NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Marine Environment – New deep sea mining study shows ecosystem recovery from mining could take centuries – Greenpeace

    Source: Greenpeace

    A new study shows that the damage from deep sea mining would be so severe that any recovery from mining could take hundreds of years. (ref. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08921-3 )
    Responding to the study by the UK’s National Oceanography Centre in the scientific journal, Nature, David Santillo, Senior Scientist at Greenpeace Research Laboratories says: “This very study shows clear and tangible impacts to the seabed four decades on and also highlights that there is a reduced abundance and diversity of species in the area that was mined. The study warns that ecological recovery would likely take centuries or longer, adding to the multitude of existing warnings from scientists that deep sea mining could have severe and long-lasting impacts on the deep.
    Removing the nodules removes part of the ecosystem on which life in these areas depends.”
    Louisa Casson, Greenpeace International campaigner, who is attending this week’s International Seabed Authority meeting says: “The deep sea mining industry is trying to spin this study in their favour – but the reality and broader scientific consensus is clear; deep sea mining causes long term trauma to the seabed and deep sea ecosystem.
    “We’ve seen promising progress towards a moratorium at this week’s ISA meeting and this latest evidence makes it even more clear why governments must act now to stop deep sea mining before it ever starts.”
    Greenpeace Aotearoa seabed mining campaigner Juressa Lee adds: “This study confirms that deep sea mining would have an adverse impact on the health of the ocean and the Pacific way of life that depends on it. Vulnerable coastal communities will pay the highest price if deep sea mining takes place, harming the fish populations that provide food and livelihoods for many Indigenous Pacific communities.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Northland News – Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust celebrates successes with public field day

    Source: Northland Regional Council

    Northland’s Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust – a finalist in an upcoming national award celebrating excellence in Māori farming and horticulture – is to hold a public field day to showcase the work it has been doing and share its journey and farming practices.
    The trust is one of just two finalists for the near century-old Ahuwhenua Trophy, which was inaugurated by Māori leader Sir Apirana Ngata and the Governor General at the time, Lord Bledisloe, in 1933. This year, the competition is for Sheep and Beef farmers.
    News of the trust’s success has been welcomed by the Northland Regional Council (NRC) which has worked closely with the trust across multiple environmental initiatives and is supporting its planned Thursday 03 April field day at Ngaiotonga Marae – 1561 Rawhiti Road, Whangaruru.
    The trust has been administering 1100 hectares of the Ngaiotonga A3 Block on behalf of 1284 beneficial owners. The coastal hill country stretches along North Whangaruru and consists of 360ha of effective farmland, 297ha of forestry, and 443ha of native forest and wetlands. (The trust also leases 40ha of a neighbouring block from the Department of Conservation, giving it a total of 400ha effective farming area.)
    The trust has worked actively with various departments within the NRC. To protect the health of the whenua and moana, the trust has been integral to eradicating sika deer in its area, helping mitigate flood risks, working to help enforce marine protection areas, and many more.
    Since regaining its farm in 2020, the trust has embarked on a major investment programme to fence off all of its native bush and wetland areas in partnership with NRC and other agencies to protect rare species including the critically endangered Matuku (Bittern) and Pāteke (Brown Teal duck).
    Council Chair Geoff Crawford says from rivers to the forest, to the coastline, to the farmlands the trust has always been proactive with working in the environmental area, collaborating with multiple council departments.
    “Council is thrilled that the trust’s work in the agricultural space is being recognised.”
    Trust Co Chair Huhana Lyndon says anyone is welcome to attend the public field day.
    “We have decided to host this day to celebrate this achievement and to give people an inside look at the work we’ve been carrying out.”
    The day is expected to have more than 250 attendees, including government ministers, local government, Northland farmers, local residents, whānau, hapū and iwi.
    A pōwhiri will begin at 9am and the farm tour will be with 4WD vehicles only.
    More information is available at: https://www.facebook.com/share/12GYMkCmdXW/
    Meanwhile, the trust’s finalist status for the Ahuwhenua Trophy is not its only success of late. It recently celebrated two wins at the Northland Ballance Farm Environment Awards in the Climate Change Resiliency and Agri Business Management categories.
    The winners of the Ahuwhenua Trophy will be announced on Friday June 06 in Papaioea, Palmerston North. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: GAZA – Oxfam: Humanitarian operations in Gaza severely hampered; famine risks increasing

    Source: Oxfam Aotearoa

    Restoring ceasefire deal vital as death toll hits 50,000 and continues to rise amid Israeli airstrikes, aid and power blockades, and renewed mass forced displacements.
    Oxfam and partners’ operations have been severely hampered as Israel’s renewed military assault and ground offensive on Gaza continues into its 7th day.
    Oxfam is calling for a renewed ceasefire and for Israel to lift its 23-day siege which is again blocking aid supplies and increasing famine risks for desperate civilians. Israel imposed a complete blockade 23 days ago and cut off electricity to Gaza a few days later.
    Israeli authorities are denying entry to trucks loaded with 63,000 metric tons of food for 1.1 million people. Operations have been forced to stop in vital areas such as food security and livelihood, as well as hygiene promotion, and essential repair work to damaged water infrastructure. 
    Bushra Khalidi, Oxfam’s OPT Policy Lead, said: “During the 42-day ceasefire families in Gaza could finally fall asleep knowing their loved ones would still be beside them when they woke up. Even though aid that entered was not enough-far from enough-it was something. The price of food stabilised. Supermarkets reopened. Bakeries began running again. Many people even went to their homes or what was left of it, and tried to repair and rebuild, however little they could.”
    Humanitarian agencies were able to mount operations that saw an average of more than 4,000 trucks per week entering Gaza despite Israeli authorities initially only partially opening the crossings and denying much of the urgently needed reconstruction materials. Oxfam reached almost 200,000 people with essential relief. 
    The Israeli government’s renewed bombardment of residential areas, including Jabalia and Khan Younis, has killed almost 700 people, including at least 200 children since March 18. Israeli authorities have issued new mass forced displacement orders, forcing around 120,000 Palestinians to flee. These orders are causing panic and chaos in the absence of anywhere safe in Gaza.
    Oxfam says humanitarian operations have been gravely hindered by the absence of guarantees of safety for aid workers moving around Gaza.
    Oxfam and its partners say their storage facilities containing food parcels are severely depleted. Israeli authorities have denied access to Oxfam shipments of six desalination units and seven trucks of water and sanitation infrastructure, up to 85% of which has been destroyed by Israel’s bombing campaign.
    “Oxfam, through its partners has been able to initiate emergency water trucking across the Gaza Strip, and are maintaining some other aid programs, such as multi-purpose cash transfers, despite the severe challenges that all humanitarian workers now face around lack of protection,” said Khalidi.
    “For the past 535 days, Israel has been systematically weaponising life-saving aid, inflicting collective punishment upon the population of Gaza. The denial of food, water, fuel and electricity is a war crime and a crime against humanity. Many within the international community are enabling this by their silence, inaction and complicity,” said Khalidi.
    Oxfam’s health partner in Gaza, Juzoor for Health and Social Development, had its center in Jabalia destroyed in an airstrike on March 18. It had been serving over 1,000 patients daily. Dr Umaiyeh Khammash, Director of Juzoor, said: “Every airstrike that hits, threatens the lives and safety of our dedicated staff and the patients they serve. This center is not just a building; it’s the heartbeat of healthcare for countless families here. Without it, many will lose access to crucial medical care.”
    In another attack yesterday (March 23), three sewage operators from the Abasan Al Kabira municipality working with Oxfam’s partner Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) were killed while performing their duties when their clearly- marked truck was destroyed in an attack by Israeli military.
    A renewed ceasefire must be permanent and accompanied by the safe return of Israeli hostages and illegally detained Palestinian prisoners. Israel must provide unfettered aid at scale. Oxfam said governments must stop transferring arms, while the international community must enforce international law. We reiterate our call for justice and accountability for all those affected.  
    Notes:
    • Oxfam works with 19 partner organizations in the Gaza Strip. Between 20 January and 28 February 2025, Oxfam reached a total of 181,622 people across the Gaza Strip with water and sanitation services, including repair and reconstruction, protection, multipurpose cash assistance, distribution of food parcels and essential agricultural inputs for recovery, protection, health care and case management.
    • Since Israel’s breach of the ceasefire and airstrikes on Gaza on 18 March, Oxfam staff movements have been severely restricted in the absence of a notification system. This week, Oxfam’s progammes in Gaza, including those of many partners, have been severely impacted. Oxfam is still able to undertake some water trucking and multipurpose cash distribution, but under high-risk conditions
    • The fatality rate in Gaza is based on the Palestinian Ministry of Health reporting on 24 March (11AM) and the fatality rate of children is reported by UNICEF on 21 March
    • Since 2 March, Israeli authorities have re-imposed a total siege, blockading the entire Gaza Strip. It is banning the entry of any humanitarian basic supplies, including water, food, medical supplies and fuel, as well as banning any commercial supplies to enter Gaza.
    • On 10 March, Israeli authorities cut off electricity supply to the only operational large-scale desalination plant for drinking water. With the exception of that last remaining, intermittent electricity feed to the desalination plant, Gaza has been under an electricity blackout since 11 October 2023.
    • The current siege is one week longer than in 2023, when the Israeli authorities imposed a total siege that lasted from 7-21 October 2023.
    • According to the IPC Special Snapshot – September 2024 – April 2025, the risk of Famine between November 2024 and April 2025 persists as long as conflict continues, and humanitarian access is restricted
    • According to the Palestinian Water Authority, 85% of the water and sanitation infrastructure in Gaza is destroyed as a result of Israel’s bombing campaign.
    • The UN reported that during the 42-day ceasefire period, a total of 4,000 trucks per week travelled into Gaza, 600,000 people received polio vaccinations and maternity care was provided for 5,000 births.
    • Satellite images of the Gaza displacement orders, on 18 March, covers an area amounting to 37% of Gaza’s land and double the size of the original buffer zone. This has been reported by Sky News and the figures have been confirmed by the UN. The UN reported on 21 March that more than 120,000 people had fled since the evacuation orders were issued on 18 March.
    • Denial of Aid – breaches Customary IHL Rule 55; 1977 Additional Protocol II Arts 69-71 and 81; Fourth Geneva Convention 1949, Arts 23,55-63 and 108-111; Rome Statute ICC, Crime Against Humanity of Extermination, Art 7 1(b) “Extermination” includes the intentional infliction of conditions of life, inter alia the deprivation of access to food and medicine, calculated to bring about the destruction of part of a population. OCHA / WFP food insecurity data,  released every tuesday (18 Mar 2025): Most recent OCHA sitrep (18 Mar 2025):
    • Between 10 and 20 per cent of 4,500 surveyed pregnant and breastfeeding women are malnourished, a recent analysis by the Nutrition Cluster reveals.
    • To cope with shortages, the Food Security Sector (FSS) partners are drastically reducing food assistance to families, suspending flour distribution to families to prioritize supplies for bakeries, pausing the distribution of fresh produce, and scaling down hot meal preparations at some community kitchens.
    • FSS warns that over one million people risk being left without food parcels in March, and at least 80 of the 170 community kitchens may be forced to close in one to two weeks, if supplies, including cooking fuel, are not allowed into Gaza. The FSS estimates that more than 50,000 metric tons (MT) of food supplies are required monthly to assist everyone with full rations, in addition to 9,700 MT of flour needed monthly to keep the subsidized bakeries running.
    • Since the ceasefire took effect on 19 January, and as of 15 March, 4,646 children have enrolled in malnutrition treatment programmes, 672 of whom were diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition.
    • The Nutrition Cluster notes a decrease in monthly enrolments in such programmes from about 5,000 in the month prior to the ceasefire to a monthly average of 2,500 in Phase One of the ceasefire.
    • Nutrition Cluster partners observed a rising number of pregnant and breastfeeding women becoming malnourished – between 10 and 20 per cent,
    • 11 March inter-agency mission to eastern Khan Younis found that agricultural facilities had been largely destroyed, including 1,400 dunums of open land,150 greenhouses, 90 poultry farms, and dozens of livestock and dairy cattle farms. The remaining cultivated land did not exceed 70-80 dunums.
    • Market survey carried out by WFP covering key developments during the first half of March (14th Mar published):
    • WFP currently has sufficient food stocks to support active kitchens and bakeries for up to one month, as well as ready-to-eat food parcels to support 550,000 people for two weeks.
    • WFP has approximately 63,000 metric tons of food destined for Gaza, stored or in transit in the region. This is equivalent to two to three months of distributions for 1.1 million people, pending authorization to enter Gaza.
    • Traders have begun withholding goods due to uncertainty over when new supplies will arrive.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: South Korea/Israel/OPT: HD Hyundai machinery used in West Bank demolitions – Amnesty International

    Source: Amnesty International

    HD Hyundai machinery has been widely used in demolitions of Palestinian-owned structures in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), according to new visual and testimonial evidence documented by Amnesty International Korea and local human rights groups.

    While the company denies their involvement, images and videos verified by the groups identified 59 Palestinian-owned homes, businesses and other structures that were demolished between September 2019 and February 2025 using machinery made by the South Korea conglomerate.

    These demolitions resulted in the forced displacement of approximately 250 Palestinians and damaged the livelihoods of hundreds of others.

    “It is imperative that HD Hyundai takes decisive action to immediately suspend distribution of its products in Israel and conduct heightened due diligence to ensure its operations, products or services do not perpetuate human rights abuses,” said Montse Ferrer, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director.

    For its investigation, Amnesty International Korea in collaboration with the Evidence Lab, Amnesty International’s digital investigations team, verified a total of 347 images and videos of demolitions obtained through partnerships with local organizations.

    Amnesty International Korea, in collaboration with the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem, also gathered testimonies from victims whose homes and businesses were destroyed by HD Hyundai bulldozers in eight instances across the West Bank.

    One resident, a plumber named Yaaqoub Barqan, described how the Israeli military turned his home into rubble in July 2024.

    “About 30 armed soldiers arrived in military jeeps, along with three pieces of heavy equipment, including a Hyundai excavator. The excavator destroyed the house in less than 20 minutes. My wife fainted watching our home being destroyed and is still receiving psychiatric treatment,” he said.

    These findings follow research from March 2023 in which Amnesty International and Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) documented five instances where Israeli forces used excavators manufactured by Hyundai Construction Equipment (Hyundai CE) to raze Palestinian property that displaced at least 15 Palestinians in Masafer Yatta, an area south of the occupied West Bank where Palestinians live under imminent threat of mass expulsion.

    In March 2024, in a response to media inquiries, HD Hyundai claimed it had reviewed its dealer’s records and asserted that there were no sales records to government agencies, such as for demolition work in Israel, and that compliance regulations were followed.

    However, Amnesty International Korea’s latest research revealed at least 32 shipments of HD Hyundai heavy machinery to Israeli distributor EFCO were made between October 2021 and October 2023 along with 12 shipments of Hyundai Infracore equipment to Emcol Ltd, Hyundai Infracore’s major distributor in Israel.

    Amnesty International Korea first contacted HD Hyundai in March 2023, and then again in October 2024 and March 2025, to inform the company about the use of its machinery in unlawful demolitions in the OPT. On 17 March 2025, Hyundai Infracore, Emcol and EFCO were contacted.

    HD Hyundai XiteSolution, the parent company of HD Hyundai CE and HD Hyundai Infracore, responded on 25 March 2025 saying that it “has no involvement with activities in said conflict regions”. The company did not respond directly to questions posed by Amnesty International Korea. Emcol and EFCO did not respond.

    “HD Hyundai Group, like any corporate actor, must respect human rights throughout its operations. It must do more to guarantee that its machinery is not being used in the destruction of homes and livelihoods in the OPT, especially as demolitions are a key tool in upholding Israel’s system of apartheid,” Montse Ferrer said.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Child Poverty – Global aid funding cuts – 14 million children at increased risk of severe malnutrition and death

    Source: UNICEF Aotearoa NZ

    Reductions in donor funding threaten to unravel decades of progress for the world’s most vulnerable children and women 
    At least 14 million children are expected to face disruptions to nutrition support and services because of recent and expected global funding cuts, leaving them at heightened risk of severe malnutrition and death – according to initial analyses issued by UNICEF as world leaders gather at the Nutrition for Growth Summit in Paris.
    The funding crisis comes at a time of unprecedented need for children who continue to face record levels of displacement, new and protracted conflicts, disease outbreaks, and the deadly consequences of climate change – all of which are undermining their access to adequate nutrition.
    “Over the last decades, we have made impressive progress in reducing child malnutrition globally because of a shared commitment and sustained investment,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Since 2000, the number of stunted children under the age of five has fallen by 55 million, and the lives of millions of severely malnourished children have been saved. But steep funding cuts will dramatically reverse these gains and put the lives of millions more children at risk.” 
    Additional impacts across 17 high priority countries due to funding cuts include: 
    – More than 2.4 million children suffering from severe acute malnutrition could go without Ready-to-use-Therapeutic-Food (RUTF) for the remainder of 2025. 
    – Up to 2,300 life-saving stabilisation centres – providing critical care for children suffering from severe wasting with medical complications – are at risk of closing or severely scaling back services.
    – Almost 28,000 UNICEF-supported outpatient therapeutic centres for the treatment of malnutrition are at risk, and in some cases have already stopped operating.
    Today, levels of severe wasting in children under five remain gravely high in some fragile contexts and humanitarian emergencies. Adolescent girls and women are especially vulnerable. Even before the funding cuts, the number of pregnant and breastfeeding women and adolescent girls suffering from acute malnutrition soared from 5.5 million to 6.9 million – or 25 per cent – since 2020. UNICEF expects these figures to rise without urgent action from donors as well as adequate investments from national governments.
    “UNICEF is calling on governments and donors to prioritise investments in health and nutrition programmes for children and is urging national governments to allocate more funding to domestic nutrition and health services. Good nutrition is the foundation of child survival and development, with impressive returns on investment. Dividends will be measured in stronger families, societies and countries, and a more stable world,” said Russell. 
    UNICEF is determined to stay and deliver for the world’s children by continuing to prioritise high-impact programmes, optimise resources, and accelerate cost-saving measures. But urgent and immediate action is needed to mitigate the impact of the global funding crisis on children, protect the most vulnerable, and safeguard their futures. To address child and maternal malnutrition in the long-term – including through the prevention, detection, and treatment of child undernutrition – UNICEF launched the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) in 2023, with the support of the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, the Gates Foundation, and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation. UNICEF continues to urge governments, partners and philanthropic donors to contribute to this lifesaving fund and other flexible funding instruments for children and women.
    About UNICEF
    UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, works to protect the rights of every child, everywhere, especially the most disadvantaged children and in the toughest places to reach. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive, and fulfil their potential.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government Cuts – Preservation of New Zealand’s history threatened by latest job cuts – PSA

    Source: PSA

    Experienced workers at the frontline of preserving New Zealand’s history and who help people access it every day are being axed in the Government’s latest thoughtless cost cutting move.
    Archives New Zealand and the National Library today confirmed plans to cut 30 roles – including librarians, curators, conservators, archivists, advisors and other experienced staff. They undertake important work maintaining New Zealand’s historical records collected by government agencies dating from 1840.
    “This is all about saving money and not about saving our memories as a nation,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
    “This is another broken promise by the Government who repeatedly told New Zealand there would be no cuts to frontline services.
    “These people are absolutely critical to the preservation of our archives and national library – these are the priceless historical records of our nation, vital for those who need to tell our stories, and to investigate the past.”
    Archives NZ collects a variety of information including court records, citizenship files, police and prison records, artworks, films, maps, plans and health, mental health and welfare records.
    “As we have seen across the public service, the Government is demanding more from less and that will impact the services provided by Archives NZ and the National Library. The public will be waiting longer to access historic records. Staff will face bigger workloads; backlogs will grow, and the risk of burnout will only increase.
    “In the rush to find savings in every corner of the public service to fund its tax cuts, the Government is standing by and allowing these valuable services to be degraded. It disrespects those workers and our history.
    “It’s another sad day for dedicated public servants who work hard every day to preserve our memories and help New Zealanders have ready access to them.”
    The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Council gives support to accelerate level crossing removals

    Source: Auckland Council

    Auckland Council today approved acceleration of the programme to remove level crossings at Takaanini and Glen Innes by bringing forward a $550 million allocation in its Long-term Plan capital budget.

    The move, which will see the removal of all remaining level crossings on the Southern and Eastern rail lines and the construction of eight new road and pedestrian bridges, is subject to New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi approving the first $200 million of co-funding announced by central government in February 2025.

    Mayor Wayne Brown sees the council’s approval given today as a great move to support and add value to the Aucklanders who live and work in Takaanini and Glen Innes, as well as the wider users of Auckland’s growing rail network.

     “One of my key policies is to get Auckland moving and this is one initiative that will deliver on this,” says Mayor Brown.

    “We have an opportunity to take advantage of NZTA’s support funding to bring forward the borrowing we’ve set aside and accelerate these level crossing removals. It just makes sense.

    “Starting with 20 trains an hour when City Rail Link opens, removing these level crossings and constructing new road and pedestrian bridges means more trains can run as usage grows – this will slash local traffic congestion and make it safer for people to walk and drive in the area.

    “This is a great example of working together with the government on fixing Auckland’s transport issues,” says Mayor Brown.

    The Auckland Transport (AT) Board approved the investment case for the Takaanini and Glen Innes group in February 2025.

    “These crossing removals and replacements are our highest priority, to support increased train frequencies following the opening of City Rail Link while keeping traffic moving and improving safety,” says Jane Small, AT’s Group Manager Rail Infrastructure.

    “Funding confirmations from both Auckland Council and NZTA will allow us to get on with delivering these much-needed projects. The next steps will include engagement with communities on the new station pedestrian and road bridges, along with starting the procurement to finalise design and build the new road bridge replacements in Takaanini.

    “AT is also continuing removals of other level crossings before City Rail Link opens, along with a range of interim safety upgrades at other road level crossings,” adds Ms Small.

    Papakura Local Board deputy chair Jan Robinson was present at the meeting to speak to and support today’s funding acceleration, and the desire for local boards to take part in the detailed design and delivery stages of this project.

    “Papakura Local Board has been very involved in the designation of the rail crossings in Takaanini. This is a positive signal for the safety of people in Papakura to reduce local traffic congestion as these complex improvements get delivered,” says Ms Robinson.   

    An existing programme of rail level crossing removals is well under way and enables the operation of the City Rail Link (CRL) Day 1 timetable. A post-CRL programme investment case for level crossing removals has been developed which prioritises the Takaanini and Glen Innes level crossings group to be delivered next.

    The scope of the Takaanini and Glen Innes crossings includes eight new bridges – three road bridges, two pedestrian bridges to maintain existing street connections, and three new station platform access bridges. Eight new bridges will remove all level crossings from the inner Southern (Papakura north) and Eastern Rail lines, improve safety and deliver operational efficiencies for road and rail users. Four road crossings will close in conjunction with these improvements.

    The council’s Long-term Plan 2024-2034 assumes that the programme would be 51 per cent co-funded by New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

    In February 2025, the Minister of Transport announced that the Government would allocate up to $200 million for its share of funding to accelerate removal of the level crossings in Takanini and Glen Innes. The allocation of funding is subject to approval by the NZTA board, expected at the beginning of April 2025.

    The next steps are to progress the procurement of design, property and construction details.

    For more information, see the Governing Body item online.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: This budget’s tax tinkering isn’t the same as meaningful tax reform. Here’s why

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kristen Sobeck, Research Fellow, Tax and Transfer Policy Institute, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University

    Miha Creative/Shutterstock

    Labor’s tax changes this week do not tackle tax reform, or why we desperately need it. They only address the amount collected from personal income tax, which is the largest source of tax revenue.

    Real tax reform would review taxes such as the GST, taxes on savings (including housing and super), and personal and corporate income tax – and ensure they are sustainable over the long term.

    Tax cuts and tax revenue relate to the amount of tax the government collects. Reform needs to tackle both the amount of tax and how we collect it.

    It involves redesigning how we collect tax revenue in a way that is efficient, equitable, simple and resilient, to improve the well-being of all Australians.

    And the quantum – how much we collect as part of tax reform – depends on the demand for government services, which is growing, with structural budget deficits forecast for the next 10 years.

    So how does the income tax system work?

    When you earn a salary from your job, every dollar earned above A$18,200 is taxed. Income earned between $18,201 to $45,000 is taxed at 16 cents per dollar. Three higher tax brackets follow, as the table below shows. This is known as a progressive tax system, where the tax rate increases as your income rises.

    Mathematically, this means that if a worker named Jane has a $130,000 salary, the first $18,200 of her income is tax free, the next $26,800 of her salary is taxed at 16 cents for each dollar and so on. Her total income tax bill is $29,788.

    In the budget, the Labor government announced from July 1 2026, it would cut the 16 cents marginal income tax rate to 15 cents and from July 1 2027 to 14 cents. As the example above shows, the proposed reductions will affect all Australian income taxpayers, not just low income earners.

    The legislation passed parliament late on Wednesday night, but the Coalition has said it will repeal the cuts if it wins the election.

    What is bracket creep?

    Workers generally receive an increase in their wage each financial year. But in recent years, the increase in wages received by some workers hasn’t been enough to keep up with inflation (changes in prices).

    This is the case for our imaginary worker, Jane. Where she lives, prices have increased by 10%. Her employer has offered her a wage increase of 5%, so now she earns $136,500. However, everything where Jane lives is now 10% more expensive, so while her salary has increased, the purchasing power of her wage has declined.

    Unfortunately for Jane, the income tax system completely disregards her decline in living standards. Since her salary has increased she owes more income tax.

    This is what’s referred to as bracket creep. It’s also known as fiscal drag. It arises when our income tax bill goes up, our take-home pay (our disposable income) goes down as a result, and our standard of living declines.

    Sometimes inflation can push a person into a higher income tax bracket. This is the case for Jane, who now pays 37 cents per dollar on $555 of her income. However it also applies if a taxpayer remains in the same income tax bracket (since their salary still goes up and they owe more income tax).

    Is bracket creep a good or a bad thing?

    For workers, bracket creep is bad news because it reduces their after-tax income while their standard of living declines.

    However, for governments it can be a useful tool.

    First, bracket creep allows governments to collect more revenue than they would in the absence of inflation. Higher inflation means more revenue. This approach enables governments to increase expenditure and/or offer tax cuts to offset bracket creep. The government is doing the latter even in a period of budget deficit.

    Second, bracket creep can be useful for governments during periods of high inflation. Governments need to rein in spending to reduce high inflation and bracket creep is one way of achieving this goal.

    Given these benefits, Australia is not alone among developed countries that opt to change their income tax thresholds on a discretionary basis. Just over half (55%) of OECD countries took this approach in 2022 for their personal income tax systems.

    The remaining OECD countries (45%) applied automatic indexation in 2022. Indexation ensures that taxpayers’ income tax bills only increase (in real terms) when their wages increase by more than inflation.

    But ensuring tax brackets keep pace with inflation is only one part of the tax picture. Neither side of politics is addressing the sort of major tax reforms needed to make the tax system more sustainable and match fit for the 21st century. But the Tax and Transfer Policy Institute is prepared with ideas when they are.

    Kristen Sobeck 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. This budget’s tax tinkering isn’t the same as meaningful tax reform. Here’s why – https://theconversation.com/this-budgets-tax-tinkering-isnt-the-same-as-meaningful-tax-reform-heres-why-253121

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Tap win-win opportunities in China

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Top executives of global firms gathered at the China Development Forum in Beijing this week, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of the essence of opportunities in China: mutual benefits.

    China reaffirmed its commitment to opening-up during the forum, attended by hundreds of leading multinational executives, as well as scholars, officials and representatives of international financial institutions.

    During the face-to-face exchanges, global business leaders gained insights into China’s economic governance and opportunities for foreign investors, while China’s policymakers learned about foreign companies’ demands and expectations.

    In a world increasingly disrupted by geopolitical tensions, protectionism and isolationism, participants were glad to hear messages from China advocating inclusiveness, pragmatism and farsightedness.

    Chinese companies and multinationals have seen massive mutual benefits during decades of China’s openness.

    The latest data shows that China remains a top destination for transnational investment. Some 60,000 foreign-invested companies were established in China in 2024 alone, a 9.9 percent year-on-year increase. The return rate of FDI in China is nearly 9 percent in the past five years, ranking among the top across the globe.

    The golden days of foreign companies in China are far from over. If we read between the lines of China’s 2025 government work report and feel the market vitality during the Spring Festival holiday, we can see that foreign firms have cause to be confident and optimistic over their future in China.

    New growth points and opportunities will emerge from China’s unwavering efforts to open up, which will boost new industrialization, green growth and digital transformation, and create new opportunities for cooperation.

    China has always linked its own development with the outside world, remained committed to practicing genuine multilateralism, and worked hard to provide stability and certainty for the global cause of peace and development.

    It’s necessary for all parties to work in unity and good faith to resist unilateralism and protectionism, and strive for greater shared development through win-win cooperation. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump announces new 25 pct auto tariffs

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced plans to impose 25 percent auto tariffs — on top of previous duties — on April 2.

    “What we’re going to be doing is a 25 percent tariff for all cars that are not made in the United States,” Trump said in the White House Oval Office.

    “We’re signing today. It goes into effect on April 2. We start collecting on April 3,” Trump told reporters.

    According to a document released by the White House, Trump signed a proclamation invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to impose a 25 percent tariff on imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts to address “a critical threat to U.S. national security.”

    “The 25 percent tariff will be applied to imported passenger vehicles (sedans, SUVs, crossovers, minivans, cargo vans) and light trucks, as well as key automobile parts (engines, transmissions, powertrain parts, and electrical components), with processes to expand tariffs on additional parts if necessary,” the White House said.

    It also noted that importers of automobiles under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement will be given the opportunity to certify their U.S. content, and the 25 percent tariff will only apply to the parts that are not made in the United States.

    The current U.S. tariff on automobiles is generally set at 2.5 percent, while a 25 percent tariff is imposed on light trucks. Vehicles that meet the rules of origin under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) are exempt from these tariffs. According to the latest announcement, the 25 percent tariff will be added on top of existing duties.

    Trump claimed that the tariffs would encourage more production to relocate to the United States, generate new revenue for the government, and help reduce the national debt. However, economists believe the tariffs will drive up car prices and hurt consumers, who are already facing high prices.

    “This is a major blow to the auto industry. Ford and GM shares are down sharply,” Gary Clyde Hufbauer, a non-resident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, told Xinhua.

    “The higher cost of autos cut demand, especially since consumers are in weak shape financially,” Hufbauer said. “I expect substantial job losses in U.S. auto and parts firms.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Baldwin, Welch Lead Schumer, Colleagues Spotlighting Trumps Cuts to Cancer and Alzheimer’s Cures

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    A full recording of the forum is available here
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Peter Welch (D-VT) led Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and 14 of their Senate colleagues at a forum to spotlight Elon Musk and President Donald Trump’s efforts to cut cancer, Alzheimer’s, and other diseases treatments and cures. The forum, “Cures in Crisis: What Gutting NIH Research Means for Americans with Cancer, Alzheimer’s, & Other Diseases,” featured witnesses that highlighted the dire impact of cuts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including former Director of the NIH, Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, M.D., two Alzheimer’s disease researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Emory University, and two patients who have benefitted from NIH clinical trials.
    “I truly wish I didn’t need to host this forum but Elon Musk’s DOGE and Donald Trump are quite literally on a path to rip away cures to cancer and Alzheimer’s disease – all to make room in their budget for tax breaks for the richest of the rich. Today, we heard from the people who will be paying the price – and I hope my Republican colleagues and the President were listening,” said Senator Baldwin. “Right now, we are wasting precious time that we cannot get back for American families hoping that their loved one has a chance to get better.”
    “The Trump Administration has taken a wrecking ball to the National Institutes of Health without a care about who gets hurt in the process. The first to feel the impact of these cuts will be American patients who rely on NIH’s cutting-edge research to get new therapies and cure diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer. DOGE’s mass firing spree has also left our nation’s top scientists on the chopping block, stifling American innovation and weakening our leadership in biomedical science for years to come. These cuts and layoffs mean the difference between life and death for communities in both red and blue states,” said Senator Welch. “I’m proud to join Senator Baldwin and our colleagues today to defend our commitment to science, research, and care across America.”
    “I resigned my post as NIH Director in January of this year. Since then, I have had no insight into how decisions are being made by our current leaders at HHS. I can speak, however, about the downstream effects of their decisions, and some irreparable damage that their policies are producing. To date more than 300 grants terminated; and about $1.5 billion in funding delays and barriers that are preventing NIH’s role of ensuring that funding is delivered to outstanding researchers across the nation,” said Dr. Bertagnolli, former Director of the NIH. “Today, we are just beginning to see progress against devastating diseases which have long been hopeless – Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, even pancreatic cancer – all because of NIH funding. And this has proven to be a great investment for American taxpayers – producing both extraordinary improvements in health, and significant profits for our nation’s economy. How can we afford to see this progress stalled? Overall, the loss to our nation on so many levels will be too great.”
    “I’m here to emphasize the critical importance of NIH funding in the fight against Alzheimer’s—a disease that is one of our greatest public health and economic challenges. While deaths from heart disease and cancer have leveled off or declined thanks to decades of NIH investment, deaths from Alzheimer’s and related dementias have increased. Over 6.9 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s today—a number projected to double by 2050 without effective solutions,” said Dr. Sterling Johnson, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor and Associate Director of Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. “Our patients who have this progressive disease don’t have the luxury of time to shoulder the unnecessary delays and uncertainty that we are currently experiencing. The clock is ticking for them and their families. Now more than ever we need the continued full resolve and commitment of the federal government to meet their need.”
    “I am here today as a scientist who has had 2 NIH grants abruptly terminated in the past month. On February 28th my first NIH grant was terminated, which had only 6 months remaining on a 4-year award… While these terminations are devastating for me and my team, particularly junior faculty and students, my primary concern is for the patients, research participants and the families who are already being impacted by the NIH’s recent radical shift in funding priorities,” said Dr. Whitney Wharton, PhD, Emory University Associate Professor and Alzheimer’s Disease researcher. “Termination of my peer reviewed grants, and hundreds of others, which were awarded based on merit, has potentially devastating implications for all Americans. It sets a concerning precedent where scientific inquiry and peer reviewed and awarded projects are turned off and on based on a set of changing priorities. Not only can this cause confusion, but it could also impact the pipeline of new and talented young investigators, and erase entire communities of patients, who are the most impacted by diseases like Alzheimer’s, from research entirely.”
    “I speak here today not only for myself, but for every patient who has ever held out hope that research would buy them another year — or another decade. Without robust, sustained, and predictable funding from the NIH, those bridges to the next treatment won’t be there when patients need them. The bridge that saved me was built through decades of investment, innovation, and relentless commitment from our nation’s scientific community. But those bridges don’t build themselves,” said Dr. Larry Saltzman, M.D., retired physician living with leukemia and former Executive Research Director for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. “I am living proof of what NIH research can do, and I don’t think I would be here today without the commitment that Congress has shown by prioritizing NIH funding over the past many decades. I ask you to protect this funding — so that more people can outlive their expiration dates.”
    “The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal agencies have been critical in funding groundbreaking research that offers hope to thousands of individuals like me, including by providing access to experimental treatments for ALS. The experimental drug I am taking could not only extend my life but could also lead to a cure. Access to this drug could mean seeing my son and grandson graduate high school and college, something I did not think was possible when I was diagnosed,” said Mr. Jessy Ybarra, veteran living with ALS and Board of Trustees member for the ALS Association. “But now funding cuts and reductions to funding at NIH and other research agencies threaten to derail decades of progress right when we are at the tipping point of finally finding a cure. But to be clear, this isn’t just about me, and everyone else impacted by ALS now and in the future. ALS costs our nation over one-billion dollars a year. Investing in finding a cure is not only fiscally responsible, but very simply, good public policy. I urge Congress to reject these harmful cuts to NIH and support the funding necessary to make ALS a livable disease and cure it. My life, our lives, and our economy depend on it.”
    Over the last two months, the Trump Administration has attacked, compromised, and gutted research at the NIH for lifesaving cures and treatments, including:
    Cutting Funding for Research Facilities: NIH announced last month that it was planning to arbitrarily cap indirect cost rates at 15%, which would slash billions of dollars in funding that helps research institutions, like the University of Wisconsin, operate their facilities and labs, pay staff, and buy equipment needed for groundbreaking work to find cures for diseases and treatments for patients.
    Funding Freeze for Alzheimer’s Disease: The Trump Administration is jeopardizing $65 million in funding for Alzheimer’s disease research at 14 research institutions across the country. 14 of the 35 Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) have had their funding halted because the Trump Administration continues to cancel NIH Advisory Council meetings, which are the final required step in the grant approval process.
    Terminating Grants for Lifesaving Research: The Trump Administration stopped all grant funding at NIH for ten days in February and is continuing to block funding for lifesaving disease research, like finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. This halt in funding is despite two court orders directing the Trump Administration to end its unlawful efforts to freeze all federal grants. This is in addition to Elon Musk indiscriminately terminating hundreds of active NIH grants every week, in direct defiance of federal court orders to stop NIH funding changes amid ongoing litigation.
    Gutting Critical Staff: Mass layoffs at HHS under Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s direction are impacting everything from research to clinical trials, including scientists, nurses, pharmacists, and experts tracking disease spread. Reports show the NIH is expected to cut between 3,400 and 5,000 positions from its workforce of 20,000.
    NIH funding contributed to research for roughly 99 percent of drugs approved between 2010 and 2019, including heart medications, according to the Center for American Progress. The advocacy group United for Medical Research found that in fiscal year 2023, funding from the agency supported more than 410,000 jobs, with 10,000 NIH-supported jobs in some states. In that same year, NIH-funded research fueled nearly $93 billion in economic spending. Overall, the economic benefit of NIH funding is more than twice the investment made through NIH appropriations. For a breakdown of how much funding each state receives from the NIH, click here.
    Joining Senators Baldwin and Welch at the forum were Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Patty Murray (D-WA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).
    A full recording of the forum is available here. Witnesses opening statements are available here.
    A one-pager on President Donald Trump’s actions to gut the NIH and its impacts is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla Secures Commitment from EPA Nominee to Help Combat Tijuana River Pollution Crisis

    US Senate News:

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

    Padilla Secures Commitment from EPA Nominee to Help Combat Tijuana River Pollution Crisis

    WATCH: Padilla highlights importance of federal infrastructure investments to address cross-border sewage flowsWASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) secured a commitment from Jessica Kramer, nominee for Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to help address the ongoing Tijuana River transboundary pollution crisis and its harmful environmental and public health impacts.
    During a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee nominations hearing, Padilla highlighted the hundreds of millions in federal funding he secured along with the late Senator Dianne Feinstein and the San Diego Congressional delegation to expand and upgrade the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP) to address harmful sewage flows. Kramer echoed Senator Padilla’s characterization of these transboundary pollution flows as a “crisis” and emphasized the importance of federal infrastructure investments to combat the crisis. Padilla and Kramer agreed that collaboration and communication, with both Mexico and federal partners like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the State Department, is essential to address these harmful cross-border flows.
    The hearing comes after Padilla, Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Representatives Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50) and Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-52) recently invited EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to visit San Diego’s South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBITWP) to see firsthand the ongoing environmental and public health consequences of the cross-border Tijuana River sewage crisis on local communities. Administrator Zeldin also recently expressed concern about the flow of sewage flowing across the border, posting about a briefing he received on the crisis and pushing Mexico to “honor its commitments to control this pollution and sewage.”
    PADILLA: I want to begin by expressing my appreciation for EPA Administrator Zeldin’s interest in one of my top EPA priorities, which is finally resolving the Tijuana River sewage crisis. For decades, communities in that part of Southern California have faced persistent both environmental as well as public health impacts of untreated sewage that has flowed across the border. … We recently invited Administrator Zeldin to tour the plant to see firsthand the challenges that we face. So I’d like to just begin by asking you, Ms. Kramer, how familiar you are with this issue, with the projects because assuming you are confirmed, I’d look forward to working with you to bring this project to completion.
    KRAMER: Absolutely. Thank you, Senator, for that question. During my first tenure at EPA under the first Trump Administration, this is, in fact, one of the issues that I worked on. And so EPA had been appropriated that first amount of funding that you referenced, and I was involved in the consideration of the various projects that could be funded to ensure that this transboundary flow crisis — to be completely frank, raw sewage flowing anywhere, in my mind, is a crisis — comes to an end. … I think the challenges that we’re seeing there, one, stems to ensuring that the infrastructure that is in place to ensure that these flows cease, but also two, ensuring that there is communication, robust communication that allows for partnership that is required to ensure that operation and maintenance of those infrastructure investments takes place. And it’s especially easy when it’s in the U.S., and it’s a little bit more challenging when we have infrastructure on the other side of the border that we need to be collaborating on.
    PADILLA: Well, that’s music to my ears, your familiarity with it, your history with it, your commitment to it as a priority. And yes, collaboration is key, not just with partners south of the border, but even within the federal government. We’ve brought to bear U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the intricacies of the State Department involvement here. So thank you for that.
    KRAMER: Absolutely.
    Senator Padilla also questioned Brian Nesvik, nominee to be Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service at the Department of the Interior, highlighting the complexities of California’s water system and threats to the state’s water security and quality in the face of climate change. He urged Nesvik to roll up his sleeves on California water challenges and encouraged him to listen to career professionals at the Fish and Wildlife Service and experts within California’s state agencies to navigate complex water and wildlife issues.
    Video of Padilla’s full line of questioning is available here.
    Since 2018, more than 100 billion gallons of toxic sewage, trash, and unmanaged stormwater have flowed across the United States-Mexico border into the Tijuana River Valley and neighboring communities, forcing long-lasting beach closures and causing harmful impacts on public health, the environment, and water quality. U.S. military personnel, border patrol agents, and the local economy have also suffered harmful impacts from airborne and waterborne transboundary sewage flows. In 2023, sewage flowed across the border at the highest volume in a quarter century, exceeding 44 billion gallons.
    Senator Padilla has prioritized addressing the Tijuana River pollution crisis since he first came to the Senate, recently working with the San Diego Congressional delegation to secure $250 million in the federal disaster relief package to clean up the Tijuana River. This marked the final tranche of funding required to complete the SBIWTP upgrade project. The SBIWTP project broke ground in October 2024, and over the coming years, the SBIWTP will double in capacity, reducing transboundary flows by 90 percent. Importantly, Mexico’s rehabilitated San Antonio de los Buenos wastewater treatment plant is expected to be fully operational by Spring 2025, further reducing flows to California communities. 
    In response to a request from Padilla and the San Diego Congressional delegation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently opened an investigation into the public health impacts of air pollution caused by the ongoing Tijuana River transboundary pollution crisis. Senator Padilla and the delegation also recently secured a $200 million authorization for the Tijuana River Valley Watershed and San Diego County through the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 to help address the ongoing transboundary sewage crisis through stormwater conveyance, environmental and ecosystem restoration, and water quality protection projects. They also delivered over $103 million in additional funding for the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) in the bipartisan FY 2024 appropriations package. Padilla previously successfully secured language in the FY 2023 appropriations package to allow the EPA to unlock $300 million previously secured in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to the IBWC for water infrastructure projects. Last year, Padilla and Representatives Peters and Vargas announced bicameral legislation to help combat the Tijuana River sewage pollution crisis.
    More information on the hearing is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Colleagues Slam Draconian Immigration Registration Order

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and eight Senate colleagues expressed strong disapproval of the Trump Administration’s resurrection of one of the country’s most draconian and discriminatory immigration policies: forcing immigrants to register with the federal government and carry proof of their registration at all times. The Senators urged U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) leadership to reverse this harmful practice and demanded answers on how the program would be implemented. 
    “The Administration has explicitly linked this revived registration requirement to enforcement efforts, empowering federal prosecutors to target immigrants who fail to comply,” wrote the Senators. “This creates a perilous dilemma for immigrants who entered the country without inspection and have had no prior contact with federal authorities. Those who register risk exposing themselves to removal proceedings, while those who refrain from registering face the threat of criminal prosecution. The policy further jeopardizes millions of immigrants—including those with lawful status—by subjecting them to penalties for simply failing to carry proof of registration.” 
    “This registration policy echoes historical precedents that have been widely discredited and condemned. The Alien Registration Act of 1940 was initially implemented during World War II in a climate of fear and xenophobia, requiring noncitizens to register at post offices across the country,” continued the Senators. “Now, by dusting off and weaponizing an outdated law, the Trump administration is reviving a dangerous precedent that will undermine fundamental civil liberties, disproportionately burden immigrant communities and millions of mixed-status families, and transform America into a ‘carry your papers’ country.” 
    The letter, led by Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), was also signed by Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
    The lawmakers demanded answers to questions about the implementation of this draconian plan including: 
    How does USCIS plan to implement this registration requirement, and what resources will be allocated to its implementation and enforcement? 
    What mechanisms will be in place to ensure that individuals who register are not automatically placed in removal proceedings or expedited removal? 
    What safeguards exist to prevent racial profiling and discriminatory enforcement practices in the application of this law?  
    Who will have access to any registration database and for what purposes? 
    Senator Padilla is a leading voice in Congress opposing President Trump’s anti-immigrant actions and rhetoric. Last week, Senators Padilla, Durbin, Booker, and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) issued a joint statement slamming President Trump for his attempted invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, wartime law, to deport noncitizens without due process. Padilla also joined other Democratic immigration leaders in challenging the constitutional basis of President Trump’s sham “invasion” proclamation, which the President believes would allow his Administration to circumvent federal immigration law and due process. Padilla also sharply criticized Trump’s harmful executive orders targeting immigrants at the start of his second Administration.
    Additionally, last week, Padilla condemned President Trump’s revival of family detention policies and urged him to reject the harmful practice. In February, Padilla denounced Trump’s transfer of immigrants from the United States to Guantánamo Bay as unlawful and demanded answers regarding these transfers. He also condemned the Trump Administration’s intended use of Bureau of Prisons facilities to detain immigrants as part of President Trump’s mass deportation agenda. Padilla also recently blasted the Trump Administration’s stop work order to organizations that provide legal services for unaccompanied children and demanded they protect Congressionally mandated legal representation for these children in the immigration system. Earlier this year, Padilla cosponsored the Born in the USA Act to effectively block the implementation of Trump’s unconstitutional executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship for certain children born in the United States, or a similar subsequent executive order. Last year, Padilla emphasized the dangers and immense economic costs of the Trump Administration’s mass deportation plans during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
    Full text of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear Ms. Scott:
    The Trump administration will soon resurrect one of the most draconian and discriminatory immigration policies in our nation’s history, forcing immigrants to register with the federal government and carry proof of their registration at all times. Bringing back this long-dormant policy is the latest salvo in the Administration’s unrelenting campaign to demonize and criminalize immigrants, treating them as threats rather than as individuals seeking opportunity and safety. By reviving a World War II-era registration law, the Administration would take us back to some of the darkest periods of our history, evoking policies that have been widely condemned for their inhumane and immoral treatment of noncitizens. The implications of this measure—both in terms of enforcement and its effect on immigrant communities—are profound, unjust, and unacceptable.
    Following up on President Trump’s day-one executive order on immigration inaccurately entitled Protecting the American People Against Invasion, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it will soon reinstate an antiquated requirement that all immigrants who did not enter the United States with a visa must register with the federal government and carry proof of their registration at all times. This provision, originally part of the Alien Registration Act of 1940, had long been rendered obsolete by subsequent immigration policies and practices. Under the new directive, USCIS will develop a registration process for affected individuals, who will then be required to submit a form confirming their presence in the United States. Those who fail to register or fail to carry proof of registration will face criminal prosecution under federal law.
    The Administration has explicitly linked this revived registration requirement to enforcement efforts, empowering federal prosecutors to target immigrants who fail to comply. This creates a perilous dilemma for immigrants who entered the country without inspection and have had no prior contact with federal authorities. Those who register risk exposing themselves to removal proceedings, while those who refrain from registering face the threat of criminal prosecution. The policy further jeopardizes millions of immigrants—including those with lawful status—by subjecting them to penalties for simply failing to carry proof of registration. Any registration requirement should, at a minimum, present immigrants with a path forward to legal status, like the 1986 Immigration Control and Reform Act did. This legislation led to almost 3 million undocumented immigrants gaining legal status, many of whom ultimately became U.S. citizens.
    This registration policy echoes historical precedents that have been widely discredited and condemned. The Alien Registration Act of 1940 was initially implemented during World War II in a climate of fear and xenophobia, requiring noncitizens to register at post offices across the country. Over time, the policy was integrated into routine immigration procedures, making separate registration requirements obsolete. More recently, in the wake of 9/11, the Bush administration’s National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) disproportionately targeted Muslim noncitizens, subjecting them to heightened surveillance and leading to mass deportations. That program was widely criticized for its discriminatory impact and ineffectiveness—having failed to produce a single terrorism conviction—and was ultimately dismantled. Now, by dusting off and weaponizing an outdated law, the Trump administration is reviving a dangerous precedent that will undermine fundamental civil liberties, disproportionately burden immigrant communities and millions of mixed-status families, and transform America into a “carry your papers” country.
    To help us better understand how the Administration intends to implement and enforce its registration policy, please respond in writing by April 8, 2025 to the following questions:
    1. How does USCIS plan to implement this registration requirement, and what resources will be allocated to its implementation and enforcement? Will any resources allocated to the implementation and enforcement of this registration requirement be shifted away from, or taken from, any other USCIS programs, functions, or offices?
    2. What mechanisms will be in place to ensure that individuals who register are not automatically placed in removal proceedings or expedited removal?
    3. The USCIS Alien Registration Requirement webpage includes among those who must register “[a]ll aliens 14 years of age or older who were not registered and fingerprinted (if required) when applying for a visa to enter the United States and who remain in the United States for 30 days or longer.” Does the Trump administration intend to prosecute children ages 14 to 17 for failing to register? Does the Administration intend to split up families if one member has failed to register?
    4. How will USCIS ensure that immigrants are adequately informed about these new registration obligations? Does USCIS plan to prosecute immigrants who failed to register but were unaware of this new registration requirement?
    5. What safeguards exist to prevent racial profiling and discriminatory enforcement practices in the application of this law? What training or guidance, if any, will those responsible for enforcing this requirement on the ground receive? What specific steps will you take to ensure that law enforcement does not use the new registration requirement to disproportionately target certain communities or engage in racial profiling?
    6. Who will have access to any registration database and for what purposes? Under what circumstances will USCIS share data in the database?
    a. Will U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or any other DHS agency, have access to and be permitted to use information in any database for immigration enforcement purposes? Will any other Department, including the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have access to and be permitted to use the information in the database for any purpose?
    b. Will any private companies have access to and be permitted to use the information in the database for any purpose?
    c. Will any states, cities, or localities have access to and be permitted to use the information in the database for any purpose?
    7. What information will be collected from immigrants who register and how will this information be stored? What safeguards will be in place to ensure that any registration database is secure from hacking or intrusion? What safeguards will be in place to ensure the protection of sensitive personal data?
    8. How will this policy impact immigrants who are already registered through other means, and will they be subject to penalties for failing to carry registration documents?
    9. What are the estimated costs associated with implementing this policy, and how does the Administration justify these expenditures given the significant backlog and resource constraints within USCIS?
    The Trump administration’s decision to enforce this archaic law is a regressive and indefensible move that will have lasting consequences for immigrant communities and the integrity of our immigration system. We urge USCIS to immediately reconsider this misguided policy and provide Congress with a full accounting of its intended implementation and enforcement. We will continue to exercise rigorous oversight to ensure that immigrant communities are not subjected to unnecessary and punitive measures that undermine their rights and dignity.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: 40 years since evacuation due to US nuclear tests, Greenpeace and displaced Rongelap community honour commitment to nuclear and climate justice fight

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    MEJATTO, MARSHALL ISLANDS, Thursday 27 March 2025 — Forty years since Greenpeace ship the Rainbow Warrior evacuated the people of Rongelap to Mejatto Island due to decades of US government nuclear weapons testing, Greenpeace and the displaced Rongelap community have come together on the remote Pacific island to commemorate this significant moment in their shared histories.

    Cathy Joel, one of three women who were present at the commemoration and the few remaining survivors of the 1954 Castle Bravo bomb – the US government’s largest ever nuclear weapons test – and was part of the Greenpeace evacuation to Mejatto, described her terror: 

    “I didn’t expect that I would be here as part of this very important event. I was six years old when the bomb exploded and I was so afraid. My father tried to comfort me but I was so frightened he couldn’t calm me down. The explosion was so bright, there were so many colours, it frightened me as I had not seen them before. I couldn’t explain it but all I knew was that I was so scared. 

    “Three of us women are here [in Mejatto] and I was afforded the opportunity to speak on behalf of these survivors. I’d like to encourage all of you when looking at us, see us as a remembrance of what happened in 1954 when the bomb exploded. We encourage you to continue to stand together, be strong and live in harmony — that is our wish.”

    Called “Operation Exodus,” Greenpeace was tasked to relocate Rongelap’s entire population of 350 due to nuclear fallout from Castle Bravo, which rendered their home uninhabitable. In May 1985, over 10 days and taking three trips, the residents collectively dismantled their homes bringing everything with them, including livestock, and 100 metric tons of building material.

    Four decades later, the surviving Rongelap community is now spread across the Marshall Islands. Many travelled back to Mejatto for the commemoration, including those who were children during the evacuation, and prominent members of the Marshallese government. The Rainbow Warrior’s visit comes as Greenpeace entities were found liable for more than USD$660m in damages as part of a meritless SLAPP suit by fossil fuel giant Energy Transfer, aimed at silencing those fighting for justice and the right to peaceful protest. 

    Bunny McDiarmid, crew member during the 1985 Rainbow Warrior evacuation, and former Co-Executive Director of Greenpeace International from 2016-2019 said: 

    “Forty years ago, the people of Rongelap stood up to the United States when they refused to take proper accountability and responsibility for the damage it had done. After undergoing years of health impacts from exposure to radiation, Greenpeace answered a call to help evacuate them from their once rich, but now contaminated home island. We continue to stand with the Marshallese community – as we do with other communities that suffer displacement and colonial exploitation – in their fight for justice for the nuclear weapons legacy, and for the threats they are already feeling from climate change.

    “The bonds between Marshall Islands and Greenpeace are very strong and have stood the test of time. They say we rescued them from a contaminated Rongelap, but the reality is that they rescued themselves – the Marshallese are the strong and brave people who took their future into their own hands and continue to do so. We cannot relocate the world — it is only through standing and acting together that we will make the needed difference that saves us all. In the fight for justice, our voices will not be silenced.”

    First displaced by nuclear fallout, the people of Mejatto — and across the low-lying Marshall Islands — are facing ‘threats from all sides’ as the climate crisis accelerates impacts to their homes, livelihoods, and cultures. Mejatto has been in drought for three months with once predictable seasonal rain failing to arrive, increasing extreme heat impacting health and food availability, and coastal erosion eating away the land.

    The Rainbow Warrior is in the Marshall Islands as part of a six-week mission across the country with a team of nuclear specialists onboard conducting independent research to support the government in its ongoing fight for nuclear justice and compensation; and to reaffirm its solidarity with the Marshallese people — now facing further harm and displacement from the climate crisis, and the emerging threat of deep sea mining in the Pacific.

    -ENDS-

    Photo and video:

    • Photo and video from Mejatto, including the welcome ceremony, 40th commemoration, and Rainbow Warrior crew in solidarity with Greenpeace after the Energy Transfer verdict are available in the Greenpeace Media Library.
    • Archival footage and images from the evacuation that Greenpeace conducted in 1985 is available in the Greenpeace Media Library. 
    • Archival/historical content from the US nuclear weapons testing collected here (from Wiki Commons).

    For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Kate O’Callaghan on [email protected] or +61 406 231 892

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Capito Opening Statement at Hearing to Consider EPA, FWS Nominations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
    To watch Chairman Capito’s opening statement, click here or the image above.
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, held ahearing on the nominations of Brian Nesvik to be Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Jessica Kramer to be Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Sean Donahue to be General Counsel of the EPA.
    Below is the opening statement of Chairman Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) as delivered.
    “I’m pleased to welcome everyone to today’s hearing, where we’ll consider the nominations of Brigadier General Brain Nesvik to serve as Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Jessica Kramer to serve as Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water, and Sean Donohue to serve as General Counsel at the EPA.
    “General Nesvik has more than 29 years of experience with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department prior to his retirement last September…during his tenure with the department, he served in various roles, including chief Game Warden and Wildlife Division Chief, until ultimately being appointed the Director in 2019.
    “Wyoming is a world-renowned destination for hunters and anglers, and General Nesvik led the state’s wildlife management programs, ensuring that the conservation of species and recreational existence can coexist for generations to come. Simultaneously to his full-time job with Wyoming Game and Fish, General Nesvik served in the Wyoming Army National Guard.
    “His service included deployments to Kuwait and Iraq, and progressively more senior leadership, culminating in his final posting as the Commander of the Wyoming Army National Guard. After 35 years of service, General Nesvik retired from the National Guard in 2021 at the rank of brigadier general. Thank you, General Nesvik, for your service to our country.
    “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or the Service, needs greater structure and efficiency, so it will benefit to have a former general officer as its Director. As the Director of the Service, General Nesvik will be tasked with overseeing the operations of the agency to conserve and manage our nation’s wildlife and natural habitats.
    “Under the Biden administration, the Endangered Species Act was leveraged to slow down, and sometimes even halt, infrastructure projects going through the federal permitting process. We must be able to efficiently permit projects while protecting wildlife and natural habitats at the same time.
    “General Nesvik will also oversee many other issues, such as the management of over 570 National Wildlife Refuges and implementation of congressionally-authorized conservation programs. I trust that his background will offer him a unique perspective on how the Service can better manage wildlife programs and protect species, without hindering critical infrastructure projects. I look forward to hearing his testimony.   
    “This morning we will also hear from Jess Kramer, we call her Jess, President Trump’s nominee to serve as the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water. This Committee has a long tradition of working in a bipartisan manner to strengthen environmental policies, improve water infrastructure, and ensure federal regulations are effective, not unnecessarily burdensome. Clean water is not a partisan issue, it is essential to the health, safety, and economic well-being of every American. 
    “The Office of Water plays a critical role in ensuring access to safe and reliable water for all Americans. That means ensuring federal programs like the State Revolving Funds are effective, addressing PFAS contamination without undue burdens on ratepayers, and working with state and local governments to streamline permitting.
    “Jess is well-qualified to lead the EPA’s Water Office. She has built a career crafting practical, bipartisan solutions to improve water policy and ensure communities, regardless of their size or geography. She has also worked to have access to safe and reliable drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.
    “During Jess’s time working with me on the EPW Committee, she played a key role in shaping the water provisions in the IIJA, securing historic investments to modernize drinking water and wastewater systems, remove lead service lines, and address emerging contaminants.
    “Beyond her experience on Capitol Hill, she has served in both state and federal roles, most recently as Deputy Secretary of Regulatory Programs at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection where she oversaw critical programs related to water quality, permitting, and enforcement. Jess understands that environmental protection and economic growth can go hand in hand, and she knows how to ensure regulations are clear, fair, and based on sound science.
    “This morning, we will also hear from Sean Donahue, the nominee to serve as General Counsel at the EPA. The EPA’s Office of General Counsel serves as the chief legal advisor to the agency, providing critical guidance on implementing environmental laws like the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Superfund.
    “The General Counsel plays a central role in shaping EPA’s policies, ensuring legal compliance, defending the Agency from legal challenges, and advising on matters that impact communities nationwide. The office also works closely with Congress, EPA regional offices, and enforcement teams to provide the legal foundation for strong environmental protections.
    “Mr. Donahue has served for three years in the prior Trump Administration at EPA as a Special Advisor, including working in the Agency’s Office of Land and Emergency Management. After working at the Agency, Mr. Donahue joined a law firm in Buffalo, New York where he practiced environmental law. In 2024, he served as a counsel for a solar energy development company in New York State.
    “In 2025, Mr. Donahue was appointed Principal Deputy General Counsel at the EPA. He currently serves as a Special Advisor in the EPA Administrator’s Office. With his experience in both private practice and at the Agency, I look forward to hearing more about Sean Donahue’s qualifications and vision for this important role.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Taskforce Morpheus – National Day of Action 2025

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Law enforcement agencies from across Australia and New Zealand have targeted the Hells Angels Outlaw Motorcycle Club (HAOMC) in a coordinated National Day of Action as part of Operation Morpheus.

    The focus of the National Day of Action was to cause maximum disruption to the HAOMC through compliance and enforcement activities across Australia and New Zealand.

    With a significant legacy of past national coordination and collaboration by law enforcement and partners in Australia and New Zealand, National Taskforce Operation Morpheus is a joint initiative. This includes all Australian state and territory police, New Zealand Police, Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Australian Defence Force, AUSTRAC, Australian Taxation Office, and Services Australia collaboratively targeting the highest threat outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMCGs) impacting Australia and New Zealand.

    The National Day of Action 2025 has resulted in law enforcement agencies around the country conducting compliance checks relating to bail, parole, firearms possession and other legislation. The agencies also seized firearms, weapons, various drugs, illicit cigarettes and tobacco products and in excess of $48,000 in cash resulting in the arrest of 23 people, involving 60 charges.

    By proactively targeting OMCG’s throughout Australia and New Zealand in a day of action using a combination of enforcement, compliance and disruption techniques Operation Morpheus generates significant intelligence holdings. Shared intelligence relating gang to membership and associates, locations and gang related premises and criminal activities play a crucial role in national and international law enforcement awareness of links with OMCG’s like HAOMC and organised crime.

    Other focuses of law enforcement were HAMC – OMCG members involved in family violence matters and those club members and associates already incarcerated within the prison populations.

    The overrepresentation of OMCG members and associates linked with family and domestic violence perpetration is a significant community issue.  As is violence and contraband within the prison systems, also well documented and a focus of this operation.

    Operation Morpheus sends the message to members of OMCG members, “It doesn’t matter if you are at freedom or in custody you will be targeted for criminal related activity, be that personal or club related business. Put simply it doesn’t pay to be a member of an OMCG or any criminal gang.”

    Australian Border Force have also identified HAMC members and associates attempting to enter Australia recently as well as targeting members and associates who may be subject to removal from Australia.

    As national organised crime continues to move into the illegal tobacco and vape industry, including OMCG involvement with other crime groups law enforcement and partners are actively focused on this activity, including the extreme violence, firearms, extortion, arson, and money laundering activities. ​

    Leveraging shared capability and technology, National Taskforce Morpheus also targets criminal assets and unexplained wealth of key OMCG members, protects vulnerable people and develops national strategies to deter gang recruitment, reduce membership and target recidivism and enablers to organised crime.

    Agency Key Results:

    South Australia Police –

    Small quantities of illicit substances seized, firearms prohibition order compliance checks completed with in-custody cell searches conducted by Dept Correctional Services. Significant additional contemporary criminal intelligence was gathered relating to HAOMC in SA.

    Victoria Police –

    9 offenders charged with 8 offences, 1 search warrant executed, small quantities of illegal prescription drugs seized, firearms prohibition order compliance checks revealing quantities of firearm ammunition, $48,000 in cash seized and subject to further investigation. Significant additional contemporary criminal intelligence gathered relating to HAOMC in Victoria.

    Western Australia Police –

    2 offenders charged with 5 offences, 2 search warrants executed, small quantities of illicit substances seized and contemporary criminal intelligence gathered relating to HAOMC in WA.

    New Zealand Police –

    3 offenders charged with 4 offences, 3 search warrants executed and 3 vehicles seized. Small quantities of both prescription and illicit substances were seized. Contemporary criminal intelligence was gathered relating to HAOMC in New Zealand.

    Australian Border Force –

    2 VISA cancellations / refusals at point of entry, a further 3 identified as potential VISA cancellations and a single Unlawful Non-Citizen detained linked with OMCGs in Australia.

    New South Wales –

    3 offenders facing 12 charges, 2 search warrants executed, small quantities of illicit substances seized, firearms prohibition order compliance checks with an additional 9 ADVO compliance checks also conducted. In-custody cell searches were also activated for OMCG members in NSW prisons.

    Queensland –

    5 offenders facing 30 charges, 2 firearms seized, 25 bail breaches (non-compliance) discovered with a significant number of traffic breaches identified with both fines and prosecutions commenced for drug and drink driving.

    Northern Territory –

    Heavy focus on traffic compliance identifying both drink (3) and drug (3) drivers apprehended.

    Tasmania –

    1 offender charged with an offence with bail and firearms prohibition order compliance checks conducted.

    Quotes attributed to: Taskforce Morpheus Chair Detective Superintendent Jason Kelly (VICPOL)

    “National Taskforce Morpheus has been an extremely successful national and international operation coordinating multiple operations that have seen Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMCGs) and their members disrupted, arrested, charged and held to account.  

    “Law enforcement and partner government agencies, through National Taskforce Morpheus, share the use of a variety of capabilities to proactively target OMCGs at a state, territory, national and international level. National Taskforce Morpheus will continue to be relentless in pursuing OMCGs and will not stop disrupting and holding OMCGs to account, no matter where they are located.

    “OMCGs are motivated by profit and greed, they infiltrate communities, industry and businesses and have a negative impact on the communities. The social and economic impact of OMCGs in Australia and New Zealand is significant. OMCGs also have a culture of secrecy, that includes intimidation and propensity for extreme violence, often with public displays of violence that impacts the safety of the community. For these reasons Law Enforcement and partner Government agencies will continues to target OMCGs.”

    Quotes attributed to: Officer in Charge Serious and Organised Crime Branch (SAPOL) Detective Superintendent Shane Addison

    SAPOL recognises the risk and serious harm to the community caused by significant and violent criminal activity undertaken by and associated with Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMCG) in South Australia. SAPOL is committed to reducing this threat to community safety and will relentlessly pursue members and associates of OMCGs who seek to profit from violence and all forms of illicit criminal activities. Today’s National Day of Action activities have focused on disrupting those OMCG members who pose the greatest risk to the community.

    “In collaboration with our law enforcement and supporting agency partners, SAPOL will target anyone involved with OMCGs illicit criminal and violent behaviour. This includes targeting the confiscation of their criminal assets. The results from the Operation Morpheus Day of Action in this State reflects this commitment.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Intel Vice Chairman Mark R. Warner Pushes FBI Director to Confirm Investigation into Misuse of Messaging App Signal by Senior Trump Officials

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON – Today, Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Mark R. Warner (D-VA) wrote Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel requesting he confirm that the FBI will open an investigation into the Signal group chat that senior Trump administration officials used to discuss classified information, including information revealing that the United States was preparing to conduct airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.

    “Department of Defense policies dictate that information concerning military plans, such as contained in the messages sent by the Secretary of Defense, is classified, and no reasonable process would allow for communication of this information over a commercial messaging application before U.S. pilots had completed and safely returned from their mission,” Sen. Warner wrote.   

    Director Patel, who was not part of the Signal chat, testified yesterday before Senate Intelligence Committee stating he could not provide information on this matter because he had only recently been made aware of it.

    “Yesterday you testified that you could not provide information to the Committee concerning this matter because you had only recently been made aware of it,” Sen. Warner continued. “In other contexts, the FBI has acted promptly to open an investigation when information of a similar nature has been mishandled.”

    Now, two days later, Sen. Warner is requesting that Director Patel clarify the actions the FBI will take to investigate this matter:

    1. Will you commit to opening an investigation of this matter, if you have not already done so?
    2. Will you collect the devices involved, whether government-issued or otherwise?
    3. Will you scan those devices for malware or other indications of unauthorized access?

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

    Director Patel,

    Between March 11th and 15th, the Secretary of Defense and other senior Trump Administration officials used a commercial messaging application to communicate information revealing that the United States was preparing to conduct airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. The messages were sent as U.S. pilots were preparing to fly U.S. military aircraft into enemy-controlled airspace defended by surface-to-air missiles in order to strike targets known to change their location. Messages sent by the Secretary of Defense not only revealed, in advance, that the U.S. was planning airstrikes in Yemen, but also disclosed details concerning the timing, sequencing, and weapons to be used.  This information could have been used by the Houthis to shoot down U.S. aircraft, thereby endangering the lives of the U.S. pilots, as well as to relocate enemy targets or otherwise disrupt the mission.

    Department of Defense policies dictate that information concerning military plans, such as contained in the messages sent by the Secretary of Defense, is classified, and no reasonable process would allow for communication of this information over a commercial messaging application before U.S. pilots had completed and safely returned from their mission.  

    Yesterday you testified that you could not provide information to the Committee concerning this matter because you had only recently been made aware of it.

    In other contexts, the FBI has acted promptly to open an investigation when information of a similar nature has been mishandled.  As you have now had two days to consider the details of this matter, can you confirm the following:

    1. Will you commit to opening an investigation of this matter, if you have not already done so?
    2. Will you collect the devices involved, whether government-issued or otherwise?
    3. Will you scan those devices for malware or other indications of unauthorized access?

     Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Financial, monetary systems symposium debuts in HK

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The Center for Financial and Monetary Systems 2025 Symposium kicked off Wednesday, marking the first time the symposium was held in Hong Kong.

    Co-hosted by the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) and the World Economic Forum (WEF), the symposium welcomed business leaders, tech pioneers and academics from around the world to discuss global themes and megatrends that are particularly relevant to Asia today, including emerging technologies, fintech, growth financing and sustainability.

    Paul Chan, financial secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, said at the symposium that Hong Kong will continue to serve as a gateway for international investors to explore development opportunities in the Chinese mainland as well as in Asia.

    Chan called on international investors to seize the opportunities and invest in China, noting the Chinese mainland and the Asia-Pacific region will remain the global growth engine over the next decade.

    Matthew Blake, head of the Center for Financial and Monetary Systems, World Economic Forum, said that with the world today facing significant uncertainty due to geopolitical, technological, and economic shifts, it is essential that leaders in financial services come together to address these challenges.

    Bonnie Chan, chief executive officer of HKEX, said that as a key financial market infrastructure, HKEX is committed to connecting global capital with the region’s opportunities, which is more important than ever in the rapidly changing world. HKEX looked forward to working closely with the WEF to bring global conversations to Asia and driving sustainable progress in the financial services sector.

    The WEF is an unofficial international organization dedicated to researching and addressing issues in the global economic sphere, as well as promoting international economic cooperation and exchanges. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Summit highlights Hong Kong as ideal hub for family offices

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The Wealth for Good in Hong Kong Summit was held here Wednesday, with attendees highlighting Hong Kong as one of the best locations to establish family offices.

    The summit attracted more than 300 family office decision-makers and members from Asia, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East.

    On Tuesday evening, Acting Chief Executive of the HKSAR Chan Kwok-ki said at a dinner for the summit that Hong Kong is a “super connector” bringing together people and ideas. The city is a platform for visionaries looking to create lasting legacies, and a dynamic hub where family offices and families can flourish.

    Financial Secretary of the HKSAR government Paul Chan said that as an international financial center, Hong Kong has a robust network of world-class financial service professionals and offers extensive investment opportunities.

    “We are also investing heavily to propel Hong Kong’s development in innovation and technology like green tech and AI, benefiting the future of humanity,” Chan said, adding that the convergence of Eastern and Western cultures, dazzling mega events, make Hong Kong the ideal place for family offices to thrive and realize their ambitions.

    Some attendees said at the summit that Hong Kong offers stability, predictability, and an environment that is business-friendly. These are key elements for any family office seeking a long-term growth.

    According to statistics, over 2,700 single-family offices have been established in Hong Kong. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Brazil’s Supreme Court indicts Bolsonaro over alleged coup plot

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (C) speaks to the media at the Federal Senate in Brasilia, Brazil, on March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Brazil’s Supreme Court on Wednesday formally indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro and seven of his allies over an alleged plot to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election.

    The justices voted unanimously to move forward with criminal charges, which include attempted coup, conspiracy, and sabotage of democratic institutions.

    Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the case, said prosecutors presented sufficient evidence that Bolsonaro led efforts to discredit the election, drafted plans to nullify the vote, and sought to block the inauguration of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

    Among those indicted are several former high-ranking officials, including Walter Braga Netto, Augusto Heleno, and Anderson Torres.

    With the indictment approved, the case now moves into the trial phase. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Foreign aid cuts could mean 10 million more HIV infections by 2030 – and almost 3 million extra deaths

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rowan Martin-Hughes, Senior Research Fellow, Burnet Institute

    CI Photos/Shutterstock

    In January, the Trump administration ordered a broad pause on all US funding for foreign aid.

    Among other issues, this has significant effects on US funding for HIV. The United States has been the world’s biggest donor to international HIV assistance, providing 73% of funding in 2023.

    A large part of this is the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which oversees programs in low- and middle-income countries to prevent, diagnose and treat the virus. These programs have been significantly disrupted.

    What’s more, recent funding cuts for international HIV assistance go beyond the US. Five countries that provide the largest amount of foreign aid for HIV – the US, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the Netherlands – have announced cuts of between 8% and 70% to international aid in 2025 and 2026.

    Together, this may mean a 24% reduction in international HIV spending, in addition to the US foreign aid pause.

    We wanted to know how these cuts might affect HIV infections and deaths in the years to come. In a new study, we found the worst-case scenario could see more than 10 million extra infections than what we’d otherwise anticipate in the next five years, and almost 3 million additional deaths.

    What is HIV?

    HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. HIV can be transmitted at birth, during unprotected sex or thorough blood-to-blood contact such as shared needles.

    If left untreated, HIV can progress to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), a condition in which the immune system is severely damaged, and which can be fatal.

    HIV was the world’s deadliest infectious disease in the early 1990s. There’s still no cure for HIV, but modern treatments allow the virus to be suppressed with a daily pill. People with HIV who continue treatment can live without symptoms and don’t risk infecting others.

    A sustained global effort towards awareness, prevention, testing and treatment has reduced annual new HIV infections by 39% (from 2.1 million in 2010 to 1.3 million in 2023), and annual deaths by 51% (from 1.3 million to 630,000).

    Most of that drop happened in sub-Saharan Africa, where the epidemic was worst. Today, nearly two-thirds of people with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa, and nearly all live in low- and middle-income countries.

    HIV can be diagnosed with a simple blood test.
    MaryBeth Semosky/Shutterstock

    Our study

    We wanted to estimate the impact of recent funding cuts from the US, UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands on HIV infections and deaths. To do this, we used our mathematical model for 26 low- and middle-income countries. The model includes data on international HIV spending as well as data on HIV cases and deaths.

    These 26 countries represent roughly half of all people living with HIV in low- and middle income countries, and half of international HIV spending. We set up each country model in collaboration with national HIV/AIDS teams, so the data sources reflected the best available local knowledge. We then extrapolated our findings from the 26 countries we modelled to all low- and middle-income countries.

    For each country, we first projected the number of new HIV infections and deaths that would occur if HIV spending stayed the same.

    Second, we modelled scenarios for anticipated cuts based on a 24% reduction in international HIV funding for each country.

    Finally, we modelled scenarios for the possible immediate discontinuation of PEPFAR in addition to other anticipated cuts.

    With the 24% cuts and PEPFAR discontinued, we estimated there could be 4.43 million to 10.75 million additional HIV infections between 2025 and 2030, and 770,000 to 2.93 million extra HIV-related deaths. Most of these would be because of cuts to treatment. For children, there could be up to an additional 882,400 infections and 119,000 deaths.

    In the more optimistic scenario in which PEPFAR continues but 24% is still cut from international HIV funding, we estimated there could be 70,000 to 1.73 million extra new HIV infections and 5,000 to 61,000 additional deaths between 2025 and 2030. This would still be 50% higher than if current spending were to continue.

    The wide range in our estimates reflects low- and middle-income countries committing to far more domestic funding for HIV in the best case, or broader health system dysfunction and a sustained gap in funding for HIV treatment in the worst case.

    Some funding for HIV treatment may be saved by taking that money from HIV prevention efforts, but this would have other consequences.

    The range also reflects limitations in the available data, and uncertainty within our analysis. But most of our assumptions were cautious, so these results likely underestimate the true impacts of funding cuts to HIV programs globally.

    Sending progress backwards

    If funding cuts continue, the world could face higher rates of annual new HIV infections by 2030 (up to 3.4 million) than at the peak of the global epidemic in 1995 (3.3 million).

    Sub-Saharan Africa will experience by far the greatest effects due to the high proportion of HIV treatment that has relied on international funding.

    In other regions, we estimate vulnerable groups such as people who inject drugs, sex workers, men who have sex with men, and trans and gender diverse people may experience increases in new HIV infections that are 1.3 to 6 times greater than the general population.

    The Asia-Pacific received US$591 million in international funding for HIV in 2023, which is the second highest after sub-Saharan Africa. So this region would likely experience a substantial rise in HIV as a result of anticipated funding cuts.

    Notably, more than 10% of new HIV infections among people born in Australia are estimated to have been acquired overseas. More HIV in the region is likely to mean more HIV in Australia.

    But concern is greatest for countries that are most acutely affected by HIV and AIDS, many of which will be most affected by international funding cuts.

    Rowan Martin-Hughes receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. He has previously received funding to conduct HIV modelling studies from the Australian government Department of Health and Aged Care, Gates Foundation, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF, World Bank and World Health Organization.

    Debra ten Brink has previously received funding to conduct HIV modelling studies from the Australian government Department of Health and Aged Care, Gates Foundation, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF, World Bank and World Health Organization.

    Nick Scott receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. He has previously received funding to conduct HIV modelling studies from the Australian government Department of Health and Aged Care, Gates Foundation, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF, World Bank and World Health Organization.

    – ref. Foreign aid cuts could mean 10 million more HIV infections by 2030 – and almost 3 million extra deaths – https://theconversation.com/foreign-aid-cuts-could-mean-10-million-more-hiv-infections-by-2030-and-almost-3-million-extra-deaths-253017

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Defence spending: our research shows how Australia can stop buying weapons for the wars of the past

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pi-Shen Seet, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Edith Cowan University

    Department of Defence

    Australia’s defence spending is on the rise. The future defence budget has already been increased to 2.4% of GDP. There is pressure from the new Trump administration in the United States to raise this further to at least 3%.

    The Albanese government has brought forward A$1 billion in defence spending for the 2025 federal budget. The Coalition in turn has promised to spend even more if elected.

    However, it is unclear whether the money will be spent wisely. Our recent research found that current defence planning may leave the Australian Defence Force (ADF) poorly prepared for future conflicts.

    To keep up, Australia must develop capabilities for contemporary “grey zone” operations (coercive statecraft activities that blur the line between peace and war, or fall short of war), as well as future 21st-century conflicts. Priority areas are cyber, information and space technologies.

    Positive signs and missteps

    In the past two years, we have seen a slew of announcements about the current and future capabilities of the ADF.

    Some have been positive. A new Defence Space Command has been set up. The 2023 Defence Strategic Review and 2024 Defence Industry Development Strategy were both promising.

    There have also been missteps. The MRH90 helicopters have been stood down. A $7 billion military satellite project was cancelled. And the Collins class submarines face ongoing problems.

    Defence experts have complained of “a lack of clear purpose and intent, a lack of direct connection between strategic objectives and industry policy, and a continuing project-by-project approach”.

    The ADF acknowledges the need for advanced technological capabilities. However, in practice it is still too focused on platforms and hardware suited more for the conflicts of the past.

    The current context and challenges

    Several Defence reviews over the past 50 years have found that the ADF procurement and acquisition system lacks the agility and resources to adapt to changes in the strategic environment.

    Defence spending as a share of GDP has been declining in Australia since the end of the Vietnam War. Notably, the ADF has focused on reducing costs, lowering errors in defence procurement, outsourcing to industry, and speeding up acquisition.



    Read more:
    FactCheck: is Defence spending down to 1938 levels?

    Despite the recent plans to increase defence budgets, critics argue the strategy is too little, too late. It delays the acquisition of most new capabilities to beyond five years from now.

    On October 30 2024, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy announced a major acquisition of missiles, other guided weapons and explosive ordnance. Many of these acquisitions were simply plugging existing gaps, and would not be ready until at least 2029.

    Many of the acquisitions (such as missiles, 155mm ammunition and submarines) did not quite align with the government’s Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy (DISTS) launched the previous month.

    The hard task of planning ahead

    Making plans for defence procurement is a difficult task. The strategic environment changes quickly, and technology can move even faster. As a result, planned acquisitions may be irrelevant by the time they arrive.

    However, there are ways to get better at forecasting. These include horizon scanning, to spot potentially important developments early, and systemic design for a big-picture approach. These approaches can also be combined with AI-supported analysis tools including scientometrics (which analyses the amount of research in different areas and how it is all linked) and natural language processing.

    We used these tools in recent research funded by the Australian Defence Department to explore the impact of emerging technologies on ADF capabilities.

    Scanning the horizon

    In our first project, we conducted a comprehensive horizon scan of emerging technologies, focusing on cyber, internet of things (or networked smart devices), AI, and autonomous systems.

    We used scientometric research methods, which provide a bird’s-eye view of research into disruptive and converging technologies.

    This was supplemented by a survey asking industry professionals and experts to evaluate emerging technologies. In particular, we asked about their potential impact, likelihood of deployment or utilisation, extensiveness of use, and novelty of use in future conflicts.

    The survey data was analysed using a qualitative, machine-driven, AI-based, data analysis tool. We used it for text mining, thematic and content analyses.

    We found the likelihood of deployment and utilisation of cyber technologies in conflict is very high in the near term, reflecting the growing challenges in this area. Similarly, AI technologies were also singled out for their immediate potential and urgency.

    We concluded that to maintain a competitive edge, the ADF must invest significantly in these priority areas, particularly cyber, network communications, AI and smart sensors.

    Designing better systems

    Our second project was a systemic design study evaluating Australia’s opportunities and barriers for achieving a technological advantage in light of regional military technological advancement.

    The study highlighted ten specific technologies or trends as potential force multipliers for the ADF. We found three areas with immediate potential and urgency: cybersecurity of critical infrastructure, optimisation and other algorithmic technologies, followed by space technologies.

    These findings were reinforced in further research supported by the Army Research Scheme. It found the ADF’s capabilities for operating effectively in the “grey zone” will be strongly facilitated by ensuring it is maintaining its technological edge in the integration of its cyber capabilities and information operations.

    A widespread challenge

    The ADF is not alone in these challenges. For example, successive UK governments have also identified persistent challenges in defence acquisition. These have included issues with budgetary planning due to limited competition, significant barriers to entry for new enterprises, and the constantly evolving geopolitical landscape.

    However, this should not be an excuse. Instead, in line with the Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy, and as our research has found, it should serve as a catalyst for action.

    The ADF should focus on fostering emerging technologies and enabling the development of disruptive military capabilities to deliver asymmetric advantage for the ADF. As Australia’s Chief Defence Scientist notes, this will help get emerging technologies into the hands of our war fighters faster.

    The authors would like to acknowledge the following people from Edith Cowan University who contributed to the research: Helen Cripps, Jalleh Sharafizad, Stephanie Meek, Summer O’Brien, David Suter and Tony Marceddo.

    Pi-Shen Seet received funding from the Australian Department of Defence’s Strategic Policy Grant Program and the Australian Army Research Scheme.

    Anton Klarin receives funding from the Australian Department of Defence’s Strategic Policy Grant Program and the Australian Army Research Scheme.

    Janice Jones receives funding from the Australian Department of Defence’s Strategic Policy Grant Program and the Australian Army Research Scheme

    Mike Johnstone receives funding from the Australian Department of Defence’s Strategic Policy Grant Program and the Australian Army Research Scheme.

    Violetta Wilk receives funding from the Australian Department of Defence’s Strategic Policy Grant Program and the Australian Army Research Scheme.

    – ref. Defence spending: our research shows how Australia can stop buying weapons for the wars of the past – https://theconversation.com/defence-spending-our-research-shows-how-australia-can-stop-buying-weapons-for-the-wars-of-the-past-242788

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: China fast-tracks eco-environment monitoring system

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A staff member checks the operation of an automatic water testing system at Anhui CAS Intelligent Environmental Testing Technology Service Co., Ltd. in the China Environment Valley in Hefei, east China’s Anhui Province, Jan. 17, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    China is accelerating the establishment of a modern ecological and environmental monitoring system, a government official said on Wednesday.
    The establishment of a comprehensive aerial, terrestrial and maritime monitoring network is the most fundamental and essential task in building a modern monitoring system, said Jiang Huohua, head of the ecological and environmental monitoring department of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.
    Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and satellite remote-sensing will play increasingly significant roles in ecological and environmental monitoring, he said, citing the in-field application of DeepSeek as an example.
    The ministry has rolled out policies to boost the development of environmental protection robots and remote-operation equipment for environmental monitoring, amid a variety of efforts to boost the application of new technology, he said.
    Remote-sensing methods, including methods that use satellites and drones, are set to play increasingly significant roles in environmental protection. The ministry will enhance the country’s satellite remote-sensing monitoring capabilities, leveraging the unique advantages of remote-sensing technology and exploring synergistic applications with large AI models, he said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Category 2C homes in Māngere

    Source: Auckland Council

    Homes across Auckland that were impacted by the 2023 storms are being assessed for their future flood and landslide risk.  

    Based on the government’s risk categories framework, the assessments are focused on identifying where there is an ‘intolerable risk to life’ from future flooding or landslides, and whether anything can be done to reduce that risk. Any support aims to help address the risk, or where that’s not possible – to help whānau move out of harm’s way.  

    About Category 2C 

    A ‘Category 2C’ is given to homes that meet the threshold of intolerable risk to life, but where Auckland Council is planning a community stormwater project that will reduce the risk to an acceptable level.  

    Māngere is the first community to receive priority funding for flood resilience projects, which includes $53 million for the rapid delivery of stormwater projects at Harania Creek and Te Ararata Creek in Māngere. The projects are expected to start in April 2025 and be completed by mid-2026. 

    Not all homes in these areas will be assigned a Category 2C – each home’s category depends on the unique level of risk and whether these projects or a construction solution at the home can reduce that risk. This is why confirming categories in the two project areas takes more care. Properties given a Category 2C will have their risk reduced to a reasonable level when the project in their neighbourhood is complete in mid-2026.  

    Category 2C Homeowners Guide 

    Preparing your home, tenants and whānau 

    The risk assessments we carry out are based on an extreme event with a one per cent chance of happening or being exceeded in any year. While they are uncommon, it is very hard to predict if, or when, another large storm may happen again. 

    So until the projects are complete it’s especially important you take steps at home to reduce your flood risk, while having an emergency plan in place in case another major storm hits.  

    We expect homeowners to have open communication with their tenants about the property category and any risks, as well as ensuring they have information about emergency preparedness.  

    More information about preparing for flooding is available in the Category 2C Homeowners Guide and via the link below.  

    Preparing your property and whānau for flooding 

    Category 2C FAQs 

    What support am I eligible for as a 2C homeowner?  

    Your property has been confirmed as Category 2C because an upcoming stormwater project in your neighbourhood will reduce the future risk to life at your home to a safe level. This means you will be able to continue living in your community and will not need to carry out construction solutions to reduce the risk at your home. Because of this you won’t have access to buy-out or construction grant support. However, you will continue to have access to our Storm Recovery Navigator Service connecting you to wellbeing, financial and accommodation support where relevant. If you don’t have a navigator and would like one, please email navigators@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.

    What if I have more questions or disagree with my category? 

    If you have questions about your report and how your category was assigned, we have a technical expert that can meet with you to discuss your questions. You can continue using this technical helpdesk service for any other questions about your report. 

    If you still disagree with your Category 2C, you can raise a dispute through the formal dispute process. You’ll also have the option to seek a further external review if you are unhappy with that decision.  

    Outside of technical helpdesk support, your Navigator will continue doing their best to support your wider wellbeing needs and can help you navigate these next steps.

    What about the risk levels while the projects are underway?  

    Local stormwater systems are built to international standards, to manage a good amount of rainfall. The categorisation risk assessments we carry out are based on an extreme event with a one per cent chance of this happening or being exceeded in any year. While they are uncommon, it is very hard to predict if, or when, another large storm may happen again.  

    A local stormwater project will reduce the risk to life at Category 2C homes, but the full risk reduction benefits will only be realised when the project is fully completed in mid-2026.   

    So, while Auckland Council is working on this major project, it is also prioritising stormwater monitoring, maintenance and catchpits in your neighbourhood.    

    At home, there are also important things you can do to reduce your flooding risk and prepare in case one of these extreme storms happens again. We have provided some general information in our 2C homeowner guide about preparing for major storms, and a community-level plan is being finalised for each local board area.  

    Can you guarantee these stormwater projects will stop flooding at my home? 

    The specific purpose of the limited categorisation programme is to address situations where there is an intolerable risk to life – not to protect property. The projects will reduce this risk to life at Category 2C homes to a safe level, while also reducing the flooding risk at the property.

    It isn’t possible to stop all flooding, but these projects will significantly reduce the risk of flooding to residential properties around the stream. Any remaining flooding in residential areas will happen at a lower level and less often. 

    What if I have tenants? 

    We expect homeowners to have open communication with their tenants about the property category and any risks, as well as ensuring they have information about emergency preparedness. You can visit our page, Supporting tenants through storm recovery and information about preparing for flooding is available in the Category 2C Homeowners Guide or via the links above.  

    Will my Category 2C home still be insurable?  

    We have been working closely with the insurance industry since the floods. They have told us that 2C homeowners will still be able to get insurance cover, but ultimately this is up to individual insurance companies.   

    Auckland Council has to disclose property categories to the insurance industry because they use official information requests to ask for this information. This means your insurance company will know what your property category is. We recommend you speak to your own insurer to understand if there is an impact on your insurance policy.   

    If your insurer makes a decision to stop providing flood cover, or they increase your premiums, we recommend you speak to other insurance companies as you may find another company will provide a better policy for you. 

    What goes on my LIM? 

    A notation will be added to your LIM to explain that your home has been categorised as 2C. This notation will be removed at the completion of the flood infrastructure project. Outside of categorisation, general council information on natural hazards will continue to be disclosed on all LIMs, including homes that were not categorised. 

    What are the stormwater projects in Māngere? 

    Māngere is the first community to receive priority funding for flood resilience projects which includes $53 million for the rapid delivery of flood resilience projects at Harania Creek and Te Ararata Creek in Māngere. The projects are expected to start in April 2025 and be completed by mid-2026.  

    For more information on each project visit:  

    Information about key impacts is available on the project webpages and you can contact the project team at bluegreen@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz 

    How does Auckland Council measure ‘intolerable risk to life’ from flooding risk? 

    For flooding, an intolerable risk to life is where there is a high risk to life for vulnerable people in a flood event that has a one per cent chance of happening or being exceeded in any one year (an existing 1% Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) flood event). 

    To determine the risk to life from floods on a property, Auckland Council completes a ‘flood danger risk assessment’ and assigns a ‘danger rating’ that indicates the threat to people’s lives from flooding inside or outside the home.  

    More information is available in the Category 3 Homeowners Guide or on our guide to flood risk assessments.  

    What are the risk categories? 

    Category 1 

    These properties do not meet the threshold for intolerable risk to life.  

    They are not eligible for a buy-out or other financial support from the council but can access wellbeing and other support. 

    Category 2P 

    Category 2P means there is intolerable risk to life at the property, but changes to the property can be made to reduce the risk to life from future weather events.  

    Homeowners can apply for a grant to make these changes so that the property is safe to live in. 

    Category 2C 

    Category 2C means that there is intolerable risk to life at the property, but community-level measures (or interventions) will be developed to reduce the risk to life at a property. 

    Category 3 

    Category 3 means there is intolerable risk to life at the property, and changes to the property are not feasible.  

    Category 3 properties can opt-in to the voluntary buyout by the council. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Strengthening safety and quality in early childhood education and care

    Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

    As we work to build the universal early childhood education and care system that works for families and gives children the best start in life, children’s wellbeing and quality early education and care is the top priority.

    The Albanese Labor Government is taking action to crack down on unscrupulous early childhood education and care providers and strengthen integrity across the care economy.

    Overwhelmingly, children in early childhood education and care are well looked after and the vast majority of providers prioritising child safety and wellbeing.

    However, we know that there are a very small number of providers doing the wrong thing – and when it comes to children’s best interests one dodgy operator is too many.

    While state and territory governments are responsible for ensuring early childhood providers are meeting minimum standards and operating within the Education and Care National Law, the Commonwealth is able to leverage its significant investment in the sector to improve quality and penalise the small number of providers doing the wrong thing.

    The Albanese Government will strengthen Commonwealth regulatory and enforcement powers to deal with providers that put profit over quality and child safety at risk by exploring measures to:

    • Prevent providers who persistently fail to meet minimum standards and repetitively breach the National Law from opening new Child Care Subsidy approved services.
    • Take compliance action against existing providers with egregious and continued breaches, including the option to cut off access to Child Care Subsidy funding where appropriate.
    • Strengthen powers to deal with providers that pose an integrity risk.

    The Albanese Government will consult closely with the sector and with states and territories to ensure these changes don’t negatively impact families and quality providers, only targeting the small number of providers doing the wrong thing.

    Unfortunately, when a dodgy operator is detected and removed from one part of the national care economy they sometimes pop up as an operator in another care sector.

    To stamp this out the Albanese Labor Government will also investigate stronger cross-sector banning order arrangements to stop people who have breached safety and quality standards in one part of the care economy from operating in other care sectors. 

    The Commonwealth will work closely with state and territory governments to put these strengthened arrangements in place.

    The Albanese Labor Government is undertaking significant reform across the early childhood education and care sector to build a system where children have universal access to high quality early learning.

    These reforms are being informed by a number or reports and reviews, along with input from families, the sector and experts.

    To learn more about these reforms visit education.gov.au/early-childhood/announcements/building-universal-early-education-and-care-system

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Anne Aly:

    “There’s no room for any dodgy operators in our early childhood education and care sector or in any part of the care sector.

    “We’re taking swift and divisive action to ensure child safety and improve quality and in the early childhood education sector. I expect state and territory governments to fulfill their regulatory obligations and ensure early childhood education services in their jurisdictions are meeting our world leading quality standards.

    “We know that the overwhelming majority of services and people in the sector do the right thing, but if you’re failing to deliver quality and safe early childhood education you shouldn’t have access to government funding and you shouldn’t be working in the sector.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth:

    “If you’ve done the wrong thing in one part of the care sector, we are going to stop you taking advantage of people in any other area.

    “We don’t want to see dodgy providers in the care economy simply pop up in another.

    “Cross-sector banning orders will help enable coordination and flexibility in preventing banned entities from operating in other parts of the care economy and I look forward to working with states and territories to make them a reality.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley Presses FBI to Probe Biden-Era Targeting of Christians

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)

    U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, seeking documents related to the Biden administration’s targeting of Christians. Mere months after calling for a new Church Committee to investigate abuses by the Biden Department of Justice (DOJ), Senator Hawley is now asking the new administration to turn over the details of religious targeting by the Biden DOJ and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

    “Under President Biden, the FBI targeted people of faith. The FBI’s Richmond Field Office went so far as to issue a memorandum suggesting that certain traditionalist Catholics might be security risks and proposed infiltrating Catholic parishes. President Biden’s FBI also weaponized the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (‘FACE’) Act to target pro-life protesters and discourage people of faith from exercising their First Amendment rights. No doubt this is merely the tip of the iceberg,” asserted Senator Hawley.

    Hawley’s letter calls on the FBI to share any emails, memoranda, directives, and policy guidance related to the targeting of religious Americans under the Biden Administration. 

    “I trust that, under your leadership, this misconduct will end. But those responsible must be held accountable,” Hawley stated. 

    Senator Hawley concluded, “I appreciated our conversations before and during your confirmation hearing, and I was particularly grateful for your willingness to cooperate with our investigations into the FBI’s violations of First Amendment rights. Transparency and accountability will be paramount in restoring Americans’ faith in the Bureau. Getting to the bottom of the Biden Administration’s violations of religious liberty is an excellent place to start.”

    Read the full letter here or below. 

    The Honorable Kash Patel
    Director
    Federal Bureau of Investigation
    935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
    Washington, D.C. 20535

    Dear Director Patel:

    Under President Biden, the FBI targeted people of faith. The FBI’s Richmond Field Office went so far as to issue a memorandum suggesting that certain traditionalist Catholics might be security risks, and proposed infiltrating Catholic parishes.[1] President Biden’s FBI also weaponized the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (“FACE”) Act to target pro-life protesters and discourage people of faith from exercising their First Amendment rights. No doubt this is merely the tip of the iceberg.

    I trust that, under your leadership, this misconduct will end. But those responsible must be held accountable. As the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, I write to formally request the production of agency records concerning these FBI abuses, as detailed in the attached appendix, by April 30, 2025.

    I appreciated our conversations before and during your confirmation hearing, and I was particularly grateful for your willingness to cooperate with our investigations into the FBI’s violations of First Amendment rights. Transparency and accountability will be paramount in restoring Americans’ faith in the Bureau. Getting to the bottom of the Biden Administration’s violations of religious liberty is an excellent place to start.

    Richmond Field Office Memorandum and Related Memoranda

    1. All versions, drafts, or revisions of the memorandum issued by the FBI Richmond Field Office regarding “radical-traditionalist Catholics” as potential domestic terrorists, including any related memoranda issued by other FBI field offices or headquarters.
    2. All internal FBI communications, including emails, text messages, chat logs, and memoranda, discussing the development, approval, modification, or rescission of the Richmond Field Office memorandum.
    3. All documents identifying the FBI personnel, offices, or divisions involved in drafting, reviewing, approving, or disseminating the Richmond Field Office memorandum, including, but not limited to, communications between the Richmond, Portland, and Los Angeles field offices.
    4. All communications between the FBI and the DOJ regarding the content, approval, or implementation of the Richmond Field Office memorandum and any related memoranda.
    5. All policy guidance, directives, training materials, or enforcement plans related to the FBI’s monitoring of religious organizations, including, but not limited to, Catholic churches, as part of domestic terrorism investigations.
    6. All documents, including email communications, meeting notes, and memoranda, that reference or discuss any directive, instruction, or guidance issued by the White House, DOJ, National Security Council, or any other federal agency regarding the FBI’s monitoring of religious groups, including Catholic organizations.
    7. All internal assessments, audits, or reports evaluating the Richmond Field Office memorandum, including any documents analyzing its compliance with FBI policies, legal frameworks, or constitutional protections of religious freedom.
    8. All documents reflecting FBI efforts to collect intelligence, recruit informants, or conduct surveillance within churches or affiliated organizations based on the Richmond Field Office memorandum or other guidance.
    9. All documents relating to investigations, surveillance operations, or law enforcement actions initiated as a result of the Richmond Field Office memorandum or related memoranda, including any records of individuals or groups targeted under this initiative.
    10. All documents reflecting the role of the FBI’s Portland and Los Angeles Field Offices in the drafting, review, or dissemination of the Richmond Field Office memorandum, including any documents that identify officials responsible for coordinating these efforts.
    11. All communications, including emails, memoranda, and reports, between FBI officials and any external organizations, think tanks, or academic institutions that provided input on the characterization of Catholic Americans or other religious groups in domestic terrorism assessments.
    12. All documents, including communications with state and local law enforcement agencies, that discuss how the Richmond Field Office memorandum or similar FBI policies were implemented or considered for enforcement at the state or local level.

    FACE Act Abuses

    1. The identity of all individuals involved with the FBI’s enforcement of the FACE Act under the Biden Administration.
    2. All communications, including, but not limited to, emails, memoranda, directives, and policy guidance, sent to or from the FBI Director, Deputy Director, or any other senior official regarding the enforcement of the FACE Act under the Biden Administration.
    3. All documents reflecting internal FBI deliberations, discussions, or decisions regarding prioritization, enforcement strategy, or policy direction related to the FACE Act, including, but not limited to, any documents identifying the individuals or offices responsible for making those determinations.
    4. All communications, including emails, text messages, or memoranda, between the FBI and the DOJ regarding the enforcement or non-enforcement of the FACE Act under the Biden Administration.
    5. All documents, including briefing materials, talking points, or internal reports, prepared for or provided to the FBI Director or other senior officials regarding the enforcement of the FACE Act under the Biden Administration.
    6. All documents, including, but not limited to, policy memoranda, internal directives, guidance documents, or other materials issued by the FBI that establish, modify, or explain the agency’s enforcement priorities under the FACE Act, including any documents identifying the officials responsible for setting such priorities.
    7. All documents, including email communications, meeting notes, or internal memoranda, that reference or discuss any directive, instruction, or guidance issued by the White House, DOJ, or any other federal agency regarding the FBI’s enforcement of the FACE Act.
    8. All drafts, revisions, or final versions of any FBI policies, reports, or legal analyses concerning the enforcement of the FACE Act that relates to enforcement discrepancies between abortion-related clinics and religious institutions, including any records identifying the individuals responsible for such policies.
    9. All communications, including emails, memoranda, text messages, or meeting minutes, reflecting any discussions between FBI field offices and FBI headquarters regarding the prioritization or de-prioritization of FACE Act investigations.
    10. All internal FBI evaluations, audits, or assessments that discuss the agency’s approach to enforcing the FACE Act, including any discussions of political, policy, or strategic considerations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China fast-tracks modern ecological, environmental monitoring system

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    China is accelerating the establishment of a modern ecological and environmental monitoring system, a government official said on Wednesday.
    The establishment of a comprehensive aerial, terrestrial and maritime monitoring network is the most fundamental and essential task in building a modern monitoring system, said Jiang Huohua, head of the ecological and environmental monitoring department of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.
    Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and satellite remote-sensing will play increasingly significant roles in ecological and environmental monitoring, he said, citing the in-field application of DeepSeek as an example.
    The ministry has rolled out policies to boost the development of environmental protection robots and remote-operation equipment for environmental monitoring, amid a variety of efforts to boost the application of new technology, he said.
    Remote-sensing methods, including methods that use satellites and drones, are set to play increasingly significant roles in environmental protection. The ministry will enhance the country’s satellite remote-sensing monitoring capabilities, leveraging the unique advantages of remote-sensing technology and exploring synergistic applications with large AI models, he said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Britain announces extra 2.2B pounds in defense spending

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The British government announced an additional 2.2 billion British pounds (2.83 billion U.S. dollars) in its defense budget in 2025-2026, raising defense spending to 2.36 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) next year.

    In her Spring Statement in the House of Commons on Wednesday, British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said the government would invest more in naval ships, military welfare, emerging defense technologies, and military infrastructure.

    British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in February announced an increase in defense spending to reach 2.5 percent of the GDP by April 2027. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Japanese researcher donates WWII documents on Japan’s crimes in HK

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Seiya Matsuno, a Japanese researcher at the International Peace Research Institute of Meiji Gakuin University in Japan, donated a collection of rare Japanese wartime documents to the Guangdong Provincial Archives on Tuesday, disclosing new evidence of the counterfeit currency war waged by Japanese invaders in Hong Kong during World War II.

    The materials, including classified military telegrams and documents written in Japanese, provide details on how the Japanese invaders orchestrated the mass counterfeiting of the then-Nationalist government’s fiat currency in Hong Kong, according to the Guangdong Provincial Archives in Guangzhou, the capital of south China’s Guangdong Province.

    The documents record specifics such as counterfeiting quantities, manufacturing locations and processes, distribution channels, and guidelines for the use of the fake money.

    Matsuno has made multiple previous donations to the Chinese mainland, including historical evidence of Japan’s infamous Unit 731 and chemical warfare in China.

    These donations have also showed that there were precedent uses of counterfeit money by the invading Japanese army, meaning the Japanese officials at the time were accustomed to their army’s shameless practice of currency counterfeiting to steal the wealth of the Chinese people and disrupt China’s economic and financial order, according to the Guangdong Provincial Archives. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Introduces the Defining Male and Female Act of 2025

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) today introduced the Defining Male and Female Act of 2025, a bill codifying the legal definitions of male, female, and sex to ensure they are based on biological reality rather than radical, left-wing ideology. 
    This bill specifically would enshrine into law President Trump’s Executive Order entitled “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” which clarifies that sex is determined at conception and is dependent on the size of reproductive cells and ensures the federal government uses this sex dichotomy.
    “The Democrats’ radical transgender agenda is dangerous and wrong. We shouldn’t need legislation to tell us the basic reality that there are only two sexes, but here we are,” Senator Marshall said. “I’m thankful President Trump has made this a top priority and signed an Executive Order on his first day in office recognizing that there are only two sexes. Congress must ensure this historic action is written into law by passing the Defining Male and Female Act.”
    U.S. Representative Mary Miller (R-Illinois-15) introduced the House companion version of the bill. 
    “Now more than ever, we must unite to uphold the truth and biological reality established by God that there are only two sexes,” said Congresswoman Mary Miller. “I am proud to stand alongside Senator Marshall in introducing the House companion to the Defining Male and Female Act to ensure our nation upholds common sense and puts an end to the Left’s dangerous and extreme sexual fantasies.”
    Senator Marshall’s bill is cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), and Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska).
    “Common sense and science tell us there are two sexes,” said Senator Cassidy. “You are born a male or a female.”
    “Boys are boys, girls are girls, and gone are the days of woke nonsense like calling mothers ‘birthing persons.’ Supporting this legislation is a no-brainer and I’m proud to be restoring common sense in America,” Senator Sheehy said.
    “By affirming biological truth, we defend fairness in sports, safeguard women and children, and uphold the principles of Title IX as Congress intended,”Senator Hyde-Smith said. “Because the other side spent four years pretending boys were girls, it’s time to restore common sense once and for all by establishing clear, legal, and biologically-accurate definitions of male and female.”
    “This bill is simple. It defines the most basic science. There are only two sexes: male and female,” Senator Ricketts said. “Defining males and females is an important step to helping protect our women and girls across America.”
    Click HERE to read the full bill text.
    BACKGROUND:
    Specifically, the Defining Male and Female Act recognizes:

    The definition of male and female on the basis of a person belonging, at conception, to the sex characterized by a reproductive system with the biological function of producing eggs or producing sperm.
    The right of girls and women to sex-separate sports and scholarships.
    The sex separation of restrooms, locker and dorm rooms, prisons, and shelters for victims of sexual assault.

    Senator Marshall has been a leader in defending biological reality and protecting children from radical gender ideology. His actions include:

    MIL OSI USA News –