NewzIntel.com

Category: KB

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Log trailer lifting failure lead to important safety changes on and off ports

    Source: Maritime New Zealand

    Incidents where log trailers fell while being lifted, seriously endangering workers, have led to important safety changes on ports and at other sites where log trailers are lifted onto trucks.

    The Port Health and Safety Leadership Group identified working with suspended loads as one of the key risks on ports in its Port Sector Insights Picture and Action Plan.

    The incidents with log trailers were a call to action for everyone involved to create solutions that will be applied on and beyond ports. Transport and stevedoring companies, Maritime NZ, WorkSafe and industry organisations were all involved, and port operators and others were kept informed.

    The changes are:

    • The Log Transport Safety Council has issued a safety alert to transport operators to upgrade hammerlocks and chains to heavier gauges. The alert also advises that the Council is reviewing and updating its code for checking lifting chains and clarifying who the code defines as ‘competent persons’ to carry out inspections.
    • Prototype equipment and work practices for its use are being trialled at Picton and Nelson. These include a system of tethers, and truck lane and position indicators. The tethers stop log trailers moving when they’re lifted, removing the need for manual handling to try to control trailers while they’re off the ground. Lane and position indicators help drivers line trucks up correctly before trailers are lifted off the road and then again when trucks are reversed for the trailers to be loaded onto the trucks.

    The incident and follow up

    Maritime NZ was notified that lifting gear had failed while hoisting a log trailer at Picton. The trailer fell, narrowly missing workers.

    Maritime NZ inspected the work site and identified two related issues: the strength and inspection of the lifting equipment, and the work practices of drivers and stevedores working with suspended loads while lifting trailers.

    Collaboration with WorkSafe NZ confirmed that similar incidents had occurred outside ports, with log trailers falling when lifting equipment failed. The two agencies understood the solutions would be applicable to many work sites where logging trailers were lifted, not only on ports.

    Both the transport and stevedore company acknowledged the unsafe situation and demonstrated a strong commitment to correcting the issue.

    Maritime NZ accepted a voluntary agreement on the basis that it was confident the two companies involved would work together to develop solutions to manage the risk of working with suspended loads and lifting failure, in a way that included other transport companies.

    The Log Transport Safety Council, which is recognised as a trusted source of log transport research and industry knowledge, has been proactive with the findings and acknowledged this was an industry-wide issue. As a result, following this incident, the Council issued its safety alert.

    Both WorkSafe and Maritime NZ attended a recent Council meeting. They spoke about the incident, how all involved responded, and the prototype systems developed in collaboration by the transport and stevedore companies and being trialled at Port Nelson and Port Marlborough.

    Collaboration for a better outcome

    The Leadership Group says this is a very good example of the positive outcomes from a recommendation in its Action Plan. That is, that Maritime NZ be the regulator responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance with health and safety legislation on ports, as well as on ships, and collaborate with WorkSafe to resolve issues, particularly where they have wider impact than solely on ports.

    The genuinely tripartite way the Leadership Group works together (industry, unions and regulators) has built trust and understanding.

    When these dangerous incidents occurred, those relationships helped all involved to collaborate, identify the risks and causes behind the incident, and then allowed industry-led, innovative solutions to be formulated.

    If you would like more information, please email [email protected].
     

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Pūhoi to Warkworth Motorway going to 110km/h

    Source: New Zealand Government

    A new 110km/h speed limit on the Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway will come into effect first thing tomorrow morning, Transport Minister Chris Bishop announced today. 
    “Transport is a critical enabler for economic growth and productivity, and with over 20,000 vehicles travelling this motorway every day, the new higher speed will help ensure people and freight can get to where they need to go, quickly and safely,” Mr Bishop says. 
    “Late last year, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) publicly consulted on increasing the speed limit from north of the Pūhoi interchange viaduct to south of the Warkworth roundabout to 110km/h. More than 7,900 submissions were received across Northland and Auckland. Responses were overwhelmingly positive, with 94% in support of the increasing the speed limit and 91% strongly in favour. 
    “The Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway has been designed and constructed with safety features that greatly reduce the risk of death and serious injury in a crash such as two lanes in each direction providing safe passing opportunities, flexible median barrier separation between opposing lanes, and a mostly straight, wide alignment. Since opening in 2023, no one has died in a crash.
    “Kiwis have had their say and NZTA has completed all required technical assessments, with the motorway being assessed as safe to increase the speed limit to 110km/h. Now, we’re getting on and delivering it.
    “Police will apply the same enforcement to 110km/h roads as any other part of the road network. Drivers can expect to see police patrols on New Zealand roads anywhere, at any time. Drivers should continue to drive to the conditions, free from impairment and distraction, and make sure everyone’s wearing their seatbelt. 
    “The Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway has vastly improved the safety, connectivity, and resilience of the network between Auckland and Northland, and has opened access to popular destinations between the two regions. As a critical route for road users, freight, and tourists, I look forward to the new 110km/h speed limit coming into effect from tomorrow.” 
    The new 110km/h speed limit on the Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway comes into effect on Tuesday 1 July 2025 and will apply from 2.5km north of the Johnstones Hill Tunnels, to south of Warkworth roundabout.
    Notes to editor:
     

    The public consultation for increasing the speed limit to 110km/h on the Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway took place from 3 September to 1 October 2024.
    7,911 submissions were received from across Northland and Auckland, including 158 submissions from businesses or organisations.
    The speed limit on SH1 through the Johnstones Hill Tunnels will remain 80km/h. While the SH1 Johnstones Hill Tunnels are built to high safety standards, the enclosed environment within a tunnel creates a different safety risk to that of the surrounding motorway. There are no current plans to review or change the speed limit for this section.
    There is a transition zone where the speed limit will be kept at 100km/h for a short length (2.5km) north of the Johnstones Hill Tunnel over two viaducts. This section is an area of weaving movements, where traffic is diverging and merging, exiting and egressing on short, narrow on and off ramps, with narrow lines of sight over the viaducts, and does not meet safety criteria for an increased speed.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Homicide investigation underway, Ōtāhuhu

    Source: New Zealand Police

    A homicide investigation has been launched following the death of a man in Ōtāhuhu last night.

    Emergency services were called to a Beatty Street property at about 8.30pm following a report of a person being seriously injured.

    Detective Inspector Karen Bright, Counties Manukau CIB, says upon arrival, Police found a man in a critical condition.

    He was transported to hospital, however he died of his injuries overnight.

    “Police are continuing to gather information from the scene and enquiries into the exact circumstances surrounding what happened remain ongoing.

    “We are also making enquiries to locate a person of interest.

    “Those involved are believed to be known to each other and we do not believe there is any ongoing risk to the wider community.”

    Detective Inspector Bright says a scene examination is under way at the address and there will be an increased Police presence in the area while the investigation continues.

    “Our teams are working hard to identify and locate the person responsible and are asking anyone who saw what happened, who has not yet spoken to us, to please get in touch.”

    If you have any information that could assist the investigation, please make a report via 105, using the file number 250629/6502 and quote ‘Operation Tell’.

    Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 or www.crimestoppers-nz.org(link is external)

    Further information will be provided when we are in a position to do so.

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: ENERGY SECRETARY: It’s Time to Stop Subsidizing Solar and Wind in Perpetuity

    Source: US Department of Energy

    New York Post

    June 27, 2025

    “How the Big Beautiful Bill will lower energy costs, shore up the electric grid — and unleash American prosperity”

    By Chris Wright

    How much would you pay for an Uber if you didn’t know when it would pick you up or where it was going to drop you off? Probably not much.

    Yet this is the same effect that variable generation sources like wind and solar have on our power grids.

    You never know if these energy sources will actually be able to produce electricity when you need it — because you don’t know if the sun will be shining or the wind blowing.

    Even so, the federal government has subsidized these sources for decades, resulting in higher electricity prices and a less stable grid.

    . . .

    President Donald Trump knows what to do: Eliminate green tax credits from the Democrats’ so-called Inflation Reduction Act, including those for wind and solar power.

    The One Big Beautiful Bill seeks to do that: Along with other proposals, like canceling billions in Biden Green New Deal money and making much-needed investments in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, it aims to set an aggressive end date for these subsidies and build on the president’s push for affordable, abundant, and secure energy for the nation.

    . . .

    As Secretary of Energy — and someone who’s devoted his life to advancing energy innovation to better human lives — I, too, know how these Green New Deal subsidies are fleecing Americans.

    Wind and solar subsidies have been particularly wasteful and counterproductive.

    One example: The Renewable Electricity Production Tax Credit was first introduced in 1992, when wind energy was a nascent industry. This tax credit, originally set to phase out in 1999, was sold on a promise of low-cost energy with fewer tradeoffs.

    Since 1999, the REPTC has been extended a whopping 12 times, yet consumers continue to pay more on average for their home electric bills than in 1992, even after adjusting for inflation.

    Plus, today, more than 75% of US electricity comes from natural gas, nuclear and coal — and they supply it 24/7, independent of the weather.

    . . .

    At 8 p.m. on Inauguration Day, amid bitter cold across much of the Eastern seaboard, we reached peak demand for electricity in the mid-Atlantic region. At that point in time, PJM Interconnection, which supplies the Mid-Atlantic United States, got approximately 44% of its power from coal, 24% from natural gas, 25% from nuclear, 3% from oil, 3% from wind, 1% from hydro and 0% from solar.

    Think about that: When Americans most needed dependable power to heat their homes and businesses to stay alive, solar and wind were non-factors.

    Our homes, hospitals and businesses only continued to operate because there was enough reliable, baseload energy from natural gas, coal and nuclear available to meet demand.

    How valuable is a teammate who occasionally shows up for practice but is never there at game time?

    And the more we load our grid with intermittent generation, the worse the grid performs during times of maximum stress and demand.

    Subsidies are meant to drive prices down and boost supply. But subsidizing wind and solar has done exactly the opposite.

    . . .

    Bottom line: higher costs. Indeed, wind and solar subsidies not only cost taxpayers but also force providers to add more dispatchable resources to the grid, at their expense.

    These costs are then passed on to ratepayers.

    In other words, more wind and solar brings us the worst of two worlds: less reliable energy delivery and higher electric bills.

    It’s time to stop subsidizing such insanity in perpetuity. If sources are truly economically viable, let’s allow them to stand on their own, and stop forcing Americans to pick up the tab if they’re not.

    Read the full article here

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Rips Into Republicans for Using Deceptive “Current Policy Baseline” to Hide True Cost of Deficit-Busting Tax Cuts for Billionaires

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Murray: “Things have never worked this way—where one party so egregiously ignores the precedent, process, and Parliamentarian, and does that all in order to wipe away trillions of dollars of costs for a bill that could just be the most expensive legislation this body ever passes.”

    ***VIDEO of Senator Murray’s remarks HERE***

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former chair of the Senate Budget Committee, took to the Senate floor to speak out against Republicans’ use of a so-called “current policy baseline” to hide the true cost of their deficit-busting tax cuts for billionaires.

    Republicans’ 940-page reconciliation bill—the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—which they released in the dead of night, cuts more than $900 billion from Medicaid—$100 billion more than the House bill. More than 17 million Americans will lose their health care, more than 300 rural hospitals could close, and more than 500 nursing homes could close. The legislation makes the largest cut to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in history and will rip away nutrition assistance entirely from more than 5 million Americans and shift tens of billions of dollars in costs to states. The legislation also increases the debt by at least estimated $4 trillion dollars—a trillion more than the House bill. About two in three Americans oppose the bill.

    Senator Murray’s full remarks are below and HERE:

    “I have been here a long time. Not only have I been the Budget chair, I am the longest serving Democrat on that Committee.

    “And in my 33 years here in the United States Senate, things have never—never—worked this way, where one party so egregiously ignores precedent, process, and the Parliamentarian. And does that all in order to wipe away trillions of dollars of costs for a bill that could just be the most expensive legislation this body ever passes.

    “Forget Senate procedure for minute, math—Mr. President—has never worked that way.

    “I taught preschool, and I’ll tell you: even our littlest kids knows the difference between a trillion and zero.

    “It doesn’t take a preschooler to tell you they’re using magic math. Or that you can’t just ignore the rules you don’t like.

    “How many times have my colleagues cried about the debt? How many times have they told me ‘I know you want to invest in child care, Patty—but we got to get this budget under control?’

    “But now that it’s tax cuts for billionaires and corporations—suddenly the budget doesn’t matter anymore! Suddenly the rules do not matter anymore.

    “Suddenly, a couple trillion goes away with a sprinkle of fairy dust, and bypassing the parliamentarian and precedent isn’t really bypassing if you just close your eyes and just pretend real hard.

    “Have you no shame?

    “If you think you can look the American people in the face and tell them ‘we have to bring down the debt’ after passing what might be the most expensive bill in history—if you think you can do that, and then be taken seriously?

    “Well, you know what? If you believe that, maybe you are foolish enough to think that zero and a trillion are the same.

    “Mr. President, I can’t believe this is what we’re doing today. Because I can tell you right now, if this happens, we will all laugh you out of the room, because we have never seen anything like this. Not in my time here in the Senate.  Not in my time on this planet!

    “We are not going to let anyone forget that you’re trashing the rules in order to pass this egregious bill. I yield the floor.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Pakistan’s monsoon rains kill 45 in four days

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    ISLAMABAD, June 29 (Xinhua) — Seven more people have died in rain-related accidents in Pakistan in the past two days, taking the death toll to 45 since the start of the monsoon season on June 26, Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said on Sunday.

    In a statement, the ministry said the death toll had risen to 68 after six more residents were injured in heavy rains that hit almost all provinces of Pakistan.

    Simultaneously, the NDMA has issued a warning of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms expected to affect large parts of the country in the next 12-24 hours. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: International Business Forum – 4th International Conference on Financing for Development #FFD4

    Source: United Nations (video statements)

    The International Business Forum (IBF) will open with a high-level gathering of Heads of State, ministers, CEOs, and global business leaders to explore solutions that unlock private finance and investments for sustainable development.  

    The opening of the IBF will set the tone for the importance of driving solutions that unlock private finance and investments for sustainable development. The session will feature welcome addresses by Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain, and António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, followed by remarks from Heads of State, Ministers, CEOs and global business leaders. Speakers will include John Denton, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce; Shinta Kamdani, CEO of Sintesa Group and Co-Chair of the Global Investors for Sustainable Development (GISD) Alliance; and José Viñals, GISD Co-Chair and Senior Advisor to the Board of Standard Chartered. BBC presenter Rajini Vaidyanathan will serve as the moderator. 

    More Info: https://financing.desa.un.org/FFD4/businessforum
    All the FFD4 events: https://webtv.un.org/

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoV4sA6j7OE

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Amendments to Senate Republicans’ Tax Bill Aim to Protect Health Care and Support Rural Hospitals, Food Assistance Programs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    Trump and Republicans’ so-called ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ will kick millions off Medicaid and SNAP, explode deficits
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, today proposed changes to President Trump and Senate Republicans’ disastrous One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which will pay for tax cuts for billionaires by kicking millions of Americans off Medicaid and closing rural hospitals, cutting food assistance programs, and tanking the economy.
    Senator Welch’s changes to the Republican tax bill would protect Vermonters’ access to health care, food assistance, and other critical programs. The Senator’s proposed changes include provisions to prevent harm to rural hospitals, strengthen access to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, block cuts and policies that weaken the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other food assistance programs, protect home energy efficiency tax credits and the home efficiency workforce, and support federal public defenders.  
    “Republicans’ so-called ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ is a betrayal of American values and an abdication of our responsibility as United States Senators to look out for our constituents. All of us say we are here to help working families in every state succeed, but this bill will only cause bipartisan pain—all to pay for a tax break for those who need it least,” said Senator Welch. “This bill is un-fixable and needs a major rewrite. But I’ll continue to do everything I can to protect the health care, food assistance, and federal programs Vermonters need.” 
    Senator Welch offered amendments and changes to the Republican budget resolution to:   
    Protect Access to Health Care and Support Rural Hospitals: 

    Welch proposed requiring the Finance Committee to rewrite the bill to prevent harm to rural health care and the fiscal wellbeing of rural hospitals; 
    Welch proposed requiring the Finance Committee to exempt managed care programs operated by state governments like Vermont from any changes proposed to state directed payments. 
    Welch proposed requiring the Finance Committee to strike any changes to provider taxes, including changes that would impact states like Vermont with Medicaid expansion; 
    Welch proposed requiring the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee to make it easier to verify eligibility for the Affordable Care Act’s premium tax credits, and expand special enrollment periods under certain circumstances.

    Defend Food Assistance Programs: 

    Welch proposed requiring the Agriculture Committee to strike any cost-shifts of administering  SNAP to states, which would kick American families off the food assistance they need and strain state budgets; 
    Welch proposed an amendment to strike administrative cost-shifts for SNAP; 
    Welch proposed an amendment to adjust the Thrifty Food Plan for cities, counties, and regions where the price of food is 10% higher than the national average; 
    Welch proposed an amendment that places a floor on SNAP allotments to households instead of a ceiling; 
    Welch proposed requiring the Agriculture Committee to rewrite the bill to allow volunteer work to qualify under SNAP’s work requirements.  

    Protect Programs and Government Services: 

    Welch proposed requiring the Finance Committee to rewrite the bill to maintain the energy efficient home improvement tax credit at current levels through 2028; 
    Welch proposed an amendment to strike the repeal of several home energy efficiency tax credits, including credits for home energy, rooftop solar, energy efficient homes for homebuilders, and more; 
    Welch proposed striking language in the bill that would rescind funding for state-based contractor training grants, as required in Welch’s HOPE for HOMES Act, passed as part of the Inflation Reduction Act; 
    Welch proposed striking language in the bill that would institute taxes on international remittances. 
    Welch proposed an amendment to dedicate funding for residential reentry centers, which are needed in Vermont; 
    Welch proposed an amendment to dedicate funding for the federal public defenders program, which is currently underfunded. 

    Senator Welch has been an outspoken opponent of the Republicans’ tax bill, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which Republicans are advancing through reconciliation process without Democratic support. Welch has slammed the bill for threatening access to health care and cutting food assistance, and has sounded the alarm about how this bill will add more than $4 trillion to the national debt and tank the economy.  
    Learn more about Senator Welch’s work by visiting his website or by following him on social media. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC MD 1509

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Mesoscale Discussion 1509

    Mesoscale Discussion 1509
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    0128 PM CDT Sun Jun 29 2025

    Areas affected…eastern WY…the NE Panhandle …southwest SD

    Concerning…Severe potential…Severe Thunderstorm Watch likely

    Valid 291828Z – 292030Z

    Probability of Watch Issuance…95 percent

    SUMMARY…At least isolated large hail and severe gusts are likely,
    with scattered coverage possible by late afternoon. A Severe
    Thunderstorm Watch issuance is expected.

    DISCUSSION…Initial, lower-topped convection has formed across far
    southeast MT towards the Black Hills. This activity is expected to
    strengthen over the next couple hours amid modest MLCAPE near 1000
    J/kg and effective bulk shear around 40 kts. While the parameter
    space is a step-down from yesterday, which should mitigate overall
    intensity, the coverage of storms should be greater by peak heating.
    Additional storms should develop within the weak upslope flow regime
    across southeast WY. Both areas may eventually converge in the NE
    Panhandle to far southwest SD vicinity by early evening. A few
    supercells with large hail are most likely in the northern regime
    surrounding the Black Hills. Severe gusts may be the primary hazard
    farther south where multicell clustering dominates.

    ..Grams/Hart.. 06/29/2025

    …Please see www.spc.noaa.gov for graphic product…

    ATTN…WFO…LBF…UNR…CYS…BYZ…RIW…

    LAT…LON 45350502 44520346 43690208 42970166 42050152 41470218
    41160293 41120431 41070513 42440530 43820586 44550635
    45350502

    MOST PROBABLE PEAK WIND GUST…55-70 MPH
    MOST PROBABLE PEAK HAIL SIZE…1.50-2.50 IN

    Top/All Mesoscale Discussions/Forecast Products/Home

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC MD 1510

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Mesoscale Discussion 1510

    Mesoscale Discussion 1510
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    0152 PM CDT Sun Jun 29 2025

    Areas affected…northeast CO…northwest KS…far southwest NE

    Concerning…Severe potential…Severe Thunderstorm Watch likely

    Valid 291852Z – 292045Z

    Probability of Watch Issuance…80 percent

    SUMMARY…Initially isolated severe wind/hail threats are
    anticipated along the I-25 corridor in Colorado. A slow-moving QLCS,
    with an increasing wind threat, should evolve eastward across
    northeast Colorado into northwest Kansas this evening.

    DISCUSSION…Persistent surface northeasterlies are aiding in the
    advection of 50s dew points westward towards the Foothills north of
    the Palmer Divide. This will aid in increasing convective
    development off the higher terrain and across the I-25 corridor into
    the adjacent High Plains through this evening. Mid-level westerlies
    are weak to modest, but sufficient for transient mid-level rotation
    amid substantial veering of the wind profile with height. This type
    of flow regime should support outflow-dominated convection.
    Colliding outflows and amalgamating cells will likely yield a
    slow-moving MCS as they shift east towards the KS border. As this
    occurs, a mix of severe wind/hail may transition to primarily a
    severe gust threat.

    ..Grams/Hart.. 06/29/2025

    …Please see www.spc.noaa.gov for graphic product…

    ATTN…WFO…LBF…GLD…PUB…BOU…

    LAT…LON 40940232 40590165 40080130 39400123 38550211 38400278
    38670412 39030472 39760493 40440509 40930510 40940326
    40940232

    MOST PROBABLE PEAK WIND GUST…65-80 MPH
    MOST PROBABLE PEAK HAIL SIZE…1.00-1.75 IN

    Top/All Mesoscale Discussions/Forecast Products/Home

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC MD 1511

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    MD 1511 CONCERNING SEVERE POTENTIAL…WATCH UNLIKELY FOR SOUTHEAST CO AND NORTHEAST NM

    Mesoscale Discussion 1511
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    0300 PM CDT Sun Jun 29 2025

    Areas affected…southeast CO and northeast NM

    Concerning…Severe potential…Watch unlikely

    Valid 292000Z – 292130Z

    Probability of Watch Issuance…20 percent

    SUMMARY…Isolated severe gusts and small to marginally severe hail
    will be possible through late afternoon across southeast Colorado
    into northeast New Mexico. After coordination with WFO PUB, watch
    issuance in the near-term is unlikely, but may increase later
    towards the Kansas border.

    DISCUSSION…Several cells have formed from the Pikes Peak region
    southward along the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Much of this region
    lies on the fringe of meager buoyancy with a deep, well-mixed
    boundary layer across the adjacent High Plains. PUB VWP data sampled
    slightly stronger low-level northeasterlies relative to mid-level
    westerlies, indicative of the modest deep-layer flow and shear
    environment. Nevertheless, the large surface temperature-dew point
    spreads will be favorable for microbursts capable of strong to
    severe gusts. Convection is expected to remain disorganized over the
    next few hours. There is signal that some uptick may occur into
    early evening as outflows impinge on increasingly greater buoyancy
    towards the KS border.

    ..Grams/Hart.. 06/29/2025

    …Please see www.spc.noaa.gov for graphic product…

    ATTN…WFO…AMA…PUB…ABQ…

    LAT…LON 38630494 38980467 38720418 38430412 38370334 38380309
    38260286 37650284 36940287 36600286 36210318 35730460
    35810497 37100483 38260499 38630494

    MOST PROBABLE PEAK WIND GUST…55-70 MPH
    MOST PROBABLE PEAK HAIL SIZE…UP TO 1.25 IN

    Read more

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: SUNDAY SHOWS: Send the One Big Beautiful Bill to President Trump’s Desk

    Source: US Whitehouse

    This morning, Members of Congress joined President Donald J. Trump on the Sunday shows to discuss the overwhelmingly positive impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill — which will deliver unprecedented tax relief, generational welfare reform, and historic spending cuts for the American people.

    Here’s what you missed:

    President Trump on Sunday Morning Futures

    • “We’re cutting $1.7 trillion … We’re going to have growth like we’ve never seen before.” (Watch)
    • “It takes care of the border. There’s also No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Social Security, No Tax on Overtime.” (Watch)

    Senator Markwayne Mullin on Meet the Press

    • “This cuts spending. It’s the largest deficit cut by any Congress ever in history. It makes tax cuts permanent — which, instead of taxes going up January 1 by $4 trillion, it actually restores the tax cuts and the average household of four is going to bring home pay over $10,000 more a year.” (Watch)
    • “What we’re doing is cutting the waste, fraud, and abuse out of the Medicaid system and make sure it’s for the people that it was originally intended for.” (Watch)

    Senator Jim Banks on Fox News Sunday

    • “This is the biggest spending cut in American history — a $1.6 trillion spending cut, getting rid of the Green New Deal scams from the Biden Administration, and it’s the biggest tax cut in American history for working class families.” (Watch)
    • “Everyone in my family is blue collar, working class. They’re all going to get socked by another $2,000, on average, every year. They already tell me they can’t keep up right now, and the Democrats want them to pay more in taxes? … Democrats are focused on screwing the working class with higher taxes … President Trump and Republicans are serious about cutting taxes on the people who need it the most.” (Watch)

    Senator Katie Britt on State of the Union

    • “We’re going to make sure that hardworking people can keep more of their money. We’re going to make sure that we have secure borders — not just now, but for generations to come. We’re going to make sure that we have a strong national defense so that our warfighter is the best trained, equipped, and ready across the planet. We’re going to unleash American energy … We want to make sure that these programs are available for the people who need them and we want to make sure that people who are working know that we see them and that they have a great opportunity to achieve the American Dream — and that’s what this bill does.” (Watch)
    • “The reforms in this bill are necessary and we’re going to deliver actual solutions to the American people … This bill does No Tax on Tips, it does No Tax on Overtime. Real, hardworking Americans are going to see results from this.” (Watch)

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Readout of the Secretary-General’s meeting with H.M. Don Felipe VI, King of Spain [scroll down for Spanish]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    The Secretary-General met with H.M. King Felipe VI of Spain. They discussed ongoing efforts to advance the international financing for development agenda.

    The Secretary-General expressed his deep gratitude for Spain’s unwavering commitment to multilateralism and the UN system, as well as its leadership role in international cooperation and as a permanent bridge builder between the North and the South.

    ****

    El Secretario General se reunió con S.M. el Rey Felipe VI de España y ambos hablaron de los esfuerzos para avanzar en la agenda de la  financiación internacional para el desarrollo.

    El Secretario General expresó su profunda gratitud por el compromiso inquebrantable de España con el multilateralismo y con las Naciones Unidas, así como por su papel de liderazgo en la cooperación internacional y como constructor de puentes entre el Norte y el Sur.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China, Vietnam Hold Border Meeting on Justice Cooperation

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    NANNING, June 29 (Xinhua) — Judicial and administrative organs of China and Vietnam held a border meeting from Saturday to Sunday in Nanning, capital of south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

    This was the first meeting of its kind. It was attended by about 150 people from both countries, including representatives of justice departments and local judicial and administrative bodies, as well as legal professionals.

    During the talks, the parties reached broad consensus on issues such as the creation of diversified mechanisms for settling civil and commercial disputes at the border, expanding and deepening cooperation in the provision of legal services and joint training of highly qualified legal personnel.

    According to Chinese Justice Minister He Rong, relevant departments of the two countries should work together to strengthen exchanges and practical cooperation in various fields, including legislation, legal services, legal assistance, training of highly qualified specialists and the introduction of digital technologies.

    For his part, Vietnamese Minister of Justice Nguyen Hai Ninh pointed out that the meeting would contribute to building a peaceful and friendly border, deepening bilateral relations of comprehensive strategic cooperation and partnership, and jointly promoting the construction of a Vietnamese-Chinese community of shared destiny, which is of strategic importance.

    The participants discussed in detail issues of advocacy, conciliation procedures, international cooperation, legal assistance in civil and commercial cases, and training of personnel in the field of jurisprudence.

    During the meeting, a number of cooperation agreements were signed. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Hamas denies setting conditions for Gaza ceasefire

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    GAZA, June 29 (Xinhua) — Palestinian Hamas movement on Sunday denied reports that it had set conditions for a ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip.

    In its press release, Hamas said that the information from the Sky News Arabia news channel about the alleged conditions it had put forward for accepting a deal on prisoner exchange and a ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave were “baseless and full of lies.”

    “We reject this completely and utterly. The purpose of this is to divert attention from war crimes and cheap incitement against Hamas and the Palestinian resistance, and to distort their positions and declared positions,” Hamas stressed.

    Hamas is demanding that its political bureau not be harmed and that its assets not be confiscated, detained or restricted abroad, Sky News Arabia reported on Saturday, citing a Palestinian source.

    According to the same source, Hamas also insists on including its representatives or people associated with the movement and close to it in the future administration and security apparatus of the Gaza Strip.

    Meanwhile, on Sunday, senior Hamas leader Mahmoud Mardavi accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “setting impossible conditions aimed at derailing any swap deal and refusing to honor what he had previously agreed to.”

    On June 27, US President Donald Trump said a ceasefire agreement in Gaza could be reached within the next week. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: At least 71 killed in Israeli strike on Tehran prison: judiciary official

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    TEHRAN, June 29 (Xinhua) — At least 71 people were killed in an Israeli strike on Evin prison in the Iranian capital Tehran last week, Iranian judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir said on Sunday.

    As reported by the Mizan news agency, which is linked to the Iranian judicial system, citing A. Jahangir, the victims of the attack on June 23 were prison staff, conscript soldiers, prisoners and visiting family members, and residents of nearby houses.

    The spokesman noted that Israel had once again demonstrated its lack of commitment to international law with its “terrorist and brutal” attack on the prison. According to Jahangir, the infirmary, technical and engineering departments and the visiting area inside the prison complex were hit.

    He called the attack a “total crime,” adding that nearby homes were badly damaged and residents were seriously injured. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Name Release, Wai-iti death

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police can now release the name of the person who died in Wai-iti, Tasman, while clearing a fallen tree on Saturday.

    He was 67-year-old Peter Lines, of Wai-iti.

    Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this difficult time.

    His death will be referred to the Coroner.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Ripple Ends SEC Lawsuit—SunnyMining Cloud Mining Launches XRP Daily Cryptocurrency Earnings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, June 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ripple reached a landmark settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), XRP market sentiment quickly heated up, and the market’s attention to XRP and its revenue products continued to rise. Cloud mining platform SunnyMining has launched an XRP contract revenue plan in response to the trend. Users can obtain XRP revenue daily through the AI computing platform without hardware or settings.

    Ripple ends legal dispute, XRP market recovers

    Ripple and the SEC have reached a formal settlement in their four-year lawsuit. Ripple has not been found to have violated any regulations, marking the end of regulatory uncertainty. After the announcement, XRP prices rebounded by more than 17% in the short term, and market sentiment quickly heated up. The industry generally believes that this result is expected to accelerate the development of the XRP ecosystem and compliant applications.
    The market is still volatile, SunnyMining provides passive income solutions
    Although Ripple has reached a settlement with the SEC, the XRP market is still volatile in the short term. Against this backdrop, SunnyMining launched the XRP Income Plan, which aims to help XRP holders achieve stable income through automation in an uncertain market.

    “We are committed to helping users earn daily crypto income in an easier way.” — CEO of Sunny Mining
    According to SunnyMining, the program is driven by an AI computing power scheduling system and a smart contract engine. Users do not need any hardware or operations to automatically obtain XRP income every day according to the selected cycle. Currently, the service has covered more than 190 countries and regions, supports multi-language interfaces and real-time income tracking, and truly realizes a zero-threshold passive crypto income experience.

    SunnyMining expands currency support and adds XRP settlement for contract earnings

    In response to the market’s attention to XRP investment channels, SunnyMining has officially launched the XRP income contract to further improve its multi-currency income system. The contract has been running in parallel with the platform’s existing BTC, DOGE, LTC and other mainstream currency contracts. Users can freely choose the currency and period, and automatically settle XRP income on a daily basis.

    Inside SunnyMining: A System That Thinks for You

    What sets SunnyMining apart is its integration of real-time AI algorithms that intelligently balance computational power across its global network. These algorithms monitor market and network data to optimize mining performance while minimizing energy use.

    From Bitcoin and Ethereum to Dogecoin and XRP, the platform supports a multi-asset environment where each contract is automated, trackable, and renewable-powered.

    SunnyMining Platform Highlights at a Glance

    Asset security mechanism: cold wallet and encrypted communication are used to ensure user security
    Flexible contract system: supports multi-currency and multi-period contract combinations, free configuration
    Intelligent income scheduling: AI system dynamically allocates resources and optimizes contract efficiency
    Extensible user experience: supports simultaneous access on mobile and web terminals, providing real-time income viewing and contract management.

    How to participate in the XRP Earning Program for free

    1. Register an account: Visit SunnyMining official website and complete the registration process.
    2. Receive trial bonus: After successful registration, you will receive an XRP trial contract worth $15.
    3. Start earning: The contract automatically settles XRP earnings every day, and no operation is required during the process.
    4. View and upgrade: Users can view their earnings in real time. After the experience is over, they can choose the official contract or participate in other currency plans.

    About SunnyMining

    SunnyMining is a global multi-asset cloud mining platform that focuses on providing users with stable, secure, and automated crypto-income solutions. The platform supports mainstream currencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Ripple, Litecoin, and Dogecoin, and is committed to using intelligent technology to lower barriers, optimize efficiency, and promote the popularization of passive income methods among global users.
    Visit https://www.sunnymining.com to learn more and start your XRP earning experience.
    Media Contact
    SunnyMining
    info@sunnymining.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Murdoch’s News Corp has moved into the mortgage business. Where are the regulators?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roberta Esbitt, Associate, RMIT University

    If you want to advertise a house online in Australia, you don’t have many options. Just two companies dominate the market.

    Australia’s largest property listings platform, realestate.com.au, belongs to digital media company REA Group, which is majority-owned by Rupert Murdoch’s US-based media conglomerate News Corporation (News Corp).

    REA claims average traffic of 11.9 million viewers per month, substantially more than that of its nearest rival, Domain.

    That’s led to widespread concern about REA’s dominant market power and the potential for price-gouging, which are currently subject to an ongoing probe by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

    Meanwhile, my research has revealed that REA has expanded into mortgage lending, an important new direction which, until now, has escaped attention.

    The implications here are worth considering. News Corp, a foreign-owned media company, now has a direct stake in framing the Australian housing narrative and influencing policy, while profiting through its property platform from listings, data, and its own mortgages.

    It’s a shrewd business strategy. But Australia currently doesn’t have a regulator fit for overseeing such a hybrid entity, raising serious questions about who is keeping watch.

    ‘Good debt’

    Australian households have long accepted the prevailing narrative, promoted by the media, that housing investment is their “path to wealth”. Mortgages are endorsed as the way to manage the growing gap between flatlined wages and rising house prices.

    Primed for finance in this way, many households have come to embrace mortgages as an aspirational form of “good debt”, the mark of a savvy player rather than a long-term financial burden.

    This has helped fuel what could be described as a housing “frenzy”, a volatile situation in which escalating housing prices and indebtedness undermine household wellbeing. Younger generations and the disadvantaged, among others, are left out in the cold.

    From newspapers to platforms to finance

    As digitisation has forced legacy media players such as News Corp to seek new strategies to stay viable, so too has it disrupted the finance industry by opening it up to non-bank players.

    Taking advantage of this opportunity, REA Group entered the mortgage market in 2016, starting with a partnership with National Australia Bank. It purchased mortgage brokerages the following year.

    The realestate.com.au platform was then redesigned to include a mortgage portal to direct millions of Australian homeseekers to lending through those channels. This provides REA with revenue from platform leads to the bank, as well as up-front and trailing mortgage commissions from their brokers.

    REA also harvests the extensive financial data supplied by millions of users via their financial profiles and the calculator tools embedded in the website.

    That data, an increasingly valuable asset, can be monetised through the platform’s advertiser and homebuyer markets, and News Corp’s extensive partnerships with data broker and analytics companies.

    Selling mortgages

    Most recently, REA Group has taken its finance strategy one step further. In October 2024, it purchased a 19.9% stake in digital non-bank lender Athena Home Loans.

    This allows REA to profit directly from its own mortgages offered to platform users through its current brokerage, Mortgage Choice.

    For REA Group (and its owner, News Corp), this move is both logical and strategically compelling in a challenging media environment. As well as influencing policy, REA Group and News Corp are proficient in crafting and cross-promoting a powerful message about housing and debt to the public.

    With their profit now even more directly tied to the housing mortgage market – and thereby customers’ debt – the Athena acquisition can only strengthen REA’s vested interest in the continued rise in house prices and household indebtedness. This has the potential to undermine policies to improve housing affordability.

    The law can’t keep up

    The power imbalance against consumers is stark. So which regulator is keeping an eye on it?

    Such an initiative combining housing, finance and media can slip through the cracks in Australia’s fragmented regulatory system with its narrowly-focused legislation.

    The legislation lags behind the technology as well. A platform’s persuasive design, with its algorithmic tools, predetermined paths and data harvesting, obscures its prioritisation of commercial interests over that of consumers.

    Players from different industries interacting through the “black box” of a platform appear to come under looser regulatory oversight than those from a single industry or operating outside a platform.

    As an ACCC representative admitted:

    the legislation isn’t updated in the way that […] keeps pace with the evolving technology, trends and emerging markets.

    In a landscape where such complex digital initiatives are becoming the norm, regulators urgently need to update their understanding and broaden their jurisdiction to include them.

    And not just in Australia. REA has confirmed that a successful trial of its initiative here will lead to its rollout across its broad global property platform network.

    Nor just REA. Other companies are eyeing this space. REA’s closest competitor, Domain, is currently under acquisition by CoStar, a major digital real estate player in the United States, with the aim to challenge REA.

    The rapid and major disruptions caused by such initiatives, such as Airbnb’s negative impact on housing affordability globally, can be difficult to redress retrospectively.

    Somebody needs to keep watch.

    REA Group declined to comment on this article.

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

    – ref. Murdoch’s News Corp has moved into the mortgage business. Where are the regulators? – https://theconversation.com/murdochs-news-corp-has-moved-into-the-mortgage-business-where-are-the-regulators-259039

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Murdoch’s News Corp has moved into the mortgage business. Where are the regulators?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roberta Esbitt, Associate, RMIT University

    If you want to advertise a house online in Australia, you don’t have many options. Just two companies dominate the market.

    Australia’s largest property listings platform, realestate.com.au, belongs to digital media company REA Group, which is majority-owned by Rupert Murdoch’s US-based media conglomerate News Corporation (News Corp).

    REA claims average traffic of 11.9 million viewers per month, substantially more than that of its nearest rival, Domain.

    That’s led to widespread concern about REA’s dominant market power and the potential for price-gouging, which are currently subject to an ongoing probe by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

    Meanwhile, my research has revealed that REA has expanded into mortgage lending, an important new direction which, until now, has escaped attention.

    The implications here are worth considering. News Corp, a foreign-owned media company, now has a direct stake in framing the Australian housing narrative and influencing policy, while profiting through its property platform from listings, data, and its own mortgages.

    It’s a shrewd business strategy. But Australia currently doesn’t have a regulator fit for overseeing such a hybrid entity, raising serious questions about who is keeping watch.

    ‘Good debt’

    Australian households have long accepted the prevailing narrative, promoted by the media, that housing investment is their “path to wealth”. Mortgages are endorsed as the way to manage the growing gap between flatlined wages and rising house prices.

    Primed for finance in this way, many households have come to embrace mortgages as an aspirational form of “good debt”, the mark of a savvy player rather than a long-term financial burden.

    This has helped fuel what could be described as a housing “frenzy”, a volatile situation in which escalating housing prices and indebtedness undermine household wellbeing. Younger generations and the disadvantaged, among others, are left out in the cold.

    From newspapers to platforms to finance

    As digitisation has forced legacy media players such as News Corp to seek new strategies to stay viable, so too has it disrupted the finance industry by opening it up to non-bank players.

    Taking advantage of this opportunity, REA Group entered the mortgage market in 2016, starting with a partnership with National Australia Bank. It purchased mortgage brokerages the following year.

    The realestate.com.au platform was then redesigned to include a mortgage portal to direct millions of Australian homeseekers to lending through those channels. This provides REA with revenue from platform leads to the bank, as well as up-front and trailing mortgage commissions from their brokers.

    REA also harvests the extensive financial data supplied by millions of users via their financial profiles and the calculator tools embedded in the website.

    That data, an increasingly valuable asset, can be monetised through the platform’s advertiser and homebuyer markets, and News Corp’s extensive partnerships with data broker and analytics companies.

    Selling mortgages

    Most recently, REA Group has taken its finance strategy one step further. In October 2024, it purchased a 19.9% stake in digital non-bank lender Athena Home Loans.

    This allows REA to profit directly from its own mortgages offered to platform users through its current brokerage, Mortgage Choice.

    For REA Group (and its owner, News Corp), this move is both logical and strategically compelling in a challenging media environment. As well as influencing policy, REA Group and News Corp are proficient in crafting and cross-promoting a powerful message about housing and debt to the public.

    With their profit now even more directly tied to the housing mortgage market – and thereby customers’ debt – the Athena acquisition can only strengthen REA’s vested interest in the continued rise in house prices and household indebtedness. This has the potential to undermine policies to improve housing affordability.

    The law can’t keep up

    The power imbalance against consumers is stark. So which regulator is keeping an eye on it?

    Such an initiative combining housing, finance and media can slip through the cracks in Australia’s fragmented regulatory system with its narrowly-focused legislation.

    The legislation lags behind the technology as well. A platform’s persuasive design, with its algorithmic tools, predetermined paths and data harvesting, obscures its prioritisation of commercial interests over that of consumers.

    Players from different industries interacting through the “black box” of a platform appear to come under looser regulatory oversight than those from a single industry or operating outside a platform.

    As an ACCC representative admitted:

    the legislation isn’t updated in the way that […] keeps pace with the evolving technology, trends and emerging markets.

    In a landscape where such complex digital initiatives are becoming the norm, regulators urgently need to update their understanding and broaden their jurisdiction to include them.

    And not just in Australia. REA has confirmed that a successful trial of its initiative here will lead to its rollout across its broad global property platform network.

    Nor just REA. Other companies are eyeing this space. REA’s closest competitor, Domain, is currently under acquisition by CoStar, a major digital real estate player in the United States, with the aim to challenge REA.

    The rapid and major disruptions caused by such initiatives, such as Airbnb’s negative impact on housing affordability globally, can be difficult to redress retrospectively.

    Somebody needs to keep watch.

    REA Group declined to comment on this article.

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

    – ref. Murdoch’s News Corp has moved into the mortgage business. Where are the regulators? – https://theconversation.com/murdochs-news-corp-has-moved-into-the-mortgage-business-where-are-the-regulators-259039

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: NZ cities are getting hotter: 5 things councils can do now to keep us cooler when summer comes

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Welch, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

    Getty Images

    Stand on any car park on a sunny day in February and the heat will radiate through your shoes. At 30°C air temperature, that asphalt hits 50–55°C – hot enough to cause second-degree burns to skin in seconds.

    Right now, in the northern hemisphere summer, 100 million Americans are dealing with 38°C temperatures. Britain is preparing for hundreds of heat deaths. In New Zealand, of course, we’re still lighting fires and complaining about the cold.

    But that gives us time to prepare for our own heatwaves. Open-air car parks that sit empty for 20 hours a day could become cooling infrastructure instead. Transport routes can become cooling corridors.

    Replace asphalt with trees, grass and permeable surfaces, and you can drop surface temperatures by 12°C. It’s not complicated. It’s not even expensive.

    It’s getting hotter

    NIWA data shows New Zealand is already experiencing extreme temperatures five times more frequently than historical baselines. Wellington hit 30.3°C and Hamilton 32.9°C in January, both all-time records. Marine heatwaves are persisting around South Island coasts months longer than usual.

    Aucklanders will face 48 additional days above 25°C annually by 2099, as summer temperatures increase by 3.6°C. Auckland Council has already adopted the most severe warming scenario (3.8°C) for infrastructure planning, acknowledging previous models underestimated the pace of change.

    Even Wellington’s famously cool winds won’t offset the estimated 79% increase in residential cooling energy demand by 2090, driven by hotter, longer summers and more extreme-heat days.

    A quarter of New Zealand’s population will be over 65 by 2043, an age when heat regulation becomes harder and fixed incomes make cooling costs a real burden.

    Currently, 14 heat-related deaths occur annually among Auckland’s over-65 population when temperatures exceed just 20°C. As the mercury rises, our older population will be at a greater risk.

    Summer in the city: a vendor sells drinks and ice cream during a severe heat wave in Washington DC, June 23.
    Getty Images

    Greener is cooler

    While global average temperature increases of 1.5°C might appear modest, the actual temperatures we experience in our cities is far more extreme. The built environment – all that concrete and asphalt – traps heat like an oven.

    But converting car parks back to green space can knock the temperature down dramatically.

    Research from Osaka Prefecture in Japan recorded surface temperature reductions of up to 14.7°C when comparing asphalt to grass-covered parking during sunny summer conditions.

    Another study found temperature differences averaging 11.79°C between asphalt and grass surfaces, with air temperature differences of 7-8°C at human height.

    Trees are the heavy lifters here. Stand under a tree on a hot day, and it can feel 17°C cooler than standing in the sun. Add rain gardens (shallow, planted areas designed to capture and filter stormwater) and ground cover for another 2-4°C reduction. Layer these elements together, and you get cooling that works even on overcast days.

    Roads as cooling corridors

    Grassy and tree-covered car parks are just a starting point. Auckland’s 7,800 kilometres of roads could become the city’s cooling system. Every bus lane, cycleway and walking path is an opportunity for green infrastructure.

    If we stop thinking of transport corridors as merely a way to get from one place to another, and see them as multifunctional cooling networks, the possibilities multiply while the costs remain relatively low.

    Melbourne’s COVID-era parklet program proved this works: 594 small conversions created 15,000 square metres of public space at just A$300–900 per square metre.

    Converting even a small percentage of New Zealand’s parking infrastructure could create connected cooling corridors throughout our cities.

    Protecting cycleways with a tree canopy would encourage active transport while cooling neighbourhoods. Bus lanes with rain garden medians would improve service reliability while managing stormwater.

    5 things councils can do

    Summer is six months away – maybe not enough time to do all the work needed, but certainly enough to get a plan in place. Here are five things councils could do.

    1. Plant trees now: winter is planting season. Focus on car parks and heat-vulnerable neighbourhoods. Use fast-growing natives and protective rings to ensure survival. Trees planted now will provide shade by December.

    2. Install modular planters: test cooling locations with movable infrastructure before committing to permanent changes. Order now for spring placement when residents can see the benefits.

    3. Schedule paving replacements: when resurfacing is needed, switch to permeable options and get heat-reducing surfaces in place before summer.

    4. Design shade structures: plan and budget pop-up shade for the hottest areas. Having designs ready means quick installation when temperatures spike.

    5. Organise spring planting days: line up community groups now, source trees through winter nursery contracts, and hit the ground running in September. Small investments in coordination yield big cooling dividends.

    Auckland Council’s NZ$1 billion climate action package includes grants of $1,000 to $50,000 for climate projects. Wellington’s Climate and Sustainability Fund and Christchurch’s 50-year Urban Forest Plan provide similar frameworks.

    The Ministry for the Environment’s National Policy Statement on Urban Development creates opportunity by removing minimum parking requirements. This frees up land for trees, gardens and public spaces instead of underused asphalt, maximising climate co-benefits: cooler surfaces, better stormwater management and more pleasant streetscapes.

    By next February, we can either be thanking ourselves for planting trees and converting car parks, or feeling the heat from that 50°C asphalt.

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

    – ref. NZ cities are getting hotter: 5 things councils can do now to keep us cooler when summer comes – https://theconversation.com/nz-cities-are-getting-hotter-5-things-councils-can-do-now-to-keep-us-cooler-when-summer-comes-259885

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Mr Smith or Gary? Why some teachers ask students to call them by their first name

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicole Brownlie, Lecturer in Education, University of Southern Queensland

    Johnny Greig/ Getty Images

    When you went to school, did you call your teacher Mrs, Ms or Mr, followed by their surname? Perhaps you even called them Sir or Miss.

    The tradition of addressing teachers in a formal manner goes back centuries. For many of us, calling a teacher by their first name would have been unthinkable.

    But that’s not automatically the case anymore. Some teachers in mainstream schools now ask students to call them by their first name.

    Why is this? And what impact can teachers’ names have in the classroom?

    There’s no rule

    There’s no official rule in Australia on what students should call teachers.
    Naming is usually decided by schools or individual teachers. This is no official training on this topic before teachers start in classrooms.

    Some primary school teachers now use first names or a less formal name such as “Mr D”. Teachers say this helps break down barriers, especially for young students or those who are learning English as an additional language.

    High schools are more likely to stick with tradition, partly to maintain structure and boundaries, especially with teenagers. Using formal titles can also support early-career teachers or those from minority
    backgrounds     assert their authority in a classroom.

    But even so, some high school teachers are using their first names to foster a sense of trust and encourage students to see them as a partner in learning, rather than simply an authority figure.

    What does the research say?

    Research – which is mainly from the United States – suggests names have an impact on how students perceive their teachers and feel about school.

    In one study of US high school students, teenagers described teachers they addressed with formal titles as more distant and harder to connect with. Teachers who invited students to use their first name were seen as more supportive, approachable and trustworthy.

    A secondary school principal in the state of Maryland reported students felt more included and respected when they could use teachers’ first names. It made classrooms feel less hierarchical and more collaborative.

    A 2020 US study on teaching students doing practical placements found those who used their first name observed greater student engagement than those who did not. This came as a surprise to the student teachers who expected students would not respect them if they used their first names.

    These findings don’t necessarily mean titles are bad. Rather, they show first names can support stronger teacher-student relationships.

    It’s important to note society in general has become less formal in recent decades in terms of how we address and refer to each other.

    So, what should students call their teachers?

    What works in one school, or even one classroom, may not work in another.

    For example, for Indigenous students or students from non-English speaking households, name practices that show cultural respect and mutual choice can be vital. They help create a sense of safety and inclusion.

    But for other teachers, being called by their title may be a key part of their professional persona.

    That’s why it’s important for naming decisions to be thoughtful and based on the needs of the teacher, students and broader school community.

    The key is to treat naming as part of the broader relationship, not just a habit or automatic tradition. Whether students say “Mrs Lee” or “Jess” matters less than whether they feel safe, respected and included. It’s about the tone and relationship behind the name, not simply what someone is called.

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

    – ref. Mr Smith or Gary? Why some teachers ask students to call them by their first name – https://theconversation.com/mr-smith-or-gary-why-some-teachers-ask-students-to-call-them-by-their-first-name-259790

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How to reform the NDIS and better support disabled people who don’t qualify for it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Bennett, Disability Program Director, Grattan Institute

    Australia is spending more than ever on disability services – and yet many people with disability still aren’t receiving the support they need.

    Since the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) began in 2013, it has transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of disabled Australians and their families.

    But the NDIS has grown too big, too fast.

    The scheme cost nearly A$42 billion in 2023-24 and is expected to cost more than $58 billion by 2028. This makes it one of the fastest-growing pressures on the federal budget.

    New “foundational supports” – disability-specific services outside individual NDIS packages – are part of the answer to reduce demand on the NDIS and make the scheme sustainable. They were supposed to be operational from July 1 2025. That’s tomorrow, but they are nowhere to be seen.

    A new Grattan Institute report shows how the government can fund these vital supports and save the NDIS – without spending more money.

    Spending is too concentrated in the NDIS

    All Australian governments are spending more on disability services than they were before the NDIS.

    Note: Includes all expenditure on direct disability service delivery by Australian governments.
    Sources: Productivity Commission Return on Government Services report 2025/Grattan Institute

    This is a good thing. But most of this expenditure is for individual NDIS funding packages. The NDIS funds packages for about 700,000 Australians.

    This leaves little support for the roughly 75% of disabled Australians who don’t qualify for the NDIS.

    Around 200,000 Australians with a severe mental illness, for example, aren’t receiving the psychosocial supports they need.

    Many other disabled Australians might only require occasional or low-intensity support such as peer support, supported decision-making, or self-advocacy – supports which are poorly funded and targeted under current arrangements.

    So there’s a huge incentive for people to get into the NDIS, regardless of whether an individualised funding package best meets their needs.

    The NDIS supports more people than intended

    We’re seeing this incentive play out in ballooning numbers of people entering the NDIS.

    In 2011, the Productivity Commission estimated a mature NDIS would serve 490,000 people.

    But in 2025, the NDIS is supporting more than 700,000 people. That number is projected to surpass one million by 2034.

    The number of adults in the scheme is only a little higher than originally expected, but the number of children is nearly double.

    Note: Productivity Commission estimates have been inflated based on population growth for 0-64 year-olds between the reference year (2009) and 2024, using Australian Bureau of Statistics Estimated Resident Population data.
    Sources: Productivity Commission Disability Care and Support 2011, National Disability Insurance Agency Explore Data 2024, Australian Bureau of Statistics Estimated Resident Population 2024/Grattan Institute

    About 10% of children aged five to seven are now in the NDIS, including 15% of six-year-old boys.

    The expectation was that many children would only require short-term early intervention supports. Instead, most children are staying in the scheme long term.

    Our research shows the current NDIS design is poorly suited to delivering early intervention, which works best for children when it is delivered in the places they live, learn and play. This includes in playgroups, libraries and early childhood education settings.

    An individualised funding model makes this difficult. Yet this is the only option available for most families, because the NDIS has led to reduced investment in services that could work far better for their children.

    Support more Australians with disability

    The problem isn’t the amount of funding in the system, but the way it is used.

    The original NDIS design was for a multi-tiered scheme with different levels of coverage. Getting back to this idea is what foundational supports is all about.

    Foundational supports are services and supports for people with disability that do not involve individualised funding from the NDIS.

    To meet the needs of more disabled Australians and take pressure off the NDIS, it is imperative that governments establish an ambitious program of these lower-intensity supports.

    These should include supports available to all disabled Australians who need them, such as information and advice, support with decision-making, and access to peer support or self-advocacy.

    Foundational supports are best delivered where people live, play and learn.
    Central City Library (Kids zone)/Shutterstock

    They should also include evidence-based early intervention supports for children with disability and/or developmental delay. And they should include psychosocial supports for people with severe mental illness who don’t meet the threshold for an individualised NDIS package.

    The current impasse in Commonwealth-state funding negotiations could be overcome by governments agreeing to repurpose a small portion – about 10% – of their existing NDIS contributions.

    Our report outlines a plan to fully fund foundational supports using this repurposed funding and better allocate individualised funding. This would ensure more people get the support they need within an affordable NDIS that grows more slowly.

    Don’t save money by delaying access

    NDIS growth has fallen in recent quarters and is on track to be 10.6% in 2024-25.

    This compares with an average growth rate of more than 24% a year over the past five years.

    But it is too early to attribute that reduction in growth to policy changes.

    A significant downturn in operational performance is very likely to be a contributing factor. The NDIS is groaning under the weight of unsustainable work volumes.

    Since September 2023, it has been taking longer to approve new applicants trying to get access to the NDIS, and to reassess the plans of people already on the scheme.

    Notes: Data is unavailable for December 2023 due to the NDIA upgrading to a new computer system.
    Sources: NDIA Quarterly reports, Q4 2021-22 to Q3 2024-25/Grattan Institute

    We know what drives growth in NDIS expenditure: more people joining the scheme, and existing NDIS participants’ plans increasing over time.

    At the moment, slowing down how fast the NDIS is growing is coming at the expense of the disabled people who need support from the NDIS and are waiting too long to get it.

    It is important that necessary growth moderation is achieved through measures that do not result in vital supports being delayed, or disabled peoples’ experience of, and results from, the NDIS being undermined.

    The NDIS is worth saving. Making necessary policy changes now to rebalance the NDIS will ensure it endures for future generations.

    Grattan Institute’s Disability Program has support from the Summer Foundation.

    – ref. How to reform the NDIS and better support disabled people who don’t qualify for it – https://theconversation.com/how-to-reform-the-ndis-and-better-support-disabled-people-who-dont-qualify-for-it-258799

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Could we live with a nuclear-armed Iran? Reluctantly, yes

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Benjamin Zala, Senior Lecturer, Politics & International Relations, Monash University

    As the ceasefire between Israel and Iran seems to be holding for now, it is important to reflect on whether this whole episode was worth the risks.

    Wider escalation was (and remains) possible, and we do not know whether Iran will seek a nuclear weapon with renewed vigour in the future.

    So, could we live with a nuclear-armed Iran, if it does indeed continue to pursue a bomb?

    Is an Iranian bomb an existential threat?

    The conventional wisdom, at least in the Western world, is that an Iranian nuclear weapon would pose an existential threat to Israel, and possibly the United States as well.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities were aimed at rolling back “the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival”.

    White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described an Iranian bomb as “an existential threat, not just to Israel, but to the United States, and to the entire world”.

    The same mantra has been repeated by leaders in Europe, at the G7 meeting, and in Australia.

    Iran, of course, did not yet possess a nuclear weapon when the strikes occurred, as the UN nuclear watchdog attested. The strikes were aimed at preventing Iran from being able to do so in the future – a prospect seen by Israel and the US as simply “unthinkable”.

    But if Iran had built a nuclear weapon before the Israeli and US strikes – or manages to do so in the future – would this pose an existential threat to Israel or the US?

    The answer is no. And for a very simple reason: nuclear deterrence works.

    Why deterrence works

    If Iran had a monopoly on nuclear weapons, it would be different. But it does not.

    Israel has maintained a robust nuclear arsenal for more than half a century. Every authoritative assessment of global nuclear weapons stockpiles includes Israel’s roughly 90 nuclear warheads.

    The Israeli government officially neither confirms nor denies the existence of its nuclear arsenal. But thanks to leaks from inside the Israeli nuclear program – as well as the best assessments from around the world – we can be quite sure they exist. It also explains why Israel has never signed the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty – it can’t without giving up this stockpile.

    The US, of course, has been nuclear-armed since 1945 and openly maintains an inventory of thousands of nuclear warheads. These provide a deterrent against nuclear attacks on the United States.

    Washington also provides extended nuclear deterrence guarantees to over 30 states, including members of NATO, Japan, South Korea and Australia. It does not need to provide this for Israel given the Israeli arsenal. But if there was ever any doubt about Israel’s stockpile, it certainly could.

    After 80 years of living with nuclear weapons, we know the deterrent effect of assured nuclear retaliation is very powerful. It deterred both the Soviets and Americans from using nuclear weapons against each other through multiple Cold War crises. It has deterred both India and Pakistan from using them in multiple standoffs, including quite recently. It has deterred both North Korea and the US from striking each other.

    Similarly, Iran would no doubt be deterred from using a nuclear weapon by a certain Israeli or American response.

    Iranian leaders have called for the destruction of Israel, and the chants of “death to Israel” and “death to America” are a common occurrence at rallies held by supporters of the regime.

    But beneath the fiery rhetoric lies a truism: no Iranian leader would destroy Israel with a nuclear weapon if it came at the expense of the destruction of Iran.

    In the history of the nation-state, not a single one has ever knowingly committed suicide. Not for any reason – ideological, religious, political or any other. All nations value survival over everything else because this allows for the achievement of other goals, such as power and prosperity.

    Further, Iran is ruled by a brutally authoritarian, theocratic regime. And for authoritarian regimes, staying in power is the number one priority. There is no staying in power the day after a nuclear exchange.

    Not a panacea

    This does not mean an Iranian nuclear weapon would be a welcome development. Far from it.

    Every new nuclear-armed state provides another opportunity for miscalculation or accident. It adds extra stress to an already fragile non-proliferation regime.

    In addition, nuclear deterrence is not just and can be considered ethically questionable. It may not even be sustainable over the longer term.

    There is no doubt the existence of over 12,000 nuclear weapons globally poses a potentially existential risk to all of humanity.

    But the idea that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose a unique risk to Israel or the United States simply does not stand up to scrutiny. If we can live with a nuclear-armed North Korea, nuclear-armed Pakistan, and for that matter, a nuclear-armed Israel, we can live, however reluctantly, with a nuclear-armed Iran.

    Regardless of whether the current proposed ceasefire between Israel and Iran holds, the military operation initiated by Israel and bolstered by the United States was extremely dangerous and unnecessary, based on both countries’ justification.

    The regime in Tehran is brutal, authoritarian, openly antisemitic and worthy of our disdain. But there is no evidence it is suicidal.

    The claim an Iranian nuclear bomb would pose an existential threat to Israel or the United States and justifies unilateral, preventive military attacks makes no sense.

    It is time to stop repeating it.

    Benjamin Zala has received funding from the Stanton Foundation, a US philanthropic group that funds nuclear research. He is an honorary fellow at the University of Leicester on a project that is funded by the European Research Council.

    – ref. Could we live with a nuclear-armed Iran? Reluctantly, yes – https://theconversation.com/could-we-live-with-a-nuclear-armed-iran-reluctantly-yes-259905

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Scientists look to black holes to know exactly where we are in the Universe. But phones and wifi are blocking the view

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lucia McCallum, Senior Scientist in Geodesy, University of Tasmania

    ESA / Hubble / L. Calçada (ESO), CC BY

    The scientists who precisely measure the position of Earth are in a bit of trouble. Their measurements are essential for the satellites we use for navigation, communication and Earth observation every day.

    But you might be surprised to learn that making these measurements – using the science of geodesy – depends on tracking the locations of black holes in distant galaxies.

    The problem is, the scientists need to use specific frequency lanes on the radio spectrum highway to track those black holes.

    And with the rise of wifi, mobile phones and satellite internet, travel on that highway is starting to look like a traffic jam.

    Why we need black holes

    Satellites and the services they provide have become essential for modern life. From precision navigation in our pockets to measuring climate change, running global supply chains and making power grids and online banking possible, our civilisation cannot function without its orbiting companions.

    To use satellites, we need to know exactly where they are at any given time. Precise satellite positioning relies on the so-called “global geodesy supply chain”.

    This supply chain starts by establishing a reliable reference frame as a basis for all other measurements. Because satellites are constantly moving around Earth, Earth is constantly moving around the Sun, and the Sun is constantly moving through the galaxy, this reference frame needs to be carefully calibrated via some relatively fixed external objects.

    As it turns out, the best anchor points for the system are the black holes at the hearts of distant galaxies, which spew out streams of radiation as they devour stars and gas.

    These black holes are the most distant and stable objects we know. Using a technique called very long baseline interferometry, we can use a network of radio telescopes to lock onto the black hole signals and disentangle Earth’s own rotation and wobble in space from the satellites’ movement.

    Different lanes on the radio highway

    We use radio telescopes because we want to detect the radio waves coming from the black holes. Radio waves pass cleanly through the atmosphere and we can receive them during day and night and in all weather conditions.

    Radio waves are also used for communication on Earth – including things such as wifi and mobile phones. The use of different radio frequencies – different lanes on the radio highway – is closely regulated, and a few narrow lanes are reserved for radio astronomy.

    However, in previous decades the radio highway had relatively little traffic. Scientists commonly strayed from the radio astronomy lanes to receive the black hole signals.

    To reach the very high precision needed for modern technology, geodesy today relies on more than just the lanes exclusively reserved for astronomy.

    Radio traffic on the rise

    In recent years, human-made electromagnetic pollution has vastly increased. When wifi and mobile phone services emerged, scientists reacted by moving to higher frequencies.

    However, they are running out of lanes. Six generations of mobile phone services (each occupying a new lane) are crowding the spectrum, not to mention internet connections directly sent by a fleet of thousands of satellites.

    Today, the multitude of signals are often too strong for geodetic observatories to see through them to the very weak signals emitted by black holes. This puts many satellite services at risk.

    What can be done?

    To keep working into the future – to maintain the services on which we all depend – geodesy needs some more lanes on the radio highway. When the spectrum is divided up via international treaties at world radio conferences, geodesists need a seat at the table.

    Other potential fixes might include radio quiet zones around our essential radio telescopes. Work is also underway with satellite providers to avoid pointing radio emissions directly at radio telescopes.

    Any solution has to be global. For our geodetic measurements, we link radio telescopes together from all over the world, allowing us to mimic a telescope the size of Earth. The radio spectrum is primarily regulated by each nation individually, making this a huge challenge.

    But perhaps the first step is increasing awareness. If we want satellite navigation to work, our supermarkets to be stocked and our online money transfers arriving safely, we need to make sure we have a clear view of those black holes in distant galaxies – and that means clearing up the radio highway.

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

    – ref. Scientists look to black holes to know exactly where we are in the Universe. But phones and wifi are blocking the view – https://theconversation.com/scientists-look-to-black-holes-to-know-exactly-where-we-are-in-the-universe-but-phones-and-wifi-are-blocking-the-view-259977

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DAUPHIN COUNTY – Governor Shapiro, Revenue Secretary Browne to Announce Property Tax/Rent Rebates to Start Going Out on July 1

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    June 30, 2025 – Harrisburg, PA

    ADVISORY – DAUPHIN COUNTY – Governor Shapiro, Revenue Secretary Browne to Announce Property Tax/Rent Rebates to Start Going Out on July 1

    Governor Josh Shapiro and Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne will visit the East Shore YMCA in Harrisburg to announce that rebates on property taxes and rent paid in 2024 as part of the Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) program will start to be distributed on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, as required by law.

    This initial distribution will include approximately 425,000 rebates totaling $258 million – critical relief that is going to older homeowners, renters, and people with disabilities all across Pennsylvania.

    During his first year in office, Governor Shapiro signed into law a historic expansion of the PTRR program, making good on the commitment he made to Pennsylvania seniors and people with disabilities to ease the burden of rising costs. Based on the latest data from the past two years, this has already opened the door for approximately 150,000 first-time filers of the PTRR program to receive a rebate for the very first time.

    WHO:
    Governor Josh Shapiro
    Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne
    Eric Rothermel, Vice President of Government Relations, Harrisburg Area YMCA
    Bill Johnston-Walsh, AARP Pennsylvania State Director
    Representative Nate Davidson

    WHEN:
    Monday, June 30, 2025, at 11:00 AM

    WHERE:
    East Shore YMCA
    701 N. Front Street
    Harrisburg, PA 17101

    LIVE STREAM:
    pacast.com/live/gov
    governor.pa.gov/live/

    RSVP:
    Press who are interested in attending must RSVP with the names and phone numbers for each member of their team to ra-gvgovpress@pa.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Will XRP Hit $5? PFMCrypto Expands XRP Mining Contracts to Meet Surging Investment Demand

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Farington, England, June 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — XRP Builds Strong Momentum as $5 Price Target Comes Into Focus. PFMCrypto’s New XRP Mining Contracts Offer Investors a Unique Opportunity for Daily Passive Income and Long-Term Asset Growth.

    After nearly four years of legal proceedings, Ripple has officially ended its long-standing dispute with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by agreeing to pay a $125 million fine and withdraw all ongoing appeals. With this legal uncertainty finally resolved, investor confidence in XRP has returned strongly, and speculation is growing: Will XRP reach $5?

    This renewed momentum has turned investor attention toward PFMCrypto (PFMCrypto XRP Mining Contracts)—an AI-powered XRP cloud mining project that is rapidly emerging as the preferred entry point for those looking to participate in the token’s next bull run.

    XRP’s Journey Toward $5: What It Means for Investors
    According to PFMCrypto’s Chief Analyst, the resolution of regulatory uncertainty has pushed the likelihood of a U.S.-approved XRP ETF to 95%, potentially triggering significant institutional capital inflows. For XRP holders and new investors alike, PFMCrypto provides a low-barrier, efficient way to take advantage of this growth opportunity. Through its AI-optimized XRP mining contracts, users can begin earning stable daily returns—without the need for expensive equipment or technical know-how.

    Why PFMCrypto’s XRP Mining Model Is Poised to Lead in 2025
    Unlike traditional mining that relies on Proof-of-Work (PoW), XRP uses a consensus protocol, making conventional mining unfeasible. PFMCrypto solves this by offering next-generation cloud mining solutions, combining smart contract flexibility, high-yield algorithms, and an easy entry point for all users. Its AI-powered yield engine dynamically allocates computing power to maximize performance, allowing investors to earn daily returns from XRP cloud mining in real time. Within just one week of launch, PFMCrypto saw XRP mining contract sales surge 378%, as users flock to its low-barrier, high-liquidity solutions.

    Key Features of PFMCrypto XRP Cloud Mining Contracts

    • No Hardware Required – Open to all users, with no mining equipment or technical setup needed.
    • Daily Returns – Earn daily profits based on your active contract.
    • Secure Asset Custody – Funds protected by PFMCrypto’s enterprise-grade security infrastructure.
    • Flexible Terms – Contract amounts range from $10 to $100,000, with durations between 1 and 50 days.


    Flexible XRP Mining Plans Now Available
    Following the success of its BTC cloud mining contracts, PFMCrypto now offers over 10 different XRP mining plans. With a 378% increase in weekly purchases, users can choose plans tailored to their budgets and financial goals. All contracts support XRP mining and guarantee full principal return at maturity—making them ideal low-risk entry points for both beginners and experienced investors.
    Sample plans include:

    • $100 Plan – 2 Days – Earn $3.00 per day (+$2 bonus)
    • $1,000 Plan – 9 Days – Earn $13.10 per day
    • $5,000 Plan – 30 Days – Earn $78.50 per day
    • $10,000 Plan – 40 Days – Earn $180.00 per day

    These figures are not speculative—they’re backed by real-time data from over 9.2 million users worldwide, and powered by PFMCrypto’s high-performance infrastructure and AI-optimized earnings model.

    Click here to explore more cloud mining plans.

    Why PFMCrypto XRP Mining Is Ideal for Both Beginners and Experts

    • No Hardware Needed – Instantly mine XRP using PFMCrypto’s enterprise-grade infrastructure
    • Zero Maintenance Costs – No electricity bills, no setup fees—pure profit
    • Instant Withdrawals – Daily earnings can be withdrawn anytime
    • $10 Welcome Bonus – New users receive $10 in free XRP upon registration

    With an investment threshold as low as $100, users can access XRP mining and enjoy stable short-term returns without taking on market volatility risk.

    How to Start XRP Mining in Just Minutes

    1. Register – Sign up and claim your $10 bonus + daily login rewards
    2. Choose a Plan – Pick a contract that suits your strategy, from 2 to 30 days
    3. Start Mining – Let PFMCrypto’s AI engine do the work while you earn daily profits

    About PFMCrypto
    Founded in 2018, PFMCrypto is a global leader in AI-powered cloud mining, serving over 9.2 million users across 192 countries and regions. The platform supports mining for XRP, BTC, ETH, LTC, DOGE, and SOL, offering a reliable choice for low-risk, high-reward cryptocurrency investments. As XRP edges closer to the $5 milestone, PFMCrypto’s XRP mining ecosystem presents one of the most practical and profitable ways to get involved.

    Explore more and start XRP mining today:     https://pfmcrypto.net

    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release does not constitute an investment solicitation, nor does it constitute investment advice, financial advice, or trading recommendations. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risks and the possibility of losing funds. It is strongly recommended that you perform due diligence before investing or trading in cryptocurrencies and securities, including consulting a professional financial advisor.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Spain Men’s Team and Netherlands Women’s Team Win 2025 FIBA 3×3 World Cup

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    ULAN BATOR, June 29 (Xinhua) — The Spanish men’s team and the Netherlands women’s team won gold medals at the 2025 FIBA 3×3 Basketball World Cup, which concluded Sunday evening in the capital of Mongolia.

    The Spanish men’s team beat Switzerland 21-17 in the final, while the Dutch women’s team defeated Mongolia 15-9.

    The 9th 3×3 Basketball World Championship, held from June 23 to 29 in Ulaanbaatar, featured 20 men’s and 20 women’s teams. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HKSAR Government responds to media enquiries on relaxation of import control measures on Japanese food products by the Mainland

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    In response to media enquiries about the relaxation of import control measures on Japanese food products by the Mainland, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government issued the following statement today (June 30):
     
    The General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China issued on June 29, 2025 the “Notice on Conditional Resumption of the Import of Aquatic Products from Certain Regions in Japan” (the Notice), announcing that the import of some aquatic products of Japanese origin will be resumed with immediate effect, except for 10 metropolis/prefectures. According to the Notice, the import must comply with the relevant national laws and regulations, and food safety standards, and that the Japanese authority must effectively discharge its official regulatory responsibilities.
     
    In response to the discharge of the nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima into the sea by the Japanese government, the HKSAR Government has since August 24, 2023 banned the import of aquatic products from 10 higher-risk metropolis/prefectures, including Tokyo, Fukushima, Chiba, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Gunma, Miyagi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, to safeguard food safety and protect public health in Hong Kong. 
     
    The duration and scale of the discharge of the nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station are unprecedented. Therefore, we must act in a prudent manner.
     
    The HKSAR Government has been maintaining communication with the Japanese authority on the relevant issues, including requesting Japan to provide information on the latest development and scientific evidence concerning the discharge of the nuclear-contaminated water, to assess whether there are conditions for relaxing the current precautionary measures. The HKSAR Government will make a public announcement if there is any policy adjustment.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Honoring the LGBTQ+ Community During Pride Month

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced several expanded initiatives designed to increase support for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, including additional investments in the transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming communities and for LGBTQ+ hubs in New York City. As part of this year’s enacted budget, funding for the Lorena Borjas Transgender and Nonbinary Wellness and Equity Fund increased by half a million dollars for crucial health and human services, bringing the total of the fund to over $15 million and making it the largest fund of its kind in the nation. Building on this support, Governor Hochul made additional investments of $1 million in capital funding to support the continued preservation of the LGBT Center of NYC, which provides recovery and wellness programs, economic advancement initiatives, family and youth support, advocacy, arts and cultural programming, and space for community organizing, connection, and celebration.

    “New York is the birthplace of the LGBTQ+ movement, and today, we continue pushing this legacy forward,” Governor Hochul said. “This month and every month, we will continue to honor the contributions of LGBTQ+ New Yorkers and will work to protect, support, and celebrate the vibrancy they bring to New York.”

    To further address the needs of transgender, gender non-conforming, and nonbinary (TGNCNB) New Yorkers, the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) is awarding $960,000 in workforce development grants to support programming designed to help TGNCNB individuals enter the workforce. TWEF grants support organizations committed to promoting health and employment equity for the TGNCNB community. This funding directly addresses critical workforce issues uncovered in NYSDOL’s 2023 TGNCNB Employment Report, which found that TGNCNB New Yorkers experience lower incomes and higher unemployment due to several factors, most notably, discrimination.

    Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick said, “Increased federal attacks on the LGBTQ community have undermined our safety and systematically eliminated crucial supports for a variety of essential services from healthcare to mental health services to workforce development programs. LGBTQ Americans pay taxes and rightfully expect their needs will be addressed. Fortunately for LGBTQ New Yorkers, our Governor Kathy Hochul not only believes in the importance of equality, but is demonstrating her commitment by providing funding for many services upon which we depend.”

    Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson said, “In New York we pride ourselves on being inclusive, with laws that are not predicated on hate, fear or exclusion, but laws that honor the dignity and humanity of all people so they may live securely as their authentic selves. In the face of unprecedented attacks at the federal level and from other states, I am proud to stand with Governor Hochul in celebrating Pride this year, by reaffirming New York’s steadfast commitment to the rights of LGBTQIA+ people – my community – with significant policy and funding initiatives that protect the rights of all New Yorkers. No matter who you are, where you come from, what your abilities, who you love, or how you identify – we all have dignity and deserve equity, justice and opportunity.”

    Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas said, “I’m proud to see New York deepen its commitment to our LGBTQ+ communities, especially trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming New Yorkers who continue to face systemic barriers. The expansion of the Lorena Borjas Wellness and Equity Fund—named after our beloved trans Latina immigrant trailblazer from Queens—is both historic and deeply personal. These investments affirm that New York can and must be a sanctuary for queer and trans people to live, thrive, and lead. I applaud Governor Hochul and our State Legislature for these meaningful steps during Pride Month and urge continued action to meet the urgent needs of our communities year-round.”

    Today’s announcement highlights the opening of the 2026-2028 Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera and Edie Windsor LGBTQ+ Fellowship. The fellowship is named after LGBTQ+ leaders who have — with their courage, tenacity and perseverance — raised awareness of LGBTQ+ issues and made a lasting difference in the LGBTQ+ community: Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera for their movement leading advocacy on behalf of the transgender community in New York, and Edie Windsor for her advocacy and groundbreaking work in successfully challenging the federal defense of marriage act. Awarded every two years, the LGBTQ+ Fellow serves in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and assists the Chief Diversity Officer in achieving New York State’s diversity and inclusion goals, which includes continuing to build the State’s leadership as a champion of antidiscrimination and equal access for all. In collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, and in furtherance of the State’s continued goal to serve as a model employer for New Yorkers of all gender identities and sexual orientations the Fellow also will work to advance LGBTQ+ inclusion across New York State government and services through drafting policy proposals and providing content expertise, managing statewide initiatives and projects, composing strategic communications, and tracking key legislation.

    The Governor’s Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs is also now accepting requests for workshop proposals for the 2025 LGBTQIA+ Convening, which will occur on Tuesday, September 9, 2025 in Albany, New York at the Empire State Plaza Concourse. This fourth annual event brings together policymakers and government officials from across state agencies to hear directly from advocates about the most pressing needs for our community and proposed or current efforts to meet those needs and build support.

    New York City LGBT Community Center Chief Executive Officer Dr. Carla Smith said, “We are excited to receive this capital allocation, and are grateful to Governor Hochul for prioritizing this investment into our building, which will allow us to continue improving The Center. Over the last four decades, The Center has worked to ensure our landmark building meets the increasing needs of LGBTQ+ New Yorkers and to serve as a site of pride for LGBTQ+ people all over the world. Right now, our community is under attack by harmful government actions and rhetoric that seek to erase trans people and queer youth, funding cuts to critical services, and a growing mental health crisis. We look forward to working with Governor Hochul and her administration over the coming months to secure deeper investments in services to meet the needs of New York State’s LGBTQ+ community, all 365 days of the year.”

    Current Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera and Edie Windsor Fellow Daniel Dobies (we/us/ours) said, “The fellowship has provided us opportunities to lead and advance policies and programs, like the Lorena Borjas TGNB Wellness and Equity Fund and the annual LGBTQIA+ Convening, that improve the lives of LGBTQ+ New Yorkers. The three trailblazing, queer women for whom the fellowship is named led with a courage, conviction, and joy that we strive to bring into state service every day. We are supported by their bravery and are honored to continue their work to make New York State a place where everyone, including the LGBTQ+ community, can thrive.”

    Earlier this month, Governor Kathy Hochul issued a proclamation designating June 2025 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community in New York State. State landmarks will be illuminated tonight in the colors pink, white and light blue and red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple on June 30th and the progress pride flag was raised at State office buildings and State Parks across New York.

    The following State landmarks will illuminate various colors of the Pride flag tonight and tomorrow June 30th:

    • One World Trade
    • Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
    • Kosciuszko Bridge
    • The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
    • State Education Building
    • Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
    • Empire State Plaza
    • State Fairgrounds – Main Gate & Expo Center
    • Niagara Falls
    • The “Franklin D. Roosevelt” Mid-Hudson Bridge
    • Grand Central Terminal – Pershing Square Viaduct
    • Albany International Airport Gateway
    • MTA LIRR – East End Gateway at Penn Station
    • Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal
    • Moynihan Train Hall

    MIL OSI USA News –