NewzIntel.com

Category: Australia

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Meeting with Chinese counterparts in Beijing

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    Over the next two days, I will meet with key Chinese counterparts in Beijing.

    This is another important step towards stabilising our economic relationship with China.

    It will be the first visit by an Australian Treasurer to China in seven years.

    These meetings are part of the Albanese Labor Government’s methodical and coordinated efforts to re‑establish dialogue with China, Australia’s largest trading partner.

    The main purpose is to co‑chair the 2024 Australia‑China Strategic Economic Dialogue with Zheng Shanjie, Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, on Thursday 26 September.

    Our relationship with China is full of complexity and opportunity.

    We recognise a more stable economic relationship between Australia and China is a good thing for Australian workers, businesses, investors and our country more broadly.

    That’s why in the last week I have consulted directly with the chairs, CEOs and senior executives of major China‑facing Australian employers, including Rio Tinto, Wesfarmers, BHP, Woodside, Fortescue, Macquarie, BlueScope, HSBC, King & Wood Mallesons, the Port of Newcastle, Sydney Airport, Cochlear, the University of New South Wales, GrainCorp and the Business Council of Australia.

    Dialogue and engagement gives us the best chance to properly manage and maximise these important links.

    Our approach to China has been to cooperate where we can, disagree where we must, and engage in Australia’s national interest.

    The Strategic Economic Dialogue has not been convened since 2017 but our Government has agreed with Chinese counterparts to restart it.

    I’ll also be meeting with other counterparts from the Chinese Government during my two days of engagements.

    My meetings in China build on Prime Minister Albanese’s engagements in November 2023 and Premier Li Qiang’s meetings in Australia in June 2024.

    We recognise that there’s a lot at stake and a lot to gain from the relationship with China.

    We’ve got an opportunity to make sure both countries benefit from the continued complementarity of our economies, while protecting Australia’s interests.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Federation opens Warulung ‘Place of Being’ to connect to Gunaikurnai country

    Source: Federation University

    A new outdoor space at Federation University Australia’s Gippsland Campus will provide a safe and welcoming environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, students, and community members to connect to country and celebrate culture.

    ‘Warulung’, meaning ‘Our place’ in the Gunaikurnai language, was officially launched this week as part of the Place of Being project by the Aboriginal Education Centre at Federation and the University’s Property and Infrastructure team, in partnership with an advisory committee made up of Traditional Owners and community leaders.

    It will support spiritual and cultural practices, dances, smoking ceremonies, and events throughout the year, enabling students, staff, and the wider community to learn, reflect and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ connection to country. 

    The site features a semi-circle of five steel shields, signifying the five clans of the Gunaikurnai: Brataualung, Brayakaulung, Brabralung, Tatungalung and Krauatungalung.

    Warulung’s spherical fire pit was designed by Gunaikurnai artist Ronald Ewards-Pepper and complements the site’s original stone fire pit designed by Gunaikurnai elder, Uncle Wayne Thorpe.

    The shields and garden were installed by the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, with design input from Gunaikurnai and Indigenous artists.

    ‘Places of Being’ have also been established at Federation campuses in the Wimmera and Ballarat, with another to be launched in 2025 in Berwick.
     

    Quotes attributable to Federation University Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Duncan Bentley   

    “The Place of Being projects provide a safe space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, students and the wider community to connect to country.”  

    “We hope this amazing space at the Gippsland campus can be a central place for community to come together to celebrate the rich culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”  

     Quotes attributable to Federation University Aboriginal Education Centre Senior Manager, Katrina Beer

    “We have students and staff who come from many different Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities who need a culturally safe place to connect spiritually.”

    “We hope Warulung can create that sense of belonging, like a home away from home.”

     Quotes attributable to Warulung advisory committee member, Aunty Christine Johnson

    “Country is everything. It’s family, it is life, the connection of belonging, a space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, communities and families, whereby we listen to yarn, share stories, reflect and celebrate with the wider community.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Igniting new skills in fire investigation

    Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

    Cara Disint from Mooroopna Fire Brigade

    Cara Disint’s commitment to her local community is undeniable. A firefighter for 23 years, first with Stanhope Fire Brigade and now with Mooroopna, she is also Mooroopna Fire Brigade’s 2nd Lieutenant and Training Coordinator.

    Not one to rest on her laurels, this year she has also embarked on the Fire Investigation training pathway.

    CFA has a legislative responsibility to investigate the cause and origin of all fires that occur within the country area of Victoria, therefore Fire Investigation is one of the critical components of CFA’s responsibilities.

    In the last financial year alone, CFA investigated close to 500 fires, so the need to have investigators available to attend a scene is vital.

    “[Fire investigation] is an extension of what we do on the big red truck. Now, knowing more about it, fire investigation leads into community safety messaging, product safety recalls; It’s not all just criminal charges and things like that. It improves our training and our fire suppression activities as well.” Cara explained.

    Cara is currently half-way through the process, having completed the structural component of the training, which includes studying simulated burns at the purpose-built facility at VEMTC Huntly.

    From there, Cara is now paired up with a mentor for more hands-on training.

    “Everyone’s buddied up with a mentor, and we’re to head out now and do five scenes with a mentor and start writing reports. The instructors and the mentors are phenomenal people. They’re all subject matter experts and fire investigators themselves. Coupled with our District Fire Investigation Coordinators, there’s really extensive back-up there,” Cara said.

    Speaking at the August Volunteer Forum from Beaconsfield, Fire Investigator Brian Neal outlined the time commitment required to become a qualified Fire Investigator.

    “To get the training courses done is probably about six to eight months, and then from there it probably takes another 12 months to get your five scenes done and become competent,” Brian said.

    Cara acknowledged the time and commitment from others to ensure that trainee Fire Investigators are given all they need to succeed in the role. She has this advice for those thinking about undertaking the training:

    “You need to be committed. Do your research and know what’s involved before you sign up for the process because it is a lot of time and effort from others to bring you along for the journey.”

    Once qualified, Fire Investigators have multiple opportunities for ongoing training and professional development.

    For Cara, Fire Investigation training is a way to broaden her knowledge and ensure she’s contributing to CFA for many years to come.

    “I hope to be on the truck for a few years yet, but it’s a great way to stay involved and upskill. Technology is changing so quickly, so I just want to make sure I keep learning.”

    For more information about the Fire Investigation training pathway, enquire here.

    Submitted by Alison Smirnoff

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Arts – Inaugural NZSA Shaw Writer’s Award goes to Steph Matuku!

    Source: The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc)

    The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc) congratulates Steph Matuku on winning the inaugural NZSA Shaw Writer’s Award 2024.

    Steph Matuku, who has written several books for young people, will use the award to help complete the writing of The Blue Dawn, a novel set in early 19th century New Zealand, when the whaling industry was at its peak. Māori mythology and tradition collide with capitalism and brutal progress, as a grieving fugitive hunts the giant octopus that will lead her to her ancestors’ homeland.

    The judging panel of Dr Paula Morris and Catherine Roberston said, “This is Steph Matuku’s first adult novel, and we thought the concept shows great promise. Steph is a hard-working writer and will make good use of this grant.”

    Tina Shaw said, “I’ve just read and enjoyed Steph’s YA novel Migration, and was really impressed. She is obviously a very talented and dedicated writer. I’m pleased to see that Steph is now moving towards an adult readership with a novel that sounds exciting and imaginative and draws on a strong mythical element from te ao Māori.”

    Of this year’s applicants, the judges said, “The number of applications shows how much need there is for an award like this. Authors often struggle at the mid-career point, and if they cannot find the right acknowledgment and support, may decide to give up. In creating the shortlist, we favoured applicants who were obviously committed to their writing career and really needed that boost to get over the midway hump. Our thanks to Tina for providing this opportunity for New Zealand writers, and congratulations to the first recipient.”

    The $5,000 award was established by award-winning novelist Tina Shaw to encourage the development of new novels by mid-career fiction writers.

    Tina Shaw is a novelist, short story writer and editor who has received many awards for her work, including the CNZ Berlin Writers Residency, the University of Waikato Writer-In-Residence and the Buddle Findlay Sargeson Fellowship. She won the 2018 Storylines Tessa Duder Award with Ursa which was published in 2019 by Walker Books Australia and received a Storylines Notable Book Award. As editor, her 7th edition of the Bateman NZ Writer’s Handbook was published in 2023. Her novel manuscript A House Built on Sand won the 2023 Michael Gifkins Prize and was published in 2024 by Text Publishing.

    Shaw works as a book reviewer, mentor, manuscript assessor, publisher, and is editor of the NZSA quarterly publication NZ Author.

    Find out more about the NZSA Shaw Writer’s Award: https://authors.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=905a5275ec5c023659502ec21&id=3369825759&e=466373ae7c

    The NZSA would like to thank the 2024 Judging Panel – Dr Paula Morris and Catherine Robertson and Tina Shaw for generously establishing this award.  

    Notes:
    The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa PEN NZ Inc is the principal organisation representing writers in Aotearoa. Founded in 1934, it advocates for the right to fair reward and creative rights, administers prizes and awards, works across the literary sector to make Aotearoa New Zealand writers and books more visible, and runs professional development programmes for writers. authors.org.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Stockland and Supalai’s acquisition of Lendlease MPC projects not opposed, subject to divestiture

    Source: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

    The ACCC will not oppose Stockland and Supalai’s proposed acquisition of 12 Lendlease (ASX: LLC) residential masterplanned community projects after accepting a court-enforceable undertaking.

    The undertaking requires Stockland to divest the Forest Reach masterplanned community project in the Illawarra region of New South Wales.

    Lendlease, Stockland, and Supalai are developers of masterplanned community (MPC) projects. Lendlease has 16 masterplanned community projects in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia, 12 of which Stockland and Supalai are proposing to acquire.

    “Without the divestment, the proposed acquisition would bring together the two largest masterplanned community projects in the already concentrated Illawarra market,” ACCC Commissioner Dr Philip Williams said.

    “This could have resulted in increased prices, delayed supply, or reduced quality of housing lots in the Illawarra region, to the detriment of prospective homeowners.”

    The ACCC’s investigation found that there were few alternative masterplanned community projects to constrain Stockland in the Illawarra and that prospective entrants faced challenges, including delays in the availability of essential infrastructure such as sewer and water services.

    To address the ACCC’s concerns, Stockland offered an undertaking to the ACCC to divest its Forest Reach masterplanned community project near Dapto in the Illawarra.

    “The ACCC considers that the divestiture undertaking given by Stockland addresses the competition issues that would arise from Stockland owning both Forest Reach and having an interest in Lendlease’s nearby Calderwood Valley project as a result of the proposed acquisition,” Dr Williams said.

    The ACCC is also satisfied that the proposed acquisition is unlikely to cause serious competition concerns in other areas.

    Accordingly, with the undertaking, the ACCC considers the proposed acquisition is not likely to have the effect of substantially lessening competition in any market. This includes markets for the supply of residential masterplanned community housing in North West Perth, Ipswich, and Moreton Bay, where the ACCC considers there are sufficient alternative developments available to constrain Stockland and/or the joint venture.

    Further information, including the undertaking accepted by the ACCC, can be found on the ACCC’s public register: Stockland Supalai Residential Communities Partnership Pty Ltd – Lendlease Group.

    Notes to editors

    Masterplanned community projects are residential property developments on greenfield land which are typically delivered in phases over multiple years. They are characterised by access to amenities with a focus on ‘community living’, such as open spaces, recreational facilities, education and community hubs, as well as commercial or retail centres.

    “Greenfield” is a term that refers undeveloped land.

    Background

    Stockland Supalai Residential Communities Partnership Pty Ltd (SSRCP) (a wholly-owned subsidiary of a special purpose acquisition vehicle owned by Stockland Communities Partnership HoldCo Pty Ltd (Stockland) and Supalai Australia Holdings Pty Limited (Supalai)) proposes to acquire 12 masterplanned communities from Lendlease Group (Lendlease).

    The masterplanned communities are located in greenfield growth areas across Greater Sydney, South East Queensland, Greater Melbourne and Greater Perth.

    The ACCC Statement of Issues, published on 4 July 2024, raised preliminary concerns with the proposed acquisition in relation to the supply of residential masterplanned community housing in four regions – the Illawarra, North West Perth, Ipswich and Moreton Bay.

    In the Illawarra region, SSRCP proposes to acquire Lendlease’s Calderwood Valley project.

    Stockland is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Stockland Corporation Limited (Stockland Group) (ASX: SGP), an ASX-listed diversified Australian property group that owns, funds, develops and manages portfolios of investment properties. Stockland Group has interests in 30 masterplanned communities developments across NSW, ACT, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia.

    Supalai is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Supalai Public Company Limited, which is listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Supalai Public Company Limited principally operates as a property developer. Supalai has investments in various masterplanned communities in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia through joint ventures with other developers, including Mirvac, Stockland, Satterley, Peet and ICD Property.

    Lendlease is an ASX-listed global real estate business.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Tsunami test warning on BOM Weather app – no tsunami threat to Australia

    Source: Weather Warnings – Australia

    25/09/2024

    UPDATED: 4.30PM 25 September 2024

    There is NO tsunami threat to Australia.

    The Bureau of Meteorology today (Wednesday 25 September 2024) issued test posts on the BOM Weather app between 11AM-12PM AEST.

    The test warnings were issued to the public in error as part of tests to tsunami early warning system software.

    The Bureau acknowledges and apologises for any confusion that this test has caused.

    The test warnings were sent to the BOM Weather app for various locations. The test warnings were cancelled immediately after they were issued.

    Testing ensures the Bureau and partners are prepared for real tsunami threats.

    The Bureau is part of the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre (JATWC) and this is operated 24 hours a day to detect, monitor, verify and warn of any tsunami threats to the coastline of Australia and its offshore territories.

    The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre is the national authority and provides the most accurate tsunami warning information for Australia.

    The Bureau will continue to issue forecasts and warnings via the website and BOM Weather app.

    [ENDS]

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA Roundup: September 24, 2024

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    For Immediate Release:

    Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is providing an at-a-glance summary of news from around the agency: 

    • Today, the FDA held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to highlight the completion of the 64,000 square foot expansion and renovation of the National Forensic Chemistry Center (NFCC)  located in Cincinnati, Ohio.  The goal of this revitalization effort was to improve FDA’s mission readiness nationally and help attract and retain highly qualified employees. The NFCC is a specialty laboratory that serves as the FDA’s national forensic laboratory providing specialized laboratory services in analytical chemistry and molecular/ microbiology related to adulteration/contamination, counterfeiting, and product tampering of FDA regulated commodities including drugs, dietary supplements, foods, cosmetics, veterinary feeds, and medical devices.
    • On Monday, the FDA issued a safety advisory cautioning pet owners that samples of two Answers Pet Food products made by Lystn LLC tested positive for Salmonella, a third product tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono), and a fourth product tested positive for Salmonella and L. mono. The FDA collected and tested unopened retail samples of products after receiving three consumer complaints of illness in dogs that ate the products. The affected products are sold frozen in 4-pound (half-gallon) cartons and consist of certain batches of Answers Pet Food Raw Beef Detailed Formula for Dogs, Answers Pet Food Raw Beef Straight Formula for Dogs, and Answers Pet Food Straight Chicken Formula for Dogs. Information to help consumers identify affected batches of product can be found in the Product Information section of the advisory. These products should not be fed to pets.
    • On Friday, the FDA approved isatuximab-irfc (Sarclisa) with bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone for adults with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are not eligible for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT).  The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) were upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, fatigue, peripheral sensory neuropathy, pneumonia, musculoskeletal pain, cataract, constipation, peripheral edema, rash, infusion-related reaction, insomnia, and COVID-19 infection. Full prescribing information for Sarclisa will be posted on Drugs@FDA.
    • On Friday, the FDA issued a safety advisory cautioning pet owners that FDA samples of five Darwin’s Natural Pet Products raw cat and dog food made by Arrow Reliance, Inc. tested positive for Salmonella and a sixth FDA sample tested positive for Salmonella and L. mono. Affected products are sold in frozen 2-pound packages and consist of certain lots of Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Cats and Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Dogs. These product lots should not be fed to pets. For specific product information and to learn about potential signs of illness, see the FDA Advisory.

    Related Information

    Related Information

    ###

    Boilerplate

    The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products.

    Inquiries

    Consumer:
    888-INFO-FDA

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: World Maritime Day 2024

    Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

    Australia is proud to join with the International Maritime Organization today in celebrating World Maritime Day 2024.

    This year’s theme, ‘Navigating the Future: Safety First!’, highlights the vital role of new technology and innovation in enhancing safety, security and environmental protection in the global maritime sector.

    With 99% of our international trade transported by sea, Australia is one of the countries most reliant on shipping.

    This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1974 Safety of Life at Sea Convention. 

    The anniversary of this important set of safety standards highlights that our collective end goal is always safety.

    I am delighted to share that Australia has selected this significant day to announce its candidacy for re-election to Category B of the IMO Council for the 2026-27 biennium.

    Australia remains committed to working at the International Maritime Organization to develop and implement the highest safety standards, support a competitive and efficient global shipping industry and minimize the environmental impact of shipping on our precious marine ecosystems.

    In celebration of World Maritime Day, the IMO invites nations to illuminate prominent landmarks in blue. This evening, Australia House in London and lighthouses along our coastline will be lit in blue to mark the occasion.

    Learn more about Australia’s role on the Category b council.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Albanese Government continues to hold supermarkets to account

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    The second Albanese Government initiated CHOICE quarterly report into supermarket prices has been released today, giving consumers facts about where to get cheaper prices.

    Funded for three years by the Albanese Labor Government, the CHOICE report gives Australians accurate data on how to get the cheapest groceries.

    To compile the report CHOICE visited 104 stores across Australia including Aldi, Coles, Woolworths and IGA.

    The report has found that Aldi once again had the cheapest basket of goods, with the price of CHOICE’s basket falling from the previous quarter.

    The Albanese Government is taking a range of actions to make sure Australians are paying a fair price at the checkout and Australian suppliers are getting a fair price for their goods.

    This follows the ACCC announcing legal action against Coles and Woolworths for misleading consumers through discount pricing claims on hundreds of common supermarket products.

    This week the Albanese Government also released the Draft mandatory Food and Grocery Code for Consultation which will mean supermarkets could face significant penalties if found to be breaching the Code.

    Other actions the Government is taking includes:

    • Commissioning the ACCC to investigate competition in the supermarket sector to get better prices for shoppers
    • Making the Food and Grocery Code mandatory. We released the exposure draft for consultation this week. We will introduce legislation this year. This will see big supermarkets subject to multi‑million‑dollar penalties for serious breaches
    • Funding CHOICE reports for another three years, with the next due in December 2024, in time for Christmas
    • Progressing the most significant merger reforms in Australia in almost 50 years
    • Working with the states and territories to revitalise National Competition Policy

    Background

    The average basket price for Aldi, Woolworths, Coles and IGA nation‑wide was:

    • Aldi: $50.79 (with and without specials)
    • Woolworths: $68.70 (without specials), $68.37 (with specials)
    • Coles: $69.91 (without specials), $66.22 (with specials)
    • IGA: $78.95 (with specials)

    Quotes attributable to Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese MP:

    “We know Australians are under pressure and we’re working every day to help.

    “Our cost of living help is about getting wages up for workers, bringing costs down for households and getting inflation back to where it should be.

    “We are doing everything we can to ensure Australians are paying a fair price at the checkout and Australian farmers are getting a fair price for their goods.

    “Today’s CHOICE report provides important information to consumers, but we know there is more to do and we are committed to taking action to make sure Australians are getting the best deal possible.”

    Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Competition, Andrew Leigh MP

    “The Government’s economic plan is all about easing the cost of living for Australians.

    “CHOICE’s team of shadow shoppers are helping Australians get the best deal at the checkout. With many consumers feeling the pinch, these results provide hard evidence on prices across the nation.

    “The Australian Government is committed to delivering the information that will help shoppers save money and deliver more supermarket competition.

    “We want a supermarket sector that’s fairer for farmers, and fairer for families.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: First ever UK-hosted meeting of AUKUS Defence Ministers as UK-Australia set to commence defence treaty negotiations

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A landmark AUKUS meeting will be held in the UK today as the Defence Secretary John Healey hosts counterparts from the US and Australia in London.

    • Landmark meeting as Defence Ministers from AUKUS partners meet outside the US for first time.
    • Negotiations set to commence on UK-Australia treaty to define defence relationship for decades.
    • Billions of pounds of UK exports expected to support Australian submarine build, with AUKUS to support over 21,000 UK jobs and helping to grow the economy.

    The meeting will be the first trilateral Defence Ministers AUKUS meeting to be held outside of the United States. Healey will host US Secretary of Defense Lloyd James Austin III and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles to discuss the importance of the AUKUS partnership.

    It comes as the UK and Australia have agreed plans to commence negotiations on a bilateral AUKUS treaty between the UK and Australia. The treaty will establish the strategic and operational framework for bilateral cooperation under AUKUS with a focus on the core elements of the delivery of SSN-AUKUS.

    Given the importance of accelerating the design, build and delivery of SSN-AUKUS, Australia and the UK agreed these negotiations should occur at pace and with high priority.

    This first-of-its-kind treaty between the two countries could create a major UK trade boost – it is estimated that facilitating the SSN-AUKUS build in Australia will see billions of pounds of submarine components exported from the UK through our defence industry supply chains. The treaty will lay out the nations’ relationship on submarine co-operation, as work progresses on future conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered attack submarines for the UK and Australia. 

    The three-year anniversary of the landmark AUKUS partnership was marked this month, following shortly after a historic breakthrough in defence trade was reached between the UK, US, and Australia.

    The significant reduction in red tape will cover up to £500 million of UK defence exports each year, and billions of dollars of trade across all three nations, helping boost UK economic growth.

    In a further boost for the UK economy, it is estimated at its peak the future AUKUS attack submarine programme will have more than 21,000 people working on it at UK sites, with the work generating an additional 7,000 skilled roles.

    UK Defence Secretary, John Healey said:

    I’m proud to be the first UK Defence Secretary to host a meeting of AUKUS Defence Ministers in Britain.

    As AUKUS partners, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder in an increasingly unstable world. This is a partnership that will boost jobs, growth and prosperity across our three nations, as well as strengthening our collective security.

    I’m delighted that we will soon be commencing negotiations on a bilateral AUKUS treaty with Australia, which will help create a more secure and stable Indo-Pacific for decades to come.

    The treaty work comes off the back of a UK-Australia Defence and Security Cooperation Agreement being signed earlier this year, helping make it easier for our Armed Forces to operate together in each other’s countries and facilitate UK submarine crews visiting Australia as part of the AUKUS partnership.

    Since the AUKUS launch, nearly £10 billion of investment has been allocated towards UK nuclear work and infrastructure:

    • £4 billion to progress SSN-AUKUS UK submarines through design, prototyping and initial purchases.
    • £3 billion for new advanced manufacturing capabilities in Barrow-in-Furness and Derby.
    • £2.4 billion over ten years from Australia to boost Rolls-Royce infrastructure and to share costs on SSN-AUKUS submarine design.

    Through AUKUS Pillar 2, Australia, the UK and the US are pooling the talents of their defence sectors to develop at pace the delivery of advanced capabilities. Four UK companies have been selected by the UK’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) to receive a share of £2 million of funding to develop solutions in electromagnetic targeting and protection.

    The competition was run to find low cost, disposable, high volume and highly autonomous electromagnetic technology that can detect enemy actions or protect against them.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Gartner Announces ReimagineHR Conference 2024 in Sydney

    Source: Gartner – IT Research

    Headline: Gartner Announces ReimagineHR Conference 2024 in Sydney

    What: Gartner ReimagineHR Conference 2024
    When: December 4-5, 2024
    Where: Hilton Sydney, Australia

    Details: Organizations are on the cusp of a major reset with expectations that new technology-fueled business models will unlock productivity and innovation, while AI-powered tools will reduce drudgery and unleash new capabilities. The hope is that productivity and sustainability pressures will reinforce autonomy and flexibility, making work both more meaningful and better.

    These promises also prompt the question: Better for whom?

    HR leaders play a pivotal role in delivering the new work in new ways that ensures employers and employees succeed together. To deliver, HR leaders must help organizations move beyond asking “who wins” to reshape employers’ and employees’ common currency: the work itself.

    At Gartner ReimagineHR Conference 2024 in Sydney, Gartner experts will come together to deliver actionable insights to help HR leaders redefine the what, why and how of work for leaders and employees.

    The conference agenda will deliver insights and technology optimization guidance for chief human resources officers (CHROs) and HR leaders across a range of pressing topics such as the future of work, employee experience, talent acquisition and more. 

    Keynote Speakers

    • Gartner Opening Keynote: Making Work Better – A Path to Shared Success for Employers and Employees with Jessica Knight, Vice President, Research and Harsh Kundulli, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner.

    • Guest Keynote: Crafting success: Leadership lessons from Joe Brumm, creator of Bluey

    • Guest Keynote: Digital Zen – Mastering Wellbeing in a Constantly Connected World with Rahaf Harfoush, Digital Anthropologist and Best-selling Author

    Exhibitor Showcase: The exhibitor showcase will bring together leading HR decision makers and buyers who are actively seeking solutions. A listing of current exhibitors can be found on the Exhibitor Directory.

    Media Registration: Full-time journalists from editorial publications are eligible for a press pass. Please contact Emma Keen for details and registration requests: emma.keen@gartner.com.

    Social Media: Join the discussion on social media using #GartnerHR.

    For complete conference details, please visit the Gartner ReimagineHR Conference 2024 website.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: No child left behind with STAR system

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that the Government is delivering real solutions to get kids back in the classroom, introducing the Stepped Attendance Response (STAR) system.

    “Any student who reaches a clearly defined threshold of days absent will trigger an appropriate and proportionate response from their school and the Ministry,” says Mr Seymour.

    “New Zealand attendance rates are low by national and international standards. In 2023, 80.6% of students in England and 61.6% of students in Australia were attending using a measure similar to the Term 2 New Zealand regular attendance rate, which was only 47.1%. 

    “If this issue isn’t addressed there will be an 80-year long shadow of people who missed out on education when they were young, are less able to work, less able to participate in society, more likely to be on benefits. That’s how serious this is.

    “The basic premise of the STAR is that no child is left behind. Every student, parent, teacher and school has a role to play. Each school will develop their own STAR system to suit their community and school.

    Some examples of how interventions could work are:

    • 5 days absent: The school to get in touch with parents/guardians to determine reasons for absence and set expectations. 
    • 10 days absent: School leadership meets with parents/guardian and the student to identify barriers to attendance and develop plans to address this.
    • 15 days absent: Escalating the response to the Ministry and steps to initiate prosecution of parents could be considered as a valid intervention.

    “Since becoming the Minister responsible for attendance, I’ve visited numerous schools to see how they’re addressing it. Some schools have an approach that is functioning well, but many do not. 

    “It will be mandatory for all schools to have an attendance management plan based on STAR from the beginning of the 2026 school year. The Ministry will work with schools, the Attendance Service, non-government agencies and other government agencies to streamline this. The Ministry will also provide best practice templates for attendance plans and toolkits for dealing with absent students, depending on the reasons for absence. 

    “Schools will have to play their part in setting a good example as well. This means not taking teacher-only days during term time. Under existing regulations, and terms in the union contracts, teacher-only days are only legally allowed to be held out of term time, unless authorised by the Minister of Education. 

    “I have asked the Ministry to collect data on when a school is open or closed for instruction for the full day, and for each year group, during term time. It is critical the entire system works cohesively to ensure education is respected and valued by students and lost instruction time is made up. 

    “I have also directed the Ministry to take a more active role in the prosecution process. I reserve the right to look at an infringement scheme in the future if this approach doesn’t work.

    “With more reliable and timely data being made available, the next phase of improving student attendance will be further understanding why students don’t attend. 

    “I’ve directed the Ministry of Education, with the active co-operation of the Ministry for Social Development, Oranga Tamariki, Police, Kainga Ora, and Te Puni Kokiri to develop robust information sharing agreements so that staff can share appropriate information once a student has been identified as needing support.

    “Almost every aspect of someone’s adult life will be defined by the education they receive as a child. If we want better social outcomes, we can’t keep ignoring the truancy crisis. This Government has set itself bold targets to address attendance, and it’s a bold approach that is needed for the future.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: In a US presidential election with razor-thin margins, will ‘couch-sitters’ decide who wins?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jeff Bleich, Professorial fellow, Jeff Bleich Centre for Democracy and Disruptive Technologies, Flinders University

    In countries with compulsory voting, such as Australia and many in Latin America, the system usually ensures an overwhelming majority of voters cast their ballots election after election.

    In the United States, it’s a very different story. Two-thirds of eligible voters turned out to vote in the 2020 presidential election – the highest rate since 1900. Turnout in presidential elections before 2020 tended to hover between 50% and 65%.

    Often, it’s the voters choosing to stay home on the couch who effectively decide an election’s outcome.

    Under the United States’ unusual Electoral College presidential voting system, the candidate who wins the most votes nationally does not necessarily win the election. Twice in the past 25 years, Democrats have won the popular vote in the presidential race and still lost the election. That includes Donald Trump’s win over Hillary Clinton in 2016.

    As such, victory depends on getting more voters “off the couch” in key battleground states where the decisive Electoral College votes are up for grabs. In those states, it doesn’t matter what percentage of people show up to vote, or how much a candidate wins by, it is winner take all.

    A voter who doesn’t vote, therefore, actually makes an active choice — they remove a vote from the candidate they would have likely chosen, and so give an important advantage to the person they would not have voted for.

    The “couch” is effectively where Americans go to vote against their self-interest.

    Who is more incentivised to vote?

    As this year’s presidential election between Trump and Kamala Harris approaches, we ask a simple question: whose “couch” will decide one of the most consequential elections in living memory?

    Recent research demonstrates that partisanship is an important driver of voter choice in presidential elections.

    The fact that the US is deeply divided is not news to most, but current survey data show how evenly split along partisan lines it actually is. With about 30% of Americans identifying as a Republican and 30% identifying as a Democrat, there is virtually no difference in the total number of voters who support each major party.

    The remaining 40% of Americans identify as “independent” – that is, not loyal to either major political party. Almost seven decades of research on the American voter shows, however, that independents heavily “lean” towards one party or the other, with about half leaning Republican and the other half leaning Democrat.

    One possible insight into which group has greater incentive to vote is polling on people’s dissatisfaction with their party’s candidate.

    According to the most recent Gallup Poll data, 9% of Republicans currently have an unfavourable opinion of Trump. In contrast, only 5% of Democrats have an unfavourable opinion of Harris.

    Partisan voters who are dissatisfied with their party candidate have a massive incentive to “stay on the couch” and refrain from voting. They don’t really want to vote for “the other team”, but they can’t stand their own team anymore either.

    For example, Republican women in the suburbs, veterans and traditional Republicans have started to abandon Trump over his stances on reproductive rights and national security, and his temperament. The Trump campaign clearly knows this. At a rally in New York a few days ago, he told attendees to “get your fat ass out of the couch” to go vote for him.

    Should these disaffected Republican and Republican-leaning voters stay home on November 5, Harris may well have a decisive edge over Trump.

    When the couch wins, America loses

    In 2016, Trump defied the polls and traditional voter turn-out trends by convincing some disaffected, working-class Democrats to stay on the couch, vote for an unelectable third party candidate or, in some cases, vote for him.

    Could this happen again? Or will Democrats be able to reverse this phenomenon by getting exhausted Republicans suffering Trump fatigue to stay home, while motivating everyone from Taylor Swift fans to “never Trumpers” to veterans of foreign wars to get out to vote.

    Recent trends suggest overall turnout will be comparatively high, in line with the past three federal US elections.

    Democrats have traditionally benefited from higher voter turn-out, but it is not as clear this is still the case in 2024. Recent research shows higher turnout rates seem to have favoured the Republican Party since 2016.

    Yet both parties still have significant numbers of people who don’t vote. According to the Pew Research Center, 46% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents didn’t vote in the past three elections (2018, 2020 and 2022), compared to the 41% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents.

    So again, who sits on the couch matters. Inevitably, many of those who stay home will get precisely what they don’t want. When the couch wins, America loses.

    Jeff Bleich is a former US ambassador to Australia and a member of the National Security Leaders for America, a group of 700 former generals, admirals, service secretaries, ambassadors, and other national security professionals, that has endorsed Kamala Harris in the presidential election. He was also special counsel to President Barack Obama and served as chair of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board under President Donald Trump and as a member of President Joe Biden’s (non-partisan) National Security Education Board.

    Rodrigo Praino receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the Australian Government Department of Defence, and SmartSat CRC.

    – ref. In a US presidential election with razor-thin margins, will ‘couch-sitters’ decide who wins? – https://theconversation.com/in-a-us-presidential-election-with-razor-thin-margins-will-couch-sitters-decide-who-wins-239394

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Action against Afghanistan over violations of human rights of women and girls

    Source: Australian Government – Minister of Foreign Affairs

    Australia will join Germany, Canada and the Netherlands to take unprecedented action to hold Afghanistan to account under international law for the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls.

    This action is being brought against Afghanistan for violations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, to which Afghanistan is a party.

    We urge Afghanistan to participate in negotiations, as provided for under the Convention.

    Australia is strongly committed to protecting and promoting the rights of women and girls at home and around the world.

    Today we were united with partners from all regions of the world on the importance of strong international action in response to the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls.

    The Taliban has demonstrated contempt for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls in Afghanistan, through a campaign of sustained and systematic oppression.

    This includes denying girls their right to education and attempting to erase women from public life.

    We will not stand by and allow the situation in Afghanistan to become a ‘new normal’.

    We have heard the calls of Afghan women and we are committed to defending their human rights and amplifying their voices.

    The participation of women and girls in society is essential to achieving peaceful societies and sustainable development.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Support for tomato industry workers

    Source: Ministers for Social Services

    Joint with:

    The Hon Bill Shorten MP
    Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme
    Minister for Government Services

    The Hon Julie Collins MP
    MInister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
    Minister for Small Business

    The Australian Government is working closely with the South Australian Government to support tomato industry workers stood down due to the impacts of tomato brown rugose fruit virus, and ensuring their financial wellbeing is a priority in what is a difficult time for them and their families.

    Minister for Government Services Bill Shorten said workers who have been stood down as a result of quarantine measures, would have access to personalised information about the government payments and services available for their circumstances.

    “Services Australia has stepped in quickly to provide priority access to its specialist Financial Information Services (FIS) Officers, who can provide comprehensive information on termination payments, superannuation and Centrelink payments,” Minister Shorten said.

    “They’ll be working hand-in-hand with the South Australian state government’s taskforce to help these workers through their next steps.

    “While this is an evolving situation, the bottom line is that workers impacted should take advantage of the support available through Services Australia, as it’s really important they understand their options.

    “Of course income support payments such as Job Seeker may be available, but individual circumstances can impact on eligibility, which is why tailored assistance can be so valuable.

    “The FIS staff are highly knowledgeable and can help those facing uncertainty make the right decisions for their personal situation, for the short and longer term.”

    For information on how best to manage your financial situation, call our free Financial Information Service on 132 300.

    Services Australia also provides comprehensive services for those that do not speak English as a first language, including free interpreting and translation services in over 200 languages. Customers can call the Multilingual Phone Service on 131 202 or visit: servicesaustralia.gov.au/yourlanguage

    Additionally, the Government is also aware that Pacific and Timor-Leste workers engaged under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme are affected by the stand down. Services Australia will provide social workers to connect those affected with further supports.

    The PALM scheme settings require approved employers to have contingency plans in place for unforeseen circumstances. The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) is working closely with the approved employer to initiate contingency arrangements including redeployment of impacted PALM workers to ensure that they continue to achieve the benefits of participating in the PALM scheme.

    PALM workers who have concerns or questions should contact DEWR on 1800 51 51 31.

    South Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regions is responsible for leading the biosecurity response to the detection of tomato brown rugose fruit virus under the national Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed.

    The Australian Government continues to provide support to state and territory governments and domestic industries, and to engage with our trading partners to minimise its impact.

    Australia’s biosecurity system is one to be envied, with its strength coming from us all working together and playing our role in protecting Australia from exotic pests, diseases and weeds.

    Australia has strong food safety standards and there is no concern for the quality or safety for the purchase of tomatoes. There is no immediate risk to supply chain disruption from the current outbreak in South Australia.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts Introduces Five Bills to Combat Chinese Communist Party Influence

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
    September 25, 2024
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, introduced five pieces of legislation aimed at combatting the influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in America’s agriculture and financial sectors.
    “The CCP is the single greatest threat to America’s national security and financial independence,” said Senator Ricketts. “A CCP-led world would mean coercion instead of choice, tyranny instead of liberty, and dictatorship instead of democracy. The only way to combat this threat is with a strong, strategic, all-of-government approach. These bills move us closer to that.”
    The Securing American Agriculture Act bolsters and protects our domestic food and agriculture supply chains and reduces America’s reliance on foreign adversaries.
    The Protecting Endowments from our Adversaries Act disincentivizes endowments from investing in adversarial entities flagged by the U.S. Government as threatening to our national security.
    The No Capital Gains Allowance for American Adversaries Act eliminates tax breaks for investments made in companies based in China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Belarus.
    The PRC Military and Human Rights Capital Markets Sanctions Act prevents Wall Street firms from using Americans’ investment dollars to effectively underwrite the CCP’s human rights abuses and aggression.
    The No China in Index Funds Act prevents index mutual funds from holding Chinese stocks.
    The bills were first covered by Fox News here.
    BACKGROUND:
    Securing American Agriculture Act – The PRC’s strategic control over crucial sectors of our food and agricultural supply chain poses a serious national security threat. In recent years, the PRC gained significant market share in the production of essential agricultural inputs like vitamins, veterinary pharmaceuticals, and crop protection tools. China now controls over 90% of vitamin C and vitamin B6 production and up to 85% of amino acids used in animal feed.
    Losing access to these key inputs could drastically reduce agricultural productivity, increase food prices, and undermine domestic food security. A University of Wisconsin-Whitewater study found that, if left unchecked, the PRC’s domination of the amino acids market would destroy 30,000 U.S. jobs and reduce economic activity by $15 billion per year. The Securing American Agriculture Act bolsters and protects our food production supply chain.
    Specifically, the bipartisan bill:
    Requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with the U.S. Trade Representative and the Department of Commerce, to conduct an annual threat assessment of critical food and agricultural supply chains.
    Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to provide recommendations to mitigate potential threats from the PRC and for legislative and regulatory actions to reduce barriers to domestic critical input production.
    U.S. Representatives Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI-07) haveintroduced companion legislation in the House. The Senate bill is co-sponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mike Braun (R-IN), John Barrasso (R-WY), John Cornyn (R-TX), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Jim Risch (R-ID), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Eric Schmitt (R-MI).
    A one-pager on the bill can be found here. Bill text is available here.
    Protecting Endowments from Our Adversaries Act (PEOAA) – U.S. University endowment dollars have helped fund technology behind the CCP’s surveillance of Uyghur Muslims in China. Many endowment fund portfolios own Chinese stocks listed on American exchanges, either directly or indirectly. Tax-advantaged endowment dollars are supposed to be used to lower tuition costs and improve education, not to fund our adversaries.
    Specifically, the bill:
    Imposes a 50% excise tax on initial investments in adversarial entities on the Entity List, Military End User List, Unverified List, or FCC Covered List.
    Imposes a 100% excise tax on the realized gains derived from listed investments one year after an entity is listed.
    Applies to private college and university endowments over $1 billion.
    U.S. Representative Greg Murphy (R-NC-3) has introduced companion legislation in the House. The Senate bill is co-sponsored by Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) And Deb Fischer (R-NE).
    One-pager can be found here. Bill text is available here.
    No Capital Gains Allowance for American Adversaries Act – According to a comparative analysis of capital gains tax rates by the Law Library of Congress, many countries have investment incentives not applicable to some foreign investments. For example, China provides investment incentives through its tax code, but foreign investments are eligible only with the pre-approval of the Chinese government. The No Capital Gains Allowance for American Adversaries Act stops subsidizing our adversaries’ investments in the United States. 
    Specifically, the bipartisan bill:
    Eliminates the capital gains tax break for investments in companies based in China, Russia, Belarus, Iran, and North Korea.
    Eliminates a related tax break, the “step-up in basis” at death, for investments in such companies.
    Requires disclosure to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that no tax breaks are available for these stocks.
    U.S. Representatives Brad Sherman (D-CA-32) and Victoria Spartz (R-IN-05) haveintroduced companion legislation in the House.
    One-pager can be found here. Bill text is available here.
    People’s Republic of China (PRC) Military and Human Rights Capital Markets Sanctions Act – A recent report identified 144 Chinese companies, or their affiliates, whose practices were so adverse to U.S. interests that it is illegal for Americans to buy their products. Most of these companies have been found to violate human rights. Others play an integral role in the CCP’s military-industrial complex. While buying the products of these companies is illegal, it is still legal to buy their stock. The PRC Military and Human Rights Capital Markets Sanctions Act fixes this problem.
    Specifically, the bipartisan bill:
    Prohibits Americans from purchasing, selling, or holding publicly-traded securities of companies that appear on sanctions lists or have an affiliate on the sanctions list.
    Prohibits Americans from purchasing, selling, or holding publicly-traded securities that are derivatives of securities issued by a sanctioned company.
    Prohibits Americans from purchasing, selling, or holding securities that provides investment exposure to a publicly-traded security issued by a sanctioned company or affiliate.
    Requires divestment from the prohibited securities within 180 days.
    U.S. Representatives Brad Sherman (D-CA-32) and Victoria Spartz (R-IN-05) haveintroduced companion legislation in the House.
    One-pager can be found here. Bill text is available here.
    No China in Index Funds Act – Index mutual funds minimize their expenses by simply investing in all the companies in a certain market sector, without looking closely at the individual companies. There are unique difficulties in evaluating the risks of investing in Chinese companies. Americans should not invest in these companies without carefully evaluating the risk. The No China in Index Funds Act will keep these hard-to-evaluate Chinese stocks out of index mutual funds.
    Specifically, the bipartisan bill:
    Prohibits index funds from investing in Chinese companies.
    Requires index funds to divest from such investments within 180 days.
    U.S. Representatives Brad Sherman (D-CA-32) and Victoria Spartz (R-IN-05) haveintroduced companion legislation in the House.
    One-pager can be found here. Bill text is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Assault during Eyre break-in

    Source: South Australia Police

    Police are investigating a break-in at Eyre, where a teenage boy was assaulted.

    About 2.30am today (Thursday, 26 September), police were called to a house in Edward John Parade after reports that three people had forced their way into the property and assaulted a 16-year-old boy.

    Two of the suspects were armed with machetes.

    An 18-year-old man from the house ran out and was chased by the suspects, who may have left the area in a black sedan.

    The injured boy was taken to hospital for treatment. His injuries are not considered to be life-threatening.

    Police suspect the incident was not random and ask anyone who may have witnessed the incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or online at http://www.crimestopperssa.com.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Man charged with attempted forcible abduction

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Man charged with attempted forcible abduction

    Thursday, 26 September 2024 – 8:20 am.

    Police have charged a 60-year-old man with attempted forcible abduction following an incident involving a youth at Queens Domain last night.
    Detective Sergeant Sam Storer said officers from the Bridgewater Criminal Investigation Branch and members from across the Southern Division quickly responded to reports of a man attempting to force the youth into a vehicle shortly after 8pm
    “The youth was not physically injured and provided a detailed version of events including the man’s number plate.”
    “Police located and arrested the man a short time later.”
    “He was charged and has been detained to appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court later today.”
    Police are calling for any witnesses to the incident to contact them, as well as anyone who was in the area at the time and has dashcam footage. 
    Information can be provided to police on 131 444, or anonymously to Crime Stoppers Tasmania at crimestopperstas.com.au. 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO | Braun to Novo Nordisk CEO: “Why are Americans paying more for the same drug?”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Mike Braun (Indiana)

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Braun questioned Novo Nordisk CEO, Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, at the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on Tuesday about the high prices of the company’s weight loss drug, Ozempic, in the United States.

    “This has everything to do with a system that’s broken with no transparency, no competition, barriers to entry, and by the way a consumer who doesn’t have the tools to really measure what the best value is.”—Sen. Mike Braun

    Partial Transcript of Senator Braun’s questions:

    Braun: “Are you making a profit on your Ozempic product when you’re selling it to Australia for $87 and you’re selling to the U.S. for $936? Are you making a profit at $87?

    Jørgensen: “Yes, we are and the price you mentioned in the U.S. is not what we get. That’s the list price.

    Braun: “So what are you getting in the U.S.? What price?”

    Jørgensen: “So I mentioned that on average for our products we give 74% in rebates to PBMs.”

    Braun: “And that was the chart that Senator Marshall held up that PBMs are making 74% and you’re getting 26%. So, you’ve got a screwed-up industry. Number one, when I’ve talked to other pharma folks, they regret that PBMs ever came into it. It would seem like since you make the product, that you could disassemble them or do something to go around it, if in fact this place won’t do something about it. Have you ever thought of that?”

    Jørgensen: “It’s very difficult Senator because they control what insurance is put in front of patients so they have integrated themselves with insurance companies and we negotiate against the PBMs, but they’re owned by the insurance companies so no matter what we do, they decide what products—”

    Braun: “Okay- and that’s kind of the conundrum, but you’re making a profit at $87 and of the $936, it would be the list price? Is that total being split between you and the PBM? I know you give big discounts to the PBM. Why do give them such large discounts for them to make that much money?”

    Jørgensen: “On this we have a high list price and give them rebates, we are not making it onto the insurance formulary. So, they make a fee based on the list price, you mentioned distribution, they don’t get a flat fee for the distribution.”

    Braun: “So, after you give the discounts, and you do everything, what is your revenue on Ozempic, roughly?”

    Jørgensen: “I don’t have that number from the top of my head.”

    Braun: “That is something that ought to be on the top of your head because most of us would want to see that so you could make the case against PBMs. That basic lack of transparency, that to me comes from the top, that cloaks the system, in general, is what is impacting the future of why in our own country it is 18% of our GDP and from Canada and Europe it is 12% of their GDP, Eastern Europe it is 6 to 7 %. And yes, rationing is maybe going to be one of the results, but it should never be to where something is going to cost that much more here versus there when you’re making a profit on it. Until you figure that out, everyone is going to think your industry is screwed up.”

    Senator Braun is the leader in the Senate on reforming PBMs and lowering drug prices through transparency:

    • Senator Braun’s landmark transparency legislation – the Health Care PRICE Transparency Act – would reveal all negotiated rates and cash prices between plans and providers so Americans can know the true cost of health care services before they pan, bringing down prices.
    • Senator Braun’s Drug Price Transparency Act would end the broken PBM system by requiring insurers and PBMs to pass rebates directly to consumers enrolled in commercial health plans and Medicare Part D. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New Independent Pricing Committee to shape the future of NDIS pricing

    Source: Ministers for Social Services

    Minister for NDIS the Hon Bill Shorten MP has established an Independent Pricing Committee (the Committee) to review the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) pricing approaches and recommend changes designed to lead to a higher quality and sustainable disability provider market.

    “The NDIS is undergoing its most significant reform in its short history, so it’s only right that we also take a look at the pricing approach as the Scheme evolves and we continue to make improvements,” Minister Shorten said.

    “This Independent Committee of experts will ensure the NDIA Board gets the best advice on where and how improvements to NDIS pricing is needed.”

    The Committee is made up of three experts with strong economic credentials and experience in regulation who will review how NDIS price limits are set and investigate if there are more effective approaches.

    The Independent Pricing Committee members are:

    • Stephen Anthony (Chair)
    • Gemma Henderson
    • Dr Ron Ben-David

    The Committee has already commenced work, aiming to make its first recommendations to the NDIA Board by the end of this year, with further recommendations in February 2025. The advice will be used to support the development of the 2024-25 Annual Pricing Review.

    People with disability will continue to be included in any reform work and will play a key role in co-designing any changes that may directly impact them.

    The Committee will take into account the views of people with disability, providers and unions.

    “Pricing is a key piece of the puzzle when it comes to improving the NDIS and making sure it works as well as it can.

    “It’s a delicate balance to ensure providers delivering quality supports are paid accordingly and, most importantly, ensuring NDIS participants get value for money when using their plans.

    “There needs to be a strong incentive and reward for delivering quality supports that produce meaningful outcomes for participants.

    “This Committee is an important first step in reviewing the existing pricing approach. I look forward to seeing the recommendations they make and the improvements that result from this crucial work.” Minister Shorten said.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Release: Govt not addressing health workforce crisis

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

    The National Government is hiding the gaps in the health workforce from New Zealanders, by not producing a full workforce plan nearly a year into their tenure.

    “Since National came into government, we’ve had secrecy around cuts, hiring freezes and voluntary redundancies,” Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said.

    “National campaigned on a workforce crisis and Shane Reti said he would deliver a workforce plan – where is it?

    “In Government, Labour published a comprehensive assessment of gaps and actions to address needs across the health sector. In contrast, National has not been upfront about the nature and extent of the needs, nor how they will address staff shortages.

    “Labour’s plan for financial year 2023-2024 led to hiring more than 4000 staff and was upfront about where further training and investment was needed,” Ayesha Verrall said.

    Mental health spokesperson Ingrid Leary said we welcome the training of extra mental health workers.

    “However the Mental Health Workforce plan is scant and underwhelming in its failure to address recruitment incentives, retention, career pathways and immigration settings,” Ingrid Leary said.

    “It also does nothing to address mental health workforce in rural areas, the far north and southern areas where the need is most critical.

    “We have a mental health workforce crisis including a brain drain to Australia, and the government isn’t addressing the current hiring freeze, burn out and low morale,” said Ingrid Leary.

    Stay in the loop by signing up to our mailing list and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cole Votes in Favor of Continuing Resolution to Avoid a Government Shutdown

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Olivia Porcaro 202-225-6165

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after voting in favor of the Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act of 2025 to avoid a government shutdown:

    “Although governing by continuing resolution is not ideal, it is far better than the alternative. A full government shutdown would cause undue, harmful disruptions to our national security and vital programs that constituents in Oklahoma’s Fourth District rely on. On top of that, a shutdown would cost the American taxpayers billions due to back-paid furloughed workers, increased costs from delayed starts, and constrained economic growth,” said Congressman Cole. “All of this makes it clear – a government shutdown is not the answer. On the contrary, this continuing resolution is a win for Republicans, as it ensures the government will continue to serve the American people and, better yet, it ensures the American people – and more importantly the next president – have a say in the appropriations process.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Shooting at Burton

    Source: South Australia Police

    Police are investigating after a shooting at Burton this morning.

    About 3.50am on Thursday 26 September, police were called to Bolivar Road after reports a man had been shot.

    The victim, a 34- year-old man from Burton, sustained a wound to his leg and was taken to hospital for treatment. His injuries are not considered life threatening.

    Police searched the area and have not located the suspect.

    Later this morning at 4am police and MFS were called to reports of a vehicle fire on Burton Road, police are investigating if the fire is linked to the earlier shooting.

    The incident is not believed to be random.

    Northern District are investigating the incident and ask anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at http://www.crimestopperssa.com.au or on 1800 333 000. You can remain anonymous.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SARP West 2024 Terrestrial Ecology Group

    Source: NASA

    Faculty Advisor: Dr. Dan Sousa, San Diego State University
    Graduate Mentor: Megan Ward-Baranyay, San Diego State University

    [embedded content]
    Megan Ward Baranyay, graduate student mentor for the 2024 SARP West Land group, provides an introduction for each of the group members and shares behind-the scenes moments from the internship.

    [embedded content]

    Predicting Ammonia Plume Presence at Feedlots in the San Joaquin Valley from VSWIR Spectroscopy of the Land Surface
    Gerrit Hoving, Carleton College
    Industrial-scale livestock farms, or Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), are a major source of air pollutants including ammonia, methane, and hydrogen sulfide. Ammonia in particular is a major contributor to rural air pollution that is released from the breakdown of livestock effluent. Mitigating regional air pollution through improved waste management practices is only possible if emissions can be accurately monitored. However, ammonia is challenging to measure directly due to its short atmospheric lifetime and lack of VSWIR spectral signature. Here we investigate the potential for spectroscopic
    imaging of the CAFO land surface to predict the presence of detectable ammonia emissions. Data from the Hyperspectral Thermal Emission Spectrometer (HyTES) instrument were found to clearly identify plumes of ammonia emitted by specific feedlots. Plume presence or absence was then tied to pixel-level reflectance spectra from the Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source (EMIT) instrument. Random forest classification models were found to predict ammonia plume presence/absence from VSWIR reflectance alone with an accuracy in the range of 70% to 80%. Our conclusions are limited by the limited number of
    feedlots overflown by HyTES (n=96), the time gap between HyTES and EMIT data, and potential difficulty in comparing feedlots in different regions. While only tested over a modest area, our results suggest that ammonia plume presence/absence may be
    predictable on the basis of surface features identifiable from VSWIR reflectance alone. Further investigation could focus on more comprehensive model validation, including characterization of the land surface processes and spectral signatures associated with feedlot surfaces with and without observable ammonia plumes. If generalizable, these results suggest that EMIT data may in some circumstances be used to predict the presence of ammonia emission plumes at feedlots in other areas, potentially enabling broader accounting of feedlot ammonia emissions.

    [embedded content]

    Burn to Bloom: Assessing the Impact of Coastal Wildfires on Phytoplankton Dynamics in California
    Benjamin Marshburn, California Polytechnic State University- San Luis Obispo
    California is experiencing rising temperatures as well as increased frequency and length of drought conditions due to anthropogenic climate change. Wildfires are an intrinsic component of California and its Mediterranean ecosystems. However, this change in natural wildfire behavior increases the risk to ecosystems including soil erosion, poor plant regrowth, and ash/nutrient runoff that leads to the ocean. Previous work has attributed phytoplankton blooms in the coastal ocean to runoff from wildfires. This study aims to quantify the extent to which the concentration of chlorophyll-a, an indicator of phytoplankton abundance, can be predicted by wildfire parameters in coastal California and to evaluate which parameters are the most important predictors. Due to climatic variation in California we split the coast into three regions, northern, central and southern, and analyzed three fires from each area. For each fire, the stream length connecting the most severely burned area and the ocean was derived from analysis of a digital elevation model acquired by the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission. Additionally, differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR) was used to analyze burn severity for each fire. The change in chlorophyll-a levels before and after each fire from the impacted coastal area were evaluated using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite. The Random Forest Regression machine learning model did not strongly predict the difference in chlorophyll-a from the fire parameters. However, our moderate R2 value (0.36) shows promising avenues for future work, including investigating post-fire chlorophyll-a after the first significant rain event, as well as the impact of wind-blown ash on coastal chlorophyll-a concentrations.

    [embedded content]

    Species-specific Impact on Maximum Fire Temperature in Prescribed Burns at Sedgwick Reserve
    Hannah Samuelson, University of St. Thomas
    Fuel load plays a key role in determining severity (change in biomass), intensity (temperature), and frequency (length in time) of wildfires and prescribed fires. Fuel loads can vary in fuel conditions, like moisture content, amount, and flammability of the fuel, and are affected by species type and climatic conditions. Moreover, the difference in the chemical composition of plant species can affect its flammability. Anecdotal evidence from firefighters claim that Purple Sage burns hotter than other shrubs. Here we focus on two shrub species and two tree species that are broadly representative of California foothills; Blue Oak (Quercus douglasii), Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia), Purple Sage (Salvia leucophylla), and California Sagebrush (Artemisia californica), and aim to understand species-specific proclivity to burn with higher or lower severity and intensity. In fall of 2023, a prescribed fire was conducted at Sedgwick Reserve in Santa Barbara County, CA. Field data collection included maximum temperature point measurements with metal pyrometers, the change in 3D vegetation structure using UAV LiDAR, and orthomosaic images for species identification. Radial buffers were created around the locations of the metal pyrometers and used to evaluate the spatial distribution of species, which were verified through field-observed species identification. The relationship between dominant overstory species, change in biomass, and maximum fire temperature was investigated. Preliminary results suggest that Purple Sage produced the highest maximum fire temperatures. Additionally, preliminary results showed both tree species, Blue Oak and Coast Live Oak, exhibit similar biomass change at low maximum fire temperatures. This investigation confirmed the firefighters’ anecdotal evidence on the relationship between species and their wildfire dynamics. The results have the potential to refine fire spread models and ultimately land management practices, improving the protection of humans and infrastructure while preventing habitat destruction from wildfires.

    [embedded content]

    Quantifying the Influence of Soil Type, Slope, and Aspect on Live Fuel Load in Sedgwick Reserve
    Angelina Harris, William & Mary
    The severity and increasing frequency of California wildfires requires investigation of factors that characterize pre-fire landscapes to improve approaches to wildland management and predict the spread of wildfire. Quantifying the relationship between soil type and fuel load could improve existing efforts to map both overall quantity and composition of live fuel for fire spread models which may assist in preventative wildfire measures and potentially active firefighting work. The southwest corner of Sedgwick Reserve, Santa Barbara County, CA hosts two dominant soil types that broadly represent soil variability in the area. The more northerly soil unit is a Chamise shaly loam, and the more southerly soil unit is a Shedd silty clay loam. The Chamise series has a mixed texture, abundant in clay with a significant amount of rock fragments (> 35%) composing its texture while the Shedd series has a fine texture dominated by silt-sized particles. Topography, specifically slope and aspect, plays a significant role in formation and characteristics of soil due to influence on erosion and deposition and sun exposure, respectively. This research aims to explore the relationship between soil type and topography and quantify their influence on live fuel using a Canopy Height Model (CHM) derived from airborne LiDAR collected on 11/04/2020 with a point density of 10.19 pts/m2. The LiDAR-based CHM was filtered to separate trees (> 2 m) and shrubs (.07 – 2 m). A Random Forest Regressor was used to investigate the relationship between soil type, slope, and aspect to identify which variable is the best predictor of canopy height. Preliminary results suggested that soil type and aspect were the most important variables to determine canopy height (variable importance of .50 and .41, respectively). Further studies investigating quantity and composition of live fuel load focusing on additional soil units within Sedgwick Reserve are encouraged.

    [embedded content]

    From Canopy to Chemistry: Exploring the Relationship Between Vegetation Phenology and Isoprene Emission
    Emily Rogers, Bellarmine University
    Isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) represents the most abundant non-methane biogenic volatile organic compound in the troposphere, with annual emissions almost equal to those of methane. Depending on the chemical environment, this effective thermoregulator and reactive oxygen species scavenger participates in photochemical reactions to produce climate pollutants and toxins such as ozone and secondary organic aerosols. Previous studies have revealed strong connections between isoprene emission and photosynthesis as its precursors are formed during the Calvin Cycle. This raises questions as to whether the periodic biological events of plants, collectively known as vegetation phenology, influences tropospheric isoprene quantities. In this study, we investigate the influence of vegetation phenology on isoprene emission in Southern California by comparing photosynthetic activity and the spatial distribution of the isoprene oxidation product, formaldehyde, for regions dominated by plants of two different physiologies: high altitude woodlands and coastal shrublands. We interrogate the annual phenology of these regions using high resolution solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) estimates from the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) satellite, and formaldehyde vertical column measurements from the recently activated Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) geostationary satellite. We explore the seasonal trends in both formaldehyde formation and SIF as well as their bivariate relationship. Preliminary results indicate both heightened formaldehyde emission and heightened SIF during summer months relative to winter months, with a comparatively stronger correlation between the two metrics during the fall. Our findings will provide insight toward the response of plants to variations in their environment which directly influence chemical systems in the air. Whereas VOCs hold a great potential for environmental and anthropological harm if emitted in excess, it is crucial to understand the factors involved in their formation. As such, we hope that our findings provide information relevant to the development of air pollution mitigation strategies.

    [embedded content]

    Keeping it Fresh(water): Understanding the Influence of Surface Mineralogy on Groundwater Quality within Volcanic Aquifer Systems
    Sydney Kent, Miami University
    Geology plays a key role in determining the chemical profile of groundwater through weathering and erosion, leading to minerals entering the groundwater. The Columbia Plateau, a geologic region that resides within the Pacific Northwest volcanic aquifer system, is known to have water management issues due to groundwater extraction for agriculture. Decreases in groundwater levels can lead to higher concentrations of rock-originated minerals, so the relationship between basaltic geology and well water quality is particularly important in these systems. This research aims to assess the extent in which the basaltic surface mineralogy of the Columbia Plateau impacts predetermined health benchmarks pertaining to trace elements, radionuclides, and nutrients. NASA’s Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) instrument, a spaceborne imaging spectrometer on the International Space Station, was used to map surface minerals within and among distinct regions of the Columbia Plateau. Some basalt aquifers have uranium that decays to radon-222, a mineral that can be toxic when consumed, as well as lithium, which is commonly found during volcanic eruptions. Preliminary findings showed that where basalt and its secondary minerals were identified with EMIT, chlorite and calcite, well data also indicated raised levels of lithium and radon-222. The relationship between EMIT mineral maps and water quality data indicated that EMIT can potentially be used to identify basalt aquifer systems that may be at risk of poor water quality. Results from this study can be used to enact more personalized water purification methods in areas with water quality issues and individuals with private wells can be more informed about the hazards present in their water.
    Click here watch the Atmospheric Aerosols Group presentations.
    Click here watch the Ocean Group presentations.
    Click here watch the Whole Air Sampling (WAS) Group presentations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Save the Children – Two-thirds of children interact daily online with people they don’t know despite grooming fears – report

    Source: Save the Children

    Over six in 10 children with access to the internet interact with “unknown others” daily despite concerns about online grooming, according to new research released by Save the Children and Western Sydney University that highlighted children’s demands for better online protection.
    The research team held in-depth consultations with about 600 children and young people aged 8 to 18 from Australia, Finland, the Philippines, Cambodia, Colombia, Kenya, and South Africa, who shared their views and experiences of facing inappropriate requests online for personal information or images.
    The report, ‘Protecting Children from Online Grooming’, was written by the Young & Resilient Research Centre at Western Sydney University, and funded by the global child online safety investment vehicle Safe Online as part of the Tech Coalition Safe Online Research Fund.
    Since the COVID-19 pandemic, incidents of online grooming and child sexual and financial exploitation have reached an all-time high [1], with an 82% rise in online grooming crimes against children reported in that period [2]. Online grooming practices have also transformed, with the fastest growing form of online grooming targeting young men for financial extortion [3].
    The report revealed children were more inclined to connect with strangers – or “unknown others” – online as they matured and became more social, motivated by a desire for friendship, fun and play, followed by a wish to stay informed about trends and events, and to connect over shared interests.
    The findings also showed that while children across all cultures and age groups were more suspicious of people they didn’t know online than people they knew in person, most (66%) of the study participants still interacted with “unknown others” daily online.
    Children in high-income settings were twice as likely to use privacy settings to protect themselves from unwanted contacts, compared to children from some low-income settings, but the potential to derive financial benefits was an incentive for children in middle-income countries to connect with strangers online, potentially compromising their safety.
    While children have come up with numerous ways to protect themselves, they are calling for widespread, accessible and targeted online safety education for themselves and their caregivers. In the discussions the children also made concrete suggestions about how technology platforms and governments can implement changes that will keep them safer online.
    Sonisay-, a girl aged 11-12 from rural Cambodia, said:
    “Adults should know that children interact with strangers, monitor them, and read their chats.”
    Angel- aged 15-17 from a city in the Philippines said:
    “Adults need to know about the children of today who are highly computer-savvy… To be able to support and protect the children, adults need to understand that children are comfortable with using the internet which pushes to interact with strangers.”
    Charlie- aged 14 from Australia emphasised the need to start online safety education earlier:
    “Having young children educated about the safety of technology and the dangers … adults only start this education for older kids on social media when the problem can be on video games played by young kids.”
    Children reported that it was very difficult to ascertain the intentions of strangers online. Children were also particularly worried about being asked for personal information or nude pictures, being drawn into inappropriate sexually-oriented exchanges, or exposure to criminal activities.
    The report found that children want and need better online protection, with children primarily using intuition and background checks rather than seeking help from trusted adults to manage their online interactions with people they don’t know.
    The data also showed that children distinguish people they know well both online and in person from those they only know online, with 86% approaching the latter with caution. Yet despite this wariness, children were still three times more likely to ignore or decline an inappropriate or unwanted request than they are to report or block it.
    Steve Miller, Save the Children’s Global Director of Child Protection, said:
    “Children deserve to thrive in a safe and nurturing environment – both online and offline. As the digital landscape evolves, so do the challenges and threats, including the threat of online grooming and exploitation. We need to foster a digital environment that is not only safe but also enriching, allowing children to explore, learn, and grow without fear. Policymakers need to listen to the voices and experiences of children when developing policies that protect them.”
    Professor Amanda Third, Co-Director of the Young and Resilient Research Centre, Western Sydney University, said:
    “Keeping children safe from online grooming requires a whole-of-community approach. Governments, NGOs, technology platforms, teachers, parents, caregivers, and children themselves all have an important role to play. However, to most effectively address this issue it is crucial that we listen to the views and experiences of children and young people and engage them as active partners in the research and policy design process. Children and young people are finding their own ways to tackle this issue and devise solutions but they are also calling on us to help equip them and their caregivers with the skills and knowledge needed to be able to safely navigate these rapidly evolving digital environments.”
    Save the Children has launched a major global effort to support digital inclusion and empower the next generation of resilient digital citizens. Save the Children’s Safe Digital Childhood initiative is includes partnering with schools, communities and tech leaders to break down barriers to digital inclusion by making sure the children with the fewest resources can access devices and connectivity; offering targeted digital literacy and citizenship programs; helping technology industry partners embed child-centric safeguards into their platforms; and empowering children to advocate for their rights in the digital world.
    The Young & Resilient Research Centre at Western Sydney University is an Australian-based, international research centre that unites young people with researchers, practitioners, innovators, and policymakers to explore the role of technology in children’s and young people’s lives and how it can be used to improve individual and community resilience across generations.
    Safe Online is the only global investment vehicle dedicated to keeping children safe in the digital world. Through investing in innovation and bringing key actors together, Safe Online helps shape a digital world that is safe and empowering for all children and young people, everywhere. The Tech Coalition Safe Online Research Fund, which funded the research, is a groundbreaking collaboration fuelling actionable research and bringing together the tech industry with academia and civil society in a bold alliance to end online child sexual exploitation and abuse.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Universities – ‘Remarkable’ marine animal forests found around Wellington’s coast

    Source: Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

    Marine animal forests rich in sea life have been found in the shallow waters around Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington.

    “Marine animal forests are habitats formed by big groups of invertebrates—creatures such as sponges, horse mussels, and brachiopods, which look a bit like clams. These remarkable communities are increasingly being recognised as biodiversity hotspots and we’ve got them on our doorstep,” said Professor James Bell, a marine biologist at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

    The forests were located by Professor Bell and colleagues Dr Valerio Micaroni and Dr Francesca Strano while studying life in the region’s shallow waters.

    The researchers identified numerous animal forests in Wellington Harbour, many at depths of less than 15 metres. Sites were located at Eastbourne, Evans Bay, Kaiwharawhara, the Miramar Peninsula, and Petone.

    Rich animal forests were also found in shallow waters at other areas including the Kāpiti Coast and Mana Island.

    “Finding animal-dominated ecosystems in such shallow waters is surprising as these are areas that are usually dominated by seaweeds,” said lead researcher Dr Micaroni.

    Sponges were one of the common species found in the forests. They included a massive potato-shaped sponge (Suberites australiensis) that grows up to 40 centimetres in diameter and forms dense sponge beds.

    “These beds were home to a range of species, including molluscs, cnidarians, and red algae, as well as other sponges and fish. We also discovered what we think is a previously undescribed sponge species,” Dr Strano said.

    The sponge beds in the harbour comprised a total area of 120,000 m2. Researchers estimate the beds can filter between 500 million to 1 billion litres of water daily. This filtering plays an important role in transferring nutrients and food from the water column to the sea-floor, influencing overall water quality and supporting the sea-floor food chain.

    Despite the ecological importance of these shallow-water forests, they are largely unprotected and face increasing threats from climate change, fishing, sedimentation, and pollution, Professor Bell said.

    At most of the sites in Wellington Harbour, the researchers found litter on the sea-floor.

    “There was a lot of plastic items—such as bottles, packaging, and cups—as well as aluminium cans. Car parts and tyres were found at half the sites, and fishing gear was found at three locations. Concrete blocks were also common,” Professor Bell said.

    Evans Bay was the worst site for marine litter, followed by Kaiwharawhara where large amounts of gravel had been dumped on areas of the seabed. The gravel dramatically altered the habitat with animal communities significantly reduced and limited evidence they had been able to recover since the gravel was dumped.

    “This example highlights the significant effects human activities can have on marine animal forests. It also highlights the need to protect these fragile ecosystems to avoid further biodiversity loss,” said Dr Megan Melidonis, senior coastal scientist at the Greater Wellington Regional Council. The council helped fund the research as part of work to explore and map the region’s marine biodiversity.

    “These forest communities play such a key role in marine food chains and in maintaining water quality. It is incredible to find them in a harbour adjacent to a major urban area,” Dr Melidonis said.

    Results of the study are published in the journal Global Ecology and Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03140

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Vibrant regional events receive funding boost from Auckland Council

    Source: Auckland Council

    An assortment of vibrant and engaging events across Tāmaki Makaurau for Aucklanders to participate in and enjoy have been given a helping hand by Auckland Council.

    On 24 September Auckland Council’s Community Committee approved an allocation of $460,500 from the Regional Events Fund Grants Programme to 21 organisations to help with their events.

    These events deliver a range of outcomes and benefits to communities by contributing to a sense of place and connection.

    Councillor Angela Dalton, chair of the Community Committee says it’s extremely important that a diverse range of events are regularly held in Auckland.

    “Regular, vibrant events play an important part in Auckland’s cultural, sporting and social calendar,” says Cr Dalton.

    “Events allow people from around Tāmaki Makaurau to come together and connect, learn and celebrate.”

    “Many of the events we are supporting will bring economic benefits to nearby local businesses and the communities hosting them.”

    A broad range of arts, sports and cultural events received funding including the Auckland International Buskers Festival, Takapuna Winter Lights, ASB Polyfest and Iwi of Origin.

    Auckland Council’s Head of Events Glynn Leggat says council staff assessed each application against regional event funding criteria.

    “A wide range of factors were considered in allocating funding including positive benefits to the community with particular emphasis on youth and Māori; how well the event is planned; community support and involvement and alignment with key dates such as Auckland Anniversary Weekend.”

    “We’d like to thank all the organisations and community groups who put in the mahi to prepare for and host these events,” says Ms Leggat.

    The Regional Event Grants Programme for 2024-25 has a total budget allocation of $600,000, of which $460,500 has been allocated in this first funding round.  The remaining unallocated budget of $139,500 is expected to be allocated in March 2025.

    To learn more about the range of regional and local grants we provide and how you can apply for them, visit the Auckland Council website.

    Regional Event Grant Programme Fund allocation for 2024/2025 – first round

     

    Applicant

    Event

    Recommended funding allocation

    Aktive

    Iwi of Origin

    $20,000

    Alan Smythe Special Events (2020) Limited

    Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park

    $45,000

    Aotearoa Latin American Community Incorported (ALAC Inc)

    Family Day

    $12,500

    Athletics New Zealand Incorporated

    2025 Sir Graeme Douglas International

    $6,000

    Auckland Anniversary Regatta Incorporated

    Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta

    $17,000

    Auckland Children’s Christmas Parade Trust

    Farmers Santa Parade

    $17,000

    Auckland Pride Incorporated

    Auckland Pride March

    $27,000

    Burnett Foundation Aotearoa

    Big Gay Out 2025

    $17,000

    Crackerjack Events

    Auckland International Buskers Festival

    $40,000

    Environmental Hubs Aotearoa

    EcoFest 2025

    $25,000

    Eventing Auckland Incorporated

    Puhinui International Horse Trials

    $15,000

    Interacting

    InterACT 2025!

    $16,000

    Interesting Things

    Future Future

    $11,000

    New Zealand Eid Day Trust

    New Zealand Eid Day, Eid al Fitr 2025

    $12,000

    Ngā Kaihoe O Aotearoa (Waka Ama New Zealand Incorporated)

    2025 Takapuna Beach Cup

    $9,000

    Mahurangi Action Incorporated

    Mahurangi Regatta

    $6,000

    Show Jumping Waitemata

    Show Jumping Waitemata World Cup Festival

    $11,000

    The Polyfest Trust

    ASB Polyfest

    $75,000

    Takapuna Beach Business Association

    Takapuna Winter Lights

    $44,000

    Waiheke International Jazz Festival Limited

    Waiheke Jazz Festival 2025

    $8,000

    Westlake Boys High School

    Te Ahurea Tino Rangatiratanga 2024

    $27,000

    Total

    $460,500

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CLARKE ISSUES STATEMENT FOLLOWING ANTI-HAITIAN RHETORIC FROM REP. CLAY HIGGINS

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke (9th District of New York)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

    September 25, 2024

    MEDIA CONTACT: 

    e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov

    c: 202.913.0126

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the below statement following the anti-Haitian, dangerous rhetoric Rep. Clay Higgins recently tweeted regarding the Haitian Bridge Alliance filing charges against former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Senator J.D. Vance, for spreading false claims that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, OH, were eating pets: Haitian group in Springfield, Ohio, files citizen criminal charges against Trump and Vance.

    “The recent tweet from the official account of Rep. Clay Higgins is vile and reprehensible. I cannot believe the Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee Chair on Border Security and Enforcement would fathom having such ill and racist words for Haitian migrants. His remarks are cruel, dehumanizing, and have been proven time and again as untrue,” said Rep. Yvette D. Clarke, Haiti Caucus Co-chair. 

    “Just when you think these MAGA extremists’ xenophobic ideologies can’t get any worse, they continue to spread dangerous falsehoods and threats – endangering the lives of people who are fleeing political persecution and a nation battered from the impacts of climate change. It is simply appalling.”

    Rep. Clay Higgins’ Tweet:

    ‘Lol. These Haitians are wild. Eating pets, vudu, nastiest country in the western hemisphere, cults, slapstick gangsters… but damned if they don’t feel all sophisticated now, filing charges against our President and VP.  All these thugs better get their mind right and their ass out of our country before January 20th.’

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Make in India Celebrates 10 Years: A Decade of Transformational Growth

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Make in India Celebrates 10 Years: A Decade of Transformational Growth

    India’s Manufacturing Revolution Gathers Momentum with Focus on Innovation, Investment, and Self-reliance

    Posted On: 25 SEP 2024 3:52PM by PIB Delhi

    The ‘Make in India’ initiative, launched on 25th September 2014, completes a landmark decade of empowering India to become a global manufacturing hub. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the program has played a pivotal role in boosting domestic manufacturing, fostering innovation, enhancing skill development, and facilitating foreign investment.

    10 Years of Impact: A Snapshot

    Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Since 2014, India has attracted a cumulative FDI inflow of USD 667.4 billion (2014-24), registering an increase of 119% over the preceding decade (2004-14). This investment inflow spans 31 States and 57 sectors, driving growth across diverse industries. Most sectors, except certain strategically important sectors, are open for 100% FDI under the automatic route. FDI equity inflows into the manufacturing sector over the past decade (2014-24) reached USD 165.1 billion, marking a 69% increase compared to the previous decade (2004 -14), which saw inflows of USD 97.7 billion.

    Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: The PLI Schemes introduced in 2020 have resulted in ₹1.32 lakh crore (USD 16 billion) in investments and a significant boost in manufacturing output of ₹10.90 lakh crore (USD 130 billion) as of June 2024. Over 8.5 lakh jobs have been created directly and indirectly due to the initiative.

    Exports & Employment: India’s merchandise exports surpassed USD 437 billion in FY 2023-24. Exports have surged, with an additional ₹4 lakh crore generated due to the PLI schemes, while total employment in the manufacturing sector increased from 57 million in 2017-18 to 64.4 million in 2022-23.

    Ease of Doing Business: India’s commitment to improving business conditions is evident in its sharp rise from 142nd rank in 2014 to 63rd rank in 2019 in the World Bank’s Doing Business Report. Over 42,000 compliances have been reduced, and 3,700 provisions has been decriminalized. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023, passed by Lok Sabha on 27th July 2023 and Rajya Sabha on 2nd August 2023, which has decriminalized 183 provisions across 42 Central Acts.

     

     

    Key Reforms

    Semiconductor Ecosystem Development: Semicon India Program, worth ₹76,000 crore, aims to provide an impetus to semiconductor and display manufacturing by facilitating capital support and technological collaborations.  India has developed policies to support every segment of the semiconductor ecosystem, not just focusing on fabs but also including packaging, display wires, OSATs, sensors, and more.

    National Single Window System (NSWS): Launched in September 2021, this platform simplifies the investor experience, integrating clearances from 32 Ministries/ Departments and 29 States/UTs, facilitating rapid approvals.

    PM Gatishakti: PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP), a GIS based platform with portals of various Ministries/Departments of Government, was launched in October, 2021. It is a transformative approach to facilitate data-based decisions related to integrated planning of multimodal infrastructure, thereby reducing logistics cost.

    National Logistics Policy (NLP): Aimed at reducing logistics costs and increasing efficiency, the NLP, launched in 2022, is key to making Indian products more globally competitive.

    Industrial Corridors & Infrastructure: The development of 11 industrial corridors under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme has seen the approval of 12 new projects with a projected investment of ₹28,602 crore. These corridors enhance India’s competitiveness by providing world-class infrastructure.

    One-District-One-Product (ODOP): Promoting indigenous products and craftsmanship across India, the ODOP initiative has fostered local economic development, with Unity Malls being set up in 27 states to provide platforms for these unique products.

    Startup India: The Government with intent to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and encouraging investments launched the Startup India initiative on 16th January 2016. Sustained efforts by the Government under the Startup India initiative have led to an increase in the number of recognised startups to 1,40,803 as on 30th June 2024, which have created over 15.5 lakh direct jobs.

    Government of India has undertaken a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach to boost both domestic and foreign investments, fostering a robust and dynamic economic environment. From landmark reforms such as the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the reduction in corporate tax, to far-reaching measures aimed at improving ease of doing business and streamlining FDI policies, every step is geared towards creating a more investment-friendly ecosystem. Initiatives like the Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP), public procurement orders, and Quality Control Orders (QCOs) are focused on driving domestic manufacturing and enhancing product quality.

    The Government’s proactive response to the challenges posed by COVID-19, through the Atmanirbhar Bharat packages and targeted investments under the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) and National Monetization Pipeline (NMP), has turned adversity into an opportunity for growth. Tools such as the India Industrial Land Bank (IILB), Industrial Park Rating System (IPRS), and the National Single Window System (NSWS) further streamline processes for investors. Additionally, Project Development Cells (PDCs) in various Ministries ensure that investment proposals are fast-tracked, making India a more attractive destination for global and domestic investors. These efforts collectively reinforce India’s position as a burgeoning hub for manufacturing and innovation.

    As India moves into its next decade of growth, Make in India 2.0 focuses on furthering sustainability, innovation, and self-reliance. With strategic interventions in renewable energy, green technologies, and advanced manufacturing, the initiative is ensuring that Indian products meet the highest global standards.

    *****

    AD/VN/AM

    (Release ID: 2058603) Visitor Counter : 95

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 2024 SARP West Closeout

    Source: NASA

    On August 12-13, 24 students from the West Coast cohort of NASA’s Student Airborne Research Program (SARP) gathered at University of California, Irvine (UCI) to present their final research to a room of mentors, professors, family, and NASA personnel.
    SARP is an eight-week summer internship for undergraduate students, hosted in two cohorts: SARP West operates out of Ontario Airport and UCI in California, while SARP East operates out of Wallops Flight Facility and Christopher Newport University in Virginia. After research introductions from faculty, instrument scientists, and staff, students are assigned one of four research categories: for SARP West, these categories are aerosols, terrestrial ecology,  whole air sampling (WAS), or oceans. Each group is led by a dedicated researcher who is a specialist in that field, along with a graduate student mentor. Over the course of the summer, each intern develops their own research project as they conduct field work, collect data, and fly onboard either the P-3 or B200 NASA flying laboratories.
    “You really see them become scientists in their own right,” said Stephanie Olaya, Program Manager for SARP East and West. “A lot of these projects are PhD level: they are researching and making novel discoveries for the field. They don’t even realize the magnitude of the things they’ve accomplished until the end of the program.”

    Stephanie olaya
    SARP Program Manager

    Research is not the only focus of the program, however. Faculty and mentors alike commented on the confidence they watched grow in the cohort over the two month internship, and the sense of camaraderie with their peers. Olaya says building a sense of community is a primary goal of the program, which encourages close friendships through communal living, regular group dinners, and weekend trips, in addition to the hours of team fieldwork, data collection, and laboratory analysis.  
    The final presentations are another critical facet of the program, as it teaches students how to communicate scientific research and results to a non-scientific audience. “We want to impress on these students that science is not just for scientists,” Olaya said. “Science is for everyone.”
    The event finished with closing remarks by Barry Lefer, Tropospheric Composition Program Manager at NASA Headquarters. “I want to welcome you to the SARP family,” Lefer said, “and to the NASA family.”
    To watch videos of these student’s presentations and/or read their research abstracts, please follow the links below.

    Introduced by Oceans Group PhD student mentor Lori Berberian, University Of California, Los Angeles

    Leveraging high resolution PlanetScope imagery to quantify oil slick spatiotemporal variability in the Santa Barbara Channel

    Emory Gaddis, Colgate University

    Investigating airborne LiDAR retrievals of an emergent South African macroalgae

    Rachel Emery, The University of Oklahoma

    Vertical structure of the aquatic light field based on half a century of oceanographic records from the Southern California current

    Brayden Lipscomb, West Virginia University

    Comparing SWOT and PACE satellite observations to assess modification of phytoplankton biomass and assemblage by North Atlantic ocean eddies

    Dominic Bentley, Pennsylvania State University

    Assessing EMIT observations of harmful algae in the Salton Sea

    Abigail Heiser, University of Wisconsin- Madison

    Reassessing multidecadal trends in water clarity for the Central and Southern California current system

    Emma Iacono, North Carolina State University

    Introduced by Atmospheric Aerosols PhD student mentor Madison Landi, University of California, Irvine

    A comparative analysis of tropospheric NO2: Evaluating TEMPO satellite data against airborne measurements

    Maya Niyogi, Johns Hopkins University

    Investigating the atmospheric burden of black carbon over the past decade in the Los Angeles Basin

    Benjamin Wells, San Diego State University

    Tracking methane and aerosols in relation to health effects in the San Joaquin Valley

    Devin Keith, Mount Holyoke College

    Investigating the effects of aerosols on photosynthesis using satellite imaging

    Lily Lyons, Brandeis University

    Validating the performance of CMAQ in simulating the vertical distribution of trace gases

    Ryleigh Czajkowski, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

    Estimating aerosol optical properties using Mie Theory and analyzing their impact on radiative forcing in California

    Alison Thieberg, Emory University

    Introduced by WAS PhD student mentor Katherine Paredero, Georgia Institute of Technology

    Urban planning initiative: Investigation of isoprene emissions by tree species in the LA Basin

    Mikaela Vaughn, Virginia Commonwealth University

    VOC composition and ozone formation potential observed over Long Beach, California

    Joshua Lozano, Sonoma State University

    Investigating enhanced methane and ethane emissions over the Long Beach Airport

    Sean Breslin, University of Delaware

    Investigating elevated levels of toluene during winter in the Imperial Valley

    Katherine Skeen, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

    Characterizing volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from surface expressions of the Salton Sea Geothermal System (SSGS)

    Ella Erskine, Tufts University

    Airborne and ground-based analysis of Los Angeles County landfill gas emissions

    Amelia Brown, Hamilton College

    Introduced by Terrestrial Ecology PhD student mentor Megan Ward-Baranyay, San Diego State University

    Predicting ammonia plume presence at feedlots in the San Joaquin Valley from VSWIR spectroscopy of the land surface

    Gerrit Hoving, Carleton College

    Burn to bloom: Assessing the impact of coastal wildfires on phytoplankton dynamics in California

    Benjamin Marshburn, California Polytechnic State University- San Luis Obispo

    Species-specific impact on maximum fire temperature in prescribed burns at Sedgwick Reserve

    Hannah Samuelson, University of St. Thomas

    Quantifying the influence of soil type, slope, and aspect on live fuel load in Sedgwick Reserve

    Angelina Harris, William & Mary

    From canopy to chemistry: Exploring the relationship between vegetation phenology and isoprene emission

    Emily Rogers, Bellarmine University

    Keeping it fresh(water): Understanding the influence of surface mineralogy on groundwater quality within volcanic aquifer systems

    Sydney Kent, Miami University

    MIL OSI USA News –