NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is the ‘glass cliff’ phenomenon – and why do women often find themselves on the precipice?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kerrie-Anne Hammermeister, PhD Candidate in the School of Humanities and Communication, University of Southern Queensland

    GoodStudio/Shutterstock

    Speaking to the media after being named leader of the Liberal Party, Sussan Ley was asked if this appointment was an example of the “glass cliff effect”.

    Ley said “I don’t accept that”. She went on:

    I do say it sends a signal to the women of Australia that the Liberal Party has elected its first woman leader but my agenda is much more than that.

    Most of us are familiar with the concept of the “glass ceiling”, a metaphor used to describe the invisible barriers which prevent women from succeeding in senior leadership – and Ley could be seen as breaking the glass ceiling of the Liberal party.

    But the “glass cliff” applies to women who are elevated to positions of leadership in a time of crisis, meaning they are perceived as having a high probability of failure and will take the fall for their organisation.

    The glass cliff evokes imagery of a woman being at the top of a mountain cliff. Being on the cliff is a dangerous position: there is a high chance of falling – or being pushed off.

    Times of misfortune

    Against the historical backdrop of male-dominated leadership, the metaphor was coined to reflect women’s experience of leadership selection in times of organisational misfortune and crisis.

    The “glass cliff” has sometimes been invoked in misogynist ways to downplay the strengths of women in leadership, saying they have been put in a position of leadership with the express belief they will fail. But it does describe a commonly seen phenomenon which is important to observe and understand.

    There are many prominent examples of women who have been associated with the phrase.

    British Prime Minister Liz Truss was elevated to the role at a time of significant uncertainty, and was in the position for just 45 days.

    US Presidential candidate Kamala Harris was given minimal time to campaign and establish herself as a genuine opponent to Republican candidate Donald Trump.

    Former Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz, who was appointed when the tech company was failing and share prices were down before being unceremoniously dumped via a phone call.

    ‘Think female’

    Some academics believe that these women aren’t placed in the position of the glass cliff to be the fall guy, but instead these appointments relate to women’s perceived ability to handle organisational crises. They propose an alternative phrase: “think crisis – think female”.

    This phrase suggests women leaders perform better than men in a crisis, partly due to the assumption that women will garner more support than men in such times.

    It is based on stereotypes of women’s perceived ability to build and repair relationships and reputations.

    Both phrases link women leaders and crises. But the glass cliff explains how women are elevated into positions of leadership in turbulent times and are blamed when organisations fail.

    Professional risk

    The phenomenon of the glass cliff is a professional risk for women in leadership.

    Organisations may prey on the career ambitions of outgroup women, knowing that they are more likely to accept any leadership position, even a precarious one, in order to advance their career.

    The privilege of the ingroup men, on the other hand, means they are protected from taking on a leadership position with risk and volatility.

    Women leaders taking on these roles in turbulent times are also exposed to greater scrutiny from internal and external stakeholders, including individual performance criticism.

    If a woman leader then fails, her performance is seen to reinforce gender stereotypes about women’s leadership competency.

    Further complicating this context are gendered stereotypes that assume women leaders have exceptional people skills, meaning senior women in high-risk leadership roles receive less support and fewer resources than their male counterparts.

    The glass cliff presents a double bind for women leaders. If women leaders behave in stereotypically feminine ways they are seen as weak or indecisive. By contrast, if they behave counter to this they are labelled as harsh and aggressive.

    Either way, the glass cliff awaits.

    The glass cliff phenomenon draws our attention to the way in which women are set up to fail in high-risk risk leadership roles. But the metaphor also reveals the ongoing gender discrimination and stereotype bias women experience in taking on professional leadership roles.

    Kerrie-Anne Hammermeister 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. What is the ‘glass cliff’ phenomenon – and why do women often find themselves on the precipice? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-glass-cliff-phenomenon-and-why-do-women-often-find-themselves-on-the-precipice-256072

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • Sensex, Nifty open higher after inflation cools, geo-political tensions ease

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian market indices opened in the green on Wednesday after retail inflation hit multi-year low and geo-political tensions eased.

    At around 9:25 am, Sensex was up 414 points or 0.51 per cent at 81,562 and Nifty was up 136 points or 0.55 per cent at 24,712.

    Buying was seen in the midcap and smallcap stocks. Nifty midcap 100 index was up 510 points or 0.92 per cent at 56,030 and Nifty smallcap 100 index was up 132 points or 0.78 per cent at 17,035.

    On the sectoral front, all indices were trading in the green. Auto, IT, PSU bank, FMCG, metal, energy, infra and PSE were major gainers.

    “After a positive opening, Nifty can find support at 24,500 followed by 24,400 and 24,300. On the higher side, 24,700 can be an immediate resistance, followed by 24,800 and 24,850,” said Hardik Matalia from Choice Broking.

    In the Sensex pack, Tata Steel, Bharti Airtel, Tech Mahindra, Infosys, Eternal, HCL Tech, M&M, Bajaj Finserv, L&T, TCS, SBI and NTPC were major gainers. On the other hand, Tata Motors, Asian Paints, IndusInd Bank, HUL, Nestle and Kotak Mahindra Bank were major losers.

    Earlier, India’s retail inflation fell to 3.16 per cent in April from 3.34 per cent in March, to its lowest level since July 2019.

    “With crude oil prices sharply easing, domestic demand softer, and food prices contained, we expect the RBI to cut rates aggressively,” said Devarsh Vakil, Head of Prime Research at HDFC Securities.

    The Asian stock markets were trading in a mixed zone. Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul and Jakarta were in the green, while Japan and Bangkok were in the red.

    The US markets closed in the mixed zone on Tuesday. Main index Dow Jones ended in the red and technology index Nasdaq closed higher for a second straight day after softer-than-expected inflation numbers.

    The foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold equities worth Rs 476 crore on May 13, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) extended their buying on the third day as they bought equities of Rs 4,273 crore on the same day.

    (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: DIT of Moscow: you can now pay for travel on the Western High-Speed Diameter on the mos.ru portal

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The My Payments service on the mos.ru portal now lets you pay for travel on the city’s multi-lane highway “Western High-Speed Diameter” in St. Petersburg. This was reported in the capital’s Department of Information Technology.

    Muscovites love visiting other cities and prefer to get there by their cars, often they go to the Northern capital. Thanks to the update, Moscow motorists can travel even more comfortably around St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region.

    “In time for the start of the active travel season, we have simplified the process for city residents to pay their tolls on the Western High-Speed Diameter highway in St. Petersburg. If the vehicle registration number and vehicle registration certificate number are listed in the personal account on the mos.ru portal, tolls for the Vitebsk interchange of the highway will be automatically displayed in the My Payments service. This will allow you to save time on payments and deposit funds without going to third-party resources. In addition, you can top up your transponder account in the service and not worry about paying for tolls on other parts of the Western High-Speed Diameter highway, as well as on other toll road sections along the entire route from Moscow to St. Petersburg. In addition, you can use the service to pay for tolls on Bagration Avenue, the Moscow High-Speed Diameter, the Central Ring Road, and the M-12 Vostok highway. This is especially convenient for those who regularly use the My Payments service to pay for city services,” said Vladimir Novikov, director of the department for supporting citywide payment systems at the capital’s Department of Information Technology.

    You can find out more about travel along the Moscow High-Speed Diameter on the website.

    In order to pay for travel on the Western High-Speed Diameter highway in St. Petersburg in a minimum amount of time, you must first indicate the state registration number of the car, as well as the series and number of the vehicle registration certificate in your personal account on the mos.ru portal. In this case, on the day of travel on the highway, the bill will automatically appear in the My Payments service. You can also set up a subscription to receive notifications about new accounts in your profile, by checking the box for a convenient form of receipt: by email or via push notifications.

    If there is not enough information in your personal account to automatically search for invoices, you can use the “Vehicle Certificate” widget. In the pop-up window that opens, simply enter the vehicle details, and the widget will show all unpaid invoices. And the information you enter can be saved in your profile and you will not have to re-enter it in the future.

    How to top up your transponder account for automatic fare payment

    To automatically pay for travel on the Western High-Speed Diameter and other toll roads, you can top up your transponder account in the My Payments service on mos.ru. A small electronic device that is placed on the windshield of a car allows you to write off funds for travel automatically. At the moment, this option is available to motorists who have installed transponders from two toll road operators – JSC “New Quality of Roads” And United Toll Collection Systems LLCThe devices allow you to pay for travel on any toll Russian highways and road sections.

    The transponder account number is automatically displayed in the My Payments service on mos.ru if the user has specified the same phone number in their profile and in the agreement with the toll road operator. If the numbers do not match, you can add the transponder yourself. To do this, in the Documents and Data section, simply select the Transport tab, click Add transponder and fill out the form. The service will automatically generate a template with the current balance and the recommended amount to top up the transponder account. If several devices from different road operators are used, the service will create its own template for each of them.

    You can find out more about all the options for paying toll road bills in the My Payments service. in the instructions.

    The My Payments service on the mos.ru portal and in the city mobile applications Moscow State Services and My Moscow is one of the most popular methods of paying bills among residents of the capital. With its help, Muscovites pay for about nine thousand city, federal and commercial services. More information about all the possibilities of the My Payments service can be found in the instructions.

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

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

     

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

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/153557073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Textiles as Philosophy: How the Triennial in Tsaritsyno Weaves Stories

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The Fabric of Art: How the Triennial Participants Were Selected

    The triennial is a competition program that takes place every three years. This year, the triennial reveals a theme with a poetic and multi-layered name: “Diversity of connections. Threads, breaks, connections.” Hence the interesting division into sections and halls, which in itself is figurative and excites the imagination of the visitor

    “The first hall is dedicated to the breaking and restoration of connections, the second one explores the connection of opposites. The third hall represents the biological connections of man with nature, and the fourth one is addressed to the internal connections with oneself,” lists Anna Karganova, the curator of the triennial.

    There are only eight halls for the competition program and another five for the non-competition program.

    The selection of participants for the fifth triennial took eight months — from February to October 2023. Artists from Russia and abroad (Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan and other countries) sent 175 works. After a careful selection, the jury included more than 80 works in the competition program: seven large-scale installations for the park area, 32 modern textile objects and 43 traditional tapestries. Most of the works are exclusive, the artists created them specifically for the triennial.

    “This year the competition is held in four nominations. These are “Best Work in Traditional Tapestry Technique”, “Best Art Object in the Interior”, “Best Art Object in the Park”, “Best Student Work”. Therefore, most of the works presented at our exhibition were created specifically for it,” the curator explains.

    Not just wool and linen: experimenting with materials

    The main condition is handwork. The material can be textile, traditional, or completely unexpected. Reinforcement mesh, aluminum wire, jute rope, plastic fishing line, polyethylene, paper and dried flowers create new connections, forms and interweavings. This is a laboratory. For example, Natalia Kosovets in the “Collection of Memories” wove a hand-collected herbarium into the canvas, preserving the warmth of sunny days.

    Programming language, forest and cotton

    In his monumental six-meter “Jacquard”, Argentinean Julian Pesse reflects on how humans and mechanical mediators interact in creativity. “This is a reference to Joseph Marie Jacquard, who invented the Jacquard loom and revolutionized weaving. The work of the Argentine artist is the result of experiments at the intersection of textile art, printing and the binary number system,” reflects the curator of the triennial Anna Karganova. Joseph Marie Jacquard’s device was the first programmable machine, hence the binary number system. The work is black and white: the two colors mean 1 and 0 in the programming language.

    Belarusian artist Khristina Vysotskaya in her work “Souls of the Forest. Connections” presents the forest as a living space where trees are connected to each other. She draws an analogy between the forest ecosystem and the single digital and information field in which modern man exists.

    “This installation reveals a world where trees are connected by invisible threads. It is a symbol of energy and information. Materials: cotton, wool, acrylic, yarn, metal,” adds the curator.

    18 thousand nails and a web of meanings: installation by Olga Kiseleva

    From the non-competition program, it is worth noting the large-scale project “The Network We Live In”. The installation resembles a fishing or hunting set, but refers to different meanings. The network in the modern world is a means of communication: the World Wide Web, social networks. The archaic network has a double meaning: for the victim, it is captivity and death, and for the hunter, it is a guarantee of survival and caught prey. The digital network has the same duality: it connects people on different ends of the planet and separates those sitting next to each other. It serves for career growth and development and for creating dependence at the same time. The viewer will find the answer to the question: what network are they in and what does it mean to them.

    The installation of the exhibit became a test and an experience of self-knowledge. In Olga Kiseleva’s work, we implemented a special meditative process of creating the installation. It consists of sequentially tying and pulling threads through a special structure. Each thread is fixed on nails. It took 18 thousand of them! ” Anna Karganova shares.

    Microstories: When Small is the Beginning of Big

    The Micro — Intersection Point project has collected over 100 miniature works. The exhibits here are no larger than 20 by 20 centimeters, and most often — 10 by 10 centimeters. This is a laboratory for experiments. What the artists cannot yet embody in a large format, they do in miniature. It is worth paying attention to Tatyana Fedotova’s work Dance with Matches — a round dance of textile matches: life as a dance and a dangerous game.

    Textile Guardians of the Park: Dialogue between Art and Nature

    The exhibition extends from the Bread House building onto the street, into the park, emphasizing that it is also part of the exhibition space of the Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve. Opposite the Bread House stands Pavel Elfimov’s “Mammonteus” — a woven figure of a fantasy prehistoric animal made of coarse jute rope. A few steps away stands the flexible and touching “Accordionist” by Elena Molchanovskaya made of artificial rattan. The central square is decorated with “Star Called Sun” by Natalia Klimova — an art object made of metal, plywood and colored ribbons. In this work, the artist explores the ancient beliefs of our ancestors.

    Near the Bolshoy Bridge, attention is drawn to “Creation” by Tatyana Patina and Maria Bondarenko – a monumental hand pulling threads from the ground. The foundation of the historical Mylnya was transformed by the work of Katerina Lime-Blossom “hints of integrity” – writing with a small letter is not a typo, but an idea. The interweaving of yarn connects the past and the future.

    The Milovida pavilion features the installation Under Water by Evgenia Evart. It is made from recycled plastic. The artist studies water as the basis of life and draws attention to the fact that plastic pollutes water bodies everywhere. Fish made from plastic bottles, swimming on polyethylene waves, express the author’s anxiety.

    On the surface of the Upper Tsaritsyn Pond, Alexandra Ostrovskaya’s “Portal II” sways. The landmark is the island with the Mermaid Gate. During the time of Catherine the Great, plays were staged here, and folk festivals were held here, and the artist suggests that this could be the portal connecting worlds and eras.

    The optimal route through the park exhibition: start your tour from the Greenhouse Gate (entrance no. 9), moving along the natural relief of the park. Each work occupies a well-thought-out place in the landscape, revealing itself to the viewer in a certain sequence.

    Parallel threads

    A parallel program has been prepared as part of the triennial: some of it is for professionals, but most of the events are for everyone. Guests can expect lectures, master classes, and creative meetings. Of particular interest are the excursions. The schedule will be available on the museum’s website and in social networks. And in the fall, an inclusive project will start — special master classes in hand weaving for teenagers with mental disabilities.

    No longer a craft

    The curators note that over the 14 years of the triennial’s history, the artists have become significantly “younger,” which indicates a growing interest in textile art among emerging artists.

    “For quite a long time, textiles had the status of something handicraft. And if we take the development of the triennial, the types of works that we exhibit have changed very much. Now there are a lot of spatial works, a lot of compositions with high relief, there are textile sculptures. And all this suggests that we have moved very far away from the traditional perception of textile art. And this is great, in my opinion,” concludes Anna Karganova.

    The triennial can be visited from May 16 to November 30. To see the exhibition in the Bread House, you will need a ticket, but you can walk around the park freely.

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

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/153814073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • Anita Anand appointed Canada’s Foreign Minister; will pilot reset with India

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney has appointed Anita Ananda to the powerful post of Foreign Minister in his new cabinet charged with fulfilling the “mandate for change”.

    He also appointed Maninder Sidhu as the international trade minister, and two others of Indian descent as secretaries of state – the equivalent of ministers of state.

    One of Anand’s missions will be to pilot the reset of the almost ruptured ties with India that Carney signalled, while managing the delicate relations with President Donald Trump’s America.

    Announcing the new cabinet of 28 ministers, he instructed them to “bring new ideas, a clear focus and decisive actions to their work”.

    Ruby Sahota, who was the minister of democratic institutions, has been downgraded to a secretary of state and put in charge of combating crime.

    Randeep Sarai is another of the ten secretaries of state and will deal with international development.

    Anand, who was the transport minister and had earlier held the defence portfolio, said in January that she was leaving politics and returning to academia.

    But Carney persuaded her to return to the cabinet and take the foreign affairs portfolio after she was re-elected in last month’s election.

    Carney, who inherited former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet, now has a chance to put his mark after having led the Liberal Party to victory, beating the odds in last month’s election.

    He cut the number of ministers from 39 in Trudeau’s cabinet to 28, and three politicians of Indian origin in the last cabinet do not find a place now.

    What is probably the most important portfolio during the tariff war with the US has been assigned to Dominic LeBlanc, who will be the minister responsible for Canada-US trade.

    Chrystia Freeland, who had earlier been the deputy prime minister with the finance portfolio and had challenged Carney for the party leadership, industry portfolio.

    Anand replaces Melanie Joly, who has been shunted to the transport and internal trade ministry that she had held

    Carney, who has called relations with India “incredibly important”, said of the ties with India on the eve of the elections that “there is a path forward to address those with mutual respect and to build out.”

    David McGuinty, who was the public safety minister, takes over defence.

    The new cabinet has fewer Canadians of Indian descent.

    Harjit Singh Sajjan, who was a former defence minister and held the Emergency preparedness portfolio in the last cabinet, did not seek re-election to the House of Commons and left.

    From the last cabinet, Arif Virani, who was the justice minister and attorney-general, and Kamal Khera, who held the diversity and inclusion of persons with disabilities portfolio, have been dropped by Carney.

    (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI USA: Beyer Opening Remarks In Ways & Means Markup Of Republican Tax Cut For The Wealthy

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

    Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today delivered the following remarks during the opening stages of the House Ways and Means Committee’s markup of Republicans’ legislation to lower taxes for the wealthy while making the largest cut to Medicaid in history:

    Top-heavy tax cuts paid for by low-income benefit cuts.

    President Trump and the Republican majorities in Congress were narrowly elected – by little more than one percent – with the simple hope from the American people that they would lower costs.

    The President himself declared he would “bring prices down on day one.”

    Trump and Republicans are now breaking that promise.

    In fact, thanks in part to the unprecedented taxes Trump has imposed on the American people through his nonsensical tariff plan, prices remain high, and consumer inflation expectations have surged.

    Americans are seeing the evidence of his broken promise everywhere.

    When you buy a cup of coffee, or a used car, or a dozen eggs, we’re paying more now than we did before Trump took office.

    On top of that, under Trump’s reckless leadership, our economy took a nosedive in the first quarter of this year, the first time it’s contracted in years.

    Many other indicators are flashing red. Economic uncertainty is at a [long] time high, and the conversations around the kitchen table and in small businesses are the same: everybody’s scared.

    And that brings us to today.

    My Republican friends are hoping this multi trillion-dollar giveaway to the wealthy will somehow dig them out the hole the President has gotten them into.

    If history is any guide, more tax breaks for the rich won’t do much, if anything, to put the economy on firmer footing or provide lasting assistance for working- and middle-class Americans.

    Their model is the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Trump and the Republicans want to extend it here, but look at it: it failed across the board.

    Wages didn’t rise any faster, the economy didn’t grow any faster, and the bill definitely didn’t pay for itself. It just exploded our national debt.

    And just like last time, dollar for dollar, the benefits in this bill overwhelmingly skew towards the ultra-wealthy.

    It’s nice to have my friends talk about the tax cuts on tips and the tax cuts on overtime, but this is a tiny part of this bill – a distraction from what’s really going on.

    They are trying to pull a fast one on the American people, by delivering massive, long-term benefits to millionaires and billionaires, while throwing a few temporary – temporary – tax breaks to working people, timed to help them get through one election cycle.

    The folks getting the most help in this legislation are the same folks who don’t bat an eye when prices go up at the grocery store or they buy a new car or they go on vacation, or they’re affected by the tariffs that cost average Americans at least $2,800 a year, according to Yale.

    The ultra-wealthy are the very last people that need a boost on their tax returns.

    And yet, my Republican colleagues closely attend to their needs in this bill, ensuring that their rates stay low, and estates worth tens of millions of dollars don’t get taxed, and the folks who manage hedge funds keep their special carried interest tax loophole.

    Making the legislation even worse is how my Republican friends plan on offsetting its eye-watering price tag.

    They want to undermine America’s fastest-growing, most affordable energy sources, and jack up utility bills for working families, and do their friends in Big Oil a big favor in the process.

    They want to cut food assistance programs for the poorest Americans, and they’re planning on ripping health insurance away from 14 million Americans, including kids, seniors, and people with disabilities.

    I have a constituent, Chris McCauley, with spastic quadriplegia, and he uses a wheelchair.

    Medicaid pays for his equipment and support programs during the day.

    Without the help of his dedicated caregivers, and the support Medicaid provides his mother, she wouldn’t have been able to work full-time and support her family as a single mom for the past 20 years.

    These are the kinds of families that this legislation will harm.

    All to help give their rich donors a tax break they don’t need, and that won’t change their lives at all.

    Trump and the Republicans have shown what their priorities are.

    At every turn, they choose to the help the rich, often by taking money directly out of the pockets of working Americans.

    This bill will be a disaster for the American people, and will further divide our society between the thoughtlessly-comfortable and the yearning discouraged.

    Top-heavy tax cuts paid for by low-income benefit cuts.

    I urge all of my colleagues to vote no.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: THOMPSON WELCOMES HOME FOURTH DISTRICT DACA RECIPIENT DENIED ENTRY BACK INTO U.S.

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

    Washington – Last week, U.S. Representative Mike Thompson (CA-04) sat down with a constituent and DACA recipient from California’s Fourth Congressional District who was denied entry back into the U.S. for weeks after a trip to Mexico due to a clerical error by U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services. The constituent, who is identified only as Jane Doe to remain anonymous, sat down with Rep. Thompson to discuss the harrowing incident and how Thompson and his team were able to intervene to bring her home. Watch the video HERE. 

    “Through no fault of her own, Jane was wrongfully denied re-entry from Mexico into the United States due to a paperwork error made by U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services. It’s sad that the federal government can make an error that causes a legal resident of the United States — in this case, my constituent — to have to miss three weeks of work, stay in a foreign country, and leave her family without their sole breadwinner for weeks. It took my office, my staff, and myself to intervene to get her home,” said Rep. Thompson. 

    “Constituent services are an important part of my job and my staff and I are dedicated to helping all of our constituents on any matters they have with the federal government.” 

    “When I was stranded in Mexico, I reached out to Congressman Thompson, him and his team listen to my story, they supported me and provided me with help to solve my situation. If not for them, I don’t think I would be here today. Thank you for everything,” said Jane Doe. 

    BACKGROUND 

    On March 26th, Jane Doe contacted Representative Thompson’s Washington, D.C. office to ask for help from the Congressman and his team. 

    Jane had traveled to Mexico legally after being granted an I-131 petition which allows a DACA recipient to leave the country and return for a justified reason. Jane filed her paperwork on time and without errors, and was granted the petition before leaving for her trip.  

    At the conclusion of her trip, Jane was denied entry onto the plane to fly home to the North Bay. Border patrol officials pointed out that the paperwork sent to Jane by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) listed the wrong dates for her return, despite Jane filing for the correct dates.  

    Thompson’s office intervened to inquire with the USCIS San Francisco office as well as Customs & Border Control. Thompson and his team worked through USCIS to have Jane’s documents reissued and coordinated to have them couriered to Jane in Mexico. She was able to fly home on Saturday, April 27th.   

    Fourth District residents who face issues with passports and visas, veterans’ benefits, IRS issues, agricultural issues, small business assistance, immigration, Medicare and Medicaid, or any other problem navigating the federal government are encouraged to contact Rep. Thompson’s nearest office for support: 

    • Napa: (707) 226-9898
    • Santa Rosa: (707) 542-7182
    • Woodland: (530) 753-3501
    • Washington: (202) 225-3311

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UN Secretary-General – Remarks to the Ministerial Meeting on the Future of Peacekeeping

    Source: United Nations – Peacekeeping

    [Bilingual, as delivered]

    Dear Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, our generous hosts.

    Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

    My thanks to Germany for bringing us together at this consequential moment.

    This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.

    Our organization was founded on the conviction that peace is possible if we work as one united human family.

    That is what our peace operations are about. 

    From preventive diplomacy to peacekeeping…

    From negotiating ceasefires to helping to implement them…

    From electoral support and observer missions to de-mining operations and protection of civilians…

    To the focus of today’s Ministerial meeting — peacekeeping.

    Excellencies,

    UN Blue Helmets are the most globally recognized symbol of the world’s ability to come together to help countries move from conflict to peace.

    Peacekeepers hail from every corner of the world.

    But they are united in their commitment to peace.

    As we meet today, UN peacekeepers are hard at work helping to ensure that ceasefires are respected…

    Protecting civilians caught in the line of fire…

    Helping provide the conditions for lifesaving aid to flow to those in need…

    And laying the foundations for long-term recovery.

    In trouble spots around the world, Blue Helmets can mean the difference between life and death.

    And they are also a clear demonstration of the power of multilateral action to maintain, achieve and sustain peace.

    There is a long list of countries that have achieved durable peace with the support of UN Peacekeeping — including Cambodia, Cote d’Ivoire, El Salvador, Liberia, Namibia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Timor Leste.  

    Many of these countries now themselves contribute troops. 

    At the same time, we recognize that peace comes at a price.

    Through the decades, 4,400 peacekeepers have fallen in the line of duty.

    Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.  

    Please join me in a moment of silence to honour all those who lost their lives in the pursuit of peace.

    [MOMENT OF SILENCE]

    Thank you.

    Excellencies,

    We owe it to peacekeepers — and the populations they protect — to continue strengthening their ability to answer this call to peace.

    And to do so in the face of daunting challenges.

    Complex, intertwined and frequently borderless conflicts…

    Growing polarization and division around the globe…

    Targeting of peacekeepers through deadly misinformation spreading through social media…

    Terrorism and transnational crime, which find fertile ground in instability…

    The ongoing climate crisis that is exacerbating conflict while leaving more of the planet uninhabitable…

    All the continued trampling of international law and international humanitarian law.

    As a result, we are now facing the highest number of conflicts since the foundation of the United Nations, and record numbers of people fleeing across borders in search of safety and refuge.

    We must recognize that peacekeeping operations are only as effective as the mandates directing them, and can struggle in contexts where political support and clearly defined outcomes and solutions are absent or elusive.

    Meanwhile, we see increasing differences of views around how peacekeeping operations should work, under what circumstances, with what mandates they should be deployed, and for how long.

    And we face dramatic financial constraints across the board.

    We’ve worked to adapt in the face of these challenges.

    But we need to do more.

    Today, I want to highlight three areas of focus.

    First — help us shape peacekeeping operations that are fit for the future.     

    The Pact for the Future called for a Review of Peace Operations — including peacekeeping.

    The review will examine how we can make peacekeeping operations more adaptable, flexible and resilient — while recognizing the limitations in situations where there is little or no peace to keep.

    It will also aim to critically examine the tools we have today and propose concrete recommendations to make them fit for the future.  

    Through this review, we must ensure that the United Nations is prepared to deploy peace operations tailored to each individual conflict, while preparing for the challenges of tomorrow.

    We can draw inspiration from our UNIFIL operation, which recently developed an adaptation plan to keep peace along the Blue Line, and ensure lifesaving aid can flow to civilians in southern Lebanon.

    In the Central African Republic, we see MINUSCA protecting civilians and assisting the government to extend its reach beyond the capital where people are in desperate need. 

    In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite ongoing fighting, UN Peacekeepers remain in the field, protecting vulnerable populations. 

    We’re also seeking efficiencies through partnerships — from Member States to regional and sub-regional organizations, to local communities.

    Most important among them is our strong partnership with the African Union.

    Security Council resolution 2719 has lifted this partnership to a new level as we work to establish peace enforcement missions under the AU’s responsibility, supported by the United Nations through assessed contributions.

    Today, the Review of Peace Operations will need to be informed — and inspired — by your views.

    Member States make peacekeeping possible.

    They must lead the way as we strengthen it for the future.

    Second — as we make our operations more adaptable and flexible, we need to do the same in the use of our resources.

    Peace operations can only succeed when backed by robust mandates and clear, predictable and sustained contributions, both financial and logistical. 

    But these are tough times for the financing of our work across the board.

    Peacekeeping is no exception.

    It is crucial that we are able to use the increasingly limited resources we have — and use them well.

    That requires more flexible rules and processes.

    This means updating our approach to abolishing or establishing positions, and working with troop-contributing countries to ensure we can deliver.

    It means working with Member States and the UN Security Council to ensure that any new mandates are prioritized and achievable with the resources available and with a clear exit strategy.

    And it means driving efficiencies and improvements across our work in light of the continued funding challenges we face.

    Our Review of Peace Operations will work hand-in-hand with our UN80 initiative, to ensure we maximize efficiencies wherever possible, supported at every step by Member States.

    We look forward to your governments’ support and ideas as we tackle these challenges together.

    Troisièmement, nous avons besoin de votre soutien politique – qui passe notamment par les engagements que vous prendrez demain.

    Sans solution politique, les opérations de paix sont vouées à l’échec.

    Ensemble, nous devons rallier un soutien accru en faveur des solutions politiques pour toutes les missions de maintien de la paix.

    Faire avancer ces solutions politiques nécessite d’avoir les moyens nécessaires pour mener à bien nos opérations – notamment un soutien politique unifié de la part des États Membres, un leadership fort, des troupes bien préparées, du matériel et des technologies.

    Ces éléments peuvent renforcer nos opérations et améliorer sensiblement la vie des gens.

    Cela nécessite aussi un soutien de tous les États membres pour assurer la sécurité des Casques bleus sur le terrain, ainsi que le plein respect des privilèges et immunités pertinentes de notre Organisation et de son personnel.

    Nous sommes profondément reconnaissants de votre soutien et des contributions concrètes que nombre d’entre vous annonceront demain.

    Excellences,

    Le budget des opérations de la paix des Nations Unies, réparti entre les 193 États Membres, ne représente qu’une infime partie des dépenses militaires mondiales – environ 0,5 %. Ces opérations demeurent donc l’un des moyens les plus efficaces et les plus économiques de consolider la paix et la sécurité internationales.

    Toutefois, leur force est tributaire de l’engagement des États Membres à leur égard.

    Malheureusement, les opérations de maintien de la paix sont soumises a un sérieux problème de liquidité. Il est absolument essentiel que tous les Etats Membres respectent leurs obligations financières en payant les contributions intégralement et dans les temps.

    Aujourd’hui plus que jamais, le monde a besoin de l’ONU.

    Et l’ONU a besoin que les opérations de maintien de la paix disposent de tous les moyens nécessaires pour faire face aux réalités d’aujourd’hui et relever les défis de demain.

    Ensemble, faisons en sorte que les opérations de maintien de la paix de l’ONU répondent aux défis du moment, aux attentes des États Membres, et aux besoins légitimes de nos soldates et soldats de la paix – et des personnes à qui ils viennent en aide.

    Je vous remercie.

    Full translation in English.

    Full translation in French.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Foster Leads over 100 Colleagues in Demanding Answers on National Science Foundation Funding Freeze

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

    Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL), Congress’ only PhD physicist, led 112 Members of Congress in expressing their concern with the Trump Administration’s directive for the National Science Foundation to freeze all grant funding.

    In a letter to President Trump, the Members wrote:

    “The NSF has, for decades, been a cornerstone of American innovation, funding groundbreaking research that has led to advancements in medical imaging, artificial intelligence, geographic information systems, and numerous other fields. Central to the NSF’s success has been its commitment to a merit-based, peer-reviewed grant process, ensuring that funding decisions are made based on scientific excellence and potential impact, free from political or ideological influence.

    “Changes to this commitment have far-reaching implications. They not only disrupt ongoing research but also erode the confidence of the scientific community in the federal funding apparatus. Moreover, in an era of intense global competition, particularly with nations like China investing heavily in science and technology, these actions risk ceding our leadership position and compromising our ability to address critical challenges.”

    A full copy of the letter can be found here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Foster Demands Trump Administration Comply with Supreme Court Order, Reverse Wrongful Deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

    Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) joined 141 of his colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump regarding Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a legal U.S. resident who was wrongfully detained and deported to El Salvador last month. In the letter, the Members requested an immediate update on the administration’s plans to ensure Mr. Abrego Garcia’s safe return to the United States.

    “The Supreme Court ordered the Trump Administration to facilitate Mr. Abrego Garcia’s return, yet we have seen no meaningful action or heard of any plans indicating their effort to comply. Mr. Abrego Garcia is a legal resident of the United States, and he is entitled to due process under the law,” said Foster. “The administration’s failure to correct this unlawful deportation is both morally indefensible and an overstep of their authority. The administration must act immediately to bring him home and ensure this never happens again.”

    The letter reads: 

    Dear President Trump: 

    We write to you with grave concern about Kilmar Abrego Garcia of Beltsville, Maryland, who was wrongfully detained and deported to El Salvador last month. We respectfully request an immediate update on his wellbeing and detailed plans on how all relevant executive agencies plan to ensure his safe return to the United States. 

    As you know, on March 12, 2025, Mr. Abrego Garcia was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with his 5-year-old son in the backseat of his car. Mr. Abrego Garcia was then deported, along with alleged Venezuelan and Salvadoran gang members, to El Salvador. It is our understanding that he is currently being held in the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador. 

    While Mr. Abrego Garcia is a citizen of El Salvador, he had legally been granted withholding of removal in 2019 by a United States immigration court based on his fear of persecution by gangs in El Salvador. He has no criminal record and has been residing in Maryland with his U.S. citizen wife and family. 

    Your administration has admitted that Mr. Abrego Garcia’s removal was an “administrative error.” As such, the Supreme Court of the United States ordered, in a unanimous ruling, that your administration must “facilitate” Mr. Abrego Garcia’s “release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador.” This would mean his return to the United States. Despite these clear instructions, the federal district court judge overseeing Mr. Abrego Garcia’s case has indicated your administration has made no effort to comply with the Supreme Court’s order.

    As President, you have the authority to get Mr. Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. from El Salvador despite your administration’s insistence otherwise. If there is evidence of any wrongdoing by Mr. Abrego Garcia, he is entitled to a chance to contest such allegations. Mistakenly removing a U.S. resident that has protection from deportation legally granted to him by an immigration court and then making no effort to get him back not only places Mr. Abrego Garcia’s life in danger, but also violates the basic principles of due process and the rule of law. 

    The U.S. government must comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling and do everything in its power to get Mr. Abrego Garcia back to his family in the United States as quickly as possible. We appreciate your urgent attention to this matter and we look forward to receiving your response.

    A copy of the letter can be found here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Defense of the Courts and the University

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Rep Ro Khanna (CA-17)

    In Defense of the Courts and the University 

    Rep. Ro Khanna | Yale Law School | 4.15.25

    My return today is not one of nostalgia for good pizza or to relive faded dreams. I chose to come to Yale at a serious moment in the life of our Republic because the Woodward Report, issued by this very institution in 1974, defines the paramount duty of the American university: the defense of free expression and free inquiry.

    There are moments in a mature democracy — dating as far back as the prosecution of Socrates — when institutions must stand firm as guardians of free thought against the roar of the crowd.

    This is such a moment.

    In our nation, a mobocratic spirit — fanned by amoral, ambitious men — threatens not only our constitutional way of life but freedom of thought itself. For generations, American power has been checked by the Constitution and the quiet strength of reasoned debate. Politicians have bowed to the courts and stood before the people — not to silence opposition, but to answer it. 

    But today, a great anger grips the public — burned by years of war, wearied by economic stagnation, and fearful that the foreign-born among us now comprise a larger share of our population than at any point in a century. From this disquiet rises not a call to reform, but to dismantle — to cast off the judges in their robes, the scholars in their gowns, and the press with its inconvenient questions. 

    And at the head of this gathering storm stands JD Vance — calling on the President to defy the Supreme Court, and casting universities like Yale, his alma mater and mine, as the enemy.

    He claims that you here at Yale are being corrupted — taught to reject American values — as if he alone possesses the authority to define what it means to be an American, as if the life of the mind is to be excised from our nation’s story. How far we have fallen from the days when Thomas Jefferson chose not to list the presidency on his epitaph, but instead the founding of a university. 

    Jefferson understood that the life of the mind is as vital to liberty as the laws we live by, and that an educated citizenry is essential for democracy to thrive.

    Now, I remember they don’t teach much black letter law at Yale. But the President must obey court orders is about as basic as it gets. Our whole system depends on the idea that the Constitution gives the courts the power to say what the law is in any given case. In Cooper versus Aaron, the Court held that the “Constitution is the supreme law of the land,” and when specific disputes arise, the judiciary gets to decide what the law requires. In Youngstown, the Court made it clear that President Truman was limited by the Constitution and could not seize steel mills for our national defense during the Korean war because Congress did not give him that power.

    This check on executive power has not only kept the President from becoming a king — it is what has made America the most innovative and dynamic free enterprise economy in the world. We saw the fiasco of a President imposing tariffs on a whim. But imagine if he could go further: launch investigations into companies he disliked, void contracts to punish rivals, deport an immigrant business leader for political gain, or pull funding from scientists and scholars who challenge convention. 

    Those who complain that America suffers from too much regulation certainly would not want the system to be replaced with arbitrary decision making by the state. The United States has been successful because the predictability and stability the rule of law provides for long term economic investment. Unlike other nations, our business leaders do not have to worry about capricious rule changes that benefit political elites or worry about their assets being seized.

    And yet, every day that Vance tweets of defying court orders, he chips away at that trust — the invisible thread that binds our economic, social, and political life. Most recently, he defended the deportation of Abrego Garcia to a notorious Salvadoran prison — even after his own administration called it an “administrative error”. When Americans asked for due process, he answered not with reason, but with feigned rage — accusing us of sympathy for a gang member. Nine Supreme Court justices firmly rejected his claim that Abrego had no legal right to be here.

    To stir up public fury by painting due process as weakness is a timeless danger. Lincoln saw it clearly. In his Lyceum Address, he warned against mob vengeance, saying:

    “When men take it in their heads to hang gamblers or burn murderers, they should recollect that… they will be as likely to hang someone who is neither a gambler nor a murderer.”

    Without due process, Vance is as likely to destroy the life of an innocent man as he is to punish the guilty. And he does not seem to care. But Lincoln cared. He warned: 

    “The innocent… fall victims to the ravages of mob law, and thus it goes on, step by step, till all the walls erected for the defense of the persons and property of individuals, are trodden down, and disregarded.”

    We have been fortunate in our history to have leaders — like Lincoln — who appealed not to fury, but to reason. But we’ve also seen leaders, like Vance, who win public adulation by stoking anger and treating legal limits as nuisances to be ignored. Lincoln’s path is harder, slower — but it is truer to our founding, as it defends the sacred right of the individual over the exercise of impulsive power.

    Now, Vance says the President, elected by the people, should tell the Court what the Constitution means — and if the Court disagrees, let them try to enforce their ruling. That the President, as a co-equal, may simply ignore the Court’s judgment of the law. 

    In Vance’s America, the police can knock on any immigrant’s door, deport him to a dictatorship without due process, and then wash their hands of his fate, pretending that America is powerless to free someone outside our border. They did this with Abrego. They did this with Merwil Gutierrez, a 19 year old Venezuelan, who may have had no criminal record and whose heartbroken father is searching for him in vain . JD Vance, your cold indifference to the lives of vulnerable immigrants mocks every principle that this law school was built to uphold.

    Your affiliation with this law school is now a stain on the degree of every Yale graduate. I hope Yalies –alumni, student, faculty and administrators will have the moral clarity to say so plainly.

    But what about Vance’s argument that courts can be wrong?

    Here again, Lincoln teaches us. He did not accept the abhorrent Dred Scott decision as the final word, recognizing that the decision was destined to be overturned, not through blanket defiance of the judiciary, but through a legal crusade for equality. Lincoln’s reverence for the law did not weaken his moral clarity — it deepened it. He showed that his cause was not mere personal conviction, but rooted in the values and documents etched into the nation’s character. He pursued it through argument, elections, legislation, and new judicial appointments. He didn’t trample the Constitution in the name of justice — he worked through the Constitution to achieve justice. 

    And so must we.

    In our system, there is no Executive sovereignty. No Congressional sovereignty. No Judicial sovereignty. There is only popular sovereignty. The people ultimately decide what the Constitution means and what our laws should be. But that power is channeled through a constitutional framework — where the popular will must express itself through an intricate and deliberate system of elections, legislation, court decisions, appointments, and amendments. When Vance urges the President to defy that framework in the name of a false populism, he does not honor the people’s will — he undermines it. Ours is not a system of brute majoritarianism, but of constitutional self-government. To abandon that is a radical rejection of the very design of the American experiment.

    Vance has not only declared war on the courts — but on the universities. And it is no accident. As Stephen Kotkin observed in his study of Stalin, strongmen do not fear recessions or even failed wars as much as they fear the university. The greatest threat to consolidating power is not resistance — it is alternatives. Vance calls the university the enemy because he knows what lives here: historians, economists, law professors, and scientists who threaten him not with force, but with ideas.

    Why else propose raising the endowment tax from 1.4 to 35%, if not from a deep fear that the ideas presented in lecture halls may take root in the hearts of a new generation? That young Americans might see a nation not of grievance, but of promise. That is what Vance fears most—not rebellion, but the birth of new thinking. 

    If ever there were a moment in our nation’s history for the defense of liberalism — as a defense of free thought and the examined life — it is now. Those who sneer at our universities — who mock thinking, learning, and degrees for cheap applause while credentialing themselves — are engaged in rank hypocrisy. They are gatekeepers of privilege, dissuading their fellow citizens from pursuing for their families the very opportunities they seek for their own children.

    I hope university presidents will find their voice, pledging mutual support to each other, by remembering leaders like Yale’s Kingman Brewster, who stood with student protestors even when donors withdrew their support; Harvard’s James Conant, who resisted McCarthyism in the face of pressure from government and alumni; and Chicago’s Robert Hutchins, who defended the independence of scholarship against the demands of powerful business interests. Their place in history was not secured by the size of the endowment they left behind, but by the ideals they refused to abandon.

    President Garber, you’ve shown courage in standing up to the bullies in the White House. I have no doubt that Harvard—with its legacy of liberty predating the founding of our nation—will prevail over the fleeting ignorance of our time. 

    President McInnis, I hope you will follow his lead.

    And let Brewster, Conan, Hutchins, and Garber be an example for each of you. When  a student is snatched from campus and denied due process, speak up. When  a student protestor is harassed for their viewpoint, stand in their defense. When you are told to keep silent about the need for diversity by a potential employer, walk away.

    Each of us must ask: What, in this hour, are we willing to risk? What is needed is not the towering courage of a Socrates, nor even of my grandfather, who spent four years in jail as part of Gandhi’s movement for Indian independence. What is needed now are the small acts of conscience that together shape the soul of a nation.

    We may not have been able to save the deportation of Abrego or Gutierrez, but the louder we speak, the more of us who speak, the longer we speak, the more we become a human shield against an arbitrary state and resist the cold routinization of injustice. This is the time to stand up for a free society. 

    As for me, I have called out the richest man in the world, who responded by declaring on X that my career is over. I have called out J.D. Vance, who said I was a whiny congressman who disgusts him. But I have no regret.

    In speaking out, we can find direction not only from Woodward’s report celebrating free expression but also from his seminal work on the history of segregation, which Dr. King called the “bible of the civil rights movement.” Woodward reminded us that the path to Jim Crow was not inevitable. What was true of the 1890s is true today. To paraphrase Woodward: “There are still real choices to be made, and alternatives to the course that now threatens us are still available”.

    In times of crisis, this nation has often cast aside the old guard and turned to a new generation for new paths. That we were fortunate to witness Lincoln’s unlikely rise in our darkest hour is perhaps the strongest evidence of providence. The fate of liberal democracy now rests not only with those of us in Congress — it rests with you. It rests on whether you will rise to history’s call.

    I believe you will.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Davids Criticizes Administration’s Proposal to Cut Head Start Programs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

    Yesterday, Representative Sharice Davids and 89 of her Congressional colleagues criticized the Trump Administration’s efforts to eliminate critical Head Start programs that promote early childhood development and ease the burden of child care on working families. Multiple Head Start programs in the Kansas City area have already closed this year.

     

    In a letter to President Donald Trump and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the lawmakers demanded answers from the administration about how they intend to fill the gap left by the potential elimination of Head Start and support students, teachers, and parents who benefit from these investments. 

     

    “A shutdown of Head Start programming would have devastating, far-reaching impacts for nearly half a million children, families and local communities,” the Members wrote. “Over 800,000 children benefit from attending 17,000 Head Start Centers across the country, strengthening their early education and providing developmental screenings.”

     

    “Additionally, the National Head Start Association estimates that more than one million parents who use Head Start and Early Start centers would lose necessary child care, impacting their ability to attend in-person work, causing further workforce disruptions,” the Members continued. “The impacts of these cuts would be generational and long-lasting.”

     

    The Members concluded, “While we share the administration’s goal of rooting out waste and abuse in government, attempting to defund early education programming and indiscriminately attacking our nation’s most vulnerable families is not the appropriate way to increase government efficiency.”

     

    As a first-generation college student who worked her way from Leavenworth High School to Cornell Law School, Davids understands the value of quality education for student success and our overall economy. She has long fought to protect education and child care in Kansas and has been a fierce critic of the administration’s efforts to defund the Department of Education. She has visited multiple Head Start programs in Kansas including Kansas City Kansas Public School’s Successful Beginnings, Family Conservancy, the University of Kansas Medical Center’s Project Eagle, and Olathe Public Schools Head Start.

       

    Students in early childhood education programs are less likely to repeat grades, are 25 percent more likely to graduate high school, and are four times more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree in comparison to non-Head Start students. But long-term benefits of Head Start programs are not only limited to educational success. Children in Head Start are healthier and have better social and emotional skills. In adulthood, statistics show that former Head Start students experience greater economic stability and earn higher wages.

    You can read the full letter here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Fiji Indians in NZ ‘not giving up’ on Pasifika classification struggle

    By Susana Suisuiki, RNZ Pacific Waves presenter/producer, and Christina Persico, RNZ Pacific bulletin editor

    The co-founder of Auckland’s Fiji Centre is concerned that Indo-Fijians are not classified as Pacific Islanders in Aotearoa.

    This week marks the 146th anniversary of the arrival of the first indentured labourers from British India to Fiji, who departed from Calcutta.

    On 14 May 1879, the first group of 522 labourers arrived in Fiji aboard the Leonidas, a labour transportation ship.

    That date in 1987 is also the date of the first military coup in Fiji.

    More than 60,000 men, women and children were brought to Fiji under an oppressive system of bonded labour between 1879 and 1916.

    Today, Indo-Fijians make up 33 percent of the population.

    While Fiji is part of the Pacific, Indo-Fijians are not classified as Pacific peoples in New Zealand; instead, they are listed under “Indian” and “Asian” on the Stats NZ website.

    Lasting impact on Fiji
    The Fiji Centre’s Nik Naidu, who is also a co-founder of the Whānau Community Centre and Hub, said that he understood Fiji was the only country in the Pacific where the British implemented the indentured system.

    “It is also a sad legacy and a sad story because it was basically slavery,” he said.

    “The positive was that the Fiji Indian community made a lasting impact on Fiji.

    “They continue to be around 30 percent of the population in Fiji, and I think significantly in Aotearoa, through the migration, the numbers are, according to the community, over 100,000 in New Zealand.”

    Fiji Centre co-founder Nikhil Naidu . . . Girmit Day “is also a sad legacy and a sad story because it was basically slavery.” Image: Asia Pacific Report

    However, he said the discussions on ethnic classification “reached a stalemate” with the previous Pacific Peoples Minister.

    “His basic argument was, well, ethnographically, Fijian Indians do not fit the profile of Pacific Islanders,” he said.

    Then-minister Aupito William Sio said in 2021 that, while he understood the group’s concerns, the classification for Fijian Indians was in line with an ethnographic profile which included people with a common language, customs and traditions.

    Aupito said that profile was different from indigenous Pacific peoples.

    StatsNZ and ethnicity
    “StatsNZ recognises ethnicity as the ethnic group or groups a person self-identifies with or has a sense of belonging to,” Aupito said in a letter at the time.

    It is not the same as race, ancestry, nationality, citizenship or even place of birth, he said.

    “They have identified themselves now that the system of government has not acknowledged them.

    “Those conversations have to be ongoing to figure out how do we capture the data of who they are as Fijian Indians or to develop policies around that to support their aspirations.”

    Girmitiyas – Indentured labourers – in Fiji . . . shedding light on the harsh colonial past in Fiji. Image: RNZ Pacific/Fiji Girmit Foundation

    Naidu believes the ethnographic argument was a misunderstanding of the request.

    “The request is not to say, like Chinese in Samoa, they are not indigenous to Samoa, but they are Samoans, and they are Pacific Chinese.

    “So there is the same thing with Fijian Indians. They are not wanting to be indigenous.

    Different from mainland Indians
    “They do want to be recognised as separate Indians in the Pacific because they are very different from the mainland Indians.

    “In fact, most probably 99 percent of Fijian Indians have never been to India and have no affiliations to India because during the Girmit they lost all connections with their families.”

    However, Naidu told Pacific Waves the community was not giving up.

    “There was a human rights complaint made — again that did not progress in the favour of the Fijian Indians.

    “Currently from . . . Fiji Centre’s perspective, we are still pursuing that.

    “We have also had a discussion with Stats NZ about the numbers and trying to ascertain just why they have not managed to put a separate category, so that we can look at the number of Fijian Indians and also relative to Pacific Islanders.”

    Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka told RNZ Pacific that as far as Fiji is concerned, Fijians of Indian descent are Fijian.

    Question to minister
    Last year, RNZ Pacific asked the current Minister for Pacific Peoples, Dr Shane Reti, on whether Indo-Fijians were included in Ministry of Pacific Peoples as Pacific people.

    In a statement, his office said: “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is undertaking ongoing policy work to better understand this issue.”

    Meanwhile, the University of Fiji’s vice-chancellor is asking the Australian and British governments to consider paying reparation for the exploitation of the indentured labourers more than a century ago.

    Professor Shaista Shameem told the ABC that they endured harsh conditions, with long hours, social restrictions and low wages.

    She said the Australian government and the Colonial Sugar Refinery of Australia benefitted the most financially and it was time the descendants were compensated.

    While some community leaders have been calling for reparation, Naidu said there were other issues that needed attention.

    He said it had been an ongoing discussion for many decades.

    “It is a very challenging one, because where do you draw the line? And it is a global problem, the indenture system. It is not just unique to Fiji.

    “Personally, yes, I think that is a great idea. Practically, I am not sure if it is feasible and possible.”

    Focus on what unites, says Rabuka
     Fiji is on a path for reconciliation, with leaders from across the political spectrum signing a Forward Fiji Declaration in 2023, hoping to usher in a new era of understanding between indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians.

    Rabuka announced a public holiday to commemorate Girmit Day in 2023.

    In his Girmit Day message this year, Rabuka said his government was dedicated to bringing unity and reconciliation between all races living in Fiji.

    “We all know that Fiji has had a troubled past, as it was natural that conflicts would arise when a new group of people would come into another’s space,” he said.

    “This is precisely what transpired when the Indians began to live or decided to live as permanent citizens.

    “There was distrust as the two groups were not used to living together during the colonial days. Indigenous Fijians did not have a say in why, and how many should come and how they should be settled here. Fiji was not given a time to transit.

    “The policy of indenture labour system was dumped on us. Naturally this led to tensions and misunderstandings, reasons that fuelled conflicts that followed after Fiji gained independence.”

    He said 146 years later, Fijians should focus on what unites rather than what divides them.

    “We have together long enough to know that unity and peace will lead us to a good future.”

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

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Adams Statement on President Trump’s First 100 Days, Immense Harm to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

    WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), released a statement on President Trump’s first 100 days in office and the immense harm him and Republicans in Congress have brought to the residents of NC-12, the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and the country.

    “After 100 days under President Trump, his term can only be defined by economic hardship, divisive, partisan politics, and letting millions suffer for bigger tax breaks for billionaires,” said Congresswoman Adams. “The last three months have been disastrous, and my constituents have made it clear to me that they are overwhelmingly worse off thanks to this administration. But my Republican colleagues have no issues supporting President Trump’s cruel, unconstitutional actions anyway.”

    “While Republicans cower to the White House, Democrats will continue to work for every single American,” Adams continued. “I will keep fighting their reckless agenda in committee and on the House floor. I will continue listening to my constituents so I can advocate for their needs. And I will continue to work with our partners in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County to ensure our community will take care of our neighbors, even when this administration won’t.”

    Harm to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community

    The Trump Administration has directly harmed hundreds of thousands of people in North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District and in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community. As Republicans look to pass their partisan budget bill, the harm will only grow.

    Education

    “Education isn’t a privilege, it’s a right and we will not let Republicans take it away from our children,” said Adams. “We are seeing this unconstitutional attempt to dismantle the federal Department of Education fought in court and I will continue to fight these cuts in Congress. Now, more than ever, we need to protect the educational future of our students.” 

    Hunger

    • Elon Musk’s DOGE has made major cuts to food security programs, including $30 million to North Carolina’s Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program, and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program.
    • Now, Republicans in Congress are attempting to cut $230 billion in SNAP funding, the largest food security program in the country.
    • 160,000 Mecklenburg County residents receive aid from SNAP and the program carries with it $500 million in economic impacts.
    • This bill would also cut funds to the Free Student Lunch Program which 40,000 CMS students use for a reliable meal.

    “You can’t be healthy if you’re hungry,” said Adams. “At a time when people are struggling to make ends meet, Republicans want to cut food security programs from the people who need it most. Our children, our elderly, our disabled, and our working families all rely on SNAP to put food on the table. Democrats will not allow our constituents to starve.”

    Healthcare

    “We cannot let Republicans treat lifesaving healthcare programs like Medicaid as if they’re just budget line items,” said Adams. “2.6 million North Carolinians rely on Medicaid for their health and wellness, providing affordable, accessible care to our most vulnerable. Make no mistake, Americans will die if Republicans cut Medicaid, all so they can give tax breaks to billionaires.” 

    Housing

    • As Charlotte-Mecklenburg faces an affordable housing crisis, the Trump Administration is cutting funds for critical rental and housing assistance.
    • The Republican Continuing Resolution cut rent subsidies and homelessness response grants by more than $700 million.
    • Funding for affordable housing developments remains frozen, throwing these developments into uncertainty.
    • Charlotte’s largest homeless shelter is facing uncertainty and unease due to the Trump Administration’s cuts on housing.

    “While rental and housing costs continue to rise, Republicans want to cut an essential lifeline to affordable housing,” said Adams. “Housing security impacts everything: physical and mental health, job and economic stability, and food security. Yet, the Republican plan is to increase evictions while slashing housing and homeless support. That’s unacceptable. While I fight these cuts in Congress, I’m working with partners at the state, county, and local level to ensure we can continue providing fair housing for the people of my district.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus Leader Encouraged by new Executive Order on HBCUs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

    WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams Ph.D. (NC-12), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, and Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Bipartisan, Bicameral Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Caucus, released a statement following President Trump’s executive order on HBCUs.

    “I welcome all and every initiative to support our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities because supporting HBCUs is not a partisan issue,” said Congresswoman Adams. “HBCUs are centers of achievement, excellence, and success, and have always punched above their weight, even in the face of historic underfunding.”

    “In order to win the race in the 21stcentury to remain the world’s leading innovative country, we must have robust investments in our HBCUs through bills like the FUTURE Act and HBCU PARTNERS Act, two bills I fought hard to have signed into law. We also need to ensure our state governments are fully funding our 1890s Land Grant HBCUs, something the executive order stressed the importance of,” Adams continued.

    “We still have more work to do though, especially in holistic infrastructure investments at HBCUs, and I look forward to working with this administration and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass more impactful, bipartisan legislation for our HBCUs.”

    “I’m a former college professor and I always told my students that we have to have a sense of urgency about the tasks in front of us. We need real timelines, and I am ready to work now. But, I must also say, if the administration dismantles our U.S. Department of Education, the future for HBCUs will further be in question. Let’s work together to ensure these institutions of higher education always remain HBCU Strong,” Adams concluded.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Adams, Kamlager-Dove Convene Roundtable to Address Black Higher Education and Strengthening HBCUs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

    WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), founder and co-chair of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Caucus, and Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Congressional Black Caucus Whip, held a roundtable discussion with Reps. Sewell (AL-07), Hayes (CT-05), Sykes (OH-13), Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Brown (OH-11), and Figures (AL-02), HBCU leadership, students, and advocacy organizations to highlight the impacts of Trump Administration policies on the HBCUs that have played a vital role in empowering Black students across the country. 

    The roundtable included presidents from Howard University, Bowie State University, Morgan State University, and Virginia Union University and representatives from Texas Southern University, the United Negro College Fund, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the 1890 Foundation to discuss student life concerns, academic access and funding, infrastructure and facilities, and the role of the federal government. 

    “HBCUs have always punched above their weight, producing the leaders, innovators, and changemakers who move this country forward,” said Congresswoman Adams. “Despite their success though, they face historic underfunding that force them to do more with less. It’s time we meaningfully invest in HBCUs so they can continue serving their students for generations to come.”

    “Our HBCUs continue to face systemic challenges that impact student success, campus quality-of-life, and institutional growth. Shamefully, the Trump Administration’s attacks on DEI initiatives and higher education funding have only made these challenges worse,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “Now is the time for policymakers, education leaders, and students to engage in direct dialogue about solutions to protect and uplift Black students.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cole Applauds President Trump on Historic U.S.-UK Trade Deal

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Olivia Porcaro 202-225-6165

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement applauding President Trump for his success in negotiating a trade deal between the United States and the United Kingdom, which is our fourth largest trade partner:

    “Today, President Trump delivered a historic U.S.-UK trade deal, which every American, no matter political party or ideology, should be happy to see. It will not only provide American companies with unprecedented access to British markets, but it will also bolster our national security. Specifically, this deal will create a $5 billion opportunity for new exports for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and producers, many of which I represent in Oklahoma’s Fourth District, as well as maximize the competitiveness and secure the supply chain of U.S. defense manufactures,” said Congressman Cole.

    “Today proves that countries will come to the negotiating table. Congratulations to the Trump Administration, and I look forward to seeing the future trade deals to come,” said Congressman Cole.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Ann Wagner on the Passing of Senator Kit Bond

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

    Ballwin, MO – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement on the passing of former Missouri Senator Kit Bond.

    “Few people in Missouri politics have had more of a positive influence on our state and the nation than Senator Kit Bond.  A true statesman seemingly from a bygone era in today’s divisive world, Kit Bond devoted his life to public service, working with others to find the best ways to lift up Missouri and the nation, to make it a better place for those he was so honored to serve. He was a cheerful warrior who always had an encouraging word and a smile on his face, even in challenging times.
     
    “After leaving elected office, Kit continued to advocate for our state and the policies he fought for throughout his career.  My happiest phone calls in recent memory were from Kit and Linda inviting Ray and me to dinner.  Sharing stories about Missouri politics, both past and present, spanning three decades, was always the highlight of the evening, and something I will miss dearly.
     
    “At a time when it was hard for women to break into politics, Kit was a forward-thinking visionary who worked to promote and advance the careers of many women entering public service.  I was so honored to serve as Missouri Republican Party Chairman alongside Kit’s incomparable female Chief of Staff Julie Dammann and Speaker of the House Catherine Hanaway, advancing strong conservative policies that benefitted our state. 
     
    “Ray and I are heartbroken to hear of his passing and our prayers are with his wife Linda, who took such incredible care of him and supported him always, as well as his son, Sam, and the entire Bond family.  Kit was a dear friend, a mentor, and I would not be where I am today were it not for his friendship, advice and support.  I will miss him every day.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Van Hollen, Tillis, Murkowski Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter Calling on DHS to Reinstate Disaster Mitigation Program Critical to Local Communities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) led a bipartisan, bicameral letter with over 80 of their colleagues urging Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem to reinstate the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, which supports local efforts to protect and harden our communities from natural disaster. The BRIC program provides grants for hazard mitigation planning and projects that reduce risks posed by natural hazards to communities, tribal nations, and territories requesting assistance. The lawmakers’ letter emphasizes the urgent need to continue investing in pre-disaster mitigation and community resilience and calls on the Administration to work with Congress to improve the program’s accessibility and efficiency.
    “We are writing to urge the Administration to reinstate the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant (BRIC) program within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). BRIC funds are spurring communities across the country to strengthen their resilience to extreme weather, and forgoing these critical investments will only make it harder and more expensive for communities to recover from the next storm,” the lawmakers began.
    “The BRIC program was established by Congress in the 2018 Disaster Recovery Reform Act and signed into law by President Trump with bipartisan support. In the years since, this program has catalyzed community investments in resilient infrastructure, saving federal funds by investing in community preparedness before a disaster strikes,” they continued. “According to research, one dollar invested in disaster mitigation can save up to $18 in response and recovery expenditures.”
    “We urge the Administration to take swift action to reinstate the BRIC program, and to work with Congress to identify and implement reforms to strengthen our nation’s resilience for decades to come,” the lawmakers concluded.
    In addition to Senators Murray, Van Hollen, Tillis, and Murkowski, the letter was led on the House side by U.S. Representatives Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.-11), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas-29), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.-01), and Ed Case (D-Hawaii-01). The letter was also signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Representatives Alma Adams (D-N.C.-12), Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.-33), Donald Beyer (D-Va.-08), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01), Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.-08), Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.-13), Greg Casar (D-Texas-35), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.-20), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-33), Angie Craig (D-Minn.-02), Sharice Davids (D-Kan.-03), Donald Davis (D-N.C.-01), Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.-03), Lois Frankel (D-Fla.-22), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.-10), Chuy García (D-Ill.-04), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.-04), Bill Keating (D-Mass.-09), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.-17), Jen Kiggans (R-Va.-02), Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R-Northern Marina Islands), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.-08), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.-07), Sarah McBride (D-Del.-01), Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.-04), Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Mich.-08), Morgan McGarvey (D-Ky.-03), Dave Min (D-Calif-47), Blake Moore (R-Utah-01), James Moylan (R-Va.-09), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.-15), Richard Neal (D-Mass.-01), Dan Newhouse (R-Wash-04), Chris Pappas (D-N.H.-01), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.-03), Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine-01), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.-07), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.05), Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa), John Rutherford (R-Fla.-05), Linda Sánchez (R-Calif.-38), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.-05), Kim Schrier (D-Wash.-08), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.-07), Thomas Suozzi (D-N.Y.-03), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii-02), Norma Torres (D-Calif-35), David Valadao (R-Calif-22), Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.-07), Eugene Simon Vindman (D-Va.-07), Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.-24), and Robert Wittman (R-Va.-01).
    The full letter is available here and below:
    Dear Secretary Noem and Acting Administrator Richardson,
    We are writing to urge the Administration to reinstate the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant (BRIC) program within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). BRIC funds are spurring communities across the country to strengthen their resilience to extreme weather, and forgoing these critical investments will only make it harder and more expensive for communities to recover from the next storm. We acknowledge that the BRIC program, like all grant funding programs, has room for improvement, and we urge you to couple the reinstatement of the program with an opportunity for Congress and FEMA to improve the application review and funding distribution process to more effectively reduce the costs disasters pose to our communities, economies, and livelihoods.
    The BRIC program was established by Congress in the 2018 Disaster Recovery Reform Act and signed into law by President Trump with bipartisan support. In the years since, this program has catalyzed community investments in resilient infrastructure, saving federal funds by investing in community preparedness before a disaster strikes.
    According to research, one dollar invested in disaster mitigation can save up to $18 in response and recovery expenditures. BRIC funds are making communities safer in the next storm through projects like upgrading and protecting wastewater and drinking water plants after the facilities suffered repeated flooding, or bridge upgrades and road drainage improvements to improve driver safety. Because of its benefits, the demand for BRIC grants continues to increase, and our states and communities benefit from the reliability of the funding cycles.
    The BRIC program also plays an essential role in helping Tribal Nations and rural communities strengthen their defenses against natural disasters and safeguard critical infrastructure. Through BRIC, Tribes and rural communities can access dedicated funding to strengthen community resilience by investing in hazard mitigation projects—such as flood protection, fire prevention, and infrastructure hardening—that are otherwise difficult to finance in rural or remote settings. Importantly, FEMA supports Tribal sovereignty by allowing Tribes to apply directly for funding, reserving a dedicated Tribal set-aside, and providing direct technical assistance—ensuring Tribes can lead their own planning and mitigation efforts. These investments not only strengthen community resilience but also honor the federal trust responsibility to support the safety, self-determination, and well-being of Tribal Nations.
    At the same time, we acknowledge that the BRIC program should be evaluated for opportunities to increase efficiency and reduce the complexities for recipients to access the critical resources. The benefits of the program should not be concentrated in or limited to jurisdictions with dedicated offices and the staff necessary to navigate the grant application requirements. Additionally, the program should be updated with a strategic approach that empowers states and local governments to address degraded and vulnerable infrastructure based on their localized priorities and understanding of risk.
    We urge the Administration to take swift action to reinstate the BRIC program, and to work with Congress to identify and implement reforms to strengthen our nation’s resilience for decades to come.
    Respectfully,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Hears Testimony of Trump Defense Nominees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke with Adam Telle, President Trump’s nominee to be Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, and Richard Anderson, President Trump’s nominee to be Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs during their Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) confirmation hearing. Sen. Tuberville spoke with Mr. Telle about how the Army Corps of Engineers can improve dams and waterways in Alabama so that businesses can continue utilizing them to efficiently transport goods. Sen. Tuberville spoke with Mr. Anderson about improving morale in the Air Force, and how he will support President Trump and Secretary Hegseth’s mission for the Air Force Academy, if confirmed. 
    Read Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below or watch on YouTube or Rumble. 

    ON ADDRESSING ALABAMA’S WATER INFRASTRUCTURE:
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning, gentlemen. Mr. Telle, I enjoyed visiting you in my office, recently, about Alabama’s inland waterways. And last year, we had three of our locks fail in one year. That’s unacceptable.
    Our waterways infrastructure is operating past [its] expected lifespan and will continue to break. We’re having huge problems. Businesses depend upon our waterways to move goods, all the way down to the Port Mobile. What’s your plan to cut bureaucratic red tape and rapidly repair critical infrastructure across the system? Even though we just passed—a couple years ago—trillions of dollars’ worth of infrastructure money. We didn’t see any of that.”
    TELLE: “Senator Tuberville, thank you for the question. And as someone who grew up on the Black Warrior River in Tuscaloosa County, one of your waterways, I understand their importance. They deliver American commerce to the globe. It’s true in Alabama and it’s true throughout the country. It’s unacceptable that our infrastructure is not meeting our current demands. We have got to work across government agencies to make sure we remove red tape, coordinate, [and] communicate with you [and] stakeholders here in Congress who have the ability to help deliver some of these projects. And I look forward to working with you on the locks and other navigation and flood control infrastructure within Alabama.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. We do have a lot of red tape within the [Army] Corps of Engineers—I’ll let you know that. I look forward to working with you. I’ll [let you] know that we gotta get stuff done. We just can’t sit back…”
    TELLE: “Thank you, Senator. Couldn’t agree more.”
    ON QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE AIR FORCE:
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. Mr. Anderson, thank for your service. As [a] career officer in the Air Force, I’m sure you’ve had your share of both good and bad base facilities, housing units, [and] commissaries. And I believe that what happens outside of work is just as important as work itself. [Your] quality of life, family, stability, and all those things that go along with it.
    Do you believe that having a lower quality of life leads to decreased morale, readiness, and retention?”
    ANDERSON: “Absolutely, Senator.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. And how do you plan on working with your colleagues in the Air Force staff to address all these issues, because we do have problems?”
    ANDERSON: “Senator, you are correct. […] If confirmed, I intend to delve into this issue immediately. My intention is to remain at the headquarters for a period of time in order to come up to speed on these issues, and then to get into the field, if confirmed, and to see these things firsthand. I’ve read about them, and I look forward, if confirmed, by this Committee [to] working with you and with all members of the Committee in addressing these [issues].”
    ON NEW ADMISSIONS POLICY AT THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY:
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. You know, last week, Secretary Hegseth signed a memorandum requiring our service academies to adapt admission standards based solely on merit. Thank God. You know, […] recently, the President put me on the Air Force Academy Board [of Visitors], which I’m looking forward to. I’m also Chairman of the Subcommittee that oversees our academies. I welcome that change in policy. Under the previous administration we saw our nation’s premier leadership laboratories cower to woke ideologies.
    If confirmed, you will have oversight over the Air Force Academy. How do you plan on ensuring that this memorandum is thoroughly put [into effect at] our Air Force Academy?”
    ANDERSON: “Senator, based on my reading of the public media, the Air Force and specifically the organization that I hope to lead, if confirmed, has already moved aggressively on this. My understanding is that there is a certification required back by the end of the month from the superintendent of the academy. But if confirmed, I intend to delve into this completely to ensure fullest compliance with the Executive Orders, direction of the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of the Air Force as well as the existing law.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. [I] look forward to working with you too, on some things I have in mind for the Academy that possibly we could change. Number one, […] saving money, but also enhance some leadership in the Academy there. I think that we can all get together and make it better. It hasn’t changed in years. We could still go by the same old models. And again, we’re looking for leadership. That’s what the Air Force Academy and all of our academies. Represent, you know, for our military.
    I do have some more questions, but I’m out of time, but I’ll give them to you for the for the record.
    Mr. Chairman.”
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Calls Out Democrats for Trying to Distract from President Trump’s Wins

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    “To my Democrat colleagues, instead of wasting our time objecting every time President Trump breathes, maybe you should get outside of D.C. and go connect with the American people. I can promise you they don’t give a rip about an airplane.”
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) went to the Senate floor to object to Senate Democrats’ attempts to distract from the numerous wins President Trump has delivered for the American people in the past 72 hours.
    Read excerpts from the speech below or watch on YouTube or Rumble.

    “Reserving the right to object. As usual, our Democrat colleagues are losing their minds over this situation. But let’s just talk about the facts.
    First of all, this is not a done deal. It’s not happened yet. It’s all talk. But, if reports are accurate, the government of Qatar is considering gifting the United States Department of Defense with an American-made Boeing 747—I’ll repeat that—an American-made Boeing 747 plane for temporary use as Air Force One. It is not for the President’s personal use and he will not be using it after he leaves office. It is customary and totally normal for foreign countries to give our government gifts. The DOJ has already said that this does not violate any law.
    So, why are my colleagues and the woke media having a full-blown meltdown over this situation? Perhaps this is because in the past 72 hours, President Trump has delivered so many wins you can’t count them all. 
    On Sunday, he negotiated a deal with China, [resulting in China] dropping tariffs [by] 50%. On Monday, he secured the release of the last remaining American hostage in Hamas. Edan Alexander has been through hell the past 584 days, and it took President Trump to bring him home. Today, President Trump just announced hundreds of billions of dollars in new investment from the Middle East. And on Thursday, he is forcing a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelensky to end this brutal war in Ukraine.
    You’d think the media would be celebrating all these wins, along with my colleagues, but as usual, the Trump Derangement Syndrome is getting in the way. I’m convinced that the media and some of my colleagues would rather President Trump lose on everything and our country lose on everything than [see President Trump] be successful. 
    Whether you are a Republican or Democrat, we are all Americans. Sometimes I think we forget that. And we should all be able to celebrate any time a president delivers a win for the American taxpayers.
    And by the way, we are $37 trillion dollars in debt. If another country wants to give us a free plane, saving the taxpayers of this country $400 million dollars, the only thing we should say is ‘thank you.’
    Democrats are rudderless right now. They’re looking for something to hang their hats on. They see that President Trump has done more in four months than President Biden did in four years. So, they wanna make a plane gift from Qatar the next so-called ‘perfect phone call.’
    To my Democrat colleagues, instead of wasting our time objecting every time President Trump breathes, maybe you should get outside of D.C. and go connect with the American people. I can promise you they don’t give a rip about an airplane. They care about their lives and this economy and the things that have been destroyed for the past four years that President Trump is trying to put back together.
    For these reasons, Mr. President, I object.”
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: A year and a half of annual real wages growth

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    New data released by the Australia Bureau of Statistics shows that annual real wages have grown for 18 months in a row under the Albanese Labor Government.

    Under Labor, more Australians are working, earning more and keeping more of what they earn.

    We’re really pleased with today’s figures which show annual real wages have now grown for six quarters in a row, after going badly backwards under the previous Liberal government and falling for the five quarters in the lead up to the 2022 election.

    Australians voted for higher wages at the election, and that’s what today’s numbers show.

    The wage price index grew 0.9 per cent in the March quarter 2025, to be 3.4 per cent higher through the year.

    Real wages grew 1.0 per cent through the year to the March quarter 2025.

    This is the strongest rate of annual real wage growth in five years.

    Annual real wages have grown by more than 0.8 per cent for three quarters in a row, which is the longest consistent run of real wage growth in almost ten years above that rate.

    Since we’ve come to Government average annualised nominal wages have been growing at 3.7 per cent, much higher than the 2.2 per cent under our predecessors.

    The Government’s policies are driving strong and sustainable wage growth for workers.

    We’re acting to boost wages, close the gender pay gap, deliver workplace relations reforms and secure pay rises for some of the lowest‑paid workers in our community. Our support for the lowest paid workers means minimum wage earners are now earning $143.30 per week more than when we came to government.

    At the same time, we’ve overseen the creation of more than 1 million jobs in our first three years, a record for a Parliamentary term and stronger employment growth than any major advanced economy.

    This means under Labor real wages are up, unemployment is low, inflation is down, interest rates have started to fall, every taxpayer is getting a tax cut and living standards are growing again in our economy.

    This is the result of the remarkable progress Australians have made together in the economy over the past three years.

    We know the job isn’t finished because Australians are still under pressure and we know we will be faced with more global economic volatility and unpredictability over the next three years, not less.

    Getting wages moving again is one of the ways we can help households right around Australia prepare for more uncertainty and instability in the global economy.

    We know that productivity growth is the key for strong and sustainable wages growth in the long term and that’s why our five‑pillar productivity agenda across technology, human capital, energy, care and competition is so important.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Six killed in clashes in Tripoli

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    TRIPOLI, May 14 (Xinhua) — At least six people were killed in violent clashes that erupted in the Libyan capital Tripoli on Monday evening, the local Emergency Medical and Support Center said on Tuesday.

    According to him, the bodies of six people were found in the Abu Salim area in the south of the city, where fierce clashes took place.

    Libya’s Interior Ministry said Tripoli was “safe and stable” and all services were “effectively carrying out their duties to maintain security and public order.”

    Violent clashes between armed groups broke out in Tripoli on Monday, sparked by reports of the death of Abdelghani al-Kikli, who headed the Office for the Maintenance of Security and Stability in the Presidency Council.

    Libya has suffered from insecurity and political instability since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • Trump says US to lift Syria sanctions, secures $600 billion Saudi deal

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    President Donald Trump kicked off his trip to the Gulf on Tuesday with a surprise announcement that the United States will lift long-standing sanctions on Syria, and a $600 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia to invest in the U.S.

    The U.S. agreed to sell Saudi Arabia an arms package worth nearly $142 billion, according to the White House which called it the largest “defense cooperation agreement” Washington has ever done.

    The end of sanctions on Syria would be a huge boost for a country that has been shattered by more than a decade of civil war. Rebels led by current President Ahmed al-Sharaa toppled President Bashar al-Assad last December.

    Speaking at an investment forum in Riyadh at the start of a deals-focused trip that also brought a flurry of diplomacy, Trump said he was acting on a request to scrap the sanctions by Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

    “Oh what I do for the crown prince,” Trump said, drawing laughs from the audience. He said the sanctions had served an important function but that it was now time for the country to move forward.

    The move represents a major U.S. policy shift. The U.S. declared Syria a state sponsor of terrorism in 1979, added sanctions in 2004 and imposed further sanctions after the civil war broke out in 2011.

    Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani said on X that the planned move marked a “new start” in Syria’s path to reconstruction. Trump has agreed to briefly greet Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, a White House official said.

    Trump and the Saudi crown prince signed an agreement covering energy, defense, mining and other areas. Trump has sought to strengthen relations with the Saudis to improve regional ties with Israel and act as a bulwark against Iran.

    The agreement covers deals with more than a dozen U.S. defense companies for areas including air and missile defense, air force and space, maritime security and communications, a White House fact sheet said.

    It was not clear whether the deal included Lockheed F-35 jets, which sources say have been discussed. The Saudi prince said the total package could reach $1 trillion when further agreements are reached in the months ahead.

    Saudi Arabia is one of the largest customers for U.S. arms, and the two countries have maintained strong ties for decades based on an arrangement in which the kingdom delivers oil and the superpower provides security.

    But relations were strained after the 2018 murder of U.S.-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in Istanbul caused a global uproar. U.S. intelligence concluded that bin Salman approved an operation to capture or kill Khashoggi, a prominent critic, but the Saudi government has denied any involvement.

    Trump did not mention the incident during his visit and called bin Salman an “incredible man.”

    “I really believe we like each other a lot,” Trump said.

    Trump will go on from Riyadh to Qatar on Wednesday and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday in a trip that is focused on investment rather than security matters in the Middle East.

    Several U.S. business leaders attended the event, including Elon Musk, the Tesla chief who has led a government-downsizing effort for Trump in Washington; OpenAI CEO Sam Altman; BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman.

    Trump was shown speaking with several Saudi officials, including sovereign wealth fund governor Yasir al-Rumayyan, Aramco CEO Amin Nasser and investment minister Khalid al-Falih as he viewed models for the kingdom’s flashy, multi-billion-dollar development projects.

    Bin Salman has focused on diversifying the Saudi economy in a major reform program dubbed Vision 2030 that includes “Giga-projects” such as NEOM, a futuristic city the size of Belgium. Oil generated 62% of Saudi government revenue last year.

    The kingdom has scaled back some of its ambitions as rising costs and falling oil prices weigh.

    NO VISIT TO ISRAEL, WARNING TO IRAN

    Trump has not scheduled a stop in Israel, raising questions about where the close ally stands in Washington’s priorities as Trump presses Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a new ceasefire deal in the 19-month-old Gaza war.

    Israel’s military operations against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and its assassinations of the two Iran-allied groups’ leaders, have at the same time given Trump more leverage by weakening Tehran and its regional allies.

    Trump said it was his “fervent hope” that Saudi Arabia would soon normalize relations with Israel, following other Arab states that did so during his first 2017-2021 term. “But you’ll do it in your own time,” he said.

    Netanyahu’s opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state makes progress with the Saudis unlikely, sources told Reuters.

    Trump on Tuesday called Iran “the most destructive force” in the Middle East and warned that the U.S. will never allow it to obtain a nuclear weapon. He said he was willing to strike a new deal with the Islamic Republic but only if its leaders changed course.

    “I want to make a deal with Iran,” he said. “But if Iran’s leadership rejects this olive branch… we will have no choice but to inflict massive maximum pressure.”

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI China: SCIO briefing on financial policy package to stabilize the market and expectations

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

    中文

    Speakers:

    Mr. Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBC)

    Mr. Li Yunze, minister of the National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA)

    Mr. Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC)

    Chairperson:

    Ms. Shou Xiaoli, director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO

    Date:

    May 7, 2025

    Shou Xiaoli:

    Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). Today, we are glad to have invited Mr. Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBC); Mr. Li Yunze, minister of the National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA); and Mr. Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC). They will brief you on the financial policy package to stabilize the market and expectations, and answer your questions.

    Now, let’s give the floor to Mr. Pan for his introduction.

    Pan Gongsheng:

    Good morning. It’s a pleasure to meet with you all again. I would like to sincerely thank you all for your continued interest in and support for the reforms and developments in the financial sector, as well as the work of the PBC.

    Since the beginning of this year, the PBC has earnestly implemented the guiding principles of the Central Economic Work Conference and the deployments of the Government Work Report. We have implemented a moderately loose monetary policy, strengthened counter-cyclical adjustments, comprehensively used various monetary policy tools, served the high-quality development of the real economy, and created a favorable monetary and financial environment for promoting the continuous recovery and improvement of the economy.

    From the perspective of effectiveness, various macro-financial data has been relatively positive since the beginning of this year, and monetary credit has shown the operational characteristics of “increased quantity, decreased price and optimized structure.” At the end of the first quarter, the social financing scale increased by 8.4% year on year, and loans increased by 7.4% year on year. If adjusted to include the impact of local special-purpose bonds that replaced loans from local government financing platforms, the loan growth rate would exceed 8%. The M2, a broad measure of money supply, maintained stable growth of around 7%, significantly higher than the nominal economic growth rate. At the same time, the cost of social financing remained low, and the growth rates of inclusive loans to micro and small businesses, medium- and long-term loans to the manufacturing sector, and loans to sci-tech small and medium enterprises (SMEs) were all faster than the overall loan growth rate, further optimizing the credit structure.

    From the perspective of the financial market, the performance in the first quarter was positive. The stock market operated generally smoothly, trading was relatively active, and the Shanghai Composite Index remained around 3,300 points. The bond market self-corrected, driven by improved economic confidence. The onshore and offshore RMB exchange rates against the U.S. dollar appreciated slightly by about 1% compared to the end of last year, and cross-border capital flows were relatively balanced.

    Since April, despite facing relatively large external shocks, the domestic financial system has remained stable, and the financial market has shown strong resilience. After the Shanghai Composite Index fell on April 7, it quickly rebounded and stabilized. Currently, the 10-year government bond yield is hovering around 1.65%, and the RMB exchange rate against the U.S. dollar depreciated slightly before rebounding to around 7.2 yuan.

    Currently, the global economy is full of uncertainties. Economic fragmentation and trade tensions are intensifying, disrupting global industrial and supply chains, causing turmoil in international financial markets, and weakening global economic growth momentum. Not long ago, I attended the Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, where central bank governors and heads of international financial organizations from various countries expressed deep concern about this. The PBC will conscientiously implement the central decisions and deployments, promote high-quality economic development, unswervingly advance high-standard opening up, actively participate in international financial governance and cooperation, and maintain a rules-based international economic and financial order. At the same time, we will coordinate financial opening and security, explore and enhance the central bank’s role of macro-prudential management and financial stability regime, and firmly maintain the stable operation of China’s foreign exchange, bond and stock markets.

    On April 25, the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting to analyze and study the current economic situation and economic work. In order to implement the guiding principles of the meeting and further implement a moderately loose monetary policy, the PBC will intensify macro regulation and introduce a package of monetary policy measures, mainly consisting of three major categories with a total of 10 specific measures.

    The first category is quantitative policies, aimed at increasing medium- and long-term liquidity supply, through measures such as lowering the reserve requirement ratio, and maintaining ample market liquidity. The second category is price-based policies, which will lower policy rate, reduce the rates of structural monetary policy tools, such as the central bank’s relending rates to commercial banks, and lower interest rates on provident fund loans. The third category is structural policies, which will improve existing structural monetary policy tools and create new policy tools to support such areas as technological innovation, consumption expansion and inclusive finance.

    These three major categories of measures include 10 specific policies:

    First, we will lower the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) by 0.5 percentage point, which is expected to provide about 1 trillion yuan in long-term liquidity to the market.

    Second, we will improve the reserve requirement system by temporarily lowering the reserve requirement ratio for auto finance companies and financial leasing companies from the current 5% to 0%. 

    Third, we will lower the policy rate by 0.1 percentage point, specifically reducing the seven-day reverse repo rate in the open market from the current 1.5% to 1.4%. This adjustment is expected to lead to a corresponding decrease of approximately 0.1 percentage point in the loan prime rate (LPR).

    Fourth, we will reduce the interest rates of structural monetary policy tools by 0.25 percentage point. This includes various special structural tools and relending rates for supporting agriculture and small businesses, all decreasing from the current 1.75% to 1.5%. These rates represent the cost at which the central bank provides relending funds to commercial banks. The interest rates on pledged supplementary lending (PSL) will be reduced from the current 2.25% to 2%. PSL is a tool through which the central bank provides funds to policy banks.

    Fifth, we will lower the interest rates on personal housing provident fund loans by 0.25 percentage point, reducing the rate for first-time homebuyers with loan terms over five years from 2.85% to 2.6%, with rates for other terms adjusted accordingly.

    Sixth, we will increase the relending quota for technological innovation and technological transformation by 300 billion yuan. This will raise the total from the current 500 billion yuan to 800 billion yuan. This relending tool is already in place, and the quota has now been increased by 300 billion yuan, bringing the total to 800 billion yuan. The tool will continue to support the “two new” policies, which refer to large-scale renewal of equipment and the trading-in of consumer goods.

    Seventh, we will establish a 500 billion yuan relending facility dedicated to service consumption and elderly care. This measure aims to encourage commercial banks to increase credit support for these sectors.

    Eighth, we will increase the relending quota for agricultural and small businesses by 300 billion yuan. This complements our relending rate reduction, helping banks expand lending to agricultural enterprises, small and micro businesses, and private enterprises.

    Ninth, we will optimize the two monetary policy tools that support the capital market. We’re merging the 500 billion yuan swap facility for securities firms, funds, and insurance companies with the 300 billion yuan relending facility for stock repurchases and increased holdings, resulting in a total quota of 800 billion yuan.

    Tenth, we will establish a risk-sharing tool for sci-tech innovation bonds. The central bank will provide low-cost relending funds that can be used to purchase these bonds. The central bank will collaborate with local governments and market-based credit enhancement institutions, utilizing diverse credit enhancement measures, such as joint guarantees, to share part of the default risk. This initiative aims to support the issuance of low-cost, long-term sci-tech innovation bonds for technology innovation enterprises and equity investment institutions.

    These 10 specific policy measures across three major categories will be gradually disclosed on the PBC’s website and implemented. Next, the PBC will continue to earnestly implement the various deployments of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, implement a moderately loose monetary policy, and continuously adjust monetary policy based on domestic and international economic and financial conditions, as well as the operation of financial markets. We will also strengthen coordination with fiscal policy to promote high-quality economic development. Thank you.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Auckland Council announces first stage of CCO Reform

    Source: Secondary teachers question rationale for changes to relationship education guidelines

    Auckland Council’s Chief Executive, Phil Wilson, has confirmed the final decisions of the Council-Controlled Organisation (CCO) Reform consultation with staff across the Auckland Council Group, aimed at achieving greater strategic alignment, accountability and better outcomes for Auckland.

    Following the Governing Body’s request for CCO reform in December last year, the decisions outline how best to integrate into Auckland Council: Eke Panuku Development Auckland, as well as the economic development functions of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited. 

    From 1 July, there will be three new functions within Auckland Council focused on creating an inclusive, innovative and resilient Auckland economy.

    • An Auckland Urban Development Office responsible for driving integrated implementation and delivery of quality urban development in the council group’s identified growth priority areas and large-scale projects. It will apply an economic and commercial lens. The Auckland Urban Development Office would include urban regeneration and place-based leadership on agreed large-scale projects.

    • Creation of a Property Department within Auckland Council responsible for system leadership, providing centre of excellence advice and the delivery of our customer facing property functions from across Auckland Council and Eke Panuku, including the management of commercial property, Westhaven, Silo and Viaduct Marinas, and the leasing of our community property facilities. The focus of this team will be to optimise value from our property assets across the council group and ensure decisions are made by appropriately experienced staff who will take into account the council’s overall strategic direction.

    • An Economic Development Office focused on economic development for the council group and responsible for business attraction, social and sector innovation, economic transformation and industry development support with a vision of inclusive, innovative, resilient economic growth for a prosperous Auckland.

    Mr Wilson says he is genuinely excited about the establishment of a highly strategic Urban Development Office within Auckland Council that will take the council’s ability to support regeneration and development for Auckland to a new level.

    “The office will be a clear ‘front door’ and single point of contact for our external investor, developer, private sector, iwi, and Crown agency partners. It will streamline and enhance our ability to achieve smart and sustainable urban development outcomes in strategically prioritised regeneration and growth locations. Including greenfield where appropriate.

    “Likewise, I’m delighted to finalise a robust structure to take a systems-leadership role across the council and bring about consistency in the way we manage our considerable property holdings. Property is a key strategic lever to build strong communities, provide council services, and shape or enable good quality growth. Our new structure will set us up for success by bringing the important and interrelated property functions together.

    “Getting both of these areas right is significant because, as Auckland continues to grow and as government planning, funding and infrastructure policy direction evolves, we need to be ready to respond to the increasing opportunities and challenges,” says Mr Wilson.

    Additionally, Mr Wilson has confirmed decisions to improve the programming and delivery of events, placemaking and activations across the group, resulting in a unified group approach with clearer areas of responsibility for teams. Tātaki Auckland Unlimited would lead regional programming and deliver all regional, mega, major and city centre events; Auckland Council Events would deliver local and civic events; and the Auckland Urban Development Office would lead and deliver placemaking and activation activities in priority locations to mitigate the impact of capital delivery works and regeneration programmes.

    In the city centre, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited will lead events, manage Aotea Square and Te Komititanga and be the primary lead for activations in the city centre. The Auckland Urban Development Office will deliver placemaking and will lead activations in the city centre directly related to capital works and development programmes, particularly where needed to support transformation in regeneration areas or mitigate disruption from construction.

    “These important changes will provide our staff with clear areas of responsibility which is the foundation for effective collaboration. We’ll also begin using a single Auckland Council brand across our events and a shared regional calendar so Aucklanders can have complete picture of what’s happening in their region,” he says.

    Recruitment is now underway for the new positions created in the Auckland Urban Development Office and Property Department and enabling functions to bring the new operating model and structure to life.

    About the CCO Reform Transition Programme

    On 12 December 2024, the Governing Body requested Auckland Council proceed with changes to our CCO model to strengthen the Auckland Council Group. 

    The Mayor and Councillors noted the valued contribution made by all kaimahi and reiterated that this isn’t about changing service levels. This is about reviewing how the services are best delivered. It was agreed that the work would seek to align and reinvigorate the CCO model; strengthen council’s ability to support elected members to make integrated decisions; and ensure the Auckland Council Group is set up in the best way to deliver on its Long-term Plan and broader vision for Auckland.

    Lead by experienced kaimahi from across the council group, there are four workstreams to shape recommendations for a new way of working that ensures we are best set up to deliver for Tāmaki Makaurau: the Structural integration of Eke Panuku and the economic development activities of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited; Strengthening the CCO model; and Transport Reform and Auckland Council Group Shared Services.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Prairie Provident Resources Announces Successful Basal Quartz Drilling Program and First Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Prairie Provident Resources Inc. (“Prairie Provident” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce strong production results from its three-well Basal Quartz (“BQ”) horizontal drilling program in the Michichi area of Central Alberta during the first quarter of 2025. The Company also announces financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    SUCCESSFUL RESULTS FROM BASAL QUARTZ DRILLING PROGRAM

    The Company successfully drilled and completed three BQ horizontal wells that are now all on production. The wells were executed within budget and continue to demonstrate the high-quality geological and reservoir characteristics of the Michichi BQ play.

    The following table summarizes the initial production (“IP”) rates and key operational details for the three BQ wells drilled during the first quarter of 2025, which were brought on production in April 2025:

    Well Identifier Days from
    Spud to Rig
    Release    		 Lateral
    Length
    (metres)    		 Fracture
    Stages    		 IP Period Medium
    Crude Oil
    (bbl/d)    (1)    		 Conventional
    Natural Gas
    (Mcf/d)    (1)    		 Total
    (boe/d)    (1)    		 Peak Oil
    Rate
    (bbl/d)    (1)
    100/14-32-029-18W4 7 1,340 49 IP30 275 953 434 357
    102/13-32-029-18W4 7 1,319 48 IP21 328 1,052 503 367
    100/07-19-030-18W4 8 2,154 78 IP21 389 1,080 569 585
    (1)   Initial production rates are based on field estimates at wellhead. See “Advisories – Initial Production Rates” below.
         

    Total Company sales production for the first week of May 2025 averaged 3,467 boe/d (62.9% liquids)1, of which 1,567 boe/d (69.0% liquids)2 was from the three BQ wells drilled during the first quarter of 2025.

    These recent three wells validate Prairie Provident’s excitement with the emerging BQ/Ellerslie play on its Michichi lands. Direct offsetting operational activity continues to be strong. Legacy vertical well control, available 3D/2D seismic data, and offset drilling activity are important factors in de-risking the Michichi BQ play. Prairie Provident has identified more than 40 potential drilling opportunities targeting medium crude oil on its Michichi lands. The Company owns and controls key Michichi infrastructure, which provides a competitive advantage for the future development of this play, and has sizeable tax pools, including approximately $330 million of non-capital losses.

     _________

    1. Comprised of approximately 2,052 bbl/d of medium crude oil, 7,705 Mcf/d of conventional natural gas and 131 bbl/d of NGLs.
    2. Comprised of approximately 1,013 bbl/d of medium crude oil, 2,909 Mcf/d of conventional natural gas and 69 bbl/d of NGLs.


    FIRST QUARTER 2025 FINANCIAL AND OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS

    Prairie Provident’s interim financial statements for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 and related Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) are available on our website at www.ppr.ca and filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Financial and operating highlights for the period include:

    • In February and March of 2025, the Company completed a brokered equity financing raising aggregate gross proceeds of $8.67 million to facilitate further development in the BQ formation at Michichi.
    • In Q1 2025, the Company drilled three gross (3.0 net) new wells in the BQ formation. These wells were completed and brought on production in April 2025.
    • Production averaged 2,221 boe/d (58% liquids)1 for Q1 2025, which was 16% or 415 boe/d lower than Q1 2024, primarily due to the sale of the Company’s former Evi CGU in Q1 2024 and natural production declines.
    • Q1 2025 operating expenses were $29.64 boe/d, a decrease of 17% or $6.15 per boe/d from Q1 2024, principally due to the sale of the Evi CGU and certain Provost properties in Q1 2024 which experienced higher operational costs and partially offset by increases in workover costs.
    • Q1 2025 operating netback2 before the impact of derivatives was $3.7 million ($18.38/boe), and $3.7 million ($18.38/boe) after realized losses on derivatives, a 74% and a 115% increase, respectively, relative to Q1 2024. The increase was a result of slightly higher realized pricing, lower royalties and operating costs and no realized losses on derivatives.
    • Net loss totaled $6.1 million in Q1 2025, a $1.2 million increase compared to Q1 2024. The increase was due to lower petroleum and natural gas sales, higher G&A expenses, impairment expense and finance costs offset by lower operating expenses.

     _________

    1. Comprised of approximately 1,201 bbl/d of medium crude oil, 5,574 Mcf/d of conventional natural gas and 91 bbl/d of NGLs.
    2. Operating netback is a Non-GAAP financial measure and is defined below under “Advisories – Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures”.


    FINANCIAL AND OPERATING SUMMARY

    ($000s, except per unit amounts or as indicated)     Q1 2025 Q4 2024 Q1 2024
              (Restated)(1)
    FINANCIAL          
    Revenue          
    Petroleum and natural gas sales     11,073   11,111   12,996  
    Royalties     (1,472 ) (567 ) (1,871 )
    Revenue     9,601   10,544   11,125  
    Realized gain (loss) on derivatives     –   –   (485 )
    Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives     –   –   416  
    Revenue, net of gains (losses) on derivatives     9,601   10,544   11,056  
    Net loss(1)     (6,137 ) (10,123 ) (4,945 )
    $ per share – Basic     –   (0.01 ) (0.01 )
    $ per share – Diluted     –   (0.01 ) (0.01 )
    Adjusted Funds Flow(2)     1,782   (192 ) 27  
    $ per share – Basic     –   –   –  
    $ per share – Diluted     –   –   –  
    Capital expenditures(2)     8,023   9,083   578  
    Net capital expenditures(2)     8,099   9,023   (23,600 )
    Common Shares outstanding (000s)          
    End of period     1,401,335   1,197,401   716,087  
    Weighted average – Basic     1,273,892   1,170,310   715,861  
    Weighted average – Diluted     1,273,892   1,170,310   715,861  
    OPERATING          
    Production Volumes          
    Crude oil and condensate (bbl/d)     1,201   1,298   1,495  
    Natural gas (Mcf/d)     5,574   6,107   6,498  
    Natural gas liquids (bbl/d)     91   69   58  
    Total (boe/d)(3)     2,221   2,385   2,636  
    % Liquids     58 % 57 % 59 %
    Realized Prices          
    Crude oil and condensate ($/bbl)     86.88   83.16   80.75  
    Natural gas ($/Mcf)     2.43   1.49   2.64  
    Natural gas liquids ($/bbl)     56.53   53.93   85.21  
    Total ($/boe)(3)     55.39   50.65   54.17  
    Operating Netback ($/boe)          
    Realized price     55.39   50.65   54.17  
    Royalties     (7.37 ) (2.58 ) (7.80 )
    Operating costs(1)     (29.64 ) (30.02 ) (35.79 )
    Operating netback(2)     18.38   18.05   10.58  
    Realized gains (losses) on derivatives     –   –   (2.02 )
    Operating netback, after realized gains (losses) on derivatives(1)(2)     18.38   18.05   8.56  
    (1)   Restated. For further information, refer to the “Restatements” section in the MD&A.
    (2)   This is a Non-GAAP financial measure. For further information, refer to “Advisories – Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures” below.
    (3)   The term barrels of oil equivalent (“boe”) may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. Per boe amounts have been calculated by using the conversion ratio of six thousand cubic feet (6 Mcf) of natural gas to one barrel (1 bbl) of crude oil. Refer to “Advisories – Barrels of Oil Equivalent” below.
         

    ABOUT PRAIRIE PROVIDENT

    Prairie Provident is a Calgary-based company engaged in the development of oil and natural gas properties in Alberta. The Company’s strategy is to optimize cash flow from its existing assets to fund low-risk development and maintain stable cash flow while limiting its production decline.

    For further information, please contact:

    Dale Miller, Executive Chairman
    Phone: (403) 292-8150
    Email: investor@ppr.ca

    ADVISORIES

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release contains certain statements (“forward-looking statements”) that constitute forward- looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future performance, events or circumstances, are based upon internal assumptions, plans, intentions, expectations and beliefs, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated or suggested therein. All statements other than statements of current or historical fact constitute forward-looking statements. Forward- looking statements are typically, but not always, identified by words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “budget”, “forecast”, “target”, “estimate”, “propose”, “potential”, “project”, “continue”, “may”, “will”, “should” or similar words suggesting future outcomes or events or statements regarding an outlook.

    Without limiting the foregoing, this news release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to Basal Quartz drilling opportunities.

    Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors, expectations or assumptions of Prairie Provident which have been used to develop such statements, but which may prove to be incorrect. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, which are inherently uncertain and depend upon the accuracy of such expectations and assumptions. Prairie Provident can give no assurance that the forward-looking statements contained herein will prove to be correct or that the expectations and assumptions upon which they are based will occur or be realized. Actual results or events will differ, and the differences may be material and adverse to the Company. In addition to other factors and assumptions which may be identified herein, assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: results from drilling and development activities; consistency with past operations; the quality of the reservoirs in which Prairie Provident operates and continued performance from existing wells (including with respect to production profile, decline rate and product type mix); the continued and timely development of infrastructure in areas of new production; the accuracy of the estimates of Prairie Provident’s reserves volumes; future commodity prices; future operating and other costs; future USD/CAD exchange rates; future interest rates; continued availability of external financing and internally generated cash flow to fund Prairie Provident’s current and future plans and expenditures, with external financing on acceptable terms; the impact of competition; the general stability of the economic and political environment in which Prairie Provident operates; the general continuance of current industry conditions; the timely receipt of any required regulatory approvals; the ability of Prairie Provident to obtain qualified staff, equipment and services in a timely and cost efficient manner; drilling results; the ability of the operator of the projects in which Prairie Provident has an interest in to operate the field in a safe, efficient and effective manner; field production rates and decline rates; the ability to replace and expand oil and natural gas reserves through acquisition, development and exploration; the timing and cost of pipeline, storage and facility construction and expansion and the ability of Prairie Provident to secure adequate product transportation; the regulatory framework regarding royalties, taxes and environmental matters in the jurisdictions in which Prairie Provident operates; and the ability of Prairie Provident to successfully market its oil and natural gas production.

    The forward-looking statements included in this news release are not guarantees of future performance or promises of future outcomes and should not be relied upon. Such statements, including the assumptions made in respect thereof, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward- looking statements including, without limitation: reduced access to external debt financing; higher interest costs or other restrictive terms of debt financing; changes in realized commodity prices; changes in the demand for or supply of Prairie Provident’s products; the early stage of development of some of the evaluated areas and zones; the potential for variation in the quality of the geologic formations targeted by Prairie Provident’s operations; unanticipated operating results or production declines; changes in tax or environmental laws, royalty rates or other regulatory matters; the imposition of new or additional tariffs or other restrictive trade measures or countermeasures affecting trade between Canada and the United States; changes in development plans of Prairie Provident or by third party operators; increased debt levels or debt service requirements; inaccurate estimation of Prairie Provident’s oil and reserves volumes; limited, unfavourable or a lack of access to capital markets; increased costs; a lack of adequate insurance coverage; the impact of competitors; and such other risks as may be detailed from time-to-time in Prairie Provident’s public disclosure documents (including, without limitation, those risks identified in this news release and Prairie Provident’s current Annual Information Form dated March 31, 2025 as filed with Canadian securities regulators and available from the SEDAR+ website (www.sedarplus.ca) under Prairie Provident’s issuer profile).

    The forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release, and Prairie Provident assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, or otherwise, except as may be required pursuant to applicable laws. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

    Oil and Gas Reader Advisories

    Barrels of Oil Equivalent

    The oil and gas industry commonly expresses production volumes and reserves on a “barrel of oil equivalent” (“boe”) basis whereby natural gas volumes are converted at the ratio of six thousand cubic feet to one barrel of oil. The intention is to sum oil and natural gas measurement units into one basis for improved analysis of results and comparisons with other industry participants. A boe conversion ratio of six thousand cubic feet to one barrel of oil is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip. It does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead nor at the plant gate, which is where Prairie Provident sells its production volumes. Boes may therefore be a misleading measure, particularly if used in isolation. Given that the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalency ratio of 6:1, utilizing a 6:1 conversion ratio may be misleading as an indication of value.

    Potential Drilling Opportunities vs Booked Locations

    This news release refers to potential drilling opportunities and booked locations. Unless otherwise indicated, references to booked locations in this news release are references to proved drilling locations or probable drilling locations, being locations to which Trimble Engineering Associates Ltd. (Trimble), the Company’s independent qualified reserves evaluator, attributed proved or probable reserves in its most recent year-end evaluation of Prairie Provident’s reserves data, effective December 31, 2024. Trimble’s year-end evaluation was in accordance with National Instrument 51-101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities and, pursuant thereto, the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation (COGE) Handbook. References in this news release to potential drilling opportunities are references to locations for which there are no attributed reserves or resources, but which the Company internally estimates can be drilled based on current land holdings, industry practice regarding well density, and internal review of geologic, geophysical, seismic, engineering, production and resource information. There is no certainty that the Company will drill any particular locations, or that drilling activity on any locations will result in additional reserves, resources or production. Locations on which Prairie Provident in fact drills wells will ultimately depend upon the availability of capital, regulatory approvals, seasonal restrictions, commodity prices, costs, actual drilling results, additional reservoir information and other factors. There is a higher level of risk associated with locations that are potential drilling opportunities and not booked locations. Prairie Provident generally has less information about reservoir characteristics associated with locations that are potential drilling opportunities and, accordingly, there is greater uncertainty whether wells will ultimately be drilled in such locations and, if drilled, whether they will result in additional reserves, resources or production.

    Initial Production Rates

    This news release discloses initial production (IP) rates for certain wells as indicated. Initial production rates are not necessarily indicative of long-term well or reservoir performance or of ultimate recovery. Actual results will differ from those realized during an initial short-term production period, and the difference may be material.

    Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures

    This news release discloses certain financial measures that are ‘non-GAAP financial measures’, ‘non-GAAP ratios’ or ‘supplementary financial measures’ within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such measures do not have a standardized or prescribed meaning under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and, accordingly, may not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other issuers. Non-GAAP and other financial measures are provided as supplementary information by which readers may wish to consider the Company’s performance but should not be relied upon for comparative or investment purposes. Readers must not consider Non-GAAP and other financial measures in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company’s financial results as reported under IFRS. For a reconciliation of each non-GAAP measure to its nearest IFRS measure, please refer to the “Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures” section of the MD&A.

    This news release also includes reference to certain metrics commonly used in the oil and gas industry but which do not have a standardized or prescribed meanings under the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation (COGE) Handbook or applicable law. Such metrics are similarly provided as supplementary information by which readers may wish to consider the Company’s performance but should not be relied upon for comparative or investment purposes.

    Following is additional information on non-GAAP and other financial measures and oil and gas metrics used in this news release.

    Adjusted Funds Flow (“AFF”) – AFF is a Non-GAAP financial measure calculated based on net cash from operating activities before changes in non-cash working capital, transaction costs, restructuring costs and other non-recurring items. The Company believes that AFF provides a useful measure of the Company’s operational performance on a continuing basis by eliminating certain non-cash charges and charges that are non-recurring or discretionary. Management utilizes the measure to assess the Company’s ability to finance capital expenditures and debt repayments. AFF as presented is not intended to represent cash flow from operating activities, net earnings or other measures of financial performance calculated in accordance with IFRS. AFF per share is calculated based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding consistent with the calculation of earnings per share. AFF per share is a Non-GAAP ratio.

    Operating Netback – Operating netback is a Non-GAAP financial measure commonly used in the oil and gas industry, which the Company believes is a useful measure to assist management and investors to evaluate operating performance. Operating netback included in this report were determined by taking oil and gas revenues less royalties and operating costs. Operating netback, after realized gains (losses) on derivatives, adjusts the operating netback for only the realized portion of gains and losses on derivatives. Operating netback may be expressed in absolute dollar terms or on a per boe basis. Per boe amounts are determined by dividing the absolute value by working interest production. Operating netback per boe and operating netback, after realized gains (losses) on derivatives per boe are Non-GAAP financial ratios.

    Capital Expenditures and Net Capital Expenditures – Capital expenditures and net capital expenditures are Non-GAAP financial measures commonly used in the petroleum and natural gas industry, which the Company believes are useful measures to assist management and investors to assess Prairie Provident’s investment in its existing asset base. Capital expenditures is calculated as the sum of property and equipment expenditures and exploration and evaluation expenditures from the consolidated statements of cash flows that is most directly comparable to cash flows used in investing activities. Net capital expenditures is calculated as capital expenditures, plus acquisitions from business combinations, which is the outflow cash consideration paid to acquire oil and gas properties, less asset dispositions (net of acquisitions), which is the cash proceeds from the disposition of producing properties and undeveloped lands.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 14, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 14, 2025.

    Young detainees often have poor mental health. The earlier they’re incarcerated, the worse it gets
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emaediong I. Akpanekpo, PhD Candidate, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Populist rhetoric targeting young offenders often leads to kneejerk punitive responses, such as stricter bail laws and lowering the age of criminal responsibility. This, in turn, has led to more young people being held in detention.

    PNG police authorised to use lethal force with ‘domestic terrorist’ kidnappers as one hostage escapes
    RNZ Pacific An escape of a 13-year-old girl from a hostage crisis on the border of Papua New Guinea’s Western and Hela provinces has boosted hopes for the rescue of her fellow captives. The group of 10 people was taken captive early on Monday morning at Adujmari. PNG Police Commissioner David Manning has called the

    Political parties can recover after a devastating election loss. But the Liberals will need to think differently
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Frank Bongiorno, Professor of History, ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, Australian National University Australia has just had its second landslide election in a row. In 2022, there was a landslide against the Liberals, but not to Labor, which fell over the line (as a majority

    NZ celebrates Rotuman as part of Pacific Language Week series
    By Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai, RNZ Pacific journalist Aotearoa celebrates Rotuman language as part of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples’ Pacific Language Week series this week. Rotuman is one of five UNESCO-listed endangered languages among the 12 officially celebrated in New Zealand. The others are Tokelaun, Niuean, Cook Islands Māori and Tuvaluan. This year’s theme is, ‘Åf’ạkia

    In Indonesia, Albanese has a chance to reset a relationship held back by anxiety and misperceptions
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hangga Fathana, Assistant Professor of International Relations, Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) Yogyakarta Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has wasted little time taking his first overseas trip since Labor won a historic victory in Australia’s federal election. He’ll head to Indonesia today to meet the country’s new president, Prabowo

    From GPS to weather forecasts: the hidden ways Australia relies on foreign satellites
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cassandra Steer, Chair, Australian Centre for Space Governance, Australian National University Japan Meteorological Agency via Wikimedia You have probably used space at least 20 times today. Satellites let you buy a coffee with your phone, book a rideshare, navigate your way to meet someone, and check the

    Using a blue inhaler alone is not enough to manage your asthma
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Hughes, Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, University of Sydney New Africa/Shutterstock Inhalers have been key to asthma management since the 1950s. The most common, salbutamol, comes in a familiar blue-coloured inhaler (or “puffer”). This kind of “rescue inhaler” brings quick relief from asthma symptoms. You may know

    The pay equity puzzle: can we compare effort, skill and risk between different industries?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gemma Piercy, Lecturer, Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology, University of Waikato Getty Images Last week’s move by the government to amend pay equity laws, using parliamentary urgency to rush the reforms through, caught opposition parties and New Zealanders off guard. Protests against the Equal Pay Amendment Bill

    Sussan Ley makes history, but faces unprecedented levels of difficulty
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Kenny, Professor, Australian Studies Institute, Australian National University As if by visual metaphor, Sussan Ley’s task seemed both obvious and impossible in her first press conference as the new Liberal leader. Three years ago this month, Ley had done something uncannily similar to what Ted O’Brien

    View from The Hill: Ley says Liberals must ‘meet the people where they are’, but how can a divided party do that?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Cynics point out that when a party turns to a woman leader, it is often handing her a hot mess. That’s certainly so with the federal Liberals, now choosing their first female leader in eight decades. For the Liberals, and

    It’s a hard job being environment minister. Here’s an insider’s view of the key challenges facing Murray Watt
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Burnett, Honorary Associate Professor, ANU College of Law, Australian National University Australia’s new environment minister, Murray Watt, is reported to be a fixer. That’s good, because there’s a lot to fix. Being environment minister is a hard gig. It often requires difficult choices between environmental and

    AWPA calls on Albanese to raise West Papuan human rights with Prabowo
    Asia Pacific Report An Australian solidarity group for West Papuan self-determination has called on Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to raise the human rights crisis in the Melanesian region with the Indonesian president this week. Albanese is visiting Indonesia for two days from tomorrow. AWPA has written a letter to Albanese making the appeal for

    The US and China have reached a temporary truce in the trade wars, but more turbulence lies ahead
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Draper, Professor, and Executive Director: Institute for International Trade, and Jean Monnet Chair of Trade and Environment, University of Adelaide Defying expectations, the United States and China have announced an important agreement to de-escalate bilateral trade tensions after talks in Geneva, Switzerland. The good, the bad

    Physicists at the Large Hadron Collider turned lead into gold – by accident
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ulrik Egede, Professor of Physics, Monash University Sunny Young / Unsplash Medieval alchemists dreamed of transmuting lead into gold. Today, we know that lead and gold are different elements, and no amount of chemistry can turn one into the other. But our modern knowledge tells us the

    New Caledonia riots one year on: ‘Like the country was at war’
    SPECIAL REPORT: By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific presenter/bulletin editor Stuck in a state of disbelief for months, journalist Coralie Cochin was one of many media personnel who inadvertently put their lives on the line as New Caledonia burned. “It was very shocking. I don’t know the word in English, you can’t believe what you’re seeing,”

    New Caledonia riots one year on: ‘Like the country was at war’
    SPECIAL REPORT: By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific presenter/bulletin editor Stuck in a state of disbelief for months, journalist Coralie Cochin was one of many media personnel who inadvertently put their lives on the line as New Caledonia burned. “It was very shocking. I don’t know the word in English, you can’t believe what you’re seeing,”

    From nuclear to nature laws, here’s where new Liberal leader Sussan Ley stands on 4 energy and environment flashpoints
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justine Bell-James, Professor, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland Sussan Ley has been elected Liberal leader after defeating rival Angus Taylor in a party room vote on Tuesday. Now the leadership question is settled, the hard work of rebuilding the party can begin. In

    The ‘extroverted’ north and ‘introverted’ south: how climate and culture influence Iranian architecture
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mahsa Khanpoor Siahdarka, PhD Candidate in Built Environment, RMIT University Shutterstock The architecture of northern Iran exhibits an extroverted quality. Buildings are designed to let in the sounds of rain, birds and rustling trees, as well as scents of nature. Architecture in this region is characterised by

    ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 13, 2025
    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 13, 2025.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Statement on ministerial appointment

    Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

    I am honoured to have been sworn in as Federal Minister for Emergency Management, and to be reappointed as Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories.

    In my maiden speech to Parliament, I committed to supercharging the response to bushfire recovery, after parts of our community in Eden-Monaro experienced some of the worst fires our country has ever seen.

    I am incredibly proud to be part of a government that is serious about reducing disaster risk, and strengthening our emergency management and disaster recovery capabilities.

    Under the leadership of Minster Watt and Minister McAllister, the Albanese Government has launched the National Emergency Management Agency and the Disaster Ready Fund, funded Disaster Relief Australia, established our National Emergency Management Stockpile, and expanded our National Aerial Firefighting capabilities.

    We have delivered all 15 Commonwealth-led recommendations from the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, and we continue to boost the disaster resilience of our telecommunications networks.

    I am humbled to continue the critical work of the Emergency Management portfolio alongside Assistant Minister Wilson, including progressing the National Messaging System.

    I also look forward to continuing to work with Minister King to strengthen the local government sector, which is not only on the front line of disaster response and recovery, but responsible for many services our communities rely on. 

    I am proud to have brought local government back to the table as a trusted delivery partner – including at National Cabinet and through two successful Australian Council of Local Government forums – while increasing local road funding for every council and launching transparent grant programs that every community can apply for.

    We remain committed to supporting councils, including through our response to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Local Government Sustainability, which we will finalise this term.

    I have always lived in our regions and love the quality of life it affords us, which is why I will continue standing up for Eden-Monaro and regional Australia to ensure we get our fair share.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: ACT invokes “agree to disagree” on firearms registry review

    Source:

    ACT has formally invoked the “agree to disagree” provisions of its coalition agreement in relation to the firearms registry, Nicole McKee says.

    “Earlier this month, I asked Cabinet to consider that the recent review of the firearms registry did not meet the commitment in ACT’s coalition agreement. I also asked that a more thorough and independent review be conducted in the 2025/26 financial year. Unfortunately, these proposals were rejected by National.”

    “I also sought Cabinet agreement to delay the upcoming ‘activating circumstance’ that would apply to ammunition purchases from June 2025.

    “There is currently no clear definition of ammunition in the legislation, creating confusion. Pushing back the date to December 2026 would have provided time to build public trust in the registry and ensure clarity in the law. This recommendation was also rejected.”

    The ACT Party’s coalition agreement includes a commitment to review the firearms registry to determine whether it is effectively improving public safety. However, the review that was conducted fell short of that standard.

    “The purpose of the review was to establish a clear evidence base, covering public safety impacts, government costs, compliance burdens for licensed firearms owners, and international comparisons. In my view, the review failed to deliver on these objectives,” Mrs McKee says.

    “Although the review acknowledged there was limited data available to assess the registry’s impact, it makes only limited use of domestic data, such as enforcement trends prior to the registry, or the experience of the 20 percent of licence holders already registered. Nor did it meaningfully examine international examples that could have provided further insight.

    “These are not gaps in available information but gaps in the analysis which was undertaken.  One of the key conclusions – that the registry is justified if it prevents just two fatalities a year – is speculative and unsupported by evidence. Without a clear model of risk reduction or causal link to public safety outcomes, that claim is difficult to defend.”

     “The review focused narrowly on operational costs to government but gave little weight to future changes, such as the inclusion of a dealers registry – projected to cost an additional $20 million – and the ongoing compliance costs for responsible firearms owners.”

    “Significantly, the review also failed to account for privacy concerns.  Given past breaches of firearms owners’ personal data, it is troubling that the review did not assess the risks associated with centralising sensitive information in the registry. This despite the fact I am aware of six breaches of data since 2019.”

    “Despite these differences on the registry, our coalition partners continue to work constructively together to ensure the rewrite of the Arms Act delivers effective, evidence-based regulation that reflects best practice. As we push ahead with that process public safety remains at the heart of what we are doing.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –