NewzIntel.com

Category: Trumpism

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Marine Environment – Threatened whale species in the Pacific found in areas targeted by The Metals Company for deep sea mining, scientists warn

    Source: Greenpeace

    A scientific survey of two areas targeted by The Metals Company for deep sea mining in the Pacific Ocean has confirmed the presence of whales and dolphins, including sperm whales, which are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The news comes as world governments are preparing to meet once again at the International Seabed Authority (ISA), where the call for a moratorium on deep sea mining keeps growing.
    The survey published today in the scientific journal Frontiers in Marine Science was conducted by researchers from the University of Exeter and Greenpeace Research Laboratories from Greenpeace International’s ship, Arctic Sunrise. Researchers studied two exploration blocks held by The Metals Company in the Pacific’s Clarion-Clipperton Zone (known as NORI-d and TOML-e) [1] [2]
    Dr Kirsten Young, Lead Study Author, University of Exeter, says, “We already knew that the Clarion-Clipperton Zone is home to at least 20 species of cetaceans, but we’ve now demonstrated the presence of some of these species in two areas specifically earmarked for deep sea mining by The Metals Company.”
    Following President Trump’s approval of a deep sea mining Executive Order in April 2025, The Metals Company applied to the US government to give TMC unilateral permission to commercially mine the international seabed in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone. According to reports, this application covers the NORI-d area. This move bypasses and undermines the International Seabed Authority, the UN regulator for deep sea mining, which continues to prohibit commercial mining activities, and has been met with strong criticism from governments around the world.
    Scientists have previously warned of “long-lasting, irreversible” impacts of deep sea mining on the region. Cetaceans are known to be impacted by noise pollution caused by humans, and could be impacted by the significant noise expected to be created by deep sea mining operations. These operations would also generate sediment plumes, which could further impact cetacean populations by disrupting deep ocean food systems.
    Dr Kirsten Young continued, “While more research is needed to build a complete picture of the impact of the noise and sediment plumes on cetaceans, it’s clear that deep sea mining operations will negatively impact ocean ecosystems in areas far out to sea where monitoring is particularly challenging.”
    The survey provides a 13-day snapshot of cetacean activity in these two deep sea mining exploration areas. Using hydrophones, the research team confirmed 74 acoustic detections of cetaceans. This included a sperm whale, Risso’s dolphins and common dolphins.
    Louisa Casson, Greenpeace International senior campaigner, says, “The confirmed presence of cetaceans, including threatened sperm whales, in areas that The Metals Company is targeting for deep sea mining is yet another clear warning that this dangerous industry must never be allowed to begin commercial operations. The only sensible course of action for governments at next month’s International Seabed Authority meeting is to prioritise agreeing on a global moratorium.”
    Greenpeace Aotearoa deep sea mining campaigner Juressa Lee adds, “This study again highlights why deep sea mining in the Pacific must be stopped before it gets a chance to start. Deep sea mining is just the latest colonial, extractive industry that will destroy the ocean that Indigenous Pacific Peoples depend upon for their livelihoods and to which they have close relational and ancestral ties. Pacific communities are on the frontlines of the climate crisis that they have done nothing to create. They should not be sacrificed by the false solutions being peddled by wannabe deep sea miners who will wreck their homes and livelihoods, and compromise their traditional food source.”
    Calls for a moratorium on deep sea mining grew at the recent UN Ocean Conference, with four new countries joining the group supporting a moratorium, bringing the total to 37. The UN Secretary General also issued a strong call to stop this dangerous industry. Momentum against deep sea mining will now be carried forward at the July ISA meetings.
    Notes:
    [1] Threatened cetaceans in a potential deep seabed mining region, Clarion Clipperton Zone, Eastern Pacific: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1511075/abstra
    [2] This study in the Pacific is mirrored by another recent piece of research in the Arctic by Greenpeace Nordic and Greenpeace Germany. Researchers found cetaceans, including deep-diving and noise-sensitive sperm whales and northern bottlenose whales, in an area earmarked for future mining. If the Norwegian government proceeds with deep sea mining in the area, noise and other forms of pollution risk severe consequences. Greenpeace Nordic researchers are in the Arctic right now further documenting the presence of cetaceans in the area to expose the risks of deep sea mining and to champion the protection of the Arctic’s vulnerable marine life.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • Supreme Court lifts limits on Trump deporting migrants to countries not their own

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way on Monday for President Donald Trump’s administration to resume deporting migrants to countries other than their own without offering them a chance to show the harms they could face, handing him another victory in his aggressive pursuit of mass deportations.

    In an action that prompted a sharp dissent from its three liberal justices, the court granted the administration’s request to lift a judicial order requiring that migrants set for deportation to so-called “third countries” get a “meaningful opportunity” to tell U.S. officials they are at risk of torture at their new destination, while a legal challenge plays out.

    Boston-based U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy had issued the order on April 18.

    The Supreme Court’s brief order was unsigned and offered no reasoning, as is common when it decides emergency requests. The court has a 6-3 conservative majority.

    Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by the two other liberal justices, called the decision a “gross abuse” of the court’s power.

    “Apparently, the court finds the idea that thousands will suffer violence in far-flung locales more palatable than the remote possibility that a district court exceeded its remedial powers when it ordered the government to provide notice and process to which the plaintiffs are constitutionally and statutorily entitled,” Sotomayor wrote.

    Sotomayor called the court’s action “as incomprehensible as it is inexcusable.”

    Murphy had found that the administration’s policy of “executing third-country removals without providing notice and a meaningful opportunity to present fear-based claims” likely violates the U.S. Constitution’s due process protections. Due process generally requires the government to provide notice and an opportunity for a hearing before taking certain adverse actions.

    After the Department of Homeland Security moved in February to step up rapid deportations to third countries, immigrant rights groups filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of a group of migrants seeking to prevent their removal to such places without notice and to gain chance to assert the harms they could face.

    Murphy on May 21 found the Trump administration violated his order requiring additional steps before attempting to send a group of migrants to politically unstable South Sudan, which the U.S. State Department has urged Americans to avoid “due to crime, kidnapping and armed conflict.”

    The judge’s intervention prompted the U.S. government to keep the migrants at a military base in Djibouti.

    After the U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Murphy in a court order made clear that his decision preventing the rapid deportation of eight men to South Sudan “remains in full force and effect.”

    Trina Realmuto, executive director of the National Immigration Litigation Alliance, which helps represent the plaintiffs, called the ramifications of the court’s action “horrifying,” stripping away “critical due process protections that have been protecting our class members from torture and death.”

    The administration told the Supreme Court that its third-country policy already complied with due process and is critical for removing migrants who commit crimes because their countries of origin are often unwilling to take them back. It said that all the South Sudan-destined migrants had committed “heinous crimes” in the United States including murder, arson and armed robbery.

    “The Supreme Court’s stay of a left-wing district judge’s injunction reaffirms the president’s authority to remove criminal illegal aliens from our country and Make America Safe Again,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said after Monday’s decision.

    “Fire up the deportation planes,” said Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.

    A FLOOD OF CASES

    The dispute is one of many legal challenges to Trump policies to have reached the nation’s highest judicial body since he returned to office in January.

    The Supreme Court in May let Trump end humanitarian programs for hundreds of thousands of migrants to live and work in the United States temporarily. The justices, however, faulted the administration’s treatment of some migrants whom Trump targeted for removal under the Alien Enemies Act – a 1798 law that historically has been employed only in wartime – as inadequate under constitutional due process protections.

    Sotomayor said that in sending migrants to South Sudan, and in another instance four others to the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and on to El Salvador, the administration “openly flouted two court orders” issued by Murphy. Sotomayor also pointed to the separate Alien Enemies Act litigation in which questions were raised about the administration’s compliance with an order issued by a judge in that case.

    “This is not the first time the court closes its eyes to noncompliance, nor, I fear, will it be the last,” Sotomayor wrote. “Yet each time this court rewards noncompliance with discretionary relief, it further erodes respect for courts and for the rule of law.”

    The administration asked the Supreme Court to intervene after the Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on May 16 declined to put Murphy’s decision on hold.

    Media has also reported that U.S. officials had been considering sending migrants to Libya, another politically unstable country, despite previous U.S. condemnation of Libya’s harsh treatment of detainees.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Iran rejects ceasefire offer as Trump declares end to ’12-day war’

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    NEW YORK, June 24 (Xinhua) — A surprise ceasefire announcement on Monday has sparked confusion and skepticism as a senior Iranian official told CNN that Tehran has not received any formal offer from the United States and sees no reason to end hostilities with Israel or Washington.

    “At this very moment, the enemy is committing aggression against Iran, and Iran is on the verge of intensifying its retaliatory strikes, not listening to the lies of its enemies,” the official said, adding that the remarks by US and Israeli leaders would be seen as “deception” designed to justify further attacks on Iran.

    The conflicting statements raised questions about the adherence and durability of any potential cease-fire. As of Monday evening, neither Israeli nor Iranian officials had publicly confirmed any agreement. The White House and Pentagon had also made no official statements, and it was unclear whether word of the deal had been relayed through diplomatic channels or whether either side intended to honor the terms.

    US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that Israel and Iran had reached a formal agreement on a comprehensive ceasefire, ending the “12-day war.”

    On his Truth Social page, Trump congratulated both countries and said the ceasefire would begin approximately six hours after each side’s ongoing military operations had ended. The ceasefire would initially last 12 hours, during which the warring parties would maintain a stance of “peace and respect.”

    Iran will initiate a ceasefire, followed by Israel in 12 hours, culminating in a formal declaration of the war’s end within 24 hours, the US president said. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Iran rejects ceasefire offer as Trump declares end to ’12-day war’

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    NEW YORK, June 24 (Xinhua) — A surprise ceasefire announcement on Monday has sparked confusion and skepticism as a senior Iranian official told CNN that Tehran has not received any formal offer from the United States and sees no reason to end hostilities with Israel or Washington.

    “At this very moment, the enemy is committing aggression against Iran, and Iran is on the verge of intensifying its retaliatory strikes, not listening to the lies of its enemies,” the official said, adding that the remarks by US and Israeli leaders would be seen as “deception” designed to justify further attacks on Iran.

    The conflicting statements raised questions about the adherence and durability of any potential cease-fire. As of Monday evening, neither Israeli nor Iranian officials had publicly confirmed any agreement. The White House and Pentagon had also made no official statements, and it was unclear whether word of the deal had been relayed through diplomatic channels or whether either side intended to honor the terms.

    US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that Israel and Iran had reached a formal agreement on a comprehensive ceasefire, ending the “12-day war.”

    On his Truth Social page, Trump congratulated both countries and said the ceasefire would begin approximately six hours after each side’s ongoing military operations had ended. The ceasefire would initially last 12 hours, during which the warring parties would maintain a stance of “peace and respect.”

    Iran will initiate a ceasefire, followed by Israel in 12 hours, culminating in a formal declaration of the war’s end within 24 hours, the US president said. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Press conference, Commonwealth Parliament Offices, Brisbane

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    Jim Chalmers:

    I’ve got a number of issues that I wanted to cover today, but to begin by acknowledging the statements that the Prime Minister has just made, and obviously we’ve seen statements by the Americans and the Iranians as well. This remains a perilous time in the Middle East and for the global economy and that’s why we have consistently been advocating for stabilisation and de‑escalation. We urge the parties to implement the ceasefire which was announced by President Trump today. We need to see an enduring ceasefire in the Middle East. We need this ceasefire to stick. That is in the interests of the region and it’s in the interests of the global economy as well, and the Prime Minister has made all of that clear in the last few minutes.

    Regardless of what happens in the next day or 2 in the Middle East, it remains the case that there is a great deal of global economic uncertainty. We are seeing a global economy which is defined by unpredictability and volatility and uncertainty, and these will be the primary influences on the government and on our country and its economy as we make important decisions about how we manage the economy in uncertain times.

    In this context, I welcome the opportunity to speak once again with my American counterpart, the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tomorrow morning our time. This will be an opportunity to engage once again on issues which are central to this very important economic relationship between the United States and Australia. I expect the conversation to traverse issues like critical minerals, legislation before the US Congress, obviously trade and tariffs, but also this global economic uncertainty that we’re seeing around the world in the Middle East but also in Eastern Europe, also closer to home.

    We do have very substantial concerns about the global economy, whether it’s the impact on oil prices of what we’re seeing in the Middle East, whether it’s the ongoing implications of Russian aggression in Ukraine, whether it’s the potential impact on global demand of these escalating trade tensions. The global economy is a dangerous place right now and that’s why one of our overriding economic goals is to make the Australian economy more resilient.

    When it comes to oil prices, we’ve seen oil prices come up quite substantially over the course of this month. Remember the barrel price was about $82 at the start of the year, it got down to $62 at the start of this month, it got up to $79 at the start of this week and now it’s trading at around $69. This gives you a sense of the quite extraordinary volatility in the oil price and that obviously has implications for the global economy, for our own economy and also for the prices that Australians pay at the petrol bowser.

    I have written today to the Chair of the ACCC to make sure that Australians are treated fairly at the bowser. We don’t want to see service stations do the wrong thing by Australian motorists. We want to make sure that the market is operating effectively when it comes to the petrol price and what’s happening with this volatility in the global oil price but we call on the service stations to do the right thing by their customers. We’ve empowered and asked the ACCC to use its monitoring powers to make sure that the servos are doing the right thing by Australian motorists. We don’t want to see this volatility in global oil prices lead to more than justifiable changes in the price that Australian motorists pay at the bowser, I’ve made that very clear with my instructions to the ACCC today.

    Tomorrow we will get the monthly inflation data for May. That monthly figure is notoriously volatile and hard to predict but the very strong expectation is that we will see monthly inflation in the Reserve Bank’s target band once again. This will be a very substantial indication that we have got inflation down substantially and sustainably in our economy. This monthly inflation data is not as reliable as the quarterly figures but it’s an important indication of the progress that Australians have made together when it comes to the fight against inflation.

    The monthly figure bounces around a bit. We may see that in the numbers tomorrow but regardless, we expect to see another month where inflation is within the Reserve Bank’s target band, that’s a good thing given the very high and rising inflation that we inherited 3 years ago when we came to office.

    We’ve made a lot of progress together on inflation but I wanted to run through today the very substantial additional help that we will be providing Australians from the 1st of July. More help is on the way a week from today when it comes to cost‑of‑living help. We’ve made this progress on inflation together, though we know that the job is not done because people are still under pressure and that’s why there is more help on the way a week from today when 8 new measures come into effect from the 1st of July which is a week away now.

    I wanted to briefly run through the 8 changes that will come into effect from next Tuesday. First of all, the national minimum wage and award wages will go up by 3 and a half per cent. That will benefit 2.9 million Australians on low and award wages.

    Secondly, superannuation goes up to 12 per cent. We’re very proud to see the superannuation guarantee rise to 12 per cent. That will benefit 14 and a half million Australian employees, and it means tens of thousands of dollars extra in people’s super at retirement.

    We’re also increasing the duration of paid parental leave from 22 to 24 weeks and we’ll be paying super on government‑paid parental leave. That is a very substantial change and we’re very proud of that as well. That’s the third big change that comes into effect from the 1st of July.

    The fourth one is that we’ve extended the energy bill rebates from the 1st of July for another 6 months. That means another $150 of help for 10 million households and one million small businesses as well.

    The fifth change from the 1st of July is that our $10,000 incentive payments for apprentices to top up their wages in housing construction will come into place as well, and that will help us build the homes that we need, recognising that we need the tradies, the builders, to build those 1.2 million homes.

    The sixth change is our cheaper home batteries program kicks in from the 1st of July. That means that households and businesses could be eligible for around 30 per cent of the up‑front cost of installing a battery.

    The seventh one is that we are increasing the amount people can earn before they have to start paying back their student debt. Subject to the passage of that legislation, that change will be effective in the middle of this year.

    The eighth change is that we’re seeing an increase to the social security payments with the indexation and lifting the asset limits for payments like family payments. And this will benefit more than 2.4 million people.

    So there are 8 different ways that we are helping Australians with the cost of living. We’re getting inflation down, we’re getting on top of inflation in welcome and encouraging ways, we’re still helping with the cost of living, but because we’re making progress on inflation and because we’re helping with the cost of living, that also allows for an even bigger focus on our 3 priority areas this term which are productivity, budget sustainability and resilience in the face of global economic uncertainty and that’s what the roundtable is all about that I’ll be convening next month in Canberra.

    I’ve had some very productive conversations with businesses and unions already. Today at their invitation I briefed and then had a good conversation with the Transurban board, meeting here in Brisbane. I’ll be meeting with the Business Council of Australia again today after this press conference. I’ve had good engagement with the unions and others to see what progress we can make together when it comes to reforming our economy, making it more productive, making our budget more sustainable and making our economy more resilient at the same time as well.

    I’m in the process of finalising the invitation list for the Economic Reform Roundtable in August. But the guidance is already very clear – we want people to come with an eye to the national interest. We want people to understand and engage and propose trade‑offs, and we want people to come with specific ideas, not just problem identification. If people do that, I’m confident that we will make progress at the Economic Reform Roundtable in August. People will be in the room able to contribute, but also there’ll be opportunities for people outside the room to make a contribution as well. I’ve been really heartened and encouraged by the amount of interest that people have shown already in the Economic Reform Roundtable, and I think that augers well for the next steps in the already very substantial program of economic progress and reform that we have undertaken.

    Journalist:

    Just on that reform roundtable, will the Opposition have a place, given they’ve asked to be involved?

    Chalmers:

    I’ve made it clear to Ted O’Brien, the Shadow Treasurer, this morning that there is an invitation for him to the economic roundtable in August. I’ve provided that invitation in good faith. I think it would be a good thing for the country to have the Shadow Treasurer engaged at the Economic Reform Roundtable. I think it would give us a better chance of making the kind of progress that we desperately need to see on reform and in our economy more broadly. So I’ve issued an invitation to Ted O’Brien. I’ve had a brief exchange with him earlier this morning about that. I hope that he accepts that invitation. It’s certainly been offered in good faith.

    This is a big chance for Australians either side of the parliament, for Australians in business, in unions, in the community sector, the community more broadly to engage where we can in a non‑partisan way in the interests of our people and their economy. And so I hope Ted O’Brien accepts that invitation. We are still finalising all of the other invitations, but I think there’s heightened public interest in whether the Opposition has been invited, and that’s why we’ve got the question from you, Kate and I want to make it clear today we have offered that invitation to the Shadow Treasurer, and we hope that he accepts it.

    Journalist:

    Treasurer, I want to ask you a question about GST. How serious do you think the states are about wanting to reform the GST?

    Chalmers:

    I think it remains to be seen. From time to time the states have made that proposal, not just the current batch of premiers and treasurers, but from time to time we’ve seen that idea pitched up. What I’ve tried to do, what I said at the National Press Club last week – I think everybody knows and understands the comments that I’ve made on the GST in the past. I’m not walking away from those comments but I’m not trying to artificially limit the contribution that people might want to make in and around the Economic Reform Roundtable in August.

    I think inevitably there is, from time to time, tension between the Commonwealth and the states about Commonwealth funding. Every state and territory wants more funding from the Commonwealth. From time to time, they pitch up ideas like this one. I like to engage with the states and territories in good faith from both sides of the political equation and I hope that at the Economic Reform Roundtable, however we work out the best way to involve the states in this process – whether inside or outside the room – I hope that people come to this in a constructive way, and I suspect they will.

    Journalist:

    And what would be the prerequisites for you to seriously consider any reforms in this space?

    Chalmers:

    Well, I’ve made it clear that the major prerequisites for the reform roundtable are first of all to try and take a national view and not just a sectoral view or a state or territory view but to try and see the whole national economic interests, as governments are invited to do. I’ve asked people to make sure that where they are proposing a change, whether it’s in tax or productivity in or in other areas around resilience, that that’s done recognising the trade‑offs, particularly the fiscal trade‑offs. We’ve got to make the budget more sustainable, not less sustainable, so that’s an important guiding principle. And thirdly, to make sure that people come with specific and realistic ideas and that they try and build consensus around those ideas. And so that’s the guidance we’ve provided to business, to unions, to the community sector, to the states and territories, to everyone who’s shown an interest. And that will apply to everyone, not just the government.

    Journalist:

    Do you – and I know you made the opening statements about Israel and Iran, but do you have faith that Donald Trump’s declaration there will be a ceasefire will actually eventuate?

    Chalmers:

    Look, obviously I’ve seen the more recent comments from the Iranians – I think it was the Foreign Minister – in relation to the ceasefire. I think the region and the world desperately needs this ceasefire to be implemented and we need it to stick. The best way out of this perilous time in the Middle East is for people to come to the table to engage in dialogue and diplomacy as the Prime Minister said a few minutes ago and that’s what we want to see.

    Journalist:

    And do you – or are you able to update us at all on efforts to assist Australians leaving Iran or Israel or plans for broader updates to travel advice?

    Chalmers:

    Can I say that Penny Wong’s colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are outstanding people working around the clock to try and keep our people safe. There are thousands of Australians who have registered to come out of Iran or Israel and DFAT is working around the clock to make that possible. There have been some people that have been able to be extracted from this dangerous part of the world and the assurance that we give to everyone else – and I’ve been part of some of these but not all of these conversations and I’ve seen for myself the very hard and tireless work being done by DFAT to get people out – they will continue to do the very best they can. We understand that there’s a lot of concern, people in those dangerous places and their family members around the world, including here in Australia, and we’ll do everything that we can to keep them safe.

    Journalist:

    And can I just ask one more about the eSafety Commissioner’s found children are experiencing harm more often on YouTube than any other platform. Would it undermine the purpose of the ban to leave it out?

    Chalmers:

    I’ll leave some of those questions in the very capable hands of Anika Wells. Obviously our objective here is to keep young people safe online in particular. We’ll work through all of those issues to make sure that we’ve got the most effective regime. We know that people have got views about what’s included and what’s excluded. I think that’s natural when you’re proposing a change of this magnitude. We pay close attention to the sorts of data that you’re referring to and we will finalise the best regime that we can.

    We shouldn’t lose sight of the major objective here. A lot of us – you don’t have to be a parent but certainly parents around Australia, including this one speaking right now – are very concerned about the safety of young Australians online. We’re doing what we can to help out. We’ll take into consideration all of those kinds of views and that kind of data like the one you’re asking me about.

    Thanks very much.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Iran-Israel ceasefire begins: Iranian TV

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

    Iran’s Press TV said Tuesday that ceasefire begins following waves of Iranian attacks on Israel.

    Early Tuesday, Israel’s military said it was working to intercept Iranian missiles launched “a short while ago,” without specifying the exact time of the attack.

    “A short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas across Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel,” the military said in a statement posted on Telegram around 5:00 a.m. local time (0200 GMT). Iran has since fired waves of missiles at Israel, according to Iranian state media.

    Israel’s skies are closed to planes until further notice, said Israeli airport authorities.

    U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier announced that a ceasefire between the two sides would begin around 0400 GMT, with Iran expected to halt its operations first.

    Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said earlier that there was no “agreement” on a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. However, he suggested Iran would be prepared to halt further retaliation if Israeli attacks stopped by 4 a.m. Tehran time (0030 GMT).

    “If Israel stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4 a.m., Iran has no intention of continuing its response afterwards,” Araqchi wrote in a post on X, adding that “the final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later.”

    Hours earlier, a senior Iranian official told CNN that Tehran had not received any formal ceasefire proposal from the United States and saw no reason to halt hostilities.

    “At this very moment, the enemy is committing aggression against Iran, and Iran is on the verge of intensifying its retaliatory strikes, with no ear to listen to the lies of its enemies,” the official was quoted as saying. He added that remarks from U.S. and Israeli leaders would be seen as a “deception” intended to justify further attacks on Iran.

    The conflicting narratives raised questions about the implementation and durability of any potential ceasefire. As of Monday night, neither Israeli nor Iranian officials had publicly confirmed any agreement. The White House and the Pentagon had also not issued formal statements, and it remained unclear whether the reported deal had been communicated through diplomatic channels, or whether either side intended to follow the terms.

    U.S. President Donald Trump announced Monday evening that Israel and Iran have reached a formal agreement to implement a complete and total ceasefire, marking what he called the end of the “12-Day War.”

    In a post on his Truth Social platform Monday, Trump said the ceasefire will initially last 12 hours, during which the opposing sides will maintain a posture of “peace and respect.”

    “On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will,” Trump wrote, “I would like to congratulate both countries… on having the stamina, courage, and intelligence to end what should be called ‘THE 12 DAY WAR.’”

    Calling the agreement a breakthrough that “could have saved the Middle East from years of destruction,” Trump ended his announcement with a sweeping message of unity: “God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD!”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • Operation Sindhu: 2,295 Indians evacuated from Iran, 604 from Israel as India steps up rescue efforts

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India evacuated 292 of its nationals from Iran early Tuesday as part of Operation Sindhu, a mission launched to ensure the safety of Indian citizens amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.

    The evacuees arrived in New Delhi at 3:30 AM IST on a special flight from Mashhad, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

    “292 Indian nationals were evacuated from Iran on a special flight that arrived in New Delhi from Mashhad at 0330 hrs on 24th June,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.

    Operation Sindhu, which began on June 18, has so far facilitated the return of 2,295 Indians from Iran. A day earlier, another flight brought back 290 Indians and one Sri Lankan national from Mashhad.

    Simultaneously, evacuation efforts from Israel continue. The Indian Embassy in Israel said on Monday that 604 Indian nationals have been safely evacuated via Jordan and Egypt under Operation Sindhu.

    On Tuesday, Jaiswal confirmed that the first batch of 161 Indian nationals from Israel had reached India.

    “The Israel leg of #OperationSindhu began on June 23, 2025, bringing home the first group of 161 Indian nationals from Israel. They safely arrived in New Delhi today at 0820 hrs from Amman, Jordan,” Jaiswal wrote on X, adding that they were received at the airport by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita

    In a separate update, Jaiswal said that another 165 Indian nationals were brought back from Israel on an IAF C-17 flight, which landed at 8:45 AM IST in Delhi. Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan welcomed the group on arrival.

    The Israel-Iran conflict began on June 13 when Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, targeting Iranian military and nuclear sites. In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) responded with Operation True Promise 3, striking Israeli fuel production and energy centers.

    The situation intensified further after U.S. forces conducted Operation Midnight Hammer, a set of precision airstrikes on three major Iranian nuclear facilities early Sunday.

    Despite a ceasefire announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump, the Israeli military on Tuesday reported fresh waves of missile attacks from Iran, with emergency services confirming three civilian deaths.

    (With inputs from agencies)

  • Operation Sindhu: 2,295 Indians evacuated from Iran, 604 from Israel as India steps up rescue efforts

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India evacuated 292 of its nationals from Iran early Tuesday as part of Operation Sindhu, a mission launched to ensure the safety of Indian citizens amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.

    The evacuees arrived in New Delhi at 3:30 AM IST on a special flight from Mashhad, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

    “292 Indian nationals were evacuated from Iran on a special flight that arrived in New Delhi from Mashhad at 0330 hrs on 24th June,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.

    Operation Sindhu, which began on June 18, has so far facilitated the return of 2,295 Indians from Iran. A day earlier, another flight brought back 290 Indians and one Sri Lankan national from Mashhad.

    Simultaneously, evacuation efforts from Israel continue. The Indian Embassy in Israel said on Monday that 604 Indian nationals have been safely evacuated via Jordan and Egypt under Operation Sindhu.

    On Tuesday, Jaiswal confirmed that the first batch of 161 Indian nationals from Israel had reached India.

    “The Israel leg of #OperationSindhu began on June 23, 2025, bringing home the first group of 161 Indian nationals from Israel. They safely arrived in New Delhi today at 0820 hrs from Amman, Jordan,” Jaiswal wrote on X, adding that they were received at the airport by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita

    In a separate update, Jaiswal said that another 165 Indian nationals were brought back from Israel on an IAF C-17 flight, which landed at 8:45 AM IST in Delhi. Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan welcomed the group on arrival.

    The Israel-Iran conflict began on June 13 when Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, targeting Iranian military and nuclear sites. In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) responded with Operation True Promise 3, striking Israeli fuel production and energy centers.

    The situation intensified further after U.S. forces conducted Operation Midnight Hammer, a set of precision airstrikes on three major Iranian nuclear facilities early Sunday.

    Despite a ceasefire announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump, the Israeli military on Tuesday reported fresh waves of missile attacks from Iran, with emergency services confirming three civilian deaths.

    (With inputs from agencies)

  • Trump says Israel-Iran ceasefire now in effect, please don’t violate it

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday a ceasefire between Israel and Iran was now in place and asked both countries not to violate it, only hours after Iran launched waves of missiles, which Israel’s ambulance service said killed four people.

    “THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!” Trump said in a Truth Social post.

    When Trump announced on Monday what he called a complete ceasefire to end a 12-day war, he appeared to suggest that Israel and Iran would have time to complete missions that were underway, at which point the ceasefire would begin in a staged process.

    Witnesses said they heard explosions near Tel Aviv and Beersheba in southern Israel before Trump‘s statement.

    Israel’s military said six waves of missiles were launched by Iran and Israel’s national ambulance service said four people were killed in Beersheba, the first reported deaths in Israel since Trump announced the ceasefire.

    Iran’s semi-official SNN news agency reported on Tuesday that Tehran fired its last round of missiles before the ceasefire came into effect.

    A senior White House official said Trump had brokered a ceasefire deal in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel had agreed so long as Iran did not launch further attacks.

    “On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, ‘THE 12 DAY WAR’,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social site.

    An Iranian official earlier confirmed that Tehran had agreed to a ceasefire, but the country’s foreign minister said there would be no cessation of hostilities unless Israel stopped its attacks.

    Abbas Araqchi said early on Tuesday that if Israel stopped its “illegal aggression” against the Iranian people no later than 4 a.m. Tehran time (0030 GMT) on Tuesday, Iran had no intention of continuing its response afterwards.

    “The final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later,” Araqchi added in a post on X.

    Israel, joined by the United States on the weekend, has carried out attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, after alleging Tehran was getting close to obtaining a nuclear weapon.

    Iran denies ever having a nuclear weapons program but Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has said that if it wanted to, world leaders “wouldn’t be able to stop us”.

    Israel, which is not a party to the international Non-Proliferation Treaty, is the only country in the Middle East believed to have nuclear weapons. Israel does not deny or confirm that.

    Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani secured Tehran’s agreement during a call with Iranian officials, an official briefed on the negotiations told Reuters on Tuesday.

    U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff were in direct and indirect contact with the Iranians, a White House official said.

    Neither Iran’s U.N. mission nor the Israeli embassy in Washington responded to separate requests for comment from Reuters.

    Hours earlier, three Israeli officials had signaled Israel was looking to wrap up its campaign in Iran soon and had passed the message on to the United States.

    Netanyahu had told government ministers whose discussions ended early on Tuesday not to speak publicly, Israel’s Channel 12 television reported.

    Markets reacted favorably to the news.

    S&P 500 futures rose 0.4% late on Monday, suggesting traders expect the U.S. stock market to open with gains on Tuesday.

    U.S. crude futures fell in early Asian trading hours on Tuesday to their lowest level in more than a week after Trump said a ceasefire had been agreed, relieving worries of supply disruption in the region.

    EARLY NOTICE

    Earlier on Monday, Trump said he would encourage Israel to proceed towards peace after dismissing Iran’s attack on an American air base that caused no injuries and thanking Tehran for the early notice of the strikes.

    He said Iran fired 14 missiles at the U.S. air base, calling it “a very weak response, which we expected, and have very effectively countered.”

    Iran’s handling of the attack recalled earlier clashes with the United States and Israel, with Tehran seeking a balance between saving face with a military response but without provoking a cycle of escalation it can’t afford.

    Iran’s attack came after U.S. bombers dropped 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs on Iranian underground nuclear facilities at the weekend, joining Israel’s air war.

    Much of Tehran’s population of 10 million has fled after days of bombing.

    The Trump administration maintains that its aim was solely to destroy Iran’s nuclear program, not to open a wider war.

    “Iran was very close to having a nuclear weapon,” Vice President JD Vance said in an interview on Fox News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier.”

    “Now Iran is incapable of building a nuclear weapon with the equipment they have because we destroyed it,” Vance said.

    Trump has cited intelligence reports that Iran was close to building a nuclear weapon, without elaborating. However, U.S. intelligence agencies said earlier this year they assessed that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon and a source with access to U.S. intelligence reports told Reuters last week that that assessment hadn’t changed.

    In a social media post on Sunday, Trump spoke of toppling the hardline clerical rulers who have been Washington’s principal foes in the Middle East since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

    Israel, however, had made clear that its strikes on Evin prison – a notorious jail for housing political prisoners – and other targets in Tehran were intended to hit the Iranian ruling apparatus broadly, and its ability to sustain power.

    (Reuters)

  • Trump says Israel-Iran ceasefire now in effect, please don’t violate it

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday a ceasefire between Israel and Iran was now in place and asked both countries not to violate it, only hours after Iran launched waves of missiles, which Israel’s ambulance service said killed four people.

    “THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!” Trump said in a Truth Social post.

    When Trump announced on Monday what he called a complete ceasefire to end a 12-day war, he appeared to suggest that Israel and Iran would have time to complete missions that were underway, at which point the ceasefire would begin in a staged process.

    Witnesses said they heard explosions near Tel Aviv and Beersheba in southern Israel before Trump‘s statement.

    Israel’s military said six waves of missiles were launched by Iran and Israel’s national ambulance service said four people were killed in Beersheba, the first reported deaths in Israel since Trump announced the ceasefire.

    Iran’s semi-official SNN news agency reported on Tuesday that Tehran fired its last round of missiles before the ceasefire came into effect.

    A senior White House official said Trump had brokered a ceasefire deal in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel had agreed so long as Iran did not launch further attacks.

    “On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, ‘THE 12 DAY WAR’,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social site.

    An Iranian official earlier confirmed that Tehran had agreed to a ceasefire, but the country’s foreign minister said there would be no cessation of hostilities unless Israel stopped its attacks.

    Abbas Araqchi said early on Tuesday that if Israel stopped its “illegal aggression” against the Iranian people no later than 4 a.m. Tehran time (0030 GMT) on Tuesday, Iran had no intention of continuing its response afterwards.

    “The final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later,” Araqchi added in a post on X.

    Israel, joined by the United States on the weekend, has carried out attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, after alleging Tehran was getting close to obtaining a nuclear weapon.

    Iran denies ever having a nuclear weapons program but Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has said that if it wanted to, world leaders “wouldn’t be able to stop us”.

    Israel, which is not a party to the international Non-Proliferation Treaty, is the only country in the Middle East believed to have nuclear weapons. Israel does not deny or confirm that.

    Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani secured Tehran’s agreement during a call with Iranian officials, an official briefed on the negotiations told Reuters on Tuesday.

    U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff were in direct and indirect contact with the Iranians, a White House official said.

    Neither Iran’s U.N. mission nor the Israeli embassy in Washington responded to separate requests for comment from Reuters.

    Hours earlier, three Israeli officials had signaled Israel was looking to wrap up its campaign in Iran soon and had passed the message on to the United States.

    Netanyahu had told government ministers whose discussions ended early on Tuesday not to speak publicly, Israel’s Channel 12 television reported.

    Markets reacted favorably to the news.

    S&P 500 futures rose 0.4% late on Monday, suggesting traders expect the U.S. stock market to open with gains on Tuesday.

    U.S. crude futures fell in early Asian trading hours on Tuesday to their lowest level in more than a week after Trump said a ceasefire had been agreed, relieving worries of supply disruption in the region.

    EARLY NOTICE

    Earlier on Monday, Trump said he would encourage Israel to proceed towards peace after dismissing Iran’s attack on an American air base that caused no injuries and thanking Tehran for the early notice of the strikes.

    He said Iran fired 14 missiles at the U.S. air base, calling it “a very weak response, which we expected, and have very effectively countered.”

    Iran’s handling of the attack recalled earlier clashes with the United States and Israel, with Tehran seeking a balance between saving face with a military response but without provoking a cycle of escalation it can’t afford.

    Iran’s attack came after U.S. bombers dropped 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs on Iranian underground nuclear facilities at the weekend, joining Israel’s air war.

    Much of Tehran’s population of 10 million has fled after days of bombing.

    The Trump administration maintains that its aim was solely to destroy Iran’s nuclear program, not to open a wider war.

    “Iran was very close to having a nuclear weapon,” Vice President JD Vance said in an interview on Fox News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier.”

    “Now Iran is incapable of building a nuclear weapon with the equipment they have because we destroyed it,” Vance said.

    Trump has cited intelligence reports that Iran was close to building a nuclear weapon, without elaborating. However, U.S. intelligence agencies said earlier this year they assessed that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon and a source with access to U.S. intelligence reports told Reuters last week that that assessment hadn’t changed.

    In a social media post on Sunday, Trump spoke of toppling the hardline clerical rulers who have been Washington’s principal foes in the Middle East since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

    Israel, however, had made clear that its strikes on Evin prison – a notorious jail for housing political prisoners – and other targets in Tehran were intended to hit the Iranian ruling apparatus broadly, and its ability to sustain power.

    (Reuters)

  • US judge blocks Trump plan to close Harvard’s doors to international students

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A federal judge on Monday blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from implementing his plan to bar foreign nationals from entering the United States to study at Harvard University.

    U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston issued an injunction barring Trump’s administration from carrying out its latest bid to curtail Harvard’s ability to host international students amid an escalating fight pitting the Republican president against the prestigious Ivy League school.

    The preliminary injunction extends a temporary order the judge issued on June 5 that prevented the administration from enforcing a proclamation Trump signed a day earlier that cited national security concerns to justify why Harvard could no longer be trusted to host international students.

    She ruled after Trump’s Friday announcement that his administration could announce a deal with Harvard “over the next week or so” to resolve the White House’s campaign against the university, which has waged a legal battle against the administration’s various actions against the school.

    Trump signed the proclamation after his administration had already frozen billions of dollars in funding to the oldest and wealthiest U.S. university, threatened Harvard’s tax-exempt status and launched several investigations into the school.

    The proclamation prohibited foreign nationals from entering the U.S. to study at Harvard or participate in exchange visitor programs for an initial period of six months, and directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to consider whether to revoke visas of international students already enrolled at Harvard.

    But Burroughs said Trump’s administration was likely violating Harvard’s free speech rights under the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment by retaliating against it for refusing to meet its demands to cede control over the school’s curriculum and admissions and by targeting it based on what officials viewed as the university’s left-leaning orientation.

    The judge said that “at its root, this case is about core constitutional rights that must be safeguarded: freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and freedom of speech, each of which is a pillar of a functioning democracy and an essential hedge against authoritarianism.”

    “Here, the government’s misplaced efforts to control a reputable academic institution and squelch diverse viewpoints seemingly because they are, in some instances, opposed to this Administration’s own views, threaten these rights,” she wrote.

    Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Harvard said the ruling will allow it to continue hosting international students and scholars while this case moves forward. It added it will continue to defend the rights of the school, its students and scholars.

    The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

    The university has filed two separate lawsuits before Burroughs, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama, seeking to unfreeze around $2.5 billion in funding and to prevent the administration from blocking the ability of international students to attend the university.

    The latter lawsuit was filed after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on May 22 announced that her department was immediately revoking Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, which allows it to enroll foreign students.

    Almost 6,800 international students attended Harvard in its most recent school year, making up about 27% of its student population.

    Noem, without providing evidence, accused the university of “fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party.”

    Her action was temporarily blocked by Burroughs almost immediately. While the Department of Homeland Security has since shifted to challenging Harvard’s certification through a lengthier administrative process, Burroughs at a May 29 hearing said she planned to issue an injunction to maintain the status quo, which she did officially on Friday.

    A week after the hearing, Trump signed his proclamation, which cited concerns about Harvard’s acceptance of foreign money including from China and what it said was an inadequate response by the school to his administration’s demand for information on foreign students.

    His administration has accused Harvard of creating an unsafe environment for Jewish students and allowing antisemitism to fester on its campus. Protests over U.S. ally Israel’s treatment of Palestinians during its war in Gaza have roiled numerous universities’ campuses, including Harvard’s.

    Rights advocates have noted rising antisemitism and Islamophobia in the U.S. due to the war. The Trump administration has thus far announced no action over anti-Arab and anti-Muslim hate. Harvard’s own antisemitism and Islamophobia task forces found widespread fear and bigotry at the university in reports released in late April.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: D. Trump Confirms Iran’s Strike on US Military Base in Qatar

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    NEW YORK, June 24 (Xinhua) — U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday confirmed that Iran launched a missile attack on a U.S. military base in Qatar in retaliation for recent U.S. airstrikes on the country’s nuclear facilities. He called the strike a “very weak response” that caused no casualties and “little damage.”

    In a series of posts on the social media site Truth Social, the US president said Iran had fired 14 missiles, 13 of which were intercepted and one was abandoned because it posed no threat. He credited Iran for “advance warning,” which he said prevented any loss of life.

    D. Trump called on Iran and Israel to strive for “peace and harmony” in the region.

    The US leader also thanked the Emir of Qatar for his role in promoting regional stability. According to him, no Qatari citizens were harmed in the incident.

    Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid bin Mohammed al-Ansari confirmed that several Iranian missiles were intercepted over the Qatari capital Doha on Monday. Tehran said the strikes targeted the US-run Al Udeid air base. The spokesman said the base had been evacuated in advance and no casualties were reported.

    Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the missile attack on a US air base, saying the operation was aimed at US military facilities in Qatar and Iraq. The IRGC called the Al Udeid air base “the headquarters of the US Air Force and the largest strategic asset” of the US military in the region. It added that six missiles were fired at the facility.

    Despite the attack, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said Tehran was committed to its “brotherly and friendly relations” with Qatar, noting that the Iranian operation posed no danger to the country. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • Ceasefire Brings Relief to Civilians After Deadly Iran-Israel Conflict Claims Nearly 900 Lives

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The announcement of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel on Tuesday has brought temporary relief to millions of civilians caught in the crossfire of what President Donald Trump called a “12-day war,” as humanitarian organizations scramble to assess the devastating toll on both populations.

    The ceasefire was declared after Iranian state media announced that a truce had been “imposed on the enemy” following what Tehran characterized as its military response to “US aggression.” The announcement came hours after Iran’s retaliatory missile attacks targeted a US base in Qatar, marking an escalation that drew American forces directly into the regional conflict.

    According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the conflict has claimed at least 865 lives in Iran alone, with 215 military personnel, 363 civilians, and 287 unidentified individuals killed as of June 22. An additional 3,396 people have been wounded in Iranian territory. These figures significantly exceed those provided by Iranian health authorities, who reported 224 deaths and over 2,500 injuries, though both sources emphasize that the majority of casualties were civilians.

    The humanitarian crisis in Iran has worsened significantly, with Israeli airstrikes initially focused on military targets now increasingly hitting residential areas and even prisons. The escalation has triggered mass internal displacement, forcing millions to flee their homes. Casualties include aid workers, children with disabilities, and nuclear scientists, underscoring the widespread impact across Iranian society. Iran’s judiciary reported that Israel has also targeted Tehran’s Evin prison, damaging sections of the facility known for holding political detainees.

    In Israel, the human cost has been equally tragic, with Iranian missile strikes killing at least 24 civilians and injuring nearly 600 others. The southern city of Beersheba bore the brunt of the most recent Iranian barrage, with emergency services reporting at least three deaths and eight injuries in the early morning hours before the ceasefire took effect. Israeli rescue services continue searching for survivors trapped under rubble from damaged residential buildings.

    President Trump revealed that both Israel and Iran had reached out to his administration ‘almost simultaneously’ seeking peace, as his diplomatic and security teams worked through the night to broker the truce. The ceasefire appears to have taken effect around 4 a.m. local time, with Israeli strikes on Iranian cities ceasing shortly before that time, though Israel had intensified its bombardment in the hours leading up to the agreement.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet publicly commented on the ceasefire announcement, though reports indicate he convened an emergency Security Cabinet meeting that extended into the early hours of Tuesday morning. Credible reports say that Netanyahu instructed his ministers to refrain from making public statements about the ceasefire agreement.

    The conflict’s rapid escalation over 12 days has overwhelmed emergency services in both countries, with hospitals struggling to treat the wounded and rescue teams working to clear debris from damaged buildings. The UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies have called for urgent de-escalation, protection of civilians, and unhindered access to deliver aid to affected populations.

    The ceasefire’s durability remains uncertain, as both sides have indicated their willingness to resume hostilities if the other violates the agreement. Iran has stated it will halt its retaliation only if Israel ceases its attacks, while Israeli officials have remained largely silent about the terms of the arrangement. The conflict has demonstrated how quickly regional tensions can escalate into full-scale warfare, with civilian populations bearing the heaviest burden of the violence.

  • Indian stock market opens higher as geopolitical tensions ease

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Equity benchmarks opened on a strong note on Tuesday, buoyed by easing geopolitical tensions in West Asia and positive cues from global markets. The rally followed an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump declaring a ceasefire between Iran and Israel.

    The BSE Sensex rose 756.5 points, or 0.92%, to 82,653.33 in early trade, while the NSE Nifty climbed 229 points, or 0.92%, to 25,200.90. Broad-based buying was seen across sectors, with auto, IT, PSU banks and financial services stocks leading the gains.

    Analysts noted that the de-escalation in West Asia is likely to reduce volatility in crude oil and equity markets. “The sharp reactions in the crude oil and stock markets suggest the geopolitical situation is limping back to normalcy,” said Dr. V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.

    The Nifty Bank index gained 557.25 points, or 0.99%, to trade at 56,616.60. The Nifty Midcap 100 rose 411 points, or 0.71%, to 58,617.80, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 was up 123.05 points, or 0.67%, at 18,443.95.

    Aakash Shah, Technical Research Analyst at Choice Broking, said the recovery in the Nifty and Bank Nifty indicates buying interest at lower levels, but added that a breakout above 25,200 and 56,300 respectively would be needed for a sustained rally. “Given the current environment of heightened volatility, investors should remain cautiously optimistic,” he said.

    In the Sensex pack, Adani Ports, M&M, UltraTech Cement, L&T, Titan, SBI, Asian Paints, Bajaj Finance and Bajaj Finserv were among the top gainers. NTPC, BEL and Trent were trading in the red.

    On the institutional front, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net sellers on June 23, offloading equities worth ₹1,874.38 crore. In contrast, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought stocks worth ₹5,591.77 crore.

    Asian markets mirrored the optimism, with indices in Bangkok, Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul, Hong Kong and Jakarta trading in positive territory.

    Overnight in the U.S., the Dow Jones closed at 42,581.78, up 374.96 points (0.89%). The S&P 500 gained 0.96% to end at 6,025.17, while the Nasdaq advanced 0.94% to 19,630.97.

    -IANS

  • MIL-Evening Report: Hauntingly familiar? Why comparing the US strikes on Iran to Iraq in 2003 is off target

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Benjamin Isakhan, Professor of International Politics, Deakin University

    HECTOR MATA/AFP via Getty Images

    On June 21, the United States launched airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities – Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan – pounding deeply buried centrifuge sites with bunker-busting bombs.

    Conducted jointly with Israel, the operation took place without formal congressional authorisation, drawing sharp criticism from lawmakers that it was unconstitutional and “unlawful”.



    Read more:
    Why the US strikes on Iran are illegal and can set a troubling precedent

    Much of the political debate has centred on whether the US is being pulled into “another Middle East war”.

    The New York Times’ Nick Kristof weighed in on the uncertainties following the US’ surprise bombing of Iran and Tehran’s retaliation.

    Even US Vice President JD Vance understood the unease, stating:

    People are right to be worried about foreign entanglement after the last 25 years of idiotic foreign policy.

    These reactions have revived comparisons with George W. Bush’s 2003 invasion of Iraq: a Republican president launching military action on the basis of flimsy weapons of mass destruction (WMD) evidence.

    Hauntingly familiar?

    While the surface similarity is tempting, the comparison may in fact obscure more about President Donald Trump than it reveals.

    Comparisons to the Iraq War

    In 2003, Bush ordered a full-scale invasion of Iraq based on flawed intelligence, claiming Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein possessed WMDs. And while the war was extremely unpopular across the world, it did have bipartisan congressional support.

    The invasion toppled Iraq’s regime in just a few weeks.

    What followed was a brutal conflict and almost a decade of US occupation. The war triggered the rise of militant jihadism and a horrific sectarian conflict that reverberates today.

    So far, Trump’s one-off strikes on Iran bear little resemblance to the 2003 Iraq intervention.

    These were precision strikes within the context of a broader Iran-Israel war, designed to target Iran’s nuclear program.

    And, so far, there appears to be little appetite for a full-scale military invasion or “boots on the ground”, and regime change seems unlikely despite some rumblings from both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

    Yet the comparison to Iraq persists, especially among audiences suspicious of repeated US military interventions in the Middle East. But poorly considered analogies carry costs.

    For one, the Iraq comparison sheds little light on Trump’s foreign policy.



    Read more:
    The US has entered the Israel-Iran war. Here are 3 scenarios for what might happen next

    Trump’s foreign policy

    To better understand the recent strikes on Iran, we need to look at Trump’s broader foreign policy.

    Much has been made of his “America first” mantra, a complex mix of prioritising domestic interests, questioning international agreements, and challenging traditional alliances.

    Others, including Trump himself, have often touted his “no war” approach, pointing to large-scale military withdrawals from Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq,and the fact he had not started a new war.

    But beyond this, Trump has increased US military spending and frequently used his office to conduct targeted strikes on adversaries – especially across the Middle East.

    For example, in 2017 and 2018, Trump ordered airstrikes on a Syrian airbase and chemical weapons facilities. In both instances, he bypassed Congress and used precision air power to target weapons infrastructure without pursuing regime change.

    Also, from 2017 to 2021, Trump authorised US support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen, enabling airstrikes that targeted militant cells but also led to mass civilian casualties.

    Trump’s policy was the subject of intense bipartisan opposition, culminating in the first successful congressional invocation of the War Powers Resolution – though it was ultimately vetoed by Trump.

    And in 2020, Trump launched a sequence of attacks on Iranian assets in Iraq. This included a drone strike that killed senior Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani.

    Again, these attacks were conducted without congressional support. The decision triggered intense bipartisan backlash and concerns about escalation without oversight.

    While such attacks are not without precedent – think back to former US President Barack Obama’s intervention in Libya or Joe Biden’s targeting of terrorist assets – the scale and veracity of Trump’s attacks on the Middle East are much more useful as a framework to understanding the recent attacks on Iran than any reference to the 2003 Iraq war.

    What this reveals about Trump

    It is crucial to scrutinise any use of force. But while comparing the 2025 Iran strikes to Iraq in 2003 may be rhetorically powerful, it is analytically weak.

    A better path is to situate these events within Trump’s broader political style.

    He acts unilaterally and with near-complete impunity, disregarding traditional constraints and operating outside established norms and oversight.

    This is just as true for attacks on foreign adversaries as it is for the domestic policy arena.

    For example, Trump recently empowered agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to operate with sweeping discretion in immigration enforcement, bypassing legal and judicial oversight.

    Trump also uses policy as spectacle, designed to send shockwaves through the domestic or foreign arenas and project dominance to both friend and foe.

    In this way, Trump’s dramatic attacks on Iran have some parallels to his unilateral imposition of tariffs on international trade. Both are abrupt, disruptive and framed as a demonstration of strength rather than a way to create a mutually beneficial solution.

    Finally, Trump is more than willing to use force as an instrument of power rather than as a last resort. This is just as true for Iran as it is for the US people.

    The recent deployment of US Marines to quell protests in Los Angeles reveals a similar impulse: military intervention as a first instinct in the absence of a broader strategy to foster peace.

    To truly understand and respond to Trump’s Iran strikes, we need to move beyond sensationalist analogies and recognise a more dangerous reality. This is not the start of another Iraq; it’s the continuation of a presidency defined by impulsive power, unchecked force and a growing disdain for democratic constraint.

    Benjamin Isakhan receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Australian Department of Defence. The views expressed in this article do not reflect those of Government policy.

    – ref. Hauntingly familiar? Why comparing the US strikes on Iran to Iraq in 2003 is off target – https://theconversation.com/hauntingly-familiar-why-comparing-the-us-strikes-on-iran-to-iraq-in-2003-is-off-target-259668

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • Global shares rally, oil slumps as Trump announces Iran-Israel ceasefire

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Global shares rallied and the dollar extended declines on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire, sending oil prices into a deep dive as concerns over supply disruptions ebbed.

    Writing on his Truth Social site, Trump implied a ceasefire would go into effect in 12 hours, after which the war would be considered “ended”.

    There was no immediate comment yet from Israel. While an Iranian official earlier confirmed that Tehran had agreed to a ceasefire, the country’s foreign minister said there would be no cessation of hostilities unless Israel stopped its attacks.

    Oil prices fell over 3%, having already slid 9% on Monday when Iran made a token retaliation against a U.S. base, which came to nothing and signalled it was done for now.

    With the immediate threat to the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane seemingly over, U.S. crude futures fell another 3.4% to $66.15 per barrel, the lowest since June 11.

    “With markets now viewing the escalation risk as over, market attention is likely to shift towards the looming tariff deadline in two weeks time,” said Prashant Newnaha, senior Asia-Pacific rates strategist at TD Securities.

    “Our sense is that the quicker than expected resolution to the Middle East conflict leads to expectations for a swifter resolution on tariffs and trade deals.”

    Risk assets rallied, with S&P 500 futures up 0.6% and Nasdaq futures 0.9% higher futures jumped 1.3% and futures rose 0.4%.

    The MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan jumped 1.8% while Japan’s Nikkei rallied 1.4%.

    Two sources told Reuters that Japan’s tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa is arranging his seventh visit to the United States for as early as June 26, aiming to end tariffs that are hurting Japan’s economy.

    China’s blue chips rose 1%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index gained 1.7%.

    News of the ceasefire saw the dollar extend an overnight retreat and slip 0.3% to 145.70 yen, having come off a six-week high of 148 yen overnight. The euro rose 0.2% to $1.1594 on Tuesday, having gained 0.5% overnight.

    The yen and euro benefited from the slide in oil prices as both the EU and Japan rely heavily on imports of oil and liquefied natural gas, while the United States is a net exporter.

    “The market was so well hedged against a major tail-risk event to play out…the actions and the dialogue we’ve seen highlight that the tail risks have not and will highly unlikely materialise,” said Chris Weston, head of Research at Pepperstone.

    Ten-year Treasury yields were 2 basis points higher at 4.35%, having declined 5 bps overnight after Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman said the time to cut interest rates was getting nearer as risks to the job market may be on the rise.

    Fed Chair Jerome Powell will have his own chance to comment when appearing before Congress later on Tuesday and, so far, has been more cautious about a near-term easing.

    Markets still only imply around a 22% chance the Fed will cut at its next meeting on July 30.

    The risk-on mood saw gold prices ease 0.6% to $3,346 an ounce.

    (Reuters)

  • Trump announces ceasefire in 12-day Iran-Israel war

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday a complete ceasefire between Israel and Iran, potentially ending the 12-day war that saw millions flee Tehran and prompted fears of further escalation in the war-torn region.

    But there was no confirmation from Israel and the Israeli military said it had detected missiles launched from Iran towards Israel in the early hours of Tuesday.

    “Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement.

    Israel, joined by the United States on the weekend, has carried out attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, after alleging Tehran was getting close to obtaining a nuclear weapon.

    “On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, ‘THE 12 DAY WAR’,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social site.

    While an Iranian official earlier confirmed that Tehran had agreed to a ceasefire, the country’s foreign minister said there would be no cessation of hostilities unless Israel stopped its attacks.

    Abbas Araqchi said early on Tuesday that if Israel stopped its “illegal aggression” against the Iranian people no later than 4 a.m. Tehran time (0030 GMT) on Tuesday, Iran had no intention of continuing its response afterwards.

    There have been no reported Israeli attacks on Iran since that time.

    “The final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later,” Araqchi added in a post on X.

    A senior White House official said Trump had brokered the deal in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel had agreed so long as Iran did not launch further attacks.

    Trump appeared to suggest that Israel and Iran would have some time to complete any missions that are underway, at which point the ceasefire would begin in a staged process.

    Iran denies ever having a nuclear weapons program but Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has said that if it wanted to, world leaders “wouldn’t be able to stop us”.

    Israel, which is not a party to the international Non-Proliferation Treaty, is the only country in the Middle East believed to have nuclear weapons. Israel does not deny or confirm that.

    Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani secured Tehran’s agreement during a call with Iranian officials, an official briefed on the negotiations told Reuters on Tuesday.

    U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff were in direct and indirect contact with the Iranians, the White House official said.

    Neither Iran’s U.N. mission nor the Israeli embassy in Washington responded to separate requests for comment from Reuters.

    Hours earlier, three Israeli officials had signaled Israel was looking to wrap up its campaign in Iran soon and had passed the message on to the United States.

    Netanyahu had told government ministers whose discussions ended early on Tuesday not to speak publicly, Israel’s Channel 12 television reported.

    Markets reacted favorably to the news.

    S&P 500 futures rose 0.4% late on Monday, suggesting traders expect the U.S. stock market to open with gains on Tuesday.

    U.S. crude futures fell in early Asian trading hours on Tuesday to their lowest level in more than a week after Trump said a ceasefire had been agreed, relieving worries of supply disruption in the region.

    END TO THE FIGHTING?

    There did not appear to be calm yet in the region.

    The Israeli military issued two evacuation warnings in less than two hours to residents of areas in the Iranian capital Tehran, one late on Monday and one early on Tuesday.

    Israeli Army radio reported early on Tuesday that alarms were activated in the southern Golan Heights area due to fears of hostile aircraft intrusion.

    Earlier on Monday, Trump said he would encourage Israel to proceed towards peace after dismissing Iran’s attack on an American air base that caused no injuries and thanking Tehran for the early notice of the strikes.

    He said Iran fired 14 missiles at the U.S. air base, calling it “a very weak response, which we expected, and have very effectively countered.”

    Iran’s handling of the attack recalled earlier clashes with the United States and Israel, with Tehran seeking a balance between saving face with a military response but without provoking a cycle of escalation it can’t afford.

    Tehran appears to have achieved that goal.

    Iran’s attack came after U.S. bombers dropped 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs on Iranian underground nuclear facilities at the weekend, joining Israel’s air war.

    Much of Tehran’s population of 10 million has fled after days of bombing.

    The Trump administration maintains that its aim was solely to destroy Iran’s nuclear program, not to open a wider war.

    “Iran was very close to having a nuclear weapon,” Vice President JD Vance said in an interview on Fox News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier.”

    “Now Iran is incapable of building a nuclear weapon with the equipment they have because we destroyed it,” Vance said.

    Trump has cited intelligence reports that Iran was close to building a nuclear weapon, without elaborating. However, U.S. intelligence agencies said earlier this year they assessed that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon and a source with access to U.S. intelligence reports told Reuters last week that that assessment hadn’t changed.

    But in a social media post on Sunday, Trump spoke of toppling the hardline clerical rulers who have been Washington’s principal foes in the Middle East since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

    Israel, however, had made clear that its strikes on Evin prison – a notorious jail for housing political prisoners – and other targets in Tehran were intended to hit the Iranian ruling apparatus broadly, and its ability to sustain power.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Host “Love is Love” Pride Celebration, Performance at Kennedy Center

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado

    Musical theater concert produced by acclaimed Broadway producer Jeffrey Seller, with music directed by Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley

    WASHINGTON – Tonight, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Tammy Baldwin, Elizabeth Warren, Jacky Rosen, and Brian Schatz hosted a Pride celebration and musical performance titled “Love is Love”, which was produced by acclaimed Broadway producer Jeffrey Seller, at the Kennedy Center’s Justice Forum.

    In the last years of the 20th century, and the early years of this century, gay marriage went from being vilified by some to being widely accepted. “Love is Love” is a celebration of the important role that Broadway, Hollywood, and other creative enterprises played in this dramatic transformation of the America we love. 

    The actors and other creative talent who created this show gave their time and creative energy to recognize and amplify this cultural transformation. The Kennedy Center, long an outpost and a beacon for equality in the arts, seemed the perfect venue. 

    The performance reminds us that our fight for equality – and for democracy – isn’t over. It’s happening right now, all around us.

    “In our darkest hours, we must continue to seek out the light,” said Hickenlooper. “Tonight, we honor the role that the freedom of expression and the theatrical arts play in continuing to expand LGBTQ rights in America.”

    “We have made incredible progress in our fight for true equality, but we cannot mistake progress for victory and we still have some big hills to climb. Look no further than the Trump Administration’s shameful attacks on the LGBTQ community and our right to live a life with dignity, respect, and free from discrimination. While this administration won’t say it, we will: To all LGBTQ members of our community, we see you, we respect you, and we are proud to celebrate you,” said Baldwin.

    “As the Trump administration keeps up its hateful attacks on LGBTQ+ Americans, we’re meeting their bigotry with resilience and joy. Tonight, we’re celebrating that joy at the Kennedy Center with artists and stage workers for a special performance. I’ll never stop fighting to make sure every single person is free to live exactly who they are,” said Warren.

    “The Trump Administration’s cruel and harmful attacks against the LGBTQ community are having dire consequences,” said Rosen. “Trump is not only actively targeting LGBTQ Americans with discriminatory policies, he’s seeking to erase LGBTQ history and culture. That’s why it’s more important than ever before to stand up and proudly celebrate the LGBTQ community.”

    “Every attack on LGBTQ+ rights by the Trump administration is an attack on human rights, on freedom, and on every American’s right to equal protection under the law. We have come too far to go backward. Now is the time to stand up and fight back in every way we can – in the courts, at the ballot box, in peaceful protests, and with the arts,” said Schatz.

    For a full list of the cast and crew, click HERE.

    Photos from the event can be found HERE and attributable to the Office of U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Iran denies ceasefire proposal as Trump announces end to ’12-Day War’

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

    Confusion and skepticism surrounded a surprise ceasefire announcement Monday, as a senior Iranian official told CNN that Tehran had not received any formal proposal from the United States and saw no reason to halt hostilities with Israel or Washington.

    “At this very moment, the enemy is committing aggression against Iran, and Iran is on the verge of intensifying its retaliatory strikes, with no ear to listen to the lies of its enemies,” the official was quoted as saying. He added that remarks from U.S. and Israeli leaders would be seen as a “deception” intended to justify further attacks on Iran.

    The conflicting narratives raised questions about the implementation and durability of any potential ceasefire. As of Monday night, neither Israeli nor Iranian officials had publicly confirmed any agreement. The White House and the Pentagon had also not issued formal statements, and it remained unclear whether the reported deal had been communicated through diplomatic channels, or whether either side intended to follow the terms.

    U.S. President Donald Trump announced Monday evening that Israel and Iran have reached a formal agreement to implement a complete and total ceasefire, marking what he called the end of the “12-Day War.”

    In a post on his Truth Social platform Monday, Trump congratulated both nations and revealed that the ceasefire will begin in approximately six hours, following the completion of each side’s ongoing military operations. The ceasefire will initially last 12 hours, during which the opposing side will maintain a posture of “peace and respect.”

    According to Trump, Iran will initiate the ceasefire, followed by Israel 12 hours later, culminating in an official declaration of the war’s end at the 24-hour mark.

    “On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will,” Trump wrote, “I would like to congratulate both countries… on having the stamina, courage, and intelligence to end what should be called ‘THE 12 DAY WAR.’”

    Calling the agreement a breakthrough that “could have saved the Middle East from years of destruction,” Trump ended his announcement with a sweeping message of unity: “God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD!”

    MIL OSI China News –

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

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

    Calls for New Zealand to denounce United States attack on Iran
    By Lillian Hanly, RNZ News political reporter Prominent lawyers are joining opposition parties as they call for the New Zealand government to denounce the United States attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. Iranian New Zealander and lawyer Arman Askarany said the New Zealand government was showing “indifference”. It comes as acting Prime Minister David Seymour told

    Warm-ups, layered clothes, recovery: 4 tips to exercise safely in the cold
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Harry Banyard, Senior Lecturer in Exercise and Sports Science, Swinburne University of Technology Maridav/Shutterstock Temperatures have dropped in many parts of Australia which means runners, cyclists, rowers, hikers, or anyone physically active outside need to take extra precautions to stay safe and exercise in relative comfort. Cold

    Sharks freeze when you turn them upside down – and there’s no good reason why
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jodie L. Rummer, Professor of Marine Biology, James Cook University Rachel Moore Imagine watching your favourite nature documentary. The predator lunges rapidly from its hiding place, jaws wide open, and the prey … suddenly goes limp. It looks dead. For some animals, this freeze response – called

    Drone footage captured orcas crafting tools out of kelp – and using them for grooming
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vanessa Pirotta, Postdoctoral Researcher and Wildlife Scientist, Macquarie University Sara Jenkins/500px/Getty The more we learn about orcas, the more remarkable they are. These giant dolphins are the ocean’s true apex predator, preying on great white sharks and other lesser predators. They’re very intelligent and highly social. Their

    Inaccurate and misogynistic: why we need to make the term ‘hysterectomy’ history
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Theresa Larkin, Associate Professor of Medical Sciences, University of Wollongong Panuwat Dangsungnoen/Getty Images Have you had a tonsillectomy (your tonsils taken out), appendectomy (your appendix removed) or lumpectomy (removal of a lump from your breast)? The suffix “ectomy” denotes surgical removal of the named body part, so

    More women are using medical cannabis – but new research shows barriers push some into illegal markets
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vinuli Withanarachchie, PhD candidate, College of Health, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University Getty Images The number of women using medicinal cannabis is growing in New Zealand and overseas. They use cannabis treatment for general conditions such as pain, anxiety, inflammation and nausea, as well as

    It’s time to face an uncomfortable truth: maybe our pampered pets would be better off without us
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nancy Cushing, Associate professor, University of Newcastle ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images Pet-keeping is often promoted for the benefits it brings humans. A close association with another animal can provide us with a sense of purpose and a daily dose of joy. It can aid our health,

    Work, wages and apprenticeships: sifting for clues about the lives of girls in ancient Egypt
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julia Hamilton, Lecturer in History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Weavers in the Tomb of Khnumhotep II, Beni Hassan, Egypt. Painted by Norman de Garis Davies (MMA 33.8.16) We know surprisingly little about the lives of children in ancient Egypt. And what records we do have about them

    Archetyp was one of the dark web’s biggest drug markets. A global sting has shut it down
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elena Morgenthaler, PhD Candidate, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University Operation Deep Sentinel Last week, one of the dark web’s most prominent drug marketplaces – Archetyp – was shut down in an international, multi-agency law enforcement operation following years of investigations. It was touted as

    How do sleep trackers work, and are they worth it? A sleep scientist breaks it down
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dean J. Miller, Senior Lecturer, Appleton Institute, HealthWise Research Group, CQUniversity Australia Many smartwatches, fitness and wellness trackers now offer sleep tracking among their many functions. Wear your watch or ring to bed, and you’ll wake up to a detailed sleep report telling you not just how

    ‘It feels like I am being forced to harm a child’: research shows how teachers are suffering moral injury
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Glenys Oberg, PhD candidate in education and trauma, The University of Queensland SolStock/Getty Images Australia is in the grip of a teacher shortage. Teachers are burning out, warning the job is no longer sustainable and leaving the profession. We know this is due to excessive workloads, stress

    NZ Greens call on state to condemn US over ‘dangerous’ attack on Iran
    Asia Pacific Report New Zealand’s opposition Green Party has called on the government to condemn the United States for its illegal bombing of Iran and inflaming tensions across the Middle East. “The actions of the United States pose a fundamental threat to world peace,” said Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson in a statement. “The rest

    View from the Hill: Albanese supports US bombing, reluctantly
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra When Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong went out on Monday to back the United States attack on Iran, it was obvious their support was through gritted teeth. Albanese told their joint news conference: “The world has

    Woodside’s North West Shelf gas extension is being challenged in the courts. Could it be stopped?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Hepburn, Professor, Deakin Law School, Deakin University The controversial extension of Woodside’s North West Shelf gas project off Western Australia faces two legal challenges. Both raise significant concerns about the validity of government approvals. One could even seek an injunction, preventing federal environment minister Murray Watt

    Australian CEOs are still getting their bonuses. Performance doesn’t seem to matter so much
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Denniss, Adjunct Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University RomanR/Shutterstock Almost all of Australia’s top chief executives are, according to their boards at least, knocking it out of the park in terms of performance. That is despite sluggish productivity, persistently high carbon emissions, rising

    Strait of Hormuz: closing vital oil and gas route would disrupt global supplies. How will Australia be affected?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sanjoy Paul, Associate Professor in Operations and Supply Chain Management, UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney Below the Sky/Shutterstock The Iranian parliament has approved the closure of key shipping route the Strait of Hormuz, in a move that could further escalate the Israel/Iran war. The strait

    MIT researchers say using ChatGPT can rot your brain. The truth is a little more complicated
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vitomir Kovanovic, Associate Professor and Associate Director of the Centre for Change and Complexity in Learning (C3L), Education Futures, University of South Australia Rroselavy / Shutterstock Since ChatGPT appeared almost three years ago, the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies on learning has been widely debated. Are

    Why the US strikes on Iran are illegal and can set a troubling precedent
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Donald Rothwell, Professor of International Law, Australian National University After the United States bombed Iran’s three nuclear facilities on Sunday, US President Donald Trump said its objective was a “stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror”. US Defence Secretary

    How do I get started in the gym lifting weights?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mandy Hagstrom, Senior Lecturer, Exercise Physiology. School of Health Sciences, UNSW Sydney Thomas Barwick/Getty So you’ve never been to a gym and are keen to start, but something’s holding you back. Perhaps you don’t know what to actually do in there or feel like you’ll just look

    NZ’s plan to ‘welcome anyone, from anywhere, anytime’ is not a sustainable tourism policy
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Regina Scheyvens, Professor of Development Studies, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University Getty Images Attracting more Chinese tourists to New Zealand, including during the off-season, was a major part of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s trade agenda during his visit to China last week. As Tourism Minister

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Leads Senators in Demanding Answers on Trump Administration’s Cuts to Veteran Education Benefits

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) led Senate colleagues in a letter to the Trump Administration expressing deep concern over the administration’s recent budget and staffing cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Education, and demanding answers on how these cuts will negatively impact critical education benefits for veterans and programs that support veterans as they transition to civilian life, pursue higher education, or reenter the workforce. Rosen was joined by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Angus King (I-ME), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Andy Kim (D-NJ), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Tina Smith (D-MN), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mark Warner (D-VA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Tim Kaine (D-VA). 
    “With nearly 16 million veterans across our nation who have selflessly served and sacrificed in defense of our country, it is imperative that these cuts do not undermine essential programs that support veterans transitioning to civilian life and building successful careers,” wrote the Senators. “Education programs such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Yellow Ribbon Program, and Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) have empowered countless veterans to pursue higher education, gain critical skills, and become integral contributors to our economy and society. Laws and regulations enforced by the Department of Education, such as the 90/10 rule and borrower defense to repayment, have also historically prevented veterans from being taken advantage of by predatory programs. Weakening or eliminating any of these programs or protections would not only harm veterans but also jeopardize our national workforce readiness and long-term economic resilience.”
    “As a country, we carry a moral and strategic responsibility to ensure our veterans are equipped for success after service. Safeguarding the educational benefits veterans rely upon is not only a commitment to our promises, but also an investment in our nation’s future and vital for military recruitment,” the Senators’ letter continued. “We respectfully request a detailed explanation of the impacts these budget and staffing cuts and planned changes to federal oversight and accreditation policy will have on veterans’ access to, and success in, higher education, vocational training, and associated support services nationwide.”
    The full letter can be found HERE.
    Senator Rosen has been a steadfast advocate for veterans in Nevada and nationwide. In January 2025, she co-sponsored the bipartisan Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act, now law, which authorized funds to County Veterans Service Officers and local efforts to connect veterans with benefits related to education, housing, disability, and other services. In February 2025, she helped introduce the Purple Heart Veterans Education Act, closing a loophole so that every Purple Heart recipient can transfer their GI Bill benefits to their dependents. In 2024, Rosen led the bipartisan Education Flexibility for Veteran Parents Act, allowing veteran parents to receive full GI Bill housing stipends regardless of whether the program is in-person or online. Her bipartisan bill to require the VA to maintain a permanent helpline for veterans to use for information on VA services was signed into law last year as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025. These efforts underscore her unwavering commitment to ensuring veterans and their families receive the education benefits they’ve earned through service.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Leads Senators in Demanding Answers on Trump Administration’s Cuts to Veteran Education Benefits

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) led Senate colleagues in a letter to the Trump Administration expressing deep concern over the administration’s recent budget and staffing cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Education, and demanding answers on how these cuts will negatively impact critical education benefits for veterans and programs that support veterans as they transition to civilian life, pursue higher education, or reenter the workforce. Rosen was joined by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Angus King (I-ME), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Andy Kim (D-NJ), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Tina Smith (D-MN), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mark Warner (D-VA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Tim Kaine (D-VA). 
    “With nearly 16 million veterans across our nation who have selflessly served and sacrificed in defense of our country, it is imperative that these cuts do not undermine essential programs that support veterans transitioning to civilian life and building successful careers,” wrote the Senators. “Education programs such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Yellow Ribbon Program, and Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) have empowered countless veterans to pursue higher education, gain critical skills, and become integral contributors to our economy and society. Laws and regulations enforced by the Department of Education, such as the 90/10 rule and borrower defense to repayment, have also historically prevented veterans from being taken advantage of by predatory programs. Weakening or eliminating any of these programs or protections would not only harm veterans but also jeopardize our national workforce readiness and long-term economic resilience.”
    “As a country, we carry a moral and strategic responsibility to ensure our veterans are equipped for success after service. Safeguarding the educational benefits veterans rely upon is not only a commitment to our promises, but also an investment in our nation’s future and vital for military recruitment,” the Senators’ letter continued. “We respectfully request a detailed explanation of the impacts these budget and staffing cuts and planned changes to federal oversight and accreditation policy will have on veterans’ access to, and success in, higher education, vocational training, and associated support services nationwide.”
    The full letter can be found HERE.
    Senator Rosen has been a steadfast advocate for veterans in Nevada and nationwide. In January 2025, she co-sponsored the bipartisan Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act, now law, which authorized funds to County Veterans Service Officers and local efforts to connect veterans with benefits related to education, housing, disability, and other services. In February 2025, she helped introduce the Purple Heart Veterans Education Act, closing a loophole so that every Purple Heart recipient can transfer their GI Bill benefits to their dependents. In 2024, Rosen led the bipartisan Education Flexibility for Veteran Parents Act, allowing veteran parents to receive full GI Bill housing stipends regardless of whether the program is in-person or online. Her bipartisan bill to require the VA to maintain a permanent helpline for veterans to use for information on VA services was signed into law last year as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025. These efforts underscore her unwavering commitment to ensuring veterans and their families receive the education benefits they’ve earned through service.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy: 8 Things You Should Know About Iran

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    June 23, 2025

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Monday wrote a Substack post outlining eight ideas that should inform how the American public thinks about the Trump administration’s strikes against Iran and President Trump’s refusal to learn the lessons of America’s previous military misadventures in the Middle East.
    “America’s addiction to military intervention in the Middle East is a stubborn habit to break for our nation, and it’s heartbreaking,” Murphy wrote. “It’s heartbreaking mostly because we have continuous evidence that believing we can change minds or political realities in this complicated region by brute military force is folly.”
    Murphy explained the American people are not the ones pushing for endless conflict:  “But, we keep going to war, despite the evidence telling us “hell no,” because of a powerful but wrongheaded group of warmongers and cheerleaders in Washington: hawkish politicians; profit-obsessed weapons sellers; and capable but naively optimistic military planners.
    He laid out various potentially dangerous consequences of Trump’s decision to strike Iran: “The worst consequence, of course, is a full-blown war in the region that draws in the United States…If Iran kills American troops, the conflict could spiral and America would be back at war in the Middle East…Another potentially dangerous consequence would be the fall of the regime in Tehran. The Supreme Leader is a murderous tyrant who wants Israel wiped off the map and has killed hundreds of U.S. troops in Iraq. Even if he were pushed out internally, he could be replaced by someone even more hardline and bent on revenge, willing to order terrorist attacks all over the globe. A third scenario, a civil war in which Iran descends into chaos, could be even worse for the United States and the region…”
    Murphy argued diplomacy, not military intervention, is the best way to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon: “You cannot bomb knowledge out of existence. Iran knows how to make a nuclear bomb…And bombing their facilities just destroys their equipment; it does not eliminate their knowledge… If Iran makes the decision to build a weapon, and they have a country like Russia helping them, they could easily get a weapon in a dangerously short amount of time…If America hadn’t already successfully negotiated and implemented an agreement with Iran to stop them from obtaining a nuclear weapon, maybe the military option would look more reasonable. Yes, we don’t want Iran to have a nuclear weapon, but from 2014-2107, Iran’s advanced nuclear research program was dismantled, and we had inspectors crawling all over the country ensuring their compliance. Trump’s national security advisors urged him to stay in the deal – it was working! – but he disastrously withdrew.”
    Murphy concluded: “This is a moment where Congress needs to step in. This week, we are likely to take a vote that makes it crystal clear President Trump does not have the authorization for these strikes or a broader war with Iran. This is also a moment for the American people to stand up and say we do not want another war in the Middle East. In the last twenty years, we have seen the untold damage done – the lives lost, the billions of dollars wasted, and our reputation squandered – and we won’t allow Trump to take us down that path again.”
    Murphy released a statement Saturday night following the strikes.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Calls for New Zealand to denounce United States attack on Iran

    By Lillian Hanly, RNZ News political reporter

    Prominent lawyers are joining opposition parties as they call for the New Zealand government to denounce the United States attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.

    Iranian New Zealander and lawyer Arman Askarany said the New Zealand government was showing “indifference”.

    It comes as acting Prime Minister David Seymour told reporters on Monday there was “no benefit” in rushing to a judgment regarding the US attack.

    “We’re far better to keep our counsel, because it costs nothing to get more information, but going off half-cocked can be very costly for a small nation.”

    Iran and Israel continued to exchange strikes over the weekend after Israel’s initial attack nearly two weeks ago.

    Israeli authorities say at least 25 people have been killed, and Iran said on Sunday Israeli strikes had killed at least 224 people since June 13.

    The Human Rights Activists news agency puts the death toll in Iran above 650 people.

    US attacked Iran nuclear sites
    The US entered the war at the weekend by attacking what it said was key nuclear sites in Iran — including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — on Sunday.

    On Monday, the Australian government signalled its support for the strike, and called for de-escalation and a return to diplomacy.

    Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the strike was a unilateral action by its security ally the United States, and Australia was joining calls from Britain and other countries for Iran to return to the negotiating table

    Not long after, Foreign Minister Winston Peters issued a statement on X, giving tacit endorsement to the decision to bomb nuclear facilities.

    The statement was also released just ahead of the NATO meeting in Brussels, which Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was attending.

    Peters said Iran could not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, and noted the United States’ targeted attacks aimed at “degrading Iran’s nuclear capabilities”.

    He went on to acknowledge the US statement to the UN Security Council saying the attack was “acting in collective self-defence consistent with the UN Charter”.

    Self-defence ‘complete joke’
    Askarany told RNZ it was a “complete joke” that New Zealand had acknowledged the US statement saying it was self-defence.

    “It would be funny if it wasn’t so horrific.”

    He said it was a clear escalation by the US and Israel, and believed New Zealand was undermining the rules-based order it purported to support, given it refused to say Israel and the US had attacked Iran.

    Askarany acknolwedged the calls for deescalation and for peace in the region, but said they were “abstract platitudes” if the aggressor was not named.

    He called on people who might not know about Iran to learn more about it.

    “There’s so much history and culture and beautiful things about Iran that represent my people far more than the words of Trump and Netanyahu.”

    Peters told RNZ Morning Report on Monday the government wanted to know all the facts before taking a position on the US strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

    Politicians at a crossroads
     Acting Prime Minister David Seymour held his first post-cabinet media conference on Monday, in which he said nobody was calling on New Zealand to rush to a judgment on the rights and wrongs of the situation.

    He echoed the Foreign Minister’s statement, saying “of course” New Zealand noted the US assertion of the legality of their actions.

    He also indicated, “like just about every country in the world, that we cannot have a nuclear-armed Iran.”

    “That does not mean that we are rushing to form our own judgment on the rights or wrongs or legality of any action.”

    He insisted New Zealand was not sitting on the fence, but said “nor are we rushing to judgement.”

    “I believe the world is not sitting there waiting for New Zealand to give its position on the legality of the situation.

    “What people do want to see is de escalation and dialogue, and most critically for us, the safety of New Zealanders in the region.”

    When asked about the Australian government’s position, Seymour said New Zealand did not have the intelligence that other countries may have.

    Hikpins says attack ‘disappointing’
    Labour leader Chris Hipkins called the attack by the US on Iran “very disappointing”, “not justified” and “almost certainly” against international law.

    He wanted New Zealand to take a stronger stance on the issue.

    “New Zealand should take a stronger position in condemning the attacks and saying that we do not believe they are justified, and we do not believe that they are consistent with international law.”

    Hipkins said the US had not made a case for the action taken, and they should step back and get back around the table with Iran.

    The Green Party and Te Pāti Māori both called on the government to condemn the attack by the US.

    “The actions of the United States pose a fundamental threat to world peace.

    ‘Dangerous escalation’
    “The rest of the world, including New Zealand, must take a stand and make it clear that this dangerous escalation is unacceptable,” said Green Party coleader Marama Davidson.

    “We saw this with the US war on Iraq, and we are seeing it again with this recent attack on Iran. We are at risk of a violent history repeating itself.”

    Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi said the government was remaining silent on Israel.

    “When the US bombs Iran, Luxon calls it an ‘opportunity’. But when Cook Islanders assert their sovereignty or Chinese vessels travel through international waters, he leaps to condemnation,” said Waititi.

    “Israel continues to maintain an undeclared nuclear arsenal. Yet this government won’t say a word.

    “It condemns non-Western powers at every turn but remains silent when its allies act with impunity.”

    International law experts weigh in
     University of Waikato Professor Alexander Gillespie said it was “an illegal war” and the option of diplomacy should have been exhausted before the first strike.

    As Luxon headed to NATO, Gillespie acknowledged it would be difficult for him to take a “hard line” on the issue, “because he’s going to be caught up with the members and the partners of NATO.”

    He said the question would be whether NATO members accept there was a right of self-defence and whether the actions of the US and Israel were justified.

    Gillespie said former prime minister Helen Clark spoke very clearly in 2003 against the invasion of Iraq, but he could not see New Zealand’s current Prime Minister saying that.

    “That’s not because they don’t believe it, but because there would be a risk of a backhand from the United States.

    “And we’re spending a lot of time right now trying not to offend this Trump administration.”

    ‘Might is right’ precedent
    University of Otago Professor Robert Patman said the US strike on Iran would likely “make things worse” and set a precedent for “might is right.”

    He said he had “no brief” for the repressive Iranian regime, but under international law it had been subject of “two illegal attacks in the last 10 days”, from Israel and now from the US.

    Patman said New Zealand had been guarded in its comments about the attacks on Iran, and believed the country should speak out.

    “We have championed non nuclear security since the mid 80s. We were a key player, a leader, of the treaty to abolish nuclear weapons, and that now has 94 signatories.”

    He said New Zealand does have a voice and an expectation to contribute to an international debate that’s beginning to unfold.

    “We seem to be at a fork in the road moment internationally, we can seek to reinstate the idea that international relations should be based on rules, principles and procedures, or we can simply passively accept the erosion of that architecture, which is to the detriment of the majority of countries in the world.”

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

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Calls for New Zealand to denounce United States attack on Iran

    By Lillian Hanly, RNZ News political reporter

    Prominent lawyers are joining opposition parties as they call for the New Zealand government to denounce the United States attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.

    Iranian New Zealander and lawyer Arman Askarany said the New Zealand government was showing “indifference”.

    It comes as acting Prime Minister David Seymour told reporters on Monday there was “no benefit” in rushing to a judgment regarding the US attack.

    “We’re far better to keep our counsel, because it costs nothing to get more information, but going off half-cocked can be very costly for a small nation.”

    Iran and Israel continued to exchange strikes over the weekend after Israel’s initial attack nearly two weeks ago.

    Israeli authorities say at least 25 people have been killed, and Iran said on Sunday Israeli strikes had killed at least 224 people since June 13.

    The Human Rights Activists news agency puts the death toll in Iran above 650 people.

    US attacked Iran nuclear sites
    The US entered the war at the weekend by attacking what it said was key nuclear sites in Iran — including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — on Sunday.

    On Monday, the Australian government signalled its support for the strike, and called for de-escalation and a return to diplomacy.

    Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the strike was a unilateral action by its security ally the United States, and Australia was joining calls from Britain and other countries for Iran to return to the negotiating table

    Not long after, Foreign Minister Winston Peters issued a statement on X, giving tacit endorsement to the decision to bomb nuclear facilities.

    The statement was also released just ahead of the NATO meeting in Brussels, which Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was attending.

    Peters said Iran could not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, and noted the United States’ targeted attacks aimed at “degrading Iran’s nuclear capabilities”.

    He went on to acknowledge the US statement to the UN Security Council saying the attack was “acting in collective self-defence consistent with the UN Charter”.

    Self-defence ‘complete joke’
    Askarany told RNZ it was a “complete joke” that New Zealand had acknowledged the US statement saying it was self-defence.

    “It would be funny if it wasn’t so horrific.”

    He said it was a clear escalation by the US and Israel, and believed New Zealand was undermining the rules-based order it purported to support, given it refused to say Israel and the US had attacked Iran.

    Askarany acknolwedged the calls for deescalation and for peace in the region, but said they were “abstract platitudes” if the aggressor was not named.

    He called on people who might not know about Iran to learn more about it.

    “There’s so much history and culture and beautiful things about Iran that represent my people far more than the words of Trump and Netanyahu.”

    Peters told RNZ Morning Report on Monday the government wanted to know all the facts before taking a position on the US strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

    Politicians at a crossroads
     Acting Prime Minister David Seymour held his first post-cabinet media conference on Monday, in which he said nobody was calling on New Zealand to rush to a judgment on the rights and wrongs of the situation.

    He echoed the Foreign Minister’s statement, saying “of course” New Zealand noted the US assertion of the legality of their actions.

    He also indicated, “like just about every country in the world, that we cannot have a nuclear-armed Iran.”

    “That does not mean that we are rushing to form our own judgment on the rights or wrongs or legality of any action.”

    He insisted New Zealand was not sitting on the fence, but said “nor are we rushing to judgement.”

    “I believe the world is not sitting there waiting for New Zealand to give its position on the legality of the situation.

    “What people do want to see is de escalation and dialogue, and most critically for us, the safety of New Zealanders in the region.”

    When asked about the Australian government’s position, Seymour said New Zealand did not have the intelligence that other countries may have.

    Hikpins says attack ‘disappointing’
    Labour leader Chris Hipkins called the attack by the US on Iran “very disappointing”, “not justified” and “almost certainly” against international law.

    He wanted New Zealand to take a stronger stance on the issue.

    “New Zealand should take a stronger position in condemning the attacks and saying that we do not believe they are justified, and we do not believe that they are consistent with international law.”

    Hipkins said the US had not made a case for the action taken, and they should step back and get back around the table with Iran.

    The Green Party and Te Pāti Māori both called on the government to condemn the attack by the US.

    “The actions of the United States pose a fundamental threat to world peace.

    ‘Dangerous escalation’
    “The rest of the world, including New Zealand, must take a stand and make it clear that this dangerous escalation is unacceptable,” said Green Party coleader Marama Davidson.

    “We saw this with the US war on Iraq, and we are seeing it again with this recent attack on Iran. We are at risk of a violent history repeating itself.”

    Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi said the government was remaining silent on Israel.

    “When the US bombs Iran, Luxon calls it an ‘opportunity’. But when Cook Islanders assert their sovereignty or Chinese vessels travel through international waters, he leaps to condemnation,” said Waititi.

    “Israel continues to maintain an undeclared nuclear arsenal. Yet this government won’t say a word.

    “It condemns non-Western powers at every turn but remains silent when its allies act with impunity.”

    International law experts weigh in
     University of Waikato Professor Alexander Gillespie said it was “an illegal war” and the option of diplomacy should have been exhausted before the first strike.

    As Luxon headed to NATO, Gillespie acknowledged it would be difficult for him to take a “hard line” on the issue, “because he’s going to be caught up with the members and the partners of NATO.”

    He said the question would be whether NATO members accept there was a right of self-defence and whether the actions of the US and Israel were justified.

    Gillespie said former prime minister Helen Clark spoke very clearly in 2003 against the invasion of Iraq, but he could not see New Zealand’s current Prime Minister saying that.

    “That’s not because they don’t believe it, but because there would be a risk of a backhand from the United States.

    “And we’re spending a lot of time right now trying not to offend this Trump administration.”

    ‘Might is right’ precedent
    University of Otago Professor Robert Patman said the US strike on Iran would likely “make things worse” and set a precedent for “might is right.”

    He said he had “no brief” for the repressive Iranian regime, but under international law it had been subject of “two illegal attacks in the last 10 days”, from Israel and now from the US.

    Patman said New Zealand had been guarded in its comments about the attacks on Iran, and believed the country should speak out.

    “We have championed non nuclear security since the mid 80s. We were a key player, a leader, of the treaty to abolish nuclear weapons, and that now has 94 signatories.”

    He said New Zealand does have a voice and an expectation to contribute to an international debate that’s beginning to unfold.

    “We seem to be at a fork in the road moment internationally, we can seek to reinstate the idea that international relations should be based on rules, principles and procedures, or we can simply passively accept the erosion of that architecture, which is to the detriment of the majority of countries in the world.”

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

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 06/23/2025 VIDEO: Blackburn Joins ICE Ride-Along, Speaks with Agents in Nashville

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following video and statement after speaking with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Nashville and joining them for a ride-along operation targeting a criminal illegal alien convicted of child sexual abuse.
    Just this week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released new data revealing that ICE agents now face a 500% increase in assaults. Senator Blackburn recently introduced the Protecting Law Enforcement from Doxxing Act to make it illegal to dox federal law enforcement officials as Democrat politicians dox and threaten to dox federal agents, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, U.S. Representative Jerry Nadler, and Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell.
    “You really don’t appreciate the amount of work that goes into apprehensions and deportations until you speak with the men and women who are working so hard behind the scenes every single day and see the risks they take firsthand. As ICE officers face a 500% increase in assaults against them, we owe these agents a debt of gratitude for all that they do to keep us safe,” said Senator Blackburn. “Lawless, left-wing politicians are fueling the surge in assaults against law enforcement officers who risk their lives to keep our communities safe. In stark contrast, President Trump and his administration are standing up for law-abiding citizens over criminal illegal aliens by empowering ICE agents to do their jobs.”

    Click here to download this video.
    RELATED

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall: We Must Prioritize Patients’ Health Over Corporate Profits

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington – On Monday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), alongside Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Oz, delivered remarks during a press conference about the top bureaucratic obstacle facing doctors and patients: prior authorization in Medicare. He also applauded the Trump Administration for bringing all parties to the table to make healthcare more patient and provider-friendly for doctors, nurses, and patients alike.

    Click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full remarks
    Below is the full transcript as delivered:
    “Well, good afternoon, everybody. I want to say a special thanks to Secretary Kennedy and CMS Administrator Dr Oz, and especially President Trump, for inviting me to participate in today’s event to address the number one bureaucratic nightmare facing doctors and patients: prior authorization.
    “Now, long before I ran for Congress, I was a practicing OB-GYN for some 25 years, and I vividly remember a patient I once had scheduled for an infertility surgery. She’d taken time off work and arranged help at home, only to be told the morning of a procedure that her insurance company had added another step to the prior authorization process, abruptly canceling her surgery.
    “Now, whether you need a hip replacement or a heart catheterization, many patients feel their critical care has been delayed by an opaque and burdensome prior authorization process. It’s something I hear about all the time back home. Moreover, physicians and nurses complain that the process has become increasingly onerous because of constantly changing requirements, often demanding more time to navigate the red tape than to complete the pre-surgery medical workup.
    “Today, by having all the players in the room, we hope to see a commonsense solution to streamline and improve our healthcare system. We must prioritize patients’ health over corporate profits and arbitrary cost-cutting measures. For nearly my entire time in Congress, I fought to reform the prior authorization process and Medicare Advantage. Today’s event moves us closer to that goal, ensuring patients receive timely lifesaving and health-restoring care.
    “Again, I just look forward to working with Secretary Kennedy, Administrator Oz, and insurers together to overhaul this process. I’m going to continue to champion this fight in Congress and support their efforts. And again, I’m just proud to stand alongside President Trump’s A-team as we work to make healthcare more patient and provider-friendly for doctors, nurses, and patients alike.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: European countries call for restraint amid escalating conflict in Mideast

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

    Protesters holding placards are pictured in The Hague, the Netherlands, June 22, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    European leaders have voiced deep concern over the escalating conflict in the Middle East, following a series of military strikes that have intensified fears of a wider regional war.

    Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, in a statement released Monday, said the Croatian government is “monitoring the situation with great concern,” particularly the direct confrontations between Israel and Iran.

    He warned that further escalation could lead to a range of consequences, including rising energy prices, increased migration, and the threat of terrorist attacks.

    “Our position is clear: escalation should be avoided,” the statement read. “The Croatian government calls for restraint, calming of tensions, and de-escalation of the conflict.”

    Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic also criticized the recent U.S. military action in the region, calling the strike on Iran a violation of international law.

    “There is no doubt that the United States violated international public law,” Vucic said at a press conference following a meeting of the General Staff.

    Drawing parallels with the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, he emphasized the need for respect for the UN Charter and international norms. Vucic also lamented the missed opportunity for diplomacy between Iran and Israel.

    In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addressed the lower house of parliament ahead of the upcoming European Union Council meeting, urging renewed diplomatic engagement.

    “Only coordinated diplomatic action can ensure peace in the region,” she said, after the U.S. strike on three Iranian nuclear sites.

    Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa issued a statement on Sunday calling for “restraint and the urgent resumption of diplomatic efforts,” stressing that diplomacy remains the only viable solution to the conflict.

    He reaffirmed Portugal’s alignment with the United Nations and the European Union in advocating for de-escalation and avoidance of further military confrontation.

    Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro echoed this sentiment on social media, calling for “maximum restraint from all parties and a return to negotiations.”

    Meanwhile, the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) issued a strongly worded condemnation of the U.S. airstrikes, labeling them a “clear violation” of the UN Charter and international law. The party argued the attack reflects a broader strategy of global domination by the U.S. and its allies.

    Israel launched a series of large-scale airstrikes on June 13 targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities, killing a number of senior commanders and nuclear scientists. In response, Iran carried out missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory.

    U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States had carried out attacks on three nuclear-related sites in Iran: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.

    In retaliation, Iran launched a missile attack on the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar Monday evening. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Bicameral Spotlight Forum With State AGs On Democrats’ Legal Fight Against Trump’s Lawlessness

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    June 23, 2025
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at a bicameral spotlight forum entitled “Defending the Rights of the People: States and Congressional Allies Fight Back Against Trump’s Constitutional Abuses,” with a panel of Democratic state Attorneys General who are combatting the Trump Administration’s egregious and unlawful actions through litigation. House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08) is leading the forum with Durbin.
    Key quotes:
    “Our country is currently facing several catastrophic challenges that the Trump Administration is ignoring or exacerbating in favor of fomenting a domestic political crisis through their lawless and cruel directives—and unfortunately, Congressional Republicans have been willing to ignore.”
    “The last two weeks alone have tragically illustrated this. President Trump ordered an unprecedented deployment of the U.S. military in Los Angeles and federal agents shoved and handcuffed our colleague, Senator Padilla, while he was trying to get answers for these abuses. Days later, a horrific political assassination occurred in Minnesota… But instead of focusing on the problem at hand, our Republican counterparts are insulating the Administration from scrutiny.”
    “This lack of oversight and accountability would not stand when I was Chair of the Committee on this side. I constantly fought for agency oversight and accountability from a Democratic administration. To take just a few examples of issues that we should be addressing at the moment: The Trump Administration has removed dozens of senior officials with decades of national security experience and placed a 22-year-old recent college graduate with no threat prevention experience in charge of our primary terrorism prevention center… The Justice and Homeland Security Departments have diverted thousands of law enforcement agents away from combating drug trafficking, terrorism, violent crimes against children, cybercrimes, and gun violence to participate in a mass deportation campaign.”
    “In addition to the Administration openly violating and denouncing the rule of law, President Trump and his allies have also persisted in lodging unprecedented and unacceptable attacks on the federal judiciary. In one particularly egregious example on Memorial Day, the President referred to members of the bench as ‘USA hating judges’ and ‘monsters who want our country to go to hell.’”
    “The lawlessness of this Administration is having damaging effects on the rights, liberties, and pocketbooks of everybody. And in this disturbing environment, many Americans have no greater ally than their states’ Attorneys General, who are engaged in multi-pronged efforts to protect the Constitution, the public interest, and hold the federal government to account. They are protecting the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of birthright citizenship, challenging unlawful detention procedures, and fighting the Administration’s refusal to disperse funds appropriated by Congress.”
    “I appreciate the work that state Attorneys General have done to defend our constituents. I want to continue that partnership today.”
    Video of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.
    Audio of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.
    With President Trump’s increasing attacks on our constitutional order and failure to confront political violence, the legislative branch and state governments must step in and do everything in their power to defend the rule of law and protect the American people.
    During today’s hearing, lawmakers will hear firsthand testimony from Democratic Attorneys General from across the country leading this fight on behalf of their constituents and the American people, including: Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Massachusetts; Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minnesota; Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Illinois; and Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, New Jersey.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Questions State Attorneys General At Bicameral Spotlight Forum On Democrats’ Legal Fight Against Trump’s Lawlessness

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    June 23, 2025

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned state Attorneys General at a bicameral spotlight forum entitled “Defending the Rights of the People: States and Congressional Allies Fight Back Against Trump’s Constitutional Abuses,” with a panel of Democratic state Attorneys General who are combatting the Trump Administration’s egregious and unlawful actions through litigation. House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08) led the forum with Durbin.

    Durbin first questioned the Attorneys General about the Trump Administration abusing due process, specifically regarding the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) mass deportation efforts. During his questioning, Durbin recounted a visit he made to an immigration court on Friday in Chicago to see firsthand what is happening during these immigration hearings.

    “We know what’s happening in some of these cases—these people [immigrants] are appearing for hearings and the federal government—ICE—is standing up and saying ‘we’re dismissing the charges against this individual so there’s no case to consider,’ and at that point, [ICE] detain[s] them and deport[s] them to some country they once lived. There was that fear in the courtroom… This is [a] clear abandonment of basic due process…  These are people who are trying to follow the law of America and get their day in court… I would like to ask each of you—have you run into similar issues of due process in your state and have any suggestions on what we [Congress] ought to be doing?” Durbin asked.

    Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul responded that as a child of Haitian immigrants, he went through the immigration process himself. He continued to say that it is “unconscionable” what ICE is doing to the immigrants who are complying with the immigration process and responding to notices to appear in court and then are detained. He continued to say that it is the “furthest thing from due process.” AG Raoul also stated that he is defending the Trust Act in Illinois—which makes “certain that our law enforcement resources are not misused for immigration enforcement.”

    Durbin has criticized the Trump Administration’s ongoing abuse of immigrants to attack the fundamental rights of all Americans. The United States Constitution lays out certain fundamental principles that define our country, including freedom of speech, due process, and the separation of powers. This Administration has used immigration to attempt to undermine our constitutional order and the rule of law, including— unprecedented attacks on due process.

    Durbin then noted what he is hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearings and how Trump Administration nominees are responding to questions about the separation of powers and their oath to the Constitution. 

    “If you follow the questioning that’s been asked of judicial nominees over the last two decades—and I’ve served on the Senate Judiciary [Committee] during that period of time—it has changed dramatically under the Trump Administration. We are now asking nominees to the Department of Justice, even nominees to the bench, whether or not they believe an executive [branch official] has to follow a court order or whether they can defy a court order. That is so fundamental to due process and the rule of law,” said Durbin.

    Video of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.

    Audio of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.

    With President Trump’s increasing attacks on our constitutional order and failure to confront political violence, the legislative branch and state governments must step in and do everything in their power to defend the rule of law and protect the American people.

    During today’s hearing, the lawmakers heard firsthand testimony from Democratic Attorneys General from across the country leading this fight on behalf of their constituents and the American people, including: Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Massachusetts; Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minnesota; Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Illinois; and Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, New Jersey.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –