NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pappas Receives Award for His Commitment to Increasing Access to Health Care, Supporting Nurses

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

    This week Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) received the National Health Leadership Award from the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) for his advocacy on behalf of nurses, as well as his support for increasing access to health care, expanded tuition assistance for aspiring nurses, and the bipartisan Improving Care and Access to Nurses (I CAN) Act.

    The bipartisan I CAN Act would increase health care access, improve quality of care, and lower costs by removing the remaining barriers imposed by the federal government in the Medicare and Medicaid programs that prevent Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) from practicing the full scope of their education and clinical training to the level that is approved in the state where they practice.

    “Nurses in New Hampshire and across the country continue to answer the call and serve our communities and provide patients with the highest level of care,” said Congressman Pappas. “I’m committed to continuing to support their work in Congress by strengthening nursing workforce development, increasing tuition assistance for aspiring nurses, and more. Passing the I CAN Act would allow nurses to provide care in settings consistent with their training and ensure those services are covered by Medicaid, increasing health care access, reducing wait times, and lowering costs. I’m honored to receive this award and will continue to advocate for our CRNAs and all health care workers.”

    “Through his leadership, Representative Pappas continues to be a champion for patients’ access, including veterans, to healthcare,” said AANA President Jan Setnor, MSN, CRNA, Col. (Ret), USAFR, NC. “He understands the important role CRNAs play in delivering quality, safe anesthesia care and has taken a leadership role on critical healthcare issues. Patients and veterans are unable to access timely anesthesia care. Representative Pappas knows care can’t wait and it is time to cut the red tape.”

    BACKGROUND:

    APRNs are nurses prepared at the master’s or doctoral level to provide primary, acute, chronic, and specialty care to patients of all ages and backgrounds, in all settings. Their qualifications enable them to treat and diagnose illnesses, advise the public on health issues, manage chronic disease, order and interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe medication, and direct non-pharmacologic treatments for their patients. Over 40 years of vigorous, peer-reviewed research has verified the safety, quality, satisfaction, and cost-effectiveness of APRN care. This has led the National Academy of Sciences to call for the removal of laws, regulations, and policies that prevent APRNs from providing the full scope of health care services they are educated and trained to provide. 

    Currently, several federal statutes and regulations, as well as certain state practice acts and institutional rules, require physician oversight and limit APRN practice. These barriers reduce access to care, create disruptions in care, increase the cost of care, and undermine efforts to improve the quality of care. Specifically, the I CAN Act would remove remaining barriers in the Medicare and Medicaid programs that prevent APRNs from practicing to the full extent of their education and clinical training. Importantly, this bill does not expand scope of practice or impede upon state law. Rather, the bill would simply ensure that the federal government honors state laws, including New Hampshire state law, ensuring that Medicare and Medicaid patients living in states where nurses have already been granted full practice authority are permitted to choose to seek care from a nurse practitioner.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Three Indian planes crash in Indian-controlled Kashmir

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    NEW DELHI, May 7 (Xinhua) — At least three Indian aircraft crashed in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Wednesday, local newspaper The Hindu reported, citing government sources.

    The planes reportedly crashed in the Akhnoor, Ramban and Pampore areas.

    Officials have not yet disclosed the exact circumstances of the incident, the newspaper reports.

    The incidents came as Indian airstrikes hit Pakistani targets and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir early Wednesday. The attack was in retaliation for the killing of 26 people by militants in the Indian-controlled Kashmir town of Pahalgam last month. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China combines quotas of two monetary policy instruments to strengthen capital market

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, May 7 (Xinhua) — China’s central bank said Wednesday it will combine the quotas of two monetary policy tools to further support the capital market.

    The swap facility for securities, fund and insurance companies (SFISF), with an initial capacity of 500 billion yuan (about $69.4 billion), and the 300 billion yuan re-lending facility that supports share buybacks and share expansion, will be implemented within a total quota of 800 billion yuan, according to the People’s Bank of China (PBOC, the central bank).

    The decision, which took effect on Wednesday, is expected to make the two mechanisms more convenient and flexible to better meet the needs of different types of institutions and strengthen the inherent stability of the capital market, the PBOC said in a statement.

    Both instruments, launched in October last year to strengthen the capital market, operated in accordance with market principles and played a positive role in ensuring the stable operation of the capital market, the Central Bank said in a statement.

    The SFISF allows eligible securities, fund and insurance companies to use their assets, including bonds, ETFs and CSI 300 index stocks, as collateral in exchange for highly liquid assets such as government bonds and central bank bills.

    The PBOC has carried out two SFISF operations totaling 105 billion yuan, and more than 500 listed companies and major shareholders have reported using the refinancing mechanism to buy back shares or increase their holdings, according to PBOC Governor Pan Gongsheng. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China, US leaders to hold high level meeting on economic and trade affairs

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

    Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced in Beijing on Wednesday that at the invitation of the government of Switzerland, He Lifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council will visit Switzerland from May 9 to 12.

    He will hold talks with Swiss leaders and relevant parties, the spokesperson said.

    During his visit to Switzerland, He, as the Chinese lead person for China-U.S. economic and trade affairs, will have a meeting with the U.S. lead person Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

    From May 12 to 16, He will be in France to co-chair with the French side the 10th China-France High Level Economic and Financial Dialogue, said the spokesperson.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Over 4.8B parcels handled in China during May Day holiday

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

    Staff members sort packages at a logistic center of Zaozhuang branch of China Post in Zaozhuang City, east China’s Shandong province, Nov. 11, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s postal and express delivery sector handled more than 4.8 billion parcels during the just-concluded May Day holiday period, marking year-on-year growth of over 20 percent, according to data released by the State Post Bureau on Tuesday.

    During the holiday, the sector deepened integration with cultural and tourism sectors by innovating service modes. Multiple regions introduced a series of convenient express delivery services, including airport-based one-stop “shopping and delivery” services to improve convenience for tourists.

    This sector also showcased progress in green transformation in the holiday period. In Hainan province in south China, fully biodegradable packaging bags were widely used, while in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang province, reusable boxes were piloted in commercial, governmental and other usage scenarios, which helped reduce resource consumption.

    The bureau said that during the holiday, the sector enhanced its service capabilities and promoted collaborative innovation across multiple sectors under a national effort to boost consumption, connecting high-quality logistics services with new consumption scenarios — facilitating a positive interaction between improved supply quality and effective demand expansion.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi’s upcoming visit to deepen China-Russia ties, bolster global peace

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The Guard of Honor of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) participate in a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade, which marks the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, in Moscow, Russia, May 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

    At the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to Russia from Wednesday to Saturday and attend in Moscow the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War.

    More than 80 years ago, the peoples of China, the Soviet Union and other countries fought side by side and secured victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, opening a new chapter in human history.

    As the world is undergoing accelerating changes unseen in a century, the international community demands greater global efforts to face common challenges, and to build a community with a shared future.

    Xi’s upcoming visit is expected to inject new momentum into the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. Moreover, it will demonstrate the two major countries’ commitment to working with the rest of the world to safeguard the outcomes of the victory in World War II, uphold international fairness and justice, and maintain world peace and stability.

    LONG-LASTING FRIENDSHIP

    History and reality show that China and Russia are good neighbors that cannot be moved away, and true friends who share weal and woe, support each other and achieve common development, Xi said in his phone conversation with Putin in February.

    The coming visit marks Xi’s 11th trip to Russia since he became Chinese president. The two heads of state have met more than 40 times on different occasions over the years. Their close communication provides strategic guidance, under which China-Russia relations have matured into a resilient and stable partnership characterized by deepening political trust, closer strategic alignment and sustained practical cooperation.

    In 2024, bilateral trade rose to 244.8 billion U.S. dollars, making China the largest trading partner of Russia for 15 consecutive years. In December 2024, the China-Russia east-route natural gas pipeline was fully completed. Cooperation in emerging sectors such as the digital economy, e-commerce, bio-medicine, scientific and technological innovation, as well as green energy continues to expand.

    The two countries’ long-lasting friendship has grown increasingly popular among the two peoples. The mutual visa exemption agreement for group tours has encouraged more robust two-way travel. Hundreds of cultural events have been held in succession with the framework of the China-Russia Year of Culture.

    Andrey Denisov, first deputy chair of Russia’s Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs and former Russian ambassador to China, said the strategic guidance of the two heads of state is a key factor in ensuring the steady and long-term development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.

    The two leaders are expected to hold extensive and in-depth discussions on both bilateral cooperation and multilateral issues, and the Russian side has high expectations for that, he added.

    INDELIBLE CONTRIBUTION

    Over 80 years ago, China and Russia, as the main battlefields in Asia and Europe during World War II, made tremendous sacrifices and indelible contribution to the final victory.

    In a signed article published by the Russian Gazette newspaper ahead of his visit to Russia in 2015, Xi quoted Russian historian Vasily Klyuchevsky as saying, “If we lost the memory of our past, our mind and soul would be lost in the darkness,” in a bid to express his remembrance of the history of the World Anti-Fascist War and earnest expectations for the two nations to join hands to maintain world peace and stability.

    The bitter lessons drawn from World War II have taught mankind that the strong preying on the weak, the law of the jungle, warlike or hegemonic policies, the winner-takes-all mindset and zero-sum game do not benefit coexistence, peace or development of mankind, Xi wrote in the article.

    Su-25 attack aircrafts fly over Red Square during the Victory Day military parade, which marks the 79th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War, in Moscow, Russia, on May 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi)

    Noha Bakir, a professor of political science at American University in Cairo, said China and Russia, drawing lessons from history, shoulder the important responsibility of safeguarding international stability and cooperation amid today’s complex global landscape.

    By studying, restoring and spreading the true history, people can better understand World War II and the post-war international order, thus they will resist the attempts to distort historical facts, he added.

    Andrey Fesyun, deputy director of the Institute of Asian and African Studies at Moscow State University, said that under the guidance of the two heads of state, China and Russia will further jointly advocate the correct historical view of World War II, and work together to maintain global strategic stability, so as to make the due contributions of responsible major countries to the advancement of international fairness and justice.

    SPEARHEADING PROGRESS

    Eighty years ago, representatives from multiple countries, including China and the Soviet Union, gathered in the U.S. city of San Francisco, and signed the Charter of the United Nations, laying the cornerstone of the post-war international order.

    The preamble to the charter solemnly states the commitment “to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security.”

    China and Russia have natural responsibilities to make joint efforts to steer and promote global governance in a direction that meets the expectations of the international community and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, said Xi when meeting with Putin in March 2023. And it was during Xi’s first visit to Russia in 2013 as Chinese president that he first proposed the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

    As permanent members of the UN Security Council and major countries in the world, China and Russia have been working closely on the world stage. Beijing and Moscow firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, as well as the fundamental norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. They are also advocates of true multilateralism.

    Media staff work at the press center of the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Oct. 23, 2024. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

    The two nations have also joined hands to promote political solutions to international and regional hot-spot issues. They have strengthened communication and coordination within multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), BRICS and the Group of 20, and are jointly committed to advancing a multipolar world and the democratization of international relations.

    Adhere Cavince, a Kenyan scholar on international relations, said that China and Russia collaborate through platforms like the SCO and BRICS, which has not only promoted a multipolar world, but also empowered the Global South with a greater voice in global governance and a bigger role in shaping the rules on major international issues.

    Ilgar Velizade, head of the South Caucasus Club of Political Scientists from Azerbaijan, said that the growing strength of multilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the SCO and BRICS represents a powerful embodiment of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

    If countries engage in an active, constructive and sustainable dialogue focused on common interests, the world will be safer, the global economy more sustainable and humanity’s future far more promising, he said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Omani FM announces ceasefire deal between Yemen’s Houthis, US

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

    Oman has brokered a ceasefire between Yemen’s Houthi group and the United States, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi said in a statement on Tuesday.

    “In the future, neither side will target the other, including American vessels, in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, ensuring freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of international commercial shipping,” the statement said.

    The minister also expressed his country’s gratitude to both parties for their “constructive” engagement, stating that it hopes the agreement will pave the way for further progress on regional issues and contribute to achieving justice, peace, and prosperity for all.

    Ahead of a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, U.S. President Donald Trump said the halt would start immediately, after the Houthis approached the administration on Monday night, indicating “they want to stop the fighting.”

    “The Houthis have announced … that they don’t want to fight anymore. They just don’t want to fight,” said Trump. “We will honor that, and we will stop the bombings … and they have capitulated.”

    In a post on X, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, head of the Houthi Revolutionary Committee, said the U.S. “halt of aggression against Yemen” will “be evaluated on the ground first.”

    He noted that the group’s operations “were and still are in support of Gaza to stop the Israeli aggression and allow the entry of aid” into Gaza, indicating that the ceasefire with the United States did not include a halt to the group’s attacks on Israel.

    Meanwhile, the head of Houthi supreme political council, Mahdi al-Mashat, said in a statement, reported by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, that “there will be no retreat from supporting Gaza, no matter the cost. What happened proves that our strikes are painful and will continue.”

    “To all Zionists, from now on, take shelter or leave for your homeland immediately. Your failed government will no longer be able to protect you,” al-Mashat claimed in the televised statement.

    Tensions between the Houthis and the United States intensified after Washington resumed airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen on March 15. The strikes were aimed at deterring the group from attacking Israel and U.S. warships.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Sudan cuts ties with UAE, citing support for paramilitary forces

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

    Smoke rises after a drone attack in Port Sudan, eastern Sudan, on May 6, 2025. [Sudanese Ministry of Culture and Information/Handout via Xinhua]

    Sudan’s government said on Tuesday it would sever diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and withdraw its ambassador, declaring the UAE an “aggressor state.”

    Defense Minister Yassin Ibrahim Yassin, speaking on state television, accused Abu Dhabi of violating Sudan’s sovereignty through its “proxy,” the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia.

    He said the decision was prompted by what Sudan claims is UAE military backing of the RSF, including the supply of advanced weapons used in recent drone and missile strikes on Port Sudan’s port, airport, and power stations.

    Sudan’s statement said the escalation in Port Sudan “threatens regional and international security, in particular security in the Red Sea,” and invoked Article 51 of the UN Charter to reserve Sudan’s right to self-defense.

    It said Sudan “reserves the right to respond to the aggression by every means to preserve the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

    The move comes amid a two-year-old civil war between the regular army (SAF) and the RSF that began in April 2023 over the transition to civilian rule. The fighting has shattered cities and displaced millions.

    The United Nations says more than half of Sudan’s 46 million people — about 25 million — need emergency aid, and famine has been confirmed in several areas, such as Darfur. Rights groups say tens of thousands have been killed and roughly 15 million people displaced by the conflict.

    The UAE has repeatedly denied the Sudanese allegations of arming the RSF. A UAE foreign ministry official told the International Court of Justice in April that claims of UAE complicity were “utterly baseless.”

    Sudan’s defense council statement nonetheless branded the UAE’s actions a “clear act of aggression” and made clear Khartoum would respond if attacked. No immediate response was reported from the RSF.

    Internationally, the recent bombardment of Port Sudan has drawn condemnation from Egypt and Saudi Arabia and concern from the United Nations. Humanitarian organizations warn that the attacks and ongoing fighting are worsening Sudan’s crisis, with the Red Cross highlighting that intensive drone strikes and power cuts are exacerbating a catastrophe in which millions of people have fled their homes.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: REPS LIEU, JACOBS, SCHOLTEN, FROST AND ROSS REINTRODUCE REPRODUCTIVE DATA PRIVACY PROTECTION BILL

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ted Lieu (33 District of California)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County), Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (D-MI), Congressman Maxwell Frost (D-FL), and Congressman Deborah Ross (D-NC) reintroduced the Reproductive Data Privacy and Protection Act. This legislation would prevent law enforcement from improperly surveilling women receiving reproductive health care, including preventing access to health messaging apps, period trackers, and geolocation data. Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, law enforcement agencies have used surveillance data to track and prosecute abortions. This legislation would protect Americans’ reproductive data privacy by limiting law enforcement access to reproductive and sexual health services data. The bill protects information related to abortion and IVF care, the use or purchase of contraceptives, pregnancy-related conditions, and more. 

    “Patients should be able to make medical decisions in consultation with their doctors without fear of law enforcement involvement,” said Rep. Lieu. “This fundamental right to privacy extends to the data used in medical settings and for treatment and care. We are reintroducing this bill because law enforcement should not have the ability to use private medical data against anyone seeking reproductive or sexual health care. Criminalizing women’s health is draconian and dangerous – and I am pleased to join my colleagues in fighting for these necessary protections.”

    “Prosecutors and law enforcement are weaponizing every tool at their disposal to investigate and enforce abortion bans and restrictions,” said Rep. Jacobs. “And now that people are increasingly turning to online abortion clinics for care, people are increasingly left wide open and vulnerable to the unregulated digital surveillance system. That’s why I’m proud to co-lead the Reproductive Data Privacy and Protection Act to ban law enforcement from using surveillance and other data collection methods to investigate or prosecute abortion patients or those helping them. Decisions about if, when, and how to grow a family should be private – and our data should be too.”

    “No one should have to fear that their private health decisions could be tracked, surveilled, or criminalized,” said Rep. Scholten. “In the wake of the Dobbs decision, we’ve seen law enforcement weaponize personal data to target people seeking reproductive care–including abortion, IVF, and even birth control. The Reproductive Data Privacy and Protection Act draws a clear line: your health data is yours, and it should never be used against you. I’m proud to co-lead this legislation to defend the fundamental right to privacy and protect women from dangerous overreach.” 

    “It’s sickening to see the same Republican leaders across our country who cry wolf about big government turn to big tech to access the private digital information and even the private messages of people seeking abortion care to go after them,” said Rep. Frost. “Florida has been at the forefront of efforts to criminalize abortion; imagine what GOP leaders could do with Floridians’ private texts and location information. We cannot let that happen. I’m proud to support the Reproductive Data Privacy and Protection Act in the continued fight to protect abortion access for anyone who needs it and keep our private medical decisions private.”

    “In my home state of North Carolina, we saw a dangerous 12-week abortion ban go into effect following the Dobbs decision,” said Rep. Ross. “Now, women are scared to get the health care they need, and doctors are facing retribution for doing their jobs. That’s why I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Reproductive Data Privacy and Protection Act, which would prevent government and law enforcement entities from collecting data that would be used to prosecute or criminalize women seeking reproductive care. This bill offers essential protections for women in North Carolina and nationwide who are facing real threats to their health care.”

    This bill is endorsed by: Catholics for Choice, Reproductive Freedom For All, National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, League of Women Voters, ACLU, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Center for Reproductive Rights, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Council of Jewish Women, Project on Government Oversight, Center for American Progress, National Network of Abortion Funds, Power To Decide, National Abortion Federation, All* Above All, and Guttmacher Institute.

     Cody Venzke, Senior Policy Counsel, ACLU:

    “Privacy ensures that we have the space to make decisions about our lives, including when and how to have children. The Reproductive Data Privacy and Protection Act is a critical step in bolstering privacy to combat increasingly invasive efforts to criminalize our most basic rights to reproductive care and to make fundamental decisions about our lives.” 

    Rachana Desai Martin, Chief of Government Relations and External Affairs, Center for Reproductive Rights: 

    “The Center is proud to endorse the Reproductive Data Privacy and Protection Act. With abortion banned in 12 states, we need stronger protections for people seeking abortions now more than ever. This bill would provide important new protections for our reproductive health data and serves as an important legislative check to ensure sensitive health information remains protected from abuse.”

     Jocelyn Frye, President of the National Partnership for Women & Families: 

    “The growing number of state abortion restrictions means millions of women, especially women of color, are at risk of being criminalized for their pregnancy outcomes. We need strong protections for those seeking care as well as for those providing abortion care, in order to keep their personal information safe. No one should be prosecuted just for seeking the health care they need, and no one should have to live in fear that their personal data will be used against them. We are grateful for Rep. Lieu’s introduction of this bill to safeguard the privacy of pregnant people in the post-Dobbs landscape.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: India confirms air strikes on Pakistan-controlled Kashmir

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

    The Indian government on Wednesday confirmed carrying out air strikes on nine identified “terrorist-training camps” located in the Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally monitored the air strikes, according to Indian media reports.

    The air strikes were carried out under “Operation Sindoor”, which was dedicated to the women whose husbands were killed in the Pahalgam area of the Indian-controlled Kashmir on April 22, the reports said.

    A total of 26 people were killed in the attack, which was described as the worst attack on tourists in the Indian-controlled Kashmir in past several decades. The incident led to escalating tensions between the two South Asian nations.

    India’s Ministry of Defense said in a press release that the Indian armed forces launched “Operation Sindoor”, hitting “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan and the Pakistan-controlled Kashmir from where “terror attacks” against India had been planned and directed.

    “Altogether nine sites have been targeted. Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India had demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution,” said the statement.

    It added these steps came in the wake of the Pahalgam attack on tourists in the Indian-controlled Kashmir on April 22, in which 25 Indian and one Nepali citizen were killed.

    Meanwhile, one of the biggest private airlines in India, IndiGo posted on X that its flights to and from certain airports located near international border with Pakistan had been impacted.

    On Wednesday, the director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said that at least eight civilians, including a child, were killed, 35 others injured and two missing after India fired missiles at multiple locations in the Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Indian Air Force to hold war games along border with Pakistan

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

    Amid escalating tensions, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will hold large-scale military drills on Wednesday in the western state of Rajasthan, along the international border with Pakistan, local media reports said Tuesday.

    “The drills will begin at 9:30 p.m. (local time) on Wednesday and end around five-and-a-half hours later. Flights departing or landing at the airport close to the border will be suspended,” a New Delhi-based television news channel NDTV said, quoting a NOTAM, or Notice to Airmen, issued Tuesday evening.

    Another media report said a two-day mega military exercise will involve all the frontline fighter jets, including Rafale, Su-30 and Jaguar aircraft.

    Separately, states are scheduled to conduct mock drills on Wednesday to evaluate civil defence preparedness. Officials said a civil defence exercise and rehearsal across the 244 categorized civil defence districts will be organised.

    According to state-run broadcaster All India Radio (AIR), the mock drill will assess the effectiveness of air raid warning systems, the operationalization of hotline or radio communication links with the IAF, besides testing the functionality of control rooms.

    “The exercise also includes training of civilians and students on civil defence aspects to protect themselves in the event of a hostile attack. Besides the provision of crash blackout measures, provision for early camouflaging of vital installations and update of the evacuation plan and its rehearsal are also included in the mock drill,” the broadcaster said.

    The war games are being conducted amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan over last month’s attack in which gunmen killed 26 people in Baisaran area of Pahalgam town, about 89 km east of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

    New Delhi blames Islamabad for supporting the gunmen behind the attack, a charge denied by it.

    The Indian government on Wednesday confirmed carrying out air strikes on nine identified “terrorist-training camps” located in the Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally monitored the air strikes, according to Indian media reports.

    The air strikes were carried out under “Operation Sindoor,” which was dedicated to the women whose husbands were killed in the Pahalgam area of the Indian-controlled Kashmir on April 22, the reports said.

    “Altogether nine sites have been targeted. Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India had demonstrated considerable restraint in the selection of targets and method of execution,” India’s Ministry of Defence said in a press release.

    The director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said that at least eight civilians, including a child, were killed, 35 others injured and two missing after India fired missiles at multiple locations in the Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.

    Pakistan has shot down five Indian fighter jets in retaliation for overnight airstrikes conducted by India at multiple locations within Pakistan, the country’s defence minister said early Wednesday.

    Pakistan’s foreign office called it an unprovoked and blatant act of aggression, denouncing the strikes as a “flagrant violation of the UN charter, international law, and established norms of inter-state relations.”

    “India’s reckless action has brought the two nuclear-armed states closer to a major conflict,” said the foreign office, emphasizing that Pakistan reserves the right to respond “at a time and place of its choosing.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi says friendship forged with blood, lives inexhaustible source of China-Russia amity

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Xi says friendship forged with blood, lives inexhaustible source of China-Russia amity

    Xinhua | May 7, 2025

    Chinese President Xi Jinping said that the profound friendship forged with blood and lives in the World Anti-Fascist War has become an inexhaustible source of the everlasting amity between China and Russia.

    Xi made the remarks in a signed article published Wednesday by the Russian Gazette newspaper ahead of his arrival in Russia for a state visit and the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War.

    Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victories of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the founding of the United Nations, Xi said that together with the heroic Russian people, he will honor the past and pay tribute to the martyrs.

    Xi said that all those who made great contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War — from generals to soldiers — will never be forgotten, noting that the people of China and Russia fought side by side and supported each other during the war.

    Eighty years ago, just forces all over the world, including China and the Soviet Union, united to fight a common enemy and triumphed over fascism, Xi said.

    Today, eight decades later, unilateralism, hegemony and acts of bullying are inflicting severe harm, and humanity once again stands at a crossroads — between unity or division, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum, he added.

    The world must take history as a mirror, draw wisdom and strength from the profound lessons of World War II and the great victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, resolutely oppose all forms of hegemonism and power politics, and jointly create a brighter future for humanity, Xi said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Announcement on Government Bond Transactions No.4 [2025]

    Source: Peoples Bank of China

    Announcement on Government Bond Transactions No.4 [2025]

    (Open Market Operations Office, April 30, 2025)

    The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) did not purchase or sell government bonds on the open market in April 2025.

    Date of last update Nov. 29 2018

    2025年04月30日

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: UN chief calls for military restraint from India, Pakistan

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

    UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for military restraint from India and Pakistan.

    In a note to correspondents issued by his spokesperson, the UN chief expressed deep concern over Indian military operations across the Line of Control and the international border with Pakistan.

    “The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan,” the note said.

    On Monday, the secretary-general warned that the tensions between the two South Asian neighbors had reached “their highest in years.”

    He offered his good offices to both governments to help defuse tensions and promote diplomacy, stressing that “a military solution is no solution.”

    Guterres once again strongly condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22. “Targeting civilians is unacceptable — and those responsible must be brought to justice through credible and lawful means,” he said.

    Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated following a deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam in the Indian-controlled Kashmir on April 22.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Sherman Statement on India’s Military Strike Against Pakistan

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32), senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement:

    “As Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged both India and Pakistan, we must avoid armed conflict and escalation. India has not provided the world with strong evidence that the terrible terrorist attack in Kashmir was the result of actions taken by the Pakistani government. Let us hope that the Pakistani government does not escalate this crisis and that its response is de-escalatory.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Full text of Xi’s signed article in Russian media

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday published a signed article titled “Learning from History to Build Together a Brighter Future” in the Russian Gazette newspaper ahead of his arrival in Russia for a state visit and attendance at the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War.

    The following is the full text of the article:

    Learning from History to Build Together a Brighter Future

    H.E. Xi Jinping

    President of the People’s Republic of China

    This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War, and the World Anti-Fascist War. It also marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (UN). In this season when “apple and pear trees are blossoming,” I will soon pay a state visit to Russia and attend the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War, joining the heroic Russian people in honoring the history and the fallen heroes.

    Ten years ago around this time, I came to Russia to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the victory. During that visit, I made a special arrangement to meet with 18 representatives of Russian veterans who endured the blood and fire of battlefields during the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War and the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Their unyielding resolve and indomitable bearing left an indelible impression on me. In the past few years, General M. Gareyev, Major General T. Shchudlo and other veterans passed away. I pay my deepest tribute to them and to all veterans-from generals to the rank and file-for their extraordinary service and heroic feats in securing the victory over fascists around the world. We will never forget them. Heroes never perish; their noble spirit lives forever.

    During the World Anti-Fascist War, the Chinese and Russian peoples fought shoulder to shoulder and supported each other. In the darkest hours of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Volunteer Group, which was part of the Soviet Air Force, came to Nanjing, Wuhan and Chongqing to fight alongside the Chinese people, bravely engaging Japanese invaders in aerial combat-many sacrificing their precious lives. At the critical juncture of the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War, Yan Baohang, a legendary intelligence agent of the Communist Party of China (CPC) who was hailed as the “Richard Sorge of the East,” provided the Soviet Union with primary-source intelligence. In the crucible of the war-torn years, the Soviet Union provided China with large quantities of weapons and equipment. China, for its part, shipped much-needed strategic supplies to the Soviet Union. The two countries jointly established a supply line spanning the treacherous Gobi Desert. It was an international lifeline, vital for our mutual support in fighting fascists. The strong camaraderie between our two nations, forged in blood and sacrifice, surges onward unceasingly, mighty as the Yellow River and the Volga. It is an eternal wellspring nourishing our everlasting friendship.

    Eighty years ago, the forces of justice around the world, including China and the Soviet Union, united in courageous battles against their common foes and defeated the overbearing fascist powers. Eighty years later today, however, unilateralism, hegemonism, bullying, and coercive practices are severely undermining our world. Again humankind has come to a crossroads of unity or division, dialogue or confrontation, win-win cooperation or zero-sum games. In War and Peace, the great writer Leo Tolstoy observed, “History is the life of nations and of humanity.” Indeed, historical memory and truth will not fade with the passage of time. They serve as inspirations that mirror the present and illuminate the future. We must learn from history, especially the hard lessons of the Second World War. We must draw wisdom and strength from the great victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, and resolutely resist all forms of hegemonism and power politics. We must work together to build a brighter future for humanity.

    — We must uphold a correct historical perspective on WWII. China and the Soviet Union were the principal theaters of that war in Asia and Europe respectively. The two countries served as the mainstay of resistance against Japanese militarism and German Nazism, making pivotal contribution to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. The Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression began the earliest and lasted the longest. United as one under the banner of the Chinese united front against Japanese aggression, which was advocated and established by the CPC, the Chinese people launched a relentless struggle against and defeated the brutal Japanese militarists. With immense sacrifice, they carved out an immortal epic of heroic resistance and ultimate victory against Japanese aggression. In the European theater, the Soviet Red Army advanced like an iron tide with unwavering fortitude and valor, crushed Nazi Germany’s ambitions and liberated millions from its brutal occupation, writing an epic of victory in the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War.

    History teaches us that light will always overcome darkness, and that justice will ultimately prevail over evil. The International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg and the International Military Tribunal for the Far East condemned the convicted war criminals to perpetual infamy. The justice and integrity of the two landmark trials, their historic significance, and their contemporary relevance stand beyond challenge. Any attempt to distort the historical truth of WWII, deny its victorious outcome, or defame the historic contribution of China and the Soviet Union is doomed to fail. Neither of our two nations will tolerate any act to reverse the course of history-nor will the people of the whole world.

    — We must resolutely uphold the postwar international order. The most significant decision by the international community around the end of WWII was to establish the UN. China and the Soviet Union were among the first to sign the UN Charter. Our permanent membership in the UN Security Council is a product of history, earned through blood and sacrifice. The more turbulent and complex the international situation becomes, the more we must uphold and defend the authority of the UN, firmly uphold the UN-centered international system, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and steadily promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

    This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the restoration of Taiwan. Taiwan’s restoration to China is a victorious outcome of WWII and an integral part of the postwar international order. A series of instruments with legal effect under international law, including the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, have all affirmed China’s sovereignty over Taiwan. The historical and legal fact therein brooks no challenge. And the authority of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 brooks no challenge. No matter how the situation on the Taiwan island evolves or what troubles external forces may make, the historical trend toward China’s ultimate and inevitable reunification is unstoppable.

    China and Russia have all along firmly supported each other on issues bearing on our respective core interests or major concerns. Russia has reiterated on many occasions that it strictly adheres to the one-China principle, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, it opposes any form of “Taiwan independence,” and it firmly supports all measures of the Chinese government and the Chinese people to achieve national reunification. China highly commends Russia’s consistent position.

    — We must firmly defend international fairness and justice. Now, the global deficits in peace, development, security and governance continue to widen unabated. To address these deficits, I have proposed to build a community with a shared future for mankind and put forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative as a way forward to steer the reform of the global governance system toward greater fairness and justice.

    The world needs justice, not hegemonism. History and reality have proven that to meet global challenges, it is important to uphold the vision of global governance featuring extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit. It is also important to choose dialogue over confrontation, build partnerships over alliances, and pursue win-win cooperation over zero-sum games. It is equally important to practice true multilateralism, accommodate the legitimate concerns of all parties, and safeguard international norms and order. We firmly believe that people around the world will choose to stand on the right side of history and the side of fairness and justice.

    China and Russia are both major countries with significant influence in the world. The two nations are constructive forces for maintaining global strategic stability and for improving global governance. Our bilateral relationship is founded upon a clear historical logic, sustained by strong internal drive, and rooted in profound cultural heritage. Our relationship is neither directed against nor swayed by any third party. Together we must foil all schemes to disrupt or undermine our bonds of amity and trust, and we must not be baffled by transient matters or unsettled by formidable challenges. We must leverage the certainty and resilience of our partnership of strategic coordination to jointly accelerate the shift toward a multipolar world and build a community with a shared future for mankind.

    China and Russia are both great nations with splendid civilizations. The Chinese and Russian peoples are both great peoples defined by heroic legacies. Eighty years ago, our peoples won the anti-fascist war through heroic struggles. Eight decades later today, we must take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard our sovereignty, security, and development interests. We should be guardians of historical memory, partners in national development and rejuvenation, and champions of global fairness and justice, and work together to forge a brighter future for humanity.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Tibetan cultural heritage exhibition returns to Beijing

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

    The second edition of a major Tibetan intangible cultural heritage exhibition opened on April 29 at Beijing’s Beihai Park, featuring over 500 handicrafts and cultural products from Rangtang county in Sichuan province.

    Organizers and guests pose for a group photo at the opening of a Tibetan intangible cultural heritage exhibition in Beihai Park, Beijing, April 29, 2025. [Photo courtesy of the Rangtang Intangible Cultural Heritage Center]

    The exhibition, jointly hosted by the county government and Beijing Tourism Group, runs through early June at the former imperial garden, which is marking its 100th anniversary of opening to the public.

    This year’s exhibition has more than doubled in size, featuring over 500 works in 22 categories compared with last year’s event, which showcased 200 exhibits across 11 categories and drew more than 120,000 visitors.

    The exhibition highlights masterpieces of traditional craftsmanship from Rangtang county in Sichuan’s Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture. Featured works include traditional painting, metalwork, ceramics, weaving and dyeing, embroidery, and wood and stone carving.

    A standout feature of the exhibition is the innovative “Thangka + Porcelain Painting” series, where over a dozen artists skilled in traditional Tibetan Buddhist scroll painting spent three years in Jingdezhen, a world-famous porcelain city in Jiangxi province. There, they merged Thangka art with ceramic techniques to create the “Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed Guanyin” porcelain panel collection.

    Visitors can also watch master artisans demonstrate traditional painting and weaving techniques through live workshops. A new section showcasing contemporary adaptations of Buddhist motifs into fashion accessories aims to attract younger audiences.

    The exhibition is organized by the Rangtang Intangible Cultural Heritage Center, founded by Jamyang Lodro Rinpoche, a national-level inheritor of a Tibetan Buddhist music genre. Starting with a single facility offering free painting classes to disadvantaged children in 2010, the initiative has grown to 47 training centers teaching traditional skills ranging from medicine to ceramics, with additional branches in major cities including Shanghai.

    Jamyang Lodro, founder of the Rangtang Intangible Cultural Heritage Center, speaks to China.org.cn while introducing artworks on display at a Tibetan intangible cultural heritage exhibition in Beihai Park, Beijing, April 30, 2025. [Photo/China.org.cn]

    The remote Rangtang county, once among China’s poorest regions, has turned to its cultural heritage to drive economic development after years of isolation and industrial underdevelopment. The initiative has revived community pride, trained over 1,000 young people, and advanced poverty relief and rural revitalization while promoting heritage preservation and cultural tourism.

    The centers have trained 174 representative inheritors of intangible cultural heritage over the past decade. To provide career opportunities for these artisans, the county has also launched an innovation park that develops heritage-based products ranging from paintings to herbal care items.

    The county now sells Thangka paintings, ceramic art, Tibetan medicinal baths and herbal care items nationally and internationally, generating annual sales exceeding 10 million yuan ($1.4 million). The initiative has boosted incomes for more than 3,000 local farmers and herders.

    The heritage centers have held exhibitions in cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Hangzhou, featuring more than 100 works that blend traditional craftsmanship with modern design. In 2023, the government designated Rangtang as a national pilot zone for cultural industry-driven rural revitalization.

    Jamyang Lodro told China.org.cn that while most students at the centers come from farming and herding families, many have become accomplished artists through specialized training programs lasting up to eight years. The center offers full scholarships and living stipends to ensure students from poor backgrounds can complete their training.

    Rangtang’s centers have partnered with top institutions, including Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, the Central Conservatory of Music and various museums. These partnerships have broadened students’ skills while connecting Qinghai–Xizang Plateau traditions with the wider world. The trainees now serve as bridges between traditional culture and modern industries, helping integrate ancient arts into the contemporary creative economy.

    Artworks on display at a Tibetan intangible cultural heritage exhibition in Beihai Park, Beijing, April 30, 2025. [Photo/China.org.cn]

    Jamyang Lodro says each piece represents a personal journey: young people who overcame difficult backgrounds to transform their lives through art and tradition.

    “It’s about loving and understanding life itself,” he said, emphasizing his vision of not only nurturing their skills but also their inner being. “They came to know themselves better through these traditional arts and discovered their true selves.”

    He emphasized that Chinese arts must maintain their authenticity when shared internationally. “Through all our works, we clearly show them who we are. We turn inward, not outward. If your artworks merely mimic Western art, international audiences won’t respect you. We have our own philosophy, inner meaning and artistic traditions. We have our own charm. That’s what they respect. From there, we can have cultural dialogue.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Regulatory Standards Bill promotes transparent principled lawmaking

    Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

    Regulation Minister David Seymour has today announced the next steps in the Government’s plan to improve the quality of regulation, as the detailed proposal to pass a Regulatory Standards Bill has progressed through Cabinet. 
    “New Zealand’s low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation. To raise productivity, we must allow people to spend more time on productive activities and less time on compliance,” says Mr Seymour.  
    “To lift productivity and wages, the ACT-National Coalition Agreement includes a commitment to pass a Regulatory Standards Act. I will be taking the proposed Bill to Cabinet on the 19th of May for approval to introduce it.  
    “In a nutshell: If red tape is holding us back, because politicians find regulating politically rewarding, then we need to make regulating less rewarding for politicians with more sunlight on their activities. That is how the Regulatory Standards Bill will help New Zealand get its mojo back. It will finally ensure regulatory decisions are based on principles of good law-making and economic efficiency. 
    “The Bill will codify principles of good regulatory practice for existing and future regulations. It seeks to bring the same level of discipline to regulation that the Public Finance Act brings to public spending, with the Ministry for Regulation playing a role akin to that of the Treasury.  
    “It requires politicians and officials to ask and answer certain questions before they place restrictions on citizens’ freedoms. What problem are we trying to solve? What are the costs and benefits? Who pays the costs and gets the benefits? What restrictions are being placed on the use and exchange of private property? 
    “Where inconsistencies are found, the responsible Minister must respond to justify deviation from principles.  
    “People affected by bad laws will be able to appeal to a Regulatory Standards Board, made up of people who understand regulatory economics. That board will be able to make non-binding recommendations on whether the law was made well, turning up the heat on bad lawmaking. The findings, reasons for any inconsistency, and relevant documents will be made publicly available to ensure transparency.
    “If we raise the political cost of making bad laws by allowing New Zealanders to hold regulators accountable, the outcome will be better law-making, higher productivity, and higher wages.   
    “Under the proposed Bill, government agencies will also have duties to review their regulatory systems.  
    “Ultimately, this Bill will help the Government achieve its goal of improving New Zealand’s productivity by ensuring that regulated parties are regulated by a system which is transparent, has a mechanism for recourse, and holds regulators accountable to the people. 
    “The law doesn’t stop politicians or their officials making bad laws, but it makes it transparent that they’re doing it. It makes it easier for voters to identify those responsible for making bad rules. Over time, it will improve the quality of rules we all have to live under by changing how politicians behave.   
    “In a high-cost economy, regulation isn’t neutral – it’s a tax on growth. This Government is committed to clearing the path of needless regulations by improving how laws are made.” 
    Particular acknowledgements go to Dr Bryce Wilkinson, whose book “Constraining Government Regulation” laid important groundwork for this Bill. Special thanks also go to Dr Graham Scott, Jack Hodder KC, and other members of the Regulatory Responsibility Taskforce, who refined the Bill in 2009.  
     

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Economy – Risks to the financial system have increased – Reserve Bank of NZ

    Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand  

    7 May 2025 – Risks to the financial system have increased over the past six months, Reserve Bank Governor Christian Hawkesby says in releasing the May 2025 Financial Stability Report.

    “Financial stability is critical for ensuring that New Zealanders can safely save, borrow, and manage financial risk,” Mr Hawkesby says. “While the global economic environment has become more volatile, our financial institutions are in a strong position to support the economy.”

    Geopolitical risks have escalated, particularly following the US imposition of sweeping tariffs on goods imports from many countries, including New Zealand. These developments have heightened financial market volatility and pose a material risk to global economic activity.

    Domestically, economic activity remains subdued. Previously high interest rates, rising unemployment, and a weak housing market continue to weigh on demand. However, lower borrowing costs and high agricultural export prices are supporting debt serviceability.

    Banks have strong capital and liquidity buffers in place to maintain credit flows even if conditions deteriorate further. They also remain profitable, with non-performing loans expected to decline as mortgage rates reprice lower.

    General insurers are experiencing more stable conditions. Our recent insurance stress test highlighted improved resilience in the sector, but also the challenges of extreme seismic events for New Zealand.
       
    Progress is continuing on the implementation of the Deposit Takers Act 2023. Several strands of this work will help to promote competition and efficiency in the deposit-taking sector.

    “Work on the review of key bank capital settings is well underway, with the release of the Terms of Reference today. This outlines the purpose, approach, and scope of the review, to ensure the right settings are in place to support financial stability and promote the wellbeing and prosperity of New Zealand,” Mr Hawkesby says. “We will engage leading international experts to inform and challenge our review.”

    The Depositor Compensation Scheme will come into effect on 1 July 2025. This will protect depositors’ funds in the event of a deposit taker failure and is a significant milestone for enhancing trust and competition in the financial system.

    More information:

    What is a Stress Test?

    Stress Tests are a critical tool we use to assess potential vulnerabilities, support risk management, and inform policy and supervisory decisions

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: MSF – Israel’s New INGO Registration Measures Are a Grave Threat to Humanitarian Operations and International Law – 55 Organisations Say

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

    The undersigned 55 organisations operating in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) call for urgent action from the international community against new Israeli registration rules for international NGOs. Based on vague, broad, politicised, and open-ended criteria, these rules appear designed to assert control over independent humanitarian, development and peacebuilding operations, silence advocacy grounded in international humanitarian and human rights law, and further entrench Israeli control and de facto annexation of the occupied Palestinian territory.

    For over a year and a half, humanitarian organisations have continued operating despite unprecedented constraints. In 2024, they reached millions of people across the oPt with essential services – from food and water to mobile clinics, legal aid, and education. The new registration rules now threaten to shut this work down. These measures go beyond routine policy. They mark a serious escalation in restrictions on humanitarian and civic space and risk setting a dangerous precedent.

    Under the new provisions, INGOs already registered in Israel may face de-registration, while new applicants risk rejection based on arbitrary, politicised allegations, such as “delegitimising Israel” or expressing support for accountability for Israeli violations of international law. Other disqualifiers include public support for a boycott of Israel within the past seven years (by staff, a partner, board member, or founder) or failure to meet exhaustive reporting requirements. By framing humanitarian and human rights advocacy as a threat to the state, Israeli authorities can shut out organisations merely for speaking out about conditions they witness on the ground, forcing INGOs to choose between delivering aid and promoting respect for the protections owed to affected people.

    INGOs are further required to submit complete staff lists and other sensitive information about staff and their families to Israel when applying for registration. In a context where humanitarian and healthcare workers are routinely subject to harassment, detention, and direct attacks, this raises serious protection concerns.

    These new rules are part of a broader, long-term crackdown on humanitarian and civic space, marked by heightened surveillance and attacks, and a series of actions that restrict humanitarian access, compromise staff safety, and undermine core principles of humanitarian action. They are not isolated but part of a wider pattern that includes:

    Blocking or delaying aid through arbitrary bureaucratic restrictions, logistical obstacles, and complete sieges, denying essential lifesaving supplies to Palestinians.
    Killing more than 400 humanitarian workers in Gaza, injuring and detaining countless others, and repeatedly attacking marked and notified humanitarian premises, facilities or convoys.
    Passing legislation aimed at curtailing the operations of UNRWA, the largest provider of essential services for Palestinians.
    Advancing legislation to impose a tax of up to 80 per cent on foreign government funding to Israeli NGOs, while barring them from seeking recourse through the Israeli court system – including organisations that serve as partners for INGOs to deliver assistance and uphold protections in communities facing displacement, demolitions, or settler violence.
    Suspending work visas for international staff and revoking permits for Palestinians residing in the West Bank to access Jerusalem, severely disrupting operations.

    And now, making INGO registration conditional on political and ideological alignment, undermining the neutrality, impartiality and independence of humanitarian actors.

    Under international humanitarian law, occupying powers are obligated to facilitate impartial humanitarian assistance and ensure the welfare of the protected population. Any attempt to condition humanitarian access on political alignment or penalise organisations for fulfilling their mandate risks breaching this framework. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to allow unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza in three legally binding provisional measures orders in 2024. Yet, these new rules expand and institutionalise existing barriers to aid.

    We call on States, donors, and the international community to:

    • Use all possible means to protect humanitarian operations from measures that compromise neutrality, independence, and access – including staff list requirements, political vetting, and vague revocation clauses.
    • Take concrete political and diplomatic action beyond statements of concern to ensure unhindered humanitarian access and prevent the erosion of principled aid delivery.
    • Support INGOs and Palestinian and Israeli civil society organisations through legal assistance, diplomatic support, and flexible funding to help mitigate legal, financial, and reputational risks. Donors must defend principled humanitarian and human rights work.

    The undersigned 55 organisations stress that engagement with the registration process to preserve critical humanitarian operations should not be misinterpreted as endorsement of these measures.

    These 55 organisations remain committed to the delivery of humanitarian aid, along with development and peacebuilding services and activities that are independent, impartial, and based on need, in full accordance with international law and the humanitarian principles derived from it. INGOs stand ready to engage with Israeli authorities in good faith on administrative processes but cannot accept measures that penalise principled humanitarian work or expose staff to retaliation. These measures not only undermine assistance in the oPt but also set a dangerous precedent for humanitarian operations globally.

    1. Act Church of Sweden
    2. ActionAid
    3. Alianza / ActionAid Spain (ApS/AAS)
    4. American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
    5. Anera
    6. Asamblea de Cooperación Por la Paz (ACPP)
    7. Asociación Paz con Dignidad
    8. CARE International
    9. CESVI
    10. Children Not Numbers
    11. Christian Aid
    12. CIDSE – International family of Catholic social justice organisations
    13. Cooperazione Internazionale Sud Sud (CISS)
    14. COSPE
    15. DanChurchAid (DCA)
    16. Danish House in Palestine
    17. Diakonia
    18. Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe
    19. forumZFD
    20. Global Communities
    21. HEKS/EPER
    22. Humanity First UK
    23. Humanity & Inclusion – Handicap International
    24. IM Swedish Development Partner
    25. International Media Support (IMS)
    26. Islamic Relief Worldwide
    27. Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC)
    28. KURVE Wustrow
    29. MedGlobal
    30. Mennonite Central Committee (MCC)
    31. Médecins du Monde (MdM) France
    32. Médecins du Monde (MdM) Spain
    33. Médecins du Monde (MdM) Switzerland
    34. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
    35. medico international
    36. Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA)
    37. Movement for Peace (MPDL)
    38. Muslim Aid
    39. Norwegian Church Aid (NCA)
    40. Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA)
    41. Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
    42. Oxfam
    43. Pax Christi International
    44. Plan International
    45. Polish Medical Mission Association (PMM)
    46. Première Urgence Internationale (PUI)
    47. Relief International (RI)
    48. Save the Children International (SCI)
    49. Secours Islamique France (SIF)
    50. Terre des Hommes (Tdh) Italia
    51. Terre des Hommes (Tdh) Lausanne
    52. The Center for Mind-Body Medicine
    53. War Child
    54. Weltfriedensdienst e.V. (world peace service)
    55. West Bank Protection Consortium (WBPC).

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

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Privacy Commissioner – Webinar programme for Privacy Week 2025 announced

    Source: Office of the Privacy Commissioner

    Privacy Week 2025 lands on the second week of May (12-16 May), with a full week of free webinars to promote privacy education.

    Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster says, “New Zealanders’ concerns over the collection and use of their personal information remains high, and they want to see organisations and businesses responding positively to this challenge.”

    “Now’s the time to brush up on your privacy skills, and take up the opportunity to learn more about subjects like AI and privacy, Māori data privacy, privacy and business, or media rules around privacy.

    “We’re lucky to have attracted some of Aotearoa’s top privacy experts to speak on AI governance, biometrics and children’s toys, privacy in property management, and more,” he says.

    OPC staff will share their expertise on the new IPP3a amendment, how to be a good privacy officer, and local government specific privacy issues.

    “The programme is full to bursting with topics that are relevant and interesting,” says Mr Webster.

    You don’t need to be a privacy expert to engage with Privacy Week or to be proactive about your privacy rights.

    Webinars this year have been rated from beginner to advanced, showing which is suitable for your level of knowledge. All webinars are free.

    “I encourage you to have a look at the programme and attend a talk.

    Privacy is a basic human right, and the more we can educate ourselves and ensure businesses and organisations understand the breadth of their privacy obligations, the better,” the Commissioner says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Energy Sector – New report reveals 84% of New Zealand’s fossil fuel machines ready for electrification

    The first complete inventory of all the fossil fuel machines in New Zealand has found there are over ten million of them in the country and that 84% could be feasibly replaced with electric machines that are available in the country today.

    Rewiring Aotearoa’s Machine Count report showed that upgrading six million of the most ‘electrifiable’ fossil fuel machines – things like cars, heaters, lawnmowers, road bikes, ovens and stoves – would save the country approximately $8 million every day, or $3.7 billion each year.

    It would also slash 7.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year, almost six times the total emissions from domestic aviation in 2023, or more than flying the entire population of Auckland to London and back every year.

    Another 10% of the total – around one million trucks, utes, vans, buses and smaller tractors – could be electrified if more effort was made to bring electric options to New Zealand, while just 6% of the machines – primarily those in heavy industry – require more research and development, or subsidies for them to be cost-effective.

    • Check out the interactive tool with all machines sized by estimated count or emissions here.
    Rewiring Aotearoa’s previous research has shown that many New Zealand homes, farms and businesses can reduce costs and emissions by upgrading their gas appliances, petrol cars and diesel machines to more efficient electric equivalents and running them on renewable electricity from the grid and solar.

    The Machine Count, a project supported by Ara Ake and EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority), set out to better understand the size of the challenge: how many fossil fuel machines there are in our economy, and how hard they would be to electrify.

    “We always knew there were a lot of them, but now we have a firm idea on the number and on how ‘electrifiable’ they all are,” says Rewiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey. “The research shows clearly that an electric transition is both technically possible and cost effective in the vast majority of cases.”

    Daniel Gnoth, Ara Ake’s General Manager of Research and Insights, says the report clearly identifies where the greatest opportunities lie to accelerate New Zealanders efforts to support the country’s electrification journey.

    “This study shows that innovation in energy isn’t just about developing new technologies-it’s about making clean, efficient machines more accessible and easier to adopt. The insights from this study will be incredibly useful for energy innovators to develop new solutions, including commercial and financial models, to accelerate the electrification of fossil fuel powered machines. If we get this right, we won’t just cut emissions-we’ll unlock new services and solutions that can be showcased and exported globally.”

    “It’s been a pleasure to partner with Rewiring Aotearoa on what is a groundbreaking study, both in its ambition and the breadth of its scope.”

    New Zealand’s fossil fuel prices are among the highest in the world, so Casey says shifting from machines that are reliant on expensive foreign molecules to electric machines that run on locally-made electrons is generally a no brainer – “for the economics, for the environment, and for energy security”.

    “Climate change is largely an energy problem. Around 75% of the world’s emissions come from energy and machines use that energy, so solving the problem in practice is about replacing those machines. We figured out how to electrify our cherry orchard near Cromwell and now we don’t use any diesel on the farm. We save tens of thousands on our energy bills each year, we’ve brought our emissions down to almost nothing, and we play a positive role in the energy system. I firmly believe New Zealand could become a demonstration project for the rest of the world and show that solving climate could save us all money.”

    Casey says there were many who said it wouldn’t be possible to run an orchard without diesel. There were many who didn’t believe we would see electric trucks, buses, diggers or loaders. And there are plenty who don’t believe we will see large electric tractors or mining equipment.

    “There are already plenty of electric buses and trucks on the road, huge electric machines are being launched all the time, and we are seeing massive technological advances and cost reductions in the fields of batteries, high-speed charging, solar panels and high temperature heat pumps, so there will definitely be options to explore in your sector.”

    EECA research shows that 36% of New Zealand household non-green appliances are over a decade old. The median age of a car in New Zealand is around 14 years, and businesses are regularly upgrading their fleets and equipment, so there are a whole lot of machines that are set to be replaced in the coming years.

    Megan Hurnard, EECA’s General Manager of Insights, Data and Communications says: “We’re entering a critical investment cycle for the machines that power our economy. As old equipment reaches the end of its life, the choices we make now will shape our energy system for decades. Replacing outdated machines with the same inefficient models risks locking in higher running costs, poor performance, and greater exposure to fuel price volatility. By choosing modern, energy-efficient technologies we can improve affordability, boost productivity, and enhance New Zealand’s energy security.”

    This research is not suggesting that every machine needs to be upgraded right now, but every machine is going to need to be replaced at some point and it’s clear your next purchasing decision should be electric.

    “In saying that, if you are more worried about emissions than economics, it makes sense to replace your fossil fuel machines before they break down,” says Casey. “Some fossil fuel machines can even be turned electric – like our 1990 Hilux, which we recently retrofitted with a 2014 Nissan Leaf motor and battery.”

    Casey says the electric transition is already happening in homes, farms and businesses around the country and the cost savings are driving a lot of that.

    “We believe the economic argument makes this shift inevitable. It makes no sense to use machines that cost more to do the same job – and it makes even less sense when those machines pump out so much pollution. But it’s not happening as fast as it should, and it’s not happening for the people who need it most; the ones who need to reduce their bills or those who need to improve their resilience in the face of worsening weather events.”

    Casey says opening up access to low-interest loans so that everyone – no matter their income – can deal with the higher upfront costs of electric machines and making it easy to upgrade is what will take this “from possible to practical”.

    “We need a range of financial innovations – both from the Government and from the banks – to speed this up. We also need innovations around the process – making it simple and easy for busy parents, renters, and retirees, not just the energy nerds, to benefit from going electric. And it needs to be from the first moment of research all the way through to installation. We’ve counted the machines, we’ve shown it’s feasible to electrify most of them, and we’ll be explaining in more detail how to make it happen and what needs to change in our upcoming policy manifesto.”

    The machine count database is a free, publicly available resource. It is hoped the database and findings will continue to be used and improved by government institutions, academic researchers, and businesses.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Consumer NZ – This Mother’s Day, give the gift of scam protection and digital confidence

    Source: Consumer NZ

    Now is a great time to brush up on digital hygiene or share advice with someone you care about – in your family, workplace or social circle.

    “When it comes to showing someone you care for them, a bunch of flowers is nice – but helping protect them from scams and digital threats might be the most powerful gift you could give,” says Sahar Lone, Consumer NZ’s communications and campaigns manager.

    “Many of us act as unofficial tech support for the mother figures in our lives. Mother’s Day is a great time to sit down together and set up some simple protections or share some tips to the family group chat. It’s a free, practical and genuinely caring gesture.”

    Consumer’s latest Sentiment Tracker results show that 56% of New Zealand households have been targeted by scams in the last year. Notably, high-value losses are growing – 34% of scam victims lost over $1,000, up from 26% last year.

    With scams becoming more sophisticated – from fake parcel tracking texts to the rise of ‘Hi Mum’ impersonation scams – it’s important to have these conversations, says Lone.

    “These chats can feel awkward, but they don’t have to be. One way that works for a lot of people is to tell a story – whether it’s yours or someone else’s – to share, not shame.”
     
    The Financial Crime Prevention Network found people aged 50 years and older are a bit more common in scam victim data, but all age groups are affected.

    “Scams affect New Zealanders of all ages and backgrounds – not just older individuals or those who aren’t tech-savvy. While women are slightly more likely to fall victim, no one is immune” says Lone.

    So, yes, helping your mum with scam protections is a gift to her – but also a way to protect your whole whānau from messy financial fallout.

    Seven tips to share this Mother’s Day.

    Set up two-factor authentication for accounts like banking, email and social media. This extra layer of protection sends a code to your phone or email to log in. Make sure the phone number you give is a mobile – not a landline.

    Use a password manager. These tools store and generate strong passwords, so you don’t have to remember them.

    “You only need to remember one password, the ‘vault’ password,” says Lone. “And if you write it down, don’t label it. Just stash it away somewhere safe.”

    Don’t reuse passwords. A password manager makes it easy to create unique passwords for every site, limiting the amount of thinking you have to do.

    Avoid clicking links in emails or texts. “Even if it looks legit, go to the website directly instead of clicking a link that someone has sent you,” says Lone.

    Check that account names and numbers match. Major banks offer confirmation of payee, a service that can help make sure your money goes to the right person. If there’s a partial match, no match, or other issue, check the details and only pay if you’re sure they’re correct. If you proceed without a full match, you risk sending the money to the wrong account and may never get it back.

    Only buy from trusted sites and check the URL. Scammers often use social media marketplaces and create fake websites. According to the State of Scams in New Zealand 2024 report by New Zealand’s online safety organisation Netsafe and the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, scammers use Gmail, Facebook and WhatsApp as their go-to platforms.

    Make a family scam plan. “My mum and I agreed I’ll never contact her about money in writing, only in person. That gives us both peace of mind,” says Lone.

    And while you’re on the topic, take the opportunity to talk with the whole whānau about how they’d respond to a scam, including the following steps.

    If something feels off, act quickly. Contact your bank, report the incident to the National Cyber Security Centre’s response team, CERT NZ, and if needed, reach out to the police, a lawyer or the Banking Ombudsman Scheme.

    Go to Netsafe or CERT NZ for free scam information and support.

    Sign our Stamp out scams petition and help apply pressure to government to introduce a national scam framework in New Zealand that will hold businesses to account: https://consumernz.cmail19.com/t/i-l-fhildll-ijjdkdttjk-j/

    About Consumer

    Consumer NZ is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to championing and empowering consumers in Aotearoa. Consumer NZ has a reputation for being fair, impartial and providing comprehensive consumer information and advice.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: University Research – Vape shops cluster around schools – UoA

    Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

    Almost half of New Zealand schools are within a short walking distance of a specialist vape retailer, despite a law aimed at preventing vape stores near schools.

    Embargoed to NZT 1201AM Wednesday 7 May: Almost half of schools across Aotearoa New Zealand have a specialist vape store within a 10-minute walk, despite recent legislation aimed at preventing this.

    New research, which overlays vape stores on school locations, shows 44 percent of schools have a vape store within a one-kilometre radius and 13 percent have a dedicated store within 300 metres.

    “That means a lot of our young people are getting multiple exposures on a daily basis to vape stores and vape marketing, to the attractive window displays and to the omnipresence of vaping, as a constantly available and easy thing to engage with,” says Ronan Payinda, a fourth-year medical student at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, who led the study.

    Payinda says he saw the explosion of vaping while he was at school in Northland and felt that, as a society, Aotearoa New Zealand was failing to grapple with its potentially serious health effects.

    Since 2020, it has been illegal to sell vapes to people under 18.

    However, in 2021, more than a quarter (26 percent) of secondary school students reported having vaped in the previous week.

    In 2023, the government passed legislation banning specialist vape stores from opening within 300 metres of schools and marae: however, existing vape shops were allowed to continue operating.

    The law was a response to reports of teens, parents, schools and teachers struggling with the epidemic of vaping.

    Payinda says this study, published today [NZT 7 May] in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health shows that stronger regulations are needed. Read the study. [Goes live 7 May, PDF available]

    “We are not putting the right protections in place to ensure that a whole new generation of young people aren’t chained to addictions for the rest of their lives,” Payinda says.

    The study looked only at specialist vape stores, whereas corner stores, petrol stations and other outlets, which sell a more limited range of vapes, are more popular with young people who reported no great difficulty making the illegal purchases.

    Further, the researchers found inequity in the location of vape stores.

    “We stratified these results by the level of deprivation of each community and found that there was a strong association between the level of poverty a community was suffering and the proximity of the vape stores to their schools.

    Among the most affluent fifth of schools, seven percent had a specialist vape store within a 300-metre radius. Among the poorest quintile, 40 percent of schools had a specialist vape store within 300 metres.

    Research in the US has found exposure to e-cigarette marketing via retail stores increases the likelihood of vape use among middle and high-school students.

    The long-term health effects of youth vaping are not yet known, but strong associations are emerging, Payinda says.

    The American Heart Association (AHA) says, in a statement, vapes can impair sleep quality, may affect mental health and may lead to nicotine dependence.

    Available studies suggest adolescents who vape may have lower lung function and be susceptible to respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic bronchitis and pneumonia.

    Smoking cigarettes can lead to heart disease. So, while comparable long-term data for vaping are lacking, the AHA report raises concerns about the possibility of heart disease in later years.

    The number of stores selling vapes within one kilometre of schools shows there is a need for more rigorous vaping policy, Payinda says.

    “We need to implement regulations to prevent young people from not just being exposed to vaping products but also accessing them and becoming addicted to them in the long term,” Payinda says. “We need to get more serious about protecting our young people.”

    About the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
    “Vape shops on the way to school: geographical analysis of the proximity of Specialist Vape Retailers to New Zealand schools” will be published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health at 12:01am 7 May 2025.
    Please credit the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health as the source of the research. 
    The Journal is the official publication of the Public Health Association of Australia.
    All articles are open access and can be found here: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/australian-and-new-zealand-journal-of-public-health

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Pay Equity – It’s more than just equal pay – Amnesty International

    Source: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND

    In response to reports that the Government is amending the Equal Pay Act under urgency, Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand’s Movement Building and Advocacy Director, Lisa Woods, said:

    “This looks like an abuse of process. Once again we are seeing the Government rushing through legislation without adequate oversight and the opportunity for us all, especially those most impacted, to have a say. That’s not what happens in a healthy, thriving, representative democracy.

    There can be legitimate reasons for using urgency. However, we are concerned that urgency is being used over and over and over again when it doesn’t need to be – avoiding the scrutiny and public input that helps protect against bad law.

    This is a problem we’ve seen across successive governments. It risks normalising undemocratic practices, bypassing normal checks and balances that support transparency and participation.

    The use of urgency is not an isolated concern.

    We’re seeing actions by Government utterly disregarding Te Tiriti o Waitangi – a fundamental part of our constitutional make-up. We’re seeing accountability and transparency challenged in other areas such as with the Official Information Act.

    New Zealanders must seriously question what path this is all leading us down and take a stand for the kind of society we want – one that’s based on respect, dignity and equity.

    This starts with getting our foundation right. For Aotearoa New Zealand this is about upholding Te Tiriti and the tino rangatiratanga it guarantees. In doing so we provide a place for us all to belong, for respectful relationships to flourish and a just foundation for how we can make decisions together.

    When our systems are designed so we can all make a meaningful contribution, we can all benefit in so many ways, including more well-rounded and informed decision-making, stronger communities and feelings of belonging and connection. Not to mention overcoming intergenerational inequities in how different groups of people are paid.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Unemployment data shows real weakness behind the headline rate

    Source:

    Unemployment data released today by Statistics New Zealand shows ongoing weakness in the labour market, with falling employment, falling hours of work, and nearly half of all workers getting a pay rise less than inflation, said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney.

    “While the unemployment rate number stayed at 5.1%, the number of people working full-time fell by 45,000 while the number working part-time increased by 25,000. People can’t find all the work they need to get by,” said Renney.

    “This data demonstrates that there are now 37,000 more unemployed people than at the last election. Māori unemployment is now at 10.5% and Pacific unemployment is at 10.8%. Employment fell in manufacturing, construction, retail, education, and health care. There are now nearly 3 million fewer hours being worked in the economy.

    “The weakness of current economic growth is also being reflected in the wage data. Total weekly gross earnings rose by less than inflation at 2.4% annually. 41% of workers saw no pay rise at all. It’s clear that workers are struggling to get the wage increases they need to keep up with the cost of living.

    “Youth unemployment continues to rise. There are now 70,700 15–24-year-olds unemployed and 96,600 are not in employment, education or training. There is no plan to help these younger workers, and they are bearing the brunt of employment change.

    “Without changes to the Government’s economic approach, things will likely get worse. In 2022 New Zealand was sixth in the OECD rankings for unemployment. We are now 18th.

    “The Budget this month will likely see forecasts of unemployment rising in the future. It’s time to change course and deliver policies that ensure good work and fair pay for all,” said Renney.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Statement by President Meloni on election of Friedrich Merz

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    6 Maggio 2025

    Congratulations to Friedrich Merz on his election as German Federal Chancellor.

    The collaboration between Italy and Germany is fundamental to address the challenges of the current international context. I am certain we will be able to achieve important results together, not only at bilateral level but also at EU, G7 and NATO level and with regard to the main international issues.

    I particularly believe that Germany and Italy, Europe’s two most important manufacturing economies, can make the difference in revitalising competitiveness, especially in the automotive industry, as well as in establishing equal partnerships with Africa and fighting irregular immigration.

    [Courtesy translation]

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WA joins 11 states seeking answers from federal consumer bureau over restitution delays

    Source: Washington State News

    SEATTLE — Washington Attorney General Nick Brown and leaders from 11 other states today are pressing the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to issue long-delayed restitution to victims of a predatory tech sales program.

    In a letter sent today to the CFPB’s acting director, the multistate coalition details how a court order against Prehired LLC for illegal, deceptive and abusive practices resulted in $4.2 million in restitution for some 660 consumers nationwide, yet unexplained delays at the agency level are keeping those checks from being distributed. The court order came in November 2023 and the states worked with the CFPB toward allocating the funds. The CFPB announced the allocation in May 2024.

    States received regular updates throughout 2024 regarding the federal government’s progress on distributing these funds to Prehired’s victims. But in February of this year, the CFPB stopped providing information about the process.

    “Prehired’s victims include consumers from each of our respective states…and nearly every other state in the nation,” the letter reads. “The CFPB committed to provide relief to these consumers when it made the allocation from the Civil Penalty Fund. During these increasingly difficult economic times, hundreds of Americans look to your leadership to deliver on this commitment.”

    Washington state sued the South Carolina company and its founder in 2022 for violating Washington’s Consumer Protection Act, Private Vocational Schools Act, and Collection Agency Act. The state alleged Prehired used deceptive marketing tactics to lure Washingtonians into paying up to $30,000 for Prehired’s unlicensed online sales training program. Most students could not afford to pay, and Prehired offered them income-share loans, which it represented were not loans.

    The company “guaranteed” students would land tech sales jobs paying $60,000 or more. Meanwhile, the company demanded monthly payments from students who were earning far less. When students failed to pay on massive debt from the program, Prehired pursued aggressive collection techniques such as filing lawsuits and initiating arbitration proceedings against students across the country.

    The state later joined other state attorneys general along with the CFPB in a consumer protection enforcement action against Prehired, resulting in the court order that Prehired return $4.2 million to those who made payments on the company’s loans.

    The letter urges the CFPB to respond with a timeframe in which the agency plans to distribute the funds to victims as expected, saying the states and impacted consumers deserve an explanation as to why justice has been delayed.

    Joining Washington in the letter are the states of Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, and the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.

    A copy of the letter is available here.

    -30-

     

    Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

    Media Contact:

    Email: press@atg.wa.gov

    Phone: (360) 753-2727

    General contacts: Click here

    Media Resource Guide & Attorney General’s Office FAQ

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Alan Wilson defends Second Amendment, urges Supreme Court to hear key gun rights caseRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson today joined 26 states and the Arizona Legislature in filing a friend-of-the-court brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to hear Wolford v. Lopez, a major Second Amendment case out of Hawaii. The brief, led by Montana and Idaho, asks the Court to overturn a Ninth Circuit ruling that severely limits law-abiding citizens’ right to carry firearms in public spaces. 

    “This case is about ensuring the Second Amendment is not treated as a second-class right,” said Attorney General Wilson. “If left in place, Hawaii’s law sets a dangerous precedent by flipping the burden, presuming carrying a firearm in public is unlawful unless expressly allowed. That directly contradicts our Constitution and threatens to eliminate the public’s right to self-defense in everyday places.” 

    At issue is Hawaii’s Act 52, which broadly prohibits public carry of firearms in so-called “sensitive places,” including parks, beaches, and restaurants serving alcohol. It also bans carrying on private property that is open to the public unless the property owner gives explicit permission. 

    The amicus brief argues that: 

    • The Ninth Circuit’s decision creates a direct split with the Second Circuit, which struck down a nearly identical New York law as unconstitutional.
    • Hawaii’s law is not supported by a historical tradition of firearms regulation as required under Y. State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n v. Bruen (2022).
    • The state’s sweeping restrictions go far beyond what the Founders would have recognized and attempt to sidestep the constitutional right to carry by redefining vast public areas as “sensitive places.”

    “The Constitution guarantees that law-abiding Americans have the right to protect themselves,” Attorney General Wilson continued. “We cannot allow activist courts or overreaching legislatures to strip away those rights through creative legal maneuvers. This case is an opportunity for the Supreme Court to set the record straight.” 

    The coalition urges the Court to grant certiorari and reverse the Ninth Circuit, reinforcing the principle that the Second Amendment protects the right to carry a firearm in public for lawful self-defense. 

    A copy of the amicus brief is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Mizuho Names 2023 Mizuho Americas Open Junior Winner Yana Wilson as Brand Ambassador

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The Epson Tour’s newest champion joins Legend Michelle Wie West and LPGA stars Rose Zhang and Ayaka Furue to form Team Mizuho

    Wilson to compete in 2025 Mizuho Americas Open as sponsor exemption

    NEW YORK, May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mizuho Americas, the Americas arm of Mizuho Financial Group (NYSE: MFG), one of the largest financial institutions in the world and title sponsor of the Mizuho Americas Open, today announced Yana Wilson, 2023 American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Player of the Year and current rookie on the Epson Tour, as an official brand ambassador. Wilson – who earned her first professional victory on the Epson Tour this past Sunday in her hometown of Las Vegas – joins Michelle Wie West, Rose Zhang and Ayaka Furue in representing “Team Mizuho.”

    After advancing to Qualifying in the LPGA Q-Series, Wilson secured guaranteed Epson Tour status for 2025 and ultimately decided to bet on herself and go pro. Prior to joining the Epson Tour, Wilson secured four AJGA victories, including winning the amateur tournament at the inaugural 2023 Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National Golf Club.

    “Watching Yana transition from a top-ranked amateur to a dedicated pro, has been an inspiring journey,” said Cheryl Gilberg, Chief Marketing Officer, Mizuho Americas. “Her win at the inaugural Mizuho Americas Open in 2023 and her impressive second-place finish in 2024 showcased not just her incredible talent, but also her unwavering determination and grace. We are thrilled to have her as part of Team Mizuho and look forward to supporting her every step of the way.”

    As previously announced at the Mizuho Americas Open media day in April, Mizuho has extended a sponsor exemption for Wilson to compete in the 2025 Mizuho Americas Open May 8 – 11, at the iconic Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City. She will make history as the first player to win the tournament as a junior and return to compete as a professional.

    “It’s an honor to join Team Mizuho alongside such inspiring women and accomplished golfers,” said Wilson. “Mizuho’s commitment to providing a championship experience for amateur and professional players alike is something I have been fortunate enough to experience through the Mizuho Americas Open. I am proud to represent Mizuho as they continue to help advance the next generation of talent and level the playing field for women.”

    Mizuho recently renewed its title sponsor agreement for the Mizuho Americas Open through 2030 and will raise the purse to $3.25 million in 2026, one of the largest outside of the Major championships. The tournament will maintain its successful format where the AJGA’s future stars compete alongside the best women golfers in the world. The new five-year agreement will allow the marquee tournament to remain in the New York City Metro area, providing unmatched benefits to the LPGA players, AJGA junior golfers, and the local community.

    The expanded ambassador program is a key component of Mizuho’s support of the LPGA. As the title sponsor of the Mizuho Americas Open, Mizuho is committed to enhancing the player experience while providing opportunity and mentorship through a new standard of competition with its pro/junior format, world-class golf course, player accommodations, and longstanding partnership with Girls Inc.

    About Mizuho
    Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. is one of the largest financial institutions in the world as measured by total assets of ~$2 trillion, according to S&P Global 2024. Mizuho’s 65,000 employees worldwide offer comprehensive financial services to clients in 36 countries and 850 offices throughout the Americas, EMEA, and Asia.

    Mizuho Americas is a leading Corporate and Investment Bank (CIB) that provides a full spectrum of client-driven solutions across strategic advisory, capital markets, corporate banking, and fixed income and equities sales & trading to corporate, government, and institutional clients in the US, Canada, and Latin America. Through its acquisition of Greenhill, Mizuho enhanced its M&A, restructuring, and private capital advisory capabilities across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Mizuho Americas employs approximately 4,000 professionals. For more information, visit www.mizuhoamericas.com.

    About the Mizuho Americas Open
    The Mizuho Americas Open is a purpose-driven tournament on the LPGA Tour. As title sponsor, Mizuho Americas created and drove the vision for a distinctive and premium event that celebrates women and advances the next generation, with a charitable focus on providing leadership and life skills to young girls from underserved communities. Played at the prestigious Liberty National Golf Club, with LPGA icon Michelle Wie West as celebrity host, the tournament features an elevated purse and a unique junior component where the AJGA’s stars of tomorrow compete alongside the best women golfers in the world. The tournament is also home to the Mizuho Americas DrivHER Summit, an inspirational day of learning and activities for Girls Inc., the official charitable partner of the Mizuho Americas Open. The Summit leverages the game of golf and the LPGA to inspire the members of Girls Inc. to discover the confidence they need to become leaders in their communities.

    Media Contacts

    For Mizuho:
    Laura London
    Director, Media Relations, Mizuho
    (917) 446-5226
    laura.london@mizuhogroup.com

    Jon Schwartz
    Head of Sports, Prosek Partners
    (347) 794-9633
    jschwartz@prosek.com

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d4b7ec21-1e15-4b10-9012-601c7b5dec5a
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0a3bc026-d816-486f-9906-ade8df91f1f0
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/58b485e7-cef7-4f36-8957-b30ce9423d54
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1345499e-6536-41eb-887e-043748d4ca82

    The MIL Network –