NewzIntel.com

Category: housing

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Hunger skyrockets by nearly 80 percent in Eastern and Southern Africa over past five years amidst worsening water crisis

    Source: Oxfam –

    • Nearly 116 million people in eight African countries, hardest hit by severe water crises, lack access to drinking water.
    • Globally, flash floods have become 20 times more frequent between 2000 and 2022

    The climate crisis has dramatically worsened water scarcity in Eastern and Southern Africa over the past few decades, leaving nearly 116 million people –or 40 percent of the population – without safe drinking water, according to a new Oxfam report.  

    Climate change is supercharging extreme weather events like droughts, cyclones and flash floods, and has led to the disappearance of more than 90 percent of Africa’s tropical glaciers and the depletion of groundwater. This has had knock-on effects on Africa’s small-scale farmers, pastoralists and fisherpersons leaving millions without basic food, drinking water or income. 

    Oxfam’s report –Water-Driven Hunger: How the Climate Crisis Fuels Africa’s Food Emergency – published ahead of World Water Day, looked at the links between water scarcity and hunger in eight of the world’s worst water crises: Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It found that the number of people experiencing extreme hunger in those countries has surged by nearly 80 percent over the past five years – reaching over 55 million in 2024, up from nearly 31 million in 2019. That is two in every ten persons.  

    The report warns that La Niña weather pattern, which will last through this month, will worsen floods in swaths of Southern Africa and South Sudan while causing severe drought in East Africa further threatening people’s food availability and income. 

    Globally, flash floods have become 20 times more frequent between 2000 and 2022 and the duration of droughts has risen by 29% since 2000, impacting the most vulnerable communities.  

    Existing poverty, deep inequality and chronic under-investment along with poor governance in water systems have compounded this climate-fuelled water crisis. African governments are currently meeting less than half the US$50 billion annual investment target required to achieve water security in Africa by 2030.  

    “The climate crisis is not a mere statistic—it has a human face. It affects real people whose livelihoods are being destroyed, while the main contributors to this crisis—big polluters and super-rich—continue to profit. Meanwhile, national governments neglect to support the very communities they should protect.” 

    Fati N’Zi Hassane,

    Director, Oxfam in Africa

    Fati N’Zi-Hassane, Oxfam in Africa Director said: 

    “The climate crisis is not a mere statistic—it has a human face. It affects real people whose livelihoods are being destroyed, while the main contributors to this crisis—big polluters and super-rich—continue to profit. Meanwhile, national governments neglect to support the very communities they should protect.” 

    The Oxfam report also found that: 

    • In the eight countries studied, 91 percent of small-scale farmers depend almost entirely on rainwater for drinking and farming. 
    • In Ethiopia, food insecurity has soared by 175 percent over the past five years, with 22 million people struggling to find their next meal. 
    • In Kenya, over 136,000 square kilometers of land have become drier between 1980 and 2020, which has decimated crops and livestock. 
    • In Somalia, one failed rainy season is pushing one million more people into crisis-level hunger, raising the total to 4.4 million—24% of the population. 

    A farmer from Baidoa, Somalia explains: “In the past, we knew when to farm and when to harvest but that has all changed. The rains now come late or not at all.  Last year, I lost all my crops and animals. I have now planted, but the rains have still not come. If this continues, I will not be able to feed my family.”  

    Deep inequalities mean that disadvantaged people like women and girls are too often the first and most severely punished by this water crisis. In Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia, women and girls walk up to 10 kilometers in search of water, facing violence and extreme exhaustion. Many women and girls in rural households spend hours each day collecting water—time that could otherwise be spent on education or income generation.  

    “At the heart of this climate crisis lies a justice crisis. Sub-Saharan Africa receives only 3-4 percent of global climate finance, despite being heavily affected by climate change. Rich polluting nations must pay their fair share. It’s not about charity, it’s about justice. 

    “African governments must also double down on their investment in water infrastructures and social protection to effectively manage natural resources, and help the most vulnerable communities cope with climatic shocks,” added N’Zi-Hassane. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Department of State Press Briefing – March 19, 2025 – 2:00 PM

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    Spokesperson Tammy Bruce leads the Department Press Briefing, at the Department of State, on March 19, 2025.
    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
    X: https://x.com/StateDept
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/statedept
    Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/statephotos/

    Subscribe to the State Department Blog: https://www.state.gov/blogs
    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
    Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: http://ow.ly/diiN30ro7Cw

    State Department website: https://www.state.gov/
    Careers website: https://careers.state.gov/
    White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/
    Terms of Use: https://state.gov/tou

    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_r5pkQMqqc

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Department of State Press Briefing – March 19, 2025

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    Spokesperson Tammy Bruce leads the Department Press Briefing at the Department of State, on March 19, 2025.

    Transcript: https://www.state.gov/briefings/department-press-briefing-march-19-2025/
    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
    X: https://x.com/StateDept
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/statedept
    Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/statephotos/

    Subscribe to the State Department Blog: https://www.state.gov/blogs
    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
    Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: http://ow.ly/diiN30ro7Cw

    State Department website: https://www.state.gov/
    Careers website: https://careers.state.gov/
    White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/
    Terms of Use: https://state.gov/tou

    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkiickmfuag

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: How to Invest Smarter with the Savings & Investments Union

    Source: European Commission (video statements)

    The Savings and Investments Union: Enhancing Europe’s Financial Landscape
    Europeans hold significant amounts of savings in bank deposits, yet only 5% of global venture capital is sourced from the EU.

    The Savings and Investments Union seeks to address this imbalance by streamlining investment processes and broadening opportunities, fostering EU economic growth and enhancing household wealth.

    Ultimately, the Savings and Investments Union aims to amplify investment choices, support EU enterprises, and strengthen the regional economy, leading to improved living standards for all Europeans.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO6HPfhV3U4

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK Prime Minister’s Questions with British Sign Language (BSL) – 19March 2025

    Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

    Prime Minister’s Question Time, also referred to as PMQs, takes place every Wednesday the House of Commons sits. It gives MPs the chance to put questions to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer MP, or a nominated minister.

    In most cases, the session starts with a routine ‘open question’ from an MP about the Prime Minister’s engagements. MPs can then ask supplementary questions on any subject, often one of current political significance.

    The Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch MP, asks six questions and the leader of the second largest opposition party asks two. If another minister takes the place of the Prime Minister, opposition parties will usually nominate a shadow minister to ask the questions.

    Want to find out more about what’s happening in the House of Commons this week? Follow the House of Commons on:

    Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HouseofCommons
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ukhouseofcommons
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ukhouseofcommons

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glJrUv00d4Y

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) – 19 March 2025

    Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

    Watch PMQs with British Sign Language (BSL) – https://youtube.com/live/glJrUv00d4Y

    Prime Minister’s Question Time, also referred to as PMQs, takes place every Wednesday the House of Commons sits. It gives MPs the chance to put questions to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer MP, or a nominated minister.

    In most cases, the session starts with a routine ‘open question’ from an MP about the Prime Minister’s engagements. MPs can then ask supplementary questions on any subject, often one of current political significance.

    The Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch MP, asks six questions and the leader of the second largest opposition party asks two. If another minister takes the place of the Prime Minister, opposition parties will usually nominate a shadow minister to ask the questions.

    Want to find out more about what’s happening in the House of Commons this week? Follow the House of Commons on:

    Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HouseofCommons
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ukhouseofcommons
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ukhouseofcommons

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5sf61Lp1rw

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya briefs Media on President’s upcoming programme

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)

    Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya briefs Media on President’s upcoming programme

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdTSJgek2tU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI: Equinor presents 2024 Annual report

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Equinor ASA (OSE: EQNR, NYSE: EQNR) publishes annual report for 2024, including financial and sustainability reporting.

    “2024 was marked by continued unpredictability in energy markets, with growing energy demand, political uncertainty and uneven progress in the energy transition. Our focus is on producing the energy the world needs today, and at the same time developing the energy systems needed for the future,” says Anders Opedal, President and CEO of Equinor ASA.

    Safety

    “A systematic approach to safety over time is paying off with the best safety results to date in 2024. However, the year was marked by the fatal search and rescue (SAR) helicopter accident where we lost a dear colleague. We believe close collaboration with suppliers and shared learning in the industry is important for our continued safety improvement effort”, says Opedal.

    The twelve-month average Serious Incident Frequency (SIF) for 2024 was 0.3, down from 0.4 in 2023.

    Strong operational and financial performance

    Equinor delivered adjusted operating income* of USD 29.8 billion, and adjusted net income* of USD 9.18. Net operating income was reported at USD 30.9 billion and net income at USD 8.83 billion.

    “Our operational performance was strong, built on the dedicated efforts from employees across the company. Our role as a major supplier of energy to Europe is important and I am proud of the work we have done to provide energy security”, says Opedal.

    Strong operational performance across the portfolio contributed to an equity production of liquids and gas of 2,067 mboe per day in 2024, on par with the year before. Equity production of renewable power increased by 51% to 2,935 GWh.

    Strong financial result contributed to a return on average capital employed (RoACE)* at 21% for 2024. Capital discipline remained firm with organic capital expenditures* ending at USD 12.1 billion for the year. Equinor maintained a strong balance sheet with net debt to capital employed adjusted* of 11.9% at the end of 2024.

    The strong financial results of 2024 also led to strong contributions to society through taxes. In 2024, Equinor paid USD 20.6 billion in corporate income taxes of which USD 19.7 billion was paid in Norway, where Equinor has the largest share of its operations and earnings.

    Firm strategy and progressing industrial development

    “We have a consistent growth strategy, and our strategic direction remains firm. By adapting to market situation and opportunities, we are positioned for stronger free cash flow and growth, and set to create shareholder value for decades to come”, Opedal continues.

    Through progressing projects and portfolio shaping transactions Equinor spent 2024 high-grading the portfolio and positioning for stronger growth and cash flow.

    On the Norwegian continental shelf, the development of the portfolio continued with 39 new licences and approvals of the PDOs of Eirin, Irpa, Verdande and Andvare projects. The Johan Castberg FPSO arrived at the field and started preparations for startup.

    The international upstream portfolio was focused with the exits from our long-standing positions in Nigeria and Azerbaijan and deepened in core areas with the acquisitions of US Onshore gas assets close to premium markets. In the UK an agreement was signed to establish an incorporated joint venture with Shell UK Ltd., which will become the largest independent oil and gas company on the UK continental shelf.

    Through 2024 Equinor high-graded the renewables portfolio to ensure profitable growth, in a market challenged by cost inflation and regulatory delays. In the UK the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank, continued to progress towards commercial start-up. Production was commenced at the Mendubim solar plants in Brazil.

    The long-term view on the importance of offshore wind remains firm. Through an acquisition of a 10% stake in Ørsted, Equinor got exposure to a premium portfolio of offshore wind projects and assets in operation.

    Value chains for carbon transport and storage progressed notably. In Norway, Northern Lights, the first commercial CO2 transport and storage infrastructure was completed and is expected to receive and store CO2 in 2025. In the UK, execution started for two of UK’s first carbon capture and storage infrastructure projects where Equinor is a partner.

    Progress on the Energy transition plan

    In 2024, Equinor achieved a year-on-year reduction of 5% in operated scope 1+2 greenhouse gas emissions, bringing the total down to 11.0 million tonnes CO2 equivalents. This is a 34% reduction from 2015, which is the reference year for Equinor’s ambition to reduce group-wide operated emissions by 50% on a net basis by 2030. Throughout 2024, actions were taken for further emission reductions with the partial electrification of the Sleipner field center, the Gudrun platform, as well as the Troll B and C fields.

    The average upstream CO2 intensity of Equinor’s operated portfolio was 6.2 kg of CO2 per boe in 2024 (100% basis), an improvement from 6.7kg of CO2/boe in 2023 and well below the industry average. The scope 3 GHG emissions from use of our products were 251 million tonnes in 2024, on par with the level in 2023.

    Equinor improved in the net carbon intensity of energy produced (including scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions) in 2024, which is now 2% below the 2019 baseline. The reduction was mainly driven by increased renewable energy production and lower scope 1+2 emissions.

    Equinor ambition is to to be a leading company in the energy transition. The updated Energy Transition Plan, published on March 20 2025, outlines the approach to deliver on Equinor’s strategy of creating value in the transition, while adjusting to changing external context and market realities.

    ***

    The previously announced decision of the French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), includes a requirement for Equinor to publish the following summary language:

    “Les sociétés Danske Commodities A/S et Equinor ASA ont été condamnées, par une décision n° 08-40-23 de la Commission de régulation de l’énergie (CRE) du 20 janvier 2025, au titre de la méconnaissance de l’article 5 du règlement REMIT qui prohibe les manipulations de marché, au paiement de sanctions pécuniaires, dont les montants s’élèvent à huit millions d’euros (8.000.000 €) pour la société Danske Commodities A/S et quatre millions d’euros (4.000.000 €) pour la société Equinor ASA, pour des manipulations commises sur le marché de gros en 2019 et en 2020, en ce qui concerne les capacités de transport de gaz naturel entre la France et l’Espagne.

    Danske Commodities A/S and Equinor ASA were ordered by decision no. 08-40-23 of Commission de régulation de l’énergie (CRE) of 20 January 2025 to pay – for infringement of Article 5 of REMIT Regulation prohibiting market manipulations – financial penalties in the amount of eight million euros (€8,000,000) as regards Danske Commodities A/S and four million euros (€4,000,000) as regards Equinor ASA, for manipulations committed on the wholesale market in 2019 and 2020, with regard to natural gas transmission capacity between France and Spain.”

    The full decision is included in the attached appendix “Full decision text”. Equinor does not agree with the decision from CRE and will appeal the case to the Higher Administrative Court in France.

    * * *

    Our annual report and the subsidiary reports published separately can be downloaded from equinor.com/reports.

    * * *

    In accordance with Section 203.01 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, Equinor ASA announces that on 20 March 2025 it filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission its 2024 Annual Report on Form 20-F that includes audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024.

    The Equinor 2024 Annual Report on Form 20-F may be downloaded from Equinor’s website at www.equinor.com. References to this document or other documents on Equinor’s website are included as an aid to their location and are not incorporated by reference into this document. All SEC filings made available electronically by Equinor may be obtained from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    Shareholders may also request a hard copy of the annual report free of charge at www.equinor.com.

    * * *

    (*) These are non-GAAP figures. See Use and reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures in the annual report for more details.

    Further information:

    Investor relations
    Bård Glad Pedersen, senior vice president Investor Relations,
    +47 51 99 00 00

    Press
    Rikke Høistad Sjøberg, media spokesperson financial communication,
    +47 901 01 451(mobile)

    * * *

    Cautionary Note regarding Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect current views with respect to future events, are based on the management’s current expectations and assumptions, and are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those discussed under “Risk Factors” in the 2024 Annual report and elsewhere in Equinor’s publications. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and, except as required by applicable law, Equinor undertakes no obligation to update any of these statements, whether to make them conform to actual results, changes in expectations or otherwise.

    * * *

    This information is subject to disclosure obligations pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation, ref. section 3-1 in the Norwegian Securities Trading Act, and section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU Receives License for New Master’s Program “Industrial Pharmacy”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Novosibirsk State University has received a license for a new master’s program “Industrial Pharmacy”, the first intake of students will be in September 2025. This is a network educational program implemented jointly with the Engineering School of Moscow State University, the industrial partners are the companies “Generium”, “Pharmstandard” and “Medico-Biological Union”. This is the first such educational program beyond the Urals. It is planned that up to 20 people will study in the master’s program.

    The new master’s program will be implemented on the basis of the infrastructure new campus of NSU, which is being built within the framework of the national project “Youth and Children”. The master’s degree will combine fundamental scientific knowledge concentrated in the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the industrial experience of industrial partners. Students will also undergo practical training at Moscow State University and Sechenov University.

    — The buildings of the educational and scientific center of the Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies (IMMT) of NSU and the scientific research center of NSU, which are related to the objects of the second stage of the new campus, will house both educational sites and pilot industrial production in various areas, including pharmaceutical ones, which will allow young specialists to obtain and hone their skills in a licensed production facility located directly at the place of their studies. No university beyond the Urals offers such an opportunity, — commented Mikhail Khvostov, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Medical Cybernetics of IMMT NSU.

    Bachelors of natural science and medical fields will be able to enroll in the master’s program. Within the framework of the program, it will be possible to receive education in two tracks. The first is pharmaceutical development. The educational process will include training in basic, fundamental disciplines, and special courses that provide additional knowledge and develop skills required in scientific research work specifically in pharmacy. The second direction is biotechnology and the production of high-tech drugs, primarily gene therapy and based on human somatic cells. There are only a few such specialists in Russia now.

    — There is a major shortage of personnel in the pharmaceutical industry, including research, expert analysis and production. The new master’s program at NSU will allow training professionals in areas that are currently actively developing in our country. Thus, regenerative medicine and health preservation are important elements of the new national project. Therefore, the demand for specialists working in this area will grow every year, — emphasized Mikhail Khvostov.

    Master’s students of the new educational program will also participate in the development of products, the creation of which is supported by the Priority 2030 program.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Post-95s inheritor revolutionizes Chinese lion dance

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Under the night sky, luminous lions leap and dance to the rhythm, performing spectacular moves and drawing enthusiastic applause from the audience.

    These luminous lions are the creation of Li Zujie, a post-95 intangible cultural heritage inheritor. Through his efforts, the luminous lions have evolved through three design iterations, not only becoming a viral sensation in China but also finding their way to more than 20 countries and regions worldwide, including Malaysia and Singapore.

    Li was born into a family engaged in lion dance for generations in Suixi county, Zhanjiang city, south China’s Guangdong Province, known as the “hometown of Chinese lion dance.”

    With a long history, the Suixi-style lion dance, as a branch of the Guangdong lion dance, was included in the first batch of China’s national intangible cultural heritage list as early as 2006.

    Li’s father is a national-level representative inheritor of the Guangdong lion dance, while his mother is a representative inheritor of the provincial-level intangible cultural heritage of Suixi lion head crafting techniques.

    Under his parents’ guidance, Li developed a keen interest in lion dance from an early age.

    Li vividly recalled every milestone in his lion dance journey—from the early days of practicing basic skills, to performing as a drummer in his third grade of primary school and finally taking up the lion head for a performance in sixth grade. Each improvement filled him with pride and kindled his hope of adding new highlights to the Suixi lion dance.

    “During winter and summer breaks, I would help my parents with crafting tasks, like installing the lions’ eyes and headdresses,” Li said. His parents’ hands-on instruction in bamboo framing and parameter adjustments quickly honed his crafting skills.

    “Perhaps it was learning lion dance and crafting techniques from such a young age that made me develop a habit of studying the characteristics of different teams’ lion heads and equipment,” Li said. In 2007, at just 12 years old, he was struck by foreign teams using illuminated decorations on their drums during a competition. This sparked his ambition to innovate with lion heads.

    A nighttime performance in 2013 prompted Li to develop luminous lions. “The venue was quite dark, making it difficult for the audience to see our movements clearly. I wondered if attaching light strips to the lion would dramatically enhance the atmosphere and visual appeal of evening performances.”

    Li wasted no time putting his idea into practice. While studying in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong, he would go to markets to select materials and learn technical skills after class.

    His hard work paid off. After about six months of experimentation, the first-generation luminous lion prototype was successfully developed.

    By customizing higher-quality LED strips, larger-capacity batteries, and optimizing circuit placement to accommodate dance movements, Li’s team improved the performance of the second-generation luminous lions.

    In recent years, Li and his luminous lions have graced over 20 major galas and events, including the Chinese TV show “Charm China” in 2017, the opening ceremony of the 4th Annual International Jackie Chan Action Movie Week in 2018, and the 2020 Spring Festival Gala at the sub-venue in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

    After the second-generation luminous lions gained fame, Li received a flood of orders and constant performance invitations. Yet he didn’t rest on his laurels. After three years of refinement, he incorporated digital control and programmable lighting technology, enabling the third-generation luminous lions to change colors in sync with music and movement patterns.

    Beyond preserving lion dance traditions and crafting lion heads, Li has leveraged short videos and e-commerce platforms to further spread the Suixi lion dance.

    In March 2018, Li posted his first short video about the Suixi lion dance on the popular short video platform Douyin. To date, his account on the platform has posted over 1,000 videos featuring training and performance clips, lion head crafting processes, and related cultural and creative products, attracting more than 200,000 followers. One video featuring breathtaking lion dance moves garnered over 210,000 likes on Douyin alone, with total views exceeding 100 million across different platforms.

    Online popularity has boosted offline performances and sales. “Since we started producing short videos, we’ve received dozens of performance invitations through online channels, and many people have placed orders for luminous lions after seeing our videos,” Li said.

    Today, Li’s family factory sells over 10,000 lion dance-related products annually, reaching more than 20 countries and regions worldwide. Last year alone, the factory sold over 400 luminous lions. In addition, miniature lion dance-themed cultural products become best sellers in Li’s online store.

    In recent years, Li and his team have actively promoted lion dance through school programs, educational tours, and training classes.

    “Currently, our team has introduced lion dance to three schools, teaching over 100 students. Whenever possible, I make sure to teach in person,” he said.

    Li has contributed wholeheartedly to the preservation of lion dance. “The lion dance industry is no longer just about making a living like in the past. As new-generation inheritors, we should focus more on how to expand the reach of Chinese traditional culture,” Li noted.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: If NZ wants to decarbonise energy, we need to know which renewables deliver the best payback

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Brent, Professor and Chair in Sustainable Energy Systems, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

    Getty Images

    A national energy strategy for Aotearoa New Zealand was meant to be ready at the end of last year. As it stands, we’re still waiting for a cohesive, all-encompassing plan to meet the country’s energy demand today and in the future.

    One would expect such a plan to first focus on reducing energy demand through improved energy efficiency across all sectors.

    The next step should be greater renewable electrification of all sectors. However, questions remain about the cradle-to-grave implications of investments in these renewable resources.

    We have conducted life-cycle assessments of several renewable electricity generation technologies, including wind and solar, that the country is investing in now. We found the carbon and energy footprints are quite small and favourably complement our current portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets.

    Meeting future demand

    The latest assessments provided by the Ministry of Business, Employment and Innovation echo earlier work by the grid operator Transpower. Both indicate that overall demand for electricity could nearly double by 2050.

    Many researchers believe these scenarios are an underestimate. One study suggests the power generation capacity will potentially need to increase threefold over this period. Other modelling efforts project current capacity will need to increase 13 times, especially if we want to decarbonise all sectors and export energy carriers such as hydrogen.

    This is, of course, because we want all new generation to come from renewable resources, with much lower capacity factors (the percentage of the year they deliver power) associated with their variability.

    Additional storage requirements will also be enormous. Following the termination of work on a proposed pumped hydro project, other options need investigating.

    Wind and solar are becoming the primary renewable technologies.
    Shutterstock/Kyohei Miyazaki

    Building renewable generation

    The latest World Energy Outlook published by the International Energy Agency (IEA) shows that wind and solar, primarily photovoltaic panels, are quickly taking over as the primary renewable technologies.

    This is also true in Aotearoa New Zealand. An updated version of the generation investment survey, commissioned by the Electricity Authority, shows most of the committed and actively pursued projects (to be commissioned by 2030) are solar photovoltaic and onshore wind farms.

    Offshore wind projects are on the horizon, too, but have been facing challenges such as proposed seabed mining in the same area and a lack of price stabilisation measures typical in other jurisdictions. New legislation aims to address some of these challenges.

    Distributed solar power (small-scale systems to power homes, buildings and communities) has seen near-exponential growth. Our analysis indicates wind (onshore and offshore) and distributed solar will make an almost equal contribution to power generation by 2050, with a slightly larger share by utility-scale solar.

    Cradle-to-grave analyses

    The main goal is to maintain a stable grid with secure and affordable electricity supply. But there are other sustainability considerations associated with what happens at the end of renewable technologies’ use and where their components come from.

    The IEA’s Global Critical Minerals Outlook shows the fast-growing global demand for a suite of materials with complex supply chains. We have also investigated the materials intensity of taking up these technologies in Aotearoa New Zealand, and discussed the greater dependence on those supply chains.

    The challenges in securing these metals in a sustainable manner include environmental and social impacts associated with the mining and processing of the materials and the manufacturing of different components that need to be transported for implementation here. There are also operating and maintenance requirements, including the replacement of components, and the dismantling of the assets in a responsible manner.

    We have undertaken comprehensive life-cycle assessments, based on international standards, of the recently commissioned onshore Harapaki wind farm, a proposed offshore wind farm in the South Taranaki Bight, a utility-scale solar farm in Waikato and distributed solar photovoltaic systems, with and without batteries, across the country.

    The usual metrics are energy inputs and carbon emissions because they describe the efficiency of these technologies. They are considered a first proxy of whether a technology is appropriate for a given context.

    Beyond that, we used the following specific metrics, as summarised in the table below:

    • GWP: global warming potential (carbon emissions during a technology’s life cycle per energy unit delivered).

    • CPBT: carbon payback time (how long a technology needs to be operational before its life cycle emissions equal the avoided emissions, either using the grid and its associated emissions or conventional natural gas turbines).

    • CED: cumulative energy demand over the life cycle of a technology.

    • EPBT: energy payback time (how long a technology needs to be operational before the electricity it generates equals the CED).

    • EROI: energy return on investment (the amount of usable energy delivered from an energy source compared to the energy required to extract, process and distribute that source, essentially quantifying the “profit” from energy production).

    There is much debate about the minimum energy return on investment that makes an energy source acceptable. A value of more than ten is generally viewed as positive.

    Life cycle assessment metrics of wind and solar power in Aotearoa New Zealand.
    Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, CC BY-SA

    For all technologies we assessed, the overall greenhouse gas emissions are lower than the grid emissions factor. Because of New Zealand’s already low-emissions grid, the carbon payback time is around three to seven years for utility-scale generation. But for small-scale, distributed generation it can be up to 13 years. If the displacement of gas turbines is considered, the payback is halved.

    Energy return on investment is above ten for all technologies, but utility-scale generation is better than distributed solar, with values of between 30 and 75.

    To put this into perspective, the energy return on investment for hydropower, if operated for 100 years, is reported to be 110. Utility-scale wind and solar being commissioned now have an operational life of 30 years but are typically expected to be refurbished.

    This means their energy return on investment is becoming comparable to hydropower.

    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. If NZ wants to decarbonise energy, we need to know which renewables deliver the best payback – https://theconversation.com/if-nz-wants-to-decarbonise-energy-we-need-to-know-which-renewables-deliver-the-best-payback-251819

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: [Video] Samsung Teases ‘AI Home Experience’ Ahead of “Welcome to Bespoke AI” Event

    Source: Samsung

    ▲ Samsung Electronics’ new Bespoke AI product lineup
     
    On March 26, Samsung Electronics will hold “Welcome to Bespoke AI” in Seoul, Korea, where it will unveil its latest home appliance lineup and strategy for the year, under the theme of “Home Living Made Simple.”
     
    JH Han, Vice Chairman and CEO of Samsung Electronics, will take the stage as the keynote speaker, introducing Samsung’s vision and strategy for the “AI Home” as well as a wide range of new Bespoke AI products for the global market.
     
    Ahead of the upcoming event, Samsung released a teaser video. The video features a smartphone, a refrigerator and a washing machine connected to SmartThings, highlighting the convenience of Samsung’s AI Home, where AI-connected devices work together seamlessly.
     
    More information about these new products can be found on Samsung Newsroom and Samsung.com starting March 26.
     

    ▲ Samsung Electronics unveiled a teaser video ahead of the ‘Welcome to Bespoke AI’ event.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: New policy to ensure food quality and safety

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    A citizen enjoys food at a restaurant in Xixiu District of Anshun, southwest China’s Guizhou province, Jan. 24, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China has announced a new comprehensive guideline aimed at strengthening oversight across the entire food supply chain, from farms to consumer tables.

    The policy, jointly issued by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, China’s Cabinet, outlines stricter controls and enforcement measures to enhance public health protection and ensure food quality.

    The new guideline emphasizes greater coordination between regulatory bodies and a focus on improving food safety at every stage of production, distribution and sale. A key component of the reforms includes the establishment of a traceability system for agricultural products, enabling better monitoring from farms to markets. This is intended to prevent unsafe products from entering the food supply while allowing authorities to respond quickly to any safety issues that might arise.

    The policy also tightens regulations surrounding food production and business licensing. Producers and distributors will now face more stringent checks before receiving licenses, and compliance will be rigorously enforced at both the provincial and local levels.

    Traditional food producers will be required to meet modern safety standards while preserving cultural practices.

    In addition to improving food production standards, the policy addresses food storage and transportation. New safety protocols for warehouses and logistics companies aim to ensure that food is stored and transported under controlled conditions, preventing contamination or spoilage.

    As online food sales continue to grow, the document emphasizes the responsibilities of e-commerce platforms and livestreaming hosts in selling food products online. It calls for “ensuring the accountability of online food sales entities and strengthening the collaborative governance of food safety issues in online sales” to improve regulation of the emerging sector. Furthermore, it requires the establishment of a comprehensive regulatory mechanism for food service.

    For imported food products, the policy introduces a risk management framework to ensure that all foreign foods entering China meet domestic safety standards. This includes additional oversight of food sold through cross-border e-commerce channels.

    In January, data from the Ministry of Public Security showed that 12,000 cases of food safety crimes were solved last year.

    Last week, a reporter from The Beijing News conducted undercover visits to several Yangmingyu Braised Chicken and Rice franchise stores in Henan province. They observed kitchens using spoiled mushrooms and processing overnight darkened beef with coloring agents for reuse. They also witnessed leftover food from customers being recycled and reprocessed.

    This year’s CCTV 3.15 Gala also exposed the issue of excessive phosphate levels in water-injected shrimp sold on various online platforms though advertisements for these shrimp frequently featured claims of “zero additives” and “zero moisture retention agents”.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Travel with Intent to Engage in Unlawful Sexual Activity

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBANY, NEW YORK – Frank Twing, Sr. age 33, of West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, was sentenced yesterday to 25 years in prison, to be followed by 25 years of supervised release, for sexual exploitation of a 15-year-old victim and travel with intent to engage in unlawful sexual conduct with an approximately 12-year-old victim. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

    Twing admitted that he engaged in a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old child during which he created sexually explicit videos depicting that child. He also admitted to traveling from his home in Massachusetts to New York, planning to have sex with an approximately 12-year-old child.

    Twing will also have to forfeit to the United States the property he used to commit the offenses, pay special assessments, and is required to register as a sex offender upon release from prison.

    This case was investigated by the FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the New York State Police, the Massachusetts State Police, and the Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Gadarian and Benjamin A. Gillis are prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

    Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Les by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: More young people are caring for a loved one with dementia. It takes a unique toll

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katya Numbers, Postdoctoral Research Fellow & Lecturer, Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, UNSW Sydney

    Miljan Zivkovic/Shutterstock

    Dementia is a growing health problem, affecting more than 55 million people around the world.

    In Australia, an estimated 433,300 people are living with dementia. This figure is projected to rise to 812,500 by 2054.

    Dementia refers to brain disorders that are not a normal part of ageing. These disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, cause a decline in cognitive function and changes in mood, memory, thinking and behaviour. Ultimately they affect a person’s ability to carry out everyday tasks.

    In Australia, around 75% of people with dementia live at home.

    While dementia care at home has traditionally been associated with older spouses or middle-aged children, it seems an increasing number of young adults in their 20s and 30s, and even teenagers, are stepping into this role to care for grandparents, parents or other loved ones.

    In Australia, 3 million people (11.9% of the population) are carers. This includes 391,300 under 25 – a sharp rise from 235,300 in 2018.

    How many young carers are specifically caring for a loved one with dementia is unclear, and something we need more data on. Young dementia carers remain largely invisible, with minimal recognition or support.

    Unique challenges and the burden of responsibility

    Unlike older carers, who may have more financial stability and free time, young carers often must balance caregiving with university, early-career pressures, and personal development, including maintaining social relationships, pursuing hobbies, and prioritising mental welling.

    In Australia, where 51% of men and 43% of women aged 20–24 still live with their parents, many young carers will have limited experience in managing a household independently.

    They’re often thrust into complex responsibilities such as cooking, housework, managing the family budget, coordinating medical appointments and administering medications.

    Beyond that, they may need to provide physical care such as lifting or helping their loved one move around, and personal care such as dressing, washing, and helping with toileting.

    Young carers often must balance caregiving with other responsibilities.
    Iris Wang/Unsplash

    All this can leave young carers feeling unprepared, overwhelmed and isolated.

    While general support groups exist for dementia carers and young carers more broadly, few cater specifically to young adults caring for someone with dementia.

    This lack of targeted support is likely to heighten feelings of isolation, as the young person’s friends struggle to relate to the emotional and practical burdens young carers face.

    The demanding nature of caregiving, combined with the difficulty of sharing these experiences with peers, means young dementia carers can become disconnected socially.

    The psychological toll

    These challenges take a profound psychological toll on young carers.

    Research shows young carers are 35% more likely to report mental health issues than their non-caregiving peers. These can include depression, anxiety and burnout.

    Again, we don’t have data on mental health outcomes among young dementia carers specifically. But in Australia, 75% of dementia carers reported being affected physically or emotionally by their caring role. Some 41% felt weary or lacked energy, and 31% felt worried or depressed.

    Also, there are negative stereotypes about ageing – that people turn forgetful, frail, and need constant care. For young carers whose loved ones have dementia, these stereotypes can be reinforced by their experience. This could shape young carers’ perceptions of their own future health and wellbeing and increase anxiety about ageing.

    Caregiving may also affect physical health. Research suggests carers often sacrifice healthy habits such as exercise and a balanced diet. What’s more, carers report symptoms including poor sleep, fatigue, headaches and back pain due to the physical demands of caregiving.

    Caring for a parent – a role reversal

    This emotional burden is particularly acute for those caring for a parent. These young carers are likely to experience the progressive loss of parental support, while simultaneously assuming the demanding role of caregiver.

    A significant portion of young dementia carers support parents with young-onset dementia, a form of dementia diagnosed before age 65. These young carers face the shock of a diagnosis that defies typical expectations of ageing.

    The burden may be compounded by fears of genetic inheritance. Young onset dementia often has a hereditary component.

    This means young carers may have a higher risk of developing the condition themselves – a concern spousal carers don’t have. This fear can fuel health anxiety, alter life planning, and create a pervasive sense of vulnerability.

    A significant portion of young dementia carers support parents with young-onset dementia.
    VisualProduction/Shutterstock

    How we can better support young dementia carers

    Despite their growing numbers, young dementia carers remain largely overlooked in research, policy and support services. This is partly due to the challenges in engaging this demographic in research, as these young people juggle busy lives balancing caregiving with education and work.

    Many young carers also don’t self-identify as carers, hindering their access to support and resources. This could be because of the stigmatising label, or a feeling they’re not doing enough to qualify as a carer. It could even be because of cultural norms which can frame caregiving as a family obligation, rather than a distinct role.

    Nonetheless, young dementia carers require targeted support beyond generic caregiving resources.

    This support might include specialised peer networks, educational programs, and practical skills training. Tailored programs and resources should ideally be co-designed with young dementia carers to ensure they meet their unique needs and preferences.

    With dementia cases in Australia and elsewhere projected to increase, the demand for informal carers – including young adults – will continue to grow.

    Without intervention, these young carers risk burnout, social isolation, and long-term health consequences. We must ensure flexible, age-appropriate support for this often invisible group. Investing in young dementia carers is not just a moral imperative – it’s a crucial step toward a sustainable, compassionate care system for the future.

    Dementia Australia offers a national helpline, information sessions, and a peer-to-peer connection platform for carers.

    The Young Carers Network, run by Carers Australia, offers mental health resources, financial guidance, and respite care information, plus bursaries young carers can apply for to reduce financial pressure.

    Katya is a co-founder of Y-Care of Dementia, a support network for Australians in their 20s and 30s who are caring for someone living with dementia.

    Serena Sabatini 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. More young people are caring for a loved one with dementia. It takes a unique toll – https://theconversation.com/more-young-people-are-caring-for-a-loved-one-with-dementia-it-takes-a-unique-toll-249361

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Trump is ignoring the power of nationalism at his own peril

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Smith, Associate Professor in American Politics and Foreign Policy, US Studies Centre, University of Sydney

    US President Donald Trump has exploited American nationalism as effectively as anyone in living memory. What sets him apart is his use of national humiliation as a political emotion. Any presidential candidate can talk their country up, but Trump knows how to talk his country down.

    Trump’s consistent message has been that American problems – trade deficits, job losses, illegal immigration, crime and even drug addiction – are the result of deliberate acts by other countries. The really humiliating part is that American politicians let it happen.

    Many Americans have welcomed Trump’s message that their country’s problems can be solved by reestablishing international dominance. They see this nationalist approach as an overdue corrective to the “globalist” foreign policies of the post-second world war era.

    But people in other countries also have feelings of national pride and aspire to be free from foreign domination. This should be obvious, but so far Trump is ignoring the power of nationalism in other countries even as he harnesses it in his own. This makes his foreign policy job a lot harder.

    How Canadians have rallied against Trump

    Take the example of Canada.

    When Trump was elected to his second term in November 2024, it seemed certain there would soon be a Canadian prime minister who was more aligned with him than Justin Trudeau. Trudeau’s unpopularity had dragged the Liberal Party down, and the populist Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre looked set to win the this year’s election.

    As he prepared for a trade war with Canada, Trump could have concentrated his fire on his enemies in the doomed Liberal government. Instead, he spent months insulting Canada’s national identity. He repeatedly said Canada should be the “51st state of the US”, calling Trudeau “governor”.

    Trump says ‘Canada was meant to be our 51st state’ in a Fox News interview.

    Americans can dismiss Trump’s talk of annexing Canada as a joke, but Canadians can’t. Regardless of whether Trump would ever follow through with attempting an annexation, his language is an attack on Canadian sovereignty. No one with any sense of national pride would tolerate it.

    An Angus Reid poll found the number of people saying they had a “deep emotional attachment” to Canada rose from 49% to 59% from December 2024 to February 2025. That emotional attachment is visible in everything from “buy Canadian” campaigns to Canadians booing the US national anthem at hockey games.

    The Liberals, under new leader Mark Carney, are also experiencing a remarkable bounce-back in the polls.

    Another Angus Reid poll shows that voting intention for the Liberals has surged from 16% in December to 42% now. They are now leading the Conservatives, who have 37% support. Some are now anticipating a snap election could be called in days.

    Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who has sometimes been likened to Trump, has also led a ferocious pro-Canadian resistance to American tariffs, getting his own re-election boost.

    Trump’s defenders often claim his chaotic bluster is simply a negotiating tactic, a way of spooking others into accepting terms more favourable to him. If so, this tactic is backfiring in Canada.

    Trade wars require sacrifices. Citizens must pay more for the sake of protecting their countries’ industries. Canadians seem a lot more willing to make that sacrifice than Americans, who are mostly confused that their friendly neighbour has suddenly been recast as an enemy.

    The importance of national identity

    Other countries have shown they will not cave easily, either, as Trump puts their national identity at stake.

    Demanding to buy another country’s territory, as Trump keeps doing with Greenland, a self-governing territory under Danish control, may be even more insulting than threatening to take it, as he keeps doing with Panama. Each time Greenlanders, Danes and Panamanians refuse Trump, his credibility erodes further.

    Trump talks about the territory of other countries in terms of “real estate”, even suggesting the United States should “redevelop” Gaza after evicting the Palestinians.

    But sovereign land is not real estate. In a world of nation-states defined by territory, even sparsely inhabited territory has “sacred value”. This is particularly true for peoples seeking statehood on their land.

    “Sacred values” are things people see as non-negotiable because they are linked to their sense of identity and moral order in the world. Researchers warn that offering money in exchange for sacred values is deeply offensive, and likely to harm, rather than help, negotiations.

    There is a reason why governments hardly ever sell their territory to other countries anymore. Empires may have done in this in the past, but not nations. They view their lands, and the people who live on them, as inalienable from the nation.

    Trump clearly doesn’t understand this concept. He has shown no empathy for Ukraine, a country whose territory actually has been invaded. He accused Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy of wanting to prolong the war so he could “keep the gravy train going”, as if harvesting US aid dollars was the real reason Ukrainians were fighting for their country’s existence.

    Trump’s contempt for Ukraine, Canada, Greenland, Gaza, Denmark and Panama has reverberations far beyond these places. It signals that his brand of American nationalism has no place for anyone else’s national aspirations or sovereignty.

    This will not promote the deal-making Trump wants because no one trusts an unstable, imperial power to stick to its agreements. It would be painful for many countries to reduce their dependence on the United States, but it would be more painful to give away their national dignity.

    David Smith 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. Trump is ignoring the power of nationalism at his own peril – https://theconversation.com/trump-is-ignoring-the-power-of-nationalism-at-his-own-peril-252299

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Reining in water price increases for Aucklanders

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Increases in water charges for Auckland consumers this year will be halved under the Watercare Charter which has now been passed into law, Local Government Minister Simon Watts and Auckland Minister Simeon Brown say.
    The charter is part of the financial arrangement for Watercare developed last year by Auckland Council with the support of the Government under Local Water Done Well. 
    “Last year, the Government quickly progressed legislation to restore local control of water assets, overturning Labour’s Three Water reforms which were expensive and creating problems across the country. This included putting in place preliminary arrangements for the transition to safe, resilient, reliable, environmentally sound, and customer responsive water services at the least cost,” Mr Watts says.
    “The charter will help keep Auckland’s water services affordable, saving households about $899 million over four years while ensuring improved service quality and record infrastructure investment averaging $1.3 billion a year to unlock housing growth in Auckland.
    “By easing this financial pressure, Aucklanders can keep more money in their household budgets, allowing them to spend it on other essential expenses such as groceries and healthcare.”
    Under Auckland Council’s draft 2024-2034 long-term plan (LTP), Watercare charges for drinking water and wastewater connected residential consumers would have risen by an average of 14.6 percent on 1 July 2025. Under the charter, the increase will be 7.2 percent. This follows last year’s increase, also of 7.2 percent compared with the 25.8 percent increase proposed in the draft LTP for 1 July 2024.
    Auckland Minister Simeon Brown says the Government is committed to delivering affordable water charges for Aucklanders through the Local Water Done Well solution for Watercare, while ensuring that there is ongoing investment in critical infrastructure maintenance and growth. 
    “The high cost of living remains a top concern for Aucklanders, and our Government is committed to reducing unnecessary charges and taxes to provide relief. The Government’s Local Water Done Well solution for Watercare has prevented large increases in Aucklanders’ water rates while ensuring we keep investing in the water infrastructure our city will need,” Mr Brown says.
    Mr Watts says the charter will ensure Watercare faces incentives to invest in replacing and upgrading assets, improve efficiency, and provide water services at a quality that reflects consumer expectations. Importantly, it means that the benefits of efficiency improvement will be shared with consumers,” Mr Watts says
    “The Commission’s regulatory oversight of Watercare means greater transparency and accountability regarding water and wastewater network performance, customer service, and cost to consumers.
    “Infrastructure is vital for our cities to thrive, and because this Government listened and worked with Auckland Council, we delivered a solution that ensures Watercare has the flexibility and revenue certainty to fund future water infrastructure projects.
    “This approach also frees up Auckland Council’s own balance sheet to support it to invest in other critical infrastructure, supporting growth across the city.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: View of Zhaoxing Dong Village in China’s Guizhou

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

    View of Zhaoxing Dong Village in China’s Guizhou

    Updated: March 20, 2025 09:23 Xinhua
    Villagers make sticky rice and grilled pork for tourists at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, March 17, 2025. Located in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Zhaoxing Dong Village is home to over a thousand households of the Dong ethnic group. The traditional architectural style and rich cultural heritage of the Dong ethnic group are well-preserved. In recent years, while maintaining the historical integrity of the village and inheriting the unique cultural characteristics, the local community has established teams of the grand song of the Dong ethnic group and Dong opera troupes. Traditional ethnic festivals have been transformed into tourism attractions. Furthermore, the development of traditional handicraft enterprises and 433 hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants has created over 2,000 employment opportunities for local villagers, allowing them to benefit economically from the tourism industry. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on March 17, 2025 shows a night view of the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on March 17, 2025 shows Lusheng, a traditional musical instrument, at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Villagers sing the grand song of the Dong ethnic group for tourists at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, March 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on March 17, 2025 shows a view of the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Villagers walk outside the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, March 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A visitor uses a camera at the Dong culture exhibition center in the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, March 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on March 18, 2025 shows a view of the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Visitors take photos at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, March 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Villagers make embroideries in front of a drum tower at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, March 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on March 18, 2025 shows a view of the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on March 17, 2025 shows a drum tower at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, March 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists pose for photos at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, March 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Villagers sing the grand song of the Dong ethnic group at a drum tower at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, March 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Villagers sit around a firepit at a drum tower at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, March 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A villager makes embroideries at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, March 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Villagers sing the grand song of the Dong ethnic group for tourists at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, March 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A tourist poses for photos at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, March 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A villager dries traditional Dong cloth at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, March 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Signs First Bill into Law, Delivering Resources to Support Western North Carolina’s Recovery

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein Signs First Bill into Law, Delivering Resources to Support Western North Carolina’s Recovery

    Governor Stein Signs First Bill into Law, Delivering Resources to Support Western North Carolina’s Recovery
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today, Governor Josh Stein signed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 Part 1 – his first bill signed into law. Governor Stein was joined by leaders in the North Carolina General Assembly, members of his Western North Carolina Advisory Committee, law enforcement officials, and agricultural leaders.

    “This funding is a promising step forward in the long road to recovery for western North Carolina. I want to thank the General Assembly for working together to pass this critical aid package to help our neighbors rebuilding after Helene,” said Governor Josh Stein. “But we are nowhere near done — I will keep pushing to ensure western North Carolina is not forgotten.”  

    “This legislation will bring much-needed relief to western North Carolina while finally bringing long-awaited relief to hurricane victims in the eastern part of our state,” said Speaker Destin Hall. “This is the fourth bill we’ve passed for Helene recovery-and it won’t be the last.”

    “Since Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina, the General Assembly has come together to address the real-time needs of our citizens,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger. “This bill will make a world of difference for the people of western North Carolina and I’m proud to see it become law. I look forward to continuing our efforts to support western North Carolina as it recovers and rebuilds.”

    The Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part 1 includes $524 million in total aid for western North Carolina. The bill provides $200 million for North Carolina farmers who have experienced crop losses due to Hurricane Helene, $120 million for a CDBG-DR Home Reconstruction and Repair program, and $55 million for local government infrastructure grants to help small business. It also includes $100 million to repair the over 8,000 private roads and bridges that were damaged by the storm, as well as $20 million for debris cleanup. The bill provides $9 million for a school extension learning recovery program to help the students in western North Carolina who lost weeks of class time in the wake of Helene. The bill also extends the statewide declaration of emergency for Hurricane Helene until June 30th. In addition to supporting needs in the west, the bill provides $217 million to get people back into their homes in eastern North Carolina. 

    Exactly one week ahead of the 6-month anniversary of Hurricane Helene, the Stein administration continues to approach recovery and rebuilding with urgency, focus, transparency, and accountability. Governor Stein recently visited Ferguson Farm in Haywood County and spoke with North Carolinians in Yancey County who lost their livelihoods and homes after Hurricane Helene. Governor Stein continues to advocate for $19 billion in federal funds to restore infrastructure, support home repair and renovation, and reduce impacts from future natural disasters and for an extension of FEMA’s 100% reimbursement. 

    Mar 19, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Efforts pay off with economic growth

    Source: ACT Party

    “It’s official: the economy is growing,” says ACT Leader David Seymour in response to new gross domestic product figures from Stats NZ showing 0.7 percent growth in the three months to December.

    “Firms, farms, and families have made tough sacrifices in a cost-of-living crisis, but now they’re starting to see the fruits of their efforts. Inflation is under control, interest rates are getting lower.

    “The economy returned to growth last year and is growing further. The Government must keep saving so there’s more for everyone to spend.

    “As households have more money to spend, and businesses gain confidence to invest and employ, we’ll see more growth, better paying jobs, and more reasons for the next generation to build families and careers in New Zealand.

    “With ACT in Government, we’re doing our part to speed along the recovery, cutting waste in Wellington and stripping back red tape that stops Kiwis from being productive. Let’s stay the course.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: US launches new round of airstrikes on Yemen’s capital, other provinces

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Photo taken with a cellphone on March 19, 2025 shows smoke and fire rising from a neighborhood following an airstrike in Sanaa, Yemen. [Photo/Xinhua]

    A new round of U.S. airstrikes struck Yemen’s capital Sanaa on Wednesday evening, wounding at least nine people, including seven women and two children, according to Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.

    The strikes targeted a building under construction in Sanaa’s Geraf neighborhood, damaging nearby residential structures and injuring civilians sheltering in an adjacent building, the channel reported.

    The attack marked the second U.S. strike on the area since Saturday, when earlier raids killed 53 people and wounded 98, including women and children, according to Houthi-controlled health authorities.

    Wednesday’s strikes also expanded to other regions, with al-Masirah reporting strikes on Houthi-controlled areas in governorates such as Saada, al-Bayda, Hodeidah, and al-Jawf.

    The Houthis, who control northern Yemen, claimed earlier on Wednesday they had launched cruise missiles at the USS Harry Truman in the Red Sea, calling it their fourth such attack in 72 hours.

    The group insists its maritime strikes target only Israeli-linked vessels to pressure Israel to halt its Gaza offensive and allow humanitarian aid into the Palestinian enclave.

    The U.S. military, which began strikes on Houthi targets Saturday, says the campaign aims to protect international shipping lanes.

    U.S. President Donald Trump warned the Houthis on Saturday to cease attacks or face intensified consequences, declaring, “Hell will rain down upon you like nothing you have ever seen before.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Israel expresses ‘sorrow’ over UN staffer’s death in Gaza, denies responsibility

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Israel on Wednesday expressed “sorrow” over the death of a Bulgarian United Nations staff member in strikes on UN guesthouses in Gaza’s Deir al-Balah but said an initial investigation found no Israeli involvement in the incident.

    The United Nations said the staffer, employed by the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), was killed when two UN facilities were hit. Five other personnel sustained serious injuries.

    Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein said a preliminary inquiry “found no connection” between Israeli military operations and the strike.

    “The circumstances of the incident are being investigated,” he said, adding that Israel facilitated the evacuation of the victim’s body and the wounded from the site.

    The injured would receive treatment in Israeli hospitals, he said in a post on social media platform X.

    UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack as a violation of international law. “All UN premises’ locations are known to parties to the conflict, who are obligated to protect them,” a UN spokesperson said in a statement.

    Guterres extended condolences to the victim’s family, noting that the death brought the number of UN staff killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023 to at least 280.

    “These premises were well known by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and they were ‘deconflicted’,” UNOPS chief Jorge Moreira da Silva said, adding that it was clear UN personnel were inside at the time.

    “This was not an accident, this was an incident,” he told reporters, saying additional information was being gathered.

    Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli military denied targeting the compounds. “Contrary to reports, the IDF did not target a UN facility in Deir al-Balah,” it said in a statement.

    The incident occurred as Israel renewed military operations in Gaza, which officials say are aimed at Hamas militants. Gaza health authorities reported more than 400 Palestinian deaths since Tuesday, including at least 170 children and 80 women, after Israel resumed strikes following a weeks-long ceasefire that began on Jan. 19.

    Israel’s military said the operations were intended to “eliminate Hamas threats” and would continue “until strategic objectives are achieved.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Colleagues Push to Save Task Force Combating Threats to Election Officials

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
    WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, joined Sens. Alex Padilla (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and 28 Democratic colleagues in urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to continue the essential work of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Election Threats Task Force, which directs the Department’s efforts to protect election officials from rising threats and acts of violence.
    The senators’ letter comes as the Trump administration has significantly rolled back the federal government’s capacity to fight against foreign and domestic election security threats. On Attorney General Bondi’s first day in office, she disbanded the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Foreign Influence Task Force, hindering efforts to address secret influence campaigns waged by China, Russia, and other foreign adversaries. Additionally, the administration has fired or put on leave dozens of officials responsible for combating foreign election interference at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and has reportedly frozen all of CISA’s ongoing election security work. The administration has also defunded CISA’s nationwide program to train local officials and monitor threats through the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center.
    “Given the recent disturbing personnel and policy decisions at the Department and the lack of transparency about the future of the Task Force, we request an immediate update on the status and activities of the Task Force, as well as what resources will be provided to ensure its important work continues so that election officials of both parties can safely administer our elections,” wrote the senators.
    “Recent surveys have found that one in three election officials reported facing threats, harassment, and abuse. Similarly, 48 percent of local election officials know of someone who has left their job because of fear for their safety—a troubling loss of institutional knowledge needed for the smooth running of elections. Election workers continue to fear for their safety, so it is critical that the work of the Task Force continues to deter and counter these threats. In this challenging environment for election officials, it is essential to our democracy that they can continue to rely on the Department to uphold the law,” they continued.
    In addition to Sens. Warner, Padilla, and Durbin, the letter was also signed by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
    In 2023, Sen. Warner joined his colleagues in sponsoring the Election Worker Protection Act, legislation that would provide states with proper resources to ensure the safety of these workers. Leading up to the 2024 elections, Sen. Warner also repeatedly raised the alarm about the elevated threat environment. As Chairman of the Intelligence Committee, he hosted open hearings to call on representatives from both the U.S. government and large tech companies to testify about their knowledge of and efforts to crack down on foreign malign influence online. He also warned of Russia and Iran’s attempts to influence the 2024 election. Sen. Warner sent a letter to CISA to push for more robust efforts to get ahead of these threats.
    Full text of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear Attorney General Bondi:
    We write to strongly urge you to continue the critical law enforcement work of the Department of Justice’s Election Threats Task Force, which protects election officials from ongoing threats and acts of violence. Given the recent disturbing personnel and policy decisions at the Department and the lack of transparency about the future of the Task Force, we request an immediate update on the status and activities of the Task Force, as well as what resources will be provided to ensure its important work continues so that election officials of both parties can safely administer our elections.
    The Task Force was established in the wake of the 2020 election cycle when election officials across the political spectrum began facing unprecedented threats of violence intended to thwart the peaceful transfer of power that is the hallmark of our democracy. In close collaboration with state and local law enforcement, the Task Force has assessed thousands of complaints of suspected threats of violence and investigated and prosecuted violent offenders. Over the years, these threats have not only continued but escalated.  The Task Force has investigated fentanyl-laced letters, bomb threats, and swatting incidents—serving as a legacy of the 2020 election and impacting the ways election officials interact with voters in their communities.
    Recent surveys have found that one in three election officials reported facing threats, harassment, and abuse. Similarly, 48 percent of local election officials know of someone who has left their job because of fear for their safety—a troubling loss of institutional knowledge needed for the smooth running of elections. Election workers continue to fear for their safety, so it is critical that the work of the Task Force continues to deter and counter these threats. In this challenging environment for election officials, it is essential to our democracy that they can continue to rely on the Department to uphold the law.
    Moreover, the federal government’s ability to fight election interference has been greatly hampered in the early weeks of this Administration. Dozens of officials at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), who are responsible for combatting foreign election interference, have been fired or put on leave. CISA has also reportedly frozen all of its ongoing election security work, including defunding its nationwide program to train local officials and monitor threats through the “Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center.” Additionally, on your first day in office, you signed a directive disbanding the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force, which was aimed at responding to secret influence campaigns waged by China, Russia, and other foreign adversaries.
    We request a response on the status and future plans of the Election Threats Task Force, the extent of resources and personnel dedicated to its work, and how it plans to incorporate related work previously led by CISA and the Foreign Influence Task Force by March 31, 2025.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why sharing meals can make people happier – what evidence from 142 countries shows

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alberto Prati, Assistant Professor in Economics, UCL

    Sharing meals can contribute to feelings of happiness, a new report suggests. Ground picture/Shutterstock

    The importance of sharing meals is recognised across cultures, from the Jewish Shabbat meal to the fast-breaking Iftar meals during Ramadan. The known link between food and social relationships is ancient. The English word companion, the French copain (friend) and the Italian compagno (partner) come from the Latin cum and pānis – literally “with-bread”. The Chinese term for companion/partner (伙伴) stems from a similar term (火伴) which literally translates to “fire mate”, a reference to sharing meals over a campfire.

    But how important is eating together to our happiness? This is the question that I and my co-authors answer in the World Happiness Report 2025. In our new data and analysis we looked at the link between how often people share meals and whether they feel good about their lives and experience positive emotions. We also documented that there was a massive difference between countries and regions when it came to how often people shared meals.

    Comparing the statistics from the 2022-23 Gallup World Poll about sharing meals with standard measures of wellbeing, we found a significant, positive relationship in almost all regions. Not only do countries where meal sharing is more common tend to report higher levels of wellbeing, but this is true even when comparing people who live in the same country.

    The Gallup poll asked more than 150,000 people from 142 countries and territories how many lunches and dinners they shared with someone they know during the past week. The scores varied widely between regions.

    Latin Americans share approximately two-third of their meals, with residents of Paraguay, Ecuador and Colombia reporting an average of more than ten shared meals per week. At the bottom of the scale, there are relatively low levels of meal sharing in south and east Asian countries – in particular India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan and South Korea, where people share less than one meal out of three, on average.

    While there is an association between sharing meals and wellbeing pretty much everywhere, this association is stronger in some regions than others. For instance, for a person who always dines alone in North America, Australia and New Zealand, the wellbeing benefit of starting to share most of their meals (eight or more times a week) in the life evaluation scale is big (the life evaluation scale is how people judge their life, with zero being the worst possible life and 10 being the best). This boost is equivalent to the effect of doubling their income.

    However, in Latin America, the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa, this effect is half as great and is essentially nil in south-east Asia. The reasons for this difference is as yet unclear.

    For social scientists, the frequency of sharing meals offers an indicator for social connectedness (the ways that people interact with and relate to one another). Unlike measures that capture people’s subjective feelings about social wellbeing, the number of shared meals gives us a concrete measure on which to base our analysis.

    While interpretations of friendship or perceptions of closeness may change over time or between countries, the number of meals shared with others does not.

    Meal sharing by region and age:

    Of course, those who share more meals can differ in many other aspects, but even when we take into account characteristics such as gender, age, income, living alone and people’s ability to meet basic needs for food, the relationship between sharing meals and wellbeing still holds strong.

    While the global data we used was only introduced in 2022, some countries have collected information on meal sharing for longer. In the United States, where the American Time Use Survey has been running for more than 20 years, we find clear evidence that with every passing year, Americans are dining alone more often, particularly young adults.

    Today, 18 to 24-year-olds in the US are 90% more likely to eat every meal alone on a given day than they were in 2003. We also find that Americans who eat at least one meal with others report higher levels of happiness and lower levels of stress, pain and sadness on that day.

    How meals sharing is linked to emotions in the US:

    From our data, we can’t tell how much of a wellbeing boost sharing an extra meal
    creates, and to what extent people share more meals because they are already happy, but it is reasonable to assume that it is not just the latter. This would reflect previous research which has shown the importance of social capital (networks of social connections which are conducive to a well-functioning society) and the positive benefits of in-person interactions.

    In a world where loneliness is increasingly recognised as a public health issue, rethinking how we gather around the table, and how often, could provide practical solutions to reduce social isolation and raise wellbeing.

    Institutions where people routinely eat their meals together can play a critical role on this front. The other side of the coin is the surge in working from home, which could raise levels of solitude.

    So, if you don’t have plans for lunch tomorrow, maybe this is the good moment to message someone you would like to spend more time with.

    Alberto Prati is affiliated with the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford and the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics.

    – ref. Why sharing meals can make people happier – what evidence from 142 countries shows – https://theconversation.com/why-sharing-meals-can-make-people-happier-what-evidence-from-142-countries-shows-252352

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: 20 March 2025 Ripeka, 71, is a real-life fitness influencer Whaea Ripeka doesn’t need social media to gain a following, her mana is such that young people follow her wherever she goes.

    Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

    Undeterred by a painful back injury and the wait for a second hip replacement, she’s the face of fitness at her Kāinga Ora apartment complex in central Auckland. In the year since she moved in, Ripeka has established a fitness routine averaging three hours a day – and her neighbours are following her lead.

    As well as leading weekly Boxfit sessions, Ripeka invites other tenants to join her for fitness classes and weight training at the gym next door, and to accompany her to the city pool where she swims four days a week.

    “I take the young ones under my wing,” says Ripeka. “I see potential in them, and I want to encourage them to enjoy a healthy life. There’s no pressure though, I just let them know that they’re welcome to join me when they feel ready.

    “I’ve always been into fitness, it’s so good for your wellbeing. And a bit of support and encouragement can help people to make big changes. One of the young people was having issues with alcohol when he arrived, and he’s quit drinking now.”

    Te Mātāwai is the first and largest single site supported housing complex built by Kāinga Ora. Tenants have access to 24/7 onsite support and are empowered to build connections and to participate in their community.

    Ripeka moved into Te Mātāwai, after a stay in emergency housing nearby. She’d become homeless during the pandemic when her husband William had become unwell with dementia, and she was on crutches after injuring her hip.

    “I was so grateful to be able to move in here. When I was offered a place, I said, ‘Wherever you put me, I’ll be happy’ – and I am. The apartments are beautiful, and I love being so close to the gym and the pool and the bus stops. I can take a bus to visit my husband at his rest home.”

    One of Ripeka’s favourite times is the weekly hikoi/walk to a mystery location. Tenants join the hikoi leader to explore destinations such as maunga/mountains and museums.

    “We go to beautiful places and learn about the history.”

    Ripeka also likes to join working crews to host special events such as Matariki, cooking for 200 people over two days.

    “There was a lot of planning and preparation involved, and it felt great to be part of a team giving back.”

    Community Development Manager Dayne Smith says Whaea Ripeka is a “massive” asset to the Te Mātāwai community.

    “She’s a leader and a role model. She encourages and inspires others to make healthier choices through physical fitness, a healthy diet and making social connections. She joins most of the activities on offer, leads a Breakfast Club and Boxfit sessions, and she’s helped us plan and deliver Matariki and Christmas events. We’re so lucky to have her in our community.” 

    Page updated: 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale expands in Germany with the acquisition of OLB, making TARGOBANK a universal bancassurer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

                                                    

    Strasbourg and Düsseldorf, March 20, 2025

    Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale expands in Germany with the acquisition of OLB, making TARGOBANK a universal bancassurer

    Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale has reached a major milestone in the development of its banking and insurance model in Europe with the signature of an agreement to acquire 100% of German bank Oldenburgische Landesbank (OLB) via its subsidiary TARGO Deutschland GmbH (TARGOBANK).

    This transaction, on a scale not seen since the acquisition of Citibank in Germany in 2008 (renamed TARGOBANK), demonstrates the solidity and ambitions of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale. Already present in Germany, the mutual banking group is strengthening its foothold in Europe’s largest economy.

    This move accelerates TARGOBANK’s path to becoming a universal bancassurance player in Germany, following the model of its parent company. The consolidated group will become the tenth largest bank in Germany in terms of assets, with a comprehensive offering in corporate financing serving Mittelstand companies and in retail banking.

    The estimated impact of the transaction is -115 basis points on Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale’s CET1. This transaction is subject to the approval of the regulatory authorities, in particular the European Central Bank (ECB) and the competition authorities.

    Germany, the mutual banking group’s second-largest domestic market

    Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale aims to become a leading bancassurer in Europe. While it was the fifth largest banking group and tenth largest insurer in France in 2024, the group already generated 20% of its revenues internationally.

    Germany is the group’s second-largest domestic market, where it operates through several of its subsidiaries, in particular TARGOBANK, ACM Deutschland, and CIC. Thanks to its financial solidity, operating performance and technological edge, the group has major advantages to enable it to succeed in this consolidating market.

    OLB, a leading bank in Germany

    Founded in Lower Saxony, one of Germany’s largest states, where it has a strong foothold, OLB is a universal bank with operations throughout Germany. Thanks to an effective strategy of sustained growth over the past ten years, it serves one million customers. With more than €30 billion in assets, it is one of the leading financial institutions in Germany.

    OLB is active in two buoyant markets. It offers strong expertise in private banking and wealth management, providing a full range of banking and insurance services to individuals and professionals. It also stands out for its expertise in corporate financing (corporate, commercial real estate) and business acquisitions (LBO and acquisition finance).

    Togetherness Performance Solidarity: a successfully launched plan in its second year

    After the first year of the Togetherness, Performance, Solidarity strategic plan which closed with very high 2024 results for Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, 2025 marks a major turning point for the mutual banking group.

    TARGOBANK’s acquisition of OLB will enable it to significantly amplify its transformation as a universal bancassurer in Germany, complementing the launch of ACM Deutschland’s commercial activities in the second half of 2025. In addition to offering rapid growth prospects for its retail mortgage lending business, TARGOBANK will be able to strengthen its position in the SME and mid-cap markets (Mittelstand companies), in wealth management and specialized financing, with the potential for synergies in revenue and cost efficiency for the medium term.

    With this transaction, TARGOBANK becomes the tenth largest bank in Germany. The consolidated group serves 4.8 million customers with total balance sheet of €79 billion.

    “The acquisition of OLB, marks a major milestone for Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, fully aligned with its strategic plan Togetherness Performance Solidarity. We have the ambition to expand our activities in Europe, and specifically in Germany, largest European economy. With our subsidiaries TARGOBANK, which will integrate OLB, and ACM Deutschland, we are committed to become a bancassurer across the Rhine” said Daniel Baal, Chairman of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale:

    “Our group’s history shows that it has the ability to successfully complete external growth transactions, in particular those of CIC, and, more recently, TARGOBANK and Cofidis. This strategic investment reflects our determination to become a leading bancassurer in Europe by integrating the resources and values of OLB into TARGOBANK. We are building for the long run.” added Éric Petitgand, Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale.

    “This acquisition marks a decisive step in Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale’s development in Germany. The respective and complementary expertise of TARGOBANK and OLB’s employees will enable us to significantly speed up our transformation as a universal bancassurer in the strategic German market. There is significant business and customer growth potential among individuals, professionals and businesses,” adds Isabelle Chevelard, Chairwoman of the Executive Board of TARGOBANK and Head of the German market for Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale.

    Stefan Barth, CEO of OLB, welcomes the transaction: “Over the past few years, OLB has pursued a dynamic growth strategy with remarkable results. We are proud to join Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, with which we share common values, to build together a stronger banking group.”

    Acquisition by Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale,
    via TARGO Deutschland GmbH,of Oldenburgische Landesbank AG (OLB)

    The Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale and TARGOBANK teams, in accordance with the applicable competition laws, will work closely with the OLB teams to facilitate completion of the transaction in the interest of customers, members, elected representatives and employees.

    This project is subject to the usual conditions precedent and in particular the approval of the competent regulatory and competition authorities. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2026.

    About OLB

    OLB is a universal bank that operates nationwide in Germany, and has over 150 years of experience in Lower Saxony. Under the OLB and Bankhaus Neelmeyer brands, the bank advises more than a million customers, in the retail, business, corporate and diversified lending segments. OLB has a network of 80 branches and nearly 1,700 employees.

    Thanks to a solid acquisition strategy over the last ten years (private banking operator Bankhaus Neelmeyer in 2017; Bremer Kreditbank, formerly KBC Bank Deutschland, in 2018; Wüstenrot Bank AG Pfandbriefbank in 2019 and more recently Degussa Bank in 2024), OLB has diversified its activities (retail banking, corporate banking serving Mittelstand companies, private banking, project finance, Pfandbrief refinancing, etc.) to become a universal bank.

    At December 31, 2024, OLB had net banking income of nearly €750 million, a cost/income ratio of less than 43%, and net income after tax of €270 million. OLB also saw its balance sheet assets surpass the €30 billion threshold, enabling it to become, in early 2025, a major financial institution supervised as such by the European Central Bank.

    Press contacts
    Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale: Aziz Ridouan – +33 (0)6 01 10 31 69 – aziz.ridouan@creditmutuel.fr
    Corporate Communication Department: +33 (0)3 88 14 84 00 – com-alliancefederale@creditmutuel.fr
    TARGOBANK: pressestelle@TARGOBANK.de
    OLB: presse@olb.de

    About Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale

    One of France’s leading bancassurers with 77,000 employees serving 31 million customers, Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale has 4,200 branches which offer a diversified range of services to private individuals, local professionals and companies of all sizes.

    As the first French banking group to adopt the status of a mission-driven company, Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale is made up of the following Crédit Mutuel federations: Centre Est Europe (Strasbourg), Sud-Est (Lyon), Ile-de-France (Paris), Savoie-Mont Blanc (Annecy), Midi-Atlantique (Toulouse), Loire-Atlantique et Centre-Ouest (Nantes), Centre (Orléans), Normandie (Caen), Dauphiné-Vivarais (Valence), Méditerranéen (Marseille), Anjou (Angers), Massif Central (Clermont-Ferrand), Antilles-Guyane (Fort-de-France) and Nord Europe (Lille).

    Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale also includes Caisse Fédérale de Crédit Mutuel, Banque Fédérative du Crédit Mutuel (BFCM) and all its subsidiaries, in particular CIC, Euro-Information, Assurances du Crédit Mutuel (ACM), TARGOBANK, Cofidis, Beobank in Belgium, Banque Européenne du Crédit Mutuel (BECM), Banque Transatlantique, Banque de Luxembourg and Homiris.

    Find out more at creditmutuelalliancefederale.fr

    About TARGOBANK

    TARGOBANK has almost 100 years of experience in the German banking market. It serves 3.8 million private, business and corporate customers.

    TARGOBANK offers simple and attractive banking products with high quality service so as to build a long term relationship with its customers. With a network of 340 branches spread in more than 250 cities in Germany aswell as a service accessible online and by telephone around the clock, TARGOBANK combines the benefits of a digital bank as well as local support whether in the local branch or at the customer’s home.

    TARGOBANK is headquartered in Düsseldorf. It employs 7,400 people throughout Germany, including 2,000 working for its customer center in Germany. There are also administrative buildings in Mainz (Factoring), Düsseldorf (Leasing & Investment Finance) and Frankfurt (Corporate & Institutional Banking).

    As a subsidiary of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, one of the strongest banks in Europe, TARGOBANK is a reliable partner for its customers.

    Further information: www.TARGOBANK.de

                                                    

    Strasbourg and Düsseldorf, March 20, 2025

    Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale expands in Germany with the acquisition of OLB, making TARGOBANK a universal bancassurer

    Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale has reached a major milestone in the development of its banking and insurance model in Europe with the signature of an agreement to acquire 100% of German bank Oldenburgische Landesbank (OLB) via its subsidiary TARGO Deutschland GmbH (TARGOBANK).

    This transaction, on a scale not seen since the acquisition of Citibank in Germany in 2008 (renamed TARGOBANK), demonstrates the solidity and ambitions of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale. Already present in Germany, the mutual banking group is strengthening its foothold in Europe’s largest economy.

    This move accelerates TARGOBANK’s path to becoming a universal bancassurance player in Germany, following the model of its parent company. The consolidated group will become the tenth largest bank in Germany in terms of assets, with a comprehensive offering in corporate financing serving Mittelstand companies and in retail banking.

    The estimated impact of the transaction is -115 basis points on Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale’s CET1. This transaction is subject to the approval of the regulatory authorities, in particular the European Central Bank (ECB) and the competition authorities.

    Germany, the mutual banking group’s second-largest domestic market

    Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale aims to become a leading bancassurer in Europe. While it was the fifth largest banking group and tenth largest insurer in France in 2024, the group already generated 20% of its revenues internationally.

    Germany is the group’s second-largest domestic market, where it operates through several of its subsidiaries, in particular TARGOBANK, ACM Deutschland, and CIC. Thanks to its financial solidity, operating performance and technological edge, the group has major advantages to enable it to succeed in this consolidating market.

    OLB, a leading bank in Germany

    Founded in Lower Saxony, one of Germany’s largest states, where it has a strong foothold, OLB is a universal bank with operations throughout Germany. Thanks to an effective strategy of sustained growth over the past ten years, it serves one million customers. With more than €30 billion in assets, it is one of the leading financial institutions in Germany.

    OLB is active in two buoyant markets. It offers strong expertise in private banking and wealth management, providing a full range of banking and insurance services to individuals and professionals. It also stands out for its expertise in corporate financing (corporate, commercial real estate) and business acquisitions (LBO and acquisition finance).

    Togetherness Performance Solidarity: a successfully launched plan in its second year

    After the first year of the Togetherness, Performance, Solidarity strategic plan which closed with very high 2024 results for Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, 2025 marks a major turning point for the mutual banking group.

    TARGOBANK’s acquisition of OLB will enable it to significantly amplify its transformation as a universal bancassurer in Germany, complementing the launch of ACM Deutschland’s commercial activities in the second half of 2025. In addition to offering rapid growth prospects for its retail mortgage lending business, TARGOBANK will be able to strengthen its position in the SME and mid-cap markets (Mittelstand companies), in wealth management and specialized financing, with the potential for synergies in revenue and cost efficiency for the medium term.

    With this transaction, TARGOBANK becomes the tenth largest bank in Germany. The consolidated group serves 4.8 million customers with total balance sheet of €79 billion.

    “The acquisition of OLB, marks a major milestone for Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, fully aligned with its strategic plan Togetherness Performance Solidarity. We have the ambition to expand our activities in Europe, and specifically in Germany, largest European economy. With our subsidiaries TARGOBANK, which will integrate OLB, and ACM Deutschland, we are committed to become a bancassurer across the Rhine” said Daniel Baal, Chairman of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale:

    “Our group’s history shows that it has the ability to successfully complete external growth transactions, in particular those of CIC, and, more recently, TARGOBANK and Cofidis. This strategic investment reflects our determination to become a leading bancassurer in Europe by integrating the resources and values of OLB into TARGOBANK. We are building for the long run.” added Éric Petitgand, Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale.

    “This acquisition marks a decisive step in Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale’s development in Germany. The respective and complementary expertise of TARGOBANK and OLB’s employees will enable us to significantly speed up our transformation as a universal bancassurer in the strategic German market. There is significant business and customer growth potential among individuals, professionals and businesses,” adds Isabelle Chevelard, Chairwoman of the Executive Board of TARGOBANK and Head of the German market for Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale.

    Stefan Barth, CEO of OLB, welcomes the transaction: “Over the past few years, OLB has pursued a dynamic growth strategy with remarkable results. We are proud to join Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, with which we share common values, to build together a stronger banking group.”

    Acquisition by Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale,
    via TARGO Deutschland GmbH,of Oldenburgische Landesbank AG (OLB)

    The Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale and TARGOBANK teams, in accordance with the applicable competition laws, will work closely with the OLB teams to facilitate completion of the transaction in the interest of customers, members, elected representatives and employees.

    This project is subject to the usual conditions precedent and in particular the approval of the competent regulatory and competition authorities. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2026.

    About OLB

    OLB is a universal bank that operates nationwide in Germany, and has over 150 years of experience in Lower Saxony. Under the OLB and Bankhaus Neelmeyer brands, the bank advises more than a million customers, in the retail, business, corporate and diversified lending segments. OLB has a network of 80 branches and nearly 1,700 employees.

    Thanks to a solid acquisition strategy over the last ten years (private banking operator Bankhaus Neelmeyer in 2017; Bremer Kreditbank, formerly KBC Bank Deutschland, in 2018; Wüstenrot Bank AG Pfandbriefbank in 2019 and more recently Degussa Bank in 2024), OLB has diversified its activities (retail banking, corporate banking serving Mittelstand companies, private banking, project finance, Pfandbrief refinancing, etc.) to become a universal bank.

    At December 31, 2024, OLB had net banking income of nearly €750 million, a cost/income ratio of less than 43%, and net income after tax of €270 million. OLB also saw its balance sheet assets surpass the €30 billion threshold, enabling it to become, in early 2025, a major financial institution supervised as such by the European Central Bank.

    Press contacts
    Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale: Aziz Ridouan – +33 (0)6 01 10 31 69 – aziz.ridouan@creditmutuel.fr
    Corporate Communication Department: +33 (0)3 88 14 84 00 – com-alliancefederale@creditmutuel.fr
    TARGOBANK: pressestelle@TARGOBANK.de
    OLB: presse@olb.de

    About Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale

    One of France’s leading bancassurers with 77,000 employees serving 31 million customers, Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale has 4,200 branches which offer a diversified range of services to private individuals, local professionals and companies of all sizes.

    As the first French banking group to adopt the status of a mission-driven company, Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale is made up of the following Crédit Mutuel federations: Centre Est Europe (Strasbourg), Sud-Est (Lyon), Ile-de-France (Paris), Savoie-Mont Blanc (Annecy), Midi-Atlantique (Toulouse), Loire-Atlantique et Centre-Ouest (Nantes), Centre (Orléans), Normandie (Caen), Dauphiné-Vivarais (Valence), Méditerranéen (Marseille), Anjou (Angers), Massif Central (Clermont-Ferrand), Antilles-Guyane (Fort-de-France) and Nord Europe (Lille).

    Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale also includes Caisse Fédérale de Crédit Mutuel, Banque Fédérative du Crédit Mutuel (BFCM) and all its subsidiaries, in particular CIC, Euro-Information, Assurances du Crédit Mutuel (ACM), TARGOBANK, Cofidis, Beobank in Belgium, Banque Européenne du Crédit Mutuel (BECM), Banque Transatlantique, Banque de Luxembourg and Homiris.

    Find out more at creditmutuelalliancefederale.fr

    About TARGOBANK

    TARGOBANK has almost 100 years of experience in the German banking market. It serves 3.8 million private, business and corporate customers.

    TARGOBANK offers simple and attractive banking products with high quality service so as to build a long term relationship with its customers. With a network of 340 branches spread in more than 250 cities in Germany aswell as a service accessible online and by telephone around the clock, TARGOBANK combines the benefits of a digital bank as well as local support whether in the local branch or at the customer’s home.

    TARGOBANK is headquartered in Düsseldorf. It employs 7,400 people throughout Germany, including 2,000 working for its customer center in Germany. There are also administrative buildings in Mainz (Factoring), Düsseldorf (Leasing & Investment Finance) and Frankfurt (Corporate & Institutional Banking).

    As a subsidiary of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, one of the strongest banks in Europe, TARGOBANK is a reliable partner for its customers.

    Further information: www.TARGOBANK.de

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK Tech Secretary to bang the drum for closer AI partnership with the US

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Press release

    UK Tech Secretary to bang the drum for closer AI partnership with the US

    Technology Secretary Peter Kyle will set out Britain’s credentials as the global hub for AI investment on a visit to the United States this week (18th-25th March).

    Strengthening UK-US ties to boost AI investment.

    UK Technology Secretary Peter Kyle will set out Britain’s credentials as the global hub for AI investment during his visit to the United States this week (18 to 25 March), highlighting how both countries can evolve their special relationship in the age of AI as the UK government puts the technology at the heart of its Plan for Change.  

    Speaking at Nvidia’s annual conference in San Jose (20th March), Peter Kyle will outline how the government is “rewiring” Britain’s economy to run on AI, paving the way for communities across the country to seize on the transformative opportunities presented by the technology and moving wealth creation away from just Silicon Valley and London.  

    Addressing business leaders, developers and innovators, the Technology Secretary will lay out his vision for how AI and advanced technologies are being put to work to help solve some of our most complex shared challenges, as Britain becomes a by-word for innovation.

    The technology is already being harnessed in the UK to improve public services and spark fresh economic growth – a central pillar of the government’s Plan for Change. Peter Kyle will now outline how the UK’s AI sector – valued at over $92 billion and projected to surpass $1 trillion by 2035 – will position Britain as the second leading AI nation in the democratic world, with a wealth of investment opportunities now being opened to US companies and financial backers alike. 

    Central to his message will be Britain’s readiness for AI investment, with a particular focus on how ‘the relics of economic eras past will be transformed into the UK’s innovative AI Growth Zones’.

    A key component of the AI Opportunities Action Plan, these are strategically designated areas designed to rapidly attract large-scale AI investment through streamlined regulations and dedicated infrastructure.

    These hotbeds of AI development represent a pipeline of new opportunities for companies to scale up and innovate, with the Technology Secretary to call for investors to step forward and participate in a new kind of partnership.  

    Speaking at Nvidia’s annual conference, the Technology Secretary is expected to set out how these Growth Zones, with access to large power connections, and a planning system designed to cut the time it takes to start up construction, will help to build a compute infrastructure which the UK ‘has never seen before’. 

    The government has already received hundreds of proposals from local leaders nationwide and industry, underscoring Britain’s readiness to leverage artificial intelligence to rejuvenate communities and drive economic growth across the country. 

    This will drive higher living standards across the UK – a primary focus for the government over the next four years – with AI Growth Zones poised to deliver the jobs, investment, and the thriving business environment which will put more money in people’s pockets and realise its Plan for Change.

    At the Nvidia conference, the Technology Secretary is expected to say: 

    In empty factories and abandoned mines, in derelict sites and unused power supplies, I see the places where we can begin to build a new economic model. 

    A model completely rewired around the immense power of artificial intelligence. 

    Where, faced with that power, the state is neither a blocker nor a shirker – but an agile, proactive partner. 

    In Britain, we want to turn the relics of economic eras past into AI Growth Zones.

    As part of the visit, Peter Kyle will also meet with key companies in the US tech sector including Open AI, Anthropic, Nvidia, and Vantage – banging the drum for more companies to set up shop in the UK as their Silicon Valley home from home. 

    Additionally, the Technology Secretary is expected to say: 

    There is a real hunger for investment in Britain, and people who are optimistic about the future, and hopeful for the opportunities which AI will bring for them and their families.

    States owe it to their citizens to support it. Not through diktat or directive, but through partnership.

    The Prime Minister and the President of the United States have placed AI at the heart of the trans-Atlantic relationship. Visiting the White House last month, the Prime Minister confirmed both nations are setting to work on a new economic deal which will put advanced technologies at its heart.  

    Since laying out its new vision for AI at the start of the year and giving the technology a frontline role in delivering the government’s Plan for Change, the UK has already seen a wealth of backing from American investors who are looking to set up a home from home on British shores.  

    Major recent investments include a £12 billion commitment from Vantage Data Centers to significantly expand Britain’s data infrastructure, creating approximately 11,500 jobs. Last month, the UK Government also formalised a partnership with Anthropic to enhance collaboration on leveraging AI to improve public services nationwide. 

    By deepening these partnerships with leading US tech firms and investors, the UK’s AI sector is poised for sustained growth as it continues removing barriers to innovation.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM: Barrow a blueprint for positive impact of defence spending across the country

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    PM: Barrow a blueprint for positive impact of defence spending across the country

    Barrow is a blueprint for how defence spending can boost communities up and down the country, the Prime Minister will say while on a visit to the town today.

    • Keir Starmer joins Vanguard Class submarine crew returning home from nuclear deterrent patrol to thank them for their silent service
    • Comes as he visits Barrow to lay the keel of the next generation Dreadnought submarine, the next generation of the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
    • Prime Minister announces His Majesty The King will confer the ‘Royal’ title to the Port of Barrow in recognition of the town’s unique and critical contribution to national security
    • New £28 million funding package for T-Levels set to benefit Furness College in Barrow to support submarine builders of the future.

    Barrow is a blueprint for how defence spending can boost communities up and down the country, the Prime Minister will say while on a visit to the town today.

    It comes as he announces the King has agreed to confer the ‘Royal’ title to the Port of Barrow in recognition of the town’s unique and critical contribution to national security as home of nuclear submarine building in the UK.

    The visit follows the Prime Minister secretly joining submariners returning home to loved ones a few days ago, hearing firsthand the ‘hot’ debrief of their long operational tour keeping the UK and NATO Allies safe.

    The Prime Minister boarded the boat as it returned to UK waters, known as ‘a Day Zero’, to thank submariners for their months of silent service deep under water. He is the first Prime Minister to join a Day Zero since 2013.

    The Prime Minister also met families waiting for their relatives to return from sea, many of which had experienced significant life milestones while their loved ones were on deployment, including four submariners who returned home to newborn children.

    Since 1969, the nuclear deterrent has been the cornerstone of UK security and continuously delivered by the Royal Navy – with at least one nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine patrolling the seas undetected at all times. 

    The keel for the first nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine was laid in Barrow in 1959, before its launch in 1960. Two years later, the UK declared its nuclear capability to NATO.

    And this afternoon, the Prime Minister will lay the keel to the first boat of the next generation nuclear armed submarines, knowns as the Dreadnought class. 

    Dreadnought will deliver the next generation of our nuclear deterrent, to protect our people and allies from the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life for decades to come.

    It is also expected to support more than 30,000 jobs across the country, from the heart of BAE Systems in Barrow, to small and medium enterprises up and down the country. 

    Barrow will also play a vital role in delivering the AUKUS programme – a joint endeavour between Australia, the United States and the UK – with the first SSN-AUKUS attack submarines being built at the BAE Systems site.

    Last month, the Prime Minister announced that this government will increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP from 2027, with an ambition to reach 3% in the next parliament.

    That will equate to an extra £13.4 billion on defence, allowing this government to go further than ever to make sure the benefit of that investment is felt in British people’s pockets. 

    The Barrow submarine workforce alone has grown by more than 1000 people in the past six months, with those working in the defence nuclear sector earning approximately 20% above the national average wage.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    When I say that our Plan for Change is delivering security for working people and renewal for our country, there is no better blueprint than Barrow.

    Defence spending here is supporting highly skilled jobs, driving opportunities for young people and delivering world class capabilities to keep us all safe, but it’s also crucially putting money in the pockets of hardworking people.

    This week, I saw firsthand the sacrifice our submariners are making every day to keep our country safe, but I know they are only able to do that because of the support of the town of Barrow.

    Each and every person living and working in Barrow is contributing to our nation’s defence, whether that is building our world-class submarine programme, or supporting the workforce here through vital public services or proud family businesses.

    The Prime Minister will also announce that His Majesty the King has agreed to confer the title ‘Royal’ to the Port of Barrow in recognition of the town’s undue role in guaranteeing the nation’s security.

    The title is a recognition of the dedication and commitment of the people of Barrow in delivering the submarines that protect the nation, now and for decades to come. His Majesty hopes to visit the town in due course to mark the town’s proud heritage and prosperous future. 

    As part of recognising that contribution, and ensuring the community is able to continue delivering the nuclear deterrent for generations to come, new funding to support the wider community will be announced by the Prime Minister.

    That will include a new £28 million funding package for T-Levels, delivered by providers across England including Furness College in Barrow.

    The funding will help to equip and inspire students to be the next generation of submarine builders, with industry-relevant skills and knowledge, and leading to skilled employment, apprenticeships, or higher education both in the defence sector and beyond.

    This is on top of the Barrow Transformation Fund, a £200 million government package to strengthen the local economy, support sustainable growth and boost opportunities for the people of Barrow.

    As part of that fund, a £5 million pot to invest in schools to boost aspiration and support the needs of the young people of Barrow will also be opened.

    The funding priorities will be co-designed with representative leaders from across Barrow’s schools, ensuring the money is spent by the people who know best about how to improve the future of young people in the town.

    The fund also delivers on the government’s commitment to ensure those on the frontline of public services are empowered in decision making.

    A further £5 million will be provided for grants to community and voluntary organisations to allow local people to improve their local area.

    Defence Secretary John Healey said:

    Today’s keel laying is a demonstration of our government delivering for defence and fulfilling our first duty: to keep the British people safe.

    Our triple lock pledge for Britain’s nuclear deterrent will see all four Dreadnought-class submarines built in Royal Barrow – a generational commitment that is transforming this town. This is one of the most complex projects ever undertaken in this country, representing the very best of British engineering.

    Our commitment to the nuclear deterrent is unshakeable – it is the ultimate guarantor of our national security and the security of our NATO allies. And this national endeavour is also an engine for jobs and growth in Barrow and beyond.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Councils backed with over £500m to restore family services

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Councils backed with over £500m to restore family services

    Funding for preventive services doubled to over half a billion pounds to drive restoration in family and parenting support across every English council.

    More vulnerable children will be prevented from falling through the cracks as the government restores vital family support services, delivering on its plan for change to give every child the best start in life. 

    New guidance sets a clear expectation on all councils and their partners to reform family support services to enable earlier intervention and better protect children from harm.  

    Key reforms include introducing a single ‘front door’ to support services in every local area. This will make it clear to families struggling with complex needs such as mental health issues, disabilities and substance misuse, where and how they can access help. 

    This could mean embracing digital services or bringing different teams and services into an existing setting, such as a family hub. Bringing help from health visitors, housing support teams and mental health specialists into one place, will make it clear to parents where to access help and improve join up with existing universal support. 

    Thousands more family help leads will be matched with families to coordinate support and resources, taking responsibility for getting them the support they need to stop issues escalating. This will importantly end the frustrating experience of vulnerable families being passed from team to team, forced to tell their story time and time again.  

    These radical reforms are all backed by over half a billion pounds for councils in 2025/2026 – double their allocation in previous years – rebuilding the vital support infrastructure needed to reduce the number of children going into care.  These changes are urgently needed, with eight in ten parents unable to access the services they need in their child’s early years.  

    The measures build on the landmark Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to better support vulnerable children. Representing the single biggest piece of child protection legislation in a generation, the bill paves the way for a unique child identifier, like an NHS number, a register of children not in school, and a requirement for every council to have multi-agency child safeguarding teams.

    Minister for Children and Families, Janet Daby said: 

    For too long, vulnerable children and families have been left to struggle – battling fragmented services and receiving support when it’s too late.  

    Backed by over £500m and delivering our Plan for Change, we’re putting an end to this injustice and building back crumbling family support services, to keep children safe and enable more families to achieve and thrive together. 

    Whether seeking help with supporting a child’s development or for substance misuse, families can feel assured that they will get the right help at the right stage, as this government delivers the real change that matters to families.

    The government inherited a broken system, with children and families facing poor outcomes and barriers to opportunity. 

    While spending on services for families at crisis point – which local authorities have a legal duty to provide – has skyrocketed by £4 billion since 2013, investment in early preventative support which isn’t statutory has plummeted by £900m. 

    At the same time, those known to children’s services are seven times more likely to face permanent exclusion from school and care-experienced young people making up around a quarter of the adult prison population. 

    Minister for Children and Families, Janet Daby, visited a children’s centre in Redbridge to hear about the implementation of reforms so far.

    One parent said:

    I want to be the best father I can be for my children, but I was struggling to parent and build meaningful bonds.

    I self-referred myself after finding out about the services online. The team facilitated a plan for me, which included attending a parenting programme to learn more parenting skills and understand how I can improve my relationship with my children. So far, it’s taught me a lot and had a really positive impact on my family.

    Reflecting on their experience, another local parent said:

    After being referred by our school, my family was matched with a coordinator to support challenges with my children’s disabilities. I was facing a lot of red tape and struggling to navigate the system. After providing us with a whole-family plan, my coordinator has made this much smoother and really helped to bridge our relationship with the school. They’ve also made sure I have access to support for lots of other challenges, including mentoring and housing.

    I was hitting lots of walls trying to get help, but the service has really transformed by experience – I wish I’d known about this sooner so I could have referred myself.

    These reforms will driver greater collaboration between agencies, bringing together professionals with different expertise and backgrounds to ensure children don’t fall through the cracks.  

    From the point parents are expecting a baby, support services such as parenting skills, domestic abuse counselling and financial advice will be wrapped around the family, with the needs of the whole family considered throughout their journey.  

    Chief Executive Officer at the National Children’s Bureau, Anna Feuchtwang, said:

    The Families First Partnership Programme has enormous potential to provide earlier support and better address the needs of children within their family networks.

    With further investment in preventative services, shared workforce development and stability, these reforms present a huge opportunity to reorient child and family services towards enabling and supporting wellbeing.

    It is critical that roll out is informed by the ongoing evidence from the FFC pathfinders and that all children, including those with disabilities, are able to benefit.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: $800,000 to make shooting in NSW safer

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: $800,000 to make shooting in NSW safer

    Published: 20 March 2025

    Released by: Minister for Sport

    Shooting organisations across NSW have shared in almost $800,000 in funding after grants were awarded under the NSW Government’s Safe Shooting Program.

    The Safe Shooting Program supports shooting clubs, shooting ranges and shooting organisations to improve storage, security and safety, as well as purchase new equipment such as electronic targets.

    The Program invests in projects which incorporate inclusive design, improve safety, environmental sustainability and increase use of existing shooting facilities in NSW.

    Another key objective of the Program is to increase participation in shooting by removing barriers for women and girls, people with disability, First Nations peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and LGBTQIA+ people.

    Grants of $10,000 – $50,000 were awarded to 25 projects that aim to improve the safety and quality of shooting facilities in NSW.

    Some of the projects to receive funding include:

    • $49,287 to Gilgandra Rifle Club for safety repairs and upgrades to prevent projectiles injuring people or damaging property after they pass through targets
    • $49,575 to Bermagui Field and Game Sporting Clays for new clay target traps
    • $37,243 to Cootamundra Rifle Club for a new solar power system for the clubhouse, shed, and toilet block.

    For further information including the list of grant recipients, visit: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/safe-shooting-program

    Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

    “The Safe Shooting Program supports shooting clubs to provide safe, inclusive and accessible facilities.

    “Projects announced today will increase the use of shooting facilities across NSW and encourage participation by people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.

    “This funding will play a significant role in supporting the next generation of Olympians and ensure Australia’s success at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.”

    MIL OSI News –