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Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Gaza: Critical medical supplies running out one month into deadly siege imposed by Israeli authorities – MSF

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

    Shortage of medication is forcing MSF teams to dress wounds with no pain relief and ration essential medicines. Israeli authorities must end collective punishment of people in Gaza.

    Jerusalem, 2nd April – A month-long siege imposed by Israeli authorities in Gaza, Palestine, means some critical medications are now short in supply and are running out, leaving Palestinians at risk of losing vital healthcare, warns Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF). As Israeli forces continue to bomb the Gaza Strip, depriving people of basic needs, including food, water, and medicines may lead to a high number of health complications and deaths. MSF calls on Israeli authorities to immediately cease the collective punishment of Palestinians, end their inhumane siege of Gaza, and to uphold their responsibilities as an occupying power to facilitate humanitarian aid at scale.

    For over a month, no aid or commercial trucks have entered Gaza, marking the longest period since the start of the war without any trucks entering the Strip and on 2 March, Israeli authorities imposed a complete siege of Gaza. On 9 March they cut the electricity, needed to power water desalination plants. This total blockade of aid and electricity has deprived people of most basic services, amounting to collective punishment.

    “The Israeli authorities’ have condemned the people of Gaza to unbearable suffering with their deadly siege,” says Myriam Laaroussi, MSF emergency coordinator in Gaza. “This deliberate infliction of harm on people is like a slow death; it must end immediately.”

    The siege has forced MSF teams have already to start rationing medications such as pain killers, providing less effective treatment or turning patients away. Teams are also running out of surgical supplies such as anaesthetics, paediatric antibiotics and medicines for chronic conditions like epilepsy, hypertension and diabetes. As a result of rationing, our teams in some primary health care clinics conduct wound dressings for injured people without providing them with any pain relief.

    In addition, MSF teams are no longer able to donate blood bag donations to Nasser hospital due to a lack of stock, while the influxes of patients war-wounded by relentless Israeli force’s relentless continue.

    The lack of soap and clean water for people means in primary health care clinics across the Strip, our teams are seeing an increase of people with skin conditions. In February, MSF teams treated 565 cases of skin conditions at the Al Hekker clinic in Deir Al Balah and 1,198 cases at the Al Attar clinic in Khan Younis. Just in two weeks in March, the number of cases at Al Hekker had already reached 437—nearly 80 percent of February’s total—while at Al Attar, 711 cases had been treated, almost 60 percent oof the number seen in February.

    The blockade has left MSF teams are unable to provide medication to treat skin conditions, just small amounts of lotion to alleviate the pain. Skin conditions like scabies require treatment for the entire family to prevent spread and reinfection, but without medications, and clean water this is impossible.

    For people with non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, the consequences of the lack of treatment may lead to severe complications, such as permanent disabilities and in some cases even death. Since the blockade, we have only been able to give patients medication to cover their needs for seven to 10 days.

    “I don’t have any blood pressure medication left. My son searched for two days and couldn’t find any,” explains Sobheya Al-Beshiti, a patient of the MSF clinic in Attar, Khan Younis. “What can I do? Stay without treatment? If I don’t take my blood thinner, my nose starts bleeding, and I start coughing blood.”

    During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and Eid, patients in MSF clinics are reporting weight loss and lack of access to proper food.

    “Right now, my blood levels are low, and my weight is also low. There aren’t enough food supplies to help me gain weight or increase my blood levels,” explains pregnant mother in an MSF clinic in Mawasi, Khan Younis. “The rising prices are a huge problem in the city: people simply cannot afford to buy necessities because of how expensive everything is.”

    MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation. MSF has been working in Haiti for over 30 years, offering general healthcare, trauma care, burn wound care, maternity care, and care for survivors of sexual violence. MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Election diary: Dutton tries to shake off Trump dust and avoid being trapped on wages

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    Ahead of Donald Trump’s tariff announcement early Thursday (Australian time), the United States president has become a serious and increasing worry for Peter Dutton’s campaign. Even apart from Labor’s obvious and constant “Trump-whistling”, many voters are apparently seeing a lot of Trump dust on the opposition leader.

    Liberal strategists know how dangerous this is, given Trump’s unpopularity with Australians. So Dutton is shaping up.

    In a Sky interview aired Wednesday, Dutton positioned himself as ready to take on Trump (or anyone else) if necessary. “If I needed to have a fight with Donald Trump or any other world leader to advance our nation’s interests, I’d do it in a heartbeat,” he declared. “And I’ll put the Americans on notice and anyone else who seeks to act against our national interest.”

    It’s a measure of where things are that an Australian conservative leader is putting “the Americans on notice”.

    Anthony Albanese – who once said Trump “scares the shit out of me” – suggested his opponent was going over the top.

    “Peter Dutton will always dial things up to 11. He thinks this is a contest of who can say the most aggro things. It’s not. It’s not the way that diplomacy works.”

    When it comes to Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcement – which will feed directly into the Australian campaign – it seems diplomacy hasn’t worked.

    Trade Minister Don Farrell told briefings for agricultural and industry groups on Tuesday and Wednesday he was “pessimistic”, suggesting the likelihood of a tariff of up to 20% across the board.

    Farrell indicated the Australian government had put an offer to the US, but that was rejected. Australia rejected a counter offer from the US, and resubmitted its original offer.

    At Wednesday’s briefing for the red meat industry, Farrell said, “Tomorrow might be the end of the first part of the process but we’ll continue to engage with the Americans to get these tariffs removed, as we did with the Chinese”.

    The government is preparing its response, which reportedly could involve taking the US to the World Trade Organisation. Asked about this, Albanese would not be drawn but told the ABC, “What we’re doing is supporting our US Free Trade Agreement, that says that goods and services between our two nations should be tariff-free.

    “That’s what we’re doing, supporting our agreement, holding to our word, standing up for Australia’s national interest, and calling for the United States not only to stand up for that agreement, but to stand up to their own interests as well.”

    Liberals play it cool on Albanese’s bid for real wage rise

    The Liberals had a very bad experience on wages in the 2022 election.

    Then-opposition leader Albanese said he’d “absolutely” support a wage increase to keep up with inflation, which was more than 5%.

    The Coalition went on the attack, branding him as economically irresponsible. As he campaigned in the following days, Albanese kept producing a gold coin to show how small the rise would be for those on the minimum wage. He still occasionally reprises this party trick.

    Labor is once again campaigning on wages, this time advocating a boost to real wages – that is, an increase above inflation, which is now down to 2.4%. (The submission put in on Wednesday to the Fair Work Commission went in from the Labor Party, rather than the government, because we’re in the “caretaker” period.)

    The government’s position is clever. It says the wage rise, which would cover about three million workers, should be “economically sustainable”. But it doesn’t recommend a figure.

    The Liberals a re trying to stay off the wages sticky paper. To be saying “no” in a cost-of-living election would only spell grief. Instead, they’re keeping their response vague. “We support wage increases”, Dutton said, without being specific about the government’s above-inflation pitch.

    As to a figure, “Without further economic advice from treasury and finance, our position is we want higher wages and we want to make sure we have downward pressure on costs”.

    “The prime minister is in search of a fight here,” Dutton said, a conclusion that didn’t require much perception, a fight Dutton was determined to try to side step.

    Labor’s case received some backing on Wednesday from the Australian Industry Group, which suggested a rise of 2.6%.

    The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry advocated a rise of no more than 2.5%. Asked what sort of difference there was between ACCI and the government, ACCI CEO Andrew McKellar said “that’s very hard to say. They are deliberately being non-specific.”

    The ABC is in the Liberals’ sights – again

    The ABC is a favourite target for many Liberals, including Dutton. In recent months he has singled out ABC reporters for attention when he didn’t like their questions.

    So would he look at its budget? Dutton is leaving the impression he likely would; moreover he is critical of the national broadcaster’s regional service, which even most Coalition MPs praise.

    “The approach that we would take is to reward excellence and where we find waste, to cut that waste.

    “And there are a lot of regional services for the ABC which I think are underdone,” he said in his Sky interview. He’d been in western Queensland this week looking at the floods “and the ABC could be a much more integral part of that community. But just having it based in Sydney or just being based in Melbourne is not helping people in outer metro areas or regional areas.”

    According to the ABC, it has about 600 employees in rural and regional Australia in 56 locations.

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

    – ref. Election diary: Dutton tries to shake off Trump dust and avoid being trapped on wages – https://theconversation.com/election-diary-dutton-tries-to-shake-off-trump-dust-and-avoid-being-trapped-on-wages-253117

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Five cities eye globally attractive consumption

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China will accelerate the transformation of five major cities — Shanghai; Beijing; Guangzhou, Guangdong province; Tianjin; and Chongqing — into global consumption centers on par with New York and London, and create globally attractive retail environments, as part of the country’s latest moves to boost consumption.

    The document, formulated by the Ministry of Commerce, said China aims to further expand domestic demand and promote high-standard opening-up.

    The country will actively promote the debut economy by supporting high-quality domestic and foreign brands to launch new products and exhibitions, and providing Customs clearance convenience for new imported products.

    The government will support the holding of events such as fashion weeks and car expos in these five cities. It will also work to attract high-quality global brands to launch their first stores, establish research and development design centers as well as regional headquarters, the document said.

    It is critical to adapt to local conditions for developing the debut economy. Shanghai has been doing well in attracting debuts of global brands in China and launching pop-up stores, the ministry said.

    In the recently delivered Government Work Report, boosting consumption was listed as a top priority among this year’s tasks.

    As part of measures to build global consumption centers, China plans to further expand its unilateral visa-free entry policy in an orderly manner, and better leverage the role of tax refund stores and tax refund policies by opening more such stores and optimizing tax refund procedures for overseas visitors.

    Since late 2023, China has launched unilateral visa-free policies for multiple countries, encouraging more overseas travelers to visit the nation. Last year, the number of inbound foreign visitors in the above-mentioned five cities doubled the 2023 figures, said the National Immigration Administration.

    “In those five cities, the number of tax refund stores for overseas visitors accounted for 60 percent in the country last year, and total sales made up for over 70 percent of the value nationwide,” said Li Gang, director-general of the department of market operation and consumption promotion of the Ministry of Commerce, during a news conference earlier in Beijing.

    Besides trendy products, foreign tourists have also favored domestic time-honored brands and specialty products. Tong Ren Tang, a venerable traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy, has seen a growing number of foreign visitors take advantage of tax refund procedures at its stores in the Qianmen area of Beijing, and the products they buy mainly include traditional Chinese patent medicines and medicinal materials.

    Compared to overseas metropolises, there is still a gap between China and developed countries. The government will guide the building of a group of featured commercial complexes, and encourage sales of more domestic trendy products at tax refund stores, the ministry said.

    In addition, China plans to organize various large-scale consumption promotion activities, support the hosting of more high-level international sporting events and performances, and increase the supply of high-quality services.

    In late March, the 2025 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix took place in Shanghai, attracting fans from home and abroad. The guideline noted that China plans to hold more motor racing events, foster new consumption scenarios such as recreational vehicle camping, and further expand the aftermarket consumption of automobiles.

    Meanwhile, China will encourage the innovative growth of the cruise market and low-altitude tourism. The country will also promote the application of technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality and big data in the consumption market, and accelerate the promotion of smart home appliances, new energy vehicles and other smart products, the document said.

    In the first two months, total retail sales of consumer goods in China reached 8.37 trillion yuan ($1.15 trillion), up 4 percent year-on-year, with the growth rate 0.5 percentage point higher than the whole year figure last year, the ministry said.

    MIL OSI China News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: New discoveries in prehistoric culture shed light on origin of Chinese civilization

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Archaeological discoveries in many regions of China have injected new vitality into the study of Hongshan culture, an important prehistoric archaeological culture dating back roughly 5,000 to 6,000 years.

    Hongshan culture’s distribution covers three regions, which are located in the west of Liaoning Province, the north of Hebei Province and the east of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Among these, Liaoning is the core area in terms of Hongshan culture distribution and the focal region for studying this culture.

    NEW DISCOVERIES

    Multiple Hongshan culture sites were discovered in the city of Lingyuan, in northeast China’s Liaoning Province, said the provincial institute of cultural relics and archaeology in March.

    The found sites are located in the Wubaiding site complex, where archaeologists from the institute conducted a systematic archaeological survey covering approximately 285,000 square meters.

    During this survey, archaeologists collected pottery shards and stone artifacts from various periods and found a total of 53 sites, among which four have been confirmed as relic sites of Hongshan culture.

    These archaeological exploration efforts have revealed the composition and spatial distribution characteristics of the relic sites, which provides detailed evidence for the study of the social norms of late Hongshan culture, said Yu Huaishi, a researcher from the institute.

    Meanwhile, in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, three new jade dragons were unearthed in 2024, marking the largest number of such artifacts to be found in recent years — offering new evidence of the brilliance of ancient Chinese civilization.

    A jade dragon, measuring 15.8 cm in length, 9.5 cm in width and 3 cm in thickness, was excavated from a stone tomb in Yuanbaoshan in Aohan Banner, the city of Chifeng in Inner Mongolia. It is the largest jade dragon ever discovered, providing valuable new insights into the study of this ancient civilization. Alongside the dragon, over 100 other jade artifacts, including rings, discs, silkworms and owls, were also found.

    Chifeng, the birthplace of Hongshan culture, has more than 700 known Hongshan sites. The discovery of the Yuanbaoshan site adds to the region’s rich archaeological heritage.

    According to Dang Yu, a researcher at the regional institute of cultural relics and archaeology, the Yuanbaoshan site dates back about 5,000 years and represents a late Hongshan culture burial and ceremonial complex.

    HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

    The Niuheliang site, discovered in 1981 in the city of Chaoyang, Liaoning, represents a milestone in the study of China’s Hongshan culture. A large number of exquisite jade articles, painted pottery, stone tools and stone tombs were unearthed there.

    According to Wang Xuanlong, curator of the Niuheliang relic site museum, the Niuheliang site, centered on the temple of the goddess and surrounded by altars and stone tombs, is a large-scale prehistoric burial and religious worship site independent of the residence. It was the place where Hongshan people worshiped both their ancestors and heaven and earth more than 5,000 years ago.

    “The ruins and buildings of Niuheliang reflect the early state form of the combination of theocracy and royal power, and are important witnesses of the origins of civilization in China and even Northeast Asia,” said Guo Dashun, an expert in Hongshan culture who had previously presided over Hongshan culture excavations.

    Archaeological excavation endeavors regarding Hongshan culture reveal the continuity and unity of migration and evolution from north to south and to the Central Plains, which strongly proves that the Chinese civilization has not stopped since its birth, provides key support for figuring out the early development of Chinese civilization, and serves as the core link for exploring the origins of Chinese civilization.

    Notably, Hongshan, Lingjiatan and Liangzhu are known as the three major jade cultural centers in prehistoric China. Although more than 1,000 km apart, Hongshan culture experienced close exchanges with the Lingjiatan and Liangzhu cultures, according to Sun Jinsong, director of the Inner Mongolia regional institute of cultural relics and archaeology.

    “The jade owl of Hongshan culture and the jade eagle of Lingjiatan culture both reflect the prehistoric ancestors’ yearning and reverence for flying. The shape of the jade dragon unearthed from Liangzhu is very close to that of Hongshan culture jade carving. It is this kind of exchange and integration that eventually merged into the diversified and integrated Chinese civilization,” Sun said.

    The jade ritual system and jade culture, which originated from Hongshan culture and gradually expanded to East Asia, have become important sources of the unique cultural identity of Chinese civilization — and have profoundly influenced the etiquette system and cultural traditions of later generations.

    MODERN INHERITANCE

    The legacy of Hongshan culture continues to thrive in modern life. In the city of Chifeng, themed research activities have been organized, directly involving children by letting them make pottery and jade articles by themselves, thereby allowing them to immerse themselves in the charm of Hongshan culture. Symphonies and plays have also been staged to reveal more about this culture.

    “We will make further efforts in terms of the protection of these relics sites and the pursuit of their inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List, with the aim of making Hongshan culture shine with new brilliance in Chifeng and to make this culture the pride and love of the people,” said Zhang Guohua, vice mayor of Chifeng.

    In the future, via the deep integration of science and technology and culture, Hongshan culture is expected to break through geographical and time boundaries, enabling it to reach a wider audience with the assistance of technologies such as digital display and virtual reality.

    At the Niuheliang national archaeological relic site park, an archaeological team is ready to continue the archaeological excavation efforts — seeking to reveal more secrets about the social organization structure, religious beliefs and economic life of Hongshan culture, while injecting new vitality into the study of ancient civilizations. 

    MIL OSI China News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Beijing exhibition showcases China’s lunar exploration achievements

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

    The China National Space Administration and the National Museum of China jointly launched an exhibition at the Beijing Museum on Tuesday, showcasing the history and achievements of the nation’s lunar exploration efforts.

    The space administration said in a news release that the exhibition covers the historical background, milestones in research and development, major accomplishments, future plans in the Chang’e program, and a host of precious documents and items.

    The two-month exhibition is the first in a series of events to publicize the spirit and knowledge about the Chang’e programs, it noted.

    In January 2004, the central government approved plans for the first phase of the Chang’e program, marking the formal opening of China’s lunar exploration mission.

    After nearly four years of preparations, the first spacecraft stemming from the program — Chang’e 1 — was launched in October 2007 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province. It was tasked with verifying China’s lunar probe technologies, obtaining lunar images and performing scientific surveys.

    Since then, the country has made remarkable strides in lunar exploration in an incremental manner.

    The Chang’e 3, launched in December 2013, was the first spacecraft to soft-land on the moon and touch down on lunar soil in nearly four decades since the Soviet Union landed its last lunar probe on the moon in August 1976. It released the first Chinese lunar rover, Yutu, on the moon.

    The Chang’e 4, launched in December 2018, landed on the far side of the moon, becoming the first spacecraft to closely observe the little known “dark side of the moon”. The probe also deployed a rover named Yutu 2.

    In November 2020, the Chang’e 5 was launched to become China’s first lunar sample-return mission. The probe landed on the moon’s near side and recovered 1,731 grams of samples, the first lunar substances obtained since the Apollo era. It made China the third nation, after the US and the former Soviet Union, to retrieve lunar samples.

    So far, Chang’e 5 samples have enabled Chinese researchers to achieve a number of academic advancements, including the discovery of the sixth new lunar mineral, named Changesite-(Y).

    Changesite-(Y), which falls in the category of lunar merrillite, is the first lunar mineral discovered and identified by Chinese scientists.

    The most recent mission, the Chang’e 6, was launched in May 2024, representing the world’s first attempt to bring back samples from the far side of the moon.

    After a series of complex maneuvers, the lander of the Chang’e 6 probe touched down at the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the lunar far side and worked for 49 hours, using a mechanical arm and a drill to collect surface and underground materials.

    The unmanned mission successfully concluded in late June, retrieving a total of 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side.

    The samples have unique scientific value and will further expand knowledge about the moon’s history and help to gear up the exploration and exploitation of lunar resources, according to the space administration.

    MIL OSI China News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: FACT SHEET: Trump, Musk, & RFK Jr. Hollow Out HHS, Threatening Americans’ Health and Wellbeing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Trump carries out mass firings across HHS and subagencies today
    ICYMI: Murray, Former Health Department Leaders, Sound Alarm on Trump and RFK Jr. Gutting HHS
    ICYMI: Murray, DeLauro, Baldwin Demand Answers on RFK Jr.’s Plans to Gut HHS
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), responded to the Trump administration’s mass firings across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its many subagencies, which are responsible for protecting Americans’ health and delivering essential health and social services. 
    “Today, two billionaires are making good on their vow to take a wrecking ball to the Department of Health and Human Services and put Americans’ health and wellbeing at serious risk–and Republicans are letting them,” said Senator Murray. “These firings make a lot of sense if you believe measles spreading like wildfire is good–or think we should be slashing cancer research. While Republicans work to pass more tax breaks for billionaires, Trump, Musk, and RFK Jr. are ripping essential health services away from the American people and decimating our country’s ability to prevent outbreaks and keep families safe. There’s no two ways about it: this is the type of carelessness that gets people killed.”
    Late last week, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to unilaterally push out 20,000 HHS employees (a ~25% reduction) and to dramatically reorganize and hollow out the Department–in clear violation of annual spending laws, including the one that Congress passed and was signed into law just weeks ago. 
    On Monday, Senator Murray led a letter to Secretary Kennedy demanding more information about the sweeping, devastating plans–noting that if this administration is truly committed to transparency, as it claims to be, and is confident its drastic plans will protect Americans’ health, it should be eager to share basic information about them. Thus far, however, the administration has provided no additional details to Congress or the public about its mass firings and reorganization.
    This morning, thousands of health officials woke up to emails notifying them that they were being fired. In addition to the mass firings, HHS says it will eliminate 5 of 10 regional offices, trim 28 divisions into 15, and consolidate and move essential functions to other agencies.
    Since taking office, Trump, Musk, and RFK Jr. have taken a sweeping array of actions to halt HHS’ essential, lifesaving work and diminish its capacity to keep families healthy. It has systematically choked off lifesaving medical research, and just last week, Trump ripped away resources communities nationwide are using to address bird flu, measles, the fentanyl epidemic, the mental health crisis, and more. 
    FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA)
    The FDA protects Americans’ health by ensuring the safety and effectiveness of medicines, biologics, and medical devices–and regulating food, cosmetics, and tobacco products. 
    The Trump administration announced last week it will cut 3,500 employees at the FDA. It has now pushed out senior leaders across the agency focused on food, drug, and medical device policy, as well as the head of the Center for Tobacco Products and the head of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. Among the thousands of FDA staff fired by the Trump administration are experts who manage the review of new applications for drugs, vaccines, and medical devices–which will delay approval of new, potentially life-changing products that patients are counting on. Others reportedly pushed out include veterinary medicine experts working on bird flu preparedness and response, the top Type 1 Diabetes expert, and regulatory staff focused on negotiations on User Fee Agreements that fund some of FDA’s work–among many others. 
    “Americans depend on the FDA every time they sit down for a meal or pick up a prescription–but that’s no matter: Trump and Musk are hollowing out the agency and putting their health at risk. Let’s be crystal clear: there’s nothing strategic about firing thousands of people who inspect our food and ensure our prescriptions and babies’ formula are safe. While they work overtime to pass more tax breaks for themselves, Trump, Musk, and RFK Jr. are insisting on senseless cuts to all but destroy FDA, jeopardizing Americans’ safety and leaving patients waiting longer for lifesaving drugs to get to market,” said Senator Murray.
    CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC)
    CDC is charged with protecting the American people from health threats, including infectious diseases like measles and bird flu.
    The Trump administration announced plans to force out 2,400 employees at CDC. 
    Today, scores of CDC staff woke up to emails notifying them they are being fired. This includes mass reductions in force across most CDC centers, which will prevent the critical work CDC is responsible for from being carried out. Staff were fired en mass across CDC offices for domestic violence prevention, Smoking and Health, HIV prevention, Tuberculosis elimination, disability and health, childhood lead poisoning, asthma control, among many others. Trump has even reportedly fired the entire team focused on assistive reproductive technology like IVF–despite his wild claims to be the “fertilization president.”
    The Trump administration has also reportedly fired nearly two-thirds of the CDC National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) staff, or nearly 900 people. The Trump administration is now, for example, apparently working to shutter the CDC NIOSH Spokane Research Laboratory in Washington state, firing dozens of workers today who study how to protect workers’ health and safety on the job, particularly those in fields like mining, the maritime industry, and firefighting, where workers face elevated risks.
    “Decimating the CDC is a great way to make our communities less safe and less prepared to respond quickly and effectively when diseases–like measles and bird flu–put lives and livelihoods in danger. When the next pandemic hits and America is unprepared, it will be thanks to Donald Trump and Republicans destroying our public health infrastructure. Decimating the agency that helps prevent workplace injuries and illnesses is a slap in the face to workers across America–and will threaten the safety of firefighters, miners, construction and agricultural workers, and so many others while on the job,” said Senator Murray.
    NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH)
    NIH is the nation’s premier biomedical research agency. Each year, NIH supports biomedical research that produces life-changing and, in many cases, lifesaving treatments and cures.
    The Trump administration has already pushed out top experts, scientists, and senior leadership, well over 1,100 NIH employees, and systematically choked off billions of dollars in NIH funding for new treatments and cures for devastating diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer.
    Now, it is firing even more NIH scientists and staff–including veterans and more than 1,300 additional employees as of this afternoon–decimating the agency. President Trump and RFK Jr. are pushing out senior NIH leadership, including Institute and Center Directors at the Fogarty International Center (FIC), the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD).  
    “Since taking office, Trump has systematically worked to break the NIH–he’s taking patients’ hopes for new treatments and cures and throwing them right in the shredder. These sweeping firings at NIH will set back our efforts to discover medical breakthroughs that save lives by decades. And they won’t just delay research, they will halt clinical trials in their tracks and cut patients off from care,” said Senator Murray.
    CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES (CMS)
    CMS helps ensure over 100 million Americans have access to affordable, high-quality health insurance by overseeing Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Affordable Care Act marketplaces. 
    The agency has long been understaffed and under-resourced, including for essential functions like nursing home safety inspections and protecting Americans from surprise medical bills. Nonetheless, Trump and Musk are pushing even more people out–and jeopardizing Americans’ health care in doing so. Trump announced that 300 employees at CMS will be cut. 
    “The American people are looking to their leaders to make sure they can get quality, affordable health care–instead, two billionaires are gutting the very agency that helps over 100 million Americans get health care. Undercutting CMS is an attack on Americans’ health care–full stop. Firing the people who keep our systems running, who ensure long-term care facilities are safe, and prevent health care companies from ripping people off makes no sense and will hurt patients nationwide,” said Senator Murray.
    INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE (IHS)
    IHS is responsible for providing direct medical and public health services to members of federally recognized Tribes, and it is the principal federal health care provider and health advocate for Tribal communities across the country. 
    IHS is already struggling to provide quality health care to 2.8 million Americans who rely on its services, and the actions being taken by the Trump administration to freeze federal hiring, reduce office space, and reduce the HHS workforce that IHS relies on are making matters worse. Chronic understaffing continues to plague the IHS, and despite some hiring exemptions for doctors and nurses, quality health care can’t be delivered without sufficient administrative personnel at HHS and at IHS hospitals and health clinics. 
    Adding to the IHS’ staffing struggles, the Trump administration is arbitrarily canceling leases that house IHS administrative offices across all service areas and its medical supply warehouse, which stockpiles and distributes critical medical supplies to all IHS hospitals and health clinics. IHS needs more resources and staffing to fulfill its mission, not less. 
    “Trump and Musk are leaving the Indian Health Service and our Tribes in the dust–freezing hiring at an already-strapped agency, canceling leases it counts on, and now, gutting essential HHS functions that enable IHS to serve patients. They are breaking government with no idea of what they are doing and no regard for who gets hurt–all while they enrich themselves,” said Senator Murray.
    SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (SAMHSA)
    SAMHSA is charged with improving services and support available to people across the country for substance use disorder and mental health. The agency plays a leading role in tackling the fentanyl and opioid crisis, and it oversees the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. 
    The Trump administration has announced plans to eliminate SAMHSA and collapse it into a new “Administration for a Healthy America.” But it has not provided any additional details on its illegal reorganization or how it will ensure SAMHSA’s statutorily-mandated, lifesaving functions would be carried out. Today, the Trump administration made more deep cuts to SAMHSA’s staff, which will result in the agency’s staffing levels being reduced by fifty percent since January–weakening the ability of communities to respond to the mental health and substance use crises. 
    “Just as we are finally starting to make progress getting opioid overdose deaths to trend down nationally, Trump and Musk have decided to scrap the agency responsible for our national response to the epidemic. These billionaires believe our country can afford to pay for more tax breaks for them but cannot afford to keep up the fight against the opioid epidemic. These chaotic, senseless moves will undermine federal support for all the work our communities on the frontlines are doing to tackle the opioid and mental health crises–and save lives,” said Senator Murray.
    ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (ACF)
    ACF is responsible for administering a variety of programs to help children and families thrive–including the primary federal child care grant program, Head Start, family violence prevention programs, and Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), among many others. 
    Today, the Trump administration made deep cuts to the staff responsible for carrying out these programs, threatening the services and essential oversight families count on. The administration also shuttered half of the regional offices for the Office of Head Start, which are charged with ensuring Head Start services delivered to families are high-quality, without any explanation of how it will fulfill its mission and continue serving children and families without these offices or staff. Trump also gutted the Office of Community Services, which administers the LIHEAP program to help low-income individuals and families afford to heat and cool their homes and administers the Community Services Block Grant program, which helps communities nationwide fight poverty.
    “While the child care crisis crunches families’ budgets, Trump and Musk are focused on firing the very people who help make sure there are safe, affordable child care options available to families in every part of the country,” said Senator Murray. “Decimating this agency may well mean child care and Head Start centers don’t get the funding they need to keep their doors open, and shuttering regional offices will threaten families’ access to quality and reliable Head Start services. These firings will certainly risk kids’ safety–because that’s what happens when you get rid of the people who monitor centers’ care. These billionaires are ripping the rug out from under families just as they seek to give themselves more tax breaks.”
    ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING (ACL)
    ACL provides unique and critical support to help ensure seniors and Americans with disabilities can live independently and with the same opportunities as others in their communities. ACL programs improve access to health care and long-term care supports, fund essential services like congregate and home-delivered meals and respite care, and invest in essential research and innovation to better support seniors and Americans with disabilities.
    The Trump administration announced plans to eliminate ACL in clear violation of annual appropriations law that explicitly funds ACL–and has provided no additional details on how its essential, statutorily-mandated functions will continue without interruptions that seriously hurt seniors and people with disabilities.
    Today, Trump gutted ACL, firing scores of staff and leaving the administration of these critical programs in jeopardy.
    “Trump and Musk are ripping the rug out from underneath seniors and Americans with disabilities by gutting the agency that helps them get the support they need to not only live independently, but also thrive in their communities,” said Senator Murray.
    ADMINISTRATION FOR STRATEGIC PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE (ASPR)
    ASPR leads our country’s medical and public health preparedness for, response to, and recovery from disasters and public health emergencies–coordinating planning and response for when fires erupt, pathogens like COVID or bird flu emerge, and so much more.
    The Trump administration has announced that ASPR will be consolidated into CDC, and today laid off a number of staff, including staff for the Strategic National Stockpile.
    “As bird flu rages and measles spreads across the country in an outbreak with little recent precedent, apparently Donald Trump thinks it’s a good idea to destroy the very agency tasked with leading our public health preparedness efforts. Firing this staff puts our economy and our families in serious danger,” said Senator Murray.
    HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (HRSA)
    HRSA is charged with improving access to care for vulnerable and underserved populations. The agency runs critical programs to bolster the nation’s health workforce, improve maternal and child health, support high-quality care in community health centers and Ryan White HIV/AIDS clinics, address rural health needs, modernize the nation’s organ transplant system, and more.
    The Trump administration has announced it plans to eliminate HRSA and collapse it into a new “Administration for a Healthy America” but has not provided any additional details on how this reorganization might work and how it will ensure HRSA’s statutorily-mandated functions will be carried out.
    Today, the Trump administration reportedly fired hundreds of staff who provide support to the nation’s 1,400 community health centers, which operate more than 15,000 sites serving millions of patients across the U.S. regardless of their ability to pay. Others fired include those working on HRSA’s maternal and child health programs, who oversee states’ block grants and operate the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program to support mothers, children, and families. Staff were also fired from HRSA’s health workforce programs, where they work to engage with communities nationwide to address shortages of doctors and nurses, and provide scholarships and loan repayment for those working in high-need communities.
    “It defies logic to get rid of the people who help strengthen our nation’s health workforce, support our nation’s health centers, and work to ensure children grow up healthy. These reckless firings and thoughtless reorganization will set back efforts to improve maternal care, help Americans in rural areas get basic health services, and so much more,” said Senator Murray.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Contract awarded for final construction phase of government hub

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Contract awarded for final construction phase of government hub

    Construction of a new government office in Manchester City Centre is entering its final phase with the appointment of Wates to conduct the Category B fit-out

    Credit: Ask Real Estate

    Construction of a new government office in Manchester City Centre is entering its final phase with the appointment of a new contractor.

    The Government Property Agency (GPA) has appointed Wates to conduct the Category B (Cat B) fit-out of its First Street Hub following a competitive tender process. 

    The company will be responsible for the hub’s fit-out works, ensuring the nine-storey building is functional for office use. It marks another key development in the programme following the recent practical completion of the Category A (Cat A) fit-out and lease commencement. 

    Launched as part of the GPA’s Government Hubs Programme, the Manchester First Street Hub will accommodate around 2,600 civil servants from departments including Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED), and the Department for Education (DfE). It is earmarked for completion in Autumn 2026.

    Georgina Dunn, the GPA’s Interim Director of Capital Projects, said: 

    Appointing the Cat B contractor was the final major hurdle to overcome before the home straight of delivering this exceptional building. The hub will provide a state-of-the-art office space for thousands of civil servants and will be one of the largest cross-departmental hubs outside London. It also has enviable sustainability credentials with the building achieving  a NABERS 5.5* rating – ranking it among the most sustainable buildings in the UK.

    We are proud of the progress we continue to make as we look to provide high quality and sustainable workplaces for civil servants throughout the UK.

    The £105M development, which was forward-funded by the Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC), supports the Government Hubs Programme’s aim of securing growth across the country. The programme is rationalising the government’s estate in towns and cities across the UK, playing a pivotal role in delivering modern, customer-focused and varied workspaces where civil servants can thrive. 

    Just a few minutes’ walk from Oxford Road and Deansgate rail stations, First Street Hub has been designed to be class-leading, meeting inclusive and accessible design standards. The design for the 12,000sq m building will support a variety of different working styles including spaces to enable collaboration, creativity and community.

    Scott Camp, Managing Director of Wates’ fit-out and refurbishment business, Smartspace, said:

    We are delighted to continue our successful partnership with the Government Property Agency following our work at Darlington Economic Campus and 2 Ruskin Square in Croydon.

    Securing the contract for the Cat-B fit-out at Manchester First Street is a testament to our expertise in delivering high-quality, modern office environments. This project will provide thousands of civil servants with a state-of-the-art workspace, enabling them to foster collaboration and efficiency. It also reinforces our commitment to our purpose – ‘Reimagining places for people to thrive’ – by creating another exceptional workspace that supports productivity and well-being.

    For media enquiries, email: pressoffice@gpa.gov.uk

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    Published 2 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Mullin Introduce Bill Strengthening Cybersecurity for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Mullin Introduce Bill Strengthening Cybersecurity for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus, and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) introduced legislation to strengthen the cybersecurity protocols for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in response to previous outages that resulted in a day-long outage for those in crisis.
    “People struggling with their mental health shouldn’t be met with disruptions or service outages when they call the 9-8-8 Lifeline. We can’t let cybersecurity vulnerabilities get in the way of providing lifesaving support,” said Senator Padilla. “Our bipartisan bill would better identify and prevent cyberattacks to protect safe and secure access to the Lifeline as soon as people need it.”
    “Increasing cybersecurity measures for the 988 Lifeline is imperative to suicide prevention,” said Senator Mullin. “Suicide is a heartbreaking tragedy, and every life lost is one too many. It is essential to keep the lifeline secure to ensure that those experiencing a mental health crisis have access to the resources and support they need when they need it most.”
    Since its launch in July of 2022, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has received 10.8 million contacts, including 1.4 million within the Veterans Crisis Line. The Lifeline’s services are critically important and must stay secure. The cyberattack on the 988 Lifeline in December of 2022 exposed vulnerabilities in the system where individuals who tried to call the suicide prevention hotline were instead greeted with a recorded message informing them of the service outage.
    Specifically, Padilla and Mullin’s 9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act requires coordination between the Lifeline and the Chief Information Security Officer at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to prevent cybersecurity attacks and eliminate known vulnerabilities. The suicide hotline’s network administrator would also be required to notify the government of cybersecurity vulnerabilities and incidents within 24 hours of discovery. Lastly, the Government Accountability Office would be required to conduct a study evaluating cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities in the 988 system.
    The 9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act is supported by the following groups: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Psychiatric Association, Crisis Text Line, Inseparable, Mental Health America, Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Jed Foundation, and Vibrant Emotional Health. 
    Last year, Padilla applauded the Federal Communications Commission’s adoption of his bipartisan Local 9-8-8 Response Act of 2023, making critical improvements to the 988 Lifeline to help callers access localized, lifesaving behavioral health resources.
    Any person in crisis and in need of help can dial 9-8-8 to reach free and confidential professional support 24/7 or can visit 988lifeline.org/chat/ to start a free and confidential conversation.
    Click here to learn more about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Mosbilet service offers a personal selection of events based on your interests

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    A personalized selection of events based on your interests is displayed on the service’s main page “Mosbilet” in the “Especially for you” block. These can be performances, concerts, exhibitions, lectures, excursions, film screenings, sports or free events for children.

    “Every week, hundreds of interesting events for visitors of different ages and with different interests take place in the capital’s museums, theaters, concert halls, libraries and other cultural institutions. Often, it is difficult for city residents and visitors to navigate them, and the service

    “Mosbilet” on the mos.ru portal will help not only to buy tickets, but also to get a personal selection of events,” noted the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of Culture Alexey Fursin.

    To do this, you just need to tell the service about your interests. After that, the system will show several of the most relevant offers.

    “The Mosbilet service allows everyone to find activities to their liking. Residents and visitors of the city can independently customize the list of recommendations, for example, indicate that they are interested in exhibitions, concerts, sports competitions or events for children, and from the genres they prefer comedies and musicals. After that, the algorithms will select several events that are most suitable for this request. The personal selection is available to all residents and visitors of the capital without restrictions,” the press service noted.

    Department of Information Technology of the City of Moscow.

    You can get a personal selection in the “Especially for you” block on the main page of the “Mosbilet” service. To do this, click on the “Configure a selection of recommendations” button and mark the types of events you are interested in in the list provided.

    For some event categories, you can also specify the direction, for example, the “Exhibition” type: the user specifies the topic here – for example, painting, contemporary art or photography. And in the “Sport” category, he notes what sports competitions he is interested in. When choosing leisure for children, you can specify the age – up to six years, from six to 12 or over 12.

    The service will analyze your preferences and create a selection based on the specified parameters.

    About the Mosbilet service on the mos.ru portal

    “Mosbilet” is the official ticket sales service on the mos.ru portal, with the help of which you can buy tickets to theaters, museums, concert halls and other institutions under the jurisdiction of the capital Department of Culture, without commission and markups. The service page contains announcements of the most anticipated events, season premieres, events within the framework of city festivals, exhibitions, performances and concerts that will take place in the coming weekend.

    You can buy a ticket directly in the service. This can be done conveniently using authorization via Mos ID — an account on the mos.ru portal. If the user has a standard or full account, then you will not need to enter the last name, first name, patronymic, and visitor information — just leave the default value “Mos ID” in the document selection field. If the account is simplified, then the required fields will need to be filled in manually.

    In addition, authorized users will be able to use QR codes for tickets inmobile applications “My Moscow”, “My ID” and “Gosuslugi Moskvy”. This will allow you not to present a document when entering events that are held from March 15 under the new rules for visiting theaters, concert halls and other city institutions with seats. Guests will only need to show the ticket inspector the QR code; they will not need to take the document with them.

    mos.ru answered the main questions about visiting cultural eventsIt will be possible to purchase a ticket through commercial ticket systems using Mos IDSergei Sobyanin: Moscow is developing digital services in the cultural sphere

    On new rules for visiting theaters and concert venues

    Since March 15, new rules for visiting theaters and concert venues under the jurisdiction of the capital’s Department of Culture have been in effect in Moscow. According to them, tickets for performances and concerts with seating can only be purchased with one of the documents from the approved list. In addition, the document must be shown at the entrance to the event. Detailed information about the pilot project has been published Here.

    The creation, development and operation of the e-government infrastructure, including the provision of mass socially significant services, as well as other services in electronic form, corresponds to the objectives of the national project “Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State” and the regional project of the city of Moscow “Digital Public Administration”.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152052073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A landscaped space will appear in the north-east of the capital under the KRT program

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In the Lianozovo district, two sites will be reorganized under the integrated development of territories (IDT) program. The corresponding draft resolution posted on the Moscow Government website. This was reported by the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of City Property Maxim Gaman.

    “Two plots of 0.05 hectares in the north-east of the capital at the address: Cherepovetskaya Street, Buildings 12a and 14a are part of one KRT project. Currently, there are outdated retail facilities here that are of no use to the city and its residents. As a result of the redevelopment, the territory will be transformed into a comfortable, well-appointed public space with green spaces and small architectural forms. The site is located near residential development, not far from the Altufyevo metro station,” commented Maxim Gaman.

    This is already the 10th redevelopment project in the North-Eastern District of the capital, prepared under the program of integrated development of territories. In total, more than 113 hectares are planned to be reorganized under these projects.

    As part of the integrated territorial development program, multifunctional urban quarters are being created, where roads, comfortable housing and all the necessary infrastructure are being designed on the site of former industrial zones and inefficiently used areas. Currently, 302 KRT projects with a total area of about 4.2 thousand hectares are at various stages of implementation in Moscow. This work is being carried out on behalf of Sergei Sobyanin.

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152077073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Heroes’ Stories: Capital Youth Prepares Photo Exhibition for 80th Anniversary of Victory

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The photo exhibition “Great-grandchildren of Victory” opened in the Krasnaya Presnya Park, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. The heads of patriotic clubs of Moscow universities, organizations whose activities are aimed at perpetuating memory, as well as cadets, activists of youth communities and participants of the special military operation (SVO) shared stories about the exploits of their ancestors. Everyone can see the exhibition until April 30 inclusive on the main alley near the ponds.

    “The photo exhibition “Great-grandchildren of Victory” reminds us not only of the heroism of those who fought for freedom and peace, but also of the importance of preserving their memory for future generations. The youth of Moscow carefully preserves the memory of their heroes, passing on their stories so that courage, fortitude and love for the Motherland remain our common heritage,” said

    Ekaterina Dragunova, Chairman of the City Committee for Public Relations and Youth Policy.

    Each image on the stands reminds us that the history of Russia is not just facts and dates, but personal stories that are of great importance. The idea of creating a photo exhibition was suggested by activists of the project “City of Heroes Moscow”. The pictures show the exploits of those who took part in the Great Patriotic War and worked in the rear. They courageously and bravely defended Moscow, saved wounded soldiers, helped dig trenches to protect the approaches to the capital. Representatives of the younger generation, who provided photo materials for the exhibition, share such stories of their relatives.

    Participants of the SVO also joined in organizing the exhibition. For example, one of the fighters told about his grandmother, who was an outstanding sniper during the Great Patriotic War. Her grandson decided to follow in her footsteps – he is also a sniper and serves in the SVO zone.

    “This exhibition is another opportunity to say thank you to our ancestors for the peaceful sky above our heads. It shows how important it is to preserve the memory of your family, because the history of our state consists of the stories of many individuals who stood up to defend the country. It is in families, in the stories of our grandparents, great-grandparents – veterans of the Great Patriotic War – that the chronicle of Victory is kept,” said Yegor Stativka, head of the patriotic project “City of Heroes Moscow”.

    Photo exhibition organizer – project “Youth of Moscow” urban Committee on Public Relations and Youth Policy. More information about opportunities for young city dwellers can be found on the portal “Youth of Moscow” and on the project pages in social networks.

    Events in honor of the 80th anniversary of Victory will be held throughout Moscow — Sergei SobyaninSchoolchildren and college students began studying documents of pilots and aeronauts in the Main Archives of Moscow

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152079073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sobyanin: Hospital No. 31 has become one of the flagships of the capital’s medicine in 55 years

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    City Clinical Hospital (CCH) No. 31 named after Academician G. M. Savelyeva celebrates its 55th anniversary. Over more than half a century of work, the institution has become one of the flagships of the capital’s medicine. Sergei Sobyanin spoke about this in his telegram channel.

    “The largest traumatology complex operates here, as well as departments of cardiovascular surgery, urology, and gynecology,

    modern perinatal center and a women’s health center and other departments. Emergency and planned care is provided according to the most modern standards,” the Mayor of Moscow wrote.

    Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @Mos_Sobyanin

    Every year, about 70 thousand patients undergo treatment at City Clinical Hospital No. 31. More than 40 thousand operations are performed here, including those using robotic technologies, and over six thousand births are performed. In addition, the hospital serves as a clinical base for departments of leading medical universities in Russia.

    In 2023, City Clinical Hospital No. 31 was named after Galina Mikhailovna Savelyeva, an outstanding physician, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation. This year, the staff of City Clinical Hospital No. 31 was awarded the Pirogov Order — for the first time among Moscow hospitals.

    “I congratulate the employees on their anniversary and well-deserved award. Thank you for your work and care for the health of Muscovites!” added Sergei Sobyanin.

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    HTTPS: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12566050/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Artist Louise Skačej to honour Canberra’s ‘Soup Kitchen Lady’ with a public artwork

    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 02/04/2025

    The ACT Government has commissioned artist Louise Skačej to create a public artwork honouring Stasia Dabrowski OAM, Canberra’s ‘Soup Kitchen Lady,’ in recognition of her decades of selfless service to the community’s most vulnerable. This commission is part of an ongoing initiative to celebrate the legacy of significant Canberra women through the public art collection.

    Louise Skačej will collaborate with a strong team including partner and studio manager and technician Dean Colls, mentor Peter Corlett OAM, who has several works across Canberra, as well as two young and talented creatives, studio assistants, Isabeau Colls and Mads Hillam.

    Louise’s work may be familiar to Canberrans. A thought-provoking artwork displayed at the Australian War Memorial, the Battle of Kapyong Diorama, was created in collaboration with Dean Colls.

    Through the lens of her immigrant background, Louise’s art often explores themes of culture, heritage, and memory.

    The sculpture of Stasia Dabrowski will be installed in Garema Place in early 2026, close to the location of the original soup kitchen, creating a permanent tribute to her extraordinary life and work.

    Stasia Dabrowski (1926-2020), a Polish immigrant, became an iconic figure in the Canberra community through her dedication to helping those in need. From 1982, she ran a mobile soup kitchen from a corner of Garema Place, providing hot meals, bread, drinks, and most importantly compassion to the those in need every Friday night.

    Stasia funded the initiative by babysitting at night and cleaning houses during the day, using her earnings to purchase the ingredients. By 2005, she was feeding up to 500 people each week, with the help of her grandson Josh Kenworthy. Josh remembers Stasia as a humble and private person who never sought out the spotlight. She simply wanted to lend a hand.

    Despite receiving numerous awards in acknowledgement of her work and kindness, Stasia remained modest. “I never keep photos because I am not proud… the soup kitchen is a simple thing, just people cooking veggies, nothing special,” she once said. Stasia continued her work till the age of 92 and passing away two years later in 2020.

    Minister for Business the Arts and Creative Industries, Michael Pettersson is committed to continuing the ACT Government’s public art program that puts the focus on significant Canberra women.

    “Congratulations to the talented Louise Skačej, who has been selected to create a sculpture honouring this iconic Canberran,” said Minister Pettersson.

    “For decades Stasia Dabrowksi made an enormous contribution caring for thousands of Canberra’s most vulnerable. Her kindness and compassion left a lasting mark on our community. This tribute will ensure her legacy lives on.

    “I look forward to the unveiling of Louise’s artwork in Garema Place next year. It will offer Canberrans the chance to stop, reflect and admire the life of a woman who made a profound difference in the lives of so many.”

    More information on the public art commissioning process is available from artsACT on 02 6207 2384 or on the website at www.arts.act.gov.au/public-art.

    Quote attributable to artist Louise Skačej:

    “I’m honoured and grateful for the opportunity to create a sculpture of Stasia Dabrowski. Her simple but profound act of sharing love and compassion, shows us that love isn’t just a word – it’s something we do.

    “I hope this sculpture will inspire others to take action and bring light to those in need, just like Stasia did for so many.”

    – Statement ends –

    Michael Pettersson, MLA | Media Releases

    «ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases

    MIL OSI News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Secures Preliminary Injunction Blocking Trump Administration from Unlawfully Terminating Federal Employees

    Source: US State of California Department of Justice

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today released a statement after the issuance of a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump Administration from conducting unlawful mass terminations of federal probationary employees who live or work in California.

     “The Trump Administration’s callous and reckless mass firings of federal employees have harmed thousands of employees and families including many veterans in our state who have dutifully served their country in uniform,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Today’s decision is an important victory for the rule of law, which blocks the administration from terminating federal employees without lawfully required notice. California will continue to fight to protect our federal workforce, and the services Californians rely on.” 

    Background

    Last month, Attorney General Bonta joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration for conducting an illegal mass firing of federal employees. Soon after, the U.S. District Court for Maryland granted a temporary restraining order that barred the Trump Administration’s unlawful mass firing of federal employees from 18 federal agencies from taking effect and ordering the employees’ reinstatement. Today’s order prevents the federal agencies listed below from conducting during the pendency of the lawsuit unlawful mass firings of federal employees who live or work in California and requires the reinstatement of any affected employees who have not already been reinstated. The order also extends the injunction to encompass employees from the Department of Defense and the Office of Personnel Management.

    Department of Agriculture    Department of Transportation  
    Department of Commerce   Department of Treasury  
    Department of Defense   Department of Veterans Affairs  
    Department of Education   Consumer Financial Protection Bureau  
    Department of Energy   Environmental Protection Agency  
    Department of Health and Human Services   Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation  
    Department of Homeland Security   General Services Administration  
    Department of Housing and Urban Development   Office of Personnel Management  
    Department of Interior    Small Business Administration  
    Department of Labor   United States Agency for International Development   

    Nationally, there are more than 5.1 million federal workers. Nearly all federal employees serve a one-or two-year probationary period, and more than 200,000 are on probationary status across the federal government. In California, numerous federal employees serve in critical roles across key agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Forest Service, among others.

    The abrupt, pretextual termination of federal employees was not only unlawful but also disrupted essential government services from support for veterans and farmers to protection of our cherished national parks and lands. This action also had far reaching economic effects. Specifically, in California, federal employees heavily contribute to our economy by paying state income taxes and generating substantial local revenue. As a direct result of the Trump Administration’s unlawful actions, the state Employment Development Department was forced to commit substantial human and financial resources to quickly offer unemployment and reemployment assistance and information to wrongfully displaced workers. During the month of February 2025, coinciding with the layoffs, California saw a 149% increase in state unemployment benefit claims by federal workers.  

    Attorney General Bonta is joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai‛i, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, in securing the preliminary injunction.

    A copy of the court’s order can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Slams LIHEAP Firings

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Washington (April 1, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement after President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired the entire federal staff of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as a part of the mass firing of 10,000 HHS workers.

    “The Trump administration’s mass firings at HHS are a direct attack on the health, safety, and dignity of American families. Eliminating the entire federal staff responsible for LIHEAP—a program that millions of households depend on to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer—isn’t reform, it’s sabotage.

    “This is what Trump governance looks like: Dismantle the programs people rely on, create chaos in essential services, and leave working families to foot the bill. In my home state of Massachusetts, where energy bills are soaring—and some natural gas bills even doubling this year alone—LIHEAP is a critical lifeline. Now, as extreme weather pushes thermostats to extremes, and the threat of Trump’s tariffs looms ever closer, which will make energy prices climb ever higher, Trump has slashed the staff there dedicated to help. And with that, the Administration is cutting off the federal government’s ability to distribute the critical remaining 10 percent of this year’s LIHEAP funds that families are depending on.

    “I’ve fought for LIHEAP for decades because energy access is a basic human right. From demanding full funding to hosting roundtables with local providers and national advocates, I’ve worked to ensure the program meets the scale of the crisis. That’s why yesterday, I reintroduced my Heating and Cooling Relief Act—to modernize LIHEAP, permanently expand access, and ensure no family is left without support because of bureaucratic dysfunction or political cruelty. These cuts make that fight as urgent as ever.

    “I will keep fighting to restore these jobs, unlock the remaining funds, and guarantee that every family—no matter their income or ZIP code—has access to safe, affordable, clean energy.”

    Despite the urgent need for relief, in 2023, only about 18 percent of income-eligible households received LIHEAP assistance, with less than 3 percent of eligible households receiving cooling assistance. Meanwhile, low-income families spend nearly three times more on energy bills than non-low-income households, and nearly one in six households are behind on their utility bills.

    Senator Markey is a champion for energy access, affordability, and reliability. On Monday, Senator Markey and Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) reintroduced the Heating and Cooling Relief Act, bold legislation to significantly expand and modernize the severely underfunded LIHEAP. In March 2025, he hosted a roundtable with Massachusetts LIHEAP providers, consumer advocates, and national energy assistance organizations to discuss the urgent need to strengthen and expand LIHEAP. In July 2024, Senator Markey and several New England Senators sent a letter to the Department of Energy urging the Department to consider the disproportionate negative impacts of LNG on New England—especially on energy prices—in its underlying environmental and economic analyses for LNG export authorization decisions. In December 2023, Senator Markey led a letter urging the Federal Trade Commission to immediately intervene, investigate, and rigorously enforce consumer protection laws against certain electric supply companies. In October 2023, he celebrated the release of $130 million in LIHEAP funding for Massachusetts, helping residents afford winter heating costs. Additionally, he has pushed for greater investments in home efficiency and electrification to help low-income families reduce their energy burdens. He originally introduced the Heating and Cooling Relief Act with former Representative Jamaal Bowman (NY-16) in January 2022.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: US Senator Cory Booker just spoke for 25 hours in Congress. What was he trying to achieve?

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Bruce Wolpe, Non-resident Senior Fellow, United States Study Centre, University of Sydney

    The Democrats have been under intense pressure to find an effective way to challenge US President Donald Trump without control of either chamber of Congress or a de facto opposition leader.

    They may have just found one. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker took the Senate floor on Monday evening in Washington to give a speech lambasting Trump’s actions. He didn’t stop talking – aside for the occasional question from a fellow Democrat – until Tuesday night, 25 hours later.

    So, how common are these types of speeches in the US Congress, and what’s the point?

    Cory Booker reportedly did not leave the chamber to use the toilet and sipped from two glasses of water.

    Filibusters throughout history

    Booker’s speech set a new record for the longest continuous speech in the Senate, surpassing Senator Strom Thurmond’s 24-hour speech in 1957 to try to prevent the passage of the Civil Rights Act.

    This was during the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower, the supreme commander of the Allied forces in Europe during the second world war. The army was the great desegregation force in the 1940s, and Eisenhower, as president in the 1950s, was strongly in favour of civil rights.

    Strom Thurmond.
    Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division/Wikimedia Commons

    In 1957, Congress was going to pass a civil rights bill that would make it harder for officials in southern states, in particular, to prevent Black people from voting. So Thurmond, the South Carolina senator and fierce proponent of segregation, launched what was (until today) the longest speech in Senate history to oppose it.

    Thurmond’s speech was a filibuster, an extended speech in the Senate to attempt to delay or block a vote on a bill or confirmation. Thurmond, however, was unable to stop enactment of the bill.

    Senators engage in filibusters when they know they’re going to lose, especially when it’s a piece of legislation they really dislike or disagree with. Because they can’t stop the passage of the bill, they use the filibuster to call attention to their opposition to it. The intention is to rally the troops and say, “I’m standing with you, even if this vote goes the other way”.

    In 2016, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, who represents the state of Connecticut where the deadly shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School took place, launched a nearly 15-hour filibuster to force the Republican Senate leadership to allow votes on two gun control measures.

    Republican Senator Ted Cruz also spoke all night – 21 hours in total – against Obamacare in 2013. It wasn’t all focused on health policy; he filled the time by reading the children’s book, Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Seuss.

    Highlights from Ted Cruz’s filibuster.

    What Booker was trying to achieve

    Booker’s speech was not technically a filibuster – he wasn’t holding the floor to talk against a specific bill, as Thurmond was. He was giving time to his Democratic colleagues to just control the shape of the general debate about Trump.

    Senators use speeches like this when they’re losing on a issue, and Booker feels the Democrats are currently losing to Trump. They have been unable to stop any of his executive actions, so they feel they need to cut through in some way to reach the American people.

    Trump has been “flooding the zone” from the moment he took office in January with hundreds of policies and executive actions – and he has been extremely successful at it. These actions cut across so many areas, it’s been very hard for the Democrats, on any given day, to pick out the top things to fight against.

    Because they don’t have control of the House or Senate, and there is no opposition leader, there is no single, principal Democrat who can stand up day by day and say, “This is what happened, this was what the threat to the country is, this why we’re opposing it and this is the way we’re going to attack it”.

    Trump is controlling the narrative and the media environment. And the Democratic leadership has been unable to counter it, even though, at the grassroots level, Democrats and many others who voted for Trump are really angry.

    As Booker put it during his speech:

    Moments like this require us to be more creative or more imaginative, or just more persistent and dogged and determined.

    There comes a certain point in a human drama that transcends partisanship when you’re looking at someone speaking from the heart, speaking their convictions and you can come to respect them.

    Booker ran for the presidency in 2020 and ultimately yielded to Joe Biden, and I expect we’ll hear much more from him in 2028 when the next presidential election occurs. He is most likely going to run again.

    Bruce Wolpe receives funding, as a non resident senior Fellow, from the United Statses Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. He served for ten years on the Democratic staff in the US House of Representatives.

    – ref. US Senator Cory Booker just spoke for 25 hours in Congress. What was he trying to achieve? – https://theconversation.com/us-senator-cory-booker-just-spoke-for-25-hours-in-congress-what-was-he-trying-to-achieve-253616

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s State Council appoints HKSAR police chief

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

    BEIJING, April 2 — China’s State Council announced on Wednesday that it has decided to appoint Chow Yat-ming as the commissioner of police of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, replacing Siu Chak-yee.

    The decision was made in accordance with the HKSAR Basic Law, and was based on the nomination and suggestion put forward by HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee, the official announcement said.

    MIL OSI China News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: US Senator Cory Booker just spoke for 25 hours in Congress. What was he trying to achieve?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bruce Wolpe, Non-resident Senior Fellow, United States Study Centre, University of Sydney

    The Democrats have been under intense pressure to find an effective way to challenge US President Donald Trump without control of either chamber of Congress or a de facto opposition leader.

    They may have just found one. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker took the Senate floor on Monday evening in Washington to give a speech lambasting Trump’s actions. He didn’t stop talking – aside for the occasional question from a fellow Democrat – until Tuesday night, 25 hours later.

    So, how common are these types of speeches in the US Congress, and what’s the point?

    Cory Booker reportedly did not leave the chamber to use the toilet and sipped from two glasses of water.

    Filibusters throughout history

    Booker’s speech set a new record for the longest continuous speech in the Senate, surpassing Senator Strom Thurmond’s 24-hour speech in 1957 to try to prevent the passage of the Civil Rights Act.

    This was during the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower, the supreme commander of the Allied forces in Europe during the second world war. The army was the great desegregation force in the 1940s, and Eisenhower, as president in the 1950s, was strongly in favour of civil rights.

    Strom Thurmond.
    Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division/Wikimedia Commons

    In 1957, Congress was going to pass a civil rights bill that would make it harder for officials in southern states, in particular, to prevent Black people from voting. So Thurmond, the South Carolina senator and fierce proponent of segregation, launched what was (until today) the longest speech in Senate history to oppose it.

    Thurmond’s speech was a filibuster, an extended speech in the Senate to attempt to delay or block a vote on a bill or confirmation. Thurmond, however, was unable to stop enactment of the bill.

    Senators engage in filibusters when they know they’re going to lose, especially when it’s a piece of legislation they really dislike or disagree with. Because they can’t stop the passage of the bill, they use the filibuster to call attention to their opposition to it. The intention is to rally the troops and say, “I’m standing with you, even if this vote goes the other way”.

    In 2016, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, who represents the state of Connecticut where the deadly shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School took place, launched a nearly 15-hour filibuster to force the Republican Senate leadership to allow votes on two gun control measures.

    Republican Senator Ted Cruz also spoke all night – 21 hours in total – against Obamacare in 2013. It wasn’t all focused on health policy; he filled the time by reading the children’s book, Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Seuss.

    Highlights from Ted Cruz’s filibuster.

    What Booker was trying to achieve

    Booker’s speech was not technically a filibuster – he wasn’t holding the floor to talk against a specific bill, as Thurmond was. He was giving time to his Democratic colleagues to just control the shape of the general debate about Trump.

    Senators use speeches like this when they’re losing on a issue, and Booker feels the Democrats are currently losing to Trump. They have been unable to stop any of his executive actions, so they feel they need to cut through in some way to reach the American people.

    Trump has been “flooding the zone” from the moment he took office in January with hundreds of policies and executive actions – and he has been extremely successful at it. These actions cut across so many areas, it’s been very hard for the Democrats, on any given day, to pick out the top things to fight against.

    Because they don’t have control of the House or Senate, and there is no opposition leader, there is no single, principal Democrat who can stand up day by day and say, “This is what happened, this was what the threat to the country is, this why we’re opposing it and this is the way we’re going to attack it”.

    Trump is controlling the narrative and the media environment. And the Democratic leadership has been unable to counter it, even though, at the grassroots level, Democrats and many others who voted for Trump are really angry.

    As Booker put it during his speech:

    Moments like this require us to be more creative or more imaginative, or just more persistent and dogged and determined.

    There comes a certain point in a human drama that transcends partisanship when you’re looking at someone speaking from the heart, speaking their convictions and you can come to respect them.

    Booker ran for the presidency in 2020 and ultimately yielded to Joe Biden, and I expect we’ll hear much more from him in 2028 when the next presidential election occurs. He is most likely going to run again.

    Bruce Wolpe receives funding, as a non resident senior Fellow, from the United Statses Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. He served for ten years on the Democratic staff in the US House of Representatives.

    – ref. US Senator Cory Booker just spoke for 25 hours in Congress. What was he trying to achieve? – https://theconversation.com/us-senator-cory-booker-just-spoke-for-25-hours-in-congress-what-was-he-trying-to-achieve-253616

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Can you tell the difference between real and fake news photos? Take the quiz to find out

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By T.J. Thomson, Senior Lecturer in Visual Communication & Digital Media, RMIT University

    A (real) photo of a protester dressed as Pikachu in Paris on March 29 2025. Remon Haazen / Getty Images

    You wouldn’t usually associate Pikachu with protest.

    But a figure dressed as the iconic yellow Pokémon joined a protest last week in Turkey to demonstrate against the country’s authoritarian leader.

    And then a virtual doppelgänger made the rounds on social media, raising doubt in people’s minds about whether what they were seeing was true. (Just to be clear, the image in the post shown below is very much fake.)

    This is the latest in a spate of incidents involving AI-generated (or AI-edited) images that can be made easily and cheaply and that are often posted during breaking news events.

    Doctored, decontextualised or synthetic media can cause confusion, sow doubt, and contribute to political polarisation. The people who make or share these media often benefit financially or politically from spreading false or misleading claims.

    How would you go at telling fact from fiction in these cases? Have a go with this quiz and learn more about some of AI’s (potential) giveaways and how to stay safer online.

    How’d you go?

    As this exercise might have revealed, we can’t always spot AI-generated or AI-edited images with just our eyes. Doing so will also become harder as AI tools become more advanced.

    Dealing with visual deception

    AI-powered tools exist to try to detect AI content, but these have mixed results.

    Running suspect images through a search engine to see where else they have been published – and when – can be a helpful strategy. But this relies on there being an original “unedited” version published somewhere online.

    Perhaps the best strategy is something called “lateral reading”. It means getting off the page or platform and seeing what trusted sources say about a claim.

    Ultimately, we don’t have time to fact-check every claim we come across each day. That’s why it’s important to have access to trustworthy news sources that have a track record of getting it right. This is even more important as the volume of AI “slop” increases.

    T.J. Thomson receives funding from the Australian Research Council. He is an affiliated researcher with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making & Society.

    – ref. Can you tell the difference between real and fake news photos? Take the quiz to find out – https://theconversation.com/can-you-tell-the-difference-between-real-and-fake-news-photos-take-the-quiz-to-find-out-253539

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Adolescence’ on Netflix: A painful wake-up call about unregulated internet use for teens

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Martina Calçada Kohatsu, PhD Candidate in Educational Psychology, McGill University

    In ‘Adolescence,’ a communication abyss that separates Gen X from Gen Z gives way to calamity. (Netflix)

    This story contains spoilers about the Netflix series ‘Adolescence.’

    In the Netflix series Adolescence, we have no idea why Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper) is arrested at the beginning of the first episode. The tension from seeing a helpless 13-year-old boy escorted to a police station and interrogated holds us to the screen. Every minute of the one-hour episode, shot in a single continuous take, makes us feel like we are in the police station with the Miller family, viewing things through his parents’ disorientation.

    As the plot unfolds, we are given clues to explain the inexplicable, but we can’t fully appreciate the show’s magnitude until the very last scene, a dramatic moment where we see the boy’s father (Stephen Graham) cry over his son’s teddy bear while asking it for forgiveness.

    From an educational psychology angle, the show is ripe for analysis. One could comment on the premature sexualization of young girls and boys or the obsolete sense, for parents, that they can assume kids are safe when they’re at home in their rooms.

    However, as a doctoral student in educational psychology, I am mostly concerned with human learning — both the cognitive development that must accompany successful learners, and how children and youth understand the world through relationships.

    The state of Jamie’s cognitive development and of teenagers in general may help us understand his frame of mind — or the “why” that detective Luke Bascombe (Ashley Walters) pursues.

    For parents, this show raises serious questions about the crisis in parent-child communication and how the internet is shaping children’s behaviour and minds. I suggest turning to the practice of dialogue as a way for parents to strengthen their communication with their children and learn about each other and the world.

    Trailer for ‘Adolescence.’

    Children’s minds

    According to the government of Canada, “any human being below the age of 18” is defined as a child. Children can’t be recruited to join the Armed Forces, sign legal contracts, drive, vote, marry, drink alcohol and so on. As adults, we understand that these prohibitions not only protect them but also us.

    Setting aside ethical reasons why children shouldn’t do any of these things, the major reason is due to the developmental state of their minds.

    To better understand this, we must consider executive function, also called cognitive control. Executive function refers to the unconscious cognitive processes of abstract thinking, inhibition, impulse control and planning that allow us to consciously control and direct our thoughts to goals, actions and emotions.

    Think of executive control as interconnected paths in the brain. In an adolescent’s brain, these paths resemble more of a labyrinth, with difficult and sometimes non-working passages.

    Children and adolescents’ cognitive development are in “sensitive periods” in which their brains are more plastic and susceptible to environmental influences. Besides not having full control of their thought processes, research has also shown that abstract and more “neutral” cognitive skills develop earlier than those that involve motivated or emotionally charged actions.

    Ability to weigh options still developing

    Adolescents might be mature enough to solve complex math problems, but still feel helpless when needing to be polite to someone they believe offended them (not an easy task for adults either). In such a case, one would need to “step back” from the situation, and weigh options to respond.

    An adult might think “maybe I misinterpreted what this person said” or “if I offend them back, I risk losing my job/friendship/reputation.” By dwelling on different course of actions, they don’t act impulsively.

    This is precisely the ability that adolescents are still developing.

    Adolescent brains have not fully matured in ways that enable them to calculate risk.
    (Netflix)

    Virtual selves and threats

    When adolescents engage with social media, they can be exposed to a threatening environment where they must assert their virtual selves and deal with bullying and inappropriate content, while lacking full control of their thought processes.

    Yet, as American social psychologist Jonathan Haidt has chronicled, our society has allowed adolescents to take part in this at grave risk. With maturing cognitive capabilities, teens are at risk in an online environment that thrives on extreme views and hijacks emotions.

    As a victim of cyberbullying, Jamie was probably not equipped with the cognitive abilities to step back from the situation and seek help. Instead, he responds to cruelty he experienced with cruelty he knew.

    With unregulated internet use, in terms of both content and unrestricted time spent online, communication with parents atrophies. At its core, Adolescence is a painful wake-up call to the effects of unregulated internet usage in teens, and how the communication abyss that separates Gen X from Gen Z gives way to calamity.

    Clueless adults, aware teens

    Nowhere in the show is this distance more evident than when police detectives move cluelessly through Jamie’s school trying to understand his motives, while the students seem cynically aware of what really happened.

    The detective’s son clues him into interpreting signs of incel subculture.
    (Netflix)

    In a typical moment reflecting contemporary intergenerational dynamics in which the Gen Zs explain stuff to their analog parents, Bascombe’s son is the one to enlighten him about incel subculture and what certain emojis represent.

    It becomes clear that pop-cultural references mean different things to a younger generation. For example, “red pill” was appropriated from The Matrix and is now used for those who “see the truth” and reject feminism.

    Generations are comfortable communicating in different ways. Teens, for example, are clever texters. They use images, edit reels and create memes to convey subtle and often complex feelings.

    In contrast, teens’ discomfort with face-to-face conversations is explicit in the last episode of Adolescence, when the Miller family drives to a hardware store. The parents play a song from their prom and reminisce. The oldest daughter is with them, but not present, focused on her phone and only sporadically joining the conversation.

    Why dialogue matters

    Parents and their children may find direction through dialogue. This ancient practice is based on the view of the world as becoming, with infinite internal and external contradictions that must be overcome so that new understandings of reality may emerge.

    Dialogue was famously advanced as an educational practice by philosopher of education, Paulo Freire.

    Freire believed people must come together to share their meanings of the world, and through this push and pull of ideas, reasons and opinions, conceptualize new forms of understanding. For parents, this means that without trying to understand what teens are saying and, importantly, how they are saying it, we can’t possibly create a better future for all of us.

    Open channel needed

    Engaging in dialogue involves two things: asking and answering questions. It is not a matter of merely extracting information (although knowing what children are doing is important), but rather of mutually sharing interests and letting it guide discovery.

    When parents and children find a channel, communication opens and for as long as the mutual interest is there, they can steadily build meaningful connections that transform how they see the world and their relationships.

    With renewed urgency, dialogue that validates the interests and knowledge of both parents and children can offer a way out of the polarization created between them by long hours spent online.

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

    – ref. ‘Adolescence’ on Netflix: A painful wake-up call about unregulated internet use for teens – https://theconversation.com/adolescence-on-netflix-a-painful-wake-up-call-about-unregulated-internet-use-for-teens-253068

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Plan to boost financial support for tech innovation

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China on Tuesday unveiled a plan to strengthen financial services for technology-based enterprises, as part of the country’s efforts to promote integrated advancements in technological and industrial innovation.

    The plan, jointly issued by the National Financial Regulatory Administration, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Development and Reform Commission, outlines measures to boost financial services including service mechanism establishment, product supply, specialized services and risk control capabilities.

    The plan aims to promote the establishment of a financial service mechanism, supporting parties such as governments at all levels, technology firms, financial institutions, venture capital funds, and third-party intermediary service agencies in building a multi-level technology financial service ecosystem.

    Efforts will be made to bolster services in technology credit and insurance, promote the pilot projects of technology finance policies, strengthen cooperation with institutions such as venture capital, and support the bond financing of technology-based enterprises.

    Financial institutions are encouraged to leverage advanced technologies including cloud computing, big data and artificial intelligence to develop digital business tools to enhance operational effectiveness and risk control capabilities.

    Financing guarantee services will be enhanced for technology-based enterprises, with the establishment of a differentiated assessment and evaluation system, according to the plan. 

    MIL OSI China News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: The Medical Research Future Fund has grown far beyond its target. Why is so much of the money unused?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lesley Russell, Adjunct Associate Professor, Menzies Centre for Health Policy and Economics, University of Sydney

    AshTproductions/Shutterstock

    Australian researchers are reeling from the international reach of the Trump administration’s ideological war on science and research, which threatens local research projects that receive funding from the United States National Institutes of Health.

    In this context, some may have found a grain of comfort in Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s budget reply speech with his commitment of continued support for the Medical Research Future Fund.

    The fund provides a concrete opportunity to supplant those US funds without further cost to the federal budget. But to date the Medical Research Future Fund has struggled to deliver on the promises made at its inception in 2015 that, a decade on, are still so needed.

    What is the Medical Research Future Fund?

    This research fund was the sweetener in the Abbott government’s 2014–2015 budget, which slashed spending in health and Indigenous Affairs. Virtually all the savings were invested in the new research fund, with the target of reaching $A20 billion at maturity (this happened in 2020) and then distributing $1 billion each year.

    The funds are allocated in accordance with the Medical Research Future Fund’s funding principles. They are based on Australia’s medical and research innovation strategy (revised every five years) and priorities (which should be revised every two years, but have not been updated since 2022). These are set by an independent medical research advisory board.

    However, it is the federal government, via the Minister for Health and Aged Care, who develops the ten-year investment plan and has the final say in how funds are used.

    How is the money being used?

    The current ten-year plan (for the decade to 2033–2034) has four themes: patients, researchers, research missions and research translation. There are 22 initiatives under these themes across a wide range of basic and clinical research areas, population health initiatives and commercialisation endeavours.

    The Future Fund Management Agency is in charge of investing the funds which, by September 2024, had now grown to $23.85 billion.

    But although the returns on investment have always been above the annual set targets, the returns to research have fallen well short. This is because in 2021 the Morrison Government – with Labor support – enacted legislation to cap the fund’s expenditure at $650 million a year.

    Since 2015, the fund’s investments have earned $6.435 billion. Yet only $3.15 billion has gone out to fund research (data as of September 2024).

    This year, the Future Fund Board of Guardians has set the “maximum annual distribution amount” at $1.053 billion.

    The cap on yearly spending means $403 million that could boost research funding remains locked up in an oversubscribed investment portfolio. That pot of unallocated research funds will continue to grow unless there are legislative changes to lift the cap.

    A tough climate for research

    It’s not an exaggeration to say these are tough times for Australian researchers. Australian investment in research and development, as a proportion of GDP, has been falling steadily behind the OECD average.

    Funding awarded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (the other main source of government funding for biomedical research) has almost flat-lined over the past decade, at an average of $887 million a year.

    Success rates for researchers securing National Health and Medical Research Council and Medical Research Future Fund grants are at historic lows. The adverse impact on research and researchers is recognised on the National Health and Medical Research Council website.

    The COVID pandemic, the growing obesity epidemic, the burgeoning mental health crisis, health threats of climate change, the disappointing failures of Closing the Gap initiatives, and growing health inequalities – all point to the need to spend more on research and to do this smarter.

    The Medical Research Future Fund could and should do much more to fulfil its aim “to transform health and medical research and innovation to improve lives, build the economy and contribute to health system sustainability”.

    So, is it working?

    Over the years, there has been a range of criticisms of the fund’s processes. These prevent it from realising its mission and include:

    • funds have been allocated outside the established priorities

    • reporting on the fund’s activities and outcomes is not timely and lacks transparency and accountability (note the required report to parliament for 2022–2024 is not yet available)

    • there is no collaboration across research missions and with the various agencies of the federal government, particularly the the National Health and Medical Research Council

    • not enough has been done to ensure consumers and patients are actively consulted and involved

    • funding is focused on disease groups with high rates of premature deaths at the expense of those that cause disabilities.

    What’s being done to fix the issues?

    Some of these issues are being addressed. In particular, efforts are underway to reform the governance and administration of the Medical Research Future Fund and the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Medical Research endowment account. This to ensure the community obtains the greatest benefits from these investments in health and medical research. However, the timetable is regrettably slow – this work began in May 2023.

    The hard reality is that boosting Australia’s biomedical research capabilities and capacities requires bipartisan political commitment, which has been scarce in recent times.

    The last two budgets from the Albanese Government offered little for research, aside from the existing commitments to the fund. To date, all we have from Dutton is a single statement highlighting his role in establishing the fund and his ongoing commitment to it.

    It’s time to boost Australia’s reputation as a country that nurtures and promotes research excellence. This would be both an investment in Australians’ health and well-being and Australia’s economy and a counter to Trump’s denigration of biomedical science.

    I have previously worked as a health policy advisor to the Australian Labor Party.

    – ref. The Medical Research Future Fund has grown far beyond its target. Why is so much of the money unused? – https://theconversation.com/the-medical-research-future-fund-has-grown-far-beyond-its-target-why-is-so-much-of-the-money-unused-253338

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Votes to Confirm Iowan Matt Whitaker as U.S. Ambassador to NATO

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) spoke on the Senate floor ahead of a vote to confirm her friend and fellow Iowan Matt Whitaker to be the next United States Ambassador to NATO, emphasizing that he will be a champion of our national security. 
    Ernst celebrated Whitaker’s nomination and recently introduced him in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee ahead of his confirmation hearing.
    Watch Senator Ernst’s full remarks here. 
    Ernst’s full remarks below:
    “Matt and I first crossed paths during the 2014 U.S. Senate primary in Iowa. What began as opponents in a race, turned into mutual respect, and ultimately, a strong friendship. 
    “Since 2014, Matt has supported me in countless ways, offering wise counsel and keen insight on the issues facing our state, nation, and our world today. 
    “While some may just brush it off as ‘Iowa nice,’ I believe this is a clear demonstration of Matt’s character. 
    “He’s willing to put differences aside, strengthen relationships, and put our country over politics. 
    “Over the last few years, during exchanges with NATO allies, a consistent theme emerged… the need for American leadership… a willingness to speak hard truths and encourage our partners to step up. 
    “Matt’s experience has prepared him for this aspect of the job. 
    “With decades of law enforcement experience and having served as Acting Attorney General, Matt has successfully collaborated across many organizations and jurisdictions.
    “He understands the evolving threats our nation and our allies face—from terrorism to cyber warfare to transnational crime.
    “His experience navigating complex security challenges will make him an asset to NATO and a force for strengthening our alliances.
    “Matt Whitaker is a principled leader with a proven track record.
    “Under President Trump’s peace-through-strength approach, I have no doubt that Matt will be an effective advocate for America’s interests and a champion of our national security.
    “I urge my colleagues to support his nomination. He is the right leader at the right time for this critical role.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Spain extends incentives for EV purchases

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The Spanish government on Tuesday approved an extension of its Moves III Plan to encourage the purchase of electric vehicles (EVs).

    The scheme, which is retroactively effective from the start of 2025, will remain in place until the end of the year. It offers subsidies of up to 7,000 euros (7,560 U.S. dollars) for individuals who buy an electric car and scrap their old vehicle. For commercial vehicles, the aid increases to 9,000 euros.

    The plan also maintains a 15 percent income tax deduction – up to a maximum of 3,000 euros – for the purchase of EVs. Additionally, it includes support for the expansion of Spain’s national network of EV charging stations.

    The measure was announced by minister for ecological transition Sara Aagesen following the cabinet’s weekly meeting. “This measure will help sustain demand for electric vehicles and shield our sector from external turbulence,” Aagesen said.

    She emphasized that the Moves III Plan aims to give certainty to consumers looking to invest in EVs, while also supporting complementary industries within the electric and electrified automotive sector.

    “In total, we’ve mobilized nearly 3 billion euros to promote electric mobility and infrastructure,” Aagesen said.

    According to the European Alternative Fuels Observatory, 133,699 electric vehicles were sold in Spain last year. However, overall registrations of fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles dropped by 3.9 percent compared to 2023, accounting for 11.4 percent of total car sales. (1 euro = 1.08 U.S. dollar) 

    MIL OSI China News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: King Pushes Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Nominee to Always Offer “Straight Advice”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    A full clip of the exchange can be downloaded here
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) pushed the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Nominee if he would resist political pressures if confirmed, and offer candid advice to the President, Vice President, National Security Council (NSC), and Congress. In the conversation with Lt. General Dan Caine, King asked if he would give a ‘straight ahead commitment’ to advise the executive with the best military advice.
    “We have discussed, almost every member of this panel has discussed the importance of giving straight advice to the President and the Secretary of Defense. These are two very strong personalities. The oval office is probably the most intimidating room in the world. I hope you will reiterate — you mentioned you owe it to them to give the best advice, but you also owe it to the country to give them the best advice. You mentioned to me when we discussed this before: you have been retired, you did not expect this job, you don’t need this job. Give me your straight ahead commitment that when the chips are down you are going to argue for your best military advice,” asked Senator King.
    “Senator, I don’t know any other way to operate as a leader. My job, if confirmed, is to always provide the best military advice to the President, the Secretary, the NSC,  and to Congress and to do so with candor every day,” replied Lt. Gen. Caine.
    Senator King then asked the nominee about his strategy and willingness to combat the increasing resurgence of terrorism across the world.
    “What I am very worried about now is resurgence of terrorism. Syria potentially could become another base for ISIS. There are thousands of ISIS fighters in jail in Syria. If they are released, that could be a major challenge. West Africa is now a major area of Al Qaeda activity. Talk to me about the terrorism threat and the fact that we can’t forget it because 19 people changed American history on September 11. It does not take many terrorists to create serious problems for this country and for people around the world,” said Senator King. 
    “Sir, I don’t know that I could say it any better than you just did. We have to keep our pressure on the terrorists who would continue—,” Lt. Gen. Caine started.
    “Could you make sure you have it in the record what he just said?” Senator King asked.
    “It is not something, unfortunately, we can ever take our eyes off of completely. The challenge that somebody who would want to do harm to us or to our interests around the world is not going to go away anytime soon,” continued Lt. Gen. Caine. 
    “One of the concerns I have, we always talk about deterrence. That is the main spring of our defense strategy. But deterrence does not work with a terrorist with a nuclear weapon. They don’t have a capitol to blow up, they don’t care about dying. The defense against that eventuality, which I think is absolutely terrifying, is intelligence. I hope you will continue to focus the forces in the Pentagon on intelligence and intervening if there is any threat of nuclear material getting into the hands of a terrorist organizations,” replied Senator King.
    A member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues who has also been named a “fiscal hero” by government watchdogs for responsible spending. Senator King has previously urged the Department of Defense (DoD) to take advantage of private sector technologies or risk losing access to innovative defense technologies and encouraged the (DoD) to reevaluate its acquisition process of defense technologies.
    Senator King has been consistently sounding the alarm on President Donald Trump’s existential threat to the Constitution. He previously gave a speech on the Senate floor sharing that this administration is doing ‘exactly what the Framers [of the Constitution] most feared.” He also joined fellow Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) colleagues in writing a letter to the White House about the risks to national security by allowing unvetted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staff and representatives to access classified and sensitive government materials.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schatz Statement On The Passing Of Mary Matayoshi

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement on the passing of educator and community leader Mary Matayoshi.
    “Hawai?i has lost a remarkable leader in Mary Matayoshi, a woman whose legacy is defined by her deep belief in the moral responsibility of service, education, and leadership. There is nobody that made a bigger impact over a longer period of time on behalf of Hawai‘i’s social safety net than her.
    “Nobody ever wanted to disappoint Mary because she moved through non-profit, governmental, political, and cultural communities with total moral clarity. She was always one of the keepers of the flame of the aloha spirit.
    “Her legacy is not just in the programs she helped build but in the communities she strengthened and the people she mentored and inspired – myself included.
    “I extend my deepest sympathy and aloha to the Matayoshi ‘ohana. May her memory be a blessing.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Speaks with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Nominee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke with Lieutenant General John D. “Razin” Caine, nominee to be general and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during a Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing. Sen. Tuberville and General Caine discussed the importance of being impartial when advising the President of the United States on national security matters, as well as working with our nation’s military academies to build a higher standard of leadership and excellence for the next generation of warfighters.
    Read Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below and watch on YouTube and Rumble.

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you, General, for being here, your service, and congratulations on your nomination. You’re nominated to be the senior military adviser to the President of the United States. What a chore. I remember a time when generals and retired senior officers would avoid political discussions.
    It was extremely uncommon for a former senior officer to even endorse a candidate for political office. Lately, that approach seems to be an exception, not the rule. You know, some of your predecessors even appear to support political positions while in uniform. Your predecessor was deeply involved in politics, which should not be part of this approach. General Caine, in your own words, how would you describe to this committee the importance of your responsibility and commitment to provide the best military advice, even when that advice might differ from what the President of the United States believes?”
    GEN. CAINE: “Well, Senator, thank you for that question. It ultimately is, the whole job, is to be the principal military adviser to the President. And pursuant to that job, provide the President with best military advice, even when the President may have different feelings about it. And that is exactly what the nation pays me to do. So, if confirmed, that is exactly what I’ll do.”
    TUBERVILLE: “General, when you take this job, what’s your number one concern?”
    GEN. CAINE: “Senator, right now, the number one concern is the passage of time. And ensuring that the joint force is ready, properly armed with the right capabilities out at the tactical edge, properly, globally integrated with the services themselves, with the other elements of the interagency, with our allies and partners, and with the private sector and ready to go tonight. And that means their families are ready. They’re ready. They’re properly trained and equipped. So, we have much to do, Senator.”
    TUBERVILLE: “We all know that the machines that we build, the guns, and the bullets that we have, everything is at the disposal of the warfighter. […] Recruiting has much improved in the last couple of months. What do you see your role as an adviser to the President in recruiting for all of our military?”
    GEN. CAINE: “Well, Senator, we don’t have much of a military without the incredible 2.8 million members of the joint force that selflessly joined the service to do something more important than themselves. And, you know, to answer your question, if confirmed, I think it’s an opportunity for me to be another voice of encouragement for those young men and women who have the capability and meet the standards to come into the service. And do something that they will forever hold so high in their past history. The chance to serve this nation is a special privilege for those of us that have come into the cloth of our nation and served, and I hope that I’ll be able to encourage others to do so.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Being the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Personnel [in the Senate Armed Services Committee], we had a hearing last week with our Academies—[Westpoint], Naval Academy and Air Force Academy. I would hope in the future, and I know your job is to inform our President and keep him advised of everything. But I think that your job too would be able to work with our academies in terms of our leadership, help build that leadership to a higher standard. To keep it to a higher standard, to build, and let our young men and women know that that’s where it all starts. If we don’t have leadership, we don’t have anything.
    And I think that’s a good point, you know, that’s passed on to the President. Obviously, the information you give to the President is going to be number one but also build and help build our military is going be a huge part, I think, of your job. What do you think?”
    GEN. CAINE: “I agree, sir.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: China rejects so-called US ‘Hong Kong Policy Act Report’

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    This aerial photo taken on Dec. 15, 2023 shows the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge in south China. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A Chinese government spokesperson on Tuesday strongly opposed and sternly condemned the so-called U.S. “Hong Kong Policy Act Report,” and the so-called sanctions on relevant officials of the Chinese central government and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government.
    The spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council denounced the so-called report, which smears and vilifies Hong Kong’s national security legislation, and the so-called sanctions, as “mere pieces of waste paper.”
    The egregious act of the United States has grossly trampled on international law and basic norms governing international relations, interfered in China’s internal affairs including those related to Hong Kong, and infringed on the rule of law and judicial independence of Hong Kong, said the spokesperson.
    This once again exposed the hegemonic mentality and hysterical behavior of the United States to the whole world, the spokesperson added.
    The national security law in Hong Kong and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance have strengthened the legal barrier for Hong Kong to ensure national security, enhanced the solid foundation for the steady and continued success of the “one country, two systems” policy, and protected the law-based rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents under a safe environment, the spokesperson said.
    The United States has repeatedly violated freedom, democracy and human rights under the pretext of national security, the spokesperson said, adding that rather than reflecting upon itself, the United States points fingers at the legitimate actions of the Hong Kong SAR to safeguard national security.
    This lays bare the U.S. hypocrisy and double-standard as well as its vicious intention of destabilizing Hong Kong to contain China, said the spokesperson.
    The so-called report and sanctions by the U.S. can not shake the determination of the Chinese central government and the Hong Kong SAR government to safeguard national security and the rule of law in Hong Kong, stressed the spokesperson.
    Hong Kong’s increasingly secure and stable development environment continues to attract growing investment from global capital and businesses. A series of economic and financial events held in Hong Kong over the past week had gathered a number of top international investors, demonstrating the global community’s confidence in the city, the spokesperson said.
    The Chinese central government has always firmly supported the Hong Kong SAR in safeguarding national security and its prosperity and stability according to the law, the spokesperson said, stressing that it also resolutely supports relevant officials of the Hong Kong SAR government in fulfilling their duties according to the law, and spares no effort in protecting their legitimate rights and interests.
    Any attempt to block the progress of the cause of “one country, two systems” will be vigorously countered, said the spokesperson.

    MIL OSI China News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Putin urges Russia, China to further strengthen strategic cooperation

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

    MOSCOW, April 1 — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday called on Russia and China to consistently enhance their strategic cooperation amid global turbulence.

    Putin made the remarks when meeting with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in the Kremlin.

    During the meeting, Putin conveyed his sincere greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping and expressed satisfaction over the effective implementation of the consensus reached between the two countries’ heads of state.

    He noted that Russia-China relations continue to develop at a high level, with practical cooperation deepening in various fields and the ongoing “Russia-China Year of Culture” generating enthusiastic public support, further solidifying the foundation of bilateral friendship.

    Marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in the Great Patriotic War this year, Putin extended an invitation for Chinese representatives to attend commemorative events in Russia.

    He emphasized the shared historical significance of celebrating victories over Nazi fascism and Japanese militarism, stating that Russia is fully making preparations for the occasion.

    He added that this milestone should propel Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights and strengthen multilateral collaboration within frameworks such as the United Nations, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS.

    Amid global turbulence, Putin stressed the need for both nations to consistently send a strong signal of enhanced strategic coordination to the world.

    Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, conveyed warm regards from Chinese President Xi Jinping to President Putin.

    He highlighted that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Russia relations have matured into a resilient and stable partnership characterized by deepening political trust, closer strategic alignment, and sustained practical cooperation.

    This cooperation, he noted, has safeguarded both nations’ development and shared interests in major international and regional affairs.

    Wang said that China-Russia collaboration “never targets third parties” and remains impervious to external interference, emphasizing that the relationship will “keep broadening, not stagnate”, with a vision oriented to the long-term future.

    He recalled that over 80 years ago, the peoples of China and the Soviet Union fought tenaciously on the Asian and European fronts, sacrificing immensely to defeat Japanese militarism and Nazi fascism, thereby contributing decisively to global peace.

    Today, as pivotal stabilizing forces in a turbulent world, China and Russia must jointly uphold the outcomes of World War II, defend the post-war international order, and reinforce the United Nations’ central role in the global system.

    Both countries, he said, are committed to advancing multilateralism and democratizing international relations.

    He said that the two countries have aligned their plans to support each other’s 80th-anniversary commemorative events, expressing confidence that the leaders’ engagements this year will further promote bilateral ties.

    During his visit, Wang also held multiple rounds of talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss bilateral and international issues.

    MIL OSI China News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Blumenthal, Kelly, Hirono Call Out White House for Refusing to Hold Trump’s SignalGate Leakers Accountable for Putting American Servicemembers’ Lives at Risk

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    April 01, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) and U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—along with SVAC Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) called out the White House for declaring SignalGate—the most devastating and significant national security breach in years—“case-closed” without holding any senior Administration officials responsible for leaking classified information through an unclassified communications channel, putting the lives of our servicemembers at greater risk. In her remarks, Duckworth called on Republicans to join her in demanding congressional hearings and an independent investigation to look into the Trump officials on the Signal chat—urging her colleagues on the other side of the aisle to remember that they serve the people of this country, not Donald Trump’s ego. Full video of the presser is available on Twitter/X, Facebook and Senator Duckworth’s YouTube.

    “It is outrageous that Donald Trump is trying to sweep SignalGate under the rug—declaring this egregious national security breach ‘case closed’ with absolutely no repercussions for anyone involved—after Pete Hegseth and others in the Administration put our troops—and our national security—at even greater risk,” said Senator Duckworth. “If Republicans actually care about our troops like they proclaim, they must do the bare minimum and join me in demanding an independent investigation as well as hearings looking into every official who was on that Signal chat—and Trump must fire Hegseth immediately for leaking classified information. With each second Hegseth remains Secretary of Defense, his incompetence emboldens our adversaries, weakens our national security and makes Americans less safe.”

    “The Trump Administration’s reckless Signal chat security breach is appalling and chillingly dangerous to our military men and women,” said Senator Blumenthal. “This shocking and dangerous failure to maintain operational security at the highest levels of leadership demands accountability. While the White House is turning a blind eye to the Trump Cabinet’s carelessness with classified information—claiming it’s “case closed”—many questions remain and the American people deserve answers. Our Republican colleagues need to step up and face up to this breakdown in security that put our pilots at unacceptable higher risk. Until then, I will continue to call for a comprehensive criminal investigation into how this security breach occurred and demand that Secretary Hegseth and Waltz resign.”

    “As someone who has planned and executed strikes off an aircraft carrier, I know there is no more sensitive information than the time on target for aircraft conducting a military strike over hostile territory,” said Senator Kelly. “The lack of accountability from those in this chat—and from the White House—isn’t just reprehensible, it’s dangerous. The American people deserve answers, and our servicemembers deserve leadership that protects them, not politics that puts them in harm’s way.” 

    “The Signal chat security breach reaffirms what we have known all along—that Trump’s national security officials are fundamentally unfit to serve,” said Senator Hirono. “Sharing attack plans, timing, and targets on devices that may well be compromised by adversaries endangered the lives of our servicemembers. Despite jeopardizing our national security, no one involved in this debacle has offered any assurance that this will not happen again or taken accountability for their actions. That is unacceptable. Democrats will continue working to understand exactly how this grave security breach happened and hold those responsible for this fiasco accountable.”

    Since he was first nominated, Duckworth has made it clear that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is unqualified to lead our men and women in uniform. During Hegseth’s confirmation hearing, Duckworth demonstrated some of the areas where he lacks the experience or knowledge that any serious Defense Secretary nominee should have, grilling him on basic questions that he failed to answer. She asked him if he ever led an audit, and he would not confirm. She asked him to describe at least one of the main international security agreements a Secretary of Defense is responsible for leading, and he could not name any. She asked him to name at least one nation that is a part of ASEAN, an organization with several member states that have mutual defense treaties, alliances or enhanced defense cooperation agreements with the US, but none of the three countries he named are part of the organization.

    After The Atlantic reported that Hegseth sent classified war plans in a Signal group chat with other Trump Administration officials, putting the lives of our men and women in uniform at greater risk and undermining the effectiveness of the mission, Duckworth released a statement demanding his resignation and calling him a “f*cking liar.”

    Last week, Duckworth joined fellow SASC member Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and 14 other Senate colleagues in calling on the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), SASC and SFRC to hold hearings to investigate why members of President Trump’s national security team were recklessly discussing classified military operations on unsecured devices. In the letter, the Senators also criticized the incompetence and carelessness of how these Trump officials mishandled the situation and inadvertently added a journalist to the group chat. Additionally, Duckworth joined Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and 12 of her colleagues in demanding answers from President Trump about what disciplinary action will be taken in response to SignalGate and emphasized that the Administration is in direct violation of the Presidential Records Act.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025
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