NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Construction to start on new average safety cameras in Northland

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) will begin construction on a set of average speed safety cameras to improve safety on Kaitaia-Awaroa Road in Northland, from next Monday 28 July.

    NZTA Auckland and Northland Director of Regional Relationships, Steve Mutton, says the safety cameras aim to significantly reduce the number of people traveling over the speed limit on this road and lessen the likelihood of a serious or fatal crash.

    “The types of crashes that happen and are likely to happen on this stretch of road, the volume of traffic, and driver behaviour all tell us that there is a serious risk of people being killed or seriously injured in crashes on Kaitaia-Awaroa Road. We also know that risk can be significantly reduced if more people drive to the speed limit. By installing safety cameras here we can encourage just that.

    “In May 2024 we ran a speed survey on this stretch of road that showed around 75 percent of drivers were speeding. It showed the average speed across the full length of road to be 89km/h across both 80km/h and 60km/h areas.

    “We also know that between 2018 and 2023 two people were killed and another 13 were seriously injured in crashes on this stretch of road.”

    There will be four cameras in total. The outer cameras will be installed near Sandhills Road in Ahipara at one end and the 80km/h speed limit sign at the Kaitaia end. The two cameras in the middle will be installed near the speed limit signs at approximately 655 Kaitaia-Awaroa Road, and the other near 854 Kaitaia-Awaroa Road.

    When installed, the four cameras will work together, measuring the average speed drivers travel between them. Drivers will only be ticketed if their average travel speed between any two cameras is over the limit – they aren’t ‘pinged’ by a single camera or at a single point where they are over the speed limit.

    We know that average speed safety cameras are more effective at reducing deaths and serious injuries than the traditional speed cameras we’ve had in New Zealand. Safety cameras will reduce speeding, ensuring that if crashes do happen, the people involved are far more likely to walk away unharmed” says Mr Mutton.

    Initial construction works will include installing underground power supplies, completing foundation works and installing metal barriers that will protect maintenance workers and any vehicle that leaves the road in a crash.  

    Before the cameras begin operating ‘Average speed camera area’ signs will be installed, giving drivers a reminder to check their speed and slow down if needed.

    NZTA is expecting to begin operating its first average speed safety cameras at Matakana Road, Warkworth, later this year, and will progressively bring other average speed safety cameras online in the following months. 

    More information

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Opportunity for feedback on hospital roading changes ending soon

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    People are being encouraged to have their say on proposed roading changes around the new Dunedin Hospital before the opportunity for feedback closes next week.

    Earlier this month, New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) released its proposed changes to State Highway 1 Cumberland Street and State Highway 88 St Andrew Street to reshape travel in the Dunedin CBD and achieve safe and efficient access to the new hospital.

    The proposed roading changes, developed in partnership with Dunedin City Council after previous rounds of community feedback, can be viewed in detail here. The opportunity for people to comment on the proposed changes ends on Monday 28 July.

    Proposed roading changes include the following:

    • A new Barnes Dance crossing (where all pedestrians cross the road at once) at the SH88 St Andrew Street/SH1 Cumberland Street intersection to help people reach the hospital public entrances safely. 
    • Removal of the westbound right turn from SH88 St Andrew Street onto SH1 Cumberland Street to make space and time for the increased number of pedestrians, including people with mobility needs, to cross the road.
    • Two new signalised pedestrian crossings on SH1 outside the Woolworths and the Centre City New World supermarkets.
    • Changes to St Andrew Street and other nearby streets to help people driving, walking and cycling, and emergency vehicles, move safely and smoothly around the hospital and surrounding area.
    • Frederick Street will become the new SH88, moving right turning traffic from St Andrew Street to other streets.

    A graphical presentation of what the proposed new Barnes Dance crossing and roading configuration will look like.

    Acting Director of Regional Relationships for NZTA, Ian Duncan, says the public feedback on the proposed changes will need to be considered before any work on the affected streets take place over the next few years.

    “It presents an exciting opportunity to reshape the transport infrastructure to best serve the community, and we encourage people to have their say on what is proposed.”

    Health New Zealand says with the new Dunedin Hospital Outpatient Building set to open in late 2026, and the Inpatient Building following in 2031, it is committed to supporting a health precinct that serves the needs of staff, patients, whānau, and the wider community.

    “We are working closely with NZTA to improve safety and accessibility around St Andrew and Cumberland Streets,” says Health New Zealand Southern Interim Group Director of Operations Craig Ashton.

    “This collaboration is vital to ensure safe and efficient access to the New Dunedin Hospital for emergency services, staff, patients, and visitors.”

    View the full proposed changes and give feedback via the online form

    Printed material with the proposed changes and feedback forms can be found at Dunedin City Council libraries and service centres, and those not online can send their feedback to NZTA by post.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Health experts, officials convene in Uganda for HIV, hepatitis B, syphilis elimination across Africa

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

    Participants attend the Triple Elimination Conference in Africa 2025 in Kampala, Uganda, on July 21, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Health experts, policymakers, and researchers on Monday began a three-day meeting in Kampala, the Ugandan capital, to accelerate the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B across Africa.

    The event, held under the theme “Unifying Actions, Transforming Futures: Achieving Triple Elimination in Africa by 2030,” is dubbed as Africa’s first-ever high-level conference focused on the triple elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B.

    Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, represented by Vice President Jessica Alupo, emphasized the importance of unity and innovation in tackling the continent’s health challenges, especially in the face of shifting global health priorities and diminishing funding.

    “As Africa, and as a global community, we must act with unity, innovation, and purpose to advance maternal and child health and eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B,” said Museveni.

    He noted that the interconnected epidemics of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B pose a significant burden to public health, particularly through mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding.

    Uganda’s Minister of Health Ruth Aceng told the gathering that while progress has been made in HIV prevention, care, and treatment, major challenges persist, particularly in addressing syphilis and hepatitis B.

    She said that by the end of 2024, Africa had approximately 26.3 million people living with HIV, accounting for 65 percent of the global total. Meanwhile, syphilis cases are rising worldwide, with eight million adults infected, 700,000 congenital cases, and 230,000 deaths annually.

    While Africa has recorded the highest increase in syphilis cases globally, with only Botswana and Namibia currently on track to eliminate mother-to-child transmission, 65 million people across the continent are chronically infected with hepatitis B, contributing 63 percent of the world’s new infections, the minister added.

    “Integration is the way to go now, especially in this era of unprecedented funding challenges, where we are already seeing a reduction in funding from development partners,” said Aceng.

    According to the event organizers, the conference aligns with the World Health Organization’s 2030 disease elimination targets and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, both of which envision a healthier, more resilient Africa. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Humanoid robot industry chain matchmaking event held at 3rd CISCE

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

    The Hubei Humanoid Robotics Industry Chain Matchmaking Conference was held on July 16 during the 3rd China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, with the theme “Synergizing Cutting-Edge Innovations, Empowering New Quality Productive Forces.”

    Yu Jianlong, vice chairman of the CCPIT, speaks at the Hubei Humanoid Robotics Industry Chain Matchmaking Conference during the 3rd CISCE in Beijing, July 16, 2025. [Photo courtesy of CISCE Organizing Committee]

    The event gathered over 400 participants, including ambassadors to China, academic experts, industry leaders and senior financial executives. Through keynote speeches, presentations, project promotions, product launches and strategic cooperation signings, the conference comprehensively showcased Hubei province’s advantages and potential in humanoid robot development. It facilitated precise connections across the industrial chain while injecting momentum into global humanoid robotics collaboration.

    Yu Jianlong, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), stated at the event that as a pivotal hub where the Belt and Road Initiative intersects with the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Hubei boasts distinct geographical advantages, abundant sci-tech and educational resources, a robust innovation ecosystem and strong openness. In recent years, the province has demonstrated vigorous development momentum in humanoid robotics — from smart manufacturing to core component R&D, and from application scenarios to industrial ecosystem development.

    “At this year’s CISCE, Hubei established the exclusive humanoid robotics exhibition zone, featuring 22 provincial enterprises showcasing over 80 exhibits — including 20 fully-integrated humanoid robots — collectively demonstrating Hubei’s complete industrial chain ecosystem for humanoid robotics,” Yu noted.

    He emphasized that the CCPIT will continue expanding its enterprise service network and international partnerships, working with Hubei to establish high-quality cooperation platforms for Chinese and foreign enterprises. This will help position Hubei’s humanoid robotics industry as a standout brand in developing new quality productive forces.

    Hu Zhonghai, director of the Hubei Sub-Council of the CCPIT, stated in his address that the humanoid robotics industry represents strategic high ground for developing new quality productive forces — serving as both a “barometer” for technological revolution and an “accelerator” for industrial upgrading. He emphasized Hubei’s ideal environment for robotics innovation, with its unique geographic advantages, strong industrial ecosystem support and superior open policies.

    The joint exhibition booth of Hubei humanoid robotics enterprises during the 3rd CISCE in Beijing, July 19, 2025. [Photo/China.org.cn]

    He noted the province has prioritized eight major projects, including breakthroughs in humanoid robotics, with 325 Global Fortune 500 companies having now established operations in Hubei. The province is firmly implementing its humanoid robotics industry roadmap targeting initial progress within one year, visible results in three years, and substantial momentum in five years.

    Li Zhengxiang, chairman of the Hubei Humanoid Robotics Innovation Center, stated that the center is currently one of China’s largest and most scenario-rich innovation hubs for humanoid robotics. “Through a five-dimensional approach featuring platform leadership, industrial cluster development, financial support, talent empowerment and application scenario implementation, we will build a nationally influential ecosystem for the humanoid robotics industry,” he said.

    Zhao Xingwei, legal representative of JCBot and professor at the School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), explained that JCBot has achieved industrialization with technical support from the team of academicians at HUST. The company’s products currently serve over 10 application fields, including industrial production, cultural tourism, emergency firefighting, inspection and warehousing. He emphasized JCBot will continue advancing R&D to expand into higher-value applications and support industrial upgrading.

    During the new product launch session, Lou Kaiqi, deputy general manager of Hubei Optics Valley Dongzhi Embodied Intelligence Technology Co. Ltd., unveiled the company’s new humanoid robot model. Lou explained that the robot has already been deployed in various applications including exhibition hall docent services, retail guidance, reception duties and commercial performances, with plans for future expansion into government services, industrial operations, elderly care and other sectors.

    A humanoid robot waves to the audience at the Hubei Humanoid Robotics Industry Chain Matchmaking Conference during the 3rd CISCE in Beijing, July 16, 2025. [Photo courtesy of CISCE Organizing Committee]

    Shao Renjie, deputy director of integration at Hubei Kofon Intelligent Transmission Co. Ltd., unveiled a new drive joint module for humanoid robots at the event. The module integrates core components including high-torque motors, reducers and controllers, featuring high power density, precision control and lightweight design to meet dexterous movement requirements for humanoid robots. Shao noted that the launch of this module helps fill critical gaps in Hubei’s supply chain for humanoid robotics core components, strengthening local industrial self-sufficiency and control capabilities.

    At the matchmaking conference, the Hubei Humanoid Robotics Industry Alliance signed strategic cooperation framework agreements with three partners: the Zhejiang Robot Industry Association, the National and Local Co-Built Humanoid Robotics Innovation Center, and the Zhongguancun Rongzhi Specialized Robotics Alliance. Under the agreements, the four parties will collaborate deeply on technology R&D, market expansion and talent exchange to build a stronger robotics ecosystem, enabling resource sharing and complementary advantages to collectively enhance competitiveness in humanoid robotics.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Senator Coons cites his faith as a reason to reject Trump’s budget bill and urges his party to talk openly about faith on SiriusXM’s “Mornings with Zerlina”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) joined “Mornings with Zerlina” on SiriusXM Progress on Friday as part of her week-long series on faith and politics, where he talked about how his faith motivates his public service, especially in fighting for vulnerable communities impacted by President Trump’s sweeping budget bill and rescissions package which both passed the Senate this month.

    Senator Coons and Zerlina Maxwell discussed the need for Democrats to speak more openly about faith as a source of compassion and how faith plays into issues like climate change, health care, and global affairs. Senator Coons also talks about the rise of Christian nationalism in America right now and how evangelical conservatives have placed themselves at the center of the intersection of faith and politics in the popular imagination.

    A link to the interview and key excerpts are available below.

    LISTEN HERE.

    Republicans push through Trump’s budget reconciliation bill

    Maxwell: As a person of faith, what do you want our listeners at home to know about the damage of this particular law and how it flies in the face of so many faith teachings about how we should take care of people who are vulnerable and hurting?

    Senator Coons: There are lots of us in the Democratic caucus in the Senate who first felt called to public service to help others, to try and strengthen our country, to address the issues of health equity, of hunger, of lack of access to clean air and water, to safe housing through a concern for each other that’s rooted in seeing other Americans of different backgrounds and different states and different needs as children of God – as people fully deserving of the respect and the investment and the support that that entails. This bill – this law now, as you pointed out – is going to do massive damage.

    I recently did an event at the Delaware Food Bank with my colleagues, Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester and Congresswoman Sarah McBride, where we went through in detail the tens of thousands of children, seniors and families who will be hungry as a result of the cuts to the hunger programs of the federal government and the millions of people across the country who will lose access to health care and crowd into emergency rooms sicker with less support, more likely to go bankrupt in ways that will increase their suffering and reduce the health of our country as a whole. The bottom line is that this act, which really was centrally driven by trying to deliver bigger tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, is also going to make us hungrier, sicker, and more divided.

    …

    For a long time in American history, the faith community, broadly understood, was really at the center of social justice movements, whether it was the civil rights movement, or the labor movement, or the environmental movement, and that was motivated by a broadly shared compassion and concern for each other. If you think about the images of who was marching across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, it included priests and nuns, rabbis and protestant clergy, folks of a wide range of backgrounds. And just two weeks before the final vote on the “Big, Beautiful Bill” – which was anything but beautiful, it was a big, ugly bill – Reverend Jim Wallis and I helped convene literally hundreds of clergy, religious, civic leaders from around the country in a protest on the steps of the Capitol which began by their reading dozens of Scripture passages from Torah, from the Gospels, from other faith traditions that all put a privilege, a focus, a centrality, on caring for the poor, on caring for the needy, for the widow, for the orphan, for the outcast, and then put in sharp contrast how this law does the opposite.

    Democrats needing to open up about their faith

    Maxwell: You mention that more Democrats need to talk about their faith. Why is it that so many Democrats seem uncomfortable or unwilling to lean into their beliefs and to talk about it more openly?

    Senator Coons: I don’t really know what’s the origin of it, other than, you know, look, we have to recognize that organized religion has harmed many people in the United States, there are certainly folks who have become distanced from their faith traditions because of their own experiences. Someone I was quite close to, and remain close to today, in law school confided in me that his initial very negative reaction was frankly because of something horrible that had happened in his parish when he was a child that had driven him away from the Catholic Church. He wasn’t judging me. He was just reflecting on an unpleasant experience. And the more that folks associate public religiosity with aggressive campaigns by Christian nationalists or exclusive focusing on reproductive freedom issues or death penalty issues, the more they think it’s a narrow concern, not something that speaks to broader concerns, but whether it’s about healthcare, the environment, our communities, or economic justice.

    Rise of Christian nationalism

    Maxwell: Does your faith inform the way you talk about the rise in authoritarianism or white Christian nationalism in the country right now? Because I feel like there is a space where we can talk about aligning ourselves with values that have a moral grounding that are not what the folks on the other end of the political spectrum are talking about in a moment like this one.

    Senator Coons: There are passages in the Gospels and the Torah that I think speak clearly to a sense of who is my neighbor. Who are we connected to? In Christ, there is no East or West, nor Greek, nor Jew, for example, and I have always felt that the calling of the United States to be engaged with the rest of the world, to be supportive of development and addressing disasters and crises in the rest of the world, is rooted in that teaching that we are all children of God, regardless of race, religion, background, ethnicity, faith, language. And here at home, similarly, Christian nationalism presumes that we are a country that is uniquely endowed with an historic mission, and at times that has, in my experience, on the Foreign Relations Committee here, that hurts our partnerships around the world, our alliances around the world, but it also fails to reflect a real embrace of the full creation of the world and the full range of humanity, both here in the United States and around the world.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Jewel Osco Stores in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa Voluntarily Recalls Select Items Containing Tuna Salad from Reser’s Fine Foods Due to an Ingredient Recall Linked to Possible Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    Summary

    Company Announcement Date:
    July 17, 2025
    FDA Publish Date:
    July 21, 2025
    Product Type:
    Food & BeveragesFoodborne Illness
    Reason for Announcement:

    Recall Reason Description
    Potential Foodborne Illness – Listeria monocytogenes

    Company Name:
    Jewel Osco
    Brand Name:

    Brand Name(s)
    Jewel Osco

    Product Description:

    Product Description
    Tuna Salad Products

    Company Announcement
    Jewel Osco stores in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa are voluntarily recalling select items containing tuna salad supplied by Reser’s Fine Foods. This action follows a recall initiated by Reser’s Fine Food due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes in breadcrumbs used as an ingredient in their tuna salad.
    Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
    Consumers who have purchased these items are urged not to consume these products and to dispose of them or return the items to their local store for a full refund. The FDA recommends in these cases that anyone who purchased or received any recalled products to use extra vigilance in cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces and containers that may have come in contact with these products to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. Listeria monocytogenes can survive in refrigerated temperatures and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces.
    There have been no reports of injuries or adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.
    The items containing tuna salad were available for purchase at Jewel Osco in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa.
    Consumers with questions should contact Albertsons Companies’ Customer Service Center at 1-877-723-3929 Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. PST.
    Product Recall Details:

    Product Name 

    UPC 

    Size 

    Sell Thru Dates (if applicable, Or Lot Code/Est. Number)

    Store Banners 

    States 

    CLUB SANDWICH ES WITH SALAD FS

    29125900000

    EA

    Jul 16 25 Thru Jul 18 25

    Jewel Osco

    IL, IN, IA

    RM DUO TUNA SALAD W/CRACKER S

    27183000000

    EA

    Jul 17 25 Thru Jul 19 25

    Jewel Osco

    IL, IN, IA

    RM QUAD TUNA SALAD

    21500300000

    EA

    Jul 17 25 Thru Jul 19 25

    Jewel Osco

    IL, IN, IA

    RM SALAD TUNA SS /td>

    29486900000

    1 LB

    Jul 17 25 Thru Jul 19 25

    Jewel Osco

    IL, IN, IA

    RM SNDWCH CROISSNT SSTBL TUNA SALAD SS

    21372500000

    EA

    Jul 17 25 Thru Jul 19 25

    Jewel Osco

    IL, IN, IA

    RM SNDWCH TUNA SALAD CROISSANT SS COLD

    21788400000

    EA

    Jul 16 25 Thru Jul 18 25

    Jewel Osco

    IL, IN, IA

    TUNA SALAD

    21680700000

    Variable Weight

    Jul 17 25 Thru Jul 19 25

    Jewel Osco

    IL, IN, IA

    Company Contact Information

    Consumers:
    Albertsons Companies’ Customer Service Center
    1-877-723-3929

    Product Photos

    Content current as of:
    07/21/2025

    Regulated Product(s)

    Topic(s)

    Follow FDA

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Are screenwriters paid for a product or a service? The definition matters for their workplace rights

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Goodwin, Lecturer in Arts Management and Human Resources, The University of Melbourne

    Vitaly Gariev/Unsplash

    The film and television sector in Australia employs over 26,000 workers and generated more than A$4.5 billion in income in 2021–22. TV dramas generate a large part of this revenue.

    Australian screen workers, including screenwriters, have traditionally been classified by productions as freelancers or contractors. In many cases, this means they have not been paid entitlements most other workers in Australia have access to.

    A December ruling by the Australian Taxation Office defined many Australian screenwriters as employees, and therefore they should be paid superannuation. Now, the Australian Writers Guild and Screen Producers Australia are each “seeking legal advice” on what this ruling could mean for scriptwriters and Australia’s screen sector.

    Mandated superannuation

    The superannuation guarantee mandates employers make superannuation contributions for eligible employees in line with the minimum contribution rate (now 12%).

    Historically, scriptwriters, like other arts workers, have been mainly engaged as freelancers, not employees. This means they are not always paid superannuation and other legal entitlements that come from being an employee.

    But a December 2024 tax office ruling specifically defined many screen workers as employees.

    This ruling advises that someone who sells an existing script (such as someone who wrote a film at their own initiative, and then sold the script to a producer) is not an employee, but “selling property”. These writers are not eligible for super payments.

    But the ruling found people who are regularly working scriptwriters (such as those working in a writers’ room for a TV series) may be legally considered employees, and are eligible for payments and protections offered to employees.

    Screen Producers Australia sees things differently. Information provided to their members argues scriptwriters are paid for the intellectual property rights associated with their product – meaning they are selling property.

    Opposing this, the Australian Writers Guild argue scriptwriters on long-running TV programs or in writers’ rooms are performing services and are employees of the production companies.

    If the screen production companies do not fall in line with the tax office ruling, the Australian Writers Guild have not ruled out undertaking legal action through a class action suit, or a strike.

    As the guild is not a union, they cannot undertake protected industrial action. But the guild could encourage a “wildcat strike”: a spontaneous work stoppage without union leadership. They recognise, however, this would have the impact on member livelihoods.

    What does this mean for scriptwriters?

    The ruling from the tax office outlines how it would apply the legislation, but it has not yet been tested legally. If the ruling is tested legally – by, say, legal action from scriptwriters seeking superannuation payments – and scriptwriters are found to be employees, it could greatly affect their work and pay.

    Not only could this lead to mandated superannuation contributions, but access to other entitlements such as parental leave, holiday pay and redundancy provisions.

    Australian artists earn on average 26% below the workforce norm, with incomes decreasing in real terms.

    Working conditions for Australians in the screen industries are difficult. Those working in the sector suffer from high levels of burnout and face systemic barriers when not white, male and able-bodied.

    Scriptwriters in Australia often struggle to achieve sustainable careers.
    Aman Upadhyay/Unsplash

    Scriptwriters in Australia often struggle to achieve sustainable careers. Scriptwriting fees often don’t fully cover the research and writing involved in script development, and the rise of streaming services has seen residuals – money made from licence fees of past work – all but disappear.

    Secure work in writers’ rooms for television series is also diminishing as these shrink in both team size and duration, limiting opportunities for emerging writers.

    Freelance scriptwriters may lack basic worker rights like minimum wage, job security, union bargaining and workers’ compensation insurance.

    For those lucky enough to secure work, superannuation and other entitlements can be negotiated into individual contracts. Until now, this has relied on individuals having the power and ability to engage in contract negotiation.

    Creative Workplaces – the division of Creative Australia formed in 2023 to address issues of pay, safety and welfare across the arts – recently launched a website. It offers industrial resources for arts organisations and workers to understand their rights and obligations.

    This is an important tool for all in the creative industries to ensure they receive the minimums under the law. But it is not a regulatory body. The onus is on organisations and workers to put into practice the relevant contracts and employment relationships.

    As the writers guild argues, it should not be up to individual workers to negotiate for basic worker entitlements. The recent tax office ruling, they say, means entitlements should include superannuation for many scriptwriters.

    A sustainable screen career

    As with other workplace issues impacting artists in recent years, scriptwriters deserve basic legal protections. They also deserve the safety and security that comes from being recognised as employees.

    TV drama provides a valuable training ground for Australian creatives. Fostering talent includes the creation of liveable working conditions.

    Initiatives such as Creative Workplaces can provide information, but leaders within creative organisations, production companies and other decision makers must act.

    Producers may choose now to pay super, in line with the tax office ruling, or they may wait for legal precedent to be set. And while they must adhere to legal minimums, production companies must also consider whether those working with them can earn a sustainable living on these minimums, or if they should offer better employment terms.

    If we want a future for screen stories in Australia, support for those working in the sector to build an enduring career is essential.

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

    – ref. Are screenwriters paid for a product or a service? The definition matters for their workplace rights – https://theconversation.com/are-screenwriters-paid-for-a-product-or-a-service-the-definition-matters-for-their-workplace-rights-261463

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Advocacy – Statement of Concern and Clarification Regarding the “Harmony Accord”

    Source: Maher Nazzal

    To the respected Muslim community across New Zealand,

    As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh,

    FIANZ is scheduled (22nd July 2025) to sign an agreement referred to as the Harmony Accord on behalf of the Muslim community in New Zealand, with two Jewish organisations, one of which is publicly aligned with pro-Zionist positions.

    Over the past few days, a group of Ulama (Islamic scholars), Imams, and leaders of Islamic organisations from various regions of New Zealand have engaged in urgent consultations regarding the proposed draft of the so-called “Harmony Accord.” This document came to our attention (through non-official channel) just days before its planned official signing between the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) and two Jewish organisations.

    Despite our sincere efforts to engage constructively with the FIANZ representative, Br. Abdul Razzaq, including two formal meetings and a detailed written submission outlining our concerns and proposed amendments as requested, we received no official response from the FIANZ Executive Council. Instead, a public statement was released by FIANZ explaining their rationale and intent to proceed with signing, despite clear objections raised by a significant group of scholars, legal professionals, and civil society advocates, and without any meaningful consultation with religious scholars or community representatives.

    Accordingly, after careful consideration, we find it to be our religious, moral, and communal duty to issue this public statement on behalf of the undersigned organisations and individuals—seeking clarity, accountability, and unity within the Muslim community, and fulfilling our responsibility before Allah.

    Regarding the Consultative Meetings

    Upon learning of the imminent signing of the Accord, a series of emergency meetings were convened by concerned Ulama, Imams, and community leaders representing mosques and Islamic institutions across New Zealand. Attendees included:

    Participants:

    Sh. Muhammad Aammer

    Sh. Muhammad Anwar 

    Sh. Abu Anas 

    Sh. Himayatullah 

    Sh. Muhammad Shakir

    Sh.  Muhammad Patel 

    Sh. Shazly Khan 

    Sh. Alaa Mubarak 

    Sh. Reza Abdul Jabbar 

    Sh. Khalil

    Note: The above individuals were present in the initial consultative meetings. The signatories to this statement are listed below and represent the final endorsing parties.

    These respected scholars and leaders reached a unanimous consensus to reject the Accord in its current form, citing grave religious, ethical, and communal concerns, as well as a clear lack of transparency and proper consultation.

    Our Concerns Regarding the Accord:

    1.      Lack of Consultation and Genuine Representation:

    The Accord was never shared with key Islamic scholars, institutions, or the wider Muslim public. It lacked the basic process of transparent and inclusive consultation, and thus cannot be said to represent the New Zealand Muslim community in any legitimate capacity.

    2.      Doctrinal, Cultural, and Ethical Concerns:

    The Accord contains ambiguous language and concepts that are open to interpretation, potentially leading to positions inconsistent with Islamic beliefs or misused in future contexts beyond the original intent of the agreement.

    3.      Complete Omission of the Palestinian Tragedy:

    We are deeply alarmed and disappointed that the Accord makes no mention of the catastrophic humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. Thousands of civilians—including women and children—are being systematically targeted, starved, and displaced in what leading international human rights bodies have classified as war crimes and acts of genocide.

    Even more troubling is that one of the Jewish signatories to the Accord has publicly expressed support for the current Israeli policies in Palestine. Proceeding with such an agreement, without any acknowledgment of these realities, is ethically unacceptable, deeply painful for our community, and runs contrary to our shared values of justice and humanity.

    4.      Concerns Around Youth Engagement and Religious Education:

    While we support constructive interfaith educational programs, such initiatives must include theological safeguards. Without scholarly oversight, there is a real risk that such efforts could unintentionally undermine Islamic values or promote secular or pluralistic ideologies inconsistent with our faith—especially in youth and educational settings.

    Regarding the Role of FIANZ:

    True representation of New Zealand Muslims requires inclusive and transparent engagement with Ulama and Islamic organisations—particularly when addressing matters with theological, cultural, and communal implications.

    Signing such sensitive agreements, regardless of intentions, without thorough consultation creates legal, social, and ethical consequences. It also risks falsely implying that the views of all Muslims are aligned behind the signatories.

    We emphasise that declining to sign an agreement that contradicts Islamic principles and communal consensus does not equate to disengagement from interfaith dialogue. On the contrary, it is a principled stand to ensure that dialogue is based on mutual respect, clarity, and integrity—as the Qur’an teaches: “And do not argue with the People of the Book except in the best manner…” [Qur’an 29:46]

    The idea that declining to sign an agreement risks losing the Muslim community’s “seat at the table” is troubling. New Zealand is a democratic country, built on rights and fairness. We believe the Government will continue to engage with Islamic organisations representing over 75,000 Muslims, regardless of their principled objection to this Accord.

    Final Position:

    1.      We, the undersigned Ulama, Imams, and Islamic organisations, firmly reject the Harmony Accord in its current form. It lacks proper consultation, has not undergone adequate theological review in accordance with Islamic principles, and does not represent the values or voices of the Muslim community in Aotearoa.

    2.      Any individuals or organisations who choose to sign the agreement do so solely on their own behalf. Their decision does not reflect the views of the wider Muslim community in New Zealand.

    3.      We urge Muslims in New Zealand to reject the Accord in its current form, recognising it as unrepresentative and lacking legitimacy.

    Our Core Values

    1.      We affirm that Muslims in New Zealand have, for decades, coexisted peacefully and respectfully with Jewish and other faith communities. The tragic terrorist attack in Christchurch in 2019, which claimed the lives of 51 innocent Muslims, was the act of a violent extremist and does not reflect the values or character of New Zealand society. As Muslims, we reject all forms of violence, racism, and extremism—whether against us or others—and remain committed to justice, compassion, and cooperation.

    2.      We value all genuine initiatives that seek to promote social harmony, inclusion, and peace across New Zealand.

    3.      We believe in meaningful interfaith dialogue and partnerships that benefit the broader society.

    4.      We insist that any agreement involving Muslim representation must respect Islamic values, be rooted in community consultation, and reflect the views of the actual Muslim public.

    Our Prayer

    We ask Allah Almighty to unite our hearts upon truth, guide our steps with wisdom, protect the dignity of the Muslim community in New Zealand, and bring justice to all those who are oppressed.

    Wa-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh.

    Signed:

    Organizations:

    1.      Alhera Dawah

    2.      Almannar Trust (Auckland)

    3.      Alnejashi Islamic Trust

    4.      Ashburton Masjid

    5.      Ashburton Muslim Association (AMAN)

    6.      As Habul Quran Wasunnah Association (AQWA)

    7.      AUT Muslim Students’ Association (AUTMSA)

    8.      Furqan Trust

    9.      Humanitarian Support Committee NEw Zealand

    10. Indonesian Muslim Association

    11. Manukau Islamic Youth Centre (MIYC)

    12. MASJED Al Rahman, Sh. Abu Omar (Auckland)

    13. Murihiku Islamic Trust

    14. Massey Muslim Students’ Association (MUMSA)

    15. Muslim Ummah of New Zealand (MUNZ)

    16. New Zealand Board of Imams

    17. North Shore Islamic Association (NSIA)

    18. Salam Trust (Auckland)

    19. Serve The Humanity

    20. Southland Muslim Association

     

    Imams and Ulama:

    1.      Sh. Abdul Mateen (Auckland)

    2.      Sh. Abdul Basit (Auckland)

    3.      Sh. Abdulmanan Ahmed Burka (Auckland)

    4.      Sh. Abdulsalam (Auckland)

    5.      Sh. Abu Anas (Auckland)

    6.      Sh. Alaa Mubarak (Auckland)

    7.      Sh. Ataur Rahman, Dr. (Auckland)

    8.      Sh. Dr. Mohammed Farid Ali (Auckland)

    9.      Sh. Hazem Arafah (Palmerston North)

    10. Sh. Himayatullah (Auckland)

    11. Sh. Kababa (Auckland)

    12. Sh. Mohamed Salim (Auckland)

    13. Sh. Mohamed Zewada (Wellington)

    14. Sh. Muhammad Shaffiee (Auckland)

    15. Sh. Omar Elnagar (Ashburton)

    16. Sh. Reza Abdul Jabbar (Invercargill)

    17. Sh. Shazly Khan (Hamilton)

    18. Sh. Ziyaul Haqq (Auckland).

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Learning webinars to assist tertiary teaching online in New Zealand

    Source: Tertiary Education Commission

    Last updated 28 August 2020
    Last updated 28 August 2020

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    In these recorded webinars, New Zealand and Australian experts share their knowledge to enhance the quality of your online teaching practice.
    In these recorded webinars, New Zealand and Australian experts share their knowledge to enhance the quality of your online teaching practice.

    The following webinars provide insights from tertiary education organisations (TEOs), online learning experts, and online learners, which TEOs may find helpful with their online delivery.
    Webinar series 1: Online delivery in response to Covid-19 (2020)

    Webinar series 2: Enhancing learner success through curriculum redesign of online learning (2024)

    Online delivery in response to COVID-19
    Tertiary teaching online: pedagogy and practice
    Mark Nichols of the Open Polytechnic and Ali Hughes from TANZ eCampus both answer the question “What do I need to know to be an effective and engaging teacher in the online space?”
    [embedded content]
    We apologise the webinar recording is not complete due to technical issues. To access all the information Mark and Ali shared through the webinar please use the resources below.

    How to support and engage tertiary learners in an online environment (with a focus on pastoral care)
    Dr Cathy Stone of Australia’s University of Newcastle and Dr Teri McClelland from Southern Institute of Technology’s SIT2LRN discuss how to support and engage learners studying vocational and academic based qualifications in an online environment.
    Cathy Stone talks about her experience with the creation of the Australian National Guidelines for improving student outcomes in online learning. Teri McClelland discusses some of the specific practices SIT2LRN has developed to ensure their distance learners are engaged, supported and part of the Southern Institute of Technology’s community.

    [embedded content]
    Download:

    Supporting disabled tertiary learners in an online environment
    Karen Hannay and Stephanie Houpt from the Open Polytechnic’s Learning Support Team discuss best practices and supports for disabled learners in an online environment.
    [embedded content]

    Enhancing learner success through curriculum redesign of online learning
    A narrative approach to courseware design to support ākonga success
    The Open Polytechnic talk about their design and development function and how they use a narrative to guide learners through a course, informed by analytics. The presentation focuses on the role of courseware design in ākonga success and highlights their asynchronous model, where tutors and learners have the flexibility to engage with course content at different times.
    [embedded content]
    Distance learning – a student perspective
    Two distance learners share their experiences of online learning at an undergraduate and Masters levels. In this informative session the learners talk about things that make a difference in supporting their tertiary education experiences as online learners. They discuss barriers and challenges they face in online learning and share what they would like TEOs to know about catering to online learners.
    [embedded content]
    Experiences of online students: then, now and into the future
    Cathy Stone is an independent consultant and researcher, based in Australia. In this presentation, Cathy discusses her research into the online learner experience – exploring the needs and wants of the full range of online learners, from exclusively online to hybrid environments. Cathy provides insights on how learner experiences can improve delivery and talks about the future of online learning.
    [embedded content]
    Learning frameworks for engaging online delivery
    Massey University talks about their engagement framework to support rich, connected learning experiences for online learners. The presentation shares the role their Whakapiri framework plays in delivering online learning and teaching. Massey also talks about the challenges and realities of the design process and provide practical tips for TEOs to consider. 
    [embedded content]

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Workplace Safety – Road freight body welcomes steady decline in workplace injuries

    Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

    Road freight body welcomes steady decline in workplace injuries
    Transporting New Zealand is welcoming a decline in road freight transport workplace injuries, saying it shows industry commitment to health and safety improvements.
    Data released by ACC shows that annual injury claims have fallen by 35 per cent between 2018 and 2025, showing a consistent decline in workplace injuries despite growth in the national freight task. Claims fell across all 16 regions, with Northland and West Coast recording the largest percentage drops (56 per cent and 54 per cent respectively).
    There were 3,442 new claims in the road freight transfer industry in 2024/25, compared to 5,295 in 2017/18 – a reduction of 1,853 claims. Numbers declined year-on-year from 2018 to 2025.
    Transporting New Zealand Chief Executive Dom Kalasih says the data is good news for road freight staff, businesses, and ACC levy payers.
    “The data shows that road transport businesses are steadily improving workplace health and safety for its people, while moving more freight than ever.”
    Kalasih says that the reduction is workplace injuries has been assisted by improvements in workplace culture, as well as technological improvements.
    “In our 2025 National Road Freight Survey, the health, safety and wellbeing of staff was identified as one of the top three issues by 128 surveyed businesses. This data from ACC also indicates that road freight businesses and staff are making training, safe processes, and site and equipment design a priority.”
    “Technological innovation will also be playing an important role, whether it’s automatic chain throwing and tensioning systems on logging trailers that avoid soft tissue injuries, or fatigue management technologies that help ensure people aren’t working while tired. Safety technologies can reduce physical strain on workers and mitigate safety risks, bringing injury rates down.”
    Kalasih says that while the downward trend in workplace injuries is great news, there is more work that can be done.
    “Transporting New Zealand would like to see these injury rates fall even further, and for injured people to be able to safely return to work sooner. The longer people spend away from their workplace, the less likely they are to successfully return to work.”
    “We encourage our members to access Transporting New Zealand’s free consultations from leading health and safety consultants and talk to our membership managers for advice and guidance.”
    “We also encourage road freight businesses to check out ACC’s Recovery at Work resources, to help support staff back into the work following injury – demonstrated in our recent member video.”
    ACC Road Freight Transport Industry Data 2024/2025 (1 April to 31 March)
    Primary Injury Diagnosis by Category (Top four categories by claim frequency)
    1. Soft tissue injuries (sprains, strains, tears, and contusions)
    2. Laceration / Puncture / Sting
    3. Fracture / Dislocation
    4. Foreign Body in Orifice / Eye
    Accident Cause (Top five categories by claim frequency)
    1. Lifting / Carrying / Strain
    2. Loss Balance / Personal Control
    3. Other / Unknown
    4. Pushed or Pulled
    Attached Images:
    1. Top 10 new work-related claims, by industry
    2. New Work-Related ACC Claims in Road Freight Transport
    Source: Created by Transporting New Zealand using ACC data – https://www.transporting.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ACC-Transport-Industry-Data.xlsx
    About Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand
    Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand is the peak national membership association representing the road freight transport industry. Our members operate urban, rural and inter- regional commercial freight transport services throughout the country.
    Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 92.8% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75.1% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Travel smart this winter: protect your finances and pack with purpose

    Source: Premier of Victoria

    When the temperature drops, you can often find Australians on the move in search of sunshine, snow, or simply a change of scenery. With winter travel in full swing, being smart about how you plan, spend and pack is more important than ever. With the continued rise in scams across the globe, NAB is helping holidaymakers stay one step ahead of common travel scams, while cult luggage brand July has tips on packing with intention and ease.

    From accommodation bookings and event tickets to and taxis and transport, holidays generally mean more spending in more places, and criminals are ready to take advantage.
    NAB Executive, Group Investigations Chris Sheehan said travelling can create the perfect storm for scams.

    “Travel scams tap into emotions including fear of missing out, tiredness and excitement, which can be heightened in an unfamiliar environment or if we’re really focused on looking for a bargain or managing a budget,” Mr Sheehan, a former Australian Federal Police executive, said.

    “Just like you’d check the weather or plan your itinerary, it’s vital to be aware of common scams – whether you’re travelling locally or abroad – so you can recognise the red flags and protect yourself.”

    Three scams to watch out for if you’re heading off on an adventure include:

    • Accommodation or booking website impersonation scams: Criminals can pose as hotels or booking platforms to convince travellers into sharing payment details or transferring money. The biggest red flag is an email or message requesting you to verify payment details or risk losing the reservation. Always type the website address into your browser rather than clicking a link and contact the provider using details you’ve sourced independently.
    • Ticket scams for major events: Fake listings for concerts and sporting events exploit urgency and excitement. Look for tickets through official resellers, or if possible, speak directly to the seller before sending money.
    • Overcharging or wrong charge scams: These often occur in taxis, restaurants or shops, relying on distraction and unfamiliarity. Research typical costs ahead of time, especially when converting currency, and always review your bill before paying.

    But smart travel isn’t just about protecting your wallet, it’s also about packing with purpose. July co-founders Richard Li and Athan Didaskalou swear by two simple packing hacks to help travellers stay organised and avoid overpacking.

    NAB recommends travellers notify their bank if heading overseas, monitor transactions closely, and use secure payment methods. NAB’s scam prevention initiatives — including removing links from text messages and introducing real-time payment alerts to digital banking — helped stop and recover more than $48m in scam payments between October 2024 and March 2025.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 32 Awarded Scholarships To Tackle Sustainability Challenges

    Source: Government of Singapore

    JOINT NEWS RELEASE BETWEEN MSE, NEA, PUB AND SFA

    Singapore, 21 July 2025 – 16 young individuals have received the Singapore Sustainability Scholarship (SSS) to pursue courses in engineering, environmental, food, and science-related disciplines locally or overseas. Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, presented the scholarships at the award ceremony today. The SSS is jointly offered by the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE), the National Environment Agency (NEA), national water agency PUB, and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). Minister Fu also presented certificates to 16 in-service scholars, recognising their commitment to enhance their skills and professional expertise, and potential to make even bigger contributions to the public service. The full list of Singapore Sustainability Scholarship and in-service scholars are in Annex A and B respectively.

    2            A total of 293 scholarships have been awarded since the inception of the SSS in 2008. The Scholarship identifies potential future public service leaders with a passion for environmental stewardship, and nurtures them to tackle the challenges posed by climate change, environmental sustainability, water supply resilience and food safety and food security. Upon graduation, scholarship recipients will embark on fulfilling careers with MSE, NEA, PUB, or SFA, working on initiatives that impact the everyday lives of Singaporeans. These include safeguarding Singapore’s coastline from the effects of climate change, ensuring a secure and safe food supply for Singapore, and implementing the Singapore Green Plan 2030.

    Singapore Sustainability Scholarship Recipients

    3         Aarohi Chaudhary, 19, was inspired during her internship in NEA and chose to build a career with the agency. At NEA’s Public Health Policy Department, Aarohi learned that science and policy-making are closely connected while working on a project on new after-death practices. She will be pursuing a Master’s degree in Chemistry at the University of Oxford and is keen to apply scientific knowledge to address Singapore’s environmental challenges.

    4         Mohd Kasyful Azhim, 24, is a mid-term scholarship recipient with PUB, pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering at the Singapore Institute of Technology. Kasyful is a passionate advocate for sustainability initiatives and a member of the student board at Al-Mizan Singapore, a non-profit network under the Association of Muslim Professionals. He is eager to advance PUB’s progress in enhancing sustainability across our operations and contribute to Singapore’s Water Story. “Water is at the heart of Singapore’s sustainability roadmap, and I am excited to play a role in ensuring our water future continues to be resilient and secure.”

    5          Darren Chua, 25, represented Singapore in swimming, winning both a Gold and Silver medal for Singapore at the 2023 SEA Games. He is now shifting his focus to veterinary science. Growing up, he spent most of his time in the waters and this ignited his passion for working in aquatic environments. As one of SFA’s scholarship recipients this year, Darren will be pursuing a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at the University of Queensland. His studies will equip him with necessary skills to address challenges in aquatic animal health and food security in Singapore.

    In-service Scholarship Recipients

    6           Say Yueyang, Symus is one of our in-service scholars. As the Executive Engineer in NEA’s Radiation Protection and Nuclear Science Group (Nuclear Science and Technology Department, Regulation Division), Symus oversees the implementation of Singapore’s obligations under various nuclear safety conventions and agreements and is involved in strategising and planning engagements with international partners to enhance NEA’s capabilities in nuclear safety, safeguards and security. He will be pursuing an International Master’s Programme in Nuclear Engineering and Management at Tsinghua University, which will provide comprehensive professional education and research opportunities in nuclear science and engineering and strengthen his technical foundation to enable more thorough assessment of nuclear energy technologies.

    ~~ End ~~

     

    For more information, please submit your enquiries electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: ‘Su Chao’ transforms Wuxi into festival of football and flavor

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

    Beneath neon lights and the glow of a towering outdoor screen, a voice rang out – “Goal for Huai’an!” The shout cut through the air, momentarily halting Wuxi local Yuan Yijun mid-bite, her hands suspending a plump crayfish midair.

    “Suddenly,” Yuan laughed, “even my beloved crayfish didn’t taste as good.”

    On July 20, the 1.38-kilometer-long Hubin Commercial Street in Wuxi’s Binhu District, east China’s Jiangsu Province, turned into a stadium of its own. It was lined not with bleachers, but with steaming night market stalls, rows of folding chairs and hungry, hyped-up fans.

    Lu Zhiyong (1st L) of Changzhou goes for a header against Nanjing during the 2025 Jiangsu Football City League in Changzhou, east China’s Jiangsu Province on June 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

    The Sunday night saw Wuxi host Huai’an in a much-anticipated match of the wildly popular Chinese grassroots league known as the Su Super League, or “Su Chao.” Online, fans dubbed the derby the “Honey peach vs. Crayfish,” a playful reference to the two cities’ culinary claims to fame.

    “For us, eating crayfish is our own way of cheering for the Wuxi team,” Yuan said, gesturing to the pool of chili oil and glistening carapaces before her.

    “Honestly, I’m not even a hardcore fan. My friends and I came here to hang out, snack and soak up the vibe. It’s all about the ambience,” she added.

    Inside the stadium, chants rattled the rafters. Outside, every goal lit up the squares and parks. On social media, memes and banter about the quirky faceoff spread like wildfire. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup remaining a distant glimmer on the horizon, “Su Chao” has already ignited a football fever in China.

    Since its kickoff in May, the city-based amateur league has drawn staggering attention, with peak single-game attendance surpassing 60,000, over a million fans scrambling for tickets each round and short video platform impressions soaring past 10 billion.

    The July 20 match coincided with the opening of Hubin Commercial Street’s summer shopping festival, infusing the street with an almost orchestral tempo. Over 370 renowned eateries lined the street, but none drew more eager crowds than the competing crayfish stands.

    “This street is famous for its crayfish-fueled night market,” said Ji Chenjie, deputy general manager of a company running the commercial street. “Tonight, we counted nearly 40,000 visitors. Many merchants took it upon themselves to ride the ‘Su Chao’ wave. Some even set up pop-up stalls in whatever open space was left.”

    Even for the vendors, team loyalty was a delicious dilemma. “As someone from Huai’an now doing business in Wuxi, I had mixed feelings,” admitted Sun Wei, a crayfish shop owner originally from Huai’an’s Xuyi County, which is renowned for its crayfish industry.

    Wuxi narrowly lost 2-1 in the Sunday clash, but Sun was far from disappointed. “The city may have lost on the pitch, but it has won in business. I’m all smiles.”

    Residents and tourists enjoy food while watching a game at Hubin Commercial Street in Binhu District, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. (Photo by He Leijing)

    According to Ji, the commercial complex has been transformed into a vast, pulsing network of viewing points, with three enormous LED screens beamed matches live and over 40 shops streaming the game indoors. “Even if you’re dining inside, just glance up, and you’re still part of the action,” she said. “It’s full immersion.”

    The “Su Chao” boom has also inspired a flood of creative merchandising. “We’re blending football with food, local crafts and street cultures. Everything from themed menus to local handicrafts and folk art is popping up,” Ji added. “It’s about sport, but also about storytelling and culture.”

    Elsewhere in Jiangsu, similar scenes repeat nightly, as the grassroots league is sparking new life into summer nightlife economies. In Wuxi alone, city authorities have designated 43 public viewing sites for fans to gather, ranging from bustling plazas and parks to neighborhood squares.

    For visiting Huai’an fan Chen Hongzhi, watching the match in Wuxi was only part of a longer holiday. “We watched the game, then took the kids to explore the Ling Shan scenic area,” he said. “They even gave out free peaches to our Huai’an fans! We’re staying a few more days to visit some other attractions.”

    Statistics show that the Ling Shan scenic area drew 40,000 tourists over the weekend, over 60 percent of whom came from Huai’an.

    “Winning or losing in the league doesn’t matter that much,” Chen said. “What matters is that people are part of something – part of a city, part of a story, part of the joy.”

    “I’ve been a football fan for years, but I never thought I’d see football become so woven into our everyday life,” he reflected. “It’s something new. It’s almost moving.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow Metro – Russia made its first payment in digital rubles under a smart contract for insuring the capital’s driverless tram

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Metro – Russia has made its first payment in digital rubles under a smart contract for insuring the capital’s driverless tram


    Moscow Metro – Russia has made its first payment in digital rubles as part of a smart contract for insuring the capital’s driverless tram.

    As Maxim Liksutov explained, the transaction was successfully completed in pilot mode between the insurance group “SOGAZ” and the metro with the support of VTB. The payment is not related to the occurrence of an insured event.

    The main advantages of digital rubles:

    Reliability. It is a digital form of national currency along with cash and non-cash funds

    Speed. Payments are processed automatically within 1 day within the smart contract

    Security. Complete transparency of transfers, payment for goods and services

    In early 2025, on the instructions of Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, the Moscow Government concluded a smart contract to insure the first unmanned tram in Russia. The test payment proved the safety, transparency and high speed of fulfilling obligations using digital rubles. Online calculation of simulated damage and payment of compensation occurred within 1 day. In the future, digital rubles will become one of the ways to pay for travel and other transport services in the capital, said Maxim Liksutov.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: DOGE daily income is in hand! RICH Miner launches the revolutionary Dogecoin cloud mining application

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Chicago, Illinois, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — RICH Miner officially launched its new DOGE (Dogecoin) cloud mining application, announcing that cloud mining has entered a new era of “low carbon, zero threshold, and daily arrival”.

    RICH Miner relies on a global user base of more than 5 million and 120+ green mining farms, supports renewable energy such as wind power and solar energy, and provides users with a smart experience to easily start Dogecoin mining and daily income.

    Why use Dogecoin for mining?

    Dogecoin (DOGE) uses the Scrypt algorithm, has advantages such as fast block generation and low difficulty, and with active community support, it has become a popular mining option with low thresholds for profit. Compared with Bitcoin and other currencies, DOGE mining has low cost and simple operation, which is especially suitable for novices and small and medium-sized investors. DOGE has both short-term realization and long-term holding value, and is an ideal way to achieve passive income and participate in the crypto ecosystem.

    Core highlights of the platform:

    ✅ 1. Zero threshold for entry, free computing power upon registration
    New users can get $15 worth of cloud computing power upon registration, and experience real mining benefits without any upfront investment.

    ✅ 2. Multi-currency support, flexible mining
    Supports mainstream currencies such as BTC, ETH, DOGE, XRP, SOL, USDT, etc., and freely choose mining assets and income currencies.

    ✅ 3. Global green mines, energy saving and environmental protection
    RICH Miner relies on green energy mines (wind power, solar energy, etc.) to reduce carbon emissions and practice the concept of sustainable development.

    ✅ 4. Real-time data and transparent benefits
    Users can check the computing power status, contract progress and daily benefits at any time. The system is open and transparent, and the operation is simple and clear.

    How to use DOGE for daily profit?

    1. Register an account:
    Visit the RICH Miner official website, create an account for free and get a $15 reward.

    2. Top up DOGE:
    Select DOGE in the “Top up center” and the system will provide a dedicated wallet address. Copy the address and transfer DOGE from your wallet or exchange.

    3. Select a mining contract:
    Select your personal preference, the appropriate cloud mining contract and confirm the purchase.

    ●(New User Experience Contract) Investment amount: $100; Term: 2 days; Daily income: $3; Total income: $100.00 + $6.

    ●(Canaan Avalon A15XP) Investment amount: $600; Term: 8 days; Daily income: $7.20; Total income: $500.00 + $57.60.

    ●(Bitdeer SealMiner A2) Investment amount: $1,300; Term: 13 days; Daily income: $17.30; Total income: $1300.00 + $221.39.

    ●(Bitmain Antminer L7) Investment amount: $3,000; Term: 17 days; Daily income: $42.30; Total income: $3000.00 + $719.10.

    ●(Bitmain Antminer S21 Immersion) Investment amount: $5600; Term: 24 days; Daily income: $84.00; Total income: $5600.00 + $2016.00.

    ●(Bitmain Antminer L9) Investment amount: $12,000; Term: 32 days; Daily income: $204.00; Total income: $12,000.00 + $6,528.00.

    Click here to view the completed contract

    4. Sit back and enjoy the benefits:
    After the contract is purchased, the system will automatically distribute the mining income to your account balance every day, and support withdrawal or reinvestment at any time.

    Summary:

    RICH Miner’s DOGE cloud mining application not only realizes the automatic arrival of daily income, but also actively practices environmental protection, reduces carbon emissions and reduces traditional mining costs. For those who pursue stable passive income and crypto investors, this is undoubtedly an ideal choice that takes into account both efficiency and sustainability.

    If you are looking forward to easily “lying down” DOGE, you may wish to register and experience it immediately, and start a new era of green income with RICH Miner!

    Customer service email: info@richminer.com

    Official website link: https://richminer.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: China weaves stronger transport networks in 14th Five-Year Plan period

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

    BEIJING, July 21 — Over the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China has woven a more integrated and multidimensional transport network, making sweeping progress that has enhanced connectivity and underpinned economic growth.

    By the end of 2024, six out of 17 major transport targets set in the plan had been achieved ahead of schedule, including expressway and urban rail lengths, access to express parcel delivery in villages, and the share of new energy buses in urban public transport, Minister of Transport Liu Wei told a press conference on Monday.

    The remaining targets are expected to be achieved by the end of this year, the minister added.

    Liu noted that over the past five years, China’s transport sector has achieved “historic progress,” with over 90 percent of the core framework of the national comprehensive transport network already in place.

    Behind this progress is robust investment. From 2021 to 2024, fixed-asset investment in transport totaled 15.2 trillion yuan (about 2.1 trillion U.S. dollars), a 23.3 percent increase from the previous cycle.

    INTEGRATED CONNECTIVITY

    Stretching across land, sea and sky, China’s transport networks have evolved into vital arteries powering the country’s modernization.

    By the end of 2024, China’s railway network had reached 162,000 km in total operating length, an increase of about 16,000 km from the end of 2020. Of this, high-speed rail expanded by 10,000 km to exceed 48,000 km, covering 97 percent of cities with populations over 500,000.

    Highways stretched to 5.49 million km, up 290,000 km from five years earlier. Expressways accounted for 191,000 km, covering 99 percent of cities with a population of over 200,000.

    Certified civil airports increased to 263 by the end of 2024, 22 more than in 2020, Liu said, adding that air services now cover over 91 percent of the country’s population.

    In urban commuting, a diversified public transport system has provided strong support for daily mobility. Each day, about 100 million urban trips are made by rail, 100 million by bus, and 100 million by taxis and ride-hailing services. These figures highlight the capacity and vitality of China’s urban transport system, Liu said.

    Smart tools like online ticketing and digital payments have made travel more efficient and accessible, Liu said, adding that over 80 hub cities support air-rail intermodal transport.

    BRIDGING GAPS

    Improved transport and logistics are enhancing access across rural and less-developed areas, bringing services, markets and new opportunities within reach.

    As of end-2024, rural roads reached 4.64 million km, and over 30,000 townships and 500,000 administrative villages have been connected by paved roads, Liu said.

    “The last mile of rural roads is now accessible by cars,” the minister said, adding that rural roads are fueling the growth of new industries and tourism, creating local jobs, and raising farmers’ incomes.

    Express delivery services have also played an increasingly important role in narrowing gaps. China has built a three-tier logistics system linking counties, townships and villages, turning rural delivery weak points into engines of consumption and growth, Zhao Chongjiu, head of the State Post Bureau, said at the press conference.

    In 2024, express delivery volumes in central and western China rose by 30 percent and 34 percent, respectively, outpacing the national average, Zhao noted.

    In regions such as Qinghai and Gansu, newly launched mail and courier processing centers have significantly improved handling capacity, enhancing logistics infrastructure in western China, he added.

    GLOBAL LINKS

    China has expanded its global transport network over the past years, boosting connectivity and driving cross-border trade and cooperation.

    The China-Europe freight trains have carried out over 110,000 trips, and nearly 10,000 sea-rail intermodal trains were operated annually along the new western land-sea corridor, Liu said.

    Since its launch over three years ago, the China-Laos Railway has transported 13.9 million tonnes of cargo across more than 3,000 product categories, accelerating the delivery of a wider range of Southeast Asian agricultural products to Chinese consumers.

    China’s global air freight is also on the rise. Driven by booming e-commerce, international air cargo volume reached nearly 9 million tonnes in 2024, up 32.8 percent over 2020.

    China has been pushing for greater connectivity through the alignment of rules and regulations. It has signed over 270 bilateral and multilateral transport agreements covering rail, road, sea, air and postal sectors, according to Liu.

    China has also used international cooperation projects to deliver tangible benefits to local communities. For example, the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway has created over 74,000 jobs in Kenya, with a localization rate exceeding 90 percent and more than 2,800 railway professionals trained, Liu said.

    Looking ahead, China will accelerate the building of a strong transportation network through deeper integration, enhanced safety, smart upgrades and green transformation to support the country’s modernization drive, Liu added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow Metro – Russia conducted its first digital ruble payment as part of a smart contract for insuring the capital’s autonomous tram

    Source: Moscow Metro

    Russia conducted its first digital ruble payment as part of a smart contract for insuring the capital’s autonomous tram.

    Russia conducted its first digital ruble payment as part of a smart contract for insuring the capital’s autonomous tram. – Московский метрополитен – В России провели 1-й платеж цифровыми рублями в рамках смарт-контракта на страхование столичного беспилотного трамвая.

    As Maksim Liksutov reported, the transaction was successfully carried out in pilot mode between the insurance group SOGAZ and the metro, with the support of VTB Bank. The payment was not related to an actual insurance event.

    Key advantages of digital rubles:

    Reliability. This is a digital form of the national currency, alongside cash and non-cash funds.

    Speed. Payments are processed automatically within one day under a smart contract.

    Security. Full transparency of transfers, as well as payments for goods and services.

    At the beginning of 2025, on the instructions of Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin, the Moscow Government signed a smart contract to insure Russia’s first autonomous tram. This test payment proved the safety, transparency, and high speed of fulfilling obligations using digital rubles. The online calculation of simulated damages and the payout of compensation were completed within one day. In the future, digital rubles will become one of the payment methods for fares and other transportation services in the capital, — said Maksim Liksutov.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Peters Reintroduces Bill to Help Tackle America’s Housing Crisis, Boost Public Transit Use

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

    Washington, DC – Today, Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA-50) and Blake Moore (R-UT-01) and Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Jim Banks (R-IN) reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Build More Housing Near Transit Act to encourage the construction of low- and middle-income housing in transit-served, walkable locations. Rep. Peters previously introduced a standalone House version of the legislation in 2019 and a bicameral version in 2021 and 2023.  

    The bill incentivizes the development of more housing near transit stops by tying the competition for federal transit funding to state and local housing plans along transit corridors. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the United States has a shortage of 7.1 million affordable rental homes. In San Diego County alone, there is a shortage of nearly 100,000 homes for extremely low-income renters and that gap is nearly one million homes statewide. It is clear California is not doing enough to keep pace with growing demand – in 2024, the state only permitted 114,069 homes, according to California’s Housing and Community Development Department. Since 2021, San Diego County has permitted only 48,765 homes, just 28.4 percent of the total needed to meet demand according to the Regional Housing Needs Allocation formula.  

    “The cost of housing remains the greatest barrier to prosperity in California, forcing people to move farther and farther from where they work, which means longer commutes and more air pollution,” said Rep. Peters. “Our bill will get more cars off the road by maximizing federal investments in public transportation and will increase affordable housing options for families across the country.  As a Co-Chair of the YIMBY Caucus and founding member of the growth–oriented Build America Caucus in Congress, I look forward to getting this commonsense legislation across the finish line to help relieve the pressure on cost-burdened Americans.” 

    “Housing has consistently been one of the most pressing issues for Utahns since I joined Congress. In some ways, Utah is a victim of its own success. Our incredible quality of life, economic opportunity, and low unemployment rates have put significant strains on our housing market, which has priced out young families from starter homes and presented major challenges to servicemembers at Hill Air Force Base,” said Rep. Moore. “I’m proud to introduce legislation that will condition federal transit grants on whether states are reducing zoning barriers for housing near new bus or rapid transit lines, something that Utah has already been doing for years through the leadership of partners such as UTA along the Wasatch Front and Connect in Cache Valley. The end result will bring more of Utah’s common-sense policies to Washington and help more families find affordable and accessible homes.” 

    “The clearest way out of our national housing shortage is by building more housing,” said Senator Schatz. “Our bipartisan bill incentivizes cities and towns to build housing when they expand or redevelop their public transit systems. This will help put more families in homes, grow local economies, and cut carbon pollution. It’s a win for everyone.” 

    “This bill makes it easier for communities to build homes for working families by cutting red tape and giving them the freedom to create strong, family-friendly neighborhoods near public transit,” said Senator Banks. 

    The Build More Housing Near Transit Act would direct the Department of Transportation to incentivize local governments to promote housing development and regional growth in and around the transit corridors of future New Starts projects. Specifically, this bill will amend U.S. Code Section 5309, which governs the application process for capital investment grants to: 

    • Direct the Secretary of Transportation to boost a transit project’s rating if the project includes pro-housing policies for areas along the project route; 
    • Define pro-housing policies as a state or local action to remove regulatory barriers to constructing or preserving housing, reduce or eliminate parking minimums or minimum lot sizes, establish by-right approval processes for multi-family housing, commit substantial public property to affordable housing development or preservation, and eliminate or raise residential property height limits; and 
    • Engage the Department of Housing and Urban Development to develop a methodology to evaluate the merits of the pro-housing policies documented in a CIG application. 

    A letter of support from more than 100 national, state, and local groups, including Circulate San Diego, is available here. A full list of supporting organizations is available here. 

    “In San Diego we have made a conscious effort to spur housing development along our growing public transit system,” said City of San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. “The Build More Housing Near Transit Act will provide additional incentives to create affordable housing near transit, helping our region address both our housing affordability and climate crises.” 

    “America is experiencing a severe housing shortage that affects every aspect of American lives and the economy,” said Mike Kingsella, CEO of Up for Growth Action. “The Build More Housing Near Transit Act addresses the critical link between transportation and housing and would create greater access to affordable commutes and abundant housing. We applaud the lead sponsors for introducing this bill, serving as an example of how the federal government can use its leverage to ensure the right types of housing are available in the places people want to live. 

    “The United States needs to build millions of new homes and rental units for low- and middle-income Americans,” said David Dworkin, President and CEO, National Housing Conference (NHC). “The Build More Housing Near Transit Act would help unlock supply and smarter, more efficient development by linking housing and transit planning and development. Transit-oriented development can help reduce costs, grow local economies, increase affordable housing supply, and increase access to opportunities for families. The National Housing Conference is proud to endorse this legislation, and we are grateful to the leadership of Representatives Scott Peters and Blake Moore, and Senators Brian Schatz and Jim Banks.” 

    “For decades, the federal government has funded mass transit projects in cities whose growth control laws do not allow people to live near and ride on transit,” said Alex Armlovich, Senior Housing Policy Analyst, Niskanen Center. “The Build More Housing Near Transit Act finally corrects this. It protects transit riders and the federal taxpayer from spending scarce transit capital on projects doomed by rigid zoning regulations to low housing growth and low future ridership, while uplifting projects in localities that welcome housing & transit ridership growth. This bill is the essential first step in restoring bipartisan confidence in America’s mass transit investments for taxpayers and transit riders alike.” 

    Full text of the legislation here. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health – ProCare welcomes announcement of new Waikato medical school as a commitment to strengthening primary care workforce

    Source: ProCare

    Leading healthcare provider, ProCare, warmly welcomes the announcement from Health Minister Simeon Brown and Universities Minister Dr Shane Reti that Cabinet has approved the establishment of a new medical school at the University of Waikato.

    While the school won’t open until 2028, the announcement includes a strong focus on primary care and rural health which is much needed.

    Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive of ProCare says: “With around 50% of GPs due to retire in the next 10 years this is a significant and timely investment in New Zealand’s healthcare workforce. The decision to prioritise primary care and rural health in the new Waikato Medical School aligns closely with the needs of our communities and the future of general practice.

    “This is more than ‘just’ a new medical school – it’s a long-term investment in the health and wellbeing of the people of Aotearoa New Zealand. We commend the Government for listening to the sector and taking decisive action,” continues Norwell.

    The graduate-entry programme will add 120 new doctor training places annually, helping to address the growing shortage of GPs and primary care clinicians across the motu.

    “General practices are already feeling the strain of being able to meet increasing patient demand – especially in our rural and underserved communities. This announcement is a proactive step toward ensuring continuity of care and equitable access to health services,” says Norwell.

    “This is a pivotal moment which will help reshape the pipeline of medical education. By creating more flexible pathways into medicine and embedding primary care at the heart of training, we can attract a more diverse and community-focused cohort of future doctors,” Norwell adds.

    The announcement also complements recent expansions in nursing, pharmacy, and midwifery programmes at the University of Waikato, reinforcing a holistic approach to workforce development.

    “It is unclear at this early stage exactly how the four-year degree programme will focus specifically on primary care, but we look forward to working collaboratively with the University and the Government to help support clinical placements of those graduates and ensure that students gain meaningful experience in general practice settings,” concludes Norwell.

    About ProCare

    ProCare is a leading healthcare provider that aims to deliver the most progressive, pro-active and equitable health and wellbeing services in Aotearoa. We do this through our clinical support services, mental health and wellness services, virtual/tele health, mobile health, smoking cessation and by taking a population health and equity approach to our mahi. As New Zealand’s largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to more than 830,000 people across Auckland and Northland. These practices serve the largest Pacific and South Asian populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau. For more information go to www.procare.co.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Advocacy – Peters fails again – time for real action on Occupied Gaza – PSNA

    Source:  Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)

     

    The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa says New Zealand’s signature on a joint statement of 25 countries on Gaza is meaningless without concrete action.

     

    PSNA Co-Chair John Minto says Peters’ statements in the media this morning, fall well short of the condemnation in the joint statement, and are what Minto calls the usual ducking the issue of Israeli culpability.

     

    “Peters still can’t bring himself to criticise Israel in Gaza – even after 21 months of mass killing and mass starvation of Palestinians.  He condemns a suffering situation, but carefully avoids stating who it causing it.”

     

    Minto says there is an extensive list of actions the government must take if it’s serious.

     

    “I’m sure the Israeli ambassador in Wellington is happily reporting to his ministry in Tel Aviv that the New Zealand government is still tolerating mass starvation, bombing civilians and ethnic cleansing.” Minto says.

     

    “If the New Zealand government was serious, it would implement this list”:

     

    1.       Back the call from UN Special Rapporteur for the OPT, Francesca Albanese, for military protection for aid convoys to enter Gaza.

    2.       Close the Israeli embassy in Wellington

    3.       End trade and investment ties with Israel

    1. Deny entry visas for all Israeli Defence Forces personnel

    5.       Introduce legislation to sanction Israel the same as the Russia Sanctions Act

    6.       Cease approval for Rakon to export crystal oscillators which may be used by the Israeli military for targeting Gaza and other Israeli assault zones

    7.       Ban all Rocket Lab launches of satellites used for Israeli reconnaissance over Gaza

    8.       Suspend all bilateral agreements with Israel; movie co-production, overflight agreement and technological cooperation

    9.       Stop remittances going to Israel, such as funds for the racist Jewish National Fund

    10.   Cut scientific, academic, sport and cultural ties with the State of Israel

    11.   Sell all New Zealand’s Superfund investments in Israeli companies

    12.   Vote to suspend Israeli membership of the United Nations for not withdrawing from all the Occupied Palestinian Territory

    13.   Cease approving Israeli munitions transporter ZIM Shipping using our ports

    14.   Join the case against Israeli genocide in the International Court of Justice

    15.   Sign onto the Hague Group of countries working to ensure Israel complies with International Law  https://thehaguegroup.org/home/

     

     

    John Minto

    Co-Chair

    Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Liverpool agree £79m deal for striker Hugo Ekitike

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

    Liverpool have officially announced that they have reached an agreement with Eintracht Frankfurt over the signing of striker Hugo Ekitike in a deal worth 79 million pounds (106 million U.S. dollars).

    Joe Scally (L) of Borussia Moenchengladbach vies with Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt during the first division of Bundesliga football match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Eintracht Frankfurt in Moenchengladbach, Germany, Feb. 8, 2025. (Photo by Ulrich Hufnagel/Xinhua)

    In a statement released on Monday, the club confirmed: “The Reds and the German outfit have struck a transfer deal said to be worth 69 million pounds plus 10 million pounds in add-ons.”

    Ekitike is expected to travel to Merseyside later this week to undergo a medical and finalize a long-term contract with manager Arne Slot’s team.

    The 23-year-old Frenchman was an unused substitute in Eintracht’s pre-season friendly on Saturday as negotiations regarding his future continued. Ekitike scored 22 goals in 48 appearances across all competitions last season, helping Eintracht secure qualification for the Champions League.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Applauds CMS Efforts to Root Out Fraud, Saving Taxpayers Billions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.– Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) praised the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) efforts to protect taxpayer dollars after the Agency announced it has found 2.8 million Americans enrolled in multiple Medicaid or Affordable Care Act Exchange plans, the removal of which is projected to save taxpayers $14 billion annually.

    “This effort builds on our work in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, guarding the integrity of our health care programs and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent on the populations they were designed to serve. These are the commonsense steps all agencies should be taking, and I applaud Administrator Oz for his commitment to cracking down on waste, fraud and abuse,” Crapo said.

    Background:

    • CMS announced that an analysis of 2024 enrollment data identified 2.8 million Americans either enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in multiple states or simultaneously enrolled in both Medicaid/CHIP and a subsidized Affordable Care Act (ACA) Exchange plan.
    • As a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, CMS now has new tools it needs to prevent the federal government from paying twice for the same person’s care.
    • CMS will continue to partner with states by providing the necessary resources and guidance to reduce duplicate enrollment.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: [Unboxing] Galaxy Z Fold7: Powerful Versatility in the Thinnest, Lightest Z Fold Yet

    Source: Samsung

    It’s finally here — the thinnest and lightest Galaxy Z Fold yet.
     
    Equipped with multimodal AI and a foldable-optimized UI, the Galaxy Z Fold7 delivers a truly Ultra experience that raises the bar for smartphones.
     
    Samsung Newsroom unboxed the Galaxy Z Fold7 for Galaxy fans eager to see all the exciting improvements and advanced capabilities that the new device brings.
     
     
    First Impressions
    
    ▲ The Galaxy Z Fold7
     
    Upon opening the sleek, black packaging, Galaxy’s signature modern design, slim silhouette, and remarkably light build are all immediately apparent.
     
    
    ▲ The rear of the Galaxy Z Fold7 from different angles
     
    The signature color Blue Shadow shifts with an iridescent glow from deep navy to bright blue as the device’s metallic finish reflects light from different angles, perfectly capturing Galaxy’s futuristic, premium aesthetic.
     
    The Galaxy Z Fold7 is available in three colors: the signature Blue Shadow, the modern Silver Shadow, and the ever-popular Jetblack — with Mint also available as a Samsung.com exclusive.1
     
    ▲ The Galaxy Z Fold7’s rear triple camera
     
    The camera island surrounding the rear triple camera matches the body color of the device for a seamless, cohesive design.
     

     
    For the first time in the series, the Galaxy Z Fold7 features a 200MP wide-angle camera, allowing users to capture every moment in stunning detail. It also comes equipped with enhanced night photography and videography capabilities, along with a 100-degree main display front camera, to bring an Ultra camera experience to the foldable form factor.
     
    ▲ The Galaxy Z Fold7’s packaging and its contents
     
     
    Thinner Than Ever
    The Galaxy Z Fold7 is the thinnest device in the series to date, representing the culmination of years of hardware innovation. From design to material selection, every effort was made to shave off even a single millimeter — and this can be appreciated the moment the device is picked up for the first time.
     
    ▲ The Galaxy Z Fold7 is easier than ever to grasp in the hand.
     
    As the latest evolution in the Z Fold series, the Galaxy Z Fold7 now fits even more comfortably in one hand, making it easier to carry.
     
    ▲The Galaxy Z Fold7 is only 8.9mm thick when folded, which is comparable to a chocolate wafer bar.
     
    When folded,2 it measures just 8.9mm — comparable to a chocolate wafer bar.
     
    When unfolded, it’s only 4.2mm, which is slimmer than two slices of cheese stacked together
     
    ▲ The Galaxy Z Fold7 is only 4.2mm thick when unfolded, which is thinner than two slices of cheese stacked together.
     
     
    Familiar Comfort When Folded, Expansive View When Unfolded
    The cover display now features a wider 21:9 aspect ratio, bringing the familiar proportions of a bar-type smartphone to a foldable device. Thanks to this, the Galaxy Z Fold7 offers a user experience similar to that of a Galaxy S25 Ultra device when folded.
     

     
    At 6.5 inches, the cover display also allows for more accurate typing and a wider view of content when sending quick messages or searching for information — a subtle yet impactful improvement over the slightly narrower screen of the Galaxy Z Fold6.
     
    ▲ The Galaxy Z Fold7’s larger cover display makes it easier to type when the device is folded.
     
    The Galaxy Z Fold7 is actually lighter than many bar-type smartphones. At just 215g, it is even lighter than the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 218g, which takes foldable usability to a whole new level.3
     
    ▲ (From left) A weight comparison between the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Galaxy Z Fold7
     
    So, when folded, the device offers the intuitive feel of a bar-type smartphone — and when unfolded, it delivers the largest, most immersive display of any Galaxy smartphone out there. The result is an experience unique to the Galaxy Z Fold7.
     
    
    ▲ The Galaxy Z Fold7’s expansive main display is ideal for immersive gaming and content viewing. (* To listen to the audio, click the speaker button at the bottom of the video.)
     
     
    Multimodal AI Meets Foldable Innovation
    The Galaxy Z Fold7 is one of the first Samsung devices to bring One UI 8 on Android 16 offering a more accessible way to experience multimodal AI in everyday life. For example, with a long press of the side button, users can instantly activate Gemini Live, the on-device AI agent, and effortlessly share what’s on their screen or in front of their camera in real time.
     
    The large main display expands the AI agent’s understanding of complex situations. It can interpret multiple apps on the Multi Window layout simultaneously to make conversations more intuitive and helpful.
     
    
    ▲ Screen sharing with Gemini Live (* To listen to the audio, click the speaker button at the bottom of the video)
     
    For example, if someone is trying to pick the perfect Galaxy Z Fold7 color to match their favorite purse, they can open the Gallery app on the left window to display a photo of the purse, and open the browser on the right window to display the Z Fold7’s color options. After that, all they need to do is press and hold the side button to activate Gemini Live, tap “Share screen with Live” and ask whether their purse would go well with the color they have in mind.
     
    The AI agent will then analyze both screens at once and let them know whether that color and the purse pair nicely. Even when the device is folded, users can still ask the AI agent questions and receive real-time answers.
     
    
    ▲ Camera sharing with Gemini Live (* To listen to the audio, click the speaker button at the bottom of the video)
     
    Let’s say a user wants to know which batteries their TV remote requires — they can just share their camera with Gemini Live by directing the camera at the remote and ask away. Galaxy AI will recognize the model and instantly tell you which battery type it needs.
     
    With a simple voice command, they can also save information on the nearest stores that sell them to Samsung Notes and even set a reminder to buy the batteries after work — all without typing anything.
     
    
    ▲ The Galaxy Z Fold7 can display AI-generated answers in pop-up or split screen view, keeping multitasking fluid and uninterrupted.
     
    The Galaxy Z Fold7’s AI-powered features go beyond live assistance. When browsing the web, users can request information from Galaxy AI without breaking rhythm and losing focus of the content in front of them. Responses will appear in pop-ups or split view, keeping multitasking smooth and uninterrupted.
     
    Thinner, smarter and more powerful than ever, Galaxy Z Fold7 makes a bold first impression — a next-generation device ushering in the era of the Ultra foldable, poised to redefine the future of mobile innovation.
     
     
    1 Color availability may vary depending on country or carrier.
    2 Folded thickness measured from the cover display to the rear glass.
    3 Weight may vary by country or carrier.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Feenstra Backs Two Bills to Support Iowa Veterans

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Randy Feenstra (IA-04)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed two bills to support U.S. veterans:

    “Our veterans are heroes who answered the call to serve our country and defend our freedoms. It is our responsibility to ensure that they receive the high-quality healthcare and benefits that they have earned and deserve,” said Rep. Feenstra. “It’s why I backed two bills to support cancer research for veterans and ensure that the VA is fully and appropriately funded. I will always stand with our veterans and military families.”

    The two pieces of legislation are:

    • The PRO Veterans Act, which requires the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide in-person budget reports to Congress every three months over the next three years.
    • The ACES Act, which requires the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study on the prevalence of cancer in veterans who served as active-duty aircrew members in our nation’s Armed Forces.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Emil Bove’s appeals court nomination echoes earlier controversies, but with a key difference

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Paul M. Collins Jr., Professor of Legal Studies and Political Science, UMass Amherst

    Emil Bove, Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as a federal appeals judge for the 3rd Circuit, is sworn in during a confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2025. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images

    President Donald Trump’s nomination of his former criminal defense attorney, Emil Bove, to be a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, has been mired in controversy.

    On June 24, 2025, Erez Reuveni, a former Department of Justice attorney who worked with Bove, released an extensive, 27-page whistleblower report. Reuveni claimed that Bove, as the Trump administration’s acting deputy attorney general, said “that it might become necessary to tell a court ‘fuck you’” and ignore court orders related to the administration’s immigration policies. Bove’s acting role ended on March 6 when he resumed his current position of principal associate deputy attorney general.

    When asked about this statement at his June 25 Senate confirmation hearing, Bove said, “I don’t recall.”

    And on July 15, 80 former federal and state judges signed a letter opposing Bove’s nomination. The letter argued that “Mr. Bove’s egregious record of mistreating law enforcement officers, abusing power, and disregarding the law itself disqualifies him for this position.”

    A day later, more than 900 former Department of Justice attorneys submitted their own letter opposing Bove’s confirmation. The attorneys argued that “Few actions could undermine the rule of law more than a senior executive branch official flouting another branch’s authority. But that is exactly what Mr. Bove allegedly did through his involvement in DOJ’s defiance of court orders.”

    On July 17, Democrats walked out of the Senate Judiciary Committee vote, in protest of the refusal by Chairman Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, to allow further investigation and debate on the nomination. Republicans on the committee then unanimously voted to move the nomination forward for a full Senate vote.

    As a scholar of the courts, I know that most federal court appointments are not as controversial as Bove’s nomination. But highly contentious nominations do arise from time to time.

    Here’s how three controversial nominations turned out – and how Bove’s nomination is different in a crucial way.

    Robert Bork testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee for his confirmation as associate justice of the Supreme Court in September 1987.
    Mark Reinstein/Corbis via Getty Images

    Robert Bork

    Bork is the only federal court nominee whose name became a verb.

    “Borking” is “to attack or defeat (a nominee or candidate for public office) unfairly through an organized campaign of harsh public criticism or vilification,” according to Merriam-Webster.

    This refers to Republican President Ronald Reagan’s 1987 appointment of Bork to the Supreme Court.

    Reagan called Bork “one of the finest judges in America’s history.” Democrats viewed Bork, a federal appeals court judge, as an ideologically extreme conservative, with their opposition based largely on his extensive scholarly work and opinions on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

    In opposing the Bork nomination, Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts took the Senate floor and gave a fiery speech: “Robert Bork’s America is a land in which women would be forced into back-alley abortions, blacks would sit at segregated lunch counters, rogue police could break down citizens’ doors in midnight raids, schoolchildren could not be taught about evolution, writers and artists could be censored at the whim of government, and the doors of the federal courts would be shut on the fingers of millions of citizens for whom the judiciary is often the only protector of the individual rights that are the heart of our democracy.”

    Ultimately, Bork’s nomination failed by a 58-42 vote in the Senate, with 52 Democrats and six Republicans rejecting the nomination.

    Ronnie White

    In 1997, Democratic President Bill Clinton nominated White to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. White was the first Black judge on the Missouri Supreme Court.

    Republican Sen. John Ashcroft, from White’s home state of Missouri, led the fight against the nomination. Ashcroft alleged that White’s confirmation would “push the law in a pro-criminal direction.” Ashcroft based this claim on White’s comparatively liberal record in death penalty cases as a judge on the Missouri Supreme Court.

    However, there was limited evidence to support this assertion. This led some to believe that Ashcroft’s attack on the nomination was motivated by stereotypes that African Americans, like White, are soft on crime.

    Even Clinton implied that race may be a factor in the attacks on White: “By voting down the first African-American judge to serve on the Missouri Supreme Court, the Republicans have deprived both the judiciary and the people of Missouri of an excellent, fair, and impartial Federal judge.”

    White’s nomination was defeated in the Senate by a 54-45 party-line vote. In 2014, White was renominated to the same judgeship by President Barack Obama and confirmed by largely party-line 53-44 vote, garnering the support of a single Republican, Susan Collins of Maine.

    Ronnie White, a former justice for the Missouri Supreme Court, testifies during an attorney general confirmation hearing in Washington in January 2001.
    Alex Wong/Newsmakers

    Miguel Estrada

    Republican President George W. Bush nominated Estrada to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 2001.

    Estrada, who had earned a unanimous “well-qualified” rating from the American Bar Association, faced deep opposition from Senate Democrats, who believed he was a conservative ideologue. They also worried that, if confirmed, he would later be appointed to the Supreme Court.

    Miguel Estrada, President George Bush’s nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, is sworn in during his hearing before Senate Judiciary on Sept. 26, 2002.
    Scott J. Ferrell/Congressional Quarterly/Getty Images

    However, unlike Bork – who had an extensive paper trail as an academic and judge – Estrada’s written record was very thin.

    Democrats sought to use his confirmation hearing to probe his beliefs. But they didn’t get very far, as Estrada dodged many of the senators’ questions, including ones about Supreme Court cases he disagreed with and judges he admired.

    Democrats were particularly troubled by allegations that Estrada, when he was screening candidates for Justice Anthony Kennedy, disqualified applicants for Supreme Court clerkships based on their ideology.

    According to one attorney: “Miguel told me his job was to prevent liberal clerks from being hired. He told me he was screening out liberals because a liberal clerk had influenced Justice Kennedy to side with the majority and write a pro-gay-rights decision in a case known as Romer v. Evans, which struck down a Colorado statute that discriminated against gays and lesbians.”

    When asked about this at his confirmation hearing, Estrada initially denied it but later backpedaled. Estrada said, “There is a set of circumstances in which I would consider ideology if I think that the person has some extreme view that he would not be willing to set aside in service to Justice Kennedy.”

    Unlike the Bork nomination, Democrats didn’t have the numbers to vote Estrada’s nomination down. Instead, they successfully filibustered the nomination, knowing that Republicans couldn’t muster the required 60 votes to end the filibuster. This marked the first time in Senate history that a court of appeals nomination was filibustered. Estrada would never serve as a judge.

    Bove stands out

    As the examples of Bork, Estrada and White make clear, contentious nominations to the federal courts often involve ideological concerns.

    This is also true for Bove, who is opposed in part because of the perception that he is a conservative ideologue.

    But the main concerns about Bove are related to a belief that he is a Trump loyalist who shows little respect for the rule of law or the judicial branch.

    This makes Bove stand out among contentious federal court nominations.

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

    – ref. Emil Bove’s appeals court nomination echoes earlier controversies, but with a key difference – https://theconversation.com/emil-boves-appeals-court-nomination-echoes-earlier-controversies-but-with-a-key-difference-261347

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Marshall Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Make Health Care Costs Transparent

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado

    Transparency for medical services will lower cost of health care and help Coloradans compare prices

    WASHINGTON –U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Roger Marshall recently introduced the bipartisan Patients Deserve Price Tags Act, which would make health care costs more transparent. The bill requires providers to publish the costs of services so Americans understand what a specific visit or procedure will cost, and have the opportunity to compare prices and get the best deal. 

    “You wouldn’t book a flight if you couldn’t find out the ticket price until you land — or check into a hotel without knowing if you’re paying for the Ritz or a dump. But that’s the absurd guessing game Americans play every time they need medical care,” said Hickenlooper, who sits on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. “We deserve to know exactly what we are paying for whether it’s a lab test, a colonoscopy, or an MRI. Our bill gives Americans that peace of mind.”

    “Customers don’t walk into a restaurant only to find out how much the food costs when they get the bill. Patients should know the price of the service they need before they make any decisions,” said Marshall. “Making America Healthy Again requires empowering Americans with the best information possible to inform their life and healthcare choices: the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act will ensure prices are available to patients to support a more competitive, innovative, affordable, and high-quality healthcare system.”

    “We applaud Senators Roger Marshall and John Hickenlooper for their strong, bipartisan leadership on the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act. With actual, upfront, and accountable prices, patients will be able to shop for the best care with protection from rampant overcharges hiding in the shadows. We urge all senators to support this bill and pass it without delay to protect America’s patients,” said Cynthia Fisher, Founder and Chairman of Patient Rights Advocate.

    When Americans go to the hospital, they often don’t know what services will cost beforehand. This forces patients to rely on their insurance to pay as much as possible and negotiate rates with providers, and robs patients of the ability to shop around for a better deal. There’s also a lack of transparency in agreements between insurance and providers. 

    The Patients Deserve Price Tags Act would create true transparency for health care pricing by requiring all negotiated rates and cash prices between plans and providers to be accessible. 

    Specifically, the bill would:

    • Require machine-readable files of all negotiated rates and cash prices between plans and providers, not estimates.
    • Require hospitals to post actual prices for 300 shoppable services (and for all services starting in 2026). 
    • Create a requirement for each patient to receive an Explanation of Benefits statement
    • Require providers or facilities to include a detailed itemized bill of each distinct item or service, or an all-in total price for bundled items if offered to the patient as an option.

    For full text of the legislation, click HERE.

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £63 million lift-off for clean aviation fuels

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    £63 million lift-off for clean aviation fuels

    Winning 17 companies will share £63 million to accelerate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production and support 1,400 jobs in the UK.

    • 17 UK companies developing sustainable aviation fuel to receive share of new £63 million funding boost, supporting around 1,400 jobs  
    • latest investment builds on this year’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) drive, which will help position the UK as the world leader in homegrown sustainable aviation fuel production 
    • latest investment supports greenlighting of multiple airport expansion schemes to kickstart economic growth and deliver on our Plan for Change

    Passengers are a step closer to greener flights as the Aviation Minister today (22 July 2025) announced the 17 cutting-edge UK companies that will share £63 million to accelerate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production.  

    The boost will support around 1,400 jobs and secure Britain’s position as the global leader in the green aviation market – critical to provide the clean fuel that’s essential to realise sustainable growth in the aviation sector.  

    Today’s investment means government has provided £198 million to date through the Advanced Fuels Fund (AFF) to scale up cleaner aviation technologies. Creating a clean aviation ecosystem will help power the next generation of airport infrastructure and capacity scale up, kickstarting economic growth and delivering the UK’s clean energy superpower ambitions to deliver on the Plan for Change. 

    Low carbon fuel production could add up to £5 billion to the economy by 2050, position the UK as a global hub for SAF production and enable the UK to go further and faster with expansion plans.

    Aviation Minister, Mike Kane, said: 

    This £63 million is lift off for Britain’s green aviation revolution. We’re not just backing brilliant British innovation, we’re creating thousands of high-skilled jobs and positioning the UK at the forefront of the global sustainable aviation market.

    From the labs of Sheffield to the runways of the future – this is how we kickstart economic growth, secure energy independence and make Britain a clean energy superpower.

    SAF is an alternative to fossil jet fuel which reduces greenhouse gas emissions on average by 70% on a lifecycle basis, from feedstock to biofuel, making it the key technology that will allow UK aviation to grow capacity while achieving net zero commitments.  

    The SAF Bill will help secure the future of the aviation sector by boosting green fuel production in the UK and delivering cleaner flights. This bill will give investors the confidence to back sustainable aviation fuel production. It will help grow the sector, providing good green jobs and enabling the delivery of carbon savings. 

    Announcing the new funding at the University of Sheffield’s Energy Innovation Centre – which just received £1.5 million in this latest round – the Aviation Minister, Mike Kane, saw firsthand the groundbreaking work on aircraft engine testbeds and revolutionary aviation fuels.

    Professor Mohamed Pourkashanian, Managing Director of the University of Sheffield’s Energy Innovation Centre, who is leading the project, said:

    It is fantastic to see the University of Sheffield playing a leading role in the development of sustainable aviation fuel and supporting the aviation industry in its efforts to reduce its emissions. At Sheffield, we have some of the most advanced SAF research facilities in Europe and are excited to work with partners from the industry to help them test and develop new fuels and next generation clean energy technologies.

    The AFF winners include a range of companies and are spread across the country, such as OXCCU Tech, which is developing a demonstration plant at Oxford Airport, to LanzaJet, which is building a commercial-scale plant in Teesside.

    Andrew Symes, CEO and Co-Founder of OXCCU, said:

    Support from the Advanced Fuels Fund is a key step in scaling our technology. This funding enables the detailed design and construction of OX2, our demonstration plant launching in 2026, and builds on the successful delivery of OX1. It brings us closer to producing lower-cost, lower-carbon aviation fuel and supports the UK’s ambition to become a global leader in SAF production.

    Jimmy Samartzis, CEO of LanzaJet, said:

    We’re proud that Project Speedbird, developed in partnership with British Airways, has been recognised by the Department for Transport as part of its continued commitment to advancing SAF in the UK.

    This support demonstrates confidence in LanzaJet’s technology and the critical role ethanol-to-SAF can play in delivering economic growth, creating jobs and decarbonising air travel. Project Speedbird is vital to building a national SAF industry in the UK and to unlocking opportunity and innovation in the region.

    We thank DfT for its leadership and vision in accelerating the transition to net-zero aviation.

    Aviation, Europe and technology media enquiries

    Media enquiries 0300 7777 878

    Switchboard 0300 330 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 July 2025

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Boost in support for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome or ME

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Boost in support for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome or ME

    Better care for patients living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, with plans to invest in research and offer closer to home.

    • Better care closer to home for patients living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

    • Plan outlines clear steps to improve care for patients, by investing in research and offering access to care in the community 

    • Actions build on government’s wider 10 Year Plan to rebuild the NHS and put patients’ needs at the heart of care

    Patients living with debilitating conditions are set to receive improved care closer to home, thanks to government plans published today. 

    The government has committed to changing attitudes and transforming care for patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/ CFS).

    The condition affects approximately 390,000 people in the UK, causing debilitating fatigue, sleep problems and difficulties with thinking, concentration and memory. The impact of this condition varies between cases, but severe ME/CFS, which is thought to affect a quarter of those diagnosed, leave patients housebound or unable to work.

    The plan published today provides the foundations for significant improvements in all key areas that affect people living with ME/CFS in England, many of whom currently struggle to access appropriate care tailored to their complex condition.

    As a priority, the plan will introduce new training for NHS healthcare professionals, featuring up-to-date learning resources to increase understand and ensure signs aren’t missed. This will help combat the stigma faced by people living with ME/CFS, which stems from a lack of awareness about the condition.

    The rollout of neighbourhood health services as set out in the government’s 10 Year Health Plan will also see ME/CFS patients able to access care closer to home, with specially-trained staff able to support those with complex needs.

    Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Ashley Dalton, said:  

    ME/CFS is a debilitating illness that can severely limit patients’ ability to participate in everyday activities, maintain employment, or enjoy family and social life.  

    Today’s plan will help tackle the stigma and lack of awareness of this condition through improved training for NHS staff.

    And through our neighbourhood health services, we will ensure patients suffering from the effects of ME/CFS can access quality care, closer to home, as pledged in our 10 Year Health Plan.

    Our Plan for Change is transforming how patients experience care and this plan represents a comprehensive approach to addressing the long-standing gaps in care and support for people with these conditions, with patient access to appropriate care at its heart.

    Sonya Chowdhury, Chief Executive, Action for ME said:

    This is an important step for the ME community, long overlooked and under-served. The Plan must not be a token gesture—it requires a sustained, strategic commitment to care, funding, and research. Without it, meaningful outcomes for people with ME will not be achieved.

    The plan includes increased funding for research, awarded through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, into how existing medicines can be used to for ME/CFS. This initiative aims to give patients access to a wider range of potential treatments.

    It will also address the specific needs of children and young people, ensuring they receive appropriate and timely support in education settings.  

    Recognising that ME/CFS affects people’s ability to work, the plan includes wider government initiatives to address issues with benefit assessment processes and provide support to help patients with long-term conditions and disabilities find and maintain meaningful employment where possible.  

    Offering care closer to home forms part of the government’s 10 Year Health Plan to rebuild the NHS, putting patients’ needs first and delivering effective, accessible treatment. 

    The government will continue to work with stakeholders and build on the foundations of actions in the Final Delivery Plan well beyond its publication, reaffirming our commitment to ongoing development and improvement. This all forms part of the government’s Plan for Change to build an NHS fit for the future and one which offers the highest-quality, personalised care.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 July 2025

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Miscarriages of justice victims given access to vital support

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Miscarriages of justice victims given access to vital support

    Victims of miscarriages of justice will no longer lose out on key benefit support, thanks to legislative changes coming into force today [Tuesday 22 July].

    • Miscarriage of justice victims will no longer have their compensation counted when applying for benefits.
    • New legislation will unlock vital support for those victims, helping them back on their feet. 
    • Comes alongside boost to amount victims will be able to receive in compensation payments.
    • Justice for the wrongly convicted vital to Government’s ambition to restore trust in the system as part of Plan for Change.

    The change ensures that awarded compensation will no longer be taken into account when applying for means-tested benefits – such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Housing Benefit. 

    Until now, compensation for miscarriage of justice cases pushed some people over the savings limit for claiming certain benefits, leaving them ineligible for much-needed help. 

    To restore trust and fairness to our systems as part of the Plan for Change, the government is acting to ensure victims receive the support they deserve to rebuild their lives. 

    It comes after a campaign for rule changes to unlock benefit entitlement for those who have received miscarriage of justice compensation payments.

    Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms MP, said: 

    Rebuilding trust in our systems begins by restoring trust with those the system has failed.

    We can’t return the years lost by miscarriage of justice victims — but we can, and must, ensure they have every opportunity to restart their lives so they can make the most of the years ahead. 

    That’s why we’re bringing in this milestone legislation, and I encourage anyone who has received a miscarriage of justice compensation payment to come forward, so we can ensure they receive the help they are entitled to.

    The move comes as part of wider government action to restore justice and build trust in public services. 

    In a boost for victims, the Ministry of Justice recently announced an uplift to the amount a miscarriage of justice victim will be able to receive in compensation by 30%, raising the maximum payout to £1.3 million for long-term wrongful imprisonment. 

    Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls, Alex Davies-Jones, said: 

    Miscarriages of justice steal irreplaceable time and devastate lives. Better benefit support combined with the uplift of the compensation cap will make a real difference, providing not just financial redress but rightfully deserved recognition to individuals affected. 

    We can’t turn back the clock, but I hope these changes go some way in making the future brighter than the past for those who have already lost so much.

    It also follows similar legislation already in place to ensure compensation awarded to victims of the Infected Blood Scandal, Horizon Post Office scandal, and LGBT people dismissed from the Armed Forces, won’t affect their benefit entitlement. 

    Additional Information

    • The benefit disregard will apply to all compensation payments paid via the United Kingdom Government and Devolved Governments compensation schemes for miscarriage of justice.
    • The disregard scheme will exempt miscarriage of justice compensation payments when assessing eligibility for: income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Pension Credit and Universal Credit. 
    • If you would like to know more about how this may affect you, or whether you may wish to consider making a claim to benefit, please see here.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 July 2025

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: MHRA announces proposals to improve access to world’s best medical devices for patients and to boost economic growth in Britain’s med tech sector

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    MHRA announces proposals to improve access to world’s best medical devices for patients and to boost economic growth in Britain’s med tech sector

    The MHRA has now published the government’s response to its public consultation on future routes to market for medical devices – designed to modernise regulation

    The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has today announced important new steps to secure access for patients to the latest medical technologies available in Europe and other advanced countries.

    As well as improving patient access to technologies, the proposals will boost med tech industrial growth by reducing duplicative regulatory costs faced by manufacturers and instead focuses the domestic approvals route (UKCA) on first-in-market innovative technologies, including AI as a medical device.  

    The MHRA has now published the government’s response to its public consultation on future routes to market for medical devices in Great Britain (GB), designed to modernise regulation and improve patient access to the latest innovative technologies.

    In direct response to stakeholder feedback, the MHRA is also announcing its intention to consult later this year on the indefinite recognition of CE-marked medical devices.

    In parallel, new international reliance routes will be introduced to allow swifter access to medical devices from trusted regulators in Australia, Canada, and the United States. This will allow eligible products to follow a streamlined pathway to market, helping bring the latest technologies to patients more quickly.

    The MHRA will support removing the requirement for physical UKCA markings on products and packaging once unique device identification (UDI) requirements are in place. This will reduce barriers to entry to the market while strengthening traceability and safety monitoring.

    These measures reflect the government’s commitments in the UK’s Life Sciences Sector Plan and Industrial Strategy, and the 10 Year Health Plan for England, to reduce unwarranted barriers to market entry and to deliver transformative technologies to patients faster.

    Today’s announcement forms part of our broader regulatory reform programme for medical devices that will see improvements in patient safety through our new post-market surveillance requirements, the creation of streamlined and risk-proportionate routes for faster market entry for products that have already undergone assessment in comparator regions, and a refocusing of the UKCA domestic pathway on innovative technologies including AI.

    Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP, said:

    Our 10-Year Health Plan will seize the opportunities provided by new technology, medicines and innovation to deliver better care for patients, whether these originate at home or abroad.

    It makes perfect sense that medical devices approved for use on patients in a country whose safety regulations we trust can also be used here – without red tape or bureaucracy delaying devices which can benefit NHS patients now.

    We will look around the world to bring the best life-saving devices to Britain quickly and safely and build a modern health service that is fit for the future.

    Minister of State for Science, Lord Patrick Vallance MP, said:

    The MHRA’s new international reliance routes are excellent news for patients, who will now gain rapid access to new medical devices which have been approved as safe by our trusted regulatory partners. This is precisely the sort of streamlining of red tape that the Life Sciences Sector Plan calls for.

    By making quick, informed, sensible decisions enabled by international reliance, the MHRA will be able to better target its resources, focusing on regulatory activity and scientific advice that will advance the development of innovative new medical products – ultimately helping patients, and supporting med tech businesses to grow.

    Lawrence Tallon, MHRA CEO, said:

    Our focus is on ensuring that patients benefit from the earliest possible access to safe and effective medical technologies that meet their needs and deliver significant clinical benefit.

    By reducing regulatory duplication, improving traceability and aligning with international best practice, we are delivering on the Government’s promise to make this the best place in the world to market medical devices and a global leader in life sciences.

    Professor Tom Clutton-Brock, Professor of Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine at the University of Birmingham and Chair of the Interim Devices Working Group (an expert advisory committee to the MHRA), said:

    The proposed changes to the regulations represent the most significant advances since their original introduction. When enacted, we will lead the world in streamlining medical device approvals.

    The rapid advances in medical and healthcare technology make balancing the need for innovation against both short-term and long-term safety a real challenge.  After the EU exit there was a clear need to update our regulations to keep pace with other countries. After extensive consultation, the MHRA has listened carefully and published its response.

    Simplification for low-risk devices and the carefully controlled reliance and recognition of regulatory approval from other countries will support safe innovation. This will benefit patients, clinicians and our MedTech and HealthTech industries.

    The MHRA intends to notify the World Trade Organization of these changes later this year and will continue engaging with international partners and industry to implement the reforms. 

    Summary of the consultation response:

    The MHRA’s 2024 public consultation on medical device regulation focused on the following areas: international reliance, UKCA marking, and the regulation of in vitro diagnostic (IVD) devices.

    Measures being taken forward include:

    • International reliance routes will allow certain devices that have approvals or certifications from trusted regulators in Australia (TGA), Canada (Health Canada), and the United States (FDA) to follow a streamlined pathway to the GB market. This includes specific software and implantable devices that meet GB equivalence criteria.

    • The government will consult later this year on proposals to indefinitely recognise CE marked medical devices, which continue to be recognised in GB under existing transitional arrangements until 30 June 2028 or 2030 (depending on the device classification and legislation complied with).

    • Physical UKCA marking requirements will be removed once Unique Device Identification (UDI) is in place. This aims to reduce burdens on manufacturers while improving traceability and post-market surveillance.

    • Class B IVD devices will be subject to a more risk proportionate approach, requiring manufacturers to self-declare conformity with the Medical Devices Regulations 2002 and hold ISO 13485 quality management system certification before placing products on the GB market.

    The response to a fourth proposal, to extend four pieces of assimilated EU law, was published in February 2025 and has subsequently been actioned.

    Notes to Editors

    • The consultation response is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-medical-devices-regulations-routes-to-market-and-in-vitro-diagnostic-devices
    • The consultation, “Future regulation of medical devices and IVDs – routes to market”, ran from 30 November 2024 to 29 January 2025. It sought views on four legislative proposals to update the Medical Devices Regulations 2002 (as amended).
    • These reforms are part of a broader programme to modernise medical device regulation in Great Britain following the UK’s departure from the European Union. They align with the ambitions of the Government’s Life Sciences Sector Plan and 10-Year Plan for the NHS in England.
    • ISO 13485 is an internationally recognised standard that sets out requirements for a quality management system (QMS) specific to the medical device industry. It ensures that manufacturers demonstrate consistent design, development, production, and post-market support for medical devices.
    • The MHRA will publish further information in due course about the next steps, including updates on the planned Pre-Market Statutory Instrument and a future consultation on the indefinite recognition of CE-marked devices.
    • The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.
    • The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.

    For media enquiries, please contact the newscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call on 020 3080 7651.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 July 2025

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