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Category: Australia

  • MIL-Evening Report: Ice Age shelter high up in the Blue Mountains reveals Aboriginal heritage from 20,000 years ago

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Wilkins, Aboriginal Cultural Educator, Trainer and Facilitator, Indigenous Knowledge

    Artist’s impression of Dargan Shelter as it would have looked during the last Ice Age. Painting by Leanne Watson Redpath

    Travel back 20,000 years into the last Ice Age, to a time when the upper reaches of the Blue Mountains were treeless and the ridgelines and mountain peaks laden in snow and ice.

    At an elevation of 1,073 metres, you will find Dargan Shelter, an ancient rock shelter resembling a large amphitheatre. Looking around, you could easily assume this cold and barren high country was too difficult for people to spend time in.

    But our new research, published today in Nature Human Behaviour, indicates Dargan Shelter was occupied as early as the last Ice Age and repeatedly visited during this cold period.

    Our excavation results provide the earliest known evidence of high-altitude occupation in Australia, establishing the Blue Mountains as Australia’s most archaeologically significant periglacial landscape – that is, an area which goes through seasonal freezing and thawing.

    Cultural perspectives

    This is a highly significant landscape concentrated with tangible and intangible cultural values for Aboriginal people.

    For millennia, Aboriginal people have passed down the knowledge and stories of Country.

    Knowing our Ancestors have lived here, in this Country, for thousands of years was on our minds as the team headed down into the site where we would sit alongside our Ancestors of yesterday.

    We chose this site because of its location on a known Aboriginal travelling route, high elevation and its potential to hold deep deposits.

    Archaeologically, a deep and undisturbed deposit is one of the most important things to look for. The sediment buildup over time preserves cultural material, and allows us to reconstruct past activities by associating cultural objects within distinct layers or bands of time.

    Members of the season 3 team at Dargan Shelter. Back to front, left to right: Tyrone Pal, Rodney Lawson, Wayne Brennan, Duncan Wright, Eitan Harris, Juliet Schofield, Michael Spate, Wayne Logue, Lauren Roach, Rebecca Chalker, Dominic Wilkins, Phil Piper, Amy Way, Imogen Williams.
    Amy Way

    When we enter the site, we pay respects to the Country and Ancestors before us. As part of the opening of the site for the archaeological works, a lyrebird song and dance were performed and, magically, a handful of lyrebirds began approaching the cave and singing out as if they were communicating between the current and old worlds through song.

    We do not know who exactly the Aboriginal people who moved through the Blue Mountains in the deep past were, nor where they came from. But Dargan Shelter was probably an important stopover point for people to attend gatherings and ceremonies that could have included people from the western interior, the Cumberland coastal plains, and Country to the north and south.

    Finds from the Dargan Shelter excavation

    New evidence provides definitive proof of repeated occupation in this once frozen high-altitude landscape. It is now believed to be the oldest occupied site in Australia at high elevation.

    We unearthed 693 stone artefacts, including 117 flakes from stratigraphic layers older than 16,000 years, and documented a small amount of faded rock art, including a child-sized hand stencil and two forearm stencils.

    Charcoal from hearths (campfires) underwent radiocarbon dating, indicating Dargan Shelter had been continuously occupied since 22,000 to 19,000 years ago.

    Stone artefacts excavated at Dargan shelter dating to the last ice-age, showing the range of non-quartz raw material used during that time. (A) hornfels; (B) black quartzite hammerstone from the Hunter region; (C) exotic coarse grained unidentified siliceous stone possibly from Jenolan; (D) Local Burragorang claystone; (E) exotic fine grained siliceous stone possibly from Jenolan;
    Amy Way

    Among the findings, most of the stone tools were locally sourced and made. But, very interestingly some stones from the Jenolan Caves area, approximately 50 kilometres to the south-west, and the Hunter Valley region, 150 km to the north, were also found. This indicates people were travelling into this mountainous region from both the north and south.

    We found a sandstone grinding slab, dated to 13,000 years ago, consistent with shaping bone or wooden artefacts such as needles, awls, bone points and nose points. A basalt anvil with impact marks consistent with cracking hard woody nuts and seed shells was dated to 8,800 years ago.

    Greater Blue Mountains and world heritage

    The Blue Mountains was listed as a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage area in 2000 for its outstanding biodiversity values.

    Although the cultural heritage is remarkably intact and connected with an environmental system and natural features, the parallel nomination for cultural values listing failed due to a paucity of archaeological and cultural heritage information.

    Our new research should be considered in a nomination for the UNESCO World Heritage area to also encompass cultural heritage alongside biodiversity.

    The Blue Mountains landscape shrouds a silent yet rich tapestry of Aboriginal heritage.

    Our people have walked, lived and thrived in the Blue Mountains for thousands of years. The mountains are a tangible connection to our Ancestors who used them as a meeting place for sharing, storytelling and survival. They are a part of our cultural identity.

    We need to respect and protect our heritage for the benefit of all Australians.

    Archaeological works in progress: Imogen Williams, Rebecca Chalker and Tyrone Pal excavating the Ice Age layers.
    Amy Way

    Our results align Australia for the first time with ice age data from the world’s other inhabited continents, including sites in other places not traditionally thought of as cold climates, such as Mexico and Spain.

    We now have a truly global story of people entering and living in high-altitude landscapes during the last ice age.

    The continuation of research projects like this one, and the invaluable evidence it provides across the region, will allow Aboriginal people with connections to the Blue Mountains to begin to stitch back together much of the history and many of the stories that until now have had gaps.

    The more we discover and piece together the movements, ceremonies and stories, the stronger we are as a community.

    Amy Mosig Way receives funding from the Australian Museum Foundation and is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney.

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

    – ref. Ice Age shelter high up in the Blue Mountains reveals Aboriginal heritage from 20,000 years ago – https://theconversation.com/ice-age-shelter-high-up-in-the-blue-mountains-reveals-aboriginal-heritage-from-20-000-years-ago-247358

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Some students learning English can take at least 6 years to catch up to their peers. How can we support them better?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lucy Lu, Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney

    Rawpixel/ Getty Images

    About one quarter of Australian school students are learning English as an additional language or dialect.

    This means their first language or dialect is something other than English and they need extra support to develop proficiency in what we call standard Australian English.

    This group of students includes immigrants and refugees from non-English speaking countries, children of migrant heritage where English is not spoken at home and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

    But the level and duration of support they receive varies across schools. This is an issue because these students risk underachieving or being labelled as having learning difficulties without adequate help.

    Until now, little was known about how long these students take to learn English.

    Our new research published today by the Australian Education Research Organisation, found it can take many years for students to develop the English language skills they need. This suggests students need ongoing and targeted support to learn English as an additional language.

    Our study

    We looked at more than 110,000 primary and high school students in New South Wales public schools over a nine-year period.

    The students were learning English as an additional language from 2014 to 2022. Our research used two methods.

    First, we analysed how long it took these students to achieve the same scores in their NAPLAN reading and writing tests as their English-speaking peers with the same background characteristics. That is, students were matched for characteristics such as gender, student socio-educational advantage and school location.

    Second, we analysed how long it took students learning English as an additional language to reach certain phases of language proficiency. There is a national learning progression resource for schools supporting students learning English as an additional language. It has four phases: beginning, emerging, developing and consolidating.


    Source: The EAL/D Learning Progression: Foundation to Year 10, ACARA, 2015., CC BY

    It can take many years to learn English

    Combining both methods, we found students need considerable time to learn English as an additional language.

    For students who were assessed as “beginning” when they started school, it takes an average of six years to reach the final “consolidating” phase.

    This means those students starting in kindergarten (the first year of school in NSW) are likely to need English language support throughout primary school.

    For “beginning” students who start in later years, they may need continued English language support in high school.

    Students who started school at the “emerging” and “developing” phases take, on average, four and three years, respectively to have English skills on par with their peers.

    Learning English takes longer as you go along

    We also found as students learned English, each phase in their progression took longer to achieve than the one before:

    • the average time from beginning to emerging was one year and one month

    • from emerging to developing was one year and eight months

    • from developing to consolidating was two years and seven months.

    What can impact learning?

    But learning English is complex and can be impacted by many factors.

    We found students with socio-educational disadvantage progressed 22% slower than advantaged students, students with refugee experiences progressed 14% slower than those without. Male students took 6% longer than their female peers.

    We also found students starting school in kindergarten progressed about 9% slower, compared to starting school in Australia in later primary year levels.

    But we found students who started school already at the final, “consolidating” phase of English outperformed monolingual peers in NAPLAN. This suggests these students, who are arguably bilingual, were at an educational advantage.

    Average NAPLAN reading performance of students learning English as an additional language and their matched peers.
    Source: NSW Department of Education National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy 2014 to 2022, CC BY

    Targeted support is needed

    Our findings have a number of implications.

    Firstly, they help us understand the nature and length of support needed for students learning English students in schools.

    Secondly, they highlight the importance of ongoing, targeted support for students.

    This also suggests we need to make effective professional support available for teachers working with students who are learning English as an additional language.

    The academic advantage of bilingual students also points to a need to encourage and support students using and developing their first and other languages, alongside English.

    Lucy Lu is the Senior Manager, Analytics and Strategic Projects in the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO). AERO is jointly funded by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments.

    Jennifer Hammond has previously received funding from the Australian Research Council and the NSW Department of Education. All projects funded from these sources were completed more than six years ago.

    – ref. Some students learning English can take at least 6 years to catch up to their peers. How can we support them better? – https://theconversation.com/some-students-learning-english-can-take-at-least-6-years-to-catch-up-to-their-peers-how-can-we-support-them-better-258819

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Some students learning English can take at least 6 years to catch up to their peers. How can we support them better?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lucy Lu, Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney

    Rawpixel/ Getty Images

    About one quarter of Australian school students are learning English as an additional language or dialect.

    This means their first language or dialect is something other than English and they need extra support to develop proficiency in what we call standard Australian English.

    This group of students includes immigrants and refugees from non-English speaking countries, children of migrant heritage where English is not spoken at home and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

    But the level and duration of support they receive varies across schools. This is an issue because these students risk underachieving or being labelled as having learning difficulties without adequate help.

    Until now, little was known about how long these students take to learn English.

    Our new research published today by the Australian Education Research Organisation, found it can take many years for students to develop the English language skills they need. This suggests students need ongoing and targeted support to learn English as an additional language.

    Our study

    We looked at more than 110,000 primary and high school students in New South Wales public schools over a nine-year period.

    The students were learning English as an additional language from 2014 to 2022. Our research used two methods.

    First, we analysed how long it took these students to achieve the same scores in their NAPLAN reading and writing tests as their English-speaking peers with the same background characteristics. That is, students were matched for characteristics such as gender, student socio-educational advantage and school location.

    Second, we analysed how long it took students learning English as an additional language to reach certain phases of language proficiency. There is a national learning progression resource for schools supporting students learning English as an additional language. It has four phases: beginning, emerging, developing and consolidating.


    Source: The EAL/D Learning Progression: Foundation to Year 10, ACARA, 2015., CC BY

    It can take many years to learn English

    Combining both methods, we found students need considerable time to learn English as an additional language.

    For students who were assessed as “beginning” when they started school, it takes an average of six years to reach the final “consolidating” phase.

    This means those students starting in kindergarten (the first year of school in NSW) are likely to need English language support throughout primary school.

    For “beginning” students who start in later years, they may need continued English language support in high school.

    Students who started school at the “emerging” and “developing” phases take, on average, four and three years, respectively to have English skills on par with their peers.

    Learning English takes longer as you go along

    We also found as students learned English, each phase in their progression took longer to achieve than the one before:

    • the average time from beginning to emerging was one year and one month

    • from emerging to developing was one year and eight months

    • from developing to consolidating was two years and seven months.

    What can impact learning?

    But learning English is complex and can be impacted by many factors.

    We found students with socio-educational disadvantage progressed 22% slower than advantaged students, students with refugee experiences progressed 14% slower than those without. Male students took 6% longer than their female peers.

    We also found students starting school in kindergarten progressed about 9% slower, compared to starting school in Australia in later primary year levels.

    But we found students who started school already at the final, “consolidating” phase of English outperformed monolingual peers in NAPLAN. This suggests these students, who are arguably bilingual, were at an educational advantage.

    Average NAPLAN reading performance of students learning English as an additional language and their matched peers.
    Source: NSW Department of Education National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy 2014 to 2022, CC BY

    Targeted support is needed

    Our findings have a number of implications.

    Firstly, they help us understand the nature and length of support needed for students learning English students in schools.

    Secondly, they highlight the importance of ongoing, targeted support for students.

    This also suggests we need to make effective professional support available for teachers working with students who are learning English as an additional language.

    The academic advantage of bilingual students also points to a need to encourage and support students using and developing their first and other languages, alongside English.

    Lucy Lu is the Senior Manager, Analytics and Strategic Projects in the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO). AERO is jointly funded by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments.

    Jennifer Hammond has previously received funding from the Australian Research Council and the NSW Department of Education. All projects funded from these sources were completed more than six years ago.

    – ref. Some students learning English can take at least 6 years to catch up to their peers. How can we support them better? – https://theconversation.com/some-students-learning-english-can-take-at-least-6-years-to-catch-up-to-their-peers-how-can-we-support-them-better-258819

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A weird group of boronias puzzled botanists for decades. Now we’ve solved the pollination mystery

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Douglas Hilton, Chief Executive, CSIRO

    Andy Young

    Boronias, known for their showy flowers and strong scent, are a quintessential part of the Australian bush. They led Traditional Owners to the best water sources and inspired Australian children’s author and illustrator May Gibbs to pen one of her earliest books, Boronia Babies.

    But a weird group of boronias has puzzled botanists for decades. They have closed flowers that thwart most insect visitors. Those that do gain entry may encounter alternating sterile and fertile anthers (the male part that produces pollen) and sometimes, an enlarged stigma (the female part that receives pollen).

    Since the early 1960s, scientists speculated this group of boronias relied on an “unusual agent for effective pollination”. Moths were occasionally mentioned in the botanical literature as potential pollinators, but the full story remained elusive – until now.

    As my colleagues and I detail in our new research, moths are indeed the mystery pollinators of this strange group of flowers. This knowledge is crucial to ensuring their long-term survival.

    May Gibbs pictured a Boronia Baby hiding inside a Boronia megastigma flower.
    2025 © The Northcott Society and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance.

    Sweeping plants, far and wide

    My interest in the boronia pollinators began 15 years ago. I was studying a family of moths in my spare time, with a group of friends.

    These moths, called Heliozelidae, are tiny. Their wings are just a few millimetres long, smaller than a grain of rice.

    They fly during the day and are seldom attracted to lights, so they are poorly represented in museum collections. The best way to find them is to sweep plants with a butterfly net then look inside it.

    The author searching for moths in Western Australia.
    Douglas Hilton

    After sweeping plants all over Australia, we discovered this country is a hotspot for Heliozelidae. Hundreds – if not thousands – of these species are new to science and yet to be described. In comparison, only 90 species of Heliozelidae have been described from the rest of the world.

    We consistently found one group of 15 moth species on the boronias with the weird flowers in the biodiversity hotspot of Western Australia’s South West. Each moth species was found only on a specific boronia species.

    When we took a closer look, we found each of the 15 Heliozelidae has an intricate structure at the tip of its abdomen that collects pollen. There’s nothing else quite like this in the 150,000 known species of moths and butterflies. At last, the mystery of the boronia pollinators was solved.

    Pollen-collecting structure, replete with pollen, on the dorsal tip of the abdomen of the moth that pollinates Boronia crenulata.
    Dr Qike Wang

    The process of pollinating boronias

    In spring, female moths lay many eggs inside flowers. While moving about inside the flower, she collects pollen in the little structure on her abdomen. She enters and exits multiple flowers, pollinating as she goes.

    When the eggs hatch, the caterpillars eat some of the flowers’ developing seeds. When they are fully grown, they leave the flower and burrow into the soil to pupate in a cocoon. When they emerge in spring as moths, the flowers are blooming again and the life cycle repeats.

    For some species, such as brown boronia, the moths may be the only visitor the flowers ever receive. This suggests the moth and the plant have a reciprocal relationship, depending on each other for reproduction and ultimately, survival.

    This is unusual in nature. The poster-child for this type of relationship is the figs and fig wasps.

    Tiny metallic day-flying moths are the boronia pollinators.
    Andy Young

    What’s in a name?

    When a scientist discovers and officially describes a new species in the academic literature, they have to name it. Scientific names have two parts. The first part is the genus or group of closely related species and the second identifies the individual species.

    We built a family tree which included the new pollinating moths using their DNA sequences. We showed the pollinators belong to the genus Prophylactis meaning “to guard before”, which previously contained four non-pollinating species. This gives us the first part of the name.

    For the second part, we used the name of the plant each moth pollinates and added the suffix -allax, meaning “alternately” or “in exchange”. This shows their close relationship to the plant.

    So, the moth that pollinates Boronia megastigma is called Prophylactis megastigmallax. The moth that pollinates the endangered Boronia clavata is Prophylactis clavatallax – and so on.

    Much to learn

    The pollinating moths are more closely related to each other than to other species in the Prophylactis genus. This suggests they inherited their pollen-collecting structure from a long-gone common ancestor.

    As with all good science, this research leads to new questions. For example, we are now studying which moth-plant pairs fully depend on each other.

    Other Australian plant species may also have intimate relationships with moths.
    Current field work is exploring which of Australia’s 486 plant species in the citrus-family (Rutaceae) are linked to moths and how often moths have evolved to pollinate them.

    Bush secrets brought to life

    Our research shows just how much of Australia’s biodiversity is yet to be understood and protected.

    As climate change and land-clearing drive biodiversity loss at an unprecedented rate, this is a challenge we must tackle with renewed urgency. Otherwise our children and grandchildren may only experience the full glory of Gibb’s characters on a page, and not in the natural world.

    Boronia Babies on Boronia megastigma
    2025 © The Northcott Society and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance.

    Douglas Hilton works for CSIRO. The work highlighted in this article received funding from The Hermon Slade Foundation, which supports high quality biological research by scientists in Australian universities and research institutes. The research was made possible through a group of generous collaborators and co-authors including Andy Young, Liz Milla, Mengjie Jin, Stephen Wilcox, Qike Wang, Verena Wimmer, Jinny Chang, Henning Kallies, Andie Hall, Marina Watowich, Carly Busch, Jordan Wilcox, Aileen Swarbrick, Marlene Walter, Don Sands, Davina Paterson, David Lees, Marco Duretto, Adnan Moussalli, Mike Halsey and Axel Kallies.

    – ref. A weird group of boronias puzzled botanists for decades. Now we’ve solved the pollination mystery – https://theconversation.com/a-weird-group-of-boronias-puzzled-botanists-for-decades-now-weve-solved-the-pollination-mystery-258393

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: When new dads struggle, their kids’ health can suffer. Tackling mental distress early can help

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Delyse Hutchinson, Associate Professor, Clinical Psychologist, and NHMRC Leadership Fellow, SEED Centre for Lifespan Research, School of Psychology, Deakin University

    D-BASE/Getty

    In Australia, an estimated one in ten men experience mental health issues such as anxiety and depression before and after their child is born (the perinatal period).

    Alongside emotional ups and downs and exhaustion, new dads may also be facing greater practical demands, such as caring for the baby, supporting their partner, and providing financially.

    It’s not surprising, then, that becoming a dad may be linked to increased psychological distress. But it’s concerning because many men don’t access help. There’s also growing evidence a father’s mental state may affect his developing child in the short and long term.

    Our new review brings together the international evidence about the relationship between fathers’ mental health and children’s development for the first time.

    We found consistent associations between dads’ psychological distress before and after birth and poorer outcomes in children’s social, emotional, cognitive, language and physical development, from birth until the early teens.

    The good news? There are effective ways to intervene early.

    Barriers to getting help

    There are complex reasons why new fathers might not access help for mental distress.

    Notably, a 2024 review of Australian and international research found fathers are not routinely asked in health-care settings about their wellbeing at any point before the birth of a child, or after – when support is often most needed.

    Men may also feel they need to be strong and push past tough emotions to “get on” with looking after the family.

    They may be reluctant to acknowledge their own difficulties, and instead avoid the issue, through strategies such as working excessively, or using alcohol or other drugs.

    Working hours can also make accessing services difficult.

    As a result, men may have trouble recognising mental distress and it may go undetected by the people around them and in the wider health-care system.

    We don’t know the true impact

    Research on early risk factors for poorer child development is around 17 times more likely to focus on mothers’ health and lifestyle, compared to fathers.

    This focus is understandable, given up to one in five women experience perinatal anxiety or depression in the transition to motherhood.

    Strong evidence links mothers’ mental distress to poorer child outcomes. For example, mothers experiencing perinatal anxiety or depression may withdraw and find it difficult to interact with their child. This may be linked to delays in children’s developing social and emotional skills.

    Yet similar research on fathers has been lacking.

    This imbalance affects health policy and clinical practice, leaving many fathers feeling excluded from family health care. The impact on their children has also been poorly understood.

    What we looked at

    Our new research aimed to understand how men’s mental health before and after birth is related to their child’s development, from birth through adolescence.

    We looked at the findings from 84 longitudinal studies which track people over long periods of time, including from Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.

    The review included any study that measured an association between perinatal depression, anxiety or stress in fathers (biological or adoptive) and child development. These included social and emotional skills, thinking and problem-solving, language, physical development and motor skills.

    Our study had three main findings

    First, mental distress in fathers during pregnancy and after birth was consistently linked to poorer development in their children.

    Specifically, this included lower ratings on social, emotional, cognitive, and language skills, such as the capacity to interact with others, understand feelings, process information and communicate. It also affected physical health outcomes, such as body weight, sleep and eating patterns.

    Second, associations were evident from early development (infancy) through to the early teens (13 years). This suggests that, without support, a father’s perinatal mental distress may be related to child development well beyond infancy.

    Third, fathers’ mental distress after birth was more strongly related to how children developed than their mental distress during pregnancy.

    This is not surprising, because it’s when fathers begin to interact with infants and may more directly influence their development.

    So, what should change?

    Our findings underscore that getting in early to support dads – both before and soon after the arrival of a new child – is crucial.

    Routine screening for signs of mental distress is effective in identifying mothers who might benefit from help. This could be extended to all parents, through family planning, antenatal and postpartum clinics, and GP check-ups.

    Research shows 80% of men see a GP or allied health practitioner in the year before having a baby. Asking about other aspects of wellbeing – such as sleep quality – can be an effective and non-stigmatising way to ease into conversations about mental health.

    This can help connect men with support services earlier, to improve their health and their children’s.

    What should men look out for?

    Studies suggest men may often express their distress through relationship strain, rather than sadness. They may also report self-harm, suicidal ideation and feeling isolated.

    Common signs a new dad might be struggling with mental health include:

    • fatigue
    • sleep problems
    • difficulty concentrating
    • racing heart
    • sweating
    • muscle tension
    • changes in appetite
    • feeling worried or out of control
    • irritability
    • anger
    • increased use of alcohol or other drugs.

    Is there support?

    Options for men who want more support include counselling, peer group support and online apps that use mindfulness and cognitive behaviour therapy to help manage moods.

    For fathers needing more immediate support, crisis support services offer 24/7 live counselling via chat, telephone or video:

    If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency in Australia, call triple 0.

    Delyse Hutchinson receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

    Jacqui Macdonald receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Medical Research Future Fund and the Australian Research Council. She convenes the Australian Fatherhood Research Consortium and she is on the Movember Global Men’s Health Advisory Committee.

    Samantha Teague receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

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

    – ref. When new dads struggle, their kids’ health can suffer. Tackling mental distress early can help – https://theconversation.com/when-new-dads-struggle-their-kids-health-can-suffer-tackling-mental-distress-early-can-help-253024

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Ancient termite poo reveals 120 million-year-old secrets of Australia’s polar forests

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alistair Evans, Professor, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University

    Witsawat.S/Shutterstock

    Imagine a lush forest with tree-ferns, their trunks capped by ribbon-like fronds. Conifers tower overhead, bearing triangular leaves almost sharp enough to pierce skin. Flowering plants are both small and rare.

    You’re standing in what is now Victoria, Australia, about 127 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous Period. Slightly to your south, a massive river – more than a kilometre wide – separates you from Tasmania. This river flows along the valley forming between Australia and Antarctica as the two continents begin to split apart.

    During the Early Cretaceous, southeastern Australia was some of the closest land to the South Pole. Here, the night lasted for three months in winter, contrasting with three months of daytime in summer. Despite this extreme day-night cycle, various kinds of dinosaurs still thrived here, as did flies, wasps and dragonflies.

    And, as our recently published research in Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology reveals, termites also chewed through the decaying wood of fallen trees. This is the first record of termites living in a polar region – and their presence provides key insights into what these ancient forests were like.

    Home makers, not homewreckers

    Termites might have a public reputation as homewreckers.

    But these wood-eating bugs are a key part of many environments, freeing up nutrients contained in dead plants. They are one of the best organisms at breaking down large amounts of wood, and significantly speed up the decay of fallen wood in forests.

    Ancient polar forests roughly 120 million years ago in southeastern Australia were dominated by conifer trees.
    Bob Nicholls

    The breakdown of wood by termites makes it easier for further consumption by other animals and fungi.

    Their role in ancient Victoria’s polar forests would have been just as important, as the natural decay of wood is very slow in cold conditions.

    Although the cold winters would have slowed termites too, they may have thrived during long periods of darkness, just as modern termites are more active during the night.

    The oldest termite nest in Australia

    Our new paper, led by Monash University palaeontology research associate Jonathan Edwards, reports the discovery of an ancient termite nest near the coastal town of Inverloch in southeastern Victoria. Preserved in a 80-centimetre-long piece of fossilised log, the nest tunnels carved out by termites were first spotted by local fossil-hunter extraordinaire Melissa Lowery.

    Without its discoverers knowing what it was then, the log was brought into the lab and we began investigating the origins of its structures.

    Understanding the nest was challenging at first: the tunnels exposed on the surface were filled with what looked like tiny grains of rice, each around 2 millimetres long. We suspected they were most likely the coprolites (fossilised poo) of the nest-makers. Once we took a look under the microscope we noticed something very interesting: this poo was hexagonal.

    Termite poo has a distinct hexagonal shape, as seen in these thin sections of the fossilised log we examined.
    Jonathan Edwards & William Parker

    How did this shape point to termites as the “poopetrators”?

    Modern termites have a gut with three sets of muscle bands. Just before excretion, their waste is squeezed to save as much water as possible, giving an almost perfect hexagonal shape to the pellets.

    The size, shape, distribution and quantity of coprolites meant we had just discovered the oldest termite nest in Australia – and perhaps the largest termite wood nest from dinosaur times.

    A global distribution

    We continued to investigate the nest with more specific methods.

    For example, we scanned parts of it with the Australian Synchrotron – a research facility that uses X-rays and infrared radiation to see the structure and composition of materials. This showed us what the unweathered coprolites inside the log looked like.

    MicroCT imagery of termite coprolites within the nest.
    Jonathan Edwards

    We also made very thin slices of the nest and looked at these slices with high-powered microscopes. And we analysed the chemistry of the log, which further supported our original theory of the nest’s identity.

    The oldest fossilised termites have been found in the northern hemisphere about 150 million years ago, during the Late Jurassic Period.

    What is exciting is that our trace fossils show they had reached the southernmost landmasses by 127 million years ago. This presence means they had likely spread all over Earth by this point.

    The termites weren’t alone

    Surprisingly, these termites also had smaller wood-eating companions.

    During our investigation, we also noticed coprolites more than ten times smaller than those made by termites. These pellets likely belonged to wood-eating oribatid mites – minuscule arachnids with fossils dating back almost 400 million years. Many of their tunnels ring those left by the termites, telling us they inhabited this nest after the termites abandoned it.

    CT reconstructions of termite and mite coprolites show the huge difference in size between them.
    Jonathan Edwards

    Termite tunnels may have acted as mite highways, taking them deeper into the log. Moreover, because both groups ate the toughest parts of wood, these two invertebrates might have directly competed at the time. Modern oribatid mites only eat wood affected by fungi.

    Regardless, our study documents the first known interaction of wood-nesting termites and oribatid mites in the fossil record.

    This nest also provides important support for the idea that Australia’s polar forests weren’t dominated by ice, as modern termites can’t tolerate prolonged freezing.

    This is the first record of termites living in a polar region, and their presence suggests relatively mild polar winters — something like 6°C on average. Termites would’ve been key players in these ecosystems, kickstarting wood breakdown and nutrient cycling in an otherwise slow environment.

    So maybe next time you spot a termite nest, you’ll see a builder, not a bulldozer.

    The authors would like to acknowledge the work of Jonathan Edwards who led the research and helped prepare this article.

    Alistair Evans receives funding from the Australian Research Council and Monash University, and is an Honorary Research Affiliate with Museums Victoria.

    Anthony J. Martin 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. Ancient termite poo reveals 120 million-year-old secrets of Australia’s polar forests – https://theconversation.com/ancient-termite-poo-reveals-120-million-year-old-secrets-of-australias-polar-forests-258399

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Tornado Watch 423

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Note:  The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
    SEL3

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 423
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    255 PM CDT Mon Jun 16 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    Central Minnesota
    Western Wisconsin

    * Effective this Monday afternoon and evening from 255 PM until
    900 PM CDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    A couple tornadoes possible
    Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2.5
    inches in diameter likely
    Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely

    SUMMARY…Thunderstorms will intensify this afternoon near a cold
    front sweeping eastward across the Minnesota, with a few supercells
    expected. Large hail is the main concern, but the strongest storms
    may also pose a risk of damaging winds and a few tornadoes.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 70 statute miles
    north and south of a line from 20 miles west of Alexandria MN to 80
    miles northeast of Minneapolis MN. For a complete depiction of the
    watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU3).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
    tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
    area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
    threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
    and possible warnings.

    &&

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 2.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
    storm motion vector 27030.

    …Hart

    SEL3

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 423
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    255 PM CDT Mon Jun 16 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    Central Minnesota
    Western Wisconsin

    * Effective this Monday afternoon and evening from 255 PM until
    900 PM CDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    A couple tornadoes possible
    Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2.5
    inches in diameter likely
    Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely

    SUMMARY…Thunderstorms will intensify this afternoon near a cold
    front sweeping eastward across the Minnesota, with a few supercells
    expected. Large hail is the main concern, but the strongest storms
    may also pose a risk of damaging winds and a few tornadoes.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 70 statute miles
    north and south of a line from 20 miles west of Alexandria MN to 80
    miles northeast of Minneapolis MN. For a complete depiction of the
    watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU3).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
    tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
    area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
    threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
    and possible warnings.

    &&

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 2.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
    storm motion vector 27030.

    …Hart

    Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
    SAW3
    WW 423 TORNADO MN WI 161955Z – 170200Z
    AXIS..70 STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF LINE..
    20W AXN/ALEXANDRIA MN/ – 80NE MSP/MINNEAPOLIS MN/
    ..AVIATION COORDS.. 60NM N/S /68SE FAR – 53NNW EAU/
    HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..2.5 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..60 KNOTS.
    MAX TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 27030.

    LAT…LON 46889582 46719205 44689205 44869582

    THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
    COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
    FOR WOU3.

    Watch 423 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

    Note:  Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes

    Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

    Mod (40%)

    Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes

    Low (20%)

    Wind

    Probability of 10 or more severe wind events

    Mod (60%)

    Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots

    Low (20%)

    Hail

    Probability of 10 or more severe hail events

    Mod (60%)

    Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches

    Mod (60%)

    Combined Severe Hail/Wind

    Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events

    High (>95%)

    For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: NAB home lending jumps as first home buyers return

    Source: Premier of Victoria

    Charlotte Dru Ziegeler wasn’t expecting her home ownership journey to move so quickly. Within two weeks of receiving pre-approval for a home loan from NAB, she’d found a home, made an offer and started packing.

    Charlotte is one of the growing number of first home buyers re-entering the market as conditions continue to improve.

    NAB customer Charlotte Dru Ziegeler

    Lending to first home buyers has jumped 16% since February, while lending to all owner occupiers is up 32% over the same period, new NAB data shows.

    Victoria is leading the way, with first home buyer activity climbing 28%, closely followed by Western Australia (+22%) and Queensland (+21%).

    The 33-year-old children’s librarian, who works in Geelong, had been watching the market for a while but wasn’t sure if buying was something she could yet do with the deposit she had saved.

    “Back in February I saw NAB had lowered their variable home loan rate, so I decided it was time to take another look at my options.

    “I spoke to a banker, got pre-approved in less than an hour and then not long after, the right house came up,” Charlotte said.

    That house was in St Leonards, a quiet coastal town just out of Geelong, and close to where Charlotte grew up. She recruited both her mother and brother to help with the move which happened only six weeks after talking to her NAB banker.

    “It all happened so fast. It was really exciting, and a huge ‘pinch me’ moment,” Charlotte said.

    “I grew up around here, so that made the whole process a little less daunting, and I’m the first of my siblings to buy a home so I’ve had a lot of support from my family.”

    NAB Executive for Home Lending Denton Pugh, said with NAB making cuts to both its fixed and variable home lending rate, the bank is seeing more first home buyers, and home buyers more broadly re-enter the market.

    “We’re seeing momentum return, especially with people like Charlotte who’ve been saving or waiting for the right time to take that jump into home ownership,” said Mr Pugh.

    NAB Executive for Home Lending Denton Pugh

    “And that momentum could carry through winter, which is usually a quieter time with less sellers listing over the cooler months.

    “Despite recent rate cuts, borrowing costs remain relatively high, limiting property value increases. Slower price increases benefit first home buyers by reducing the pressure of rapidly rising house prices.

    “Lower rates are helping first home buyers, as are initiatives such as the government’s Home Guarantee Scheme, but housing affordability and supply aren’t problems we can solve quickly.

    “There’s no silver bullet when it comes to housing – it will take business, government and communities all working together.”

    Notes to editors:

    • NAB proprietary home lending data between February – April 2025 vs the year prior.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Targeted cost of living support for Canberrans

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Our CBR is the ACT Government’s key channel to connect with Canberrans and keep you up-to-date with what’s happening in the city. Our CBR includes a monthly print edition, email newsletter and website.

    You can easily opt in or out of the newsletter subscription at any time.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: DHS Debunks Fake News Demonizing ICE Officers, Sets the Record Straight on L.A. Operations

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    These disgusting smears are designed to demonize and villainize our brave ICE law enforcement and have led to a more than 400 percent increase of assaults on our officers

    WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement to set the record straight on media reports demonizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers as they work to remove criminal illegal aliens from American streets in Los Angeles (LA), California.

    Below are just a handful of FALSE headlines about recent DHS operations in Los Angeles that attempt to villainize federal law enforcement.

    To set the record straight, the Department’s responses to the false claims are below.

    THE FACTS: “DHS targets have nothing to do with an individuals’ skin color. What makes someone a target is if they are in the United States illegally. These types of disgusting smears are designed to demonize and villainize our brave ICE law enforcement. This kind of garbage has led to a more than 400 percent increase in the assaults on ICE officers. Politicians and activists must turn the temperature down and tone down their rhetoric.” – Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin

    THE FACTS: “The facts are a U.S. citizen was arrested because he ASSAULTED U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agents. Secretary Noem has been clear: if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” – Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin

    THE FACTS: “This is blatantly FALSE. ICE is NOT in homeless shelters, ERs and schools. This rhetoric from the Mayor of LA and California politicians demonizes the brave men and women of law enforcement.” – Senior DHS Official

    THE FACTS: “Claims that ICE has conducted operations at Douglas Park to target and arrest nannies and caregivers are unequivocally FALSE. These are the type of lies being spread to demonize our brave ICE law enforcement who risk their lives to remove criminal illegal aliens including suspected terrorists, gang members, murderers, and rapists from American communities. The facts are that ICE, and our federal partners, are targeting the worst of the worst.” – Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga to host ‘Yoga Bandhan’ on June 17

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, will host ‘Yoga Bandhan’ on June 17, as a highlight of the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025 celebrations. As one of the 10 Signature Events for IDY-2025, this initiative reflects India’s dedication to fostering global cooperation through institution-to-institution connections in Yoga, advancing collective well-being and cultural exchange.

    ‘Yoga Bandhan’ will unite prominent Yoga leaders from across the globe, including academicians, practitioners, authors, trainers, and studio founders, to promote people-to-people exchanges and strengthen international partnerships. Notable delegates include Josh Pryor, President & CEO of Yoga Australia and a Mysore Style Yoga practitioner; Gregor Kos, senior representative of Yoga in Daily Life from Austria; Danilo Forghieri Santaella, Head of Research at the Sports Center, University of São Paulo, Brazil; Yin Yan, Founder of Yogi Yoga in China; and Maj Ingemann-Molden, a Yoga expert from Denmark. Other distinguished participants include Slamat Riyanto, Chairperson of the Indonesian National Association of Yoga Practitioners; Vidya Volkova, Director of Shakti Yoga Studio in Kazakhstan; Manisekaran, Founder of the Malaysian Yoga Society; Sinthamani Arunasalam, Co-Founder of AKSINOM Yoga in Malaysia; and Irina Fursova, a Yoga therapist and Hatha/Iyengar teacher from Russia. The event will also welcome Sujata Cowlagi, Founder & Director of Pragya Yoga and Wellness in Singapore; Geo-lyong Lee, a 2019 Distinguished Indologist Award recipient from South Korea; Kugan Naidoo and Sivlutchime Naidoo, Yoga experts from South Africa; Jose Maria Marquez Jurado (Gopala), a renowned Yoga practitioner from Spain; Vimukthi Jayasundara, a filmmaker and visual artist from Sri Lanka; and Rocio Belen Bonacci, National Representative from Santa Fe Province, Argentina.

    The event will commence with an inaugural session featuring addresses by key dignitaries, including Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush; Monalisa Dash, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush; K. Nandini Singla, Director General of the ICCR; and Dr. Kashinath Samagandi, Director of MDNIY. Following the opening, delegates will take part in a guided tour of the MDNIY campus and engage in interactive sessions focused on knowledge sharing and communication.

    During their visit, international delegates will participate in cultural tours, institutional dialogues, dedicated Yoga sessions, and discussions on integrative wellness. They will also explore opportunities for collaboration with Indian institutions, with their visit culminating in the grand IDY celebration on June 21, 2025.

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Services Council spotlights good regulatory practices, advances discussions on other issues

    Source: WTO

    Headline: Services Council spotlights good regulatory practices, advances discussions on other issues

    On 10 June, members also participated in an event under the “Simply Services” series, which serves as an informal platform for sharing the latest developments in trade in services (see below).
    Thematic session on good regulatory practices
    An informal thematic session on good regulatory practices (GRPs) was held on 12-13 June, as agreed at the March meeting of the Council for Trade in Services. GRPs for services trade refer to approaches to designing and implementing regulations aimed at achieving better regulatory outcomes. Discussions focused on measures such as increased transparency, including through stakeholder engagement, streamlining and digitalizing authorization processes, and promoting impartial and independent regulatory decision-making.
    The session featured extensive experience-sharing. The WTO Secretariat provided a broad overview of GRPs in services trade, including their role in regional trade agreements and their economic benefits. International organizations and regional economic fora — including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Bank, United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat, and the International Trade Centre (ITC) — shared data demonstrating how effective design and implementation of GRPs can boost both trade and economic growth. They also emphasized the importance of addressing implementation gaps between high- and low-income countries through capacity building, institutional strengthening, and more inclusive stakeholder engagement.
    Several members, including Australia, China, the European Union, Hong Kong China, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom, as well as other organizations, presented national experiences in leveraging GRPs to facilitate services trade. They highlighted domestic reforms to simplify procedures, reduce regulatory burdens, and improve regulatory quality, including through digital tools, single online portals, regulatory impact assessments, and enhanced stakeholder engagement. The importance of predictability, proportionality, inter-agency coordination, and outcome-focused regulation was underscored, alongside efforts to foster innovation, facilitate cross-border trade, and strengthen regulatory cooperation.
    Members reflected on the key takeaways from the session, emphasizing the rich discussions and valuable insights shared. Several noted that GRPs not only support international trade but also enhance domestic competitiveness and consumer welfare. The role of GRPs in strengthening crisis preparedness and resilience was also emphasized, with examples showing how transparent, predictable and streamlined regulatory frameworks can support faster and more effective responses in times of emergency.
    There was broad recognition of the role that international commitments, such as WTO members’ recent adoption of disciplines on services domestic regulation and regional trade agreements, play in providing a stable framework for consolidating domestic reforms aimed at improving the domestic business environment. Members expressed interest in continuing experience-sharing and peer learning. They also encouraged other members to adopt WTO disciplines on services domestic regulation to sustain reform efforts and promote services trade. 
    At the close of the session, the Chair of the Council for Trade in Services, H.E. Ambassador Ram Prasad Subedi (Nepal), emphasized that the depth and quality of GRP implementation by ministries and regulatory authorities is essential, with regulatory reforms representing an ongoing process informed by experience, evolving capacities and changing circumstances. He underlined the value of peer learning and regular exchanges on regulatory innovation, as well as the role that technical assistance can play in supporting members’ reform efforts.
    Responding to ministerial mandates
    Members continued efforts to advance the instruction in the 2024 Ministerial Declaration to reinvigorate work on trade in services and facilitate greater participation of developing members in services trade.
    The African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group introduced a submission on the role of services trade in responding to crises and resilience-building, as well as on the challenges faced by developing members in realizing the full potential of services trade. Members supported deepening work on the ACP Group’s proposal, with some suggesting a thematic session for further discussions.
    Barbados, South Africa, and the United Kingdom also presented a proposal for a thematic session on the green services economy and sustainable development. Members agreed in principle to organize an informal experience-sharing session in December, contingent on agreeing on an acceptable outline, to further explore the opportunities and challenges of leveraging services trade to deliver on environmental objectives. Suggestions were made on possible topics and speakers.
    As previously agreed at the March meeting, the Council is scheduled to organise an informal thematic session on the recognition of professional qualifications in October, subject to convergence on the session’s outline.
    Participation of least-developed countries in services trade
    Members received an update by the WTO Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group regarding its request to conduct a survey, hosted on the WTO website, to collect information on how their service suppliers engage with consumers and businesses in other economies. The LDC Group reported on ongoing consultations with a member who has maintained reservations about the request since the March meeting.
    The Group reaffirmed the importance of the survey in supporting LDCs’ participation in services trade, in line with the ministerial mandate to operationalize the “LDC Services Waiver,” adopted at the 8th Ministerial Conference in 2011.
    Engagement between the members concerned will continue to reach consensus on the issue.
    Services trade concerns
    The Council addressed issues related to recent unilateral tariff measures. China noted the need to consider overall trade balances, that include services trade, when setting trade policy. It also expressed concerns about the impact of US “reciprocal” tariffs on global supply chains and underscored the importance of multilateral collaboration under the WTO. The latter point in particular was echoed by other members. The United States said that, in contrast to the openness of its service markets, China maintained many restrictions and uncompetitive practices in numerous services sectors.
    Members also reverted to previously raised specific trade concerns. Japan and the United States repeated their concerns over cybersecurity measures implemented by China and Viet Nam, with several members echoing these concerns.
    China reiterated its concerns regarding certain US services measures and India’s measures affecting mobile applications.
    Trade in financial services
    On 11 June, the Committee on Trade in Financial Services appointed Mr. Will Nixon of Australia as its new Chair.
    Members focused on a proposal to organize an informal thematic session on “Facilitating Digital Payment Systems and Remittance Services”, building on the original proposal submitted by China, India, Pakistan, and the Philippines, which was first reviewed at the March meeting. The proposal covers three main topics: developing robust digital payment systems, ensuring interoperability of payment systems, and facilitating cross-border remittances.
    The Committee agreed to consider the latest version of the draft agenda put forward by China and the Philippines. Unless any objections are raised by 20 June 2025, the proposal will be automatically adopted. If approved, the session will take place alongside the next cluster of services meetings scheduled for 29 September to 3 October.
    The Committee also discussed a new submission by Morocco (S/FIN/W/103) on reducing the costs of cross-border remittances. Morocco emphasized the strategic importance of remittances for the economic and social development of developing members and called for multilateral cooperation to improve remittance transfers, reduce costs, and enhance transparency. It also expressed its intent to bring this issue to the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in March 2026. Members agreed to continue discussions at the next Committee meeting.
    Classification of environmental services
    At its 11 June meeting, the Committee on Specific Commitments confirmed Mr. Sirapat Vajraphai of Thailand as its new Chair. The Committee is one of the subsidiary bodies of the Services Council.
    Discussions focused on the classification of environmental services. Building on previous discussions regarding the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS) and its contributions to defining and classifying environmental services, the United Kingdom presented its new analysis (S/CSC/W/80), comparing the APEC Reference List and the ACCTS List. Delegates welcomed the UK’s analysis as a valuable foundation for further work and expressed interest in continued engagement on this issue.
    Members also revisited Canada’s proposal (S/CSC/W/77) for an informal experience-sharing session on services classification related to the environment. They agreed to hold the session in October alongside the next services cluster of meetings.
    Recent developments in services trade policy
    An event held on 12 June, entitled “Services Unbound — Digital Technologies and Policy Reform in East Asia and the Pacific,” addressed the region’s challenges, particularly barriers to competition in key services that hinder innovation. Participants also called for deeper domestic reforms and stronger international cooperation.
    The event was organized by the WTO’s Trade in Services and Investment Division as part of the “Simply Services” speaker series, an informal platform for sharing the latest information on services trade trends. The webcast of the event is available here.

    Share

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Fire at Scott Street, Perth – update, Monday 16 June

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    “Since the fire, Scottish Fire and Rescue, Police Scotland and Council staff have been on site to ensure the safety of the wider public.

    “On Saturday 14 June a structural engineering contractor was brought in to assess the damage caused to the building at 41 Scott Street.

    “Their report outlined devastating damage to the whole building. The structure has been made unsafe and no part of it is salvageable. As things stand, the building is a serious risk to health and safety.

    “Unfortunately, this means that the whole building will require complete demolition. This will be an extremely complex process, and specialist demolition contractor Reigart has been appointed to carry out the task. Preliminary work has already begun on site.

    “The building will require careful demolition from the top, down to ground level and this will take some time to complete. It is estimated that the work could take around 24 weeks, but it is possible that it could be concluded earlier if there are no complications.

    “To allow the work to be carried out safely, pedestrian and traffic access to sections of Scott Street and South Street around the site will remain closed. We appreciate that this will cause continued significant disruption in Perth City Centre, but unfortunately this is unavoidable given the situation we face.”

    Ongoing arrangements

    The closure means that some households who live in blocks very near the site have been asked to move out of their homes while demolition work is carried out to ensure their safety. These people will be provided with alternative suitable housing, as well as any other support they need at this difficult time. To assist with the rehousing effort, the Council is asking any local landlords or AirBnB owners to get in touch with us if they have accommodation that is currently available. They can contact our Housing Team by emailing privatesectoraccess@pkc.gov.uk

    It is hoped some of these people will be able to move back into their homes after 16 weeks, when demolition work has progressed and the building will be of a safe height. People who live in the block directly adjacent to number 41 (number 33) will have to be rehoused for the entire duration of the work.

    Some other households who live further away from the fire site but who still live inside the cordon have been asked to leave their homes for the short-term. We are aiming to allow these people back into their homes soon.

    The Council will support businesses who will be affected by the road closures. We have been speaking to them today to see what arrangements can be put in place to help. This support will continue and develop throughout the duration of the closure. Anyone who needs to speak to our Business Support Team can email businessdevelopment@pkc.gov.uk

    It is hoped that the outer cordon can be reduced in the near future, which would allow some businesses to reopen and some people to return to their homes.

    A new road traffic configuration for Perth city centre is being designed to allow the free flow of traffic as far as we can, and to provide delivery access to premises. We will provide an update with these arrangements.

    Buses will be re-routed, and some temporary stops will be put into the city centre. Signage will be in place so that people know where they can get their bus.

    Councillor Drysdale added: “The people of Perth and local businesses have responded to this sad event with huge compassion and generosity. It has been heartening to see our local community pull together to help people at their time of greatest need.

    “We would appreciate everyone’s ongoing co-operation and understanding as we deal with this difficult situation.

    “We understand that the disruption to the city centre will bring frustrations, but we are committed to completing the work as soon as we can and most importantly, to continue support for the people and businesses who have been directly affected by the fire.

    “I would once again like to pay tribute to our emergency services for their continued excellent response to this incident, as well as to the wide range of Council and Health and Social Care Partnership staff who rose to a significant challenge over the weekend to provide all the support and help that they could. I also want to pass on my sincere gratitude to the staff at Salutation Hotel, who have been superb in working with us to make sure that people affected had the care they needed in the aftermath of the fire.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Bill to boost labour market flexibility

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says amendments to the Employment Relations Act will improve labour market flexibility and help businesses to grow, innovate, and employ with confidence and certainty.
    “Today I’m announcing the introduction of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill to Parliament, marking a key milestone in this Government’s efforts to help New Zealand businesses employ or contract with confidence and create more and better opportunities for workers,” says Ms van Velden. 
    The changes give effect to several ACT–National Coalition Agreement commitments, including to provide greater certainty for contracting parties.
    “Workers and businesses should have more certainty about the type of work being done from the moment they agree to a contracting arrangement.
    “The new gateway test introduced in this Bill will provide greater clarity for businesses and workers around the distinction between employment and contracting arrangements. This will provide greater certainty for all parties and will allow more innovative business models,” says Ms van Velden. 
    The Bill will also make changes to simplify the personal grievances process including two significant changes. 
    “The amendment to personal grievances will reduce rewards for bad behaviour and reduce costs for businesses in the process. Under current law, if a personal grievance is established the Employment Relations Authority or Employment Court may award remedies including reinstatement into a role, and compensation for hurt and humiliation. The changes make clear an employee whose behaviour amounts to serious misconduct will be ineligible for remedies. 
    “This change will ensure that hardworking New Zealanders don’t see bad behaviour rewarded,” says Ms van Velden. 
    The Bill also introduces an income threshold of $180,000 above which a personal grievance for unjustified dismissal cannot be pursued. 
    High-income employees often have a major impact on organisational performance, getting the right fit is crucial. This change will provide greater labour market flexibility, enabling businesses to ensure they have the best fit of skills and abilities for their organisation. It allows employers to give workers a go in high impact positions, without having to risk a costly and disruptive dismissal process if things don’t work out, benefitting those seeking to move up the career ladder.” 
    Another change will cut compliance at the beginning of employment. By removing the ‘30-day rule’ employers and employees will now be free to negotiate mutually beneficial terms and conditions from the start of employment. 
    “I am committed to building business confidence, ensuring a strong economy that will lift wages, create opportunities, and help Kiwi workers get ahead,” says Ms van Velden.
    The public and interested groups will have a chance to submit on the Bill when it is at Select Committee. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich: the Netanyahu government extremists sanctioned by the UK

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Leonie Fleischmann, Senior Lecturer in International Politics, City St George’s, University of London

    The UK’s decision to impose sanctions on two far-right Netanyahu government ministers has put it at loggerheads with the Trump administration over Israel. Announcing on June 10 that Britain would join Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway in sanctioning Israel’s minister for national security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and minister of finance, Bezalel Smotrich, the UK foreign secretary David Lammy said the pair had “incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights”.

    US secretary of state Marco Rubio criticised the decision, releasing a statement the same day saying the sanctions did not “advance US-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and end the war”. He added: “We remind our partners not to forget who the real enemy is. The United States urges the reversal of the sanctions and stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel.”

    Britain and its allies also called on the Netanyahu government to respond to extremist Israeli settler violence in the West Bank and to “cease the expansion of illegal settlements which undermine a future Palestinian state”. This has brought the spotlight back to the West Bank, where decades of settler violence towards Palestinians and a planning system which favours the Israeli settlers, have led to the gradual displacement of Palestinian communities.



    Read more:
    Israeli plan to occupy all of Gaza could open the door for annexation of the West Bank

    The announcement seemed to signal a possible breach in relations between the UK government and the Netanyahu government. But with conflict escalating between Israel and Iran, the UK’s chancellor of the exchequer, Rachel Reeves, has said the government may be willing to provide military support for Israel.

    Smotrich responded to the sanctions, speaking on his “contempt” at Britain’s decision and referring to Britain’s history of administration of what he called “our homeland”. He said: “Britain has already tried once to prevent us from settling the cradle of our homeland, and we will not allow it to do so again. We are determined to continue building.”

    In retaliation for the sanctions, Smotrich pledged to collapse the Palestinian Authority, by taking measures to prevent Israeli banks for corresponding with Palestinian banks. This has been vital for sustaining the Palestinian economy.

    UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, explains why the government has sanctioned the two Israeli ministers.

    Ben-Gvir and Smotrich and their ultra-nationalist followers actually represent a relatively small fraction of Israeli society, but they hold the balance of power in Netanyahu’s coalition, controlling 20 seats in Netanyahu’s 67-seat coalition. This has enabled them to consolidate decades of settler activity outside of parliamentary legitimacy into influencing government policy.

    Itamar Ben-Gvir

    Ben-Gvir is an admirer of the late racist rabbi Meir Kahane, who founded the far-right Kach party which was labelled a terrorist organisation in 2008 having been banned from running in parliamentary elections. In 2007 he was convicted for incitement to racism and being a supporter of a terrorist organisation.

    He subsequently told an event to honour Kahane that, while he admired Kahane, he would not try to pass laws to expel all Arabs from Israel and the West Bank or to create a regime which involved ethnic segregation. But Kahane’s violent anti-Arab ideology and desire to establish a theocratic Jewish state has influenced the next generation of ultra-nationalists.

    The national security minister has been convicted eight times for offences that include racism and support for a terrorist organisation. He gained prominence as a successful defence lawyer for Jews accused of violence against Palestinians. The political party he heads, Otzma Yehudit, advocates for the annexation of the entire West Bank without granting Palestinians Israeli citizenship.

    Ben-Gvir has become infamous for his provocative statements. In August 2023, he declared in an interview with Israel’s Channel 12, that his rights trump those of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

    “My right, and my wife’s and my children’s right to get around on the roads in Judea and Samaria, is more important than the right to movement for Arabs,” he said, effectively advocating for a regime of apartheid. He has consistently pushed Netanyahu to maintain the war in Gaza, blocking past attempts to reach a ceasefire.

    Bezalel Smotrich

    Smotrich also has a history of making inflammatory statements. In February 2023, three days after settler vigilantes rampaged through the West Bank town of Huwara, he called for Israel to wipe the town off the map. He later apologised for this comment after being criticised by both the opposition leader, Yair Lapid, and the US government, saying he hadn’t meant it to be a call for vigilante violence.

    Smotrich believes the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are part of the biblical land of Israel and rightfully belong to the Jewish people. He has dedicated his career to ensuring the establishment of Jewish settlements.

    In 2006, he helped establish a non-governmental organisation called Regavim as a pressure group to increase settlement of the West Bank. The left-leaning Israeli newspaper Haaretz has criticised Regavim as “an organisation waging a total war on Palestinian construction in the West Bank”.

    Since Smotrich was given increased control over civil affairs on the West Bank in early 2023, the building of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank has accelerated. He is reported to have recently directed his office to “formulate an operational plan for applying sovereignty” over the West Bank.

    He told a group touring new settlements approved by the Israeli government that: “”We will not stop until the entire area receives its full legal status and becomes an inseparable part of the State of Israel. We are changing the face of the settlement enterprise not just as a slogan, but through real action.”

    Rightward shift

    The prominence of Ben-Gvir and Smotrich reflects a rightward shift in the Israeli electorate that has brought ultra-nationalist settler ideology into the mainstream. However, their meteoric rise is also due to their holding the balance of power, which has enabled Netanyahu to remain in office. That Netanyahu remains prime minister is widely believed to be partly responsible for the slow progress of his trials for bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

    Before the November 2022 Knesset election, Netanyahu reportedly brokered a deal whereby Smotrich’s Religious Zionism Party and Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Home party joined forces. This ensured they won enough seats to ensure Netanyahu could form a coalition. And so these two extremists bent on thwarting any hope for Palestinian independence became kingmakers.

    While they have such influence over the Netanyahu government, there is no possibility for a Palestinian state. Instead it is more likely that the violence towards Palestinians and the dispossession of their land will continue to increase.

    Leonie Fleischmann 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. Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich: the Netanyahu government extremists sanctioned by the UK – https://theconversation.com/itamar-ben-gvir-and-bezalel-smotrich-the-netanyahu-government-extremists-sanctioned-by-the-uk-258644

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Mayor Bass, and Congressional, State Legislators Unite In Call To End Raids Ahead of Trump’s Military March on Saturday

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

    LOS ANGELES – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) and Mayor Bass were joined today by nearly 30 Congressional and state legislators to call for an end to immigration raids ahead of the President’s military march this weekend. Watch the press conference here. 

    Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove

    “Trump is manufacturing chaos in Los Angeles, using our city as his movie set to justify his authoritarian crackdowns and cruel ICE raids. This is all a distraction. To distract from the fact that Trump isn’t going after ‘criminals,’ but citizens, legal immigrants, and immigrants seeking legal status the right way. To distract from his effort to cut $880 billion from Medicaid. To distract from his destruction of our economy through his Temper Tariffs. These are the real issues that the American people care about—and we will not be distracted.”

    Mayor Karen Bass

    “We are here today because the White House ordered raids of home depots, they took over our state’s national guard, and they activated the U.S. Marines. Let me be clear – Los Angeles is not a war zone. What you’re seeing and hearing out of this Administration is not representative of our city, of our state, of our country. The Trump Administration has caused unnecessary chaos and fear in our city and across the country. It’s not keeping anyone safe. We’ve come together today to demonstrate the American values of tolerance, freedom, and a respect for our Constitution and to show the world what L.A. is really about.”

    Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire

    “Our rights, our freedoms, and our Constitution are under attack. America’s armed forces have been illegally deployed in our communities, our representatives have been threatened and detained, and a sitting U.S. Senator has been handcuffed and muzzled. Today, it’s Los Angeles County in the crosshairs, but make no mistake, tomorrow it could be your community, your neighborhood, or your family. These are the actions of an authoritarian not the leader of the free world. This cannot continue. We’re grateful to Mayor Bass for standing up for all Angelenos and demanding action and accountability from the Trump Administration.”

    Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas

    “Here in California, we are not going to be intimidated. I stand as the first Speaker of the California State Assembly born to immigrant farmworkers. This is personal. My family came from Mexico seeking opportunity, and they found it — in the fields, in the classroom and in the promise of this state. That promise still belongs to every Californian, no matter where they were born or how long they’ve been here.”

    Congresswoman Judy Chu

    “Tonight, I am honored to stand alongside local and federal leaders in Los Angeles to demand an end to the ICE raids and to speak out against Trump’s dangerous militarization of our communities. This is not what public safety looks like, this is fear, intimidation, and overreach. Enough is enough, Los Angeles deserves peace, dignity, and compassion, not armored vehicles and mass arrests.”

    Congressman Mark Takano

    “I am proud of this state, I am proud of the community which I represent, and I am proud of the leadership of this state who are showing the world that we will not be ruled by a king. We will continue to use our voice to object to ICE’s inflammatory tactics to meet arbitrary deportation quotas. My community and constituents deserve more out of a President and our Country.”

    Congresswoman Norma Torres

    “We will not stand by as we see the Trump Administration break the law and harm our state. They are continuing to deploy ICE, the National Guard and the Marines into our city streets without legal authority or coordination with local officials. That’s not just dangerous—it’s unlawful and unnecessary. This kind of unilateral action wastes taxpayer dollars and directly undermines the stability of California—the world’s fourth-largest economy and the backbone of the United States. I am proud to see California’s Congressional Delegation and Mayor Bass standing united to protect our communities, uphold the rule of law, and support the people of Los Angeles.”

    Assemblymember Tina McKinnor

    “This President and his Administration? They not like us. On behalf of the 10 million people that call LA County home, we have a simple message for the current President of the United States. STOP. Mr. President, stop violating the constitutional rights of the people of LA County. Mr. President, stop violating the due process rights of the people of LA County. Mr. President, stop provoking fear and violence in LA County. LA is strong, diverse and resilient. Our resilience is our strength and we will not be intimidated by anyone threatening our peace. Including threats by this President.” 

    Senator María Elena Durazo
    “The Trump Administration is detaining everyday workers, denying them due process, and summarily deporting them. It’s deploying military forces against our own peaceful citizens. Make no mistake, this is an unprecedented assault on our democracy. We all must organize peacefully, defend our communities from this authoritarian overreach, and stand united in our defense to protect everyone’s constitutional rights.”

    Assemblymember Mark González
    “I’m not just speaking today as an Assemblymember — I’m speaking as a son of Los Angeles. I grew up in these neighborhoods. I’ve seen the fear ICE has brought into our homes — parents hiding, children walking alone, families torn apart. This is not justice. This is trauma. But Los Angeles does not live in fear — we rise in love, in courage, and in community. I want to thank Mayor Karen Bass for her steady, principled leadership in this moment. She’s shown what it means to lead with both strength and compassion. So I’m calling on our people: check on your neighbors. Show up for one another. Speak out, organize, and lead with the values that built this city. Because when we stand together, no raid, no troop, no fear can divide us. This is Los Angeles. And we take care of our own.”

    Assemblymember José Luis Solache

    “The families I represent are hardworking people who came here to chase their dreams, not to be treated like criminals. They contribute to our economy, they strengthen our communities, and they deserve dignity. I urge the President to stop these raids, return federal resources to where they belong, and respect the humanity of our people. We stand with peaceful demonstrations, and we will continue to lift our voices with unity and heart.”

    Attendees: 

    • Rep. Sydney Kamlager Dove, California’s 37th Congressional District

    • Sen. Mike McGuire, California State Senate Pro Tempore

    • Asm. Robert Rivas, California State Assembly Speaker

    • Rep. Judy Chu, California’s 28th Congressional District

    • Rep. Mark Takano, California’s 39th Congressional District

    • Rep. Norma Torres, California’s 35th Congressional District

    • Asm. Tina McKinnor, State Assembly District 61

    • Sen. María Elena Durazo, State Senate District 26

    • Asm. Mark Gonzalez, State Assembly District 54

    • Asm. José Solache, State Assembly District 62

    • Sen. Laura Richardson, State Senate District 35

    • Sen. Caroline Menjivar, State Senate District 20

    • Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, State Senate District 28

    • Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, State Senate District 25

    • Asm. Rick Chavez Zbur, State Assembly District 51

    • Asm. Mike Gipson, State Assembly District 65

    • Asm. Al Muratsuchi, State Assembly District 66

    • Asm. Issac Bryan, State Assembly District 55

    • Asm. Mike Fong, State Assembly District 49

    • Asm. Jacqui Irwin, State Assembly District 42

    • Asm. Juan Carrillo, State Assembly District 39

    • Asm. Lisa Calderon, State Assembly District 56

    • Asm. Sade Elhawary, State Assembly District 57

    • Asm. Celeste Rodriguez, State Assembly District 43

    • Asm. Jessica Caloza, State Assembly District 52

    • Asm. Nick Schultz, State Assembly District 44

    • Asm. John Harabedian, State Assembly District 41

    • Asm. Blanca Pacheco, State Assembly District 64

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Mayor Bass, and Congressional, State Legislators Unite In Call To End Raids Ahead of Trump’s Military March on Saturday

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

    LOS ANGELES – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) and Mayor Bass were joined today by nearly 30 Congressional and state legislators to call for an end to immigration raids ahead of the President’s military march this weekend. Watch the press conference here. 

    Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove

    “Trump is manufacturing chaos in Los Angeles, using our city as his movie set to justify his authoritarian crackdowns and cruel ICE raids. This is all a distraction. To distract from the fact that Trump isn’t going after ‘criminals,’ but citizens, legal immigrants, and immigrants seeking legal status the right way. To distract from his effort to cut $880 billion from Medicaid. To distract from his destruction of our economy through his Temper Tariffs. These are the real issues that the American people care about—and we will not be distracted.”

    Mayor Karen Bass

    “We are here today because the White House ordered raids of home depots, they took over our state’s national guard, and they activated the U.S. Marines. Let me be clear – Los Angeles is not a war zone. What you’re seeing and hearing out of this Administration is not representative of our city, of our state, of our country. The Trump Administration has caused unnecessary chaos and fear in our city and across the country. It’s not keeping anyone safe. We’ve come together today to demonstrate the American values of tolerance, freedom, and a respect for our Constitution and to show the world what L.A. is really about.”

    Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire

    “Our rights, our freedoms, and our Constitution are under attack. America’s armed forces have been illegally deployed in our communities, our representatives have been threatened and detained, and a sitting U.S. Senator has been handcuffed and muzzled. Today, it’s Los Angeles County in the crosshairs, but make no mistake, tomorrow it could be your community, your neighborhood, or your family. These are the actions of an authoritarian not the leader of the free world. This cannot continue. We’re grateful to Mayor Bass for standing up for all Angelenos and demanding action and accountability from the Trump Administration.”

    Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas

    “Here in California, we are not going to be intimidated. I stand as the first Speaker of the California State Assembly born to immigrant farmworkers. This is personal. My family came from Mexico seeking opportunity, and they found it — in the fields, in the classroom and in the promise of this state. That promise still belongs to every Californian, no matter where they were born or how long they’ve been here.”

    Congresswoman Judy Chu

    “Tonight, I am honored to stand alongside local and federal leaders in Los Angeles to demand an end to the ICE raids and to speak out against Trump’s dangerous militarization of our communities. This is not what public safety looks like, this is fear, intimidation, and overreach. Enough is enough, Los Angeles deserves peace, dignity, and compassion, not armored vehicles and mass arrests.”

    Congressman Mark Takano

    “I am proud of this state, I am proud of the community which I represent, and I am proud of the leadership of this state who are showing the world that we will not be ruled by a king. We will continue to use our voice to object to ICE’s inflammatory tactics to meet arbitrary deportation quotas. My community and constituents deserve more out of a President and our Country.”

    Congresswoman Norma Torres

    “We will not stand by as we see the Trump Administration break the law and harm our state. They are continuing to deploy ICE, the National Guard and the Marines into our city streets without legal authority or coordination with local officials. That’s not just dangerous—it’s unlawful and unnecessary. This kind of unilateral action wastes taxpayer dollars and directly undermines the stability of California—the world’s fourth-largest economy and the backbone of the United States. I am proud to see California’s Congressional Delegation and Mayor Bass standing united to protect our communities, uphold the rule of law, and support the people of Los Angeles.”

    Assemblymember Tina McKinnor

    “This President and his Administration? They not like us. On behalf of the 10 million people that call LA County home, we have a simple message for the current President of the United States. STOP. Mr. President, stop violating the constitutional rights of the people of LA County. Mr. President, stop violating the due process rights of the people of LA County. Mr. President, stop provoking fear and violence in LA County. LA is strong, diverse and resilient. Our resilience is our strength and we will not be intimidated by anyone threatening our peace. Including threats by this President.” 

    Senator María Elena Durazo
    “The Trump Administration is detaining everyday workers, denying them due process, and summarily deporting them. It’s deploying military forces against our own peaceful citizens. Make no mistake, this is an unprecedented assault on our democracy. We all must organize peacefully, defend our communities from this authoritarian overreach, and stand united in our defense to protect everyone’s constitutional rights.”

    Assemblymember Mark González
    “I’m not just speaking today as an Assemblymember — I’m speaking as a son of Los Angeles. I grew up in these neighborhoods. I’ve seen the fear ICE has brought into our homes — parents hiding, children walking alone, families torn apart. This is not justice. This is trauma. But Los Angeles does not live in fear — we rise in love, in courage, and in community. I want to thank Mayor Karen Bass for her steady, principled leadership in this moment. She’s shown what it means to lead with both strength and compassion. So I’m calling on our people: check on your neighbors. Show up for one another. Speak out, organize, and lead with the values that built this city. Because when we stand together, no raid, no troop, no fear can divide us. This is Los Angeles. And we take care of our own.”

    Assemblymember José Luis Solache

    “The families I represent are hardworking people who came here to chase their dreams, not to be treated like criminals. They contribute to our economy, they strengthen our communities, and they deserve dignity. I urge the President to stop these raids, return federal resources to where they belong, and respect the humanity of our people. We stand with peaceful demonstrations, and we will continue to lift our voices with unity and heart.”

    Attendees: 

    • Rep. Sydney Kamlager Dove, California’s 37th Congressional District

    • Sen. Mike McGuire, California State Senate Pro Tempore

    • Asm. Robert Rivas, California State Assembly Speaker

    • Rep. Judy Chu, California’s 28th Congressional District

    • Rep. Mark Takano, California’s 39th Congressional District

    • Rep. Norma Torres, California’s 35th Congressional District

    • Asm. Tina McKinnor, State Assembly District 61

    • Sen. María Elena Durazo, State Senate District 26

    • Asm. Mark Gonzalez, State Assembly District 54

    • Asm. José Solache, State Assembly District 62

    • Sen. Laura Richardson, State Senate District 35

    • Sen. Caroline Menjivar, State Senate District 20

    • Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, State Senate District 28

    • Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, State Senate District 25

    • Asm. Rick Chavez Zbur, State Assembly District 51

    • Asm. Mike Gipson, State Assembly District 65

    • Asm. Al Muratsuchi, State Assembly District 66

    • Asm. Issac Bryan, State Assembly District 55

    • Asm. Mike Fong, State Assembly District 49

    • Asm. Jacqui Irwin, State Assembly District 42

    • Asm. Juan Carrillo, State Assembly District 39

    • Asm. Lisa Calderon, State Assembly District 56

    • Asm. Sade Elhawary, State Assembly District 57

    • Asm. Celeste Rodriguez, State Assembly District 43

    • Asm. Jessica Caloza, State Assembly District 52

    • Asm. Nick Schultz, State Assembly District 44

    • Asm. John Harabedian, State Assembly District 41

    • Asm. Blanca Pacheco, State Assembly District 64

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Announces Every State Has Joined $7.4 Billion Settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler Family

    Source: US State of New York

    EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that 55 attorneys general, representing all eligible states and U.S. territories, agreed to a $7.4 billion settlement in principle with Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family for their instrumental role in creating the opioid crisis. Attorney General James secured the settlement in principle in January, which will end the Sacklers’ control of Purdue and ability to sell opioids in the United States, and will deliver funding directly to communities across the country over the next 15 years to support opioid addiction treatment, prevention, and recovery programs. New York will receive up to $250 million for opioid abatement efforts throughout the state.

    “I am proud to have helped secure the support of every state and territory in the country for this plan to hold the Sackler family accountable,” Attorney General James. “For decades, the Sacklers put profits over people, and played a leading role in fueling the epidemic of opioid addictions and overdoses. While no amount of money can fully heal the destruction they caused, these funds will save lives and help our communities fight back against the opioid crisis. I will continue to work to deliver justice for all those affected by opioid addiction.”

    Purdue, under the Sacklers’ leadership, invented, manufactured, and aggressively marketed opioid products for decades, fueling waves of addiction and overdose deaths across the country. Communities throughout New York have been hit particularly hard. While opioid overdose deaths have declined, more than 5,000 New Yorkers died from an opioid overdose in 2023. 

    Communities across the country will directly receive settlement funds over the next 15 years to support addiction treatment, prevention, and recovery. If approved, the settlement will deliver funds to the participating states, local governments, affected individuals, and other parties who have previously sued the Sacklers or Purdue. The Sacklers will pay $1.5 billion and Purdue will pay roughly $900 million in the first payment, expected in early 2026 pending settlement approval. Subsequent payments will be $500 million after one year, an additional $500 million after two years, and $400 million after three years. New York will receive up to $250 million total.

    Like prior opioid settlements, this settlement requires resolution of legal claims by state and local governments. The local government sign-on process for this settlement will be contingent on bankruptcy court approval.

    With the addition of up to $250 million from this settlement, Attorney General James has secured New York state more than $3 billion from opioid manufacturers and distributors for their role in the opioid epidemic. These include Mylan, Indivior, Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, Mallinckrodt, Allergan, Endo, McKesson, Cardinal Health, and Amerisource Bergen. Attorney General James has also led multistate coalitions in reaching settlements for billions of dollars with CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart for their roles in failing to properly regulate opioid prescriptions. Additionally, Attorney General James, co-led with a bipartisan coalition of states in securing settlements with consulting firm McKinsey & Company and the marketing firm Publicis Health for their role in fueling the opioid crisis. 

    Joining Attorney General James in this settlement in principle are the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

    This matter was handled for New York by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy, Senior Advisor and Special Counsel M. Umair Khan, Special Counsel David Nachman, Special Counsel Andrew Amer, Assistant Attorney General and Special Assistant to the First Deputy Gina Bull, Special Counsel for Complex Litigation Colleen Faherty, with the support of all of the Executive Division, along with Senior Advisor to the Criminal Division Gary Fishman, former Special Counsel Eric Haren, Civil Recoveries Section Chief Martin Mooney, Assistant Attorney General Noah Popp of the Consumer Frauds Bureau, Assistant Attorney General Robert Rock of Civil Recoveries, Assistant Attorneys General Jennifer Simcovitch and Eve Wooden of the Health Care Bureau, and the indispensable contributions of the Research and Analytics Department, including the work of the Director of Research and Analytics Victoria Khan, Data Scientists Ken Morales and Blake Rubey, and Paige Podolny, Kristin Petrella, Hewson Chen, and Darlene Eng of the Practice Technologies Group, and Legal Support Analyst Labiba Hasan.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Missouri Scholarship & Loan Foundation Celebrates Milestones for My Missouri (MyMO) Scholarship Promise

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ST. LOUIS, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MOHELA, a non-profit governmental corporation dedicated to helping the student loan borrowers it serves, proudly announces two major milestones through The Missouri Scholarship & Loan Foundation (MSLF). The Foundation, established by MOHELA in 2010, has selected its newest class of high school freshmen, the Class of 2028, to join the My Missouri (MyMO) Scholarship Promise program, which provides up to $10,000 in scholarship funds to Missouri students from low-income backgrounds. At the same time, the inaugural MyMO cohort—the Class of 2025—is graduating from high school and preparing to enter college this fall with their full scholarship awards in hand.

    “These students represent the future of Missouri,” said Melissa Findley, Executive Director of the MSLF. “We’re proud of every student who made a four-year commitment to themselves, their education, and their future. MyMO is more than a scholarship—it’s a roadmap to success.”

    Celebrating the Class of 2025

    Roughly 78 students across the state, including Drew Edmondson of Nixa High School, successfully completed all MyMO benchmarks throughout high school. These requirements included maintaining a GPA of 2.5 or higher, meeting attendance standards, completing ACT testing, FAFSA filing, and other key college readiness activities. Graduates will receive $10,000 in scholarship funds—disbursed evenly over four years—and a $100 contribution to their Missouri 529 college savings account.

    Drew, who plans to attend Ozarks Community Technical College and later transfer to Missouri State University to study Media Production, exemplifies the determination and promise at the heart of the MyMO program.

    Welcoming the Class of 2028

    MSLF also welcomes a new group of incoming freshmen to the MyMO program. These students will begin a four-year journey guided by structured academic and college-readiness benchmarks. Each year, they have the opportunity to earn $2,500—up to a total of $10,000—toward tuition at any eligible Missouri institution.

    Benchmarks begin in 9th grade and include GPA and attendance goals, participation in program events, and activities such as researching colleges, completing the ACT, visiting campuses, and submitting the FAFSA.

    Program Impact

    Open to Pell-eligible students who are Missouri residents, MyMO removes financial barriers and prepares participants for success through proactive planning and support. The scholarship funds are paid directly to over 70 eligible nonprofit Missouri colleges, universities, and technical schools. “MyMO provides a long-term, supportive framework for students who may otherwise believe college is out of reach,” said Findley. “The results speak for themselves—we’re seeing the impact in real time, and we’re just getting started.”

    To learn more about the Missouri Scholarship & Loan Foundation, visit www.moslf.org.

    About Missouri Scholarship & Loan Foundation
    MSLF, established by MOHELA in 2010, is dedicated to providing innovative financial solutions and career development opportunities for Missouri students, particularly those with financial need, to prepare for and successfully complete their higher education journeys.

    About MOHELA 
    MOHELA is a non-profit, governmental corporation with 40 years of experience and a track record of providing exceptional customer service to the borrowers it serves. MOHELA plays an essential role in the student loan ecosystem, providing support and assistance for around 9 million borrowers.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: USS America Arrives in Sydney

    Source: United States Navy

    SYDNEY – Amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), the flagship of the America Strike Group, arrived in Sydney, today, June 14, for a scheduled port visit. The ship carries embarked Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and is currently conducting routine operations in the South Pacific.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Suspicious death at Gilberton

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Police are investigating a death at Gilberton this evening.

    Just after 7pm on Monday 16 June, police received a report of a person collapsed inside a unit on Walkerville Terrace.

    When police arrived, they found a person deceased at the property.

    Detectives from Eastern District attended the scene with the assistance of Major Crime officers and Investigators have determined the death to be suspicious.

    A woman has been detained and is assisting police in relation to the incident.

    More information will be provided when known.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rosneft held the second corporate triathlon competition

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Rosneft held the second corporate triathlon competition in Moscow. Both experienced athletes and newcomers competed for victory in the individual and team events. All participants demonstrated exceptional endurance, fortitude and corporate team spirit.

    Rosneft develops a healthy lifestyle culture and comprehensively supports sports. As part of the Energy of Life program, the Company’s employees take part in a number of major sports events, including marathon races, international triathlon competitions, family sports events, the All-Russian Physical Culture and Health Complex GTO festival, and many others.

    This year, the participants of the Rosneft Triathlon competition were offered three distance options: Olympic, sprint and super-sprint. They all differed in mileage, but required the same full dedication. The athletes also competed in the relay race – 19 teams took part in it, each of which included three participants.

    The competition took place in the Krylatskoye sports complex. The first stage, swimming, took place in the Rowing Canal, followed by a cycling race and running. The triathlon united Rosneft employees from different cities of the country and divisions of the Company. At the same time, the oldest athlete who took part in the distance and successfully completed it turned 57 years old.

    In the Olympic distance (1.5 km swimming, 40 km cycling and 10 km running), the winners were Denis Zaitsev from Samaraneftegaz and Kristina Ignatyeva from RN-Vankor. In the sprint (0.75 km swimming, 20 km cycling and 5 km running), the winners were Mikhail Ignatyev from Udmurtneft and Irina Lokhmakova from Slavneft-Krasnoyarskneftegaz. In the super sprint (300 m swimming, 7.3 km cycling and 2 km running), the winners were Dmitry Krupin from SIBINTEK and Victoria Bunyak from RN-Moscow. In the relay, the Udmurtneft team won gold, while the Verkhnechonskneftegaz team and the second Udmurtneft team also made it onto the podium.

    Congratulations to the winners and all participants of the Rosneft corporate triathlon competitions!

    Reference:

    Rosneft has one of the strongest triathlon teams among corporate teams. Rosneft Triathlon has been participating in various competitions since 2015 and unites more than 200 athletes of the Company.

    During its performances, the Rosneft triathlon team was awarded the title of “Most Successful Corporate Team” in the annual triathlete rating according to the organizer of international starts IRONSTAR, and took first place in corporate team standings at IRONSTAR triathlon competitions.

    As part of the corporate program “Energy of Life”, the Company carries out large-scale information and organizational work to develop a mass sports movement among employees and involve them in a healthy lifestyle. More than 128 thousand employees of the Company participate in the corporate-wide sports and health movement. More than 92 thousand take part in competitions in various sports in corporate-wide competitions and challenges, in competitions at the regional and federal levels. Sports training is organized for employees.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft June 16, 2025

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Turtle Beach Corporation Amends Debt Agreement and Resumes Share Repurchases

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Turtle Beach Corporation (Nasdaq: TBCH, the “Company”), a leading gaming accessories brand, today announced that it has secured a waiver under its existing debt agreement, allowing for share repurchases of up to $5 million prior to June 30, 2025 pursuant to its new $75 million authorization announced on May 8th. This action reflects the Company’s continued commitment to return capital to shareholders and reinforces management’s confidence in the strength of the Company’s balance sheet and long-term outlook. In addition, as part of the amendment, the Company will pay down $5 million of its outstanding term loan debt facility.

    Separately, the Company is actively engaged in discussions to refinance its outstanding loan balance on improved terms. The Company will provide an update on the refinancing process at the appropriate time.

    About Turtle Beach

    Turtle Beach Corporation (the “Company”) (corp.turtlebeach.com) is one of the world’s leading gaming accessory providers. The Company’s namesake Turtle Beach brand (www.turtlebeach.com) is known for designing best-selling gaming headsets, top-rated game controllers, award-winning PC gaming peripherals, and groundbreaking gaming simulation accessories. Innovation, first-to-market features, a broad range of products for all types of gamers, and top-rated customer support have made Turtle Beach a fan-favorite brand and the market leader in console gaming audio for over a decade. Turtle Beach Corporation acquired Performance Designed Products LLC (www.pdp.com) in 2024. Turtle Beach’s shares are traded on the Nasdaq Exchange under the symbol: TBCH.

    Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release includes forward-looking information and statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Except for historical information contained in this release, statements in this release may constitute forward-looking statements regarding assumptions, projections, expectations, targets, intentions, or beliefs about future events. Statements containing the words “may,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” “target,” “goal,” “project,” “intend” and similar expressions, or the negatives thereof, constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are not guarantees of performance. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding potential share repurchases by the Company and the potential refinancing of the Company’s outstanding loan balance. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. The inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by the Company, or any person, that the objectives of the Company will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs and expectations, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management.

    While the Company believes that its expectations are based upon reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurances that its goals and strategy will be realized. Numerous factors, including risks and uncertainties, may affect actual results and may cause results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements made by the Company or on its behalf. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to, our ability to refinance our indebtedness on terms favorable to the Company, trade policies, including the imposition of tariffs on imported goods and other trade restrictions, the release and availability of successful game titles, macroeconomic conditions affecting the demand for our products, logistic and supply chain challenges and costs, dependence on the success and availability of third-parties to manufacture and manage the logistics of transporting and distributing our products, the substantial uncertainties inherent in the acceptance of existing and future products, the difficulty of commercializing and protecting new technology, the impact of competitive products and pricing, general business and economic conditions, risks associated with the expansion of our business including the integration of any businesses we acquire and the integration of such businesses within our internal control over financial reporting and operations, our indebtedness, liquidity, and other factors discussed in our public filings, including the risk factors included in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the Company’s other periodic reports filed with the SEC. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Company is under no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement after the date of this release whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

    CONTACTS 

    Investor Information 
    ICR 
    646.277.1285 
    TBCH@icrinc.com

    Public Relations & Media:
    MacLean Marshall
    Sr. Director, Global Communications
    Turtle Beach Corporation
    858.914.5093
    maclean.marshall@turtlebeach.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Monarch Private Capital Releases 2024 Impact Report: “Touchpoints”

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ATLANTA, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Monarch Private Capital (Monarch), a nationally recognized impact investment firm that develops, finances, and manages a diversified portfolio of projects generating both federal and state tax credits, is proud to announce the release of its 2024 Impact Report called Touchpoints. The report captures a year of remarkable growth, with more than $3.4 billion in total economic impact, 1.7 GW of clean energy capacity added, and over 2,400 new affordable homes created. These outcomes reflect Monarch’s deepening commitment to sustainability and community development.

    In this year’s edition of Touchpoints, Monarch documents how impact-driven capital continues to serve as a catalyst for positive change. Through powerful tools like adder credits, transferable tax strategies, and investment in tax equity projects, the firm is aligning innovative financial structures with community transformation. With over $14 billion in assets under management, Monarch has become a go-to partner for forward-thinking investors and developers committed to creating measurable, lasting outcomes.

    Key Milestones & Highlights

    • $3.4B in economic impact in 2024
    • 1.7 GW of new clean energy financed
    • 2,400+ affordable housing units created
    • 18 historic rehabilitation projects
    • 35K+ jobs

    “Our 2024 impact report reflects more than numbers… it reflects our progress, purpose, and the power of our investments,” said Melanie Frontczak, Managing Director of Sustainability & Tax Credit Investments at Monarch Private Capital. “We’re proud of what we’ve built and even more excited about what lies ahead.”

    Explore the 2024 Impact Report here: Touchpoints.

    For more information about Monarch Private Capital, visit www.monarchprivate.com.

    About Monarch Private Capital

    Monarch Private Capital manages impact investment funds that positively impact communities by creating clean power, jobs, and homes. The funds provide predictable returns through the generation of federal and state tax credits. The Company offers innovative tax credit equity investments for affordable housing, historic rehabilitations, renewable energy, film, and other qualified projects. Monarch Private Capital has long-term relationships with institutional and individual investors, developers, and lenders participating in these federal and state programs. Headquartered in Atlanta, Monarch has offices and professionals located throughout the United States.

    CONTACT
    Jane Rafeedie
    Monarch Private Capital
    Jrafeedie@monarchprivate.com
    470-283-8431

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ffc11ba6-8b47-4970-82d4-b2cf8eed61db

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Monarch Private Capital Releases 2024 Impact Report: “Touchpoints”

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ATLANTA, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Monarch Private Capital (Monarch), a nationally recognized impact investment firm that develops, finances, and manages a diversified portfolio of projects generating both federal and state tax credits, is proud to announce the release of its 2024 Impact Report called Touchpoints. The report captures a year of remarkable growth, with more than $3.4 billion in total economic impact, 1.7 GW of clean energy capacity added, and over 2,400 new affordable homes created. These outcomes reflect Monarch’s deepening commitment to sustainability and community development.

    In this year’s edition of Touchpoints, Monarch documents how impact-driven capital continues to serve as a catalyst for positive change. Through powerful tools like adder credits, transferable tax strategies, and investment in tax equity projects, the firm is aligning innovative financial structures with community transformation. With over $14 billion in assets under management, Monarch has become a go-to partner for forward-thinking investors and developers committed to creating measurable, lasting outcomes.

    Key Milestones & Highlights

    • $3.4B in economic impact in 2024
    • 1.7 GW of new clean energy financed
    • 2,400+ affordable housing units created
    • 18 historic rehabilitation projects
    • 35K+ jobs

    “Our 2024 impact report reflects more than numbers… it reflects our progress, purpose, and the power of our investments,” said Melanie Frontczak, Managing Director of Sustainability & Tax Credit Investments at Monarch Private Capital. “We’re proud of what we’ve built and even more excited about what lies ahead.”

    Explore the 2024 Impact Report here: Touchpoints.

    For more information about Monarch Private Capital, visit www.monarchprivate.com.

    About Monarch Private Capital

    Monarch Private Capital manages impact investment funds that positively impact communities by creating clean power, jobs, and homes. The funds provide predictable returns through the generation of federal and state tax credits. The Company offers innovative tax credit equity investments for affordable housing, historic rehabilitations, renewable energy, film, and other qualified projects. Monarch Private Capital has long-term relationships with institutional and individual investors, developers, and lenders participating in these federal and state programs. Headquartered in Atlanta, Monarch has offices and professionals located throughout the United States.

    CONTACT
    Jane Rafeedie
    Monarch Private Capital
    Jrafeedie@monarchprivate.com
    470-283-8431

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ffc11ba6-8b47-4970-82d4-b2cf8eed61db

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: SKYCORP SOLAR GROUP SHOWCASES ADVANCED PV Cable and CONNECTION SOLUTIONS AT SNEC 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Ningbo, China, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Skycorp Solar Group Limited (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: PN), a solar PV product provider engaged in the manufacture and sale of solar cables and solar connectors, highlighted its latest innovations at the 18th SNEC International Photovoltaic Power Generation and Smart Energy Conference & Exhibition. From June 11-13, 2025, its subsidiary, Ningbo Pntech New Energy Co., Ltd. (“PNTECH”), introduced advanced photovoltaic connection solutions, drawing substantial industry attention and reinforcing its position in renewable energy cable development.

    Commitment to Technological Advancement

    As an Asian new energy cable comoany listed in the U.S., Skycorp Solar Group has consistently invested in research and development, with over RMB100 million ($14 million) dedicated to innovation over the past 14 years. This focus has led to 47 patented technologies, including proprietary XLPE modified polymer insulation materials designed for enhanced durability in extreme temperatures (-40°C to +90°C). The Company also utilizes 99.97% pure tin-plated oxygen-free copper conductors, supporting long-term performance exceeding 25 years in demanding applications.

    “Our MC4 series connectors integrate a dual-seal design, minimizing contact resistance by 20% compared to conventional models while achieving an IP68 protection rating,” said Weiqi Huang, CEO of Skycorp Solar Group. “Additionally, our specialized connectors for the energy storage sector incorporate phosphorus-nitrogen flame-retardant technology that meets UL94 V-0 standards, providing a reliable solution for photovoltaic and energy storage applications.”

    Proven Solutions for Global Energy Projects

    Skycorp Solar Group’s technologies have been deployed in multiple international projects. The Company provides key components for Germany’s 15MW distributed photovoltaic system (utilizing TÜV-certified cables), Australia’s 120MW solar-plus-storage project (compliant with AS/NZS 5033:2024 standards), and Poland’s 48MW agrivoltaic installation, demonstrating compliance with global industry standards (featuring patented anti-UV technology).

    In China, PNTECH supplies cables and connectors for local government projects, where its patented “6-in-1” technology supports a photovoltaic curtain wall system producing 300,000 kWh annually. Longstanding collaborations with industry leaders further reflect the Company’s strong market presence.

    Production Capabilities and Industry Certifications

    Operating across more than 140 countries and regions, Skycorp Solar Group continues to advance its manufacturing capacity. Since 2022, the Company has expanded to six photovoltaic cable production lines and eight connector manufacturing lines, supported by a newly established 16,000-square-meter smart factory. Annual supply capacity for photovoltaic projects has reached 9.3GW, with cable shipments exceeding 100 million meters.

    “Our product lineup, showcased at SNEC booth 7.2H-C120, demonstrates exceptional performance and reliability,” said Jimmy Sheng, Global Sales Director of PNTECH. “All solutions adhere to international standards, which are compliant with certifications including TÜV, IEC, CE, and CQC.”

    Future Outlook and Investment Value

    “The global shift toward renewable energy is accelerating, with interconnection systems playing a vital role in efficiency and safety,” said CEO Huang. “At Skycorp, we integrate materials science and electrical engineering to enhance photovoltaic connection standards and support this transition.”

    “Skycorp plans to allocate over 8% of annual revenue to R&D, advancing from traditional connections to intelligent solutions. With 47 patents, a growing international footprint (30%+ overseas orders), a robust 9.3GW annual supply capacity, and strong industry collaborations, the Company remains focused on delivering long-term value in the evolving energy landscape,” he said.

    About Skycorp Solar Group Limited

    Skycorp Solar Group Limited is a solar photovoltaic (PV) product provider focused on manufacturing and selling solar cables and connectors. Our operations are managed through our subsidiaries, including Ningbo Skycorp Solar Co., Ltd., in China.

    The Company’s mission is to become a green energy solutions provider by utilizing solar power and delivering eco-friendly solar PV products. By leveraging the Company’s expertise in solar technologies and relationships with worldwide clients, it aims to expand offerings of solar PV products and energy solutions for enterprise customers. For more information, please visit: https://ir.skycorp.com/.

    Forward-Looking Statement

    This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as “may, “will, “intend,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate” or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the registration statement filed with the SEC. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.

    For more information, please contact:
    Skycorp Solar Group Limited
    Cathy
    Investor Relations
    Email: ir@skycorp.com
    Tel: +86 185 0252 9641 (CN)

    WFS Investor Relations Inc.
    Connie Kang
    Partner
    Email: ckang@wealthfsllc.com
    Tel: +86 1381 185 7742 (CN)

    The MIL Network –

  • ICC announces schedule for 2025 Women’s World Cup in India and Sri Lanka

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday released the schedule for the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2.

    India will face Sri Lanka in the tournament opener in Bengaluru, while defending champions Australia begin their campaign against New Zealand in Indore on October 1.

    The eight-team event will be played in a single round-robin format across five cities: Bengaluru, Vizag, Indore, Guwahati, and Colombo, with the top four teams progressing to the semi-finals. One semi-final will take place in Bengaluru, while the other will be held in either Colombo or Guwahati.

    The final is scheduled for November 2 in either Bengaluru or Colombo.

    Teams will also play two warm-up matches each. Hosts India will face England, the runners-up from the 2022 edition, in Bengaluru on 24 September, followed by a clash against South Africa in Guwahati on 27 September.

    Australia, who won a record seventh title in 2022, topped the ICC Women’s Championship standings and qualified automatically, along with England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and hosts India. Pakistan and Bangladesh secured the final two spots via the qualifying tournament held in April.

    The 2025 edition will be the 13th Women’s Cricket World Cup since its inception in 1973.

  • ICC announces schedule for 2025 Women’s World Cup in India and Sri Lanka

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday released the schedule for the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2.

    India will face Sri Lanka in the tournament opener in Bengaluru, while defending champions Australia begin their campaign against New Zealand in Indore on October 1.

    The eight-team event will be played in a single round-robin format across five cities: Bengaluru, Vizag, Indore, Guwahati, and Colombo, with the top four teams progressing to the semi-finals. One semi-final will take place in Bengaluru, while the other will be held in either Colombo or Guwahati.

    The final is scheduled for November 2 in either Bengaluru or Colombo.

    Teams will also play two warm-up matches each. Hosts India will face England, the runners-up from the 2022 edition, in Bengaluru on 24 September, followed by a clash against South Africa in Guwahati on 27 September.

    Australia, who won a record seventh title in 2022, topped the ICC Women’s Championship standings and qualified automatically, along with England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and hosts India. Pakistan and Bangladesh secured the final two spots via the qualifying tournament held in April.

    The 2025 edition will be the 13th Women’s Cricket World Cup since its inception in 1973.

  • MIL-OSI: Nokia announces changes to Group Leadership Team

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Nokia Corporation
    Stock Exchange Release
    16 June 2025 at 14:00 EEST

    Nokia announces changes to Group Leadership Team

    • Federico Guillén to retire from Nokia on 31 December 2025. He will step down as President of the Network Infrastructure (NI) business group and as a member of the Group Leadership Team on 30 June 2025.
    • As part of a managed transition, David Heard, NI Chief Strategic Growth Officer, and former CEO of Infinera, is promoted to President of Network Infrastructure and joins the Group Leadership Team, effective 1 July 2025.
    • Victoria Hanrahan will join the Group Leadership Team as Chief of Staff to Nokia’s President and CEO, effective immediately.

    Espoo, Finland – Nokia today announced changes to its Group Leadership Team. Federico Guillén will retire from Nokia on 31 December 2025. He will step down from his role as President of Nokia’s Network Infrastructure business group and from the Group Leadership Team on 30 June 2025.

    As part of a managed transition, David Heard, currently NI Chief Strategic Growth Officer, and former CEO of Infinera, has been promoted to President of Network Infrastructure and will join the Group Leadership Team, effective 1 July 2025. David will report to Nokia’s President and CEO, Justin Hotard, and be based in Dallas. Federico and David will work together to ensure a seamless transition.

    Heard joined Nokia with the acquisition of Infinera in February 2025. He was previously CEO of Infinera and, prior to that held the role of Infinera’s Chief Operating Officer, responsible for leading the innovation of new solutions and the overall operational excellence of the company. Before joining Infinera, Heard held senior positions across various technology companies in the U.S. including JDSU, BigBand Networks, Somera Communications, Lucent and AT&T gaining comprehensive experience of the telecoms industry and demonstrating a strong growth mindset and a commitment to innovation leadership.

    “I want to thank Federico for his exceptional leadership and contribution to Nokia. As the first President of Network Infrastructure, he has been instrumental in building a high-performing and profitable business with a strong customer focus, helping to position the business for long-term growth. His leadership during major portfolio changes, including the divestment of the Submarine Networks business and acquisition of Infinera, has laid a solid foundation for the future. We’re grateful for his service and wish him the very best on his next chapter,” said Justin Hotard, President and CEO of Nokia.

    “I’m excited to welcome David to the Group Leadership Team as the new head of our Network Infrastructure business. David has a proven track record of scaling businesses and driving innovation, and he brings a deep expertise of hyperscalers and AI-optimized solutions to the business. I’m confident he is the right leader to take Network Infrastructure forward,” Hotard continued.

    In addition, Victoria Hanrahan will join Nokia’s Group Leadership Team as Chief of Staff to the President and CEO, effective immediately. She will focus on driving strategic and operational initiatives, including operational excellence, improving cross-functional execution and ensuring organizational alignment across the Global Leadership Team. Victoria will report to Nokia’s President and CEO and be based in Espoo.

    Additional background information on all current members of the Group Leadership Team can be found at: www.nokia.com/en_int/investors/corporate-governance/group-leadership-team.

    David Heard, CV
    Born: 1968
    Nationality: US national
    Education:
    Masters, Management Science (Sloan), Stanford University Graduate School of Business
    Master of Business Administration (MBA), University of Dayton
    BA, Production & Operations Mgt, The Ohio State University
    Experience:
    2025 (February-June) Chief Growth Officer at Network Infrastructure, Nokia
    2020–2025 Chief Executive Officer, Infinera
    2017–2020 Chief Operations Officer and various senior positions, Infinera
    2015–2016 Cloud Service Provider (Executive Consultant – External), Dell
    2010–2015 President – Network & Service (Software) Enablement, JDSU
    2007–2010 Chief Operating Officer, BigBand Networks
    2004–2006 President & CEO, Somera Communications (Jabil)
    2003–2004 President – Switching Systems, Tekelec (Oracle)
    2000–2003 President & CEO Santera Systems Inc (now Oracle)
    1996–2000 GM & VP Wireless – Various Positions, Alcatel-Lucent
    1990–1996 VP of Access, AT&T (Lucent Technologies)
    Additional positions:
    2017–2022 Member of the Board of Directors, Motion Intelligence
    2012–2019 Chairman of the Board, Telecommunications Industry Association
    2015–2018 Board Director, Milestone Sports
    2006–2017 Member of the Board of Directors – Co-founder, Zyvex Performance Materials
    2002–2004 Member of the Board of Directors, Spatial Wireless (Alcatel Lucent)

    Victoria Hanharan, CV
    Born: 1988
    Nationality: US national
    Education:
    Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Marketing, Texas A&M University
    Master of Business Administration (MBA), University of Houston
    Experience:
    2015–2024 Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)

    • Vice President, Global Marketing – High Performance Compute & Artificial Intelligence (2023–2024)
    • Director, Chief of Staff – HPC & AI Business Unit (2021–2023)
    • Manager, Marketing Strategy (2019–2021)
    • Sr. Product Marketing Manager (2015–2019)

    2010–2015 St. Jude Medical

    • Product Marketing Manager, Neuromodulation Division (2013–2015)
    • Marketing Communications Coordinator (2010–2013)

    About Nokia
    At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. 

    As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, which is celebrating 100 years of innovation.

    With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future. 

    Media inquiries
    Nokia Communications
    Maria Vaismaa, Global Head of External Communications
    Phone: +358 10 448 4900
    Email: press.services@nokia.com

    Nokia Investor Relations
    Phone: +358 931 580 507
    Email: investor.relations@nokia.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Nokia announces changes to Group Leadership Team

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Nokia Corporation
    Stock Exchange Release
    16 June 2025 at 14:00 EEST

    Nokia announces changes to Group Leadership Team

    • Federico Guillén to retire from Nokia on 31 December 2025. He will step down as President of the Network Infrastructure (NI) business group and as a member of the Group Leadership Team on 30 June 2025.
    • As part of a managed transition, David Heard, NI Chief Strategic Growth Officer, and former CEO of Infinera, is promoted to President of Network Infrastructure and joins the Group Leadership Team, effective 1 July 2025.
    • Victoria Hanrahan will join the Group Leadership Team as Chief of Staff to Nokia’s President and CEO, effective immediately.

    Espoo, Finland – Nokia today announced changes to its Group Leadership Team. Federico Guillén will retire from Nokia on 31 December 2025. He will step down from his role as President of Nokia’s Network Infrastructure business group and from the Group Leadership Team on 30 June 2025.

    As part of a managed transition, David Heard, currently NI Chief Strategic Growth Officer, and former CEO of Infinera, has been promoted to President of Network Infrastructure and will join the Group Leadership Team, effective 1 July 2025. David will report to Nokia’s President and CEO, Justin Hotard, and be based in Dallas. Federico and David will work together to ensure a seamless transition.

    Heard joined Nokia with the acquisition of Infinera in February 2025. He was previously CEO of Infinera and, prior to that held the role of Infinera’s Chief Operating Officer, responsible for leading the innovation of new solutions and the overall operational excellence of the company. Before joining Infinera, Heard held senior positions across various technology companies in the U.S. including JDSU, BigBand Networks, Somera Communications, Lucent and AT&T gaining comprehensive experience of the telecoms industry and demonstrating a strong growth mindset and a commitment to innovation leadership.

    “I want to thank Federico for his exceptional leadership and contribution to Nokia. As the first President of Network Infrastructure, he has been instrumental in building a high-performing and profitable business with a strong customer focus, helping to position the business for long-term growth. His leadership during major portfolio changes, including the divestment of the Submarine Networks business and acquisition of Infinera, has laid a solid foundation for the future. We’re grateful for his service and wish him the very best on his next chapter,” said Justin Hotard, President and CEO of Nokia.

    “I’m excited to welcome David to the Group Leadership Team as the new head of our Network Infrastructure business. David has a proven track record of scaling businesses and driving innovation, and he brings a deep expertise of hyperscalers and AI-optimized solutions to the business. I’m confident he is the right leader to take Network Infrastructure forward,” Hotard continued.

    In addition, Victoria Hanrahan will join Nokia’s Group Leadership Team as Chief of Staff to the President and CEO, effective immediately. She will focus on driving strategic and operational initiatives, including operational excellence, improving cross-functional execution and ensuring organizational alignment across the Global Leadership Team. Victoria will report to Nokia’s President and CEO and be based in Espoo.

    Additional background information on all current members of the Group Leadership Team can be found at: www.nokia.com/en_int/investors/corporate-governance/group-leadership-team.

    David Heard, CV
    Born: 1968
    Nationality: US national
    Education:
    Masters, Management Science (Sloan), Stanford University Graduate School of Business
    Master of Business Administration (MBA), University of Dayton
    BA, Production & Operations Mgt, The Ohio State University
    Experience:
    2025 (February-June) Chief Growth Officer at Network Infrastructure, Nokia
    2020–2025 Chief Executive Officer, Infinera
    2017–2020 Chief Operations Officer and various senior positions, Infinera
    2015–2016 Cloud Service Provider (Executive Consultant – External), Dell
    2010–2015 President – Network & Service (Software) Enablement, JDSU
    2007–2010 Chief Operating Officer, BigBand Networks
    2004–2006 President & CEO, Somera Communications (Jabil)
    2003–2004 President – Switching Systems, Tekelec (Oracle)
    2000–2003 President & CEO Santera Systems Inc (now Oracle)
    1996–2000 GM & VP Wireless – Various Positions, Alcatel-Lucent
    1990–1996 VP of Access, AT&T (Lucent Technologies)
    Additional positions:
    2017–2022 Member of the Board of Directors, Motion Intelligence
    2012–2019 Chairman of the Board, Telecommunications Industry Association
    2015–2018 Board Director, Milestone Sports
    2006–2017 Member of the Board of Directors – Co-founder, Zyvex Performance Materials
    2002–2004 Member of the Board of Directors, Spatial Wireless (Alcatel Lucent)

    Victoria Hanharan, CV
    Born: 1988
    Nationality: US national
    Education:
    Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Marketing, Texas A&M University
    Master of Business Administration (MBA), University of Houston
    Experience:
    2015–2024 Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)

    • Vice President, Global Marketing – High Performance Compute & Artificial Intelligence (2023–2024)
    • Director, Chief of Staff – HPC & AI Business Unit (2021–2023)
    • Manager, Marketing Strategy (2019–2021)
    • Sr. Product Marketing Manager (2015–2019)

    2010–2015 St. Jude Medical

    • Product Marketing Manager, Neuromodulation Division (2013–2015)
    • Marketing Communications Coordinator (2010–2013)

    About Nokia
    At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. 

    As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, which is celebrating 100 years of innovation.

    With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future. 

    Media inquiries
    Nokia Communications
    Maria Vaismaa, Global Head of External Communications
    Phone: +358 10 448 4900
    Email: press.services@nokia.com

    Nokia Investor Relations
    Phone: +358 931 580 507
    Email: investor.relations@nokia.com

    The MIL Network –