NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Global Economy – Global Barometers decline in April – KOF

    Source: KOF Economic Institute

    The Coincident Barometer decreases for the second consecutive month and returns to the level of September 2024. The fall in the Leading Barometer keeps the indicator generally slightly above 100 points, a tendency that has been observed since May 2024. However, the recent escalation in the trade tensions is not reflected in the data.

    In April, the Coincident and the Leading Global Barometers decrease 1.5 points and 1.7 points to 92.3 and 101.9 points, respectively. In both cases, the fall is mainly driven by the Western Hemisphere indicators. Europe is a distant second. In contrast, the contribution of the Asia, Pacific & Africa region to the variation in the global indicators is almost null this month.

    “Although the unexpectedly strong announcements by President Trump on what he called ‘US Liberation Day’ and the shockwaves that followed are not yet reflected in the Global Barometers – they reflect survey data collected in March – the downward momentum of both is clearly driven by lower assessments and sentiment in the US-dominated Western hemisphere. This does not bode well for the future direction of these two leading indicators of the global economy”, comments KOF Director Jan-Egbert Sturm the latest results.

    Coincident Barometer – regions and sectors

    The 1.5-point decrease in the Coincident Barometer in April results from negative contributions of -1.1 points from the Western Hemisphere, -0.3 points from Europe, and -0.1 points from the Asia, Pacific & Africa region. The Western Hemisphere reaches 91.4 points, its lowest level since December 2023, and is closing in on the indicator for the Asia, Pacific & Africa region, which continues to record the lowest level among the regional coincident indicators (90.9 points).

    Among the Coincident sector indicators, only Construction records an increase, while, Trade, Services, the indicator for Economy (aggregated business and consumer evaluations) and Industry decrease this month.

    Leading Barometer – regions and sectors

    In April, the Western Hemisphere contributes negatively with -1.6 points to the 1.7-point fall in the Leading Global Barometer. Europe contributes -0.2 points while the Asia, Pacific & Africa region makes a positive contribution of 0.1 points. With this result, only the Western Hemisphere is below 100 points, recording the lowest level among the regions, which has not happened since December 2023. The Leading Global Barometer leads the world economic growth rate cycle by three to six months on average.

    Among the Leading sector indicators, only Economy (aggregated business and consumer evaluations) makes a slight increase in April. The marked decline in the Trade sector stands out, taking the indicator to below the 100-point level for the first time since May of last year.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – South Australia a world leader in refugee settlement – report – AMES

    Source: AMES

    South Australia boasts a world leading refugee settlement program that offers protection to people fleeing conflict and persecution in their homelands, a new report has found.

    The state accepts up to 1400 refugees each year, providing on-arrival support and case management as well as accommodation and housing, cultural orientation and access to education and employment.

    This intensive, wrap-around support, facilitated by settlement agency AMES Australia and it partners, has meant that refugees in South Australia quickly become independent and are able to contribute back to the South Australian community, the report, titled ‘Bound for South Australia: A world leading settlement destination’, says.

    The report says new refugee arrivals benefit from a range of tailored settlement programs and initiatives in South Australia largely under the aegis of the federal government’s refugee settlement arrangements.

    “Services include on-arrival support and accommodation. Newly arrived refugees are initially housed at a dedicated accommodation facility and are supported to find long-term, appropriate housing in the community,” the report says.

    “Refugee clients can access an intensive orientation program which provides information about navigating Australian society, including schooling and education, public transport, healthcare, banking, employment and rights and responsibilities. They are provided with the tools and resources they need for long-term stability and successful integration.

    “Key partnerships ensure new arrivals have access to a range of health, mental health, family violence and trauma services as well as connections to government agencies and local support groups. This ensures clients have access to essential services and social opportunities,” the report says.

    In 2023-24 229 adult refugees were supported into sustainable jobs and 115 more received ongoing employment strategy development support with 109 achieving job interviews.

    Twenty-seven refugee businesses were established with support from AMES Australia.

    More than 210 families have been supported with children’s school enrolments and 356 adults were supported to enrol in English language tuition.

    Three refugees were assisted to enrol in tertiary and vocational training and two more with obtaining recognition of overseas skills and qualifications.

    In 2023-24 there were more than 8,100 individual attendances at orientation sessions covering settlement services, housing, health, managing money, life in Australia, transport, family life and services, Australian law, education and employment.

     Long-term appropriate housing was secured for 226 client families and around 350 families were supported with on-arrival accommodation.

    Ninety-nine per cent of people exiting the refugee support program had secured permanent accommodation.

    The report says refugee settlement generates around $19 million in economic activity for South Australia each year, including more than $3 million in federal investment and $15 million in extra tax receipts and spending.

    “The settlement of refugees in South Australia adds more than $19 million to South Australia’s economy each year through federal government investment, harnessing the skills and entrepreneurialism refugees bring with them,” the report says.

    “This includes South Australia’s share of the and the $21.2 million the federal government invests in refugee settlement each year (1) and of the $9.1 million invested engagement and transitions support programs.

    “It also includes the $5.1 million paid in tax by refugees who gained employment in South Australia in 2023-24 and the $10.2 million in cash injected into the economy by those workers and entrepreneurs.

    “The skills and experience possessed by refugees represents almost a 1 per cent boost to productivity in South Australia,” the report said.

    Consultant economist Dr Ian Pringle, who produced the report, said South Australia had unique refugee settlement arrangements.

    “What sets South Australia apart is the level of community input into successful settlement outcomes,” Dr Pringle said.

    “From schools to sporting clubs, local councils, community groups and faith organisations, there is an all of community approach to making sure refugees settle well and are made to feel welcome,” he said.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: E tū welcomes defeat of Treaty Principles Bill – E tū

    Source: Etu Union

    E tū, New Zealand’s largest private sector union, welcomes the overwhelming defeat of the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill in Parliament yesterday. The bill, which sought to redefine the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, was rejected by 112 votes to 11.​

    E tū President Muriel Tunoho expressed immense pride in the union’s active opposition to the bill:​

    “I am extremely proud that E tū took a stand and made submissions to oppose the Treaty of Waitangi Principles Bill too. Thank you all for playing your part in this incredible fightback.​

    “It was right to finally see the bill consigned to the past and into the bin. The results show that this is not us.​

    “We don’t need to rewrite or re-define the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We just have to live them!”​

    E tū National Secretary Rachel Mackintosh highlighted the bill’s potential to undermine the foundational agreement between Māori and the Crown:​

    “This bill sought to fundamentally alter the meaning of Te Tiriti o Waitangi by selectively and incorrectly interpreting the reo Māori text. It tried to undermine the separation of powers under the rule of law by using the power of Parliament to change Aotearoa New Zealand’s constitutional foundation, all based on a legal and historical fiction.​

    “This bill has done damage. It has given airtime to false and racist ideas.​

    “It also galvanised hundreds of thousands of people to stand up – toitū Te Tiriti. More than 90% of the submissions on the bill called for it to be abandoned. E tū and thousands of our members were among the voices in those submissions. The submissions stood up for the truth of Te Tiriti as the foundation on which we can build a society where tāngata whenua and tau iwi take care of each other.​

    “Now that Parliament has voted it down, we can start to repair the damage and to build an Aotearoa where we honour Te Tiriti and respect each other.”​

    E tū remains committed to upholding the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and advocating for a just and inclusive society.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Road blocked, SH1, Paekākāriki

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Wellington Police are advising motorists to be aware of the traffic delays on SH1 following an incident earlier this morning.

    At around 6.30am, Police were notified of debris on the Southbound lanes between the Paekākāriki off-ramp and the Paremata Haywards Road off-ramp.

    Traffic management is in place and motorists are advised to plan ahead and expect delays.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Congressman Honors Youth-Led Democratic Movement in Bangladesh and Meets with Activist Zahid F. Sarder Saddi to Discuss U.S. Support for Democratic Transition

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Washington, DC, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ❝ Congressman Honors Youth-Led Democratic Movement in Bangladesh and Meets with Zahid F. Sarder Saddi to Discuss U.S. Support for Democratic Transition❞

    In a significant move recognizing the ongoing democratic movements in Bangladesh, U.S. Congressman Darren Soto met with Bangladeshi activist and community leader Zahid F Sarder Saddi shortly after taking his oath of office for his fifth term in the House of Representatives. Saddi commended Congressman Soto for his steadfast leadership and consistent support of the Bangladeshi-American community in Florida’s 9th District.

    Rep. Soto reciprocated the appreciation, commending Saddi for his dedicated advocacy and instrumental role in conveying the interests and needs of the Bangladeshi people both overseas and within the United States. The Congressman acknowledged the critical influence of Bangladesh’s ‘Gen Z revolution’ in challenging Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian regime and underscored the vital role democracy plays in shaping the future of the nation.

    During a detailed discussion in his Congressional office with Saddi, Rep. Soto extended an invitation to the student leaders of the July-August movement in Bangladesh. These student leaders played a crucial role in the political upheaval that led to the fall of the Hasina government and her subsequent flight to India. As a gesture of global solidarity and recognition, Rep. Soto is extending an invitation to these young leaders to visit the U.S. Congress, where they will receive a Congressional Proclamation acknowledging their contributions to democracy.

    Bangladeshi Americans have expressed profound gratitude to Congressman Soto for his steadfast commitment to empowering a peaceful and democratic future for Bangladesh. Over the past decade, Rep. Soto has built a strong reputation for advocating on behalf of Bangladesh, and his support during this transitional period is seen as vital in reinstating democratic governance in the country.

    In a tweet following the meeting, Congressman Soto conveyed his appreciation to Zahid F Sarder Saddi for the visit and for providing crucial updates on the democratic transition in Bangladesh. He reiterated America’s support for the restoration of democracy in the South Asian nation, emphasizing the importance of upholding human rights and governance principles.

    For nearly three decades, Zahid F Sarder Saddi has been a dedicated advocate for the Bangladeshi community, both in the United States and abroad. As a respected foreign affairs advisor, he has worked tirelessly to ensure that the voices of Bangladeshi-Americans and those living in Bangladesh are heard in the halls of U.S. Congress. Having previously served as the Foreign Advisor to former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, Saddi continues to provide critical geopolitical insights on the Indo-Pacific region. His collaboration with U.S. policymakers remains instrumental in promoting global democracy and human rights.

    The invitation extended by Congressman Darren Soto marks a historic moment in recognizing the struggles of the Bangladeshi people and their fight for democratic restoration. As the world watches, the efforts of student leaders and advocates like Saddi underscore the ongoing movement toward greater political freedom and justice in Bangladesh.

    About —Zahid F Sarder Saddi

    Zahid F Sarder Saddi is a prominent Bangladeshi politician, humanitarian, and advocate for Bangladesh and its people. He served as a Foreign Advisor to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the Hon’ Begum Khaleda Zia. He was also appointed as a Special Envoy to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP. Zahid F Sarder Saddi works with several organizations and holds a special passion for helping the Bangladeshi community in the United States and around the world. He has been involved in the Bangladeshi American Society for over 25 years and works to carry the voice of Bangladeshi Americans to lawmakers. Zahid F Sarder Saddi has received numerous accolades, including a humanitarian award for his impactful work.

    To learn more about Zahid F Sarder Saddi, please visit www.ZahidFSarderSaddi.com or reach out to Zahid F Sarder Saddi at info@zahidfsardersaddi.com. 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Myanmar: UN seeks additional $240 million to bolster earthquake relief

    Source: United Nations 2-b

    By Vibhu Mishra

    Humanitarian Aid

    The United Nations is ramping up its response to Myanmar’s devastating earthquake, calling for increased funding and an immediate ceasefire to ensure more aid reaches those in desperate need.

    The 7.7 magnitude earthquake – which struck on March 28 – has claimed over 3,600 lives, injured a further 4,800 people and left 184 still missing.

    The disaster has affected more than nine million people across 58 townships, with thousands of buildings, including hospitals and schools, reduced to rubble. Aftershocks continue to rattle the hardest-hit regions, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis.

    In response, UN agencies are calling for an additional $241.6 million to aid those in the most affected regions, while also channelling $134 million from the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Myanmar – which was released in December 2024.

    The revised plan identifies around two million newly affected people in urgent need of assistance, adding to the 4.3 million who were already in need before the quake.

    Myanmar was already in crisis before the disaster, with nearly 20 million – roughly a third of the population – in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, amid a brutal civil war between the forces of the military junta which seized power in February 2021 and opposition militias.

    Heartbreaking destruction

    During a visit to Myanmar, UN Special Envoy Julie Bishop met with communities devastated by the quake and urged international support for both immediate relief and long-term reconstruction.

    She reiterated the urgent need for a ceasefire to enable humanitarian response and recovery.

    “We need to continue to urge for a ceasefire, to stop the killing, stop the conflict so that the humanitarian workers, the search and rescue teams and those involved in rebuilding and reconstruction have the space to operate safely and securely,” she said.

    Ms. Bishop described the destruction as “heartbreaking” and praised the resilience of survivors.

    “I was particularly struck by those who have lost their homes but are determined to rebuild amid the rubble,” she said, stressing the need for global support.

    “The international community has a significant role to play in supporting additional funding during this particular time of need but also using their influence to ensure…that all actors in this conflict put down their arms and focus their efforts on restoring the shattered lives of the people of Myanmar.”

    Response overwhelmed

    UN agencies report that Myanmar’s vital public services, already strained by conflict and instability, are now overwhelmed.

    Myanmar’s remaining health facilities have critical shortages of medical supplies, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said in a humanitarian bulletin.

    More than 193 healthcare centres and 2,311 schools have been damaged or destroyed, while ongoing infrastructure failures have led to food shortages, rising prices, and an increased risk of infectious diseases.

    A cluster of acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) cases has already been reported in Sagaing and Mandalay, exacerbated by the destruction of sanitation systems.

    Furthermore, extreme heat – reaching 44°C (111°F) – and heavy, off-season rains have worsened conditions for survivors, many of whom remain without shelter.

    Fragile infrastructure exposed

    The earthquake has also reignited concerns about Myanmar’s fragile infrastructure.

    The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) warned that rebuilding roads, bridges and key public buildings must be prioritised to prevent future disasters inflicting a similar level of damage.

    “This is not optional – it is a social and economic imperative,” the commission said.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal crash, SH1 Tirau

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    One person has died after a two-vehicle crash on SH1 near Tirau late last night.

    Emergency services were called to the scene about 10.40pm.

    Sadly one person died at the scene.

    The Serious Crash Unit has examined the scene and enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update: Miramar homicide investigation

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Attributable to Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard:

    Police continue to make steady progress in the investigation into the homicide of 63-year-old Abdul Nabizadah, who was found critically injured in Camperdown Rd, Miramar at 2.20am on Monday 17 March.

    Mr Nabizadah later died in Wellington Hospital from injuries Police believe were received while being assaulted and robbed at this location at around 12.30am.

    The investigation team are continuing to gather evidence of the events of the evening and are establishing a good understanding of what occurred.

    The investigation has established a link between the homicide and an aggravated burglary that occurred at a nearby Darlington Road address at about 2am, when a man was found by homeowners inside their house. Police have arrested a man alleged to be responsible for this burglary and he is due to appear in the Wellington District Court on 17 April.

    During the examination of the Camperdown Road scene Police located a woman’s large size Mirrou brand zip-up jacket with white stripes on the arms. It was found discarded on the walkway leading from Camperdown Road to Nevay Road. Police want to speak to the owner of this jacket to determine if it is connected in any way to the incidents of that night.

    The investigation team have previously sought information about a silver Mazda 6 vehicle seen on several occasions in the Miramar area on the night of the incidents.

    Following assistance from members of the public the investigation team have now identified this vehicle and believe it is connected to the two incidents. Police now urgently want to speak to the driver and occupants of this car on the night of the incidents and we encourage them to make contact with us.

    We are actively looking for a number of people who we know have relevant information and encourage them, along with anyone else that has relevant information, to contact us as soon as possible.

    If you have any information that could help the investigation team, please update us online now or call 105.

    Please use the reference number 250317/6324, or reference Operation Celtic.

    Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Strengthening partnership with Raukawa

    Source: New Zealand Government

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero.
    The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Raukawa and communities across the South Waikato, Minister for Māori-Crown Relations Tama Potaka says.
    “My deep thanks to all those who travelled from Raukawa whenua to share their important kōrero at a ministerial forum held at Parliament on Thursday.
    “A stronger relationship helps us build on opportunities to address challenges together that exist across the rohe, not just for uri of Raukawa but for the entire South Waikato community,” Mr Potaka says.
    The kōrero focussed on three key areas: resetting and strengthening the Treaty partnership; rebuilding marae resilience, and cross-agency partnership.
    “Marae continue to play an important role as community hubs during times of tough challenges such as significant weather events and the COVID-19 pandemic. The people of Raukawa hold an inspiring commitment to ensuring their marae are available to serve the needs of the entire community in the south Waikato region during tough times.
    “I also mihi to Raukawa on the work they have done through the Kahu Taurima and Te Kei o Te Waka programmes to support the health and wellbeing of tamariki and whānau in their region. It’s a testament to the strength of the regions to get in there and get the mahi done with a locally-led whānau-centred kaupapa.
    “I am looking forward to working with my Ministerial colleagues and officials to expand on the topics discussed at the forum, and to identify how we can collaboratively contribute meaningfully to the aspirations of Raukawa. Sustaining strong partnerships with Iwi and Hapū is essential to the prosperity of all New Zealanders.”
    Te whakapakari i te pātuinga ki Raukawa
    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero.
    Kua whakaūhia anōtia e tēnei kāwanatanga tōna ngākau nui ki te tautoko i ngā moemoeā o Raukawa me ōna hapori huri noa i te Tonga o Waikato, te kī a Te Minita Hononga Māori Karauna Tama Pōtaka.
    “Aku mihi nui ki ngā tāngata katoa i haere mai i te whenua o Raukawa ki te tuari i ō rātou kōrero nui whakaharahara ki te hui ā-minita i tū ki te Whare Pāremata i te Rāpare.
    “Mā te pakari ake a te hononga e āwhina mātou ki te whai i ngā arawātea ki te whakatikatika ngātahi i ngā wero e hua mai ana puta noa i te rohe, kaua anake mā ngā uri o Raukawa engari mō te katoa o te hapori o te Tonga o Waikato” te kī a Minita Potaka.
    I arotahi ngā kōrero ki ngā wāhi e toru, te whakarite anō me te whakapakaritanga o te pātuinga Tiriti, te whakapakaritanga o te manahautanga o te marae me te pātuinga whakawhiti hinonga.
    “”He wāhi nui tonu tā ngā marae hei pokapū hapori i ngā wā o ngā wero nui pērā i ngā wā o te huarere taritari me te mate urutā te KOWHEORI-19. Kei te pupuri ngā tāngata o Raukawa te kaingākau whakaawe e mātua whakarite ana e wātea ana ō rātou marae ki te manaaki i te katoa o te hapori i te Tonga o Waikato i ngā wā o te raru.
    “Kei te mihi hoki au ki a Raukawa mō ngā mahi kua oti i a rātou mā ngā hōtaka te Kahu Taurima me Te Kei o Te Waka hei tautoko i te hauora me te oranga o ngā tamariki me ngā whānau i tō rātou rohe. He tohu tēnei o te kaha o ngā rohe ki te whai wāhi atu kia tutuki ai ngā mahi me tētahi kaupapa ā-whānau e whakahaerehia ana ā-rohe.
    “Harikoa katoa te ngākau kia mahi tahi mātou ko ōku hoa Minita me ngā āpiha ki te whakawhānui ake i ngā kōrero e pā ana ki ngā kaupapa i kōrerotia i te hui, me te kimi huarahi e taea ai e mātou te mahi ngātahi i runga i te ngākau nui ki te whakatutuki i ngā moemoeā o Raukawa. “He mea nui te whakapūmautanga o ngā mahitahi pakari ki ngā Iwi me ngā Hapū ki te tōnuitanga o te katoa o Ngāi Aotearoa.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Going on strike is not a reason to skip school

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour has a message for students going on strike today; if you really want to make a difference in the world, show up, work hard, and take every opportunity to learn.
    “School holidays start this Saturday. If students want to show how much this cause means to them, they could march on their own time. That would send a stronger message than taking the last day of term off.
    “I appreciate that some students have passionate views and are anxious about their futures. To that effect I want to be clear, if you want to make real change in the world, you need to turn up to school and get a good education now.
    “The previous government said that protesting instead of attending school could be justified. This in my view is unacceptable. My expectation is that schools will treat students protesting today as explained but unjustified absences.
    “Attendance has been increasing as the Government, schools, parents and students have made it a priority. It needs to keep going up, which is why attitudes need to keep improving over what is a valid reason to not show up. 
    In Term 4 of 2024 58.1 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.1 percentage points from 53 per cent in Term 4 of 2023. Attendance rates across all equity index groups increased from 2023 to 2024.
    “Attending school is the first step towards achieving positive educational outcomes. Positive educational outcomes lead to better health, higher incomes, better job stability and greater participation within communities. These are opportunities that every student deserves,” says Mr Seymour.
    “I encourage students, parents, and educators to prioritise education. That is what this Government is doing, and it is what is required for New Zealand to have a better future.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Budd Introduces Bill to Ban Retail Storefronts Owned by Foreign Adversaries from U.S. Military Bases

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)
    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced the Military Installation Retail Security Act to prohibit the Department of Defense (DoD) from authorizing, renewing, or extending long-term retail agreements with companies owned or controlled by adversarial nations on U.S. military bases. The legislation also requires the review of all retail stores on military bases nationwide to determine if there are foreign ties to China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea.
    Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) joined Senator Budd in introducing the bill. Congressman Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.-10) introduced the companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
    “Our military readiness depends upon security and surveillance. Adversarial nations have no place owning and operating businesses on U.S. military bases, all the while gaining personal identification information of American citizens, just to turn a profit. That is why I am proud to introduce the Military Installation Retail Security Act, to close this loophole by taking targeted action to prevent malign actors from embedding themselves within our military communities where they can threaten our national security and exploit personal data,” said Senator Budd.
    “We shouldn’t be allowing Chinese-affiliated companies in the United States, let alone on our military bases. This bill will ensure our adversaries can’t exploit our military,” said Senator Cotton.
    “Allowing companies controlled by our biggest foreign adversaries – like Communist China, Russia, and North Korea – to operate on U.S. military bases is a completely unacceptable threat to our national security that risks an enemy gaining sensitive personal and military data. The Military Installation Retail Security Act will close the loopholes that allow these bad actors to gain footholds within our military communities, ensuring that our military bases remain secure, and that foreign enemies aren’t profiting off our service members and their families. This should be common sense, and I urge my colleagues to support its quick passage,” said Senator Scott.
    “My team uncovered that GNC is fully owned by the Chinese Communist Party and operating more than 80 stores on U.S. military bases. That’s not just a problem; it’s a direct threat to our national security. We moved quickly to get a solution on the table and introduced the Military Installation Retail Security Act in the House. I’m glad to have Senator Budd step in to help drive this forward and make sure CCP-owned companies have zero place inside America’s military infrastructure,” said Congressman Harrigan.
    Read the full bill text HERE.
    Background
    Retail stores on U.S. military bases gain direct and prolonged access to our nation’s servicemembers and their families while operating in a sensitive base environment, which creates serious risks for surveillance. This gives companies, owned by foreign adversaries, unprecedented access to personally identifiable information such as names, payment methods, and purchase history. 
    GNC—which started as a small, family-owned health-food store in Pittsburgh in 1935—was bought by the Chinese state-owned Harbin Pharmaceutical Group after the supplement retailer filed for bankruptcy in 2020. Currently, this Chinese-owned company operates over 80 locations on U.S. military bases.
    On base at North Carolina’s Fort Bragg, GNC operates several storefronts serving 53,700 troops, who make up nearly 10 percent of the U.S. Army alone.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Volcano Watch — A Focus on the National Volcano Information Service

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. Today’s article was written by Thomas-Jon Hoomanawanui, HVO Systems Administrator.

    A USGS IT Specialist presents a visualization of volcanic hazards derived via satellite radar systems. IT systems facilitating the swift and accurate production of such solutions will be vital to the success of NVEWS. USGS image. The background image shows a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Volcanic Flow Map (VFM). This map combines cross-polarized radar amplitude images taken on two different dates, along with interferometric coherence from the time between those dates. This approach enables the detection of volcanic mass flows (such as lava flows) and other tephra-fall deposits regardless of surface or weather conditions.The SAR VFM is created using SAR data from the COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation (CSG) satellite constellation, covering the period from March 27, 2025, to April 4, 2025. It highlights Kīlauea summit eruption episode 16 (March 31-April 2, 2025) lava flows located on the caldera floor, as well as tephra deposits to the west of the caldera. In the VFM unchanged barren areas are represented in blue/purple, vegetated areas appear in yellow/light green, and new deposits over barren land are shown in either dark or bright green.The CSG data used to create this map were provided by the Italian Space Agency (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana , ASI).

    NVEWS, when fully implemented, will operate through an interoperable network of domestic volcano observatories and utilize advanced technological tools.  Central to the success of NVEWS will be the National Volcano Information Service (NVIS), which aims to be the backbone for data management and analysis within the system. NVIS will be an indispensable component of NVEWS, integrating cutting-edge information technology (IT) solutions to ensure efficient monitoring, accurate data interpretation, and effective communication of volcanic hazards. 

    NVIS will be responsible for collecting, aggregating, storing, and distributing vast amounts of volcano monitoring data from across the country, including earthquake activity, ground deformation, gas emissions, and other phenomena associated with volcanic unrest. NVIS aims to not only integrate data generated directly by volcano observatories (e.g., local instrumentation and on-the-ground measurements), but also satellite imagery provided by partner agencies including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

    For instance, several NOAA satellites provide critical thermal imaging capabilities important for ash and hot-spot detection, while satellite missions operated by NASA and other parties can provide detailed radar observations of volcanic terrains. These technologies enable continuous monitoring of volcanic activity, even in remote or hard-to-reach locations. The integration of satellite data with future and existing ground-based sensors will ensure that NVIS has a comprehensive view of volcanic conditions. 

    NVIS IT systems will need to be robust, capable of ingesting and processing large data streams in real-time, which will require sophisticated storage solutions and efficient database management systems. NVIS must employ advanced technologies to potentially utilize petabytes of information (equivalent to about a thousand terabytes or a million gigabytes!), ensuring that historical data is preserved and accessible for analysis. NVIS will leverage scalable cloud-based storage solutions where applicable, given the exponential growth in data generated by increased volcanic monitoring efforts.

    The success of NVEWS depends on the ability to distribute timely and accurate information to stakeholders. NVIS will play a key role in ensuring that this happens through user-friendly interfaces and standardized software tools. For example, online platforms, provided via NVIS, will be accessible to academic researchers, government agencies, and even the general public. By providing a common set of information systems and tools, NVIS can enable scientists and decision makers to work together seamlessly, regardless of their physical location. This collaborative environment is crucial for analyzing complex volcanic datasets and developing actionable insights.

    One of the most significant contributions of IT to the success of NVIS lies in its ability to support real-time analysis and predictive modeling. NVIS is expected to utilize statistical and machine learning algorithms to enable the processing of data streams, identifying patterns, and forecasting potential volcanic eruptions with increased accuracy. These advanced analytical techniques allow scientists to detect subtle changes in volcanic behavior that might otherwise go unnoticed. The integration of advanced IT solutions into NVEWS will be instrumental in transforming volcano monitoring into a cohesive national endeavor. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as satellite imaging, machine learning, and remote collaboration tools, NVIS improves the likelihood that volcanic threats are detected early and managed effectively.

    Ultimately, the success of NVEWS will hinge on its ability to harness technological advancements for the benefit of public safety. Through continuous innovation and collaboration, NVEWS aims to improve upon the already-high-caliber volcano monitoring programs within the USGS in a new era of technology, ensuring that citizens are as protected as they can be from volcanic hazards.  

    As technology continues to evolve, so too will NVEWS and its reliance on advanced IT solutions. These advancements will ensure that NVIS and NVEWS can fully transform scientific efforts into tangible benefits for society as an indispensable ally in the USGS’ ongoing efforts for a safer nation.

    Volcano Activity Updates

    Kīlauea has been erupting episodically within the summit caldera since December 23, 2024. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is WATCH.

    The summit eruption at Kīlauea volcano that began in Halemaʻumaʻu crater on December 23 continued over the past week. Episode 17 began the evening of April 7 and ended the morning of April 9.  During episode 17, the south vent sustained fountain heights of 50-200 feet (15-60 meters) while minor activity occurred briefly at the north vent. Since the end of episode 17, the summit region has showed inflation suggesting another episode is possible. Sulfur dioxide emission rates are elevated in the summit region during active eruption episodes. No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. 

    Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.

    No earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week.

    HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

    Please visit HVO’s website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: April Federal Grand Jury 2025-A Indictments Announced

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the April Federal Grand Jury 2025-A Indictments.

    The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.

    Jesus Sebastian Herrera Chavez. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. Chavez, 21, a Mexican National, is charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was an alien illegally in the United States. Further, Chavez intentionally assaulted someone with a firearm. The ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-125

    Jimmie Leroy Cox, Jr. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Possession of a Machinegun in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Cox, 63, of Fairland, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. Cox is also charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and maintaining a residence to distribute methamphetamine. Additionally, Cox knowingly possessed a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-110

    Victor Hubert Dominguez-Castro. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Dominguez-Castro, 31, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Sep. 2016. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 
    25-CR-116

    Leonard Ray Ellis. Robbery in Indian Country; First Degree Burglary. Ellis, 40, of Inola and a member of the Osage Nation, is charged with taking property of value by force and violence. He is further charged with breaking into an occupied home intending to commit a crime. The FBI and the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyson McCoy is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-111

    Ryan Leon French; Lexie Renee French. Production of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography. Ryan French, 46, and Lexie French, 42, of Tulsa, are charged with coercing a minor child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of child sexual abuse material. Ryan French is further charged with possessing videos depicting child sexual abuse material. The FBI, the Tulsa Police Department, the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Dewhurst is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-117

    Maria Gabriela Labrada Rico. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rico, 39, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Nov. 2018. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office and Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-118

    Robert Nicholas Long. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor;Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography; Commission of Felony Sex Offense Involving a Minor by a Registered Sex Offender. Long, 36, of Tulsa, is charged with attempting to coerce and entice a minor child to engage in sexual activity and knowingly receiving and distributing visual images and videos that depict the sexual abuse of children. He is further charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children under 12 years old. As a registered sex offender, Long committed a felony involving a minor child. The Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shakema Onias is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-132

    Pablo Lopez-Ramirez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Lopez-Ramirez, 44, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in May 2013. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-119

    Joshua Clay Murphy. Threatening to Assault and Murder a Former Federal Law Enforcement Officer with Intent to Retaliate; Threatening to Assault and Murder Immediate Family Members of a Former Federal Law Enforcement Officer with Intent to Retaliate; Threatening to Assault and Murder Federal Law Enforcement Officers with Intent to Impede, Intimidate, Interfere, and Retaliate; Threatening to Assault and Murder Immediate Family Members of Federal Law Enforcement Officers with Intent to Impede, Intimidate, Interfere, and Retaliate. Murphy, 47, of Milfay, is charged with retaliating against a former federal law enforcement officer by threatening to assault and murder the former officer and their family. Further, Murphy knowingly threatened to assault and murder federal law enforcement officers and their families with intent to impede or interfere with the officers’ duties. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Bailey is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-131

    Oscar Najera-De La Cruz. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Najera-De La Cruz, 31, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Mar. 2014. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ammon Brisolara is prosecuting the case. 
    25-CR-120

    Jose Ramon Portillo-Chavez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Portillo-Chavez, 47, a Honduran national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Jun. 2010. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 
    25-CR-121

    Nick Lee Ramirez; Destiny Rayleen Steward. Drug Conspiracy; Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Ramirez, 39, and Steward, 25, of Tulsa, are charged with conspiring to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine. They knowingly possessed methamphetamine and more than 500 grams of cocaine with the intent to distribute and maintained a residence for the purpose of drug distribution. Additionally, they both possessed a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Steward possessed a firearm, knowing she was previously convicted of felonies. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam McConney is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-122

    Raciel Ramirez-Vasquez Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ramirez-Vasquez, 31, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in May 2016. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 
    25-CR-124

    Dominic Rocky Torres. Conspiracy to Commit Hobbs Act Robbery; Hobbs Act Robbery; Aiding and Abetting Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Torres, 22, of Tulsa and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with conspiring with others and aiding and abetting others to obstruct commerce by robbery. Further, he knowingly aided and abetted in brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stacey Todd and Jessica Wright are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-112

    Jose Pedro Zelaya-Figueroa. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Zelaya-Figueroa, 53, a Honduran national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Jun. 2011. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 
    25-CR-123

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Expatriate Pleads Guilty to Threatening to Kill U.S. Senator and Staff

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WILMINGTON, N.C. – An American citizen living in Thailand pleaded guilty Wednesday to threatening to kill United States Senator Thom Tillis and his staff.  Eric Charles Welton, 53, pled guilty to one count of threatening a federal official on account of his duties.

    According to court documents and information presented in court, Welton made multiple harassing and intimidating calls to the offices of Republican elected officials and GOP organizations in the United States. Welton claimed he made the threatening calls because he was angry about the large number of unsolicited political emails he received.  In September of 2021, Welton spoke with a staff member at the Senator’s Raleigh office and threatened to show up and “put a bullet through each of [their] heads.” Welton also threatened to come to North Carolina and “mow…down” the “whole [expletive] state,” and find the person who emailed him and cut off his hands.

    “Threatening to kill a public official and his staff is not only despicable, but also an affront to our democratic system of government,” Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar stated today.  “Our office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute threats or intimidation against public officials, so they can properly carry out their important duties.”

    “It is unacceptable to make violent threats against anyone. But when threats are directed at elected officials, it can impact their ability to effectively serve their constituents and their country. The FBI will not tolerate this type of intimidation for any reason especially when it comes to those who help run our democracy,” said Robert M. DeWitt, the Special Agent in Charge of FBI in North Carolina.

    Welton pleaded guilty to violating 18 U.S.C. § 115(a)(1)(B) and faces a maximum of 10 years in prison when sentenced in July.

    Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II accepted the plea. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Warlick is prosecuting the case.

    Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-192-M-RN.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: FINWARD BANCORP ANNOUNCES DIVIDEND

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Munster, Ind., April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Finward Bancorp (Nasdaq: FNWD) (the “Bancorp” or “Finward”), the holding company for Peoples Bank (the “Bank”), today announced that on April 9, 2025 the Board of Directors of Finward declared a dividend of $0.12 per share on Finward’s common stock payable on May 12, 2025 to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 28, 2025.

    About Finward Bancorp

    Finward Bancorp is a locally managed and independent financial holding company headquartered in Munster, Indiana, whose activities are primarily limited to holding the stock of Peoples Bank. Peoples Bank provides a wide range of personal, business, electronic and wealth management financial services from its 26 locations in Lake and Porter Counties in Northwest Indiana and the Chicagoland area. Finward Bancorp’s common stock is quoted on The NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC under the symbol FNWD. The website ibankpeoples.com provides information on Peoples Bank’s products and services, and Finward Bancorp’s investor relations.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This Current Report on Form 8-K may contain forward-looking statements regarding the financial performance, business prospects, growth, and operating strategies of Finward. For these statements, Finward claims the protections of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this communication should be considered in conjunction with the other information available about Finward, including the information in the filings Finward makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Forward-looking statements provide current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not guarantees of future performance. The forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by using words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “will” and similar expressions in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance.

    Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include: the Bank’s ability to demonstrate compliance with the terms of the previously disclosed consent order and memorandum of understanding entered into between the Bank and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and Indiana Department of Financial Institutions (“DFI”), or to demonstrate compliance to the satisfaction of the FDIC and/or DFI within prescribed time frames; the Bank’s agreement under the memorandum of understanding to refrain from paying cash dividends without prior regulatory approval; changes in asset quality and credit risk; the inability to sustain revenue and earnings growth; changes in interest rates and capital markets; inflation; customer acceptance of Finward’s products and services; customer borrowing, repayment, investment, and deposit practices; customer disintermediation; the introduction, withdrawal, success, and timing of business initiatives; competitive conditions; the inability to realize cost savings or revenues or to implement integration plans and other consequences associated with mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures; economic conditions; and the impact, extent, and timing of technological changes, capital management activities, and other actions of the Federal Reserve Board and legislative and regulatory actions and reforms. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements are discussed in Finward’s reports (such as the Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K) filed with the SEC and available at the SEC’s Internet website (www.sec.gov). All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning Finward or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. Except as required by law, Finward does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statement is made.

    In addition to the above factors, we also caution that the actual amounts and timing of any future common stock dividends or share repurchases will be subject to various factors, including our capital position, financial performance, capital impacts of strategic initiatives, market conditions, and regulatory and accounting considerations, as well as any other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant in making such a determination. Therefore, there can be no assurance that we will repurchase shares or pay any dividends to the holders of our common stock, or as to the amount of any such repurchases or dividends.

    ###

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
    CONTACT INVESTOR RELATIONS 
    (219) 853-7575

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Locus Chain Launches Public Testnet in April – Smart Contract and NFT Functions Under Full Review

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    – Open testnet available to all developers starting April 4, focusing on technical validation and usability

    – Smart contract development IDE and NFT minting environment provided, with real-use scenarios fully applied

    – Testnet mirrors the structure and performance of the mainnet, enabling debugging and stability testing ahead of a mainnet update

    GYEONGGI-DO, South Korea, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Locus Chain Launches Public Testnet on April 4 – Usability-Centered Environment for Real-World Testing.

    Locus Chain, a next-generation blockchain project striving to reach the pinnacle of blockchain technology, is launching a fully open, always-accessible public testnet starting April 4th. Far beyond a simple demonstration, this testnet marks the beginning of a comprehensive validation process, designed to expand the ecosystem through hands-on participation from developers and showcase the full capabilities of Locus Chain’s core technology step by step.

    The newly released testnet is architecturally identical to the mainnet, offering the same structure and real-time performance levels. It enables in-depth evaluation of functional completeness, network stability, and scalability under realistic conditions. The Locus Chain development team will use data gathered during the testnet phase to drive continuous improvements and debugging. Once individual features are confirmed to be technically stable, they will be gradually rolled out to the mainnet. More than just a technical preview, the public testnet serves as a symbolic milestone for Locus Chain—a bold open experiment that challenges the limits of public blockchain technology and marks the starting point for its future ecosystem.

    A Locus Chain representative stated, “The testnet is more than a simple functionality check—it’s a proving ground for a technological breakthrough that pushes the boundaries of public blockchain performance. By offering an open, accessible environment, we also aim to grow and strengthen our global developer ecosystem.”

    One of the key goals of this testnet is to verify Locus Chain’s unmatched scalability. In a real-world performance test conducted last December, the platform achieved an impressive 1,400 transactions per second (TPS). It is expected to maintain this performance even as the transaction volume increases to over 4,000 TPS—demonstrating one of the highest scalability levels in the industry without compromising speed or efficiency. The testnet also features the completed trial of Cubic Sharding, Locus Chain’s proprietary next-generation parallel processing technology. Unique to the platform, this innovation is expected to deliver transaction speeds in the hundreds of thousands TPS once fully implemented in real-world conditions—setting a new benchmark for blockchain performance and scalability.

    Decentralization Meets High Performance — A Technological Breakthrough Achieved Only by Locus Chain

    Locus Chain has achieved a breakthrough long considered unattainable in the blockchain industry: the true coexistence of full decentralization and high performance. While many of today’s fastest blockchain platforms reach high TPS (transactions per second) by compromising on decentralization—centralizing nodes, relying on high-end hardware, or weakening security—Locus Chain has taken an entirely different path. It delivers industry-leading speed and scalability without sacrificing decentralization or structural integrity, setting a new technological benchmark.

    What sets Locus Chain apart is its ability to maintain real-time, high-throughput performance while preserving the openness and purity of a truly public blockchain. This rare combination has become one of Locus Chain’s defining competitive advantages. It positions the platform not just as a faster blockchain, but as the only high-performance public infrastructure ready for real-world applications in next-generation industries like AI, real-time content delivery, and large-scale user platforms.

    Further reinforcing its accessibility, Locus Chain is built on an ultra-lightweight node architecture that requires minimal system resources—allowing stable operation even on low-spec devices or in limited infrastructure environments. This stands in stark contrast to traditional high-performance blockchains that depend on expensive servers or specialized hardware to function. With this approach, Locus Chain isn’t just raising the bar—it’s redefining what a high-performance public blockchain can be: decentralized, scalable, low-cost, and truly open to all.

    Developer-Centric Testnet: Hands-On Scalability with VME and Universal Asset Functionality

    In this testnet, users will have the opportunity to experience VME (Virtual Machine Engine)—Locus Chain’s proprietary smart contract execution environment—firsthand. Using custom-built developer tools, smart contracts written in Solidity can be seamlessly deployed and executed on Locus Chain, following the same familiar workflows used in other major blockchain platforms, but under a variety of testing conditions. The testnet offers two distinct channels: the PREVM channel, optimized for rapid feedback and iteration, and the VME channel, designed to evaluate network load handling and overall system stability. With these two channels offering entirely different use cases, developers can test a wide range of scenarios with precision. This setup allows even everyday developers to work in an environment that closely mirrors the mainnet—providing a realistic and hands-on experience of Locus Chain’s flexibility, performance, and real-world usability.

    Another standout feature of the testnet is Locus Chain’s exclusive Universal Asset Support. This functionality goes far beyond standard NFT capabilities. Users can mint NFTs, create and trade tokens, and manage digital assets through a dedicated interface—all without needing additional tools. The system also supports the creation of data-driven, utility-rich tokens, laying the foundation for cross-industry applications and future expansion.

    This testnet represents more than a routine technical evaluation—it is a comprehensive gateway into the full scope of the Locus Chain ecosystem. Developers can explore everything from conventional blockchain features, smart contracts, NFTs, digital asset issuance and trading—to advanced innovations unique to Locus Chain: real-time interactions, support for large-scale user environments, cost-efficient scalability, and readiness for AI integration.

    Ultimately, this testnet marks the true starting point for realizing Locus Chain’s long-term vision. It’s the only platform that not only performs existing blockchain tasks better—but also enables bold experimentation in areas that were previously out of reach.

    Real-Time Monitoring and AI Integration — Ushering in the Next Generation of Blockchain Ecosystems

    Locus Chain’s latest testnet marks a major step forward not only in performance validation but also in transaction transparency and monitoring. With the newly enhanced Locus Chain Explorer, users and developers can track smart contract execution, NFT and token creation, asset transfers, and timestamped transaction flows in real time. This level of visibility is essential for ensuring trust and transparency throughout the development lifecycle.

    More importantly, this testnet signals Locus Chain’s move toward integration with next-generation technologies, particularly AI. Traditional blockchains have long struggled with the processing speed and flexibility required for real-time AI interactions, high-frequency transactions, and large-scale user behavior analysis. Locus Chain’s uniquely high-performance, fully decentralized architecture breaks through these barriers—unlocking use cases that were previously out of reach for public blockchain infrastructure. This forward-looking structure sets the stage for a new kind of ecosystem—one capable of connecting diverse industries such as gaming, the metaverse, digital asset distribution, and knowledge-based content. All of it runs on the secure, scalable foundation that only Locus Chain can provide.

    A Locus Chain representative noted, “There are very few public blockchains in the world that can achieve thousands of TPS while remaining fully decentralized. This testnet is not just a technical showcase—it’s a meaningful milestone for developers and ecosystem participants to directly engage with Locus Chain’s advanced technology and long-term vision.”

    —————— Appendix ———————-

    • Universal Object Support Functionality
      A common and widely adopted use case for blockchain smart contracts is the creation and management of NFTs. NFTs are distinct, identifiable objects—each one a unique asset tied to a specific account via an ID. While these are often implemented through smart contracts, the actual storage and handling of these assets can be decoupled from the contract logic. Locus Chain’s Universal Asset Support feature takes this concept further by embedding asset object functionality directly into the protocol. This allows for the high-speed, large-scale processing of NFTs and other object-based assets without relying entirely on smart contracts, significantly improving efficiency and performance.
    • Locus Chain is a next-generation blockchain platform designed to solve the long-standing trilemma of decentralization, scalability, and security. With its proprietary Dynamic Sharding technology, Locus Chain ensures stable network performance under any conditions. Its Verifiable Pruning system minimizes node size, enabling even low-spec devices such as mini PCs or home routers to run full nodes and participate in the network. This low entry barrier allows anyone to operate a node at minimal cost, ensuring a highly efficient and stable infrastructure. As a result, Locus Chain is ideally suited for large-scale projects where high scalability and network reliability are essential.
    • Locus Chain’s Without Server technology is a groundbreaking innovation that replaces centralized game servers with blockchain infrastructure. It enables online games to remain playable permanently, as long as players are active—even without a centralized game operator.

      In 2023, this serverless architecture was successfully integrated into CRETA, a Web3 metaverse platform, and Locus Chain plans to expand its application to a broad range of Without Server DApps in the near future.

    Beyond gaming and metaverse applications, Locus Chain’s architecture also supports serverless operation for services like video conferencing and streaming—unlocking radical cost savings and ushering in a new paradigm for decentralized, infrastructure-free digital services.

    Reference:

    Locus Chain Official Webpage: https://locuschain.com/

    Locus Chain Official Telegram: https://t.me/locusofficialGroup, https://t.me/locusofficial 

    Locus Chain Official X: https://twitter.com/LocusChain

    Media Inquiry:
    Contact Person: Bloom Technology, Business Division, Senior Development manager, David Wang
     Email: david@bloomtechnology.co.kr
    Address: 802, Building 2, 15 Pangyo-ro 228beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fd8b6e78-48d0-483a-83b2-65bbb6bdce90

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e4704554-cb6f-4e0b-8837-3eb9d3064ce5

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8aa6fc1a-fce7-43e8-a33e-45a471305f40

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Result of Voting for Directors at Annual Shareholders’ Meeting

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

    TORONTO, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fairfax India Holdings Corporation (the “Company”) (TSX: FIH.U) is pleased to announce the results of the vote on Directors at its April 9, 2025 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting.

    Each of the nominee directors listed in the Company’s management proxy circular dated March 7, 2025 was elected as a director. The voting results for the eleven directors nominated for election are set forth in the table below:

    Name of Nominee Vote For (Aggregate) % Vote Against
    (Aggregate)    		 %
    Christopher D. Hodgson 1,531,315,342 98.36 25,488,933 1.64
    Sharmila Karve 1,550,826,983 99.62 5,977,302 0.38
    Hon. Jason Kenney 1,551,502,364 99.66 5,301,912 0.34
    Sumit Maheshwari 1,555,610,237 99.92 1,194,039 0.08
    R. William McFarland 1,550,423,622 99.59 6,380,653 0.41
    Satish Rai 1,556,642,999 99.99 161,277 0.01
    Chandran Ratnaswami 1,555,382,313 99.91 1,421,963 0.09
    Gopalakrishnan Soundarajan 1,555,637,229 99.93 1,167,047 0.07
    Lauren C. Templeton 1,553,109,258 99.76 3,695,018 0.24
    Benjamin P. Watsa 1,556,623,312 99.99 180,964 0.01
    V. Prem Watsa 1,555,344,955 99.91 1,459,321 0.09


    About Fairfax India

    Fairfax India is an investment holding company whose objective is to achieve long term capital appreciation, while preserving capital, by investing in public and private equity securities and debt instruments in India and Indian businesses or other businesses with customers, suppliers or business primarily conducted in, or dependent on, India.

    For further information, contact: John Varnell, Vice President, Corporate Affairs
      (416) 367-4755
       

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta: California Will Remain Unwavering in Our Commitment to Stand Against Trump’s Unlawful Removal of Gwynne Wilcox from the National Labor Relations Board

    Source: US State of California Department of Justice

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Bonta today, alongside 23 attorneys general, filed an amicus brief to continue their support for Gwynne Wilcox, who is appealing her case against President Donald Trump’s unlawful attempt to remove her as a Member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the attorneys general maintain their steadfast support for Member Wilcox and urge the Court to affirm the summary judgment by the Court of Appeals, which blocked the President from removing Wilcox.

    On February 28, Attorney General Bonta, as part of a coalition of 20 attorneys general, filed his first amicus brief in Wilcox v. Trump in support of Gwynne Wilcox, who challenged the President’s unlawful removal of her position as a Member of the NLRB. Soon after, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued an order declaring that Member Wilcox should remain a full member of the NLRB and found the President’s action firing her to be “blatantly illegal.” The Trump administration appealed and asked for a stay to stop the ruling during the appeal, which would effectively allow her firing to take effect. The attorneys general filed another amicus brief, urging the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to deny the administration’s request for a stay. The federal appeals court ultimately denied the Administration’s request, and today’s brief supports Wilcox on the merits of her appeal.

    “Time and again, we are seeing the President’s continuous attempt to trample on workers’ rights,” said Attorney General Bonta. “My fellow attorneys general and I remain unwavering in our commitment to stand against the President’s unlawful removal of Member Wilcox from NLRB.”

    The NLRB is an independent federal agency that enforces U.S. labor laws related to workers’ rights, union representation, and collective bargaining. It oversees union elections, ensuring that employees can freely choose whether to be represented by a union. The Board also investigates and resolves unfair labor practice charges against employers and unions, addressing issues like retaliation, unlawful firings, and refusal to bargain in good faith. The NLRB also adjudicates disputes under the NLRA and issues rulings that shape labor law policies. To protect the NLRB from political pressure by the President, NLRB board members are appointed by the President and confirmed by Congress for staggered 5-year terms. Board members do not serve at the pleasure of the President. Federal law provides that Board members can only be removed by the President “upon notice and hearing, for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office, but for no other cause.”  

    In the amicus brief, the attorneys general strongly support the affirmance of the summary judgment by the Court of Appeals, which blocked the President from removing Wilcox and highlight that the President violated the NLRA by unlawfully removing Wilcox from the Board. The attorneys general also lay out the detrimental implications of an incapacitated NLRB  should the Trump Administration not be prevented from taking away from American workers the entity that Congress authorized to ensure the ability to join a union and engage in collective bargaining, protections which workers have relied on for decades. This regulatory vacuum will be deeply troubling given the importance and scale of the work done by the NLRB. In the past decade, the NLRB reviewed nearly 3,000 allegations of unfair labor practices. 

    Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin. 

    A copy of the brief can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Sorry gamers, Nintendo’s hefty Switch 2 price tag signals the new normal – and it might still go up

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Egliston, Senior Lecturer in Digital Cultures, Australian Research Council DECRA Fellow, University of Sydney

    Last week, Nintendo announced the June 5 release of its long anticipated Switch 2. But the biggest talking point wasn’t the console’s launch titles or features. At US$449 in the United States, and A$699 in Australia, many were struck by the steep cost.

    However, this price doesn’t seem quite as high once you compare it to the broader history of hardware pricing. And it may still go up.

    History of Nintendo pricing

    The original NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) console cost US$179 when it was released in 1985. That’s US$525, or A$590, adjusted for 2025 inflation.

    But other consoles have been even pricier. The PlayStation 3 launched in North America in 2006 at around US$499 (US$782 today). When it launched in Australia the next year, it retailed at A$999 (upwards of A$1500 today).

    Nintendo’s main competitors are Sony (Xbox) and Microsoft (PlayStation). Both are subsidised by their broader media and technology businesses, which means they can afford to make higher-cost consoles, and even take losses on console sales.

    The Xbox Series X and Playstation 5 both launched in Australia for A$749 in 2020.
    Shutterstock

    Compared to Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft depend more heavily on licensing third-party content and offering subscription services, such as Xbox Game Pass, to drive recurring revenue.

    Nintendo’s business model, by contrast, revolves around selling both its consoles and original “first-party” titles.

    Nintendo also takes a different approach to console development, by prioritising lower-spec, lower-cost hardware aimed at a broader and often more casual audience. The company has typically made profits on both its hardware and software (particularly its first-party games).

    Our research suggests many players appreciate this strategy. Rather than competing directly with Sony and Microsoft on technical performance, they felt Nintendo focused on delivering fun and accessible experiences through affordable technology.

    Still, the current economic conditions make the Switch 2’s price hard to swallow. With the rising cost of living and stagnant wages, even historically “normal” prices can feel out of reach.

    The tariff question

    Why is Nintendo increasing the price of Switch 2 – especially given the enormous commercial success of the original 2017 Switch at its lower price point of US$299 and A$469?

    The Switch 2 release was announced on the same day the Trump administration unveiled plans for sweeping new tariffs, including a proposed minimum 10% tariff on all imports (and higher on Vietnam, China and Cambodia, where Nintendo manufactures its consoles).

    Doug Bowser, president at Nintendo of America, has claimed tariffs “weren’t factored into the pricing” of the Switch 2.

    But it’s hard to imagine a scenario in which Nintendo simply absorbs those costs. The company has historically maintained positive margins on hardware. It is also famously conservative when it comes to its pricing strategy.

    Not just tariffs — and not just Nintendo

    The Switch 2’s price tag is a window into broader shifts in the business of games. Games are more popular than ever. And apart from a small dip in 2022, they’re making more money than ever.

    But they’re also more expensive to make. Reports claim Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War had a combined development and marketing budget of around US$700 million.

    Low interest rates, particularly during the pandemic, meant rising production costs could be offset by cheap money from big publishing, technology, and entertainment conglomerates investing in videogame companies.

    Venture capital firms and tech giants alike piled in. The result was huge growth for the industry, as well as some blockbuster mergers.

    But the era of near-zero interest rates is no more – and the flow of money that once covered soaring development costs is slowing down.

    Gaming companies have responded with mass layoffs, further exacerbated by exuberance (largely from management) for artificial intelligence to increase efficiency. Beyond this, they are turning to more aggressive monetisation strategies.

    Games such as Fortnite and Call of Duty don’t just make money from sales. They keep players inside their ecosystems, spending money over time.

    Research has shown developers are increasingly designing games for ongoing user monestisation,
    whether through micro-transactions, battle passes, extra downloadable content, subscriptions or in-game advertising.



    Read more:
    ‘Literally just child gambling’: what kids say about Roblox, lootboxes and money in online games

    What happens next?

    Between tariffs, inflation and rising game development costs, the US$450 Switch 2 (and its US$80/A$110 games) may just be the beginning. In the short term, we’re likely to see higher prices for both consoles and games.

    The effects of US tariffs on Switch 2 pricing in Australia remain unclear. However, the Australian dollar’s recent roller coaster ride, partly driven by uncertainty over US tariffs, could mean further price hikes to offset increased import costs.

    We saw Sony adjust prices for the PS5 mid-generation in response to production costs. There’s no reason to assume the Switch 2 price will remain static.

    In the longer term, we’re entering a market where the line between “freemium” and “premium” continues to blur. Premium games now often come with built-in expectations of ongoing monetisation, moving away from one-off sales.

    Platform holders such as Nintendo remained notable exceptions, favouring upfront pricing and self-contained experiences. Although they, too, may gradually shift away from this.

    Ben Egliston is a recipient of funding from the Australian Research Council (DE240101275, DP250100343). He has previously received funding from Meta and TikTok.

    Taylor Hardwick is employed under funding by the Australian Research Council (FF220100076; DE240101275). She is a board member of both Freeplay, a Melbourne-based independent games festival, and the Digital Games Research Association of Australia.

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

    – ref. Sorry gamers, Nintendo’s hefty Switch 2 price tag signals the new normal – and it might still go up – https://theconversation.com/sorry-gamers-nintendos-hefty-switch-2-price-tag-signals-the-new-normal-and-it-might-still-go-up-254063

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Yes, government influences wages – but not just in the way you might think

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Peetz, Laurie Carmichael Distinguished Research Fellow at the Centre for Future Work, and Professor Emeritus, Griffith Business School, Griffith University

    doublelee/Shutterstock

    Can the government actually make a difference to the wages Australians earn?

    A lot of attention always falls on the government’s submission to the Fair Work Commission’s annual wage review, which this year called for a real boost to award wages, above the rate of inflation.

    The commission’s decision has a big impact on wages received by at least a quarter of employees, many among the lowest paid. While the government’s submission must make some difference to the outcome, it’s hard to quantify how much of a difference that is.

    My new research for the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work focuses on another, possibly bigger impact the government can have on wages – certainly one that affects a wider range of workers. This is its effect on the bargaining power of all workers and employers.

    We had a long period of poor wages growth, against a backdrop of low power for workers, driven both by markets and policy. More recently, though, the tide has started to turn.



    Read more:
    Labor wants to give the minimum wage a real boost. The benefits would likely outweigh any downsides

    The economy and worker power

    In recent decades, trends in the economy and labour market almost all worked to reduce worker power. My research examined 16 economic or related factors that were considered to either influence or indicate power in the labour market.

    Almost all have reduced workers’ power over the medium to long term. One had ambiguous effects. Only one had the opposite effect and helped boost worker power for a while.

    Among the many factors reinforcing or reflecting less bargaining power for workers were:

    • long-term declines in union membership, collective bargaining coverage and industrial action
    • the expansion of the “gig economy”
    • the growth of casual employment, particularly between the 1980s and 2000s
    • a reduction in job switching among employees
    • growing use of outsourcing and contracting out, to do work formerly undertaken within large organisations

    A decline in the gender pay gap suggested a gradual increase in female workers’ power, relative to equivalent male workers at least.

    The only factor that could increase overall worker power was the decline in unemployment from 2010 to 2023 (setting aside the pandemic blip).

    Policies limiting workers’ power

    With the Coalition in government from 2014 to 2022, a lot of policy acted to reinforce the loss of worker power that had happened due to economic and labour market trends.

    Of the seven major federal policy changes considered in this period, five acted to reduce workers’ power (including the establishment of new bodies regulating unions and the abolition of a transport safety regulator).

    Only two increased it (including some tighter regulation of franchises).

    A change of course

    After Labor came to power in 2022, a series of (mostly legislative) changes were introduced. Out of 23 federal policies implemented by the government, 22 increased workers’ power.

    These included policies to:

    • abolish new bodies regulating unions
    • limit the use of fixed-term contracts
    • expand workers’ rights to request flexibility
    • make it harder for firms to classify workers as contractors
    • create protections for “employee-like” workers
    • expand the scope for multi-employer bargaining.

    Only one reduced worker power – clarifying certain exemptions for small business – and its impact was neither large nor controversial.

    What’s been the outcome for wages?

    So, what’s happened to Australian wages under these different policy environments?

    Some policies, such as protections for “employee-like” workers, could not yet have a measurable impact. The most recent policy, banning non-compete clauses for middle and lower-income workers, was only announced in March.

    Still, three major measures of wages growth, that performed poorly from 2014 to 2022, showed some upturn from the end of 2022.

    Overall, wages growth mostly averaged a little over 2% per year through most of the period from 2014, falling then recovering in the pandemic.

    It’s been 3%, 4%, or more since the end of 2022, against a backdrop of higher inflation.

    Wage increases under new enterprise agreements gradually declined from around 3.5% a year in 2014 to about 2.5% in 2022. However, they have grown since then and peaked at 4.8% at the end of last year.

    The data suggest wage gains associated with increased worker power are experienced by both union members and non-members – but that union members benefit the most.

    Inflation not the cause

    There’s an argument that Australia’s recent growth in wages is simply a response to a temporary surge in inflation.

    But we can look at how big a share wages make up of Australia’s total national income. From 2014 to 2022, we see the wages share of national income falling, then rising sharply until today. If inflation was the only cause of the upturn, labour’s share would not have grown like this.

    This increase occurred while inflation was falling — from over 7% at the end of 2022, to below 3% at the end of 2024. So, wages growth clearly hasn’t caused a rise in inflation.

    The verdict: do governments really make a difference?

    My research suggests the answer is yes, governments can influence wages. The direction of influence depends very much on who is in government, most importantly in the federal parliament.

    One of the biggest ways governments have affected wages over the past decade has been by taking power away from workers — and then by giving some of it back.

    Returning some of that power to workers has correlated with the fastest growth in wages for a decade, and a growing share of national income going to wages, despite falling inflation.

    As a university employee, David Peetz undertook research over many years with occasional financial support from governments from both sides of politics, employers and unions. He has been and is involved in several Australian Research Council-funded and approved projects, which included contributions from those bodies, and undertaken several private commissioned projects, including one in which he gave expert evidence commissioned by both sides in a State Wage Case.

    – ref. Yes, government influences wages – but not just in the way you might think – https://theconversation.com/yes-government-influences-wages-but-not-just-in-the-way-you-might-think-254282

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Extinctions of Australian mammals have long been blamed on foxes and cats – but where’s the evidence?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arian Wallach, Future Fellow in Ecology, Queensland University of Technology

    michael garner/Shutterstock

    In 1938, zoologist Ellis Le Geyt Troughton mourned that Australia’s “gentle and specialized creatures” were “unable to cope with changed conditions and introduced enemies”.

    The role of these “enemies” – namely, foxes and feral cats – in driving dozens of Australia’s animals towards extinction has solidified into a scientific consensus. This is a simple and plausible story: wily new predators arrive, decimating unwary native mammals.

    In response, conservationists and governments have declared war on foxes and cats with large-scale trapping, shooting and poisoning campaigns.

    But did foxes and cats definitely cause the extinction of animals such as the desert bandicoot, lesser bilby and the central hare-wallaby? Our new research shows the evidence base is nowhere near as strong as you might assume.

    Feral cats are now found across almost all of Australia. But cats took decades to cover the continent.
    Mike Letnic/iNaturalist, CC BY-NC

    What did we do?

    We catalogued mammal species experts believe have either declined or gone extinct due to predation by foxes (57 species) and cats (80 species) and searched for primary sources linking foxes and cats to their decline. To assess the evidence, we then asked three simple questions.

    1. Did extinctions follow the arrival of new predators?

    A common claim is that extinctions followed fox and cat arrival and spread.

    But is it definitely true? To find out, we compiled the last recorded sightings of extinct mammals and compared them to maps estimating the arrival of foxes and cats in the area. We included local extinctions (extinct in an area) and full extinctions, where the species is no more.

    We found extinction records for 164 local populations of 52 species. Nearly a third (31%) of these records did not confirm the timeline that extinctions followed predator arrival. We found that 44% of the extinctions blamed on foxes and 20% on cats could have happened before predator arrival.

    Records can be inaccurate. But our findings mean we can’t authoritatively state that foxes and cats were at the scene of these crimes. For instance, banded hare-wallabies now live only on two islands in Western Australia. They were last recorded on the mainland 4–30 years before foxes are known to have arrived.

    Then there are examples of coexistence. The eastern barred bandicoot lived alongside cats on the mainland for more than 150 years before becoming extinct on the mainland, and the two species continue to live together in Tasmania.

    2. Is there evidence linking foxes and cats to extinctions?

    Our study found experts attribute predation pressure from foxes and cats as a reason why 57% of Australia’s threatened mammals are at risk of extinction.

    For this claim to be based on evidence, we would expect to find ecological studies finding these links in most cases.

    We found 331 studies and categorised each according to whether they contained predator and prey population data and if they found a link between introduced predators and a decline in the prey species.

    For 76% of threatened species attributed to foxes and 80% for cats, we found no studies supporting this with population data.

    Experts aren’t claiming foxes and cats are the main threat in all these cases. But when we analysed the data only for the species experts consider at high risk from foxes and cats, we found similar results.

    For example, foxes and cats are ranked a “high” threat to mountain pygmy possums. We found anecdotes that foxes and cats sometimes eat these possums, but no studies showing they cause population decline.

    Similarly, foxes are widely linked to the decline of black-footed rock-wallabies. But this claim came from poison-baiting studies which did not report data showing what happened to the fox population. This is important, because killing foxes does not necessarily reduce fox populations.

    In 50% of studies reporting population data, there was no negative association with these predators. This further weakens the claim that foxes and cats directly drive extinctions.

    For example, cats are considered a “high” threat to long-nosed potoroos. But population studies on these potoroos don’t support this. In fact, these small, seemingly vulnerable animals are able to live alongside feral cats.

    By contrast, we did find one species – the brush-tailed rabbit rat – which had compelling evidence across all studies linking cats to its decline.

    Long-nosed potoroos would be an appealing meal for foxes and cats. But these small marsupials have found ways to evade predators.
    Zoos Victoria, CC BY-NC

    3. Do more introduced predators mean fewer threatened mammals?

    If introduced predators cause extinctions, we would expect to find that higher predator numbers is associated with lower prey numbers (and vice versa). While correlations such as these don’t prove causation, they can give an indication.

    We conducted a meta-analysis and found a negative correlation with foxes. The more foxes, the fewer threatened mammals.

    This is the strongest evidence we found for introduced predators putting pressure on these species. But there are limitations – these findings would be typical for native predators and prey as well.

    We found no evidence for a correlation with cats.

    More lines of evidence

    These aren’t the only lines of evidence. Making the strongest case for fox and cat pressure are studies finding extinct species often fall within a critical weight range – 35 grams to 5.5 kilos – which are good-sized prey for foxes and cats.

    While this finding has been debated, it remains strong evidence.

    But these studies don’t explain why Australian animals would be uniquely vulnerable. For millennia, Australia’s mammals have lived alongside predators such as dingoes, Tasmanian devils, quolls and wedge-tailed eagles.

    Conservationists have long believed Australia’s endemic mammals are naive or poorly adapted to survive alongside ambush hunters such as foxes and cats. But there’s no current evidence for this.

    Our research has shown Australian rodents respond to foxes in the same way as do North American and Middle Eastern rodents, who evolved alongside foxes.

    One line of argument goes further to suggest that foxes, cats and dingoes have “rewired” Australian ecosystems following the loss of the thylacine, Tasmanian devil (once common on the mainland) and the long-extinct marsupial lion.

    What should we conclude?

    We didn’t set out to prove or disprove the idea that foxes and cats drive extinctions. Instead, our study lays out the available primary evidence of historic records and studies to allow readers to draw their own conclusions.

    Sweeping claims have been made about Australia’s introduced predators. But when we analyse the evidence base, we find it ambiguous, weak and – in most cases – lacking.

    Foxes and cats have been largely convicted by expert opinion which, while useful, can be prone to bias and groupthink.

    So what did cause Australia’s mammal extinctions? The honest answer is we don’t know. It could be foxes and cats – but it could also be something else.

    Arian Wallach receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Erick Lundgren receives funding from the Centre for Open Science & Synthesis in Ecology and Evolution at the University of Alberta

    – ref. Extinctions of Australian mammals have long been blamed on foxes and cats – but where’s the evidence? – https://theconversation.com/extinctions-of-australian-mammals-have-long-been-blamed-on-foxes-and-cats-but-wheres-the-evidence-253542

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: As more communities have to consider relocation, we explore what happens to the land after people leave

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christina Hanna, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Planning, University of Waikato

    Christina Hanna, CC BY-SA

    Once floodwaters subside, talk of planned retreat inevitably rises.

    Within Aotearoa New Zealand, several communities from north to south – including Kumeū, Kawatiri Westport and parts of Ōtepoti Dunedin – are considering future relocations while others are completing property buyouts and categorisations.

    Planned retreats may reduce exposure to harm, but the social and cultural burdens of dislocation from land and home are complex. Planning, funding and physically relocating or removing homes, taonga or assets – and even entire towns – is challenging.

    Internationally, research has focused on why, when and how planned retreats occur, as well as who pays. But we explore what happens to the places we retreat from.

    Our latest research examines 161 international case studies of planned retreat. We analysed what happens beyond retreat, revealing how land use has changed following withdrawal of human activities.

    We found a wide range of land use following retreat. In some cases, comprehensive planning for future uses of land was part of the retreat process. But in others we found a failure to consider these changing places.

    Planned retreats have happened in response to various climate and hazard risks, including sea-level rise and coastal erosion, tsunami, cyclones, earthquakes, floods and landslides.

    The case studies we investigated range from gradual transitions to sudden changes, such as from residential or business activities to conservation or vacant lands. In some cases, “sea change” is evident, where once dry land becomes foreshore and seabed.

    Through our research, we identified global “retreat legacies”. These themes demonstrate how communities across the world have sought similar outcomes, highlighting primary land-use patterns following retreat.

    Case studies reveal several themes in what happens to land after people withdraw.
    Hanna,C, White I,Cretney, R, Wallace, P, CC BY-SA

    Nature legacies

    The case studies show significant conversions of private to public land, with new nature and open-space reserves. Sites have been rehabilitated and floodplains and coastal ecosystems restored and reconnected.

    Open spaces are used for various purposes, including as nature, community, stormwater or passive recreational reserves. Some of these new zones may restrict structures or certain activities, depending on the risk.

    For example, due to debris flow hazard in Matatā in the Bay of Plenty, only transitory recreation or specific low-risk activities are allowed in the post-retreat environment because of the high risk to human life.

    Planning and investment in new open-space zones range from basic rehabilitation (grassed sites) to established parks and reserves, such as the Grand Forks riverfront greenway which borders rivers in the twin US cities of Grand Forks, North Dakota, and East Grand Forks, Minnesota. This area now hosts various recreational courses and connected trails as well as major flood protection measures.

    Project Twin Streams has transformed former residential sites to allow rivers to roam in the floodplain.
    Wikimedia Commons/Ingolfson, CC BY-SA

    Nature-based adaptations are a key function in this retreat legacy. For example, Project Twin Streams, a large-scale environmental restoration project in Waitakere, West Auckland, has transformed former residential sites into drainage reserves to make room for rivers in the floodplain.

    Importantly, not all retreats require significant land-use change. Continued farming, heritage preservation and cultural activities show that planned retreats are not always full and final withdrawals from a place.

    Instead, they represent an adapted relationship. While sensitive activities are relocated, other practices may remain, such as residents’ continued access to the old village of Vunidogoloa in Fiji for fishing and farming.

    Social and economic legacies

    Urban development in a small number of retreated sites has involved comprehensive spatial reorganisation, with planning for new urban esplanades, improved infrastructure and cultural amenities.

    One example is the comprehensive infrastructure masterplan for the Caño Martín Peña district in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which involves communities living along a tidal channel. The plan applied a community-first approach to retreat. It integrated infrastructure, housing, open space, flood mitigation and ecological planning.

    Alternatively, the decision to remove stopbanks and return the landscape to a “waterscape” can become a tourism feature, such as in the marshlands of the Biesbosch National Park in the Netherlands. A museum is dedicated to the transformed environment.

    The Biesbosch marshland nature reserve was created following historic flooding.
    Shutterstock/Rudmer Zwerver

    Where there was no post-retreat planning or site rehabilitation, ghost towns such as Missouri’s Pattonsburg leave eerie reminders of the costs of living in danger zones.

    Vacant and abandoned sites also raise environmental justice and ecological concerns about which retreat spaces are invested in and rehabilitated to avoid urban blight and environmental risks. Retreat sites may include landfills or contaminated land, requiring major site rehabilitation.

    The 12 case studies from Aotearoa New Zealand demonstrate a range of new land uses. These include new open-space reserves, the restoration of floodplains and coastal environments, risk mitigation and re-development, and protection measures such as stopbanks.

    Moving beyond retreat

    Our research highlights how planned retreats can create a transition in landscapes, with potential for a new sense of place, meaning and strategic adaptation.

    We found planned retreats have impacts beyond the retreat site, which reinforces the value of spatial planning.

    The definition and practices of “planned or managed retreat” must include early planning to account of the values and uses the land once had. Any reconfigurations of land and seascapes must imagine a future well beyond people’s retreat.

    Christina Hanna received funding from the national science challenge Resilience to Nature’s Challenges Kia manawaroa – Ngā Ākina o Te Ao Tūroa and from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Endeavour Fund.

    Iain White received funding from the national science challenge Resilience to Nature’s Challenges Kia manawaroa – Ngā Ākina o Te Ao Tūroa, from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Endeavour Fund and from the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake. He is New Zealand’s national contact point for climate, energy and mobility for the European Union’s Horizon Europe research program.

    Raven Cretney received funding from the national science challenge Resilience to Nature’s Challenges Kia manawaroa – Ngā Ākina o Te Ao Tūroa.

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

    – ref. As more communities have to consider relocation, we explore what happens to the land after people leave – https://theconversation.com/as-more-communities-have-to-consider-relocation-we-explore-what-happens-to-the-land-after-people-leave-253653

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Better cleaning of hospital equipment could cut patient infections by one-third – and save money

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Mitchell, Professor of Nursing and Health Services Research, University of Newcastle

    Annie Spratt/Unsplash

    Hospital-acquired infections are infections patients didn’t have when they were admitted to hospital. The most common include wound infections after surgery, urinary tract infections and pneumonia.

    These can have a big impact for patients, often increasing their time in hospital, requiring additional treatment and causing discomfort. Unfortunately, some people who sustain an infection in hospital don’t recover. In Australia, there are an estimated 7,500 deaths associated with hospital-acquired infections annually.

    It’s important to prevent such infections not only for the benefit of patients, but also because of their cost to the health system and to reduce antibiotic use.

    Even though patients don’t usually come into contact with each other directly in hospitals, there are many ways bacteria can be transmitted between patients.

    Our own and other research suggests medical equipment (such as blood pressure machines, dressing trolleys and drip stands) could be a common source of infection.

    In recent research, we’ve shown that by regularly disinfecting shared medical equipment, we can help reduce infections picked up in hospitals – and save the health system money.

    We introduced a new cleaning package

    We conducted an experiment in a New South Wales hospital where we introduced a package of extra cleaning measures onto several wards.

    The package consisted of designated cleaners specifically trained to clean and disinfect sensitive medical equipment. Normally, the cleaning of shared equipment is the responsibility of clinical staff.

    These cleaners spent three hours a day disinfecting shared medical equipment on the ward. We also provided regular training and feedback to the cleaners.

    The start date for the cleaning package on each ward was randomly selected. This is known as a “stepped wedge” trial (more on this later).

    We monitored the thoroughness of cleaning before and after introducing the cleaning package by applying a florescent gel marker to shared equipment. The gel cannot be seen without a special light, but is easily removed if the surface is cleaned well.

    We also monitored infections in patients on the wards before and after introducing the cleaning package. Over the course of the experiment, more than 5,000 patients passed through the wards we were studying.

    Finally, we looked at the economic costs and benefits: how much the cleaning package costs, versus the health-care costs that may be saved thanks to any avoided infections.

    Shared hospital equipment such as IV drip stands can harbour infections.
    Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock

    What we found

    Before the intervention, we found the thoroughness of cleaning shared equipment, assessed by the removal of the gel marker, was low. Once we introduced the cleaning package, cleaning thoroughness improved from 24% to 66%.

    After the cleaning package was introduced, hospital-acquired infections dropped by about one-third, from 14.9% to 9.8% of patients. We saw a reduction in a range of different types of infections including bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections and surgical wound infections.

    To put this another way, for every 1,000 patients admitted to wards with the cleaning package, we estimated there were 30 fewer infections compared to wards before the cleaning package was introduced. This not only benefits patients, but also hospitals and the community, by freeing up resources that can be used to treat other patients.

    Treating infections in hospital is expensive. We estimate the cost of treating infections before the cleaning intervention was around A$2.1 million for a group of 1,000 patients, arising from 130 infections. These costs come from extra time in hospital and treatment costs associated with infections.

    We estimated the 30 fewer infections per 1,000 patients reduced costs to $1.5 million, even when factoring in the cost of cleaners and cleaning products. Put differently, our intervention could save a hospital $642,000 for every 1,000 patients.

    Some limitations of our research

    Our experiment was limited to several wards at one Australian hospital. It’s possible the cleaning was particularly poor at this hospital, and the same intervention at other hospitals may not result in the same benefit.

    For various reasons, even with trained designated cleaners we didn’t find every piece of equipment was cleaned all the time. This reflects common real-world issues in a busy ward. For example, some equipment was being used and not available for cleaning and cleaners were sometimes absent due to illness.

    We don’t know whether even more cleaning might have resulted in an even greater reduction in infections, but there is often a law of diminishing returns when assessing infection control interventions.

    In the real world, hospital cleaning isn’t perfect. But we could do better.
    aguscrespophoto/Shutterstock

    A limitation of looking at infection rates before and after the introduction of an intervention is that other things may change at the same time, such as staffing levels, so not all the difference in infections may be due to the intervention.

    But the stepped wedge model, where the cleaning package was introduced at different times on different wards, increases our confidence the reduction in infections was the result of the cleaning package.

    Improving hospital cleaning is a no brainer

    Shared medical equipment harbours pathogens, which can survive for long periods in health-care settings.

    Like our study, other research has similarly suggested a clean hospital is a safe hospital. Importantly, cleaning needs to include thorough disinfection to reduce the risk of infection (not just removing visible dirt and stains).

    Our work is also consistent with other research that shows improving cleaning in hospitals is cost-effective.

    Cleaning services and products have often been subject to cuts when hospitals have needed to save money.

    But prioritising effective cleaning of medical equipment appears to be a no brainer for health system administrators. We need to invest in better cleaning practices for both the health of patients and the financial bottom line.

    Brett Mitchell receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Medical Research Future Fund. Brett is Editor-in-Chief of Infection, Disease and Health for which he is paid an honorarium by the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control. Brett has appointments at Avondale University, Monash University and the Hunter Medical Research Institute. GAMA Healthcare Australia provided cleaning wipes used in a study referenced in this article.

    Allen Cheng receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Government. He is a member of the Infection Prevention and Control Advisory Committee advising the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Healthcare.

    – ref. Better cleaning of hospital equipment could cut patient infections by one-third – and save money – https://theconversation.com/better-cleaning-of-hospital-equipment-could-cut-patient-infections-by-one-third-and-save-money-251917

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As Trump Pushes Toward Recession, Heinrich & Luján Demand Answers on Cuts to New Mexico Manufacturing Center

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) are demanding answers on the Administration’s decision to cancel funding for ten National Institute of Standards and Technology Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers across the country, including in New Mexico. The action came on April 1, one day before Trump announced sweeping tariffs on imports that tanked the stock market and raised warnings from experts of a recession. 

    New Mexico MEP is part of a national network of 51 MEPs that have helped boost the productivity and competitiveness of thousands of small American manufacturers across the country for decades. The economic impact of these centers has been substantial. Last year, New Mexico MEP worked directly with 134 small manufacturers in advanced manufacturing, lean manufacturing, product development, and market expansion. This helped create or retain 700 jobs and generate $40 million in new sales. The administration’s action to cut this program and other MEP centers across the nation will raise costs on consumers, harm small businesses, and weaken businesses’ ability to recruit and retain employees.

    “Small manufacturers rely on MEP Centers for essential support in adopting the latest advanced technologies, updating their cybersecurity, navigating supply chain challenges, and accessing workforce training—resources that are often out of reach for small businesses without this dedicated assistance,” the senators wrote. “These centers drive innovation, boost productivity, and create high-quality jobs, strengthening both local economies and America’s global competitiveness. Without this critical federal support, MEP Centers—especially those with the fewest resources, and those serving rural and underserved communities—will be at the greatest risk of closure.

    A report by Summit Consulting and the Upjohn Institute found that the MEPprogram generated a substantial economic and financial return ratio of more than 17:1 for the $175 million funding invested by the federal government in FY2023. The study also determined that MEP Center projects contributed to an overall increase of nearly 309,000 jobs nationwide.

    The letter was led by Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Ranking Member of the Science, Manufacturing and Competitiveness Subcommittee Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.). Alongside Heinrich and Luján, the letter is signed by U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Maizie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).

    The letter can be found here and below: 

    Dear Secretary Lutnick,

    We write to express our deep concern regarding the Department of Commerce’s recent decision to cancel future funding for ten National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers in Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Wyoming. This decision has raised widespread concern across the entire national network of MEP Centers, prompting fears about whether these initial cancellations are the first step in a broader effort to dismantle the program and eliminate federal funding for all 51 centers, with centers in Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin expected to be notified about their status shortly. Given the MEP program’s long-standing, bipartisan support in strengthening small and medium-sized American manufacturers, we share these concerns and urge you to provide clarity and certainty on your plans for the future of the MEP program.

    According to the National Association of Manufacturers, 93% of manufacturers have fewer than 100 employees, while 75% have fewer than 20 employees. Small manufacturers rely on MEP Centers for essential support in adopting the latest advanced technologies, updating their cybersecurity, navigating supply chain challenges, and accessing workforce training—resources that are often out of reach for small businesses without this dedicated assistance. These centers drive innovation, boost productivity, and create high-quality jobs, strengthening both local economies and America’s global competitiveness. Without this critical federal support, MEP Centers—especially those with the fewest resources, and those serving rural and underserved communities—will be at the greatest risk of closure.

    Dismantling this program would not only disrupt benefits for small businesses but also undermine decades of federal investment in domestic manufacturing resilience, which Congress prioritized in the MEP program in the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988. Congress also reauthorized the MEP program in the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. NIST was provided $175 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 to fund the MEP Centers. In FY2024 alone, the MEP National Network resulted in $2.6 billion in cost savings, $15 billion in new and retained sales, $5 billion in new client investments, and over 108,000 jobs created or retained. Additionally, a report by Summit Consulting and the Upjohn Institute found that the MEP program generated a substantial economic and financial return ratio of more than 17:1 for the $175 million funding invested by the federal government in FY2023. The study also determined that MEP Center projects contributed to an overall increase of nearly 309,000 jobs across the United States.

    Given these benefits and the funding in the FY 2025 Continuing Resolution, we request a full explanation of the rationale behind this funding decision and ask that you promptly reconsider. Additionally, we urge the Department of Commerce to provide Congress with an impact assessment detailing how this decision will affect manufacturers in the affected states and regions. This action has caused tremendous uncertainty for all MEP Centers and the thousands of American manufacturing companies and their workers.  Therefore, to better understand your plans for renewals across other states in the future, we request a briefing on the way ahead for the overall MEP program prior to making any final non-renewal decisions by April 30, 2025. 

    Eliminating federal support for MEP Centers would hamper American small and medium-sized manufacturers. We urge you to take immediate action to protect the MEP program and the manufacturers that rely on it. We look forward to your response no later than April 30, 2025, and are ready to work with you to find solutions that maintain and enhance the MEP program’s ability to serve America’s manufacturing sector.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A fair go for young Australians in this election? Voters are weighing up intergenerational inequity

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Woodman, TR Ashworth Professor in Sociology, The University of Melbourne

    Securing the welfare of future generations seems like solid grounds for judging policies and politicians, especially during an election campaign. Political legacies are on the line because the stakes are so high.

    There is a real possibility that today’s young people could become the first Australian generation to suffer lower living standards on some key measures than their parents. Unaffordable housing is the main flashpoint. But other challenges weigh heavily, including student debt, insecure work and climate change.

    No political leader would want to preside over a society that leaves younger generations worse off than those that preceded them. Yet that possibility should be on voters’ minds as they prepare to pass judgement at the ballot box on May 3.

    Young voters wield power

    In recent elections, young people have been largely overlooked. Yet, for the first time I can remember, all the major political parties have explicitly recognised that many young people are doing it tough.

    Political strategists would be mindful demographics are clearly shifting. This will be the first election where Gen Z and Millennials will outnumber Baby Boomers (and Gen X) at the ballot box.

    The good and the bad

    But intergenerational equality can be hard to pin down, as people disagree on what counts and how to count it. On many measures of living standards, young Australians are demonstrably better off than their parents.

    Many of the nice things in life, such as international travel and electronic gadgets, are much cheaper. The future may be uncertain, but unless we decide to live more sustainably as a society, today’s young people are still on track to consume more over the course of their lifetime than previous generations.

    However, the things that really matter, including housing and education, cost more than ever before. And that means crucial life transitions to secure and happy adult lives are taking longer and feel less certain.

    Our policy settings might be making this worse. Many experts argue the tax system is stacked against the young because it favours people who have already built up wealth and assets.

    Education is becoming more expensive, while converting educational credentials into employment outcomes is harder than it was. And getting together the deposit for a house is onerous, as costs increase faster than people can save.

    Policy pitch

    In this election, a swag of policy offerings to young voters has already been made.

    Labor is promising to cut student HECS debts and make housing more affordable. The Coalition will allow young home buyers to dip into their superannuation to purchase their first property, while the Greens want to cap rent increases.

    So, who is likely to win the young vote? In recent decades younger Australian voters have shifted towards the left. Unlike in some similar countries, this has also included young men, although at a slower pace than women.

    However, young voters are a diverse lot. United States President Donald Trump’s success at harvesting a greater share of the American youth vote, in part through tapping into cost-of-living concerns, suggests younger voters should not be taken for granted in Australia.

    What’s missing from the debate

    The elephant in the room in any conversation about inequality between the generations is the growing role intergenerational financial supports play in shaping young people’s lives. These transfers help reproduce, and even sharpen, economic inequalities between young people.

    As part of the Life Patterns Project, I have spent the past 20 years with colleagues tracking young people as they transition from secondary school to early adulthood.

    One of our recent findings is that parents are increasingly supporting their young adult children through crucial life events. This includes helping with bills, rent, and often a deposit for a house.

    And this has consequences for inequality over time. The ability to fall back on family resources is playing an even greater role in determining how easily a young person will navigate school and university, land a decent job and buy into the housing market.

    This is in turn increases the pressure on parents to continue supporting their children well into their adult years. The financial squeeze is being felt particularly sharply by those who can’t really afford to help, at least without changing their own plans for the future, including their retirement.

    No appetite for real reform

    So these intergenerational challenges are not just affecting young people. They also have an impact on parents, some of whom are risking their own financial security to help their adult children. They also risk making Australia a less equal society.

    Recently, Anglicare advocated an inheritance tax to reduce the role intergenerational transfers play in shaping unequal outcomes for future generations.

    But the major political parties are in no hurry to embrace such a measure. Nor any other significant reforms to the tax treatment of housing to try and improve affordability.

    Nevertheless, at this election, younger generations are on the agenda in a new way. Politicians will ignore them at their peril.

    This is the fifth article in our special series, Australia’s Policy Challenges. You care read the other articles here

    Dan Woodman receives funding from the Australian Research Council

    – ref. A fair go for young Australians in this election? Voters are weighing up intergenerational inequity – https://theconversation.com/a-fair-go-for-young-australians-in-this-election-voters-are-weighing-up-intergenerational-inequity-250782

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why are so many second-generation South Asian and Chinese Canadians planning to vote Conservative?

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Emine Fidan Elcioglu, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Toronto

    After months of political decline, the Liberal Party of Canada is showing signs of recovery, buoyed, some suggest, by a surge of national pride in the face of Donald Trump’s tariff war and threats to Canadian sovereignty.

    But this apparent rebound obscures a more surprising political shift: the growing appeal of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) among immigrants and their children.

    Traditionally, immigrant and visible minority communities have supported the centrist Liberal Party. In the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), where over half of all residents identify as “visible minority” (the category used by stats can), Chinese and South Asian Canadians have long formed a key part of the Liberal base.

    Yet recent polling tells a different story. An October 2024 survey found that 45 per cent of immigrants had changed their political allegiances since arriving in Canada, with many now leaning Conservative.

    Meanwhile, another national survey from January 2025 found that a majority of East Asian (55 per cent) and South Asian (56 per cent) respondents expressed support for the Conservative Party, far outpacing support for the Liberals or the NDP.

    Nationally, racialized citizens now make up over 26 per cent of Canada’s population, with South Asians and Chinese Canadians the two largest groups.

    While detailed racial breakdowns remain rare in Canadian polling, the few available data points suggest a meaningful shift. This pattern also reflects a broader trend: South Asian and Chinese Canadians in the GTA are increasingly politically active, with rising turnout and growing partisan diversification.

    Ramping up outreach

    The Conservative Party, for its part, has taken notice. Under Pierre Poilievre’s leadership, the CPC has actively recruited racialized candidates and ramped up outreach in suburban swing ridings — particularly through ethnic media advertising and messaging focused on economic self-reliance and family values.

    This rightward shift among racialized voters may seem counter-intuitive. The Conservative Party has historically represented white, affluent voters, and under Stephen Harper (who led from 2006 to 2015), implemented policies that curtailed immigration, tightened citizenship rules and cut social programs in ways that disproportionately harmed racialized communities.

    Why, then, would racialized Canadians increasingly turn to the right?

    In a study I recently published, I interviewed 50 Canadian-born children of South Asian, Chinese and white immigrants living in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). I argue that this shift is not a contradiction but provides a window into how racialized groups navigate inequality, exclusion and the search for belonging.

    While there are many reasons 2nd-generation racialized Canadians may support the Conservative Party, this study highlights one under-documented explanation. Voting for a right-wing party that represents the interests of white, wealthy citizens can be a way for second-generation South Asian and Chinese Canadians to seek acceptance when power is linked to whiteness..



    Read more:
    Why are brown and Black people supporting the far right?

    The hidden costs of fitting in

    In other words, many of these racialized Canadians don’t vote Conservative because they’re unaware of inequality. They vote Conservative because they’re trying to navigate it.

    Growing up in precariously middle-class households, the young adults I interviewed watched their immigrant parents face deskilling and downward mobility despite arriving in Canada with professional credentials.

    They saw their families pressured to “Canadianize” their names and accents, only to be sidelined by employers who still favoured whiteness.

    And they were raised in a society where multiculturalism celebrates cultural symbols but often ignores structural racism.

    In this context, support for the Conservatives reflects not ignorance of marginalization, but a way to move through it. Aligning with the right becomes a signal of belonging.

    As one young South Asian Canadian man put it:

    “You’ve arrived. You’re a Canadian. So, start voting like one.”

    This desire to belong doesn’t emerge in a vacuum. It’s shaped by racial scripts that reward conformity and penalize dissent — most notably, the model minority stereotype.



    Read more:
    Searching for anti-racism agendas in South Asian Canadian communities

    The price of acceptance

    The model minority stereotype casts Asian Canadians as hardworking and quietly successful. On the surface, it sounds like praise. But in practice, it hides inequality and demands silence in exchange for conditional belonging.



    Read more:
    Model minority blues: The mental health consequences of being a model citizen — Don’t Call Me Resilient EP 9

    That acceptance is fragile. After Sept. 11, 2001, many South Asians, particularly those perceived as Muslim, were quickly recast as dangerous outsiders.

    A similar dynamic resurfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Asian Canadians faced a sharp rise in racial harassment. In both cases, those once celebrated as “model” citizens were suddenly treated as threats.



    Read more:
    The model minority myth hides the racist and sexist violence experienced by Asian women

    In some contexts, political restraint, like staying quiet or avoiding protest, can function as a survival strategy. But that’s not what I observed in this study.

    The second-generation Canadians I interviewed were not politically quiet. They were vocal in their support for the Conservative Party. For them, voting Conservative was a way to assert they already belonged, not by asking for inclusion, but by showing they did not need to. Conservatism became a marker of success, self-reliance and alignment with those at the centre of Canadian life.

    Canada’s official embrace of multiculturalism reinforces this logic. While often praised as a national strength, multiculturalism can obscure how racism really works. Structural barriers are hidden behind feel-good narratives of inclusion.

    Rethinking belonging

    In Canada, ideas about who belongs are often shaped by race, class and respectability. Racialized people must not only prove they are hardworking and law-abiding, but also demonstrate that they’ve “fit in.” For some, voting Conservative becomes a way to show they’ve done just that — a way of saying: “I’m not like them. I’m one of you.”

    But this strategy comes at a cost. In reinforcing the very structures that marginalize them, racialized voters may gain individual recognition while deepening collective exclusion. And in rejecting equity-based platforms, they may forgo the policies that could build a more just society.

    This dynamic isn’t limited to the second generation. A recent CBC survey found that four in five newcomers believe Canada has accepted too many immigrants and international students without proper planning.

    Some immigrants are increasingly expressing exclusionary views, often toward those who arrived more recently. This, too, is a form of aspirational politics. And it shows just how deeply race, precarity and belonging are entangled in Canada today.

    None of this means that racialized Conservative voters are naïve. Their decisions often reflect a clear-eyed understanding of how power works.

    But if we want a fairer political future, we must reckon with the ways race, class and nationalism shape belonging — not just at the ballot box, but in the stories we tell about who gets to be “Canadian.”

    As sociologist Ruha Benjamin reminds us, inclusion shouldn’t be treated as an act of generosity. It’s not about “helping” the marginalized — it’s about understanding that we’re all connected. When fear shapes policy and public goods are stripped away, everyone suffers.

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

    – ref. Why are so many second-generation South Asian and Chinese Canadians planning to vote Conservative? – https://theconversation.com/why-are-so-many-second-generation-south-asian-and-chinese-canadians-planning-to-vote-conservative-253820

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: FormFactor to Announce First Quarter 2025 Financial Results on April 30th

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LIVERMORE, Calif., April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FormFactor, Inc. (Nasdaq: FORM) will report financial results for its 2025 fiscal first quarter on Wednesday, April 30th, 2025, at 1:25 p.m. Pacific Time. The public is invited to listen to a live webcast of FormFactor’s conference call on the Investors section of the company’s web site at www.formfactor.com.

    To Listen via Telephone: Preregistration is required. Please preregister by clicking here.

    Upon registering, you will be emailed a dial-in number, direct passcode and unique PIN.

    A replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call. The replay will be available on the Investors section of our website www.formfactor.com.

    About FormFactor:
    FormFactor, Inc. (NASDAQ: FORM) is a leading provider of essential test and measurement technologies along the full IC life cycle – from characterization, modeling, reliability, and design de-bug to qualification and production test. Semiconductor companies rely upon FormFactor’s products and services to accelerate profitability by optimizing device performance and advancing yield knowledge. The Company serves customers through its network of facilities in Asia, Europe, and North America. For more information, visit the Company’s website at www.formfactor.com.

    Investor Contact
    Stan Finkelstein
    Investor Relations
    (925) 290-4273
    ir@formfactor.com

    FORM-F

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Altus Group to Hold Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 7 and Release Q1 2025 Financial Results on May 8; Announces Other Upcoming Investor Events

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Altus Group Limited (ʺAltus Group” or “the Company”) (TSX: AIF) announced today the following investor events:

    Bell Ringing Ceremony

    Altus Group will be ringing the closing bell on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at the Toronto Stock Exchange in celebration of the Company’s 20-year anniversary as a public company. A live stream of the ceremony will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at: https://www.altusgroup.com/investor-relations/.

    Annual General Meeting of Shareholders

    The Company will hold its annual general meeting of shareholders on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. (ET).   More information related to the meeting is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at https://www.altusgroup.com/investor-relations/notice-and-access/.

    Q1 2025 Results Conference Call & Webcast

    Altus Group plans to release its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 after market close on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Altus Group’s management team will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. (ET) the same day to discuss the results. Analysts who wish to ask questions during the call can participate by telephone at 1-888-660-6794 (conference ID: 8366990). A live and archived webcast of the call with be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at: https://www.altusgroup.com/investor-relations/.

    Upcoming Investor Conferences

    Members of Altus Group’s executive leadership team are scheduled to participate in the following in-person investor conferences:

    • CIBC Tech & Innovation Conference in Toronto on Thursday, May 22, 2025
    • TD Cowen TMT Conference in New York on Thursday, May 29, 2025
    • RBC Canadian TIMT Symposium in Toronto on Thursday, June 12, 2025

    Institutional investors wishing to attend the conference and schedule in-person meetings with Altus management should contact their bank representatives, as applicable, to register. If made available, a webcast replay of fireside chat presentations will be posted to the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website.

    About Altus Group

    Altus Group is a leading provider of asset and fund intelligence for commercial real estate. We deliver intelligence as a service to our global client base through a connected platform of industry-leading technology, advanced analytics, and advisory services. Trusted by the largest CRE leaders, our capabilities help commercial real estate investors, developers, lenders, and advisors manage risks and improve performance returns throughout the asset and fund lifecycle. Altus Group is a global company headquartered in Toronto with approximately 1,900 employees across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific. For more information about Altus (TSX: AIF) please visit altusgroup.com.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

    Martin Miasko
    Sr. Director, Investor Relations and Strategy, Altus Group
    (647)-267-9176
    martin.miasko@altusgroup.com  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ACM Research Receives 2025 3D InCites Technology Enablement Award

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FREMONT, Calif., April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ACM Research, Inc. (“ACM”) (NASDAQ: ACMR), a leading supplier of wafer and panel processing solutions for semiconductor and advanced packaging applications, today announced that its Ultra ECP ap-p tool has won the 2025 3D InCites Award in the Technology Enablement category. This award honors companies that have identified and solved critical challenges in the advancement of the heterogeneous integration roadmap, driving the industry forward through cutting-edge solutions and advancements.

    ACM’s Ultra ECP ap-p system, designed for fan-out panel-level packaging (FOPLP), is the first commercially-available high-volume copper deposition system for the large panel market. By using a horizontal plating approach, it achieves exceptional uniformity and precision across the entire panel. The tool supports 515 mm x 510 mm and 600 mm x 600 mm panel sizes and can be used for plating steps in a variety of processes including pillar, bump and redistribution layer.

    “I believe this award recognition from 3D InCites validates ACM’s dedication to innovation in addressing customers’ challenges in panel-level packaging (PLP),” said Dr. David Wang, ACM’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “As the demand for large chiplets, high-performance graphics processing units and high-density high-bandwidth memory continues to grow, PLP has emerged as a key solution for reducing cost and improving efficiency. The Ultra ECP ap-p system is a vital addition to ACM’s expanding FOPLP portfolio, reinforcing our commitment to advancing high-volume manufacturing solutions.”

    ACM’s FOPLP portfolio includes:

    Announced at the IMAPS Device Packaging Conference, 3D InCites award winners were selected based on their significant contributions to the advancement of the heterogeneous integration roadmap.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements contained in this press release are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “plans,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “designed,” and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on ACM management’s current expectations and beliefs and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by the forward-looking statements. A description of certain of these risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in filings ACM makes with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are available at www.sec.gov. Because forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results and events may differ materially from results and events currently expected by ACM. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. ACM undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect any change in its expectations with regard to these forward-looking statements or the occurrence of unanticipated events.

    About ACM Research, Inc.

    ACM develops, manufactures and sells semiconductor process equipment spanning cleaning, electroplating, stress-free polishing, vertical furnace processes, track, PECVD, and wafer- and panel-level packaging tools, enabling advanced and semi-critical semiconductor device manufacturing. ACM is committed to delivering customized, high-performance, cost-effective process solutions that semiconductor manufacturers can use in numerous manufacturing steps to improve productivity and product yield. For more information, visit www.acmr.com.

    © ACM Research, Inc. ULTRA C, ULTRA ECP ap and the ACM Research logo are trademarks of ACM Research, Inc. For convenience, these trademarks appear in this press release without ™ symbols, but that practice does not mean ACM will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights to such trademarks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

    Media Contact: Company Contacts:
    Alyssa Lundeen USA
    Kiterocket Robert Metter
    +1 218.398.0776 +1 503.367.9753
    alundeen@kiterocket.com  
      China
      Xi Wang
      ACM Research (Shanghai), Inc.
      +86 21 50808868
       
      Korea
      ACM Research (Korea), Inc.
      +82-70-41006699.
       
      Taiwan
      David Chang
      +886 921999884
       
      Singapore
      Adrian Ong
      +65 8813-1107

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: South Carolina Man Pleads Guilty for Illegally Importing and Selling Sperm Whale Teeth and Bones

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLESTON, S.C. —Lauren H. Deloach, 69, of Saint Helena Island, has pleaded guilty to Lacey Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) charges for importing and selling sperm whale teeth and bones.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, DeLoach admitted to, from September 2021 through September 2024, importing sperm whale parts to South Carolina, including at least 30 shipments from Australia, Latvia, Norway, and Ukraine. Records showed that DeLoach instructed suppliers to label the items as “plastic” so they would not be seized by U.S. customs authorities. From July 2022 through September 2024, DeLoach acknowledged selling the teeth and bones in violation of the Lacey Act. He sold at least 85 items on eBay worth over $18,000, and agents seized approximately $20,000 worth of sperm whale parts from DeLoach’s residence during a search warrant.

    The MMPA prohibits importing any marine mammal, which includes whales, except for limited public display, scientific research, or enhancement of a species survival. The Lacey Act is the nation’s oldest wildlife protection law and makes it unlawful to sell any wildlife that was illegally imported.

    The sperm whale is the largest species of toothed whale, reaching up to 78 feet and 45 tons. Individuals prize their teeth and bones as decorations or as a scrimshaw or painting medium. Sperm whale have been listed under the Endangered Species Act as endangered since 1970 and are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The United States and the countries from which imported DeLoach are signatories to CITES, an international agreement to protect fish, wildlife, and plants that are or may become threatened with extinction.

    “Illegal wildlife trafficking is a multi-billion-dollar global business that endangers protected animals and fuels organized crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to enforce the Lacey Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act so vulnerable species like the sperm whale are not killed and sold for parts.”

    “Whales are among the world’s most iconic species, and they’re also among the most vulnerable to illegal harvest driven by commercialization. The illicit trade in sperm whale teeth and ear bones contributes to the monetization of at-risk marine mammal populations that America protects through federal laws and international treaties,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement Assistant Director Doug Ault. “As part of ‘Operation Raw Deal’ — a nationwide crackdown on the illegal trade in whale parts — this investigation demonstrates our commitment to bringing justice to those who exploit protected wildlife for profit.”

    DeLoach faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the felony Lacey Act charge and a maximum sentence of one year in prison for the misdemeanor MMPA violation. United States District Judge David C. Norton accepted the guilty plea and will sentence DeLoach after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

    Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina, and Assistant Director Douglas Ault of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) made the announcement.

    This case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Law Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle Klein and Winston Holliday are prosecuting the case with Senior Trial Attorney Ryan Connors of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section.

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