NewzIntel.com

Category: Education

  • MIL-Evening Report: Tibet is one of the most linguistically diverse places in the world. This is in danger of extinction

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gerald Roche, Lecturer in Linguistics, La Trobe University

    Three days after he was released from prison in December, a Tibetan village leader named Gonpo Namgyal died. As his body was being prepared for traditional Tibetan funeral rites, marks were found indicating he had been brutally tortured in jail.

    His crime? Gonpo Namgyal had been part of a campaign to protect the Tibetan language in China.

    Gonpo Namgyal is the victim of a slow-moving conflict that has dragged on for nearly 75 years, since China invaded Tibet in the mid-20th century. Language has been central to that conflict.

    Tibetans have worked to protect the Tibetan language and resisted efforts to enforce Mandarin Chinese. Yet, Tibetan children are losing their language through enrolment in state boarding schools where they are being educated nearly exclusively in Mandarin Chinese. Tibetan is typically only taught a few times a week – not enough to sustain the language.

    My research, published in a new book in 2024, provides unique insights into the struggle of other minority languages in Tibet that receive far less attention.

    My research shows that language politics in Tibet are surprisingly complex and driven by subtle violence, perpetuated not only by Chinese authorities but also other Tibetans. I’ve also found that outsiders’ efforts to help are failing the minority languages at the highest risk of extinction.

    Tibetan culture under attack

    I lived in Ziling, the largest city on the Tibetan Plateau, from 2005 to 2013, teaching in a university, studying Tibetan and supporting local non-government organisations.

    Most of my research since then has focused on language politics in the Rebgong valley on the northeast Tibetan Plateau. From 2014 to 2018, I interviewed dozens of people, spoke informally with many others, and conducted hundreds of household surveys about language use.

    I also collected and analysed Tibetan language texts, including government policies, online essays, social media posts and even pop song lyrics.

    When I was in Ziling, Tibetans launched a massive protest movement against Chinese rule just before the Beijing Olympics in 2008. These protests led to harsh government crackdowns, including mass arrests, increased surveillance, and restrictions on freedom of movement and expressions of Tibetan identity. This was largely focused on language and religion.

    Years of unrest ensued, marked by more demonstrations and individual acts of sacrifice. Since 2009, more than 150 Tibetans have set themselves on fire to protest Chinese rule.

    Not just Tibetan under threat

    Tibet is a linguistically diverse place. In addition to Tibetan, about 60 other languages are spoken in the region. About 4% of Tibetans (around 250,000 people) speak a minority language.

    Government policy forces all Tibetans to learn and use Mandarin Chinese. Those who speak only Tibetan have a harder time finding work and are faced with discrimination and even violence from the dominant Han ethnic group.

    Meanwhile, support for Tibetan language education has slowly been whittled away: the government even recently banned students from having private Tibetan lessons or tutors on their school holidays.

    Linguistic minorities in Tibet all need to learn and use Mandarin. But many also need to learn Tibetan to communicate with other Tibetans: classmates, teachers, doctors, bureaucrats or bosses.

    In Rebgong, where I did my research, the locals speak a language they call Manegacha. Increasingly, this language is being replaced by Tibetan: about a third of all families that speak Manegacha are now teaching Tibetan to their children (who also must learn Mandarin).

    The government refuses to provide any opportunities to use and learn minority languages like Manegacha. It also tolerates constant discrimination and violence against Manegacha speakers by other Tibetans.

    These assimilationist state policies are causing linguistic diversity across Tibet to collapse. As these minority languages are lost, people’s mental and physical health suffers and their social connections and communal identities are destroyed.

    How do Manegacha communities resist and navigate language oppression?

    Why does this matter?

    Tibetan resistance to Chinese rule dates back to the People’s Liberation Army invasion in the early 1950s.

    When the Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959, that resistance movement went global. Governments around the world have continued to support Tibetan self-determination and combat Chinese misinformation about Tibet, such as the US Congress passage of the Resolve Tibet Act in 2024.

    Outside efforts to support the Tibetan struggle, however, are failing some of the most vulnerable people: those who speak minority languages.

    Manegacha speakers want to maintain their language. They resist the pressure to assimilate whenever they speak Manegacha to each other, post memes online in Manegacha or push back against the discrimination they face from other Tibetans.

    However, if Tibetans stop speaking Manegacha and other minority languages, this will contribute to the Chinese government’s efforts to erase Tibetan identity and culture.

    Even if the Tibetan language somehow survives in China, the loss of even one of Tibet’s minority languages would be a victory for the Communist Party in the conflict it started 75 years ago.

    Gerald Roche has received funding for this research from the Australian Research Council. He is also affiliated with the Linguistic Justice Foundation.

    – ref. Tibet is one of the most linguistically diverse places in the world. This is in danger of extinction – https://theconversation.com/tibet-is-one-of-the-most-linguistically-diverse-places-in-the-world-this-is-in-danger-of-extinction-246316

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to the Climate Change Committee’s Seventh Carbon Budget

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on the Seventh Carbon Budget, published by the Climate Change Committee. 

    Prof John Barrett, Professor in Energy and Climate Policy and Director of the Climate Evidence Unit at the University of Leeds, said:

    “This is a very welcome report with a robust analysis that lets the Government, industry and citizens know that the pathway to net zero is possible and very much needed. However, it does place enormous responsibility on some key technologies and their rapid roll out to achieve these goals. As the UK Government digests the findings, we would suggest greater consideration of the “social” transformation that examines how we travel and what we buy.”

    “While the report acknowledges some upfront costs, it confirms that acting now will reduce expenses in the long run, with cost savings emerging by the late 2030s and beyond.”

    “The key takeaway from today’s report is clear: the transition to net zero is not only possible but highly beneficial. Independent academic analyses consistently supports this conclusion, showing that it will strengthen the economy, deliver widespread co-benefits, and position the UK as a leader in global climate action.”

     

    Dr Sean Beevers, Reader in Atmospheric Modelling, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, said:

    “A National Institute for Health and Care Research project examined the effects of net zero policies on air quality, active travel, health, and associated economic benefits in the UK.

    “Our cost benefit analysis showed that net zero transport and building policies deliver substantial co-benefits, including improved indoor and outdoor air quality, better health, increase active travel, lessening inequalities and with long-term economic gains. We estimated an overall monetised air quality and active travel benefit of £46.4 billion by 2060 and £153 billion by 2154.

     “Net zero policy analyses should include benefits from the air pollution reductions and physical activity increases. These benefits apply to current and future generations and failure to act will lead to worse health outcomes and higher costs for attaining net zero.”

    Dr Edward Gryspeerdt, Research Fellow at the Department of Physics, Imperial College London, said:

    “The CCC’s advice highlights that aviation will become the highest emitting sector in the UK by 2040. Clean alternatives, such as low-carbon fuel and technology for low emission flights are currently limited and a range of measures will be needed to meet net-zero – there is no silver bullet.

    “The government has described ‘sustainable aviation fuels’ as a ‘game changer.’ However, to have a significant impact on the climate impact of flying, they will need to be produced at a huge scale. It is not yet clear how this will be achieved. To reach net zero, the CCC also note that a switch from flying to other modes of transport will be required, especially for flights with an easy rail alternative. 

    “These measures alone won’t solve the problem. The CCC’s report highlights that a significant amount of carbon capture will be needed, highlighting the simple fact that the technological solutions to eliminate the climate impact of flying don’t yet exist. Any expansion of the UK’s aviation infrastructure will have to be coupled with improved sustainable transport options.”

     

    Dr Caterina Brandmayr, Director of Policy and Translation at the Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment, Imperial College London, said:

    “Today’s advice marks an important milestone in charting the UK’s path to net zero. Public opinion surveys continue to show that climate change remains a key issue of concern for a large majority of people in the UK.

     “To put us firmly on track to deliver the deep emission cuts needed from 2038 to 2042, the UK government needs to strengthen its action in the near term, giving confidence to businesses and households to invest in clean alternatives in sectors like housing, transport and energy. 

    “There is strong public support for the benefits that emission reduction interventions can bring, such as warmer homes, energy security and cleaner air. 

    “Effectively communicating these benefits, while ensuring fairness and choice in policy design, will be key to sustaining public support for the transition and driving change in harder to decarbonise sectors, such as aviation and land use.”

    Dr Friederike Otto, Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Environmental Policy and co-lead of World Weather Attribution, Imperial College London, said

    “People shouldn’t forget why we need these targets – we’re already feeling the pain at 1.3°C of warming and things will keep getting worse until emissions are reduced to net zero. 

    “Here in the UK, we’ll experience even wetter winters that could wipe out crops, threaten our food security and turn sports pitches into miserable bogs. In summer, more frequent heatwaves will contribute to thousands of premature deaths, could put additional strain on the NHS, and reduce economic productivity. Overseas, extreme weather could disrupt supply chains we depend on and could contribute to worsening political instability and conflict. 

    “Arguments that climate action is too costly are dangerous, short-sighted and disproportionately harm poorer people. If governments don’t cut emissions, both now and in the future, our children will live in an increasingly hostile climate and even more inequal society. 

    “The UK needs to push ahead and lead the way in emission reductions for a safer, healthier future.”

    Prof Lorraine Whitmarsh, Director at the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST) at the University of Bath, said:

    “The government’s climate advisors make clear that tackling climate change requires significant action from all sections of society in the coming years. A third of emission reductions will come from household behaviour change alone. Low-carbon choices include switching to electric vehicles and heat pumps, eating more plant-based foods, and shifting to cleaner forms of transport. Many of these changes offer wider benefits, like improved health and lower bills. The report also highlights the need for government to reduce the barriers for the public to make these changes and to engage the public more actively in the net zero transition. The citizens panel that fed into these recommendations highlight that measures need to be fair and reduce the cost of low-carbon options.”

    Dr Christina Demski, Deputy Director at the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST) at the University of Bath, said:

    “The latest CCC progress report makes it clear that decisive action is needed now to ensure we meet the net zero target, and that action to reduce emissions also has other benefits like economic security, better health and reducing fuel poverty. While the UK is on track to reduce emissions substantially from energy supply, the report clearly shows that action is also needed in sectors like transport, buildings and agriculture, and that this requires widespread uptake of essential low-carbon technologies like EVs and heat pumps.

    “We have long called for a comprehensive engagement strategy, so it is great to see this included as one of the key recommendations, especially the recommendation to go beyond one-way communication strategies.”

    Dr Sam Hampton, Research Fellow at the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST) at the University of Bath, said:

    “The Climate Change Committee’s 7th Carbon Budget provides a comprehensive account of the changes required across UK society to address the increasingly alarming impacts of climate change. As we have largely exhausted the low-hanging fruit of decarbonising our electricity supply, the focus in the 2030s and 2040s must shift towards demand-side changes. This includes changes in how we eat and travel, as well as the technologies we adopt. The report highlights key solutions including the adoption of electric vehicles and heat pumps, as well as the need for innovation to rid fossil fuels from industry. Another important takeaway is that Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is not a viable solution to decarbonising air travel. This comes just weeks after government expressed its support for airport expansion, and highlights the need for more radical solutions to limit flying, especially amongst the rich.”

     

     

    The Climate Change Committee’s Seventh Carbon Budget was published at 00:01 UK Time Wednesday 26 February 2025. 

    Declared interests

    Prof John Barrett: Deputy Director for Policy, Priestly Centre for Climate Futures, University of Leeds, Theme Leader for the UKRI Energy Research Demand Centre

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

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ARENA invests in cleaner, greener Australian skies

    Source: Australian Renewable Energy Agency

    The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is today supporting cleaner Australian skies, with up to $10.4 million in funding for two projects from its Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) Funding Initiative.

    ARENA is providing $8 million in funding to Licella and $2.4 million to Viva Energy for separate studies to develop renewable fuel alternatives for Australia’s airline industry.

    ARENA CEO Darren Miller said these projects represent an important step towards developing a pipeline of projects that could support the reduction of aviation sector emissions.

    “Aviation is a challenging industry from an emissions reduction perspective with domestic flights currently accounting for approximately 2 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions,” Mr Miller said.

    “With Australians being among the most prolific flyers in the world, decarbonising this high emissions industry will be vital for us to achieve our net zero targets.”

    “These two projects are an important step towards developing opportunities to cut emissions from Australian skies and ARENA will be working to ensure the lessons from these projects help inform the broader development of a sustainable aviation fuels industry in Australia.”

    The two projects include:

    • $8 million to Australian technology and project developer Licella for the $26.1 million ‘Project Swift – SAF from Sugarcane Residues Feasibility Study’ to complete Feasibility and Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) studies assessing the viability of establishing a biorefinery facility in Bundaberg, Queensland utilising Licella’s patented Catalytic Hydrothermal Reactor (Cat-HTR™) hydrothermal liquefaction technology to convert sugar mill residues to renewable fuels. The proposed facility would be capable of producing approximately 60 ML per annum of low carbon liquid fuels (LCLFs), of which around 40 ML per annum will be SAF.
    • $2.4 million to Viva Energy for the $4.9 million ‘SAF infrastructure Solutions for the Future project’ to recondition an existing tank at its Pinkenba Terminal to enable blended SAF supply into Brisbane Airport for commercial use. Viva will also work with industry partners to develop a book and claim system so that customers can recognise the carbon reduction benefits of the SAF supplied.The Project will conclude with Viva Energy supplying SAF into the Brisbane Joint User Hydrant Installation and demonstrate the storage and use of SAF within the existing airport. Following the project, the system will be able to supply volumes of SAF to meet customer demand.

    Viva Energy Chief Strategy Officer Lachlan Pfeiffer said the funding from ARENA is a crucial milestone in the company’s journey to supply sustainable fuel to Australia’s aviation industry.

    “By enhancing our SAF infrastructure, we are not only supporting the aviation industry’s transition to lower carbon emissions but also positioning Viva Energy as a leader in renewable energy solutions,” he said.

    “Viva Energy is well placed to import and supply SAF. Viva Energy is a trusted partner to many aviation customers and our strength lies in deep relationships and a nationwide supply chain backed by the international capability of Vitol.”

    Licella CEO Alan Nicholl said that ARENA’s funding will support the roll out in Australia of its commercial-ready Cat-HTR™ platform through the development of a SAF-focused biorefinery targeting agricultural residues in regional Queensland.

    “We are delighted to receive ARENA’s support as we move forward with the feasibility studies for our Queensland project”, Mr Nicholl said.

    Licella Executive Chairman Dr Len Humphreys highlighted the opportunity to scale this new SAF pathway.

    “Through our global partnership with Shell, we are advancing an integrated biomass-to-advanced biofuels commercial solution, one which is targeting high volumes of low-cost, low-carbon SAF”.

    ARENA has announced total funding of $33.5 million across five projects under the SAF Funding Initiative launched in 2023 to support the development of domestic SAF production to support aviation decarbonisation, with more investments to be announced beyond the previously allocated $30 million.

    The SAF funding initiative builds on the findings of ARENA’s 2021 Bioenergy Roadmap, which identified SAF produced from biomass as one of the few opportunities to reduce emissions in the aviation sector in the short to medium term. The CSIRO SAF Roadmap identified that Australia has sufficient biomass feedstocks to supply more than half of domestic jet fuel demand, demonstrating the potential impact of supporting these early projects investigating domestic SAF production capability.

    Low Carbon Liquid Fuels has been identified as a priority sector as part of the Federal Government’s Future Made in Australia Plan. ARENA has been nominated as the delivery agency for the Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund.

     

    ARENA media contact:

    media@arena.gov.au

    Download this media release (PDF 143KB)

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Plumbers warned to get up to speed on supervision requirements or face fines

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 26 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Building, Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education

    Minister for Building Anoulack Chanthivong has welcomed Building Commission NSW warning plumbers across the state to get up to speed on their supervision requirements or face fines in an upcoming targeted compliance campaign.

    Only plumbers with a NSW Government-issued contractor licence or supervisor certificate can do plumbing work without immediate supervision* to ensure work is carried out to required standards.

    To hammer home these requirements to industry, from June this year Building Commission NSW will conduct targeted compliance activities at sites across the state.

    If workers without the right licence are found to be unsupervised, Building Commission NSW can issue fines of up to $1,500 per breach.

    In the event Building Commission NSW finds repeated instances of workers being inappropriately supervised it can also suspend or cancel licences.

    Since September 2024 Building Commission NSW has detected 17 instances of incorrectly supervised plumbing work, sparking concerns plumbers are not taking their obligations seriously.

    In a recent compliance visit to an apartment building site in Port Macquarie, Building Commission NSW found five apprentices working unsupervised, resulting in the licensed plumber being fined $1,500.

    Ahead of the compliance blitz, Building Commission NSW is rolling out a wide-ranging awareness campaign to ensure plumbers around the state know how to stick to the rules.

    The awareness campaign will include direct emails to plumbers across the state, the distribution of newsletters, and engagement with peak bodies, industry and training organisations.

    To further educate plumbers on the supervision requirements, TAFE NSW and Building Commission NSW have also launched a new Plumbing, Drainage and Gasfitting Regulation short course.

    Developed in consultation with industry and subject matter experts, the new online short course also provides regulatory knowledge and best practice skills required by plumbing professionals.

    TAFE NSW students undertaking their Certificate IV in Plumbing and Services can enroll in the course fully discounted until 1st October 2025.

    For more information on the course, please visit the Plumbing, drainage and gasfitting regulation in NSW course webpage.

    For more information on plumbing supervision requirements, please visit the Plumbing, drainage and gasfitting work webpage.

    *Building Commission NSW views ‘immediate supervision’ as the relevant licence holder:

    • Always being physically present and with clear line of sight of the work being carried out by the person they are supervising.
    • Being readily available to provide specific instructions and guidance to enable the work to be undertaken correctly by the individual performing it.
    • Directly overseeing and reviewing the work.
    • Ensuring the completed work is compliant and meets all regulatory requirements.

    Quotes to be attributed to Minister for Building Anoulack Chanthivong:

    “The Minns Labor Government aims to keep every part of the building industry in check through a strong regulatory presence, while also supporting the workforce to comply with its obligations.

    “Building Commission NSW inspections have revealed a concerning lack of awareness about plumbing supervision requirements or even some plumbers deliberately cutting corners. 

    “The point of these requirements is to make sure young apprentices work in a safe environment supported by more experienced workers who will ensure work is done to the required standards while also passing on skills to the next generation of plumbers.

    “We want to give fair warning to the plumbing industry in NSW to pull itself into line and brush up on their supervision requirements.

    “But when the inspectors’ boots hit the ground later this year, plumbers should expect the full weight of the regulator will be put behind the penalties they issue.”

    Quotes to be attributed to Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan:

    “The Plumbing, Drainage and Gasfitting Regulation Microskill course is the latest in a range of courses developed in consultation with industry and subject matter experts aimed at providing the regulatory knowledge and best practice skills required by plumbing professionals to meet the state’s high standards of construction.

    “The course provides engaging, flexible, and industry-responsive learning where students can progress at their own pace and have access to the course for up to six months from the day of enrolment.

    “By offering this Microskill fully discounted to Certificate IV in Plumbing and Services students, TAFE NSW and Building Commission NSW are helping graduates build the right skills from day one.”

    Quotes to be attributed to NSW Building Commissioner James Sherrard:

    “Building Commission NSW is seeing a serious lack of awareness about plumbing supervision requirements, with inspectors consistently finding apprentices left on site unsupervised.

    “What licenced plumbers need to remember, is that even if one of their workers has finished their studies at TAFE NSW, if they don’t have the right NSW Government licence they need to be supervised.

    “These supervision requirements are in place to ensure the quality of plumbing work is maintained across NSW, protecting homeowners from expensive repairs down the track.

    “In June our specialist trade inspectors will be out in force to ensure the industry is complying with the requirements, but in the meantime, plumbers are urged to get up to speed.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed, Capito Lead Bipartisan Effort to Accelerate Pediatric Rare Disease Research & Treatment Advances

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to accelerate research and treatment advances for rare diseases that affect children, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) teamed up to introduce the Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act.  This bipartisan bill would ensure drugs for rare diseases are studied in children and that drug companies are accountable for completing pediatric study requirements.  It would close research gaps created by the growth in so-called “orphan drug” approvals by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

    Children are not just small adults who can take smaller doses of adult medication: They metabolize drugs differently and in order for drugs to be safe and effective for kids, they must be studied specifically for children’s use. Yet too often, drug development still leaves children behind.  The Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act would help speed therapies to children who need them, making needed changes to the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA) and the Pediatric Research Equity Act (PREA), two laws that encourage and require the study of drugs in children.

    “This bill would help children battling rare diseases and their families by addressing crucial gaps in pediatric research and treatment and empower the FDA to go after companies that break the rules.  Congress must work together to help address the unmet needs of those affected by rare diseases, particularly pediatric patients.  The Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act would include children in the drug development process to expand access to safe and effective treatments and therapies for children with rare ailments and appropriately meet their needs.  Our bipartisan bill would provide new paths for pediatric rare disease research and development and ensure patients with rare diseases aren’t left behind,” said Senator Reed.

    “It is essential medicines be studied specifically for children’s use, especially for rare diseases,” Senator Capito said. “The same medicines that may work well for some adults could have drastically different results for a child. Our legislation will help ensure pediatric studies are actually being done on both new and innovative drugs, as well as those older drugs now off-patent.”

    According to the National Institutes of Health, a “rare disease” is any disease affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the United States (60 cases per 100,000 individuals).

    There are more than 7,000 known rare diseases that affect about 30 million people in the U.S., according to the Orphan Drug Act.  These rare diseases can vary widely, from genetic conditions to certain types of cancers to cases that are the result of an infection or allergy or unknown causes.

    More than 90 percent of rare diseases lack a treatment approved by the FDA.  And according to rarediseases.org: Approximately two-thirds of Americans with rare diseases are children.

    The Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act would help ensure children can benefit from advancements in new treatments and therapies by:

    Ensuring Drugs for Rare Diseases are Studied in Children

    There are close to 7,000 rare diseases without appropriate treatments, and the vast majority of these diseases affect children. Unfortunately, in most cases, drugs for rare diseases, also known as orphan drugs, are not required to be studied in children. Yet the majority of new drugs approved are orphan drugs, meaning that the majority of newly approved drugs are exempt from pediatric study requirements, leaving doctors, parents, and sick kids in the dark about possible treatments.

    The Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act would ensure that children with rare diseases can benefit from new and innovative treatments, lifting the orphan drug exemption in PREA.

    Providing Equal Accountability for Pediatric Study Requirements

    Due dates for studies required by PREA are typically deferred by FDA until after the approval of the drug for adults. Unfortunately, FDA has no effective enforcement tools to ensure that these studies are completed on time—or at all.  Congress tried to solve this problem in 2012. It allowed FDA to send “non-compliance letters” to companies that failed to complete their pediatric studies. Disappointingly, this did not fix the problem. According to an analysis conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics, as of early 2021, 123 PREA non-compliance letters had been issued, yet only one third had been resolved.  On average, studies were 4.4 years late, with some more than 15 years late.

    The Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act would give FDA the authority it needs to ensure that legally required pediatric studies are completed in a timely manner.

    Investing in Pediatric Studies of Older Off-Patent Drugs

    The FDA incentives and requirements under BPCA and PREA work for many newer drugs, but unfortunately cannot help encourage studies of older drugs.  For this reason, in 2002, Congress authorized a program which funds the National Institutes of Health to conduct studies of off-patent drugs used in children that would never be completed otherwise.  Drug studies are expensive and costs have only increased since then, but the program has been flat-funded at $25 million since it was created more than 20 years ago.

    The Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act would increase funding for the BPCA NIH program to ensure we have better data about older drugs to treat diseases in children.

    Reed and Capito previously teamed up to pass and fund the landmark Childhood Cancer STAR Act.

    What They Are Saying About the Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act:

    “Children are not little adults; they have unique health needs. It is essential that children’s needs are considered and prioritized during the drug development process so they do not miss out on new therapies and treatments. The Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act of 2025 would make needed changes to pediatric drug laws so that children can benefit from new advancements in medicine – including children with rare diseases. Pediatricians applaud Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) for their leadership on this issue and call on Congress to swiftly pass this bipartisan legislation into law,” said American Academy of Pediatrics President Susan Kressly, MD, FAAP.

    “The biology of cancer children is different from cancer in adults. Drugs to treat children must be developed that are tailored for children. The Innovation In Pediatric Drugs Act of 2025 builds upon the promise of the Research To Accelerate Cures and Equity (RACE) Act For Children to increase pediatric studies of novel therapeutics for pediatric cancers. The new bill is an important step to ensure that required studies are completed for children as they are currently done for adults,” said Steve Wosahla, Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Cancer Cause.

    “Kids with cancer need us to put promising new therapies to the test to find the next generation of pediatric treatments. The Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act would help by holding trial sponsors accountable and opening the door to exciting treatments that could make all the difference for kids,” said Matt Marks of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed: It’s Past Time to Pay Retirees the Social Security Benefits They Already Earned

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) is once again urging the Trump Administration to quickly implement of the Social Security Fairness Act, which will ensure retired teachers, police, firefighters, and other public service workers and their spouses get the full Social Security benefits they earned.
    More than 8,600 Rhode Islanders and a total of 3.2 million Americans stand to benefit from the change, thanks to the Social Security Fairness Act, which Senator Reed cosponsored and former President Biden signed into law on January 5.
    The new law repealed the Windfall Elimination Penalty (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), which prevented 3 million government retirees who earned pensions from those careers from collecting their full benefits earned while working outside of government.
    “The Trump Administration needs to get into gear and implement the law.  Thousands of Rhode Island retirees who served as teachers, police officers, and more have waited long enough to get the benefits they rightfully earned. Instead of focusing on firing people from the Social Security Administration (SSA), the Trump Administration should spend more time and energy getting these checks out the door,” said Senator Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee who is working to ensure the SSA has enough employees to provide first-rate, personalized customer service to retirees who need assistance.
    Senator Reed estimates the average monthly benefit increase is about $360, but many recipients could see monthly raises of $1,000 or more this year.  The law is retroactive to January 1, 2024.  As a result, many people will eventually receive a significant lump sum for back payments as well as a monthly raise.
    Retired public employees who may be eligible can visit SSA’s Social Security Fairness Act website to learn more.
    Since the law was signed, there have been multiple and bipartisan efforts to encourage the Trump Administration to start paying Social Security recipients what they are owed.
    All Social Security recipients will see a 2.5 percent increase in their benefits this year.  The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) took effect in January, raising the average monthly retirement benefit from $1,927 to $1,976.
    Earlier this month, the acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration resigned after clashing with billionaire Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency, after Musk’s personnel attempted to access sensitive government records that included people’s personal information.
    Musk and Trump continue to actively mislead about Social Security. Musk amplified a chart showing 9 million people age 130 and over in the system and suggested “there are a lot of vampires collecting Social Security” adding, “This might be the biggest fraud in the history of humanity.”
    While there are millions of people in Social Security with no death records because they lived and died before the system was fully automated, there are only 44,000 people with birth dates in 1920 or earlier who are actually getting payments from Social Security.
    A July 2024 report from Social Security’s inspector general states that from fiscal years 2015 through 2022, the agency made less than 1 percent in improper payments. Most of the erroneous payments were overpayments to living people and some of it was clawed back. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to study suggesting high dietary fish intake linked to slowed disability progression in Multiple sclerosis (MS)

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry looks at fish intake and slowed disability progress in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). 

    Dr Shelly Coe, Senior Lecturer in Nutrition Science, Oxford Brookes University, said:

    “It is great to see more research into MS and diet approaches for managing symptoms and disability progression, with the current research showing that higher lean and oily fish consumption is associated with a reduced risk of MS disability progression. Benefits of this study include the high sample size and that people with MS have a confirmed diagnosis and are recruited from clinics throughout Sweden.

    “Fish consumption is assessed with a 4-point scale for oily or lean fish intake, and therefore this could result in some limitations; however considering the study design this is overall a suitable method for assessing diet in this population.

    “Those with higher lean and oily fish intake overall showed an association with lower disability progression. More benefits were found in those who consistently had a higher fish consumption over time, however those who increased their fish consumption over time also had an associated reduced disability progression, although less pronounced. This therefore highlights that even if someone with MS changes their diet later in their condition to a diet richer in oily and lean fish, there is still a beneficial association with disability progression to some extent. Overall, analysis seems thorough considering all aspects of the data.”

     

    Dr Aravinthan Varatharaj, Clinical Lecturer in Neurology, University of Southampton, said:

    “This is a well-conducted study with robust findings. Sweden has an excellent registry where most people with multiple sclerosis include their data. Using this data, the researchers found that people eating more fish were relatively protected against worsening of their disability.

    “There could be lots of reasons for this. All fish contain important nutrients and amino acids which are beneficial for health. Oily fish contain essential omega-3 fatty acids which cannot be otherwise produced by the human body. UK guidelines recommend we eat at least two portions of fish per week, with at least one of oily fish. However, most people in the UK eat less than this, and only a minority regularly eat oily fish. People with multiple sclerosis already know the importance of a healthy balanced diet, and this study is another bit of evidence to say that eating more fish is good for you.

    “The study also showed that for people who didn’t each much fish and were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, if they started eating more they still benefited. This goes to show that making a lifestyle change after diagnosis can have a positive impact.

    “However, previous studies done in the 1970s looking at fish oil supplementation did not show a strong benefit for people with multiple sclerosis. Dietary studies can be at risk of confounding by hidden factors. One thing this study didn’t look at is whether people who ate less fish were also less well-off. Fish can be expensive, so this could be a factor. We know that people with lower incomes have worse health outcomes (for multiple sclerosis and many other conditions).”

    Dr Ruth Dobson, Clinical Senior Lecturer in Neurology (Multiple Sclerosis), Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), said:

    “The Swedish EIMS study has done a lot to enhance our understanding of MS epidemiology. The question about fish consumption playing a role in MS susceptibility and/or severity is one that has been hypothesised for some time from a biological basis. Diet is of significant interest to people living with MS, and high quality studies to investigate the effect of diet are hard to do; this study provides a really useful avenue for investigation.

    “There appears to be a consistent dose-response relationship between fish consumption and MS severity, the first time this has been reliably described. Notably, the same is true for physical activity and smoking behaviour, which has been shown before.

    “I don’t think this fully answers the question about whether it is fish consumption directly that influences MS (although this is completely plausible), whether it is synergistic with other lifestyle traits (I think this is most likely), or whether it is purely acting as a surrogate for other lifestyle traits (less likely). They do adjust for some of these but residual confounding remains a concern in all studies like this. But the paper as presented is fair and does discuss this.”

    ‘Impact of fish consumption on disability progression in multiple sclerosis’ Eva Johansson et al. was published in Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry at 23:30 hours UK time Tuesday 25 February 2025. 

    DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2024-335200

    Declared interests

    Dr Aravinthan Varatharaj: I am involved in trials of disease-modifying treatments for progressive multiple sclerosis. I am also an investigator on the UK MS Register. I have received funding from Roche who make pharmaceuticals for MS.

    Dr Ruth Dobson: No COIs relating to this research.

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

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘They’re meant to help and did the complete opposite’: many children feel silenced by family courts

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Georgina Dimopoulos, Associate Professor, Law, Southern Cross University

    Bricolage/AAP

    When parental separation ends up in the family courts, serious risks such as family violence, child abuse, drug, alcohol or substance misuse, and mental health issues are often involved.

    But many children feel shut out of family court processes that decide what is in their “best interests”.

    My new paper, co-authored with Southern Cross University researchers Eliza Hew, Meaghan Vosz and Helen Walsh and published in the journal Child and Family Social Work, looked at how children felt about their experiences in the family courts.

    We interviewed 41 children and young people aged ten to 19 from Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria. Four key themes emerged.

    1. Children feel silenced

    Some children we spoke with felt they were heard by family law professionals. Many, however, described feeling silenced. Penny (all names in this article changed to protect identies), aged 14, said:

    [It was like] someone was standing there and putting something over my mouth so I couldn’t speak […] I should have been allowed in the courtroom and been allowed to say what I wanted.

    Chelsea, 15, felt:

    squashed and I just had to do what I was told and be quiet and suck it up, even if it wasn’t what I wanted.

    Family court orders required Paige, 17, and her sister to spend time with their father, contrary to their expressed wishes. Paige blamed herself, saying:

    That was always one of my biggest regrets because I’m like, maybe if I had said something differently, or emphasised it more, they would have understood what I was trying to say and actually listened […] it wouldn’t have made such traumatic memories, which happened afterwards, when we were forced to see him.

    The children in our study wanted to be heard directly. As Troy, 14, put it:

    Talk to us, not about us.

    Children also told us that they wanted their words conveyed accurately by family law professionals to the court. Lisa, 10, said:

    It’s like whispering to another person, and then you keep whispering, whispering, and then eventually, something comes out differently. People get it mixed up.

    Other children felt speaking up was futile. Ari, 11, said:

    I had some ideas that I wanted, that I thought would be fair, but it never really changed […] So I just stopped talking.

    Some children felt speaking up was futile.
    fizkes/Shutterstock

    2. Children feel ‘in the dark’

    Most children we interviewed felt “in the dark” about family court processes. Olive, 11, said she had “no clue what was going on”, while Leo, 13, said:

    I didn’t know anything. I was playing the guessing game.

    Some children got information through their own proactive, even covert efforts. Ava, 13, said:

    I was snooping through Mum’s room and I found some papers.

    Ava then Googled the family court judge who decided her parents’ case, because “she, like, ruined my life. Need to know who.”

    Other children got more information than they wanted.

    Eva, 12, said:

    Mum shared with me lots of the law court stuff and I really wish she didn’t, because I should just be a kid. That was the sort of thing that made me feel […] sort of responsible and it sort of made me look at my mum in a bad way.

    3. Some children will vote with their feet

    Some children said they’d refused to comply with family court parenting orders. As Ava, 13, put it:

    If they can’t listen to me, I’m not going to listen to them.

    Chelsea, 15, explained:

    I wasn’t listened to at all […] in the end, I finally put my foot down, and I was like, “I’m not going to Dad’s”.

    Aaron, 16, and his siblings chose to live with their father, contrary to family court orders. He explained:

    When they said that we had to live with Mum, we just lived with Dad anyway […] They’re meant to help and did the complete opposite.

    4. Children feel less able to trust others

    Children stressed the importance of family law professionals creating space to build trust. But several children felt they were betrayed by law professionals who’d shared what the children had said with their parents.

    Troy, 14, said:

    If I knew what I said was going to get back to Dad, I wouldn’t have said it.

    Jessica, 16, wanted:

    More support on knowing that what I said directly wouldn’t get back to my dad in case I was sent back there, because stuff I said could have really, really, really hurt me if I was sent back.

    Gabrielle, 18, said:

    Adults are meant to be the people that you can trust, particularly when they say that they’re there for your best interest. I lost a lot of trust. I couldn’t trust anyone again.

    Protecting children

    Our study didn’t ask children about details of their family court orders, so it’s possible that, as Aaron, 16, observed, “the people that probably want to do this [research] are probably the people that got messed around”.

    But our findings are important because they expose concerning attitudes about children and their rights in the family courts, and the capacity and skills of professionals to support children to participate meaningfully and safely.

    We’re now working with the children and young people we interviewed to co-create a children’s participation toolkit, which will give children information about their right to participate in family law processes.

    Olive, 11, captures it best:

    You gotta listen to the children, ‘cause it’s their lives. But it’s also like, sometimes they’ve got some pretty great ideas too.

    Georgina Dimopoulos’ research upon which this article is based was partially funded by the Children’s Rights Research Fund (University of Maastricht). She is also a member of the Policy Working Group of the Australian Child Rights Taskforce.

    – ref. ‘They’re meant to help and did the complete opposite’: many children feel silenced by family courts – https://theconversation.com/theyre-meant-to-help-and-did-the-complete-opposite-many-children-feel-silenced-by-family-courts-250636

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont Statement on HB 7067

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today released the following statement regarding House Bill 7067:

    “As I noted in my budget speech, I have seen and heard firsthand how the right program makes a lifelong difference for these special kids. These programs have also put an increasing strain on our towns. That’s why my budget proposal increases our commitment to special education by an additional $40 million and asks the legislature to establish the High-Quality Special Education Incentive Grant program, backed by a $14 million investment – a $54 million increase in total – and is more than double the $25 million increase we made in the last biennium budget.

    “Even while well-intentioned, the way this funding was hastily approved by the legislature is reminiscent of how budgeting was dangerously done in the past. These concerns, combined with expenses that are already pushing beyond the spending cap, are why I cannot support adding this significant expenditure this late in the fiscal year without a plan to cover budget overruns.

    “Together, we have made progress as a state by stabilizing our budget and abiding by financial controls that paid down debt, enacted historic tax cuts, and increased investments in our children and their future. I look forward to working with the General Assembly throughout ongoing budget deliberations and continuing that progress.”

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: PNG govt’s latest ID plan unlikely to be achieved, says academic

    RNZ Pacific

    The Papua New Guinea government wants to have everyone on their National Identity (NID) card system by the country’s 50th anniversary on 16 September 2025.

    While the government has been struggling to set up the NID programme for more than 10 years, in January the Prime Minister, James Marape, announced they aimed to have 100 percent of Papua New Guineans signed up by September 16.

    However, an academic with the University of PNG, working in conjunction with the Australian National University, Andrew Anton Mako, said there was no chance the government could achieve this goal.

    Anton Mako spoke with RNZ Pacific senior journalist Don Wiseman:

    ANDREW ANTON MAKO: The NID programme was established in November 2014, so it’s 10 years now. I wouldn’t know the mechanics of the delay, why it has taken this long for the project to not deliver on the outcomes, but I can say a lot of money has been invested into the programme.

    By the end of this year, the national government would have spent about 500 million kina (over NZ$211 million). That’s a lot of money to be spent on a particular project, and then it would have only registered about 30 to 40 percent of the total population. So there’s a serious issue there. The project has failed to deliver.

    DON WISEMAN: Come back to that in a moment. But why does the government think that a national ID card is so important?

    AAM: It’s got some usefulness to achieve. If it was well established and well implemented, it would address a number of issues. For example, on doing business and a form of identity that will help people to do business, to apply for jobs in Papua New Guinea or elsewhere, and all that. I believe it has got merit towards it, but I think just that it has not been implemented properly.

    DW: Does the population like the idea?

    AAM: I think generally when it started, people were on board. But when it got delayed, you see a lot of people venting frustration on the NID Facebook page. I think [it’s] popularity has actually fallen over the years.

    DW: It’s money that could go into a whole lot of other, perhaps, more important things?

    AAM: Exactly, there’s pressing issues for the country, in terms of law and order, health and education. Those important sectors have actually fallen over the years. So that 500 million kina would have been better spent.

    DW: So now the government wants the entire country within this system by September 16, and they’re not going to get anywhere near it. They must have realised they wouldn’t get anywhere near it when the Prime Minister made that statement. Surely?

    AAM: It’s not possible. The numbers do not add up. They’ve spent more than 460 million kina over the last 10 years or so, and they’ve only registered 36 percent of the total — 3.3 million people. And then of the 3.3 million people, they’ve only issued an ID card to about 30 to 40 perCent of them . . .

    DW: 30 to 40 percent of those who have already signed up. So it’s what, 10 percent of the country?

    AAM: That’s right, about 1.2 million people have been issued an ID card, including a duplicate card. It is not possible to register the entire country, the rest of the country, in just six, seven or eight months.

    DW: It’s not the first time that the government has come out with what is effectively like a wish list without fully backing it, financially?

    AAM: That’s right. The ambitions that the government and the Prime Minister, their intentions are good, but there is no effective strategy how to get there.

    The resources that are needed to be allocated. It’s just not possible to realise the the end results. For example, the Prime Minister and his government promised that by this year, we would stop importing rice. That was a promise that was made in 2019, so the thing is that the government has not clearly laid out a plan as to how the country will realise that outcome by this year.

    If you are going to promise something, then you have to deliver on it. You have to deliver on the ambitions. Then you have to set up a proper game plan and proper indicators and things like this.

    I think that’s the issue, that you have promised something [and] you must deliver. But you must chart out a proper pathway to deliver that.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Education – Charter School Agency announces new application round

    Source: Charter School Agency

    Applications for the next tranche of charter schools open today (26.2), just weeks after the first seven charter schools were established, Charter School Agency Chief Executive Jane Lee announced today.

    “There are two different routes for opening charter schools. Some are new schools addressing specific needs that aren’t being met in our education network. Others are existing state schools that want to operate in a more flexible way,” Ms Lee says.

    “State or state integrated schools interested in converting to charter schools are invited to express their interest ahead of receiving information on what the change will mean for their school. They’ll receive support to help them meet all statutory requirements, including consultation with their school communities, staff and students.”

    State schools that want to convert to charter schools in 2026, have a 11 April deadline to complete their EOI documents. New application dates will be released each term for schools who want to apply to convert to state schools at a later date.

    New school applicants must complete the EOI forms by 24 March 2025.

    “Competition for opening new charter schools is very strong,” Ms Lee says. “We have already seen the opening of seven diverse schools delivering to a range of communities. Our aim is to build a lasting network of schools that will support and improve the state school system.”

    Ms Lee says to expand this network, the Authorisation Board – which approves new charter school sponsors – will consider factors such as community needs, school size, location, and type. It will also welcome applications from charter schools offering distance or online education.

    Information about the application process is on our website: https://www.charterschools.govt.nz/

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Giant glaciers pulverised Earth’s ancient rocks, setting the stage for complex life

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Kirkland, Professor of Geochronology, Curtin University

    Petr Jan Juracka / Shutterstock

    Imagine floating in space, gazing on a frozen white orb. The ball hangs in the void, lonely and gleaming in the light from its star. From pole to equator, the sphere is covered in a thick crust of ice. In orbit around the white planet is a single cratered moon.

    You are gazing on Earth in the Cryogenian period, 700 million years ago. This is about three times as long ago as the earliest dinosaurs roamed – but still not long in the scheme of Earth’s mind-bending 4.5 billion years of history.

    During the Cryogenian, our planet was plunged into a series of deep freezes when enormous glaciers flowed across the globe.

    In new research published in Geology, we show that these crushing rivers of ice, sometimes kilometres deep, pulverised the planet’s rocky surface like enormous bulldozers. When the ice eventually thawed, the ground-up minerals washed into the oceans where they may have provided the nutrients needed for the evolution of complex life.

    Into the fridge

    According to the Snowball Earth hypothesis, Earth underwent at least two extreme global glaciations during the Cryogenian. Traces of these events can be seen across the globe in sedimentary rocks formed under glacial conditions, strongly suggesting that ice spread from the poles to reach the equatorial region.

    Nobody is sure exactly what triggered these deep-freeze events, though scientists have proposed a range of possibilities. One key may have been a significant decline in atmospheric greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide (CO₂).

    During ‘Snowball Earth’ phases, our planet was encrusted with a thick layer of ice.
    Oleg Kuznetsov / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA

    The CO₂ levels in the atmosphere may have fallen because of increased weathering of rocks situated on a large tropical continent that existed at the time. When continents are positioned in tropical regions, warm, moist conditions accelerate chemical weathering, pulling CO₂ out of the atmosphere, locking it away in carbonate minerals.

    Tectonic activity during the breakup of continents that happened during this period may have also played a part. It could have created conditions such as shallow seas, leading to more removal of CO₂ from the air.

    As ice sheets advanced toward the tropics, they reflected more sunlight back into space, leading to further cooling. These processes together caused ice to spread rapidly until the planet was almost entirely frozen.

    How did Snowball Earth end?

    Volcanic activity may have played a crucial role in ending these ice ages. As glaciers covered the planet, interactions between Earth’s crust, oceans and atmosphere slowed dramatically. As a result, when volcanic eruptions injected CO₂ into the atmosphere, it would not have been re-absorbed but rather accumulated over millions of years.

    These high levels of CO₂ created a runaway greenhouse effect, warming the planet and eventually melting the ice. The resulting thaw caused rapid sea level rise and an influx of nutrients into the oceans.

    Distinct rock formations were created during this abrupt climate change, as the chemistry of the oceans responded to the new conditions. The surge of nutrients may have contributed to a cascade of biological changes, possibly setting the stage for the rise of complex life.

    Many scientists have considered the idea that changing atmospheric conditions on the thawing of Snowball Earth led to changes in ocean chemistry. In our new research, we found that material scraped off the continents during the thaw may also have played a role.

    Snowball to slushball, glacial bulldozer to planetary power hose

    We studied sections of rock, from older to younger, through the snowball period to melt down. By doing this, we built up a picture of what the glaciers and the subsequent river systems were doing to the crust of our planet.

    We explored minerals with these sequences of rock and found consistent distinctive changes during periods of time when snowball events started and also when thawing occurred.

    Snowball Earth events were associated with a pronounced increase in older, deeper crust being exposed and ground down under kilometres of ice.

    As the glaciers retreated during thaw periods, massive outflows of melt water transported mineral grains that had been trapped and stabilised under the ice. Once exposed to liquid water, fragile minerals dissolved, releasing chemicals.

    This process – like the changes in the atmosphere – would have changed the chemistry of the oceans. The glacial retreat help shaped the distribution of elements critical to ocean ecosystems.

    Lessons from the past

    The timescales of Earth’s natural processes are important to keep in mind. Over thousands, millions and billions of years, processes such as plate tectonics, erosion, and atmospheric cycles will continue to shape the planet’s future.

    On shorter timescales, however, human activities have become the dominant force driving climate change.

    While Earth itself will endure, the survival of complex human societies depends on our actions today. We are passengers on an extraordinary “spaceship Earth”, a planet that recycles its chemical building blocks through dynamic geochemical cycles, using matter originally forged in ancient stars.

    These processes regulate Earth’s surface and sustain life, even as our planet’s fate is tied to the evolution of the Sun and the cosmos. Humanity, uniquely among Earth’s species, has developed the tools and systems to mitigate existential threats such as climate change, famine, war and even asteroid impacts, yet the effective use of these capabilities remains in our hands.

    The deep past provides a guide on how chemical cycles on our planet operate. Whether we will be wise enough to use this information is yet to be seen.

    Chris Kirkland 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. Giant glaciers pulverised Earth’s ancient rocks, setting the stage for complex life – https://theconversation.com/giant-glaciers-pulverised-earths-ancient-rocks-setting-the-stage-for-complex-life-249612

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Presumed extinct, this desert rat-kangaroo may still be alive in hiding. New analysis reveals its delicate diet

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rex Mitchell, Postdoctoral Fellow, Flinders University

    Hedley Herbert Finlayson, The Red Centre, 1935

    When it comes to how hard an animal can bite, size always matters.

    There may be no truer a case of this than the desert rat-kangaroo (Caloprymnus campestris), known as the ngudlukanta to the traditional custodians of its Country of origin, the Wangkangurru Yarluyandi people.

    This small, possibly extinct marsupial from the inhospitable Sturt Stony Desert may have had a solid skull built for hard biting. But not enough to bite through the kinds of foods biologists used to think it ate.

    We discovered the lack of chomping power in the skull of this rat-kangaroo while testing new approaches for analysing skull biomechanics.

    Our results, published today in the Journal of Experimental Biology, may help with ongoing searches for the elusive species.

    Declared extinct 30 years ago, there remains hope the critter might still emerge in some parts of its original home range.

    A difficult desert

    The Sturt Stony Desert in the far north-east of South Australia is one of the world’s most inhospitable places. Few animals can make it their home.

    However, one small marsupial species was known to brave the heat, drought, and scarcity of food: the ngudlukanta.

    The desert rat-kangaroo, known as ngudlukanta to the Wangkangurru Yarluyandi people.
    Hedley Herbert Finlayson, The Red Centre, 1935

    The species was previously thought to be long extinct, until mammal researcher Hedley Herbert Finlayson led the rediscovery of the animal in the 1930s.

    But soon after, it vanished again.

    Sadly, the tiny desert dweller was officially declared extinct in 1994. Weighing just under 1kg, it would have been a perfect snack for introduced predators like foxes and cats. It was further pushed towards extinction by competition with rabbits, overstocking with cattle and sheep, and poor fire management.

    Yet, exciting reports of possible sightings of the ngudlukanta still emerge sporadically. Descriptions of its distinctive compact size, combined with its short face and the hopping gait of a kangaroo, have sparked renewed interest in rediscovering this animal.

    In the quest to find this elusive little battler, information about its diet is key. It can help people to keep a closer eye on areas where its favourite foods would be found.

    From a bite to a diet

    To better understand its diet and feeding behaviour, we turned to the animal’s skull.

    The ngudlukanta had a solidly built skull, with a short and wide face. This led researchers to suggest that it could eat harder desert foods like roots, nuts and seeds.

    But in our latest analysis, we showed that these assessments were probably incorrect. Instead, the animal’s diet was more likely restricted to softer materials, rather than the tougher foods eaten by some of its harder-headed relatives like the burrowing bettong.

    The reason for this? It all comes down to its size.

    Previous interpretations of its biting ability had drawn conclusions from comparisons of skull shape between species, but without considering size differences between them.

    Our results form part of a paper that addresses this issue in the methods that researchers use. We used a method called finite element analysis, which helps to predict how a structure – in this case, a skull – would handle the forces it experiences in the real world.

    But what we did differently to other researchers was to keep information about size differences between the skulls in the models.

    What did we find?

    The skull of the ngudlukanta is definitely efficient at biting, but it is also about one quarter smaller than the skull of the next smallest species in our sample, the northern bettong.

    When we included its smaller size in the analysis, the results suggested its relatively short face and robust jaw were unlikely to help it eat harder foods.

    Instead, its solid skull features mostly compensated for its small size, but would only allow it to support bites about as hard as those of the long-nosed potoroo – a larger species with a much less efficient skull at biting.

    Finite element models simulating the stress of each skull during biting with the front teeth. The stress in the desert rat-kangaroo is more similar to the hard food-eating burrowing bettong when not including its small size in the models. But its stress levels are more like the long-nosed potoroo when including its small size.
    Authors

    Early investigations of stomach contents from the 1930s tell us the ngudlukanta fed mostly on leaves and small amounts of insects. But little further detail exists. A more restricted range of softer, fresher plant materials, as suggested by our analysis, would narrow its range of preferred foods in the deserts it lived in.

    Our results therefore paint a picture of a species occupying a delicate position within the desert ecosystem.

    An unsolved mystery in a vast desert

    In recent years, one of us (Karl Vernes) has mounted several expeditions into the ngudlukanta‘s habitat, hoping to find evidence of its continued existence.

    However, finding this tiny marsupial in a vast desert is a challenge – not just because it was probably always rare and elusive, but also because we still know precious little about its ecology.

    Eyewitness accounts, remote camera traps, analysis of predator scat (poo) for mammal remains, genetic testing of scats, and the expert ecological knowledge of Traditional Owners have all been used to investigate the possibility of the survival of the ngudlukanta. No definitive evidence has yet emerged.

    Whether the ngudlukanta is extinct or not, therefore, remains an unsolved mystery.

    But history is replete with examples of rediscovered species believed to be extinct, known as “Lazarus species”. The desert’s vast, inhospitable terrain means it is plausible for a small nocturnal species to be evading detection.

    The distinctive short face of the ngudlukanta, alongside its small size and hopping gait, have led eyewitnesses to argue for its persistence.
    Hedley Herbert Finlayson, The Red Centre, 1935

    In fact, the desert rat-kangaroo was already a Lazarus species after its rediscovery in the 1930s. The story of the ngudlukanta therefore serves as a reminder that extinction declarations are not always the end of the story.

    If the species is still roaming the most inhospitable regions of the continent, the new knowledge gained from our analysis could help pinpoint areas where the ngudlukanta might persist.

    Who knows? The next chapter in the story of this desert-dweller may yet surprise us.

    Rex Mitchell has received funding from the Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence for Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH).

    Karl Vernes has received funding from the Australian Research Council, the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, Experiment.com, the Hermon Slade Foundation and Parks Australia. He is a member of the Australian Mammal Society.

    Vera Weisbecker receives funding from The Australian Research Council. She is affiliated with The Australian Mammal Society and member of the Australian Greens Party.

    – ref. Presumed extinct, this desert rat-kangaroo may still be alive in hiding. New analysis reveals its delicate diet – https://theconversation.com/presumed-extinct-this-desert-rat-kangaroo-may-still-be-alive-in-hiding-new-analysis-reveals-its-delicate-diet-250283

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Trailblazing UniSA programs take out national awards

    Source: University of South Australia

    26 February 2025

    From left: UniSA’s Vice Chancellor Professor David Lloyd, Professor Lan Snell, Associate Professor Stewart Von Itzstein, Dino Rossi and Ryan McClenaghan at the awards event

    The University of South Australia’s two nominations in the 2024 national Shaping Australia Awards have taken out both of the prizes in their category.

    Professor Tom Raimondo, Dr Jo Zucco and Associate Professor Stewart Von Itzstein won the Future Builder Award, as the team behind Australia’s first higher degree apprenticeship program, UniSA’s Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours).

    Professor Lan Snell, Professor Andrew Beer, Peter Stevens, Stan Astachnowicz, Sam Stengert, Leanne Steele, Ling Ly and Jodie Walsh, the team behind UniSA’s trailblazing Global Executive MBA in Defence and Space (GEMBA), took out the People’s Choice Award in the same category.

    The Future Builder category honours initiatives that go above and beyond to deliver out-of-the-box teaching and industry engagement that bridges critical knowledge gaps. UniSA’s 2024 award wins reflect the University’s strengths in innovation and enterprise, and build on similar success in the inaugural awards last year. 

    The Shaping Australia Awards are an initiative of Universities Australia, which share the valuable contributions universities make to society.

    Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours)

    UniSA’s Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours) enables students to work full time at leading companies like BAE Systems, while studying. This hands-on experience, combined with academic rigor, ensures they graduate as work-ready, experienced software engineers.

    Created in partnership with industry partners including BAE and the AI Group, the success of the Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours) has prompted the Department of State Development to issue a call for expressions of interest to establish additional degree apprenticeships in SA.

    Global Executive MBA in Defence and Space (GEMBA)

    UniSA’s Global Executive MBA in Defence and Space (GEMBA) is a unique18-month program delivered across three countries, reflecting the trilateral nature of the AUKUS alliance. The program equips leaders with advanced skills in areas like cyber security, space systems and defence procurement, and combines immersive residentials in Australia, the UK and the US with high-quality online learning.

    Through partnerships with Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Exeter and leading industry players, GEMBA empowers future leaders to navigate complex global security challenges and drive Australia’s defence and space industries forward.

    Universities Australia Chief Executive Officer Luke Sheehy congratulated all the winners and finalists.

    “These projects are changing lives, driving economic growth and securing Australia’s future. The overwhelming public response reflects the incredible contributions our universities make to help us all,” Sheehy said.

    The awards were judged by a panel of eminent Australians comprising:

    • Lisa Paul AO PSM, University of Canberra Chancellor and former Secretary of the Department of Education
    • Sir Peter Cosgrove AK AC (Mil) CVO MC (Retd), former Governor-General of Australia
    • Ms Charlene Davison, CEO of the Go Foundation.
    • Ms Michelle Gunn, editor-in-chief of The Australian
    • Mr Nicholas Moore AO, special envoy for Southeast Asia
    • Professor Brian Schmidt AC FAA FRS, former Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University and Nobel laureate.
    • Ms Annabelle Williams OAM, Paralympic Gold Medallist, business owner and lawyer  

    A full list of the 2024 Shaping Australia Awards winners is available at shapingaustraliaawards.com.au.

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Minority Leader Harold Jones II and Sen. Max Burns Applaud Unanimous Passage of SB 145 by Senate Committee on Judiciary

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA (February 25, 2025) — Yesterday, Senate Bill 145 passed unanimously out of the Senate Committee on Judiciary. Sen. Harold Jones II (D–Augusta), Leader of the Democratic Caucus, co-sponsored the measure with Senators Max Burns (R–Sylvania) and Lee Anderson (R–Grovetown). SB 145 would provide a sixth judge to the superior courts of the Augusta Judicial Circuit.

    “The Augusta Judicial Circuit serves over 200,000 people in Richmond and Burke counties, providing essential public safety services to our community,” said Leader Jones. “Adding a sixth judge will help our judges to ensure a fair and speedy trial for those accused of a crime, and in clearing the current backlog of cases in the circuit. This is not a partisan issue, but something that will better everyone in the Greater Augusta area. I look forward to seeing this legislation pass swiftly through the Senate and House.”

    Sen. Burns, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Higher Education and sponsor of the legislation, added, “I have advocated for a sixth judge since 2023. As the bill’s sponsor, I’m happy to see this necessary piece of legislation pass through committee with unanimous support, and look forward to favorable consideration in the Rules Committee.”

    The additional position would be appointed by the Governor for a term beginning on January 1, 2026.

     SB 145 can be found here.

    # # # #

    Sen. Harold V. Jones II serves as the Democratic Leader. He represents the 22nd Senate District, which includes portions of Richmond County. He may be reached at 404.656.0036 or via email at harold.jones@senate.ga.gov.

    Sen. Max Burns serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Higher Education. He represents the 23rd Senate District, which includes Burke, Emanuel, Glascock, Jefferson, Jenkins, McDuffie, Screven, Taliaferro, and Warren County as well as portions of Columbia and Richmond County. He may be reached at (404) 463-1376 or by email at max.burns@senate.state.gov.

    For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: AI-detection software isn’t the solution to classroom cheating — assessment has to shift

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Michael Holden, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Winnipeg

    Two years since the release of ChatGPT, teachers and institutions are still struggling with assessment in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).

    Some have banned AI tools outright. Others have turned to AI tools only to abandon them months later or have called for teachers to embrace AI to transform assessment.

    The result is a hodgepodge of responses, leaving many kindergarten to Grade 12 and post-secondary teachers to make decisions about AI use that may not be aligned with the teacher next door, institutional policies, or current research on what AI can and cannot do.

    One response has been to use AI detection software, which rely on algorithms to try to identify how a specific text was generated.

    AI detection tools are better than humans at spotting AI-generated work. But they’re a sufficiently imperfect solution, and they do nothing to address the core validity problem of designing assessments where we can be confident in what students know and can do.

    Teachers using AI detectors

    A recent American survey, based on nationally representative surveys of K-12 public school teachers published by the Center for Democracy and Technology, reported that 68 per cent of teachers use AI detectors.

    This practice has also founds its way into some Canadian K-12 schools and universities.

    AI detectors vary in their methods. Two common approaches are to check for qualities described as “burstiness,” referring to alternating and short and long sentences (the way humans tend to write) and complexity (or “perplexity”). If an assignment does not have the typical markers of human-generated text, the software may flag it as AI-generated, prompting the teacher to begin an investigation for academic misconduct.

    To its credit, AI detection software is more reliable than human detection. Repeated studies across contexts show humans — including teachers and other experts — are incapable of reliably distinguishing AI-generated text, despite teachers’ confidence that they can spot a fake.

    Teachers should not be confident they can spot AI-generated text. Icons for apps DeepSeek and ChatGPT on a smartphone screen in Beijing, Jan. 28, 2025.
    (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

    Accuracy of detectors varies

    While some AI detection tools are unreliable or biased against English language learners, others seem to be more successful. However, what success rates should really signal for educators is questionable.

    Turnitin boasts that their AI detector has a 99 per cent success rate, vis-à-vis their near one per cent rate of false positives (that is, the number of human-generated submissions their tool incorrectly flags as AI-generated). This accuracy has been challenged by a recent study that found Turnitin only detected AI-generated text about 61 per cent of the time.

    The same study suggested how different factors could shape accuracy results. For example, GPTZero’s accuracy may be as low as 26 per cent, especially if students edit the output an AI tool generates. Yet a different study of the same detector suggested a wide range of results (for example, between 23 and 82 per cent accuracy or 74 and 100 per cent accuracy).

    Considering numbers in context

    The value of a percentage depends on its context. In most courses, being correct 99 per cent of the time is exceptional. It’s above the most common threshold for statistical significance in academic research, which is often set at 95 per cent.

    But a 99 per cent success rate would be atrocious in air travel. There, a 99 per cent success rate would mean around 500 accidents every day in the United States alone. That level of failure would be unacceptable.

    To suggest what this could look like: at an institution like mine, the University of Winnipeg, about 10,000 students submit multiple assignments — we could ballpark five, for argument’s sake — for around five courses every year.

    That would be about 250,000 assignments every year. There, even a 99 per cent success rate means roughly 2,500 failures. That’s 2,500 false positives where students did not use ChatGPT or other tools, but the AI detection software flags them for possible use of AI, potentially initiating hours of investigative work for teachers and administrators alongside stress for students who may be falsely accused of cheating.

    Time wasted investigating false positives

    While AI detection software merely flag possible problems, we’ve already seen that humans are unreliable detectors. We cannot tell which of these 2,500 assignments are false positives, meaning cheaters will still slip through the cracks and precious teacher time will be wasted investigating innocent students who did nothing wrong.

    This is not a new problem. Cheating has been a major concern long before ChatGPT. Ubiquitous AI has merely shed a spotlight on a long-standing validity problem.

    When students can plagiarize, hire contract cheaters, rely on ChatGPT or have their friend or sister write the paper, relying on take-home assessments written outside class time without any teacher oversight is indefensible. I cannot presume that such forms of assessment represent the student’s learning, because I cannot reliably discern if the student actually wrote them.

    Need to change assessment

    The solution to taller cheating ladders is not taller walls. The solution is to change how we are assessing — something classroom assessment researchers have been advocating for long before the onset of AI.

    Just as we don’t spend thousands of dollars on “did-their-sister-write-this” detectors, schools should not rest easy simply because AI detection companies have a product to sell. If educators want to make valid inferences about what students know and can do, assessment practices are needed that emphasize ongoing formative assessment (like drafts, works-in-progress and repeated observations of student learning).

    These need to be rooted in authentic contexts relevant to students’ lives and their learning that centre comprehensive academic integrity as a shared responsibility of students, teachers and system leaders — not just a mantra of “don’t cheat and if we catch you we will punish you.”

    Let’s spend less on flawed detection tools and more on supporting teachers to develop their assessment capacity across the board.

    Michael Holden 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. AI-detection software isn’t the solution to classroom cheating — assessment has to shift – https://theconversation.com/ai-detection-software-isnt-the-solution-to-classroom-cheating-assessment-has-to-shift-246102

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Every Student, Every Day fund commits $200,000 to fund student attendance projects in 2025 – applications now open

    Every Student, Every Day fund commits $200,000 to fund student attendance projects in 2025 – applications now open
    jlutz

    This is a joint release between the Government of Yukon and Every Student, Every Day Society Yukon.

    Every Student, Every Day, in partnership with the Government of Yukon, is committing $200,000 funding to support student attendance improvement projects for the 2025–26 school year. This funding will continue to support innovative, grassroots projects designed to boost student attendance across northern Canada.

    This joint effort will continue supporting educators, schools, community organizations and First Nations in their vital work to help students thrive.

    For this year, a new project funding category has been added, to clarify funding around purchasing small kitchen equipment and appliances and to fill the gap with other funding programs that help schools feed students, maximizing collaboration between Every Student, Every Day, Government of Yukon and other non-profits.

    Applications are now open for the 2025–26 school year. The application form is available on Every Student, Every Day’s website at www.everystudenteveryday.ca and is also distributed by the Department of Education to all Yukon school principals. Projects can be submitted by educators, school administrators, school councils, Yukon First Nations and community groups.

    The submission deadline is Friday, March 28, 2025.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: FHLBank San Francisco Names Michael S. Hennessy Chief Financial Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco announced today the promotion of Michael S. Hennessy to the position of executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective April 1, 2025. Hennessy will succeed Joseph E. Amato, the current CFO who is also serving as the interim president and CEO while the bank’s board of directors conducts a search for a permanent chief executive officer.

    Hennessy currently serves as senior vice president, finance and analytics officer, overseeing financial planning and budgeting, capital markets analysis, valuations and analytics, and liquidity management. He has been with the bank for nearly 20 years, holding roles of increasing responsibility. In his new position, he will oversee accounting and financial reporting, treasury and capital markets, strategic planning, and portfolio strategy, ensuring the bank’s continued financial strength and stability.

    “Mike’s deep understanding of the bank and the broader financial industry has been invaluable in advancing our mission of providing liquidity to our members and investing in communities,” said Joseph E. Amato, interim president and CEO. “His leadership and expertise will be important in shaping and executing the bank’s strategy. His deep expertise and knowledge of this Bank and the critical role the FHLBank System plays in our financial system will be a tremendous asset in his new role.”

    Hennessy remarked he is honored to step into the role and continue his work with the team to support the Bank’s goals. “I look forward to driving financial excellence and advancing our mission by supporting our members and continuing to deliver on our liquidity function,” said Hennessy.

    Hennessy joined the bank in 2005 and has played a key role in various financial and strategic initiatives. He represented the FHLBank System on the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Market Risk Advisory Committee from 2015 to 2018. Before joining the bank, he was a vice president in fixed income sales and trading at both Lehman Brothers and Bank of America.

    Hennessy received his bachelor’s degree in economics and molecular and cell biology from the University of California, Berkeley, and is a CFA charter holder.

    About the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco
    The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco is a member-driven cooperative helping local lenders in Arizona, California, and Nevada build strong communities, create opportunity, and change lives for the better. The tools and resources we provide to our member financial institutions — commercial banks, credit unions, industrial loan companies, savings institutions, insurance companies, and community development financial institutions — propel homeownership, finance quality affordable housing, drive economic vitality, and revitalize whole neighborhoods. Together with our members and other partners, we are making the communities we serve more vibrant, equitable, and resilient.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: USAID’s apparent demise and the US withdrawal from WHO put millions of lives worldwide at risk and imperil US national security

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Nicole Hassoun, Professor of Philosophy, Binghamton University, State University of New York

    USAID was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 as a way to consolidate existing foreign aid programs. JAM STA ROSA/AFP via Getty Images

    On his first day in office, Jan. 20, 2025, President Donald Trump began a drastic reshaping of the United States’ role in global health as part of the first 26 executive orders of his new term.

    He initiated the process of withdrawing the U.S. from the World Health Organization, which works to promote and advance global health, following through on his first attempt in 2020. He also ordered staff members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to cut off all communications with WHO representatives.

    In his first week, Trump also issued a stop-work order pending a 90-day review on nearly all programs of the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID.

    Many experts view this as a first step in dismantling the organization, which facilitates global efforts to improve health and education and to alleviate poverty. The sweeping move left aid workers and the people who depend on them in a panic and interrupted dozens of clinical trials across the world.

    President Trump’s executive order sparked legal action from international health care organizations, resulting in a federal judge ordering a temporary halt to the Trump administration’s freeze on foreign aid. Ultimately, that legal action was unsuccessful.

    On Feb. 23, the Trump administration put nearly all of USAID’s 4,700 workers on paid administrative leave globally and stated that it would be terminating 1,600 of those positions.

    Most recently, on Feb. 25, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to allow some USAID funding to resume and required that it pay all of its invoices for work completed before the foreign aid freeze went into effect.

    I am the executive director of the Global Health Impact project, an organization that aims to advance access to essential medicines in part by evaluating their health consequences around the world, and a researcher focusing on global health and development ethics and policy.

    In my view and that of many other public health scholars, closing down USAID will imperil our national security and put millions of lives at risk.

    Because of the USAID stop-work order, 500,000 metric tons of food are at risk of spoiling.

    20 million with HIV treated

    USAID works with both nongovernmental organizations and private companies to help distribute medicines and vaccines around the world. The agency also helps improve government policies and invest in research and development to contain and address epidemics and pandemics.

    Starting in the late 1960s, for instance, USAID helped lead the effort to eliminate smallpox and has also helped fight polio and other devastating diseases over the past six decades.

    The smallpox pandemic was one of the worst of all time – it killed one-third of the people infected, causing an estimated 300 million to 500 million deaths worldwide in the 20th century. By contrast, COVID-19 killed less than 1% of those infected.

    These efforts have brought immense financial as well as health benefits to the U.S. and the rest of the world. Some economists estimate that the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, created in 1988, alone saved the world more than US$27 billion as of 2017, and that it will save a total of $40 billion to $50 billion by 2035.

    USAID also plays an important role in promoting global health equity. The agency works to increase access to primary health care, combat hunger and strengthen health systems – ultimately saving lives. In addition, USAID has provided a great deal of funding to fight infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV.

    For instance, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, provides treatment for 20 million people living with HIV in Africa. Trump’s federal aid freeze has halted funding for PEPFAR projects.

    While the limited waiver under which the agency must now operate means some PEPFAR activities may eventually resume, many are now left without federal funding indefinitely. Unless another organization fills the gap, millions will die without USAID assistance.

    A 2022 photo of men in Afghanistan lining up to receive a monthly food ration, largely supplied by USAID.
    Scott Peterson/Getty Images News via Getty Images

    Mistakes made

    This is not to deny that USAID has made some grave errors in its history.

    For instance, USAID provided significant funding to the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) during the murderous regime of Mobutu Sese Seko, who was in power from 1965 to 1997.

    But USAID also has done an immense amount of good. For instance, it has helped contain the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo since 2018. USAID’s work in preventing epidemics from spreading helps people everywhere, including in the U.S.

    If anything, there is a strong argument for increasing USAID funding. China has invested heavily in Asia and Africa through its Belt and Road Initiative, which is an attempt to recreate ancient trade routes by investing in roads, trains and ports. Some researchers argue that this has shifted diplomatic relations in favor of China. They believe that if the U.S. does not make similar investments and instead cuts foreign aid, it will affect the United States’ ability to achieve its foreign policy objectives.

    Similarly, there is a strong argument for increasing U.S. support for the WHO rather than withdrawing from the organization.

    Trump’s withdrawal order cites what he sees as the organization’s failures in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic as the rationale. But the WHO helped lead efforts to accelerate vaccine development and distribution, and retrospective reports claim that even more deaths could have been avoided with greater international cooperation.

    While dismantling USAID will cause irreparable harm to global health, these actions taken together are likely to deal a devastating blow to efforts to protect Americans and everyone else in the world from sickness and death.

    Alyssa Figueroa, an undergraduate student at Binghamton University, contributed to this article.

    Nicole Hassoun has received funding for research from the World Health Organization and the United Nations. She is the executive director of Global Health Impact (global-health-impact.org) which participates in the Pandemic Action Network.

    – ref. USAID’s apparent demise and the US withdrawal from WHO put millions of lives worldwide at risk and imperil US national security – https://theconversation.com/usaids-apparent-demise-and-the-us-withdrawal-from-who-put-millions-of-lives-worldwide-at-risk-and-imperil-us-national-security-249260

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Collins, Reed Lead Bipartisan Celebration of Public Schools Week

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to strengthen public education and support students, teachers, families and communities nationwide, U.S. Senator Jack Reed joined U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) to officially recognize Public Schools Week this week, from February 24-28, 2025.  Public schools are open to every child and supporting public school systems strengthens our nation.

    To kick things off, Senators Collins and Reed offered a bipartisan resolution celebrating the achievements of our public schools and honoring the significant contributions and accomplishments of students, parents, educators, and education advocates.

    There are nearly 100,000 public schools in the U.S. that provide free instruction to the public, operated by a public school district. These public schools serve students in K-12, as well as provide career and technical education and adult education.  Overall, public schools make up about 85 percent of all American schools and 87 percent of all children attend a public school.

    “Public schools are the foundation of our democracy, where kids are put on a path towards reaching their full potential and are prepared to shape America’s future.  They are unifying places of opportunity where kids with different backgrounds, beliefs, and abilities come together for the common purpose of learning and getting a healthy start.  Every child deserves a great education.  That means we must invest in public schools and reject proposals to cut funding for our public schools.  We need to stand strong in support of public education that is for everyone and teaches everyone to think critically, engage in the world around them, and value their community and country,” said Senator Reed, whose father served as a custodian for the Cranston Public School system.

    Rolling out nationwide, Public Schools Week is an opportunity to honor the history and impact of publicly funded education.  Many national education groups representing teachers, principals, superintendents, parents, civil rights and disability advocates, and religious organizations join in highlighting the importance of U.S. public schools and the positive difference they make in shaping the future of our nation.

    There are a host of ways to join the celebration, such as:

    • Sharing your public school success story on social media.  #PublicSchoolsWeek
    • Wearing your local public school gear with pride.
    • Thanking a teacher, principal, or public school staff member. 

    The Collins-Reed Senate resolution states:

    Designating the week of February 24 through February 28, 2025, as ‘‘Public Schools Week’’.

    Whereas public education is a significant institution in a 21st-century democracy;

    Whereas public schools in the United States educate students about the values and beliefs that hold the individuals of the United States together as a nation;

    Whereas public schools prepare young individuals of the United States to contribute to the society, economy, and citizenry of the country;

    Whereas 87 percent of children in the United States attend public schools;

    Whereas Federal, State, and local lawmakers should—

    (1) prioritize support for strengthening the public schools of the United States;

    (2) empower superintendents, principals, and other school leaders to implement, manage, and lead school districts and schools in partnership with educators, parents, and other local education stakeholders; and

    (3) support services and programs that are critical to helping students engage in learning, including counseling, extracurricular activities, and mental health support;

    Whereas public schools should foster inclusive, safe, and high-quality environments in which children can learn to think critically, problem solve, and build relationships;

    Whereas public schools should provide environments in which all students have the opportunity to succeed beginning in their earliest years, regardless of who a student is or where a student lives;

    Whereas Congress should support—

    (1) efforts to advance equal opportunity and excellence in public education;

    (2) efforts to implement evidence-based practices in public education; and

    (3) continuous improvements to public education;

    Whereas every child should—

    (1) receive an education that helps the child reach the full potential of the child; and

    (2) attend a school that offers a high-quality educational experience;

    Whereas Federal funding, in addition to State and local funds, supports the access of students to inviting classrooms, well-prepared educators, and services to support healthy students, including nutrition and afterschool programs;

    Whereas teachers, paraprofessionals, and principals should provide students with a well-rounded education and strive to create joy in learning;

    Whereas superintendents, principals, other school leaders, teachers, paraprofessionals, and parents make public schools vital components of communities and are working hard to improve educational outcomes for children across the country; and

    Whereas the week of February 24 through February 28, 2025, is an appropriate period to designate as ‘‘Public Schools Week’’: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the Senate designates the week of February 24 through February 28, 2025 as ‘‘Public Schools Week’’.

    A companion Public Schools Week resolution is being introduced in the U.S. House of Representative by Reps. Mark Pocan (WI-02), Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Round two of charter school applications now open

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Associate Minister of Education David Seymour has today announced that round two of the charter school application process is open.

    “Both new schools and state schools wanting to convert to charter school status will now be able to submit their expressions of interest to the Charter School Agency (CSA),” Mr Seymour says.

    “Charter schools provide educators with greater autonomy and create diversity in New Zealand’s education system. They have been proven to raise overall educational achievement, especially for students who are underachieving or disengaged from the standard system.

    “Round one of the application processes showed us that the demand for charter schools exceeded even my expectations. During the first round we saw the CSA receive 78 applications to open new charter schools, or to convert existing state schools to charter schools.

    “Charter schools are here to stay. We have already seen the opening of seven diverse schools delivering to a range of communities. There are also more schools from the first round of charter schools who are currently in contract negotiations.

    “The huge demand to open charter schools not only highlights the need, but also the commitment of people to provide varied educational opportunities for young New Zealanders to maximise educational outcomes. I hope to see many more new charter schools opening, and state and state-integrated schools converting to become charter schools.

    “The good news for sponsors wanting to establish new charter schools is that we have updated estimates of the number of new schools that are affordable within the funding set aside by the Government.

    “The actual cost of schools depends on a range of factors, including how quickly they are established, their property arrangement, whether they are primary or secondary schools and their roll size. After taking these factors into account, there is capacity to open more new charter schools than the 15 initially estimated. The exact number of schools will depend on the decisions made by the Authorisation Board.

    “Charter schools will be given greater freedom to respond to diverse student needs in innovative ways, but they will be held to a much higher standard than state schools and subject to a high level of monitoring and accountability.

    Note to editor: 

    For more information, including how to apply, please visit:

     https://www.charterschools.govt.nz/applying-to-open-a-new-charter-school/  

    https://www.charterschools.govt.nz/converting-schools/

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sean Williams Sentenced to 95 Years for Production of Child Pornography and Escape From Custody

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On February 24, 2025, Sean Christopher Williams, 53, of Johnson City, Tennessee, was sentenced to 95 years imprisonment by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville.

    In July of 2024, Williams was convicted at trial of escape in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 751(a) and in November of 2024, Williams was convicted at trial of three counts of production of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a) and (e).

    The evidence presented at the escape trial showed that Williams escaped from a transport van enroute to the Greeneville Federal Courthouse on October 18, 2023.  His escape resulted in a multistate manhunt that led to the capture of Williams in Pinellas County, Florida, on November 21, 2023.

    The evidence presented at the child pornography trial showed that Williams used three minor children to engage in sexually explicit conduct and took photos of the sexually explicit conduct.  The conduct occurred at Williams’s apartment in Johnson City.  The evidence showed that Williams sexually assaulted each of the victims’ mothers while they were unconscious, around the same time that he took pornographic photos of their children.  The criminal conduct extended over a 12-year period.  Williams took photos of the first victim in 2008 and the two other victims on separate occasions in 2020.  Williams was arrested in 2023 near the campus of Western Carolina University and campus police officers seized flash drives from his car that were later found to contain the photos.

    “Sean Williams is a dangerous sexual predator who preyed on our community’s most vulnerable victims,” said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III.  “Today’s sentence reflects the severity of the crimes committed and not only ensures that this dangerous individual has been held accountable for the harm he caused, but also prevents him from hurting others again.  We thank the dedicated law enforcement officers whose efforts made the convictions and sentence possible.”

    “Our children are among the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Nashville Field Office.  “The FBI will continue to do everything in its power to stop sexual exploitation of children that causes irreparable harm and trauma to the victims and bring to justice those responsible.”

    “This case shows the impact of collaboration and determination by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and our local, state, and federal partners to hold accountable an individual who preyed upon innocent children,” said TBI Director David Rausch.  “We hope the outcome of this investigation sends a clear message that we will continue to commit all the necessary resources to find and apprehend those who victimize our most vulnerable residents.”

    Law enforcement agencies either participating in a joint investigation, or cooperating in a parallel investigation, which led to the apprehension, indictment and subsequent conviction of Williams included the FBI, the United States Marshal Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Western North Carolina Police Department.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan L. Gomez, Emily M. Swecker, and J. Gregory Bowman represented the United States at the trials.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab “resources.”

                                                                                                          ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Haiti: Gang violence displaces 6,000 people in one month

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    More than 6,000 people in Haiti have been forced from their homes by gang violence in almost a month, hampering aid efforts by humanitarian agencies, the United Nations warned on Tuesday.

    Since the end of January, a wave of extreme brutality has led to widespread loss of life and the displacement of over 6,000 people in the capital, Port-au-Prince.

    “We are deeply alarmed and appalled by the unacceptable and inhumane intensity of violence in Haiti,” the Haiti Humanitarian Country Team, which is made up of UN agencies, national and international NGOs and donors, said in a statement.

    Entire families were killed in their homes, while others, including children and babies, were shot dead as they tried to escape.

    The killings follow a massacre last December, when an outbreak of violence in the commune of Cité Soleil in Port-au-Prince led to the execution of more than 200 people by the Wharf Jérémie gang.

    UN condemns attacks on civilian population

    According to the UN, the daily life of many Haitians is marked by violence, fear, exhaustion, hunger, disease and an uncertain future. Women, girls and children are increasingly at risk, particularly that of sexual violence.

    By the end of 2024, violence had claimed the lives of at least 5,600 Haitians and displaced more than a million.

    “We condemn in the strongest possible terms any attack against the civilian population and infrastructure, in this case the one that targeted the hospital of the State University of Haiti on February 13. These acts violate human rights and deprive the most vulnerable of essential vital services,” said Humanitarian Coordinator Ulrika Richardson.

    On the ground, the humanitarian community is showing its determination to continue providing life-saving assistance to millions of children, women and men in vulnerable situations.

    Beyond immediate humanitarian assistance, the agencies are also committed to coordinating efforts with development and peacebuilding actors, so that these collective efforts contribute to sustainable solutions that build community resilience.

    “The mobilization actions of the international community in favour of Haiti will continue in order to guarantee the necessary funding to meet urgent needs and restore the dignity of the affected people,” the Humanitarian Country Team stressed.

    © IOM/Antoine Lemonnier

    The UN continues to support people who have been displaced by ongoing violence in Haiti.

    Humanitarian response plan: Over $900 million to save Haitians on the brink

    An appeal for $908 million to help some 3.9 million Haitians facing food insecurity, in a country where basic services are nearing collapse, has been launched by the UN.

    The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) released the 2025 humanitarian response plan on 19 February, which focuses on addressing acute needs caused by recent events, including armed violence, forced displacement, epidemics, and the consequences of natural disasters.

    The funding is earmarked to tackle Haiti’s profound challenges, including mobile teams to help humanitarians deliver aid, protection against sexual exploitation and abuse, and programmes aimed at supporting the country’s long-term development.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shapiro Administration Upgrades Education Hall at Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center to Enhance Student and Visitor Experience

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    February 25, 2025 – Reading, PA

    Shapiro Administration Upgrades Education Hall at Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center to Enhance Student and Visitor Experience

    Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn visited Berks County to celebrate the completion of a $436,000 renovation of C.H. McConnell Environmental Education Hall at Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center. This investment is part of the Shapiro Administration’s broader commitment to modernizing state parks and forests, with $120 million in infrastructure improvements completed since January 2023.

    “Governor Shapiro is making strategic investments to improve our state parks and forests so they remain accessible, educational, and enjoyable for all Pennsylvanians,” said Secretary Dunn. “This renovation at Nolde Forest strengthens our commitment to conservation, education, and community engagement.”

    Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2025-26 proposed budget builds on this momentum with $5 million in new funding to expand and improve state parks across Pennsylvania. This includes establishing the Commonwealth’s 125th state park at Laurel Caverns in Fayette County – the first subterranean state park – highlighting the stunning natural beauty of the caverns and further boosting tourism.

    Speakers Include:
    Brent Erb, DCNR Environmental Education Center Manager
    DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn
    Dolores Portner, Direct Service Worker, John Paul II Center
    Dr. Jaime Becker, Alvernia University
    Dr. Jennifer Murray, Reading School District Superintendent
    Berks County Commissioner Christian Y. Leinbach
    State Representative Jacklyn Rusnock
    Senator Judith L. Schwank

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Diginex Limited Launches ESG Rating Support Service to Help Businesses Secure and Improve ESG Scores

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HONG KONG, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diginex Limited (“Diginex Limited” or the “Company”), an impact technology company specializing in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, is excited to announce the launch of its ESG Ratings Support Service. The innovative service is designed to help businesses secure an ESG score across key rating agencies, including CDP, EcoVadis, Sustainable Fitch, S&P, Sustainalytics, the world’s leading ESG ratings providers. Leveraging Diginex Limited’s expertise and cutting-edge technology, the ESG Ratings Support Service provides companies with a robust framework to optimize their ESG ratings, attract investment, and strengthen stakeholder trust.

    The launch of the ESG Ratings Support Service comes at a pivotal moment as investors, regulators, and consumers increasingly prioritize sustainability. With the global ESG investment market reaching nearly USD 29.86 trillion in 2024, according to a report by Precedence Research, and regulatory bodies like the European Union, SEC as well as many stock exchanges globally who are mandating comprehensive ESG / Climate disclosures, businesses need reliable tools to navigate this landscape. diginexADVISORY’s new ESG Ratings Support Service offers a tailored approach, combining expert consultancy with data-driven insights to help organizations report their ESG data and performance to secure competitive advantages.

    “We believe our ESG Ratings Support Service is a game-changer for companies looking to align sustainability with commercial success,” said Mark Blick, Chief Executive Officer of Diginex Limited. “By providing clear, actionable recommendations into ESG performance, we’re helping businesses to unlock new opportunities for growth and investment. Sustainability isn’t just a compliance exercise—it’s a prerequisite for long-term prosperity.”

    Case Study: Living Style Group’s ESG Performance

    A recent example of the service’s impact is diginexADVISORY’s collaboration with the Living Style Group, a global leader in home decor and furnishings generating over $1.2 billion in yearly revenue. Living Style Group successfully completed its first-ever CDP submission, achieving an impressive B score in Climate on its first attempt.

    “With Diginex’s expert guidance, we successfully navigated our first ESG disclosure, achieving strong CDP scores on our first attempt. Diginex’s structured approach made a complex process seamless,” said Mark Loomis, EVP Quality, Compliance & Sustainability, Living Style Group. “This report marks an important milestone in our journey toward greater sustainability, and we look forward to building on these efforts in the years to come.”

    Through this collaboration, we believe that Living Style Group is now better equipped to attract ESG-focused investors and meet evolving regulatory demands.

    A Comprehensive Solution for ESG Success

    The ESG Ratings Support Service integrates with Diginex’s award-winning diginexESG platform, which supports 17 global frameworks, including GRI (the “Global Reporting Initiative”), SASB (the “Sustainability Accounting Standards Board”), and TCFD (the “Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures”). We expect our clients to benefit from end-to-end support, from materiality assessments and data management to stakeholder engagement and report generation through implementation of the ESG Ratings Support Service.

    The ESG Ratings Service is available immediately to clients worldwide, with options for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and large corporations alike.

    About Diginex Limited
    Diginex Limited is a Cayman Islands exempted company, with subsidiaries located in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Diginex Limited conducts operations through its wholly owned subsidiary Diginex Solutions (HK) Limited, a Hong Kong corporation (“DSL”) and DSL is the sole owner of (i) Diginex Services Limited, a corporation formed in the United Kingdom and (ii) Diginex USA LLC, a limited liability company formed in the State of Delaware. DSL commenced operations in 2020, and is a software company that empowers businesses and governments to streamline ESG, climate, and supply chain data collection and reporting. DSL is an impact technology business that helps organizations address the some of the most pressing ESG, climate and sustainability issues, utilizing blockchain, machine learning and data analysis technology to lead change and increase transparency in corporate social responsibility and climate action.

    Diginex’s products and services solutions enable companies to collect, evaluate and share sustainability data through easy-to-use software. For more information, please visit the Company’s website: https://www.diginex.com/.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s filings with the SEC.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    Diginex
    Investor Relations
    Email: ir@diginex.com

    European IR Contract
    Jens Hecht
    Phone: +49.40.609186.82
    Email: jens.hecht@kirchhoff.de

    US IR Contract
    Jackson Lin
    Lambert by LLYC
    Phone: +1 (646) 717-4593
    Email: jian.lin@llyc.global

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Skyward Specialty Insurance Group Reports Fourth Quarter 2024 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SKWD) (“Skyward Specialty” or the “Company”) today reported fourth quarter 2024 net income of $14.4 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, compared to $29.3 million, or $0.74 per diluted share, for the same 2023 period. Net income for the year ended 2024 was $118.8 million, or $2.87 per diluted share, compared to $86.0 million, or $2.24 per diluted share, for the same 2023 period.

    Adjusted operating income(1) for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $33.2 million, or $0.80 per diluted share, compared to $24.3 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, for the same 2023 period. Adjusted operating income(1) for the year ended 2024 was $126.7 million, or $3.06 per diluted share, compared to $80.8 million, or $2.11 per diluted share, for the same 2023 period.

    Highlights for the fourth quarter included:

    • Gross written premiums of $388.4 million, an increase of $66.8 million, or 20.8%, when compared to 2023;
    • Adjusted combined ratio(1) of 91.6%, including catastrophe losses of 2.2 points;
    • Return on equity of 16.3% for the year ended 2024 compared to 15.9% for the same 2023 period;
    • Adjusted return on equity(1) of 17.4% for the year ended 2024 compared to 14.9% for the same 2023 period; and,
    • Book value per share of $19.79, an increase of 18% compared to December 31, 2023.
    (1) See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures”

    Skyward Specialty Chairman and CEO Andrew Robinson commented, “We wrapped up another remarkable year for Skyward Specialty, delivering both outstanding underwriting results while growing gross written premiums at over 20% for the quarter and 19% for the full year, with six out of eight divisions growing double-digits over the prior year. Our 16.3% return on equity for the year was again an excellent outcome. Throughout 2024 we continued to thoughtfully diversify our product portfolio, strategically launching new units including Media Liability, Life Sciences, Mortgage and Credit, and Renewable Energy. Our focus and disciplined execution of our “Rule Our Niche” strategy, and the extraordinary efforts of my 600 plus colleagues made 2024 another impressive year for our Company, and we are confident that we have built the foundation that will propel us in 2025 and beyond.”

    Results of Operations

    Underwriting Results

    Premiums                        
    ($ in thousands)   Three months ended December 31,   Twelve months ended December 31,
    unaudited    2024     2023    %
    Change    		    2024     2023    %
    Change
    Gross written premiums   $ 388,355     $ 321,605     20.8 %   $ 1,743,232     $ 1,459,829     19.4 %
    Ceded written premiums   $ (117,328 )   $ (107,488 )   9.2 %   $ (619,654 )   $ (549,138 )   12.8 %
    Net retention     69.8 %     66.6 %   NM(1)     64.5 %     62.4 %   NM(1)
    Net written premiums   $ 271,027     $ 214,117     26.6 %   $ 1,123,578     $ 910,691     23.4 %
    Net earned premiums   $ 293,240     $ 224,932     30.4 %   $ 1,056,722     $ 829,143     27.4 %
    (1)Not meaningful                        
                             

    The increase in gross written premiums for the fourth quarter and year ended 2024, when compared to the same 2023 periods, was driven by double-digit premium growth primarily from our surety, programs, captives, global property & agriculture and transactional E&S underwriting divisions.

    Combined Ratio   Three months ended
    December 31,    		   Twelve months ended
    December 31,
    (unaudited)   2024    2023    2024    2023 
    Non-cat loss and LAE   60.5 %   60.9 %   60.6 %   60.9 %
    Cat loss and LAE(1)   2.2 %   0.4 %   1.7 %   1.4 %
    Prior accident year development – LPT(2)   4.2 %   (0.2 )%   1.1 %   (0.2 )%
    Loss Ratio   66.9 %   61.1 %   63.4 %   62.1 %
    Net policy acquisition costs   15.3 %   13.4 %   14.2 %   13.0 %
    Other operating and general expenses   13.9 %   16.3 %   15.3 %   16.3 %
    Commission and fee income   (0.3 )%   (0.1 )%   (0.6 )%   (0.7 )%
    Expense ratio   28.9 %   29.6 %   28.9 %   28.6 %
    Combined ratio   95.8 %   90.7 %   92.3 %   90.7 %
    Ex-Cat Combined Ratio(3)   93.6 %   90.3 %   90.6 %   89.3 %
                     
    Adjusted Underwriting Ratios                
    Adjusted loss ratio(2)   62.7 %   61.3 %   62.3 %   62.3 %
    Expense ratio   28.9 %   29.6 %   28.9 %   28.6 %
    Adjusted combined ratio(2)   91.6 %   90.9 %   91.2 %   90.9 %
    (1)Current accident year
    (2)See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures”
    (3)Defined as the combined ratio excluding cat loss and LAE(1)            
                     

    The loss ratios for the fourth quarter and year ended 2024 increased 5.8 points and 1.3 points, respectively, when compared to the same 2023 periods, primarily due to the net impact of prior accident year development related to the LPT. The fourth quarter and year ended 2024 were also impacted by higher catastrophe losses, primarily from Hurricane Milton in the fourth quarter of 2024 and Hurricanes Helene and Beryl in the third quarter of 2024. The improvement in the non-cat loss and LAE ratios for the fourth quarter and year ended 2024, when compared to the same 2023 periods, was driven by the business mix shift.

    The expense ratio for the fourth quarter improved when compared to the same 2023 period primarily due to earnings leverage partially offset by the business mix shift. The expense ratio for the year ended 2024 increased slightly when compared to the same 2023 period, driven by the business mix shift.

    The expense ratios for all periods presented exclude the impact of IPO related stock compensation and secondary offering expenses, which are reported in other expenses in our condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

    Investment Results

    Net Investment Income                
    $ in thousands   Three months ended
    December 31,    		   Twelve months ended
    December 31,
    (unaudited)    2024     2023     2024     2023 
    Short-term investments & cash and cash equivalents   $ 3,998     $ 3,670     $ 17,643     $ 11,677  
    Fixed income     15,909       11,680       57,631       36,547  
    Equities     771       880       2,745       2,212  
    Alternative & strategic investments     52       (2,226 )     2,667       (10,114 )
    Net investment income   $ 20,730     $ 14,004     $ 80,686     $ 40,322  
    Net unrealized (losses) gains on securities still held   $ (7,688 )   $ 8,736     $ 7,921     $ 11,130  
    Net realized losses     (2,721 )     (992 )     (1,665 )     (58 )
    Net investment (losses) gains   $ (10,409 )   $ 7,744     $ 6,256     $ 11,072  
     

    Beginning January 1, 2024 we simplified the investment portfolio classifications to align with our strategy and the underlying risk characteristics of the portfolio. The prior period has been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

    Net investment income for the fourth quarter and year ended 2024 increased $6.7 million and $40.4 million, respectively when compared to the same 2023 periods, primarily driven by (i) increased income from our fixed income portfolio and short-term investments due to higher yields and larger asset bases, and (ii) income from alternative and strategic investments compared to losses for the same 2023 periods, which were impacted by the decline in the fair value of limited partnership investments.

    Stockholders’ Equity

    Stockholders’ equity was $794.0 million at December 31, 2024 which represented a decrease of 0.4% when compared to stockholders’ equity of $797.5 million at September 30, 2024. The decrease in stockholders’ equity was primarily due to a decline in the market value of our investment portfolio partially offset by net income.

    Conference Call

    At 9:30 a.m. eastern time tomorrow, February 26, 2025, Skyward Specialty management will hold a conference call to discuss quarterly results with insurance industry analysts. Interested parties may listen to the discussion at investors.skywardinsurance.com under Events & Presentations. Additionally, investors can access the earnings call via conference call by registering via the conference link. Users will receive dial-in information and a unique PIN to join the call upon registering.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    This release contains certain financial measures and ratios that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). We refer to these measures as “non-GAAP financial measures.” We use these non-GAAP financial measures when planning, monitoring, and evaluating our performance.

    We have chosen to exclude the net impact of the Loss Portfolio Transfer (“LPT”), all development on reserves fully or partially covered by the LPT and amortization of deferred gains associated with recoveries of prior LPT reserve strengthening in certain non-GAAP metrics, where noted, as the business subject to the LPT is not representative of our continuing business strategy. The business subject to the LPT is primarily related to policy years 2017 and prior, was generated and managed under prior leadership, and has either been exited or substantially repositioned during the reevaluation of our portfolio. The LPT was commuted effective January 31, 2025. We consider these non-GAAP financial measures to be useful metrics for our management and investors to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period. While we believe that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful in evaluating our business, this information should be considered supplemental in nature and is not meant to be a substitute for revenue or net income, in each case as recognized in accordance with GAAP. In addition, other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate such measures differently, which reduces their usefulness as comparative measures. For more information regarding these non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation of such measures to comparable GAAP financial measures, see the section entitled “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

    About Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc.

    Skyward Specialty is a rapidly growing and innovative specialty insurance company, delivering commercial property and casualty products and solutions on a non-admitted and admitted basis. The Company operates through eight underwriting divisions – Accident & Health, Captives, Global Property & Agriculture, Industry Solutions, Professional Lines, Programs, Surety and Transactional E&S. SKWD stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, which represents the top fourth of all Nasdaq listed companies.

    Skyward Specialty’s subsidiary insurance companies consist of Houston Specialty Insurance Company, Imperium Insurance Company, Great Midwest Insurance Company, and Oklahoma Specialty Insurance Company. These insurance companies are rated A (Excellent) with stable outlook by A.M. Best Company. Additional information about Skyward Specialty can be found on our website at www.skywardinsurance.com. 

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Except for historical information, all other information in this news release consists of forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements are typically, but not always, identified through use of the words “believe,” “expect,” “enable,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “intends,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “predict,” “probable,” “potential,” “possible,” “should,” “continue,” and other words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied. The most significant of these uncertainties are described in Skyward Specialty’s Form 10-K, and include (but are not limited to) legislative changes at both the state and federal level, state and federal regulatory rule making promulgations and adjudications, class action litigation involving the insurance industry and judicial decisions affecting claims, policy coverages and the general costs of doing business, the potential loss of key members of our management team or key employees and our ability to attract and retain personnel, the impact of competition on products and pricing, inflation in the costs of the products and services insurance pays for, product development, geographic spread of risk, weather and weather-related events, other types of catastrophic events, our ability to obtain reinsurance coverage at prices and on terms that allow us to transfer risk and adequately protect our company against financial loss, and losses resulting from reinsurance counterparties failing to pay us on reinsurance claims. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise.

    Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc.

    Investor contact:
    Natalie Schoolcraft,
    nschoolcraft@skywardinsurance.com 
    614-494-4988

    or

    Media contact:
    Haley Doughty
    hdoughty@skywardinsurance.com 
    713-935-4944

    Consolidated Balance Sheets        
    ($ in thousands, except share and per share amounts)        
    (unaudited)   December 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    Assets        
    Investments:        
    Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost of $1,320,266 and $1,047,713, respectively)   $ 1,292,218     $ 1,017,651  
    Fixed maturity securities, held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (net of allowance for credit losses of $243 and $329, respectively)     39,153       42,986  
    Equity securities, at fair value     106,254       118,249  
    Mortgage loans, at fair value     26,490       50,070  
    Equity method investments     98,594       110,653  
    Other long-term investments     33,182       3,852  
    Short-term investments, at fair value     274,929       270,226  
    Total investments     1,870,820       1,613,687  
    Cash and cash equivalents     121,603       65,891  
    Restricted cash     35,922       34,445  
    Premiums receivable, net     321,641       179,235  
    Reinsurance recoverables, net     857,876       596,334  
    Ceded unearned premium     203,901       186,121  
    Deferred policy acquisition costs     113,183       91,955  
    Deferred income taxes     30,486       21,991  
    Goodwill and intangible assets, net     87,348       88,435  
    Other assets     86,698       75,341  
    Total assets   $ 3,729,478     $ 2,953,435  
    Liabilities and stockholders’ equity        
    Liabilities:        
    Reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses   $ 1,782,383     $ 1,314,501  
    Unearned premiums     637,185       552,532  
    Deferred ceding commission     40,434       37,057  
    Reinsurance and premium payables     177,070       150,156  
    Funds held for others     102,665       58,588  
    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities     76,206       50,880  
    Notes payable     100,000       50,000  
    Subordinated debt, net of debt issuance costs     19,536       78,690  
    Total liabilities     2,935,479       2,292,404  
    Stockholders’ equity        
    Common stock, $0.01 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 40,127,908 and 39,863,756 shares issued and outstanding, respectively     401       399  
    Additional paid-in capital     718,598       710,855  
    Stock notes receivable     —       (5,562 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (22,120 )     (22,953 )
    Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)     97,120       (21,708 )
    Total stockholders’ equity     793,999       661,031  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 3,729,478     $ 2,953,435  
             
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income
    ($ in thousands)   Three months ended
    December 31,    		   Twelve months ended
    December 31,
    (unaudited)    2024     2023     2024     2023 
                     
    Revenues:                
    Net earned premiums   $ 293,240     $ 224,932     $ 1,056,722     $ 829,143  
    Commission and fee income     806       247       6,703       6,064  
    Net investment income     20,730       14,004       80,686       40,322  
    Net investment (losses) gains     (10,409 )     7,744       6,256       11,072  
    Other income (loss)     35       (632 )     (167 )     (632 )
    Total revenues     304,402       246,295       1,150,200       885,969  
    Expenses:                
    Losses and loss adjustment expenses     196,320       137,396       669,809       515,237  
    Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses     85,487       66,791       311,757       243,444  
    Interest expense     2,091       2,774       9,496       10,024  
    Amortization expense     908       462       2,007       1,798  
    Other expenses     1,042       1,303       4,392       5,364  
    Total expenses     285,848       208,726       997,461       775,867  
    Income before income taxes     18,554       37,569       152,739       110,102  
    Income tax expense     4,148       8,304       33,911       24,118  
    Net income     14,406       29,265       118,828       85,984  
    Net income attributable to participating securities     —       —       —       1,677  
    Net income attributable to common stockholders   $ 14,406     $ 29,265     $ 118,828     $ 84,307  
    Comprehensive income:                
    Net income   $ 14,406     $ 29,265     $ 118,828     $ 85,984  
    Other comprehensive income:                
    Unrealized gains and losses on investments:                
    Net change in unrealized (losses) gains on investments, net of tax     (14,735 )     30,825       9,792       25,516  
    Reclassification adjustment for losses on securities no longer held, net of tax     (5,682 )     (105 )     (8,959 )     (4,984 )
    Total other comprehensive (loss) income     (20,417 )     30,720       833       20,532  
    Comprehensive (loss) income   $ (6,011 )   $ 59,985     $ 119,661     $ 106,516  
                     
    Share and Per Share Data                
    ($ in thousands, except share and per share amounts)   Three months ended
    December 31,    		   Twelve months ended
    December 31,
    (unaudited)   2024   2023   2024   2023
                     
    Weighted average basic shares     40,107,617       37,570,274       40,056,475       36,031,907  
    Weighted average diluted shares     41,622,397       39,582,352       41,377,460       38,317,534  
                     
    Basic earnings per share   $ 0.36     $ 0.78     $ 2.97     $ 2.34  
    Diluted earnings per share   $ 0.35     $ 0.74     $ 2.87     $ 2.24  
    Basic adjusted operating earnings per share   $ 0.83     $ 0.65     $ 3.16     $ 2.20  
    Diluted adjusted operating earnings per share   $ 0.80     $ 0.61     $ 3.06     $ 2.11  
                     
    Annualized ROE (1)     7.2 %     19.6 %     16.3 %     15.9 %
    Annualized adjusted ROE (2)     16.7 %     16.3 %     17.4 %     14.9 %
    Annualized ROTE (3)     8.1 %     23.0 %     18.6 %     19.0 %
    Annualized adjusted ROTE (4)     18.8 %     19.1 %     19.8 %     17.9 %
                     
                December 31   December 31
                 2024     2023 
                     
    Shares outstanding             40,127,908       39,863,756  
    Fully diluted shares outstanding             42,059,182       41,771,854  
                     
    Book value per share           $ 19.79     $ 16.72  
    Fully diluted book value per share           $ 18.88     $ 15.96  
    Fully diluted tangible book value per share           $ 16.80     $ 13.84  
                     
    (1)Annualized ROE is net income expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of average beginning and ending stockholders’ equity during the period
    (2)Annualized adjusted ROE is adjusted operating income expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of average beginning and ending stockholders’ equity during the period
    (3)Annualized ROTE is net income expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of average beginning and ending tangible stockholders’ equity during the period
    (4)Annualized adjusted ROTE is adjusted operating income expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of average beginning and ending tangible stockholders’ equity during the period

    Adjusted operating income – We define adjusted operating income as net income excluding the impact of certain items that may not be indicative of underlying business trends, operating results, or future outlook, net of tax impact. We use adjusted operating income as an internal performance measure in the management of our operations because we believe it gives our management and other users of our financial information useful insight into our results of operations and our underlying business performance. Adjusted operating income should not be viewed as a substitute for net income calculated in accordance with GAAP, and other companies may define adjusted operating income differently.        

    ($ in thousands) Three months ended December 31,   Twelve months ended December 31,
    (unaudited)  2024    2023     2024    2023 
      Pre-tax   After-tax   Pre-tax   After-tax   Pre-tax   After-tax   Pre-tax   After-tax
    Income as reported $ 18,554     $ 14,406     $ 37,569     $ 29,265     $ 152,739     $ 118,828     $ 110,102     $ 85,984  
    Less (add):                              
    Net investment (losses) gains   (10,409 )     (8,223 )     7,744       6,118       6,256       4,942       11,072       8,747  
    Net impact of loss portfolio transfer   (12,398 )     (9,794 )     457       361       (11,598 )     (9,162 )     1,427       1,127  
    Other loss   35       28       (632 )     (499 )     (167 )     (132 )     (632 )     (499 )
    Other expenses   (1,042 )     (823 )     (1,303 )     (1,029 )     (4,392 )     (3,470 )     (5,364 )     (4,238 )
    Adjusted operating income $ 42,368     $ 33,218     $ 31,303     $ 24,314     $ 162,640     $ 126,650     $ 103,599     $ 80,847  
                                   

    Underwriting income – We define underwriting income as net income before income taxes excluding net investment income, net realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments, impairment charges, interest expense, amortization expense and other income and expenses. Underwriting income represents the pre-tax profitability of our underwriting operations and allows us to evaluate our underwriting performance without regard to investment income. We use this metric as we believe it gives our management and other users of our financial information useful insight into our underlying business performance. Underwriting income should not be viewed as a substitute for pre-tax income calculated in accordance with GAAP, and other companies may define underwriting income differently.

    ($ in thousands)   Three months ended
    December 31,    		   Twelve months ended
    December 31,
    (unaudited)    2024     2023     2024     2023 
    Income before income taxes   $ 18,554     $ 37,569     $ 152,739     $ 110,102  
    Add:                
    Interest expense     2,091       2,774       9,496       10,024  
    Amortization expense     908       462       2,007       1,798  
    Other expenses     1,042       1,303       4,392       5,364  
    Less (add):                
    Net investment income     20,730       14,004       80,686       40,322  
    Net investment (losses) gains     (10,409 )     7,744       6,256       11,072  
    Other income (loss)     35       (632 )     (167 )     (632 )
    Underwriting income   $ 12,239     $ 20,992     $ 81,859     $ 76,526  
                     

    Adjusted Loss Ratio / Adjusted Combined Ratio – We define adjusted loss ratio and adjusted combined ratio as the corresponding ratio (calculated in accordance with GAAP), excluding losses and LAE related to the LPT and all development on reserves fully or partially covered by the LPT and amortization of deferred gains associated with recoveries of prior LPT reserve strengthening. We use these adjusted ratios as internal performance measures in the management of our operations because we believe they give our management and other users of our financial information useful insight into our results of operations and our underlying business performance. Our adjusted loss ratio and adjusted combined ratio should not be viewed as substitutes for our loss ratio and combined ratio, respectively.

    ($ in thousands)   Three months ended
    December 31,    		   Twelve months ended
    December 31,
    (unaudited)   2024   2023   2024   2023
    Net earned premiums   $ 293,240     $ 224,932     $ 1,056,722     $ 829,143  
                     
    Losses and LAE     196,320       137,396       669,809       515,237  
    Less: Pre-tax net impact of LPT     12,398       (457 )     11,598       (1,427 )
    Adjusted losses and LAE   $ 183,922     $ 137,853     $ 658,211     $ 516,664  
                     
    Loss ratio     66.9 %     61.1 %     63.4 %     62.1 %
    Less: net impact of LPT     4.2 %     (0.2 )%     1.1 %     (0.2 )%
    Adjusted loss ratio     62.7 %     61.3 %     62.3 %     62.3 %
                     
    Combined ratio     95.8 %     90.7 %     92.3 %     90.7 %
    Less: net impact of LPT     4.2 %     (0.2 )%     1.1 %     (0.2 )%
    Adjusted combined ratio     91.6 %     90.9 %     91.2 %     90.9 %
                     

    Tangible Stockholders’ Equity – We define tangible stockholders’ equity as stockholders’ equity less goodwill and intangible assets. Our definition of tangible stockholders’ equity may not be comparable to that of other companies and should not be viewed as a substitute for stockholders’ equity calculated in accordance with GAAP. We use tangible stockholders’ equity internally to evaluate the strength of our balance sheet and to compare returns relative to this measure.

    ($ in thousands)   December 31,
    (unaudited)    2024    2023
    Stockholders’ equity   $         793,999   $         661,031
    Less: Goodwill and intangible assets             87,348             88,435
    Tangible stockholders’ equity   $         706,651   $         572,596
             
        Three months ended December 31,   Twelve months ended December 31,
    ($ in thousands)   2024   2023   %
    Change    		   2024   2023   % Change
    Industry Solutions     80,738     78,796   2.5 %     317,198     305,476   3.8 %
    Global Property & Agriculture   $ 31,681   $ 25,996   21.9 %   $ 311,402   $ 273,191   14.0 %
    Captives     57,765     40,375   43.1 %     241,902     167,624   44.3 %
    Programs     52,151     35,694   46.1 %     218,407     178,726   22.2 %
    Accident & Health     44,594     38,882   14.7 %     173,073     151,701   14.1 %
    Transactional E&S     36,262     31,560   14.9 %     169,053     122,508   38.0 %
    Professional Lines     39,130     40,145   (2.5 )%     159,785     154,565   3.4 %
    Surety     46,034     30,157   52.6 %     152,429     106,056   43.7 %
    Total gross written premiums(1)   $ 388,355   $ 321,605   20.8 %   $ 1,743,249   $ 1,459,847   19.4 %
    (1)Excludes exited business                        

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven, Shaheen & Moran Introduce Legislation to Bolster Air Traffic Control Workforce

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven

    02.25.25

    Bipartisan Legislation Would Strengthen Enhanced AT-CTI Program, Improve ATC Recruitment, Training & Retention

    WASHINGTON – Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced the Air Traffic Control (ATC) Workforce Development Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation to address ATC staffing shortages, improve working conditions and ensure the safe transportation of people and goods within U.S. airspace. Among other priorities, the legislation would:

    • Expand the ATC workforce training pipeline by codifying and strengthening the Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program.
      • The bill authorizes $20 million per year for grants to AT-CTI schools to invest in curriculum, high-fidelity simulators, faculty and classroom supplies.
      • The legislation also removes disincentives that discourage retired air traffic controllers from working as instructors at AT-CTI schools.
      • Currently, four schools, including the University of North Dakota (UND), have been selected for the Enhanced AT-CTI program, under which graduates are immediately eligible for hire by the FAA and to begin localized training at an air traffic facility.
    • Authorize the procurement and placement of Tower Simulator Systems at ATC facilities nationwide, supporting more efficient certification of ATC trainees.
    • Require the FAA to develop Air Traffic Controller recruitment and retention incentive programs.
    • Support the development of mental health services equipped to address the particular stressors faced by the ATC workforce.

    “Without an adequate workforce of qualified air traffic controllers, air travel cannot function in a safe and efficient manner, a reality made clear by recent aviation tragedies and accidents,” said Senator Hoeven. “Despite efforts to boost recruitment, our nation has been unable to overcome attrition in the ATC workforce, and more needs to be done. Accordingly, our legislation expands the capacity of schools like UND to get more controllers into FAA towers and radar facilities, while providing better benefits to support workers and boost recruitment and retention. We worked hard to secure UND as a leader in the Enhanced AT-CTI program, and now we’re working to provide more resources to accelerate training, reduce the strain on our existing workforce and ensure the American public can trust in the safety of our air transportation system.”

    “Increasingly frequent near-misses and close calls over the last several years—coupled with recent aviation tragedies like the one last month in D.C.—are sobering reminders that we must do more to keep our skies safe,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m proud to introduce bipartisan legislation with Senator Hoeven to expand the air traffic controller workforce pipeline, enhance training facilities and equipment, improve recruitment and retention efforts and more. I hope this bill moves quickly so we can address the shortage of air traffic controllers and strengthen aviation safety.”

    “Our national air space system relies on technology and individuals working in tandem to keep our skies safe and operating efficiently, and air traffic controllers are essential to that system,” said Senator Moran. “The training, hiring and retention of this critical workforce ought to be a continued priority of Congress, and I am pleased to join my colleagues in introducing legislation to support the current and future air traffic control industry. Continued investments in the programs and infrastructure supporting air traffic controllers will help to address workforce needs and keep our flying public safe.”

    “The National Air Traffic Controllers Association thanks Senators Hoeven and Shaheen for their leadership on the important issues of training, recruiting, and retaining air traffic controllers and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with Congress and the Administration on these critical matters.” – The National Air Traffic Controllers Association.

    “The University of North Dakota is proud to support the ATC Workforce Development Act. As the demand for air traffic controllers continues to rise, this bill represents a significant step forward in advancing their education and training through innovative technologies. By fostering a skilled workforce, this legislation will enhance the security of our airspace and uphold the reputation of air travel as the safest mode of transportation.” –Robert J. Kraus, Dean, John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, University of North Dakota.

    A summary of the legislation and the full bill text can be found here and here, respectively. The legislation builds upon several years of work between Senators Hoeven and Shaheen to support the Air Traffic Control workforce and address ATC understaffing. Most recently, they sent a lettercalling on the FAA to urgently work with Congress to address ATC staffing shortages, in light of the tragic aviation accident at Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) in Washington, D.C. Previously, Senators Hoeven and Shaheen:

    • Worked to include provisions in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 that require the FAA to use a more accurate staffing model developed by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association and the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization (ATO).
      • The bill also sets an updated minimum hiring target for new air traffic controllers.
    • Authored the Air Traffic Controller Hiring Reform Act, which was signed into law as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and required the FAA to prioritize the hiring of veterans and graduates of FAA Certified Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) schools, like the University of North Dakota, as Air Traffic Controllers.

    The legislation is supported by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA), Airlines for America (A4A), American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), and Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: England subsidises drugs like Ozempic for weight loss. Could Australia follow?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Karnon, Professor of Health Economics, Flinders University

    Nomad_Soul/Shutterstock

    People with a high body weight living in England can now access subsidised weight-loss drugs to treat their obesity. This includes Wegovy (the weight-loss dose of Ozempic, or semaglutide) and Mounjaro (one of the brand names for tirzepatide).

    These drugs, known as GLP-1 agonists, can improve the health of people who are overweight or obese and are unable to lose weight and keep it off using other approaches.

    In Australia, the government subsidises the cost of semaglutide (Ozempic) for people with diabetes.

    But it is yet to subsidise semaglutide (Wegovy) on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for weight loss.

    This is despite Australia’s regulator approving GLP-1 agonists for people with obesity, and for overweight people with at least one weight-related condition.

    This leaves Australians who use Wegovy for weight loss paying around A$450–500 out of pocket per month.

    But could Australia follow the England’s lead and list drugs such as Wegovy or Mounjaro on the PBS for weight loss? Doing so could bring the price down to $31.60 ($7.70 concession).

    Australia has already knocked back Wegovy for subsidies

    The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) reviews the submissions pharmaceutical companies make for their drug therapies to be subsidised through the PBS.

    For every such recommendation, PBAC publishes a public document that summarises the evidence and the reasons for recommending that the drug should be added to the PBS – or not.

    In November 2023, PBAC reviewed Novo Nordisk’s submission. It proposed including semaglutide on the PBS for adults with an initial BMI of 40 or above and a diagnosis of at least two weight-related conditions. At least one of these related conditions needed to be obstructive sleep apnoea, osteoarthritis of the knee, or pre-diabetes.

    Sleep apnoea was one of the weight-related conditions in the original application.
    JPC-PROD/Shutterstock

    However, PBAC concluded semaglutide should not be subsidised through the PBS because it didn’t consider the drug cost-effective at the price proposed.

    PBAC referred to evidence on the long-term benefits from weight loss for people at increased risk of developing heart disease, diabetes or having a stroke. However, it didn’t factor these effects into its calculations when estimating the cost-effectiveness of semaglutide.

    The committee suggested a future submission could focus on patients with either pre-existing cardiovascular (heart) disease, type 2 diabetes, or at least two markers of “high cardiometabolic risk”. This could include hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease, fatty liver disease or pre-diabetes.

    What did England decide?

    The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has a similar role to the PBAC, informing decisions to subsidise medicines in England.

    As a result of NICE’s recommendation, semaglutide is subsidised in England for adults with at least one weight-related condition and BMI of 30 or above. Patients must be treated by a specialist weight-management service and prescriptions are for a maximum of two years.

    More recently, NICE approved another GLP-1 agonist, tirzepatide, for adults with at least one weight-related condition and a BMI of 35 or above.

    This approval didn’t restrict prescriptions to those treated in a specialist weight-management service. However, only 220,000 of the 3.4 million who meet the eligibility criteria will receive tirzepatide in the next three years. It is not clear how the 220,000 patients will be selected.

    The limits on tirzepatide will reduce the impact of GLP-1 agonists on the health budget. It is also intended to inform the broader roll-out to all eligible patients.

    For both semaglutide and tirzepatide, NICE noted that clinicians should consider stopping the treatment if the patient loses less than 5% of their body weight after six months of use.

    Australians who use Wegovy for weight loss or heart disease pay A$450–$500 out of pocket per month.
    antoniodiazShutterstock

    Why did they reach such different decisions?

    NICE assessed the use of GLP-1 agonists for a broader population than PBAC: people with one weight-related condition and a BMI of 30 or above.

    Another difference was that NICE’s cost-effectiveness analysis included estimates of the longer-term benefits of these drugs in reducing the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular (heart) disease, stroke, knee replacement and bariatric surgery.

    The proposed prices of the GLP-1 agonists in England and Australia are not reported. We can only observe the estimated health benefits. These are represented as the additional number of “quality-adjusted life years” (QALYs) associated with using the drugs. One QALY is the equivalent of one additional year of life in best imaginable health.

    Committees estimate the amount of additional health spending required to gain QALYs, to see if it’s worth the public investment. Looking at the committees’ estimates of weight-loss drugs (without a two-year maximum):

    • NICE reported a gain of 0.7 QALYs per patient receiving semaglutide for a target population with a BMI of 30 or more

    • PBAC reported a gain of 0.3 QALYs, but for a population with a BMI of 40 and above.

    Part of the explanation for the difference in estimated QALY gains is that PBAC did not consider the reduced risk of future weight-related conditions, only the impact on existing conditions.

    In contrast, NICE referred to substantial cost offsets due to reduced weight-related conditions, in particular because some patients would avoid developing diabetes.

    England and Australia’s estimates of the benefits of Wegovy differed.
    Matt Fowler KC/Shutterstock

    Time to rethink PBAC’s focus?

    Both NICE and PBAC are clearly concerned about the impact of GLP-1 agonists on the health budget.

    PBAC is trying to restrict access to a limited pool of people at highest risk. It is also being more conservative than NICE in estimating the expected benefits of GLP-1 agonists. This would require manufacturers to reduce their price in order for PBAC to consider these drugs cost-effective.

    Maybe this approach will work and the Australian government will pay less for these drugs the next time it considers publicly funding them.

    However, GLP-1 agonists are not on the agenda for the forthcoming PBAC meetings, so there is no timeline for when GLP-1 agonists might be funded in Australia for weight loss.



    Read more:
    People on Ozempic may have fewer heart attacks, strokes and addictions – but more nausea, vomiting and stomach pain

    Jonathan Karnon receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Medical Research Future Fund.

    – ref. England subsidises drugs like Ozempic for weight loss. Could Australia follow? – https://theconversation.com/england-subsidises-drugs-like-ozempic-for-weight-loss-could-australia-follow-245367

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why Trump’s Gaza reconstruction proposal is unlikely to work

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Ali Asgary, Professor, Disaster & Emergency Management, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies & Director, CIFAL York, York University, Canada

    There have been many conversations around U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal to permanently displace Palestinians from Gaza to neighbouring countries and turn the strip into a luxury resort development. Criticisms of Trump’s comments often focus on the proposal’s illegality, immorality and impracticality.

    However, little has been discussed from the perspective of post-disaster and post-war reconstruction. Post-conflict reconstruction, as part of post-disaster reconstruction studies, has a very long history, scholarly literature, lessons learned and is one of the well-studied phases of disaster and emergency management.

    Where to rebuild

    When it comes to where to rebuild or reconstruct after disasters, including human-made disasters such as war and conflict, there are three main options:

    1) reconstruction in the original location;

    2) reconstruction in a new location; and

    3) reconstruction and integration in existing settlements.

    Each of these approaches has its advantages, disadvantages and challenges. One of the key principles of post-disaster recovery and reconstruction is minimizing post-disaster relocation.

    While a significant majority of post-disaster reconstruction happens in the original locations, there has been reconstruction and resettlement to new locations and beside or inside existing settlements.

    For example, after the 1974 conflict in Cyprus, the city of Famagusta was abandoned and residents were relocated to new areas. Relocation after the 1995 volcano eruption that buried Plymouth in Montserrat is another example. After the 1990 Manjil earthquake in Iran, many villages were relocated and rebuilt in new locations.

    Rebuilding in the original location

    Studies show that reconstruction in the original location is generally the most preferred and effective option. People impacted and displaced by war and disasters usually prefer to live in their original community.

    In some cases, reconstruction in the original location may still require some forms of temporary resettlement. This temporary relocation is a preferred option when the affected areas do not have enough space or ability to support the population during the reconstruction period, particularly during debris removal and infrastructure restoration.

    Past reconstruction efforts in developed and developing countries, show that recovery and reconstruction are more effective, democratic and faster when the impacted population is in charge of the reconstruction process, and remain close to their damaged homes.

    The closer a temporary settlement is to the reconstruction site, the better. Proximity allows the impacted population to participate effectively, monitor and benefit from the reconstruction process without distance and accessibility barriers.

    Rebuilding in new locations

    Reconstruction in a new location is usually considered as one of the last options when rebuilding in the original place is not possible due to various hazards like landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, flooding or volcanos.

    This usually occurs when mitigation measures are neither possible nor feasible. This option requires relocating the impacted population and rebuilding everything from scratch. Its success very much depends on the availability of land, resources and the willingness of the impacted population to relocate.

    Even when relocation is the only viable option, impacted people must be fully involved and given discretion regarding their place of relocation. Involuntary resettlement programs are impracticable. Even when the population is displaced, studies show that people return to their original homes if they can.

    Rebuilding near existing settlements is an extension of this option except that instead of rebuilding in a new location, reconstruction happens beside existing settlements to minimize infrastructure costs.

    This option can still be challenging. Implementation can be very complex even when new settlements are in the same country or area. Reintegrating people into a new place, even when they are willing to be relocated, requires many livelihood support initiatives, land availability, legal frameworks for land distribution and dispute resolution.

    Rebuilding options for Gaza

    Trump’s proposal is close to that last option, with three major differences. The first difference is that there is no consultation with Palestinians in Gaza.

    The second difference is that the impacted population will be forcefully and involuntarily relocated to settlements in other countries (Egypt and Jordan).

    The third difference is that the United States would “own” Gaza, and rebuild it for other purposes and uses, not for the benefit of Palestinians.

    As mentioned above, one key justification for rebuilding in a new location is that the original place is not permanently safe. Trump’s proposal assumes that Gaza is not safe for Palestinians but somehow safe for others.

    Post-disaster and conflict reconstruction is not just a physical reconstruction project. Rather, it is a complex, multidimensional process, with potentially very high negative impact if not properly planned and implemented.

    Top-down approaches in post-disaster recovery and reconstruction often fail because these approaches ignore the complexity of the built environment, the local conditions, and the needs of the affected population.

    Displacing entire populations, their economic activities and their social networks and relations can have significant impacts — direct and indirect — on the population and on governments. Community relocation fails because it disrupts social networks, and increases negative sentiments and dissatisfaction with living conditions in new location.

    Post-war reconstruction programmes must be multi-dimensional and based on a clear understanding of local conditions and careful consultation with the affected people. The alternative to large-scale resettlement is to reduce the risks people face in their current location.

    In the past, international solidarity has played an important role in reconstruction. Such solidarity increasingly exists for the Palestinians of Gaza, and with that, rebuilding in the same location can still be a viable and preferred option.

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

    – ref. Why Trump’s Gaza reconstruction proposal is unlikely to work – https://theconversation.com/why-trumps-gaza-reconstruction-proposal-is-unlikely-to-work-249680

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: More than just a game: How sports are reflecting Canada-U.S. tensions

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Noah Eliot Vanderhoeven, PhD Candidate, Political Science, Western University

    Canada emerged victorious in the 4 Nations Face-off hockey tournament on Feb. 20, but the event was overshadowed by growing political tensions between Canada and the United States.

    In the lead-up to the final game, American fans booed the Canadian national anthem, likely in response to Canadian fans booing the American national anthem ahead of a game between the two teams on Feb. 15.

    This was not the first recent airing of grievances from Canadian fans at a sporting event. Following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of tariffs against Canada and repeated calls for Canada to become the 51st state, fans at a Toronto Raptors game and Ottawa Senators game booed the American national anthem.



    Read more:
    How Donald Trump’s attacks on Canada are stoking a new Canadian nationalism

    Despite the proposed tariffs being postponed for 30 days, Trump’s antagonistic vision for Canada-U.S. relations has stoked anti-American sentiments among Canadians, including calls to boycott American goods and a deteriorating belief in close Canada-U.S. relations.

    Those anti-American sentiments boiled over again when Canada faced the U.S. in Montréal, showcasing how sport can be used as an expression of nationalism — especially at a time of increased tensions between the two countries.

    Why sports matter politically

    It’s not surprising that sport has become an arena for nationalist political rhetoric. Sport possesses powerful symbolism that can be exploited to great affect in forming a coherent national identity.

    In this way, sporting events are a way fandoms can reinforce national identity as an objective symbol that connects to primitive forms of national ideology.

    Sport is also a powerful psychological setting for national rhetoric. A person’s social identity, or how they see themselves in relation to others, can be reinforced through sport. This can happen, for instance, when someone views themselves as a member of a team and celebrates their success, or views a rival team or country in a negative light after a loss.

    Additionally, the outcome of a game can boost in-group favouritism, which can influence whether consumers buy goods from a specific vendor.

    Nationalism versus patriotism

    Generally, research suggests sports reinforce a national in-group identity that is more patriotic than nationalistic. However, the vitriol Canadians have expressed during the American national anthem leans towards expressing nationalist views rather than patriotic ones.

    Patriotism typically focuses on why a country is great without necessarily disparaging outsiders or other countries. Nationalism, on the other hand, tends to play up why one’s country is great while vilifying another country or group.

    Trump’s focus on using tariffs to bully Canada into increasing security at the border has undoubtedly soured relations between the two countries. If Trump decides to flex the United States’ capacity to be a bully in U.S.-Canadian relations, Canada is stuck with limited options.

    But are Canadians playing right into Donald Trump’s hand by leaning into an adversarial relationship?

    How Trump uses sports for political gain

    Trump has a history of using major sporting events to his political benefit. During his last presidential campaign, he attended the Army-Navy football game and became the first sitting president to attend the recent Super Bowl in New Orleans.

    Trump also considered attending the 4 Nations final between the U.S. and Canada in Boston, but couldn’t attend due to a scheduled speech with U.S. governors. Still, he made his presence felt by calling the American team the morning before the game to wish them luck.

    Looking ahead, Trump may continue to use international sporting events to assert his vision for U.S. relations with Canada and Mexico.

    In January, Trump invited Gianni Infantino, the head of FIFA, to his inauguration, just as preparations have begun for the 2026 World Cup, which is to be hosted by Canada, Mexico and the U.S.

    With Infantino and Trump becoming increasingly friendly, it seems likely Trump will use the upcoming World Cup to influence North American relations. At the very least, he will likely try to insert himself into its coverage.

    Trump using sport to reinforce his image

    Beyond politics, Trump uses sports to play into his crafted image as a hyper-masculine man. This image has played a large part in Trump’s popularity among young men and helped him win a second term as president.

    Yet Trump does not necessarily fit the masculine norms his supporters lionize. Trump is fairly tall, which has been shown to be preferred among American voters. However, unlike past presidents such as Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon, who played college football, Trump’s athletic background is limited to high school football.

    Nor did Trump serve in the military like previous presidents John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, both of whom served in the Second World War. Trump, by contrast, avoided service during the Vietnam war for medical and educational reasons.

    Despite a lack of traditional masculine bonafides, Trump has shown an ability to use sporting events for his political gain. He has used sporting events as potent media environments to insert his talking points and burnish his masculine image.

    In the end, the boos from Canadian fans may be music to Donald Trump’s ears. He wants to be hated by outsiders so he can turn around to his supporters and say that the U.S. is under attack at its borders. He wants the sporting accomplishments of the American men’s teams to reflect on his strength.

    It can still go against him, as we saw Thursday night with Canada beating the U.S. in overtime. Justin Trudeau wasted no time using that moment to respond with strong rhetoric in a tweet.

    What happened on the ice was out of Trump’s control. But he used the event to serve his own goals, sowing greater divisiveness across borders. The shadow of his combative rhetoric loomed large over the entire event.

    Noah Eliot Vanderhoeven 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. More than just a game: How sports are reflecting Canada-U.S. tensions – https://theconversation.com/more-than-just-a-game-how-sports-are-reflecting-canada-u-s-tensions-250385

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –