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  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Ends the Procurement and Forced Use of Paper Straws

    Source: The White House

    ENDING THE FORCED USE OF PAPER STRAWS: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to end the procurement and forced use of paper straws.

    • The Federal government is directed to stop purchasing paper straws and ensure they are no longer provided within Federal buildings.
    • The Order requires the development of a National Strategy to End the Use of Paper Straws within 45 days to alleviate the forced use of paper straws nationwide.

    BRINGING BACK COMMON SENSE: The irrational campaign against plastic straws has forced Americans to use nonfunctional paper straws. This ends under President Trump.

    • Cities and states across America have banned paper straws, caving to pressure from woke activists who prioritize symbolism over science.
    • Paper straws use chemicals that may carry risks to human health – including “forever chemical” PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) which are known to be highly water soluble and can bleed from the straw into a drink.
      • A study found that while PFAS were found in paper straws, no measurable PFAS were found in plastic straws. 
    • Paper straws are more expensive than plastic straws, and often force users to use multiple straws.
    • Paper straws are not the eco-friendly alternative they claim to be – studies have shown that producing paper straws can have a larger carbon footprint and require more water than plastic straws.
    • Paper straws often come individually wrapped in plastic, undermining the environmental argument for their use.

    PROMOTING A CLEAN AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT: President Trump has made it a top priority to promote a clean and healthy environment for the American people.

    • President Trump’s policies are promoting economic growth, while still maintaining standards that allow Americans to have among the cleanest air and water in the world.
    • This marks a sharp contrast from the previous Administration, which wasted American taxpayer dollars on virtue signaling instead of implementing effective solutions.
      • For instance, the Biden Administration spent billions on electric vehicle charging stations, yet only eight were completed.
    • Meanwhile, President Trump’s commonsense approach to environmental conservation has demonstrated his true commitment to preserving America’s natural resources.
    • President Trump has championed improved forest management in order to prevent forest fires that are devastating communities and ecosystems across the country.
    • By pausing the expansion of windmills, President Trump recognized their detrimental environmental impact, particularly on wildlife, often outweighs their benefits.
    • President Trump signed the Save Our Seas Act to preserve and protect our beautiful waters and oceans from being littered with garbage.  
    • President Trump is committed to securing American energy independence, recognizing that America’s domestic supply of clean coal and natural gas not only strengthens national security but also provides some of the cleanest energy in the world.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Eliminates the Federal Executive Institute

    Source: The White House

    ELIMINATING INEFFICIENCY AND BUREAUCRACY: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to eliminate the Federal Executive Institute, a government program purportedly designed to provide bureaucratic leadership training.

    • The Order directs the Office of Personnel Management to take all necessary steps to terminate the Federal Executive Institute and revokes the appropriate documents.

    ENSURING EVERY TAX DOLLAR WORKS FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE: President Trump is committed to ensuring that government serves the American people, rather than itself, which requires a complete shift in government leadership toward reducing waste and promoting efficient service to taxpayers.

    • The Federal Executive Institute was created by the Johnson Administration more than 50 years ago to provide leadership training to government bureaucrats.
    • Bureaucratic leadership over the past half-century has enlarged and entrenched Washington, D.C.’s managerial class, a bloated system far removed from the needs of American families. New leadership is needed.
    • The Federal Executive Institute includes a resort property in Charlottesville, VA, that was formerly a luxury hotel, which is used for bureaucracy training courses.

    DISMANTLING GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY: Eliminating the Federal Executive Institute is part of President Trump’s broader mission to reform the federal bureaucracy, including by ending ineffective government programs that drain resources and empower government without achieving measurable results.

    • The government wastes billions of dollars each year on duplicative programs and frivolous expenditures that fail to align with American values or address the needs of the American people.
    • President Trump temporarily paused foreign aid to many non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and contractors to ensure every dollar of U.S. foreign assistance supports American values.
    • President Trump established the “Department of Government Efficiency” to examine how to streamline the Federal government, eliminate unnecessary programs, and reduce bureaucratic inefficiency.

    President Trump launched a 10-to-1 deregulation initiative, ensuring every new rule is justified by clear benefits

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Restores American Competitiveness and Security in FCPA Enforcement

    Source: The White House

    ELIMINATING UNDUE BARRIERS TO U.S. SUCCESS: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to restore American competitiveness and security by ordering revised, reasonable enforcement guidelines for the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) of 1977.

    • The Order directs the Attorney General to pause FCPA actions until she issues revised FCPA enforcement guidance that promotes American competitiveness and efficient use of federal law enforcement resources.
      • Past and existing FCPA actions will be reviewed.
      • Future FCPA investigations and enforcement actions will be governed by this new guidance and must be approved by the Attorney General.

    AMERICAN SECURITY REQUIRES AMERICAN ECONOMIC STRENGTH: American national security depends on America and its companies gaining strategic commercial advantages around the world, and President Trump is stopping excessive, unpredictable FCPA enforcement that makes American companies less competitive.

    • U.S. companies are harmed by FCPA overenforcement because they are prohibited from engaging in practices common among international competitors, creating an uneven playing field.
    • Strategic advantages in critical minerals, deep-water ports, and other key infrastructure or assets around the world are critical to American national security.
    • FCPA overenforcement infringes upon the President’s Article II authority to conduct foreign affairs, necessitating this review and new enforcement policies.
    • Over time, FCPA interpretation and enforcement by U.S. prosecutors has broadened, imposing a growing cost on our Nation’s economy.
      • In 2024, the DOJ and SEC filed 26 FCPA-related enforcement actions, and at least 31 companies were under investigation by year end.
      • Over the past decade, there has been an average of 36 FCPA-related enforcement actions per year, draining resources from both American businesses and law enforcement.

    PUTTING AMERICA FIRST: President Trump is committed to prioritizing American economic and security interests and ensuring U.S. businesses have the tools to succeed globally.

    Since returning to office, President Trump has signed several executive actions aimed at enhancing American economic competitiveness, including an Executive Order to strengthen U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) and tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China to protect the American people.   a 10-to-1 deregulation initiative, ensuring every new rule is justified by clear benefits

    President Trump renegotiated trade deals, including the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to secure better terms for American workers and businesses.

    President Trump has worked to cut burdensome regulations that hinder U.S. businesses, ensuring they can operate efficiently and competitively on the world stage.

    President Trump: “We have to save our country. Every policy must be geared toward that which supports the American worker, the American family, and businesses, both large and small, and allows our country to compete with other nations on a very level playing field…”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Pausing Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Enforcement to Further American Economic and National Security

    Source: The White House

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

         Section 1.  Purpose and Policy.  Since its enactment in 1977, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 78dd-1 et seq.) (FCPA) has been systematically, and to a steadily increasing degree, stretched beyond proper bounds and abused in a manner that harms the interests of the United States.  Current FCPA enforcement impedes the United States’ foreign policy objectives and therefore implicates the President’s Article II authority over foreign affairs.

         The President’s foreign policy authority is inextricably linked with the global economic competitiveness of American companies.  American national security depends in substantial part on the United States and its companies gaining strategic business advantages whether in critical minerals, deep-water ports, or other key infrastructure or assets. 

         But overexpansive and unpredictable FCPA enforcement against American citizens and businesses — by our own Government — for routine business practices in other nations not only wastes limited prosecutorial resources that could be dedicated to preserving American freedoms, but actively harms American economic competitiveness and, therefore, national security. 
         It is therefore the policy of my Administration to preserve the Presidential authority to conduct foreign affairs and advance American economic and national security by eliminating excessive barriers to American commerce abroad. 

         Sec. 2.  Policy of Enforcement Discretion.  (a)  For a period of 180 days following the date of this order, the Attorney General shall review guidelines and policies governing investigations and enforcement actions under the FCPA.  During the review period, the Attorney General shall:
              (i)    cease initiation of any new FCPA investigations or enforcement actions, unless the Attorney General determines that an individual exception should be made;
              (ii)   review in detail all existing FCPA investigations or enforcement actions and take appropriate action with respect to such matters to restore proper bounds on FCPA enforcement and preserve Presidential foreign policy prerogatives; and
              (iii)  issue updated guidelines or policies, as appropriate, to adequately promote the President’s Article II authority to conduct foreign affairs and prioritize American interests, American economic competitiveness with respect to other nations, and the efficient use of Federal law enforcement resources.
         (b)  The Attorney General may extend such review period for an additional 180 days as the Attorney General determines appropriate.
         (c)  FCPA investigations and enforcement actions initiated or continued after the revised guidelines or policies are issued under subsection (a) of this section:
              (i)   shall be governed by such guidelines or policies; and
              (ii)  must be specifically authorized by the Attorney General.
         (d)  After the revised guidelines or policies are issued under subsection (a) of this section, the Attorney General shall determine whether additional actions, including remedial measures with respect to inappropriate past FCPA investigations and enforcement actions, are warranted and shall take any such appropriate actions or, if Presidential action is required, recommend such actions to the President.

         Sec. 3.  Severability.  If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of its provisions to any other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

         Sec. 4.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: 
              (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or 
              (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. 
         (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. 
         (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.  
     
     
     
     
     
    THE WHITE HOUSE,
        February 10, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Adjusting Imports of Steel into The United States

    Source: The White House

    class=”has-text-align-center”>BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
     
    A PROCLAMATION

    1. On January 11, 2018, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) transmitted to me a report on the Secretary’s investigation into the effect of imports of steel mill articles (steel articles) on the national security of the United States under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1862) (section 232).  The Secretary found and advised me of his opinion that steel articles are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States.
    2. In Proclamation 9705 of March 8, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States), I concurred in the Secretary’s finding that steel articles, as defined in clause 1 of Proclamation 9705 (as amended by clause 8 of Proclamation 9711 of March 22, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States)), are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States, and decided to adjust the imports of steel articles by imposing a 25 percent ad valorem tariff on such articles imported from most countries.  Proclamation 9705 further stated that any country with which the United States has a security relationship is welcome to discuss alternative ways to address the threatened impairment of the national security caused by imports from that country, and noted that, should the United States and that country arrive at a satisfactory alternative means to address the threat to the national security such that the President determines that imports from that country no longer threaten to impair the national security, I may remove or modify the restriction on steel articles imports from that country and, if necessary, adjust the tariff as it applies to other countries, as the national security interests of the United States require.
    3. In Proclamation 9705, I also directed the Secretary to monitor imports of steel articles and inform me of any circumstances that in the Secretary‘s opinion might indicate the need for further action under Section 232, as amended, with respect to such imports.  Pursuant to Proclamation 9705, the Secretary was authorized to provide relief from the additional duties, based on a request from a directly affected party located in the United States, for any steel article determined not to be produced in the United States in a sufficient and reasonably available amount or of a satisfactory quality, or based upon specific national security considerations.

    In subsequent proclamations, I noted the conclusion of discussions or the agreement on certain measures with the Argentine Republic (Argentina), Proclamation 9759 of May 31, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States); the Commonwealth of Australia (Australia), Proclamation 9759; the Federative Republic of Brazil (Brazil), Proclamation 9759; Proclamation 10064 of August 28, 2020 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States); Canada, Proclamation 9894 of May 19, 2019 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States; the United Mexican States (Mexico), Proclamation 9894; and the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Proclamation 9740 of April 30, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States).  President Biden noted the conclusion of discussions or the agreement on certain measures with the European Union (EU) on behalf of its member countries, Proclamation 10328 of December 27, 2021 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States); Proclamation 10691 of December 28, 2023 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States); Japan, Proclamation 10356 of March 31, 2022 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States); and the United Kingdom (UK), Proclamation 10406 of May 31, 2022 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States), on alternative ways to address the threat to the national security.  In addition, then-President Biden acknowledged the close relationship with Ukraine and exempted steel articles from Ukraine from the tariff. Proclamation 10403 of May 27, 2022 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States); Proclamation 10588 of May 31, 2023 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States); Proclamation 10771 of May 31, 2024 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States).  In Proclamation 10783 of July 10, 2024 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States), President Biden noted that imports of steel articles from Mexico had increased significantly as compared to their levels at the time of Proclamation 9894.  Accordingly, he implemented a melt and pour requirement for imports of steel articles that are products of Mexico and increased the section 232 duty rate for imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles that are products of Mexico that are melted and poured in a country other than Mexico, Canada, or the United States.

    • The Secretary has informed me that the initial 25 percent ad valorem tariff imposed by Proclamation 9705 has been an effective means of reducing imports, encouraging investment and expansion of production by domestic steel producers, and mitigating the threatened impairment of U.S. national security.  Following the initial imposition of 25 percent ad valorem tariffs, the U.S. steel capacity utilization rate increased to above 80 percent.
    • The Secretary has also informed me that, notwithstanding the impact of the tariff imposed by Proclamation 9705, imports of steel articles from certain countries exempted from the tariff or subject to alternative agreements have increased significantly, while excess capacity in the global steel industry has begun to increase again in recent years.  For example, imports from Canada increased 18 percent since Canada was excluded from the section 232 tariffs.  According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), global steel excess capacity is projected to reach approximately 630 million metric tons by 2026, more than total steel production in all OECD countries.  At the same time, exports of steel from the People’s Republic of China (China) have recently surged, exceeding 114 million metric tons through November 2024 while displacing production in other countries and forcing them to export greater volumes of steel articles and derivative steel articles to the United States. 
    • Total steel imports as a share of U.S. consumption increased significantly in 2024, reaching nearly 30 percent, similar to the import share of U.S. consumption at the time the Secretary issued his January 11, 2018, report.  Imports from countries with which the United States has reached alternative agreements have increased significantly as a share of total imports, from 74 percent in 2018 to 82 percent in 2024, while imports from countries subject to quantitative restrictions remain elevated regardless of changing U.S. demand conditions and the substantial investments made to expand the capabilities of the domestic industry.  Increasing and persistently high import volumes from countries exempted from the duties or subject to other alternative agreements like quotas and tariff-rate quotas have captured the benefit of U.S. demand at the domestic industry’s expense and transmitted harmful effects onto the domestic industry.  As steel import market share has increased, the domestic industry’s performance has been depressed, resulting in capacity utilization rates persistently lower than the 80 percent target level highlighted in the Secretary’s report. 
    • The Secretary has informed me that imports of steel articles from Canada and Mexico have increased significantly to levels that once again threaten to impair U.S. national security.  Volumes from both Canada and Mexico increased overall, from 7.77 million metric tons in 2020 to 9.14 million metric tons in 2024.  Imports have also surged in excess of historical norms of trade across numerous key product lines, such as long reinforcing bars, which have experienced import increases of 1,678 percent from Mexico and 564 percent from Canada.  These surges have occurred while authorities in those countries have supported otherwise uncompetitive producers with subsidies and other interventions that have exacerbated the global excess capacity crisis.  In addition, increasing import volumes and including Mexico’s imports from China, support a conclusion that there is transshipment or further processing of steel mill articles from countries that remain subject to the additional ad valorem tariff proclaimed in Proclamation 9705, or from countries seeking to evade quantitative restrictions.
    • The Secretary has also informed me that alternative agreements with trading partners including Australia, the members of the EU, Japan, and the United Kingdom have been less effective in eliminating the threatened impairment of U.S. national security than the additional ad valorem tariff proclaimed in Proclamation 9705.  As a result, imports of steel articles from these countries have increased as a share of total U.S. steel imports from 18.6 percent in 2020 to 20.7 percent in 2024.  In addition, from 2022 to 2024, imports from countries subject to quotas (Argentina, Brazil, and South Korea) increased by approximately 1.5 million metric tons, even as U.S. demand declined by more than 6.1 million tons during the period.  Argentina has continued to export steel to the United States at unsustainable quantities, especially a recent surge of semifinished products. Furthermore, Argentina’s lack of data transparency has continued to be of concern for the United States.  From official trade statistics released by Argentina, it is difficult to assess the levels of steel being imported from places like China and Russia, and other potential sources of excess capacity. Brazilian imports from countries with meaningful levels of overcapacity, specifically China have grown tremendously in recent years, more than tripling since the institution of this quota arrangement. 
    • At the same time, these alternative agreements have not resulted in sufficient action by these trading partners to address non-market excess capacity caused primarily by China, or sufficient cooperation by these trading partners on issues like trade remedies and customs matters or monitoring bilateral steel trade.  Some countries have also welcomed steel industry investments from non-market producers in countries like China seeking to exploit the agreements to obtain preferential access to the U.S. market.  The agreements have therefore been detrimental to U.S. steel production and national security.
    • The Secretary has informed me of similar problems with respect to the temporary exemption for imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles from Ukraine.  Rather than supporting the Ukrainian steel industry and alleviating the economic harm caused by the ongoing conflict, the benefits of this temporary exemption have accrued primarily to producers in EU member countries, which have significantly increased duty-free exports to the U.S. market of steel articles processed from Ukrainian semi-finished steel.  Since 2021, imports from Ukraine have remained steady at 0.5 percent of total U.S. imports, while imports from the European Union have increased 11.2 percent to 14.8 percent.  As a result of the temporary exemption, these imports enter the U.S. market subject to neither the ad valorem tariff proclaimed in Proclamation 9705, nor the tariff-rate-quota system applicable to other imports of steel articles from EU producers as proclaimed in Proclamation 10328.  This has facilitated evasion of both the section 232 measures and of antidumping duties that would be paid if the finished products were imported directly from Ukraine.
    • The Secretary has informed me that producers in countries that remain subject to the program have continued to evade the measures by processing covered steel articles into additional downstream steel derivative products that were not included in the additional ad valorem tariffs proclaimed in Proclamation 9705 and Proclamation 9980 of January 24, 2020 (Adjusting Imports of Derivative Aluminum Articles and Derivative Steel Articles Into the United States).  Imports of products such as fabricated structural steel, prestressed concrete strand, and others, have increased significantly since the issuance of Proclamation 9705 and Proclamation 9980, eroding the domestic industry’s customer base and resulting in depressed demand for steel articles produced in the United States.
    • The Secretary has also informed me of certain ongoing challenges with the product exclusion process authorized by Proclamation 9705, Proclamation 9777 of August 29, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States), and Proclamation 9980 and implemented by subsequent regulations.  This process has resulted in exclusions for a significant volume of imports, in a manner that undermines the purpose of the section 232 measures and threatens to impair national security.  Certain general approved exclusions remain in effect for entire tariff lines of steel articles, notwithstanding the domestic industry’s potential to produce many excluded products. 
    • I determine that these developments and modifications to the tariffs announced in Proclamation 9705 have undermined the program’s national security objectives by preventing the domestic steel industry from achieving sustained production capacity utilization of at least 80 percent, as determined necessary in the Secretary’s report of January 11, 2018.  I also determine that they have failed to achieve their articulated objectives.  As a result, I determine that they have resulted in significantly increasing imports of steel articles that threaten to impair the national security.    
    • In light of the Secretary’s findings regarding the alternative agreements with South Korea proclaimed in Proclamation 9740; Argentina, Australia, and Brazil proclaimed in Proclamation 9759; Canada and Mexico proclaimed in Proclamation 9894; EU countries proclaimed in Proclamation 10328; Japan proclaimed in Proclamation 10356; and the United Kingdom proclaimed in Proclamation 10406, I have revisited the determinations in these proclamations.  In my judgment, the arrangements with these countries have failed to provide effective, long-term alternative means to address these countries’ contribution to the threatened impairment to the national security by restraining steel articles exports to the United States from each of them, limiting transshipment and surges and distorted pricing, and discouraging excess steel capacity and excess steel production. Thus, I have determined that steel articles imports from these countries threaten to impair the national security, and I have decided that it is necessary to terminate these arrangements as of March 12, 2025.  As of that date, all imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, EU countries, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and the United Kingdom shall be subject to the additional ad valorem tariff proclaimed in Proclamation 9705 with respect to steel articles and Proclamation 9980 with respect to derivative steel articles.  In my judgment, these modifications are necessary to address the significantly increasing share of imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles from these sources, which threaten to impair U.S. national security.  Replacing the alternative agreements with the additional ad valorem tariffs will be a more robust and effective means of ensuring that the objectives articulated in the Secretary’s January 11, 2018, report and subsequent proclamations are achieved.
    • For the same reasons, I have also revisited the determinations in Proclamation 10403, Proclamation 10558, and Proclamation 10771.  In my judgment, the arrangement with Ukraine has failed to provide effective, long-term alternative means to address Ukraine’s contribution to the threatened impairment to our national security by restraining steel articles exports to the United States from Ukraine, limiting transshipment and surges, and discouraging excess steel capacity and excess steel production. Thus, I have determined that steel articles imports from Ukraine threaten to impair the national security and have determined that it is necessary to terminate the temporary exemption for imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles from Ukraine as proclaimed in Proclamation 10403, Proclamation 10558, and Proclamation 10771.  In my judgment, terminating this exemption will prevent abuses that have resulted in significantly increasing imports from sources other than Ukraine, will prevent evasion of antidumping duties, and will support the domestic steel industry without harming Ukraine’s economic recovery. 
    • In light of the information provided by the Secretary that significantly increasing imports of certain derivative steel articles have depressed demand for steel articles produced by domestic steel producers, I have determined that it is necessary and appropriate in light of U.S. national security interests to adjust the tariff proclaimed in Proclamation 9705 and Proclamation 9980 to apply to additional derivative steel articles.  As of March 12, 2025, the additional derivative steel articles covered by this proclamation, as set out in Annex I to this proclamation, shall be subject to the ad valorem duties proclaimed in Proclamation 9705 and Proclamation 9980, except for derivative steel articles processed in another country from steel articles that were melted and poured in the United States.  For any derivative steel article identified in Annex I that is not in Chapter 73 of the HTSUS, the additional ad valorem duty shall apply only to the steel content of the derivative steel article.  The Secretary shall publish a notice in the Federal Register to this effect, including Annex I to this proclamation. 
    • The Secretary has informed me that his findings with regard to the product exclusion process present circumstances that in the Secretary’s opinion indicate the need for further action by the President under section 232.  Accordingly, as of the date of this proclamation the Secretary is no longer authorized to provide relief from the additional duties set forth in clause 2 of Proclamation 9705 for any steel article determined not to be produced in the United States in a sufficient and reasonably available amount or a satisfactory quality or based on specific national security determinations, and the product exclusion process as authorized in clause 3 of Proclamation 9705, clause 1 of Proclamation 9777, and clause 2 of Proclamation 9980 is terminated, effective immediately.  I have determined that terminating product exclusions is necessary to ensure that overly broad exclusions do not allow high volumes of imports to undermine the objectives articulated in the Secretary’s January 11, 2018, report and relevant subsequent proclamations.  This change will also relieve the administrative burden that the process has created.  Following this proclamation, and subject to any restrictions set forth in or pursuant to other provisions of applicable law, imports of any steel article or derivative steel article from any source and in any quantity will be available to U.S. importers, provided that the additional ad valorem tariffs are paid upon entry or withdrawal from warehouse for consumption.
    • Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, authorizes the President to take action to adjust the imports of an article and its derivatives if the President concurs with the Secretary’s finding that the article is being imported into the United States in such quantities or under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security. 
    • Section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483), authorizes the president to embody in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) the substance of statutes affecting import treatment, and actions thereunder, including the removal, modification, continuance, or imposition of any rate of duty or other import restriction.

    20.  The United States will monitor the implementation and effectiveness of these actions in addressing our national security needs, and I may revisit this determination, as appropriate.

         NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, and section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, do hereby proclaim as follows: 

    • The provisions of Proclamation 9740 with respect to imports of steel articles from South Korea; Proclamation 9759 with respect to imports of steel articles from Argentina, Australia, and Brazil; Proclamation 10064 with respect to imports of steel articles from Brazil; Proclamation 9894 with respect to imports of steel articles from Canada and Mexico; Proclamation 10783 with respect to imports of steel articles from Mexico; Proclamation 10328 and Proclamation 10691 with respect to imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles from the EU; Proclamation 10356 with respect to imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles from Japan; Proclamation 10406 with respect to imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles from the United Kingdom; and Proclamation 10403, Proclamation 10558, and Proclamation 10771 with respect to steel articles and derivative steel articles from Ukraine shall be ineffective as of 12:01 a.m. eastern time on March 12, 2025.  The provisions of clause 1 of Proclamation 9740 as applicable to imports of steel articles or derivative steel articles from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, and EU member countries shall be ineffective as of 12:01 a.m. eastern time on March 12, 2025.  The provisions of clause 1 of Proclamation 9980 as applicable to imports of derivative steel articles from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Mexico, and South Korea shall be ineffective as of 12:01 a.m. eastern time on March 12, 2025.  As of 12:01 a.m. eastern time on March 12, 2025, all imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles from these countries shall be subject to the additional ad valorem tariffs proclaimed in Proclamation 9705 and Proclamation 9980.
    • Clause 2 of Proclamation 9705, as amended, is revised to read as follows:

    “(2)(a)  In order to establish certain modifications to the duty rate on imports of steel articles, subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS is modified as provided in the forthcoming annex to this proclamation set out in a subsequent Federal Register notice and any subsequent proclamations regarding such steel articles.

         (b)  Except as otherwise provided in this proclamation, or in notices published pursuant to clause 3 of this proclamation, all steel articles imports covered by heading 9903.80.01, in subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS, shall be subject to an additional 25 percent ad valorem rate of duty with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, as follows: (i) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on March 23, 2018, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, and the member countries of the European Union; (ii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on June 1, 2018, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, and South Korea; (iii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on August 13, 2018, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, South Korea, and Turkey; (iv) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on May 20, 2019, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, South Korea, and Turkey; (v) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on May 21, 2019, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and South Korea; (vi) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on January 1, 2022, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and South Korea, and except the member countries of the European Union through 11:59 p.m. eastern time on December 31, 2023, for steel articles covered by headings 9903.80.65 through 9903.81.19, inclusive; (vii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on April 1, 2022, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and South Korea, and except the member countries of the European Union through 11:59 p.m. eastern time on December 31, 2023, for steel articles covered by headings 9903.80.65 through 9903.81.19, inclusive, and from Japan, for steel articles covered by headings 9903.81.25 through 9903.81.80, inclusive; (viii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on June 1, 2022, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, and Ukraine through 11:59 p.m. eastern time on June 1, 2023, and except the member countries of the European Union through 11:59 p.m. eastern time on December 31, 2023, for steel articles covered by headings 9903.80.65 through 9903.81.19, inclusive, and from Japan and the United Kingdom (UK), for steel articles covered by subheadings 9903.81.25 through 9903.81.78 and heading 9903.81.80, and from the member countries of the European Union, for steel articles covered by heading 9903.81.81; (ix) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on June 1, 2023, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, and Ukraine through 11:59 p.m. eastern time on June 1, 2024, and except the member countries of the European Union through 11:59 p.m. eastern time on December 31, 2023, for steel articles covered by headings 9903.80.65 through 9903.81.19, inclusive, and from Japan and the UK, for steel articles covered by subheadings 9903.81.25 through 9903.81.78 and heading 9903.81.80, and from the member countries of the European Union, for steel articles covered by heading 9903.81.81, and from the member countries of the European Union where the steel used in the manufacture of the steel article is melted and poured in Ukraine through 11:59 p.m. eastern time on June 1, 2024, (x) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on January 1, 2024, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and South Korea, and except for Ukraine in accordance with the relevant proclamation as amended, and except the member countries of the European Union in accordance with the relevant proclamation as amended, for steel articles covered by headings 9903.80.65 through 9903.81.19, inclusive, and from Japan and the UK , in accordance the relevant proclamation as amended, for steel articles covered by subheadings 9903.81.25 through 9903.81.78 and heading 9903.81.80, and from the member countries of the European Union in accordance with the relevant proclamation as amended, for steel articles covered by heading 9903.81.81, and from the member countries of the European Union where the steel used in the manufacture of the steel article is melted and poured in Ukraine in accordance with the relevant proclamation as amended, and (xi) from all countries on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on March 12, 2025, unless suspended. Further, except as otherwise provided in notices published pursuant to clause 3 of this proclamation, all steel articles imports from Turkey covered by heading 9903.80.02, in subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS, shall be subject to a 50 percent ad valorem rate of duty with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on August 13, 2018, and prior to 12:01 a.m. eastern time on May 21, 2019.  These rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported steel articles, shall apply to imports of steel articles from each country as specified in the preceding three sentences.“

    • The first two sentences of clause 1 of Proclamation 9980 are revised to read as follows:

    “In order to establish increases in the duty rate on imports of certain derivative articles, subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS is modified as provided in Annex I and Annex II to this proclamation.  Except as otherwise provided in this proclamation, all imports of derivative aluminum articles specified in Annex I to this proclamation shall be subject to an additional 10 percent ad valorem rate of duty, and all imports of derivative steel articles specified in Annex II to this proclamation shall be subject to an additional 25 percent ad valorem rate of duty, with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, as follows: (i) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on February 8, 2020, these rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported derivative aluminum articles or steel articles, shall apply to imports of derivative aluminum articles described in Annex I to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, the Commonwealth of Australia (Australia), Canada, and the United Mexican States (Mexico), and to imports of derivative steel articles described in Annex II to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and South Korea; (ii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on January 1, 2022, these rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported derivative aluminum articles or steel articles, shall apply to imports of derivative aluminum articles described in Annex I to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, and Mexico, and to imports of derivative steel articles described in Annex II to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, Mexico, and South Korea; (iii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on April 1, 2022, these rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported derivative aluminum articles or steel articles, shall apply to imports of derivative aluminum articles described in Annex I to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, and Mexico, and to imports of derivative steel articles described in Annex II to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, Japan, Mexico, and South Korea; (iv) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on June 1, 2022, these rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported derivative aluminum articles or steel articles, shall apply to imports of derivative aluminum articles described in Annex I to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, Mexico, and the UK, and to imports of derivative steel articles described in Annex II to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and the UK, and except from Ukraine through 11:59 p.m. eastern time on June 1, 2023; (v) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on March 10, 2023, these rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported derivative aluminum articles or steel articles, shall apply to imports of derivative aluminum articles described in Annex I to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, Mexico, the UK, and Russia, and to imports of derivative steel articles described in Annex II to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and the UK, and except from Ukraine through 11:59 p.m. eastern time on June 1, 2023; (vi) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on June 1, 2023, these rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported derivative aluminum articles or steel articles, shall apply to imports of derivative aluminum articles described in Annex I to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, Mexico, the UK, and Russia, and to imports of derivative steel articles described in Annex II to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and the UK, and except from Ukraine om accordance with the relevant proclamation as amended; and (vii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on March 12, 2025, unless suspended, these rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, taxes, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported derivative steel articles, shall apply to imports of derivative steel articles described in Annex II to this proclamation from all countries.”

    • Except as otherwise provided in this proclamation, all imports of derivative steel articles specified in Annex I to this proclamation or in any subsequent annex to this proclamation, as set out in a subsequent notice in the Federal Register, shall be subject to an additional 25 percent ad valorem rate of duty, with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on the Commerce certification date in clause 8. These rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, taxes, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported derivative steel articles, shall apply to imports of derivative steel articles described in Annex I to this proclamation from all countries, but shall not apply to derivative steel articles processed in another country from steel articles that were melted and poured in the United States. The Secretary shall continue to monitor imports of the derivative articles described in Annex I to this proclamation, and shall, from time to time, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative, review the status of such imports with respect to the national security of the United States.
    • For purposes of implementing the requirements in this proclamation, importers of steel derivative articles shall provide to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol within the Department of Homeland Security (CBP) any information necessary to identify the steel content used in the manufacture of steel derivative articles imports, covered by this Proclamation. CBP shall implement the information requirements as soon as practicable.
    • Within 90 days after the date of this proclamation, the Secretary shall establish a process for including additional derivative steel articles within the scope of the ad valorem duties proclaimed in Proclamation 9705, Proclamation 9980, and clause 4 of this proclamation.  In addition to inclusions made by the Secretary, this process shall provide for including additional derivative steel articles at the request of a producer of a steel article or derivative steel article, or an industry association representing one or more such producers, where the request establishes that imports of a derivative steel article have increased in a manner that threatens to impair the national security or otherwise undermine the objectives set forth in the Secretary’s January 11, 2018, report or any Proclamation issued pursuant thereto.  When the Secretary receives such a request from a domestic producer or industry association, the Secretary shall issue a determination regarding whether or not to include the derivative steel article or articles within 60 days of receiving the request. 
    • The provisions of clause 3 of Proclamation 9705, clause 1 of Proclamation 9777, clause 2 of Proclamation 9980, or any other provisions authorizing the Secretary to grant relief for certain products from the additional ad valorem duties or quantitative restrictions set forth in prior proclamations are hereby revoked.  As of 11:59 p.m. eastern time on the date of this proclamation, the Secretary shall not consider any product exclusion requests or renew any product exclusion requests in effect as of that date.  The Secretary shall take all necessary action to rescind the product exclusion process, including publication in the Federal Register.  Granted product exclusions shall remain effective until their expiration date or until excluded product volume is imported, whichever occurs first.  The Secretary shall terminate all existing general approved exclusions as of March 12, 2025.   
    • The modifications made by this proclamation in clause 4 shall be effective upon public notification by the Secretary of Commerce, that adequate systems are in place to fully, efficiently, and expediently process and collect tariff revenue for covered articles.
    • Any steel article or derivative article, except those eligible for admission under “domestic status” as defined in 19 CFR 146.43, that is subject to the duty imposed by this proclamation and that is admitted into a U.S. foreign trade zone on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on March 12, 2025, must be admitted as “privileged foreign status” as defined in 19 CFR 146.41, and will be subject upon entry for consumption to any ad valorem rates of duty related to the classification under the applicable HTSUS subheading.  Any steel article or derivative steel article, except those eligible for admission under “domestic status” as defined in 19 CFR 146.43, that is subject to the duty imposed by this proclamation, and that was admitted into a U.S. foreign trade zone under “privileged foreign status” as defined in 19 CFR 146.41, prior to 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on March 12, 2025 , will likewise be subject upon entry for consumption to any ad valorem rates of duty related to the classification under the applicable HTSUS subheading added by this proclamation.  Pursuant to clause 8, the duties on steel derivatives established by clause 4 of this Proclamation shall be suspended until public notification by the Secretary of Commerce that adequate systems are in place to fully, efficiently, and expediently process and collect tariff revenue applicable to covered articles.
    • Any product listed in Annex Ito this proclamation or any subsequent annex published in the Federal Register pursuant to this Proclamation, that is subject to the additional duties imposed by this proclamation, and that is admitted into a U.S. foreign trade zone, except any product that is eligible for admission under “domestic status” as defined in 19 CFR 146.43, may only be admitted as “privileged foreign status,” as defined in 19 CFR 146.41, effective as of the date that the additional duties are imposed.
    • The Secretary, in consultation with the Commissioner of CBP, Security, and the heads of other relevant executive departments and agencies, shall revise the HTSUS so that it conforms to the amendments and effective dates directed in this proclamation within ten days of March 12, 2025.  The Secretary is authorized and directed to publish any such modification and future modifications to the HTSUS in the Federal Register.
    • CBP shall prioritize reviews of the classification of imported steel articles and derivative steel articles and, in the event that it discovers misclassification resulting in non-payment of the ad valorem duties proclaimed herein, it shall assess monetary penalties in the maximum amount permitted by law and shall not consider any evidence of mitigating factors in its determination.  In addition, CBP shall promptly notify the Secretary regarding evidence of any efforts to evade payment of the ad valorem duties proclaimed herein through processing or alteration of steel articles or derivative steel articles prior to importation.  In such circumstances, the Secretary shall consider the processed or altered steel articles or derivative steel articles for inclusion as derivative steel articles pursuant to clause 5 of this proclamation.
    • No drawback shall be available with respect to the duties imposed pursuant to this proclamation.

    (14)  The Secretary may issue regulations and guidance consistent with this proclamation, including to address operational necessity.

    (15) Any provision of a previous proclamation or Executive Order that is inconsistent with the actions taken in this proclamation is superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this

    tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – New book tells the stories of second generation migrants – AMES

    Source: AMES

    A compelling new book tells the stories of second-generation migrant Australians, who share their families’ settlement journeys and their own search for identity.

    Titled ‘At the Heart of Identity’, the book reveals the both inspirational and heart-wrenching stories of migrant families as well as the sense of hope and opportunity that characterises Australia’s migration history.

    Contributors include South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, whose family hails from Lithuania, and former Socceroo Archie Thompson, who has a New Zealand-born father and mother from Papua New Guinea.

    Also sharing their stories are federal MP Cassandra Fernando, whose parents are from Sri Lanka, and Victorian state MP Lee Tarlamis, who has Greek heritage.

    Artist Saidin Salkic, whose father was victim of the Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia, is also a contributor, along with others from Africa, Kurdistan, Vietnam, Malta, Yugoslavia, Burma, Italy and Ukraine.

    Published today as part of migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia’s annual ‘Heartlands’ cultural project, the book is a reflection of Australia’s long and diverse history as a nation of migrants.

    AMES CEO Cath Scarth said the book was timely at a point in history when polarisation and divisiveness are on the rise across the globe.

    “Stories of settlement in Australia, no matter where you have come from, are things that unite us,” Ms Scarth said.

    “These stories are reflection of how migrants have helped to build Australia and helped to create the successful brand of multiculturalism we enjoy along with the high levels of social cohesion that we have built,” she said.

    One of the contributors is Carmen Capp-Calleya, who came to Australia from Malta with her parents in 1958 – surviving a shipwreck along the way.

    “The tragic incident, the first major shipping disaster since the end of WW11, had an enduring impact on me and my family. It left us with an indelible sense that we were indeed migrants who had crossed the seas to make a new life,” she says in the book.

    Former Socceroo Archie Thompson tells of his trouble childhood.

    “I grew up in country town in NSW and I was pretty much the only dark-skinned kid in town. That made things difficult at times, but I was able to find a community through football,” he says.

    SA Premier Peter Malinauskas’ family came to Australia in 1949 escaping war-torn Europe.

    “When my grandparents got married, they bought a block of land on Trimmer Parade, Seaton, where they built their home and, for many years, operated a fish and chip shop. I distinctly remember as a young boy standing at that fish and chip shop my grandfather built with his own bare hands as he told me about the importance of taking opportunities,” he says.

    Federal MP Cassandra Fernando tells of growing up in a vibrant multicultural community.

    “I loved the diversity in South-East Melbourne, a cultural melting pot of Greeks, Italians, Vietnamese, and more. Here, I learned the true meaning of community as people from

    different backgrounds came together,” she says.

    Victorian MP Lee Tarlamis tells of reconnecting with his heritage.

    “I became determined to reconnect with Greek culture. Embracing both the Greek community and my wife’s Vietnamese culture helped me value diversity and the importance of preserving it,” he says in the book.

    Park Ranger James Brincat, whose parts came from Malta in the 1950s, says racism was part of his childhood.

    “Growing up in a migrant family was challenging due to racism and being unsure of my identity because of the media’s mixed messages. These experiences strengthened me and now guide my work with refugee communities,” he says.

    Architect and artist Maru Jarockyj’s parents fled Ukraine after WWII and settled in the UK. She came to Australia as a young woman.

    “Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent devastating war has sparked some deep latent emotions in me and reignited a sense of patriotism. Ukrainian culture

    has always been important to me, and I’ve been involved in folk music and art throughout my life,” she says.

    ‘At the Heart of Identity’ will go on sale early next year.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Whether we carve out an exemption or not, Trump’s latest tariffs will still hit Australia

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Scott French, Senior Lecturer in Economics, UNSW Sydney

    US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have stated an exemption for Australia from Trump’s executive order placing 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium imported into the US is “under consideration”. But prospects remain uncertain.

    Albanese would do well to secure an exemption using similar arguments as then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull did in 2018.

    If Australia cannot obtain a carve-out from the tariffs, the main group affected will be the Australian producers of steel and aluminium. But the size of the hit they will take is difficult to predict.

    Regardless of whether Australia gets an exemption, the world economy – and Australians – will be affected by Trump’s latest round of tariffs.

    Producers will be hit

    If ultimately imposed by the US, these tariffs will make steel and aluminium produced in Australia more expensive for US manufacturers relative to domestically produced alternatives. This will certainly result in reduced demand for the Australian products.

    However, three factors will help limit the effects:

    1. The price of metals produced in the US will rise

    It will take time to ramp up US production to fill the gap of reduced imports, and the extra production will likely come from less efficient domestic producers. This means that US manufacturers will continue to buy imported metals, despite the higher prices.

    2. The US is not a huge market for Australian steel and aluminium

    Australia produced A$113 billion of primary and fabricated metal in the 2022-23 financial year, according to the ABS.

    By comparison, less than $1 billion of steel and aluminium was exported to the US in 2023, according to data from UN Comtrade, consisting of about $500 million of aluminium and less then $400 million of steel. Exports to the US account for about 10% of Australia’s total exports of these metals.

    3. Major markets

    If major markets such as China and the European Union enact retaliatory tariffs on US metals, this could make Australian metals more competitive in these markets.

    Some stand to benefit

    While workers in Australian steel and aluminium plants will be watching the news with trepidation, some of Australia’s biggest manufacturing companies may be less concerned.

    For example, BlueScope Steel has significant US steel operations, and saw its share price increase on news of the tariffs.

    US-based Alcoa, which owns alumina refineries in Western Australia and an aluminium smelter in Victoria, will also expect to see its US operations benefit.

    And Rio Tinto will be most concerned about its substantial Canadian operations. Its Canadian hub is responsible for close to half of its global aluminium production.

    Demand for iron ore could fall

    The US tariffs will also have wider ranging effects on the Australian economy, regardless of whether Australia’s products are directly targeted.

    While aluminium is Australia’s top manufacturing export, it still makes up only about 1% of total exports, and steel makes up less than half that.

    Iron ore, by contrast, makes up more than 20% of Australia’s exports, with aluminium ores making up an additional 1.5%.

    This means the effect of the tariffs on demand for the raw materials to make steel and aluminium may have the largest detrimental effect on the Australian economy.

    Because the tariffs will make steel and aluminium more expensive to US manufacturers, they will seek to reduce their use of them. This means global demand for the metals, and the ores used to produce them, will decline.

    Investors appear to be betting on this, with shares of Australian miners like Rio Tinto and BHP falling since Trump announced the tariffs.

    Imported goods will become more expensive

    Many of the things Australians buy are likely to get more expensive.

    All US products that use steel and aluminium at any stage of the production process will also become more expensive. Tariffs will raise the cost of steel and aluminium for US manufacturers, both directly and by reducing overall productivity in the US.

    About 11% of Australia’s imports come from the US. And about half of this consists of machinery, vehicles, aircraft, and medical instruments, which typically contain steel and aluminium. Further, these goods are used by manufacturers around the world to produce and transport many of the other things Australians buy.

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

    – ref. Whether we carve out an exemption or not, Trump’s latest tariffs will still hit Australia – https://theconversation.com/whether-we-carve-out-an-exemption-or-not-trumps-latest-tariffs-will-still-hit-australia-249493

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: The Office of Markets Development and Public–Private Partnership

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    It outlines how OMDP helps developing member countries (DMCs) access the tools they need to engage businesses. It shows how it helps DMCs create conducive environments for investors and build up their private sectors. Highlighting the $4.3 billion in private capital OMDP mobilized since 2016, it shows why working with businesses to develop infrastructure helps DMCs harness cutting-edge technologies, boost project efficiency, and achieve transformative growth. 

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: American Primeval includes brutal displays of Mormon violence, but the reality was arguably worse

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brenton Griffin, Casual Lecturer and Tutor in History, Indigenous Studies, and Politics, Flinders University

    American Primeval/Netflix

    On January 24, leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, more commonly known as the Mormon Church, penned a statement condemning the Netflix series American Primeval.

    This historical fiction depicts the Mountain Meadows Massacre of 1857, as well as broader hostilities between the US government and Mormons at Salt Lake City during the Utah War of 1857–58.

    The church has criticised the series for its portrayal of the Mormon prophet Brigham Young, who it claims is “egregiously mischaracterized as a villainous, violent fanatic”. It also says the series

    inaccurately portrays [the Mountain Meadows Massacre] as reflective of a whole faith group, [when] the Church has long acknowledged and condemned this horrific tragedy.

    The reality of the massacre was arguably even grimmer than what American Primeval shows. Contrary to what is depicted in the series, there were no adult survivors. Official sources state up to 150 people were killed. Only 17 children under the age of six were spared, who were then discreetly adopted into Mormon families.

    A (nuanced) history of violence

    Although onscreen depictions of Mormon violence are common, most of these fail to explain the roots of this violence in both theological belief and history.

    Canonised Mormon scripture, including in the Book of Mormon and The Doctrine and Covenants, and pronouncements from leaders such as Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, argue some violence is appropriate and required as per God’s commandment. Justifications for violence had been used against both outsiders and insiders since the religion was founded in 1830 by Joseph Smith (who himself was assassinated in 1844).

    The other driver is the lived experiences of Mormons. Throughout their history, Mormons had been forcefully removed from wherever they have settled, most prolifically under the Missouri “extermination order” of 1838.

    This resulted in the slaughter, rape and violent relocation of Mormons from Missouri to their temporary home in Illinois, before they further migrated to Zion – a religious community established by Young and his followers in Utah – in 1847.

    The Mormons’ establishment of Salt Lake City and surrounding cities in 1847 was based on the violent dispossession of Indigenous communities. As shown in American Primeval, the Utah War and the period surrounding it was dominated by violence.

    This included violence from Mormons and other settlers against Native Americans whose lands were being dispossessed, from Native Americans defending their lands, and from the US government against Mormons and Native Americans.

    In the Mountain Meadows Massacre, Mormons and Native Americans allied against US emigrants travelling to California.

    A depiction of the 1857 Mountain Meadows Massacre.
    Shutterstock

    The two threads of theology and history are integral to understanding the way Mormon violence has been both enacted and represented.

    Portrayals in 19th-century media

    Mormonism first reached Australia’s shores in 1840 and remained a small religious minority in the 19th and 20th centuries. Converts were encouraged to migrate to Utah to help build Zion.

    Australian newspapers reported widely on the Mountain Meadows Massacre of 1857. These articles were mostly reprints of the same information. They were largely accurate, but inflated the number of victims.

    The articles explained how the slaughter had originally been assigned solely to Native Americans, but was later discovered to have been orchestrated by the Mormons, with assistance from some Indigenous tribes.

    Interest began to wane in the 1860s, but picked up again in 1877 following the execution of perpetrator John D. Lee. However, in his book and “confession”, Mormonism Unveiled (1877), Lee claimed he had been scapegoated by Young and other leaders.

    Photographs from 1877 show officers, soldiers and spectators at Mountain Meadows, Utah, following the execution of John D. Lee.
    Library Of Congress

    Spotlight on the Danites

    Interest in Mormon violence wasn’t confined to the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Australian newspapers also discussed the Danites, a band of religiously motivated vigilantes involved in Mormon hostilities in Missouri and Illinois in the 1830s.

    These vigilantes were inspired by Smith’s theological claims and a goal to defend Mormons from harm. They participated in both aggressive and defensive violence against their non-Mormon neighbours.

    Historians have debated the extent of the Danites’ existence, with official church statements claiming they ceased to exist in 1838. Yet in 1858, Brigham Young threatened, “if men come here and do not behave themselves, they will […] find the Danites, whom they talk so much about”.

    The group is first mentioned in Australian media by the late 1850s, with descriptions of Danite “atrocities” disseminated widely, though largely uncorroborated.

    By the 1870s and ‘80s, this had progressed to portrayals in popular culture, including in Australian theatres and Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1887 novel Sherlock Holmes: A Study In Scarlet.

    Media representations of Mormon violence continued into the 20th century. The 1917 American film A Mormon Maid focused on theocratic violence and polygamy, which had been allowed in Mormonism until its ban in 1890.

    A 1952 article in Queensland’s The Truth recounting the Mountain Meadow Massacre.
    Trove

    The modern Mormon

    Our collective fascination with Mormonism today is augmented by the religion’s marginal yet undeniable presence, both in Australia and overseas.

    There are about 17 million Mormons worldwide. Of these, an estimated 157,000 are in Australia (about 0.6% of the population) compared with almost seven million in the United States (about 2% of the population).

    Modern portrayals of Mormonism have tended towards the humorous (The Book of Mormon musical), scandalous (The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives), and even sympathetic (Heretic).

    Even recent representations of Mormon violence, such as in Under the Banner of Heaven (2022), have focused on breakaway fundamentalists rather than the mainstream Mormon church.

    Outrage towards Mormons has focused on the religion’s extreme wealth, influence over political issues such as opposition to same-sex marriage, and the rise of Mormon “tradwife” influencers.

    But I argue these are divergences from the more prominent historical trend of painting Mormons as violent zealots (or in some cases as sexually amoral heretics). And despite these, the spectre of Mormon violence remains – reinforced periodically over nearly 200 years of popular culture and media.

    Brenton Griffin was raised as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but is no longer a practising member of the church. His PhD research is focused on the religion’s place in Australian and New Zealand popular culture, politics, and society from the nineteenth century to present.

    – ref. American Primeval includes brutal displays of Mormon violence, but the reality was arguably worse – https://theconversation.com/american-primeval-includes-brutal-displays-of-mormon-violence-but-the-reality-was-arguably-worse-249377

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Dongfeng, Changan revamp to give global edge to automakers

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The planned restructuring of Wuhan, Hubei province-headquartered Dongfeng Motor Corp and Chongqing-based Changan Automobile is expected to create a more integrated and competitive automaker capable of competing with global giants like Toyota, Volkswagen and Tesla in the coming years, said analysts on Monday.

    A number of listed subsidiaries of State-owned Dongfeng Motor and CSGC, the parent company of Changan Automobile, including Dongfeng Automobile Co and Harbin Dongan Auto Engine Co, announced possible changes to their controlling shareholders on Sunday.

    The listed companies under CSGC announced that they had received a notice from their parent company regarding ongoing restructuring plans with other State-owned enterprises.

    They said that while the restructuring could result in changes to their controlling shareholders, it would not affect the ultimate controlling entity. They also emphasized that the plan remains subject to approval from the relevant authorities.

    Even though Dongfeng Motor and CSGC have not explicitly named each other as restructuring partners, market watchers said that there is a high possibility of integration among China’s State-owned automakers’ passenger vehicle businesses.

    Currently, Changan Automobile, in partnership with Chinese technology company Huawei Technologies Co, maintains a leading position in the transition to new energy vehicles and intelligent mobility development, said Zhang Xiang, an auto industry researcher at the Beijing-based North China University of Technology.

    “Therefore, it is expected that Changan Automobile will play a leading role in the future integration of the passenger vehicle businesses owned by centrally administered SOEs,” Zhang said.

    Dongfeng Motor reported vehicle sales of 2.48 million units in 2024, reflecting a 2.5 percent year-on-year increase, according to information released by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the country’s Cabinet.

    Meanwhile, Changan Automobile achieved total sales of 2.68 million vehicles last year, marking a 5.1 percent growth compared to the previous year. Notably, the company’s NEV sales surpassed 734,000 units, representing a 52.8 percent year-on-year surge.

    Based on their production capacity, the restructuring will effectively enhance the competitiveness of Chinese vehicle brands on the global stage, Zhang added.

    In terms of component integration, the restructuring of these two SOEs will significantly expand the procurement scale, enhancing their bargaining power with component suppliers. This is expected to cut procurement costs and improve the overall efficiency of the supply chain, said Ding Rijia, a professor specializing in industrial economy at the China University of Mining and Technology in Beijing.

    Further, if both companies integrate their component technologies, it will enhance the technical sophistication and performance of vehicle components, Ding said.

    Speaking at a news conference in Beijing last month, Lin Qingmiao, head of the SASAC’s bureau of enterprise reform, said the government’s key focus will be on the restructuring and integration of central SOEs this year, in order to further promote the optimization of the State-owned economy’s structural adjustment going forward.

    Lin said that China will speed up the allocation of State capital to critical industries related to national security and the lifeline of national economy, public services, emergency response capabilities, public welfare and strategic emerging industries.

    Eager to enrich user experience, Dongfeng Motor announced last week the successful integration of the full range of DeepSeek’s open-source large language model. Its brands, such as M-Hero and Nano Box, are set to incorporate and deploy this technology in their vehicles soon.

    Among these, the intelligent cockpit of the M-Hero 917, one of Dongfeng Motor’s luxury models, has already integrated the DeepSeek-R1 model, with an over-the-air update scheduled for April 2025.

    Through continuous customized model distillation and AI training, M-Hero owners will enjoy a significantly enhanced smart cockpit, featuring faster voice recognition, improved semantic understanding and humanlike responses, as well as expanded functionality for offroad driving scenarios, said Dongfeng Motor.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Reformist ink artist’s works on display at Shenzhen Art Museum

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Romance and reforms, an ink master revived tradition with great courage.

    The year was 1956. Late ink artist Li Keran was painting by the scenic West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, when rain drops fell on the paper he was drawing on. The parts smudged by the rain didn’t make Li panic, rather, gave him new ideas.

    While he continued to blend the marks made by the raindrops into his layering and shading, he also felt that it was a clue, a sign from nature for him to reform the ink painting tradition.

    Li was then in the middle of an ambitious project to invent new approaches to classic Chinese painting. He traveled extensively throughout the country in the 1950s to gather varying views, watch and imbibe different folk customs, and sketch outdoors.

    The fruits of these journeys were a collection of paintings in which Li introduced a modern context to the centuries-old ink tradition, addressing new aesthetic demands.

    Wandering in the Rain, an exhibition now on at the Shenzhen Art Museum, in Guangdong province, running until Feb 16, looks back on Li’s courageous efforts at that time. The paintings are from the collection of the Li Keran Foundation in Beijing.

    Li’s works present a majestic and romantic mood that is different from those created by his predecessors in ancient times, for which he was judged by conservatives. His endeavors were also critiqued by those who then questioned whether ink art could be modernized.

    But time has proved that Li’s reforms have been highly recognized, and continue to inspire more followers.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Tesla battery Megafactory in Shanghai launches production

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    This photo shows a production launch ceremony of U.S. carmaker Tesla’s Megafactory in Shanghai, east China, Feb. 11, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    U.S. carmaker Tesla’s new Megafactory in Shanghai, dedicated to manufacturing its energy-storage batteries, known as Megapacks, launched production on Tuesday, marking a significant expansion of the company’s presence in China.

    With an initial annual production capacity of 10,000 units, or roughly 40 gigawatt-hours of energy storage, this Megafactory is set to significantly contribute to Tesla’s global energy storage goals. The company anticipates a year-on-year increase of 50 percent in energy storage deployments in 2025.

    Covering an area of approximately 200,000 square meters, the new Shanghai plant represents a total investment of about 1.45 billion yuan (around 202 million U.S. dollars), according to the administration of the Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, where this Tesla facility is located.

    Notably, mass production at the factory commenced just eight months after construction began, serving as a new example of “Tesla speed” in China, with the Shanghai Gigafactory, Tesla’s first plant in the country’s eastern financial hub, having been built and inaugurated within a year in 2019.

    “We’ve witnessed the incredible speed of Shanghai and Tesla once again. I’m excited to have this factory kick off an exciting year for Tesla,” said Mike Snyder, vice president of Tesla, at the launch ceremony on Tuesday, expressing confidence that the new factory will become a cornerstone of Tesla’s global production network. 

    An aerial drone photo shows U.S. carmaker Tesla’s Megafactory in Shanghai, east China, Feb. 8, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    This photo shows a commercial energy-storage system at U.S. carmaker Tesla’s Megafactory in Shanghai, east China, Feb. 11, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    This photo shows U.S. carmaker Tesla’s Megafactory in Shanghai, east China, Feb. 8, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Heritage – Frozen in time – National Lamb Day celebrations at Totara Estate

    Source: Heritage New Zealand

    Totara Estate near Ōamaru will play a prime role in this year’s National Lamb Day celebrations on February 15.
    The historic farmstead, a Tohu Whenua cared for by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, sent the first-ever shipment of frozen export meat from New Zealand to Britain in 1882, an event that created the multi-billion dollar industry that changed New Zealand’s economy forever.
    February 15 commemorates the exact day 143 years ago when the ship Dunedin left Port Chalmers for the three-month voyage to London carrying just under 5000 sheep and lamb carcasses that had been freshly processed at Totara Estate.
    “This was a significant moment in New Zealand’s history and Totara Estate was at the epicentre of it. It’s very appropriate that this place is a central part of National Lamb Day celebrations,” says Totara Estate Property Lead Jacqui Allison.
    Celebrations will be particularly fitting for the occasion, with New Zealand’s rich agricultural heritage featuring prominently.
    “We’re looking forward to inspiring people with live demonstrations by local experts who will showcase a range of farm-related talents including knife skills, butchery, blade shearing, spinning and other wool crafts,” she says.
    “Visitors will also be able to engage their minds with some captivating live readings and entertaining talks that bring history and culture to life – or just ‘chill’ to the sounds of local musicians who will create the perfect festive mood.”
    And if that wasn’t enough, a range of outdoor games for kids, and older people with a finely developed inner child, promise laughter and smiles all around.
    People can bring their own picnic, or support some of the local businesses who will be there on the day, including Mark from That Food Guy and Barb from Brews and Bites.
    “We’re looking forward to hosting the community in what is shaping up to be a fantastic celebration of a very important date in New Zealand’s history,” says Jacqui.

    Totara Estate would like to acknowledge the support of Gallaway Cook Allan , the National Lamb Day team and The Better Drinks Company in putting together this event.
    From minus zero to hero
    It was a big gamble sending a load of frozen meat from New Zealand to London in 1882.
    Besides the huge investment of actually prepping the first export shipment, the sheer size of the cargo versus the logistics of carrying coal for the long trip made a steam-powered ship impractical, and so the cargo had to travel for three months under sail. Success of the mission depended on the onboard refrigeration system running well.
    Fortunately the man at the helm of the Dunedin was Captain John Whitson, who had taken the time to read up on refrigeration prior to leaving New Zealand. A good thing too. On the way, the ship was becalmed in the tropics and the crew noticed that the cold air in the hold was not circulating, endangering the meat.
    Whitson crawled into the hold, sawed some extra air holes to improve the flow of cold air in order to keep the temperature low, though almost froze to death in the process. Thankfully the crew managed to haul him out of the freezer and resuscitate him.
    As a result of Whitson’s determination, the ship arrived with its cargo in excellent condition. Only one carcass had to be condemned. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Mouse Point Road, Hurunui closed following crash

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Emergency services are responding to a two-vehicle crash on Mouse Point Road, Hurunui.

    The crash was reported just after 4:20pm, near Hanmer Springs Road.

    Initial indications are that there are serious injuries.

    The road is currently closed. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – CBA extends commitment to regional branch network until 31 July 2027

    Source: Commonwealth Bank of Australia

    CBA has extended its commitment to regional Australia, with all regional branches to remain open until at least 31 July 2027.

    Our focus is on supporting our customers in regional and remote communities into the future.  

    We’re actively and directly communicating with community leaders across Australia so we can serve and support our regional retail and business customers with their banking needs, as well as help familiarise communities with the full range of banking services available to them.  

    As part of maintaining Australia’s largest banking presence, CBA will this year invest $100 million in upgrading its branches and ATM fleet.

    The extension of the commitment announced in July 2023 ensures CBA continues to offer the largest branch network in Australia and offers reassurance to regional communities.

    Notes to Editor

    Branch locations are defined in line with the Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA+), which is recognised as a leading indicator of remoteness in Australia. ARIA+ is used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for its Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3, and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) for its annual ADI Points of Presence report. ARIA+ is an objective measure of physical distance of populations to services.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Money Market Operations as on February 10, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India
    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)
      Volume
    (One Leg)    		 Weighted
    Average Rate    		 Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 5,66,515.61 6.28 5.00-6.75
         I. Call Money 12,879.97 6.32 5.15-6.45
         II. Triparty Repo 3,80,693.90 6.25 5.95-6.35
         III. Market Repo 1,71,142.14 6.35 5.00-6.60
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 1,799.60 6.53 6.40-6.75
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 1,280.50 5.92 5.90-6.35
         II. Term Money@@ 597.50 – 6.35-6.60
         III. Triparty Repo 724.60 6.34 6.20-6.45
         IV. Market Repo 328.11 6.36 6.35-6.40
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 585.00 8.00 8.00-8.00
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo Mon, 10/02/2025 1 Tue, 11/02/2025 2,01,310.00 6.26
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Mon, 10/02/2025 1 Tue, 11/02/2025 4,125.00 6.50
    4. SDFΔ# Mon, 10/02/2025 1 Tue, 11/02/2025 67,439.00 6.00
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       1,37,996.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo Fri, 07/02/2025 56 Fri, 04/04/2025 50,010.00 6.31
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       8,328.42  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     58,338.42  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     1,96,334.42  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on February 10, 2025 9,13,487.07  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending February 21, 2025 9,12,240.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ February 10, 2025 1,25,736.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on January 24, 2025 -34,103.00  
    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.
    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
    & As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
    Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
    ¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
    # As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
    ^ As per the Press Release No. 2024-2025/2013 dated January 27, 2025.
    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2024-2025/2125

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What are physician assistants? Can they fix the doctor shortage?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Nissen, HERA Program Director – Health Workforce Optimisation Centre for the Business & Economics of Health, The University of Queensland

    Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

    If you’ve tried to get an appointment to see a GP or specialist recently, you will likely have felt the impact of Australia’s doctor shortages.

    To alleviate workforce shortages, the Queensland government is considering introducing health workers called physician assistants more widely to the state’s health system.

    But the medical body representing physicians, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, has warned thorough consultation with medical experts is needed first.

    So what exactly are physician assistants? And are they the solution to our workforce issues we’ve been looking for? Let’s look at what the evidence says – and the lessons from abroad.

    What is a physician assistant?

    Physician assistants, also known as physician associates, are trained health professionals who work under the supervision of a doctor. They undertake a variety of tasks including:

    • examining patients
    • ordering and interpreting blood tests
    • assisting in surgery
    • prescribing medicines.

    In general practice, physician assistants may also provide preventative health care such as giving vaccinations and providing health advice.

    Physician assistants commonly complete postgraduate-level university education and a hands-on training program. They may also need to have completed a health-based undergraduate degree.

    In most countries, physician assistants work under a “delegation” model. This means the treating doctor and physician assistant together determine the tasks the physician assistant can undertake, depending on their competence. As their skills and knowledge increase, the level of supervision changes accordingly.

    When were they first used?

    Similar roles have been used throughout history, including in the military. As early as the 1800s, trained assistants known as feldshers (or feldschers) provided basic medical care during times of war, for example in Russia, Bulgaria and Poland.

    The contemporary physician assistant role evolved in the 1960s in the United States. It was initially designed to use the skills of medically trained military servicemen.

    The first physician assistants were military servicemen.
    Andy Gin/Shutterstock

    Since then, it has become an accepted and well established part of the health care team in the US, where the medical profession supports the physician assistant role and contributes to its regulation.

    There are currently more than 178,000 physician assistants practising in the US, across a wide range of settings. Around one-quarter work in family/general medicine and one-fifth in rural and medically under-served areas.

    Physician assistants can be found in many countries, including Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands.

    Australia previously trialled physician assistant in two states, Queensland and South Australia. Like other countries, the role was found to be effective and acceptable.

    What does the research say about their use?

    Most research about physician assistants originates from the US. Studies spanning several decades show physician assistants provide safe and appropriate care. They can competently undertake consultations, perform complex procedures, provide preventative health care, treat non-complex patients in the emergency department and provide a wide range of services in rural areas.

    Most studies have reported patient satisfaction with the physician assistant role.

    Research has found it’s cost-effective to use physician assistants, including for complex patients.

    Physician assistants can improve the continuity of patient care in hospitals, as they remain with their supervising doctor rather than moving between hospital areas as trainee doctors do. This enables them to maintain consistent contact with patients, their families and other members of the health-care team.

    Using physician assistants in emergency departments enables doctors to review more complex patients.

    In surgery, physician assistants can reduce the workload on resident doctors. They can prepare patients for surgery, review them afterwards and perform some surgical procedures. They can also reduce the time patients stay in hospital.

    Physician assistants can also provide care in rural and remote areas and have worked with Aboriginal health workers in remote areas of Australia.

    What do Australian policymakers need to consider?

    Like many other countries, the Australian health workforce is under pressure. Recent reviews have highlighted the need to examine how the health system and workforce can more effectively meet the needs of the community. This includes making better use of all current health professions by enabling them to perform the tasks they have been trained to do.

    Health professionals must ensure their care keeps patients safe and aligns with public expectations. This relies on appropriate education and training, funding and payment policies, governance and regulation. Effective regulation ensures health professionals are held accountable for their practice, according to defined professional practice expectations.

    Despite physician assistants being trialled in Queensland and SA, the role did not gain the support of the medical profession. As a result, only a small number of physician assistants are currently practising. And Australia no longer provides education programs for physician assistants.

    Several factors affected the acceptance of the physician assistant role.

    Their skills and competence weren’t widely understood or recognised. This meant their scope of practice was poorly defined, which may have been confusing for both patients and health professionals.

    The profession was also unable to access Medicare rebates or Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme subsidies for patient consultations or scripts. This limited their full involvement in some health services such as general practice.

    What could we do better?

    Australia needs to learn from the available evidence when considering a possible role for physician assistants.

    In the US and Canada, for example, a close relationship between the medical and physician assistant professions has provided guidance and support for the role, and ensured physician assistants are accountable for their practice, through the development of “expected standards” of practice.

    As demand for health services increases, it makes sense to explore the addition of physician assistants to Australia’s health-care workforce, if safety and quality can be assured, and health care teams function optimally.

    Lisa Nissen receives funding from the Commonwealth Department and Aging and jurisdictional health departments for research related to Health Workforce Optimization and team based care.

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

    – ref. What are physician assistants? Can they fix the doctor shortage? – https://theconversation.com/what-are-physician-assistants-can-they-fix-the-doctor-shortage-247560

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Byelections show Labor is in trouble in Victoria – but how much will Peter Dutton benefit?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Strangio, Emeritus Professor of Politics, Monash University

    Is history repeating itself in Labor’s fortress state of Victoria?

    At the 1990 federal election, Bob Hawke’s Labor government had a near-death experience when it lost nine seats in Victoria. A furious Hawke laid the blame squarely at the feet of John Cain’s state Labor government, which was listing badly in its third term due especially to a series of financial calamities.

    Less than six months later, a broken Cain, one of Victoria’s great reformist premiers, resigned. His successor was Joan Kirner, the state’s first woman leader. Despite battling gamely, she was unable to avert a landslide Labor defeat in 1992.

    Wind forward to the present and there are some eerily similar dynamics. Anthony Albanese’s government will shortly head to the polls at a time when Jacinta Allan’s ageing Labor administration is in deep political strife in a state groaning under mountainous public debt.

    Labor decline

    Saturday’s twin byelection results highlight state Labor’s parlous position. In the inner urban seat of Prahran, the ALP was so accepting of its lack of competitiveness that it didn’t field a candidate.

    The Liberal Party achieved a modest primary vote swing of 4.8%, which was enough to snatch the decade-long held Greens seat.

    In the outer western suburban seat of Werribee, Labor’s primary vote collapsed by more than 16%. But the Liberal Party only increased its first vote by a relatively paltry 3.7%. To put that in perspective, the Victorian Socialists enjoyed an equivalent lift in support.

    Inevitably, much ink is being spilt trying to divine what these byelection results portend for the Albanese government. In short, whether the unpopularity of the Allan government threatens to unseat federal Labor and open the door to a Peter Dutton prime ministership.

    State stronghold

    Victoria has been a citadel for the ALP, both state and federal, for decades. John Howard’s dubbing of the state as the “Massachusetts of Australia” has become almost cliched so often it is invoked by journalists as a shorthand way of describing Victoria’s predisposition for left-of-centre voting behaviour. It is a label first ascribed to Victoria in the 19th century showing how long it has been known for its progressive political temperament. It is a trait coiled in the state’s political DNA.

    Following the 2022 federal election, the Coalition held only 11 out of 39 seats in Victoria. The Liberals were nearly banished entirely from metropolitan Melbourne, where they now hold just two electorates, Deakin and Menzies (the fringe outer suburban seats of Casey and La Trobe are classified by the AEC as rural and provincial respectively).

    To compound matters, boundary redistributions have since wiped out the Liberals’ margin in Deakin and turned Menzies into a notional Labor seat. All of this means that the federal Coalition must perform substantially better in Victoria, and specifically Melbourne, if its to have a viable path to power.

    State Labor’s political doldrums have offered some hope to Dutton, who is targeting four seats in Victoria, and at a stretch, five: Aston, Chisholm, Goldstein (held by the Teal, Zoe Daniel), McEwen and Dunkley. Notably, only three of those seats – Aston, McEwen and Dunkley – are outer suburban. And the latter is considered the least likely to fall.

    Dutton’s pitch to the suburbs

    Nonetheless, the outer suburbs are a key to Dutton’s election strategy. It’s where he is seeking a major realignment of Australia’s electoral politics by pillaging traditional Labor working class and lower middle class voters.

    This strategy isn’t unprecedented. The so-called “battler” vote was a component, albeit exaggerated, of John Howard’s formula for electoral success as he reoriented the Liberal Party towards conservative populism. Dutton is aggressively doubling down on that pivot.

    The Werribee result, however, can hardly be construed as a harbinger of Liberals storming the ramparts of the outer suburbs. The party’s primary vote in the byelection was only 29%, indicating voters in such areas, which are characterised by breakneck growth and a tsunami of demographic change, are still wary of the local Liberals.

    That scepticism is understandable. For years now, the Victorian Liberal party has been deeply dysfunctional. It has been consumed by ideological and personal feuds, out of sync with the state’s progressive attitudes, low on talent, and seemingly habituated to reposing in opposition rather than presenting as a serious alternative government.

    But, even allowing for such Victorian specific factors (and it is far from the only under-performing Liberal division across the country – think of South Australia and Western Australia), the Werribee result suggests Dutton’s outer suburban focus will not easily yield sizeable dividends, and certainly not in one electoral cycle. It will be a slow burn at best.

    In the meantime, if the Liberals are to win government, they will need to make up ground in inner and middle metropolitan electorates, including Teal-held seats, to which Dutton is far less attuned.

    Major party disenchantment

    What Saturday’s byelections mostly underscored is the dissatisfaction with all of the established parties, including the Greens, whose vote flat-lined in both Prahran and Werribee.

    The disenchantment was expressed in the approximate one third of votes that went to a melange of other parties or independent candidates. This is consistent with the trend that so dramatically materialised at the 2022 federal election when a fractious public voted along increasingly fragmented lines.

    Rather than any party enjoying a grand sweep of the outer suburbs or elsewhere, that is what we can expect at the impending federal election: volatility and unpredictability which is confirmed as the new normal.

    In the past, Paul Strangio received funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. Byelections show Labor is in trouble in Victoria – but how much will Peter Dutton benefit? – https://theconversation.com/byelections-show-labor-is-in-trouble-in-victoria-but-how-much-will-peter-dutton-benefit-249479

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police to monitor gang event, Taumarunui

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police will be actively monitoring a gang gathering in the Taumarunui area this week, ensuring the disruption to the public is limited.

    Members of the King Country Mongrel Mob are expected to gather in the Taumarunui region for a reunion event, planned for 13-17 February.

    Additional Police staff will be in the region to work to reduce disruption on the roads and ensure the community feel safe.

    Police have been in touch with the organisers of the event and have set clear expectations about the behaviour of attendees. A number of local businesses have also been approached for reassurance ahead of this event.

    Anyone who sees illegal or unsafe activity is asked to contact 111 if it is happening now or report other matters to Police by calling 105 or making an online report here.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Housing, grant funding and disaster recovery top RCV discussions in Canberra

    Source: State of Victoria Local Government 2

    Regional Cities Victoria (RCV), which includes the City of Greater Bendigo among its members, is calling on the Federal Government to turn its one-off Housing Support Program into an annual $1.5B investment in essential services and infrastructure.

    Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf, who is Deputy Chair of RCV, and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Cooney travelled with a RCV delegation to Canberra yesterday to advocate for the needs of regional Victoria ahead of the Federal election.

    Cr Metcalf said regional councils want to see their cities grow and create more opportunities for their communities, but Federal policy and funding support was essential.

    “At the moment, a lack of utilities – water mains, sewerage plants, local roads upgrades – stand in the way of unlocking land supply and building more, much-needed homes in regional Victoria,” she said.

    “The Housing Support Program addresses many of the challenges Local Government faces to improve planning capacity and ensure there is the infrastructure and amenities needed to unlock new housing. However, to allow councils to plan for the future, RCV is advocating for the program to be permanent.

    “A confidence in housing and infrastructure supply can also help address challenging workforce shortages. Statewide, Local Government is experiencing a shortage of planners, building surveyors and engineering staff, roles that coincidentally are critical to supporting housing delivery.

    “RCV also wants regional cities to receive $1B annually through the federal Growing Regions Program and Regional Precincts and Partnership Program. We believe regional areas need more favourable funding ratios, with a guaranteed 25% of the state’s allocation to be invested in regional Victoria.

    “Road safety was also a key priority, while so too was the continual push to be allowed to ‘build back better’ following a natural disaster. Victorian and Commonwealth governments need to work together to include infrastructure betterment provisions within Category B and Category C of the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

    “To be able to ‘build back better’ after natural disasters is a critical investment in long-term sustainability but something Local Government cannot fund by itself.

    “Our discussions focused on key investments that need to be made available to regional Victorian communities now. Such funding guarantees mean we can strategically plan for and manage a future pipeline of infrastructure projects, and ensure we are better prepared to navigate challenges that come along the way.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Pillen Advocates for Property Tax Relief Through TEEOSA Adjustments

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    . Pillen Advocates for Property Tax Relief Through TEEOSA Adjustments

     

    LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen testified before the Nebraska Legislature’s Education Committee in favor of LB303 which aims to provide Nebraskans with additional property tax relief by altering the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act (TEEOSA). Senator Jana Hughes introduced LB303 at the Governor’s request.

     

    TEEOSA has been Nebraska’s school funding formula since 1990. Its primary function is to provide state equalization aid to those schools where the needs exceed budget resources. During his testimony, Gov. Pillen pointed out that since 2000, school district taxes have increased from $1 billion to over $3 billion, and in that same time frame, the number of equalized school districts has dropped significantly, from 226 to just 60.

     

    “Nebraska’s students and taxpayers need stability in funding. School districts often live under uncertain budget circumstances. It is difficult to project the amount of dollars that will come from the TEEOSA formula as property tax valuations continue to rise across the state,” said Gov. Pillen. “Providing stability to the TEEOSA formula is necessary and will require constant review and consideration. We must start managing the formula and not allowing the formula to manage us.”

     

    Among the proposed changes to TEEOSA in LB303:

     

    • Dropping the maximum levy from $1.05 to $1.02
    • Increasing the minimum amount of state aid for each public-school student (Foundation Aid) by 6%, from $1500 to $1590 per student
    • Prohibiting school districts with a base levy adjustment of lower than $.30 from receiving state aid
    • Creating a commission to review the TEEOSA formula every year and provide feedback to elected officials on potential improvements

     

    Both Sen. Hughes and Gov. Pillen emphasized that ensuring local control among school districts was paramount to this legislation.

     

    “During the current fiscal year, 111 schools have seen a decrease in state aid. Modeling from the Nebraska Department of Education shows that LB303 will provide just over $62 million more in state aid to schools,” said Sen. Hughes. “While this doesn’t fully compensate for the loss due to rising valuations, it will lessen the impact on property taxpayers next year. Without the increase in funds provided to schools through LB303, the entire loss in state aid to these districts will fall to taxpayers.”

     

    Organizations testifying in favor of LB 303 included the Nebraska State Education Association (NSEA), Greater Nebraska Schools Association (GNSA), Educational Service Units (ESUs), Nebraska Association of School Boards (NASB), Nebraska Council of School Administrators (NCSA), Open Sky Policy Institute, Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association (NRCSA), Schools Taking Action for Nebraska Children’s Education (STANCE), Nebraska Farmers Union and the Nebraska Farm Bureau, representing a working group of ag organizations.

     

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Explainer: what does it actually mean to ‘firm’ renewables?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peta Ashworth, Professor and Director, Curtin Institute for Energy Transition, Curtin University

    Large power grids are among the most complicated machines humans have ever devised. Different generators produce power at various times and at various costs. A generator might fail and another fills the gap. Demand soars in the evenings and on hot days. In Australia, eastern and southern states trade power across borders. Meanwhile, Western Australia has two grids and the Northern Territory has several.

    But these complicated machines are undergoing major change, as we shift from large fossil fuel plants to cleaner forms of power. Wind and sun are now the cheapest way to produce electricity. These renewable sources will soon overtake coal and gas – they’re already averaging 40% of power flowing through the national grid.

    Solar and wind are often called “variable” renewable energy sources. Variable, here, refers to the fact the sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow. On sunny, windy days we get lots of cheap power. But on still nights, we might get little.

    This is where “firming” comes in. To firm renewables is to convert this cheap but variable source of power into what we really want: a reliable supply of electricity, there when we need it. Big battery projects are one way to do it. But there are others.

    Solar and wind are often called ‘variable’ renewable energy sources.
    Damitha Jayawardena/Shutterstock

    How does firming work?

    Storage is the best known way to firm renewables. As floods of cheap power come in, you can store it for later use.

    Storage can be performed by grid-scale batteries, where the power is stored directly. But it can also be done by pumped hydro, where water is pumped uphill when power is cheap and plentiful and run back downhill, through turbines, when power is harder to source.

    Firming can also be done by virtual power plants – aggregated fleets of smaller batteries in homes and electric vehicles.

    Gas peaking plants are another way of firming renewables. In the future, gas plants will go from being a mainstay to the equivalent of a backup generator, fired up only when needed.

    Generally, energy storage facilities offer either short- or long-term firming. As more renewable power enters Australia’s grids, we will need both. This is because they offer different levels of storage and response times.

    Short term can be as short as seconds to a few hours. Batteries are a common way to provide short-term firming, because they can ramp up very quickly to tackle sudden fluctuations in supply or demand. These fast-response systems help stabilise the grid by smoothing out spikes caused by changing weather.

    Long-term firming can be for hours, days or even weeks. This includes large-scale battery storage or back-up generators such as gas plants. Long-term options are crucial to maintain power supply during extended periods of low renewable generation, such as still, cold days and nights in winter.

    Firming turns cheap solar and wind into reliable, stable power.
    Taras Vyshnya/Shutterstock

    How are we tracking with firming renewables?

    In recent years, large-scale battery announcements have ramped up. Almost 8 gigawatts of battery capacity is now in progress or anticipated to start construction shortly. But the pipeline of future projects is much larger: 75 gigawatts of firming will be required.

    While renewable power is cheap, to make it useful and reliable in addition to storage, we need transmission lines to connect large renewable zones to cities and towns. All this adds extra costs.

    As the level of renewables in our power grids inches higher, firming costs increase. This is especially true when a grid goes from 95% to 100% renewables, when there’s a sudden jump in cost.

    This is why experts have argued for keeping a few gas peaking plants. While they are not emission-free, they are flexible and can start up much more rapidly than coal. They will likely play a key role in firming the grid during renewable droughts and extreme demand – an estimated 5% of the year. That sounds small, but they will be essential.

    Eventually, gas peaking plants could switch to hydrogen, if the fuel becomes cost effective. This would cut emissions further.

    Firming – at home?

    Homes with batteries can also help firm the network by joining a virtual power plant. These networks of batteries can be digitally coordinated to function as a single power plant, helping stabilise the grid.

    If a home owner signs up to a virtual power plant program, they hand over some control in return for income. Technologies such as this can support grid stability by charging or discharging in response to supply fluctuations.

    These networks are a flexible energy resource. They can inject power to the grid instantly if there’s a sudden drop in solar or wind generation. They can also soak up surplus energy.

    These aren’t hypothetical. Several are running or in development in Australia, such as the AGL virtual power plant in South Australia, SolarHub in New South Wales and the new ARENA-funded Project Jupiter in Western Australia, which will commence soon.

    Is firming helping?

    Firming technologies are already helping in high-renewable grids overseas. Big batteries now allow California’s grid to absorb more renewables, by soaking up daytime solar and releasing it at evening peak.

    Power from renewables such as solar need to be firmed to maximise use in the grid.
    The Desert Photo/Shutterstock

    We’re seeing the benefits of firming locally, too.

    On January 20 this year, a heatwave in Western Australia triggered a new record for peak electricity demand – 4.4 gigawatts – in the state’s main electricity network, the South West Interconnected System.

    In response, recently built battery storage at Kwinana, Collie, and Cunderdin stored excess power and discharged it at peak times.

    The next day, dense clouds swept in, slashing solar output and reducing peak demand. In response, gas generators increased output to firm the grid.

    Firming technologies are already playing a vital role in keeping our electricity supply stable, reliable and resilient – and it’s just the start.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Explainer: what does it actually mean to ‘firm’ renewables? – https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-does-it-actually-mean-to-firm-renewables-248134

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: US judge extends freeze on Trump’s massive ‘buyout’ plan

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Jan. 30, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    A U.S. federal judge on Monday extended a pause on the deadline for roughly two million federal workers to accept the Trump administration’s “buyout” offer, which gives seven months of salary to those who opt to leave their jobs.

    On Thursday, just hours before the acceptance deadline, Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. from the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts temporarily halted the administration’s “buyout” plan.

    After a hearing on Monday, the federal judge said that the pause would continue until he ruled on the legality of the “deferred resignation” plan.

    The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced the program in a statement on Jan. 28, with the original deadline set for Feb. 6. “If you resign under this program, you will retain all pay and benefits regardless of your daily workload and will be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30, 2025,” the statement read.

    More than 60,000 employees have already agreed to resign as part of President Donald Trump’s effort to rapidly reduce the government workforce, according to a report by NBC news. That accounts for roughly 3 percent of the 2 million federal employees deemed eligible for “deferred resignation.”

    Labor unions have challenged the “buyout” program, arguing that OPM overstepped its authority by guaranteeing pay and benefits until the end of September, especially since Congress had only approved funding for most federal agencies until March 14.

    The unions also argue that the offer does not take into account potential negative impacts on the government’s operational capabilities, imposes an unreasonably tight deadline, and serves as a pretext for dismissing and replacing workers based on ideological reasons.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Russia-US ties ‘on verge of rupture’

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Russian national flag waves at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Jan. 6, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Relations between Russia and the United States are “on the verge of rupture,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Monday.

    Moscow has repeatedly warned that bilateral relations were on the brink of rupture, Ryabkov said, adding that U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to the White House could lead to a change in U.S. foreign policy.

    At a press briefing, the diplomat also said there were currently no plans for contact between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump.

    “However, the topic does exist, and as the situation becomes clearer, I believe there will be agreements on this matter and they will be announced … at the appropriate time,” Ryabkov said.

    At the same time, Ryabkov said that the new U.S. administration has expressed interest in resuming dialogue with Moscow.

    “Trump’s team, despite the conflicting statements made by him and his people, has at least shown interest in resuming dialogue with Russia, which was interrupted by the Democrats,” Ryabkov said.

    He reiterated that Moscow remains ready for dialogue, including discussions on a potential settlement of the Ukraine crisis, however, such dialogue would only be possible based on equality and mutually acceptable terms.

    “A small window of opportunity” has emerged under the Trump administration for normalizing bilateral ties, he said, adding that Washington must decide whether to take advantage of this.

    The use of ultimatums, provocative remarks, or attempts to pressure Moscow into accepting unreasonable demands will not be effective for Russia-U.S. relations or dialogue between the two countries, he added.

    The New York Post reported late Saturday that Trump said he had discussed the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine by phone with Putin.

    However, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Sunday he could “neither confirm nor deny” that Putin and Trump had been in touch when asked by reporters if the two leaders had spoken by phone.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Fossils found in south China identified as duck-billed dinosaur

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    This undated file photo provided by Xing Lida, a paleontologist at the China University of Geosciences (Beijing), shows a set of skeletal dinosaur fossils discovered in Sihui City, south China’s Guangdong Province. (Xinhua)

    Scientists have confirmed that a set of skeletal fossils discovered in southern China belonged to duck-billed dinosaurs from over 70 million years ago, expanding the region’s fossil record of these large, toothy creatures that likely migrated from North America.

    The bones were found in May 2009 by a Chinese amateur fossil hunter at a construction site in Taipinggang, Sihui City, Guangdong Province, and he donated them to a local museum.

    After cleaning and restoration, researchers in 2020 identified the fossilized skeleton comprising dorsal and caudal vertebrae, a humerus, ilium, femur and tibia. They believe the fossils belong to the tribe Lambeosaurini, a subfamily of plant-eating Hadrosauroidea dinosaurs that lived during the Cretaceous period.

    The study, led by paleontologists from China and Canada, was published in the journal Historical Biology in late January.

    According to the research team, Hadrosauroidea is renowned for its distinctive duck-billed mouth structure. These dinosaurs had thousands of teeth well arranged within their jaws, enabling them to exhibit strong chewing efficiency and viability.

    Lambeosaurini also possesses a unique cranial structure featuring narrow hollow nasal bones, which is likely responsible for their ability to make trumpet-like sounds that they use for communication.

    First author Wang Donghao, a PhD student from China University of Geosciences (Beijing), noted that the research team had identified long and narrow neural spines on the fossil specimen, which is an extremely rare feature. However, the fossils are mainly fragmentary bones and were not well-preserved, lacking substantial biological information about the dinosaur’s cranial structure.

    The researchers estimated that the creatures were not yet fully grown, measuring about 8 meters in length. They identified them as a more derived clade of Lambeosaurini dinosaurs that migrated from North America back to Asia via the Bering Strait, as their tall and narrow neural spines are a common trait among North American dinosaurs.

    The fossilized bones are the first record of Lambeosaurini in south China, and “they represent the only evidence suggesting a potential migration of North American dinosaurs to the region in Late Cretaceous,” co-author Xing Lida, a paleontologist from the university told Xinhua on Monday, noting that the study will help understand the ecological conditions across various regions before the mass extinction during the Late Cretaceous period.

    This image provided by Xing Lida, a paleontologist at the China University of Geosciences (Beijing), shows a restoration drawing of the dinosaurs based on the skeletal fossils discovered in Sihui City, south China’s Guangdong Province. (Xinhua)

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: 11 February 2025 Kāinga Ora tackles rent debt As part of its reset, Kāinga Ora is changing its approach to managing rent debt to speed up repayment and address some historic issues. Chief Executive Matt Crockett outlines the changes that are being made and the reasons for them.

    Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

    Over the past 12 months, our frontline teams have been working with tenants to reduce their rent debt. This has resulted in total rent debt falling from $21.6 million in January 2024 to $16.1 million at the same time this year.

    But we want the amount owed to fall faster and to make sure we keep rent debt down in the future. So we are making changes as part of the broader reset of Kāinga Ora to address this.

    New policy

    We’re going to reduce debt by taking a firmer approach with tenants who are behind on their rent. We will be fair and reasonable – but rent must be paid.

    We will continue to support households who fall on hard times but are making genuine attempts to get back on track with their rent. We’re a social housing landlord so that’s the right thing to do.

    But, through our new rent debt policy, we are drawing a line on how patient we can be. We don’t want to end tenancies, but we will if tenants are not meeting their obligations to reduce their rent debt, are skipping rent payments or refusing to work with us.

    We’re also taking action to prevent large debts in future. Our new approach seeks to ensure that tenants will not have accumulated more than 12 weeks’ worth of rent debt when their tenancy is ended. This means we will begin the process of ending a tenancy earlier than in the past. This provides clarity about what will happen, and when, to both our tenants and our frontline.

    Partial debt forgiveness

    A small number of Kāinga Ora tenants – less than 3% – have accumulated more than 12 weeks’ worth of rent debt. There are a range of reasons for this, including social and economic events over the past five years and the steps Kāinga Ora took to respond to government policy, particularly during the pandemic.

    We’re going to help those tenants get on top of their rent debt faster by reducing the amount owed to a level that is more realistic for them to repay in full. We’ll only do this for tenants who are consistently paying their rent and making reasonable payments to reduce their debt. In return for this one-off help, tenants must continue reducing their debt.

    This will provide a clear incentive to tenants who are not currently meeting their obligations to change their behaviour and speed up repaying what they owe. If they consistently do this, they will be eligible to have part of their debt forgiven. But if they do not, we will take steps to end their tenancy.

    We expect to forgive up to $8.3 million of the $16.17 million we’re owed. This is already provisioned for on our balance sheets as it is regarded as doubtful debt, so there will be no impact on our financial performance.

    We think this is the right thing to do. The likelihood of collecting all this debt is low, given the time it will take tenants to pay it off and the significant costs associated with chasing it. We’re also conscious that during the pandemic the steps we took to respond to government policy meant we didn’t chase debt in the way we normally would, so we carry a measure of responsibility.

    We’re being pragmatic. We think we’re better off focusing on recovering the remaining debt faster and ensuring current tenants do not get into too much debt.

    All tenants whose debt is reduced will still have a significant amount to repay. And they’ll have a strong incentive to do this under our new policy, which it makes it clear we will end tenancies if tenants do not meet their rent obligations.

    Looking ahead

    It’s important we strike the right balance between supporting households in difficult circumstances and ensuring that our tenants meet their obligations. We will be closely monitoring the impact of both the new rent debt policy and partial rent debt forgiveness to ensure we have the right balance. If necessary, we will make further adjustments.

    Page updated: 11 February 2025

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin observatory will detect millions of exploding stars

    Source: US Government research organizations

    Rubin Observatory’s rapid scanning of the night sky will capture the largest sample of Type Ia supernovas yet, unlocking new insights into the nature of dark energy

    NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory, jointly funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science, will soon begin scanning the Southern Hemisphere sky every night for 10 years. Among the trillions of cosmic events and objects it will capture will be millions of exploding stars called Type Ia supernovas.

    These supernovas are produced by exploding white dwarf stars and are some of the brightest cosmic spectacles. They are particularly useful to researchers because they provide a sort of reliable cosmic yardstick that can be used to accurately measure vast distances in the universe. With enough observations of Type Ia supernovas, scientists can measure the universe’s expansion rate and whether it changes over time.

    Every time NSF-DOE Rubin Observatory detects a change in brightness or position of an object, it will send an alert to the science community. With such rapid detection, Rubin will be the most powerful tool yet for spotting Type Ia supernovas before they fade away.

    Observations of Type Ia supernovas were used to discover the mysterious phenomenon known as dark energy, thought to be causing the universe to expand faster than expected. In just its first few months of operation, Rubin Observatory will discover many more Type Ia supernovas than were used in the initial discovery of dark energy in the 1990s. The observatory will reveal a much larger set of the supernovas across the universe, allowing scientists to refine our existing map of space and time and create a fuller picture of dark energy’s influence.

    Current measurements suggest that dark energy might change over time. Understanding the nature of dark energy will in turn refine understanding of the universe’s age and evolution, including when stars and galaxies first formed.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pinpointing where Yellowstone will erupt in the very distant future

    Source: US Government research organizations

    U.S. National Science Foundation-supported researchers published new findings suggesting a location where the Yellowstone Caldera could erupt, hundreds of thousands of years from now.

    The Yellowstone Caldera is one of the largest volcanic systems on Earth. It lurks beneath Yellowstone National Park and touches three states: Idaho, Wyoming and Montana. Over the past two million years, the volcano significantly erupted three times, leaving behind calderas, or massive craters.

    To better understand future eruptions, Ninfa Bennington, a volcanic seismologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, used magnetotelluric methods to identify four pots of magma stored underneath the Yellowstone Caldera.

    Magnetotelluric instruments help scientists identify materials that can conduct electricity beneath Earth’s crust. The team used those instruments at over 100 measuring stations across the caldera to identify magma, which has a much higher conductivity than solid rocks.

    Of the four magma-rich regions the team discovered, only the northeastern one will remain hot enough to keep magma liquid on a long-term scale and eventually erupt. Previous major eruptions took place in different locations across the caldera.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Biofabricating human tissues enhanced through use of gallium

    Source: US Government research organizations

    The manufacturing technique known as 3D printing, now being used everywhere, from aircraft manufacturers to public libraries, has never been more affordable or accessible. Biomedical engineering has particularly benefited from 3D printing as prosthetic devices can be produced and tested more rapidly than ever before. However, 3D printing still faces challenges when printing living tissues, partly due to their complexity and fragility.

    Now, with support from the U.S. National Science Foundation, a research team at Boston University (BU) and the Wyss Institute at Harvard University has pioneered the use of gallium, a metal that can be molded at room temperature, to create tissue structures in various shapes and sizes.

    This innovative approach to fabrication, engineered sacrificial capillary pumps for evacuation (ESCAPE), was highlighted in a recent study published in Nature, where the team used gallium casts to mold biomaterials. The scaffolds left behind by these casts are then filled with cells cultured to form tissue structures. Vascular structures were some of the first produced using ESCAPE, particularly because of the challenges faced due to blood vessel complexity. Few techniques exist to build large (millimeter-scale) and small (micrometer-scale) structures in scaffolds made of natural materials, making this multiscale fabrication capability a novel approach.

    “ESCAPE can be used on several tissue architectures, but we started with vascular forms because blood vessel networks feature many different length scales,” said Christopher Chen, director of BU’s Biological Design Center and senior author on the study. Chen is also the deputy director of CELL-MET, an NSF Engineering Research Center at BU funded by a $34 million award from NSF, and co-principal investigator on the award for the NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering MechanoBiology at the University of Pennsylvania. “Our blood vessel demonstrations include trees with many branches, including dead ends and portions that experience fluid flow. This allows us to model a range of healthy structures as well as diseased abnormalities.”

    Following the success of reproducing capillary structures, researchers are hopeful these methods can be used to generate distinct tissue structures found in organs. The reliability of these ESCAPE designs will also be tested using computational modeling, further expanding the types of material reproduced using the process.

    Credit: Subramanian Sundaram, Boston University and Wyss Institute, Harvard University

    A metallic (gallium) cast used to model networks of blood vessels and lymphatic vessels that come in close proximity but not in direct contact. The gallium structure is used as a sacrificial cast to mold soft materials into complex structures in the ESCAPE process.

    “CELL-MET allows engineers, student trainees and medical professionals and their patients to collaborate across a broad innovation ecosystem,” said Randy Duran, the lead NSF program director for the CELL-MET award. “Using systems engineering, the team has developed a novel method of fabricating structures such as blood vessels that must be produced at scales ranging from microscopic capillaries to much larger blood vessels, all within centimeter-scale heart patches that will have a broad impact on human health.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Parliamentary statement on antisemitism

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    A holy synagogue defiled by a hateful swastika.

    A childcare centre deliberately set on fire. 

    Nazi slogans – copied from the darkest pages of history – spraypainted across Jewish cars and Jewish property.   

    To a person, these have been cowardly acts, conducted under the cover of darkness, designed to bully and intimidate and threaten the Jewish people of our great state.

    But we are here today, as a parliament, as representatives of this open and tolerant state, to say in an unambiguous way that this campaign of hatred will fail.

    It will fail – because the Jewish community is strong.

    It will fail – because our Jewish friends have an entire state behind them – with the laws and the resources and the solidarity needed to destroy the poison of antisemitism wherever it takes root.

    Mr Speaker, the Jewish people of New South Wales are proud, but they are understandably exhausted.

    As one parent told the media earlier this month: “I’m just tired. I want it to stop. I am sick of waking up to find out something else has happened.”

    Some of the stories we are hearing will break your heart.

    Of schoolkids – who are now afraid to wear their uniforms in public as they walk down the street to their local school.

    Or of parents – who have started driving their kids everywhere – so they don’t have to risk a trip on the bus or the train. 

    We will not be a state where someone feels like they have to remove their yarmulke just to walk down the street.

    Where people are made to hide their heritage – because of the ignorance, the bigotry, the racism of other people – people they’ve never met before.

    Mr Speaker, that has never been New South Wales. 

    And today – and in coming sessions of parliament – we will introduce new and stronger laws that target this kind of antisemitism and racial hatred.

    These laws we hope will send the clearest possible message.

    These are serious crimes.

    And if you’re going to commit these acts – if you are thinking about spreading racial hatred on our streets –you will face these full penalties.

    These changes include:

    • A new offence targeting the display of Nazi symbols on or near a synagogue.
    • An act to create an aggravated offence for graffiti on a place of worship.
    • Laws designed to stop people from harassing other people, or intimidating other people from recognising their religion and worshipping at religious buildings.

    We’re also backing these laws in as well, Mr Speaker, with more funding for the Hate Crime Unit in the NSW Police.

    More training and support for local councils. 

    We believe they’re strong laws, that will be a genuine deterrent, and we want to put resources behind them.

    And send a message that if you’re going to get involved in this kind of bastardry: the police will track you down – they will find you – and you will be punished. 

    Mr Speaker, one public act of antisemitism is too many.

    A summer of rolling hatred is obviously intolerable.

    Operation Shelter, stood up by the NSW Police, has arrested 173 people – with over 460 charges.

    Strike Force Pearl is now targeting vandalism and arson, and we’ve doubled the number of detectives on the case.

    But we do recognise that no one in this place will be judged by the laws we pass, or the taskforces that are established.

    We’ll be judged by the crimes that are stopped – and the feeling of safety that can return to our community as a result.

    I know David Ossip is here today as President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies. I’d like to acknowledge his guidance and support as well as his personal strength and leadership throughout these very difficult times.  

    Mr Speaker, for as long as modern Australia has existed, Jewish people have made their home in this state.

    In 1788, there were eight Jews on the First Fleet.

    They were victims of poverty in East London, like later Jewish migrants who were fleeing pogroms in Eastern Europe, and those who settled here after the great evil of the Shoah.

    For generations of Jewish people, Australia has offered a promise.

    And that promise has been very simple.

    Despite centuries of horrifying violence – Australia would be different.

    Australia would be safe.

    This would be a country that accepts and celebrates these ancient people – a place where this community could live and prosper in peace.

    In the 1860s, a Rabbi travelled here from Jerusalem, Rabbi Jacob Levi Saphir, and he was amazed at what he found: “The Jews live in safety and take their share in all good things of the country.

    “In this land, they have learnt that the Jews are good people, and hatred towards them has entirely disappeared.”

    This is in 1860, Mr Speaker.

    I think it’s important we observe that the vast, vast majority of Australians of different ethnicities, nationalities, faiths, religions celebrate and love our Jewish friends and fellow citizens.

    We work together – we often send our kids to the same schools – we live side by side.

    In a democratic country like Australia there will be debate about foreign policy issues, wars, conflicts, rights.

    And of course that includes the Middle East.

    I have to say Mr Speaker, I’ve found that most Australians – regardless of their race, religion or perspective – want, would argue for, and indeed many pray for, Israeli and Palestinian children to live in peace in that holy land – and an end to all wars.

    We must, however, make it absolutely clear that nothing that happens overseas, in any context can ever be used as a pretext for hate, antisemitism or division here in Australia.

    People have come from around the world – from different races and religions – because we are a peaceful, tolerant country that has been free of this kind of racial or religious division and ancient hatreds.

    And we can’t bend on this principle. 

    No one is entitled to bring their bigotry to our country – and we won’t tolerate it.

    In New South Wales – we will never harbour the poison of antisemitism.

    Antisemitism is a particularly sinister, shape shifting in form, and the bigotry is widespread. 

    So often – what has begun as hate speech against the Jewish people has led to violence, it has led to persecution, it’s led to murder, and it’s led to genocide.

    That is the reason we’re here today.

    As a state – as a community – as a Parliament – as friends and neighbours – so that we can root out this kind of behaviour – and end this shameful chapter of the history of the state.

    MIL OSI News –