India’s diverse agricultural and processed food products globally.

    With the resurgence of Goli Soda, Goli Pop Soda is not just a drink—it is a testament to India’s rich culinary heritage and vibrant beverage industry. The product’s growing success in global markets proves that homegrown Indian flavors can compete with international giants, opening new avenues for Indian exports and further solidifying India’s leadership in the global food and beverage sector.

    ***

    Abhishek Dayal / Abhijith Narayanan/ Ishita Biswas

    (Release ID: 2114131) Visitor Counter : 49

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Transformation of Thonoknyu block is an inspiration for others: Union Minister Smt. Raksha Khadse

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Transformation of Thonoknyu block is an inspiration for others: Union Minister Smt. Raksha Khadse

    Smt Khadse becomes First Union Minister to Visit the Noklak, “Frontier District”.

    Posted On: 22 MAR 2025 7:11PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse, became the first minister to visit Noklak, Nagaland, one of the most remote districts in the country. During her visit, she was given a briefing on the district’s development by the Deputy Commissioner of Noklak, Shri Arikumba. She also reviewed the progress of the ThonoknyuU Aspirational Block Programme, interacted with civil society representatives, and visited key sites, including Nokyan village, the District Hospital and the Multi-Discipline Sports Complex of Noklak.

    Noklak, known as the “Frontier District,” is located in Nagaland’s easternmost region. The district, which has a total population of 55,434 according to the 2011 Census, is roughly 1,152 square kilometers in size. With 14,630 households, it is mostly rural and home to the Khiamniungan Naga tribe. Low population density and an agrarian economy based on the production of millets, perilla seeds, maize, beans, yam, and Job’s Tear are characteristics of Noklak. The district’s cultural legacy has also been acknowledged; in 2022, the Sustainable Development Award for Economic Sustainability went to the Noklak Masterpieces.

    During the visit Smt. Khadse assessed the progress made by the Thonoknyu Block in 40 key development indicators under the themes such as Health & Nutrition, Education, Agriculture, Social Development and Basic infrastructure. The Block which was previously ranked among the least aspirational blocks, has improved significantly, rising from 465th place in March 2023 to 85th place in September 2024 out of 500 blocks in India.

    The Sampoornata Abhiyan, a targeted three-month campaign that was implemented from July to September 2024 across six key performance indicators, has played a major role in this change. Thonoknyu Block has attained 100% saturation in five of the six KPIs, despite being ranked 465th out of 471 aspirational blocks as of March 2024. The remarkable progress we witnessed in Thonoknyu Block is a shining example that when dedication meets determination and coordination every milestone could be achieved, Smt. Khadse.

    During the interaction, the Union Minister remarked that for India to thrive as a nation, its most remote and underdeveloped regions must no longer be left behind and reiterated the government’s commitment to inclusive development. She highlighted that the progress made by Noklak district and Thonoknyu Block reflects the impact of focused governance and community participation. She reaffirmed the government’s resolve to provide the necessary resources and opportunities to even the most geographically isolated regions, ensuring sustainable growth and development.

    *****

    Himanshu Pathak

    (Release ID: 2114058) Visitor Counter : 40

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Labor gains big lead in a Morgan poll, but drops back in YouGov

    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

    A national Morgan poll, conducted March 10–16 from a sample of 2,097, gave Labor a 54.5–45.5 lead by headline respondent preferences, a three-point gain for Labor since the March 3–9 Morgan poll. This is Labor’s largest lead in a Morgan poll since August 2023.

    Primary votes were 34% Coalition (down three), 32.5% Labor (up 2.5), 13.5% Greens (steady), 5% One Nation (steady), 10.5% independents (steady) and 4.5% others (up 0.5). By 2022 election flows, Labor led by 54.5–45.5, a 2.5-point gain for Labor.

    By 50.5–35, respondents thought the country was going in the wrong direction (51.5–33 previously). However, Morgan’s consumer confidence index slid 3.1 points to 83.8, its lowest this year.

    Voters were blaming Donald Trump for the stock market falls, and this was hurting the Coalition. The stock market had a better week last week, but Trump is likely to impose more tariffs on April 2.

    Morgan is a volatile poll that reacts more to news events than other polls. This poll was taken in the week Trump imposed his steel and aluminium tariffs on Australia. It’s likely that this poll is a pro-Labor outlier, with other polls not giving Labor big leads. Here is the poll graph.

    The ABC’s Patricia Karvelas wrote on March 17 that a Talbot Mills poll, conducted March 6–12 from a sample of 1,051, asked about Trump’s ratings with Australians for his performance as US president.

    Trump was down six points since February to net -14 approval (51% disapprove, 37% approve). There was a six-point increase in strongly disapprove to 40%, with strongly approve down one to 15%. By 65–22, respondents disapproved of the US imposing tariffs on Australia.

    Coalition gains in YouGov poll for a 50–50 tie

    A national YouGov poll, conducted March 14–19 from a sample of 1,500, had a 50–50 tie, a one-point gain for the Coalition since the March 7–13 YouGov poll.

    Primary votes were 37% Coalition (up one), 31% Labor (steady), 13% Greens (down 0.5), 7% One Nation (down 0.5), 1% Trumpet of Patriots (steady), 8% independents (down one) and 3% others (up one). YouGov is using weaker preference flows for Labor than occurred in 2022, and this poll would give Labor about a 51.5–48.5 lead by 2022 flows.

    Albanese’s net approval was down three points to -9, with 50% dissatisfied and 41% satisfied. Dutton’s net approval was up one point to -5. Albanese led Dutton as better PM by 45–40 (45–39 previously).

    Essential poll tied at 47–47 but Albanese’s ratings jump

    A national Essential poll, conducted March 12–16 from a larger than normal sample of 2,256, had a 47–47 tie including undecided by respondent preferences (48–47 to the Coalition in early March).

    Primary votes were 35% Coalition (steady), 29% Labor (steady), 12% Greens (down one), 8% One Nation (steady), 1% Trumpet of Patriots (steady compared with UAP), 9% for all Others (down one) and 6% undecided (up one). By 2022 preference flows, this poll would give Labor about a 50.5–49.5 lead, a 0.5-point gain for the Coalition.

    Albanese’s net approval jumped nine points to +1, with 46% approving and 45% disapproving. This is Albanese’s first positive net approval in Essential since October 2023. Dutton’s net approval dropped two points to -5, his worst since January 2024.

    By 48–35, respondents thought Australia was on the wrong track (49–34 previously).

    On climate change, 54% (down five since October 2021) said “climate change is happening and is caused by human activity”, while 35% (up five) thought “we are just witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate”. This is the lowest lead for human activity in Essential’s graph which goes back to 2016.

    On addressing climate change, 35% (up two since November) thought Australia is not doing enough, 34% (down three) doing enough and 19% (steady) doing too much.

    By 39–30, voters opposed the Coalition’s policy of removing working from home provisions for public service workers. By 39–33, voters opposed Australia sending troops to Ukraine.

    By 53–33, voters thought Trump’s presidency would have a negative impact on the US economy, by 62–24 negative for the global economy and by 61–20 negative for the Australian economy.

    Labor gains lead in a Redbridge poll

    A national Redbridge poll, conducted March 3–11 from a sample of 2,007, gave Labor a 51–49 lead, a 2.5-point gain for Labor since the previous Redbridge poll in early February. Primary votes were 37% Coalition (down three), 32% Labor (up one), 12% Greens (up one) and 19% for all Others (up one).

    By 51–29, respondents thought things were headed in the wrong direction (49–32 in November 2024).

    There has been more criticism of AUKUS from the left since Trump’s election, but by 51–19 respondents said AUKUS makes Australia safer (49–19 in July 2024). There was pro-AUKUS movement on other questions.

    Polls in Greens target seats

    The Poll Bludger reported last Tuesday on polls of seats either held by the Greens or plausible targets for them. These polls were taken by Insightfully for the right-wing Advance, and first reported by the News Corp tabloids. Sample sizes were 600 per seat with no fieldwork dates provided. Seat polls are unreliable.

    The Greens hold three Queensland federal seats (Griffith, Ryan and Brisbane), and one Victorian seat (Melbourne). On the primary votes provided, the Greens would retain Griffith, Ryan would be line-ball between the Greens and Liberal National Party. Brisbane would be gained by Labor.

    In Victoria, the Greens would hold Melbourne and gain Macnamara from Labor, while Labor would retain Wills against a Greens challenge.

    Unemployment steady despite jobs fall

    The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported last Thursday that the unemployment rate was 4.1% in February, unchanged from January. This was despite a 52,800 decrease in jobs that didn’t affect unemployment owing to a lower participation rate.

    The employment population ratio (the percentage of eligible Australians that are employed) was down 0.3% since a record high in January to 64.1%.

    WA election final lower house seats

    At the March 8 Western Australian election, Labor won 46 of the 59 lower house seats (down seven from the record landslide in 2021), the Liberals seven (up five) and the Nationals six (up two). Comparing this election with 2017, which was a big win for Labor, Labor is up five seats, the Liberals down six and the Nationals up one.

    In 2017, Labor won 69.5% of lower house seats, in 2021 90% and in 2025 78%. If the WA lower house had as many seats as the federal House of Representatives (150), Labor would have won over 100 seats in all three elections.

    In the upper house, 75.7% of enrolled voters has been counted, compared with 82.7% in the lower house. On current figures, Labor is likely to win 16 of the 37 seats, the Liberals ten, the Greens four, the Nationals two, and One Nation, Legalise Cannabis and Australian Christians one each.

    Two seats are unclear, with an independent group (0.47 quotas) and Animal Justice (0.45) just ahead of One Nation’s second candidate (0.40). As the count has progressed, the Liberals have dropped and the Greens have risen. ABC election analyst Antony Green said the inclusion of below the line votes could put Labor’s 16th seat in doubt, with the Greens possibly winning five 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. Labor gains big lead in a Morgan poll, but drops back in YouGov – https://theconversation.com/labor-gains-big-lead-in-a-morgan-poll-but-drops-back-in-yougov-252380

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fire Safety – Outdoor fire restrictions lifted in Canterbury

    Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

    Fire and Emergency New Zealand will lift restrictions on outdoor fires for Canterbury at 8am on Wednesday 26 March until further notice.
    An open fire season means people can light outdoor fires without a permit approved by Fire and Emergency.
    Canterbury District Commander Dave Stackhouse says the recent rain and cooler temperatures have lowered the fire risk throughout the district.
    “It’s been a challenging few months for our firefighting crews, who have had to battle some very large fires this summer,” he says.
    “Wildfires at Bridge Hill, West Melton, Kirwee, Burnham and Lewis Pass caused considerable damage to our local environment, and resulted in our firefighters putting many days of effort into containing them.”
    Canterbury’s fire district stretches from north of the Rakaia River to just south of the Clarence River.
    It moved to a restricted fire season in mid-December when the fire danger rose due to dry conditions, and prohibited outdoor fires completely just before Christmas.
    “While the fire risk has now dropped, we’re still asking people to take care when lighting fires in the district,” Dave Stackhouse says.
    “Always go to checkitsalright.nz to find out what the conditions are in your location, and follow the safety advice provided.
    “Summer may be ending, but it’s important we continue to make every effort to keep the people, property, environment and wildlife of Canterbury safe from fire.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Cost of living support coming for 1.5 million New Zealanders

    Source: New Zealand Government

    More than 900 thousand superannuitants and almost five thousand veterans are among the New Zealanders set to receive a significant financial boost from next week, an uplift Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says will help support them through cost-of-living challenges.

    “I am pleased to confirm that from 1 April, most MSD payment rates will increase through the Annual General Adjustment (AGA),” Louise Upston says.

    “Overall this year’s AGA means around 1.5 million New Zealanders will get an increase to reflect the cost-of-living, ranging from just over 2 per cent to around 3 per cent.

    “MSD has already begun communicating about specific increases, and from next Tuesday, that means pensioners, parents, students, and people on main benefits will all get a little extra, helping hundreds of thousands of Kiwis:

    ·       933,200 superannuitants and 4,900 veterans will get a boost to New Zealand Superannuation and Veteran’s Pension

    ·       409,300 main beneficiaries will get a higher payment

    ·       47,400 students will see an increase in their allowance

    ·       70,000 non-beneficiaries getting supplementary assistance are expected to be better off.

    “Since 2024, benefit rates have kept pace with the Consumers Price Index (a measure for the cost of living). For the year ending December 2024, the Consumers Price Index was 2.22 per cent.

    “Pensioners will notice an extra boost to their New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran’s Pension this year, with their total increase around 3 per cent. This is because of the relationship to the net average wage, which forms part of the rate calculation.

    “We know the cost-of-living crisis the previous government left us with has been particularly difficult for beneficiaries, and the coming uplift will help many with household budgeting.

    “This is in addition to other initiatives to support Kiwis over the past 16 months. As at March 19, we have also supported just over 51,000 households with the cost of early childhood education, through FamilyBoost. This has put $31.8m into the pockets of low and middle income families,” Louise Upston says.

    “Indexing main benefits to inflation has been used responsibly in 32 of the past 36 years, by governments across the political divide.

    “It is something our Government supports as a sensible way to maintain the income support system,” Louise Upston says.

     

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Canberra Sport and Recreation Clubs share $3.2 million investment

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.

    Released 24/03/2025

    Canberra sporting and recreation clubs will share over $3.2million in funding through the latest round of the ACT Government’s Sport and Recreation Investment Scheme.

    Four funding options are available through the Scheme including:

    • The Community Sport Facilities Funding Program supports the development of new high quality, sustainable facilities, or the upgrade of existing facilities, to maintain or increase physical activity in the Canberra community.
    • The Club Enhancement Program assists sporting and recreation groups to further develop their local services and programs including purchasing equipment, upskilling coaches and officials or supporting improvements to club governance.
    • The State Organisation Support Program provides funding through 3-year agreements to be used for improving organisational capacity and capability.
    • The Industry Partnership Program allows the ACT Government to co-invest with State Sporting Organisations, in innovative and collaborative projects which are scalable and sustainable.

    Minister for Sport and Recreation, Yvette Berry says this investment in Canberra’s sport and recreation organisations enables much needed improvements and upgrades allowing for increased participation and inclusiveness.

    “The Scheme supports not-for-profit sport, recreation and community organisations in developing fit for purpose, sustainable and accessible places and spaces for sport and active recreation.

    “Through this round, among the 38 successful applicants, the ACT Water Ski Association will receive $190,000 to upgrade the Water Ski Clubhouse facilities, including a refurbishment of the kitchen and bathrooms to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for members.

    “Tuggeranong BMX Club will be able to replace the BMX start gate with $47,000 of funding through the scheme.

    “The Belconnen Netball Association were successful in obtaining $571,000 in support to construct a new female and male toilet and change facilities, a full accessible toilet with shower and enhanced storage space.

    “The Sport and Recreation Investment Scheme supports the ambition of the ACT Government’s CBR Next Move strategy by investing in facilities for greater participation in sport and recreation.

    “Maintaining our sporting facilities is essential to ensure that the community can continue to participate in the sporting and recreation activities that they love, promoting a healthy lifestyle throughout the Canberra community.”

    Quote attributable to Kim Clarke, President of Belconnen Netball Association.

    “We are delighted to receive this investment from the ACT Government to upgrade our off-court facilities at Charnwood to ensure they are a more welcoming and inclusive environment for all our participants and supporters. Our current toilet and storage facilities are not suitable to cater for up to 2000 users on competition days and this support will ensure a safe, accessible and welcoming environment for everyone to play and attend our netball activities and competitions.”

    Quote attributable to Maria Cowan, President of ACT Waterski Tournament Division.

    “On behalf of Waterski ACT we are incredibly excited to be a successful recipient of an investment from the ACT Government for our clubhouse facilities including the kitchen and bathrooms at Molonglo Reach. The project is essential to rectify the current outdated facilities particularly in relation to acceptable standards for female facilities and disabled access.”

    Quote attributable to Paul Stewart, President of Tuggeranong BMX Club.

    “The new starting gate will significantly improve the sporting experience and safety of our club members particularly children and beginners. We are very thankful to the ACT Government for this support to ensure this important improvement is made at our club for all our participants.”

    For more information visit the Sport and Recreation website at www.sport.act.gov.au/grants.

    – Statement ends –

    Yvette Berry, MLA | Media Releases

    «ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Firearms Incident in Lutana

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Firearms Incident in Lutana

    Saturday, 22 March 2025 – 9:06 am.

    Around 9:30pm on Friday 21 March 2025 police were notified that a firearm was discharged into a residential address on Derwent Park Road, Lutana causing damage to a window.
    Several people were inside the property, thankfully, no one was injured.
    A crime scene was declared for the purpose of forensic examination.
    Witnesses observed a silver hatch style vehicle leaving the area through Goodwood.
    The incident appears targeted and there is no suggestion of a risk to the wider community.
    If you were in the area around the time and witnessed suspicious activity or have dash cam or CCTV footage of the silver vehicle, please phone 131 444 or contact Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au.
    Information can be provided anonymously. Please quote Offence Report 770152.

    MIL OSI News –