NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI China: Russia, Ukraine swap 492 prisoners of war

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Russia and Ukraine on Saturday exchanged 492 prisoners, said the Russian Defense Ministry.

    It said that 246 Russian servicemen were “returned from Kiev-controlled territory,” while 246 Ukrainian prisoners were freed as well.

    It added that Russia has handed over 31 wounded prisoners to Ukraine in exchange for 15 Russian soldiers requiring urgent medical care.

    The swap followed a negotiation process mediated by the United Arab Emirates, the ministry said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xizang’s foreign trade surpasses 2.3B yuan in Q1

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    In the first quarter of this year, the total import and export value of southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region reached 2.308 billion yuan (about 320.25 million U.S. dollars), a 5.9 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to the customs of Lhasa, capital of the region.

    The figure exceeded the national foreign trade growth rate by 4.6 percentage points, Lhasa Customs said.

    Of the total, Xizang’s exports totaled 1.95 billion yuan, remaining stable compared with last year, while its imports amounted to 358 million yuan, marking a 56.7 percent year-on-year increase.

    This year, Xizang has fully leveraged its strategic location as a key gateway to South Asia, effectively connecting with the new western land-sea corridor, with the total volume of import and export cargo reaching 57,100 tonnes, a 27 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

    Customs data shows that among the many exported products, new energy vehicles and agricultural products continued solid performance. In the first quarter, 2,955 new energy vehicles were exported, an increase of 76.7 percent, while agricultural product exports reached 18,000 tonnes, growing by 10.4 percent.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Policy steps key to tackling tariffs impact

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Facing headwinds from the United States’ sweeping tariffs, Chinese policymakers should take both short-term policy steps as well as long-term reform measures to expand domestic demand, tackle issues faced by enterprises and boost confidence among consumers and investors, economists from government-backed think tanks said on Friday.

    Although China’s economy performed better than expected in the first quarter, Wang Yiming, vice-chairman of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, noted that the broader economy is still facing pressing challenges from the volatile tariff policy of the United States and insufficient domestic demand.

    “The foundation for sustained economic recovery is not yet solid,” he told a monthly economic meeting held by the China Center for International Economic Exchanges in Beijing on Friday. “Some enterprises still face production and operational difficulties amid tepid price levels.”

    Looking ahead, Wang said the government should provide both policy stimulus as well as strengthen reform measures to effectively expand domestic demand.

    “In the face of external shocks and mounting uncertainties, it is essential to introduce new incremental policies in a timely manner based on evolving circumstances,” he said.

    “The priority is to take strong measures to comprehensively expand domestic demand and stabilize the fundamentals of the domestic economy … More importantly, breakthroughs must be accelerated in deepening reforms and expanding high-standard opening-up, laying a solid foundation for achieving the annual growth target of around 5 percent this year.”

    According to the Government Work Report, the country will pursue a more proactive fiscal policy and exercise a moderately loose monetary policy this year, with the projected deficit-to-GDP ratio set at 4 percent for 2025, up from 3 percent last year.

    Wang said the country should increase spending on areas related to improving people’s livelihoods, stepping up investment to address weak links in fields such as preschool education, healthcare and elderly care, culture and sports, tourism and leisure, and domestic services.

    More efforts should also be made to further spur consumption, increase the support for enterprises in difficulties and deepen reforms in key areas. Potential moves will include increasing incomes and relieving burdens on low-to-middle-income groups, offering stronger subsidies for people in difficulties, extending reductions on taxes and fees for micro and small businesses and accelerating the legislative process for private economy promotion law, he added.

    At a study session held by the State Council, China’s Cabinet, on Thursday, Premier Li Qiang stressed the importance of improving social expectations and coordinating efforts to address risks and challenges while advancing high-quality development.

    Policies should be targeted and tailored to address specific issues, he said, adding that the timing of policy introductions should be carefully considered to exert positive influence on market expectations.

    He also called for efforts to accelerate the implementation of major strategies and reforms, guide the development of clear and stable market expectations, and improve the protection of the legitimate rights and interests of all business entities.

    During Friday’s economic meeting, Niu Li, deputy director of the Department of Economic Forecasting at the State Information Center, said he believed China’s economy is on track for sustained growth despite facing external challenges, given the nation’s ample policy space, its intensified efforts to deepen reforms and opening-up and the strengthening of new growth drivers.

    “We will strive to achieve the annual growth target this year,” he added. “Facing mounting uncertainties, we also need to accelerate the study of new incremental policy measures.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Policy focus on consumption to drive growth

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China’s pro-consumption initiatives — a top priority of the country’s policy agenda for this year — are expected to shore up consumer confidence and unleash the potential of domestic demand to stimulate economic growth, while hedging the impact of the United States’ tariff hikes, said officials, economists and executives.

    They noted that China has demonstrated firm determination to further vitalize the consumer market and address prominent constraints on consumption by bolstering people’s well-being amid rising trade protectionism and external uncertainties, with a particular focus on stabilizing jobs, increasing household income and alleviating financial burdens.

    A comprehensive policy package to boost consumption will accelerate the country’s shift toward a consumption-driven growth model from an export- and investment-led growth model, they said. The economists and executives also projected a robust recovery for China’s consumer market this year, with concrete measures aimed at strengthening consumers’ ability and willingness to spend gradually taking effect.

    President Xi Jinping has emphasized efforts to expand domestic demand, as well as establish and improve a long-term mechanism for expanding residents’ consumption, so that residents can consume with the help of stable income, dare to consume without worries, and are willing to consume due to the excellent consumption environment and strong sense of gain. Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when attending the second group study session of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee in January 2023.

    According to the Central Economic Work Conference held in December last year, the foremost priority for policymakers in 2025 is to vigorously boost consumption, improve investment efficiency and expand domestic demand on all fronts. This year’s Government Work Report also listed boosting consumption as a top priority among major tasks for 2025.

    China will make expanding domestic demand a long-term strategy, while solid measures should be taken to stabilize employment, boost incomes and create demand with high-quality supply, Premier Li Qiang said earlier this month when chairing a symposium on the economic situation.

    The fifth China International Consumer Products Expo, which was held last week in Haikou, Hainan province, is a strong testimony to the vitality and resilience of the nation’s consumer market. The event attracted more than 60,000 professional purchasers, a 10 percent increase from last year, with the value of intended deals reaching around 92 billion yuan ($12.6 billion).

    To stimulate domestic demand and solve key challenges weighing on consumer sentiment, the general offices of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, China’s Cabinet, recently issued a special action plan for boosting consumption.

    Li Chunlin, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, said that unlike past policies that primarily targeted the supply side, the new plan places great emphasis on stepping up policy support on the demand side by raising people’s income and reducing financial burdens.

    The plan calls for promoting wage growth by strengthening employment support and raising minimum wage standards in a scientific and reasonable manner, and it includes stabilizing the stock market to expand property income channels, he said, adding that these measures will give consumers more stable expectations and greater confidence in their spending power.

    He said that dedicated efforts have been outlined in the plan to integrate consumption growth with improving people’s livelihoods, such as easing household burdens in areas like child care, education, healthcare and old-age insurance.

    The country is drafting a child care subsidy plan and will expand financial assistance for basic medical insurance.

    “China’s efforts to boost domestic demand can offset the impact of US tariff hikes,” said Sun Xuegong, director of the department of policy study and consultation at the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research, an NDRC think tank, while emphasizing that the nation’s economic fundamentals are sound, with a strong manufacturing sector and great market potential.

    Sun highlighted the need for a comprehensive policy mix to spur consumption, including short-term moves such as issuing consumption coupons, as well as long-term spending on strengthening the social security network.

    Pan Helin, a member of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s Expert Committee for Information and Communication Economy, said that expanding domestic demand by boosting consumption could effectively help buffer external headwinds and prop up economic vibrancy.

    The consumer-centered stimulus measures will reduce China’s reliance on exports and investment for growth and facilitate its transition to a more consumption-led economy in the face of an increasingly complicated international situation and sluggish global recovery, Pan said.

    Driving force

    Consumption has become the main driving force behind China’s economic growth. Last year, the final consumption expenditure contributed 44.5 percent to the nation’s GDP growth, surpassing investment and exports, and drove a 2.2 percentage point increase in GDP, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics. Robin Xing, chief China economist at Morgan Stanley, said it would be “a brilliant idea” for China to take bigger reform steps to transfer more State-owned capital to the social security system, in order to enhance migrant workers’ benefits as a key means to driving consumption growth.

    “China is trying something new — a more proactive fiscal policy with a greater focus on consumption,” he said, adding that about one-fourth of this year’s increment in augmented fiscal deficit, worth around 2 trillion yuan, will be spent on consumption-related areas such as subsidizing an expanded consumer goods trade-in program and boosting social welfare.

    Xing said that apart from short-term consumption subsidies, the more fundamental solution lies in social security reforms, such as offering easier access to public housing and healthcare for migrant workers, which will reduce their precautionary saving habits and unleash huge consumption potential.

    According to the 2025 Government Work Report, China will double its ultra-long-term special treasury bonds earmarked for expansion of the consumer goods trade-in program to 300 billion yuan this year, amid a broader drive to boost domestic demand and spur economic growth.

    Data from the NDRC shows that under the trade-in program, retail sales of new energy passenger vehicles nationwide reached around 1.34 million units in the first two months, up 26 percent year-on-year, while sales of home appliances featuring the highest level of energy efficiency surged 36 percent year-on-year to 24.1 billion yuan during the same period.

    Jia Shaoqian, chairman of Chinese home appliance manufacturer Hisense Group, said the country’s trade-in program has not only stimulated the consumer market and bolstered consumption upgrades, but has also significantly promoted the green transformation of the home appliance industry, while improving people’s quality of life.

    Purchasing appetite

    In order to further stimulate the purchasing appetite of consumers, Li Gang, director of the department of market operation and consumption promotion at the Ministry of Commerce, underscored that more efforts will be made to accelerate the development of service-based consumption.

    Efforts will also be made to nurture diversified purchasing scenarios and new types of consumption in the digital, green and intelligent fields, Li added.

    Zou Yunhan, deputy director of the Macroeconomic Research Office at the State Information Center’s Department of Economic Forecasting, said that China’s consumption market is poised for steady growth this year fueled by a series of supportive measures.

    Zou highlighted that new business forms and new models related to consumption can better meet people’s demand for consumption, upgrading and motivating their purchasing enthusiasm, which in turn will provide fresh momentum and robust support for the sustained growth of the consumer market.

    Hideki Ozawa, executive vice-president of Japanese tech company Canon, said, “We are confident that with the support of national consumption promotion policies, we can return to the golden era of the camera market.”

    China’s focus on consumption-led growth serves as a powerful driver of economic stability and will contribute to the country’s overall economic recovery, Ozawa added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Thousands of protesters rally against Trump administration’s policies

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Demonstrators participate in a rally and march in protest of the Donald Trump administration’s policies in New York City, the United States, on April 19, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Thousands of protesters on Saturday took to the streets in various cities across the United States in what demonstrators described as part of a “National Day of Action” against President Donald Trump’s policies and perceived threats to democracy.

    Organized on the 250th anniversary of the start of the U.S. Revolutionary War, the demonstrations ranged from marches through midtown Manhattan to rallies outside the White House in Washington, D.C., drawing parallels between historical calls for liberty and today’s demands for executive accountability.

    In New York, people rallied outside the city’s main library carrying signs targeting the U.S. president with slogans like “No Kings in America” and “Resist Tyranny;” in Chicago, demonstrators chanting “Protect our democracy” marched past City Hall; in San Francisco, participants formed a human banner reading “Impeach & Remove” on Ocean Beach.

    Protesters carried signs denouncing rapid deportations of immigrants, mass firings within federal departments, and cuts to Social Security offices, while many also voiced support for transgender rights and stronger climate policies.

    “We are in an unprecedented, dangerous situation in the United States,” said Raymond Lotta, a political economist and writer.

    The Trump administration “is moving quickly to consolidate power, to carry out its horrible agenda, rounding up immigrants, waging a war on the universities, a war on science. They are shredding the rule of law,” he said.

    “Trump is doing illegal things, and he should stop,” said another demonstrator identifying himself only as George. He held a sign reading “Deport Trump” to express his anger.

    Protesters gather during a rally outside the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, April 19, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Calling the current trade war “unnecessary,” Chris, another demonstrator who only gave his first name, said, “Using tariffs is hurting our economy. Especially, it is hurting the world economy. It is causing a lot of disruption across the globe.”

    “We’re already seeing the first signs of a recession,” said Chris, who held a sign reading “tariffs equal recession.”

    Meanwhile, some groups focused on community services, organizing food drives, teach-ins and volunteer work at local shelters.

    Political analysts note that Saturday’s protests marked the second major mobilization against the Trump administration in April, following an earlier wave on April 5, and reflected deepening grassroots frustration with what participants view as an erosion of checks and balances.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Renovation project on Beijing’s east sixth ring road opened to traffic

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

    Renovation project on Beijing’s east sixth ring road opened to traffic

    Updated: April 21, 2025 07:26 Xinhua
    A vehicle runs inside a shield tunnel along the east sixth ring road in Beijing, capital of China, April 20, 2025. A renovation project on Beijing’s east sixth ring road was opened to traffic upon full completion on Sunday. The renovated section is about 16.3 kilometers in length, including a 7.4-kilometer-long shield tunnel. The project helps improve expressway transport across the core area of Beijing’s sub-center Tongzhou District. [China Railway 14th Bureau Group Co., Ltd./Handout via Xinhua]
    This photo taken on April 20, 2025 shows the portals at one end of a shield tunnel along the east sixth ring road in Beijing, capital of China. [China Railway 14th Bureau Group Co., Ltd./Handout via Xinhua]
    Technicians patrol inside the emergency access of a shield tunnel along the east sixth ring road in Beijing, capital of China, April 20, 2025. [China Railway 14th Bureau Group Co., Ltd./Handout via Xinhua]
    This photo taken on April 20, 2025 shows a shield tunnel along the east sixth ring road in Beijing, capital of China. [China Railway 14th Bureau Group Co., Ltd./Handout via Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cole Harbour — RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment investigating attempted robbery

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment is investigating an attempted robbery in Cole Harbour.

    On April 19, at approximately 6:05 p.m., RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment and EHS responded to a report of an altercation between two men in the parking lot of a grocery store on Forest Hills Parkway.

    Upon arrival, officers observed two men fighting inside a car. One man immediately complied with officers’ directions while the other tried to drive away when officers attempted to arrest him. One of the responding officers deployed their conductive energy weapon to aid in the arrest of the man. The 31-year-old man of Cole Harbour was then safely arrested for attempted robbery.

    The investigation, which is in its early stages, indicates that the 31-year-old man attempted to steal the car and the other man, who was the vehicle owner, tried to prevent him from doing so. Both men are known to each other. The two suffered minor injuries due to the altercation. No one else was injured in the incident.

    The 31-year-old man was transported to hospital by EHS; he remains in police custody. The vehicle owner was treated at the scene and released pending further investigation.

    The investigation is ongoing. Anyone who may have witnessed this incident and has not yet spoken with police is asked to contact RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment at 902-490-5020. To remain anonymous, contact Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or using the P3 Tips app.

    File #: 25-54235

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre to reopen its doors

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Liverpool’s much-loved Epstein Theatre is set to reopen after a deal was agreed to breathe new life into the historic city centre venue.

    The Grade II listed theatre closed its doors in June 2023 following a decision by the city council, which owns the building’s freehold, to withdraw financial support which had helped to keep the 112-year-old venue running.

    But now the Hanover Street landmark is due to welcome audiences once again, with new leaseholders and a new management team promising a busy programme of entertainment which reflects the theatre’s century-long role as the home of local talent, national touring productions, music, comedy and pantomime.

    Test events are set to take place over the spring and summer, with a full autumn programme of shows being launched including a special Gala Night on Friday, 19 September – Brian Epstein’s birthday – which will feature local acts and celebrities.

    Ahead of that, £1 million is being invested in the venue with extensive refurbishment works including refitting the stage with new lighting, stage cloths and sound, and improving the backstage areas.

    The theatre’s bar is also being remodelled as part of the work.

    The Epstein started life in 1913 as the Crane Music Hall, situated above the Crane brothers’ music emporium in Hanover Street.

    The venue was renamed the Crane Theatre in 1938, and in 1967 the building came into the possession of the then Liverpool Corporation. Following refurbishment of the auditorium, including the stage, it reopened the following year as the Neptune Theatre.

    A long-time favourite of local amateur drama groups along with visiting performers and comedians, the venue was closed in 2005 due to health and safety concerns. When it reopened its doors in 2011, following a £1.2 million upgrade, it gained its current name – the Epstein Theatre – in honour of the late Brian Epstein.

    During the two years before its closure in 2023, it was run by Epstein Entertainments Ltd.

    The theatre has been able to reopen its doors due to a transfer of the head lease from the former leaseholders to JSM Company Group Ltd, which holds a vast portfolio of properties in Liverpool and is now responsible for Hanover House, the building which contains the Epstein.

    Liverpool City Council retains the freehold.

    Meanwhile JSM Company Group Ltd has leased the Epstein Theatre itself to Theatrical Times Ltd, a new partnership between investors Joseph Roe and Anthony M. Sheedy. Joseph Roe has a history of building developments, and Anthony M. Sheedy a former operator of the Limerick Theatre Royal and a Producer/Stage Manager and Performer of the renowned Castle Entertainers at Bunratty and Knappogue Castles in Ireland.

    Anthony Proctor, who was the Epstein’s theatre manager and programmer from 2022-23, returns as General Manager and Theatre Director.

    He has a wealth of arts experience gained working across many venues in the Liverpool City Region over the last 20 years, including the Liverpool Empire, Unity Theatre and St Helens Theatre Royal as well as the Epstein.

    He was part of the team that launched Farmageddon and during the last two decades has also worked extensively with many Liverpool festivals, while he also maintains a parallel career as a performer, educator and mentor.

    And completing the executive team is Food and Beverage Consultant Maureen Bramwell, who has a 40-year history of running popular and successful venues in the city including Smokey Mo’s group.

    The theatre is encouraging people to join the Epstein mailing list via the website www.epsteintheatre.com to be the first to hear about future shows.

    For programming enquiries, contact programming@epstein.com

    Epstein Theatre General Manager Anthony Proctor said: “I’m absolutely thrilled, and really excited, to return to the Epstein and to bring this historic theatre back to life two years after it closed its doors.

    “I know the Epstein holds a very special place in the heart of Liverpool audiences as well as generations of artists who have performed in its stunning auditorium, and I can’t wait to reveal the first new season and officially launch it with an amazing gala evening, aptly being held on what would have been Brian Epstein’s birthday.

    “The venue has always been a home for great entertainment, and I can guarantee that will continue under Theatrical Times Ltd. I’m looking forward to welcoming audiences back through the doors this summer.”

    Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle said: “This is hugely exciting news for the City and our much-loved cultural sector.

    “Anthony is the perfect person to breathe new life into this gem – his passion, ambition and vision signifies a new chapter for the theatre, and I look forward to seeing its renaissance and working with the team to help promote this cultural asset.

    “Here’s to a bright future filled with incredible performances and unforgettable moments at this iconic venue.”

    And Joshua McTaggart, CEO of Theatres Trust, added: “Theatres Trust warmly welcomes the news that the Epstein Theatre is set to reopen. Following its closure in 2023, we added the Grade II listed venue to our Theatres at Risk Register and have been working since then to help find a way forward for this unique and beloved venue.

    “We continue to work with Theatrical Times Ltd to ensure a bright and stable future for this glorious venue on its return to entertaining the people of Liverpool.”

    The Epstein Theatre’s new website will be launched soon – www.epsteintheatre.com

    Follow the Epstein Theatre on social media channels:

    Facebook: www.facebook.com/EpsteinTheatre

    Instagram: @epsteintheatre

    TikTok: @epsteintheatre

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Family of man murdered in Peckham continue to appeal for witnesses

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    The family of an innocent man who was fatally shot and stabbed while cycling home after watching a football match have appealed for the public’s help to get justice.

    Ola Raji, a 21-year-old student, was attacked and killed in Peckham on the night of Tuesday, 21 April 2015.

    Ola had spent the evening at a friend’s house watching a Champion’s League football match between Bayern Munich and Porto. Later, while cycling on the East Surrey Grove estate, near Commercial Way, SE15, he was stabbed and shot in a senseless attack by two men. Despite the best efforts of emergency services, Ola later died in hospital.

    Ten-years on from his murder, Ola’s family and the officers leading the investigation are appealing for any information that could lead to the arrest, charge and prosecution of those responsible.

    The independent charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information that leads to the identification and prosecution of those responsible for Ola’s murder. Police are particularly interested in speaking witnesses described as:

    A female driving a black Vauxhall Corsa in the area between 21:45 – 23:00.

    Two males who returned to an address in Pear Court at 23:10.

    In an appeal for information, Ola’s sisters, Zainab Raji and Ruki Ware said: “This is a painful reminder of 10 years of loss – our family is not going to get that time back. When we get together, there is always that sense of something missing. There are children who never get to know their Uncle, who would still be so young even now. The laughter we share is that little less loud. There is a smile absent in the photographs.

    “But this is not just about our family. It’s about safety on the streets of Peckham and the wider south London area. There is no doubt the people who did this once could carry out similar attacks again. Maybe they already have.

    “We are getting closer to the truth – for example, we now know about phone calls Ola received shortly before the attack. Just the smallest piece of evidence from any witnesses or those with knowledge of what happened could be enough to put those responsible behind bars and make the streets safer for the entire community.”

    Detective Chief Inspector Alex Gammampila, who is leading the investigation, said: “Ola was an innocent man, in the wrong place at the worst time. His murder has devastated his friends and family, and those in the local community.

    “Ten-years on, we continue to appeal for anyone who has any information to come forward.

    “Were you out in Peckham that night? Were you also watching the football that night, or were you near Commercial Way? Did you see or hear the shooting or anything that struck you as being unusual?

    “No piece of information is too small, and could be the final piece of the puzzle that leads us to identify Ola’s attackers.”

    Alexa Loukas, London Regional Manager at Crimestoppers said: “As the family of Ola Raji continue their heartfelt appeal for justice 10 years after this tragic murder, we want to remind people that his attackers have still not been caught.

    “This is deeply unsettling for his loved ones and the local community. That is why, as part of this 10th anniversary appeal we are offering of up to £20,000 for information received to our charity Crimestoppers, that helps lead to the conviction of Ola’s attackers.

    “We know that there may be several witnesses who have information but for whatever reason talking to the police is not an option. We are an independent charity, separate from the police, and we are unable to identify anyone who contacts us.”

    Anyone with information can call 101 or message @MetCC on X, giving the reference 2597/16APR25. Information, including photos or videos, can also be easily uploaded to the dedicated appeal page.

    To provide information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. They are an independent charity, separate from the police. They won’t ask for your name and can’t trace your call. The reward will only be payable for information passed directly to Crimestoppers and not to the police. A reward code must be asked for when calling the charity on 0800 555 111. If you contact Crimestoppers via the online form anonymously, the ‘keeping in contact’ facility must be used and a reward code must be requested on your initial contact with the charity.

    Detectives continue to investigate the possibility that Ola’s attackers left the scene on foot via a cut through from Cator Street, into Sumner Road, before turning into Rosemary Road heading in the direction of the Surrey Canal Path.

    Three individuals were arrested on suspicion of murder. A further two individuals were arrested for perverting the course of justice. However, no further action was taken against these individuals and no criminal charges were ever brought.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How a new ‘Fishheart’ project is combining science, community and Indigenous art to restore life in the Baaka-Darling River

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Claire Hooker, Senior Lecturer and Coordinator, Health and Medical Humanities, University of Sydney

    A new state-of-the-art tube fishway technology called the “Fishheart” has been launched at Menindee Lakes, located on the Baaka-Darling River, New South Wales.

    The technology – part of the NSW government’s Restoring the Darling-Baaka program – will allow native fish to move past large barriers, such as dams, weirs and regulators, when they need to. It’s hoped this will help the fish reproduce and survive, and reduce the risk of mass fish deaths in the Baaka.

    At the same time, meaningful policy reform and implementation can’t be achieved without input from First Nations communities. So how do we do this? One creative collaboration on the Fishheart project suggests art may have a big role to play.

    Distressing images

    Several deeply distressing mass fish death events have occurred in the river since 2018, with millions of native fish, including golden perch, silver perch and Murray cod, dying due to insufficient oxygen in the water.

    These events are the outcome of compounding challenges in managing the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia’s largest inland river system. The basin, which stretches from Southern Queensland to South Australia, is a water source for some three million people.

    But the construction of infrastructure such as dams, weirs and regulators has profoundly disrupted the natural processes that once sustained healthy river systems. This disruption has been made worse by ineffective and conflict-ridden governance.

    The Baaka is a source of life and wellbeing for numerous communities. It should be cared for with the same urgency and coordination as a critically ill patient. If too many doctors or nurses are involved without a clear shared treatment plan, the patient suffers. Likewise, when multiple agencies attempt to manage a sick river, the system can break down.

    So how can better care be achieved? For Barkindji Elder David Doyle the answer lies in doing it together.

    Seeking and listening to Aboriginal community

    Aboriginal peoples have been explaining the importance of Australia’s inland rivers for generations. The Aboriginal community at Menindee held protests about the health of the Baaka two years before the first mass fish deaths. Yet their voices and cultural knowledges have not reconfigured river policy.

    A report by the NSW Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer into the March 2023 mass fish deaths on the Lower Baaka identified the importance of including Aboriginal cultural knowledges in strategies for fish species regeneration and management.

    However, according to Barkindji Ngnukuu elder Barbara Quayle, the community’s experience of “consultation” has been a tick-box activity. She says there is no trust that cultural knowledges or community perspectives will actually be listened to.

    The power of the arts

    Traditional cultural knowledges are often held and expressed through various artforms, from story, to dance, to gallery arts. Within rural and remote communities, the arts and art-making create conditions that can help people work together to address complex issues. In fact, there’s a long history of the arts being used to address social conflict.

    Can the Fishheart help prevent fish kills? We don’t know. But the Barkindji community’s artistic input in the project is enabling a more integrated approach to finding out.

    Elders and community members have come together with regional arts organisation, The Cad Factory, and the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s Fisheries branch, to design traditional knowledge-inspired art for the Fishheart pipes.

    This art was painted onto the pipes by members of Barkindji community over the past month. Other community art, including collaborations with the local school, was also placed around the site.

    Making the art gave everyone involved the time, space and tools to consider and discuss the project. We learned how the Fishheart technology is inspired by the human heart, with tubes resembling “veins” and “arteries” that can take fish in and “pump” them over barriers through a siphon effect, letting them circulate throughout the river.

    We discussed important details on how this technology works, which includes using artificial intelligence used to detect fish in the pipes and collect real-time data and photos of the migration. We also considered how we might further care for the river, by potentially allowing the removal of invasive species, or monitoring for diseases.

    The project also provided fisheries managers with the opportunity to hear community concerns, such as whether the installation of fishways might be perceived in ways associated with colonisation, or eventually lead to fish removal from the waterways.

    Most importantly, seeing the pipes visually transformed by Barkindji art connected the Fishheart to place and Country. The art provides a tangible expression of uninterrupted Barkindji custodianship for the river and the species that depend on it.

    With art, there is hope for creating policy together – policy that might promote the health of the river as a whole, rather than treating the symptoms of the problem.

    Claire Hooker receives funding from the NHMRC, MRFF, ARC, and University of Sydney. She is affiliated with Arts Health Network NSW/ACT.

    Barbara Quayle is the Vice-president of the Menindee Aboriginal Elders Council, sits on the Barkindji Native Title Board and NSW Aboriginal Water Strategy Board and is a founding guide of Barkindji cultural immersion tour group, Wontanella Tours.

    Dave Doyle is a member of the Menindee Aboriginal Elders Council, a previous member of the Barkindji Native Title Board, sits on the NSW Aboriginal Water Strategy Board and is a founding guide of Barkindji cultural immersion tour group, Wontanella Tours.

    Reakeeta Smallwood has received funding from ARC and NHMRC, in partnership with University of Sydney, University of Newcastle and University of New England. These funding sources are not relevant to this article or project.

    – ref. How a new ‘Fishheart’ project is combining science, community and Indigenous art to restore life in the Baaka-Darling River – https://theconversation.com/how-a-new-fishheart-project-is-combining-science-community-and-indigenous-art-to-restore-life-in-the-baaka-darling-river-254594

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Low effort, high visibility: what bumper stickers say about our values and identity

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Harrison, Director, Master of Business Administration Program (MBA); Co-Director, Better Consumption Lab, Deakin University

    Justin Sullivan/Getty

    You may have seen them around town or in the news. Bumper stickers on Teslas broadcasting to anyone who looks: “I bought this before we knew Elon was crazy.”

    You might assume it’s there to prevent someone from keying the car or as an attempt to defuse potential hostility in a hyper-politicised landscape. But while it may signal disapproval to like-minded passersby, a sticker is unlikely to dissuade someone already intent on committing a crime (which keying is).

    What it does offer, though, is a form of symbolic insurance. You might call it a way to clarify identity in a hostile political environment.

    Equal parts apology, protest and cultural timestamp, the message can say more in eight words than a full-blown op-ed. But it’s not just about a car. It’s also about values, identity management and the evolving politics of consumption.

    A signal to others

    At their core, car bumper stickers function as a vehicle (literally and metaphorically) for identity projection. They are symbols of what psychologists call “low-cost identity displays”, used to project who we are or perhaps more accurately, how we want to be seen.

    Buying a Tesla may once have signalled innovation, environmental consciousness, or social progressivism. But Musk’s increasingly polarising public behaviour and political commentary have altered the cultural meaning of the brand.

    This creates a sense of cognitive dissonance for those consumers whose values no longer align with what the brand’s owner now represents. Enter the bumper sticker.

    Sales of Tesla have fallen sharply this year as Elon Musk has become more political.
    Shutterstock

    In an increasingly fragmented society, where people are eager to differentiate themselves, even a sticker can be a subtle form of moral positioning. But more than anything, it’s often a way to signal to the groups that matter most to us, “please like me”.

    Social identity theory suggests people derive part of their self-concept from their perceived membership in social groups. Bumper stickers make these group affiliations visible, projecting values, ideologies, affiliations, or even contrarian attitudes to the outside world.

    My tiny fading Richmond Tigers sticker on my car may not be performative in the same way a bold political slogan might be. But it still signals a form of identity and belonging.

    Bumper stickers can make affiliation with social groups visible.
    Shutterstock

    The North Face jacket

    Bumper stickers act as a form of “peacocking”. It’s similar to wearing branded clothing, like Dan Andrews’ The North Face jacket during COVID that made him appear more approachable than he would have in a formal suit. Or like even curating a bio on LinkedIn. This is a behavioural strategy where people communicate their traits to others without words.

    In marketing, this links closely to the theory of conspicuous consumption, which can include symbolic consumption, where we buy and display products not just for utility, but for what they say about us.

    Bumper stickers are a literal version of this. They are symbolic, declarative and public. They’re low-effort, high-visibility communicators of group affiliation, virtue, humour, rebellion or outrage.

    The intention might be to inform or persuade, but their actual influence is more complicated.

    Marketing class 101

    In introductory marketing classes, taught at pretty much every university, awareness is often presented as the first stage of the hierarchy of effects model. The model suggests consumer action progresses from awareness to knowledge, liking, preference, conviction, and finally, purchase.

    Stickers are unlikely to influence behaviour.
    Shutterstock

    But in practice, this progression is significantly more complicated. Bumper stickers may generate awareness, but there’s little evidence they influence behaviour – especially when considered in isolation.

    This is particularly relevant in areas such as tourism promotion. For example, an unofficial, but nevertheless provocative tourism slogan like the “CU in the NT” ad campaign might spark conversation and recognition, but recognition does not equate to conversion.

    Despite the hope that underpins the millions of dollars spent on slogans and taglines, awareness is necessary but not sufficient for behavioural change.

    Most marketing efforts fail not because people are unaware of the brand, but because they have no reason, opportunity, or inclination to act – that is, to buy the product or change behaviour.

    Culture has fragmented

    Contemporary consumer culture is increasingly tribal and fragmented. Social media algorithms reinforce echo chambers, while physical signals such as car stickers or even political corflute signs signal belonging and in-group and out-group boundaries.

    As a result, bumper stickers probably reinforce identity for the already converted, but are unlikely to persuade those outside the tribe.

    Visible preferences, however, can serve as a form of shorthand for identity, especially when they align with the symbols and language of the in-group. Although their direct influence on behaviour is limited, these signals, when repeated and reinforced within a receptive community, can shape and shift social norms over time.

    In the end, bumper stickers rarely change behaviour. But they do something more subtle. They allow people to express, perform and affirm identity. They act as signals to others, markers of tribe, values, humour or defiance. They help us say this is who I am, or maybe, this is what I am not.

    Paul Harrison has received research funding from Consumer Action Law Centre, Australian Securities and Investment Commission, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, and the Victorian Health Association.

    – ref. Low effort, high visibility: what bumper stickers say about our values and identity – https://theconversation.com/low-effort-high-visibility-what-bumper-stickers-say-about-our-values-and-identity-254581

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A survey of Australian uni students suggests more than half are worried about food or don’t have enough to eat

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katherine Kent, Senior Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Wollongong

    StoryTime Studio/ Shutterstock

    Being a university student has long been associated with eating instant noodles, taking advantage of pub meal deals and generally living frugally.

    But for several years, researchers have been tracking how students are not getting enough food to eat. This can have an impact on their mental and physical health as well as their academic performance.

    In new research, we look at how the problem is getting worse.

    Our research

    In March 2022 and March 2024, we surveyed University of Tasmania students about their access to food.

    More than 1,200 students participated in the first survey and more than 1,600 participated in the second. Students were recruited through university-wide emails and social media and included both undergraduate and postgraduate students from a range of disciplines.

    We used an internationally recognised survey to assess food insecurity. It can tell us whether students are struggling and to what extent.

    It asked simple but revealing questions about financial barriers to food, such as “In the past 12 months, did you ever skip meals because there wasn’t enough money for food?” or “Did the food you bought just not last, and you didn’t have money to get more?”

    Students were then classified as “food secure” or as one of three levels of food insecurity:

    1. marginally food insecure: students were worried about running out of food

    2. moderately food insecure: students were compromising on the quality and variety of food they ate

    3. severely food insecure: students were often skipping meals or going without food altogether.

    We asked students if they regularly skipped meals or if they didn’t have money for food.
    Cottonbro Studio/ Pexels, CC BY

    Regularly going without food

    We found overall, food insecurity among students increased from 42% in 2022 to 53% in 2024.

    The proportions of those experiencing marginal or moderate levels of food insecurity was stable (at about 8% and 17–18% respectively). But the number of students experiencing severe food insecurity jumped from 17% to 27%.

    While food insecurity increased among most groups, younger students, those studying on campus and international students were the most at risk.

    Although our study focused on the University of Tasmania, similar rates of food insecurity have recently been reported at other regional and metropolitan universities across the country. This suggests it is a widespread issue.

    National data on food insecurity in the general Australian population is limited, with no regular government monitoring. The 2024 Foodbank Hunger Report estimates 32% of Australian households experienced food insecurity, including 19% with severe food insecurity.

    Why is this happening?

    While our study didn’t directly explore the causes of student hunger, rising inflation, high rents and limited student incomes are likely factors.

    The surveys happened during a time of sustained inflation and rising living costs. We know rents, groceries and other essentials have all gone up. But student support payments have not kept pace over the study period.

    Estimates suggest about 32% of Australian households in general do not have enough to eat.
    Armin Rimoldi/Pexels, CC BY

    What can we do?

    To address food insecurity among students, coordinated action is needed across universities and state and territory governments.

    Universities often run food pantries to provide students with basic supplies, but they also need more long-term supports for students.

    Institutions could expand subsidised meal programs, offer regular free or subsidised grocery boxes and ensure healthy, low-cost food is consistently available on campus.

    State governments can reduce the financial stress that contributes to food insecurity by expanding stipends and support for students on unpaid clinical placements in the state system. They could also expand public transport concessions to all students, including international students.

    The federal government can raise Youth Allowance and Austudy to reflect real living costs. The new Commonwealth Prac Payment could be expanded beyond teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work to cover all students undertaking mandatory unpaid placements. The government’s plan to raise HECS-HELP repayment thresholds could also ease the financial pressure on recent graduates.

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

    – ref. A survey of Australian uni students suggests more than half are worried about food or don’t have enough to eat – https://theconversation.com/a-survey-of-australian-uni-students-suggests-more-than-half-are-worried-about-food-or-dont-have-enough-to-eat-254603

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘Puppy blues’: how to cope with the exhaustion and stress of raising a puppy

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Susan Hazel, Associate Professor, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide

    Lucigerma/Shutterstock

    Caring for a new puppy can be wonderful, but it can also bring feelings of depression, extreme stress and exhaustion. This is sometimes referred to as “the puppy blues”, and can begin anytime after the puppy arrives in the household.

    While researchers are still working on a way to officially diagnose puppy blues, symptoms generally include:

    • physical exhaustion, due to all the feeding, training, cleaning, walks, management and sleep disruptions
    • emotional exhaustion
    • feeling depressed or guilty for not “doing enough” for the puppy
    • self-imposed perfectionist stress and feeling pressure to raise a puppy “the right way”
    • feelings of regret and doubt
    • constantly wondering if the puppy would be better off with someone else or being returned.

    The good news is these feelings are generally temporary. Puppies have a number of difficult developmental states that need to be managed (each with their own unique challenges) – but these will pass as your puppy grows and settles in.

    The bad news? It can be really tough, and can last weeks or months.

    There is very little research into the puppy blues. But through interviews, surveys and longitudinal studies (where scholars track people’s experiences over time), researchers have begun piecing together what can help puppy owners survive these challenges.

    It’s not an easy time.
    Masarik/Shutterstock

    Get the help you need

    Much like rearing children, puppy raising is hardest as a solo journey. Researchers highly recommend building a team around you and your puppy to help decrease the stress.

    Seek help from parents, friends and family. Having people who you can call to puppysit and to lean on emotionally during tough times is a lifesaver for puppy owners.

    Having a great local vet you trust is crucial (bonus points if you also get yourself a vet with further qualifications in animal behaviour). Chat to your vet if you are worried about your puppy’s behaviour or want to know more about force-free training.

    Online communities have their place too. Seeing others go through (and survive!) similar challenges can be a great relief. These communities can also be a treasure trove of advice.

    That said, remember there’s almost just as much bad advice as good online. Check with your vet if you’re unsure. The use of aversive training methods, such as smacking or yelling, is associated with more behavioural problems by the time your puppy is a year old.

    And if you find yourself feeling really overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to chat to your GP about your mental health.

    Make sure you have the right resources

    Puppy care is full-time work. Working two full-time jobs leads to burnout. If possible, take time off work to help settle your new pet in. If your can’t, call on your village for help with puppysitting.

    Consider how you can make use of long-lasting toys and safe spaces to keep your puppy entertained for a while without your input.

    Long lasting chew toys, “snuffle mats” (which can be easily and cheaply made at home and can be used to hide food), and puzzle toys can also help your puppy learn to relax and settle on their own.

    Play pens are also a godsend and allow you to step away or rest while they nap, eat or play.

    Keep realistic expectations

    There is no such thing as “perfect” when it comes to raising a puppy; chasing perfection will only lead to misery.

    It can help to remember that puppies are babies. They are not supposed to know the cue to sit or stay yet, or to be able to focus on you for long during a training session.

    When their teeth hurt, they’re going to grab the nearest item to chew on – which might be your hand, your shoe or your favourite sunglasses. Either way, babies are going to make mistakes, not because you’ve failed, but because their brains are too underdeveloped to do any better right now.

    They’re just a baby.
    Pryimachuk Mariana/Shutterstock

    Training sometimes goes backwards – or out the window altogether. This is especially true when we hit new developmental periods. It’s normal and you’ve done nothing wrong (remember those underdeveloped brains!). If you’re concerned, seek professional advice from a vet.

    Remember, none of the challenges will last forever. Try to enjoy the good moments, because they won’t last forever either.

    Is kitten blues a thing?

    While kitten blues has not been researched as much as puppy blues, many kitten owners in online forums anecdotally report similar feelings of overwhelm and exhaustion.

    So it’s reasonable to assume this phenomenon exists and is likely very similar to its puppy counterpart. The advice in this article applies to both kittens and puppy owners.

    Caring for a kitten can be stressful too.
    rindwi99/Shutterstock

    Puppies and kittens are certainly not easy to raise.

    But when you’re staring into those adorable eyes, wondering how this tiny creature who brings you so much love can also make you cry with exhaustion, remember: you’ve got this.

    Susan Hazel has received funding from the Waltham Foundation. She is affiliated with the Dog and Cat Management Board of South Australia and the RSPCA South Australia.

    Ana Goncalves Costa is affiliated with the Delta Institute and South Australian veterinary behaviour clinic Pawly Understood.

    – ref. ‘Puppy blues’: how to cope with the exhaustion and stress of raising a puppy – https://theconversation.com/puppy-blues-how-to-cope-with-the-exhaustion-and-stress-of-raising-a-puppy-247328

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Prison needle programs could save double what they cost – our new modelling shows how

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Farah Houdroge, Mathematical Modeller, Burnet Institute

    ChameleonsEye/Shutterstock

    Needle and syringe programs are a proven public health intervention that provide free, sterile injecting equipment to people who use drugs. By reducing needle sharing, these programs help prevent the spread of blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis C and HIV and minimise life-threatening bacterial infections.

    Australia leads the world in community-based needle and syringe programs. But they are not used in Australian prisons – which are hotspots for injection-related infections.

    This is a breach of human rights and United Nations resolutions, which make clear health-care standards for people in prison must be equivalent to those in the community.

    In addition to meeting human rights standards, our new modelling – the first of its kind in Australia – shows there would be significant economic benefits to implementing prison-based programs.

    Needle and syringe programs in the community

    Australia is a world leader in needle and syringe programs in the community. There are 4,218 sites across the country (as of 2021). Each year they distribute more than 50 million needles and syringes.

    Among people who inject drugs, that’s about 508 needles and syringes per person each year — the highest rate globally, and more than double the World Health Organization’s benchmark for high needle and syringe program coverage (200 per person per year).

    For reference, the country with the second-highest coverage was Finland (with 450 needles and syringes per person who injects drugs per year) followed by the Netherlands (367).

    Prisons are infection hotspots

    A law enforcement emphasis in responding to drug use – rather than public health focus – has resulted in grossly disproportionate rates of incarceration among people who use drugs.

    In Australia, between 29% and 52% of people in prisons report injecting drugs at some point in their lives, and around 40% of people who were injecting drugs in the community before prison continue to inject inside.

    Without access to sterile injecting equipment, needle sharing and unsafe injecting practices are common. As a result, people who inject drugs in prison are at higher risk of transmitting blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis C than those in the community.

    In 2023, 42% of all hepatitis C treatments in the country were delivered in prisons. These treatments are government-funded, highly effective and curative (meaning total recovery).

    But the prevention strategies used in the community – which stop infections happening again – are not used in prison. Re-infection in prisons occurs at more than twice the rate of initial infection.

    Why the gap in prisons?

    Australian peak bodies, as well as major research and community health organisations, have long supported the introduction of prison-based programs.

    However, legal and political opposition, concerns around safety and security, and funding constraints have all contributed to the lack of progress.

    As of 2023, prison needle and syringe programs operated in eleven countries worldwide. The outcomes are positive for both health (reduction in needle sharing, drug use and hepatitis C and HIV transmission) and prison safety.

    A 2024 study of Canada’s existing needle and syringe program, operating in nine prisons, found it will save the health-care system $C0.85 million in treatment costs between 2018 and 2030 by preventing hepatitis C and other injection-related infections. In contrast, the program cost just $C0.45 million to run. Canada has since expanded the program to eleven prisons nationwide.

    Here’s what we found

    To bring an economic perspective to this debate in Australia, our new study estimated the costs and benefits of introducing needle and syringe programs in all Australian prisons, aiming to reach 50% of people who inject drugs in prison between 2025 and 2030.

    We drew on a similar program in Luxembourg which follows international best practice. This needle and syringe program is delivered through prison health services. Sterile injecting equipment is provided face-to-face by health staff. Used equipment is exchanged one-for-one (meaning a sterile needle-syringe can be exchanged for a used one), in a confidential and safe manner.

    Then, we identified the specific components and resources needed to implement the program, such as sterile injecting equipment and annual training sessions for prison health staff. We researched their associated costs to calculate the total cost of scaling-up nationally.

    Finally, we modelled the number of hepatitis C and other injection-related infections the program would prevent. These infections can have serious health consequences and are costly to treat. The money saved here helped us calculate the cost savings (that is, the benefits) of the program.

    Implementing prison-based programs nationally would cost approximately $A12.2 million between 2025 and 2030. But this investment could prevent 894 hepatitis C infections and 522 injection-related bacterial and fungal infections.

    We estimated these infections would cost the health-care system $31.7 million to treat – more than double the cost of preventing them with a prison needle and syringe program.

    In other words: for every dollar invested in prison-based programs, more than two dollars would be saved in health-care costs.

    Where to from here?

    People have strong views about injecting drug use and prison-based needle and syringe programs. But countries where needle and syringe programs have been successfully implemented in prisons have several things in common.

    First, there is widespread understanding among everyone involved in using, administrating or overseeing the program of its benefits. Eliminating blood-borne viruses can reduce health risks for people in prison and improve the safety of staff.

    Second, successful implementation is inclusive. It ensures a range of people have meaningful input in how the program is designed and delivered, including incarcerated people, health-care professionals and policymakers, prison officers and government bodies.

    Third, drug use in prison is treated as a public health issue, not a political football. The failed War on Drugs has only compounded the issue, leading to the over-incarceration of people who use drugs and the creation of lucrative prison drug markets.

    If Australia is to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030 – as the national hepatitis C strategy outlines – it will be essential to combine prison-based treatment with prevention strategies, including needle and syringe programs.

    We now know they are likely to save money too.

    Mark Stoové has received funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council, the Victorian Department of Health, and the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aging. He has also received investigator-initiated research funding from Gilead Sciences and AbbVie and consultant fees from Gilead Sciences for activities unrelated to this work.

    Nick Scott receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, and has previously received funding from the Victorian Department of Health and the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care.

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

    – ref. Prison needle programs could save double what they cost – our new modelling shows how – https://theconversation.com/prison-needle-programs-could-save-double-what-they-cost-our-new-modelling-shows-how-254592

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: From the doable to the downright impossible: your guide to making sense of election promises

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Frank Rindert Algra-Maschio, PhD Candidate, Social and Political Sciences, Monash University

    Three weeks into the federal election campaign and both major parties have already pledged to spend billions in taxpayer dollars if elected on May 3.

    But with so many policies announced — and surely more to follow — sometimes it can be hard to make sense of exactly what is being promised.

    That ambiguity can come back to bite voters, and the government, during the next term.

    So, how do you sort the deliverable promises from the downright impossible?

    It’s a question we reckoned with while tracking Labor’s 2022 campaign promises over the last term through our Election Promise Tracker.

    Politicians can make it hard to hold them accountable for their commitments later, so it’s important to know when you’re being sold a pup. Here are our tips on what to look out for in the lead-up to polling day.

    Distant horizons

    Promise tracking relies on clearly defined actions that can be assessed against a specific timeline, and ideally by the end of a government’s term.

    But politicians have a habit of announcing policies that extend over much longer horizons, with no guarantee their party will be in government to see them through.

    This can happen with large infrastructure projects and other big spending announcements, such as Labor’s 2022 promise to bring investment in the Great Barrier Reef to $1.2 billion by 2030, or the Coalition’s 2025 plan to build its first nuclear reactors by the middle of next decade.

    Even five-year promises — whether to build 30,000 social and affordable homes or cut 41,000 public service jobs — aren’t particularly helpful when terms are three years long.

    Certainly, governments should set long-term priorities. But if pledges won’t be completely fulfilled, voters should at least know what to expect during the coming term.

    One way to gauge if parties are serious about promises is if they have outlined the shorter steps required to reach their longer-term goals.

    Can it be measured?

    The difference between concrete promises and mere rhetoric largely boils down to whether a pledge can be objectively measured.

    Sometimes a promise can seem measurable but still lack a reliable or definitive measure to assess it when the time comes.

    Jobs targets are a classic example of this, seen in the Coalition’s 2022 election pitch to create “1.3 million new jobs” and also Labor’s recent boast to have delivered “a million new jobs”.

    As experts have persistently pointed out, these numbers do not account for population growth or, importantly, the fact that governments cannot take credit for every new private sector job.

    Another example is Labor’s infamous promise to shave $275 off the average annual household electricity bill by 2025. While there is good data to track electricity bills, we won’t have the numbers necessary to assess the most recent term until mid-2026.

    When it comes to promises that depend on specific figures, voters should consider whether they will have reliable data to assess the final outcome.

    Lacking the details

    Parties regularly dole out promises at press conferences along the campaign trail, but these announcements can be vaguely worded, leaving voters to fill in the blanks.

    For example, Labor’s 2022 pledge to “get real wages growing” could have been understood several different ways, including as a promise to increase wages during just one quarter. (Our promise tracker took it to mean wages would be higher at the end of the government’s term than at the start.)

    In fairness, parties do often publish their policies online, but these documents can be light on specifics.

    During the current campaign, for example, Labor has promised to spend $1 billion in mental health support. Its policy says the funding will build or upgrade more than 100 mental health centres — but has so far neglected to say when that will happen in their policy documents.

    The finer details can sometimes be found in a party’s costing documents, which also show whether funding announcements are already budgeted or genuinely new, although the major parties often release these documents only days out from the election.

    This can leave little time for serious public scrutiny or analysis, especially for early voters, who in this election could account for half the electorate.

    So before you vote, it’s worth checking whether more details have been released about the promises that matter to you.

    The importance of keeping track

    Promise tracking helps voters hold their government to account by ensuring politicians don’t wriggle out of their commitments.

    Many will recall, for example, Labor’s 2022 pledge to “establish a Makarrata Commission with responsibility for truth-telling and treaty” — and, following the Voice referendum, the prime minister’s attempt to recast it as a general commitment to the “process” of Indigenous reconciliation.

    Equally, it’s important that governments aren’t held to promises they never made.

    In the case of Labor’s energy bills pledge, the Coalition has begun to claim that voters were promised a $275 “per year” saving but that household bills had instead increased by $1,300. That total appears to represent a tally of unconfirmed cumulative increases over each of the government’s three years, whereas Labor promised to deliver its $275 reduction “by 2025”.

    Despite popular opinion, governments in Australia and abroad typically deliver on the majority of their promises.

    But convincing voters of that fact requires giving them enough details to know what they are voting for and, ultimately, to assess whether it has been achieved.

    Lisa Waller receives funding from The Australian Research Council

    David Campbell, Eiddwen Jeffery, and Frank Rindert Algra-Maschio 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. From the doable to the downright impossible: your guide to making sense of election promises – https://theconversation.com/from-the-doable-to-the-downright-impossible-your-guide-to-making-sense-of-election-promises-253554

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Curious Kids: if heat rises, why does it get colder in the mountains?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Renwick, Professor, Physical Geography (Climate Science), Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

    Shutterstock/EvaL Miko

    If heat rises, why does it get colder as you climb up mountains?

    – Ollie, 8, Christchurch, New Zealand

    That is an excellent and thoughtful question Ollie – why indeed?

    You’re right, when air is warmed, it rises. This is what gives us the “thermals” gliders can use to soar upwards and large birds of prey like the South American condors use to help them stay aloft for hours at a time.

    But there are lots of other things influencing air temperature. When air rises, it expands because air pressure decreases with height. The energy in the air gets spread out over greater volumes and its temperature goes down.

    This effect wins out over warm air rising. The warm air in a thermal will cool as it rises, until it reaches the temperature of the air around it and is no longer buoyant.

    But why do we have rising air at all?

    That’s because the air around us is heated from below, from Earth’s surface.

    When the Sun is shining, it doesn’t heat the air in the lowest few kilometres of the atmosphere (the troposphere) as there are very few gases in that air to absorb sunlight.

    The Sun’s rays heat Earth, not the air. The air is then warmed from below, from the ground, just as water in a pot on a stove is warmed from the bottom of the pot.

    Earth’s greenhouse

    Earth mostly sends energy back to space in the form of heat or infrared radiation (with wavelengths longer than visible light but shorter than microwaves), and there are plenty of gases in the air that are good at absorbing this kind of radiation, even if they don’t feel the sun’s energy.

    These are what we call greenhouse gases – water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane and so on. Because we have these in the air, the absorption of infrared energy is the main way the air is warmed.

    Again, air near the ground is warmed the most by this absorption of energy.
    The warm air near Earth is buoyant so it often “bubbles up” into the atmosphere, just like the water in a pot on a stove.

    But in the atmosphere, the decrease of pressure with height dictates that temperatures decrease as you go up. This is what’s known in weather jargon as the “lapse rate” – how fast temperatures decrease with height. In dry air (no water vapour), that rate is just under 10°C per kilometre, or a little under 1°C cooler per 100 metres upwards.

    As warm and wet air cools as it rises, water vapour condenses to form clouds.
    Shutterstock/Klanarong Chitmung

    When we have water vapour in the air, it’s a different story. As the air rises and cools, it can’t hold so much water vapour, so some of the vapour has to condense back into liquid water. As it does that, it releases the energy it took to evaporate it in the first place.

    That heat warms the air and reduces the “lapse rate”. How big this effect is depends on how much moisture was in the air to start with. On average, the temperature decrease of about 10°C per kilometre goes down to around 6.5°C per kilometre.

    And what happens to that liquid water in the air? If forms tiny droplets that make clouds. If enough of those drops stick together and become heavy enough, they’ll fall back to Earth as rain.

    Clouds, rain and lightning

    We have clouds and rain because temperatures decrease with height. The clouds that form this way, through buoyant air rising in thermals, are known as cumulus clouds.

    Cumulus always have lumpy tops, looking a bit like a cauliflower. That’s because different parts of the rising air have different amounts out water vapour in them. So different amounts of energy are released, giving the air different buoyancy in different places. The moistest, most buoyant air rises the highest, while drier less buoyant air doesn’t make it so far up.

    If there is lots of moisture available, we can get a thunderstorm cloud, with thunder and lightning as well as plenty of rain. Not just rain either, but often hail (frozen rain).

    That happens because the temperature in the upper parts of such deep clouds is well below freezing, so it is made up of ice crystals rather than water drops. Those ice crystals can stick together to form hail, or snow.

    Lightning forms because of positive electrical charges at the top of clouds and negative charges at the bottom.
    Shutterstock/Athapet Piruksa

    Curiously, it’s the collisions between ice crystals and water drops as they go up and down in a deep cumulus cloud that gives rise to lightning, with a build-up of positive electrical charges at the top of the cloud and negative charges at the bottom.

    Getting back to your original question, why is it colder in the mountains? That’s because as we climb a mountain, we are moving into cooler layers of the atmosphere. We are getting above the surface layers of the atmosphere, going to lower pressures, and that causes the temperature to drop.

    Warm air can still rise from a mountaintop, but it’ll be cooler to start with than air down at sea level, just because it’s at a lower pressure. Climbers who tackle really high mountains, like Mount Everest, usually take oxygen cylinders with them as the air is so thin near the top of such high peaks.

    That’s also why snow and ice linger on mountain tops, as that’s where it is cold enough year-round to keep the ice frozen.

    Hello curious kids! Do you have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to curiouskids@theconversation.edu.au. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live.

    James Renwick receives funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). He is a member of the Green Party.

    – ref. Curious Kids: if heat rises, why does it get colder in the mountains? – https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-if-heat-rises-why-does-it-get-colder-in-the-mountains-252911

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman DeSaulnier Announces Town Hall in Lafayette

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier Representing the 11th District of California

    Walnut Creek, CA – Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) announced he will host a town hall in Lafayette to share the latest on his efforts to fight back against Trump Administration actions that are hurting the American people, like cuts to health care and programs they rely on, the gutting of federal agencies, and violations of constitutional rights on Wednesday, April 23rdfrom 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. PT.

    In addition to sharing updates on his work in Congress, Congressman DeSaulnier will take questions from constituents. 

    Town Hall on Standing Up For America 
    Wednesday, April 23rd
    6:30 – 7:30 p.m. PT
    Lafayette, CA
    RSVP for Location

     

    The event is RSVP only and capacity is limited. To reserve your spot or request special accommodations, visit https://desaulnier.house.gov/town-hall-rsvp or call (925) 933-2660. 

    This will be Congressman DeSaulnier’s 231st town hall and mobile district office hour since coming to Congress in January 2015.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Premier’s statement on Easter

    Premier David Eby has issued the following statement celebrating Easter:

    “Today, my family and I join millions of people in British Columbia and around the world who are celebrating Easter.

    “For Christians, Easter is the holiest day on the calendar as it commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The holiday also marks the conclusion of Lent, a 40-day period of prayer, fasting and reflection. Christians celebrate by attending special church services and sharing an Easter meal with loved ones.

    “Easter represents hope, renewal and growth, and people of various faiths and backgrounds celebrate the occasion. Families gather to feast, neighbours meet for community celebrations and kids – including mine – enjoy Easter egg hunts and crafts.

    “Easter is also an opportunity to reflect on the universal teachings of Jesus – love, forgiveness and caring for each other – and how we can all integrate them into our daily lives.

    “From my family to yours, happy Easter!”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Instant tax refunds give wings to China Travel

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

    BEIJING, April 20 — At a bustling department store in Guangzhou, south China, a Singaporean surnamed Lee picked up more than just premium Chinese tea for friends and family — he also walked away with a tax refund, pocketed instantly at the point of purchase.

    “Super convenient,” said the tech entrepreneur, who was in town for a tech fair, applauding China’s new refund policy that spares international travelers the long queues at airports and puts money back in their accounts then and there.

    China is expanding the coverage of instant tax refunds to improve the experience for international travelers. In Shanghai, the service has been available in about half of the city’s tax refund partner stores.

    The policy, extended nationwide on April 8, builds on a slew of recent efforts by China to boost global exchanges and mobility, such as easing its visa policies, enhancing payment accessibility, and streamlining customs clearance.

    These shifts have made exploring the country easier than ever, fueling a surge in “China Travel” content on social media platforms. For example, U.S. content creator IShowSpeed documented his kung fu journey at the famous Shaolin Temple in central China, captivating global audiences.

    In 2024, China recorded 64.88 million border crossings by foreign nationals, an 82.9 percent increase year on year. In the first quarter of 2025, this number stood at 17.44 million, up 33.4 percent compared to the same period in 2024.

    During Lee’s ten-day stay in China, he zipped through industrial parks, financial centers, and high-tech hubs across the industrial powerhouse, bringing home not just souvenirs but also promising partnerships.

    Analysts believe that the recent expansion of the tax refund policy will increase spending by inbound travelers, spur growth in China’s tourism sector, and draw more visitors eager to explore the country.

    On the ground, the effects are already visible. At the Grand Pacific, a shopping mall in downtown Beijing, staff reported long queues at tax refund counters. “It’s now routine to see waves of foreign tourists lining up. Some leave with a few items, others with entire hauls,” one employee said.

    Qin Yi, manager of a porcelain shop in Shanghai, noted that foreign tourists who receive instant tax refunds in cash often make additional purchases on the spot — a trend that has helped drive up the store’s overall sales.

    Inbound consumption in China is expected to exceed 1.5 trillion yuan (around 205 billion U.S. dollars) over the next five years, said economist Hong Tao at Beijing Technology and Business University. In 2024, inbound travelers spent over 94.2 billion dollars in China, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

    As U.S. tariffs inflate the cost of Chinese imports, traveling to China makes more economic sense for savvy American shoppers.

    Thanks to the new transit policy for citizens from 54 countries, including the United States, Americans can now stay in the country for up to 240 hours without a visa. Pair that with the freshly expanded refund-upon-purchase policy, and travelers would get a compelling formula: travel, shop, save — and repeat.

    “There’s no middleman taking a cut,” as many put it. And the math checks out: with an 11 percent refund rate, spending 10,000 yuan gets people 1,100 yuan back. Though a service fee is charged, luxury goods, electronics, and other high-value items still look a lot more attractive.

    Far from dimming their allure, U.S. tariffs have thrown a new spotlight on Chinese products, long prized for both quality and affordability.

    “If the high U.S. tariffs persist, we may see the rise of a ‘daigou’ trade,” said Wang Huayu, an associate professor of fiscal and tax law at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, referring to a practice that Americans pay intermediaries to shop in China on their behalf.

    However, delivering a premium shopping experience to attract inbound travelers requires more than policy changes, said experts.

    It is important to bring more shops and a wider range of goods into the refund-upon-purchase program, said Hong.

    Wang Peng, a researcher at Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, pointed to the power of digital contracts to slash the tax refund process down to mere seconds.

    He also highlighted how artificial intelligence could step in to ease peak-hour pressure, standardize shopping services, and close infrastructure gaps across regions.

    In Guangzhou, where Singaporean visitor Lee explored, a commentary carried by a local newspaper on April 10 has called for more efforts to identify choke points to make shopping in China more enjoyable.

    “I’ll visit China again — and next time, I’m bringing my family and friends along,” said Lee.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China boosts public health with vaccine and immunization progress

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

    WUHAN, April 20 — China has made significant progress in vaccine development and immunization, marked by a growing portfolio of domestically produced vaccines and remarkable public health results.

    These achievements were highlighted at the 2025 National Vaccines and Health Conference, held over the weekend in Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province in central China, and attended by nearly 3,000 public health officials and medical professionals.

    Over the past years, China has achieved notable breakthroughs in vaccine technology. Milestones include the successful development of homegrown HPV and Ebola vaccines, as well as advances in pneumococcal conjugate vaccines against 13 types of bacteria and shingles vaccines.

    Several Chinese vaccines have received prequalification from the World Health Organization, enabling their distribution in partner countries of the Belt and Road Initiative.

    These advancements underscore a broader shift in China’s vaccine industry — from focusing primarily on domestic needs to increasingly contributing to the global vaccine supply chain, according to Wang Yunfu, head of the Health Commission of Hubei Province.

    The global biotechnology landscape has also helped accelerate this transformation, as the participants pointed out. In recent years, breakthroughs in technologies such as mRNA platforms, viral vectors, and nanoparticle delivery systems have opened up unprecedented opportunities for vaccine research and development, significantly improving both efficiency and immune response.

    Alongside scientific innovation, China has placed strong emphasis on safety and regulatory oversight. In 2019, it became the first country to implement a comprehensive vaccine administration law, followed by updated immunization standards introduced in 2023.

    A nationwide traceability system has been set up, ensuring that every dose can be tracked from production to administration, enhancing transparency and public trust.

    China’s national immunization programs have yielded strong public health results.

    The country achieved polio-free status in 2000, eliminated neonatal tetanus by 2012, and has reported no locally transmitted diphtheria cases since 2007. The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen among children under five declined from nearly 10 percent in 1992 to just 0.3 percent in 2020.

    Routine vaccination coverage has remained above 90 percent nationwide, supported by an extensive healthcare infrastructure that ensures every township has at least one vaccination unit.

    Efforts to expand access and improve service delivery remain a central priority. “Public health should be protected through more accessible and higher-quality vaccine services,” said Li Bin, president of the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association, adding that this goal was reflected in the conference’s theme.

    For example, in Hubei, girls aged 14 are now eligible for free HPV vaccination, and immunization for newborns is being integrated into the birth registration process to ensure early and timely coverage.

    Looking ahead, China is preparing to refine its immunization strategy and services further.

    Health authorities are considering dynamic adjustments to the national immunization program to prioritize vaccines with high cost-effectiveness or those associated with costly diseases. In some regions, pilots may allow the use of personal health insurance accounts to cover non-mandatory vaccines, reducing out-of-pocket expenses for the public.

    Digital tools will also play an increasing role in modernizing immunization services. Electronic vaccination records are being shared across provinces, while artificial intelligence (AI) is assisting with appointment scheduling. Big data platforms are improving vaccine inventory management and logistics.

    Yin Zundong, head of the Immunization Program Center at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, emphasized the role of advanced data technologies.

    “With the help of big data and AI, disease surveillance and early warning systems can become more accurate and efficient,” Yin said. “In the future, data-driven tools will enable precise assessments of vaccine protection efficacy.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: 80 years after atomic bombs devastated Japan, Donald Trump’s actions risk nuclear proliferation

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jamie Levin, Associate Professor of Political Science, St. Francis Xavier University

    The policy of every American president since Harry S. Truman has been to limit the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

    They have not always been successful. The world’s most powerful weapons spread, with nine countries now possessing them. But no United States president has actively sought their further proliferation, as the belligerent policies of Donald Trump are now set to do.

    In 2018, during his first term as president, Trump tore up the Iran nuclear deal, which had successfully placed limits on the enrichment of weapons-grade materials in exchange for sanctions relief.

    Iran has since accelerated its nuclear weapons program. Estimates now put Iran within months or even weeks of producing several bombs.

    A short time later, after a series of escalating threats, Trump suggested that North Korea had agreed to denuclearize. Talks ensued, but a deal never materialized.

    In fact, Trump failed to stop, let alone roll back, North Korea’s ambitious nuclear weapons programs. North Korea is now said to possess at least 50 warheads as well as the means to deliver them.

    No longer an ally

    Under the second Trump administration, the world is facing a rapidly growing proliferation risk of a different kind, one that is found not only among the usual suspects in Iran and North Korea, but also among a long list of U.S. allies who once basked in American security guarantees.

    Merely two months into Trump’s second term, America’s European allies have grown increasingly concerned that the U.S. is no longer a reliable ally.

    That’s due to his suspension (and then reinstatement) of weapons transfers and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, an explicitly prioritized rapprochement with Russia, open denigration of its NATO allies, suggestions that the U.S. would not come to their defence if attacked, and his active and repeated threats to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Canada, Greenland and Panama.

    Against this backdrop, Trump’s guiding Project 2025 principles advocate escalating nuclear testing, breaking a long-held taboo.

    Once protected by its nuclear umbrella, America’s closest allies are now threatened by it. Europe’s loss of confidence in the U.S. is so severe that finding alternatives has now become part of serious discussions in capitals across the continent. France and the United Kingdom are poised to fill the void by extending their nuclear deterrence to the likes of Germany and Poland.

    The scene in Asia

    But the risk of proliferation is greatest in East Asia. On the campaign trail in 2016, Trump mused that Japan and South Korea might need to develop nuclear weapons. “It’s only a matter of time,” he said.

    That time is unfortunately now.

    While Trump has been busy burning bridges in Europe and North America, his allies in East Asia — South Korea and Japan — have been watching the implosion of the U.S.-led international order in dismay. They have no alternative to the American nuclear umbrella but to build their own deterrent capabilities.

    Polls now show that more than two-thirds of South Koreans support their country’s acquisition of nuclear weapons independent of the U.S. Key figures across the political spectrum as well as a growing chorus of academics and journalists have also openly floated the idea of nuclearization.

    To address South Korea’s growing anxiety and check its nascent nuclear ambitions, the previous Joe Biden administration launched a bilateral initiative called Nuclear Consultative Group in 2023.

    It established a regular mechanism between the two countries to discuss the state of the nuclear umbrella and perform joint defence exercises. This measure went a long way to quiet the voices calling for South Korean nuclearization — until Trump returned to the White House.

    South Korea

    Trump’s so-called America First foreign policy has given every reason for South Korea to once again question the reliability of U.S. security guarantees. If the Trump administration is willing to throw its oldest and closest allies in the North Atlantic under the bus, there is little reason for South Koreans to place their continued faith in the U.S.

    As important as South Korea has been to an American grand strategy, it has always been a second-tier ally and its bilateral alliance with the U.S. was never as important as NATO or as special as the Canada-U.S. relationship. South Korea is much more vulnerable to abandonment, and it now appears to be expandable in the second Trump administration.

    Going nuclear is not a question of means for South Korea. It has one of the most advanced civilian nuclear industries in the world, with 24 reactors in operation and more than enough scientific know-how to churn out weapons in a short time, estimated at six to 12 months.

    The question has always been one of political will, the absence of which has rested on American security assurances. With the Trump administration actively demolishing security guarantees to its closest allies, South Korea may conclude that the only viable path to its continued existence in the post-American world is acquiring nuclear weapons.

    Japan

    South Korea’s nuclearization would likely lead to a domino effect, triggering a new wave of nuclear proliferation across the region. If South Korea makes a dash for the bomb, Japan will have no choice but to follow suit.

    Japan has a full nuclear fuel cycle, including a uranium enrichment plant, spent-fuel reprocessing facilities, nine tons plutonium and 1.2 tons of enriched uranium that can be easily fashioned into thousands of nuclear bombs in as little as six months.

    While the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have long served as a guardrail against nuclearization in Japan, that moral taboo was sustained by a credible U.S. nuclear umbrella. And once the nuclear genie is out of the bottle, Taiwan will have every incentive to resurrect its earlier clandestine nuclear weapons program and seek its own deterrence capability.

    Catastrophic dangers

    While going nuclear may be individually rational for the East Asian countries, the collective outcome for the region and beyond is fraught with catastrophic risks.

    The world is now grappling with the most dangerous collective action problem because the solution that has worked so well for decades — credible American security assurance — is eroding.

    In upending the very international order that the U.S. established, the Trump administration is not merely chipping away at the global security architecture underpinned by myriad American security guarantees. It’s imploding the post-Second World War security order from within and the moral, political and institutional bulwark against nuclear proliferation.

    In this predatory, zero-sum world of Trumpian foreign policy, putting America First necessarily means putting everyone else last — and, along the way, inadvertently fuelling nuclear proliferation.

    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. 80 years after atomic bombs devastated Japan, Donald Trump’s actions risk nuclear proliferation – https://theconversation.com/80-years-after-atomic-bombs-devastated-japan-donald-trumps-actions-risk-nuclear-proliferation-254459

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Election Diary: Coalition makes ‘law-and-order’ pitch, with plan to invest proceeds of drug crime into communities

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    As it seeks to gain some momentum for its campaign, the Coalition on Monday will focus on law and order, announcing $355 million for a National Drug Enforcement and Organised Crime Strike Team to fight the illicit drug trade.

    A Dutton government would put Australian Federal Police teams into the states and territories, which would be nationally led and supported by specialist financial investigative and prosecutorial teams.

    This would bring an anticipated “significant increase in the seizure of criminal assets and proceeds of crime, which we will reinvest into communities,” Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and shadow ministers said in a statement.

    “This means every dollar seized from drug dealers and criminal cartels will go towards helping the families and communities devastated by their crimes.”

    In what it dubs a crackdown on crime from “the border to the backyard” the opposition has brought together its various initiatives in a $750 million “Operation Safer Communities” package. Apart from the taskforce, other measures have been previously announced.

    The initiatives include:

    • new laws to disrupt organised criminal syndicates

    • upgrading border screening to intercept drugs and cracking down on the importation of date-rape drugs used in drink spiking

    • extra funding for Crime Stoppers

    • more money for the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation, and piloting a national child sex offenders disclosure scheme that would provide more information to parents about the risks in their communities

    • investment in e-safety education through the Alannah and Madeline Foundation

    • introducing national “post and boast” laws making it illegal to post social media material glamorising involvement in crime

    • working with other jurisdictions to standardise knife crime laws, and funding a national rollout of detector wands

    • restoring the Safer Communities Fund to support local projects to improve social cohesion

    • reintroducing fast track processes for visa appeals to deal with bad actors overstaying.

    The Coalition is also promising stronger action against antisemitism and against corruption and crime in the construction industry.

    Dutton said the community felt less safe than three years ago.

    “I have the experience and determination to stand up to the outlaw motor cycle gangs and organised crime syndicates which are wreaking havoc on our streets and in our communities.”

    Opposition defence spending announcement this week

    The Coalition this week will release its long-awaited defence policy.

    The Australian Financial Review is reporting it will be based on two stages. The first would be a target above Labor’s proposed spending over the forward estimates. A second stage would be a target of spending at least 2.5% of gross domestic product annually in the early 2030s.

    Greens say public service should prepare a brief on their policies too

    The major parties are always saying they don’t want to get ahead of themselves – being seen to assume the outcome before the election is decided. The Greens have no such inhibition.

    Greens leader Adam Bandt has written to the Secretary of the
    Prime Minister’s Department, Glyn Davis, declaring minority government looks probable.

    “It is increasingly clear that whoever forms government will likely rely on crossbench support, and in turn need to be in a position to discuss in detail the policy proposals put forward by members of the crossbench,” he said in his letter, sent on Thursday.

    So Bandt wants the public service to prepare a brief on Greens’ policies, to assist any such negotiations.

    The context is that the bureaucracy prepares so-called “red” (Labor) and “blue” (Coalition) books, which contain briefs on the policies of each side. The appropriate book is ready for whoever wins.

    Bandt wants a “green book” prepared. “This will enable an incoming government to discuss and begin to implement key policy priorities of the Australian Greens, should they agree to them during negotiations in relation to the formation of government.”

    Bandt said as a “top priority” in this exercise, the public service should prepare in-depth work on reforming negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount. This should cover reducing these concessions for investors owning more than one property, which the Greens support.

    Bandt referred the bureaucracy to work done by the Australia Institute, a progressive think tank, and to the views of various economic commentators who have advocated reform.

    He also pointed to Treasury advice on the subject, over which debate flared last week, when Anthony Albanese claimed the government had not asked for modelling. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said he had asked for a “view ” from Treasury. The government says it has no plans to change negative gearing arrangements.

    Albanese has repeatedly ruled out negotiating with the Greens if he was forced into minority government. But he wouldn’t need to – the Greens have said they would not have a bar of giving support to a Dutton minority government.

    How important the Greens were when it came to particular pieces of legislation in a hung parliament would depend on the actual numbers. including how many crossbenchers a minority government needed to pass bills and how big the crossbench was. The bigger the crossbench, potentially the more choice of dancing partners for the government.

    The importance of the lower house Greens if there was a minority government would also depend on how many of them there were. Bandt is safe in his seat of Melbourne, but the other three Greens, all from Queensland, won their seats in 2022 and these electorates are being strongly targeted by the major parties.

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

    – ref. Election Diary: Coalition makes ‘law-and-order’ pitch, with plan to invest proceeds of drug crime into communities – https://theconversation.com/election-diary-coalition-makes-law-and-order-pitch-with-plan-to-invest-proceeds-of-drug-crime-into-communities-254588

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: 150 years ago, the Metre Convention determined how we measure the world — a radical initiative for the time

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jonathan Simone, Adjunct Professor of Biological Sciences, Brock University

    Unified systems of measurement are important for scientific progress. (Shutterstock)

    On May 20, 1875, delegates from a group of 17 countries gathered in Paris to sign what may be the most overlooked yet globally influential treaty in history: the Metre Convention.

    At a time when different countries (and even different cities defined weights and lengths based on local artifacts, royal body parts or grains of wheat, this rare agreement among nations offered something simple yet undeniably impactful: consistency.

    A radical initiative for its time, the Metre Convention ultimately birthed a system of measurement that would transcend language, politics and tradition, and lay the foundation for a new global era of scientific and technological advancement.

    Official engraved marble standard metre, at the Place Vendôme in Paris. The standard was promoted during the French Revolution to introduce the metric system to France.
    (Shutterstock)

    A world divided by measurement

    By the mid-19th century, the push for standardization had become increasingly urgent. Scientific discovery was accelerating, global trade was booming and industrial projects were growing in scale and complexity. But the world’s measurements were, frankly, a mess.

    France had introduced the metric system during its revolutionary years, but other nations were slow — or outright unwilling — to adopt it.

    Rivalries simmered not just among empires, but within the scientific community itself. Astronomers couldn’t compare celestial observations across borders because their units didn’t match. Engineers designing railway systems across Europe had to navigate conflicting standards for track gauges, load weights and even timekeeping.

    This wasn’t just inefficient. It was a barrier to progress, a strain on economies and a growing source of frustration or a scientific world that aimed to speak in universal truths.

    Faced with growing societal demands, the industrial world agreed it was time to act. The Metre Convention was the result.

    Scientists and diplomats representing the 17 participating countries collectively established the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM), headquartered just outside Paris, as the official keeper of measurement standards. Today, the BIPM is backed by 64 member states and governs the Système International d’Unités (SI), the measurement framework that underpins everything from bridges to smartphones.

    When standards fail

    Developing and agreeing on a system of units is the mandate of the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures.
    (Bureau International des Poids et Mesures), CC BY-ND

    And while by today’s standards, the SI may seem like a relic of old-school science bureaucracy, it’s anything but. Standardized measurement is the invisible infrastructure of the modern world. And when it fails, or more specifically when we ignore it, the consequences can be severe.

    Take the Gimli Glider incident. In 1983, an Air Canada flight from Montréal to Edmonton ran out of fuel midway through its journey. The cause was a miscalculation caused by confusion between metric and imperial units: the ground crew had used pounds instead of kilograms to measure fuel, and the pilots didn’t catch the error.

    The plane lost power at 41,000 feet (around 12,500 metres for those who prefer their near-death experiences in metric), and glided safely to an abandoned airstrip in Gimli, Man., and to the annals of history as a symbol of what happens when we take standards for granted.

    Or consider the Mars Climate Orbiter, a US$327 million NASA spacecraft that disintegrated upon entering Mars’ atmosphere in 1999. Engineers at Lockheed Martin had used imperial units, while NASA had assumed metric. The mismatch led to a critical navigation error and the failure of the mission, highlighting the importance of consistency in measurement, even far beyond the confines of Earth’s atmosphere.

    The Gimli Glider and Mars Orbiter failures show what happens when consistency breaks down, but they’re more than just cautionary tales. They reveal how much of modern life depends on the shared language of measurement, and how easily that foundation can be cracked.

    And therein lies the genius of the Metre Convention. It created a system that allows the world to communicate in the same terms. When someone says “kilogram,” “second” or “volt,” there is no ambiguity. That shared understanding is what makes global collaboration possible.

    The Mars Climate Orbiter at the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility in the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
    (NASA/KSC)

    From man-made objects to universal constants

    But as scientists are wont to do, good ideas are refined, and standards evolve. For much of its post-Metre Convention history, the kilogram was defined by a physical artifact — a hunk of platinum-iridium alloy stored in a vault in France. But in 2019, that changed. Now, the kilogram is defined by Planck’s constant, a fundamental feature of the universe. The shift marked the final step in a long journey: every base unit in the SI is now rooted in nature rather than arbitrary human artifacts.



    Read more:
    Redefining the kilogram means redefining how we measure wealth

    That change wasn’t just symbolic, it was necessary. Our ability to measure time, mass and distance with extreme precision affects nearly every aspect of modern life.

    GPS signals rely on time measurements accurate to the billionth of a second. Quantum computers and particle accelerators require calibration on mind-bendingly small scales. Even weather forecasting depends on standardized measurements of pressure, temperature and humidity.

    Shared standards in a divided world

    But perhaps the most underrated legacy of the Metre Convention is its role in building trust across borders.

    At a time when misinformation spreads quickly and even basic facts are contested, international standards offer a shared foundation that scientists, governments and industries can rely on. It’s a form of global co-operation that has quietly endured for 150 years.

    That co-operation becomes particularly apparent in moments of political strain. Although the United States appears uncompromising in its commitment to feet and inches, American scientists, engineers and manufacturers rely heavily on the metric system, especially when collaborating across borders.

    As tensions rise between close allies like the U.S. and Canada, metric standards remain a consistent point of harmony. The two countries may spar diplomatically, but when it comes to assembling a car in Windsor with parts made in Detroit, the bolts still fit.

    Looking ahead

    Still, like all institutions, BIPM and the SI reflect the times in which they were created. The original signatories were almost exclusively colonial powers. It took almost a century for other nations to gain an equal seat at the table, and even now, access to the tools and infrastructure that facilitate precision metrology — the act of taking extremely accurate measurements — remains unequal.

    If the next 150 years of the Metre Convention are to be as successful as the first, greater inclusivity and accessibility will need to be central to its mission.

    We live in a world held together by decimals, tolerances and agreed-upon constants that keep planes in the air, bridges from collapsing and scientific progress on track.

    The Metre Convention reminds us that science isn’t only about big breakthroughs and bold ideas. Sometimes it’s about consensus and agreeing, together, on what a metre actually is. And even after 150 years, the simple idea of agreeing how to measure the world remains one of humanity’s greatest achievements.

    So, what should we do with this anniversary? Maybe throw a party with metric-themed cocktails (may I suggest a 100mL Old Fashioned?). At the very least, we should take a moment to reflect on just how essential, and how easy to overlook, measurement really is.

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

    – ref. 150 years ago, the Metre Convention determined how we measure the world — a radical initiative for the time – https://theconversation.com/150-years-ago-the-metre-convention-determined-how-we-measure-the-world-a-radical-initiative-for-the-time-252108

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Apr 20, 2025 Day 4-8 Severe Weather Outlook

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Day 4-8 Severe Weather Outlook Issued on Apr 20, 2025

    Updated: Sun Apr 20 08:26:02 UTC 2025

     .

    D4
    Wed, Apr 23, 2025 – Thu, Apr 24, 2025
    D7
    Sat, Apr 26, 2025 – Sun, Apr 27, 2025

    D5
    Thu, Apr 24, 2025 – Fri, Apr 25, 2025
    D8
    Sun, Apr 27, 2025 – Mon, Apr 28, 2025

    D6
    Fri, Apr 25, 2025 – Sat, Apr 26, 2025
    (All days are valid from 12 UTC – 12 UTC the following day)

    Note: A severe weather area depicted in the Day 4-8 period indicates 15%, 30% or higher probability for severe thunderstorms within 25 miles of any point.

    PREDICTABILITY TOO LOW is used to indicate severe storms may be possible based on some model scenarios. However, the location or occurrence of severe storms are in doubt due to: 1) large differences in the deterministic model solutions, 2) large spread in the ensemble guidance, and/or 3) minimal run-to-run continuity.

    POTENTIAL TOO LOW means the threat for a regional area of organized severe storms appears unlikely (i.e., less than 15%) for the forecast day.

     Forecast Discussion

    ZCZC SPCSWOD48 ALL
    ACUS48 KWNS 200823
    SPC AC 200823

    Day 4-8 Convective Outlook
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    0323 AM CDT Sun Apr 20 2025

    Valid 231200Z – 281200Z

    …DISCUSSION…
    A low-amplitude southwesterly flow regime will prevail for much of
    the Day 4-8 period across portions of the central and eastern U.S.,
    with a mean upper trough persisting across the western states.
    Persistent south/southeasterly low-level flow across the Gulf and
    southern Plains will result in northward transport of rich
    boundary-layer moisture across the southern and parts of the central
    Plains through at least Day 6/Fri. Forecast guidance suggests weak
    shortwave impulses may float through modest southwesterly flow Days
    4-5/Wed-Thu, perhaps providing some support for isolated to
    scattered thunderstorm potential across the warm sector over
    TX/OK/KS. Given a moist and unstable airmass, at least some severe
    potential will exist. However, where exactly severe potential may
    develop Day 4-5/Wed-Thu is uncertain given a lack of stronger
    large-scale ascent and absence of any substantial surface
    cyclogenesis, coupled with modest deep-layer flow. This precludes 15
    percent probabilities at this time, though outlook areas could
    become necessary in later outlooks as smaller-scale features become
    better resolved.

    A period of weak upper ridging may spread across the Plains and the
    eastern U.S. on Days 6-7/Fri-Sat ahead of a more substantial upper
    trough developing over the western U.S. This may limit severe
    potential late in the week before the western upper trough ejects
    east toward the end of the forecast period.

    ..Leitman.. 04/20/2025

    CLICK TO GET WUUS48 PTSD48 PRODUCT

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Women are steadier leaders in times of crisis, but they are still being overlooked

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Ivona Hideg, Associate Professor and Ann Brown Chair in Organization Studies, York University, Canada

    One persistent gender stereotype is the belief that women are ‘too emotional’ to be effective leaders. This misconception continues to undermine their chances of being considered for leadership roles in the first place. (Shutterstock)

    Please fill out your disclosure statement (red button to the right under your name) when you have a chance

    As Canadians prepare to vote in a federal election during a period of global instability marked by trade disruptions, economic uncertainty, and armed conflict, the country’s political leadership remains notably traditional in one key respect: gender.

    All of Canada’s major political parties are currently led by men, and Canada has never elected a woman as prime minister. Kim Campbell briefly held the office in 1993 after Brian Mulroney’s resignation as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party. Her short tenure ended with a historic electoral defeat for the Conservatives.

    With global tensions rising and Canada facing unprecedented uncertainties, it may seem easy to overlook the lack of women on election ballots. But strong, inclusive leadership is a practical necessity in these uncertain times.

    A growing body of research and real-world examples are challenging longstanding assumptions about what makes an effective leader. In times of crisis, traditional leadership styles marked by dominance and rigidity — usually associated with men — often fall short.

    Instead, leadership styles marked by empathy, flexibility, and open communication — usually associated with women — are proving to be both effective and essential. This kind of leadership helps steady teams when emotions run high and the path forward is unclear — exactly the kind of qualities Canada may need in the near future.

    Leadership during COVID-19

    One persistent gender stereotype is the belief that women are “too emotional” to be effective leaders. This misconception continues to undermine women’s chances of being considered for leadership roles in the first place.

    However, our research findings challenge this assumption and suggest it’s actually men who are more likely to let emotions drive their behaviour during periods of uncertainty.



    Read more:
    The world needs more women leaders — during COVID-19 and beyond

    Our recently published research examined how gender influenced the behaviour of leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed survey responses from a sample of 137 supervisor-subordinate pairs working in the Netherlands during 2020.

    We focused on two dominant emotions during the pandemic — anxiety and hope — as they are both common responses to uncertainty. Anxiety reflects a sense of lost control, while hope suggests some belief in regaining it. These emotions, we predicted, would would shape leaders’ actions.

    Women less likely to be driven by emotion

    Our study found that men leaders who experienced higher levels of hope were more likely to engage in family friendly supervision, which refers to leaders providing support for employees’ non-work demands. This was especially critical during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    However, when men leaders experienced higher levels of anxiety, they were more likely to act out via abusive supervision. This included snapping at employees, making unreasonable demands, or behaving in a punitive way.

    In contrast, the behaviour of women leaders was not influenced by feelings of anxiety or hope. Regardless of how they felt, women were more likely to show consistent, family-supportive behaviours that helped staff manage work-life challenges. They also refrained from lashing out abusively when anxious.

    These findings aligned with our expectations. We anticipated women would be less likely to act on their emotions than men, as women are often conditioned to put the needs of others above their own, especially in times of stress.

    As a result, we expected — and observed — that women leaders would be less affected by their emotions and more likely to consider others.

    The danger of the glass cliff

    Our research highlights the importance of humanising leadership rooted in communal values. One particularly effective approach that does this is transformational leadership, which focuses on inspiring, supporting, and empowering others.

    Studies show that women are more likely to adopt this leadership style. Yet research also reveals a troubling gap: when women lead this way, they are less likely to be recognized or rewarded for it, compared to men. In many cases, women might behave the same as their men counterparts, yet they are judged differently — not based on what they do, but who they are.

    Women are also more likely to be appointed to leadership roles in times of crisis or decline. This phenomenon, known as the “glass cliff,” places women in precarious positions with limited chances of success.

    Consider the case of Campbell, who became party leader just months before an election her party was widely expected to lose. It could be argued she faced a glass cliff. Rather than a fair shot at leadership, she was handed a near-certain defeat.

    These patterns reflect how deeply embedded gender bias is, and how it continues to influence who gets to lead and under what conditions.



    Read more:
    The ‘glass cliff’ is steep for Canada’s female politicians

    The case for caring leadership

    In the face of ongoing U.S. tariffs, threats on Canada’s sovereignty, and other global issues, Canada needs effective leadership more than ever. But in times of crisis, reacting impulsively to strong emotions can be costly.

    The leadership style that appears most effective during turbulent times is based on communal values of care, rather than impulsively reacting to one’s emotions. As our research shows, this approach is more closely aligned with how women often lead, despite persistent stereotypes suggesting that women are overly emotional.



    Read more:
    Growing threats faced by women candidates undermine our democracy

    Yet, women remain underrepresented in leadership positions, especially in politics. Despite this gap, public conversation on the issue remain noticeably silent.

    Although we can’t rewrite the past, we can reflect on what might be missing from leadership today. When we consistently overlook those who lead with compassion, we risk losing out on exactly the kind of leadership that could help our country navigate the turbulent waters ahead.

    Ivona Hideg’s research has received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

    Winny Shen receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

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

    – ref. Women are steadier leaders in times of crisis, but they are still being overlooked – https://theconversation.com/women-are-steadier-leaders-in-times-of-crisis-but-they-are-still-being-overlooked-254676

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Service closures in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside leave sex workers without vital support

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jennie Pearson, PhD Candidate, Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Program, University of British Columbia

    In late February, the PACE Society, a long-standing pillar of support for sex workers in Vancouver, announced it was suspending services and programming and laying off most staff. For more than 30 years, PACE has provided peer support, counselling and basic services using a “by, for and with” sex workers approach.

    Now, amid a funding crisis that has led to layoffs of mostly staff with current or former experience of sex work, the future of vital support services for sex workers in Vancouver is uncertain.

    PACE’s announcement was another heavy loss following a string of closures and service reductions at organizations serving sex workers and other marginalized women in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

    February also marked the closure of the WISH Drop-in Centre. The centre provided essential lifeline for street-based sex workers in the Downtown Eastside, offering overnight respite and critical access to resources for over four decades.

    While PACE and WISH have described their closures as temporary, their eventual reopening remains uncertain. Both organizations intend to resume services with the renewal of the funding cycle in April 2025. In the meantime, sex workers face an urgent and growing void of essential support services and community spaces.

    Making sex workers more vulnerable

    As collaborators on the AESHA Project (An Evaluation of Sex Workers’ Health Access), we have worked in partnership with sex workers and community organizations to document how criminalization, policing and structural inequities impact sex workers’ health and safety.

    For over 14 years, the AESHA Project, based at the University of British Columbia, has highlighted the crucial role of community services in supporting sex workers’ health, safety and well-being and how a lack of funding undermines sex workers’ access to these vital services.

    The loss of safe spaces for sex workers, even temporarily, carries profound and far-reaching consequences. These impacts were thoroughly documented in the findings of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry, led by former B.C. attorney general Wally Oppal. The inquiry examined systemic failures that contributed to the targeted violence and murders of sex workers in Vancouver.

    Among the commission’s key recommendations was the urgent need to enhance protections and expand access to critical supports for sex workers, recognizing that such services are fundamental to their safety and well-being.

    For years, front-line organizations such as WISH and PACE have been instrumental in advancing this mandate, providing basic necessities like hot meals and safe overnight spaces, as well as trauma-informed counselling, peer support networks and opportunities for community connection. The abrupt closure of these spaces severs support networks for sex workers.

    Chronic under-funding

    Such organizations are vital, and sex workers deserve to feel like these spaces matter and are worth keeping open. However, funding for community-led, rights-based approaches to sex work services has historically been limited in Canada. Federal governments have prioritized prohibitionist approaches and “exit programs” that do not meet community needs.

    Vancouver-based sex work services are not alone in experiencing funding shortfalls and closures. On March 7, SafeSpace London issued an urgent call for donations following the loss of city funding. This dynamic is also visible in Vancouver, where the closure of PACE and other similar organizations is occurring within the context of a broader “revitalization” agenda, which aims to prioritize development over community infrastructure.

    A leaked draft memo from October 2024 revealed Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim’s plan for reshaping the Downtown Eastside. Among these plans is an effort to expedite private development approvals, notably through the use of spot rezoning — a tool that allows municipal authorities to rezone individual outside the city’s established planning frameworks.

    The memo also outlines the Sim’s intention to conduct a comprehensive review of local non-profit organizations and to actively “track their funding envelope.” While framed as a step toward increased accountability, research highlights that heightened scrutiny of chronically under-funded community organizations often leads to greater instability and compromises service delivery.

    Non-profits are in crisis, but this cannot be solved by increased surveillance and funding cuts. Community organizers have critically examined the potential consequences of this development-driven approach, raising concerns that it will accelerate gentrification and undermine the availability of essential community services.

    Community organizations, often relied upon to fill the gaps left by government disinvestment, often face chronic funding shortages. Despite providing essential services, many are forced into cycles of short-term, unstable funding that limit their ability to plan for the long term or advocate for systemic change.

    This precarious situation is not incidental. It reflects a broader shift in recent decades of governments offloading responsibility for social welfare onto under-funded non-profits while maintaining the illusion of support with fragmented funding schemes.

    The closure of critical services is not a sign of individual organizational failure. Rather, it is a direct consequence of a system that prioritizes investments in policing and property development over sustained investment in community well-being and support for the most marginalized residents of Vancouver.

    Organizations that provide critical support to sex workers need stability and self-determination to cultivate meaningful, community-led approaches that meet immediate needs and work toward long-term change.

    Jennie Pearson receives funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and is a volunteer with PACE Society.

    Andrea Krüsi has received funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Vancouver Foundation, National Institutes of Health and Canada Foundation for Innovation. PACE and WISH staff are part of the community advisory board of the AESHA study.

    Melody Wise a Research Coordinator for the AESHA project, a position supported by funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. She is a volunteer with SWAN Vancouver, a non-profit providing support to im/migrant sex workers in Greater Vancouver.

    – ref. Service closures in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside leave sex workers without vital support – https://theconversation.com/service-closures-in-vancouvers-downtown-eastside-leave-sex-workers-without-vital-support-253710

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Newspoll steady as both leaders’ ratings fall; Labor surging in poll of marginal seats

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne

    With less than two weeks to go now until the federal election, the polls continue to favour the government being returned.

    Newspoll was steady at 52–48 to Labor, but primary vote changes indicated a gain for Labor as both leaders dropped on net approval. A Redbridge marginal seats poll had Labor gaining two points since the previous week for a 54.5–45.5 lead, a 3.5-point swing to Labor in those seats since the 2022 election.

    A national Newspoll, conducted April 14–17 from a sample of 1,263, gave Labor a 52–48 lead, unchanged on the April 7–10 Newspoll. Primary votes were 35% Coalition (steady), 34% Labor (up one), 12% Greens (steady), 7% One Nation (down one) and 12% for all Others (steady).

    In the last two Newspolls, Labor has been a little lucky to get a 52–48 lead as this would have been given by 2022 election preference flows, and Newspoll is making a pro-Coalition adjustment to One Nation preferences. This time the 2022 election flow method would give Labor about a 53–47 lead.

    This Newspoll is the only new national poll since Friday’s update. The fieldwork dates were nearly the same as for the Freshwater poll that had Labor ahead by just 50.3–49.7 (April 14–16 for Freshwater). Other polls indicate that Freshwater is likely the outlier. Here’s the Labor two-party vote chart.

    In-person early voting begins on Tuesday ahead of the May 3 election, so there isn’t much time for the Coalition to turn around their deficit, if the polls are accurate.

    Anthony Albanese’s net approval in Newspoll was down five points to -9, with 52% dissatified and 43% satisfied. Peter Dutton’s net approval was down three points to -22, a record low for him. Albanese led Dutton as better PM by 52–36 (49–38 previously). This is Albanese’s biggest lead since May 2024.

    Here’s the graph of Albanese’s net approval in Newspoll this term. The plus signs are data points and a smoothed line has been fitted.

    Albanese and Labor were preferred to Dutton and the Coalition on helping with the cost of living by 31–28. Labor also led on dealing with uncertainty caused by Donald Trump (39–32), lowering taxes (33–26) and helping Australians buy their first home (29–24). The Coalition led on growing our economy by 34–29.

    For so long, it had appeared that the cost of living issue would sink Labor at this election, so this result will please Labor.

    Labor surges further ahead in Redbridge marginal seats poll

    A poll of 20 marginal seats by Redbridge and Accent Research for the News Corp tabloids was conducted April 9–15 from a sample of 1,000. It gave Labor a 54.5–45.5 lead, a two-point gain for Labor since the April 4–9 marginal seats poll. Primary votes were 35% Labor (steady), 34% Coalition (down two), 14% Greens (up two) and 17% for all Others (steady).

    The overall 2022 vote in these 20 seats was 51–49 to Labor, so this poll implies a 3.5-point swing to Labor from the 2022 election. If applied to the national 2022 result of 52.1–47.9 to Labor, Labor would lead by about 55.5–44.5. Since the first wave of this marginal seats tracker in early February, Labor has gained 6.5 points.

    Albanese’s net favourability improved three points since last week to -5, while Dutton’s slumped six points to -22. By 36–26, voters thought Albanese and Labor had better election promises for them than Dutton and the Coalition.

    By 56–13, voters agreed with Labor’s attack line that Dutton’s nuclear plan will cost $600 billion, and he will need to make cuts to pay for it. By 42–16, voters agreed with the Coalition’s attack line that this is the highest spending government in the past 40 years.

    Additional Resolve questions and a right-wing poll of Wentworth

    I previously covered the April 9–13 Resolve poll for Nine newspapers that gave Labor a 53.5–46.5 lead. Asked their biggest concerns about voting Labor, 47% said cost of living (down five since February), 36% economic management (down nine), 31% lack of progress in their first term (steady), 27% union ties (up two) and 24% Albanese’s personality (down six).

    Asked their biggest concerns about voting for the Coalition, 45% said Dutton’s personality (up ten), 36% lack of policy detail (up eight), 34% that the Coalition would follow Donald Trump’s example (up six), 32% the performance of the Scott Morrison government (up four) and 31% their nuclear power plan (up five).

    The February Resolve poll was the 55–45 to Coalition outlier, so responses in the prior survey were probably too Coalition-friendly.

    The Poll Bludger reported Saturday that a seat poll of Wentworth, which teal Allegra Spender holds by a 55.9–44.1 margin over the Liberals after a redistribution, gave the Liberals a 47–28 primary vote lead over Spender with 15% for Labor and 10% for the Greens. This poll was taken by the right-wing pollster Compass.

    Canadian election and UK local elections

    I covered the April 28 Canadian election for The Poll Bludger on Saturday. The centre-left governing Liberals are down slightly since my previous Poll Bludger Canadian article on April 10, but are still likely to win a parliamentary majority. Debates between four party leaders occurred Wednesday (in French) and Thursday (in English), and we’re still waiting for post-debate polls.

    United Kingdom local elections and a parliamentary byelection will occur on May 1. Current national polls imply that the far-right Reform will gain massively, with the Conservatives and Labour both slumping. Two seat polls give Reform a narrow lead over Labour for the parliamentary byelection in a safe Labour seat.

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

    – ref. Newspoll steady as both leaders’ ratings fall; Labor surging in poll of marginal seats – https://theconversation.com/newspoll-steady-as-both-leaders-ratings-fall-labor-surging-in-poll-of-marginal-seats-254715

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Caitlin Johnstone: ‘I want a death that the world will hear’  –  journalist assassinated by Israel for telling the truth

    Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. –

    COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone

    Israel assassinated a photojournalist in Gaza in an airstrike targeting her family’s home on Wednesday, the day after it was announced that a documentary she appears in would premier in Cannes next month.

    Her name was Fatima Hassouna. Nine members of her family were also reportedly killed in the bombing. She was going to get married in a few days.

    The documentary is titled Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, and it’s about Israel’s crimes in Gaza.

    In an Instagram post from August of last year, Hassouna wrote the following:

    ‘If I die, I want a loud death. I don’t want to be just breaking news, or a number in a group; I want a death that the world will hear, an impact that will remain through time, and a timeless image that cannot be buried by time or place.’

    Hassouna said she viewed her camera as a weapon to change the world and defend her family, making the following statements in a video shared by Middle East Eye:

    ‘As Fatima, I believe that the image and the camera are weapons. So I consider my camera to be my rifle. So many times, in so many situations, I tell my friends, Come and see, it’s not bullets that we load into a rifle.

    ‘Okay, I’m going to put a memory card into the camera. This is the camera’s bullet, the memory card. It changes the world and defends me. It shows the world what is happening to me and what’s happening to others.

    ‘So I used to consider this my weapon, that I defend myself with it. And so that my family won’t be forgotten. And so I can document people’s stories, so that my family’s stories too don’t just vanish into thin air.”


    ‘I want a death that the world will hear’      Video/Audio: Caitlin Johnstone

    Israel saw Hassouna’s camera as a weapon too, apparently.

    As Ryan Grim observed on Twitter:

    ‘For this to have been a deliberate act — which it plainly was — consider what that means. A person within the IDF saw the news that Fatma’s film was accepted into Cannes. He/she/they then proposed assassinating her. Other people reviewed the suggestion and approved it. Then other people carried it out.’

    Israel has been murdering a record-shattering number of journalists in Gaza while simultaneously blocking any foreign press from accessing the enclave because Israel views journalists as its enemy.

    And Israel views journalists as its enemy because Israel is the enemy of truth.

    Israel and its Western backers understand that truth and support for Israel are mutually exclusive. Those who support Israel are not interested in the truth, and those who are interested in the truth don’t support Israel.

    That’s why the light of journalism is being aggressively snuffed out in Gaza while Israel massively increases its propaganda budget to sway public opinion.

    It’s why journalists like Fatima Hassouna are being assassinated while the Western propaganda services known as the mainstream press commit journalistic malpractice to hide the truth of Israel’s crimes.

    It’s why Western journalists are banned from Gaza while Western institutions are silencing, deporting, firing and marginalising those who speak out about Israel’s criminality.

    Israel and truth cannot coexist. Israel’s enemies know this, and Israel knows this. That’s why Israel’s primary weapons are bombs, bullets, propaganda, censorship, and obstruction, while the main weapon of Israel’s enemies is the camera.

    Fatima Hassouna’s death has indeed been heard. All these loud noises are snapping more and more eyes open from their slumber.

    Caitlin Johnstone is an Australian independent journalist and poet. Her articles include The UN Torture Report On Assange Is An Indictment Of Our Entire Society. She publishes a website and Caitlin’s Newsletter. This article is republished with permission.

    This article was first published on Café Pacific.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Grigorenko checked the implementation of social and infrastructure projects in the Magadan Region

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Dmitry Grigorenko checked the implementation of social and infrastructure projects in the Magadan Region

    April 19, 2025

    Dmitry Grigorenko checked the implementation of social and infrastructure projects in the Magadan Region. With the Governor of the Magadan Region Sergey Nosov

    April 19, 2025

    Previous news Next news

    Dmitry Grigorenko checked the implementation of social and infrastructure projects in the Magadan Region

    Deputy Prime Minister – Head of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko checked the implementation of social and infrastructure projects in the Magadan Region during a working visit. He noted that the region demonstrates sustainable development in all areas – from the social sphere to transport infrastructure.

    “Five years ago, the Magadan region visited Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. Following his visit, the following were given: specific instructions, and to date the region has fully implemented them. In record time, life in Magadan has been transformed – it has become more comfortable and safer, especially for families with children. The region continues to develop, and we intend to support these initiatives. We are currently discussing the implementation of a number of infrastructure projects with the participation of VEB.RF,” said Dmitry Grigorenko.

    He emphasized that a number of social and infrastructure projects had been implemented within the framework of the instructions. Thus, a new school with an engineering focus, equipped with modern laboratories, appeared in Magadan. A new park, Mayak, was built on the site of an abandoned area, which has become a favorite place for city residents to relax thanks to its playgrounds, art objects, and comfortable walking routes. The cultural life of the region is also reaching a new level with the opening of a public and cultural center, where free educational and creative events will be held regularly.

    “Half of all projects in the Magadan Region are being implemented with the participation of development institutions, with the support of the Government of the Russian Federation. Including rental housing and social infrastructure projects, including schools, sports facilities, improvement of parks and squares – all this is the result of joint work,” noted Magadan Region Governor Sergei Nosov.

    Construction of the first specialized marine tourism center in the Magadan Region, capable of simultaneously servicing up to 90 small and pleasure boats, has begun in Nagaev Bay.

    The State Development Corporation “VEB.RF” is considering the possibility of financial participation in the implementation of this project. In addition, negotiations are underway on the financing of the accompanying infrastructure by the corporation – hydraulic structures and utility networks as part of the creation of the Magadan marine logistics center.

    The implementation of these projects will allow the creation of a modern transport, logistics and tourism infrastructure in the region that meets international standards.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The government ensures the implementation of a strategic project in Chukotka

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The active construction stage of the Baimsky Mining and Processing Plant (Baimsky GOK) has started in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. This is the first mining and processing plant in Russia to use unmanned technologies and the Internet of Things in copper ore mining. Deputy Prime Minister – Chief of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko and Deputy Prime Minister – Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev got acquainted with the progress of construction of the Baimsky GOK during a working visit to industrial development sites in the Far East.

    The plant is being built on the territory of the Baimskaya ore zone, which has not been developed for decades due to difficult climatic conditions, lack of infrastructure and technology. Financial support for the project is provided by the state corporation VEB.RF and a syndicate of commercial banks within the framework of the Project Financing Factory. The total investment volume will exceed 1.1 trillion rubles.

    “The Baimsky Mining and Processing Plant is a complex and extremely capital-intensive project. Its implementation is complicated by objective factors: a complete lack of infrastructure, a polar climate and significant distance from industrial centers. In this regard, the systemic participation of the state is becoming a mandatory condition for the implementation of the project. VEB.RF plays a key role in its financing. This is an example of how business and the state jointly solve strategic problems and achieve results even where it previously seemed impossible,” said Dmitry Grigorenko.

    Advanced technologies are used in the construction of the Baimsky GOK. In particular, unmanned quarry dump trucks and drilling machines will operate under the control of an intelligent system. The system analyzes the workspace in real time, transmits data to the central control center, where special artificial intelligence algorithms optimize production processes and equipment routes. For the first time in the copper industry, direct flotation technology will be used, which allows for more efficient processing of ore, reducing waste and resource consumption. This approach ensures high efficiency, industrial safety and environmental friendliness.

    Dmitry Grigorenko emphasized that the Baimsky project is not limited to the construction of a separate facility, but envisages the creation from scratch of all the necessary infrastructure for the operation of the plant – from highways, a port and an energy complex to a residential area.

    The construction of key internal infrastructure facilities has been completed: a runway, a fuel storage facility, a 110 kV power transmission line with a substation, internal roads, the first stage of a shift camp for 1.2 thousand people, and a transport center in Bilibin. The construction of external infrastructure facilities continues: the Chaun port, as well as a road and power transmission line more than 400 km long to the field.

    “Baimsky GOK is a unique project in terms of scale and effects. It is the largest project implemented with the participation of VEB.RF and commercial banks within the framework of the Project Finance Factory. State support mechanisms, as well as the competencies of VEB.RF and partner banks, made it possible to increase the availability of credit resources, extend the loan terms and distribute risks among the project participants,” said Igor Shuvalov, Chairman of VEB.RF.

    Industrial operation of the Baimsky Mining and Processing Plant will begin in 2029. The design capacity of the plant is about 70 million tons of copper ore per year.

    The development of the Baimskaya ore zone was launched in 2018 at the Eastern Economic Forum by Russian President Vladimir Putin. In 2021, the Government approved a roadmap for the project, providing comprehensive support at the federal level.

    The project is included in the Strategy for the Socioeconomic Development of the Far East and the Baikal Region until 2025 and the Strategy for the Socioeconomic Development of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug until 2030.

    Support at the regional level includes tax breaks and simplified administrative procedures within the framework of the preferential regime of the Chukotka priority development area.

    “We have moved from the design stage to active construction. The investment volume will exceed 1.1 trillion rubles, of which more than 260 billion have already been spent. It is important for us that the federal institutions and authorities providing support see the high pace of our work in the harsh conditions of the Far North. The support of VEB.RF, in particular, is not just financing, but trust in our strategy, the professionalism of the team and the long-term potential of the project,” emphasized Georgy Fotin, General Director of Baimskaya Management Company LLC.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –