Category: Transport

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

    Source: Reserve Bank of 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 Economics

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Quick action and a defibrillator save a firefighter

    Source:

    A CFA volunteer has had the opportunity to say thank you to fellow volunteers and paramedics who helped save his life.

    John Moyes, a volunteer with Yarragon Fire Brigade, suffered a cardiac arrest while responding to a grass and scrub fire on Tuesday 4 March 2025 in Yarragon.

    Shortly after arriving at the scene, John collapsed.

    Crews from Trafalgar were on scene battling the blaze and Commander Greg Fisher said he immediately snapped into action.

    “We had to fight the fire, but we also needed to help John,” he said.

    “Thankfully, our members are first-aid trained, and we were able to quickly begin doing what we needed to do.”

    Immediately following contact with Triple Zero (000), Trafalgar Fire Brigade members, Sally Neenan, Colin Proctor, and Danny Mynard, got to work on John, starting cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and attaching an automated external defibrillator (AED) from one of the trucks.

    “It was all a bit of a blur,” Danny said.

    “But my training kicked in and I just did what I had to do to help save John.”

    Sally said John collapsed behind her and having just refreshed her CPR knowledge just months before, she was able to help save John.

    “It was daunting but it really drives home the importance of having your first-aid and CPR training even if you’re just a member of the community. This could have happened anywhere,” she said.

    Colin said having an AED was a huge help to their CPR efforts.

    “We were really glad to have the defibrillator right there on the truck,” he said.

    The trio continued CPR, delivering three shocks with the AED prior to the arrival of Ambulance Victoria paramedics. At the time of handover, John remained pulseless and unconscious.

    Paramedics took over care, intubated John and placed him into an induced coma. He was transported in a critical condition to the Victorian Heart Hospital for specialist care.

    John said he was “forever indebted” to those who intervened early and saved his life.

    “They are the reason I am here,” John said.

    “Because they knew what to do, I have another chance.”

    Greg said the incident was a good reminder about the importance of early intervention, having AEDs on trucks, and completing first-aid training with CFA.

    “We offer basic first aid and CPR training to all CFA members and this really showed us why this training is so important,” Greg said.

    “Our members do more than just fight fires; they are there to help their communities in so many different situations.

    “All CFA primary firefighting appliances are also fitted with AEDs which is an amazing resource.”

    Ambulance Victoria Gippsland Clinical Support Officer Dion Meade said John’s recovery was testament to the quick actions of those around him.

    “It’s fantastic to see John alive and doing so well, which is all because of his peers who immediately started the chain of survival by implementing Call, Push, Shock,” he said.

    “We know the significant impact of early intervention, with a patient’s chance of survival almost doubling when they receive CPR and a shock from an AED before paramedics arrive.

    “The Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry 2023-24 showed Victoria has Australia’s best cardiac survival rate and the third best in the world, which is because of people, like Sally, Colin and Danny, stepping in when they see someone in cardiac arrest.

    “Anyone can save a life by remembering to Call Triple Zero 000, give CPR by pushing hard and fast on the middle of the chest, and use an AED if available.”

    Additional resources:

    Read a list of registered AEDs in Victoria.

    Call, Push, Shock resources are available in multiple languages on the Ambulance Victoria website.

    Learn more in the Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry Annual Report.

    Submitted by CFA Media

    MIL OSI News

  • Aid Ship Carrying Greta Thunberg Heads to Gaza Amid Israeli Warning

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A humanitarian aid vessel named Madleen, organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), is en route to Gaza with a group of activists, including prominent climate campaigner Greta Thunberg. The mission aims to draw international attention to the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave and challenge the longstanding Israeli blockade.
     
    The ship departed from a port in Sicily on Sunday with 12 activists on board, carrying what organizers described as a “symbolic” amount of aid intended to highlight the urgency of Gaza’s worsening food shortage. The activists say the territory has been under a total blockade for over 90 days, compounding an Israeli-imposed land, sea, and air blockade that has been in place since 2007.
     
    Thunberg has shared images from the vessel on social media, underscoring her participation in the effort to breach the blockade, which the FFC claims has been enforced since March 2 with increased severity. The activists argue the blockade is contributing to severe humanitarian suffering.
     
    Israeli authorities issued a warning on Wednesday, stating that any attempt to breach the naval blockade would be prevented. The Israeli government maintains that the restrictions are a necessary security measure aimed at limiting weapons smuggling to militant groups in Gaza. The flotilla’s voyage comes amid growing international concern over the humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where aid agencies have reported acute shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.
  • US vetoes UN Security Council demand for Gaza ceasefire

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The United States on Wednesday vetoed a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that demanded an “immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire” between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza and unhindered aid access across the war-torn enclave.

    The other 14 countries on the council voted in favor of the draft as a humanitarian crisis grips the enclave of more than 2 million people, where famine looms and aid has only trickled in since Israel lifted an 11-week blockade last month.

    “The United States has been clear: We would not support any measure that fails to condemn Hamas and does not call for Hamas to disarm and leave Gaza,” Acting U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Dorothy Shea told the council before the vote, arguing that it would also undermine U.S.-led efforts to broker a ceasefire.

    Washington is Israel’s biggest ally and arms supplier.

    The Security Council vote came as Israel pushes ahead with an offensive in Gaza after ending a two-month truce in March. Gaza health authorities said Israeli strikes killed 45 people on Wednesday, while Israel said a soldier died in fighting.

    Britain’s U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward criticized the Israeli government’s decisions to expand its military operations in Gaza and severely restrict humanitarian aid as “unjustifiable, disproportionate and counterproductive.”

    Israel has rejected calls for an unconditional or permanent ceasefire, saying Hamas cannot stay in Gaza. Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon told the council members who voted in favor of the draft: “You chose appeasement and submission. You chose a road that does not lead to peace. Only to more terror.”

    Hamas condemned the U.S. veto, describing it as showing “the U.S. administration’s blind bias” towards Israel. The draft Security Council resolution had also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and others.

    RIVAL AID OPERATIONS

    The war in Gaza has raged since 2023 after Hamas militants killed 1,200 people in Israel in an October 7 attack and took some 250 hostages back to the enclave, according to Israeli tallies. Many of those killed or captured were civilians.

    Israel responded with a military campaign that has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. They say civilians have borne the brunt of the attacks and that thousands more bodies have been lost under rubble.

    Under global pressure, Israel allowed limited U.N.-led deliveries to resume on May 19. A week later a controversial new aid distribution system was launched by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, backed by the U.S. and Israel.

    Israel has long accused Hamas of stealing aid, which the group denies. Israel and the U.S. are urging the U.N. to work through the GHF, which is using private U.S. security and logistics companies to transport aid into Gaza for distribution at so-called secure distribution sites.

    “No one wants to see Palestinian civilians in Gaza go hungry or thirsty,” Shea told the Security Council, adding that the draft resolution did not “acknowledge the disastrous shortcomings of the prior method of aid delivery.”

    The U.N. and international aid groups have refused to work with the GHF because they say it is not neutral, militarizes aid and forces the displacement of Palestinians.

    No aid was distributed by the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation on Wednesday as it pressed the Israeli military to boost civilian safety beyond the perimeter of its so-called secure distribution sites after a deadly incident on Tuesday.

    The GHF said it has asked the Israeli military to “guide foot traffic in a way that minimizes confusion or escalation risks” near military positions, provide clearer civilian guidance and enhance training of soldiers on civilian safety.

    ‘DELAYS AND DENIALS’

    The GHF posted on Facebook that “ongoing maintenance work” would delay the opening of its distribution sites on Thursday. It said on Tuesday that it has so far distributed more than seven million meals since it started operations.

    Despite U.S. and Israeli criticism of the U.N.-led Gaza aid operation, a U.S. ceasefire plan proposes the delivery of aid by the United Nations, the Red Crescent and other agreed channels. Israel has agreed to the ceasefire plan but Hamas is seeking changes that the U.S. has rejected as “totally unacceptable.”

    Ahead of the U.N. Security Council vote, U.N. aid chief Tom Fletcher again appealed for the U.N. and aid groups to be allowed to assist people in Gaza, stressing that they have a plan, supplies and experience.

    “Open the crossings – all of them. Let in lifesaving aid at scale, from all directions. Lift the restrictions on what and how much aid we can bring in. Ensure our convoys aren’t held up by delays and denials,” Fletcher said in a statement.

    The U.N. has long-blamed Israel and lawlessness in the enclave for hindering the delivery of aid into Gaza and its distribution throughout the war zone.

    “Enough of suffering of civilians. Enough of food being used as a weapon. Enough is enough is enough,” Slovenia’s U.N. Ambassador Samuel Zbogar told the Security Council.

    A similar humanitarian-focused draft resolution is now expected to be put to a vote in the 193-member U.N. General Assembly, where no countries have a veto power and it would likely pass, diplomats said.

    Danon warned: “Don’t waste more of your time, because no resolution, no vote, no moral failure, will stand in our way.”

    (Reuters)

  • Man City’s third-placed finish may be better achievement than title win: Guardiola

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola described his team’s first trophyless campaign since 2017 as a season of growth and reflection, dismissing notions of failure and suggesting it may have been a greater achievement than a previous title win.

    “I want to suffer when I’m not winning games,” Guardiola told Reuters in an exclusive interview. “I want to feel bad. I want to sleep badly. I want that when the situation goes bad, it affects me… I want that!

    “I’m angry… my food, it tastes worse… I don’t need to eat much because I need to feel that (anger). Because if it doesn’t, what sense would it have? Winning or losing… We’re here in this world to feel different experiences, different moods.”

    The 54-year-old, who has won 12 domestic top-flight league titles across Spain, Germany and England, spoke about last season’s challenges, which saw City finish third in the Premier League and fail to secure silverware in domestic or European competitions. It marked only the second trophyless season of his managerial career.

    Guardiola rejected the idea that the season was disastrous, instead arguing that it may have been the most valuable of his tenure at City.

    “You judge happiness if you win. You judge success if you win and win. And that is a problem,” he said.

    “I will not judge myself or my team because of bad seasons or good seasons… Maybe finishing third in a season and never giving up otherwise you finish 10th or 12th, maybe that’s a better season than when we won the fourth Premier League in a row.

    “We faced so many difficulties that were higher due to injuries, relaxation, I was not good enough… for many reasons. Maybe the analysis about my period is that the last season was better. Qualifying for the Champions League when we were on the verge of not getting it.

    ‘WINNERS ARE BORING’

    Reflecting on setbacks, Guardiola quoted former Uruguayan President Jose Mujica: “Success is how many times you stand up when you fall down.” He added: “Fall down, stand up. Fall down, stand up… That is the biggest success.”

    “Winners are boring,” he said, adding that he always looked forward to post-match interviews with players and coaches from losing sides. “It’s nice to see the losers. That is when you really learn.”

    Despite his remarkable record, Guardiola dismissed any notion of exceptionalism. “Do you think I feel special because I won a lot of titles? No! Forget about it!” he said. “I feel that special is the doctor that saves lives. The people who invented penicillin. That is a genius. Me? Genius? Come on.”

    “I don’t want to pretend to be humble: of course I’m good! I’m proving that over many years I’m good… But the success I had, I was chosen. In certain moments, to lead Lionel Messi and the other ones, to be in those type of places I made incredible teams… But other managers, in the right moment, in that position, maybe they could have done the same.”

    Looking ahead to the upcoming season and the Club World Cup, Guardiola emphasised the importance of team spirit. “Play good. Create a good vibe, good team spirit… Try to make the new players bring us an energy that we need to lift the team again. And at the end, we can lift trophies,” he said.

    Guardiola also reflected on the pressures of public-facing jobs with constant scrutiny.

    “The stress is always there because you are being judged every single day, but it is what it is,” he said.

    “Nobody put a gun to my head forcing me to choose this job. I have chosen that… There is no professional in football that wins all the time, because it’s simply impossible. So, it happened last season… you accept it, improve, learn and there will be good learnings for the future.”

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: How capital services help to spend the summer season in comfort

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The capital’s digital ecosystem helps Muscovites go about their daily business, plan family leisure, lead an active lifestyle, and do much more. The mos.ru portal and city mobile apps offer services that are especially useful in the summer.

    “With the start of the summer season, city residents not only begin to plan their vacations, but also continue to solve everyday tasks online. For this purpose, the mos.ru portal offers more than 450 digital services, many of which are available in the Moscow State Services and My Moscow applications. Thanks to them, residents can conveniently and quickly check the hot water shutdown schedule and pay bills, book books from the library to read during the holidays, or plan interesting leisure activities,” they reminded.

    Department of Information Technology of the City of Moscow.

    Plan your leisure time

    The main city events of the season have been collected in the project “Summer in Moscow”, which has been running since June 1. At more than 400 venues, residents and guests of the capital will be treated to street festivals, theatrical performances, karaoke and gastronomic master classes, as well as a large-scale market of local goods from the project “Made in Moscow”. Earlier, the program of the project’s events was posted on its Telegram channel announced Sergei Sobyanin.

    Service “Mosbilet”, available on the mos.ru portal and in the My Moscow mobile app, allows you to purchase tickets to cultural events — theaters, museums, cinemas, and concerts — without extra charges. There are also free events available for everyone to attend.

    Digital tourist service Russpass will help you organize a trip around the summer capital. It contains walking and cycling tours, signature routes, hotels, cafes, event listings, transport tickets and much more. The ecosystem will not only plan a walk, but also give personal recommendations for recreation using artificial intelligence. The service already has more than 50 thousand offers for travel around Russia, of which about a third are in Moscow.

    For those who want to independently plan their leisure time and explore the city, there is application “Discover Moscow”. It will suggest themed routes around the city and tell about parks and estates via an audio guide. In addition, the application offers to study the history of the capital using augmented reality technologies, so that users can take a new look at familiar streets and boulevards.

    Spend your summer usefully and borrow a book from the nearest library service “Moscow Libraries”. All you need is a standard account on mos.ru and a single library card, which is issued online or in any of the 440 city reading rooms. The electronic version is available in the mobile app “My id”.

    The project will help you find nearby sports facilities, select a site for training and learn about active recreation activities “Moscow Sport”. On the mos.ru website, anyone who wants to can find the nearest open swimming pools and will be able to buy a ticket for the session, as well as book a gazebo for relaxation in the park through the service “Picnic in Moscow”.

    Solve everyday issues

    Through mos.ru and the applications “My Moscow” and “Gosuslugi Moskvy” you can pay utility bills and city services using the service “My payments”.

    In addition, residents of the capital can submit readings water meters Andelectricity, as well as solve other everyday issues. For example, call a technician to troubleshoot problems in the house or to find out hot water shutdown schedule in the summer period.

    If there are no meters installed in the apartment, in order to save on payments during a vacation or a trip to the country, you need to submit an applicationrecalculation of payment for housing and communal servicesTo do this, you must provide a document confirming the absence of meters and indicating the duration of the rest.

    Service “Removal of unnecessary things” will help to tidy up and get rid of unnecessary things, for example, to donate unnecessary clothes and books that will be useful to others for free. The full list of what is accepted for removal is posted on mos.ru.

    The creation, development and operation of the e-government infrastructure, including the provision of mass socially significant services, as well as other services in electronic form, correspond to the objectives of the national project “Data Economy” and the regional project of the city of Moscow “Digital Public Administration”.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Several boulevards will be temporarily closed to traffic in central Moscow

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In connection with the 10,000 Steps walking and running festival, several boulevards on the inner side of the Boulevard Ring will be closed on June 8.

    Thus, from 00:01 on June 8 until 05:00 on June 9 it will be impossible to drive on:

    – Gogolevsky Boulevard (from Volkhonka Street to Znamenka Street);

    — Nikitsky Boulevard (from house 12 on Novinsky Boulevard to Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street);

    — Tverskoy Boulevard (from Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street to Tverskaya Street);

    — Strastnoy Boulevard (from Naryshkinsky Proezd to Petrovka Street);

    – Petrovsky Boulevard (from Petrovka to Krapivinsky Lane);

    — Rozhdestvensky Boulevard (from Rozhdestvenka Street to Bolshaya Lubyanka Street);

    – Sretensky Boulevard (from Bolshaya Lubyanka Street to Frolov Lane);

    — Chistoprudny Boulevard (from Myasnitskaya Street to house 12, building 2 on Chistoprudny Boulevard).

    Parking in these areas will be prohibited from 00:01 on June 7 until the end of the event.

    Drivers are advised to plan their route in advance, taking into account temporary traffic restrictions. All detailed information is available on the website Traffic Management Center.

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

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    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The summer cinema at VDNKh has opened again

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The summer cinema-lecture hall has reopened at VDNKh. It has traditionally been operating for the fifth season in a row. The site is open to visitors until September 7 from Friday to Sunday.

    The cinema’s repertoire includes cartoons, comedies, dramas, fantasy stories and action films aimed at different audiences. Viewers will see the French comedies “Aliens” and “Aliens. Back to the Future”, the Russian fantasy films “Pirates of the Galaxy Barracuda” and “Zhdun”, and the Russian drama “Everything That Concerns You”.

    All film screenings are free. To get into one of them, you need to go through registration on the site, which will be available 48 hours before the event starts.

    The auditorium is designed for 288 people. The Okko summer cinema is open for visiting even in bad weather. A massive canvas roof reliably protects viewers from the rain. In addition, they can always use branded pillows. The design of the auditorium itself allows you to comfortably and without interference enjoy the film from any point.

    Holding events for VDNKh guests corresponds to the objectives of the national project “Tourism and Hospitality”.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: What goods did Moscow entrepreneurs send to SVO fighters this spring?

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In every district of the capital there are owners of shops, shopping centers, restaurants, cafes, hairdressers and car services who sent humanitarian aid to participants in the special military operation (SVO) this spring.

    The products are being donated not only by establishments that purchase food, such as supermarkets or bakeries, but also by beauty salons. Their employees managed to collect a large number of cans of stewed meat and main courses, specially preserved for long-term storage, as well as dry milk porridges.

    About 300 food packages were received by servicemen from entrepreneurs from the Levoberezhny and Vostochnoye Degunino districts, and about 200 dry rations were transferred from Ivanovskoye and Kosino-Ukhtomsky. In addition, it was possible to send more than 700 different canned goods – from vegetables to meat.

    Restaurant and pastry shop owners in Severnoye Butovo collected almost 300 kilograms of food products, and one teahouse in Lublin donated 500 kilograms of honey to the fighters. The packages also included instant noodles and mashed potatoes, tea and coffee, candy, chocolate and other food.

    Humanitarian aid shipments of clothing were sent this spring from the Yaroslavsky, Obruchevsky, Yuzhnoye Tushino, Chertanovo Tsentralnoye, Sokolinaya Gora and Lyublino districts. These are several thousand insoles, including woolen ones, winter and summer uniforms, thermal underwear and socks, T-shirts, hats, and dozens of pairs of shoes.

    Fabric and yarn stores donated pillows, blankets, and bed linens so that the soldiers could rest in comfortable conditions. Gas burners were included in the packages for cooking, and stoves and generators were also sent.

    The entrepreneurs placed a great emphasis on medical products and collected, for example, liters of antiseptic, hundreds of bandages, tourniquets and catheters, as well as crutches, dressings and medications.

    The owners of department stores and car dealerships have not forgotten about spare parts, lumber, electronic warfare systems, quadcopters, professional radios, monoculars, collimators and other military equipment.

    There were also those who independently delivered humanitarian aid to the combat zone and also provided facilities for weaving camouflage nets.

    Since the first days of the SVO, owners of Moscow stores, shopping centers, car dealerships and other service establishments, as well as Moscow restaurateurs, have been regularly sending humanitarian aid. The parcels contain products that have a long shelf life: canned meat, fish and vegetables, tons of different cereals, pasta, cookies, candies, chocolate and many other sweets. Entrepreneurs donate personal hygiene products and seasonal clothing, such as jackets, boots and thermal underwear, as well as essential medicines, building materials and even military equipment, including quadcopters and entire columns of vehicles.

    More about the activities of the capital’s Department of Trade and Services – inofficial telegram channel.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Top Class, or How Acrobatic Rock ‘n’ Roll Athletes Are Trained in Moscow

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Hot music, fast tempo, split seconds – and the young athletes are already in the air. Jump, spin, land – we watch with admiration the complex tricks that the students practice during training Moscow Academy of Dance Sport and Acrobatic Rock’n’RollAmong her students are masters of sports of international class, champions of Russia, the world, Europe, and winners of the World Games.

    A mos.ru correspondent went to the academy and found out why athletes love acrobatic rock-n-roll and why they regularly compete.

    Dance, acrobatics and discipline

    Main site Moscow Academy of Dance Sport and Acrobatic Rock’n’Roll is located on 3rd Frunzenskaya Street (building 5, block 1) in Khamovniki. You can recognize the building by its panoramic windows and the large red sign above the main entrance.

    The lobby on the first floor contains the administrator’s post, a cloakroom and soft sofas. The sounds of music are carried along the spacious corridors.

    “Our academy is the leading institution for the development of acrobatic rock ‘n’ roll in Moscow and Russia. More than 1.6 thousand people are trained in this sport under the guidance of 60 highly professional coaches. Acrobatic rock ‘n’ roll attracts children with its spectacularity and dynamism. Its uniqueness is also in the fact that it harmoniously develops the child. Here is choreography, acrobatics, work on coordination and stretching, general physical training. And also responsibility and discipline,” says Alexandra Zalipaeva, coach and head of the sports school of acrobatic rock ‘n’ roll, which is part of the academy.

    The academy trains athletes from the age of six. The preparatory program is selected by assessing the physical characteristics of each child. In the first years of training, children develop musicality, learn dance moves, and get used to the feeling of flying on trampolines and acrobatic tracks. From the age of eight, young performers participate in competitions, where they first receive youth and then adult sports categories.

    The next step is the title of candidate for master of sports. It is awarded from the age of 14. Children over 16 can receive the title of master of sports of Russia and master of sports of Russia of international class.

    “Acrobatic rock’n’roll is performed in pairs. Young men and women come out onto the dance floor, having prepared a program to a given piece of music in advance. There is also a category called formation in this sport. Teams compete in it. They may include young men and women (“formation mixed”) or only women (“female formation”). Some of our academy’s students try their hand at several categories at once. And we support them in this. We do not limit training by age – the guys continue to train with us even after they turn 18,” emphasizes Alexandra Zalipaeva.

    From Kick-Ball-Chencha to Migratory Todes

    We go down to the first floor, where there are locker rooms, a gym and a training room. Behind one of the doors is a huge space with high ceilings and a shiny dance floor. This is a multi-purpose training room. It has everything necessary for training athletes: a ballet barre, wall bars, mats, acrobatic tracks and a large trampoline. On it, the guys learn to jump and do somersaults.

    Energetic music plays, and couples come out to the center of the room. The dancers join hands and beat the beat, rhythmically moving their legs, as if hitting an invisible ball. This movement is called “kick-ball-chench.” Then the young men cross their palms and help their partners push off. A few seconds later, the girls synchronously turn over in the air.

    “Acrobatic rock’n’roll is about coordination, synchronicity and confidence. That’s why we pay attention not only to technique, but also to how the kids feel. In our sport, the girls do the tricks, and the boys throw them up and insure them, so the partners should be taller, stronger and tougher than their partners. It’s also important that both trust each other. To do this, we first work on the fear of heights – this is probably one of the strongest fears in children. First, we introduce the child to the trampoline, try to do simple elements. Then we use a safety rope. It is attached to the ceiling and holds the child. When the trick is done confidently, we perform it without the safety rope,” says Nadezhda Abyzova, a trainer at the Moscow Academy of Dance Sport and Acrobatic Rock’n’Roll.

    She has been training athletes for over 30 years. During her classes, Nadezhda Abyzova instills in children a love for music, creativity and sports, and tries to reveal the talent in each student. The main secret of the most striking performances, according to her, is the hard work of the children. They spend three hours a day up to four times a week in the training halls.

    Among the girls who soar into the air time and time again is Angelina Lyubomudrova. At 17, she is already a master of sports in acrobatic rock and roll and a member of teams in the categories of “women’s formation” and “formation mixed”.

    “My mother brought me to the classes. I remember seeing some guys standing on the shoulders of others, creating an incredibly beautiful figure, and I realized that I wanted to do the same. I was seven then. Over the 10 years of training, I tried to perform different elements – from the simplest to the most complex. One of my favorites is the flight death spiral, when you need to push off from one partner, fly up, turn around and land on the back of the other. At the same time, we do not just perform dance and acrobatic elements, but do it quickly, with energy and drive. Our sport gives emotions, for which we love it. Music and confidence that everything will definitely work out help to catch the right mood,” says Angelina Lyubomudrova, a student of the academy.

    Capital centers of additional education are becoming increasingly popularWhat do children get from studying general development programs in art schools?Theatre career: how art school and college graduates take their first steps in the profession

    To be an artist, a champion and a best friend

    Stanislav Neporozhnev, a 19-year-old graduate of the Moscow Academy of Dance Sport and Acrobatic Rock ‘n’ Roll, also speaks about the importance of hard work. He appears on the training floor with his partner, 16-year-old Olesya Zvereva. Together they are part of the Moscow Acrobatic Rock ‘n’ Roll Team.

    “Now I am a master of sports in acrobatic rock and roll. This title was my dream. I came to classes at the age of eight and at first enjoyed the music and movements, and then I realized that I wanted to win. To defend the rank, you need to take the corresponding prize place at the championship. This is what I worked for, listening attentively to the coach and honing my skills together with my partner,” Stanislav says.

    He is sure that the secret of victory is in unity. Everything works out as it should if the couple is not only danced, but also friendly.

    “Without a good relationship, a couple will not work out. In order to trust your partner, share the emotions of performance with him and feel confident in every movement, you need to be friends. That’s why we not only train together, but also spend our free time – we walk, communicate. Thanks to this, the atmosphere in classes becomes not competitive, but almost family-like – we get along so well with each other,” Olesya Zvereva supports her partner.

    Stanislav Neporozhnev is studying to be an engineer, and Olesya Zvereva is just deciding what she wants to become, but both are sure that acrobatic rock and roll will always be their favorite thing. But Varvara and Sergey Dmitriev dream of one day professionally training future champions. They continue the family tradition.

    “We are brother and sister, and our mother is an acrobatic rock ‘n’ roll coach. She no longer teaches, but thanks to her, our path as athletes began. I have been dancing since I was five, and my sister practically since she was in diapers. At first, we just studied the direction, and then we began to perform at championships. Now we can’t imagine our life without it. Now I am 17, Varvara is 15. We are already candidates for master of sports and in the future we want to become coaches,” says Sergey Dmitriev.

    In May, the guys performed at the All-Russian Acrobatic Rock ‘n’ Roll Competition and took fifth place. Today, they continue to hone their skills. Together, they go to the middle of the training hall and, to the sound of fiery music, transform into fairy-tale characters – the Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood.

    “Competitions are an integral part of our sport. That’s why we always prepare for something. We can have up to four championships in a row per month. This gives the guys not only ranks and titles, but also invaluable experience. They become stronger, more resilient, more graceful. New horizons open up for them. Our students can enroll in physical education universities, sports and pedagogical colleges, attend referee seminars and evaluate performances at championships or continue to go out on the court, reaching world heights. And they often return to us as teachers. And this is wonderful. It means we are doing everything right,” emphasizes Nadezhda Abyzova.

    You can enroll your child in the sports training program at the Moscow Academy of Dance Sport and Acrobatic Rock ‘n’ Roll on the portal Mos.ruRegistration is planned to open in September.

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

    From artistic fencing to eSports. What unusual sections do young Muscovites attend?The Magical World of Creativity: How the M.I. Glinka Children’s Art School WorksHereditary artists and love for folk culture. The ensemble “Rhythms of Childhood” is 50 years oldWinter Garden, Ship Laboratory and Robot Workshop: How the Palace of Pioneers on Vorobyovy Gory Is OrganizedFrom Equilibrium to Juggling: What They Teach at the Yury Nikulin School of Circus Arts

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/154845073/

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Schools, kindergartens, clinics: what else will appear in the new microdistrict in Krasnopakhorsky district

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    A modern residential cluster with schools, kindergartens, a clinic and commercial real estate will appear in the Troitsky administrative district. The construction will be carried out by an investor determined by the results of the auction, reported Ekaterina Solovieva, Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Moscow Department of City Property.

    “Investors are actively involved in the urban development of the Troitsky and Novomoskovsky administrative districts. Following an open auction, an agreement was signed with the developer that will allow the company, together with the city, to build a modern residential cluster with the necessary social and commercial infrastructure on the territory of 736 hectares in the Krasnopakhorsky district. It is planned to build 825 thousand square meters of housing, public and business real estate with a total area of more than 41 thousand square meters, as well as a clinic, schools and kindergartens for two thousand students and 1.3 thousand pupils,” said Ekaterina Solovyova.

    The project envisages the construction of housing for approximately 15 thousand people. They plan to build more than seven thousand private cottages, as well as townhouses and apartment buildings with almost two thousand apartments. The plots for development are located next to the Central Ring Road, between the settlements of Shchapovo, Pesye and Ovechkino.

    The investor of the project will be the Samolet Group of Companies. According to the Investment Director Alexey Romantsov, the partnership of investors and the city allows for the application of the best urban development practices. It is expected that the central core of the project’s audience will be families who will appreciate the unique combination of advantages of country life with urban comfort. The family concept is reflected in the infrastructure, landscaping and apartment layout of the project. Thus, the average area of apartments in low-rise buildings is more than 20 percent larger than the area in city blocks.

    Work on the project is planned to begin in 2026–2027.

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

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    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Students from Moscow colleges will shoot films on Moskino sites

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Thanks to the agreement between the capital Department of Culture and the Moscow Center for the Development of Professional Education Department of Education and Science of the City of Moscow Students from the capital’s colleges will be able to make films at the Moskino cinema park.

    “Almost 1,200 students from Film College No. 40 “Moscow International Film School” and Entrepreneurship College No. 11 will be able to work on the world’s largest location for filming on location. They will use the modern infrastructure not only on specially designated days, but also upon individual requests. The guys will be able to work on any of the 24 locations. This will help them consolidate their knowledge and implement their projects in professional conditions,” the press service of the Department of Education and Science said.

    Thus, regular career guidance excursions to the sites are held for college students. Such practice develops creative thinking and provides an opportunity to gain knowledge that will be useful in a future career. And the guys from Film College No. 40 “Moscow International Film School” We have already filmed a scene in the film park’s airplane for the educational film “Boeing”.

    “I really enjoyed working on the set. We filmed in the cockpit of a real airplane. Special fences were installed around the place where we worked and an observer was appointed so that no one would interfere with us. The curator would come periodically and check if everything was okay. The filming went great thanks to the Moskino film park team. It was a wonderful experience,” shared Andrey Romashov, third-year student and editor of the educational film “Boeing.”

    The Moskino Cinema Park is part of Sergei Sobyanin’s Moscow — City of Cinema project and an object of the Moscow film cluster, which is being developed by the capital’s Department of Culture. The first stage of creation has already been completed: 24 natural sites, four pavilions and six infrastructure facilities have been built, including the sets of the Center of Moscow, Moscow of the 1940s, Vitebsk Station, Cathedral Square of Moscow, County Town, Cowboy Town, St. Petersburg Bar and other sites.

    The Moscow Film Cluster is an infrastructure facility, services and facilities for filmmakers, which are being developed by the Moscow Government within the framework of the Moscow — City of Cinema project. Its structure includes the Moskino Film Park, the Gorky Film Studio (sites on Sergei Eisenstein Street and Valdaisky Proyezd), the Moskino Film Factory, the Moskino Cinema Network, the Film Commission and the Moskino Film Platform.

    The admissions campaign in Moscow colleges will begin on June 26. Applicants will be able to submit applications online on the portal Mos.ru simultaneously for five specialties in one educational institution or distribute the choice between several colleges.

    To learn more about popular areas of study at the capital’s colleges, visit open days. You can see the schedule and sign up on the website Moscow Center for the Development of Professional Education, having registered in advance.

    Detailed information about the professions and specialties taught in the capital’s colleges is available at website, in the telegram channel“Colleges of Moscow” and the same name community on the social network VKontakte.

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

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    MIL OSI Russia News

  • Boisson lights up French Open, Sinner and Djokovic book semi-final showdown

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Wild card Lois Boisson lit up the French Open on Wednesday when the home hope downed sixth-seeded Russian Mirra Andreeva to make the semi-finals before Novak Djokovic set up a blockbuster meeting with world number one Jannik Sinner.

    While Sinner stretched his Grand Slam winning streak to 19 matches after back-to-back titles at the U.S. Open last year and the Australian Open in January, Boisson, ranked 361st, thrilled the home crowd with a dazzling performance.

    Three-time French Open winner Novak Djokovic stole the show in the evening by outlasting German third seed Alexander Zverev 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 to remain in the hunt for a record 25th Grand Slam title at the venue of his Olympic gold medal last year.

    Victory after three hours and 17 minutes was the 38-year-old Serbian’s 101st win at Roland Garros but he had to draw from his seemingly endless reserves of energy and experience to prevail.

    “There was a lot of tension, pressure but it’s normal when you play Zverev, one of the best in the world, in the last five-six years,” Djokovic said.

    “My game is based on a lot of running. I’m 38, it’s not easy to keep running like that but, OK, it works.”

    Sinner was barely troubled as he defeated Alexander Bublik 6-1 7-5 6-0 and became the first Italian man to reach six Grand Slam semi-finals.

    The 23-year-old, who served a three-month doping ban before returning to action in Rome last month, raced through the first set after twice breaking the Kazakh, who had stunned fifth seed Jack Draper in the previous round.

    Looking to become the first man representing Kazakhstan to defeat a world number one, Bublik, who hit 37 drop shots against Draper, pulled out this weapon again in the second set.

    Sinner broke and held to take it before the 27-year-old Bublik, ever the entertainer, delighted fans with an underarm serve but ultimately could do nothing to stop the Italian’s march into the last four.

    BOISSON SPARKLES

    Earlier Boisson became the toast of France after staging the tournament’s biggest upset with a 7-6(6) 6-3 win over Andreeva, who had been tipped as a title contender, in an electrifying match that had the home crowd on the edge of their seats.

    The 22-year-old had stunned third seed Jessica Pegula in round four, but on Wednesday pulled off another major shock, beating Andreeva, who had not lost a set in the tournament.

    “Every player dreams of winning a Slam – and for a French player, Roland Garros even more so. I’ll go for it because my dream is to win the final, not the semi-final,” Boisson said.

    Andreeva, the 18-year-old sixth seed who was bidding to become the youngest female player to reach back-to-back French Open semi-finals in nearly three decades, quickly found herself chasing Boisson’s fierce forehand.

    The underdog, who has been a breath of fresh air in the tournament with her no-nonsense power game and down-to-earth approach, looked to have run out of steam as Andreeva went 3-0 up but she proceeded to win the next six consecutive games.

    Andreeva repeatedly lost her temper and was handed a warning when she fired a ball into the stands in frustration.

    With the home crowd the loudest it had been since the start, chants of ‘Lois, Lois’ echoed across the Philippe Chatrier court, with the decibel level lifted even further because the roof was closed due to rain.

    Boisson, who will jump almost 300 places in the rankings next week, will face 2023 U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff, who came out on top in an error-ridden quarter-final against Australian Open champion Madison Keys with the pair littering the court with 101 unforced errors.

    UNFORCED ERRORS

    With a total of 49 unforced errors in the first set alone they both struggled to hold serve and Gauff, a semi-finalist in Paris last year, wasted a set point before Keys, who reached the French Open last four in 2018, edged ahead with a tiebreak win.

    Gauff, who reached the final in 2022 and is the youngest woman to claim 25 main-draw wins at Roland Garros since Martina Hingis (1995-2000), bounced back to win the next two sets.

    “So many unforced errors,” Gauff, who also had 10 double faults, said to herself after sinking another easy baseline shot into the net.

    “I was just trying to be aggressive,” the 21-year-old Gauff said. “Usually if you’re playing too passive, in the end the more aggressive player is going to win. I knew in the second and the third that I had to try my best.”

    (Reuters)

  • Ronaldo fires Portugal into Nations League final

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner as Portugal fought back to beat Germany 2-1 on Wednesday, with the 40-year-old bagging his 137th international goal to send them into the Nations League final.

    It was Portugal’s first win over Germany since 2000 with Ronaldo’s goal earning them a spot in their second Nations League final, after winning the inaugural edition in 2019.

    Spain and France will clash in the other semi-final on Thursday to decide who will face Portugal in the decider on Sunday.

    Germany dominated the first half, but it remained goalless thanks to the heroics of Portugal keeper Diogo Costa.

    The shotstopper made an excellent start to the first half, keeping out a low shot from Germany’s Leon Goretzka after four minutes with a strong save.

    Costa came to Portugal’s rescue again with an incredible save from Nick Woltemade’s close-range effort and two minutes later, he produced another quick reaction stop, diving low to tip away another attempt from Goretzka.

    Germany took the lead in the 48th minute, as Florian Wirtz headed in unmarked in the box, following a pinpoint lobbed pass from Joshua Kimmich.

    However, Portugal turned the match around, first equalising through substitute Francisco Conceicao in the 63rd minute, before Ronaldo tapped in five minutes later after Nuno Mendes teed him up.

    For Conceicao, the win carried extra significance, as his father Sergio scored a hat-trick the last time Portugal beat Germany – at the European Championship in 2000.

    “We need to enjoy the victory – we won for the first time in a while against Germany. Tactically we were exceptional and our commitment helped… it was a team victory,” Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said.

    “Now we can recover and evaluate,” he added. “We want another performance with personality in this shirt.”

    Germany looked to shift the momentum when substitute Karim Adeyemi unleashed a powerful rising strike with his left foot, only to see it crash against the outside of Costa’s right-hand post.

    Portugal could have grabbed a third goal very late in the match but Germany keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen stretched impressively to perform a double save.

    It was a disappointing 100th appearance for Germany captain Kimmich.

    “The defeat is absolutely deserved. We weren’t playing well enough in the first half. After going 1-0 up, nothing came of it in the second half,” he told reporters.

    “We have to learn from this. If we’re not at 100%, we can’t beat a top European team. Today was one of our worst games, purely based on our performance.”

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: POLICE APPEAL: Aggravated Robbery Whangārei

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Northland Police are appealing for information in relation to an aggravated robbery in Tikipunga, Whangārei, yesterday.

    “Police responded to reports that a vehicle had been stolen by two offenders,” says Detective Senior Sergeant Michelle Harris, of Northland CIB.

    “Members of the public were left shaken after two-armed males allegedly forced a woman from her vehicle.”

    The vehicle fled at speed, damaging four other vehicles in the process.

    Help from the public yesterday assisted Police to locate and arrest the pair at a nearby property.

    A number of weapons were also seized.

    “Police are appealing to anyone who witnessed anything at the Paramount Plaza yesterday between 1230pm and 2pm to please contact Police. We are also interested in any CCTV footage or cell phone footage of the incident”
    Det Snr Sgt Harris says.

    “We’d be grateful for anyone with information contacting Police as soon as possible.”

    The two men appeared in the Whangārei District Court today on charges of aggravated robbery and demands to steal.

    Police enquiries are ongoing, and anyone with information that can assist with our enquiries is asked to update us online now or call 105.

    Please use file number 250604/4542

    ENDS

    Nicole Bremner/NZ Police 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Padilla Exposes Cruelty of Republican Plan to Cut $300 Billion in Essential SNAP Benefits

    US Senate News:

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

    WATCH: Padilla Exposes Cruelty of Republican Plan to Cut $300 Billion in Essential SNAP Benefits

    WATCH: Padilla highlights critical importance of federal nutrition services for helping American economy and vulnerable communities

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined a spotlight forum titled “Hunger by Design ­— The GOP’s Assault on SNAP” to question witnesses and expose President Trump and Republicans’ cruel budget proposal that would slash $300 billion in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits while giving tax cuts to billionaires. As Trump’s tariffs raise food costs for American families, the cuts to SNAP would threaten a vital lifeline for over 42 million Americans, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, 4 million people with disabilities, and 1.2 million veterans.

    Senator Padilla warned against the devastating SNAP cuts to pay for Republicans’ billionaire-first agenda.

    • “We’re here today because in order to make life easier for billionaires — apparently that’s an agenda item — Congressional Republicans are pushing a budget bill that would literally harm young children, would harm single mothers, would harm Americans with disabilities, would harm countless seniors, some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. And Republicans would have you believe that SNAP benefits are some sort of luxury the way they talk about it. Nobody aspires to live on food stamps. What food stamps are is a lifeline for millions of Americans.
    • It’s outright cruelty, literally taking from the poor to give to the rich. No one in our country should go hungry because billionaires need another tax break. That’s the Republican agenda. So today we’re here to expose these devastating cuts — literally the largest in history — for what they really are: tax breaks for billionaires paid for by the most vulnerable in our society.

    Padilla highlighted that the Republican budget reconciliation bill targets immigrants legally residing in the United States. He also underscored that Californians who are undocumented pay $8.5 billion dollars a year in taxes, yet are generally excluded from public programs like SNAP, the child tax credit, and Medicaid that their tax dollars pay for. He heard from Barbara C. Guinn, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, about the devastating impacts of withholding food assistance for lawfully present immigrants who depend on SNAP.

    • PADILLA: “One of the most concerning elements of the bill is how it targets immigrant communities. There’s immigrants in every state in the nation. It targets them through deliberate exclusions of tax-paying noncitizens or their families from receiving child tax credit, Medicaid, and SNAP. … Commissioner Guinn, can you share how the bill would take food assistance away from lawfully present immigrants who have long been eligible for SNAP, and what the consequences would be for immigrant communities at large?”
    • GUINN: “… The SNAP program, first, already has some pretty stringent limitations on the extent to which noncitizens can receive benefits. So the fact that this bill goes even farther in reducing access for individuals who are legally, lawfully present in our country is of great concern. In New York State, we estimate that as a result of the provisions in the House bill to further prevent legal noncitizens from accessing food benefits would impact about 70,000 individuals. … SNAP is typically temporary. It is often received by individuals who are trying really hard to work, putting a couple of jobs together. That’s no different for these immigrants who are legally present in our country, and we believe that they should continue to receive SNAP benefits, and actually would prefer to move in a different direction, to expand access for additional legally [present] noncitizens.”

    Padilla also questioned Northwestern University Professor Dr. Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach on the economic importance of preserving SNAP benefits. Dr. Schanzenbach emphasized that SNAP is especially important during economic downturns and after natural disasters, citing the critical safety net provided by expanding nutrition assistance during the Great Recession. SNAP supports roughly 390,000 jobs and $20 billion in wages every year.

    • PADILLA: “Dr. Schanzenbach, you’ve talked about how SNAP doesn’t just fight against hunger, it actually is a driver of local economies throughout the country, impacting farmers, food producers, grocery retailers, truck drivers, et cetera. Can you just expand on what those economic impacts would be?”
    • SCHANZENBACH: “… SNAP, and because of the full federal funding of SNAP, can very quickly expand in economic downturns. That means that people can still go to the grocery store, and it means that the grocery store doesn’t have to lay off certain people, and it has often been the most effective stimulus money that we’ve spent. Like during the Great Recession, they topped up benefits by like 15 percent. The studies came back and found… something like $1.75 return for every dollar that you spent on those increased benefits. SNAP is a very effective tool. It’s also particularly effective when, when there are natural disasters, like the fires in California. You know, we saw a little bit about the spillover effects on other people, right? Because we live in a society where our economic well-being is interconnected, and if we pull the rug out from one sector that’s going to have ripple effects.
    • PADILLA: “Appreciate you mentioning that it’s not just economic downturns, but with the increasing frequency and scale of natural disasters, the role and impact of SNAP there as well.”

    Video of Senator Padilla’s remarks and questioning is available here.

    Last month, Senator Padilla issued a statement slamming House Republicans’ billionaire-first budget reconciliation bill that will gut critical programs, including SNAP, and devastate families in California and across the country. Padilla previously spoke on the Senate floor against the Republican budget resolution, and voted against advancing it in the Senate in both February and April.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police call for public’s help in search for missing woman

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Christchurch Police are urging residents in areas around Riccarton to search their backyards for a woman who has been missing for nearly 24 hours.

    Elisabeth, 79, was last seen on Bartlett Street in Riccarton about 6pm on Wednesday 4 June. She was wearing blue pants, a dark coloured long-sleeve top, black shoes and has distinctive long blond/white hair.

    Senior Sergeant Todd Webley said Police held serious concerns for her wellbeing.

    “We have a large number of staff on the ground, including from Land Search and Rescue, but we really need people in the Riccarton and surrounding areas to check home security cameras, and also around their properties, in sheds and garages, in case Elisabeth is there.

    Area searches have been carried out through Riccarton, nearby high schools, sport fields and retirement homes, and on both sides of the Avon River from the Botanical Gardens traffic bridge, and Hagley Park.

    “This is a significant search, but we need the public’s help to locate Elisabeth as soon as possible. We know people are finishing work for the day, and the best way they can assist us is to check their properties and call 111 if they find her.”

    Senior Sergeant Webley said search teams would remain on the ground into the evening “if it comes to it”, and that Elisabeth’s family were being provided updates on the search.

    “It is getting cold, and everyone on the ground is focused on bringing Elisabeth home as soon as possible.”

    Anyone who sees Elisabeth should ring 111 immediately and use the reference number 250604/5465. Non-urgent information can be provided online at 105.police.govt.nz, using “Update Report”, and quoting the same reference number.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Alleged scammer arrested following $150k in thefts

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police have arrested a man after he allegedly used Facebook Marketplace to fleece people of more than $150,000 worth of goods.

    This morning officers from Waitematā West Tactical Crime Unit assisted by the Armed Offenders Squad, conducted a search warrant at a Massey address.

    Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Bunting says Police had been looking for the male who was wanted in relation to 17 dodgy deals between November 2024 and April this year.

    “This man was allegedly involved in Facebook Marketplace deals for 17 different vehicles or high value items including phones and jewellery.

    “We allege this person has attended public places to meet the sellers and do ‘bank transfers’ described as looking very real, including using fake IDs and fake drivers licenses.

    “Unfortunately the sellers have let the vehicles/goods go with the offender before later realising no transfer has occurred.”

    Detective Senior Sergeant Bunting says the alleged offender has obtained goods to the tune of $150,000.

    “Several vehicles have been recovered and further enquiries are ongoing.”

    He says Police are not ruling out further charges.

    “While it is a very effective buy and sell platform, it’s also a successful hunting ground for criminals to buy items using a fake bank transfer or sell items that don’t exist and don’t deliver.

    “These types of scams can be difficult for Police to investigate so we are urging those who use the buy and sell platform to exercise caution and do their due-diligence first.”

    Police encourage anyone choosing to use the buy and sell platform to follow the following advice:

    • Insist on meeting to conduct transactions and examine the item before completing the transaction

    • Meet in a public place and take a friend. DO NOT go into someone’s house or allow them into yours

    • DO NOT deposit money into another person’s account before you have received the item

    • Ensure that cleared funds have arrived in your account, don’t rely on sellers ID, screenshots or viewing funds being transferred on an app

    • Learning more about the person you are buying from or selling to. Note: You can tap on a person’s profile on the product listing page to see if you have any friends in common, their marketplace activity, and any ratings they

    may have received

    • Ensure friends and family, especially anyone vulnerable, understand what to do to protect themselves. Be the person to provide that ongoing support and advice

    • Trust your instincts – if it’s too good to be true or sounds like a scam, it probably is

    If you believe you are or have been a victim of fraud, contact Police at www.police.govt.nz/use-105, or call Police on 105 and report the matter.

    If you have handed over your bank details, contact your bank and immediately suspend your account.

    A 36-year-old man will appear in Waitākere District Court today facing 17 charges of obtaining by deception.

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DH’s enquiry hotline regarding suspected closure of private healthcare facilities to cease operation tomorrow

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    DH’s enquiry hotline regarding suspected closure of private healthcare facilities to cease operation tomorrow???
    After learning that the private health care facilities in question had used the laboratory services of a local private hospital for laboratory services, the DH has taken the initiative to contact the private hospital concerned and offered assistance in delivering 11 laboratory reports to the referring doctor so that the cases could be followed up appropriately. For the sake of prudence, the DH has also reached out to local registered professionals operating medical laboratories and radiological imaging services, inviting them to contact the DH for assistance if they are unable to deliver any laboratory reports to referring doctors from the private healthcare facilities in question.Issued at HKT 11:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI China: Ukraine, Russia to exchange 500 prisoners each this weekend: Zelensky

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

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Wednesday that Ukraine and Russia have agreed to carry out a prisoner exchange under the “500-for-500” formula this weekend, the Ukrinform news agency reported.

    “The Russian side has informed us that this weekend it will be ready to hand over 500 individuals … Accordingly, we will be ready to exchange the same number of people,” Zelensky said after consultations between Kiev and Moscow regarding the swap.

    He noted that Ukraine has not yet received the lists of individuals to be exchanged.

    Ukraine and Russia have agreed on another major prisoner exchange during the second round of direct talks in Istanbul on Monday.

    The delegations held their previous negotiations on May 16, which resulted in a “1,000 for 1,000” prisoner exchange between the parties. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: US stocks close mixed on weak hiring data in private sector

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

    U.S. stocks closed mixed on Wednesday as investors digested weaker-than-expected private-sector hiring data and remained cautious amid fresh U.S.-China trade tensions, following the implementation of a steep steel and aluminum tariff hike.

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 91.90 points, or 0.22 percent, ending the session at 42,427.74, while the S&P 500 inched up 0.44 points, or 0.01 percent, to 5,970.81. The Nasdaq Composite gained 61.53 points, or 0.32 percent, to close at 19,460.49.

    Sector performance was split, with six of the S&P 500’s 11 major groups finishing higher. Communication services and materials led the way, rising 1.36 percent and 0.35 percent, respectively. On the downside, energy and utilities were the weakest performers, falling 1.89 percent and 1.70 percent.

    Investor sentiment was dampened by the ADP National Employment Report, which showed private-sector hiring slowed significantly in May. Only 37,000 jobs were added, the weakest figure in over two years and far short of analyst expectation of 110,000 ones.

    Further economic data reflected softening conditions. The Institute for Supply Management’s Services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to 49.9 in May, slipping into contraction territory for just the fourth time in five years. The reading came in below April’s 51.6 and missed economist forecasts for an increase to 52, suggesting service sector growth is losing steam.

    Jefferies economist Tom Simons wrote in a note to clients that the data likely reflect “more signs of a pause in activity rather than a steep contraction.” “A broad pause is not a good thing, and the uncertainty that precipitated this pause has not shown any signs of lifting,” he said.

    Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at Fed Chair Jerome Powell on social media again, calling for immediate rate cuts.

    Adding to market jitters, Trump’s order to double tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 50 percent took effect Wednesday, with only the United Kingdom exempted. The deadline also arrived for U.S. trading partners to submit “best offers” to avoid a broader wave of retaliatory tariffs slated for July.

    Barclays’ Head of U.S. Equity Strategy Venu Krishna said that recent market movement reflects a “broad realization” that the extreme tariff rhetoric may not fully materialize, though it continues to create uncertainty for investors. “The bottom line is that while uncertainty remains high around the eventual tariff outcome, the rate of change on policy headwinds has become much less onerous.” Wilson said. “This has reduced recession risk and is giving corporates and consumers more confidence in the forward looking outlook.”

    The S&P 500 index will peak in the second quarter and then correct to the range of 5,250 points to 5,500 points in the second half of 2025, according to a presentation by Stifel on Tuesday.

    Major technology companies showed mixed performance on Wednesday. Meta Platforms advanced 3.16 percent, while chipmaker Broadcom, set to release earnings on Thursday, gained 1.65 percent. Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet posted modest increases. In contrast, electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla dropped 3.55 percent, and Apple edged down slightly. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Ancelotti eyes balanced Brazil for World Cup qualifiers

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

    New Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti said Wednesday that his plan for the national team will not be based solely on flair, but also on grit and defensive organization, as he prepares for his debut against Ecuador in World Cup qualifying.

    Ancelotti, who led Real Madrid to multiple titles including two Champions League crowns with several Brazilians in his squad, said the five-time World Cup champions must play a “complete game” if they are to meet expectations.

    “You can’t just do one good thing,” Ancelotti told reporters. “I believe we will be fine in attack because of the creativity we have. In defense, we need to have a united team that competes, fights and works together.”

    The 65-year-old Italian declined to reveal his starting lineup before Thursday’s match at Estadio Monumental in Guayaquil.

    Rodrygo (L) of Brazil shoots past Johan Mojica of Colombia during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Latin American Qualifier football match between Brazil and Colombia in Brasilia, Brazil, March 20, 2025. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

    But he said he would aim for balance while prioritizing a compact shape in defense, without limiting his players to a rigid formation.

    “I don’t want a team with a clear identity. We have to defend well, whether it’s 4-3-3 or 4-4-2. We have to defend together and be creative with the ball.”

    One of the challenges facing Ancelotti is how to bring out the best in Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, who has struggled to replicate his club form for the national team.

    The 24-year-old has scored just six goals in 39 appearances for Brazil since his international debut in 2019.

    “I don’t know if he’s been at his best here, but he has time to do what he does at Real Madrid,” Ancelotti said. “For us, he’s a fundamental player. We have to work to ensure he performs at his best here.”

    Ancelotti had words of praise for teenage Palmeiras forward Estevao, who will join Chelsea in July.

    The 18-year-old could make his first start for Brazil against Ecuador in the absence of Barcelona’s Raphinha, who is suspended due to an accumulation of red cards.

    “He’s got a special talent… he’s got character, he’s a good person and he’s humble,” Ancelotti said. “But he’s a young player and we have to be patient and careful. He has the characteristics to be very important for the future of the national team.”

    Brazil currently sits fourth in South America’s qualifying standings, with the top six teams earning direct entry to next year’s World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

    Ancelotti’s team could secure a berth in the tournament with a win over Ecuador and another against Paraguay in Sao Paulo next Tuesday.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Elderly daycare emerges to meet needs of Chinese families

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

    Staff members cut hair for clients at an elderly care center in Shenyang City, northeast China’s Liaoning Province, March 5, 2025.(Xinhua/Bai Yongquan)

    Almost every morning in Panjin, a city in northeast China’s Liaoning Province, 68-year-old Yang Yonghua walks to a neighborhood elderly care center accompanied by his son, a local barbecue restaurant owner. At this care center, he socializes, crafts things, shares meals and receives therapy with friends.

    This is China’s burgeoning model of daytime elderly care, a hybrid solution bridging home care and full-time nursing homes.

    Dubbed “elderly kindergarten,” these centers offer a structured schedule — breakfast, activities, lunch, naps, afternoon therapy, dinner and evening freshening up, all before families return for pickup.

    “It’s more interesting than home,” Yang said, reflecting the sentiment of many seniors finding unexpected joy in this new routine. His son, grappling with late-night shifts at the diner, found immediate relief after the center started operation in the summer of 2023.

    This shift in terms of elderly care is being propelled by both an urgent need and national policy. China’s population aged 60 and over had surpassed 310 million as of the end of 2024, accounting for 22 percent of its citizens, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Recognizing that many seniors have deep ties to their communities and families, authorities are promoting neighborhood-based solutions.

    The Ministry of Civil Affairs mandated community-level daytime centers offering daily care, meals, hygiene aid, emergency response and companionship. Local governments have tailored these mandates into concrete services — bathing assistance, medical escort and housekeeping.

    In the Seni District of Nagqu in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, seniors pay just 20 yuan (around 2.78 U.S. dollars) daily for lunch and dinner and more than a dozen services ranging from mahjong to therapy, while northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is aiming for 90-percent coverage of such facilities this year.

    The city of Hengshui in Hebei Province in north China has integrated businesses and community resources in launching 22 model hubs combining long-term stays, daycare, entertainment and dining for the elderly.

    The impact of such initiatives resonates deeply for families like that of Li Shihua, 88, who has dementia. Attending a daycare center which specializes in cognitive care in northeast China’s Dalian, her health has steadily improved, according to her family. Structured monitoring and medication management bring order and vitality to residents at this facility, significantly easing caregiver and family strain.

    Notably, innovations continue to unfold. Cities like Beijing and south China’s Guangzhou are piloting “co-care” spaces merging childcare and eldercare, supported by free public venues and subsidized utilities.

    Underpinning this expansion is a push for the establishment of standards. Authorities have released 51 national or industry benchmarks covering safety, quality and facility ratings — alongside over a hundred local standards.

    Experts believe that for people navigating work and filial duty, these daytime havens are more than a convenience. Instead, they’re becoming indispensable threads in the fabric of family life, offering community and care where it matters most — close to home. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: EIT carpentry apprentice to compete at national building final

    Source: Eastern Institute of Technology

    56 seconds ago

    EIT carpentry apprentice Hohepa Goulton (Ngāti Kahungunu) will represent Hawke’s Bay at the New Zealand Certified Builders Apprentice Challenge National Final, after winning the regional title earlier this year.

    The 19-year-old from Flaxmere is in his second year of the New Zealand Certificate in Carpentry (Level 4) and studies at EIT while working full-time at Mark Roil Hawkes Bay Homes.

    EIT carpentry apprentice Hohepa Goulton (Ngāti Kahungunu) will represent Hawke’s Bay at the NZCB Apprentice Challenge National Final in Hamilton this weekend, after winning the regional title in April.

    He is one of 19 regional champions from across the country set to compete in the national final, to be held this weekend (June 6–7) in Hamilton.

    “I’m a bit nervous, but I’m happy about it. It’s a cool opportunity and I’m proud to be going,” Hohepa says.
    Over two days, finalists will take part in a four-part competition that assesses their practical skills, communication, and career readiness.

    The practical skills test will see each apprentice given just one hour to build a traditional saw stool using hand and small power tools. Judging will focus on accuracy, speed, and technique, and will be carried out by industry professionals, including last year’s apprentice winner.

    Finalists will also complete a panel interview, deliver a project presentation, and submit a CV and portfolio showcasing their work and community involvement. The overall National Champion will be announced at the NZCB Gala Dinner on Saturday evening and will take home the prestigious Ken Read Memorial Trophy along with $10,000 worth of prizes.

    Hohepa earned his place at the national final after winning the Hawke’s Bay regional event in April. He had just eight hours to construct a planter box, which he has since donated to Te Kōhanga Reo o Keita Puriri rāua ko Hana Cotter.

    It wasn’t his first time competing. Last year, Hohepa came fourth in the same regional competition, just four months into his apprenticeship.

    Returning this year with a full year of experience and a new level of confidence, the result was different.

    “It means a lot. Last year I didn’t really know how to use the tools properly. This year I felt way more confident and just gave it a go. I didn’t expect to come first.”

    He says his success reflects the support he’s received through both his apprenticeship and EIT training.

    “The tutors and qualified builders have been a big help. I asked a lot of questions before the competition, and they showed me little tricks to help with setup and technique. That made a big difference.”

    A former Hastings Boys’ High School student, Hohepa discovered his love of carpentry in Year 10 wood tech. He continued with practical classes throughout school and was named top student in his Year 13 pre-trade course. With no immediate job lined up after graduation, he reached out to his teacher, who helped connect him with his current employer just two weeks after finishing school.

    Now, with the national final ahead, Hohepa is focused on the bigger picture.

    “I want to become a qualified builder and one day build my own dream home. I just love building. It’s hands-on, creative, and no two days are the same.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Parliament Hansard Report – Thursday, 5 June 2025 – Volume 784 – 001504

    Source: New Zealand Parliament

    ORAL QUESTIONS

    QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS

    Question No. 1—Transport

    1. TIM COSTLEY (National—Ōtaki) to the Minister of Transport: What announcements has he made about increasing the speed limit on State Highway 1?

    Hon CHRIS BISHOP (Minister of Transport): Last week I announced what many New Zealanders, I know, have been looking forward to: the start of public consultation on increasing the speed limits to 110 kilometres per hour on Transmission Gully and the Raumati Straights—22,000 vehicles using this relatively new road daily; important regional connector; safe, modern, reliable route for all road users; it’s the main gateway into Wellington; and I’m very pleased that the Government is taking this important step to further enhance the road.

    Tim Costley: Why is the Government considering this change now?

    Hon CHRIS BISHOP: Delivering better quality infrastructure is part of the Government’s plan to grow the economy, reduce travel times, and increase the productivity of our transport network. We’re committed to providing State highways that get people where they need to go quickly and safely. Transmission Gully is designed and constructed to a very high safety standard, has very low crash numbers on the road since its opening in 2022, and safety features that greatly reduce the risk of death or serious injury in a crash.

    Tim Costley: How can New Zealanders have their say on this proposal?

    Hon CHRIS BISHOP: Consultation on raising the speed limits opened last Friday and will last for six weeks. People can submit on this consultation via the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) website as well as find more information on this proposal. I’m looking forward to the strong support of the local MP for the area it connects to, Tim Costley.

    Tangi Utikere: Does he stand by Simeon Brown’s pledge to build the Ōtaki to north of Levin highway “no matter the cost”; and if so, why has the project now been scaled back, despite there having been a toll consultation process based on the original proposal?

    Hon CHRIS BISHOP: NZTA is consulting on a range of measures in order to make the project more affordable because, like many projects we inherited from the previous Government in which the costings were almost literally done on the back of the envelope, the project is experiencing cost pressures.

    DEPUTY SPEAKER: We’re not going to start with swipes at the Opposition.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Uncover untold stories of Lake Monger in a new 360 virtual reality film

    Source: South Australia Police

    A groundbreaking virtual reality film that invites Australians to step into the past and uncover the history of one of Perth’s most iconic wetlands – Lake Monger – has landed in Wanneroo.

    The Galup VR Experience was created by Ian Wilkes and artist/filmmaker Poppy van Oorde-Grainger, with an oral history from Elder Doolann-Leisha Eatts and guided by a team of supportive Noongar Elders.

    This immersive experience transports audiences to Galup (Lake Monger), revealing a powerful story of Noongar culture, colonial impact and truth-telling. Viewers are taken on a sunset journey around the lake, where the layers of time peel back for a retelling of one of its most important and largely untold stories.

    Produced by Same Drum, the experience is more than a film – it’s an invitation to all Australians to learn more about our collective past and shed  light on  tragic events that occurred in and around Lake Monger.

    Galup is both powerful and timely,” said Alec Coles, CEO of the Western Australian Museum. “Truth-telling is a critical step towards reconciliation for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples.”

    “This experience is a wonderful and powerful opportunity for our community to walk together through history, and to listen, learn and honour the stories of our past and present,” said Mayor Linda Aitken.

    Dive into the Galup VR Experience, free at the Wanneroo Library and Cultural Centre with multiple sessions on Wednesday 18 June 2025.

    Bookings are essential: Register on Eventbrite.

    Suitable for ages 13+.

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander audience members are advised that this production includes names, images and voices of people who have passed away. Names, images and voices of the deceased are used with permission.

    Acknowledgements

    Created by Ian Wilkes and Poppy van Oorde-Grainger with an oral history from Doolann-Leisha Eatts.

    Produced by Same Drum and guided by a team of supportive Noongar Elders.

    Assisted by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.

    Project Partners: Viewport XR, Museum of Freedom and Tolerance, Community Arts Network, Town of Cambridge Library, City of Vincent Local History Centre and Sandbox Productions.

    Galup VR Experience is based on the Galup site-specific performance originally commissioned by International Art Space as a part of the Know Thy Neighbour #2 program. The performance was remounted in 2021 for Perth Festival, co-produced by Same Drum and Performing Lines WA.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for June 5, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 5, 2025.

    Final counting shows polls understated Labor in 2025 election almost as much as they overstated it in 2019
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne With almost all primary votes now counted to two-party preferred (as I explained on May 29), Labor has won the national two-party vote by a 55.3–44.7 margin,

    Resignation of PM’s press secretary highlights gaps in NZ law on covert recording and harassment
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cassandra Mudgway, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Canterbury Getty Images The sudden resignation this week of one of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s senior press secretaries was politically embarrassing, but also raises questions about how New Zealand law operates in such cases. A Stuff investigation revealed the

    One year ago, Australia scrapped a key equity in STEM program. Where are we now?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maria Vieira, Lecturer, Education Futures, University of South Australia ThisIsEngineering/Pexels In June 2024, the Australian government ended the Women in STEM Ambassador program. The decision followed a report that urged a broader, intersectional approach to diversity in the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). For

    The pursuit of eternal youth goes back centuries. Modern cosmetic surgery is turning it into a reality – for rich people
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Margaret Gibson, Associate Professor of Sociology, Griffith University The Conversation, CC BY-SA Kris Jenner’s “new” face sparked myriad headlines about how she can look so good at 69 years old. While she’s not confirmed what sort of procedures she’s undergone, speculation abounds. As a US reality TV

    Woodside’s North West Shelf approval is by no means a one-off. Here are 6 other giant gas projects to watch
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Hepburn, Professor, Deakin Law School, Deakin University GREG WOOD/AFP via Getty Images The federal government’s decision to extend the life of Woodside’s North West Shelf gas plant in Western Australia has been condemned as a climate disaster. The gas lobby claims more gas is needed to

    Unprecedented heat in the North Atlantic Ocean kickstarted Europe’s hellish 2023 summer. Now we know what caused it
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew England, Scientia Professor and Deputy Director of the ARC Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science, UNSW Sydney Westend61/Getty Images In June 2023, a record-breaking marine heatwave swept across the North Atlantic Ocean, smashing previous temperature records. Soon after, deadly heatwaves broke out across large areas

    Bowel cancer rates are declining in people over 50. But why are they going up in younger adults?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Mahady, Associate Professor, Gastroenterologist & Clinical Epidemiologist, Monash University Thirdman/Pexels Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in Australia, with more than 15,000 cases diagnosed annually. It’s also the second most common cause of cancer-related death. Recently, headlines have warned of an uptick in cases

    Australian kids BYO lunches to school. There is a healthier way to feed students
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liesel Spencer, Associate Professor, School of Law, Western Sydney University Getty Images/ courtneyk Australian parents will be familiar with this school morning routine: hastily making sandwiches or squeezing leftovers into containers, grabbing a snack from the cupboard and a piece of fruit from the counter. This would

    Australia’s charity sector is growing – but many smaller charities are doing it tough
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Margaret Faulkner, Senior Marketing Scientist, Ehrenberg-Bass Institute, University of South Australia Revenue for Australia’s charity and not-for-profit sector has reached record highs, and total donations have grown. But the story isn’t the same everywhere, and some smaller charities may be struggling. That’s according to the latest edition

    Taylor Swift now owns all the music she has ever made: a copyright expert breaks it down
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wellett Potter, Lecturer in Law, University of New England On Friday, Taylor Swift announced she now owns all the music she has ever made. This reported US$360 million acquisition includes all the master recordings to her first six albums, music videos, concert films, album art, photos and

    The secret to Ukraine’s battlefield successes against Russia – it knows wars are never won in the past
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Sussex, Associate Professor (Adj), Griffith Asia Institute; and Fellow, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University The iconoclastic American general Douglas Macarthur once said that “wars are never won in the past”. That sentiment certainly seemed to ring true following Ukraine’s recent audacious attack on

    Politics with Michelle Grattan: historian Emma Shortis warns against falling into Trump’s trade traps
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to have his first face-to-face meeting with US President Donald Trump this month, against a background of increased steel and aluminium tariffs and US pressure on Australia to boost its defence spending. How Australia

    Extreme weather events have slowed economic growth, adding to the case for another rate cut
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stella Huangfu, Associate Professor, School of Economics, University of Sydney Australia’s economy slowed sharply in the March quarter, growing by just 0.2% as government spending slowed and extreme weather events dampened demand. That followed an increase of 0.6% in the previous quarter. The national accounts report from

    Young people who witness domestic violence are more likely to be victims of it. Here’s how we can help them
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kristin Diemer, Associate Professor of Sociology, The University of Melbourne In our national discussions on domestic and family violence, much of the focus is rightly on the women experiencing the violence and how best to help them. But another vital, less acknowledged part of the puzzle is

    Gluten intolerance and coeliac disease can both cause nausea, bloating and pain. What’s the difference?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yasmine Probst, Professor, School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences. Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian, University of Wollongong fotodrobik/Shutterstock Around one in ten Australians say they follow a gluten-free diet. This means eliminating common foods – such as bread, pasta and noodles – that contain gluten, a protein

    How physicists used antimatter, supercomputers and giant magnets to solve a 20-year-old mystery
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Finn Stokes, Ramsay Fellow in Physics, University of Adelaide Cindy Arnold, Fermilab Physicists are always searching for new theories to improve our understanding of the universe and resolve big unanswered questions. But there’s a problem. How do you search for undiscovered forces or particles when you don’t

    Ahead of the Brisbane Olympics, it’s time for Australia to get serious about esports
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Craig McNulty, Senior Lecturer in Exercise Physiology, Queensland University of Technology Roman Kosolapov/Shutterstock Most of us have heard of esports but many don’t realise the fast-growing world of competitive video gaming features tournaments, university scholarships and billions of dollars in revenue. As we approach the 2032 Brisbane

    ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for June 4, 2025
    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 4, 2025.

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI USA: On the Senate Floor, Cortez Masto Slams Republican Plan to Kick Millions off Health Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

    FTP for TV stations of her remarks is available here.

    “Republicans’ goal is to take Medicaid away from as many people as possible so they can pay for tax cuts for billionaires. It’s absurd and it’s un-American.”

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) spoke on the Senate floor to rake Republicans’ reconciliation bill over the coals for the devastating impact it would have on Nevadans’ health care. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates this bill would add $2.4 trillion to our national deficit and kick 16 million Americans off their health insurance, including nearly 100,000 Nevadans, all to pay for a tax giveaway to President Donald Trump’s billionaire friends.

    Below are her remarks as prepared for delivery:

    Mr. President, I’m joining my colleagues today to speak in opposition to Republicans’ catastrophic budget bill…that will end health care coverage for millions of American families…so that President Trump can orchestrate the largest transfer of wealth from the poor and working class to the ultra-rich that we have ever seen in this country.

    This bill has nearly $1 trillion in health care cuts, including over $800 billion in Medicaid cuts. In total, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that this bill would not only add $2.4 trillion to our national deficit, but also kick 16 million Americans off their health insurance in the next 10 years.

    In Nevada, that means about 95,271 people will lose their health care. 66,571 will be kicked off Medicaid.

    These numbers alone should at least give my Republican colleagues pause; make them think about how devastating this bill would be for working families. And maybe reconsider moving forward with trying to ram it through Congress.

    But there’s more to this than just these big numbers, and it needs to be brought to light.

    I was just home in Nevada, meeting with hospitals and providers. With the Medicaid cuts they’re anticipating from this billionaire tax giveaway, hospitals are bracing themselves not just for coverage losses, but for the downstream impact on care and costs.

    This is going to affect our most vulnerable populations in Nevada: seniors, children, veterans, parents of children with rare diseases, pregnant women, and our elderly in nursing homes.

    When people lose coverage, they delay their care. A single mom who’s living paycheck to paycheck and is worried about putting food on the table for her kids isn’t going to go to the doctor if she has a persistent cough. She’ll wait.

    But that means that when her cough turns serious, making it hard for her to breathe, she’ll have to go to the emergency room for treatment. By then, it’s more dangerous for her and more expensive for everyone involved.

    The hospital she goes to has to treat her, regardless of whether or not she has health insurance. If she can’t pay, the hospital is on the hook for the cost of her care.

    If you’re in a rural or underserved area – of which we have many in Nevada – and the one hospital for miles can’t afford to keep their doors open, it may scale back or close altogether.

    Now the hospital staff has to choose which services to cut. Labor and delivery? Mental health care? Trauma units? These are services entire communities rely on.

    Or will they be forced to close entirely if they can’t make up the costs?

    In rural Nevada, people sometimes have to drive 2, 3, 4 hours to see their doctor. A hospital closure would be devastating for rural families trying to access even basic care. That’s the danger we’re facing with this bill.

    This isn’t just about Medicaid patients. As providers look to cover the cost of treating more uninsured patients, those expenses will shift to everyone else. To working families and to employers. Premiums and out-of-pocket costs will soar.

    All so President Trump and Republicans can pay for tax cuts for billionaires.

    This is also going to impact Nevadans who rely on the Affordable Care Act for their medical insurance.

    Republicans’ bill cuts almost $300 billion from ACA Marketplace Plans, which would kick about 29,000 Nevada small business owners, middle-class families, and legal immigrants like Dreamers off their health care.

    It would increase Medicare premiums for over 1 million seniors and could end health care coverage for 1.5 million children. These are real people who are going to lose their coverage as a result of this bill.

    And the impact would be lasting – this bill is so expensive that it would force Congress to make even more Medicare cuts in the future.

    For those who don’t immediately get kicked off their health insurance as a result of cuts to Medicaid, my Republican colleagues want to implement burdensome work reporting requirements so they can take away coverage from even more Americans.

    In Nevada, over 67% of Medicaid recipients are already working. But if this bill passes, they’ll have to jump through even more government reporting hoops to prove that they work.

    We know from states that have tried this, like Arkansas, that people lost Medicaid not because they didn’t meet the requirement, but because they couldn’t keep up with the red tape.

    This bill adds complex paperwork, frequent deadlines, and little flexibility to the everyday lives of hardworking mothers, veterans, and families across the country.

    Why? Because the Republicans’ goal is to take Medicaid away from as many people as possible so they can pay for tax cuts for billionaires.

    It’s absurd, and it’s un-American. We cannot accept this as our new normal.

    My Democratic colleagues and I are going to continue to stand against this outrageous, dangerous bill. The American people deserve better.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murkowski Secures Commitment from Secretary of Commerce to Convene Summit with Alaska’s Fishing Industry

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
    06.04.25
    Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-AK and a senior member of the Committee on Appropriations, today secured a commitment from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick to convene a meeting with Alaska seafood stakeholders on trade issues with Russia and ways the administration can help bolster the industry.
    Speaking at hearing held by the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, Murkowski emphasized the importance of fair-trade practices for Alaska’s fishermen. Secretary Lutnick agreed with the Senator’s assessment, reinforcing that the administration’s trade policy “is to protect our fisherman, which are a key resource of the United States of America.” The Secretary committed to join the Senator in sitting down with leaders of the Alaska seafood industry to chart a path forward.
    Click here to watch the full exchange.
    The full transcript of Senator Murkowski’s conversation with Secretary Lutnick can be read below.
    TRANSCRIPT
    Murkowski: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Secretary, welcome. I’m glad to follow the Ranking Member as well as the Chairman of the committee in talking about fisheries. You know I’ll never disappoint you, when you come before the committee, we’re going to talk about fish, and I appreciate what you have shared with Senator Collins about the administration’s desire to protect our fisherman. We’re pleased with the executive order relating to American seafood competitiveness.
    I had an opportunity, just yesterday, to visit with one of our seafood industry leaders in the state of Alaska. I thought we were going to be talking about some of the tax provisions that are included in the reconciliation package, but he basically said if we can’t deal with trade issues when it comes to Alaska’s seafood, we are not even going to have to worry about the tax pieces because the trade implications are going to kill us. In Alaska, Russia has declared war on Alaska seafood and they have been very direct, and very open about it. They are using their dominance in the seafood market to help fund their war against Ukraine. And the effort is one that we are looking at, and needing to make sure, I mean really desperate to make sure, that the administration fully understands the implications of what is happening right now.
    We’ve got the largest federal fisheries in the nation, about sixty percent of America’s harvest by volume. Seafood processing is 70 percent of Alaska’s manufacturing employment. The Alaska seafood industry generates $6 billion in economic output for that state, it employs 48,000 people in Alaska. Right now, we have Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of Energy, and the Administrator of EPA up in the state, all focused on aspects of our resources. But the other great resource for our state is our fisheries, and they are in peril.
    I would ask for your commitment to sit down with leaders of the Alaska seafood industry, those important stakeholders, so that we can talk about a path forward on some of these issues that are really harming our industry right now. Can you give me that commitment, that we can work with your team to identify a time to do just that?
    Lutnick: Why don’t you organize it, and it would be my pleasure to come and do it together with you, so we can make sure every topic is on the table, and we address it. Because our trade policy is to protect our fisherman, which are a key resource of the United States of America. We are on it and we know about it, I know all about the Russian issues. They’ve been attacking us for years, this is nothing new, sadly. But let’s do it together and this administration is on your side and is on it.
    Murkowski: Excellent, I look forward to that, and we’ll be working with you on that.
    A couple more issues, there has been a lot of discussion about NOAA, and the budget cuts, as well as with the impact on the National Weather Service.
    We’ve been working with the Secretary of Transportation, Secretary Duffy, on aviation safety. We’re going to make some headway, there’s good support within the budget now to do that. But we have a connection here with the Department of Commerce, in that the Automated Surface Observing Systems, the ASOS systems as they are known, which provide for aviation safety, are managed by the National Weather Service. So, right now we’re looking at about a 40 percent staffing shortage. I’ve heard what you’ve said to other colleagues, about you know, you’re not cutting in key areas. I need to make sure that we are looking critically at the National Weather Service staffing in Alaska, to make sure that we are not compromising in any ways, the systems that are vital to transportation, commerce, and safety. We need them to stay operational, so if you can just commit to me that you’ll look at?
    Lutnick: That sounds sensible to me.
    Murkowski: Another one that works on the safety side, and again it ties into our extraordinary oil resources. We have to move that oil by ship out of Valdez, it has to go through Prince William Sound, and they rely on the National Data Buoy Center to manage, not only the buoys there in Prince William Sound, but over a thousand buoys that are operated by both domestic and international partners. Right now, we have a buoy, the Seal Rocks Weather Buoy, that’s right outside of Valdez. But the tankers can’t leave Valdez unless they get the wave height information from the buoy, the weather buoy that’s sitting out there, right? This buoy has been out of commission for months, and we’re told it’s due to funding for operation and maintenance in NOAA’s budget.
    Lutnick: It’s really old.
    Murkowski: It is old!
    Lutnick: It needs to be replaced! Oh my god, if I showed you what that looked like, you and I would hold our heads in our hands.
    Murkowski: We all look at them, and the problem it’s not just the buoy out there at Seal Rock, it is this system, this constellation, that is designed to be the information source, the protectorate for the safety. So, let’s work on this, but I highlight how….
    Lutnick: How to modernize it, we’ve got to.
    Murkowski: I highlight because we’ve got some work to do, but it all knits together. So, I’ve highlighted a couple of specific instances….
    Lutnick: I promise you, we are in it together. I promise I agree with you.
    Murkowski: I won’t make you go out there, if you’ll commit to me that we’re going to upgrade these systems. But in the meantime, we’re going to get them operational, so that we’re not compromising safety.
    Lutnick: Absolutely.
    Murkowski: I appreciate it. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Presses VA IG Nominee on Political Appointments, Involvement with DOGE

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ***WATCH: Murray’s Q&A at nomination hearing *****

    Washington, D.C. — Today, at a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing to consider pending nominations, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, questioned Cheryl Mason, President Trump’s nominee to be Inspector General (IG) of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), on how—as a political appointee for President Trump and an advisor to VA Secretary Doug Collins—she can be trusted to serve as an independent and nonpartisan watchdog for VA, as is the job of the VA Inspector General. Under Secretary Collins’ leadership, VA is stonewalling members of Congress on critical oversight requests and has rolled out controversial policies to dramatically limit Congressional engagement with veterans and VA employees.

    Senator Murray began by probing Ms. Mason on her time serving as a senior advisory to Secretary Collins at VA, including even after she was nominated to be Inspector General: “Ms. Mason, you did say on your questionnaire that you continued to be a senior adviser to Secretary Collins after you were nominated to become the Inspector General monitoring his agency. While you were senior advisor to Secretary Collins, what discussions were you involved in related to abruptly canceling contracts, or ending DEI efforts, or eliminating outreach to LGBTQ [veterans]?”

    “At the time I answered the questionnaire, I was senior advisor to the Secretary. That role ended very quickly after I submitted that questionnaire,” Ms. Mason replied. “So as for your question as to those roles, the only roles I had with contracts were ensuring that the organizations that were in my portfolio knew that they needed to justify the contracts and ensured that they responded timely. I did not review contracts; I was not involved in those. As far as in the DEI situation, that was an Executive Order, and shortly after the senior advisors came in, they were followed by more senior advisors, and that was not something that was on my plate. That belonged to General Counsel and the senior advisor who was charged with EOs.”

    “What substantive work were you doing if you weren’t involved in any of that?” Senator Murray pressed.

    “My role as senior advisor was to look into actions that were going on in the administration—,” Ms. Mason said.

    “But a lot of the actions that were going on in the administration that we know about were about ending DEI, about firing employees, about canceling contracts. So that was most of the activity that was going on there,” Murray replied.

    “That was not in my portfolio. There were separate senior advisors assigned to that. My portfolio was looking at the way those organizations operated and how they served veterans, particularly VBA, because it’s such a large organization. There were challenges with the digital GI Bill, challenge with disability compensation backlog and inventory, with both the Board and VBA, challenges with loan guarantees. There were a variety of challenges within VBA that I was looking at,” said Ms. Mason.

    Senator Murray followed up: “Let me ask you differently: What was your engagement with DOGE and the White House outside of the Presidential Personnel Office?”

    “I had no engagement with DOGE,” Ms. Mason said.

    “None, zero? No contact?,” Murray asked.

    “No. The only contact I had was a swearing-in—I attended a swearing-in for a person who has since, I guess, has left the department in DOGE. That person, I attended the VA swearing-in. That was it,” Ms. Mason replied.

    Senator Murray continued her questioning by asking whether Ms. Mason would Congressional oversight of the OIG. “As you know, Congress has a responsibility to conduct oversight over the Office of Inspector General to make sure that they are properly conducting their role, so it’s really crucial, as you well know, that the OIG is transparent. If you are confirmed, will you provide us with a list of every ongoing OIG investigation within 30 days?”

    “Yes, Senator, I will do so,” replied Ms. Mason.

    “The budget for VA proposed the elimination of ‘unnecessary’ outreach activities. From a Congressional perspective, it is really critical to make sure that any canceled outreach doesn’t impact veterans’ ability to receive care that is necessary to provide. If confirmed, will you hold the Department responsible for conducting all outreach that is in statute or policy, even if the political leadership—meaning your former boss, Secretary Collins—doesn’t want to reach out to those groups?” Senator Murray pressed.

    Ms. Mason responded, “Senator Murray, I will look into all those situations and I will see where there are statutory require[ments] and they will be held accountable under my watch as OIG if confirmed.”

    Senator Murray continued, “Congress was very clear in 1978 when it passed the law governing Inspectors General. The law states, and I want to quote it, ‘each Inspector General shall be appointed without regard to political affiliation and solely on the basis of integrity.’ Do you believe that an Inspector General should be entirely independent from the administration in which they serve?”

    “I do,” Ms. Mason replied.

    “Well, you were a political appointee for President Trump in his first term, and as we said on your questionnaire, you said you continued to be an advisor to Secretary Collins after you were nominated for this. Do you believe that this demonstrates the kind of nonpartisanship it takes to successfully execute this job?” asked Senator Murray.

    “Yes, I do believe I have that,” said Ms. Mason, referencing her prior experience in VA serving under different administrations.

    Senator Murray was the first woman to join the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the first woman to chair the Committee—as the daughter of a World War II veteran, supporting veterans and their families has always been an important priority for her. Senator Murray has been a leading voice in the Senate speaking out forcefully against President Trump and Elon Musk’s mass firing of VA employees and VA researchers across the country and Elon Musk and DOGE’s infiltration of the VA, including accessing veterans’ sensitive personal information.

    Last month at a hearing on veterans’ mental health, Senator Murray pressed administration officials on the importance of transparency and communication with Congress and how the Trump administration’s mass firings might undermine care for veterans who have dealt with sexual trauma. In February, Murray grilled Trump’s then-nominee for VA Deputy Secretary, Dr. Paul Lawrence, on the mass firings of VA employees and VA researchers. After pressing Doug Collins on EHR and protecting women’s access to VA health care, including lifesaving abortion care, at his nomination hearing, Senator Murray voted against Doug Collins’s nomination to be VA Secretary in early February, sounding the alarm over Elon Musk and DOGE’s activities at the VA and making clear that the Trump administration’s lawlessness is putting our national security and our veterans at risk.

    MIL OSI USA News