Category: Security

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet Launches EIP-7702 Detection Tool Upon Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, the leading non-custodial crypto wallet, has introduced a new detection feature for EIP-7702, a key component of Ethereum’s latest Pectra upgrade. The tool allows users to check whether their wallet is bound to this new functionality and disable it with one click, enhancing safety as wallets adopt more advanced capabilities.

    EIP-7702 enables externally owned accounts (EOAs) to temporarily function like smart contracts, allowing features such as stablecoin-based gas payments, third-party fee sponsorship, and batch transactions. These improvements are designed to streamline blockchain interactions and lower technical barriers for everyday users.

    Bitget Wallet plans to fully support EIP-7702 in future releases, viewing it as a step toward broader crypto accessibility. By eliminating the need to hold ETH for gas fees and enabling multiple actions in a single transaction, the standard offers a more efficient and user-friendly experience. However, its added flexibility also requires new safeguards to prevent misuse and protect user assets.

    To address these concerns, Bitget Wallet’s detection feature offers real-time visibility and control, reducing the risk of unintended approvals from malicious contracts. Additional EIP-7702-based tools, including support for stablecoin gas payments, are expected to roll out in future product updates.

    The shift toward smart account functionality requires wallets to rethink both user experience and security from the ground up,” said Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet. “EIP-7702 introduces meaningful flexibility, but it also demands clearer visibility and control. Our goal is to ensure users can adopt these new features with confidence, not complexity.”

    About Bitget Wallet
    Bitget Wallet is a non-custodial crypto wallet designed to make crypto simple, seamless and secure for everyone. With over 60 million users, it brings together a full suite of crypto services, including swaps, market insights, staking, rewards, a DApp browser, and crypto payment solutions. Supporting 130+ blockchains, 20,000+ DApps, and a million tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges. Backed by a $300+ million user protection fund, it ensures the highest level of security for users’ assets.

    For more information, visit: XTelegramInstagramYouTubeLinkedInTikTokDiscordFacebook

    For media inquiries, please contact media.web3@bitget.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/15d5c494-6e25-43e7-922e-27cfae4e8302

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-Evening Report: USP World Press Freedom Day warnings over AI, legal reform and media safety

    World Press Freedom Day is not just a celebration of the vital role journalism plays — it is also a moment to reflect on the pressures facing the profession and Pacific governments’ responsibility to protect it.

    This was one of the key messages delivered by two guest speakers at The University of the South Pacific (USP) Journalism’s 2025 World Press Freedom Day celebrations this week, the UN Human Rights Adviser for the Pacific, Heike Alefsen, and Fiji Media Association’s general secretary, Stanley Simpson.

    In her address to journalism students and other attendees on Monday, chief guest Alefsen emphasised that press freedom is a fundamental pillar of democracy, a human right, and essential for sustainable development and the rule of law.

    “Media freedom is a prerequisite for inclusive, rights-respecting societies,” Alefsen said, warning of rising threats such as censorship, harassment, and surveillance of journalists — especially with the spread of AI tools used to manipulate information and monitor media workers.

    UN Human Rights Adviser for the Pacific Heike Alefsen (from left), USP Journalism programme head Dr Shailendra Singh, and Fiji Media Association’s general secretary Stanley Simpson . . . reflecting on pressures facing the profession of journalism. Image: Mele Tu’uakitau

    AI and human rights
    She stressed that AI must serve human rights — not undermine them — and that it must be used transparently, accountably, and in accordance with international human rights law.

    “Some political actors exploit AI to spread disinformation and manipulate narratives for personal or political gain,” she said.

    She added that these risks were compounded by the fact that a handful of powerful corporations and individuals now controlled much of the AI infrastructure and influenced the global media environment — able to amplify preferred messages or suppress dissenting voices.

    “Innovation cannot come at the expense of press freedom, privacy, or journalist safety,” she said.

    Regarding Fiji, Alefsen praised the 2023 repeal of the Media Industry Development Act (MIDA) as a “critical turning point,” noting its positive impact on Fiji’s ranking in the RSF World Press Freedom Index.

    World Press Freedom Day at The University of the South Pacific on Monday. Image: USP — the country rose four places to 40th in the 2025 survey.

    However, she emphasised that legal reforms must continue, especially regarding sedition laws, and she highlighted ongoing challenges across the Pacific, including financial precarity, political pressure, and threats to women journalists.

    According to Alefsen, the media landscape in the Pacific was evolving for the better in some countries but concerns remained. She highlighted the working conditions of most journalists in the region, where financial insecurity, political interference, and lack of institutional support were prevalent.

    “Independent journalism ensures transparency, combats disinformation, amplifies marginalised voices, and enables people to make informed decisions about their lives and governance. In too many countries around the world, journalists face censorship, detention, and in some cases, death — simply for doing their jobs,” she said.

    Strengthening media independence and sustainability
    Keynote speaker Stanley Simpson, echoed these concerns, adding that “the era where the Fiji media could survive out of sheer will and guts is over.”

    “Now, it’s about technology, sustainability, and mental health support,” he said.

    Speaking on the theme, Strengthening Media Independence and Sustainability, Simpson emphasised the need for the media to remain independent, noting that journalists are often expected to make greater sacrifices than professionals in other industries.

    “Independence — while difficult and challenging — is a must in the media industry for it to maintain credibility. We must be able to think, speak, write, and report freely on any matter or anyone,” Simpson said.

    According to Simpson, there was a misconception in Fiji that being independent meant avoiding relationships or contacts.

    “There is a need to build your networks — to access and get information from a wide variety of sources. In fact, strengthening media independence means being able to talk to everyone and hear all sides. Gather all views and present them in a fair, balanced and accurate manner.”

    He argued that media could only be sustainable if it was independent — and that independence was only possible if sustainability was achieved. Simpson recalled the events of the 2006 political upheaval, which he said contributed to the decline of media freedom and the collapse of some media organisations in Fiji.

    “Today, as we mark World Press Freedom Day, we gather at this great institution to reflect on a simple yet profound truth: media can only be truly sustainable if it is genuinely free.

    “We need democratic, political, and governance structures in place, along with a culture of responsible free speech — believed in and practised by our leaders and the people of Fiji,” he said.

    USP students and guests at the 2025 World Press Freedom Day event. Picture: Mele Tu’uakitau

    The new media landscape
    Simpson also spoke about the evolving media landscape, noting the rise of social media influencers and AI generated content. He urged journalists to verify sources and ensure fairness, balance and accuracy — something most social media platforms were not bound by.

    While some influencers have been accused of being clickbait-driven, Simpson acknowledged their role. “I think they are important new voices in our democracy and changing landscape,” he said.

    He criticised AI-generated news platforms that republished content without editorial oversight, warning that they further eroded public trust in the media.

    “Sites are popping up overnight claiming to be news platforms, but their content is just AI-regurgitated media releases,” he said. “This puts the entire credibility of journalism at risk.”

    Fiji media challenges
    Simpson outlined several challenges facing the Fiji media, including financial constraints, journalist mental health, lack of investment in equipment, low salaries, and staff retention. He emphasised the importance of building strong democratic and governance structures and fostering a culture that respects and values free speech.

    “Many fail to appreciate the full scale of the damage to the media industry landscape from the last 16 years. If there had not been a change in government, I believe there would have been no Mai TV, Fiji TV, or a few other local media organisations today. We would not have survived another four years,” he said.

    According to Simpson, some media organisations in Fiji were only one or two months away from shutting down.

    “We barely survived the last 16 years, while many media organisations in places like New Zealand — TV3’s NewsHub — have already closed down. The era where the Fiji media would survive out of sheer will and guts is over. We need to be more adaptive and respond quickly to changing realities — digital, social media, and artificial intelligence,” he said.

    Dr Singh (left) moderates the student panel discussion with Riya Bhagwan, Maniesse Ikuinen-Perman and Vahefonua Tupola. Image: Mele Tu’uakitau

    Young journalists respond
    During a panel discussion, second-year USP journalism student Vahefonua Tupola of Tonga highlighted the connection between the media and ethical journalism, sharing a personal experience to illustrate his point.

    He said that while journalists should enjoy media freedom, they must also apply professional ethics, especially in challenging situations.

    Tupola noted that the insights shared by the speakers and fellow students had a profound impact on his perspective.

    Another panelist, third-year student and Journalism Students Association president Riya Bhagwan, addressed the intersection of artificial intelligence and journalism.

    She said that in this era of rapid technological advancement, responsibility was more critical than ever — with the rise of AI, social media, and a constant stream of information.

    “It’s no longer just professional journalists reporting the news — we also have citizen journalism, where members of the public create and share content that can significantly influence public opinion.

    “With this shift, responsible journalism becomes essential. Journalists must uphold professional standards, especially in terms of accuracy and credibility,” she said.

    The third panelist, second-year student Maniesse Ikuinen-Perman from the Federated States of Micronesia, acknowledged the challenges facing media organisations and journalists in the Pacific.

    She shared that young and aspiring journalists like herself were only now beginning to understand the scope of difficulties journalists face in Fiji and across the region.

    Maniesse emphasised the importance of not just studying journalism but also putting it into practice after graduation, particularly when returning to work in media organisations in their home countries.

    The panel discussion, featuring journalism students responding to keynote addresses, was moderated by USP Journalism head of programme Dr Shailendra Singh.

    Dr Singh concluded by noting that while Fiji had made significant progress with the repeal of the Media Industry Development Act (MIDA), global experience demonstrated that media freedom must never be taken for granted.

    He stressed that maintaining media freedom was an ongoing struggle and always a work in progress.

    “As far as media organisations are concerned, there is always a new challenge on the horizon,” he said, pointing to the complications brought about by digital disruption and, more recently, artificial intelligence.

    • Fiji rose four places to 40th (out of 180 nations) in the RSF 2025 World Press Freedom Index to make the country the Oceania media freedom leader outside of Australia (29) and New Zealand (16).

    Niko Ratumaimuri is a second-year journalism student at The University of the South Pacific’s Laucala Campus. This article was first published by the student online news site Wansolwara and is republished in collaboration with Asia Pacific Report.

    USP Journalism students, staff and guests at the 2025 World Press Freedom Day celebrations at Laucala campus on Monday. Image: Mele Tu’uakitau

    Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI USA: Barr, Artificial Intelligence and the Labor Market: A Scenario-Based Approach

    Source: US State of New York Federal Reserve

    Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today.1 In my remarks, I would like to address a key question facing economists, policymakers, and people all over the world: How will artificial intelligence, particularly generative artificial intelligence, or GenAI, affect workers and the labor market in the years ahead?
    Before I turn to that issue, I’d like to touch on a topic that I expect is also of interest: the outlook for the U.S. economy and the implications for monetary policy.
    The U.S. economy entered this quarter in a relatively strong position: The unemployment rate has been low and stable, and the disinflationary process has continued on a gradual, albeit uneven, path towards our 2 percent objective. Private domestic final purchases have been solid. Overall, the economy has been resilient.
    Against that backdrop, the outlook has been clouded by trade policies that have led to an increase in uncertainty, contributing to declines in measures of consumer and business sentiment. I expect tariffs to lead to higher inflation in the United States and lower growth both in the United States and abroad starting later this year.
    In my view, higher tariffs could lead to disruption to global supply chains and create persistent upward pressure on inflation. Faced with substantial tariffs, businesses will likely change how they source intermediate inputs, and it will take time and investment for them to reroute their distribution networks. Conversely, global trade networks may change rapidly, and some suppliers may not be able to adapt quickly enough to survive these changes. This concern is particularly acute for small businesses, which are less diversified, less able to access credit, and hence more vulnerable to adverse shocks. Small businesses play a vital role in production networks, often providing specialized inputs that can’t easily be sourced elsewhere, and business failures could further disrupt supply chains. As we saw during the pandemic, such disruptions can have large and lasting effects on prices, as well as output.
    I am equally concerned that tariffs will lead to higher unemployment as the economy slows. Thus, the FOMC may be in a difficult position if we were to see both rising inflation and rising unemployment.
    The size and scope of the recent tariff increases are without modern precedent, we don’t know their final form, and it is too soon to know how they will affect the economy. Yet given the economy’s strong starting point and the progress we have made in bringing inflation back toward our 2 percent objective, monetary policy is in a good position to adjust as conditions unfold. Meanwhile, we will also be closely monitoring how technologies like artificial intelligence are being integrated into economic activity and analyzing the implications for how the economy will evolve.
    Let me now return to the longer-term question of how AI will affect the labor market. Debate about machines replacing workers is nothing new, and even artificial intelligence is not particularly new either. AI has, in some form, arguably been around for decades. Computer scientists have been developing machine learning algorithms for many years, and these algorithms have been widely used in commercial applications, such as fraud detection and advertising. Speech and facial recognition are already ubiquitous. These more long-standing forms of AI are continuing to improve, driving progress in domains ranging from finance to medical diagnosis, and becoming so deeply embedded in our daily lives that we scarcely notice them anymore.
    But GenAI promises to go much further. Unlike traditional machine learning techniques, which often focus on relatively simple prediction and classification tasks, the large language models that have emerged in recent years can generate new content—anything from news articles to computer code to images and video to customer service dialogue. Emerging forms of “agentic” AI can undertake complex, multistep tasks—for example, taking a customer through a transaction and then placing an automated order. As AI continues to develop, it will increasingly be combined with physical technologies like autonomous vehicles and advanced robotics, further extending its ability to interact with the real world. And AI may be shaping up to become what the esteemed economist Zvi Griliches called an “invention of a method of inventing” that speeds up the research and development process itself.2
    Growing evidence indicates that AI will be a “general purpose technology”—such as railroads, electricity, or computers—which is characterized by widespread adoption, complementary progress in many downstream applications, and ongoing improvement in the core technology.3 Past general purpose technologies have dramatically improved productivity. So, against this background, the natural question is, what about AI?
    In trying to understand how AI might transform work, it’s useful to consider how it could be applied in individual occupations, each of which comprises a range of tasks that vary in their susceptibility to automation. Like past waves of information technology, AI will substitute for human labor in some tasks, complement human labor in other tasks, and spur the creation of new tasks that humans will perform, at least initially.4 The net effects of AI on employment, both in the aggregate and across demographic and education groups, will depend on the relative size of these offsetting effects.
    A pessimistic view is that AI and robotics could become so capable and cost effective as to render most human labor obsolete, culminating in mass unemployment. Such concerns about technological advances are hardly a novel development. At least since the Luddites of the early 19th century tried to disable textile looms, people have feared that machines would bring about steep declines in employment, wages, and human welfare.5
    Economists have long been skeptical of that view, which suffers from the “lump of labor fallacy”—the presumption that there’s a fixed amount of work to be done, so if machines do it, humans will not.6 New technologies do eliminate some existing occupations, and not all workers benefit from technological change. But technology also creates new occupations, and the many waves of technological advances over the centuries haven’t rendered humans obsolete. For example, many of the tasks that were performed by humans in the 1950s are now performed by computers and robots, and yet the unemployment rate is similar to what it was back then, while the labor force participation rate is higher overall.
    However, the amazing potential capabilities and breadth of applications associated with AI—many of which are already apparent—make it worth asking whether this time may be different. AI holds enormous promise of faster economic growth, advances in human health, and a higher standard of living. But alongside the kinds of labor market disruptions seen in past episodes of revolutionary technological change, we will need to consider the possibility of more sweeping changes in the way we work.
    A Scenario ApproachIn a previous speech, I outlined two hypothetical scenarios describing how AI could evolve.7 In the first scenario, we see only incremental adoption that primarily augments what humans do today but still leads to significant and widespread productivity gains. In the second scenario, we see profound change, in which we extend human capabilities with far-reaching consequences.
    Today, I will apply the same approach to analyze the potential effects of AI on the labor market. Of course, there is tremendous uncertainty about how AI will evolve and how it will affect the economy, as well as society more broadly. Amid this uncertainty, a scenario-based approach can give us a framework for thinking about the potential effects of AI on employment, real wages, and productivity, as well as for considering the possible role that government could play in influencing this transition.
    Scenario 1: Incremental ProgressLet’s start with the “gradual” scenario, in which new AI technologies are adopted at a brisk, but not a breathless, pace or advance quickly at first and then plateau—perhaps because of constraints imposed by computing resources, the exhaustion of novel training data, and rising energy consumption.
    Under this scenario, AI primarily operates by automating some—but not all—tasks within many occupations. We’ve seen some of this task substitution happen already: Computer programmers rely on AI copilots to write code, allowing them to focus on higher-level tasks, while customer support agents can use chatbots to improve and expedite their responses.8 Lawyers draw on GenAI to conduct legal research, while AI-powered safety features improve the performance of human automobile drivers.
    Under this scenario, as foundational models improve, novel use cases are discovered, and businesses continue to integrate AI into their operations, more and more occupations will be affected, and many jobs will use AI tools more intensively. As these technologies improve, even incremental change may allow AI to become accurate and cheap enough to replace some occupations altogether. It’s hard to make predictions at this stage. But a plausible conjecture is that we could see, for example, fewer human programmers, lawyers, or commercial drivers. At the same time, most current occupations would persist in this scenario—albeit in modified and more productive forms.
    Beyond existing occupations, general purpose technologies also encourage the creation of new occupations, fueled by new products and novel ways of doing business. It’s difficult to envision the novel jobs that will replace the ones we might lose to an incremental AI scenario. But one possibility is that the future could bring us managers of AI agents, specialists in human–AI collaboration, ethicists, safety experts, and large numbers of people involved in adopting, maintaining, and educating about AI tools. Technology, and how we use a particular innovation, evolves in unpredictable ways, and we should expect to be surprised.
    Under this scenario, jobs remain plentiful, real wages are buoyed by productivity gains, and employment and labor force participation remain high and could even rise, if strong wage growth entices new labor market entrants and if improvements in health care increase work capacity among older or disabled individuals. If the widespread adoption of AI proceeds gradually, then workers will have time to adjust, reducing the disruption to the labor market—though, as with previous general purpose technologies, AI would likely imply that some groups of workers experience a painful process of dislocation and transition.
    Retraining could help here. A recent survey carried out by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that many businesses plan to retrain their workers to use AI rather than laying them off.9 In some cases, AI may disrupt career ladders by automating many entry-level tasks—such as reviewing legal documents or drafting code—that were historically performed by early-career workers. But if labor demand changes slowly enough, students and workers are more likely to have time to predict which skills will be marketable and to make and recoup human capital investments before their skills become obsolete.
    What about the effect of AI on inequality? Some research suggests that GenAI may help less-productive workers catch up to their more-productive peers.10 That said, the AI economy will likely put a premium on digital skills, facility with new technologies, and adaptability. The precedent of the computer revolution suggests that highly educated workers may benefit most, boosting wage inequality—a phenomenon called “skill-biased technological change.”11 Another possibility is that the labor share of income could decline, if capital owners benefit more than wage earners—for example, because the gains accruing from AI adoption go to large, highly capitalized firms whose technical capabilities, consumer networks, and training data allow them to develop state-of-the-art AI techniques.
    Scenario 2: TransformationNow let’s consider an alternative scenario in which AI completely transforms the economy. As I described in my earlier speech, in this transformative scenario, humans employ AI to unleash their imagination and creativity—combined with robust investment in research and development—to make rapid breakthroughs that have the potential to improve our lives. With growth propelled by swift technological progress, society’s resources would be vastly expanded, AI would spur revolutionary advances in health, and many individuals would enjoy more time for leisure activities.
    Indeed, transformative AI could bring about a state of affairs that John Maynard Keynes famously envisioned almost a hundred years ago, one in which there are “ever larger and larger classes and groups of people from whom problems of economic necessity have been practically removed.”12 At the same time, transformative AI could imply a much smaller role for human labor—a development that would entail sweeping social changes and profound challenges for government.
    Under this scenario, AI would take over a broad range of existing jobs. As economist Anton Korinek writes, “AI systems advance toward mastering all forms of cognitive work that can be performed by humans, including new tasks that don’t even exist yet.”13 Building on developments we are already starting to see, improved chatbots and AI agents would outperform their human counterparts in activities ranging from customer support to medical diagnosis. Along similar lines, advanced robotics could increasingly substitute for human workers in manual and production jobs. Widespread automation would bring many benefits. The availability and quality of many services could increase markedly, and many less-desirable jobs—such as those involving tedious tasks or dangerous working conditions—could be transferred to machines.
    What jobs would exist in this more transformative scenario? As in the more gradual scenario—and just as has happened in the past, when earlier general purpose technologies were adopted—we would see the emergence of new occupations. These would notably include jobs that involve managing the new AI-dominated economy. In addition, some existing occupations would likely persist, at least for some time. This would be the case for three key reasons. First, some jobs may prove especially hard to automate. For example, plumbers and mechanics rely on physical dexterity and adaptability to situations—attributes that machines may find difficult to replicate, or to replicate cheaply. Second, in some contexts, consumers may insist on a human touch. Patients may still want human doctors and therapists, while parents may want human teachers and caregivers to look after their children. Third, even when AI has the technical capability to carry out tasks, some jobs are likely to be protected by laws and regulations. For example, legal and political systems would likely continue to insist on human judges and elected officials. Eventually, however, an increasing share of current jobs may be automated. The technological frontier is moving quickly, consumers’ preferences may change as they become more comfortable interacting with AI, and the regulatory landscape could evolve to provide broader roles for AI.
    It’s difficult to say how many jobs will exist under transformative AI. On the one hand, it’s possible that—as has happened so often in the past—the economy will find inventive new ways to keep most people employed. On the other hand, there are concerns that some workers could experience a large enough decline in their earnings potential that paid work may no longer be an available option. Employment and labor force participation could fall; displaced workers may grapple with a loss of daily routines, social connectedness, and the meaning they derived from employment. The risk of a significant decline in employment looms large in many people’s concerns about AI, and it’s important for policymakers to be attentive to that risk.
    Even if AI ultimately creates as many jobs as it eliminates, we should expect that the transition will be difficult. Existing firms would likely reorganize their production, laying off workers in the process. They could also lose market share to technologically sophisticated start-ups, which could scale up with a minimal number of human workers managing AI subordinates.14 Many displaced workers would have obsolete skills, and skill mismatch could lead to a structural increase in unemployment as these workers retool for new occupations. It is possible that unemployment might rise only temporarily. It is also possible, however, that more sustained increases could be observed. That would be the case if technology continued to evolve too quickly for many workers to keep up, leading to continual churn and ongoing dislocation.
    How might transformative AI affect income inequality? Both traditionally high-wage occupations, such as lawyers and financial professionals, and lower-wage occupations, such as factory and retail workers, could be automated, and it is difficult to predict how AI would affect wage structures. But the largest wage gains would likely go to the highest-skilled workers, as they would be best positioned to implement frontier technologies and help oversee the AI economy. In addition, if capital owners are the main beneficiaries, the labor share of income could decline precipitously.
    Transformative AI could bring about profound improvements in living standards, leisure opportunities, and human health. At the same time, society would confront profound distributional changes and potential challenges. Much would depend on how broadly the economic benefits are shared, how policymakers respond, and how society adapts to the rapid pace of change.
    How Will We Know Which Future We Are Living in?The world looks very different across these two scenarios. As AI spreads throughout the economy, how will we know which world we’re living in, particularly in view of the likelihood that AI adoption will proceed at different rates in different occupations and industries?
    First, we will need to track how many businesses are using AI and how it is affecting their operations. Recent surveys give different impressions about AI adoption thus far, but they consistently show rapid increases in usage over time.15
    Second, we will need to monitor AI’s evolving technological capabilities. AI developers test their models against human performance in benchmark activities like standardized tests and visual tasks. Results of these tests will continue to provide important clues about which activities, and thus which occupations, are at risk of being automated. Along these lines, economists have already developed measures of occupations’ exposure to automation. They have based these measures on the characteristics of the tasks involved in different occupations.16 Of course, as the set of tasks that AI can perform expands, these measures can be updated accordingly.
    A third way to judge how AI is changing the economy is that data on job openings will likely be a leading indicator of changes in labor demand. What kinds of jobs are employers creating? What skills do they cite in job ads?17
    And, lastly, job growth by occupation and industry is likely to reflect the emerging effects of AI. So far, the imprint of AI is difficult to discern in the employment statistics, but that is likely to change. It may be difficult to disentangle the effects of AI from the other determinants of employment growth, especially in real time. But in the event of truly sweeping changes in the occupational structure, the effects of AI should show up in the data.
    Looking AheadWhat do these two scenarios imply for society? In scenario 1, the issues that society has to address will be more straightforward. Policymakers will have to decide how to regulate emergent technologies, education and training programs will have to be tailored to shifts in labor demand, and some labor market regulations may need to be updated. In scenario 2, the issues that society will need to address will be more profound. Questions will include how to ensure that the economic gains associated with AI are broadly shared across individuals and households, and how to adapt social institutions to a world in which many more individuals in their prime working years may be working less. Fortunately, although this second scenario would entail many difficult challenges, it also implies a world in which society has many more resources to deploy against those challenges.
    Those are some of the big questions that society may need to grapple with in the future, and most of these questions are not those that will be primarily addressed by monetary policymakers. As a central banker, I can speak more specifically about how structural changes in the economy related to AI could affect monetary policy considerations—in particular, the Federal Reserve’s dual mandate to promote maximum employment and stable prices. Monetary policy considerations could be affected in many ways; I will limit myself to two prominent possibilities.
    First, AI may require monetary policymakers to reassess our estimates of the natural rate of unemployment, which informs our assessment of the cyclical state of the economy and thus the appropriate stance of monetary policy. The natural rate, which we call u*, is the unemployment rate that corresponds to the maximum level of employment that can be maintained without producing undesirably high inflation. Among other things, u* depends on the efficiency with which matches are formed between workers and firms, and it could rise if shifts in labor demand across industries and occupations lead to skill mismatch and lengthy unemployment spells as workers retrain and switch careers. The natural rate also depends on the demographic composition of the labor force, which AI could affect. If AI shifts the workforce toward groups that have higher labor force attachment but lower unemployment rates (such as college graduates), the result could be downward pressure on u*. It should be stressed that u* is never directly observed and is difficult to discern in real time. But economists use a wide range of models to estimate the natural rate, and we can use those models to see how u* is changing as AI is adopted more widely.18
    Another related consideration relevant for monetary policy is how economic changes due to AI will affect the neutral interest rate, or r*, which is the level of the real interest rate consistent with the economy being at its potential and inflation being at our 2 percent objective. Economic theory suggests that a permanently higher growth rate of productivity, of the kind that might arise under either AI scenario, tends to raise r*. When that happens, a higher real interest rate would be required to deliver any desired monetary policy stance. A challenge that we face is that it is difficult to work out in real time how r* is evolving. But we can make judgments about developments in the behavior of r* by monitoring the relationship between economic activity and interest rates and by using financial market information to estimate longer-run real interest rates.
    ConclusionI’ll return to the broader point and conclude. AI is poised to transform our economy, likely in profound ways. But the speed and extent of that transformation are not yet clear. AI is likely to boost productivity, increase scientific discovery, and transform the nature of work. How these developments unfold will have important implications for society and for central bankers.

    1. The views expressed here are my own and are not necessarily those of my colleagues on the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Open Market Committee. Return to text
    2. See page 502 in Zvi Griliches (1957), “Hybrid Corn: An Exploration in the Economics of Technological Change,” Econometrica, vol. 25 (October), pp. 501–22. See also Iain M. Cockburn, Rebecca Henderson, and Scott Stern (2019), “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Innovation: An Exploratory Analysis,” in Ajay Agrawal, Joshua Gans, and Avi Goldfarb, eds., The Economics of Artificial Intelligence: An Agenda (Chicago: University of Chicago Press), pp. 115–48, and Martin Neil Baily, David M. Byrne, Aidan T. Kane, and Paul E. Soto (forthcoming), “Generative AI at the Crossroads: Light Bulb, Dynamo, or Microscope,” Brookings Institution working paper. Return to text
    3. The term “general purpose technology” is typically abbreviated to GPT. To avoid confusion with ChatGPT, I will continue to use the longer term. For a definition and discussion of past general purpose technologies, see Timothy F. Bresnahan and Manuel Trajtenberg (1995), “General Purpose Technologies ‘Engines of Growth’?” Journal of Econometrics, vol. 65 (January), pp. 83–108. For a discussion of whether earlier AI techniques already meet these criteria, see Avi Goldfarb, Bledi Taska, and Florenta Teodoridis (2023), “Could Machine Learning Be a General Purpose Technology? A Comparison of Emerging Technologies Using Data from Online Job Postings,” Research Policy, vol. 52 (January), 104653. For a discussion of GenAI specifically, see Tyna Eloundou, Sam Manning, Pamela Mishkin, and Daniel Rock (2023), “GPTs Are GPTs: An Early Look at the Labor Market Impact Potential of Large Language Models,” (PDF) March 17 (revised August 22). For a contrasting view that AI will have only modest effects on productivity over the next 10 years, see Daron Acemoglu (2025), “The Simple Macroeconomics of AI,” Economic Policy, vol. 40 (January), pp. 13–58. Return to text
    4. See Daron Acemoglu and Pascual Restrepo (2019), “Automation and New Tasks: How Technology Displaces and Reinstates Labor,” Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 33 (Spring), pp. 3–30. Return to text
    5. As David Autor writes, “There have been periodic warnings in the last two centuries that automation and new technology were going to wipe out large numbers of middle class jobs. The best-known early example is the Luddite movement of the early 19th century, in which a group of English textile artisans protested the automation of textile production by seeking to destroy some of the machines.” See page 3 in David H. Autor (2015), “Why Are There Still So Many Jobs? The History and Future of Workplace Automation,” Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 29 (Summer), pp. 3–30. Return to text
    6. For example, see textbook discussions of automation and unemployment by Paul A. Samuelson (1964), Economics: An Introductory Analysis, 6th ed. (New York: McGraw-Hill), pp. 333–37; and James D. Gwartney and Richard Stroup (1982), Economics: Private and Public Choice, 3rd ed. (New York: Academic Press), pp. 518–19. Return to text
    7. See Michael S. Barr (2025), “Artificial Intelligence: Hypothetical Scenarios for the Future,” speech delivered at the Council on Foreign Relations, New York, February 18. See also Anton Korinek and Donghyun Suh (2024), “Scenarios for the Transition to AGI,” NBER Working Paper Series 32255 (Cambridge, Mass.: National Bureau of Economic Research, March). Return to text
    8. For evidence that GenAI increases the productivity of human programmers, see Sida Peng, Eirini Kalliamvakou, Peter Cihon, and Mert Demirer (2023), “The Impact of AI on Developer Productivity: Evidence from GitHub Copilot,” (PDF) February 13. For similar evidence regarding customer support agents, see Erik Brynjolfsson, Danielle Li, and Lindsey Raymond (2025), “Generative AI at Work,” Quarterly Journal of Economics, vol. 140 (May), pp. 889–942. Return to text
    9. See Jaison R. Abel, Richard Deitz, Natalia Emanuel, and Benjamin Hyman (2024), “AI and the Labor Market: Will Firms Hire, Fire, or Retrain?” Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Liberty Street Economics (blog), September 4. Among surveyed businesses in New York and New Jersey, about half of businesses that planned to use AI within the next six months expected to retrain their current staff to use AI. Return to text
    10. See Shakked Noy and Whitney Zhang (2023), “Experimental Evidence on the Productivity Effects of Generative Artificial Intelligence,” Science, July 13, vol. 381 (6654), pp. 187–92. Return to text
    11. See Claudia Goldin and Lawrence F. Katz (2008), The Race between Education and Technology (Cambridge: Harvard University Press). Return to text
    12. See page 372 in John Maynard Keynes (1930), “Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren,” in Essays in Persuasion (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1963), pp. 358–73. Return to text
    13. See page 9 in Anton Korinek (2024), “The Economics of Transformative AI,” (PDF) Reporter, no. 4 (Cambridge, Mass.: National Bureau of Economic Research), pp. 9–12. Return to text
    14. See Erin Griffith (2025), “A.I. Is Changing How Silicon Valley Builds Start-Ups,” New York Times, February 20. See also Microsoft (2025), 2025: The Year the Frontier Firm Is Born, Work Trend Index Annual Report, April 23, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index/2025-the-year-the-frontier-firm-is-born. Return to text
    15. For a summary of recent survey evidence on AI adoption, see Leland Crane, Michael Green, and Paul Soto (2025), “Measuring AI Uptake in the Workplace,” FEDS Notes (Washington: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, February 5). Across six firm-level surveys, the share of respondents using some form of AI ranges widely—from 5 to 40 percent—likely in part reflecting differences in sample composition, question wording, and the period over which AI usage is measured. Across 10 individual-level surveys, usage of GenAI generally ranges between 20 and 40 percent, with much higher rates among computer programmers. Return to text
    16. For examples of this approach, see Carl Benedikt Frey and Michael A. Osborne (2017), “The Future of Employment: How Susceptible Are Jobs to Computerisation?” Technological Forecasting and Social Change, vol. 114 (January), pp. 254–80; Erik Brynjolfsson, Tom Mitchell, and Daniel Rock (2018), “What Can Machines Learn, and What Does It Mean for Occupations and the Economy?” AEA Papers and Proceedings, vol. 108 (May), pp. 43–47; Edward W. Felten, Manav Raj, and Robert Seamans (2018), “A Method to Link Advances in Artificial Intelligence to Occupational Abilities,” AEA Papers and Proceedings, vol. 108 (May), pp. 54–57; and Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin, and Rock, “GPTs Are GPTs” (see note 3). Return to text
    17. See Daron Acemoglu, David Autor, Jonathon Hazell, and Pascual Restrepo (2022), “Artificial Intelligence and Jobs: Evidence from Online Vacancies,” Journal of Labor Economics, vol. 40 (April), pp. S293–340. Return to text
    18. See Brandyn Bok, Richard K. Crump, Christopher J. Nekarda, and Nicolas Petrosky-Nadeau (2023), “Estimating Natural Rates of Unemployment: A Primer,” (PDF) Working Paper Series 2023-25 (San Francisco: Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, August). One approach for estimating u* is to aggregate across demographic groups that differ in their average unemployment rates over long periods. Another common approach is to estimate state-space models that incorporate a Phillips curve relationship between unemployment and inflation, as in Thomas Laubach (2001), “Measuring the NAIRU: Evidence from Seven Economies,” Review of Economics and Statistics, vol. 83 (May), pp. 218–31. In addition, assessments of the natural rate can be informed by models that yield estimates of matching efficiency, such as Regis Barnichon and Andrew Figura (2015), “Labor Market Heterogeneity and the Aggregate Matching Function,” American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, vol. 7 (October), pp. 222–49; and Hie Joo Ahn and Leland D. Crane (2020), “Dynamic Beveridge Curve Accounting,” Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2020-027 (Washington: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, March). Return to text

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Global: Is Kenya’s president safe in a crowd? Security expert scans VIP protection checklist

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Douglas Lucas Kivoi, Principal Policy Analyst, Governance Department, The Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA)

    Protecting any president requires multiple layers of intelligence, physical security and rapid response security protocols. Exact operational details are classified, but there are global best practices in VIP protection.

    The issue of presidential protection in Kenya has become particularly relevant following an incident in early May 2025 when someone in a crowd threw a shoe at President William Ruto during a public event, hitting his hand.

    I have studied policing and security policies in Kenya for over 15 years, interacting closely with the country’s security protocols. In my view this incident exposed several critical security lapses around the elite officers tasked with protecting the president.

    The security of the president is a critical issue in Kenya. The country is exposed to terror groups like the Somalia-based Al-Shabaab and other criminal networks in the region.

    In 2021, a businessman embedded himself into the presidential motorcade and drove into then president Uhuru Kenyatta’s official residence. In 2017, an unidentified man who was said to have illegally accessed the highly protected state house grounds was shot dead by presidential guards.

    There are multiple layers to Kenya’s protection protocols. They include National Intelligence Service officers, the Kenya Defence Force, Presidential Escort Police officers drawn from the highly trained General Service Unit, bomb disposal experts and regular police officers. Their deployment depends on the nature of the presidential engagement.

    While the shoe incident may be passed off as simply embarrassing, it should serve as a wake-up call to tighten security protocols around the president without necessarily compromising his public engagement with citizens.

    What’s in place

    Prior to any presidential visit across the country, security teams conduct a thorough reconnaissance of the destination. This includes coordinating with local policing agencies, clearing airspace, mapping secure transport routes and identifying nearby medical facilities in case of emergencies.

    Presidential motorcade routes are pre-planned and a dry run is made. This often includes mapping alternative routes to avoid predictability should there be assailants along a presidential route. It is common to see some roads temporarily closed and security officers conducting sweeps for any threats or explosives. In areas deemed high risk, counter security sniper teams are covertly deployed in strategic areas.

    Cases of attacks on presidential motorcades are rare in Kenya. However, in 2002 during presidential campaigns, angry opposition supporters stoned then president Daniel Moi’s motorcade. In November 2021, an angry mob hurled rocks at then deputy president Ruto’s motorcade.

    The National Intelligence Service and Presidential Escort Unit covertly scout locations in advance, assessing potential security vulnerabilities. Crowd sizes, and entry and exit points for the head of state are mapped out in advance.

    In cases where meetings are held in town halls or huge tents, attendees are screened using metal detectors and/or physical searches. Uniformed and plainclothes security officers embed themselves in the crowd to monitor any threats.

    The president and any dignitaries accompanying him have at least three layers of security.

    The inner ring consists of close protection officers who are always within an arm’s length of the president to physically thwart any threats. The middle ring has armed security guards who watch for, among others, sudden movements and abnormal behaviour within the crowd. The outer ring consists of regular police and paramilitary units from the General Service Unit who secure the outside perimeter.

    The presidential motorcade is a coordinated convoy of heavily armoured vehicles. It includes lead and chase cars, communication units and emergency response teams. Traffic is managed by local traffic police officers to ensure unobstructed movement. Routes are kept confidential until necessary.

    The president’s security may opt to use a decoy vehicle if there is a security threat, to confuse and derail potential risk sources. In all these cases, there is a contingent of specialised General Service Unit officers, called the Recce unit, that always accompanies the president.

    Kenya’s presidential security precautions follow standard VIP security protection like those for heads of state across the world. However, in some neighbouring countries, for instance, presidents move in heavily armed military convoys. This has not been seen in Kenya.

    If a potential threat is detected, the president is immediately shielded and whisked away to a secure vehicle or evacuated by air in high-risk events. In such cases, the Kenya Defence Forces secures the president.

    Despite stringent security measures, incidents can occur. For instance, in March 2025, a British tourist was fatally hit by a vehicle in Ruto’s motorcade. This prompted investigations and reviews on motorcade safety protocols.

    Such events highlight the challenges of balancing presidential security with public safety, especially in densely populated urban areas.

    Security failures

    The shoe-throwing incident targeting Ruto highlighted five major failures in presidential protection protocols.

    First, crowd screening and access control failures. The alleged assailant was very close to the president, suggesting an inadequate distance between the crowds and the president. The inner ring of security also failed to spot the perpetrator raising a shoe in the air to use as a projectile. This indicates weak front-row eye sweeps and scans by the president’s security.

    Second, there was an apparent delay in security response. The elite officers around the president should have subdued the alleged attacker within seconds. It could mean most had their eyes on the president or cameras, as opposed to scanning the crowds for any sudden movements.

    Third, security allowed the president to stand too close to a crowd that hadn’t been screened. Best practices require a no-go zone of three to five metres for individuals who have not been scanned or screened.

    Fourth, there was an apparent gap in intelligence and threat assessment. Aggressive or agitated people next to the president should draw the attention of security officers. Plainclothes security officers are usually deployed to monitor crowd behaviour. It isn’t enough to rely on uniformed officers.

    Undercover agents are critical for flagging pre-attack signals, such as nervousness or repeated adjustments of positions.

    Fifth, there was no clear evacuation plan for the president. After the incident, the president continued speaking. In high-risk scenarios, protocols often demand instant relocation of the president to a secure vehicle or helicopter, where the military takes over and airlifts him to safety.

    What should change

    Kenya’s presidential security detail may be forced to:

    • increase standoff distance between the president and crowds

    • deploy more plainclothes officers to blend in and monitor crowds around the president

    • mandate stricter screening of those in close proximity to the president

    • conduct more frequent security risks drills for rapid neutralisation of potential threats.

    The exact details of presidential security in Kenya are confidential. However, the overarching structure aims to provide comprehensive protection to the president while maintaining public safety and order during official engagements. No security protocol is 100% foolproof. But a balance needs to be struck between overly aggressive crowd control and accessibility.

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

    ref. Is Kenya’s president safe in a crowd? Security expert scans VIP protection checklist – https://theconversation.com/is-kenyas-president-safe-in-a-crowd-security-expert-scans-vip-protection-checklist-256268

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Appointment of Bishop of Carlisle: 9 May 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Appointment of Bishop of Carlisle: 9 May 2025

    The King has approved the nomination of The Right Reverend Robert Saner-Haigh, for election as Bishop of Carlisle

    The King has approved the nomination of The Right Reverend Robert Saner-Haigh, Suffragan Bishop of Penrith in the Diocese of Carlisle, for election as Bishop of Carlisle, in succession to The Right Reverend James William Scobie Newcome, following his retirement.

    Background

    Rob was educated at Birmingham University and trained for ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.  He served his title at St. Lawrence, Appleby in the Diocese of Carlisle, and was ordained Priest in 2006. He was appointed Diocesan Initial Ministerial Education Officer in 2007 and Diocesan Director of Ordinands in 2008.  Alongside both of these roles he served as Bishop’s Chaplain and Assistant Priest at St. Michael’s, Dalston, with Cumdivock, Raughton Head and Wreay.  In 2010, he was appointed Priest in Charge of Holy Trinity Kendal and, from 2020, served as Director of Mission and Ministry for the Diocese of Newcastle and Residentiary Canon of Newcastle Cathedral.

    In 2022, Rob took up his current role as Suffragan Bishop of Penrith, in the Diocese of Carlisle and, since 2023, he has served as Acting Bishop of Carlisle.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK and international partners confirm support for Special Tribunal on Crime of Aggression as Foreign Secretary visits Lviv

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    UK and international partners confirm support for Special Tribunal on Crime of Aggression as Foreign Secretary visits Lviv

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy will visit Lviv today in joint show of support for Ukraine, as the UK announces sanctions on 100 ships in the Russian shadow fleet.

    • Foreign Secretary David Lammy will visit Lviv today [Friday 9 May] in joint show of support for Ukraine’s future in Europe  

    • Visiting Lviv, European partners will reaffirm their commitment to securing a just and lasting peace  

    • For the first time, Ministers will also confirm their support for the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine

    Visiting Lviv to stand in solidarity with Ukraine in their defence against Russia’s illegal invasion, Foreign Secretary David Lammy will join European ministers in the city to hold further talks on securing a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.   

    He will also, alongside representatives of the Core Group of at least 37 countries, announce united and ardent support for the establishment of a Special Tribunal, to hold those responsible for the crime of aggression against Ukraine to account.  

    Today’s events come as the Prime Minister announced a major package of sanctions to target the decrepit and dangerous shadow fleet carrying Russian oil. Our world-leading sanctions have plunged Putin’s ships into crisis. According to some estimates, sanctions have crippled 200 ships – almost half of Putin’s entire fleet.  

    The UK has been clear that the security of the UK, which underpins this government’s Plan for Change, starts in Ukraine. Securing a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and combating Russia’s malign influence around the world mean a safer Britain at home. We are boosting our defence spending , with an increase of £13.4 billion year on year, to respond to these challenges.

    Foreign Secretary, David Lammy said:

    Today – and every day – we stand with Ukraine. We stand for a just and lasting peace, for a secure Europe, and for accountability and justice. I have been supportive of a Special Tribunal to prosecute Russia’s leaders for their war of aggression since March 2022, just weeks after Putin’s full-scale invasion. This was a key manifesto commitment and as soon as we came into government, we made it a top priority.

    We stand against Putin, against his stalling and backtracking on peace, and against his dodgy shadow fleet of oil tankers. We are determined to sink his failing ambition to fund his illegal war through them – that is why we have today unleashed the largest package of sanctions against them, with 110 targets.

    We call on Russia to drop the gimmicks and agree to an unconditional ceasefire as Ukraine has done. Those standing with Putin today in Moscow should reflect on the lessons of history: peace will always prevail and aggressors will never be allowed to succeed.

    Through our 100 Year Partnership, this government’s Plan for Change and our ongoing military and diplomatic support, the UK’s commitment to Ukraine is stronger than ever.

    The Foreign Secretary will join 17 other foreign ministers and Ukrainian Minister for Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha to discuss the next steps for an enduring peace in Europe. European ministers will make clear that they are united in support of Ukraine and its clear commitment to peace, and condemn Putin’s stalling, backtracking and ongoing bombardment of Ukrainian civilians.  

    The Special Tribunal meeting is a milestone moment, as we now have the legal foundations for a Tribunal, following the culmination of more than two years of careful and complex negotiations among at least 37 states to deliver a united position on justice and accountability. The government is delivering on its manifesto, and the UK is building on its commitments as part of the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership.  

    The UK will also provide nearly £25 million in new funding to support local Ukrainian organisations protect the most vulnerable who continue to suffer from Russia’s ongoing aggression.   

    This includes £10 million to HAVEN to protect and evacuate civilians in frontline areas where Russian attacks continue and £5 million to Mercy Corps so they can support local organisations to meet people’s basic needs as quickly as possible in an emergency. £9.4 million will go to the Ukrainian Red Cross who continue to build up Ukraine’s country-wide emergency response to urgent humanitarian needs. Some of this funding will improve access to and the quality of recovery and rehabilitation services, including for veterans.  

    The Foreign Secretary’s visit comes as Ukrainian grain and other food produce, supported by £3 million provided by the UK for the World Food Programme to send produce to Syria, arrives in Türkiye to be distributed worldwide. This Ukrainian produce provides a lifeline to the most vulnerable around the world including in Syria with Ukrainian grain crucial for global food security. In stark contrast, Russia repeatedly attacked Ukrainian port infrastructure and ships and has imposed conditions on a Black Sea ceasefire.  

    Today’s meeting in Lviv highlights the strength of European unity. Today, and its historical importance, should service as a reminder that peace, respect of sovereignty, and justice will always prevail.  

    The British people have never once wavered in their support for Ukraine. Supporting them means defending our shared democratic values and Ukraine’s right to determine its own future in a free and peaceful Europe.

    Background

    • Negotiations on the Special Tribunal will now move to the Council of Europe, where the next stage will involve finalising the legal framework and discussions around how to operationalize the Tribunal. Once established, the Tribunal will complement the International Criminal Court’s active investigation and Ukrainian efforts to hold perpetrators of war crimes to account in their own courts.   

    • More information on the UK’s support for Ukraine can be found here

    • More information on the UK’s support for grain supplies to Syria can be found here.

    • Photos can be found on the FCDO Flickr account here.  

    • The Prime Minister announced today’s sanctions at the Joint Expeditionary Force Summit today read more here.  

    • The full list of today’s sanctions targets can be found here.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: SH 29 blocked by slip

    Source: New Zealand Police


    District:

    Bay of Plenty

    State Highway 29 on the Kaimai ranges is blocked by a slip near the lookout.

    Motorists travelling between Bay of Plenty and Waikato should take alternative routes where possible, or delay travel.
     

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: JACET Charges – Child abuse – Alice Springs

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) has charged a 28-year-old man with child abuse offences in Alice Springs.

    On Wednesday 7 May 2025, NT JACET received an urgent referral from the Federal Bureau of Investigation through the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

    The following day, detectives and federal agents from NT JACET, with support from Alice Springs Domestic Violence & Child Abuse Taskforce, executed a lawful search on a residence resulting in the seizure of large quantities of child abuse material. Police will allege that the man also abused a child, aged under 5-years-old, who was known to him. 

    The 28-year-old male has been charged with the following:

    1. Sexual intercourse with child under 10 x 1
    2. Gross indecency with child under 14 x 2
    3. Produce child abuse material for use via a carriage service x 3
    4. Possess or control child abuse material
    5. Access child abuse material
    6. Transmit child abuse material

    He has been remanded to appear in Alice Springs Court on 10 July 2025.

    NT Police Force Detective Superintendent Paul Lawson said, “The crimes committed by this individual are abhorrent.

    “Preying on the most vulnerable members of our community who cannot defend themselves. 

    “I want to commend the seamless collaboration with our international and federal partners to target this offender and bring him before the court.

    “If you abuse a child or procure, access and transmit child abuse material, we will find you, and you will be prosecuted.

    “We will continue to work tirelessly to protect children from harm.”

    AFP Superintendent Greg Davis said the AFP and its law enforcement partners across Australia were committed to protecting children from sexual predators.

    “Offenders cannot hide behind a screen when they carry out these reprehensible and hideous acts,” Supt Davis said.

    “Our message to online offenders has not changed – if you possess, produce or transmit child abuse material, you will be found, arrested and prosecuted.”

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO Secretary General meets the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany

    Source: NATO

    On Friday, 9 May 2025, the NATO Secretary General, Mr Mark Rutte, will receive the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr Friedrich Merz, at NATO Headquarters, in Brussels.

    Media advisory

    13:30 (CEST) Joint press conference by the Secretary General and the Federal Chancellor

    Media coverage

    • Media representatives who have annual accreditation to NATO can attend the event in person.
    • Media representatives without annual accreditation and who are interested in covering the event should email NatoAccreditations@hq.nato.int. Please note that due to the short time to process applications, ad-hoc accreditation may not be guaranteed.
    • The press statements will be streamed live on the NATO website and on X @NATOPress. A transcript of the Secretary General’s remarks, as well as photographs, will be on the NATO website.
    • The video can be downloaded from the NATO Multimedia Portal after the event.

    For more information:
    For general queries: Contact the NATO Press Office
    Follow us on X: @NATO@SecGenNATO and @NATOPress

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Latest coronial statistics highlight Isle of Wight’s unique challenges 9 May 2025 Latest coronial statistics highlight Isle of Wight’s unique challenges

    Source: Aisle of Wight

    The Ministry of Justice has released the 2024 coronial statistics, providing data drawn from the annual returns of individual Coroner Areas.

    The Ministry of Justice advises against direct comparisons between different areas due to their unique characteristics and demographics, which can lead to misleading conclusions about overall performance.

    The Isle of Wight is recognised as a particularly complex Coronial Area, due to several different factors.

    These include a higher-than-average rate of road traffic collision deaths, a large elderly prison population, a secure mental health unit, and an older general population.

    The high number of care homes per capita, challenges faced by NHS services, a fully coastal border, and significant population surges during major events, such as annual music and sailing festivals, all contribute to this complexity.

    Additionally, the Isle of Wight hosts the only active formal ‘Burials at Sea’ site off the Needles. Areas of deprivation on the Island also impact the Coroner’s Service.

    Caroline Sumeray, His Majesty’s Senior Coroner for the Isle of Wight, said: “I recognise that the Isle of Wight Coronial Area is not the fastest to complete Inquests.

    “There are multiple reasons for this, including the non-availability of an Island-based pathologist willing to do coronial work; a larger proportion of inquests having to wait for other external agencies’ investigations to be completed before they can proceed, and the need to ensure that we carry out extremely thorough investigations.

    “Those investigations do take time to resolve. It goes without saying that the fastest investigations are not always the most robust. It is essential that I leave no stone unturned.”

    PHOTO: Getty Images

    Wendy Perera, chief executive of the Isle of Wight Council, emphasised the importance of the Island’s Coroner’s Service.

    She said: “Supporting Island families and the Coroner’s Office is of great importance to the council. We work in partnership with His Majesty’s Senior Coroner to provide the staffing and facilities to support the service and delivery of the Coroner’s statutory role.

    “For many years, it has been difficult to maintain a fully staffed service which has impacted on service delivery. In addition, access to court facilities has also been challenging.

    “The council has recently invested in creating a purpose-built Coroner’s Court at Seaclose Park to alleviate some of these pressures; steps are also being taken to ensure staffing resilience and to address any delay linked to these two issues.”

    The council and HM Senior Coroner are confident that by working together, they will deliver the required improvements in the service.

    The council remains committed to supporting the Coroner and the Island’s Coroner’s Service to ensure the delivery of the best possible support for Island families.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Name release: Fatal crash, Mamaku

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police can now release the name of the man who died in a crash on State Highway 5, Mamaku on 22 April.

    He was 52-year-old Paul John Coleman, of Melville.

    Our thoughts are with those close to him at this difficult time.

    Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Team.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Name release: Fatal crash, Sumner

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police can now release the name of the man who died following a crash on Lake Sumner Road on 27 April.

    He was 76-year-old Jens Lauritz Christensen, of Sumner.

    Police extend our condolences those close to him at this difficult time.

    Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Team.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Green Army gears up for LiveLighter® round

    Source: South Australia Police

    Catch the excitement at the RAC Arena as the West Coast Fever hit the court at tomorrow’s LiveLighter® round, inspiring its ‘Green Army’ of supporters to prioritise their health and wellbeing.

    Healthway Chief Executive Officer Colin Smith said the LiveLighter® round – promoted by Healthway in partnership with the West Coast Fever – highlighted the importance of healthy eating, hydration, movement and overall wellbeing.

    “Fans will be guaranteed plenty of exciting on-court action, along with a lively silent disco in Fever Alley and a LiveLighter® challenge at quarter time, launched by the Minister for Preventative Health, the Hon. Sabine Winton MLA,” he said.

    Beyond this match day activity, the LiveLighter® campaign is visible at all West Coast Fever games, and players encourage healthy lifestyles by promoting nutrition education at community events.

    Ms Winton said West Coast Fever was a leading example of a national sporting team actively and visibly promoting healthy lifestyles.

    “The Fever are powerful female role models, inspiring young netballers and fans both on and off the court, and that’s what truly makes a difference,” she said.

    “Through educational initiatives, interactive events, and community-driven programs, the LiveLighter® campaign is empowering individuals to make informed, healthier lifestyle choices.”

    Mr Smith said Healthway had provided nearly $4.5 million in funding to support West Coast Fever promote various health messages since 2009.

    “Through our 17-year partnership with the West Coast Fever we have successfully eliminated all unhealthy sponsorships at the elite level of netball in WA,” he said.

    “This has reduced the community’s exposure to junk food advertising, creating a safe environment for families to enjoy the sport.”

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 34 experienced officers graduate as recruitment momentum builds

    Source: New South Wales – News

    South Australia Police (SAPOL) welcomes another 34 experienced international and interstate police officers to the frontline, following their graduation from the 15-week SAPOL Transition Program (STP) Course 2 and 3 today.

    This second graduating course includes officers from a range of policing backgrounds across the UK and Australia, bringing skills in areas including counter-terrorism, armed policing, serious sexual offences, public order, investigations, and general duties.

    Among the cohort, two officers are heading to Port Augusta, with the remainder joining teams across metropolitan areas.

    STP Course 2 graduate Ella Mestroni, who previously served five years with Victoria Police within metropolitan and regional areas, said the transition back to her home state has been seamless.

    “My husband and I were always going to return to South Australia to raise our daughter close to family, and SAPOL made that move incredibly smooth,” she said.

    “Being able to retain my rank and transfer entitlements like long service leave has made a big difference, and the level of support during the recruitment process – from flexible testing options to genuine communication, has been outstanding.”

    Jamie Earl, who graduated from STP Course 1 in March, said the past two months have confirmed he made the right decision.

    “Policing here is fast-paced, efficient, and outcomes-focused,” Jamie said.

    “In just a short time I’ve achieved more positive outcomes for victims than I would in six months back in the UK, and that’s incredibly rewarding. Of course, it’s been a steep learning curve and some days have been challenging, but I’ve been backed by an amazing team and a really supportive work culture.”

    This latest graduation comes as SAPOL continues a multi-pronged domestic and international recruitment drive.

    A refreshed ‘You Belong in Blue’ television campaign has recently launched across South Australia, showcasing the stories of three serving SAPOL officers from regional and metropolitan areas. The campaign highlights the diversity of policing roles on offer and the dynamic and rewarding nature of the job.

    The domestic push complements strong momentum internationally, with a SAPOL delegation recently completing a second UK recruitment drive. More than 1,100 officers registered to attend SAPOL’s seminars across London, Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, and Glasgow.

    This initiative is expected to drive a significant increase in applications, replicating the success of the 2024 in-country recruitment activity.

    Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams said today’s graduation highlights the progress SAPOL is making through a range of targeted recruitment efforts.

    “Our domestic and international recruitment strategies are delivering results—from the interest generated by our recent seminars in the UK to the continued success of our ‘You Belong in Blue’ campaign here at home,” Deputy Commissioner Williams said.

    “These efforts are helping us attract the right people—officers with real-world experience, a strong sense of purpose, and the skills we need to strengthen our frontline and provide safer communities across South Australia.”

    Minister for Police Stephen Mullighan said the State Government has made police recruitment a priority, to increase the number of sworn officers in SA.

    “The skills, knowledge and understanding these experienced graduates bring with them will be of great benefit to SA Police and help bolster the frontline resources.

    “The State Government has invested record amounts into SA Police which has allowed them to go on a bold local, interstate and overseas recruitment campaign and we look forward to welcoming even more officers to South Australia into the future.”

    SAPOLs domestic, international and interstate recruitment drive is in full swing. Those looking for a rewarding career with a range of attractive benefits can apply here https://sapol.info/SAPOLcareers

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-Evening Report: The artist as creator of all things: Julie Fragar wins the Archibald for a portrait among the stars

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joanna Mendelssohn, Honorary Senior Fellow, School of Culture and Communication. Editor in Chief, Design and Art of Australia Online, The University of Melbourne

    Winner Archibald Prize 2025, Julie Fragar ‘Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene)’, oil on canvas, 240 x 180.4 cm
    © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter

    Beatrice Gralton, who curated this year’s Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes, has hung the exhibition well. Julie Fragar’s Archibald-winning portrait of her friend and fellow artist Justene Williams is impossible to miss in the central court of the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

    Fragar’s subject bursts out of the central space, as though she is herself the Big Bang that created the Universe. This is the artist as the Creator of All Things, the governor of a world that extends from her hands. Behind her are the stars from whence she may have come.

    Her face is grave, but severe – governing the multiverse is a serious task. She hovers above the figures she has created, including her daughter, Honore, who has also inspired many of Williams’ works. Honore appears in the painting twice, first as a tiny child looking up, and then as an eight-year-old, half-hidden behind the assortment of objects and detritus that Williams uses to make her art.

    The title, Flagship Mother Multiverse, comes from Williams’ recent New Zealand installation work, Making Do Rhymes With Poo, best described as an endurance piece where the artist used her own body to make a series of works.

    By painting in monochrome, Fragar enables the viewer to focus first on the subject, before taking in the details of the confusion of the elements beneath her. Her dress, quietly captioned “Flag ship Mother” (with “mother” printed in verso), reinforces that this mother, who makes all things, is indeed captain of her ship.

    The Wynne prize and urban beauty

    Much of the time, the Australian landscape is imagined as bush, desert, or lush pastoral land. Winner of the Wynne prize, Jude Rae’s painting Pre-dawn sky over Port Botany container terminal, celebrates the accidental moments of urban beauty. The artist lives in Redfern where, high on the hill, it is possible to see the lights of the Botany Bay container terminal: a place that never sleeps.

    Winner Wynne Prize 2025, Jude Rae ‘Pre-dawn sky over Port Botany container terminal’, oil on linen, 200 x 150.4 cm.
    © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Diana Panuccio

    The Wynne prize is awarded to a landscape painting or figure sculpture, and Rae has painted her urban landscape just at that moment where the sky blushes a faint pink, turning to dark blue, before the almost black of the night sky.

    There are no stars to be seen in the city sky. They are blotted out by the dazzling multicoloured lights of the machines that govern the movement of goods and services, the creators of wealth in our artificial landscape.

    The surface of Rae’s painting is disconcertingly flat, as though the paint is embedded within the canvas. It could almost have been created by her transferring her thoughts, rather than paint, onto the canvas.

    ‘Nature’s gestures’ in the Sulman

    The calm of Rae’s approach is in marked contrast to the exuberant painterly style of Gene A’Hern’s Sky Painting, which has been awarded the Sir John Sulman Prize for “subject painting, genre painting or mural project”.

    In his time, Sir John Sulman was one of the more reactionary gallery trustees, calling the modern art of the 1920s and ‘30s “awful rubbish”.

    It does seem somewhat ironic that the prize that bears his name has consistently been awarded to more adventurous entries.

    Unlike the Archibald and Wynne Prizes, which must be judged by the gallery’s trustees, the Sulman is judged by an artist, a different one every year. This year the judge was Elizabeth Pulie. While A’Hern’s work could hardly be described as decorative in the same way as Pulie’s, it does have a strong sense of colour and rhythm in a way that maybe spoke to her.

    Winner Sulman Prize 2025, Gene A’Hern ‘Sky painting’, oil and oil stick on board, 240 x 240 cm.
    © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Diana Panuccio

    A’Hern describes his painting as conveying a sense of “nature’s gestures”, of the different elements of sight and sound that combine to form the country of the Blue Mountains that is his home.

    His description of his prizewinning painting – as well as its appearance, with gloriously curving gestural elements – are a reminder that the barriers between the different categories in this annual festival of art are best described as “fluid”.

    While I was in the crowd waiting for the announcement, I was asked to define “subject painting, genre painting or mural project”. The truth of the matter is that all categories are blurred and, with the exception of portraiture, are interchangeable.

    The definition of portraiture, as established by Mr Justice Roper in the court case brought against the trustees in 1944, still stands. A portrait is “a pictorial representation of a person, painted by an artist”. A landscape, however, may represent a photographically accurate representation of a place, or a feeling about that place. A genre or subject painting may show people, or not. It may express objects, or emotions. A mural is simply a painting on a wall.

    Although both Sydney and Melbourne sport many murals on laneway walls, it is many years since a mural has won the Sulman, which is a great pity.

    After the television crews and crowds of journalists had departed, I returned to the gallery for a final look at Fragar’s prizewinning portrait. It was still lit up by the lights for the cameras. It struck me then that this image would make an excellent mural – or perhaps a giant projection in the sky of a woman making a universe, using the power of her mind.

    Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2025 exhibition is at the Art Gallery of New South Wales until August 17.




    Read more:
    Archibald Packing Room Prize goes to Abdul Abdullah for Jason Phu portrait, among broader set of bold and deeply personal works


    Joanna Mendelssohn has in the past received funding from the Austraian Research Council

    ref. The artist as creator of all things: Julie Fragar wins the Archibald for a portrait among the stars – https://theconversation.com/the-artist-as-creator-of-all-things-julie-fragar-wins-the-archibald-for-a-portrait-among-the-stars-253748

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Man charged with serious sexual offences

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Man charged with serious sexual offences

    Friday, 9 May 2025 – 3:57 pm.

    A 64-year-old Tasmanian man will appear in court next month charged with serious sexual offences, including child sexual abuse, after being arrested and charged by detectives from Tasmania Police’s Taskforce Artemis.The man will appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court on June 11 to face charges of 11 counts of rape, three counts of indecent assault and two counts of indecency.Tasmania Police Commissioner Donna Adams said the charges against the man relate to three victim-survivors.These charges have stemmed directly from matters that were investigated as a result of the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings.Some instances of abuse are alleged to have taken place between 1974 and 1982, while another instance of abuse is alleged to have occurred at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre between 1990 and 2021 while the man was an employee.As the matter is now before the courts, no further comment will be made.Taskforce Artemis is a specialist police team investigating child abuse allegations from the Commission of Inquiry. The Taskforce is working closely with government agencies to share information, support victim-survivors, and hold alleged perpetrators to account through an intelligence-led approach.While it is acknowledged that offences of this nature are deeply disturbing, Tasmania Police strongly encourages anyone with information about any form of sexual abuse, regardless of the passage of time, to come forward and report it.Reports can be made directly to police on 131 444, or by visiting a police station or Arch https://arch.tas.gov.au/.You can also report anonymously to Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000 or crimestopperstas.com.auAny concerns or incidents involving government employees can be reported directly to the Integrity Commission or the Office of the Independent Regulator.The Tasmanian Government’s Keeping Children Safe website is available at https://keepingchildresafe.tas.gov.au/Support for victim survivors, if required, is available through Arch or via https://keepingchildrensafe.tas.gov.au/get-support/

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: UPDATE: Driver reported over serious crash at Newton

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Police are investigating a serious crash at Newton earlier today.

    About 8.50am today Friday 9 May, emergency services were called to Montacute Road and Forest Avenue after reports a van had collided with two pedestrians.

    The female pedestrian, a 48-year-old woman from Newton suffered life-threatening injuries and was conveyed to hospital.

    The male pedestrian, a 51-year-old man from Newton was conveyed to hospital with significant injuries.

    The driver of the van, a 91-year-old-man from Rostrevor was conveyed to hospital for mandatory blood tests.

    Major Crash Officer attended at the scene and investigated the crash and as a result the driver has been interviewed and reported for two counts of dangerous driving and issued an indefinite Instant Loss of Licence.

    He will be summonsed to court at a later date.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Unexplained death in Parakao

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police are at the scene of an unexplained death in Parakao this afternoon.

    The body of a man was found by ambulance staff at a rural property off Mangakahia Road (State Highway 15) just before 4pm.

    The death is being treated as unexplained and enquiries are underway into the circumstances.

    The property has been cordoned off and a scene examination will take place.

    A scene guard is in place with a post mortem to be carried out at a later stage.

    These enquiries are in the very early stages and no further information is currently available.

    Anyone with information to assist Police can call 105 using the reference number P062498068.

    ENDS.

    Nicole Bremner/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New Clarkson playground links accessibility and adventure

    Source: South Australia Police

    The all-abilities playground at Riverlinks Park in Clarkson is built for every young adventurer, with a range of play spaces and equipment that integrates learning with play.

    The one-of-a-kind playground includes five themed play areas with equipment that caters to users with diverse physical, sensory and cognitive needs.

    The fully enclosed playground also has a secure play area for enhanced safety and quiet zones for rest and relief.

    It also features the City’s first communication board, created in collaboration with All Abilities Australia to support non-verbal users.

    Wanneroo Deputy Mayor James Rowe said it was fantastic to deliver an accessible and inclusive play space for visitors from our community and beyond to enjoy.

    “This facility is more than a play space; it is a place where children can feel a sense of belonging and safety,” he said.

    “We are grateful to have received a funding contribution of $2.6 million from the WA Government, administered through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.

    “This shared investment reflects our joint commitment to supporting the wellbeing of our community and ensuring everyone can enjoy the City of Wanneroo.”

    Minister for Transport, Sport and Recreation, the Hon Rita Saffioti MLA, said supporting projects like this demonstrated the WA Government’s dedication to creating more purpose-built, inclusive places and spaces that children and families can access to stay active and healthy.

    “Using feedback from the local community, the result is an asset accessible to all children, including those with mobility issues and those with cognitive, sensory or social-emotional challenges,” she said.

    “Exploring and enjoying interesting outdoor spaces is an important part of childhood and I congratulate the City of Wanneroo for their commitment to this project.”

    Construction of a Universal Access Toilet was finished this month, marking completion of this important project.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Serious crash at Newton

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Police and emergency services are at the scene of a serious crash at the intersection of Montacute Road and Forest Avenue, Newton.

    About 8.50am this morning Friday 9 May, emergency services were called to reports of a serious crash involving a vehicle and two pedestrians.

    Police ask all road users to avoid the area where possible.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Govt engages with taxi trade

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Transport Department today iterated that the Government will always listen to the views of the taxi trade, as it announced a meeting is being arranged with a view to enhancing service quality in the sector. 

    The department stressed that the Government’s policy objectives are clear: taxi services must be improved; online car hailing platforms must be regulated; and illegal hire car services must be combated in accordance with the law.

    It added that the Government will maintain liaison with the taxi trade, joining hands to work on enhancements. In recent years, the Government has enacted various measures, including introducing systematic management and technology under the taxi fleet regime, a Taxi-Driver-Offence Points system, and a two-tier penalty system.

    The department said that while the Government is open-minded on the use of online or mobile applications to obtain personalised point-to-point transport services, it is imperative to ensure that passenger transport services supported by the use of such platforms comply with laws and regulations.

    The Government will this year formulate legislative proposals for the regulation of online car hailing platforms, the vehicles that provide associated services, and licensing requirements for drivers.

    Police have been gathering intelligence via different channels in relation to the illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward. If sufficient evidence is discovered that proves vehicles without the necessary permits are being used for such carriage, Police will take appropriate enforcement actions.

    The Government is studying further improvements to the relevant legislation to strengthen efforts to combat illegal carriage, including disqualifying the drivers concerned.

    Where sufficient evidence is available to show that a vehicle has been involved in the offence of illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward, it may be impounded even if the identity of the driver cannot be confirmed.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Name release: Fatal crash, Cromwell-Clyde Road

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police can now release the name of the man who died in a crash on Cromwell-Clyde Road in Central Otago on 11 March.

    He was 26-year-old Mitchell Douglas McLeary, of Cromwell.

    Police extend our condolences to his loved ones.

    Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash remain under investigation.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Team.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LegCo to consider the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong Bill

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

         The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on next Wednesday (May 14) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Second Reading debate on the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong Bill will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
     
         The Second Reading debate on the Companies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024 will also resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
     
         On Government motion, the Secretary for Justice will move a proposed resolution under the Fatal Accidents Ordinance. The proposed resolution is set out in Appendix 1.
     
         On Member’s Bill, the Second Reading debate on the City University of Hong Kong (Amendment) Bill 2025 will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
     
         On Members’ motions, Michael Tien will move a motion on “Actively dovetailing with national and global trends and studying the reform of the curriculum framework for primary and secondary schools”. The motion is set out in Appendix 2.
     
         Yiu Pak-leung will move a motion on “Reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as an international tourism hub and consolidating its position as a world-class premier tourism destination”. The motion is set out in Appendix 3.
     
         Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
     
         The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the “Webcast” system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Disqualified driver charged with multiple driving offences

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Disqualified driver charged with multiple driving offences

    Friday, 9 May 2025 – 2:18 pm.

    A 30-year-old Scottsdale man has had his vehicle confiscated indefinitely and been charged with multiple driving offences after he was arrested in Scottsdale on Wednesday morning. 
    Police will allege the man, who was disqualified from driving, drove an unregistered motor vehicle in the Launceston and Scottsdale areas multiple times over the previous week. 
    The man has been charged with three counts of driving whilst disqualified, three counts of driving an unregistered motor vehicle and three counts of driving a motor vehicle with no premium cover. The vehicle was also bearing a false registration plate.   
    If you witness dangerous driving on our roads please report to police on 131 444 or Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. 
    Matters can also be reported online at – police.tas.gov.au/services-online/dangerous-driving-report

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Missing man in Tsuen Wan located

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    A man who went missing in Tsuen Wan has been located.

    Wong Kwun-wai, aged 27, went missing after he was last seen at Tsuen Wan West Station Public Transport Interchange on April 7 night. His family made a report to Police on April 10.

    The man turned up at police station to cancel the missing person report on May 6 afternoon. He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government continues to maintain close communication with taxi trade to enhance service quality of personalised point-to-point transport

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         A spokesman for the Transport Department (TD) today (May 9) said that the Government will, as always, be open to listen to the views of the taxi trade and a meeting is being arranged to maintain close communication, with a view to enhancing the service quality of personalised point-to-point transport.

         “The Government’s policy objective has been very clear: taxi service has to be improved, online hailed car platforms have to be regulated while illegal hire car services have to be combated in accordance with the law. We will continue to combat the illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward activities to safeguard the safety and interests of the public. We will maintain liaison with the taxi trade in parallel to set out the Government’s stance and work directions in detail, joining hands to offer ideas and suggestions on enhancing personalised point-to-point service,” the spokesman said.

    Improvement of taxi service

         The Government is determined to enhance the quality of taxi services and has put forward various measures in recent years through a multi-pronged approach. Among them, systematic management and technology have been introduced under the taxi fleet regime. The Government will also mandate taxis to provide e-payment means and install in-vehicle cameras, dash cameras and global navigation satellite systems in all taxi compartments through legislative amendments, thereby improving passengers’ riding experiences. Meanwhile, the Government has introduced the Taxi-Driver-Offence Points system and the two-tier penalty system to enhance the deterrent effect against illegal acts by taxi drivers. The taxi fleet operators are working intensively and the Government hopes that they will soon commence operations to provide quality taxi service.

    Regulation of online hailed car platforms

         The spokesman reiterated that, while the Government is open-minded in respect of the use of different communication technologies via online or mobile applications to obtain personalised point-to-point transport services through online hailing services, it is imperative to ensure that the passenger transport services supported by the use of the platforms concerned comply with the laws and regulations, thereby safeguarding the safety and interests of passengers.

         The TD is conducting a study on the overall demand and supply of personalised point-to-point transport services. The Government will, after holistically considering the report of the Working Group for Enhancing Personalised Point-to-Point Transport Services under the Transport Advisory Committee and the views and relevant data collected, formulate legislative proposals on the regulation of online car hailing platforms, vehicles that may provide services complying with the regulations, and relevant licensing requirements for the drivers within 2025.

    Combating illegal hire car services in accordance with the law

         The spokesman stressed that the Government is determined to continuously combat the illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward activities. The TD has again issued letters to warn various platform operators recently that their services must comply with relevant legislative provisions. Upon receipt of suspected cases, the TD will refer them to the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) for follow-up, subject to the situation.

         The HKPF has been taking enforcement actions against illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward through gathering intelligence via different channels. If there is sufficient evidence proving suspected vehicles without a valid hire car permit are being used for illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward, the HKPF will immediately take appropriate enforcement actions. In addition, the Government is studying further improvements to the relevant legislation to strengthen efforts in combating illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward, including disqualifying the driver concerned from driving. Furthermore, when sufficient evidence is available to show that the vehicle concerned has been involved in the offence of illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward, it may be impounded even if the identity of the driver cannot be confirmed. The proposed legislative amendments will be submitted to the Legislative Council in due course.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens related to The Bank of East Asia, Limited

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens related to The Bank of East Asia, Limited 
    The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
     
    Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the websites or login screens concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.
    Issued at HKT 16:45

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI USA: WA Airports Get $66.7M For Safety & Capacity Upgrades From Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    05.08.25
    WA Airports Get $66.7M For Safety & Capacity Upgrades From Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding
    Cantwell announces $45.4M for Sea-Tac Airport, $7.3M for Tri-Cities Airport, $6.5M for Spokane Airport, nearly $4M for San Juan County airports; Other airports receive funding in Bellingham, Deer Park, Auburn, Richland, Anacortes, Odessa, & Bremerton
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, announced that 12 airports across the State of Washington received a total of $66,758,406 in Airport Infrastructure Grants (AIG).
    Enacted by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) program provides $14.5 billion nationwide in funding over five years. Sen. Cantwell was instrumental in securing funding for the AIG program and Airport Terminal Program (ATP) in the 2021 BIL.
    AIG funding announced today includes:
    Seattle-Tacoma International Airport:  $45,400,000
    Tri-Cities Airport:  $7,366,530
    Spokane International Airport: $6,537,017
    Orcas Island Airport: $3,153,888
    Bellingham International Airport: $2,000,000
    Friday Harbor Airport: $834,000
    Deer Park Airport: $585,000
    Auburn Municipal Airport: $395,125
    Richland Airport: $180,500
    Anacortes Airport: $137,000
    Odessa Municipal Airport: $110,000
    Bremerton National Airport: $59,346
    Sea-Tac Award: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport will receive $45,400,000 for the Concourse S reconstruction project. This grant funds structural, seismic, and building system upgrades that have reached the end of their useful lives. This grant funds phase 2, which consists of design and pre-construction.
    “Sea-Tac is a vital hub for our region’s economy, and this investment will help ensure it remains safe, modern, and resilient,” said Senator Cantwell. “These upgrades to the S Concourse, the international doorway for travelers in the Pacific Northwest, will support the airport’s continued growth while creating good-paying jobs.”
    Tri-Cities Award: Tri-Cities Airport will receive $7,366,530 for its terminal expansion project. This grant funds an additional baggage make-up area to accommodate more passengers. This grant funds phase 1, which consists of design and construction. Last October, Sen. Cantwell visited the airport to tour the project.
    “Tri-Cities Airport is in the midst of a decade-long terminal redevelopment plan, and this funding adds to previous federal investments to speed up expansion of its outdated terminal and baggage handling infrastructure,” said Sen. Cantwell. “As passenger traffic continues to break records, this investment ensures the airport can meet future demand while supporting local jobs and economic development that benefit the region.”
    Spokane Award: Spokane International Airport will receive $6,537,017 for its TREX terminal expansion project. This grant funds construction of three gates and related areas, loading dock access road, fencing, and gates.
    “This funding is another win for Spokane International Airport’s terminal expansion project,” said Sen. Cantwell. ”The Inland Northwest’s main air travel hub continues to break records, serving more than 4.2 million passengers in 2024, the most ever. Expanding Concourse C by over 70,000 square feet and adding new gates will significantly enhance the airport’s capacity and passenger experience.”
    San Juan County Awards:
    Orcas Island Airport will receive $3,153,888 to rehabilitate 14,000 square yards of the existing northern and central portions of the Terminal Apron pavement to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize foreign object debris.
    Friday Harbor Airport will receive a total of $834,000 for two projects. The airport will receive $486,000 to construct a new 10,000-square-foot sponsor-owned hangar for aircraft storage. The airport will also receive $348,000 project to expand an existing pump fuel facility.
    “This funding is a critical investment in the safety and sustainability of Orcas Island and Friday Harbor Airports, key gateways to the San Juans,” said Sen. Cantwell. “Rehabilitated runways will make flights into Orcas Island safer and smoother. Aircraft owners will be able to lease space at Friday Harbor Airport’s new hangar and buy more fuel at their expanded pump, generating more operating revenue for the airport. These projects will set the airports up to serve San Juan County visitors and residents for decades to come.”
    Other Awards:
    Bellingham International Airport will receive $2,000,000 for a project to rehabilitate 6,700 feet of existing paved Runway 16/34 to maintain its structural integrity and minimize foreign object debris to extend its useful life. This grant funds phase 1, which consists of design.
    Deer Park Airport will receive $585,000 toward construction of a new 347-foot Taxilane AS-1, 475-foot Taxilane AS-2, 369-foot Taxilane AS-3, and 312-foot Taxilane AS-4 to provide airfield access to a non-exclusive hangar development area to bring the airport into conformity with current standards.
    Auburn Municipal Airport will receive $395,125 for multiple infrastructure improvements including a new automated weather observing system (AWOS-IIIPT) to provide site-specific weather information and a new electrical generator and replace an existing airport rotating beacon that has reached the end of its useful life. This grant funds a portion of phase 2, which consists of construction.
    Richland Airport will receive $180,500 to expand the existing main apron by adding 6,040 square yards to bring the airport into conformity with current standards. This grant funds phase 1, which consists of design.
    Anacortes Airport will receive $137,000 for runway safety improvements including a new lighted wind cone navigational aid to provide pilots with critical airfield information, a runway end identifier lights system and precision approach path indicator system, and reconstructing the runway signage that has reached the end of its useful life. This grant funds phase 2, which consists of construction.
    Odessa Municipal Airport will receive $110,000 to acquire and install a replacement wind cone navigational aid to provide pilots with critical airfield information. This grant funds phase 2, which consists of construction.
    Bremerton National Airport will receive $59,346 to conduct an environmental study required to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act for the proposed Eastside Development Area project, which includes taxiway infrastructure, lighting, hangar, and cargo development.
    Sen. Cantwell worked hard to secure funding for air travel infrastructure nationwide as part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. With her support, the infrastructure package provided a total of $25 billion for airport improvements, including $5 billion for the Airport Terminal Program and $15 billion in Airport Infrastructure Grants. In 2023, airports across the state of Washington received nearly $200 million in federal funding through a combination of AIG, ATP, and the Airport Improvement Program, and in 2024, Washington state airports received over $133 million in federal funding.
    In addition, Sen. Cantwell also helped to secure over $217 million in Airport Rescue Grants for Washington airports to help them weather the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Last May, Sen. Cantwell additionally shepherded the passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which reauthorized the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for five years. The new law included top Cantwell priorities including enhancing safety oversight, strengthening workforce development, boosting next-generation aviation innovation, and codifying consumer protections.

    Airport

    Amount

    City

    County

    Seattle-Tacoma International

    $           45,400,000

    Seattle

    King

    Tri-Cities

    $             7,366,530

    Pasco

    Franklin

    Spokane International

    $             6,537,017

    Spokane

    Spokane

    Orcas Island

    $             3,153,888

    Eastsound

    San Juan

    Bellingham International

    $             2,000,000

    Bellingham

    Whatcom

    Deer Park

    $                585,000

    Deer Park

    Spokane

    Friday Harbor

    $                486,000

    Friday Harbor

    San Juan

    Auburn Municipal

    $                395,125

    Auburn

    King

    Friday Harbor

    $                348,000

    Friday Harbor

    San Juan

    Richland

    $                180,500

    Richland

    Benton

    Anacortes

    $                137,000

    Anacortes

    Skagit

    Odessa Municipal

    $                110,000

    Odessa

    Lincoln

    Bremerton National

    $                  59,346

    Bremerton

    Kitsap

    TOTAL

    $          66,758,406

     
     

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Murray, Merkley, WA & Oregon Fire Officials Lay Out How Trump is Putting Wildfire Preparedness & Response at Risk

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    ***WATCH FULL PRESS CONFERENCE HERE; DOWNLOAD HERE***
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, hosted a virtual press call alongside Pacific Northwest wildfire officials to sound the alarm on how the Trump administration’s funding freezes and punishing cuts to the workforce at the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and other key agencies are seriously undermining wildfire preparedness and response in Washington state and Oregon and putting communities at risk.
    Forest Service employees work to maintain the health of our national forests and public lands and play an essential role in wildfire preparedness and response. About 75 percent of USFS staff are trained in wildland firefighting, and these workers have helped support firefighting efforts across Oregon and Washington state. But the Trump administration has now cut an estimated 7,400 employees at the Forest Service—including thousands of workers who were fired outright and thousands more who were pressured into taking the administration’s deferred resignation “offer.” In the Pacific Northwest, over 500 Forest Service employees have already been pushed out the door. Most of the Forest Service employees who have been terminated worked “boots-on-the-ground jobs.” It is also unclear how the blanket federal hiring freeze the Trump administration announced in January has affected USFS’ ability to hire seasonal wildland firefighters, as the administration is refusing to share critical information about staffing levels with Congress and the American people just weeks out from the beginning of fire season.  
    “When we invest in fire prevention, we are investing in saving lives, and really in saving entire communities.  And one of the most important investments we make is in the people who do this work. From hiring people who carry out important fire prevention work, to training people who can jump in to help fight fires when we need more hands. But all of that work is being thrown into jeopardy right now. Because, while Trump wants to claim that no firefighters have been laid off—as [is] so often the case, he just does not have a clue about what he is talking about. The reality is that Trump has decimated the U.S. Forest Service,” Senator Murray said. “Nearly every single Forest Service employee supports fire operations in some capacity. Trail maintenance crews ensure access to routes remain clear for firefighting personnel and equipment. Biologists conduct essential environmental assessments that inform prescribed burns and fuel reduction strategies. And other support staff like camp managers and administrative personnel receive firefighting training and are mobilized during peak fire season to bolster our frontline crews.  And remember, Trump has also said he wants to eliminate FEMA entirely… Trump is not just gutting the work to prevent fires—but the work to rebuild after disaster. Trump is taking a match to the frontline of defense for our forests, and our communities. So, we are here today to pull the fire alarm, and we’re going to set off some sirens.”
    “Wildfire season is almost here, but the Trump Administration has left us dangerously under-prepared,” Senator Merkley said. “I have been sounding the alarm about the need to seize every moment to prepare for and mitigate wildfires, from reducing hazardous fuels to hiring enough wildland firefighters to battle blazes on the frontlines. But instead of ramping up these efforts when we had the chance, Trump and Elon Musk stood in the way of funding projects that Oregon, Washington, and other Western states needed to protect our homes, businesses, and public lands. The Trump Administration is literally playing with fire, and it’s our communities that could get burned.”
    The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is predicting this will be an “above-average” year for wildfires, especially across Eastern Washington, and state officials have been sounding the alarm over a lack of federal resources and support. Federal agencies have jurisdiction over approximately 43 percent of public lands in Washington state. During last year’s fire season, 308,000 acres were burned by more than 1,400 fires across Washington. Officials are expecting above normal fire potential this fire season in Eastern Washington due short-term drought in the region which could worsen areawide as the 2025 summer progresses. 
    “Many don’t even understand how interconnected wildland fire response is in our nation. Across our state, and across all states, the folks on the ground are actually from Forest Service, DOI, state forestry agencies, and local fire service on the majority of fires that we see on the landscape. In fact, state and local fire service together account for almost 80 percent of the wildland fire response in this country. But with all the changes occurring, the biggest issue we’re currently facing is not always the funding but it’s the lack of communication. What we are having to do right now as we enter our summer fire season is prepare. Much like the Senator said, this is the time when we are making certain that we have the aviation we need, when we have the personnel we need, and that all of our systems check out and are ready to go when the alarm bell rings. Without knowing what our partners are doing or not having a clear understanding of what actions are being taken, we struggle with missing the third leg of the stool that we have. And so that, more than anything at the state level, has truly made it a challenge as we go into what looks to be a pretty significant wildland fire season,” said Washington State Forester George Geissler.
    “When we don’t have those interagency relationships and federal resources available, the burden transfers over to fire districts, to the State Department of Natural Resources, in combating fire that is threatening our jurisdictions, or it’s potentially coming into those interface areas around us that’s normally got higher levels of protection from the federal agencies. That lack of resources really creates us a scenario where that higher utilization pulls resources away from our local fire departments in order to work on those incidents, may commit them for longer periods of time, and there’s also the concern about understanding how those jurisdictions are impacted from a reimbursement standpoint. Most importantly that the current draft executive order that we have heard about from the administration and hasn’t addressed yet how the new firefighting systems at the federal level may look in the future,” said Leonard Johnson, Fire Chief at the McLane Black Fire Department in Washington state. “One of the things that’s been most interesting to us is that with the cuts they made to the workforce, both in the US Forest Service and the Department of the Interior, is that we’ve seen some of those impacts with positions that were reduced, or probationary employees that were removed, are going to start impacting our workforce in the incident management organizations. Those incident management organizations range from the local level, type three teams that serve in the regional areas, more locally in the counties, to the ones that also serve across the state geographical area, both across Washington and Oregon. We have not yet seen or been able to quantify, what the reduction in available personnel in those agencies, how that’s going to impact those teams.”
    “We remain concerned really about the impact on all the essential services that the Forest Service provides that were caused by these cuts in the Forest Service workforce, and we anticipate additional cuts in staffing, and this will significantly impede the ability of the Forest Service to deliver critical goods and services to the American people—including protecting communities from the effects of catastrophic wildfire. The staffing cuts that were imposed by the Department of Government Efficiency, from our standpoint, did not resemble an attempt to improve efficiencies because they did not really maintain essential service that’s focused on the needs of the American public. These indiscriminate reductions, along with the whole about 1000 or so staff that took deferred resignations, planned reductions in force in the future—they’re essentially hollowing out the agency and jeopardizing the future of America’s forest and ultimately, the American taxpayers that we serve,”said Steve Ellis, Chair of the National Association of Forest Service Retirees and former supervisor of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. “While some of these employees that were fired, hastily fired, have been brought back to work, please, don’t underestimate the uncertainty and damage to morale, and slowed work on wildland fire prevention and suppression and other things that the public relies on. The one thing that these workforce reductions did that I took notice of, was it overlooked the critical role of many thousands of Forest Service employees who assist in firefighting efforts but are not primarily firefighters. I was one of those for a good part of the 38 years of my career. The administration has fired many of the employees or encouraged or accepted their resignations—we understand as I’ve said, that others are targeting future RIF actions. Forest Service documentation indicates that through these various actions, the agency has lost over 1,600 red card wildland fire qualified personnel, and this doesn’t include the losses associated with probationary employees who did not return after their February 14th firing. According to the National Federation of Federal Employees, about 75 percent of terminated probationary employees, had red cards and were wildfire qualified.”
    “The incident management team shortages that we’re looking at for this coming fire season are very concerning. We’ve been told by our local forest service unit that of the 45 incident management teams that respond to the most serious incidents and relieve local resources of the burden of maintaining and managing the incidents…Nine out of those 45 incident management teams are no longer staffed going into this fire season, so that is a big concern. If those teams are committed to other fires, and then we have a serious fire that’s impacting our local landscape, and there are no more incident management teams to call on,” said Chris Chambers, Forestry Officer for Ashland Fire & Rescue. “That work can’t happen without the staffing available at the local district level, the forest level, and the region level, biologists, timber sale contract managers, everybody that has to be in place to make those projects successful. And as also was illustrated earlier, those are the same people who turn around during fire season and support the firefighting effort. It’s really a double whammy. In losing that staffing we aren’t able to implement the kinds of projects that are to protect communities and infrastructure ahead of fire season, and also losing the staff support for the firefighting effort when fire is on the ground during the summer. It’s particularly concerning, losing folks who are the most experienced staff that are taking the buyout, like we’re losing our local district rangers, people who have had the most experience on how to navigate the land management system, the environmental analysis that needs to be done to make these projects happen, those people are taking the early out. They’re leaving, and we are left with people who don’t have the kind of experience and knowledge to navigate the system to make these projects successful.”
    Senator Murray is working to secure critical investments in wildfire suppression and mitigation—and in our firefighters. Last year, as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, she secured nearly $22 million in funding for wildfire risk reduction projects across Washington state as part of the USFS Wildfire Crisis Strategy. In the Interior and Environment appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2024, she worked to include essential investments in wildfire preparedness and suppression. And in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, secured $25 million in funding for wildfire mitigation projects across Washington state.
    Senator Murray has been a leading voice raising the alarm about how Trump and Elon’s mass firings across the federal workforce will undermine services all Americans rely on and hurt families, veterans, small businesses, farmers, and so many others in Washington state and across the country. Senator Murray has spoken out on the Senate floor repeatedly against this administration’s attacks on federal workers, held multiple press conferences with federal workers—including at U.S. Forest Service—who are being fired for no reason and through no fault of their own, released information about the mass firings, and repeatedly outlined her concerns with the administration’s so-called “Fork in the Road” offer to her constituents in Washington state.
    Senator Murray’s full remarks, as delivered at today’s press conference, are below and video is HERE:
    “Thank you to all of our panelists, and thank all of you for joining us to focus on something that is so important—wildfire prevention, preparedness, and response.
    “Wildfires are not new to the Pacific Northwest. They are not a surprise. They are a constant threat. Now, we may not know exactly when or where they will strike, but we do know they are coming. They happen every year.
    “Every year, we get a painful reminder about why we have to get ready—and stay ready. We get a reminder of the ways the prevention we do today, the preparation we do today, can help stop fires tomorrow.
    “When we invest in fire prevention—we are investing in saving lives, and really in saving entire communities.
    “And one of the most important investments we make is in the people who do this work. From hiring people who carry out important fire prevention work, to training people who can jump in to help fight fires when we need more hands. But all of that work is being thrown into jeopardy right now.
    “Because, while Trump wants to claim that no firefighters have been laid off—as [is] so often the case, he just does not have a clue about what he is talking about.
    “The reality is that Trump has decimated the U.S. Forest Service, firing more than 3,400 probationary employees, not to mention pressuring another 4,000 workers to take the so-called buyouts under threat of more workforce reductions in the future. More than 500 Forest Service employees in the Pacific Northwest have already been pushed out by this administration.
    “I have spoken with several Forest Service workers, from across Washington state who loved their job, who played an important role fighting fires, and who are gone now—thanks to Trump.
    “We hardly know the full scope of the damage because the administration won’t share the information, but I’ve heard of at least 35 people at Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, 46 at Okanogan Wenatchee, 21 at Colville, 15 at Gifford Pinchot, and more at the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Olympic National Forest, and Methow Valley!
    “And here’s the thing: nearly every single Forest Service employee supports fire operations in some capacity. Trail maintenance crews ensure access to routes remain clear for firefighting personnel and equipment. Biologists conduct essential environmental assessments that inform prescribed burns and fuel reduction strategies. And other support staff like camp managers, and administrative personnel, receive firefighting training and are mobilized during peak fire season to bolster our frontline crews.
    “In fact, around three-quarters of Forest Service workers are trained in wildland firefighting. They provide crucial surge capacity when crisis strikes.
    “And remember, Trump has also said he wants to eliminate FEMA entirely, and he has already denied one emergency declaration for Washington state, for recovery from the bomb-cyclone storm that struck our communities in November. Trump is not just gutting the work to prevent fires—but the work to rebuild after disaster. We have to get loud about this, and that is why I wanted to put this call together.
    “Trump is taking a match to the frontline of defense for our forests, and our communities. So we are here today to pull the fire alarm, and we’re going to set off some sirens. We are going to keep focused on this, and we’re going to keep pushing back. There is just too much at stake to do anything less.
    “And now I’d like to turn it over to Senator Merkley. He is my fellow Pacific Northwest colleague, and he is my partner on the Senate Appropriations Committee who helps lead the fight to protect federal investments in our wildfire preparedness and in our response efforts.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Blasts Trump’s Attack on Resources to Close Digital Divide: “Republicans Will Have to Explain Why Middle Schoolers in Rural Districts Shouldn’t Get Laptops”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Murray first authored and introduced the Digital Equity Act in 2019 and got it passed into law as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and author of the Digital Equity Act responded to a statement from President Trump on Truth Social where he falsely attacks Murray’s law as unconstitutional and loudly announces that he intends to break the law by blocking Digital Equity Act funds.
    “As usual the President has no idea what he’s talking about. I wrote the Digital Equity Act to help close the digital divide in America—it’s about making sure seniors can get online and equipping every student in every classroom with the tools they need to succeed, whether that’s a hotspot to take home or a laptop. My law provides maximal flexibility to cities, states, and Tribes so every local community can decide for themselves how they invest Digital Equity dollars—that’s why it passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.  Let’s be clear, every time President Trump refuses to spend funding appropriated by Congress, he’s stealing from the American people.  
    “It is absolutely insane that resources meant to help red and blue communities—everyone from local school districts and libraries to workforce training programs and Tribes—close the digital divide will be illegally blocked because the President doesn’t like the word equity. Americans are sick and tired of extremist right-wing culture wars being forced down our throats. Republicans will have to explain to their constituents why this Republican administration doesn’t believe their local library should get funding to help seniors navigate telehealth options or why middle schoolers in rural districts shouldn’t get laptops.”
    Senator Murray first introduced the Digital Equity Act in 2019 and worked hard to build a robust coalition of 100+ organizations to secure strong bipartisan consensus and support for her legislation, ultimately passing it into law as a part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Senator Murray’s Digital Equity Act provided $2.75 billion to establish three federal grant programs, administered by the NTIA, to promote digital equity nationwide by:
    Building Capacity within States through Formula Grants: Creates a five-year $300 million per year formula grant program for all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to fund the creation and implementation of comprehensive digital equity plans in each State.
    Spurring Targeted Action through Competitive Grants: Creates a five-year $250 million per year competitive grant program to support digital inclusion projects undertaken by individual groups, coalitions, and/or communities of interest.
    Supporting Research and Evidence-Based Policymaking: Tasks NTIA with evaluating digital equity projects and providing policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels with detailed information about which projects are most effective.
    Digital equity funds can be used in all kinds of ways to support Washington state families and our economy:
    Workforce: supporting the work of local workforce boards, community and technical colleges, and community-based organizations by increasing access to devices across underserved populations, increasing the digital skills of Washington’s current and future workforce, and by increasing the accessibility of state and local resources to workers.
    Education: supporting Washington’s public schools, community and technical colleges, and community-based organizations as they work to integrate technology literacy and fluency in their curriculum, reducing barriers and advancing access to technology, including digital devices, internet connection, and digital skills training.
    Health Care: supporting the Washington Department of Health and the Washington State Health Care Authority in expanding opportunities for Washingtonians to access telehealth services, reducing the need to travel long distances in rural areas for preventative and specialist care. Additionally, the digital equity funds could be used to work with partner organizations to expand the availability and awareness of culturally sensitive and linguistically accessible online healthcare resources and services.
    And much more.

    MIL OSI USA News