NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Professions of the Future center has new partners

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The city center for innovative personnel services “Professions of the Future” has signed cooperation agreements with two new partners. This is an educational platform and one of the largest job search sites. The center’s new partners will offer Muscovites additional training programs for in-demand professions, as well as career support from leading HR experts.

    “The concept of “one education for life” is becoming a thing of the past, giving way to the trend of continuous learning. According to our statistics, 95 percent of Muscovites strive to develop skills and competencies in order to increase their competitiveness in the labor market or radically change the direction of their professional activity. The HR center “Professions of the Future” has become a platform that unites job seekers, leading employers and the best educational providers of the city, where everyone can choose one of 75 training programs, master a popular specialty and find employment in a new direction. We are actively developing our network of partners, and now they include the job search service hh.ru and the educational platform “Netology”. The new training provider will provide job seekers with more than 200 popular courses in programming, marketing, business, sales and development of soft skills. “Cooperation with the HeadHunter service will allow us to create joint projects and exchange experience with the platform’s career experts,” said Andrey Tarasov, Director of the Moscow Employment Service and Head of the Professions of the Future Center.

    Find a job and employees

    Currently, skilled personnel are in high demand among employers, so experts predict an increase in the need for them. 85 percent of those who completed retraining at the Professions of the Future center chose blue-collar jobs. City residents can get a new profession in a maximum of 3.5 months thanks to the center’s partnership with the largest providers.

    According to Valentina Kurenkova, GR Director of the educational platform Netology, together with the Professions of the Future center, training in engineering, industry and blue-collar jobs is being developed so that more people can find work in promising sectors of the economy. The platform was created in 2011 and became a member of the Association of Digital Innovations in Education, an association of leading participants in the EdTech market in Russia. With its help, clients of the Professions of the Future center will be able to take over 200 popular courses with a 50 percent discount.

    To improve the efficiency of their work, it is important for HR specialists not only to monitor changes in the profession, but also to continuously develop their skills. Professional development should be continuous. Director of the hh.ru brand center Nina Osovitskaya emphasized that regular participation in trainings and educational events aimed at developing negotiation skills, candidate assessment and emotional intelligence helps to keep up with the times. For example, leading specialists from one of the largest job search sites will share their expertise in automating the processes of searching, adapting and retaining personnel, and will talk about modern trends in the development of the labor market.

    The Moscow City Employment Service is the largest state personnel operator that helps residents of the capital find work. Its structure includes employment offices, many of which are located in the My Documents government service centers. The flagship centers are open at the following addresses: Kuusinen Street, Building 2, Building 1, and Shabolovka Street, Building 48. The specialized employment center My Career is located on Sergiya Radonezhskogo Street (Building 1, Building 1).

    At the Professions of the Future center (38 Shchepkina Street, Building 1), you can master one of 75 in-demand professions in various sectors of the economy in a maximum of three and a half months. Career mentors will help you find a job after completing your training. The center’s partners include more than three thousand employers. In addition, a comprehensive career guidance program is being implemented here for ninth-grade students.

    As Sergei Sobyanin noted indevelopment strategies social protection system of Moscow until 2030, the city offers any Muscovite and residents of other regions the opportunity to develop their human resources potential and successfully join the country’s largest labor market.

    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.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/151841073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Weather News – Rain clears for an eventful weekend – MetService

    Source: MetService

    Covering period of Thursday 27th – Sunday 30th March – A band of rain sweeps across New Zealand to end the working week, but MetService is forecasting a sunny weekend for most.  

    Today (Thursday), gloomy skies and wet weather move up the South Island as the North Island holds on to dry and settled conditions. The rain is expected to clear south of Christchurch this evening.

    Tomorrow (Friday), the clouds will gradually part to fine spells over the South Island as the rain band moves on to the North Island. The brief rain will weaken as it moves north, unfortunately, bringing no respite for the driest areas.

    With so many events scheduled this weekend, people will be eagerly checking their local MetService weather forecasts. Sunshine is expected for the last day of the Maadi Regatta on Saturday, without too much more disruption from fog. Blue skies over Wellington’s CubaDupa and Christchurch’s Round the Bays will hopefully encourage a bustling turnout.

    Meanwhile, the classic cars at Whangamata’s Beach Hop should be prepared for a sprinkling of showers on Saturday, so keep that in mind if you’re taking the convertible. The same goes for Auckland’s Synthony festival, as northeasterly winds drag in moist air with a shower or two.

    MetService Meteorologist Michael Pawley says, “For those without weekend plans, the mild temperatures and clear skies will provide prime dog walking and bike riding weather, and you could even take your Nana for a coffee”.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Northland News – Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust celebrates successes with public field day

    Source: Northland Regional Council

    Northland’s Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust – a finalist in an upcoming national award celebrating excellence in Māori farming and horticulture – is to hold a public field day to showcase the work it has been doing and share its journey and farming practices.
    The trust is one of just two finalists for the near century-old Ahuwhenua Trophy, which was inaugurated by Māori leader Sir Apirana Ngata and the Governor General at the time, Lord Bledisloe, in 1933. This year, the competition is for Sheep and Beef farmers.
    News of the trust’s success has been welcomed by the Northland Regional Council (NRC) which has worked closely with the trust across multiple environmental initiatives and is supporting its planned Thursday 03 April field day at Ngaiotonga Marae – 1561 Rawhiti Road, Whangaruru.
    The trust has been administering 1100 hectares of the Ngaiotonga A3 Block on behalf of 1284 beneficial owners. The coastal hill country stretches along North Whangaruru and consists of 360ha of effective farmland, 297ha of forestry, and 443ha of native forest and wetlands. (The trust also leases 40ha of a neighbouring block from the Department of Conservation, giving it a total of 400ha effective farming area.)
    The trust has worked actively with various departments within the NRC. To protect the health of the whenua and moana, the trust has been integral to eradicating sika deer in its area, helping mitigate flood risks, working to help enforce marine protection areas, and many more.
    Since regaining its farm in 2020, the trust has embarked on a major investment programme to fence off all of its native bush and wetland areas in partnership with NRC and other agencies to protect rare species including the critically endangered Matuku (Bittern) and Pāteke (Brown Teal duck).
    Council Chair Geoff Crawford says from rivers to the forest, to the coastline, to the farmlands the trust has always been proactive with working in the environmental area, collaborating with multiple council departments.
    “Council is thrilled that the trust’s work in the agricultural space is being recognised.”
    Trust Co Chair Huhana Lyndon says anyone is welcome to attend the public field day.
    “We have decided to host this day to celebrate this achievement and to give people an inside look at the work we’ve been carrying out.”
    The day is expected to have more than 250 attendees, including government ministers, local government, Northland farmers, local residents, whānau, hapū and iwi.
    A pōwhiri will begin at 9am and the farm tour will be with 4WD vehicles only.
    More information is available at: https://www.facebook.com/share/12GYMkCmdXW/
    Meanwhile, the trust’s finalist status for the Ahuwhenua Trophy is not its only success of late. It recently celebrated two wins at the Northland Ballance Farm Environment Awards in the Climate Change Resiliency and Agri Business Management categories.
    The winners of the Ahuwhenua Trophy will be announced on Friday June 06 in Papaioea, Palmerston North. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: GAZA – Oxfam: Humanitarian operations in Gaza severely hampered; famine risks increasing

    Source: Oxfam Aotearoa

    Restoring ceasefire deal vital as death toll hits 50,000 and continues to rise amid Israeli airstrikes, aid and power blockades, and renewed mass forced displacements.
    Oxfam and partners’ operations have been severely hampered as Israel’s renewed military assault and ground offensive on Gaza continues into its 7th day.
    Oxfam is calling for a renewed ceasefire and for Israel to lift its 23-day siege which is again blocking aid supplies and increasing famine risks for desperate civilians. Israel imposed a complete blockade 23 days ago and cut off electricity to Gaza a few days later.
    Israeli authorities are denying entry to trucks loaded with 63,000 metric tons of food for 1.1 million people. Operations have been forced to stop in vital areas such as food security and livelihood, as well as hygiene promotion, and essential repair work to damaged water infrastructure. 
    Bushra Khalidi, Oxfam’s OPT Policy Lead, said: “During the 42-day ceasefire families in Gaza could finally fall asleep knowing their loved ones would still be beside them when they woke up. Even though aid that entered was not enough-far from enough-it was something. The price of food stabilised. Supermarkets reopened. Bakeries began running again. Many people even went to their homes or what was left of it, and tried to repair and rebuild, however little they could.”
    Humanitarian agencies were able to mount operations that saw an average of more than 4,000 trucks per week entering Gaza despite Israeli authorities initially only partially opening the crossings and denying much of the urgently needed reconstruction materials. Oxfam reached almost 200,000 people with essential relief. 
    The Israeli government’s renewed bombardment of residential areas, including Jabalia and Khan Younis, has killed almost 700 people, including at least 200 children since March 18. Israeli authorities have issued new mass forced displacement orders, forcing around 120,000 Palestinians to flee. These orders are causing panic and chaos in the absence of anywhere safe in Gaza.
    Oxfam says humanitarian operations have been gravely hindered by the absence of guarantees of safety for aid workers moving around Gaza.
    Oxfam and its partners say their storage facilities containing food parcels are severely depleted. Israeli authorities have denied access to Oxfam shipments of six desalination units and seven trucks of water and sanitation infrastructure, up to 85% of which has been destroyed by Israel’s bombing campaign.
    “Oxfam, through its partners has been able to initiate emergency water trucking across the Gaza Strip, and are maintaining some other aid programs, such as multi-purpose cash transfers, despite the severe challenges that all humanitarian workers now face around lack of protection,” said Khalidi.
    “For the past 535 days, Israel has been systematically weaponising life-saving aid, inflicting collective punishment upon the population of Gaza. The denial of food, water, fuel and electricity is a war crime and a crime against humanity. Many within the international community are enabling this by their silence, inaction and complicity,” said Khalidi.
    Oxfam’s health partner in Gaza, Juzoor for Health and Social Development, had its center in Jabalia destroyed in an airstrike on March 18. It had been serving over 1,000 patients daily. Dr Umaiyeh Khammash, Director of Juzoor, said: “Every airstrike that hits, threatens the lives and safety of our dedicated staff and the patients they serve. This center is not just a building; it’s the heartbeat of healthcare for countless families here. Without it, many will lose access to crucial medical care.”
    In another attack yesterday (March 23), three sewage operators from the Abasan Al Kabira municipality working with Oxfam’s partner Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) were killed while performing their duties when their clearly- marked truck was destroyed in an attack by Israeli military.
    A renewed ceasefire must be permanent and accompanied by the safe return of Israeli hostages and illegally detained Palestinian prisoners. Israel must provide unfettered aid at scale. Oxfam said governments must stop transferring arms, while the international community must enforce international law. We reiterate our call for justice and accountability for all those affected.  
    Notes:
    • Oxfam works with 19 partner organizations in the Gaza Strip. Between 20 January and 28 February 2025, Oxfam reached a total of 181,622 people across the Gaza Strip with water and sanitation services, including repair and reconstruction, protection, multipurpose cash assistance, distribution of food parcels and essential agricultural inputs for recovery, protection, health care and case management.
    • Since Israel’s breach of the ceasefire and airstrikes on Gaza on 18 March, Oxfam staff movements have been severely restricted in the absence of a notification system. This week, Oxfam’s progammes in Gaza, including those of many partners, have been severely impacted. Oxfam is still able to undertake some water trucking and multipurpose cash distribution, but under high-risk conditions
    • The fatality rate in Gaza is based on the Palestinian Ministry of Health reporting on 24 March (11AM) and the fatality rate of children is reported by UNICEF on 21 March
    • Since 2 March, Israeli authorities have re-imposed a total siege, blockading the entire Gaza Strip. It is banning the entry of any humanitarian basic supplies, including water, food, medical supplies and fuel, as well as banning any commercial supplies to enter Gaza.
    • On 10 March, Israeli authorities cut off electricity supply to the only operational large-scale desalination plant for drinking water. With the exception of that last remaining, intermittent electricity feed to the desalination plant, Gaza has been under an electricity blackout since 11 October 2023.
    • The current siege is one week longer than in 2023, when the Israeli authorities imposed a total siege that lasted from 7-21 October 2023.
    • According to the IPC Special Snapshot – September 2024 – April 2025, the risk of Famine between November 2024 and April 2025 persists as long as conflict continues, and humanitarian access is restricted
    • According to the Palestinian Water Authority, 85% of the water and sanitation infrastructure in Gaza is destroyed as a result of Israel’s bombing campaign.
    • The UN reported that during the 42-day ceasefire period, a total of 4,000 trucks per week travelled into Gaza, 600,000 people received polio vaccinations and maternity care was provided for 5,000 births.
    • Satellite images of the Gaza displacement orders, on 18 March, covers an area amounting to 37% of Gaza’s land and double the size of the original buffer zone. This has been reported by Sky News and the figures have been confirmed by the UN. The UN reported on 21 March that more than 120,000 people had fled since the evacuation orders were issued on 18 March.
    • Denial of Aid – breaches Customary IHL Rule 55; 1977 Additional Protocol II Arts 69-71 and 81; Fourth Geneva Convention 1949, Arts 23,55-63 and 108-111; Rome Statute ICC, Crime Against Humanity of Extermination, Art 7 1(b) “Extermination” includes the intentional infliction of conditions of life, inter alia the deprivation of access to food and medicine, calculated to bring about the destruction of part of a population. OCHA / WFP food insecurity data,  released every tuesday (18 Mar 2025): Most recent OCHA sitrep (18 Mar 2025):
    • Between 10 and 20 per cent of 4,500 surveyed pregnant and breastfeeding women are malnourished, a recent analysis by the Nutrition Cluster reveals.
    • To cope with shortages, the Food Security Sector (FSS) partners are drastically reducing food assistance to families, suspending flour distribution to families to prioritize supplies for bakeries, pausing the distribution of fresh produce, and scaling down hot meal preparations at some community kitchens.
    • FSS warns that over one million people risk being left without food parcels in March, and at least 80 of the 170 community kitchens may be forced to close in one to two weeks, if supplies, including cooking fuel, are not allowed into Gaza. The FSS estimates that more than 50,000 metric tons (MT) of food supplies are required monthly to assist everyone with full rations, in addition to 9,700 MT of flour needed monthly to keep the subsidized bakeries running.
    • Since the ceasefire took effect on 19 January, and as of 15 March, 4,646 children have enrolled in malnutrition treatment programmes, 672 of whom were diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition.
    • The Nutrition Cluster notes a decrease in monthly enrolments in such programmes from about 5,000 in the month prior to the ceasefire to a monthly average of 2,500 in Phase One of the ceasefire.
    • Nutrition Cluster partners observed a rising number of pregnant and breastfeeding women becoming malnourished – between 10 and 20 per cent,
    • 11 March inter-agency mission to eastern Khan Younis found that agricultural facilities had been largely destroyed, including 1,400 dunums of open land,150 greenhouses, 90 poultry farms, and dozens of livestock and dairy cattle farms. The remaining cultivated land did not exceed 70-80 dunums.
    • Market survey carried out by WFP covering key developments during the first half of March (14th Mar published):
    • WFP currently has sufficient food stocks to support active kitchens and bakeries for up to one month, as well as ready-to-eat food parcels to support 550,000 people for two weeks.
    • WFP has approximately 63,000 metric tons of food destined for Gaza, stored or in transit in the region. This is equivalent to two to three months of distributions for 1.1 million people, pending authorization to enter Gaza.
    • Traders have begun withholding goods due to uncertainty over when new supplies will arrive.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Surveys – Landmark transport survey about to close

    Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

    Monday is the last chance for members of the road transport industry to have a say on what are the key issues affecting them.
    Transporting New Zealand’s landmark look at the industry, the 2025 National Road Freight Survey, is being run by independent survey firm Research New Zealand and closes at noon on Monday, March 31.
    Transporting New Zealand’s Policy and Advocacy Lead, Billy Clemens, says although there has already been a good response to the survey, now is the time for all members of the industry to make sure their voice is heard, on a variety of issues.
    He says people have commented on the reliability of the Cook Strait ferries and the state of the roading network, including such issues as poor road surfacing or insufficient overtaking facilities.
    “We want to know what impact are economic pressures having on your business? What are the main workforce challenges and do you have problems finding enough drivers?
    “What do you think about sustainability and decarbonisation, and if enough is being done for the health, safety, and well-being of drivers?”
    Clemens says one major change that will affect the industry is random roadside drug testing. New legislation enabling testing has just passed its third reading in Parliament and will be passed into law this year.
    He says the move will complement the random drug testing already commonplace in the road freight sector, where driver health and safety is a top priority.
    “Our members take road safety seriously – the health, safety, and wellbeing of drivers is currently one of the top three issues flagged in our 2025 Road Freight Industry Survey,” he says.
    “This legislation is a practical step towards improving road safety outcomes for all road users.”
    Initial results in the public part of the survey have already been released.
    Polling shows plenty of positive public sentiment towards truck drivers, with more than seven times as many people surveyed having a positive view of road freight drivers compared to those taking a negative view (52 per cent to 7 per cent).
    The survey respondents noted truck drivers’ professionalism and skill, essential service and economic contribution, and hard work and long hours, as the leading three reasons for the results.
    Clemens says the results are a great recognition of the great work New Zealand’s 33,000 professional truck drivers do, moving nearly 93 per cent of the country’s freight task.
    The online survey is confidential and takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. Everyone who completes the survey goes into a prize draw for a $500 House of Travel voucher and a $500 Bridgestone voucher.
    To complete the survey, go to:
    About Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand
    Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand is the peak national membership association representing the road freight transport industry. Our members operate urban, rural and inter- regional commercial freight transport services throughout the country.
    Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 92.8% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75.1% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: First Responders – 24 new career firefighters join Fire and Emergency New Zealand

    Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

    Fire and Emergency New Zealand has welcomed 24 new career firefighters at their graduation ceremony at the National Training Centre (NTC) in Rotorua.
    Throughout their 12-week recruit course, the new firefighters learnt skills such as fighting fires, extricating people trapped in cars, and managing hazardous substances, which they demonstrated to whānau and friends at today’s ceremony.
    During the ceremony former aviation rescue firefighter for the Royal New Zealand Air Force, Tracey Barclay, was presented with the top recruit award for displaying outstanding skills, leadership and mana throughout the course.
    “Being the person who shows up on someone’s worst day is something I respect all fellow firefighters for,” says Tracey, who is 35 and will be based at Seaview Station.
    “I would rather help someone else than help myself.”
    “I’ve always been drawn to the team aspect of firefighting. You’re never going to be alone and the crew on that truck becomes your family,” she says.
    As someone with a firefighting background, Tracey’s favourite part of the course was the live firefighting block.
    “Learning how to tackle structure fires, search and rescue in darkness and combining all the skills we were taught over the course was definitely a highlight and a huge learning opportunity,” she says.
    Another graduate with a background as an aviation rescue firefighter is 32-year-old Lewis Jackson. He was based at Queenstown Airport and will be joining Invercargill Station.
    Lewis is no stranger to Fire and Emergency, as he was also a volunteer firefighter with the Frankton Volunteer Fire Brigade.
    Lewis enjoyed the more physical elements of the course, such as the urban search and rescue block.
    “I encourage people to really focus on their physical fitness in the lead up to the course. It can be demanding, so the more you prepare, the easier you’ll find it,” he says.
    Also among the graduates is 26-year-old Matai Wetere, who will be based at Paraparaumu Station.
    For the past six years, Matai has been reclaiming te reo Māori through his studies and mahi as a Māori policy advisor. Now Matai is after the fast-paced career firefighting offers.
    “I thrive in challenging environments and enjoy the adrenaline that comes with high-stake situations,” Matai says.
    “The breathing apparatus and urban search and rescue blocks of the course presented the most mental and physical challenges for me, but the satisfaction and sense of achievement I had after I’d completed them far outweighed the discomfort,” he says.
    Congratulations to all the graduates and nau mai ki te whānau – welcome to the family.
    Applications to be a career firefighter open on 10 April. For more information, go to www.fireandemergency.nz/join.
    “My advice to people considering a career in firefighting is don’t give up. If you’ve applied, failed an aspect in the recruitment process and still want it – keep applying, you’ll get there,” Tracey Barclay says.
    Locations of deployment:
    Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland: 13
    Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington: 8
    Whakatū | Nelson: 1
    Murihiku | Southland: 2

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Child Poverty – Global aid funding cuts – 14 million children at increased risk of severe malnutrition and death

    Source: UNICEF Aotearoa NZ

    Reductions in donor funding threaten to unravel decades of progress for the world’s most vulnerable children and women 
    At least 14 million children are expected to face disruptions to nutrition support and services because of recent and expected global funding cuts, leaving them at heightened risk of severe malnutrition and death – according to initial analyses issued by UNICEF as world leaders gather at the Nutrition for Growth Summit in Paris.
    The funding crisis comes at a time of unprecedented need for children who continue to face record levels of displacement, new and protracted conflicts, disease outbreaks, and the deadly consequences of climate change – all of which are undermining their access to adequate nutrition.
    “Over the last decades, we have made impressive progress in reducing child malnutrition globally because of a shared commitment and sustained investment,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Since 2000, the number of stunted children under the age of five has fallen by 55 million, and the lives of millions of severely malnourished children have been saved. But steep funding cuts will dramatically reverse these gains and put the lives of millions more children at risk.” 
    Additional impacts across 17 high priority countries due to funding cuts include: 
    – More than 2.4 million children suffering from severe acute malnutrition could go without Ready-to-use-Therapeutic-Food (RUTF) for the remainder of 2025. 
    – Up to 2,300 life-saving stabilisation centres – providing critical care for children suffering from severe wasting with medical complications – are at risk of closing or severely scaling back services.
    – Almost 28,000 UNICEF-supported outpatient therapeutic centres for the treatment of malnutrition are at risk, and in some cases have already stopped operating.
    Today, levels of severe wasting in children under five remain gravely high in some fragile contexts and humanitarian emergencies. Adolescent girls and women are especially vulnerable. Even before the funding cuts, the number of pregnant and breastfeeding women and adolescent girls suffering from acute malnutrition soared from 5.5 million to 6.9 million – or 25 per cent – since 2020. UNICEF expects these figures to rise without urgent action from donors as well as adequate investments from national governments.
    “UNICEF is calling on governments and donors to prioritise investments in health and nutrition programmes for children and is urging national governments to allocate more funding to domestic nutrition and health services. Good nutrition is the foundation of child survival and development, with impressive returns on investment. Dividends will be measured in stronger families, societies and countries, and a more stable world,” said Russell. 
    UNICEF is determined to stay and deliver for the world’s children by continuing to prioritise high-impact programmes, optimise resources, and accelerate cost-saving measures. But urgent and immediate action is needed to mitigate the impact of the global funding crisis on children, protect the most vulnerable, and safeguard their futures. To address child and maternal malnutrition in the long-term – including through the prevention, detection, and treatment of child undernutrition – UNICEF launched the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) in 2023, with the support of the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, the Gates Foundation, and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation. UNICEF continues to urge governments, partners and philanthropic donors to contribute to this lifesaving fund and other flexible funding instruments for children and women.
    About UNICEF
    UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, works to protect the rights of every child, everywhere, especially the most disadvantaged children and in the toughest places to reach. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive, and fulfil their potential.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Council gives support to accelerate level crossing removals

    Source: Auckland Council

    Auckland Council today approved acceleration of the programme to remove level crossings at Takaanini and Glen Innes by bringing forward a $550 million allocation in its Long-term Plan capital budget.

    The move, which will see the removal of all remaining level crossings on the Southern and Eastern rail lines and the construction of eight new road and pedestrian bridges, is subject to New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi approving the first $200 million of co-funding announced by central government in February 2025.

    Mayor Wayne Brown sees the council’s approval given today as a great move to support and add value to the Aucklanders who live and work in Takaanini and Glen Innes, as well as the wider users of Auckland’s growing rail network.

     “One of my key policies is to get Auckland moving and this is one initiative that will deliver on this,” says Mayor Brown.

    “We have an opportunity to take advantage of NZTA’s support funding to bring forward the borrowing we’ve set aside and accelerate these level crossing removals. It just makes sense.

    “Starting with 20 trains an hour when City Rail Link opens, removing these level crossings and constructing new road and pedestrian bridges means more trains can run as usage grows – this will slash local traffic congestion and make it safer for people to walk and drive in the area.

    “This is a great example of working together with the government on fixing Auckland’s transport issues,” says Mayor Brown.

    The Auckland Transport (AT) Board approved the investment case for the Takaanini and Glen Innes group in February 2025.

    “These crossing removals and replacements are our highest priority, to support increased train frequencies following the opening of City Rail Link while keeping traffic moving and improving safety,” says Jane Small, AT’s Group Manager Rail Infrastructure.

    “Funding confirmations from both Auckland Council and NZTA will allow us to get on with delivering these much-needed projects. The next steps will include engagement with communities on the new station pedestrian and road bridges, along with starting the procurement to finalise design and build the new road bridge replacements in Takaanini.

    “AT is also continuing removals of other level crossings before City Rail Link opens, along with a range of interim safety upgrades at other road level crossings,” adds Ms Small.

    Papakura Local Board deputy chair Jan Robinson was present at the meeting to speak to and support today’s funding acceleration, and the desire for local boards to take part in the detailed design and delivery stages of this project.

    “Papakura Local Board has been very involved in the designation of the rail crossings in Takaanini. This is a positive signal for the safety of people in Papakura to reduce local traffic congestion as these complex improvements get delivered,” says Ms Robinson.   

    An existing programme of rail level crossing removals is well under way and enables the operation of the City Rail Link (CRL) Day 1 timetable. A post-CRL programme investment case for level crossing removals has been developed which prioritises the Takaanini and Glen Innes level crossings group to be delivered next.

    The scope of the Takaanini and Glen Innes crossings includes eight new bridges – three road bridges, two pedestrian bridges to maintain existing street connections, and three new station platform access bridges. Eight new bridges will remove all level crossings from the inner Southern (Papakura north) and Eastern Rail lines, improve safety and deliver operational efficiencies for road and rail users. Four road crossings will close in conjunction with these improvements.

    The council’s Long-term Plan 2024-2034 assumes that the programme would be 51 per cent co-funded by New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

    In February 2025, the Minister of Transport announced that the Government would allocate up to $200 million for its share of funding to accelerate removal of the level crossings in Takanini and Glen Innes. The allocation of funding is subject to approval by the NZTA board, expected at the beginning of April 2025.

    The next steps are to progress the procurement of design, property and construction details.

    For more information, see the Governing Body item online.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The Glass Menagerie: the haunting beauty of Tennessee Wiliams’ play endures in this Sydney revival

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney

    Prudence Upton

    Tennessee Williams (1911-1983) is widely regarded as one of America’s greatest playwrights. A prolific and unabashedly autobiographical writer, Williams’ career spanned four decades of the 20th century.

    The Glass Menagerie, which premiered in Chicago on December 26 1944, was the writer’s first major success. It won scores of national theatrical awards and catapulted Williams to enduring fame.

    An engrossing new production of the classic play, currently running at Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre, does more than simply revive the famous piece of theatre. It revitalises it for modern audiences.

    A troubled family from St. Louis

    The Glass Menagerie is a lyrical exploration of memory, longing and familial obligation.

    Set in the 1930s in St. Louis, the play revolves around three adult members of the Wingfield family: Tom, a restless and possibly closeted young man torn between duty and desire; Laura, his painfully shy sister, whose physical disability and introversion leave her isolated from the world; and Amanda, their domineering but fragile mother who clings to faded Southern dreams.

    The plot is simple, and draws direct inspiration from Williams’ troubled family life. The Wingfields are struggling to get by. They live in a cramped apartment, in the shadow of an absent patriarch who we hear “fell in love with long distances” a long time ago.

    Amanda is desperate to secure a future for Laura. She pins her hopes on the arrival of a “gentleman caller”, convinced that marriage is the only hope for her daughter’s security.

    The plot follow the Wingfields, a small family struggling to get by in the 1930s in St. Louis.
    Prudence Upton

    When Tom – who is also the play’s narrator (a cutout for Williams himself) – invites a colleague to dinner, the overbearing Amanda seizes the opportunity to present Laura in the best possible light. Suffice to say, things do not end well.

    Lifting lyricism to its highest level

    Potted plot summaries don’t really do The Glass Menagerie justice.

    As Liesel Badorrek, director of the new production at Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre, points out, “Williams wanted to break with the prosaic realism that he felt had dominated the American theatre” and fashion a new, more symbolic approach to theatre, where memory and emotion take precedence over conventional forms of dramatic action.

    According to Williams himself, his aim was to demonstrate

    that truth, life, or reality is an organic thing which the poetic imagination can represent or suggest, in essence, only through transformation, through changing into other forms than those which were merely present in appearance.

    To bring his vision to life, Williams combined heightened poetic dialogue, repeated musical motifs and unconventional stagecraft. In doing so, he intentionally blurred the lines between reality and memory, allowing the audience to experience the emotional truth of the characters, rather than a literal depiction of events.

    This innovative approach to dramatic form was revolutionary at the time and became a hallmark of Williams’ mature work. As Arthur Miller once wrote:

    The Glass Menagerie in one stroke lifted lyricism to its highest level in our theatre’s history, but it broke new ground in another way. What was new in Tennessee Williams was his rhapsodic insistence that form serve his utterance rather than dominating and cramping it.

    Ensemble Theatre revives Williams’ play in a way that is both timeless and transcendent.
    Prudence Upton

    A fresh take with remarkable depth

    Miller’s observations about poetic rhapsody and form are worth keeping in mind when discussing the Ensemble Theatre’s impressive take on The Glass Menagerie.

    One of the great merits of the production is how it does justice to Williams’ formal innovations while also engaging the audience on an emotional level.

    Making excellent use of expressionistic lighting (Verity Hampson) and sound design (Maria Alfonsine and Damian de Boos-Smith), Badorrek’s production strikes a fine balance between preserving the play’s delicate, dreamlike structure and grounding its characters in charged performances that feel immediate and often painfully real.

    Deftly blending humour and pathos, the cast of four delivers strong performances that ensure the play’s vivid lyricism enhances (but does not overwhelm) its emotional core.

    Blazey Best’s Amanda delivers a tour de force performance.
    Prudence Upton

    Blazey Best’s Amanda is in equal measure maddening and charming, a true tour de force. Her verbal sparring with Danny Ball’s Tom was an early high point of the evening. One particularly striking moment was staged entirely in silhouette – elongated shadows stretching across the stage’s backdrop.

    That said, to me the true standouts were Bridie McKim and Tom Rogers, whose interpretations of Laura and the gentleman caller, Jim, lifted the entire production.

    In particular, McKim, who has called for greater disability representation in Australian theatre, brings remarkable depth and dynamism to the role of Laura. She imbues Laura with vulnerability and, crucially, strength.

    McKim imbues Laura with both vulnerability and strength.
    Prudence Upton

    McKim and Rogers breathe new life into this 81-year old staple of the dramatic canon. Their performances render Williams’ work fresh and contemporary, ensuring the play feels as urgent today as it would have in its post-war heyday.

    Alexander Howard 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. The Glass Menagerie: the haunting beauty of Tennessee Wiliams’ play endures in this Sydney revival – https://theconversation.com/the-glass-menagerie-the-haunting-beauty-of-tennessee-wiliams-play-endures-in-this-sydney-revival-252293

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: BMW, Alibaba to integrate AI into next-generation vehicles

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    German carmaker BMW and Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba have announced an expanded strategic partnership in China to bring large-language-model (LLM) artificial intelligence (AI) to BMW’s next-generation vehicles.

    This collaboration forms part of BMW’s 360-degree, full-chain AI strategy in China, which was unveiled on Tuesday and emphasizes partnerships with leading Chinese tech companies in cutting-edge areas such as AI LLMs and intelligent voice interaction.

    The two companies will work together to develop an AI engine based on Alibaba’s Qwen LLM. This AI engine will initially power BMW’s in-car Intelligent Personal Assistant, debuting in its next-generation intelligent vehicles — its Neue Klasse models, which will be manufactured in China and are scheduled for release in 2026.

    “Our long-term partnership with Alibaba Group is exemplary of common growth achieved with co-creation. BMW will work closer with Chinese tech partners on electric mobility and intelligent technologies to write our renewed win-win story,” said Sean Green, president and CEO of BMW Group Region China.

    With research and development (R&D) centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang and Nanjing, BMW has established its largest R&D network outside of Germany in China.

    “Our partnership with BMW Group marks a pivotal leap in deploying AI-powered LLMs at the forefront of advanced manufacturing, and Qwen’s integration into BMW’s in-car systems showcases how AI can revolutionize mobility,” said Eddie Wu, CEO of Alibaba Group.

    BMW and Alibaba have collaborated since 2015 in various fields, including cloud computing, logistics and smart manufacturing.

    Earlier this month, BMW also announced a partnership with Chinese tech giant Huawei to develop an in-car digital ecosystem specifically tailored for the Chinese market.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump announces new 25 pct auto tariffs

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced plans to impose 25 percent auto tariffs — on top of previous duties — on April 2.

    “What we’re going to be doing is a 25 percent tariff for all cars that are not made in the United States,” Trump said in the White House Oval Office.

    “We’re signing today. It goes into effect on April 2. We start collecting on April 3,” Trump told reporters.

    According to a document released by the White House, Trump signed a proclamation invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to impose a 25 percent tariff on imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts to address “a critical threat to U.S. national security.”

    “The 25 percent tariff will be applied to imported passenger vehicles (sedans, SUVs, crossovers, minivans, cargo vans) and light trucks, as well as key automobile parts (engines, transmissions, powertrain parts, and electrical components), with processes to expand tariffs on additional parts if necessary,” the White House said.

    It also noted that importers of automobiles under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement will be given the opportunity to certify their U.S. content, and the 25 percent tariff will only apply to the parts that are not made in the United States.

    The current U.S. tariff on automobiles is generally set at 2.5 percent, while a 25 percent tariff is imposed on light trucks. Vehicles that meet the rules of origin under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) are exempt from these tariffs. According to the latest announcement, the 25 percent tariff will be added on top of existing duties.

    Trump claimed that the tariffs would encourage more production to relocate to the United States, generate new revenue for the government, and help reduce the national debt. However, economists believe the tariffs will drive up car prices and hurt consumers, who are already facing high prices.

    “This is a major blow to the auto industry. Ford and GM shares are down sharply,” Gary Clyde Hufbauer, a non-resident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, told Xinhua.

    “The higher cost of autos cut demand, especially since consumers are in weak shape financially,” Hufbauer said. “I expect substantial job losses in U.S. auto and parts firms.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Baldwin, Welch Lead Schumer, Colleagues Spotlighting Trumps Cuts to Cancer and Alzheimer’s Cures

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    A full recording of the forum is available here
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Peter Welch (D-VT) led Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and 14 of their Senate colleagues at a forum to spotlight Elon Musk and President Donald Trump’s efforts to cut cancer, Alzheimer’s, and other diseases treatments and cures. The forum, “Cures in Crisis: What Gutting NIH Research Means for Americans with Cancer, Alzheimer’s, & Other Diseases,” featured witnesses that highlighted the dire impact of cuts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including former Director of the NIH, Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, M.D., two Alzheimer’s disease researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Emory University, and two patients who have benefitted from NIH clinical trials.
    “I truly wish I didn’t need to host this forum but Elon Musk’s DOGE and Donald Trump are quite literally on a path to rip away cures to cancer and Alzheimer’s disease – all to make room in their budget for tax breaks for the richest of the rich. Today, we heard from the people who will be paying the price – and I hope my Republican colleagues and the President were listening,” said Senator Baldwin. “Right now, we are wasting precious time that we cannot get back for American families hoping that their loved one has a chance to get better.”
    “The Trump Administration has taken a wrecking ball to the National Institutes of Health without a care about who gets hurt in the process. The first to feel the impact of these cuts will be American patients who rely on NIH’s cutting-edge research to get new therapies and cure diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer. DOGE’s mass firing spree has also left our nation’s top scientists on the chopping block, stifling American innovation and weakening our leadership in biomedical science for years to come. These cuts and layoffs mean the difference between life and death for communities in both red and blue states,” said Senator Welch. “I’m proud to join Senator Baldwin and our colleagues today to defend our commitment to science, research, and care across America.”
    “I resigned my post as NIH Director in January of this year. Since then, I have had no insight into how decisions are being made by our current leaders at HHS. I can speak, however, about the downstream effects of their decisions, and some irreparable damage that their policies are producing. To date more than 300 grants terminated; and about $1.5 billion in funding delays and barriers that are preventing NIH’s role of ensuring that funding is delivered to outstanding researchers across the nation,” said Dr. Bertagnolli, former Director of the NIH. “Today, we are just beginning to see progress against devastating diseases which have long been hopeless – Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, even pancreatic cancer – all because of NIH funding. And this has proven to be a great investment for American taxpayers – producing both extraordinary improvements in health, and significant profits for our nation’s economy. How can we afford to see this progress stalled? Overall, the loss to our nation on so many levels will be too great.”
    “I’m here to emphasize the critical importance of NIH funding in the fight against Alzheimer’s—a disease that is one of our greatest public health and economic challenges. While deaths from heart disease and cancer have leveled off or declined thanks to decades of NIH investment, deaths from Alzheimer’s and related dementias have increased. Over 6.9 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s today—a number projected to double by 2050 without effective solutions,” said Dr. Sterling Johnson, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor and Associate Director of Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. “Our patients who have this progressive disease don’t have the luxury of time to shoulder the unnecessary delays and uncertainty that we are currently experiencing. The clock is ticking for them and their families. Now more than ever we need the continued full resolve and commitment of the federal government to meet their need.”
    “I am here today as a scientist who has had 2 NIH grants abruptly terminated in the past month. On February 28th my first NIH grant was terminated, which had only 6 months remaining on a 4-year award… While these terminations are devastating for me and my team, particularly junior faculty and students, my primary concern is for the patients, research participants and the families who are already being impacted by the NIH’s recent radical shift in funding priorities,” said Dr. Whitney Wharton, PhD, Emory University Associate Professor and Alzheimer’s Disease researcher. “Termination of my peer reviewed grants, and hundreds of others, which were awarded based on merit, has potentially devastating implications for all Americans. It sets a concerning precedent where scientific inquiry and peer reviewed and awarded projects are turned off and on based on a set of changing priorities. Not only can this cause confusion, but it could also impact the pipeline of new and talented young investigators, and erase entire communities of patients, who are the most impacted by diseases like Alzheimer’s, from research entirely.”
    “I speak here today not only for myself, but for every patient who has ever held out hope that research would buy them another year — or another decade. Without robust, sustained, and predictable funding from the NIH, those bridges to the next treatment won’t be there when patients need them. The bridge that saved me was built through decades of investment, innovation, and relentless commitment from our nation’s scientific community. But those bridges don’t build themselves,” said Dr. Larry Saltzman, M.D., retired physician living with leukemia and former Executive Research Director for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. “I am living proof of what NIH research can do, and I don’t think I would be here today without the commitment that Congress has shown by prioritizing NIH funding over the past many decades. I ask you to protect this funding — so that more people can outlive their expiration dates.”
    “The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal agencies have been critical in funding groundbreaking research that offers hope to thousands of individuals like me, including by providing access to experimental treatments for ALS. The experimental drug I am taking could not only extend my life but could also lead to a cure. Access to this drug could mean seeing my son and grandson graduate high school and college, something I did not think was possible when I was diagnosed,” said Mr. Jessy Ybarra, veteran living with ALS and Board of Trustees member for the ALS Association. “But now funding cuts and reductions to funding at NIH and other research agencies threaten to derail decades of progress right when we are at the tipping point of finally finding a cure. But to be clear, this isn’t just about me, and everyone else impacted by ALS now and in the future. ALS costs our nation over one-billion dollars a year. Investing in finding a cure is not only fiscally responsible, but very simply, good public policy. I urge Congress to reject these harmful cuts to NIH and support the funding necessary to make ALS a livable disease and cure it. My life, our lives, and our economy depend on it.”
    Over the last two months, the Trump Administration has attacked, compromised, and gutted research at the NIH for lifesaving cures and treatments, including:
    Cutting Funding for Research Facilities: NIH announced last month that it was planning to arbitrarily cap indirect cost rates at 15%, which would slash billions of dollars in funding that helps research institutions, like the University of Wisconsin, operate their facilities and labs, pay staff, and buy equipment needed for groundbreaking work to find cures for diseases and treatments for patients.
    Funding Freeze for Alzheimer’s Disease: The Trump Administration is jeopardizing $65 million in funding for Alzheimer’s disease research at 14 research institutions across the country. 14 of the 35 Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) have had their funding halted because the Trump Administration continues to cancel NIH Advisory Council meetings, which are the final required step in the grant approval process.
    Terminating Grants for Lifesaving Research: The Trump Administration stopped all grant funding at NIH for ten days in February and is continuing to block funding for lifesaving disease research, like finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. This halt in funding is despite two court orders directing the Trump Administration to end its unlawful efforts to freeze all federal grants. This is in addition to Elon Musk indiscriminately terminating hundreds of active NIH grants every week, in direct defiance of federal court orders to stop NIH funding changes amid ongoing litigation.
    Gutting Critical Staff: Mass layoffs at HHS under Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s direction are impacting everything from research to clinical trials, including scientists, nurses, pharmacists, and experts tracking disease spread. Reports show the NIH is expected to cut between 3,400 and 5,000 positions from its workforce of 20,000.
    NIH funding contributed to research for roughly 99 percent of drugs approved between 2010 and 2019, including heart medications, according to the Center for American Progress. The advocacy group United for Medical Research found that in fiscal year 2023, funding from the agency supported more than 410,000 jobs, with 10,000 NIH-supported jobs in some states. In that same year, NIH-funded research fueled nearly $93 billion in economic spending. Overall, the economic benefit of NIH funding is more than twice the investment made through NIH appropriations. For a breakdown of how much funding each state receives from the NIH, click here.
    Joining Senators Baldwin and Welch at the forum were Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Patty Murray (D-WA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).
    A full recording of the forum is available here. Witnesses opening statements are available here.
    A one-pager on President Donald Trump’s actions to gut the NIH and its impacts is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla Secures Commitment from EPA Nominee to Help Combat Tijuana River Pollution Crisis

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla Secures Commitment from EPA Nominee to Help Combat Tijuana River Pollution Crisis

    WATCH: Padilla highlights importance of federal infrastructure investments to address cross-border sewage flowsWASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) secured a commitment from Jessica Kramer, nominee for Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to help address the ongoing Tijuana River transboundary pollution crisis and its harmful environmental and public health impacts.
    During a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee nominations hearing, Padilla highlighted the hundreds of millions in federal funding he secured along with the late Senator Dianne Feinstein and the San Diego Congressional delegation to expand and upgrade the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP) to address harmful sewage flows. Kramer echoed Senator Padilla’s characterization of these transboundary pollution flows as a “crisis” and emphasized the importance of federal infrastructure investments to combat the crisis. Padilla and Kramer agreed that collaboration and communication, with both Mexico and federal partners like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the State Department, is essential to address these harmful cross-border flows.
    The hearing comes after Padilla, Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Representatives Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50) and Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-52) recently invited EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to visit San Diego’s South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBITWP) to see firsthand the ongoing environmental and public health consequences of the cross-border Tijuana River sewage crisis on local communities. Administrator Zeldin also recently expressed concern about the flow of sewage flowing across the border, posting about a briefing he received on the crisis and pushing Mexico to “honor its commitments to control this pollution and sewage.”
    PADILLA: I want to begin by expressing my appreciation for EPA Administrator Zeldin’s interest in one of my top EPA priorities, which is finally resolving the Tijuana River sewage crisis. For decades, communities in that part of Southern California have faced persistent both environmental as well as public health impacts of untreated sewage that has flowed across the border. … We recently invited Administrator Zeldin to tour the plant to see firsthand the challenges that we face. So I’d like to just begin by asking you, Ms. Kramer, how familiar you are with this issue, with the projects because assuming you are confirmed, I’d look forward to working with you to bring this project to completion.
    KRAMER: Absolutely. Thank you, Senator, for that question. During my first tenure at EPA under the first Trump Administration, this is, in fact, one of the issues that I worked on. And so EPA had been appropriated that first amount of funding that you referenced, and I was involved in the consideration of the various projects that could be funded to ensure that this transboundary flow crisis — to be completely frank, raw sewage flowing anywhere, in my mind, is a crisis — comes to an end. … I think the challenges that we’re seeing there, one, stems to ensuring that the infrastructure that is in place to ensure that these flows cease, but also two, ensuring that there is communication, robust communication that allows for partnership that is required to ensure that operation and maintenance of those infrastructure investments takes place. And it’s especially easy when it’s in the U.S., and it’s a little bit more challenging when we have infrastructure on the other side of the border that we need to be collaborating on.
    PADILLA: Well, that’s music to my ears, your familiarity with it, your history with it, your commitment to it as a priority. And yes, collaboration is key, not just with partners south of the border, but even within the federal government. We’ve brought to bear U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the intricacies of the State Department involvement here. So thank you for that.
    KRAMER: Absolutely.
    Senator Padilla also questioned Brian Nesvik, nominee to be Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service at the Department of the Interior, highlighting the complexities of California’s water system and threats to the state’s water security and quality in the face of climate change. He urged Nesvik to roll up his sleeves on California water challenges and encouraged him to listen to career professionals at the Fish and Wildlife Service and experts within California’s state agencies to navigate complex water and wildlife issues.
    Video of Padilla’s full line of questioning is available here.
    Since 2018, more than 100 billion gallons of toxic sewage, trash, and unmanaged stormwater have flowed across the United States-Mexico border into the Tijuana River Valley and neighboring communities, forcing long-lasting beach closures and causing harmful impacts on public health, the environment, and water quality. U.S. military personnel, border patrol agents, and the local economy have also suffered harmful impacts from airborne and waterborne transboundary sewage flows. In 2023, sewage flowed across the border at the highest volume in a quarter century, exceeding 44 billion gallons.
    Senator Padilla has prioritized addressing the Tijuana River pollution crisis since he first came to the Senate, recently working with the San Diego Congressional delegation to secure $250 million in the federal disaster relief package to clean up the Tijuana River. This marked the final tranche of funding required to complete the SBIWTP upgrade project. The SBIWTP project broke ground in October 2024, and over the coming years, the SBIWTP will double in capacity, reducing transboundary flows by 90 percent. Importantly, Mexico’s rehabilitated San Antonio de los Buenos wastewater treatment plant is expected to be fully operational by Spring 2025, further reducing flows to California communities. 
    In response to a request from Padilla and the San Diego Congressional delegation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently opened an investigation into the public health impacts of air pollution caused by the ongoing Tijuana River transboundary pollution crisis. Senator Padilla and the delegation also recently secured a $200 million authorization for the Tijuana River Valley Watershed and San Diego County through the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 to help address the ongoing transboundary sewage crisis through stormwater conveyance, environmental and ecosystem restoration, and water quality protection projects. They also delivered over $103 million in additional funding for the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) in the bipartisan FY 2024 appropriations package. Padilla previously successfully secured language in the FY 2023 appropriations package to allow the EPA to unlock $300 million previously secured in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to the IBWC for water infrastructure projects. Last year, Padilla and Representatives Peters and Vargas announced bicameral legislation to help combat the Tijuana River sewage pollution crisis.
    More information on the hearing is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Colleagues Slam Draconian Immigration Registration Order

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and eight Senate colleagues expressed strong disapproval of the Trump Administration’s resurrection of one of the country’s most draconian and discriminatory immigration policies: forcing immigrants to register with the federal government and carry proof of their registration at all times. The Senators urged U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) leadership to reverse this harmful practice and demanded answers on how the program would be implemented. 
    “The Administration has explicitly linked this revived registration requirement to enforcement efforts, empowering federal prosecutors to target immigrants who fail to comply,” wrote the Senators. “This creates a perilous dilemma for immigrants who entered the country without inspection and have had no prior contact with federal authorities. Those who register risk exposing themselves to removal proceedings, while those who refrain from registering face the threat of criminal prosecution. The policy further jeopardizes millions of immigrants—including those with lawful status—by subjecting them to penalties for simply failing to carry proof of registration.” 
    “This registration policy echoes historical precedents that have been widely discredited and condemned. The Alien Registration Act of 1940 was initially implemented during World War II in a climate of fear and xenophobia, requiring noncitizens to register at post offices across the country,” continued the Senators. “Now, by dusting off and weaponizing an outdated law, the Trump administration is reviving a dangerous precedent that will undermine fundamental civil liberties, disproportionately burden immigrant communities and millions of mixed-status families, and transform America into a ‘carry your papers’ country.” 
    The letter, led by Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), was also signed by Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
    The lawmakers demanded answers to questions about the implementation of this draconian plan including: 
    How does USCIS plan to implement this registration requirement, and what resources will be allocated to its implementation and enforcement? 
    What mechanisms will be in place to ensure that individuals who register are not automatically placed in removal proceedings or expedited removal? 
    What safeguards exist to prevent racial profiling and discriminatory enforcement practices in the application of this law?  
    Who will have access to any registration database and for what purposes? 
    Senator Padilla is a leading voice in Congress opposing President Trump’s anti-immigrant actions and rhetoric. Last week, Senators Padilla, Durbin, Booker, and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) issued a joint statement slamming President Trump for his attempted invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, wartime law, to deport noncitizens without due process. Padilla also joined other Democratic immigration leaders in challenging the constitutional basis of President Trump’s sham “invasion” proclamation, which the President believes would allow his Administration to circumvent federal immigration law and due process. Padilla also sharply criticized Trump’s harmful executive orders targeting immigrants at the start of his second Administration.
    Additionally, last week, Padilla condemned President Trump’s revival of family detention policies and urged him to reject the harmful practice. In February, Padilla denounced Trump’s transfer of immigrants from the United States to Guantánamo Bay as unlawful and demanded answers regarding these transfers. He also condemned the Trump Administration’s intended use of Bureau of Prisons facilities to detain immigrants as part of President Trump’s mass deportation agenda. Padilla also recently blasted the Trump Administration’s stop work order to organizations that provide legal services for unaccompanied children and demanded they protect Congressionally mandated legal representation for these children in the immigration system. Earlier this year, Padilla cosponsored the Born in the USA Act to effectively block the implementation of Trump’s unconstitutional executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship for certain children born in the United States, or a similar subsequent executive order. Last year, Padilla emphasized the dangers and immense economic costs of the Trump Administration’s mass deportation plans during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
    Full text of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear Ms. Scott:
    The Trump administration will soon resurrect one of the most draconian and discriminatory immigration policies in our nation’s history, forcing immigrants to register with the federal government and carry proof of their registration at all times. Bringing back this long-dormant policy is the latest salvo in the Administration’s unrelenting campaign to demonize and criminalize immigrants, treating them as threats rather than as individuals seeking opportunity and safety. By reviving a World War II-era registration law, the Administration would take us back to some of the darkest periods of our history, evoking policies that have been widely condemned for their inhumane and immoral treatment of noncitizens. The implications of this measure—both in terms of enforcement and its effect on immigrant communities—are profound, unjust, and unacceptable.
    Following up on President Trump’s day-one executive order on immigration inaccurately entitled Protecting the American People Against Invasion, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it will soon reinstate an antiquated requirement that all immigrants who did not enter the United States with a visa must register with the federal government and carry proof of their registration at all times. This provision, originally part of the Alien Registration Act of 1940, had long been rendered obsolete by subsequent immigration policies and practices. Under the new directive, USCIS will develop a registration process for affected individuals, who will then be required to submit a form confirming their presence in the United States. Those who fail to register or fail to carry proof of registration will face criminal prosecution under federal law.
    The Administration has explicitly linked this revived registration requirement to enforcement efforts, empowering federal prosecutors to target immigrants who fail to comply. This creates a perilous dilemma for immigrants who entered the country without inspection and have had no prior contact with federal authorities. Those who register risk exposing themselves to removal proceedings, while those who refrain from registering face the threat of criminal prosecution. The policy further jeopardizes millions of immigrants—including those with lawful status—by subjecting them to penalties for simply failing to carry proof of registration. Any registration requirement should, at a minimum, present immigrants with a path forward to legal status, like the 1986 Immigration Control and Reform Act did. This legislation led to almost 3 million undocumented immigrants gaining legal status, many of whom ultimately became U.S. citizens.
    This registration policy echoes historical precedents that have been widely discredited and condemned. The Alien Registration Act of 1940 was initially implemented during World War II in a climate of fear and xenophobia, requiring noncitizens to register at post offices across the country. Over time, the policy was integrated into routine immigration procedures, making separate registration requirements obsolete. More recently, in the wake of 9/11, the Bush administration’s National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) disproportionately targeted Muslim noncitizens, subjecting them to heightened surveillance and leading to mass deportations. That program was widely criticized for its discriminatory impact and ineffectiveness—having failed to produce a single terrorism conviction—and was ultimately dismantled. Now, by dusting off and weaponizing an outdated law, the Trump administration is reviving a dangerous precedent that will undermine fundamental civil liberties, disproportionately burden immigrant communities and millions of mixed-status families, and transform America into a “carry your papers” country.
    To help us better understand how the Administration intends to implement and enforce its registration policy, please respond in writing by April 8, 2025 to the following questions:
    1. How does USCIS plan to implement this registration requirement, and what resources will be allocated to its implementation and enforcement? Will any resources allocated to the implementation and enforcement of this registration requirement be shifted away from, or taken from, any other USCIS programs, functions, or offices?
    2. What mechanisms will be in place to ensure that individuals who register are not automatically placed in removal proceedings or expedited removal?
    3. The USCIS Alien Registration Requirement webpage includes among those who must register “[a]ll aliens 14 years of age or older who were not registered and fingerprinted (if required) when applying for a visa to enter the United States and who remain in the United States for 30 days or longer.” Does the Trump administration intend to prosecute children ages 14 to 17 for failing to register? Does the Administration intend to split up families if one member has failed to register?
    4. How will USCIS ensure that immigrants are adequately informed about these new registration obligations? Does USCIS plan to prosecute immigrants who failed to register but were unaware of this new registration requirement?
    5. What safeguards exist to prevent racial profiling and discriminatory enforcement practices in the application of this law? What training or guidance, if any, will those responsible for enforcing this requirement on the ground receive? What specific steps will you take to ensure that law enforcement does not use the new registration requirement to disproportionately target certain communities or engage in racial profiling?
    6. Who will have access to any registration database and for what purposes? Under what circumstances will USCIS share data in the database?
    a. Will U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or any other DHS agency, have access to and be permitted to use information in any database for immigration enforcement purposes? Will any other Department, including the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have access to and be permitted to use the information in the database for any purpose?
    b. Will any private companies have access to and be permitted to use the information in the database for any purpose?
    c. Will any states, cities, or localities have access to and be permitted to use the information in the database for any purpose?
    7. What information will be collected from immigrants who register and how will this information be stored? What safeguards will be in place to ensure that any registration database is secure from hacking or intrusion? What safeguards will be in place to ensure the protection of sensitive personal data?
    8. How will this policy impact immigrants who are already registered through other means, and will they be subject to penalties for failing to carry registration documents?
    9. What are the estimated costs associated with implementing this policy, and how does the Administration justify these expenditures given the significant backlog and resource constraints within USCIS?
    The Trump administration’s decision to enforce this archaic law is a regressive and indefensible move that will have lasting consequences for immigrant communities and the integrity of our immigration system. We urge USCIS to immediately reconsider this misguided policy and provide Congress with a full accounting of its intended implementation and enforcement. We will continue to exercise rigorous oversight to ensure that immigrant communities are not subjected to unnecessary and punitive measures that undermine their rights and dignity.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Night closures planned for State Highway 1 Johnsonville for resurfacing works

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    |

    People travelling on State Highway 1 near Johnsonville need to prepare for nighttime closures next week for resurfacing works.

    Contractors will be resurfacing the highway’s southbound lanes near Johnsonville.

    Weather permitting, night works are planned for the nights of Tuesday 1 April, and Wednesday 2 April, between 9pm and 4:30am. The work has been deliberately timed to happen at night when traffic volumes are lower to minimise disruption to the public.

    Local road detours will be available via Johnsonville. Drivers must follow the detour using Johnsonville southbound off-ramp and Johnsonville southbound on-ramp.

    Download larger map [PNG, 792 KB]

    Because the detour is on local roads with a lower speed limit, drivers can expect longer travel times and should allow extra time for their journeys.

    These works are weather-dependent and may be rescheduled if bad weather occurs.

    More information

    Tags

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: When a 1-in-100 year flood washed through the Coorong, it made the vital microbiome of this lagoon healthier

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Keneally, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Environmental Microbiology, University of Adelaide

    Darcy Whittaker, CC BY

    You might know South Australia’s iconic Coorong from the famous Australian children’s book, Storm Boy, set around this coastal lagoon.

    This internationally important wetland is sacred to the Ngarrindjeri people and a haven for migratory birds. The lagoon is the final stop for the Murray River’s waters before they reach the sea. Tens of thousands of migratory waterbirds visit annually. Pelicans, plovers, terns and ibises nest, while orange-bellied parrots visit and Murray Cod swim. But there are other important inhabitants – trillions of microscopic organisms.

    You might not give much thought to the sedimentary microbes of a lagoon. But these tiny microbes in the mud are vital to river ecosystems, quietly cycling nutrients and supporting the food web. Healthy microbes make for a healthy Coorong – and this unassuming lagoon is a key indicator for the health of the entire Murray-Darling Basin.

    For decades, the Coorong has been in poor health. Low water flows have concentrated salt and an excess of nutrients. But in 2022, torrential rains on the east coast turned into a once-in-a-century flood, which swept down the Murray into the Coorong.

    In our new research, we took the pulse of the Coorong’s microbiome after this huge flood and found the surging fresh water corrected microbial imbalances. The numbers of methane producing microbes fell while beneficial nutrient-eating bacteria grew. Populations of plants, animals and invertebrates boomed.

    We can’t just wait for irregular floods – we have to find ways to ensure enough water is left in the river to cleanse the Coorong naturally.

    Under a scanning electron micrograph, the mixed community of microbes in water is visible. This image shows a seawater sample.
    Sophie Leterme/Flinders University, CC BY

    Rivers have microbiomes, just like us

    Our gut microbes can change after a heavy meal or in response to dietary changes.

    In humans, a sudden shift in diet can encourage either helpful or harmful microbes.

    In the same way, aquatic microbes respond to changes in salinity and freshwater flows. Depending on what changes are happening, some species boom and others bust.

    As water gets saltier in brackish lagoons, communities of microbes have to adapt or die. High salinity often favours microbes with anaerobic metabolisms, meaning they don’t need oxygen. But these tiny lifeforms often produce the highly potent greenhouse gas methane. The microbes in wetlands are a large natural source of the gas.

    While we know pulses of freshwater are vital for river health, they don’t happen often enough. The waters of the Murray-Darling Basin support most of Australia’s irrigated farming. Negotiations over how to ensure adequate environmental flows have been fraught – and long-running. Water buybacks have improved matters somewhat, but researchers have found the river basin’s ecosystems are not in good condition.

    Wetlands such as the Coorong are a natural source of methane. The saltier the water gets, the more environmentally harmful microbes flourish – potentially producing more methane.
    Vincent_Nguyen

    The Coorong is out of balance

    A century ago, regular pulses of fresh water from the Murray flushed nutrients and sediment out of the Coorong, helping maintain habitat for fish, waterbirds and the plants and invertebrates they eat. While other catchments discharge into the Coorong, the Murray is by far the major water source.

    Over the next decades, growth in water use for farming meant less water in the river. In the 1930s, barrages were built near the river’s mouth to control nearby lake levels and prevent high salinity moving upstream in the face of reduced river flows.

    Major droughts have added further stress. Under these low-flow conditions, salt and nutrients get more and more concentrated, reaching extreme levels due to South Australia’s high rate of evaporation.

    In response, microbial communities can trigger harmful algae blooms or create low-oxygen “dead zones”, suffocating river life.

    The big flush of 2022

    In 2022, torrential rain fell in many parts of eastern Australia. Rainfall on the inland side of the Great Dividing Range filled rivers in the Murray-Darling Basin. That year became the largest flood since 1956.

    We set about recording the changes. As the salinity fell in ultra-salty areas, local microbial communities in the sediment were reshuffled.

    The numbers of methane-producing microbes fell sharply. This means the floods would have temporarily reduced the Coorong’s greenhouse footprint.

    Christopher Keneally sampling for microbes in the Coorong in 2022.
    Tyler Dornan, CC BY

    When we talk about harmful bacteria, we’re referring to microbes that emit greenhouse gases such as methane, drive the accumulation of toxic sulfide (such as Desulfobacteraceae), or cause algae blooms (Cyanobacteria) that can sicken people, fish and wildlife.

    During the flood, beneficial microbes from groups such as Halanaerobiaceae and Beggiatoaceae grew rapidly, consuming nutrients such as nitrogen, which is extremely high in the Coorong. This is very useful to prevent algae blooms. Beggiatoaceae bacteria also remove toxic sulfide compounds.

    The floods also let plants and invertebrates bounce back, flushed out salt and supported a healthier food web.

    On balance, we found the 2022 flood was positive for the Coorong. It’s as if the Coorong switched packets of chips for carrot sticks – the flood pulse reduced harmful bacteria and encouraged beneficial ones.

    While the variety of microbes shrank in some areas, those remaining performed key functions helping keep the ecosystem in balance.

    From 2022 to 2023, consistent high flows let native fish and aquatic plants bounce back, in turn improving feeding grounds for birds and allowing black swans to thrive.

    A group of black swans cruise the Coorong’s waters.
    Darcy Whittaker, CC BY

    Floods aren’t enough

    When enough water is allowed to flow down the Murray to the Coorong, ecosystems get healthier.

    But the Coorong has been in poor health for decades. It can’t just rely on rare flood events.

    Next year, policymakers will review the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, which sets the rules for sharing water in Australia’s largest and most economically important river system.

    Balancing our needs with those of other species is tricky. But if we neglect the environment, we risk more degradation and biodiversity loss in the Coorong.

    As the climate changes and rising water demands squeeze the basin, decision-makers must keep the water flowing for wildlife.

    Christopher Keneally receives funding from the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. His research is affiliated with The University of Adelaide and the Goyder Institute for Water Research. Chris is also a committee member and former president of the Biology Society of South Australia, and a member of the Australian Freshwater Sciences Society.

    Matt Gibbs receives funding from the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

    Sophie Leterme receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC). Her research is affiliated with Flinders University, with the ARC Training Centre for Biofilm Research & Innovation, and with the Goyder Institute for Water Research.

    Justin Brookes 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. When a 1-in-100 year flood washed through the Coorong, it made the vital microbiome of this lagoon healthier – https://theconversation.com/when-a-1-in-100-year-flood-washed-through-the-coorong-it-made-the-vital-microbiome-of-this-lagoon-healthier-252633

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: 40 years since evacuation due to US nuclear tests, Greenpeace and displaced Rongelap community honour commitment to nuclear and climate justice fight

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    MEJATTO, MARSHALL ISLANDS, Thursday 27 March 2025 — Forty years since Greenpeace ship the Rainbow Warrior evacuated the people of Rongelap to Mejatto Island due to decades of US government nuclear weapons testing, Greenpeace and the displaced Rongelap community have come together on the remote Pacific island to commemorate this significant moment in their shared histories.

    Cathy Joel, one of three women who were present at the commemoration and the few remaining survivors of the 1954 Castle Bravo bomb – the US government’s largest ever nuclear weapons test – and was part of the Greenpeace evacuation to Mejatto, described her terror: 

    “I didn’t expect that I would be here as part of this very important event. I was six years old when the bomb exploded and I was so afraid. My father tried to comfort me but I was so frightened he couldn’t calm me down. The explosion was so bright, there were so many colours, it frightened me as I had not seen them before. I couldn’t explain it but all I knew was that I was so scared. 

    “Three of us women are here [in Mejatto] and I was afforded the opportunity to speak on behalf of these survivors. I’d like to encourage all of you when looking at us, see us as a remembrance of what happened in 1954 when the bomb exploded. We encourage you to continue to stand together, be strong and live in harmony — that is our wish.”

    Called “Operation Exodus,” Greenpeace was tasked to relocate Rongelap’s entire population of 350 due to nuclear fallout from Castle Bravo, which rendered their home uninhabitable. In May 1985, over 10 days and taking three trips, the residents collectively dismantled their homes bringing everything with them, including livestock, and 100 metric tons of building material.

    Four decades later, the surviving Rongelap community is now spread across the Marshall Islands. Many travelled back to Mejatto for the commemoration, including those who were children during the evacuation, and prominent members of the Marshallese government. The Rainbow Warrior’s visit comes as Greenpeace entities were found liable for more than USD$660m in damages as part of a meritless SLAPP suit by fossil fuel giant Energy Transfer, aimed at silencing those fighting for justice and the right to peaceful protest. 

    Bunny McDiarmid, crew member during the 1985 Rainbow Warrior evacuation, and former Co-Executive Director of Greenpeace International from 2016-2019 said: 

    “Forty years ago, the people of Rongelap stood up to the United States when they refused to take proper accountability and responsibility for the damage it had done. After undergoing years of health impacts from exposure to radiation, Greenpeace answered a call to help evacuate them from their once rich, but now contaminated home island. We continue to stand with the Marshallese community – as we do with other communities that suffer displacement and colonial exploitation – in their fight for justice for the nuclear weapons legacy, and for the threats they are already feeling from climate change.

    “The bonds between Marshall Islands and Greenpeace are very strong and have stood the test of time. They say we rescued them from a contaminated Rongelap, but the reality is that they rescued themselves – the Marshallese are the strong and brave people who took their future into their own hands and continue to do so. We cannot relocate the world — it is only through standing and acting together that we will make the needed difference that saves us all. In the fight for justice, our voices will not be silenced.”

    First displaced by nuclear fallout, the people of Mejatto — and across the low-lying Marshall Islands — are facing ‘threats from all sides’ as the climate crisis accelerates impacts to their homes, livelihoods, and cultures. Mejatto has been in drought for three months with once predictable seasonal rain failing to arrive, increasing extreme heat impacting health and food availability, and coastal erosion eating away the land.

    The Rainbow Warrior is in the Marshall Islands as part of a six-week mission across the country with a team of nuclear specialists onboard conducting independent research to support the government in its ongoing fight for nuclear justice and compensation; and to reaffirm its solidarity with the Marshallese people — now facing further harm and displacement from the climate crisis, and the emerging threat of deep sea mining in the Pacific.

    -ENDS-

    Photo and video:

    • Photo and video from Mejatto, including the welcome ceremony, 40th commemoration, and Rainbow Warrior crew in solidarity with Greenpeace after the Energy Transfer verdict are available in the Greenpeace Media Library.
    • Archival footage and images from the evacuation that Greenpeace conducted in 1985 is available in the Greenpeace Media Library. 
    • Archival/historical content from the US nuclear weapons testing collected here (from Wiki Commons).

    For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Kate O’Callaghan on [email protected] or +61 406 231 892

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Capito Opening Statement at Hearing to Consider EPA, FWS Nominations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
    To watch Chairman Capito’s opening statement, click here or the image above.
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, held ahearing on the nominations of Brian Nesvik to be Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Jessica Kramer to be Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Sean Donahue to be General Counsel of the EPA.
    Below is the opening statement of Chairman Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) as delivered.
    “I’m pleased to welcome everyone to today’s hearing, where we’ll consider the nominations of Brigadier General Brain Nesvik to serve as Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Jessica Kramer to serve as Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water, and Sean Donohue to serve as General Counsel at the EPA.
    “General Nesvik has more than 29 years of experience with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department prior to his retirement last September…during his tenure with the department, he served in various roles, including chief Game Warden and Wildlife Division Chief, until ultimately being appointed the Director in 2019.
    “Wyoming is a world-renowned destination for hunters and anglers, and General Nesvik led the state’s wildlife management programs, ensuring that the conservation of species and recreational existence can coexist for generations to come. Simultaneously to his full-time job with Wyoming Game and Fish, General Nesvik served in the Wyoming Army National Guard.
    “His service included deployments to Kuwait and Iraq, and progressively more senior leadership, culminating in his final posting as the Commander of the Wyoming Army National Guard. After 35 years of service, General Nesvik retired from the National Guard in 2021 at the rank of brigadier general. Thank you, General Nesvik, for your service to our country.
    “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or the Service, needs greater structure and efficiency, so it will benefit to have a former general officer as its Director. As the Director of the Service, General Nesvik will be tasked with overseeing the operations of the agency to conserve and manage our nation’s wildlife and natural habitats.
    “Under the Biden administration, the Endangered Species Act was leveraged to slow down, and sometimes even halt, infrastructure projects going through the federal permitting process. We must be able to efficiently permit projects while protecting wildlife and natural habitats at the same time.
    “General Nesvik will also oversee many other issues, such as the management of over 570 National Wildlife Refuges and implementation of congressionally-authorized conservation programs. I trust that his background will offer him a unique perspective on how the Service can better manage wildlife programs and protect species, without hindering critical infrastructure projects. I look forward to hearing his testimony.   
    “This morning we will also hear from Jess Kramer, we call her Jess, President Trump’s nominee to serve as the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water. This Committee has a long tradition of working in a bipartisan manner to strengthen environmental policies, improve water infrastructure, and ensure federal regulations are effective, not unnecessarily burdensome. Clean water is not a partisan issue, it is essential to the health, safety, and economic well-being of every American. 
    “The Office of Water plays a critical role in ensuring access to safe and reliable water for all Americans. That means ensuring federal programs like the State Revolving Funds are effective, addressing PFAS contamination without undue burdens on ratepayers, and working with state and local governments to streamline permitting.
    “Jess is well-qualified to lead the EPA’s Water Office. She has built a career crafting practical, bipartisan solutions to improve water policy and ensure communities, regardless of their size or geography. She has also worked to have access to safe and reliable drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.
    “During Jess’s time working with me on the EPW Committee, she played a key role in shaping the water provisions in the IIJA, securing historic investments to modernize drinking water and wastewater systems, remove lead service lines, and address emerging contaminants.
    “Beyond her experience on Capitol Hill, she has served in both state and federal roles, most recently as Deputy Secretary of Regulatory Programs at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection where she oversaw critical programs related to water quality, permitting, and enforcement. Jess understands that environmental protection and economic growth can go hand in hand, and she knows how to ensure regulations are clear, fair, and based on sound science.
    “This morning, we will also hear from Sean Donahue, the nominee to serve as General Counsel at the EPA. The EPA’s Office of General Counsel serves as the chief legal advisor to the agency, providing critical guidance on implementing environmental laws like the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Superfund.
    “The General Counsel plays a central role in shaping EPA’s policies, ensuring legal compliance, defending the Agency from legal challenges, and advising on matters that impact communities nationwide. The office also works closely with Congress, EPA regional offices, and enforcement teams to provide the legal foundation for strong environmental protections.
    “Mr. Donahue has served for three years in the prior Trump Administration at EPA as a Special Advisor, including working in the Agency’s Office of Land and Emergency Management. After working at the Agency, Mr. Donahue joined a law firm in Buffalo, New York where he practiced environmental law. In 2024, he served as a counsel for a solar energy development company in New York State.
    “In 2025, Mr. Donahue was appointed Principal Deputy General Counsel at the EPA. He currently serves as a Special Advisor in the EPA Administrator’s Office. With his experience in both private practice and at the Agency, I look forward to hearing more about Sean Donahue’s qualifications and vision for this important role.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement from Minister Anandasangaree to Ashlee Shingoose’s Family and Community

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Taking care: This product may contain information that could be upsetting or triggering for some. The Hope for Wellness Help Line provides immediate, toll-free telephone and online-chat based emotional support and crisis intervention to all Indigenous People in Canada. This service is available 24/7 in English and French, and upon request in Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut. Trained counsellors are available by phone at 1-855-242-3310 or by online chat at hopeforwellness.ca.

    Ottawa, Ontario (March 26, 2025) — Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, Gary Anandasangaree, issued the following statement:

    “Today, the Winnipeg Police Service confirmed the identity of the missing woman who had been named Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe – Buffalo Woman as Ashlee Shingoose of St. Theresa Point First Nation.

    I offer my deepest condolences to Ashlee’s family, loved ones, and community. As the family takes this time to grieve, we must respect their privacy. This is a heartbreaking loss, and I extend my deepest condolences as you grieve and honour her memory.

    We must all act to end the national crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, and gender diverse people.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: The pointy end of police work

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police Commissioner Richard Chambers welcomed six new patrol dog teams after their graduation today at the Police Dog Training Centre at Trentham, Upper Hutt. 

    Alongside them also graduating were three personnel from 2nd Engineer Regiment, 2 Field Squadron Unit with three newly trained Explosive Detector Dogs (EDD).

    The teams celebrated the occasion in front of whānau and friends, the Commissioner of Police with members of the police executive, and Lieutenant Colonel Joe Totoro Commanding Officer, 2nd Engineer Regiment, New Zealand Army.

    Commissioner Chambers congratulated them all on their achievements.

    “All our patrol dog teams play a crucial role in frontline policing, deploying to some of the most dynamic and challenging situations. We couldn’t police the way we do without them.

    “That’s why I’m thrilled to see six newly trained dog teams graduate today. They will be welcomed into Eastern, Central, Waikato, Wellington, and Auckland police districts very soon.”

    Graduating from the police patrol dog course is one new and five experienced handlers with their dogs. 

    Wellington-bound Constable Nick Press with Police Dog ‘Oskar’ says, “It feels different this time around being my second operational dog after working ‘Ink’ for the past six years. It’s exciting to get back on the street with a new young dog who is very different to ‘Ink’ and has taught me a lot and given me more skills as a handler.”

    Constable Pete Smits is heading back to the Waikato. “I got Ozark at the start of November last year, and I’ve enjoyed training him and getting him as ready as possible for the reality of what police delta teams do. I’d like to acknowledge the Waikato Dog Section for helping me get to this point in my career.”

    Inspector Todd Southall, National Coordinator Police Dogs, says “It’s a proud day for all teams, both experienced and new.  This ceremony marks the end of a demanding few weeks training to become an operational team and well done on completing all the tests which replicate your day-to-day work.

    Patrol dog work is one of the most physically demanding roles in Police – you’re at the pointy end of frontline policing and a pivotal component in our Tactical Response Model. We are grateful for all your work, and this graduation signals the next step toward frontline duties” says Todd.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    Watch out for our Ten One story coming soon with more images and stories about the police dog teams from this graduation.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: ECEQ Transforms Sustainable Finance With Blockchain Innovation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DENVER, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ecole de Commerce Esprit Quantique (ECEQ), also known as Quantum Mind Business School, has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative that seamlessly integrates financial innovation with environmental responsibility through its innovative ECEQ Token. This revolutionary approach establishes new standards for sustainable investment in the French market and beyond.

    Blockchain Technology Powers ECEQ’s Environmental Finance Solutions

    The ECEQ Token represents a sophisticated financial instrument specifically designed to catalyze environmental and technological transformation. By leveraging advanced blockchain technology and artificial intelligence capabilities, ECEQ has created a comprehensive ecosystem that effectively incentivizes and supports sustainable community development initiatives.

    “Our vision at Ecole de Commerce Esprit Quantique extends beyond traditional financial returns,” explains the institution’s leadership team. “We’re creating a technological and financial framework that makes sustainable investment both accessible and profitable for all stakeholders involved in our ecosystem.”

    The ECEQ Token distinguishes itself within the digital asset landscape through several innovative features that highlight Quantum Mind Business School’s commitment to technological advancement and environmental stewardship:

    • Transparent Blockchain Financing: Utilizing blockchain technology to ensure complete transparency in all financial transactions, allowing investors to track every aspect of green project investments with unprecedented clarity and accountability.
    • Smart Contract Ecosystem: Implementation of advanced smart contract technology that automates fund distribution for green initiatives, ensuring precise resource allocation while significantly reducing administrative overhead costs.
    • Decentralized Energy Exchange: Facilitating community-level energy trading that empowers residents and businesses to efficiently utilize and trade renewable energy resources, creating economic incentives for sustainable energy practices.

    Sustainable Environmental Practices Thrive Through ECEQ Token Ecosystem

    Ecole de Commerce Esprit Quantique has introduced a revolutionary reward system that directly encourages sustainable living practices through its token ecosystem. Residents and businesses can earn ECEQ Tokens by actively participating in verified low-carbon activities, creating direct financial incentives for sustainable choices including utilizing green energy sources, implementing effective waste management practices, and choosing eco-friendly transportation options.

    The ECEQ Token reward system represents a fundamental shift in how environmental behavior can be incentivized through financial mechanisms. By providing tangible economic benefits for sustainable practices, Quantum Mind Business School has created a self-reinforcing ecosystem where ecological responsibility becomes financially advantageous for all participants.

    Environmental Leadership Defines ECEQ’s Market Position

    Professor Pierre Duboisier, the driving force behind Ecole de Commerce Esprit Quantique, brings a profound personal commitment to the institution’s environmental initiatives. His philosophy emphasizes that finance must transcend simple wealth generation to become a catalyst for meaningful social progress.

    His personal observations of environmental challenges, particularly regarding the Seine River’s ecosystem degradation, have been instrumental in shaping ECEQ’s mission and strategic priorities. This connection to real-world environmental issues reflects Quantum Mind Business School’s commitment to addressing pressing ecological concerns through innovative financial instruments like the ECEQ Token.

    Smart City Development Advances Through ECEQ’s Blockchain Framework

    Quantum Mind Business School is positioning itself at the forefront of a transformative movement that integrates technology, finance, and environmental stewardship. By combining blockchain capabilities, artificial intelligence, and an unwavering commitment to sustainability, the ECEQ Token ecosystem is designed to:

    • Optimize urban resource management through data-driven solutions and automated efficiency mechanisms that enhance city infrastructure and reduce environmental impact.
    • Enhance investment returns while simultaneously generating positive environmental impact, proving that profitability and sustainability can successfully coexist within the same financial framework.
    • Accelerate the ecological transformation of cities worldwide by providing both financial resources and technological frameworks necessary for meaningful change at municipal, regional, and national levels.

    About ECEQ – Ecole de Commerce Esprit Quantique

    Ecole de Commerce Esprit Quantique (ECEQ), also known as Quantum Mind Business School, stands as a pioneering institution operating at the critical intersection of financial innovation, technological advancement, and environmental sustainability. With a comprehensive global vision and steadfast commitment to transformative solutions, ECEQ is actively redefining the role of finance in creating a more sustainable world.

    By combining rigorous financial expertise with cutting-edge technology and ecological consciousness, Ecole de Commerce Esprit Quantique is establishing new paradigms for responsible investment in the 21st century. The ECEQ Token represents the culmination of this visionary approach, offering a tangible mechanism through which financial incentives can drive positive environmental outcomes.

    Contact Information for Quantum Mind Business School

    • Business Name: Quantum Mind Business School
    • Contact Person: Pierre Duboisier
    • Email: service@eceq.org
    • Website: https://eceq.org/
    • Address: 518, 17th St, Denver, CO 80202, United States

    For more information about ECEQ’s innovative sustainable finance initiatives and the ECEQ Token ecosystem, please visit https://eceq.org/ or contact Quantum Mind Business School directly.

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by Quantum Mind Business School. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/11fb9ea0-3ce1-4b00-9924-5bff7e9476cc

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: World’s oldest gecko found in North Canterbury

    Source: Department of Conservation

    Date:  27 March 2025

    The two Waitaha geckos were first discovered and marked in 1967 and 1969 by late Herpetologist Tony Whitaker. His detailed record-keeping allowed Department of Conservation staff to accurately date their ages.

    DOC Biodiversity Ranger Kaitlyn Leeds says the geckos were found during a five-yearly species monitoring visit to Motunau Island.

    “We were all blown away to find two of the original marked lizards! We found “Antoinette” (named in honour of Tony Whitaker) first and dated her at 64 years plus and then found the second one called “Brucie-Baby” (Tony’s nickname for his co-worker and conservation legend, Bruce Thomas) and dated her at 60.”

    The age record for the Waitaha gecko was previously 53 years with a gecko found on the same island in 2015. Dating geckos on Motunau Island is only possible due to Tony Whitaker individually marking 133 geckos with unique “toe-clip identification” when he started lizard monitoring between 1965 and 1967.

    “We no longer toe clip these lizards but it did give us an opportunity to learn how long individual geckos can live for. It’s just amazing they’ve existed on this postage stamp of an island since before the moon landing” says Biodiversity Ranger Allanah Purdie who was also on the island for the visit.

    Marieke Lettink, who is a Herpetologist and has been going out to the island for twenty years, says the geckos really buck the trend globally living for such a long time and it was a career highlight to find these two.

    “They really are remarkable. I didn’t hold out any expectations that we would find two of Tony’s old mates still living. In global terms, these native geckos are just so unique. We know of no other species of gecko living so long – the average around the world for gecko is only a decade.”

    Kaitlyn Leeds says Antoinette and Brucie-Baby look pretty good for their age.

    “They do look a bit skinnier with looser skin but to be honest, you wouldn’t know they were 60+ years old! Interestingly, female geckos, like female humans tend to live longer than males. It’s also got a lot to do with being in a cool climate on a predator free island. Maybe it’s also their lifestyle”, she laughs, “lapping up the salty air! But in all seriousness, it does make you think about the impacts of predation and comparative longevity for our reptiles on mainland NZ.”

    Waitaha geckos are classified as at risk and in decline. They are mostly found in lowland Canterbury, usually in rocky places that provide warmth and refuge from predators.

    Allanah Purdie says she feels privileged to be able to study the geckos.

    “These geckos are such an important part of our native landscape. We have such unique species in New Zealand, and these two are now world record holders. I’m hoping that we find Antoinette and Brucie-Baby when we do our next visit to the island in five years. Who knows how long these two will live for.”

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Taskforce Morpheus – National Day of Action 2025

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Law enforcement agencies from across Australia and New Zealand have targeted the Hells Angels Outlaw Motorcycle Club (HAOMC) in a coordinated National Day of Action as part of Operation Morpheus.

    The focus of the National Day of Action was to cause maximum disruption to the HAOMC through compliance and enforcement activities across Australia and New Zealand.

    With a significant legacy of past national coordination and collaboration by law enforcement and partners in Australia and New Zealand, National Taskforce Operation Morpheus is a joint initiative. This includes all Australian state and territory police, New Zealand Police, Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Australian Defence Force, AUSTRAC, Australian Taxation Office, and Services Australia collaboratively targeting the highest threat outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMCGs) impacting Australia and New Zealand.

    The National Day of Action 2025 has resulted in law enforcement agencies around the country conducting compliance checks relating to bail, parole, firearms possession and other legislation. The agencies also seized firearms, weapons, various drugs, illicit cigarettes and tobacco products and in excess of $48,000 in cash resulting in the arrest of 23 people, involving 60 charges.

    By proactively targeting OMCG’s throughout Australia and New Zealand in a day of action using a combination of enforcement, compliance and disruption techniques Operation Morpheus generates significant intelligence holdings. Shared intelligence relating gang to membership and associates, locations and gang related premises and criminal activities play a crucial role in national and international law enforcement awareness of links with OMCG’s like HAOMC and organised crime.

    Other focuses of law enforcement were HAMC – OMCG members involved in family violence matters and those club members and associates already incarcerated within the prison populations.

    The overrepresentation of OMCG members and associates linked with family and domestic violence perpetration is a significant community issue.  As is violence and contraband within the prison systems, also well documented and a focus of this operation.

    Operation Morpheus sends the message to members of OMCG members, “It doesn’t matter if you are at freedom or in custody you will be targeted for criminal related activity, be that personal or club related business. Put simply it doesn’t pay to be a member of an OMCG or any criminal gang.”

    Australian Border Force have also identified HAMC members and associates attempting to enter Australia recently as well as targeting members and associates who may be subject to removal from Australia.

    As national organised crime continues to move into the illegal tobacco and vape industry, including OMCG involvement with other crime groups law enforcement and partners are actively focused on this activity, including the extreme violence, firearms, extortion, arson, and money laundering activities. ​

    Leveraging shared capability and technology, National Taskforce Morpheus also targets criminal assets and unexplained wealth of key OMCG members, protects vulnerable people and develops national strategies to deter gang recruitment, reduce membership and target recidivism and enablers to organised crime.

    Agency Key Results:

    South Australia Police –

    Small quantities of illicit substances seized, firearms prohibition order compliance checks completed with in-custody cell searches conducted by Dept Correctional Services. Significant additional contemporary criminal intelligence was gathered relating to HAOMC in SA.

    Victoria Police –

    9 offenders charged with 8 offences, 1 search warrant executed, small quantities of illegal prescription drugs seized, firearms prohibition order compliance checks revealing quantities of firearm ammunition, $48,000 in cash seized and subject to further investigation. Significant additional contemporary criminal intelligence gathered relating to HAOMC in Victoria.

    Western Australia Police –

    2 offenders charged with 5 offences, 2 search warrants executed, small quantities of illicit substances seized and contemporary criminal intelligence gathered relating to HAOMC in WA.

    New Zealand Police –

    3 offenders charged with 4 offences, 3 search warrants executed and 3 vehicles seized. Small quantities of both prescription and illicit substances were seized. Contemporary criminal intelligence was gathered relating to HAOMC in New Zealand.

    Australian Border Force –

    2 VISA cancellations / refusals at point of entry, a further 3 identified as potential VISA cancellations and a single Unlawful Non-Citizen detained linked with OMCGs in Australia.

    New South Wales –

    3 offenders facing 12 charges, 2 search warrants executed, small quantities of illicit substances seized, firearms prohibition order compliance checks with an additional 9 ADVO compliance checks also conducted. In-custody cell searches were also activated for OMCG members in NSW prisons.

    Queensland –

    5 offenders facing 30 charges, 2 firearms seized, 25 bail breaches (non-compliance) discovered with a significant number of traffic breaches identified with both fines and prosecutions commenced for drug and drink driving.

    Northern Territory –

    Heavy focus on traffic compliance identifying both drink (3) and drug (3) drivers apprehended.

    Tasmania –

    1 offender charged with an offence with bail and firearms prohibition order compliance checks conducted.

    Quotes attributed to: Taskforce Morpheus Chair Detective Superintendent Jason Kelly (VICPOL)

    “National Taskforce Morpheus has been an extremely successful national and international operation coordinating multiple operations that have seen Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMCGs) and their members disrupted, arrested, charged and held to account.  

    “Law enforcement and partner government agencies, through National Taskforce Morpheus, share the use of a variety of capabilities to proactively target OMCGs at a state, territory, national and international level. National Taskforce Morpheus will continue to be relentless in pursuing OMCGs and will not stop disrupting and holding OMCGs to account, no matter where they are located.

    “OMCGs are motivated by profit and greed, they infiltrate communities, industry and businesses and have a negative impact on the communities. The social and economic impact of OMCGs in Australia and New Zealand is significant. OMCGs also have a culture of secrecy, that includes intimidation and propensity for extreme violence, often with public displays of violence that impacts the safety of the community. For these reasons Law Enforcement and partner Government agencies will continues to target OMCGs.”

    Quotes attributed to: Officer in Charge Serious and Organised Crime Branch (SAPOL) Detective Superintendent Shane Addison

    SAPOL recognises the risk and serious harm to the community caused by significant and violent criminal activity undertaken by and associated with Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMCG) in South Australia. SAPOL is committed to reducing this threat to community safety and will relentlessly pursue members and associates of OMCGs who seek to profit from violence and all forms of illicit criminal activities. Today’s National Day of Action activities have focused on disrupting those OMCG members who pose the greatest risk to the community.

    “In collaboration with our law enforcement and supporting agency partners, SAPOL will target anyone involved with OMCGs illicit criminal and violent behaviour. This includes targeting the confiscation of their criminal assets. The results from the Operation Morpheus Day of Action in this State reflects this commitment.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Resident of the Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies of NSU took first place in the poster competition

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    On March 20, the XX International (XXIX All-Russian) Pirogov Scientific Medical Conference was held. Ivan Makhrov, a 2nd-year resident in the specialty “Therapy”, participated from the Center for Postgraduate Medical Education of the Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies (CPME IMMT) of NSU. The head of the residency is PhD, Associate Professor of the Department of Internal Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine and Psychology of NSU Denis Andreevich Deev. Ivan Makhrov won first place in the poster competition in the section “Diseases of the Cardiovascular System”.

    Ivan’s work is devoted to the very complex topic of “Study of risk factors affecting the effectiveness of drug cardioversion in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.”

    — I chose this topic because I like arrhythmology. The complexity of the work is due to the fact that only a small number of institutions in Novosibirsk can perform transesophageal echocardiography (a method of ultrasound examination of the heart using an endoscope with a transesophageal ultrasound sensor) and then perform electropulse therapy, which requires general anesthesia in the patient, — said Ivan Makhrov.

    The work is carried out at the clinical base of the Central PMO IMMT State Budgetary Healthcare Institution of the Novosibirsk Region “Novosibirsk Clinical Central District Hospital” (Krasnoobsk workers’ settlement).

    — There were a large number of participants at the conference, mostly students and residents, with serious clinical work. The level of work on idiopathic pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary embolism was very high. Therefore, it is doubly honorable to win such a competition, — Ivan noted.

    We congratulate Ivan Makhrov on his award and wish him further professional growth.

    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 Global: Do any non-drug treatments help back pain? Here’s what the evidence says

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Rodrigo Rossi Nogueira Rizzo, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Neuroscience Research Australia

    Monika Wisniewska/Shutterstock

    Jason, a 42-year-old father of two, has been battling back pain for weeks. Scrolling through his phone, he sees ad after ad promising relief: chiropractic alignments, acupuncture, back braces, vibrating massage guns and herbal patches.

    His GP told him to “stay active”, but what does that even mean when every movement hurts? Jason wants to avoid strong painkillers and surgery, but with so many options (and opinions), it’s hard to know what works and what’s just marketing hype.

    If Jason’s experience sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Back pain is one of the most common reasons people visit a doctor. It can be challenging to manage, mainly due to widespread misunderstandings and the overwhelming number of ineffective and uncertain treatments promoted.

    We assessed the best available evidence of non-drug and non-surgical treatments to alleviate low back pain. Our review – published today by the independent, international group the Cochrane Collaboration – includes 31 Cochrane systematic reviews, covering 97,000 people with back pain.

    It shows bed rest doesn’t work for back pain. Some of the treatments that do work can depend on how long you’ve been in pain.

    Is back pain likely to be serious?

    There are different types of low back pain. It can:

    • be short-lived, lasting less than six weeks (acute back pain)
    • linger for a bit longer, for six to twelve weeks (sub-acute)
    • stick around for months and even years (chronic, defined as more than 12 weeks).

    In most cases (90-95%), back pain is non-specific and cannot be reliably linked to a specific cause or underlying disease. This includes common structural changes seen in x-rays and MRIs of the spine.

    For this reason, imaging of the back is only recommended in rare situations – typically when there’s a clear suspicion of serious back issues, such as after physical trauma or when there is numbness or loss of sensation in the groin or legs.

    Many people expect to receive painkillers for their back pain or even surgery, but these are no longer the front-line treatment options due to limited benefits and the high risk of harm.

    International clinical guidelines recommend people choose non-drug and non-surgical treatments to relieve their pain, improve function and reduce the distress commonly associated with back pain.

    So what works for different types of pain? Here’s what our review found when researchers compared these treatments with standard care (the typical treatment patients usually receive) or no treatment.

    What helps for short-term back pain

    1. Stay active – don’t rest in bed

    If your back pain is new, the best advice is also one of the simplest: keep moving despite the pain.

    Changing the way you move and use your body to protect it, or resting in bed, can seem like to right way to respond to pain – and may have even been recommended in the past. But we know know this excessive protective behaviour can make it harder to return to meaningful activities.

    This doesn’t mean pushing through pain or hitting the gym, but instead, trying to maintain your usual routines as much as possible. Evidence suggests that doing so won’t make your pain worse, and may improve it.

    2. Multidisciplinary care, if pain lingers

    For pain lasting six to 12 weeks, multidisciplinary treatment is likely to reduce pain compared to standard care.

    This involves a coordinated team of doctors, physiotherapists and psychologists working together to address the many factors contributing to your back pain persisting:

    • neurophysiological influences refer to how your nervous system is currently processing pain. It can make you more sensitive to signals from movements, thoughts, feelings and environment

    • psychological factors include how your thoughts, feelings and behaviours affect your pain system and, ultimately, the experience of pain you have

    • occupational factors include the physical demands of your job and how well you can manage them, as well as aspects like low job satisfaction, all of which can contribute to ongoing pain.

    It’s important to keep up your normal routines when you have low back pain.
    Raychan/Unsplash

    What works for chronic back pain

    Once pain has been around for more than 12 weeks, it can become more difficult to treat. But relief is still possible.

    Exercise therapy

    Exercise – especially programs tailored to your needs and preferences – is likely to reduce pain and help you move better. This could include aerobic activity, strength training or Pilates-based movements.

    It doesn’t seem to matter what type of exercise you do – it matters more that you are consistent and have the right level of supervision, especially early on.

    Multidisciplinary treatment

    As with short-term pain, coordinated care involving a mix of physical, occupational and psychological approaches likely works better than usual care alone.

    Psychological therapies

    Psychological therapies for chronic pain include approaches to help people change thinking, feelings, behaviours and reactions that might sustain persistent pain.

    These approaches are likely to reduce pain, though they may not be as effective in improving physical function.

    Acupuncture

    Acupuncture probably reduces pain and improves how well you can function compared to placebo or no treatment.

    While some debate remains about how it works, the evidence suggests potential benefits for some people with chronic back pain.

    Some people may find relief from accupuncture.
    Katherine Hanlon/Unsplash

    What doesn’t work or still raises uncertainty?

    The review found that many commonly advertised treatments still have uncertain benefits or probably do not benefit people with back pain.

    Spinal manipulation, for example, has uncertain benefits in acute and chronic back pain, and it likely does not improve how well you function if you have acute back pain.

    Traction, which involves stretching the spine using weights or pulleys, probably doesn’t help with chronic back pain. Despite its popularity in some circles, there’s little evidence that it works.

    There isn’t enough reliable data to determine whether advertised treatments – such back braces, vibrating massage guns and herbal patches – are effective.

    How can you use the findings?

    If you have back pain, start by considering how long you’ve had it. Then explore treatment options that research supports and discuss them with your GP, psychologist or physiotherapist.

    Your health provider should reassure you about the importance of gradually increasing your activity to resume meaningful work, social and life activities. They should also support you in making informed decisions about which treatments are most appropriate for you at this stage.

    Rodrigo Rossi Nogueira Rizzo receives funding from the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).

    Aidan Cashin receives funding from a National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grant

    – ref. Do any non-drug treatments help back pain? Here’s what the evidence says – https://theconversation.com/do-any-non-drug-treatments-help-back-pain-heres-what-the-evidence-says-253122

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wyoming Fugitive Captured in Morgan County After Multi-Agency Manhunt

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Morgan County, CO – A month-long, multi-state manhunt for a wanted fugitive out of Wyoming culminated today with a joint law enforcement arrest operation in rural Morgan County. 

    Tyger Rodriguez, 25, was arrested during a multi-agency effort comprised of nearly a dozen different law enforcement agencies. Rodriguez is wanted by the Goshen County Sheriff’s Office for two counts of felony aggravated assault and battery stemming from incidents which occurred mid-February. Arrest warrants were issued February 19 and 20, and the U.S. Marshals Service’s Wyoming Fugitive Task Force was asked to assist on February 27. After developing information that Rodriguez had fled Wyoming and was possibly hiding in rural northeast Colorado, the U.S. Marshals Service’s Colorado Violent Offender Task Force (COVOTF) was contacted and joined the investigation. COVOTF investigators tracked Rodriguez to a rural property about four miles west of Fort Morgan. The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office was then contacted and provided significant support in continuing the investigation into Rodriguez’s whereabouts.

    On Wednesday, a joint law enforcement arrest operation between the U.S. Marshals COVOTF, the Northeast Regional SWAT Team, and the Colorado State Patrol SOAR team contained Rodriguez within the large rural property and eventually took him into custody safely.

    “We are incredibly grateful to all of our law enforcement partners whose dedication and cooperation made this arrest possible,” said Morgan County Sheriff Dave Martin. “We also extend our sincere thanks to the local businesses and citizens who offered their assistance throughout the investigation and today’s operation.”

    The arrest of this fugitive represents a culmination of extensive cooperative efforts between almost a dozen law enforcement agencies to include:

    • U.S. Marshals Colorado Violent Offender Task Force (Deputy U.S. Marshals and Task Force Officers (TFOs) from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Colorado Department of Corrections, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, & Boulder County Sheriff’s Office)
    • NE Regional SWAT Team (Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Morgan Police Department, Brush Police Department, Sterling Police Department, Logan County Sheriff’s Office)
    • Colorado State Patrol SOAR Team
    • U.S. Marshals Wyoming Fugitive Task Force

    The charges pending against Rodriguez are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Please direct any follow up regarding pending criminal charges to the Goshen County Sheriff’s Office.

    The Colorado Violent Offender Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional fugitive task force that targets the most violent offenders to include those wanted for murder, assault, sex offenses, and other serious offenses throughout the state and country. 

    Nationally, the U.S. Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, eight regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries. Follow us on Twitter @USMSDenver.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: Liu Cixin’s novels set for more screen adaptations

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Several classic works by China’s leading sci-fi writer Liu Cixin are to be adapted into high-profile films and TV series. This includes a newly announced movie adaptation of “With Her Eyes,” to be produced by Chen Sicheng, the filmmaker behind the blockbuster “Detective Chinatown” franchise.

    Chen Sicheng, Liu Cixin and Dai Mo (left to right) pose for a photo at an event announcing the “With Her Eyes” movie in Wenchang, Hainan province, March 21, 2025. [Photo courtesy of As One Production]

    At an event announcing the new adaptation held at the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site on March 21, As One Production confirmed Chen Sicheng as executive producer, with Dai Mo — director of hits including “Fireflies in the Sun” and “Detective Chinatown 1900” — set to direct. Meanwhile, the screenwriting team will unite Liu Cixin with Italian cinema legend Giuseppe Tornatore, the Oscar-winning creator of “Cinema Paradiso,” “The Legend of 1900” and “Malèna.”

    The short story “With Her Eyes” won China’s prestigious sci-fi Galaxy Award in 1999. It follows a space engineer who, after returning from a mission, takes a special pair of “eyes” on vacation — connecting him to a mysterious “her.” Through their shared senses, they explore nature together, her shifting emotions sparking his growing curiosity. With its concept of “shared senses,” the story delves into human loneliness and has been praised by readers as Liu Cixin’s “most tender sci-fi parable.”

    Liu noted at the film’s announcement that “With Her Eyes” differs from his other works, framing humanity’s grand exploration of the unknown through a gentle, poetic lens tinged with melancholy. “I believe the film adaptation will create a unique sci-fi universe,” he said. “Through my deep involvement in the cinematic process, we’ll deliver unprecedented visual artistry and emotional impact to audiences.”

    During his visit to China’s cutting-edge aerospace facilities at the launch site, Chen Sicheng expressed his admiration at the nation’s rapid space technology advancements. “I’m fully committed to preserving Liu Cixin’s poetic and romantic vision, and sharing this profoundly moving wonder with audiences,” he said.

    For director Dai Mo, this marks his second collaboration with Liu Cixin, having just wrapped up on the highly anticipated sci-fi series “Ball Lightning” — another Liu Cixin adaptation executive produced by Chen Sicheng.

    Crew and collaborators of the “With Her Eyes” film project pose for a group photo at the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in Wenchang, Hainan province, March 21, 2025. [Photo courtesy of As One Production]

    Liu Cixin’s works have become crown jewels for sci-fi film and TV adaptations. Recently, it was reported that his military sci-fi story “Full-Spectrum Barrage Jamming” will be directed by Guan Hu, best known for his 2020 war epic “The Eight Hundred.”

    Other major projects in development include Frant Gwo’s 2027 sci-fi epic “The Wandering Earth 3,” Zhang Yimou’s film adaptation of “The Three-Body Problem,” and Yang Lei’s TV series “Three-Body II: The Dark Forest.” Additionally, a spin-off series centered on “Three-Body” protagonist Shi Qiang is in the works, while Tian Li’s TV adaptation of “Sea of Dreams” is currently in post-production. A movie adaptation of “The Supernova Era” is also underway.

    Previously, Liu Cixin’s “The Wandering Earth” inspired two blockbuster films directed by Frant Gwo — the 2019 release grossing 4.69 billion yuan, followed in 2023 by its prequel earning 4.04 billion yuan. Director Ning Hao adapted Liu’s “The Rural Teacher” into “Crazy Alien,” which generated 2.2 billion yuan in 2019. The Hugo Award-winning “The Three-Body Problem” has spawned two successful TV adaptations: Tencent Video’s Chinese version and Netflix’s international production, both achieving critical and commercial success. Industry analysts estimate the “Three-Body” franchise — spanning publishing, film, TV, animation, digital ventures and exhibitions — has reached a total co-branded consumer market value of over 2 billion yuan.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: More reliable, resilient supply vessel sought for Chatham Islands

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government is seeking proposals from shipping operators to provide a new supply vessel for the Chatham Islands, Associate Transport Minister James Meager announced today. 

    “The Government is committed to supporting Chatham Islanders,” Minister Meager says.

    “The Chatham Islands’ current supply vessel, the Southern Tiare, is a vital economic lifeline for the community by carrying supplies to the island and livestock back to the mainland. 

    “However, at 39 years old, the vessel is older than I am, and unfortunately it is nearing the end of its life as a working vessel. It is frequently out of action for maintenance and repairs, causing significant hardship for the community. For example, recent crane failure on the Southern Tiare resulted in a fuel shortage on the islands, requiring rationing of petrol for local residents.”

    “Today, the Government has opened tenders to shipping operators who can provide a more reliable and resilient shipping service to replace the Southern Tiare. The new service will need the capability to transport fuel, livestock and general freight to and from Waitangi Port and Pitt Island. Crucially, it will need to provide a regular, reliable and resilient service.” 

    “A Request for Proposals (RFP) published today on the Government Electronic Tender Service outlines our requirements in full detail.”

    “In addition to finding a replacement vessel, we need to determine what improvements to existing port infrastructure are needed to support a new service. This will need to be considered alongside proposals received through the RFP process.”  

    “Last year, the Government sought information from suppliers who are potentially interested in providing shipping services. This gave us a solid understanding of the market’s capability to service the Chatham Islands’ unique requirements.” 

    The release of the RFP is the next step in the process and moves us closer to securing a replacement vessel that will service the community for many years to come.”

    Go to https://www.gets.govt.nz/MT/ExternalTenderDetails.htm?id=31351880 for more information.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: State Highway 6 Dellows Bluff – containers removed early next month

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    State Highway 6 Dellows Bluff, south of Murchison, will be free of containers and back to two lanes by Wednesday 9 April, as contractors pause work to refine and improve plans to repair the slip.

    SH6 Dellows Bluff, rockfall and slip sites.

    Rob Service, System Manager Nelson/Tasman says contractors have been working at the second slip site, less than 200 metres from the original 2022 rockfall site, since February.   

    “While it initially looked to be a straightforward fix, investigations show the site is far more complex and fragile than expected.”  

    “The geology of the hill face presents a challenge for contractors. Initial plans were to tackle the slip from the side, but access has proven difficult, and the conditions have presented issues for our team.  

    “The safest option is to pause work at this location while we revise plans to access the slip from above. We will return to the site as soon as possible to continue this important work,” Mr Service says.

    While this means a slight delay in the project, Mr Service says significant progress has been made. 

    “Rock-blasting work was done earlier this month to remove loose rocks and debris at the top of the slip. We have also removed overhanging trees, installed extra drainage and a catch basin for easier maintenance over winter, and resealed the road. It ensures the site is in good condition as we prepare for the next phase of work, once geological assessments are completed.”

    Mr Service says all of the work carried out to date means the site is safe enough for the shipping containers to be removed. Their removal will make the road wider, allowing the highway to be restored to two lanes and the reduced temporary speed limit to be lifted.” 

    The containers will be returned to the site when work on the slip resumes. 

    Mr Service appreciates repairs at this part of State Highway 6 have been ongoing for some time. 

    “We have had to deal with an underslip, rockfall, and another overslip – all in the same area. We know our work has affected the community and road users and we thank them for their patience and cooperation.” 

    But with no local road detours available, this is a critical section on State Highway 6 and it is essential we do all we can to ensure it is safer and more resilient in the future. This work is vital,” Mr Service says.  

    Contractors will monitor the slip site over the winter months and remedial measures will be implemented if needed. 

    Works schedule for container removal

    • Stop/stop controls with delays of up to 15 minutes will operate on Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 April from 7am – 6pm when the containers will be removed. 
    • Stop/go controls will then be in place from Thursday 3 to Tuesday 8 April as contractors prepare the highway to be reopened to two lanes by Wednesday 9 April.
    • Drivers can expect delays of up to 15 minutes under stop/go.
    • Drivers must follow all speed signs and warnings in place.  

    More information

    • This work at the rockfall site has been funded by the Crown Resilience Programme – a $419 million investment package of resilience improvement activities that will reduce the impact of severe weather events on our national roading networks. The total crown resilience programme comprises $279 million for activities on State Highways, and $140 million for activities on Local Roads – Crown Resilience Programme (CRP)
    • The work at the slip site is funded by a National Land Transport Programme emergency works allocation.
    • Work has been ongoing at the area since a major rockfall in July 2022. This has seen rock scaling and rock blasting to remove overhanging rock and debris from the cliff face above the highway. Rock anchors, steel mesh have also been installed on the original slip. 
    • A specialist sub-contractor from the region is being used on the project, based on their experience in forestry, earthworks, steep sites, and large earthworks machinery.
    • The benching of the original slip site is permanent and allows contractors to maintain and monitor the face for further erosion or failures.
    • Efforts will be made to retain and replant vegetation at the site. This will include replanting native plants on the bench and possibly the hill face. Contractors will eradicate wilding pines where possible. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo, Bennet, Marshall Lead Senate Push to Address Shortages in TSP Access

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) and Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) introduced S. 1150, the Increased TSP Access Act of 2025, to improve access to Technical Service Providers (TSP) in the agriculture community amid ongoing shortages.
    “Idaho’s farmers and ranchers actively participate in conservation efforts to enhance the environment and preserve the long-term viability of our agriculture industry,” said Crapo.  “Their success depends on access to third-party technical service providers who have a wide range of scientific disciplines necessary for addressing water, soil, air quality, crop nutrients and other components critical for conservation.  Increasing access to TSPs is vital for the industry.”
    “As Colorado faces a future that’s going to be hotter and drier, we need to make it easier to access USDA conservation programs.  But red tape and understaffing at the NRCS make these programs difficult for Coloradans to apply to,” said Bennet.  “The future of rural America depends on whether the next generation decides to continue their family farms and ranches – and to protect that future, the Increased TSP Access Act makes assistance more accessible and helps conservation programs live up to their potential.”  
    “Increasing the amount of Technical Service Providers is a commonsense approach that moves us toward our goal by cutting red tape that’s holding back farm participation in NRCS programs,” Senator Marshall said.  “Certified Crop Advisors and other similar professionals are already equipped with the skills necessary to help farmers and ranchers reach a variety of conservation goals.  Establishing an expedited pathway to deliver conservation goals, especially as it relates to nutrient management plans, is the free-market answer to increasing agriculture-friendly conservation efforts.”
    TSPs are a critical component of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation programs through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).  They provide tailored, one-on-one assistance to agricultural producers and forest landowners to address natural resources concerns with regard to soil erosion, water supplies, water quality, grazing management, nutrient management and forestry plans.  TSPs must be certified by NRCS to work on behalf of farmers to offer the planning, design and implementation of these conservation programs.
    There is currently a significant backlog of farmers who have requested to receive assistance from TSPs to help in writing detailed conservation plans for their specific operation. 
    The 2018 Farm Bill included language to allow the USDA to approve non-federal entities to certify TSPs, but the language did not include clear deadlines and lacked certain guardrails necessary for implementation.
    The Increased TSP Access Act of 2025 would enhance the work initiated by the 2018 Farm Bill by:
    Giving the USDA 180 days to establish a non-federal certifying process;
    Streamlining the USDA’s TSP certification process to reduce the backlog of conservation plans that farmers need written, reviewed and approved; and
    Ensuring parity in compensation for the services TSP provide.   
    The legislation is supported by the Idaho Farm Bureau, Idaho Dairymen’s Association, Ducks Unlimited, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, the National Milk Producers Federation and the North American Millers’ Association.
    “The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives applauds Senator Crapo’s efforts to strengthen the technical service provider program by tapping into private-sector expertise while maintaining farmers’ trust in USDA,” said Chuck Conner, president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.  “This bill rightly acknowledges the critical role co-ops play in American agriculture and their deep connections with farmers nationwide. By expanding access to the expertise needed to tackle on-farm resource challenges, it supports the long-term sustainability and economic success of U.S. farms and ranches.”
    “Thank you to Sens. Crapo and Bennet for introducing this legislation to streamline the TSP certification process,” said Adam Putnam, CEO of Ducks Unlimited.  “Ducks Unlimited agronomists and biologists work closely with NRCS to provide technical assistance to landowners and help agricultural producers get the most out of their operation.  The Increased TSP Access Act will make voluntary, incentive-based conservation practices more accessible to producers and provide greater flexibility to reach their production and conservation goals.”
    U.S. Representative James Baird (R-Indiana) led companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
    Download text of the bill HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –