NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-Evening Report: What’s the difference between burnout and depression?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gordon Parker, Scientia Professor of Psychiatry, UNSW Sydney

    Yuri A/Shutterstock

    If your summer holiday already feels like a distant memory, you’re not alone. Burnout – a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion following prolonged stress – has been described in workplaces since a 5th century monastery in Egypt.

    Burnout and depression can look similar and are relatively common conditions. It’s estimated that 30% of the Australian workforce is feeling some level of burnout, while almost 20% of Australians are diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives.

    So what’s the difference between burnout and depression?

    Depression is marked by helplessness and burnout by hopelessness. They can have different causes and should also be managed differently.

    What is burnout?

    The World Health Organization defines burnout as an “occupational phenomenon” resulting from excessively demanding workload pressures. While it is typically associated with the workplace, carers of children or elderly parents with demanding needs are also at risk.

    Our research created a set of burnout symptoms we captured in the Sydney Burnout Measure to assist self-diagnosis and clinicians undertaking assessments. They include:

    • exhaustion as the primary symptom

    • brain fog (poor concentration and memory)

    • difficulty finding pleasure in anything

    • social withdrawal

    • an unsettled mood (feeling anxious and irritable)

    • impaired work performance (this may be result of other symptoms such as fatigue).

    People can develop a “burning out” phase after intense work demands over only a week or two. A “burnout” stage usually follows years of unrelenting work pressure.

    What is depression?

    A depressive episode involves a drop in self-worth, increase in self-criticism and feelings of wanting to give up. Not everyone with these symptoms will have clinical depression, which requires a diagnosis and has an additional set of symptoms.

    Clinically diagnosed depression can vary by mood, how long it lasts and whether it comes back. There are two types of clinical depression:

    1. melancholic depression has genetic causes, with episodes largely coming “out of the blue”

    2. non-melancholic depression is caused by environmental factors, often triggered by significant life events which cause a drop in self-worth.

    When we created our burnout measure, we compared burnout symptoms with these two types of depression.

    Burnout shares some features with melancholic depression, but they tend to be general symptoms, such as feeling a loss of pleasure, energy and concentration skills.

    We found there were more similarities between burnout and non-melancholic (environmental) depression. This included a lack of motivation and difficulties sleeping or being cheered up, perhaps reflecting the fact both have environmental causes.

    Looking for the root cause

    The differences between burnout and depression become clearer when we look at why they happen.

    Personality comes into play. Our work suggests a trait like perfectionism puts people at a much higher risk of burnout. But they may be less likely to become depressed as they tend to avoid stressful events and keep things under control.

    Excessive workloads can contribute to burnout.
    tartanparty/Shutterstock

    Those with burnout generally feel overwhelmed by demands or deadlines they can’t meet, creating a sense of helplessness.

    On the other hand, those with depression report lowered self-esteem. So rather than helpless they feel that they and their future is hopeless.

    However it is not uncommon for someone to experience both burnout and depression at once. For example, a boss may place excessive work demands on an employee, putting them at risk of burnout. At the same time, the employer may also humiliate that employee and contribute to an episode of non-melancholic depression.

    What can you do?

    A principal strategy in managing burnout is identifying the contributing stressors. For many people, this is the workplace. Taking a break, even a short one, or scheduling some time off can help.

    Australians now have the right to disconnect, meaning they don’t have to answer work phone calls or emails after hours. Setting boundaries can help separate home and work life.



    Read more:
    Australians now have the right to disconnect – but how workplaces react will be crucial

    Burnout can be also be caused by compromised work roles, work insecurity or inequity. More broadly, a dictatorial organisational structure can make employees feel devalued. In the workplace, environmental factors, such as excessive noise, can be a contributor. Addressing these factors can help prevent burnout.

    As for managing symptoms, the monks had the right idea. Strenuous exercise, meditation and mindfulness are effective ways to deal with everyday stress.

    Regular exercise can help manage symptoms of burnout.
    alexei_tm/Shutterstock

    Deeper contributing factors, including traits such as perfectionism, should be managed by a skilled clinical psychologist.

    For melancholic depression, clinicians will often recommend antidepressant medication.

    For non-melancholic depression, clinicians will help address and manage triggers that are the root cause. Others will benefit from antidepressants or formal psychotherapy.

    While misdiagnosis between depression and burnout can occur, burnout can mimic other medical conditions such as anemia or hypothyroidism.

    For the right diagnosis, it’s best to speak to your doctor or clinician who should seek to obtain a sense of “the whole picture”. Only then, once a burnout diagnsois has been affirmed and other possible causes ruled out, should effective support strategies be put in place.

    If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

    Gordon Parker receives funding from the University of of NSW.

    – ref. What’s the difference between burnout and depression? – https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-burnout-and-depression-250043

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Employment – Strike action begins tomorrow at Oranga Tamariki over insulting pay offer, unmanageable workloads – PSA

    Source: PSA

    Workers at Oranga Tamariki begin strike action tomorrow over an insulting pay offer and a refusal by the agency to address their concerns over unsafe and unmanageable workloads.
    “Workers are taking this action to send a very strong message to Oranga Tamariki that it needs to take their concerns seriously and make a fair offer,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
    “Oranga Tamariki is effectively offering a real pay cut and failing to ensure workloads are safe and manageable. It’s unfair and incredibly damaging to the morale of workers carrying out such a vital role.”
    The strike covers around 2,800 workers including social workers, supervisors, kairaranga, youth workers, night workers, and support staff in care and protection and youth justice residences, family group conference coordinators, workplace administrators and national advisory and support staff.
    In bargaining for a new collective agreement Oranga Tamariki has offered small lump sum payments and no salary increases and provided no solutions to long standing and growing workload management issues. Member proposals to enhance obligations to Te Ao Māori remain unresolved.
    “Staff are burning out while the need to support tamariki, rangatahi, and whānau is not going away.
    [See attached stories from workers about the stress they are enduring]
    “Decades of reviews and inquiries have consistently identified high staff workloads as a barrier to Oranga Tamariki consistently delivering on its purpose. The Government’s reckless spending cuts have seen Oranga Tamariki lose over 400 workers, meaning those remaining must shoulder even higher workloads.
    “If the Government is serious about supporting whānau and protecting tamariki and rangatahi from neglect and abuse; they need to invest more in this key frontline agency and do more to retain such critical workers.”
    Details of strike action
    A variety of actions will be taken by PSA members. Some actions include members working in essential services; care and protection residences, youth justice residences, residential homes, and the national contact centre (their actions begin 7 March). There will be a total withdrawal of labour across the agency for two hours from 3pm Friday 7 March.
    The actions begin at 5pm on Friday 28 February and end on Friday 18 April. They include:
    – A ban on all work that is not paid work, including only working standard hours of work and taking all rest and meal breaks.
    – A ban on using all work-related systems and software outside of paid work, including online case recording systems.
    – A ban on working paid overtime; and a ban on working overtime for TOIL.
    – A ban on working double shifts.
    – A ban on being on-call and working call-back (after-hours duties).

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Universities – Wāhine toa and women’s health champion a finalist for Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year – Vic

    Source: Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

    Professor Bev Lawton ONZM (Ngāti Porou), founder of Te Tātai Hauora o Hine, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington’s national centre for women’s health research, gets up every morning to save lives—and she’s up for the 2025 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year award for her groundbreaking research.

    Throughout her career, first as a GP, then as founder of Te Tātai Hauora o Hine, Bev has sought to reduce preventable harm and death for Māori and non-Māori women, their children and whānau. With a kaupapa Māori lens, she focuses on clinical care pathways, and systems to identify how these can better perform for women, babies, and whānau.

    “Every member of my team works to eliminate preventable harm and death for women, babies, and whānau. One such goal includes eliminating cervical cancer. With the taonga of vaccination, and HPV self-testing, this is now achievable,” says Bev.

    The achievement Bev is most proud of in her career is her advocacy for HPV self-testing. She says, “The voices of women in Aotearoa New Zealand have contributed to everything about the way in which this programme has been implemented. It was research in real-time. Those that had had the test as part of research projects, were informing the programme as it was being rolled out.”

    “Regularly I meet people who tell me they were not just happy to do their HPV self-test, they were proud of it—because they own it, and they tell their friends to do it too. It is reaching a lot of people. Screening rates are going up.”

    Bev is a partner in the ongoing campaign to eliminate cervical cancer. “We have the tools, but it will require funding, and a plan. The introduction of HPV self-testing in September 2023 is a fantastic step, but our HPV vaccination coverage is very low in comparison to Australia, where their government has committed nearly $50m to support the national elimination strategy.

    “If I had a wish, it is that tomorrow, myself and every woman in Aotearoa be literally or figuratively, standing behind the Minister of Health when they announce their commitment to resourcing a cervical cancer elimination strategy.”

    Previous Patron of Te Tātai Hauora o Hine and advisory board member Dame Silvia Cartwright says, “Over many years of association with Bev, I have been deeply impressed both by the quality and breadth of her research, but also by the skill she has demonstrated in nurturing the work of a whole generation of younger researchers who share her passion for the improvement in health care delivery. Bev has the rare ability to gather wide support for her work, but also to make it available at every level of the health care community. Her academic rigour and advocacy for improvement in health care together make her stand out in a field where it is notoriously difficult to achieve real, practical results.”

    Working with iwi and communities, including Ngāti Pāhauwera, Ngāti Porou and Ngāti Toa, Bev leads projects and programmes to create positive, long term health system transformation. Each, she says, comes from years of relationship-building across iwi, hapū, health care providers and champions—all with the overall goal or serving community to reduce harm and save lives.

    Bev speaks to the impact of having a rōpū Kaumātua advising her, saying, “The kaumātua ensure our mahi is tika (true) and responds to community. I get the right people on the waka. It’s not just my effort that has achieved the successes we have had in women’s health. It takes a lot of people to make this happen, as well as our vision for māmā and pēpi flourishing,” says Bev.

    Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Māori, Professor Rawinia Higgins says, “Bev’s career exemplifies how research can create real-life, meaningful change. Her research shapes a better world, where women and children live longer, healthier lives.

    “Her ability to collaborate with health providers, policy advisers, kuia kaumātua, funders, and people in the Māori community, exemplifies what we as a university want to achieve through research. Her achievement, to become a finalist in these prestigious awards, is superbly well-deserved—and if one more person self-tests because they’ve seen her story and experienced her advocacy, then she has achieved her goal.”

    The other two finalists in New Zealander of the Year are Dame Lisa Carrington for pushing boundaries in sport and inspiring the next generation, and Sarah Hirini ONZM for redefining what is possible on and off the rugby field.

    The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland on 20 March.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: First Responders – Waipoua River fire update #3

    Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

    The fire at Waipoua River is 50 percent contained and crews have made good progress today establishing containment lines.
    Following more accurate mapping, the fire size has been updated to 96 hectares with a 4.5-kilometre perimeter.
    Incident Controller Corey Matchitt says the ground crews have been working hard to get the fire contained.
    “It has been hard mahi for our teams on the ground, but they have worked well in conjunction with the five heavy machinery operators and eight helicopters in the air.
    “We continue to have structure protection in place and no structures have been lost to fire.”
    The residents of 20 homes remain evacuated and were updated at a community meeting this morning.
    The fire will be a long duration incident, but Corey Matchitt says the evacuees remain at the front of mind.
    “We can appreciate how stressful it can be to be out of your home when a fire is near, so we are doing our best to get them back home, but only when it is safe to do so.”
    There will be one more update tonight.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Management plan in the works to help protect Yanchep’s developing foreshore

    Source: Government of Western Australia

    A Preliminary Foreshore Management Plan has been established to support the sustainable development of Yanchep’s foreshore.

    Wanneroo Council has endorsed a Preliminary Foreshore Management Plan (PFMP) for Yanchep Lagoon, with a subsequent Foreshore Management Plan (FMP) in the works.

    The PFMP aligns with the City’s Strategic Community Plan 2021-2031 for a well-planned, safe and resilient City that is easy to travel around and provides a connection between people and places.

    Mayor Linda Aitken said establishing Yanchep as a strategic centre was a necessity in order to provide essential services to the community.

    “There are currently 75,000 residents from Butler to Two Rocks, and that number is expected to grow to over 190,000 in the next 20 years,” she said.

    “The development of the Foreshore Management Plan will ensure that Yanchep will become and remain a sustainable coastal hub.

    “Preserving the immersive dune parklands will enrich the Yanchep Lagoon experience for both our locals and visitors and ensure that it remains as Perth’s coastal jewel.”

    The PFMP is characterised by a light-touch approach to foreshore development that prioritises the protection of its natural features in order to protect the Lagoon’s well-established sense of place.

    It was prepared with input from representatives of the Yanchep community and is a step towards realising the vision of the 2019 Master Plan, which would see Yanchep serving as a multi-purpose centre providing a range of economic and community services for the growing local and surrounding areas.

    The FMP will now be developed in collaboration with the local community and various State Government agencies.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Appointment – Chair of Commonwealth Grants Commission

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    The Government has agreed to recommend to the Governor‑General, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, that Mr Michael Callaghan AM PSM be reappointed as part‑time Chairperson of the Commonwealth Grants Commission (CGC) for a five‑year period.

    The Commission is an independent authority that provides advice to the Government on how revenue from the goods and services tax should be distributed to the states and territories to ensure equitable access to services.

    Mr Callaghan has been the Chairperson of the CGC since June 2020. Prior to his role as Chairperson, he spent 38 years in the Australian Treasury, including as the Deputy Secretary responsible for Macroeconomic Group from 2008 to 2012. He was Chief of Staff to former Treasurer Peter Costello, served as Australia’s G20 Finance Deputy and the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy, International Economy, and spent four years on the IMF Executive Board in Washington DC.

    Mr Callaghan chaired the Government’s review of the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax and the review of the Economic Impact of the Government’s Regulation Agenda in 2017. He also chaired the Northern Australia Insurance Premiums Taskforce. From 2013 to 2014 he was Director of the G20 Studies Centre at the Lowy Institute.

    This proposed reappointment would ensure the CGC continues to provide high quality advice to the Government on the distribution of the GST revenues.

    The Government congratulates Mr Callaghan on the Government’s recommendation of his reappointment to the Governor‑General.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What’s the difference between burnout and depression?

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Gordon Parker, Scientia Professor of Psychiatry, UNSW Sydney

    Yuri A/Shutterstock

    If your summer holiday already feels like a distant memory, you’re not alone. Burnout – a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion following prolonged stress – has been described in workplaces since a 5th century monastery in Egypt.

    Burnout and depression can look similar and are relatively common conditions. It’s estimated that 30% of the Australian workforce is feeling some level of burnout, while almost 20% of Australians are diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives.

    So what’s the difference between burnout and depression?

    Depression is marked by helplessness and burnout by hopelessness. They can have different causes and should also be managed differently.

    What is burnout?

    The World Health Organization defines burnout as an “occupational phenomenon” resulting from excessively demanding workload pressures. While it is typically associated with the workplace, carers of children or elderly parents with demanding needs are also at risk.

    Our research created a set of burnout symptoms we captured in the Sydney Burnout Measure to assist self-diagnosis and clinicians undertaking assessments. They include:

    • exhaustion as the primary symptom

    • brain fog (poor concentration and memory)

    • difficulty finding pleasure in anything

    • social withdrawal

    • an unsettled mood (feeling anxious and irritable)

    • impaired work performance (this may be result of other symptoms such as fatigue).

    People can develop a “burning out” phase after intense work demands over only a week or two. A “burnout” stage usually follows years of unrelenting work pressure.

    What is depression?

    A depressive episode involves a drop in self-worth, increase in self-criticism and feelings of wanting to give up. Not everyone with these symptoms will have clinical depression, which requires a diagnosis and has an additional set of symptoms.

    Clinically diagnosed depression can vary by mood, how long it lasts and whether it comes back. There are two types of clinical depression:

    1. melancholic depression has genetic causes, with episodes largely coming “out of the blue”

    2. non-melancholic depression is caused by environmental factors, often triggered by significant life events which cause a drop in self-worth.

    When we created our burnout measure, we compared burnout symptoms with these two types of depression.

    Burnout shares some features with melancholic depression, but they tend to be general symptoms, such as feeling a loss of pleasure, energy and concentration skills.

    We found there were more similarities between burnout and non-melancholic (environmental) depression. This included a lack of motivation and difficulties sleeping or being cheered up, perhaps reflecting the fact both have environmental causes.

    Looking for the root cause

    The differences between burnout and depression become clearer when we look at why they happen.

    Personality comes into play. Our work suggests a trait like perfectionism puts people at a much higher risk of burnout. But they may be less likely to become depressed as they tend to avoid stressful events and keep things under control.

    Excessive workloads can contribute to burnout.
    tartanparty/Shutterstock

    Those with burnout generally feel overwhelmed by demands or deadlines they can’t meet, creating a sense of helplessness.

    On the other hand, those with depression report lowered self-esteem. So rather than helpless they feel that they and their future is hopeless.

    However it is not uncommon for someone to experience both burnout and depression at once. For example, a boss may place excessive work demands on an employee, putting them at risk of burnout. At the same time, the employer may also humiliate that employee and contribute to an episode of non-melancholic depression.

    What can you do?

    A principal strategy in managing burnout is identifying the contributing stressors. For many people, this is the workplace. Taking a break, even a short one, or scheduling some time off can help.

    Australians now have the right to disconnect, meaning they don’t have to answer work phone calls or emails after hours. Setting boundaries can help separate home and work life.



    Read more:
    Australians now have the right to disconnect – but how workplaces react will be crucial

    Burnout can be also be caused by compromised work roles, work insecurity or inequity. More broadly, a dictatorial organisational structure can make employees feel devalued. In the workplace, environmental factors, such as excessive noise, can be a contributor. Addressing these factors can help prevent burnout.

    As for managing symptoms, the monks had the right idea. Strenuous exercise, meditation and mindfulness are effective ways to deal with everyday stress.

    Regular exercise can help manage symptoms of burnout.
    alexei_tm/Shutterstock

    Deeper contributing factors, including traits such as perfectionism, should be managed by a skilled clinical psychologist.

    For melancholic depression, clinicians will often recommend antidepressant medication.

    For non-melancholic depression, clinicians will help address and manage triggers that are the root cause. Others will benefit from antidepressants or formal psychotherapy.

    While misdiagnosis between depression and burnout can occur, burnout can mimic other medical conditions such as anemia or hypothyroidism.

    For the right diagnosis, it’s best to speak to your doctor or clinician who should seek to obtain a sense of “the whole picture”. Only then, once a burnout diagnsois has been affirmed and other possible causes ruled out, should effective support strategies be put in place.

    If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

    Gordon Parker receives funding from the University of of NSW.

    – ref. What’s the difference between burnout and depression? – https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-burnout-and-depression-250043

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 02.26.2025 Sen. Cruz, Rep. Roy Reintroduce RESULT Act to Increase Access to Life-Saving Medical Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas-21) reintroduced the bicameralReciprocity Ensures Streamlined Use of Lifesaving Treatments (RESULT) Act. The legislation increases access to drugs, devices, and other medical therapies already approved in other trusted countries, facilitating access to life-saving treatments for Americans.
    Upon introduction, Sen. Cruz said, “Washington bureaucracy and regulations far too often interfere with the healthcare decisions of patients and their doctors.  The RESULT Act will facilitate access to life-saving drugs, devices, and medical treatments that are already proven safe and effective in other trusted countries, empowering patients to access the medications they need to improve their health. I’m proud to be advancing it, and I call upon my colleagues to expeditiously take it up and pass it.”
    Sen. Lee said, “Americans should have access to the very best medicines and treatments in the world, without government bureaucrats standing in the way. This legislation will strengthen medical freedom, increase healthcare options for patients, and allow the most brilliant innovations from our trusted allies across the globe to help countless families in the United States.”
    Rep. Roy said, “Waiting for a pencil-pusher in Washington to green-light medications that are already approved in other trusted countries is the epitome of the bureaucratic nightmare that has plagued our healthcare system. This bill would cut through a wall of red tape that separates Americans from getting the care that they need, which means prioritizing their healthcare freedom.”
    This legislation was also cosponsored by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah).
    Companion legislation was introduced in the House by Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas-21).
    Read the bill text here.
    BACKGROUND
    The RESULT Act amends the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to allow for reciprocal approval of drugs, devices and biologics approved in certain trusted countries, including the UK, EU member countries, Israel, Australia, Canada, and Japan. Sen. Cruz previously introduced the bill in 2023 and 2021.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Shannon Durrant appointed to Harness Racing NSW Board

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Shannon Durrant appointed to Harness Racing NSW Board

    Published: 27 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Gaming and Racing

    Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris has announced the appointment of Shannon Durrant to the Harness Racing NSW (HRNSW) Board.

    Ms Durrant brings extensive expertise in compliance, audit and risk management, with senior leadership experience in the financial services sector. She is currently the Group Chief Risk Officer at Grimsey Wealth and has previously held key roles at Colonial First State and AMP.

    Alongside her corporate background, Ms Durrant is deeply engaged in equine sports. She serves as a Director and Company Secretary of Riding for the Disabled Association Australia and is a former Director of Pony Club Australia.

    Ms Durrant has been appointed for a four-year term, until February 2029, following a merit-based selection process.

    Her appointment replaces Peter Nugent, who is voluntarily departing the board after serving two four-year tenures.

    HRNSW is the independent body responsible for the governance, regulation and development of harness racing in NSW. Ms Durrant’s appointment reflects the NSW Government’s commitment to strong leadership and strategic oversight in the industry.

    For more information about HRNSW and the full list of Board members, visit the HRNSW website: https://www.hrnsw.com.au/hrnsw/about-us/board

    Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said:

    “Harness racing plays an important role in communities across NSW, supporting jobs, entertainment and our regional economy. This is particularly highlighted with the Carnival of Cups series currently showcasing the sport across our state.

    “Shannon Durrant is highly respected in her field, and her expertise in risk management and compliance, combined with her passion for equine sports, makes her an outstanding addition to the Harness Racing NSW Board.

    “Her leadership will help strengthen governance, assist growth and ensure the ongoing integrity of the industry.

    “I would like to acknowledge the contributions of outgoing Board member Peter Nugent over the past eight years and thank him for his dedicated service to the industry.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Money Market Operations as on February 25, 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) 5,94,039.41 6.24 5.15-6.65
         I. Call Money 14,886.68 6.31 5.15-6.65
         II. Triparty Repo 4,19,180.40 6.23 5.90-6.35
         III. Market Repo 1,58,098.13 6.28 5.75-6.45
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 1,874.20 6.45 6.45-6.45
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 62.30 6.22 5.80-6.35
         II. Term Money@@ 749.00 – 6.40-7.50
         III. Triparty Repo 374.00 6.32 6.25-6.40
         IV. Market Repo 2,090.71 6.37 6.30-6.61
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00 – –
      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 Tue, 25/02/2025 2 Thu, 27/02/2025 75,012.00 6.26
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Tue, 25/02/2025 1 Wed, 26/02/2025 817.00 6.50
      Tue, 25/02/2025 2 Thu, 27/02/2025 78.00 6.50
    4. SDFΔ# Tue, 25/02/2025 1 Wed, 26/02/2025 1,02,416.00 6.00
      Tue, 25/02/2025 2 Thu, 27/02/2025 10,425.00 6.00
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -36,934.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo Fri, 21/02/2025 14 Fri, 07/03/2025 41,046.00 6.26
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo Fri, 21/02/2025 45 Mon, 07/04/2025 57,951.00 6.26
      Fri, 14/02/2025 49 Fri, 04/04/2025 75,003.00 6.28
      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$       9,095.71  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     2,33,105.71  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     1,96,171.71  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on February 25, 2025 9,47,293.60  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending March 07, 2025 9,22,740.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ February 25, 2025 75,012.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on February 07, 2025 -1,973.00  
    @ 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, Press Release No. 2024-2025/2138 dated February 12, 2025, and Press Release No. 2024-2025/2209 dated February 20, 2025.
    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2024-2025/2254

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Universities – Call for action in Vietnam to make low-emission food system reforms – Flinders

    Source: Flinders University

    While food systems account for up to 30% of total global greenhouse gas emissions, Vietnam is holding high-level talks aimed at creating more sustainable farming systems in the country’s ‘food bowl,’ the Mekong Delta region.

    However, public policy experts are asking whether an extended series of government and large organisations running high-level multistakeholder forums (MSFs) is the best approach – and with few signs of low-emission food production systems commencing since the forums started almost 30 years ago.

    Based on policy and literature reviews and interviews with 40 organisations in Vietnam, the Vietnamese researchers led by experts from Nong Lam University have joined Flinders University Professor in Public Policy Thuy Pham to highlight the need for policymakers and

    MSF organisers to learn and implement important ‘real-world’ changes to greenhouse gas emissions and equity in society.

    “Our investigations on the impact of 17 MSFs in Vietnam show they have shared some valuable knowledge but all this has generally made little contribution to outcomes on emissions, climate change mitigation and equity in communities,” says Professor Pham, from Flinders University’s College of Business, Government and Law.

    “Current MSFs operate at different scales – regional, national, provincial – targeting different stakeholder groups for different objectives and outcomes,” she says, of a new article published in the World Development Perspectives journal.

    “This means there is a lack of effective discussion across the groups, and not all stakeholders know about the forums, so limiting opportunities for collaboration, information sharing, networking and resource efficiency.”

    “Rather than running more MSFs, we recommend that the great ideas produced at these forums should be used by policymakers to make progress on emission targets in food production, and in turn on equity.”

    The researchers suggest that key policymakers should learn from and work with existing MSFs, rather than establish new ones and waste time.  

    They say reducing emissions and more sustainable food production requires holistic, cross-sectoral and multilevel solutions developed by multiple stakeholders. Technical solutions need to align with transformative governance and wide-ranging and inclusive stakeholder engagement with all players in food systems – while taking into account the interests and perspectives of these different stakeholders.

    Coauthor of the study Dr Tang Thi Kim Hong, from the Nong Lam University in Ho Chi Minh City, says Vietnam’s policies on emission reductions and food systems – such as its Nationally Determined Contribution, and Resolution 34 on national food security until 2030 – require the participation of all sectors, state and non-state stakeholders as well as local communities and ethnic minorities.

    “It is important, therefore, to analyse the degree to which a low-emission food system in the Mekong Delta is inclusive, and to assess whether all stakeholders or affected parties and their interests are represented in the decision-making process.”

    While MSFs are designed to be “bring together a range of stakeholders to participate in decision-making and/or implementation in order to address a land, climate or resource problem or to achieve a common goal,” too often they are led and controlled by ‘powerful’ stakeholders who have funds, access to knowledge and political networks. This leaves local communities, Indigenous people and women behind, researchers say.

    “We would suggest that key policymakers and funding agencies should learn from, and work with, existing MSFs to understand what works, what doesn’t, what works best and where, when and for whom, before establishing new ones,” adds Professor Pham, who is also affiliated with the Center for International Forestry Research in Indonesia (CIFOR).

    “These MSFs should also ensure and empower disadvantaged groups such as Indigenous people local communities, women and youth to take the ownership, leadership and have a voice in how these MSFs should be run and operated, and how they can meaningfully address the on-ground problems.”

    The article, ‘Multistakeholder forums in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam: Stakeholders’ perspectives regarding their outcomes and effectiveness for low-emission food systems’ (2025) by Thu Thuy Pham, Thi Kim Hong Tang, Vy Thao Ngo, Ngoc My Hoa Tran, Thi Thuy Anh Nguyen, Thi Van Anh Nguyen, Trung Son Nguyen and Dinh Yen Khue Nguyen has been published in World Development Perspectives DOI:10.1016/j.wdp.2025.100661.

    Professor Thuy Pham, based at the Flinders College of Business, Government and Law, also is affiliated with the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) in Indonesia. Other corresponding authors from Vietnam’s Nong Lam University – Dr Kim Tang, from the Faculty of Forestry, and Dr Thao Ngo, from the Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, contributed equally to the study.

    Food systems account for up to 30% of total global greenhouse gas emissions when accounting for all elements and stakeholders (environment, people, inputs, processing, infrastructure, institutions, etc), according to an FAO report. This includes activities related to the production, processing, distribution, preparation, use, and sale of food, and the outputs of these activities, including socio-economic and environment.

    MSFs aim to bring together multiple stakeholders, including farmers and community groups, to develop climate solutions and make meaningful, on-the-ground reforms to set up low-emission food systems and improve equity.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Large car enthusiast event, Christchurch

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Attributable to Sergeant Ben Rutherford:

    Police are warning motorists to expect delays on some Canterbury roads ahead of a large car enthusiast event this weekend, and are asking people to report any unlawful activity seen.

    Police will have extra staff out on Christchurch and rural Canterbury roads monitoring the event, which is due to take place across three nights.

    The Antisocial Road User Team will be joined by additional staff, with one clear message: Dangerous driving behaviour will not be tolerated.

    We have been in contact with the event organiser who has been very receptive and while we do not expect there to be any issues at the event itself, we know from previous years there may be unlawful activity from a small section of attendees and other motorists following the event.

    We want people to enjoy themselves, however not at the expense of others. Where illegal activity is identified Police will be talking enforcement action.

    Antisocial road user activity not only puts the drivers at risk, but also passengers, bystanders, and members of the public.

    If you witness any unlawful driving behaviour please contact Police, you can report information to us at 111 if it’s happening now or via 105 either online or over the phone if it’s after the fact.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Support for First Nations boarding students to finish their schooling

    Source: Australian Ministers for Education

    The Albanese Labor Government is delivering on its commitment to support First Nations boarding students from remote and very remote communities to finish their schooling.

    More than 50 boarding providers across Australia have been selected to share a $44.2 million investment to support approximately 2,500 First Nations students to attend school and achieve their learning potential.

    The investment will enable culturally appropriate care and support for students to promote wellbeing and academic success.

    It will support cultural connection, upgrades to boarding facilities and provide support to students transitioning into boarding so they can stay in school and thrive.

    The funding from 2025 to 2026 will also be used to employ First Nations teachers and wellbeing officers, or counsellors trained in trauma-informed practices.

    At Blackheath & Thornburgh College in Charters Towers, Queensland, a culture hub and First Nations wellbeing and community officer will foster cultural connection and engagement by providing a place for First Nations students and families to come together.

    At Cape York Girl Academy in Wangatti Beach near Cairns, young women will learn cross-cultural and leadership development skills through the Independent Living Skills Program, while the Deep Driving Partnerships program at Djarragun College in Gordonvale, near Cairns will improve understanding between the school and Indigenous communities.

    At Laynhapuy Homelands School in Yirrkala in the Northern Territory, 30 Yolŋgu students will benefit from better school learning resources and an improved boarding environment, with new laptops and kitchen upgrades.

    Karalundi College in the mid-west region of Western Australia will increase capacity to welcome 20 more students, while Catholic Education Western Australia’s Transition Support Unit will continue to provide culturally informed assistance with boarding and school transition areas.

    In Victoria, Melbourne Indigenous Transition School will support more than 85 boarding students from regional Victoria and remote areas in the top end of the Northern Territory, by providing wraparound holistic support to attend their partner schools in Melbourne.

    Boarding plays an important role for many First Nations students from rural and remote communities and this investment is one of the ways the Albanese Labor Government is helping to close the gap in education outcomes.

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

    “Investing in boarding facilities helps First Nations students access quality education and finish school.

    “The Government understands the importance of choice for families in supporting their children through their education and options to study on-Country, or nearby where possible.

    “Boarding continues to be an important education pathway for First Nations students, particularly for families in remote areas.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy:

    “Education is key to Closing the Gap and the Albanese Labor Government is determined to support First Nations students to succeed at school and reach their full potential in life.

    “Moving to a boarding school can be a big change in a young person’s life, and they need appropriate supports. That’s why we’re funding programs that encourage students to grow their sense of wellbeing, learning, and cultural identity.

    “This funding will help more than 2,500 students receive an education while staying connected to their community and receiving the support they need to succeed.”
     

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Otoko Hill recovery work enters final phase

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    As the State Highway 2 Otoko Hill recovery work enters its final phase, crews are ready to begin work on the last of nine projects helping to make this section of highway safer and more reliable for Tairāwhiti communities.

    Work has been underway at SH2 Otoko Hill north of Gisborne since last winter on a number of sites, including repairs to underslips, overslips and extensive improvements to drainage.

    From Monday (3 March), work will start between Hihiroroa Road and Fitzgerald Road to install extensive counterfort drains on both upward and downward slopes to help reduce water pressure in the hills, channelling it away from the road.

    Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) Alliance crews, on behalf of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, have carried out similar drainage work across the Otoko Hills but on a smaller scale to this final project,” says TREC Project Manager Richard Bayley.

    “People who regularly travel through Otoko Hill will have seen the progress the team is making in improving this once vulnerable route and we’re very grateful for their support and patience, as we progress towards the end of this series of work.”

    Crews will be on site Monday to Friday until mid-year, working between 7am and 5pm.

    Temporary traffic lights will be in place and NZTA is reminding all road users to expect delays.

    Three active worksites will be underway simultaneously on Otoko Hill for a short time in early March and we’re encouraging people to plan their journeys and check NZTA’s Journey Planner before they travel.

    Tree removal

    As part of this work, tree removal on this stretch of highway also needs to be undertaken.

    Following ecology and environmental assessments, currently underway, work is expected to begin in mid-March and take approximately four weeks to complete.

    This work will be done under a stop-stop traffic arrangement with delays of up to 15 minutes expected. This wait time could be longer if a tree is being felled at that time.

    Pilot vehicles will be used to escort road users through the site safely.

    Tree removal and trimming is required as part of the recovery work.

    We will provide confirmed details of this work as soon as we have it.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Stretches of HB Expressway closing for resurfacing; stop/go for tree removal

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    A reminder that next week, two stretches of State Highway 2 Hawke’s Bay Expressway will be closed overnight for resurfacing.

    See previous media release

    The work will take place between Monday 3 and Thursday 6 March, 8pm to 5am each night.

    During the work, a stretch of road approaching the roundabouts between Prebensen Drive and Taradale Road will be resurfaced first, overnight on Monday 3 and Tuesday 4 March. Crews will then move onto the Taradale Road to Meeanee Road section on the nights of Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 March. The road will reopen 5am Friday 7 March.

    Signposted detours will be in place during the work – please plan ahead and expect slightly longer journey times.

    • During the first closure (Prebensen Drive to Taradale Road), northbound road users will be detoured onto SH51 Taradale Road and then onto SH50 Prebensen Drive before rejoining the expressway. The reverse will apply for southbound motorists.
    • During the second closure (Taradale Road to Meeanee Road), northbound road users will be detoured left onto Meeanee Road, right onto Guppy Road, right onto Gloucester Street and into Kennedy Road, before turning left onto Taradale Road and rejoining the expressway. The reverse will apply for southbound motorists.

    During the day, the road will be open, with temporary traffic management in place and a temporary lower speed while the new surface settles.

    Tree removal

    Also next week, stop/stop traffic management (where north and south-bound traffic will be stopped temporarily) will be in place on Monday 3 March from 10AM for a maximum of 15 minutes while a tree is being removed between the Tutaekuri River Bridge and Meeanee Road overbridge.

    The exotic tree is being removed as part of the expressway Road of National Significance project vegetation removal plan. We will be closing both lanes to allow for two lengths of the tree for safety.

    Vegetation removal will allow future project work to progress, including construction of the new lanes, and approaches to the new additional bridges and overpasses.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: 50,000 businesses set to benefit from eInvoicing

    Source: New Zealand Government

    More than 50,000 kiwi businesses have now registered with the eInvoicing network to reap the productivity rewards of faster and more reliable payments, Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Chris Penk says.   “eInvoicing is a game changer for small businesses. With limited cash reserves, a late or unpaid invoice can quickly throw businesses off track and create a domino effect of challenges.  “Moving away from slow and administratively intensive paper and PDF invoices could bring $400 million in annual productivity gains across New Zealand and make a real difference to providing stability for small businesses. 
    “That’s why it’s exciting to see eInvoicing picking up serious momentum. To date, more than 160,000 eInvoices have been exchanged, and that number is growing fast.  

    “The benefits are clear: reduced admin costs, improved cash flow, greater accuracy, and stronger protection against invoice fraud and scams. It’s no wonder businesses are making the switch in droves. 
    “The Government is supporting this momentum by updating our own systems.  “Last year, we committed to ensuring all government agencies that process more than 2,000 domestic invoices annually will have eInvoicing systems in place by the end of this year.”  “Smarter ways of working are key to our plan to lift New Zealand’s economic productivity and improve public sector efficiency.  “With more than 50,000 businesses and government on board, eInvoicing has well and truly taken off and will soon be the new normal. I encourage all businesses to switch to eInvoicing so everyone can benefit from this technology,” Mr Penk says. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Receives 58 Accolades at iF Design Awards 2025

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics today announced that it received a total of 58 awards at the International Forum (iF) Design Awards 2025, a prestigious German international design competition. Included among the honors was a Gold Award for Samsung’s Ballie and advanced concept package design for small portable projectors, ‘BOJAGI’.
     
    Founded in 1953 as Die Gute Industrieform e.V., the iF Design Awards evaluates a comprehensive range of factors, including differentiation and impact, across a total of nine categories: Product Design, Packaging Design, Communication Design, Interior Architecture, Professional Concept, Service Design, Architecture, User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI).
     
    “Innovation with AI can help resonate with our customers through the power of design” said TM Roh, President and Head of the Corporate Design Center at Samsung Electronics. “We will strive to provide designs that harmonize with consumers’ changing lifestyles and contribute to society and the lives of our consumers.”
     
     
    Two Gold Awards Recognize Designs That Offer Customized Experiences for Different Lifestyles

     
    Ballie,1 an AI companion robot for the home, acts as a personal assistant that can autonomously drive around the home to complete various tasks. By connecting to and managing home appliances, Ballie can provide a helping hand to users in many situations — continually learning from users’ patterns and habits to provide smarter, more personalized services.
     

     
    Advanced concept package design for small portable projectors — named as ‘Sustainable Design & Communication, BOJAGI’ — was inspired by a traditional Korean tool called bojagi. The design was implemented using scrap fabric, and was designed to be able to package and sustainably be reused regardless of its shape.
     
     
    58 Awards Ranging From TVs to Home Appliances to Smartphones
    Samsung Electronics’ 58 wins came across all design categories. In addition to the Gold Awards for the ‘Ballie’ and ‘BOJAGI’, Samsung received awards in the Product Design category for the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo , an all-in-one washer and dryer; Galaxy Ring, a wearable device packed with Samsung’s powerful sensor technology and Galaxy AI capabilities to help users keep track of their health by simply wearing it on their finger; and the Neo QLED 8K, a TV that provides an immersive experience with the infinity air design.
     
    Other products and services that were recognized for design excellence include Foldable Galaxy AI UX, Bespoke refrigerator UX and the Newfound Equilibrium exhibition at Milan Design Week 2024. Foldable Galaxy AI UX enables seamless communication anywhere, anytime with AI-based mobile features like Live Translate, which enables easy conversations with someone in another language. And thanks to the dual screen functionality of Galaxy Z series, you can switch your device into FlexMode so both parties can see the conversation translated in a more natural way. Bespoke refrigerator UX provides various experiences that simplify user’s lives, such as managing food lists and controlling connected devices. And the Newfound Equilibrium exhibition showcases Samsung’s user centered design philosophy with an aim to inspire vision for a better future that encompasses the balance between people and technology.
     
     
    1 Will be available in the first half of 2025 and availability may vary by region.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Head lice are getting harder to kill. Here’s how to break the nit cycle

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cameron Webb, Clinical Associate Professor and Principal Hospital Scientist, University of Sydney

    DGLimages/Shutterstock

    Wrangling head lice, and the children they infest, must be up there with the most challenging duties a parent or carer has to face.

    And the job is getting harder. Commonly used chemical products aren’t working as well as they once did, meaning head lice are harder to kill.

    You can still rid your children of lice – but it’s likely to take some patience and persistence.

    Remind me, what are head lice? And nits?

    Head lice are tiny six-legged insects that are only found in the hair on a human’s head – most commonly in the hair of primary school-aged children.

    Head lice have been a constant companion for humans throughout their millions of years of evolution.

    Lice love living in our hair. But they scoot down to our scalp up to a half dozen times a day to drink our blood.

    Their claws are perfectly designed to scuttle up and down shafts of hair. But while they’re nimble on our hair, once they’re off, they don’t last long –they’re clumsy, uncoordinated and die quickly.

    The term “nits” actually describes the eggs of head lice. They’re often the first sign of an infestation. And with one louse laying more than 100 in their month-long lifespan, there can be a lot of them.

    Head lice live for around a month.
    logika600/Shutterstock

    Can they spread diseases?

    No. Head lice are annoying and their bites may cause skin reactions. But Australian health authorities don’t consider lice a health risk. There is no evidence that head lice can spread pathogens that cause disease.

    The stigma of head lice infestations can be greater than any direct health consequences for infested children.

    Why do my children always pick up lice?

    From child care through to primary school, it’s likely your child has had a head lice infestation at least once. One Australian study found the infestation rate in Australian classrooms ranged from no cases to 72% of children affected.

    Girls are more likely to be carry head lice than boys. Long hair means it’s easier for the head lice to hitch a ride.

    One study found that in some classrooms, almost three in four children had head lice.
    CDC/Unsplash

    Head lice don’t jump or fly, they move from head to head via direct contact.

    Head lice come home with your children because they spend time in close contact with other children, hugging, playing or crowding around books or screens. Any head-to-head contact is a pathway of infections.

    Rules differ slightly between states but in New South Wales and Queensland, children don’t need to be kept home from school because of head lice.

    How can I keep my home free of head lice?

    Keeping the house clean and tidy won’t keep head lice away. They don’t care how clean your bed sheets and towels are, or how frequently you vacuum carpets and rugs.

    There may be a risk of head lice transfer on shared pillows, but even that risk is low.

    There’s no need to change the child’s or other family member’s bedding when you find lice in a child’s hair. Research-based recommendations from NSW Health are that “bed linen, hats, clothing and furniture do not harbour or transmit lice or nits and that there is no benefit in washing them as a treatment option”.

    I’ve used nit solution. Why isn’t it working?

    A wide range of products are available at your local pharmacy to treat head lice. Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration assesses products to ensure that they are both safe and effective.

    The problem is that most of these products are insecticides that kill the lice on contact but may not kill the eggs.

    Also, if treatments aren’t completed as directed on product labels, some head lice won’t be killed.

    Head lice also seem to be fighting back against the chemicals we’ve been using against them and it’s getting harder to clear children of infestations.

    So how can you get rid of them?

    You’ll need conditioner and a nit comb.
    riopatuca/Shutterstock

    Don’t expect any miracle cures but health authorities in Australia generally recommend the “conditioner and comb” or “wet comb” method. This means you physically remove the lice without the need for chemical applications.

    There are three key steps:

    1. immobilise the lice by applying hair conditioner to the child’s damp hair and leaving it there for around 20 minutes

    2. systematically comb through the hair using a fine toothed “lice comb”. The conditioner and lice can be wiped off on paper towels or tissues. Only adult lice will be collected but don’t worry, we’ll deal with the eggs later

    3. repeat the process twice, about a week apart, to break the life cycle of the head lice.

    Repeating the process after a week allows the remaining eggs to hatch. It sounds counter-intuitive but by letting them hatch, the young lice are easier to remove than the eggs. You just need to remove them before they start laying a fresh batch of eggs and the infestation continues.

    While children are much more likely to have head lice, the reality is that everyone in the household is just as likely to host a head louse or two. You don’t necessarily need everyone to have a treatment but “grown ups” should be on the lookout for lice too.

    Cameron Webb and the Department of Medical Entomology, NSW Health Pathology and University of Sydney, have been engaged by a wide range of insect repellent and insecticide manufacturers to provide testing of products and provide expert advice on medically important arthropods. Cameron has also received funding from local, state and federal agencies to undertake research into various aspects of management of various medically important arthropods.

    – ref. Head lice are getting harder to kill. Here’s how to break the nit cycle – https://theconversation.com/head-lice-are-getting-harder-to-kill-heres-how-to-break-the-nit-cycle-250397

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schatz: Trump’s Fake Energy Emergency A Distraction From High Costs, Big Oil Giveaways

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) issued the following statement after voting for S.J.Res.10, a joint resolution to terminate President Trump’s “national energy emergency.”

    “Should Trump and the Republicans ever get serious about addressing our most pressing energy challenges – modernizing and expanding our grid to bring reliable energy at a low cost to all Americans – we stand ready and willing to legislate. But a reckless buildout of fossil fuel projects to the benefit of Big Oil executives and at the expense of everyday Americans – at a time when communities are increasingly being decimated and people are dying as result of extreme weather – is not that.”

    As part of his Day One executive orders, President Trump declared a “national energy emergency” that aims to expedite the development of primarily fossil fuel projects. That, coupled with his illegal freezing of federal funding and halting of permits for wind and solar projects – our cheapest sources of energy – threaten to raise energy costs and eliminate hundreds of thousands of jobs spurred by the investments Democrats made in the Inflation Reduction Act.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China to lower asset threshold for HK, Macao institutions investing in mainland insurers

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA) on Wednesday announced that China will lower the asset requirement threshold for Hong Kong and Macao financial institutions to invest in mainland insurers, as part of its efforts to deepen opening-up in the financial sector.

    From March 1, Hong Kong and Macao financial institutions will no longer be required to have assets totaling no less than 2 billion U.S. dollars at the end of the previous year to invest in mainland insurance companies, the NFRA said.

    The adjustment follows agreements signed in October 2024 between the mainland and Hong Kong, as well as between the mainland and Macao, to revise the services trade protocols under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) and the CEPA between the mainland and Macao. These revisions include changes to the qualification requirements for Hong Kong and Macao financial institutions looking to invest in mainland insurers.

    This latest move is a significant step in expanding financial opening-up, according to the NFRA. It is expected to help mainland insurance companies attract high-quality investors from Hong Kong and Macao financial institutions, strengthen their capital base, and optimize their equity structures. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 4BC Brisbane, Breakfast with Peter Fegan

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    PETER FEGAN:  Now, you’ll remember last year we reported it here on 4BC and it made headlines nationally, the states were officially put on notice by the Federal Government. The states were saying, show me the money and the Federal Government was simply saying, well, prove what it’s worth. Federal Transport Minister Catherine King told state premiers if they wanted cash, they needed good business cases. It’s pretty smart politics, really. The good news is we’ve passed the test here in Brisbane. Today, we’ll be handed a cheque for $200 million, and it includes funding for one of Brisbane’s oldest icons. The Federal Transport Minister, Catherine King, joins me on the line. Minister, great to have your company this morning.

    CATHERINE KING: So lovely to be with you, Peter. It’s a beautiful day here in Brisbane.

    PETER FEGAN: Now, one of our landmarks, our most famous landmarks, will be getting some cash. Can you reveal it on the program please?

    CATHERINE KING: Yeah. So we’re working with the Brisbane City Council to start to investigate what the cost of and scope of work that are needed to restore and to future maintenance of what is obviously the most iconic bridge, one of the most iconic bridges in the country, apart from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, of course. But it’s- you know, it’s a landmark. And so we’re putting in alongside Brisbane City Council together, $5 million to really get that work done, to see what is it that we’re going to need to do. It’s going to need more cash into the future. But this is really starting the process of working with the council to look at what do we need to make sure this bridge stays there into the future and is as strong as it possibly can be, and we keep it there for many, many generations to enjoy.

    PETER FEGAN: Now, there was also $1 million that’s been put aside to investigate a bridge from West End to Toowong. Well, Minister, I’m going to do you a favour here this morning. I’m going to save you that $1 million, and I’m going to say this, just build it because we’ve wanted it for so long. 

    CATHERINE KING: [Laughs] Well, unfortunately we have to work out the cost of these things first. And part of what you do with the business case and the planning is you do the geotech work. You have a look at what services need to be moved so that you can then- the city council can come to me and say, well, look, we need this amount of money to actually build it. So that’s really just the start of the process. And I was at the opening, obviously, of Kangaroo Point Bridge. I’ve seen hundreds and hundreds of people have been using that. We want to see people being able to access all parts of the city. And so this is again, just working with the Brisbane City Council, doing that planning work, finding out how much- you know, we really need to understand how much it costs and then sort of getting on with it once we’ve got that understanding.

    PETER FEGAN: Minister, no more footbridges. We need cars to go across. We drive here in Brisbane. We don’t get transport, unfortunately.

    CATHERINE KING: Well, we do lots of things. I think people catch buses.

    PETER FEGAN: [Laughs]

    CATHERINE KING: So obviously, there’s the Brisbane Metro [indistinct], there’s people do that. People will cycle. I’ve seen people everywhere doing that. I’ve seen people walking across footbridges and then I’ve obviously seen- in terms of lots of cars as well. Everyone does all of those things. But cars are obviously pretty important here in Queensland.

    PETER FEGAN: Minister, I found this one very interesting, being somebody that grew up in the western suburbs of Brisbane, plenty of people listening to me from the west this morning, they’ll find this interesting. $78.5 million towards cost pressures on the Moggill Road Corridor upgrade project, replacing Indooroopilly roundabout with an overpass over Moggill Road. Now that’s great, but what about the Moggill Road corridor in particular? And then that’s further out towards Moggill. And I’m talking about land that had been put aside. Government land, Crown land that’s been put aside since Malcolm Fraser’s days. And yet people that live out in those western suburbs are still struggling to get to work, because we haven’t used that parcel of land. Can you give a guarantee that one day we may use it?

    CATHERINE KING: What again, we do is work in partnership with councils. So obviously Brisbane City Council is in a really unique position across the country that it has such a substantial road and obviously public transport network that it has to fund and build itself. So we work closely with Brisbane City Council and also state governments. They bring projects forward to us in budget and we make considerations of those. We’ve got to do the planning work first, make sure we understand it, but know if the council or the state government want to bring that forward. I, of course, will give it due consideration in the budget process.

    PETER FEGAN: $7.2 billion upgrade to fix the Bruce Highway. I think this is the most contentious topic here in Queensland. And I got to say, Minister, when it comes to the election, this will be one of the most divisive topics and I think you’ll either win or lose votes here. $7.2 billion upgrade to fix the Bruce, right? That’s one hell of an obligation to Queenslanders in particular. But I’ve got to say this, Minister, we are reluctant to believe either government, particularly this Labor Government at the moment, because it was this government that had turned its back on the Bruce and had switched the funding arrangement around. $7.2 billion sounds fantastic. I’ve got to say, on behalf of all Queensland, Minister, we just need to get on with it. We need this highway to be safe.

    CATHERINE KING: Absolutely. And that’s why, you know, the earliest possible opportunity we did, we’ve made the announcement at that $7.2 billion. Money will flow this year and every subsequent year.  We’ve said we’ll get it done in eight years. We’ve asked the Queensland Government to deliver that …

    PETER FEGAN: [Talks over] But it’s been 50.

    CATHERINE KING: … then obviously [indistinct].

    PETER FEGAN: 50 or 60 years, Minister. It’s 50 or 60 years and not one government can fix it.

    CATHERINE KING: Well, this Government has made the single biggest contribution to the Bruce Highway ever. And this is a Labor Government that has done that. And if you look back when we were last in office, prior to that, it was the then infrastructure minister, now Prime Minister, who then made the single biggest commitment to this.

    This is a Labor legacy, and we are absolutely committed to making the Bruce Highway safer. We’ve been in government obviously two and a half years. And I do want to make it really clear, no money has ever been cut from the Bruce Highway. What we have said is-

    PETER FEGAN: But the funding agreement- the funding- hang on, Minister, the funding agreement, that’s not true. The funding agreement was an 80/20 split…

    CATHERINE KING: [Talks over] That’s true…

    PETER FEGAN: … and you- but you changed that. So that’s funding cutting. Hang on, Minister, you changed that. It was an 80/20 split, but you say no funding has ever been cut. If you change- if you go from 80/20 to 50/50, that to me- I’m not a mathematician, but that’s a 30 per cent cut in funding.

    CATHERINE KING: So no, it isn’t. And so I want to make that really clear. I think there’s some confusion about that and been a bit of mischief about that. So first thing is not a single dollar has been cut from the Bruce Highway. In fact, the commitment that we’ve got, there’s $10 billion that has already been spent on the Bruce Highway. That has remained, and then we’ve put in an additional 7.2 billion. We’ve recognised on the Bruce Highway, in particular because of the safety concerns, 41 deaths just last year alone, that we will continue to fund that on an 80/20 basis.

    But what we did announce is that because the Commonwealth is now increasingly funding suburban roads, public transport and has stepped into the space of the state governments, largely, we’re now on other roads, particularly across the country, now requiring the state to also step up its commitment. We’re not dropping any of our funding. There’s still $125 billion worth of Commonwealth funding going to states and territories. We’re not dropping that. We’re just asking the states to step up with their contribution as well. So it’s not a cut to our funding. We’re asking the states to step in in the same way we’re stepping in on suburban roads now, but generally were 100 per cent of the state to fund.

    PETER FEGAN: It’s bang on quarter after eight. My guest this morning is the Federal Transport Minister, Catherine King. $200 million being announced today in funding for our roads here in Brisbane and in the South East. Minister, I’ve got to say this. It’s smart politics to ask the states to present you a case study because money is really, really tight, particularly on a federal level. So I like it. I think it’s good politics, and I think that that’s what the states should have to do. The reason I’m asking you about this, though, is because we need a really nice, new shiny stadium here in Queensland and particularly in Brisbane. We’ve got the Olympics coming. Now, if there was a case study put forward by David Crisafulli for a brand-new stadium, you’d be on board, wouldn’t you?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, the thing that we have put money towards, so there’s $3.5 billion capped from the Commonwealth going into the Olympics. We have said the Commonwealth’s contribution will go towards the Brisbane Arena. $2.5 billion is going towards that, we think, will leave a really significant legacy for an entertainment venue here in the heart of Brisbane – really necessary. We’ve also said we will 50/50 share the minor venues. Obviously, the Queensland Government is undertaking a review of those venues at the moment, but the Commonwealth has done- we’ve done the work, we’ve done the business case, the work is ready to go on the Brisbane Arena and that remains- you know, remains there on the table to build that arena for Brisbane. We think it’s needed and it will leave a great legacy for the community.

    PETER FEGAN: Let’s hope they’re listening, because it’s next month that we announce whether we’re going to get a new stadium or not. Before I let you go, Minister, what did you make of today’s announcements? I want to get your thoughts on this because your government has approved a deal between Virgin and Qatar Airways. Now, this is a deal that would see Qatar be able to invest in Virgin. It means there’s going to be more Qatar flights. It means we can spread our wings a little bit. Should hopefully cheapen flight prices here in Australia. But I’ve got to think back, if my memory serves me correctly, it was you that clipped Qatar’s wings in the first place.

    CATHERINE KING: So what we’ve had announced today is that the Treasurer has approved the Foreign Investment Review Board’s decision that Qatar Airways, the Qatari government, can invest in Virgin, and that obviously allows Virgin to do a number of things in terms of it going forward. Obviously, Bain Capital is wanting to withdraw and have Qatar now come in as the major investor. What it’s allowed us also to do is ensure that there are some Australians on the board of Virgin to make sure that we’ve got that in place and that they’re in fact opportunities to train Australian pilots, as again, Qatar has been granted through Virgin some wet leases to increase its flights, its international flights and create that competition. And I think that’s a good thing.

    PETER FEGAN: Before I let you go, we’ve got some breaking news. The election, 12 April. Is that right?

    CATHERINE KING: [Laughs] Very nice try there. What a sneaky way to do it, you cheeky thing.

    PETER FEGAN: [Laughs] I should have just – I shouldn’t have laughed.

    CATHERINE KING: You should have just- I know, I nearly believed you then. You just got me. I’ve got three brothers who do that to me all the time.

    PETER FEGAN: What would you have said, though?

    CATHERINE KING: I don’t know, I have absolutely no idea. [Indistinct] to the Prime Minister, but very cheeky. You nearly got me.

    PETER FEGAN: Good on you, Minister. We’ll chat again very soon.

    CATHERINE KING: Lovely to talk to you, Peter.

    PETER FEGAN: There she is. That’s the Federal Transport Minister, Catherine King.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ABC Radio Melbourne, Mornings with Rafael Epstein

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: I mentioned that extra money from the Federal Government for airport rail. Does that mean we will actually get airport rail? Catherine King is the Infrastructure Minister. She is the MP in Ballarat as well. Morning, Minister.

    CATHERINE KING: Good morning. It’s great that you’re out at St Albans. It’s a beautiful part of the world.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: I haven’t yet sampled all the food. I’ve been to the market, I’m impressed. I’m going to go back there. An extra $2 billion from your government. Does this mean airport rail actually will happen?

    CATHERINE KING: Yes, it does. What this money does, if you remember a year ago, we got a mediator to come in and say, what are the things we can do now to unlock airport rail? And there were three things that were recommended. The first was that the airport, if it wanted to have the station underground, it needed to do the work. That meant the station then said, suddenly said, we don’t want it to go underground, we’re going to go overground. So that’s good. That’s been settled. He then said that we needed to redo the modelling for the Tullamarine Freeway-that’s about to start. And it then said we need to invest and build the Sunshine Precinct, which really is making Sunshine Station, pretty much the Southern Cross of the west. So a really big transport hub that is the centre of rail coming in. And then you build the SRL line out to the airport. So what we’re doing is unlocking the 5 billion that’s already on the table. And then we’ve put 2 billion in to get that Sunshine Precinct started. The Victorians are on board with us. You’ve seen Melbourne Airport yesterday, working constructively with us. We’ve got a little way to go just in terms of settling some of the stuff with the airport. But I am very confident that this will now happen.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Okay. I think the devil in the detail might be a little way to go with the airport. Is the airport the problem?

    CATHERINE KING: I think that we’ve still got to work through issues about- obviously, the airport leases its land from the Commonwealth. It’s got a lease that allows it to have quiet an enjoyment of its leasehold. And so it will come to us and obviously seek an understanding of what the impact is going to be …

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: [Talks over] They want money, don’t they?

    CATHERINE KING: … But- they may well do. But again, that is, I understand that they are now talking very closely with the Victorian Government. We’ll also come to the, come in and talk with them as well and let you know. My view is we’re all on the same page to try and get this settled. Obviously there’s, as I said, a little way to go just in terms of the detail of that, but everyone is on the same page of saying, we want to get this done. We’re keen to get it done. Let’s try and break the deadlock as best we can. I know my department secretary and the Victorian department new transport secretary, Jeroen, have been talking over the last couple of days. I think they’re both pretty determined people. And we want to get this done. It’s time for Melbourne to have an airport rail.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Yes. It was described as the train line to the jetport in the Victorian Parliament in 1965. So that’s six years before I was born. But you just- you’re the minister federally responsible for this. You used the word deadlock. Are you sure the deadlock is going to be unlocked?

    CATHERINE KING: We’re going to do everything we can. I know the airport wants that to happen. Victorian government does, as does the Federal Government. So when you’ve got will and I think we’ve got a moment in time to get this done now, given that we’ve got all three parties very keen to get this done, we’ve got a, moment in time and that’s going to be up to all of us to do the work, because I think Victorians are a bit sick of the wait, the long wait. I’m a little bit older than you, so I also know how long this has been on Victoria’s books, and we’ve got a moment in time to really get this done. And I’m very determined that we should do it.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Brimbank Council, and that’s St Albans council. They want the rail line to come before the third runway. So that’s been approved, the third runway. Do you think we will get a rail line before the third runway is built?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, the first thing is I’ve just got to be a bit careful here because I have approved as the minister for planning for the airport, the third runway. And Brimbank has now taken that to the- to appeal. So I just have to be a bit careful here. The airport is wanting to build the third runway. I have approved that. It now has to go through the appeal process. They’ll be responsible for building that. My view is we are responsible as transport ministers-Victorian government, Federal government in terms of getting airport rail done. And we are starting the work to make sure that we’ve got everyone on the same page in terms of where it’s going to finish at the airport. And we’ll have timelines when we’ve got all of that agreed, and we’ll make those public when we can.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: It’s about 18 minutes to 9 on 774. Catherine King is part of Anthony Albanese’s Labor government. I do want to know what you want from your politicians. You can text or call. If you’re texting in, by the way, text your say, we’ll send you a link. There’s a whole lot of stuff going on the ABC webpage about the impending federal election. Catherine King, as a minister in and part of a Labor Party that’s vying for re-election, there was two and a bit billion for the airport. There was more than a billion for roads. I think there was another 300 million for rail work around Melton. Would that money have come if there hadn’t been a big protest vote against state Labor in Werribee?

    CATHERINE KING: No, it was in planning for quite some time. Danny Pearson, the previous minister and I had been talking about, as we do every budget cycle… what are the investments that are needed? And these have been talked about for a while. So I think it …

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: [Talks over] It does look a bit reactive.

    CATHERINE KING: Well, it- that’s your call, to say that. But I can absolutely guarantee, what I do when I look at budgets, when I look at the investments that are needed, I work closely with state governments about where they want to see investment. And this has been in discussion literally since the middle of last year. So that happens every budget cycle. The Victorian and every other government in the country all come to me with their wish list. It’s often, billions of dollars over what we can fund because they all want money. And then we make a decision about what we’re going to invest in. So really, this- these decisions are actually made last year that we’re announcing now as part of our budget, our lead up into the budget cycle. And they’re important investments for the state. But what you’ve also seen us do is unlock over in the east, the $2.2 billion for the Suburban Rail Loop.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: I’m glad you mentioned it, minister, because I was going to ask you about that. Can I just- can I let everyone know the seat I’m in is a safe Labor seat – the seat of Fraser. There are- I know there are people who share your party room, Catherine King, who are nervous about Labor’s vote in a suburb like St Albans, all the way out to places like Melton. Is there a little part of you- is there a little part of you that dies every time they talk about the Suburban Rail Loop because it’s money in the east, not the west?

    CATHERINE KING: What I see is a state in Victoria who basically… were pretty much abandoned for the last decade, who’ve had to go it alone on building these really big infrastructure projects. I live in the west, I live in Ballarat, and I have to drive- you know every single day I go to- when I go to Melbourne, I’m going through that incredible work that’s been done on the West Gate Tunnel. That is game changing for us over in the west. That will be huge for people like myself who live in Ballarat. I see the North East Link. I’ve stood on that side as well. Both of those projects, not a single federal dollar has gone into either of those. The state has had to 100 per cent fund those. We’ve stepped in other- sorry, other than a small amount in the North East Link, we’ve had- we’ve stepped in and put some more money into the North East Link to bring that, recognising that Victorian taxpayers on their own are paying for these big projects that will be game changing for the way in which we move around the state. Suburban Rail will be a similar sort of project. It’s a big scale project I’ve seen over in the west of the- Western Australia. What these big scale rail projects can do in terms of really opening up new housing opportunities, new business opportunities, new ways in which people actually move around cities. And so that’s really what the Victorian government has been doing, is doing those investments pretty much on its own. And it’s time that the Commonwealth actually helped out a bit with those.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Well, we’ll see what everybody makes of that both the people here in St Albans and on the phone. Just- Peter Dutton, it’s been revealed how much money he’s made buying and selling properties. Doesn’t that mean he actually really understands the property market and maybe he’ll know how to fix it?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, I think the issue- it’s not so much- I don’t begrudge anyone being able to do that, but I think it’s being upfront about it. I think that we saw him, not necessarily make disclosures about that and money in trusts and the like. So I think really he just needs to be open about that. And, it’s aspirational. But it’s really- it’s up to him to sort of explain why these weren’t properly disclosed to people …

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: [Interrupts] But do you reckon he understands the property market?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, as someone who doesn’t understand the property market, particularly myself, I don’t know. That’s a matter for him. But I think that again, really, it’s up to him to make sure he’s disclosing all of those things appropriately.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Thank you for your time.

    CATHERINE KING: Really good to be with you. Lovely to- hopefully you get a good chance to have a chat to the people of St Albans. My brother in law doesn’t live far from there. It is a fantastic multicultural part of the world.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Washington stands with trans military personnel in multi-state amicus filing

    Source: Washington State News

    SEATTLE – The president’s discriminatory ban on transgender military service members undermines state and national security, attorneys general in 21 states argued in a brief filed Wednesday in support of personnel who filed suit seeking to overturn the order.

    Washington Attorney General Nick Brown co-authored the amicus brief that says the president’s order “not only violates the Constitution…but it will also weaken our nation’s military, including the National Guard, and undermine the Amici States’ institutions and efforts to protect their communities.”

    The brief was filed in Shilling v. Trump, which was brought by lead plaintiff and decorated U.S. Navy Commander Emily Shilling. Shilling, who has served for over 20 years and flown over 60 combat and high-risk missions, is transgender and wants to continue working for the American public.

    The amicus brief describes how the president’s action deprives the state’s National Guard units of experienced and qualified soldiers at a time when recruitment is especially challenging. Trump’s blatantly discriminatory policy is also fundamentally at odds with state laws protecting transgender individuals.

    Washington was joined by the attorneys general of 20 other states in the filing, which was co-authored by Brown’s office and the Vermont Attorney General’s Office. The other states joining are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.

     -30-

    Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the State of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

    Media Contact:

    Email: press@atg.wa.gov

    Phone: (360) 753-2727

    General contacts: Click here

    Media Resource Guide & Attorney General’s Office FAQ

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Tech – Bridgetown Research raises $19M from Lightspeed and Accel to deploy AI business research agents

    Source: Stockwood Strategy

    Bridgetown Research is building the first AI agents focussed on research and analysis using primary and secondary data for verticals including private equity, consulting and strategy

    Seattle, Washington – February 26, 2025: Strategic business decisions have traditionally been expensive and slow for a fundamental reason: they don’t happen enough. This means companies lack both historical data to learn from and experts who have seen enough similar cases. Bridgetown Research is changing that. Today, the AI decision science startup announced $19 million in Series A funding led by Lightspeed and Accel, with participation from a leading research university.
     
    Bridgetown Research has developed AI agents that autonomously execute research. Most notable amongst these agents are voice bots trained to recruit and interview industry experts, gathering primary data that can be analyzed alongside alternative data sourced from their partners.
     
    Founded by Harsh Sahai, who previously led machine learning teams at Amazon before leading strategy engagements at McKinsey & Co., Bridgetown Research was born from a simple observation: the majority of business analyses are a permutation of a small number of automatable tasks. The founding team, comprising former professionals from McKinsey, Bain, Amazon, and leading tech startups, brings together extensive experience across strategy consulting and technology.
     
    “We are excited to be a catalyst for change. We are working with multiple private equity firms, management consulting firms, and corporate teams to help make strategic decisions better and faster. This in turn is driving up demand for advisory and information services downstream. We enable $10+ of advisory and information services revenue for every $1 we make. Together with leading institutions, we’re building something bigger than ourselves—an ecosystem where everyone thrives,” commented Harsh Sahai, CEO & founder of Bridgetown Research.
     
    While many AI solutions focus on searching and summarizing information using LLMs, real world business decisions require much more than synthesising the open web. They need proprietary data such as primary data from experts and customer surveys, along with frameworks to understand markets, what Harsh Sahai calls “ontologies”. Moreover, outputs need to be repeatable and auditable for a business to use them to make decisions with tens of millions of dollars at stake. Bridgetown Research is the only player using agents to gather primary data and systematically find patterns in it to generate original insights.
    “AI is causing widespread disruptions across many enterprise functions, and Bridgetown Research is riding that wave by assisting executives in making important strategic decisions. We are pleased to see Bridgetown serving several marquee customers, with users likening its platform to having a team of top-tier consultants at their fingertips. We are excited to partner with Harsh, who, with his background as an ace AI research scientist turned management consultant, blends a unique combination of skills and insight needed to imagine this whole new category of applied AI,” said Anagh Prasad, Investor at Accel.

    Bridgetown Research started with a focus on private equity deal screening diligence. Multiple top-tier PE & VC firms already use Bridgetown Research for deal screening and deeper commercial diligence. They’re able to screen their pipeline much faster with initial analysis taking 24 hours instead of weeks without Bridgetown enabling teams to focus on actual decision making instead of research and analysis. For other customers Bridgetown has enabled voice of customer conversations that cover hundreds of respondents in parallel, and within days.
     
    Ishaan Preet Singh, Investor at Lightspeed added “Companies are built on the quality of strategic decisions, and the research and analysis behind it. Bridgetown Research enables the smartest executives and investors to make these decisions with an order of magnitude more information, and at a pace that was earlier impossible. Harsh and Bridgetown are already creating immense value for their customers, but are still just scratching the surface of the leverage that AI can create.”

    As global markets become increasingly complex, the demand for efficient and effective decision-making tools continues to rise. With this funding round, Bridgetown Research plans to invest further in training its AI agents to perform a broader set of analyses across a broader range of domains, and deepening industry partnerships to enhance access to domain-specific intelligence.

    About Bridgetown Research
    Bridgetown Research builds AI agents for decision research. Its voice agents and web crawlers find and clean data, while its analyses agents produce repeatable, auditable, and reliable analyses. The team consists of computer scientists, econometricians, software engineers, investors and business consultants, working across geographies. For more information please visit https://www.bridgetownresearch.com/

    About Accel
    Accel is a global venture capital firm that aims to be the first partner to exceptional teams everywhere (Facebook, Flipkart, etc.), from inception through all phases of private company growth. Accel has been operating in India since 2008, and its investments include companies like BookMyShow, Browserstack, Flipkart, Freshworks, FalconX, Infra.Market, Chargebee, Clevertap, Cure Fit, Musigma, Moneyview, Mensa Brands, Myntra, Moglix, Ninjacart, Swiggy, Stanza Living, Urban Company, Zetwerk, and Zenoti, among many others. We help ambitious entrepreneurs build iconic global businesses. For more, visit: www.accel.com
     
    About Lightspeed
    Lightspeed is a global multi-stage venture capital firm focused on accelerating disruptive innovations and trends in the Enterprise, Consumer, Health, and Fintech sectors. Over the past two decades, the Lightspeed team has backed hundreds of entrepreneurs and helped build more than 500 companies globally including Affirm, Acceldata, Carta, Cato Networks, Darwinbox, Epic Games, Faire, Innovaccer, Guardant Health, Mulesoft, Navan, Netskope, Nutanix, Physics Wallah, Razorpay, Rubrik, Sharechat, Snap, OYO Rooms, Ultima Genomics, Zepto and more. Lightspeed and its global team currently manage $25B in AUM across the Lightspeed platform, with investment professionals and advisors in the U.S., Europe, India, Israel, and Southeast Asia. www.lsip.com

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese FM holds talks with New Zealand deputy PM

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of New Zealand Winston Peters in Beijing, China, on Feb. 26, 2025. [Photo/Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of New Zealand Winston Peters in Beijing on Wednesday.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China-New Zealand relations have maintained sound, steady development and have long been at the forefront of China’s relations with Western countries.

    China is ready to work with New Zealand to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen strategic communication, and push forward their comprehensive strategic partnership, he said.

    Wang noted that the two sides should adhere to the principle of mutual respect and the correct understanding of each other, and become partners with mutual trust. Certain specific differences can be resolved properly through constructive dialogue.

    Wang said that the two countries should upgrade their economic and trade cooperation, launch negotiations on the negative list for trade in services as soon as possible, and work together to create new growth engines such as artificial intelligence and the green economy.

    Wang said that China has implemented a unilateral visa-free travel policy for New Zealand, and hopes that New Zealand will continue to provide a good environment for Chinese students and overseas Chinese citizens.

    The Asia-Pacific region is the shared home of China and New Zealand, and China respects New Zealand’s traditional relations with Pacific island countries, Wang said.

    Noting that China is an important partner of New Zealand, Peters said that New Zealand will, as always, adhere to the one-China policy and looks forward to developing closer exchange practices with China at all levels. New Zealand also stands ready to strengthen exchange and cooperation with China in fields such as the economy, trade, agriculture and defense, as well as Antarctica, and to deepen communication and coordination on regional and international affairs.

    New Zealand is willing to strengthen cooperation with China within multilateral institutions, and to push for the greater development of bilateral relations, Peters said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Archaeologists begin to restore northeast platform of Angkor Wat’s Bakan Tower

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Archaeologists on Wednesday started to restore the northeast platform of Angkor Wat’s Bakan Tower in Cambodia’s Angkor Archaeological Park, said an APSARA National Authority (ANA)’s news release.

    A religious ceremony was held at the site to pray for safety and success in the restoration work, the news release said.

    Long Kosal, deputy director-general of the ANA, a government agency responsible for managing, protecting and preserving the Angkor Archaeological Park, said at the event that nearly all parts of the Bakan Tower have been restored, with the exception of this northeast corner.

    He said the restoration work is expected to be completed by mid-2026.

    Kosal said during the restoration process, certain areas of the Bakan Tower were closed to visitors for safety reasons, but access to the entire site remained open, albeit with some restrictions in place.

    “To ensure visitor safety during the restoration process, barriers have been erected around the work areas, and signage has been provided to inform tourists about ongoing repairs and any changes to access routes,” he said.

    The restoration work is carried out by the ANA in partnership with the Korean Heritage Agency, the news release said.

    Built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat is a major temple in the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park in the country’s northwest Siem Reap province.

    The 401-square-kilometer Angkor Archaeological Park is home to 91 ancient temples, which were built from the ninth to the 13th centuries.

    The ancient park, which is the kingdom’s most popular tourist destination, attracted a total of 1.02 million international tourists in 2024, generating a gross revenue of 47.8 million U.S. dollars from ticket sales, according to the state-owned Angkor Enterprise. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Forum held to promote China-Japan-ROK cooperation in TV industry

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

    Forum held to promote China-Japan-ROK cooperation in TV industry

    Updated: February 27, 2025 09:50 Xinhua

    A forum aimed at promoting trilateral cooperation among China, Japan and South Korea in the TV industry was held in east China’s Qingdao on Tuesday.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Tech and Security – New Zealand coming second in the region in the number of malware incidents, new analysis shows – NordVPN

    Source: NordVPN

    According to new research by the cybersecurity company NordVPN, over 83 million malware incidents have been recorded in 2024 in New Zealand, emphasizing the growing cybersecurity threats.

    Internet users should be extra careful when clicking links seemingly sent by Big Tech companies – there’s quite a big chance it might be a deliberately misspelled phishing link. Data shows that Google, Facebook, and Microsoft are the top three brands most likely to be impersonated for credential harvesting.

    “In fact, the majority of all phishing attacks use around 300 brand names for deception. The brands themselves are not at fault – such fakes hurt their reputation as well, forcing companies to actively hunt them down. However, high brand awareness can lull victims into a false sense of security and get them to lower their guard,” says Adrianus Warmenhoven, a cybersecurity advisor at NordVPN.

    According to the same research, last year there were almost 85,000 fake URLs that impersonate Google websites and services. With more than 6,000 fake URLs online, Facebook takes second place as the scammers’ favorite. Microsoft is in third place, with almost 5,000 fake URLs. Fake AT&T, Yahoo!, and Netflix links should be evaluated more carefully as well. In each of those cases there were around 4,000 fake URLs online.

    New Zealand experienced more than 83 million malware incidents in 2024 – the second number in Oceania, with Australia leading the region with more than 351 million incidents per year.

    An array of security threats

    Data analysed by NordVPN suggest you should also stay away from free video hosting sites (yes, that includes anime hosting websites) and a few other categories. Throughout 2024, NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro feature blocked more than 1.5 billion malware infection attempts on video hosting sites. Other domain categories with the most malware are: entertainment (almost 1 billion malware blocked) and sports (124 million). Just a little behind are adult content sites (109 million malware blocked) and file sharing and storage websites (almost 74 million).

    “The above mentioned categories, free video hosting sites in particular, tend to contain a variety of  security and privacy threats. Not only malware, but intrusive ads and trackers as well. Over the past year, Threat Protection Pro blocked almost 7 billion ads and more than 119 billion trackers on video hosting sites alone. This accounts for 25% off all blocked trackers by Threat Protection Pro in 2024,” says Adrianus Warmenhoven.

    Know your enemy

    Web trackers are a broad category of privacy-invading tools that collect information on user activity. Trackers typically take the form of special scripts, browser cookies, or tracking pixels. Businesses use trackers to paint an accurate picture of you for targeted advertising – but if they suffer a data breach, the stored tracker data could end up falling into the hands of cybercriminals.

    Warmenhoven adds that websites often share or sell data collected by trackers to third parties. Those who want to protect their privacy can use several tools to become less trackable, such as tracker blockers, which prevent websites and advertisers from collecting data about your online activity.

    Malware refers to any kind of programming that was deliberately designed to harm you or your device. This includes malicious software like viruses, trojans, ransomware, and spyware. Malware can steal sensitive data, encrypt important files, or even take over the machine, putting the criminal in complete control.

    “It is important to know that malware must be actively brought onto your device, such as by downloading an infected file. One of the most common ways to get infected with malware is through phishing attacks. Scammers use deceptive misspellings of popular brands (such as spelling “Amazon” as “Arnazon”) to trick victims into clicking phishing links and downloading infected files. So you should always check the spelling before clicking,” notes Warmenhoven.

    Intrusive advertising refers to ads that actively interfere with your online experience. Intrusive ads aren’t content to just stay on the sidelines – they may distract you by popping up randomly while you’re scrolling, open additional browser tabs, hog bandwidth with lengthy videos, or even hijack the page you’re on. Even worse, some intrusive ads may try to infect your device or redirect you to malicious websites.

    Cybersecurity expert advice on how to protect yourself

    To protect yourself from common cybersecurity threats like malware, trackers, and intrusive ads, Adrianus Warmenhoven advises to take these precautions:

    Avoid a “free lunch.” Certain web domain categories are much more likely to host malware that could compromise your device than others. One of the most prominent categories is free video hosting sites.

    Be wary of unsolicited emails and messages. Phishing scams are one of the main methods used by criminals to steal personal and financial data. Emails promising too-good-to-be-true promotions, invitations, or gifts, are probably not true. Messages asking you to update your data or just click on a link may also be versions of phishing.

    Don’t get scared and check the links. Cybercriminals prey on confusion and ignorance. They try to scare people, hoping that victims will act on emotion. Don’t do that. Try not to click on links that try to scare you or promise you riches – check the spelling first.

    Verify downloads. Malware executables may be disguised as or hidden in legitimate files. Always verify the website you want to download from, and always use anti-malware tools like Threat Protection Pro to inspect the files you download.

    Limit data exposure. Information such as location, full name, and other personal details can be used by criminals for scams and cyberattacks. Adjust your privacy settings and avoid sharing sensitive data publicly, such as on social networks.

    Keep your devices updated. Outdated software is an easy target for cyberattacks. Make sure to keep your operating system, applications, and antivirus software up to date to fix vulnerabilities and ensure greater protection.

    Methodology: The statistics mentioned above were acquired by analyzing aggregated data gathered by NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro service from January 1, 2024 to January 1, 2025. NordVPN is not endorsed by, maintained, sponsored by, affiliated, or in any way associated with the owners of the mentioned brands. Brands are indicated solely for the purpose of accurately reporting information related to brands that were most likely to be impersonated for spreading malware.

    ABOUT NORDVPN

    NordVPN is the world’s most advanced VPN service provider, used by millions of internet users worldwide. NordVPN provides double VPN encryption and Onion Over VPN and guarantees privacy with zero tracking. One of the key features of the product is Threat Protection , which blocks malicious websites, malware during downloads, trackers, and ads. The latest service by the Nord Security team is Saily — a new global eSIM. NordVPN is very user friendly, offers one of the best prices on the market, and has over 6,200 servers covering 111 countries worldwide. For more information: https://nordvpn.com.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Business – Connecting New Zealand Businesses Globally; Airwallex Expands Cross-Border Payment Capabilities for Kiwi Businesses

    Source:  Airwallex

    • Airwallex launches in New Zealand, appointing Lowry Gladwell as Associate Director and first local employee.
    • Commitment to local growth, with plans to expand the team to 10 employees on ground by the end of 2025.
    • New product rollouts, including corporate cards, online payments and expanded Airwallex for Startups offerings, to support Kiwi businesses.
    • Partnering with top NZ brands, already working with Rodd & Gunn, Tracksuit and Auror.

    Auckland, New Zealand, 26 February, 2025 – Global fintech leader Airwallex has officially launched in Aotearoa, marking a significant milestone in its mission to provide businesses with faster, cost-effective, and more innovative financial solutions.

    With a firm commitment to supporting New Zealand’s thriving business ecosystem, Airwallex has appointed Lowry Gladwell as its Associate Director of New Zealand, the company’s first local employee, to lead its ambitious expansion plans. Gladwell will be joined by Matt Sek, a key regional leader, as Airwallex aims to grow its New Zealand team to 10 employees by the end of 2025.

    “With New Zealand businesses increasingly looking for agile, cost-effective financial solutions, Airwallex is here to challenge the status quo,” said Gladwell. “Our entry into this market represents more than just expansion — it’s about providing Kiwi businesses with the tools they need to grow globally without the friction and high costs of traditional banking.”

    A New Era of Financial Solutions for New Zealand Businesses

    As part of its expansion, Airwallex is rolling out several new product offerings tailored to the needs of New Zealand businesses. The company’s corporate cards offering will be bolstered with a physical card version to complement the existing virtual option. These solutions will empower Kiwi companies to manage expenses more efficiently, reducing high transaction fees and improving financial control. In addition, online payments  will sit alongside existing FX, global accounts and company and employee cards.

    “Managing business spending shouldn’t be a hassle,” said Matt Sek, VP SME & Growth, ANZ. “Our new corporate card solution makes it easier for teams to handle expenses while ensuring greater transparency and efficiency, while payment acceptance allows businesses to accept payments from customers around the globe with fast, flexible settlements and a seamless checkout experience. This is just the beginning of our commitment to providing smarter, more intuitive financial tools for New Zealand businesses.”

    A Tailored Approach for New Zealand’s Unique Market

    New Zealand’s business environment, while dynamic, has long been dominated by a concentrated banking sector, leading to high fees and sluggish international transactions. Airwallex is set to disrupt the market by offering lower costs, competitive FX rates, and faster payments — critical advantages for businesses operating globally, particularly in New Zealand’s high-growth SaaS and export sectors.

    With the country’s economic recovery underway following a challenging period, Airwallex’s presence comes at a crucial time. The company’s solutions will provide much-needed financial agility for businesses looking to scale, particularly as New Zealand strives to double its export growth over the next decade.

    Empowering New Zealand Startups and “Soonicorns”

    Airwallex has already demonstrated strong support for startups in New Zealand, with significant sign-ups under its Airwallex for Startups initiative. By offering streamlined international payments, global accounts, and competitive FX rates, Airwallex is positioning itself as a vital partner for the country’s burgeoning startup ecosystem.

    “We see huge potential in New Zealand’s startup space,” added Gladwell. “We want to support the next wave of ‘soonicorns’ by providing them with the financial infrastructure needed to scale globally.”

    Industry Expertise and Established Partnerships

    “We understand that the key industries of growth in New Zealand include Tourism,  eCommerce, and Tech,” said Gladwell. “Airwallex is already working with some of the country’s most innovative and well-established brands, including Rodd & Gunn, Tracksuit and Auror. Our deep knowledge of these industries allows us to tailor our solutions to meet the unique needs of Kiwi businesses, helping them navigate global expansion with ease.”

    Looking Ahead

    Airwallex’s entry into New Zealand marks a long-term investment in the country’s business landscape. As the company continues to grow its local team and expand its offerings, it remains committed to helping Kiwi businesses navigate the evolving financial landscape with confidence.

    “Our goal is simple,” concluded Gladwell. “We’re here to provide New Zealand businesses with better experiences, lower fees, and faster payments in a market that’s crying out for competition. We’re excited for what’s ahead.”

    About Airwallex

    Airwallex is a leading global financial platform for modern businesses, offering trusted solutions to manage everything from payments, treasury, and spend management to embedded finance. With our proprietary infrastructure, Airwallex takes the friction out of global payments and financial operations, empowering businesses of all sizes to unlock new opportunities and grow beyond borders. Proudly founded in Melbourne, Airwallex supports over 150,000 businesses globally and is trusted by brands such as AS Colour, Rodd & Gun, Tracksuit and many more. For more information, visit http://www.airwallex.com

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: IHC – Disability survey data highlights inequities that could last generations

    Source: IHC

    New Government figures released today show further evidence of widespread disadvantage for people with intellectual disability.

    IHC New Zealand Director of Advocacy Tania Thomas says data from Stats NZ’s Household Disability Survey, collected following the 2023 Census, paints a concerning picture of the everyday challenges faced by disabled people.

    “This data underscores the systemic disadvantage faced by people with an intellectual disability,” says Tania. “Our own research shows what we already know – disabled people, particularly those with intellectual disabilities, are being left behind in nearly every measure of wellbeing.

    “More than half of disabled New Zealanders are struggling to find adequate housing, put food on the table and meet other basic needs, compared to a third of non-disabled people.

    “While these stats for disabled people are tough, we know it’s even tougher for people with intellectual disability.”

    IHC is set to release a new report in the coming months highlighting the significant hardship experienced by intellectually disabled people, using data from Stats NZ. The report will provide a stark look at the extreme hardship faced by people with an intellectual disability, reinforcing the urgent need for targeted policy responses.

    Tania says these reports aim to ensure policymakers, service providers and the public understand the realities facing some of New Zealand’s most marginalised citizens.

    “Without urgent action, these inequities will persist for generations.”

    In particular, IHC notes from today’s statistics:

    Financial Hardship: More than half (53 percent) of disabled New Zealanders report struggling to meet basic needs like food, housing, and clothing, compared with 33 percent of non-disabled people. Disabled children are also more likely to experience material hardship.
    Poor Health and Wellbeing: 39 percent of disabled adults rate their health as poor, compared with just 6 percent of non-disabled adults. Life satisfaction scores are significantly lower, and disabled adults are more likely to experience discrimination, loneliness, and limited social contact.
    Housing Inequality: Disabled people are more likely to live in poor-quality housing, with 29 percent saying their home is colder than they would like in winter and 25 percent reporting damp living conditions.
    Unmet Support Needs: 62 percent of disabled people report an unmet need for support in areas such as healthcare, education, work accommodations, and accessibility modifications at home.
    Barriers to Employment: 72 percent of unemployed disabled adults want to work, but face barriers such as inflexible workplaces, lack of accommodations, and difficulties accessing training and transport.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –