NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI China: Prosecutors combat grassroots corruption

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    China’s top prosecutors have ramped up efforts to combat corruption at the grassroots level, particularly in healthcare, education and employment, as these areas directly impact people’s daily lives, officials from the Supreme People’s Procuratorate said.
    More than 3,000 people were prosecuted in 2024 for dereliction of duty in these sectors, a 1.6-fold increase from the previous year, according to statistics released on Tuesday by the Supreme People’s Procuratorate.
    Procuratorial authorities have focused on tackling corruption linked to people’s livelihoods and rural revitalization, said Zhang Xiaojin, head of the procuratorate’s division on duty-related crimes.
    To address public concerns over corruption in the healthcare sector, which has made medical treatment more difficult and expensive, prosecutors have targeted offenses such as taking kickbacks and embezzling health insurance funds. As a result, more than 1,800 individuals in the healthcare industry were prosecuted for duty-related crimes, Zhang said.
    In March 2024, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, the Supreme People’s Court and the Ministry of Public Security issued a guideline on handling health insurance fraud cases to step up enforcement against such offenses, which have been on the rise.
    The guideline states that conspirators involved in fraud schemes carried out by medical institutions, such as fabricating medical services and falsifying medical bills, will be prosecuted.
    Individuals who illegally receive health insurance refunds through fraudulent means, including by using others’ medical insurance certificates, will also face punishment.
    Meanwhile, more than 1,200 people from township and village organizations were prosecuted for duty-related crimes last year, marking a 48.5 percent year-on-year increase.
    “Punishing corruption crimes that affect the public is also a way of protecting people’s livelihoods,” Zhang said.
    To further safeguard public interests, procuratorial authorities nationwide handled more than 92,000 public interest litigation cases from January to November last year in areas such as food and drug safety, the rights of vulnerable groups, and the security of citizens’ personal information, according to Xu Xiangchun, director of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate’s Public Interest Litigation Procuratorate Office.
    “Public interest is the interest of the people. The procuratorial public interest litigation system is closely tied to daily life,” Xu said in an interview on Wednesday.
    “In 2024, prosecutors focused on public concerns, actively responded to livelihood issues, and handled cases in a precise and law-abiding manner.”
    In one case, the Qinghai Provincial People’s Procuratorate filed administrative public interest litigation against more than 60 express delivery companies for failing to legally contribute to work injury insurance for couriers, strengthening labor protections.
    In another case, the procuratorial office in Tianfu New Area in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, urged administrative bodies to revise village autonomy regulations in eight villages that violated women’s rights.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Access for everyone: how we manage bookable spaces

    Source: Auckland Council

    Auckland Council’s Director of Community Rachel Kelleher responds to concerns about the council’s approach to venue hire of our community meeting halls and shared spaces.

    It is with huge gratitude that I acknowledge the messages of support our staff and the council has received over the past few days, regarding our response to the awful disruption of a family-friendly Pride event at Te Atatū Peninsula Library last weekend.

    It has been uplifting to see the voices of leaders throughout New Zealand also extend their support to our brave library staff and affected communities, along with the widespread public condemnation of this harmful activity.

    We are also grateful for police support, to ensure that all remaining Pride events at our venues continue to be uplifting occasions to celebrate Auckland’s rainbow communities.

    We are actively monitoring any health, safety or security risks at future events.

    Venue hire

    We have been asked questions about the use of our community venues and whether the council should apply tighter restrictions on bookings – particularly from groups like Destiny Church with strong views that not everyone shares.  

    So, I’d like to take this opportunity to talk about how Auckland Council provides access to our collection of more than 100 bookable community venues across the region on the principle that they are available for anyone to hire. We are obliged to ensure everyone throughout Auckland has fair and equal access to connect and enjoy using these spaces.

    This doesn’t mean that we endorse the content of an event, or the views of participants, but rather that we must manage our venues in a neutral and non-discriminatory manner.

    It is not always easy to maintain that careful balance between providing a public service (venues for hire) and expressing our council values, including ensuring our people feel supported on our position on diversity and inclusion.

    This sometimes leads to tension, and pressure to do more in support of one community or group, over another.

    Here’s the thing.  We remain one hundred per cent committed to protecting and growing Tāmaki Makaurau’s culture of inclusivity and belonging. That’s the foundation we build our practical policies and guidelines on, and what helps us make decisions or remain focussed when dealing with difficult situations.

    When differences arise between the views of the various groups using our community venues, and there is potential for conflict or any risk to public safety, we work closely with the police and security experts to determine if activities should go ahead.

    An example of this occurred in 2023, when the council terminated venue bookings at the Mount Eden War Memorial Hall in response to safety concerns from two groups with strong opposing views planning to gather on the same night.

    Consistent with our obligations as a public authority, we will continue to operate our venues on the principle that they are available to all Aucklanders, but will not hesitate to address or terminate bookings if terms are breached or safety compromised.

    With respect to the events at the events at the at Te Atatū Peninsula Library last Saturday, council is supporting the police with their investigations and has not ruled out taking further action against those individuals involved.  

    Venue hire requirements:

    • All venue hire bookings agree to comply with council’s venue hire terms and conditions. These set out the circumstances in which the council may terminate a booking and include situations where the event might breach the law or the conditions themselves or where the management or control of the event is deficient.
    • It is always the responsibility of venue hire users to ensure their events are managed safely, and to meet the terms and conditions of our venue hire policy.
    • Where we have concerns that an event may raise health and safety or security concerns we work with the organisers andrelevant agencies to ensure that these concerns are addressed ahead of the event. 
    • Our community venues are operated on the principle they are available for anyone to hire. If a booking is accepted, it doesn’t mean that we endorse the content of the event, but rather that we are obliged to manage our venues in a non-discriminatory manner.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Building climate resilience into food systems in the Eastern Gangetic Plains

    Source: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research

    The world’s highest concentration of rural poverty occurs in the Eastern Gangetic Plains of Bangladesh, India and Nepal – a region that is home to 450 million people.

    Livelihoods in this part of the world rely greatly on agriculture. Opportunities to work with smallholder farmers can lay the foundations for a more productive, sustainable and diversified agricultural economy. 

    Among the research-for-development professionals on the ground is a team working on the Rupantar project, an ACIAR-supported initiative led by Dr Tamara Jackson of the University of Adelaide.

    The Rupantar project operates at a whole-of-system level. It spans both social and farming practices and extends all the way through to policy settings, market opportunities and other agrifood system barriers holding smallholders back. It also builds on prior investments by ACIAR and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

    Included in this integrated approach are considerations for climate impacts.

    This concern saw 15 team members from the Rupantar project visit the University of Adelaide and regional South Australia and Victoria in October 2024. Funded as part of a DFAT Australia Awards Fellowship program, the study tour focused on climate resilience and adaptation.

    The Rupantar project

    ‘Rupantar’ has a common meaning in Bangla, Hindi and Nepali. It means change on a level so profound that it is transformative. Launched in 2021, the Rupantar project is identifying opportunities for inclusive and diversified food production innovation. 

    Given the partnership model typical of ACIAR projects, these opportunities need to be priorities for local communities. They also need to be sustainable and to fit with longer-term climate, nutrition and available water resource projections. 

    Achieving this level of integration requires working on multiple levels at the same time. There is ground-up innovation – from personal to organisational. Then there are high-level policies that work down and can make important change on the ground.

    Our hypothesis is that an integrated approach to livelihood change – coupled with inclusive and collaborative approaches – will result in more effective and sustainable development pathways.

    Dr Tamara Jackson, 
    University of Adelaide

    ‘So, our goal is to understand the processes and practices needed to diversify food production in ways that improve farm livelihoods and reduce inequity, production risk and unsustainable resource use.’

    The on-the-ground work with smallholders is implemented at sites in West Bengal (India), Rangpur (Bangladesh) and Koshi Province (Nepal). Implementation involves actioning ‘diversification pathways’ that were co-developed collaboratively with local partners. 

    Diversification pathways

    The aim of these pathways is twofold. The first is to test diversification options and select the most appropriate crop and livestock options that are priorities for local communities. These are then implemented within existing networks and are aligned with institutional settings.

    The second aim is to monitor the changes associated with the pathways, including long-term sustainability. 

    The project is also mindful that diversification can look very different to different members within households and can include off-farm income from seasonal male migration and greater reliance on women household members.

    In all, three types of diversified systems are being explored:

      •  plant-based production, including crops and horticulture
      •  livestock-based, including chickens, goats and dairy that are especially important to women’s income
      •  irrigation-constrained systems.

    ‘The project is working on strengthening what already works about a farming system in the Eastern Gangetic Plain and building on innovations from prior projects, such as ACIAR’s introduction of conservation agriculture cropping practices,’ said Dr Jackson.

    Long-running ACIAR initiatives in the Eastern Gangetic Plains worked with smallholder farmers across Bangladesh, India, and Nepal to introduce sustainable practices and innovations to intensify production.

    The project team has spent the first 2 years on the ground running baseline surveys and mapping villages to better understand the system. 

    Implementation started in 2023 once it became clear what would work best in different settings. The visit to Australia in 2024 provided project partners with opportunities to observe what diversified and climate-resilient Australian farms look like.

    Participants included Rupantar project partners from provincial government, cooperatives, farmer producer companies, NGOs, local university partners and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center. 

    Climate-smart innovation

    Dr Jay Cummins from International Agriculture for Development hosted the study tour group and developed the course that focused on addressing the climate realities in collaboration with the Rupantar project.

    The 20-day study tour was entitled ‘Supporting climate-smart, resilient food production networks in the Indo-Gangetic Plains’. 

    Key experts shared their experiences responding to climate change and on-farm visits examined how Australian agriculture builds climate resilience into its practices in different environmental and socioeconomic settings. 

    ‘Included were visits to more rainfed, dryland cropping systems in the Mallee and, in addition, to irrigated production systems in the Murray–Darling Basin,’ said Dr Cummins. 

    The Australia Awards program provided a valuable mechanism to connect the participants with a whole range of Australian organisations and professionals, which in turn will help build international networks and collaboration.

    Dr Jay Cummins 
    International Agriculture for Development 

    In the Eastern Gangetic Plain, food production can be heavily focused on wet season rice crops. In Australia, the visitors were able to explore dry season opportunities for diversified production of crops and livestock, including in mixed farming systems. They saw how Australian farmers manage risks around water scarcity and drought. At South Australian Riverland sites, discussions included irrigation and water management that present different diversification options.

    Participant perspectives

    Loxton farmer Brycen Rudiger (left)discusses the challenges of growing wheat in the Mallee region with Nepali participant Gautam Bhupal (right).

    Among the participants were Dr Deepa Roy from India, Ms Bimala Pokhrel from Nepal and Dr Mamunur Rashid from Bangladesh. 

    Dr Roy is an agricultural extension expert based at Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, India. She told ACIAR that smallholder farmers in the Eastern Gangetic Plains face numerous challenges that can lock them into poverty.

    These range from small and fragmented landholdings that make mechanisation difficult, to a lack of agronomic knowledge, limited agricultural support services, limited market access, financial constraints and climatic hazards.

    ‘Through the course several key insights and learnings emerged that may help our farmers in understanding and adopting climate resilient technologies,’ said Dr Roy.

    Key insights for participants included:

      •  assessing the carbon footprint of farming and taking action to reduce it
      •  introducing efficient soil moisture management strategies such as mulching
      •  adopting agronomic practices such as crop rotations and climate-resilient crops 
      •  building soil fertility
      •  advocating for improved climate forecasting
      •  adopting grower-led research and extension
      •  developing digital tools to monitor the adoption of innovation
      •  providing financial management training to smallholder farmers
      •  using podcasts and radio to provide farm advisory services. 

    Overall, Dr Roy said that the course equipped attendees with a holistic understanding of climate-smart practices. ‘It helped us not only to strengthen technical knowledge but also to develop critical soft skill and a deeper understanding of sustainable climate resilient farming.’

    It’s a point of view shared by Ms Pokhrel, who works with the Ministry of Industry Agriculture and Cooperatives in Koshi Province, Nepal. She said the course enriched efforts to both help farmers and policymakers with future planning. And it worked by enhancing both her professional and personal capacity.

    ‘What stood out was the extent that Australian farmers have already adopted technology to mitigate against climate change,’ said Ms Pokhrel. ‘This was particularly stark when it came to soil health and sustainable soil management practices. One of the key learnings is that we can tailor these practices for our context in the Koshi Province and, in that way, improve crop productivity by improving soil health.’

    Mr Rashid agreed. He is a research fellow at Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University in Dinajpur, Bangladesh. He noted that while ACIAR is helping to introduce conservation agriculture to Bangladesh, South Australian farmers have already adopted these soil and soil-moisture conserving practices. 

    They are also growing more legume crops for soil health and fertiliser benefits, adopting risk-aversion strategies amid climate variability, and introducing carbon farming to adapt to climate change.

    Improved water management

    Both Ms Pokhrel and Mr Rashid were especially impressed by Australian water management systems in drought-prone landscapes. They think these kinds of Australian practices have a role to play at the project sites.

    While the cost and expertise required to adopt and maintain technologies such as drip irrigation systems used in Australia may be beyond the capacity of many smallholder farmers, the study tour has already inspired a new water conservation pilot project.

    The Bangladesh team will launch ‘Conserving soil moisture through mulching technique in chili farming’ in the Rupantar project areas, focusing on farmers in northern Bangladesh, who experience frequent floods and droughts.

    The Rupantar project delegation on tour in the northern Mallee of South Australia.

    ‘This initiative aims to use soil moisture and reduce irrigation in chilli farming, aided by Chameleon soil water sensors that can support decision-making for the farmers of the Rupantar project,’ said Mr Rashid.

    Ms Pokhrel was greatly impressed by the grower-centric research, development and extension infrastructure built around farmers’ needs in Australia. For her, this was typified by organisations such as the Grains Research and Development Corporation and the Almond Board.

    She thinks there are opportunities to ‘sensitise’ the different boards in Nepal to this approach. 

    Surprises for the project partners included the large size of farms given the small number of people working in agriculture. 

    What also surprised us is the rate of technology adoption by farmers, along with their dedication and the satisfaction they receive from the agricultural profession.

    Ms Bimala Pokhrel
    Nepal 

    ‘Mallee Sustainable Farming System was impressive and working with farmers groups and developing the communication material in local languages are the things that we can develop for our smallholder farmers too.’

    Finally, they praised the networking opportunities provided by the course, including with farmers, and opportunities to understand the people, country and culture. 

    ACIAR Project WAC/2020/148: ‘Transforming smallholder food systems in the Eastern Gangetic Plain’

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Retail pricing, merger reform implementation and competition issues among ACCC’s 2025-26 priorities

    Source: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

    ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb has stressed the positive impacts of a competitive economy for consumers as she outlined the agency’s priorities for the 2025-26 financial year.

    Speaking at a Committee for Economic Development of Australia event in Sydney today, Ms Cass-Gottlieb outlined the agency’s annual compliance and enforcement priorities which include working decisively on consumer protection, promoting competitive markets, and clear and accurate pricing information for products and essential services.

    “The ACCC‘s complementary mandates support the community to participate with trust and confidence in commercial life and promote the proper functioning of Australian markets. We will continue to pursue our priorities through strong enforcement action, education to foster compliance, and advocacy for reform,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

    “Consumers are still doing it tough, and the cost of groceries and essential services have contributed to significant cost of living stress.”

    “We will continue to work hard to protect consumers by using the full range of our tools and powers to enhance competition and fair trading, through tough and rigorous enforcement as well as targeted compliance and education initiatives.”

    Cost of living and competition issues in groceries, retail and essential services

    Ms Cass-Gottlieb said the ACCC would conduct dedicated investigations and enforcement activities to address competition and consumer concerns in the supermarket and retail sector in the year ahead.

    One priority will be to address consumer and fair trading concerns, with a focus on misleading pricing practices including around surcharging.

    Another priority to address competition concerns in the supermarket and retail sector will focus on firms with market power and conduct that impacts small business or contributes to higher prices for consumers.

    “Our work will also address the potential imbalance of power more broadly between larger businesses that impose standard form contracts on one hand, and small businesses and consumers on the other as reflected in our priority on unfair contract terms in consumer and small business contracts,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

    Market concentration is a growing challenge across the Australian economy, not just in supermarkets and retail, but also in aviation, digital platforms, and many of our essential services.

    Australian consumers and small businesses are likely to feel the impact of any anti-competitive conduct in essential services on price, choice and quality of services. Therefore, in 2025 to 2026, the ACCC will continue to prioritise promoting competition in essential services with a focus on telecommunications, electricity, and gas.

    In addition to these cost of living measures, the ACCC will add a new priority, to address misleading surcharging practices and other add-on costs.

    “We have previously taken enforcement action against merchant surcharging that exceeds the cost of card acceptance. In the year ahead, our work will focus on increasing business compliance with the excessive card payment surcharging prohibition, and improving pricing practices to ensure all add on costs are appropriately disclosed,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

    Competition and merger reform contribute to a dynamic economy and lower prices

    “Greater competition in markets fuels economic dynamism and growth. This is the key principle on which Australia’s competition policy, and the ACCC’s role in enforcing it, rests.”

    “That’s why we use our tools in competition policy and consumer fair trading to achieve the best outcomes,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

    “When markets are not workably competitive, Australian customers, whether consumers or businesses, pay the price. When businesses compete with each other to meet consumer needs, they are incentivised to innovate and improve, to offer greater choice, lower prices and better quality products and services that deliver value for the money consumers choose to spend.”

    “Competition promotes higher growth rates, higher household incomes and a strong Australian economy. And competition contributes to a better standard of living and a better way of life.”

    Therefore, one of the enduring ACCC priorities is to address anti-competitive agreements and practices, misuse of market power and cartel conduct so that competition may be fostered at all levels of the supply chain.

    After the passing of new merger legislation, voluntary notification of mergers will begin from 1 July 2025, ahead of the new regime coming into effect from 1 January 2026.

    “We acknowledge the challenges navigating this period and are committed to working with the community during the transition,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

    “Successfully and efficiently implementing the reform to the merger regime, promoting compliance with the new regime, and taking enforcement action, where necessary, will be a significant focus for us in the coming year.”

    In addition to these key priorities, the ACCC will continue its work on product safety, consumer and fair trading issues in the digital economy, with a focus on misleading or deceptive advertising within influencer marketing, online reviews, in-app purchases and unsafe consumer products.

    Promoting choice, compliant sales practices and removing unfair contract terms such as subscription traps in online sales, is a key focus for the ACCC.

    The focus on consumer, fair trading and competition concerns in relation to environmental claims and sustainability will also continue, with a new emphasis on greenwashing, as will a range of other priorities.

    “In the year ahead, as we progress the priorities I have outlined today, we will continue to use our full range of tools and powers available under Australia’s Competition and Consumer Act and the Australian Consumer Law, and to exercise our enforcement powers independently, in the public interest, and with integrity and professionalism,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

    “We will also continue, as always, to remain clear eyed in our purpose to enhance competition across our economy, to promote the welfare of consumers and small businesses and to make markets work for all Australians.”

    More information including the full list of the ACCC’s 2025-26 enforcement priorities is available at Compliance and enforcement policy and priorities.

    A summary is also available at 2025-26 Compliance and Enforcement Priorities.

    A transcript of the speech is available online.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Transcript-Press conference, Frankston

    Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

    JODIE BELYEA: Good morning. Jodie Belyea, the Federal MP for Dunkley here, with the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, the Honourable Catherine King. And we’re here today to announce a $923,000 funding initiative into the Tower Hill Road precinct in Frankston South. Each day, this one kilometre stretch of road sees over 2000 students from Overport Primary and Frankston High School come to this area to and from school. It’s very congested, sometimes unsafe, so this funding is going to ensure that people can walk, ride and drive through this area in a safe and orderly manner so that everyone gets to school easily.

    And now I’m going to hand over to the Minister to talk a bit more about the whole initiative.

    CATHERINE KING: Yeah, thanks very much, Jodie. It’s great to be here and particularly also with Councillor Brad Hill as well – it’s part of his ward. And really this project that we’re funding here, and I’ll talk a little bit about the program all up, but just over $923,000 really is the Active Transport Fund. It’s been out for competitive expressions of interest, basically expressions of application. And basically what we’ve seen with a project like this is exactly what we’ve been looking for, trying to make sure we’re making our transport to schools safer, trying to make sure that we’ve got people who are in cars can actually slow down around schools, and also really utilise the amenities in your neighbourhoods much better. So this is a great example. It’s part of $21 million we’re announcing today across the state of Victoria, out of the Active Transport Fund.

    Further south there’s a project in Phillip Island, some $980,000 there for Bass Coast Shire, particularly for Cowes. And that will really help with the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program there– we’ve done down the Esplanade, again, making it more walkable, less people, less reliant on cars. Ararat Rural Council, there’s some funding going to them there for the Ararat on the move strategy, something that that council has been working on for a while.

    This program was very highly sought after, so I do want to particularly commend the Frankston City Council and the officers, but also Brad, because he almost did a little dance before when we saw him about this project. This has been on your list for a while, Brad. Really commend the council officers. These are really important ways in which we’re actually making the neighbourhood safer, but we’re also giving people back your amenity so that you can move around. You can use your bike, you can push your pusher. If you’ve got a walker, you can walk safely in your neighbourhoods, and you don’t have to rely on your car so much. And that’s really what the Active Transport Fund is all about.

    BRAD HILL: Fantastic. Thank you. Brad Hill, local ward councillor, and I am really, happy this project now gets some traction. And, you know, it ticks all the boxes. It links the sporting precinct. It links our community centre, it links the primary school, it links Frankston High School. It links the surrounding streets right up to the end of where Moorooduc Road is, where the existing path network is. So it provides safe connectivity for all those kids walking, riding. But it’s not just about bikes. It’s not just about kids and community centres and sporting clubs. It’s also about mothers with prams. It’s also about people who can’t walk properly, uh, people who have to ride a disability scooter. So it just ticks so many boxes. And it’s clear to me this project was selected on its merits for all those reasons. So I’m really, really happy. And I thank the Minister today for the announcement.

    CATHERINE KING: You are welcome.

    JOURNALIST: Councillor, how long has this project been in the works?

    BRAD HILL: A few years now. The council has a strategy for linking together our disparate network of shared user paths. We’ve been very clear what the strategy is, and yeah, it’s a few years now, and there’s a few more to go.

    JOURNALIST: Jodie, how do you think your community is going to respond to this?

    JODIE BELYEA: They’ll be thrilled. I have lived and worked in this area for some time, and I’m a local resident in this ward, so I know how congested this gets, having seen and lived in this area. So they’ll be thrilled. Safety first. And active transport.

    BRAD HILL: Exactly. It’ll encourage people to leave their homes more than perhaps they were before. That’s what I think. Yeah.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Strict measures in place ahead of national exam

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The Ministry of Education has stipulated several measures to ensure fairness and order in the upcoming National College Entrance Examination. This year’s exam will be held from June 7-8, the ministry announced on Wednesday.
    The National College Entrance Examination, or gaokao, is a crucial test for Chinese students, serving as the primary gateway to higher education and a major determinant of their future. The high-stakes exam is key to university admissions, significantly impacting career prospects, social standing and overall life trajectory.
    According to a recent notice from the ministry, authorities will take strict measures to prevent and crack down on cheating.
    The notice stipulates that intelligent security gates be fully deployed and wireless signals effectively shielded at examination sites, with real-time intelligent patrols and inspections conducted at testing locations.
    To promote fairness, the document calls for strict measures against “exam migrants”, or students who register to take the test in a different province to improve their chances of admission to top universities. High schools are responsible for strictly regulating student records and investigating “ghost enrollments”, where students enroll in one school while being registered at another, the notice said.
    This phenomenon is driven by disparities in gaokao difficulty and university admission quotas across different provinces and regions, with some areas seen as having easier exams or higher chances of admission to prestigious universities.
    The notice also calls for improved oversight in selecting top-tier innovative talent at universities. A comprehensive system for identifying, cultivating and evaluating such students will be established, along with pilot programs, such as youth talent initiatives.
    To maintain a positive exam environment, the notice strictly prohibits promotions or publicity about “top scorers” or high school “enrollment rates”. Teachers and students should not be rewarded based on exam scores, and admission rates should not be linked to teacher evaluations, awards or promotions, according to the document.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China reveals cases on military facilities’ protection

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    China’s top court disclosed five influential cases involving the protection of military facilities to further enhance the public awareness of national defense and the rule of law.

    “Military facilities are an important component of national defense construction, serving as the foundation of the military to fulfill its missions, and providing crucial support for national strategic capabilities and military operations,” the Supreme People’s Court said on Wednesday.

    “The disclosure of the cases not only emphasizes the significance of protecting military facilities, but also demonstrates the steadfast determination and relentless efforts of Chinese courts in safeguarding national defense interests,” it added.

    It revealed that crimes involving the destruction of military facilities, such as military optical cables, have occurred from time to time in recent years. “Such actions endanger military security and affecting the military ability to carry out its missions, so they must be severely punished,” it noted.

    One disclosed case showed that a defendant surnamed Xu was sentenced to 18 months in prison for the crime of sabotage of military communications.

    Xu, who worked for an information technology company, was responsible for the daily inspection and maintenance of optical cable lines. He used metal pliers to cut a military optical cable during one inspection with the intention of selling it, causing the interruption of critical business systems for over two hours and disrupting military communications for three units that were conducting exercises.

    Xu’s actions resulted in economic losses of more than 40,000 yuan ($5,490), and the loss of the involved optical cable amounted to over 9,000 yuan.

    “Military communication is the method by which the armed forces use communication tools or other means to transmit information for command purposes,” the top court said, stressing that military optical cables are vital military communication facilities.

    “In the information age, the damage to military optical cables can have significant adverse effects on military communications and activities, not only causing financial losses but also severely influencing the readiness and training of troops, thereby endangering national defense interests and national security,” it added.

    It praised the conviction and sentence given to Xu, noting that the ruling has shown the judicial high-pressure on those who harm national defense interests and military combat effectiveness.

    While requiring courts nationwide to continue the fight against such crime, it has also called on more people from all walks of life to strengthen the protection of military facilities.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: With Whyalla steelworks forced into administration, Australia has crucial decisions to make on the future of its steel industry

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Geoffrey Brooks, Professor of Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology

    Alex Cimbal/Shutterstock

    Whyalla is a proud steel town. The steelworks physically dominates the townscape, and most jobs in the town are either directly at the steelworks or heavily reliant on it.

    In recent months, however, the steelworks have lurched from one setback to another, from serious technical problems that forced shutdowns to rising debts owed to suppliers and the state government.

    On Wednesday, the South Australian government forced Whyalla steelworks into administration. To do so, it quickly passed amendments to the Whyalla Steelworks Act. Current owner GFG Alliance will no longer operate the site.

    For me, someone intimately involved in the steel industry, the news that the steelworks has been put into administration is not a shock. This has been coming for some time.

    On Thursday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled a A$2.4 billion rescue package.

    A portion of this money will be used to address immediate debt issues and keep the plant afloat. But $1.9 billion has been earmarked for major, long-term infrastructure upgrades under a new owner.

    The next steps will be crucial if this vital component of Australia’s manufacturing infrastructure – and heart of the town of Whyalla – is to survive.

    How we got here

    Whyalla’s steelworks was founded by BHP and opened in 1941, originally concentrating on ship building. It later transitioned to producing structural and rail products during the 1970s and ‘80s.

    After the steel division was spun out of BHP in 2000, the steelworks operated under the OneSteel banner, which was renamed Arrium in 2012.

    The plant has been in decline for a couple of decades. Its products have had difficulty competing against overseas imports and there have been issues with the scale of production and costs.

    GFG Alliance took over Whyalla’s struggling steelworks in 2017, to great fanfare and optimism.

    GFG is led by Indian-born British billionaire Sanjeev Gupta, who owns steel plants across the world. Until recently, he was a relatively unknown figure in the steel industry, but rapidly built up a steel empire after buying his first major steel plant in the UK in 2013.

    Gupta’s business practices have recently drawn close scrutiny from regulators in the UK, particularly the financing arrangements for several of his businesses. GFG’s largest lender, Greensill Capital, collapsed in 2021.

    A failure to turn things around

    Upon purchasing the plant in 2017, GFG promised to invest in upgrading the equipment and move the steelworks towards “green” steel production.

    But these investments never materialised, and the operations have continued to lose money. There have also been significant operational issues over the past year, resulting in months of no production.

    These challenges have been compounded by what appears to be poor management of key equipment in the plant, particularly the blast furnace.

    The steelworks has been beset by technical issues over the past year.
    Adwo/Shutterstock

    Keeping blast furnaces running smoothly is one most important technical issues facing any steelmaker.

    A string of recent breakdowns, resulting in major production shutdowns in 2024, does not reflect well on GFG.

    On Wednesday, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said the state government had been forced to step in, given debts of more than $300 million owed by GFG and reports workers weren’t being paid.

    Still a valuable asset

    The town of Whyalla will be watching the outcome of the state and federal governments’ rescue plan with bated breath. If it’s not to be GFG, who should be trusted with taking over and running the steelworks?

    In such times, it is worth pointing out some of the key advantages of the plant that could make it an attractive asset to prospective owners.

    Whyalla has good port facilities, a major iron ore deposit (Middleback Range) nearby, and abundant renewable energy.

    It also has an experienced and trained workforce, with established product lines that are in demand (particularly rail steel).

    Bluescope has been touted as one potential new owner. But there is also likely to be foreign interest, given the potential for linking steel production to renewable energy in Whyalla.

    Taking Whyalla into the future

    The current scale of the Whyalla steelworks, about 1.2 million tonnes of raw steel per year, is simply too small to be competitive. It is operating in a market where plants producing more than 3 million tonnes per year are common.

    The plant’s product range could be broadened and raised in value by investing in key steelmaking equipment.

    The general shift towards green production routes also presents opportunities for Whyalla. The local abundance of solar energy is likely to be a significant advantage for the plant’s future.

    However, converting from the plant from its current coal-based technology to non-coal based technology (such as hydrogen ironmaking) will take significant investment and technical skill.

    Whyalla is close to iron ore deposits in the Middleback Range.
    Adwo/Shutterstock

    Opportunities for Australia

    Could Australia simply let the steelworks shut down and import its rail steel instead?

    That would draw parallels with Australia’s car manufacturing sector, which the government ultimately allowed to collapse. But I believe this position is unlikely to attract much support.

    For one, there would be an enormous human cost to the people of Whyalla. The town of 20,000 people would be economically devastated by the plant’s closure.

    There’s also a fear such a move would further weaken Australia’s ability to generate long-term wealth. Historically, the steel industry has been an important generator of long-term jobs and national wealth.

    And it would certainly be demoralising for our manufacturing sector. Australia has plentiful ore, energy and a huge railway network. We should be able to run a sustainable steel plant specialising in rail and structural steel.

    All these challenges need investment and strong technical leadership. The decisions taken by the state and federal government in the next few months will be vital for Whyalla’s future.

    Geoffrey Brooks receives funding from the HILT CRC, ARC Steel Innovation Hub and Victorian Hydrogen Hub for fundamental research into steelmaking. The Liberty GFG company and other steel companies financially invest into these research bodies and directly support some of his steelmaking research. He is also the Chairman of the Association of Iron and Steel Technology Australian and New Zealand Chapter. This organisation organises conferences and seminars on steelmaking topics. His activity in this Chapter is on a voluntary basis.

    – ref. With Whyalla steelworks forced into administration, Australia has crucial decisions to make on the future of its steel industry – https://theconversation.com/with-whyalla-steelworks-forced-into-administration-australia-has-crucial-decisions-to-make-on-the-future-of-its-steel-industry-250317

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Two in five scientists in our survey reported harassment and intimidation. Often, the perpetrators are inside the institution

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Hales, Director, Centre for Sustainable Enterprise, Griffith University

    Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock

    The goal of science is to uncover truths and create new knowledge. But this is not always welcome. Increasingly, scientific findings are being attacked or downplayed. And scientists themselves face intimidation or harassment.

    In our global study of more than 2,000 scientists across six areas of science, two-fifths (41%) of respondents had, as a result of their work, been harassed or intimidated at least once over a five-year period.

    Intimidation efforts included online abuse, physical threats, and threats to budgets or employment. Harassment, while personal, could be meted out by superiors, colleagues or outsiders. Some scientists felt their leaders had thrown them under the bus to protect the institution’s reputation.

    Who’s doing the intimidation? Strikingly, a majority of cases of intimidation and harassment actually came from inside the institution for most fields. That is, it was perpetrated by senior colleagues or managers. But for climate scientists, most intimidation efforts came from outside.

    Intimidation of scientists doesn’t happen in a vacuum. In recent years, there has been a rise in populist leaders who pour scorn on “elites” and evidence. Scientific issues are increasingly politicised. Disinformation is rampant. This atmosphere adds to the pressure faced by scientists, especially those working in politically sensitive areas such as climate science or COVID.

    Harassment and intimidation can silence or isolate scientists.
    Hayk_Shalunts/Shutterstock

    What did we find?

    We used an online database of scientists to find and contact experts publishing in six fields: climate science, medical health, humanities and social science, food and plant science, astronomy, and other STEM areas.

    More than 2,000 responded to our survey on whether they had experienced various types of intimidation or harassment. We asked respondents for more detail on the perpetrators, what triggered the incident, and what effect it had on them.

    Many respondents had a clear view as to what the intimidation or harassment was meant to do. The motivations of perpetrators varied greatly. But the most common reasons were to damage their reputation, to stop them from publishing certain types of research, or to “put me in my place”.

    Specific fields of science were more prone to harassment and intimidation – in particular climate science, and humanities and social science.

    Among those scientists who had been intimidated, climate scientists reported online abuse three times more often than astronomers. Climate science is politically charged, because climate change is clearly linked to pollution from some of the world’s largest industries – oil, gas and coal. Astronomy is not. Half of the climate scientist respondents experiencing intimidation saw the bad behaviour as a way to discourage them from undertaking specific research and speaking about it.

    Researchers from humanities and social sciences faced similar levels of online abuse to climate scientists.

    When it came to personal harassment, there was a clear gender dimension. Among those who reported experiencing harassment, female scientists were more than four times more likely to report “unwelcome or inappropriate behaviour of a sexual nature” than their male counterparts. Women were affected almost twice as much as men by non-sexual forms of personal harassment.

    Our findings follow earlier research finding similar rates of intimidation. For instance, a 2021 survey of 321 scientists working on COVID-19 found 15% had received death threats and 22% received threats of sexual violence.

    Intimidation and harassment are damaging

    The consequences of intimidation are profound and far-reaching. Many scientists told us the experience had caused lasting damage, whether to wellbeing, career prospects or research activities.

    More than 40% of those affected said their career prospects had worsened following incidents of harassment. Just over a third (34%) reported a decline in their desire to work in science. Scientists who experienced intimidation often cut back their collaboration with colleagues (35%), leaving them more isolated.

    Many of our respondents described flow-on effects such as decreased access to funding (35% of respondents) and less public communication from their institution about their work (23%).

    Scientists targeted with multiple types of harassment reported very damaging effects, from difficulty finding their next job to poor mental health.

    Intimidation slows progress

    Intimidation and harassment have a chilling effect on science. This, in turn, could hinder progress on crucial issues such as climate change, public health and technological advancements.

    The disproportionate impact on women and researchers in politically sensitive fields threatens to undermine diversity and inclusivity in science.

    Without targeted interventions, women in science may continue to suffer disproportionate levels of harassment and intimidation. This will have long-term implications for gender diversity in scientific leadership and the direction of research in various fields.

    In the United States, the Trump administration’s withdrawals from the Paris climate agreement and the World Health Organization are likely to further embolden anti-science movements. Many American scientific institutions are engaged in anticipatory obedience of the Trump administration’s demands that diversity and anti-discrimination programs be abolished, or climate change stop being mentioned. Many even go beyond what is explicitly sought.

    Female scientists are targeted in different ways.
    PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

    What can be done?

    Science and academia is often seen as a bastion of free inquiry and open discussion. One of our most surprising findings was how common intimidation was within scientific institutions.

    The key to beating intimidation is organisational support and clear strategies, not obedience. These include:

    • genuine commitment to institutional policies protecting scientists from both internal and external intimidation

    • formal, well-resourced support systems for researchers facing harassment or pressure (not the HR office)

    • programs to increase public understanding of the scientific process to build trust and resilience to misinformation

    • boosting international collaboration between scientists and policymakers to ensure resilience against country-specific efforts to undermine science

    • educating the public on the importance of scientific independence and of fostering respectful dialogue around contentious topics.

    As populist movements gain traction in many countries, scientists working on controversial issues will face heightened scrutiny – and potentially more intimidation.

    Climate science is likely to remain a particularly contested field. As the damage wrought by climate change becomes more and more apparent, it will get even more contentious.

    Over the last few centuries, science has produced breakthroughs in many areas. But the integrity of science is not guaranteed. Harassment and intimidation from both inside and outside institutions has a very real effect on scientists.

    The future of evidence-based decision-making and ability to tackle global challenges depends on fostering an environment where scientists can work free from fear and undue pressure.

    Robert Hale receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    David Peetz undertook research over many years with occasional financial support from governments from both sides of politics, employers and unions. He has been and is involved in several Australian Research Council-funded projects, including this one.

    Ian Lowe was president of the Australian Conservation Foundation from 2004 to 2014.

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

    – ref. Two in five scientists in our survey reported harassment and intimidation. Often, the perpetrators are inside the institution – https://theconversation.com/two-in-five-scientists-in-our-survey-reported-harassment-and-intimidation-often-the-perpetrators-are-inside-the-institution-248013

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: On Senate Floor, Shaheen Blasts Trump Administration’s Reckless Firing of FAA Personnel Critical to Aviation Safety

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

    (Washington, DC) – On the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) raised concerns for public safety after the Trump Administration recklessly decided to fire hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel critical to aviation safety. This week’s decision will further strain the system at a time when incidents and near-misses are at a high. Last week, Shaheen and U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) sent a bipartisan letter calling on Acting Administrator of the FAA, Chris Rochelau to urgently work with Congress to address air safety workforce staffing shortages. You can watch her remarks in full here. 

    Key Quotes:

    • “Many towers and facilities are operating buildings and on equipment that’s five, ten, even fifteen years old and when something goes wrong, they need to know there’s someone on call to fix things because lives literally depend on it. Americans need to know that the skies are secure and that their safety is a top priority.” 
    • “I think we should do everything we can to make government run efficiently and effectively. But indiscriminately freezing hiring across the board [and] pushing out thousands of civil servants makes that problem worse, not better.” 
    • “I don’t think people elected Donald Trump to dismantle this country’s air traffic control system. I think they elected him because they wanted to see inflation go down, they wanted to see their grocery prices reduced, they wanted to see help with rental costs, mortgage rates, with energy costs, and what have we seen in the weeks since Donald Trump got inaugurated? No effort to address any of those things.” 

    Full Remarks as Delivered:

    I come to the floor today to call attention to the Trump Administration’s unconscionable disregard for air safety. 

    Last month, here in Washington, we saw the deadliest commercial aviation event on U.S. soil in over 23 years.

    And while this loss of life was horrifying, it was unfortunately not unimaginable. 

    In recent years, near misses at airports across the country have increased, and the incident at DCA illustrated just how quickly these dangerous situations can take a turn for the worst. 

    Several times last year, runway incidents were narrowly avoided, due in no small part to the heroic actions of certified professional air traffic controllers who staff our towers. 

    These controllers are hardworking Americans.

    They often log six-day weeks and ten-hour days—and that’s on a good week.

    So even before this week’s misguided and, frankly, stupid—I mean, I have to say, I think it’s a stupid decision to lay off hundreds of FAA workers and air traffic controllers who have been overworked and understaffed.

    And this is not a new problem.

    We’ve known about it for years. 

    For years in Congress, we’ve been sounding the alarm about the need to invest in our air traffic control workforce.  

    In last year’s FAA reauthorization bill, we worked in a bipartisan fashion to address this issue—to support our air traffic control workforce so they can do their vital, often lifesaving jobs effectively.

    By partnering with the National Air Traffic Control Union and the FAA, we successfully adopted a new staffing method, model, staffing model, in the reauthorization bill, and they’ve been making good progress, but of course we have more work to do.

    It’s important to acknowledge that any response to the tragedy at Reagan National Airport must include a commitment to reinforce all parts of our aviation safety workforce. 

    Controllers would be the first ones to tell you that they don’t work in a vacuum. 

    The equipment they use is maintained by hundreds of dedicated support personnel who go through years of highly specialized training.

    Many towers and facilities operate in buildings and on equipment that’s five, ten, even fifteen years old, and when something goes wrong, they need to know that there’s someone on call to fix things because lives literally depend on it.

    Americans need to know that the skies are secure and that their safety is a top priority. 

    Sadly, I can’t say that the actions we’re seeing from this administration does any of that. 

    Secretary Duffy said he wants to surge air traffic controller hiring.  
     

    I agree with him on that. 

    We can and we should hire more air traffic controllers, but not at the expense of the rest of FAA’s workforce. 

    We can hire any number of air traffic controllers tomorrow, but without the dedicated support staff that make their work possible, it wouldn’t matter. 

    So how is the Administration responding to the American people’s distress over increasingly frequent close calls and, indeed crashes, sadly, like the one we saw in Toronto this week?

    Well, over the weekend this administration fired nearly 400 FAA employees, some of them in my state of New Hampshire. 

    We heard an outpouring of concern over the weekend from controllers, pilots, airlines and passengers who want to know that they’re going to be safe when they fly.

    I’m sure the Administration must be hearing this too.

    But when asked about the impact of the irresponsible and reckless effort, this is what Secretary Duffy had to say, he said and I quote, “zero critical safety personnel were let go.”

    Well, so I’m not sure I understand this. 

    We’re telling the American people that if a communications system goes down while the plane is approaching the runway, the person who knows how to get it back up and running isn’t critical?

    That if the power goes out at an en-route facility while 747s are flying overhead, the eighteen fired maintenance personnel who know how to turn the lights back on won’t be necessary?

    That the staffers who develop innovative safety and flight procedures every time there is an incident, to make sure your plane takes off on time and arrives safely, are fair game to be fired?

    Because we just lost 13 of them. 

    And to anyone who’s worried about our national security, good news: According to this administration, the FAA employees working on a classified radar system to detect cruise missiles, aren’t all that important either, and they also were fired.

    So I’m going to say that again because this administration thinks that the civil servants at the FAA’s National Airspace System Defense Program are apparently not critical to our safety. 

    None of this makes me or my constituents sleep better at night, but I bet you it makes our enemies happy. 

    The Administration has tried to defend this by saying that everyone who [they] fired was probationary.

    They’d like you to believe that these are all brand-new employees. 

    Sort of the philosophy that the last one in, is the first one out. 

    But that’s not how the system works, and it sure as heck isn’t how you keep Americans safe. 

    In fact, employees who were promoted based on stellar performance within the last year, many of them who have been with the FAA for ten or fifteen years, are also labeled as probationary employees when they start their new positions.

    So in fact, the Administration just fired some of the people with the most experience, not the least.

    And this speaks to what is a bigger problem. 

    Time and again, we’re seeing this happen with so-called “government efficiency,” in quotes, experts. 

    Listen, like most of us in this chamber, I think we should do everything we can to make government run efficiently and effectively, but indiscriminately freezing hiring across the board, pushing out thousands of civil servants, makes that problem worse, not better. 

    Last week, hundreds of employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration were fired without warning. 

    This week, the Administration is scrambling to try and hire most of them back because they didn’t realize they oversee our nuclear stockpile.

    And the Department of Energy fired more than a thousand employees, including three-quarters of the State and Community Energy Program’s office.

    Now, I don’t know if the people who are making these decisions in the Administration even know what that office does.

    But I can tell you that in New Hampshire we depend on them because they help keep weatherization programs up and running, they support emergency operations in the wake of disasters.

    And with folks in New Hampshire dealing with some of the highest home heating costs, who are worried about how they’re going to keep themselves warm this winter, and states around the country still recovering from floods and fires and winter storms, I can’t imagine why anybody would think that it’s a good idea to get rid of the people who are helping make sure those programs operate. 

    And then on Monday, we found out that dozens of USDA employees, so the Department of Agriculture, who have been working to prevent bird flu, were fired. 

    And then the White House realized what they had done, they panicked and they tried to bring them back. 

    Now that’s on top of all of the people around the globe who have been monitoring the bird flu potential epidemic—who have already been fired with the closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development.

    And just this afternoon, we heard that nearly 500 employees at the National Institute of Standards and Technology would be fired, including almost 60 percent of the CHIPS office.

    So the effort that we stood up, that this Congress stood up, to try and make sure we could compete with China, with Taiwan in the production of semiconductors, which are included in almost everything we use from our cell phones to our refrigerators to our cars, 60 percent of those people are now gone.

    So who’s going to provide that effort that we need in order to compete with China? 

    These are the staff that make sure our high-tech semiconductor manufacturing industry stays competitive. 

    Example after example shows that the firings that Elon Musk has taken credit for have not been thought through. 

    Either he’s doing it deliberately in an effort to undermine the United States or he’s doing it because he’s so ignorant he has no idea what any of these people do or what their operations do.

    Either way, it’s inexcusable. 

    I heard from a constituent this week who works, who worked, past tense, for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department for 24 years, and she just took a job as a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service last year. 

    Her job focused on implementing the Pittman-Robinson Wildlife Restoration Act. 

    As my colleagues on both sides of the aisle know, this involves conserving bird and wildlife habitat, hunter education and shooting ranges. 

    Its funds come not from taxpayer dollars, but from excise taxes on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment.

    And yet, her job was terminated under the guise of government efficiency. 

    She has a mortgage; she has kids in college who need health care coverage, but her main ask to me was to help put a stop to these firings and to simply help her get her job back because like most of our public servants, she cares about the mission of her work.

    Over and over, we’re seeing this administration take out irresponsible, reckless initiatives with devastating consequences for critical positions without taking a second to think through or learn about what those positions do. 

    And when things inevitably break as a result, they don’t own up to their mistakes. 

    Instead, they try to convince you that keeping the lights on at control towers or inspecting airplane engines, making plans to manage some of the busiest airspace in the country really isn’t critical to your safety. 

    Well, I don’t believe that and I don’t think you should either. 

    For the sake of the American people, we can and we must do better.

    I don’t think people elected Donald Trump to dismantle this country’s air traffic control system. 

    I think they elected him because they wanted to see inflation go down, they wanted to see their grocery prices reduced, they wanted to see help with rental costs, with mortgage rates, with energy costs and what have we seen in the weeks since Donald Trump got inaugurated?

    No effort to address any of those things. 

    All we’ve seen is an effort at retribution against his perceived enemies, at firing and undermining of services and programs within the government to serve the American people. 

    For the sake of our citizens, we must do better. 

    I’m calling on this administration to right this wrong as quickly as possible, before it’s too late. 

    I yield the floor.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: SH3 Rukuhia rebuild is flying ahead

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    From Monday 24 February, both lanes of a short section of State Highway 3 (SH3) between Rukuhia Road and Narrows Road near Hamilton airport will be rebuilt and closed to southbound traffic for approximately 4 weeks.

    The rebuild work involves digging out the existing road layers and replacing them layer by layer. The road is then surfaced, swept and line marked. 

    The work will be completed 1 lane at a time. The lane not being worked on will be open to northbound traffic at all times. A 24/7 southbound detour will be in place for light vehicles via Raynes Road and State Highway 21 Airport Road, to re-join SH3, adding approximately 7 minutes to journeys between Hamilton and Te Awamutu.  

    The intersection of SH21 Airport Road and Raynes Road will be under stop/go between 7.30am and 6.00pm each weekday. 

    Any residents travelling southbound will be required to use the detour route to travel north to access their properties. We will make sure that Rukuhia Road will remain open at all times, but it will be left turn in and left turn out only. Once 1 lane is completed, work will switch to the other lane meaning that northbound traffic will stay on SH3 at all times. 

    HPMV’s, overweight and over dimension vehicles will be stacked and allowed through the worksite with the buses, however up to 30 minute delays should be expected.  

    If you are heading to the airport to catch a flight, you may want to leave a few minutes earlier as there will be additional travel time related to this worksite as well as the works at Ōhaupō Village, which are still underway. 

    These works form part of the government’s $2.07 billion investment into road and drainage renewal and maintenance across 2024-27 via the State Highway Pothole Prevention fund.  

    NZTA thanks road users for their patience.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Three people taken into custody on Karangahape Road

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Three people have been arrested following a firearms incident in Herne Bay this afternoon.

    At around 1.30pm, information was received that a man was carrying a firearm on Hamilton Road.

    A Police camera operator observed the man getting into a vehicle and tracked it travelling along Jervois Road.

    Police units conducted an armed traffic stop on Karangahape Road.

    As the traffic stop was being carried out, a passenger ran from the vehicle and attempted to get into a vehicle passing by.

    Our staff prevented this from occurring and arrested the 35-year-old man, who had an outstanding warrant for his arrest.

    No injuries have been reported.

    Police arrested two other occupants of the vehicle, a man and woman aged 30, without incident.

    On searching the vehicle, Police have recovered a paintball gun.

    Charges are being considered for what has unfolded this afternoon.

    ENDS

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: St. Louis Area Doctor Sentenced for Health Care Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Wednesday sentenced a doctor who ran two urgent care centers in the St. Louis area to 35 months in prison for defrauding Medicare and Missouri Medicaid and ordered him to repay $742,528.

    Dr. Sonny Saggar, 57, will also be on supervised release for three years after he leaves prison.

    Saggar pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in August to one count of conspiracy. He admitted that while operating St. Louis General Hospital (SLGH) locations in downtown St. Louis and near Creve Coeur, he and his office manager hired assistant physicians (APs) to see patients but billed Medicare and Missouri Medicaid as if Dr. Saggar had seen them, even when he was out of town. APs are medical school graduates who have not completed a residency program. To legally practice medicine in Missouri, they are required to be closely supervised by a licensed physician under written collaborative practice arrangements (CPAs) that restrict the AP’s ability to provide medical services and limit their practice areas to medically underserved rural or urban areas.

    Dr. Saggar admitted hiring “numerous” APs from July 2018 to July 2023 to work at the SLGH locations, which he and office manager Renita Barringer advertised as both urgent and primary care facilities and as a “residency prep” program and a “stepping stone” for the APs. Dr. Saggar admitted that APs were not properly trained or supervised and that he and Barringer advised them to consult each other on their medical questions. One physician can legally supervise no more than six APs, so Dr. Saggar offered stipends of up to $480 per month to various physicians to induce them to sign up to be collaborating physicians, and then submitted CPA forms to the Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts to falsely make it appear as if the APs were being properly supervised. He admitted that the Creve Coeur location is not medical underserved and thus APs are not permitted to work there.

    Finally, Dr. Saggar admitted that in January of 2022, he hired a doctor who had been indicted in another case to be the sole collaborating physician at the Creve Coeur location but did not disclose to Medicaid that the co-conspirator was performing services there. That physician’s billing privileges with Medicaid had been suspended.

    The conduct of Dr. Saggar and Barringer caused a loss to Medicare and Missouri Medicaid of $742,528.

    “Today’s sentencing underscores our commitment to ensuring that providers are held accountable for submitting fraudulent claims for financial gain and for deliberately concealing critical information about healthcare professionals,” said Special Agent in Charge Linda T. Hanley of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).  “HHS-OIG, in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement agencies, will continue working together to safeguard the integrity of the Medicare and Medicaid programs.”

    “This crime went beyond bilking taxpayer funded healthcare programs. Dr. Sonny Saggar risked the well-being of patients with urgent medical needs. He knew his assistant physicians were not qualified to see patients without supervision,” said Special Agent in Charge Ashley Johnson of the FBI St. Louis Division. “To add further insult to injury, Dr. Saggar falsely claimed he was the one who saw the patients so he could bill Medicare and Medicaid.”

    “Doctors are expected to follow a certain code of conduct and obey the laws and regulations put in place to protect their clients,” DEA St. Louis Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Davis said. “Our investigation shows that Dr. Saggar broke with protocol and endangered lives with his negligence. As a result of his misconduct, he was arrested, surrendered his DEA Certificate of Registration, can no longer prescribe controlled substances and faces nearly three years in federal prison.”

    Barringer, 51, pleaded guilty in December to one count of conspiracy. She is scheduled to be sentenced on April 22.

    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Missouri Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Sestric is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese scientists discover ‘rocket effect’

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Chinese scientists have attributed the sudden movement of a boulder on the surface of a comet to a phenomenon known as the “rocket effect,” which resulted from the asymmetric outburst of volatile ice inside the boulder.
    The findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal, are based on data captured by the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Rosetta mission during its two-year close flyby and observation of the comet 67P from 2014 to 2016.
    In 2015, ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft detected the boulder shifting approximately 140 meters northward near the comet’s perihelion. A team led by Shi Xian from the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences analyzed high-resolution images and thermal data, concluding that uneven sublimation of volatile ice within the boulder generated thrust, propelling it across the surface.
    The main body of a comet is its nucleus. When it is far from the sun, the comet is just the bare nucleus. As it gets closer to the sun, the ice within the nucleus sublimates, carrying dust to form a coma around the nucleus and trailing a tail behind it.
    By analyzing the thermodynamic history of the boulder and its surrounding area, the research team discovered an asymmetry in the heat accumulation on the northern and southern sides of the boulder. When moving, its inner temperature on the southern side reached a peak, while the northern side remained unusually cold.
    Based on these findings, the researchers proposed a novel mechanism for boulder movement: the volatile ice within the boulder undergoes intense outburst on one side due to asymmetric heating. This process creates a “rocket effect,” generating a net thrust directed downward along the northern slope, which triggers the boulder’s long-distance movement.
    The team also mapped out a detailed timeline of activity and changes in the area where the boulder moved. They noticed that during and after the boulder’s movement, there were frequent outbursts of dust nearby at night, which likely happened because the boulder’s movement exposed icy layers beneath it.
    As remnants of the primordial solar system, comets tell a lot about the early stage of solar system, making them crucial subjects for studying the formation and evolution of planetary systems, Shi said.
    “As our research progresses, we’re discovering unexpectedly diverse comet activities. Understanding the mechanisms behind these could help us unveil the mysteries of the solar system’s evolution and the origins of life,” Shi added. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Cross-border telecom fraud gang stands trial

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A total of 23 defendants, including key members of several major telecom fraud groups based in northern Myanmar stood trial in China on multiple charges including crimes that had killed 14 Chinese nationals and injured six others.

    Members of a telecom fraud criminal gang stand trial at Wenzhou Intermediate People’s Court in Zhejiang province. The six-day trial closed on Wednesday. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A local court in Wenzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, heard the case from Feb. 14 to 19.
    The defendants included Mg Myin Shaunt Phyin and Ma Thiri Maung, ringleaders of a criminal gang led by their family, as well as major members of the gang and members of other related gangs who served as the “sponsors” of the family’s criminal activities.
    They were facing 11 counts of criminal charges including fraud, intentional homicide, intentional injury, illegal detention, operating casinos, drug trafficking, and organizing prostitution.
    According to the prosecutors, the defendants took advantage of the family’s influence in relevant areas in northern Myanmar and set up several compounds to house criminal gangs, providing armed protection for the operations of the “sponsors” and colluding with them in relevant crimes, such as telecom fraud schemes targeting people in China.
    The gambling and fraud crimes involved funds of more than 10 billion yuan (about 1.4 billion U.S. dollars) and caused the deaths of 14 Chinese nationals and injuries to six other Chinese, the indictment said.
    In a high-profile incident, on Oct. 20, 2023, the gang, in collaboration with the “sponsors,” organized armed escorts to relocate people working for their gangs in an attempt to evade an upcoming crackdown.
    During the relocation, some individuals attempted to escape but were shot by the armed escorts, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries.
    At the trial, prosecutors presented evidence and each defendant and their lawyers examined it. Both sides gave their respective accounts, and the defendants made their respective final statements.
    More than 100 people, including Chinese legislators, political advisors, journalists, family members of those involved, and members of the public, observed the court proceedings.
    The verdict will be announced in due course.
    In addition to the latest trial, several thousand other suspects linked to the criminal groups have been put under investigation after they were linked to more than 10,000 reported telecom fraud cases.
    A prior official statement emphasized that the handling of the case reflects China’s dedication to protecting the legitimate rights and interests of the nation and its citizens.
    The crimes partially took place within Chinese borders, specifically targeted Chinese citizens, and jeopardized the shared interests of the international community, thus granting China jurisdiction under its Criminal Law and international treaties, according to procuratorial sources. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Lebanon recovers three antiquities from Switzerland

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Lebanon’s Ministry of Culture received on Wednesday three archaeological artifacts confiscated by Swiss authorities, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported.

    The artifacts, which had been illegally removed from Lebanon, include a blue glass bottle with raised decorations, a small headless statue of the goddess Aphrodite dating from the 2nd-3rd century BC, and a small bronze statue from the 2nd century BC.

    The handover is part of the Ministry of Culture’s efforts to protect Lebanon’s cultural heritage and was coordinated with the Lebanese Embassy in Switzerland, according to the NNA.

    The ministry reiterated its commitment to combating the illicit trafficking of cultural property and recovering looted artifacts.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: NZ has long suffered from low productivity. A simple fix is keeping workers happy

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dougal Sutherland, Clinical Psychologist, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

    bbernard/Shutterstock

    The low-productivity bogeyman has long haunted New Zealand, with people working longer hours for lower output than other comparable countries. The country is now one of the least productive in the OECD.

    At its most basic level, productivity measures how much output can be produced with a set of inputs. The inputs can be the work of staff, as well as technical innovation, research and development and automation to encourage more efficient processes.

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has committed to resolving this persistent productivity crisis with science sector reforms and overseas investment.

    But after decades of lagging behind the rest of the world, a growing body of research shows the answer could lie in greater support for workers’ mental health.

    Linking productivity and mental health

    For many, increasing productivity equates to people working “harder” for longer hours – the implication being that if only we “pulled finger” and “knuckled down” the country’s productivity would magically increase.

    Instead, could the answer to our productivity crisis be in improving the psychological functioning and mental health of our workforce?

    There is a substantial body of evidence showing poor mental health is related to poor productivity. Recent New Zealand data show workers with the poorest mental health lost more than three times the number of productive workdays annually (71 days) than those with the highest mental health (19 days).

    Poor mental health can take a toll in the form of time away from work (absenteeism), loss of focus, and emotional exhaustion (presenteeism).

    Conversely, measures taken by employers to improve the mental health of workers show a strong positive relationship with increased productivity.

    Data from more than 1,600 publicly listed companies in the United States found employee wellbeing predicts higher company valuations, return on assets, gross profits and stock market performance.

    Of those interventions used to improve mental health and productivity at work, the most promising appear to target leadership capability, health screening and psycho-socially healthy working environments.

    One of the more notable initiatives happened in our own backyard. Andrew Barnes from Perpetual Guardian has been a vocal proponent of four-day work week.

    This doesn’t mean packing a 40-hour week into four days instead of five. Rather, its central tenet is reducing the working week (usually to 32 hours), keeping workers’ salaries at 100%, and continuing productivity at 100% (at least) of its existing level.

    Results from a pilot with 61 companies in the United Kingdom show an average increase of 36% per annum in revenue for participating businesses, with over 90% of UK businesses that have trialled the programme choosing to continue with it.

    Similarly positive results came from a widespread trial of a shorter working week (at full pay) in Iceland, involving 1% of the working population, including office workers, teachers, and healthcare workers.

    The four-day work week trial in Iceland has been heralded as a success.
    Canadastock/Shutterstock

    More than a ‘nice-to-have’

    But despite the need to improve productivity and the growing business case for improving employee wellbeing, demand for organisational mental health services has dipped.

    Anecdotally, organisations involved in supporting the mental health of New Zealand workplaces have reported a decrease in demand, with many businesses and government agencies citing budget constraints as a major barrier to investing in this area.

    This is likely a sign of the economic times, with more than three-quarters of New Zealand business leaders citing economic uncertainty as a key threat to their organisation in 2025.

    To some, providing psychological support to workplaces may appear frivolous at worst, and a “nice-to-have” at best. Understanding the mechanisms by which these interventions can boost productivity may help dispel these doubts.

    If we consider some of the core symptoms of poor mental health at work – namely exhaustion, reduced focus and greater sickness absence – it’s easy to see how improving workers’ mental health can improve the productivity of a business.

    Maintaining workers

    The idea of sustainable labour practices isn’t new or radical, nor is it just another attempt to load businesses with extra responsibility for worker mental health.

    It is a way to enable people to work more efficiently in the time they have, and to keep them in their jobs for longer. In turn, this improves overall company performance and, crucially, improves population health.

    For many businesses, people are their biggest asset. Ensuring your biggest asset is functioning well is as essential to enhancing productivity as regular maintenance and capital expenditure on physical machinery and buildings.

    Like any business strategy worth its while, it’s not always easy. But there is too much at stake not to get it right.

    Dougal Sutherland is an Honorary Teaching Fellow at Te Herenga Waka. He is also Principal Psychologist at Umbrella Wellbeing.

    Dr Amanda Wallis from Umbrella Wellbeing contributed to this article

    – ref. NZ has long suffered from low productivity. A simple fix is keeping workers happy – https://theconversation.com/nz-has-long-suffered-from-low-productivity-a-simple-fix-is-keeping-workers-happy-248752

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: National Energy Dominance Council Paves Way for Unleashing American Energy

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Last week, President Donald J. Trump established the National Energy Dominance Council — a cornerstone in the Trump Administration’s pursuit of unleashing American energy. Led by Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, the Council will play a key role in the Trump Administration’s work to lower energy prices, meet the rising demand for affordable energy, strengthen economic security, and ensure the American energy industry is best positioned as a global leader over the next century.
    The move was hailed by lawmakers, workers, and industry:
    House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY): “Energy security is national security. By utilizing our domestic energy resources to create baseload power, we can lower prices, secure our grid, and provide the energy needed to grow manufacturing, heat our homes, and fill our gas tanks. The creation of this council under the leadership of Secretary Wright and Secretary Burgum is a strong step toward securing our energy future, and ensuring we have the resources necessary to meet the demands that AI will place on our grid. President Trump is continuing to fulfill his promise to the American people to return our nation to energy dominance, and I look forward to working together to achieve that goal.”
    American Exploration and Production Council: “Our nation is stronger, more secure, and more prosperous when America is the world leader in energy production, and AXPC applauds the Trump administration’s recognition that a whole of government approach is necessary to address the challenges related to American energy dominance. Sound energy policy across agencies will support our ability to meet rising national and global demand for affordable, reliable energy. We will continue to work with Congress and the Trump administration and the new National Energy Dominance Council on sensible, durable policies that allow American energy companies to continue to innovate and produce the energy America needs.”
    North America’s Building Trades Unions: “North America’s Building Trades Unions look forward to engaging with the National Energy Dominance Council recently established by the White House. This effort, chaired by Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and vice-chaired by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, comes at a critical moment for our nation. As our country’s energy demands continue to rise and we work to meet the needs of artificial intelligence, confront rising adversarial powers, and provide our citizenry with stable and affordable energy, we at NABTU are ready to meet the moment. The men and women of the Building Trades have built the existing energy infrastructure of this nation and are eager to partner with this Council to provide the highly skilled workforce necessary to advance America’s all-of-the-above energy strategy and bring about the next generation of expanded, domestic and affordable power supply.”
    National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson: “We are thrilled that President Trump has established the National Energy Dominance Council to tackle some of the biggest energy policy challenges facing our nation. Electricity demand is skyrocketing, yet due to bad policy decisions, always-available baseload power is being forced to retire before it can be reliably replaced. As a result, much of the country faces an increased risk of energy shortfalls over the next decade. Under the leadership of Chairman Doug Burgum and Vice Chairman Chris Wright, the Council is perfectly positioned to address the growing threats to reliable and affordable power. We believe the Executive Order’s focus on improving key processes, including those for permitting, producing and distributing American energy, is exactly the right place to start.”
    United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters General President Mark McManus: “The men and women of the United Association are the best trained and most highly skilled craftspeople in the energy industry, and for generations we have built the critical infrastructure that delivers affordable domestic energy to our homes and businesses across the nation. We are now poised to deliver the next generation of energy production at this critical point in our nation’s history, but all too often government red tape and environmental activist groups stand in the way of these good paying and family-sustaining jobs. We look forward to working with President Trump and the new National Energy Dominance Council to cut government red tape and modernize our permitting processes to boost domestic production of critical energy like oil, gas, hydrogen, carbon capture, and nuclear, and to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy.”
    Power The Future Executive Director Daniel Turner: “The National Energy Dominance Council is a long-overdue course correction that prioritizes American energy workers, revitalizes domestic production, and ensures affordability for families. The NEDC has the opportunity to right the many wrongs of the Biden administration’s failures by working alongside the private sector to create policies that increase production, drive down costs, and protect the environment. By cutting through burdensome regulations and anti-energy mandates, the NEDC will unleash America’s full energy potential and pave the way for an era of prosperity, affordability, and innovation.”
    National Association of Manufacturers President Jay Timmons: “President Trump is moving quickly to unleash America’s full energy potential by establishing the National Energy Dominance Council, setting America up to lead on energy and secure our energy independence. This action demonstrates President Trump and his administration’s commitment to ensuring manufacturers have the energy they need to drive economic growth. […] The National Energy Dominance Council, under the leadership of Interior Secretary Burgum and Energy Secretary Wright, will help power the future of manufacturing in America because when manufacturing wins, America wins.”
    Competitive Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Marlo Lewis: “This is welcome news. Unlike the previous administration, which increased US reliance on oil imports from OPEC and critical minerals from China by rigging domestic markets against reliable energy from fossil fuels, President Trump seeks to emancipate all sources of reliable American energy to compete in domestic and overseas markets. The president also seeks to accelerate the permitting of new energy infrastructure, including the power plants needed to support hundreds of new data centers and US leadership in artificial intelligence. President Trump is correct that clearing away impediments to America’s global leadership in energy production and exports will lower energy prices, enhance US economic security, create millions of new well-paying jobs, and strengthen US competitiveness in advanced technologies such as AI.”
    Growth Energy: “#ICYMI last week @POTUS established the National Energy Dominance Council, noting that #biofuels ‘reduce our dependency on foreign imports, and grow our economy’ – #ethanol producers are ready to deliver for American consumers and the president’s priorities!”
    Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council: “The National Energy Dominance Council is greatly needed to promptly reduce onerous barriers and rules that work against an abundant energy supply. Rather than federal government agencies finding ways to expand their regulatory turf and stymie the energy sector, the Council is tasked with reducing outdated red tape and moving with speed on recommendations and action, which will facilitate the significant investment needed for big projects. A modern regulatory system and commitment to U.S. energy supremacy will generate quality jobs, economic vibrancy and growth, and innovations that will yield efficiencies and cleaner energy. As both energy consumers and as significant players in the U.S. energy sector, small businesses will greatly benefit. SBE Council thanks President Trump for prioritizing this critical sector and for his commitment to more affordable, reliable and abundant energy for America.”
    Americans for Prosperity: “Coupled with earlier Executive Orders signed by President Trump, with this Order, the current administration is well on its way in laying the groundwork for a future where energy abundance can become a reality.  Americans for Prosperity applauds President Trump’s actions in this Executive Order and anticipates a bright future for energy production in this country.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Major members of northern Myanmar telecom fraud syndicates stand trial

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A total of 23 defendants, including key members of several major telecom fraud groups based in northern Myanmar stood trial in China on multiple charges including crimes that had killed 14 Chinese nationals and injured six others.
    A local court in Wenzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, heard the case from Feb. 14 to 19.
    The defendants included Mg Myin Shaunt Phyin and Ma Thiri Maung, ringleaders of a criminal gang led by their family, as well as major members of the gang and members of other related gangs who served as the “sponsors” of the family’s criminal activities.
    They were facing 11 counts of criminal charges including fraud, intentional homicide, intentional injury, illegal detention, operating casinos, drug trafficking, and organizing prostitution.
    According to the prosecutors, the defendants took advantage of the family’s influence in relevant areas in northern Myanmar and set up several compounds to house criminal gangs, providing armed protection for the operations of the “sponsors” and colluding with them in relevant crimes, such as telecom fraud schemes targeting people in China.
    The gambling and fraud crimes involved funds of more than 10 billion yuan (about 1.4 billion U.S. dollars) and caused the deaths of 14 Chinese nationals and injuries to six other Chinese, the indictment said.
    In a high-profile incident, on Oct. 20, 2023, the gang, in collaboration with the “sponsors,” organized armed escorts to relocate people working for their gangs in an attempt to evade an upcoming crackdown.
    During the relocation, some individuals attempted to escape but were shot by the armed escorts, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries.
    At the trial, prosecutors presented evidence and each defendant and their lawyers examined it. Both sides gave their respective accounts, and the defendants made their respective final statements.
    More than 100 people, including Chinese legislators, political advisors, journalists, family members of those involved, and members of the public, observed the court proceedings.
    The verdict will be announced in due course.
    In addition to the latest trial, several thousand other suspects linked to the criminal groups have been put under investigation after they were linked to more than 10,000 reported telecom fraud cases.
    A prior official statement emphasized that the handling of the case reflects China’s dedication to protecting the legitimate rights and interests of the nation and its citizens.
    The crimes partially took place within Chinese borders, specifically targeted Chinese citizens, and jeopardized the shared interests of the international community, thus granting China jurisdiction under its Criminal Law and international treaties, according to procuratorial sources. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Top court reveals cases involving military facilities’ protection

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    China’s top court disclosed five influential cases involving the protection of military facilities to further enhance the public awareness of national defense and the rule of law.
    “Military facilities are an important component of national defense construction, serving as the foundation of the military to fulfill its missions, and providing crucial support for national strategic capabilities and military operations,” the Supreme People’s Court said on Wednesday.
    “The disclosure of the cases not only emphasizes the significance of protecting military facilities, but also demonstrates the steadfast determination and relentless efforts of Chinese courts in safeguarding national defense interests,” it added.
    It revealed that crimes involving the destruction of military facilities, such as military optical cables, have occurred from time to time in recent years. “Such actions endanger military security and affecting the military ability to carry out its missions, so they must be severely punished,” it noted.
    One disclosed case showed that a defendant surnamed Xu was sentenced to 18 months in prison for the crime of sabotage of military communications.
    Xu, who worked for an information technology company, was responsible for the daily inspection and maintenance of optical cable lines. He used metal pliers to cut a military optical cable during one inspection with the intention of selling it, causing the interruption of critical business systems for over two hours and disrupting military communications for three units that were conducting exercises.
    Xu’s actions resulted in economic losses of more than 40,000 yuan ($5,490), and the loss of the involved optical cable amounted to over 9,000 yuan.
    “Military communication is the method by which the armed forces use communication tools or other means to transmit information for command purposes,” the top court said, stressing that military optical cables are vital military communication facilities.
    “In the information age, the damage to military optical cables can have significant adverse effects on military communications and activities, not only causing financial losses but also severely influencing the readiness and training of troops, thereby endangering national defense interests and national security,” it added.
    It praised the conviction and sentence given to Xu, noting that the ruling has shown the judicial high-pressure on those who harm national defense interests and military combat effectiveness.
    While requiring courts nationwide to continue the fight against such crime, it has also called on more people from all walks of life to strengthen the protection of military facilities.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Abu Dhabi to enhance trade, investment with China

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) is currently leading a high-level delegation of 140 government and business leaders on an official visit to China. The visit, which commenced on Feb. 17, aims to further strengthen partnership with a leading economy and cement Abu Dhabi’s stature as a global magnet for talent, businesses and investment.

    The delegation is meeting with senior government officials, key businesses and investors in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong to explore business opportunities and foster strategic relations with their Chinese counterparts.

    During the visit, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office and the Abu Dhabi Global Market hosted the Abu Dhabi Investment Forum (ADIF) in Beijing on Feb. 18 under the theme “Invest with Abu Dhabi.” Meanwhile, an additional session of the forum will be held in Shanghai on Feb. 20.

    The ADIF features a comprehensive agenda, including keynote addresses, panel discussions and bilateral meetings with delegates representing various sectors of Abu Dhabi’s economy. Industry experts, including executives from institutions such as Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Mubadala, HSBC and Gulf Capital, provided in-depth insights into the emirate’s investment landscape, showcasing opportunities in technology, financial services, health care and trade.

    Additionally, the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with the Shanghai Federation of Industry and Commerce, held the Business Connect-Abu Dhabi-Shanghai in Shanghai on Feb. 19. The event focused on strengthening economic relations and partnerships between the business communities in Abu Dhabi and China.

    Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, chairman of ADDED, said: “Our longstanding relations with China are going from strength to strength, as reflected by the growth of bilateral trade and mutual investments over the past few years, and we are doubling down our efforts to take it to the next level by deepening cooperation and exploring new opportunities in various sectors to create more partnerships.”

    He added: “We are eager to enable investors and businesses to benefit from ample opportunities provided by our soaring ‘Falcon Economy,’ which is harmonizing between advanced technologies, sustainability, human development and economic diversification as we accelerate the transition towards the next phase of Abu Dhabi’s development.”

    According to the data from ADDED, bilateral trade between China and the United Arab Emirates is projected to reach $200 billion by 2030. Abu Dhabi is already home to many of the over 6,000 Chinese companies operating in UAE’s key sectors including technology, financial services and energy. As such, the emirate continues to reinforce its position as the main gateway for Chinese investment in the Middle East and beyond.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: US’ new tariffs worsen global prospects

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    U.S. President Donald Trump attends a press conference at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, Feb. 13, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    After US President Donald Trump’s first punitive tariffs targeted the United States’ major trade partners — Mexico, Canada and China — tariff threats are shifting to the European Union, even the rest of the world. The tariff threats are also shifting from steel and aluminum to computer chips and pharmaceuticals.

    In the latest move, Trump said on Tuesday he intends to impose auto tariffs “in the neighborhood of 25 percent” and similar duties on semiconductors and pharmaceutical imports.

    The US has a major trade deficit with many other trading economies, including Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Vietnam, which are likely to be in the firing line later, if not soon.

    A tariff is a tax levied on imported goods and services. In its haste to target the three countries, the Trump administration has ignored concerns about these tariffs fostering inflation or snarling global supply chains. This is a serious mistake on the part of the administration. In the US, wholesale prices are already rising on higher food and energy costs, adding to the growing pile of bad inflation news ahead of more US tariffs. Globally, these risks are real, costly and damaging.

    As the new US administration has been launching another tariff war, China’s economy has been showing progressive signs of stabilization — especially since the fourth quarter of 2024, as the impact of the November stimulus measures has kicked in. During this period, growth accelerated from 4.6 percent to 5.4 percent to reach 5.0 percent year-on-year in 2024, which prompted the International Monetary Fund to recently upgrade China’s GDP growth.

    But what’s fueling these gains?

    China’s industrial production has proved resilient on the back of both domestic and international demand, particularly in electric vehicles and solar panels. The most prominent part of the growth story is the strong expansion of China’s advanced technology, electronics and automobile sectors. The pace of development in industrial robotics is almost as strong, while consumption is being fueled by equipment and durable goods upgrade.

    Yet two main challenges remain. At home, the nearly 11 percent decline in real estate investment suggests the property market is still ailing. But in about 300 Chinese cities, the decline of residential inventory is slowing.

    The external challenges China faces include the impending trade and tech wars, which the first Trump administration launched in 2017, the Biden administration expanded and the new Trump administration is broadening worldwide.

    On Feb 1, Trump imposed 25 percent tariffs and 10 percent duties on energy products imported from Canada and Mexico, and 10 percent tariffs on Chinese goods. The three countries are the US’ biggest trade partners and the US has a trade deficit with each one of them. These tariffs alone would cost an average US household more than $1,200 a year.

    After separate talks between Trump and the Canadian and Mexican presidents, the US agreed to delay levying the extra tariffs for 30 days. But the threatened tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods, if they are imposed, could reduce long-run GDP by 0.3 percent.

    Moreover, a trade war between the US and its two largest trading partners would hit incomes in the US, impact employment and accelerate inflation. As Trump’s tariffs went into effect against China, Beijing announced a broad package of economic measures against Washington on Feb 10. And more countermeasures are likely to follow.

    Half a decade ago, the US’ punitive tariffs on Chinese goods covered goods worth $396 billion, or more than 90 percent of the total trade. But the first round of Trump’s tariffs against Canadian, Mexican and Chinese goods alone will cover far more traded goods in dollar terms.

    Trump’s four tranches of tariffs on Chinese goods in 2018-19 covered imports worth $360 billion. Today, Canada and Mexico and China account for more than two-fifths of all US imports. New tariffs on the goods imported from the two countries plus additional tariffs on Chinese goods would likely cover imports valued at more than $1.3 trillion. That’s more than 3.5 times the value than half a decade ago.

    This might be just the opening salvo in a series of tariffs the Trump administration is likely to announce in the coming weeks. Factor in the potential/likely retaliatory tariffs and duties by the affected countries and the Trump administration’s “reciprocal tariff” plan, and the final toll could be much higher.

    Ironically, US tariffs are legitimized by a flawed victimization narrative in which Washington is portrayed as a target of wrongful economic and geopolitical measures. In reality, the US’ imposed tariff levels are about geopolitical coercion, not economic factors.

    The threatened wave of tariffs could further heighten trade tensions, reduce investments, hit market pricing, distort trade flows, disrupt supply chains and undermine consumer confidence. In fact, much worse could happen.

    Due to the new US tariffs, we are in for a far costlier, global déjà vu all over again.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Structure fire – Whitewood Road – Howard Springs

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service (NTFRS) responded to a structure fire on Whitewood Road overnight.

    At 2am, NTFRS received reports of a structure fire on private property behind the service station on Whitewood Road, Howard Springs impacting a shed and demountable.

    Several career and volunteer firefighting units swiftly responded, including several pump appliances, the HAZMAT rehabilitation trailer, large water tanker, rescue tender and volunteer grassfire units, who immediately worked to bring the fire under control.

    An evacuation of impacted properties was initiated while firefighters worked to extinguish the fires.

    NT Police, Power and Water Corporation and St John Ambulance attended the scene. No injuries were reported during the incident.

    NTFRS brought the fire under control by 5am and crews remain on the scene as a precaution.

    The two structures on the property sustained considerable damage.

    A crime scene has been established and NTFRS fire investigators and NT Police are working together to determine the cause of the fire.

    Anyone with information is urged to make contact with police on 131 444.

    Media contact:

    Rickie Abraham

    8923 9803

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: National Foundation for Australia-China Relations grants and board appointments

    Source: Australian Government – Minister of Foreign Affairs

    I am pleased to announce the recipients of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations grants round for 2024-25, and new appointments to its Advisory Board.

    The Foundation is providing 29 grants to support cooperation and engagement between the people of Australia and China. These programs are focused on building capability in Australian industry, boardrooms, community and institutions to foster engagement in a risk-informed way.

    The initiatives receiving grants are listed on the Foundation’s website and include: 

    • Long-term investment in Australia’s China capability, through scholarships and exchange programs for students, and training and mentoring programs for Australian businesses, academics and members of the public sector.
    • Research, dialogue and cooperation in the priority areas of climate change, sustainable agriculture and decarbonisation.
    • Celebrating Chinese-Australians with initiatives sharing the stories of those making powerful contributions to our communities.
    • Through the convening power of sport, education and the arts, building understanding of Australia in China, and supporting stronger people-to-people connections.

    Today I also announce the appointment of Advisory Board members for the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations.

    The Advisory Board helps guide the Foundation in its work to promote and coordinate enhanced cooperation between Australia and China, in support of Australia’s national interest.

    I am pleased to appoint Ms Wendy Huang, Publisher and Managing Director, 1688/Chinese Herald Australia to the Advisory Board.

    I am pleased to confirm that Mr Rowan Callick, Dr Yin Cao, Ms Wesa Chau, Dr Courtney Fung, Mr Douglas Gautier AM, Ms Marina Go AM, Dr Jade Little, Professor Sharon Lewin AO, Mr Richard McGregor and Professor Rory Medcalf AM have been reappointed to the Advisory Board.

    I am also delighted Ms Marina Go AM has accepted my invitation to become Chair of the Foundation in June 2025.

    I pay tribute to outgoing Chair Ms Pru Bennett for her contribution to the Foundation as Chair since 2020.

    I also thank outgoing Board Members Professor Brian Schmidt AC and Professor Duncan Lewis AO DSC CSC for their valuable support to the Foundation over recent years.

    I look forward to the Foundation’s continued work to strengthen engagement with China in Australia’s interest and to reinforce social cohesion by partnering with Chinese-Australian communities to showcase their contributions.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Department of Defense Chief of Staff Joseph Kasper Statement on U.S. NORTHCOM Commander Gen. Gregory M. Guillot’s Meeting With General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, Secretary of National Defense of Mexico (Defensa) Regarding Cooperative Activities Along the United States and Mexico Border

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    General Gregory M. Guillot, Commander, US Northern Command, and General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, Secretary of National Defense of Mexico (Defensa), met recently to discuss cooperation on security along the Mexico and U.S. border. The engagement resulted in the formulation and signing of a Joint Statement of Understanding regarding cooperative activities along the border.

    General Trevilla and General Guillot agreed to conduct coordinated patrols on their respective side of the border, increase information sharing, and establish methods for immediate communications. The agreement emphasizes that each country will respect the sovereignty of the other.

    Both leaders expect their agreement will serve to enable further conversations and coordination in greater detail at varied levels to ensure the mutual security of the border. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s remarks at the Opening Ceremony of CARICOM 48th Regular Meeting of Heads of Government [as delivered]

    Source: United Nations – English

    our Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, all protocol observed.
     
    It is a joy to be with you in Barbados and an honour to be back in the Caribbean. 
     
    I am delighted to meet Prime Minister Mottley again so soon after the African Union Summit in Ethiopia, where you delivered such a powerful message on the legacies of slavery and colonialism, and reparatory justice. 
     
    Excellencies, 
     
    The exquisite beauty of the Caribbean is famed the world over. 
     
    But there is trouble in paradise. 
     
    Wave after wave of crisis is pounding your people and your islands – with no time to catch your breath before the next disaster strikes: 
     
    Geopolitical tensions fuelling uncertainty…
     
    The scarring effects of COVID-19 leaving a trail of socio-economic crisis… 
     
    Soaring debt and interest rates, on top of a surge in the cost of living…  
     
    All amidst a deadly swell of climate disasters – ripping development gains to shreds, and blowing holes through your national budgets… 
     
    And all as you remain locked-out of many international institutions – one of the many legacies of colonialism today.
     
    Excellencies, Dear Friends,
     
    The cure for these ills is global. 
     
    International solutions are essential to create a better today and a brighter tomorrow for this wonderful region, and for the world. 
     
    We have progress on which to build – hard-won global commitments to address the immense challenges we face. 
     
    But we need the world to deliver. 
     
    The irrepressible strength of a unified Caribbean, and commitment to multilateralism – which have done so much to advance global progress – is vital to achieving that aim. 
     
    And your theme for this year – Strength in Unity – is truly a theme for our times. 
     
    I see three key areas where, together, we must drive progress. 
     
    First, unity for peace and security…
     
    Particularly to address the appalling situation in Haiti – where gangs are inflicting intolerable suffering on a desperate and frightened people. 
     
    CARICOM, and the Eminent Persons Group, have provided invaluable support.  
     
    We must keep working for a political process – owned and led by the Haitians – that restores democratic institutions through elections.
     
    And I will soon report to the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Haiti, including proposals on the role the UN can play to support stability and security and address the root causes of the crisis.
     
    It is my intention to present to the Security Council a proposal that is very similar to the one that we have presented for Somalia, in which the UN assumes the responsibility of the structural and logistical expenditures that are necessary to put the force in place. And the salaries of the force are paid through the trust fund that already exists.
     
    And if the Security Council will accept this proposal, we will have the conditions to finally have an effective force to defeat the gangs in Haiti and create the conditions for democracy to thrive.
     
    And I urge you to continue your work and advocacy to tackle the weapons and drug trafficking that is fuelling violence across the region, including through prevention.
     
    But let’s be clear: to fight drug trafficking or to fight weapons trafficking, we also need to address the countries of origin and the countries of destination.  Without their cooperation, we will never be able to win this battle, and the people of the Caribbean are paying a heavy price for the lack of cooperation that unfortunately, we still face.
     
    Second, unity on the climate crisis. 
     
    You face a deplorable injustice: 
     
    A crisis you have done next to nothing to create is wrecking economies, ruining lives, and threatening your very existence.  
     
    Together, you have fought tooth and nail for the global commitment to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees. 
     
    This year, countries must deliver new national climate action plans, ahead of COP30, that align with that goal, with the G20 – the big polluters – leading the way. 
     
    This is a chance for the world to get a grip on emissions. 
     
    And it is also a chance for the Caribbean to seize the benefits of clean power… 
     
    To tap your vast renewables potential… 
     
    And to turn your back on costly fossil fuel imports.  
     
    But this requires finance. 
     
    We need confidence that the $1.3 trillion agreed at COP29 will be mobilized.  
     
    And we need the world to get serious in responding to the disasters that we know will keep coming.  
     
    Adaptation is critical for this region. To save lives. And to make economies resilient. 
     
    And we need developed countries to honour their promises on adaptation finance – and more. 
     
    And we need meaningful contributions to the new Loss and Damage Fund. 
     
    When the fund was created, the pledges made are equivalent to the new contract for just one baseball player in New York City. Let’s be clear: the Loss and Damage Fund must be a serious thing.  
     
    And we must be able to find new, innovative sources of financing and namely, to finally put seriously a price on carbon – and there are different ways to achieve this goal.
     
    Excellencies, 
     
    This must be part of broader efforts:
     
    Because, third, we need unity for sustainable development. 
     
    Globally, the Sustainable Development Goals are starved of adequate finance, as debt servicing soaks-up funds, and international financial institutions remain underpowered.  
     
    Caribbean countries have been at the forefront of the fight for change – pioneering bold and creative solutions. 
     
    And the Pact for the Future agreed last year, together with the Bridgetown Initiative, now 3.0, marks significant progress – and I thank you all for your support. 
     
    The Pact commits to advancing an SDG Stimulus of $500 billion a year;
     
    And it asks Multilateral Development Banks to consider structural vulnerabilities in access to concessional funds, including through using the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index. 
     
    With this, or any other instrument, it is absolutely essential that middle-income countries that have dramatic vulnerabilities, especially because of climate change, have access to concessional funding.  Without it, it is impossible to recover and to build the resilience that is so much highlighted in this congress.
     
    It also calls for representation in international financial institutions to correct for the world’s vast inequalities and injustices…
     
    And for effective action on debt… 
     
    Without debt relief, and without new debt strategies, it will be impossible to fully recover your economies.
     
    At the same time, we need bigger and bolder Multilateral Development Banks, with more capital, more lending capacity and more capacity to also leverage private funding for the kind of investments that are essential to build resilience and to promote sustainable development in countries like the countries of the Caribbean.
     
    We must push the world to deliver on those commitments. 
     
    And we must ensure all countries can reap the benefits of technologies for sustainable development – by delivering on the Global Digital Compact. 
     
    Excellencies, Dear Friends,
     
    A unified Caribbean is an unstoppable force. 
     
    I urge you to keep using that power to push the world to deliver on its promise.
     
    And I can guarantee that the United Nations and myself are with you, and will remain with you, every step of the way. 
     
    Thank you very much.
     
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer Questions Witnesses on WOTUS at EPW Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    Click here to download video. Click here for audio.
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee held a hearing today to discuss how to improve the federal permitting process, which has long been a frustration for those trying to build infrastructure, housing, energy, and transportation projects. Recent efforts to streamline and reform the process have not gained consensus, but the EPW Committee is exploring bipartisan solutions to provide clarity and consistency in the permitting process.
    U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Chairman of the EPW Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, questioned witnesses on the 2023 Supreme Court decision, Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Sackett ruling explicitly defined Waters of the United States (WOTUS) and significantly narrowed the scope of federal regulation over jurisdictional waters. Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling in Sackett, paired with West Virginia v. EPA and the overturning of the Chevron Doctrine in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondowhich peeled back bureaucratic overreach, Cramer stated the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) still has not adequately responded to the ruling.
    [embedded content]
    Cramer asked Leah Pilconis, the General Counsel for the Associated General Contractors of America, and Carl Harris, Chairman of National Association of Homebuilders, “why do we even have to seek jurisdictional determination or permission when any home builder can read the law and see this isn’t a jurisdictional water? In other words, we don’t put a highway patrolman on every car on the interstate, just in case one of them speeds. We presume most of them are not going to violate the law. How can we simplify?”
    “The problem is that it’s not clear, and you can ask one person if something is jurisdictional and the next person if something is jurisdictional, and you might get two different answers,” responded Pilconis. “For the construction community we need clarity. It’s very difficult to move forward when you don’t know what is a Water of the United States. Not getting a permit when you are in federally controlled water has very significant civil and criminal penalties. The consequences and what’s at risk are huge for the developer, for the contractor. [Sackett v. EPA] did provide some guardrails. It provided some clarity, but what came out of that Supreme Court decision is not being implemented by the agencies. As Mr. Harris said, there are very unclear terms that have not been defined in the regulations, and that’s what’s causing a lot of confusion.”
    “Along with clarity, we need consistency,” replied Harris. “We need consistency between the [Army Corps] districts. If we could get true definitions of the terms that we were talking about, then our builders, our developers would know when they could take reasonable risk before they make a tremendous investment in the property and start moving dirt. We do need that consistency and clarity.”
    Cramer referenced permitting for electricity transmission projects. He warned against building out transmission and generation absent a planning process by local utilities and state regulators, and the potential for costs to be shifted to customers. “We have to find a federal backstop, but I think on linear siting for a transmission line should be the same as it is for a water pipeline or any other any other linear infrastructure. We can do that, but we do have to recognize those state regulators, having been one at one point myself.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Luján Calls Out Republican Budget That Will Increase Everyday Costs for American Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján
    Senate Republicans are pushing a partisan budget resolution that will make it harder for families to afford their health care, put food on the table, and get a quality education

    Video of the speech is available HERE.
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on the Budget, delivered a floor speech calling out Republican plans to dramatically cut funding for programs that all Americans rely on like health, nutrition, and public services. He highlighted the staggeringconsequences for working families, including diminished access to health care and higher costs, at a time when federal employees are being illegally fired.
    Senator Luján’s full speech is available below: 
    Mr. President, over the past week, Elon Musk and Donald Trump have fired thousands of federal workers, many of them in New Mexico, without warning. The calls that I get to my office from constituents all across New Mexico express concern, surprise, and alarm. They don’t know what’s going to happen next. They’re worried about a project.
    A professional that I spoke to, who works for the Bureau of Indian Education and has a responsibility to help diagnose and support students with disabilities, asked, “Do I stay and help these kids? What’s going to happen with this stuff?”
    Now, whether it’s our neighbors who work to support the national labs to keep us safe, or friends who work at the United States Department of Agriculture helping our farmers and ranchers feed our nation, these illegal mass firings are impacting communities across every corner of New Mexico. Let me sum this up: what I keep hearing from New Mexicans every day is: Please help me. Speak up. Say something. Do something. Bring attention to what’s happening—to the harm that’s being caused in our communities, for all of our constituents.
    This isn’t about Democrats or Republicans. It’s about right or wrong. It’s about real people. Now, instead of protecting these jobs and helping our fellow Americans, Senate Republicans are pursuing a partisan budget resolution that will make it even harder for families to afford their health care, put food on the table, or get an education for their kids.
    Now, this is, quite frankly, chaos, and it’s chaos that the American people cannot afford. New Mexicans and Americans from all walks of life rely on the programs that Republicans are now attacking. These are programs that feed seniors, veterans, children, and the disabled. These are programs that house our veterans and keep folks warm during these winter months.
    And why are Republicans ripping these services away from people who need them? To fund this Trump tax scam—now it’s 2.0. The American people and constituents across New Mexico told me back in 2017, “This feels like a scam.” What Republicans are saying is that middle-class families are going to get everything in this tax cut. But what we saw play out was that if you were making millions of dollars, you did okay—you got the brunt of everything in this tax scam. Lying to the face of the American people. That’s what happened in 2017, and it certainly feels the same now.
    Now, let’s talk about one possible outcome of this budget resolution. In New Mexico, Medicaid covers 75% of births and supports around 92,000 children in my home state. Across the country, nearly 40% of babies are born with the help of Medicaid. For these babies and pregnant women, this program is vital—offering a chance to grow up healthier and have the best opportunity to succeed. We should all want that for our constituents. That’s not partisan.
    Now, unfortunately, Republicans have made it clear that they are determined to slash Medicaid. They tried it in 2017. When my Republican colleagues are interviewed and asked the question, “Are you going to cut Medicaid?” they certainly attempt, in every form and fashion, to say, “No, no, no, we’re not going to touch it—we’re just going to leave it up to the states.” Let me translate what that means.
    What Republicans in Congress are going to do is work to eliminate every federal dollar for Medicaid. There’s this acronym—FMAP—it’s a federal matching program to make Medicaid work across America. That’s what they’re going after. And if you visit with anyone across America who knows anything about how this program works, they will all tell you—without these federal dollars, this program goes away.
    This Republican budget resolution sets the stage for dismantling Medicaid, which could result in pregnant moms and babies losing health care. That’s just one possible outcome.
    As I said earlier, the American people deserve honesty and transparency. Look, I understand if my Republican colleagues want to do this. Just own up to it. Tell the American people what you want to do. Let them know. Just be honest with them. That’s the least the American people deserve.
    Last week in the Budget Committee, I offered a number of commonsense amendments to help lower costs for families, strengthen border security, safeguard health care, promote American manufacturing and businesses, and invest in public safety.
    Top of mind for many Americans, I offered an amendment to ensure that Elon Musk and his companies are not profiting off the same government that he’s dismantling. Elon Musk, who was not elected by the American people, is pursuing an extreme agenda to serve his own interests and greed—all while the American people are paying the price for it.
    If Republicans are serious about tackling the issues and lowering costs, let’s work together. You have partners here ready to do this for the American people. But my Republican colleagues know better than I that what’s happening under this president and Elon Musk is that the cost of goods continues to go up.
    I don’t know how many of you were at the grocery store this weekend in this chamber, but if you haven’t been—go by. Go by and try to buy some eggs. You will see a sign that limits you to maybe a dozen, maybe two, and you’re going to see the costs going up and up and up. Milk, butter—you look at it, you see it, you name it—it’s all increasing in price.
    What happened to President Trump saying on day one he was going to lower the cost of these goods for the American people? It’s not happening.
    Look, to sum this up—Americans will not be able to make ends meet if Senate Republicans dismantle the programs that make our country strong and secure to advance yet another tax scam.
    Thank you.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Farming activities in full swing across China in early spring

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

    Farming activities in full swing across China in early spring

    Updated: February 20, 2025 08:28 Xinhua
    An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 18, 2025 shows villagers sowing corn seeds and mulching a field in Buying Village of Pengxi County, Suining City, southwest China’s Sichuan Province. Farming activities are in full swing across China in early spring. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 18, 2025 shows farmers operating agricultural machines at a vegetable planting base in Tancheng County of Linyi City, east China’s Shandong Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Staff members take care of seedlings at a seedling breeding base in Zhenhai District of Ningbo City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 18, 2025 shows farmers operating agricultural machines to carry out field management in Qiaocheng District of Bozhou City, east China’s Anhui Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 19, 2025 shows farmers operating agricultural machines at a sugarcane base in Laibin City, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A farmer tends a cherry tree in Gaodu Village of Boxing County, Binzhou City, east China’s Shandong Province, Feb. 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A villager harvests tomatoes in Hanting District of Weifang City, east China’s Shandong Province, Feb. 19, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 19, 2025 shows farmers operating agricultural machines at a field in Shenxian County, east China’s Shandong Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Construction underway at Hongmiao Station on Beijing Subway line 22 connecting Beijing, Hebei

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

    Construction underway at Hongmiao Station on Beijing Subway line 22 connecting Beijing, Hebei

    Updated: February 20, 2025 09:18 Xinhua
    Workers carry out construction at the site of Hongmiao Station on Beijing Subway line 22 in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 19, 2025. The line 22 is the first cross-provincial intercity metro between Beijing and Hebei Province, with a total length of approximately 81 kilometers. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Workers carry out construction at the site of Hongmiao Station on Beijing Subway line 22 in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 19, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Workers carry out construction at the site of Hongmiao Station on Beijing Subway line 22 in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 19, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Workers carry out construction at the site of Hongmiao Station on Beijing Subway line 22 in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 19, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –