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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Finke Desert Race 2025

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Members of the Northern Territory Police Force were generally pleased with the behaviour of attendees at the Finke Desert Race over the long weekend. Police were deployed across the weekend to support event officials and other emergency services in maintaining spectator and competitor safety.

    The Territory Road Policing Division, comprised of members from both Darwin and Southern Traffic Operations, achieved the following results:

    • 2629 negative alcohol breath tests
    • 13 positive alcohol breath tests
    • 42 negative drug tests
    • 10 positive drug tests
    • 7 arrests
    • 8 notices to appear issued
    • 254 traffic infringement notices issued

    Police would like to thank road users for their cooperation and understanding.

    Around 12:50pm on Monday 9 June, police arrested a 60-year-old man who had allegedly been previously instructed by event officials to move at least 30-metres away from the racetrack. He was later sighted by police within 30-metres of the track within a clearly marked area. He subsequently was issued a Notice to Appear in the Alice Springs Local Court and directed not to return to the event area.

    Superintendent Michael Budge said, “Overall, we were happy with the conduct of attendees and hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend.

    “Police would like to remind the public of drone regulations at events that involve helicopters or other aircraft.

    “Throughout the event, police and officials responded to multiple reports of drones being operated within the airspace surrounding the course. Due to the nature of the event, helicopters are required to fly at low altitudes and in close proximity to the track to conduct safety sweeps and facilitate medical evacuations.

    “The presence of drones in this environment poses a serious collision risk to aircraft and their occupants, and we’re thankful that no such incident occurred.”

    For more information on drone regulations, visit: https://www.casa.gov.au/knowyourdrone/drone-rules.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The number of China-Europe freight trains sent from China has exceeded 110 thousand.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    JINAN, June 10 (Xinhua) — The 110,000th freight train to operate on the China-Europe international freight train route departed from Qingdao in east China’s Shandong Province on Tuesday morning, marking a milestone in the high-quality development of the railway service.

    The train, loaded with 55 containers of home appliances worth nearly 20 million yuan (about $2.78 million), including LCD monitors and refrigerators, will leave China through the Ereen Port in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the largest land border crossing on the China-Mongolia border, and is expected to arrive in Europe in 17 days, according to Gao Yitian, an employee of the Jiaozhou branch of the Jinan Railway Logistics Center.

    Over the past decade, China-Europe freight rail services have expanded significantly, with not only the number of trains leaving China increasing but also the range of goods carried expanding, Gao Yitian said, adding that the international logistics network in Shandong not only transports Chinese export products but also cross-border goods from Japan, the Republic of Korea and Southeast Asian countries.

    “I believe these trains will continue to deliver more Made in China products while providing better services to Belt and Road countries and their people,” Gao Yitian added.

    Currently, China-Europe routes link 128 Chinese cities with 229 cities in 26 European countries and more than 100 cities in 11 Asian countries. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: ‘Above our expectations’ – Aucklanders borrow millions of library books over past year

    Source: Auckland Council

    Auckland Council Libraries are leading the way lifting literacy across Tāmaki Makaurau with a stack of activities, support and smart technology.

    With 56 local libraries across the Auckland region, a fleet of mobile libraries on the road and borrowing available online, Aucklanders have access to the largest public library network in Australasia.

    Auckland Council Libraries carry a whopping 3.4 million items available to borrow or view for free. Anyone with a library card can access the collection, thanks to a network of specialist teams and technology constantly moving items around the region on request. 

    Head of Library and Learning Services Catherine Leonard says customer demand for requests across the collection is strong, with between 12,000 to 15,000 items moving through the central book sorting system each day.

    “On top of that, we’ve had an incredible 14 million items borrowed in total over 12 months and our visitor numbers have climbed to 6.75 million so far this financial year, which is well above our expectations,” Catherine says.

    E-books continue to gain popularity with 5 million checkouts in 2024, which places Auckland Council Libraries in the top ten eLending libraries worldwide.

    On top of the borrowing figures, Catherine says a key indicator that things are going well for regional library services is the customer feedback they receive. Over the past two years, customer satisfaction has consistently hit 90 per cent or higher and is currently sitting at 93 per cent.

    To keep the momentum going, Auckland Council Libraries team has adopted a new three-year service plan (2025-2028), which includes key priorities to inspire creativity, learning and discovery.

    This ensures our region-wide focus consistently supports those aspects of community wellbeing that libraries uniquely hold, says Catherine.

    Every day, Auckland Council librarians support literacy by encouraging reading. They work hard to make sure everyone has access to the safe and inclusive environments of libraries and the wide array of resources they hold.

    Other priorities include improving participation, championing Mātauranga Māori and celebrating cultural identity.

    An innovative content-creation and publishing programme launched in 2000 has led to the creation of 20 bilingual books to fill a gap in the collection for Māori and Pacific readers, 16 documentary films, 10 podcasts and a range of other material including virtual reality content.

    Catherine says demand for free digital equipment and library programmes continues to grow. All Aucklanders have unlimited access to public computers, internet, printing and Wi-Fi when visiting their local libraries.

    For researchers, Auckland Central City Library contains a treasure trove of resources with one of the largest collections of heritage and research materials in the country. Access to rare and precious taonga (manuscripts, historical maps, photographs, rare books) can be easily arranged.

    “Our staff are always looking for new ideas and developments in libraries to improve and engage new customers. Responding to feedback continues to be a priority for us, and the hugely-popular Bestie collection celebrating local authors is an example of this. We have just launched a new board game collection and plans for a Bestie collection for children are on track with the collection set to be launched towards the end of the year,” she adds.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia’s government is pledging better protection for our vulnerable seas – but will it work?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carissa Klein, Associate Professor in Conservation Biology, The University of Queensland

    Nigel Marsh/Getty

    Ahead of this week’s crucial United Nations ocean conference, federal Environment Minister Murray Watt promised that by 2030, 30% of Australian waters would be “highly protected”.

    This is a telling pledge. After all, 52% of Australian waters are now protected following years of rapid expansion. But many are “paper parks” – lines on a map with very little real protection.

    Watt is proposing to expand the area under gold-standard protection, meaning fishing, mining and drilling would be banned inside the parks. This is welcome. But it must be done strategically, protecting ecologically representative and high biodiversity areas.

    If Watt is serious, he must ensure these upgraded marine parks cover poorly protected habitats important for biodiversity. These include shallow coastal zones, submarine canyons, seamounts and rocky reefs on the continental shelf. It’s not just about protecting 30% of the seas – marine parks must protect the full range of species and habitats in Australia.

    Bottom trawling and other fishing practices can do great damage to underwater ecosystems.
    mjstudio.lt/Shutterstock

    Impressive on paper

    Australia’s waters cover all five of the world’s climate zones, from the coral reefs of the tropics to the icy shores of Antarctica. At least 33,000 marine species are found in the nation’s marine boundaries – the most on Earth. Australia also has the most endemic marine species.

    For more than 30 years, successive federal and state governments in Australia have claimed global leadership roles in conserving ocean areas. Just last year, the Albanese government claimed the latest expansion meant Australia now protected “more ocean than any other country on earth”.

    When 196 countries committed to the goal of “30% by 2030” – the effective protection and management of at least 30% of the world’s coastal and marine areas by decade’s end – Australia was already well past that in terms of the size of areas considered marine protected areas.

    About 45% of marine waters were protected in 2022, up from 7% in 2002. Now that figure is 52%.

    Job done? Not even close. Even as Australia’s marine protected areas have rapidly expanded, marine species populations have shrunk while entire ecosystems hover on the brink.

    More than half of Australia’s marine parks allow commercial fishing and mining. The latest large protection around the sub-Antarctic Heard and McDonald Islands doesn’t give strong protection to species-rich areas such as seamounts and undersea canyons.

    Losses everywhere

    Tasmania’s giant kelp forests once ringed the island state. At least 95% have vanished since the 1990s, wiped out by warmer waters and voracious sea urchins.

    Before European settlement, oyster reefs carpeted shallow sea floors in temperate east coast waters. But 99% of these have gone.

    Half the Great Barrier Reef’s coral cover died between 1995 and 2017 – a period with only two mass bleaching events. Bleaching has become more regular and more severe since then.

    Many marine species are in serious trouble. The most comprehensive assessment to date found populations of 57% of species living on coral, rocky and kelp reefs had fallen between 2011 and 2021. In 2020, a Tasmanian endemic species, the smooth handfish, became the first marine fish officially listed as extinct on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

    As the oceans get hotter, coral reefs are forecast to be wiped out. Poor marine water quality is drowning coastal species and ecosystems in sediments, nutrients, chemicals, and pathogens, including in The Great Barrier Reef.

    That’s not to say marine park expansion and other government efforts have been worthless. Far from it.

    Some whales have rebounded strongly due to the moratorium on commercial whaling. Good management of the southern bluefin tuna led to its removal from the threatened species list last year.

    Efforts to phase out gill net fishing are bearing fruit, while water quality has improved a little in the Great Barrier Reef.

    But these wins don’t offset an overall rapid decline.

    Action needed on climate and improving marine parks

    Giving Australia’s marine parks better protection won’t solve the problem of hotter, more acidic oceans due to climate change.

    Australia’s current emission target is consistent with a 2°C warming pathway. That level of warming would mean the loss of 99% of the world’s coral reefs.

    Australia is one of the world’s biggest producers of coal and liquefied natural gas and still has one of the world’s highest rates of land clearing, accounting for up to 12% of the country’s total emissions in some years.

    Protecting life in the seas means Australia must dramatically reduce emissions, end widespread land clearing and halt the approval of new coal and gas projects.

    Better protection inside marine parks will stop other major threats, such as seabed mining, gas and oil exploration and fishing.

    To date, Australia’s marine parks with high levels of protection are typically in remote areas with minimal human activity threatening biodiversity.

    From paper parks to real conservation leadership

    For decades, Australian leaders have touted their efforts to protect the seas. It’s now abundantly clear that paper protection isn’t enough.

    To arrest the steep decline in marine life, Australia must properly protect its marine areas by preventing fishing and mining in areas important for all marine species, while expanding its highly protected marine parks to save unprotected ecosystems.

    Minister Watt’s pledge is welcome. But it must actually prevent damaging human activities such as fishing and oil and gas extraction which are major contributors to the extinction crisis.

    Leaders must also focus on sustainable production and consumption of seafood and ramp up their ambition to tackle climate change and marine pollution.

    If Australia continues to expand paper parks without doing the hard work of genuine protection, it will set a dangerous precedent.

    Carissa Klein receives funding from the Australian Research Council

    James Watson has received funding from the Australian Research Council, National Environmental Science Program, South Australia’s Department of Environment and Water, Queensland’s Department of Environment, Science and Innovation as well as from Bush Heritage Australia, Queensland Conservation Council, Australian Conservation Foundation, The Wilderness Society and Birdlife Australia. He serves on the scientific committee of BirdLife Australia and has a long-term scientific relationship with Bush Heritage Australia and Wildlife Conservation Society. He serves on the Queensland government’s Land Restoration Fund’s Investment Panel as the Deputy Chair.

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

    – ref. Australia’s government is pledging better protection for our vulnerable seas – but will it work? – https://theconversation.com/australias-government-is-pledging-better-protection-for-our-vulnerable-seas-but-will-it-work-258286

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNFPA report links falling birth rates to cost of living, sexist norms, fear of the future

    Source: United Nations Population Fund

    NEW YORK, 10 June, 2025 – Millions of people are unable to have the number of children they want, but not because they are rejecting parenthood; economic and social barriers are stopping them. This is the central finding of UNFPA’s 2025 State of World Population report, “The real fertility crisis: The pursuit of reproductive agency in a changing world”.* 

    Drawing on academic research and new data from a UNFPA/YouGov survey spanning 14 countries – together home to over a third of the global population – the report finds that one in five people globally expect to not have the number of children they desire. Key drivers include the prohibitive cost of parenthood, job insecurity, housing, concerns over the state of the world, and the lack of a suitable partner. A toxic blend of economic precarity and sexism play a role in many of these issues, the report shows.

    “Vast numbers of people are unable to create the families they want,” said Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA. “The issue is lack of choice, not desire, with major consequences for individuals and societies. That is the real fertility crisis, and the answer lies in responding to what people say they need: paid family leave, affordable fertility care, and supportive partners.”

    The data paints a stark picture:

    • More than half of people said economic issues were a barrier to having as many children as they wanted.
    • 1 in 5 people report having been pressured to have children when they didn’t want to.
    • 1 in 3 adults have experienced an unintended pregnancy.
    • 11% say that unequal caregiving burdens would undermine their ability to have children.
    • 40% of respondents over 50 say they failed to have the number of children they wanted.

    The report warns against simplistic or coercive responses to declining birth rates – such as baby bonuses or fertility targets – noting that these policies are largely ineffective and can violate human rights.

    Instead, UNFPA urges governments to empower people to make reproductive decisions freely, including by investing in affordable housing, decent work, parental leave, and the full range of reproductive health services and reliable information. Other solutions include expanding access to parenthood to LGBTQI+ and single people. 

    UNFPA also calls on societies to address all the ways that gender inequality undermines people’s family choices, including:

    • Workplace norms that push women out of paid work
    • Lack of paid flexible leave for men and stigma against engaged fathers
    • Lack of affordable childcare
    • Restrictions in reproductive rights, including contraception, abortion and fertility care
    • Diverging gender attitudes held by young men and women, contributing to singlehood

    A tailored mix of economic, social, and political measures will be needed in each country to help people form the families they want. As policy makers consider how to navigate shifting population dynamics, UNFPA stands ready to support them in understanding the challenges they face, and designing solutions that will ensure rights and choices for all.

    • You can access the UNFPA report “The real fertility crisis: The pursuit  of reproductive agency in a changing world” here: www.unfpa.org/swp2025*
    • For more information about UNFPA, please visit: www.unfpa.org 

    *Please note the online version of the report will go live when the embargo lifts.

    Media contacts:

    About UNFPA and the State of World Population Report:

    As the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA helps people obtain contraception and life-saving reproductive health services and information and empowers women and girls to make informed decisions about their bodies and lives. It also helps countries use population data to better understand and harness the opportunities that can come with demographic change. 

    The State of World Population report is UNFPA’s annual flagship publication. Published yearly since 1978, it shines a light on emerging issues in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights, bringing them into the mainstream and exploring the challenges and opportunities they present for international development.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • Apple opens its AI to developers but keeps its broader ambitions modest

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Apple AAPL.O announced on Monday a slew of artificial intelligence features including opening up Apple Intelligence’s underlying technology in a modest update of its software and services as it lays the groundwork for future advances.

    The presentations at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference focused more on incremental developments, including live translations for phone calls, that improve everyday life rather than the sweeping ambitions for AI that Apple’s rivals are marketing.

    A year after it failed to deliver promised AI-based upgrades to key products such as Siri, Apple kept its AI promises to consumers low-key, communicating that it could help with tasks like finding where to buy a jacket similar to one they have seen online.

    Behind the scenes, Apple hinted at a strategy of offering its own tools to developers alongside those from rivals, similar to a strategy by Microsoft last month. Apple software chief Craig Federighi said the company will offer both its own and OpenAI’s code completion tools in its key Apple developer software and that the company is opening up the foundational AI model that it uses for some of its own features to third-party developers.

    “We’re opening up access for any app to tap directly into the on-device, large language model at the core of Apple,” Federighi said.

    In an early demonstration of this at work, the company added image generation from OpenAI’s ChatGPT to its Image Playground app, saying that user data would not be shared with OpenAI without a user’s permission.

    “You could see Apple’s priority is what they’re doing on the back-end, instead of what they’re doing at the front-end, which most people don’t really care about yet,” said Ben Bajarin, chief executive of analyst firm Creative Strategies.

    Apple is facing an unprecedented set of technical and regulatory challenges as it kicked off its software developer conference.

    Shares of Apple, which were flat before the start of the event, closed 1.2% lower on Monday.

    “In a moment in which the market questions Apple’s ability to take any sort of lead in the AI space, the announced features felt incremental at best,” Thomas Monteiro, senior analyst at Investing.com, said. Compared with what other big AI companies are introducing, he added, “It just seems that the clock is ticking faster every day for Apple.”

    That is a contrast to the ambitious vision laid out by Apple last year.

    “They went from being visionary and talking about agents before a lot of other people did, to now realizing that, at the end of the day, what they need to do is deliver on what they presented a year ago,” said Bob O’Donnell, chief analyst at Technalysis Research.

    Apple executives said that developers will have access only to Apple’s on-device version of Apple Intelligence, which does not tap into special data centers Apple built for its AI efforts. The on-device model is about 3 billion parameters, a measurement of the model’s level of sophistication, meaning that it cannot handle the more complex tasks that cloud-based models can.

    As Apple executives discussed new features at the event in Cupertino, California, OpenAI announced a new financial milestone on Monday, reaching $10 billion in annualized revenue run rate as of June.

    OS UPDATES

    Federighi also said Apple plans a design overhaul of all of its operating systems.

    Apple’s redesign of its operating systems centered on a design it calls “liquid glass” where icons and menus are partially transparent, a step Apple executives said was possible because of the more powerful custom chips in Apple devices versus a decade ago.

    Federighi said the new design will span operating systems for iPhones, Macs and other Apple products. He also said Apple’s operating systems will be given year names instead of sequential numbers for each version. That will unify naming conventions that have become confusing because Apple’s core operating systems for phones, watches and other devices kicked off at different times, resulting in a smattering of differently numbered operating systems for different products.

    Some analysts told Reuters that Apple’s decision to introduce familiar Mac capabilities, such as a multitasking interface and menu bar, to iPad could portend a shift in priorities around which devices it markets to consumers.

    In other new features, Apple introduced “Call Screening” where iPhones will automatically answer calls from an unknown number and ask the caller the purpose of their call. Once the caller states their purpose, the iPhone will show a transcription of the reason for the call, and ring for the owner.

    Apple also said it will add live translation to phone calls, as well as allow developers to integrate its live translation technology into their apps. Apple said the caller on the other end of the phone call will not need to have an iPhone for the live translation feature to work.

    Apple’s Visual Intelligence app – which can help users find a pair of shoes similar to ones at which they have pointed an iPhone camera – will be extended to analyzing items on the iPhone’s screen and linked together with apps. Apple gave an example of seeing a jacket online and using the feature to find a similar one for sale on an app already installed in the user’s iPhone.

    (Reuters)

  • India building alternative rare earth supply chain amid curbs China curbs: Piyush Goyal

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday described China’s rare earth export restrictions as a global “wake-up call,” underscoring India’s efforts to build alternative supply chains and position itself as a reliable partner for international businesses seeking to reduce dependence on Chinese suppliers.

    Speaking to reporters during his official visit to Switzerland—where he met with Swiss government officials and business leaders—Goyal acknowledged that China’s export curbs would pose short-term challenges for India’s automotive and white goods sectors.

    However, he expressed confidence that collaborative efforts among the government, industry, and innovators would turn these challenges into long-term opportunities.

    The minister outlined a multi-pronged strategy to address the crisis. This includes diplomatic engagement through ongoing dialogue between the Indian embassy and Chinese authorities, as well as the commerce ministry’s push to identify alternative sources. The government is also strengthening Indian Rare Earths Limited by providing resources to accelerate domestic production.

    “This situation serves as a wake-up call for all those who have become over-reliant on certain geographies,” Goyal said. “It’s a wake-up call for the whole world—you need trusted partners in your supply chain.”

    India’s automotive industry has requested the government’s assistance in expediting the approval process for importing rare earth magnets from China—critical components used in passenger vehicles and various automotive applications.

    China currently controls over 90% of global magnet production capacity, creating substantial vulnerabilities across industries. These materials are essential to sectors ranging from automobiles and home appliances to clean energy systems.

    The new Chinese regulations, effective April 4, require special export licenses for seven rare earth elements and related magnetic products.

    “There are clearly issues around the suspension of permanent magnet supplies from China to India, which will particularly affect our auto sector and several white goods manufacturers,” Goyal explained. “Some companies have submitted their applications, and we hope pragmatic considerations will prevail, allowing them to receive the necessary approvals.”

    Asked about possible government support through production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes, Goyal shared that discussions with automotive manufacturers have been encouraging.

    The companies have expressed strong confidence in addressing supply chain challenges through partnerships with domestic innovators and startups.

    “They are actively engaging with our innovators and startups, indicating their willingness to provide funding or pricing adjustments to accelerate growth in this sector,” the minister said.

    Goyal also praised the evolving mindset of Indian industry, noting a shift away from reliance on government subsidies.

    “More and more Indian businesses are moving beyond the old belief that subsidies alone will sustain operations. They are becoming bigger and bolder in their approach,” he said.

    The minister highlighted emerging technologies being developed in India as potential alternatives to Chinese rare earth supplies.

    “There are some technologies that India is developing,” he noted, stressing the importance of the collaborative approach among government, industry, startups, and innovators. “We are all working as a team and remain confident that, while short-term challenges exist, we will emerge as winners in the medium to long term.”

    Goyal concluded by framing the current disruption as a strategic opportunity for India’s manufacturing ecosystem. He believes it will accelerate the push for self-reliance and the formation of trustworthy global supply chain partnerships.

    “There is opportunity even in this crisis,” he said. “More and more companies and people in India will realise the importance of being self-reliant and having trusted partners in supply chains. The world increasingly wants India to be a part of their supply chains, because we are seen as a trusted partner.”

    (ANI)

  • France, Brazil launch initiative to scale up ocean-focused climate action

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    On the first day of the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), France and Brazil have launched a landmark international initiative to dramatically scale up ocean-focused climate action.

    The Blue Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Challenge calls on all countries to place the ocean at the heart of their climate plans ahead of UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) which Brazil will host in November this year.

    Alongside Brazil and France, an inaugural group of eight countries – Australia, Fiji, Kenya, Mexico, Palau, and Seychelles – has already joined the initiative, committing to include the ocean in their updated climate plans under the Paris Agreement.

    These plans represent the centrepiece of each country’s efforts to reduce emissions and limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and build resilience, and represent the highest level of political will under the UN Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC).

    Launched on Monday, and building on the momentum this year brings as countries prepare to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, the Blue NDC Challenge underscores the urgent need to recognise the ocean’s central role in addressing the climate crisis as a key ally.

    The initiative is supported by Ocean Conservancy, the Ocean and Climate Platform, and the World Resources Institute through the Ocean Resilience and Climate Alliance (ORCA) and has been endorsed by WWF-Brazil.

    In addition to its forests, Brazil is also an oceanic nation, with 40 per cent of its territory located at sea and hosting marine ecosystems of global significance — including the only coral reefs in the South Atlantic and the world’s largest contiguous mangrove belt along the Amazon coast.

    These ecosystems play a vital role in both climate adaptation and mitigation, serving as natural buffers against extreme weather events and contributing to carbon storage.

    “For Brazil, the Blue NDC Challenge represents a key opportunity to strengthen ocean-related climate action and to emphasise the essential role of ocean-based solutions in achieving emission reduction targets. Through this initiative Brazil seeks to advance international cooperation on ocean climate action in the lead-up to COP30, and to underscore the need for all countries to fully integrate the ocean into their national climate strategies,” said Marina Silva, Brazil Minister for the Environment and Climate Change.

    “In its recently submitted NDC, Brazil has explicitly included, for the first time, ocean-based climate actions, recognising the ocean’s critical role in climate regulation. These include the implementation of national Marine Spatial Planning, the enhancement of coastal zone management, and the establishment of programs for the conservation and restoration of mangroves and coral reefs,” she noted.

    Governments joining the Blue NDCs Challenge commit to stepping up efforts to reduce emissions and build resilience through ocean-based solutions, while also delivering benefits for both nature and people.

    Under the leadership of the governments of Brazil and France, eight inaugural countries spanning the globe committed to include ocean action in their national climate plans.

    “Ultimately, industrial marine sectors and natural ecosystems are underused tools in addressing climate change and other development needs. As world leaders gather in Nice and prepare for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Belem (COP30), they can take inspiration from the Seychelles in championing ocean-based climate action,” said Wavel Ramkalawan, the President of Seychelles.

    “We are pleased to join the Blue NDC Challenge and work alongside COP30 host, Brazil, as well as France, Fiji, Seychelles, Mexico, Palau to highlight the vital role of the ocean in global efforts on climate change,” said Senator Murray Watt, Australia’s Environment Minister.

    (IANS)

  • Former India captain MS Dhoni inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Former India captain MS Dhoni has been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, the sport’s global governing body said on Monday, recognising the wicketkeeper-batsman’s contribution to the game across all formats.

    Dhoni, 42, joins a class of seven inductees this year, including Australia’s Matthew Hayden and South Africa’s Hashim Amla. Known for his composure under pressure and sharp tactical acumen, Dhoni led India to three major ICC titles during his international career: the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy.

    “Celebrated for his calm under pressure and unmatched tactical nous… Dhoni’s legacy as one of the game’s greatest finishers, leaders and wicketkeepers has been honoured,” the ICC said in a statement.

    Dhoni played 538 international matches between 2004 and 2019, scoring 17,266 runs and completing 829 dismissals as a wicketkeeper. He also holds the record for the most stumpings in ODIs (123) and captained India in 200 matches in the format — the most by any Indian player.

    Reacting to the honour, Dhoni said being named in the Hall of Fame was a moment of pride. “To have your name remembered alongside such all-time greats is a wonderful feeling. It is something that I will cherish forever,” he said.

    Dhoni retired from international cricket in 2020 but continues to play in the Indian Premier League for Chennai Super Kings.

  • MIL-Evening Report: There are clear laws on enforcing blockades – Israel’s interception of the Madleen raises serious questions

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shannon Bosch, Associate Professor (Law), Edith Cowan University

    On June 9, the Madleen, a UK-flagged civilian ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, was stopped by Israeli forces in international waters, about 200 kilometres off the coast.

    The Freedom Flotilla Coalition had organised the voyage, setting sail from Sicily on June 1. The vessel’s 12 passengers included climate activist Greta Thunberg, European Parliament member Rima Hassan, two French journalists and several other activists from around the world.

    The Israeli military boarded the ship and diverted it to the Israeli port of Ashdod. The aid it carried — baby formula, food, medical supplies, water desalination kits — was confiscated. All passengers were detained and now face deportation.

    This interception has sparked international condemnation. Importantly, it also raises questions about whether Israel’s actions comply with international law.

    Legal conditions for naval blockades

    Naval blockades are not automatically illegal. Under the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea (1994), a blockade may be used in wartime, but only if five legal conditions are met:

    • it must be formally declared and publicly notified
    • it must be effectively enforced in practice
    • it must be applied impartially to all ships
    • it must not block access to neutral ports or coastlines
    • it must not stop the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians.

    If even one of these conditions is not met, the blockade may be considered illegal under customary international humanitarian law.

    The fifth condition is especially important here. According to a comprehensive study of international humanitarian law conducted by the International Committee of the Red Cross, the parties to a conflict must allow the rapid and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian relief to civilians in need.

    A blockade that prevents this could be in breach of international law.

    Israel and Egypt have imposed a blockade of varying degrees on Gaza since 2007 when Hamas came to power. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz claims the purpose of the blockade is to “prevent the transfer of weapons to Hamas”. Critics say it amounts to collective punishment.

    The Madleen was operating in compliance with three binding International Court of Justice orders (from January 2024, March 2024 and May 2024) requiring unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.

    Freedom of navigation

    International law also strongly protects the freedom of navigation, particularly in international waters beyond any state’s territorial limits.

    There are only a few exceptions when a country can lawfully stop a foreign ship in international waters – if it is involved in piracy, slave trading, unauthorised broadcasting, or the vessel itself is stateless. A country can also stop a ship if it is enforcing a lawful blockade or acting in self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

    So, if Israel’s actions do not fully meet the international legal requirements for enforcing a blockade during wartime, it would not have the right to intercept the Madleen in international waters.

    Protections for humanitarian workers

    More broadly speaking, international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, protects civilians during conflict. This protection extends to people delivering humanitarian aid, so long as they do not directly take part in hostilities.

    To be considered directly participating in hostilities, a person must:

    • intend to cause military harm
    • have a direct causal link to that harm, and
    • be acting in connection with one side of the conflict.

    Bringing aid to civilians, even if politically controversial, does not meet this legal threshold. As a result, the Madleen’s passengers remain protected civilians and should not be treated as combatants or detained arbitrarily.

    International law also sets out how civilians detained in conflict situations must be treated. Under the Fourth Geneva Convention, detainees must be given access to medical care, lawyers and consular representatives. They must also not be punished without fair legal processes.

    Reports that Madleen passengers have been detained and are facing deportation raise concerns about whether these standards are being upheld.

    In response to the ship’s interception, the Hind Rajab Foundation, a nonprofit advocacy group, has filed a complaint with the UK Metropolitan Police War Crimes Unit. The complaint alleges a number of breaches of international humanitarian law, including forcible detention, obstruction of humanitarian relief, and degrading treatment.

    Previous flotilla intercepted

    This is not the first time Israel has stopped an aid ship and faced accusations of violating the law of the sea and humanitarian law.

    In 2010, the Israeli military raided a flotilla of six ships organised by international activists aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and challenge the blockade.

    Violence broke out on the largest vessel, the Mavi Marmara, resulting in the deaths of nine Turkish nationals and injuries to dozens of others. The incident drew international condemnation. Israel agreed to ease its blockade after the incident.

    A fact-finding mission established by the UN Human Rights Council found that Israel violated a number of international laws and that its blockade was “inflicting disproportionate damage upon the civilian population”.

    This is not just a political or moral issue – it’s a legal one. International law lays out clear rules for when and how a country can enforce blockades, intercept vessels and treat civilians.

    Based on these rules, serious legal questions remain about Israel’s handling of the Madleen and its passengers.

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

    – ref. There are clear laws on enforcing blockades – Israel’s interception of the Madleen raises serious questions – https://theconversation.com/there-are-clear-laws-on-enforcing-blockades-israels-interception-of-the-madleen-raises-serious-questions-258562

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: China extends visa-free access to 4 Gulf countries

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

    Tourists from Australia pose for photos at the Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Park in Beijing, capital of China, May 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China this week launched a trial policy that grants unilateral visa-free entry to citizens of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain, expanding its unilateral visa-free access list to 47 countries.

    Under the policy, which will remain in effect through June 8, 2026, holders of ordinary passports from these four countries can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days for purposes such as business, tourism, family visits, cultural exchange, and transit.

    Both the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar have established reciprocal visa-free arrangements with China since 2018, which means all six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) now enjoy visa-free access to China.

    The expansion has been warmly welcomed across the Gulf region and is expected to boost bilateral exchanges, strengthen cultural and people-to-people ties, and inject new momentum into broader China-GCC cooperation.

    In a statement posted on platform X following China’s announcement in late May, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the move would “contribute to encouraging mutual visits and deepening the bonds of friendship between the two friendly peoples.”

    Emirati travel influencer Abdulla Alblooshi praised the policy in a video on social media, calling it a major benefit for Gulf travelers. “Now, all you need is your passport to travel to China,” he said.

    Naif Awlia, director of tourism and engagement at Saudi tourism developer Diriyah Company, also hailed the policy as a positive step forward. “Friendly ties are the foundation of long-term cooperation, and we look forward to deepening our partnership with China,” he said.

    Kanoo Travel, one of the largest travel companies in the Gulf region and an early mover in promoting outbound tourism to China, has launched new travel packages since the announcement, targeting residents of the UAE, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.

    Harvey Lines, Acting CEO of Kanoo Travel, called the new policy “a gateway to expanded China-Arab cooperation,” adding that the company is committed to facilitating closer people-to-people exchanges between China and the Gulf region — and the broader Arab world.

    China and Gulf countries already enjoy strong air travel connectivity, and the new visa-free policy is anticipated to further boost travel volume.

    Currently, about 20 direct flights operate weekly between major Chinese cities — including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen — and Saudi destinations such as Riyadh and Jeddah. The UAE is connected to 13 cities across the Chinese mainland with direct flights.

    Looking ahead, Chinese carrier Hainan Airlines plans to launch a direct Haikou-Jeddah route on June 28, while UAE carrier Emirates will begin daily nonstop service between Dubai and Shenzhen on July 1.

    Observers say the new policy reflects the growing political, economic, and cultural ties between China and the Gulf region. In 2024, trade between China and GCC countries reached 288.09 billion U.S. dollars, making the GCC China’s sixth-largest trading partner.

    Wen Shaobiao, a Middle East researcher at Shanghai International Studies University, noted that the visa-free policy will significantly reduce travel time costs and facilitate large-scale, two-way mobility.

    “It will encourage people-to-people exchanges and academic collaboration while helping to advance trade, investment, and joint projects, aligning with business sector expectations,” Wen said.

    The latest step underscores China’s continued push to open its doors wider to global visitors, in line with its commitment to high-level opening-up.

    Since late 2023, China has introduced a series of traveler-friendly policies. Starting June 1, holders of ordinary passports from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay are eligible for unilateral visa-free entry — the first time such access has been extended to Latin American and Caribbean nations.

    Additionally, the visa-free transit period has been extended to 240 hours for travelers from 54 countries.

    These initiatives have already had a noticeable impact. In 2024, China recorded 3.39 million entries under its unilateral visa-free policy, a year-on-year surge of 1,200 percent. During the recent three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, 231,000 foreigners entered China without a visa, up 59.4 percent from a year earlier.

    Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy, said foreign travelers come not only to visit China’s landscapes and cities but also to experience everyday life. “These visits offer opportunities to discover the real China,” he said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • Nicholas Pooran bows out of international cricket at 28

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman Nicholas Pooran sent shockwaves through the cricketing world on Monday by announcing his retirement from international cricket across all formats. The unexpected move comes just days after South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen, another prominent figure in limited-overs cricket, also called time on his international career.

    Pooran hit 13 half-centuries in 106 Twenty20 Internationals and amassed 2,275 runs to become West Indies’ leading scorer in the shortest format.

    One of the world’s most explosive batters, the 29-year-old smashed 149 sixes in T20 Internationals to stand fifth overall.

    He served as West Indies’ limited overs skipper but gave up the captaincy after their first-round exit from the 2022 T20 World Cup.

    “This game we love has given and will continue to give so much – joy, purpose, unforgettable memories, and a chance to represent the people of the West Indies,” the Trinidadian said in a social media post on Monday.

    “Wearing that maroon, standing for the anthem, and giving everything I had each time I stepped on the field… it’s hard to put into words what that truly means to me.

    “To have led the team as captain is a privilege I will always hold close to my heart.”

    Pooran last played for West Indies in their 3-0 T20 series defeat by Bangladesh in December last year, while his most recent ODI appearance came in July 2023 against Sri Lanka.

    “Nicholas officially informed the leadership of his decision to retire from international cricket, bringing to a close a significant chapter in his career,” Cricket West Indies said in a statement.

    “His performances on the field and influence within the team have made a lasting impact on West Indies cricket.”

    Pooran opted to skip West Indies’ ongoing T20 series against England, requesting to be rested after playing for the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League.

    He is likely to remain active on the lucrative global T20 league circuit.

    (With agency input)

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Rural News – Restrictions on carbon forestry long overdue – Federated Farmers

    Source: Federated Farmers

    Federated Farmers’ ‘Save our Sheep’ campaign has taken a major step forward this morning with the Government introducing legislation to stop carbon forestry on productive farmland.
    “This legislation is a really positive step forward – but from a farmer’s perspective, it’s long overdue,” says Federated Farmers meat & wool chair Toby Williams.
    “The Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture stood up on a stage in Gore at a Federated Farmers event on December 4 last year and announced these changes would be coming.
    “Since that announcement was made, farmers have been incredibly frustrated as we’ve watched tens of thousands of hectares of productive land continue to be planted in pines.
    “The Government have been very clear on their intention but a lack of action has caused huge uncertainty and heartache for farmers and rural communities.”
    The ‘Save our Sheep’ platform has been getting plenty of traction in recent weeks with a viral social media campaign and a strategically placed billboard directly opposite the Beehive.
    “The Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) has been screwing the scrum in favour of forestry over farming by subsidising pine trees to offset fossil fuel emissions,” Williams says.
    “These new restrictions will put the squeeze on wholesale pine planting driven by carbon returns but won’t hinder genuine production forestry or smaller farm woodlots.
    “Federated Farmers aren’t anti-forestry. Exotic trees have a place and a role to play when it comes to sensible land use and income diversification – but carbon forestry is out of control.”
    Williams says farmers will be raising serious questions about 15,000 hectares of LUC 6 farmland being allocated by a ballot process each year.
    “That is a huge amount of land still going into pine trees and that’s what farmers will currently be using as breeding country – we can’t afford to lose 150,000 hectares in the next decade.
    “You can’t plant that land in pine trees while maintaining a sustainable sheep industry. We would lose more than 750,000 breeding ewes if that were to happen.”
    Federated Farmers were more positive about the clause ensuring 25 per cent of LUC 1-6 land will be registered against the property’s title to restrict further planting as a result of subdivision.”
    Williams says Federated Farmers still has serious concerns about exploitation of loopholes and the impact of badly broken ETS rules on rural communities.
    “The statement from the Government today says the time-limited transitional exemptions under ‘intention to plant’ rules are for ‘rare cases’ only.
    “I’m not convinced these criteria are anywhere near tight enough, particularly when it comes to things like the purchase of seedlings when the forester didn’t already own the land to plant.
    “If you didn’t own the land with a clear intention to plant it for carbon forestry before the announcement on December 4 last year, you should told ‘sorry, but you’re out of luck’.”
    As the legislation is currently written, simply having purchased seedlings is enough to show intent even if they didn’t own land to plant them on.
    Federated Farmers says that is simply nonsense and needs to be changed.
    Alongside restriction on whole farm conversions to pine trees for carbon farming, Federated Farmers are also calling for sweeping reforms of the forestry sector.
    “Pine forests are breeding grounds for pests like pigs and deer that are causing huge issues for farmers and costing us a fortune,” Williams says.
    “To put it bluntly, foresters simply aren’t doing enough pest management to get the issue under control – and it’s time for the Government to step in.”
    Federated Farmers says urgent changes need to be made to the Overseas Investment Act.
    “Applications to purchase farmland to convert to forestry should be assessed under the farmland test rather than the general benefit to New Zealand test,” Williams says.
    “This would mean that applications from oversees investors to purchase land for forestry would be on an even playing field with other land purchases.
    “Some of the applications we’re seeing approved at the moment are absolutely appalling and will have little or no benefit for New Zealand or our rural communities.”
    Williams also wants to see changes to the ETS to end the ability of carbon dioxide emitters to offset 100 percent of their emissions with emissions units from carbon farming.
    New Zealand is the only country in the world that allows 100% carbon offsetting through forestry, with other countries recognising the risk and putting restrictions in place.
    Federated Farmers is now calling on the Government to urgently review the ETS and fix the rules to either limit or stop the offsetting of fossil fuel emissions with forestry.
    You can sign the petition pushing for change at www.saveoursheep.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Increase in COVID, flu and RSV in Victoria

    Source: FairTrading New South Wales

    Key messages

    • There is an increased risk of respiratory illnesses heading into the winter months.
    • Immunisations are available for many respiratory illnesses such as influenza (flu), COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). It is never too late to get vaccinated.
    • Early antiviral treatments for influenza and COVID-19 can help to reduce severe disease for high-risk individuals.
    • Simple hygiene and preventive measures like covering coughs and sneezes, regular hand washing and staying home when unwell can help reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses.

    What is the issue?

    There is an increased risk of respiratory illnesses heading into the winter months. In Victoria, the increase in COVID-19 cases between April and May this year was 2.5 times higher than the same time last year, and hospitalisations have been increasing. Flu and RSV cases are also increasing.

    Young children and older adults are particularly vulnerable to respiratory illnesses and may experience more severe illness requiring hospitalisation.

    Who is at risk?

    People most at risk of severe illness with respiratory conditions include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, children under the age of 5 years old, elderly people, pregnant women, those who are immunocompromised, and those with certain medical conditions including diabetes, cardiac disease and chronic respiratory conditions.

    While some people may be at a higher risk of severe illness, it is possible for anyone to be infected and become unwell.

    Symptoms and transmission

    Symptoms of respiratory illnesses such as flu, COVID-19 and RSV can be quite similar and include fever, coughing, sneezing, sore throat, runny nose, body aches and fatigue.

    These illnesses are very infectious and spread via droplets produced through coughing and sneezing, or by coming in close contact with infected people.

    Recommendations

    For the public

    There are some simple steps you can do to help protect yourself and others from severe illness.

    Immunisations are available for many respiratory illnesses including flu, COVID-19 and RSV. These can be accessed through GPs, pharmacies, local councils and Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisations.

    Some Victorians may be eligible for free immunisations. For further information, talk to your doctor or visit:

    Other things you can do to keep yourself and others healthy include:

    • Wash or sanitise your hands thoroughly and regularly, particularly before and after touching your face
    • Cough or sneeze into your elbow
    • Stay home if you are unwell
    • Wear a face mask if you have symptoms or visiting sensitive settings, such as aged care facilities
    • Talk with your doctor now if you are at higher risk for complications from COVID-19 or the flu. Discuss what to do if you get sick, including testing options and whether you are eligible for antiviral treatment
    • If you experience serious symptoms, seek medical attention.

    For clinicians

    • Offer annual influenza vaccination to everyone aged 6 months and older.
    • Ensure those most at risk of severe illness are up to date with their flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.
    • Offer Abrysvo® RSV vaccine to eligible pregnant women (28 to 36 weeks pregnancy) and nirsevimab (Beyfortus™) RSV monoclonal antibody to eligible infantsExternal Link. RSV vaccines are not approved for use in infants and children.
    • Discuss RSV vaccinationExternal Link options with older adults.
    • Encourage catch up vaccination for patients who are not up to date with routine immunisations.
    • Discuss early use of anti-viral treatment for flu and COVID-19 for high-risk individuals.

    MIL OSI News –

  • US deploys Marines to Los Angeles as police break up fourth day of protests

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The U.S. military will temporarily deploy about 700 Marines to Los Angeles until more National Guard troops can arrive, marking another escalation in President Donald Trump’s response to street protests over his aggressive immigration policies.

    Tensions have been rising since Trump activated the National Guard on Saturday after street protests erupted in response to immigration raids in Southern California. It is the biggest flashpoint yet in the Trump administration’s aggressive efforts to deport migrants living in the country illegally.

    The announcement that marines would be deployed was made on the fourth straight day of protests. Late on Monday police began to disperse hundreds of demonstrators who gathered outside a federal detention center in downtown Los Angeles where immigrants have been held.

    National Guard forces had formed a human barricade to keep people out of the building. Then a phalanx of Los Angeles police moved up the street, starting to push people from the scene and firing “less lethal” munitions such as gas canisters. Police had used similar tactics since Friday.

    The LAPD said late on Monday afternoon that some protestors had started throwing objects at officers and the use of less lethal munitions had been authorized, adding in an X post: “Less lethal munitions may cause pain and discomfort.”

    California sued the Trump administration to block deployment of the National Guard and the Marines on Monday, arguing that it violates federal law and state sovereignty.

    U.S. Marines have been deployed domestically for major disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the September 11, 2001, attacks, but it is extremely rare for U.S. military troops to be used for domestic policing.

    For now, the Trump administration was not invoking the Insurrection Act, which would allow troops to directly participate in civilian law enforcement, according to a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity.

    The Pentagon confirmed on Monday that a contingent of 2,000 National Guard troops would be doubled to 4,000. Trump said on Monday he felt he had no choice but to increase the level of force to prevent violence from spiraling out of control.

    Trump also said he supported a suggestion by his border czar Tom Homan that California Governor Gavin Newsom should be arrested over possible obstruction of his administration’s immigration enforcement measures. “I would do it if I were Tom. I think it’s great,” Trump told reporters.

    Democrats said Trump’s decision to deploy military force to handle the protests amounts to an abuse of presidential power, and California’s lawsuit claimed it was illegal.

    “The level of escalation is completely unwarranted, uncalled for, and unprecedented,” Newsom’s press office said on X.

    FOUR DAYS OF PROTESTS

    The protests so far have resulted in a few dozen arrests and some property damage, including some self-driving Waymo vehicles that were set ablaze on Sunday evening. The Los Angeles Police Department said five officers sustained minor injuries on Saturday and Sunday, as did five police horses used in crowd control.

    Before the police intervention on Monday, several hundred protesters chanted “free them all” outside the Los Angeles federal detention facility where immigrants have been held.

    “What is happening effects every American, everyone who wants to live free, regardless of how long their family has lived here,” said Marzita Cerrato, 42, a first-generation immigrant whose parents are from Mexico and Honduras.

    Some in the crowd punched and tossed eggs at a Trump supporter at the event, while others fired paintballs from a car at the federal building.

    Protests also sprang up in at least nine other U.S. cities on Monday, including New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco, according to local news outlets.

    The Trump administration has argued that Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration allowed far too many immigrants to enter the country and that Democratic-run cities such as Los Angeles are improperly interfering with efforts to deport them. Trump has pledged to deport record numbers of people who are in the country illegally and to lock down the U.S.-Mexico border, setting a goal of at least 3,000 daily arrests.

    Trump can deploy Marines under certain conditions of law or under his authority as commander in chief.

    The last time the military was used for direct police action under the Insurrection Act was in 1992, when the California governor at the time asked President George H.W. Bush to help respond to Los Angeles riots over the acquittal of police officers who beat Black motorist Rodney King.

    More than 50 people were killed in the 1992 riots, which also caused some $1 billion in damage over six days.

    Federal law allows the president to deploy the National Guard if the nation is invaded, if there is “rebellion or danger of rebellion,” or the president is “unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States.”

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Kelly, Democrats demand action on cost-of-living crisis, warn that Trump’s ‘One Big Ugly Bill’ will drive prices even higher

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL

    Collegeville, PA – Today, the House Democratic Steering and Policy Co-Chairs, Congresswomen Robin Kelly (IL-02), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) and Nanette Barragán (CA-44), led a roundtable discussion with local leaders and stakeholders impacted by the Trump Tariffs and Republican threats to cut Medicaid and SNAP. Witnesses warned that the Republican ‘One Big Ugly Bill’ would only exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis for Pennsylvania’s working families.

    Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (PA-04) hosted the committee’s field hearing, and took testimony from community leaders who work directly helping people meet their basic needs to hear how the cost-of-living crisis would worsen with the Republican tax scam to slash Medicaid and food assistance while giving huge new tax breaks to billionaires.

    “At a time when families need stability, President Trump has thrown our economy into turmoil with reckless tariffs that continue to decimate retirement and college savings accounts,” said Dean. “Meanwhile, Trump and Republicans are pushing their ‘Big Ugly Bill,’ which will kick more than 300,000 Pennsylvanians off their healthcare and rip away food assistance from 140,000 of our neighbors. We should be fighting to lower costs for working families — not spiking prices and financing another tax break for the wealthy.”

    “President Trump promised to lower the cost of living on Day One. He lied,” said Kelly. “Instead, Americans are paying the cost of his shortsighted trade war at the checkout counter while Republicans in Congress attack food assistance and healthcare. This is a recipe for a cost-of-living disaster, yet Republicans’ solution is to give more tax breaks to the well-off and well-connected. I, alongside my Democratic colleagues, will continue to travel across the country to hear directly from the American people and bring their concerns back to Washington with real solutions.” 

    “Republicans are not interested in making life more affordable for American families. Trump’s One, Big, Ugly bill will take away food and rental assistance, and life-saving health care from millions of Americans,” said Barragán. “House Republicans have refused to work with Democrats to deliver solutions that support hardworking Americans. Seniors, children, and veterans will bear the burden of higher costs of food, healthcare, and housing while Trump’s billionaire donors get richer.”

    “Grocery checkout lines and the fear of falling ill are still major sources of financial anxiety for families, yet the Republican response is to give the wealthiest Americans a tax break windfall and pay for it by taking affordable health care and food assistance from millions of people. It’s a cruel, deplorable and fiscally irresponsible response, and we heard that message loud and clear today in Pennsylvania,” said Wasserman Schultz. “Far from lowering costs, Trump’s chaotic economic policies are driving recessionary fears, and Republicans’ ‘Big Ugly Bill’ would steal health care from 16 million Americans and deny food assistance to millions more. The net effect makes life even harder for paycheck-to-paycheck workers.”

    The Steering and Policy Committee has gone on the road to hear from the American people, convening a town hall in California and a hearing in Virginia exposing the extreme Republican agenda. The Steering and Policy Committee will continue to travel the nation in the months ahead to reach the American people where they live and hear from them directly. 

    The full video of today’s hearing can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Kelly announces Rep. Kiggans as new Co-Chair of Bipartisan Maternity Care Caucus

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) announced Rep. Jen Kiggans (VA-02) as the new Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Maternity Care Caucus for the 119th Congress. The caucus works to advance bipartisan maternal health policy goals that save lives from pregnancy-related deaths.

    “I am honored to announce Rep. Kiggans as my partner on the Bipartisan Maternity Care Caucus. Improving maternal health outcomes is not and should not be a political issue,” said Rep. Kelly. “Mothers from every corner of the country — whether they live in urban, suburban, or rural areas — deserve the affordable and accessible healthcare they need to thrive. Black mothers in particular face health inequities that we need to address on a policy level. The Bipartisan Maternity Care Caucus will continue to lead the way in legislation that save mothers.”

    “As a nurse practitioner, Navy veteran, and mom of four, I know how critical it is to ensure women receive high-quality, compassionate care throughout pregnancy and beyond,” said Rep. Kiggans. “I’m honored to join Rep. Kelly in leading the Bipartisan Maternity Care Caucus, where we’ll work together to support mothers, strengthen families, and find commonsense solutions to the maternal health challenges facing our country. This isn’t a partisan issue — it’s a matter of life, health, and dignity for women and babies.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Fatal crash at Randalls Bay, south of Cygnet

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Fatal crash at Randalls Bay, south of Cygnet

    Tuesday, 10 June 2025 – 1:10 pm.

    Sadly, a 59-year-old man has died following a crash at Randalls Bay on Sunday afternoon.
    Initial inquiries indicate the man was travelling on the Channel Highway between Randalls Bay Road and Lowes Road in a silver Ford Falcon about 4pm, when he lost control of the vehicle and struck a power pole.
    Two passengers in the vehicle received minor injuries, and sadly the driver has since died in hospital.
    It is not believed that any other vehicle was involved in the collision.
    Our thoughts are with the man’s family and loved ones and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
    Anyone with information, or relevant dash cam footage, is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au.
    Information can be provided anonymously.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Motorists urged to be safe on the roads following several traffic operations across North West Tasmania

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Motorists urged to be safe on the roads following several traffic operations across North West Tasmania

    Tuesday, 10 June 2025 – 1:24 pm.

    Police in North West Tasmania are reminding all motorists of the dangers of engaging in risky behaviours on the roads, following several traffic operations conducted across the region over the long weekend.
    “Western Road Policing Services conducting seven traffic operations in North West Tasmania over the King’s Birthday long weekend, from Latrobe to Arthur River/West Coast areas, and while no drink drivers were detected, it’s concerning some motorists continue to engage in dangerous behaviours on our roads,” said Acting Inspector Martin Parker.
    During the operations police detected:

    2x drivers who returned a positive result on an oral fluid test
    3x motorists failing to wear seatbelt
    3x motorists driving while using a mobile phone
    32x drivers exceeding the speed limit
    4x defect vehicles
    2x unaccompanied learners
    1x unregistered motor vehicle
    2x unlicensed driver
    1x disqualified driver
    1x inattentive driver.
    An 18-year-old man from Upper Burnie who allegedly evaded police on Old Bass Highway at Wynyard on Saturday morning. He was charged with evading police and driving whilst not the holder of a driver licence and will appear in court.

    “While it was pleasing no drink drivers were detected during the traffic operations, it is concerning that some drivers are engaging in risky driving behaviours including driving under the influence of illicit drugs, speeding, failing to wear seatbelts and using mobile phones while driving,” said Acting Inspector Martin Parker.
    “It is also disappointing that people are driving while disqualified, driving without a driver licence or disobeying the conditions of their licence.”
    “Risky driving behaviours increase the likelihood of serious and fatal crashed occurring on our roads.”
    “There are very real consequences for breaking the road rules, which could be a fine or loss of licence, or worse, serious injury or death from a crash.”
    “I urge every motorist to do the right thing every time they travel on the roads, to help keep everyone safe.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s remarks at the Summit “Africa for the Ocean” [All-French, as delivered; scroll down for All-English]

    Source: United Nations – English

    otre Altesse Royale, Princesse Lalla Hasnaa du Royaume du Maroc,
    Monsieur le Président de la République française, Cher Emmanuel Macron,
    Excellences, Chers amis,

    Je vous remercie d’organiser ce sommet afin de réaffirmer un message clair :

    Les destins de l’Afrique et de l’océan sont profondément liés.

    Pour des millions de personnes à travers le continent, l’océan est source de vie, d’identité, de promesses.

    Avec plus de 30 000 kilomètres de littoral et 38 États côtiers, l’Afrique est une puissance maritime.

    Son avenir s’écrit aussi dans ses eaux.

    Mais cette richesse bleue est trop souvent sous-évaluée et surexploitée.

    L’insécurité maritime menace la paix.

    La pollution empoisonne les côtes et les écosystèmes.

    Et la crise climatique – dont l’Afrique n’est pourtant pas responsable – ravage ses rivages.

    Face à ces défis, l’Afrique propose, innove, agit.

    Elle forge des solutions qui inspirent bien au-delà du continent.

    Nous le voyons dans des projets ambitieux de coopération régionale – ou encore la Stratégie intégrée de l’Union africaine pour les mers et les océans à l’horizon 2050.

    Et nous le voyons dans les négociations internationales, où l’Afrique fait entendre sa voix avec force.

    L’Accord sur la diversité biologique marine des zones ne relevant pas de la juridiction nationale – l’Accord BBNJ – en est un exemple.

    Le Groupe africain a été un acteur central des négociations, obtenant des engagements sur le partage équitable des avantages, le renforcement des capacités et le transfert de technologies marines.

    À ce jour, 28 États africains ont signé l’Accord. Trois l’ont déjà ratifié. Peut-être que ces chiffres sont déjà surpassés par les chiffres que le Président de la République a annoncé ce matin.

    Et plusieurs autres prévoient de le faire aujourd’hui, lors de la cérémonie spéciale sur les traités pour l’Accord BBNJ.

    C’est un signal fort : l’Afrique est au cœur de l’action pour les océans.

    Mais pour libérer pleinement ce potentiel, il faut un sursaut politique et financier.

    Cela commence par renforcer la sécurité maritime face aux menaces transnationales – piraterie, trafic d’armes et d’êtres humains et crime organisé.

    Les Nations Unies continueront de soutenir les efforts africains, notamment à travers l’Architecture de Yaoundé, qui a contribué à une baisse significative des actes de piraterie dans le golfe de Guinée.

    Cela passe également par une gouvernance océanique fondée sur la science et la coopération.

    Il faut lutter contre la pollution et la pêche illicite, non déclarée et non réglementée, renforcer les capacités de collecte et de partage des données océanographiques, et protéger la biodiversité.

    Nous devons valoriser les énergies marines renouvelables, l’aquaculture et le tourisme durable, autant de sources d’emplois décents – notamment pour les jeunes et les femmes.

    Mais ces efforts ne porteront pleinement leurs fruits que si l’Afrique est connectée – dans ses territoires et avec le reste du monde.

    Les océans africains doivent devenir de véritables corridors d’intégration – reliant pays côtiers et enclavés, au service d’une croissance partagée.

    Cela suppose des investissements concrets dans les infrastructures maritimes et portuaires : des ports interconnectés, résilients face au changement climatique, capables de répondre aux besoins d’un commerce en croissance.

    Les États sans littoral doivent être reliés aux chaînes de valeur mondiales.

    Aucun pays ne doit rester à quai.

    Mais pour que cette transformation soit durable et équitable, nous devons mettre fin aux injustices historiques.

    Ces injustices se traduisent aussi dans l’océan : les investissements ont trop souvent contourné l’Afrique, alors même que ses ressources marines étaient exploitées par d’autres.

    Le Pacte pour l’Avenir, adopté en septembre dernier, appelle à une réforme profond des institutions financières mondiales – afin qu’elles soient au service de tous.

    Il est temps que les pays en développement soient équitablement représentés dans ces institutions. D’ailleurs, comme au Conseil de Sécurité des Nations-Unies.

    Nous avons besoin d’un système qui reflète les réalités du XXIème siècle – un système plus juste, plus solidaire et plus efficace.

    C’est pourquoi j’appelle les institutions financières, les bailleurs bilatéraux et multilatéraux, les banques de développement et le secteur privé à répondre présent – y compris lors de la quatrième Conférence internationale sur le financement du développement à Séville.

    Chers amis,

    De Dakar à Djibouti, du Cap à Casablanca, l’Afrique prouve qu’on peut conjuguer prospérité et préservation.

    Le monde a besoin de l’Afrique pour répondre aux défis de l’océan.

    Et l’océan a besoin d’une Afrique qui trace sa voie et navigue résolument vers l’avenir.

    Je vous remercie.

    ***
    [All-English]

    Your Royal Highness, Princess Lalla Hasnaa of the Kingdom of Morocco,
    Mr. President of the French Republic, Dear Emmanuel Macron,
    Excellencies, Dear friends,

    Thank you for organizing this summit to reaffirm a clear message:

    The destinies of Africa and the ocean are deeply linked.

    For millions of people across the continent, the ocean is a source of life, identity and promise.

    With over 30,000 kilometers of coastline and 38 coastal states, Africa is a maritime powerhouse.

    Its future is also written in its waters.

    But this blue wealth is too often undervalued and overexploited.

    Maritime insecurity threatens peace.

    Pollution poisons coasts and ecosystems.

    And the climate crisis – that Africa did little to cause – is ravaging its shores.

    In the face of these challenges, Africa is proposing, innovating, taking action.

    It is forging solutions that inspire far beyond the continent.

    We see this in ambitious regional cooperation projects – and in the African Union’s 2050 Integrated Maritime Strategy for the Seas and Oceans to 2050.

    And we see it in international negotiations, where Africa is making its voice heard loud and clear.

    The Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity beyond Areas of National Jurisdiction – the BBNJ Agreement – is one example.

    The African Group was a key player in the negotiations, securing commitments on equitable benefit sharing, capacity building and marine technology transfer.

    To date, 28 African states have signed the Agreement. Three have already ratified it. These numbers have increased with the news that President Macron shared with us earlier today.

    And several more are planning to do so today, at the special treaty ceremony for the BBNJ Agreement.

    This is a strong signal: Africa is at the heart of ocean action.

    But to fully unleash this potential, we need a political and financial surge.

    This begins by strengthening maritime security in the face of transnational threats – piracy, arms and human trafficking and organized crime.

    The United Nations will continue to support African efforts, notably through the Yaoundé Architecture, which has contributed to a significant decline in acts of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

    This also requires ocean governance based on science and cooperation.

    We must combat pollution and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, strengthen capacities for collecting and sharing oceanographic data, and protect biodiversity.

    We must promote renewable marine energies, sustainable aquaculture and tourism – all of which create decent jobs, in particular for young people and women.

    But these efforts will only bear fruit if Africa is connected — within its territories and with the rest of the world.

    Africa’s oceans must become integration corridors – linking coastal and landlocked countries, for a shared growth.

    This calls for concrete investments in maritime infrastructures – interconnected ports, resilient to climate change, capable of meeting the needs of growing trade.

    Landlocked states must be connected to global value chains.

    No country should be left behind.

    But for this transformation to be sustainable and equitable, we must put an end to historical injustices.

    These injustices are also reflected in the ocean: investments have too often bypassed Africa, even as its marine resources were exploited by others.

    The Pact for the Future, adopted last September, calls for deep reforms of global financial institutions – so that they serve everyone.

    It is time for developing countries to be fairly represented in these institutions.

    We need a system that reflects the realities of the 21st century – a system that is more just, more supportive, and more effective. As is the the case with the United Nations Security Council.

    That is why I call on financial institutions, bilateral and multilateral donors, development banks and the private sector to step up – including at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville.

    Dear friends,

    From Dakar to Djibouti, from Cape Town to Casablanca, Africa is proving that prosperity and preservation can go hand in hand.

    The world needs Africa to meet the ocean’s challenges.

    And the ocean needs an Africa that charts its own course and navigates decisively toward the future.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s remarks at the opening of the UN Ocean Conference [bilingual, as delivered; scroll down for all-French]

    Source: United Nations – English

    onsieur le Président de la République française, Cher Emmanuel Macron
    Señor Presidente de la República de Costa Rica, Estimado Rodrigo Chaves Robles
     
    Excellences, chers amis,
    Dear President of the French Republic, Dear Emmanuel Macron
    Mr. President of the Republic of Costa Rica, Dear Rodrigo Chaves Robles
    Excellencies, dear friends,
     
    Permettez-moi tout d’abord de remercier nos hôtes, les gouvernements de la France et du Costa Rica, d’avoir organisé cette conférence.
    Let me begin by thanking our hosts, the Governments of France and Costa Rica, for convening this conference.
     
    Et merci à tous d’être là, à Nissa la bella – ville à la mer d’azur et au ciel pur.
    And thank you all for being here, in “Nissa la bella” – city of azure seas and clear skies.
     
    Nous voici réunis sur les rives de la Méditerranée, carrefour de continents, de cultures et de commerce.
    We gather beside the Mediterranean –  a crossroads of continents, cultures, and commerce.
     
    Une mer qui, depuis des millénaires, est source de vie – et qui nous rappelle notre profonde dépendance à l’égard de l’océan.
    A sea that has sustained life for millennia –reminding us of our deep dependence on the ocean.
     
    L’océan produit la moitié de l’oxygène que nous respirons.
    The ocean generates half of the oxygen we breathe.  
     
    Il nourrit 3 milliards de personnes et fait vivre 600 millions d’autres.
    It feeds 3 billion people and sustains 600 million livelihoods.
     
    L’économie des océans a plus que doublé en 30 ans – et elle continue de croître.
    The ocean economy has more than doubled in 30 years – and keeps growing.
     
    Le transport maritime assure, à lui seul, plus de 80 % du commerce mondial.
    Maritime transport alone moves over 80 per cent of global trade.
     
    L’océan est notre bien commun par excellence.
    The ocean is the ultimate shared resource.
     
    Pourtant, nous sommes en train de le piller.
    But we are failing it.
     
    Les stocks de poissons s’effondrent.
    Fish stocks are collapsing.
     
    La surconsommation et la pêche illégale poussent des espèces au bord de l’extinction.
    Over-consumption and illegal fishing are pushing marine life to the brink.
     
    Chaque année, 23 millions de tonnes de plastique sont déversées dans les eaux et asphyxient les écosystèmes.
    Plastic pollution is choking ecosystems – with 23 million tonnes of waste entering waters every year.
     
    Les émissions de carbone provoquent l’acidification et le réchauffement des océans – détruisant les récifs de corail et accélérant la montée des eaux.
    Carbon emissions are driving ocean acidification and heating – destroying coral reefs and accelerating sea level rise.
     
    Si on ne change pas de cap, cette acceleration va submerger les deltas, detruire les récoltes et engloutir les littoraux, menaçant la survie même de nombreuses îles.
    If we do not change course, this rise will submerge deltas, destroy crops, and swallow coastlines – threatening many islands’ survival.
     
    L’océan absorbe désormais 90 % de l’excédent de chaleur piégé par les gaz à effet de serre.
    The ocean now stores 90 per cent of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases.
     
    Autant de symptômes d’un système en crise… et qui s’auto-alimente.
    These are symptoms of a system in crisis – and they are feeding off each other.
     
    Brisant les chaînes alimentaires… Anéantissant les moyens de subsistance… Augmentant l’insécurité.
    Unravelling food chains. Destroying livelihoods. Deepening insecurity.
     
    Cette insécurité est exacerbée par la criminalité : piraterie, trafic d’êtres humains, réseaux organisés et pillage des ressources volent des vies, freinent le développement et privent les communautés côtières de leurs droits.
    And insecurity is rising not only from natural forces – but from criminal ones.  Piracy, organized crime, human trafficking, and the looting of natural resources are threatening lives, undermining development, and robbing coastal communities of their rights.
     
    Ladies and gentlemen,
     
    Since the last UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon, we have seen progress.
     
    We have also seen a growing awareness of the deep interconnection between preserving biodiversity and marine ecosystems, combatting climate change, and stopping pollution.
     
    The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework set a bold pledge:
     
    To conserve and manage at least 30 per cent of marine and coastal areas by 2030.
     
    Member States also adopted the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction – a historic breakthrough.
     
    I urge all delegations to ratify it – and welcome good news delivered by President Macron and the momentum this Conference is generating toward its swift entry into force.
                    
    I also call on all countries to agree on an ambitious and legally binding treaty on plastic pollution – this year.
     
    It is essential to successfully conclude the agreement on fisheries currently discussed at World Trade Organization.
     
    The International Maritime Organization committed to reach net-zero emissions from shipping by 2050.
     
    And last year’s General Assembly Meeting on Sea Level Rise underscored that statehood and sovereignty cannot be undermined by rising seas.
     
    This proves multilateralism works – but only if we match words with action.
     
    By developing concrete national plans aligned with global targets;
     
    By harnessing science, driving innovation, and ensuring fair access to technology;
     
    By empowering fishers, Indigenous peoples, and youth;
     
    And above all, by investing.
     
    SDG 14 on life below water remains one of the least funded Sustainable Development Goals.
     
    This must change – through increased public finance, greater support from development banks, and bold models to unlock private capital. 
     
    I urge all countries to come forward with bold pledges.
     
    Small Island Developing States need support to build resilience and thrive in the blue economy.
     
    Many struggle to access healthy, affordable food –  underscoring the urgent need to restore local fisheries and strengthen ocean-based food systems.
     
    We must also strengthen maritime security as a pillar of sustainable development.
     
    And we must embed ocean priorities across climate, food systems and sustainable finance.
     
    Because without a healthy ocean, there can be no healthy planet.
     
    Finally, nations are also navigating new waters on seabed mining:
     
    I support the ongoing work of the International Seabed Authority on this important issue.
     
    The deep sea cannot become the Wild West.
     
    Ladies and gentlemen,
     
    We live in an age of turmoil, but the resolve I see here gives me hope.
     
    Hope that we can turn the tide.
     
    That we can move from plunder to protection.
     
    From exclusion to equity.
     
    From short-term exploitation to long-term stewardship.
     
    We know it’s possible.
     
    When we reached a global moratorium on commercial whaling, whale populations recovered.
     
    When we protect marine areas, life returns.
     
    Today, we have the opportunity to restore marine abundance.
     
    What was lost in a generation can return in a generation.
     
    The ocean of our ancestors – teeming with life and diversity – can be more than legend.
     
    It can be our legacy.
     
    I wish you a successful conference.
     
    Thank you.

    **** 

    [All-French]
     
    Monsieur le Président de la République française, Cher Emmanuel Macron
    Monsieur le Président de la République du Costa Rica, Cher Rodrigo Chaves Robles
     
    Excellences, chers amis,
     
    Permettez-moi tout d’abord de remercier nos hôtes, les gouvernements de la France et du Costa Rica, d’avoir organisé cette conférence.
     
    Et merci à tous d’être là, à Nissa la bella – ville à la mer d’azur et au ciel pur.
     
    Nous voici réunis sur les rives de la Méditerranée, carrefour de continents, de cultures et de commerce.
     
    Une mer qui, depuis des millénaires, est source de vie – et qui nous rappelle notre profonde dépendance à l’égard de l’océan.
     
    L’océan produit la moitié de l’oxygène que nous respirons.
     
    Il nourrit 3 milliards de personnes et fait vivre 600 millions d’autres.
     
    L’économie des océans a plus que doublé en 30 ans – et elle continue de croître.
     
    Le transport maritime assure, à lui seul, plus de 80 % du commerce mondial.
     
    L’océan est notre bien commun par excellence.
     
    Pourtant, nous sommes en train de le piller.
     
    Les stocks de poissons s’effondrent.
     
    La surconsommation et la pêche illégale poussent des espèces au bord de l’extinction.
     
    Chaque année, 23 millions de tonnes de plastique sont déversées dans les eaux et asphyxient les écosystèmes.
     
    Les émissions de carbone provoquent l’acidification et le réchauffement des océans – détruisant les récifs de corail et accélérant la montée des eaux.
     
    Si on ne change pas de cap, cette accélération va submerger les deltas, détruire les récoltes et engloutir les littoraux – menaçant la survie même de nombreuses îles.
     
    L’océan absorbe désormais 90 % de l’excédent de chaleur piégé par les gaz à effet de serre.
     
    Autant de symptômes d’un système en crise… et qui s’auto-alimente.
     
    La montée des eaux submerge les deltas, détruit les récoltes et engloutit les littoraux, menaçant la survie même de nombreuses îles.
     
    L’océan est pris au piège d’un cercle vicieux – victime et accélérateur du changement climatique.
     
    Brisant les chaînes alimentaires… Anéantissant les moyens de subsistance… Augmentant l’insécurité.
     
    Cette insécurité est exacerbée par la criminalité : piraterie, trafic d’êtres humains, réseaux organisés et pillage des ressources volent des vies, freinent le développement et privent les communautés côtières de leurs droits.
     
    Mesdames et Messieurs,
     
    Depuis la dernière Conférence des Nations Unies sur l’océan, qui s’est tenue à Lisbonne, des progrès ont été accomplis.
     
    Nous avons également vu une prise de conscience croissante des liens profonds entre la préservation de la biodiversité et des écosystèmes marins, la lutte contre le changement climatique et l’arrêt de la pollution.
     
    Le Cadre mondial de la biodiversité de Kunming-Montréal contient un engagement audacieux :
     
    Conserver et gérer au moins 30 % des zones marines et côtières d’ici à 2030.
     
    Les États Membres ont également adopté l’Accord portant sur la diversité biologique marine des zones ne relevant pas de la juridiction nationale, qui marque une avancée historique.
     
    J’exhorte toutes les délégations à ratifier cet accord et je me félicite des bonnes nouvelles partagées par le President Macron et de l’impulsion donnée par la Conférence pour en favoriser l’entrée en vigueur rapide.
     
    Par ailleurs, j’appelle tous les pays à s’entendre cette année sur un traité ambitieux et juridiquement contraignant sur la pollution plastique.
     
    Il est également essentiel de conclure avec succès l’accord sur la pêche actuellement discuté à l’Organisation mondiale du commerce.
     
    L’Organisation maritime internationale est résolue à faire en sorte que, d’ici à 2025, le transport maritime ne produise plus aucune émission nette.
     
    L’année dernière, durant la réunion de l’Assemblée générale sur l’élévation du niveau de la mer, il a été dit avec force que la montée des eaux ne saurait porter atteinte à la souveraineté et à l’intégrité des États.
     
    Toutes ces initiatives montrent que le multilatéralisme fonctionne, mais seulement si nous traduisons nos paroles en actes.
     
    En développant des plans nationaux concrets alignés sur les objectifs mondiaux.
     
    En exploitant la science, en stimulant l’innovation, et en garantissant un accès équitable à la technologie.
     
    En donnant des moyens d’action aux pêcheurs, aux populations autochtones, aux scientifiques et aux jeunes.
     
    Et, par-dessus tout, en investissant.
     
    L’objectif de développement durable no 14 relatif à la vie aquatique demeure l’un des objectifs de développement durable les moins bien financés.
     
    Les choses doivent changer. Pour cela, il faut augmenter les financements publics, accroître l’appui apporté par les banques de développement et favoriser l’afflux de capitaux privés grâce à des modèles de financement audacieux.
     
    J’exhorte tous les pays à prendre des engagements ambitieux [et je remercie ceux qui l’ont déjà fait].
     
    Les petits États insulaires en développement ont besoin d’aide pour renforcer leur résilience et prospérer dans l’économie bleue.
     
    Nombreux sont ceux qui peinent à se procurer une alimentation saine à un coût abordable, ce qui montre combien il est urgent de restaurer les pêches locales et de renforcer les systèmes alimentaires basés sur l’océan.
     
    Nous devons également renforcer la sécurité maritime qui est l’un des piliers du développement durable.
     
    Nous devons intégrer les priorités liées à l’océan dans toutes nos activités touchant le climat, les systèmes alimentaires et la finance durable.
     
    Car sans un océan en bonne santé, il ne peut y avoir de planète en bonne santé.
     
    Enfin, l’exploitation minière des fonds marins pose aux pays de nouveaux défis.
     
    Je soutiens les travaux en cours de l’Autorité internationale des fonds marins sur cet enjeu important.
     
    Les grands fonds ne peuvent pas devenir un Far West.
     
    Mesdames et Messieurs,
     
    Nous vivons une époque de troubles, mais la détermination que je constate ici me donne de l’espoir.
     
    J’espère que nous pourrons redresser la situation.
     
    Que nous pourrons remplacer le pillage par la protection.
     
    L’exclusion par l’équité.
     
    La surexploitation à court terme par la bonne gestion à long terme.
     
    Nous savons que c’est possible.
     
    Lorsque nous sommes parvenus à un moratoire mondial sur la chasse commerciale à la baleine, les populations de baleines se sont reconstituées.
     
    Lorsque nous protégeons des aires marines, la vie revient.
     
    Aujourd’hui, nous avons la possibilité de redonner à l’océan son abondance.
     
    Ce qui a été perdu en l’espace d’une génération peut renaître en l’espace d’une autre.
     
    L’océan qu’ont connu nos ancêtres, qui regorgeait de vie et de diversité, peut être davantage qu’une légende.
     
    Il peut être notre héritage.
     
    Que votre conférence soit couronnée de succès.
     
    Je vous remercie.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for June 10, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 10, 2025.

    Why won’t my cough go away?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David King, Senior Lecturer in General Practice, The University of Queensland Mladen Zivkovic/Shutterstock A persistent cough can be embarrassing, especially if people think you have COVID. Coughing frequently can also make you physically tired, interfere with sleep and trigger urinary incontinence. As a GP, I have even

    Bangarra Dance Theatre’s Illume is spectacle with heart and spirit, a thrilling manifestation of Country
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Brannigan, Associate Professor, Theatre and Performance, UNSW Sydney Bangarra/Daniel Boud The stage is covered in stars that fill the depth of the space. When the 18 dancers slowly gather, they move through a night sky. This sky, and the scenes that unfold in Bangarra’s Illume are

    Starlink is transforming Pacific internet access – but in some countries it’s still illegal
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amanda H.A. Watson, Fellow, Department of Pacific Affairs, Australian National University Solomon aligning the Starlink dish on the roof of his friend’s home in Vanuatu. Paul Basant In the past few years, Starlink’s satellite internet service has become available across much of the Pacific. This has created

    9 myths about electric vehicles have taken hold. A new study shows how many people fall for them
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christian Bretter, Senior Research Fellow in Environmental Psychology, The University of Queensland More people believe misinformation about electric vehicles than disagree with it and even EV owners tend to believe the myths, our new research shows. We investigated the prevalence of misinformation about EVs in four countries

    Keith Rankin Analysis – Remembering New Zealand’s Missing Tragedy
    Analysis by Keith Rankin. Every country has its tragedies. A few are highly remembered. Most are semi-remembered. Others are almost entirely forgotten. Sometimes the loss of memory is due to these tragedies being to a degree international, seemingly making it somebody else’s ‘duty’ to remember them. This could have been the case with the Air

    A 10-fold increase in rocket launches would start harming the ozone layer – new research
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Revell, Associate Professor in Atmospheric Chemistry, University of Canterbury Han Jiajun/VCG via Getty Images The international space industry is on a growth trajectory, but new research shows a rapid increase in rocket launches would damage the ozone layer. Several hundred rockets are launched globally each year

    For the first time, fossil stomach contents of a sauropod dinosaur reveal what they really ate
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Poropat, Research Associate, School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University Artist’s reconstruction of Judy. Travis Tischler Since the late 19th century, sauropod dinosaurs (long-necks like Brontosaurus and Brachiosaurus) have been almost universally regarded as herbivores, or plant eaters. However, until recently, no direct evidence –

    The Racial Discrimination Act at 50: the bumpy, years-long journey to Australia’s first human rights laws
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Azadeh Dastyari, Director, Research and Policy, Whitlam Institute, Western Sydney University On June 11, Australia marks 50 years since the Racial Discrimination Act became law. This important legislation helps make sure people are treated equally no matter their race, skin colour, background, or where they come from.

    Fake news and real cannibalism: a cautionary tale from the Dutch Golden Age
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Garritt C. Van Dyk, Senior Lecturer in History, University of Waikato The Corpses of the De Witt Brothers, attributed to Jan de Baen, c. 1672-1675. Rijksmuseum The Dutch Golden Age, beginning in 1588, is known for the art of Rembrandt, the invention of the microscope, and the

    Some economists have called for a radical ‘global wealth tax’ on billionaires. How would that work?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Venkat Narayanan, Senior Lecturer – Accounting and Tax, RMIT University Rudy Balasko/Shutterstock Earlier this year, I attended a housing conference in Sydney. The event’s opening address centred on the way Australia seems to be becoming like 18th-century England – a country where inheritance largely determines one’s opportunities

    Australia’s whooping cough surge is not over – and it doesn’t just affect babies
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Niall Johnston, Conjoint Associate Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney Tomsickova Tatyana/Shutterstock Whooping cough (pertussis) is always circulating in Australia, and epidemics are expected every three to four years. However, the numbers we’re seeing with the current surge – which started in 2024 – are higher than

    As livestock numbers grow, wild animal populations plummet. Giving all creatures a better future will take a major rethink
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clive Phillips, Adjunct Professor in Animal Welfare, Curtin University Toa55/Shutterstock As a teenager in the 1970s, I worked on a typical dairy farm in England. Fifty cows grazed on lush pastures for most of their long lives, each producing about 12 litres of milk daily. They were

    Johannesburg’s problems can be solved – but it’s a long journey to fix South Africa’s economic powerhouse
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Philip Harrison, Professor School of Architecture and Planning, University of the Witwatersrand South African president Cyril Ramaphosa met senior leaders of Johannesburg and Gauteng, the province it’s located in, in March 2025 to discuss ways to arrest the steep decline in South Africa’s largest city. Ramaphosa announced

    Albanese says the government’s focus on delivering commitments is essential to reinforce faith in democracy
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says his second term government is “focused on delivery” of its commitments, declaring this is important not only for the economy but also for Australians’ faith in our democracy. In a speech to the National Press

    Why Israel’s ‘humane’ propaganda is such a sinister facade
    COMMENTARY: By Cole Martin in Occupied Bethlehem Many people have been closely following the journey this week of the Madleen, a small humanitarian yacht seeking to break Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza with a crew of 12 on board, including humanitarian activists and journalists. This morning we woke to the harrowing, yet not unexpected, news

    Trump has long speculated about using force against his own people. Now he has the pretext to do so
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Shortis, Adjunct Senior Fellow, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University “You just [expletive] shot the reporter!” Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi was in the middle of a live cross, covering the protests against the Trump administration’s mass deportation policy in Los Angeles, California. As

    Palestinian supporters in NZ accuse Israel of ‘state piracy’ and condemn silence
    Asia Pacific Report Israel’s military attack and boarding of the humanitarian boat Madleen attempting to deliver food and medical aid to the besieged people of Gaza has been condemned by New Zealand Palestinian advocacy groups as a “staggering act of state piracy”. The vessel was in international waters, carrying aid workers, doctors, journalists, and supplies

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: How ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ deepens US debt problem

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

    This photo taken on Jan. 19, 2023 shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The political marriage between U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. billionaire Elon Musk came to a dramatic and public end, after the latter scathingly condemned the administration’s flagship economic proposal, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” labelling it a “disgusting abomination.”

    Musk’s high-profile break with Trump has amplified a wave of bipartisan disputes over the bill, which was passed narrowly in the House. Although designed to deliver sweeping tax cuts and fulfill campaign promises, economists and budget analysts argue that the bill may exacerbate an already unsustainable debt burden and even lead to a debt crisis in the long run.

    Why so controversial? 

    Trump’s megabill is a legislative package that combines tax and spending cuts with provisions on issues such as border security, energy exploration, and welfare reform. The bill was passed in the House last month by a 215-214 vote and is currently awaiting deliberation by the Senate. At its core, the bill aims to extend the 2017 tax cuts — Trump’s most significant legislative achievement during his first term.

    Musk repeatedly took to his social media platform X to denounce the bill — which called for cuts to electric vehicle credits — as wasteful.

    The bill includes 1.2 trillion U.S. dollars in spending cuts over a decade but would raise budget deficits by 2.4 trillion dollars, according to a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimate released Wednesday.

    The nonpartisan budget office also projected that close to 11 million more people would be uninsured in 2034 because of changes to Medicaid included in Trump’s megabill.

    Proponents argue that the bill will unleash growth and reduce the deficit “in the long run.”

    Russell Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, claimed that Trump’s bill would reduce the deficit “when you adjust for CBO’s one big gimmick — not using a realistic current policy baseline.” The White House maintains that the CBO has an “artificial baseline” that does not factor in the 2017 tax cuts.

    However, budget experts have voiced concerns that the debt crisis, which was once dismissed as alarmism, is now alarmingly close to becoming a reality.

    Peter Orszag, chief executive of investment bank Lazard and a former U.S. budget director, was quoted by The Wall Street Journal as saying that those who bemoaned the unsustainability of deficit spending and debt levels during his time in government “seemed to cry wolf — a lot.”

    Now he is worried, too, because the wolf is “lurking much closer to our door.” As he put it, the current fiscal strategy looks less like sound policy and more like “budgetary wolf bait.”

    The CBO estimated that the bill would add about 3.8 trillion dollars to the federal government’s debt over the next decade.

    According to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, it would add around 3 trillion dollars to debt levels over the next decade compared with existing estimates and 5 trillion dollars if certain temporary features were made permanent.

    This file photo taken on Jan. 20, 2025 shows Elon Musk delivering a speech at Capital One arena in Washington, D.C., the United States. [Photo/Xinhua]

    How bad is debt situation? 

    So why are many now alarmed? Because the numbers have become overwhelming. Annual interest payments on the national debt have surpassed 1 trillion dollars, and policymakers in Washington continue to spend with little restraint. The fiscal state of the United States is increasingly dire.

    As of mid-2025, the U.S. national debt stands at over 36.2 trillion dollars, and the debt-to-GDP ratio has exceeded its peak during World War II. According to the CBO’s January 2025 Budget and Economic Outlook, this ratio is on track to hit 118 percent by 2035.

    The U.S. federal deficit for fiscal year 2025 had already reached 1.1 trillion dollars by April — a 13 percent increase from the same period last year. Although revenues have risen by 5 percent, government outlays have increased even faster, growing by 7 percent.

    At the same time, borrowing is becoming more expensive. The 10-year Treasury yield has climbed from 3.6 percent in September 2024 to 4.4 percent in mid-2025.

    If the 10-year were to hover around 4.4 percent permanently and yields on other Treasury securities were to increase equally, it would add an extra 1.8 trillion dollars to the debt above projections over the next decade, which is enough to counter the likely revenue gains from tariffs if they were to go into effect after the 90-day pause, said the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget in a report.

    Notably, about 30 percent of U.S. federal debt is held by foreign investors.

    Moody’s Ratings last month slashed U.S. long-term issuer and senior unsecured ratings to Aa1 from Aaa citing rising government debt and interest payment ratios.

    “This one-notch downgrade on our 21-notch rating scale reflects the increase over more than a decade in government debt and interest payment ratios to levels that are significantly higher than similarly rated sovereigns,” said a release by Moody’s Ratings.

    Rising tariffs and political instability discourage foreign investment, pushing the government to rely more heavily on domestic borrowing and at higher costs, warned Kent Smetters, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and faculty director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model.

    If foreign demand for U.S. Treasuries wanes, the result could be a vicious cycle of rising rates, shrinking demand, and ballooning debt.

    This photo taken on Jan. 20, 2023 shows the U.S. Department of the Treasury in Washington, D.C., the United States. [Photo/Xinhua]

    What led to US debt crisis? 

    The debt ceiling, or the U.S. Treasury Department’s “credit limit,” is the maximum amount of debt set by the U.S. Congress for the federal government to fulfill its payment obligations.

    When created in 1917, the debt ceiling was designed to maintain a regular check on government spending and control debt growth. However, in recent years, it has become a more frequent topic in partisan debates between Democrats and Republicans.

    Since 1960, the U.S. Congress has acted 78 separate times to permanently raise, temporarily extend, or revise the definition of the debt limit.

    Much of the debt accumulation in recent years has not been driven by emergencies like wars or recessions, but by political choices to cut taxes while maintaining or expanding spending.

    While reining in the debt growth will benefit the U.S. economy in the long run, no administration or party wants to upset voters with funding cuts or tax increases. Instead of funding these additional expenditures through fiscal reform, they keep borrowing, thus driving up debt to an unprecedented scale.

    The fact that America continues to borrow recklessly without going bankrupt is a result of the dollar’s hegemony.

    As the dominant global reserve currency, the U.S. dollar still accounts for nearly 60 percent of international reserves, and roughly 48 percent in the global payment system.

    Due to the global dominance of the dollar, U.S. Treasury bonds, with their safety and liquidity, are widely considered safe-haven assets.

    Driven by the impulse to profit from dollar hegemony, the United States has long maintained a trade deficit, exporting both dollars and inflation. Through massive debt issuance, it encourages the repatriation of dollars, creating a cyclical system of “debt monetization.” As a result, fiscal deficits have ballooned, budgetary discipline has eroded, and U.S. government debt has become an unwieldy burden.

    From a market supply-and-demand perspective, as long as there are willing buyers, the U.S. debt cycle can go on indefinitely. However, without real repayment capacity, the practice of endlessly rolling over old debt with new debt increasingly resembles a Ponzi scheme in essence.

    The moment international markets begin to question America’s willingness or ability to manage its finances, the consequences could be swift and severe. The ultimate question isn’t just whether the United States can afford another “Big Beautiful Bill,” but whether the world can continue affording America’s debt addiction. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s rare earth regulations responsible step toward sustainable global supply, security

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

    China’s rare earth regulations responsible step toward sustainable global supply, security

    An aerial drone photo shows a container vessel berthing at Qianwan Port in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Yu Fangping/Xinhua)

    China’s recent announcement of new regulations to strengthen export control measures on certain rare earth-related items is a measure driven by its domestic industrial sustainable development needs. The move aligns with international management standards and reflects China’s responsibilities as a major country — and is not, as some claim, a so-called “tactical countermeasure.”

    This step also underscores China’s sense of responsibility as a key global supplier of critical minerals and its commitment to advancing shared global development.

    China’s export controls on certain rare earth-related items are not trade barriers targeting specific countries, but a responsible measure to uphold international non-proliferation obligations. Implemented under the principle of non-discrimination, these controls reflect China’s commitment to maintaining global peace and regional stability.

    Rare earth elements are not only crucial for manufacturing new energy vehicles, consumer electronics and wind turbines, but also play an indispensable role in advanced military equipment such as fighter jets and nuclear facilities. Preventing such strategic resources from being used to undermine international peace and security is a shared non-proliferation obligation for all nations.

    In fact, export controls on dual-use strategic materials are an internationally accepted practice and a legitimate right of sovereign states to safeguard national security and fulfill international responsibilities.

    What is more, China’s new rare earth regulations reflect necessary industrial reforms. In the past, extensive and unregulated development led to the undervaluation of resources and severe ecological damage. This unsustainable model not only depleted the country’s natural resource endowment but also posed risks to the long-term stability of global industrial supply chains.

    China’s new moves, including new regulations on rare earth administration announced in 2024, have demonstrated China’s commitment to transitioning toward high-quality and sustainable development. These measures not only safeguard the domestic ecosystem but also ensure more reliable and transparent rare earth supplies for global industrial chains. A well-regulated and eco-friendly Chinese rare earth industry will ultimately benefit global users.

    Despite misleading hype from some Western media, China’s objective is to regulate exports and not ban them, and to facilitate trade that adheres to established regulations rather than disrupt normal commercial activity. For example, in response to concerns raised by the European Union (EU) and others recently, China’s Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao assured the EU side that China is willing to establish a green channel for eligible applications and expedite the approval process. Relevant work teams have also been instructed to maintain timely communication on this matter.

    These constructive responses and practical adjustments demonstrate China’s sincere commitment to working with its partners to minimize the impact of regulatory measures on legitimate trade.

    As China-U.S. economic and trade frictions deepen and critical technology sectors face unjustified restrictions, China’s efforts to strengthen the management of its strategic resources have often become subject to speculation. However, viewing these measures as mere short-term bargaining tools underestimates the strategic depth of China’s policy decisions.

    China’s rare earth regulations are a prudent decision grounded in widely accepted international norms, the country’s need for sustainable industrial development, and its responsibilities as a major country.

    Rather than succumbing to anxiety over “decoupling” or misconceptions of rare earths as a “strategic weapon,” it would be more constructive for the West to focus on understanding and adapting to China’s new measures.

    Only through candid dialogue and cooperation can all parties help ensure that this critical resource continues to support global technological advancement and the green transition within a peaceful and sustainable framework.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Appeal for information: Aggravated robbery Oxford Terrace

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police are asking for the public’s help after an aggravated robbery on Wednesday 4 June.

    Police were called to the Oxford Terrace store about 8pm on Wednesday, after three males entered the premises and threatened a worker.

    The offenders then fled in a vehicle, after stealing a number of items.

    Thankfully the worker was not physically injured.

    The vehicle used was a Black Mitsubishi Colt, registration KCB102, and was reported stolen prior to this incident.

    Police are requesting the public’s help to identify the individuals pictured, including the male in the 4th picture who was seen with the stolen vehicle 2 days earlier.

    Anyone with information about them, or anyone who witnessed the robbery, is urged to contact Police as soon as possible via 105.

    If you can help, please call 105 and quote reference number 250604/5483.

    You can also provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Sony Semiconductor Solutions to Release Stacked SPAD Depth Sensor for Automotive LiDAR Applications

    Source: Sony

    Atsugi, Japan — Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (SSS) today announced the upcoming release of the IMX479 stacked, direct Time of Flight (dToF) SPAD depth sensor for automotive LiDAR systems, delivering both high-resolution and high-speed performance.

    The new sensor product employs a dToF pixel unit composed of 3×3 (horizontal × vertical) SPAD pixels as a minimum element to enhance measurement accuracy using a line scan methodology. In addition, SSSs proprietary device structure enables a frame rate of up to 20 fps*1, which is the fastest for such a high-resolution SPAD depth sensor having 520 dToF pixels.*2 

    The new product enables the high-resolution and high-speed distance measuring performance demanded for an automotive LiDAR required in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving (AD), contributing to safer and more reliable future mobility.

    *1  The frame rate may vary depending on horizontal FoV (Field of View) and its resolution.
    *2  According to SSS research (as of announcement on Jun 10, 2025)

    IMX479 stacked dToF SPAD depth sensor for automotive LiDAR applications

     

    Model name Sample shipment date (planned)

    Sample price

    (including tax)*3

    IMX479 1-type (15.8 mm diagonal)
    520-dToF-pixel SPAD depth sensor

    		 Autumn 2025 ¥35,000

    *3  Differs depending on the handling quantity.

    LiDAR technology is crucial for the high-precision detection and recognition of road conditions and the position and shape of the objects, such as vehicles, pedestrians. There is a growing demand for further technical advancements and developments progress in LiDAR toward Level 3 automated driving, which allows for autonomous control. SPAD depth sensors use the dToF measurement method, one of the LiDAR ranging methods, that measures the distance to an object by detecting the time of flight (time difference) of light emitted from a source until it returns to the sensor after being reflected by the object.

    The new sensor harnesses SSS’s proprietary technologies acquired in the development of CMOS image sensors, including the back-side illuminated, stacked structure and Cu-Cu (copper-copper) connections.*4By integrating the newly developed distance measurement circuits and dToF pixels on a single chip, the new product has achieved a high-speed frame rate of up to 20 fps while delivering a high resolution of 520 dToF pixels with a small pixel size of 10 μm square.

    *4  A technology used when a pixel chip (top) is stacked with a logic chip (bottom), to achieve electrical continuity by connecting the Cu (copper) pads to each other. This increases the flexibility in the design, improves productivity, and enables a smaller size and higher performance compared with Through-Silicon Vias (TSV), where the upper and lower chips are connected via electrodes around the circumference of the pixel area.

     

    Main Features
    ■ Up to     20 fps frame rate, the fastest for a 520 dToF pixel SPAD depth sensor*2
    This product consists of a pixel chip (top) with back-illuminated dToF pixels and a logic chip equipped with newly developed distance measurement circuits (bottom) using a Cu-Cu connection on a single chip. This design enables a small pixel size of 10 μm square, achieving high resolution of 520 dToF pixels. The new distance measurement circuits handle multiple processes in parallel for even better high-speed processing.

    These technologies achieve a frame rate of up to 20 fps, the fastest for a 520 dToF pixel SPAD depth sensor.*1They also deliver capabilities equivalent to 0.05 degrees vertical angular resolution, improving the vertical detection accuracy by 2.7 times that of conventional products.*5These elements allow detection of three-dimensional objects that are vital to automotive LiDAR, including objects as high as 25 cm (such as a tire or other objects in the road) at a distance of 250 m. 

    *5  Compared with SSS’ IMX459 1/2.9-type 100,000-effective pixel SPAD depth sensor.

    ■ Excellent distance resolution of 5 cm intervals
    The proprietary circuits SSS developed to enhance the distance resolution of this product individually processes each SPAD pixel data and calculates the distance. Doing so successfully improved the LiDAR distance resolution to 5 cm intervals.

    ■ High, 37% photon detection efficiency enabling detection of objects up to a distance of 300 m
    This product features an uneven texture on both the incident plane and the bottom of the pixels, along with an optimized on-chip lens shape. Incident light is diffracted to enhance the absorption rate to achieve a high, 37% photon detection efficiency for the 940 nm wavelength, which is commonly used on automotive LiDAR laser light sources. It allows the system to detect and recognize objects with high precision up to 300 m away even in bright light conditions where the background light is at 100,000 lux or higher.

    SPAD Pixel cross-sectional structure

    Key Specifications
    Model name IMX479
    Effective SPAD pixels 105 × 1,568 pixels (H × V), approx. 164,000 pixels
    Vertical effective dToF pixel count 520 dToF pixels
    Image size Diagonal 15.8 mm (1-type)
    Recommended light source wavelength 940 nm
    SPAD unit cell size 10.08 μm ×10.08 μm (H × V)
    Element size （dToF pixel unit） Minimum 3 × 3 (H × V)）
    Photon detection efficiency 37%  (940 nm wavelength)
    Response speed Approx. 6 ns
    Power supply SPAD breakdown voltage -20.5 V
    SPAD excess voltage 3.3 V
    Analog 3.3 V
    Digital 1.125 V
    Interface 1.8 V
    Interface MIPI CSI-2 serial output （4 lane）
    Chip size 12.2 mm（H）×20.0 mm（V）
    Max. detection distance 300 m
    Distance precision at 300 m Minimum 5 cm equivalent

    Mechanical scan LiDAR for evaluating the product
    SSS has developed a mechanical scanning*6 LiDAR unit equipped with this new sensor for product evaluation, which will be provided to customers and partners. This will contribute to customer and partner LiDAR development and product evaluation initiatives.

    *6  A method in which a rotating mirror reflects the beam from a fixed laser light source for wide area horizontal scanning.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Bangarra Dance Theatre’s Illume is spectacle with heart and spirit, a thrilling manifestation of Country

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Brannigan, Associate Professor, Theatre and Performance, UNSW Sydney

    Bangarra/Daniel Boud

    The stage is covered in stars that fill the depth of the space. When the 18 dancers slowly gather, they move through a night sky.

    This sky, and the scenes that unfold in Bangarra’s Illume are tied to the Goolarrgon clan of the Bardi Jawi people, the First Peoples of the Dampier Peninsula on the west coast of the Kimberley. Choreographer Frances Rings chose as her primary collaborator visual artist Darrell Sibosado who brings his cultural knowledge of that Country to the work, alongside cultural consultants Trevor Sampi and Audrey (Pippi) Bin Swani, also from Bardi Country.

    The 70-minute work moves through 11 sections, and over three phases. A short synopsis for each in the program guides visitors through this manifestation of Country.

    The opening segments are immersive, integrated worlds where the dancers move at one with the design elements.

    In Niman Aarl (Many Fish), a thrilling whirlpool of tiny light fish spiral around a giant conch shell. The dancers spiral among them with flowing, fluid movements.

    The central section, Light Pollution, interrupts the flow, representing the displacement caused by settler invasion. The dancers carry brown blocks, simply and effectively introducing inorganic and uniform shapes into this natural environment. They are suggestive of bricks, burdens and baggage. Movements depict trauma and a burning crucifix-like form that brings religious movements (as if seated at prayer) and music themes (church bells) to a dramatic climax.

    Brown blocks are suggestive of bricks, burdens and baggage.
    Bangarra/Daniel Boud

    The final sections return us to the sea and land. The work culminates with a beautifully crafted kaleidoscope of mother of pearl opalescence that washes over the front scrim.

    Bringing remote cultures to broad audiences

    Coinciding with Sydney’s Vivid light festival, the difference could not be starker between the tired, candy-coloured neon display spilling across Sydney Harbour and the immersive, detailed and sometimes breathtaking light (designed by Damien Cooper) and video design (from Craig Wilkinson) that gives this work its name.

    The stage floor shimmers: Charles Davis’ set is a reflective surface that amplifies the stunning light work. Upstage left, poles cluster like a stand of trees and occasionally pulse with light in time with the score from Brendon Boney.

    On the back scrim, lights twinkle and constellate. Many images emerge, including what seem to be fragments of a stuttering calligraphy.

    The stage floor shimmers.
    Bangarra/Daniel Boud

    In the final moments of the work, the lights consolidate into an intriguing set of symbols. These echo previous work of Sibosado, such as Galalan at Gumiri featured at the 2024 Biennale of Sydney.

    Blocky, maze-like, and recalling Aztec or Indonesian patterns, these designs appear like a collision of more familiar Indigenous pattern work, south-east Asian influences, and contemporary abstraction.

    Sibosado works primarily with Bardi Jawi riji – pearl shell carving designs from his Country Lullmardinard/Lombadina. He enlarges the small pearl carvings in scale and fabricates them using contemporary materials such as metal and light.

    Designs appear like a collision of Indigenous pattern work, south-east Asian influences, and contemporary abstraction.
    Bangarra/Daniel Boud

    Sibosado is an alumnus of NAISDA, Australia’s National Indigenous dance college and feeder program for the Bangarra company. He has described how he brings story elements usually held in dance and song into his visual art, demonstrating an integration of the creative disciplines characteristic of many NAISDA graduates’ work.

    NAISDA’s practice of working with Indigenous communities from across the country makes the College a living repository of ephemeral and material culture.

    This approach to First Peoples’ culture continues at Bangarra. Bangarra’s deep dive into the traditional knowledges of the Bardi Jawi people through the creative practice of Sibosado, alongside cultural consultants Trevor Sampi and Audrey (Pippi) Bin Swani, brings remote cultures to broad audiences.

    Ambitious, smart and timely

    Watching the show from the dress circle, the impact of all the elements was clear but it was difficult to distinguish individual dancers. The large company was well rehearsed with some stellar performances throughout. However, the choreographic detail was largely absorbed into the overall effects of the work.

    Rings demonstrates her finely tuned attention to movement language specific to each section. From the snaking arms forming the branches of the Manawan or Wollybutt trees, to the south-east Asian inflections in the Mother of Pearl (Guan) sections referencing the pearl divers from that region who were part of the local industry (sometimes against their will), Rings’ choreographic vision is clear – if not always given space and focus among the design.

    Rings demonstrates her finely tuned attention to movement language.
    Bangarra/Daniel Boud

    Rings’ ability to lead a collaborative vision is made possible through the creative team she has gathered. Rings’ and Sibosado’s vision is supported by the set, lighting and video design. Costume designer Elizabeth Gadsby, working with emerging costumer Rika Hamaguchi, has produced unique looks for each section of the work. Boney’s compositions strike a balance between ancient sounds and rhythms and a synthetic sheen that parallels the glossy production elements.

    Illume is ambitious, smart and timely, with its powerful combination of visual and choreographic arts and stories from the ecologically precious and precarious Kimberley region.

    Bangarra is our leading Indigenous performing arts company whose work extends from a rich education and outreach program to their stellar track in international touring. With this work, Bangarra is giving Australia’s other major performing arts companies an object lesson in spectacle with heart and spirit.

    Illume is at the Sydney Opera House until June 14, then touring nationally.

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

    – ref. Bangarra Dance Theatre’s Illume is spectacle with heart and spirit, a thrilling manifestation of Country – https://theconversation.com/bangarra-dance-theatres-illume-is-spectacle-with-heart-and-spirit-a-thrilling-manifestation-of-country-257963

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why won’t my cough go away?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David King, Senior Lecturer in General Practice, The University of Queensland

    Mladen Zivkovic/Shutterstock

    A persistent cough can be embarrassing, especially if people think you have COVID.

    Coughing frequently can also make you physically tired, interfere with sleep and trigger urinary incontinence. As a GP, I have even treated patients whose repetitive forceful coughing has caused stress fractures in their ribs.

    So, why do some coughs linger so long? Here are some of the most common causes – and signs you should get checked for something more serious.

    Why do we cough?

    The cough reflex is an important protective mechanism. Forcefully expelling air helps clear our lungs and keep them safe from irritants, infections and the risk of choking.

    Some people who have long-term conditions, such as chronic bronchitis or bronchiectasis, have to cough frequently. This is because the lung’s cilia – tiny hair-like structures that move mucus, debris and germs – no longer work to clear the lungs.

    A wet or “productive” cough means coughing up a lot of mucus.

    A cough can also be dry or “unproductive”. This happens when the cough receptors in the airways, throat and upper oesophagus have become overly sensitised, triggering a cough even when there’s no mucus to clear.

    Causes of a chronic cough

    A cough is considered chronic when it lasts longer than eight weeks in adults, or four weeks in children.

    The three most common causes are:

    • post-nasal drip (where mucus drips from the back of the nose into the throat)
    • asthma
    • acid reflux from the stomach.

    These often go together. One study found 23% of people with chronic cough had two of these conditions, and 3% had all three.

    This makes sense – people prone to airway allergies are more likely to develop both asthma and hayfever (allergic rhinitis). Hayfever is probably the main cause of persistent post-nasal drip.

    Meanwhile, prolonged, vigorous coughing can also cause reflux, possibly triggering further coughing.

    Chronic cough is the primary symptom of two other conditions, although these can be more challenging to diagnose: cough-variant asthma and eosinophilic bronchitis. Both conditions inflame the airways. However, they don’t rapidly improve with ventolin (the standard clinic test to diagnose asthma).

    Allergies can cause inflammation that triggers a chronic cough.
    Kmpzzz/Shutterstock

    Coughs after respiratory infections

    Coughs can also persist long after a viral or bacterial infection. In children with colds, one systematic review found it took 25 days for more than 90% to be free of their cough.

    After an infection, cough hypersensitivity may develop thanks to inflamed airways and over-responsive cough receptors. Even minor irritants will then trigger the coughing reflex.

    The body’s response to infection makes the mucus more sticky – and more difficult for the overworked, recovering cilia to clear. Allergens in the air can also more easily penetrate the upper airway’s damaged lining.

    This can trigger an unhelpful feedback loop that slows the body’s recovery after an infection. Excessive and unhelpful coughing tends to further fatigue the recovering cilia and irritate the airway lining.

    Could I still have an infection?

    When a cough persists, a common concern is whether a secondary bacterial infection has followed the first viral infection, requiring antibiotics.

    Simply coughing up yellow or green phlegm is not enough to tell.

    To diagnose a serious chest infection, your doctor will consider the whole picture of your symptoms. For example, whether you also have shortness of breath, worsening fever or your lungs make abnormal sounds through a stethoscope.

    The possibility you have undiagnosed asthma or allergies should also be considered.



    Read more:
    Health Check: why do I have a cough and what can I do about it?

    What treats a persistent cough?

    People with a persistent cough who are otherwise healthy may request and be prescribed antibiotics. But these rarely shorten how long your cough lasts, as irritation – not infection – is the primary cause of cough.

    The most effective treatments for shifting sticky mucus from the airways are simple ones: saline nose sprays and washes, steam inhalation and medicated sore throat sprays.

    Honey has also been shown to reduce throat irritation and the need to cough.

    The effectiveness of cough syrup is less clear. As these mixtures have potential side effects, they should be used with care.

    The most effective treatments are simple ones, including steam inhalation.
    New Africa/Shutterstock

    Signs of something more serious

    Sometimes, a cough that won’t go away could be the sign of a serious condition, including lung cancer or unusual infections. Fortunately, these aren’t common.

    To rule them out, Australia’s chronic cough guidelines recommend a chest x-ray and spirometry (which tests lung volume and flow) for anyone presenting to their doctor with a chronic cough.

    You should seek prompt medical attention if, in addition to your cough, you:

    • cough up blood
    • produce a lot of phlegm
    • are very short of breath, especially when resting or at night
    • have difficulty swallowing
    • lose weight or have a fever
    • have recurring pneumonia
    • are a smoker older than 45, with a new or changed cough.

    What if there’s no clear cause?

    Very occasionally, despite thorough testing and treatment, a cough persists. This is called refractory chronic cough.

    When no cause can be identified, it’s known as unexplained chronic cough. In the past, unexplained cough may have been diagnosed as a “psychogenic” or “habit” cough, a term which has fallen from favour.

    We now understand that cough hypersensitivity makes a person cough out of proportion to the trigger, and that both the peripheral and central nervous systems play a role in this. But our understanding of the relationship between hypersensitivity and chronic cough remains incomplete.

    These are disabling conditions and should be referred to a respiratory clinic or a chronic cough specialist. Speech pathology treatments may also be effective for refractory and unexplained coughs.

    There are a class of new medications in the pipeline that block cough receptors, and seem promising for persisting, troublesome coughs.

    I was on the team that updated the chronic cough guidelines for the Lung foundation (CICADA position statement 2022). I received no payment for this work, and I’m not a member or currently associated with the Lung Foundation.

    – ref. Why won’t my cough go away? – https://theconversation.com/why-wont-my-cough-go-away-241899

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump orders Marines to Los Angeles as protests escalate over immigration raids, demonstrating the president’s power to deploy troops on US soil

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By William C. Banks, Professor Emeritus of Public Administration and International Affairs, Syracuse University

    National Guard members watch protests in Los Angeles on June 9, 2025. Luke Johnson/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

    President Donald Trump ordered a contingent of about 700 Marines to Los Angeles on June 9, 2025, in response to what Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth described as “increased threats to federal law enforcement officers and federal buildings.”

    This dramatic escalation of the military presence in Los Angeles followed Trump’s June 7 order to send about 2,000 National Guard troops into the city.

    Both measures were Trump’s response to what he called “numerous incidents of violence and disorder” by those protesting his administration’s actions rounding up and deporting immigrants in the Los Angeles area.

    State and local officials decried Trump’s actions, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom calling the move “purposefully inflammatory,” as well as “an illegal act.” California sued the Trump administration on June 9 to block its deployment of National Guard members. Other critics of Trump’s actions said the scale and character of the protests did not warrant such extreme measures.

    Amy Lieberman, a politics and society editor at The Conversation U.S., spoke with William C. Banks, a scholar of the role of the military in domestic affairs, to understand the extent of a president’s power to send American troops to Los Angeles.

    Hundreds of protesters march in Los Angeles on June 9, 2025, demanding an end to Immigration and Customs Enforcement workplace raids.
    Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images

    Can American troops be used inside the country?

    They can, but it is an extraordinary exercise of authority to use troops domestically. It has rarely been done in the U.S. as a way of responding to a civil disturbance.

    Congress has delegated that authority of deploying American troops domestically to the president in limited circumstances. Otherwise, the only authority is exercised by governors, who have control of the National Guard.

    Why was American law set up this way?

    The U.S. was founded in response to heavy-handed English use of the military by King George to interfere with the civil liberties and rights of the colonists in the lead-up to the American Revolution. So, when the founders created the U.S. Constitution, they were very careful to insert roadblocks that would make it difficult for the government to use troops to carry out its own programs.

    The country’s framers also understood there might be occasions when it would be necessary to use the military domestically. They did a couple of things to control the exercise of military authority. One was to ensure that the commander in chief of the military was a civilian. Second, they gave the authority to call up the National Guard, what was known as the “militia” in those days, to Congress, not to the president, in order to create a separation of powers.

    Under what circumstances can the president deploy troops to an American city?

    Under the Insurrection Act, which was signed into law in 1807, a president can deploy troops during what is called an insurrection, simply meaning when all hell breaks loose. The president can decide that it is “impracticable,” according to the Insurrection Act, to enforce the laws of the U.S. in a given city, and he may call forth the military or the National Guard to help restore law and order.

    In order to invoke the Insurrection Act, the president first has to make a proclamation to those he calls the insurrectionists to cease and desist. Unless the alleged insurrectionists immediately do what the president says, the president then has the authority to deploy forces.

    Trump has repeatedly called the protesters in Los Angeles “insurrectionists,” but has also walked those remarks back and hasn’t made any kind of formal proclamation yet. When Trump ordered California’s National Guard members to deploy to Los Angeles on June 7, he did so on a narrow statutory authority to protect federal buildings, properties and personnel that were trying to enforce immigration laws.

    What is the Posse Comitatus Act and how does it apply to the current situation in Los Angeles?

    Congress passed the Posse Comitatus Act in 1878. This act’s name derives from an arcane Latin term that means “the power of the county.” This law establishes a legal presumption in the U.S. that the military, if it is deployed domestically, should not engage in law enforcement.

    This act is an important part of American law. It means that the military and National Guard are trained on this principle that they are not to engage in domestic law enforcement activities. Those are reserved for police, sheriffs and marshals. Invoking the Insurrection Act is the principal exception to this law.

    So the Insurrection Act allows the military to act as law enforcement officials?

    That’s right. By invoking the Insurrection Act the military could act as cops and have the right to arrest, investigate and detain civilians, with only the Constitution as a check on its power.

    This is not a situation that California National Guard members have trained for. They are trained to fight actual wildfires, but this is something entirely different.

    Demonstrators hold signs and fly flags, facing California National Guard members, in Los Angeles on June 9, 2024.
    Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images

    Are there any legal roadblocks that could curb the president’s authority to send U.S. troops to Los Angeles?

    The short answer to this question is no.

    Can state governors or other elected officials prevent U.S. troops from being sent to their cities?

    In many ways that is the main question right now. California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, has said that the state doen’t need these military forces. Newsom’s June 9 lawsuit against the Trump administration argues that the authority over the National Guard is reserved for states, “unless the State requests or consents to federal control.” That has not happened in this case.

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

    – ref. Trump orders Marines to Los Angeles as protests escalate over immigration raids, demonstrating the president’s power to deploy troops on US soil – https://theconversation.com/trump-orders-marines-to-los-angeles-as-protests-escalate-over-immigration-raids-demonstrating-the-presidents-power-to-deploy-troops-on-us-soil-258527

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Three arrests, stolen property recovered from Nelson burglaries

    Source: New Zealand Police

    A 45-year-old man has been arrested and faces charges relating to a series of burglaries and thefts from vehicles in the Richmond and Stoke areas in recent months.

    A number of search warrants were executed in the Nelson area over the last couple of weeks, where Police recovered numerous items of stolen property, as well as two firearms and both class A and class C drugs.

    A 33-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman were also arrested following one of the warrants, charged with receiving stolen property, unlawful possession of firearms and possession of drugs with intent to supply.

    We would like to thank the members of the public who reported these incidents to Police, as the information provided assisted greatly in making the arrests.

    We would also like to remind everybody to lock their vehicles and not keep any valuables inside if your vehicle is unoccupied. If you own any tools, ensure these remain out of sight and you have recorded a list of all the serial numbers, or engrave your initials into them.

    The 45-year-old man is due to appear in the Nelson District Court on 1 September, facing a number of charges including burglary and unlawfully being in an enclosed area.

    The 33-year-old man is due to reappear in the Nelson District Court on 7 July, and the 31-year-old woman will reappear in the Nelson District Court on 16 June.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –