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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/NIGERIA – National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies: “Despite great insecurity, we continue our mission”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – “Insecurity in Nigeria is becoming increasingly serious and widespread, but the Church continues its activities despite the difficulties,” Fr. Solomon Patrick Zaku, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Nigeria, told Fides. In an interview with Fides, Fr. Zaku reflects on the difficult situation facing not only the Church but the entire Nigerian population due to the insecurity caused by the actions of numerous armed groups in various areas of the Federation: jihadists of the various factions born from the split of Boko Haram, gangs of Fulani herders, gangs of robbers and gangs dedicated to kidnapping.Can you describe the insecurity situation in Nigeria?The situation is tense, and insecurity affects almost all areas of Nigeria. The government is doing its utmost to ensure everyone’s safety, but this is not enough, as too many people are still affected by various forms of violence: murders, massacres, violent robberies, forced land occupations, and kidnappings. The Church, especially in areas like the Middle Belt, suffers numerous attacks on its structures (parishes, health centers, schools). Added to this are the kidnappings of priests, men and women religious for ransom. Kidnapping is a phenomenon that affects all Nigerians; religious personnel are therefore not the primary target. Regarding violent attacks on church institutions, one of the most affected regions is Benue State in southeastern Nigeria, where the three dioceses of Makurdi, Gboko, and Katsina-Ala are repeatedly victims of attacks by armed Fulani herders. The attacks are so serious that the president of the Association of Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests in the Diocese of Makurdi, Father Joseph Beba, issued a statement last week warning of the ongoing violence against the local population.At least 50 people, including women and children, have lost their lives, and several homes have been destroyed. The security situation is so precarious that 15 parishes in the Diocese of Makurdi have been forced to close.How is the Church experiencing these difficulties?Apart from the most serious cases, such as in Benue State, the Church continues its activities. The people of Nigeria are deeply religious. Despite attacks and violence, the faithful continue to go to church. Looking at the areas affected by the attacks on social media, one might think that the faithful have stopped attending services, but they continue to go to Mass despite the precarious security situation. The Church is doing its best to assist and strengthen people living in uncertain situations.Are the Pontifical Mission Societies able to work effectively?The task of the Pontifical Mission Societies is to awaken missionary awareness among the faithful. In Nigeria, we have about fifty dioceses, and in each of them, there is a diocesan director of the Pontifical Mission Societies. And despite the difficulties already mentioned, the work of the Pontifical Mission Societies continues; I am thinking in particular of the Society for Holy Childhood. The words of St. Paul come to mind: “Nothing can separate us from the love of God.” And with this awareness, we continue to work. Of course, we are taking precautions to reduce risks; for example, we conduct our activities during the day and avoid traveling on dangerous roads or to high-risk areas. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 7/6/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Christine Lagarde: Stemming the tide: safeguarding our ocean and economy

    Source: European Central Bank

    Speech by Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB, at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco

    Monaco, 7 June 2025

    It is a pleasure to speak at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum.

    In his 1857 poem “Man and the Sea”, Charles Baudelaire explored the deep kinship between the ocean and humanity.[1] For Baudelaire, they were two forces drawn together by awe, fascination, and even conflict.

    Today, that dynamic has taken on a new and troubling dimension. We rely on the ocean for climate stability and economic prosperity, yet we are fuelling a climate crisis that threatens to undermine the very system we depend on. We cannot let that happen.

    Baudelaire described the sea as a “mirror” to the human soul. We now need to take a hard look in that mirror and ask ourselves: what can we do to stem the tide of this crisis, to safeguard our ocean and economy?

    This morning’s two panel discussions will go a long way towards answering that question. But I would like to take this opportunity to open the plenary session with a few thoughts – about what is at stake, and what stakeholders can do about it.

    The ocean’s importance for our climate and economy

    The ocean is home to 95% of the planet’s biosphere.[2] It spans environments as varied as sunlit coral reefs and pitch-black abyssal plains. And it supports an immense range of life, from countless microscopic organisms to the world’s largest animal, the blue whale.

    Given the ocean’s richness, it is worth preserving in its own right. But its value does not end there – the ocean also benefits humanity in two vital ways.

    First, it is one of the planet’s most powerful allies in the fight against climate change.

    The ocean helps to regulate global temperatures by absorbing vast amounts of heat and redistributing it through major currents like the Gulf Stream. It is also the world’s largest carbon sink, reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and helping to slow global warming.

    The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change finds that the ocean has absorbed over 90% of the excess heat trapped in the earth’s system, as well as a third of the carbon dioxide that humans have emitted since the Industrial Revolution.[3]

    Second, a sustainable ocean serves as an important pillar supporting the global economy, providing for food security and economic opportunities.

    Marine ecosystems support over three billion people who rely on fish for at least 20% of their animal protein intake. Indeed, this dependency is more pronounced in some of the least-developed countries, where seafood provides most of the animal protein consumed.[4]

    These ecosystems also help sustain employment opportunities. More than 150 million jobs depend on the production, trade and consumption of ocean-based goods and services, according to the United Nations.[5] The ocean is also home to key natural resources, such as medicines and biofuels, which are vital for ongoing advances in healthcare and clean energy sectors.

    So, there is a great deal at stake in preserving the ocean’s health.

    The threat of climate change

    But today we are placing the sustainability of our ocean under extraordinary stress, with serious implications for both our climate and economy.

    Without the ocean’s capacity to absorb heat and carbon, we would have had to contend with a faster, even more dangerous pace of global warming. Yet there are now signs that this capacity is becoming strained.

    The last ten years were the ocean’s warmest on record. Warmer oceans are driving more frequent marine heatwaves, which damage ecosystems, and have been a major contributor to rising sea levels due to the thermal expansion of seawater. The rate at which the global mean sea level is rising has more than doubled over the past three decades.[6]

    On top of this, the ocean’s absorption of carbon dioxide is driving acidification.

    Combined with ocean warming, acidification is contributing to the bleaching and death of coral reefs, which are vital for supporting fisheries and protecting coastlines from storms. Since 2023 over 80% of the world’s coral reefs have been affected by bleaching.[7]

    We find ourselves in dangerous waters. Together, these changes could have profound consequences for the global economy.

    Food security may be undermined, potentially leading to more volatile prices, which is a concern for central banks tasked with safeguarding price stability. And if coastal areas become unliveable due to rising sea levels or frequent flooding, people may be forced to move. More than 600 million people around the world live in coastal areas that are less than ten metres above sea level.[8]

    Stemming the tide

    So, what can we do to stem the tide of these troubling developments? We may not be able to fully reverse the damage done, but we can work towards slowing its momentum, potentially even stopping it, by acting on two important fronts.

    First, we need to protect. That means cutting greenhouse gas emissions decisively and keeping the goals of the Paris Agreement within reach.

    If we succeed in doing so, we could limit sea level rise to around half a metre by the end of the century. That might not sound reassuring. But every tenth of a degree we avoid is a piece of coastline preserved, a reef protected or a storm surge weakened.

    We also need to protect the natural systems that shield us from floods. Nature-based solutions – for instance, restoring mangroves, marshes and coral reefs – offer powerful, cost-effective defences against extreme weather. Coral reefs alone can reduce wave energy by an average of 97% while supporting fisheries, tourism and coastal livelihoods.[9]

    The second front is just as important: we need to prepare.

    Whether we like it or not, climate-related risks are materialising. We need to adapt our infrastructure and economies to a more volatile world. That includes building sea walls and surge barriers and budgeting for resilience rather than reacting after disaster strikes.

    Make no mistake: adaptation will be costly. According to UN assessments, costs could run into the hundreds of billions of dollars globally each year by mid-century.[10] But the cost of inaction would be far higher. One study estimates that failing to keep global temperatures below two degrees above pre-industrial levels could lead to USD 14 trillion in global annual flood costs by 2100.[11]

    To meet this challenge, we need to catalyse finance for marine and coastal conservation – for instance, through innovative approaches that convert natural capital into financial capital.[12]

    This can be especially impactful for vulnerable countries with limited fiscal space. Above all, we must listen to the communities affected, treating their needs as a basis for our actions rather than an afterthought.

    Let me conclude.

    Baudelaire reminds us that the sea is a mirror of our own nature, which can either heal or harm.

    So, let us choose to heal. That means nurturing the ocean’s rich diversity and facilitating finance to support innovative adaptation measures that build more resilient communities and a stronger global economy.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Schiff, Peters, Vargas Demand Investigation Into San Diego ICE Raid

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
    Lawmakers to ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility: “This troubling incident is not an isolated case. Rather, it appears to be part of a broader pattern of escalated and theatrical immigration enforcement operations across the country”
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), along with U.S. Representatives Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50) and Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-52), condemned a recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid in San Diego and demanded an investigation following reports that around 20 ICE agents detained four employees at Buona Forchetta and Enoteca Buona Forchetta restaurants. ICE agents wearing military-style gear raided the restaurants during peak dining hours, detonating flash-bang grenades and instilling widespread fear and panic across the restaurants and the broader San Diego community. 
    The lawmakers emphasized that this disturbing raid reflects a pattern of “theatrical” immigration enforcement stunts under the Trump Administration, which have stoked fear and uncertainty in communities in California and across the country. They urged ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility to investigate the agents’ use of force, tactical decisions, compliance with legal protocols, and coordination with local officials, as well as the operation’s impact on local communities and businesses. They also requested information on how the raid aligns with ICE’s current immigration enforcement priorities and what guidance agents had received regarding enforcement in civilian or public-facing settings.
    “This troubling incident is not an isolated case. Rather, it appears to be part of a broader pattern of escalated and theatrical immigration enforcement operations across the country,” wrote the lawmakers. “Similar tactics — including the use of heavily armed agents and high-profile raids in civilian spaces — have recently been employed in several other communities. These include a raid at an underground nightclub in Los Angeles just hours after the San Diego incident, and an April operation in New Bedford, MA, where agents violently smashed in a car window to detain a Guatemalan man waiting in his car for an attorney to arrive. These events raise serious questions about the appropriateness, proportionality, and execution of ICE tactics.”
    The lawmakers also highlighted the San Diego raid’s harmful impacts on the local economy, community safety, and public trust in law enforcement.
    “Several local officials — including the mayor of San Diego — have publicly condemned the raid, emphasizing its destabilizing effect on the community and economy. They have also condemned its chilling impact on the willingness of individuals to report crimes or co-operate with law enforcement,” continued the lawmakers. “These concerns are not just local; they speak to the national implications of how this Administration is misusing federal immigration enforcement power in ways that undermine public trust and community safety.”
    “We urge your office to prioritize this investigation and to provide a detailed report of your findings. Transparency and accountability are essential to maintaining public confidence in our law enforcement agencies,” concluded the lawmakers.
    Senators Padilla and Schiff, as well as Representatives Peters, Vargas, Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.-51), and Mike Levin (D-Calif.-49), also sent a letter today to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem expressing their concern over the deliberate targeting of immigrants trying to follow the legal process at courthouses, including at the San Diego Immigration Court located in the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building.
    Senators Padilla and Schiff continue to stand up against the Trump Administration’s inhumane immigration enforcement tactics across California. Last month, Padilla, Schiff, and Representative Norma Torres (D-Calif.-35) condemned the Department of Homeland Security’s indiscriminate immigration enforcement raids in Pomona, California, as part of President Trump’s cruel mass deportation agenda, which has terrorized California communities and harmed the economy. Earlier this year, Padilla and Schiff also demanded answers from the Trump Administration after Homeland Security Investigations agents attempted to enter two Los Angeles Unified School District elementary schools to question students.
    Full text of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear Associate Director Fenton:
    We write to express serious concern regarding the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation conducted on May 30, 2025, at Buona Forchetta and Enoteca Buona Forchetta restaurants in San Diego, California. Reports indicate that approximately 20 agents in military-style gear executed a raid during peak dining hours, detaining four employees and deploying flash-bang grenades, which created widespread panic among staff and patrons.
    This troubling incident is not an isolated case. Rather, it appears to be part of a broader pattern of escalated and theatrical immigration enforcement operations across the country. Similar tactics—including the use of heavily armed agents and high-profile raids in civilian spaces—have recently been employed in several other communities. These include a raid at an underground nightclub in Los Angeles just hours after the San Diego incident, and an April operation in New Bedford, MA, where agents violently smashed in a car window to detain a Guatemalan man waiting in his car for an attorney to arrive. These events raise serious questions about the appropriateness, proportionality, and execution of ICE tactics.
    Given the gravity of these concerns, and the potential civil rights implications of these enforcement strategies, we respectfully request that your office undertake a thorough investigation into the May 30 raid in San Diego. We also ask that you respond to the following questions by July 7, 2025:
    1. Use of Force and Tactical Decisions: Was the decision to deploy agents in military-style gear including face coverings and to use flash-bang devices in a civilian environment justified based on any credible threat or resistance? If so, what specific threat assessments, risk factors, or intelligence justified the use of such force?
    2. Compliance with Legal Protocols: Did the operation comply with ICE’s internal policies and all applicable laws governing workplace enforcement actions, including the scope and execution of the search or arrest warrants? Please identify any lapses in oversight that may have contributed to the operation’s execution, and clarify whether any internal review procedures have been initiated as a result.
    3. Community Impact and Coordination: What steps, if any, were taken to consider the effect of such tactics on local businesses, immigrant communities, and public safety? Were local officials or law enforcement agencies consulted prior to the operation?
    4. Pattern of Conduct: How does this operation fit into current enforcement priorities, and what guidance has been issued by ICE leadership in recent months regarding arrest and detention priorities in civilian or public-facing environments?
    Several local officials—including the mayor of San Diego—have publicly condemned the raid, emphasizing its destabilizing effect on the community and economy. They have also condemned its chilling impact on the willingness of individuals to report crimes or co-operate with law enforcement. These concerns are not just local; they speak to the national implications of how this Administration is misusing federal immigration enforcement power in ways that undermine public trust and community safety.
    We urge your office to prioritize this investigation and to provide a detailed report of your findings. Transparency and accountability are essential to maintaining public confidence in our law enforcement agencies.
    Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. We look forward to your timely response and to the results of your investigation.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: AI vs. Manual Cultivation: Round 2 of China’s Smart Farming Competition

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    CHENGDU, June 7 (Xinhua) — Under the golden rays of the June sun, a “high-risk” agricultural experiment is unfolding in the emerald rice fields of the “Tianfu Breadbasket” key demonstration area in Chongzhou City, southwest China’s Sichuan Province.

    Three weeks into the second AI rice-growing competition, organizers are faced with a key question: Can AI surpass centuries of farming wisdom?

    The competition, which runs from May 15 to September 30, features six traditional farming teams and four AI-enabled teams on 1,000 mu (about 66.7 hectares) of high-quality rural fields. Each team cultivates 100 mu using elite rice varieties. This modern duel between tradition and technology offers insight into China’s advancement toward smart agriculture.

    The AI teams use an intelligent agent for rice cultivation decision-making developed by the Institute of Urban Agriculture of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) using a sky-earth-space data network. The system collects information on crop growth, farming operations, diseases, pests and weeds in real time, processes the data through a cloud-based AI agent, generates detailed reports and professional recommendations that are instantly sent to the smartphones of the AI participants.

    Based on these recommendations, AI participants carry out field work, and the monitoring system continuously collects operational data, forming a closed decision-making loop to ensure the accuracy and intelligence of the growing process.

    Gao Ying, a participant from Qingqiao Shared Land Cooperative in Chongzhou City, said that compared with traditional farming, AI farming can quickly master key knowledge and production skills. “In addition, the system provides effective recommendations in response to queries,” she added.

    Lessons from the first competition

    This is not Gao Ying’s first experience. Last year’s competition showed the reality of the situation: the AI system from ASNC, which guided the newcomer Gao Ying in the 100 mu section, helped her team to take seventh place among nine teams.

    “AI needs field practice,” said Wang Ran, a leading researcher at ASNC for urban agriculture strategy, whose team developed the system.

    “When we created the algorithm, we had fragmentary data. Now we have created a comprehensive data set covering the entire rice growing process: start and end dates, photos of crop growth, relevant weather and soil data,” said Wang Ran.

    “The power of AI is in processing 10,000 data points from each mu through our monitoring network, but converting them into practical actions requires deeper synergy between farmers and algorithms,” Wang explained. He noted that the AI-based decision-making rate reached 73 percent last year, but there were challenges with the timing of pest control.

    “This year, the goal is to achieve more than 80 percent decision making to ensure that AI recommendations are consistent with farmers’ actions,” he said.

    Harmony between humans and AI

    The organizers view the competition not as a confrontation, but as an integration of humans and AI.

    “AI is a help, not a replacement for humans. We aim to provide more accurate support to urban producers and decision makers through AI computing power,” Wang Ran said of the initial goal of applying AI in agriculture.

    “The key value of the system is to create a bridge between innovators and farmers’ needs, improving the quality of decision-making by farmers and providing data for government sector planning,” he stressed.

    Now, in the midst of summer harvesting and planting, Qingqiao Village in Chongzhou City, Chengdu Plain, is demonstrating the results of technological transformation of traditional agriculture: an intelligent rice planting system works in tandem with farmers, creating a highly efficient symbiosis of smart technology and human labor. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: House Standing Committee on National Defence (NDDN) appearance on mandate and priorities  

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    September 26, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario

    Merci, Mr. Chair. Good morning everyone. 

    This is my first appearance here as Chief of the Defence Staff, so I want to begin by saying how much I value the work this committee does.

    I appreciate the opportunity to discuss my mandate and priorities for the Canadian Armed Forces.

    I’m joined today by Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, Lieutenant-General Stephen Kelsey.

    We face a volatile and unpredictable global security environment.

    From ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East to rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific.

    From climate change to disruptive technology to disinformation.

    These threats require us to be vigilant and forward-thinking in the way we approach defence.

    I’ve had the privilege of serving alongside the members of the Canadian Armed Forces for 34 years. Now I have the privilege of leading them.

    They are skilled, courageous, and dedicated beyond measure.

    Supporting and caring for our people must continue to be our top priority.

    I’m committed to building on the work of my predecessors.

    That means focusing on three R’s: recruitment, retention, and readiness.

    These are issues many of our Allies face as well.

    We need to get our Forces back to full strength within 5 years. This is vital.

    To do it, we need to continue modernizing how we recruit and who we recruit. 

    That means improving our processes without lowering our standards.

    And it means making a big push to recruit Canadians from all backgrounds, including opening the door to more permanent residents.

    Diversity makes us more operationally effective.

    What worked in the last 20 years will not work in the next 20 years. We can’t continue relying on the same thinking, the same mindset, and the same people around the table.

    We need to bring in new and broader perspectives, approaches, and ideas if we’re going to solve the complex challenges of today and tomorrow.

    On retention: we have stopped the downward trend and stabilized our numbers.

    We’re making progress, but there’s more to do.

    When we uphold the highest standards of conduct and performance…

    When our people can grow and thrive both professionally and personally…

    Not only will we attract the best and brightest—we will keep them.

    We also need to be ready. Always. And for anything.

    Readiness is a constant and it is a must.

    The world is in a state of transition.

    Outcomes are not guaranteed. We must be comfortable being uncomfortable.

    But that doesn’t mean we can’t be more organized and prepared.

    Readiness means having a stronger and more diverse foundation of personnel.

    With advanced capabilities that meet the future of warfare.

    With a willingness to innovate, adapt, and take risks.

    And it means collaborating with our Allies and partners around the world.

    This is particularly true when it comes to defending North America alongside the US—both through NORAD and more generally through the collaboration of our Canadian Joint Operations Command and the United States Northern Command.

    As you know, global interest in the Arctic is growing, including from our competitors and adversaries, and so we must be diligent in protecting and asserting Canadian sovereignty in the North.

    I visited NORAD Headquarters this week and saw firsthand how Canadian military members work seamlessly with their US colleagues 24/7 to defend our shared continent.

    We need to continue working closely through NORAD to detect, deter, and defend against aerospace threats.

    And beyond NORAD, through CJOC and US NORTHCOM to monitor our combined maritime approaches.

    This past July, for example, NORAD fighter jets from Canada and the United States intercepted Russian and Chinese aircraft in international airspace near Alaska.

    That same month, HMCS Regina shadowed a Chinese polar research vessel in the Bering Strait.

    As always, we must ensure our intercepts are carried out safely and professionally.

    Mr. Chair, I know none of this is easy.

    We’re transforming the Canadian Armed Forces while also fulfilling our growing duties.

    That’s like building and flying an airplane at the same time.

    But we know what our internal challenges are, and we know what we need to do.

    I believe deeply in this institution and what it stands for.

    We will continue tackling this work with determination and resolve.

    And we will get it done.

    Thank you. Merci. I’m happy to take your questions.

    General Jennie Carignan
    Chief of the Defence Staff 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • India calls for global action on extreme heat risk at UNDRR session in Geneva

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Calling extreme heat a “global crisis,” Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr. P. K. Mishra urged coordinated international action during a keynote address at the Special Session on Extreme Heat Risk Governance hosted by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) in Geneva on Thursday.

    Dr. Mishra’s remarks echoed the urgency expressed by the UN Secretary-General, highlighting that rising temperatures now pose a systemic threat to public health, economic stability, and ecological resilience worldwide.

    “Heatwaves are no longer seasonal inconveniences; they are transboundary, systemic risks—especially for densely populated urban areas,” Dr. Mishra said, emphasizing the need for global collaboration on early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, and equity-focused interventions.

    India’s Proactive Heat Risk Management

    Detailing India’s experience, Dr. Mishra said the country has shifted from reactive disaster response to proactive and integrated heat risk management under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    He noted that since 2016, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued comprehensive national guidelines for heatwave management—revised in 2019—which have enabled decentralized action through Heat Action Plans (HAPs).

    India now has over 250 cities and districts across 23 heat-prone states operating localized HAPs, supported by NDMA’s advisory and technical frameworks. The Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan, a pioneering model, was cited as a successful example of how early warning systems, inter-agency coordination, and community outreach can significantly reduce mortality during heatwaves.

    Whole-of-Government, Whole-of-Society Approach

    Dr. Mishra highlighted India’s “whole-of-government and whole-of-society” strategy, engaging ministries including health, agriculture, urban development, labor, power, education, and infrastructure.

    “Extreme heat deeply impacts communities, and India has actively incorporated traditional wisdom and local experiences into its response,” he said, pointing to the role of schools in spreading climate awareness and of primary health centers in delivering frontline care during heat events.

    India’s response also includes long-term urban resilience measures such as cool roof technologies, passive cooling centers, greening of urban spaces, and the revival of traditional water bodies. Importantly, the integration of Urban Heat Island (UHI) assessments into urban planning is becoming a standard practice in several cities.

    Policy Shift to Enable Funding for Mitigation

    Announcing a major policy shift, Dr. Mishra said that National and State Disaster Mitigation Funds (SDMF) can now be used for heatwave mitigation, allowing local governments, private sector entities, NGOs, and individuals to co-finance adaptation projects. This move, he said, reflects India’s commitment to shared responsibility and community-driven resilience.

    A Call for Global Cooperation

    While acknowledging India’s progress, Dr. Mishra identified key global challenges, including the need for a localized heat-humidity index using real-time data, and the development of affordable, culturally appropriate passive cooling innovations.

    He stressed that vulnerable populations—such as women, outdoor workers, the elderly, and children—are disproportionately impacted by extreme heat, and called for international mechanisms to ensure equitable adaptation.

    Concluding his address, Dr. Mishra affirmed India’s support for the UNDRR’s Common Framework for Extreme Heat Risk Governance, describing it as a vital platform for shared learning, data sharing, institutional capacity building, and joint research.

    “India is fully committed to sharing its expertise, technical capacities, and institutional strengths with global partners,” he said. “We must ensure a resilient, coordinated, and proactive global response to the rising threat of extreme heat.”

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Yemen’s Houthis ready to exchange all prisoners with government

    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

    SANAA, June 7 (Xinhua) — Yemen’s Houthi group said on Friday it was ready to swap all prisoners with the country’s government, a major offer made by the rebels since the civil war began in late 2014.

    The Houthi-controlled Saba news agency reported, citing a statement from the head of the Houthi committee for prisoners’ affairs, Abdel Qader al-Murtada, that the group was ready to carry out “a full exchange process that includes all prisoners from all sides.”

    A.K. al-Murtada called on the Saudi government to put pressure on the Yemeni government to “respond to the initiative without preconditions.”

    Yemen’s internationally recognized government has yet to comment on the rebels’ proposal.

    In 2023, the Yemeni government and the Houthi group carried out a major UN-brokered prisoner exchange, exchanging about 900 people. Another major exchange took place in 2020, when both sides released about 1,000 prisoners and detainees.

    Yemen has been mired in civil war since late 2014, when rebels seized control of much of northern Yemen, ousting the Yemeni government from the capital Sanaa.

    Since April 2022, clashes between the Houthis and government forces have decreased following a UN-brokered ceasefire. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Macao launches POP MART tourism event to attract global fans

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

    A resident takes photos of a Labubu toy at the Taipa exhibition area of “POP MART MACAO CITYWALK” in south China’s Macao, June 6, 2025. The tourism office of China’s Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government, together with China’s trendy toy maker POP MART, on Friday launched “POP MART MACAO CITYWALK,” a cultural tourism initiative with the unveiling of a 7-meter-high toy Labubu known for its toothy grin. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka)

    The tourism office of China’s Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government, together with China’s trendy toy maker POP MART, on Friday launched “POP MART MACAO CITYWALK,” a cultural tourism initiative with the unveiling of a 7-meter-high toy Labubu known for its toothy grin.

    The office noted that, spanning 108 days from Monday to September 21, the event will bring POP MART’s globally popular characters, including Baby Molly, Crybaby Dimoo, and Labubu, to four iconic locations across Macao.

    A special “pop station” was set up at Senado Square, featuring a pop-up shop and a Macao-themed Mega Space Molly Egg Tart installation, where visitors could collect themed postcards and stamps at each site.

    Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the tourism office, stated to the media that POP MART has a vast resource in terms of the number of fans worldwide. “When people come to take photos with the figures, they are also walking around the city and seeing different kinds of elements related to the city,” she added.

    Ms. Lin from Guangzhou was visiting Macao particularly for the event. Showing her two Labubu dolls and delicate decorations, she said she had only recently become familiar with the character and had become quite interested in the IP series.

    The project integrated a regional e-payment consumption lucky draw, open to users from Macao, Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, Thailand, and Malaysia. 

    Visitors visit the Taipa exhibition area of “POP MART MACAO CITYWALK” in south China’s Macao, June 6, 2025. The tourism office of China’s Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government, together with China’s trendy toy maker POP MART, on Friday launched “POP MART MACAO CITYWALK,” a cultural tourism initiative with the unveiling of a 7-meter-high toy Labubu known for its toothy grin. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka)

    Guests attend the opening ceremony of “POP MART MACAO CITYWALK” in south China’s Macao, June 6, 2025. The tourism office of China’s Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government, together with China’s trendy toy maker POP MART, on Friday launched “POP MART MACAO CITYWALK,” a cultural tourism initiative with the unveiling of a 7-meter-high toy Labubu known for its toothy grin. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka)

    Residents pose for photos at the Taipa exhibition area of “POP MART MACAO CITYWALK” in south China’s Macao, June 6, 2025. The tourism office of China’s Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government, together with China’s trendy toy maker POP MART, on Friday launched “POP MART MACAO CITYWALK,” a cultural tourism initiative with the unveiling of a 7-meter-high toy Labubu known for its toothy grin. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka)

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China accelerates market-based reforms in allocation of resources, environmental factors

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

    In pursuit of greener growth, China is steadily incorporating resources and environmental factors into the market framework as tradable production inputs, ensuring their value is more visible across the economy.

    The latest move came in late May, when Chinese authorities unveiled a high-level guideline to accelerate the development of trading markets for carbon emission rights, water utilization rights, and pollution discharge permits.

    According to the guideline, by 2027, China will have established a basically complete carbon emission and water trading system, and a more well-functioning trading system for pollution discharge rights. The guideline also envisions more vibrant markets, better price formation, and stronger support for national environmental goals through efficient flows and allocation of resources and environmental factors.

    The latest reform builds on the principles laid out in October 2022, when Chinese leadership pledged to improve the system for market-based allocation of resources and environmental factors, and accelerate the R&D, promotion, and application of advanced energy-saving and carbon emission reduction technologies.

    Analysts note that China faces rising pressure from limited per capita resources, tightening environmental constraints, and growing demand driven by rapid industrialization and urbanization. As a result, the role of resources and environmental factors as essential economic inputs has become increasingly prominent, making efficient, market-based allocation a pressing national priority.

    “Resource scarcity and limited environmental carrying capacity are fundamental conditions in China,” said an official with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) in an interview with Xinhua, highlighting the urgency of using market mechanisms to break resource and environmental bottlenecks.

    Over the years, China has laid important groundwork for the trading of resources and environmental factors, including establishing a nationwide carbon trading market, voluntary greenhouse gas emission reduction market, and water exchanges. Pilot programs for pollution permit exchanges have been rolled out in 28 provincial-level regions, demonstrating the viability of market-based mechanisms.

    Nevertheless, despite these notable advances, the NDRC official pointed out that challenges persist, as China’s market-based system for allocating resources and environmental factors is still in its early stages. This system has been hindered by incomplete regulatory frameworks, a limited range of trading participants and mechanisms, as well as insufficient policy coordination and data sharing.

    The new guideline, the official added, is expected to promote the notion that “resources and environmental factors carry value,” guiding their orderly flow, optimized allocation, and more efficient use, thereby fostering green, low-carbon development and supporting the growth of new quality productive forces.

    Under the reform plan, China seeks to promote a unified framework for quota allocation and trading rules, while preserving the flexibility needed to address the specific nature of different environmental rights and major policy transitions.

    Beyond regulation, the document also called for greater involvement from financial institutions. Financial entities are encouraged to develop green financial products, such as loans, insurance, and bonds, linked to resources and environmental factors.

    Experts have hailed the policy as a landmark step towards systemic ecological reform in China. Wang Yi, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, described it as a “top-level design” to fix overlapping compliance and double counting, adding it marks a shift toward more integrated, system-level ecological governance.

    Li Zhong, deputy director at the Energy Research Institute under the Academy of Macroeconomic Research, said the reform reflects China’s regional diversity, noting that the document explicitly calls for a phased approach, adjusting market structures according to local environmental characteristics and the readiness of market conditions.

    While many local governments have launched pilot exchanges for carbon, water, and pollution rights, the new guideline emphasizes the need to align regional efforts under a national framework to improve allocation efficiency and market consistency.

    In the carbon market, the country plans to expand its carbon market coverage, diversify trading products, and strengthen coordination with voluntary reduction schemes. Water-rights trading will extend across provinces in key river basins, incorporating conserved water from industrial and agricultural use. Pollution rights will see pilot cross-regional trading within shared watersheds.

    Looking ahead, experts emphasize that accurate data, standardized trading platforms, transparent information disclosure, and enforceable oversight are all critical to building a well-functioning market for resources and environmental factors.

    “Data integrity and legal safeguards are critical,” Wang Yi noted, adding that the development of a market-based system for resources and environmental factors is an evolving process that requires continuous adjustment and careful monitoring.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Ponsonby community up in arms over impending post office closure

    Asia Pacific Report

    The community is up in arms over another local post office in Aotearoa New Zealand about to be closed down, this time in the iconic and historic Auckland inner city suburb of Ponsonby.

    A local author and founder of Greenstone Pictures, John Harris, has led a pushback against plans to close the Ponsonby post office branch in Three Lamps next month with an undated open letter to the chief executive David Walsh.

    Saying he was “surprised and dismayed” to see the “closing soon but staying put” sign in the Ponsonby NZ Post shop, Harris pointed out that the small office gave “great service to dozens of businesses” in the area, and hundreds of residents.

    “It is misleading on your poster to claim that people will be able to obtain the same services at nearby post shops like that in Jervois Road,” Harris said.

    “Will they be able to pay their bills and car registration there? Collect mail and parcels? Buy courier bags and send mail and parcels?

    “And do you expect them to walk there?  It is not helpful to say this closure ‘might mean a few minutes extra drive’.

    This assumed that all clients were using a car, not elderly or young who were on foot.

    Parking in busy streets
    “And people are expected to try and find parking on other busy streets — Jervois Road, Karangahape Road, Wellesley Street.”

    Harris said: “The Ponsonby post shop is a vital part of the network that binds the community together.

    “To close it is like removing part of the community’s nervous system:  an ill-considered stab at the heart of a community which has always been vibrant, socially aware and productive.”

    The NZ Post website proclaims that “we provide customers with the solutions and products to help them communicate and do business.”

    However, said Harris, this planned closure for July 4 did not match those promises.

    Harris also pointed out that NZ Post made a $16 million operating profit for the last six months of 2024.

    The Ponsonby protest letter from a local community advocate to the NZ Post. Image: APR

    “Congratulations. I’m pleased you are keeping NZ Post viable. But it shows there is a bit of ‘wriggle room’ to keep the Ponsonby store open.”

    Digital services use
    In response to the call to reconsider the decision, a customer services officer replied on June 6 on behalf of chief executive Walsh, saying that the NZ Post Office needed to “ensure our physical locations are in the right places and operating efficiently” in an age where more people used digital services.

    “In some areas, including Ponsonby, we’ve had more than one store serving the same neighbourhood. That’s not a sustainable way for us to operate, so we’ve had to make some changes.”

    However, critics of the decision to close the Ponsonby store say the reasoning  was “not credible”, stressing that all claimed alternative postal stores are several kilometres away.

    A year after chief executive Walsh was appointed in 2017, it was announced that NZ Post would close almost 80 local post offices across the country and replace some of them with franchises.

    Harris, a children’s author with a strong association with the local community stretching back to the 1970s and a former editor of West End News in Freemans Bay, acknowledged that the Ponsonby  PO boxes lobby was being kept open, “but what about the ordinary rank-and-file residents and small business owners who value the other everyday services offered at the store?”

    He said he had written to local MP, Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick and the Ponsonby Business Association seeking their support.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Honors Iowa’s Servicemembers, Witnesses Disaster Recovery, Touts Small Business Innovation, and More

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) recently traveled from Pottawattamie County to Scott County to meet with servicemembers, small business owners, farmers, and law enforcement officers on her River to River Tour – part of her ongoing commitment to hear from Iowans in every corner of the state.
    Click HERE to download photos from Ernst’s visits.
    As the first female combat veteran elected to the Senate who served in the Iowa National Guard, it was especially meaningful for Ernst to honor Iowa National Guard soldiers as they deploy to serve our country in the Middle East. She gave remarks at the send-off ceremonies for both the 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry Regiment in her hometown of Red Oak and 224th Brigade Engineer Battalion in Davenport. Learn more about the ceremony in Red Oak from KSOM, KMALand, The Red Oak Express, and KMTV. WQAD, KLJB,and the Quad-City Times detailed the event in Davenport.

    To mark one year since devastating storms and tornados swept through southwest Iowa, Ernst visited Adair County where she toured an active Habitat for Humanity home construction site in Greenfield.Raccoon Valley Radio, KCCI, and WHO 13 joined the tour as she talked with the future homeowner about rebuilding and community recovery efforts.

    In Scott County, KWQC covered Ernst’s visit to Davenport Guns & Shooting Club where she met with the store’s owner to discuss the importance of protecting lawful gun dealers from Biden’s ATF with herFIREARM Act. Ernst closed out the visit with some target practice on the shop’s range.

    As Chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Ernst elevates the voices of Iowa small businesses and presented five outstanding entrepreneurs across the state with her Small Business of the Week award. The Wilton-Durant Advocate News and the Muscatine Journal both joined as she honored Lynn and Brenda Ochiltree, owners of The Candy Kitchen, a historic soda fountain in downtown Wilton.

    As reported by Journal-Eureka, Ernst stopped by Boomerang Corporation in Jones County to learn more about how their team plans, designs, and oversees construction projects across eastern Iowa.

    In Jackson County, Ernst was thrilled to present Air Force veteran Dr. Don Schwenker and his family with a Small Business of the Week award for all their hard work providing care for veterans and the Maquoketa community at Timber City Chiropractic. The Maquoketa Sentinel-Press featured the visit. Daily Nonpareiland KMTV highlighted Ernst’s work to cut red tape and help rural entrepreneurs thrive during her visit to PowerTech in Council Bluffs.

    Iowa’s leadership in innovation for businesses both large and small was top of mind as Ernst gave remarks at an event hosted by Google in Cedar Rapids.

    Ernst also spotlighted entrepreneurship and the needs of small business owners at her roundtable in Iowa City. As featured on KGAN, she gathered folks with growing small businesses and University of Iowa leadership to discuss her INNOVATE Act followed by a tour of a University of Iowa research laboratory.

    Carroll Broadcasting and the Carroll Times Herald both featured Ernst’s roundtable with Iowa pork producers and cattlemen about her work to support Iowa farmers and producers, which includes fighting for a Farm Bill, pushing back against California’s Prop 12 overreach, and combatting foreign animal disease. Ernst also held a second roundtable in Dallas County to hear about the experiences and concerns of central Iowa law enforcement officers.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Vande Bharat train between Katra and Srinagar begins today; slashes travel time to just three hours

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a major boost to connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, regular services of the Vande Bharat Express between Srinagar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra commence on Saturday.

    The Northern Railway has confirmed that the semi-high-speed trains will operate six days a week, significantly reducing travel time between the Kashmir Valley and the prominent pilgrimage hub in Katra.

    This development marks a transformative step in the region’s transport infrastructure.

    The new Vande Bharat service will cut travel time between Srinagar and Katra to just three hours—less than half of the current six to seven hours required by road.

    Two pairs of Vande Bharat Express trains—Train Nos. 26404/26403 and 26401/26402—will run on the newly inaugurated Srinagar–Katra–Srinagar route, with scheduled halts at Banihal.

    These trains are specially designed to function in extreme winter conditions and are equipped with advanced heating systems, thermally insulated lavatories, heated windshields, and defrosting technology for improved driver visibility.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off the inaugural run of these trains, following the successful completion of the 272-kilometer Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project—a long-awaited engineering feat that includes the iconic Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge.

    Until now, train services in the region were limited to the Banihal–Baramulla section in the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu–Udhampur–Katra section in the Jammu region.

    The extension of Vande Bharat services will not only provide a faster and more reliable mode of transportation for residents and tourists but is also expected to facilitate easier access for pilgrims visiting the revered Vaishno Devi shrine.

    With seamless all-weather operations and premium onboard amenities, the Vande Bharat Express promises to enhance the travel experience and strengthen regional connectivity, linking North India more closely with the Valley.

    IANS

  • MIL-OSI USA: Office of the Governor — News Release — Gov. Green Releases Intent-to-Veto List

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    Office of the Governor — News Release — Gov. Green Releases Intent-to-Veto List

    Posted on Jun 6, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom, Office of the Governor Press Releases

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI 
    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI 
     
    JOSH GREEN, M.D. 
    GOVERNOR
    KE KIAʻĀINA 
     

    GOVERNOR GREEN RELEASES INTENT-TO-VETO LIST 

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    June 6, 2025

    HONOLULU – Governor Josh Green, M.D., today informed legislative leaders and stakeholders of his intent to veto 19 bills passed during the 2025 regular session of the Hawai‘i State Legislature.

    Governor Green is not required to veto every bill indicated on the Intent-to-Veto list, but cannot veto a bill that is not included. The release of this list provides additional time to continue ongoing discussions with key stakeholders concerning implementation and impact. Due to the record-setting number of bills enrolled to the governor this legislative session, potential changes to the state’s federal funding and reduced revenue projections from the Council on Revenues, additional time to analyze bills will ensure each bill is given the nuanced, thoughtful consideration it deserves. Governor Green has until July 9 to issue final vetoes. All other bills will become law by July 9.

    “Let me be clear: of the 320 bills passed by the Legislature this session, 19 are on our Intent-to-Veto list,” said Governor Green. “Our team has completed a review of every measure and the overwhelming majority of legislation will become law. Each bill on today’s list is based on thorough legal and fiscal analysis, and as always, was guided by what will best serve the people of Hawai‘i, protect our resources and strengthen our future.”

    To date, Governor Green has signed 200 bills into law benefiting the people and ‘āina of Hawai‘i, with core themes including environmental stewardship, educational access and success, as well as public safety. These represent key focus areas so far; additional bills awaiting signature will build upon this foundation to address state priorities. The remaining 101 bills are on track to become law by July 9.

    Over 300 bills were reviewed by state departments and agencies, the Attorney General and the Governor in the last month. The Governor has until July 9 to issue final vetoes from today’s list.

    The following bills are being considered for vetoes, line-item vetoes, or reductions.

    Fiscal Bills:

    HB126: RELATING TO PROPERTY FORFEITURE

    Bill Description: Increases transparency and accountability surrounding property forfeiture. Clarifies which property is subject to forfeiture. Amends the authorized disposition of forfeited property and the proceeds thereof. Requires the Attorney General to adopt rules necessary to carry out the purpose of the Hawaiʻi Omnibus Criminal Forfeiture Act. Repeals language that requires the Hawaiʻi Omnibus Criminal Forfeiture Act to be construed liberally.

    Veto Rationale: Asset forfeiture serves as a powerful deterrent against and punishment for criminal activity. The one-year deadline to return seized property for which the owner has not been charged with a covered offense, significantly weakens the efficacy of this dual deterrent and punishment. Many covered offenses, including felonies, often involve complex investigations that extend beyond a year, rendering this bill’s one-year deadline for law enforcement to file charges unrealistic. Seized property can serve as critical evidence in investigations, and its return before an investigation’s completion would severely hamper the investigation as well as the administration of justice at large.

    HB300: RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET

    Bill Description: Appropriates funds for the operating and capital improvement budget of the Executive Branch for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.

    Veto Rationale: Potential shifts in federal funding, coupled with recent projections from the Hawaiʻi Council on Revenues, require the state to reevaluate its budget to ensure essential services and priorities remain supported. Specific line-item reductions based on program feasibility, stability, and sustainability will help the state enter the fiscal year with a balanced budget and sound financial plan.

    HB302: RELATING TO CANNABIS
    Bill Description: Part I: Authorizes DOH to inspect qualifying patient medical records held by the physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or hospice provider who issued a written certification for the qualifying patient. Amends and adds definitions for purposes of the medical use of cannabis law. Clarifies the conditions of use for the medical use of cannabis. For purposes of issuing written certifications, authorizes the establishment of a provider-patient relationship via telehealth and limits the maximum amount of fees that can be assessed by providers. Authorizes the sale of hemp products and accessories for the medical use of cannabis at retail dispensing locations, except in waiting rooms. Clarifies transportation requirements for certain inter-dispensary sales of cannabis and manufactured cannabis products. Part II: Establishes criminal penalties for the unlicensed operation of a medical cannabis dispensary. Part III: Authorizes expenditures from the Medical Cannabis Registry and Regulation Special Fund to fund programs for the mitigation and abatement of nuisances related to illegal cannabis and hemp products and medical cannabis dispensaries and appropriates funds from the Special Fund to the AG’s Drug Nuisance Abatement Unit for these purposes, including establishing positions. Part IV: Beginning 1/1/2028, prohibits the cultivation of cannabis without a cannabis cultivator license issued by DOH.

    Veto Rationale: This administration remains committed to Hawai‘i’s existing medical cannabis program and supports efforts to expand access to medical cannabis for any medical condition. Although this bill’s authorization of medical cannabis certifications via telehealth expands access to medical cannabis, provisions authorizing the inspection of patients’ medical records without warrant constitute a grave violation of privacy. Given that the federal government classifies cannabis as a Schedule I substance, patients’ reasonable fears of repercussions based upon information gained from inspection of their personal medical records may deter patients from participating in the medical cannabis program.

    HB496: RELATING TO MĀMAKI TEA

    Bill Description: Prohibits the use of certain words and misleading Hawaiian imagery, place names, and motifs on the label of a consumer package that contains or includes tea or dried leaves from the plant Pipturus albidus, unless 100% of the tea or dried leaves were cultivated, harvested, and dried in the state. Appropriates funds for a Measurement Standards Inspector position.

    Veto Rationale: While the intent of this measure is to ensure consumer protection and reliable Made in Hawai‘i labeling, the bill imposes overly strict labeling requirements that could harm small businesses and māmaki producers who responsibly blend leaves from multiple sources. Prohibiting the labeling of products composed of less than 100% māmaki tea as “māmaki” ignores the economic contributions of and impacts to producers who mix or process māmaki with other herbs, undermining producers who support local māmaki farmers while meeting broader demand.

    HB796: RELATING TO TAX CREDITS

    Bill Description: Requires that income tax credits existing on 12/31/2025 or established or renewed after 12/31/2025 include a five-year sunset or an annual one-third reduction, beginning with the sixth year of the credit.

    Veto Rationale: This bill would have a significant long-term impact on income tax credits across a variety of industries, including film and television, research, and renewable energy. These tax credits are critical to supporting economic development and diversification, particularly within growing and emerging sectors. Categorically sunsetting income tax credits will not only disincentivize future investors from doing business in Hawai‘i, but will destabilize existing businesses that currently rely upon these tax credits.

    HB1369: RELATING TO TAXATION 

    Bill Description: Amends and repeals certain exemptions under the general excise tax and use tax laws.

    Veto Rationale: The amendments to the general excise tax and use tax contained in this bill would impact sugarcane producers, commercial fishing vessels and securities exchanges. Removing the specific tax exemptions afforded to these entities would provide little financial benefit to the state while harming, in particular, sugarcane producers.

    SB583: RELATING TO NAMING RIGHTS

    Bill Description: Allows the naming rights of the Stadium Facility and Convention Center Facility to be leased to any public or private entity. Requires any revenues derived from advertising or marketing in or on the Stadium Facility or Convention Center Facility to be deposited into the appropriate special fund of the facility. Authorizes the display of the name of any entity that leased the naming rights to a stadium operated by the Stadium Authority on the exterior of the stadium.

    Veto Rationale: Pursuant to section 14, article III, of the Hawai‘i State Constitution, each bill may only contain one subject, which must pertain to the bill’s title. The exemption of concessions in the stadium facility and Convention Center from typical concession procurement procedures may violate section 14, article III, of the Hawai‘i State Constitution since the exemption appears to fall outside the titular scope of the bill, naming rights.

    SB589: RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY

    Bill Description: Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish an installation goal for customer-sited distributed energy resources in the state. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish tariffs to achieve the installation goal and for grid services programs, microgrids and community-based renewable energy. Ensures that certain levels of compensation are provided for solar and energy storage exports from customer-sited distributed energy resources as part of grid service programs and requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish grid service compensation values. Clarifies when a person who constructs, maintains, or operates a new microgrid is not considered a public utility. Authorizes wheeling of renewable energy and requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish policies and procedures to implement wheeling and microgrid service tariffs.

    Veto Rationale: Maintaining Hawai‘i’s leadership in clean energy through established goals and initiatives remains a priority. The Public Utilities Commission has already opened or plans to open proceedings relating to microgrid services tariffs and customer-sited distributed energy resources and grid services. The mandates contained in this bill therefore risk duplication and delay of already existing efforts.

    Non-Fiscal Bills: 

    HB235: RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY

    Bill Description: Requires the Department of Transportation, after the City and County of Honolulu educates the public and adjusts any systems, to expand the use of photo red light imaging detector systems and automated speed enforcement systems to locations on the North Shore of O‘ahu.

    Veto Rationale: The Department of Transportation has developed specific criteria for the selection of communities within which to implement traffic safety systems. This criteria incorporates data-driven crash, citation and traffic volume metrics, which ensure communities are chosen based on need and potential for greatest impact. Ignoring this criteria in favor of legislatively mandated location selection threatens the integrity of the photo red light imaging detector system and automated speed enforcement system programs.

    HB800: RELATING TO GOVERNMENT

    Bill Description: Provides for the transfer of certain parcels in the Liliha Civic Center area and Iwilei Fire Station area from various state agencies to the City and County of Honolulu. Provides for the transfer of the parcel of land upon which Ali‘i Tower is sited from the City and County of Honolulu to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Exempts the lands transferred to the Department of Land and Natural Resources from the definition of public lands for purposes of Chapter 171, HRS.

    Veto Rationale: The land transfers provided in the bill would negatively impact the City and County of Honolulu, which relies upon Ali‘i Tower’s land lease revenues and office spaces. Additionally, the state would face indeterminate additional costs, as Ali‘i Tower’s age likely necessitates capital improvements and ongoing maintenance. Although the intent of this bill is to reduce the state’s reliance on private commercial office space, no analysis exists identifying the amount of office space the acquisition of Aliʻi Tower would provide the state.

    HB958: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION

    Bill Description: Establishes safe riding behaviors for electric bicycles. Prohibits the operation of high-speed electric devices in certain locations. Establishes labeling and signage requirements for electric bicycles. Prohibits the operation of a moped or electric motorcycle in certain locations. Amends the definition of “bicycle” for purposes of county vehicular taxes. Defines “electric bicycle” in place of “low-speed electric bicycle.” Defines “electric micro-mobility device” and requires the same regulations as electric foot scooters to apply to electric micro-mobility devices. Prohibits a person under the age of 16 from operating a class 3 electric bicycle. Authorizes a person under the age of 14 to operate class 2 electric bicycles under supervision. Prohibits a person from riding a class 3 electric bicycle on a sidewalk. Authorizes a person to ride a class 1 or class 2 electric bicycle on a sidewalk under certain circumstances. Prohibits a person from operating a bicycle or electric foot scooter under the age of 18 without a helmet. Repeals the requirement that moped drivers use bicycle lanes and substitutes the term “motor-driven cycle” with the term “motor scooter.”

    Veto Rationale: While mopeds and motorcycles are exempt from the prohibition established within this bill, on “high-speed electric devices” driving on public roadways, electric cars are not exempt. Such a prohibition would likely violate the Commerce Clause and Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution and conflict with the administration’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

    HB1296: RELATING TO THE MAJOR DISASTER FUND

    Bill Description: Establishes timely notice and reporting requirements to the Legislature by the Governor regarding the transfer of appropriations to the Major Disaster Fund. Effective 7/1/2025. Sunsets 7/1/2026.

    Veto Rationale: The administration is committed to the transparent, efficient management of state funds. During times of emergency, flexibility and the quick release of funds is necessary to respond to rapidly changing situations. This bill disrupts the delicate balance between reporting requirements facilitating government transparency and fiscal flexibility undergirding efficient response and recovery efforts. Placing additional administrative oversight over funds expended for emergencies jeopardizes public safety.

    SB15: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION 

    Bill Description: Amends the definition of “historic property” to require that the property is over 50 years old and meets the criteria for inclusion in the Hawaiʻi Register of Historic Places. Excludes proposed projects on existing residential property and proposed projects that are in nominally sensitive areas from the State’s Historic Preservation Program review, under certain circumstances.

    Veto Rationale: Exempting proposed projects on any existing residential property from historic preservation review fails to consider properties that have never undergone such a review and may contain historically significant artifacts or iwi kūpuna. This categorical exclusion increases the risk for desecration of iwi kūpuna and historical resources. Although Governor Green supports amending the historic preservation review process to facilitate housing production, a more nuanced approach to protecting iwi kūpuna is needed, such as that advanced in SB 1263.

    SB31: RELATING TO PROPERTY

    Bill Description: Authorizes a person who discovers a recorded discriminatory restrictive covenant to take certain actions, without liability, to invalidate the covenant. Defines discriminatory restrictive covenant.

    Veto Rationale: By enabling any person, including those without any interest in the specified real property, to record a statement that a real property’s title includes a discriminatory restrictive covenant, this bill provides a statutorily authorized mechanism for the circulation of disinformation. This disinformation has the potential to negatively affect the marketability of a property. Because the person who recorded the statement claiming a discriminatory restrictive covenant exists is waived of any liability, no recourse is available to those who suffer financial loss due to inaccurate claims concerning their property’s title.

    SB38: RELATING TO HOUSING

    Bill Description: Requires the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation to provide counties with an opportunity to comment on certain housing development projects. Prohibits the legislative body of a county from imposing stricter conditions than the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation, stricter area median income requirements, or a reduction in fee waivers to housing development proposals that would increase the cost of the project.

    Veto Rationale: County councils have expressed concerns that this bill hampers their ability to work with developers to modify housing projects to reflect the specific needs of their communities. While the administration supports measures intended to facilitate the production of affordable housing, further dialogue with the counties on this measure’s implementation is required.

    SB66: RELATING TO HOUSING

    Bill Description: Establishes procedures and requirements for single-family and multifamily housing project applicants to apply for an expedited permit, including requirements for completeness of expedited permit applications, duties of licensed professionals and the counties during construction, and applications for owner-builder exemptions. Takes effect 7/1/2026. Sunsets 6/30/2031.

    Veto Rationale: By allowing any qualified professional to determine a project’s impact on historical resources, this bill permits a project proponent to evaluate and determine the impact of its own projects on historical resources. This is a conflict of interest that allows for self-serving determinations, undermines the authority and purpose of regulatory agencies’ independent evaluations, and increases risk to iwi kūpuna.

    SB104: RELATING TO CORRECTIONS

    Bill Description: Beginning 7/1/2026, restricts the use of restrictive housing in state-operated and state-contracted correctional facilities, with certain specified exceptions. Establishes a restrictive housing legislative working group to develop and recommend more comprehensive laws, policies and procedures regarding restrictive housing for members of vulnerable populations by 1/8/2027. Requires the Hawaiʻi Correctional System Oversight Commission to review restrictive housing placements on an annual basis. Authorizes the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, by 12/1/2027, to implement policies and procedures recommended by the restrictive housing working group related to committed persons. Requires interim and final reports to the Legislature and Hawaiʻi Correctional System Oversight Commission.

    Veto Rationale: The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has policies in place governing the use of restrictive housing. These policies and procedures comply with National Institute of Corrections and American Correctional Association standards. Rather than improve the health and safety of those in the department’s care, the implementation of certain requirements proposed in this bill will jeopardize the safety, security and good governance of the department’s facility, negatively impacting inmates. In lieu of this measure and to address stakeholders’ concerns, the department is working with the Hawaiʻi Correctional Systems Oversight Commission to amend its policies and procedures.

    SB447: RELATING TO A DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PILOT PROGRAM

    Bill Description: Establishes a Hiring Pilot Program within the Department of Health, which includes an amended hiring procedure for delegated position classifications, certain flexibilities regarding minimum qualifications for positions having a salary range at or below SR-10, the ability to directly hire certain individuals into a civil service position if certain conditions are met, and the authority to make certain temporary appointments at the merited civil service pay scale without step limitation. Applies to recruitments initiated before 7/1/2028. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Sunsets 7/1/2028.

    Veto Rationale: The governor strongly supports efforts to streamline the state’s hiring process to address our workforce vacancies, especially those in our state’s public health sector. However, this bill conflicts with state civil service law, undermining the state’s merit-based civil service system. Disparities in hiring, classification and compensation throughout the state are expected to occur should this bill become law.

    SB1102: RELATING TO THE AIRCRAFT RESCUE FIRE FIGHTING UNIT

    Bill Description: Specifies the appointment processes and terms for the Fire Chief of the Hawaiʻi State Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Unit of the Airports Division of the Department of Transportation.

    Veto Rationale: The appointment process proposed in the bill is inconsistent with the selection process for other department leadership positions. Further, due to the need to obtain legislative approval for the appointment of the Fire Chief, following the appointment process contained in this bill may delay the appointment of this critical leadership position, impacting airport operations, safety and readiness.

    # # #

    Media Contacts:  
    Erika Engle
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Governor, State of Hawai‘i
    Office: 808-586-0120
    Email: [email protected] 

    Makana McClellan
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Governor, State of Hawaiʻi
    Cell: 808-265-0083
    Email: [email protected]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal crash, SH1, Desert Road

    Source: New Zealand Police

    One person has died following a crash on the Desert Road this afternoon.

    Police were called to a two-vehicle crash on State Highway One at around 1.10pm.

    Sadly, one person was located deceased at the scene.

    The road remains closed while the Serious Crash Unit conducts a scene examination.

    Motorists are advised to follow diversions and expect delays.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Hassan and Cornyn Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Dark Web Drug Trafficking

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee, and John Cornyn (R-TX) reintroduced a bipartisan bill to strengthen penalties on drug dealers and target international fentanyl trafficking through the dark web.
    “The dark web is a hotspot for illegal drug trafficking, which helps fuel the fentanyl crisis that is devastating New Hampshire and communities across our country,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan bill will strengthen penalties on drug traffickers who use the dark web, making it more difficult for criminals to hide behind a computer as they spread illegal drugs on our streets.”
    “The dark web has become a marketplace for drug traffickers who exploit anonymity to flood our communities with deadly narcotics,” said Senator Cornyn. “This bill gives law enforcement the tools they need to crack down on these criminals by helping prosecutors hold bad actors accountable and by disrupting illicit drug sales on the dark web.” 
    The bipartisan Dark Web Interdiction Act would:
    Strengthen criminal penalties on individuals convicted of trafficking illegal drugs on the dark web by directing the United States Sentencing Commission to enhance sentencing guidelines for those individuals. 
    Solidify the work of the Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (J-CODE) task force that leads coordinated international, federal, state, and local efforts to combat drug trafficking on the dark web. Since its creation in 2018, J-CODE has led to hundreds of arrests worldwide, seizures of thousands of pounds of narcotics, and the closure of several dark web marketplaces. 
    Direct the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and Treasury Department to issue a report to Congress within one year detailing the use of cryptocurrency in the distribution of opioids on the dark web, as well as provide recommendations for how Congress can address the use of virtual currency for opioid trafficking on the dark web. 
    This bipartisan bill is part of Senator Hassan’s ongoing efforts to stop drug trafficking and support communities devastated by the fentanyl crisis. Senator Hassan helped introduce the bipartisan HALT Fentanyl Act to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act, which passed the U.S. Senate in March. Senator Hassan also helped advance the bipartisan DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act, which was signed into law in December and is supporting law enforcement with enhanced tools to find and eliminate illegal substances such as fentanyl and xylazine. Additionally, Senator Hassan and her colleagues passed into law the bipartisan FEND Off Fentanyl Act, which targets the illicit fentanyl supply chain and imposes sanctions on traffickers. Senator Hassan also developed the END FENTANYL Act, signed into law last year, which helps strengthen Customs and Border Protection’s efforts to crack down on fentanyl trafficking at the border.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: From smog to sunshine: Beijing’s decade-long clean air campaign pays off

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

    These days, Beijing resident Xie Xiaoyang frequently shares photo collages of the city’s blue skies on his WeChat Moments — a stark contrast to the smoggy environment he remembers from his student days in the Chinese capital over 10 years ago.

    “Social media was still in its infancy in China back then, with everyone eagerly sharing glimpses of their everyday routines,” Xie recalled. “Yet as autumn leaves fell and winter set in, the world outside dissolved into a murky haze. Posting enthusiasm waned, giving way to a citywide yearning for crisp blue skies.”

    Beihai Park is decorated with lanterns in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 19, 2025. (Photo by Li Menglan/Xinhua)

    Over the past decades, air pollution has persisted as a major environmental challenge for China amid its rapid urbanization and economic development. In a landmark response, the Chinese government declared war against air pollution in 2013, launching its Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan (APPCAP) — a comprehensive national policy framework targeting air quality improvement — and sought to find a better balance between economic growth and environment protection.

    Following the introduction of the APPCAP, China became the first developing country in the world to impose large-scale efforts to reduce PM2.5 density, with Beijing taking the lead across Chinese cities by adopting scientific governance, institutional innovation and regional collaboration, contributing a new approach to global air pollution control. The United Nations Environment Programme has hailed the megacity’s achievements in improving air quality as the “Beijing Miracle.”

    According to the Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau, the capital reported steady progress in air quality in 2024. The average density of PM2.5, a key indicator of air pollution, during the year was 30.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, down 6.2 percent year on year. The number of days with good air quality reached 290, an increase of 114 days compared with 2013 and the highest number on record. Notably, the number of heavily polluted days dropped from 58 in 2013 to just two in 2024, which was a reduction of 96.6 percent.

    ARDUOUS CAMPAIGN

    At this year’s “two sessions,” Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu presented two filter membranes collected from Beijing’s atmospheric environment monitors. The sample from 2015 exhibited a grayish-black hue, while last year’s counterpart showed a grayish-white coloration.

    “That grayish-black sample brings back memories of the days when my air purifier was working overtime,” Xie said, voicing a collective memory shared by Beijing residents who lived through the city’s smog-choked years.

    “Beijing was then facing an acute air pollution crisis, making rigorous anti-smog measures an urgent imperative,” said Li Xiang, an official of the local ecological environment protection’s law enforcement authorities.

    Building on the APPCAP, Beijing rolled out its clean air action plan from 2013 to 2017, launching a targeted campaign across four key battlefronts, including coal combustion control, vehicle emissions management, industrial pollution abatement and dust suppression.

    “All relevant municipal authorities solemnly signed responsibility pledges, vowing to secure victory in this crucial pollution control campaign,” said Xie Jinkai, director of the atmospheric environment department of the Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau.

    This photo taken on Aug. 12, 2024 shows a view of the Shougang Park, a 3-square-kilometer industrial heritage site and a previous venue of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

    Beijing used to rely primarily on coal for winter heating. The first PM2.5 source analysis conducted in the capital — spanning 2012 to 2013 — identified coal combustion as one of the dominant contributors to local air pollution, said Wang Zifa, a researcher at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

    The megacity therefore made a resolute decision to launch a wide-ranging initiative to switch from coal to electricity for winter heating. Wang Yu, a senior engineer at the ecological environment bureau of Beijing’s Xicheng District who participated in the conversion project, recalled that the task was both complicated and arduous.

    Environmental protection authorities and power supply companies conducted door-to-door surveys in target neighborhoods, addressing key challenges based on residents’ actual conditions while carrying out various tasks, including upgrading external power supply facilities.

    By the end of 2015, the downtown Xicheng District became Beijing’s pioneer in achieving complete coal-free heating, a landmark transition that liberated residents from smoke-filled winters fueled by honeycomb briquettes. “Now our homes are warm and clean throughout winter. What a remarkable change,” said a longtime resident surnamed Bai who lives in the Niujie neighborhood of Xicheng District.

    Beijing also established a rigorous regulatory framework to accelerate coal reduction. The municipal government has successively implemented emissions standards for various facilities, including stationary gas turbines and boilers, setting stringent new limits on pollutants. Meanwhile, authorities have intensified their work against violations such as excessive emissions and abnormal operations of facilities. Key coal-consuming enterprises now face enhanced supervision to ensure compliance, with mandatory requirements for continuous green upgrades.

    Through coordinated actions from authorities, industries and communities, the capital’s plains achieved the fundamental status of being coal-free by the end of 2018, with coal-fired boilers virtually eliminated citywide.

    According to Wang, Beijing’s follow-up PM2.5 source studies revealed that coal combustion’s contribution to PM2.5 dropped from 22.4 percent in 2013 to just 3 percent in 2017, eliminating its status as a major pollution source. And after five years of sustained efforts, Beijing saw its average annual density of PM2.5 decrease from nearly 90 micrograms per cubic meter to 58 micrograms per cubic meter, achieving its phased goal in curbing pollution.

    PRECISION GOVERNANCE

    In 2018, Beijing launched a “1 microgram initiative” to continuously improve air quality, shifting greater focus to sectors like vehicle emissions and fugitive dust, which demand refined control measures, and striving for even single microgram-per-cubic-meter improvements.

    The year of 2021 marked a milestone in Beijing’s decade-long “blue skies” campaign, with its annual average PM2.5 concentration dropping to 33 micrograms per cubic meter — the lowest level since records began in 2013. The capital has since maintained compliant air quality standards for three consecutive years.

    “‘Beijing blue’ has gradually become our new normal,” Huang Runqiu said at a press conference.

    Thanks to aggressive renewable energy adoption and coal-replacement policies, Beijing’s energy mix has undergone a historic transformation. Its coal consumption plummeted from 21.8 million tonnes in 2012 to under 600,000 tonnes in 2024, now accounting for less than 1 percent of its total energy consumption, Yang Xiuling, director of the Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission, said recently.

    Furthermore, Beijing has implemented structural optimization processes in its industrial and transport sectors. The city has closed over 3,000 manufacturing or polluting enterprises and rectified more than 12,000 scattered, disorganized or polluting businesses through categorized remediation. A total of over 3 million high-pollution vehicles have been phased out.

    With its air quality having improved significantly, Beijing now faces more challenging pollution control targets that require increasingly scientific and refined measures. In 2025, the city elevated its air pollution governance to a new level of precision: its “0.1 microgram initiative.”

    This photo taken on Oct. 17, 2024 shows new energy vehicle model SU7 produced by Chinese tech firm Xiaomi displayed during the 2024 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

    “For instance, we will vigorously expand the adoption of new energy vehicles (NEVs), aiming for NEVs to comprise half of all registered vehicles by 2025,” Xie Jinkai said. “Through meticulous governance, we aim to consolidate and sustain emissions reduction achievements.”

    According to the municipal government work report this year, the number of NEVs in the city has exceeded 1 million, and the proportion of green electricity in the city’s energy mix has reached 26 percent.

    MULTI-LEVEL COOPERATION

    According to Li Xiang, an illegal sand and gravel plant in Dashiwo Town of Beijing’s Fangshan District, which borders Zhuozhou City in Hebei Province, had once caused severe fugitive dust pollution in the local area.

    “At that time, with Beijing and Hebei conducting separate law enforcement operations, the plant utilized vehicle-mounted mobile production equipment to shuttle across the provincial boundary, allowing the illegal operations to persist unchecked for an extended period,” Li said.

    Since 2015, the ecological and environmental law enforcement agencies of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei have formally established and continuously improved a joint environmental enforcement mechanism, creating coordinated systems that involve regular consultations, joint operations and collaborative inspections to collectively combat cross-regional environmental violations.

    After three years, the plant was officially shut down through a joint enforcement operation conducted by Beijing and Hebei authorities. In 2019, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region expanded its joint law enforcement mechanism to cover district and county levels.

    Tourists visit the Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Park in Beijing, capital of China, June 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

    Beijing has broadened its air quality governance collaboration from a domestic level to an international level in recent years. Beyond hosting an annual international forum on clean air and climate to facilitate exchanges among environmental experts, policymakers and businesses globally, the city also took a significant step earlier this year, when the Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau signed a memorandum of understanding with the Environment Department of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to boost air quality monitoring and management cooperation.

    Over the next three years, Beijing will share its proven expertise in air pollution control — particularly its PM2.5 monitoring and mitigation strategies — with Bangkok to support the Thai capital’s air quality improvement efforts.

    However, Xie Jinkai noted that Beijing’s current air quality improvements remain fragile, with regional pollution spikes likely to recur during unfavorable meteorological conditions.

    “Air quality improvement remains a long-term, complex and challenging mission. Beijing’s pollution control efforts will continue advancing to deeper, more precise stages,” Xie said.

    “Our shared goal is to maintain lasting blue skies and fresh air, continuously meeting the people’s growing expectations for a beautiful environment,” she added.  

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Employment Issues – Sunday rally to protest outrageous suspension of 38 disability workers – PSA

    Source: PSA

    Disability workers will be making their concerns loud and clear at a rally at 2pm tomorrow to protest the suspension without pay of 38 workers at disability residential care provider Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau Trust.
    Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau Trust is the country’s largest kaupapa Māori community disability provider. It operates residential whare in Te Tai Tokerau/Northland, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, Waikato, Waitaha/Canterbury, and a residential mental health whare in Whangārei.
    The trust CE Karen Smith late on Friday afternoon gave notice of suspension of 38 workers who support people living at Te Roopu Taurima houses without pay for six weeks in response to low level strike action taken in support of their collective agreement.
    “This is an oppressive over-reaction designed to intimidate and bully these workers. It’s unheard of for New Zealand employers to adopt such a hostile tactic in these circumstances,” said Fleur Fitzsimons National Secretary Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
    “The strike action only involved not doing some tasks in order to try and put pressure on the employer to listen to these workers.”
    “The trust has a vision to ‘strive to place tāngata at the heart of our services’, this shows the trust is not living its own values.
    “Many of these workers are Māori, Pasifika, and migrant workers who deserve fair wages and conditions.”
    The action comes after Te Roopu Taurima tried to introduce harsh terms of employment including restrictions on secondary employment and 90 day trials as well as a pay increase that fails to meet the increased cost of living facing these workers and their whānau.
    The PSA and Te Roopu Taurima attended independent and confidential facilitation run by an Employment Relations Authority member in Auckland over four days. The Authority member then provided recommendations to settle the collective agreement.
    “The PSA did not get everything we wanted but nevertheless agreed that we would recommend the outcomes to our members. Te Roopu Taurima was still not satisfied though.
    “This is an insight into the future of industrial relations in New Zealand under this government. It has emboldened employers to try to take away the small number of remaining employment rights that working people have and use every underhand tactic they can to get there.
    “Workers and the community must stand up and fight back.”
    What: Protest rally
    When: 2pm Sunday 8 June
    Where: Te Roopu Taurima Head Office, 650 Great South Road, Auckland.
    The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for June 7, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 7, 2025.

    ‘They cannot block us,’ says activist on Madleen flotilla aid ship to Gaza
    Pacific Media Watch One of the 12 activists on board the Gaza Freedom Flotilla aid vessel Madleen has posted an update on their progress, saying the mission would not be deterred by Israel’s threats to block them. In a video posted to X, Thiago Ávila said the crew, which includes high-profile Swedish climate activist Greta

    Jeremy Rose: Mister Netanyahu have you no sense of decency?
    Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Jeremy Rose The word antisemitism has become so debased that depending on who is using it I might well take it as a sign that the accused is worth listening to. When the World Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu’s arrest,

    Marshall Islands nuclear legacy: report highlights lack of health research
    By Giff Johnson, editor, Marshall Islands Journal, and RNZ Pacific correspondent A new report on the United States nuclear weapons testing legacy in the Marshall Islands highlights the lack of studies into important health concerns voiced by Marshallese for decades that make it impossible to have a clear understanding of the impacts of the 67

    New rules for cosmetic injectables aim to make the industry safer. Will they work?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Rudge, Law lecturer, University of Sydney BearFoto/Shutterstock New guidelines to regulate Australia’s booming cosmetic procedures industry have been called “tough” and “a crackdown” in media reports this week. On Tuesday, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) announced the new guidelines – one for procedures, the

    Keith Rankin Analysis – Equity Rights: UBI, SUI, BUI, HUI, or GUI?
    Analysis by Keith Rankin. Capitalism is in crisis, and our species’ imagination to save ourselves is sorely lacking. There are of course understandings out there, and solutions; but they are so heavily gate-kept that conversations about saving ourselves are well-nigh impossible. It remains a puzzle why those political and intellectual leaders who would most benefit

    ‘Godfather of AI’ now fears it’s unsafe. He has a plan to rein it in
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Armin Chitizadeh, Lecturer, School of Computer Science, University of Sydney fran_kie/Shutterstock This week the US Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed two men suspected of bombing a fertility clinic in California last month allegedly used artificial intelligence (AI) to obtain bomb-making instructions. The FBI did not disclose the

    John Pesutto owes Moira Deeming $2.3m, but he doesn’t have it. Can former premiers be forced to pick up the tab?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Legg, Professor of Law, UNSW Sydney Victorian MP Moira Deeming attracted headlines recently when news broke she’s intending to sue three former Liberal premiers, among other party figures. Why? Deeming is trying to recoup millions of dollars in legal costs after a successful defamation case. Who

    The kimono is more than an artefact and more than clothing. It is a concept artists will make their own
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sasha Grishin, Adjunct Professor of Art History, Australian National University The kimono garment, the national dress of Japan, carries within itself all of the magic and traditions of Japanese culture. The basic features of the kimono are fairly simple. It is a wrapped front garment with square

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The story of Swedish “house dad” Patrick Bachstatter and his “organic life” in Dali

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    The story of Patrik Bachstatter, 33, a Swede and one of the 379,000 foreigners permanently residing in Yunnan Province, is typical. He and his wife met in the Philippines. Since 2018, the family has lived in Shenyang, Sanya, Qingdao and other cities before finally finding their “home” in its full sense in Dali, Yunnan. “Although it’s not a big city, it has perfect infrastructure and a lifestyle close to nature,” the head of the family said. The clean air, mountainous surroundings and close-knit community in Dali have given him a strong sense of belonging, especially when considering his children’s education.

    Bachstatter on an organic farm in Yunnan Province (Source: video screenshot)

    Nowadays, Bachstatter mainly works in organic farming. He was attracted by the agricultural eco-community of Dali and began growing organic vegetables in villages in Midu and Eryuan counties, implementing sustainable technologies based on soil health and biodiversity. Although rural life has not turned out to be as idyllically carefree as he imagined, the connection with the land and the farmers has become most valuable to him: “The local farmers have not studied organic farming systematically, but they have a deep emotional connection with the land. I absorb a lot from their experience based on tradition.”

    Every week, Bachstatter takes his little daughter out into the fields to get to know different plants and to understand the value of healthy eating and environmental protection. “In an era of rapid technological development, it is especially important to develop independent thinking and creativity in children,” says the caring “stay-at-home dad.” He now plans to expand the scale of agriculture, research hydroponic technologies and agroecology, and dreams of creating a network of organic farms.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: MediPharm Labs’ Board Continues Value Destruction for Shareholders with Sale of Hope Facility

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Complete Incompetence at the Board Level Results in Fire Sale of Treasured MediPharm Asset, the Hope Facility, to a Competitor

    Hope Facility was One of Canada’s Best Cultivation Assets Before it was Acquired by MediPharm, Grossly Mismanaged, and Ultimately Shut Down in 2024

    MediPharm Labs’ Board is Pursuing its Worst Deal Yet: A Highly Dilutive NO CASH Sale of the Remaining Company

    Apollo has a Concrete and Achievable Plan to Drive MediPharm’s Share Price from Nearly $0.06 to Over $1.00, Restoring Value to its Loyal Shareholders

    SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO VOTE THE GOLD CARD “FOR” APOLLO CAPITAL’S SIX DIRECTOR NOMINEES AND NOT VOTE MEDIPHARM’s GREEN CARD

    TORONTO, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo Technology Capital Corporation (“Apollo Capital”), one of MediPharm Labs’ (“MediPharm”) largest investors, warns MediPharm shareholders that the Company’s current leadership is continuing its pursuit of value destructive M&A, with the ultimate goal of a non-cash dilutive sale of the entire company. A sale of the Company which would trigger over $5M in change of control and other payments to current management.

    “It’s a travesty for shareholders to have what is believed to be a $12M asset sold for just $4.5M, likely netting shareholders less than $4M after fees and expenses. Worse still, the acquirer will wisely use the facility to produce cannabis for export that will directly compete with MediPharm in Europe,” says Regan McGee of Apollo Capital.

    “Yesterday’s fire sale announcement makes it crystal clear that MediPharm’s Board has no actual value creation strategy, just a desire to sell off MediPharm’s assets at shareholders’ expense to keep paying themselves at 500% above market norms. Is MediPharm pursuing growth facilities as a strategy or not? Is the Napanee facility the next fire sale we will see to a competitor?” questions Regan McGee of Apollo Capital.

    Apollo expects the scaling of MediPharm’s Napanee facility to cost shareholders significantly more than what the buyer of the Hope Facility will spend to achieve real profitability. Apollo expects the scaling of MediPharm’s Napanee facility to cost between $3 million and $5 million and take 12 to 18 months to generate revenue. Apollo notes MediPharm’s management team does not have cultivation experience, which could result in millions of investment dollars needed before it provides a return, if ever.

    The Hope Facility, formerly known as CannaFarms, was built by the highly respected Laflamme family to be one of the first licensed facilities in Canada. As exceptional visionaries, the Laflamme family built a world-class facility at immense personal cost to service patients in need, including military veterans. After nearly a decade of strong operational success as a positive driver for the community, MediPharm leadership not only failed to realize the value of its acquisition, but handed its assets to a competitor for well below market value.

    This sale is a tragic outcome for MediPharm shareholders. CEO David Pidduck has sold off MediPharm’s Hope.

    Apollo Capital asks:

    • Why did the Board fail to capitalize on the value of the operational and profitable Hope Facility, as MediPharm’s competitor plans to?
    • How will the MediPharm and its shareholders pay for ill-advised investments in cultivation?
    • How will MediPharm avoid insolvency, given CEO Pidduck’s current strategy?
    • Is the Board pursuing a highly dilutive sale of the Company that will destroy remaining shareholder value?
    • In the case of such a transaction, how many millions of dollars of the shareholders’ money will go directly to the compensation of management?

    Apollo Capital has invested significant capital into MediPharm and nominated highly qualified director candidates who can drive the urgent change needed and propel share price over $1.00. For more information, see our strategic five-pillar plan at www.curemedipharm.com.

    Apollo urges shareholders to save their investments and vote the GOLD CARD by June 13, 2025. Shareholders are urged to NOT sign or return the green proxy cards sent by the Company.

    Contacts

    For Shareholders:
    Carson Proxy
    North American Toll-Free Phone: 1-800-530-5189
    Local or Text Message: 416-751-2066 (collect calls accepted)
    E: info@carsonproxy.com

    For Media:
    media@curemedipharm.com

    This solicitation is being made by and on behalf of the Concerned Shareholder, who, as of the date of this Circular, beneficially owns or controls, directly and indirectly through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Nobul Technologies Inc., 12,491,500 common shares of the Company (“Common Shares”), representing approximately 3% of the total Common Shares issued and outstanding, and not by the management of the Company (“Management”).

    Legal Disclosures
    Information in Support of Public Broadcast Exemption under Canadian Law
    In connection with the annual general and special meeting (the “Annual Meeting”) of shareholders of MediPharm, Apollo Capital has filed an amended and restated dissident information circular dated May 15, 2025 (the “Circular”), as amended and supplemented by an addendum to the Circular subsequently filed by the Concerned Stakeholder dated June 4, 2025 (the “Addendum” and together with the Circular, the “Amended Circular”), each in compliance with applicable corporate and securities laws. The Concerned Stakeholder has provided in, or incorporated by reference into, this press release the disclosure required under section 9.2(4) of NI 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations (“NI 51-102”) and the corresponding exemption under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario), and has filed the Amended Circular, available under MediPharm’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The Amended Circular contains disclosure prescribed by applicable corporate law and disclosure required under section 9.2(6) of NI 51-102 in respect of the Concerned Stakeholder’s director nominees, in accordance with corporate and securities laws applicable to public broadcast solicitations. The Amended Circular is hereby incorporated by reference into this press release and is available under MediPharm’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The registered office of the Company is 151 John Street, Barrie, Ontario, Canada L4N 2L1.
    SHAREHOLDERS OF MEDIPHARM ARE URGED TO READ THE AMENDED CIRCULAR CAREFULLY BECAUSE IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and shareholders are able to obtain free copies of the Amended Circular and any amendments or supplements thereto and further proxy circulars at no charge under MediPharm’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. In addition, shareholders are also able to obtain free copies of the Amended Circular and other relevant documents by contacting the Concerned Stakeholder’s proxy solicitor, Carson Proxy Advisors Ltd. (“Carson Proxy”) at 1-800-530-5189, local (collect outside North America): 416-751-2066 or by email at info@carsonproxy.com.
    Proxies may be revoked in accordance with subsection 110(4) of the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) by a registered shareholder of Company shares: (a) by completing and signing a valid proxy bearing a later date and returning it in accordance with the instructions contained in the accompanying form of proxy; (b) by depositing an instrument in writing executed by the shareholder or by the shareholder’s attorney authorized in writing; (c) by transmitting by telephonic or electronic means a revocation that is signed by electronic signature in accordance with applicable law, as the case may be: (i) at the registered office of the Company at any time up to and including the last business day preceding the day the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting is to be held, or (ii) with the chair of the Annual Meeting on the day of the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting; or (d) in any other manner permitted by law. In addition, proxies may be revoked by a non-registered holder of Company shares at any time by written notice to the intermediary in accordance with the instructions given to the non-registered holder by its intermediary. It should be noted that revocation of proxies or voting instructions by a non-registered holder can take several days or even longer to complete and, accordingly, any such revocation should be completed well in advance of the deadline prescribed in the form of proxy or voting instruction form to ensure it is given effect in respect of the Annual Meeting.
    The costs incurred in the preparation and mailing of any circular or proxy solicitation by the Concerned Stakeholder and any other participants named herein will be borne directly and indirectly by Apollo Capital. However, to the extent permitted under applicable law, Apollo Capital intends to seek reimbursement from the Company of all expenses incurred in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of its director nominees at the Annual Meeting.
    This press release and any solicitation made by the Concerned Stakeholder is, or will be, as applicable, made by such parties, and not by or on behalf of the management of the Company. Proxies may be solicited by proxy circular, mail, telephone, email or other electronic means, as well as by newspaper or other media advertising and in person by managers, directors, officers and employees of the Concerned Stakeholder who will not be specifically remunerated therefor. In addition, the Concerned Stakeholder may solicit proxies by way of public broadcast, including press release, speech or publication and any other manner permitted under applicable Canadian laws, and may engage the services of one or more agents and authorize other persons to assist it in soliciting proxies on their behalf.
    Apollo Capital has entered into an agreement with Carson Proxy for solicitation and advisory services in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Concerned Stakeholder for the Annual Meeting, for which Carson Proxy will receive a fee from Apollo Capital not to exceed $250,000, together with reimbursement for reasonable and out-of-pocket expenses. Apollo Capital has also engaged Gasthalter & Co. LP (“G&Co”) to act as communications consultant to provide the Concerned Stakeholder with certain communications, public relations and related services, for which G&Co will receive, from Apollo Capital, a minimum fee of US$75,000 in addition to a performance fee of US$250,000 in the event that the Concerned Stakeholder’s nominees make up a majority of the board of directors of MediPharm (the “Board”) following the Annual Meeting, plus excess fees, related costs and expenses. Anteris Advisors, LLC (“Anteris”) has also been retained by Apollo Capital to act as strategic consultant to provide the Concerned Stakeholder with certain activism strategy, material creation and strategic communications services, for which Anteris will receive, from Apollo Capital, a minimum fee of US$100,000 in addition to a success fee of US$100,000 in the event that one or more of the Concerned Stakeholder’s nominees are appointed or elected to the Board following the Annual Meeting or as a result of any settlement or arrangement, plus excess fees, related costs and expenses.
    No member of the Concerned Stakeholder nor any of their respective associates or affiliates has or has had any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the beginning of the Company’s last completed financial year or in any proposed transaction that has materially affected or will or would materially affect the Company or any of the Company’s affiliates. No member of the Concerned Stakeholder nor any of their respective associates or affiliates has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting, other than setting the number of directors and the election of directors to the Board.
    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains forward‐looking statements. All statements contained in this filing that are not clearly historical in nature or that necessarily depend on future events are forward‐looking, and the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “plan,” and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward‐looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of the Concerned Stakeholder and currently available information. They are not guarantees of future performance, involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. All forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as of the date hereof and the Concerned Stakeholder disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that subsequently occur, or of which the Concerned Stakeholder hereafter becomes aware, except as required by applicable law.

    Hashtags: #ShareholderActivism #CorporateGovernance #InvestorProtection #Investor Alert #Investor Fraud #FinancialRegulation #CorporateCrime #FinancialCrime #HomelandSecurity #DHS #OpioidCrisis #OpioidEpidemic #OpioidLitigation #OpioidVictims #BMO #DEA #ONDCP

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update: Police still appealing for sightings of Elisabeth

    Source: New Zealand Police

    The search for missing woman 79-year-old Elisabeth has resumed today in Christchurch, after poor weather conditions paused search activity yesterday.

    Police Search and Rescue, along with volunteers from Land Search and Rescue, are out operating in the Fendalton and Riccarton areas.

    Residents may notice an increased Police presence, and we thank you for your patience and understanding.

    Elisabeth’s loved ones are feeling increasingly concerned for her, and Police are still urging anyone with any information, no matter how small, to come forward.

    We are also asking anyone in the area who has not yet checked any outbuildings for Elisabeth or unusual signs of disturbance to please do so. 

    If you have seen Elisabeth or have any information about where she could be, please call 105 and quote reference number 250604/5465.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Road blocked, SH1, Desert Road

    Source: New Zealand Police

    State Highway One, Desert Road is blocked following a crash this afternoon.

    Emergency services received a report of the two-vehicle crash at around 1.10pm.

    Initial indications suggest there are serious injuries.

    The road is blocked near the Oturere Stream.

    Motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible and expect delays.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Mullin, Graham Push Legislation to Protect National Security, Strengthen U.S. Supply Chain for Rare Earth Magnets

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) introduced legislation to strengthen the domestic supply chain for rare earth magnets, which are critical components of cell phones, computers, defense systems, and vehicles, but are almost exclusively made in China. 

    Over 15% of the world’s rare earth minerals are mined and processed at the Mountain Pass 15 miles outside Primm, Nevada, which employs approximately 600 Nevadans. However, China controls 90% of the world’s manufacturing of these materials into magnets, which are critical to national defense and the U.S. economy. Cortez Masto’s legislation will help build the U.S. supply chain for these minerals by creating a tax credit for companies processing these rare earth oxides and manufacturing the magnets necessary to power American technology.

    “If we want to combat the influence of the Chinese Communist Party and strengthen our national security, we need to stop relying on China to power our defense and energy systems,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This bipartisan bill will create American jobs and help fill critical gaps in our domestic supply chain.”

    “Mineral security is national security. The days of fully relying on adversaries for critical resources are over,” said Senator Mullin. “Rare earth magnets, such as Neodymium (NdFeB), are essential for countless applications including missile guidance, fighter aircraft, computer hard drives, audio equipment, MRI devices, and other economically critical technology. That is why bolstering our domestic rare earth magnet manufacturing capability is key to defending our nation and ensuring we have a strong economy. I’m proud to lead in this effort, alongside my colleagues, to strengthen our supply.”

    The Rare Earth Magnet Security Act would provide a $20 per kilogram production tax credit for high performance magnets that are manufactured in the U.S. and increase the credit to $30 per kilogram for magnets manufactured in the U.S. whose components are produced, recycled, or reclaimed domestically. Companion legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressmen Guy Reschenthaler (R-Penn.-14) and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.-15) was included in last year’s House Select Committee on China’s report on how to counter the influence of the Chinese Communist Party.

    The full text of the legislation can be found here.

    Senator Cortez Masto has led efforts in Congress to support Nevada’s critical mineral and mining industries, supporting tens of thousands of local jobs and paving the way for Nevada to power the clean energy economy. She has consistently blocked burdensome taxes on mining and wrote important provisions of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to bolster Nevada’s critical mineral supply chain and fund battery recycling and manufacturing programs in the state.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Employment campaign launched for new graduates

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

    China launched a 100-day sprint for employment campaign, calling on universities and local authorities to seize the final stretch to boost employment for the class of 2025 before students graduate, according to a circular released by the Ministry of Education on Friday.

    The campaign urges universities to create more market-oriented job opportunities and encourages institutions to promote employment support measures including job expansion subsidies and job-seeking allowances.

    University presidents are urged to increase their participation in the job expansion campaign, especially focusing on disciplines with low job placement rates.

    The notice stipulated that the leadership of universities are supposed to visit at least 100 companies and secure 100 job opportunities, while faculty leadership teams at the college and departmental levels are expected to visit an average of 10 enterprises each, including alumni-run companies and firms within relevant industries.

    Public employment services will be introduced on campuses, with assistance for universities to partner with local human resources departments to set up employment service stations. Industry associations and chambers of commerce are also encouraged to mobilize enterprise job resources, sharing job listings more widely.

    The ministry emphasized speeding up the recruitment for government-supported positions, including programs for kindergarten and K-12 teachers, civil servants and State-owned enterprises, seeking to complete all recruitment by the end of August.

    Ongoing grassroots service initiatives such as the rural doctor project and the special post teacher program, a special recruitment program implemented to address the shortage of teachers in rural areas in central and western China, will be reinforced, while community jobs specifically for college graduates will also be increased.

    Regular universities and vocational schools will be supported to develop job positions such as administrative assistants and teaching assistants, in a bid to strengthen campus services while absorbing more university graduates into the workforce.

    Guidance for students will be strengthened through vocational training. The employment partnership between 100 universities and 100 counties will focus on identifying high-quality job opportunities in top-performing counties.

    Universities are urged to accelerate the development of micro-credential programs aligned with 60 key development areas across 12 urgently needed and high-demand industrial sectors, including artificial intelligence and the low-altitude economy.

    Institutions are required to swiftly launch and begin offering these targeted programs, aiming to help graduates from fields with limited market demand acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to enhance their employment competitiveness, the circular said.

    Colleges will establish records for graduates facing difficulties, offering continuous support for those who remain unemployed after leaving school.

    Employment safety education will also be reinforced, and a crackdown on illegal and irregular employment practices in the human resources market will be carried out, the ministry said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump administration shuts down ‘Quiet Skies’ passenger surveillance program

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

    The Trump administration has closed a controversial program that used undercover U.S. air marshals on flights to surveil passengers, and removed a government official who took responsibility for putting Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in it.

    Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem called for an investigation into the program as she announced its closure on Thursday. DHS said the program cost taxpayers 200 million U.S. dollars a year and “failed to stop a single terrorist attack.”

    In a recent meeting, administration officials confronted leadership at the Transportation Security Administration over what they said was politically motivated use of the Quiet Skies program under the Biden administration, reported The Wall Street Journal on Friday about the move.

    “The clash over Quiet Skies, a program that has long been a cause for concern for civil liberties advocates, is the latest example of the Trump administration accusing career officials of political weaponization,” it noted.

    The program was launched in 2010, and its existence was first uncovered by the Boston Globe in 2018. Undercover U.S. air marshals travel on flights with individuals included in the program. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 192 migrants deported from U.S. return to Venezuela

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

    A flight carrying 192 Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States arrived Friday at the Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, which serves the capital Caracas area, the Ministry of Interior, Justice and Peace reported.

    According to a press release, the flight, operated by a U.S.-registered aircraft, carried 156 men, 26 women, and 10 minors.

    The returned migrants were attended to under established medical, legal, and social protocols.

    Since February, Venezuela has been receiving two to three flights per week of individuals deported by U.S. authorities, including those relocated from Mexico and Honduras.

    So far in 2025, a total of 5,475 deported migrants have been processed under the government’s Plan Vuelta a la Patria, designed to facilitate their return, official figures indicate. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 6.4-magnitude earthquake strikes northern Chile, causes power outages

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

    An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 struck northern Chile on Friday, causing power outages in several areas but no immediate reports of casualties, local authorities said.

    According to the National Seismological Center of the University of Chile, the quake occurred at 1:15 p.m. local time (1715 GMT), 54 kilometers south of Diego de Almagro in the northern region of Atacama, about 950 kilometers north of Santiago.

    The earthquake struck at a depth of 65 kilometers and was felt in nearby towns.

    Local media reported electricity outages in affected areas, and officials said a more detailed assessment would be released later in the day.

    Chile’s Navy Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service ruled out any tsunami risk.

    The National Disaster Prevention and Response System is continuing to assess potential damage to people, infrastructure, and essential services.

    Located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Chile is one of the most seismically active countries in the world. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s car trade-in subsidies drive NEV surge: report

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

    China’s subsidies for car trade-ins are accelerating the adoption of new energy vehicles (NEVs), with monthly NEV penetration in the passenger car market expected to exceed 60 percent in 2025, according to an auto industry report released on Friday.

    The report, compiled by Automotive Data of China (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. and automobile information, trading and services platform Dongchedi, or DCar, noted that over 70 percent of the surveyed consumers said the subsidies boosted their purchase intent.

    In the first quarter of 2025, passenger car trade-in purchases hit 2.79 million units in China, a year-on-year increase of more than 1 million units. The report also showed that trade-in replacements had dominated subsidy categories, reaching 2.03 million units during the period.

    Consumers strongly favored subsidies with lower entry barriers, such as those for new-car purchases and trade-in replacements, Dongchedi’s user research revealed. As subsidies become routine, “applying for subsidies before buying” has become a common practice among consumers, of whom more than 50 percent rely on offline 4S stores for subsidy information, the report said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Have you seen Travis? Police continue to appeal for sightings

    Source: New Zealand Police

    The search for missing 25-year-old Travis Langford remains ongoing, nearly five months after he was last seen.

    His vehicle was located burnt out on a Tolley Road farm in Ngaroma in January, and his dog was found in a nearby paddock the following day.

    Police recovered personal items belonging to Travis near his vehicle, and the Eagle helicopter surveyed the area not long after his vehicle was found.

    An alleged sighting of Travis was reported to Police around Waitangi weekend, where it was believed he was seen at Lake Waipapa, however Police have not been able to confirm whether this was Travis or not.

    A further alleged sighting was reported on 2 March, however it was confirmed this was not Travis. 

    Travis’s family are grateful for all the information that has been provided since he went missing.

    His family are continuing private searches, and Police would like to remind the public to stay alert and report any unusual activity or potential sightings of Travis to Police.

    His appearance may have changed over the last five months. Travis did not have any tattoos, however he does have a dark heart-shaped birth mark, about 3cm wide, on the left side of his neck. He is a slim build and approximately 5’10” tall.

    There are serious concerns for his wellbeing. Travis was known to be very wary of people, however possibly has help from outside sources if he is hiding somewhere remotely.

    Police are asking everybody in the wider Waikato region to keep an eye out for a man matching the description of Travis, and report any potential sightings to Police.

    Please contact 105 either over the phone or online, referencing file number 250119/4439.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: August Egg Company Recalls Shell Eggs Because of Possible Health Risk

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    Summary

    Company Announcement Date:
    June 06, 2025
    FDA Publish Date:
    June 06, 2025
    Product Type:
    Food & Beverages
    Reason for Announcement:

    Recall Reason Description
    Salmonella

    Company Name:
    August Egg Company
    Brand Name:

    Brand Name(s)
    Multiple brand names

    Product Description:

    Product Description
    Brown cage free and brown certified organic eggs

    Company Announcement
    August Egg Company of Hilmar, CA is recalling 1,700,000 dozen brown cage free and brown certified organic eggs, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
    The eggs were distributed from February 3, 2025, through May 15, 2025, with sell by dates from March 4, 2025, to June 4, 2025, within California and Nevada. The eggs were distributed at retail locations including Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raleys, Food 4 Less and Ralphs.
    The eggs were also distributed from February 3, 2025, through May 6, 2025, with sell by dates from March 4, 2025, to June 19, 2025, to Walmart locations in California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, Indiana and Illinois.
    The recalled eggs will have printed on the carton or package a plant code number P-6562 or CA5330 with the Julian Dates between 32 to 126. The recalled retail eggs will be in fiber or plastic cartons, with the above codes printed on one side of the carton. (See photo following for Julian date location.)

    Item Name
    Plant Number
    Carton UPC

    Clover Organic Large Brown 12 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    070852010427

    First Street Cage Free Large Brown Loose 1 case=150 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    041512039638

    Nulaid Medium Brown Cage Free 12 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    071230021042

    Nulaid Jumbo Brown Cage Free 12 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    071230021011

    O Organics Cage Free Large Brown 6 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    079893401522

    O Organics Large Brown 12 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    079893401508

    O Organics Large Brown 18 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    079893401546

    Marketside Organic Large Cage Free Brown 12 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    681131122771

    Marketside Organic Large Cage Free Brown 18 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    681131122801

    Marketside Large Cage Free Brown 12 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    681131122764

    Marketside Large Cage Free Brown 18 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    681131122795

    Raley’s Large Cage Free Brown 12 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    046567033310

    Raley’s Large Cage Free Brown 18 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    046567040325

    Raley’s Organic Large Cage Free Brown 12 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    046567028798

    Raley’s Organic Large Cage Free Brown 18 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    046567040295

    Simple Truth Medium Brown Cage Free 18 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    011110099327

    Simple Truth Large Brown Cage Free 18 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    011110873743

    Sun Harvest Organic Cage Free Large Brown 12 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    041512131950

    Sun Harvest Organic Cage Free Large Brown 18 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    041512131950

    Sunnyside Large Brown Cage Free 12 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    717544211747

    Sunnyside Large Brown Cage Free 18 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    717544211754

    Sunnyside Organic Cage Free Large Brown 12 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    717544201441

    Sunnyside Organic Cage Free Large Brown 18 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    717544211761

    Loose Small Brown Cage Free-1 box= 6 flats (1 flat= 30 eggs)
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    NA

    Loose Medium Brown Cage Free -1 box= 6 flats (1 flat= 30 eggs)
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    NA

    Loose Medium Brown Organic -1 box= 6 flats (1 flat= 30 eggs)
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    NA

    Loose Large Brown Organic-1 box= 6 flats (1 flat= 30 eggs)
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    NA

    Loose Jumbo Brown Cage Free -1 box=5 flats(1 flat=20 eggs)
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    NA

    Loose Jumbo Brown Organic -1 box=5 flats(1 flat=20 eggs)
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    NA

    This recall is associated with an ongoing outbreak investigation of Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses. Products were distributed in AZ, CA, IL, IN, NE, NM, NV, WA and WY.
    August Egg Company is not selling fresh shell eggs at this time. Our firm has voluntarily been diverting eggs to an egg-breaking plant for over 30 days, which pasteurizes the eggs and kills any potential foodborne pathogens.
    Consumers who may have eggs produced in this plant, as identified by the plant code on one side of the egg carton, should return it to their place of purchase for a full refund. Further questions may be directed to the company at 1-800-710-2554, between 9am and 5pm PT.
    ######
    Additional Comments from August Egg Company:
    “August Egg Company of Hilmar, CA is voluntarily recalling 1,700,000 dozen shell eggs processed at our California plant and sold to various grocery customers. This recall has been initiated due to possible Salmonella enteritidis contamination, which poses a health risk. With that in mind, we believe it is appropriate out of an abundance of caution to conduct this voluntary recall, as consumers may still have these eggs in their homes.
    “It is important to know that when our processing plant identified this concern, we immediately began diverting all eggs from the plant to an egg-breaking facility, which pasteurizes the eggs and kills any pathogens.
    “August Egg Company’s internal food safety team also is conducting its own stringent review to identify what measures can be established to prevent this situation from recurring. We are committed to addressing this matter fully and to implementing all necessary corrective actions to ensure this does not happen again.”

    Company Contact Information

    Consumers:
    Customer Service
    800-710-2554

    Product Photos

    MIL OSI USA News –