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  • MIL-Evening Report: Melting Antarctic ice will slow the world’s strongest ocean current – and the global consequences are profound

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Taimoor Sohail, Postdoctoral Researcher, School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of Melbourne

    Mongkolchon Akesin, Shutterstock

    Flowing clockwise around Antarctica, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current is the strongest ocean current on the planet. It’s five times stronger than the Gulf Stream and more than 100 times stronger than the Amazon River.

    It forms part of the global ocean “conveyor belt” connecting the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans. The system regulates Earth’s climate and pumps water, heat and nutrients around the globe.

    But fresh, cool water from melting Antarctic ice is diluting the salty water of the ocean, potentially disrupting the vital ocean current.

    Our new research suggests the Antarctic Circumpolar Current will be 20% slower by 2050 as the world warms, with far-reaching consequences for life on Earth.

    The Antarctic Circumpolar Current keeps Antarctica isolated from the rest of the global ocean, and connects the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans.
    Sohail, T., et al (2025), Environmental Research Letters., CC BY

    Why should we care?

    The Antarctic Circumpolar Current is like a moat around the icy continent.

    The current helps to keep warm water at bay, protecting vulnerable ice sheets. It also acts as a barrier to invasive species such as southern bull kelp and any animals hitching a ride on these rafts, spreading them out as they drift towards the continent. It also plays a big part in regulating Earth’s climate.

    Unlike better known ocean currents – such as the Gulf Stream along the United States East Coast, the Kuroshio Current near Japan, and the Agulhas Current off the coast of South Africa – the Antarctic Circumpolar Current is not as well understood. This is partly due to its remote location, which makes obtaining direct measurements especially difficult.

    Understanding the influence of climate change

    Ocean currents respond to changes in temperature, salt levels, wind patterns and sea-ice extent. So the global ocean conveyor belt is vulnerable to climate change on multiple fronts.

    Previous research suggested one vital part of this conveyor belt could be headed for a catastrophic collapse.

    Theoretically, warming water around Antarctica should speed up the current. This is because density changes and winds around Antarctica dictate the strength of the current. Warm water is less dense (or heavy) and this should be enough to speed up the current. But observations to date indicate the strength of the current has remained relatively stable over recent decades.

    This stability persists despite melting of surrounding ice, a phenomenon that had not been fully explored in scientific discussions in the past.

    What we did

    Advances in ocean modelling allow a more thorough investigation of the potential future changes.

    We used Australia’s fastest supercomputer and climate simulator in Canberra to study the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. The underlying model, ACCESS-OM2-01, has been developed by Australian researchers from various universities as part of the Consortium for Ocean-Sea Ice Modelling in Australia.

    The model captures features others often miss, such as eddies. So it’s a far more accurate way to assess how the current’s strength and behaviour will change as the world warms. It picks up the intricate interactions between ice melting and ocean circulation.

    In this future projection, cold, fresh melt water from Antarctica migrates north, filling the deep ocean as it goes. This causes major changes to the density structure of the ocean. It counteracts the influence of ocean warming, leading to an overall slowdown in the current of as much as 20% by 2050.

    Far-reaching consequences

    The consequences of a weaker Antarctic Circumpolar Current are profound and far-reaching.

    As the main current that circulates nutrient-rich waters around Antarctica, it plays a crucial role in the Antarctic ecosystem.

    Weakening of the current could reduce biodiversity and decrease the productivity of fisheries that many coastal communities rely on. It could also aid the entry of invasive species such as southern bull kelp to Antarctica, disrupting local ecosystems and food webs.

    A weaker current may also allow more warm water to penetrate southwards, exacerbating the melting of Antarctic ice shelves and contributing to global sea-level rise. Faster ice melting could then lead to further weakening of the current, commencing a vicious spiral of current slowdown.

    This disruption could extend to global climate patterns, reducing the ocean’s ability to regulate climate change by absorbing excess heat and carbon in the atmosphere.

    Ocean currents around the world (NASA)

    Need to reduce emissions

    While our findings present a bleak prognosis for the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, the future is not predetermined. Concerted efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions could still limit melting around Antarctica.

    Establishing long-term studies in the Southern Ocean will be crucial for monitoring these changes accurately.

    With proactive and coordinated international actions, we have a chance to address and potentially avert the effects of climate change on our oceans.

    The authors thank Polar Climate Senior Researcher Dr Andreas Klocker, from the NORCE Norwegian Research Centre and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, for his contribution to this research, and Professor Matthew England from the University of New South Wales, who provided the outputs from the model simulation for this analysis.

    Taimoor Sohail receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Bishakhdatta Gayen receives funding from Australian Research Council (ARC). He works at University of Melbourne as ARC Future Fellow and Associate Professor. He is also A/Prof. at CAOS, Indian Institute of Science.

    – ref. Melting Antarctic ice will slow the world’s strongest ocean current – and the global consequences are profound – https://theconversation.com/melting-antarctic-ice-will-slow-the-worlds-strongest-ocean-current-and-the-global-consequences-are-profound-251053

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: Seven in ten businesses want simplified customer experience from telecom providers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press contact:
    Florence Lievre
    Tel: + 33 1 47 54 50 71
    Email: florence.lievre@capgemini.com

    Seven in ten businesses want simplified customer experience from telecom providers

    Businesses expect customized, seamless, flexible, and secure experience when purchasing telecom services

    Paris, March 3, 2025 – The first edition of the Capgemini Research Institute’s new annual study ‘The B2B pulse: Top six expectations of telecoms’ business customers’, published today, reveals a significant shift in business customer expectations. Most organizations across sectors expect telecom companies to go beyond connectivity services. The convergence of AI, Cloud, and 5G marks a pivotal moment, requiring operators to transition from product-focused connectivity providers to being comprehensive and client-centric.
      
    The top expectations: industry-tailored solutions, simplification and ecosystem orchestration
    Two in three business customers (67%) expect their telecom partners to demonstrate a deep understanding of specific industry challenges and provide flexible and tailored solutions that fit their needs, rather than generic services.

    Business customers now seek solutions that operate across hybrid networks, edge computing, and cloud environments: around three in five organizations rely on their telecom providers to orchestrate a comprehensive ecosystem that seamlessly integrates IT, support systems, and industry-specific expertise, while seven out of ten expect simpler processes, along with more flexible purchasing and servicing experiences. However, only one in three organizations are currently satisfied with Service Level Agreement (SLA) compliance and network performance/reliability.

    Most organizations (61%) are keen for their telecom provider to act as a source of innovation. Early access to cutting-edge technologies and joint efforts on pilots and prototypes is a top expectation (62%) while organizations are exploring advanced communications services to support a variety of use cases such as autonomous vehicles, smart city applications, cloud connectivity, and real-time industrial automation.

    “In today’s hyperconnected world, telcos are the backbone of the digital economy. Businesses expect telecom providers to move beyond connectivity services, and offer tailored, end-to-end and flexible solutions that power digitalization, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth,” said Praveen Shankar, Global Telecom Leader at Capgemini. “By forging strong partnerships with customers and industry peers, orchestrating an innovation ecosystem and prioritizing seamless customer experience, telecom organizations can enhance trust, simplify offerings, and differentiate themselves in a fast-moving landscape.”

    Customer experience, an untapped opportunity for telco provider growth
    While telcos’ customers are keen to access services beyond the core offerings, only 28% of organizations currently say that they purchase these services, from their provider. In their urgency to set up these value-added services only 27% of organizations say their telco providers currently deliver exceptional CX, while half are ready to pay a premium to improve it, highlighting that customer experience is still an untapped opportunity to accelerate growth and boost loyalty and innovation for telco providers.

    Businesses rely on telecom providers for robust and reliable security safeguards
    Among the various facets of telecom services, cybersecurity is a priority area for more than 70% of the organizations surveyed. With technological advancements, such as AI and Gen AI, cloudification, and wireless/5G networks, the threat landscape for organizations is evolving rapidly and businesses are increasingly concerned about protecting their data and systems. The report highlights that enterprises are looking for comprehensive security solutions from their telecom providers, with more than half of organizations (53%) willing to invest in telecom tech services, such as implementation of advanced cybersecurity solutions, in the next 1–2 years.

    For more information or to download the report, visit: Link

    Methodology

    The Capgemini Research Institute surveyed 1,000 executives, at director level or above from telecoms’ business customers across 11 sectors and 13 countries in Asia–Pacific, Europe, and North America. To complement the survey findings, twenty in-depth discussions were conducted with executives from the telecom industry and customer industries. The global survey was carried out in December 2024 and January 2025.

    About Capgemini
    Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fueled by its market leading capabilities in AI, generative AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem. The Group reported 2024 global revenues of €22.1 billion.
    Get The Future You Want | www.capgemini.com

    About the Capgemini Research Institute
    The Capgemini Research Institute is Capgemini’s in-house think-tank on all things digital. The Institute publishes research on the impact of digital technologies on large traditional businesses. The team draws on the worldwide network of Capgemini experts and works closely with academic and technology partners. The Institute has dedicated research centers in India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. It was ranked #1 in the world for the quality of its research by independent analysts for six consecutive times – an industry first. Visit us at https://www.capgemini.com/researchinstitute/

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Suggestions, proposals at NPC & CPPCC sessions deliver tangible benefits

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The Chinese government has turned thousands of suggestions and proposals from national lawmakers and political advisors at the country’s top political meetings last year into concrete actions, benefiting people’s livelihoods and economic development, said a spokesperson of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on Friday.

    On Feb. 28, 2025, the State Council Information Office holds a policy briefing in Beijing on handling suggestions from deputies to the National People’s Congress and proposals of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in 2024. [Photo by Liu Jian/China SCIO]
    In 2024, government departments reviewed and acted on 8,783 suggestions from deputies of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and 4,813 proposals from members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), addressing key public concerns, said Xing Huina, a spokesperson of the SCIO.
    More than 5,000 recommendations were adopted by various government departments, leading to over 2,000 policy measures that tackled major economic and social issues, she said.

    Senior residents order a meal at Qingshuiwan community canteen in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, Aug. 1, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    One standout area is eldercare, a growing priority as China’s population ages. Tang Chengpei, vice minister of civil affairs, highlighted how 87 suggestions and proposals from the “two sessions” shaped nationwide efforts to improve eldercare services. “Developing ‘near-home’ eldercare allows seniors to live comfortably in familiar surroundings, which aligns with both national conditions and public expectations,” Tang said.
    To this end, the government has expanded the national three-tiered eldercare network, establishing 446 demonstration centers at the county level and developing 367,000 community-based eldercare facilities.
    The ministry is committed to improving home-based services, having supported the establishment of 75,000 senior dining centers and the renovation of over 2 million homes to enhance accessibility in recent years, according to Tang. These initiatives aim to ensure seniors receive care at the doorsteps of their own homes.
    Efforts to renovate urban villages were also significantly accelerated following suggestions from NPC deputies. Jiang Wanrong, vice minister of housing and urban-rural development, said the input from the deputies “played a crucial role in advancing urban village renovations.”
    “We worked closely with the deputies who submitted suggestions, conducting on-site inspections and holding multiple discussions to ensure effective implementation,” Jiang said. 
    At the news briefing, he highlighted key measures taken, including prioritizing projects in areas with urgent public demand and serious safety risks, as well as expanding policy coverage. “We have now extended urban village renovation efforts beyond 35 major cities to all prefecture-level cities,” he said. 
    In 2024 alone, 1,863 urban village renovation projects were launched, benefiting about 1.37 million households. 
    In addition, financial support policies were enhanced last year to address concerns raised by lawmakers, political advisors, and the public in key areas such as employment, healthcare, and education, according to Vice Finance Minister Guo Tingting.

    Job seekers attend a job fair held for the 2025 graduates of the Heilongjiang University in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, Dec. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    To stabilize employment, the finance ministry extended reduced unemployment and work injury insurance rates and enhanced job retention and skill improvement subsidies in 2024. 
    Healthcare support has also expanded. In 2024, the per capita government subsidy for urban and rural residents’ medical insurance increased by 30 yuan (US$4.12) to 670 yuan annually.
    From the spring semester of 2024, China raised the national baseline for living subsidies for students from economically difficult families, benefiting around 20 million students who received compulsory education, Guo said. Higher education support has also been strengthened with expanded national scholarships and student loans, benefiting 23 million students, she added.
    To support vulnerable groups, the Ministry of Finance has enhanced the dynamic adjustment mechanism for subsistence allowances, ensuring the safety net for those in need, Guo said. By the end of 2024, the average minimum subsistence allowance reached 798 yuan per month in urban areas and 594 yuan in rural areas.
    In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China last year, a one-time subsidy of 1,000 yuan per person was also distributed to almost 11.54 million people living with difficulties, the vice finance minister said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Lack of justice in Indonesia’s climate plan may backfire, harming people and environment

    Source: The Conversation – Indonesia – By Wira A. Swadana, Climate Action Senior Lead, World Resources Institute

    Indonesia has developed several climate documents as pathways to curb climate change and adapt to its impacts. These impacts influence many elements of life, including displacement, the spread of infectious diseases, and even fatalities.

    Some of these documents include Enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions, Long-Term Strategy for Low Carbon and Climate Resilience 2050 (LTS-LCCR), and Low Carbon Development Indonesia (LCDI).

    As a scholar in social development and environmental policy, I conducted a descriptive analysis of more than five Indonesia’s climate documents to learn how the concept of a just transition is being integrated into Indonesia’s climate policies. My analisis reveals that the current narrative in those documents is limited to the outcomes of climate-related approaches.

    I found that these climate documents have failed to adequately address the social and environmental aspects that are fundamental to a ‘just transition’ — a global effort to combat climate change and shift towards a sustainable economy while improving the condition of people and the environment.

    Indonesia’s climate action is important because the country is home to vast tropical forests and extensive peatlands, which act as important carbon sinks. Yet, it remains one of the world’s largest emitters.

    Indonesia’s just transition is essential as it supports global efforts to mitigate climate change while ensuring that the shift is more sustainable and inclusive. Neglecting these factors in the transition can risk equity, justice, and inclusion for affected communities and ecosystems in Indonesia’s climate actions.

    The risks it posed

    So far, Indonesia’s just transition narrative concentrates mainly on the energy sector. For instance, the government’s white paper on just transition, released in September last year, centres solely on the energy aspect.

    Additionally, the use of the word just in the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) — an international partnership aiming at speeding Indonesia’s renewable energy development and coal phase-out — has helped popularise the notion.

    A just transition should include broader efforts to limit and adapt to climate change, given these changes directly impact communities. Despite its increasing recognition in the energy sector, just transition remains a long way from being completely integrated into Indonesia’s climate initiatives.

    In the forestry sector, Indonesia’s strategy to apply Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) practices, which includes selective logging practices to minimise damage, may lead to the prohibition of traditional slash-and-burn farming in some areas. This threatens local communities that have long practised controlled burning as a sustainable land management method.

    Similarly, under FOLU Net Sink 2030 — Indonesia’s plan to reduce emissions from forestry and land-use — the government has introduced community forestry initiatives to improve livelihood. However, the strategy does not yet address the potential consequences for people who rely on forests for their livelihoods and cultural heritage, which could be jeopardised by by SFM practices.

    Moreover, Indonesia’s climate resilience strategies for coastal communities overlook the socio-cultural importance of fishing as a key source of income. For example, the government plans to provide business development training to assist fishing families in diversifying their income in response to extreme weather conditions. However, without acknowledging the deep cultural and economic ties these communities have to fishing, such initiatives risk being ineffective.

    The cost we bear

    The lack of justice in Indonesia’s transition agenda has backfired, with negative consequences for both people and the environment.

    For example, the energy shift demands Indonesia to exploit more of its abundant nickel resources for EV batteries, particularly in central and eastern Indonesia. To assist nickel mining and processing, the government has implemented several policies.

    While the nickel boom has helped resource-rich provinces like North Maluku and Central Sulawesi boost their economic growth, it has also had serious impacts. Indonesia’s greenhouse gas emissions climbed by 20% between 2022 and 2023, owing to the dependency on coal for nickel processing facilities.

    Beyond emissions, nickel mining has also led to deforestation and pollution, affecting local communities who rely on natural resources for their livelihoods and cultural preservation, while also harming biodiversity in mining areas.

    The expense of the nickel rush demonstrates how an unjust energy transition can exacerbate challenges faced by vulnerable communities and further degrade the environment.

    Next steps

    To integrate just transition principles effectively, Indonesia must first redefine the term ‘just transition’ within its own context. Currently, the term has not been properly incorporated into any of Indonesia’s climate-related documents.

    A clear and context-specific definition will allow Indonesia to pursue a transition that is both equitable and inclusive.

    To accomplish this, the government must engage a wide range of stakeholders in defining and planning the transition to all climate-related initiatives. This encompasses, but is not limited to, all sectors. The goal is to secure broad participation — not only from the public and private sectors, but also from local communities, vulnerable groups including women and Indigenous peoples, as well as other key actors.

    A more defined concept and well-structured plan will make it easier to implement, monitor, and evaluate the change. Simultaneously, this inclusive strategy should ensure a fair and equitable distribution of both benefits and burdens. All actors must be able to participate in decision-making and take action prior to and during the transition process.

    Indonesia must also have a robust monitoring and evaluation mechanism in place to support its climate actions. The country can learn from Scotland, which has developed a just transition framework with clear outcomes and measurable indicators while ensuring participation and continuous learning from all stakeholders.

    Drawing on insights from existing literature and reports will help Indonesia develop a framework that is well-suited to its unique context.

    Wira A. Swadana tidak bekerja, menjadi konsultan, memiliki saham, atau menerima dana dari perusahaan atau organisasi mana pun yang akan mengambil untung dari artikel ini, dan telah mengungkapkan bahwa ia tidak memiliki afiliasi selain yang telah disebut di atas.

    – ref. Lack of justice in Indonesia’s climate plan may backfire, harming people and environment – https://theconversation.com/lack-of-justice-in-indonesias-climate-plan-may-backfire-harming-people-and-environment-249246

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-Evening Report: From the fashion to the speeches to the music, this was an Oscars of few surprises. 5 experts break it down

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Harriette Richards, Senior Lecturer, School of Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University

    In a year with few surprises in the awards categories, there was also a dearth of surprises on the red carpet. The sartorial themes included sparkling metallics, coloured menswear and bows, bows and more bows.

    Metallic gowns that resemble the Oscar statue are a familiar sight at the Academy Awards and this year was no different. Some of the standouts included best actress nominee Demi Moore in a magnificently glittering silver Armani Privé gown, Selena Gomez in custom Ralph Lauren encrusted with 16,000 individual blush-toned jewel teardrops, and Emma Stone in a minimalist Louis Vuitton sheath covered in iridescent fish scales.

    In the menswear category, tuxedos reign supreme. This year was notable only for the diversity of colours in which these suits came.

    Best actor nominee Timothée Chalamet lived up to his reputation for monochrome, richly hued ensembles in a custom butter yellow leather suit by Givenchy, paired with a matching silk shirt and delicate neck brooch in place of a tie. His best actor nominated compatriot, Colman Domingo (one of the best dressed men in Hollywood) was pristine in a double-breasted red silk jacket with black lapels, black trousers and matching red shirt by Valentino, similarly eschewing a tie in favour of a fine gold brooch. Andrew Garfield wore louche chocolate brown Gucci and Jeremy Strong wore a suit by Loro Piana in an unusual tone of olive green.

    Bows of varying size and stature were perhaps the strongest theme of the night.

    Best actress winner Mikey Madison in black and pink Dior, best supporting actress nominee Felicity Jones in shimmering liquid silver Armani, Elle Fanning in white and black Givenchy and Lupita Nyong’o in white Chanel were all adorned with bows at their waists.

    The most remarkable bow of the night though was best actress nominee Cynthia Erivo in a structured deep emerald-green velvet Louis Vuitton gown, the broad, wing-like sleeves of which were crafted as a bow.

    Notable mentions must also go to those attendees who do not fit neatly into any thematic category. Best supporting actress nominee Ariana Grande wore a meticulously crafted pale pink Schiaparelli confection and Lisa (of Blackpink and now White Lotus fame) perfected a feminine take on masculine suiting in a tuxedo dress by Markgong.

    The only real surprise was the lack of political statements on display. Unlike recent years, when pins and ribbons in support of Ukraine and Palestine were widely worn, this year only Guy Pearce was spotted wearing a Free Palestine pin, Conclave writer Peter Straughan wore a Ukrainian flag pin and Kayo Shekoni had “free Congo” emblazoned on the sole of her high heels.

    – Harriette Richards

    The best picture: Anora

    And the best picture Oscar goes to … Anora – the film that was favoured to win, so no surprises here.

    Though he had been working for more than a decade at the time, writer-director-editor Sean Baker came onto the independent movie scene with a bang with 2015’s Tangerine, a gimmicky film that was mainly celebrated for being shot on an iPhone. Why this would be celebrated is anyone’s guess. I suspect it’s because of the “I could do it too” factor – something the average person certainly couldn’t say if we’re talking 35mm celluloid.

    Since then, Baker’s films have relished in embracing the digital, neon world, but always in a kind of sentimental and shallow, rather than critical, register. None of his films are awful – and maybe that’s saying something in this day and age. Anora also is not awful, but it’s not particularly memorable either.

    Anora follows a run of the mill American dream-type story about a hard-working stripper who seems to strike fairytale gold when a young, fun Russian oligarch falls in love with her. Only the dream turns out to be more of a nightmare (kind of) when things don’t quite work out and the film ends with the titular character once again independent and free.

    The idea of undercutting the fairytale setup of the typical rom-com is not at all original, and the film strikes me as even more schmaltzy in its rejection of the fairytale dream than if it had embraced it and played like a tween-focused Nickelodeon film (it’s about as poignant as this).

    The film’s cardinal sin, however – and it’s certainly not alone in this – is its critical overlength. Each of the film’s sections could have had some 20 minutes cut and we would have had an enjoyably tight romp at 80 minutes. Instead, Anora drags on, swept up in its imagining of its own profundity – at times pretentious, but mainly tedious.

    – Ari Mattes

    Not the year to stick a neck out

    The speeches this year were conspicuously meek. No announcer majorly insulted anyone else. No winner assaulted anyone else. Even the James Bond retrospective lacked energy. What’s going on in Hollywood?

    There are clues that help explain this curious flatness. Host Conan O’Brien mentioned the pressure of “divisive politics” while reflecting on California’s wildfires. Several winners spoke about the importance of shared experience, of what unites us, of film as a medium that brings people together, a force for “good and progress in the world” and “a reminder not to let hate go unchecked”.

    The directors of No Other Land, receiving their Oscar for best documentary, shared the one clear critical voice. Palestinian Basel Adra wished his newborn daughter a life without the fear that governs daily life in his homeland. Israeli co-director Yuval Abraham agreed: “There is another way. It’s not too late for life and for the living. There is no other way.”

    However, that was the only moment people at the Oscars seemed willing to confront the political elephant in the room.

    Anora director Sean Baker used his last (of four!) acceptance speeches to compel more people to help keep cinema doors open. He made his point passionately: this was the best way to sustain an industry that could continue to make brilliant movies. That said, the most emotive speeches of past Oscars events went much further than just commenting on the bread and butter concerns of the film industry.

    This year, there were more clues in what people did not say. There were feints at Russian dictators – but nobody mentioned the war in Ukraine. There was no discussion of a certain election result, nor of filmmakers’ fears that Washington is now in the control of a governing faction that loathes them. Most revealing of all: nobody raised a peep about the President or his friends.

    Hollywood’s collective discipline was on show tonight – and 2025 is not the year to stick a neck out.

    – Tom Clark

    A banner year for independent film

    Independent films were the big winners for this year’s Oscars. While many of the technical awards went to the big budget films, such as Wicked (the US$145 million film won costume design and production design) and Dune: Part 2 (made at a budget of US$190 million, and winning sound and visual effects), the night’s major awards went to small productions.

    While the definitions of “independence” and “studio” films don’t exist in a neat binary when it comes to production and global distribution, we can distinguish between film juggernauts and smaller films.

    Three independent films won significant awards that are of note. Latvian film Flow was the first independent film to win best animated feature, up against major films Inside Out 2 (Pixar Films) and The Wild Robot (DreamWorks).

    The film follows a cat, a dog, a capybara, a secretary bird and a ring-tailed lemur navigating a post-apocalyptic world with rising sea levels. The film also only used free and open-source software Blender and mostly used sounds from real world counterparts of the various characters. It was made for a budget of just €3.5 million (A$5.9 million).

    The best documentary film nominees were dominated by independent films. Notably, the winner No Other Land has sadly been unable to find a distributor to release the film in the United States. (It is available for streaming in Australia on DocPlay, and in select cinemas.) The film was only eligible because the Film Lincoln Centre in New York facilitated a one-week, qualifying theatrical run.

    The night’s top glories went to Anora, made on a budget of just US$6 million (A$9.7 million), and taking home the awards for best film, director, actress, screenplay and editing.

    In his acceptance speech for best director, Sean Baker spoke of the importance of films getting a theatrical release. Films, he said, are about humanity – and that is best experienced in watching a film with other people.

    During awards season, Baker has often spoken about the importance of small budget films in the expression of core human experiences.

    The final message of the night went to Baker when he thanked the Academy for recognising a truly independent film: “Long live independent film!”

    Indeed, independent films ruled this year’s Oscars.

    – Stuart Richards

    Best actor and actress

    Mikey Madison, who won the best actress award for Anora, is quite good in the role. That said, it’s difficult to evaluate her performance in such a meandering film.

    She tries hard playing a stripper who falls for Prince Charming – a Russian oligarch (Hollywood’s anti-Russian sentiment has certainly grown in recent years) who turns out to be a bit of a weakling with meanie parents. But Madison never really convincingly embodies the character, and we’re ever aware as we watch the film that she’s an actress working her way through relevant emotions and intensities.

    That said, Madison is good at yelling and stripping, and this is the main way she shows her chops here. She screamed well in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019), too. The bar this year was admittedly pretty low, and truth be told Madison’s performance in Anora (aside from Fernanda Torres for I’m Still Here) is probably the best out of the nominees.

    In contrast, Adrien Brody, who won the best actor award, is absolutely unforgettable in the flawed but magnificent The Brutalist – the best he’s been since The Pianist, and the deserved winner by a mile out of a similarly mediocre field. Brody is simply a pleasure to watch, and drives, in a wholly embodied way, this grandiose and exceedingly long film (the fact it doesn’t feel long is largely due to his magnetism).

    The screenplay, in which the character comes across as a combination of arrogant, sweet and at times comedic, allows Brody to display the full range of his talent, and he plays the whole thing with an endearing vulnerability. But, again, it’s unfair to compare Brody and Madison – The Brutalist is a spectacularly accomplished cinematic epic, while Anora feels as stylish and profound as a social media video (I know that’s the point, but that doesn’t make it any more compelling).

    – Ari Mattes

    A lacklustre year for music

    This was a strong year for music-based films, with three of the most nominated ones being musicals of various types: the big-budget Broadway adaptation Wicked, the original film musical Emilia Pérez, and the musician biopic A Complete Unknown.

    The music of the ceremony itself was nicely assembled, with a live orchestra (conducted by Michael Bearden) accompanying proceedings from above the stage.

    But the show was marred by an absence: the best song nominations were not performed live. The new songs this year were so bland, however – especially when compared to the Wicked score and Bob Dylan – that I can hardly blame the producers. The nominations included a dull Elton John song, some soft guitar rock from Sing Sing, Diane Warren’s 16th (!) nominated song (more soft rock), and two forgettable songs from Emilia Pérez (one of which, El Mal, was the winner).

    So little faith did the Academy have in the songs that only a few seconds were played from each, mostly covered by a montage of interviews with the songwriters.

    This year’s nominated best scores were not much more memorable, but Daniel Blumberg deserved his win for The Brutalist. It demonstrates a high level of composition and orchestration craft. It uses edgy instrumental textures to increase the feelings of uncertainty and imbalance that the film imparts.

    The show included a lot of Wizard of Oz. Ariana Grande sang Over the Rainbow from the 1939 film and Cynthia Erivo sang Home from The Wiz, the 1974 soul musical based on the book. Then they performed Defying Gravity from Wicked together.

    Another subtle Wizard of Oz nod was the music played during the commercial breaks: a loop based on Brand New Day from The Wiz, whose 1979 film version had its music produced by the late Quincy Jones. Queen Latifah and backup dancers brought some much needed energy to the last hour of the ceremony with Ease on Down the Road, also from The Wiz, as part of a Jones tribute.

    One surprise was an unnecessary but enjoyable James Bond sequence featuring Margaret Qualley dancing to John Barry’s famous theme, a performance of Live and Let Die by K-pop star Lisa, Doja Cat singing Diamonds Are Forever, and Raye’s rendition of Skyfall.

    This plus the various numbers from the Oz Musical Universe only highlighted how lacklustre this year’s nominated music was.

    – Gregory Camp

    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. From the fashion to the speeches to the music, this was an Oscars of few surprises. 5 experts break it down – https://theconversation.com/from-the-fashion-to-the-speeches-to-the-music-this-was-an-oscars-of-few-surprises-5-experts-break-it-down-251264

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: English rendering of PM’s address in NXT Conclave

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 01 MAR 2025 2:03PM by PIB Delhi

    Namaskar, 

    ITV Network founder and my colleague in Parliament, Kartikeya Sharma ji, the entire team of the network, all the guests from India and abroad, other dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen, NewsX World’s auspicious beginning and for this I congratulate all of you, my best wishes. Today, all the regional channels of your network including Hindi and English are going global. And today many fellowships and scholarships have also been started. I wish all of you the best for these programs.

    Friends, 

    I have been attending such media events earlier also, but today I feel that you have set a new trend and I congratulate you for this too. Such media events keep happening in our country, and it is a tradition that is continuing. There are some economic topics in it, it is a matter of benefit for everyone, but your network has given it a new dimension. You have worked on a new model by breaking away from the norm. I remember, if I talk about the earlier summits and your summit I have been listening to since yesterday, the earlier summits organised by different media houses have been leader-centric, I am happy that this one is policy-centric, policies are being discussed here. Most of the events that have taken place have been about living the present on the basis of the past. I see that your summit is dedicated to the future. I have seen that in all such programs that I have seen from afar or have attended myself, the importance of controversy was more there, here the importance of dialogue is more. And I firmly believe that all the events that I have attended are held in a small room and have their own people. Seeing such a huge event here and that too the event of a media house and people from all walks of life being here, is a big thing in itself. It is possible that other media people will not get any masala (scoop) from here, but the country will get a lot of inspiration, because the thoughts of every person who comes here will be thoughts that inspire the country. I hope that in the coming days other media houses will also adopt this trend, this template, in their own way and make it innovative and at least come out of that small room.

    Friends, 

    Today the whole world is looking at 21st century India, people from all over the world want to come to India, want to know India. Today India is the country in the world where positive news is being created continuously. There is no need to manufacture news, where new records are being made every day, something new is happening. Just on 26 February, the Maha Kumbh of unity was concluded in Prayagraj. The whole world is surprised that how in a temporary city, a temporary arrangement, crores of people came to the banks of the river, travelled hundreds of kilometers and got filled with emotions after taking a holy bath. Today the world is seeing India’s organising and innovating skills. We are manufacturing everything from semiconductors to aircraft carriers right here. The world wants to know about this success of India in detail. I think that this NewsX World is a very big opportunity in itself.

    Friends, 

    Just a few months ago, India conducted the world’s largest elections. After 60 years, it happened that a government in India has returned to power for the third consecutive time. The basis of this public trust are India’s many achievements in the last 11 years. I am confident that your new channel will take India’s real stories to the world. Without adding any colour, your global channel will show the picture of India as it is, we do not need makeup.

    Friends, 

    Many years ago, I had presented the vision of Vocal for Local and Local for Global to the country. Today we are seeing this vision turning into reality. Today our Ayush products and Yoga have gone from Local to Global. Go anywhere in the world, you will find someone who knows Yoga, my friend Tony is sitting here, he is a daily Yoga practitioner.  Today, India’s superfood, our Makhana, is going global from local. India’s millets – Shreeanna, are also going global from local. And I have come to know that my friend, Tony Abbott, has had first-hand experience of Indian millets at Delhi Haat, and he liked the millet dishes very much and I felt very happy to hear this.

    Friends, 

    Not only millets, India’s turmeric has also gone from local to global, India supplies more than 60 percent of the world’s turmeric. India’s coffee has also gone from local to global, India has become the world’s seventh largest coffee exporter. Today India’s mobiles, electronic products, medicines made in India are making their global identity. And along with all this, one more thing has happened. India is leading many global initiatives. Recently I got a chance to go to the AI ​​Action Summit in France. India was the co-host of this summit which is taking the world towards the AI ​​future. Now India has the responsibility of hosting it. India organised such a wonderful G-20 Summit during its presidency. During this summit, we gave the world a new economic route in the form of India-Middle East-Europe Corridor. India also gave a strong voice to the Global South, we have connected the island nations and their interests to our priority. India has given the vision of Mission Life to the world to deal with the climate crisis. Similarly, International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, there are many such initiatives which India is leading globally. And I am happy that today when many brands of India are going global, the media of India is also going global. It is understanding this global opportunity.

    Friends, 

    For decades, the world used to call India its back office. But today, India is becoming the new factory of the world. We are not just becoming a workforce, but a world-force! Today, the country is becoming an emerging export hub for the things that we once imported. The farmer who was once limited to the local market, today his crop is reaching the markets of the whole world. The demand for Pulwama’s Snow Peas, Maharashtra’s Purandar Figs and Kashmir’s Cricket Bats is now increasing in the world. Our Defence products are showing the world the power of Indian Engineering and technology. From the Electronics to Automobile Sector, the world has seen our scale and capability. We are not only providing our products to the world, India is also becoming a trusted and reliable partner in the global supply chain.

    Friends, 

    If we have become a leader in many sectors today, then it is because of years of well deliberated hard work. This has been possible only due to systematic policy decisions. Look at the journey of 10 years, where bridges were incomplete, roads were stuck, today dreams are moving ahead at a new pace. With good roads, excellent expressways, both travel time and cost have reduced. This has given the industry an opportunity to reduce the turnaround time of logistics. Our automobile sector got a huge benefit from this. This increased the demand for vehicles, we encouraged the production of vehicles and EVs. Today we have emerged as a major automobile producer and exporter in the world.

    Friends, 

    A similar change has been seen in electronics manufacturing. In the last decade, electricity reached more than 2.5 crore households for the first time. The demand for electricity increased in the country, production increased, which increased the demand for Electronic Equipment. When we made data cheaper, the demand for mobile phones increased. As more and more services were brought on mobile phones, the consumption of digital devices increased further. By turning this demand into an opportunity, we started programs like PLI Schemes. Today, India has become a major electronics exporter.

    Friends, 

    Today India is able to set very big targets and is achieving them, so there is a special mantra at the core of this. This mantra is – minimum government, maximum governance. This is the mantra of efficient and effective governance. That means no interference from the government, no pressure from the government. I will give you an interesting example. In the last decade, we have abolished about 1500 laws that have lost their importance. It is a big deal to abolish 1500 laws. Many of these laws were made during British rule. Now I will tell you something, you will be surprised to hear that there was a law called dramatic performance act, this law was made by the British 150 years ago, at that time the British wanted that drama and theatre should not be used against the then government. There was a provision in this law that if 10 people were found dancing in a public place, they could be arrested. And this law continued for 75 years after the country got independence. That is, if there is a wedding procession and 10 people are dancing, the police can arrest them including the groom. This law was in force for 70-75 years after independence. This law was removed by our government. Now, we have borne this law for 70 years, I have nothing to say to the government of that time, those leaders, they are sitting here too, but I am more surprised by this Lutyens’ group, this Khan Market gang. Why were these people silent on such a law for 75 years? Those who go to court every day, who roam around like contractors of PIL, why were these people silent? Did they not remember liberty then? If someone thinks today, what would have happened if Modi had made such a law? And these trollers on social media, if they too had spread such false news that Modi was going to make such a law, these people would have created a ruckus, would have pulled Modi’s hair.

    Friends, 

    It is our government that has abolished this law from the times of slavery. I will give another example of bamboo, bamboo is the lifeline of our tribal areas, especially the North East. But earlier, you were sent to jail even for cutting bamboo, why was the law made now? Now, if I ask you, is bamboo a tree? Some will believe that it is a tree, some will believe that it is a tree, you will be surprised that even after 70 years of independence, the government of my country believed that bamboo is a tree, and therefore, just as cutting trees was prohibited, cutting bamboo was also prohibited. There was a law in our country which considered bamboo to be a tree, and all the laws for trees were applicable to it, it was difficult to cut it. Our earlier rulers could not understand that bamboo is not a tree. The British may have had their own interests, but why did we not do it? Even the decades old law related to bamboo was changed by our own government.

    Friends, 

    You must remember how difficult it was for a common man to file ITR 10 years ago. Today you file ITR in a few moments and the refund is also deposited directly in the account within a few days. Now the process of making the law related to income tax even simpler is going on in the Parliament. We have made income up to Rs. 12 lakh tax free, yes now there is applause, you did not applaud the bamboo because it belongs to the tribals. And this is going to benefit especially the media personnel, the salaried class like you. The youth who are doing their first and second jobs, their aspirations are also different, their expenses are also different. They should fulfil their aspirations, their savings should increase, the budget has helped a lot in this. Our aim is to give the people of the country Ease of Living, Ease of Doing Business, give them open skies to fly. Today see how many start-ups are taking advantage of geospatial data. Earlier, if someone had to make a map, they had to take permission from the government. We changed this and today our start-ups and private companies are making excellent use of this data.

    Friends,

    India, which gave the world the concept of Zero, is today becoming the land of Infinite Innovations. Today India is not just innovating but also indovating. And when I say indovate, it means – Innovating The Indian Way. Through indovating, we are creating solutions that are affordable, accessible and adaptable. We are not gate-keeping these solutions but have offered them to the entire world. When the world wanted a secure and cost-effective digital payment system, we created the UPI system. I was listening to Professor Carlos Montes, he seemed very impressed with the people-friendly nature of technology like UPI. Today, countries like France, UAE, Singapore are integrating UPI in their financial ecosystem. Today, many countries of the world are making agreements to join our digital public infrastructure, India Stack. During the Covid pandemic, our vaccine showed the world the model of India’s Quality Healthcare Solutions. We also open-sourced the Arogya Setu app so that the world can benefit from it. India is a major space power; we are also helping other countries to achieve their space aspirations. India is also working on AI for Public Good and is also sharing its experience and expertise with the world.

    Friends,

    ITV Network has launched many fellowships today. India’s youth is the biggest beneficiary of developed India and also the biggest stakeholder. Therefore, India’s youth is a very big priority for us. National Education Policy has given children an opportunity to think beyond books. Children are getting ready for the field of AI and Data Science by learning coding from middle school itself. Atal Tinkering Labs are giving children hands-on experience of emerging technologies. Therefore, in this year’s budget, we have announced to create 50 thousand new Atal Tinkering Labs.

    Friends,

    In the world of news, you people take subscriptions from different agencies, this helps you in getting better news coverage. Similarly, in the field of research, students need more and more information sources. For this, earlier they had to take subscriptions of different journals at expensive rates, they had to spend money themselves. Our government has freed all researchers from this worry too. We have brought One Nation One Subscription. With this, every researcher of the country is sure to get free access to the world’s renowned journals. The government is going to spend more than 6 thousand crore rupees on this. We are ensuring that every student gets the best research facilities. Be it space exploration, biotech research or AI, our children are emerging as future leaders. Dr. Brian Green has met the students of IIT and astronaut Mike Massimino went to meet the students of Central School and as he said, his experience has been really wonderful. The day is not far when a big innovation of the future will come out of a small school in India.

    Friends,

    Let the flag of India fly on every global platform, this is our aspiration, this is our direction.

    Friends,

    This is not the time to think small and take small steps. I am happy that as a media organisation, you too have understood this sentiment. You see, till 10 years ago you used to think about how to reach different states of the country, how to make your media house reach, today you too have gathered the courage to go global. This inspiration, this pledge, should be the one of every citizen, every entrepreneur today. My dream is that there should be some Indian brand in every market of the world, in every drawing room, on every dining table. Made in India – should become the mantra of the world. If someone is ill, he should first think about – Heal in India. If someone wants to get married, he should first think about – Wed in India. If someone wants to travel, he should put India on top of his list. If someone wants to hold a conference or an exhibition, he should come to India first. If someone wants to hold a concert, he should first choose India. We have to develop this strength, this positive attitude in ourselves. Your network and your channel will play a big role in this. The possibilities are infinite, now we have to turn them into reality with our courage and determination.

    Friends,

    India is moving ahead with the resolve to become a developed India in the next 25 years. You too should move ahead with the resolve to bring yourself on the world stage as a media house. I believe that you will definitely succeed in this. I once again convey my best wishes to the entire team of ITV Network and I also congratulate the participants who have come from the country and the world, their views have definitely strengthened a positive thinking, I am thankful for this too, because when the pride of India increases, every Indian feels happy and proud and for this I thank them all very much. Namaskaram.

     

    DISCLAIMER: This is the approximate translation of PM’s speech. Original speech was delivered

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Text of the Vice-President’s address at the Colloquium on ‘International Arbitration: Indian Perspective’ organised by India International Arbitration Centre (Excerpts)

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 01 MAR 2025 2:41PM by PIB Delhi

    Good Morning all of you,

    When Chairman, International Arbitration Centre of India extended invitation to me, I had a very frank, forthright thought exchange with him.

     I indicated to Justice Gupta that he has a daunting task to impart much needed credibility to the Indian arbitral system. I was so happy and delighted when he reflected that some step has to be taken. I still recall what he told me. Realistic assessment of a malice and authentic diagnosis is fundamental and quintessence to find a resolution. My response was not encouraging.

     Justice Gupta was insistent. I reacted. Justice Gupta, when UNCITRAL Model came in 1994, UK and India were two countries that had historical connect and had legislation in the same year-1996, but look at the kind of jolts our Act has had ever since then. And compare it with what happened in the United Kingdom, and therefore, to impart credibility and to undertake this very daunting task, there will have to be convergence of stakeholders.

     Those stakeholders are in the legislature, in the executive, in the judiciary, and in the bar. I am so happy and delighted that he has taken the first step, and in the process, though I may be blowing out of proportion, but for a country that is home to one-sixth of humanity, this may be that step which Neil Armstrong took on 20th of July, 1969, when man landed on the moon for the first time. So my best wishes to you.

    I continue to have my concerns and reservations that every inch you will traverse will be difficult. And therefore, my caveat to what the Attorney General reflected, we are not in the global room of arbitration. We are far distant from it. We have to go much beyond our words. Our convergence will have to be on realistic fabric.

     Each one of us will have to contribute, and when we’ll self-assess, we will find we have been in neglect, and therefore, Justice Gupta, I have known him for a very long time. He means business. I therefore compliment him for getting sponsors, Baker, McKinsey, Miss Samantha Mobley, Miss Minnie Van De Pol. Your presence matters because it was in late 90s I had the occasion to attend a conference in your organisation about the state of arbitral position.

     Our Attorney General is as much in law as in academics, and my expectations from him are always more. But I can tell you and share with you, my expectations from the Attorney General are realistic. And I am sure he would carry a message from this place that he will use his office to catalyse the change, particularly with respect to legislation that is ailing our arbitral process with painful interventions that evade finality and expedition.

     I am happy to greet your Secretary General, Asian African Legal Consultative Organisation, Dr. Kamalinne Pinitpuvadol. I recall vividly what happened in G20. It was Prime Minister Modi’s vision and he succeeded in getting African Union as a permanent member of G20. European Union was already a member. When we examine this development in historical perspective, we will realise the qualitative import of it.

     Added to this, an attorney was keenly involved with that process also to put on global radar the concerns of Global South. You were there in some conferences involving members of Judiciary in the past, and therefore, indeed, a good convergence, soothing convergence Asian-African aspect. This forum has brought together accomplished minds, but I find absence of some as impactful as presence of those who are here.

     I had expected there will be greater participation of those who are reaping the harvest, those who are occupying the century stage, who happen to be your peers. In a country like ours, change takes place only when we slightly depart from formality and talk straight. But I have no doubt that this step that has generated confidence and optimism in me and I would be certainly a soldier of your agenda that the deliberations would go a long way and I would urge let the deliberations not end with this colloquium.

     Let there be extension of brainstorming sessions between individuals. We have some of the finest minds here. When I look around, when I look at my friend senior advocate, Gaurav Bannerjee look at his lineage, how many times we have discussed passionately in mission mode and then rested because handholding has to be by government stakeholders. Handholding has to be by law. Handholding has to emanate from people whose pen matters, and therefore, Justice Gupta has taken a big challenge and every challenge has inbuilt potential opportunity.

     I have no doubt we will so convert. I need not underscore the relevance of arbitral process, its need, but in our country and I can say with modest exposure to global arbitral process, I think being in the International Court of Arbitration for about three years and associated with the commission of that outfit for about nine years. Here, we are not to regain credibility. We have to establish credibility of arbitration. There is a moment subterranean where people in commerce fear arbitral process and that has to be overcome. Arbitrators play as much critical role as members of the board associated with arbitral process.

     Surprisingly, there is, I’m saying it with utmost restraint, absolute tight-fist control of a segment of a category that is involved with arbitral process determination and this tight-fist control emanates out of judicial fields and if we examine it on an objective platform, it is excruciatingly painful. This country has a rich human resource in every facet, Oceanography, Maritime, Aviation, Infrastructure and what not and the disputes are relatable to the experience which is sectoral.

     Unfortunately, we have taken in this country a very myopic view of arbitration as if it is adjudication. It is much beyond adjudication. It is not conventional adjudication as historically evaluated globally. I am enthused in making these observations because Justice Gupta’s mind is stirred by these thoughts. With all my intent not to come here, I have to yield under the pressure of his determination. Now if any country needs smoothest of judicial process, it is India, and India needs it more than any other country for several reasons.

     And why? We are a country that is on the rise. The rise is unstoppable. The rise is incremental. Ladies and gentlemen, let me reflect on the state of the nation at the moment, and I do it on some authority because I had the occasion to be in Parliament in 1989, in seat of governance as a Minister, 1991. I therefore know what the scene was then and what the scene is now.

     Exponential economic upsurge that we are witnessing. India has transformed from 11th economy a decade ago to the 5th largest global economy on way to becoming the 3rd largest ahead of Japan and Germany very shortly.

     We have 8% growth heading towards 4 trillion economy US dollars. Get little away from it. Phenomenal infrastructure growth. Those who have been to this country a decade ago and now and this very place you can see how swiftly it came or Yashobhoomi, or Indian Parliament building newer even in the phase of COVID our Highways, our Aviation sector, our Space sector, our Deep sea sector. So we have phenomenal infrastructure growth. We have 4 new airports and 1 metro system built every year. Which country in the world can do it?

     Daily 14 km of highways and world class Highways and 6 km of Eailways. A nation of 1.4 billion has deep technological penetration. 85 million have been benefited with affordable housing. 330 million with health coverage and 29 million small businesses with loans annually.

    I am giving out these figures because they have rational and rational to the extent arbitral process is concerned. Where the nation is heading? We boast of lunar and mars missions, vaccine productions, we are focussing on Semiconductors, Quantum Computing, green Hydrogen Mission. We are in single digit countries least that is focussing on artificial intelligence. We are one of the few countries in the world that is on way to exploitation of 6G commercially. And look at our spread of 4G all over the country. Every village has it. And therefore, we have all pervasive digitisation. 6.1 billion monthly digital transactions.

     Third largest global ecosystem and the largest Unicorn–Well spread out. People centric policies. Toilet in the house, gas connection in the house, electricity connection in the house, internet connection in the house, road connection, everything is there. And therefore, this development of a decade has converted India as the most aspirational nation in the world. People are now rest even in restlessness. They want more. They want more because they have tasted development. They have benefited from people centric policies. All this can come up only with the surge in economic activity. And every economic activity will have differences, disputes, requiring quick solutions.

     Sometimes, disputes and differences arise on account of perceptional variations, inadequate support, or helplessness. In this situation, it is very significant that we focus on adjudication. Now is the time when India is emerging in every field globally. Why not India should emerge as a global dispute resolution centre? If I reflect to myself and I enormously benefited by my stay as a member in the International Court of Arbitration.

     What do they have which we don’t? Their infrastructure is hardly comparable to what we have. There are cultural centres where arbitrators can really engage. Go to Kolkata, go to Jaipur, go to Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, any part, get away from the metro then you’ll have. I have seen in 10 years growth of arbitral centres with credibility in Dubai and Singapore on self-assessment without fear of contradiction. For this reason, I can say we are nowhere.

     We are not in the mind of people who are having commercial relationship with us if it is international commercial arbitration. There was a time when this country had for the first time a power purchase agreement. My friend Gaurav Banerjee will bear me out. The agreement was settled by a law firm outside the country, but Justice Gupta, it provided for tariff on three terms. One tariff was A, if arbitration is in India as per Indian law, then the tariff will be cheaper by A minus 1. If the arbitration is in India but not according to Indian law. It will still be cheaper if the arbitration was outside India and under outside legal regime. That we have to change, and this finds reflection in power purchase agreement of UNRWA.

     We when are particularly suited naturally, culturally and otherwise the richest human resource on the globe with highest adaptability of Indian mind to highly skilled required techniques and that is why you will find formal economy taking place on account of digital transactions, therefore, time for us to get into a groove to be part of the marathon march that is taking place in the country for India to be a developed nation and India is no longer a country with potential and developed nation status is not our dream it is our destination, and all world organisations that in ‘90 when I was a part of the government were absolutely on us are accolading us global centre favourite centre of Investment and opportunity– International Monetary Fund says World Bank has applauded us that our digitisation accomplished in about six years is not otherwise attainable even in more than four decades we have done it.

     And therefore we will have to go to certain basics I can suggest some, A Former Chief Justice of this country, I am not concerned about the legacy left or the footprints, the nature of which he left but he did make an observation process has become old boys club he was referring to retired judges participation arbitral process.

     I should not be misunderstood even for a moment retired judges of this country are an asset to arbitral process they lend credibility to us. I know some of the former Chief Justices and Judges being absolutely appreciated globally for international commercial arbitration – Justice Lodha, Justice Thakur.

     Let me tell you amazing all of the judges justice everyone is doing I am not for a moment saying keep away from them, No!

     But there are areas where the arbitral tribal needs to be supplemented by experts in the field of Oceanography in Aviation in Infrastructure our judges are perhaps the best in the world. They apply mind, and therefore not for a moment, I should be misunderstood. I do not share the observation of the former Chief justice of old boys’ club. Justice Gupta is immediately suited going by his passion and commitment for bringing about a big change, but I am taking a critic’s view and critic’s view is that the Attorney General of the country can really reflect and make a big change this country in the world tell me has suo-moto cognisance by the highest court.

     I am sure I can’t look around, and Article 136 intervention was supposed to be a narrow slit. The wall has been demolished with anything and everything under the sun including what a Magistrate has to do, What a Sessions Judge as to do, what a District Judge has to do, what a High Court judge has to do, that wall demolition is also hurting Arbitral process.

     All I am suggesting in all humility and a concerned citizen of this country that the issue which you are debating is of critical importance to Micro-small industries they want facile easy arbitral process. For want of time I would not be able to say all I wish to say, and since I have shared my thoughts in private with Justice Gupta, I would concludingly sum up.

     Let us navigate because it is time for us to navigate step by step from alternative resolution to amicable resolution. Why should it be alternative it must be first option why should it be substitute to litigation so amicable resolution from dispute resolution to difference resolution why do we label it, dispute these are differences these are differences because a new person has taken to a particular enterprise in Make in India, he has engaged in a startup. there is some difference this difference he wants to iron out because he is not all in all.

     He can’t have various departments and therefore, let us convert it from dispute resolution to difference resolution and then why resolution? Why not make it from resolution to settlement and why look for judicially enforceable package of Awards. Let us get into consensual convergence.

     All these in my modest assessment will secure commercial partnerships. They will not break partnerships. They will nurture partnerships in commerce, business, trade and industry they will ensure their blossoming. This will augur well for the economic growth and this will also place us in the global arbitration room where presently we are far distanced.

     At the moment, ladies and gentlemen, I have no doubt, let me make my mind clear in a concluding sentence: the arbitral process in our country is just an additional burden to the normal hierarchical mechanism of adjudication. I am grateful to the opportunity accorded to me by Justice Gupta. I wish him good luck and I stand committed to be at your disposal in any manner you feel appropriate or expedient.

    Ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for your time and patience.

    ******

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses the post-budget webinar on agriculture and rural prosperity

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses the post-budget webinar on agriculture and rural prosperity

    Our resolve to move towards the goal of Viksit Bharat is very clear: PM

    Together we are working towards building an India where farmers are prosperous and empowered: PM

    We have considered agriculture as the first engine of development, giving farmers a place of pride: PM

    We are working towards two big goals simultaneously – development of agriculture sector and prosperity of our villages: PM

    We have announced ‘PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana’ in the budget, under this, focus will be on the development of 100 districts with the lowest agricultural productivity in the country: PM

    Today people have become very aware about nutrition; therefore, in view of the increasing demand for horticulture, dairy and fishery products, a lot of investment has been made in these sectors; Many programs are being run to increase the production of fruits and vegetables: PM

    We have announced the formation of Makhana Board in Bihar: PM

    Our government is committed to making the rural economy prosperous: PM

    Under the PM Awas Yojana-Gramin, crores of poor people are being given houses, the ownership scheme has given ‘Record of Rights’ to property owners: PM

    Posted On: 01 MAR 2025 1:59PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the post-budget webinar on agriculture and rural prosperity today via video-conferencing. Emphasizing the importance of participation in the post-budget webinar, the Prime Minister thanked everyone for joining the program and highlighted that this year’s budget is the first full budget of the Government’s third term, showcasing continuity in policies and a new expansion of the vision for Viksit Bharat. He acknowledged the valuable inputs and suggestions from all stakeholders before the budget, which were very helpful. He stressed that the role of stakeholders has become even more crucial in making this budget more effective.

    “Our resolve towards the goal of Viksit Bharat is very clear and together, we are building an India where farmers are prosperous and empowered”, exclaimed Shri Modi and highlighted that the effort is to ensure no farmer is left behind and to advance every farmer. He stated that agriculture is considered the first engine of development, giving farmers a place of pride. “India is simultaneously working towards two major goals: the development of the agriculture sector and the prosperity of villages”, he mentioned.

    Shri Modi highlighted that the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, implemented six years ago, has provided nearly ₹3.75 lakh crore to farmers and the amount has been directly transferred to the accounts of 11 crore farmers. He emphasized that the annual financial assistance of ₹6,000 is strengthening the rural economy. He mentioned that a farmer-centric digital infrastructure has been created to ensure the benefits of this scheme reach farmers across the country, eliminating any scope for intermediaries or leakages. The Prime Minister remarked that the success of such schemes is possible with the support of experts and visionary individuals. He appreciated their contributions, stating that any scheme can be implemented with full strength and transparency with their help. He expressed his appreciation for their efforts and mentioned that the Government is now working swiftly to implement the announcements made in this year’s budget, seeking their continued cooperation.

    Underlining that India’s agricultural production has reached record levels, the Prime Minister said that 10-11 years ago, agricultural production was around 265 million tons, which has now increased to over 330 million tons. Similarly, horticultural production has exceeded 350 million tons. He attributed this success to the Government’s approach from seed to market, agricultural reforms, farmer empowerment, and a strong value chain. Shri Modi emphasized the need to fully utilize the country’s agricultural potential and achieve even bigger targets. In this direction, the budget has announced the PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana, focusing on the development of the 100 least productive agricultural districts, he added. The Prime Minister mentioned the positive results seen from the Aspirational Districts program on various development parameters, benefiting from collaboration, convergence, and healthy competition. He urged everyone to study the outcomes from these districts and apply the learnings to advance the PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana, which will help increase farmers’ income in these 100 districts.

    Prime Minister underscored that efforts in recent years have increased the country’s pulse production, however, 20 percent of domestic consumption still relies on imports, necessitating an increase in pulse production. Heremarked that while India has achieved self-sufficiency in chickpeas and mung, there is a need to accelerate the production of pigeon peas, black gram, and lentils. To boost pulse production, it is essential to maintain the supply of advanced seeds and promote hybrid varieties, he stated, stressing on the need to focus on addressing challenges such as climate change, market uncertainty, and price fluctuations.

    Pointing out that in the past decade, ICAR has utilized modern tools and cutting-edge technologies in its breeding program, and as a result, over 2,900 new varieties of crops, including grains, oilseeds, pulses, fodder, and sugarcane, have been developed between 2014 and 2024, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to ensure that these new varieties are available to farmers at affordable rates and that their produce is not affected by weather fluctuations. He mentioned the announcement of a national mission for high-yield seeds in this year’s budget. He urged private sector participants to focus on the dissemination of these seeds, ensuring they reach small farmers by becoming part of the seed chain.

    Shri Modi remarked that there was a growing awareness about nutrition among people today and underscored that significant investments have been made in sectors such as horticulture, dairy, and fishery products to meet the increasing demand. He mentioned that various programs were being implemented to boost the production of fruits and vegetables, and the formation of the Makhana Board in Bihar has been announced. He urged all stakeholders to explore new ways to promote diverse nutritional foods, ensuring their reach to every corner of the country and the global market.

    Recalling the launch of the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana in 2019, aimed at strengthening the value chain, infrastructure, and modernization of the fisheries sector, the Prime Minister stated that this initiative had improved production, productivity, and post-harvest management in the fisheries sector, while the investments in this sector had increased through various schemes, resulting in a doubling of fish production and exports. He underlined the need to promote sustainable fishing in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone and open seas, and a plan will be prepared for this purpose. Shri Modi urged stakeholders to brainstorm ideas to promote ease of doing business in this sector and start working on them as soon as possible. He also stressed the importance of protecting the interests of traditional fishermen.

    “Our Government is committed to enriching the rural economy”, said the Prime Minister and highlighted that under the PM Awas Yojana-Gramin, crores of poor people are being provided with homes, and the Swamitva Yojana has given property owners ‘Record of Rights.’ He mentioned that the economic strength of self-help groups has increased, and they have received additional support. He noted that the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana has benefited small farmers and businesses. Reiterating the goal to create 3 crore Lakhpati Didis, while efforts have already resulted in 1.25 crore women becoming Lakhpati Didis, Shri Modi emphasized that the announcements in this budget for rural prosperity and development programs have created numerous new employment opportunities. Investments in skilling and technology are generating new opportunities, he added. The Prime Minister urged everyone to discuss how to make the ongoing schemes more effective. He expressed confidence that positive results will be achieved with their suggestions and contributions. He concluded by stating that active participation from everyone will empower villages and enrich rural families. He expressed confidence that the webinar will help ensure swift implementation of the schemes of the budget. He urged all the stakeholders involved to work in unison to achieve the targets of the budget.

     

     

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: NCL Turns Homemakers to First-responders: Over 8,000 Homemakers to Turn into First Aiders by June 2025

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 01 MAR 2025 1:07PM by PIB Delhi

    In a landmark initiative, Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited known for its highly mechanized mines and critical role in ensuring the Nation’s energy security, has launched the ‘First Aid Training Program for Homemakers’ on a large scale. By extending awareness about first aid beyond the workplace and into the homes of its workforce, NCL is fostering a primary-care-conscious community and reinforcing a culture of preparedness. This initiative aims to cover 8,000 homemakers of NCL Family by June 2025.  

    Launched on 26th January 2025, the First Aid Training Program for Homemakers, in just one month, has successfully trained about 1,500 homemakers in different sessions held at all Projects. The turning of NCL’s Homemakers into First-Aid bolsters the welfare and wellness of their families and, at the same time reduces the burden on medicos.    

    Since Housewives are often the first responders to medical emergencies at home, the training program is designed to give them the knowledge and confidence to act promptly and effectively in critical situations. The program emphasizes practical skills and awareness, ensuring participants can apply first aid measures in real-life scenarios. 

     

    One of the largest community first-aid drives ever undertaken, this initiative holds particular significance in the coal mining region where healthcare and well-being are of paramount importance.    

    The program aims to train housewives with practical knowledge to manage common medical situations, including burns, cuts, choking, poisoning, minor injuries, heat-related ailments, and even cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Conducted by NCL’s in-house medical professionals, the training enhances the confidence and competence of participants, enabling them to provide timely medical care.

     

    NCL’s commitment to community welfare and women-led development is evident through this large-scale initiative. By empowering homemakers, NCL is not only addressing a critical first assistance need but also championing women’s empowerment in Singrauli region.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Towards a Fit and Healthy India: Combating Obesity Through Collective Action

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 01 MAR 2025 10:41AM by PIB Delhi

    “By making small changes in our food habits, we can make our future stronger, fitter and disease-free.”

    • Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi

     

    Introduction

    Obesity has become a major public health challenge in India, affecting people across all age groups and increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. Driven by unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyles, and environmental factors, obesity is rising at an alarming rate, impacting both urban and rural populations. The shift towards processed foods, reduced physical activity, and lifestyle changes has further contributed to this growing crisis.

     

    Recognizing the urgency of this issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his recent Mann Ki Baat address, emphasized the need for nationwide awareness and collective action to reduce obesity, particularly through lower edible oil consumption. He nominated prominent individuals across India to lead an awareness movement. This call for collective action highlights the importance of tackling obesity at both individual and community levels, reinforcing the need for a fitter and healthier India. The Government of India has launched several initiatives, including the Fit India Movement, NP-NCD, POSHAN Abhiyaan, Eat Right India, and Khelo India, to promote healthier lifestyles, better nutrition, and physical activity. These programs aim to encourage long-term behavioural change, ensuring a healthier future for all. As India moves towards Amrit Kaal, a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach is being adopted to tackle obesity through policy reforms, community engagement, and regulatory measures. Strengthening public health systems, promoting sustainable food habits, and increasing awareness are key to reversing this trend and safeguarding future generations from obesity-related health risks.

    Understanding Obesity: Definition and Causes

    What is Obesity?

    According to the World Health Organization (WHO), obesity is defined as an abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. The commonly used metric to classify obesity is Body Mass Index (BMI), where a BMI of 25 or above is considered overweight, and a BMI of 30 or above is classified as obese. In India, a person is considered overweight if their Body Mass Index (BMI) is between 23.0 and 24.9 kg/m², and obese if their BMI is 25 kg/m² or higher. Morbid obesity occurs when a person’s BMI is 35 or more.

    What is BMI?

    Body Mass Index (BMI), previously known as the Quetelet index, is a simple way to check if an adult has a healthy weight. It is calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared (kg/m²). To find BMI, take a person’s weight (kg) and divide it by their height (m) squared.

    Healthy BMI Range
    A normal BMI falls between 18.5 and 24.9, based on the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.

    Global Statistics

    The prevalence of overweight and obesity has been rising steadily among both adults and children worldwide. Between 1990 and 2022, the percentage of children and adolescents (aged 5–19 years) with obesity increased fourfold, from 2% to 8%. During the same period, the proportion of adults (aged 18 and older) with obesity more than doubled, rising from 7% to 16%.

    India’s Obesity Statistics

    • As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 (2019-21), overall, 24% of Indian women and 23% of Indian men are overweight or obese
    • As per the NFHS-5, (2019-2021) in the category of ages 15-49 years, 6.4 % of women and 4.0 % of men, are obese.
    • There has also been an increase in the percentage of children under 5 years who are overweight (weight-for-height) from 2.1 percent in NFHS-4 (2015-16) to 3.4 percent in NFHS-5 (2019-21) at All-India level.

    Key Factors Driving the Rise of Obesity in India

    Government of India’s Strategic Framework for Obesity Prevention

    Policy Innovations and Measurable Outcomes

     

    Recognizing obesity as a critical public health concern, the Government of India has launched comprehensive, multi-pronged initiatives to prevent, manage, and reduce obesity at all levels. The interventions are strategically designed by multiple ministries to promote a holistic approach that integrates health, nutrition, physical activity, food safety, and lifestyle modifications. These efforts can be categorized under the following key intervention areas:

     

    1. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) – Strengthening Public Health Responses

    1.1 National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) 

    In India, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) cause 63% of all deaths, according to WHO’s 2018 – NCD India profile. The leading causes are cardiovascular diseases (27%), followed by chronic respiratory diseases (11%), cancers (9%), diabetes (3%), and other conditions, including obesity (13%).

    Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases are largely driven by modifiable lifestyle factors, including tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and alcohol consumption. Air pollution further increases the risk. These factors contribute to obesity, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, and raised cholesterol levels, all of which significantly increase the likelihood of developing NCDs. Since many of these risk factors are preventable, addressing obesity and unhealthy habits can play a crucial role in reducing the burden of NCDs.

    The Department of Health and Family Welfare under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) (NP-NCD) through the National Health Mission (NHM), aims to promote health through behaviour change by engaging communities, civil society, media, and development partners. It focuses on screening, early diagnosis, management, referral, and follow-up at all healthcare levels to ensure continuous care. The program also strengthens the capacity of healthcare providers for prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, awareness (IEC/BCC), monitoring, and research. Additionally, it enhances supply chain management for essential drugs, equipment, and logistics while ensuring effective supervision, evaluation, and nationwide implementation through a uniform ICT system.

    Mortality due to Non Communicable Diseases in India

    Key Components

    • Facilities Established Under NPCDCS – 682 District NCD Clinics, 191 District Cardiac Care Units, 5,408 CHC NCD Clinics. 
    • Preventive Care & Awareness – Implemented through Ayushman Bharat HWCs with wellness activities & community outreach.

    2. Ministry of AYUSH: Promoting Traditional & Holistic Wellness Practices

    The Ministry of Ayush has implemented several initiatives to address obesity and promote effective weight management through Ayurveda:

     

    1. Specialized Ayurvedic Care: The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi offers specialized treatments for obesity and related lifestyle disorders. These treatments combine Panchakarma therapies, Ayurvedic medications, personalized dietary guidelines, and yoga therapy. To date, approximately 45,000 patients with diabetes and metabolic disorders have benefited from these services.

     

    1. Research and Evidence Generation: The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) conducts research to validate the safety and efficacy of Ayurvedic interventions for lifestyle disorders, including obesity. Studies have demonstrated that practices such as Dincharya (daily regimen), Ritucharya (seasonal regimen), Ahara (dietary guidelines), and Yoga are effective in maintaining overall health and preventing conditions like obesity.
    2. Ayurswasthya Yojana: This Central Sector Scheme, operational since FY 2021-22, includes the ‘Ayush and Public Health’ component aimed at promoting AYUSH interventions in community healthcare. The scheme supports projects focused on managing lifestyle disorders and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with 11 projects currently addressing issues such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and osteoporosis.
    3. Collaborative Research Efforts: The Ministry has partnered with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to enhance scientific research in Ayurveda. This collaboration focuses on developing and implementing research programs that integrate traditional Ayurvedic knowledge with modern science, particularly in managing lifestyle disorders like obesity.

    Through these comprehensive measures, the Ministry of Ayush is actively contributing to the prevention and management of obesity, promoting a holistic approach to health and well-being.

     

    3. Ministry of Women and Child Development:

    POSHAN Abhiyaan : Preventing Childhood Obesity

     

    POSHAN Abhiyaan, launched on 8th March 2018, is the Government of India’s flagship initiative for holistic nourishment. It aims to improve nutritional outcomes for children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers by fostering a convergent ecosystem that enhances nutrition content, delivery, and awareness to combat malnutrition and promote overall wellness.

     

     

    Key Components of POSHAN Abhiyaan & Poshan 2.0

     

    POSHAN Abhiyaan adopts a holistic approach to tackle malnutrition through technology-driven monitoring, multi-ministerial collaboration, and community engagement under the Jan Andolan Movement. It promotes Poshan Vatikas (Nutri-Gardens) for homegrown nutrition, strengthens Anganwadi services and adolescent health under Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0 (2021), and integrates AYUSH-based wellness practices. The program emphasizes maternal and child nutrition, dietary diversity, and food fortification, encouraging millet consumption and nutrient-rich diets to combat anemia and deficiencies.

     

    4. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports: Fostering a Culture of Physical Fitness

    4.1 Fit India Movement: A Mass Fitness Revolution 

    • Launched by PM Narendra Modi in 2019, the Fit India Movement promotes active lifestyles and encourages individuals to incorporate fitness into daily routines.
    • Key Components:
      • Fit India School Certification for schools incorporating physical activity in their curriculum.
      • Fit India Sundays on Cycle initiative promoting cycling and walking in urban spaces 

    Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, inaugurated the ‘Fit India Cycling Drive’

    • Community-led fitness programs such as mass yoga sessions, running clubs, and workplace fitness challenges.

    4.2 Khelo India Programme: Building an Active Generation

    The Khelo India – National Programme for Development of Sports was launched in 2016-17 to promote sports participation at all levels, from schools to elite competitions, by fostering a culture of athletic excellence across the country. It focuses on providing top-notch training and world-class infrastructure to young athletes, ensuring they receive the necessary resources to excel in their respective sports. The scheme ensures equal sports opportunities across rural and urban India.

     

    Major Achievements:

    5. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI): Regulating Food for Public Health

    5.1 Eat Right India Movement (FSSAI): Reforming Food Choices for a Healthier Future 

    The Eat Right India movement, initiated by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), encompasses several key initiatives aimed at ensuring safe, healthy, and sustainable food for all. Below are the primary initiatives:

    Key Initiatives of Eat Right India

     

    Supply-Side Initiatives:

    • Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC): The Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) certificate is issued by FSSAI, certifying food safety supervisors in every food business.
    • Certification Programs: Ensures hygiene in street food hubs, markets, stations, and places of worship.
    • Hygiene Rating: Rates restaurants, catering services, sweet shops, and meat vendors on hygiene standards.

     

    Demand-Side Initiatives:

    • Consumer Awareness: Promotes food safety through Eat Right Campus & Eat Right School programs.
    • Adulteration Detection: Provides DART Book & Magic Box for home and school food testing.

     

    Food Safety DART Book – The Detect Adulteration with Rapid Test (DART) booklet provides over 50 easy household tests to detect food adulteration using simple solutions. Freely downloadable for public awareness, it cannot be used for commercial purposes or imply FSSAI endorsement.

     

    Food Safety Magic Box – FSSAI’s Food Safety Magic Box-Companion Book is a learning tool for schools, teachers, and parents, featuring 102 simple tests to detect food adulterants, along with a companion guidebook.

     

             FOOD SAFETY-MAGIC BOX                                    FOOD SAFETY – DART BOOK

     

    • Mobile Testing: Deploys Food Safety on Wheels for remote-area testing & training.
    • Food Fortification: Promotes fortified staples to tackle micronutrient deficiencies.

    The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) plays a pivotal role in guiding public dietary choices and regulating food safety standards to combat obesity and lifestyle-related diseases.

    5.2 Nationwide Awareness Campaign – ‘Aaj Se Thoda Kam’
    To encourage healthier eating habits, FSSAI launched the ‘Aaj Se Thoda Kam’ campaign, urging consumers to gradually reduce their intake of fat, sugar, and salt. This multimedia campaign includes:

    • Short educational videos with subtitles in 12 languages to reach a diverse audience.
      1. Flyers, banners, and audio clips reinforcing the message of mindful eating.
      2. A dedicated ‘Eat Right India’ website, offering valuable resources for making informed dietary changes.

     

     

    5.3 Regulating High Fat, Salt, and Sugar (HFSS) Foods
    FSSAI, in collaboration with the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), has recommended mandatory labeling of High Fat, Salt, and Sugar (HFSS) foods. This initiative aims to:

    1. Ensure clear front-of-pack labeling on ready-to-eat foods.
    2. Help consumers make informed choices and moderate their intake of unhealthy foods.

    5.4 Multi-Platform Public Awareness Initiatives
    The Government, with FSSAI’s leadership, has been actively spreading awareness through:

    a. Print, electronic, and social media campaigns educating the public on healthier food choices.

    b. Integration with the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Stroke (NPCDCS), which supports state-level awareness activities on obesity prevention and healthy living.

    5.5 RUCO Initiative

    FSSAI’s RUCO (Repurpose Used Cooking Oil) initiative ensures that used cooking oil is not re-entered into the food chain but is safely repurposed. When oil is repeatedly used for frying, harmful Total Polar Compounds (TPC) form, increasing the risk of diseases like hypertension, atherosclerosis, and liver disorders. To protect public health, FSSAI has set a 25% TPC limit beyond which oil must not be used. Under the EEE Strategy (Education, Enforcement, Ecosystem), used cooking oil is collected by aggregators from food businesses and redirected for biodiesel or soap production, promoting health, energy security, and environmental sustainability.  

    Conclusion

     

    Obesity is a pressing public health challenge in India, but the nation is actively addressing it through a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India has launched strategic interventions integrating health, nutrition, fitness, and regulatory measures. Initiatives such as the Fit India Movement, NP-NCD, POSHAN Abhiyaan, Eat Right India, and Khelo India are fostering a culture of health consciousness, preventive care, and active living. As India moves towards Amrit Kaal, the vision of a Fit and Healthy India is becoming a reality. With sustained commitment, cross-sector collaboration, and active citizen participation, the country is well-positioned to reverse obesity trends and safeguard future generations. By prioritizing awareness, lifestyle changes, and policy-driven action, India can set a global example in tackling obesity—building a nation that thrives on wellness, vitality, and holistic well-being.

     

    References

    · https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2105618&reg=3&lang=1

    · https://www.who.int/health-topics/obesity#tab=tab_1

    · https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/fact-sheets/item/a-healthy-lifestyle—who-recommendations#:~:text=Note.,osteoarthritis%2C%20some%20cancers%20and%20diabetes.

    · https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1823047

    · https://sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/1712/AU3780.pdf?source=pqals – LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3780

    · https://ncdc.mohfw.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Obesity-English.pdf

    · https://mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/NP-NCD%20Operational%20Guidelines_0.pdf

    · https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1812388

    · https://sansad.in/getFile/annex/267/AU168_aJuwFy.pdf?source=pqars – RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 168

    · https://x.com/moayush/status/1771778688310210809/photo/1

    · https://www.mygov.in/campaigns/poshan-abhiyaan-2024/

    · https://x.com/PIBWCD/status/1702599507563946219

    · https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1910409

    · https://fitindia.gov.in/

    · https://fitindia.gov.in/fit-india-school-registration

    · https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2105644

    · https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2085581

    · https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2078544

    · https://x.com/kheloindia/header_photo

    · https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1740750

    · https://eatrightindia.gov.in/eri-initiatives.jsp

    · https://foodsafetystandard.in/eat-right-india/

    · https://eatrightindia.gov.in/eri-initiatives.jsp

    · https://foodsafetystandard.in/eat-right-india/

    · https://www.fssai.gov.in/book-details.php?bkid=363

    · https://www.fssai.gov.in/book-details.php?bkid=346

    · https://eatrightindia.gov.in/eatrightschool/assets/resource/file/fs_magicbox.pdf

    · https://eatrightindia.gov.in/EatRightIndia/images/gallery/books/aaj_se_thoda_kam.jpg

    · https://westregion.fssai.gov.in/RUCO.php

    · https://eatrightindia.gov.in/ruco/

    Click here to download PDF

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  • MIL-Evening Report: Nine more arrested in PNG for brutal kidnap, rape and murder of woman

    By Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent

    Content warning: This story discusses rape and violence.

    Police in Papua New Guinea have arrested nine more men in connection with the rape and murder of a Port Moresby woman.

    The arrests, announced by Police Commissioner David Manning, follow a two-week investigation supported by forensic experts from the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

    Margaret Gabriel, 32, was abducted from her home at Port Moresby’s Watermark Estate by more than 20 armed men. She was was later raped and murdered.

    The attack sparked nationwide outrage, with calls for stronger protections for women and faster justice in gender-based violence cases.

    Commissioner Manning confirmed the suspects were apprehended on February 27 and subjected to DNA and fingerprint testing.

    “DNA evidence and fingerprints are conclusive forensic evidence and afford irrefutable evidence to ensure convictions in a court of law,” he said.

    The nine men join three others already in custody, though police have not clarified their specific roles in the crime.

    Forensic analysis
    AFP forensic specialists from Canberra assisted PNG’s Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) in analysing evidence.

    Manning praised the collaboration, saying it underscored the integration of these advanced investigative techniques into PNG’s investigations is strengthening the cases put before the court.

    Gender-based violence remains pervasive in PNG, with a 2023 UN report noting that more than two-thirds of women experience physical or sexual abuse in their lifetimes.

    Limited forensic resources and slow judicial processes have historically hampered prosecutions.

    Police increasingly rely on international partnerships, including a longstanding forensics programme with Australia, to address these gaps.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: First Nations language celebrated at Kaurna Day with new songbook

    Source: University of South Australia

    03 March 2025

    Kaurna songbook cover artist Gabriel Stengle and Project Officer at Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi Jaylon Newchurch. Photo by Andre Castellucci.

    The University of Adelaide and University of South Australia communities have come together to celebrate the University of Adelaide’s second annual Kaurna Day, this year marked by the launch of a Kaurna songbook — a valuable resource for preserving and revitalising the Kaurna language.

    Titled Yurikurringa Ngadluku Paltirna: Listen to Our Songs, the Kaurna songbook is a contemporary reworking of the original Kaurna Paltinna, created in the 1990s.

    Developed in collaboration with Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi (KWP), the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music (CASM), Kaurna Plains School, independent Aboriginal artists, and Kaurna community members, it contains 15 songs in Kaurna language or featuring Kaurna words. The songbook serves as both an educational tool and a cultural archive.

    With 109 out of 123 spoken Indigenous languages in Australia listed as endangered, the urgency to safeguard language and cultural identity has never been greater. The Kaurna songbook aims to combat language decline among younger generations of Kaurna people, strengthening identity, resilience, and well-being within the community.

    Kaurna Day: Tirkanthi – Ngutu – Taikurrinthi (Learning – Knowledge – Be United Together) is a free public event honouring and celebrating First Nations people and culture where the new songbook further strengthens the commitment to culture preservation. Following the success of the University of Adelaide’s first Kaurna Day last year, this year’s event expands its celebration of music, dance, and storytelling, by extending from the University of Adelaide’s North Terrace campus to Roseworthy, Waite, and UniSA’s City West Campus.

    Photo by Andre Castellucci.

    The day features a sunrise smoking ceremony at the University of Adelaide’s North Terrace, Roseworthy and Waite campus, followed by a breakfast catered by Creative Native. The North Terrace campus features community stalls with First Nations artists, makers, and businesses, alongside live performances by DEM MOB, Jamie Goldsmith and Taikurtinna Dance Group, Kaurna Plains School Choir, and more.

    Academic showcases, student presentations, collaborative information sessions, traditional games, and live artmaking by artist Brooke Rigney are also part of the program. Meanwhile at UniSA’s City West Campus, Aboriginal leader Jack Buckskin is running Kaurna language workshops throughout the day.

    Special limited-edition prints of the Kaurna songbook will be provided for free to schools and community centres in the Kaurna Plains region. It will also be available for free download on the Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi website, along with audio recordings of the songs.  

    Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) of the University of Adelaide Professor Steve Larkin said:

    “Kaurna Day is a celebration of unity and cultural pride, weaving together the rich histories of the Kaurna community and the academic realms of the University of Adelaide and UniSA. It strengthens our connections through shared knowledges and respect, fostering an inclusive environment that empowers First Nations people.

    “Together, we are building a brighter future, honouring the past while paving the way for growth, understanding, and lasting partnerships.”

    Photo by Andre Castellucci.

    Project Officer at Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi (KWP) Jaylon Newchurch said:

    “The songbook plays a crucial role in the preservation and revitalisation of the Kaurna language, demonstrating how far language resources have come since the 1990s. It honours the work of those who helped restore the language and serves as a living testament to its resilience.

    “By showcasing Kaurna in a modern context, the songbook helps ensure that the language remains vibrant for future generations while staying deeply connected to our roots and our old people who came before us.”

    Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Adelaide Professor Peter Høj AC said:

    “Kaurna Day represents the University’s deep connection with the Kaurna community. The land on which many of our campuses stand has been home to the Kaurna people for thousands of years. Recognising and celebrating this enduring connection is essential to fostering meaningful reconciliation and ensuring that the language, culture, and traditions of the Kaurna people continue to thrive.”

    UniSA’s Pro Vice Chancellor: Aboriginal Leadership and Strategy Professor Tina Brodie said:

    “Kaurna Day is an opportunity to recognise the ongoing connection of the Kaurna People to their place and to celebrate Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Cultures more broadly. The launch of the Kaurna songbook is a representation of the generosity of the Kaurna people and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ who share knowledges and culture with us all.”

    Photo by Andre Castellucci.

    UniSA Vice-Chancellor and President Professor David Lloyd said:

    “We are honoured to be able to recognise and celebrate our connection to the Kaurna lands, the people, their history and culture. Kaurna Day allows us an opportunity to further strengthen the long-standing connection to the lands upon which our two universities stand and operate.

    “The Kaurna and wider Aboriginal communities have enriched us with their knowledge and perspectives and it’s a privilege to be able to share that and celebrate the reclaiming and revitalisation of the endangered Kaurna language.”

    Media contact:

    Lara Pacillo, Media Officer, The University of Adelaide. Mobile: +61 404 307 302. Email: lara.pacillo@adelaide.edu.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Cyclone Alfred is expected to hit southeast Queensland – the first in 50 years to strike so far south

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steve Turton, Adjunct Professor of Environmental Geography, CQUniversity Australia

    If you’re in southeast Queensland, brace yourself.

    Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to cross the southeast Queensland coast late this Thursday as a Category 2 storm. The last tropical cyclone to make landfall in the region was ex-Tropical Cyclone Zoe in 1974, half a century ago.

    Category 2 cyclones produce winds at levels considered damaging at best, destructive at worst – typically gusting as high as 164 kilometres per hour. It can cause minor damage to houses and significant damage to signs, trees and caravans. Power failures are common, while small boats can break moorings. Significant beach erosion is likely on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.

    Cyclone Alfred formed nine days ago in the Coral Sea, 900 kilometres north east of Cairns, then headed out to sea. Then it tracked south, reaching severe Category 4 status east of Mackay. In recent days, the storm weakened further as it meandered into the cooler waters of the southern Coral Sea. The cyclone seemed set to peter out, far offshore.

    No longer. The latest forecasts show the storm sharply changing direction and making a beeline for heavily populated areas of southeast Queensland.

    Its erratic path is not unexpected. Cyclones forming over the Coral Sea have the most unpredictable paths in the world, frustrating coastal Queensland residents, fishers, tourist operators and meteorologists themselves.

    Alfred is a typically unpredictable Coral Sea cyclone. But unusually, it has maintained its cyclonic structure and intensity much further south, into subtropical latitudes.

    Issued Monday March 3rd, this map shows the forecast path of Cyclone Alfred this week.
    Bureau of Meteorology, CC BY-NC-ND

    Cyclones, typhoons and hurricanes explained

    Cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons are different names for the same intense, horizontally rotating tropical storms. They occur in seven tropical ocean basins, above and below the equator.

    These storms need atmospheric heat. They only form over seas warmer than 27°C, where evaporation rates are high. They don’t occur in the cooler South Atlantic basin, and only rarely in the southeast Pacific, during strong El Niño events when sea surface temperatures are warmer.

    The northwest Pacific – off eastern Asia and the Philippines – experiences the most frequent and intense tropical storms (known there as typhoons).

    Australia averages about 13 cyclones a year. Most won’t make landfall and only a few are severe. The world’s hardest hit nation is China, where six cyclones make landfall annually.

    This map shows the aggregated paths of the world’s tropical cyclone over the 150 years to 2006. Note: this map uses the Saffir-Simpson scale in measuring wind speeds, which differs slightly to the Australian scale.
    NASA, CC BY-NC-ND

    In the north Pacific and north Atlantic, cyclones typically follow predictable tracks. They move westwards, steered by sub-tropical high pressure sytems to their north.

    Cyclone paths are also fairly predictable off the northwest coast of Australia. They typically form over the Timor Sea and drift southwest before shifting south and crossing the coast. Some are severe, as we saw with Category 5 Cyclone Zelia last month.

    By contrast, Coral Sea cyclones such as Alfred are much harder to predict.

    In the southern hemisphere, cyclones spin clockwise. This figure shows how cyclones form around a low pressure system over warm seawater. Depending on their intensity, tropical cyclones are steered by dominant winds in the lower, middle and upper layers of the atmosphere.
    Metservice New Zealand, CC BY-NC-ND

    How cyclones are steered

    Strong winds are the main force steering cyclones, determining direction and forward speed.

    Severe tropical cyclones (categories 3–5) are characterised by deep convection currents, which form the famous eye at the centre of the storm, as well as feeder rainbands converging into their centre. Severe systems are generally steered by winds in the middle to upper levels.

    By contrast, weaker cyclones (categories 1–2) are much shallower and often have little or no convection around their centre. They tend to be steered by winds in the lower to middle levels. At present, Cyclone Alfred looks to remain relatively weak.

    Wind speed and direction can differ markedly in different levels of the atmosphere. Winds can also change direction at the same level. These competing influences are what lies behind the erratic paths of our cyclones.

    Cyclones forming in the Coral Sea are more likely to be pushed in different directions by different winds and weather systems than their equivalents in other ocean basins. This is what makes them so hard to predict.

    In our region, cyclones are largely steered by two high pressure systems.

    The first pushes cyclones east, and the second steers them west. If both are present and roughly equal in strength, they can hold a cyclone near-stationary. We saw this with Cyclone Alfred for most of the last week.

    Slow-moving tropical cyclones such as Alfred are more likely to wander, while faster-moving cyclones such as Severe Cyclone Yasi follow a stronger steering pattern and more predictable paths.

    Quite often, cyclones travel south and east out to sea. There, they quietly die in a large area of ocean colloquially known as the cyclone graveyard, southeast of Brisbane. These cyclones are steered by different weather systems – upper troughs, cold masses of air from the Southern Ocean.

    Cyclone Alfred was initially steered east by a near equatorial ridge to its northeast, then became stuck between this high pressure ridge and a sub-tropical ridge to its southwest. This is why it meandered very slowly south and built up strength to become severe.

    An upper trough then pushed it southeast over the weekend. This week, it’s likely to turn sharply westward towards land, propelled by a high pressure ridge to the south.

    Landfall – but where?

    After meandering around the Coral Sea for more than a week, Cyclone Alfred’s forecast track now seems more certain.

    The system is expected to intensify from a Category 1 to 2 tomorrow as it moves over warmer waters and draws in more moisture-laden air. This should see it maintain near Category 2 status until landfall. After it hits, it should rapidly weaken to a tropical low over southern Queensland into the weekend.

    Alfred will bring a lot of rain, making flooded rivers and flash flooding likely. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a flood watch for catchments all the way from Maryborough to the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales. These communities should prepare now.

    Cyclone Alfred has a large area of gales, so will affect a wide swathe of coastline from K’gari (Fraser Island) to Byron Bay. Storm-force winds will cover a 100km wide area, mostly concentrated on its southern flank as it approaches and crosses the coast.

    In the longer term, Alfred’s remnants will likely be captured by an approaching upper trough and taken back offshore, where it will die in the cyclone graveyard – gone, but not likely to be forgotten.

    Steve Turton has previously received funding from the Australian Government.

    – ref. Cyclone Alfred is expected to hit southeast Queensland – the first in 50 years to strike so far south – https://theconversation.com/cyclone-alfred-is-expected-to-hit-southeast-queensland-the-first-in-50-years-to-strike-so-far-south-251241

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Have you seen Jarridyn?

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    The 25-year-old Mangere man has been reported missing in Blockhouse Bay.

    He was last seen heading eastbound towards the Caltex service station from the Woolworths supermarket on Donovan Street last Friday, 28 February around 7:20pm.

    He was last seen wearing a light grey hoodie, dark-coloured shorts and black sandals.

    Jarridyn has familiar links to the South Auckland region.

    Police and Jarridyn’s family have concerns for his wellbeing and would like to see him return home safely.

    If you have any information, or have seen Jarridyn, please contact Police on 105 and quote reference number 250225/1525.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: US cuts mean ‘essential’ UN mental health teams in Ukraine risk closure

    Source: United Nations 2

    Humanitarian Aid

    Some 640,000 women and girls in Ukraine will be affected by cuts to psychosocial support, gender-based violence services, safe spaces, and economic empowerment programs following the confirmation from US authorities to end practically all financial contributions to the UN reproductive and sexual health agency (UNFPA).

    A young mother, five children in tow, steps off a train in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, holding a small bag. She is fleeing Russian attacks in the Zaporizhzhia region, she is also escaping a violent partner, a man who once beat her so severely she suffered a miscarriage.

    She needs urgent medical attention, legal assistance and a safe place for her children. “We met her at the train station,” says Tetiana, a psychologist with a mobile team since 2022. “We also organized a medical escort and lawyers to help with her documents and referrals.”

    Trauma, distress and surging domestic abuse

    Tetiana’s unit is one of 87 UNFPA psychosocial support teams, on call for emergency interventions. She can also refer survivors for longer-term assistance, job training and access to legal aid. These resources remain critical for survivors of abuse long after the initial danger has passed – especially in a country where three years of war have caused widespread trauma and deep psychological distress.

    Since Russia’s full-scale invasion three years ago, reports of intimate partner violence, domestic abuse, sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence have surged more than threefold in Ukraine. An estimated 2.4 million people – mostly women and girls – are in urgent need of gender-based violence prevention and response services. “Even after finding some physical safety in Dnipro, many struggle with lingering panic attacks, nightmares and depressive symptoms,” says Tetiana.

    © UNFPA Ukraine

    UNFPA’s mobile psychosocial support teams are often the first to respond to cases of gender-based violence after the police.

    Almost two thirds of households in Ukraine report dealing with some form of anxiety, depression or extreme stress, thwarting people’s ability to find work or care for family members. Financial hardship, mass job losses, deaths of loved ones and fears of future attacks are only intensifying their distress. Without proper counselling and care, the cycle of trauma can also be passed down to future generations, risking long-term and wider-spread harm to the community

    Surviving is just the beginning

    Roman joined the team in Dnipro as a social worker in April 2022, arranging coordination with social services and public organizations. “We have built a response system for people’s safety and support,” he said, explaining that they are often the first to respond to cases of gender-based violence, after the police. “We are an ambulance of sorts for gender-based violence incidents.”

    These services are vital, especially for women without stable income or housing, as the war has put many at risk of economic exploitation or renewed violence.

    “Many people think surviving the initial threat is the end of the story,” added Tetiana. “But the real healing only starts once they are physically safe. Without psychosocial support, it’s difficult for them to recover from trauma or prevent further harm.”

    © UNFPA Ukraine

    Tetiana has worked as a psychologist with UNFPA’s mobile psychosocial support team in Dnipro since early 2022.

    In crisis settings, the risk of violence against women and girls escalates – including conflict-related sexual violence – and the demand for protection and response services spikes. Yet, as displaced women often lack social networks to turn to and are stigmatized if they report abuse, the police can request the mobile team’s support on-site to coordinate further interventions, such as safe housing or counselling.

    Health workers under fire

    It’s a situation fraught with danger, and response workers themselves can come under fire. “When we arrive at the sites of attacks or in cases of violence. We don’t have time to slow down,” explained Roman. “We switch on immediately and start providing services. It’s like our own reactions are on hold. Only later, when we look back and discuss it, do we realize how difficult it actually was.”

    Since February 2022, the World Health Organization has confirmed over 2,200 attacks on healthcare facilities, services and personnel in Ukraine by the Russian Federation. Last year, over 300 of these affected medical facilities – a threefold increase on 2023.

    While his work is critical, Roman said it takes a toll. “With each shelling, it builds up – one after the other. Depending on the severity of the damage, you feel it differently each time. But for the most part, we stay focused on what must be done, putting our feelings aside on the spot. Then, once the immediate crisis is handled, we turn to our own support networks and process it all.”

    Why these services must endure

    Since 2022, more than 50 of UNFPA’s mobile psychosocial teams have been funded by the US Government, and play an indispensable role in helping Ukraine’s most vulnerable. “The city services function, but they lack the same impact and reach. That’s why the mobile teams are essential, especially in times of war, as we navigate the wave of displaced people,” said Tetiana.

    Women are fundamental to the resilience of Ukraine’s families, workforce and larger community, but they have endured immense suffering over years of conflict. Ensuring they are supported throughout their personal recovery will be crucial to safeguarding Ukraine’s long-term recovery.

    With uncertainty now surrounding funding for humanitarian work around the world, the continuity of this vital work is under threat. 640,000 women and girls will be affected by cuts to psychosocial support, gender-based violence services, safe spaces, and economic empowerment programs. Protection for refugees and crisis-affected communities will be diminished.

    Essential health services to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, support to women-led organizations, and programmes promoting women’s economic empowerment are all at risk of closure – gravely endangering the safety and well-being of millions of people.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Consumer Data Right expansion to deliver a better deal for consumers

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    The Albanese Government is uplifting the Consumer Data Right (CDR) by expanding the system to non‑bank lending providers to deliver a better deal for more Australians.

    After extensive consultation and undertaking a strategic assessment of the way forward for CDR, the Albanese Government announced the CDR reset in August 2024. The intent of this reset was to address concerns around high compliance costs and the limited uptake of use cases by consumers.

    Through this reset, the Government is focusing on making improvements to the current framework to reduce unnecessary costs and enable high‑value use cases. The Albanese Government:

    • Has amended the CDR rules to streamline the consent process for consumers.
    • Is examining changes to the framework that could be made to reduce costs and facilitate high value use case.
    • Is exploring how the existing data sharing framework can better support high priority use cases such as consumer finance and lending, small business accounting services and energy switching.
    • Has written to the Data Standards Body setting out the Government’s expectations that future standards changes align with the Government’s direction for CDR.
    • Flagged an intention to move towards a ban of screen scraping.

    Today we announce another next step in the CDR reset, the expansion of CDR into non‑bank lending, commencing from mid‑2026.

    Today’s announced changes:

    • Expand the CDR to include non‑bank lending products, promoting greater competition and innovation in the market.
    • Remove the requirement for data holders to share consumer or product data for niche products such as asset finance, consumer leases, reverse mortgages, margin loans and foreign currency amounts.
    • Reduce the period of data to be held and shared from 7 years to 2 years, reducing costs associated with maintaining and responding to requests for historical data.
    • Ensure Buy Now, Pay Later products are covered by data sharing obligations.

    These changes ensure the CDR targets priority use cases, such as consumer finance and lending, without imposing unnecessary costs and regulatory burden on smaller lenders.

    The CDR enables Australian households and businesses to access their data held by their bank or electricity retailer through innovative new products that allows them to make informed choices, switch providers, and more easily apply for products and services.

    By unlocking the value of a consumer’s data, the CDR has the potential to be a transformational piece of economic reform for Australian consumers, delivering more choice and access to the best possible deals on a range of financial products tailored to a consumer’s individual need.

    The Government’s changes will open opportunities for consumers to use the CDR to find the best deals on more lending products. It will also address the cost burden of the CDR on the financial sector.

    The Government is working closely with stakeholders and will continue to expand the CDR in ways that foster innovation, whilst being purposeful and focussed on consumer benefit.

    The Albanese Government is getting on with the job of resetting of the CDR to ensure it delivers to its potential as an innovative piece of our economic infrastructure.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: A night at the theatre, from one century to another

    Source: Auckland Council

    Imagine it’s 2030. The St James Theatre has opened its doors again.

    You’ve just seen Six60 play on the newly restored stage inside the amphitheatre, or heard Sol3Mio soar at great heights through the harmonies of the Pearl Fishers opera duet.   

    And you step out into the street.

    There are plants and trees lining both sides of Queen Street – mature and lush-green. Footpaths are generously wide and the Waihorotiu path has become a gentle lane of riders who give priority to pedestrians. Shoppers have right of way.

    You’re thinking about which travel option you’ll choose to get home. And there are many.

    Render of Te Hā Noa, Victoria Street – under construction.

    Will you stroll to your apartment a short distance away? Will you cross Queen Street to the Wellesley Street bus interchange and catch a bus – now smoothly funnelling people to all parts of the region?

    Will you catch a train at Te Waihorotiu Station? The City Rail Link – Auckland’s new underground train system – has been operating for a few years and is already a hit with Aucklanders of all ages.

    Will you grab an e-scooter and ride the Waihorotiu path to catch a ferry at the bottom of town, or hop on your bike parked on a rack outside the theatre and ride the cycleway now lining Te Hā Noa, Victoria Street? You’ll see beautiful artwork, mature trees on either side of the upgraded street and spacious streetside spaces for socialising.

    Or will you meet friends after the show at one of the area’s vibrant hospitality lanes bustling with people, and drive home later? Or will a taxi meet you at a pick-up zone nearby, making the theatre experience accessible especially for the disabled and elderly.

    If the St James Theatre had eyes, it would have witnessed a metamorphosis. It would have seen a burgeoning population and a transforming city centre since it first opened in 1928.

    Back then, the theatre would have seen trams pulling up outside, an asphalted roadway, women daring to lift their hemlines, department stores leading a new retail trend, and the splendour of the Civic Theatre taking shape across the street, among many other stitches of an everchanging urban tapestry.

    When the much-adored St James Theatre opens again, it will open to a city centre re-designed and responsive to changing times, a century after the theatre’s 1928 opening. There will be pedestrian-prioritised spaces, trees, rain gardens, public art, more visibility of te ao Māori narratives, and more transport options.

    More information on the history of the St James Theatre is available via PDF [1.16 MB].

    Theatregoers might even hear the singing of waiata in the underpass at nearby Myers Park, something they might not have been able to imagine a century ago. Read about Waimahara here and explore six other majestic icons in the central city here.

    Pictures tell the story of our city centre’s transformation here.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Environmental heroes celebrated in the Love Your Place Awards

    Source: Auckland Council

    Volunteers, businesses and schools making a positive impact to protect and restore the Waitākere Ranges have been recognised in the 2024 Love Your Place Awards.

    Around 100 guests came together to celebrate the mahi of these exceptional people at an awards ceremony held at the Titirangi War Memorial Hall on Sunday 2 March 2025.

    The awards are held every second year, thanks to the funding from the Waitākere Ranges Local Board and are organised by EcoMatters Environment Trust.

    “It’s inspiring and humbling to see all the amazing initiatives and passion from the community who are so dedicated to protect our beloved natural environment,” says Greg Presland, Chair of the Waitākere Ranges Local Board.

    “The board is immensely proud of everyone who contributes to helping preserve the special place we call home. Our heartfelt thanks and congratulations to all the nominees and winners.”

    EcoMatters CEO Carla Gee says it’s always encouraging to see how many people are contributing to conservation and climate action in the Waitākere Ranges.

    “It’s so inspiring to hear about how much is happening in this very special part of Auckland, from grassroots conservation efforts to waste minimisation. As judges, it’s always a struggle to choose just one winner from all the nominees. We’re grateful to the Waitākere Ranges Local Board for continuing to support these awards, so that those doing the mahi here know their efforts are appreciated,” says Carla.

    Awards were given in five categories, recognising youth, school groups, businesses, volunteer groups and individual volunteers who have made an impact in stream restoration, environmental education and protection, pest control, native planting, invasive weeding and waste management.

    Winners

    • Denise Yates Award: for youth (under 18) showing emerging leadership around local environmental issues. 

    • Karaka Award: for a school or school group taking action on a local environmental issue. 

    • Nīkau Award: for a business or social enterprise making a contribution to improve the environment. 

    • Rātā Award: for an outstanding volunteer group or organisation taking action on a local environmental issue. 

      • Winner: Restoration Ruatuna

      • Judges Commendation: Friends of Whatipu

      • Judges Commendation: Petrelheads

    • Kahikatea Award: for an outstanding individual volunteer taking action on a local environmental issue. 

    Find out more about the award winners here.

    Stay up to date

    Sign up for the Waitākere Ranges Local Board E-news to get the latest news and events direct to your inbox each month, or follow them on Facebook.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Operation eclipse searches leads to biggest find yet

    Source: South Australia Police

    Police have seized over $2.38 million worth of illicit tobacco and $391,000 in cash in raids last week on premises in regional and metropolitan South Australia.

    Members from Serious and Organised Crime Branch, Financial and Cybercrime Investigation Branch and Whyalla searched fourteen premises in metropolitan and regional areas between 24 and 27 February as part of Operation Eclipse investigations.

    The locations searched included tobacconists, candy and gift shops, mini marts, commercial storage facilities, vehicles and residential premises.

    In searches of commercial storage facilities at Burton and Parafield Gardens, four large shipping containers containing illicit tobacco was located. The value of the tobacco located at these properties was approximately $2 million dollars. Police are aware that these storage facilities are being used to store tobacco, which is then used to supply illicit retail outlets.

    Two vehicle stops were also conducted at Port Wakefield and Salisbury resulting in illegal tobacco and cash being seized. These searches resulted in the largest seizure of illicit tobacco to date in South Australia. Investigations into the seizures are ongoing.

    Operation Eclipse commander Detective Chief Inspector Brett Featherby said the cash seizures demonstrates the significant amount of money being generated from the illicit tobacco market.

    “We seek to continue to disrupt their financial operations and criminal activity and pursue criminal charges where evidence exists”

    “SA Police will continue to investigate organised crime syndicates operating statewide through a whole of SA Police response. We will also target people supporting them as they evolve to prevent and suppress serious criminal activity and ensure community safety”

    Operations Eclipse has now searched a total of 136 premises and seized approximately $12.5 million in illicit tobacco products.

    Anyone with any information on criminal activities surrounding the sale of illicit tobacco is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimstopperssa.com.au, you can remain anonymous.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China plays major role in global climate affairs

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    China is a critical force in the global energy transition and its involvement in international climate talks is essential, the head of the United Nations’ climate science panel said on Saturday.
    Jim Skea, chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, made the remarks ahead of the release of its findings from its 62nd plenary session, which concluded on Saturday in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.
    Skea emphasized China’s leading role in deploying renewable energy, noting it has the world’s highest levels of solar and wind energy.
    “Without China’s participation, global efforts would be much less effective,” Skea said, highlighting the country’s importance in discussions under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.
    The weeklong session focused on outlining reports for the IPCC’s seventh assessment cycle, covering the physical science of climate change, its impacts, adaptation, vulnerability and mitigation, as well as greenhouse gas inventories.
    The Hangzhou meeting stressed the importance of integrating climate action with economic growth and improved quality of life.
    “The idea of improving people’s well-being and quality of life is not opposed to taking climate change action. They actually go together,” Skea said.
    He praised China’s advancements in climate monitoring technologies, including early warning systems and meteorological satellites, which are crucial for tracking climate conditions, greenhouse gas emissions and socioeconomic changes, particularly in developing nations.
    Xiong Shaoyuan, deputy head of China’s delegation, said the nation will collaborate with other countries to build early warning platforms and share its experiences in meteorological services.
    Established in 1988, the IPCC provides scientific information to governments on climate change. For its current cycle, the IPCC will focus on climate change in urban areas and carbon dioxide removal technologies, including carbon capture, utilization and storage. The first meeting on urban climate change will be held from March 10 to 14 in Osaka, Japan, Skea said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Little Blue Houses go long way to boosting circular economy

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Numerous plastic waste classification and recycling stations, known as Little Blue Houses, dotting the 6,715-kilometer-long coastline of Zhejiang province in East China, are playing a pivotal role in the fight against marine plastic pollution.

    These houses are a core component of the Blue Circle project, China’s largest environmental initiative aimed at addressing the pressing issue of marine plastic waste. In 2023, Blue Circle was given the Champions of the Earth award by the United Nations Environment Programme — the UN’s highest environmental honor.

    After local volunteers sort through recyclable plastic debris at the Little Blue Houses, the materials are transported to Zhejiang Vision-Blue Technology Co, a high-tech company specializing in marine sustainable development. From there, the waste is sent to a recycling facility where it undergoes a series of processes, including crushing, cleaning, melting and granulation.

    The journey of each piece of plastic, from coast to factory, is meticulously tracked using internet of things devices and blockchain, ensuring the traceability and transparency of the origin of the plastic. Each batch of marine plastic waste is assigned a unique QR code containing details of the full recycling process from start to finish.

    According to UNEP estimates, over 9 million metric tons of plastics enter the oceans annually. Plastic waste ending up in the sea ranges from microplastics to large debris such as bottles and bags, which can take hundreds of years to degrade, threatening the marine ecosystem.

    While recycling offers a potential solution to reducing the demand for new plastic production, and thus helping curb emissions from plastic manufacturing, incineration and landfills, it faces challenges in terms of collection logistics and high recycling costs.

    “The average price of recycled marine plastic pellets is 1.3 times that of primary plastic pellets. The good quality of marine plastics, coupled with their environmental and social benefits, justifies their premium price,” said Chen Yahong, director of the marine business unit at Zhejiang VisionBlue Technology Co.

    “Many clients, including international brands, are willing to pay more for recycled marine plastics, as it aligns with their growing sustainability needs,” she said.

    Recycled plastics from the Blue Circle project, including PET(polyethylene terephthalate) plastics derived from ocean waste, significantly reduce carbon emissions. The emissions from recycled PET are about a quarter of those associated from virgin PET.

    According to Chen, the recycled plastics of the Blue Circle project have helped reduce 3,900 metric tons of carbon emissions.

    These recycled materials are repurposed into a variety of products, including clothing, electronics, phone cases, stationery, shopping bags and T-shirts.

    Zhu Liyang, president of the China Association of Circular Economy, said: “The Chinese government has placed a strong focus on tackling plastic pollution, implementing comprehensive governance across the entire waste management chain. By recycling discarded plastics and ensuring proper collection, these materials can be reintegrated into the supply chain.”

    The circular economy is an important path to achieving green transformation, Zhu emphasized. “In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift toward green living and consumption, creating vast opportunities for the development of China’s circular economy,” he said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi’s special envoy attends inauguration of Uruguay’s new president

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

    MONTEVIDEO, March 2 — Chinese President Xi Jinping’s special envoy and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Han Jun on Saturday attended the inauguration ceremony of Uruguay’s new President Yamandu Orsi.

    On Sunday, Orsi met with Han at the presidential palace, where Han conveyed Xi’s cordial greetings and best wishes to Orsi.

    Since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations 37 years ago, China-Uruguay relations have maintained sound and steady development, becoming a model of mutual respect, harmonious coexistence and win-win cooperation between countries with different political systems and economic sizes, said Han.

    China attaches great importance to the development of China-Uruguay relations and is willing to work hand in hand with Uruguay to lift bilateral relations to higher levels so as to better benefit the two peoples, inject more stability and certainty into Latin America and the international community, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, he said.

    Orsi asked Han to convey his sincere greetings and best wishes to Xi, and sincerely thanked Xi for sending a special envoy to attend his inauguration ceremony.

    Successive governments of Uruguay, he said, have attached great importance to developing relations with China, and there is broad consensus on this across all sectors of society.

    The new Uruguayan government is willing to work with China to continuously deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, steadily strengthen practical cooperation in various fields, and make joint effort to defend multilateralism and free trade and cope with global challenges, he added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: 3 March 2025 Tenants ‘feel blessed’ to be living in new Avondale development A two and a half-year project to create the country’s largest social housing development is complete, with the final 30 homes in the 236-home Avondale development now ready for tenants.

    Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

    Many of the tenants who will move into the newly completed homes in the fifth and final building in the Community Lane development will be older people or people with health needs. They will start moving in from mid-March.

    “In just under two and a half years our build partner CMP Construction have delivered 236 new warm and dry homes. That’s one new home every four days,’’ says Nick Howcroft, Director Delivery at Kāinga Ora.

    “I recently met some of the Community Lane tenants who moved in last year and it was so rewarding to get feedback on their new homes. When we hear our tenants say they feel safe, are using the community lounges to connect with each other, and feel blessed to be living here, I know we’ve done a good job and made a difference to the lives of hundreds of New Zealanders.”

    Community Lane sits on a site where there were originally 45 older state homes. Now, there are 236 homes spread across five buildings. Most of the homes have been designed with older people in mind but there are also some apartments for small families.

    It is high density living so getting the urban design right in the early stages of the planning for Community Lane was critical.  All the buildings were designed to capture the light, with many enjoying elevated views of the communal gardens and the local lane connecting tenants to the surrounding neighbourhood.

    Separating the development into five buildings provides a sense of space, and the buildings are nestled around common areas to provide a feeling of safety to those living there.

    Each building has its own community lounge and there are gardens and greenhouses providing outdoor spaces where tenants can meet and get to know each other.

    “Avondale is a central Auckland suburb, and our development supported Auckland Council plans to revitalise this area. Kāinga Ora site works, and the installation of waste and storm water systems through our land, has enabled private developers to connect and build more new homes in the area,” Nick says.

    “During the peak of construction up to 300 workers were onsite so this was busy housing development. The unit cost to build 236 new homes was $572,000 including all of the broader construction costs associated with the development. Commencing construction during a period of rising construction costs and supply constraints presented some challenges, and the overall team did well to execute on the delivery programme. Leveraging many of these learnings and engaging with the industry, we are resetting how we deliver density more cost-effectively in the future.”

    Watch this video to learn more about the design and build.  

    Page updated: 3 March 2025

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How to prepare for a cyclone, according to an expert

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yetta Gurtner, Adjunct senior lecturer, Centre for Disaster Studies, James Cook University

    Tropical Cyclone Alfred is predicted to make landfall anywhere between Bundaberg and northern New South Wales this week. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has warned it may bring severe hazards and “dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding”.

    So, how do you prepare for a cyclone – and what do you do if it’s too late to leave?

    How to prepare

    Your starting point is to consider the risk to yourself and everyone in your household (including pets). Consider ensuring you have:

    • non-perishable food that everyone in the family will eat (enough for five to seven days)
    • water for drinking and cleaning (three litres per person per day)
    • medication (two weeks worth)
    • toiletries and first aid kit
    • pet food/supplies
    • torches
    • batteries
    • a back up battery for your phone
    • baby formula and nappies if needed
    • protective clothing and closed-in shoes
    • cash in small denominations
    • valuable documents such as passports, title deeds, ID, insurance details, photos (these can be photographed or packed in weather-proof container or envelope)
    • kids’ books, card games, board games, headphones
    • anything else you may need or really value (and isn’t too heavy to carry).

    Make sure you have a grab-and-go kit that you can carry by yourself if authorities suddenly tell you to evacuate immediately.

    Conventional wisdom used to be to prepare enough supplies for three days of disruption. Now, experts recommend having enough for five to seven days. After the initial disaster there may be road blockages or supply chain problems.

    Ensure you have enough medication for a week or two, because pharmacies may take days or weeks to re-open. And remember that many medications, such as insulin, need to be refrigerated, so consider how you’d keep them cool if the power went out.

    Fill containers with water and stick them in your freezer now; they can keep your freezer cool if you lose power. They can also become drinking water in future.

    Talk to your neighbours. Do they have a generator or a camping fridge you can use? This is a great opportunity to get to know your community and pool your resources.

    Ask yourself if you have friends with whom you or a pet can stay. One of the main reasons people don’t evacuate is because they can’t bring their pets (not all evacuation shelters allow them, so check in advance).

    Consider what you can do now to prepare your house. One of the most common call-outs the SES receives is about blocked drains and gutters, so check if there’s time to clean your gutters now. You won’t be able to do it during the storm.

    Stay informed – and don’t rely on hearsay

    Have a plan for getting truthful information before, during and after the cyclone.

    Rely on the information provided by official sources, as they will tell you when it’s too late to evacuate or when it’s safe to come out. This is highly context-specific and will depend on where you are located.

    Get advice where possible from your local council’s disaster dashboard (most councils have one).

    It should provide information such as where to get sandbags, which roads are closed (which can affect your evacuation plan) and evacuation centre openings and locations.

    Anyone who monitors social media will see how many amateur meteorologists and maps are out there, but these are often not the best source. Always rely on official sources rather than hearsay, trending footage or amateur “experts”.

    Always have an battery-operated AM-FM radio. If power goes out, relying on your phone to track information will drain your phone battery very quickly.

    You may be able to charge it via your car or laptop, but telecommunications networks may not be active.

    So having a battery-operated radio on hand – and plenty of batteries – is crucial.

    What if the cyclone hits while you’re at home?

    If it’s too late to evacuate, have a plan for sheltering in place.

    Find the smallest room in your house with the least windows (which can shatter in a storm). This is often the bathroom, but it could be under the stairs. It is usually on the lowest level of the house.

    Bring your food, water, radio, blankets and supplies there. Avoid walking around the house during the cyclone to fetch things; there could be glass on the floor or debris flying around.

    It’s hard to predict how long you will need to shelter there, but it’s important not to leave until official sources say it is safe to do so.

    Cyclones come in stages. They arrive from one direction, then comes an eerie calm as the “eye of the storm” passes over. Next, the other half of the cyclone arrives. Don’t go outside during the eye of the storm, because it’s not over.

    Outside the house, there may be powerlines down, broken glass and other hazards. Don’t venture out until you get official clearance from the disaster dashboard or official sources on the radio saying it is safe.

    For non-life threatening emergencies – such as a tree on your roof, or water running through your house – call the SES on 132 500 or register on the SES Assistance app (if you’re in Queensland). They will not come during the event itself but will come later.

    If it’s a life threatening emergency, always call triple 0.

    After the storm

    After the storm, consider how to make your house more cyclone-ready in future. Many houses in North Queensland are designed for cyclone zones, but not as many further south will be.

    Climate change means cyclones are likely to be more severe in future. These days, be cyclone-ready 365 days a year.

    Yetta Gurtner has received funding in the past from the Bureau of Meteorology. She is a community engagement officer with the Queensland State Emergency Services.

    – ref. How to prepare for a cyclone, according to an expert – https://theconversation.com/how-to-prepare-for-a-cyclone-according-to-an-expert-251251

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The only ‘winner’ here is Putin: Ukraine unites in response to Trump-Zelenskyy spat and resigns itself to new reality

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Lena Surzhko Harned, Associate Teaching Professor of Political Science, Penn State

    A trap or a misstep? Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sit-down with Donald Trump and JD Vance heads south. AP Photo/ Mystyslav Chernov

    “A president just disrespected America in the Oval Office. It wasn’t Zelenskyy.”

    That was the verdict of the editorial team at the Kyiv Independent, one of Ukraine’s leading media outlets, on a remarkable spat in the Oval Office that played out on Feb. 28, 2025.

    The online newspaper European Pravda characterized the “quarrel at the highest level” as a diplomatic failure, but added that it was “not yet a catastrophe.”

    Some Ukrainians I have spoken to since the fractious encounter, during which Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy was repeatedly hectored by U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, have indeed characterized it as disastrous for the country. But for others, the incident has been calmly accepted as the new reality in U.S.-Ukraine relations.

    There have been some questions directed at Zelenskyy – did he allow himself to be baited into an an argument that could have real consequences? Should he have remained silent? But for the most part, the treatment of Ukraine’s president by Trump and Vance has produced a presumably unintended consequence: It has unified a war-weary Ukrainian people.

    As one friend who has been displaced by war from the now occupied city of Nova Kakhovka told me, there has not been this level of mobilization and patriotism in three years.

    ‘The country needs unity’

    This unity is seen in the response across Ukraine’s political divide.
    Petro Poroshenko, an often outspoken opponent of Zelenskyy and leader of the opposition party European Solidarity, said on March 1 that, to the surprise of many, he will not criticize Zelenskyy’s performance at the White House. “The country does not need criticism, the country needs unity,” he said in the video posted on X.

    Anecdotally, even those Ukrainians who did not vote for Zelenskyy have told me that events in the Oval Office made them feel more supportive of Zelenskyy.

    However, a sense of realism is sinking in over the shifting stance of the U.S. administration. Trump’s stated trust in Vladimir Putin and his conciliatory comments over Russian aggression – including a refusal to acknowledge Russian war crimes – have, for many Ukrainians, set low expectations that the White House can help achieve a quick and lasting peace. Yet, as Inna Sovsun of the opposition party Holos noted, “It was difficult to watch a president who’s been a victim of Russian aggression being attacked by the leader of the free world.”

    Setting the record straight

    The Feb. 28 meeting between the U.S. and Ukrainian leaders followed weeks of increasingly harsh Trump rhetoric toward Zelenskyy. Since being inaugurated on Jan. 20, Trump has called the Ukrainian leader a “dictator without elections,” claiming – incorrectly – that Zelenksyy had 4% approval ratings. He also indicted that the invasion by Russian troops in February 2022 was Ukraine’s fault.

    Such comments had already made Ukrainians rally around Zelenskyy, who has a healthy 63% approval rating, according to the latest polls.

    The ugly scenes in the Oval Office could see a further rallying around Zelenskyy, especially if he can successfully characterize his role in the dispute as that of defender of his people. Doing so would tap into growing popular resentment over the new U.S. administration’s apparent unwillingness to acknowledge Russian war crimes.

    Large U.S. and Ukrainian flags hang on the Kyiv River Port building on March 2, 2025 in Kyiv, Ukraine.
    Photo by Pierre Crom/Getty Images

    In the days leading up to the Zelenskyy-Trump meeting, the U.S. voted with Russia against a United Nations resolution condemning Russian aggression and opposed the wording of a draft G7 statement marking the third anniversary of the war, which depicted Russia as the aggressor.

    Letting Putin off the hook

    The angry exchanges in the Oval Office seemed to have been sparked by Zelenskyy’s objection to Trump’s assertion that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a man of his word.

    That refusal to call out Putin – who faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court – angers Ukrainians who have suffered Russian aggression for three years. To hammer that point home, Zekenskyy showed Trump and others in the Oval Office photos of Ukrainian prisoners of war who return from Russian captivity tortured and abused.

    As Ukrainian human rights lawyer and Nobel Prize winner Oleksandra Matviichuk noted in a Feb. 17 speech, 65% of Ukrainians polled early in the conflict said their main disappointment in ending the war would be “impunity for Russian crimes.” Three years of conflict will have only hardened that sentiment – yet the U.S., under Trump’s leadership, looks increasingly willing to let Putin off the hook.

    Defender of the nation – and truth

    A large section of Ukrainian media – both traditionally pro- and anti-Zelenskyy alike – have since Feb. 28 portrayed the president in the role of a defender of both his nation and the truth.

    He was, this framing has it, forced into the difficult position of having to set the record straight and challenge untrue statements in real time, and in front of the seemingly antagonistic leader of the world’s largest economy, whose support has been crucial in Ukraine’s attempt to repel the invading Russian army.

    To some, keeping silent would have been tantamount to capitulation, but others have questioned Zelenskyy’s approach.

    While still maintaining that Zelenskyy’s key message was correct, some Ukrainians have suggested that his emotional tone in the Oval Office was not constructive.

    Opposition lawmaker Oleskiy Goncharenko suggested in an interview on CNN that Zelenskyy should have been more “diplomatic” and more “calm” given that the stakes were so high.

    Meanwhile, there were also those who questioned the decision to hold such an important conversation in front of the press, especially without the use of professional translators who potentially could have tamped down the rhetoric and slowed the pace of the exchange. Thus, as Tymofiy Mylovanov, the adviser to the office of the president and head of the Kyiv School of Economics put it, some things could “have been lost in translation.”

    ‘Zelensky is our democratic leader’

    So where does the Oval Office dispute leave both Zelenskyy and U.S.-Ukrainian relations?

    In the aftermath of the dispute, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham – who has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine – suggested that Zelenskyy should resign, the implications being that his relationship with Trump was so broken that his presence is now counterproductive for Ukraine’s priorities.

    It is a line that hasn’t gone down well in Ukraine. Kira Rudyk, the leader of opposition party Holos, retorted that it was up to the Ukrainian people alone to decide on their leadership and future.

    Moreover, to many Ukrainians the barrier to harmonious Ukraine-U.S. relations is not Zelenskyy, but Trump.

    Mustafa Nayyem, who served in Zelesnkyy’s government, summed up the view of many Ukrainians by claiming in a social media post that the Trump administration “does not just dislike Ukraine. They despise us.” The “contempt is deeper than indifference, and more dangerous than outright hostility,” he added in the Feb. 28 post.

    Intentional provocation

    Serhii Sternenko, a Ukrainian activist lawyer and blogger, described the Oval Office spat as an intentional provocation on behalf of Trump to discredit Ukraine as an unreliable partner in the peace negotiations.

    Sternenko is not alone in his assessment. Journalist and blogger Vitaly Portnikov argued that the spat was the result of Trump’s unrealistic promise of ending the war quickly being confronted with the reality that perhaps Russia does not want to make any concessions. The thinking here is Putin has shown no indication that he will bend on his war goals, so for Trump, framing Zelenskyy as “not ready for peace” allows the U.S. president to walk away from his campaign promise without accepting defeat.

    Among friends: Zelenskyy with Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and France’s President Emmanuel Macron on March 2, 2025.
    Justin Tallis – WPA Pool/Getty Images

    A new reality

    Beyond the headlines and initial reactions from Ukrainian politicians, journalists and civilians, there is also another sentiment that is emerging: resignation to the new reality.

    Most Ukrainians want an end to war, but in a way that preserves their sovereignty and guarantees future security. Until recently, that was shared by the occupants of the White House. It is becoming increasingly clear to many Ukrainians that, in regards the war in Ukraine, the U.S. will play a different role under Trump – meaning Ukraine will increasingly look to European leaders as primary partners.

    Perhaps Goncharenko, the opposition member of Ukraine’s Parliament, best summed up the consequences of the Oval Office spat: “It was not Ukraine, it was not the United States who won … it was Putin.”

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

    – ref. The only ‘winner’ here is Putin: Ukraine unites in response to Trump-Zelenskyy spat and resigns itself to new reality – https://theconversation.com/the-only-winner-here-is-putin-ukraine-unites-in-response-to-trump-zelenskyy-spat-and-resigns-itself-to-new-reality-251228

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: Israel widely condemned for blocking aid to Gaza

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Palestinian people have their iftar meal among destroyed houses on the first day of Ramadan in the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalia, March 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Israel’s decision to block humanitarian aid to Gaza since early Sunday has sparked fierce condemnation from Palestinian factions, regional countries, and international organizations.

    At the start of a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the decision “to prevent any entry of goods and supplies into Gaza” was made to pressure Hamas into accepting a new proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire and hostage release deal, which he said was put forth by U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff.

    He warned that Hamas would face “additional consequences” if it did not agree to the proposal.

    In response, Hamas condemned the decision, calling it in a statement a “blatant attempt to renege on the agreement and evade negotiations for its second phase.” The group said blocking aid to Gaza’s 2 million residents was “cheap blackmail and a war crime” and urged mediators and the international community to press Israel to reverse the decision.

    Mahmoud Meedawi, a senior Hamas official, said in a press statement that the group refused to extend the first phase of the agreement with Israel, stressing the need to implement all its phases as originally signed.

    The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine called the decision “a flagrant violation of the ceasefire” and an indication that Israel seeks to evade the second phase of the agreement.

    The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine also condemned the decision, calling it an escalation of Israel’s “starvation warfare” against Gaza’s population, which will only deepen the already dire humanitarian crisis in the enclave.

    Islamic Jihad called the decision “a crime against humanity” in a press statement. It accused the United States of shielding Israel as it continues to provide military aid and political cover for it.

    Faisal Aranki, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Executive Committee, told Xinhua that Israel’s decision will worsen Gaza’s already severe shortages of essential goods and medical supplies.

    “The Israeli government bears full responsibility for the deteriorating humanitarian conditions due to its violations of the ceasefire agreement and its obstruction of aid deliveries,” Aranki said, urging international pressure on Israel to reopen border crossings.

    In a press statement, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry warned of the decision’s catastrophic consequences, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.

    “We strongly reject the politicization of humanitarian aid and its use as a tool for extortion,” it said, calling on the international community to hold Israel accountable and ensure the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

    Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Sunday that using aid as a weapon of collective punishment and starvation in Gaza is unacceptable and impermissible, affirming that this act represents a blatant and explicit violation of international humanitarian law.

    At a joint press conference in Cairo with European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica, Abdelatty reaffirmed the importance of fully and faithfully implementing the ongoing ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel in Gaza.

    Israel’s decision constitutes a flagrant breach of the ceasefire agreement and a blatant violation of international law, and poses a serious threat of renewed escalation in the region, Jordan’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday in a statement.

    The ministry emphasized the urgent need for Israel to cease using starvation as a weapon against Palestinians and innocent civilians by imposing a blockade, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.

    It also called on the international community to compel Israel to abide by the ceasefire agreement, ensure the implementation of all its phases, and reopen the crossings designated for delivering humanitarian aid to all areas of Gaza.

    According to a UN statement posted Sunday on social media platform X, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for “humanitarian aid to flow back into Gaza immediately and for the release of all hostages,” and urged “all parties to make every effort to prevent a return to hostilities in Gaza.”

    Tom Fletcher, UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, called Israel’s decision “alarming” on X.

    “International humanitarian law is clear: We must be allowed access to deliver vital lifesaving aid. We can’t roll back the progress of the past 42 days. We need to get aid in and the hostages out. The ceasefire must hold,” he wrote.

    The ceasefire has “saved countless lives and provided a glimmer of hope amid immense suffering” and “is essential to prevent the region from plunging back into despair,” Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said Sunday in a statement.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Students of Malta Chinese School experience wonders of ‘ancient Xi’an’

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    A Chinese cultural event held on Sunday at the Malta Chinese School offered students an immersive experience of “ancient Xi’an,” one of China’s most historic cities.

    Wang Xiaozhou, a staff member of the China Cultural Center in Malta, introduced the rich history of Xi’an, the capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province. She highlighted the city’s most iconic archaeological discoveries, including the world-famous Terracotta Warriors, bronze chariots and horses, and the Xun, an ancient Chinese wind instrument made of pottery.

    Students eagerly participated in the session, answering Wang’s questions about Xi’an and trying out the pottery Xun.

    The event, co-hosted by the China Cultural Center in Malta and the Malta Chinese School, showcased Xi’an’s deep historical and cultural significance. With a history spanning more than 3,100 years, Xi’an served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history and is home to the renowned Terracotta Warriors, created during the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

    “I love Chinese and will keep learning it,” said six-year-old Matilda Metsola, who has been studying Chinese for more than two years at the school. Having previously visited China with her family, she eagerly hopes to return.

    Her mother, Liesbeth Oost Metsola, shared her family’s enthusiasm for Chinese culture, noting that Matilda’s younger siblings are also learning Chinese. “Matilda is always happy to study Chinese and eager to master it. She sets a great example for her younger brother and sister.”

    Chen Juheng, head of the Malta Chinese School, noted that the event sparked strong interest among students in the wisdom of Chinese civilization. “Chinese language education is inseparable from cultural heritage,” he said.

    Yuan Yuan, director of the China Cultural Center in Malta, said that more events of this kind will be organized in the future to strengthen ties between Chinese and Maltese civilizations.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Australia’s energy transition: capitalising on global investment shifts post-US election

    Source: Allens Insights

    An increasingly complex global environment 13 min read

    Within hours of his inauguration on 20 January 2025, President Trump signed almost 100 executive orders and issued several memorandums and announcements. These included a wind-back of the Inflation Reduction Act (the IRA), withdrawal from The Paris Agreement, halting approvals for new offshore wind farm projects, fast-tracking approval processes for fossil fuels and implementing tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico, some of which were subsequently paused.

    It is early days, so there is limited evidence as to whether this will result in a meaningful change to actual investment allocations in sectors such as renewable energy, but it certainly demonstrates that the global investment environment is becoming increasingly complex, and we believe there is potential for some portion of capital to be redirected away from the US.

    While a potential global reallocation of debt and equity capital and other key energy transition resources such as labour and equipment may be advantageous for a number of countries, the extent to which Australia will be able to capitalise on these opportunities will be tested by the many existing challenges that remain and need to be solved.

    In this Insight, we reflect on the potential consequences of recent policy changes in the US following the re-election of the Trump administration and how this may impact the energy transition in Australia.

    Key takeaways

    • The winding back of the Inflation Reduction Act and other renewables policies under the new US administration may lead to a global redirection of capital away from the US to other jurisdictions, with the reallocation of key resources such as labour and materials easing global supply chain pressures in some pockets.
    • Features specific to Australia’s clean energy market, including our debt and equity markets, and supportive legislative environment may be attractive to certain classes of investors seeking to reallocate capital that was previously earmarked for the US.
    • Similarly, certain local projects experiencing challenges with labour and materials shortages will welcome the potential redistribution and freeing up of such resources.
    • However, the upcoming federal election adds uncertainty to the future direction of Australia’s clean energy policy. Anti-ESG sentiment, fuelled by the renewed emphasis of this theme from the US, may have a further chilling effect on investor confidence.
    • In addition to political uncertainties, Australia’s energy transition continues to face domestic challenges such as approval and connection delays, skilled labour and materials shortages (which are not easily solved even if there is a global redistribution of such resources), and a slow transmission infrastructure build-out. These challenges need to be addressed to fully attract inbound capital.
    • While recognising the very real ongoing local challenges, on the global stage Australia will still be viewed as an attractive investment destination for renewable energy, including relative to the US and parts of Europe. The competitive advantages that are specific to the Australian renewables sector will help Australia compete for the redirection of global capital flows.

    Recent policy changes in the US

    The new US administration has wasted no time in implementing executive orders with the intention of sending policy signals and directing investment in the energy industry in the US in the short to medium term. While the policy situation in the US continues to change on a daily basis, key policies and actions that are expected to directly curb investment in the renewable energy industry in the US are:

    Winding back of the IRA

    Trump’s ‘Unleashing American Energy’ executive order pauses the disbursement of funds allocated under the IRA. This will have direct impacts on existing and planned energy transition projects, including Australian investment into the US in areas such as hydrogen.

    While the IRA is not expected to be fully repealed given a number of projects benefiting from the IRA are in Republican states, the change in stance under the new administration certainly represents a significant shift in direction, given that—up until the commencement of the new administration—the IRA was widely promoted as the single biggest climate investment in US history, with more than US$369 billion of government spending earmarked for energy transition projects, including a vast range of renewable energy technologies. Indeed, it is estimated that as at January 2025, the IRA in its previous form had attracted nearly US$500 billion of investment in low carbon energy and domestic manufacturing, with private investment exceeding public spending by five to six fold.1

    Offshore wind ban

    The withdrawal by President Trump of the Offshore Continental Shelf (OCS) from wind energy leasing is anticipated to create major hurdles for the offshore wind industry in the US. The terms of the withdrawal will mean new offshore wind projects are unlikely to get off the ground, as they will not be able to get leases on the OCS. Projects with existing leases may also be at risk of review, which may result in revisions to the sizing of such leases, or even their cancellation.

    Drill, baby drill

    Trump’s energy strategy pivots away from the clean energy initiatives under the Biden administration towards a prioritisation of oil and gas. Through a number of executive orders, President Trump has decreased regulatory roadblocks to new oil and gas projects, expanded the areas in which hydrocarbon exploration can take place, restarted approval processes for LNG export projects and initiated a renewed push for the adoption of fracking across the US mainland.

    As a result, the US will immediately become a more attractive destination for oil and gas companies to deploy capital and develop new projects. This is in distinct contrast to the Australian investment landscape. Despite the change in the discourse relating to gas that we’ve seen over the past few years, with both the federal and various state governments now publicly calling out the role of gas as an important part of the energy transition, new projects are still facing long delays in securing approvals and opposition from community groups.

    Anti-ESG investment sentiment

    All of these and many other actions and policies under the new US administration have contributed to a further rise in anti-ESG investment sentiment. Globally, and in part as a possible reaction to that sentiment, we have seen major financial institutions and asset managers pulling back from public net zero and other climate-related commitments.

    Australia’s clean energy investment landscape

    Australia’s clean energy landscape is likely to be influenced by a number of global shifts arising from key US policy changes, including the global reallocation of debt and equity capital, disruption and redistribution of supply chains, key materials and labour, and a changing political environment and public sentiment.

    While these shifts may, in some respects, be positive for Australian clean energy projects and investment, our energy transition continues to face significant challenges. The impact on energy policy following a possible change in federal government is significant, with uncertainty around whether a number of the key initiatives pursued over the past few years will continue. These include the Rewiring the Nation initiative, which funds the construction of new transmission infrastructure, and the offshore wind industry which is underpinned by federal legislation. Of course, there is then the issue of the Coalition’s nuclear policy and how this might impact the direction of the energy market in Australia.

    In addition to this sovereign risk, Australia continues to grapple with significant approval delays and transmission connection issues for energy transition projects, preventing developers from fully capitalising on the opportunity to attract capital. We will cover these issues in more detail in future Insights in this series.

    Many of the orders and policies under the Trump administration are expected to:

    • present significant hurdles for new projects in the US (particularly in the renewable energy sector and generation projects both onshore and offshore);
    • create or exacerbate delays and challenges for certain existing US projects, some of which may be shelved or abandoned completely; and
    • increase political and social complexity and scrutiny of investment policies that are explicitly linked to decarbonisation or climate-related targets.

    In particular, the winding back of the IRA is expected to result in capital of up to US$80 billion being diverted away from the US.2 Should this eventuate, a huge global reallocation of capital can be expected to occur, potentially creating new opportunities for certain segments and projects in the Australian energy sector.

    Emerging technologies and non-traditional revenue structures

    While Australia benefits from a mature, sophisticated and liquid project finance market, for certain clean energy projects, such as those involving newer and emerging technologies or non-traditional revenue profiles (like hydrogen, batteries and other storage assets), there is often a need for support from a range of traditional and non-traditional funding sources. These can include government lender support or private debt providers who may be willing to provide greater flexibility in their terms for certain projects that are higher up the risk curve given their different investment mandates and risk appetite.

    The capital expected to ‘free up’ as a result of a more challenging investment environment in the US will come from a wide range of sources, including commercial banks, private debt lenders and funds. With strong existing liquidity in the Australian project finance bank debt market, we see opportunities for non-traditional lenders, particularly private debt lenders who may be looking to reallocate their investment, to increase their participation in the Australian energy market, especially on projects involving emerging technologies or with non-traditional revenue profiles. We may see more of those types of lenders providing standalone funding or supplementing and sitting alongside traditional bank debt and government funding on certain clean energy projects.

    This activity may be facilitated by other current features of the Australian market, such as the RBA recently starting a gradual easing cycle on interest rates, as well as industry-specific features that support new project development and funding, such as legislated emissions reduction targets, and government-led funding and revenue underwriting initiatives, at both a federal and state level, such as the Commonwealth Capacity Investment Scheme and NSW’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap for renewable energy zones and Long Term Energy Services Agreements. It remains to be seen what effect the Australian election outcome may have on federal energy policy, and we have already seen a shift in Queensland in terms of government support for energy transition-related targets and projects.

    M&A activity and expansion of energy platform investment

    On the equity side, for similar reasons noted earlier, we anticipate that Australia should be viewed as a relatively attractive jurisdiction for increased investment from equity investors who may be pulling back their investment allocations in projects in the US. In the Australian context, potential increased equity interest from investors looking for scale and diversification may further drive the proliferation of energy platforms and portfolios. This is a major trend that has proven to be highly attractive and viable for sponsors in the local market across the past 12-24 months, leading to a number of platforms and portfolios becoming available in the pipeline and seeking to be connected with equity and debt capital providers. Investors with more specific asset or technology-based mandates may also look to increase their investment in sectors that have proven to be increasingly bankable, such as the utility-scale batteries sector or, depending on their investment mandate, sectors involving more emerging technologies.

    The extent to which these potential opportunities will result in a net benefit for Australia will be tested by a number of existing sector challenges. These include political uncertainty and a possible pullback by certain investors from the sector generally in the context of heightened scrutiny from stakeholders around ‘environmental agendas’. We have also seen a retreat by certain investors from some technologies such as utility-scale solar, and there are, of course, the pain points with permitting, connection, access and social licence affecting all projects. All of these factors lessen competition for assets, placing downward pressure on returns and presenting issues for Australia as an investment destination for capital seeking a home.

    The significant hurdles, delays and other challenges for renewable energy projects in the US, combined with more general measures such as tariffs, leading to potential trade wars, are expected to significantly disrupt supply chains, key materials and labour. Looking at some of Australia’s existing challenges under these themes, we anticipate that there may be upside for certain segments of the clean energy industry.

    Labour and supply chain opportunities

    The redistribution of resources such as labour and equipment that is no longer required for projects in the US may present opportunities for Australian projects such as solar, wind and storage, as well as facilitating the buildout of transmission infrastructure. Shortages in skilled labour and materials have been a key hurdle facing Australia’s ambitious pipeline of energy development projects and transmission infrastructure buildout. Key equipment and components for energy projects are in high demand globally. Production slots for these items can be booked out years in advance and prices have continually been increasing. Program timing for these large-scale projects is critical, with delays resulting in projects losing their position in the queue for both key components and grid access, which is contributing to cost overruns and blowouts.

    While there is no easy solution to existing supply chain problems, we expect that a redistribution of supply of material, transportation and labour resources away from the US may provide some assistance with overcoming these challenges.

    Offshore wind sector

    The sweeping actions taken by the Trump administration raise serious concerns for the offshore wind industry in the US. From a global perspective, it will mean a huge volume of such development projects may be withdrawn from the US or delayed for some time. In addition to the associated equity and debt investment that will no longer be deployed for those projects and will therefore need to be reallocated, this also means key resources such as contractors, suppliers and operators, as well as key materials, transportation and components, which were previously committed to that project pipeline, will become available globally. The freeing up of some of these resources may assist to address existing shortages in the Australian offshore industry.

    This redistribution presents opportunities for Australia, in particular when we consider some of the current regulatory and policy settings already in place for our offshore wind industry. While still in its early stages, the federal and Victorian governments have been at the forefront of developing an offshore wind market in Australia, with the introduction of an offshore electricity licensing framework at a federal level and a clear policy direction from the Victorian Government outlining its offshore wind targets.

    That said, the offshore wind industry in Australia is still very much in its infancy, and the progress that has been made under current Labor governments at the state level is at risk of being paused or wound back should we see a change of federal government at the upcoming election.

    The substantial shift in stance that the new US administration has taken on energy policy has heightened criticism of energy investment from certain political and social voices and, relatedly, has contributed to a general anti-ESG and anti-woke narrative.

    This increases the complexity of the investment environment surrounding the energy sector globally. In Australia, we see this potentially amplifying certain political and social licence challenges, but will not necessarily be a significant detractor from opportunities for the energy transition in Australia given that, as an investment destination, it remains attractive relative to other parts of the world.

    Emboldening political and community challengers

    We expect to see key planning and environment approvals required under federal and state legislation remaining a challenge for developers, both in terms of delays in securing those approvals and increasingly stringent assessment requirements and conditions once those approvals have been obtained.

    This may be exacerbated depending on the outcome of the upcoming federal election this year. The Coalition has taken a considerably stronger stance against renewables generally, and this may be further fuelled by the renewed emphasis on anti-ESG investing and anti-woke sentiment from the US. For example, we have seen the federal opposition’s recent announcement of its intention to revoke the Southern Ocean Offshore Wind Zone if elected, criticism from federal opposition leader, Peter Dutton, of ‘woke’ bankers who refuse lending to certain sectors on environmental grounds and a promise that, if elected, the opposition would unwind emissions reporting rules that came into effect on 1 January.

    Similarly, we may see community opposition and social licence challengers emboldened by that anti-ESG and anti-woke narrative. In the context of the build-out of generation and transmission projects, this may result in even more protracted stakeholder consultation and negotiations with underlying tenure owners, as well as legal challenges to approved and operating projects.

    Green lending and investment policies

    There is increased complexity and uncertainty around ESG investment and, as part of that, renewable energy investment. As discussed earlier, the political climate in the US has contributed to this and that climate is potentially emboldening certain local political players to more explicitly support policies that curb renewables investment. It may be that we see Australian businesses feeling pressure to follow what we have seen globally in terms of businesses withdrawing or distancing themselves from explicit climate-related commitments. However, we see limited evidence and rationale that this alone will drive a substantive diversion of capital away from the renewables sector, especially where the investment case for projects is commercially and scientifically compelling.

    Further, while we have seen certain anti-woke and anti-ESG sentiment echoed in Australia and specifically in the renewable sector, this has not been at the same level of intensity as in the US and so, from that perspective, it is another consideration for investors who are seeking to redeploy capital that was previously committed to US renewables projects, when assessing Australia as a relatively appealing destination.

    That said, shifts in sentiment against ESG agendas will certainly add to the already growing scrutiny from corporate, political and community stakeholders, and this may become more pronounced should there be a change of government at the next election. Against this backdrop, to ensure the Australian renewables sector can capitalise on the potential opportunities presented by the global reallocation of capital and resources, it has never been more important to demonstrate a compelling investment case to equity and debt investors. Crucially, this will involve continued work to overcome the many industry, community and project-level hurdles in the sector.

    Looking to the future

    Despite these local challenges, there remain many reasons why Australia should still be viewed as an attractive investment destination for renewable energy. The advantages Australia has in terms of its stable legal and political system (including bipartisan support for 2050 net zero targets and significant government support for industry at both state and federal level) and its vast, high quality renewable energy sources will continue to bolster Australia’s ability to compete for global capital flows.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Financial support for student carers

    Source: Scottish Government

    Carers in education urged not to miss out on extra money.   

    This National Student Money Week (3 – 7 March 2025), unpaid carers in education are being encouraged to check if they are entitled to financial help from Social Security Scotland. 

    It is estimated that there are around 35,000 unpaid carers attending college or university in Scotland. The type of help they provide includes emotional, mental or physical support for a family member, friend or neighbour. But many don’t recognise themselves as a carer, which could mean they are missing out on extra money. 

    There are three payments delivered by Social Security Scotland that could help student carers during their studies.  

    Carer Support Payment replaces Carer’s Allowance in Scotland. Unlike Carer’s Allowance, it is available to more carers in education.  

    Young Carer Grant and Carer’s Allowance Supplement are only available in Scotland.  

    Louise Reid, Student Support Adviser at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) and Financial Capability Champion on the National Association of Student Money Advisors (NASMA) Board, explains the importance of this type of help. 

    “Students, alongside wider society, are consistently pushed to the limit financially from sources outside their control. The cost of housing, energy and food have all been consistently high and this hits student carers particularly hard.  

    “As caring responsibilities can limit or completely reduce any capacity for part time work to top up existing student funding, additional financial resources are vital.  

    “Carer Support Payment is an invaluable financial resource that can make the difference between continuing with studies or not. Being able to claim this benefit, whilst studying really makes such a difference to students who provide care.”  

    To find out more about all Social Security Scotland payments for carers, visit mygov.scot/carers or call free on 0800 182 2222.   

    Background: 

    • Carer Support Payment is a payment of £81.90 a week and is available to carers who are aged 16 or over and who provide unpaid care for 35 hours or more a week to someone who receives a qualifying disability benefit.  They need to earn £151 a week or less after tax, National Insurance and expenses.
      Carers in education who may be eligible includes:     
    • Part time students – those who spend less than 21 hours a week in class or doing coursework for any course    
    • Students aged 20 and over and who study full time for any course    
    • Students aged 16-19, who study full time in advanced education at university or for a college course such as a Higher National Certificate and Higher National Diploma   
    • There are also some circumstances where students aged 16-19 studying over 21 hours a week in non-advanced education, such as studying for National Certificates and Scottish Highers, who may also be eligible if they meet certain criteria. Find out more at   If you study – mygov.scot 
    • Carer’s Allowance Supplement is an extra payment for eligible unpaid carers who are getting Carer Support Payment or Carer’s Allowance on the qualifying date. The payment is made twice a year and is unique to Scotland. Each payment of Carer’s Allowance Supplement is currently £288.60.  It is paid automatically without the need to apply.   
    • Young Carer Grant is available for carers aged 16, 17 or 18 who provide support for an average of 16 hours a week to someone receiving a qualifying disability benefit. It is a yearly payment of £383.75 and the money can be spent on whatever the young person wants.   
    • If you are an organisation that supports student carers in Scotland, there are shareable resources, many of which are available in different languages, via our resources pages on our website:  

    Social Security Scotland – Carer Support Payment Resources  
    Social Security Scotland – Young Carer Grant Resources  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Keppel Bay’s $20 million centre set to officially open

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Senator for Queensland, Anthony Chisholm will officially open the new Keppel Bay Sailing and Convention Centre today, which has been made possible thanks to a $20 million investment from the Federal Government.   

    The new three-storey facility overlooking Keppel Bay has been designed to draw in visitors and locals by using the bay’s picturesque features, which is then complemented with a modern bar, bistro, café, viewing terrace and multiple conference rooms.

    The new Sailing and Convention Centre replaces the previous clubhouse, which was originally constructed out of an old roller-skating rink in 1961.

    In 2025, the fully modernised sailing club facilities have been developed with the local sailing community front of mind and an aim to cement Yeppoon’s strong legacy as a hub for state and national sailing events.

    The new building also provides storage and workshop services, male and female change rooms, accessible toilet facilities and will house the administrative facilities of the Yeppoon sailing community. 

    After more than three years of construction, which created 400 jobs, the $25.5 million Keppel Bay Sailing and Convention Centre will build on the strong legacy of sailing as a fixture of the Yeppoon community and also provide entertainment to locals for years to come.

    Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Senator for Queensland, Anthony Chisholm:

    “It was a group of passionate and dedicated volunteers who started the Keppel Bay Sailing Club in the 1950’s, and it was an equally dedicated group who made sure this excellent upgrade became a reality.

    “This stunning new centre is going to be a feature of the Yeppoon coastline for many years to come, so it’s a special moment to be here for the official opening. 

    “With the Brisbane Olympics less than eight years away, I know this new facility will foster the next champion through the countless events we’re set to see take place here on Keppel Bay.”

    MIL OSI News –