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Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Response to Warren Request, Education Department Watchdog Will Investigate Trump and DOGE’s Attempts to Gut Agency

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    April 10, 2025
    Response from Education Department Inspector General (PDF)
    Washington, D.C. – Following a request led by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), the Department of Education’s Acting Inspector General (IG) agreed to open an investigation into the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education (ED). The investigation will cover how recent mass firings and buyouts for ED’s workforce affect the Department’s efficiency and effectiveness in serving students, teachers, and families across the country. 
    “This investigation will help reveal what’s at stake for those families. While Donald Trump and Elon Musk side with the billionaires, I will never stop fighting for our kids,” said Senator Warren in response to the investigation announcement.
    In early March, ED fired nearly 50 percent of the Department’s staff. Just one week later, President Trump signed an executive order instructing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take “all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education.” Soon after, the President also announced that he would move management of federal student loans to the Small Business Administration (SBA) and shift programs for students with disabilities to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
    “We will be conducting reviews…in order to identify the cumulative effect of staffing reductions…along with any actions that the Department should consider to help ensure productive and efficient operations following its workforce changes,” wrote the Acting Inspector General, René Roque. “We hope to begin issuing these reports in the summer of 2025, and we may identify additional work to be performed based on the results of our initial reviews.”
    On March 27, 2025, Senator Warren led the call for this independent investigation into the Trump administration’s actions. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) also joined the letter.
    Last week, Senator Warren launched the Save Our Schools campaign to fight back against the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle ED and highlight the consequences for every student and public school in America. 
    As part of the campaign, Senator Warren will amplify the real-life impacts of cuts to ED; lead investigations to hold the Trump administration accountable, including ED Secretary Linda McMahon and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE); and bring students, teachers, parents, and unions into the fight to protect access to public education.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New High Court Judge appointed

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Simon Mount KC as a High Court Judge. 
    Justice Mount graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Laws in 1996 and a Master of Laws in 2000, having been a High Court judges’ clerk from 1995-1996. 
    From 1997-1999 Justice Mount was a Teaching Associate with Columbia Law School in New York, also graduating with a Master of Laws from Columbia Law School in 1999. Between 2001 and 2015 Justice Mount was a Teaching Fellow with the University of Auckland. 
    Justice Mount joined Auckland firm Meredith Connell as a Crown prosecutor in 2000, and was seconded to Crown Law as a Crown Counsel from2008-2009. 
    Justice Mount has practised out of Bankside Chambers in Auckland as a Barrister sole since 2010, specialising in public law, criminal and regulatory law, including health and safety, professional discipline and public inquiries. He was a Visiting Justice from 2011 to 2018, a District Inspector of Mental Health from 2012 to 2018, and the Senior Advisory District Inspector from 2023 until present. 
    He is admitted to practise law in the Cook Islands and has been Attorney-General of the Pitcairn Islands since 2015, serving as the principal legal adviser to the Governor of Pitcairn. He was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 2017. 
    Justice Mount’s appointment as a High Court Judge will take effect on 1 June 2025, and he will sit in Auckland. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Member of Lummi Nation sentenced to prison for strangulation attack on intimate partner

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Seattle – A member of Lummi Nation was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 51 months in prison for Assault by Strangulation, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Joseph Michael Quincy Jefferson, 36, was found guilty in January 2025, following a seven-day jury trial. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Lauren King noted that Jefferson had multiple domestic violence related convictions in tribal court, saying “your abuse of others has become a pattern… You return to strangulation again and again.”

    “This case is testament to the importance of our work in tribal communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “Studies reveal that being a victim of strangulation significantly increases the risk the victim will be killed at the hands of their abuser. Holding Mr. Jefferson accountable now is the best way to protect future victims.”

    According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, on the night of April 8, 2023, Jefferson punched, pushed, and strangled his live-in partner. Sitting on her back he used the crook of his elbow to apply pressure to her neck, strangling her and causing her to black out twice. When the victim regained consciousness, she ran from the home barefoot and in her underwear, calling a friend and a neighbor requesting help. The victim went to the Lummi Nation Police Department and to the hospital where she made consistent statements to police and medical care providers. She was found to have a broken nose and other injuries consistent with strangulation. 

    At trial, Jefferson claimed he acted in self-defense. During her testimony, the victim minimized Jefferson’s conduct.

    In asking for a high-end 57-month sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Celia Lee recounted Jefferson’s history of domestic violence with his two romantic partners and noted that shorter sentences handed down by the Lummi Tribal Court have not changed his behavior. “Given Jefferson’s history, his conduct, and his behavior while under supervision, the Court is frankly left with no viable alternatives to a lengthy term of imprisonment. Thus, a significant custodial sentence at this juncture is appropriate, just, and would promote respect for the law. The government certainly hopes that such a sentence would also provide specific deterrence to Jefferson who has thus far not been dissuaded from violence by his prior terms of incarceration for domestic violence.”

    Jefferson has been in custody since his bond was revoked in late October 2024 due to his ongoing contact with the victim in violation of his conditions of pretrial release. He remains in custody pending sentencing.

    The case was investigated by the Lummi Nation Police Department and the FBI.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Celia Lee. Ms. Lee serves as a Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Ensuring public safety on tribal lands is a critical responsibility of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington.

    MIL Security OSI –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Polis Signs Laws to Improve Public Safety

    Source: US State of Colorado

    DENVER – Today, Governor Polis signed new laws to improve public safety in Colorado and strengthen the state’s workforce. The Governor signed SB25-003 – Semiautomatic Firearms & Rapid-Fire Devices, sponsored by Senators Tom Sullivan and Julie Gonzales, and Representatives Andrew Boesnecker and Meg Froelich, to improve public safety by enhancing gun safety education. The Governor also wrote a signing statement. 

    “I am focused on improving public safety and making Colorado one of the top ten safest states in the country. This bill ensures that our Second Amendment rights are protected and that Coloradans can continue to purchase the gun of their choice for sport, hunting, self-defense, or home defense. I am confident that this bill contributes to improving public safety in our state by helping to ensure an educated and trained gun owner community, including gun safety and safe storage,” said Governor Jared Polis. “This law is not a ban, and I have been clear that I oppose banning types of firearms. Proper gun safety education and training, however, are key components of public safety and responsible gun ownership.” 

    The Governor and his office worked with the sponsors, advocates, and Coloradans to improve the bill throughout the legislative session. As passed, this bill provides for lawful purchasers to undertake a gun safety education course prior to continuing to be able to purchase the gun of their choice starting in August 2026. 

    Governor Polis signed bills into law to strengthen the state’s resources for public safety, support Colorado youth, and enhance workforce development opportunities. 

    • SB25-059 – Supports for State Response to Mass Shootings, sponsored by Senators Tom Sullivan and Steven Woodrow, and Representative Michael Carter
    • SB25-151 – Measures to Prevent Youth from Running Away, sponsored by Senators Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Meg Froelich, and Representative Lindsay Gilchrist

     “These laws will ensure the state is prepared to support victims of crimes, and help Colorado youth in care sites get needed services to stay safe and healthy. Each of these new laws will improve public safety for communities across the state,” said Governor Polis. 

    These new laws add to a long line of laws signed by Governor Polis to improve public safety. This includes cracking down on auto theft and illegal guns, increasing funding for local law enforcement, community-led crime prevention efforts, safe storage, emergency risk protection order and more. 

    The Governor also signed HB25-1221 – Emily Griffith Associate of Applied Science Degree, sponsored by Representatives Eliza Hamrick and Lori Garcia Sander, and Senators Jeff Bridges and Paul Lundeen. 

    “This new credential can help connect more Coloradans to needed skills that lead to good-paying jobs. I appreciate the work of the sponsors on this legislation and look forward to seeing Coloradans take advantage of it,” said Governor Jared Polis. 

    Governor Polis also signed the following bipartisan bills administratively: 

    • SB25-015 – Wildfire Information & Resource Center Website, sponsored by Senators Lisa Cutter and Janice Marchman, and Representatives Elizabeth Velasco and Tisha Mauro. This bill is bipartisan.
    • SB25-033 – Prohibit New Liquor-Licensed Drug Stores, sponsored by Senators Judy Amabile and Dylan Roberts, and Representatives Naquetta Ricks and Ron Weinberg. This bill is bipartisan. SIGNING STATEMENT
    • HB25-1027 – Update Disease Control Statutes, sponsored by Representatives Lindsay Gilchrist and Kyle Brown, and Senators Lindsey Daugherty and Kyle Mullica. This bill is bipartisan.
    • HB25-1173 – Advisory Board Serving Office of School Safety, sponsored by Representatives Meghan Lukens and Dusty Johnson, and Senator Chris Kolker. This bill is bipartisan.
    • HB25-1110 – Railroad Crossing Maintenance Costs, sponsored by Representatives Ty Winter and Monica Duran, and Senators Byron Pelton and Robert Rodriguez. This bill is bipartisan. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Labor gains 5-point lead in a YouGov poll, taken during Trump tariff chaos

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne

    A national YouGov poll, conducted April 4–10 from a sample of 1,505, gave Labor a 52.5–47.5 lead, a 1.5-point gain for Labor since the March 28 to April 3 YouGov poll. This is Labor’s best result in YouGov for 18 months, and slightly better for Labor than the 2022 election result (52.1–47.9 to Labor).

    Primary votes were 33.5% Coalition (down 1.5), 32% Labor (up two), 13% Greens (steady), 8.5% One Nation (up 1.5), 1% Trumpet of Patriots (down one), 9% independents (down one) and 3% others (steady). By 2022 election preference flows, Labor would lead by over 53.5–46.5.

    Anthony Albanese’s net approval improved four points to -2, with 47% dissatisfied and 45% satisfied. In the last two weeks, Albanese has gained seven points on net approval. Peter Dutton’s net approval was steady at -15. Albanese led Dutton as better PM by 48–37 (45–38 previously).

    The only other national poll since last Sunday’s article was a Morgan poll that also had Labor extending its lead. The poll graph below shows Labor has kept improving in the polls since early March. With three weeks to go until the May 3 election, Labor is the likely winner.

    The YouGov poll was taken during the period after Donald Trump announced his “Liberation Day” tariffs on April 2, leading to a week of chaos on the stock markets. While US markets had their biggest one-day gain since 2008 on Wednesday after Trump suspended some of his tariffs for 90 days, they slumped again Thursday owing to the very high tariffs on China.

    I believe the more Trump is in the news for doing things that potentially damage the US and world economies, the more Labor will be assisted in the polls by not being the more pro-Trump major party.

    Candidate nominations for the federal election will be declared today after they closed Thursday. If candidates now embarrass their party, they can’t be replaced but only disendorsed; their names will still appear on the ballot paper.

    Morgan poll: Labor increases solid lead

    A national Morgan poll, conducted March 31 to April 4 from a sample of 1,481, gave Labor a 53.5–46.5 lead by headline respondent preferences, a 0.5-point gain for Labor since the March 24–30 Morgan poll.

    Primary votes were 33% Coalition (down two), 32.5% Labor (up 0.5), 13.5% Greens (up 0.5), 6% One Nation (up 0.5), 1.5% Trumpet of Patriots (new for this pollster), 9% independents (down 1.5) and 4.5% others. By 2022 election flows, Labor led by 54.5–45.5, a one-point gain for Labor.

    By 52–33, voters said the country was going in the wrong direction (51.5–32 previously). Morgan’s consumer confidence index increased 1.5 points to 86.8; this poll was taken before the stock market falls.

    Politicians’ net favourable ratings and seat polls

    I previously covered a national Redbridge poll for the News Corp tabloids that gave Labor a 52–48 lead. This poll asked about net favourable ratings for various politicians. Jacqui Lambie was at net -1 favourable, Albanese at -4, Dutton at -15, Greens leader Adam Bandt at -17, Pauline Hanson at -23 and Clive Palmer at -49.

    The Poll Bludger reported on Thursday a seat poll of McMahon by right-wing pollster Compass had Labor incumbent Chris Bowen on just 19% of the primary vote (48.0% in 2022). Bowen trailed the Liberals on 20% and right-wing independent Matt Camenzuli on 41%. The Poll Bludger was very sceptical of this poll.

    A uComms seat poll of Teal-held Wentworth for Climate 200 had teal Allegra Spender leading the Liberals by 58–42 (55.9–44.1 at the 2022 election adjusted for a redistribution). Neither of the polls above gave fieldwork dates, with both having a sample over 1,000. Seat polls are unreliable.

    Canadian and South Korean elections

    The Canadian election is on April 28, and it’s increasingly likely the governing centre-left Liberals will win a seat majority after they were 24 points behind the Conservatives in early January. There hasn’t been much movement from the Trump tariff chaos in the last week, but Trump’s US ratings are down.

    On April 4, South Korea’s Constitutional Court upheld the right-wing president’s impeachment by parliament in December after he declared martial law. A new presidential election was required and will be held on June 3. The centre-left Democrats are very likely to win, and they already have a big parliamentary majority. I covered these elections for The Poll Bludger on Thursday.

    Victorian state Redbridge poll: Coalition narrowly ahead

    A Victorian state Redbridge poll, reported in The Herald Sun, was conducted March 24 to April 2 from a sample of 2,013. It gave the Coalition a 51–49 lead, unchanged since November. Primary votes were 41% Coalition (down two), 29% Labor (down one), 13% Greens (down one) and 17% for all Others (up four). This poll is not as bad for Labor as other recent Victorian polls.

    Liberal leader Brad Battin was at +2 net favourable while Labor Premier Jacinta Allan was at a dismal -35. By 52–27, voters did not think the Labor government had the right priorities. By 46–29, voters supported the Suburban Rail Loop. Over 50% thought the government’s changes to machete and bail laws too lenient.

    Adrian Beaumont 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. Labor gains 5-point lead in a YouGov poll, taken during Trump tariff chaos – https://theconversation.com/labor-gains-5-point-lead-in-a-yougov-poll-taken-during-trump-tariff-chaos-253738

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – Household spending lifts in March but consumers remain cautious – CBA

    Source: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)

    Interest rate cuts are expected to fuel a consumer recovery in 2025, however rising global uncertainty could weigh on sentiment.

    The CommBank Household Spending Insights (HSI) Index rose 0.9 per cent in March, buoyed by a lift in recreation and hospitality spending off the back of Melbourne Grand Prix and the return of the winter football codes.

    Modest gains were seen across all 12 spending categories for the month, led by Education which surged 4.3 per cent amid rising tuition fees and the start of the academic year. Notable uplifts were also seen in Insurance (+1.6 per cent), Recreation (+1.4 per cent), Hospitality (+1.2 per cent), the latter showing its first lift since December.

    “While it’s encouraging to see a rebound in spending this March, particularly across discretionary categories like Recreation and Hospitality, it’s premature to call this a turning point, as the overall pace of spending growth remains lower than the final quarter of 2024,” CBA Senior Economist Belinda Allen said.

    “We expect interest rate cuts over the coming year to see consumers loosen their purse strings, but global uncertainty from the U.S tariffs may impact this recovery. It’s worth noting Australia is well placed to weather the global economic volatility and remains in a structurally sound position with limited direct impacts from the US tariffs. At the same time, the RBA has room to cut rates if required.”

    Over the past 12 months, spending was up 5.6 per cent, with the strongest growth concentrated in essential services where inflation remains elevated and premiums have risen such as Insurance (+15.3 per cent), Education (+12.7 per cent), Health (+11.9 per cent) and Household Services (+9.2 per cent). In contrast, Transport was down 3.3 per cent annually, led by lower petrol prices.

    Renters continue to show the weakest spending growth, with the annual rate of spending in original per capita terms rising by 2.0 per cent, well below owners with a mortgage (+3.2 per cent) and those who own their home outright (+3.5 per cent).

    “Queensland saw the softest growth rate in March, with spending rising just 0.1 per cent following ex-tropical cyclone Alfred,” Ms Allen said.

    Spending gains were led by South Australia (+1.2 per cent), Northern Territory (+0.9 per cent).

    The CommBank HSI Index tracks month-on-month data at a macro level and is based on de-identified payments data from approximately 7 million CBA customers, comprising roughly 30 per cent of all Australian consumer transactions.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Science Secretary hails Wrightbus as company pledges £25 million to bolster UK’s green transport revolution and drive growth

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Science Secretary hails Wrightbus as company pledges £25 million to bolster UK’s green transport revolution and drive growth

    Northern Ireland based bus manufacturer pledges £25 million to expand its R&D capabilities

    Wrightbus pledges £25 million for R&D into green transport revolution

    • Northern Ireland based firm Wrightbus to invest £25 million for cutting-edge research to develop next-generation electric and hydrogen vehicles
    • Investment to be transformative in cutting emissions and creating skilled local jobs to grow our economy, supporting the government’s Plan for Change
    • The success of Wrightbus shows how bold investment in Research and Development pays off – with the Science Secretary calling it a prime example of the benefits innovation can bring to businesses and the wider economy

    Millions of pounds in investment by Wrightbus to develop the next generation of green buses has been welcomed today by Science Secretary Peter Kyle, highlighting it as a key driver of economic growth under the Plan for Change.

    As the UK’s fastest-growing zero-emission bus manufacturer and a major employer in Northern Ireland and the wider UK, Wrightbus’ new funding will accelerate the next generation of electric and hydrogen-powered buses, potentially creating dozens of new jobs, slashing emissions, and supporting the government’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower.

    During his visit to the company’s Northern Ireland headquarters, Science Secretary Peter Kyle praised Wrightbus as a standout example of how investing in R&D fuels business development, job creation and regional economic growth. Studies show that for every £1 a business invests in R&D, it can generate a return of 20% for the firm – with similar, additional gains spilling over into the wider British economy (1) – evidence of a dynamic economy rooted in enterprise. He called on more businesses to follow suit, emphasising that such investments are crucial for maintaining the UK’s competitive edge in science and technology and that government alone cannot deliver this growth.

    Wrightbus is part of a growing network of high-tech businesses and innovators driving growth in Northern Ireland. The region boasts a thriving advanced manufacturing sector and a rapidly expanding tech scene. One such example is Belfast-based Ionic Technologies, which is developing new ways to recycle rare materials needed for electric vehicles and wind turbines, helping to make green technologies more sustainable and less reliant on overseas supply chains.

    The government’s upcoming Industrial Strategy, set to be published this summer, will build on success stories like Wrightbus and make Britain the best country to do business – helping more firms lead the way in future industries like advanced manufacturing, clean transport, and clean energy.

    This investment follows government action to increase demand for electric vehicles, with £2.3 billion investment already boosting British manufacturing and improving charging infrastructure.

    Since July, the government has seen £34.8 billion of private investment announced into UK’s clean energy industries. The UK was the largest electric vehicle market in Europe in 2024 and the third in the world with over 382,000 sold – up a fifth on the previous year. There are now more than 75,000 public charge points in the UK – with one added every 29 minutes – ensuring that motorists are always a short drive from a socket.

    Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle said:

    Investing in innovation is central to our Plan for Change, but public investment alone is not enough to ensure British businesses remain at the cutting edge of global industries.

    Wrightbus is proof that businesses backing R&D deliver real-world impact – for both the company themselves and the local region – creating new high-quality jobs, strengthening supply chains across sectors and delivering the new industries of the future.

    Wrightbus’ investment will not only boost growth in Northern Ireland. It will help to accelerate the UK’s transition to net zero and our mission to become a clean energy superpower while keeping our economy competitive on the global stage.

    The £25 million investment announced today will be used to develop groundbreaking zero-emission vehicles, support UK businesses that provide the parts and technology needed to build them and enhance advanced testing capabilities. Funding includes:

    • £10 million to develop the world’s most efficient double-deck and single-deck electric bus, the Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliner. Designed for extended range and rapid charging times, it can travel up to 200 miles on a single charge and recharge in just 2.5 hours, cutting energy costs and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
    • £5 million to develop the UK’s first hydrogen-powered coach due for release within 18 months. Capable of travelling up to 1,000km on a single refuel, it will rival diesel coaches in range and efficiency and make long-distance travel greener without compromising on performance or convenience.
    • £5 million for product validation using the UK’s most advanced proving grounds – ensuring Wrightbus vehicles are rigorously tested for durability, efficiency, and safety so that UK-manufactured buses set new global standards for reliability and performance.
    • £5 million for a world-class telematics system – an advanced vehicle monitoring system that collects real-time performance data to operators. The telematics system is improving efficiency, lowering costs, helping fleet operators optimise routes, extending vehicle lifespans and driving down operating expenses using predictive maintenance based on AI algorithms.

    Last week, Wrightbus buses passed 50 million zero-emission miles – preventing over 85,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions compared to diesel alternatives. The company’s rapid growth underscores the UK’s strength in high-tech manufacturing and the economic benefits of investing in green innovation. Wrightbus is also a potential customer of the Bradford Low Carbon Project, which received funding from the government’s flagship hydrogen programme.

    The Ballymena-based company had a record-breaking year of orders in 2024 which it is on track to exceed this year, increasing production from 1,016 to 1,200 with plans to reach 1,400 by 2026. Its supply chain supports businesses in 47 counties, from suppliers of heating systems to software developers across the UK and in key European markets, including France, Germany, and the Netherlands.

    It builds on its landmark £500 million deal with Go-Ahead in 2023 which secured over 1,000 zero-emission bus orders, creating 500 new jobs in Ballymena and supporting 7,500 jobs across the UK – strengthening the UK’s position as among the best places in the world to invest in R&D with businesses like Wrightbus leading the way in green transport innovation.

    Wrightbus CEO, Jean-Marc Gales said:

    It was a pleasure to showcase our R&D progress to the Secretary of State. This investment represents our largest amount ever into research and development and it underlines our ambition to continue be one of the very best zero-emission manufacturers in the UK and Europe.

    Innovation has played a key part in the rapid growth of Wrightbus and is one of the major things that has allowed us to switch from having a 95% diesel bus output to a 95% zero emission bus output in less than 5 years.

    The research projects we’re currently funding, including the development of our hydrogen coach, the further enhancement of the world-leading Electroliner bus, and our telematics system, will allow us to continue to push zero-emission transport boundaries and represents a huge boost for manufacturing in Northern Ireland and the wider UK.

    Notes to editors

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    Published 11 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy: There Is Thievery Happening Down The Street. They Are Stealing From The People Of This Country, And We’re Not Going To Let Them Get Away With It.

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    Click HERE (14:37) to Watch Murphy’s Remarks

    WASHINGTON–Following House Republican’s passage of the budget resolution, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, on Thursday joined Fair Share America’s rally and grassroots organizers from more than 30 states, to call out Donald Trump’s tax cut scam and demand Congress stand with working families instead of billionaires and corporations.

    Murphy pointed to the fight over Obamacare in 2017 as proof that grassroots resistance can stop even the most powerful forces in Washington: “[Republicans’] number one priority was to repeal the Affordable Care Act, right? To get rid of health care for 20 million Americans. I was here during that time, and I remember that the political pundits, all the smart people in Washington, said it’s a done deal. It’s their number one agenda. They control the House. They control the Senate. They control the White House. Obamacare is dead, right? [But] they didn’t kill it because we mobilized, because we organized, because we threw sand in the gears at every single point in that process, because what they were trying to do was so deeply immoral, but it was also so deeply unpopular.”

    Murphy slammed Trump and his billionaire friends for trying to strip away the vital services working Americans depend on, just to squeeze out more profits for themselves: “I frankly don’t even know what it would be like to be a billionaire with an extra $100,000, right? I have no idea. I have no idea the kind of rapacious greed that it takes for somebody to demand more when you have so much. But you know what I do know? I know what it feels like for somebody who is living paycheck to paycheck, right? Who relies on Medicaid in order to make sure that their sick child gets the medications they need. I know what it feels like for that person to wake up one day and have their safety net ripped out from under them, right? I know the pain, the agony that that involves.”

    “And so we have a job to do,” Murphy continued. “We have the power – not the billionaire class, not the thieves down the street – we can do, in 2025, exactly what we did in 2017. We can be a constant presence, not just here in Washington, but back in their states. If they won’t meet with you, go find them. Show up to their offices, show up to their public events, right? Demand that they answer to you why they are putting the billionaires first.”

    Murphy concluded: “I know that you can wake up every day and feel anxious, and feel angry about what they’re trying to do to our country, what they’re trying to do to Medicaid, what they’re trying to do to give billionaires tax cuts, but also wake up with a little sense of joy, right? A little sense of joy, because you are here today, because you are at a point in your life where you can speak truth to power. You live in a country where accountability still exists. You live in a nation where you can stand up, speak up and stop evil from being perpetuated on the people of this country. So, I’m angry. I am anxious. But I am also joyous. Because I know that when the day comes, we are going to be able to stand together and say that together, united, we were able to stop the biggest transfer of wealth ever in this country, from the middle class and the poor to the rich. We will stop this tax cut for the wealthy.”

    A full transcript of his remarks can be found below:

    MURPHY: “All right, who matters more: the people or the billionaires?”

    CROWD: “The people!”

    MURPHY: “Let me ask you again, who matters more: the people or the billionaires?”

    CROWD: “The people!”

    MURPHY: “Listen guys, we have work to do, right? We have work to do. There is thievery happening down the street. They are stealing from the people of this country, and we are not going to let them get away with it.”

    CROWD: “No!”

    “So listen, this is really important, what you’re doing, and I just want to remind you of a similar moment. So back in 2017 when Trump was president the first time, what was their number one priority? Their number one priority was to repeal the Affordable Care Act, right. To get rid of health care for 20 million Americans. I was here during that time, and I remember that the political pundits, all the smart people in Washington, said it’s a done deal. It’s their number one agenda. They control the House. They control the Senate. They control the White House. Obamacare is dead, right? 

    “But, did they kill it?”

    CROWD: No!!

     MURPHY: “And they didn’t kill it because we mobilized, because we organized, because we threw sand in the gears at every single point in that process, because what they were trying to do was so deeply immoral, but it was also so deeply unpopular, right? 

    “And what they are trying to do right now, this reverse Robin Hood, in which they steal from the poor and the middle class in order to enrich the very, very wealthy– who’s asking for that in this country?”

    CROWD: “No one!”

    MURPHY: “No one. No one is asking to throw millions of people off their health care, to close rural hospitals and drug treatment centers all across the country, just so that a billionaire can get another $100,000 in a tax break. No one is asking for that in this country. 

    “I frankly don’t even know what it would be like to be a billionaire with an extra $100,000, right? I have no idea. I have no idea the kind of rapacious greed that it takes for somebody to demand more when you have so much. 

    “But you know what I do know? I know what it feels like for somebody who is living paycheck to paycheck, right. Who relies on Medicaid in order to make sure that their sick child gets the medications they need. I know what it feels like for that person to wake up one day and have their safety net ripped out from under them, right? I know the pain, the agony that that involves. 

    “And so we have a job to do. We have the power – not the billionaire class, not the thieves down the street – we can do, in 2025, exactly what we did in 2017. We can be a constant presence, not just here in Washington, but back in their states. If they won’t meet with you, go find them. Show up to their offices, show up to their public events, right? Demand that they answer to you why they are putting the billionaires first. 

    “The people in this country have the power. There are more of us than there are of them. Democracy is fragile, it is under assault today, but it is still alive in America, right? The people of this country still have the power. 

    “What they are doing is immoral. What they are doing is unpopular. They are having a hell of a time passing it as we speak. All we have to do is convince a handful of Republicans that they will never ever set foot in their offices again if they vote for this billionaire tax cut. 

    “So listen, do the work. Do the work. And I’ll just end with this. Listen, I know that you can wake up every day and feel anxious and, feel angry about what they’re trying to do to our country, what they’re trying to do to Medicaid, what they’re trying to do to give billionaires tax cuts, but also wake up with a little sense of joy, right? A little sense of joy, because you are here today, because you are at a point in your life where you can speak truth to power. You live in a country, right, where accountability still exists. You live in a nation where you can stand up, speak up and stop evil from being perpetuated on the people of this country, right? 

    “So I’m angry. I am anxious. But I am also joyous. Because I know that when the day comes, we are going to be able to stand together and say that together, united, we were able to stop the biggest transfer of wealth ever in this country, from the middle class and the poor to the rich. We will stop this tax cut for the wealthy. Thank you, everybody.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Local News – Porirua Careers Expo returns for 2025

    Source: Porirua City Council

    After a successful inaugural event in 2024, the Porirua Careers Expo will again fill Te Rauparaha Arena next month.
    The free event will run from 9.30am-4.30pm on Tuesday 13 May and provides an opportunity for young people and job seekers to connect with industry professionals and education providers, network with peers and kickstart their career journey.
    “Last year we had close to 3,000 rangatahi from Porirua and the wider region come through the expo, showing that this free event is vital to help young people in our community explore opportunities in work or further education,” says Porirua Mayor Anita Baker.
    “This year is even bigger, with more than 80 stalls providing information about careers in tech, health, construction, trades and more.”
    There are also chances for attendees to learn about creating a job-winning CV, get some choice tips on interviews and learn how to start on the pathway to their dream job.
    Students from all of Porirua’s colleges and Tawa College will have the opportunity to visit the expo during the day – rangatahi in years 11-13 will be taken by bus from their schools to the expo during the school day.
    The event is also open to students from across the Wellington region, as well as anyone looking at career opportunities or potential educational pathways.
    “Everyone is welcome, even if they don’t live or go to school in Porirua,” says Mayor Baker.
    Event organisers have partnered with Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Education, Le Fale Jobs and Skills Hub, Partners Porirua and other Porirua community workforce agencies to support job seekers attending the expo.
    On arrival, attendees will receive an Expo Passport that they can use to help guide them around the event. Exhibitors will stamp the passport of each attendee they engage with.
    Thanks to Tranquil IT, attendees who have at least six stamps and complete the ‘My Journey’ section in their passport, can go in the draw to win one of eight $500 Prezzy Cards.
    As well as the Prezzy Card draws, other prizes and give-aways will be available; there will also be a barbecue with free kai on offer throughout the day.
    poriruacity.govt.nz/careers-expo

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand Joins 178 Colleagues In Introducing Bill To Raise Federal Minimum Wage To $17 By 2030

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced the Raise the Wage Act alongside 32 of her colleagues in the Senate and 146 members of the House of Representatives. This bicameral legislation would raise the minimum wage to $17 for all workers and gradually eliminate subminimum wages for tipped workers, workers with disabilities, and youth workers.

    Last year, nearly one in four workers in the U.S. made less than $17 per hour. In New York, the minimum wage is currently $15.50 in most parts of the state and $16.50 on Long Island and in New York City, and Westchester. According to analysis by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), passing the Raise the Wage Act would provide raises to 213,000 New Yorkers.

    “A living wage is critical to make sure that Americans can pay their bills, feed their families, and put a roof over their heads,” said Senator Gillibrand. “No one working full-time in the United States should be living in poverty. This legislation will help lift workers out of poverty, drive economic growth, and reduce income inequality, and I am committed to working with my colleagues to get it passed.”

    Today, the value of the current federal minimum wage – $7.25 per hour – is the lowest it has been since 1956 and has declined significantly since it was last increased in 2009. Black and Hispanic workers disproportionately feel the burden of these low wages as compared to their white counterparts, and that disparity is even worse for women of color. Nearly 40 percent of Hispanic women and 35 percent of Black women make less than $17 per hour.

    Gillibrand is joined on the Raise the Wage Act by 32 senators: Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

    Additionally, over 85 organizations endorsed the legislation, including Service Employees International Union (SEIU), AFL-CIO, American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, Communications Workers of America (CWA), Economic Policy Institute (EPI), Equal Pay Today, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), National Education Association (NEA), National Employment Law Project (NELP), The National Partnership for Women & Families, National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), One Fair Wage, Oxfam America, Patriotic Millionaires, UNITE HERE, United Autoworkers (UAW), United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), United for Respect, and United Steelworkers (USW).

    The text of the bill can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Sues Trump Administration for Blocking California’s Access to Over $200 Million in Previously Awarded Education Funding

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today filed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) abrupt and unlawful rescission of prior agency actions that preserved states’ access to hundreds of millions of dollars in funding currently being used by school districts to support the academic recovery of students following the COVID-19 pandemic. Attorney General Bonta joined 15 other attorneys general in filing the lawsuit, arguing that ED’s decision to rescind access to this funding is arbitrary and capricious in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act, exceeds ED’s statutory and regulatory authority under the law, and will cause immediate and devastating harm to school districts in California and across the nation. In California alone, over $200 million in previously awarded and obligated funding is at stake – funding that school districts are already putting to use for programs such as afterschool and summer learning initiatives, the purchase of educational technology, and the provision of mental health services and support. 

    “The Trump Administration’s blatant disregard for the education of our children is on full display with this latest round of funding cuts,” said Attorney General Bonta. “With each step President Trump takes to dismantle the Education Department, he is throwing our schools into turmoil and jeopardizing the academic success of a generation of American children. As a father, I can’t stand by and let this happen. I’m taking the President to court for the 13th time to help ensure our kids get the educational opportunities they deserve.”

    On March 28, 2025, Education Secretary Linda McMahon notified state departments of education that ED had unilaterally rescinded its previous actions preserving states’ access to awarded and obligated education funding that is currently supporting ongoing programs and services in local school districts across the country. These programs and services address, among other things, the impact of lost instructional time; students’ academic, social, and emotional needs; and the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on economically disadvantaged students, including homeless children and children in foster care.  

    In the lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta and the multistate coalition assert that the Department’s actions are arbitrary and capricious and contrary to law in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act. The coalition seeks a court order vacating the termination and reinstating ED’s prior approvals allowing states to access this funding through March 2026. 

    Joining Attorney General Bonta in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and the District of Columbia, along with the Governor of Pennsylvania.

    A copy of the lawsuit is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Going on strike is not a reason to skip school

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour has a message for students going on strike today; if you really want to make a difference in the world, show up, work hard, and take every opportunity to learn.
    “School holidays start this Saturday. If students want to show how much this cause means to them, they could march on their own time. That would send a stronger message than taking the last day of term off.
    “I appreciate that some students have passionate views and are anxious about their futures. To that effect I want to be clear, if you want to make real change in the world, you need to turn up to school and get a good education now.
    “The previous government said that protesting instead of attending school could be justified. This in my view is unacceptable. My expectation is that schools will treat students protesting today as explained but unjustified absences.
    “Attendance has been increasing as the Government, schools, parents and students have made it a priority. It needs to keep going up, which is why attitudes need to keep improving over what is a valid reason to not show up. 
    In Term 4 of 2024 58.1 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.1 percentage points from 53 per cent in Term 4 of 2023. Attendance rates across all equity index groups increased from 2023 to 2024.
    “Attending school is the first step towards achieving positive educational outcomes. Positive educational outcomes lead to better health, higher incomes, better job stability and greater participation within communities. These are opportunities that every student deserves,” says Mr Seymour.
    “I encourage students, parents, and educators to prioritise education. That is what this Government is doing, and it is what is required for New Zealand to have a better future.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Information and Resources for the UConn Community

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Dear Colleagues and Students,

    In light of issues related to immigration enforcement nationally and ongoing discussions around potential policy and legal changes at the federal level in this area, the University has, understandably, received numerous questions and concerns from faculty, staff, and students.

    UConn is a global community with students, faculty, and staff from throughout the world. We want to do all we can to share information and resources that may be useful to those community members who are impacted, or potentially impacted, during this challenging time.

    To that end, we have created a webpage listing helpful legal resources and community partners who can provide assistance to students and employees in need of help related to their immigration status. We will update the site as additional resources are identified.

    One of the questions that is most frequently asked has to do with the University providing or funding legal representation for employees and students who may be accused of being out of compliance with immigration laws.

    The University cannot devote resources to funding or otherwise supporting what would be considered the personal costs of individual students and employees based on their association with UConn. This would be using public resources to provide a private benefit not available to the general public.

    Although the University is prohibited from offering legal representation or financial assistance for legal representation, we remain committed to doing anything we can to support our students, faculty, and staff on this or any issue.

    If an employee requires general guidance about their employment-based visa sponsorship, please do not hesitate to reach out to Alison Cutler or Christene Cooper in Human Resources.

    For such guidance related to student visa sponsorship, please see the Center for International Students and Scholars (CISS) website for information or email International@uconn.edu.

    Thank you for your understanding and continued support for one another during this challenging time.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Supporting Our International Students and Scholars

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    To the University Community,

    UConn prides itself on being both one of Connecticut’s greatest assets and a global university. We attract outstanding students from our state as well as students, faculty, and staff from more than 100 other countries to engage in world-class research and scholarship in our state. UConn faculty, staff, and students contribute to Connecticut’s future and help to change the world for the better through advances and innovation in a multitude of fields.

    As a follow-up to last week’s message on immigration resources and information: You may be aware of recent reports of student visa revocations and SEVIS record terminations disrupting the lives and academic careers of international students and scholars in the U.S.

    These actions have touched UConn as well, and while the number of impacted students here is small, consequences for those impacted are significant. UConn, through its International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) unit, monitors the SEVIS records of our international students and visiting scholars on F and J visas daily, auditing records for any changes initiated by external government officials.

    At the first sign of a change, the ISSS will email the student or visiting scholar to inform them of the update and ask them to visit the Center for International Student and Scholar Services (CISS) to meet with a staff member who can connect the student to legal resources and university support services.

    ISSS will also notify the student or scholar’s department head and dean so that the student’s academic unit can provide appropriate support. Each student or visiting scholar’s situation is unique, and support for each case is coordinated through ISSS in collaboration with many campus partners, including the Dean of Students Office, The Graduate School, the Division of Student Life and Enrollment, the Cultural Centers, academic deans, and department heads.

    UConn Health’s International Office administers a separate SEVIS program and will follow similar procedures. To date, no cases have impacted international students and scholars at UConn Health.

    Our university units are working together to prepare our campuses and respond as quickly as possible to this rapidly evolving situation. In February, UConn established a rapid response team to address immigration policy changes impacting our community. The team is co-chaired by Rae Alexander, Assistant Vice President for Global Affairs, and Fany DeJesus Hannon, Dean of Students. It includes representation from the Office of the General Counsel, The Graduate School, the Division of Student Life and Enrollment, University Communications, and UConn Police.

    We understand that there are multiple conversations happening on campus about this important issue. We invite you to send your inquiries to Rae Alexander, rae.alexander@uconn.edu, to ensure your questions and concerns reach the team.

    You may be asking what you can do at this time:

    • International students and visiting scholars can visit the Center for International Students & Scholars website for updated guidance on travel concerns and emerging trends related to their immigration status, and to connect with international advising staff who can provide individualized guidance.
    • Undocumented students can reach out to the Dean of Students Office and view the Undocumented Student Resources
    • General student support is also available from the Dean of Students Office and The Graduate School.
    • UConn employees who have questions about their employment-based visa sponsorship can reach out to Alison Cutler or Christene Cooper in Human Resources.
    • The International Office at UConn Health is responsible for all visas for international students and staff/faculty employed through UConn Health. Reach out to Kaitlin Dornenburg, Department of Human Resources, for assistance.
    • All UConn faculty and staff can reach out to Rae Alexander, Assistant Vice President for Global Affairs, with general questions or concerns about changing immigration policies and their impact on our community.

    We also want to remind students of the mental health support services available to them:

    International students at UConn Health:

    International students at UConn Storrs and the regional campuses:

    International employees, including graduate assistants represented by the GEU at UConn Storrs and regional campuses:

    International employees at UConn Health:

    Finally, we encourage everyone to bookmark the new Legal Resources and Community Partners webpage, which will be updated as information and resources are confirmed.

    If you have not been directly impacted by what has been happening in the U.S., now is the time to check in on your friends and fellow Huskies who may be feeling scared and isolated. Now is the time for us as a community to support each other.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Oregon State Treasurer Steiner Issues Statement to State Retirement Plan Beneficiaries as Markets Slump Following Federal Tariff Announcements

    Source: US State of Oregon

    regon State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner, MD, asked beneficiaries of state managed retirement funds to remain calm and patient as markets gyrate following the Trump administration’s recent tariff announcements. Treasurer Steiner urged the President to rescind the tariffs that have destabilized the finances of Oregonians and Americans.

    The Oregon State Treasury (OST) manages investments for more than 400,000 beneficiaries of the Oregon Public Employee Retirement Fund (OPERF), 132,000 beneficiaries of OregonSaves (which provides automatic savings for employees of businesses who do not offer a retirement plan) and other savings accounts. In addition, OST manages investments for the Common School Fund and the Short Term Fund, on behalf of schools and state and local agencies. OST has approximately $140 billion in assets under management.

    Treasurer Steiner said:

    ” know that concerns about the unfolding economic situation are weighing on the minds of many Oregonians. I want beneficiaries to know that Treasury stands with you during these difficult times. We know what’s at stake in your savings and we are managing the funds entrusted to us with your long-term well-being foremost in our minds. I ask for your patience as we navigate these rough waters together.

    Treasury’s investment strategies are designed to buffer the impact of market turmoil on the state’s retirement, savings and public agency portfolios. The turmoil of the past week has not spared our funds. Yet, we know that our portfolio is well diversified to withstand these types of market shocks better than less diversified portfolios. We will continue to uphold our fiduciary responsibility to you and put the needs of the people and communities we serve first.

    I once again call on President Trump to change course and revoke these reckless tariffs. The trillions in savings that have evaporated from United States markets in recent days represents the hopes of millions of people saving for retirement, college, the down payment on a house, launching a business or other aspirations.

    I urge the administration to read the room: Markets are tumbling, and consumers are bracing for the fallout by cutting spending. People in our state cannot afford this unwanted and unnecessary $3,800 per household tax hike, especially at a time when half of Oregonians do not have $500 available to handle an emergency. Rescind these tariffs, so Oregonians and Americans can continue to confidently create opportunity and pursue their dreams through hard work and innovation, without the economic pain and uncertainty the administration’s arbitrary and chaotic trade policies have caused.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven Statement After Honoring NDSU Bison at White House, U.S. Capitol

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
    04.09.25
    Click for here for photo and media resources.
    WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement after honoring the 10-time NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) National Champion North Dakota State University (NDSU) Bison at the White House and U.S. Capitol. Prior to the Bison’s visit to the White House with President Trump, Senator Hoeven and Senator Kevin Cramer hosted a luncheon on Capitol Hill for the Bison, followed by a tour of the U.S. Capitol.
    “The NDSU Bison had a tremendous season, winning their 10th FCS championship, but not only that, they are great student athletes who represent our state well every day,” said Hoeven. “When I asked President Trump about bringing the Bison to the White House, he agreed quickly and later even put together a nice video with me doing horns up. We appreciate President Trump honoring their achievements at the White House, and had a wonderful time hosting them at the U.S. Capitol today. The players, coaches and staff are truly deserving of these honors and we look forward to all of their future successes.”
    After the Bison won their 10th FCS National Championship earlier this year, Senators Hoeven and Cramer spoke with President Trump to arrange an invitation for the Bison to the White House, and the delegation announced the visit to the White House last month.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Kelly and Young, Representatives Kelly and Garamendi Statement on Trump’s Shipbuilding Executive Order

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Trent Kelly (R-Miss)

    Senators Kelly and Young, Representatives Kelly and Garamendi Statement on Trump’s Shipbuilding Executive Order

    Washington, April 10, 2025

    WASHINGTON – Arizona Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and SHIPS for America Act co-leads Senator Todd Young (R-IN), Representative Trent Kelly (R-MS-1), and Representative John Garamendi (D-CA-8) have released the following statement after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to support shipbuilding in the United States.

    “This executive order recognizes the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to reinvigorate the U.S. shipbuilding and maritime industries, sharing the same goals as our SHIPS for America Act. America’s maritime industry and shipbuilding capacity have dangerously lagged behind over the years, allowing China to get ahead and pose a serious threat over the oceans. Today’s action by the Trump administration shows they see the same threat and the urgent need to reverse course to strengthen our national security and grow our economy. We’re also encouraged that many of the provisions in the executive order mirror parts of our SHIPS for America Act.

    “We will introduce the SHIPS for America Act with renewed support in the coming weeks to provide the Congressional authorizations needed to truly revitalize the American shipbuilding and maritime industries, and work with the administration to get it passed. That’s how we’ll put Americans to work building more oceangoing ships and flying the American flag on merchant vessels to reclaim America’s global maritime leadership.”

    Background:

    Senators Kelly and Young and Representatives Kelly and Garamendi introduced the SHIPS for America Act to revitalize U.S. shipbuilding capacity to lower costs, create good-paying jobs, and strengthen national security.

    Sen. Kelly earned his B.S. degree in marine engineering and nautical science in the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) and later an M.S. degree in aeronautical engineering from the United States Naval Postgraduate School. Sen. Kelly spent 25 years in the United States Navy as a pilot and is the first to serve in Congress. In 2023, Sen. Kelly was elected chair of the USMMA Board of Visitors for the 118th Congress.

    Rep. Kelly serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces for the House Armed Services Committee.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: While Trump, Republicans, RFK, Jr. Dismantle HHS, Pressley, Warren Re-Introduce Bill to Confront Racism as a Public Health Crisis

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    Anti-Racism in Public Health Act Would Require Federal Government to Actively Develop Anti-Racist Health Policy

    Bill Text (PDF)

    WASHINGTON – Today, with Trump and Republicans continuing their coordinated attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and RFK, Jr. dismantling the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including closing the Office of Minority Health, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) are re-introducing the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act of 2025, legislation that would declare racism a public health crisis and require the federal government to actively develop anti-racist health policy. The bill would help expand research and investment into the public health impacts of structural racism through two bold new programs within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

    “While Trump and Republicans embolden white supremacy and carry out their coordinated assault on Black, brown, and other marginalized communities, we must continue pushing back and advancing an affirmative, anti-racist agenda that addresses racism as the public health crisis that it is,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. “By expanding research into the public health impacts of structural racism and requiring the federal government to develop anti-racist health policy, our bill is the type of responsive legislation the moment demands. I’m grateful to Senator Warren for her ongoing partnership as we continue working to dismantle centuries of racism in our public health system.”

    “For centuries, racism has denied Black and Brown mothers life-saving care during pregnancies and led to higher rates of chronic illness like diabetes and asthma,” said Senator Warren. “We’re renewing the fight to tackle racial disparities head-on and give everyone a chance at a healthy life.”

    In addition to researching of the impacts of structural racism on public health, the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act would:  

    • Create a “National Center for Anti-Racism” at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to declare racism as the public health crisis that it is and further develop the research base and knowledge of the science and practice of anti-racism. The Center would be responsible for:
      • Conducting research, collecting data, awarding grants, and providing leadership and coordination on the science and practice of anti-racism in the provision of health care, the public health impacts of systemic racism, and the effectiveness of interventions to address these impacts; 
      • Creating at least three regional centers of excellence in anti-racism; 
      • Educating the public on the public health impacts of structural racism and anti-racist public health interventions; 
      • Consulting with other Centers at the CDC to ensure that scientific and programmatic activities initiated by the agency consider structural racism in their designs, conceptualizations, and executions; and 
    • Create a Law Enforcement Violence Prevention Program within the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the CDC. Physical and psychological violence perpetuated by law enforcement results in deaths, injuries, trauma, and stress, and disproportionately affects marginalized populations. This bill would take a public health approach to combating police brutality by creating a dedicated law enforcement violence prevention program at the CDC.

    In October 2022, as a result of the lawmakers’ introduction of the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act, HHS awarded $493,000 to the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) to support their efforts to address homelessness and substance use disorder policies that create or perpetuate health disparities and contribute to structural racism.

    Joining Pressley and Warren in introducing the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act are Representatives Joyce Beatty, Shontel Brown, André Carson, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Dwight Evans, Hank Johnson, Jennifer McClellan, Jerry Nadler, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Mark Pocan, Delia C. Ramirez, Jan Schakowsky, Terri Sewell, Adam Smith, Melanie Stansbury, Mark Takano, Bennie G. Thompson, Ritchie Torres, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Bonnie Watson Coleman.

    The legislation is endorsed by the following organizations: Columbia NOW, SC; Power to Decide; Public Citizen; National Council of Jewish Women; YW Boston; Physicians for a National Health Program; Center for Policing Equity; Justice in Aging; Feminist Women’s Health Center; Guttmacher Institute; Center for Reproductive Rights; Diversity Uplifts, Inc.; Every Mother Counts; Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals; and Boston Medical Center.

    A copy of the bill text can be found here.

    In November 2022, Rep. Pressley, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission Dr. Bisola Ojikutu held a roundtable discussion with public health advocates to highlight the nearly $493,000 in new federal funding to help Boston address the public health impacts of structural racism.

    In October 2022, Rep. Pressley, Senator Warren, and Congresswoman Barbara Lee applauded the new funding for BPHC, which was awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) alongside nine other grants to community organizations across the country. In total, HHS awarded over $4.8 million to support local efforts to address policies that may create or perpetuate health disparities and contribute to structural racism.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boozman, Peters Champion Bipartisan Bill Increasing Higher Education Accessibility, Affordability

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced the Making Education Affordable and Accessible Act (MEAA), bipartisan legislation to help reduce barriers to higher education and lower student debt by expanding the use of existing federal grants that support dual enrollment, concurrent enrollment and early college high school programs.

    “Providing more pathways for students to pursue higher education or technical skills and experience is crucial to their success and benefits our economy,” said Boozman. “I’m proud to work in a bipartisan way to increase access to programs that prepare the next generation of Arkansans and other Americans to get an affordable head start that sets them up for career success and longevity.”

    “To meet our current workforce needs, we must expand access to programs that help students begin training for a career they are interested in,” said Peters. “This bipartisan bill would give high school students the chance to start working towards a college degree and building their future without the financial burden of a student loan.”

    Specifically, the MEAA Act would expand the allowable uses of funding from the Higher Education Act Title VII Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), allowing colleges and universities to strengthen early college access programs by broadening FIPSE funding to:

    • Implement dual or concurrent enrollment programs and early college high school programming;
    • Provide educators, principals, counselors and other school leaders in these programs with professional development;
    • Assist students in the program by covering education-related costs such as tuition and fees, books and transportation; and 
    • Support activities such as course design, course approval processes, community outreach, student counseling and support services.

    The legislation is endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE). 

    “School leaders recognize that college accessibility does more than just create opportunities for students—it strengthens our entire education workforce,” said NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe. “This critical legislation tackles the financial obstacles confronting future teachers, making certification attainable during an era when higher education costs dramatically exceed educator compensation.” 

    “The Making Education Affordable and Accessible Act would expand opportunities for dual and concurrent enrollment and early college high schools—both key to the success and connections between our secondary education, postsecondary education and workforce systems,” said ACTE Director LeAnn Curry. “ACTE is proud to endorse the bill, and we are grateful to Senators Gary Peters and John Boozman for introducing the legislation. Their bipartisan commitment provides Congress with an opportunity to expand access to early postsecondary credit and increase opportunities for CTE students pursuing these pathways into successful careers.”

    Background:

    • Dual enrollment programs enable students to be enrolled in and earn credit from both their high school and a college institution.
    • Concurrent enrollment allows students to take college-credit courses taught by qualified high school teachers approved by partner colleges.
    • Early college high schools, which are typically located on or near college campuses or embedded within high schools, allow students to work toward an associate’s degree while completing their high school diploma.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Sorry gamers, Nintendo’s hefty Switch 2 price tag signals the new normal – and it might still go up

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Egliston, Senior Lecturer in Digital Cultures, Australian Research Council DECRA Fellow, University of Sydney

    Last week, Nintendo announced the June 5 release of its long anticipated Switch 2. But the biggest talking point wasn’t the console’s launch titles or features. At US$449 in the United States, and A$699 in Australia, many were struck by the steep cost.

    However, this price doesn’t seem quite as high once you compare it to the broader history of hardware pricing. And it may still go up.

    History of Nintendo pricing

    The original NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) console cost US$179 when it was released in 1985. That’s US$525, or A$590, adjusted for 2025 inflation.

    But other consoles have been even pricier. The PlayStation 3 launched in North America in 2006 at around US$499 (US$782 today). When it launched in Australia the next year, it retailed at A$999 (upwards of A$1500 today).

    Nintendo’s main competitors are Sony (Xbox) and Microsoft (PlayStation). Both are subsidised by their broader media and technology businesses, which means they can afford to make higher-cost consoles, and even take losses on console sales.

    The Xbox Series X and Playstation 5 both launched in Australia for A$749 in 2020.
    Shutterstock

    Compared to Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft depend more heavily on licensing third-party content and offering subscription services, such as Xbox Game Pass, to drive recurring revenue.

    Nintendo’s business model, by contrast, revolves around selling both its consoles and original “first-party” titles.

    Nintendo also takes a different approach to console development, by prioritising lower-spec, lower-cost hardware aimed at a broader and often more casual audience. The company has typically made profits on both its hardware and software (particularly its first-party games).

    Our research suggests many players appreciate this strategy. Rather than competing directly with Sony and Microsoft on technical performance, they felt Nintendo focused on delivering fun and accessible experiences through affordable technology.

    Still, the current economic conditions make the Switch 2’s price hard to swallow. With the rising cost of living and stagnant wages, even historically “normal” prices can feel out of reach.

    The tariff question

    Why is Nintendo increasing the price of Switch 2 – especially given the enormous commercial success of the original 2017 Switch at its lower price point of US$299 and A$469?

    The Switch 2 release was announced on the same day the Trump administration unveiled plans for sweeping new tariffs, including a proposed minimum 10% tariff on all imports (and higher on Vietnam, China and Cambodia, where Nintendo manufactures its consoles).

    Doug Bowser, president at Nintendo of America, has claimed tariffs “weren’t factored into the pricing” of the Switch 2.

    But it’s hard to imagine a scenario in which Nintendo simply absorbs those costs. The company has historically maintained positive margins on hardware. It is also famously conservative when it comes to its pricing strategy.

    Not just tariffs — and not just Nintendo

    The Switch 2’s price tag is a window into broader shifts in the business of games. Games are more popular than ever. And apart from a small dip in 2022, they’re making more money than ever.

    But they’re also more expensive to make. Reports claim Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War had a combined development and marketing budget of around US$700 million.

    Low interest rates, particularly during the pandemic, meant rising production costs could be offset by cheap money from big publishing, technology, and entertainment conglomerates investing in videogame companies.

    Venture capital firms and tech giants alike piled in. The result was huge growth for the industry, as well as some blockbuster mergers.

    But the era of near-zero interest rates is no more – and the flow of money that once covered soaring development costs is slowing down.

    Gaming companies have responded with mass layoffs, further exacerbated by exuberance (largely from management) for artificial intelligence to increase efficiency. Beyond this, they are turning to more aggressive monetisation strategies.

    Games such as Fortnite and Call of Duty don’t just make money from sales. They keep players inside their ecosystems, spending money over time.

    Research has shown developers are increasingly designing games for ongoing user monestisation,
    whether through micro-transactions, battle passes, extra downloadable content, subscriptions or in-game advertising.



    Read more:
    ‘Literally just child gambling’: what kids say about Roblox, lootboxes and money in online games

    What happens next?

    Between tariffs, inflation and rising game development costs, the US$450 Switch 2 (and its US$80/A$110 games) may just be the beginning. In the short term, we’re likely to see higher prices for both consoles and games.

    The effects of US tariffs on Switch 2 pricing in Australia remain unclear. However, the Australian dollar’s recent roller coaster ride, partly driven by uncertainty over US tariffs, could mean further price hikes to offset increased import costs.

    We saw Sony adjust prices for the PS5 mid-generation in response to production costs. There’s no reason to assume the Switch 2 price will remain static.

    In the longer term, we’re entering a market where the line between “freemium” and “premium” continues to blur. Premium games now often come with built-in expectations of ongoing monetisation, moving away from one-off sales.

    Platform holders such as Nintendo remained notable exceptions, favouring upfront pricing and self-contained experiences. Although they, too, may gradually shift away from this.

    Ben Egliston is a recipient of funding from the Australian Research Council (DE240101275, DP250100343). He has previously received funding from Meta and TikTok.

    Taylor Hardwick is employed under funding by the Australian Research Council (FF220100076; DE240101275). She is a board member of both Freeplay, a Melbourne-based independent games festival, and the Digital Games Research Association of Australia.

    Tianyi Zhangshao 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. Sorry gamers, Nintendo’s hefty Switch 2 price tag signals the new normal – and it might still go up – https://theconversation.com/sorry-gamers-nintendos-hefty-switch-2-price-tag-signals-the-new-normal-and-it-might-still-go-up-254063

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Yes, government influences wages – but not just in the way you might think

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Peetz, Laurie Carmichael Distinguished Research Fellow at the Centre for Future Work, and Professor Emeritus, Griffith Business School, Griffith University

    doublelee/Shutterstock

    Can the government actually make a difference to the wages Australians earn?

    A lot of attention always falls on the government’s submission to the Fair Work Commission’s annual wage review, which this year called for a real boost to award wages, above the rate of inflation.

    The commission’s decision has a big impact on wages received by at least a quarter of employees, many among the lowest paid. While the government’s submission must make some difference to the outcome, it’s hard to quantify how much of a difference that is.

    My new research for the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work focuses on another, possibly bigger impact the government can have on wages – certainly one that affects a wider range of workers. This is its effect on the bargaining power of all workers and employers.

    We had a long period of poor wages growth, against a backdrop of low power for workers, driven both by markets and policy. More recently, though, the tide has started to turn.



    Read more:
    Labor wants to give the minimum wage a real boost. The benefits would likely outweigh any downsides

    The economy and worker power

    In recent decades, trends in the economy and labour market almost all worked to reduce worker power. My research examined 16 economic or related factors that were considered to either influence or indicate power in the labour market.

    Almost all have reduced workers’ power over the medium to long term. One had ambiguous effects. Only one had the opposite effect and helped boost worker power for a while.

    Among the many factors reinforcing or reflecting less bargaining power for workers were:

    • long-term declines in union membership, collective bargaining coverage and industrial action
    • the expansion of the “gig economy”
    • the growth of casual employment, particularly between the 1980s and 2000s
    • a reduction in job switching among employees
    • growing use of outsourcing and contracting out, to do work formerly undertaken within large organisations

    A decline in the gender pay gap suggested a gradual increase in female workers’ power, relative to equivalent male workers at least.

    The only factor that could increase overall worker power was the decline in unemployment from 2010 to 2023 (setting aside the pandemic blip).

    Policies limiting workers’ power

    With the Coalition in government from 2014 to 2022, a lot of policy acted to reinforce the loss of worker power that had happened due to economic and labour market trends.

    Of the seven major federal policy changes considered in this period, five acted to reduce workers’ power (including the establishment of new bodies regulating unions and the abolition of a transport safety regulator).

    Only two increased it (including some tighter regulation of franchises).

    A change of course

    After Labor came to power in 2022, a series of (mostly legislative) changes were introduced. Out of 23 federal policies implemented by the government, 22 increased workers’ power.

    These included policies to:

    • abolish new bodies regulating unions
    • limit the use of fixed-term contracts
    • expand workers’ rights to request flexibility
    • make it harder for firms to classify workers as contractors
    • create protections for “employee-like” workers
    • expand the scope for multi-employer bargaining.

    Only one reduced worker power – clarifying certain exemptions for small business – and its impact was neither large nor controversial.

    What’s been the outcome for wages?

    So, what’s happened to Australian wages under these different policy environments?

    Some policies, such as protections for “employee-like” workers, could not yet have a measurable impact. The most recent policy, banning non-compete clauses for middle and lower-income workers, was only announced in March.

    Still, three major measures of wages growth, that performed poorly from 2014 to 2022, showed some upturn from the end of 2022.

    Overall, wages growth mostly averaged a little over 2% per year through most of the period from 2014, falling then recovering in the pandemic.

    It’s been 3%, 4%, or more since the end of 2022, against a backdrop of higher inflation.

    Wage increases under new enterprise agreements gradually declined from around 3.5% a year in 2014 to about 2.5% in 2022. However, they have grown since then and peaked at 4.8% at the end of last year.

    The data suggest wage gains associated with increased worker power are experienced by both union members and non-members – but that union members benefit the most.

    Inflation not the cause

    There’s an argument that Australia’s recent growth in wages is simply a response to a temporary surge in inflation.

    But we can look at how big a share wages make up of Australia’s total national income. From 2014 to 2022, we see the wages share of national income falling, then rising sharply until today. If inflation was the only cause of the upturn, labour’s share would not have grown like this.

    This increase occurred while inflation was falling — from over 7% at the end of 2022, to below 3% at the end of 2024. So, wages growth clearly hasn’t caused a rise in inflation.

    The verdict: do governments really make a difference?

    My research suggests the answer is yes, governments can influence wages. The direction of influence depends very much on who is in government, most importantly in the federal parliament.

    One of the biggest ways governments have affected wages over the past decade has been by taking power away from workers — and then by giving some of it back.

    Returning some of that power to workers has correlated with the fastest growth in wages for a decade, and a growing share of national income going to wages, despite falling inflation.

    As a university employee, David Peetz undertook research over many years with occasional financial support from governments from both sides of politics, employers and unions. He has been and is involved in several Australian Research Council-funded and approved projects, which included contributions from those bodies, and undertaken several private commissioned projects, including one in which he gave expert evidence commissioned by both sides in a State Wage Case.

    – ref. Yes, government influences wages – but not just in the way you might think – https://theconversation.com/yes-government-influences-wages-but-not-just-in-the-way-you-might-think-254282

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Extinctions of Australian mammals have long been blamed on foxes and cats – but where’s the evidence?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arian Wallach, Future Fellow in Ecology, Queensland University of Technology

    michael garner/Shutterstock

    In 1938, zoologist Ellis Le Geyt Troughton mourned that Australia’s “gentle and specialized creatures” were “unable to cope with changed conditions and introduced enemies”.

    The role of these “enemies” – namely, foxes and feral cats – in driving dozens of Australia’s animals towards extinction has solidified into a scientific consensus. This is a simple and plausible story: wily new predators arrive, decimating unwary native mammals.

    In response, conservationists and governments have declared war on foxes and cats with large-scale trapping, shooting and poisoning campaigns.

    But did foxes and cats definitely cause the extinction of animals such as the desert bandicoot, lesser bilby and the central hare-wallaby? Our new research shows the evidence base is nowhere near as strong as you might assume.

    Feral cats are now found across almost all of Australia. But cats took decades to cover the continent.
    Mike Letnic/iNaturalist, CC BY-NC

    What did we do?

    We catalogued mammal species experts believe have either declined or gone extinct due to predation by foxes (57 species) and cats (80 species) and searched for primary sources linking foxes and cats to their decline. To assess the evidence, we then asked three simple questions.

    1. Did extinctions follow the arrival of new predators?

    A common claim is that extinctions followed fox and cat arrival and spread.

    But is it definitely true? To find out, we compiled the last recorded sightings of extinct mammals and compared them to maps estimating the arrival of foxes and cats in the area. We included local extinctions (extinct in an area) and full extinctions, where the species is no more.

    We found extinction records for 164 local populations of 52 species. Nearly a third (31%) of these records did not confirm the timeline that extinctions followed predator arrival. We found that 44% of the extinctions blamed on foxes and 20% on cats could have happened before predator arrival.

    Records can be inaccurate. But our findings mean we can’t authoritatively state that foxes and cats were at the scene of these crimes. For instance, banded hare-wallabies now live only on two islands in Western Australia. They were last recorded on the mainland 4–30 years before foxes are known to have arrived.

    Then there are examples of coexistence. The eastern barred bandicoot lived alongside cats on the mainland for more than 150 years before becoming extinct on the mainland, and the two species continue to live together in Tasmania.

    2. Is there evidence linking foxes and cats to extinctions?

    Our study found experts attribute predation pressure from foxes and cats as a reason why 57% of Australia’s threatened mammals are at risk of extinction.

    For this claim to be based on evidence, we would expect to find ecological studies finding these links in most cases.

    We found 331 studies and categorised each according to whether they contained predator and prey population data and if they found a link between introduced predators and a decline in the prey species.

    For 76% of threatened species attributed to foxes and 80% for cats, we found no studies supporting this with population data.

    Experts aren’t claiming foxes and cats are the main threat in all these cases. But when we analysed the data only for the species experts consider at high risk from foxes and cats, we found similar results.

    For example, foxes and cats are ranked a “high” threat to mountain pygmy possums. We found anecdotes that foxes and cats sometimes eat these possums, but no studies showing they cause population decline.

    Similarly, foxes are widely linked to the decline of black-footed rock-wallabies. But this claim came from poison-baiting studies which did not report data showing what happened to the fox population. This is important, because killing foxes does not necessarily reduce fox populations.

    In 50% of studies reporting population data, there was no negative association with these predators. This further weakens the claim that foxes and cats directly drive extinctions.

    For example, cats are considered a “high” threat to long-nosed potoroos. But population studies on these potoroos don’t support this. In fact, these small, seemingly vulnerable animals are able to live alongside feral cats.

    By contrast, we did find one species – the brush-tailed rabbit rat – which had compelling evidence across all studies linking cats to its decline.

    Long-nosed potoroos would be an appealing meal for foxes and cats. But these small marsupials have found ways to evade predators.
    Zoos Victoria, CC BY-NC

    3. Do more introduced predators mean fewer threatened mammals?

    If introduced predators cause extinctions, we would expect to find that higher predator numbers is associated with lower prey numbers (and vice versa). While correlations such as these don’t prove causation, they can give an indication.

    We conducted a meta-analysis and found a negative correlation with foxes. The more foxes, the fewer threatened mammals.

    This is the strongest evidence we found for introduced predators putting pressure on these species. But there are limitations – these findings would be typical for native predators and prey as well.

    We found no evidence for a correlation with cats.

    More lines of evidence

    These aren’t the only lines of evidence. Making the strongest case for fox and cat pressure are studies finding extinct species often fall within a critical weight range – 35 grams to 5.5 kilos – which are good-sized prey for foxes and cats.

    While this finding has been debated, it remains strong evidence.

    But these studies don’t explain why Australian animals would be uniquely vulnerable. For millennia, Australia’s mammals have lived alongside predators such as dingoes, Tasmanian devils, quolls and wedge-tailed eagles.

    Conservationists have long believed Australia’s endemic mammals are naive or poorly adapted to survive alongside ambush hunters such as foxes and cats. But there’s no current evidence for this.

    Our research has shown Australian rodents respond to foxes in the same way as do North American and Middle Eastern rodents, who evolved alongside foxes.

    One line of argument goes further to suggest that foxes, cats and dingoes have “rewired” Australian ecosystems following the loss of the thylacine, Tasmanian devil (once common on the mainland) and the long-extinct marsupial lion.

    What should we conclude?

    We didn’t set out to prove or disprove the idea that foxes and cats drive extinctions. Instead, our study lays out the available primary evidence of historic records and studies to allow readers to draw their own conclusions.

    Sweeping claims have been made about Australia’s introduced predators. But when we analyse the evidence base, we find it ambiguous, weak and – in most cases – lacking.

    Foxes and cats have been largely convicted by expert opinion which, while useful, can be prone to bias and groupthink.

    So what did cause Australia’s mammal extinctions? The honest answer is we don’t know. It could be foxes and cats – but it could also be something else.

    Arian Wallach receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Erick Lundgren receives funding from the Centre for Open Science & Synthesis in Ecology and Evolution at the University of Alberta

    – ref. Extinctions of Australian mammals have long been blamed on foxes and cats – but where’s the evidence? – https://theconversation.com/extinctions-of-australian-mammals-have-long-been-blamed-on-foxes-and-cats-but-wheres-the-evidence-253542

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: As more communities have to consider relocation, we explore what happens to the land after people leave

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christina Hanna, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Planning, University of Waikato

    Christina Hanna, CC BY-SA

    Once floodwaters subside, talk of planned retreat inevitably rises.

    Within Aotearoa New Zealand, several communities from north to south – including Kumeū, Kawatiri Westport and parts of Ōtepoti Dunedin – are considering future relocations while others are completing property buyouts and categorisations.

    Planned retreats may reduce exposure to harm, but the social and cultural burdens of dislocation from land and home are complex. Planning, funding and physically relocating or removing homes, taonga or assets – and even entire towns – is challenging.

    Internationally, research has focused on why, when and how planned retreats occur, as well as who pays. But we explore what happens to the places we retreat from.

    Our latest research examines 161 international case studies of planned retreat. We analysed what happens beyond retreat, revealing how land use has changed following withdrawal of human activities.

    We found a wide range of land use following retreat. In some cases, comprehensive planning for future uses of land was part of the retreat process. But in others we found a failure to consider these changing places.

    Planned retreats have happened in response to various climate and hazard risks, including sea-level rise and coastal erosion, tsunami, cyclones, earthquakes, floods and landslides.

    The case studies we investigated range from gradual transitions to sudden changes, such as from residential or business activities to conservation or vacant lands. In some cases, “sea change” is evident, where once dry land becomes foreshore and seabed.

    Through our research, we identified global “retreat legacies”. These themes demonstrate how communities across the world have sought similar outcomes, highlighting primary land-use patterns following retreat.

    Case studies reveal several themes in what happens to land after people withdraw.
    Hanna,C, White I,Cretney, R, Wallace, P, CC BY-SA

    Nature legacies

    The case studies show significant conversions of private to public land, with new nature and open-space reserves. Sites have been rehabilitated and floodplains and coastal ecosystems restored and reconnected.

    Open spaces are used for various purposes, including as nature, community, stormwater or passive recreational reserves. Some of these new zones may restrict structures or certain activities, depending on the risk.

    For example, due to debris flow hazard in Matatā in the Bay of Plenty, only transitory recreation or specific low-risk activities are allowed in the post-retreat environment because of the high risk to human life.

    Planning and investment in new open-space zones range from basic rehabilitation (grassed sites) to established parks and reserves, such as the Grand Forks riverfront greenway which borders rivers in the twin US cities of Grand Forks, North Dakota, and East Grand Forks, Minnesota. This area now hosts various recreational courses and connected trails as well as major flood protection measures.

    Project Twin Streams has transformed former residential sites to allow rivers to roam in the floodplain.
    Wikimedia Commons/Ingolfson, CC BY-SA

    Nature-based adaptations are a key function in this retreat legacy. For example, Project Twin Streams, a large-scale environmental restoration project in Waitakere, West Auckland, has transformed former residential sites into drainage reserves to make room for rivers in the floodplain.

    Importantly, not all retreats require significant land-use change. Continued farming, heritage preservation and cultural activities show that planned retreats are not always full and final withdrawals from a place.

    Instead, they represent an adapted relationship. While sensitive activities are relocated, other practices may remain, such as residents’ continued access to the old village of Vunidogoloa in Fiji for fishing and farming.

    Social and economic legacies

    Urban development in a small number of retreated sites has involved comprehensive spatial reorganisation, with planning for new urban esplanades, improved infrastructure and cultural amenities.

    One example is the comprehensive infrastructure masterplan for the Caño Martín Peña district in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which involves communities living along a tidal channel. The plan applied a community-first approach to retreat. It integrated infrastructure, housing, open space, flood mitigation and ecological planning.

    Alternatively, the decision to remove stopbanks and return the landscape to a “waterscape” can become a tourism feature, such as in the marshlands of the Biesbosch National Park in the Netherlands. A museum is dedicated to the transformed environment.

    The Biesbosch marshland nature reserve was created following historic flooding.
    Shutterstock/Rudmer Zwerver

    Where there was no post-retreat planning or site rehabilitation, ghost towns such as Missouri’s Pattonsburg leave eerie reminders of the costs of living in danger zones.

    Vacant and abandoned sites also raise environmental justice and ecological concerns about which retreat spaces are invested in and rehabilitated to avoid urban blight and environmental risks. Retreat sites may include landfills or contaminated land, requiring major site rehabilitation.

    The 12 case studies from Aotearoa New Zealand demonstrate a range of new land uses. These include new open-space reserves, the restoration of floodplains and coastal environments, risk mitigation and re-development, and protection measures such as stopbanks.

    Moving beyond retreat

    Our research highlights how planned retreats can create a transition in landscapes, with potential for a new sense of place, meaning and strategic adaptation.

    We found planned retreats have impacts beyond the retreat site, which reinforces the value of spatial planning.

    The definition and practices of “planned or managed retreat” must include early planning to account of the values and uses the land once had. Any reconfigurations of land and seascapes must imagine a future well beyond people’s retreat.

    Christina Hanna received funding from the national science challenge Resilience to Nature’s Challenges Kia manawaroa – Ngā Ākina o Te Ao Tūroa and from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Endeavour Fund.

    Iain White received funding from the national science challenge Resilience to Nature’s Challenges Kia manawaroa – Ngā Ākina o Te Ao Tūroa, from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Endeavour Fund and from the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake. He is New Zealand’s national contact point for climate, energy and mobility for the European Union’s Horizon Europe research program.

    Raven Cretney received funding from the national science challenge Resilience to Nature’s Challenges Kia manawaroa – Ngā Ākina o Te Ao Tūroa.

    Pip Wallace 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. As more communities have to consider relocation, we explore what happens to the land after people leave – https://theconversation.com/as-more-communities-have-to-consider-relocation-we-explore-what-happens-to-the-land-after-people-leave-253653

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Better cleaning of hospital equipment could cut patient infections by one-third – and save money

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Mitchell, Professor of Nursing and Health Services Research, University of Newcastle

    Annie Spratt/Unsplash

    Hospital-acquired infections are infections patients didn’t have when they were admitted to hospital. The most common include wound infections after surgery, urinary tract infections and pneumonia.

    These can have a big impact for patients, often increasing their time in hospital, requiring additional treatment and causing discomfort. Unfortunately, some people who sustain an infection in hospital don’t recover. In Australia, there are an estimated 7,500 deaths associated with hospital-acquired infections annually.

    It’s important to prevent such infections not only for the benefit of patients, but also because of their cost to the health system and to reduce antibiotic use.

    Even though patients don’t usually come into contact with each other directly in hospitals, there are many ways bacteria can be transmitted between patients.

    Our own and other research suggests medical equipment (such as blood pressure machines, dressing trolleys and drip stands) could be a common source of infection.

    In recent research, we’ve shown that by regularly disinfecting shared medical equipment, we can help reduce infections picked up in hospitals – and save the health system money.

    We introduced a new cleaning package

    We conducted an experiment in a New South Wales hospital where we introduced a package of extra cleaning measures onto several wards.

    The package consisted of designated cleaners specifically trained to clean and disinfect sensitive medical equipment. Normally, the cleaning of shared equipment is the responsibility of clinical staff.

    These cleaners spent three hours a day disinfecting shared medical equipment on the ward. We also provided regular training and feedback to the cleaners.

    The start date for the cleaning package on each ward was randomly selected. This is known as a “stepped wedge” trial (more on this later).

    We monitored the thoroughness of cleaning before and after introducing the cleaning package by applying a florescent gel marker to shared equipment. The gel cannot be seen without a special light, but is easily removed if the surface is cleaned well.

    We also monitored infections in patients on the wards before and after introducing the cleaning package. Over the course of the experiment, more than 5,000 patients passed through the wards we were studying.

    Finally, we looked at the economic costs and benefits: how much the cleaning package costs, versus the health-care costs that may be saved thanks to any avoided infections.

    Shared hospital equipment such as IV drip stands can harbour infections.
    Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock

    What we found

    Before the intervention, we found the thoroughness of cleaning shared equipment, assessed by the removal of the gel marker, was low. Once we introduced the cleaning package, cleaning thoroughness improved from 24% to 66%.

    After the cleaning package was introduced, hospital-acquired infections dropped by about one-third, from 14.9% to 9.8% of patients. We saw a reduction in a range of different types of infections including bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections and surgical wound infections.

    To put this another way, for every 1,000 patients admitted to wards with the cleaning package, we estimated there were 30 fewer infections compared to wards before the cleaning package was introduced. This not only benefits patients, but also hospitals and the community, by freeing up resources that can be used to treat other patients.

    Treating infections in hospital is expensive. We estimate the cost of treating infections before the cleaning intervention was around A$2.1 million for a group of 1,000 patients, arising from 130 infections. These costs come from extra time in hospital and treatment costs associated with infections.

    We estimated the 30 fewer infections per 1,000 patients reduced costs to $1.5 million, even when factoring in the cost of cleaners and cleaning products. Put differently, our intervention could save a hospital $642,000 for every 1,000 patients.

    Some limitations of our research

    Our experiment was limited to several wards at one Australian hospital. It’s possible the cleaning was particularly poor at this hospital, and the same intervention at other hospitals may not result in the same benefit.

    For various reasons, even with trained designated cleaners we didn’t find every piece of equipment was cleaned all the time. This reflects common real-world issues in a busy ward. For example, some equipment was being used and not available for cleaning and cleaners were sometimes absent due to illness.

    We don’t know whether even more cleaning might have resulted in an even greater reduction in infections, but there is often a law of diminishing returns when assessing infection control interventions.

    In the real world, hospital cleaning isn’t perfect. But we could do better.
    aguscrespophoto/Shutterstock

    A limitation of looking at infection rates before and after the introduction of an intervention is that other things may change at the same time, such as staffing levels, so not all the difference in infections may be due to the intervention.

    But the stepped wedge model, where the cleaning package was introduced at different times on different wards, increases our confidence the reduction in infections was the result of the cleaning package.

    Improving hospital cleaning is a no brainer

    Shared medical equipment harbours pathogens, which can survive for long periods in health-care settings.

    Like our study, other research has similarly suggested a clean hospital is a safe hospital. Importantly, cleaning needs to include thorough disinfection to reduce the risk of infection (not just removing visible dirt and stains).

    Our work is also consistent with other research that shows improving cleaning in hospitals is cost-effective.

    Cleaning services and products have often been subject to cuts when hospitals have needed to save money.

    But prioritising effective cleaning of medical equipment appears to be a no brainer for health system administrators. We need to invest in better cleaning practices for both the health of patients and the financial bottom line.

    Brett Mitchell receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Medical Research Future Fund. Brett is Editor-in-Chief of Infection, Disease and Health for which he is paid an honorarium by the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control. Brett has appointments at Avondale University, Monash University and the Hunter Medical Research Institute. GAMA Healthcare Australia provided cleaning wipes used in a study referenced in this article.

    Allen Cheng receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Government. He is a member of the Infection Prevention and Control Advisory Committee advising the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Healthcare.

    – ref. Better cleaning of hospital equipment could cut patient infections by one-third – and save money – https://theconversation.com/better-cleaning-of-hospital-equipment-could-cut-patient-infections-by-one-third-and-save-money-251917

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed & Young Introduce Bipartisan Adult Education WORKS Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC – The latest results for U.S. adults on the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) are sobering.  Between  2017 and 2023 literacy and numeracy skills sank, with the percentage of adults at the lowest performance levels increasing from 19 to 28 percent in literacy and from 29 to 34 percent in numeracy. And, at current funding levels, adult education programs reach only an estimated 1.1 million people across the nation.
    In an effort to connect more Americans to adult education opportunities and boost our economy, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Todd Young (R-IN) today reintroduced the Adult Education Workforce Opportunity and Reskilling for Knowledge and Success Act (the Adult Education WORKS Act), to reauthorize adult education programs and expand upon the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Congresswoman Lucy McBath (D-GA-6) is leading introduction of companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
    A study commissioned by the Barbara Bush Foundation estimates that getting all American adults to the equivalent of a sixth-grade reading level would add $2.2 trillion to the country’s annual income. Without the opportunities provided by adult education programs — like numeracy, literacy, digital literacy, English language skills, soft skills, work readiness, high school equivalency, and other wraparound services — many adults will be left on the sidelines of an economy that needs more qualified workers in order to grow.
    The Adult Education WORKS Act provides a roadmap for addressing this crisis by updating WIOA and by strengthening and expanding access to adult education services. Specifically, the legislation calls for nearly doubling the authorized funding for adult education by 2030 to $1.35 billion while making significant changes to the adult education system. Critical for achieving success in modern workplaces and for navigating everyday life, the bill calls for a new emphasis on digital and information literacy. Furthermore, the legislation will help to enhance the role of adult education providers by ensuring representation in the workforce planning process, with a focus on college and career navigators in public libraries and community-based organizations.
    The Adult Education WORKS Act invests in the professionalization of the adult education field, strengthening state certification policies, encouraging full-time staffing models, and expanding professional development opportunities and career pathways for adult educators. Investments will enhance innovation and provide increased accountability through pilot projects that test new approaches to measuring program performance and outcomes for adult learners.
    “Strengthening adult education programs is essential to growing our economy and ensuring business owners have enough qualified workers. Adult education is the ticket to a more prosperous and successful life,” said Senator Reed.  “The Adult Education WORKS Act will help ensure that more Americans can access educational programs that will equip them with in-demand skills to take the opportunities that are available to them.” 
    “It’s critical that all Hoosiers have the tools necessary to succeed in the modern economy – and that starts with strengthening adult education,” said Senator Young. “Our bipartisan bill would bolster critical services for adult learners, while also making important updates that ensure participants are prepared for the 21st century workforce.”
    “With so many adults at low literacy and numeracy rates, it is crucial that we provide them an option to gain the skills they need to succeed,” said Rep. McBath. “No adult or family should be left on the sidelines, and the expertise available through these programs often mean the difference between a job that supports a family and struggling to make ends meet. The Adult Education WORKS Act will ensure that essential skills will be taught to adult learners nationwide. I thank my colleagues for their support on this bipartisan bill.”
    The Adult Education WORKS Act would amend Title I and reauthorize Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which was signed into law on July 22, 2014. WIOA was designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy. Congress passed the Act with a wide bipartisan majority and it was the first legislative reform of the public workforce system since 1998.
    The legislation is supported by the Coalition for Adult Basic Education (COABE), American Library Association (ALA), National Coalition for Literacy (NCL), National Skills Coalition, ProLiteracy, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), TESOL International Association, and the Urban Libraries Council.
    “Through investment and innovation, adult education is the solution to bridging the widening skills gap and ensuring American employers can fill open roles with qualified individuals. The bipartisan Adult Education WORKS Act would strengthen adult education and help equip millions of American adults with the literacy, numeracy, and digital and information literacy skills needed to secure in-demand jobs that provide family-sustaining wages. COABE is grateful for Senator Reed and Senator Young’s engagement with the adult education field to develop this bill and applauds them and Representative McBath for sponsoring it in the Senate and House of Representatives. COABE is proud to give its full support to the bipartisan Adult Education WORKS Act.” said Sharon Bonney, CEO of COABE.
    “Adult learners and programs would greatly benefit from the changes proposed to WIOA in the Adult Education WORKS Act. This bipartisan bill acknowledges the need for increased investment in adult education and includes key provisions to enhance professional development for educators, promote integrated education and training concurrently with other adult education activities and services, ensure adults learners gain critical digital and information literacy skills, and foster stronger coordination between workforce and adult education programs. By addressing these barriers within the WIOA system, the Adult Education WORKS Act ensures adults have access to the skills and guidance needed to move on to college or a career pathway.” said Shaketta Thomas, President of COABE.
    “Every day, library patrons turn to their local library for employment services and to make themselves more competitive in today’s job market. Librarians provide resources to the unemployed and underemployed to help their career goals become a reality” said ALA President Cindy Hohl. “The bipartisan Adult Education Workforce Opportunity and Reskilling for Knowledge and Success Act (Adult Education WORKS Act) will address workforce challenges by updating the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to strengthen and expand access to adult education services. ALA strongly endorses the Adult Education WORKS Act.”
    “Adult Education is an essential lifeline for adults in the U.S. who lack sufficient foundational skills and are struggling to find meaningful employment and live productive, happy lives.  The Adult Education WORKS Act will improve the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) by:   promoting better coordination between the adult education and workforce development systems, increasing access to enhanced adult education services, and getting more of our lowest-skilled adults into education and training pathways.  Simply put, the Adult Education WORKS Act will provide the necessary skills, expand the employment opportunities and improve the lives of millions of adults in the U.S., which will result in a more skilled workforce, a stronger economy and healthier communities across America,” said Jeffrey A. Fantine, Ph.D., Executive Director of the National Coalition for Literacy.
    “TESOL International Association, on behalf of its members who proudly serve the English Language Teaching (ELT) profession, supports Senators Reed and Young’s Adult Education WORKS Act, as it strengthens and expands access to adult education services through WIOA for all adult learners, more than half of whom are multilingual learners of English seeking to better themselves, their communities, and their nation,” said Jeff Hutcheson, Director of Advocacy and Public Policy for TESOL.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko assessed the work of the laboratories of MIREA – Russian Technological University

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    At MIREA – Russian Technological University (RTU MIREA) in Moscow, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Chernyshenko familiarized himself with the key educational and scientific projects of the university and also assessed the work of the laboratories.

    The event was also attended by Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Andrey Omelchuk and Rector of RTU MIREA Stanislav Kudzh.

    “Today, when we are faced with the national goal outlined by President Vladimir Putin – technological leadership, the development of universities is becoming especially important. MIREA – Russian Technological University uses government support tools. The university participates in the Priority-2030 program of the national project “Youth and Children”, conducts research based on the Advanced Engineering School. Cooperation with industrial partners allows us to obtain specific developments, which we saw today in the university’s technological laboratories,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    In total, more than 30 thousand students study at RTU MIREA, including more than 1.8 thousand representatives from 80 countries.

    The Deputy Prime Minister, together with the Deputy Head of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia and the Rector, assessed the modern digital prototyping laboratory and got acquainted with the educational and scientific testing complex “Import Substitution of Information Technologies”, created jointly with Rostelecom. Also, in the motion capture laboratory and the immersive technology laboratory, equipment was shown that allows recording the movements, movements and facial expressions of actors with high positioning accuracy, followed by the recreation of their actions in digital models of characters and animation objects.

    In addition, the guests assessed the work of the Departmental Situation Center for Monitoring the Sphere of Education and Science of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia.

    “RTU MIREA is an active participant in the national project “Youth and Children”. The University creates a comprehensive infrastructure for training highly qualified personnel. I would like to separately note the work of the Departmental Situation Center of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia for monitoring the sphere of education and science, operating on the basis of the University, which ensures the collection and verification of relevant data. Today, the results of its work help the Ministry and the heads of scientific and educational organizations to promptly respond to modern challenges and make effective management decisions,” said Deputy Head of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia Andrey Omelchuk.

    Rector of RTU MIREA Stanislav Kudzh spoke in detail about the work of the Situation Center of the Ministry of Education and Science, where monitoring of the educational sphere is carried out in real time.

    “We strive to make our university a driver of technological sovereignty: from digital prototyping laboratories and immersive technologies to large-scale projects such as the educational and scientific complex with Rostelecom and the Departmental Situation Center of the Ministry of Education and Science. These solutions are the basis for training personnel capable of responding to the challenges of the time. I am confident that the support of the Russian Government will allow us to further develop the innovative ecosystem, where education, science and the real sector of the economy are creating the future today,” said RTU MIREA Rector Stanislav Kudzh.

    The visit ended with a discussion of the university’s development prospects and its role in implementing state programs for digitalization and training personnel for high-tech industries.

    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 –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: A fair go for young Australians in this election? Voters are weighing up intergenerational inequity

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Woodman, TR Ashworth Professor in Sociology, The University of Melbourne

    Securing the welfare of future generations seems like solid grounds for judging policies and politicians, especially during an election campaign. Political legacies are on the line because the stakes are so high.

    There is a real possibility that today’s young people could become the first Australian generation to suffer lower living standards on some key measures than their parents. Unaffordable housing is the main flashpoint. But other challenges weigh heavily, including student debt, insecure work and climate change.

    No political leader would want to preside over a society that leaves younger generations worse off than those that preceded them. Yet that possibility should be on voters’ minds as they prepare to pass judgement at the ballot box on May 3.

    Young voters wield power

    In recent elections, young people have been largely overlooked. Yet, for the first time I can remember, all the major political parties have explicitly recognised that many young people are doing it tough.

    Political strategists would be mindful demographics are clearly shifting. This will be the first election where Gen Z and Millennials will outnumber Baby Boomers (and Gen X) at the ballot box.

    The good and the bad

    But intergenerational equality can be hard to pin down, as people disagree on what counts and how to count it. On many measures of living standards, young Australians are demonstrably better off than their parents.

    Many of the nice things in life, such as international travel and electronic gadgets, are much cheaper. The future may be uncertain, but unless we decide to live more sustainably as a society, today’s young people are still on track to consume more over the course of their lifetime than previous generations.

    However, the things that really matter, including housing and education, cost more than ever before. And that means crucial life transitions to secure and happy adult lives are taking longer and feel less certain.

    Our policy settings might be making this worse. Many experts argue the tax system is stacked against the young because it favours people who have already built up wealth and assets.

    Education is becoming more expensive, while converting educational credentials into employment outcomes is harder than it was. And getting together the deposit for a house is onerous, as costs increase faster than people can save.

    Policy pitch

    In this election, a swag of policy offerings to young voters has already been made.

    Labor is promising to cut student HECS debts and make housing more affordable. The Coalition will allow young home buyers to dip into their superannuation to purchase their first property, while the Greens want to cap rent increases.

    So, who is likely to win the young vote? In recent decades younger Australian voters have shifted towards the left. Unlike in some similar countries, this has also included young men, although at a slower pace than women.

    However, young voters are a diverse lot. United States President Donald Trump’s success at harvesting a greater share of the American youth vote, in part through tapping into cost-of-living concerns, suggests younger voters should not be taken for granted in Australia.

    What’s missing from the debate

    The elephant in the room in any conversation about inequality between the generations is the growing role intergenerational financial supports play in shaping young people’s lives. These transfers help reproduce, and even sharpen, economic inequalities between young people.

    As part of the Life Patterns Project, I have spent the past 20 years with colleagues tracking young people as they transition from secondary school to early adulthood.

    One of our recent findings is that parents are increasingly supporting their young adult children through crucial life events. This includes helping with bills, rent, and often a deposit for a house.

    And this has consequences for inequality over time. The ability to fall back on family resources is playing an even greater role in determining how easily a young person will navigate school and university, land a decent job and buy into the housing market.

    This is in turn increases the pressure on parents to continue supporting their children well into their adult years. The financial squeeze is being felt particularly sharply by those who can’t really afford to help, at least without changing their own plans for the future, including their retirement.

    No appetite for real reform

    So these intergenerational challenges are not just affecting young people. They also have an impact on parents, some of whom are risking their own financial security to help their adult children. They also risk making Australia a less equal society.

    Recently, Anglicare advocated an inheritance tax to reduce the role intergenerational transfers play in shaping unequal outcomes for future generations.

    But the major political parties are in no hurry to embrace such a measure. Nor any other significant reforms to the tax treatment of housing to try and improve affordability.

    Nevertheless, at this election, younger generations are on the agenda in a new way. Politicians will ignore them at their peril.

    This is the fifth article in our special series, Australia’s Policy Challenges. You care read the other articles here

    Dan Woodman receives funding from the Australian Research Council

    – ref. A fair go for young Australians in this election? Voters are weighing up intergenerational inequity – https://theconversation.com/a-fair-go-for-young-australians-in-this-election-voters-are-weighing-up-intergenerational-inequity-250782

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why are so many second-generation South Asian and Chinese Canadians planning to vote Conservative?

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Emine Fidan Elcioglu, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Toronto

    After months of political decline, the Liberal Party of Canada is showing signs of recovery, buoyed, some suggest, by a surge of national pride in the face of Donald Trump’s tariff war and threats to Canadian sovereignty.

    But this apparent rebound obscures a more surprising political shift: the growing appeal of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) among immigrants and their children.

    Traditionally, immigrant and visible minority communities have supported the centrist Liberal Party. In the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), where over half of all residents identify as “visible minority” (the category used by stats can), Chinese and South Asian Canadians have long formed a key part of the Liberal base.

    Yet recent polling tells a different story. An October 2024 survey found that 45 per cent of immigrants had changed their political allegiances since arriving in Canada, with many now leaning Conservative.

    Meanwhile, another national survey from January 2025 found that a majority of East Asian (55 per cent) and South Asian (56 per cent) respondents expressed support for the Conservative Party, far outpacing support for the Liberals or the NDP.

    Nationally, racialized citizens now make up over 26 per cent of Canada’s population, with South Asians and Chinese Canadians the two largest groups.

    While detailed racial breakdowns remain rare in Canadian polling, the few available data points suggest a meaningful shift. This pattern also reflects a broader trend: South Asian and Chinese Canadians in the GTA are increasingly politically active, with rising turnout and growing partisan diversification.

    Ramping up outreach

    The Conservative Party, for its part, has taken notice. Under Pierre Poilievre’s leadership, the CPC has actively recruited racialized candidates and ramped up outreach in suburban swing ridings — particularly through ethnic media advertising and messaging focused on economic self-reliance and family values.

    This rightward shift among racialized voters may seem counter-intuitive. The Conservative Party has historically represented white, affluent voters, and under Stephen Harper (who led from 2006 to 2015), implemented policies that curtailed immigration, tightened citizenship rules and cut social programs in ways that disproportionately harmed racialized communities.

    Why, then, would racialized Canadians increasingly turn to the right?

    In a study I recently published, I interviewed 50 Canadian-born children of South Asian, Chinese and white immigrants living in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). I argue that this shift is not a contradiction but provides a window into how racialized groups navigate inequality, exclusion and the search for belonging.

    While there are many reasons 2nd-generation racialized Canadians may support the Conservative Party, this study highlights one under-documented explanation. Voting for a right-wing party that represents the interests of white, wealthy citizens can be a way for second-generation South Asian and Chinese Canadians to seek acceptance when power is linked to whiteness..



    Read more:
    Why are brown and Black people supporting the far right?

    The hidden costs of fitting in

    In other words, many of these racialized Canadians don’t vote Conservative because they’re unaware of inequality. They vote Conservative because they’re trying to navigate it.

    Growing up in precariously middle-class households, the young adults I interviewed watched their immigrant parents face deskilling and downward mobility despite arriving in Canada with professional credentials.

    They saw their families pressured to “Canadianize” their names and accents, only to be sidelined by employers who still favoured whiteness.

    And they were raised in a society where multiculturalism celebrates cultural symbols but often ignores structural racism.

    In this context, support for the Conservatives reflects not ignorance of marginalization, but a way to move through it. Aligning with the right becomes a signal of belonging.

    As one young South Asian Canadian man put it:

    “You’ve arrived. You’re a Canadian. So, start voting like one.”

    This desire to belong doesn’t emerge in a vacuum. It’s shaped by racial scripts that reward conformity and penalize dissent — most notably, the model minority stereotype.



    Read more:
    Searching for anti-racism agendas in South Asian Canadian communities

    The price of acceptance

    The model minority stereotype casts Asian Canadians as hardworking and quietly successful. On the surface, it sounds like praise. But in practice, it hides inequality and demands silence in exchange for conditional belonging.



    Read more:
    Model minority blues: The mental health consequences of being a model citizen — Don’t Call Me Resilient EP 9

    That acceptance is fragile. After Sept. 11, 2001, many South Asians, particularly those perceived as Muslim, were quickly recast as dangerous outsiders.

    A similar dynamic resurfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Asian Canadians faced a sharp rise in racial harassment. In both cases, those once celebrated as “model” citizens were suddenly treated as threats.



    Read more:
    The model minority myth hides the racist and sexist violence experienced by Asian women

    In some contexts, political restraint, like staying quiet or avoiding protest, can function as a survival strategy. But that’s not what I observed in this study.

    The second-generation Canadians I interviewed were not politically quiet. They were vocal in their support for the Conservative Party. For them, voting Conservative was a way to assert they already belonged, not by asking for inclusion, but by showing they did not need to. Conservatism became a marker of success, self-reliance and alignment with those at the centre of Canadian life.

    Canada’s official embrace of multiculturalism reinforces this logic. While often praised as a national strength, multiculturalism can obscure how racism really works. Structural barriers are hidden behind feel-good narratives of inclusion.

    Rethinking belonging

    In Canada, ideas about who belongs are often shaped by race, class and respectability. Racialized people must not only prove they are hardworking and law-abiding, but also demonstrate that they’ve “fit in.” For some, voting Conservative becomes a way to show they’ve done just that — a way of saying: “I’m not like them. I’m one of you.”

    But this strategy comes at a cost. In reinforcing the very structures that marginalize them, racialized voters may gain individual recognition while deepening collective exclusion. And in rejecting equity-based platforms, they may forgo the policies that could build a more just society.

    This dynamic isn’t limited to the second generation. A recent CBC survey found that four in five newcomers believe Canada has accepted too many immigrants and international students without proper planning.

    Some immigrants are increasingly expressing exclusionary views, often toward those who arrived more recently. This, too, is a form of aspirational politics. And it shows just how deeply race, precarity and belonging are entangled in Canada today.

    None of this means that racialized Conservative voters are naïve. Their decisions often reflect a clear-eyed understanding of how power works.

    But if we want a fairer political future, we must reckon with the ways race, class and nationalism shape belonging — not just at the ballot box, but in the stories we tell about who gets to be “Canadian.”

    As sociologist Ruha Benjamin reminds us, inclusion shouldn’t be treated as an act of generosity. It’s not about “helping” the marginalized — it’s about understanding that we’re all connected. When fear shapes policy and public goods are stripped away, everyone suffers.

    Emine Fidan Elcioglu 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. Why are so many second-generation South Asian and Chinese Canadians planning to vote Conservative? – https://theconversation.com/why-are-so-many-second-generation-south-asian-and-chinese-canadians-planning-to-vote-conservative-253820

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Cornyn Reintroduce Legislation to Expand Satellite Data Sharing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado

    Legislation would ensure partnerships between NASA and the private sector to boost satellite-enabled research

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and John Cornyn reintroduced their bipartisan Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries (ASCEND) Act to codify NASA’s Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition (CSDA) program and continue shared access to commercial small-satellite (SmallSat) datasets that prove crucial for Earth science research and applications.

    “Satellites help us study and better understand our planet,” said Hickenlooper. “Our legislation leverages public-private partnerships to advance vital scientific research.”

    “Investing in satellite data and imagery gives us a deeper understanding of everything from agricultural yields to weather forecasting and disaster response,” said Cornyn. “This legislation would create a permanent program through NASA to expand the data pool available to us and build on prior success.”

    Alongside the unprecedented growth of the commercial space industry, technological advancements have enabled the development of SmallSats with novel capabilities. There has been a sharp increase in the number of privately owned and operated satellites, including over 2,800 SmallSats launched in 2023 alone. Commercial SmallSats provide high resolution data to complement the suite of Earth observations acquired by NASA, other U.S. Government agencies, and international partners. Earth observation data supplied by satellites in orbit provide important information for a variety of purposes, including increasing agricultural crop yields, informing forest conservation, improving disaster mitigation and response, forecasting space weather, advancing science, and more.

    NASA established CSDA as a pilot program in 2017 to identify and evaluate commercial capabilities, establish new processes to onramp vendors, and enable broad sharing and use of acquired data products. The CSDA pilot program proved to be a success, with participating scientists finding the program’s datasets to be useful and reliable for a variety of research topics. Today, fifteen commercial vendors are providing 7 unique data types to federal researchers through CSDA.

    The ASCEND Act would permanently authorize CSDA within NASA to sustain and expand the program and continue to leverage the advancing capabilities in remote sensing offered by commercial vendors.

    “This act will provide data to support Earth science and applications and help meet some of the nation’s strategic goals, providing societal benefit and improving public understanding and exchange of knowledge,” said Frank Eparvier, Interim Director of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder. “We firmly believe that supporting the ASCEND Act will strengthen Colorado’s leadership in Earth science and secure long-term economic societal benefits for the state and the nation. Thank you, Senator Hickenlooper, for your leadership on the important ASCEND Act.”

    “Commercial satellite observations have a demonstrated ability to provide vital information about important Earth characteristics and processes in a cost-effective way. They serve as a powerful complement to the capabilities developed by NASA and other federal agencies, enhancing our ability to monitor and understand our surroundings and the environment,” said Waleed Abdalati, Director of the Cooperative Institute for Research In Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder. “These insights contribute significantly to our safety, prosperity, and overall well-being by deepening our understanding of the world around us.”

    “NASA’s Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition (CSDA) program is an outstanding example of how commercial companies can provide data and services to the government for a fraction of the cost of government owned systems. CSF applauds the reintroduction of the ASCEND Act and encourages quick passage of this legislation to expand utilization of these important data sets,” said Dave Cavossa, President of the Commercial Space Federation.

    Specifically, this legislation will:

    • Establish CSDA as a permanent program within NASA’s Earth Science Division
    • Direct NASA to expand procurement licenses and provide federal agencies access to high-quality Earth remote sensing datasets and imagery
    • Promote the acquisition of new datasets for scientific and non-scientific applications
    • Require an annual report to Congress on the uses and impact of commercial data products and licensing agreements

    A one-pager on the bill is available HERE.

    The full text of the bill is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Skyward Specialty to Host First Quarter 2025 Earnings Call Friday, MAY 2, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc.™ (NASDAQ: SKWD) (“Skyward Specialty” or “the Company”) expects to issue its first quarter 2025 earnings results after the market closes on Thursday, May 1 which will be available on the Company website at investors.skywardinsurance.com/ under Quarterly Results.

    Skyward Specialty will host its earnings call to review the first quarter 2025 financial results on Friday, May 2 at 9:00 a.m. EST.

    Investors may access the live audio webcast via the link on the Company’s investor site at investors.skywardinsurance.com/ under Events & Presentations. Additionally, investors can access the earnings call via conference call by registering via the conference link. Users will receive dial-in information and a unique PIN to join the call upon registering.

    A webcast replay will be available two hours following the call in the same location on the Company’s investor website.

    About Skyward Specialty

    Skyward Specialty (Nasdaq: SKWD) is a rapidly growing and innovative specialty insurance company, delivering commercial property and casualty products and solutions on a non-admitted and admitted basis. The Company operates through nine underwriting divisions – Accident & Health, Agriculture and Credit (Re)insurance, Captives, Construction & Energy Solutions, Global Property, Professional Lines, Programs, Surety, and Transactional E&S.

    Skyward Specialty’s subsidiary insurance companies consist of Great Midwest Insurance Company, Houston Specialty Insurance Company, Imperium Insurance Company, and Oklahoma Specialty Insurance Company. These insurance companies are rated A (Excellent) with a stable outlook by A.M. Best Company. For more information about Skyward Specialty, its people, and its products, please visit skywardinsurance.com.

    For investor relations information contact:

    Natalie Schoolcraft
    nschoolcraft@skywardinsurance.com
    614-494-4988

    The MIL Network –

    April 11, 2025
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