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Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI: WuBlockchain Interviews BitMart’s New CEO Nenter (Nathan) Chow: Technological Innovation, Global Expansion, and Community Empowerment

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Mahe, Seychelles, May 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In an exclusive interview conducted by WuBlockchain, one of the cryptocurrency industry’s leading media platforms, BitMart’s newly appointed CEO, Nenter (Nathan) Chow, shares the key factors behind his transition from traditional finance to Web3, and how his background strengthens BitMart’s core competitiveness. He also outlines the platform’s strategic plans in technological innovation, global market expansion, and community building, while offering insights into emerging trends at the intersection of AI and blockchain.

    With over 17 years of experience in traditional finance, Chow was motivated to transition to the Web3 space due to a strong belief in the transformative potential of decentralized technologies to reshape global financial systems. Having spent years in investment banking at institutions like JP Morgan and Mitsubishi UFJ, Chow observed both the strengths and limitations of traditional finance, including inefficiencies in cross-border transactions and barriers to financial inclusion. Web3, with its foundation in blockchain, provided a decentralized, transparent, and accessible alternative that empowered individuals and communities worldwide. His transition was further supported by his experience in leveraged finance, M&A, and debt capital markets, which provided a deep understanding of capital flows and institutional needs, critical for scaling Web3 adoption. Joining Animoca Ventures gave Chow the opportunity to immerse himself in the Web3 space, forge connections with innovators and governments, and now, as BitMart’s CEO, he aims to leverage his expertise to build a platform that acts as a gateway to this new financial frontier.

    Chow’s previous role as a partner at Animoca Ventures also significantly influenced his strategic vision for BitMart’s future development. At Animoca, he led global expansion efforts, built relationships with top project founders and investors, and secured premium deal allocations, such as being one of the only Asian venture funds on Monad’s cap table. This experience underscored the value of bridging regional ecosystems, particularly between Asia and the West, to unlock unique opportunities. For BitMart, Chow envisions a platform that facilitates not only trading but also serves as a cornerstone of the Web3 ecosystem. His investment background guides his strategy of fostering innovation through strategic partnerships, including collaborations with Paxos and Banxa, and supporting emerging projects via the platform’s Launchpad. Furthermore, Chow’s work with Web3 support and accelerator programs in the MENA region reinforced the power of collaborating with governments and accelerators to drive adoption, positioning BitMart as a trusted partner for both institutional and retail users.

    In discussing BitMart’s positioning in today’s highly competitive exchange market, Chow emphasized that BitMart stands out due to its global, user-centric approach. Serving over 10 million users across 200 regions, BitMart’s core competitive advantages lie in its robust security framework, technological innovation, and localized engagement. BitMart’s security, highlighted by its multi-layered defense system and partnerships with firms like Fireblocks and Cobo, is critical in maintaining trust in a market facing heightened scrutiny. BitMart differentiates itself through empowering users, notably with its “Stake to Vote” mechanism, where users can stake BMX tokens to influence token listings, turning them into stakeholders. Additionally, BitMart’s third-generation trading system, capable of processing 80,000 orders per second with a 2-millisecond latency, sets an industry standard for speed and reliability. With support for 90 fiat currencies and 11 languages, BitMart ensures local relevance across diverse regions such as the EU, MENA, and LATAM, combining global reach with tailored experiences.

    Looking toward BitMart’s strategic goals for the next phase, Chow highlighted three key priorities: enhancing technological innovation, expanding global reach, and empowering communities. The platform is prioritizing AI integration and blockchain convergence, planning to roll out smart analytics and automated tools in 2025. BitMart also aims to strengthen its presence in both regulatory-mature markets, such as the EU, and high-growth regions like MENA and LATAM, leveraging localized strategies and partnerships. Additionally, BitMart is committed to transforming users into active stakeholders through initiatives like the decentralized wallet strategy, set to launch in Q3 2025, and the “Stake to Vote” program, aligning with its mission to build a sustainable and inclusive crypto ecosystem.

    In terms of BitMart’s latest global growth strategy, Chow explained that initiatives like the “Slippage Protection Program” and the “Global Community Partner Program” reflect the platform’s commitment to empowering users and promoting community participation. The Slippage Protection Program compensates users within one hour for slippage exceeding 0.05%, reinforcing BitMart’s position as a user-first platform that values transparency and reliability. Meanwhile, the Global Community Partner Program encourages decentralized engagement by empowering local ambassadors to host events and share insights. This initiative strengthens BitMart’s global-local balance and elevates its brand as a trusted, innovative exchange.

    Chow also noted that BitMart’s Slippage Protection Program stands apart from similar mechanisms in the market due to its speed, transparency, and user-centric design. Unlike other programs that may involve delays or complex processes, BitMart’s program compensates users quickly and efficiently, ensuring immediate relief for slippage exceeding 0.05%. The program’s seamless integration with BitMart’s third-generation trading system allows for real-time monitoring and rapid resolution of slippage issues, setting a new standard for trust in the trading environment.

    The launch of the Elite Trader Program was another significant initiative designed to attract top traders. The program offers substantial incentives, including a 50% share of followers’ profits, making it one of the most lucrative in the industry. BitMart attracts top traders by providing advanced tools such as its third-generation trading system, which ensures low-latency, high-throughput trading, as well as exclusive benefits like access to premium market insights and personalized support.

    Chow also discussed the delicate balance BitMart maintains between decentralized community building and a consistent brand image. Through programs like the Global Community Partner Program, BitMart empowers local ambassadors to engage with users while ensuring alignment with core values of security, transparency, and innovation. Regular training and clear communication guidelines help maintain brand consistency across diverse markets, while initiatives like “Stake to Vote” further engage the community and reinforce BitMart’s user-centric approach.

    Drawing from his experience with Web3 support and accelerator programs in the MENA region, Chow offered insights into the differences in Web3 ecosystem development across global regions. In MENA, government-backed initiatives prioritize institutional integration and public-private partnerships, providing fertile ground for Web3 innovation. In contrast, regions like North America and Asia rely more heavily on private sector innovation, with ecosystems built around venture capital and grassroots projects. These regional insights inform BitMart’s global strategy, allowing the platform to engage with governments in MENA, leverage venture capital networks in the West, and tap into Asia’s vibrant community for adoption.

    Chow expressed his strong belief in the convergence of AI and blockchain technology as a transformative force for finance, enhancing efficiency, transparency, and personalization. BitMart is actively exploring this convergence, with plans to roll out AI-powered smart analytics, automated trading tools, and personalized investment strategies in 2025. BitMart’s commitment to these technologies aims to position it as an industry leader in delivering intelligent, user-centric solutions for the Web3 ecosystem.

    Finally, Chow provided his perspective on the current trends in the broader cryptocurrency market. He pointed out the increasing adoption of stablecoins, the tokenization of real-world assets, and the rise of AI-blockchain integration as key developments to watch. BitMart is focused on capitalizing on these trends by advancing its technological capabilities, expanding its global footprint, and fostering community-driven initiatives, ensuring it remains at the forefront of the cryptocurrency industry.

    This interview was conducted by WuBlockchain. Read the full article here: https://www.wublockchain.xyz/index.php?m=content&c=index&a=show&catid=35&id=1320 

    About BitMart

    BitMart is a premier global digital asset trading platform with more than 10 million users worldwide. Consistently ranked among the top crypto exchanges on CoinGecko, BitMart offers over 1,700 trading pairs with competitive fees. Committed to continuous innovation and financial inclusivity, BitMart empowers users globally to trade seamlessly. Learn more about BitMart at Website, follow their X (Twitter), or join their Telegram for updates, news, and promotions. Download BitMart App to trade anytime, anywhere.

    Disclaimer:

    The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any financial assets. All information is provided in good faith. However, we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness of such information.

    All crypto investments, including earnings, are highly speculative in nature and involve substantial risk of loss. Past, hypothetical, or simulated performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. The value of digital currencies can go up or down and there can be a substantial risk in buying, selling, holding, or trading digital currencies. You should carefully consider whether trading or holding digital currencies is suitable for you based on your personal investment objectives, financial circumstances, and risk tolerance. BitMart does not provide any investment, legal or tax advice.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: China to ramp up teacher training

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

    Students present flowers to their teachers at a primary school in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei province, March 6, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China will focus on building high-level teacher training universities over the next five years as part of broader efforts to enhance the country’s teacher education system and capabilities, according to a recent notice.

    Issued by the Ministry of Education and the National Development and Reform Commission, the notice emphasizes combining hard infrastructure investment with soft capacity development, prioritizing the cultivation of future teachers’ scientific literacy and practical skills. Key objectives include building first-class teacher education colleges, specialized disciplines and curricula.

    Reforms will be carried out in existing teacher training programs, integrating undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Practical training and teaching will account for a larger portion of the curriculum for education majors, who will be required to complete more than 18 weeks of mock teaching, the notice said.

    Universities will also be encouraged to have their faculty members participate in training primary and secondary school teachers. Such contributions will be considered in evaluations for higher professional titles and awards, it said.

    More resources will be allocated to teacher training colleges in underdeveloped regions, the notice added.

    Funding will be coordinated through central government budgets, ultra-long-term special national bonds and local special government bonds.

    The ministry and NDRC will plan institutional layouts based on teacher training needs, setting basic criteria for eligible institutions. Local governments will provide guidance and support, with implementation rolled out in phases based on institutional preparedness and detailed plans, the notice said.

    Last year, China had 18.91 million teachers at all education levels, according to the Ministry of Education.

    In 2023, 78 percent of primary school teachers and 93 percent of middle school teachers held bachelor’s degrees or higher, said Li Yongzhi, president of the China National Academy of Educational Sciences.

    The central leadership has attached great importance to teacher training and has repeatedly stressed the need to improve teacher quality, he said.

    China has 226 teacher training universities and nearly 600 universities offering teaching degrees, Li said. A recent initiative has supported recruiting postgraduate students from top universities to teach in primary and secondary schools.

    Teacher salaries have steadily improved, and the goal of ensuring that primary and middle school teachers receive pay no lower than that of local government officials has been largely achieved, he said.

    The central government has invested tens of billions of yuan in improving the working and living conditions of rural teachers in less-developed regions, he added.

    University faculty members have also become a major force in high-tech innovation. More than 40 percent of academicians at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and nearly 70 percent of recipients of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, are employed at higher education institutions, Li said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Senior Chinese legislator visits Türkiye, vows to deepen legislative cooperation

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

    Xiao Jie, vice chairman of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, led an NPC delegation on a visit to Türkiye from May 8 to 11, China’s top legislature said on Sunday.

    During the visit, Xiao held talks with Turkish Grand National Assembly Speaker Numan Kurtulmus and Deputy Speaker Bekir Bozdag, and met with Türkiye’s Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz.

    Xiao said bilateral relations have maintained steady development under the strategic guidance of the two countries’ leaders, with cooperation across various sectors progressing smoothly.

    He added that China is ready to work with Türkiye to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen legislative exchanges, deepen political trust, and promote cooperation to advance the long-term growth of China-Türkiye relations.

    Xiao also briefed Turkish officials on recent political and economic developments in China, including the outcomes of the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee and the third session of the 14th NPC.

    Turkish officials appreciated the friendly relations between the two countries and expressed appreciation for China’s development achievements, noting that Türkiye attaches great importance to developing relations with China under the current international situation.

    They reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to the one-China principle and emphasized their readiness to expand high-level and legislative exchanges with China, deepen practical cooperation, and push bilateral relations to a new level. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: US notifies Israel Hamas plans to release Israeli-American hostage

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

    The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirms that the United States has informed Israel that Hamas will release hostage Edan Alexander “without any compensation or conditions,” in what Washington described as a goodwill gesture expected to pave the way for broader negotiations.

    The release, possibly set for Tuesday, would be the first not tied to the exchange of Palestinian prisoners. Alexander, a U.S.-born soldier, was abducted on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led gunmen killed around 1,200 people and took around 250 hostages in a cross-border assault on southern Israel.

    “The United States conveyed to Israel that this move is expected to lead to negotiations based on the original Witkoff framework, which Israel has already accepted,” Netanyahu’s office said, referring to a U.S.-backed plan proposing a phased release of hostages in return for an extended ceasefire.

    The Witkoff plan, unveiled in March, envisions the release of roughly half of the surviving hostages in exchange for a 50-day truce and subsequent talks. It does not include Hamas’s demands for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza or the release of Palestinian prisoners.

    Israel said it was preparing for the possibility of additional releases but reaffirmed that negotiations would take place “under fire,” consistent with its wartime policy and ongoing military objectives in Gaza.

    Hamas confirmed on Sunday it had agreed to free Alexander after discussions with U.S. officials, describing the move as part of broader efforts toward a ceasefire, reopening border crossings, and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza.

    The Hostages and Missing Families Forum welcomed Alexander’s expected release but urged the government to reach a single deal to secure the return of all remaining captives.

    “There is only one moral and necessary agreement: the immediate return of all hostages and the end of the war,” the group said, warning that “no one can be left behind.”

    Israel estimates 59 hostages remain in Gaza, at least 21 of whom are believed to be alive. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 52,800 people have been killed in Israel’s military campaign since October 2023.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: ‘Tech for good, tech for all’ — China’s path to global branding

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

    This photo taken on May 10, 2025 shows a scene of the main forum of the 2025 World Brand Moganshan Conference, held in Deqing County, east China’s Zhejiang Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Across diverse sectors, Chinese companies are turning inclusive and self-driven innovation into a common pursuit: building global brands through accessible technology and self-reliant strength.

    “Technology should be a public good that is accessible to every individual and affordable for every small business,” Wang Jing, general manager of public affairs at Alibaba Group, said on the sidelines of the 2025 World Brand Moganshan Conference.

    Held from May 9 to 11 in east China’s Zhejiang Province, the conference, themed “Brands Bring Better Future for the World,” is aimed at creating a Chinese platform for global cooperation, shared development and mutual benefit.

    On April 29, Alibaba unveiled Qwen3, the latest iteration of its open-source large language model family. All Qwen3 models are freely available to developers worldwide, underscoring the company’s commitment to inclusive innovation in the AI space.

    “As of the end of March, downloads of Qwen models on collaborative AI platform, Hugging Face, had surpassed 200 million, accounting for more than 20 percent of all model downloads,” said Wang. “Behind this surge is the rising global influence of China’s homegrown technology in the AI landscape.”

    Even robotic dogs are stepping up, and not just in terms of speed and agility, but in embodying a vision of technology designed to serve all.

    At DEEP Robotics, the “AI for All” vision is materializing through four-legged machines. Under its “AI+” initiative, the Hangzhou-based company combines software training systems with massive datasets to enable autonomous learning in quadruped robots.

    Enhanced by proprietary algorithms, these robots can now navigate complex environments, adapt to unstructured terrain, and support rescue teams by swiftly entering disaster zones and relaying real-time data for decision-making.

    “AI-powered robots can help humans work more safely and efficiently in diverse scenarios — from power facility inspections to emergency response,” said Meng Yuan, a media manager at DEEP Robotics. “They’re built to take on repetitive and high-risk tasks, and may one day assist with everyday needs in the home.”

    The company’s global footprint now covers Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the Middle East, Europe and North America — with international demand rising. “In Singapore, a local power company is using our robotic dogs to inspect underground utility tunnels, reducing labor costs and boosting urban efficiency,” said Meng.

    Meanwhile, in Zhejiang’s textile industrial heartland, Hangzhou Hangmin Damei Dyeing and Finishing Co., Ltd., a fabric supplier to global fashion brands including Zara, is grappling with rising green trade barriers.

    Confronted with a maze of carbon policies and mounting compliance costs tied to carbon tariffs and clean energy transition, the company has joined a new alliance that turns compliance into a competitive advantage.

    The “Green Energy To” initiative, led by the Xiaoshan Power Supply Company under the State Grid Corporation of China, in partnership with government agencies, financial institutions and exporters, offers a three-pronged solution — policy guidance, carbon-reduction services, and tailored financial support.

    With the alliance’s support, Hangmin Damei analyzed carbon footprints across eight production lines, built a digital monitoring platform, and now generates monthly energy-efficiency reports. Equipped with real-time carbon data and smart low-carbon solutions, the company is exporting to the European Union under a new label, namely “Green Energy To” — thus symbolizing China’s emerging brand story.

    “As global trade undergoes a green transformation, the ‘Green Energy To’ initiative aims to give Chinese exporters a green passport to navigate mounting carbon-based tariffs,” said Lai Hanbin, deputy director of the marketing department at Xiaoshan Power Supply Company. Lai served as a “zero-carbon engineer” for the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou in September 2023.

    “I think the time has now come for Chinese people to start to really appreciate their own brands,” said Michael Levitt, 2013 Nobel laureate in chemistry and vice chairman of the World Laureates Association. “I believe that Chinese brands will spread to the rest of the world.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A prisoner voting ban shows again how few checks there are on parliamentary power

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Winter, Associate Professor in Political Theory, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

    Getty Images

    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith’s recent announcement that the government would reinstate a total ban on prisoners voting was in keeping with the coalition’s overall tough-on-crime approach.

    The move was called “ridiculous” and “stupid” by opposition spokespeople, largely because it contradicted findings by the Supreme Court and the Waitangi Tribunal.

    But behind those concerns about the ban placing an “unreasonable limit on the electoral rights guaranteed under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act” lies a broader constitutional question to do with parliament’s relationship with the courts.

    In short, removing prisoner voting rights will damage a critical but fragile check on government power – what is known as the “judicial declaration of inconsistency”.

    An ‘executive paradise’

    New Zealand has been described as an “executive paradise” by constitutional lawyer and former prime minister Geoffrey Palmer. There is no upper house, no federal structure, and the courts lack the power to strike down unconstitutional legislation.

    The constitution itself is a collection of statutes and conventions that, for the most part, can be changed by a simple parliamentary majority. The 1990 Bill of Rights Act is a cornerstone of that constitution, but is an ineffectual check on government power.

    When parliament considers a bill that is potentially inconsistent with “the human rights and fundamental freedoms” set out in the Bill of Rights, the attorney-general delivers a report explaining the inconsistencies.

    This is supposed to be a deterrent, and one might think it would be the end of the matter. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Adverse attorney-general reports have appeared regularly (there have been 15 since 2021) without blocking legislation.

    Parliament’s habit of passing legislation that does not comply with the Bill of Rights is why the recently developed judicial declaration of inconsistency is constitutionally important.

    The declaration is a “soft” legal power. It doesn’t strike down laws or rewrite them. Rather, it is a “weak form” of review that enables affected citizens to petition the court to declare a law inconsistent with the Bill of Rights. This should then spur parliament to fix the problem.

    The declaration aims to start a constitutional dialogue between the two branches of government. Enabling citizens to hold parliament accountable, it is a vital instrument in a system otherwise heavily dominated by the executive branch.

    Constitutional dialogue in action

    The High Court issued the first such declaration in the case of Taylor vs Attorney-General in 2015, declaring a total ban on prisoners voting was inconsistent with the Bill of Rights Act. The government appealed, but the Supreme Court affirmed the declaration in a landmark 2018 decision.

    What happened next, however, was just as important. If the declaration was to initiate a constitutional dialogue, it was up to parliament to respond – which it did. In 2020, it rescinded the ban on voting for prisoners incarcerated for less than three years.

    Then, in 2022, it amended the Bill of Rights to require the attorney-general to notify parliament when a superior court issues a declaration of inconsistency. And it required a ministerial report to parliament on the government’s response within six months.

    Those measures put in place a framework for constitutional dialogues. And this process played out in the next (and to date only) declaration of inconsistency. This was in 2022, when the Supreme Court declared prohibiting 16-year-olds from voting was inconsistent with the Bill of Rights.

    In 2023, the government tabled its response and introduced a bill to enable 16-year-olds to vote in local elections. The government initially announced it would do the same for parliamentary elections. But that idea was dropped when it became clear this wouldn’t get the necessary super-majority support of 75% of MPs.

    Chief Justice Helen Winkelmann: courts and parliament could work together.
    Getty Images

    An over-powered parliament

    Although modest, parliament’s responses were constitutionally important because they modelled a new framework for accountability. Chief Justice Helen Winkelmann suggested the process illustrated how courts and parliament could work together in the “gradual and collaborative elaboration” of New Zealand’s constitution.

    An evolving constitutional dialogue would enable the courts to pose a modest check on New Zealand’s over-powered parliament. So, those who hoped they were seeing the dawn of a new constitutional convention will be disheartened by the move to ban all prisoners from voting.

    The current government has already terminated the bill enabling 16-year-olds to vote, without mentioning this contradicted the Supreme Court’s declaration of inconsistency.

    Should parliament now ban prisoner voting, it will have nullified all substantial responses to declarations of inconsistency. That would be a profound constitutional setback.

    Parliament regularly flouts the Bill of Rights. We are now seeing it double down by rolling back its previous responses to judicial declarations.

    New Zealanders already have comparatively little constitutional protection from parliament. Reinstating a total ban on prisoner voting will undermine the practice of constitutional dialogue between the two branches of government. And it will weaken a fragile check on government power.

    Stephen Winter 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. A prisoner voting ban shows again how few checks there are on parliamentary power – https://theconversation.com/a-prisoner-voting-ban-shows-again-how-few-checks-there-are-on-parliamentary-power-256226

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Footy’s ‘code wars’ are back, but which is actually the No. 1 Australian sport: the NRL or AFL?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Harcourt, Industry Professor and Chief Economist, University of Technology Sydney

    NRL Photos, Matt Turner/AAP, Wikimedia, The Conversation, CC BY

    Every now and then, so-called “code wars” erupt between the major Australia winter football codes: the National Rugby League (NRL) and the Australian Football League (AFL).

    This animosity likely stems from a phenomenon known as “the Barassi Line”, a cultural and geographical divide based on football preference which runs from Eden, NSW, through Canberra and up to Arnhem Land.



    Read more:
    The Barassi Line: a globally unique divider splitting Australia’s footy fans

    Recently, NRL chair Peter V’Landys claimed victory over the AFL in a strongly worded salvo:

    Rugby league has reaffirmed its standing as the No. 1 sporting code in Australia and the Pacific after the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) announced record-breaking attendances, TV audiences, participation, revenue and assets.

    But is he right to state the NRL as Australia’s No. 1 sport?

    A uniquely Australian battle

    The battleground in Australia is unique: most nations have only one major football code, soccer. Australia though has four – Australian rules football (AFL), rugby league (NRL), soccer and rugby union.

    More competition is good for the consumer and, in this case, the consumer is the Aussie sports fan.

    The way these fans watch, play and pour money into each sport is closely tracked by each league. And the competition for talent, fans, sponsors and eyeballs via TV, digital media and streaming grows every year.

    Thanks to Australian sports media experts SportsIndustryAU, we can now make a direct comparison between the codes.

    What the numbers say

    It’s important to note the NRL’s recent chest-beating refers to audiences in Australia and the Pacific, explaining the code’s push into Papua New Guinea (PNG) and potentially further expansion in New Zealand.



    Read more:
    Sports diplomacy: why the Australian government is spending $600 million on a new NRL team in PNG

    In terms of revenue, the AFL earned 39% more than the NRL in 2024: $1.04 billion compared to the NRL’s $744.8 million.

    In terms of profit, the NRL’s was 51% higher than the AFL in 2024. This was in large part due to the NRL having only half the operational expenses of the AFL.

    However, if we look at operating profit (gross profit minus operating expenses), the AFL was 13% higher than the NRL before it made its annual distributions to clubs. The AFL distributes its profits among its 18 clubs, with smaller clubs receiving more than the more powerful teams.

    In terms of net assets (the value of an organisation’s assets minus its liabilities), the AFL is also richer: it has net assets of $482.3 million compared to $322.4 million for the NRL. The AFL owns Marvel Stadium and a share in the sports data and analytics company Champion Data. By comparison, the NRL has shares in many hotels.

    In terms of TV audience, the NRL was 10% larger in terms of average aggregated audiences for free-to-air and paid subscription services in 2024: 153.7 million to the AFL’s 140.3 million. However, AFL matches go longer and the season features more games than the NRL. Also, these figures do not include streaming numbers, which will be part of future broadcast deals.

    In terms of attendance and membership, the AFL is a clear winner.

    The AFL welcomed 8.4 million fans through the gate in 2024, compared to 4.3 million for the NRL.

    For membership, the AFL’s clubs boasted 1.32 million collectively in 2024. In the NRL, there are slightly more than 400,000 club members (based on club data – the NRL does not release membership data).

    In terms of participation, Ausplay – a national tracking survey led by the Australian Sports Commission – estimates 641,390 Aussie rules players, compared to 531,323 for rugby league (which includes touch football and Oztag).

    No clear-cut answer

    While more of the numbers point to an AFL advantage, this heavyweight battle will never be completely settled, and both codes’ future expansion plans will further muddy the waters.

    The NRL has just announced the Perth Bears will join in 2027 or 2028. This team revives the old North Sydney Bears with a new Western Australia base. This will bring the number of NRL clubs to 19.

    A possible 20th team is slated for New Zealand, or Ipswich in the western Brisbane corridor.

    Similarly, the AFL is expanding, first to Tasmania, which is set to become its 19th club in 2028.

    Beyond that, it’s possible the league will look to the Northern Territory, Canberra or another team in Western Australia or South Australia to join as the 20th team.

    One key advantage for the NRL is its international appeal.

    For two years, it has hosted games in Las Vegas. And after the NRL’s successful Magic Round in Brisbane, CEO Andrew Abdo floated the possibility of taking the event overseas, with Hong Kong and Dubai reportedly expressing interest.

    Of course, as a domestic game, Australian rules football cannot logically expand beyond our shores.

    But whether beyond our boundaries or within, the NRL vs AFL rivalry will continue, and an unequivocal winner will never really be settled on.

    Tim Harcourt 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. Footy’s ‘code wars’ are back, but which is actually the No. 1 Australian sport: the NRL or AFL? – https://theconversation.com/footys-code-wars-are-back-but-which-is-actually-the-no-1-australian-sport-the-nrl-or-afl-256088

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI—Hagerty Joins Sunday Morning Futures on Fox News to Discuss Trade Negotiations, Debt Ceiling, Spending Cuts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    NASHVILLE, TN—Today, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Appropriations, Banking, and Foreign Relations Committees and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, joined Sunday Morning Futures on Fox News to discuss President Donald Trump’s ongoing trade negotiations, what to do about the debt ceiling, and the efforts to cut spending in the federal government via budget reconciliation.

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*
    Partial Transcript
    Hagerty on the trade negotiations with China: “I worked on trade deals extensively. Not only the two trade deals we did with the U.S. and Japan, but also with the team that negotiated the phase one China trade deal, which China did not abide by. David’s right. I’m so glad he’s going to his post now. He’s going to be a great ambassador representing the America’s interest with China. What’s happening in Switzerland right now, I’m very excited about. I think there’s great potential there. It has to get resolved. And with ambassadors or leaders like David in the field, I think we’re going to have every opportunity then to hold China to account, because that’s going to be a critical aspect of this. They have not followed through on their prior agreements with us. We need to make certain that what we strike with them today, what we strike over the weekend and in the days to come, is something that we can ascertain, we can hold them accountable to, and that we can verify.”
    Hagerty on the debt ceiling: “I have a lot [of] faith in President Trump’s ability to get long-term effect achieved here. You’ve seen the DOGE effort. There’s a massive deregulation thrust underway. Every conversation is about efficiency, cutting costs, getting more for less. It’s going to take President Trump a little bit of time, though. You know how much stimulus was unleased into this economy. We’ve got to give President Trump the headroom to sort this out. And so, President Trump has asked for an extension of the debt ceiling. I’m more than inclined to grant him what he needs to give him the time and the runway to actually get our economy to a far better place, a much more efficient and effective place. At the same time, shoring up some of the problems that have been left to us by this Biden administration. That’s been outgoing.”
    Hagerty on the need to cut wasteful, fraudulent, and abusive spending in the federal government: “From my standpoint, and certainly having been a senator who served on the executive branch in the State Department and have seen the actual dispensation of this foreign aid, there’s a tremendous amount of opportunity to clean this up. And I think if I talk to my constituents here in Tennessee, they’ve been very clear to me. We need to be fixated on and focused on America right now, shoring up what’s wrong here, rather than sending our aid dollars overseas. And when you looked at some of the specifics of where our aid dollars were going, it was absolutely disgraceful. This organization has run amok. I applaud Secretary of State [Marco] Rubio for getting his arms around this, for taking control of it. And we certainly do need to start cutting back. We need to cut back there. We need many other places where President Trump is fixated. Again, he needs a little bit of headroom to get that done. I’m willing to support that. But this is exactly the type of thing that the American public expects to see from us […] I think as more information comes out and more of my colleagues see the abject waste that has gone on in places like USAID, I think it’s going to become easier and easier for them to realize and get their arms around cutting some of these programs. Now granted, these programs have constituencies that are very vocal in Washington. They’ve been lobbying very hard. But again, transparency will make a big difference for my colleagues. I certainly hope to see even more of it. I think that’ll make it a lot easier to get to where we need to be. That takes time.”
    Hagerty on Japan’s opportunity for a trade deal: “Japan certainly has the opportunity to be next. They’re the third largest economy in the world. They have every incentive to step up and take part in what I think will be a transformative situation across the globe. Japan could be a real leader here if you think about their opportunity to join us from an economic standpoint, from a national security standpoint, again, our largest presence in Indo-Pacific region is our partnership with Japan. We have more U.S. Military station there than anywhere else in the region. Again, I can’t put myself in their shoes.”
    Hagerty on the India-Pakistan conflict: “That’s a top shelf issue. When you see two nuclear powers like Pakistan and India going at it, it’s top concern. That’s why President Trump was immediately on it. JD Vance stepped up in a remarkably admirable way to leverage his personal relationship with [Prime Minister] Modi. I’ve seen President Trump and Modi together. They have a great personal relationship, but it’s these relationships and also the gravity of the situation that, I think, has helped bring this to a quick resolve. I only wish [former President] Joe Biden had used his political capital to do the same thing with Ukraine and Russia.”
    Hagerty on the need for major spending cuts in the reconciliation package: “The Senate is actually talking more like two trillion in cuts. We’re very focused on it. The reason the threshold is lower in the Senate is because there’s certain rules there that you can’t exceed or you can’t fall below. Again, we’re leaving ourselves leeway to get it done, but every one of my colleagues that I’ve spoken with wants to see an even greater number of cuts in this package.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Karachi was in line of fire during Operation Sindoor: Indian Navy

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    he Indian Navy on Sunday revealed its active role in Operation Sindoor, emphasizing that Karachi and other key Pakistani military assets were in the line of fire during India’s coordinated military response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

    Speaking at a joint briefing with senior commanders from the Army and Air Force, Vice Admiral A.N. Pramod, Director General of Naval Operations, said that the Navy’s deployment in the Arabian Sea during the operation effectively forced the Pakistan Navy to remain confined to its harbours or operate only near its coastline.

    He said that the Indian Navy was fully prepared within 96 hours of the April 22 attack to execute strikes on Pakistan’s military infrastructure. He added that naval forces were “ready to target locations at sea and on land, including Karachi Port,” but were awaiting government orders.

    Pramod added the Navy rapidly mobilised warships, submarines, and aircraft into full combat readiness following the Pahalgam attack.

    The deployment, he said, reinforced India’s commitment to national security and its ability to respond decisively to emerging threats. Multiple weapon drills were conducted in the Arabian Sea to validate combat preparedness and enhance strike precision. Pakistan’s naval forces, meanwhile, were restricted to defensive positions near the coast and were under close surveillance.

    “The Indian response throughout the operation was measured and calibrated, with all branches of the military operating in sync to ensure an effective counter-strike,” he added.

    Pramod noted that the Navy’s maritime superiority, along with the coordinated efforts of the Army and Air Force, played a key role in compelling Pakistan to seek a ceasefire. Despite the cessation of hostilities, the Navy remains vigilant and ready to act against any future threats from Pakistan or its proxies.

    Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Director General of Military Operations, reiterated that Pakistan had been warned against any further violations, which would be met with a strong and immediate response.

    Air Marshal A.K. Bharti detailed the precision airstrikes that targeted Pakistani military installations, underlining India’s commitment to avoiding civilian casualties while delivering a strategic response.

    IANS

  • Over 100 terrorists killed in Pakistan terror hubs during Operation Sindoor: DGMO Lt Gen Rajeev Ghai

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    ore than 100 terrorists, including those linked to the 1999 Indian Airlines IC-814 hijacking and the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, were killed in precision strikes conducted by Indian armed forces in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen Rajeev Ghai said on Sunday.

    Addressing a press conference in the capital, Lt Gen Ghai said the operation was conceived with a clear military objective: to target the perpetrators and planners of the recent Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed.

    “Operation Sindoor was conceptualised with a clear military aim—to punish the perpetrators and planners of terror and to destroy their infrastructure. What I will not reiterate here is India’s established resolve and intolerance for terrorism,” he said.

    Among those killed were high-value targets such as Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf, and Mudasir Ahmed. According to officials, these individuals were directly involved in the hijacking of IC-814 and the Pulwama suicide bombing that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel.

    “Strikes across nine identified terror hubs eliminated more than 100 terrorists. Some of these locations were actively being used as launch pads and training centres,” Ghai said.

    He also confirmed that the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy played significant roles in executing the strikes. “The Air Force engaged several camps with precision targeting, and the Navy provided advanced munitions. The IAF maintained air dominance during the operations,” he added.

    In response to the strikes, Pakistani forces violated the Line of Control (LoC), leading to retaliatory engagements. Ghai described Pakistan’s reaction as “erratic and rattled”, pointing out that several civilian areas, including villages and religious sites such as gurdwaras, were hit during their response, resulting in civilian casualties.

    Ghai said the Pahalgam attack, along with a string of recent terror strikes, was a tipping point. “The brutal killing of 26 innocent civilians at Pahalgam on April 22, coupled with other attacks on our forces and defenceless civilians, made it imperative for India to respond decisively,” he said.

    Post-strike surveillance indicated that several terror hubs had been vacated in anticipation of Indian retaliation. “We undertook a thorough assessment of the terror infrastructure across the border. Many of these sites had been pre-emptively abandoned, likely fearing retribution,” he said.

    The government has not released an official count of casualties on the Pakistani side, reiterating that the mission’s objective was not body count but the neutralisation of terror networks.

  • MIL-OSI China: Hamburg return to Bundesliga after seven-year absence

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

    Emotions erupted late Saturday evening at Hamburger SV’s arena following the club’s return to the first tier after seven years.

    Hours of celebration followed across the city. While overwhelming joy is typical after sporting success, the dramatic story of one of Germany’s most famous football teams stands as a special chapter.

    Internal power struggles had divided the team, with various squads and coaches collapsing under immense expectations after relegation in 2018. It took 34-year-old former assistant coach Merlin Polzin to finally overcome these challenges.

    The 2018 relegation was Hamburg’s first and only demotion since the league’s foundation in 1963. After 2,555 days, the “Red pants” are back.

    Narrow and heartbreaking failures, often mere millimeters from success, had led to widespread mockery. Golden times seemed long gone, with the atmosphere verging permanently on mediocrity.

    This golden era included six league titles (the last in 1983), three German Cup wins (last in 1987), the 1977 UEFA Cup, and the 1983 European Champions Cup – the predecessor to today’s UEFA Champions League – largely associated with Felix Magath.

    Neither the club’s fans nor the former German international have forgotten that magical night in Athens, when Magath scored the winning goal against Juventus after nine minutes.

    After a coaching career and more than 300 games in an HSV shirt, the 71-year-old Magath recently announced plans to run for president in the June 2025 elections.

    For many supporters, hopes rest heavily on the former Shandong Taishan coach, who promised to steer the club back to consistency if elected.

    “It feels like someone shaking a bottle of champagne for seven years, now the cork went off,” said Stefan Kuntz, director of sport, after coach Polzin received the traditional beer shower during the post-game press conference.

    The former German international and 1996 European champion added: “We are back where we belong.”

    Central to the current fairytale is coach Polzin, who took charge in November 2024 when morale at the club had hit rock bottom.

    Polzin, born in Hamburg, began as an avid fan, traveling to every game. He later completed coaching education and served as an assistant coach under several predecessors.

    Despite financial losses over recent years that may have diminished Hamburg’s once-great potential, HSV returns to the Bundesliga not as an ordinary rookie. Merely battling relegation cannot be considered a realistic goal.

    Calm and thoughtful leadership could provide an opportunity for sustained success if realistic sporting goals are established.

    “We will start planning next week to play a significant role in the first division,” Kuntz said, confirming that Polzin’s contract has been extended. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘Fighting more frequent now’ – researcher warns of escalating West Papua conflict

    By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist

    The escalation of violence in West Papua is on par with some of the most intense times of conflict over the past six decades, a human rights researcher says.

    The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) claims that Indonesia killed at least one civilian and severely injured another last Tuesday in Puncak Regency.

    In a statement, ULMWP interim president Benny Wenda said Deris Kogoya, 18, was killed by a rocket attack from a helicopter while riding his motorbike near Kelanungin Village.

    Jemi Waker, meanwhile, sustained severe violent injuries, including to both his legs.

    The statement said Waker had refused to go to hospital, fearing he would be killed if he went.

    Human Rights Watch researcher Andreas Harsono said that over the past month he had received an unusually high number of messages accompanied by gruesome photos showing either Indonesian soldiers or civilians being killed.

    “The fighting is much more frequent now,” Harsono said.

    More Indonesian soldiers
    “There are more and more Indonesian soldiers sent to West Papua under President Pradowo.

    “At the same time, indigenous Papuans are also gaining more and more men, unfortunately also boys, to join the fight in the jungle.”

    He said the escalation could match similarly intense periods of conflict in 1977, 1984, and 2004.

    A spokesperson for Indonesia’s Embassy in Wellington said they could not confirm if there had been a military attack in Puncak Regency on Tuesday.

    However, they said all actions conducted by Indonesia’s military were in line with international law.

    They said there were attacks in March and April of this year, instigated by an “armed criminal group” targeting Indonesian workers and civilians.

    Harsono said if the attack was on civilians, it would be a clear breach of human rights.

    Confirmation difficult
    However, he said it was difficult to confirm due to the remoteness of the area. He said it was common for civilians to wear army camouflage because of surplus Indonesian uniforms.

    ULMWP’s Benny Wenda said West Papuans were “a forgotten, voiceless people”.

    “Where is the attention of the media and the international community? How many children must be killed before they notice we are dying?”

    Wenda compared the lack of attention with the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Palestine conflict that was getting more media attention.

    He said Indonesia had banned media “to prevent journalists from telling the world what is really going on”.

    The Indonesian Embassy spokesperson said foreign journalists were not allowed in the area for their own safety.

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

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Multiple arrests – Aggravated robbery and weapons offences – Nightcliff

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    A 16-year-old male and a 15-year-old female have been arrested in relation to the alleged aggravated robbery and assault of a worker in Nightcliff on Friday morning.

    Around 10:40am, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports of a disturbance involving multiple people at a service station on Progress Drive.

    A number of youths allegedly attempted to steal items from the store with one of the youths throwing cans and bottles at an employee and another youth punching an employee. Both youths ran from the area prior to police arrival.

    A short time later, the youths were involved in a violent disturbance at a nearby residence on Progress Drive. Both male youths allegedly unlawfully entered a residence within the area and threatened the occupants before being removed. Later the youths returned and assaulted the same people by punching, kicking and threatening them with a metal bar. Included in the victims of the assault was a government worker.

    Territory Safety Division, Darwin general duties and Dog Operations officers responded to the location resulting in the arrest of both youths and a further female who was alleged to be armed with a knife and involved in the incident at the residential premises.

    The 16-year-old male has since been charged with:

    • Aggravated Robbery

    • Assault worker – victim suffers harm

    • Armed with an offensive weapon

    • Aggravated Assault

    • Aggravated Burglary – Dwelling

    The 15-year-old female has since been charged with:

    • Aggravated Robbery

    • Assault worker

    • Assault worker – victim suffers harm

    • Escape from lawful custody

    The 21-year-old female has since been charged with:

    • Damage property

    • Possess/Carry/Use controlled weapon

    The two youths were remanded to appear in court today and the 21-year-old female was bailed to appear in Darwin Local Court on 27 May 2025.

    Anyone with information in relation to this incident is urged to contact police on 131 444. Please quote reference NTP2500047909. You can also report anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Major brands don’t need to kowtow to Trump: they have the power to bring people together

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Beverland, Professor of Brand Management, University of Sussex Business School, University of Sussex

    Whatever you think of his personality or politics, it’s impossible to deny the success of Donald Trump as a brand. Supporters and detractors across the world are transfixed by his second term as US president.

    And so far, many corporate brands appear keen to get alongside him. The leaders of Tesla, Amazon and Meta were all prominent guests at Trump’s inauguration in January 2025.

    By then, Mark Zuckerberg had already shifted company policy on fact checking to be more aligned with the political wind. Weeks later, retail giants Walmart and Target had rolled back diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

    Even the NFL, which had so infuriated Trump in his first term with its support for diversity, has come to heel.

    So now that Trump is back in town, is the only option available to big US organisations to swing to the right? Well, not necessarily.

    Our research suggests that the rise of populism actually represents an opportunity for brands to rebuild a sense of shared national identity.

    And the most well-known brands are the best placed to do this. Their familiar place in people’s everyday lives gives them huge power as non-political agents of collective identity which can cross divides of race, class, geography and age.

    A great example of this was during the presidential election campaign when Trump’s team wanted to organise a publicity stunt involving the Republican candidate “working” at a branch of McDonald’s in Pennsylvania.

    Trump’s love of the golden arches is well known, but McDonald’s is a strongly non-political brand. So what should it do? Refuse and risk a backlash, or accept and be accused of taking sides?

    In the end, the company’s response was a masterclass in neutrality.

    McDonald’s told its employees that the company was neither red (Republican) nor blue (Democrat), but golden. Referring to both presidential candidates’ love of McDonald’s, the company made it clear that the permission granted to Trump illustrated one of their core values, stating: “We open our doors for everyone”.

    The plan worked. And this was partly down to McDonald’s being widely thought of as an authentic brand which connects people.

    Research has shown that people really value a company’s place in local communities. And McDonald’s is a place which hosts children’s birthday parties, where you can catch up with friends, where you might even have had your first ever job.

    This kind of power to unify is something other brands can do too. As something our earlier research shows, brands can benefit from bringing people together, by creating a sense of shared identity.

    Brand new

    In New Zealand for example, ANZ Bank was widely applauded for a campaign featuring Indian immigrants. The advert tells the story of a father and son and their mixed cricketing loyalties (the parent to India, the child to New Zealand).

    It is a tale of immigrants achieving their version of the national dream, through hard work and trademark Kiwi humour. This kind of narrative-driven campaign does not pitch one side against another, but instead highlights the things that bind people together.

    Similarly in the UK, the department store John Lewis has become a seasonal advertising staple as it reminds customers of their shared rituals over Christmas. And Kraft’s “How do you love your Vegemite” campaign allowed new immigrants to participate in local snacking rituals, helping them feel Australian.

    In the US, a 1971 Coca Cola commercial (one of the most lauded adverts ever) presented a united multi-cultural collection of young people as a response to the anti-Vietnam war counter-culture.

    So far, American brands have struggled to navigate the ever-shifting pronouncements coming from the White House in Trump’s second term. Amazon for example, quickly went back on its decision to list the cost of tariffs on products after it was branded a “hostile move”.

    But one brand does stand out. And that’s Ford.

    Perhaps it was inevitable that the car maker which came to symbolise successful 20th century American manufacturing would get this right. And the company’s decision to extend employee discounts to all consumers in what it describes as “unprecedented times” is a clever move.

    Some might call it a cynical tactic to embrace Trump’s tariffs and encourage Americans to buy American. But the firm (which will likely take a huge hit from more expensive imported parts and materials) is doing much more than that.

    Its new campaign (with the slogan “From America for America”) reminds US citizens that the brand is part of their lives, regardless of their political home. Supportive full-page print ads go further, setting out the firm’s long history spent backing the people of America.

    One Ford executive says that the campaign is about “authenticity” and Ford being a brand “that all consumers can rely on, especially in these uncertain times”.

    Authenticity is much prized when the political landscape is so polarised. And while divisions cannot be healed solely by brands, they can help to remind us of shared values and a sense of community. And in doing so, dial down those political tensions.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Major brands don’t need to kowtow to Trump: they have the power to bring people together – https://theconversation.com/major-brands-dont-need-to-kowtow-to-trump-they-have-the-power-to-bring-people-together-249401

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: India-Pakistan ceasefire shouldn’t disguise fact that norms have changed in South Asia, making future de-escalation much harder

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Farah N. Jan, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, University of Pennsylvania

    A member of the Indian Border Security Force stands guard near the India-Pakistan border. Narinder Nanu/AFP via Getty Images

    India and Pakistan have seen the scenario play out before: a terror attack in which Indians are killed leads to a succession of escalatory tit-fot-tat measures that put South Asia on the brink of all-out war. And then there is a de-escalation.

    The broad contours of that pattern have played out in the most recent crisis, with the latest step being the announcement of a ceasefire on May 10, 2025.

    But in another important way, the flare-up – which began on April 22 with a deadly attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed – represents significant departures from the past. It involved direct missile exchanges targeting sites inside both territories and the use of advanced missile systems and drones by the two nuclear rivals for the first time.

    As a scholar of nuclear rivalries, especially between India and Pakistan, I have long been concerned that the erosion of international sovereignty norms, diminished U.S. interest and influence in the region and the stockpiling of advanced military and digital technologies have significantly raised the risk of rapid and uncontrolled escalation in the event of a trigger in South Asia.

    These changes have coincided with domestic political shifts in both countries. The pro-Hindu nationalism of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has heightened communal tensions in the country. Meanwhile Pakistan’s powerful army chief, Gen. Syed Asim Munir, has embraced the “two-nation theory,” which holds that Pakistan is a homeland for the subcontinent’s Muslims and India for Hindus.

    Newspapers with front page articles on the India-Pakistan conflict are displayed on May 8, 2025.
    Narinder Nanu/AFP via Getty Images

    This religious framing was even seen in the naming of the two countries’ military operations. For India, it is “Operation Sindoor” – a reference to the red vermilion used by married Hindu women, and a provocative nod to the widows of the Kashmir attack. Pakistan called its counter-operation “Bunyan-un-Marsoos” – an Arabic phrase from the Quran meaning “a solid structure.”

    The role of Washington

    The India-Pakistan rivalry has cost tens of thousands of lives across multiple wars in 1947-48, 1965 and 1971. But since the late 1990s, whenever India and Pakistan approached the brink of war, a familiar de-escalation playbook unfolded: intense diplomacy, often led by the United States, would help defuse tensions.

    In 1999, President Bill Clinton’s direct mediation ended the Kargil conflict – a limited war triggered by Pakistani forces crossing the Line of Control into Indian-administered Kashmir – by pressing Pakistan for a withdrawal.

    Similarly, after the 2001 attack inside the Indian Parliament by terrorists allegedly linked to Pakistan-based groups Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage engaged in intense shuttle diplomacy between Islamabad and New Delhi, averting war.

    And after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which saw 166 people killed by terrorists linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, rapid and high-level American diplomatic involvement helped restrain India’s response and reduced the risk of an escalating conflict.

    As recently as 2019, during the Balakot crisis – which followed a suicide bombing in Pulwama, Kashmir, that killed 40 Indian security personnel – it was American diplomatic pressure that helped contain hostilities. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo later wrote in his memoirs, “I do not think the world properly knows just how close the India-Pakistan rivalry came to spilling over into a nuclear conflagration in February 2019.”

    A diplomatic void?

    Washington as peacemaker made sense: It had influence and a vested interest.

    During the Cold War, the U.S. formed a close alliance with Pakistan to counter India’s links with the Soviet Union. And after the 9/11 terror attacks, the U.S. poured tens of billions of dollars in military assistance into Pakistan as a frontline partner in the “war on terror.”

    Simultaneously, beginning in the early 2000s, the U.S. began cultivating India as a strategic partner.

    A stable Pakistan was a crucial partner in the U.S. war in Afghanistan; a friendly India was a strategic counterbalance to China. And this gave the U.S. both the motivation and credibility to act as an effective mediator during moments of India-Pakistan crisis.

    Today, however, America’s diplomatic attention has shifted significantly away from South Asia. The process began with the end of the Cold War, but accelerated dramatically after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. More recently, the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have consumed Washington’s diplomatic efforts.

    Since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, the U.S. has not appointed an ambassador in New Delhi or Islamabad, nor confirmed an assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs – factors that must have hampered any mediating role for the United States.

    And while Trump said the May 10 ceasefire followed a “long night of talks mediated by the United States,” statements from India and Pakistan appeared to downplay U.S. involvement, focusing instead on the direct bilateral nature of negotiations.

    Should it transpire that Washington’s role as a mediator between Pakistan and India has been diminished, it is not immediately obvious who, if anyone, will fill the void. China, which has been trying to cultivate a role of mediator elsewhere, is not seen as a neutral mediator due to its close alliance with Pakistan and past border conflicts with India. Other regional powers like Iran and Saudi Arabia tried to step in during the latest crisis, but both lack the power clout of the U.S. or China.

    This absence of external mediation is not, of course, a problem in itself. Historically, foreign interference – particularly U.S. support for Pakistan during the Cold War – often complicated dynamics in South Asia by creating military imbalances and reinforcing hardline positions. But the past has shown external pressure – especially from Washington – can be effective.

    Breaking the norms

    The recent escalation unfolded against the backdrop of another dynamic: the erosion of international norms since the end of the Cold War and accelerating after 2001.

    America’s “war on terror” fundamentally challenged international legal frameworks through practices such as preemptive strikes against sovereign states, targeted drone killings and the “enhanced interrogation techniques” of detainees that many legal scholars classify as torture.

    More recently, Israel’s operations in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria have drawn widespread criticism for violations of international humanitarian law – but have resulted in limited consequences.

    Security forces patrol the street near the Wuyan area of Pampore in south Kashmir on May 7, 2025.
    Faisal Khan/Anadolu via Getty Images

    In short, geopolitical norms have been ebbed away and military actions that were once deemed red lines are crossed with little accountability.

    For India and Pakistan, this environment creates both opportunity and risk. Both can point to behaviors elsewhere to justify assertive actions that they have undertaken that, in previous years, would have been deemed a step too far – such as attacks on places of worship and sovereignty violations.

    Multi-domain warfare

    But what truly distinguished the latest crisis from those of the past is, I believe, its multi-domain nature. The conflict is no longer confined to conventional military exchanges along the line of control – as it was for the first five decades of the Kashmir question.

    Both countries largely respected the line of control as a de facto boundary for military operations until the 2019 crisis. Since then, there has been a dangerous progression: first to cross-border airstrikes into each other’s territories, and now to a conflict that spans conventional military, cyber and information spheres simultaneously.

    Reports indicate Chinese-made Pakistani J-10 fighter jets shot down multiple Indian aircraft, including advanced French Rafale jets. This confrontation between Chinese and Western weapons represents not just a bilateral conflict but a proxy test of rival global military technologies – adding another layer of great-power competition to the crisis.

    In addition, the use of loitering drones designed to attack radar systems represents a significant escalation in the technological sophistication of cross-border attacks compared to years past.

    The conflict has also expanded dramatically into the cyber domain. Pakistani hackers, claiming to be the “Pakistan Cyber Force,” report breaching several Indian defense institutions, potentially compromising personnel data and login credentials.

    Simultaneously, social media and a new right-wing media in India have become a critical battlefront. Ultranationalist voices in India incited violence against Muslims and Kashmiris; in Pakistan, anti-India rhetoric similarly intensified online.

    Cooler voices prevailing … for now

    These shifts have created multiple escalation pathways that traditional crisis management approaches weren’t designed to address.

    Particularly concerning is the nuclear dimension. Pakistan’s nuclear doctrine is that it will use nuclear weapons if its existence is threatened, and it has developed short-range tactical nuclear weapons intended to counter Indian conventional advantages. Meanwhile, India has informally dialed back its historic no-first-use stance, creating ambiguity about its operational doctrine.

    Thankfully, as the ceasefire announcement indicates, mediating voices appear to have prevailed this time around. But eroding norms, diminished great power diplomacy and the advent of multi-domain warfare, I argue, made this latest flare-up a dangerous turning point.

    What happens next will tell us much about how nuclear rivals manage, or fail to manage, the spiral of conflict in this dangerous new landscape.

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

    – ref. India-Pakistan ceasefire shouldn’t disguise fact that norms have changed in South Asia, making future de-escalation much harder – https://theconversation.com/india-pakistan-ceasefire-shouldnt-disguise-fact-that-norms-have-changed-in-south-asia-making-future-de-escalation-much-harder-256285

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Australian Filmmaker Lucy Mckendrick Set For Directing Debut with Dark Comedy Fangs

    Source: AMP Limited

    10 05 2025 – Media release

    Joel Edgerton, Lucy McKendrick and Toni Collette of Fangs. 
    Australian filmmaker Lucy McKendrick makes her directorial debut with Fangs, a thrilling dark comedy about privilege, power, and dangerous fantasies. Starring Golden Globe nominee Joel Edgerton (The Gift, Zero Dark Thirty) and Golden Globe winner Toni Collette (Knives Out, Mickey 17). The film follows Teddy (McKendrick), the daughter of a private prison mogul, who becomes obsessed with a charismatic inmate, Fangs (Edgerton). Consumed with desire for the self-proclaimed ‘psychopath,’ Teddy risks everything as her life spirals spectacularly out of control. The film is made with major production investment from Screen Australia.
    Fangs is produced by Rebecca Yeldham (The Gift, The Motorcykle Diaries) through Ahimsa Films together with Aggregate Films’ Michael Costigan (Hitman, Brokeback Mountain), Charlie Polinger (The Plague), and Truant Pictures’ Toby Nalbandian (Turn Me On). The film will commence production in Sydney on August 4, 2025. Cornerstone is handling international sales and will co-rep the US rights with CAA Media Finance.
    McKendrick is an Australian actor and filmmaker who wrote, produced, co-directed with Charlie Polinger, and starred in the short film F*ck Me, Richard, which debuted at SXSW. Lucy and Charlie recently wrapped Charlie’s highly anticipated directorial debut, The Plague, which will premiere in the Official Selection at Cannes this month, in Un Certain Regard.
    Screen Australia Director of Narrative Content Louise Gough said, “Fangs has bite in all the right ways – a bold, distinctive feature debut from Lucy McKendrick that we’re proud to support at Screen Australia. The creative team has delivered a sharp, contemporary script, and the powerhouse casting of Toni Collette and Joel Edgerton positions this film for strong international and Australian appeal.”
    Rebecca Yeldham and Michael Costigan said, “It’s rare to read a script as entertaining, original, and fearless as Lucy McKendrick’s Fangs. We’re thrilled to support Lucy in bringing this bold, hilarious and timely film to the screen and to launch her debut alongside two of Australia’s most iconic and beloved actors, Toni and Joel.”
    Cornerstone’s Alison Thompson and Mark Gooder also commented, “We love the vision Lucy has for her debut feature, and the casting of Joel and Toni is testament to her sharply original and immensely entertaining script.”
    Truant Pictures’ Toby Nalbandian said, “We’re incredibly excited to support the debut feature of Lucy McKendrick and to help bring Fangs to life, which promises to be a wild and undeniably entertaining ride for audiences around the world.”
    Edgerton is represented by WME and Anonymous Content. Collette is represented by CAA, Finley Management, United Management and Kimberly Jaime at Jackoway Austen. McKendrick is represented by CAA and 42mp, Polinger is represented by UTA and Anonymous Content. Both are represented by Jackoway Austen. Aggregate is represented by CAA and Lighthouse Management.
    Production credit: Fangs is an Ahimsa Films production. Major production investment from Screen Australia. International sales by Cornerstone.
    FANGS MEDIA ENQUIRIES
    Anna Bohlin | Cornerstone Films
    [email protected]
    Media enquiries
    Maddie Walsh | Publicist
    + 61 2 8113 5915  | [email protected]
    Jessica Parry | Senior Publicist (Mon, Tue, Thu)
    + 61 428 767 836  | [email protected]
    All other general/non-media enquiries
    Sydney + 61 2 8113 5800  |  Melbourne + 61 3 8682 1900 | [email protected]

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Roadside breath testing up; alcohol-related road deaths down

    Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

    As Road Safety Week begins, the Government’s crackdown on drunk drivers is delivering real results with newly released 2024 statistics showing the number of alcohol-related road deaths reducing by nearly 40%, Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say. 

    “Our Government is focused on improving road safety through road policing and enforcement, investment in new and safe roading infrastructure, and targeting the leading contributors to fatal crashes such as drugs and alcohol impairment. That plan – the Road Policing Investment Programme (RPIP) – is seeing some strong results, and we need to keep it up,” Mr Bishop says.

    “Police have really stepped up their road policing efforts in the past year. In 2024, Police delivered 4,118,159 passive breath and breath screening tests, the highest number recorded in a calendar year, and smashing their RPIP target of 3.3 million per year.

    “Police have also exceeded their target to focus 65% of their breath testing on the highest risk times. In the first nine months of this financial year (July 2024 to March 2025), Police delivered 2,177,179 passive breath and breath screening tests during high or extreme risk alcohol hours. This is 35% above the year-to-date target of 1,608,750 tests, and a 21% increase compared to the first nine months of the previous financial year.

    “The whole point of roadside breath testing is to keep New Zealanders safer on the roads – and it’s working. 

    “It’s really encouraging to see an almost 40% reduction in the number of road deaths where alcohol was a contributing factor, from 92 alcohol-related road deaths in 2023 down to 57 in 2024. 

    “In fact, the steep reduction in alcohol-related road deaths led to the 2024 total road toll being the lowest since 2014. Every avoidable road death is a tragedy and there’s always more work to do, but this is a big step in the right direction.”

    “The reduced number of road deaths in 2024 is also significant given the presence of factors that can drive up the road toll, such as population increases, continued increases in the size of the vehicle fleet and increases in the total vehicle kilometres travelled (VKT) across the network.

    “Roadside testing for drug driving is also coming soon. Anyone who drives while under the influence of drugs should know that they’re putting themselves and other road users at risk – and we’re not going to put up with it.

    “In March 2025 the Government passed legislation to enable Police to conduct roadside testing for drug impairment, and we expect these tests to start being rolled out later this year.”

    “Alcohol and drugs are leading contributors to death and serious injury on our roads, and both random and selective breath testing is proven to discourage people from drinking and driving. Every breath test delivered has the potential to save a life, and you can continue to expect to Police highly visible on our roads,” Mr Mitchell says.

    “I’m proud of the work our Police are doing to reduce deaths on our road, keep our communities safe, and ensure everyone can get to where they need to go safely.”

    Notes to editor:

    • In 2024:
      • Police conducted 4.1 million roadside breath alcohol tests – the most ever, and about 900,000 more than in 2023.
      • The number of alcohol-related road fatalities reduced by nearly 40% , from 92 in 2023 to 57 in 2024.
    • The Road Policing Investment Programme 2024-2027 (RPIP) requires Police to deliver 3.3 million passive breath tests and breath screening tests per year of the programme—an average of 825,000 tests per quarter. This is an increase from the 3 million tests required annually under the previous government’s road policing agreement.
    • In 2024 Police delivered 4,118,159 passive breath and breath screening tests, the highest number of tests recorded in a calendar year.
    • In the first nine months of this financial year (July 2024 to March 2025) Police delivered 3,286,094 passive breath and breath screening tests, 33% above the year-to-date target of 2,475,000 tests. It is also a 20% increase in tests compared to the first nine months of the previous financial year.
    • The RPIP sets a target of 2,145,000 alcohol breath tests to be conducted during high and extreme risk alcohol times—an average of 536,250 tests per quarter. This directs the greatest proportion of testing to the times and days when alcohol related harm has historically been highest, while still allowing a portion of testing across the rest of the week to ensure an ‘anywhere, anytime’ approach.
    • In 2024, there were 113 deaths (38% of all deaths) where a driver tested above the alcohol limit (or test refused) and/or tested positive for drugs.
    • 87 deaths were where a driver tested positive for drugs,
    • 47 deaths were where a driver tested above the alcohol limit (or test refused),
    • 21 deaths were where a driver tested both positive for drugs and above the alcohol limit (or test refused).

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Fake nurse crackdown to boost public safety

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Fake nurse crackdown to boost public safety

    New measures to make it a criminal offence for people who are not qualified as a nurse to use the title and mislead the public

    Anyone misleading the public and describing themselves as a nurse without the relevant qualifications and registration will be committing a crime, under new measures announced by the government to protect the title ‘nurse’ in law. 

    The move will help to boost protections and safety for both patients and staff, driving up standards and improving patient experience across the NHS through the government’s Plan for Change. 

    Currently, anyone – including those struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for serious misconduct or criminal convictions – can call themselves a nurse. This can result in the public thinking they’re getting advice and care from an expert professional like a nurse when they aren’t.   

    Previous reported examples of the job title being misused include someone calling herself a nurse at a large public event after being struck off and another reportedly masquerading as an aesthetic nurse.

    There will be exemptions for relevant professions like veterinary nurse, dental nurse and nursery nurse, where the title ‘nurse’ is legitimately used. 

    The government is listening to nurses and recognises they are the backbone of the NHS, and today’s announcement follows campaigning by unions for the government to act on the issue, as well as by Dawn Butler MP who introduced a Ten-Minute Rule Bill earlier this year to protect the title ‘nurse’.  

    Through the Plan for Change, the government is driving forward vital reform to get the NHS back on its feet and fit for the future. This year, a refreshed workforce plan will also be published to ensure the health service has the right workforce in the right place at the right time. 

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:  

    Nurses carry out lifesaving work every day, and I am determined we do everything we can to support them and safeguard trust in the profession. 

    I’ve been appalled to read reports of so-called nurses spreading dangerous misinformation and harming the public. 

    This new legislation will help crack down on bogus beauticians and conspiracy theorists masquerading as nurses, and those attempting to mislead patients.

    The British people hold nurses in the highest regard, and we trust them in our most vulnerable moments, so patients need to know they are genuinely being seen by a nurse. Now they will.

    This is part of our Plan for Change to fix the NHS and gets the right staff working in the right place at the right time.

    Only the title “registered nurse” is currently protected in law. The new legislation will change that – ensuring that only those individuals registered with the NMC can legally use the title. Anyone violating this will be committing a criminal offence and could face a hefty fine running into the thousands of pounds.  

    There have been previous reports of bogus nurses misleadingly using the title. One ran a cosmetic clinic offering Botox and dermal filler treatments for several years despite not being registered with the NMC.  

    Another gave a speech at a Covid conspiracy rally which likened NHS nurses and doctors to war criminals – spreading misinformation about vaccines and bringing her former colleagues into disrepute. She continued to call herself a nurse despite being struck off by the NMC.   

    A previous Freedom of Information request showed that across 93% of all NHS trusts, there were more than 8,000 people with the term “nurse” in their job title who had no registered nursing qualifications. Although these people are supervised and providing important care, their job titles can cause confusion. Some, including nursery nurses, will be exempt under this new legislation

    Duncan Burton, Chief Nursing Officer for England, said:

    The trust that people place in registered nurses is based on the rigorous training and education required to be registered as a nurse which gives us the skills and knowledge to deliver high quality, safe and personalised care.

    Nurses value this trust and protecting the title of nurse can give added confidence and clarity to patients and the public on who is delivering their care and the skills and knowledge they have.

    There are already various safeguards in place to deter people from pretending to be a nurse. The most serious cases would be captured by fraud offences and depending on the case they can also be prosecuted for other more serious offences like causing grievous bodily harm, assault, or manslaughter.  

    The new legislation – expected to be laid this Parliament – will help to strengthen those existing safeguards.  

    Registered nurses go through high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes and complete a process called revalidation every three years – ensuring they can continually update their skills set. The new measures reflect that.

    Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive , said: 

    This is an important moment for our safety-critical profession, after years of campaigning. 

    A change in the law will recognise the knowledge, professionalism and clinical expertise that comes with being a registered nurse. It will provide better legal protections for nursing professionals and reassurance to patients. 

    Crucially, this is an opportunity to begin the journey to properly valuing nursing as a profession, where respect, reward and investment match the crucial nature of our work. 

    Dr Crystal Oldman CBE, Chief Executive at The Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing, said: 

    Nurses and the millions of people they care for will benefit by this proposed change in legislation.

    This is a patient safety issue that the QICN has been campaigning on for some time. 

    People need confidence that when the person caring for them is described as a nurse, that person really is a qualified and registered nurse.

    Paul Rees MBE, Interim Chief Executive and Registrar at the Nursing and Midwifery Council, said:

    The public should always feel confident that anyone using the title ‘nurse’ is a registered professional with all the safeguards that brings.

    We look forward to working with the government and our stakeholders to deliver on it. In the meantime, it is already an offence for somebody to hold themselves out as a registered nurse when they are not.

    Helga Pile, UNISON Head of Health, said:

    Nurses and other NHS workers rightly enjoy a high level of trust because of the brilliant and important work they do.

    Charlatans and conspiracy theorists mustn’t be allowed to harm patients or damage nurses’ reputation and good standing with the public.

    It’s only right that anyone that tries to will now feel the full force of the law.

    Rachel Power, Chief Executive of The Patients Association, said:

    We welcome this commitment to ensuring patients know who is treating them and offering healthcare advice, and that those professionals are properly qualified. With health misinformation increasingly common, it’s more important than ever that patients can trust the expertise of those caring for them.

    Alison Morton, CEO, Institute of Health Visiting, said:

    The Institute of Health Visiting fully supports the campaign to protect the title “nurse” in legislation. This is urgently needed to protect the public and provide assurance that the person providing their care has the qualifications, knowledge, skills, expertise and professionalism to deliver safe and effective care. Nursing is a safety-critical workforce. And, in our view, there is only one clear path forward, the current gap in legislation needs to be closed as a matter of urgency.

    Professor Greta Westwood CBE PhD RN, CEO of the Florence Nightingale Foundation, said: 

    We welcome this recognition of the importance of the nursing role. Nurses are skilled and highly trained professionals, playing a key leadership role in the health and social care sectors, particularly around speaking out on patient safety and workforce challenges.

    This International Nurses Day, we are coming together to celebrate the incredible work that nurses do across the UK and globally, and we support the government taking this next step, working with the UK regulator, to protect our nurses and those we serve.

    Notes to editors 

    • The department will also establish the exemptions where ‘nurse’ can still be used as part of a professional title.  
    • The title ‘nurse’ is already used across multiple professions (e.g. registered nurses, dental nurses, nursery nurses and veterinary nurses) 
    • We expect the new protection of title offence to be a summary offence. Where a person is found guilty of an offence on summary conviction they will be liable to a fine across the UK.  
    • These changes, which require legislative change, will be implemented within this Parliament as part of the government’s commitment to reform the regulation of health and care professionals in the UK.

    Updates to this page

    Published 12 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: More scanners across the country for better care of brittle bones

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    More scanners across the country for better care of brittle bones

    Government announces 29,000 extra bone scans will be delivered each year, helping with earlier diagnosis of illness such as osteoporosis.

    • Government confirms 13 new state-of-the-art DEXA scanners to support better bone care  
    • Tens of thousands of patients set to benefit through extra scans 
    • Scanners are delivered as part of government commitment upheld in Plan for Change

    29,000 extra bone scans per year will be delivered for patients across England thanks to the government rolling out 13 new DEXA scanners. 

    The new scanners were promised as part of the government’s Elective Reform Plan and mark another step closer towards fixing the NHS and making it fit for the future, as set out in the Plan for Change.

    More than one in three women and one in five men will experience a fracture due to osteoporosis in their lifetime and so these scanners are equipped with advanced technology to identify with minute detail the quality of a patient’s bones.

    They will help with early diagnosis of illness such as osteoporosis, which weakens bones, making them so fragile that even a cough or sneeze could cause a painful break for people across the country.    

    13 areas will receive the new equipment this year, including hospitals in West Yorkshire and North East Lincolnshire serving some of the most under resourced and rural communities, with patients already receiving invitations for appointments to use the new scanners. 

    Seven of the new machines will enable trusts to offer new or extended DEXA services, improving access and reducing patient journey times. Another six scanners will replace existing machines, helping to increase the reliability and productivity of bone diagnostic services.

    Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said:

    Having seen the pain of a family member breaking a hip because of her osteoporosis, I know only too well how debilitating  a condition it can be.

    We know that early diagnosis of brittle bone conditions means faster treatment and better outcomes for patients, which is why I promised before the election that we would deliver an extra 15,000 scans a year. The investment the government is making in new scanners across the country will deliver an extra 29,000 scans a year, almost double what I promised.

    Our Plan for Change is cutting waiting lists by investing in our NHS, which is only possible because of the increase in employers’ national insurance.

     Sue Mann, Clinical Lead for Women’s Health at NHS England, said:

    This is a welcome targeted investment for the NHS Trusts across England set to receive these new scanners from this month – they measure tiny reductions in bone density that can help us diagnose osteoporosis in its early stages, before you break a bone.

    These scanners are key tools for prevention, particularly for some women who are known to be at higher risk of osteoporosis such as those who go through early menopause.

    Craig Jones, Chief Executive of the Royal Osteoporosis Society, said: 

    This investment in scanners is really good news for people with osteoporosis.  We want to thank Wes Streeting for ensuring bone scans are part of his package to modernise scanning technology so we can catch diseases like osteoporosis earlier. 

    This, and the recent good news on waiting lists, gives us confidence the NHS is beginning to turn a corner.

    Mr Haitham Hamoda, Trustee and Past Chair British Menopause Society said:

    This is very welcome news. Osteoporosis and related fractures is a significant public health issue. It is estimated that more than one in three women may sustain an osteoporosis related fracture with significant associated morbidity and mortality.

    In addition, women with premature ovarian insufficiency and early menopause have a significantly increased risk of osteoporosis and related fractures. Increasing access and availability to bone density screening and assessment will improve detection and allow earlier discussion of preventative measure and treatment.

    Dr Katharine Halliday, President of the Royal College of Radiologists, said:

    We welcome the pledge for more DEXA scanners which will help to deliver better care for patients at risk of osteoporosis.

    Increasing capacity to deliver scans in the hospitals and regions that need it most will be an important step to make sure patients receive timely, effective care no matter where they live.

    Over three million appointments have already been delivered since the end of June 2024, smashing the government’s target of delivering 2 million extra operations, scans and appointments.  

    Background information:

    The following locations will receive new scanners:

    • Harefield Hospital (Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust)

    • North Middlesex Hospital (North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust)

    • Newark Hospital (Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation NHS Trust)

    • Royal Victoria Infirmary (The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)

    • CDC Ellesmere Port (Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation NHS Trust)

    • Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

    • Cranleigh Village Hospital (Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust)

    The following locations will receive replacement scanners:

    • Leeds General Infirmary (Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

    • Wharfedale General Hospital (Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

    • Dewsbury Hospital (Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust)

    • Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital (Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust)

    • Salford Royal (Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust)

    • St Catherine’s Hospital (Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust)

    Updates to this page

    Published 12 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Applications open for 30 hours funded childcare expansion

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Applications open for 30 hours funded childcare expansion

    New data finds half a million children already benefitting from 15 hours extended childcare offer as applications open for tens of thousands more from today.

    Tens of thousands more working parents across England will soon see cash back in their pockets as they can now apply for 30 hours of funded childcare from September. 

    From today (12 May), all eligible working parents of children who will be 9 months old before 1 September can apply to access up to 30 hours of funded childcare a week, saving them up to £7,500 a year per child.  

    With savings from the government’s free breakfast club rollout and school uniform cap, this rises to up to £8,000 for working parents who also have school-aged children, every year. 

    This latest milestone follows the successful rollout of 15 funded hours for children from 9 months last September, with 499,592 children already benefitting from access to more affordable and high-quality early years education and childcare.  

    Despite the inherited delivery challenges, the government is committed to increasing access to childcare that gives every child the best start in life. That’s why through the Plan for Change it has already taken urgent action through hundreds of new school-based nurseries and a £2 billion extra investment compared to last year to support the brilliant existing providers deliver the 35,000 additional staff and 70,000 places required to meet demand for September. 

    A new government survey of parents who took up the childcare entitlements last September has found that the rollout is breaking down barriers to opportunity and playing a key role in supporting British business and kick-starting economic growth.  

    Lower-income families are seeing the biggest impact, with one in five of those earning £20,000 – £40,000 having increased their working hours thanks to the 15 hours brought in last year. 

    Looking ahead to this September, of the 2,723 respondents who are planning to increase their childcare hours, over half (1,425) are intending to up their work hours too – good news for families, and good news for employers. 

    Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

    This government has a clear Plan for Change to break the unfair link between background and opportunity across this country, which starts by ensuring our children start school ready to learn.

    Early years is my number one priority, and making sure families are able to benefit from this rollout is a promise made, and promise kept. But this is just the beginning.

    Through the hard work of the sector, supported by our record investment, landmark school-based nursery rollout and focus on vital early learning support, we will deliver an early years system that gives every child the best start in life.

    The success of the rollout so far is testament to the work and commitment of nurseries, pre-schools and childminders, alongside local authorities, with 6123 of 6337 respondents who applied for government-funded hours last Autumn going on to secure a place.   

    Sophie Lovell, from Nottingham, uses the 15 hours for working parents for her little girl. She said:  

    The government’s childcare support has been great for our family. 

    Having my child in formal childcare has provided wonderful opportunities for her to play, learn, and grow.  

    As a parent, balancing everything can be overwhelming, but knowing your child is supported by trained professionals makes all the difference.

    The government has always been clear that early years is about even more than family finances. Access to high-quality early education and childcare helps children build confidence, learn social skills, and prepare for school, and 83% of parents in the government’s survey agree it is important for children’s social development. 

    With evidence showing the huge benefits of outdoor play to children from improved problem solving to mental and physical health, the government has also today launched a consultation on how it can help nurseries make better use of outdoor space for play and learning. 

    Currently, the government’s early years framework requires provision of outdoor play but only formally recognises indoor space in its requirements for how many children nurseries and childcare providers can take on at any one time. However, 7 in 10 providers say they would make better use of their outdoor space if more flexibility was introduced.   

    The consultation will seek to understand whether to allow providers to include high-quality, accessible and safe outdoor space in meeting those requirements, and the appropriate conditions to be put in place should they include gardens and play areas as a full part of the early learning experience for the youngest children. 

    Justine Roberts, Founder and CEO of Mumsnet, said: 

    We’ve heard from countless women on Mumsnet pushed out of work by unaffordable childcare. This expansion of support is a major step in tackling that – giving parents, especially mothers, the freedom to stay in work if they choose, which benefits families and the economy. 

    We urge all eligible parents to check what they’re entitled to and make full use of it.

    Director of Future of Work and Skills at CBI, Matthew Percival said: 

    It’s good to see the rollout of the final phase of the UK’s childcare expansion. The CBI made the case that expanding childcare support was good for growth because our members told us that the cost of it was preventing parents from working or taking on more hours.  

    Moving from 15 to 30 funded hours gives working families greater flexibility, helps employers access more of the talent they need to grow, and supports a more productive economy.

    Lydia Hopper CEO, Grandir UK said:  

    We are supportive of the inclusion of free-flow outdoor space within the EYFS space requirements.

    At Grandir UK, we’ve actively champion free-flow outdoor play – it’s a big part of how we support children’s learning and development. We draw inspiration from Forest School principles, helping children explore nature and learn through play in the fresh air.

    Whether it’s running, climbing, or simply being outside, we know how much this benefits their physical health, builds confidence, and boosts their overall wellbeing.

    Updates to this page

    Published 12 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New NHS programme to reduce brain injury in childbirth 

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    New NHS programme to reduce brain injury in childbirth 

    Government to roll out the Avoiding Brain Injuries in Childbirth (ABC) programme nationally

    • Government rolls out NHS programme to boost maternity safety
    • Scheme will help maternity staff rapidly respond to emergencies and protect mothers and babies 
    • Hundreds of maternity staff, including obstetricians, midwives and anaesthetists, involved in developing and testing quality improvement programme

    Expectant mothers will receive safer maternity care as a new NHS programme to help prevent brain injury during childbirth is rolled out across the country. 

    The Avoiding Brain Injury in Childbirth (ABC) programme will help maternity staff to better identify signs that the baby is in distress during labour so they can act quickly.

    It will also help staff respond more effectively to obstetric emergencies, such as where the baby’s head becomes lodged deep in the mother’s pelvis during a caesarean birth.

    The government programme, which will begin from September and follows an extensive development phase and pilot scheme, will reduce the number of avoidable brain injuries during childbirth – helping to prevent lifelong conditions like cerebral palsy.

    The national rollout is only one step the government is taking to improve maternity services under its Plan for Change to fix the health service, as it reforms the NHS to ensure all women receive safe, personalised and compassionate care.   

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: 

    All expectant mothers giving birth in an NHS hospital should have peace of mind that they are in safe hands.

    This vital programme will give staff across the country the right tools and training to deliver better care to women and their babies, reducing the devastating impact of avoidable brain injury. 

    Under our Plan for Change, we are supporting trusts to make rapid improvements and training thousands more midwives – but I know more needs to be done. We will put women’s voices right at the heart of our reforms as we work to improve care.

    The national rollout follows a pilot in 12 maternity units that was launched in October and delivered by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and the THIS (The Healthcare Improvement Studies) Institute.

    The pilot has shown the programme will fill an important gap in current training by bringing multidisciplinary teams together to work more collaboratively than ever before, to improve outcomes. The programme will give clinicians more confidence to take swift action managing an emergency during labour.  

    It is expected to reduce unacceptable inequalities in maternity outcomes across England – so that most maternity units achieve outcomes comparable to the highest-performing 20% of trusts. 

    This government is dedicated to improving maternity services more widely and is committed to training thousands more midwives, as well as setting an explicit target to close the Black and Asian maternal mortality gap.

    In addition, we have allocated an extra £57 million for Start for Life services, helping expectant and new mothers with their infants by providing expert, trusted advice and guidance around pregnancy, birth and motherhood.

    Ranee Thakar, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said:

    The ABC programme supports multidisciplinary maternity teams to deliver safer, more personalised care. Hundreds of maternity staff, including obstetricians, midwives and anaesthetists, have been involved in developing and testing this quality improvement programme.

    We have heard what a difference it makes, supporting teams to work effectively together in time-sensitive and high-pressure situations. The RCOG is extremely proud to have been part of this fantastic collaboration.

    Gill Walton, Royal College of Midwives Chief Executive, said:

    Every midwife, maternity support worker, obstetrician, anaesthetist and sonographer wants to provide good, safe care – and the best way to do that is by working and training together. The ABC programme has brought together all those involved in maternity care, offering practical solutions to some of the most acute clinical challenges.

    Crucially the ABC programme tools and training have been developed based on the voices of women, families and maternity staff. This has been the key to the success of the pilot programme.

    Equally the will and drive of midwives and the wider multidisciplinary team to improve safety and outcomes for women and their families has been evident across the course of the training at the pilot sites.

    The ABC programme has the potential to reduce the devastating impact of brain injuries during childbirth and the RCM is proud to have been part of this innovative programme and we hope to see this adopted and implemented across maternity services.

    Professor Mary Dixon-Woods, Director of The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute, said:

    The ABC programme design is based on the principle that evidence-based, co-designed patient-focused standardisation of clinical practice can reduce unwarranted variation and improve care and outcomes.

    Crucially, this needs to be supported by comprehensive improvement resources, including training, tools and assets to enable good clinical practice and teamwork and respectful and inclusion communication and decision-making with women and birth partners.

    The pilot has shown that it’s possible to train people effectively and efficiently. A national commitment to implement the programme at scale will be important in ensuring that the benefits are seen.

    Notes to editors 

    The following sites participated in the pilot scheme: 

    • Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 
    • East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust 
    • Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 
    • Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust 
    • Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 
    • Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 
    • Croydon Health Services NHS Trust 
    • Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust 
    • St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
    • Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
    • Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
    • Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

    Updates to this page

    Published 12 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 11 May 2025 News release Nursing workforce grows, but inequities threaten global health goals

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The global nursing workforce has grown from 27.9 million in 2018 to 29.8 million in 2023, but wide disparities in the availability of nurses remain across regions and countries, according to the State of the World’s Nursing 2025 report, published by the World Health Organization (WHO), International Council of Nurses (ICN) and partners. Inequities in the global nursing workforce leave many of the world’s population without access to essential health services, which could threaten progress towards universal health coverage (UHC), global health security and the health-related development goals. 

    The new report released on International Nurses Day provides a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of the nursing workforce at global, regional and country levels. Consolidating information from WHO’s 194 Member States, the evidence indicates global progress in reducing the nursing workforce shortage from 6.2 million in 2020 to 5.8 million in 2023, with a projection to decline to 4.1 million by 2030. But, the overall progress still masks deep regional disparities: approximately 78% of the world’s nurses are concentrated in countries representing just 49% of the global population.  

    Low- and middle-income countries are facing challenges in graduating, employing and retaining nurses in the health system and will need to raise domestic investments to create and sustain jobs. In parallel, high-income countries need to be prepared to manage high levels of retiring nurses and review their reliance on foreign-trained nurses, strengthening bilateral agreements with the countries they recruit from.   

    “This report contains encouraging news, for which we congratulate the countries that are making progress,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “However, we cannot ignore the inequalities that mark the global nursing landscape. On International Nurses Day, I urge countries and partners to use this report as a signpost, showing us where we’ve come from, where we are now, and where we need to go – as rapidly as possible.”

    Key findings

    The State of the World’s Nursing 2025 (SoWN) report, based on data reported by 194 countries through the National Health Workforce Accounts, shows a 33% increase in the number of countries reporting data since the last edition in 2020. It includes detailed country profiles now available for public access online.

    The report reveals complex disparities between and among countries, regions and socio-economic contexts. The data and evidence are intended to support country-led dialogue to contextualize the findings into policies and actions.

    “We welcome the SoWN 2025 report as an important milestone for monitoring progress on strengthening and supporting the nursing workforce towards global health goals,” said Pam Cipriano, President, International Council of Nurses. “The report clearly exposes the inequalities that are holding back the nursing profession and acting as a barrier to achieving universal health coverage (UHC). Delivering on UHC is dependent on truly recognizing the value of nurses and on harnessing the power and influence of nurses to act as catalysts of positive change in our health systems.”

    Gender and equity remain central concerns in the nursing workforce. Women continue to dominate the profession, making up 85% of the global nursing workforce.

    Findings suggest that 1 in 7 nurses worldwide – and 23% in high-income countries – are foreign-born, highlighting reliance on international migration. In contrast, the proportion is significantly lower in upper middle-income countries (8%), lower middle-income countries (1%), and low-income countries (3%).

    Low-income countries are increasing nurse graduate numbers at a faster pace than high-income countries. In many countries, hard-earned gains in the graduation rate of nurses are not resulting in improved densities due to the faster pace of population growth and lower employment opportunities.  To address this, countries should create jobs to ensure graduates are hired and integrated into the health system and improve working conditions.

    Age demographics and retirement trends reveal a mixed picture. The global nursing workforce is relatively young: 33% of nurses are aged under 35 years, compared with 19% who are expected to retire in the next 10 years. However, in 20 countries – mostly high-income – retirements are expected to outpace new entrants, raising concerns about nurse shortfalls, and having fewer experienced nurses to mentor early career nurses.

    Around two thirds (62%) of countries reported the existence of advanced practice nursing roles – marking significant progress since 2020 (where only 53% reported advanced practice nursing roles).  These types of nurses have been shown to expand access to and quality of care in many different settings.  

    The report also highlights improvements in nursing leadership: 82% of countries reported having a senior government nursing official to manage the nursing workforce. However, leadership development opportunities remain uneven. While 66% of countries report having such initiatives in place, only 25% of low-income countries offer structured leadership development.

    Mental health and workforce well-being remain areas of concern. Only 42% of responding countries have provisions for nurses’ mental health support, despite increased workloads and trauma experienced during and since the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing this is essential to retain skilled professionals and ensure quality of care.

    Policy priorities for 2026–2030

    The report introduces forward-looking policy priorities, calling on countries to:

    • expand and equitably distribute nursing jobs, especially in underserved regions;
    • strengthen domestic education systems and align qualifications with defined roles;
    • improve working conditions, pay equity, and mental well-being support;
    • further develop nursing regulation and advanced practice nursing roles;
    • promote gender equity and protect nurses working in fragile, conflict-affected settings;
    • harness digital technologies and prepare nurses for climate-responsive care; and
    • advance nursing leadership and ensure leadership development opportunities are equitable.

    The evidence in the report provides an impetus for continued alignment to the policy priorities in the WHO Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery 2021–2025, and the actions recommended in the resolution submitted to the 78th World Health Assembly:  Accelerating action on the health and care workforce by 2030.

    Note to editors:

    The State of the World’s Nursing 2025 report presents the most contemporary evidence on the global nursing workforce, including education, employment, migration, regulation, working conditions, leadership and more. The report includes updated indicators and robust estimates on global and regional-level nursing stock, shortage, and projections to 2030. Online county profiles provide national level data in a downloadable (PDF) format.  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government Waste – Nearly $3m wasted on consultants hired to plan axing of health workers – PSA

    Source: PSA

    Consultants and contractors are the winners from the large-scale axing of health workers, pocketing nearly $3 million in precious health dollars since late 2023.
    Between October 2023 and February 2025, Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora paid out $2.8 million to external contractors and consultants to help the organisation manage the restructure of various teams (as revealed by NZ Herald today).
    During that time Health NZ Te Whatu Ora axed hundreds of workers across the organisation including IT specialists, those promoting child health, workers in community and mental health services, and in Māori and Pacific health services.
    “This is a waste of money as none of these cuts needed to be made and our public health system is the worst for them,” said Fleur Fitzsimons National Secretary for the Public Service Association for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
    “The restructures were all driven by the Government’s blunt approach to finding money down the back of every sofa to fund its tax cuts for landlords, big tobacco and others and not what was good for the health system.”
    “Without doubt Health NZ will rely on more consultants in the future as its proposing to slash its People and Culture services (human resources) by 21% or 338 roles.
    “The public health system has been starved of money by this government. It should have been expanding the Health NZ workforce and not paying expensive consultants to help lay off so many loyal workers. It’s a slap in the face for those shown the door.”
    The 16 consultants used include major companies like KPMG, Robert Walters, PwC, Momentum and Buddle Findlay.
    “It’s ironic that this money was spent when National made such big promises to cut down on consultant spending during the election campaign in 2023.”
    Today’s revelation comes on top of the $10.8m spent on consultants for restructures by 20 other agencies to December 2024 as revealed by BusinessDesk. This includes $3m by Kāinga Ora alone which has axed hundreds of workers.
    “The PSA remains opposed to these cuts and will resist any further downsizing of the public health workforce which ultimately impacts patient care at the frontline.”
    The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schakowsky Announces She Will Not Seek Re-election in 2026

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th District of Illinois)

    CHICAGO – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), a Chief Deputy Whip and Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, released the following statement announcing her decision not to seek reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026:

    “For the last 26 years, I have had the distinct honor and privilege of representing the 9th Congressional District of Illinois, my lifelong home and the best district in the nation. Today, it is with profound gratitude and the utmost appreciation for my constituents that I announce my decision not to seek reelection at the end of my current term.

    “I am incredibly proud of the things I have been able to accomplish during my time in Congress. I was honored to help draft and pass the Affordable Care Act, ensuring that Americans could no longer be denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions and providing quality health coverage for millions. I was able to pass consumer protection bills that have saved lives and protected Americans, especially our children, from dangerous products and improved auto safety. I worked hard to protect the well-being of seniors and their families, blocking Republican attempts to privatize Social Security and to improve Medicare and Medicaid by lowering prescription drug prices and expanding access to quality long-term care. I would not have been able to do any of this without the counsel of committed consumer advocates and the continued trust and support of our community.

    “While these legislative wins are important, the most rewarding part of my job has always been engaging directly with constituents in the 9th District. Whether it be a school visit, attending a rally, touring a new small business, or speaking with fellow shoppers at my local Jewel, I have always prioritized and enjoyed meeting with constituents and providing constituent services. I am so proud that I have always had one of the best and most successful constituent service operations in the country. Whether solving problems with health insurers or Medicare, expediting a passport or immigration application, assisting small businesses, not-for-profits, and community colleges with funding requests, helping veterans get their benefits, cutting through red tape to solve Social Security and IRS problems, stopping deportations, and so much more, my team and I have worked diligently each day to advocate and deliver for our constituents.

    “For my entire career, I have made it my mission to mentor and guide the next generation of leaders. In fact, when I talk with students, I do not ask them what they want to be when they grow up, I ask them what they want to do today to make a difference in this world. It is now time for me to pass the baton. We are so fortunate in the 9th District that there are dozens of talented leaders, advocates, and organizers who know our community and who are ready to lead the charge as we fight back against the extreme MAGA agenda and President Donald Trump’s shameful policies.

    “To the people of Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, thank you for allowing me to be your voice in Congress. I have tried to serve you each and every day with the integrity, decency, and fire you deserve. It truly is the honor of a lifetime!

    “To my staff, past and present, I could not have done this without you. Thank you for your dedication, sacrifices, expertise, and smiles. Together, through all those late nights and early mornings, we were able to make a difference. The 9th District of Illinois and our nation are healthier, stronger, and more prosperous because of our hard work.

    “And to my family, thank you for going on this wild journey with me. I am looking forward to spending more family time together as I enter this new chapter of life. I love you.

    “While I will miss serving the people of the 9th District in an elected capacity, I am not going anywhere. For the remainder of my term, and beyond, I vow to continue taking every opportunity possible to fight for my community and my country. I will do everything in my power to secure equal rights for all, an economy that works for everyone, not just the rich, universal health care, reproductive rights, environmental protections and climate security, and so much more. We must all keep the faith, continue to resist, and make our voices heard, because when we fight, we win!”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schakowsky, Mullin & Blumenthal Call on Trump Administration to Reverse Plans to Eliminate Consumer Product Safety Commission

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th District of Illinois)

    Full Text of Letter (PDF)

    “Without the dedicated oversight of the CPSC, American families, especially children, will be left vulnerable in their own homes.”

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Kevin Mullin (D-CA) and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today led 21 members of the Senate and 27 members of the House in calling on Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought to reverse plans to eliminate the bipartisan, independent Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The CPSC is the only government entity tasked with developing and enforcing product safety standards, facilitating recalls of unsafe products, and educating consumers and businesses about product hazards and best practices. The proposal to absorb some of CPSC’s core functions into a nonexistent division within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as HHS’ budget is being cut, is unrealistic and threatens public safety.

    “Since its inception, the CPSC has played a vital role safeguarding American families, and in particular infants, children, and older Americans. Thanks to the CPSC’s critical work, residential fires and fire-related deaths have decreased by over 40 percent. Crib deaths and child poisonings have dropped by 80 percent. The Commission’s work continues today, identifying emerging threats and protecting Americans from dangerous and banned imported products,” the Members wrote.

    The Members continued, “With the rapid growth of e-commerce and imported consumer products, especially from countries with less stringent safety regulations, CPSC plays a critical role to prevent unsafe and counterfeit goods from entering the U.S. market unchecked.”

    “We strongly oppose any attempt to eliminate, defund, or weaken the CPSC and demand that you immediately roll back any efforts to dissolve the agency. Americans rightfully expect that the products they bring into their home are safe, and only the CPSC has the authority and expertise to ensure that expectation is met,” the Members concluded.

    Blumenthal, Schakowsky, and Mullin’s letter comes as more than 150 consumer protection and trade groups warned that eliminating the CPSC would undermine product safety, weaken enforcement actions, consumer education campaigns, and data collection initiatives that protect Americans. 

    U.S. Senators Amby Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Peter Welch (D-VT), Angus King (I-ME), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ron Wyden (D-WA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Martin Heinrich (D-MN) signed onto the letter. 

    U.S. Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Al Green (D-TX), Danny Davis (D-IL), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Paul D. Tonko (D-NY), Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL), Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL), Rick Larson (D-CT), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Lori Trahan (D-MA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Rashida Talib (D-MI), Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA), Darren Soto (D-FL), Robin L. Kelly (D-IL), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), André Carson (D-IN), Becca Balint (D-WA), and J. Luis Correa (D-CA) also joined the letter. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Lawler, Wasserman Schultz, Hill, Gottheimer, and Suozzi Urge Trump to Bring Home American Hostages Held in Gaza

    Source: US Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

    Washington, D.C. – 5/10/25… Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), joined by Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), French Hill (AR-02), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), and Tom Suozzi (NY-03) led 45 of their House colleagues in a bipartisan letter to President Trump urging his administration to continue prioritizing the immediate release of the five American citizens who remain in captivity in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks on Israel.

    The coordinated terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups that killed over 1,200 people, including more than 40 Americans. On that day, they took into Gaza over 250 hostages, twelve of whom were American. Five U.S. citizens Edan Alexander, Omer Neutra, Itay Chen, Gadi Haggai, and Judi Weinstein Haggai remain in captivity, with Edan as the only hostage who is believed to be alive. 

    “Securing the release of all five American hostages is critical as every additional moment in captivity is a matter of life or death,” wrote the lawmakers. “We urge you to avail yourself of all available options and diplomatic channels to achieve a deal for their release.”

    “Our government’s most solemn responsibility is to keep Americans safe. With that responsibility in mind, we urge you to use all diplomatic tools at your disposal, in concert with our regional allies and partners, to ensure Edan’s release and the release of the remains of the deceased American hostages as soon as possible. Every day in captivity adds to the nightmare for the hostages and their families. We must bring them home now,” concluded the lawmakers. 

    Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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    The full letter can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Floodway infrastructure investment protects Edgecumbe

    Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

    A new floodway infrastructure upgrade that provides flood protection and resilience for Edgecumbe was opened today by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson.
    “The completion of this multi-stage project is an impressive milestone that has been undertaken over 12 years and is one of the largest flood resilience projects completed in New Zealand in recent times. It will bring much needed flood protection for communities and will enable economic development opportunities in the Eastern Bay of Plenty,” Mr Patterson says.
    “We only need to think back to the 2017 Edgecumbe floods to realise how critically important this project is to the region. The floods saw water pouring through this area after the Rangitāiki River burst its banks causing millions of dollars in damage, displacing many people, and disrupting the lives of many families for a considerable amount of time.”
    The Rangitāiki Floodway upgrade was a six-stage project designed to take pressure off the flood prone Rangitāiki River stopbanks by diverting some of its flow during significant weather events. The final stage included increasing the capacity of the floodway and the construction of an additional spillway to manage the water flows entering the floodway from the Rangitāiki River above Edgecumbe.
    Back in August 2024, this government committed $200m of the Regional Infrastructure Fund to flood resilience across New Zealand. 
    The $50m floodway has been co-funded, with $14m government funding, and the balance of the project funded by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and local community.
    Upgrading the spillway and installing new floodgates allows the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to safely manage and control the release of flood waters,” says Mr Patterson.
    “Projects like the Rangitāiki Floodway upgrade represent core, resilient infrastructure, crucial to the economic, social, cultural, and environmental wellbeing of our country. They help to protect lives and reduce the toll these events can have on communities, businesses, and infrastructure,” says Mr Patterson.
    “This project has been a testament to the partnership between central and local government, Rangitāiki River communities, and local Iwi and industry to support community resilience and economic growth in the Eastern Bay. I look forward to seeing this newly protected land being utilised for future growth opportunities that benefit the local economy,” Mr Patterson says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Prime Minister unveils new plan to end years of uncontrolled migration

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Prime Minister unveils new plan to end years of uncontrolled migration

    The Prime Minister will today announce an end to Britain’s failed experiment in open borders that saw migration soar to one million a year by ensuring people coming here earn the right to stay in the country.

    • Migration system will back British workers, boost economic growth and control our borders under the Plan for Change
    • New contributions-based model will extend route to settlement from five to 10 years – with reductions for those who contribute to economy
    • New English language requirements across all immigration routes to promote integration

    The Prime Minister will today announce an end to Britain’s failed experiment in open borders that saw migration soar to one million a year by ensuring people coming here earn the right to stay in the country.

    Speaking at a press conference ahead of today’s (Monday 12 May) publication of the Immigration White Paper, the Prime Minister will say that living in this country is a privilege that must be earned.

    New immigration rules will reduce reliance on overseas recruitment, prioritise those who contribute to Britain’s economy and put more money in the pockets of working people, the first priority of our Plan for Change.

    The new system will end automatic settlement and citizenship for anyone living here for five years.

    Instead, migrants must spend a decade in the UK before applying to stay unless they can show a real and lasting contribution to the economy and society. 

    Under a new framework to be rolled out high-skilled, high-contributing individuals who play by the rules and contribute to the economy and society would be fast-tracked, such as nurses, doctors, engineers and AI leaders.

    The government will also raise English language requirements across every immigration route to ensure those wishing to live and work in the UK speak a higher standard of English.

    For the first time this will also extend to all adult dependents by requiring them to demonstrate a basic understanding of English – helping individuals integrate into their local community, find employment and reducing the risk of exploitation and abuse.

    The changes are part of the government’s Plan for Change to turn the page on over a decade of decline that saw Britain’s immigration system spiral out of control with record migration numbers, undermining the confidence of working people. 

    The Prime Minister will take a new common-sense approach, one that backs British workers over cheap overseas labour and links migration policy with skills to boost economic growth.

    The full package of radical reforms will be unveiled by the Home Secretary in Parliament later today and builds on action already taken by the government to restore order to the immigration system. More than 24,000 people with no right to be here have been returned since the election – the highest rate in 8 years – including a 16% increase in foreign national offender removals.

    In a press conference today the Prime Minister will announce his overhaul of the broken system, and is expected to say:

    For years we have had a system that encourages businesses to bring in lower paid workers, rather than invest in our young people.

    That is the Britain this broken system has created.

    Every area of the immigration system, including work, family and study, will be tightened up so we have more control. Enforcement will be tougher than ever and migration numbers will fall.

    We will create a system that is controlled, selective and fair.

    One that recognises those who genuinely contribute to Britain’s growth and society, while restoring common sense and control to our borders.

    This is a clean break from the past and will ensure settlement in this country is a privilege that must be earned, not a right.

    And when people come to our country, they should also commit to integration and to learning our language.

    Lower net migration, higher skills and backing British workers – that is what this White Paper will deliver.

    The Immigration White Paper comes after net migration reached nearly one million in the year ending June 2023 – four times the levels seen in 2019.

    Public services were stretched, housing costs soared, and employers swapped skills investment for cheap overseas labour. In sectors like engineering, apprenticeships almost halved while work visas doubled and communities were asked to absorb record numbers.

    Visas have already fallen by 40% since the government took power, but our new approach will go further and faster – reshaping the system around the needs of the economy and fairness for working people.

    There will be tougher rules on who can come to work, study or bring family. Every part of the system is being tightened. Backdoor routes to settlement will be closed, enforcement will be stepped up as we end abuse of the system.

    Britain will remain open to the best global talent – but the days of mass recruitment to plug avoidable skills gaps will end. New mechanisms will ensure employers wanting visas must show they are investing in British workers and raising skills in this country to boost economic growth. 

    We will support businesses to take on British workers through new industry workforce strategies, while introducing much tighter restrictions on recruitment for shortage occupations.

    The full package of policies in the Immigration White Paper will be published later today (Monday 12 May).

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Overseas recruitment for care workers to end

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Overseas recruitment for care workers to end

    International recruitment for care workers will end under plans announced by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. 

    The government’s Immigration White Paper, published in Parliament tomorrow, will include the change as the government takes action to bring down historically high levels of net migration.   

    Care workers from overseas have made a huge contribution to social care in the UK, but too many have been subject to shameful levels of abuse and exploitation.  

    Workers seeking to support the UK’s care sector arrived to find themselves saddled with debt, treated unfairly, or in extreme cases discover the jobs they were promised did not exist.   

    In March, the Home Office revealed over 470 care providers had had their licence to sponsor international staff suspended since 2022.

    Under plans to be outlined on Monday (12 May), the government will go further and put an end to any more overseas recruitment.

    The crackdown on rogue care providers has seen around 40,000 workers displaced, many of whom are ready to rejoin the workforce. They will be given the opportunity to do the jobs they were promised, while long-term plans are drawn up to train homegrown talent into the care sector.  

    International workers who are already sponsored to work legally in the sector will be able to continue to extend their stay, change sponsors and apply to settle, including those who need to switch employers following a sponsor licence revocation.

    This government is committed to tackling these issues and has committed to establishing Fair Pay Agreements which will empower worker, employer and other sector representatives to negotiate improvements in the terms of employment. This builds on the announcement in January of the expansion of the Care Workforce Pathway which will support the adult social care sector to professionalise the workforce.

    Together, these measures will move the UK away from a dependence on overseas workers to fulfil our care needs. Baroness Casey has also begun work on an independent commission into adult social care – a once in a generation opportunity to transcend party politics and build consensus on the future of the sector.

    The Immigration White Paper, published in full tomorrow, is part of government efforts to restore order, control and fairness to the system, bring down net migration and promote economic growth.

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why doesn’t Australia make more medicines? Wouldn’t that fix drug shortages?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Coomber, PhD Candidate, Pharmaceutical Supply Chains, The University of Queensland

    IM Imagery/Shutterstock

    About 400 medicines are in short supply in Australia. Of these, about 30 are categorised as critical. These are ones with a life-threatening or serious impact on patients, and with no readily available substitutes.

    Since 2024, there has been a nationwide shortage of sterile fluid. This continues to affect health care across Australia.

    However, medicine shortages in Australia are not new. We know from past experience that six classes of medications are the most likely to go short: antibiotics, anaesthesia and pain relief treatments, heart and blood pressure medications, hormonal medications, cancer treatments and epilepsy medications.

    So, could we prevent medication shortages if Australia made more medicines?

    Why are there so many shortages?

    Australia has a very small pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. It mainly makes vaccines and some generic medications (ones no longer protected by a patent). In fact, Australia imports 90% of its medications.

    Most raw ingredients are also imported, including the active pharmaceutical ingredient. This is the ingredient that has a therapeutic effect, such as salbutamol to manage asthma or atorvastatin to lower cholesterol. Australia also imports the inactive ingredients known as excipients. These include fillers, bulking agents and preservatives.

    Then there are medication delivery devices (such as inhalers or syringes) and packaging (which has to be sterile) to source.

    A shortage in one ingredient or component – in Australia or internationally – will affect the production and supply of the finished product. This can lead to shortages.

    Often, there are limited sources (or a single source) for medication components. This makes supply chains particularly vulnerable.

    Australia is a small player, globally

    Australia is a small market for pharmaceuticals, compared with other OECD countries.

    So during a shortage of medications, raw materials or other components, suppliers prioritise larger and therefore more valuable markets.

    Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) has an underpinning pricing mechanism to provide affordable medicines for Australians. But this also makes the market less attractive to medication manufacturers.

    Therefore, countries where markets are bigger, and offer larger profit margins, are more attractive. This restricts the type and range of medications offered to the Australian market, including when supplies are short.

    Australia needs medicines, raw ingredients and sterile packaging, all of which can be in short supply.
    RGtimeline/Shutterstock

    So could ramping up local manufacture help?

    The answer is maybe.

    But developing Australia’s limited pharmaceutical manufacturing would take many years to reach a level and capacity for sustainable supply.

    Increasing local manufacturing would address access to some medicines. However, domestic manufacturers also need access to raw ingredients. These could also be made locally.

    For pharmaceutical manufacturing to be viable and profitable in Australia there must be “economies of scale”.

    Considerations include the availability of raw materials, production costs (including labour), access and availability of infrastructure and specialist facilities. To justify their investments, companies will ultimately need to sell enough product to cover these and other costs.

    But Australian manufacturers struggle to achieve economies of scale due to the small domestic market. So they would need to export some of their products to supplement domestic sales.

    To boost Australia’s pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, all states and territories would need a coordinated approach to planning and investment. This would also need bipartisan political support and a strategic long-term commitment.

    What could we do in the short term?

    Health authorities stockpiling medicines is the obvious short-term solution to Australian medication shortages. However, we’d need to carefully manage the stored medicines to ensure supply meets demand. We’d also need to make sure medicines are used before they expire. If not carefully managed, a stockpile risks unnecessary expense and waste.

    Currently, state and territories manage the use of medications in their own hospitals. However, we could standardise medication use in hospitals nationally. With co-operation among states and territories this would allow manufacturers and suppliers to better plan production and distribution of medicines. Not only would this provide more certainty for suppliers, it would reduce the states and territories competing with each other for medicines in short supply.

    We also need to review the pricing mechanism for medicines to make the Australian market more attractive for pharmaceutical imports. This would also help Australia move higher up the priority list when medicines are in short supply.

    Peter Coomber is currently employed by Queensland Health as Senior Director Central Pharmacy, and is a RAAF Reservist Pharmaceutical Officer.

    Lisa Nissen receives funding from NHMRC/MRFF and other state and commonwealth research grant schemes. Lisa was previously the state president for the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (Qld) branch (2008-2015) and a member of the national board. She has previously held positions on the TGA advisory committee for vaccines and advisory committee on scheduling of medicines. Lisa is a current member of AHPRA’s Scheduled Medicines Expert Committee.

    – ref. Why doesn’t Australia make more medicines? Wouldn’t that fix drug shortages? – https://theconversation.com/why-doesnt-australia-make-more-medicines-wouldnt-that-fix-drug-shortages-255766

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –