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Category: Education

  • MIL-Evening Report: Provocative, progressive and fearless: why Beatrice Faust’s views still resonate in Australia

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Judith Brett, Emeritus Professor of Politics, La Trobe University

    Beatrice Faust is best remembered as the founder, early in 1972, of the Women’s Electoral Lobby (WEL). Women’s Liberation was already well under way. Betty Friedan had published The Feminine Mystique in 1962, arguing that many women found life as a full-time housewife and mother unfulfilling. With prevailing social assumptions denying them meaningful work, they were bored and frustrated, trapped by an ideal of domesticity that had become a prison.

    Consciousness raising groups were meeting to understand how patriarchal assumptions had limited their members’ lives and self-understandings. Campaigns for equal pay, for childcare, for abortion law reform, were underway. In 1970 Germaine Greer, who had been at Melbourne University with Faust in the late 1950s, published The Female Eunuch, with its attack on the suburban consumerist nuclear family.

    WEL began when Beatrice invited ten carefully-selected women to meet in the upstairs room of her Carlton terrace. The idea behind WEL was simple, as many brilliant ideas are. It was to survey political candidates for the 1972 federal election on their position on various issues of central concern to women and then to publicise the results.

    American feminist activists Gloria Steinem and Patricia Carbine had surveyed the candidates for the forthcoming US presidential election and rated them according to their responses. After 23 years of Coalition government, momentum was building behind the Labor party and its dynamic leader, Gough Whitlam, and a Labor victory seemed within reach. So why not do the same here?

    Compared with much of Women’s Liberation, WEL was a reformist project. It was not attempting to overthrow the patriarchy or hasten socialism, but to position women’s concerns high on the mainstream political agenda and to achieve practical reforms that would make a difference to women’s lives. Scores of women joined that first year. For many, it transformed their lives, and by the end of the year WEL had become an effective feminist lobby group.

    When Faust started WEL she already had a decade of political activism behind her, in civil liberties and in the campaign to decriminalise abortion, which was illegal in all Australian states and territories. Like many other sexually active young women before the contraceptive pill was readily available, Faust had abortions, three in fact.

    By the time she started WEL, Beatrice Faust already had years of political activism behind her.
    Sydney Communist Party

    She had another reason to campaign for reform of the abortion laws. Her mother had died 12 hours after giving birth to Beatrice. She had been advised to have an abortion, but she was a Catholic and had refused. Her mother’s death was the defining fact of Faust’s life. The motherless child was sickly, and her childhood miserable. She believed that her father blamed her for his wife’s death and that she was unwanted and unloved.

    The pioneering political psychologist, Harold Lasswell, said of political activists that they try to solve for others what they cannot solve for themselves. There was nothing Faust could do about her mother’s death, but she could agitate to ensure other children were not born unwanted, as she felt herself to be.

    Repealing the laws that made abortion illegal, together with better sex education and easily available contraception, were her core political missions. She also agitated against the wowserish censorship regime limiting what adults could read and see in 1960s Australia, and publicly celebrated and privately enjoyed the pleasures of sex.

    Faust grew to sexual maturity during the 1950s when a repressive public sexual morality was already fraying, both from the emergence of a confident youth culture and the decline in the moral authority of churches.

    The advent of reliable contraception in the early 1960s turbo-charged this, removing the fear of pregnancy that had kept respectable unmarried people chaste. With the pill separating sex from reproduction, sex could become, as Faust put it, a recreational activity pursued for pleasure. The implications of this are still playing out, in the unstable co-existence in the contemporary moment of constrained public discourse with private sexual licence.

    Faust was a passionate advocate of sex education so that men and women could better understand their own and each others’ sexuality. Contrary to many in the women’s movement, she did not believe that differences between men and women were only the result of social roles and conditioning. The social constructions of gender built on biological foundations, Faust believed. This meant if a woman was to live as an autonomous social being and to have sexual agency, she needed to understand her body, and how it differed from the bodies of other women and of men. For her and her mother, biology had been a sort of destiny, so when the women’s movement started mocking biology, she disagreed.

    Faust was not just a political activist. She was also in her time a public intellectual, who wrote books, articles, op eds and reviews and commented frequently in the media. Because of her unusual openness about her sexuality, she became a go-to person as constraints loosened during the 1970s on the public discussion of all matters sexual.

    Her sexual style, she claimed, was masculine, giving her an androgenous perspective that made her as sympathetic to men as to women, and which informed her provocative perspectives on pornography, rape and paedophilia. Describing herself as “a sceptical feminist”, she was wary of the misandry she believed informed feminist separatism and feared that second-wave feminism was succumbing to the same sexual puritanism that had weakened the first.

    Many of her views will be challenging for contemporary readers. It’s hard for societies to get the balance right on sex. Too much repression is harmful as is too much licentiousness, the needs and desires of men and women need balancing, a range of individual differences accommodated, and violence and depravity confronted.

    Whatever the prevailing norms, not everyone will be happy. We need to be able to talk about this, to discuss issues around age of consent, sexual assault, victim blaming, gender identity and more, without being told “you can’t say that”. Faust was never afraid to say what she thought. She was fearless.

    Fearless Beatrice Faust (MUP), by Judith Brett, is available from April 23.

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

    – ref. Provocative, progressive and fearless: why Beatrice Faust’s views still resonate in Australia – https://theconversation.com/provocative-progressive-and-fearless-why-beatrice-fausts-views-still-resonate-in-australia-252027

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Bright victories and engineering achievements: the XI Tournament of young research engineers has ended

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University – On April 18, the final battles of the XI Tournament of Young Research Engineers took place in the auditoriums of the NSU Faculty of Information Technology “Inzhevika”. Intense struggle, bold decisions and real discoveries – participants competed in 13 tasks in 4 sections: “Neurotechnology”, “Programming”, “Electronics”, “Design”.

    Back in October 2024, schoolchildren received difficult tasks, and since then they have been working on solving them in order to brilliantly defend their projects before the jury. This year, about 100 participants and their mentors from 11 educational institutions of Novosibirsk and the Novosibirsk region competed for the title of the best young engineers.

    — The tournament consisted of two stages: preparatory (from October to April, when participants solve proposed problems and develop prototypes of devices) and the day of the final battles, when the participants meet offline, — said Boris Solomatin, head of the Inzhevika laboratory.

    The winners of the task battles were the following teams: — Biotechnology Lyceum No. 21, Koltsovo (task “Shock Control”) — Gymnasium No. 12, Novosibirsk (tasks “Labyrinth”, “Hand Music”) — Gymnasium No. 7 “Sibirskaya” (task “Tug of War”) — Lyceum No. 81, Novosibirsk (tasks “Radio Communication”, “Spark Generator”) — Lyceum No. 9, Novosibirsk (tasks “Trainer”, “Long-Worded”) — Novosibirsk Economic Lyceum (task “Color the Magic Picture”) — Technical Lyceum No. 176, Karasuk District (task “Tennis Trainer”) — School No. 9, Iskitim (tasks “Spark Generator”, “Walker”, “Glass Balls”)

    The winners of the Tournament by the number of victories in battles and maximum points for solutions were recognized as the teams: — Section “Neurotechnology”: Gymnasium No. 7 “Sibirskaya”, Novosibirsk — Section “Programming”: Lyceum No. 9, Novosibirsk — Section “Electronics”: Lyceum No. 81, Novosibirsk — Section “Design”: Secondary School No. 9, Iskitim

    The final protocol of the XI TYUI is available by link 

    — Winners of the Tournament of Young Research Engineers receive an additional 5 points in the subject of “computer science” when entering the training areas of the Physics, Mechanics and Mathematics Faculties, the Faculty of Information Technology, and the Institute of Intelligent Robotics, — shared Boris Solomatin.

    The development of original tasks, methodological support throughout the year and judging at the final fights were provided by the joint work of specialists from the Faculty of Information Technology, the Physics Faculty of NSU, Komsib LLC, the CMIT KYUT and Ledas LLC.

    Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all participants! See you in the new season!

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The ocean can look deceptively calm – until it isn’t. Here’s what ‘hazardous surf’ really means

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samuel Cornell, PhD Candidate, Beach Safety Research Group, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney

    Over the Easter weekend, seven people drowned along the Australian coast. Most were swept off rock platforms – extremely dangerous locations that are increasingly prevalent in Australia’s coastal fatality data.

    The weather was unseasonably warm, the surf at times looking calm and at others foreboding. And yet, despite warnings from Surf Life Saving, emergency services and meteorologists, many still entered the water – often unaware of how deceptively dangerous the conditions could be.

    It was a tragic reminder that many people don’t understand ocean conditions and how waves and swells work. Current water safety warnings aren’t doing enough to change behaviour – but with simple improvements and better education around long-period swells, we could save lives.

    The difference between waves and swells

    Waves on the ocean are caused by wind. Some, called sea waves, are generated by nearby winds. Others, known as swell waves, are created by distant weather systems, such as storms far away, and travel long distances.

    Swells can travel thousands of kilometres and may still be present even if the local wind is calm. It’s estimated that up to 75% of wave action across the globe is caused by distant storms, not local winds. This makes the predicting of swells and waves a complex science.

    A long-period swell refers to waves that arrive at longer intervals, typically 12 to 20 seconds apart. These swells carry more energy than short-period ones, travel greater distances, and tend to produce sets of larger waves when they hit the coast.

    Long-period swells can result in sudden large waves that crash into the beach with more energy.
    Sneaky Buddy/Shutterstock

    What makes long-period swells so dangerous?

    Over Easter, hazardous long-period swells generated by an ex-cyclone offshore were hitting much of the east coast. The Bureau of Meteorology issued warnings, and Surf Life Saving reinforced these messages with media alerts and beach closures.

    But the surf didn’t always look threatening – at least not all of the time.

    The misleading nature of long-period swells is part of the problem. They create deceptively calm periods, and lulls between these wave sets can last ten or 15 minutes. During that time, people feel safe entering the water, wading out, going onto a rock platform or relaxing near the shoreline.

    When the next set arrives, it can be unexpected and forceful – knocking people over, pulling them into the water or creating unexpected currents.

    Unlike short-period waves, long-period swells carry momentum that enables them to surge much further up beaches and rock platforms, increasing the chances of sweeping people into the water. When these waves break, they do so with considerable force, and the powerful backwash can drag people into deep water.

    The sudden arrival of these waves, without a gradual buildup, makes them especially dangerous in exposed areas like rock shelves or platforms.

    Rock platforms are dangerous because of a combination of environmental exposure and low visibility in our approach to coastal safety. They’re often exposed to powerful waves, have uneven, slippery surfaces, and lack easy exit points.

    If someone is knocked into the water, there’s usually nothing to hold onto, and climbing back up is almost impossible – especially in heavy clothing or fishing gear.

    Why current warnings don’t cut through

    Australians may be familiar with fire danger ratings, cyclone warnings and the UV index.

    But the way we communicate surf risk – particularly around swell behaviour – is vague and technical. Phrases like “hazardous surf” or “long-period swell” are accurate, but fail to convey what people will actually experience at the shoreline.

    Most members of the public don’t know what a 16-second swell interval means, or how it affects where and how waves break. As a result, warnings go unnoticed, or people believe they can assess the risk themselves by looking at the water – which, during a lull, can seem completely harmless.

    Social media compounds this problem. Over Easter, videos of huge waves circulated widely, but so did footage of people playing or standing near the water with no apparent concern. The public sees mixed signals – and the science and warnings don’t always cut through.

    How to improve coastal hazard communication

    If we want to reduce coastal deaths during swell events, we need to bridge the gap between forecasts and real-world understanding.

    1. Translate forecasts into direct, behavioural warnings

    Instead of just saying “hazardous surf”, add language that explains what that means: “Conditions may appear calm, but large sets of waves will arrive every 10–15 minutes. Stay well back from the waterline”.

    2. Use visual risk systems

    Just like fire danger ratings, a colour-coded coastal risk index could be introduced for days when swell conditions are particularly hazardous. Simple signage at beaches could indicate the risk level and explain the reason for it.

    3. Integrate live updates at key sites

    SMS alerts or digital signage at car parks and entry points could provide real-time hazard updates. These should be visual and multilingual to reach a broader audience.

    4. Make ocean science public knowledge

    Government campaigns, surf clubs and schools should all help explain the basics of swell behaviour – including what long-period swell is, why wave sets arrive and why calm periods aren’t always safe. Just like “swim between the flags” became a known rule, so, too, should basic awareness of wave cycles. Surfers could be champions of this education.

    The conditions that contributed to the Easter drownings were forecast, monitored and forewarned. But most people don’t make decisions based on marine forecasts – they make them based on what they see in front of them.

    Long-period swell is a classic hidden hazard. It tricks even experienced beach goers, not because the science is unclear, but because the risk isn’t made clear to the public.

    Samuel Cornell receives funding from Meta Platforms, Inc. His research is supported by a University of New South Wales Sydney, University Postgraduate Award. His research is supported by Royal Life Saving Society – Australia to aid in the prevention of drowning. Research at Royal Life Saving Society – Australia is supported by the Australian government. He has been affiliated with Surf Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving NSW in a paid and voluntary capacity.

    – ref. The ocean can look deceptively calm – until it isn’t. Here’s what ‘hazardous surf’ really means – https://theconversation.com/the-ocean-can-look-deceptively-calm-until-it-isnt-heres-what-hazardous-surf-really-means-255011

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The major parties have announced their plans to address domestic and family violence. How do they stack up?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Fitz-Gibbon, Professor (Practice), Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University

    In the past week, at least seven women have been killed in Australia, allegedly by men. These deaths have occurred in different contexts – across state borders, communities and relationships. But are united by one truth: they are part of the ongoing national crisis of men’s violence against women and children.

    While in the first four weeks of the election campaign there was silence from the major parties on this issue, now – with one week to go – both have released their commitments.

    The Coalition announced its plan last night, following Labor’s promises earlier in the week.

    Neither represent a commitment to ending gender-based violence. They both propose a patchwork of largely reactive initiatives. These will fail to deliver holistic reform to prevent violence and to intervene early enough to meaningfully reduce it.

    What has Labor pledged?

    Labor’s “commitment to women” announcement focuses on addressing financial abuse, a “fast growing and insidious form” of abuse. Key strategies proposed include:

    • preventing perpetrators from using tax and corporate systems to accrue debts as a form of coercive control

    • making perpetrators liable for debts incurred by the victim-survivor because of coercive control

    • and exploring options to stop perpetrators accessing the superannuation of victim-survivors after death.

    Labor has also pledged $8.6 million for perpetrator responses, including early interventions for young people.

    What about the Coalition?

    The Coalition’s approach is much more scatter gun, providing a list of disconnected strategies. It outlines 14 commitments.

    The announcement promises to improve support by expanding the Safe Places Emergency Accommodation Program and the Leaving Violence Program (which provides one-off funding to help cover the cost of leaving an abusive relationship).

    The Coalition will also increase crisis helpline support to ensure victim-survivors “have their calls answered and get the immediate assistance they require”.

    This is much needed. Frontline services are consistently under-resourced and have been calling for at least $1 billion annually to meet demand.

    The question of funding

    The Coalition’s $90 million pledge, with no clear timeframe or detail on how it will be distributed, represents less than 10% of what frontline services say is needed every year.

    Labor’s earlier announcement does not detail the funding commitment that will be allocated to their suite of proposed initiatives, other than to say $8.6 million will be provided for perpetrator interventions.

    Neither party has committed to multiyear funding models for domestic, family and sexual violence frontline services. This is essential for workforce retention and to ensure consistent delivery of trauma-informed care.

    We cannot criminalise our way out

    Law and order responses dominate the Coalition’s announcement. These include implementation of a national domestic violence register and the development of uniform national knife laws.

    Legal accountability is important and we need to improve information sharing across state and territory borders. But we cannot police or prosecute our way out of a problem rooted in structural inequality and social attitudes. It also fails to recognise that for many victim-survivors, the criminal legal system can be re-traumatising and does not meet their justice needs.

    The Coalition also commits to introducing new offences for online coercive behaviour and spyware use. This would be a significant legal shift by introducing family and domestic violence offences and bail laws for certain abusive behaviours at the federal level.

    It’s unclear how this would translate into state and territory criminal laws, or whether it is even necessary. All states and territories currently have laws prohibiting stalking and monitoring behaviours. Some states are in the early stages of developing or implementing coercive control offences.

    The Coalition has also reiterated its 2023 promise to hold a Royal Commission into sexual abuse in Indigenous communities.

    Indigenous scholars and organisations have previously rejected this proposal, particularly in light of the failure of the Northern Territory Intervention which required the suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act to implement.

    Evidence shows First Nations-led solutions should be prioritised over punitive approaches.

    What’s missing?

    The proposals from the two parties miss several critical areas.

    There’s no mention of sexual violence. While it would be optimistic to hope this is yet to come, it’s disappointing to see it has fallen off the agenda.

    The proposals don’t say anything about housing or recovery support beyond emergency accommodation. A lack of access to safe, long-term housing is one of the most significant barriers for victim-survivors escaping and recovering from violence. In the middle of a broader housing crisis, this is an essential component of any strategy.

    Children remain largely invisible. While the Coalition’s announcement commits to improving child protection, it offers nothing on delivering age-appropriate crisis responses, and to support the recovery needs of children and young people as victim-survivors in their own right.



    Read more:
    Australia had a national reckoning over domestic violence, but where’s the focus this election?

    Much has been written in recent weeks about the need to effectively engage men and boys, but they’re also barely mentioned by either party.

    Finally, there is no discussion of the need for greater monitoring and evaluation efforts. We cannot fix what we do not measure.

    Both parties’ announcements promise to build on the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children, which aspires to eliminate gender-based violence in one generation.

    Nearly three years into the delivery of that plan, the persistent prevalence of this violence shows we must do more. We need visible, bipartisan leadership that treats this issue with the same gravity we afford to other national emergencies.

    The National Sexual Assault, Family and Domestic Violence Counselling Line – 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault. The Men’s Referral Service (call 1300 766 491) offers advice and counselling to men looking to change their behaviour.

    Kate has received funding for research on violence against women and children from a range of federal and state government and non-government sources. Currently, Kate receives funding from Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), the South Australian government, Safe Steps, Australian Childhood Foundation, and 54 Reasons. This piece is written by Kate Fitz-Gibbon in her role at Monash University and Sequre Consulting, and is wholly independent of Kate Fitz-Gibbon’s role as chair of Respect Victoria and membership on the Victorian Children’s Council.

    Hayley has received funding for research on violence against women and children and criminal justice-related issues from a range of federal and state government and non-government sources. Currently, Hayley receives funding from ANROWS, and the ACT Justice Reform Branch.

    – ref. The major parties have announced their plans to address domestic and family violence. How do they stack up? – https://theconversation.com/the-major-parties-have-announced-their-plans-to-address-domestic-and-family-violence-how-do-they-stack-up-255127

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Coons leads bicameral letter in support of AmeriCorps as members and staff are let go in DOGE cuts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), Co-Chair of the bipartisan National Service Caucus, led 148 of his congressional colleagues in sending a letter to President Donald Trump defending AmeriCorps and NCCC AmeriCorps members and calling on him to reverse cuts to the program made last week by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The letter is co-led by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Vice Chair of the National Service Caucus. The letter is co-led in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07), Co-Chair of the bipartisan House National Service Caucus, and Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12), Ranking Member of the Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development.
    The Trump Administration placed a majority of AmeriCorps employees on leave last week as part of DOGE’s broader spending cuts. Programs such as AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors deploy more than 200,000 Americans annually to carry out results-driven projects at over 35,000 locations across the country. Working in partnership with thousands of nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations, these dedicated volunteers and workers help promote employment opportunities, strengthen the workforce, and support those in need. 
    “We are deeply concerned these actions will prevent the agency from continuing to deliver critical services, which include supporting veterans, fighting wildfires, tutoring in schools, combatting the fentanyl epidemic, and much more,” the lawmakers wrote. 
    The lawmakers highlighted the program’s benefits to society, to AmeriCorps members, and to the federal government—pointing to a non-partisan study showing that there are an estimated $17 in benefits returned for every taxpayer dollar spent. Additionally, the recently passed Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025 maintains AmeriCorps funding at its fiscal year 2024 level and serves as a continuing resolution to extend federal government funding through the end of fiscal year 2025. The senators emphasized that the administration is expected to implement the law in a manner consistent with the funding levels enacted in fiscal year 2024. Failing to do so would be a violation of the law.
    “If not reversed, these recent actions will both stop current programs and prevent timely and efficient execution of the agency’s fiscal year 2025 appropriations, delaying or even halting the recruitment and deployment of new AmeriCorps members around the country,” the lawmakers added.
    AmeriCorps programs serve communities nationwide, including in Delaware, where roughly 200 AmeriCorps members and more than 1,000 AmeriCorps Seniors respond to disasters, improve housing, help veterans, and support educational services. If the Trump Administration’s actions aren’t reversed, these critical services could come to a halt.
    “We are deeply concerned that this is the goal: to eliminate AmeriCorps, in direct conflict with recently enacted appropriations. However, even delays will disrupt programs Americans rely on for their health, education, and safety. We urge you to reverse these actions and instead work with Congress on bipartisan improvements to AmeriCorps so that more Americans have the opportunity to serve their communities,” the lawmakers concluded. 
    In addition to Senators Coons, Schumer, and Heinrich, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.). In addition to House Representatives Matsui and Adams, 103 other House Representatives signed on.
    You can read the full text of the letter here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The biggest losers: how Australians became the world’s most enthusiastic gamblers

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wayne Peake, Adjunct research fellow, School of Humanities and Communication Arts, Western Sydney University

    The story goes that the late billionaire Australian media magnate Kerry Packer once visited a Las Vegas casino, where a Texan was bragging about his ranch and how many millions it was worth.

    Packer produced a coin from his pocket and said: “I’ll toss you for it: my cash against your ranch”.

    The Texan declined.

    This story may or may not be true. But it is consistent with the old maxim that Australians love a punt and will bet on just about anything, even on two flies crawling up a wall (which one will fly off first?).

    A rich history

    Australians are the biggest (or worst) gamblers in the world per capita. How did it come to this?

    By the 1830s, following European settlement in Australia, there was a steady stream of migrants who were taking the ultimate gamble – resettling on the other side of the world.

    The discovery of gold in the 1850s then encouraged a torrent of speculators often armed with no more than a shovel and a wheelbarrow.

    Most remained insolvent but some found bonanzas. Gold-rich towns, Melbourne in particular, developed rapidly. Modern enclosed racecourses soon followed.

    At first, gambling was restricted to side bets between the horses’ connections.

    That changed in 1882 when Englishman Robert Sievier visited Australia. He was the first bookmaker to stand on a regular pitch, accept cash bets and pay winners after each race.

    Sievier soon had numerous imitators on course – bookmakers registered with race clubs, betting on races like the Melbourne Cup, which by the 1890s attracted 100,000-plus racegoers.

    Some fun on the front line

    People bet off-course too – in barber shops and saloons, not only on the races but rowing events, cycling and “pedestrianism” (foot races).

    Despite state betting acts passed in 1906 intended to restrict gambling, by the first world war, capital cities were dotted with racecourses.

    Male racegoers were encouraged to “play up and play the game” – as the famous 1892 imperialist poem Vitai Lampada by Henry Newbolt urged – and enlist in the defence forces.

    When their enthusiasm curbed in 1917 after causalities at the front seeped back, governments reduced the number of race meetings but this caused crowds at those remaining to treble.

    Meanwhile, at the front lines, Australian soldiers adopted the egalitarian coin-toss game of two-up: a game where coins are spun in the air and bets are laid on whether heads or tails are facing up once they settle on the ground.

    Two-up remains a facet of the Australian psyche today – illegal, although authorities turn a blind eye on Anzac Day, supposedly out of respect for returned soldiers.

    This concession reflects the connection in Australia between mateship, the “Anzac legend”, sport and gambling.

    The pokie problem

    After the first world war, racecourse attendances grew even larger.

    The 1929 Depression eroded them but the emergence of racing radio broadcasts and the spread of the telephone network fed a regrowth in illegal off-course betting, especially in New South Wales.

    That state was also the scene of the next big, and perhaps most significant, development in gambling in Australia: the legalisation of poker machines in 1956.

    “The pokies” were originally restricted to registered clubs: mostly returned servicemen clubs, but in 1997, the NSW Labor government allowed them into hotels, where they soon rendered the less exciting “dancing joker” card machines extinct.

    The other states long resisted the temptation to legalise pokies. As a result, coaches loaded with would-be players from Victoria visited clubs at New South Wales border towns such as Corowa.

    The pokies were finally legalised in Victoria in 1991, later in other states. In Western Australia they remain legal in casinos only.

    Poker machines are widely regarded as a more insidious and dangerous form of gambling – in most other countries they are restricted to casinos.

    Since then, pokies have become a major part of Australia’s gambling landscape. In fact:

    The options are endless

    Poker machines reign as the dominant form of gambling in Australia, but there are many more options: lotteries and instant lotteries (“scratchies”), Keno and sports betting, which is fast replacing horseracing as the main business of the so-called corporate bookmakers that have emerged in the past 25 years.

    As technology continues to advance, online gambling – which is difficult to regulate and control – might be the biggest ongoing threat to gamblers.

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

    – ref. The biggest losers: how Australians became the world’s most enthusiastic gamblers – https://theconversation.com/the-biggest-losers-how-australians-became-the-worlds-most-enthusiastic-gamblers-252496

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: Jade Power Announces Director Appointment

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Jade Power Trust (“Jade Power” or the “Trust”) (NEX:JPWR.H) is pleased to announce the appointment of an independent director, Bruce McCannel, to the Board of Directors of Jade Power Administrator Inc., effective immediately.

    Bruce is currently a corporate consultant primarily focused on government and stakeholder engagement and communications strategies. Holding a Master of Public Administration degree, Bruce worked in budget development for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Finance, was an Executive Director for the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport, and was on the board of directors for the Canadian Parks Council. When he was the head coach of the University of Regina Cougars Track and Field program, Bruce was a member of the board of directors for Saskatchewan Athletics and the Excel Athletika Track and Field Club.

    David Barclay, Chief Executive Officer stated “We look forward to working with Bruce on the Board. We are excited by the value that his experience in government and stakeholder relations will bring to the Trust.”

    For further information please contact:

    David Barclay
    Chief Executive Officer
    +1 954-895-7217
    david.barclay@bellsouth.net

    About Jade Power

    The Trust, through its direct and indirect subsidiaries in Canada, the Netherlands and Romania, was formed to acquire interests in renewable energy assets in Romania, other countries in Europe and abroad that can provide stable cash flow to the Trust and a suitable risk-adjusted return on investment. All material information about the Trust may be found under Jade Power’s issuer profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Statements in this press release contain forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as “anticipates”, “plans”, “proposes”, “estimates”, “intends”, “expects”, “believes”, “may” and “will”. The forward-looking statements are founded on the basis of expectations and assumptions made by the Trust. Details of the risk factors relating to Jade Power and its business are discussed under the heading “Business Risks and Uncertainties” in the Trust’s annual Management’s Discussion & Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023, a copy of which is available on Jade Power’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Trust. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, Jade Power expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    Neither the TSXV nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    class=”has-text-align-left”>By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
    Section 1.  Background.  Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the modern world, driving innovation across industries, enhancing productivity, and reshaping the way we live and work.  To ensure the United States remains a global leader in this technological revolution, we must provide our Nation’s youth with opportunities to cultivate the skills and understanding necessary to use and create the next generation of AI technology.  By fostering AI competency, we will equip our students with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to adapt to and thrive in an increasingly digital society.  Early learning and exposure to AI concepts not only demystifies this powerful technology but also sparks curiosity and creativity, preparing students to become active and responsible participants in the workforce of the future and nurturing the next generation of American AI innovators to propel our Nation to new heights of scientific and economic achievement.To achieve this vision, we must also invest in our educators and equip them with the tools and knowledge to not only train students about AI, but also to utilize AI in their classrooms to improve educational outcomes.  Professional development programs focused on AI education will empower educators to confidently guide students through this complex and evolving field.  Educators, industry leaders, and employers who rely on an AI-skilled workforce should partner to create educational programs that equip students with essential AI skills and competencies across all learning pathways.  While AI education in kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) is critical, our Nation must also make resources available for lifelong learners to develop new skills for a changing workforce.  By establishing a strong framework that integrates early student exposure with comprehensive teacher training and other resources for workforce development, we can ensure that every American has the opportunity to learn about AI from the earliest stages of their educational journey through postsecondary education, fostering a culture of innovation and critical thinking that will solidify our Nation’s leadership in the AI-driven future.
    Sec. 2.  Policy.  It is the policy of the United States to promote AI literacy and proficiency among Americans by promoting the appropriate integration of AI into education, providing comprehensive AI training for educators, and fostering early exposure to AI concepts and technology to develop an AI-ready workforce and the next generation of American AI innovators.
    Sec. 3.  Definition.  For the purposes of this order, “artificial intelligence” or “AI” has the meaning set forth in 15 U.S.C. 9401(3).
    Sec. 4.  Establishing an Artificial Intelligence Education Task Force.  (a)  There is hereby established the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education (Task Force).(b)  The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall be the Chair of the Task Force.(c)  The Task Force membership shall consist of the following members:(i)     the Secretary of Agriculture;(ii)    the Secretary of Labor;(iii)   the Secretary of Energy;(iv)    the Secretary of Education;(v)     the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF);(vi)    the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy;(vii)   the Special Advisor for AI & Crypto; (viii)  the Assistant to the President for Policy; and(ix)    the heads of other such executive departments and agencies (agencies) and offices that the Chair may designate or invite to participate.(d)  The Task Force shall be responsible for implementing the policy stated in section 2 of this order and coordinating Federal efforts related to AI education, including the actions outlined in this order.
    Sec. 5.  Establishing the Presidential Artificial Intelligence Challenge.  (a)  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Task Force shall establish plans for a Presidential Artificial Intelligence Challenge (Challenge), and the agencies represented on the Task Force shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, implement the plans by holding the Challenge no later than 12 months from the submission of the plan.  The Challenge shall encourage and highlight student and educator achievements in AI, promote wide geographic adoption of technological advancement, and foster collaboration between government, academia, philanthropy, and industry to address national challenges with AI solutions.(b)  The Challenge shall feature multiple age categories, distinct geographic regions for competition, and a variety of topical themes of competition to reflect the breadth of AI applications, encouraging interdisciplinary exploration. (c)  The Task Force and, as appropriate, agencies represented on the Task Force shall collaborate with relevant agencies and private sector entities to provide technical expertise, resources, and promotional support for implementing the Challenge, including through existing funding vehicles.  
    Sec. 6.  Improving Education Through Artificial Intelligence.  (a)  To provide resources for K-12 AI education, agencies represented on the Task Force shall seek to establish public-private partnerships with leading AI industry organizations, academic institutions, nonprofit entities, and other organizations with expertise in AI and computer science education to collaboratively develop online resources focused on teaching K-12 students foundational AI literacy and critical thinking skills.  The Task Force shall promptly announce such public-private partnerships on a rolling basis as they are formed.(i)   The Task Force shall seek to utilize industry commitments and identify any Federal funding mechanisms, including discretionary grants, that can be used to provide resources for K-12 AI education.  To the extent practicable and as consistent with applicable law, agencies shall prioritize funding for such purposes when it would further the aims of the program for which funding is available.(ii)  The Task Force shall work to ensure the resources funded as described in subsection (i) of this section are ready for use in K-12 instruction within 180 days following the Task Force’s formal announcement of the first slate of public-private partnerships.(b)  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Task Force shall identify existing Federal AI resources on which agencies may rely, such as the NSF- and Department of Agriculture-sponsored National AI Research Institutes, to support partnerships with State and local educational agencies to improve AI education.(c)  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education shall issue guidance regarding the use of formula and discretionary grant funds to improve education outcomes using AI, including but not limited to AI-based high-quality instructional resources; high-impact tutoring; and college and career pathway exploration, advising, and navigation.(d)  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education shall identify and implement ways to utilize existing research programs to assist State and local efforts to use AI for improved student achievement, attainment, and mobility.
    Sec. 7.  Enhancing Training for Educators on Artificial Intelligence.  (a)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education shall take steps to prioritize the use of AI in discretionary grant programs for teacher training authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-10), as amended, and Title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-329), as amended, including for:(i)    reducing time-intensive administrative tasks;(ii)   improving teacher training and evaluation; (iii)  providing professional development for all educators, so they can integrate the fundamentals of AI into all subject areas; and(iv)   providing professional development in foundational computer science and AI, preparing educators to effectively teach AI in stand-alone computer science and other relevant courses.(b)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Director of the NSF shall take steps to prioritize research on the use of AI in education.  The Director of the NSF shall also utilize existing programs to create teacher training opportunities that help educators effectively integrate AI-based tools and modalities in classrooms. (c)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Agriculture shall take steps to prioritize research, extension, and education on the use of AI in formal and non-formal education through 4-H and the Cooperative Extension System.  The Secretary of Agriculture shall also utilize existing programs to create teacher and educator training opportunities that help effectively integrate AI-based tools and modalities into classrooms and curriculum.
    Sec. 8.  Promoting Registered Apprenticeships.  (a)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Labor shall seek to increase participation in AI-related Registered Apprenticeships, including by:(i)   Prioritizing the development and growth of Registered Apprenticeships in AI-related occupations.  The Secretary of Labor shall establish specific goals for growing Registered Apprenticeships in AI-related occupations across industries; and(ii)  Using apprenticeship intermediary contracts and allocating existing discretionary funds, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to engage industry organizations and employers and facilitate the development of Registered Apprenticeship programs in AI-related occupations.  In doing so, the Secretary of Labor shall support the creation of industry-developed program standards to be registered on a nationwide basis, enabling individual employers to adopt the standards without requiring individual registry.(b)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Labor shall encourage States and grantees to use funding provided under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) (Public Law 113-128), as amended, to develop AI skills and support work-based learning opportunities within occupations utilizing AI by:(i)    issuing guidance to State and local workforce development boards encouraging the use of WIOA youth formula funds to help youth develop AI skills;(ii)   clarifying that States can use Governor set-asides to integrate AI learning opportunities into youth programs across the State; and(iii)  consistent with applicable law, establishing AI skills training and work-based learning as a grant priority in all Employment and Training Administration youth-focused discretionary grant programs.(c)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Labor, through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training, and in collaboration with the Director of the NSF, shall engage with relevant State and local workforce development boards, industry organizations, education and training providers, and employers to identify and promote high-quality AI skills education coursework and certifications across the country.  Through such engagement, the Secretary of Labor shall:(i)    identify applicable funding opportunities to expand access to high-quality AI coursework and certifications;(ii)   set performance targets for youth participation through any grants awarded for this purpose; and(iii)  utilize industry and philanthropic partnerships to the extent practicable.(d)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, and in consultation with the Secretary of Education and the Director of the NSF, the Secretary of Labor shall support the creation of opportunities for high school students to take AI courses and certification programs by giving priority consideration in awarding grants as appropriate and consistent with applicable law to providers that commit to use funds to develop or expand AI courses and certification programs.  The Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education shall encourage recipients to build partnerships with States and local school districts to encourage those entities to consider offering high school students dual enrollment opportunities to take courses to earn postsecondary credentials and industry-recognized AI credentials concurrent with high school education.(e)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, all agencies that provide educational grants shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, consider AI as a priority area within existing Federal fellowship and scholarship for service programs.
    Sec. 9.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or(ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.(b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.(c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
                            DONALD J. TRUMP
    THE WHITE HOUSE,    April 23, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: First cohort graduates from global initiative shaping the future of defence and space

    Source:

    24 April 2025

    Global Executive MBA in Defence and Space graduate Glen Gallagher in Washington, DC.

    The first hand-picked cohort from a specialist global program tailored to meet the pressing challenges facing the defence and space sectors graduated from the University of South Australia this week.

    Students from UniSA’s Global Executive MBA in Defence and Space have completed the customised 18-month program, a world-first to help build a global pipeline of talent for the two sectors, specifically benefitting international alliances such as AUKUS.

    The graduates, who include executives and uniformed personnel from defence and space organisations operating in Australia, the US, UK and Europe, will help address critical skills gaps in cyber security, space systems, geopolitics and defence procurement and build the innovation and leadership capabilities required across the sectors.

    UniSA partnered with the University of Exeter (UK) and Carnegie Mellon University (US) to deliver the program, with students undertaking online study and intensive in-person residentials in each of the three AUKUS countries.

    Professor Lan Snell, Dean of Programs (Postgraduate), UniSA Business, says the value of the program lies in its global structure.

    “Throughout the program students develop global experiences, networks and competencies in the defence and space sectors that other Executive MBA programs can’t match. That is not only attractive to SA locals, but to potential recruits and their employers nationally and internationally,” she says.

    Professor Snell says the 2025 graduates are well equipped to tackle the complexities associated with the multi-decade projects that will make up the AUKUS arrangement.

    “Our graduates have built on a range of skills and capabilities ranging from technical skills through to project management and leadership capabilities,” she says. “We now have heightened technical understandings and better developed future-focused capabilities such as communication, teamwork and problem solving.”

    Global Executive MBA in Defence and Space graduate Glen Gallagher says the program directly influenced his career progression over the past two years as he transitioned from Operations Manager at Boeing Defence Australia to Director, Advanced Systems at South Australian Government agency, Defence SA.

    “I think taking part in the program did influence my career path in terms of my confidence, skills and ability to tackle a senior executive role. If I hadn’t been undertaking the Global Executive MBA in Defence and Space, I might not have backed myself or had the necessary attributes to be successful in my current role,” he says.

    “The value of the program is also in the establishment of multiple networks with peers, colleagues and industry professionals from around the world that you wouldn’t typically be exposed to unless you take up a lot of international travel.”

    Gallagher says highlights of the program included the two-week residentials in the US and UK, particularly travelling to Washington, DC, in the lead up to the US election in November 2024.

    “Part of the program was held near Capitol Hill and that was amazing to witness in terms of the build-up in geopolitics at that time. It was an experience that can’t ever be beaten.”

    The next Global Executive MBA in Defence and Space cohort will commence at Adelaide University in 2026.

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
    Media contact: Melissa Keogh, UniSA Media M: +61 403 659 154 E: Melissa.Keogh@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Hickenlooper Highlights Trump Admin Chaos at Town Halls in Grand Junction, Colorado Springs, Events Across Western Slope

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
    In case you missed it, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper recently held town halls in Grand Junction and Colorado Springs, and made stops in Breckenridge, Eagle, and Glenwood Springs to discuss how the Trump administration’s policies are raising costs and harming communities across Colorado. 
    In Grand Junction, Hickenlooper hosted a town hall at Colorado Mesa University where he answered constituent concerns about Trump administration policies including tariffs and cuts to the Department of Education.
    The next day Hickenlooper stopped in Glenwood Springs to discuss drought on the Colorado River, as well as the current Trump administration’s freeze on federal funding for water conservation across the West.  
    Hickenlooper also stopped in Eagle to meet with local leaders impacted by Trump administration’s funding and workforce cuts to public lands, and in Breckenridge at the Vista Verde workforce housing complex, where he discussed food insecurity and the cost-of-living crisis in Colorado’s mountain communities. 
    Later in the week, Hickenlooper held a second town hall In Colorado Springs where he answered questions on his response to Trump administration ICE detentions and cuts to funding for medical research.
    Check out the coverage below:
    KKCO Grand Junction:  Senator Hickenlooper addresses tariffs, immigration, and federal layoffs at Grand Junction Town Hall
    “I know that there is a lot of frustration, anger, concern about what’s going on in Washington,” said Hickenlooper.
    …KKCO had the opportunity to listen to Hickenlooper’s response to key issues before the Town Hall.
    Hickenlooper was asked about Colorado Public Lands if he will fight to keep State and National Parks and Forests untouched: “I have gone up to every Republican I know and say that’s off the table. Just so you know, I will fight tooth and nail. You’ll never get anything done. And I have been assured that at least through the Senate, that’s not going to happen,” he said.
    Hickenlooper was asked about current immigration laws and Kilmar Garcia: “I think that is the single most egregious act that I’ve seen our government condone, that I can remember,” he said. “This is a level of corruption that I don’t think any American expected when they voted for Donald Trump. I can tell you that at least two or three dozen people I know who are devout supporters of President Trump are outraged.”
    CPR News: US Senator Hickenlooper talks Trump resistance during Grand Junction town hal
    U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper invoked Valley Forge at an event in Grand Junction Monday night while encouraging disaffected voters to stay engaged in politics. But he also invoked collegiality to defend his approach to navigating Trump politics.
    While Hickenlooper drew questions about some of his concessions, he spent much of the evening outlining policies and actions by the Trump administration he could not abide by. He told reporters that the wrongful deportation of a man to an El Salvadorian prison was “the single most egregious act that I’ve seen our government condone,” and that feared cuts to Medicaid were “unfathomable.
    Daily Sentinel Editorial: Hickenlooper shows up — that’s enough for now
    Monday’s town hall reflected Hickenlooper’s even-keeled personality. The advice he imparted to those concerned with the direction of the country mirrored his own political posture: Stay engaged, show kindness and work to find real solutions to the nation’s problems.
    “In a funny way, we’re at war,” he added. “You’ve got to be pragmatic as well as ruthless.
    Hickenlooper provided examples of Trump administration controversies he can’t tolerate — including the “tariff tax” putting a “chokehold” on economic growth and the wrongful deportation of a man lawfully in the United States to an El Salvadoran prison.
    Calling the latter “the single most egregious act that I’ve seen our government condone,” Hickenlooper told reporters that if the administration defies court orders, “then we really have to go to the streets.”
    WATCH: NBC Grand Junction: Hickenlooper hosts Grand Junction town hall
    Grand Junction Daily Sentinel: Sen. Hickenlooper hosts town hall in Grand Junction
    Colorado Sun: John Hickenlooper’s Western Slope tour reveals growing frustration over Trump’s public lands policy
    Colorado U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper is hearing a lot of frustration and anger as he tours the state this week. He’s telling people to organize and gather stories that reflect how public lands are suffering under drastic cuts at land agencies.
    “It’s going to be a battle. It’s going to be a war. And the only real leverage that we have … in a constitutional democracy is to have people rise up,” he said, standing on the banks of the Eagle River on Tuesday at a small gathering of local officials worried about their forests.
    Vail Daily: Colorado’s John Hickenlooper says ‘some things just shouldn’t be for sale’ as he stumps for public lands on Western Slope
    Colorado Sen. John Hickenlooper didn’t mince words Tuesday on the threat to public lands in the West during a tour of the Western Slope that included stops in Breckenridge, Eagle and Glenwood Springs. 
    “There are a lot of people out there that have never been to the West,” Hickenlooper said during a stop at the Eagle River Park. “They don’t give a crap. They think government’s too big and they’re just going to cut. Elections have consequences. The way to fight back on that is to bring them lessons from the West in graphic detail. Information is power.”
    Colorado Newsline: Hickenlooper calls on Supreme Court to hold Trump officials in contempt
    U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper on Tuesday urged the U.S. Supreme Court to start holding Trump administration officials in contempt of court and “lock them up” if they refuse to comply with the court’s unanimous order to “facilitate” the return of a Maryland man wrongly deported to a notorious mega-prison in El Salvador.
    “The Supreme Court’s got to step up and say, ‘All right, we’re going to start holding people in contempt of court.’ They have the ability to sanction,” Hickenlooper said in an interview with Colorado Newsline. “They can take the people, the officials who deny any culpability or any responsibility, they can bring them in and force them to testify, to come to the court. And if they don’t come, they’re in contempt, and then you lock them up.”
    Summit Daily: ‘I don’t see the demand decreasing’: Summit officials get candid with Sen. Hickenlooper about workforce’s struggles with affordability
    U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper hit stops in Colorado’s High Country on Tuesday, April 15, for what he said was an effort to collect stories from his constituents to help refine his understanding of the area he represents.
    His Breckenridge stop was paired with a tour of an upcoming nonprofit hub, and the story he got from local officials lifted the veil covering the historic mountain town with an affluent appearance to show the local workforce’s struggles with affordability.
    Hickenlooper said the United States is currently in a place where even those living in areas with a low cost of living are having to work multiple jobs to stay afloat.
    “Society has gotten wealthier and wealthier, again, the greatest wealth in the history of the world, and yet we still have to fight like crazy to keep rent within peoples’ grasp,” he said.
    Colorado Springs Gazette: Hickenlooper fields questions on Space Command, immigration, more at Colorado Springs town hall
    “I think the threat on our democracy is real,” Hickenlooper said. “This notion that we can take someone off the street, lock him up, not charge him, no hearing and send him down to a hellhole of a prison in El Salvador, and then admit that we made a mistake, but we’re not going to do anything about it.”
    The president’s tariffs, meanwhile, are going to have a negative impact on the local economy, Hickenlooper said.
    “The tariffs are going to slow down everything, and the fact that he’s going to have these gigantic reciprocal tariffs, and now we paused for 90 days, well, that means no large company can make an investment, right?”
    WATCH: NBC Colorado Springs: Sen. Hickenlooper hosts town hall in Colorado Springs

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Birds hold remarkable clues to fighting human and animal infections

    Source:

    24 April 2025

    Australian and Dutch researchers have uncovered a remarkable evolutionary adaptation in birds that could hold vital clues for combating avian flu and respiratory infections in humans, including pneumonia and COVID-19.

    The research, published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, investigates the molecular evolution of specific types of proteins (CL-10 and CL-11) in bird lungs, revealing the role they play in recognising and neutralising harmful microbes.

    These ancient proteins appear to compensate for the evolutionary loss of the surfactant protein D (SP-D), a key immune component in humans and other mammals that helps protect the lungs from airborne pathogens.

    According to University of South Australia pulmonary biology researcher, Professor Sandra Orgeig, the study sheds new light on how birds maintain lung protection despite their unique respiratory anatomy that does not allow their lungs to contract and expand.

    “Unlike mammals, birds have a rigid lung structure with unidirectional air flow, which has evolved to support flight,” Prof Orgeig says.

    “Our research shows that CL-10 and CL-11 have been highly conserved in birds, suggesting they play a crucial role in lung immunity, possibly compensating for the loss of SP-D.”

    Birds are known reservoirs for several zoonotic infections (diseases that are transmitted between animals and humans), including avian flu and other airborne pathogens. Understanding their lung immunity could provide important insights into how these diseases spread, and how to prevent them.

    The team conducted an extensive analysis using molecular and genetic techniques, confirming the presence of CL-10 and CL-11 in the zebra finch and turkey – two evolutionary distant birds.

    Co-author Dr Albert van Dijk from Utrecht University says that because birds lack the SP-D immune protein found in mammals, their lungs must rely on alternative defence strategies against respiratory pathogens.

    “If we can identify how these proteins function in birds, we may be able to develop new strategies to improve immune responses in humans, particularly for respiratory diseases such as pneumonia and COVID-19,” Dr van Dijk says.

    The researchers say the findings may provide a foundation for future medical and veterinary advances.

    A video explaining the research is available at: A word about birds

    Notes for editors

    Kunchala, S. R., van Dijk, A., Veldhuizen, E. J. A., Haagsman, H. P., & Orgeig, S. (2025). Adaptation and conservation of CL-10/11 in avian lungs: Implications for their role in pulmonary innate immune protection. DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0425

    Dr Srinivasa Kunchala led the research while undertaking his PhD at the University of South Australia. He is now based in Hyderabad, India, where he has founded his own company Advanced Respiratory Drug Delivery Solutions.

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

    Contact for interview: Professor Sandra Orgeig M: 0410 422 712 E: sandra.orgeig@unisa.edu.au
    Media contact: Candy Gibson M: +61 434 605 142 E: candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future

    Source: The White House

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

    Section 1.  Purpose.  To maximize my Administration’s historic investments in America’s reindustrialization and economic growth, my Administration will fully equip the American worker to produce world-class products and implement world-leading technologies.  My Administration will also consolidate and streamline fragmented Federal workforce development programs that are too disconnected from propelling workers into secure, well-paying, and high-need American jobs.

    Sec. 2.  Policy.  It is the policy of the United States to optimize and target Federal investments in workforce development to align with our country’s reindustrialization needs and equip American workers to fill the growing demand for skilled trades and other occupations.  My Administration will further protect and strengthen Registered Apprenticeships and build on their successes to seize new opportunities and unlock the limitless potential of the American worker.

    Sec. 3.  Comprehensive Worker Investment and Development Strategy.  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Education shall review all Federal workforce development programs and submit to the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget a report setting forth strategies to help the American worker.  That report shall identify the following:

    (a)  Opportunities to integrate systems and realign resources to address critical workforce needs and in-demand skills of emerging industries and companies investing in the United States as determined, to the extent permissible by law, by prospective employers.  The report shall include:

    (i)    administrative reforms to agency policies and programmatic requirements;

    (ii)   process improvements to better the experience for program participants; and

    (iii)  recommendations to further restructure and consolidate programs.

    (b)  Federal workforce development and education programs, or related spending within these programs, that are ineffective or otherwise fail to achieve their desired outcomes.  Each identified program should be accompanied by a proposal to reform the program, redirect its funding, or eliminate it.

    (c)  Available statutory authorities to promote innovation and system integration in pursuit of better employment and earnings outcomes for program participants.

    (d)  Opportunities to invest in the upskilling of incumbent workers to meet rapidly evolving skill demands of their industries, including the use of Artificial Intelligence in the workplace.

    (e)  Strategies to identify alternative credentials and assessments to the 4-year college degree that can be mapped to the specific skill needs of prospective employers.

    (f)  Efficiencies to streamline information collection, including through:

    (i)    harmonizing performance measures;

    (ii)   reducing the burden on grantees; and

    (iii)  ensuring that performance outcomes are measured using the most reliable data sources.

    Sec. 4.  Expanding Registered Apprenticeships.  Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Education shall submit to the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget a plan to reach and surpass 1 million new active apprentices.  That plan shall identify the following:

    (a)  Avenues to expand Registered Apprenticeships to new industries and occupations, including high-growth and emerging sectors.

    (b)  Measures to scale this proven model across the country, improve its efficiency, and provide consistent support to program participants.

    (c)  Opportunities, including through the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education (Perkins V) Act and Federal student aid, to enhance connections between the education system and Registered Apprenticeships.

    Sec. 5.  Delivering Unprecedented Transparency and Accountability.  The Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Education shall improve transparency on the performance outcomes of workforce development programs and credentials supported through Federal investments, including earnings and employment data, for all Federal workforce development programs.

    Sec. 6.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

    (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

    (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.  

    DONALD J. TRUMP

    THE WHITE HOUSE,

        April 23, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Reinstating Common Sense School Discipline Policies

    Source: The White House

    class=”has-text-align-left”>By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and to ensure safety and order in American classrooms, it is hereby ordered:

    Section 1.  Purpose and Policy.  The Federal Government will no longer tolerate known risks to children’s safety and well-being in the classroom that result from the application of school discipline based on discriminatory and unlawful “equity” ideology.

     In January 2014, the Department of Education and the Department of Justice jointly issued a “Dear Colleague” letter regarding school discipline.  In that letter, the Department of Education and the Department of Justice explained that schools could be found to violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 — and therefore could lose Federal funding — if their disciplinary decisions ran afoul of a newly imposed disparate-impact framework under which race-neutral disciplinary policies, applied in an even-handed manner, may be improper if members of any racial groups are suspended, expelled, or referred to law enforcement at higher rates than others.  The letter effectively required schools to discriminate on the basis of race by imposing discipline based on racial characteristics, rather than on objective behavior alone. 

    The consequences harmed students and schools.  A 2018 report from the Federal Commission on School Safety (Commission) noted evidence that, because of the 2014 letter, “schools ignored or covered up — rather than disciplined — student misconduct in order to avoid any purported racial disparity in discipline numbers that might catch the eye of the federal government.”  As a result, students who should have been suspended or expelled for dangerous behavior remained in the classroom, making all students less safe. 

    As the Commission found:  “When school leaders focus on aggregate school discipline numbers rather than the specific circumstances and conduct that underlie each matter, schools become less safe,” and “[r]esearch clearly indicates that the failure of schools to appropriately discipline disruptive students has consequences for overall student achievement.”  The Commission’s seemingly obvious conclusion was that “disciplinary decisions are best left in the hands of classroom teachers and administrators” and should be based on student behavior, rather than racial statistics.

    Following the Commission’s report on December 18, 2018, the 2014 Dear Colleague letter was rescinded.  In 2023, however, the previous administration’s Department of Education and Department of Justice issued new guidance noting that statistical racial disparities in student discipline may indicate violations of law, and encouraging schools to collect, analyze, and adjust their disciplinary policies in light of racial disciplinary data.  The 2023 guidance thus effectively reinstated the practice of weaponizing Title VI to promote an approach to school discipline based on discriminatory equity ideology.  As a consequence of these policies, teachers and students are suffering increased levels of classroom disorder and school violence.

    Sec. 2.  Definitions.  As used herein:
    (a)  The definitions in the Executive Order of January 29, 2025 (Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling), shall apply to this order.
    (b)  “Behavior Modification Techniques” means any school discipline policies or practices that incorporate or are based on discriminatory equity ideology.

    Sec. 3.  Ensuring Commonsense School Discipline Policies.      (a)  Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall issue new guidance to local educational agencies (LEAs) and State educational agencies (SEAs) regarding school discipline and their obligations not to engage in racial discrimination under Title VI in all contexts, including school discipline.
    (b)  The Secretary of Education shall take appropriate action with respect to LEAs and SEAs that fail to comply with Title VI protections against racial discrimination in the application of school discipline.
    (c)  Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education and the Attorney General shall initiate coordination with Governors and State Attorneys General regarding the prevention of racial discrimination in the application of school discipline.
    (d)  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Defense shall issue a revised school discipline code that appropriately protects and enhances the education of the children of America’s military-service families.
    (e)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education shall, in coordination with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, submit a report to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, regarding the status of discriminatory-equity-ideology-based school discipline and behavior modification techniques in American public education .  The report shall include:
              (i)    an inventory and analysis of the nature and consequences of all Title VI discipline-related investigations since 2009;
              (ii)   an assessment of the role of non-profit organizations that are Federal grant recipients in promoting discriminatory-equity-ideology-based discipline and behavior modification techniques, and recommendations to ensure that Federal taxpayer funds do not flow to programs or activities, including those of non-profit organizations, that promote discriminatory-equity-ideology-based discipline and behavior modification techniques;
             (iii)  an assessment of discipline-related policies and curricular options that do not promote discriminatory equity ideology; and
              (iv)   model school discipline policies that promote common sense, protect the safety and educational environment of students, do not promote unlawful discrimination, and are rooted in American values and traditional virtues.

         Sec. 4.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
              (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
              (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
    (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
    (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

                                  DONALD J. TRUMP

    THE WHITE HOUSE,
        April 23, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: A better path for apprentices and trainees

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government is making changes to work-based learning so that industries have more influence over how they train apprentices and trainees, Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds says.          
    “Whether you’re a carpenter building the warm, dry homes of tomorrow, or a mechanic working to keep us safe on the roads, it’s important you have the right skills to do your job effectively,” Ms Simmonds says.          
    “However, industry representatives have made it clear that the current work-based learning model is not delivering because it has become overly centralised through Te Pūkenga. As a result, the training of apprentices and other workers is often disconnected from the realities of the jobs they are working towards. 
    “We are fixing this by giving industries more control over how they train people.   
    “Beginning next year, the Government will introduce a new, independent, and industry-led model for work-based learning. 
    “This means vocational education and training providers will be able to manage all aspects of an apprenticeship or traineeship at an industry level, rather than taking direction from a centralised behemoth. 
    “This is great for learners because it makes their learning more relevant to their employment, and it is beneficial to businesses who will gain access to more capable workers to boost their productivity and deliver economic growth.  
    “Public and industry consultation clearly showed that this model was the preferred option, and this Government is proud to deliver the changes that we called for,” Ms Simmonds says. 
    From 1 January 2026: 

    New Industry Skills Boards (ISBs) will be set up to set training standards, endorse programmes and moderate assessments.
    Apprentices and trainees currently with Te Pūkenga will move to the ISBs for up to two years.
    New students will enrol directly with new work-based learning private providers, polytechnics, or Wānanga.
    ISBs will be able to enrol new learners until other providers are set up to deliver work-based learning.          

    “So, if you’re a learner or an employer — keep going. Your qualifications are essential, and your training is valuable. There will be no disruption, your training stays on track,” Ms Simmonds says.          
    “We’re building a better system — for learners, for industry, and for the future of New Zealand.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Release: Transparency needed on changes to early childhood education

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

    The Government is putting children at risk in early childhood education (ECE) by proposing to loosen the requirement for qualified teachers.

    “David Seymour should focus on growing the number of qualified teachers so more children get the support they deserve,” Labour’s early childhood education spokesperson, Jan Tinetti said.

    “What’s worrying about this announcement is how little it tells us about what changes are actually in store.

    “Instead of hiding behind vague statements, David Seymour needs to be transparent about what his plans are and whether they will come at the expense of our children’s learning and wellbeing.

    “A review into the sector is certainly warranted. It’s important we’re always improving and future-proofing the sector. It’s why we undertook our own review in Government and were clear about what we were modernising.

    “We’ve already seen David Seymour butcher the school lunches programme, I’d hate to see the same done to our ECE sector,” Jan Tinetti said.

    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: Governor Polis Visits Colorado Schools, Highlights National Blue Ribbon Winner and Career Learning Opportunities

    Source: US State of Colorado

    DENVER/COLORADO SPRINGS – Today, Governor Polis visited schools in Denver and Colorado Springs to highlight the success and innovation happening that is preparing students for the future.

    He began with a visit to DSST: Cedar High School in Denver, a 2024 National Blue Ribbon-winning school.

    “Preparing students with the knowledge and skills to succeed is important for their future, our communities, and our economy. I am proud of DSST: Cedar High School, including all the students, educators and staff, for receiving this prestigious national recognition and was thrilled to visit today to learn more about its success,” said Governor Polis.

    With this visit, the Governor has visited three of Colorado’s four 2024 Blue Ribbon Award Winning Schools. He previously visited Mesa View Elementary School in Grand Junction and Zach Elementary School in Fort Collins.

    Governor Polis then traveled to Colorado Springs, where he launched Colorado’s Outdoor Strategy, and then visited Odyssey Early College & Career Options to highlight its dual enrollment efforts to help students earn an associate’s degree, saving students thousands in tuition costs.

    “Dual and concurrent enrollment efforts are an important way to help students gain new skills and earn college credits and even a degree, all while saving them time and thousands of dollars in tuition costs. We are committed to expanding access to dual enrollment opportunities like what Odyssey Early College offers, to help our students get ahead and get good-paying jobs in our strong economy,” said Governor Polis.  

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Blasts Trump Administration Plan to Cut Funding for Head Start

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    According to Reports, Trump Will Submit A Budget Proposal to Congress That Would Eliminate All Funding for Head Start Program
    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) released the following statement in response to reports that the Trump Administration is going to submit a budget proposal that eliminates all funding for Head Start, a federally funded early education program that provides no-cost educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to more than half a million children, including thousands of Nevada children. Studies have shown that high-quality early childhood education programs, like Head Start, contribute to success later in life. Last week, Senator Rosen visited a local Head Start classroom in Carson City, Nevada – where she reaffirmed her commitment to this early childhood education program. 
    “At a time when child care is already too expensive and out of reach for hardworking Nevada families, it’s outrageous and cruel for the Trump Administration to propose eliminating Head Start, taking away this lifeline from families who need it most,” said Senator Rosen. “Studies have shown that Head Start improves children’s lives, and I won’t let this critical program be sacrificed by Republicans to pay for more tax cuts for billionaires. If the Trump Administration sends a budget proposal to Congress that guts Head Start funding, I’m going to do everything in my power to oppose it and fight back.”
    According to the National Head Start Association, children who participate in the Head Start program are more likely to meet key educational benchmarks, have been shown to perform considerably better on cognitive and social-emotional measures, exhibit fewer attention problems, and display fewer negative behaviors. Head Start children also have a higher likelihood of graduating from high school, attending college, and receiving a post-secondary degree, license, or certification.
    Senator Rosen has been a strong advocate for the Head Start program and has repeatedly pushed for additional funding to ensure that early education programs can continue serving Nevada families. Rosen has also actively worked to reduce costs and expand access to child care for Nevadans. Earlier this year, Rosen introduced the bipartisan Small Business Child Care Investment Act, which allows non-profit child care providers that otherwise qualify as small businesses to access larger and more flexible loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, and it passed out of committee.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Baird Meets with Monrovia Middle School Social Studies Class to Share Insights on Legislative Process

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Baird (R-IN-04)

    Rep. Baird Meets with Monrovia Middle School Social Studies Class to Share Insights on Legislative Process

    Monrovia, IN, April 23, 2025

    Today, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) joined Monrovia Middle School to meet with sixth-grade students in their social studies class to share his insights into the legislative process, the importance of civic engagement, and the responsibilities of elected officials. The students asked thoughtful questions and learned about how laws are made, how Congress operates, and the role citizens play in a healthy democracy. 

    “It’s always encouraging to see young Hoosiers taking an interest in how our government works, and I hope that this can inspire the next generation of leaders,” said Congressman Baird. “These students are the future of our country, and it’s important they understand that their voices matter and that they can make a difference in their communities. It was an honor to meet with these bright young students, share stories of my time serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, and discuss the importance of public service, integrity, and leadership.” 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Modernizes American Workforce Programs for the High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future

    Source: The White House

    OVERHAULING FEDERAL WORKFORCE TRAINING: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to modernize American workforce programs to prepare citizens for the high-paying skilled trade jobs of the future.

    • The order directs the Secretaries of Labor, Education, and Commerce to review all federal workforce programs to modernize, integrate, and re-align programs to address critical workforce needs in emerging industries.
    • These Secretaries shall provide President Trump with a streamlined and integrated plan to re-orient federal workforce programs to prepare the American economy for the opportunities presented by reshoring and re-industrialization.
    • This Comprehensive Workforce Strategy will further America’s global economic leadership and domination of key sectors by, among other things, capitalizing on the AI revolution.

    PROVIDING RETURN ON WORKFORCE INVESTMENT: After years of shuffling Americans through an economically unproductive postsecondary system, President Trump will refocus young Americans on career preparation.

    • Decades of failed political leadership have left America with a one-size-fits-all approach to workforce preparedness, which previous Administrations promoted as “college for all.”
    • The Federal Government invests over $700 billion a year in American higher education, but only about half of new college graduates find jobs that require college degrees.
    • Meanwhile, the Federal Government spends $4.1 billion on the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act and $1.4 billion on Career and Technical Education through the Perkins Act. Neither of these programs are structured to promote apprenticeships or have incentives to meet workforce training needs.
    • The Trump Administration is putting American workers first, unleashing domestic advanced manufacturing to produce the best American-made products and implement world-leading, American-developed technologies.

    BACK TO THE FUTURE OF JOBS: After decades of leadership by so-called “Experts” making wrong predictions on what the future will hold, President Trump will restore focus on sectors and programs that Made the American Economy Great in the first place.

    • In 2024, there was a shortage of 447,00 construction workers and 94,000 durable goods workers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the annual shortage of skilled tradesman over the next decade will be close to half a million—and grow as the years go by.
    • This understates the problem—and the opportunity. Even the best federal government statisticians cannot predict the future. As the potential of American AI increases, and as America reshores manufacturing and makes Made in America a mark of international envy, America will need more skilled tradesman than we’re prepared to train.
    • President Trump’s Executive Order will meet the needs of the future with a focus on registered apprenticeships. The Administration will submit a plan to support more than 1 million apprenticeships per year.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Reinstates Commonsense School Discipline Policies

    Source: The White House

    REINSTATING COMMONSENSE, NON-DISCRIMINATORY SCHOOL DISCIPLINE POLICIES: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to restore safety and order in American classrooms by ensuring school discipline policies are based on objective behavior, not DEI.

    • The Order requires new guidance to local and state educational agencies regarding school discipline, emphasizing compliance with Title VI protections against racial discrimination and preferencing.
    • It calls for appropriate action against educational agencies that fail to comply with Title VI by continuing to use racially preferential discipline practices. 
    • The Order requires a report to the President that includes an analysis of DEI-based school discipline and its consequences, measures to ensure that federal funds do not support racially preferential policies, including through nonprofit organizations, and proposing model discipline policies rooted in American values.   

    ENSURING SAFETY AND ORDER IN AMERICAN CLASSROOMS: President Trump is taking action to combat the increased levels of classroom disorder and school violence that teachers and students are facing due to flawed Obama-Biden policies.  

    • In 2014, the Obama Administration issued guidance pressuring schools (including with threatened loss of federal funding) to impose discipline in a manner designed to equalize disciplinary rates by race, rather than simply imposing discipline based on objective behavior alone.
    • As a result, students were disciplined differently depending on their race, and some students who should have been suspended or expelled for dangerous behavior remained in the classroom.
      • A 2018 Federal Commission on School Safety report found that schools ignored or covered up student misconduct to avoid federal scrutiny over racial disparities in discipline data.
    • Following the 2018 report, President Trump rescinded the Obama-era guidance.
    • In 2023, the Biden Administration reinstated the Obama practice of weaponizing Title VI to promote a DEI approach to school discipline, which makes schools less safe.

    MAKING AMERICA’S EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS GREAT AGAIN: President Trump prioritizes the needs of students, parents, and teachers over the demands of teachers’ unions, ensuring policies serve the interests of American families first.

    • President Trump eliminated divisive DEI programs in classrooms to foster unity and focus on academic excellence.
    • President Trump signed an Executive Order to expand educational freedom and opportunity for families.
    • President Trump directed the Secretary of Education to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return education authority to the States to better serve children.
    • President Trump prohibited federal funding for COVID-19 vaccine mandates in schools.
    • President Trump signed an Executive Order to keep men out of women’s sports and locker rooms.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The billions spent on NZ’s accommodation supplement is failing to make rent affordable – so what will?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edward Yiu, Associate Professor, School of Business, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

    Pixelbliss/Shutterstock

    New Zealand’s unaffordable housing market has left many low and middle-income families reliant on the accommodation supplement to cover rent and mortgage payments.

    But our new research has found the scheme, which costs the government almost NZ$5 billion a year, might not be an effective tool in addressing the country’s housing affordability crisis.

    Introduced in 1993, the accommodation supplement is a weekly, means-tested payment designed to subsidise part of a household’s rent or mortgage. The supplement is calculated independently of actual rent or mortgage payments.

    But our study looking at data from Auckland between 2019 and 2023 found accommodation supplement rental subsidies were not delivering meaningful improvements in affordability for renters. Subsidies used to support mortgage payments, however, appeared to be more effective in offering relief to low-income households wanting stable and affordable housing.

    Our results raise questions about whether the current policy of subsidising private rentals is working to address housing affordability in New Zealand.

    Renters left behind

    Our study compared the proportion of household disposable income spent on rent between households receiving the supplement versus those in the same income group who did not receive it.

    The results revealed a striking gap.

    In 2023 renters in the middle-income bracket who received the accommodation supplement were spending, on average, 35.6% of their income (including the supplement) on rent. Similar households without the subsidy spent 25.85% of their income on rent. This suggests the support is not significantly narrowing the affordability gap between subsidised and unsubsidised renters.

    This study also picked up potential signs of landlords inflating the rents for tenants receiving subsidies. This is known as “subsidy capturing”. On average, middle-income tenants receiving the accommodation supplement paid NZ$539.40 per week in rent in 2023. Non-recipients paid $502.90. That’s a 7.3% difference.

    Further research is needed to determine whether this discrepancy is due to rent inflation or differences in housing quality. But the finding aligns with international studies showing that subsidies can unintentionally drive up market rents.

    If landlords are capturing part of the subsidy by increasing rents, then the benefit meant for vulnerable tenants is being diluted.

    New Zealand’s housing market ranks as one of the least affordable in the OECD.
    ChameleonsEye/Shutterstock

    Greater promise with mortgage support

    Our data suggests mortgage support seems to level the playing field more effectively than rental assistance. The mortgage-to-income ratio for subsidised households stood at 25.55% and 29.95% in 2022 and 2023, respectively (income includes the supplement). This closely matches the 26.6% and 27.5% recorded for non-subsidised households in the same income group.

    One reason for the difference in the effectiveness of the supplement is that homeowners are typically required to contribute more upfront – a deposit – giving them a greater financial stake in their housing. This commitment may encourage better financial decisions and housing choices. It may also offer long-term benefits such as asset building and housing stability.

    Rental subsidies are essential for immediate relief, especially in emergencies or periods of transition. But our research calls into question their effectiveness in enhancing affordability. More targeted support for low-income homeowners could offer a more sustainable path forward.

    Intentions must match results

    The accommodation is undoubtedly grounded in good intentions. But considering how much of the national budget is being spent on housing-related welfare, it is essential the programmes deliver the best possible results for taxpayers.

    Measuring effectiveness is not about questioning the intent but about ensuring public resources truly achieve meaningful objectives.

    Simply increasing funding for subsidies is unlikely to solve the problem. As New Zealand confronts an ongoing housing affordability crisis, this study adds to growing evidence that policy effectiveness – not just how much is spent – is what truly matters.

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

    – ref. The billions spent on NZ’s accommodation supplement is failing to make rent affordable – so what will? – https://theconversation.com/the-billions-spent-on-nzs-accommodation-supplement-is-failing-to-make-rent-affordable-so-what-will-254779

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A golden era for personalized medicine is approaching, but are we ready?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nazia Pathan, PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher, Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University

    Biobanks have become some of the most transformative tools in medical research, enabling scientists to study the relationships between genes, health and disease on an unprecedented scale (Piqsels/Siyya)

    If there’s a disease that seems to run in your family, if you’ve had a negative reaction to a drug or wondered why a standard treatment didn’t work on you, the answers may lie in your genes.

    The unique sequence of DNA that acts as a blueprint for building and maintaining your body often plays a major role in shaping your predisposition to diseases and reactions to drugs.

    Genes in the DNA make proteins, which can act as biomarkers or influence other types of biomarkers. Biomarkers are molecules in the body that help measure health conditions, such as those detected in blood or urine tests.

    Blood glucose, for example, is a biomarker for diabetes, cholesterol levels can be biomarkers for heart diseases and albumin is a protein used to assess kidney and liver functions.

    Tailoring treatments

    By understanding a patient’s unique genetic profile, biomarker readings and lifestyle information, doctors could tailor the most effective and safest treatments for that individual.

    Genetics offer the opportunity for individualized health care that can improve patient outcomes, save lives and alleviate strain on the health-care system.

    This is the promise of personalized medicine, which is already making a difference in areas such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, mental health and rare diseases.

    The question is, are we prepared to seize this golden opportunity in Canada?

    Genetic testing and data

    Canadians are not averse to genetic testing. By 2018, a survey by Abacus Data showed around 11 per cent of Canadian adults had used direct-to-consumer genetic testing and analysis kits, and 60 per cent were open to ordering a test.

    This level of interest highlights a general acceptance of and readiness for genetic advancements in health care, which is encouraging, since we need much more reliable, population-level genetic information to make the most of this opportunity.

    Current genetic data is either scattered across relatively small, fragmented groups, which is severely limiting from a broader research perspective, or held by private companies. These companies have varying regulatory standards, raising concerns about privacy and data security, especially if a company is financially unstable or ceases to exist. This recently occurred when genetic testing company 23andMe filed for bankruptcy.



    Read more:
    With 23andMe filing for bankruptcy, what happens to consumers’ genetic data?

    The better model is publicly managed biobanks, which prioritize broad societal health over profit and offer stronger data protection through robust regulation of access, storage and usage. Strict oversight ensures the protection of individual privacy while promoting transparency.

    The potential of biobanks

    In this age of big data, biobanks have become some of the most transformative tools in medical research, enabling scientists to study the relationships between genes, health and disease on an unprecedented scale.

    This is possible because of technological advancements that allow large-scale genetic and biomarker testing, the adoption of cloud-based servers, and improvements in statistical modelling, machine learning and artificial intelligence.

    Establishing a biobank begins with collecting small amounts (five to 10 millilitres) of blood, saliva or tissue from consenting participants in the presence of health experts.

    Biobanks use next-generation sequencers to perform the genetic sequences at high speed, while the latest proteomics platforms enable measurement of thousands different biomarkers from a very small amount of blood. The resulting genetic and biomarker profiles are curated and made accessible through platforms like a national library.

    Countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States are paving the way with national efforts such as the UK Biobank and the All of Us Research Program.

    The British Biobank houses genetic and health data from more than 500,000 participants. Similarly, the U.S. program aims to enrol more than one million participants.

    Genomics in Canada

    As a genetic epidemiologist, I have had the opportunity to identify several potential genetic targets by using these treasure troves of information.

    The problem is that we don’t yet have a ready way of knowing if the results are directly applicable to the Canadian population.

    This is about to change. Genome Canada has launched the Canadian Precision Health Initiative to sequence the genomes of at least 100,000 Canadians.

    Biobanks enable scientists to study the relationships between genes, health and disease on an unprecedented scale.
    (Pixabay/Shameersrk)

    A Pan-Canadian Genome Library (PCGL) is also in the works to harmonize genetic data produced across Canada. It aims to capture, store and provide access to Canadian genomic data in a secure and ethical manner. Although this work is in the developmental phase, and the target population size remains unclear, these efforts are significant.

    These visions are closer to becoming a reality with the recent announcement of a $200 million investment in the Canadian Precision Health initiative. This is in addition to the more than $1 billion previously invested in health genomics research projects.

    These funds will support Canada’s Genomic centres, the PCGL, and enhance the translation of genomics into real-world applications, boosting the development of personalized medicine and advanced diagnostics to treat diseases.

    A potential model for the world

    Canada, with its uniquely diverse population, has a rare opportunity to lead the way in equitable, multi-ethnic genetic research that would address current biases that predominantly focus on individuals with European ancestry.

    This would ensure that everyone in Canada, including Indigenous communities, can benefit from this health-care revolution in an equitable, ethical and safe manner that balances privacy with the opportunities for groundbreaking research.

    With public trust and robust oversight, and making population-level data internationally accessible, Canada’s biobank initiative could become a model for the world in the golden era of personalized medicine.

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

    – ref. A golden era for personalized medicine is approaching, but are we ready? – https://theconversation.com/a-golden-era-for-personalized-medicine-is-approaching-but-are-we-ready-250336

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Promotes Excellence and Innovation at HBCUs

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    ADVANCING HBCU EXCELLENCE: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to promote excellence and innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
    The Order establishes a White House Initiative on HBCUs, housed in the Executive Office of the President, to enhance HBCUs’ capacity to deliver high-quality education to a growing number of students.
    The Initiative will prioritize private-sector partnerships, institutional development, and workforce preparation in high-growth industries like technology, healthcare, manufacturing, and finance.
    The Initiative will enhance HBCUs’ capabilities by supporting implementation of the HBCU PARTNERS Act, fostering research and program excellence, improving affordability and retention, and building pipelines for students to attend HBCUs.
    The Initiative will work to address barriers to HBCUs receiving certain Federal and state grant dollars and to improve their competitiveness for R&D funding.
    The Initiative will convene an annual White House Summit on HBCUs to foster collaboration and address key priorities for HBCU success.

    The Order establishes the President’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs within the Department of Education, comprising leaders from philanthropy, education, business, finance, entrepreneurship, innovation, private foundations, and current HBCU presidents.
    EMPOWERING HBCUs FOR AMERICA’S FUTURE: President Trump supports our Nation’s incredible HBCUs and their critical contributions to opportunity, innovation, and the economic strength of the United States.
    HBCUs areessential to fostering opportunity, economic mobility, and national competitiveness, serving as engines of success for American students.
    HBCUs have made extraordinary contributions to the general welfare and prosperity of the United States while producing many leaders in business, government, academia, and the military.
    Nearly 300,000 individuals annually pursue their dreams at HBCUs throughout the United States.
    These institutions generate $16.5 billion in annual economic impact and support over 136,000 jobs, strengthening communities and the Nation. 
    BUILDING ON A LEGACY OF SUPPORT: President Trump is committed to elevating HBCUs as beacons of educational excellence and economic opportunity, building on transformative actions from his first term.  
    President Trump relocated the Federal HBCU Initiative to the White House to ensure direct oversight and prioritization, and will once again locate it there.
    President Trump signed the FUTURE Act into law, securing $255 million in permanent annual funding for HBCUs and increasing funding for Federal Pell Grants.
    President Trump authorized more than $100 million for scholarships, research, and centers of excellence at HBCU land-grant institutions.
    President Trump provided $322 million in hurricane-related relief to four HBCUs in 2018 so they could fully focus on educating their students.
     President Trump ensured that faith-based HBCUs received equal access to Federal support.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Advances AI Education for American Youth

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    EMPOWERING AMERICA’S YOUTH: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order to create new educational and workforce development opportunities for America’s youth, fostering interest and expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) technology from an early age to maintain America’s global dominance in this technological revolution for future generations.
    AI is rapidly transforming the modern world, driving innovation, enhancing productivity, and reshaping how we live and work.
    America’s youth need opportunities to cultivate the skills and understanding necessary to use and create the next generation of AI technology.
    Early training in AI will demystify this technology and prepare America’s students to be confident participants in the AI-assisted workforce, propelling our nation to new heights of scientific and economic achievement.

    Preparing our students to be leaders in AI technology also requires investing in our educators, providing them with the tools and knowledge to both train students about AI and utilize the technology in the classroom.
    Lifelong learners also need new resources to develop technical skills for a rapidly evolving work environment that increasingly incorporates digital technology.
    PROMOTING AI LITERACY AND PROFICIENCY: President Trump promised to ensure and advance America’s position as the global leader in AI technology. By incorporating AI into education and providing AI training for educators, we will help equip the next generation of American AI innovators.
    To do this, President Trump is establishing the White House Task Force on AI Education.
    The task force will be chaired by the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and include other key members of the administration, such as the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Labor, and the Special Advisor for AI & Crypto.
    The task force will plan and help agencies implement a Presidential AI Challenge, which will encourage and highlight student and educator achievements in AI, promote wide geographic adoption of technological advancement, and foster collaboration between government, academia, philanthropy, and industry to address national challenges with AI solutions.
    The task force will also establish public-private partnerships to provide resources for K-12 AI education, both to enhance AI-related education but also to better utilize AI tools in education generally.
    The order directs the Secretary of Education to prioritize the use of AI in discretionary grant programs for teacher training and directs the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to prioritize research on the use of AI in education.
    PREPARING AMERICA’S WORKFORCE: Protecting and preparing the American workforce for the challenges of the future has always been at the forefront of the President’s AI agenda.
    Today’s executive order instructs the Secretary of Labor to leverage authorities and financial incentives to increase participation in AI-related apprenticeships.
    It also instructs the Secretary of Labor to encourage States and grantees to use Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding to develop AI skills and support work-based learning opportunities within occupations utilizing AI.
    The Secretary of Labor, through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training, in collaboration with the Director of NSF, will work with State and local workforce organizations and training providers to identify and promote high-quality AI skills education coursework and certifications across the country.
    The Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Education, and the NSF Director will work together to create opportunities for high school students to take AI courses and certification programs.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Colorado Helps Lead Lawsuit to Stop Trump Administration’s Illegal Tariffs that Are Raising Prices, Causing Economic Uncertainty

    Source: US State of Colorado

    President Trump’s tariff tax disaster is creating uncertainty in the economy, and drying up investment by plunging markets into chaos

    COLORADO – Today, Governor Polis and Attorney General Phil Weiser announced that the state will take legal action against the Trump administration over its failed tariff taxes that are destroying our economy, increasing costs on Americans, plunging markets, and putting America on the track to a recession. Colorado joins Oregon, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, and Vermont.

    “Tariffs are awful for Americans and our economy, and it’s important to use every legal tool possible to reduce trade barriers and increase prosperity. Today, Colorado is standing up against President Trump’s recessionary tariff tax increase, which has been disastrous and is jeopardizing both U.S. leadership and the world economy. Here in Colorado, tariffs are already hurting Colorado agriculture and small businesses. We will do everything we can legally to prevent tariffs that are bad for businesses and all Americans,” said Colorado Governor Jared Polis.

    Today, Governor Polis hosted Colorado-Mexico Friendship Day and has met with businesses across the state about the negative impacts of Trump’s tariffs on Colorado jobs and the economy.

    “Coloradans are already starting to feel the effects of the Trump tariffs, with rising prices to consumers and the State of Colorado resulting from them,” Weiser said. “Under the Constitution, only Congress has the power to tax and impose tariffs and there is no ‘emergency’ that justifies the Trump tariffs. We are challenging these tariffs in court because they are illegal and, as one study concluded, they will ‘increase inflation, result in nearly 800,000 lost jobs, and shrink the American economy by $180 billion a year’.”

    The lawsuit challenges President Trump’s executive orders calling for higher tariffs on most products worldwide. These tariffs impose a 25 percent tariff on most products from Canada and Mexico, and a 10 percent tariff on most products from the rest of the world. It also challenges President Trump’s plan to raise tariffs on imports from 46 other trading partners on July 9.

    Studies of the tariffs President Trump issued in his first term show that 95 percent of the cost of tariffs are paid by Americans. The Federal Reserve and the International Monetary Fund project that this round of tariffs will cause inflation.

    The lawsuit explains that under Article I of the Constitution, only Congress has the “Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises.” The executive orders cite the powers granted by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), but that law applies only when an emergency presents “unusual and extraordinary threat” from abroad and does not give the President the power to impose tariffs. Congress enacted IEEPA in 1977. No President had imposed tariffs based on IEEPA until President Trump did so this year.

    The case is State of Oregon, et al., v. Trump, et al. and was filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade.

    The case is led by Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes. Also joining the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, and Vermont.

    In 2024, Colorado exported a record $10.5 billion of goods to the world and imported $16.8 B in goods. Colorado’s top export partners are Mexico ($1.7B), Canada ($1.6B), China ($0.8B)  South Korea ($0.6B), and Malaysia ($0.6 B), accounting for half of all Colorado exports in 2024. Top export commodities include meat (17%); nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery (15%); electric machinery (13%); optic, photo, medical or surgical instruments (11%); and aircraft, spacecraft, and related parts (5%). In 2022, exports from Colorado supported an estimated 40 thousand jobs.

    Colorado in 2024 exported $500 million in aerospace, spacecraft, and related parts, accounting for roughly 4.8% of all Colorado exports. The European Union, Brazil, France, Canada and Mexico were the top five export destinations, accounting for 63% of Colorado’s aerospace exports. In 2024, Colorado imported $1 billion of aerospace, spacecraft and related parts, accounting for roughly 6.2% of all Colorado imports. Switzerland, the EU, Germany, Canada, and France were the top five import sources, accounting for over 90% of Colorado’s aerospace imports.

    An estimated 820,200 jobs in Colorado are supported by international trade, representing 20.8% of all jobs in the state. Colorado’s top import partners are Canada ($5.4 B), China ($1.8 B), Mexico ($1.1 B), Switzerland ($0.9 B) and Germany ($0.9 B), accounting for 60% of imports in 2024. Top import commodities include oil, mineral fuel (20%); electric machinery (14%); nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery (11%); optic, photo, medical or surgical instruments (8%); and aircraft, spacecraft and related parts (6%).

    In addition to the commodities traded, Colorado also trades services and runs a services trade surplus. In 2022, Colorado exported $16 B in services, supporting 97,260 jobs. Top services export markets were Canada ($1.3 B), the United Kingdom ($0.9 B), Mexico ($0.9 B), and China ($0.6 B). As a bloc, the EU was the top services export market with $3.8 B in services exports supporting over 18,900 jobs.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: State’s Outdoor Recreation and Conservation Leaders Announce Launch of Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy

    Source: US State of Colorado

    Collaborative vision for conservation, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience ensures an enduring future for generations to come

    COLORADO SPRINGS – Colorado Governor Jared Polis and coordinating partners from several state conservation, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience departments and programs, announced today the launch of Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy, a statewide vision and framework for action that ensures a future where Colorado’s outdoors, people, community character, and ways of life endure for generations to come. The Strategy was unveiled at the Partners in the Outdoors Conference in Colorado Springs. Coordinating partners involved in the Strategy development and rollout included Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), Colorado Department of Natural Resources, the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, and the Governor’s Office of Climate Preparedness & Disaster Recovery.

    Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy, one of the first of its kind in the United States, is the state’s conservation, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience strategy. It advances coordination, tools, and funding to align, prioritize, and implement strategic actions on the landscape for conservation, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience.  

    “Coloradans and our visitors love our great outdoors, and the outdoors are essential to what makes our state special,” said Governor Polis. “The health of our wildlife, biodiversity, people, communities, agriculture, and economies depends on thriving natural environments and amazing outdoor recreation experiences that our state provides. But our wild areas face significant and urgent pressures from growing populations, human disturbance, climate change, wildfires, and drought – and we are at an important crossroads. Our Strategy provides structure and important tools to help communities effectively and successfully plan and implement for the future.”

    Outdoor spaces are vital to residents, with 96% engaging in outdoor activities at least annually and 90 million visitors exploring the state in 2022. With more than 960 wildlife species and a population expected to grow from 5.5 million to 8.5 million by 2050, the Strategy supports Colorado’s efforts to celebrate and balance both conservation and recreation.  Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy has three goals:

    1. Climate-Resilient Conservation and Restoration: Conservation and restoration of lands and waters help wildlife and biodiversity thrive; habitats are resilient and connected; communities benefit from healthy ecosystems and agricultural lands.
    2. Exceptional and Sustainable Outdoor Recreation: A diversity of high-quality outdoor experiences are accessible, equitable, and inclusive; management and stewardship enhance benefits for and minimize impacts to people, landscapes, and communities.
    3. Coordinated Planning and Funding: Planning and implementation are interdisciplinary; supported by robust funding and capacity; inclusive of diverse perspectives and communities; and drive meaningful action for the outdoors.

    “The Strategy supports all who love the outdoors in working together to achieve climate-resilient conservation and restoration coupled with exceptional and sustainable outdoor recreation,” said Jeff Davis, Director, Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “Everyone can use the Strategy’s vision and goals as ‘North Stars’ to champion Colorado’s outdoors and coordinate efforts to achieve key outcomes for the state. The success of Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy hinges on partnerships to work together toward common goals and solutions.”  

    The Strategy comes to life through 9 objectives and 33 coordinating partner actions, along with a Resource Hub, offering free online data, mapping tools, and other resources to support conservation, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience planning. Available to public and private partners, the hub streamlines collaboration and enhances planning efforts for the outdoors. It currently provides:  

    • An interactive data dashboard with state and county scale information, data, and links for conservation, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience.  
    • An interactive plan library that is searchable for federal, regional, state, and county scale conservation, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience plans in Colorado.
    • Planning resources and guidance for conservation, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience.  
    • A statewide Guidance Framework for Tribal Collaboration in Conservation, Outdoor Recreation, and Climate Resilience.  
    • An interactive Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Resource and Action Guide that is searchable by topic area.  
    • Colorado’s Conservation Data Explorer (CODEX) and StoryMap with conservation, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience mapping tools.  

    Coordinating partners worked to develop the Strategy and Resource Hub over the past year. Other key partners contributed to the effort including state, federal, and local governments; Tribal Nations; private and agricultural land/water rights owners and managers; local communities; Colorado Regional Partnerships Initiative; Colorado Outdoor Partnership; and diverse private and public sector partners in conservation, restoration, outdoor recreation, stewardship, climate resilience, and equity, diversity, and inclusion.  

    “Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy is a bold, collaborative vision for the future of our state’s great outdoors. With leadership from the Department of Natural Resources, Great Outdoors Colorado, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Outdoor Recreation Office, and the Governor’s office, we’ve developed an innovative framework that will guide how we protect and steward Colorado’s landscapes — making them more climate-resilient, while also ensuring exceptional recreational opportunities are accessible to all. Our outdoors are more than just playgrounds — they are the heart of our Colorado way of life. But they’re under pressure — from population growth, increasing visitation, climate change, wildfires, and drought. To help tackle these challenges, we’ve spent the last few years listening — to communities, to experts, to everyday Coloradans — and crafting a strategy that reflects our shared commitment to protecting what makes this state so special. We’re proud of the work that’s been done, and even more excited about what comes next,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources.

    “As Colorado’s significant outdoor industry continues to grow, the Colorado Outdoor Strategy offers a vital roadmap for balancing economic opportunity with environmental stewardship and conservation. It empowers communities, businesses, and land managers to work together in building a future where our landscapes are resilient, recreation is sustainable, and access is equitable. This strategy reflects our shared belief that the outdoors are central to Colorado’s identity, economy, and way of life—and that we all have a role in protecting them,” said Conor Hall, Director, Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office.

    “Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy boosts Colorado’s technical chops, partner collaboration and funding menu to answer the question; how do we ensure our wild places, wildlife and wild opportunities thrive even while accounting for a changing climate and growing state. The Office of Climate Preparedness is proud to see this multi-year effort launch, advancing Colorado’s preparedness for a climate impacted future, building a state of the art technical foundation, on which state, local and federal partnerships can work together to realize a flourishing future for Colorado’s outdoors,” said Jonathan Asher, Director, Governor’s Office of Climate Preparedness & Disaster Recovery.

    “Colorado’s outdoor champions are showing their strength. The strategy is a testament to the power of partnership. United by a shared vision and leveraging the best available research, data, and resources, we are equipped to make decisions that will protect Colorado’s landscapes, foster vibrant communities, and improve Coloradans’ quality of life for years to come,” said GOCO’s Executive Director Jackie Miller. “We’ve accomplished so much already, and we’re just getting started.”  

    “The Nature Conservancy in Colorado is proud to have offered our science, insights, and expertise to help develop Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy. We are excited to be part of this historic milestone for conservation, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience, and we believe it will have far-reaching and meaningful impacts to benefit our lands, waters, recreation, and economy. Efforts like Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy show that we can work together to find solutions that benefit people and nature,” said Carlos Fernández, Colorado State Director, The Nature Conservancy.

    “The Strategy’s Guidance Framework for Tribal Collaboration offers a much-needed approach to ensuring that Tribes are actively involved in decision-making processes, and we appreciate the opportunity to contribute our expertise and traditional knowledge to help shape the direction of this work. By supporting this framework, our focus is to enhance Tribal participation in land and water management decisions, protect sacred lands, and preserve ecosystems that are vital to the health and well-being of our communities,” said Chairman Melvin J. Baker of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe.

    “To plan for recreation and conservation as separate pursuits would be like planting two halves of a tree on opposite sides of the forest — they will grow at the same time, but they will never form the same canopy. The health of the land requires harmony, not division. The Colorado Outdoor Strategy offers a way to manage the needs of wildlife and the wanderings of people in concert,” said Patt Dorsey, West Region Director of Conservation Operations, National Wild Turkey Federation.

    “Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy is a voluntary collaborative partnership for agriculture, conservation and recreation possibilities, whilst safeguarding Agriculture integrity and productivity,” said Tony Hass, Las Animas County Commissioner and Manager, Walking Y Ranch.

    “I am immensely grateful to have been chosen as a member of the Colorado Outdoors Strategy Steering Committee. The Strategy has the potential of memorializing a comprehensive approach to the symbiotic relationship between recreation and conservation that exists in Colorado and fairly makes this state a mecca for high quality experiences,” said Janelle Kukuk, Former State Trails Member, snowmobile at-large.

    “Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy represents years of hard work by countless communities, organizations and individuals, but more importantly it represents a collective commitment to look forward in a proactive and inclusive manner to avoid the mistakes of our past. Our ability to address the challenges of climate change, wildlife habitat loss and fragmentation, and fostering equitable and inclusive outdoor recreation opportunities requires collaboration from all stakeholders and Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy provides the framework for our local Regional Partnership Initiatives to envision what they want their communities to invest in for the future, a future that all Coloradans now have a stake in because of the Strategy,” said Luke Shafer, West Slope Director, Conservation Colorado.

    “Envision is excited to see Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy launch. Since 2016, Envision has been listening to residents and visitors and taking action with community and agency partners to sustain the healthy forests, waters, wildlife, working agricultural landscapes and exceptional outdoor recreation that make Chaffee County and Colorado such a special place to live and to visit. The Strategy offers a statewide framework to connect and empower grassroots efforts and organizations like ours to do more to protect the Colorado we love together,” said Cindy Williams, Chair, Envision Chaffee County.

    “Strategic approaches have been the cornerstone for much of the success around land conservation and outdoor recreation state-wide. Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy represents a cohesive and forward thinking approach to how we continue to balance the conservation of key landscapes that characterize the beauty and sustainability of our state while at the same time providing for meaningful outdoor experiences,” said Daylan Figgs, Director, Larimer County Natural Resources.

    “Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy cohesively aligns with Larimer County’s vision for the future by outlining a pathway to conserve its vibrant natural resources and valuable outdoor experiences. It is clear the challenges we face as a state are not unique to any one of us alone. The Strategy guides our future as partners in solving issues collectively, strengthening our resiliency as we face the future,” said Jody Shadduck-McNally, Larimer County Commissioner.

    “COS is a transformative path to a future where Colorado’s nature, people, and ways of life endure and thrive. The Colorado Natural Heritage Program is proud to have been a partner on the project team, helping to build a legacy of planning tools to inform decision-making in climate-resilient conservation, exceptional and sustainable outdoor recreation, and coordinated planning and funding. We are thrilled to host the map layers from COS on Colorado’s Conservation Data Explorer (CODEX), a collaborative space where all Coloradans can explore these tools and use them to drive sustainable investment in Colorado’s future. CNHP will use COS tools across our program, including our five-year Statewide Natural Heritage Survey, in which we are leveling up Colorado’s conservation data in the service of the COS, the Regional Partnership Initiative, and all of Colorado’s communities,” said David Anderson, Director and Chief Scientist, Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University.

    “The love of the outdoors brings Coloradoans together. The COS is a voluntary partnership and tool that will help communities and regions celebrate and enhance access to Colorado’s innate natural beauty,” said Kelly Flenniken, Executive Director, Colorado Counties, Inc.

    “I am thrilled to see the release of Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy after years working with stakeholders from around the state to address community needs and find a balance between conservation and outdoor recreation. BLM depends on partnerships with the state and local communities to meet the needs of the over 10 million visitors each year to BLM public lands, which generate over $1.5 billion in economic impact each year. This new strategy continues Colorado’s leadership in fostering collaboration between hunters, anglers, boaters, climbers, equestrians, mountain bikers, OHVers, and so many more partners, to steward our incredible public lands,” said Doug Vilsack, Colorado State Director, Bureau of Land Management.

    “Colorado has thousands of miles of incredible rivers that hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors flock to every year. American Whitewater is very excited about the direction and guidance Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy will provide. This effort is sure to protect our incredible recreational resources and vital ecosystems for many future generations,” said Hattie Johnson, Southern Rockies Restoration Director, American Whitewater.

    “COS provides navigational guidance and robust tools to integrate wildlife conservation needs and outdoor recreation desires,” said Suzanne O’Neill, Colorado Wildlife Federation.

    “Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy was born to help Coloradans enjoy robust wildlife populations, awe-inspiring landscapes, fulfilling recreational opportunities, and strong economies. But this future is only possible through informed planning followed by strategic action that avoids, minimizes, and mitigates adverse impacts to important habitats. Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy helps pave the way for community-developed, interdisciplinary plans that simultaneously conserve our wildlife and wild places and support sustainable recreation for all people,” Liz Rose, Colorado Program Manager, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.

    “We at the Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance are excited to see the launch of Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy for so many reasons. Among them, in our own partnerships, we’ve been able to utilize the data collection and resources that will now be available to us across the state. We leveraged the Strategy’s statewide conservation summary data and worked with local expertise to build a Pikes Peak Region conservation summary, which will inform planning and decision making moving forward. The Strategy’s north star goals support exceptional recreation and exceptional conservation of our natural resources. Our regional partnership’s advancement of a new land management partnership on Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain will support the Strategy, and we look forward to seeing it develop,” said Becky Leinweber, Executive Director, PPORA leading Outdoor Pikes Peak Initiative.

    Moving forward, Colorado Parks and Wildlife will steward Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy by coordinating collaborative leadership and implementation with GOCO, the Department of Natural Resources, Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, and the Governor’s Office, along with other agencies and partners.

    For more information, or to access Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy Resource Hub, visit the website.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: BREAKING: Rep. Mary Miller Calls for Investigation into Illinois High School Association’s Dangerous Policies

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mary Miller (IL-15)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    DATE: April 23, 2025
    CONTACT: Gabriel Spencer, Gabriel.spencer@mail.house.gov

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Mary Miller (IL-15) sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of the Department of Education Linda McMahon, urging an immediate investigation into the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) and the State of Illinois for actions that undermine fairness and safety in girls’ sports. In the letter, Rep. Miller cites blatant violations of federal law and the rejection of biological reality as grounds for urgent federal investigation.

    Read the Fox News Exclusive HERE.

    “The Illinois High School Association has crossed a dangerous line. By blatantly violating federal law and rejecting biological reality, they are not only undermining fairness in girls’ sports — they’re putting the safety of young women at risk,” said Congresswoman Mary Miller. “I’m calling on Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary Linda McMahon to launch an immediate investigation into the IHSA and the State of Illinois. Governor JB Pritzker and radical Illinois Democrats must be held accountable for enforcing abusive, anti-science gender policies ahead of the safety of our daughters and the fairness of girls’ sports.”

    Read the letter to Attorney General Bondi and Secretary McMahon HERE.

    Congresswoman Mary Miller introduced H.R. 2452, the Keep Our Girls Safe Act. This legislation would codify President Trump’s Executive Order 14201 and strip federal funding from any school that defies the commonsense protections for women and girls established under President Trump’s leadership.

    Congresswoman Miller currently serves as Chair of the Congressional Family Caucus and sits on the House Committees on Agriculture, Education and Workforce, and House Administration.

    Website: Marymiller.house.gov | X: @RepMaryMiller | Facebook: @RepMaryMiller

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PITTSBURGH – Shapiro Administration Highlights $2.4 Million Youth Workforce Investment During Roundtable with Boys & Girls Club of Western PA

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    April 24, 2025 – McKeesport, PA

    ADVISORY – PITTSBURGH – Shapiro Administration Highlights $2.4 Million Youth Workforce Investment During Roundtable with Boys & Girls Club of Western PA

    Department of Labor & Industry Secretary Nancy A. Walker will highlight the Shapiro Administration’s $2.4 million investment in the Schools-to-Work Program to expand career pathways for high school students across the Commonwealth during a visit to the Boys & Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania’s Teen Center in McKeesport for a roundtable discussion with students, legislators, employers, and community partners.

    One of the programs launching with a $250,000 investment is Cybersecure Pittsburgh, a new Schools-to-Work initiative led by Partner4Work. In partnership with Boys & Girls Club, Urban Pathways Charter School, and Phase 4 Learning Center, this pre-apprenticeship program will help high school juniors and seniors explore tech careers through classroom instruction, hands-on learning, and industry-recognized credentials.

    WHEN:
    Thursday, April 24, at 4:00 PM

    WHERE:
    The Club Teen Center, McKeesport is located at 1305 Fifth Ave, McKeesport PA 15132

    RSVP:
     Media interested in attending should RSVP to dlipress@pa.gov with the names and phone numbers for each member of their team.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Two UConn School of Nursing Students Attend a ‘Once in a Lifetime’ Conference Visiting State Senators and Representatives on Capitol Hill

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    DNP student Ryan Davis, CRNA, MSN and Sean Flaherty ’25 (NURS), have a passion for advocating, on a federal basis, for nurses and the profession itself.

    Accompanied by the School of Nursing’s Dean Victoria Vaughan Dickson, Ph.D., RN, FAHA, FHFSA, FAAN, these two students were able to take that passion to the Capitol where they attended the American Association of Colleges of Nursing annual Student Policy Summit.

    Established in 1969, the AACN currently represents over 875 schools of nursing in universities nationwide, UConn being one of them.

    The conference was held on March 30-31 in Washington, DC, open to baccalaureate and graduate nursing students. Only two students from each AACN member institution can attend and permission from the dean is acquired.

    “Nurses play a crucial role in health policy advocacy, influencing healthcare legislation and shaping the future of healthcare,” said Dean Victoria Vaughan Dickson, PhD, RN, FAHA, FHFSA, FAAN. “The Student Policy Summit provides student nurses with the unique opportunity to experience how nurses can effectively advocate for changes that benefit patients, their communities, and the broader healthcare system.”

    Ryan Davis, CRNA, MSN, posing at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing annual Student Policy Summit on March 30, 2025, in Washington DC. (Contributed Photo)

    Davis, a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) was nominated by her advisor Joy Elwell, DNP, FNP-BC, CNE, FAAN, FAANP, based on her DNP project which deals with recognizing CRNAs as advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) in her home state of New York, which is the only state in the nation that does not recognize them as such.

    The conference was an invaluable experience for Davis. She was able to witness a panelist who, like her, is a CRNA. Seeing him advocate on a federal level inspired and motivated her to continue doing the same.

    “Having these people in bigger platforms and on the federal level, just advocating for our profession is really nice to see,” Davis said.

    Like Davis, Flaherty has always had an interest in the legislative side of nursing, and after being nominated to go to the conference by the dean, he couldn’t say no.

    “I looked at this and I thought what a great opportunity, to go to Washington DC and do something completely different than what we traditionally are doing in this four-year program, which is nursing completely at the bedside,” he said.

    Sharing similar remarks to Davis, Flaherty said the conference was very insightful and showed him a side to the nursing profession that he is not used to seeing.

    It was humbling to see “how complex the field of nursing is and how many different alleys you can go down and still be extremely successful and influential,” Flaherty said.

    “It sounds so simple,” he added, but it was really “learning about the government.”

    Beyond the Bedside

    A key takeaway for both Davis and Flaherty was how nursing can go beyond the bedside.

    “Hearing some of the speakers and the panels, how they advocate and what they advocate for is just so inspiring for me to want to take it beyond my practice of doing nurse anesthesia and take it more politics and health policy,” said Davis.

    The importance of advocacy and being exposed to multiple nursing avenues was a crucial part in the students’ experience at the conference.

    “To be involved in the other side of nursing, this legislative making process with all of the rules and regulations, the laws and the practices of what we [as nurses] practice by was really neat to kind of open my eyes to that side of nursing,” Flaherty said.

    Using Your Voice

    The conference taught Davis a lot – how to speak to legislators, write letters, and follow up – but what she really learned, was how to use her voice.

    “What I got from it in terms of applying it to my DNP project and even as a UConn student is to not be afraid to use my voice when it comes to advocating for something that I believe in or something that my profession needs, such as being APRNs,” she said.

    They had the opportunity to visit with Connecticut Senators and Representatives “to discuss the importance of support for nursing, nursing research, and nursing education,” said Dickson.

    Specifically, they discussed the importance of the PRECEPT Nurses Act and the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs.

    The PRECEPT Nurses Act is a bill that provides a tax credit for nurses “who serve at least 200 hours as a clinical preceptor to nursing students, advanced practice nursing students, or newly hired licensed nurses in a Health Professional Shortage Area,” according to the AACN website.

    The Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs address nursing workforce demand including education, retention, practice, and recruitment.

    Flaherty also advocated for university funding. As an out-of-state student from upstate NY, he knows how crucial financial aid is in supporting the nursing workforce.

    There’s plenty of people who want to be in the workforce and continue their education in the nursing field, but they can’t afford the education of a state school, said Flaherty. “If you’re going to talk about how we have this nursing shortage, the quick solution would be to get more nurses,” he said. “And how do we do that? It’s funding students to be able to have that education because the number one barrier is going to be the cost.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A golden era for personalized medicine is approaching, but are we ready?

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Nazia Pathan, PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher, Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University

    Biobanks have become some of the most transformative tools in medical research, enabling scientists to study the relationships between genes, health and disease on an unprecedented scale (Piqsels/Siyya)

    If there’s a disease that seems to run in your family, if you’ve had a negative reaction to a drug or wondered why a standard treatment didn’t work on you, the answers may lie in your genes.

    The unique sequence of DNA that acts as a blueprint for building and maintaining your body often plays a major role in shaping your predisposition to diseases and reactions to drugs.

    Genes in the DNA make proteins, which can act as biomarkers or influence other types of biomarkers. Biomarkers are molecules in the body that help measure health conditions, such as those detected in blood or urine tests.

    Blood glucose, for example, is a biomarker for diabetes, cholesterol levels can be biomarkers for heart diseases and albumin is a protein used to assess kidney and liver functions.

    Tailoring treatments

    By understanding a patient’s unique genetic profile, biomarker readings and lifestyle information, doctors could tailor the most effective and safest treatments for that individual.

    Genetics offer the opportunity for individualized health care that can improve patient outcomes, save lives and alleviate strain on the health-care system.

    This is the promise of personalized medicine, which is already making a difference in areas such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, mental health and rare diseases.

    The question is, are we prepared to seize this golden opportunity in Canada?

    Genetic testing and data

    Canadians are not averse to genetic testing. By 2018, a survey by Abacus Data showed around 11 per cent of Canadian adults had used direct-to-consumer genetic testing and analysis kits, and 60 per cent were open to ordering a test.

    This level of interest highlights a general acceptance of and readiness for genetic advancements in health care, which is encouraging, since we need much more reliable, population-level genetic information to make the most of this opportunity.

    Current genetic data is either scattered across relatively small, fragmented groups, which is severely limiting from a broader research perspective, or held by private companies. These companies have varying regulatory standards, raising concerns about privacy and data security, especially if a company is financially unstable or ceases to exist. This recently occurred when genetic testing company 23andMe filed for bankruptcy.



    Read more:
    With 23andMe filing for bankruptcy, what happens to consumers’ genetic data?

    The better model is publicly managed biobanks, which prioritize broad societal health over profit and offer stronger data protection through robust regulation of access, storage and usage. Strict oversight ensures the protection of individual privacy while promoting transparency.

    The potential of biobanks

    In this age of big data, biobanks have become some of the most transformative tools in medical research, enabling scientists to study the relationships between genes, health and disease on an unprecedented scale.

    This is possible because of technological advancements that allow large-scale genetic and biomarker testing, the adoption of cloud-based servers, and improvements in statistical modelling, machine learning and artificial intelligence.

    Establishing a biobank begins with collecting small amounts (five to 10 millilitres) of blood, saliva or tissue from consenting participants in the presence of health experts.

    Biobanks use next-generation sequencers to perform the genetic sequences at high speed, while the latest proteomics platforms enable measurement of thousands different biomarkers from a very small amount of blood. The resulting genetic and biomarker profiles are curated and made accessible through platforms like a national library.

    Countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States are paving the way with national efforts such as the UK Biobank and the All of Us Research Program.

    The British Biobank houses genetic and health data from more than 500,000 participants. Similarly, the U.S. program aims to enrol more than one million participants.

    Genomics in Canada

    As a genetic epidemiologist, I have had the opportunity to identify several potential genetic targets by using these treasure troves of information.

    The problem is that we don’t yet have a ready way of knowing if the results are directly applicable to the Canadian population.

    This is about to change. Genome Canada has launched the Canadian Precision Health Initiative to sequence the genomes of at least 100,000 Canadians.

    Biobanks enable scientists to study the relationships between genes, health and disease on an unprecedented scale.
    (Pixabay/Shameersrk)

    A Pan-Canadian Genome Library (PCGL) is also in the works to harmonize genetic data produced across Canada. It aims to capture, store and provide access to Canadian genomic data in a secure and ethical manner. Although this work is in the developmental phase, and the target population size remains unclear, these efforts are significant.

    These visions are closer to becoming a reality with the recent announcement of a $200 million investment in the Canadian Precision Health initiative. This is in addition to the more than $1 billion previously invested in health genomics research projects.

    These funds will support Canada’s Genomic centres, the PCGL, and enhance the translation of genomics into real-world applications, boosting the development of personalized medicine and advanced diagnostics to treat diseases.

    A potential model for the world

    Canada, with its uniquely diverse population, has a rare opportunity to lead the way in equitable, multi-ethnic genetic research that would address current biases that predominantly focus on individuals with European ancestry.

    This would ensure that everyone in Canada, including Indigenous communities, can benefit from this health-care revolution in an equitable, ethical and safe manner that balances privacy with the opportunities for groundbreaking research.

    With public trust and robust oversight, and making population-level data internationally accessible, Canada’s biobank initiative could become a model for the world in the golden era of personalized medicine.

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

    – ref. A golden era for personalized medicine is approaching, but are we ready? – https://theconversation.com/a-golden-era-for-personalized-medicine-is-approaching-but-are-we-ready-250336

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –