NewzIntel.com

Category: Natural Disasters

  • MIL-OSI China: China unveils new radio telescope in Antarctica

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    This photo taken in December 2024 shows “Three Gorges Antarctic Eye,” a 3.2-metre aperture radio/millimetre-wave telescope, at China’s Zhongshan Station in Antarctica. [Photo/China Three Gorges University]
    China has unveiled the “Three Gorges Antarctic Eye,” a 3.2-metre aperture radio/millimetre-wave telescope, at a scientific research station in Antarctica.
    Officially launched at the country’s Zhongshan Station in Antarctica on April 3, the telescope, co-developed by China Three Gorges University (CTGU) and Shanghai Normal University (SHNU), further cemented China’s advancements in Antarctic astronomy.
    The “Three Gorges Antarctic Eye” has officially begun scientific observations of the Milky Way’s neutral hydrogen and ammonia molecular spectral lines, providing vital data to help unravel the dynamics of interstellar gas and the processes of star formation, CTGU told Xinhua on Monday.
    “This telescope has broken through key technical bottlenecks in Antarctic observatory construction, laying the foundation for future submillimeter-wave telescopes in Antarctica,” said Zhang Yi, an associate professor at SHNU and a member of China’s Antarctic expedition team currently working in the continent.
    He added that the device will expand observations across radio to low-frequency millimeter-wave bands, driving technological advancements for next-generation Antarctic astronomy tools.
    Zeng Xiangyun, an associate professor at CTGU, noted that Antarctica is the coldest continent on Earth, and the extreme cold and strong winds pose significant challenges for the development and installation of radio telescopes.
    Since 2023, CTGU has actively collaborated with SHNU to tackle the challenges of conducting astronomy in extreme environments. Over the past two years, researchers have overcome key technical hurdles, such as adapting equipment to withstand Antarctica’s harsh sub-zero temperatures and hurricane-force winds, Zeng said.
    He Weijun, Party chief of CTGU, emphasized the significance of the project.
    “The successful operation of the ‘Three Gorges Antarctic Eye’ showcases our university’s achievements in polar research equipment,” He said.
    “It reflects the spirit of Chinese scientists scaling new heights in science and technology, as well as the vital role of universities in national innovation,” he added.
    Once the telescope enters stable operation, CTGU plans to send researchers to Zhongshan Station for on-site scientific expeditions.
    China has been steadily expanding its astronomical capabilities in Antarctica, leveraging the continent’s pristine atmospheric conditions for infrared and millimeter-wave observations.
    The deployment of the “Three Gorges Antarctic Eye” builds on China’s earlier initiatives, including the Antarctic Survey Telescopes AST3 and other astronomical instruments, further strengthening global efforts to study cosmic phenomena from one of Earth’s most remote locations.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: At least 21 killed amid major flooding, tornadoes battering US Midwest, South

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Photo taken on April 7, 2025 shows a waterlogged area in Frankfort, Kentucky, the United States. [Photo/Xinhua]

    At least 21 people have been killed amid fierce storms battering parts of the U.S. Midwest and South with major flooding and powerful tornadoes since Wednesday, according to local media reports on Monday.

    Overall, the death toll stood at 10 in Tennessee, three in Missouri, two each in Kentucky, Georgia and Indiana, and one each in Arkansas and Mississippi, said an NBC News report.

    The victims included a 9-year-old boy swept away by floodwaters on his way to school in Kentucky, two people killed when a tree fell on them at a golf course in Georgia, a 5-year-old child found in a home in Little Rock, Arkansas, and a 16-year-old volunteer firefighter who died in a car crash when responding to a reported water rescue in Missouri.

    AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said on Monday that it is estimated the economic loss from the severe weather and flooding in recent days is between 80 billion and 90 billion U.S. dollars.

    “Unless property owners have specific flood insurance, losses and repairs will most likely not be covered by standard policies,” he said.

    As of Monday morning, 18 river gauge sites were at major flood stage, and 256 locations across the central United States were at or above flood stage, spanning multiple rivers and tributaries, according to an AccuWeather report.

    Rains have ended over the Tennessee, Ohio and Mississippi river basins, but runoff from 8 to 16 inches of rain over just a few days will continue to surge into larger rivers and lead to moderate to major flooding that could persist for weeks, AccuWeather meteorologists advised.

    The amount of rain that fell over a four-day stretch was rare, only occurring once every 100 to 1,000 years over a broad area, based on the historical average, they noted.

    Forecasters attributed the recent violent weather to warm temperatures, an unstable atmosphere, strong wind shear and abundant moisture streaming from the Gulf, said a report from the weather.com. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump, Netanyahu discuss Gaza hostages, tariffs

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    U.S. President Donald Trump (C) welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House on Monday, focusing on the Gaza hostage crisis and U.S. tariffs on Israeli goods.

    In a brief Oval Office session open to reporters, Trump called the release of hostages held in Gaza a “top priority.” He expressed optimism about ongoing negotiations but provided no specific details.

    “We’re making progress,” Trump said. “I believe we’ll see all the hostages home soon.”

    Netanyahu agreed, emphasizing Israel’s commitment to securing the hostages’ freedom.

    They also addressed the shaky ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. While they announced no new agreements, both stressed the importance of reducing violence in the region.

    Trump defended his recent 17 percent tariff on imports from Israel, part of his broader trade policy affecting many economies.

    Netanyahu reportedly sought relief from these tariffs, highlighting Israel’s efforts to strengthen trade ties with the United States.

    In 2024, the total goods trade between the two countries was an estimated at 37.0 billion U.S. dollars, with U.S. exports to Israel at 14.8 billion dollars and imports from Israel at 22.2 billion dollars, resulting in a 7.4 billion dollars U.S. trade deficit.

    Netanyahu’s visit to the White House was arranged in a phone call last Thursday between the two leaders when Netanyahu raised the tariff issue, according to Israeli officials.

    The White House had initially planned a joint press conference but canceled it without explanation. Instead, reporters asked questions during their brief access to the Oval Office meeting.

    Trump did not discuss any long-term plans for Gaza’s redevelopment during this meeting. His administration has previously proposed controversial ideas for the region, which have faced criticism from various groups.

    The meeting highlighted the complex relationship between the United States and Israel, balancing security concerns with economic interests. Both leaders pledged to continue working closely on these issues. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: General strike staged across West Bank against Israeli assaults on Gaza

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    A Palestinian man walks past closed stores during a general strike in the West Bank city of Nablus, on April 7, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    A general strike took place across the West Bank on Monday against ongoing Israeli assaults on the Gaza Strip.

    Shops, markets, schools, universities, banks, and public offices have been closed, and transportation lines have been stopped due to the strike called by Palestinian factions.

    In the central West Bank city of Ramallah, hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets to condemn the Israeli “crimes” in Gaza, waving the Palestinian flag and chanting slogans demanding an end to the Israeli assaults as they marched through the streets of the city center.

    The strike aims to condemn the Israeli assaults on the Palestinian enclave, which have “killed and destroyed Gaza, with American complicity and support,” and to urge the international community to fulfill its obligations, Issam Bakr, coordinator of the Palestinian National and Islamic Forces in Ramallah, told Xinhua.

    Protests against Israel have also been staged outside the West Bank by those in solidarity with the Palestinians, Bakr said. According to the Palestinian official news agency WAFA, such protests were organized in Tunisia, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.

    According to Gaza-based health authorities, 56 people were killed and 137 others injured in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of fatalities and injuries to 1,391 and 3,434, respectively, since Israel ended the January ceasefire and resumed strikes across Gaza on March 18.

    The overall death toll in Gaza has reached 50,752, with 115,475 others injured since the very beginning of the Israeli military operations in the enclave on Oct. 7, 2023, the health authorities reported.

    In addition, the Israeli strikes further strained Gaza’s health system. According to a statement by Gaza health authorities on Monday, 37 percent of medicines and 59 percent of medical supplies are out of stock in the strip.

    It said vital departments in hospitals are running on generators, which are threatened with shutdown due to fuel and spare parts shortages, adding that over half of cancer and blood disease medications are at zero stock, putting patients’ lives at risk.

    Meanwhile, Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, warned on social media, “Two million people (in Gaza) are scarred for life with trauma and shock, battling with the invisible wounds of mental health.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Apr 8, 2025 0100 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

     For best viewing experience, please enable browser JavaScript support.

    Apr 8, 2025 0100 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

    Updated: Tue Apr 8 00:53:26 UTC 2025 (Print Version |   |  )

    Probabilistic to Categorical Outlook Conversion Table

     Forecast Discussion

    SPC AC 080053

    Day 1 Convective Outlook
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    0753 PM CDT Mon Apr 07 2025

    Valid 080100Z – 081200Z

    …THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR PARTS OF
    EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA…

    …SUMMARY…
    A couple of strong to severe storms capable of wind damage and
    perhaps a brief tornado are possible in parts of eastern North
    Carolina into mid-evening before activity moves offshore.

    …Synopsis…
    A large upper-level trough continues eastward this evening and is
    supporting convection along a cold front near the southeastern
    Atlantic coastline. This front is nearly offshore in southeastern
    Georgia and much of coastal South Carolina. In eastern North
    Carolina, the front will reach the coast sometime in the 10 PM – 12
    AM EDT.

    …Eastern North Carolina…
    One more prominent linear segment is moving northeastward south of a
    warm front just south of the Virginia border. The observed 00Z
    sounding from Morehead showed poor mid-level lapse rates. Objective
    mesoanalysis suggests MLCAPE may be around 250-500 J/kg. Continued
    forcing from the approaching trough and strong effective shear
    (45-55 kts) will support a few more hours of wind damage and brief
    tornado potential this evening.

    ..Wendt.. 04/08/2025

    CLICK TO GET WUUS01 PTSDY1 PRODUCT

    .html”>Latest Day 2 Outlook/Today’s Outlooks/Forecast Products/Home

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The latest update on NZ’s state of the environment is sobering – but there are glimmers of progress

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christina McCabe, PhD Candidate in Interdisciplinary Ecology, University of Canterbury

    Shutterstock/synthetick

    If left unaddressed, many environmental changes in Aotearoa New Zealand could threaten livelihoods, health, quality of life and infrastructure for generations to come, according to the latest update on the state of the environment.

    The Ministry for the Environment and StatsNZ produce an environmental assessment every three years, collating data and trends on air quality, freshwater and marine environments, the land and climate.

    The latest report shows that long-term drivers of change – including international influences, economic demands and climate change – mean many natural systems have become less resilient and are at risk of collapse. But it also highlights improvements in urban air quality and reduced waste flows to landfill.

    Real risks to people, communities and places

    Many environmental trends in New Zealand are sobering.

    Soil erosion is increasing and continues to degrade downstream freshwater and marine ecosystems. Soils misplaced from land, including through landslides or gradual loss of topsoil, can threaten homes and infrastructure and reduce the potential for growing food or storing carbon.

    Climate change is projected to increase erosion rates by up to 233%, depending on future emissions scenarios.

    Native forests are most effective at reducing soil erosion, but exotic forests can also help. The report shows the area planted in exotic forest has increased by 12% (220,922 hectares) between 1996 and 2018, with most of this new area coming from exotic grassland.

    Landfill contaminants, including leachates and microplastics, threaten soil health. New Zealand remains the highest producer of waste to landfill per capita among developed countries, but waste flows to landfill have dropped by 11% in 2023, compared with a 2018 peak.

    The report offers another glimmer of progress. While air pollution still affects health, long-term air quality is gradually improving thanks to a shift away from cars with combustion engines.

    Population growth and urban development are displacing green spaces.
    Getty Images

    Water quality and green spaces

    What happens on land commonly flows into water, often affecting human health and recreation. The report shows that between 2019 and 2024, nearly half of all groundwater monitoring sites failed to meet drinking water standards for E. coli at least once. Nitrate concentrations also rose at around half of all sites.

    Freshwater ecosystems are critically affected by the space we give them. Urban development can displace natural features such as wetlands and floodplains, which store water and provide a buffer against extreme weather events.

    Four in five New Zealanders live in urban areas and the report shows green spaces have not kept up with population growth. Continued development near rivers and on floodplains, without maintaining natural buffers, increases risks to homes and infrastructure as flood extremes worsen with climate change.

    Coastal areas face their own challenges. Rising seas and storm surges threaten not only homes and roads, but also culturally significant places. As many as 420 archaeological sites on public conservation land are at risk of coastal inundation and 191 marae are within one kilometre of the coast.

    Livelihoods and biodiversity at risk

    New Zealand is a globally significant biodiversity hotspot and natural landscapes are central to cultural identity. The land and waters, and species we share them with, are inseparable from Māori identity. The economy, from agriculture to tourism, also depends on thriving ecosystems.

    But many pressures on biodiversity are worsening, according to the report. About 94% of native reptiles and 78% of native birds are threatened or at risk of extinction.

    Extreme weather events (expected to increase with climate change) threaten food and fibre crops. The report estimates the recovery of these sectors from Cyclone Gabrielle will cost up to NZ$1.1 billion.

    Pest species continue to damage ecosystems at a cost of $9.2 billion in 2019–20, including primary-sector losses of $4.3 billion.

    Wilding conifers are a particular concern, having invaded an estimated two million hectares of land, primarily on the conservation estate. Without careful management, the report projects they could cover up to 25% of New Zealand’s land within 30 years.

    The restoration of Te Auaunga, Auckland’s longest urban river, is helping to reduce flooding and improve recreational spaces.
    Shutterstock/aiyoshi597

    Stories behind the numbers

    For the first time, the ministry has released a companion report to share stories of hope.

    It highlights the links between environmental challenges and how nature-based approaches can benefit both people and the environment.

    In Tairāwhiti, for instance, a native forest restoration project is protecting Gisborne’s drinking water supply. A large block of commercial pine is being replaced with native forests to stabilise erodible land, filter water runoff before it reaches dams, and provide habitat for native flora and fauna.

    In Auckland, the Making Space for Water program is restoring Te Auaunga (Oakley Creek), the city’s longest urban river. The work includes widening the river channel, removing restrictive structures and planting native vegetation to regenerate historical wetland habitats. Along with reducing flooding in the area, these changes provide improved recreational spaces for people.

    The report notes the complexity of interactions between people and the natural environment, which means that many impacts cannot be seen straight away. For instance, nitrates move through groundwater very slowly and we may continue to see the effects of past decisions for some time yet. Furthermore, climate change can amplify many environmental stressors.

    The state of our environment mirrors our collective decisions. This update offers an opportunity to guide those decisions towards a more resilient future.

    Christina McCabe is affiliated with Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha / The University of Canterbury, and Te Pūnaha Matatini, a Centre of Research Excellence.

    – ref. The latest update on NZ’s state of the environment is sobering – but there are glimmers of progress – https://theconversation.com/the-latest-update-on-nzs-state-of-the-environment-is-sobering-but-there-are-glimmers-of-progress-254051

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: North Island Firefighters compete in high profile firefighter-sports event

    Source: United Fire Brigades’ Association

    Aotearoa New Zealand is protected by around 14,000 paid and volunteer firefighters from urban, rural, industrial, and defence force fire brigades.
    Firefighters have expert, life-saving skills that they regularly train for and perfect so that when the siren calls, they can confidently respond.
    Recently, we have seen the incredible and gruelling work of our community heroes in the summer fires, and this weekend, members of the public can see a simulation of some of the physical endurance they go through.
    On Friday 11 and Saturday 12 April, over 100 firefighters from around the North Island will compete as individuals and in teams against each other in the annual United Fire Brigades’ Association (UFBA) North Island Firefighter Challenge, working their way towards the UFBA National Firefighter Challenge in May.
    Competitors have trained all year; some are highly experienced and we have some fresh faces ready to take on the personal challenge of conquering the track and their own physical and mental strength.
    With a well-earned reputation, the UFBA Firefighter Challenge is adapted for New Zealand from a similar event held in the United States.
    Competitors race against each other and the clock wearing full PPE and BA. They start by climbing a six-story tower carrying a 19kg flaked hose, then hoist a 20kg hose coil up 6 stories, before using a 4kg shot hammer to drive a beam 1.5 meters. Competitors then burst through saloon doors to hit a target with a charged hose, before finally dragging an 81kg mannequin 30.5m to the finish line.
    The simulation is an exciting test of skill and fitness that demonstrates the physical demands of real-life firefighting to the public.
    Location: The Square, Palmerston North
    Date/Time: Friday 11 April 1200hrs-1700hrs and Saturday 12 April from 0930hrs-1700hrs (approx. finish times)

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker Statement on Fatal Shooting of New Jersey Teen in the West Bank

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) issued the following statement:
    “The death of a 14-year-old New Jerseyan and American citizen, Amer Mohammad Saada Rabee, in the West Bank is another devastating reminder of the horrific human cost of ongoing conflict and tensions in the region.  There must be a full and transparent accounting of the circumstances around his death and the actions of Israeli security forces.  During Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to the White House today, I urge President Trump to seek answers and accountability. 
    “From the death of Amer Rabee, Shireen Abu Akleh, and family members of constituents across New Jersey, to Hamas taking Edan Alexander, also an American citizen from New Jersey, hostage – our New Jersey communities are reeling every day because of the personal impact of ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
    “I’ve long had disagreements with the actions of the Netanyahu government, from their efforts to erode Israeli democracy to their interference in US politics — to their settlement expansion policy in the West Bank. I have also long warned of the increasing danger posed by extremist Israeli settler violence in the West Bank.  I call on the Trump administration to reinstate sanctions on perpetrators of such violence, which directly threatens the objectives of protecting innocent Israeli and Palestinian civilians and preventing the war in Gaza and tensions in the West Bank from escalating into a wider regional conflict.
    “To press for change, I traveled to Israel and the West Bank in March 2024 to meet with Israeli and Palestinian Authority leaders and continue to engage with our government as well as with leaders across the region.  “And I will continue to do everything I can to push for a two-state solution, where we protect Israel’s right to exist as a democratic Jewish state and affirm the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and a state of their own.  To start this work, all parties must recommit to working toward a ceasefire agreement that gets the hostages home, facilitates humanitarian aid into Gaza, and breaks the cycle of violence in the West Bank and the region. This is the only way to truly create a pathway towards a just and sustainable peace in the region that protects Israelis and Palestinians.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Global Bodies – Joint statement: World must act with urgency to save Palestinians in Gaza

    Source: UNICEF Aotearoa NZ

    Statement by heads of OCHA, UNICEF, UNOPS, UNRWA, WFP and WHO
    NEW YORK, AMMAN, COPENHAGEN, GENEVA, ROME, 7 April 2025 – “For over a month, no commercial or humanitarian supplies have entered Gaza.
    “More than 2.1 million people are trapped, bombed and starved again, while, at crossing points, food, medicine, fuel and shelter supplies are piling up, and vital equipment is stuck.
    “Over 1,000 children have reportedly been killed or injured in just the first week after the breakdown of the ceasefire, the highest one-week death toll among children in Gaza in the past year.
    “Just a few days ago, the 25 bakeries supported by the World Food Programme during the ceasefire had to close due to flour and cooking gas shortages.
    “The partially functional health system is overwhelmed. Essential medical and trauma supplies are rapidly running out, threatening to reverse hard-won progress in keeping the health system operational.
    “The latest ceasefire allowed us to achieve in 60 days what bombs, obstruction and lootings prevented us from doing in 470 days of war: life-saving supplies reaching nearly every part of Gaza.
    “While this offered a short respite, assertions that there is now enough food to feed all Palestinians in Gaza are far from the reality on the ground, and commodities are running extremely low.
    “We are witnessing acts of war in Gaza that show an utter disregard for human life.
    “New Israeli displacement orders have forced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee yet again, with no safe place to go.
    “No one is safe. At least 408 humanitarian workers, including over 280 from UNRWA, have been killed since October 2023.
    “With the tightened Israeli blockade on Gaza now in its second month, we appeal to world leaders to act – firmly, urgently and decisively – to ensure the basic principles of international humanitarian law are upheld.
    “Protect civilians. Facilitate aid. Release hostages. Renew a ceasefire.”
    Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
    Catherine Russell, Executive Director, UNICEF
    Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director, UNOPS
    Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General, UNRWA
    Cindy McCain, Executive Director, WFP
    Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO
    Notes:
    Multimedia materials available here: https://weshare.unicef.org/Package/2AM4080FDL1J
    About UNICEF
    UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, works to protect the rights of every child, everywhere, especially the most disadvantaged children and in the toughest places to reach. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive, and fulfil their potential.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Open letter to NZME board – don’t allow alt-right Canadian billionaire to take over NZ’s Fourth Estate

    NZME directors ‘have concerns’ about businessman Jim Grenon taking editorial control

    NZME’s directors have fired their own shots in the war for control of the media company, saying they have concerns about a takeover bid including the risk of businessman Jim Grenon taking editorial control.

    In a statement to the NZX, the board said it was delaying its annual shareholders meeting until June and opening up nominations of other directors.

    NZME . . . RNZ report on NZME’s directors “firing their own shots in the war for control of the media company”.

    Grenon, a New Zealand resident since 2012, bought a 9.3 percent stake in NZME for just over $9 million early in March.

    NZME is publisher of a number of newspapers, including The New Zealand Herald, as well as operating radio stations and property platform OneRoof.

    Within days of taking the stake, Grenon had written to the company’s board proposing that most of its current directors be replaced with new ones, including himself, and said the performance of the company had been disappointing and he was wanted to improve the editorial content.

    NZME has now told the stockmarket it had concerns whether Grenon’s proposals were in the best interests of the company and shareholders. — RNZ News

    Dear NZME Board,

    I was once a columnist for The New Zealand Herald, but I’m too left wing for your stable of acceptable opinions and now just run award-winning political podcasts instead.

    The Daily Blog editor and publisher Martyn “Bomber” Bradbury. Image: TDB screenshot APR

    Normally as board members of a financialised media company in late stage capitalism with collapsing revenue thanks to social media, you don’t generally have to consider the actual well being of our democracy.

    Let me be as clear as I can to you all.

    You hold in your hands the fate of Fourth Estate journalism and ultimately the democracy of New Zealand itself.

    As the largest Fourth Estate platforms in the country, your obligations go well beyond just shareholder profit.

    Alt-right billionaire Jim Grenon has in my view been extremely disingenuous.

    The manner in which NZME has been sold as underperforming so that the promise of a quick buck from OneRoof seems the focus point is made more questionable because I suspect Grenon’s true desire here is editorial control of NZME.

    His relationship with a far-right culture war hate blog that promotes anti-Māori, anti-trans, anti-vaccine, climate denial editorial copy alongside his support for culture war influencers suggest a radicalised view of the world which he intends to implement if he gains control.

    Look.

    NZME is right wing enough, your first editorial in The New Zealand Herald was calling for white people to start war with Māori, Mike Hosking is the epitome of right wing commentary and the less said about Heather Du Plessis Allan, the better, but all of you acknowledge that 2 + 2 = 4.

    Alt-Right billionaires don’t admit that.

    Alt-right billionaires tend to lean into divisive culture war rhetoric and are happy to promote 2 + 2 = whatever I say it is.

    You cannot allow alt-right billionaires with radicalised culture war beliefs take over the largest media platforms in the country.

    This moment demands more than dollars and cents, it requires a strong defence of independent editorial content, even when that editorial content is right wing.

    The NZ Herald, Heather and Mike are without doubt right wingers, but they are right wingers who pitch their argument within the realms of the real and factual.

    Alt-right billionaires do not do that.

    If NZME is taken over and the editorial direction takes a hard right culture war turn, you will be dooming NZ democracy and planing us on a highway to hell.

    You must, you must, you must stand against this attack on editorial independence.

    Republished from The Daily Blog with permission.

    Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Prescribed hazard reduction burns in O’Connor, Weetangera and Hawker

    Source: Australian National Party



    As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.

    Released 08/04/2025

    Two prescribed hazard reduction burns in O’Connor Ridge and Pinnacle Nature Reserve in Weetangera and Hawker will commence today, subject to suitable weather and fuel moisture conditions.

    The prescribed hazard reduction burns in O’Connor Ridge and Pinnacle Nature Reserve are being conducted to reduce weeds and exotic species, as well as reduce the fire hazard in the area.

    See the location map of the burn sites.

    Experienced ACT Parks and Conservation Service fire managers will conduct and oversee the burning operations. Every effort is made to conduct burns in weather conditions that will minimise the impact of smoke, but temporary smoke cover is possible and may be visible across parts of Canberra.

    Fire crews will be on the ground monitoring and patrolling the prescribed burns to their conclusions.

    Smoke, flame, and glowing embers may be seen at these sites, which is normal for these types of operations. The public are asked not to call emergency triple-zero unless they see any unattended fire.

    Prescribed burns are an important part of the ACT’s annual Bushfire Operations Plan to enhance ecological quality, reduce the risk of bushfires and help keep Canberrans safe.

    More information about prescribed hazard reduction burns is available on the Parks ACT website.

    – Statement ends –

    ACT Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate | Media Releases

    Media Contacts

    «ACT Government Media Releases | «Directorate Media Releases

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed & Community Action Leaders Discuss Trump Administration Cuts Targeting Vulnerable RIers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WARWICK, RI – Following a roundtable discussion with the leadership of Rhode Island’s seven community action programs (CAPs), U.S. Senator Jack Reed today addressed the Trump Administration’s mass-layoffs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other cuts that will impact Rhode Island and put at risk child care and preschool programs, home heating assistance, and other essential services.

    Rhode Island’s seven CAPs collectively serve more than 190,000 Rhode Islanders and help connect low-income individuals and families to health care, job training and skills building, energy assistance, affordable housing, and much more.

    Senator Reed joined Paul Salera, President & CEO of Westbay Community Action, at Westbay’s location in Warwick to detail how these cuts could decimate services and support for vulnerable Rhode Islanders and how uncertainty stemming from Trump Administration actions is impacting community organizations across the state.

    “As the Trump Administration plows ahead with erratic, misguided cuts and no analysis whatsoever on impacts to our communities, I met with leaders on the ground here in Rhode Island to get their feedback, hear their concerns, and discuss how we can work together to continue uplifting our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Senator Reed.  “The leaders I met with today know better than almost anyone how programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Head Start, the Administration for Community Living, and other critical supports strengthen our communities and help Rhode Islanders stay healthy, safe, and productive.  Eliminating the key staff who help Rhode Islanders and slashing funding just to give massive tax giveaways to a small group of billionaires will likely end up costing taxpayers much more in the long run and shifts increasing tax burdens onto our state and local communities.”

    Paul Salera, President & CEO of Westbay Community Action, said, “The Rhode Island Community Action Agencies are grateful to Senator Reed and his team for this opportunity to shed some light on all the Administration’s proposed cuts and what this will mean to the more than 190,000 Rhode Islanders we all serve.  It is a breath of fresh air knowing that Senator Reed is fighting for all of us to ensure that the much needed Safety Net programs stay intact for the most vulnerable in Rhode Island.”

    Last week, the Trump Administration moved forward with its plans to cut 20,000 federal employees at HHS. According to CBS News, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. estimated that about 1 in every 5 of the employees who were fired at HHS were mistakenly let go.

    Rhode Island’s seven community action programs are: Westbay Community Action; Community Action Partnership of Providence; Tri-County Community Action; Blackstone Valley Community Action; Community Care Alliance; East Bay Community Action; and Comprehensive Community Action.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen, Murkowski Seek Immediate Explanation for Department of Homeland Security’s Erroneous and Threatening Email to Ukrainians in the United States

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem yesterday seeking answers following reports that Ukrainians on humanitarian parole in the United States had received threatening emails from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that their humanitarian parole status had been terminated and that they had seven days to depart the country.  

    The Senators wrote, in part: “Even if this message was sent in error, threatening the abrupt termination of humanitarian parole for Ukrainians is alarming and adverse to the U.S. national interest. At a time when a Kremlin official was in the United States negotiating with Administration officials, this mixed message sends the wrong signal: that the U.S. may abandon Ukrainians in need even as Ukraine remains under attack by Vladimir Putin.” 

    They continued: “The fact that DHS drafted such a notification is alarming. DHS has not issued a public announcement about any planned policy change and the agency’s website continues to display information about the availability of parole for Ukrainians. Nor has Congress been notified regarding any proposed changes to the program.” 

    The lawmakers concluded: “We urge the agency to provide immediate clarification to Ukrainians in the United States that their humanitarian parole has not been terminated, and that there are no plans to terminate the program while Ukraine is still under active attack by Russia. We also request a briefing on any future plans regarding humanitarian parole for Ukrainians and an immediate explanation as to how these emails were sent in error.” 

    The full text of the letter can be found here and below. 

    Dear Secretary Noem:  

    We are extremely concerned about notifications that Ukrainians on humanitarian parole in the United States have received official notifications from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—apparently in error—that their parole had been terminated and that they are required to depart the United States within seven days.  

    Even if this message was sent in error, threatening the abrupt termination of humanitarian parole for Ukrainians is alarming and adverse to the U.S. national interest. At a time when a Kremlin official was in the United States negotiating with Administration officials, this mixed message sends the wrong signal: that the U.S. may abandon Ukrainians in need even as Ukraine remains under attack by Vladimir Putin. 

    Ukrainians who have participated in the Uniting for Ukraine program have entered the U.S. lawfully, passed rigorous screening and vetting requirements and have been required to find financial support from private U.S. sponsors. These are individuals, including children, who have fled a war zone and followed a lawful process. Many are working in our states, paying taxes and contributing to local communities. Abruptly and cruelly telling victims of Russia’s war to leave the country would not reflect American values—and it risks emboldening Putin to continue the war, despite President Trump’s stated objectives to establish peace.  

    For many Ukrainians, conditions on the ground in Ukraine remain unsafe for them to return, as Putin continues to violate the limited ceasefire Russia pledged it would honor on March 18. Twenty percent of Ukraine remains occupied, the frontline in Donbas remains volatile and Russia has escalated the use of swarms of drones to attack population centers across the country, including Kyiv. We support the Administration’s desire to reach a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine, but until that goal is realized, we must continue to offer safe harbor to the Ukrainian families that have found temporary homes in our states.  

    The fact that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) drafted such a notification is alarming. DHS has not issued a public announcement about any planned policy change and the agency’s website continues to display information about the availability of parole for Ukrainians. Nor has Congress been notified regarding any proposed changes to the program. Congressional staff inquiries to DHS on Friday resulted in conflicting responses that demonstrated a disturbing lack of interagency coordination or strategy on the status of humanitarian parole for Ukrainians.  

    We urge the agency to provide immediate clarification to Ukrainians in the United States that their humanitarian parole has not been terminated, and that there are no plans to terminate the program while Ukraine is still under active attack by Russia. We also request a briefing on any future plans regarding humanitarian parole for Ukrainians and an immediate explanation as to how these emails were sent in error.  

    We appreciate your urgent attention to this matter. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Reed, Coons Lead National Security Members in Letter Expressing Concern over Recent Firings at NSA

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner

    WASHINGTON – Today, Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee Jack Reed (D-RI), and Ranking Member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense Chris Coons (D-DE), led their committee colleagues in a letter to President Trump regarding the firing of the Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) and Commander of U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM), General Timothy Haugh, as well as the reassignment of the Deputy Director of the NSA, Wendy Noble.

    Joining Vice Chairman Warner and Ranking Members Reed and Coons in this letter are Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Chris Murphy (D-CT).

    “These actions severely compromise our ability to keep Americans safe. As you are well aware, our nation currently faces serious cyber threats from foreign adversaries, such as from China’s Salt Typhoon, with near-daily attacks against our critical infrastructure,” the senators wrote. “In addition, our nation’s military is engaged in ongoing operations against multiple threats, from the Houthis in Yemen to Russian aggression in Eastern Europe. Given the dangers facing the United States, it is inexplicable that the Administration would remove the senior leaders of NSA/CYBERCOM without cause or warning, and risk disrupting critical ongoing intelligence operations.”

    The senators also highlighted the impact this move would have on the dual-hat arrangement, in which a single officer leads both the NSA and CYBERCOM, and stressed that prematurely severing this agreement could put U.S. national security at risk.

    They continued, “Premature termination of the dual-hat arrangement would severely degrade the speed and effectiveness of NSA’s and CYBERCOM’s abilities to execute their missions and could have dire consequence for our national security. As Congress on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis has repeatedly made clear in the National Defense Authorization Acts for Fiscal Years 2017, 2018, and 2020, clear criteria must be met before any termination can be considered and both the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs must together certify that separation will not “pose risks to the military effectiveness of the United States Cyber Command that are unacceptable to the national security interests of the United States.”

    As members of the key committees tasked with conducting oversight over NSA, the senators requested written justification for why Director Timothy Haugh and Ms. Wendy Noble were removed from their posts, and asked for a Congressional briefing regarding any additional actions the administration plans to take with respect to NSA and CYBERCOM, including but not limited to the separation of the dual-hat.

    A copy of letter is available here and text is below.

    Dear President Trump,

    We write with alarm at the sudden and inexplicable firing of the Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) and Commander, U.S. Cyber Command, General Timothy Haugh, as well as the reassignment of the Deputy Director of the NSA, Wendy Noble. Not only have both dutifully served this nation for decades under both Democratic and Republican administrations, but their removals were conducted in the middle of the night with no consultation with Congress and, according to reports, at the behest of a private citizen who has a record of promoting conspiracy theories.

    These actions severely compromise our ability to keep Americans safe. As you are well aware, our nation currently faces serious cyber threats from foreign adversaries, such as from China’s Salt Typhoon, with near-daily attacks against our critical infrastructure. In addition, our nation’s military is engaged in ongoing operations against multiple threats, from the Houthis in Yemen to Russian aggression in Eastern Europe. Given the dangers facing the United States, it is inexplicable that the Administration would remove the senior leaders of NSA/CYBERCOM without cause or warning, and risk disrupting critical ongoing intelligence operations.

    Furthermore, we urge you to exercise careful consideration and consultation with Congress on any further actions that may impact NSA’s or CYBERCOM’s abilities to provide the critical intelligence and operational support to policymakers and warfighters. This includes, but is not limited to, any considerations to terminate the dual-hat arrangement. Premature termination of the dual-hat arrangement would severely degrade the speed and effectiveness of NSA’s and CYBERCOM’s abilities to execute their missions and could have dire consequence for our national security. As Congress on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis has repeatedly made clear in the National Defense Authorization Acts for Fiscal Years 2017, 2018, and 2020, clear criteria must be met before any termination can be considered and both the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs must together certify that separation will not “pose risks to the military effectiveness of the United States Cyber Command that are unacceptable to the national security interests of the United States.”

    As Members of the respective committees of oversight, we request that you formally provide in writing a justification for why Director Timothy Haugh and Ms. Wendy Noble were removed from their posts and provide a briefing to Congress on any additional actions you plan to take with respect to NSA and CYBERCOM, including but not limited to the separation of the dual-hat.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Police investigating firearms incident in Rocherlea

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Police investigating firearms incident in Rocherlea

    Tuesday, 8 April 2025 – 9:17 am.

    Police are calling for information in relation to an incident in Rocherlea on Sunday morning (6 April).
    About 6.30am on Sunday, police received a report that a firearm had been discharged into a residence on Russell Plains Road, Rocherlea.
    Several people were inside the property, thankfully, no one was injured.
    Witnesses observed a silver Peugeot 207 leaving the area.
    Police are investigating the matter, and initial information suggests that the incident is targeted.
    If you were in the area around the time and witnessed suspicious activity or have dash cam or CCTV footage of the silver Peugeot, please phone 131 444 or contact Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au.
    Information can be provided anonymously. Please quote OR771480.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Environmental permit reforms to empower regulators to slash business red tape

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Environmental permit reforms to empower regulators to slash business red tape

    UK and Welsh Governments launch joint consultation to reform environmental permitting regulations, supporting UK Government’s Plan for Change

    Streamlined environmental permitting will drive economic growth and help tackle crime while continuing to safeguard the environment, under reforms unveiled by Environment Minister Emma Hardy today (Tuesday 8 April). 

    The UK and Welsh Governments have today launched an eight-week consultation on reforming environmental permitting for England and Wales to speed up the work of regulators and the industries they support, demonstrating rapid delivery of a commitment in the UK Government’s Regulatory Action Plan to consult on reforms to permitting legislation before Easter. 

    Reforming the process for exemptions could empower regulators – the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales – to use the proposed powers in the following ways, among others: 

    • Taking speedy action: simplifying processes such as for bringing suitable land back into beneficial use for new housing or infrastructure, strongly supporting regional growth.   
    • New permitting exemptions for certain flood risk activities: which could make it easier to install survey equipment for monitoring river flow and water quality.  
    • Potential greater flexibility around the use of scaffolding in or alongside rivers: supporting the UK Government’s key mission of growing the economy for communities across the country.   
    • Changes to exemptions abused by rogue waste operators: the proposals could enable regulators to clamp down on illegal activity that blights communities and causes environmental harm. 
    • Stringent safeguards: the proposals look to ensure effective controls apply where there is a high risk of environmental harm and to keep the regulatory system open and accountable. 

    The proposals cover a wide variety of activities undertaken by businesses or individuals operating within guardrails that protect the environment, such as managing flood risk, handling waste, and the discharging of water – ensuring that exempt activities relating to the latter do not pollute inland freshwaters, coastal waters, or relevant territorial waters. 

    Making environmental permitting more agile and responsive through the UK Government’s Plan for Change will empower regulators to slash red tape for businesses, putting an end to delays that can slow down the decisions needed to get spades in the ground.  

    The proposed changes would also allow a quicker and more flexible response to new technologies and emerging risks, benefitting businesses while protecting the environment.   

    The consultation has been recommended by economist and former charity leader Dan Corry in his landmark review into the regulators and regulation at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 

    Environment Minister Emma Hardy said:

    This Government is committed to delivering streamlined, hassle-free regulation that protects the environment while also driving economic growth. 

    As part of the Plan for Change, we are rewiring Defra and its arms-length bodies to boost economic growth and unleash an era of building, while also supporting stringent environmental safeguards. 

    I encourage all interested parties to take part in the consultation and help shape the future of the environmental permitting regime.

    Jo Nettleton, Chief Regulator at the Environment Agency, said:

    The Environment Agency firmly believes protecting the environment and sustainable development go hand-in-hand and we support the Government’s aim to get the economy growing. 

    We welcome the proposed reforms to environmental permitting, which will empower us to carry out our role as a fair and proportionate regulator for people and the environment while supporting business and sustainable economic growth.

    Environmental permitting plays an important role in protecting the environment and human health from a wide range variety of risks, such as from flooding, water and air pollution, and contamination from waste. 

    While a review of the regulations in 2023 found them to be functioning effectively, it also identified potential improvements, such as making the framework more responsive to changes on the ground and the needs of operators. 

    Operators of exempt activities are not required to hold a permit, but there are still specified conditions with which operators must comply.  

    The current process for changing which activities are exempt and the conditions that apply is lengthy and subject to disruption, which has led to delays in bringing forward changes in the past.  

    The proposed reforms will speed up work to update the regulations, allowing the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales to make decisions proportionate to the level of environmental risk on which activities should be exempt from environmental permits.

    Updates to this page

    Published 8 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: AI Energy Council to ensure UK’s energy infrastructure ready for AI revolution

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    AI Energy Council to ensure UK’s energy infrastructure ready for AI revolution

    Industry heavyweights from the energy and technology sectors will descend on Whitehall today (8 April) for the first meeting of the UK’s new AI Energy Council.

    AI Energy Council launched to support the use of sustainable energy to power AI.

    • New AI Energy Council holds first round of talks on delivering the power which will drive the UK’s AI ambitions.
    • Technology and Energy Secretaries chair first round of talks on driving forward power and AI goals – central to delivering growth, jobs and opportunity through government’s Plan for Change. 
    • Energy representatives such as NESO, EDF, Scottish Power, Ofgem, and National Grid to join tech heavyweights Microsoft, ARM, Google and Amazon in sharing expert insights. 

    Co-chaired by the Technology and Energy Secretaries, today’s inaugural meeting will see members agree the council’s objectives with a key aim focused on how the government’s clean energy superpower mission, and its commitment to advancing AI and compute infrastructure, can work together to deliver economic growth.

    It’s expected the Council will also look at clean energy, like renewables and nuclear – advising on improving energy efficiency and sustainability in AI and data centre infrastructure, such as the use of water. The council will also take steps to ensure the secure adoption of AI across the UK’s energy network itself.

    Unveiled in January as part of the government’s response to the AI Opportunities Action Plan, the Council will bring together expert insights on the energy demands of AI, as the UK puts the technology front and centre of its plans to drive economic growth and deliver its Plan for Change. 

    Concerns over the energy demands needed to power AI data centres is an issue faced by countries the world over. One of the ways the UK is already rising to meet this challenge is by focussing its new AI Growth Zones – dedicated hotbeds of AI development – in areas which can access at least 500MW of power. Representing the equivalent of enough energy to power roughly two million homes, this will help to spark significant private investment from companies looking to set up shop in Britain – creating local jobs which will put more money in people’s pockets.

    Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Peter Kyle said: 

    The work of the AI Energy Council will ensure we aren’t just powering our AI needs to deliver new waves of opportunity in all parts of the country, but can do so in a way which is responsible and sustainable. 

    This requires a broad range of expertise from industry and regulators as we fire up the UK’s economic engine to make it fit for the age of AI – meaning we can deliver the growth which is the beating heart of our Plan for Change.

    Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband said:

    We are making the UK a clean energy superpower, building the homegrown energy this country needs to protect consumers and businesses, and drive economic growth, as part of our Plan for Change.

    AI can play an important role in building a new era of clean electricity for our country and as we unlock AI’s potential, this Council will help secure a sustainable scale up to benefit businesses and communities across the UK.

    The UK government has also been working closely with both Ofgem and the National Energy System Operator to deliver fundamental reforms to the UK’s connections process. Subject to final signoffs from Ofgem, this could release more than 400GW of capacity from the connection queue – accelerating projects vital to economic growth such as the delivery of new large scale AI data centres. 

    Joining the council are 14 organisations – including regulators and companies drawn from the energy and tech sectors – who will support its work by sharing expert insights.

    Among these organisations are: EDF, Ofgem, National Energy System Operator (NESO), Scottish Power, National Grid, Google, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and chip designer ARM, and infrastructure investment firm Brookfield. 

    This collaborative approach which brings together the energy and technology sectors will make sure there is join up across the board to speed up energy projects getting connected to the grid – especially with a growing pipeline of tech companies announcing plans to build datacentres across the UK.

    Alison Kay, Vice President, UK and Ireland, at Amazon Web Services (AWS), said:

    At Amazon, we’re working to meet the future energy needs of our customers, while remaining committed to powering our operations in a more sustainable way, and progressing toward our Climate Pledge commitment to become net-zero carbon by 2040.

    As the world’s largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy for the fifth year in a row, we share the government’s goal to ensure the UK has sufficient access to carbon-free energy to support its AI ambitions and to help drive economic growth.

    Jonathan Brearley, CEO of Ofgem, said:

    AI will play an increasingly important role in transforming our energy system to be cleaner, more efficient, and more cost-effective for consumers, but only if used in a fair, secure, sustainable and safe way.

    Working alongside other members of this Council, Ofgem will ensure AI implementation puts consumer interests first – from customer service to infrastructure planning and operation – so that everyone feels the benefits of this technological innovation in energy.

    As part of our Clean Power Action Plan, the government is getting more homegrown clean power connected to the grid by building the necessary infrastructure, prioritising the projects needed for 2030 to connect as much clean power as possible. We will clean up the grid connection queue, meaning crucial infrastructure from housing to gigafactories and data centres can get a connection to the grid, helping to unlock billions of investment and grow the economy. 

    Bolstered by accelerated planning approvals which will mean spades in the ground at a fraction of the time it currently takes, AI innovators will be able to call on cutting-edge infrastructure and ready access to power to drive forward the next wave of AI opportunity.

    Further information 

    Attendees to the first meeting of the AI Energy Council will include representatives of: 

    • Ofgem 
    • NESO 
    • Energy Networks Association 
    • Nuclear Industry Association 
    • ScottishPower 
    • National Grid 
    • EDF 
    • Google 
    • Microsoft 
    • Amazon Web Services 
    • Equinix 
    • Brookfield 
    • ARM 
    • ARIA

    The council will meet on a quarterly basis, with the next meeting scheduled for this summer.

    DSIT media enquiries

    Email press@dsit.gov.uk

    Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 8 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: DOJ, ATF Repeal FFL Inspection Policy and Begin Review of Two Final Rules

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced today the repeal of the Enhanced Regulatory Enforcement Policy and the review of Final Rule 2021R-08F, related to stabilizing braces, and Final Rule 2022R-17F, related to the definition of “engaging in the business” of firearms dealing.

    The Enhanced Regulatory Enforcement Policy, aka the Zero Tolerance Policy, was a strategy announced in 2021 that set more stringent criteria for Industry Operations compliance inspections to identify licensees with certain qualifying violations. As of today, this policy will be repealed, and Industry Operations inspections will no longer be held to these previously set guidelines.

    Additionally, DOJ and ATF have plans to revisit the regulatory framework surrounding stabilizing braces (Final Rule 2021R-08F) and the definition of “engaged in the business” of firearms dealing (Final Rule 2022R-17F).

    “This Department of Justice believes that the 2nd Amendment is not a second-class right,” said U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The prior administration’s ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy unfairly targeted law-abiding gun owners and created an undue burden on Americans seeking to exercise their constitutional right to bear arms – it ends today.”

    “Today’s repeal of the Zero Tolerance Policy and the comprehensive review of stabilizing brace regulations and the definition of ‘engaged in the business’ marks a pivotal step toward restoring fairness and clarity in firearms regulation,” said Acting ATF Director Kash Patel. “We are committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure our policies are balanced, constitutional and protective of Americans’ Second Amendment rights.”

    The decision to review the Stabilizing Brace rule, which sought to reclassify certain firearms as short-barreled rifles, as well as revising the guidelines for determining who is considered “engaged in the business” of selling firearms, reiterates constitutional approaches to firearm regulations.

    The DOJ and ATF will conduct an in-depth review over the coming months and will engage in consultations with stakeholders, including gun rights organizations, industry leaders and legal experts. Further updates on the status of these reviews will be released in due course.

    ATF is the federal law enforcement agency with jurisdiction involving firearms and violent crimes and regulates the firearm industry. For more information about ATF, go to www.atf.gov or follow @ATFHQ on X.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Remarks by Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director at the CPD58 High-Level Side Event: Improving Health and Well-being for Women and Newborns

    Source: United Nations Population Fund

    Excellencies,
    Esteemed delegates, 
    Dearest colleagues,
    Dear community leaders and young people,

    Greetings of peace, the noble pursuit of the United Nations and the fervent desire of every woman and girl that UNFPA serves in over 150 locations.

    We meet at a time when our shared mission of peace, human rights and development is more vital than ever; and where we count on people of goodwill like you for solidarity in forging a brighter future.

    As we face a world of unprecedented challenges, among the most profound is the continued injustice of women dying in pregnancy and childbirth, often from entirely preventable causes.

    How can it be, that in this day and age, each and every two minutes, a woman dies from complications in pregnancy or childbirth? And in places affected by conflict, maternal mortality more than doubles. 

    These are not just numbers; they are real lives.

    Let me tell you what I heard from Aicha, a young woman displaced from a traditional village in Cameroon after repeated flooding and then violence by armed groups. She confided: “I am so scared for the baby in my womb and for myself”.

    Pull back the curtain and behind every maternal death you will find a clinic that didn’t have essential medicines, a community without skilled midwives, and a crisis putting basic human care out of reach.

    With never-ending conflicts, growing economic uncertainty, and more frequent climate disasters, women’s health needs are surging – and that’s happening as resources and political will seem to be far less reliable.

    Yet we know that major progress is possible. Change happens when we mobilize the full weight of local communities joined by the international community. 

    Changed happened over the past 25 years, during which the world saw a remarkable 40 percent drop in global maternal mortality. 

    And while progress slowed more recently, there has been a 10 percent decline in maternal deaths since 2015. Let me emphasize that the most gains were made in the least developed countries. Progress is possible!

    Even with setbacks from Covid-19, we are beginning to get back on track in most countries.

    Three powerful examples stand out – Tanzania, Sierra Leone, and Nepal.

    Through impressive government leadership and strategic investments, Tanzania cut maternal mortality by 79 percent, Sierra Leone by 52 percent, and Nepal by one third.

    Seeing is believing. Tangible progress follows when countries prioritize women’s health. This means thousands of lives saved, mothers and their babies poised for a healthier future.

    Importantly, we have the tools to replicate this success. We have cost-effective, evidence-based strategies. We know what works.

    This is all good news. Yet let’s not rest on our laurels while steep funding cuts right now are forcing countries to roll back vital services for maternal, newborn and child health – putting fragile gains at risk.

    We need to go further and we certainly need to go faster.

    Native American wisdom tell us: We will be known forever for the tracks we leave.

    Now is the time to expand all of the proven interventions that we have at hand. Now is the time to ensure equitable access to quality care, especially for any woman who is poor, because she is the one too often left behind.

    Here is where the transformative power of midwives shines bright. 

    Midwives save lives!

    With proper investment in the midwifery profession, did you know that midwives could deliver up to 90 percent of essential sexual and reproductive health services? That includes vital antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care. 

    What’s more, every dollar poured into midwifery yields a 16-fold return in economic and social benefits. That’s an outstanding return on investment and a financially sustainable solution all around.

    • Midwifery care significantly reduces mother and newborn complications.
    • Midwives are leaders. They are embedded in communities, and therefore better able to reach remote and marginalized groups. That’s the path to bridging the inequalities that fuel maternal deaths.
    • Midwives provide holistic care that respects women’s preferences and minimizes medical interventions. They improve the overall experience of childbirth and are a trusted, stabilizing force within their communities.

    I tell you all of this so that you understand that we must act to end the global shortage of nearly one million midwives. 

    The largely female midwifery workforce, unfortunately, remains persistently under-recognized, under-utilized, and under-funded – despite all the overwhelming and longstanding evidence in support of the midwifery model of care.

    That is why UNFPA, with the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), WHO, UNICEF and other terrific partners, are so proud to launch the Midwifery Accelerator. Thank goodness we now have a global blueprint and a fearless coalition to close the midwifery gap and hasten progress towards ending maternal and newborn deaths by 2030.

    Our unwavering promise is to educate, deploy, retain and empower midwives. Because every woman, everywhere deserves safe, respectful, quality care when she brings life into this world. And a strong, well-resourced midwifery workforce defines the pathway to success.

    You know, safe birth is no longer a technical challenge; rather it is a political choice. Governments hold the power to enact policies, allocate critical resources, and build robust health systems that protect and safeguard lives. 

    I urge Member States to prioritize and set measurable reproductive, maternal, and newborn health targets aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNFPA stands shoulder-to-shoulder with you in this critical endeavour.

    The survival and well-being of every woman and every newborn is no less than the foundation of strong families, resilient communities and prosperous societies.

    Again, we will be known forever for the tracks we leave.

    So let us galvanize our collective will and stand united in our complete, interconnected humanity.

    The status quo is done; it is over. Let us seize this moment for resolute action. Let us create a world where everyone has the opportunity to not just survive, but to thrive and flourish in their full potential.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Helps Introduce Bill to Ensure Religious Affiliation of Fallen U.S. Servicemembers’ Headstones are Accurately Reflected

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) helped introduce bipartisan legislation with Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, to identify and research Jewish-American servicemembers interred in American cemeteries overseas who are buried beneath grave markers that do not accurately reflect their religion and heritage. The bipartisan Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act would create a 10-year program within the American Battle Monuments Commission to identify and conduct research on servicemembers who are incorrectly memorialized and locate and contact their surviving descendants to facilitate a grave marker change to properly represent their religious heritage. An estimated 600 Jewish-American servicemembers who were killed in action during World War II remain buried under Latin Crosses rather than Stars of David. While clerical errors are to blame for many of the improper burials, some are because Jewish-American servicemembers did not want their faith included on their dog tags while fighting against the Nazis.
    “Our nation has a duty to fully honor the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to join Senator Moran in introducing this bipartisan legislation to correct the headstones of servicemembers by ensuring that the religious affiliation of our fallen is properly and accurately recognized.”
    “We owe a debt we can never repay to those who have given their last full measure of devotion on behalf of our nation and the freedoms we cherish, religious liberty being chief among them,” said Senator Moran. “This legislation makes certain that the religious heritage of those who have died for our country, particularly Jewish-American servicemembers, is rightfully represented at their final resting places, providing their survivors with assurance that their loved one’s faith is being acknowledged and memorialized with accuracy.”
    Senator Rosen has been working to deliver for Nevada’s veterans. She has sent letters demanding that the VA reverse harmful plans to reduce its workforce, calling on the VA to permanently reverse layoffs, and pushing for answers regarding mass employee terminations at the VA. Last month, Senator Rosen helped introduce legislation to reinstate veterans wrongfully fired by President Trump and Elon Musk. She also took to the Senate floor to oppose the actions of the Trump Administration and Musk to mass fire employees working at the VA.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren Sounds Alarm on Inexperienced Trump Nominee to Run Nuclear Arsenal

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    April 07, 2025

    “I am concerned that a leader without strong technical expertise and extensive experience could put our nuclear deterrent at risk and waste billions of dollars.” 

    “The person confirmed to lead the NNSA…must also make it abundantly clear that they would not share information with companies that might support China’s own nuclear modernization efforts, further jeopardizing American national security.”

    Text of Letter (PDF)

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) wrote to Mr. Brandon Williams, nominee for Under Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Security and Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), with concerns over his lack of experience and potential ties to the Chinese government through his business. Mr. Williams’ nomination will be considered by the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 8, 2025. 

    The NNSA is tasked with the design, production, and maintenance of the nation’s nuclear arsenal, along with ensuring the safety, security, and reliability of the country’s nuclear weapons. By law, anyone nominated for the position must “have extensive background in national security” and be “well qualified to manage nuclear weapons.” Each of the six previous Under Secretaries for Nuclear Security and NNSA Administrators had strong backgrounds in fields related to nuclear technology or national security. William’s two most recent predecessors each worked for more than 30 years in nuclear security before taking on the role. 

    Mr. Williams lacks any of the extensive technical experience of his predecessors. He completed a training at the Naval Nuclear Power School and served as a junior officer on a nuclear submarine, but does not possess any advanced degree in physics or engineering. The NNSA is in the middle of a $200 billion nuclear modernization project, which the Government Accountability Office has found already exceeded initial cost estimates by more than $2 billion and is behind by almost 10 years. Williams’ lack of experience raises concerns about his ability to effectively manage the nuclear arsenal.  

    “I am concerned that a leader without strong technical expertise and extensive experience could put our nuclear deterrent at risk and waste billions of dollars,” said Senator Warren.

    Senator Warren also called out Mr. Williams’ ties to the Chinese government through his software cloud computing company, CPLANE.ai. In 2013, after founding the company, Mr. Williams partnered with PCCW Global, which was partially controlled by the Chinese government through China Unicom, a company banned from U.S. markets in 2018 due to “spying concerns.” 

    “The person confirmed to lead the NNSA…must also make it abundantly clear that they would not share information with companies that might support China’s own nuclear modernization efforts, further jeopardizing American national security,” concluded Senator Warren. 

    Senator Warren asked Mr. Williams to explain whether he supports DOGE’s mass firings at NNSA, how he plans to address his experience shortfalls, asked him to commit to not share information that would compromise national security interests, and more, by April 14, 2025. 

    Senator Warren has long worked to ensure the stability and safety of the United States nuclear arsenal: 

    • In March 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren slammed Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) reckless firings of federal employees, including at the NNSA, where workers who ensure the safety and security of the country’s nuclear stockpile were fired and had to be rehired. 
    • In January 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote to Elon Musk with recommendations that would cut at least $2 trillion in government waste, including cutting nearly $2 billion in NNSA yearly spending on plutonium pit production at the Savannah River Site. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Joins Schiff, Raskin for Bicameral Spotlight Hearing on the Trump Administration’s Attacks on the Rule of Law 

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, today joined U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Ranking Member of the House Committee on the Judiciary, for a bicameral spotlight hearing entitled, “Restoring Accountability: Exposing Trump’s Attacks on the Rule of Law,” to examine the Trump Administration’s attacks on the rule of law.  Senator Welch questioned witnesses on the culture that career prosecutors saw breached and the attacks on the rule of law exhibited by the new administration. The hearing was held by Senator Schiff and Representative Raskin.  
    “The lawlessness of the Trump Administration knows no bounds, and Republicans’ silence on President Trump’s flagrant disregard for the rule of law is deafening. Their refusal to hold President Trump accountable only emboldens the President on his quest to make the Justice Department his Justice Department,” said Senator Welch ahead of the hearing. “We need to do everything in our power to speak out and stand up against Trump’s illegal rampage and demand accountability for his attacks on the rule of law.”   
    Lawmakers from the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives heard firsthand testimony from:  

    Ryan Crosswell, a former Department of Justice (DOJ) Trial Attorney in the Public Integrity Section who resigned after the Trump DOJ pressured career prosecutors to drop the corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams in a shocking quid pro quo deal and cover-up;  

    Liz Oyer, a former DOJ Pardon Attorney who was fired for refusing to give actor and Trump “Special Ambassador” Mel Gibson special treatment to own a firearm despite a domestic violence conviction;  

    Rachel Cohen, a former Senior Associate at the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, who resigned in protest following a string of Trump Executive Orders targeting law firms for taking on clients or cases that Trump dislikes; and  

    View the livestream here: 

    Senator Welch asked several witnesses about their personal experiences with the Trump Administration, including Liz Oyer, a fired former DOJ Pardon Attorney who faced intimidation by U.S. marshals, and Ryan Crosswell, who resigned after DOJ pressured career prosecutors to drop the corruption case against Mayor Eric Adams. Senator Welch’s exchange with Rachel Cohen, a former Senior Associate at the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, who resigned in protest following a string of Trump Executive Orders targeting law firms is below: 
    Senator Welch: “Tell me about how you saw being in Skadden, Arps—a major Wall Street…really world—law firm as being also an opportunity for you to live your values as an attorney, your commitment to justice, and also have an opportunity to work for folks who otherwise wouldn’t be represented.” 
    Rachel Cohen: “While I was on the job, I had unlimited pro bono hours. It was perhaps the most important thing to me when selecting a law firm. Because I wanted to get trained up on the private sector things. My past work was in public education, and I needed to understand how those things work. It drew me to finance. But I devoted anywhere from 20 to 33% of my hours to pro bono every year. And ultimately, that is why I resigned…I did a decent amount of immigration pro bono representation and actions by this administration are making it very clear that that is soon going to be viewed, or already is viewed, as adverse to the administration, despite the fact that it is just to allow people to survive when they are fleeing harm and persecution and death. And I couldn’t stay at a place that I knew was on the verge of not allowing me to take representations that the President viewed as adverse, knowing what he views as adverse, to him.” 
    ■ ■ ■
    “The Trump administration has been using the Justice Department to go after the president’s political enemies — firing prosecutors who uphold the law, attacking law firms that refuse to do his bidding, and seeking to dismiss cases against his political allies. The Republican Party has abdicated any interest in defending the rule of law or providing meaningful oversight, so I look forward to hosting some of the brave individuals willing to speak out, alongside Ranking Member Raskin, as we do the hard work of accountability that Senate and House Republicans refuse to do,” said Senator Schiff.   
    “While my GOP colleagues passively watch Trump punish his critics and take a jack hammer to the work of anti-corruption fighters at the Department of Justice, Democrats are lifting up the tough Americans who are standing strong against the corruption and lawlessness of Trump,” said Ranking Member Raskin.   
    Recently, Senator Welch took to the Senate floor and called on Congress to defend the right to free speech and freedom of the press. He discussed how our First Amendment rights are essential to the well-being of America’s democracy, and highlighted how President Trump has sought to silence or to punish journalists and citizens who speak out about the Trump Administration’s lawless agenda. Watch the Senator’s remarks on his website. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Myanmar quake: ‘I constantly worry – what if another earthquake happens?’

    Source: United Nations 2-b

    By Vibhu Mishra

    Humanitarian Aid

    Ten days after the catastrophic quake which struck Myanmar, children remain the most vulnerable – losing their homes, their schools, and in many cases, their families.

    The 7.7 magnitude earthquake which struck shortly before 1 PM local time on 28 March, was the strongest in recent memory.

    As aftershocks continue, UN agencies are warning of a looming health emergency, with children sleeping in the open, exposed to extreme heat, unsanitary conditions and the constant fear of another disaster.

    According to the latest figures, over 3,500 people have died, nearly 5,000 have been injured and more than 200 remain missing.

    The UN relief chief, speaking from Myanmar where he is overseeing the aid effort, underscored the Organization’s commitment to help communities in need.

    “The United Nations is here – we are going to stay here and we will deliver for them. But we need the world to get behind us, but more importantly, to back this community as they rebuild their lives,” said Tom Fletcher, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, as he visited neighbourhoods levelled by the disaster in the capital Nay Pyi Taw on Saturday.

    He highlighted the need for the international community to step up support, stressing that the most vulnerable have been the most affected.

    “One thing that I have been struck by here is that you would think earthquakes hit everyone equally, but they hit the poorest hardest because they do not have the resources to respond, to move house, to live elsewhere, to start to rebuild.”

    Education in ruins

    The earthquake has dealt a severe blow to Myanmar’s already fragile education system.

    According to government reports, at least 1,824 schools have been damaged or destroyed, leaving hundreds of thousands of children without access to education.

    With schools reduced to rubble, there is growing concern that many children, especially those in poorer communities, will fall behind in their studies – or never return to school at all.

    No quick and easy fixes

    There are “no quick and easy fixes,” the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warns.

    “Many children have lost their parents, their friends and they need a place where they can get psychosocial support and begin to feel a sense of normalcy,” Eliana Drakopoulos, Chief of Communications at UNICEF Myanmar, told UN News.

    “As hard as that is to imagine…we have to respond to the immediate emergency, but we also have to be here for the long haul to help people recover from this massive tragedy.”

    Eliana Drakopoulos, Chief of Communications at UNICEF Myanmar, updates on the situation in the affected areas

    Soundcloud

    Health risks

    The destruction of homes, hospitals and sanitation facilities, combined with heavy rains over the weekend have raised fears of disease outbreaks.

    According to the UN World Health Organization (WHO)-led Health Cluster, more than 65 healthcare facilities have been damaged, further complicating the situation. The lack of medical supplies is putting the lives of injured and sick children at even greater risk.

    Beyond the physical dangers, children are also dealing with the psychological trauma of the disaster. Many are afraid to sleep indoors, fearing that another earthquake will strike.

    Heightened challenges for persons with disabilities

    The earthquake’s devastation has disproportionately impacted persons with disabilities who face increased vulnerability due to physical injuries, displacement and disruption of essential services.

    According to a UN initial rapid assessment conducted with 15 organizations of persons with disabilities and special schools in Mandalay and Sagaing, 11 of them reported direct impacts. The disaster has also led to a rise in newly acquired disabilities, further straining limited resources.

    Preliminary reports indicate families of persons with disabilities have suffered severe hardships, including the collapse of homes, destruction of critical infrastructure such as sanitation facilities and loss of livelihoods.

    “I am even afraid to use the toilet, fearing that another earthquake might strike while I am inside,” said one woman living with disability.

    “I constantly worry – what if another earthquake happens while I’m inside a damaged house? The fear and anxiety never go away.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: MYANMAR: Heavy rains heighten risk of disease outbreaks following earthquake – Save the Children

    Source: Save the Children

    Children in earthquake affected areas in Myanmar are at heightened risk of contracting waterborne diseases, such as diarrhoea and cholera, after heavy rains in recent days as well as water shortages, Save the Children warned.
    Save the Children and its partners are seeing the needs of children firsthand in communities with limited access to clean water in the aftermath of the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake on 28 March.
    In some areas, access to safe water has been severely disrupted with some primary water sources now contaminated and people forced to rely on spring or surface water. In the hardest hit areas, damaged pipelines have also cut access to spring water and rivers are far away. The lack of electricity in some areas has made it impossible to pump water. 
    Many families are living in makeshift shelters outside the ruins of their homes which give little protection from unseasonable storms of recent days. The rains are also exacerbating the risk of water and mosquito-borne diseases with pools of dirty, stagnant water. More rain is forecast for this week in areas where thousands of people are sleeping in the open [1].
    Families are telling Save the Children that food and drinking water are their urgent priorities, but that they also need repairs to toilets and washing facilities which are crucial to limiting the spread of water and mosquito borne disease such as cholera and dengue and skin infections.
    Myanmar has seen outbreaks of diseases such as acute watery diarrhoea and cholera before, and current emergency water supplies to affected areas are only a short-term solution. In the longer term, communities need sustainable and reliable sources of water. 
    Thein Htike-, 20, was in a small boat on a lake when the quake struck, throwing him and his friends overboard. While he was swimming to shore, he saw wooden houses in his village collapsing. His family were safe, but many people died or were injured, and nearly every family in his village lost their belongings.
    Thein Htike- said:
    “Our drinking water storage tank had collapsed, and we were left without safe water to drink. Donations didn’t arrive for two days. Until then, we had to filter the muddy water [from the lake] which used to be clean. Either way, we had no choice but to drink what we had, safe or not.”After the quake, dead snails began floating on the surface [of the lake]. Some people said it was because of oxygen loss in the water, killing the aquatic life, but I’m not sure if that’s true.
    “After two days, we got some clean drinking water, but once those supplies run out, we will face a serious crisis. Without long-term support, the lack of clean water may lead to long-term health problems in the village.” 
    Last year, Thein Htike-’s village was hit by devasting floods, and they were only beginning to recover when the earthquake hit. Conflict and climate fueled disasters have left 6.3 million children among the 19.9 million people – or more than one third of the population – already in need of humanitarian support in Myanmar before the earthquake [2].
    More than 17 million people across 57 townships of Myanmar’s 330 townships have been affected by the earthquake, according to the UN, with at least 3,500 people killed and nearly 5,000 injured [3]. 
    The Department of Disaster Management and AHA Centre said about 69,000 people have been displaced by the earthquake [4]. 
    Save the Children is responding in the earthquake affected areas alongside local partners to ensure children’s immediate needs are met, including food, water, shelter, personal hygiene kits and emergency health care services. 
    Jeremy Stoner, Interim Asia Regional Director, Save the Children said:
    “The situation right now is desperate for children and their families. After being forced to flee from their ruined homes, they are now facing unseasonably early rains on top of the brutal heat. With clean water in short supply, it’s difficult for people to maintain proper hygiene – and that can lead to disease outbreaks. “We’re concerned that we could start seeing a growing number of children getting sick with illnesses like diarrhoea, as is often the case in the aftermath of crises like this where the scale of damage is so high.”
    Save the Children has been working in Myanmar since 1995, providing life-saving healthcare, food and nutrition, education and child protection programmes.  
    Notes
    -denotes name changed to protect identity
    About Save the Children NZ:
    Save the Children works in 120 countries across the world. The organisation responds to emergencies and works with children and their communities to ensure they survive, learn and are protected.
    Save the Children NZ currently supports international programmes in Fiji, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Laos, Nepal, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Areas of work include child protection, education and literacy, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation, and alleviating child poverty.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Russel Norman – NZ’s Environment Report Card is Alarming – Greenpeace

    Source: Greenpeace

    The Government’s three-yearly environment report card, Our Environment 2025, documents the rapid and dramatic decline of nature in Aotearoa, Greenpeace says.
    “The report documents the alarming decline of nature in Aotearoa, driven by activities such as industrial dairying and fishing, and highlights the desperate need for strong Government regulation to protect nature from more harm”, says Dr. Russel Norman, Greenpeace Aotearoa Executive Director.
    “Here are a few of the lowlights: There is only a single species of indigenous bat that is NOT at risk of extinction; only a single species of frog NOT at risk of extinction; just 22% of birds are safe from extinction; over 2,000kg of protected corals pulled up by commercial fishing nets. And on and on the list goes.
    “We are in a biodiversity crash dive, driven by industrial exploitation combined with inadequate government regulation to protect nature.
    “The very foundations of life in Aotearoa – our food systems, our drinking water, and the wildlife we share the country with are on the brink. Native species and ecosystems are on the verge of collapse.
    “Successive governments have allowed profiteering corporations to pollute, exploit, and degrade the environment for decades. And now, everyday New Zealanders are paying the price – through unsafe drinking water, eroding land, unswimmable rivers, depleted fish numbers, and native wildlife that are slipping away. This crisis is political, it’s systemic, and it’s urgent.
    “We have had far too few regulations to protect nature and too much freedom to destroy it for profit.
    “At a time when we need bold action, the Luxon Government is opening the door for polluters to profit while nature collapses.
    “The Government needs to repeal the fast track act, and abandon the RMA reforms. These changes will only make the crisis worse – handing even more power to corporations to fast-track destruction and block environmental protections,” says Norman.
    Some lowlights from the report:
    Terrestrial (p.23-25)
    • Only 6% of indigenous reptile species are NOT threatened with extinction or at risk of becoming threatened with extinction. 72% of reptile species have declining populations.
    • Only 22% of indigenous terrestrial bird species are NOT threatened with extinction or at risk of becoming threatened with extinction. And 22% of species have declining populations.
    • Only 1 indigenous bat species (out of 5) is NOT threatened with extinction or at risk of becoming threatened with extinction. And only one species has an increasing population.
    • Only 1 indigenous frog species (out of 14) is NOT threatened with extinction or at risk of becoming threatened with extinction. 12 species have declining populations.
    • Native ecosystems continue to be destroyed – 88,000 hectares lost between 1996 and 2018.
    Freshwater
    • Half of all lakes are in poor health, contaminated by excess nutrients. Only a third of lakes are in good or very good health (pg. 31).
    • Most freshwater-dependent birds threatened with extinction or at risk of becoming threatened with extinction
    • 76% of freshwater fish are threatened with extinction or at risk of becoming threatened with 63% of fish populations in decline (37)
    • Half of freshwater monitoring sites failed to meet e.coli standard (ie fecal contamination)
    • Only 10% of our wetlands remain yet they continue to be drained and degraded for livestock farming (pg 34).
    • At least 48 percent of the river network is at least partially inaccessible to migratory fish, such as Tuna/eel though a further 36 percent has not yet been assessed and could be inaccessible (pg 36).
    • Nitrate contamination in groundwater is increasing in nearly half of monitored sites (47%) – pg 31
    • Severely polluted rivers found in intensive dairy regions – Canterbury, Waikato and Southland (see map pg 31)
    • 12% of groundwater monitoring sites failed nitrate drinking water standard (ie the 50 year old WHO standard that is very high compared with modern evidence)
    • 45% of entire river length unsafe for swimming, (even though much of this length is in the high country where industries have very little presence)
    Ocean
    • 91% of indigenous seabirds are threatened with extinction or at risk of becoming threatened (p.46).
    • 22 percent of indigenous marine mammal species (10 of 49) were threatened with extinction or at risk of becoming threatened (p.46).
    • Estimated 3,613 seabirds and 476 fur seals were caught in trawling and longline fisheries in one year (p.43)
    • 2,073 kilograms of protected coral were reported as caught in one year (p.43)
    • 12% of assessed fish stocks (19 of 152) were overfished or depleted in 2023, including some stock of black cardinalfish, orange roughy and scallops. FIve stocks had collapsed. (p.43)
    • 15 Hector’s dolphins deaths due to commercial bycatch in 2023-24 (up from usual 0-5 per year). (p.43)
    • Few biogenic habitats (like kelp forests, seagrass meadows and sponge gardens) are monitored in New Zealand, but most that are have experienced loss or damage. (p.48)
    Climate
    • Marine heatwaves have become more frequent, intense and longer-lasting, including. In 2022, New Zealand experienced a record number of marine heatwave days, and the two longest and most intense marine heatwaves on record in some locations. (pg 44)
    • Marine heatwaves have caused unusual fish migrations, severe bleaching and necrosis of sponges, large losses of farmed salmon and southern bull kelp (rimurapa), and likely contributed to the mass mortality of blue penguins (kororā) in the Bay of Plenty pg 65
    • In some areas sea level is expected to rise 20 to 30 centimetres by 2050 compared with 2005 levels. For many parts of the country, a 30-centimetre rise is a threshold for extreme flooding, above which a 100-year coastal storm becomes an annual event (pg 45)
    • In 2021, extreme rainfall events that caused flooding in Canterbury were 10 to 15 percent more intense because of climate change. Similarly, extreme weather and associated flooding on the West Coast in 2021 were nearly 10 percent more intense due to climate change (pg 62)
    • The frequency of extreme temperature events in New Zealand has increased two to threefold due to human influence since pre-industrial times (pg 62)
    • Total glacier ice volumes in New Zealand decreased 35 percent, and the rate of annual loss increased between 1978 and 2020 pg 64
    Other
    • Without changes to land-use, erosion rates are predicted to worsen with climate change. Sediment loads to waterways are expected to increase by up to 233% by 2090 (pg 18)
    • Almost half (49%) of soil at monitored sites is compacted (pg 19)
    • Emerging evidence is finding soils may be contaminated with microplastics (pg 20)
    • Microplastics are widespread throughout the marine environment, and they accumulate in animals as they move up the food chain. Found in many fish species eaten by humans and in green- lipped mussels. (p.42)
    • 67% of items counted in Litter Intelligence were plastic, hazardous plastic additives have been detected in debris in NZ beaches. (p.42)
    • In 2019, air pollution was a factor in 3,239 premature deaths,12,653 cases of childhood asthma 13,237 hospitalisations. Air pollution from motor vehicles was associated with 71 percent of these hospitalisations and 69 percent of premature deaths. (pg 68)
    • Premature deaths associated with NO2 exposure from motor vehicle emissions increased 28 percent, and hospitalisations increased 39 percent. (68)
    • Social costs resulting from the health impacts associated with air pollution were estimated at $15.3 billion for the year 2019, with 69 percent of these costs associated with air pollution from motor vehicles (pg 68)
    • As a result of climate change there is an increasing risk that insect-spread viruses like the Zika virus and dengue fever will be introduced from overseas and locally transmitted

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Stifel Completes Acquisition of B. Riley Employee Advisors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ST. LOUIS, April 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF) today announced the completion of its acquisition of 36 B. Riley employee advisors, representing total assets under management of approximately $4 billion.

    “We are very excited to welcome our new colleagues from B. Riley,” said Ronald J. Kruszewski, Chairman and CEO of Stifel. “Adding this team of talented advisors is yet another example of our commitment to expanding Stifel’s premier Global Wealth Management business.”

    In 2024, Stifel’s Global Wealth Management business recorded record annual revenue of $3.3 billion with more than $500 billion in total client assets. Stifel was also ranked No. 1 in overall employee-advisor satisfaction for a second straight year, according to the annual J.D. Power U.S. Financial Advisor Satisfaction Study.

    Stifel Company Information
    Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF) is a financial services holding company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, that conducts its banking, securities, and financial services business through several wholly owned subsidiaries. Stifel’s broker-dealer clients are served in the United States through Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, including its Eaton Partners business division; Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.; Miller Buckfire & Co., LLC; and Stifel Independent Advisors, LLC. The Company’s broker-dealer affiliates provide securities brokerage, investment banking, trading, investment advisory, and related financial services to individual investors, professional money managers, businesses, and municipalities. Stifel Bank and Stifel Bank & Trust offer a full range of consumer and commercial lending solutions. Stifel Trust Company, N.A. and Stifel Trust Company Delaware, N.A. offer trust and related services. To learn more about Stifel, please visit the Company’s website at www.stifel.com. For global disclosures, please visit https://www.stifel.com/investor-relations/press-releases.

    Media Contact
    Neil Shapiro, (212) 271-3447
    shapiron@stifel.com

    Investor Relations Contact
    Joel Jeffrey, (212) 271-3610
    investorrelations@stifel.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: How the Path to Fight Back Begins for Oregonians

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

    There will be many paths to fight back against the illegal actions and dangerous incompetence of the Trump administration. Big and small actions are both important. 

    Here’s one such proven path that started from my most recent open-to-all town halls in Linn, Clackamas, Crook and Deschutes counties, along with a town hall just for current federal employees and those fired by the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s gang of cronies at the self-declared “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE).

    At the federal employees town hall I hosted along with U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Andrea Salinas, Val Hoyle, Maxine Dexter and Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, witnesses told us specifics about the damage done to basic services that Oregonians count upon.

    Senior Social Security staff at the federal employees town hall in Portland told me that they were short-staffed even before DOGE arrived. They shared how they can’t respond on the phone, the website is crashing, and seniors are getting lost in the system due to fresh and deep cuts from the Trump administration.

    Based on those direct accounts, I grilled Trump’s nominee to lead the Social Security Administration, Frank Bisignano about these problems.

    In a national spotlight, the nominee failed to provide adequate answers for the tens of millions of Americans who have earned Social Security benefits. The nominee also lied to the committee and all Americans – I was able to call him out thanks to a whistleblower at the agency who confirmed that Bisignano personally insisted on hiring several key DOGE members.

    Whistleblowers are the unsung heroes brave enough to alert the public to violations happening behind closed doors. And I encourage anybody who wants to blow the whistle on the Trump administration’s lawbreaking and destructive buffoonery to contact me here. 

    It is only because of brave whistleblowers that I learned about the Trump administration’s shuttering Medicaid portals that so many providers rely on for payment across all 50 states in January. Trump only reversed course on this part of his disastrous blanket freeze on federal aid AFTER I called his bluff and showed what whistleblowers had confirmed. 

    Whether I get a tip from a whistleblower or hear from Oregonians directly at a town hall about the Trump corruption and devastation, it helps a lot as I work to hold the administration accountable.

    For another example from this past round of town halls, there’s Isabella Isakson, an Olympian athlete and Army veteran. She was a U.S. Forest Service employee for the Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland. She worked to alert the public about wildfires, and at our meeting, she conveyed the danger to rural areas when forests are not properly managed.

    These workers serve on the front lines of the fight against the climate crisis by maintaining our beautiful forests and reducing the risks of wildfires. They are your neighbors who worked at the Bonneville Power Administration to help keep your lights on. They are your friends who worked at the Veterans Health Administration to deliver critical services guaranteed to Oregon’s 251,000 veterans.

    All of these Oregonians are absolutely invaluable to our state and our entire nation at large. They are incredibly brave for coming forward to tell us their stories. 

    I am dedicated to investigating these dangerous incursions by Trump and Musk into vital functions of the federal government. Protecting federal workers who provide crucial services to Oregonians is an absolute top priority for me, and I will keep pushing legislation like the Putting Veterans First Act that reinstates veterans unduly fired from their federal positions. 

    I will also continue to fight to protect whistleblowers at every level, and encourage anyone with information of wrongdoing to contact me or my office. It’s not going to be easy and there is a lot of work ahead.

    But I am committed to working nonstop to hold the Trump administration and Musk accountable for their assault on America.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: World News in Brief: Syria transition update, healthcare as a human right, more than 2,000 killed and injured in Haiti this year

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, issued a statement on Monday following his latest “extensive discussions” with leader of the caretaker administration in Damascus, Ahmed al-Sharaa. 

    The envoy expressed his appreciation noting they had talked through “all aspects” of the ongoing political process, following the overthrow of the Assad regime in December last year.

    Mr. Pedersen stressed the need to ease sanctions on Syria, emphasising the importance of a stable economy.

    They also discussed the importance of a “transparent framework for the process of selecting and electing an interim people’s assembly” and next steps towards a democratic and inclusive future.

    The top UN envoy highlighted the need to prevent any renewed cycle of violence, in the light of the mass killings of Alawite community members last month in several coastal towns.

    He also reiterated his “condemnation of Israel’s repeated attacks and interventions” inside Syria.

    End ‘indefinite detention’ of detainees

    In a joint statement on Monday a group of independent UN human rights experts said the transition period provides a “valuable opportunity” to end the arbitrary, inhumane and indefinite detention of around 52,000 detainees who have been held for years in the northeast, in relation to alleged ties with the ISIL terrorist group.

    They noted the agreement of 10 March between the interim administration and the largely Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces who guard the detainees, paving the way for the armed group to integrate with new national institutions.

    Around 9,000 male ISIL suspects are detained without due process, including 5,400 Syrians, 1,600 Iraqis, and some 1,500 from 50 other countries. The vast majority of these detainees continue to be held incommunicado without information on their fate or whereabouts, the experts said.

    In addition, some 42,500 individuals are arbitrarily held in camps, including family members and ISIL associates. Many have been held without legal process for at least six years.

    “Tens of thousands of innocent children have suffered physical violence and psychological harm, when they should be assisted as victims of terrorism and serious human rights violations,” the experts added.

    Special Rapporteurs and other UN Human Rights Council-appointed experts are not UN staff, receive no salary for their work and are independent of any organisation or government.

    ‘Let us be bold’: Global leaders reaffirm health as a human right

    Progress towards the universal healthcare goal has been undeniable: barriers to health services, education and family planning have been almost completely removed, The UN says.

    But on Monday, health ministers, ambassadors and civil society experts gathered at UN Headquarters in New York amid concerns that gains are being reversed, issuing a resounding call to place human health and dignity at the heart of sustainable development.

    Convening the 58th session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD58) they stressed the urgency of providing universal access to quality health care – reaffirming commitments to the Programme of Action established at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).

    ‘Health is not a privilege’

    Katja Lasseur, Chair of the 58th session, welcomed over 120 Member States, observers and nearly 50 NGOs, highlighting the momentum behind the week’s discussions. “Health is not a privilege,” she declared. “It is a human right and a prerequisite for sustainable development.”

    Real progress has been achieved since 2000. Life expectancy has increased by 10 years in Africa and nine years in South Asia. At the same time, child mortality has dropped by more than half and cases of HIV have dropped by 50 per cent.

    “These gains demonstrate what is possible with sustained political will and investment,” emphasised Guy Ryder, Under-Secretary-General for Policy, Warning that progress has been “uneven.”

    “Health related targets, including universal health coverage, remain within reach,” he said, but they require urgent and equitable investment, particularly in primary health care and health coverage.

    Over 1,500 people killed in Haiti since start of 2025: UN mission

    Between 1 January and 27 March in Haiti, at least 1,518 people were killed and 572 injured in attacks by armed gangs, security operations and other acts of violence perpetrated by self-defence groups.

    That’s according to a new report from the UN Mission in Haiti (BINUH) which details the “grim” impact of violence since the beginning of the year, said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric briefing journalists in New York.

    The report reveals repeated attacks in the rural areas of Kenscoff and some neighbourhoods of Carrefour – two communes in the metropolitan area of the capital, Port-au-Prince – resulting in serious human rights abuses.

    According to UN partners, gang members displayed extreme brutality, with the aim of instilling fear on the population. They executed men, women and children inside their homes and shot people on roads and paths as they tried to flee the violence, including an infant.

    “At the same time, sexual violence was committed against at least seven women and young girls during the planning and execution of those attacks by gang members,” reported Mr. Dujarric.

    The gangs ransacked several homes and set fire to more than 190 of them, which coupled with the violence has now forced more than 3,000 people to flee their localities.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Protecting Albertans’ rights during emergencies

    [. During these moments of crisis, elected officials and emergency management teams must make difficult decisions to protect Albertans and their communities. In response to feedback from the Public Health Emergencies Governance Review Panel, Bill 49 includes updates to the Emergency Management Act to emphasize the importance of balancing Albertans’ individual rights and freedoms when exercising emergency powers.

    Alberta’s government recognizes that emergencies require swift coordination and regulations to protect people, property and the environment, and that officials must also be mindful of individual rights when responding to emergencies. If passed, Bill 49 would update the definition of “emergency” to make it clear that emergencies are sudden and temporary events, and the use of emergency powers should only be used for as long as necessary to restore public safety. This increases the threshold required to access the extraordinary powers provided under the act, ensuring emergency powers are only used when necessary.

    “These amendments are built on the principle of ‘sober second thought’ — ensuring that, even under pressure, every action is measured against our commitment to individual freedoms. Albertans value deeply the democratic rights and freedoms our society is built on, and it is incumbent on government to ensure those rights are protected.”

    Danielle Smith, Premier

    Other proposed amendments would place new requirements on the minister responsible for emergencies to consult with the Premier, cabinet or other elected officials prior to authorizing emergency orders, and to ensure orders made are communicated promptly and clearly to all Albertans so they know what actions government is taking and how they might be impacted.

    “Trust and transparency are essential, especially during an emergency. These updates would ensure the government is accountable to Albertans and that they know what actions government is taking during emergencies. These changes would also greatly improve emergency preparedness at the local level through enhanced planning measures that will protect Albertans and their communities. We all understand that emergencies require prompt and decisive action to ensure the safety of Albertans, while also safeguarding their rights.”

    Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services

    Other regulatory amendments

    Alberta’s government is also planning regulatory changes that would focus on enhancing community resilience by improving preparedness, coordination and information sharing during emergencies.

    Local authorities would be required to develop evacuation plans to facilitate safe evacuations during emergencies. These plans would also be required to include mitigation strategies informed by a hazard and risk assessment to support long-term reduction of disaster costs and impacts. Local authorities would have two years to come into compliance with these changes.

    Further amendments to the Disaster Recovery Regulation would allow post-disaster mitigation funding to cover a broader range of hazards, not just floods, to align with changes to the federal Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements. This reflects a proactive approach to disaster management and a responsible focus on long-term planning and preparation.

    Related information

    • Improving public safety
    • Bill 49: Public Safety and Emergency Services Statutes Amendment Act, 2025

    Multimedia

    • Watch the news conference
    • Listen to the news conference

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Nestpoint Group Fuels Univest Securities, LLC’s Ascent to Investment Banking Powerhouse in Trump’s Economic Golden Age

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, New York, April 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Univest Securities, LLC (“Univest”), New York’s premier boutique investment bank, is proud to announce a strategic investment from Nestpoint Group (“Nestpoint”), a leading firm in government affairs, finance, and private equity based in Dallas and Washington, D.C. This powerhouse partnership positions Univest to rise as a global investment banking leader, harnessing unparalleled opportunities for economic expansion under the Trump administration’s bold vision for American prosperity.

    Nestpoint, with its America First approach and deep roots in Washington, D.C., is a strategic ally at the intersection of international advocacy and financial innovation. Renowned for its ability to influence policy, navigate regulatory complexities, and drive transformative growth, Nestpoint pairs its expertise with Univest’s 31-year legacy of excellence in investment banking—spanning mergers and acquisitions, capital markets advisory, and private/public capital raises. Together, they form a dynamic force ready to tackle the challenges of global trade and regulatory uncertainty.

    Henry Huang, Managing Director of Nestpoint, celebrated the alliance: “Univest Securities is a standout in the boutique investment banking world—a proven leader with exceptional talent and vision. We’re thrilled to supercharge their trajectory with our unique blend of government affairs mastery, global relationships and financial firepower. From D.C. to New York, this partnership will redefine what’s possible, positioning Univest as the next major investment bank and delivering on President Trump’s promise of rapid economic growth like never before.”

    Stuart Jolly, Nestpoint’s Director of Government Affairs & Global Strategies and former National Field Director for President Trump’s campaign, emphasized the partnership’s alignment with national priorities: “Having worked closely with President Trump to secure his vision for America, I see this alliance as a game-changer. Nestpoint’s government expertise and Univest’s financial prowess create the perfect engine to drive President Trump’s economic agenda forward—unlocking opportunities for businesses to thrive in this golden age of American leadership.”

    Edric Guo, Chief Executive Officer of Univest, echoed the excitement: “Partnering with Nestpoint is a transformative step for Univest. Their unparalleled government relations capabilities and strategic insight open doors for our clients like never before. Together, we’re not just expanding our reach—we’re building a platform to lead the charge in global trade and economic innovation, perfectly timed with the administration’s bold direction.”

    This alliance delivers unmatched value: Nestpoint’s extensive network of clients will tap into Univest’s elite financial services, while Univest’s current and future clients gain access to Nestpoint’s D.C.-honed expertise in overcoming regulatory hurdles and trade complexities. With a significant presence in the nation’s capital, Nestpoint is uniquely equipped to influence policy and public perception, ensuring clients thrive in the U.S. market and beyond. In what many are calling the “golden age,” this partnership arrives at the perfect moment to accelerate economic expansion and fulfill the Trump administration’s ambitious goals.

    Univest Securities, headquartered in New York with a robust reach across North America and Asia Pacific, joins forces with Nestpoint’s global operations to create a seamless bridge between financial strategy and government advocacy. This collaboration marks Univest’s ascent as a dominant player in New York’s financial landscape, with a shared mission to solve global trade challenges and drive lasting economic impact.

    About Univest Securities, LLC

    Founded in 1994, Univest Securities is a boutique full-service investment bank headquartered in New York. With a strong presence in North America and Asia Pacific, Univest provides comprehensive financial services, including investment banking, capital markets, and wealth management, to clients worldwide. For more information about Univest Securities, LLC, visit https://www.univest.us/.

    About Nestpoint Group

    Nestpoint Group, with a global footprint, and a formidable presence in Washington, D.C., is a leading government affairs, finance and private equity firm. As a strategic ally, Nestpoint transforms challenges into opportunities through its expertise in policy influence, global networks, and financial innovation, delivering customized solutions for sustained client success. Nestpoint advises multibillion-dollar companies in the manufacturing, energy, and technology sectors as well as foreign nations. For more information about Nestpoint, visit https://www.nestpointgroup.com/.

    For more information, please contact:

    Univest Securities, LLC
    Edric Guo
    Chief Executive Officer
    75 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 18C
    New York, NY 10019
    Phone: (212) 343-8888
    Email: info@univest.us

    The MIL Network –