Category: Law

MIL-Evening Report: 5 ways to tackle Australia’s backlog of asylum cases
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Ghezelbash, Professor and Director, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Law & Justice, UNSW Sydney

People who apply for asylum in Australia face significant delays in having their claims processed. These delays undermine the integrity of the asylum system, erode public confidence and cause significant distress to people seeking asylum.

There are, at the time of writing, 28,691 applications for a protection visa awaiting a decision at the Department of Home Affairs. At least 43,308 applications await review at the Administrative Review Tribunal.

For people seeking asylum who have their initial applications refused and seek review in the Administrative Review Tribunal and in the Federal Circuit and Family Court, the process can often take more than ten years.

Whoever wins the upcoming election inherits the daunting task of addressing this issue.

Our research evaluated data on Australia’s previous attempts to increase efficiency of asylum processing. We also examined international best practice for designing fair and fast procedures, including lessons from recent successful asylum reforms in Switzerland.

Here are five ways to make Australia’s asylum process more efficient.

1. Recognise fairness enhances efficiency

In most countries with asylum systems, processing is neither fair nor fast.

When trying to increase efficiency, many governments have limited the ability of a person seeking asylum to fairly put forward their case.

Australia, the United States, and many countries across Europe have introduced accelerated or fast-track procedures that drop essential safeguards including:
- the right to an interview
- access to legal assistance, and
- the opportunity to respond to information that undermines their claim for asylum.
But these efforts don’t just undermine fairness. They also contribute to slower processing.

Such measures tend to lead to more appeals, and more cases being overturned by courts and tribunals. This contributes to longer delays.

Our research into Australia’s now-abolished fast-track procedures demonstrates this. This policy was introduced by the Coalition government in 2014, with the aim of speeding up processing and reducing the backlog of asylum applications.

It included the creation of a new streamlined review process before the Immigration Assessment Authority. Applicants were generally not interviewed or allowed to put forward new information.

The resulting system was not only unfair; it was also excruciatingly slow.

Four in five cases were appealed to the court. About 37% of these were overturned. The delays created by increased litigation clearly counteracted any time saved.

One of the best ways to improve the efficiency of asylum processing is to ensure applicants can present their cases effectively from the outset.

2. Fund legal representation for those who can’t afford a lawyer

Research shows legal assistance increases efficiency.

Lawyers can help assist people to prepare and present their case properly, and ensure that they get a fair hearing (reducing the chance of a lengthy appeal).

Promisingly, in 2023 the federal government announced A$48 million in funding for legal services for people seeking asylum.

It’s crucial this funding is maintained, and is sufficient to meet demand.

3. Invest in decision-makers

Once a person lodges their claim for asylum, it’s first assessed by the Department of Home Affairs. If the application is denied, the applicant can seek review at the Administrative Review Tribunal, which reassesses the merits of the application.

If the tribunal rejects the claim, the court can conduct a limited review focusing only on whether the decision was lawfully made.

A fast process is only possible if we have enough of all these decision-makers across the system.

This requires investment in training and hiring suitably qualified decision-makers who are equipped to handle the volume and complexity of asylum claims.

This is underway. The federal government has invested $58 million in October 2023 towards hiring additional Administrative Review Tribunal members and Federal Circuit and Family Court judges for asylum cases. It’s also hiring more staff at the Department of Home Affairs.

Australia’s next government should consider taking a data-driven approach to calculate the decision-making capacity required for existing and future caseload.

4. Prioritise simple cases for faster processing

Not all asylum cases are equally complex; some can be resolved relatively quickly.

Australia needs a robust and transparent triaging system to identify and prioritise simpler cases for faster processing.

This would significantly improve overall efficiency and allow decision-makers to focus on more complex cases.

The Department of Home Affairs’ current approach to triaging is a “last in, first out” system that prioritises new asylum applications for rapid processing.

However, this leads to substantial unfairness for applicants who lodged their claims earlier, who may face long processing delays.

The department needs an approach to streaming based on case complexity, to ensure all cases are finalised as quickly as possible.

5. Better coordination across decision-making bodies

The various bodies involved in asylum processing – including the Administrative Review Tribunal, the Federal Circuit and Family Court and the Department of Home Affairs – need to coordinate to improve efficiency and cut delays.

Any government reforms aimed at increasing the efficiency of asylum procedures must be system-wide.

By taking a holistic view, we can ensure that increased efficiency at one stage does not inadvertently create bottlenecks or inefficiencies in another.

A fundamental shift

Overall, Australia needs a fundamental shift that recognises fairness contributes to, rather than detracts from efficiency.

That shift is essential for developing a fair and fast asylum process that will serve the best interests of applicants, the government and the Australian public.

Daniel Ghezelbash receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Robert Bosch Foundation. He is a board member of Refugee Advice and Casework Services, Wallumatta Legal, and the Access to Justice and Technology Network. He is also a Special Counsel at the National Justice Project.

Keyvan Dorostkar receives an Australian government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship.

Mia Bridle receives an Australian government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship.

– ref. 5 ways to tackle Australia’s backlog of asylum cases – https://theconversation.com/5-ways-to-tackle-australias-backlog-of-asylum-cases-254071
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Gang Conflict Warrant issued in Eastern District

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

To be attributed to Detective Inspector Marty James, District Manager Criminal Investigations:

Eastern District Police have today been issued a Gang Conflict Warrant, following several incidents stemming from ongoing tensions between Mongrel Mob and Black Power.

At around 10:45pm on Tuesday night, shots were fired at houses in Wairoa associated with both gangs, and a Napier house connected to one of the gangs was targeted this morning.

We’re also aware of a number of alleged gang-related incidents in Wairoa that have not been reported to us, including assaults, vehicle rammings, other damage to cars, and threatening behaviour.

A significant operation is under way across Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay in response to this senseless violence between the two gangs, and the Gang Conflict Warrant issued today gives us valuable additional powers to draw on.

The Gang Conflict Warrant is issued under the Criminal Activity Intervention Legislation Act and gives us special powers to search vehicles of suspected gang members, and to seize firearms, weapons and vehicles.

The violence we are seeing from these two gangs – particularly those incidents where firearms are involved – is absolutely unacceptable in our communities.

The residents of our communities have the right to be able to go about their daily lives without fearing for their safety from gang-related violence. They’ve had enough and so have we.

As part of our investigation into the recent offending, officers in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will be stopping vehicles with links to gang members and searching gang-related addresses.

Officers will also be maintaining a highly visible presence in our communities to provide reassurance.

We are determined to hold those responsible for the recent offending to account and gang members should be on notice that we will not tolerate this ongoing violence.

Today we arrested two men in relation to the incident in Wairoa on Tuesday night. The two men – aged 18 and 35 – have been charged with aggravated burglary and possession of offensive weapons. Further arrests are likely in the coming days.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Applications are now open for the National Prize in Financial and Economic Journalism

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

In Russia, the best journalistic works in the field of economics and finance will be selected as part of the annual national award “Finkor”. Applications for participation in the competition can be submitted until August 10 on the website fincor.rf.

“Finance and economics are the basis for the stable development of society and the state. It is necessary for not only specialists in the field to be aware of what is happening, but also for all citizens of our country. Journalism serves as a bridge between the world of finance and the general public. The ability to talk about complex topics in an accessible language requires great skill and knowledge. It has already become a tradition to award the authors of the best journalistic works in the field of economics and finance at the Moscow Financial Forum. I am sure that this year we will also discover new names and recognize professionals, the best in their field,” said Irina Okladnikova, First Deputy Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation.

This year, the competition for the award is being held for the fourth time. Representatives of Russian mass media, including radio and television broadcast editors, teams and individual publicists — professional journalists, representatives of online publications, authors of Telegram channels and bloggers covering economics and finance, as well as students of specialized faculties of Russian universities are invited to participate.

“Economic and financial information is one of the most in-demand in the modern world. The constantly changing situation in the Russian and international economy requires journalists to painstakingly work with figures and facts, the ability to clearly present complex information and quickly convey it to readers. The Fincor Prize helps to identify the best practices in covering financial and economic processes and increase interest in these topics on the part of journalists. During the award, the number of submitted works has increased almost fourfold – from more than 200 applications in 2022 to almost 800 last year,” said

Maria Bagreeva, Deputy Mayor of Moscow, Head of the Moscow Department of Economic Policy and Development.

To participate, you must submit articles, interviews, reports, recordings of television broadcasts, podcasts, radio programs and other journalistic materials, as well as journalistic projects published in print or online publications, posted on the Internet, in Telegram channels, on radio or television in the period from August 1, 2024 to August 1, 2025.

The award ceremony will take place within the framework of the IX Moscow Financial Forum, which will be held in the Manezh in the fall. Detailed information about the nominations and the award regulations are posted on the website fincor.rfYou can also apply for participation there.

The Fincor National Award was established in 2022 by the Moscow City Economic Policy Complex jointly with the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation.

Its goal is to identify best practices for covering financial and economic processes in the country.

The partners of the award this year are the Research Financial Institute of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, the Vmeste Media platform, the Free Economic Society of Russia, the Union of Journalists of Russia, the Patrice Lumumba Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, the A.S. Griboyedov Moscow University, the Moscow University of Finance and Law, the St. Petersburg State University of Economics, the Institute of Media of the Research University Higher School of Economics, the Higher School of Journalism of Tomsk State University and the youth center of the Union of Journalists of Russia.

Get the latest news quickly official telegram channelthe city of Moscow.

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https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/153088073/

MIL OSI Russia News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Sergei Sobyanin announced the launch of summer river navigation in Moscow

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

Summer navigation on the Moscow River begins on April 24, says Sergei Sobyanin in his blog.

“In honor of the opening of the navigation season on the Moscow River, we will hold a parade of ships. More than 20 pleasure boats operating in the capital, as well as an electric vessel and a crew of water transport of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia will proceed from the Nagatinsky backwater to the Neskuchny Sad pier in the Central Administrative District. The nearest festive activities at the Northern and Southern river terminals in honor of the start of navigation are planned for April 27,” the Mayor of Moscow noted.

By the opening of the season, city services washed the embankments, parapets and fences, tidied up the piers and approaches to the water where necessary, repaired granite and concrete foundations, replaced rubber bumpers, and updated the markings of the boundary lines and signs for boarding and disembarking.

With the help of 500 outdoor surveillance cameras, the River Situation Center monitors the safety of the Moscow River water area around the clock. The Moscow River Police monitors order in the water area. Its employees patrol a section with a total length of 670 kilometers on water transport. During the navigation season, a special water patrol is also on duty. Passengers at the berths are assisted by employees of the TsODD passenger service, and the crews are assisted by shore sailors.

Thanks to high-quality infrastructure and service, the popularity of river cruises and walks is growing every year.

“Last season, the number of arrivals and departures of cruise ships from the berths of the Northern and Southern river terminals increased by 10 percent, and the number of passengers by 15 percent. This year, we expect growth of 15 percent – more than 2.5 thousand moorings,” said Sergei Sobyanin.

The first cruise ship “Rus Velikaya” will depart from the Northern River Terminal to Tver. In total, this season the river service will cover dozens of cities, including St. Petersburg, Yaroslavl, Kazan, Perm, Plyos, Kostroma, Samara and others.

One of the most famous routes, the Golden Ring of Rivers, will pass through the center of Moscow and along the Kremlin and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Two modern comfort-class ships, the Golden Ring and Aurum, will begin their route from the Northern River Terminal and end at the Southern.

The river terminals themselves, after their renovation, have become not only key objects of Moscow’s transport infrastructure, but also popular public spaces. Citywide and local festivals are held here, and major holidays are celebrated.

Since the beginning of 2025, the stations have welcomed more than 400 thousand guests and held 260 events: sports training, performances by artists, creative workshops, lectures, film screenings and others.

The new season will feature a cruise on the new motor ship Nikolay Zharkov from the Vodohod company, launched in 2025. The comfortable five-deck vessel, over 130 meters long, takes on board almost 180 guests, who are served by about 100 crew members. The motor ship was named after the famous shipbuilder Nikolay Zharkov, under whose leadership more than 400 ships were built, including 24 submarines with nuclear power plants and 20 deep-sea rescue vehicles.

A regular route to Khimki and a ferry to the Zakharkovo pier have resumed operation from the Northern River Terminal. This is a convenient way to travel for residents of five Moscow districts and Khimki near Moscow. Last year, the ships Moskva-1 and 850 Years of Moscow carried more than 260,000 passengers.

Regular electric transport runs along the Moscow River all year round and in any weather. Since the opening of the service, there has not been a single day when electric vessels have stopped running along the Moscow River. During their operation, more than 1.7 million trips have been made along the Kyiv – Fili Park and ZIL – Pechatniki routes.

Testing of the first unmanned surface boat is also beginning. It should become a universal assistant to the transport police: it will automatically record violations in the water area and help rescue people who find themselves in the water.

The unmanned boat is equipped with a camera, lidar and modern navigation tools, and its movement is controlled by artificial intelligence. The equipment operates reliably and safely in all weather conditions.

The technology for controlling the boat was created by specialists from the Center for Research and Development of Unmanned Transport of the State Unitary Enterprise Moscow Metro, and the project itself is the result of joint work between the Main Directorate for Transport of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia and the team from the Center for Advanced Development of Moscow Transport, which opened in May last year.

“This season, we plan to launch the third regular river route Novospassky – ZIL, which will connect four districts: Danilovsky, Tagansky, Yuzhnoportovy and Zamoskvorechye. There will be four new berths on the route: Simonovsky, Torpedo, Derbenevskaya Embankment and Novospassky. The fleet of innovative river transport will be replenished with 10 new electric vessels. Some will go on the third route, and the rest will strengthen the first two routes,” the Moscow Mayor added.

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https: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12634050/

MIL OSI Russia News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Have you seen Julie Butler?

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Police are seeking information on the whereabouts of Julie Butler, who is missing from Aotea/Great Barrier Island.

The 55-year-old usually lives aboard her yacht the ‘Blazing Shadz’, moored in Kaiaraara Bay.

Police were notified by a partner agency about concerns for Julie on 4 April.

Local Police enquiries were hampered by the adverse weather conditions on the island at the time. However, on 7 April it was confirmed Blazing Shadz was not moored in its usual location.

Enquiries have been ongoing since this time, including with the Police Maritime Unit and Coastguard.

Police have also made enquiries with nearby harbour masters that Julie has frequented, including Whangārei.

Police have also been making extensive enquiries with Julie’s friends, whānau and other partner agencies.

To date we have been unable to locate Julie or her vessel Blazing Shadz.

Police are seeking information from the public to assist these enquiries as there are ongoing welfare concerns for Julie.

Please contact 105 using the reference number 250404/8311 if you have any information about Julie or the vessel so that we can reunite Julie with her family.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Media note: Police are also releasing a photo of the yacht ‘Blazing Shadz’.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police investigate incidents of damage and theft at Porirua schools

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

Please attribute to Inspector Renée Perkins, Area Commander, Kāpiti-Mana:

Porirua Police and Māori Wardens are increasing patrols after several incidents of damage and theft at local schools.

On Monday evening, 21 April, buildings and vehicles at two schools in Porirua East suffered over $32,000 worth of damage.

Agencies, along with the wider community have come together in support, repairs are under way and security guards will be in place across the long weekend.

I want to thank the community for offering their support as this Police investigation continues.

Police believe this happened between 9pm and 11:30pm on Monday, and while we have good lines of inquiry as to who was responsible, we are still looking for information from the public which could help.

We urge anyone with information to contact Police online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report” or by calling 105 and quoting file number 250422/8244.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Smart, conceptual, bright. Gogol Theatre celebrates 100th anniversary

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

The history of the Moscow Drama Theatre named after N.V. Gogol begins on April 24, 1925, when the Traveling Drama and Comedy Theatre appeared under the Central Committee of the Railway Workers’ Trade Union. The path it has taken over 100 years is described in the mos.ru article.

Theatre of Transport

The troupe of the Drama and Comedy Theatre, assembled by director and actor Kirill Golovanov, played at the E. F. Kukhmisterov Railway Workers Club, workers’ clubs, at junction stations and station platforms. Tours were an important part of life – the artists showed performances for railway workers in different regions of the country. The repertoire was based on plays telling about the lives of ordinary workers.

In the 1930s, the theatre received a new name — the Central Theatre of Transport. It remained under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Railways, but faced some problems that concerned both financing and the creative component. Moscow newspapers of that time repeatedly asked the question: was the Theatre of Transport needed at all? But a solution was found: the theatre and the studio of the 2nd Moscow Art Theatre signed an agreement according to which directors and actors of the 2nd Moscow Art Theatre staged plays and gave lectures there, and the Central Committee of Railway Workers helped them during tours, providing entire carriages on trains.

In 1939, with the arrival of artistic director Nikolai Petrov, a new era began for the Theatre of Transport. Nikolai Vasilyevich, who had previously directed the Alexandrinsky Theatre in Petrograd, approached this work very systematically. The first thing he did was to invite new playwrights to collaborate. One of them was Alexander Afinogenov — his play Mashenka was staged by the Theatre of Transport simultaneously with the Mossovet Theatre, for which it was written.

A two-year tour

In May 1941, the troupe went on tour to the Far East. The Ministry of Railways allocated a ten-car train especially for this trip: the actors, scenery, and even costumes received separate compartments. The Great Patriotic War, which began soon after, extended the planned three-month journey by two years, and the troupe’s schedule was significantly altered. Now they had to perform not only at the best city venues, but also in barracks, depots, and stations. There were cases when the troupe performed a play for only six or seven people.

Some of the theatre staff went to the front. The rest divided the duties among themselves. For example, the actors were divided into two groups: while the first set up the scenery and tidied up the costumes, the other actually played on stage. Then they changed. Among the plays that were shown in those years were “Notre Dame de Paris”, “The Barber of Seville”, “Russian People”. There was also a play “On the Eve” by Alexander Afinogenov, created especially for this theatre. The author wrote it in the first months of the war; he died in October 1941.

During these tours, the artists performed more than one thousand performances and gave about 900 concerts.

Help for the Front and Performances During the Battles. Life of Theaters During the War Years

In 1943, a very important event took place: the theater was given a building on Kazakova Street — the same one where it is located today. It was not alien to the artists — they had performed on this stage many times before, but they shared the space with various clubs and sections. Today, the 19th-century sleepers that once ran along the entire perimeter of the building are a reminder of the theater’s past — the Railway Workers’ Club. It is impossible to say exactly what their original purpose was, but now they have become that unique interior detail that brings something important to the overall atmosphere.

Brecht, Rock ‘n’ Roll and Rediscovered Plays

In 1959, the theatre was named after Nikolai Gogol — the event was timed to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the writer’s birth. By that time, the repertoire had expanded significantly, including not only plays, but also larger works, such as Vyacheslav Shishkov’s “Gloomy River”. Singer and actor Leonid Utesov shone on the stage of the Moscow N.V. Gogol Theatre, playing the lead role in the play “Shelmenko the Orderly” for one season.

In 1964, the premiere of the play “The Caucasian Chalk Circle” based on the play by Bertolt Brecht took place. The story of a woman who saved someone else’s child at the cost of her own well-being was staged by chief director Alexander Dunayev. It was one of the first productions of Brecht’s play in the country and one of the theater’s most successful performances. The main character was played by the young actress Lyudmila Gavrilova, who had just joined the troupe at the time. Today, she can also be seen on stage, for example, in the play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.

In 1965, the theatre was headed by director People’s Artist of the RSFSR Boris Golubovsky, who tenderly loved modern drama and prose. Thanks to him, plays began to appear in the repertoire that did not leave the stage for a very long time, such as “Riding a Dolphin”, “Until the Cart Turned Over”, “The Old Cossack Way”, “The Supreme Court” and many others. It was he who brought Boris Chirkov, Emilia Milton, Leonid Kulagin, Yevgeny Menshov, Svetlana Bragarnik, Olga Naumenko and other artists to the troupe.

In 1974, the theater showed the play “Rock and Roll at Dawn.” According to the plot, American students rehearsed the production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” – the audience of the Gogol Theater became the first in the country to hear the melodies from the famous rock opera.

In 1988, the theater was headed by director People’s Artist of Russia Sergey Yashin. He paid much attention to the plays of American playwrights Tennessee Williams and Eugene O’Neill. His plays “Suits for a Summer Hotel” and “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” were shown in the United States, and local journalists wrote that the Russian director rediscovered these authors for Americans.

Our days

Sergei Ivanovich headed the theatre until 2013. After his departure, it was decided to transform the theatre into a project with three resident troupes. In addition to performances, viewers were invited to film screenings, concerts, lectures and open discussions.

In 2022, a new page in history will be written. The artistic director was appointed director and laureate of the Moscow Prize in Literature and Art Anton Yakovlev. The repertoire was formed anew – 15 premieres were shown in 2.5 years. Anton Yuryevich himself calls mystical drama the theater’s calling card. “Storm. Temptation” based on the play by Alexander Ostrovsky.

“This performance defines the direction and form of the theatre, the essence of what I do today,” said the artistic director. “I can also include the recent premiere of the play “Crime and Punishment” among such productions. After watching it, you can understand in which direction the theatre is moving, how the actors work here.”

Also on the bill today is: “Uncle’s Dream” Fyodor Dostoevsky, “Resurrection” Leo Tolstoy, “The Eldest Son” Alexandra Vampilova and many others. Last season, the premiere of the play “Soboryane” based on the novel by Nikolai Leskov took place — it was staged in collaboration with the Russian Concert Agency. The chamber ensemble “Soloists of Moscow” under the direction of Yuri Bashmet takes part in the play. The production was shown at Russian and international festivals, it was nominated for the Russian National Theatre Award “Golden Mask”, as well as for the Union of Theatre Workers of Russia “Nail of the Season” award.

In the Power of Phantoms. How Crime and Punishment Was Staged at the Gogol Theatre Sincerity with Good Taste. Yuri Bashmet on the Modern Role of Classical Music

“The Gogol Theatre is very diverse, smart, conceptual, and bright,” added Anton Yakovlev. “It professes the genre of fantastic realism and metamodernism, and advocates an interesting interpretation of classical works.”

Performances are shown on two stages. The large hall is designed for 610 seats. Three years ago, it was renovated: plastic chairs were removed and comfortable armchairs were installed, a new floor was made, the walls were painted, and modern equipment was installed. The small stage has 115 seats. In addition to performances, creative meetings and conferences are held there. Another important space of the theater is the foyer in front of the large stage. They open and close the season there, organize concerts and performances for children.

About the future

The immediate plans include, of course, new performances. Anton Yakovlev will soon begin rehearsals for a production that will combine the plays Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare and A Plague on Both Your Houses! by Grigory Gorin. There are plans to bring Zoyka’s Apartment and Morphine by Mikhail Bulgakov to the stage, as well as create an immersive performance based on Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk by Nikolai Leskov.

But the Gogol Theatre is not only about performances. For example, open rehearsals for spectators and director’s laboratories (jointly with GITIS) for young talents are held here. As a result of one of them, two performances were added to the repertoire – “The Overcoat” and “Notes of a Madman” based on the works of Nikolai Gogol.

In 2022, the musical and poetic project “Poetomania” began, in which artists read poetry, accompanying themselves on musical instruments. The plans include joint projects with Mosconcert, the Tyumen Philharmonic Orchestra and much more. Details are still being kept secret.

Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channelthe city of Moscow.

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https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/153056073/

MIL OSI Russia News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Like at the city’s leading enterprises: new workshops and laboratories will be created in Moscow colleges

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

Large-scale modernization of workshops and laboratories continues in the capital’s colleges. They are equipped with the same equipment as modern enterprises in the city. This allows students to master the skills necessary for subsequent employment from their first year, the press service reported. Department of Education and Science of the City of Moscow.

“Modern conditions for student training are being created together with partner employers. New laboratories and workshops are being opened in colleges, and innovative equipment will be installed in existing ones, like in the capital’s largest enterprises. 650 updated laboratories and workshops were modernized in colleges last year, and by the end of this year their total number will reach almost 1.5 thousand,” the department’s press service noted.

So, inPolytechnic College named after P.A. Ovchinnikov digital metrology laboratories were updated. They were equipped with high-precision measuring instruments for quality control of products. Two new workshops with an automated surface mounting line and a full set of equipment for working with electronic boards were opened to train specialists in radio electronics.

IN College of Communications No. 54 named after P.M. Vostrukhin The technical maintenance and repair area for power supply devices began operating. Here, students practice their skills in installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting industrial equipment, transformer substations, distribution devices, and overhead power lines. The college also opened the largest production line for assembling printed circuit boards and an electrical and radio assembly workshop, and modernized the quantum communications laboratory, which now has the latest quantum key encryption equipment.

IN Moscow College of Business Technologies Six IT laboratories were modernized. They installed 180 high-performance computers with domestic software. With their help, students hone their professional skills in the field of creating mobile and web applications, analyzing network security, providing technical support to users, protecting data, backing up and restoring virtual, physical and cloud environments. The equipment allows working with several programs simultaneously and quickly processing graphics to create complex illustrations and animations.

In the educational complex of urban development “Capital” opened two modern sites for practical training. In the laboratory of ornamental plant growing, students master the technologies of vertical gardening and plant care, using rare watering systems and special lighting. The soil science workshop was equipped with modern equipment – electronic scales and ion pH meters. Here, students analyze seed material, determine the quality of seeds and select optimal soils for industrial use.

IN College of Automation and Information Technology No. 20 The electrical engineering and electronics laboratory was modernized. It was equipped with modern measuring instruments, including multimeters and oscilloscopes. Students learn to create and configure digital and analog circuits, gaining practical skills for work in the fields of IT, robotics, industrial automation and electronics.

A new laboratory for practical training of forensic expert skills has opened in Police College. High-tech digital fingerprint scanners and expert lighting have appeared here. Thanks to the “Virtual Forensic Scientist” system, students can practice their investigative skills using virtual reality glasses.

Detailed information about the in-demand professions and specialties taught in the capital’s colleges is available in the section “Colleges” on the portal“School. Moscow”, in the telegram channel “Colleges of Moscow” and the community of the same name on the social network “VKontakte».

Practical classes for students of Moscow colleges are held in modern workshops and laboratories. This contributes to the formation and development of professional skills in students and corresponds to the objectives of the “Professionalism” project of the national project “Youth and Children”.

Get the latest news quickly official telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/153067073/

MIL OSI Russia News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Markey, Pressley, McGovern Return from Meeting with Rümeysa Öztürk, Mahmoud Khalil

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
Lawmakers met with Öztürk, Khalil at Louisiana ICE facilities where they are illegally detained
Boston (April 23, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Representatives Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Jim McGovern (MA-02) today held a press conference upon their arrival in Boston after meeting with Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil, two students who have been unlawfully detained by ICE and transported to Louisiana from their homes in retaliation for their protected speech.
“It’s no secret that the detentions of Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil are part of an alarming trend by the Trump administration: abduct students and secret them away to remote prisons in jurisdictions where the Administration expects to receive favorable court rulings through its forum shopping. Neither Öztürk nor Khalil has been charged with a crime. When a government imprisons individuals based on their words, denies constitutional due process for political convenience, and cloaks oppression in the language of national security, we must ring the alarm bells loudly and clearly across this country. What the Trump administration is doing is not immigration enforcement – it is authoritarianism,” said Senator Markey.
“Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil are being unlawfully held in harrowing conditions at ICE facilities in Louisiana and enduring shameful indignities that no one person should ever have to – and yet they continue to center the dignity and humanity of all people,”said Representative Pressley. “We will never stop fighting for Rümeysa, Mahmoud, and everyone who has been harmed by this cruel and callous White House. We reject Donald Trump’s draconian vision for our country, where dissenting voices are silenced and innocent people are disappeared off the street. He is a dictator, and the only way to beat a dictator is with defiance.”
“What’s happening to Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil is a chilling and dangerous violation of their human rights. They’ve committed no crimes, they’ve been charged with no offenses, and they’ve broken no laws. Let’s not mince words: They are political prisoners—held in detention by a government which seeks to punish them for their views and silence their speech. That is immoral and wrong,” said Representative McGovern, Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. “Their arbitrary detention and deprivation of due process is a violation not only of their constitutional rights, but also their rights under international human rights law. This starts with Rümeysa and Mahmoud—but it ends with you. Now is the time to speak out before it is too late. Unless we fight back, this administration will continue weaponizing the government to violate the human rights of those who dare to disagree. We cannot and will not accept this as the new normal.”
Senator Markey and Representatives Pressley and McGovern were accompanied in Louisiana by Representative Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Ranking Member of House Committee on Homeland Security, Representative Troy Carter (LA-02), and members of ACLU National and ACLU Louisiana.
Earlier this week, Senator Markey, Representative Pressley, and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons to demand answers about the Trump administration’s concerning practice of detaining individuals, such as Öztürk, far from their attorneys and communities and in legal environments where their rights are more difficult to defend. The Trump administration is forum shopping to obtain a legal outcome favorable to its deportation agenda.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: ANZAC Day – ‘Never Again’ Anzac Day Peace Picnic

Source: Peace Action Wellington

Friday 25 April 2025 – An Anzac Day Peace Picnic with the theme of ‘Never Again’ will be held at Pukeahu National War Memorial on Friday 25 April from 12:30pm-2pm. This is a family-friendly peace event operating under the tikanga of mana whenua, Te Kotahitanga o Taranaki Whanui ki te Upoko o te Ika.

“’Never again’ means no genocide,” said Valerie Morse, member of Peace Action Wellington.

“‘Never again’ is a phrase or slogan which is associated with the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides. The slogan was used by liberated prisoners at Buchenwald concentration camp to denounce fascism.”

“We are coming together to stand against war, against fascism and to demand that we meet the aspirations of our ancestors who survived World War 1 and World War 2 for global peace and freedom,” said Valerie Morse, member of Peace Action Wellington.

“Anzac Day is portrayed as a day where the country can reflect on the horrors of war, the costs in human lives and commit collectively to never again allowing genocidal mass murder. We have to ask, is that really happening?” said Morse.

“In 2025 the Western world is actively funding a campaign of complete annihilation against Palestinians. Two million men, women and children are daily being shot, bombed from above, burned alive, bulldozed with tanks and held hostage inside a giant concentration camp called Gaza. This is paid for and provided by the US. Meanwhile, across the West fascism and far right political parties are gaining power with campaigns of hatred, exclusion, war, austerity and visions of armageddon.”

“The NZ government has failed to provide any humanitarian path for Palestinian refugees fleeing the bloodbath. It has been silent about Israel’s crimes. What’s worse is the government is now aiming to spend billions on new weapons of war and committing to fighting alongside the fascist USA in its endless wars. The new Defence Capability Plan clearly aligns NZ to the US and the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. This is incredibly dangerous for the peace and security of Aotearoa NZ and the wider Pacific,” said Morse.

The Anzac Day event is organised by Peace Action Wellington, Pōneke Anti-Fascist Coalition, VUW Socialists, Justice for Palestine, Students for Justice in Palestine, Falastin Tea Collective and Alternative Jewish Voices.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Police road safety presence remains over ANZAC Day long weekend
Source: New South Wales – News

South Australia Police will continue road safety action into the ANZAC Day long weekend following hundreds of road safety offences over the Easter long weekend.

Officer in Charge of Traffic Services Branch, Superintendent Shane Johnson said unfortunately one life was lost on Thursday, 10 people were seriously injured and whilst overall detections were slightly lower, many drivers still made unsafe choices.

“Overall, it is pleasing to see fewer detections across the Fatal Five categories this year, however speeding remains an issue, with 925 detections,” Superintendent Johnson said.

“When you’re driving this long weekend, keep an eye on your speed, it’s easy to creep over the speed limit if you get complacent.”

Operation Safe Long Weekend was conducted state-wide from Thursday 17 to Monday 21 April, returning road safety offences including:
- 78 Drink driving
- 81 Drug driving
- 925 Speeding
- 28 Distraction
- 303 Dangerous driving
- 24 Seatbelt
An incident of note involved a 31-year-old Two Wells man who was detected drug driving, travelling at 156km/h in a 110km/h speed zone and driving unlicenced on Thursday 17 April. He was issued with a six-month Immediate Loss of Licence and expiations for driving whilst unlicensed and at excessive speed. Depending on forensic analysis of the drug test, he may be summonsed to court.

“Police will continue to deliver a strong presence throughout the ANZAC Day long weekend with two operations running to ensure the safety of all road users,” Superintendent Johnson added.

Operation Safe Long Weekend will target the Fatal Five road safety offences categories while Operation Stop Drink Drug Drive will see RBTs and drug testing stations active state-wide from Thursday 25 to Sunday 27 April.

“Although there will be stationary random breath testing sites around the state, remember every police car has this equipment so stop yourself before we stop you.”

MIL OSI News –
April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: State Highway 1 north of Tokoroa reopens

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

District:

Bay of Plenty

State Highway 1 north of Tokoroa has reopened following a serious crash this morning.

Police would like to thank motorists for their patience and cooperation while the road was closed.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI: FLUENCE ENERGY SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS INVESTORS WITH LOSSES IN EXCESS OF $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuits Against Fluence Energy, Inc. – FLNC

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW ORLEANS, April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until May 12, 2025 to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against Fluence Energy, Inc. (NasdaqGS: FLNC), if they purchased the Company’s shares between October 28, 2021 and February 10, 2025, inclusive (the “Class Period”). These actions are pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Get Help

Fluence investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nasdaq-flnc/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.

About the Lawsuit

Fluence and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On February 10, 2025, the Company announced its financial results for 1Q 2025, disclosing a net loss of $57 million, or $0.32 per share, compared to a loss of $25.6 million, or $0.14 per share, for the same period in the prior year, revenues down 49% year-over-year to $186.8 million, and decreased revenue guidance for fiscal year 2025, to a range of $3.1 billion to $3.7 billion, from its prior outlook of $3.6 billion to $4.4 billion, due to “customer-driven delays in signing certain contracts that, coupled with competitive pressures, result in the need to lower our fiscal year 2025 outlook.”

On this news, the price of Fluence’s shares fell $6.07 per share, or 46.44%, to close at $7.00 per share on February 11, 2025.

The first-filed case is Abramov v. Fluence Energy, Inc., et al., No. 25-cv-00444. A subsequent case, Kramer v. Fluence Energy, Inc., et al., No. 25-cv-00634, expanded the class period.

About ClaimsFiler

ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.

To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com.

The MIL Network –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI: APPLOVIN SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS INVESTORS WITH LOSSES IN EXCESS OF $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuits Against AppLovin Corporation – APP

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW ORLEANS, April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until May 5, 2025 to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against AppLovin Corporation (NasdaqGS: APP), if they purchased the Company’s securities between May 10, 2023 and March 26, 2025, inclusive (the “Class Period”). These actions are pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

Get Help

AppLovin investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nasdaq-app/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.

About the Lawsuit

AppLovin and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On February 26, 2025, analyst research reports highlighted that the Company was engaging in “Ad Fraud” and other dubious practices including reverse engineering and exploiting advertising data from Meta Platforms, and utilizing manipulative practices to artificially inflate their own ad click-through and app download rates, such as by having ads click on themselves or utilizing design gimmicks to trigger forced shadow downloads, erroneously inflating installation numbers and, in turn, its profit figures. On this news, the price of AppLovin’s shares fell from $377.06 per share on February 25, 2025 to $331.00 per share on February 26, 2025.

Then, on March 26, 2025, Muddy Waters Research reported that the Company systematically used proprietary third-party data in ways that violated the terms of service of Facebook, Google, Snap, Reddit, as well as other platforms, potentially leading to backlash and service blocking and threatening the sustainability of the Company’s revenue growth. On this news, the price of AppLovin’s shares plummeted 20.1 percent, dropping from $327.62 to $261.70 per share on March 27, 2025.

The first-filed case is Quiero v. AppLovin Corporation, et al., No. 25-cv-02294. A subsequent case, Wayne County Employees’ Retirement System v. AppLovin Corporation, et al., No. 25-cv-3438, expanded the class period.

About ClaimsFiler

ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.

To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com.

The MIL Network –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI: NET POWER SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS INVESTORS WITH LOSSES IN EXCESS OF $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against NET Power Inc. – NPWR

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW ORLEANS, April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until June 17, 2025 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against NET Power Inc. (“Net Power” or the “Company”) (NYSE: NPWR), if they purchased the Company’s securities between June 9, 2023 and March 7, 2025, inclusive (the “Class Period”). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.

Get Help

NET Power investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-npwr/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.

About the Lawsuit

NET Power and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On March 10, 2025, pre-market, the Company announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year 2024, disclosing, among other things, that it “now estimates Project Permian’s total installed cost to be between $1.7 billion and $2.0 billion,” significantly higher than its last estimate of $1.1 billion, and that Project Permian would be significantly delayed, expected to come online no earlier than 2029, compared to its prior timeline of between the second half of 2027 and first half of 2028.

On this news, the price of NET Power’s shares fell $2.18 per share, or 31.46%, to close at $4.75 per share on March 10, 2025.

The case is Luciani v. Net Power Inc., et al., No. 25-cv-00296.

About ClaimsFiler

ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.

To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com.

The MIL Network –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Name release: Fatal crash, Culverden

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

Police can now name the person who died following a crash in Culverden on 15 April.

He was 73-year-old Linton Charrington Gardiner, from Waiau, Hurunui.

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

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash remain ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Leaf your mark for a greener City
Source: South Australia Police

Join the City and your neighbours in planting for a greener future as part of our annual winter planting program this June and July.
The tree planting program encourages our community to care for their local bushland, with the goal of increasing urban canopy coverage and working towards a greener, more sustainable City for us all.

This year, the winter tree planting program includes a series of family-friendly events throughout June and July, where residents can help plant shrubs and trees to rejuvenate bushland and coastal dunes.

To register, please contact the City’s Conservation Team on 9405 5000 or conservationmaint@wanneroo.wa.gov.au

2025 winter planting events

Quinns Rocks foreshore, Quinns Rocks
- Sunday 8 June 2025, 8.30am to 11am
- In conjunction with Perth NRM and the Quinns Rocks Environmental Group
Koondoola Bushland, Koondoola
- Thursday 12 June 2025, 11am to 1pm
- In conjunction with the Friends of Koondoola Bushland
Mary Street Reserve, Wanneroo
- Wednesday 9 July 2025, 1pm to 3pm
- In conjunction with Friends of Mary Park
Da Vinci Park, Tapping
- Thursday 10 July 2025, 9am to 11am
The events include a morning tea. Participants need a water bottle and enclosed shoes.
MIL OSI News –
April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Ill-prepared trip leads to Mount Taranaki rescue

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

Attributable to Detective Gerhard Jacobs, SAR Incident Controller:

A family walking on Mt Taranaki who were underprepared for the conditions is prompting a reminder from Police to those heading out this long weekend.

Police received a call about 6:30pm last night reporting that a man and two children were overdue returning from the Pouakai Range.

Police Search and Rescue were engaged, as were Land Search and Rescue volunteers, and a Department of Conservation volunteer.

The family were unfamiliar with the area, and underprepared for the cold conditions.

LandSAR volunteers walked four hours through near-freezing temperatures and 50km/h winds, to then escort the family out and to safety.

The trio were all eventually out by around midnight.

Police would like to remind people walking in the outdoors – particularly on the unforgiving Mt Taranaki – that preparation is key, and to know your limits.

In this instance last night, the family had changed their plans without informing anyone, and the man had just 5 per cent battery on his phone as emergency services were attempting to gain their location by it via GPS.

Fortunately, the group made it out safely, however the outcome could have been very different.

This is a reminder to please always take two forms of communication with you when in and around Mt Taranaki, and be prepared to stay out overnight should you be caught out.

If you get into trouble, please call 111 as soon as possible, as this will enable an emergency response at the earliest opportunity.

Police would like to thank Taranaki LandSAR, and the Department of Conservation, for their dedication and response last night in tough conditions.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Team

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Serious crash, Canning Road, Hastings

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Emergency services are at the scene of a serious crash that has blocked Canning Road at Camberley, Hastings.

About 2pm, a motorcycle carrying two riders crashed between Hapia Street and Orchard Road, and then collided with a member of the public on the footpath.

Two people have serious injuries while a third has critical injuries.

The Serious Crash Unit has been notified and cordons are in place.

Members of the public are asked to avoid the area.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for April 24, 2025

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 24, 2025.

The ocean can look deceptively calm – until it isn’t. Here’s what ‘hazardous surf’ really means
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samuel Cornell, PhD Candidate, Beach Safety Research Group, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Over the Easter weekend, seven people drowned along the Australian coast. Most were swept off rock platforms – extremely dangerous locations that are increasingly prevalent in Australia’s coastal fatality data. The weather was

The major parties have announced their plans to address domestic and family violence. How do they stack up?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Fitz-Gibbon, Professor (Practice), Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University In the past week, at least seven women have been killed in Australia, allegedly by men. These deaths have occurred in different contexts – across state borders, communities and relationships. But are united by one truth:

The biggest losers: how Australians became the world’s most enthusiastic gamblers
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wayne Peake, Adjunct research fellow, School of Humanities and Communication Arts, Western Sydney University The story goes that the late billionaire Australian media magnate Kerry Packer once visited a Las Vegas casino, where a Texan was bragging about his ranch and how many millions it was worth.

A golden era for personalized medicine is approaching, but are we ready?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nazia Pathan, PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher, Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University Biobanks have become some of the most transformative tools in medical research, enabling scientists to study the relationships between genes, health and disease on an unprecedented scale (Piqsels/Siyya) If there’s a disease that seems to run

The billions spent on NZ’s accommodation supplement is failing to make rent affordable – so what will?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edward Yiu, Associate Professor, School of Business, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Pixelbliss/Shutterstock New Zealand’s unaffordable housing market has left many low and middle-income families reliant on the accommodation supplement to cover rent and mortgage payments. But our new research has found the scheme, which costs

Fossil teeth show extinct giant kangaroos spent their lives close to home – and perished when the climate changed
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Laurikainen Gaete, PhD Candidate, University of Wollongong Chris Laurikainen Gaete Large kangaroos today roam long distances across the outback, often surviving droughts by moving in mobs to find new food when pickings are slim. But not all kangaroos have been this way. In new research published

The billions spent on NZ’s accomodation supplement is failing to make rent affordable – so what will?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edward Yiu, Associate Professor, School of Business, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Pixelbliss/Shutterstock New Zealand’s unaffordable housing market has left many low and middle-income families reliant on the accommodation supplement to cover rent and mortgage payments. But our new research has found the scheme, which costs

The gambling industry has women in its sights. Why aren’t policymakers paying attention?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simone McCarthy, Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Commercial Determinants of Health, Deakin University Wpadington/Shutterstock Whatever the code, whatever the season, Australian sports fans are bombarded with gambling ads. Drawing on Australians’ passion, loyalty and pride for sport, the devastating health and social consequences of gambling – including financial

When ‘equal’ does not mean ‘the same’: Liberals still do not understand their women problem
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carol Johnson, Emerita Professor, Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Adelaide “Women’s” issues are once again playing a significant role in the election debate as Labor and the Liberals trade barbs over which parties’ policies will benefit women most. In the latest salvo, the opposition

Tremors, seizures and paralysis: this brain disorder is more common than multiple sclerosis – but often goes undiagnosed
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Benjamin Scrivener, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock Imagine suddenly losing the ability to move a limb, walk or speak. You would probably recognise this as a medical emergency and get to hospital. Now imagine the doctors

The origin story of the Anzac biscuit is largely myth – but that shouldn’t obscure the history of women during the war
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Garritt C. Van Dyk, Senior Lecturer in History, University of Waikato Australian Comforts Fund buffet in Longueval, France, 1916. Australian War Memorial The Anzac biscuit is a cultural icon, infused with mythical value, representing the connection between women on the home front and soldiers serving overseas during

Politics with Michelle Grattan: historian Frank Bongiorno on dramatic shifts in how elections are fought and won
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra This election has been lacklustre, without the touch of excitement of some past campaigns. Through the decades, campaigning has changed dramatically, adopting new techniques and technologies. This time, we’ve seen politicians try to jump onto viral podcasts. To discuss old

Albanese government announces $1.2 billion plan to purchase critical minerals
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra A re-elected Albanese government will take the unprecedented step of buying or obtaining options over key critical minerals to protect Australia’s national interest and boost its economic resilience. The move follows US President Donald Trump’s ordering a review into American

Why special measures to boost Fiji women’s political representation remain a distant goal
RNZ Pacific Despite calls from women’s groups urging the government to implement policies to address the underrepresentation of women in politics, the introduction of temporary special measures (TSM) to increase women’s political representation in Fiji remains a distant goal. This week, leader of the Social Democratic Liberal Party (Sodelpa), Cabinet Minister Aseri Radrodro, and opposition

Albanese government announces $1.2 billion in plan to purchase critical minerals
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra A re-elected Albanese government will take the unprecedented step of buying or obtaining options over key critical minerals to protect Australia’s national interest and boost its economic resilience. The move follows US President Donald Trump’s ordering a review into American

Flooding incidents in Ghana’s capital are on the rise. Researchers chase the cause
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Appiah Takyi, Senior Lecturer, Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Urban flooding is a major problem in the global south. In west and central Africa, more than 4 million people were affected by flooding in 2024. In Ghana, cities suffer damage

Australia needs bold ideas on defence. The Coalition’s increased spending plan falls disappointingly short
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Layton, Visiting Fellow, Strategic Studies, Griffith University Just as voting has begun in this year’s federal election, the Coalition has released its long-awaited defence policy platform. The main focus, as expected, is a boost in defence spending to 3% of Australia’s GDP within the next decade.

Sniping koalas from helicopters: here’s what’s wrong with Victoria’s unprecedented cull
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liz Hicks, Lecturer in Law, The University of Melbourne Roberto La Rosa/Shutterstock Snipers in helicopters have shot more than 700 koalas in the Budj Bim National Park in western Victoria in recent weeks. It’s believed to be the first time koalas have been culled in this way.

Rather than short-term fixes, communities need flexible plans to prepare for a range of likely climate impacts
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tom Logan, Senior Lecturer Above the Bar of Civil Systems Engineering, University of Canterbury Dave Rowland/Getty Images As New Zealanders clean up after ex-Cyclone Tam which left thousands without power and communities once again facing flooding, it’s tempting to seek immediate solutions. However, after the cleanup and

Why do Labor and the Coalition have so many similar policies? It’s simple mathematics
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gabriele Gratton, Professor of Politics and Economics and ARC Future Fellow, UNSW Sydney Pundits and political scientists like to repeat that we live in an age of political polarisation. But if you sat through the second debate between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition leader Peter Dutton

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

April 24, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: The major parties have announced their plans to address domestic and family violence. How do they stack up?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Fitz-Gibbon, Professor (Practice), Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University

In the past week, at least seven women have been killed in Australia, allegedly by men. These deaths have occurred in different contexts – across state borders, communities and relationships. But are united by one truth: they are part of the ongoing national crisis of men’s violence against women and children.

While in the first four weeks of the election campaign there was silence from the major parties on this issue, now – with one week to go – both have released their commitments.

The Coalition announced its plan last night, following Labor’s promises earlier in the week.

Neither represent a commitment to ending gender-based violence. They both propose a patchwork of largely reactive initiatives. These will fail to deliver holistic reform to prevent violence and to intervene early enough to meaningfully reduce it.

What has Labor pledged?

Labor’s “commitment to women” announcement focuses on addressing financial abuse, a “fast growing and insidious form” of abuse. Key strategies proposed include:
- preventing perpetrators from using tax and corporate systems to accrue debts as a form of coercive control
- making perpetrators liable for debts incurred by the victim-survivor because of coercive control
- and exploring options to stop perpetrators accessing the superannuation of victim-survivors after death.
Labor has also pledged $8.6 million for perpetrator responses, including early interventions for young people.

What about the Coalition?

The Coalition’s approach is much more scatter gun, providing a list of disconnected strategies. It outlines 14 commitments.

The announcement promises to improve support by expanding the Safe Places Emergency Accommodation Program and the Leaving Violence Program (which provides one-off funding to help cover the cost of leaving an abusive relationship).

The Coalition will also increase crisis helpline support to ensure victim-survivors “have their calls answered and get the immediate assistance they require”.

This is much needed. Frontline services are consistently under-resourced and have been calling for at least $1 billion annually to meet demand.

The question of funding

The Coalition’s $90 million pledge, with no clear timeframe or detail on how it will be distributed, represents less than 10% of what frontline services say is needed every year.

Labor’s earlier announcement does not detail the funding commitment that will be allocated to their suite of proposed initiatives, other than to say $8.6 million will be provided for perpetrator interventions.

Neither party has committed to multiyear funding models for domestic, family and sexual violence frontline services. This is essential for workforce retention and to ensure consistent delivery of trauma-informed care.

We cannot criminalise our way out

Law and order responses dominate the Coalition’s announcement. These include implementation of a national domestic violence register and the development of uniform national knife laws.

Legal accountability is important and we need to improve information sharing across state and territory borders. But we cannot police or prosecute our way out of a problem rooted in structural inequality and social attitudes. It also fails to recognise that for many victim-survivors, the criminal legal system can be re-traumatising and does not meet their justice needs.

The Coalition also commits to introducing new offences for online coercive behaviour and spyware use. This would be a significant legal shift by introducing family and domestic violence offences and bail laws for certain abusive behaviours at the federal level.

It’s unclear how this would translate into state and territory criminal laws, or whether it is even necessary. All states and territories currently have laws prohibiting stalking and monitoring behaviours. Some states are in the early stages of developing or implementing coercive control offences.

The Coalition has also reiterated its 2023 promise to hold a Royal Commission into sexual abuse in Indigenous communities.

Indigenous scholars and organisations have previously rejected this proposal, particularly in light of the failure of the Northern Territory Intervention which required the suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act to implement.

Evidence shows First Nations-led solutions should be prioritised over punitive approaches.

What’s missing?

The proposals from the two parties miss several critical areas.

There’s no mention of sexual violence. While it would be optimistic to hope this is yet to come, it’s disappointing to see it has fallen off the agenda.

The proposals don’t say anything about housing or recovery support beyond emergency accommodation. A lack of access to safe, long-term housing is one of the most significant barriers for victim-survivors escaping and recovering from violence. In the middle of a broader housing crisis, this is an essential component of any strategy.

Children remain largely invisible. While the Coalition’s announcement commits to improving child protection, it offers nothing on delivering age-appropriate crisis responses, and to support the recovery needs of children and young people as victim-survivors in their own right.

Read more:
Australia had a national reckoning over domestic violence, but where’s the focus this election?

Much has been written in recent weeks about the need to effectively engage men and boys, but they’re also barely mentioned by either party.

Finally, there is no discussion of the need for greater monitoring and evaluation efforts. We cannot fix what we do not measure.

Both parties’ announcements promise to build on the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children, which aspires to eliminate gender-based violence in one generation.

Nearly three years into the delivery of that plan, the persistent prevalence of this violence shows we must do more. We need visible, bipartisan leadership that treats this issue with the same gravity we afford to other national emergencies.

The National Sexual Assault, Family and Domestic Violence Counselling Line – 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault. The Men’s Referral Service (call 1300 766 491) offers advice and counselling to men looking to change their behaviour.

Kate has received funding for research on violence against women and children from a range of federal and state government and non-government sources. Currently, Kate receives funding from Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), the South Australian government, Safe Steps, Australian Childhood Foundation, and 54 Reasons. This piece is written by Kate Fitz-Gibbon in her role at Monash University and Sequre Consulting, and is wholly independent of Kate Fitz-Gibbon’s role as chair of Respect Victoria and membership on the Victorian Children’s Council.

Hayley has received funding for research on violence against women and children and criminal justice-related issues from a range of federal and state government and non-government sources. Currently, Hayley receives funding from ANROWS, and the ACT Justice Reform Branch.

– ref. The major parties have announced their plans to address domestic and family violence. How do they stack up? – https://theconversation.com/the-major-parties-have-announced-their-plans-to-address-domestic-and-family-violence-how-do-they-stack-up-255127
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Oakland Man Sentenced To Nearly Six Years In Federal Prison For Unlawful Firearms And Ammunition Possession

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

OAKLAND – Michael Tatum was sentenced yesterday to 70 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White handed down the sentence.

Tatum, 35, of Oakland, pleaded guilty on Jan. 23, 2024, to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). In pleading guilty, Tatum admitted that, during a search of his residence in February 2022, law enforcement found that he illegally possessed five loaded firearms, including two loaded assault rifle-style firearms, two firearms loaded with high-capacity magazines, and one stolen firearm, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Law enforcement also seized $148,531.05 in U.S. currency from Tatum’s residence. At the time, Tatum had a prior felony conviction.

Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King made the announcement.

In addition to the 70-month prison term, Judge White ordered Tatum to serve a three-year period of supervised release and to forfeit his interest in the recovered firearms, ammunition, and currency. The defendant will begin serving the sentence on July 22, 2025.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Dahlke and Charles Bisesto prosecuted this case with the assistance of Laurie Worthen and Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by HSI and California Highway Patrol.

MIL Security OSI –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Durbin, Senators Demand President Trump Rescind Harmful Claims That He Will Transfer Incarcerated U.S. Citizens to a Foreign Prison

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

April 22, 2025

[CHICAGO, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) led 24 of their Democratic colleagues in a letter to President Donald Trump calling for him to immediately rescind the dangerous and offensive claim that he may transfer incarcerated U.S. citizens to El Salvador.

In the letter, the Senators also urge the President to follow the law and adhere to all applicable court orders and immediately facilitate the return to the United States of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whom this Administration illegally deported to El Salvador in direct contravention of a court order specifically prohibiting such removal. In the letter, the Senators explain how these unprecedented actions threaten the constitutional protections of all Americans and violate the fundamental principles on which this nation was founded.

The Senators wrote, “With regard to your shocking assertion about transferring Americans to El Salvador, you cannot deport Americans to a foreign country for any reason. This nation’s founding fathers declared independence based on ‘repeated injuries and usurpations’ by the then-King of Great Britain, including ‘transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences’ and ‘depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury.’ Accordingly, Congress has passed no provision into law that would permit exiling United States citizens to a foreign country for any reason. One conservative legal scholar called your threats to deport U.S. citizens ‘obviously illegal and unconstitutional.’”

The Senators continued, “Our laws also do not allow you to send individuals from U.S. soil to El Salvador without due process. Further, the Executive Branch must comply with longstanding domestic and international law that prohibits the United States from transferring any person from our jurisdiction or effective control to a place where the person would face certain serious human rights violations. Your Administration’s actions in sending individuals to a Salvadoran prison notorious for inhumane conditions underscore the urgency and applicability of these requirements. The bedrock principles of the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause protect individuals from being “deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.’”

Even under extraordinary wartime authorities such as the Alien Enemies Act, the Supreme Court of the United States has held that noncitizens should, at a minimum, have an opportunity to prove whether or not the Act should apply to them. The Supreme Court recently ordered the federal government to facilitate the return of Mr. Abrego Garcia and “ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador.”

The Senators continued, “You must immediately facilitate the return of Mr. Abrego Garcia, which is unquestionably within your power to do since your Administration is paying the government of El Salvador to detain him… You must also end your unlawful attempts to deport noncitizens without due process under the Alien Enemies Act, as the Supreme Court ordered this weekend. You have no authority to openly defy court orders requiring you: (1) to return someone who has been wrongfully deported, or (2) to grant individuals the due process they are owed under our laws… You must immediately facilitate the return to the United States of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, follow all court orders, and withdraw your dangerous and offensive claims that you may transfer U.S. citizens to a foreign prison. The Constitution demands it.”

Along with Duckworth and Durbin, the letter was co-signed by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM).

The letter is endorsed by the following organizations: Center for Victims of Torture, American Immigration Council, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, FWD.us, People for the American Way, National Immigrant Justice Center, SMART Union, and Human Rights First.

A copy of the letter is available on Senator Duckworth’s website and below:

Dear President Trump:

We call on you to immediately rescind the dangerous and offensive claim that you may transfer incarcerated U.S. citizens to El Salvador. We further urge you to follow the law and adhere to all applicable court orders and immediately facilitate the return to the United States of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whom your Administration illegally deported to El Salvador in direct contravention of a court order specifically prohibiting such removal. Your unprecedented actions threaten the constitutional protections of all Americans and violate the fundamental principles on which this nation was founded.

With regard to your shocking assertion about transferring Americans to El Salvador, you cannot deport Americans to a foreign country for any reason. This nation’s founding fathers declared independence based on “repeated injuries and usurpations” by the then-King of Great Britain, including “transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences” and “depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury.” Accordingly, Congress has passed no provision into law that would permit exiling United States citizens to a foreign country for any reason. One conservative legal scholar called your threats to deport U.S. citizens “obviously illegal and unconstitutional.”

Our laws also do not allow you to send individuals from U.S. soil to El Salvador without due process. Further, the Executive Branch must comply with longstanding domestic and international law that prohibits the United States from transferring any person from our jurisdiction or effective control to a place where the person would face certain serious human rights violations. Your Administration’s actions in sending individuals to a Salvadoran prison notorious for inhumane conditions underscore the urgency and applicability of these requirements. The bedrock principles of the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause protect individuals from being “deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” Throughout our nation’s history, the Supreme Court has long read the Fifth Amendment’s guarantee of due process to require that the government provide persons with certain procedural due process protections, including notice and an opportunity to be heard before any such deprivation of liberty.

Even under extraordinary wartime authorities such as the Alien Enemies Act, the Supreme Court of the United States has held that noncitizens should, at a minimum, have an opportunity to prove whether or not the Act should apply to them. In a statement accompanying the Supreme Court’s recent order for the federal government to facilitate the return of Mr. Abrego Garcia and “ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador,” Justice Sotomayor noted that your Administration’s argument suggesting that the government is permitted to leave Mr. Abrego Garcia in the Salvadoran prison after wrongfully sending him there “implies that it could deport and incarcerate any person, including U.S. citizens, without legal consequence, so long as it does so before a court can intervene.” She went on to note that this is a “view [that] refutes itself.”

You must immediately facilitate the return of Mr. Abrego Garcia, which is unquestionably within your power to do since your Administration is paying the government of El Salvador to detain him. As Judge Harvie Wilkinson, a conservative appointee of President Reagan, wrote in a unanimous Fourth Circuit opinion rejecting your Administration’s efforts to delay taking steps to bring Mr. Abrego Garcia back to the United States:

The government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order. Further, it claims in essence that because it has rid itself of custody that there is nothing that can be done. This should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear.

You must also end your unlawful attempts to deport noncitizens without due process under the Alien Enemies Act, as the Supreme Court ordered this weekend. You have no authority to openly defy court orders requiring you: (1) to return someone who has been wrongfully deported, or (2) to grant individuals the due process they are owed under our laws. As Judge Boasberg wrote in his order last week concluding that probable cause exists to find the government in criminal contempt:

The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders—especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it. To permit such officials to freely “annul the judgments of the courts of the United States” would not just “destroy the rights acquired under those judgments”; it would make “a solemn mockery” of “the constitution itself.” …“So fatal a result must be deprecated by all.”

You must immediately facilitate the return to the United States of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, follow all court orders, and withdraw your dangerous and offensive claims that you may transfer U.S. citizens to a foreign prison. The Constitution demands it.

Sincerely,

-30-

MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Markey, Baldwin Introduce Resolution to Designate April as Earth Month

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

April 22, 2025

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—founding co-chair of the Senate’s first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus—along with U.S. Senators Ed Markey (D-MA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced the Earth Month resolution to recognize the importance of environmental stewardship and climate action.

“Donald Trump’s decision to gut EPA and shutter environmental justice offices across the country threatens the Earth we all call home and endangers our public health—it’s the opposite of what our government should be doing to secure a cleaner, healthier future for our children and our planet,” said Senator Duckworth. “We can’t afford to ignore the climate crisis and how it’s harming our planet and the American people. During this Earth Month and always, I pledge to keep doing everything in my power to push back against the Trump Administration’s misguided campaign to make our environment and the millions of Americans who are dealing with the effects of legacy pollution—like higher cancer, asthma and death rates—unhealthier by rolling back environmental protections.”

“Planet Earth is our home. Now more than ever, we need stewardship of our home. As the Trump administration is targeting environmental safeguards that ensure we have a livable future, I am doubling down on my commitment to fight back and uplift efforts that promote environmental stewardship and spur even more climate action. Earth Day is our moment to recommit and expand our movement for a just and livable future – a future with clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and clean land on which to live,” said Senator Markey. “We know environmental pollution and the climate crisis do not affect us all equally. That is why environmental stewardship and climate action must center the most marginalized communities, particularly Black and Indigenous communities who have been overburdened with pollution and the harms of climate change. Using the tenets of a Green New Deal – fighting for environmental justice and climate action while creating good-paying union jobs – we can work together toward a livable future every day, but especially during Earth Month.”

“From the Great Lakes and the rolling hills of the Driftless Region, to the Great Northwoods and Mighty Mississippi, Wisconsin is rich with natural resources that have defined our state and way of life,” said Senator Baldwin. “I’m proud to carry on Wisconsin’s tradition of environmental stewardship and recognize Earth Month as we all do our part to protect and preserve Wisconsin’s wilderness and resources for the next generation.”

Full text of the resolution is available on Senator Duckworth’s website.

As co-chair and co-founder of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, Duckworth has long pushed to strengthen and defend environmental justice efforts across the country. Last month, Duckworth and—along with Senate Environmental Justice Caucus Co-Chair Corey Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE)—urged EPA Administrator Zeldin to reopen the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR), which Duckworth and Booker led the charge to create.

Duckworth recently helped introduce legislation that would permanently codify the Office of Environmental Justice within the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) in response to Attorney General Bondi’s order eliminating all environmental justice efforts at the DOJ.

For years, Duckworth has led the charge pushing for her A. Donald McEachin Environmental Justice For All Act—the most comprehensive environmental justice legislation in history—which would help achieve health equity and climate justice for all, particularly in underserved communities and communities of color that have long been disproportionately harmed by environmental injustices and toxic pollutants.

Duckworth worked to help pass the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which included her Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act (DWWIA)—the most significant federal investment in water infrastructure in history that includes $15 billion for national lead pipe replacement. DWWIA, which focuses on disadvantaged communities, is helping rebuild our nation’s crumbling and dangerous water infrastructure and enable communities to repair and modernize their failing wastewater systems, with many of the provisions to help low-income communities designed specifically for communities like Chicago, Cahokia Heights and East St. Louis.

-30-

MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update: Road remains closed after crash – SH 1, Tokoroa

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

State Highway 1 north of Tokoroa remains closed following a crash earlier today.

A person injured in the crash has been flown to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition.

The road is expected to remain closed until at least 3pm today.

Motorists are advised to take alternative routes or delay travel where possible.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Stacks of cocaine unpacked in Mt Wellington

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Five duffle bags stacked with bricks of cocaine valued at close to $30 million have been unpacked at a Mount Wellington business.

Yesterday afternoon Police were called to the Carbine Road premises after a worker unloading a shipping container of building materials located the bags.

Detective Senior Sergeant Anthony Darvill, of Auckland City CIB, says more than 75 packages of cocaine wrapped in cellophane were located in the duffle bags.

“An investigation between Police and Customs is now under way following yesterday’s seizure.

“The joint investigation will focus on the movements of the container and its eventual destination,” he says.

“What we do know is that the container transited through Central America in late March 2025 on its way to New Zealand.

“Cocaine is a highly addictive drug and causes a concerning level of harm in our communities.

“This is a significant find and will put a noticeable dent in the availability of this illegal drug in the district and the harm caused by it.”

Customs’ Acting Investigations Manager, Rachael Manning says: “Customs is committed to working in collaboration with Police to play our part in preventing drugs from reaching our communities, where they cause significant social harm.

“We will continue to provide intelligence and investigative support to our Police partners to identify and hold those responsible to account.”

No arrests have been made and at this stage Police are not releasing any further details as investigations remain ongoing.

If you have any information that may assist Police in identifying and locating those involved in the supply of drugs or organised criminal groups you can report information to the Police via 105 if it’s after the fact or 111 if it is happening now.

Alternatively, you can report information anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: SH 25 blocked, Coromandel

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Motorists are advised of a crash on State Highway 25, which has blocked the road between Coromandel and Matarangi.

The three-vehicle crash happened around 11am.

Indications are there are various injuries, some serious.

There are diversions in place off State Highway 25 at Whangapoua and Matarangi.

ENDS

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth

US Senate News:

Source: The White House
class=”has-text-align-left”>By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Background. Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the modern world, driving innovation across industries, enhancing productivity, and reshaping the way we live and work. To ensure the United States remains a global leader in this technological revolution, we must provide our Nation’s youth with opportunities to cultivate the skills and understanding necessary to use and create the next generation of AI technology. By fostering AI competency, we will equip our students with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to adapt to and thrive in an increasingly digital society. Early learning and exposure to AI concepts not only demystifies this powerful technology but also sparks curiosity and creativity, preparing students to become active and responsible participants in the workforce of the future and nurturing the next generation of American AI innovators to propel our Nation to new heights of scientific and economic achievement.To achieve this vision, we must also invest in our educators and equip them with the tools and knowledge to not only train students about AI, but also to utilize AI in their classrooms to improve educational outcomes. Professional development programs focused on AI education will empower educators to confidently guide students through this complex and evolving field. Educators, industry leaders, and employers who rely on an AI-skilled workforce should partner to create educational programs that equip students with essential AI skills and competencies across all learning pathways. While AI education in kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) is critical, our Nation must also make resources available for lifelong learners to develop new skills for a changing workforce. By establishing a strong framework that integrates early student exposure with comprehensive teacher training and other resources for workforce development, we can ensure that every American has the opportunity to learn about AI from the earliest stages of their educational journey through postsecondary education, fostering a culture of innovation and critical thinking that will solidify our Nation’s leadership in the AI-driven future.
Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the United States to promote AI literacy and proficiency among Americans by promoting the appropriate integration of AI into education, providing comprehensive AI training for educators, and fostering early exposure to AI concepts and technology to develop an AI-ready workforce and the next generation of American AI innovators.
Sec. 3. Definition. For the purposes of this order, “artificial intelligence” or “AI” has the meaning set forth in 15 U.S.C. 9401(3).
Sec. 4. Establishing an Artificial Intelligence Education Task Force. (a) There is hereby established the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education (Task Force).(b) The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall be the Chair of the Task Force.(c) The Task Force membership shall consist of the following members:(i) the Secretary of Agriculture;(ii) the Secretary of Labor;(iii) the Secretary of Energy;(iv) the Secretary of Education;(v) the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF);(vi) the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy;(vii) the Special Advisor for AI & Crypto; (viii) the Assistant to the President for Policy; and(ix) the heads of other such executive departments and agencies (agencies) and offices that the Chair may designate or invite to participate.(d) The Task Force shall be responsible for implementing the policy stated in section 2 of this order and coordinating Federal efforts related to AI education, including the actions outlined in this order.
Sec. 5. Establishing the Presidential Artificial Intelligence Challenge. (a) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Task Force shall establish plans for a Presidential Artificial Intelligence Challenge (Challenge), and the agencies represented on the Task Force shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, implement the plans by holding the Challenge no later than 12 months from the submission of the plan. The Challenge shall encourage and highlight student and educator achievements in AI, promote wide geographic adoption of technological advancement, and foster collaboration between government, academia, philanthropy, and industry to address national challenges with AI solutions.(b) The Challenge shall feature multiple age categories, distinct geographic regions for competition, and a variety of topical themes of competition to reflect the breadth of AI applications, encouraging interdisciplinary exploration. (c) The Task Force and, as appropriate, agencies represented on the Task Force shall collaborate with relevant agencies and private sector entities to provide technical expertise, resources, and promotional support for implementing the Challenge, including through existing funding vehicles.
Sec. 6. Improving Education Through Artificial Intelligence. (a) To provide resources for K-12 AI education, agencies represented on the Task Force shall seek to establish public-private partnerships with leading AI industry organizations, academic institutions, nonprofit entities, and other organizations with expertise in AI and computer science education to collaboratively develop online resources focused on teaching K-12 students foundational AI literacy and critical thinking skills. The Task Force shall promptly announce such public-private partnerships on a rolling basis as they are formed.(i) The Task Force shall seek to utilize industry commitments and identify any Federal funding mechanisms, including discretionary grants, that can be used to provide resources for K-12 AI education. To the extent practicable and as consistent with applicable law, agencies shall prioritize funding for such purposes when it would further the aims of the program for which funding is available.(ii) The Task Force shall work to ensure the resources funded as described in subsection (i) of this section are ready for use in K-12 instruction within 180 days following the Task Force’s formal announcement of the first slate of public-private partnerships.(b) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Task Force shall identify existing Federal AI resources on which agencies may rely, such as the NSF- and Department of Agriculture-sponsored National AI Research Institutes, to support partnerships with State and local educational agencies to improve AI education.(c) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education shall issue guidance regarding the use of formula and discretionary grant funds to improve education outcomes using AI, including but not limited to AI-based high-quality instructional resources; high-impact tutoring; and college and career pathway exploration, advising, and navigation.(d) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education shall identify and implement ways to utilize existing research programs to assist State and local efforts to use AI for improved student achievement, attainment, and mobility.
Sec. 7. Enhancing Training for Educators on Artificial Intelligence. (a) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education shall take steps to prioritize the use of AI in discretionary grant programs for teacher training authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-10), as amended, and Title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-329), as amended, including for:(i) reducing time-intensive administrative tasks;(ii) improving teacher training and evaluation; (iii) providing professional development for all educators, so they can integrate the fundamentals of AI into all subject areas; and(iv) providing professional development in foundational computer science and AI, preparing educators to effectively teach AI in stand-alone computer science and other relevant courses.(b) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Director of the NSF shall take steps to prioritize research on the use of AI in education. The Director of the NSF shall also utilize existing programs to create teacher training opportunities that help educators effectively integrate AI-based tools and modalities in classrooms. (c) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Agriculture shall take steps to prioritize research, extension, and education on the use of AI in formal and non-formal education through 4-H and the Cooperative Extension System. The Secretary of Agriculture shall also utilize existing programs to create teacher and educator training opportunities that help effectively integrate AI-based tools and modalities into classrooms and curriculum.
Sec. 8. Promoting Registered Apprenticeships. (a) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Labor shall seek to increase participation in AI-related Registered Apprenticeships, including by:(i) Prioritizing the development and growth of Registered Apprenticeships in AI-related occupations. The Secretary of Labor shall establish specific goals for growing Registered Apprenticeships in AI-related occupations across industries; and(ii) Using apprenticeship intermediary contracts and allocating existing discretionary funds, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to engage industry organizations and employers and facilitate the development of Registered Apprenticeship programs in AI-related occupations. In doing so, the Secretary of Labor shall support the creation of industry-developed program standards to be registered on a nationwide basis, enabling individual employers to adopt the standards without requiring individual registry.(b) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Labor shall encourage States and grantees to use funding provided under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) (Public Law 113-128), as amended, to develop AI skills and support work-based learning opportunities within occupations utilizing AI by:(i) issuing guidance to State and local workforce development boards encouraging the use of WIOA youth formula funds to help youth develop AI skills;(ii) clarifying that States can use Governor set-asides to integrate AI learning opportunities into youth programs across the State; and(iii) consistent with applicable law, establishing AI skills training and work-based learning as a grant priority in all Employment and Training Administration youth-focused discretionary grant programs.(c) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Labor, through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training, and in collaboration with the Director of the NSF, shall engage with relevant State and local workforce development boards, industry organizations, education and training providers, and employers to identify and promote high-quality AI skills education coursework and certifications across the country. Through such engagement, the Secretary of Labor shall:(i) identify applicable funding opportunities to expand access to high-quality AI coursework and certifications;(ii) set performance targets for youth participation through any grants awarded for this purpose; and(iii) utilize industry and philanthropic partnerships to the extent practicable.(d) Within 120 days of the date of this order, and in consultation with the Secretary of Education and the Director of the NSF, the Secretary of Labor shall support the creation of opportunities for high school students to take AI courses and certification programs by giving priority consideration in awarding grants as appropriate and consistent with applicable law to providers that commit to use funds to develop or expand AI courses and certification programs. The Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education shall encourage recipients to build partnerships with States and local school districts to encourage those entities to consider offering high school students dual enrollment opportunities to take courses to earn postsecondary credentials and industry-recognized AI credentials concurrent with high school education.(e) Within 120 days of the date of this order, all agencies that provide educational grants shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, consider AI as a priority area within existing Federal fellowship and scholarship for service programs.
Sec. 9. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE, April 23, 2025.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Motorcycle seized after learner rider caught at 166km/h

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Motorcycle seized after learner rider caught at 166km/h

Thursday, 24 April 2025 – 9:44 am.

A learner motorcycle rider will appear in court for dangerous driving and other offences, after being caught speeding on the Bass Highway yesterday.
The 23-year-old Devonport man was detected travelling at 166km/h near Paramatta Creek about 5pm.
Inspector Adam Spencer said as a learner license holder, the man is legally limited to 80km/h.
“To ride at more than double the learner speed limit is reckless and unacceptable,” he said.
“Western road police have confiscated the man’s motorcycle, and he will appear in court at a later date.”
“This kind of behaviour puts the lives of not only the rider but also other road users at extreme risk.”
“The decision to travel at such a dangerous speed could have led to devastating consequences, fortunately, our officers were proactively on the lookout for this type of behaviour.”
“While the Easter holiday period is over, Tasmania Police will remain proactive in keeping our roads safe.”
“We will not tolerate the minority or road users who disregard road rules and jeopardise the safety of others.”
“Our focus is firmly on protecting all road users and preventing tragedies on Tasmanian roads.”
Anyone with dash-cam footage or relevant information about a black Yamaha YZF motorcycle travelling westbound on the Bass Highway from Launceston to Sassafras between 4pm and 5pm on Wednesday, 23 April is asked to contact police on 131 444.
Information can also be provided to Crime Stoppers Tasmania at crimestopperstas.com.au

MIL OSI News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £1,000 retirement savings boost from plans to bring together small pension pots
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

£1,000 retirement savings boost from plans to bring together small pension pots

Millions of Brits will find it easier to track their pension savings with the creation of a small pensions pot consolidator, in reforms unveiled by the pensions minister today (Thursday 24 April).
Government unveils reforms to combine small pension pots to make working people better off as part of Plan for Change

Move is set to boost retirement savings for the average worker by around £1000 and save businesses £225 million a year in unnecessary admin costs

Comes as part of Pension Schemes Bill which will drive investment in pensions industry and deliver on the government’s growth mission

This new initiative will tackle the growing problem of small, forgotten pension pots that many people accumulate as they move between employers over their working lives. There are now 13 million of these small pots, holding £1,000 or less, with the number increasing by around one million a year.

This is a hassle for savers and can stop them getting a good return on their savings if they have to pay multiple flat rate charges. Overseeing all these small pots also costs the pensions industry around £225 million in unnecessary admin costs.

Under reforms introduced by this government as part of the Pension Schemes Bill, each individual’s small pots will be brought together into one pension scheme that is certified as delivering good value to savers. Individuals will retain the right to opt out.

This will cut costs for savers and make it easier to keep track of their pensions while boosting living standards and make working people better off. It will also cut red tape for businesses managing the schemes and unlock economic growth as part of the Plan for Change.

This announcement will reduce costs as well as hassle for savers, in time increasing the pension pot of an average earner by around £1,000 – boosting living standards and making working people better off. It will also cut red tape for businesses managing the schemes and unlock economic growth as part of the Plan for Change.

Minister for Pensions Torsten Bell said:

It’s great news that more people are saving for their retirement. But I want to make pension saving as simple and rewarding as possible.

There are now more small pension pots in the UK than pensioners – raising costs and hassle for workers trying to track their savings. It also costs the pensions industry hundreds of millions of pounds every year.

We will automatically bring together people’s small pots into one high performing pension, reducing costs as well as hassle for savers. In time this could boost the pension of an average earner by around £1,000 as part of our Plan for Change to put more money in people’s pockets.

The announcement follows the work of the Small Pots Delivery Group. Their findings, aimed at supporting the design and implementation of the new small pots consolidator scheme, include:

A Small Pots Data Platform to identify and source the pension pots that could be consolidated.

A framework setting out the rules a scheme would need to follow to become a consolidator scheme. These would include already being in an Automatic Enrolment qualifying scheme, having a specified level of scale to manage expansion, providing good value for money for their members and providing additional protection for members from flat fee charges.

Safeguards for savers whose pension pots would be consolidated which include a member op-out option.

Transforming the pension landscape through the Pension Schemes Bill, set to be introduced in Parliament later this Spring, will deliver on the government’s manifesto commitment to boost investment and returns for savers and make working people better off.

The Bill will help over 15 million people, boost pension pots by £11,000 and spur on greater investment in productive assets.

Zoe Alexander, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, said:

The accumulation of small pots creates unnecessary cost and complexity for savers and schemes alike. The PLSA has worked extensively with industry and the DWP to propose solutions and supports the model being proposed by the Government.

We look forward to working on delivering the recommendations of the Small Pots Development Group and are pleased the Government is tackling this long-standing issue in the Pension Schemes Bill.

Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said:

Which? called for the consolidation of small pots under £1,000 before the election, so we are delighted that the government is committing to doing this – a move that will provide greater value for savers and support them to keep track of their pensions.

Which? looks forward to working with the government to ensure the pensions system is fit for the modern age.

Gail Izat, Workplace Managing Director at Standard Life, part of Phoenix Group said:

The number of small pots in the system is growing at a rate of knots and ultimately heightens the risk that people will lose track of their hard-earned savings.

The introduction of consolidators that can administer these pots effectively and invest them dynamically will be a step forward and when combined with pension dashboards will empower people to take control of their savings. We look forward to working with government on the creation of this new system.

Additional Information

The Delivery Group was chaired by the DWP and had representation from:

The Financial Conduct Authority

The Pensions Regulator

Pension and Lifetime Savings Association

Association of British Insurers

Pensions Administration Standards Association

Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals

Association of Pensions Lawyers

Which?

Federation of Small Businesses

Confederation of British Industry

Chair of the industry led Small Pots Coordination Group

Pensions Policy Institute

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Updates to this page

Published 24 April 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
April 24, 2025