NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Jorgovanka Tabaković: By joining SEPA, Serbia reaffirms its strategic direction

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, dear colleagues,

    It is a particular pleasure for me that my neighbour, Mr Holti (Senior Financial Sector Specialist with the Payments Team in the Finance, Competitiveness & Innovation Global Practice at the World Bank) from Albania, is with us. As a good host, at the beginning, I greeted him in the way my neighbours in my home town would do. That is indeed a sign of good hospitality, but there is also a bit of bitterness because we, as the best, are the 41st in the SEPA system. However, there is a good Serbian saying: Luck is never late. And whenever something happens, it happens on time.

    I am speaking to you at a moment when a significant chapter has already been opened: the Republic of Serbia has become part of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA).

    With this step, Serbia has entered a new phase of economic integration with the EU. We are now the first country in the region with an advanced instant payment system, ready to participate equally in a space where payments are executed without borders – quickly, securely, and reliably.

    “Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity,” said Jean Monnet, one of the founding fathers of the EU. Our path to SEPA embodies these concrete achievements – the collective effort of experts, institutions and partners from the country and abroad.

    SEPA is not merely a technical framework for connecting payment systems. It is a civilizational framework of trust – a common language for European markets and the foundation of the digital economy. If the Tower of Babel, like in Bruegel’s painting, remained unfinished in its construction because the people of the world could not agree to speak one language, through the SEPA instrument we are trying to realise that eternal human dream – to speak the same language in order to understand each other best.

    By joining SEPA, Serbia not only establishes the basis for more efficient cross-border payment transactions but also clearly reaffirms its strategic direction, which is European, modern and inclusive.

    Our path to SEPA was a carefully guided process of reforms, involving thorough alignment with the highest EU standards. From adopting a modern legal framework for payment services and implementing the provisions of the PSD2 directive to enacting secondary legislation – every step was grounded in a clear vision and institutional responsibility. During this process, we enhanced supervisory capacities, strengthened collaboration with the banking and fintech sectors, and created a regulatory environment that now enables a stable, transparent, and competitive system. Over this time, Serbia has taken a significant leap – not only in terms of aligning with the highest EU standards but also in terms of developing its own solutions that today serve as benchmarks both regionally and globally. When I say our own solutions, I mean solutions developed primarily relying on our own efforts, for our greatest strength is the people who created that software. Our instant payment system, the NBS IPS system, which operates in real time and processes over five million transactions a month, has become a symbol of innovation and reliability. We have achieved what until recently seemed a distant goal – that the size of a country depends not on its territory but on the knowledge it possesses and the trust it inspires. Today, Serbia does not merely follow European trends but actively shapes them – through vision, infrastructure, and the trust it has built among partners and users.

    I extend special gratitude to the European Payments Council, the European Commission, the European Central Bank, and the World Bank for their continuous support. Your confidence in our institutional capacity has been the driving force behind our resolve.

    As Governor, I am proud of the National Bank of Serbia’s team, which has worked tirelessly toward this goal. We witness how expertise has translated into reform, how plans have become reality, and how vision has opened the door to the European financial system.

    “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how“, or He who has a why to live can bear almost any burden. And he who does not, does not embark on any project. These are not only the words of Friedrich Nietzsche, but a philosophy we affirm every day in our business decisions. These words – that if you know why you live, you can endure any burden – shape human resilience and the meaning of existence. Our why has always been clear: to ensure that citizens and the economy reap the benefits they deserve – lower costs, greater trust and simpler processes.

    Today, we can proudly say that Serbia is part of the European payments area. Our application has been officially accepted. Serbia has become a full-fledged member of the SEPA geographical scope.

    On behalf of the National Bank of Serbia, the institution entrusted with the stability and development of the domestic financial system, it is my honour to announce this news with a sense of deep pride and responsibility. With this achievement, Serbia takes its place in the Single European Payments Area with systems that speak the same language of standards, regulations that protect users, and a vision that integrates economies into a single payments market.

    This is a space where interoperability is not just a technical term but a daily practice of trust. It is a network where every signal, every transfer of funds, every digital confirmation – testifies to a single European idea: that stability, transparency, and efficiency are not a matter of luxury but expectations. Today, Serbia does not translate the lexicon of payment standards – it is the one writing it. Now, all payment service providers in Serbia stand before a new chapter of responsibility but also of opportunity. Joining SEPA does not mark the end of our work – our work now begins at a higher level. Now is the moment to once again demonstrate our leadership: through knowledge, efficiency and dedication, and to prove that the trust placed in us was not accidental but earned.

    May this day be remembered as the moment Serbia did not take a step forward – but a natural step. For we did not wait to become part of SEPA; we have long been ready for it. Today, Europe has recognised what we already knew – that Serbia belongs to a community that values knowledge, reliability and vision, and that Serbia is part of the area where standards mean trust and collaboration yields results.

    I thank everyone who has supported us on this journey, above all our colleagues, then the banking sector, which has always understood that we are working together on this task. I wish everyone a successful and inspiring continuation not only of today’s workshop but also of our future cooperation.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Ageas Re partners with Slovenian insurer Triglav Group in connection with the Motor insurance business distributed by Italian Insurtech Prima

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Ageas Re partners with Slovenian insurer Triglav Group in connection with the Motor insurance business distributed by Italian Insurtech Prima

    Today, Ageas Re, the reinsurance arm of Ageas Group, concluded a reinsurance agreement with Slovenian insurer Triglav Group in connection with the partnership entered into by Triglav Group with leading Italian direct Motor insurance distributor, Prima Assicurazioni S.p.A. (Prima), with the objective to expand its business portfolio and to contribute to the Ageas’s Elevate27 profitable growth ambitions.

    Under to the agreement, Ageas Re takes an 80% Quota Share on the Prima business underwritten by Triglav Group in 2025, commencing in the coming weeks.

    Prima is a rapidly growing, profitable insurance distributor that began distributing personal lines policies, mainly Motor, in 2015. Since then, it has become the number 1 in the Italian Direct Motor business. In 2024, the company generated EUR 1.3 billion gross written premiums, servicing over 4 million customers, and EUR 104 million Group EBITDA.

    This agreement is in perfect alignment with Ageas’s Elevate27 strategy to achieve profitable growth in an attractive European Non-Life market. The Italian Motor insurance market generates premiums in excess of EUR 15 billion, with consistent profitability. Through this partnership, Ageas Re teams up with a tech-driven, local champion, with proven track record, providing immediate market entry with considerable scale.

    Ageas Re anticipates inflows from this transaction in excess of EUR 500 million in 2025 and a Net Operating Result of around EUR 15 million, spread over 2025 and 2026. The impact on Group Solvency is estimated to be no more than -4 points in 2025.

    Hans De Cuyper, CEO of Ageas stated: The agreement with Triglav Group aligns well with many aspects of our newly launched strategy, Elevate27. This collaboration enables us to enter a promising European growth market in Non-Life insurance and achieve profitable growth through a partner with a strong market position.”

    Joachim Racz, CEO of Ageas Re continued: “I am pleased to announce this partnership. Along with the entire Ageas Re team, I look forward to establishing a successful collaboration, offering high-quality insurance products to the Italian customer distributed by Prima. We would also like to thank Howden Re for the excellent management of the process and transaction.”

    George Ottathycal, CEO of Prima said: “Prima Assicurazioni has experienced remarkable growth in the Italian motor insurance market, surpassing 4 million active customers in just ten years. This success is the result of our sophisticated and rigorous pricing and underwriting, outstanding user experience, and, most importantly, our carefully selected strategic partners who fully align with our cutting-edge, technology- and data-driven business model. Not only will the solidity and trust of the new partners Triglav Group and Ageas Re further expand our growth, but will also deliver significant value to our entire network of agents and brokers—and, above all, to our customers.”

    Andrej Slapar, President of the Management Board of Zavarovalnica Triglav, commented: “Our strategic ambition is to grow beyond existing markets and enhance Triglav Group’s international recognition. The Italian motor insurance market presents a strong opportunity to support this goal, and we are pleased to be working with well-established partners Prima and Ageas Re. The Triglav Group will continue to explore opportunities for further growth and for delivering on the other objectives set out in our strategy.”

    Ageas is a Belgian rooted listed international insurance Group with a heritage spanning of 200 years. It offers Retail and Business customers Life and Non-Life insurance products designed to suit their specific needs, today and tomorrow, and is also engaged in reinsurance activities. As one of Europe’s larger insurance companies, Ageas concentrates its activities in Europe and Asia, which together make up the major part of the global insurance market. It operates successful insurance businesses in Belgium, the UK, Portugal, Türkiye, China, Malaysia, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, and the Philippines through a combination of wholly owned subsidiaries and long-term partnerships with strong financial institutions and key distributors. Ageas ranks among the market leaders in the countries in which it operates. It represents a staff force of about 50,000 people and reported annual inflows of EUR 18.5 billion in 2024.

    Prima Assicurazioni is an insurtech company operating as a specialized insurance agency in the automotive, home, and family sectors, serving over 4 million clients. It has revolutionized the Italian insurance market through innovation, technology, and a data-driven strategy. Thanks to unprecedented growth over its 10-year history, Prima’s evolving business model has enhanced the user experience, offering competitive pricing and fostering greater market competition. A leader in Italy’s online motor insurance sector, Prima also operates a nationwide network of agents. Since 2022, the company has expanded into the United Kingdom and Spain.

    For 125 years, the Triglav Group has earned the trust of clients and other stakeholders through its expertise, experience, and financial strength. It is the largest insurance-financial group in the Adria region and one of the leading groups in Southeast Europe. The Group operates in six countries, with broader international presence through insurance and reinsurance activities. Insurance and asset management are the two main pillars of its operations. The Group employs more than 5,000 people. Its mission is to create a safer future. The core values of the Group are responsiveness, simplicity, and reliability. Its vision is focused on strengthening its identity and recognition as an international insurance-financial group. Through sustainable operations, it provides a development-oriented environment for employees, maintains strong partnerships, and represents a stable, secure, and profitable investment for shareholders. The parent company of the Triglav Group is Zavarovalnica Triglav, a Prime Market issuer on the Ljubljana Stock Exchange.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Germany: April results of the Bank Lending Survey (BLS) in Germany | Demand continued to rise in all loan categories

    Source: Deutsche Bundesbank in English

    The German banks responding to the Bank Lending Survey (BLS) tightened their credit standards slightly for loans to enterprises in the first quarter of 2025, primarily based on risk considerations. By contrast, banks eased their credit standards for loans to households for house purchase. They did not see a need to adjust their credit standards for consumer credit and other lending to households. 
    Banks tightened their credit standards for loans to enterprises to a lesser extent than they had planned in the previous quarter. They had originally intended to tighten their credit standards for loans to households. 
    The banks that took part in the survey made credit terms and conditions for loans to enterprises and for consumer credit and other lending to households more restrictive on balance, whilst easing terms and conditions for loans to households for house purchase. 
    Demand for loans continued to rise in all loan categories, with loans to households for house purchase increasing significantly.  
    The level of the non-performing loans (NPL) ratio and other indicators of credit quality had tightening effects on lending policies for loans to enterprises and for consumer credit and other lending to households over the past three months.
    The ECB Governing Council’s past and expected key interest rate decisions had a negative impact on net interest income, thereby contributing to a deterioration in banks’ profitability in the 2024-25 winter half-year. For the summer half-year, too, banks are expecting the key interest rate decisions to have a negative impact on their net interest income as well as on their profitability.
    The BLS covers three loan categories: loans to enterprises, loans to households for house purchase, and consumer credit and other lending to households. On balance, the surveyed banks tightened their credit standards (i.e. their internal guidelines or loan approval criteria) slightly for loans to enterprises. By contrast, they eased their credit standards for loans to households for house purchase. They left their credit standards for consumer credit and other loans to households unchanged. The net percentage of banks that tightened their standards stood at +3% for loans to enterprises (compared with +13% in the previous quarter). Credit standards for loans to enterprises were tightened only for large enterprises. Standards for small and medium-sized enterprises were eased somewhat on balance. The net percentage of banks that tightened their standards for loans to households for house purchase was -7% (compared with +11% in the previous quarter); for consumer credit and other lending to households, this figure was 0% (compared with +11% in the previous quarter). Banks tightened their credit standards for loans to enterprises to a lesser extent than they had planned in the previous quarter. They had originally intended to tighten their credit standards for loans to households. 
    The banks justified the slight tightening of credit standards for loans to enterprises on the grounds of a perceived increase in credit risk. This assessment relates to the general economic situation, but also to sector and firm-specific factors. Banks’ main rationale for easing credit standards for loans for house purchase was their higher risk tolerance. Another factor was that the outlook on the housing market had improved. They also reported that competition with other banks had increased and capital costs had decreased. For the second quarter of 2025, banks are planning to tighten their credit standards in all loan categories. Here, credit risk is likely to have a restrictive impact on the adjustment of credit standards owing to the tense economic situation and a decline in borrower creditworthiness.

    Change in credit standards for loans to households for house purchase and contributing factorsOn balance, banks tightened their terms and conditions (i.e. the terms and conditions actually approved as laid down in the loan contract) for loans to enterprises as well as for consumer credit and other lending to households. The restrictive adjustments in both loan categories are the outcome of higher lending rates and an increase in margins irrespective of credit ratings. The banks justified these adjustments primarily on the grounds of their reduced risk tolerance and a perceived increase in credit risk. Banks eased their terms and conditions for loans to households for house purchase overall by reducing their margins. They stated that this was mainly due to stronger competition and an improvement in their liquidity base.
    The surveyed banks reported that demand for bank loans in Germany had risen on balance in all loan categories in the first quarter of 2025, with loans to households for house purchase registering significant growth. Banks stated that the marginal rise in demand for loans to enterprises was driven by various factors: increased demand for mergers, acquisitions and corporate restructuring, as well as for refinancing, debt restructuring and renegotiation. In addition, debt securities were replaced to some degree by bank loans. Interest rate levels once again supported demand for loans, albeit to a lesser extent than in the previous two quarters. By contrast, financing needs for fixed investment declined on balance. The high degree of uncertainty surrounding economic and (geo)political developments is likely to have been a factor here. According to the surveyed banks, the considerable rise in demand for loans to households for house purchase was mainly attributable to the lower level of interest rates and households’ positive view of the outlook on the housing market. Higher consumer confidence also boosted demand. Banks put the rise in demand for consumer credit and other lending to households down to an increase in purchases of durable consumer goods. The loan rejection rate for loans to enterprises went up again, but only for loan requests and applications from small and medium-sized enterprises. There was no change in the rejection rate for large enterprises. The rejection rate declined for loans for house purchase and for consumer credit and other lending to households. For the second quarter of 2025, banks are expecting to see demand increase further across all three loan categories. On balance, they expect demand for housing loans to rise at a significantly more subdued rate than in the first quarter.

    Change in demand for loans to households for house purchase and contributing factorsThe April survey round contained ad hoc questions on participating banks’ financing conditions and the impact of the ECB Governing Council’s past and expected key interest rate decisions. It also contained questions about the impact of the Eurosystem’s monetary policy asset portfolios and of NPLs and other indicators of credit quality on the institutions’ lending policies.
    Against the backdrop of conditions in financial markets, German banks reported virtually no change in their funding situation compared with the previous quarter. The ECB Governing Council’s past and expected future key interest rate decisions have had, overall, a negative impact on banks’ profitability over the past six months. After the interest rate cuts in October and December 2024 and in February and March 2025, key interest rate decisions ceased to have a positive impact for the first time since this question was introduced. For the 2025 summer half-year, banks are once again expecting key interest rate decisions to have a negative impact on their net interest income as well as on their profitability. Taken in isolation, the reduction in the Eurosystem’s monetary policy securities holdings weakened the liquidity position of banks in Germany. German banks assessed the impact on their financing conditions and capital ratios, too, as slightly negative. 
    In the first quarter of 2025, the level of the NPL ratio (the stock of gross NPLs on the bank’s balance sheet as a percentage of the gross carrying amount of loans) and other indicators of credit quality had restrictive effects on lending policies for loans to enterprises and on consumer credit and other lending to households. In the second quarter of 2025, the banks are expecting this restrictive effect stemming from the decline in credit quality to continue. 
    The Bank Lending Survey, which is conducted four times a year, took place between 10 March and 25 March 2025. In Germany, 33 banks took part in the survey. The response rate was 97%.

    Change in credit standards for loans to enterprises and contributing factors
    Change in demand for loans to enterprises and contributing factorsTime series credit standards
    Loans to enterprises
    Loans to households for house purchase
    Consumer credit and other lending to households

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI German News –

  • MIL-OSI: IDEX Biometrics ASA: Last day of the subscription period in the subsequent offering

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Reference is made to the stock exchange notice from IDEX Biometrics ASA on 21 May 2025 regarding the subscription period (the “Subscription Period”) in the subsequent offering (the “Subsequent Offering”) consisting of up to 600 million new shares at a subscription price of NOK 0.01 per share (“Offer Shares”).

    The Subscription Period will end today, 5 June 2025, at 16:30 CET.

    This Subsequent Offering is conducted to give the shareholders not participating in the debt conversion on 11 April 2025 an opportunity to subscribe for Offer Shares at a subscription price per share equal to the subscription price in the debt conversion.

    Completed subscription forms must be received by Arctic Securities AS, or, in the case of online subscriptions, be registered by the expiry of the Subscription Period. Subscription rights that are not used to subscribe for Offer Shares in the Subsequent Offering before the expiry of the Subscription Period will have no value and will lapse without compensation to the holder.

    Further information about the Subsequent Offering and the subscription procedures is included in the prospectus prepared in respect of the Subsequent Offering, which is available at   

    www.arctic.com/offerings/ecm/2025/idex-biometrics-asa-subsequent-offering

    Arctic Securities AS is acting as manager in connection with the Subsequent Offering.

    Kristian Flaten, CFO, +47 95092322

    E-mail: ir@idexbiometrics.com

    About IDEX Biometrics:

    IDEX Biometrics ASA (IDEX) is a global technology leader in fingerprint biometrics, offering authentication solutions across payments, access control, and digital identity. Our solutions bring convenience, security, peace of mind and seamless user experiences to the world. Built on patented and proprietary sensor technologies, integrated circuit designs, and software, our biometric solutions target card-based applications for payments and digital authentication. As an industry-enabler we partner with leading card manufacturers and technology companies to bring our solutions to market. For more information, visit www.idexbiometrics.com

    About this notice:

    This notice was issued by Kristian Flaten, CFO, on 5 June 2025 at 08:15 CET on behalf of IDEX Biometrics ASA. The information shall be disclosed according to section 5-8 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act (STA) and released in accordance with section 5-12 of the STA.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Public Health Alert: Dangerous drugs found in counterfeit ‘Xanax’ in Canberra

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services



    As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.

    Released 05/06/2025

    • Counterfeit (fake) ‘Xanax’ containing a novel benzodiazepine and a strong synthetic opioid has been found in the ACT.
    • This mix of drugs could cause overdose or death.
    • This drug combination has not previously been found in the ACT.
    • Any use of illicit and counterfeit (fake) drugs carries a risk to health.

    What is the issue?

    A mix of dangerous drugs has been found in counterfeit (fake) ‘Xanax’ in Canberra. Multiple benzodiazepines (including bromazolam, a strong non-registered benzodiazepine, alprazolam and diazepam) and a very strong synthetic opioid (protonitazene) have been detected in a sample tested at the CanTEST Health and Drug Checking Service. Consuming this mix of illicit drugs could be life threatening.

    Why is this dangerous?

    There is the increased risk of overdose and death from a combination of a strong synthetic opioid and a benzodiazepine, especially when it is unexpected. Counterfeit (fake) drugs can look very similar to legitimate products. You should only consume benzodiazepines that have been prescribed to you by a doctor and dispensed by a pharmacy. There is the potential for contaminants in counterfeit (fake) products that can increase the risk of severe adverse effects.

    What do I do if I have taken counterfeit (fake) ‘Xanax’?

    If you experience unexpected or adverse drug effects, feel unwell, or are with someone who does, seek urgent medical attention at a hospital emergency department or call emergency triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.

    Signs of an opioid overdose can include:

    • drowsiness
    • difficulty speaking or walking
    • loss of consciousness
    • unusual (slow or obstructed) breathing, or
    • skin turning blue or grey.

    The risk of harms from illicit substances is higher if you are alone, or use them in combination with other drugs including alcohol.

    Take Home Naloxone

    Naloxone is an easy-to-use life-saving medicine that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose. Free naloxone is available without a prescription from locations throughout the ACT for people at risk of opioid overdose or who may witness an overdose. This includes people who take counterfeit (fake) benzodiazepines because of the risk of contamination with opioids. More information can be found here.

    Always call an ambulance if opioid overdose is suspected, even if naloxone has been given. Synthetic opioids like nitazenes may need repeat doses of naloxone.

    What do I do, if I think I have counterfeit (fake) ‘Xanax’?

    If you or someone you know might be in possession of counterfeit drugs, you should safely dispose of it. Testing and/or safe disposal of small amounts can be done at the CanTEST Health and Drug Checking Service. For further details about drug checking visit the ACT Health website.

    This alert has been issued on the basis of the information available at the time of the alert’s release in the interests of prompt communication about the risks of this substance.

    – Statement ends –

    ACT Health Directorate | Media Releases

    «ACT Government Media Releases | «Directorate Media Releases

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrests – Burglaries – Alice Springs

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force responded to multiple burglaries in Alice Springs yesterday and have arrested two male youths allegedly involved.

    About 10:15am, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre (JESCC) received reports of a burglary at a residence in Braitling. It is alleged an unknown number of offenders caused damage before entering the residence and stealing personal items from within.

    Later, about 3:10pm, the JESCC received reports of a burglary at a different address in Braitling. It is alleged four unknown offenders were dropped off by a vehicle before they unlawfully entered the residence by causing damage. It is unknown if anything was stolen before they fled the scene in the same vehicle that dropped them off nearby.

    A short time later, about 4:30pm, the JESCC received reports of a burglary at a residence in East Side. It is alleged four to six unknown offenders unlawfully entered the residence and demanded car keys from a female inside. The victim retreated to the laundry, locking herself inside and called Triple Zero. The alleged offenders continued to rummage through the house, locating the keys to a white Toyota RAV4 before stealing it from the premises. As they were leaving the location they allegedly swerved towards responding police vehicles, narrowly missing.

    The vehicle allegedly drove erratically through the Alice Springs CBD and further members from Strike Force Viper, Dog Operations Unit and general duties deployed.

    A Tyre Deflation Device was unsuccessfully deployed as the vehicle travelled south along the Stuart Highway. Soon after, the vehicle allegedly targeted a police vehicle by throwing large rocks, causing minor damage.

    The vehicle was later located abandoned just north of Braitling.

    This morning, police arrested two male youths, aged 14 and 16-years-old, for their alleged involvement in the morning burglary in Braitling and the 4:30pm burglary in East Side. Charges are expected to follow.

    Strike Force Viper has carriage of the investigation and are working to identify and apprehend anyone involved. It is not known at this stage if all three incidents are linked.

    Anyone with information in relation to the incident is urged to contact police on 131 444. You can make an anonymous report via Crime Stoppers by calling 1800 333 000.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Castle Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl, Fluorofentanyl

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 70 months in prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl and fluorofentanyl, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Kailin Stewart, 38, who previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 10 grams or more of fluorofentanyl between May 2021 and October 2022.

    According to information presented to the Court, Stewart was on state parole in 2022 following his release from an 11- to 40-year Pennsylvania state prison sentence for a conviction for conspiracy to commit homicide. The Court also was informed that Stewart was responsible for the trafficking of between 70 and 100 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and fluorofentanyl while on state parole.

    Judge Schwab ordered that Stewart’s federal prison sentence be served consecutive to any Pennsylvania state parole revocation sentence Stewart may receive. Judge Schwab also ordered that Stewart serve four years of supervised release following his federal prison sentence.

    Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.

    Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Lawrence County Drug Task Force, Mercer County Drug Task Force, New Castle Police Department, Sharon Police Department, and Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Stewart.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: The last day of trading in unit rights in Terranet’s rights issue

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, NEW ZEALAND, HONG KONG, JAPAN, SINGAPORE, SOUTH AFRICA, SOUTH KOREA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL OR WOULD REQUIRE REGISTRATION OR ANY OTHER MEASURES. PLEASE REFER TO IMPORTANT INFORMATION AT THE END OF THE PRESS RELEASE.

    Today, June 5, 2025, is the last day of trading in unit rights issued in connection with Terranet AB’s (“Terranet” or the “Company”) rights issue of units which the Board of Directors resolved on April 16, 2025, and was approved by the annual general meeting on May 23, 2025 (the “Rights Issue”). Unit rights that are not sold or used for subscription will expire worthless.

    Summary of the Rights Issue:

    • The Rights Issue comprises a maximum of 13,880,714 units. One unit in the Rights Issue consists of twelve (12) B-shares and three (3) warrants of series TO9 B. The warrants are issued free of charge.
    • The subscription price per unit in the Rights Issue is SEK 1.08 per unit, corresponding to SEK 0.09 per B-share. Upon full subscription, the Rights Issue will provide Terranet with approximately SEK 15 million before deduction of issue costs.
    • The right to subscribe for units in the Rights Issue shall, with preferential rights, be granted to shareholders in proportion to the number of shares they already own, where one (1) existing share entitles the holder to one (1) unit right, and eighty-six (86) unit rights entitle the holder to subscribe for one (1) unit.
    • The last day of trading in Terranet’s B-shares including the right to receive unit rights in the Rights Issue was April 25, 2025. The B-shares will be traded excluding the right to receive unit rights from April 28, 2025.
    • The subscription period for the Rights Issue runs from May 27, 2025, up to and including June 11, 2025.
    • The Rights Issue is covered by subscription commitments of approximately SEK 35.2 thousand, corresponding to 0.2 percent of the Rights Issue, and underwriting commitments of approximately SEK 15 million, corresponding to approximately 99.8 percent of the Rights Issue. Thus, the Rights Issue is covered to 100 percent by subscription commitments and underwriting commitments.

    Preliminary timetable for the Rights Issue

    May 27, 2025 – June 5, 2025 Trading in unit rights
    May 27, 2025 – June 11, 2025 Subscripition period
    May 27, 2025 – June 30, 2025 Trading in paid subscribed units (BTU)
    June 13, 2025 Preliminary date for publication of the outcome in the Rights Issue

    Advisers
    Mangold Fondkommission AB is the financial advisor to Terranet in connection with the Rights Issue. Eversheds Sutherland Advokatbyrå AB is the legal advisor to the Company in connection with the Rights Issue.

    For more information, please contact:
    Dan Wahrenberg, CFO
    E-mail: dan.wahrenberg@terranet.se

    About Terranet AB (publ) 

    Terranet’s goal is to save lives in urban traffic. The company develops innovative technical solutions for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Autonomous Vehicles (AV). Terranet’s anti-collision system BlincVision laser scans and detects road objects up to ten times faster than any other ADAS technology available today.
    The company is headquartered in Lund, with offices in Gothenburg and Stuttgart. Since 2017, Terranet has been listed on Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market (Nasdaq: TERRNT-B).

    Follow our journey at: www.terranet.se

    Certified Adviser to Terranet is Mangold Fondkommission AB.

    Important information
    The release, announcement or distribution of this press release may, in certain jurisdictions, be subject to restrictions. The recipients of this press release in jurisdictions where this press release has been published or distributed shall inform themselves of and follow such restrictions. The recipient of this press release is responsible for using this press release, and the information contained herein, in accordance with applicable rules in each jurisdiction. This press release does not constitute an offer, or a solicitation of any offer, to buy or subscribe for any securities in Terranet in any jurisdiction, neither from Terranet nor anyone else.

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  • DGCA flags safety gaps in Turkish Airlines’ operations in India during ramp inspections

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed Turkish Airlines to ensure full compliance with international and national aviation safety regulations after a series of inspections revealed multiple lapses in operations across Indian airports.

    Between May 29 and June 2, the DGCA conducted Safety Oversight and Ramp (SOFA/RAMP) inspections of Turkish Airlines’ passenger and cargo flights at Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru. The inspections were conducted under Article 16 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation to assess adherence to ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices as well as DGCA norms.

    At Bengaluru airport, the DGCA found that the marshaller responsible for ground operations did not hold proper authorization or a valid competency card. This shortfall raises concerns about the safety of aircraft movements on the ground.

    Further, the inspection revealed that during aircraft arrivals, an authorized Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) was not always present, with technicians performing arrival procedures in their stead. M/s Airworks, the authorised engineering service provider for Turkish Airlines, must ensure strict compliance with maintenance protocols.

    Cargo handling processes also came under scrutiny. The DGCA noted that dangerous goods, including explosives, were transported without the mandatory permissions required for carriage in Indian airspace. These permissions were neither attached nor mentioned in the relevant Dangerous Goods Declaration.

    Ground handling arrangements were found wanting as well. Turkish Airlines was operating without a formal Service Level Agreement (SLA) with its ground handling agent at Hyderabad and Bengaluru. Essential equipment such as ladders, trolleys, and Ground Power Units (GPUs) lacked proper accountability and monitoring. Moreover, Globe Ground India was providing ground services without a formal handover from the previous contractor, Celebi, raising questions over operational oversight.

    The DGCA has directed Turkish Airlines to promptly address these deficiencies and comply fully with ICAO standards and DGCA regulations.

  • PM Modi reiterates commitment to welfare of the poor as NDA completes 11 years

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reiterated his government’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of the poor, calling the past 11 years of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rule a period of transformative and inclusive governance. 
     
    In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi said the government’s sustained efforts had helped lift more than 25 crore people out of poverty. “Over the past decade, the NDA Government has taken pathbreaking steps to uplift several people from the clutches of poverty, focussing on empowerment, infrastructure and inclusion,” he said. Citing key welfare schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, PM Ujjwala Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana and Ayushman Bharat, the Prime Minister said these initiatives had expanded access to housing, clean cooking fuel, banking and healthcare, particularly for marginalised communities.
     
    The Prime Minister also underlined the role of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), digital inclusion, and investments in rural infrastructure in ensuring the transparent and efficient delivery of benefits. According to him, these initiatives, driven by a governance model rooted in compassion, have ensured that help reaches the last mile, offering citizens the dignity of self-reliance.
     
    The NDA government, he said, remains committed to building an inclusive and self-reliant India—“where every citizen has the opportunity to live with dignity.”
     
    A key element of this welfare architecture has been the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), a food security programme launched in 2020 as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat package. Initially introduced to provide free food grains to migrants and economically vulnerable sections during the COVID-19 pandemic, the scheme has undergone several extensions over the past few years.
     
    In its latest phase, the PMGKAY has been extended for five years starting January 1, 2024, at an estimated cost of ₹11.80 lakh crore. More than 81 crore beneficiaries—including Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and Priority Households (PHH) identified under the National Food Security Act (NFSA)—will receive free food grains as per their monthly entitlements.
     
    Under the scheme, wheat is being distributed in six states and Union Territories—Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Delhi and Gujarat—while rice is allocated to the rest of the country. Beneficiaries include families falling under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Household (PHH) categories, as identified by respective state governments and UT administrations.
     
    AAY households are those headed by widows, the terminally ill, disabled or elderly persons without assured means of subsistence. Other eligible groups include primitive tribal families, landless agricultural labourers, marginal farmers, rural artisans, slum dwellers, daily-wage earners in the informal sector, and Below Poverty Line (BPL) families of HIV-positive individuals.
     
    Earlier in the evening, the Prime Minister also chaired a meeting of the Union Council of Ministers, though no official details from the meeting were immediately released.

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The project “Street. Dances” on Chistoprudny Boulevard will open with a master class

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On June 6, a large summer program will open on Chistoprudny Boulevard, which will transform one of Moscow’s main promenade streets into a center of dance and creative activity. As part of the “Summer in Moscow” project, master classes, battles, performances by dance school students and open-air concerts will be held here. The “Street. Dances” project on Chistoprudny Boulevard will last until the end of the season.

    The festive opening is scheduled for 18:00. Guests will be greeted by a DJ, and the main program will begin at 19:00. The host, popular choreographer and international dancer Evgeny Papunaishvili, will take to the stage, which is located almost in the very center of the boulevard. He will introduce the participants and directions of the project to the public, and will also conduct an open master class. The day will end with a bright party, which will begin at 20:30 and last until 22:30.

    The audience will get acquainted with the project program and see performances by the leading dance schools of the capital. Their numbers will be shown by:

    — “Just Dance” school (salsa);

    — All-Russian Federation of Social Dances (bachata);

    — center of contemporary choreography Todes (modern dance);

    — production center “Young Artist” (children’s choreography, acting);

    — “Danceclass” club (boogie-woogie and Lindy-hop);

    — school “Lisoborye” (modern swing);

    — dance school “TantsBaza” (intellectual modern dances).

    All summer long, Chistoprudny Boulevard will operate as a full-fledged festival site. Four specially equipped podiums within the framework of the project “Street. Dances” will become a place for classes by famous choreographers, demonstration performances, open lessons and dance flash mobs. Regular master classes will be held in a variety of areas – from Latin American styles to hip-hop, modern and street improvisation.

    Concerts, live performances and special music projects are planned on the central stage with columns. Parties with live music and dancing in the open air will become the calling card of the summer season.

    Special attention is paid to street dancing: you can watch hip-hop and breaking battles on the themed platform. Qualifying rounds will be held every two weeks, and the final competition is scheduled for September 7. Both professional dancers and street teams will be able to participate in the competitions. Registration is conducted in advance. The winners will have the opportunity to perform in the final and compete for the title of the best street dancers of the project.

    Latin American culture lovers will be able to take part in master classes in bachata, salsa and kizomba, and for guests who prefer a leisurely holiday, there are lounge and photo zones, creative workshops. In addition, in the summer there are planned to be filming of dance videos, open rehearsals and educational formats with the participation of experts.

    One of the key elements of the program will be a video contest, organized jointly with Evgeniy Papunaishvili. Anyone who wishes will be able to film and post their dance number on social media, and the dancer’s team will select the best videos and award prizes to the authors.

    The project on Chistoprudny Boulevard is part of the large-scale city festival “Summer in Moscow”. It combines active recreation, creativity, sports and city events in different districts of the capital. The dance program will last all summer and will be open to everyone. Participation in all events is free.

    Project “Summer in Moscow” — the main event of the season. It brings together the most vibrant events of the capital. Every day, charity, cultural and sports events are held in all districts of the city, most of which are free. The Summer in Moscow project is being held for the second time, and the new season will be more eventful: new, original and colorful festivals and events will be added to the traditional ones.

    What events await city residents and tourists within the framework of the project “Summer in Moscow”

    Quickly find out the main news of the capital inofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

     

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/154817073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A residential area with schools and kindergartens will appear in Nekrasovka according to the KRT project

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The Moscow government has approved a territory planning project (TPP) of 432.9 hectares located in the Nekrasovka and Kosino-Ukhtomsky districts. Its part, which is 32.52 hectares, will be reorganized under the integrated territorial development program (ITD). This was reported by Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “The territory allocated for the KRT project consists of six plots with a total area of 32.52 hectares and belongs to the Nekrasovka district. Comfortable housing with social, public, business and industrial infrastructure will be built there. In particular, it is planned to build educational facilities, it is envisaged to create more than 2.5 thousand school and 950 preschool places. The total area of new buildings will exceed 68 thousand square meters. On a plot remote from residential buildings, a facility with an area of 5.72 thousand square meters will be built to accommodate modern high-tech production. Thanks to the implementation of the project, about 3.6 thousand more jobs will be created in Nekrasovka,” said Vladimir Efimov.

    The project is being implemented by an operator appointed by the city. The areas that will be redeveloped using the KRT mechanism are located near Nekrasovka Park, on Vertoletchikov, Maresyeva, Lavrinenko Streets and in Proektiruemy Proezd No. 4296. Most of them are not built up. The area has good transport accessibility: the Nekrasovka metro station is nearby, and the Moscow High-Speed Diameter also passes through.

    “In addition to housing, social infrastructure and production, it is planned to build a shopping center with underground parking here. This will allow residents of new buildings to make purchases near their homes. In addition, the integrated development project for the territory provides for the improvement and landscaping of about six hectares near residential buildings and other facilities, as well as the construction and reconstruction of almost 3.5 kilometers of roads,” noted the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of Urban Development Policy of the capital

    Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    Juliana Knyazhevskaya, Chairperson of the Moscow Committee for Architecture and Urban Development, added that the PPT was developed by Moskomarkhitektura taking into account all aspects for improving the urban environment and quality of life of residents. Within the framework of this project, a new pedestrian boulevard with an area of more than 1.7 hectares and a length of about 900 meters will be formed. It will stretch along the Moscow High-Speed Diameter between Sochinskaya and Maresyeva Streets.

    According to the program of integrated development of territories, multifunctional city blocks are being created, where roads, comfortable housing and all necessary infrastructure are being designed on the site of former industrial zones and inefficiently used areas. Currently, 302 KRT projects with a total area of about 4.2 thousand hectares are at various stages of development and implementation in Moscow. This work is being carried out on behalf of Sergei Sobyanin.

    Get the latest news quickly official telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/154839073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: State Highway 2, Gisborne to Opotiki re-opens

    Source: New Zealand Police

    State Highway 2, Matawai Road, between Gisborne and Opotiki has re-opened after an earlier closure. 

    Temporary speed limits are in place and motorists are advised to take extra care when travelling through the area.

    We thank motorists for their patience throughout the day.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The Potter Museum of Art relaunches with the outstanding 65,000 Years, a Short History of Australian Art

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roger Benjamin, Professor in Art History, University of Sydney

    Installation view of 65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art, Potter Museum of Art, the University of Melbourne, 2025. Photography by Christian Capurro

    In the late 1970s, when I was a fine arts student, the Melbourne University Gallery was just one room in a neo-gothic quadrangle. It wasn’t until the mid 1990s that the university commissioned Nonda Katzalidis to design a four-story concrete gallery on a narrow site fronting Swanston Street.

    The Ian Potter Museum of Art quickly became a vital centre for displaying diverse university collections – from classical antiquities to post-war bark paintings and contemporary art.

    The re-opening of the museum, after it closed for renovations in 2018, is an art event of major proportions with the architectural clout to match.

    The newest addition by Randall Marsh of Wood Marsh Architects transforms an adjacent red-brick building. A polished-steel portal gives onto stylish spaces: high vaulted ceilings, a light-filled atrium, new teaching rooms and luxurious bathrooms. There is now a serious restaurant with a long dining room, open kitchen and balcony café.

    Named “Residence” for its annual chef-in-residence program, starting with the Michelin-starred Robbie Noble, this may well become the go-to space for visitors, academics and students alike.

    Potter Museum of Art, the University of Melbourne.
    Photography by Christian Capurro.

    All expectations are exceeded by the opening exhibition 65,000 Years, a Short History of Australian Art. The title emphasises both the ancient Indigenous presence on this continent, and cheekily suggests that the main art that’s been made here is Aboriginal.

    As we recognise the monumental contributions of bark painting from the 1940s on, dot-painting from the 1970s on, and urban art starting in the 1980s, there is much to commend this view.

    Grand ambitions

    The exhibition, in eight main spaces over three floors, has an ambition and scope exceeding landmark surveys such as Dreamings: Art of Aboriginal Australia (1988) and Aratjara: Art of the First Australians (1993).

    There is a powerful curatorial will here, led by the legendary public intellectual and Indigenous scholar Marcia Langton, who initiated the project.

    She engaged one of the country’s most effective and knowledgeable curators in Judith Ryan, known for her series of field-defining exhibitions over four decades at the National Gallery of Victoria.

    Installation view of 65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art, Potter Museum of Art, the University of Melbourne, 2025.
    Photography by Christian Capurro

    Working together with associate curator Shanysa McConville, their exhibition is both politically astute in its management of tough historical issues, and visually stunning. The team has sourced superlative, large-scale examples of major artists’ work from private and public sources to sit alongside the university collections.

    It’s an exhibition that repays hours of looking, aided by the curators’ exemplary wall labels. A sumptuously illustrated 340-page tome published by Thames & Hudson Australia for the Potter supports a deeper dive. This includes 23 essays by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous writers who delve into specific groups of work.

    An example is the pungent essay by Grazia Gunn, who in 1973 exhibited the University’s rare barks from Groote Eylandt, presented in 1946 by the Jewish refugee Leonhard Adam.

    Installation view of 65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art, Potter Museum of Art, the University of Melbourne, 2025.
    Photography by Christian Capurro

    These barks can be seen again in the show, near a masterful assemblage of early barks from Yirrkala, painted in 1937 at the request of ethnographer Donald Thomson. This selection is unprecedented: a dozen barks with complete body designs for mardayin (mens’ ceremony), organised across clan groups.

    Truth telling

    Throughout 65,000 Years, there is a powerful truth-telling element on frontier wars and massacres. The early recognition of First Peoples’ work as art in the assembled barks goes some way to balancing Melbourne University’s own chapter of shame.

    In the side gallery, Langton and team present the role of Melbourne University medical anatomists, eugenicists and physical anthropologists in grave-robbing, and promoting the illicit collection and sale of Aboriginal remains, right up to the mid-1930s.

    On a big-screen video Langton, seated in a massive carved cathedral chair like a modern-day Delphic Oracle, dispassionately retells this grisly truth.

    The exhibition is comprehensive as it moves across regions and eras in a deft interplay with the building’s shifting levels. The ground floor (bar a stunning atrium enlaced with newly commissioned women’s baskets and “sun-mats”) deals with the imagery of contact from early colonial settlements.

    A group of French and British drawings of First Peoples are true portraits in the sense that the sitters are named. Late 19th century colour drawings by Barak or Mickey of Ulladulla are next to rare archival finds: distressing drawings of police reprisals by Oscar (Kuku-Yalanji), from 1898, and six lyrical drawings by Blak inmates of the Darwin Gaol, mounted together under the title “Dawn of Art” for display at the 1888 Melbourne Centenary Exhibition.

    Gordon Bennet (1955–2014), Big romantic painting (apotheosis of Captain Cook) 1993, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 182×400.5×4cm.
    The University of Melbourne Art Collection

    Entering this colonial/decolonial zone, the glowering work of the late, great Gordon Bennett sets the precedent for the current historical citation and appropriation of colonial imagery.

    His example has inspired artists from Richard Bell and Brook Andrew to Megan Cope and Daniel Boyd.

    Bennett, faithfully represented by Melbourne’s Sutton Gallery through his life, was a McGeorge Fellow at Melbourne Uni in 1993, producing the groundbreaking Mirrorama installation with Groote Eylandt barks in opposition to classical busts. A gentle man and great thinker in art, Bennett then, as now, adds lustre to the Potter.

    65,000 Years, a Short History of Australian Art is at the Potter Museum of Art, Melbourne, until November 22.

    Roger Benjamin has previously worked as an art selector for the Vizard Collection at the Ian Potter Museum of Art, is an art collector and donor, and a colleague of the exhibition curators; he was not involved in the curation of this exhibition.

    – ref. The Potter Museum of Art relaunches with the outstanding 65,000 Years, a Short History of Australian Art – https://theconversation.com/the-potter-museum-of-art-relaunches-with-the-outstanding-65-000-years-a-short-history-of-australian-art-257640

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Victorian principals will soon be able to expel students for out-of-school behaviour – is this a good idea?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Kidson, Associate Professor in Educational Leadership, Australian Catholic University

    Getty Images/ Javier Zayaz

    When does a school’s responsibility for student behaviour end? Is it at 3pm when the bell goes? Or does a school still have to respond to harmful behaviour after hours?

    The Victorian government has announced new powers for government school principals to suspend or expel students for serious misbehaviour beyond the school grounds. The powers will begin in July, from the beginning of term 3.

    The state government says this will “address concerns around harmful behaviour that happens outside school hours […] but affects student and staff safety”.

    The new powers have a particular focus on online safety and follow similar moves in South Australia and New South Wales.

    What does this mean for schools and students?

    A blurry line

    The line between when “school” starts and finishes is blurry. Anti-social activities and their impacts don’t neatly fall at a convenient time or location.

    Cyberbullying – using the internet to be mean to a child or young person – has grown insidiously over the past decade and frequently takes place outside of the school grounds and after hours. This now includes deepfakes and AI-generated images.

    But the impacts of cyberbullying are very much felt during school hours. Bullying can lead to decreased academic performance – even in primary school. It can also lead to fractured social relationships. So schools are deeply involved. They may need to provide additional academic and welfare support for the student, as well as manage any social tensions and flare-ups on campus.

    As the eSafety Commission has warned, teachers can also face online abuse from students.

    So school leaders are needing to support both student and staff mental health.

    A changing legal climate

    But it’s not just online actions that blur the lines. In 2024, the NSW Supreme Court ruled in a case of an assault by a group of students against a 14-year-old student.

    Although the attack took place outside the school grounds, after the final bell, the court determined the NSW public high school had a duty “beyond the confines of the school boundaries and outside of its operating hours”. In part, this was based on previous known violence from one of the perpetrators.

    Schools now exist in a dynamic and complex set of ecosystems and the new Victorian powers acknowledge and respond to this reality.

    What does it mean for principals?

    For some school leaders, there may be relief they can deal with the consequences of the most severe and destructive actions. This could include online harassment or recent incidents such as rating students’ physical appearances.

    For others, there may be concerns this will add to their already stretched and pressured workloads.

    Research including the annual survey I run with colleagues, shows being an Australian school leader takes an ongoing emotional toll. The work often involves dealing with violence and abuse.

    Expelling kids should be a very last resort

    As a community, we can all agree schools should be places that are safe and free from violence of any kind.

    But the removal of any student from a school signals a series of breakdowns. This is why schools have policies and procedures to try and resolve these issues positively before the consequences become more severe. Schools will normally use intervention strategies such as counselling, behaviour monitoring and formal cautions before suspension emerges as a possibility. Sadly, these do not always result in changed behaviour.

    As consequences escalate, so too do their impacts.

    Students who begin to disengage from their learning can get caught in a spiral of increasing disengagement, leading to repeat instances of suspension and then expulsion. This can then chart a distressing path for some towards incarceration.

    So we need to focus on strategies which reduce this pathway.

    This includes initiatives that boost students’ engagement at school such as those in the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement (part of the new funding agreement between the federal and state governments). We also need funds to increase counsellors and psychologists in schools.

    Being able to expel students for out-of-school behaviour will help manage some of the symptoms of poor student behaviour. But unless the underlying causes are also addressed, expulsion will not resolve the issues – and ultimately transport the problem to another community.

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

    – ref. Victorian principals will soon be able to expel students for out-of-school behaviour – is this a good idea? – https://theconversation.com/victorian-principals-will-soon-be-able-to-expel-students-for-out-of-school-behaviour-is-this-a-good-idea-258188

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The Top End’s tropical savannas are a natural wonder – but weak environment laws mean their future is uncertain

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University

    François Brassard

    The Top End of Australia’s Northern Territory contains an extensive, awe-inspiring expanse of tropical savanna landscapes. It includes well-known and much-loved regions such as Darwin, Kakadu National Park, Arnhem Land and Nitmiluk Gorge.

    These tropical savannas feature open forests and woodlands dominated by eucalypts and a diverse grassy understorey. They experience an intense monsoon-driven wet season and long dry season during which fire is common.

    The area is home to a spectacular range of plants and animals, including crocodiles, barramundi, speartooth sharks, the spectacularly coloured Leichhardt’s grasshopper and flocks of magpie geese. Some groups are extraordinarily diverse. Several thousand ant species are thought to live there – compared to just 1,000 species in South America’s Amazon basin.

    Australia’s tropical savannas are diverse and dynamic, shaped by fire and the cycle of wet and dry seasons.
    Brett Murphy

    Yet, despite their immense ecological and cultural significance, the NT’s tropical savannas face an uncertain future. The landscape is under increasing pressure from invasive species, more frequent and severe fires, climate change, mining, agriculture and development – including water extraction.

    Our new report outlines what should be done to ensure conservation and sustainable management of this unique and special region.

    A region in trouble

    As ecologists, we share a deep passion for tropical Northern Australia but fear for its future. To aid environmental policy and decision-making, we set out to describe the current condition and likely future of the NT’s tropical savannas. This involved identifying existing, emerging and possible future threats.

    We found biodiversity in decline. Many species, particularly mammals that were once common and widespread, have disappeared from much of the region. These include the northern quoll, brush-tailed rabbit-rat and black-footed tree-rat.

    Species such as the brush-tailed rabbit-rat have declined substantially and are now locally extinct in some areas.
    Cara Penton

    Habitats are degraded and ecosystems are showing signs of collapse. Feral animals are widespread. Cats prey on native wildlife. Feral pigs feast on turtle nests and trash plants in and around waterways, reducing water quality. Cattle, water buffalo, horses and donkeys eat their way through native plants, reducing habitat structure and complexity, aiding the establishment and spread of weeds.

    In many parts of the Top End, fires are becoming more frequent and severe. This is in part due to the increasing dominance of invasive grasses, particularly Gamba and buffel grass. Both grasses are highly flammable, increasing the risk and harm of fires.

    Longer and hotter dry seasons also increase fire risk and severity, as well as making water less available to wildlife due to higher rates of evaporation. Plants and animals also face greater heat stress and risk of dying during extended periods of extreme temperatures.

    The Top End is spectacular and rich in biodiversity.
    François Brassard

    The changing nature of land-clearing

    Land-clearing is increasing in the Top End, too. We estimate about 45,000 hectares of savanna habitat was destroyed between 2000 and 2020. That’s equivalent to an area roughly the size of 22,500 Melbourne Cricket Grounds.

    Another 146,000 hectares have approval to be cleared, and an additional 100,000 hectares could be cleared for an expanded cotton industry.

    It is not just the amount of clearing that matters, but where it occurs. The habitat mainly destroyed to date has been in higher rainfall areas between Darwin and Katherine. This is where most threatened species live. On average, the cleared areas overlapped with more than 12 nationally listed threatened species.

    What should be done?

    Our report shows current laws are insufficient to protect the Northern Territory’s tropical savannas. Evidence-based law reform is urgently needed.

    Decision-making must be collaborative, not controlled by individuals, based on sound science. It must also actively support and involve First Nations peoples and their goals.

    The Top End is awe inspiring but without greater enviromental protection its many values may be diminished.
    François Brassard

    The situation in the NT reflects broader calls to strengthen national environmental laws as a matter of urgency and greatly boost investment in conservation to achieve positive results for nature.

    Nature is the lynchpin of northern Australia. It characterises and nurtures the place, underpins and embraces Indigenous culture, is a major tourist attraction and helps make our country healthy. We need to recognise its value, and guard against its ongoing loss.

    Our report was independently reviewed by experts in the ecology and conservation of Northern Australia, Professors Richard Williams and Christopher Johnson.

    Euan Ritchie receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Victorian government’s Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action. Euan is a Councillor within the Biodiversity Council, a member of the Ecological Society of Australia and President of the Australian Mammal Society.

    The research underpinning this report was partly supported by the Environment Centre NT, the Wilderness Society and the World Wide Fund for Nature (Australia).

    Brett Murphy receives, or has recently received, funding from the Australian Research Council, Environment Centre NT, and the Northern Territory Government.

    John Woinarski is affiliated with Charles Darwin University, and has previously received research funding from the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy and the Environment.

    – ref. The Top End’s tropical savannas are a natural wonder – but weak environment laws mean their future is uncertain – https://theconversation.com/the-top-ends-tropical-savannas-are-a-natural-wonder-but-weak-environment-laws-mean-their-future-is-uncertain-241893

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: GPs asking men about their behaviour in relationships could help reduce domestic violence

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelsey Hegarty, Professor of Family Violence Prevention, The University of Melbourne

    Domestic violence is increasing in Australia. A new report shows one in three men have ever made a partner feel frightened or anxious. One in 11 have used physical violence when angry. And one in 50 have used sexual violence against their partner.

    The report, which I co-authored, estimates 120,000 men each year will start to use abuse and violence against their partner for the first time.

    So we need to engage these men before they start using abuse and violence. Our work with GPs suggests they can engage men early to prevent harm to families.

    Why use GPs?

    Men who use domestic violence frequently visit health services and need help to address harmful behaviours in relationships. These men are more likely to have increased alcohol use, substance abuse and mental health issues.

    Our new report found men with depressive symptoms, especially those who were severely depressed or suicidal, were at greater risk of starting to use abuse and violence.

    We know from experience with men’s behaviour change programs that men who volunteer for these programs are more likely to sustain change than men ordered to undertake them by the court.

    GPs can apply this knowledge by identifying men who have internal motivations for change, or who want to be a “better person”.

    This echoes a new community campaign that asks men “What kind of man do you want to be?”

    GPs and mental health practitioners have great potential to build conversations around behaviours in men’s relationships. However, discussions need to be tailored after learning more about the man’s identity and needs.

    How can GPs ask men about potential violence?

    GPs can begin by signposting:

    Often when I see people who are depressed, it’s helpful to understand what else is going on for them. Can I ask how things are at home?

    They then move to more specific questions:

    You mentioned that you have been disagreeing a bit with your partner. What happens when you disagree?

    Have you ever done something that you later regretted?

    The next step is gauging insight about their behaviour:

    Are you ever worried about your behaviour?

    Do you ever think your partner sometimes feels scared of you?

    The final step is offering support:

    There’s people you could see and online resources that are helpful for men who are worried about their behaviour in their relationship. Can I give you some info about it?

    How are men likely to respond?

    My research team explored men’s perceptions of seeking help for an unhealthy relationship and how they could be supported to recognise their behaviour and undertake change.

    Men we talked to said:

    [Asking] ‘Are you worried about your relationship?’ is good. It’s not asking, ‘Are you abusive? Are you violent?’

    They then wanted a response that motivates them:

    A tactful way to actually suggest, maybe this is for you, that might help. Because I know if someone tells me that you’ve got to go do this, I don’t want to do it. If someone can plant the seed in someone’s head it might help.

    To “plant the seed”, a trained and equipped GP could prepare and motivate men to accept a referral and address other needs, such as parenting issues and alcohol and drug use.

    Difficulties for GPs

    Many men who use violence never engage with intensive, face-to-face or online behaviour change programs. So GPs can play an important role in offering ongoing support and encouragement for men who use abuse and violence to change their behaviour.

    Some of the issues GPs have raised about doing this work include:

    It’s often hard, sort of balancing between throwing them a lifeline and putting a way forward, but at the same time really acknowledging and saying that violence is unacceptable – you have to find a way of engaging them in the process of saying, ‘Well look, this is wrong, we need to do something’, without losing them.

    If I start pushing, pressuring him, then he becomes closed up or defensive, then that’s obviously going to potentially harm my therapeutic relationship with him.

    Men find websites and apps useful

    Men are very open to websites or apps that provide a safe, private place for them to reflect on their harmful behaviours and consequences.

    My research team has developed a primary care response model called I-engage, which includes GPs engaging men and offering them an online tool to encourage men to seek help.

    We also developed the healthy relationship website, Better Man, from discussions with men.

    The men we interviewed suggested developing resources that:

    1. “don’t jump down my throat straight away”

    2. “help me realise what I’m becoming”

    3. “give hope for seeing a change in my future”

    4. “make it simple and accessible”.

    The resulting website increases men’s early engagement with help-seeking.
    Motivational techniques encourage men’s awareness and self-reflection, avoiding stigma and shame.

    The program includes four modules:

    • better relationships encourages a man to reflect on behaviours in his relationship

    • better values explores how men’s behaviours align with their values

    • better communication looks at how a man’s communication style may differ with a partner compared to others

    • finally, take better action reinforces help seeking, provides resources for parenting, alcohol and drug use, and mental health.

    GPs need training and funding for this work

    Early engagement through the health system requires GPs to be supported, trained and resourced to identify and respond to all members of a family.

    We have been calling for funding of a long consultation for a Family Safety Plan through a Medicare item number for a decade.

    The health system can engage men using behaviours in their relationships that cause harm to their partners and children.

    As one man who we worked with says:

    We’ve got to grab them before they hit their partner or their kids. We’ve got to be able to stop them getting to that stage. We’ve got to grab their attention. Let’s help them realise this is the person that they are, or they are becoming and it’s not what society is going to accept nowadays.

    For information and advice about family and intimate partner violence contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732). If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, contact 000. Men’s Referral Service (call 1300 766 491) offers advice and counselling to men looking to change their behaviour.

    Kelsey Hegarty leads the Safer Families Centre which receives Australian government funding to train GPs.

    – ref. GPs asking men about their behaviour in relationships could help reduce domestic violence – https://theconversation.com/gps-asking-men-about-their-behaviour-in-relationships-could-help-reduce-domestic-violence-258075

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Jun 5, 2025 0600 UTC Day 2 Convective Outlook

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    SPC AC 050551

    Day 2 Convective Outlook
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    1251 AM CDT Thu Jun 05 2025

    Valid 061200Z – 071200Z

    …THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM THE SOUTHERN
    HIGH PLAINS TO THE TN/LOWER OH VALLEYS…

    …SUMMARY…
    Scattered severe thunderstorms are expected from the southern High
    Plains to the Tennessee and Lower Ohio Valleys on Friday into Friday
    night. Damaging winds and a couple tornadoes are the main hazards.
    Large to very large hail is possible over the southern High Plains.

    …Southern Great/High Plains…
    A large MCS will likely be ongoing at 12Z Friday from the Ozark
    Plateau to the OK/TX Red River Valley. Large-scale outflow will
    trail in the wake of this MCS and modify to the north of it as
    diurnal heating ensues. Along and south of the boundary, a confined
    plume of moderate to large buoyancy is expected by late afternoon
    with MLCAPE of 2000-3000 J/kg. North of it, more modest values are
    anticipated between the outflow and a quasi-stationary front.
    Scattered thunderstorms will once again develop along and to the
    cool side of the front over the Raton Mesa into south-central CO,
    with more isolated expected southward along the dryline to the
    Trans-Pecos. A belt of enhanced mid-level westerlies, with
    strengthening of upper-level flow, is anticipated south of a
    shortwave impulse moving into the central High to Great Plains
    through Friday night. This setup should yield favorable hodograph
    elongation for a sustained, long-lived supercell or two evolving
    southeastward from southeast CO. While buoyancy will be more muted,
    it should be sufficient for a significant severe hail and brief
    tornado threat. A few supercells farther south may have a tendency
    to be more outflow-dominant per various CAM depictions, but will
    likewise contain sig-severe hail potential as well.

    The Raton Mesa vicinity convection should grow upscale into another
    MCS Friday night as storm-scale outflows consolidate and with
    strengthening of the southern High Plains low-level jet. Most
    guidance indicates a somewhat delayed/slightly weaker jet than on
    D1. This coupled with signals for negative low-level theta-e
    advection overnight, given the confined plume of rich low-level
    moisture along the prior outflow boundary, lowers confidence in
    highlighting greater coverage of both severe and sig severe wind
    with the MCS as it likely tracks into/across OK.

    …Mid-South to the TN/Lower OH Valleys…
    A large MCS will likely be ongoing at 12Z Friday from the Ozark
    Plateau to the OK/TX Red River Valley. This MCS should weaken
    somewhat in the late morning, but then intensify by midday and
    persist through the afternoon. A moderately unstable airmass will
    develop ahead of it from the Deep South into at least southern KY
    with MLCAPE of 1500-2500 J/kg common. Deep-layer shear should remain
    modest with southern extent, where multicell clusters will dominate.
    Closer to the parent MCV, enhanced 700-mb westerlies will be present
    and should compensate for weaker destabilization. While isolated
    severe hail is possible, mainly within renewed updrafts along the
    large-scale outflow and redevelopment on the backside of the MCV,
    scattered damaging wind swaths should be the main hazard from KY to
    northern parts of MS/AL/GA.

    ..Grams.. 06/05/2025

    CLICK TO GET WUUS02 PTSDY2 PRODUCT

    NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 2 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 1730Z

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mainland Chinese police put 20 suspects on wanted list for cyber attacks launched by Taiwanese organisation

    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

    GUANGZHOU, June 5 (Xinhua) — Police in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, on Thursday put 20 suspects on the wanted list for cyber attacks launched by an organization affiliated with Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party administration.

    The statement, released by the Tianhe District branch of the Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau, also provided details of the cyber attacks carried out by Taiwan’s Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command (ICEFCOM). -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Bellerive body investigation: Police seek help of bus patrons

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Bellerive body investigation: Police seek help of bus patrons

    Thursday, 5 June 2025 – 3:48 pm.

    Tasmania Police would like to speak with two women who were travelling on a Metro bus at Rokeby last Friday afternoon, as investigations continue into the discovery of a man’s body at Bellerive.
    The body of Luke Jon Telega, 45, was found in an industrial-sized garbage bin at Percy Street on Monday morning.
    Police are trying to piece together Mr Telega’s movements leading up to a garbage contractor finding his body.
    CCTV footage obtained from Metro shows that Mr Telega caught a bus at Tollard Drive, Rokeby, on Friday, May 30, at 4.34pm.
    A woman in a grey or white hoodie joins the bus at the same time and is then seen to exit the bus at the same stop as Mr Telega, in the car park of the Shoreline Hotel about 4.38pm.
    While on the bus, a second woman in a red top appears to acknowledge Mr Telega with a wave.
    There is no suggestion the women are involved with Mr Telega’s death, but police believe they may be able to help with inquiries. (See photos attached)
    Further, police still wish to speak with a woman shown on CCTV footage standing at a shopfront on Percy Street about 7:50pm on Sunday, June 1.
    Police believe the member of the public may have spoken with someone in Percy Street at the time and may be able to assist with inquiries. The woman was driving what is believed to be a light-coloured Toyota Prado.
    A second woman shown on CCTV footage standing near a red SUV in Percy Street on Sunday night has contacted police and no further action is required.
    If anyone has information that could assist with the investigation, please call police on 131 444 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online crimestopperstas.com.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • Buddha’s sacred relics arrive in Sarnath to ceremonial welcome

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The sacred relics of Lord Buddha arrived in Sarnath on Tuesday, welcomed with traditional chants and official honours as hundreds of monks and devotees gathered at the Mulagandha Kuti Vihar.

    The relics, which began their journey from the National Museum in New Delhi, were flown to Varanasi and then transported to Sarnath in a ceremonial procession. The District Magistrate of Varanasi, Satyendra Kumar, along with the Senior Superintendent of Police and other dignitaries, received the relics at the VIP Lounge of Varanasi airport before accompanying them to the final site.

    The Uttar Pradesh Police presented a guard of honour, while NCC cadets and a ceremonial band participated in the welcome. Devotees, including a large number of Buddhist monks and nuns, had assembled at the vihar to pay their respects.

    Speaking at the event, Most Venerable Seewali Bhante recalled his recent visit to Vietnam, where the relics were previously displayed, and described the widespread public reverence he witnessed during the month-long exposition.

    Officials from the International Buddhist Confederation, National Museum representatives, and senior monks were also present. The procession and public homage underscore the significance of Sarnath—a site where the Buddha delivered his first sermon—as a centre of global Buddhist pilgrimage.

    The event is part of a broader initiative to strengthen cultural and spiritual ties among Buddhist communities worldwide.

  • MIL-OSI: Planisware expands into Belgium to support the sustained growth of its business in the Benelux region

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Planisware expands into Belgium to support the sustained growth of its business in the Benelux region

    Paris, France, June 5, 2025 – Planisware, a leading B2B provider of SaaS in the rapidly growing Project Economy market, continues its international expansion with the opening of a new office in Belgium.

    Planisware has been present in the Benelux region for several years, through projects carried out for leading clients such as Galapagos, KLM, Philips, and Engie, and is now consolidating its position in this strategic, fast-growing market. In particular, the Group has seen a sharp increase in its business in this market, with revenue doubling over the last four years, testifying to the relevance of its expertise and the confidence of its customers.

    This new location is primarily intended to strengthen proximity to Planisware’s customers and other economic players in the Benelux region (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg), a dynamic market that is home to around 1,200 target companies, nearly half of which having annual revenue in excess of one billion euros, particularly in high-growth sectors such as manufacturing (chemicals, food processing and industrial equipment), retail and financial services.

    With this new location, Planisware strengthens its proximity to customers and its expertise in local challenges. With its enhanced visibility, Planisware will be able to accelerate new signatures and sustainably support the Group’s growth in the region.

    Loïc Sautour, CEO of Planisware, commented: “We are proud to announce Planisware’s arrival in Belgium, which marks a key milestone in our continued expansion in Europe. It will strengthen our existing customer base while supporting our growth in the region. Over the years, we have built up a solid network of partners and customers in the Benelux, and this subsidiary is a natural fit with this dynamic. It will also create local jobs and strengthen our ties with all market players.”

    “International expansion has been at the heart of our growth strategy since Planisware’s launch,” says co-founder Yves Humblot. “Today, Benelux is emerging as a key region in our roadmap: it’s an ecosystem recognized for its culture of innovation and operational excellence.”

    Planisware’s new subsidiary in Belgium will be headed by Benoît Soulier (46). With over seven years’ experience in project management at Planisware, he brings solid expertise in the management of complex portfolios and projects, particularly in the pharmaceutical, industrial and public sectors. He has worked with companies such as UCB, Eurocontrol and the Walloon Public Service (SPW) in Belgium, as well as BDR Thermea in the Netherlands. Before joining Planisware, he spent four years at Sopra Group, where he contributed to the deployment of numerous complex projects. Benoît Soulier holds a degree in computer engineering from Telecom Nancy.

    Contact

    Investor Relations: Benoit d’Amécourt

    benoit.damecourt@planisware.com
    +33 6 75 51 41 47

    Media: Brunswick Group
    Hugues Boëton / Tristan Roquet Montégon
    planisware@brunswickgroup.com
    +33 6 79 99 27 15 / +33 6 37 00 52 57

    About Planisware

    Planisware is a leading business-to-business (“B2B”) provider of Software-as-a-Service (“SaaS”) in the rapidly growing Project Economy. Planisware’s mission is to provide solutions that help organizations transform how they strategize, plan and deliver their projects, project portfolios, programs and products.

    With circa 750 employees across 18 offices, Planisware operates at significant scale serving around 600 organizational clients in a wide range of verticals and functions across more than 30 countries worldwide. Planisware’s clients include large international companies, medium-sized businesses and public sector entities.

    Planisware is listed on the regulated market of Euronext Paris (Compartment A, ISIN code FR001400PFU4, ticker symbol “PLNW”).

    For more information, visit planisware.com and connect with Planisware on LinkedIn.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: How Africa is harnessing tech to deliver healthcare

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    Cuts to aid budgets are having a huge impact on the delivery of healthcare in Africa, the Forum’s Lora du Moulin tells Radio Davos. The head of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Jean Kaseya, says why tech and regional collaboration give him hope for the future of the continent and the health of its people.

    Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:
    YouTube: – https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts
    Radio Davos – subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164
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    Agenda Dialogues – subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552
    Join the World Economic Forum Podcast Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wefpodcastclub

    The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

    World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
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    #WorldEconomicForum

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KaM6OSrQis

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI China: Sci-fi writers reflect on peace at notorious Japanese germ warfare site

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

    Chinese science fiction writers toured the Exhibition Hall of Evidences of Crime Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, late last month, with several sharing their shock and reflections on world peace with China.org.cn.

    Chinese writers view displays at the Exhibition Hall of Evidences of Crime Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, May 24, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Harbin Huiwen Academy Cultural Media Group]

    The visit coincided with the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

    More than 70 writers participated in the tour on May 24, many coming directly from a sci-fi-themed book fair and the 2025 Children’s Science Fiction Convention held in late May.

    Renowned science fiction writer Bao Shu said he recently saw Japanese right-wing revisionist claims online that Unit 731 came to China for “epidemic prevention” and “treating Chinese people.” He said he was shocked by this clear distortion of history.

    Bao said he gained a much deeper understanding of history after visiting the museum and witnessing firsthand evidence of these atrocities. He believes every Chinese person should visit the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders and the Unit 731 Exhibition Hall, instead of just learning about World War II in school.

    “While Unit 731’s death toll was smaller than Nanjing’s, its horrors were equally chilling — the systematic weaponization of science against humanity,” he said. “They perverted medicine into torture, treating people as lab specimens. This nightmare shows what can happen when technology is used without ethical restraints or regard for human dignity. It forces us to reflect on the essential relationship between technological progress and human values.”

    Harbin’s Unit 731 war crimes museum preserves the original site of Japan’s biological warfare operations during World War II and holds approximately 100,000 pieces of war crime evidence. Visitors can see the remaining facilities, including the old headquarters ruins, bacterial labs, special prison remains, underground animal breeding rooms, frostbite labs, boiler rooms, and gas chambers. As the largest bacterial warfare base in history, the site documents Japan’s human experimentation program, which caused the deaths of at least 3,000 test subjects and more than 300,000 victims across China.

    Dong Jing, assistant to the chair of the Chinese Nebula Awards organizing committee, reflected: “This history teaches us war’s most terrible lesson — how it grotesquely distorts humanity, amplifying our darkest impulses to commit unforgivable crimes against civilization.”

    He noted that the Unit 731 site serves two vital purposes: “First, it exposes Japan’s undeniable wartime atrocities during its invasion of China, serving as a warning to modern militarists to acknowledge historical truth and renounce war. Equally important, it reminds citizens of both China and Japan to cherish peace and resist being drawn into conflict by groups pursuing their own interests.”

    Sci-fi writer Lu Hang believes this history offers a crucial lesson for all nations. “As the saying goes, ‘Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.’ We learn that national strength safeguards people — through building power to deter aggression and protect citizens. This conviction grew stronger after I visited the Harbin Institute of Technology, where I saw rockets and spacecraft modules displayed on campus. That experience revealed not just technological achievement but the nation’s growing overall strength.”

    Zhang Mei, a renowned children’s literature critic, said the atrocities committed by Japan’s Unit 731 were among the most heinous crimes against humanity and an “extreme evil” that stains human civilization.

    “We must go beyond surface-level condemnation and examine why Japan still lacks not only remorse, but also the fundamental virtues of reciprocity and human compassion,” she said.

    Writer Shi Yongming noted that only through peace can humanity progress together, and all nations — whether powerful or vulnerable — must prioritize mutual respect, compassion and seeking common ground while respecting differences.

    “Yet we must remain vigilant against ideologies that threaten humanity and possess both the awareness and the ability to contain their spread,” said Shi.

    Writer Qin Yingliang described the visit as profoundly shocking. A native of northeastern China, Qin emphasized that Unit 731 is a source of deep, collective trauma for people in the region. She noted that Japan’s infiltration and occupation of northeast China lasted nearly 50 years, including prewar activities, and that the effects are still felt today through emotional legacies and subconscious memories passed down through generations.

    “The museum’s essential role is to present this history through meticulously documented evidence, allowing every visitor to face historical truth directly. Our present is built on countless yesterdays; only by understanding the past can we properly move toward tomorrow,” she said.

    “The exit route leads through a long, sunless tunnel — that’s the darkness of historical memory. Walking gradually upward toward the light at the end represents our emergence into today’s brightness,” Qin added. “Along the walls were carved survivors’ testimonies and war criminals’ confessions. As I ran my fingers over the stone inscriptions, I was suddenly reminded of that line from ‘The Three-Body Problem’: ‘Engrave words in stone.’”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Auckland Council backs environmental stars with a burst of funding

    Source: Auckland Council

    Sixty-four conservation projects carried out by mana whenua and community groups around Tāmaki Makaurau have received Auckland Council funding in the current financial year to help protect, restore and enhance the natural environment.

    Another 44 projects will also receive funding over the next two years.

    Community Committee chair, Councillor Angela Dalton says a new streamlined process has delivered support for environmental-related projects this year where it is needed most to help achieve regional Tāmaki Makaurau conservation and water quality goals.

    “We have clearer visibility on where funding will make the biggest difference and the application process is now easier for the groups who work on environmental projects to be considered for funding opportunities,” Cr Dalton says.    

    On 27 May, the council’s Community Committee members approved $731,000 in funding to help support the goals of 23 community groups working to protect and restore the environment, through the 2024/2025 Regional Environment and Natural Heritage (RENH) grant.

    General Manager Environmental Services Samantha Hill says grants ranging from $5,800 to $85,000 have been allocated to projects that will help to protect and restore native ecosystems, grow community involvement and contribute to Māori outcomes.

    “One of the projects delivers pest control to help long-tailed bats living in Franklin; another supports mana whenua-led conservation work on Aotea / Great Barrier Island, and several other groups are carrying out ongoing predator control and native habitat restoration to support a range of threatened native species,” says Ms Hill.

    “With the invaluable work these community groups are doing, we will see significant steps in progress to protect, improve and minimise risks to our natural environment. It is important for us to continue to recognise and support the tireless commitment given by these dedicated community-led conservation groups and their many volunteers.”

    A separate group of 23 projects have also been approved with Community Coordination and Facilitation grants from the Natural Environment Targeted Rate (NETR) for region-wide and large-scale conservation activities.

    Last year, $1 million delivered in grants supported by the Natural Environment Targeted Rate delivered a $6.10 return for each $1 invested on projects benefiting the natural environment.

    Finally, an additional 18 projects will receive a share of ​$1,222,268 in funding from the council’s Healthy Waters department to support environmental projects in 2024/25. These projects will enhance water quality and improve flood resilience.

    All applications were rigorously assessed against key criteria. Fair distribution across the region was also considered in recommendations made for grant allocations. Projects have been approved for funding in all local board areas.

    Year

    Grant Name

    Allocation

    2024/25

    Regional Environment and Natural Heritage (23 applicants)

    $  731,000

    2024/25

    2025/26

    2026/27

    Community Coordination and Facilitation (23 applicants)

    (23 applicants)

    (21 applicants)

    $  973,800

    $  773,000

    $  702,000

    2024/25

    Water Quality and Flood Resilience (18 applicants)

    $1,222,268

    More detail on the environmental projects Auckland Council is supporting in this financial year, and in 2025/26 and 2026/27 is available in this PDF document.   

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai confers decoration on President Hilda C. Heine of Republic of the Marshall Islands, hosts state banquet  

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Details
    2025-06-03
    President Lai and President Hilda C. Heine of Marshall Islands hold bilateral talks and witness signing of agreements
    On the morning of June 3, President Lai Ching-te, accompanied by Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, held bilateral talks with President Hilda C. Heine of the Republic of the Marshall Islands at the Presidential Office following a welcome ceremony with military honors for her and her husband. The leaders also jointly witnessed the signing of a letter of intent for sports exchanges and a memorandum of understanding regarding the Presidents’ Scholarship Fund. President Lai then presided over a launch ceremony for a loan program to purchase aircraft. In remarks, President Lai thanked the government and the Nitijela (parliament) of the Marshall Islands for their longstanding support for Taiwan’s international participation and for voicing staunch support for Taiwan at numerous international venues. President Lai said that Taiwan looks forward to continuing to deepen its diplomatic partnership with the Marshall Islands and build an even closer cooperative relationship across a range of fields, engaging in mutual assistance for mutual benefits and helping each other achieve joint and prosperous development to yield even greater well-being for our peoples. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I once again warmly welcome President Heine, First Gentleman Thomas Kijiner, Jr., and our guests to Taiwan. During my visit to the Marshall Islands last year, I said that Taiwan and the Marshall Islands are truly a family. When Vice President Hsiao and I took office last year, President Heine led a delegation to Taiwan. It is now one year since our inauguration, and I am delighted to see President Heine once again, just as if I were seeing family arrive from afar. Through my visit to the Marshall Islands, I gained a profound sense of the friendship between the peoples of our two nations, well-demonstrated by bilateral exchanges in such areas as healthcare, agriculture, and education. And it is thanks to President Heine’s longstanding support for Taiwan that our countries have been able to further advance collaboration on even more issues, including women’s empowerment and climate change. In recent years, the geopolitical and economic landscape has changed rapidly. We look forward to Taiwan and the Marshall Islands continuing to deepen our partnership and build an even closer cooperative relationship. In just a few moments, President Heine and I will witness the signing of several documents, including a memorandum of understanding and a letter of intent, to expand bilateral cooperation in such fields as sports, education, and transportation. Taiwan will take concrete action to work with the Marshall Islands and advance mutual prosperity and development, writing a new chapter in our diplomatic partnership. I would also like to take this opportunity to express gratitude to the government and Nitijela of the Marshall Islands. In recent years, the Nitijela has passed annual resolutions backing Taiwan’s international participation, and President Heine and Marshallese cabinet members have been some of the strongest advocates for Taiwan’s international participation, voicing staunch support for Taiwan at numerous international venues. Building on the pillars of democracy, peace, and prosperity, Taiwan will continue to work with the Marshall Islands and other like-minded countries to deepen our partnerships, engage in mutual assistance for mutual benefits, and help one another achieve joint and prosperous development. I have every confidence that the combined efforts of our two nations will yield even greater well-being for our peoples and see us make even more contributions to the world. President Heine then delivered remarks, and began by conveying warm greetings of iokwe from the people and government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan). She said she was deeply honored to be in Taiwan for an official visit, and extended appreciation to President Lai and his government for their gracious invitation and warm welcome. President Heine stated that this year marks 27 years of diplomatic ties between our two nations, and that they are proud of this enduring friendship. This special and enduring relationship, she said, is grounded in our shared Austronesian heritage, and strengthened by mutual respect for each other’s democratic systems and our steadfast commitment to the core values of freedom, justice, and the rule of law. President Heine stated that Taiwan’s continued support has been invaluable to the people and national development of the Marshall Islands, particularly in the areas of health, education, agriculture, and climate change. She also expressed deep appreciation to Taiwan for providing Marshallese students with opportunities to study in Taiwan, and for the care extended to Marshallese who travel here for medical treatment. President Heine also announced that she would be presenting a copy of a resolution by the people and government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands reiterating their appreciation for the support provided by the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and calling on the United Nations to take immediate action to resolve the inappropriate exclusion of Taiwan’s 23 million people from the UN system. She added that she looked forward to the bilateral discussions later that day, and to continuing the important work that both countries carry out together. After the bilateral talks, President Lai and President Heine witnessed the signing of a letter of intent regarding sports exchanges and a memorandum of understanding regarding the Presidents’ Scholarship Fund by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and Marshallese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kalani R. Kaneko. President Lai then presided over a launch ceremony for a loan program to purchase aircraft, marking the formal beginning of Taiwan-Marshall Islands air transport cooperation. The visiting delegation also included Council of Iroij Chairman Lanny Kabua, Minister of Finance David Paul, and Nitijela Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade Chair Joe Bejang. They were accompanied to the Presidential Office by Charge d’Affaires a.i. Anjanette Davis-Anjel of the Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

    Details
    2025-06-03
    President Lai welcomes President Hilda C. Heine of Republic of the Marshall Islands with military honors  
    President Lai Ching-te welcomed President Hilda C. Heine of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and her husband on the morning of June 3 with full military honors. In remarks, President Lai thanked President Heine and the people and government of the Marshall Islands for demonstrating such high regard for our nations’ diplomatic ties. The president said that over our 27 years of diplomatic relations, our cooperation in healthcare, agriculture, fisheries, education and training, and climate change has yielded many positive results. And moving ahead, he said, Taiwan will continue to deepen collaboration across all domains for mutual prosperity and growth. The welcome ceremony began at 10:30 a.m. in the plaza fronting the Presidential Office. President Lai and President Heine each delivered remarks after a 21-gun salute, the playing of the two countries’ national anthems, and a review of the military honor guard. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: On behalf of the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), it is a great pleasure to welcome President Heine, First Gentleman Thomas Kijiner, Jr., and their delegation with full military honors as they make this state visit to Taiwan. When I traveled to the Marshall Islands on a state visit last December, I was received with great warmth and courtesy. I once again thank President Heine and the people and government of the Marshall Islands for demonstrating such high regard for our nations’ diplomatic ties. Taiwan and the Marshall Islands share Austronesian cultural traditions, and we are like-minded friends. Throughout our 27 years of diplomatic relations, we have always engaged with each other in a spirit of reciprocal trust and mutual assistance. Our cooperation in healthcare, agriculture, fisheries, education and training, and climate change has yielded many positive results. This is President Heine’s first state visit to Taiwan since taking office for a second time. We look forward to engaging our esteemed guests in in-depth discussions on issues of common concern. And moving ahead, Taiwan will continue to deepen collaboration with the Marshall Islands across all domains for mutual prosperity and growth. In closing, I thank President Heine, First Gentleman Kijiner, and their entire delegation for visiting Taiwan. I wish you all a pleasant and successful trip.  A transcript of President Heine’s remarks follows: Your Excellency President Lai Ching-te, Vice President [Bi-khim] Hsiao, honorable members of the cabinet, ambassadors, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen: It is my pleasure to extend warm greetings of iokwe on behalf of the people and the government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. I wish to also convey my appreciation to Your Excellency President Lai, for the hospitality and very warm welcome – kommol tata. This visit marks my seventh official state visit to this beautiful country. It’s a testament to my strong commitment to further deepening ties between the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of China (Taiwan). During this visit, I look forward to engaging in meaningful discussions with Your Excellency President Lai to further strengthen the bilateral relationship between our two nations and our peoples.  For over a quarter-century, Taiwan has been a strong ally and friend to the Marshall Islands. Our partnership has thrived across many sectors, including education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development. Through Taiwan’s generous support and collaboration, we have made significant progress in improving the lives of our people, empowering our communities, and fostering sustainable growth. The Marshall Islands deeply values our partnership with Taiwan and appreciates Taiwan’s support over the years. Despite our small size and limited voice on the global stage, the Marshall Islands deeply cherishes our friendship with Taiwan, and to that end, I wish to reaffirm my government’s commitment to Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the United Nations system. Taiwan has consistently demonstrated its commitment to the principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. In light of current constraints in global affairs, it is now more urgent than ever that the international community of nations recognize the fundamental rights of the 23 million Taiwanese people and recognize Taiwan’s aspiration to engage fully in global affairs. It is with this in mind that I wish to reiterate to Your Excellency President Lai, the Taiwanese people, and the world that under my government, Marshall Islands will continue to acknowledge Taiwan’s contribution on the global stage and urge like-minded countries to advocate for Taiwan’s meaningful engagement in the international arena. In closing, may I once again extend our sincere appreciation to Your Excellency President Lai, the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), for your warm welcome.  Also in attendance at the welcome ceremony were Charge d’Affaires a.i. Anjanette Davis-Anjel of the Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador Andrea Clare Bowman, and members of the foreign diplomatic corps in Taiwan.  

    Details
    2025-05-29
    President Lai attends 2025 Europe Day Dinner
    On the evening of May 29, President Lai Ching-te attended the 2025 Europe Day Dinner. In remarks, President Lai stated that Taiwan looks forward to further establishing institutionalized mechanisms with Europe for our trade and investment ties and hopes to take an innovative and diverse approach to sign an economic partnership agreement with the European Union, to provide a more transparent, stable, and predictable business environment for our enterprises. The president said that Taiwan will actively work alongside other democracies, including those in Europe, to jointly build resilient, promising non-red supply chains, and noted that Taiwan and Europe have endless potential for collaboration, whether it is in safeguarding freedom and democracy or advancing our economic and trade relationship. He expressed hope to further strengthen our partnership and work together toward global peace, stability, and prosperity. A transcript of President Lai’s remarks follows: Chairman [Henry] Chang (張瀚書), thank you for the invitation, and congratulations on your second term. I’m confident that under your leadership, the ECCT [European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan] will build even more bridges for cooperation between Taiwan and Europe. I would also like to thank EETO [European Economic and Trade Office] Head [Lutz] Güllner and all the European country representatives stationed in Taiwan. Your hard work over the years has helped deepen Taiwan-Europe relations and brought about such fruitful cooperation. Thank you. This year we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. In 1950, then-French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed to create a European federation dedicated to preserving peace. The declaration symbolized a new flowering in the post-war era of democracy, unity, and cooperation. As we face the geopolitical challenges and drastic economic changes of today’s world, the Schuman Declaration still speaks to us profoundly. This year is also the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. Moving forward, Taiwan will continue to advance cooperation with our democratic partners, and will join hands with Europe to build a partnership of even greater resilience and mutual trust. Europe is Taiwan’s third largest trading partner. It is also Taiwan’s largest source of foreign direct investment. Last year, bilateral trade between Taiwan and Europe totaled US$84.7 billion. This demonstrates our vibrant economic and trade ties and reflects the high levels of confidence our businesses have in each other’s markets and systems. We look forward to Taiwan and Europe further establishing institutionalized mechanisms for our trade and investment ties. And we hope to take an innovative and diverse approach to sign an economic partnership agreement with the EU, to provide a more transparent, stable, and predictable business environment for our enterprises. Today’s Taiwan has an internationally recognized democracy and a semiconductor industry vital to global security and prosperity. This enables us to play a key role in restructuring global democratic supply chains and the economic order. In particular, we see supply chains dominated by a new authoritarian bloc expanding their influence through non-market mechanisms, price subsidies, and monopolies on resources, as they seek global control of critical technologies and manufacturing capabilities. Their actions not only distort principles of market fairness, but also threaten the international community’s basic expectations for democracy, the rule of law, and corporate responsibility. In response, Taiwan will actively work alongside other democracies, including those in Europe, to jointly build resilient, promising non-red supply chains. We will also introduce an initiative on semiconductor supply chain partnerships for global democracies. This is more than a proposal for economic cooperation; it is an alliance of shared values and advanced technology. Security in the Taiwan Strait and regional peace and stability have always been issues of mutual interest for Taiwan and Europe. So here today, on behalf of all the people of Taiwan, I would like to thank the EU and European nations for continuing to take concrete actions in public support of peace and stability across the strait. Such actions are vital to regional security and prosperity. Taiwan will continue to bolster itself to achieve real peace through strength, and will work with democratic partners to safeguard freedom and democracy, thereby showing our determination for regional peace. At this critical time, Taiwan and Europe have endless potential for collaboration, whether it’s in safeguarding freedom and democracy or advancing our economic and trade relationship. I look forward to our joining hands at this strategic juncture to further strengthen our partnership and work together toward global peace, stability, and prosperity. Also in attendance at the event was British Office Taipei Representative Ruth Bradley-Jones.

    Details
    2025-05-28
    President Lai meets US delegation led by Senator Tammy Duckworth
    On the afternoon of May 28, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by United States Senator Tammy Duckworth. In remarks, President Lai thanked the US Congress and government for their longstanding and bipartisan support for Taiwan. The president stated that Taiwan will continue to strengthen cooperation with the US and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability. He pointed out that the Taiwan government has already proposed a roadmap for deepening Taiwan-US trade ties and will encourage mutual investment between Taiwanese and US businesses. He then expressed hope of deepening Taiwan-US ties and creating more niches for both sides. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I warmly welcome this delegation led by Senator Duckworth, a dear friend of Taiwan. Senator Duckworth previously visited in May last year to convey congratulations after the inauguration of myself and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao. Your bipartisan delegation was the first group from the US Senate that I met with as president. Today, you are visiting just after the first anniversary of my taking office, demonstrating the staunch support of the US and our deep friendship. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend my sincere appreciation and greetings. And I invite you to come back and visit next year, the year after that, and every year. Taiwan and the US share the values of democracy and the rule of law and believe in free and open markets. Both sides embrace a common goal of peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. I thank the US Congress and government for their longstanding, bipartisan, and steadfast support for Taiwan. In 2021, to help Taiwan overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Duckworth made a special trip here to announce that the US government would be donating vaccines to Taiwan. In recent years, Senator Duckworth has also promoted the TAIWAN Security Act, STAND with Taiwan Act, and Taiwan and America Space Assistance Act in the US Congress, all of which have further deepened Taiwan-US cooperation and steadily advanced our ties. For this, I express my deepest appreciation. I want to emphasize that the people of Taiwan have an unyielding determination to protect their homeland and free and democratic way of life. Over the past year, the government and private sector have been working together to enhance Taiwan’s whole-of-society defense resilience. The government is committed to reforming national defense, and it has proposed prioritizing special budget allocations to ensure that our defense budget exceeds three percent of GDP. This will continue to bolster Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities. Moving forward, Taiwan will continue to strengthen cooperation with the US. In addition to jointly safeguarding regional peace and stability, we also aspire to deepen bilateral trade and economic ties. At the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington, DC, earlier this month, Taiwan’s delegation was once again the biggest delegation attending the event – proof positive of our close economic and trade cooperation. We have already proposed a roadmap for deepening Taiwan-US trade ties. We will narrow the trade imbalance through the procurement of energy and agricultural and other industrial products from the US. We will encourage mutual investment between Taiwanese and US businesses to stimulate industrial development on both sides, especially in such industries as national defense and shipbuilding. We therefore look forward to Congress passing the US-Taiwan Expedited Double-Tax Relief Act as soon as possible, as this would deepen Taiwan-US trade ties and create more niches for business. In closing, I once again thank Senator Duckworth for making the trip to Taiwan. Let us continue to work together to elevate Taiwan-US ties. I wish you a pleasant and successful visit. Senator Duckworth then delivered remarks, saying that she is happy to be back in Taiwan and that she wanted to make sure to come back just after President Lai’s one-year anniversary of taking office to show the dedication and the outstanding friendship that we have. She noted that because no matter who is in the White House, no matter which political party is in power in Washington, DC, she has always believed that if America wants to remain a leader on the global stage, it has to show up for friends like Taiwan.  Senator Duckworth mentioned that in the years that she has been coming to Taiwan since pre-COVID times, she has seen a remarkable increase in participation in its defense and the support of the Taiwanese people for defending the homeland. She then thanked Taiwan for making the commitment to its self-defense, and also for being a partner with other nations around the world.  The STAND with Taiwan Act, the senator noted, is so named because the US wants to stand side by side with Taiwan. Pointing out that Taiwan is an important leader in the Indo-Pacific and on the global stage, she reiterated that there is support on both sides of the aisle in Washington for Taiwanese democracy, and added that the people of Taiwan are showing that they are willing to shore up their own readiness. Senator Duckworth said that whether it is delivering vaccines to Taiwan or making sure that the US National Guard works with Taiwan’s reserve forces or even with its civilian emergency response teams, these are all important components to the ongoing partnership between our nations.  Senator Duckworth indicated that there are many great opportunities moving forward beyond our military cooperation with one another. Whether it is in chip manufacturing, agricultural investments, shipbuilding, or in the healthcare field, those investments in both nations will facilitate stability and development in both our nations. She said that is why she wants to continue the Taiwan-US relationship, underlining that they are in it for the long haul. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by American Institute in Taiwan Taipei Office Director Raymond Greene.

    Details
    2025-05-27
    President Lai meets delegation led by US House Natural Resources Committee Chair Bruce Westerman
    On the afternoon of May 27, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Chair of the Natural Resources Committee of the United States House of Representatives Bruce Westerman. In remarks, President Lai stated that Taiwan and the US enjoy close industrial exchanges and continue to explore new opportunities for investment and collaboration. The president said that Taiwan will continue to increase purchases from and together build non-red supply chains with the US, expressing hope that economic and trade relations grow even closer and that both work together to jointly safeguard peace and stability throughout the region. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I am delighted to meet and exchange views with members of the US House Committee on Natural Resources today. Chair Westerman, the leader of this delegation, is an old friend of Taiwan. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend a very warm welcome to the delegation. I also want to thank you all for your long-term close attention to Taiwan-related affairs and your strong support for Taiwan. Taiwan and the US enjoy close ties and share ideals and values. There is an excellent foundation for cooperation between us, particularly in such areas as energy, the economy and trade, agriculture and fisheries, environmental protection, and sustainable development. In recent years, Taiwan-US ties have grown closer and closer. The US has become Taiwan’s largest destination for overseas investment, accounting for over 40 percent of Taiwan’s outbound investment. Taiwan is also the seventh largest trading partner of the US and its seventh largest export market for agricultural products. The SelectUSA Investment Summit held in Washington, DC earlier this month was the largest in its history. Taiwan’s delegation, representing 138 enterprises, was once again the biggest delegation attending the event. This shows that Taiwan and the US enjoy close industrial exchanges and continue to explore new opportunities for investment and collaboration. Looking ahead, with the global landscape changing rapidly, Taiwan will continue to increase purchases from the US, including energy resources such as natural gas and petroleum, as well as agricultural products, industrial products, and even military procurement. This will not only help balance our bilateral trade, but also strengthen development for Taiwan in energy autonomy, resilience, the economy, and trade. Taiwan and the US are also well-matched in such areas as high tech and manufacturing. As the US pursues reindustrialization and aims to become a global hub for AI, Taiwan is willing to take part and play an even more important role. We will strengthen Taiwan-US industrial cooperation and together build non-red supply chains. In addition to bringing our economic and trade relations even closer, this will also allow Taiwanese industries to remain rooted in Taiwan while expanding their global presence, helping bolster the US, and marketing worldwide. As for military exchanges, we are grateful to the US government for continuing its military sales to Taiwan and backing our efforts to upgrade our self-defense capabilities. Taiwan will continue to work with the US to jointly safeguard peace and stability throughout the region. In closing, I thank our guests once again for making the long journey here, not only offering warm friendship, but also demonstrating the staunch bipartisan support for Taiwan in the US Congress. Chair Westerman then delivered remarks, saying that it is an honor for him and his colleagues to be in Taiwan to talk about the strong relationship between the US and Taiwan and how that relationship can continue to grow in the future. The chair pointed out that natural resources are foundational to any kind of economic development, whether it is energy, which is key to manufacturing, or whether it is mining, which provides rare earth elements and all the minerals and metals needed for manufacturing. He said that as for natural resources including fish, wildlife, or timber, all are foundational to any society, but this is especially so for agriculture, noting that the US produces a lot of food and fodder and is always looking for more friends to share that with. Chair Westerman indicated that they are excited about opportunities to work with Taiwan, adding that Taiwan’s investments in the US have been greatly appreciated. He said they also are excited about the talks with the Trump administration and the future going forward on how we can have a stronger trade relationship, a stronger bilateral relationship, and how we can work with each other to help both economies grow and prosper. Chair Westerman concluded his remarks by expressing thanks for the opportunity to visit, saying that they treasure Taiwan’s friendship and our long-term relationship, and are very excited to be able to discuss in more detail how our two countries can work together. The delegation also included US House Natural Resources Committee Representatives Sarah Elfreth, Harriet Hageman, Celeste Maloy, and Nick Begich. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by American Institute in Taiwan Taipei Office Director Raymond Greene.  

    Details
    2025-05-20
    President Lai interviewed by Nippon Television and Yomiuri TV
    In a recent interview on Nippon Television’s news zero program, President Lai Ching-te responded to questions from host Mr. Sakurai Sho and Yomiuri TV Shanghai Bureau Chief Watanabe Masayo on topics including reflections on his first year in office, cross-strait relations, China’s military threats, Taiwan-United States relations, and Taiwan-Japan relations. The interview was broadcast on the evening of May 19. During the interview, President Lai stated that China intends to change the world’s rules-based international order, and that if Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted. Therefore, he said, Taiwan will strengthen its national defense, prevent war by preparing for war, and achieve the goal of peace. The president also noted that Taiwan’s purpose for developing drones is based on national security and industrial needs, and that Taiwan hopes to collaborate with Japan. He then reiterated that China’s threats are an international problem, and expressed hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war. Following is the text of the questions and the president’s responses: Q: How do you feel as you are about to round out your first year in office? President Lai: When I was young, I was determined to practice medicine and save lives. When I left medicine to go into politics, I was determined to transform Taiwan. And when I was sworn in as president on May 20 last year, I was determined to strengthen the nation. Time flies, and it has already been a year. Although the process has been very challenging, I am deeply honored to be a part of it. I am also profoundly grateful to our citizens for allowing me the opportunity to give back to our country. The future will certainly be full of more challenges, but I will do everything I can to unite the people and continue strengthening the nation. That is how I am feeling now. Q: We are now coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and over this period, we have often heard that conflict between Taiwan and the mainland is imminent. Do you personally believe that a cross-strait conflict could happen? President Lai: The international community is very much aware that China intends to replace the US and change the world’s rules-based international order, and annexing Taiwan is just the first step. So, as China’s military power grows stronger, some members of the international community are naturally on edge about whether a cross-strait conflict will break out. The international community must certainly do everything in its power to avoid a conflict in the Taiwan Strait; there is too great a cost. Besides causing direct disasters to both Taiwan and China, the impact on the global economy would be even greater, with estimated losses of US$10 trillion from war alone – that is roughly 10 percent of the global GDP. Additionally, 20 percent of global shipping passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, so if a conflict breaks out in the strait, other countries including Japan and Korea would suffer a grave impact. For Japan and Korea, a quarter of external transit passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, and a third of the various energy resources and minerals shipped back from other countries pass through said areas. If Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted, and therefore conflict in the Taiwan Strait must be avoided. Such a conflict is indeed avoidable. I am very thankful to Prime Minister of Japan Ishiba Shigeru and former Prime Ministers Abe Shinzo, Suga Yoshihide, and Kishida Fumio, as well as US President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden, and the other G7 leaders, for continuing to emphasize at international venues that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are essential components for global security and prosperity. When everyone in the global democratic community works together, stacking up enough strength to make China’s objectives unattainable or to make the cost of invading Taiwan too high for it to bear, a conflict in the strait can naturally be avoided. Q: As you said, President Lai, maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is also very important for other countries. How can war be avoided? What sort of countermeasures is Taiwan prepared to take to prevent war? President Lai: As Mr. Sakurai mentioned earlier, we are coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. There are many lessons we can take from that war. First is that peace is priceless, and war has no winners. From the tragedies of WWII, there are lessons that humanity should learn. We must pursue peace, and not start wars blindly, as that would be a major disaster for humanity. In other words, we must be determined to safeguard peace. The second lesson is that we cannot be complacent toward authoritarian powers. If you give them an inch, they will take a mile. They will keep growing, and eventually, not only will peace be unattainable, but war will be inevitable. The third lesson is why WWII ended: It ended because different groups joined together in solidarity. Taiwan, Japan, and the Indo-Pacific region are all directly subjected to China’s threats, so we hope to be able to join together in cooperation. This is why we proposed the Four Pillars of Peace action plan. First, we will strengthen our national defense. Second, we will strengthen economic resilience. Third is standing shoulder to shoulder with the democratic community to demonstrate the strength of deterrence. Fourth is that as long as China treats Taiwan with parity and dignity, Taiwan is willing to conduct exchanges and cooperate with China, and seek peace and mutual prosperity. These four pillars can help us avoid war and achieve peace. That is to say, Taiwan hopes to achieve peace through strength, prevent war by preparing for war, keeping war from happening and pursuing the goal of peace. Q: Regarding drones, everyone knows that recently, Taiwan has been actively researching, developing, and introducing drones. Why do you need to actively research, develop, and introduce new drones at this time? President Lai: This is for two purposes. The first is to meet national security needs. The second is to meet industrial development needs. Because Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines are all part of the first island chain, and we are all democratic nations, we cannot be like an authoritarian country like China, which has an unlimited national defense budget. In this kind of situation, island nations such as Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines should leverage their own technologies to develop national defense methods that are asymmetric and utilize unmanned vehicles. In particular, from the Russo-Ukrainian War, we see that Ukraine has successfully utilized unmanned vehicles to protect itself and prevent Russia from unlimited invasion. In other words, the Russo-Ukrainian War has already proven the importance of drones. Therefore, the first purpose of developing drones is based on national security needs. Second, the world has already entered the era of smart technology. Whether generative, agentic, or physical, AI will continue to develop. In the future, cars and ships will also evolve into unmanned vehicles and unmanned boats, and there will be unmanned factories. Drones will even be able to assist with postal deliveries, or services like Uber, Uber Eats, and foodpanda, or agricultural irrigation and pesticide spraying. Therefore, in the future era of comprehensive smart technology, developing unmanned vehicles is a necessity. Taiwan, based on industrial needs, is actively planning the development of drones and unmanned vehicles. I would like to take this opportunity to express Taiwan’s hope to collaborate with Japan in the unmanned vehicle industry. Just as we do in the semiconductor industry, where Japan has raw materials, equipment, and technology, and Taiwan has wafer manufacturing, our two countries can cooperate. Japan is a technological power, and Taiwan also has significant technological strengths. If Taiwan and Japan work together, we will not only be able to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and security in the Indo-Pacific region, but it will also be very helpful for the industrial development of both countries. Q: The drones you just described probably include examples from the Russo-Ukrainian War. Taiwan and China are separated by the Taiwan Strait. Do our drones need to have cross-sea flight capabilities? President Lai: Taiwan does not intend to counterattack the mainland, and does not intend to invade any country. Taiwan’s drones are meant to protect our own nation and territory. Q: Former President Biden previously stated that US forces would assist Taiwan’s defense in the event of an attack. President Trump, however, has yet to clearly state that the US would help defend Taiwan. Do you think that in such an event, the US would help defend Taiwan? Or is Taiwan now trying to persuade the US? President Lai: Former President Biden and President Trump have answered questions from reporters. Although their responses were different, strong cooperation with Taiwan under the Biden administration has continued under the Trump administration; there has been no change. During President Trump’s first term, cooperation with Taiwan was broader and deeper compared to former President Barack Obama’s terms. After former President Biden took office, cooperation with Taiwan increased compared to President Trump’s first term. Now, during President Trump’s second term, cooperation with Taiwan is even greater than under former President Biden. Taiwan-US cooperation continues to grow stronger, and has not changed just because President Trump and former President Biden gave different responses to reporters. Furthermore, the Trump administration publicly stated that in the future, the US will shift its strategic focus from Europe to the Indo-Pacific. The US secretary of defense even publicly stated that the primary mission of the US is to prevent China from invading Taiwan, maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific, and thus maintain world peace. There is a saying in Taiwan that goes, “Help comes most to those who help themselves.” Before asking friends and allies for assistance in facing threats from China, Taiwan must first be determined and prepared to defend itself. This is Taiwan’s principle, and we are working in this direction, making all the necessary preparations to safeguard the nation. Q: I would like to ask you a question about Taiwan-Japan relations. After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, you made an appeal to give Japan a great deal of assistance and care. In particular, you visited Sendai to offer condolences. Later, you also expressed condolences and concern after the earthquakes in Aomori and Kumamoto. What are your expectations for future Taiwan-Japan exchanges and development? President Lai: I come from Tainan, and my constituency is in Tainan. Tainan has very deep ties with Japan, and of course, Taiwan also has deep ties with Japan. However, among Taiwan’s 22 counties and cities, Tainan has the deepest relationship with Japan. I sincerely hope that both of you and your teams will have an opportunity to visit Tainan. I will introduce Tainan’s scenery, including architecture from the era of Japanese rule, Tainan’s cuisine, and unique aspects of Tainan society, and you can also see lifestyles and culture from the Showa era.  The Wushantou Reservoir in Tainan was completed by engineer Mr. Hatta Yoichi from Kanazawa, Japan and the team he led to Tainan after he graduated from then-Tokyo Imperial University. It has nearly a century of history and is still in use today. This reservoir, along with the 16,000-km-long Chianan Canal, transformed the 150,000-hectare Chianan Plain into Taiwan’s premier rice-growing area. It was that foundation in agriculture that enabled Taiwan to develop industry and the technology sector of today. The reservoir continues to supply water to Tainan Science Park. It is used by residents of Tainan, the agricultural sector, and industry, and even the technology sector in Xinshi Industrial Park, as well as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Because of this, the people of Tainan are deeply grateful for Mr. Hatta and very friendly toward the people of Japan. A major earthquake, the largest in 50 years, struck Tainan on February 6, 2016, resulting in significant casualties. As mayor of Tainan at the time, I was extremely grateful to then-Prime Minister Abe, who sent five Japanese officials to the disaster site in Tainan the day after the earthquake. They were very thoughtful and asked what kind of assistance we needed from the Japanese government. They offered to provide help based on what we needed. I was deeply moved, as former Prime Minister Abe showed such care, going beyond the formality of just sending supplies that we may or may not have actually needed. Instead, the officials asked what we needed and then provided assistance based on those needs, which really moved me. Similarly, when the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 or the later Kumamoto earthquakes struck, the people of Tainan, under my leadership, naturally and dutifully expressed their support. Even earlier, when central Taiwan was hit by a major earthquake in 1999, Japan was the first country to deploy a rescue team to the disaster area. On February 6, 2018, after a major earthquake in Hualien, former Prime Minister Abe appeared in a video holding up a message of encouragement he had written in calligraphy saying “Remain strong, Taiwan.” All of Taiwan was deeply moved. Over the years, Taiwan and Japan have supported each other when earthquakes struck, and have forged bonds that are family-like, not just neighborly. This is truly valuable. In the future, I hope Taiwan and Japan can be like brothers, and that the peoples of Taiwan and Japan can treat one another like family. If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem; if Japan has a problem, then Taiwan has a problem. By caring for and helping each other, we can face various challenges and difficulties, and pursue a brighter future. Q: President Lai, you just used the phrase “If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem.” In the event that China attempts to invade Taiwan by force, what kind of response measures would you hope the US military and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take? President Lai: As I just mentioned, annexing Taiwan is only China’s first step. Its ultimate objective is to change the rules-based international order. That being the case, China’s threats are an international problem. So, I would very much hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war – prevention, after all, is more important than cure.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Jack Ball wins the Ramsay Art Prize among a who’s who of Australian young contemporary artists

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Speck, Emerita Professor, Art History and Curatorship, University of Adelaide

    Jack Ball with Heavy Grit in Ramsay Art Prize 2025, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide. Photo: Saul Steed

    Jack Ball, a Sydney-based trans artist, was awarded the 2025 Ramsay Art Prize at the Art Gallery of South Australia for an immersive installation Heavy Grit.

    The inspiration for the photo-collage and sculptural artwork stems directly from the artist’s exploration of the Australian Queer Archives in Melbourne – especially the scrapbooks covering the closeted decades of the 1950s to 1970s – and the merging of the past with present.

    The grainy print surface of the photo-collage elements, drawing on newspaper clippings, are arranged as four semi-abstract fluid shapes.

    Collage allows Ball to layer archival material with his own photo practice, to cut, crop, resize and imply ambiguity and possibility in the blurred imagery.

    The collages sit beside small photographs placed behind textured stained glass that seem like peep shows into queer culture, and are emblematic of Heavy Grit’s tension between what is revealed and what is hidden.

    Installation view: Jack Ball, born Darramurragal/Sydney 1986, Heavy Grit, 2024, Boorloo/Perth, inkjet prints on hemp, cotton and metallic rag, textured coloured glass, beeswax, activated charcoal, copper pipe, second-hand and remnant fabrics, acrylic paints, sand, rope.
    Courtesy of the artist and AVA, Boorloo/Perth, photo: Saul Steed

    Beneath are sand-filled soft sculptures, all of which suggest intimacy, stolen moments, the bright lights of Oxford Street, queer dress culture and much more, set off by loose flourishes of orange framing the collage. There is a delicate play of surface, scale and medium in an expansive installation that requires close, but slow looking.

    The Ramsay Prize

    The A$100,000 prize, awarded every two years, is open to artists under 40.

    It is the nation’s richest art prize for that age category and is funded in perpetuity by the Ramsay Foundation, for artwork in any medium.

    It is visionary in intent and reflects donors Diana and James Ramsay’s aim “to support and encourage contemporary Australian artists to make their best work at a pivotal point in their career”. And it has done just that.

    It commenced in 2017. Vincent Namatjira, who was awarded the prize in 2019, proceeded to win the Archibald Prize. Kate Bohunnis (2021) and Ida Sophia (2023) attribute winning the Ramsay to being career changing.

    Strong work on show

    There is much strong work across a range of media areas on show in this year’s exhibition.

    Installation view: Ramsay Art Prize 2025 featuring Alfred Lowe’s You’ve been on my mind, sister, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
    Photo: Saul Steed

    Arrernte artist Alfred Lowe’s ceramic sculptural figures are adorned with bright pink raffia skirts. But beneath the colour and whimsy and contrasting materials is an exploration of his conflicted First Nations world of Central Australia and its charged politics.

    Tom Polo’s brightly coloured abstract and gestural paintings of fragmented and exaggerated forms suggest human vulnerability and the fluidity of daily life.

    Installation view: Ramsay Art Prize 2025 featuring Tom Polo’s learning to leave (once, and again), Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
    Photo: Saul Steed

    Bridie Gillman’s evocative Pink room, pink womb painting is a double-sided triangular installation which references ideas of place and belonging.

    It was produced in response to staying in an 18th century bedroom with pink walls in Portugal. The dramatic colour changes she observed according to the light conjured up notions of a deep maternal presence. She invokes this in her changing shades of pink on the canvases and base, accompanied by a subtle soundscape by Reuben Schafer.

    Shireen Taweel’s meticulous suspended copper objects delve into matters astronomical, the contribution of a Persian polymath’s foundational work in trigonometry and the precision required to locate stars and other celestial bodies.

    She emulates that precision in her intriguing copper installation, Al-Tusi preferred to rely on perfect circles instead, as an instrument of astronomical observation. Her pierced motifs in the copper are informed by precise calculations.

    Installation view: Ramsay Art Prize 2025 featuring Jason Phu’s the deepest love in the deepest well of despair and Shireen Taweel’s Al-Tusi preferred to rely on perfect circles instead, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
    Photo: Saul Steed

    Chinese-Australian artist Jason Phu draws on his cultural heritage in his large painting. Comic-like figures enact a narrative across time, as occurs in more serious Chinese Scroll paintings.

    Phu inverts the tradition, adds a vernacular touch, and oscillates between humour and grim despair. His central figure in red enacts the text above: “the deepest love, the deepest despair”.

    David Attwood’s whimsical kinetic sculptural assemblage featuring a motorised house cleaning sponge harks back to the wacky idea of a self-cleaning house, and touches on the gendered nature of housework.

    Liam Fleming was schooled in the refined precision and techniques of making production line glass. Here, his slumped glass sculptural work come from his “letting go” of this exactness.

    Installation view: Ramsay Art Prize 2025 featuring Liam Fleming’s Transitory Series, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
    Photo: Saul Steed

    Greek-Australian queer artist and designer Jordon Gogos’ impressive large tapestry, Time Machine, is made from repurposed and recycled textiles, and explores memory and identity.

    His deft mix of chance and design – and extending the possibilities of fabric itself by layering, embroidering and felting – produces a compelling and playful piece.

    These are just eight of the artworks on show in which the experimentation, range, diversity and rich cultural mix point to a vibrant contemporary art scene.

    What’s left unsaid

    But of the 22 finalists – a veritable who’s who of the contemporary art scene – only one artist reflects on war in a world beset by conflict.

    Ukrainian-born Stanislava Pinchuk is currently Australia’s official war artist in Ukraine. Her moving image work, Theatre of war, focuses on three such “theatres”: the siege of Sarajevo, the war in Ukraine, and Homer’s account of the Trojan war in the Iliad.

    Installation view: Ramsay Art Prize 2025 featuring Stanislava Pinchuk’s The Theatre of War, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
    Photo: Saul Steed

    But where is the bravery of earlier Ramsay entries such as Hoda Afshar’s moving photographic portraits of our courageous whistleblowers in Agonistes, shown in the Ramsay Art Prize exhibition of 2020?

    There were close to 600 entries this year, so it seems odd that no-one else was selected for the final cut whose work had overt political content such as the war in Gaza.

    The Ramsay Art Prize 2025 is at the Art Gallery of South Australia until August 31.

    Catherine Speck has received funding from the ARC to investigate Australian art exhibitions (with Joanna Mendelssohn, Catherine De Lorenzo and Alison Inglis).

    – ref. Jack Ball wins the Ramsay Art Prize among a who’s who of Australian young contemporary artists – https://theconversation.com/jack-ball-wins-the-ramsay-art-prize-among-a-whos-who-of-australian-young-contemporary-artists-257326

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sánchez: Republican tax bill brings pain to American families

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)

    WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) today spoke on the House floor before the vote on the Republican tax bill, which only passed by a single vote.

    Video of her statement introducing the amendment is available HERE and the text follows:

    “The bill that we are debating this morning is an insult to every American who works for a living.

    American families are struggling. Under President Trump and Republican leadership, they’ve seen nothing but chaos.

    Prices for everyday necessities – like food, clothing, diapers and formula – keep rising because of Trump’s tariffs. Premiums for health insurance, car insurance and housing are going up, making it harder to make ends meet.

    Americans are worried about their future. People are afraid about losing their jobs, their health care, student aid and food assistance.

    And this bill brings that pain.

    Almost 14 million people will lose their health care coverage under this Republican bill. And for what? So billionaires can get even richer while the rest of us drown in debt?

    This is outrageous. Republicans are doling out tax cuts for the wealthiest while destroying the means of survival for hardworking families.

    This bill assaults those seeking the American Dream by stealing tax benefits and services from working people who are paying taxes! It would deny the Child [Tax] Credit to 2 million children who live in the United States.

    Here’s an idea: How about you start working for the people you represent, not your wealthy donors.

    But I guess that’s asking too much from people who have lost their moral compass.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Payments System Board Update: June 2025 Meeting

    Source: Airservices Australia

    At its meeting today, the Payments System Board discussed a number of issues, including:

    • ASX’s response following the CHESS batch failure incident in December 2024. The Board discussed ASX’s response to the RBA’s out-of-cycle assessment of ASX Clear and ASX Settlement, which required ASX to set out how it would strengthen resourcing and implement contingency arrangements for CHESS. The response did not address key parts of the issues raised in the assessment and provided insufficient detail on ASX’s plans to remediate these issues. The RBA has taken further steps to obtain this information and has now received additional details. The Board requested the staff to continue exploring regulatory options on resourcing for current CHESS and to ensure CHESS Replacement is designed with an appropriate level of resilience for critical financial market infrastructure.
    • Financial market infrastructure regulatory reforms and resolution planning. The Board welcomed progress in operationalising powers to prevent or resolve a crisis at an Australian clearing and settlement facility. The Board endorsed a public consultation on guidance that will provide stakeholders with information about when and how the RBA would generally expect to exercise its crisis resolution powers. The public consultation is expected to commence shortly.
    • The safety and resilience of Australia’s real-time gross settlement system. The Board received an update on progress against the recommendations from the March 2024 Assessment of the Reserve Bank Information and Transfer System (RITS). The update covered key areas of oversight focus, such as change management and cyber resilience, as well as updates regarding the RBA’s uplift in risk management and culture, IT controls framework, and the operating model for RITS. The Board acknowledged that while meaningful progress has been made, it is unlikely that these improvements will take full effect by the next assessment of RITS, which is scheduled for March 2026.
    • Review of merchant card payment costs and surcharging. The Board discussed various policy options stemming from its review into card payment costs and surcharging aimed to promote the public interest by supporting competition, efficiency and safety in the payments system. The RBA expects to release a consultation paper in July, which will seek feedback on the Board’s preliminary conclusions and draft revisions to the RBA’s standards.
    • Improving security, efficiency and competition for online card payments. The Board welcomed the Standard for Payment Service Provider Porting of Merchant Payment-Related Data (the Standard), developed by AusPayNet in consultation with industry. The Standard details a common set of requirements for the transfer of customer payment data between providers, to support merchants switching providers, including to access better payment plans. The Board expects industry participants to comply with the Standard by 1 July 2026. This is consistent with the RBA’s previously issued Expectations for Tokenisation of Payment Cards and Storage of PANs, which is aimed at improving security, efficiency and competition for online card payments.
    • ATM Access Regime. The Board approved minor amendments to the ATM Access Regime to accommodate a change in the way the associated ATM Access Code is administered by industry.
    • Amendment to the RBA policy on conflicts of interest to support constructive engagement with the payments industry. The Board approved an amendment to the RBA’s policy on Managing Potential Conflicts of Interest Arising from the RBA’s Commercial Activities to allow staff from Payments Policy Department and Banking Department to simultaneously observe and/or participate in industry committees or working groups with broad representation. This will enable staff to identify payments policy issues early and encourage industry to voluntarily put in place solutions that achieve the RBA’s public interest objectives.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Space scholarships for seven university students

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Seven university students have been awarded New Zealand Space Scholarships to intern at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today.

    “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these incredibly capable students. They will gain invaluable experience working on projects alongside scientists and engineers who are part of world-leading NASA missions,” Ms Collins says.

    “These three-month internships will equip them with real-world skills to kick-startexciting careers in New Zealand’s fast-growing space industry.”

    The students, Asif Rasha (Auckland University of Technology), Shivam Desai (University of Auckland), Felix Goddard, Jack Patterson (University of Canterbury), Mark Bishop, Sofie Claridge and Taran John (Victoria University of Wellington), received their scholarships at a ceremony today.

    The students will work on projects across the space spectrum, from deep space communication, the Big Bang and the early universe, to mission analysis.

    “These scholarships, along with the Prime Minister’s Space Prizes, help us encourage the next generation of talent to ensure we have an aerospace-capable workforce. This is a key part of our plan to double the size of our space and advanced aviation sectors by 2030,” Ms Collins says. 

    “Last month I released an economic report that shows New Zealand’s space and advanced aviation sectors are thriving – growing by 53 percent in the five years to 2024. The space sector contributed $2.47b to the economy in the 2023-24 financial year, while the advanced aviation sector, which overlaps with the space sector, contributed $480 million.”

    More information about the 2025 NZ Space Scholarship recipients and the projects they’ll work on is available on the MBIE website.

    Applications are open now for the 2025 Prime Minister’s Space Prizes, which recognise and encourage innovative expertise through the Professional Excellence category and the Student Endeavour category.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –