NewzIntel.com

Category: Australia

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Project Acacia: RBA and DFCRC announce chosen industry participants and ASIC provides regulatory relief for tokenised asset settlement research project

    Source: Reserve Bank of Australia

    Project Acacia has today reached a significant milestone with a number of industry participants (see below) selected to explore how innovations in digital money and existing settlement infrastructure might support the development of Australian wholesale tokenised asset markets.

    Project Acacia is a joint initiative between the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (DFCRC). This work is also supported by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), and the Australian Treasury. This project is one of the initiatives highlighted in the Government’s March 2025 Statement on Developing an Innovative Australian Digital Asset Industry.

    24 innovative use cases from a diverse range of organisations, ranging from local fintechs to major banks, have been conditionally selected for this next stage of the project. There will be:

    • 19 pilot use cases, which will involve real money and real asset transactions, and
    • 5 proof-of-concept use cases involving simulated transactions.

    The use cases involve a range of asset classes, including fixed income, private markets, trade receivables and carbon credits.

    Proposed settlement assets for the use cases include stablecoins, bank deposit tokens, and pilot wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC), as well as new ways of using banks’ existing exchange settlement accounts at the RBA.

    Issuance of pilot wholesale CBDC for testing use cases will occur on a range of private and public-permissioned DLT platforms, including Hedera, Redbelly Network, R3 Corda, Canvas Connect and other EVM-compatible networks.

    ASIC clears way for industry participation

    Supporting Project Acacia, ASIC is providing regulatory relief to participants to support and streamline the pilot.

    ASIC’s relief will support the responsible testing of tokenised asset transactions, in some cases using CBDCs, between participants and a limited number of financial institutions in the coming months.

    ASIC has previously provided individual relief of a similar nature to participants in earlier digital money projects led by the RBA.

    The relief instrument is available on the Federal Register of Legislation.

    Project Acacia’s next steps

    Testing of use cases will occur over the next six months, with a report on the findings from the project expected to be published in the first quarter of 2026. The findings of this next stage of the project will support the RBA’s ongoing research into how innovation in the financial system can best support the Australian economy in the digital age.

    Lead use case participants

    • Australian Bond Exchange
    • Australia and New Zealand Banking Corporation
    • Australian Payments Plus
    • Canvas
    • Catena Digital
    • Commonwealth Bank of Australia
    • Fireblocks
    • Forte Tech Solutions
    • Imperium Markets
    • Northern Trust
    • NotCentralised
    • ProspEx Group
    • Westpac Banking Corporation
    • Zerocap

    Brad Jones, Assistant Governor (Financial System) at the RBA said: “Ensuring that Australia’s payments and monetary arrangements are fit-for-purpose in the digital age is a strategic priority for the RBA and the Payments System Board. Project Acacia represents an opportunity for further collaborative exploration on tokenised asset markets and the future of money by the public and private sectors in Australia.

    “The use cases selected in this project will help us to better understand how innovations in central bank and private digital money, alongside payments infrastructure, might help to uplift the functioning of wholesale financial markets in Australia.

    “We thank all interested parties for their efforts in Project Acacia to date and look forward to reporting back on the findings that will emerge over the reminder of the project.”

    ASIC Commissioner Kate O’Rourke said: “Innovation is a sign of a vibrant economy and society. ASIC supports the responsible development of new technologies, including tokenisation and distributed ledgers.

    “ASIC sees useful applications for the technologies underlying digital assets in wholesale markets. The relief from regulatory requirements that we have announced today will allow these technologies to be sensibly tested—to explore opportunities and identify and tackle risks.

    “Importantly, Project Acacia will allow industry and regulators to work together to learn more about how these use cases may reshape the financial services industry, potentially boosting efficiency and foster economic growth.”

    Professor Talis Putnins, Chief Scientist at DFCRC said: “It is great to have collaboration from so many parts of the industry, from small fintechs to large banks, alongside the key financial regulators in this forward-looking, innovative project. The real money settlement models being tested, including issuing pilot wholesale CBDC on third party platforms, reflects another world-first for Australia in this rapidly evolving field.

    “The project is of strategic importance to the DFCRC because, as a co-operative research centre, our focus is on bringing together key groups to unlock the large economic potential of digital finance innovation in Australia. Recent research suggests potential economic gains in markets and cross border payments could be in the order of AU $19 billion per year. Project Acacia is a significant step towards realising these gains, by providing evidence on the forms of money and settlement models that best enable tokenised real-world asset markets.”

    About Project Acacia

    Project Acacia is exploring how different forms of digital money and associated infrastructure could support the development of wholesale tokenised asset markets in Australia. The consultation paper initiating Project Acacia was released in November 2024 and called for industry feedback and expressions of interest in participating.

    Project Acacia is a joint research project between Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (DFCRC). The project is supported by key stakeholders including the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Australian Treasury, which are all represented on the project Steering Committee, along with representatives from the RBA and DFCRC.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Encouraging signs for mental health workforce

    Source: New Zealand Government

    When someone is making the brave step of reaching out for help whether it’s you, your child, a friend or family member, this Government is committed to ensuring we have the right support in place to answer that call, Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey says.

    “It is promising to see reports showing New Zealand’s mental health and addiction workforce is growing. This will help us ensure that people are getting the support they need, when they need it and no one’s call is going unanswered,” Mr Doocey says.

    “Over the past two years, there has been substantial progress in building up the mental health and addiction workforce. We have more mental health nurses, psychologists, support workers and addiction counsellors working on the ground, and overall vacancy rates are starting to ease.

    “Behind every one of those new psychologists, nurses, support workers or counsellors are hundreds of people at what can be the lowest time of their life, now able to be seen, heard and supported.  

    “I’ve been very clear that increasing access to support is a top priority. The Auditor General called for a specific mental health workforce plan in response to wait-times and vacancy rates increasing under the previous Government. We treated this as a priority and delivered the first dedicated mental health workforce plan in New Zealand within the first year.

    “It’s pleasing to see HNZ payroll data shows total full-time staff employed in mental health grew by more than 9 per cent year-on-year between Quarter 3 in 2023 and Quarter 1 2025.”

    While challenges remain, particularly in psychiatry vacancies, HNZ Payroll data also shows there has been 9.5 percent growth in the number of full-time staff employed as Senior Medical Officers – Psychiatry between Quarter 1 2024 and Quarter 1 2025.

    “We know we need more psychiatrists in New Zealand. That’s why we’ve increased training places and funding to support more people into the field. We’ve lifted the number of funded registrar positions from 33 in 2024 to 54 a year after Budget 2025,” Mr Doocey says.

    “I’ve also written to both Health New Zealand and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry to encourage them to do everything they can to remove any additional barriers to grow the psychiatry workforce.

    “It is heartening to see that the Government’s focus on growing the workforce and our commitment to addressing long-standing workforce gaps is starting to pay off because at the end of the day, when someone is making the brave step of reaching out to get well, workforce should never be a barrier.” 

    Note to editors: 
    •    The Health Workforce Information Programme shows the overall Mental Health and Addiction FTE employed by Health NZ in the two years to December 2024 have increased and vacancies are down. Growth has been recorded in a number of key professions within Health NZ including:
    o    Registered Mental Health Nurses grew by 21 per cent
    o    Nursing Support Workers increased by 20 per cent
    o    Clinical Psychologists and Drug and Alcohol Counsellors both saw 6 per cent increases 
    •    The general trend is also supported in the recent Te Pou report on Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora adult mental health & addiction workforce estimates, 2024. This report shows that between 31 March 2023 and 31 March 2024 The total number of employed roles increased by 404 FTEs and vacant roles decreased by 60 FTEs. The overall estimated vacancy rate for the adult Mental Health and Addiction workforce has decreased from 11 per cent to just under 10 per cent.
     

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Looking out for families, friends, and carers of those in suicidal distress

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.

    Released 10/07/2025

    The ACT Government has launched ‘Minds Together’, a free online program to support families, friends, and carers of those experiencing suicidal distress.

    People in support roles often provide life-saving practical and emotional support, Minds Together provides additional support and tailored resources for those support people when a loved one is experiencing suicidal distress.

    Minister for Mental Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said the program benefits the person experiencing distress, while also reducing distress and enhancing coping mechanisms for the carers themselves.

    “There are many complexities and challenges that friends, families and carers navigate when supporting those in suicidal distress, or after a suicide attempt,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.

    “The Minds Together program provides free access to information, lived experience stories and targeted low-intensity modules to help support people when they are supporting someone who is experiencing suicidal distress or has attempted suicide. It also connects users with information about aftercare services available in the ACT.”

    If you are supporting a loved one, friend, or are a carer of someone experiencing suicidal distress or who has attempted suicide, please visit Minds Together for more information at https://mindstogether.org.au/supporting-someone-in-the-act/

    The Minds Together program is funded under the ACT and Commonwealth Government Bilateral National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement.

    Quotes attributable to the Hon. Emma McBride, Federal Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention:

    “Support for carers and loved ones of those experiencing suicide distress is vital. With today’s launch of Minds Together, Canberrans will now have tailored support for those who need it most.

    “Minds Together will deliver low intensity online support to loved ones and carers of those experiencing suicidality for free.

    “The Albanese Labor Government is proud to support the ACT Government through the bilateral agreement to deliver quality care in the heart of communities.”

    Quotes attributable to Dr Jaelea Skehan OAM, Director of Everymind:

    “Everymind is pleased to be working with the ACT Government and local suicide prevention and carer services to ensure that free and accessible support is available to family, friends and carers across the ACT.

    “Together, we’re making it easier for family, friends and carers to access support while also strengthening the broader aftercare and suicide prevention system in a way that’s sustainable, inclusive and responsive to community needs.

    “Minds Together has been designed with people who have a lived experience of suicide and provides family, friends and carers with the information and confidence to support someone experiencing suicidal distress while also looking after their own wellbeing. Combining online learning and face-to-face supports, the program provides practical information and tools that people can immediately apply in their own lives.”

    – Statement ends –

    Rachel Stephen-Smith, MLA | Media Releases

    «ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Celebrating International Safewards Day

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.

    Released 10/07/2025

    The ACT Government is celebrating International Safewards Day by recognising the success of the ACT’s Towards a Safer Culture – Safewards program, making public hospitals safer for healthcare workers, patients, carers and families.

    Safewards is an evidence-based model that helps staff and patients communicate more effectively to reduce conflict and instances of occupational violence.

    It promotes collaboration between healthcare teams, consumers, carers and families to create safer, more supportive hospital environments.

    The model includes 12 practical strategies staff can use to reduce the likelihood of conflict and support a positive environment. These include:

    • sharing more information between team members and patients to build stronger relationships and find common areas of interest
    • senior team members visiting each patient, enabling them to escalate any concerns and ensuring they feel seen and heard
    • staff and patients agreeing on mutual expectations of each other in the hospital environment.

    Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said the ACT Government was proud to support the continued rollout of Safewards across Canberra’s public hospitals.

    “Safewards is transforming the way care is delivered in our hospitals. It’s about creating and supporting environments where patients feel heard, staff feel supported, and everyone feels safe,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.

    “Today, on International Safewards Day, we celebrate the dedication of our nurses and healthcare workers who are championing this change. We are proud of our progress so far and grateful to our staff and consumers who are leading the way.”

    An initial pilot of the Safewards Model carried out in the ACT in 2021 found:

    • more than half of Safewards nurses thought that the model of care had had an impact on conflict and containment in their workplace
    • two out of three Safewards nurses thought their colleagues viewed Safewards favourably
    • nearly half of all Safewards nurses had heard positive consumer/patient feedback.

    Following the successful trial in four wards across Canberra Health Services, the ACT Government committed $4.67 million to expand the program under the Nurses and Midwives Towards a Safer Culture ‘The Next Steps’ Strategy aiming to implement Safewards in 12 wards by June 2026.

    To date, Safewards has been introduced in 10 wards, with the Towards a Safer Culture team delivering more than 400 in-service education sessions and training over 450 Safewards Champions across Canberra Health Services.

    Phase 4 of the rollout began on 30 June 2025 in Wards 7B and 7C of Building 5 at Canberra Hospital, which will complete the Government’s commitment once fully implemented.

    “The ACT Government made a commitment to implement Safewards in 12 wards by the middle of next year and that’s exactly what we’re doing. Congratulations to the team for their excellent work implementing this important model of care in our hospitals,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.

    Quotes attributable to Judy Ryall, Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery at Canberra Health Services:

    “Safewards has empowered our nurses and midwives to build stronger and more respectful relationships with patients. It’s not just about reducing conflict; it’s about fostering trust and safety.

    “Our nurses and midwives are at the heart of Safewards. Their commitment to compassionate and collaborative care is what makes this model so effective.

    “We’re proud of the leadership they have shown in creating safer spaces for everyone.”

    – Statement ends –

    Rachel Stephen-Smith, MLA | Media Releases

    «ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Rosen Introduce Bill to Support Veterans Exposed to Radiation and Toxins While Serving in Nevada

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), introduced legislation to ensure service members and veterans who served at classified locations within the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) since 1951 are able to prove that they served there, and can finally get the PACT Act benefits they deserve following exposure to radiation and toxins. 
    From the 1950s through the 1990s, the NTTR – and the Nevada Test Site contained within it – conducted over 900 explosive nuclear weapons tests and other dangerous, toxic activities. Currently, due to issues with the classified nature of their location while serving, veterans who served at the NTTR are unable to prove their service there to the VA and, therefore, are unable to receive care and benefits connected with exposure to radiation and toxins from burn pits. The Fighting for the Overlooked Recognition of Groups Operating in Toxic Test Environments in Nevada (FORGOTTEN) Veterans Act would help to correct a historic wrong and inequity by officially recognizing the risk that veterans assumed during their service at the NTTR, and other Department of Energy (DOE) Covered Facilities, where DOE employees are already automatically presumed to have been exposed, while the service members who served alongside them are not. Senator Rosen also worked to secure commitments from multiple high-ranking military officials to address this care gap.
    “As a nation, it is our obligation to take care of all veterans once their service has ended,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This is especially true for veterans of the Nevada Test and Training Range, who faced toxic exposure daily as part of their duties and should have parity with their civilian counterparts. I will continue to push for these brave men and women to receive the care and benefits they’re due.”
    “Veterans have been exposed to radiation and toxic chemicals as a result of their selfless service to our nation, and the least we can do is ensure they get the treatment they need,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m introducing this bill to recognize the radiation and toxic exposure experienced at the Nevada Test and Training Range so our veterans can access the care and benefits they deserve. It is unconscionable that one U.S. government agency deems portions of the range as contaminated and their personnel exposed, while another U.S. government agency does not. I’ll continue working to make sure we take care of our veterans and their loved ones.”
    “Today, after decades of denial by our own government, the veterans who were exposed to toxic radiation and materials on the Nevada Test and Training Range are closer than ever to getting the recognition and benefits they’ve earned,” said Dave Crete, Chairman of The Invisible Enemy, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans who have experienced toxic exposure at the Nevada Test and Training Range. “We thank Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto for making the FORGOTTEN Veterans Act a legislative priority in the U.S. Senate, and all of our allies in Congress who are dedicated to righting this wrong, and securing justice for the brave men and women who risked their lives and lost their lives fighting this invisible enemy.”
    Specifically, the FORGOTTEN Veterans Act would: 
    Classify the Nevada Test and Training Range as contaminated.
    Require the Department of Defense (DOD) to document all exposures, including those that occur domestically, into the service member’s Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record, so it can be seen by the VA when service members transition to civilian life, while still protecting the classified nature of the location of their service. 
    Require the Secretary of the Air Force to identify all those who served within the NTTR since January 27, 1951, establish a process for service members and veterans to provide proof of their assignment within the NTTR, and make all efforts to identify individuals, without requiring them to submit evidence of their stationing.
    Establish a presumption of toxic exposure for DOD personnel who served at any Department of Energy (DOE) Covered Facilities – such as those within the NTTR – where DOE employees have a presumption of exposure and are covered under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. One such DOE-covered facility within the NTTR is the Tonopah Test Range, which is both a DOE and DOD installation. 
    Add service at military installations within the NTTR to the list of recognized “radiation-risk activities” under VA law, dating back to January 27, 1951, including veterans who participated in the development, construction, operation, or maintenance of military installations at NTTR—beyond just nuclear test observers.
    Establish a presumption of toxic exposure for veterans who served on or above NTTR, easing the burden of proof in VA claims.
    Expand presumptive conditions for service connection by adding lipomas and tumor-related conditions to the list of automatically presumed service-connected illnesses.
    Senator Cortez Masto is a champion for our service members and veterans. She worked across the aisle to get legislation helping veterans exposed to Agent Orange and expanding benefits for women veterans signed into law. The senator sent a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Collins demanding he provide answers on the mass terminations of personnel across the VA, specifically those in Nevada, and how those terminations would impact services to Nevada veterans.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Project Acacia: RBA and DFCRC announce chosen industry participants and ASIC provides regulatory relief for tokenised asset settlement research project

    Source: Airservices Australia

    Project Acacia has today reached a significant milestone with a number of industry participants (see below) selected to explore how innovations in digital money and existing settlement infrastructure might support the development of Australian wholesale tokenised asset markets.

    Project Acacia is a joint initiative between the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (DFCRC). This work is also supported by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), and the Australian Treasury. This project is one of the initiatives highlighted in the Government’s March 2025 Statement on Developing an Innovative Australian Digital Asset Industry.

    24 innovative use cases from a diverse range of organisations, ranging from local fintechs to major banks, have been conditionally selected for this next stage of the project. There will be:

    • 19 pilot use cases, which will involve real money and real asset transactions, and
    • 5 proof-of-concept use cases involving simulated transactions.

    The use cases involve a range of asset classes, including fixed income, private markets, trade receivables and carbon credits.

    Proposed settlement assets for the use cases include stablecoins, bank deposit tokens, and pilot wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC), as well as new ways of using banks’ existing exchange settlement accounts at the RBA.

    Issuance of pilot wholesale CBDC for testing use cases will occur on a range of private and public-permissioned DLT platforms, including Hedera, Redbelly Network, R3 Corda, Canvas Connect and other EVM-compatible networks.

    ASIC clears way for industry participation

    Supporting Project Acacia, ASIC is providing regulatory relief to participants to support and streamline the pilot.

    ASIC’s relief will support the responsible testing of tokenised asset transactions, in some cases using CBDCs, between participants and a limited number of financial institutions in the coming months.

    ASIC has previously provided individual relief of a similar nature to participants in earlier digital money projects led by the RBA.

    The relief instrument is available on the Federal Register of Legislation.

    Project Acacia’s next steps

    Testing of use cases will occur over the next six months, with a report on the findings from the project expected to be published in the first quarter of 2026. The findings of this next stage of the project will support the RBA’s ongoing research into how innovation in the financial system can best support the Australian economy in the digital age.

    Lead use case participants

    • Australian Bond Exchange
    • Australia and New Zealand Banking Corporation
    • Australian Payments Plus
    • Canvas
    • Catena Digital
    • Commonwealth Bank of Australia
    • Fireblocks
    • Forte Tech Solutions
    • Imperium Markets
    • Northern Trust
    • NotCentralised
    • ProspEx Group
    • Westpac Banking Corporation
    • Zerocap

    Brad Jones, Assistant Governor (Financial System) at the RBA said: “Ensuring that Australia’s payments and monetary arrangements are fit-for-purpose in the digital age is a strategic priority for the RBA and the Payments System Board. Project Acacia represents an opportunity for further collaborative exploration on tokenised asset markets and the future of money by the public and private sectors in Australia.

    “The use cases selected in this project will help us to better understand how innovations in central bank and private digital money, alongside payments infrastructure, might help to uplift the functioning of wholesale financial markets in Australia.

    “We thank all interested parties for their efforts in Project Acacia to date and look forward to reporting back on the findings that will emerge over the reminder of the project.”

    ASIC Commissioner Kate O’Rourke said: “Innovation is a sign of a vibrant economy and society. ASIC supports the responsible development of new technologies, including tokenisation and distributed ledgers.

    “ASIC sees useful applications for the technologies underlying digital assets in wholesale markets. The relief from regulatory requirements that we have announced today will allow these technologies to be sensibly tested—to explore opportunities and identify and tackle risks.

    “Importantly, Project Acacia will allow industry and regulators to work together to learn more about how these use cases may reshape the financial services industry, potentially boosting efficiency and foster economic growth.”

    Professor Talis Putnins, Chief Scientist at DFCRC said: “It is great to have collaboration from so many parts of the industry, from small fintechs to large banks, alongside the key financial regulators in this forward-looking, innovative project. The real money settlement models being tested, including issuing pilot wholesale CBDC on third party platforms, reflects another world-first for Australia in this rapidly evolving field.

    “The project is of strategic importance to the DFCRC because, as a co-operative research centre, our focus is on bringing together key groups to unlock the large economic potential of digital finance innovation in Australia. Recent research suggests potential economic gains in markets and cross border payments could be in the order of AU $19 billion per year. Project Acacia is a significant step towards realising these gains, by providing evidence on the forms of money and settlement models that best enable tokenised real-world asset markets.”

    About Project Acacia

    Project Acacia is exploring how different forms of digital money and associated infrastructure could support the development of wholesale tokenised asset markets in Australia. The consultation paper initiating Project Acacia was released in November 2024 and called for industry feedback and expressions of interest in participating.

    Project Acacia is a joint research project between Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (DFCRC). The project is supported by key stakeholders including the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Australian Treasury, which are all represented on the project Steering Committee, along with representatives from the RBA and DFCRC.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – Household spending uptick in June, but consumers remain cautious – CBA

    Source: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)

    A lift in household spending is expected for the remainder of 2025, however a slower interest rate cutting cycle could dampen this recovery.

    https://youtu.be/UP9AxIqN2VY

    The CommBank Household Spending Insights (HSI) Index rose for the third month in a row in June, up 0.3 per cent following gains of 0.4 per cent in April and May.

    Eight of the twelve HSI categories recorded spending growth for the month, led by Utilities (+2.9 per cent), Education (+1.1 per cent) and Communications & Digital (+1.0 per cent). The timing of the energy rebates has made the utilities category choppy, while the release of Nintendo Switch 2 likely supported sales in the Communications & Digital category.

    Three categories saw a fall in the month, led lower by Hospitality (-0.8 per cent), Motor Vehicle (-0.1 per cent) and Recreation (-0.1 per cent). These categories all performed relatively well in May and again show the fickle nature of consumer spending at present.

    “Household spending is starting to show signs of consistency month-on-month and should continue to pick up this year as consumers begin to loosen their purse strings. This recovery is taking longer than expected to occur, but there are green shoots emerging. The annual growth rate has picked up, but the recovery is not yet assured. Spending around sales events and new items show consumers are still deliberate on their spending decisions,” said CBA Senior Economist, Belinda Allen.  

    “At the same time there remains a clear preference to save and pay down debt. Recent data from CBA showed that just 10 per cent of eligible home loan customers chose to reduce their mortgage direct debit payments following the May interest rate cut. This follows a similar trend after the February rate cut when around 10 per cent of eligible customers had adjusted repayments at the same point in time – eventually rising to 14 percent before the May RBA decision.”

    Taking the whole of June quarter together, the HSI lifted by 1.4 per cent, just a little above the 1.2 per cent recorded in the March quarter, but still below the 1.6 per cent recorded in the December quarter of 2024.

    “The RBA’s decision to hold rates at 3.85 per cent in July was unexpected, but we anticipate the RBA to cut the cash rate in August by 25 basis points, with November the most likely option for a follow up rate cut. While we still anticipate a pickup in household spending in 2025, a slower rate cutting cycle could soften this recovery over the remainder of the year.”

    In June, homeowners without a mortgage saw the weakest yearly spending growth per capita at 3.5 per cent, continuing the trend from May. Homeowners with a mortgage saw a shift higher in spending in June, with gains over the past year now tracking at 5.2 per cent. Meanwhile renters saw a lift to 4.2 per cent.

    “Homeowners with a mortgage have reduced spending on transport, hospitality, and food and beverage goods over the past year but lower interest rates are expected to boost disposable income in the coming months. Renters continues to spend more following an increase in April and May,” commented Ms Allen.

    NSW recorded the strongest household spending growth in June of the states and territories, rising 0.7 per cent. Over the past year, NSW has outperformed nationally, up 8.4 per cent in a change at the top of the state leaderboard. Meanwhile Queensland has grown 7.3 per cent, recovering well from ex-tropical cyclone Alfred in March, when the state posted the softest growth of all states at just 0.2 per cent.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Gaza: A survey among MSF workers and their families showed that almost half of the people killed are children

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

    Gaza, 9 July 2025 – A recent retrospective mortality survey of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) staff and their families reveals the appalling death rate of Israel’s all-out war on Gaza, especially among children, which is consistent with conflict-related figures provided by the Gazan Ministry of Health.

    Compared to pre-7 October Ministry of Health estimates, the mortality rate was five times higher among the population surveyed. For children under five, mortality increased tenfold. For babies less than one month, the mortality rate was six times higher.

    The survey, run by MSF’s epidemiological Epicentre, covered 2,523 people (MSF workers and their family members) over the period between October 2023 and March 2025, and showed that more than two per cent of the people surveyed died since 7 October 2023, and seven per cent were injured. Furthermore, three-quarters of the deaths were due to war injuries, the vast majority of those from blasts.

    Forty-eight per cent of the people who died from blast injuries among our colleagues’ households were children and 40 per cent were under 10 years old.

    “This disregard for children’s lives clearly indicates that this war run by Israel in Gaza is against all Palestinians. The children of Gaza are being decimated,” says Amande Bazerolle, deputy manager of MSF’s emergency department. “Israel’s allies must put all their efforts to end the genocide taking place before our very eyes,” she says.

    The MSF survey has found a mortality rate in Gaza of 0.41 deaths per 10,000 people per day. It rises to 0.70 deaths for children under five years old. Twenty per cent of MSF households had at least one member injured by a blast or gunshot.

    The results of the survey, conducted among MSF staff and their families only, cannot be extrapolated or assumed as representative of the whole population of Gaza. In fact, medical staff and their families, including MSF, could be considered as having better access to healthcare than the rest of Gaza’s population.

    Despite this, the number of deaths not directly attributable to war wounds is increasing over the war, according to study observations. Findings showed that two-thirds of those with a chronic disease experienced one or more treatment interruption.

    This is the result of the Israeli campaign to systematically destroy the health system and the means of survival of the whole population. In addition, Israel has reduced medical evacuations to a minimum. According to WHO, more than 10,000 people are in urgent need of medical and surgical treatment that cannot be provided inside Gaza.

    Since 7 October 2023 and as of 25 June 2025, the Ministry of Health in Gaza reported the killing of at least 56,156 Palestinians and the injury of 132,239 others.

    The quantitative data from the MSF study helps illustrate part of the reality in Gaza and supports other available data, a point emphasized by the study coordinator Dr Wendelin Moser, from MSF Epicentre.

    “When we compared the names of deceased individuals due to violence from our survey with the list of war-related deaths from the Ministry of Health in Gaza, we matched nearly 90 per cent. This indicates the validity of the Ministry of Health statistics on the number of deaths in Gaza since 7 October,” he says.

    The survey also provides unequivocal data on the level of destruction of MSF family members’ households. Only two per cent had a house that remained untouched. At the time of the survey, 59 per cent had a completely damaged house, 39 per cent had a partially damaged house, and 41 per cent of them live in tents.

    MSF calls on the Israeli authorities to stop the genocidal campaign against the Palestinians in Gaza; to lift the siege on food, fuel, medical, and humanitarian supplies immediately; and calls for Israel’s allies to help facilitate the urgent medical evacuations of people whose lives are in danger, and in particular of children.

     

    MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation. MSF has been working in Haiti for over 30 years, offering general healthcare, trauma care, burn wound care, maternity care, and care for survivors of sexual violence. 

    MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Spain and Brazil push global action to tax the super-rich and curb inequality

    Source: United Nations 4

    Presented during the UN’s 4th International Conference on Financing for Development – taking place this week in Sevilla, Spain – the proposal highlights a growing problem: the richest individuals often contribute less to public finances than ordinary taxpayers, thanks to lower effective tax rates and legal loopholes.

    “Our countries need more and more public revenues to meet their needs. Inequality is a problem everywhere and the richest pay less than the middle class – even less than lower-income taxpayers,” said Spain’s Secretary of State for Finance Jesús Gascón, during a press conference at the conference venue, where temperatures have soared to record highs in recent days.

    The two governments are calling on others to join a drive for a fairer, more progressive global tax system. They point to a stark reality: the wealthiest one per cent of the global population owns more than 95 per cent of humanity combined.

    UN News/Matt Wells

    The Spanish Secretary of State for Finance Jesús Gascón (on screen) addresses a meeting at the Financing for Development conference in Sevilla, Spain.

    Sharing knowledge, closing gaps

    In today’s interconnected world access to reliable data is essential. The initiative prioritises information sharing – between governments and tax authorities – to help expose gaps in tax systems, close loopholes and combat evasion and avoidance.

    Improving data quality and building national capacities for data analysis will help tax administrations identify where and how wealth is concentrated, how much is currently being paid and what needs to change.

    Though some progress has already been made, the countries say much more must be done and many more countries should come on board.

    “There’s a real need to know who the beneficial owners are behind companies and legal structures used to conceal wealth,” said Mr. Gascón. The initiative also proposes technical cooperation, training in data analytics and peer review mechanisms to strengthen national tax systems.

    A global wealth registry?

    Spain and Brazil are even considering steps toward a global wealth registry – acknowledging that this would take time, political will and major national efforts.

    But the aim is clear: more transparency, more accountability and fairer contributions from the richest.

    “We cannot tolerate the intensity of inequality, which has been increasing in recent years,” said Brazil’s Minister-Counsellor to the UN, José Gilberto Scandiucci denying that this was some kind of far-leftist agenda.

    “This is a moderate initiative to confront a very radical reality.”

    The proposal forms part of the Seville Platform for Action, which is turbocharging voluntary actions to help reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – currently way off track for the 2030 deadline.

    G20 highlights ‘high worth’ factor

    It also follows the 2024 agreement by the G20 industrialised nations who met in Rio (Brazil) last year – the first international accord to commit to a joint tax agenda for high-net-worth individuals.

    A three-month work plan is now being drawn up with regular meetings planned to track progress. The goal – bring more countries, international organisations and civil society on board to push forward tax reforms targeting the ultra-rich.

    “If we want to effectively tax the super-rich, fight inequality and make our tax systems fairer and more progressive, we need political will – and we need to act within our means,” Mr. Gascón added.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Alcohol seizure – Wadeye

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Wadeye Police have seized a significant quantity of alcohol and several weapons during a search operation in Wadeye on Tuesday morning.

    Around 11:50am, police conducted a lawful search of a residence in Wadeye following intelligence that liquor was allegedly being sold from the location. During the search, officers located and seized 51 bottles of liquor with an estimated value of $25,500.

    Two crossbows, a compound bow, and a quantity of arrows were surrendered from a nearby residence during the search operation.

    Investigations remain ongoing.

    Acting Senior Sergeant Ian Young said “The illegal sale of alcohol in restricted communities continues to have far-reaching and harmful impacts.

    “This seizure is a direct result of community cooperation and highlights the importance of working together to reduce alcohol related harm.

    “Police remain committed to disrupting the supply of alcohol and other controlled substances in restricted communities.

    “We continue to urge anyone with information on the supply of alcohol or drugs to our communities to make contact on 131 444 or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.” 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Lactalis’ proposed acquisition of Fonterra’s consumer, dairy ingredients and food service businesses not opposed

    Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

    The ACCC will not oppose Lactalis BSA S.A.S. (Lactalis)’s proposed acquisition of Fonterra Co-Operative Group (Fonterra)’s consumer, dairy ingredients and food service businesses.

    Lactalis and Fonterra both currently acquire raw milk from dairy farmers in Victoria and Tasmania, as well as processing and supplying a range of dairy products across Australia.

    “We looked very closely at the transaction as it will combine two of the largest buyers of raw milk in Victoria and lead to some further consolidation in Tasmania,” ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said.

    “While we acknowledge the concerns raised by some representative bodies, after careful consideration we have determined that the acquisition is unlikely to result in a substantial lessening of competition.”

    The ACCC found that across Gippsland, the Murray and Western Victoria, alternative buyers of raw milk would continue to constrain Lactalis if the acquisition proceeded.

    “We found that while the industry in Tasmania is already concentrated, Lactalis has a limited presence and the acquisition would not substantially alter the market dynamics. If the acquisition proceeded, Lactalis would continue to be constrained by Saputo and, to a lesser extent, Mondelez,” Mr Keogh said.

    “Because Fonterra and Lactalis have differing end product mixes, they often seek to acquire milk from farmers with different production profiles. Accordingly, we found that they are not likely to be each other’s closest competitors. This was reflected by analysis which showed very few farmers switched between the two processors.”

    The ACCC also concluded that the transaction was unlikely to substantially lessen competition in the wholesale supply of dairy products such as drinking milk, cream, cheese, chilled yellow spreads and dairy ingredients like milk powder.

    The differing production focus of Fonterra and Lactalis meant that there was limited overlap between the two in the supply of these products.

    For longer-life, readily transportable products such as cheese, dairy ingredients and chilled yellow spreads, the ACCC found that retailers and wholesalers would also continue to benefit from import competition.

    “Supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths are also major customers in this market, with significant levels of bargaining power,” Mr Keogh said.

    “They also have the ability to sponsor new entry or even enter directly, as Coles has demonstrated through its acquisition of Saputo’s milk processing assets.”

    Further information can be found on the ACCC’s public register: Lactalis (BSA S.A.S.) – businesses within the Fonterra Co-operative Group.

    Note to editors

    The term “chilled yellow spreads” refers to butter and other products with a similar texture and fat content, such as margarine.

    The term “raw milk” refers to unpasteurised cow’s milk, whereas “drinking milk” refers to milk that has been pasteurised to make it safe for human consumption. 

    Background

    The ACCC commenced a review of the proposed acquisition on 2 May 2025. As part of the review, the ACCC consulted industry stakeholders including farmers, dairy groups, retailers and foodservice businesses.

    Lactalis BSA S.A.S. is a French multinational dairy group based in Laval, France. Lactalis business activities include acquiring raw milk from farmers and processing it into dairy products and ingredients for domestic consumption and export. In Australia, it owns a range of brands such as Pauls, Vaalia, Oak, Président and Lactalis Foodservice.

    Fonterra is a New Zealand-based dairy co-operative which is owned by around 8,000 New Zealand farmers. In Australia, Fonterra processes raw milk acquired from its farmers into various dairy products as part of its ingredients and consumer and food service businesses.

    It owns consumer brands such as Western Star, Mainland, and Perfect Italiano, and produces certain Bega Cheese products under licence. It supplies foodservice products via the Anchor Food Professionals brand.

    While the ACCC has reviewed the proposed acquisition of Fonterra’s consumer, dairy ingredients and food service businesses by Lactalis, this is not an indication that Lactalis’ bid will ultimately be accepted by the target business.

    Whether Fonterra will ultimately accept Lactalis’ bid is a matter for Fonterra. 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Net migration loss to Australia in 2024 – Stats NZ media and information release: International migration: May 2025

    Net migration loss to Australia in 2024 – media release

    10 July 2025

    There was a net migration loss of 30,000 people from New Zealand to Australia in the December 2024 year, according to provisional estimates released by Stats NZ today.

    “The net migration loss from New Zealand to Australia in 2024 was similar to the loss of 29,400 in 2023,” international migration statistics spokesperson Sarah Drake said.

    “The loss in 2024 is the largest for a calendar year since 2012, but below the record loss of 43,700 in the March 2012 year.”

    Traditionally, there has been a net migration loss from New Zealand to Australia. This averaged about 30,000 a year during 2004 to 2013, and 3,000 a year during 2014 to 2019.

    Visit our website to read this news story and information release and to download CSV files:

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Stats NZ information release: International travel: May 2025

    International travel: May 2025 – information release

    10 July 2025

    International travel covers the number and characteristics of overseas visitors and New Zealand resident travellers (short-term movements) entering or leaving New Zealand.

    Key facts

    Monthly arrivals – overseas visitors
    Overseas visitor arrivals were 190,600 in May 2025, an increase of 10,900 from May 2024. The biggest changes were in arrivals from:

    • Australia (up 4,200)
    • China (up 2,300)
    • United States (up 1,300).

    The total number of overseas visitor arrivals in May 2025 was 87 percent of the 219,300 in May 2019 (before the COVID-19 pandemic).

    Visit our website to read this information release:

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Outdoor, under lights fitness sessions on offer!

    Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

    The City of Greater Bendigo has partnered with Peter Krenz Centre to deliver a series of low-cost outdoor fitness sessions for people of all fitness levels to shake off the chill and fire up their fitness under lights!

    The Lights On sessions offer community members four exciting six-week programs which will take place at both Ewing Park and Lake Neangar on Tuesday and Thursday evenings between July 21 and August 31.

    The programs aim to give residents, in particular women and gender diverse community members, more opportunities to be physically active in the evening through the darkest part of the year.

    The sessions will be guided by qualified fitness instructors and the program options include:

    • Outdoor Equipment Circuit (cardio focus) – 5.30pm Tuesdays, Ewing Park
    • Beginners Running Program – 6.30pm Tuesdays, Ewing Park
    • Outdoor Equipment Circuit – 5.30pm Thursdays, Lake Neangar
    • Outdoor Equipment Circuit – 6.30pm Thursdays, Lake Neangar

    Each six-week program costs $30 (or $5 per session) and includes six 45-minute sessions of either an outdoor equipment circuit, combining outdoor fitness equipment and bodyweight exercises, or a beginner’s running program.

    Community members can choose one program and enjoy 6 weeks of community, health, and fun! 16 – 17-year-olds are welcome to register and participate, provided they have parental permission.

    To sign up to the program or for more information, visit:

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – NAIDOC Week – Refugees feel welcomed by Indigenous communities – study

    Source: AMES

    Refugees settling in Australia feel welcomed by Indigenous communities and believe it is important to respect and learn about first nations’ culture, according to a new survey.

    More than half (63 per cent) of respondents said that felt welcomed by Indigenous communities and that it was important to be welcoming to Indigenous Australians, while just 13 per cent said it was not important.

    The findings are part of a survey of refugees who have settled in regional Australia, conducted by migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia and the University of Wollongong.

    The interim results of the ‘Settling Well’ survey found refugees in the regions feel welcome and safe, and value the peaceful environment regional communities provide in raising children.

    The study is a five-year longitudinal comparative assessment of the impacts of refugee settlement in regional Australia.

    The study surveyed refugee and established communities in Nhilll, Mildura, Albury-Wodonga, Cowra-Orange, Rockhampton and Townsville.

    Mildura based former refugee Jules Kangeta said it was important to respect Indigenous culture.

    “I find welcome to country ceremonies very moving. You can see an ancient culture at work and the local Indigenous community are telling us we are welcome,” Mr Kangeta said.

    “It is a very generous gesture that shows love and shows that these are good people. The ceremonies are important because the give authority and agency to newcomers, like me, to this country.

    “It is important that Indigenous communities are recognised and have a say in the country that was originally theirs,” Mr Kangeta said.

    AMES Australia CEO Cath Scarth said refugee and Indigenous communities had many things in common and natural affinity.

    “Many people from both communities can, at times, feel marginalised and can struggle to find their places in mainstream society. So, it’s not surprising there is a level of empathy between them,” she said.

    The study also found refugees were finding employment opportunities and affordable housing in the regions.

    It found refugees valued the lack of congestion in regional Australia and they most planned to stay.

    But it also identified issues with a lack of service provision and educational opportunities.

    It asked refugees how they felt about life in rural Australia in terms of economic, cultural and social outcomes as well as access to opportunity and health and wellbeing.

    The study surveyed 324 people from 25 countries. Most of the participants were from the Democratic republic of Congo, Burma, the Central African Republic, Afghanistan and Bhutan.

    “Overall, people feel safe and peaceful in regional Australia. They felt welcomed by, but also a little isolated from, communities mostly because of language barriers,” the report said.

    “They like the lack of congestion, and they see regional communities as better places to raise kids because they see them as safer from bad influences. But this also comes with less educational opportunities.

    “Many people have been able to buy houses, that would have been out of reach in the cities. And employment opportunities are generally good,” the report said.

    Asked if they planned to stay in regional Australia, 75 per cent said they planned to stay long term and just 5 per cent said they did not.

    The study found refugees were mostly satisfied with the support they received on settling into new communities.

    “We found that individuals – settlement workers, volunteers and community members – were important in helping people to settle,” the report said.

    The study also found services in the regions were less accessible that in cities.

    “In some communities we found a lack of things like dental services, refugee mental health and immigration lawyers,” the report said.

    “We also found that younger adults were missing out on schooling and further educational opportunities.”

    The study also identified a lack of English language tuition in secondary settlement locations, where mainstream settlement services are not available.

    The study’s preliminary recommendations included: flexible settlement core funding to respond to needs that arise; reassessment of needs after initial settlement, and flexible delivery of English language classes tailored to different aspirations and locations.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Sens. Warner & Kaine Applaud Senate Reapproval of VA Medical Facility Leases

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement after the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works voted to approve updated authorizations for 18 Veterans Affairs (VA) major medical facility leases, including a proposed lease for an outpatient clinic in Hampton Roads:

    “We are very encouraged to see the Senate EPW Committee heed our request to quickly reauthorize 18 VA medical facility leases, including one for a new outpatient clinic in Hampton Roads. This facility would fill a critical gap, providing broader access and more convenient services for veterans on the south side of the region, who currently represent over 60 percent of the Hampton VA Medical Center’s patient base. We will continue to press our colleagues in the House of Representatives to finalize the reauthorization process and ensure that our nation’s veterans are not forced to endure unacceptable wait times or travel burdensome distances to access the high-quality care they have earned through their sacrifice and dedication.”

    While these leases were originally authorized under the PACT Act, which both senators strongly supported, updated cost estimates and rent bids prompted the VA and the General Services Administration (GSA) to seek reauthorization from four congressional committees. To date, the leases have been reapproved by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. One final approval, from the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, remains.

    Sens. Warner and Kaine have long fought to expand health care and benefits for Virginia’s nearly 700,000 veterans. Sens. Warner and Kaine began raising the alarm about the significant backlog of unapproved VA leases in 2016. After putting significant pressure on officials across the federal government, Congress unanimously passed the Providing Veterans Overdue Care Act, legislation written by Sen. Warner and supported by Sen. Kaine, to cut the backlog and get over two dozen delayed VA medical facilities’ leases approved.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Sens. Warner & Kaine Applaud Senate Reapproval of VA Medical Facility Leases

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement after the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works voted to approve updated authorizations for 18 Veterans Affairs (VA) major medical facility leases, including a proposed lease for an outpatient clinic in Hampton Roads:

    “We are very encouraged to see the Senate EPW Committee heed our request to quickly reauthorize 18 VA medical facility leases, including one for a new outpatient clinic in Hampton Roads. This facility would fill a critical gap, providing broader access and more convenient services for veterans on the south side of the region, who currently represent over 60 percent of the Hampton VA Medical Center’s patient base. We will continue to press our colleagues in the House of Representatives to finalize the reauthorization process and ensure that our nation’s veterans are not forced to endure unacceptable wait times or travel burdensome distances to access the high-quality care they have earned through their sacrifice and dedication.”

    While these leases were originally authorized under the PACT Act, which both senators strongly supported, updated cost estimates and rent bids prompted the VA and the General Services Administration (GSA) to seek reauthorization from four congressional committees. To date, the leases have been reapproved by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. One final approval, from the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, remains.

    Sens. Warner and Kaine have long fought to expand health care and benefits for Virginia’s nearly 700,000 veterans. Sens. Warner and Kaine began raising the alarm about the significant backlog of unapproved VA leases in 2016. After putting significant pressure on officials across the federal government, Congress unanimously passed the Providing Veterans Overdue Care Act, legislation written by Sen. Warner and supported by Sen. Kaine, to cut the backlog and get over two dozen delayed VA medical facilities’ leases approved.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Tracking insect and bug health in a heartbeat from a digital camera

    Source:

    10 July 2025

    In a world-first pilot study, researchers from the University of South Australia (UniSA) have used video footage of insects to extract their heart rates without touching or disturbing them.

    The innovation, published in the Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology, could transform how scientists monitor the health and stress levels of arthropods, that account for more than 80% of animal species.

    Taking footage from smartphones, social media videos and digital cameras, the researchers used sophisticated signal processing methods to monitor the heart activity of ants, bees, caterpillars, spiders, grasshoppers and stick insects.

    Unlike mammals, arthropods have an open circulatory system in which blood fills the body cavity, bathing the internal organs and tissues. Their heart is located on the top (dorsal) side of their body in the abdomen.

    Led by UniSA PhD candidate Danyi Wang and her supervisor Professor Javaan Chahl, the study demonstrates that subtle body movements captured on standard digital or smartphone cameras can be analysed to reveal accurate and detailed cardiac activity in a range of insect species.

    Unlike traditional methods that require physical contact or immobilisation, this technique allows insects to remain free, without disrupting their natural behaviour.

    “Insects are vital to our ecosystems, and understanding their physiological responses to environmental change is essential,” Wang says.

    “Existing methods to measure insect’ vital signs are invasive, however. Our method preserves their natural behaviour while providing accurate insights into their heart activity.”

    The extracted heart rates closely matched the physiological ranges recorded via traditional techniques, validating the system’s accuracy.

    Senior author Prof Javaan Chahl says the system successfully captured heart rates across multiple insect species, detecting physiological differences influenced by factors such as wing morphology and temperature.

    “From ants with heart rates of around 50 beats per minute, to bees reaching 119bpm, our results consistently aligned with established reference values,” Prof Chahl says.

    “What’s exciting is that this was all achieved without attaching sensors or disturbing the insects in any way.”

    One of the most impressive validations came from caterpillar recordings, where the team compared their video-derived cardiac signals to data from infrared contact sensors in previous studies. The shapes and frequencies were almost identical.

    The study also revealed interesting inter-species variations. For example, spider heart rates varied significantly, reflecting differences between species rather than activity levels, since all subjects were at rest during filming.

    Advanced image processing techniques, including motion tracking algorithms and magnification, were applied to detect tiny movements associated with heartbeats. These signals were analysed using spectral filtering and transformed into frequency data to isolate the heart rate.

    According to Prof Chahl, the study marks an important step forward in insect research.

    “Non-invasive cardiac monitoring offers tremendous potential; not just for studying insect health, but also for understanding environmental stressors, pesticide effects, or even the wellbeing of social insects like ants and bees, where heart signals can provide insights into colony health and behaviour.”

    His team has previously used a similar technique with digital cameras to remotely extract cardiac signals in humans and wildlife.

    The researchers hope to test the system in the field and refine it by using machine learning to improve the accuracy across different body types and light conditions.

    “With more refinement, this could become a cost effective and valuable tool in the ecological research toolkit,” says Wang. “It gives us the ability to listen to the hearts of the smallest creatures without harming them.”

    ‘Extracting Cardiac Activity for Arthropods Using Digital Cameras: Insights from a Pilot Study’ is published in the Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology. DOI:  10.1002/arch.70076

    A video demonstrating the experiment is available at: redback_final.mp4 – Google Drive

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Research contact for interview: Professor Javaan Chahl E: javaan.chahl@unisa.edu.au

    Media contact: Candy Gibson M: +61 434 605 142 E: candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Black Bear and Fond Du Luth Casinos Select Quick Custom Intelligence Enterprise Platform

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) and Black Bear and Fond Du Luth Casinos are thrilled to announce their strategic partnership that is set to transform the gaming and hospitality landscape in the Minnesota market. This dynamic collaboration represents an exciting fusion of advanced technology and exceptional guest experiences, with Black Bear and Fond Du Luth Casinos leading the charge. By leveraging QCI’s cutting-edge data analytics platform, the partnership aims to redefine how casinos operate, providing unparalleled insights into player behavior, enhancing operational efficiency, and delivering personalized guest experiences like never before. This bold move positions Black Bear and Fond Du Luth Casinos at the forefront of innovation, setting a new standard in how technology can drive the future of gaming and hospitality.

    This partnership marks the beginning of a new era, where the seamless integration of artificial intelligence, data-driven decision-making, and world-class service will create an unmatched environment for entertainment and hospitality in the region.

    Morgan Fritzinger, Director of Marketing for the Black Bear and Fond Du Luth Casinos, shared her excitement about this partnership, stating, “We are excited to embark on this transformative journey with QCI. The QCI platform is truly a game-changer for our host and marketing departments, and we’re confident it will not only optimize our operations but also enhance the quality of service and entertainment we provide to our valued guests. With QCI’s innovative solutions, we’re poised to deliver an unparalleled gaming experience in the Minnesota market. This partnership perfectly aligns with our commitment to excellence and innovation.”

    Dr. Ralph Thomas, CEO of QCI, expressed his satisfaction with this newly established partnership, stating, “We place immense value on partnerships that are built on mutual respect, a shared vision, and a strong commitment to innovation. Our collaboration with Black Bear and Fond Du Luth Casinos exemplifies this kind of relationship. From the very beginning, we have been deeply impressed by the Black Bear and Fond Du Luth Casinos team’s dedication, their passion for excellence, and their relentless focus on delivering extraordinary guest experiences. I am incredibly proud of what we have already achieved together and even more excited for the future. This partnership represents a unique opportunity to set new benchmarks in the Minnesota market, and I am confident that together, we will redefine what’s possible in the gaming and hospitality industry.”

    ABOUT Black Bear Casino and Fond Du Luth Casinos
    Black Bear Casino Resort, located in Carlton, Minnesota, and Fond-du-Luth Casino, situated in the heart of downtown Duluth near Lake Superior’s vibrant tourist district, are premier gaming and entertainment destinations owned and operated by the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Together, these properties offer a dynamic blend of gaming, dining, lodging, and live entertainment, while honoring the cultural heritage and economic strength of the Fond du Lac Band. Committed to excellence in guest service and community impact, both casinos serve as proud tributes to the resilience and vision of the Ojibwe people. For more information, visit www.blackbearcasinoresort.com or call (218) 878-BEAR (2327) or www.fondduluthcasino.com and (218) 720-5100.

    ABOUT QCI
    Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) has pioneered the revolutionary QCI Enterprise Platform, an artificial intelligence platform that seamlessly integrates player development, marketing, and gaming operations with powerful, real-time tools designed specifically for the gaming and hospitality industries. Our advanced, highly configurable software is deployed in over 250 casino resorts across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Latin America, and Europe. The QCI AGI Platform, which manages more than $35 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, stands as a best-in-class solution, whether on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based, enabling fully coordinated activities across all aspects of gaming or hospitality operations. QCI’s data-driven, AI-powered software propels swift, informed decision-making vital in the ever-changing casino industry, assisting casinos in optimizing resources and profits, crafting effective marketing campaigns, and enhancing customer loyalty. QCI was co-founded by Dr. Ralph Thomas and Mr. Andrew Cardno and is based in San Diego, with additional offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Dallas, and Tulsa. Main phone number: (858) 299.5715. Visit us at www.quickcustomintelligence.com.

    ABOUT Dr. Ralph Thomas
    Dr. Ralph Thomas is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Quick Custom Intelligence. Ralph is a product visionary in applied analytics and the founder of two companies that deliver solutions in casino gaming, education, and adult learning. As a gaming industry veteran, Dr. Thomas has substantial experience implementing analytics into single and multi-property gaming companies to drive tangible and measurable gains to the bottom line and has built business intelligence tools for multibillion-dollar casinos. Dr. Thomas is co-author of seven books and over 80 articles on applied analytics and data science in gaming, an inventor on dozens of patents, and understands gaming from raw data up through casino operations, giving him a unique, 360-degree view of the industry.

    Contact:
    Laurel Kay, Quick Custom Intelligence
    Phone: 858-349-8354

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: From robotic trucks to smart bins: how technology is helping cities sort their waste problem

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Breno Nunes, Associate professor in Sustainable Operations Management, Aston University

    Since early January 2025, residents of Birmingham in the UK have been caught in the dispute between the city council and the Unite union over pay, terms and conditions for waste and recycling collectors. The latest attempt at talks broke down in acrimony.

    At one point during the crisis, there were 17 tonnes of uncollected rubbish in Birmingham. Businesses and residents face public health and safety risks including pest infestations and the spread of disease and fire hazards.

    These have tainted the reputation of the city and hurt its chances of hosting events and attracting visitors. The news of cat-sized rats in Birmingham has made headlines from the US to Australia.



    Read more:
    Birmingham bin strikes: a threat to public health

    Workers’ pay is being negotiated between the union and the council in Birmingham. However, this is a fairly dangerous job and, with an ageing population, it may become more difficult to hire new workers. We argue that a more fair approach would be to use technology to help transition workers (including through training) towards better paid and safer positions.

    This would be an opportunity to build more sustainable waste management in the UK’s second largest city and beyond. Advances in robotics and AI are making automated refuse collection a reality, for example. Some cities in the US, Canada and parts of Europe already use robotics-enabled equipment in their refuse collection systems.

    A shortage of skilled personnel threatens the transition towards a greener economy. People have to be at the centre of the solution. In this case, skilled workers are needed to keep different types of waste separate and so improve recycling rates.

    The recovery value can be high for certain products such as electronics, automotive parts, as well as materials like plastic and metal. This is still difficult for machines to do.

    Smart bins and automated trucks

    Birmingham city council has already proposed improvements to waste collection. Based on publicly available information, it aims at increasing the number of rubbish trucks, reducing the number of collection days and retraining refuse collectors. But it has yet to take full advantage of existing advanced technologies.

    The plan, for instance, proposes improving communication with residents about collection day via text messages. While welcome, this is rather basic. It was only during the pandemic that all recycling centres started using online booking systems. Prior to that, endless queues were common – wasting time and increasing emissions with traffic jams.

    We argue that a whole-systems approach is needed to make the most of the opportunities new technology affords. Automated side loader trucks and smart bins are already used in various cities – the latter use sensors to monitor waste volumes and predict when collection is needed. The council could analyse the strengths and weaknesses of each technology in different areas of the city.

    Side loader trucks, which can lift up large bins and empty them, automate a dangerous process and are already considered a mature technology, used in cities across the US, Canada and Sweden. These trucks are difficult to drive in narrow streets. But, where appropriate, their benefits include increased productivity, reduced collection costs and greater worker safety.

    Sensors embedded in the vehicle, including from cameras, can provide data on the distribution of waste in different areas. This helps to produce a waste map. AI algorithms can analyse the data and provide customised collection schedules that optimise the use of trucks in the collection fleet. The algorithms can learn and be continuously revised to improve the service.

    In busy areas of the city, information from smart bins can prevent rubbish accumulating. Advanced machine learning techniques can then be employed to further optimise the collection schedule by detecting, for instance, anomalies such as a sudden increase in some types of waste. Such systems can provide more adaptable solutions and increase the productivity of officers.

    Recent improvements in imaging techniques and chemical analysis can help to identify different waste materials and allow automatic sorting, and the identification of hazardous waste.

    Other technological solutions, such as the use of smart underground large storage containers as communal bins allow for less frequent collections, but they may require significant changes to both infrastructure and trucks. These already exist in parts of Spain.

    Pneumatic waste collection systems have been tested in Wembley, a suburb in northwest London. In this system, waste is sucked through underground pipes by a fan system at speeds approaching 50mph to a central point, where it is stored in airtight containers until further treatment takes place. More than 30 countries adopt this system.

    Educating the public is vital too. Reducing waste in the first place is a good way to save money and would reduce pressure on waste collection systems.

    As far as Birmingham goes, overlooking advanced technologies won’t make the council’s task of satisfying residents and waste collection teams any easier. We think a lot of people would be happier to see more robotics trucks and smart bins than more rats in the streets.

    Breno Nunes receives funding from InnovateUK for a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project on sustainable manufacturing strategy.

    Roberto Castro Alamino 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. From robotic trucks to smart bins: how technology is helping cities sort their waste problem – https://theconversation.com/from-robotic-trucks-to-smart-bins-how-technology-is-helping-cities-sort-their-waste-problem-260023

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Attending events is the ticket to happiness

    Source:

    10 July 2025

    The cold winter snaps might make it hard to get out and about, but new research led by the University of South Australia has found that frequently attending in-person events can significantly boost wellbeing.

    A study by tourism and event management experts at UniSA and Flinders University has found that regularly attending events such as festivals, exhibitions, sporting events, farmer’s markets and food events can lead to greater positive emotions and feelings such as joy, contentment, happiness and excitement.

    It is also significantly related to higher levels of engagement and being fully absorbed and immersed in an activity, so time seems to slip away unnoticed.

    Researchers surveyed more than 350 South Australians about how often they attended in-person and online events and how this related to their wellbeing.

    The results revealed an association between the frequency of attending in-person events and higher well-being through higher levels of positive emotions, such as joy, happiness and excitement, as well as a stronger sense of being absorbed in an activity.

    UniSA’s Associate Professor Sunny Son says although it is often claimed that event experiences can enhance people’s wellbeing, there is limited research examining their overall impact.

    “Our study took a holistic approach by looking at the relationships between attending events and wellbeing. We found evidence that attending events can meaningfully improve individuals’ wellbeing, encouraging communities to leverage events to improve general well-being,” she says.

    “Wellbeing has become an increasingly important focus for individuals and communities and is linked to many benefits related to health, work, family and community.

    “Previous studies have shown that higher levels of wellbeing can lead to a reduced risk of illness and injury and increase longevity. People with high levels of wellbeing tend to perform better in the workplace and contribute positively to their community, so it’s important not only for public health but also for building strong socially sustainable and connected communities.”

    The study also found that attending virtual events – such as an online concert or livestream experience – contributes to people’s sense of accomplishment. However, unlike in-person events, virtual events have no impact on other dimensions of wellbeing.

    Flinders University Senior Lecturer Dr Eliza Kitchen says organisations can take advantage of the benefits of in-person events by incorporating them into employee reward programs, inviting clients, partners or other stakeholders to events or distributing free event tickets to staff.

    “These strategies not only enhance employee satisfaction and morale but also foster a more engaged and productive workforce,” she says.

    “We believe that universities and schools can also use events to support student wellbeing, which is particularly important given the high prevalence of mental health issues among young people.

    “Special events can provide students with valuable opportunities to interact with one another, relieve stress and achieve personal growth. This is also the case for local councils who can host free events to help their residents to connect with their neighbours and foster a stronger sense of community, support and wellbeing.”

    “What we found is that events do much more than just drive tourism and boost the economy; they also play a critical role in enhancing wellbeing. This gives us another strong reason to support events, not just for visitors, but for the benefits of locals as well.’

    View the research paper: Son, Sunny, Eliza Kitchen and Julia Jones, ‘The Value of Events for Personal Well-Being: A PERMA Perspective’ [2025] International Journal of Tourism Research.

    Contact for interview: Associate Professor Sunny Son, Program Director: Sport & Rec Management, Tourism & Event Management, Art & Cultural Management, UniSA E: Sunny.Son@unisa.edu.au
    Media contact: Melissa Keogh, Communications Officer, UniSA M: +61 403 659 154 E: melissa.keogh@unisa.edu.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: WTW to Announce Second Quarter Earnings on July 31, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company, will announce its financial results for the second quarter on Thursday, July 31, 2025, before the market opens.

    The company will host a conference call to discuss its financial results at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, July 31, 2025. A live, listen-only webcast of the conference call will be available on WTW’s website. Analysts and institutional investors may participate in the conference call’s question-and-answer session by registering in advance here.

    An online replay will be available at investors.wtwco.com shortly after the call concludes.

    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-OSI: WTW to Announce Second Quarter Earnings on July 31, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company, will announce its financial results for the second quarter on Thursday, July 31, 2025, before the market opens.

    The company will host a conference call to discuss its financial results at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, July 31, 2025. A live, listen-only webcast of the conference call will be available on WTW’s website. Analysts and institutional investors may participate in the conference call’s question-and-answer session by registering in advance here.

    An online replay will be available at investors.wtwco.com shortly after the call concludes.

    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-OSI: WTW to Announce Second Quarter Earnings on July 31, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company, will announce its financial results for the second quarter on Thursday, July 31, 2025, before the market opens.

    The company will host a conference call to discuss its financial results at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, July 31, 2025. A live, listen-only webcast of the conference call will be available on WTW’s website. Analysts and institutional investors may participate in the conference call’s question-and-answer session by registering in advance here.

    An online replay will be available at investors.wtwco.com shortly after the call concludes.

    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: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives shatters the church’s century-long effort to curate its own image

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

    Hulu

    Reality TV series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives follows a number of social media influencers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who rose to prominence through social media, and particularly TikTok.

    The show is based in Utah, United States, where the church has its headquarters. But it stands in stark contrast with the stereotypical perception of Mormons – and especially Mormon women – the church has promoted for more than a century.

    Through its exploration of traditionally “taboo” topics such as sex, marital issues, mental illness and sexual abuse, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives clashes against the church’s carefully curated public image.

    Historical pariahs

    Historically, the church’s practice of polygamy placed it at odds with the mainstream sexual and familial norms of 19th century America.

    Polygamy had been practised by Mormons since at least the 1830s, and was officially announced as permissible by the church in 1852. The church now acknowledges its founder, Joseph Smith, married almost 40 women and teenage girls before his death in 1844.

    When Mormon missionaries began to proselytise throughout the world, newspapers criticised the practice, and Mormons were framed as sexual deviants and racialised “pariahs”. In other words, Mormons were presented as being racially different to the rest of white American society. This claim was even supported by doctors at the time.

    1904 Time cartoon by C.J. Rudd, captioned: ‘Mormon Elder Berry – out with his six year olds, who take after their mothers.’
    KUER/Religion of a Different Color: Mormonism and the Struggle for Whiteness’ (2017) by W. Paul Reeve.

    To Mormons, however, polygamy was a reintroduction of the correct form of marriage, and they pointed to biblical prophets to justify it.

    In 1862, the US congress passed a series of laws aimed at abolishing polygamy. This resulted in the arrest of church leaders and the confiscation of church-owned funds and properties in Utah.

    Then, in the 1870s, exposés written by former Mormons (particularly women) decried polygamy as evil, increasing hostility against Mormon leaders.

    Ann Eliza Webb Young, ex-wife of Mormon prophet Brigham Young, wrote the exposé ‘Wife No. 19, Or The Story of Life in Bondage’.
    Internet Archive Open Library

    In 1890, church leader Wilford Woodruff announced in a revelation known as the Manifesto that polygamy would cease. The Manifesto was accepted by most Mormons as the government’s harassment increased. However, breakaway groups called “fundamentalists” continued the practice.

    Today, Mormon scriptures continue to state polygamy is the correct form of marriage, and will exist in the afterlife.

    The stereotypical Mormon

    Since the ending of polygamy, the church has sought to establish itself as a moral equal to mainstream Christian norms, especially sexual norms. In 1995, it released a document titled Family: A Proclamation to the World which emphasised the view that heterosexual marriage and strict gender roles are divinely ordained.

    The 1995 official Mormon document, ‘The Family: A Proclamation to the World’.
    BYU Scholar Arcive

    As the church has grown, it has presented its members as model citizens of the nations they reside in.

    In doing so, it has promoted unique doctrines and practices, such as sexual abstinence before marriage, and a particular health code called the Word of Wisdom which bars alcohol, tea, coffee and tobacco.

    These doctrines, and existing stereotypes of Mormons, are examined in The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.

    Colliding perceptions

    The 2024 release of the series caused waves in the Latter-day Saints community, with a number of Mormon-focused publications condemning it.

    Before the show was released, the church published a general statement saying media portrayals of Mormons “often rely on sensationalism and inaccuracies that do not fairly and fully reflect the lives of our Church members”. It has yet to directly comment on the show.

    Nonetheless, the representation of Mormons in The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is problematic for the church, because it transgresses its highly curated image of Mormonism.

    As the influencers put it, there is a desire to push back against stereotypes around Mormonism, and particularly Mormon women. These stereotypes have been crystallised by the church to combat perceptions of Mormons as sexually abhorrent, due to past practices of polygamy.

    The women in the show wear clothing that would not cover “temple garments”, the mandatory Latter-day Saint undergarments which seek to impose sexual modesty.

    There is also a tongue-in-cheek acknowledgement that while the church prohibits stimulants such as tea, coffee and alcohol, Mormons within Utah and surrounds still consume other, somewhat surprising, substances. For instance, the use of ketamine in therapy is allowed when administered by a healthcare professional.

    The series also engages with topics considered taboo in the church, such as marital issues, mental health struggles and consensual sex. Even if these are being played up by the cast or producers, such discussions are lacking in broader Mormon circles.

    Importantly, there are admissions by some cast members, including one of the husbands, of being sexually abused as children. According to the cast members themselves, these disclosures are intended to empower viewers who may have had similar experiences.

    This is a powerful critique, because the Mormon church has come under intense scrutiny for its failure to properly respond to child sexual assault, both in the US and globally.

    The next steps

    The show is having a marked impact on perceptions of Mormonism, despite the church’s stance it doesn’t represent the beliefs and lifestyle of Mormons more broadly.

    For many viewers, it might be their introduction to the religion. This is concerning for adherents, and particularly for the church’s leadership.

    The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives reunion special aired earlier this month.
    Hulu

    There are internal tools the church could use against the show’s cast members, such as disciplinary councils or excommunication. But these would be ineffective since only about half the members consider themselves “faithful” Mormons.

    It’s interesting the church has yet to condemn the show. Perhaps maintaining an image of reluctant acceptance is more important, as in recent years the church has been criticised for overreach against its own members.

    In this case, the show would be an uncomfortable reality the church will just have to live with. Either way, the damage to the stereotypical Mormon image is done.

    The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is available to stream on Disney+.

    Brenton Griffin was raised as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but is no longer a practising member of the church. His research is focused on the religion’s place in Australian and New Zealand popular culture, politics, and society from the 19th century to present.

    – ref. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives shatters the church’s century-long effort to curate its own image – https://theconversation.com/the-secret-lives-of-mormon-wives-shatters-the-churchs-century-long-effort-to-curate-its-own-image-260418

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Where do giant volcanic eruptions come from? New study finds missing link to ‘blobs’ deep within Earth

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicolas Flament, Associate Professor and ARC Future Fellow, Environmental Futures, School of Science, University of Wollongong

    Volcanic eruptions at Earth’s surface have significant consequences. Smaller ones can scare tourists on Mount Etna or disrupt air traffic.

    Giant, large-scale eruptions can have more serious impacts. One such event contributed to the demise of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. Giant volcanoes also triggered events that led to the largest mass dying on Earth, the Permian–Triassic extinction 252 million years ago).

    But what fuels a giant eruption, and how does it make its way to the surface from deep within the planet?

    In a new study published in Communications Earth and Environment, we show that columns of hot rock, which rise some 3,000 kilometres through Earth’s mantle and cause giant eruptions, are connected to continent-sized source regions we call BLOBS.

    Hidden blobs within Earth

    BLOBS are hot regions at the bottom of Earth’s mantle (between about 2,000km and 3,000km in depth) which might be composed of different material compared with the surrounding mantle rocks.

    Scientists have long known about these two hot regions under the Pacific Ocean and Africa. Geologist David Evans from Yale University suggested the acronym BLOBS, which stands for Big LOwer-mantle Basal Structures.

    These BLOBS have possibly existed for hundreds of millions of years. It is unclear whether they’re stationary or if they move around as part of mantle motion (called convection).



    Read more:
    Volcanoes, diamonds, and blobs: a billion-year history of Earth’s interior shows it’s more mobile than we thought

    Mantle plumes were the implicit link in previous studies relating BLOBS to giant volcanic eruptions. Their shape is a bit like a lollipop: the “stick” is the plume tail and the “candy” is the plume head.

    Connection between the deep mantle and Earth’s surface showing the relationship between BLOBS, mantle plumes and giant volcanic eruptions – not drawn to scale.

    Mantle plumes rise very slowly through the mantle because they transport hot solid rock, not melt or lava. At lower pressures in the uppermost 200km of Earth’s mantle, the solid rock melts, leading to eruptions.

    A long-sought relationship

    In our new study, we simulated mantle convection from 1 billion years ago and found that mantle plumes rise from moving BLOBS and can sometimes be gently tilted.

    Giant volcanic eruptions can be identified by the volume of volcanic rocks preserved at Earth’s surface. The ocean floor preserves detailed fingerprints of mantle plumes for the past 120 million years or so (there is not much seafloor older than that).

    Oceanic plateaus, such as the Ontong Java-Manihiki-Hikurangi plateau currently in the southwest Pacific Ocean, are linked to plume heads. In contrast, series of volcanoes such as the Hawaii-Emperor seamount chain and the Lord Howe seamount chain are linked to plume tails.

    We used statistics to show that the locations of past giant volcanic eruptions are significantly related to the mantle plumes predicted by our models. This is encouraging, as it suggests that the simulations predict mantle plumes in places and at times generally consistent with the geologic record.

    Model BLOBS, plume tails, and giant volcanic eruptions under the African hemisphere from 300 million years ago. BLOBS are coloured in dark red and plume tails are coloured by depth in yellow to orange tones, with warmer colours at greater depths. At the surface, the outlines of continental blocks are shown in transparent grey, and giant volcanic eruption locations are shown as green triangles.

    Are BLOBS fixed or mobile?

    We showed that the considered eruption locations fall either onto or close to the moving BLOBS predicted by our models. Eruption locations slightly outside moving BLOBS could be explained by plume tilting.

    We represented fixed BLOBS with 3D images of Earth’s interior, created using seismic waves from distant earthquakes (a technique called seismic tomography). One out of the four seismic tomographic models that we considered matched the locations of past giant volcanic eruptions, implying that the fixed BLOBS scenario cannot be ruled out for geologically recent times – the past 300 million years.

    One of the next steps for this research is to explore the chemical nature of BLOBS and plume conduits. We can do so with simulations that track the evolution of their composition.

    Our results suggest the deep Earth is dynamic. BLOBS, which are some 2,000km below Earth’s surface, move hundreds of kilometres over time, and are connected to Earth’s surface by mantle plumes that create giant eruptions.

    To take a step back and keep things in perspective: while deep Earth motions are significant over tens of millions of years, they are generally in the order of 1 centimetre per year. This means BLOBS shift at roughly the rate at which human hair grows.



    Read more:
    Where should we look for new metals that are critical for green energy technology? Volcanoes may point the way

    Nicolas Flament receives funding from the Australian Research Council, Anglo American and De Beers.

    Annalise Cucchiaro receives funding from the Australian Research Council, Anglo American and De Beers.

    – ref. Where do giant volcanic eruptions come from? New study finds missing link to ‘blobs’ deep within Earth – https://theconversation.com/where-do-giant-volcanic-eruptions-come-from-new-study-finds-missing-link-to-blobs-deep-within-earth-259804

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Earth’s ‘oldest’ impact crater is much younger than previously thought – new study

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

    Outcrops of shocked rocks from the Miralga impact structure. Aaron Cavosie

    Ever been late because you misread a clock? Sometimes, the “clocks” geologists use to date events can also be misread. Unravelling Earth’s 4.5-billion-year history with rocks is tricky business.

    Case in point: the discovery of an ancient meteorite impact crater was recently reported in the remote Pilbara region of Western Australia. The original study, by a different group, made headlines with the claim the crater formed 3.5 billion years ago. If true, it would be Earth’s oldest by far.

    As it turns out, we’d also been investigating the same site. Our results are published in Science Advances today. While we agree that this is the site of an ancient meteorite impact, we have reached different conclusions about its age, size and significance.

    Let’s consider the claims made about this fascinating crater.

    One impact crater, two versions of events

    Planetary scientists search for ancient impacts to learn about Earth’s early formation. So far, nobody has found an impact crater older than the 2.23-billion-year-old Yarrabubba structure, also in Australia. (Some of the authors from both 2025 Pilbara studies were coauthors on the 2020 Yarrabubba study.)

    The new contender is located in an area called North Pole Dome. Despite the name, this isn’t where Santa lives. It’s an arid, hot, ochre-stained landscape.

    The sun sets on the arid landscape of North Pole Dome in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
    Alec Brenner

    The first report on the new crater claimed it formed 3.5 billion years ago, and was more than 100 kilometres in diameter. It was proposed that such a large impact might have played a role in forming continental crust in the Pilbara. More speculatively, the researchers also suggested it may have influenced early life.

    Our study concludes the impact actually happened much later, sometime after 2.7 billion years ago. This is at least 800 million years younger than the earlier estimate (and we think it’s probably even younger; more on that in a moment).

    We also determined the crater was much smaller – about 16km in diameter. In our view, this impact was too young and too small to have influenced continent formation or early life.

    So how could two studies arrive at such different findings?

    Subtle clues of an impact

    The originally circular crater is deeply eroded, leaving only subtle clues on the landscape. However, among the rust-coloured basalts are unique telltale signs of meteorite impact: shatter cones.

    Outcrop photo of shatter cones in basalt at the Miralga impact structure. The black pen cap is 5cm long.
    Alec Brenner

    Shatter cones are distinctive fossilised imprints of shock waves that have passed through rocks. Their unique conical shapes form under brief but immense pressure where a meteorite strikes Earth.

    Both studies found shatter cones, and agree the site is an ancient impact.

    This new crater also needed a name. We consulted the local Aboriginal people, the Nyamal, who shared the traditional name for this place and its people: Miralga. The “Miralga impact structure” name recognises this heritage.

    Determining the timing of the impact

    The impact age was estimated by field observations, as neither study found material likely to yield an impact age by radiometric dating – a method that uses measurements of radioactive isotopes.

    Both studies applied a geological principle called the law of superposition. This states that rock layers get deposited one on top of another over time, so rocks on top are younger than those below.

    Example of the law of superposition, known as Hutton’s unconformity, at Siccar Point Scotland. The gently dipping layered rocks at the top left were deposited onto – and are therefore younger than – the nearly vertical layered rocks at the bottom right.
    Anne Burgess/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

    The first group found shatter cones within and below a sedimentary layer known to have been deposited 3.47 billion years ago, but no shatter cones in younger rocks above this layer. This meant the impact occurred during deposition of the sedimentary layer.

    Their observation seemed to be a “smoking gun” for an impact 3.47 billion years ago.

    As it turns out, there was more to the story.

    Our investigation found shatter cones in the same 3.47 billion-year-old rocks, but also in younger overlying rocks, including lavas known to have erupted 2.77 billion years ago.

    Outcrop of shatter cones in 2.77-billion-year-old basalt at the Miralga impact structure. These lavas are the youngest rocks in the area we found to have shatter cones. They have distinctive holes (vesicles) representing trapped gas bubbles. The pen is 15cm long.
    Aaron Cavosie

    The impact had to occur after the formation of the youngest rocks that contained shatter cones, meaning sometime after the 2.77-billion-year-old lavas.

    At the moment, we don’t know precisely how young the crater is. We can only constrain the impact to have occurred between 2.7 billion and 400 million years ago. We’re working on dating the impact by isotopic methods, but these results aren’t yet in.

    Smaller than originally thought

    We made the first map showing where shatter cones are found. There are many hundreds over an area 6km across. From this map and their orientations, we calculate the original crater was about 16km in diameter.

    A 16km crater is a far cry from the original estimate of more than 100km. It’s too small to have influenced the formation of continents or life. By the time of the impact, the Pilbara was already quite old.

    Artist’s depiction looking northwest across the Pilbara, over the 16km-wide Miralga crater. The crater is shown 3km above the modern land surface to account for the deep erosion that has since erased it. The crater size is based on the distribution of shatter cones (inset). The cones point up and back towards the original ‘ground zero’ of the impact. Maps produced using Google Earth Studio.
    Alec Brenner

    A new connection to Mars

    Science is a self-policing sport. Claims of discovery are based on data available at the time, but they often require modification based on new data or observations.

    While it’s not the world’s oldest, the Miralga impact is scientifically unique, as craters formed in basalt are rare. Most basalts there formed 3.47 billion years ago, making them the oldest shocked target rocks known.

    Prior to impact, these ancient basalts had been chemically altered by seawater. Sedimentary rocks nearby also contain the earliest well-established fossils on Earth. Such rocks likely covered much of early Earth and Mars.

    This makes the Miralga impact structure a playground for planetary scientists studying the cratered surface (and maybe early life) of Mars. It’s an easily accessible proving ground for Mars exploration instruments and imagery, right here on Earth.

    Aaron J. Cavosie receives or has received funding from the Australian Research Council, the US National Science Foundation, and NASA.

    Alec Brenner 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. Earth’s ‘oldest’ impact crater is much younger than previously thought – new study – https://theconversation.com/earths-oldest-impact-crater-is-much-younger-than-previously-thought-new-study-259803

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Thirsty future: Australia’s green hydrogen targets could require vastly more water than the government hopes

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Madoc Sheehan, Adjunct Associate Professor in Chemical Engineering, James Cook University

    totajla/Shutterstock

    Green hydrogen is touted by some as the future – a way for Australia to slowly replace its reliance on fossil fuel exports. The energy-dense gas has the potential to reduce emissions in sectors challenging to decarbonise, such as steelmaking and fertiliser manufacturing.

    The Albanese government wants it to be a massive new export industry and has laid out a pathway through its National Hydrogen Strategy.

    Unfortunately, there’s a real gap between rhetoric and reality. Despite ambitious plans, no green hydrogen project has yet succeeded in Australia. The technology’s most prominent local backer, billionaire miner Twiggy Forrest, has dialled down his ambition. Globally, just 7% of announced green hydrogen projects are up and running.

    Economic viability is one problem. But there’s a much larger issue flying under the radar: water. Hitting the 2050 target of 15 million to 30 million tonnes of hydrogen a year would use 7–15% of the amount Australia’s households, farms, mines and black coal power plants use annually. That’s simply not sustainable.

    Splitting water

    Green hydrogen uses renewable energy to power electrolyser machines, which split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.

    On the surface, this is an appealing use of clean energy, especially during solar peak periods.

    But what the government hasn’t properly accounted for is the water cost for green hydrogen. The strategy states water use is likely to be “considerable but not prohibitive”.

    This is questionable. For every kilogram of hydrogen produced through electrolysis, nine litres of water are directly consumed.

    That’s not all. The water needed to make hydrogen has to be extremely pure. Salt water has to be desalinated, and even fresh water needs purification. Equipment also needs cooling, which consumes even more water.

    All these processes incur substantial indirect water losses, such as the water used for industrial processes and cooling. The volumes used are highly uncertain. They can be up to 20 times greater than the direct water use.

    A key input value for the government’s hydrogen strategy modelling is taken from a 2015 report by the Argonne National Energy Laboratory in the United States, which assumes each kilogram of green hydrogen produced requires just over 30 litres of water.

    The Australian hydrogen strategy suggests 30 litres per kilogram of hydrogen would cover “all system losses including purification processes and cooling water required”. But it’s not clear if this figure covers other uses of water in making hydrogen, such as water treatment.

    Green hydrogen could help industrial sectors transition from fossil fuels. The problem is the water use.
    Audio und werbung/Shutterstock

    How much water would this use?

    According to the government’s modelling, making 15 million tonnes would require 740 billion litres of water. That would be about 7% of the 10,450 billion litres used by all of Australia’s households, farms, mines and black coal power plants.

    The government’s National Hydrogen Strategy shows the water use by major industries. Their total water use is 10,450 gigalitres annually.
    Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

    That’s substantial. One and a half Sydney Harbours worth, every year. But it might be a major underestimate. After all, estimates on indirect water use differ widely. The government’s figures are at the very bottom of the range.

    For instance, the latest research gives water consumption figures of about 66 litres per kilogram – more than twice as large. Other sources give values between 90 and 300 litres per kilogram of hydrogen – three to ten times higher.

    Uncertainty in modelling is normal. But the wide research suggesting much higher water use should give rise to real concern.

    If we take a middle-of-the-range figure of 95 litres per kilogram, this would mean that making 15 million tonnes of green hydrogen would use up 22% of the 10,450 billion litres used by households, farms, mines and black coal power plants annually by 2050.

    If hydrogen was even thirstier at 310 litres per kilogram, that would translate to 72% of that figure.

    These estimates are enormous. Even under the most optimistic scenario, the draw on Australia’s scarce freshwater resources would simply be too much. Where would this water come from? Farmers? Groundwater? Environmental flows from rivers?

    As the Queensland Farmers Federation pointed out in its response to the hydrogen strategy, the figures on water use “beg the question if they are in fact sustainable”.

    The Water Services Association of Australia has called for much greater attention to the water demands of green hydrogen, which it says are “often seriously underestimated”.

    What about saltwater? Australia has no shortage of oceans. The problem here becomes energy and wastewater. Desalination is still very energy intensive. Converting saltwater to fresh also produces large volumes of super-salty brine, which must then be managed as waste.

    Which way forward?

    Does this mean green hydrogen is a non-starter? Not necessarily. Improved electrolyser technology might offer ways to slash water use, while circular economy approaches such as resource recovery from brine could also reduce losses.

    But these concerns about water must be front and centre in future discussions about the shape and size of the industry in Australia.

    Madoc Sheehan 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. Thirsty future: Australia’s green hydrogen targets could require vastly more water than the government hopes – https://theconversation.com/thirsty-future-australias-green-hydrogen-targets-could-require-vastly-more-water-than-the-government-hopes-252044

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: We interviewed 205 Australians convicted of murder and manslaughter. Alcohol’s role was alarming

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Li Eriksson, Senior Lecturer, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University

    We’ve long known there’s a link between alcohol and violence, but when it comes to homicide the stories behind the statistics are harder to grasp.

    Our study sheds rare light on what actually happens when drinking precedes killing, because it draws not just on police or court records but on the first-hand accounts of convicted offenders.

    We interviewed 205 Australian men and women across Australia aged between 15 and 65 at the time of homicide and 20 to 71 when interviewed.

    Nearly half (43%) said they’d been drinking immediately before committing the act. While levels of intoxication varied, many described being heavily under the influence at the time.

    One man, when asked about his alcohol consumption, stated he had drunk “shitloads” before the incident occurred, adding he intended to “write (himself) off” that night.

    The study offers a disturbing but important window into the realities of alcohol-involved homicide.

    What do we know about alcohol and homicide?

    Most of our knowledge about homicide and alcohol comes from police reports, forensic toxicology and court proceedings. These are useful but limited. They often lack detail about how much was consumed, when and in what context.

    Self-report data – what offenders themselves say about their state of mind and substance use – add depth to this picture.

    While not without its flaws (memory and honesty being obvious concerns), such data helps us understand the psychological and situational dynamics of homicide better than numbers alone.

    What the study found

    Of the 205 homicide offenders interviewed, those who had been drinking prior to the offence shared some distinct characteristics.

    Alcohol-involved homicides were more likely to occur at night, happen in public places such as pubs or parks, involve older offenders, and be committed with knives.

    Interestingly, these cases weren’t necessarily the result of long-planned acts.

    Rather, they had many markers of impulsivity – spontaneous, emotionally charged and often reactive violence.

    Alcohol’s impact here could have played a role, as our study found drinkers and non-drinkers had similar self-control levels.

    Self-control is the ability to manage impulses, emotions and actions in pursuit of long-term goals and is typically seen as a buffer against offending.

    This suggests alcohol may overpower people’s behaviour even if they boast moderate impulse control.

    Why chronic alcohol problems matter

    The strongest predictor of alcohol-involved homicide wasn’t age, gender, or criminal history. It was whether the offender had ongoing problems with alcohol misuse.

    This points to the deeply entrenched nature of alcohol dependence and its capacity to fuel extreme violence. It also has clear implications for prevention.

    Tackling long-term alcohol abuse isn’t just a health issue – it’s a public safety issue.

    The data suggest that had some of these people received support or intervention earlier, lives may have been saved.

    More than a disinhibitor?

    We often think of alcohol as a “disinhibitor” – something that lowers self-control and makes people do things they wouldn’t otherwise do.

    That’s true to an extent but this study highlights the story is more complex.

    Many of these homicides didn’t happen because someone simply “lost control”, they happened in a context shaped by years of alcohol misuse, patterns of violence and social disadvantage.

    In some cases, alcohol didn’t cause the violence, it gave it an opportunity.

    What can we do?

    Understanding the characteristics of alcohol-involved homicide can help shape more effective crime prevention strategies.

    Some takeaways include:

    • Early intervention: addressing problem drinking before it escalates into chronic misuse is critical. This includes better screening, treatment programs and community-based support services.

    • Night-time and public place policing: since these homicides are more likely to happen in public at night, there may be a role for targeted interventions in high-risk locations—especially around bars, clubs and events where alcohol flows freely.

    • Knife crime prevention: the strong association with knife use suggests we also need to examine how accessible knives are in public settings and educate people about the risks of carrying them.

    Looking to the future

    This research doesn’t offer easy solutions but it does reinforce a vital truth: preventing homicide isn’t just about catching violent people, it’s about understanding the conditions that make violence more likely.

    By listening to those who’ve committed the ultimate crime, we might just learn how to help better prevent it from happening in the first place.

    Anna Hartley, science communicator at Griffith University, contributed to this article.

    Li Eriksson has received research funding from the Australian Institute of Criminology, Queensland Corrective Services, and Queensland Police Service.

    Paul Mazerolle received funding from the Australian Research Council to support research which informed this article..

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

    – ref. We interviewed 205 Australians convicted of murder and manslaughter. Alcohol’s role was alarming – https://theconversation.com/we-interviewed-205-australians-convicted-of-murder-and-manslaughter-alcohols-role-was-alarming-259794

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Celebrating sporting excellence in the Territory

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Sporting icon Robert de Castella presents cyclist Jay Vine with the 2024 Athlete of the Year – Men’s Sport Award

    In brief:

    • Winners of the CBR Sport Awards 2024 have been announced.
    • Awards are given to the ACT’s top athletes, teams and special contributors.
    • This article lists the winners and Hall of Fame inductees.

    Canberra’s top athletes, sporting teams and special contributors have been acknowledged at the 2024 CBR Sport Awards.

    The city’s sporting community came together to celebrate their outstanding achievements, both in the past year and over time.

    CBR Sport Awards 2024 winners

    Athlete of the Year – Men’s Sport
    Jay Vine – Cycling

    Athlete of the Year – Women’s Sport
    Jade Melbourne – Basketball

    Athlete of the Year – Para Sport
    James Turner – Athletics

    Team of the Year 
    Canberra Brave – Ice Hockey

    Rising Star 
    Cameron Myers – Athletics

    The Minister for Sport and Recreation’s Awards, which form part of the CBR Sport Awards were also awarded.

    These seek to recognise some of the great activities happening in ACT sporting clubs and organisations.

    Ministers Award for Event Excellence
    Softball ACT – 2024 Gilley’s Shield

    Ministers Award for Innovation
    Bowls ACT – Graded Reserve Open Gender Championships

    Hall of Fame inductees

    Four new inductees were welcomed into the ACT Sport Hall of Fame this year.

    The ACT Sport Hall of Fame is located at the Sporting Commons at the University of Canberra.

    It began in 1995 and recognises both athletes (Full Member) and non-athletes – including coaches, officials, sport scientists, journalists and administrators (Associate Member) from the region.

    This year the ACT Sport Hall of Fame welcomed:

    • Katrina Fanning – Full Member – Rugby League
    • Brad Haddin – Full Member – Cricket
    • Carrie Graf – Associate Member – Basketball
    • Ron Harvey – Associate Member – Basketball

    Sport in Canberra

    Sport unites the Canberra community, building pride in the city and breaking down barriers of culture, class and gender.

    The ACT has a proud sporting culture, boasting the highest sporting participation rates in the country.

    For more information about this year’s Awards visit the CBR Sports Awards website.

    Athlete of the Year – Women’s Sport winner Jade Melbourne (basketball)

    Ron Harvey, one of the four ACT Sport Hall of Fame inductees.

    Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:


    MIL OSI News –