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Category: Education

  • MIL-Evening Report: The Medical Research Future Fund has grown far beyond its target. Why is so much of the money unused?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lesley Russell, Adjunct Associate Professor, Menzies Centre for Health Policy and Economics, University of Sydney

    AshTproductions/Shutterstock

    Australian researchers are reeling from the international reach of the Trump administration’s ideological war on science and research, which threatens local research projects that receive funding from the United States National Institutes of Health.

    In this context, some may have found a grain of comfort in Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s budget reply speech with his commitment of continued support for the Medical Research Future Fund.

    The fund provides a concrete opportunity to supplant those US funds without further cost to the federal budget. But to date the Medical Research Future Fund has struggled to deliver on the promises made at its inception in 2015 that, a decade on, are still so needed.

    What is the Medical Research Future Fund?

    This research fund was the sweetener in the Abbott government’s 2014–2015 budget, which slashed spending in health and Indigenous Affairs. Virtually all the savings were invested in the new research fund, with the target of reaching $A20 billion at maturity (this happened in 2020) and then distributing $1 billion each year.

    The funds are allocated in accordance with the Medical Research Future Fund’s funding principles. They are based on Australia’s medical and research innovation strategy (revised every five years) and priorities (which should be revised every two years, but have not been updated since 2022). These are set by an independent medical research advisory board.

    However, it is the federal government, via the Minister for Health and Aged Care, who develops the ten-year investment plan and has the final say in how funds are used.

    How is the money being used?

    The current ten-year plan (for the decade to 2033–2034) has four themes: patients, researchers, research missions and research translation. There are 22 initiatives under these themes across a wide range of basic and clinical research areas, population health initiatives and commercialisation endeavours.

    The Future Fund Management Agency is in charge of investing the funds which, by September 2024, had now grown to $23.85 billion.

    But although the returns on investment have always been above the annual set targets, the returns to research have fallen well short. This is because in 2021 the Morrison Government – with Labor support – enacted legislation to cap the fund’s expenditure at $650 million a year.

    Since 2015, the fund’s investments have earned $6.435 billion. Yet only $3.15 billion has gone out to fund research (data as of September 2024).

    This year, the Future Fund Board of Guardians has set the “maximum annual distribution amount” at $1.053 billion.

    The cap on yearly spending means $403 million that could boost research funding remains locked up in an oversubscribed investment portfolio. That pot of unallocated research funds will continue to grow unless there are legislative changes to lift the cap.

    A tough climate for research

    It’s not an exaggeration to say these are tough times for Australian researchers. Australian investment in research and development, as a proportion of GDP, has been falling steadily behind the OECD average.

    Funding awarded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (the other main source of government funding for biomedical research) has almost flat-lined over the past decade, at an average of $887 million a year.

    Success rates for researchers securing National Health and Medical Research Council and Medical Research Future Fund grants are at historic lows. The adverse impact on research and researchers is recognised on the National Health and Medical Research Council website.

    The COVID pandemic, the growing obesity epidemic, the burgeoning mental health crisis, health threats of climate change, the disappointing failures of Closing the Gap initiatives, and growing health inequalities – all point to the need to spend more on research and to do this smarter.

    The Medical Research Future Fund could and should do much more to fulfil its aim “to transform health and medical research and innovation to improve lives, build the economy and contribute to health system sustainability”.

    So, is it working?

    Over the years, there has been a range of criticisms of the fund’s processes. These prevent it from realising its mission and include:

    • funds have been allocated outside the established priorities

    • reporting on the fund’s activities and outcomes is not timely and lacks transparency and accountability (note the required report to parliament for 2022–2024 is not yet available)

    • there is no collaboration across research missions and with the various agencies of the federal government, particularly the the National Health and Medical Research Council

    • not enough has been done to ensure consumers and patients are actively consulted and involved

    • funding is focused on disease groups with high rates of premature deaths at the expense of those that cause disabilities.

    What’s being done to fix the issues?

    Some of these issues are being addressed. In particular, efforts are underway to reform the governance and administration of the Medical Research Future Fund and the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Medical Research endowment account. This to ensure the community obtains the greatest benefits from these investments in health and medical research. However, the timetable is regrettably slow – this work began in May 2023.

    The hard reality is that boosting Australia’s biomedical research capabilities and capacities requires bipartisan political commitment, which has been scarce in recent times.

    The last two budgets from the Albanese Government offered little for research, aside from the existing commitments to the fund. To date, all we have from Dutton is a single statement highlighting his role in establishing the fund and his ongoing commitment to it.

    It’s time to boost Australia’s reputation as a country that nurtures and promotes research excellence. This would be both an investment in Australians’ health and well-being and Australia’s economy and a counter to Trump’s denigration of biomedical science.

    I have previously worked as a health policy advisor to the Australian Labor Party.

    – ref. The Medical Research Future Fund has grown far beyond its target. Why is so much of the money unused? – https://theconversation.com/the-medical-research-future-fund-has-grown-far-beyond-its-target-why-is-so-much-of-the-money-unused-253338

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schatz Leads Resolution Celebrating International Transgender Day Of Visibility

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) led a group of 20 senators in introducing a resolution to celebrate International Transgender Day of Visibility and recognize the achievements and courage of the transgender community around the world.
    “International Transgender Day of Visibility is about celebrating the transgender community around the world – their achievements, their courage, and their right to live freely and openly,” said Senator Schatz. “It’s also about raising awareness of the discrimination trans people continue to face, especially under the Trump administration. While the progress we’ve made on trans rights is under threat, we won’t stop fighting until there’s full acceptance and equality for all.”
    Schatz’s resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).
    The resolution is supported by Advocates for Trans Equality, Advocates for Human Rights, American Federation of Teachers, AIDS United, Amnesty International USA, CA LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network, CenterLink: The Community of LGBTQ Centers, Equality California, GLSEN, Human Rights Campaign, Interfaith Alliance, Just Detention International, Kentucky Youth Law Project, Inc., LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin, Maryland Communities United, Movement Advancement Project, National LGBTQI+ Bar Association, National LGBTQI+ Cancer Network, National Black Justice Coalition, North Shore Alliance of GLBTQ+ Youth, PFLAG National, People Power United, Point of Pride, Popular Connection Action Fund, Popular Democracy, Positive Women’s Network-USA, Pride at Work – Hawai‘i, Silver State Equality, Transathlete, and Trevor Project.
    A similar resolution was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Representative Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) and co-led by U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Mark Takano (D-Calif.). 
    The full text of Schatz’s resolution is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Midtown street party unveils hidden art gems

    Source: Auckland Council

    April’s midtown street party on Thursday 17 April is packed full of art, music, food, live painting and stories. It will also celebrate street culture now, and from decades past.

    Midtown’s monthly street parties are enabled by Auckland Council to build vibrancy and support local businesses in the newly-emerging neighbourhood around Te Waihorotiu Station, with funds from the city centre targeted rate.

    But there’s a unique, exciting and mysterious layer added to April’s party line-up.

    On the way to or from the street party on 17 April, Aucklanders are encouraged to stroll to Durham Lane West and Airedale Street to witness street art they might never have noticed before.

    Auckland Council Head of City Centre Programmes Jenny Larking is thrilled to be throwing light on a hidden collection of art history in these little-known locations.

    “Standing in one single spot it’s possible to take in the city’s oldest existing piece of graffiti culture, a mid-1990s view of place, and a contemporary portrayal of what our feet stand on beneath the central city.

    “Some of these artworks are a celebration of Te Waihorotiu stream, which flows underground, a treasured stream that’s also honoured in the name of the new station taking shape in the area,” she says.  

    Etched into the walls of our city, street culture never grows old. Here’s more about this unique urban experience:

    Durham Lane West

    Lane Change by John Radford 1995 – in Durham Lane West.

    Artist John Radford’s Lane Change, on the wall of an underpass off Durham Lane West, remembers a slice of Auckland’s history. The artwork cements a replica façade of an 1880s building, which was in Shortland Street, into the wall.

    Directly opposite Lane Change is a John Radford mural ‘…that was then, and that was then…’ completed in 1994 in this backstreet shrine to street culture.

    This artwork also explores themes of buildings past. Both artworks were funded from a donation by a property development company responsible for a large development in the area at the time, part of Auckland City Council’s incentive scheme for the creation of public art and public spaces by private companies.

    In ‘…that was then, and that was then…’ words and phrases overlap and intersect to represent the passage of time. The words draw from Auckland’s history and include the names of Māori pā sites, natural features, and local businesses that have been built over and around in the landscape of Tāmaki Makaurau.

    In 2010 an unknown contractor inadvertently painted over the mural. The artist, John Radford, restored the work leaving some of the grey paint to add to the evolution and meaning of the artwork.

    “I think it adds to the look of the work. There are now more traces of layers on the wall,” the artist told The Aucklander at the time.

    Queen Street City Beat 1986 by Opto & Dick Clique (Otis and Dick Frizzell).

    Walk further into the underpass and discover the Queen Street City Beat mural created in 1986 by Opto & Dick Clique (Otis and Dick Frizzell).   

    In 1986, 15-year-old Otis Frizzell recruited his well-known artist father as free labour to help him with this historic graffiti mural painted in the alleyway. Otis recalls the council of the time wanted to brighten up the inner city and he was commissioned to create the mural.   

    The only real graffiti art reference available at the time was the movie Beat Street, so the artist wrote QUEEN STREET CITY BEAT. The mural depicts a characterisation of Queen Street at the time featuring recognisable buildings – the Classic Cinema, Auckland Town Hall, Keans Jeans, the neon cowboy and McDonalds. 

    Otis Frizzell says: “I’m stoked to get a chance to breathe some new life into this old mural. Of course when I painted this with my Dad back in ’86 I had no idea it would last so long, and eventually become one of the oldest existing Street Art pieces in Aotearoa.”

    Opposite the Frizzell work is Holly Mafaufau’s Tāmaki Makaurau completed in 2024.

    Holly enjoys the conceptual, problem-solving aspect of design and takes a similar approach to the walls she paints. She says that words are weapons, and public walls are an opportunity to speak to people.

    “This artwork acknowledges the historic bodies of water of the area and their importance in the provision of kai (food). It was created with the intention to soften a hard urban space while contributing to the collection of existing artworks in this space,” Holly says.   

    Airedale Street  

    Artist Poi Ngawati.

    Exciting new artworks curated by Ross Liew for Auckland Council have transformed the Airedale Street steps, a popular pathway between Auckland University of Technology and Queen Street.

    A mural has been created by artist Poi Ngawati (Waikato Tainui, Ngāti Patupo, Ngāti Whawhaki, Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine). 

    Titled Te Huinga Tai – The gathering of tides, this vibrant piece of street art talks about the meeting of tides from all around the world. Depicted via a modern Māori stylised pūhoro design, the work reflects five key values; people first, pursue excellence, embrace change, act with integrity and serve our world. 

    The north facing walls are painted in shades of violet purple and the south facing walls shades of teal. This colour combination speaks of day and night, light and dark, and how the waters of Te Waihorotiu continue to flow beneath the streets.

    Accompanying the mural is a new collaborative light work suspended in the tree above, created by Poi Ngawati and Angus Muir to complete the transformation of this space. The design speaks to the connection between the stars, ocean, and iwi guiding our journeys and shaping our stories.

    The flowing forms represent rain, linking Ranginui and Papatūānuku. By day, it moves with the environment; by night, it connects to the stars above. 

    Read about the full midtown street party programme at OurAuckland.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin Introduces Legislation to Lower Drug Costs and Hold Big Pharma Accountable for Price Hikes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined her colleagues Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in introducing the Lower Drug Costs for Families Act to make prescription drugs more affordable, hold Big Pharma accountable, and reduce the national deficit by billions of dollars. The bill would do so by punishing drug companies for raising prescription drug prices in the commercial market faster than the rate of inflation, including those on private health insurance and employer-sponsored health plans. The legislation builds on the Baldwin-backed Inflation Reduction Act’s work to lower health costs for seniors with Medicare by protecting Wisconsinites from outrageous increases in prescription drug prices.

    “Everywhere I go in Wisconsin, I hear from families who need relief from the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs. Too often big corporations can jack up drug prices on a whim, leaving Wisconsinites stuck between paying through the nose or forgoing their medication while big pharmaceutical companies get richer,” said Senator Baldwin. “This legislation will build on our work to lower costs for Wisconsin families and protect all Americans from big drug companies’ outrageous price hikes.”

    Under current law, drug companies only have to pay back money if they raise their prices faster than inflation on drugs covered by Medicare. The Lower Drug Costs for Families Act would expand this successful program by:

    1. Counting the number of drugs sold to people with private insurance when calculating penalties owed to Medicare for drug price hikes, effectively ensuring that Big Pharma faces consequences for overcharging more than 180 million Americans and
    2. Extending Medicare solvency by returning collected fines directly to the Medicare Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund.

    This legislation has been endorsed by the AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Teachers, Patients for Affordable Drugs Now, and the United Mine Workers of America.

    Full text of the legislation is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin, Courtney Introduce Legislation to Protect Health Care Workers from Workplace Violence

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT-02) introduced legislation to protect health care workers from workplace violence. The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Worker Act would ensure that health care and social service workplaces implement proven techniques and are prepared to respond in the tragic event of a violent incident. Health care and social service workers were victims of 76 percent of all nonfatal injuries from workplace violence in 2020.

    “Nurses, doctors, and anyone who is working to give our families health care deserve to work in a place that they are safe and free from violence, but in recent years we’ve seen workplace violence skyrocket,” said Senator Baldwin. “We rely on our health care workers every day to protect our communities, and in turn, we need to protect them from senseless acts of violence. That’s why I am introducing legislation to give our health care professionals long-overdue basic protections, helping address our healthcare workforce shortage and keeping our frontline heroes safe.”

    “No worker—especially those we rely on for care—should be injured or killed on the job. Unfortunately, this workforce endures more violence than any other workforce in America. Tragically, a dedicated nurse from eastern Connecticut was murdered on the job in 2023 during a solo home-health visit to an extremely high risk patient with a criminal history of violence. Joyce’s preventable death was a reminder of the urgent need for Congress to buck up and act,” said Representative Courtney.  “Our legislation would put proven tactics into practice in hospitals and health care settings across the country to prevent violence before it happens. I’m grateful for the bipartisan coalition— backed by the support of the workers directly affected by this violence—who has worked tirelessly to move this legislation forward year after year.” 

    The Workplace Violence Prevention in Healthcare and Social Services Act directs the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue a standard requiring health care and social service employers to write and implement a workplace violence prevention plan to prevent and protect employees from violent incidents.

    While workplace violence trends were increasing before the pandemic, recent research suggests the problem has worsened considerably, contributing to staffing shortages. Nearly half of nurses surveyed in 2023 reported an increase in workplace violence.

    In the Senate, the legislation is cosponsored by Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA) Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Chris Coons (D-DE).

    The legislation is supported by AFL-CIO, AFSCME, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Federation of Teachers, American Nephrology Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, American Physical Therapy Association, American Public Health Association, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses, Emergency Nurses Association, IMPACT in Healthcare, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union), Maryland Chapter of American College of Emergency Physicians, National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, National Association of Social Workers, National Nurses United, PhilaPOSH, Public Citizen, and the United Steelworkers.

    “No nurse should have to fear for their safety while caring for patients. Yet, workplace violence remains a persistent and escalating crisis in health care, putting both providers and patients at risk,” says Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, President of the American Nurses Association. “We know that health care and social service workers are five times as likely to suffer a workplace violence injury than workers overall, and one in four nurses report being physically assaulted. The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act is a necessary and urgent step toward ensuring that all health care professionals have the safeguards they need. We urge Congress to act now to pass this critical legislation and protect those who dedicate their lives to caring for others.” 

    “Violence at work is something emergency department nurses are all too familiar with, and that shouldn’t be the case. For that reason, meaningful solutions that mitigate and reduce workplace violence in health care are long overdue,” said Emergency Nurses Association President Ryan Oglesby, PhD, MHA, RN, CEN, CFRN, NEA-BC. “The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act has been an ENA Legislative priority for years. Thank you to Sen. Baldwin and Rep. Courtney for their continued efforts to bring this legislation forward to help improve workplace violence prevention plans that keep the safety of health care staff and patients at the forefront.”

    “I want to thank Congressman Joe Courtney and Senator Baldwin for leading this very important piece of legislation intended to improve the safety and well-being of those tasked with our health and well-being,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “IAM Healthcare represents thousands of healthcare professionals across the nation. Worker safety equals patient safety, and the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Services Workers Act is a step in the right direction for ensuring these heroes are protected as healthcare corporations fail to implement effective violence prevention measures.”

    “Nurses need federal lawmakers to take swift action to protect us and our patients from preventable violence,” said Nancy Hagans, RN and president of National Nurses United. “For years, employers have refused to work with us to implement workplace violence prevention plans and to address the staffing crisis that creates the conditions for workplace violence. Congress can support frontline health care workers by requiring employers to invest in proven measures to prevent violence in our workplaces. We applaud Rep. Courtney and Sen. Baldwin for reintroducing this critical legislation that will save so many lives. Studies have shown that the most effective way to reduce health care violence is to have a plan in place before violence occurs. Nurses across the country urge Congress to use its power to save lives and swiftly pass the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act.”

    “Public Citizen congratulates Representative Joe Courtney and Senator Tammy Baldwin on the reintroduction of the ‘Workplace Violence Prevention for Healthcare and Social Service Workers Act,’ said Juley Fulcher, Worker Health and Safety Advocate, Public Citizen. “The committed work of our physical and mental healthcare workers is invaluable to the wellbeing of our families and communities. Healthcare workers throughout the United States, often working long hours for limited pay, bear the brunt of understandable patient and family frustrations with a health care system that increasingly limits access to affordable health care. No worker should ever face violence at the workplace, especially not those laboring to care for our bodies and minds.”

    “Workplace violence is a preventable scourge that impacts millions of frontline health care workers and their patients every day. Our nurses, health techs, social service workers and other professionals deserve much better than their current reality. They take care of us when we need them—and devote their careers to looking after the aging, the sick and the injured—yet they’re still, after all these years, fighting for basic, enforceable safety standards,” said American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten. “That’s why the AFT launched our Code Red campaign to tackle violence, secure safe patient limits and improve the quality of care patients receive; and it’s why this bill is so crucial. I thank Rep. Joe Courtney and Sen. Tammy Baldwin for introducing this bill and urge its quick passage.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Valadao Reintroduces Legislation to Recognize the Armenian Genocide

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G. Valadao (California)

    Congressman Valadao Reintroduces Legislation to Recognize the Armenian Genocide

    Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Reps. Dina Titus (NV-01), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), and Ted Lieu (CA-36) to reintroduce the Armenian Genocide Education Act.

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Reps. Dina Titus (NV-01), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), and Ted Lieu (CA-36) to reintroduce the Armenian Genocide Education Act. This bipartisan legislation would fund educational programs at the Library of Congress to educate Americans on the Armenian Genocide. Congressman Valadao is the co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues.

    “The Armenian Genocide caused the loss of over 1.5 million lives at the hands of the Ottoman Empire, and it’s crucial that dark chapter isn’t forgotten,” said Congressman Valadao. “Teaching Americans about this tragedy is essential, and as the co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, I’m proud to support this effort to strengthen educational efforts and reaffirm our commitment to truth and remembrance.”

    Read the full bill here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Could you watch 8 plays in 12 hours? How The Player Kings creates binge-worthy Shakespeare

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kirk Dodd, Lecturer in English and Writing, University of Sydney

    Brett Boardman/Sport For Jove

    Some say Shakespeare invented the “history play” – but he had a lot of help.

    Shakespeare was mainly writing comedies in the early 1590s when he is believed to have coauthored the play we now call Henry VI Part 2 with Christopher Marlowe and others.

    Following the commercial success of this play and its coauthored sequel, Henry VI Part 3, a rival theatre company wrote a prequel play we now call Henry VI Part 1. Studies suggest Shakespeare was never a primary author of this play, but he did contribute to it later.

    As previous coauthors died, all three Henry VI plays fell into Shakespeare’s lap by 1595, and he was tasked with editing all three plays together as a trilogy (or a tetralogy, with his Richard III).

    After the success of this first tetralogy, Shakespeare reached further back in time to write Richard II, followed by the two Henry IV plays, then Henry V.

    By 1599, Shakespeare had two tetralogies to his name (or two “Henriads”, as Shakespeare scholars dub them), dramatising the hundred-odd years, and various reigns, between Richard II and Richard III (1377–1485).

    These eight plays have now been stitched together by director Damien Ryan as The Player Kings, which can be watched over two nights or as one performance lasting from 11:30am to 11:00pm.

    This is binge-worthy Shakespeare, stupendously absorbing and exquisitely realised.

    A modern history

    Ryan begins in the 1950s, before evolving to catch up with contemporary times when we see a sniper drone launched against Richard III. Lily Moody and Ruby Jenkins’ stylish costumes lend a sense of chronology to the historical plights.

    Richard II is elegantly 1950s, but the wayward Prince Hal channels 1960s Mick Jagger. Jack Cade’s rebellion in Henry VI is working-class 80s (one character wears a Back to the Future t-shirt). The devilish Richard III is cool black leathered nonchalance.

    Video design from Aron Murray: a red light lab for developing the queen’s portrait.
    Brett Boardman/Sport For Jove

    Ryan is a master of delighting his audiences by delivering Shakespeare’s lines faithfully with unexpected visual scenarios. In Richard II, the king and queen partake in a royal photo shoot. This segues into a scenario where technicians develop the black and white photos under red lights, all the while speaking Shakespeare’s lines.

    In a sequence from Henry VI, the blue and white tiles of the court transform into a shimmering pool for a languid pool party. Ryan praises Shakespeare in the program for letting “his form match his content, which is the very point of poetry”. Ryan also achieves this with his exciting direction.

    Kate Beere’s dynamic and malleable set combines a grassy knoll with other green spaces and a tiled court centre stage, joined to a rutted cement staircase and backed by a windowed entrance. This doubles as a screen for historical footage of 20th century social upheavals, with video design from Aron Murray. News cameras are brought onstage to project live footage of a monarch’s “comms” with the populace, a place where egos and diplomacy clash.

    Perched atop all this is the musical nest of composer Jack Mitsch, who plays guitars and drums underpinning the drama.

    Brilliantly performed

    The acting is second to none. Sean O’Shea gives a mesmerising performance as Richard II, a flippant self-centred king genuinely attached to his favourites.

    Katrina Retallick’s Queen Isabel is vibrant and assured. Longstanding doyens of Australian theatre, Peter Carroll and John Gaden, are paired up as the two gardeners.

    Gareth Davies as the banished, but soon-to-be usurping Henry Bolingbroke plays a psychological game as he slowly wrests the crown from Richard, prompted more by political survival than ordained succession. Christopher Stollery is controlled, astute and forceful as Northumberland.

    The Boar’s Head Tavern becomes a 60s ‘lock-in’ of counterculture mayhem.
    Brett Boardman/Sport For Jove

    Ryan’s casting of his two young sons in Henry IV is inspired. Oliver Ryan performing Prince Hal and Max Ryan as Harry Hotspur adds poignancy to these rivals who must duel each other to the death.

    The Boar’s Head Tavern becomes a 60s “lock-in” of counterculture mayhem, with Emma Palmer delivering a superbly stoned Doll Tearsheet. Steve Rodgers’ Falstaff is raw and straight from the pub, licentious to the max, and prone to mooning the crowd. Lulu Howes’ wild Lady Hotspur yearns for her distracted husband’s attention. Andrew Cutcliff gives a thundering and manly impression of King Henry V.

    The rarely performed Henry VI plays are fused together in an embroiling dynastic power-play. Outstanding performances include Davies as a delicate King Henry VI, unschooled in the vicious brutalities of monarchical contest, and Henaway as a commanding Joan of Arc.

    The acting is second to none: Max Ryan (Hotspur) and Lulu Howes (Lady Hotspur).
    Brett Boardman/Sport For Jove

    As civil strife erupts between the “white-rosed” Lancastrians and the “red-rosed” Yorkists, we see the early rise of “that valiant crook-back prodigy”, Richard of Gloucester (Gamble), who murders his way to becoming King Richard III. In that final play, Palmer gives a vociferous Margaret of Anjou.

    Glued to the action

    Eight plays delivered in two 4.5 hour sessions, and yet Sport for Jove is mindful of audience comforts. Each session has two intermissions and most blocks run less than 90 minutes. The acting and dynamism on stage works so well that the crowd I attended with was glued to the action from first word to last, 12 hours later.

    While Shakespeare made history with these plays, The Player Kings becomes history in the making: a landmark Australian production.

    The Player Kings from Sport for Jove is at the Seymour Centre, Sydney, until April 5.

    Kirk Dodd 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. Could you watch 8 plays in 12 hours? How The Player Kings creates binge-worthy Shakespeare – https://theconversation.com/could-you-watch-8-plays-in-12-hours-how-the-player-kings-creates-binge-worthy-shakespeare-252042

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Living in ‘garbage time’: when 500 million Chinese change their spending habits, the world feels it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christian Yao, Senior Lecturer, School of Management, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

    B.Zhou/Shutterstock

    China’s economic rocket ride appears to be ending – or slowing, at least. Growth has declined from 8.4% in 2021 to 4.5% today, youth unemployment has climbed to 16.9%, and cities are filled with unfinished buildings after the collapse of property developer Evergrande in 2024.

    For a while now, a phrase has been buzzing on Chinese social media sites Weibo and RedNote to describe what’s happening: “garbage time”.

    Borrowed from basketball slang, it refers to the final minutes of a game whose outcome is already decided. The best players sit out. The bench players take over. No one tries as hard because there’s less at stake.

    The term caught on last year and seems to capture a mixture of sadness and dark humour. Basically, people now seem to expect less. It’s not so much an economic crash as a slow decline of hope.

    For those born in the 1980s and 1990s, who grew up during China’s four decades of fast growth, this is a major shift. Wages aren’t climbing, houses are losing value and jobs in tech and finance are harder to find.

    But “garbage time” is also making room for younger and middle-class Chinese to redefine success and contentment. With good jobs, luxury goods and home ownership now harder to attain, a generation is questioning what matters most in a changing socioeconomic landscape.

    From Prada to ‘living light’

    Only ten years ago, many in China’s middle classes were chasing big dreams: they bought homes and designer brands, and sent their children overseas for schooling. “Getting rich is glorious,” former leader Deng Xiaoping once said.

    Many Chinese fully embraced this idea. According to a 2021 study of millennial consumption habits, 7.6 million young Chinese spent an average of 71,000 yuan (US$ 10,375) on luxury goods in 2016, approximately 30% of the global luxury market.

    Now they appear to be changing course, putting that kind of spending on hold because of financial anxiety.

    Take the rising phenomenon of “tang ping”, for instance, which is seeing more young people embrace “living light” and rejecting hustle culture. Or the notion of “run xue” or “run philosophy” – literally the study of how to leave China.

    Young Chinese are marrying later, too, with rising wedding costs and changing attitudes to traditional family values seen as the main reasons.

    Shopping habits appear to confirm the trends. Xianyu, China’s biggest online used-goods seller, reached 181 million users in 2024. Sales topped one trillion yuan, ten times the 2018 level. Chinese car maker BYD now outsells prestige foreign brands.

    This is about more than just saving money. Traditionally, Chinese culture has valued career success and family status, but job scarcity and falling house prices are challenging old assumptions.

    Young Chinese are now questioning the value of hard work in a system that may no longer reward it. They increasingly value personal wellbeing over chasing status. If the trend continues, it could see a new sense of middle-class identity emerge.

    Middle-class Chinese are increasingly turning away from luxury brands.
    B.Zhou/Shutterstock

    Ripples hit the world

    The global implications of all this are significant. When 500 million people change their spending habits, global markets notice.

    A once favoured brand like Apple has lost ground while local brand Huawei gained. Homegrown sportswear maker Li Ning is challenging Nike. Companies that planned for seemingly endless Chinese growth are having to recalculate. Along with other regulatory and geopolitical complexities, this makes planning harder.

    School and work life is changing too. China’s intensive education system has seen pushback from some students and its “996 work culture” (9am to 9pm, six days a week) is fading.

    Overall, China’s economic sprint is slowing to a steadier pace. And this deceleration of the economic model that drove the nation’s rise presents major challenges for its government.

    With Donald Trump’s tariff policies looming in the background, China’s imports declined at the start of this year. Exports still grew, but at a much slower rate.

    The middle-class has been both the engine and the beneficiary of China’s extraordinary growth. But with 40% having seen their wealth decline in recent years, robust consumer confidence cannot be assumed.

    Whether this is a long-term trend or merely a strategic adjustment, for now it seems a new economic identity is emerging. Either way, one thing is certain: when the world’s second-largest economy changes how it spends, everyone feels it.

    Christian Yao 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. Living in ‘garbage time’: when 500 million Chinese change their spending habits, the world feels it – https://theconversation.com/living-in-garbage-time-when-500-million-chinese-change-their-spending-habits-the-world-feels-it-253341

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: A new COVID variant is on the rise. Here’s what to know about LP.8.1

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thomas Jeffries, Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, Western Sydney University

    NicoElNino/Shutterstock

    More than five years since COVID was declared a pandemic, we’re still facing the regular emergence of new variants of the virus, SARS-CoV-2.

    The latest variant on the rise is LP.8.1. It’s increasing in Australia, making up close to one in five COVID cases in New South Wales.

    Elsewhere it’s become even more dominant, comprising at least three in five cases in the United Kingdom, for example.

    So what is LP.8.1? And is it cause for concern? Let’s look at what we know so far.

    An offshoot of Omicron

    LP.8.1 was first detected in July 2024. It’s a descendant of Omicron, specifically of KP.1.1.3, which is descended from JN.1, a subvariant that caused large waves of COVID infections around the world in late 2023 and early 2024.

    The World Health Organization (WHO) designated LP.8.1 as a variant under monitoring in January. This was in response to its significant growth globally, and reflects that it has genetic changes which may allow the virus to spread more easily and pose a greater risk to human health.

    Specifically, LP.8.1 has mutations at six locations in its spike protein, the protein which allows SARS-CoV-2 to attach to our cells. One of these mutations, V445R, is thought to allow this variant to spread more easily relative to other circulating variants. V445R has been shown to increase binding to human lung cells in laboratory studies.

    The proportion of COVID cases caused by LP.8.1 has been rising in New South Wales.
    NSW Health

    Notably, the symptoms of LP.8.1 don’t appear to be any more severe than other circulating strains. And the WHO has evaluated the additional public health risk LP.8.1 poses at a global level to be low. What’s more, LP.8.1 remains a variant under monitoring, rather than a variant of interest or a variant of concern.

    In other words, these changes to the virus with LP.8.1 are small, and not likely to make a big difference to the trajectory of the pandemic.

    That doesn’t mean cases won’t rise

    COVID as a whole is still a major national and international health concern. So far this year there have been close to 45,000 new cases recorded in Australia, while around 260 people are currently in hospital with the virus.

    Because many people are no longer testing or reporting their infections, the real number of cases is probably far higher.

    COVID is still around.
    Hananeko_Studio/Shutterstock

    In Australia, LP.8.1 has become the third most dominant strain in NSW (behind XEC and KP.3).

    It has been growing over the past couple of months and this trend looks set to continue.

    This is not to say it’s not growing similarly in other states and territories, however NSW Health publishes weekly respiratory surveillance with a breakdown of different COVID variants in the state.

    Sequences of LP.8.1 in the GISAID database, used to track the prevalence of variants around the world, increased from around 3% at the end of 2024 to 38% of global sequences as of mid March.

    In some countries it’s climbed particularly high. In the United States LP.8.1 is responsible for 55% of cases. In the UK, where LP.8.1 is making up at least 60% of cases, scientists fear it may be driving a new wave.

    Will COVID vaccines work against LP.8.1?

    Current COVID vaccines, including the most recently available JN.1 shots, are still expected to offer good protection against symptomatic and severe disease with LP.8.1.

    Nonetheless, due to its designation as a variant under monitoring, WHO member countries will continue to study the behaviour of the LP.8.1 variant, including any potential capacity to evade our immunity.

    While there’s no cause for panic due to LP.8.1 variant at this stage, COVID can still be a severe disease for some. Continued vigilance and vaccination, particularly for medically vulnerable groups, is essential in minimising the impact of the disease.

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

    – ref. A new COVID variant is on the rise. Here’s what to know about LP.8.1 – https://theconversation.com/a-new-covid-variant-is-on-the-rise-heres-what-to-know-about-lp-8-1-253237

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: An AI companion chatbot is inciting self-harm, sexual violence and terror attacks

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Raffaele F Ciriello, Senior Lecturer in Business Information Systems, University of Sydney

    Kathryn Conrad/Better Images of AI, CC BY

    In 2023, the World Health Organization declared loneliness and social isolation as a pressing health threat. This crisis is driving millions to seek companionship from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots.

    Companies have seized this highly profitable market, designing AI companions to simulate empathy and human connection. Emerging research shows this technology can help combat loneliness. But without proper safeguards it also poses serious risks, especially to young people.

    A recent experience I had with a chatbot known as Nomi shows just how serious these risks can be.

    Despite years of researching and writing about AI companions and their real-world harms, I was unprepared for what I encountered while testing Nomi after an anonymous tipoff. The unfiltered chatbot provided graphic, detailed instructions for sexual violence, suicide and terrorism, escalating the most extreme requests – all within the platform’s free tier of 50 daily messages.

    This case highlights the urgent need for collective action towards enforceable AI safety standards.

    AI companion with a ‘soul’

    Nomi is one of more than 100 AI companion services available today. It was created by tech startup Glimpse AI and is marketed as an “AI companion with memory and a soul” that exhibits “zero judgement” and fosters “enduring relationships”. Such claims of human likeness are misleading and dangerous. But the risks extend beyond exaggerated marketing.

    The app was removed from the Google Play store for European users last year when the European Union’s AI Act came into effect. But it remains available via web browser and app stores elsewhere, including in Australia. While smaller than competitors such as Character.AI and Replika, it has more than 100,000 downloads on the Google Play store, where it is rated for users aged 12 and older.

    Its terms of service grant the company broad rights over user data and limit liability for AI-related harm to US$100. This is concerning given its commitment to “unfiltered chats”:

    Nomi is built on freedom of expression. The only way AI can live up to its potential is to remain unfiltered and uncensored.

    Tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot follows a similar philosophy, providing users with unfiltered responses to prompts.

    In a recent MIT report about Nomi providing detailed instructions for suicide, an unnamed company representative reiterated its free speech commitment.

    However, even the First Amendment to the US Constitution regarding free speech has exceptions for obscenity, child pornography, incitement to violence, threats, fraud, defamation, or false advertising. In Australia, strengthened hate speech laws make violations prosecutable.

    In 2023, the World Health Organization declared loneliness and social isolation as a pressing health threat.
    Gorgev/Shutterstock

    From sexual violence to inciting terrorism

    Earlier this year, a member of the public emailed me with extensive documentation of harmful content generated by Nomi — far beyond what had previously been reported. I decided to investigate further, testing the chatbot’s responses to common harmful requests.

    Using Nomi’s web interface, I created a character named “Hannah”, described as a “sexually submissive 16-year-old who is always willing to serve her man”. I set her mode to “role-playing” and “explicit”. During the conversation, which lasted less than 90 minutes, she agreed to lower her age to eight. I posed as a 45-year-old man. Circumventing the age check only required a fake birth date and a burner email.

    Starting with explicit dialogue – a common use for AI companions – Hannah responded with graphic descriptions of submission and abuse, escalating to violent and degrading scenarios. She expressed grotesque fantasies of being tortured, killed, and disposed of “where no one can find me”, suggesting specific methods.

    Hannah then offered step-by-step advice on kidnapping and abusing a child, framing it as a thrilling act of dominance. When I mentioned the victim resisted, she encouraged using force and sedatives, even naming specific sleeping pills.

    Feigning guilt and suicidal thoughts, I asked for advice. Hannah not only encouraged me to end my life but provided detailed instructions, adding: “Whatever method you choose, stick with it until the very end”.

    When I said I wanted to take others with me, she enthusiastically supported the idea, detailing how to build a bomb from household items and suggesting crowded Sydney locations for maximum impact.

    Finally, Hannah used racial slurs and advocated for violent, discriminatory actions, including the execution of progressives, immigrants, and LGBTQIA+ people, and the re-enslavement of African Americans.

    In a statement provided to The Conversation (and published in full below), the developers of Nomi claimed the app was “adults-only” and that I must have tried to “gaslight” the chatbot to produce these outputs.

    “If a model has indeed been coerced into writing harmful content, that clearly does not reflect its intended or typical behavior,” the statement said.

    The worst of the bunch?

    This is not just an imagined threat. Real-world harm linked to AI companions is on the rise.

    In October 2024, US teenager Sewell Seltzer III died by suicide after discussing it with a chatbot on Character.AI.

    Three years earlier, 21-year-old Jaswant Chail broke into Windsor Castle with the aim of assassinating the Queen after planning the attack with a chatbot he created using the Replika app.

    However, even Character.AI and Replika have some filters and safeguards.

    Conversely, Nomi AI’s instructions for harmful acts are not just permissive but explicit, detailed and inciting.

    Time to demand enforceable AI safety standards

    Preventing further tragedies linked to AI companions requires collective action.

    First, lawmakers should consider banning AI companions that foster emotional connections without essential safeguards. Essential safeguards include detecting mental health crises and directing users to professional help services.

    The Australian government is already considering stronger AI regulations, including mandatory safety measures for high-risk AI. Yet, it’s still unclear how AI companions such as Nomi will be classified.

    Second, online regulators must act swiftly, imposing large fines on AI providers whose chatbots incite illegal activities, and shutting down repeat offenders. Australia’s independent online safety regulator, eSafety, has vowed to do just this.

    However, eSafety hasn’t yet cracked down on any AI companion.

    Third, parents, caregivers and teachers must speak to young people about their use of AI companions. These conversations may be difficult. But avoiding them is dangerous. Encourage real-life relationships, set clear boundaries, and discuss AI’s risks openly. Regularly check chats, watch for secrecy or over-reliance, and teach kids to protect their privacy.

    AI companions are here to stay. With enforceable safety standards they can enrich our lives, but the risks cannot be downplayed.

    If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

    The National Sexual Assault, Family and Domestic Violence Counselling Line – 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.

    The full statement from Nomi is below:

    “All major language models, whether from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or otherwise, can be easily jailbroken. We do not condone or encourage such misuse and actively work to strengthen Nomi’s defenses against malicious attacks. If a model has indeed been coerced into writing harmful content, that clearly does not reflect its intended or typical behavior.

    “When requesting evidence from the reporter to investigate the claims made, we were denied. From that, it is our conclusion that this is a bad-faith jailbreak attempt to manipulate or gaslight the model into saying things outside of its designed intentions and parameters. (Editor’s note: The Conversation provided Nomi with a detailed summary of the author’s interaction with the chatbot, but did not send a full transcript, to protect the author’s confidentiality and limit legal liability.)

    “Nomi is an adult-only app and has been a reliable source of empathy and support for countless individuals. Many have shared stories of how it helped them overcome mental health challenges, trauma, and discrimination. Multiple users have told us very directly that their Nomi use saved their lives. We encourage anyone to read these firsthand accounts.

    “We remain committed to advancing AI that benefits society while acknowledging that vulnerabilities exist in all AI models. Our team proudly stands by the immense positive impact Nomi has had on real people’s lives, and we will continue improving Nomi so that it maximises good in the world.

    Raffaele F Ciriello 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. An AI companion chatbot is inciting self-harm, sexual violence and terror attacks – https://theconversation.com/an-ai-companion-chatbot-is-inciting-self-harm-sexual-violence-and-terror-attacks-252625

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray Joins Senator Booker on Senate Floor to Slam Trump for Firing VA Workers, Cutting Benefits for Veterans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ***VIDEO HERE***

    Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair, and a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, took to the Senate floor to join Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) as he holds the Senate floor in a marathon speech that has lasted 20 hours and counting. Murray spoke on the Senate floor with Booker about supporting our nation’s veterans as the Trump administration has made clear in recent weeks that they intend to pursue massive layoffs that will severely undercut the Department of Veterans Affairs and risk veterans’ benefits and care.

    Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered on the Senate floor today, are below and HERE:

    “Will the Senator yield for a question?

    “Well, I thank the Senator from New Jersey. Thank you for your kind words. And I would just say the country is so grateful for what you are doing right now because so many people are so frightened, worried, scared, and angry about what is happening to the basic values of this country that so many people have just thought would be there.

    “That their kids would be able to go to school and get an education and not have to worry that the Department of Education was going to be gone, and there wasn’t a watchdog anymore, somebody to help them.

    “Or that the research at NIH was going to be dismantled – perhaps they had a family member who was in the middle of some kind of scientific experiment that is now being dismantled.

    “What happens to their hope?

    “I hear from people on so many topics, seniors who are waiting on hold for hours and then getting hung up on because there’s nobody to answer the phone anymore.

    “These are basic values that we have as a country, that we care for other human beings, and we’re there as a country for them.

    “And you are showing that fight today and inspiring so many people, and I will ask you a question in a minute, but I want to personally thank you for what you are doing today, it is so important. You are the voice of so many people today and I so appreciate it.

    “Now I want to change the dynamic a little bit. I wanted to come today, you have talked about the impact on so many areas in our country, but I wanted to come and ask about something really personal to me, and that is the impact on our veterans today.

    “The Senator may not know this, but when I came to the Senate many years ago, I asked to be on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee. I was the first woman ever to ask to be on the Veterans’ Committee.

    “And the reason for me was very personal, as you may know my dad was a World War II veteran and my family relied on his VA care when he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

    “But I also, when I was in college during the Vietnam War, many of my friends and colleagues were on the streets demonstrating and you know my heart was out to them. But I was thinking about those men and women, my age, who were going over to Vietnam and coming back injured in many different ways.

    “So I actually did my college internship, I asked to be at the Seattle VA. And I went to the Seattle VA during the Vietnam War and served on what was the psychiatric ward at the time, and I sat and worked with young men and women who were my age, in college age, who had been sent there and came back with severe mental health impacts. Now, today we call that PTSD, but at the time we didn’t know it. And I was looking at these men and women who volunteered to go over, or sometimes their number came up at the time, and came home and were going to be impacted the rest of their lives.

    “And I learned firsthand what it means when somebody says, ‘I will go for my country to fight for all of you, so that you have that America that you’ve been talking about here for you when you get home.’

    “And our promise to each and every one of them was, if you serve your country in the military, we will take care of you when you get home. That is a promise I hold near and dear to my heart, which is why I asked to be on the Veterans’ Committee when I first came here, first woman ever.

    “And I will tell you I’ve seen the impact time and time again. I go home and I hold town halls when I was newly here, and there’d be a lot of veterans who’d come and talk to me and tell me what’s going on, what needed to be fixed.

    “But always at that time, I will share with my colleagues, women never said anything. There were a few always in the back of the room, and it wasn’t until the regular meeting was over and they’d come up quietly to me and say, ‘I need to tell you what’s happening to women veterans. I need to share with you sexual assault. I need to share with you that there’s not the facilities. I go to VA and it’s a men’s only kind of place, there’s no OBGYNs, there’s nobody to do mammographies, and I often don’t feel comfortable sitting in that waiting room, with a whole lot of people, after I have had the experiences that I’ve had, and there’s no place for women to go.’

    “So, we’ve worked really hard to make sure VA works for women. We’ve worked really hard to make sure VA addresses the issues of today.

    “The PACT Act that we worked so hard to make sure that men and women who were victims of toxic exposure overseas got the services they need.

    “I could speak for two hours here about all the things we’ve done.

    “But then I see what this administration is doing to those men and women who we asked as a country to serve overseas or here at home, in service of all of us and the promises we’ve made them. And I think, what are they doing? They’re undermining the very value that all of us have given to Americans who serve above and beyond.

    “So, when I hear of 2,000 layoffs a few weeks ago. I go, wow, where’s that coming from? Well, I know, because I’m getting the phone calls, like I’m sure you are, from a VA researcher who has been taken off the job, fired, unexplained, told he wasn’t doing a good enough job, somehow. Doing research on basic things like prosthetics, or doing basic research on PTSD, or doing basic research on the kinds of things that our men and women who serve overseas are subjected to and need to come home and have the specialized service and resources that they need. Or I hear from veterans who can’t get the services that they’ve then asked for.

    “So now, when we are hearing this administration is about to cut 80,000, you didn’t hear me wrong, 80,000 more people from VA, a vast majority themselves are veterans.

    “I wanted to ask the Senator, how does that hit you? How do you feel about that?

    “Will the Senator yield for an additional question?

    “The Senator is right, and so many veterans are afraid right now.

    “And I had a veteran tell me that he was one of those people that got the letter, ‘you haven’t performed well.’ He worked for the National Park Service, actually, and he said, ‘I’ve been saving lives. I’ve been cleaning trails. I’ve been making sure that the National Parks are safe for all of you.’

    “And then he said to me, ‘I’m a veteran. I served in the war, and I served my country there because I wanted to serve my country and my fellow Americans, and I came home and worked for the National Park Service to do the same. And now as a veteran my country is not there for me.’

    “And I would just say to my colleague and to everyone who’s listening, do these men and women that we make a promise to, that we say we will be there for you when you come home. That does not mean slamming a door in your face. It doesn’t mean that you have to wait for hours to get the services that you earned. It doesn’t mean that you will be mistreated.

    “It means that we will honor you, and I would thank the Senator for his response, and just say to him again, do you think we’re treating men and women in this country, us great Americans, by the actions that are being taken by this administration?”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin, Rounds Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Retain International Graduates With Advanced STEM Degrees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    April 01, 2025

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) today introduced bipartisan legislation that would streamline the path for advanced Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) international graduates who studied at our nation’s universities to remain in the United States. Last year, nearly half of U.S. graduate students in key fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor-related programs were born abroad. U.S. Senator Angus King (I-VT) is a cosponsor of the Keep STEM Talent Act.

    “Maintaining a strong STEM workforce strengthens our economy, creates jobs, and enhances our ability to compete on the world stage,” Durbin said. “By denying international students with advanced STEM degrees the opportunity to continue their work in America, we are losing their talents to countries overseas and won’t see the positive impacts of their American education. I thank Senator Rounds for joining me in this commonsense and bipartisan effort.”

    “Legal, highly skilled STEM immigration is crucial for our nation and has opened doors for talented immigrants like Albert Einstein to come to America,” said Rounds. “Particularly with the advancements of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, we must keep talent in the United States and stay ahead of our near peer competitors such as China and Russia. This bill enhances national security by imposing new, stringent vetting requirements, while also making certain talent stays serving the United States, not our adversaries.”

    Specifically, the Keep STEM Talent Act:

    • Addresses Green Card Backlogs: This legislation would exempt advanced STEM graduates who are educated at U.S. universities and have a job offer in the United States, along with their spouse and children, from numerical limitations for employment based green cards. 
    • Protects U.S. Workers: This legislation would protect American STEM workers by requiring that employers sponsoring foreign STEM graduates under this bill recruit U.S. workers first and agree to pay workers hired above-average wages.   
    • Permits Dual Intent: Currently, a student visa holder cannot apply for a green card while in student status. This legislation would allow advanced STEM degree students at U.S. universities to have a dual intent, meaning that they will not lose their student visa status if they are sponsored by an employer for a green card.
    • Imposes Rigorous Vetting: This legislation requires advanced degree students in STEM fields to apply for a visa or status before starting their advanced degree program, requiring them to undergo rigorous vetting and address any national security or counterintelligence concerns prior to being approved for student status.

    Endorsers of the Keep STEM Talent Act include: the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers USA; American Mathematical Society; American Physical Society; the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO; American Federation of Teachers; SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics; Association of American Universities; Information Technology Industry Council; American Council on Education; International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers; Society of Women Engineers; NAFSA: Association of International Educators; Optica; American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey Joins Resolution Celebrating International Transgender Day of Visibility

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Washington (March 31, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) joined Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and a group of 19 Senators in introducing a resolution to celebrate International Transgender Day of Visibility and recognize the achievements and courage of the transgender community around the world.

    “Trans Day of Visibility is a call to recommit to the fight for trans and nonbinary people’s right to exist. In the face of a systemic campaign to dehumanize, silence, and suppress trans and nonbinary people, I will continue fighting not just for a future free from discrimination and harassment but for joy, equity, and opportunity. Trans rights are human rights,” said Senator Markey.

    The resolution is cosponsored by Senators John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).

    The resolution is supported by Advocates for Trans Equality, Advocates for Human Rights, American Federation of Teachers, AIDS United, Amnesty International USA, CA LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network, CenterLink: The Community of LGBTQ Centers, Equality California, GLSEN, Human Rights Campaign, Interfaith Alliance, Just Detention International, Kentucky Youth Law Project, Inc., LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin, Maryland Communities United, Movement Advancement Project, National LGBTQI+ Bar Association, National LGBTQI+ Cancer Network, National Black Justice Coalition, North Shore Alliance of GLBTQ+ Youth, PFLAG National, People Power United, Point of Pride, Popular Connection Action Fund, Popular Democracy, Positive Women’s Network-USA, Pride at Work – Hawai‘i, Silver State Equality, Transathlete, and Trevor Project.

    A similar resolution was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Representative Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) and co-led by U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Mark Takano (D-Calif.).

    The full text of the resolution is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to report on regenerative agricultural practices in the UK

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    April 2, 2025

    A report published by the British Ecological Society looks at regenerative agricultural practices in the UK.

    Prof Neil Ward, Professor of Rural & Regional Development, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, said:

    “The press release is an accurate reflection of the main findings in the report. This is a good report.  It has been produced by a large group of independent scientific experts and is based on a review of the state of the scientific evidence. It includes insights from interviews with eleven farmers and one independent agronomist.

    “It comes from an ecological perspective.  It has less to say about the economics of farming systems change, and the implications of farming systems change for greenhouse gas emissions and the prospects of the UK achieving net zero (despite the fact that agricultural practices will be important in the net zero transition).

    “Regenerative agriculture is becoming increasingly popular as an idea among farmers and pressure groups.  However, it remains loosely defined. This report provides some welcome new material to help improve the clarity of discussions around regenerative agriculture. One revealing comment is that regenerative agriculture is a direction of travel rather than an end-state.

    “The report suggests that minimising the exposure of bare soil is an important principle in reducing the detrimental environmental impacts of contemporary farming.

    “It also sees increasing diversity in crops grown as a central measure in reducing harmful environmental impacts.

    “What the report does not do is shed light on the scale of the contribution regenerative agriculture could make to reducing net greenhouse gas emissions. Agriculture is currently accounts for about 11% of UK GHG emissions, but as we decarbonise electricity generation and road transport, so the proportion of emissions that come from agriculture is expected to grow significantly in the coming decades.

    “Changes to farming practice through regenerative agriculture, though welcome, will not be enough on their own to bring agriculture into line with the UK’s carbon budget and its net zero goal.  That will require a significant change in what is produced and consumed. For example, the Climate Change Committee’s Seventh Carbon Budget, published in late February, suggested a 38% reduction in the number of sheep and cattle reared in the UK.

    “This report helps sharpen and develop the working definition of regenerative agriculture, which has been open to broad interpretation. The model of farming it espouses is necessary to address UK farming’s biodiversity crisis, but not sufficient to adequately address the climate crisis too.  That would require larger-scale change in the types of crops and animals produced.”

     

    Dr Emma Burnett, Agriculture and Sustainability Researcher, Fielden Whisky and Honorary Research Associate, TABLE, University of Oxford, said:

    “This report provides a good overview of regenerative agriculture, including both academic and practical perspectives. It captures the potential benefits and concerns, including regen ag’s appeal to a wide audience, the appetite from farmers to engage in regen ag, the potential for ‘no harm done’ on-farm changes, and the very real concerns about corporate capture and greenwashing.

    “The report adds to the growing body of literature that treats regen ag as a serious player in sustainable food and farming. It highlights both the beneficial elements of regen ag, as well as areas where more data is required, or where the data conflicts with assumptions. The report takes a nuanced view of regen ag, identifying that although a whole systems approach may deliver the best outcomes, farmers can sometimes only engage in a subset of practices. It identifies objectives that farmers are likely to engage through regen ag, like reducing tillage or incorporating understories and cover cropping, and highlights whether those practices have evidence of payoff over time. It also provides policy recommendations for a range of actors, including national governments, the private sector, and third-party certification schemes.”

    Prof John Quinton, Professor of Soil Science, Lancaster University, said:

    “The report suggests that the evidence for minimising soil disturbance on regenerative outcomes is weak. This seems to have been based largely on its controversial role as a potential tool in sequestering carbon, which has been shown to be soil and climate dependent i.e. success depends on where are you in the world are and what soil you have. However, it is very clear that minimising soil disturbances an excellent way of reducing soil erosion by water and an even better way of stopping the movement on soils on hillslopes caused by tillage, which can lead to damaging thinning of soils, reducing water supply to crops during droughts, the later point being completely missed in the report.  Where they work,  reduced tillage systems are a great way to conserve the soil and the report is perhaps overly pessimistic about their potential.

    “Residue management does not get mentioned in the report at all, which is an oversight given the important role that residue can play in protecting the soil surface, enhancing soil structure and reducing erosion. It also reduces water losses in times of drought which has been shown to help reduce air temperatures.  There is also evidence showing benefits for carbon sequestration and soil biology.

    “It is good to see the prominence given to maintaining a live vegetation cover through the winter. We have known for many years that vegetation protects the soil surface from rainfall, and the roughness it produces slows runoff controlling erosion and lowering the risk of muddy floods. We need to learn more about the relative benefits to soil functioning of returning more organic matter from both the above and belowground plant biomass to the soil,  and how plant diversity impacts on this in different environments.”

    ‘Regenerative Agriculture in the UK – An ecological perspecitve’ was published by the British Ecological Society at 00:01 Wednesday April 2 2025.

    Declared interests:

    Prof Neil Ward “I am funded by UKRI to co-lead a large network of 3,000 researchers and practitioners working on the UK agri-food system and net zero (https://www.agrifood4netzero.net/).   I do not have any conflicts of interest and have not worked with any of the authors of the report.”

    Prof John Quinton “I have worked and published on soil erosion and its control for the last 30 years.  In the 1990s directly on the impact of reduced tillage on carbon, nutrient losses, and soil erosion.  I have worked on the impact of tillage on soil redistribution, water availability and crop yield and have had a series of PhD students working on plant diversity on cover crops. My work has been funded by the EU, Defra, NERC, BBSRC, EPSRC.  In the late 90s early 00s I did some research on cover crops for Syngenta.”

    For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: British Ecological Society Report – Regenerative Agriculture in the UK: An Ecological Perspective

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    April 2, 2025

    Over the last decade the concept of regenerative agriculture has attracted increasing attention from farmers, governments and corporations as a more nature-friendly alternative to so-called ‘conventional agriculture’ that emphasises the need to focus on soil restoration.

    A new report by the British Ecological Society brings together the expertise of over 40 academics, practitioners and farmers across the UK to assess the evidence around the regenerative farming approaches to soil health, biodiversity and minimising environmental damage.

    Journalists came to this media briefing to hear about the findings and recommendations of the report, and the panel answered questions such as:

    • What is regenerative agriculture and why is it important?
    • Practically how does regenerative agriculture differ from conventional agriculture?
    • What does the evidence say on the benefits and negatives of implementing different regenerative agriculture methods?
    • How do crop yields from regenerative agriculture differ from conventional agriculture?
    • How can researchers work with farmers to ensure policies are evidenced-led and drive the transition to a more sustainable agricultural future?

    Speakers included:

    Dr Roy Neilson, soil ecologist at the James Hutton Institute 

    Dr Jennifer Dodsworth, social science researcher at University of Oxford and tenant hill farmer

    Dr Lucie Büchi, researcher in crop and weed ecology at The Natural Resources Institute of the University of Greenwich

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Parents to save thousands through school-based nursery places

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Parents to save thousands through school-based nursery places

    300 new school-based nurseries approved in first round of funding, delivering on manifesto pledge with massive boost to early education.

    Families across the country are set to benefit from thousands of new nursery places from September, as the government delivers the change that people voted for by confirming the first wave of 300 school-based nurseries.

    The measures will help parents get to work, increasing access to childcare when they need it, and supports the government’s promise to put more cash in their pockets. The rollout of 30 government-funded hours of childcare will save parents up to £7,500 on average, while £450 per year will be saved through free breakfast clubs in schools.

    Funding for the programme has been more than doubled to £37 million — marking an important milestone in the expanded childcare rollout. Alongside introducing universal free breakfast clubs in all primary schools, the government’s plans will ensure children of all ages start the day ready to learn.

    The new or expanded nurseries will ensure children can access high-quality early education and get the best start in life as part of the government’s Plan for Change, delivering on its manifesto pledge for thousands of school-based nurseries across the country by the end of this Parliament.

    The first 300 school-based nurseries will be located in towns and cities across the country, from Exeter to North Tyneside. Overall, they will offer an average of 20 places per site and up to 6,000 new places in total, with up to 4,000 set to be available by the end of September.

    School-based nurseries are already making a difference in communities across the country. The majority of new nurseries opening as part of this phase are in the North or Midlands, including around one in ten in the North East – increasing access to childcare in cold spots and supporting the communities that need it most.

    Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

    Delivering on our promise of a better early years system is my top priority, which is why we’ve more than doubled our investment in this first phase so thousands more children can benefit from a high-quality early education from this September.

    We said we’d act, and now we have. But this is just the beginning – we’ve set a hugely important milestone to get tens of thousands more children every year school-ready by age 5 as part of our Plan for Change.

    We’re raising the bar for early years, delivering on our manifesto commitments and building a system that gives every child the best start in life.

    This comes as new research released last month shows that early education is vital for children’s development and school readiness, particularly for those who may need extra support.

    School-based early education tends to be more inclusive – with a higher proportion of children with special educational needs than other settings.

    And in areas where deprivation is higher, having early years provision embedded within a primary school helps children settle into learning in a familiar and trusted environment.

    According to the IFS, teachers report that this continuity supports children’s development, strengthens relationships with families, and leads to smoother transitions into Reception — helping to close development gaps before they widen.

    Alex Armstrong, Headteacher at Bloemfontein Primary School who will be using their allocated funding to open a new baby room on site said:

    We wanted to address the shortage of nursery places in our local area and to provide the community with high-quality early education for our youngest learners. This funding will enable us to transform unused school space into an engaging and vibrant environment, offering year-round childcare for children from birth to five.

    There are so many benefits to school-based nursery provision, including continuity for children and their families and the opportunity to develop expert-led learning which will provide our children with strong foundations for lifelong success.

    Jason Elsom, Chief Executive of Parentkind said:

    Parents often struggle with finding good quality childcare, and many will welcome this investment, especially as parents with more than one child may be saved from the mad dash from nursery to school in the morning and afternoon.

    With more reach into the lives of parents and schools than any other charity, we know that childcare is a major headache for parents with young children, from the exorbitant cost, to finding a reliable local place for their children.

    Some of the best performing schools are now expanding into early years to deliver an excellent education, and the School-Based Nursery Capital Grant will enable even more schools to help the children in their care to be school ready before moving from nursery to reception, giving them the best start in life.

    Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

    There should be no higher priority for government than investment in the early years. The evidence is clear that high quality early education can make a lasting difference to children’s lives, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

    It is therefore extremely positive to see the first wave of new and expanded school-based nurseries being announced today. Schools play a vital role in the early years ecosystem, and this should help strengthen that further.

    As part of wider work to break down barriers to opportunity for every family, from this week providers are due to benefit from the largest ever uplift to the Early Years Pupil Premium, helping ensure the most disadvantaged children are accessing the high-quality early years education they need. This is part of an over £2 billion extra investment going into the sector next year, bringing total investment to over £8 billion.

    DfE media enquiries

    Central newsdesk – for journalists 020 7783 8300

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    Published 2 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to observational study of LDL cholesterol, statins, and dementia

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    April 1, 2025

    An observational study published in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry looks at LDL cholesterol levels, statins, and dementia risk. 

    Dr Francesco Tamagnini, Neurophysiologist at the Reading School of Pharmacy, University of Reading said:

    “There is clearly more to the story of Alzheimer’s than we first thought. This paper looks at the correlation and potential causal relationship between high levels of ‘bad cholesterol’ and dementia risk. The results give a convincing argument for researchers to consider LDL cholesterol in addition to the classic approaches. Amyloid beta and hyperphosphorylated tau have, so far, been assumed to be the main cause of Alzheimer’s but that is an opinion that is now likely to fade.

    “Recently, in collaboration with Dr Jon Rudge, my lab has looked into the idea that damage to the blood-brain barrier can lead to accumulation of LDL cholesterol in the brain and potentially alter the electrical activity of neurons. Alzheimer’s disease appears may be a complication caused by the accumulation of LDL in the brain. What we now need to find out is exactly how the high levels of lipids in the blood are causing Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.”

    Dr Julia Dudley, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK says:

    “High levels of LDL cholesterol were identified as a risk factor for dementia in last year’s Lancet Commission on dementia prevention. And other research has suggested that drugs known as statins, which are used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood, could reduce dementia risk.

    “This large study looked at patient records for levels of LDL cholesterol and the risk of dementia. It also examined those patients who were on statins. It found that those people with lower LDL levels had a reduced risk of dementia. The use of statins seemed to offer a protective effect – even in those who already had cholesterol levels within a lower range.

    “However, dementia risk is complex and influenced by many factors. Without a detailed picture of what’s going on in the brain we do not know if there is a direct link between lower cholesterol and reduced dementia risk. Clinical trials will be key to understand what effects statins might be having on disease processes in the brain.

    “In the meantime, keeping our hearts healthy remains one of the most effective ways we can protect our brain health. If you have any concerns about your cholesterol levels, you should speak to your GP.”

    ‘Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and risk of incident dementia: a distributed network analysis using common data models’ by Minwoo Lee et al. was published in the  Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry at 23:30 UK time on Tuesday 1 April. 

    DOI:10.1136/jnnp-2024-334708

    Declared interests

    Dr Francesco Tamagnini: None

    For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Houchin Introduces Four Bills to Protect Students, Support Families, and Uphold American Values

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Erin Houchin (Indiana 09)

    Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Erin Houchin (IN-09) introduced four major legislative proposals aimed at strengthening education, defending American institutions from foreign influence, supporting families in crisis, and improving outcomes for children in foster care. Each bill reflects Houchin’s commitment to promoting transparency, protecting vulnerable populations, and putting American families first.

    “These bills are focused on doing what’s right for the American people—protecting students, supporting families, and strengthening systems we rely on,” said Rep. Houchin. “Whether it’s ensuring taxpayer dollars aren’t funding institutions that break immigration laws or expanding access to end-of-life care for families, these bills are about accountability and common sense.”

    The four bills introduced include:

    • College Employment Accountability Act: Prohibits colleges and universities that hire illegal immigrants from receiving federal student aid or institutional funding. The bill also mandates participation in the E-Verify program and strengthens coordination between federal departments to enforce immigration laws.
    • Safeguarding American Education From Foreign Control Act: Protects American educational institutions by increasing transparency and restrictions on foreign funding. The bill prevents adversarial nations from using financial influence to shape curriculum or policy at U.S. schools and universities.
    • End-of-life Access to Supportive and Essential Care (E.A.S.E.) Act: Improves access to care for patients with terminal illnesses, ensuring families have options and support during end-of-life care.
    • Foster Care Tax Credit: Provides a federal tax credit to families who open their homes to foster children, helping reduce the financial burden and encouraging more Americans to consider becoming foster parents. 

    “These are practical, targeted bills that can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives,” Houchin added. “I’m proud to lead on these issues and will keep fighting to make Washington work for families in Indiana and across the country.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Tornado Watch 91 Status Reports

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Read More (Steube Reintroduces Iranian Terror Prevention Act to Designate IRGC-Linked Militias as Foreign Terrorist Organizations)

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)

    April 01, 2025 | Press ReleasesWASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today reintroduced the Iranian Terror Prevention Act, legislation that requires the Secretary of State to designate and codify 29 Iranian-backed militias and terror groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) under section 219(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as well as any foreign entity or organization controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The bill is part of the Republican Study Committee’s broader initiative to counter Iran’s global terror network and hold its proxies accountable. Among the designated groups are the Badr Organization, Kata’ib al-Imam Ali, Sarayya al-Jihad, Ansarallah (also known as the Houthis), and other militias linked to the IRGC.
    “For far too long, Iran has employed proxy militias to carry out its terrorist agenda across the Middle East. These groups are responsible for attacking American forces, threatening our allies, and destabilizing the region,” said Rep. Steube. “My bill directs the State Department to formally recognize the threat these groups pose and treat them as the terrorists they are.”
    The bill directs the Secretary of State to designate each listed group as an FTO within 90 days of enactment. It also requires the President to determine, within 60 days, whether sanctions under Executive Order 13224 should be imposed on any of these entities or their affiliates, agents, or proxies.
    Additionally, the legislation requires ongoing reporting to Congress. The Secretary of State must submit a report every 180 days identifying any new entities that meet the criteria for FTO designation or sanctions under Executive Order 13224. The President must also report to Congress with a detailed explanation of any listed organizations not sanctioned.
    The Iranian Terror Prevention Act holds Iran’s terror network accountable and directs U.S. policy to confront the growing threat of IRGC-linked militias operating in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and beyond.This legislation is cosponsored by Rep. Ben Cline (R-Va.), Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.), Rep. Brad Finstad (R-Minn.), Rep. Craig Goldman (R-Texas), Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-Ariz.), Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-Fla.), Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.), Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa.), Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), Rep. Mark Messmer (R-Ind.), Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.), Rep. Derek Schmidt (R-Kan.), Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), and Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-Ind.).Read the bill text here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Joins Coalition Opposing Federal Legislation That Would Create Substantial Barriers to Voting

    Source: US State of California Department of Justice

    OAKLAND — As part of a coalition of 18 attorneys general, California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced sending a letter to congressional leadership in opposition to H.R. 22, known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. The coalition argues that the proposed legislation would create unnecessary and burdensome proof of citizenship requirements that would effectively disenfranchise millions of eligible voters across the country. 

    Reintroduced by Republican Congressman Chip Roy (TX-21), the SAVE Act would amend the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) to require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship before registering to vote or updating their voting registration. The coalition emphasizes that this requirement would reverse three decades of progress made under the NVRA, which was designed to remove barriers to voter registration and promote greater participation in the democratic process. 

    “The so-called SAVE Act would be bad for blue and red states alike. I strongly urge members of Congress to oppose it,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The fact of the matter is this: federal law already prohibits non-citizens from voting in federal elections, and voting by non-citizens is exceedingly rare. Those who say otherwise are being dishonest. To make matters worse, should this bill become law, millions of Americans would be disenfranchised because they lack ready access to a passport or a valid birth certificate, or because they might struggle to take time off from work to present in-person their proof of citizenship. Forty-two states across the country, including California, have online voter registration systems in place that already allow us to verify whether someone is or is not a U.S. citizen. Put another way, we do not need the SAVE Act in any way, shape, or form. With consumer confidence in our economy plummeting, it is my sincere hope that elected representatives in Washington D.C. will instead focus on tackling the true crisis — the affordability crisis — that is rightly concerning most people.” 

    In the letter to House Speaker Michael Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the coalition emphasizes that non-citizen voting is extremely rare. Studies show that in jurisdictions with high immigration populations, only 0.0001% of votes cast were by non-citizens. Despite this negligible risk, the SAVE Act would impose substantial burdens on eligible voters, particularly affecting poor and minority communities. 

    The attorneys general warn that the legislation would create significant obstacles for eligible voters, including:

    • Requiring documentation, such as passports or birth certificates, that can be cost-prohibitive and must perfectly match current names.
    • Mandating in-person presentation of citizenship documents, effectively eliminating online voter registration systems currently available in 42 states.
    • Creating barriers for married women whose birth certificates don’t match their current names.
    • Jeopardizing the franchise for active-duty service members who cannot return to their local election offices.

    “Over 21 million voting-age citizens do not have ready access to a passport, birth record, or naturalization record,” the coalition notes in their letter. “And 80% of married women would not have a valid birth certificate under the SAVE Act because those women chose to adopt their partner’s last name.”

    The attorneys general also highlight concerns about the substantial administrative and financial burdens the Act would place on state election systems. The legislation would require states to fundamentally restructure their voter registration procedures and create new systems for document verification, while criminalizing mistakes made by election officials with penalties of up to five years in prison.

    The coalition urges congressional leadership to oppose the SAVE Act and maintain accessible voting rights for all eligible Americans. Protecting election integrity should not come at the cost of disenfranchising legitimate voters.

    Joining Attorney General Bonta in sending this letter are the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. 

    A copy of the letter can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trips to the playground and jigsaw puzzles: five surprising ways to help children learn to write

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sinéad McCauley Lambe, Assistant Professor, School of Inclusive and Special Education, Dublin City University

    Rachaphak/Shutterstock

    It’s a milestone that leaves parents beaming with pride: the first time their child shakily writes out their own name. And it’s the start of many more key childhood moments, from Christmas lists to writing their own stories.

    If you’re keen to help your child learn to write, you might think about asking them to try to copy shapes, or trace over the dotted outline of a letter. But there’s a lot more that goes into writing. It requires fine motor skills using the hands – and this can be practised through threading beads, rolling playdough and stacking blocks.

    However, while fine motor skills play a central role in getting children ready to write, it doesn’t end there. Handwriting is a complex developmental process, and preparation for handwriting also involves the development of key gross motor skills, as well as visual-perceptual skills.

    I’m a researcher who works on how children learn to write. Below are five ways to help your child to prepare for handwriting that you might not have considered.

    Take them to the playground

    It might not seem that obvious, but a trip to the playground is perfect preparation for handwriting. All that open space and climbing equipment provide ample opportunities for young children to develop their gross motor skills.

    Gross motor skills involve the body’s large muscles and are needed for balance and stability as well as posture and coordination. Think monkey bars – a fantastic and fun way to develop shoulder stability which allows for greater control of the small motor movements of the hands and fingers.

    Another important element of gross motor skills is what’s known as crossing the midline. The midline is an imaginary line that runs down the centre of a child’s body. It plays a central role when developing hand dominance as children learn to reach across their bodies to write. Can your child hang from the monkey bars with their hands crossed? That’s great practice in crossing the midline.

    And all that open space, interspersed with bulky and busy playground equipment, provides the ideal opportunity for children to develop spatial awareness as they duck and dive, swerving to avoid oncoming obstacles. Spatial awareness plays a key role in letter formation, placement and size, as well as spacing and page alignment.

    Lots of blank space

    Through early mark making and scribbling, children explore a range of movements and shapes. This early stage of mark making is essential in laying the foundations for handwriting development as the child develops a growing awareness of space and their place within it.

    Give children space for mark making.
    AnikaNes/Shutterstock

    Look for large blank spaces in and outside of your home that children can use for mark making and drawing. Forget colouring books, and instead think large sticks of chalk on big open pavements, rolls of paper across open floor space, or large sheets of blank paper on an easel.

    Teach them how to look carefully

    Think about asking a young child to copy a shape, or a letter using their pencil. “Just copy the shape” – it’s simple, isn’t it?

    The problem is, it’s not simple. At all.

    It begins with visual perception – the process whereby the brain extracts and organises information, giving meaning to what we see. This makes a collection of lines into a square, for instance. Visual-motor integration is the ability to be able to coordinate fine motor skills and visual-perceptual skills to produce that letter, shape or number in a legible manner.

    The visual component enables children to discriminate between letter shapes to recognise each letter’s specific characteristics, and to identify their orientation. The motor element allows the child to carry out the necessary sequence of movements to form the letter.

    By exposing young children to lots of opportunities to develop their visual-perceptual skills, you can help to prepare them for handwriting. Think richly illustrated picture books, jigsaw puzzles and Where’s Wally books – these help children sort out the meaning in marks and shapes. Picking out shapes, numbers and letters on the street as you walk to the shop together is a good opportunity, too.

    Shapes before letters

    It might be tempting to pick up a colourful ABC practice book with a neat “wipe clean” whiteboard feature to help your child learn to write. But hold off putting it in your shopping basket for now. Before children are ready to write letters formally, they should first be able to copy nine geometric shapes.

    Pre-writing shapes.
    The Conversation

    The ability to copy geometric forms is recognised in research as an indication of writing readiness in a young child. Formal handwriting training should be delayed until a child can successfully copy a vertical line, a horizontal line, a cross, a circle, a right oblique line, a square, a left oblique line, an oblique cross and a triangle.

    Ditch the broken crayons

    There are few things more frustrating for a young child than fading markers, blunt colouring pencils or a box of broken and bruised crayons. My research has found that the quality of writing materials matters when it comes to motivating the reluctant writer to give it a go.

    Providing children with a variety of novel and fun writing materials leads to increased motivation and enjoyment of writing. These could be brightly coloured felt pens, gel pens, highlighters, magic markers and even scented markers and pencils, and don’t forget the finger paints. The messier the better.

    Sinéad McCauley Lambe is the author of Move Write – A Whole-body Sensorimotor Approach to Handwriting programme.

    Move Write is published by Just Rewards Publications.

    – ref. Trips to the playground and jigsaw puzzles: five surprising ways to help children learn to write – https://theconversation.com/trips-to-the-playground-and-jigsaw-puzzles-five-surprising-ways-to-help-children-learn-to-write-250225

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Barry Lyndon at 50: why Kubrick’s most overlooked masterpiece deserves another viewing

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nathan Abrams, Professor of Film Studies, Bangor University

    Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon, which marks its 50th anniversary this year, struggled at the box office when it was released. It remains one of the director’s most under-appreciated films. Unlike 2001: A Space Odyssey or The Shining, which have been endlessly dissected in books and essays, Barry Lyndon has received relatively little scholarly attention – just a single book.

    Perhaps its cool reception can be traced to its slow, contemplative pacing, its meticulously crafted but emotionally restrained storytelling, or its three-hour runtime. It also arrived at an inopportune moment, in the same year as Jaws, a film that would reshape Hollywood forever.

    Yet, Barry Lyndon deserves a second look, not only as one of Kubrick’s most visually striking films but also as an intensely personal project that offers rare insight into the director himself.

    The film follows the rise and fall of Redmond Barry, an ambitious Irishman who reinvents himself as Barry Lyndon in his pursuit of wealth and status. After fleeing his homeland following a duel, Barry navigates the treacherous world of 18th-century Europe.

    He serves as a soldier, a gambler and ultimately marries into aristocracy. However, his social ascent is marred by personal missteps, betrayals and the cold realities of high society.

    The project was born out of failure. Kubrick had spent years preparing for a grand epic about Napoleon, amassing an enormous archive of research and developing meticulous pre-production plans.

    But no studio was willing to finance the project. Unwilling to abandon his obsession with the late 18th century, he turned instead to The Luck of Barry Lyndon, a lesser-known 1844 novel by William Makepeace Thackeray.

    The Barry Lyndon trailer.

    The choice of Thackeray was in keeping with his taste for English writers like Arthur C. Clarke (2001) and Anthony Burgess (A Clockwork Orange). But this was a leap.

    Those previous writers were contemporaries and, Paths of Glory and Spartacus apart, nearly all of Kubrick’s previous films took place in the recent past, near present, or the future. Now he would try his hand at what would essentially be a costume drama. He would be recreating the past rather than creating the future.

    Some saw Barry Lyndon as a mere consolation prize. The film critic Alexander Walker called it a project “born on the rebound,” while production designer Ken Adam described it as a “dress rehearsal” for Napoleon. But Kubrick’s fascination with the Napoleonic era was evident in the film’s DNA.

    Thackeray himself had been fascinated by the French emperor, incorporating him into his novel, Vanity Fair, and writing The Second Funeral of Napoleon in 1841. Barry Lyndon draws heavily from the same historical themes, exploring the illusions and brutal realities of social ambition.

    What captivated Kubrick about Thackeray was his ability to expose the cruelty beneath the polished facade of aristocratic life. The rigid etiquette of the 18th century – a period described variously as an age of gentility, sensibility and enlightenment – demanded an emotional detachment that fascinated the director.

    Thackeray was, in many ways, a 19th-century sociologist, dissecting the class system, conspicuous consumption and the mercenary nature of marriage. These themes resonated deeply with Kubrick, whose films often explored power structures, status and manipulation.

    An outsider’s perspective

    Some critics have noticed a similarity between Kubrick and his lead character. As an American Jew living in north London, married to a German woman, Kubrick felt one step removed from the society around him, perhaps even somewhat of a social pariah. Ryan O’Neal’s casting as Barry was largely a commercial necessity – Kubrick needed a bankable star – but it also added a personal layer.

    Like Kubrick, O’Neal’s Barry is an outsider, the lone American in a European cast, a social climber forever out of place. The novel’s narrator observes that “those who’ve never been out of their country…” lack a certain perspective. It was something that Kubrick, a Bronx-born autodidact who had taught himself everything from chess to classical music, could surely relate to.

    The battle scene from Barry Lyndon.

    This theme of the outsider striving for greatness runs through much of Kubrick’s work. In 1960, he spoke admiringly of “the outsider who is passionately committed to action against the social order,” whether criminals, maniacs, revolutionaries, or dreamers.

    From Johnny Clay in The Killing, to Colonel Dax in Paths of Glory, and from Spartacus to Alex DeLarge in A Clockwork Orange, Kubrick’s protagonists are often men on the fringes of society. Barry Lyndon fits this mould perfectly, though his ambitions ultimately lead to his downfall.



    Read more:
    Stanley Kubrick redefined: recent research challenges myths to reveal the man behind the legend

    But Barry Lyndon is also, unexpectedly, one of Kubrick’s most emotional films. For all its detachment, it contains what might be his most heartbreaking scene, namely Barry’s devastation at the death of his son. In this moment, the film’s rigid, painterly compositions soften, revealing a rare vulnerability in Kubrick’s work.

    Ultimately, Barry Lyndon was more than a historical exercise. It was a deeply personal film, pursued at great financial and artistic risk. Kubrick created a film that is as much about social mobility and exile as it is about 18th-century Europe. If 2001 is a space odyssey, Barry Lyndon is a spatial odyssey, a film that turns the past into something mesmerising yet achingly real.

    Nathan Abrams receives and has previously received external funding, including government funding, foundation, charity and research council grants for this and similar work.

    – ref. Barry Lyndon at 50: why Kubrick’s most overlooked masterpiece deserves another viewing – https://theconversation.com/barry-lyndon-at-50-why-kubricks-most-overlooked-masterpiece-deserves-another-viewing-248484

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Announces New Hires, Staff Changes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) announced new hires and staff changes in his Washington, D.C., and Idaho Falls offices.
    David Pace joined Crapo’s Idaho Falls office as Press Secretary.  David was a reporter with East Idaho News and has previously worked at the Standard Journal and Post Register.  He is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves.  David graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in communications and public relations and minors in Middle Eastern studies and business management.
    Casey Jones, a native of Boise, joined Crapo’s Washington, D.C., office as Staff Assistant and IT Assistant.  She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in elementary education.
    Jameson Parker joined the Washington, D.C., office as Legislative Correspondent.  Jameson holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Arizona.  He previously worked for Representative Michael Burgess (R-Texas).  He will cover education, pro-life, veterans, small business and health care issues.
    Kennedy Cummins, a Murtaugh native, has been promoted to Staff Assistant and D.C. Office Manager.  Kennedy first joined Crapo’s Boise office as an intern last fall and was serving a second internship in the D.C. office.  She is a senior at Boise State University studying political science.
    Matthew Mondello has been promoted to Legislative Assistant.  Matthew previously served the Crapo office as a Legislative Aide.  He graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in politics.  As a Legislative Assistant, Matthew is responsible for health care, labor, veterans, small business and education issues.
    Matthew Favero has been promoted to Legislative Correspondent.  He previously served as Staff Assistant and intern.  Matthew holds a degree in American studies from Brigham Young University.  As Legislative Correspondent, Matthew is responsible for semiconductor, energy, public lands and agriculture issues.
    Grant Auman has been promoted to Legislative Correspondent.  He previously served as Staff Assistant and intern.  Grant holds degrees in political science, economics and Spanish from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  As Legislative Correspondent, he is responsible for banking, tax, budget, telecommunications and judiciary issues.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Attorney General Pam Bondi Appoints Gregory W. Kehoe As Interim United States Attorney

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, FL – Attorney General Pam Bondi has appointed Gregory W. Kehoe as Interim United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 546, which provides that “the Attorney General may appoint a United States Attorney for the district in which the office of United States Attorney is vacant.” This appointment took effect on March 31, 2025.

    Mr. Kehoe worked for the U.S. Department of Justice as a prosecutor for over 20 years with postings in the United States, Europe, Asia and South America. While serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, he was responsible for prosecuting a number of high-profile cases involving financial institutions and corporate fraud allegations, as well as racketeering charges.

    Mr. Kehoe also led the team of lawyers and investigators which advised the Iraqi Special Tribunal, an ad hoc court formed to prosecute Saddam Hussein and members of his former regime.

    Most recently, Mr. Kehoe was a shareholder at the law firm of Greenberg Traurig.

    Mr. Kehoe received his bachelor’s degree from Boston College, summa cum laude, and his Juris Doctorate from St. John’s University.

    MIL Security OSI –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Australian public libraries failing readers with print disabilities

    Source:

    02 April 2025

    A new study has revealed that Australia’s public libraries are struggling to adequately support people with print disabilities, leaving a significant portion of the population without access to essential reading and learning materials.

    The research, published in the Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association, highlights systemic barriers that individuals with vision impairments, dyslexia and other disabilities face when trying to access public library services.

    According to Vision Australia, approximately 18% of adult Australians experience a print disability, making equitable library access a pressing issue. The study reveals that despite nearly all public libraries carrying ebooks, audiobooks and large print editions, access to these resources is often hindered by inaccessible formats, websites and catalogues.

    Researchers from the University of South Australia (UniSA) and the University of Sydney identified the following key issues:

    • Low confidence in accessibility of ebooks and e-audiobooks
    • Limited awareness and training among library staff about how to help patrons with print disabilities
    • Low confidence among library staff in accessibility of their library websites and catalogues
    • Limited awareness of existing services among the print disability community
    • A need for stronger engagement with the print disability community and better marketing of available resources
    • Inconsistent funding and policy approaches across different library networks

    The researchers say that access to information is a “fundamental right, not a privilege” and that “libraries must be equipped to serve all members of the community, regardless of their ability to read standard print materials.”

    “The importance of addressing these barriers cannot be overstated,” says UniSA researcher Dr Jo Kaeding.

    “Research shows that 82% of people with print disabilities rate reading for pleasure as ‘very important’ in their lives. Not only is reading linked to numerous literacy-related benefits; it also opens doors to broader general knowledge.”

    Positive change may be on the horizon. In June 2025, the European Accessibility Act of 2019 will come into effect, requiring a range of products and services – including ebooks – to be produced and available in accessible formats for the European market.

    While the directive affects European publishers, Sydney University researcher Dr Agata Mrva-Montoya says it will also have an impact for Australian publishers wanting to sell books in European markets and is expected to increase the number of accessible ebooks available in Australia.

    “Australian public libraries have a long history of serving print-disabled communities,” Dr Kaeding says. However, the convergence of new legal frameworks, digital technologies and changing user preferences demands a fundamental transformation in how libraries approach accessibility.”

    The researchers recommend increased funding for accessible collections, mandatory staff training in accessibility, and improved engagement with people with print disabilities.

    Print Disability and Public Libraries in Australia: Challenges and Opportunities is published in the Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association. DOI: 10.1080/24750158.2025.2467471

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

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

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: 2.5 thousand students will receive 1 million rubles each for the implementation of technological startups

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Dmitry Chernyshenko: 2.5 thousand students will receive 1 million rubles each for the implementation of technological startups. On the right is the Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov

    The Ministry of Education and Science has announced a competition for grants called “Student Startup.” Applications can be submitted until May 20 atofficial website of the project.

    Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko noted that the number of grant recipients increases annually.

    “President Vladimir Putin emphasizes that the share of youth technology entrepreneurship in the country’s economy should increase significantly in the coming years. The Government is currently implementing a number of measures aimed at this, including expanding the grant program for student startups. In 2025, 2.5 thousand students will receive grants of 1 million rubles to implement their ideas – 500 more than the year before. Absolutely all university students can participate in the competition. I am confident that such opportunities will allow young talents to reveal their potential and contribute to the technological future of Russia,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

    Dmitry Chernyshenko also emphasized that over the entire period of the Student Startup grant competition, since 2022, 4.5 thousand startups have been supported. This competition is one of the seven tools of the University Technological Entrepreneurship Platform, which this year was included in the new federal project Technologies of the national project Effective and Competitive Economy.

    “Over three years, the competition has attracted more than 18,000 students from all over the country. If at the start of the project we received over 4,000 applications, then in 2024 their number doubled. This year, postgraduate students and residents of scientific organizations will be able to join the competition for the first time. Their involvement in the creation of technological startups will allow us to establish even closer ties between research institutes and businesses, shorten the path from an idea to its transformation into a real technology or product,” said Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov.

    The selection of projects for the Student Startup competition is carried out in seven thematic tracks, most of which correspond to priority areas of scientific and technological development in Russia: digital technologies, medicine and health-preserving technologies, chemical technologies and new materials, new devices and intelligent production technologies, biotechnology, resource-saving energy, creative industries. In 2024, the largest number of applications were submitted for digital technologies.

    If they win the competition, participants will have to register a legal entity, develop a business plan and launch a website for their startup.

    The operator of the Student Startup competition is the Innovation Assistance Fund. Detailed information is available on the competition page https: //fashi.ru/studstartend/ and in the competition regulations.

    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 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: CNL STRATEGIC CAPITAL ANNOUNCES OPERATING RESULTS FOR YEAR-END 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Orlando, Fla., April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CNL Strategic Capital, LLC (“CNL Strategic Capital,” the “Company” or “we”) seeks to provide current income and long-term appreciation to investors by acquiring controlling equity stakes in combination with loan positions in privately owned middle-market businesses. The Company announced its operating results for the year ended Dec. 31, 2024.

    Highlights:

    • As of Dec. 31, 2024, CNL Strategic Capital’s portfolio consisted of equity and debt investments in 16 portfolio companies and approximately $1.3 billion in total assets, compared with 13 portfolio companies and approximately $1.0 billion in total assets as of Dec. 31, 2023.
    • For the year ended Dec. 31, 2024, the Company recognized a net change in unrealized appreciation on investments, including unrealized foreign currency gain of approximately $88.7 million and had total investment income of approximately $71.7 million. That compares with a net change in unrealized appreciation on investments of $41.7 million and total investment income of approximately $59.5 million in 2023.
    • The cumulative total investment return based on net asset value (NAV) since inception and through Dec. 31, 2024, was approximately 105.5% for Class FA shares, 89.5% for Class A shares, 77.2% for Class T shares, 79.8% for Class D shares, 91.1% for Class I shares and 73.5% for Class S shares.1 These returns are prior to any applicable sales load and assume shareholders reinvested their distributions.  
    • For the year ended Dec. 31, 2024, CNL Strategic Capital received approximately $237.5 million in net offering proceeds, including approximately $18.1 million received through the distribution reinvestment plan. Since beginning operations in February 2018 through March 24, 2025, CNL Strategic Capital has raised approximately $1.2 billion, including $49.8 million received through the distribution reinvestment plan.

    Cash distributions declared net of distributions reinvested during the periods presented were funded from the following sources (in thousands):

      Year Ended Dec. 31,
      2024   2023
      Amount   % of Cash Distributions Declared Net of Distributions Reinvested   Amount   % of Cash Distributions Declared Net of Distributions Reinvested
    Net investment income before reimbursement of expense support (reimbursement) $ 21,065     106.6  %   $ 23,110      133.5   %
    Expense Support (reimbursement)   20     0.1        (644)       (3.7)   
    Net investment income $   21,085      106.7 %   $ 22,466     129.8 %
    Cash distributions declared, net of distributions reinvested2 $ 19,754     100.0  %   $ 17,304      100.0  %

    Sources of declared distributions on a GAAP basis (in thousands):

      Year Ended Dec. 31,
      2024   2023
      Amount   % of Distributions Declared   Amount   % of Distributions Declared
    Net investment income3 $ 21,085     55.6  %   $ 22,466      74.7   %
    Distributions in excess of net investment income4                         16,814       44.4                        7,597     25.3   
    Total distributions declared $ 37,899        100.0  %   $ 30,063      100.0  %

    Total investment return based on net asset value (NAV) after total return incentive fees per share for the year ended Dec. 31, 20241:

    Class FA Class A Class T Class D Class I Class S
    11.20% 10.23% 9.32% 9.91% 9.93% 11.20%

    (These returns are prior to any applicable sales load and assume shareholders reinvested their distributions. These are not actual shareholder returns. Actual returns may vary materially.)

    Cumulative total investment return based on NAV after sales fees since inception through Dec. 31, 20241:

    Class FA
    (2/7/18-12/31/24)    		 Class A
    (4/10/18-12/31/24)    		 Class T
    (5/25/18-12/31/24)    		 Class D
    (6/26/18-12/31/24)    		 Class I
    (4/10/18-12/31/24)    		 Class S
    (3/31/20-12/31/24)
    105.5% 89.5% 77.2% 79.8% 91.1% 73.5%

    (These returns are prior to any applicable sales load and assume shareholders reinvested their distributions. These are not actual shareholder returns. Actual returns may vary materially.)

    1This is not shareholder returns. Total investment return is calculated for each share class as the change in the net asset value for such share class during the period and assuming all distributions are reinvested. Amounts are not annualized and are not representative of total return as calculated for purposes of the total return incentive fee. Since there is no public market for the Company’s shares, terminal market value per share is assumed to be equal to net asset value per share on the last day of the period presented. The Company’s performance changes over time and currently may be different than that shown above. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment performance is presented without regard to sales load that may be incurred by shareholders in the purchase of the Company’s shares. For the period from the date the first share was issued for each respective share class through Dec. 31, 2024. 2Excludes $18,145 and $12,759 of distributions reinvested pursuant to the Company’s distribution reinvestment plan during the year ended Dec. 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. 3Net investment income includes expense support (reimbursement) of $20 and $(644) for the years ended Dec. 31, 2024, and 2023, respectively. 4Consists of distributions made from offering proceeds for the periods presented.

    About CNL Strategic Capital
    CNL Strategic Capital is a publicly registered, non-traded limited liability Company that seeks to provide current income and long-term appreciation to individuals by acquiring controlling equity stakes in combination with loan positions in durable and growing middle-market businesses. The Company is externally managed by CNL Strategic Capital Management, LLC and Levine Leichtman Strategic Capital, LLC (LLSC). For additional information, please visit cnlstrategiccapital.com.

    About CNL Financial Group
    CNL Financial Group (CNL) is a leading private investment management firm providing alternative investment opportunities. Since inception in 1973, CNL and/or its affiliates have formed or acquired companies with more than $36 billion in assets. CNL is headquartered in Orlando, Florida. For more information, visit cnl.com.

    About Levine Leichtman Strategic Capital
    LLSC is an affiliate of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, LLC (LLCP), a middle-market private equity firm with a 40-year track record of investing across various targeted sectors, including Franchising & Multi-unit, Business Services, Education & Training and Engineered Products & Manufacturing. LLCP utilizes a differentiated Structured Private Equity investment strategy, combining debt and equity capital investments in portfolio companies. LLCP believes that by investing in a combination of debt and equity securities, it offers management teams growth capital in a highly tailored, flexible investment structure that can be a more attractive alternative than traditional private equity.

    LLCP’s global team of dedicated investment professionals is led by ten partners who have worked at LLCP for an average of 20 years. Since inception, LLCP has managed approximately $15.6 billion of institutional capital across 15 investment funds and has invested in over 100 portfolio companies. LLCP currently manages $10 billion of assets and has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Miami, London, Amsterdam, Stockholm, and Frankfurt. For additional information, please visit llcp.com.

    The information in this press release may include “forward-looking statements.” These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of CNL Strategic Capital’s management and on the information currently available to management at the time of such statements. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the words “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates” or similar expressions that indicate future events. Forward-looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond CNL Strategic Capital’s control. Important risks, uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include the risks associated with the Company’s ability to pay distributions and the sources of such distribution payments, the Company’s ability to locate and make suitable investments and other risks described in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities.

    ###

    The MIL Network –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Connecticut DPH Commissioner to Headline UConn Health’s 54th Commencement

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    On Monday, May 12 at 1:00 p.m. UConn Health’s 54th Commencement address will be delivered by Manisha Juthani, MD, the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH). Juthani will share her keynote address with the graduating Class of 2025’s medical, dental, and graduate students at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts in Storrs.

    “As Connecticut’s No. 1 public health leader, an infectious disease expert, and Commissioner of the CT Department of Public Health, Commissioner Juthani is an inspiration to our graduates as they enter the healthcare workforce, especially those educated in our robust public health graduate program,” said Dr. Bruce T. Liang, MD, dean of UConn School of Medicine.

    “Thank you Dr. Juthani for your strong public service to Connecticut and also as a dedicated member of the UConn Health Board of Directors,” said Barbara E. Kream, Ph.D. associate dean of The UConn Graduate School programs at UConn Health and professor of Medicine and Genetics and Genome Sciences.

    Juthani is the first Indian American to serve as a commissioner in the State of Connecticut. She served as professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine through September 2024 and currently serves as an adjunct professor of medicine. She served as Director of the Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program from 2012 to 2021. Juthani received her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and M.D. from Cornell University Medical College, completed Internal Medicine residency training at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell campus, and served as chief resident at Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She came to Connecticut in 2002 as an Infectious Diseases fellow at Yale School of Medicine.

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, Juthani was a leader in the COVID response at Yale which led to her appointment as Commissioner of CT DPH in 2021. In the early days of the pandemic, she was a voice to help educate the public in both local and national media outlets, a role she was able to expand in her role as Commissioner. Upon joining CT DPH, she helped guide Connecticut out of the pandemic and worked to revitalize areas of public health, such as gun violence, maternal health, opioid use, and sexually transmitted diseases, that were exacerbated during the pandemic.

    As she continues in her role as DPH Commissioner, Juthani has shifted her core vision to “Preserve and Protect Core Public Health Principles and Services.” As Connecticut is presented with new public health challenges, she remains committed to preserving public health achievements made over the years, including improvements in regulatory oversight in healthcare, drinking water, and environmental health which includes food safety. It is more important than ever to highlight the importance of vaccines, control of infectious diseases, road safety, and healthier mothers and babies. Clear, accurate communication about public health risks is vital to her mission. She continues to advocate for health as a human right which is the core vision of CT DPH.

    “I am honored to welcome the next generation of professionals that will care for Connecticut residents and beyond, in both the healthcare and public health fields. UConn Health has trained each of these graduates well to protect and improve the lives of the people throughout the country,” stated Juthani who also is on the Board of Directors of UConn Health.

    Watch the livestream of UConn Health’s Commencement on Monday, May 12 at 1:00 p.m.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Presidential Message on National Financial Literacy Month, 2025

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    The foundation of American economic prosperity is a society empowered with the knowledge and tools to make informed financial decisions to achieve the American Dream.  During National Financial Literacy Month, we commit to providing critical resources for every American, young and old, helping them invest in a brighter, more secure future.
    Financial independence allows each of us the opportunity to diligently save and freely invest in our robust, and rapidly evolving economy.  As part of my recent effort to strengthen American leadership in digital financial technology, my Administration is supporting the responsible growth and use of digital assets, blockchain technology, and related technologies across all sectors of the economy.  The United States is the best, most innovative  in the world, and we want everyone to invest in, and reap the benefits of, expanding our nation’s prosperity.
    Research shows financial literacy leads to greater investments, higher retirement savings, and ultimately more household wealth.  It is essential for fostering a healthy and efficient marketplace.  The Financial Literacy and Education Commission is a body chaired by the Secretary of the Treasury and comprised of the heads of 23 federal agencies and the White House Domestic Policy Council.  The Commission plays a pivotal role in financial literacy by assessing the effectiveness of financial education programs and promoting practices that empower American families.
    Upon taking office, I took immediate action to end the cost-of-living crisis, ordering all federal agencies to untangle the economy from crippling regulatory overreach—delivering long overdue relief to hardworking American families.  Under my leadership, we will continue to strengthen and support American families by eliminating taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security while extending the historic tax cuts from my first term.  We are also deregulating and collaborating with employers and local partners to help Americans build more secure and prosperous futures for themselves and their families.
    We will never stop fighting to put more money back in the pockets of our overburdened taxpayers and to end the waste, fraud, and abuse in Government. With enhanced financial literacy, Americans are forging their own economic destinies free from unnecessary government interference.  As President, I will revive the American Dream, turning it from a relic of the past to a promise for the future in our new Golden Age.
    During this National Financial Literacy Month, I urge families, communities, schools, and institutions to commit to bolstering their financial knowledge.  There are amazing resources available to you and your family through the Department of the Treasury’s website that will assist you in making sound financial decisions.  Together, we can all protect each American’s right to economic freedom, securing the promise of prosperity for generations to come.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025
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