NewzIntel.com

Category: Australia

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Senate Appropriators Murray, Shaheen Sound Alarm on Public Health Effects of Mass Firings at the Food and Drug Administration; Urge Secretary Kennedy to End Indiscriminate Cuts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    ICYMI: Murray Blasts Trump and Musk Decimating HHS, Risking Americans’ Health and Livelihoods
    ***FACT SHEET: WA State Impacts of Trump and Musk’s Reckless Mass Layoffs***
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies, sent a letter Friday to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to express their grave concerns about the recent mass firings of hundreds of federal workers at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Murray and Shaheen’s counterparts in the U.S. House of Representatives—House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D, CT-03) and Congressman Sanford Bishop (D, GA-02)—also signed the letter. 
    The lawmakers wrote, “The FDA’s mission is to protect public health by assuring the safety, efficacy and security of our human and veterinary drugs, food and cosmetics products and the regulation of tobacco products. We are concerned that the mass firings of probationary staff at the FDA, many of whom with scientific backgrounds, will prevent us from staying on the cutting edge of drug and device approvals, maintaining food safety and responding to new threats, like avian flu.” 
    “This decision will only hurt the American people by preventing advancements in patient care and is directly in conflict with President Trump’s stated health care goal of, ‘providing more choice, better care, and lower costs,’” they continued.
    The full text of the letter can be found here. 
    Last week, Senator Murray responded at length to the Trump administration’s mass firings of dedicated workers across HHS and its many subagencies—and earlier this month she released a fact sheet detailing how reckless mass layoffs across the federal government will jeopardize essential services Americans rely on. Senator Murray was a leading voice in opposition to the confirmation of RFK Jr. as HHS Secretary. Earlier this month on the Senate floor, she warned of the dangers of confirming RFK, Jr.—given his lack of health care experience and deadly rhetoric—and encouraged her colleagues to “show some courage” by rejecting his nomination. A longtime congressional leader on health care and former HELP Committee Chair, she called her meeting with him the “most troubling” she’s ever had with a cabinet nominee.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Samstag explores the chaos of communication to open its 2025 exhibition program

    Source: University of South Australia

    25 February 2025

    Chunxiao Qu, An artist doesn’t need a label (Biannual Façade Commission), 2004, Borchardt Library, La Trobe University, Bundoora. La Trobe Art Institute, La Trobe University. Photograph by AJ Taylor. Image courtesy the artist.

    The absurdity of contemporary communication will be on display at the University of South Australia’s Samstag Museum of Art, delivering an insightful and humorous take on how humans are easily misunderstood between the translation of what is said and what is heard.

    Direct, Directed, Directly will kickstart Samstag’s 2025 program for the Parnati season (Parnati meaning autumn in Kaurna culture) from Friday 28 February, coinciding with the launch of the Adelaide Festival.

    Installed across the two levels of the art museum, the exhibition is one of many in Samstag’s annually curated program of innovative and experimental contemporary art from SA and around the world.

    Direct, Directed, Directly explores communication – speaking directly, speaking indirectly, looking for meaning (and not finding it), double meanings and breakdowns.

    Featuring performances, moving images and sounds created by national and international artists, the installation dives into the difficulties between what is said and what is heard. This group exhibition suggests that amid frustration, futility and misunderstanding, there is catharsis to be found in the humour and absurdity of our attempts to connect.

    Director of Samstag Museum of Art Erica Green says the year ahead for Samstag will be a celebration of innovative and thought-provoking contemporary arts practice.

    “Delving into a diverse range of themes – from the absurdity of contemporary communication to the formal qualities of light and movement – our 2025 program will deliver a year of surprising and insightful visual art experiences for everyone to enjoy,” she says.

    Parnati season
    Friday 28 February to Friday 30 May
    2025 Adelaide Festival
    Direct, Directed, Directly
    Artists: Richard Bell (Kamilaroi, Kooma, Jiman and Gurang Gurang), Madison Bycroft, Kuba Dorabialski, Danielle Freakley, Christine Sun Kim and Thomas Mader, Monte Masi and Chunxiao Qu.

    Kudlila season
    20 June to 26 September
    Frank Bauer
    Samstag’s Kudlila Season, Kudlila meaning winter in Kaurna culture, will begin in June with works by Adelaide-based designer, jeweller, silversmith and artist Frank Bauer. Over a career spanning 45 years, the German-born artist’s cross-disciplinary practice is hallmarked by exceptional quality and a breadth of skill. His process begins with the hand – first drawing then progressing to handling, touching, making in his workshop – and results in works that bear human nature first and foremost in mind. A former lecturer at SACAE, an antecedent of the University of South Australia, who has exhibited in Europe and Australia, his work is held in major museums around the world.

    Caption Frank Bauer, Flag pole, detail, 2024. Photograph by Sia Duff.

    North Terrace: worlds in relief
    Artists:     Andrew Burrell, Allison Chhorn, Louise Haselton, the ArcHitects (Gary Carsley and Renjie Teoh), with poetry by Natalie Harkin (Narungga).
    As the city’s cultural boulevard, North Terrace is emblematic of Tarntanya/Adelaide’s founding on Kaurna Yarta and the conduct of colonial relations today. In this suite of new works, curated by guest curator Jasmin Stephens, artists from Adelaide, NSW and Singapore respond to the city’s environs and the world views that they convey. The exhibition begins with Narungga poet/activist Natalie Harkin’s text Cultural Precinct, first published in 2016. The artists cast a critical eye over North Terrace’s familiar and lesser-known aspects. Invoking histories of sculpture, moving image and design, the exhibition draws on the collection of UniSA’s Architecture Museum.

    Wirltuti Season
    16 October to 5 December
    Sean Cordeiro and Claire Healy: Psychopomp
     NSW-based artistic duo and Samstag scholars (2006) Sean Cordeiro and Claire Healy will premiere their vibrant moving image work Psychopomp alongside a selection of past works for Samstag’s Wirltuti season in 2025 (Wirltuti meaning ‘spring’ in Kaurna culture). Psychopomp is the outcome of the 2024 UniSA Jeffrey Smart Commission. This vibrant moving image work explores the porous relationship between science and mysticism, and rocket technology and spirituality. From NASA’s Apollo, Mercury and Gemini mission names, which are directly inspired by the gods of antiquity, to pioneer rocket scientist Jack Parson’s conversion to Aleister Crowley’s Church of Thelema, Cordeiro and Healy identify a strong spiritual thread in the history of rocket and space exploration. Melding the significant historical text, the poem Hymn to Pan, with footage of farming fertility festivals in Thailand and Laos, Psychopomp explores the expressive potential of motion, technology and pagan rituals.

    5 STEPS FOR BETTER LIVING, MAXIMUM GAINS AND MANIFESTING YOUR MOST OPTIMISED SELF!!
    Adelaide Film Festival Expand Moving Image Commission
    Artists: Nisa East, Anna Lindner and Yasemin Sabuncu.
    5 STEPS… originates from the 2023 AFF EXPAND Lab, a development initiative bringing together filmmakers, artists and screen-based practitioners to develop collaborative approaches to making moving images. 5 STEPS… offers a satirical, critical reflection on the trends of commodified, masculine ‘wellness’ in times of existential crisis. The multi-channel installation draws on experimental performance, surrealism and dark humour to examine the way wellness subcultures can be used to promote self-centred ideas of freedom and success. A series of compelling character studies of the ‘alpha’ personalities and fitness evangelists that populate the manosphere, this work examines the psychological mechanisms of rejecting failure, vulnerability and introspection, and the pursuit of infinite growth at any cost.

    Nisa East, Anna Lindner and Yasemin Sabuncu, 5 STEPS FOR BETTER LIVING, MAXIMUM GAINS AND MANIFESTING YOUR MOST OPTIMISED SELF!!, production still 2024. Still courtesy the artists.

    Ryan Presley
    In 2024, UniSA commissioned Marri Ngarr artist Ryan Presley to paint a portrait of its Chancellor, The Honourable John Hill. To accompany the unveiling of this commission, Samstag will display a selection of works by Presley. Presley’s figurative paintings weave personal and cultural motifs with art historical references. Raised a Catholic, his art practice explores religious iconography, often featuring intricate patterning and human figures set against seductive and lyrical dreamscapes composed of clouds, sand dunes and industrial motifs.

    Samstag Museum of Art is located at UniSA’s City West campus, an easy 15-minute walk from the city centre. Free city trams operate daily. Samstag is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm. Visit the website for more information.

    …………………………………………………………………………………

    Media contact: Erica Green, Director Samstag Museum of Art M: +438 821 239 E: erica.green@unisa.edu.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Broken Hill’s energy future secured by hi-tech air energy storage system

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 25 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces

    An old Broken Hill mine site will soon be transformed into a first-of-its-kind compressed air energy storage system, delivering energy security, jobs and investment to Broken Hill.

    The Minns Labor Government has provided planning approval for Hydrostor’s compressed air energy storage system with a capacity of 200 megawatts (MW) / 1,600 MW-hours (MWh). The Silver City Energy Storage Centre could power about 80,000 homes in peak demand and will maintain a reserve capacity of 250 MWh to provide back-up to Broken Hill during times of planned and unplanned outages.

    The project is the first-of-its-kind in Australia. It utilises advanced technology that uses compressed air to store energy and generate electricity, without producing greenhouse gases.

    The $638 million project will boost the local economy, creating up to 400 full-time construction jobs and around 26 ongoing operational jobs.

    During periods of low-energy demand, excess electricity is used to compress air and store it in large underground caverns or tanks.

    When energy demand is high, the compressed air is released, heated and expanded through turbines to generate electricity.

    The project will be supported by a 65-year government lease on a Crown land site near the Potosi mine at Broken Hill.

    The energy storage system will support different renewable energy sources in the region to reliably power homes and businesses in and around Broken Hill.

    Broken Hill City Council will receive $3.1 million under a Voluntary Planning Agreement, paid over five years, to benefit the local community.

    With work expected to start this year, it is estimated construction of the project will take three to four years.

    For more information visit Silver City Energy Storage System | Planning Portal – Department of Planning and Environment

    Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe said:

    “Hydrostor’s Silver City Energy Storage Centre boosts the reliability of the NSW electricity grid and provides back-up for homes and businesses in the state’s far west in times of planned and unplanned outages.

    “Energy storage solutions like this will go a long way to preventing blackouts like the ones the Far West experienced last year.

    “The project will provide construction and ongoing jobs, and will put Broken Hill on the map as a nation leader in renewable energy.”

    Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

    “The city needs a reliable supply of power and this project will provide certainty and reliability for local residents and businesses.

    “The Minns Government is working with proponents to see industrial sites rehabilitated and renewed for future use.

    “This technology not only supports our transition to cleaner energy sources but also promotes economic growth through job creation in the energy sector.”

    Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

    “It’s fantastic to see planning approval confirmed for the Hydrostor project which will be further supported by a 65-year government lease on a Crown land site near Broken Hill.

    “The Silver City Energy Storage Facility will be the first of its kind for Australia, generating both vital backup energy for Broken Hill and significant ongoing jobs and investment spending for the Far West economy.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: NSW Government taking action on waste crisis

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 25 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Energy and Climate Change

    Minns Labor Government is taking strong action to prevent a waste crisis in NSW, with landfill due to reach capacity in Greater Sydney by 2030.

    NSW has just passed landmark legislation to become the first state to implement a statewide mandate for Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) recycling, to divert food waste from landfill into compost.

    The legislation mandates FOGO collection services for households by July 2030, and for businesses and institutions in stages from July 2026.

    FOGO bins will be rolled out at premises such as supermarkets, pubs, cafes, universities, schools, hotels and hospitals. Large supermarkets will also be required to report on the amounts and types of surplus food donated to charities like OzHarvest, Second Bite and Foodbank.

    With FOGO taking up to a third of household red bin capacity, this legislation will help take some pressure off landfill. It also takes us one step closer to a circular economy in NSW, where resources are recycled, reused and repurposed.

    The new laws are backed by a $81 million FOGO Fund to go largely to Councils for infrastructure including bins, kitchen caddies and liners, contamination audits, community education programs and staffing, including a $9 million boost in funding allocated to:

    • $4 million to support implementation in apartments and multi-unit dwellings
    • $3 million for a statewide advertising campaign to raise awareness and encourage behaviour change
    • $1 million for councils with existing FOGO services to conduct annual ‘booster’ education campaigns
    • $1 million for a pilot to tackle contamination hotspots using artificial intelligence.

    The new laws are projected to divert up to one million tonnes of organic waste from landfill each year. Most will be transformed into high-quality compost for parks, sporting fields and agriculture, promoting healthier soils and sustainable food production.

    The NSW Environment Protection Authority is working closely with communities, councils and industry to ensure a smooth and effective transition.

    A step-by-step Best Practice Guide has also been launched to help councils introduce FOGO and manage contamination risks.

    To learn more about the rollout, visit the NSW EPA website.

    The next step to tackle the waste crisis is the refinement of the Energy from Waste framework in NSW.

    A discussion paper outlines some small, proposed changes to the existing Energy from Waste framework, including clarification around the definition of thermal treatment.

    Public consultation is open from Tuesday, 25 February until Tuesday, 8 April, and feedback can be provided through the NSW Government’s Have Your Say platform.

    Quote attributable to Minister for Energy, Penny Sharpe:

    “NSW has ignored the crisis for landfill capacity for too long. We cannot kick this can down the road any longer.

    “The new FOGO laws mean NSW is leading the nation in combating food waste, becoming the first to mandate this recycling revolution across the state.

    “These new laws are backed by $81 million to support councils to move to FOGO by 2030.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New Early Career Academy to support more of our best and brightest to take on teaching in NSW

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: New Early Career Academy to support more of our best and brightest to take on teaching in NSW

    Published: 25 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Education and Early Learning

    The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to rebuild public education across New South Wales with the $20 million Innovative Teacher Training Fund to support NSW’s best and brightest students to embark on a successful teaching career.

    In a NSW first, the NSW Government is establishing the Early Career Academy for Teachers, fulfilling an election commitment which will serve as a centre of excellence for new and future teachers, with expanded support, enhanced development opportunities and stronger partnerships with universities and across schools.

    The Academy will be a one-stop-shop for attracting and supporting new teachers, featuring a digital hub, new scholarships, tailored learning and resources, and embedded department support with a dedicated employee stationed at key universities.

    University Admissions Centre data shows growing interest in applications and offers for students studying Education degrees, following several years of decline.

    Applications by school leavers for Education degrees have risen by 500 or 23 per cent compared to the same time last year, while offers have risen by 642 or 36 per cent compared to 2024.

    The Early Career Academy will focus on making a teaching degree the first preference for more students, improving the classroom readiness of beginning teachers and retaining more early career teachers in NSW public schools.

    This initiative builds on the historic pay rise in teachers’ salaries, which took NSW beginning teachers from the worst paid in the country to among the highest. Targeted strategies to address the unsustainable workloads of teachers are also bearing fruit, leading to a greater attractiveness of the teaching profession.

    The Early Career Academy for Teachers will develop a range of programs and opportunities including:

    • An enhanced scholarship program including early offers to future teachers in high priority regions and specialist areas
    • Revamped professional experience placements to facilitate consistent and high quality experiences for pre-service teachers before they enter the classroom
    • Greater system-led support for pre-service and beginning teachers, including enhanced resources and collaboration opportunities, to enhance the quality of assistance available to early career teachers
    • Stronger strategic partnerships with universities, including Department of Education University Partnership Leads to provide tailored support with those seeking employment opportunities in NSW public schools
    • Department-led professional learning to support classroom readiness, curriculum expertise and teaching practices
    • A Digital Hub with personalised content to support new and future teachers throughout their educational and professional pathway

    The Academy will also continue and expand existing, successful programs such as the school-based Future Teachers Club and rural and remote Beyond the Line study tours.

    The Early Career Academy will formally commence in Term 1, 2026, following co-design and engagement with the profession, union and key stakeholders.

    The NSW public education system is the largest employer of teachers in Australia with more than 96,000 educators working in our schools every year.

    Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said: 

    “The Minns Labor Government promised we would do everything we can to get more of our best and brightest into teaching and keep them in the classroom – and we are delivering.

    “The Early Career Academy will be a game-changer for new and prospective teachers, provide co-ordinated, multi-faceted support and ensuring we have highly skilled, classroom-ready teachers getting jobs in NSW public schools.

    “With the NSW Department of Education being the largest employer of teachers in Australia, it is crucial that universities understand the needs of our public schools, and the Academy will play an important role in ensuring partner universities offer the right courses for our future teachers.

    “Our government has delivered nation-leading pay rises for teachers and reduced teacher vacancies by 40%, and we are building on this work to attract more of our best and brightest to teaching careers in our schools – while ensuring they are supported and valued to stay.

    “The Academy is not just about getting more people to choose a career in teaching or ensuring they are prepared for the classroom from day one, it is about letting our early career teachers know that the Department and the Government is backing you to succeed.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Funding for regional groups for stocking native fish in local waters now available

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Funding for regional groups for stocking native fish in local waters now available

    Published: 25 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional NSW

    The Minns Labor Government has announced that funding for fishing clubs and native fish stocking groups is now available for restocking regional rivers and dams with iconic native fish such as Australian Bass, Golden Perch and Murray Cod.

    These fish are also appreciated as highly sought after angling fish that support recreational fishing and local tourism.

    The NSW Government is committed to delivering for recreational fishers and the NSW regional environment to preserve the many locations and lifestyles that are special for families and locals.

    Two dollars in funding is provided from for every dollar raised by the community to purchase Australian Bass, Golden Perch and Murray Cod from accredited commercial fish hatcheries for stocking into public waterways.

    This program is part of the Government’s commitment to recreational fishers and helps boost native fish stocks to deliver enhanced fishing opportunities into regional waterways where factors such as carp and drought may have hindered native fish stock levels.

    The program also supports the regional aquaculture ventures which produce the high-quality fish stock that are released release into public waters to benefit recreational fishers. These ventures provide local jobs in the regions at hatcheries and breeding sites.

    Last year 70 grants were approved under the program and delivered fish stocks for local fishing clubs to restock waterways in places like Lake Cargelligo, Leeton, Walgett, Bermagui, Nowra, Goulburn, Tumut and Yass.

    Australian bass live in coastal rivers along the east coast and downstream for breeding from may to August. Golden Perch occur throughout the Murray-darling river system and are migratory species following increases in water flow up stream during spring and summer.

    Murray Cod encompass most of the Murray Darling Rivers and mature adults will travel long distances to spawn during spring and summer.

    Fish stocking in NSW is carefully managed under a fish stocking fishery management strategy to ensure sustainability to ensure the activity is conducted with appropriate environmental controls and generates quality recreational fishing outcomes.

    Groups interested in applying for the grants, can apply online before the closing dates for the Community Native Fish Stocking (CNFS) 2025/26 grants program. Fish stocking is expected to take place between November 2025 and April 2026.

    A minimum of $2,000 and a maximum of $6,000 per application per group is required.  Only one application per group may be submitted.

    Applications to stock Australian Bass close on 28 March 2025. 

    Applications to stock Golden Perch or Murray Cod close on 9 May 2025.

    To apply https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/resources/stocking/CNFS

    Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:

    “Our Government is focused on delivering great recreational fishing and environmental outcomes. This program delivers in every way for fishers by populating highly popular native sportfish in regional waterways.

    “These fish stocking events will help diversify and enhance our valuable native fishery, increase fishing amenity and support local businesses.

    “Millions of fish are produced and stocked by government and private sector hatcheries each year into rivers, streams and dams across the State to improve recreational fishing opportunities in NSW that create jobs for regional people.

    “Native fish stocking provides many economic and social benefits, as well as positive environmental outcomes due to the importance of native fish in the landscape.

    “This is another great example of your fishing licence fees at work. More information on fish stocking can be found online.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Scientists have discovered a 3 billion-year-old beach buried on Mars

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aaron J. Cavosie, Senior lecturer, School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University

    A view of the Utopia Planitia region on Mars which is believed to be the site of an ancient ocean. ESA/DLR/FU Berlin, CC BY-SA

    In the 1970s, images from the NASA Mariner 9 orbiter revealed water-sculpted surfaces on Mars. This settled the once-controversial question of whether water ever rippled over the red planet.

    Since then, more and more evidence has emerged that water once played a large role on our planetary neighbour.

    For example, Martian meteorites record evidence for water back to 4.5 billion years ago. On the young side of the timescale, impact craters formed over the past few years show the presence of ice under the surface today.

    Today the hot topics focus on when water appeared, how much was there, and how long it lasted. Perhaps the most burning of all Mars water-related topics nowadays is: were there ever oceans?

    A new study published in PNAS today has made quite a splash. The study involved a team of Chinese and American scientists led by Jianhui Li from Guangzhou University in China, and was based on work done by the China National Space Administration’s Mars rover Zhurong.

    Data from Zhurong provide an unprecedented look into rocks buried near a proposed shoreline billions of years old. The researchers claim to have found beach deposits from an ancient Martian ocean.

    An illustration of Mars 3.6 billion years ago, when an ocean may have covered nearly half the planet. The orange star (right) is the landing site of the Chinese rover Zhurong. The yellow star is the landing site of NASA’s Perseverance rover.
    Robert Citron/Southwest Research Institute/NASA

    Blue water on a red planet

    Rovers exploring Mars study many aspects of the planet, including the geology, soil and atmosphere. They’re often looking for any evidence of water. That’s in part because water is a vital factor for determining if Mars ever supported life.

    Sedimentary rocks are often a particular focus of investigations, because they can contain evidence of water – and therefore life – on Mars.

    For example, the NASA Perseverance rover is currently searching for life in a delta deposit. Deltas are triangular regions often found where rivers flow into larger bodies of water, depositing large amounts of sediment. Examples on Earth include the Mississippi delta in the United States and the Nile delta in Egypt.

    The delta the Perseverance rover is exploring is located within the roughly 45km wide Jezero impact crater, believed to be the site of an ancient lake.

    Zhurong had its sights set on a very different body of water – the vestiges of an ancient ocean located in the northern hemisphere of Mars.

    Topography of Utopia Planitia. Lower parts of the surface are shown in blues and purples, while higher altitude regions show up in whites and reds, as indicated on the scale to the top right.
    ESA/DLR/FU Berlin

    The god of fire

    The Zhurong rover is named after a mythical god of fire.

    It was launched by the Chinese National Space Administration in 2020 and was active on Mars from 2021 to 2022. Zhurong landed within Utopia Planitia, a vast expanse and the largest impact basin on Mars which stretches some 3,300km in diameter.

    Zhurong is investigating an area near a series of ridges – described as paleoshorelines – that extend for thousands of kilometres across Mars. The paleoshorelines have previously been interpreted as the remnants of a global ocean that encircled the northern third of Mars.

    However, there are differing views among scientists about this, and more observations are needed.

    On Earth, the geologic record of oceans is distinctive. Modern oceans are only a few hundreds of millions of years old. Yet the global rock record is riddled with deposits made by many older oceans, some several billions of years old.

    This diagram shows how a series of beach deposits would have formed at the Zhurong landing site in the distant past on Mars.
    Hai Liu/Guangzhou University

    What lies beneath

    To determine if rocks in Utopia Planitia are consistent with having been deposited by an ocean, the rover collected data along a 1.3km measured line known as a transect at the margin of the basin. The transect was oriented perpendicular to the paleoshoreline. The goal was to work out what rock types are there, and what story they tell.

    The Zhurong rover used a technique called ground penetrating radar, which probed down to 100 metres below the surface. The data revealed many characteristics of the buried rocks, including their orientation.

    Rocks imaged along the transect contained many reflective layers that are visible by ground penetrating radar down to at least 30 metres. All the layers also dip shallowly into the basin, away from the paleoshoreline. This geometry exactly reflects how sediments are deposited into oceans on Earth.

    The ground penetrating radar also measured how much the rocks are affected by an electrical field. The results showed the rocks are more likely to be sedimentary and are not volcanic flows, which can also form layers.

    The study compared Zhurong data gathered from Utopia Planitia with ground penetrating radar data for different sedimentary environments on Earth.

    The result of the comparison is clear – the rocks Zhurong imaged are a match for coastal sediments deposited along the margin of an ocean.

    Zhurong found a beach.

    Photograph of frosted terrain on Utopia Planitia, taken by the Viking 2 lander in 1979.
    NASA/JPL

    A wet Mars

    The Noachian period of Martian history, from 4.1 to 3.7 billion years ago, is the poster child for a wet Mars. There is abundant evidence from orbital images of valley networks and mineral maps that the surface of Noachian Mars had surface water.

    However, there is less evidence for surface water during the Hesperian period, from 3.7 to 3 billion years ago. Stunning orbital images of large outflow channels in Hesperian land forms, including an area of canyons known as Kasei Valles, are believed to have formed from catastrophic releases of ground water, rather than standing water.

    From this view, Mars appears to have cooled down and dried up by Hesperian time.

    However, the Zhurong rover findings of coastal deposits formed in an ocean may indicate that surface water was stable on Mars longer than previously recognised. It may have lasted into the Late Hesperian period.

    This may mean that habitable environments, around an ocean, extended to more recent times.

    Aaron J. Cavosie has received funding from Australian Research Council and the Space Science and Technology Centre at Curtin University.

    – ref. Scientists have discovered a 3 billion-year-old beach buried on Mars – https://theconversation.com/scientists-have-discovered-a-3-billion-year-old-beach-buried-on-mars-250496

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Chinese live fire: a wake-up call for NZ’s investment priorities

    Source: ACT Party

    “Chinese war ships engaging in live fire in the Tasman Sea ought to be a wake-up call for our investment priorities,” says ACT Defence spokesperson Mark Cameron.

    “We have been taking the so-called benign strategic environment for granted, but the rule of history is that big fish eat the little fish. New Zealand needs to wake up, get together with its mates, and up our defensive capability – fast.

    “Lifting investment in Defence is a matter of security, but also of prosperity. Our fisheries, sea mining, trade routes, and Exclusive Economic Zone hold untold economic value, and any serious strategy to grow the economy will rely on our continued control of these assets.

    “Prior to the election, ACT campaigned on increasing defence spending to 1.5% of GDP, or $4.35 billion over four years, with a long-term target of reaching 2% by 2030.

    “Australia’s defence spending has already surged above 2%, heading to 2.4% by the end of the decade. We need to do our part and work with our friends to effectively direct our investment, so that we can be taken seriously as an ally worth defending.

    “Crucially, ACT is open to debate around tough trade-offs in spending and investment to make a Defence boost possible.

    “This morning, the New Zealand Initiative released a report valuing the government’s existing assets at $571 billion. It raises some interesting questions. Does it make more sense for the government to own a television station, or a P8 Poseidon? Should we keep a 51% share in a power company, or get our hands on some more frigates?

    “ACT would argue it’s time to pull money out of the nice-to-haves, and invest in the men and women who protect our livelihoods.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Activist News – Peace diplomacy must lead in addressing Chinese warships in Tasman Sea – PAW

    Source: Peace Action Wellington

    Over the past five days, a group of Chinese warships has been travelling
    in the Tasman Sea and practicing live fire drills. The NZ Navy and Australian Navy have been deployed to keep watch on the ships’ movements and activities.

    “Alarm over the deployment of Chinese warships is a deeply hypocritical reaction and represents a double-standard of impressive height.
    Moreover, the Prime Minister’s suggestion that weapons spending will go up is opportunistic and in the service of US imperial aims, not NZ security,” said Valerie Morse of Peace Action Wellington.

    “The government is behaving hypocritically: US warships invade and occupy spaces across the globe, enforcing US power and dominance, including directly off the coast of China, something the US itself would never abide by on its own seaboard. Yet not only is there no criticism of the US, there is active participation by the NZDF in the US’s imperial war mongering in places like the Red Sea.”

    “By the same token, New Zealand has previously hosted Chinese warships in the ports of Auckland and Wellington.”

    “No one should be under an illusion any longer that the US represents a force for good in the world or the upholding of international law and norms. The US has declared war on international law and is using its military to enforce US supremacy with missiles. This actively undermines New Zealand security.”

    “At the same time, the Chinese state is an authoritarian nightmare with an aggressive plan for military spending and zero regard for human rights. The experiences in Hong Kong and Xinjiang should be evidence for how much respect China has for basic rights and freedoms.”

    “This is why the response of the New Zealand government should not be to play into the US’s anti-China rhetoric but instead should be a strong voice for peace, diplomacy and disarmament. It is critically important that New Zealand ends participation in dangerous and counterproductive US military activities including active deployments in the Middle East, space launches, training and through the Five Eyes intelligence agencies. Now is the time for a foreign policy that actually puts people and planet first, not weapons companies and US capitalists.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Helping women and children in Dubbo leave violent relationships

    Source: Australian Ministers for Social Services

    The Albanese Labor Government is supporting women and children living in Dubbo to leave violent intimate partner relationships.

    Bunmabunmarra Service Pty Ltd will receive $6.3 million to deliver culturally safe programs to support victim-survivors of intimate partner violence in the regional NSW area.

    This is one of three place-based trials commencing from 1 July – part of the next stage of the $925 million Leaving Violence Program.

    The Government is investing $22.35 million in trials in Dubbo, Broome in Western Australia and Darwin in the Northern Territory, to provide tailored, trauma-informed support to victim-survivors.

    Bunmabunmarra Service Pty Ltd will also support victim-survivors to access the Leaving Violence Program.

    Under the Leaving Violence Program, eligible victim-survivors receive financial support of up to $5,000, including up to $1,500 in cash and the remainder in goods and services. Supports include safety planning, risk assessment and referrals to other essential services for up to 12 weeks. The national program is expected to support over 36,000 victim-survivors a year.

    Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said financial barriers can be a huge impediment to victim-survivors breaking free of a violent relationship.

    “The Albanese Labor Government is absolutely committed to ending family, domestic and sexual violence in a generation. We want people to know if they need to leave, they can afford to go,” Minster Rishworth said.

    “These regional trials will provide a financial and practical lifeline for people experiencing intimate partner violence in regional Australia, helping them break free from abusive relationships and build a life free from violence.”

    Assistant Minister for Social Security and Women Kate Thwaites said people experiencing violence would have access to culturally safe programs through the trials.

    “It’s important for anyone experiencing intimate partner violence to have a range of options to choose from when seeking support.

    “Increasing the access and choices for this program will help more people experiencing violence, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, to receive support and to leave violent intimate partner relationships.”

    Intimate partner violence is a problem of epidemic proportions in Australia, with a quarter of all Australian women having experienced it in their lifetime.

    The Leaving Violence Program helps support the aims of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-32 to end violence in one generation, and forms part of the Albanese Government’s $4 billion investment in women’s safety since 2022.

    More than 78,000 victim-survivors have accessed the EVP payment since 2021. Over 70 per cent of those accessing the support were self-referrals meaning without this program they may have fallen through the cracks of the support system.

    More information on the Leaving Violence Program is available on the Department of Social Services website.

    If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via www.1800RESPECT.org.au, or text 0458 737 732.

    If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit http://www.ntv.org.au

    Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Smoother path for Great Rides

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Cycling our Great Rides is about to get a whole lot smoother, with a $9 million Government boost for infrastructure upgrades and replacements, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston has announced.

    “Together, the 23 Great Rides receive about a million visitors a year, of whom around 20 per cent are international visitors,” Louise Upston says.

    “With those numbers expected to continue growing, maintaining and improving these trails is a must, so visitors can keep enjoying the unique experience of pedalling through New Zealand’s beautiful landscapes. 

    “We know some of the Great Rides trails need work so the first priority will be addressing issues such as improving design and resilience, making them better able to cope with rider numbers and extreme weather. 

    “I’m excited to announce this investment and am looking forward to seeing local communities welcome more visitors to experience everything they have to offer. 

    “This initiative builds on the Government’s commitment to tourism. The sector is a crucial part of our focus on economic growth, with domestic and international tourism expenditure at almost $38 billion and supporting nearly 200,000 jobs.

    “Already this month we’ve announced: 

    • $500,000 for marketing New Zealand as the ‘go now’ destination for Australians
    • $30 million to support conservation tourism
    • $3 million for regional tourism initiatives. 

    “Investment in tourism has overwhelming support from Kiwis – 93 per cent of New Zealanders surveyed last year agreed that tourism is good for the country. 

    “This is a year of opportunity.  2025 is our chance to reinforce the value of tourism to a humming, vibrant country, where we welcome anyone, from anywhere, anytime,” Louise Upston says. 

    Today’s announcement came in Queenstown, where Minister Upston attended the opening of the Hugo Tunnel on the separately funded Shotover Gorge Trail. Once opened, this trail will link Frankton to Arthurs Point to provide a spectacular off-road journey along the Shotover River.

    The two years of funding is available through the Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trail Fund and applications open on 31 March. 

    This is a contestable funding round and applicants will be expected to fund 25-50 per cent of the total project cost. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Drug and Alcohol Testing – Recent data indicates an increase in amphetamine-type substances and opioids

    Source: Botica Butler Raudon

    Imperans Q4 Report, State of Workplace Drug Use from TDDA.

    AUCKLAND, New Zealand, 25 February 2024 – The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA), New Zealand’s largest workplace drug testing provider has released its Q4 2024 workplace drug and alcohol findings.  

    The Imperans Report provides New Zealand employers with an analysis of drug and alcohol usage trends, combining results from the nation to empower businesses to engage in proactive workplace risk management.  

    This quarter, 3.99 per cent of the screens conducted by TDDA indicated the presence of drugs. THC (cannabis) continues to be the most prevalent substance detected in workplace drug tests, accounting for 59.1 per cent of cases. Recent data also indicates a sharp increase in amphetamine-type substances and opioids compared to the same quarter last year. This suggests shifting patterns in substance use that requires greater employer awareness and policy reinforcement, especially around non-medical use of pharmaceuticals.  

    Below are the most prevalent substances detected nationally in TDDA testing:

    • THC (cannabis): 59.1 per cent (down from 63.8 per cent in Q4 2023) 
    • Amphetamine-type substances (including methamphetamine): 24.4 per cent (up from 18.8 per cent in Q4 2023) 
    • Opioids (including oxycodone): 12.1 per cent (up from 11.9 per cent in Q4 2023) 
    • Benzodiazepines: 3.5 per cent  
    • Cocaine: 1.1 per cent.

    “New Zealand workplaces must remain vigilant in addressing substance use. Working under the influence of amphetamines is also a major workplace hazard,” says Glenn Dobson, CEO, TDDA.  

    “These substances impair vision, cause dizziness, and adversely affect coordination, increasing the risk of serious accidents. In high-risk environments like construction, transport, and manufacturing, impairment can be the difference between a routine workday and a fatal incident.”

    “The increase in amphetamine detections a real issue, but opioid detections are what concerns me more. Until now, New Zealand has largely avoided the opioid epidemic seen overseas, so any rise in detection rates is worth examination. As a workplace risk, opioids are at the top. Legally prescribed or illegally procured, they can cause workplace accidents, long-term addiction and lead to the loss of life in more way than one.”  

    With shifting patterns in substance use, Kiwi employers can benefit from reviewing their testing protocols and support systems to ensure both compliance and workforce well-being. As members of the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA) and the California Narcotic Officers Association (CNOA), TDDA closely follows and acts on global drug trends.  

    TDDA recommends that companies update drug and alcohol policies to include stronger measures addressing opioids and amphetamines, train managers to recognise impairment, particularly the subtle signs of opioid use, and ensure regular and random drug testing to deter misuse and protect workplace safety.  

    “Employers need to stay ahead of these trends, enforce policies consistently, and provide education to their workforce to prevent harm,” says Dobson. “With the right measures in place, businesses can protect their employees and maintain a safe, productive environment.”

    In Q4 2024 tests from 27 sterile clinic locations and over 60 mobile clinics throughout New Zealand were used. All tests were taken between 1 October 2024 and 31 December1.  Data is anonymised and aggregated using TDDA’s Imperans system, a bespoke IT platform for testing services, data recording, and reporting.  

    TDDA drug tests screen for amphetamines; benzodiazepines; cocaine; methamphetamine; opiates and opioids; cannabis; and synthetic drugs like synthetic cannabis.

    1 Total figures on testing volumes or testing results by industry and region are commercially sensitive.

    Methodology  
    Testing data from 1 October 2024 and 31 December 2024 is aggregated and anonymised from 27 clinic and 60 mobile clinic operations throughout Australasia. Data from preemployment, post incident, regular and random testing has been combined. Testing methods included urine and oral fluid screening. Data is reported into the TDDA Imperans system, anonymised, and represents a snapshot of drug trends across Australasian workplaces and industries.  

    About The Drug Detection Agency
    The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA) is a leader in workplace substance testing with more than 300 staff, 90 mobile health clinics, 65 locations throughout Australasia, and processing more than 250,000 tests annually. TDDA was established in 2005 to provide New Zealand and Australian businesses with end-to-end workplace substance testing, education and policy services. TDDA holds ISO17025 accreditation for workplace substance testing in both AU and NZ. Refer to the IANZ and NATA websites for TDDA’s full accreditation details. Learn more about TDDA at https://tdda.com/.  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Western Sydney gets its first truck rest stop

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    Truck drivers travelling across Sydney will soon be able to stop at the city’s first dedicated heavy vehicle rest area, with the Australian and NSW governments identifying a six-hectare piece of land located close to a key junction of the motorway network.

    The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments will each contribute $40 million as a first step towards transforming the greenfield site at Eastern Creek into a purpose-built rest stop where truckies can shower and take a break from the road.

    Developing the first dedicated truck stop in Western Sydney was an election commitment by NSW Labor, and the Eastern Creek site will deliver a much-needed rest area for truck drivers between Pheasants Nest to the south of Sydney and Wyong to the north – a distance of 180 kilometres and nearly two hours driving.

    The site is located five minutes from the M7 and ten minutes from the M4 and will be of particular benefit to drivers hauling freight through Sydney between Victoria and Queensland.

    A survey of 800 truckies – overwhelmingly long-haul drivers of B-doubles and semi-trailers – found safety and security was their highest priority for a rest area, as well as the provision of separate toilet and shower facilities for female drivers.

    Based on driver feedback and industry consultation, the rest area will provide flushing toilets, clean drinking water, hot showers, ample available parking including secluded bays for sleeping, and shaded areas for time outside the truck cabin.

    The new rest stop will provide space for a range of heavy vehicles, including oversize overmass, and it will give truckies a safe and accessible area to rest and mange fatigue as part of their journey.

    For more information click here Heavy Vehicle Rest Stopping Improvements | Transport for NSW

    Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

    “The safety of our truckies is a priority of our government and improving the number and quality of heavy vehicle rest areas is critical for that.

    “We’ve listened to our truck drivers, and will deliver what they’ve asked for – shelter, toilets, hot showers, drinking water, shade and bays to sleep.

    “These are things that we often take for granted at our own workplace but are not easily accessible for our truckies while they are working on the road.

    “Availability of adequate rest areas helps truckies to better manage fatigue and avoid incidents on the road, ultimately saving lives.”

    Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Transport and Roads John Graham:

    “Sydney has a reputation for being Australia’s least friendly city for truck drivers. We are changing that.

    “Truckies are the backbone of our economy and they deserve a place in Sydney to rest and recharge. It was our promise to deliver a dedicated truck rest area in Western Sydney and identifying this six-hectare site is the critical step.

    “This land is close by the heart of the motorway network where the M7 and the M4 meet at Eastern Creek making it the ideal site.

    “At the moment there is a 180-kilometre gap from the southern outskirts of Sydney to the Central Coast in which truck drivers must make do with service stations and local roads to get a break. This is not fair.

    “By ensuring our truck drivers are well-rested we are also ensuring the safest possible motorway network for all drivers.”

    Quotes attributable to Federal Member for McMahon Chris Bowen:

    “We know that Western Sydney is the beating heart of Australia’s economy.

    “The Eastern Creek industrial complex is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.

    “That requires measures to ensure that local truckies stay safe when delivering for our community.

    “This is what the community wanted, and we’re delivering”.

    Quotes attributable to the Steering Committee Chair Senator Glenn Sterle:

    “The Australian Government’s Heavy Vehicle Rest Area initiative aims to increase heavy vehicle user safety and productivity through vital new and upgraded rest areas across their journey.

    “We want to keep our truck drivers and communities safe and these new and upgraded rest stops will help drivers reduce their fatigue as they keep goods moving across the country.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Creating a more accessible Australia

    Source: Ministers for Social Services

    The Albanese Labor Government is committed to building inclusive communities in Australia, where people with disability, including those with complex needs, can experience our extraordinary country.

    The Government has today announced a $17.1 million investment to work in partnership with states and territories to increase accessibility in community spaces across Australia through the new Commonwealth Accessible Australia initiative.

    Accessible Australia builds on the Government’s Changing Places initiative to include funding for additional accessible infrastructure projects in national parks, beaches and play spaces nationwide.

    The Federal Government will fund up to 100 per cent of eligible accessible infrastructure for inclusive national parks, beaches and portable Changing Places facilities.

    This includes funding for all terrain or beach wheelchairs and accessible paths or mobi-matting.

    It will also fund up to 50 per cent of build cost for fixed Changing Places facilities and inclusive play spaces to include features like liberty swings and sensory play platforms, with remaining build costs and ongoing maintenance to be met by state and territory governments.

    Minister for Social Services and the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Amanda Rishworth, said Accessible Australia continues our Government’s strong focus on inclusion for people with disability across all aspects of our society and in every community.

    “Changing Places is already building facilities in 39 communities across the country, providing the highest level of accessible bathrooms for people with complex needs, helping to remove the barriers some face in participating fully in their community,” Minister Rishworth said.

    “Through Accessible Australia, we are significantly broadening the types of accessible infrastructure and amenities that will be built across Australia, providing access – for the first time for many – to national parks, beaches and play spaces.

    “These new facilities will be in addition to Changing Places projects recently announced, as we bolster our efforts to increase inclusion and promote accessible tourism.”

    The Australian Government will also provide funding to state and territory governments to help with the design, development and delivery of Accessible Australia projects.

    “People with disability have the same rights to be included in our communities, to access the spaces we gather in, and to experience our beautiful natural environment.

    “By working together, we can make Australia truly accessible for all,” Minister Rishworth said.

    For more information about the Commonwealth Accessible Australia initiative, visit the Department of Social Services website.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: BlackRock® Canada Announces Final February Cash Distributions for the iShares® Premium Money Market ETF

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited (“BlackRock Canada”), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE: BLK), today announced the final February 2025 cash distributions for the iShares Premium Money Market ETF. Unitholders of record on February 25, 2025 will receive cash distributions payable on February 28, 2025.

    Details regarding the final “per unit” distribution amounts are as follows:

    Fund Name Fund
    Ticker    		 Cash
    Distribution
    Per Unit
    iShares Premium Money Market ETF CMR $0.123

    Further information on the iShares ETFs can be found at http://www.blackrock.com/ca.

    About BlackRock
    BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate | Twitter: @BlackRockCA

    About iShares ETFs
    iShares unlocks opportunity across markets to meet the evolving needs of investors. With more than twenty years of experience, a global line-up of 1500+ exchange traded funds (ETFs) and US$4.2 trillion in assets under management as of December 31, 2024, iShares continues to drive progress for the financial industry. iShares funds are powered by the expert portfolio and risk management of BlackRock.

    iShares® ETFs are managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited.

    Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investing in iShares ETFs. Please read the relevant prospectus before investing. The funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional.  

    Contact for Media:
    Sydney Punchard
    Email: Sydney.Punchard@blackrock.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: POPcodes Wins ETA’s Most Innovative Solution for 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAS VEGAS, Feb. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — POPcodes, Inc. (POPcodes), a leading provider of value-added, B2B and B2C solutions for payment providers, is honored to receive the Most Innovative Product or Solution Award from the Electronic Transactions Association (ETA). POPcodes will receive the award during the Visa Celebration & ETA Star Awards on April 2, 2025, at TRANSACT, the premier annual event for the payments industry.

    The Most Innovative Product or Solution Award recognizes companies that deliver exceptional increases in usability, reduced friction, increased profitability, or drive advancements for the payments ecosystem. POPcodes’ Direct-to-MerchantTM (D2M) Communication Platform embodies all those criteria, transforming how payment solution providers (PSPs) and their enterprise and SMB merchant customers connect, communicate, and engage.

    D2M accelerates activations, reduces training and support costs, and drives increased adoption of value-added service by enabling instant, campaign-based, and self-serve messaging with graphical, omnichannel workflows delivered in the merchants’ preferred language directly to the in-person point of purchase.

    POPcodes’ unique cloud/app-based hybrid platform gives PSPs unprecedented simplicity, flexibility, control, and effectiveness when meeting their B2B communication and process automation needs — delivering a better merchant experience while meeting the payment ecosystem’s rigorous security and stability demands.

    POPcodes’ clients include two of the top five global payment processors. These processors use D2M to solve multiple business-critical challenges, including delivering a better first experience for new merchants, accelerating new device and application rollouts, reducing training support and costs, and guiding merchants through PCI and AML/KYC compliance. Most importantly, POPcodes drive merchant referrals and increase value-added service sales. By leveraging the D2M platform’s features and POPcodes’ expertise, the solution has proven value to the PSP’s portfolio growth, profitability, and retention goals.

    CEO Gregg Aamoth explained, “We’re dedicated to revolutionizing the payments industry by helping PSPs around the world deliver seamless, secure, and user-friendly workflows that empower merchants and enhance their experience, while optimizing PSPs’ business, partnerships, and shareholder value.”

    “This recognition is an honor and testament to our team’s hard work. We look forward to expanding our mission of innovation and excellence around the globe, ultimately connecting all players in the multi-trillion dollar retail and payments value chains,” Aamoth said.

    The award is the latest for POPcodes’ D2M platform. The company was runner-up in the ETA’s Most Innovation Solution category in 2024 and also received awards and recognitions at Money 20/20 and the SouthEast, NorthEast, and Western States Acquirers Association conferences.

    POPcodes congratulates all nominees and winners in this year’s ETA Awards for their accomplishments and dedication to advancing payment innovation.

    About POPcodes

    POPcodes’ cloud-based platform, white-labeled apps, and AI-enabled content, workflow, and campaign management services transform the rapidly expanding network of smart, in-person payment devices into an exclusive, owned digital media channel with secure, bi-directional messaging and omnichannel workflows that help globally recognized brands meet their B2B, B2B2B, B2C, and B2B2C obligations and goals.

    Learn more at popcodes.com

    Contact
    Kristi Hamilton
    (904) 718-8972
    Kristi@Skyrocketgroup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS RELEASE: DLIR HOSTS JOB FAIR FOR FEDERAL WORKERS AND CONTRACTORS

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    NEWS RELEASE: DLIR HOSTS JOB FAIR FOR FEDERAL WORKERS AND CONTRACTORS

    Posted on Feb 24, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

    KA ʻOIHANA PONO LIMAHANA

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.

    GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

    JADE T. BUTAY

    DIRECTOR

    KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

    DLIR HOSTS JOB FAIR FOR FEDERAL WORKERS AND CONTRACTORS

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    February 24, 2025

     

    HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) is hosting a hiring fair on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, aimed at addressing the state’s labor shortages and supporting workers affected by federal layoffs, resignations and other employment transitions.

    “We invite individuals impacted by recent federal policy changes to explore career opportunities within our department or consider other state positions,” said DLIR Director Jade T. Butay. “We have immediate openings and an expedited hiring process for those interested in continuing their careers in public service.”

    “We value the experience and dedication of federal workers,” said Department of Human Resources Development Director Brenna H. Hashimoto. “We are eager to welcome those impacted by the changes at the federal level to our workforces, as we believe they will make an immediate, positive impact.”

    Attendees will have the chance to explore open positions within DLIR’s divisions, meet with hiring managers, participate in on-the-spot interviews, and receive support with job-matching and applications for DLIR.

    The event, “Operation Hire Hawaiʻi: A Workforce Transition Initiative,” will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 830 Punchbowl St., Rooms 310, 313 and 314, in Honolulu.

    # # #

    Equal Opportunity Employer/Program
    Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
    TDD/TTY Dial 711 then ask for 808-586-8842

    View DLIR news releases:

    http://labor.hawaii.gov/blog/category/news/

    Media Contact:

    Chavonnie Ramos

    Public Information Officer

    Department of Labor and Industrial Relations

    Phone: 808-586-9720

    Email: [email protected]

    Website: http://labor.hawaii.gov

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Panel to examine measures adopted by Türkiye targeting Chinese electric vehicle imports

    Source: World Trade Organization

    DS629: Türkiye — Measures Concerning Electric Vehicles and Other Types of Vehicles from China

    China submitted its second request for the establishment of a dispute panel to rule on various measures taken by Türkiye concerning electric vehicles (“EVs”) and certain other types of vehicles originating in China. China’s first request was blocked by Türkiye at the previous DSB meeting on 27 January. China said challenges faced by one member’s industry need to be addressed in a way consistent with its WTO obligations and should not be used as an excuse for abandoning the core principle of non-discrimination that is the bedrock of the WTO and of the rules-based international trading system.

    Türkiye said it is deeply concerned that China is making such a request before all possible bilateral consultations are exhausted. China’s request relates to a major sector that has been facing strong challenges for many years due to uncompetitive practices, subsidization and excess capacity, Türkiye said.

    The DSB agreed to the establishment of the panel. The European Union, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Brazil, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Switzerland, Norway, Singapore, the Russian Federation, Thailand and India reserved their third-party rights to participate in the panel proceedings.

    DS593: European Union — Certain Measures Concerning Palm Oil and Oil Palm Crop-Based Biofuels

    Indonesia noted the panel ruling circulated on 10 January, which it said found that the European Union’s 2018 renewable energy directive and related regulations unfairly discriminated against Indonesia’s palm oil biofuels. The economic impact of these discriminatory measures is substantial and has severely affected Indonesian palm oil exports, impacting millions of farmers and businesses, Indonesia said. It called on the EU to adjust its policy and the measures at issue so that they are in line with the WTO agreements; Indonesia will closely monitor implementation and expects swift compliance.

    The European Union said it welcomed the panel’s findings, which confirm that the EU has the right to take measures to ensure that its policies on renewable fuels do not exacerbate greenhouse gas emissions associated with indirect land-use change. While it raised some concerns regarding the panel’s findings, the EU said the panel found that the EU measures aim to achieve legitimate environmental objectives and that they are science-based.

    Russia, Brazil, the United States, and St Vincent and the Grenadines (for the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States) took the floor to comment on the panel report.

    The DSB took note of the statements and adopted the panel report.

    DS599: Panama — Measures Concerning the Importation of Certain Products from Costa Rica

    Costa Rica made a statement criticizing Panama’s decision to appeal the panel report in DS599, which upheld Costa Rica’s complaint regarding Panama’s import restrictions on various fruit, dairy and meat products from Costa Rica. Costa Rica proposed a bilateral agreement to Panama that would enable both parties to proceed to arbitration under Article 25 of the Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU), but Panama refused, Costa Rica said. Panama’s appeal “into the void” should serve to highlight the importance of alternative avenues under the DSU to resolve disputes, Costa Rica said.

    Panama said it reaffirms its commitment to international law and to the WTO agreements in general and the DSU in particular, and its willingness to settle any dispute with its trading partners.

    The European Union, Canada and Colombia made statements on the matter.

    Appellate Body appointments

    Colombia, speaking on behalf of 130 members, introduced for the 84th time the group’s proposal to start the selection processes for filling vacancies on the Appellate Body. The extensive number of members submitting the proposal reflects a common interest in the functioning of the Appellate Body and, more generally, in the functioning of the WTO’s dispute settlement system, Colombia said.

    The United States repeated that the US is currently transitioning to a new administration and that, as US concerns with WTO dispute settlement remain unaddressed, it does not support the proposed decision.

    Twenty-two members then took the floor to comment, one speaking on behalf of the ACP Group. Most reiterated their support for the joint proposal and for the urgent need to restore a fully functioning dispute settlement system. Several welcomed the progress made in the dispute settlement reform discussions last year and supported the proposal by the previous General Council Chair to commence consultations on advancing the discussions.

    Ten members (China; Canada; Hong Kong, China; Switzerland; Singapore; the European Union; Australia; Norway; Japan; and New Zealand) urged members to consider joining the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arrangement (MPIA), a contingent measure to safeguard the right to appeal in the absence of a functioning Appellate Body.

    Colombia said on behalf of the 130 members that it regretted that, on 84 occasions, members have not been able to launch the selection processes. Ongoing conversations about reform of the dispute settlement system should not prevent the Appellate Body from continuing to operate fully, and, in line with 17.2 of the DSU, members shall comply with their obligation under the Dispute Settlement Understanding to fill the vacancies as they arise, Colombia said on behalf of the group.

    Surveillance of implementation

    The United States presented status reports with regard to DS184, “United States — Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Products from Japan”, DS160, “United States — Section 110(5) of US Copyright Act”, DS464, “United States — Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Measures on Large Residential Washers from Korea”, and DS471, “United States — Certain Methodologies and their Application to Anti-Dumping Proceedings Involving China.”

    The European Union presented a status report with regard to DS291, “EC — Measures Affecting the Approval and Marketing of Biotech Products.”

    Indonesia presented its status reports in DS477 and DS478, “Indonesia — Importation of Horticultural Products, Animals and Animal Products.” 

    Election of Chairperson

    At the end of the meeting, the DSB elected Ambassador Clare Kelly of New Zealand as Chair of the DSB for the coming work year.

    Next meeting

    The next regular DSB meeting will take place on 24 March.

    Share

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Inaugurates the First-ever Regional Dialogue on Social Justice

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Inaugurates the First-ever Regional Dialogue on Social Justice

    74th Foundation Day of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Celebrated

    Director General, ILO, Gilbert F. Houngbo Praises India’s Efforts in Doubling Social Protection Coverage to 49%

    Posted On: 24 FEB 2025 8:05PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the first-ever two-day Regional Dialogue on Social Justice under the Global Coalition for Social Justice in New Delhi today. Director General, International Labour Organization (ILO), Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo, graced the event with his presence. Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment, Ms. Shobha Karandlaje, Secretary (Labour & Employment), Ms. Sumita Dawra, along with other dignitaries were also present at this prestigious international dialogue.

    Commemorating the 74th Foundation Day of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), an award ceremony to felicitate achievements across its organisations was also held.

    Launched in 2023, the Global Coalition for Social Justice calls for a collaborative approach and commitment towards promoting decent work, social protection, responsible business conduct and fair work. The Global Coalition has around 340 members of the Global Coalition including Governments, academia, private sector, financial institutions, etc.

    Addressing the gathering, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, emphasized India’s role as a proud member of the Asia Pacific Coordinating Group, leading the first Regional Dialogue. He expressed joy in championing the key Coalition intervention, stating, “India is privileged to spearhead the initiative on Responsible Business Practices for Sustainable and Inclusive Societies.” Union Minister commended the BMS and the CII-EFI’s shared commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices, respect for workers’ rights, and inclusive economic growth. “Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has undertaken significant steps towards economic transformation. The next five years present a unique opportunity to realize our vision of ‘Sabka Vikas’—balanced growth for all regions and communities,” he asserted.

    During the occasion, Dr. Mandaviya launched the e-Shram mobile app, a key step in strengthening social benefits delivery by offering real-time access to government welfare schemes, intelligent benefit filtering, curated job listings aligned with users’ skills and location, and multilingual support.

    Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of the ILO, congratulated the Government of India for the efforts in doubling India’s social protection from 24.4% to 48.8% as reported in the World Social Protection Report (WSPR) 2024. Recognizing India’s important role in ILO’s leadership, DG ILO remarked that India’s efforts in business growth along with social protection serves as a good example to inspire change and improve social protection systems across the world. He mentioned that this remarkable achievement is an outcome of the decisive actions taken by the Central Government in expanding social protection in the past few years.

    Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment, Smt. Shobha Karandlaje, emphasized that social justice cannot be achieved through a one-size-fit-all approach. She underscored that social justice is embedded in India’s constitutional commitments. Reiterating India’s remarkable progress reported in the WSPR, she highlighted that India’s efforts in improving social protection, drove a 5% increase in the global social protection coverage. Congratulating ESIC on its 74th Foundation Day, she acknowledged its role in strengthening social security and announced the government’s plans to extend coverage to unorganized, agricultural, construction, gig, and platform workers.

    Addressing the gathering, Secretary MoLE, Smt. Sumita Dawra, praised the ILO’s Global Coalition for Social Justice for strengthening global cooperation. Highlighting India as the fastest-growing major economy with a vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, she emphasized the country’s foundation on social justice principles, strong demographic dividend with 65% of the population under the age of 35, and a commitment to employment generation, equity, and welfare. She reiterated India’s goal of achieving 70% females engaged in economic activity by 2047, and applauded industry leaders for adopting responsible business practices, including youth skill development, education, and women’s workforce participation.

    During the occasion, India’s largest workers association, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) joined the Global Coalition for Social Justice. Through a Joint Statement on Responsible Business Conduct presented by the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) and the Confederation of Indian Industry-Employers’ Federation of India (CII-EFI), these organisations showcased their commitment towards this agenda.

    Additionally, several key publications were unveiled, including Best Practices on Responsible Business Conduct in India, Position Paper on Transforming India’s Social Protection Landscape through Data Pooling, Compendium of Social Protection in India, Social Security for Informal Workers: Reflections & Learnings from ISSA-ESIC International Seminar, 2025, and Shram Samarth: A Journey to Excellence.

    An exhibition on the sidelines of the event showcased the innovative use of technology in labour welfare, social security, medical care, personnel management, industrial safety, and more. Participants demonstrated how technology is driving positive change in the ecosystem, enhancing services and outreach for workers.

    A series of insightful technical sessions brought together global experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to advance discussions on youth empowerment, social justice, and inclusion. These sessions explored strategies to bridge the education-to-employment gap, expand social protection for informal workers, and promote gender equality in the workforce. Key stakeholders from India, the Philippines, Namibia, Germany, Australia, Brazil, and international organizations such as the ILO and UN Women shared best practices, including digital skilling platforms, social security frameworks, and gender-responsive workplace policies. Emphasizing collaboration and innovation, the discussions reinforced the importance of public-private partnerships in fostering inclusive economic growth and ensuring equitable opportunities for all.

    Today’s event showcases the progress India has made on the global centre stage. India’s social justice growth journey including 3.2% unemployment rate, modernized labour codes, 48.8% social protection coverage, partnering with ILO on determining living wages, building responsible business conduct, showcasing success business case studies, leading the regional agenda in Asia Pacific, is an epitome of India’s confidence and critical positioning.

    Taking a collaborative approach to further strengthening India’s social protection coverage, making significant strides in developing the G20 international referencing classification of occupations, and advancing the decent work country programme with focus on living wages, AI and Future of Work and Global Value Chains, the two-day summit will prove to be a pathbreaking initiative and a global movement for strengthened cooperation.

    *****

    Himanshu Pathak

    (Release ID: 2105900) Visitor Counter : 28

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: SOLVE Tapped to Become Exclusive Pricing Transparency Provider for Entegra

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAS VEGAS, Feb. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SOLVE, the premier provider of price transparency data for fixed income securities markets, has been selected by Entegra—an innovator in Trading as a Service (TaaS)—to revolutionize how Securitized Products are traded. By integrating SOLVE’s best-in-class data with Entegra’s cutting-edge proprietary models, the partnership is set to bring unprecedented clarity and efficiency to market participants.

    Entegra, a revolutionary venture led by Daniel Ezra, former head of SP Trading at Credit Suisse, leverages decades of expertise and state-of-the-art analytics to reshape trading in Securitized Products. Entegra analysts will now be armed with data from SOLVE, enabling arrangers and underwriters to offer their banking clients a market-making service throughout the life cycle of their deals at no additional cost to the banking client. Entegra and SOLVE would work in tandem to seamlessly integrate into the arranger’s banking mandate offering.

    “We’re excited to provide our data to Entegra and arm their traders with the real-time pricing information they need to stay ahead of the Securitized Products market,” said SOLVE co-founder and CEO Eugene Grinberg. “From the day we started our business, our goal has been to empower market participants to make confident, data-driven decisions by enhancing price transparency for both buy and sell side participants and working with Entegra allows us to continue serving that mission.”

    Entegra’s traders will have direct access to SOLVE’s flagship SOLVE Quotes™, a platform that leverages Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning to deliver over 20 million daily quotes across more than 1,250,000 securities. This integration ensures that Entegra’s sophisticated models are supported by the most accurate and timely data available, empowering traders with deep insights into individual securities and broader market trends.

    “At Entegra, technology meets human expertise. Our TaaS platform is built on the belief that the best trading decisions emerge from the synergy of advanced data analytics and experienced traders,” said Daniel Ezra, Entegra CEO. “With SOLVE’s unparalleled data quality, our systems and teams are better equipped to help our clients make credible and actionable markets as well as execute the right trades. When banks start competing on service, not price, everyone wins.”

    For more information about SOLVE, please visit solvefixedincome.com. To learn more about Entegra, please visit entegra-global.com.

    About SOLVE
    SOLVE is the leading market data platform provider for fixed-income securities, trusted by sophisticated buy-side and sell-side firms worldwide. Founded in 2011, SOLVE leverages its AI-driven technology and deep industry expertise to offer unparalleled transparency into markets, reduce risk, and save hundreds of hours across front-office workflows.  With the largest real-time datasets for Securitized Products, Municipal Bonds, Corporate Bonds, Syndicated Bank Loans, Convertible Bonds, CDS, and Private Credit, SOLVE empowers clients to transform the way they bring new securities to market, trade on secondary markets, and value highly illiquid securities. Headquartered in New York, with offices across the globe, SOLVE is the definitive source for market pricing in fixed-income markets. For more information, visit https://solvefixedincome.com.

    CONTACT
    Jake Katz
    OUTVOX
    jkatz@outvox.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Do you speak other languages at home? This will not hold your child back at school

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Valeria Maria Rigobon, Lecturer in Literacy, Australian Catholic University

    Serwin365/Unsplash, CC BY

    It is common for Australian children to grow up with languages other than English in their family lives.

    More than one-fifth of Australians report speaking a language other than English at home.

    But when it comes time to start school, it’s common for parents to worry about raising a child to be bilingual or multilingual.

    They may wonder, am I harming my child’s English development if I speak another language at home?

    The short answer is no. Research shows speaking more than one language doesn’t hinder a child’s academic progress – in fact, it can even help.

    What does the research say?

    Up until the 1980s, some studies incorrectly suggested early exposure to more than one language could harm a child’s academic achievement. But these findings have since been widely criticised because many of the children in the studies came from economically disadvantaged backgrounds (and so were already disadvantaged in terms of their schooling).

    More recent Australian research has found when socioeconomic status is accounted for, multilingual children are “indistinguishable from their monolingual peers” in literacy and numeracy by the time they are eleven years old. This is provided they have adequate English vocabulary skills by the time they finish Year 2.

    Some studies show multilingual students even surpass monolingual children in different academic areas. This includes English reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation as well as numeracy. Research suggests multilingual students’ enhanced mental flexibility from switching between languages may explain their higher academic performance later in school, but this is not yet confirmed.

    Recent Australian studies show bilingual and multilingual children keep up with their peers at school.
    PNW Promotion/ Pexels, CC BY

    Do you need to learn one language before starting the other?

    Research shows children can learn multiple languages at the same time, starting from infancy.

    This means you don’t have to wait for a child to become fluent in one before you start learning another.

    Similarly, a child does not have to be a highly skilled English speaker to start to learn to read in English. They can develop their spoken and written/reading language skills at the same time.

    It is also important to look at children’s skills across all the languages they know.

    Research on children aged up to 30 months found multilingual children often had smaller vocabularies in English than their monolingual peers. But they had a healthy range when assessed on words they knew in all languages.

    A common misconception is multilingual children may “confuse” words between languages, but this is not the case. They actually learn quite quickly whom they can communicate with in each language, and switch between languages without much effort.

    For example, Valeria’s niece Aurora is four and is already fluent in Hungarian, Spanish and Ukrainian. There are videos of Aurora speaking Spanish with her Venezuelan father and grandmother, turning to respond to her grandfather in Hungarian, and switching to Ukrainian to speak with her mother, all in one conversation.

    Regular calls or visits with family members who speak the home language will help your child develop their languages skills.
    Tima Miroshnichenko/ Unsplash, CC BY

    How can I help my child learn multiple languages?

    Research shows it is important a child receives lots of exposure to each language through meaningful interactions with people who speak those languages.

    There is no clear definition of the amount needed, but it should be regular – for example, everyday talk with parents or visits or phone calls with grandparents who share the home language.

    Also, if you’re worried your child isn’t getting enough English exposure outside school, do not abandon your home language. Instead, create other English opportunities, such as in playgroups, daycare, sports teams or other out-of-school activities.

    Ultimately, the best thing parents can do to support their children’s multilingual learning is build a community filled with native speakers of English and the home language(s).

    Staying consistently connected to this community of people who value each language, especially after children start school, will also support a child’s motivation to keep growing in each language.

    Rauno Parrila receives funding from Australian Research Council and Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    Valeria Maria Rigobon 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. Do you speak other languages at home? This will not hold your child back at school – https://theconversation.com/do-you-speak-other-languages-at-home-this-will-not-hold-your-child-back-at-school-250405

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Secures $16.75 Million from DoorDash for Cheating Delivery Workers Out of Tips

    Source: US State of New York

    NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced a $16.75 million settlement with delivery platform DoorDash for misleading both consumers and delivery workers (known as “Dashers”) by using tips intended for Dashers to subsidize their guaranteed pay. Between May 2017 and September 2019, DoorDash used a guaranteed pay model that let Dashers see how much they would be paid before accepting a delivery. An Office of the Attorney General (OAG) investigation found that under this model, DoorDash used customer tips to offset the base pay it had already guaranteed to workers, instead of giving workers the full tips they rightfully earned. DoorDash will pay $16.75 million in restitution for Dashers and up to $1 million in settlement administrator costs to help issue the payments.

    “Delivery workers are integral to our communities, working tirelessly to bring food and other essentials directly to our doorsteps in all conditions,” said Attorney General James. “DoorDash misled customers who generously tipped and deceived Dashers who deserved to be paid in full. This settlement returns millions to the pockets of hardworking Dashers and ensures transparency in DoorDash’s payment practices going forward. My office will continue to protect New York workers from deceptive business practices and ensure they receive all of the money they’ve earned.”

    The OAG investigation found that under DoorDash’s deceptive pay model, workers were only able to see their tips if they were greater than the amount DoorDash had already guaranteed to pay them for the order. DoorDash would always pay a minimum of $1 to the Dasher and would use the tips paid by the customer to offset the rest of the amount guaranteed to the delivery worker. 

    For example, for orders with a guaranteed amount of $10:

    • If a customer tipped $0, DoorDash would pay $10 ($1 + $9 remainder). The Dasher received $10.
    • If a customer tipped $3, DoorDash would pay $7 ($1 + $6 remainder). The Dasher still only received $10.
    • If a customer tipped $6, DoorDash would pay $4 ($1 + $3 remainder). The Dasher still only received $10.
    • If a customer tipped $9, DoorDash would pay $1 ($1 + $0 remainder). The Dasher still only received $10.
    • If the customer tipped $11, DoorDash would pay $1 ($1 + $0 remainder).The Dasher only received $12.

    Customers were misled into believing their tips would directly benefit Dashers. Instead, DoorDash would keep the tips meant for Dashers and take it out of their guaranteed pay. DoorDash would guarantee pay to a delivery worker, and then only actually pay them whatever the tip did not cover.

    DoorDash also failed to clearly disclose these practices to customers and Dashers. At checkout, customers were encouraged to tip with a message reading “Dashers will always receive 100 percent of the tip.” Disclosures about the use of tips were buried in online documents and inaccessible during critical moments in the ordering process. Customers had no way of knowing that DoorDash was using tips to reduce its own costs.

    Attorney General James has secured $16.75 million in restitution from DoorDash, which a settlement administrator engaged by OAG will distribute directly to Dashers affected by the deceptive pay model, providing them the compensation they were denied. Any worker who delivered for DoorDash between May 2017 and September 2019 in New York state may be eligible to file a claim for this settlement. During that period, New Yorkers placed more than 11 million delivery orders with DoorDash and approximately 63,000 New York delivery workers stand to benefit from this settlement. Payments are expected to begin in early 2025. Eligible drivers will be contacted by the settlement administrator via mail, email, and/or text with notices of the settlement and information on how to file a claim.

    In addition to the restitution fund, DoorDash must:

    • Revise Payment Practices: DoorDash is required to maintain a pay model that ensures consumer tips are paid to Dashers in their entirety, without impacting DoorDash’s contribution to guaranteed pay.
    • Enhance Transparency: The company must clearly disclose pay policy details to both Dashers and consumers, and share a breakdown of base pay, promotional bonuses, and tips with Dashers for every delivery.
    • Improve Dash History Access: Dashers, including those deactivated, will have access to their delivery history for at least four years.

    “This settlement shows the scale at which DoorDash steals from its workers and the scale at which it lies,” said Ligia Guallpa, Executive Director of Worker’s Justice Project and Co-founder of Los Deliveristas Unidos. “And when you steal and lie at this scale, it’s systemic, it’s baked into your business model. And a business model that requires you to steal from workers and customers is a failure. Today, New York City sees what we’re up against and how much more work there is to do to fight back against the predatory labor practices that this industry is built on. But this also shows the collective power of workers and what we can accomplish when we’re united in solidarity with each other and with allies who are willing to hold exploiters accountable. Thank you Attorney General James for being a true friend to workers. And shame on you, DoorDash! While they lie and steal at scale, we are organizing at scale and building collective worker power. We are grateful to have the New York State Attorney General in this fight as we expand our efforts to hold these app companies accountable. We won’t stop fighting to ensure the dignity and respect these workers deserve.”

    “Today, delivery workers in New York City can celebrate another victory in our fight for justice,” said Gustavo Ajche, Co-Founder of Los Deliveristas Unidos. “Since 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, when delivery workers began risking their lives to provide what New Yorkers needed, we also began organizing against the unjust working conditions imposed on us by delivery apps. Every right we have today we have had to fight for. We are grateful to have allies like the New York State Attorney General in this struggle for justice. The recovery of such a large sum of money represents not only the scale of exploitation that we face as workers but also the commitment of Attorney General James in seeing justice served for the working people of New York.”

    “Today represents an important victory in our struggle to be treated with dignity by app companies that continue to exploit and abuse workers,” said Alejo G., an organizing leader with Worker’s Justice Project and Los Deliveristas Unidos. “Delivery workers perform one of the most dangerous jobs in New York City, providing essential goods to New Yorkers. On top of all the risks we face on the street and all the costs we incur, we shouldn’t have to worry about multi-billion-dollar companies stealing our wages and tips. As we continue to uncover the extent to which these companies prey on vulnerable workers, we are grateful to Attorney General James for supporting our rights and for putting DoorDash on notice that labor exploitation will not be tolerated in New York.”

    “Greed – that’s what this case is all about,” said William Medina, a delivery worker and organizer with Worker’s Justice Project and Los Deliveristas Unidos. “A company built on greed that has to steal tips from workers – and customers – to make its revenue and keep its investors happy, that is unjust. It’s unjust to the workers that put their lives on the line every day doing this work. And it’s unjust to the customers who meant to provide a tip to a hard-working deliverista instead of lining the pockets of executives at a billion-dollar company. Since 2020, Los Deliveristas Unidos has been organizing for our rights and to keep the app companies honest and transparent, because we continue to see an unfortunate pattern of such practices, including at DoorDash. Whether it’s stealing tips or making it harder for customers to tip after the minimum pay law went into effect, keeping workers in the dark about how they’re paid or why they’ve been suddenly deactivated – this is a company that operates on secrecy and a total lack of respect for workers and customers. We are grateful to Attorney General James for joining us in the fight and we once again call on DoorDash to do better by those who order food and those who deliver it.”

    “I have been delivering for DoorDash since they started, but I do not work for them as much anymore because the system was not clear and they were taking our tips,” said Lee Vaughn, a Dasher with DoorDash since 2016. “DoorDash never told us accurate distances and the payment amount they would promise was not always true. They would show us an amount plus tips, but they were not telling us the truth. We worked hard and we deserve to be paid. I am thankful to Attorney General Letitia James and her office for getting us our money back.”

    This is the latest of Attorney General James’ efforts to combat wage theft and deceptive business practices. In December 2024, Attorney General James recovered $4 million in withheld tips for former Drizly alcohol delivery workers. In September 2024, Attorney General James returned $750,000 in stolen wages to employees of cell phone company Best Wireless. In April 2024, Attorney General James secured nearly $230,000 for building employees cheated out of fair pay. In November 2023, Attorney General James recovered $328 million for Uber and Lyft drivers whose earnings were shortchanged for years. In August 2023, Attorney General James recovered $300,000 in unpaid wages for New York City nail salon workers. In March 2023, Attorney General James recovered $24,000 in stolen wages for former employees of a worker cooperative. In October 2022, Attorney General James secured $90,000 in stolen and unpaid wages for more than a dozen former employees of a commercial dry cleaner in Queens.

    This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Lawrence Reina with assistance from Assistant Attorney Generals Jessica Agarwal and Kristen Ferguson under the supervision of Civil Enforcement Section Chief Fiona Kaye and Bureau Chief Karen Cacace, all of the Labor Bureau. Former Data Scientists Chansoo Song and Jasmine McAllister also assisted in this matter, under the supervision of Director Victoria Khan, Deputy Director Gautam Sisodia, and Former Director Jonathan Werberg, all of the Research and Analytics Department. The Labor Bureau is a part of the Division for Social Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: WTW Announces Regular Quarterly Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, Feb. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company, announced that its Board of Directors approved a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.92 per common share for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. This represents a 5% increase to the prior quarter’s dividend. The dividend is payable on or about April 15, 2025 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 31, 2025.

    About WTW
    At WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help organizations sharpen their strategy, enhance organizational resilience, motivate their workforce and maximize performance.

    Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success—and provide perspective that moves you.

    Learn more at wtwco.com.

    CONTACT

    INVESTORS
    Claudia De La Hoz | claudia.delahoz@wtwco.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Trump, Putin and Musk all share a leadership style – we’ve figured out what it is

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrei Lux, Lecturer of Leadership and Research Cluster Lead, Edith Cowan University

    Dictatorships would appear to be on the rise. Russian president Vladimir Putin, US president Donald Trump and even un-elected tech entrepreneur, Elon Musk are ruling by decree like “kings”.

    Some might naively call these leaders “authentic” for saying and often doing what they believe. But that’s not the whole story.

    Such unilateral decisions are deeply divisive, and often opposed. In the US, the federal court blocked Trump’s executive order banning workplace diversity, equity and inclusion programs to try to contain the damage.

    Researchers used to think that authenticity was inherently good and moral. But as authentic leadership research gets more sophisticated with robust experimental methods, what we know about this powerful approach is changing quickly.

    Experiments use controlled simulations and real-world field trials to show how leadership behaviour influences followers. These new methods are the gold standard for establishing cause-and-effect relationships, and they’re challenging old ideas.

    Authentic leadership redefined

    After 20 years of research, we’ve redefined authentic leadership as a process of sending leadership “signals”. What leaders say and do sends powerful messages about their values.

    In a digital age where every tweet and public act is scrutinised, understanding these signals is important for employees and voters. And keeping up with this new way of expressing authentic leadership is vital for anyone seeking to lead in today’s volatile world.

    In our latest article, we looked at what authentic leadership involves and why signalling is so important.

    But what exactly is “signalling”?

    Sending leadership ‘signals’

    Everything leaders do or say – how they behave, express themselves, look, and communicate – sends messages to everyone watching. These messages are “signals”. Leaders influence their followers by sending signals that will trigger specific thoughts or emotions.

    But executive life is complex and full of inherent contradictions between personal authenticity and the demands of leadership roles.

    High-profile figures such as Musk and Trump show how leadership signals can be polarising. Just last week Musk used his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to call for an unconstitutional election in Ukraine.

    Musk’s edicts and announcements have prompted demonstrations around the US.
    Rena Schild/Shutterstock

    Signalling authentic leadership

    Demonstrating authentic leadership depends on sending clear, observable signals that reflect the leaders’ principles and ethical convictions.

    Here are some tips for spotting authentic leadership signals in everyday interactions. It is notable that it’s easier to find examples of leaders displaying the complete opposite.

    1. Self-awareness

    Leaders signal self-awareness by regularly seeking honest feedback and reflecting on their own strengths and weaknesses. They openly acknowledge mistakes and share their learning. They value personal growth and continuous improvement.

    Instead, Trump repeatedly ignores his own mistakes, even after they are exposed. His latest claim to be debunked was that Ukrainian President Zelensky’s approval was 4%, while his actual approval is closer to 60%.

    2. Internal moral perspective

    Leaders signal an internal moral perspective by making decisions – even if they are unpopular – firmly rooted in core ethical values. Upholding these values and encouraging open discussions on ethics is a principled approach to leadership.

    Instead, Musk has given federal workers 48 hours to justify their employment. The directive leaves little room for open dialogue on the ethical rationale or moral implications of such a drastic measure. He relies, instead, on top-down command.

    Key federal agencies including the FBI and Pentagon have told employees to ignore the email.

    3. Balanced processing

    Leaders signal balanced processing by seeking different views and considering all options before making a decision. Admitting any biases and using team brainstorming or surveys, ensures fair and informed decision-making.

    Instead, Trump has signed more than 50 executive orders since taking office in January. These include some that are unlawful, as an open display of personal bias and unilateral decision-making.

    4. Relational transparency

    Leaders signal relational transparency by sharing appropriate personal experiences and vulnerabilities with their teams. Being honest about limitations and inviting open dialogue builds trust through genuine and consistent communication.

    Instead social media guru, Mark Zuckerberg, another Trump ally, assured staff his charity the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative would continue its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Then, only weeks later, he dismantled it.

    You can’t just fake it, either

    Leadership signals can convey honest information or be manipulated to send contrived messages.

    Trying to fake it doesn’t work. Leadership behaviour has to align with the leaders’ real values and internal sense of self – otherwise it’s not authentic leadership. It’s just impression management.

    Learning the difference empowers us to understand leaders’ actions and better navigate the post-truth era of global business and politics.

    Andrei Lux works for Edith Cowan University and is a Member of the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management.

    Kevin Brian Lowe 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. Trump, Putin and Musk all share a leadership style – we’ve figured out what it is – https://theconversation.com/trump-putin-and-musk-all-share-a-leadership-style-weve-figured-out-what-it-is-250502

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Canada’s productivity strategy needs to centre workers

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Ako Ufodike, Associate Professor, Administrative Studies, York University, Canada

    As Canada moves into 2025, its productivity still lags, despite efforts by the federal government to address the issue in the 2024 federal budget.

    Canada’s productivity has declined in nine of the last 10 quarters. Between 2015 and 2023, Canadian productivity fell by an average of 0.8 per cent per year. This means that, for every hour worked by Canadian employees, their output decreased by about eight per cent over that entire period.

    Labour productivity measures how much an economy produces per hour of work. Increasing productivity means finding ways to help people create more value in the time they spend working. However, how productivity is measured — and who benefits from productivity stimulation initiatives — varies.



    Read more:
    Canada’s lagging productivity affects us all — and will take years to remedy

    From an employer’s perspective, the main factor influencing productivity is the number of hours worked. For employees, the best proxy is wages received per hour worked — two related variables with differing implications.

    To date, Canada’s strategy to improve productivity has been very traditional, in that its primary aim has been to provide incentives for improved business performance.

    Global productivity issues

    Canada’s productivity stagnation struggles are not unique. A December 2024 OECD working paper highlighted a widespread slowdown across the OECD nations.

    From 1995 to 2023, ouputs from labour and capital inputs — know as multifactor productivity — declined sharply in both small and large advanced OECD countries.

    In Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Spain and the United Kingdom, productivity has nearly stalled. Greece, Italy, Luxembourg and Mexico experienced prolonged periods of negative growth.

    The OECD paper also found a link between productivity decline and stagnating human capital development. Since 2003, young citizens of OECD countries have underperformed on standardized tests in science, math and reading.

    At the same time, many skilled immigrants to these countries are selected from the sciences and must score exceptionally high on language proficiency exams such as the International English Language Testing System.

    This raises questions about how countries assess and utilize human capital, and whether traditional productivity measures fully capture workforce potential.

    Innovation in productivity approaches

    Innovation improves productivity, yet Canada’s 2024 budget fails to embrace this principle. The 2024 budget prescribed five main strategies to address Canada’s productivity issues:

    • incentives for entrepreneurs;
    • fiscal incentives for productivity-enhancing assets;
    • regulatory sandboxes to reduce bureaucratic red tape;
    • enhanced federal research support;
    • a $200-million investment in the Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative.

    However, the initiatives largely continue to follow the traditional approach which focuses on incentivizing businesses to increase output, rather than focusing on workers — the factor most relevant to productivity.

    One of the budget’s major assumptions, which has so far failed to materialize, was that productivity would grow by 1.8 per cent between 2024 and 2028, despite a 1.8 per cent decline over the previous three years and a 0.8 per cent decline over the preceding decade.

    Another overlooked factor is that declining wages also decrease productivity. Instead of focusing solely on business incentives, a more effective labour-agency approach would also incentivize those who own the denominator in the productivity formula — workers.

    Addressing immigrant underemployment

    Immigrants are the primary drivers of population growth in most OECD countries, yet many end up in precarious employment or underemployed, despite being exceptionally qualified.

    Even when immigrants are employed at the appropriate level, many are underpaid in comparison to non-immigrant workers or their predecessors in the same roles. This wage suppression is at odds with efforts to improve productivity.



    Read more:
    I’ve worked in precarious jobs for more than 10 years – here’s what unions should do to support migrant workers

    This issue is particularly evident in Canada, where conversations about productivity are being shaped by immigration trends. In 2023, Canada welcomed one million new immigrants without a corresponding increase in economic output. From July 2023 to July 2024, immigrant underemployment rose by 3.1 to 12.6 per cent.

    Labour market integration varies across regions. In Alberta, for example, 80 per cent of new jobs between 2018 and 2022 were filled by immigrants, yet, productivity did not rise.

    Some critics have blamed immigrants for Canada’s productivity struggles, but this narrative risks fostering anti-immigrant sentiment. While population growth may contribute to declining per capita productivity, in reality, many highly qualified immigrants end up underemployed or unemployed through no fault of their own.

    A 2024 Statistics Canada report highlighted this missed economic opportunity, stating: “recent immigrants were more likely than people born in Canada to be employed in professional occupations and lower-skilled and labourer occupations.”

    Despite this, the 2024 budget doesn’t address harmful “unproductive immigrant” narratives.

    Driving productivity growth

    Canada’s current approach to productivity is incomplete. While business incentives play a role, productivity growth cannot be achieved without investing in workers — particularly immigrants, who represent a growing share of the workforce.

    Canada and other OECD nations are missing an opportunity by failing to fully utilize immigrant talent. Rather than blaming immigrants for productivity declines, countries should recognize immigrants as valuable contributors. Proper credential recognition and expanding workforce integration programs could allow immigrants to contribute at their full economic potential.



    Read more:
    Canadian immigrants are overqualified and underemployed — reforms must address this

    A truly innovative productivity strategy would fund reskilling, upskilling and mentorship programs for immigrants and youth. It would also support equity initiatives to ensure immigrants aren’t exploited or paid less than their counterparts.

    Improving career mobility is also essential. Helping immigrants transition into high-output sectors, such as technology or engineering, through retraining programs and targeted incentives could strengthen productivity.

    Addressing wage inequity is also crucial. Ensuring immigrants receive fair wages aligned with their qualifications will improve worker motivation and productivity, consistent with the arguments of efficient wage theory.

    If these issues remain unaddressed, Canada risks continued productivity stagnation by overlooking a key opportunity to harness the potential of its immigrant workforce.

    Ako Ufodike receives funding from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

    – ref. Canada’s productivity strategy needs to centre workers – https://theconversation.com/canadas-productivity-strategy-needs-to-centre-workers-249669

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Farmers, investors, miners and parents: how unconventional climate advocates can reach new audiences

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Xiongzhi Wang, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Environmental Social Science, Australian National University

    Max Acronym/Shutterstock

    When you think about climate advocates, you’ll likely picture left-leaning environmentalists who live in cities. This group has contributed to building public support for climate action worldwide, through protests, petitions, lobbying and so on.

    While a majority of Australians understand that climate change is happening and that humans are the main cause, there are still holdout groups. Acceptance of the fact that climate change is largely caused by humans sits at 60% of Australians, well below other countries.

    Holdout groups in Australia can include people associated with political conservatism, the business sector, farming, the resource sector, some religious groups and some sports fans. For these groups, climate advocacy by left-leaning environmentalists may be limited in its effectiveness.

    How do you reach these groups? Our new research points to one solution: unconventional climate advocates. That is, those not from the stereotypical background and who belong to holdout groups. Think of groups such as Farmers for Climate Action and the Investor Group on Climate Change.

    These individuals and groups can play a crucial role in expanding the base of the climate movement – without necessarily working with mainstream climate groups. Better still, we found these unconventional advocates tend to receive more sympathetic media coverage.

    Who are these unconventional advocates?

    We distinguish two types of unconventional climate advocates –role-based and bridge-builders.

    Role-based advocates come from groups not typically associated with climate advocacy, such as Australian Parents for Climate Action, Doctors for the Environment, Vets for Climate Action and Australian Firefighters Climate Alliance. These advocates broaden our perception of who engages in climate advocacy.

    Bridge-builders come from groups with a history of tension with environmentalists and environmental issues. They can often span the divide between their group and the broader climate movement. These groups include Farmers for Climate Action, Investor Group on Climate Change, Hunter Jobs Alliance and Australian Religious Response to Climate Change.

    Why do they matter?

    Unconventional advocates are vital because they can reach a broader section of the population. This is because we are more likely to listen to insiders: people from groups we identify with who share our values and beliefs. We also pay more attention to messages when they come from a surprising source and when they go against perceived interests.

    A farmer advocating for climate action is more likely to resonate with other farmers than city-based environmentalists, for instance. Similarly, if you expect farmers to be opposed to climate action, you’re more likely to pay attention to their message than if it came from an environmentalist.

    Our research shows these groups are not mainstream environmentalists. They exist on the periphery of the climate movement.

    Using social network analysis, we mapped the connections between more than 3,000 climate advocacy groups in Australia. This showed us unconventional advocates are less connected to traditional environmental groups such as Greenpeace Australia Pacific or the Australian Conservation Foundation.

    This distance may actually be advantageous. By maintaining a degree of independence from the mainstream environmental movement, unconventional advocates can avoid being dismissed as “greenies” – an unpopular group for some people in rural areas. Farmers advocating for climate action may be more effective if they’re not seen as aligned with environmentalists who might be viewed with suspicion in rural communities.

    Does unconventional advocacy work?

    By one metric, unconventional advocacy does work. These individuals and groups broadly receive more sympathetic media coverage.

    In recent research, we analysed more than 17,000 Australian media articles published between 2017 and 2022 mentioning unconventional and more stereotypical environmentalist climate advocacy groups.

    We found Greenpeace Australia Pacific and other established groups received the most media coverage overall. Disruptive groups such as Extinction Rebellion tended to be framed negatively, with a focus on conflict and arrests. The negativity was most pronounced in articles published by News Corp, owned by the conservative media figure Rupert Murdoch.

    Unconventional advocates received less media coverage than other types of advocates. When they did receive coverage, it was generally more sympathetic. Articles tended to focus on their achievements and to use less confrontational language, even from conservative-leaning media outlets.

    This suggests unconventional advocates are well positioned to shift public opinion in holdout groups and build a broader base of support for climate action.

    Unconventional advocates for unprecedented times

    In Australia and in many other countries, climate action has become politicised – often along party lines. Holdout groups are a minority, but a large minority. To actually respond to the increasing threat of climate change will require building a bigger base of support.

    Unconventional advocates offer a way to disrupt hardened divides, expand the range of voices in the movement and engage communities and groups often left out of the conversation.

    Xiongzhi Wang works as a postdoc with his salary coming from the Australian Research Council (project DP220103155) which funds the research related to this article.

    Kelly Fielding received funding from Australian Research Council DP220103155 for the research related to this article. She currently donates to Greenpeace Australia.

    Rebecca Colvin serves on advisory/research committees/panels for: the Australian Museum’s Climate Solutions Centre; The Climate Risk Group; The Blueprint Institute; RE-Alliance; the NSW Environmental Trust. She is a non-executive member of the Board of the NSW Government’s EnergyCo. She receives funding from The Australian Research Council (DP220103155 and DE230101151).

    Robyn Gulliver receives funding from the Climate Social Science Network. She has worked for and volunteers for a range of environmental advocacy groups.

    Winnifred Louis receives funding from the Australian Research Council (project DP220103155) for the research related to this article. She has been a longstanding advocate for environmental and climate action but is not affiliated with any groups mentioned here.

    – ref. Farmers, investors, miners and parents: how unconventional climate advocates can reach new audiences – https://theconversation.com/farmers-investors-miners-and-parents-how-unconventional-climate-advocates-can-reach-new-audiences-249949

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What’s the difference between medical abortion and surgical abortion?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lydia Mainey, Senior Nursing Lecturer, CQUniversity Australia

    PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

    In Australia, around one in four people who are able to get pregnant will have a medical or surgical abortion in their lifetime.

    Both options are safe, legal and effective. The choice between them usually comes down to personal preference and availability.

    So, what’s the difference?

    What is a medical abortion?

    A medical abortion involves taking two types of tablets, sold together in Australia as MS2Step.

    The first tablet, mifepristone, stops the hormone progesterone, which is needed for pregnancy. This causes the lining of the uterus to break down and stops the embryo from growing.

    After taking mifepristone, you wait 36–48 hours before taking the second tablet, misoprostol. Misoprostol makes the cervix (the opening of the uterus) softer and starts contractions to expel the pregnancy.

    It’s normal to have strong pain and heavy bleeding with clots after taking misoprostol. Pain relief including ibuprofen and paracetamol can help.

    After two to six hours, the bleeding and pain usually become like a normal period, although this may last between two to six weeks.

    Haemorrhage after a medical abortion is rare (occurring in fewer than 1% of abortions). But you should seek help if bleeding remains heavy (if you soak two pads per hour for two consecutive hours) or if you have have signs of infection (such as a fever, increasing abdominal pain or smelly vaginal discharge).

    Do I have to go to hospital?

    It is legal to have a medical abortion outside of a hospital up to nine weeks of pregnancy.

    Depending on state or territory law, the medication can be prescribed by a qualified health-care provider such as a GP, nurse practitioner or endorsed midwife. These clinicians often work in GP surgeries or sexual and reproductive health clinics and they may use telehealth.

    Medical abortions also occur after nine weeks of pregnancy, but these are done in hospitals and overseen by doctors alongside nurses or midwives.

    Medical abortions after 20 weeks are done by taking medications to start early labour in a maternity unit. Often, medications are first given to stop the foetal heartbeat so it is not born alive. Then, other medications are given to manage pain.

    These types of abortions are very rare. They may be used when an obstacle has prevented someone accessing an abortion abortion earlier, continuing with the pregnancy is dangerous for the pregnant person’s health or if there is a serious problem with the foetus.

    Medical abortions in Australia involve taking two tablets, usually around two days apart.
    PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

    What is a surgical abortion?

    Surgical abortions are performed in an operating unit, usually with sedation, so you will not remember the procedure. Surgical abortions are sometimes preferred over medical abortions because they are quicker. But the decision should be between you and your health-care provider.

    In the first 12–14 weeks of pregnancy, a surgical abortion takes less than 15 minutes and patients are usually discharged a few hours after the procedure.

    Medications may be given before surgery to soften and open the cervix and to ease pain. During the procedure, the cervix is gently stretched open and the contents of the uterus are removed with a small tube. This procedure is carried out by trained doctors with the assistance of nurses.

    Surgical abortions after 12–14 weeks are more complex and are performed by specially trained doctors. Similar to medical abortions, medications may be given first to stop the foetal heartbeat.

    It is normal to experience some cramping and bleeding after a surgical abortion, which can last about two weeks. However, like medical abortion, you should seek help for heavy bleeding or signs of infection.

    Do I need an ultrasound?

    It used to be common before an abortion to have an ultrasound scan to check how far along the pregnancy was and to make sure it was not ectopic (outside the uterus).

    However, this is no longer recommended in the early stages of pregnancy (up to 14 weeks) if it delays access to abortion. If the date of the last menstrual period is known and there are no other concerning symptoms, an ultrasound scan may not be necessary.

    This means people can access medical abortion much sooner, even from the first day of a missed period, without waiting for the embryo to be big enough to be seen on an ultrasound scan. This is called “very early medical abortion”.

    Before and after care

    Before having an abortion, a health-care provider will explain common side effects and when to seek urgent medical attention. For people who want it, many types of contraception can be started the day of abortion.

    Your health-care provider will help you understand your options, including whether you want to start contraception.
    PowerUp/Shutterstock

    Even though the success rate of medical abortion is very high (over 95%) it is routine to make sure the person is no longer pregnant.

    This is usually done two to three weeks after taking the first tablet mifepristone, either by a low-sensitivity urine pregnancy test (which you can do at home) or a blood test.

    In the rare case a medical abortion has not worked, a surgical abortion can be done.

    Sometimes after a medical or surgical abortion, tissue is left behind in the uterus. If this happens you may need another dose of misoprostol (the second tablet) or a surgical procedure to remove the tissue.

    Some people may also seek support-based counselling or peer support to help them work through the emotions that might accompany having an abortion.

    Understanding the differences and similarities between medical and surgical abortions can help individuals make informed decisions about their reproductive health.

    It’s important to speak with an unbiased health-care provider to discuss the best option for your circumstances and to ensure you receive the necessary follow-up care and support.

    Lydia Mainey is the co-chair of the Termination of Pregnancy Working Group, a subgroup of the Queensland Health Sexual Health Clinical Network. She has previously worked at MSI Australia, a non-profit which provides abortion, contraception and vasectomy services. Lydia was previously a member of the MSI Australia Technical Advisory Group.

    – ref. What’s the difference between medical abortion and surgical abortion? – https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-medical-abortion-and-surgical-abortion-249839

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Your life becomes a nightmare’: how scam operations exploit those trapped inside – Scam Factories podcast, Ep 2

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Gemma Ware, Host, The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation

    A few weeks after Ben Yeo travelled to Cambodia for what he thought was a job in a casino, he found himself locked up in a padded room. “It’s a combination between a prison and a madhouse,” he remembers. He was being punished for refusing to conduct online scams.

    “They tried all kinds of coercive manoeuvres, using a fire extinguisher to try to hit me, to scare me, using a plastic bag over my head to suffocate me … Whatever you see in the movies that actually happened.”

    Scam Factories is a podcast series from The Conversation Weekly taking you inside Southeast Asia’s brutal fraud compounds. It accompanies a series of multimedia articles on The Conversation.

    In the second episode, Inside the Operation, we explore the history of how scam compounds emerged in Southeast Asia and who is behind them. We hear about the violent treatment people receive inside through the testimonies of two survivors, Ben, and another man we’re calling George to protect his real identity.

    The Conversation collaborated for this series with three researchers: Ivan Franceschini, a lecturer in Chinese Studies at the University of Melbourne, Ling Li, a PhD candidate at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, and Mark Bo, an independent researcher.

    They’ve spent the past few years researching the expansion of scam compounds in the region for a forthcoming book. They’ve interviewed nearly 100 survivors of the compounds, analysed maps and financial documents related to the scam industry and tracked scammers online to find out how these compounds work.

    Read an article by Ivan Franceschini and Ling Li which accompanies this episode about the rise of the scamming industry.

    The Conversation contacted AsiaHR international for comment. We did not receive a response. We contacted all the other companies mentioned in this multimedia series for comment, except Jinshui who we could not contact. We did not receive a response from them either.

    This episode was written and produced by Gemma Ware, with assistance from Mend Mariwany and Katie Flood. Leila Goldstein was our producer in Cambodia and Halima Athumani recorded for us in Uganda. Hui Lin helped us with Chinese translation. Sound design by Michelle Macklem and editing help from Ashlynee McGhee and Justin Bergman.

    Listen to The Conversation Weekly podcast via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here.

    Mark Bo, an independent researcher who works with Ivan Franeschini and Ling Li, is also interviewed in this podcast series. Ivan, Ling, Mark, and others have co-founded EOS Collective, a non-profit organisation dedicated to investigating the criminal networks behind the online scam industry and supporting survivors.

    – ref. ‘Your life becomes a nightmare’: how scam operations exploit those trapped inside – Scam Factories podcast, Ep 2 – https://theconversation.com/your-life-becomes-a-nightmare-how-scam-operations-exploit-those-trapped-inside-scam-factories-podcast-ep-2-250464

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: OMERS Earns $10.6 billion in Investment Income in 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OMERS, the defined benefit pension plan for Ontario’s broader municipal sector employees, achieved a 2024 investment return of 8.3%, or $10.6 billion, net of expenses, exceeding its 7.5% benchmark for the year. Net assets at December 31, 2024, grew to $138.2 billion from $128.6 billion in 2023. The Plan reported a smoothed funded status of 98%, up from 97% in 2023. Over the past 10 years, OMERS has averaged an annual investment return of 7.1%, net of expenses, adding $70.5 billion to the Plan.

    “Our strong result in 2024 reflects the quality of our people and portfolio, our active strategic decisions, and our steady progress as a long-term investor. Since becoming CEO of OMERS, I have been incredibly proud of the work of our leaders and their teams, as well as the forward-thinking strategies we have implemented over the last four years as we emerged from the pandemic. This combination has generated an average annual net return of 8.1% during that period,” said Blake Hutcheson, OMERS President and Chief Executive Officer. “As we look to the future, we are steadfast in our view that quality will see us through an unpredictable global landscape and the cycles ahead. Our talented team is focused on delivering our pension promise and is honoured to work in service of our almost 640,000 members.”

    “Our actions to diversify the global portfolio positioned the Plan well in 2024,” said Jonathan Simmons, OMERS Chief Financial and Strategy Officer. “OMERS public equity investments delivered double-digit performance supported by strong contributions from private credit and infrastructure. Our net investment results benefitted from our active strategy to maintain currency exposure to the US dollar. Our real estate assets continue to generate strong operating income, but returns were held back due to lower valuations. Our asset mix continued to shift toward a higher exposure to fixed income, where return opportunities remain attractive. We expanded our overall use of leverage as we continued to use debt prudently to enhance our investment returns.”

    This year, we are reporting that OMERS achieved a 58% reduction in its portfolio carbon emissions intensity, relative to 2019, and we reported an increase in green investments to $23 billion. For more information on how we define green investments, please refer to the OMERS Climate Taxonomy.

    OMERS is highly rated across independent credit rating agencies, including ‘AAA’ ratings from S&P, Fitch, and DBRS.

    OMERS will publish its 2024 Annual Report on February 28, 2025.

    Media Contact:

    Don Peat
    dpeat@omers.com
    416.417.7385

    About OMERS

    OMERS is a jointly sponsored, defined benefit pension plan, with 1,000 participating employers ranging from large cities to local agencies, and almost 640,000 active, deferred and retired members. Our members include union and non-union employees of municipalities, school boards, local boards, transit systems, electrical utilities, emergency services and children’s aid societies across Ontario. OMERS teams work in Toronto, London, New York, Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Singapore, Sydney and other major cities across North America and Europe – serving members and employers, and originating and managing a diversified portfolio of high-quality investments in government bonds, public and private credit, public and private equities, infrastructure and real estate.

    Net Investment Returns for the years ended December 31

      2024   2023
    Government Bonds 1.0%   5.8%
    Public Credit 6.0%   6.2%
    Private Credit 12.6%   10.0%
    Public Equities 18.8%   10.4%
    Private Equities 9.5%   3.9%
    Infrastructure 8.8%   5.5%
    Real Estate -4.9%   -7.2%
    Total Net Return 8.3%   4.6%


    2024 Asset Mix

    2024 Highlights

    By the numbers

    • 2024 investment return of 8.3%, or $10.6 billion, net of expenses
    • $138.2 billion in net assets
    • 10-year average annual net return of 7.1%
    • 639,546 OMERS members
    • 98% smoothed funded ratio
    • 3.70% real discount rate, 5 basis points lower than 2023
    • $6.5 billion total pension benefits paid
    • We are reporting a 58% reduction in the portfolio carbon emissions intensity, relative to 2019
    • $23 billion in green investments
    • 96% OMERS member service satisfaction
    • 93% of employees are proud to work for OMERS and Oxford (+5 points above best-in-class)

    Transactions in 2024

    OMERS remains focused on deploying capital in line with our target asset mix. We are a disciplined investor in high-quality assets that meet the Plan’s risk and return requirements. Please find below highlights of investments made in 2024.

    • Acquired Italy’s Grandi Stazioni Retail which manages the entirety of commercial and advertising spaces in 14 of Italy’s major railway stations and hubs for the high-speed rail network, which collectively receive over 800 million visits a year. The stations include over 800 commercial units, totaling around 190,000 Sqm of leasable space, and over 1,800 media assets.
    • Increased our stake by 13.5% in Indian roads business Interise Trust, one of the largest Indian Infrastructure Investment Trusts in the roads sector.
    • Supported XpFibre to successfully raise €5.8 billion of credit facilities, marking one of the largest multi-sourced transactions in the European digital infrastructure market to date. XpFibre is the largest independent Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) operators in France delivering high speed internet to approximately 25% of the French territory in terms of homes passed.
    • Announced an agreement to acquire Integris, a leading provider of IT services in the United States.
    • Issued $3.2 billion in bonds by OMERS Finance Trust, including our inaugural AUD offering – an AUD 750 million, 5-year note.
    • Announced the signing of an exclusive agreement with Maritime Transport at West Midlands Interchange in the UK.
    • Participated in the US$15M Series A investment into Brightwave, an Al-powered research platform that delivers insightful and trustworthy financial analysis on demand. It was named as one of TIME magazine’s top inventions of 2024.
    • Participated in two follow-on investments. The first was in Medal, an online platform that lets gamers clip and share video of their gameplay and Altana, a company that applies artificial intelligence to create a dynamic, intelligent map of the global supply chain.
    • Closed our acquisition of Kenter, an energy infrastructure solutions business providing medium-voltage infrastructure and meters to over 25,000 commercial and industrial business customers in the Netherlands and Belgium.

    We rotate capital out of assets with the same level of discipline with which we invest. This activity generates capital, which we deploy into future investment opportunities that align to our strategy. In 2024, we announced or completed the following realizations:

    • Announced the sale of a stake in East-West Tie Limited Partnership which owns the East-West Tie Line, a 450-kilometre, 230 kV double-circuit transmission line spanning from Wawa to Thunder Bay, along the north shore of Lake Superior.
    • Completed the sale of LifeLabs, a trusted provider of community laboratory tests for millions of Canadians that had been owned by OMERS since 2007.
    • Completed a €182.5 million green refinancing on a comprehensively renovated Paris office asset.
    • Completed the sale of its £518 million UK retail park portfolio.
    • Completed the sale of CEDA, which had been majority-owned by OMERS since 2005.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0d74c32c-3c0d-4915-af73-70788746bb63

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/136a43d0-d624-48ac-bd8c-133cd153643c

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: CTF153 and USS Stout ‘Ready Together’ for Red Sea Maritime Security

    Source: United States Navy

    The destroyer and its crew provided direct support to the Australian-led multinational task force during January and February, keeping watch for illicit activities including piracy, smuggling and narcotics trafficking.

    While on patrol, crew members practiced skills needed to safely visit, board and search vessels, and to legally seize illicit materials being smuggled through the vital waterway.

    The training came as CTF153 refocused on its core maritime security mission after responsibility for Operation Prosperity Guardian—the international response to attacks on merchant shipping by Houthi terrorists—was transferred from CMF to U.S. Navy Destroyer Squadron 50 (DESRON 50).

    Commander CTF 153, Royal Australian Navy Capt. Jorge McKee praised the Stout commanding officer and crew for the teamwork with his staff ashore.

    “While our task force team ashore closely monitor the Red Sea for any activity requiring closer investigation by ships at sea, the crew of Stout are keeping their skills sharp and ready,” Captain McKee said. “It is an honor to work with USS Stout, as it is named in honor of U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Herald F. Stout, who served alongside Australians in the Second World War.”

    Established in 2022, CTF 153 is one of five task forces under CMF. Its mission is to deter and impede illicit non-state actors in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab and Gulf of Aden.

    CTF153’s area of responsibility includes some of the world’s most important shipping lanes, connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean and the greater Middle East region.

    Combined Maritime Forces, a 46-nation naval partnership headquartered in Bahrain, is the world’s largest multinational naval partnership. It is committed to upholding the rules-based international order at sea, promoting security, stability and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters, including crucial shipping lanes.

    MIL Security OSI –