Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Jim Risch (R-ID), Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the statement below following their meeting with the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese.

“It was our pleasure to welcome Prime Minister Albanese to the Capitol today. Australia has long been a true friend of the United States, and it is our sincere hope that our relationship only continues to grow, most notably with the continuation of the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) agreement and the recently announced critical minerals deal.

“Together, we will push back against adversaries like China that threaten us and our allies in the Indo-Pacific. We will work to ensure our critical mineral supply chains are free from Chinese coercion. And we will continue to bolster our security and economic cooperation for the benefit of both the Australian and American people.”

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The Sparta Platform: Curves, Knowledge, Intelligence

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About Sparta

Sparta is a leading provider of real-time market intelligence and analytics for global commodity traders. Our cutting-edge technology delivers actionable insights, price transparency, and data-driven decision-making tools, empowering traders to stay ahead in fast-moving markets. With a commitment to innovation and accuracy, Sparta serves a diverse client base, from independent traders to multinational corporations.

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22 October 2025. Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is calling on governments around the world to drastically and urgently increase medical evacuations for thousands of patients who are unable to access the care they need in Gaza. These evacuations must be accompanied by a sustained effort to maintain the fragile ceasefire which has been violated multiple times, and ensure a massive, unrestricted influx of humanitarian aid into the Strip.

With medical evacuations from Gaza set to resume on 22 October following a suspension since 29 September, MSF is urging governments around the world to save lives by urgently and drastically increasing this vital lifeline. Israeli authorities must allow patients to leave to access the treatment they need, and ensure their right of return to Gaza.

“Palestinians in Gaza are enduring genocide. The health system lies in ruins,” says Dr Javid Abdelmoneim, International President of MSF and an emergency doctor who has worked in Gaza. “Israeli forces attacked hospitals, reducing them to rubble; killed, detained and forcibly displaced medical staff; and systematically blocked supplies from entering the Strip.”

As of October 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that over 15,600 people – one in four of whom are children – are awaiting lifesaving medical evacuation from Gaza. Patients include those with complex trauma injuries caused by bullets and bombs, or life-threatening and chronic conditions such as cancer or kidney failure.  

“These patients cannot wait for the healthcare system to be rebuilt – they need urgent care today,” says Dr Abdelmoneim. “Between July 2024 and August 2025, at least 740 patients, including 137 children, died while waiting for medical evacuation. These were preventable deaths – caused not only by destroyed hospitals, but by political inaction.”

In an open letter addressed to heads of state, Dr Abdelmoneim, warns that the ceasefire alone will not end the ongoing medical and humanitarian catastrophe that Palestinians are enduring.

While more humanitarian assistance is starting to arrive, MSF is calling for it to be rapidly scaled up – including medical supplies, fuel, clean water, food, and shelter – to meet the staggering needs of two million people, many of whom are returning to the ruins of their former homes with winter fast approaching.

As of October 2025, the WHO has confirmed that only 14 out of Gaza's 36 hospitals were even partly functioning. None are fully operational following systematic and direct Israeli attacks, including ground offensives, tank shells, and airstrikes.

According to the Ministry of Health, 1,722 health workers have been killed. Just a week before the ceasefire, two MSF colleagues – an occupational therapist and a physiotherapist – were killed by an Israeli airstrike while on their way to work. In total, 15 MSF colleagues were killed in the past two years. An MSF orthopedic surgeon, Dr Mohammed Obeid, has been detained in harsh conditions since October 2024. We are urgently appealing for his release. The loss of health professionals is devastating for patients in Gaza.

“While some countries such as Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Türkiye and Jordan have carried their share of the responsibility, others have done almost nothing,” says Dr Abdelmoneim. “This inaction is indefensible.”

To underscore the scale of this inaction, MSF has published a ‘Medical Evacuation Leaderboard’, comparing countries’ efforts to facilitate patient evacuations from Gaza. The data reveals a stark imbalance: while a handful of countries have accepted thousands of patients, many governments who have the capacity to do more have accepted few patients, or none at all.  Australia has accepted one patient.

MSF is urging governments to:

• Maintain pressure to ensure the ceasefire is sustained and accompanied by a massive influx of unhindered humanitarian assistance.
• Drastically and urgently increase the number of medical evacuations from Gaza and use your influence to ensure Israel does not block medical evacuations.
• Prioritise evacuations based on medical urgency and clinical need including accepting adults and the elderly who make up 75 per cent of the waiting list.
• Fast-track visa and administrative processes for patients and accompanying caregivers to reduce life-threatening delays.
• Allow patients, especially children and vulnerable adults, to travel with their caregivers.
• Guarantee patients’ right to remain abroad, should they wish to, while also securing the right to a safe, dignified and voluntary return to Gaza.
• Provide dignified living conditions for patients and their caregivers, follow-up treatment, and rehabilitation services while abroad. Care must include much-needed mental health support for all patients and their caregivers.

MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation.  MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. Every year more than 120 Australians and New Zealanders go on assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières  working as: doctors, midwives, psychologists, laboratory technicians, human resource/finance coordinators, pharmacists, mental health specialists and logisticians. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

October 21 2025 – The sharp rise in UK government borrowing has created a fiscal squeeze that makes a tax raid on pensions in next month's Budget increasingly likely, warns Nigel Green, chief executive of global financial advisory giant deVere Group.

The warning comes as official figures show public borrowing reached £20.2 billion in September, the highest for that month in five years.

It brings total borrowing for the first half of the fiscal year to nearly £100 billion, significantly above forecasts, underscoring the growing challenge facing Chancellor Rachel Reeves as she prepares for the November 26 Budget.

Nigel Green says the situation “sets the stage for a politically risky and economically damaging move against pension savings.”

“The numbers speak for themselves. Borrowing has surged far beyond expectations while growth remains flat and debt servicing costs are swallowing a larger share of national income,” he explains.

“When the Treasury finds itself under this kind of pressure, pensions are often first in line. They're seen as an easy source of revenue that can be tapped quickly, even if the long-term consequences are severe.”

He adds that this moment echoes past fiscal squeezes when governments turned to pension reforms and stealth taxes to plug gaps.

“From frozen allowances to lifetime limit changes, history shows that pensioners are the easiest targets. The political calculation is that they're less likely to shift their financial arrangements or take to the streets, but that calculation underestimates how much confidence and capital are destroyed in the process.”

The deVere chief warns that the economic backdrop makes the temptation to raise pension taxes particularly strong this year.

“Debt interest payments have exploded as inflation lingers and bond yields stay high. The government's borrowing costs are running tens of billions ahead of projections. Combine that with ambitious spending commitments and it becomes increasingly clear that the Treasury will be hunting for new revenue.”

He points to renewed discussion among policy circles about aligning tax rates on pension income with those on earnings and reducing higher-rate relief on contributions.

“These ideas resurface whenever fiscal space narrows,” says the deVere CEO.

“They are always framed as modernisation or fairness measures, but they amount to the same thing: taking more from savers who have already paid tax once on their income and have planned responsibly for their retirement.”

He stresses that while the Chancellor faces difficult choices, targeting pensions would be counterproductive.

“Undermining confidence in long-term saving would push future generations to rely more heavily on the state, not less. It would choke off investment flows into British industry that come from pension funds, weakening the country's growth potential just when it needs to be strengthened.”

The global financial adviser notes that deVere has already seen an increase in clients seeking to review their retirement strategies ahead of the Budget. “People can sense what's coming,” he says.

“When Treasury officials refuse to rule out tax rises, it usually means they are being discussed seriously behind closed doors. Anyone with retirement savings should be acting now to secure legitimate, government-approved solutions that protect their position before the rules change.”

He adds that the broader economic implications extend beyond pensioners.

“Higher effective taxation on retirement income depresses consumer spending among older households, which are a key driver of domestic demand. It also sends a damaging message to international investors about the UK's policy stability.

“When governments shift the goalposts too often, capital goes elsewhere.”

Nigel Green concludes: “Rachel Reeves faces the toughest Budget of her career, but raiding pensions would be a serious error. Britain's fiscal credibility depends on encouraging saving and investment, not punishing them.

The Chancellor must resist the short-term temptation to squeeze retirees to fix long-term structural issues. Once trust in the system is broken, it's almost impossible to rebuild.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) today welcomed the Legislative Council of Brunei Darussalam as its 182nd Member Parliament, thus becoming the last remaining national Parliament in Asia to join the IPU.

Brunei Darussalam’s accession follows a process of engagement with the IPU. The Legislative Council first attended the 149th IPU Assembly in 2024, where its delegation held discussions with IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong. Building on this initial dialogue, the Council subsequently undertook the necessary steps to formalize its membership, which was confirmed at the 151st IPU Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

With a population of 455,000, Brunei Darussalam is the smallest country in Asia. Its Legislative Council is composed of up to 45 members appointed to five-year terms, with 34 currently serving.

Women occupy 11.8% of seats. The Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Abdul Rahman, has presided since 2015, while the Secretary General of Parliament, Ms. Huraini Hurairah, appointed in 2024, is among a growing cohort of women parliamentary Secretaries General in Asia.

The affiliation of Brunei Darussalam brings the IPU one step closer to universal membership of all the world’s national parliaments.

The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments. It was founded in 1889 as the first multilateral political organization in the world, encouraging cooperation and dialogue between all nations. Today, the IPU comprises 182 national Member Parliaments and 15 regional parliamentary bodies. It promotes peace, democracy and sustainable development. It helps parliaments become stronger, younger, greener and more gender-balanced. It also defends the human rights of parliamentarians through a dedicated committee made up of MPs from around the world.

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on President Trump’s meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the White House:

“Australia is a stalwart ally of the United States in the Indo-Pacific and a key bulwark of our collective security and prosperity. A strong U.S.-Australia partnership is also vital to deterring aggression by China in the region. I was glad to see President Trump voice support for AUKUS, which is key to both America’s security and ensuring that the burden of collective defense is shared more broadly among partners and allies.  

“The U.S. must also continue to deepen its cooperation with Australia on critical minerals to secure resilient supply chains that reduce our dependence on China and strengthen our industrial base. China’s recent retaliatory steps to President Trump’s unilateral trade war underscore just how important this is. I look forward to seeing the details of the signed critical minerals agreement and how it advances our shared goals.

“The Indo-Pacific is watching whether America stands by its word. Congress will continue working with our allies to ensure that AUKUS and our broader strategic partnerships deliver on their promise of shared security and prosperity.”

Source: Government of the Solomon Islands

The North Guadalcanal Constituency (NGC) office has successfully concluded a comprehensive leadership summit and training that charted a clear course for the strategic rollout of its Constituency Development Programme (CDP) across its 12 designated Economic Zones.

The high-level forum, hosted in Komporo village on October 11th – 12th, 2025, was hailed as ‘impressive’ by the Ministry of Rural Development’s (MRD).

The summit’s primary objectives were to unite constituency leaders, foster cohesive teamwork, and equip them with a robust understanding of their roles and responsibilities as mandated by the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) Act 2023.

This capacity-building initiative marks a critical step in translating the legislative framework into tangible and practical progress.

In his keynote address, the NGC Member of Parliament and Minister for Health, Honourable Dr. Paul Bosawai, emphasized that the leadership submit is firmly rooted in the provisions of the CDF Act 2023.

“This summit convened our Village Development Officers (VDOs) and the Constituency Development Committee (CDC), the very structures institutionalised by the new CDF legislation,” Honourable Dr. Bosawai said.

“Through this collaborative framework, we will anchor our development agenda,” he added.

The Honourable Minister also explained NGC’s inclusive, four-pillar governance structure, designed to ensure broad-based representation.

“Our model integrates national governance, which I represent (MP), provincial governance through our Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs), religious governance, and traditional governance. Together, these pillars constitute our CDC, ensuring every voice is heard in our development journey.”

Hon. Dr. Bosawai also unveiled the NGC Governance Framework, a strategic plan detailing how village communities, Wards, and the Constituency at large can organise to implement meaningful and sustainable development initiatives.

“Operating without a proper, transparent system is a disservice to our people. Without such a framework, our discussions about development remain merely theoretical. This structure is the bedrock upon which we will build tangible progress for North Guadalcanal,” he emphasized.

Linking the governance framework to economic empowerment, Hon. Dr. Bosawai highlighted the 12 Economic Zones launched in June 2025, an initiative strategically designed to bolster the constituency's cash economy, thereby creating greater opportunities for rural advancement for the betterment of NGC communities and the country as a whole.

“In our rural context, a vibrant cash economy is indispensable. It catalyses financial inclusion, sustains local enterprises, and provides a practical and reliable medium of exchange, especially in areas where digital infrastructure is still emerging. For our communities, a cash-based system remains the most accessible and functional economic driver,” the Honourable Minister highlighted.

The two-day summit also served as a platform for transparency and accountability, during which the constituency office presented its audited financial report for the 2024 CDF funding, while the chairpersons of the 12 Economic Zones delivered progress reports on their first four months of operational activities.

The MRD’s participation came at the official invitation of NGC, with the ministry’s team led by Director of Governance Noel Matea delivering detailed presentations on the CDF Act 2023, as well as critical topics such as public financial management and budgeting.

This engagement was aimed at empowering leaders to align their development planning and implementation with national legal and policy standards.

Director Matea emphasized the critical importance of this direct collaboration. “For the Ministry, this dialogue is essential.

“Constituencies are our primary stakeholders in the implementation of the CDF program. Ensuring their leaders are equipped with accurate and factual information is paramount to the success of rural development nationwide,” he said.

Mr. Matea, on behalf of the Ministry, commended Hon. Dr. Bosawai and the NGC constituency office for their proactive and systematic approach to development, as well as for setting a precedent in promoting collaborative efforts toward rural growth across the country.

He further affirmed the Ministry’s unwavering support and commitment to partnering with all 50 constituencies to ensure meaningful participation in the national rural development agenda.

“The MRD is profoundly impressed with the NGC constituency office, as they are amongst other constituencies that submit their complete acquittal/financial report for the 2024 CDF funding. This sets a commendable benchmark for financial accountability and good governance across all constituencies.”  

Source: Government of the Solomon Islands

The Central Honiara Constituency (CHC) office has supported Coronation Christian School in Honiara with the provision of a brand-new Starlink system, boosting the school’s digital connectivity and educational opportunities.

This support aims to bridge digital gaps and empower students and staff with reliable internet access. It also ensures the school's reconnection to the internet after three months of disconnection, following service suspension by the previous internet service provider for reasons only known to them.

Welcoming the assistance at a small but significant ceremony at the school on Tuesday this week (14 October), School Principal David Polosomana expressed profound gratitude to the constituency office for the generous and timely support.

He said the assistance came at the right time when the school was in dire need of internet restoration after months of disconnection.

“The three months of interruption have really affected the school a lot. Administratively, it slowed us staff down in responding to daily emails from the Ministry of Education. Also, teachers' access to updated information online regarding their lessons, as well as our Form 5 students' ability to do research tasks, was deprived. Therefore, this generous support is a great gift, and it means so much to us,” Mr. Polosomana said.

He further stated that not only the school would benefit from the Starlink system, but the congregation of the Church of Living Word, which runs the school, would also benefit because they will also use network access for online streaming and other church programs to reach out to people with the Gospel of God.

Secretary to the Education Provider Board and Chairman of the School Board and Management, Pastor Steve Alufurai, shared similar sentiments.

He said, “This is not the first time the constituency office has stepped in to support the school under the leadership of Honourable Gordon Darcy Lilo. Support has been provided in the past in terms of offerings and tithes to the church.”

“Realizing the CHC office is actively supporting and addressing the immediate needs of schools within the constituency is encouraging,” Pastor Alufurai expressed.

While expressing gratitude to Honourable Lilo, MP, he said that the school management, staff, and students look forward to further collaboration with the constituency office.

Meanwhile, Constituency Development Officer (CDO) Rexford Paul said that the constituency office is pleased to support the school and other schools in the constituency to transform their learning environments and to provide new opportunities for digital learning, research, and communication for both staff and students.

“In our increasingly connected world, access to the internet is vital for educational development and global engagement. The constituency office, on behalf of Hon. Lilo, is proud to support Coronation School in its journey to become a hub of learning and innovation, ensuring our students and teachers are not left behind in the digital age,” CDO Paul underscored.

“This support aligns with our commitment to fostering innovation, education, and inclusive progress in our constituency,” he added.

School Principal Polosomana, further expressed appreciation to Honourable Lilo through the constituency office for the donation, emphasizing its impact on students' and staff’s educational experience.

“Reliable internet access will enable our students and staff to access vast educational resources, participate in e-learning, and develop skills important for the future,” Mr. Polosomana said.

This support is part of the constituency office’s ongoing commitment under the leadership of Honourable Lilo to support schools and community development initiatives in the constituency.

The CHC office previously provided similar support to Tuvaruhu School and the Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association (SIPPA). Koloale Community High School is next to receive support, along with other schools.

The project assistance was part of the eight Starlink packages purchased by the constituency office with funds made available from the Solomon Islands Government through the Ministry of Rural Development’s Constituency Development Funds (CDF) program, under the CHC 2024 budget allocation. The eight Starlink packages cost about $75,000.00.

This initiative supports efforts to strengthen ICT in education, aligning with the Ministry of Education’s ICT in Education Master Plan 2026–2030.

CDO Paul stated that this project is part of the broader commitment of the CHC office to promote digital literacy and inclusive education.

“Ensuring schools within the constituency are equipped with ICT equipment and supplies to support the future of our children (students) in their learning is of utmost importance,” he emphasised.        

The small but significant handover ceremony was attended by school staff, students, and representatives from the Central Honiara Constituency office and the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD).

Coronation Christian School is run under the Church of Living Word Education Authority. Located in Honiara and rooted in Christian values and principles, the school provides a nurturing learning environment focused on academic excellence, moral development, and spiritual growth.

With global military expenditure rising to a record estimate of USD 2.7 trillion in 2024, a new Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) issue brief calls for parliaments to strengthen their scrutiny of defence spending in the interests of transparency, accountability and democracy.

The IPU publication, Democratic checks, military balances: Parliamentary oversight in an era of rising military expenditure warns that unchecked defence spending risks weakening democratic controls, diverting funds from essential public services such as health and education, and allowing executive power to go unchallenged.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, 2024 marked the tenth consecutive year of global increases in military budgets, amid more than 120 conflicts worldwide.

The brief highlights that a portion of military spending remains off budget – outside regular parliamentary or public scrutiny – often justified on the grounds of national security or emergency response. These opaque practices can undermine transparency and accountability and increase the risk of corruption or misappropriation of public funds.

However, the brief also cites several examples of effective parliamentary oversight:

In Canada, independent analysis by the Parliamentary Budget Officer delayed procurement of a costly fighter jet and boosted fiscal transparency. Chile’s repeal of the secretive “Copper Law” led to a more accountable defence funding framework. Denmark’s multi-party Defence Agreements have helped stabilize military budgets while keeping the executive within agreed limits. In South Africa, parliamentary audits ensure military funds are not diverted without proper oversight, and in the Republic of Korea, parliamentary scrutiny blocked the declaration of martial law in 2024.

To strengthen democratic control of defence spending, the publication recommends the following:

Require regular, public reporting on all military budgets, including off-budget funds.
Enable independent audits and apply rigorous financial management standards.
Hold open committee hearings on defence matters to foster trust and transparency.
Integrate gender analysis into budgeting to create more inclusive security policies.
Empower legislators to summon senior officials and impose time limits on emergency allocations.

The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments. It was founded in 1889 as the first multilateral political organization in the world, encouraging cooperation and dialogue between all nations. Today, the IPU comprises 181 national Member Parliaments and 15 regional parliamentary bodies. It promotes peace, democracy and sustainable development. It helps parliaments become stronger, younger, greener and more gender-balanced. It also defends the human rights of parliamentarians through a dedicated committee made up of MPs from around the world.