NewzIntel.com

Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom announces appointments 1.31.25

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jan 31, 2025

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

    Kimberly Rutledge, of Sacramento, has been appointed Director of the Department of Rehabilitation, where she has been Deputy Director of Legislation and Communications since 2022. She held several positions at the California Department of Social Services from 2016 to 2022, including Chief of the Adult Programs Policy and Quality Assurance Branch and Adult Protective Services Program Liaison. Rutledge held several positions at United Domestic Workers of America, AFSCME Local 3930 between 2012 and 2016, including Budget and Policy Analyst and Assistant Legislative Director. She was an Independent Policy Consultant at the County Welfare Directors Association of California from 2011 to 2012. Rutledge was a Sweeney Graduate Intern on Disability Policy at the National Academy of Social Insurance in 2011. She was a Graduate Policy Intern at the Disability Community Resource Center from 2010 to 2011. Rutledge was a News Copy Editor at the Sacramento Bee from 2005 to 2009. She is a member of the National Academy of Social Insurance. Rutledge earned a Master of Social Welfare degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $200,004. Rutledge is a Democrat.

    Gloria Earl, of Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Secretary of Administrative Services at the California Health and Human Services Agency. Earl has been Principal and Founder at Endurement, LLC since 2022 and Executive Project Manager at Department of Social Services since 2021. Earl was a Guest Services Ticket Taker at Sacramento Kings from 2015 to 2022. She was Union Secretary and Treasurer at the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local B-66 Union from 2019 to 2022. Earl was the Regional Support Manager at the California Workforce Development Board from 2019 to 2021, where she was previously the Program Implementation Manager from 2016 to 2019. She held several roles at the Employment Development Department from 2008 to 2016, including Workforce Services Division Regional Advisor, Associate Governmental Program Analyst in the Veterans Program Unit, and Disability Insurance Program Representative for Paid Family Leave. Earl was an Underwriting Assistant at Zurich North American Insurance Company from 2007 to 2008. She was an Underwriting Assistant at Chubb Insurance Company from 2006 to 2007. Earl was a Workers Compensation Insurance Technician Specialist at the State Compensation Insurance Fund from 2005 to 2006, where she was previously a Workers Compensation Insurance Technician from 2001 to 2005. She was a Service Consultant at Aetna Healthcare from 1998 to 2001. Earl is a member of the California State Supervisors Association. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $145,000. Earl is a Democrat.
     
    David Swanson Hollinger, of Ventura, has been appointed Chief Deputy Director, Children and Families Programs at the Department of Social Services. Swanson Hollinger has been a Consultant at SH Consulting since 2024. He held several roles at Ventura County Human Services Agency from 2013 to 2024, including Deputy Director, Senior Program Manager and Program Manager for Children and Family Services. Swanson Hollinger was Behavioral Health Manager at Ventura County Behavioral Health Department from 2008 to 2013. He was Director of Program Development at Five Acres  – The Boys and Girls Aid Society from 2003 to 2008. Swanson Hollinger was Manager at L.A. Care Health Plan from 2000 to 2003. He is Co-Chair of the Prevention and Early Intervention Committee at the California Child Welfare Council and a Tri-Chair of the California Department of Social Services Family First Prevention Services Advisory Committee. Swanson Hollinger earned a Master of Social Work degree and Master of Public Health degree from University of California, Los Angeles and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from University of California, Berkeley. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $196,452. Swanson Hollinger is a Democrat.
     
    Dr. Hernando Garzon, of St. Helena, has been appointed Chief Medical Officer at Emergency Medical Services Authority, where he has been Interim Chief Medical Officer since 2021. Garzon was an Emergency Medicine Physician at The Permanente Medical Group from 1992 to 2023. He earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from New York University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from Williams College. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $234,600. Garzon is a Democrat.

    Jon Lamirault, of Los Angeles, has been appointed Deputy Director of the California African American Museum, where he has been an Operations Manager since 2024. Lamirault held two positions at Target Corp from 2012 to 2024, including Store Operations Director from 2017 to 2024, and Human Resource – Executive Team Leader from 2012 to 2017. He was an Associate Director at JVS SoCal from 2008 to 2012. Lamirault earned his Master of Science degree in Organizational Development, and his Bachelor of the Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of La Verne. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $143,688. Lamirault is registered without party preference.
     
    Lindsay Buckley, of Sacramento, has been appointed Director of Communications at the California Air Resources Board. Buckley has been the Deputy Executive Director of Strategic Planning and Media at the California Energy Commission since 2019. She held several positions at the California Air Resources Board from 2013 to 2019, including Information Officer II from 2018 to 2019, Special Assistant to the Chair from 2015 to 2017, and Information Officer I from 2013 to 2015. Buckley was a Program Coordinator at the Institute for Local Government from 2010 to 2013. She was a Sustainability Task Force Member at the City of Chico from 2009 to 2010. Buckley was a Part-Time Instructor at California State University, Chico from 2009 to 2010. She was a Program Representative at Great Valley Center from 2008 to 2010. Buckley earned a Master of Public Policy degree from California State University, Sacramento, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Design, Instructional Design, and Technology from California State University, Chico. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and compensation is $165,000. Buckley is a Democrat.
     
    Marvin Southard, of Avila Beach, has been appointed to the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. Southard was a Professor of Practice at the University of Southern California from 2015 to 2019. He was the Director of Mental Health for the County of Los Angeles from 1998 to 2015. Southard was Director of Mental Health for the County of Kern from 1993 to 1998. He is a member of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (Stem Cell) Board, California Institute of Behavioral Health Sciences, Network for Social Work Management, and Proxy Parent Foundation. Southard earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Social Work from University of California, Los Angeles, Master of Social Work degree in Community Organizing and Social Planning from University of California, Berkeley, and Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from St. John’s College and Theologate. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation. Southard is a Democrat.

    Michael Bernick, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. Bernick has been Special Counsel at Duane Morris LLP since 2018. He was Counsel at Sedgwick LLP from 2004 to 2018. Bernick was Counsel at Arnelle & Hastie from 1986 to1999. He was Director of the California Employment Development Department from 1999 to 2004. Bernick was Director at the Bay Area Rapid Transit District from 1988 to 1996. He is a Board member of the Golden Gate Regional Center, Board member at the California Policy Center for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and Job Club leader at the adult autism group, AASCEND. Bernick earned a Juris Doctor degree from University of California, Berkeley, a Master of Arts degree in Philosophy from Oxford University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Government from Harvard University. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation. Bernick is a Democrat.

    Karen Larsen, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. Larsen has been Chief Executive Officer at Steinberg Institute since 2022. She was Director of Health and Human Services for the County of Yolo from 2016 to 2022, where she was Mental Health Director from 2014 to 2022. Larsen was Director of Behavioral Health at CommuniCare Health Centers from 1999 to 2014. She was Program Director at The Effort – WellSpace Health from 1993 to 1997. Larsen earned a Master of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from California State University, Sacramento. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation. Larsen is a Democrat.  

    Pamela Baer, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. Baer was President and Owner of Markitlink, a brand strategy Direct Mail Agency from 1988 to 2000. She is a Lifetime Director of the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation, Founder and Board Chairman of the Transform Mental and Behavioral Health Fund at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, Board member of the Giants Community Fund, Advisory Board Member of Family House Inc. and Nest, Founders Circle member of Every Mother Counts, and member of The Kennedy Forum and Bay Area Regional Council of Dignity Moves. Baer earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance and Marketing from the University of Texas at Austin. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation. Baer is a Democrat.
     
    Gayle Miller, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the Milton Marks “Little Hoover” Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy. Miller has been Managing Director, Transition, Institutional Relationships and Investments, for Brookfield Asset Management since 2024. She was Senior Counselor on Infrastructure and Clean Energy Finance in the Office of Governor Newsom from 2021 to 2024. Miller was Chief Deputy of Policy at the California Department of Finance from 2019 to 2024. She was Senior Policy Advisor at the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration from 2018 to 2019. Miller was Deputy Controller, Director of Policy in the Office of the State Controller from 2017 to 2018. She served as a Principal Consultant in the Office of the State Senate President pro Tempore from 2016 to 2018. Miller held several positions in the California State Senate, including Consultant in the Office of Research from 2014 to 2016, Staff Director for the Governance and Finance Committee from 2006 to 2014, and Principal Consultant at the Revenue and Taxation Committee from 2001 to 2005. She was Director of Government Affairs at Anthem Blue Cross from 2005 to 2006, Legislative Director in the Office of State Assemblymember Alan Lowenthal from 1999 to 2001, and a Legislative Aid and Assembly Fellow in the Office of State Assemblymember Tom Torlakson from 1997 to 1999. Miller earned a Master of Business Administration degree in Strategy and Communications from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master of Business Administration degree in Economics and Finance from Columbia University. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation. Miller is a Democrat.

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    Jan 31, 2025

    News What you need to know: Governor Newsom issued an executive order to maximize the capture and storage of additional water from upcoming storms in Northern California. SACRAMENTO — In anticipation of a multi-day, significant atmospheric river in Northern…

    Jan 30, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Jacqueline Yannacci, of Folsom, has been appointed Executive Director of California Volunteers in the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement, where she has been Chief…

    Jan 30, 2025

    News What you need to know: Governor Newsom is deploying resources and thousands of personnel to communities throughout Northern California in anticipation of a potentially major storm system. SACRAMENTO – With an atmospheric river expected to arrive in Northern…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia spends $714 per person on roads every year – but just 90 cents goes to walking, wheeling and cycling

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Mclaughlin, Adjunct Research Fellow, The University of Western Australia

    Nick Starichenko/Shutterstock

    What could you buy for 90 cents? Not much – perhaps a banana.

    Unfortunately, that’s how much the Australian government has invested per person annually on walking, wheeling and cycling over the past 20 years.

    How would Australians’ lives change if that figure rose?



    Read more:
    What makes a city great for running and how can we promote ‘runnability’ in urban design?

    The state of play here and overseas

    From 2008-2028, the federal government spent $384 million on the following active transport investments:

    All up, about $714 per person is spent annually on roads; 90 cents out of this $714 is just pocket change.

    Even if you don’t want to walk, wheel or ride, you should care because less driving helps everyone, including other drivers, who benefit from reduced traffic.

    As a result of this over-investment in car road-building, Australia has the smallest number of walking trips of 15 comparable countries across Western Europe and North America.

    Cycling rates are equally dismal.

    Globally, the United Nations recommends nations spend 20% of their transport budgets on walking and cycling infrastructure.

    Countries like France, Scotland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and the largest cities in China invest between 10% and 20%.

    These places were not always known for walking and cycling – it took sustained redirecting of investment from roads to walking and cycling.

    Meanwhile, many Australians are dependent on cars because they have no other choice in terms of transport options.

    Why spend more on walking and cycling?

    Road use is inherently dangerous – in Australia last year, more than 1,300 people died on our roads, which is more than 25 people a week.

    Owning a car can also be expensive, which is especially concerning for those struggling with the cost-of-living.

    The typical Australian household spends 17% of its income on transport – with car ownership making up 92.5% of that figure, compared to 7.5% on public transport.

    Many Australians feel forced to own a car to get around, so investing in paths and public transport provides people the freedom to get around how they choose.

    Congestion is getting worse in most major cities and we can’t build our way out of it with more or wider roads.

    About two-thirds of car journeys in our cities could be walked, wheeled or cycled in 15 minutes or less, but these short car trips clog up our roads with traffic.

    A major source of all emissions in Australia are from driving.

    If more people felt safe to walk, cycle or take public transport, it would reduce this major emissions source.

    There is a strong rationale and economic argument, too. The NSW government has estimated every kilometre walked benefits the national economy by $6.30, while every kilometre cycled benefits the economy by $4.10.

    This means that by simply walking 500 metres to the local shops and back, you’re saving the economy about $6, while riding five kilometres to work and back saves a whopping $41 for the economy.

    But where could we get this funding from?

    Redirecting funding from the current road budget makes the most sense, because getting more people walking, wheeling and cycling eases pressure on the transport system (think of school holiday traffic).

    This is a popular proposition. One study found two-thirds of Australians supported the redirection of funding from roads to walking and cycling infrastructure. Another found many Australians support building more walking and cycling paths where they live.

    This is not a partisan issue: all Australians in all communities would benefit, including drivers who would face less traffic and enjoy more parking availability.

    Unfortunately, false solutions to our unwalkable and un-cycleable communities continue to derail our focus on fixing the root cause of our problems. For example, telling people to ride to work, while not providing them a safe place to do so, doesn’t make sense.

    What could $15 per person get us?

    Investing $15 per Australian per year would create a better built environment to walk, wheel or ride and deliver significant economic, social and environmental benefits.

    If this was matched with 50:50 funding from state and territory governments (which often happens with transport projects) over a ten-year period, this investment would deliver the four national projects already shortlisted on Infrastructure Australia’s infrastructure priority list for our largest capital cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane.

    It could also fund up to 15 regional cities to build comprehensive networks. Wagga Wagga for example, is about to finish building a 56 kilometre network of walking and cycling paths. As a result, those using the network are 3.7 times more likely to meet physical activity guidelines than those who don’t.

    Such an investment could also fund supporting initiatives, such as electric bike subsidies which have proven extremely popular in both Queensland and Tasmania.

    What could $10 or $5 per person get us?

    The Australian government could invest less than $15 per person – at $5 or $10 per year, the key projects outlined in Infrastructure Australia’s infrastructure priority list could still be targeted, but those would just take proportionally longer because there is less money.

    Or, instead of investing in the four capital cities on the infrastructure priority list, it could invest in two.

    A different approach could be to spend $5 or $10 to fund infrastructure for regional towns, but this wouldn’t help the problems in our capital cities.

    When it comes to transport, the saying goes “we get what we build” – so if we build more roads, we get more people driving. If we build paths, we get more people walking and cycling short journeys and our roads are less congested.

    We need bold solutions, and $15 should be seen not as an extravagance.

    Acknowledgement: We would like to thank Sara Stace, President of Better Streets Australia, for her expertise in discussions regarding this article.

    Dr Matthew ‘Tepi’ Mclaughlin has received research funding from government research funding organisations. He is currently a Board Member of Better Streets.

    Peter McCue receives an Australian Postgraduate Research Award to study a PhD. He is a member of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Advocacy Committee of the Asia-Pacific Society for Physical Activity.

    Grant Ennis 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. Australia spends $714 per person on roads every year – but just 90 cents goes to walking, wheeling and cycling – https://theconversation.com/australia-spends-714-per-person-on-roads-every-year-but-just-90-cents-goes-to-walking-wheeling-and-cycling-247902

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Tourists flock to scenic areas along Beijing Central Axis during Spring Festival holiday

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Tourists flock to scenic areas along Beijing Central Axis during Spring Festival holiday

    Updated: February 3, 2025 07:46 Xinhua
    Tourists visit the Drum Tower along the Central Axis in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 31, 2025. Beijing is now celebrating the first Spring Festival after the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) inscribed the Beijing Central Axis in its World Heritage List and the Spring Festival in its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, both in last year. Lots of residents and tourists have flocked to the scenic areas along the Beijing Central Axis to enjoy the festive atmosphere during the Spring Festival holiday. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A girl poses for photos with a drum for good fortune under the Drum Tower along the Central Axis in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 31, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists visit the Shichahai area along the Central Axis in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 2, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists visit the Jingshan Park in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 31, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists visit the Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Park in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 30, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists visit the Qianmen Street along the Central Axis in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists watch a performance of Sichuan opera stunt “Bianlian,” also known as face-changing, at the Jingshan Park in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 31, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists visit the Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Park in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 30, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists visit the Palace Museum along the Central Axis in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 2, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Press Conference – Goodstart, Garran

    Source: Australian Ministers for Education

    ANNE ALY, MINISTER FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: Well, good morning, everyone. We’re here at Goodstart Garran, having a great time with some of the littlest Aussies here in Garran and talking to the staff here. This week the Albanese Government will be introducing legislation for a 3 Day Guarantee. What does that mean? That means that more than 100,000 families across Australia will have access to more subsidised care – three days a week. And more than 66,000 families across Australia will be better off with our 3 Day Guarantee.

    Now, when you look at the children here and you watch them play and you see their interactions, you get a bit of an understanding of just how important early childhood education and care can be in children’s lives. But also, when you talk to the families and the parents, you understand also how much of an essential service it is for those families and parents. Changing the activity test to ensure that there is a three day guarantee means that every family, no matter what their circumstances, and every child, no matter what their background, no matter what their postcode, no matter where they live, and no matter what their parents’ circumstances are, has access to good quality early childhood education and care that helps them to grow, that helps them to thrive and that has a lasting impact throughout their life. Not just, not just at this age, not just with these little ones here, but right through school, right through adolescence and right into adulthood as well.

    So, the Albanese Labor Government is committed to reforming early childhood education and care, to creating a universal system in the great Labor traditions of Medicare and universal superannuation. We’re building the blocks, building the blocks for a future where every single Australian child and every single Australian family can have access to good quality early childhood education and care, so that parents can work if they need to work; primary caregivers, mostly mothers, mostly women, can go back to work or go back to study. And importantly – importantly, so that our children can have that care and that education that they need to grow and to thrive. I’m going to hand over to Minister Jason Clare to say a few more words on the Albanese Government’s 3 Day Guarantee. Jase?

    JASON CLARE, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION: Thanks, Anne. G’day, everybody. Childcare is essential for more than a million parents across the country and it’s critical to help children get ready for school. When we were elected two and a half years ago, the cost of childcare had skyrocketed, gone through the roof, and we’ve cut the cost of childcare now for more than a million families. When we were elected two and a half years ago, teachers and educators in childcare were leaving the sector in droves. And we’ve turned that around now with a 15 per cent pay rise. And this is the next step. Fundamentally, this is about helping to make sure that every child gets a great start in life, helping to make sure that every child gets the benefit of early education and care. Because we know that if you’re in early education and care, you’re less likely to start school behind. You’re more likely to start school ready to go, ready to learn. 
    That’s why we’ll build more centres where they don’t exist at the moment, in the bush, in the regions and in the outer suburbs, and why we are getting rid of the Liberals’ activity test that stops a lot of children from poor families from ever getting access to early education in the first place. As I said, if you’re a child who gets access to early education, you’re more likely to start school ready to learn. And that’s what this 3 Day Guarantee is all about. Guaranteeing 3 days of subsidised care for every child 3 days a week. Because if you get 3 days of early education a week, you’re more likely to start school ready to learn. Fundamentally, that’s what this is all about. We know that children have got a right to go to school and that government’s got a responsibility to help provide that. Children have also got a right to early education, so they start school ready to learn, and the government’s got a responsibility to help make that happen. And that’s what this legislation that we’re going to introduce this week is all about.

    Now, what will the Liberals do? Well, the Liberals were opposed to our changes to cut the cost of childcare. They’re opposed to our pay rise for early educators, they’re opposed to building more centres where they don’t exist. And I expect the Liberals will be opposed to this as well. The only thing that they’ve said that they will do is make cuts right across the board. 
    Peter Dutton yesterday said that if he’s elected Prime Minister then there’ll be cuts, hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of cuts, but he won’t tell you where the cuts will be. Well, you don’t have to be Einstein to work it out. It’ll be cuts to childcare, cuts to aged care, cuts to Medicare. It’s the same old story from the Liberals on repeat. This will be Tony Abbott 2.0. Tony Abbott said that he wouldn’t cut health and education and then when he was elected, that’s what he did. It was like Nightmare on Elm Street. He ripped the guts out of Medicare, ripped the guts out of school funding. Peter Dutton says that he will cut, but he won’t tell you what he’s going to cut. This is like a used car salesman who won’t let you look under the bonnet before you buy the car. My message to the Australian people is, if you don’t know, vote no. And if you do know what he’s going to cut, you would never, ever vote for this bloke. Thanks very much.
     

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Teacher vacancies drop under Minns Labor Government

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Teacher vacancies drop under Minns Labor Government

    Published: 3 February 2025

    Released by: The Premier, Deputy Premier, Minister for Education and Early Learning

    Thousands more children will now have a qualified teacher in front of them when school returns this year with new data released today showing teacher vacancies falling to a four-year low.

    There are now 1,294 vacancies in NSW public schools – a 40 per cent reduction since the same time in 2023 before the Minns Labor Government came into office and the lowest number of vacancies at the start of a school year since 2021.

    While there is more work to do to improve the teacher retention and recruitment record left by the former Liberal National government, the Minns Labor Government is continuing work to rebuild public education which started with scrapping the wages cap that saw teacher resignations and retirements reach record highs.

    As a result, the rate of attrition is also consistently falling as more teachers – including those with decades of experience – see the value of remaining in the profession.

    At the same time as thousands of classes were merged each day and resignations outstripped retirements for the first time, the former Education Minister Sarah Mitchell denied a teacher shortage crisis was occurring, and continued to advocate for a wages cap which suppressed teachers’ pay. Under her watch, vacancies peaked at 3,311 in 2022.

    The Minns Labor Government was elected with a commitment to rebuild public education across the state, improve teacher recruitment and retention and lift student outcomes. While this work is ongoing, it is already delivering results and has included:

    • Delivering the largest pay rise in a generation to all of NSW’s public school teachers.
    • Making over 16,000 teachers and school support staff on temporary contracts permanent.
    • Expanding the Department’s Priority Recruitment Support model from 79 to 110 schools, giving them targeted support to fill vacancies.
    • Banning mobile phones in all public schools, minimising classroom distractions.
    • Addressing workload by allowing additional time to roll out a new curriculum, improving mandatory training and professional learning requirements, providing access to AI assistance, providing additional administrative support in schools.

    Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

    “It’s hard to measure the impact that public school teachers have, but I think almost everyone has a teacher they can point to as being an incredible, positive influence on their lives.

    “We respect teachers, and we want them at the front of our classrooms doing what they do best. That is what we committed to before the election and that is what we are continuing work to deliver.

    “We know there’s more to do, but it’s brilliant that thousands more kids will return this year to a qualified teacher at the front of their classroom.”

    Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said: 

    “Labor was elected to rebuild essential services after a decade of neglect under the former Liberal National government and I am proud the Minns Labor Government is delivering.

    “We inherited a teacher shortage crisis from the former Liberal National Government that was leading to thousands of collapsed and merged classes every day. That’s thousands of lost teaching hours every day.

    “The massive fall in teacher vacancies shows what you can achieve when you actually listen to our dedicated and hardworking teachers and value the life-changing work they do.

    “Having a qualified teacher at the front of every classroom is vital to delivering improved academic outcomes for our students.

    “These figures show that the uplift in teachers’ pay – opposed by the Liberal and National Parties – means so many more of our students now have a teacher in their classroom, which can only lead to better outcomes.

    “The drop in resignations and retirements shows teachers are hearing that we value their work and they feel supported to focus on the job of delivering quality teaching and learning.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ofsted sets out proposals for fairer education inspections and new, more detailed report cards

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government Non-Ministerial Departments 2

    Ofsted is consulting on a new approach to inspecting education providers and the introduction of report cards.

    Proposals for a new inspection model include:  

    • Introducing the Ofsted report card, giving parents detailed information about standards across more areas of practice in their child’s school, early years, or further education provider.

    • Replacing the ‘single word judgement’ with a new 5-point grading scale for each evaluation area, including a new top ‘exemplary’ grade to help raise standards.

    • Returning to schools with identified weaknesses, to check timely action is being taken to raise standards.

    • Increasing focus on support for disadvantaged and vulnerable children and learners , including those with SEND.

    • More emphasis on providers’ circumstances and local context.

    • New toolkits to tailor inspections to the phase and type of provider.

    Ofsted has today launched a major consultation, seeking the views of parents, carers, professionals and learners, on a new approach to inspecting and reporting on education providers, from the autumn.    

    The consultation sets out a series of proposals that aim to serve the interests of the parents and children Ofsted works for, while strengthening the trust and cooperation of professionals working in the services it inspects and regulates.   

    In the past 12 months Ofsted has already made some significant changes to support education providers’ wellbeing, but further reforms were promised in the response to last year’s Big Listen. Today’s proposals apply to inspections of early years settings, state-funded schools, non-association independent schools, FE and skills providers, and initial teacher education (ITE) providers.

    Respond to the consultation

    New Ofsted report cards

    The Big Listen returned a clear message from parents, carers and professionals that the overall effectiveness grade should go, and that inspection reports should provide a more nuanced view of a provider’s strengths and areas for improvement. But there were different views on how to do that. Parents and carers favoured a clear assessment of a wider set of categories, while most professionals wanted narrative descriptions of performance.   

    Today’s proposals aim to bring both preferences together. New Ofsted report cards will give better information to parents in a simple format, as well as driving higher standards for children and learners. They include a colour-coded 5-point grading scale to evaluate more areas of a provider’s work at-a-glance, accompanied by short summaries of inspectors’ findings in more detail. An overall effectiveness grade will not be awarded.

    The 5-point scale will allow inspectors to highlight success when things are working well, provide reassurance that leaders are taking the right action where improvement is needed, and identify where more urgent action is required to avoid standards declining. As well as giving parents more nuanced information, this approach will help reduce pressure on staff – by presenting a balanced picture of practice across more areas, not a single overall grade.   

    The proposed scale ranges from ‘causing concern’ at the lowest end, through ‘attention needed’, ‘secure’ and ‘strong’, to ‘exemplary’ – where a provider’s practice is of such exceptional quality that it should be shared with others across the country so they can learn from it.   

    Ofsted is seeking feedback on the proposed layout for the new inspection reports and has produced this video demonstrating how they could look.

    Disadvantage and inclusion   

    Under the proposals, evaluation areas differ slightly by education phase (early years, schools, further education) but in all cases include a new focus on inclusion. This means inspectors will look at how well providers support vulnerable and disadvantaged children and learners, including those with SEND, making sure these children are always at the centre of inspection. 

    Taking context into account  

    Ofsted is also proposing to include more contextual data in inspections and reports, such as learner characteristics, performance outcomes, absence and attendance figures, and local area demographics. Inspectors will use this information to help understand the circumstances in which leaders are operating and to assess their work in context – for instance, whether they are working hard in a disadvantaged area facing particular challenges, or – if they have a high-attaining intake – whether they are stretching their most able pupils. This will help parents make national and local comparisons, and comparisons between providers working in similar contexts.

    Tailoring inspections to each phase of education

    Under the proposals, the inspection process will be better tailored to the phase and type of provider, to make sure the focus is on what really matters for children and learners in that setting. New inspection ‘toolkits’ list the standards that each type of provider will be evaluated against.   

    These toolkits provide more detail and clarity about what will be considered on inspection. They are intended to help drive greater consistency on inspection and give providers clarity about the expected standards and what they need to do to improve.

    Changes to monitoring arrangements for schools

    From autumn 2025, it’s proposed that Ofsted will no longer carry out ungraded inspections of state-funded schools. This means every school will know that its next routine Ofsted inspection will be a full, graded one. Ofsted is also proposing that all schools with an identified need for improvement will receive monitoring calls and visits, to check that timely action is being taken to raise standards. This includes schools with any evaluation area graded ‘attention needed’. Ofsted will only monitor for as long as is necessary to see a tangible difference for children.

    His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, said:   

    Our mission is to raise standards and improve the lives of children, particularly the most disadvantaged. Today’s proposals for a new Ofsted report card and a new way of inspecting are designed to do just that. 

    The report card will replace the simplistic overall judgement with a suite of grades, giving parents much more detail and better identifying the strengths and areas for improvement for a school, early years or further education provider.  

    Our new top ‘exemplary’ grade will help raise standards, identifying world-class practice that should be shared with the rest of the country. And by quickly returning to monitor schools that have areas for improvement, we will ensure timely action is taken to raise standards. 

    We also hope that this more balanced, fairer approach will reduce the pressure on professionals working in education, as well as giving them a much clearer understanding of what we will be considering on inspection.

    Tom Rees, CEO of Ormiston Academies Trust & Chair of the DfE Expert Advisory Group for Inclusion said: 

    It is right that Ofsted is putting disadvantaged children and children with SEND at the heart of their reforms. Inclusion should not be a secondary consideration, but a fundamental principle of schooling and education – a truly great education system serves the needs of all children. 

    It is vital that schools, nurseries and colleges have the highest possible expectations for all children. Schools with expert teaching, a stretching curriculum, high standards of behaviour and attendance are the entitlement of every child – especially the most vulnerable.

    Jason Elsom, Chief Executive of Parentkind said: 

    We know that an effective partnership between school and home is a cornerstone of the most successful of schools, enhances pupil well-being, and can add the equivalent impact of up to 3 years of education. 

    Schools increasingly face issues with attendance, behaviour, and the mental health and well-being of their pupils. Years of evidence shows that getting parental engagement right is vital to reducing these challenges, which is why we welcome Ofsted making parental engagement an important part of the process for inspecting schools.  

    We are delighted to have supported Ofsted’s work on a new ‘report card’ for schools, which recognises the need for school leaders to focus on building sustainable, long-term partnerships with parents, as well as the role of parents in helping improve behaviour and attitudes to learning, attendance, and personal development and well-being. Getting this right will deliver significant benefits for schools and children.

    The consultation will run for 12 weeks, from 3 February to 28 April 2025. As well as the online survey, Ofsted will hold focus groups during the consultation period. Formal pilots of the inspection approach and further user testing of report cards will also be carried out over the coming months, to help inform and improve the proposals.  

    Ofsted will publish a report on the outcome of the consultation in the summer, reflecting on all feedback and challenge received. The final agreed reforms will then be piloted again across all education remits, before being formally implemented from autumn 2025.   

    Changes to children’s social care inspections will follow in 2026.

    Notes to editors  

    1. In parallel with this consultation, the Department for Education (DfE) is consulting on proposed changes to intervention and support in maintained schools and academies. The plan is to put those changes in place in the autumn, alongside Ofsted’s new inspection approach. The Department is also seeking feedback on a product that could include Ofsted reports, along with other information about a provider.

    2. Proposed evaluation areas for schools, including independent schools:

      • leadership and governance
      • curriculum
      • developing teaching
      • achievement
      • behaviour and attitudes
      • attendance
      • personal development and well-being
      • inclusion
      • safeguarding (assessed as met or not met)
      • early years in schools
      • sixth form in school

    3. Proposed evaluation areas for early years providers:

      • leadership and governance  
      • achievement  
      • curriculum  
      • teaching  
      • behaviour, attitudes and establishing routine  
      • children’s welfare and well-being  
      • inclusion  
      • safeguarding

    4. Proposed evaluation areas for FE and skills providers:

      Provider as a whole:

      • leadership 
      • inclusion
      • safeguarding 

      Provider as a whole, but only in colleges and specialist designated institutions:

      • contribution to meeting skills needs

      For each type of provision offered (education programmes for young people, provision for learners with high needs, apprenticeships and adult learning programmes):

      • curriculum
      • developing teaching and training 
      • achievement
      • participation and development

    5. Proposed evaluation areas for ITE providers we inspect:  

      • leadership  
      • inclusion  
      • curriculum  
      • teaching  
      • achievement  
      • professional behaviours, personal development and well-being

    6. Parentkind is one of the UK’s largest federated charities. It has supported parents and schools to build strong and supportive school communities for almost 70 years and has a network of more than 23,500 schools, parent teacher associations (PTAs) and parent councils.

    7. The DfE is providing Ofsted with £6.2m to support development and delivery of the report card.

    Press office

    8.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday 0300 013 0415

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New $43 million partnership with WA to address family and domestic violence

    Source: Ministers for Social Services

    Joint with:

    The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP
    Minister for Social Services 
    Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme
    Member for Kingston
     

    The Hon Sabine Winton MLA
    Minister for Early Childhood Education
    Minister for Child Protection
    Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence
    Minister for Community Services
    Member for Wanneroo

    The Albanese Labor Government is working in partnership with the Cook Labor Government to take significant steps towards ending gender-based violence in one generation.

    A renewed five-year National Partnership Agreement on Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses with Western Australia will see an additional $42.975 million invested by the Commonwealth from 2025-26 to 2090-30, matched by recent investment from the State Government.

    The long-term funding will go to vital projects on the ground to help prevent and respond to family, domestic and sexual violence.

    The new partnership agreement brings Western Australia’s total allocation since 2022 to $110.96 million.  

    Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said the renewed partnership agreement will help deliver the shared goal under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032 to end gender-based violence in one generation.

    “Addressing the rates of family, domestic and sexual violence has been one of my top priorities since becoming Minister for Social Services, and I am proud of what our government has achieved in just a short amount of time,” Minister Rishworth said.

    “The matched State and Commonwealth funding for Western Australia will continue to provide those on the frontline with the resources and support they need to bring about positive change and help people impacted by family, domestic and sexual violence, whether they are in crisis or starting their journey of recovery and healing.

    “I’m so pleased Western Australia is the first State to sign onto the new partnership agreement and we will continue to work in tandem with all states and territories to ensure that the safety and wellbeing of all women and children is paramount, no matter their circumstance or location.”

    West Australian Minister for the Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Sabine Winton said the funding would be crucial for frontline service providers in the state.

    “This funding secures certainty for our frontline providers,” Minister Winton said.

    “I’m so pleased we are continuing to partner with the Commonwealth government, with Western Australia becoming the first state to sign up to the new agreement.  

    “The funding will continue to support the incredible work being done on the ground by community outreach services, women’s refuges, and the family and domestic violence sector.

    “It builds on the Cook Government’s long-standing commitment to addressing the scourge of family and domestic violence.”

    Across all jurisdictions, the renewed National Partnership will deliver $700 million in new, matched investments from the Commonwealth and states and territories, supporting frontline family, domestic and sexual violence services, including specialist services for women and children exposed to family, domestic and sexual violence, and men’s behaviour change programs.

    An independent evaluation of the renewed FDSV National Partnership will be undertaken towards the end of the agreement.  

    More information on the FDSV National Partnership Agreement is available on the Federal Financial Relations website.

    If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family, or sexual violence, you call the National Helpline 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.

    If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit www.ntv.org.au

    Feeling worried or no good? Connect with 13YARN Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporters on 13 92 76, available 24/7 from any mobile or pay phone, or visit www.13yarn.org.au No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Education – New charter schools open doors to first students

    Source: Charter School Agency

    Three of the first seven new charter schools | kura hourua open their doors today, marking a huge milestone for education in New Zealand, says Charter School Agency Chief Executive, Jane Lee.

    Mastery Schools New Zealand – Arapaki (Christchurch), L’École Française Internationale (Auckland) and Te Rito, Te Kura Taiao (Doubtless Bay) will all welcome their first students with a range of celebrations.

    Mastery Schools New Zealand – Arapaki, the first new charter school to be announced last November, will greet its first 60 students with a mihi whakatau including whānau, supporters, Charter School Agency, government and Authorisation Board representatives, as well as founders of Mastery Schools Australia.

    L’École Française Internationale will celebrate with students and families by sharing a traditional French breakfast which coincides with la chandeleur (pancake day) in France while Te Rito, Te Kura Taiao will also have a mihi whakatau to welcome its first cohort, with plans for a larger opening celebration in a few weeks.

    “Today is a huge day for education. I welcome these schools to the charter school network and applaud the sponsors and education leaders for their vision and strategic approach to lifting student outcomes,” says Ms Lee.

    “The introduction of more diverse learning options in our communities opens more choice for families and students and offers a new start for children who have been disengaged or who will benefit from a different approach.  

    “Charter schools will help children attain attendance and achievement levels and the real value will be realised through them growing in confidence, reaching their potential and ultimately contributing to their communities,” says Ms Lee.

    The opening of Mastery Schools New Zealand – Arapaki was particularly significant for the school’s sponsors, Dave and Jo Jessep, whose inspiration to open a charter school stemmed from supporting their daughter’s learning needs.

    The Mastery Schools programme is evidence based and focuses on learners who are disengaged from mainstream schools. Each class has a core teacher with three teaching assistants.

    Four other new charter schools are scheduled to open in the coming week.

    TIPENE, the South Auckland Māori boys boarding school, will welcome its first cohort and whānau with a pōwhiri on 6 February, Waitangi Day, which Associate Minister for Education, David Seymour, will speak at following his attendance at Waitangi.

    The BUSY School New Zealand (central Auckland) opens on 7 February and both North West College (Auckland) and Christchurch North College start their terms on 10 February.

    More new charter schools which could open later this year or early 2026 will be announced in the coming weeks. The Charter School Agency is also preparing to start an expression of interest process for existing state schools which are interested in becoming charter schools and a new round of applications for sponsors to open new charter schools.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: SEYMOUR’S SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAMME A FAILURE DAY ONE – Sir Ray Avery GNZM

    Source: The Kaizen Group – Sir Ray Avery GNZM

    OPINION PIECE – Sir Ray says “It was actually day two when David Seymour’s lunches arrived at schools one hour after lunchtime and principals described it as looking like dog food and they could not even give it away to food banks and it was dumped.”
    The company who David Seymour awarded the $85 million School lunch programme contract to is the British-based multinational Compass Group, who lost one-third of their school contracts in the original school lunch programme due to poor quality in food and service.
    Compass has been severely criticised for its catering supply in NZ hospitals.
    Dr Kelly Garton, spokesperson for The Health Coalition Aotearoa (HCA), has significant concerns about the quality, nutritional standards and quality controls for the new school lunches programme.
    “Cabinet has given a $85 million contract to a group led by a company that just months ago was forced to do a performance management plan due to poor quality and service,” said Dr Kelly Garton.
    “Why should New Zealanders have confidence this model will deliver the nutrition and quality growing bodies and minds need?” Garton said.
    Sir Ray Avery says he has faced a lot of critics on social media because he stated: “The Government doesn’t have any meaningful Governmental Nutritional Standards for School Lunches and this seemed to polarise New Zealanders some who endorsed the New School Lunch initiative and others though that this was the parents’ responsibility.
    “Both sides of the political system seem to be focused on the process rather than outcomes,” said Sir Ray. “The real issue is what is the desired outcome? It’s trying to close the gap on equality by providing a nutritious meal (that gets eaten) by children who through no fault of their own don’t have the ‘luxury’ of packing one from home so they can focus at school and achieve better educational results and better long-term physical and mental health outcomes.
    “Not $3 meals produced by a dodgy company with a terrible track record.”
    David Seymour gave a $85-million-dollar contract to a company that day two “due to problems with their ovens were one hour late for lunchtime” and principals described it as $3 dog food and Seymour said “This is just program teething problems”.
    Sir Ray is calling out Seymour for awarding the school lunch programme to a company that is well known for awful, sub-standard food in the hospital setting and with many many complaints from schools in the previous School lunch programme.
    Sir Ray said “I can only presume his decision was based on price so Seymour could claim to have saved millions of dollars with respect to the previous School lunch programme costing $8 per serve but Seymour has wasted $85 million dollars because you can’t fix Compass quality and service problems and our kids will still go hungry because Seymour did not provide them something edible to eat.”
    Sir Ray says, “Because our Tamariki are such a valuable asset for the future of New Zealand I think Seymour should resign because he has been negligent in appointing a company known for its poor performance with respect to the quality of the food it provides and any competent Minister would have done the necessary due diligence to ensure our Tamariki have the best possible start in life.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Federated Farmers calls for doubling of QEII Trust funding

    Source: Federated Farmers

    Federated Farmers is calling on the Government to double its funding for the QEII National Trust to ensure it can continue to meet demand from farmers.
    “The QEII Trust has a stellar track record of working with landowners to permanently protect special areas of bush, wetland and biodiversity,” Federated Farmers vice president Colin Hurst says.
    “It’s an utter disgrace that QEII’s base government funding has remained unchanged at $4.3 million for a decade, despite rising demand for its help.
    “In real terms, that’s a huge cut in funding.”
    The QEII National Trust was established in 1977, with Federated Farmers dairy chair (the late) Gordon Stephenson a key instigator.
    Its core function is to encourage protection of natural and cultural features on private land. The trust partners with landowners who voluntarily protect their land without selling or donating it.
    Covenants ensure threatened species and special areas of bush and wetland are protected for future generations, in perpetuity. Subsequent landowners can’t alter this protection.
    Covenants now cover 187,774 hectares – the vast majority on farms. That is an area of land over double the size of Tongariro National Park.
    The QEII Trust celebrated its 4000 th covenant in 2014/15. Now, nearly 10 years later, it has 5,200 covenants to be managed and monitored – a 28% increase in demand, with no change in government base funding.
    For comparison, the Department of Conservation’s funding went from $470m to $718m over that same 10-year period.
    “With that big hike in the amount of covenanted land, there is clearly huge buy-in from farmers,” Hurst says.
    “Voluntary initiatives like the QEII Trust have huge support in rural communities and are a far better approach than heavy-handed and impractical SNA rules.”
    The trust leverages outside funding and bequests, and works with district and regional councils. In 2021 it also secured $8m of Jobs for Nature funding, spread over four years.
    But that runs out in June this year and the trust is warning it will have to scale back the number of new covenants it can support.
    A 2017 study by Waikato University’s Institute for Business Research found that covenanting landowners together spend an estimated $25 million of their own money every year to protect native species and special areas in their QEII covenants
    Loss of potential income from other alternative uses of land under covenant was estimated to be between $443-$638 million between 1977 and 2017.
    Farmers and other landowners pitch in with environmentalists, volunteers and council staff to carry out planting, pest control, fencing and other work on covenanted sites.
    “It represents farmer commitment, and great bang for buck, on conservation.
    “The Government needs to step up its contribution to keep up the pace,” Hurst says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Donald Trump’s tariff wallop demonstrates the brute power of an imperial presidency

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Daniel Drache, Professor Emeritus, Department of Politics, York University, Canada

    As promised, United States President Donald Trump has imposed punishing tariffs on all exports from Canada and Mexico, leading to retaliatory tariffs from Canada.

    Canada’s closest ally has torn up the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade deal negotiated only seven years ago. The rationale behind what the Wall Street Journal editorial board has called “the dumbest trade war in history” isn’t even clear.

    The pessimistic view is that if Canada doesn’t give Trump everything he wants, he will bulldoze the country with more tariffs, sanctions on banks, enhanced border inspections and even a travel ban — everything he recently threatened to do to Colombia.

    Canada’s political class is scrambling because the U.S. has long been a cultural sibling and an economic partner. But now it is toxic, threatening and untrustworthy. Will Canada sign another trade deal with Trump in office? The chances recede the longer the tariffs remain in place.

    Iron-fisted

    It’s never been more clear that Trump is obsessive, seldom a bluffer and always iron-fisted. He seems to have planned and executed this tariff bomb to cause maximum pain and chaos. Now he says the European Union is next on his list.

    Trump is counting on his new majorities in U.S. Congress to ram through his radical right populist agenda, forcing other countries to play a role in his melodrama.

    In response to Trump’s charge that the U.S. subsidizes Canadian trade, former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper pointed out that half of America’s imported oil comes from Canada, and its price is significantly discounted due to a lack of pipeline capacity. “It’s actually Canada that subsidizes the United States in this regard,” Harper said.

    Nevertheless, Trump’s preferred foreign policy tactic is to hit first with economic sanctions and negotiate later. With his near total grip on U.S. government, he can now achieve all his aims through tariffs.



    Read more:
    Canada-U.S. tariff war: How it will impact different products and industries

    The imperial presidency

    Trump’s vision for his imperial presidency is organized around an old idea: the revenue tariff. Before income taxes, border tariffs were the primary source of income for government. But back then, government did a lot less.

    For example, America’s 19th-century navy of wooden sailing ships was purchased with tariffs. But it would be impossible to fund modern-day health care, student loans and $13 billion aircraft carriers with tariff revenues.

    A recent study by the Peterson Institute for International Economics shows the math doesn’t add up. Tariffs are levied on imported goods and are worth about US$3 trillion. American income tax is levied on incomes and are worth more than US$20 trillion. Government would have to be much smaller, and tariffs would have to be so high they would choke American trade, for tariffs to make economic sense.

    And yet Trump has a broad mandate. In the summer of 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Trump v. United States that presidents require a broadly defined “presumptive immunity from prosecution for … official acts.”

    This decision has given Trump the legal clout to force the entire federal government to answer to the president himself.



    Read more:
    US Supreme Court immunity ruling ideal for a president who doesn’t care about democracy

    War against democracy

    Trump is using his vast new mandate to wage multiple wars simultaneously. These wars against the guardrails of liberal democracy require the punishment of his enemies inside his own party.



    Read more:
    Canada should be preparing for the end of American democracy

    Republicans who have voted against Trump legislation during his first term faced high-profile challenges in the primaries as he funded their opponents. Today, the war is waged against those who are insufficiently loyal, including the highest ranks of the Coast Guard and the FBI.

    The war against the administrative state involves the mass firing of independent inspectors, federal lawyers and thousands of civil servants to be replaced by foot soldiers personally loyal to the leader.

    The Trump administration has sent out “deferred resignation” notices that invite the entire civil service to resign. This is the tactic Trump’s key adviser, Elon Musk, implemented at X, and it suggests a wave of firings will soon begin.

    Nonsensical trade war

    The trade war against Canada and Mexico is peculiar because neither country has expressed any willingness to abolish the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which is among the achievements of Trump’s first administration.

    Nevertheless, the paranoid Trump seems to be convinced that he got a raw deal in 2018, and so he wants to scrap the whole treaty and negotiate something tougher that brings more jobs home.

    In 2024, the cars that were ranked most “American” in terms of their content and final assembly were made by Tesla, Honda and Volkswagen. By comparison, the best-selling the Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck ranked No. 43 on the list. What Trump considers American and non-American isn’t clear, even to voters.

    A new Bank of Canada forecast predicts that American tariffs may reduce Canadian GDP by six per cent. The federal government is planning an enormous bailout package to compensate for widespread job losses like the one offered to businesses and individuals during the pandemic.

    Unsurprisingly, Trump divides Canada’s leadership. Alberta and Saskatchewan have publicly criticized the Team Canada approach. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith refused to sign the joint federal/provincial statement and played to her secessionist base.



    Read more:
    Why Alberta’s Danielle Smith is rejecting the Team Canada approach to Trump’s tariff threats

    Even so, former Alberta premier Jason Kenney recognizes the peril, arguing that Alberta needs to “be prepared to retaliate … we can’t be wusses about this; we have to have a spine.”

    What’s next?

    Canada is an export-led economy based on natural resources. Its strength lies not in refusing to buy California wine or Florida orange juice. Its main sources of leverage are oil and gas, potash and uranium, rare earth minerals, timber products and hydroelectric power. But of all these, oil, uranium, and hydro-electric power are Canada’s biggest guns.

    It’s not yet clear how effective the Canadian government’s strategy will be. Previous rounds of retaliation after the steel and aluminum tariffs in Trump’s first term did not drive him to the negotiating table. It’s also unclear what the CEOs of Canada’s branch-plant multinational corporations will do when their loyalties are divided between Trump and Canada.

    Furthermore, it’s anyone’s guess how much the dissent of western Canadian premiers has hurt Canada’s case with Trump. Certainly, his preferred tactic is to divide and conquer.

    Finally, it’s unclear if Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s “Captain Canada” approach will earn the respect or disdain of Republicans — although, ultimately, it doesn’t matter what the rest of the American political class thinks because Trump and his inner circle are calling all the shots.

    In practical terms, there is little Canada can do to address the false accusations that it’s complicit in the illicit drug trade and in migrants crossing the border into the U.S. Facts don’t matter to Trump. He will eventually come up with a demand, and if Canada doesn’t give in, he will ramp up the economic pain.

    Welcome to the post-liberal world order.

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

    – ref. Donald Trump’s tariff wallop demonstrates the brute power of an imperial presidency – https://theconversation.com/donald-trumps-tariff-wallop-demonstrates-the-brute-power-of-an-imperial-presidency-247524

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: First charter schools open for 2025

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Associate Minister of Education, David Seymour, says that today is a great day for educational achievement in New Zealand. From today the first charter schools will begin teaching. 
    “As of today, the first lessons at Mastery Schools New Zealand – Arapaki, Te Rito, Te Kura Taiao and Ecole Francaise Internationale Auckland are underway. This is another significant step in the Government’s efforts to lift educational achievement in New Zealand,” says Mr Seymour. 
    “The next seven days will see the remaining four charter schools set to open at the start of Term 1 2025 begin teaching. 
    TIPENE will open on Thursday 6 February, The BUSY School will open on Friday 7 February, North West Creative Arts College and Christchurch North College will both open on Monday 10 February.
    “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,” says Mr Seymour.
    “Every child deserves an education that gives them the opportunity to learn and grow in ways which are more specific to their needs. The seven charter schools which open over the next week are all fantastic examples of schools that give families and educators more meaningful educational choice and support.
    “I want to thank the Charter School Agency and independent Authorisation Board for the work they have done to progress this important work. They oversaw a robust and fair process with 78 applications in the first round. 
    “This is just the beginning. I hope to see many more new charter schools opening, and state and state-integrated schools converting to become charter schools.  
    “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. Positive education outcomes can lead to better health, higher incomes, better job stability and greater participation within communities. These are opportunities that every student deserves.” 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Could the contraceptive pill reduce risk of ovarian cancer?

    Source: University of South Australia

    03 February 2025

    It’s a little pill with big responsibilities. But despite its primary role to prevent pregnancy, the contraceptive pill (or ‘the Pill’) could also help reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, according to new research from the University of South Australia.

    Screening for risk factors of ovarian cancer using artificial intelligence, UniSA researchers found that the oral contraceptive pill reduced the risk of ovarian cancer by 26% among women who had ever used the Pill, and by 43% for women who had used the Pill after the age of 45.

    The study also identified some biomarkers associated with ovarian cancer risk, including several characteristics of red blood cells and certain liver enzymes in the blood, with lower body weight and shorter stature associating with a lower risk of ovarian cancer.

    Researchers also found that women who had given birth to two or more children had a 39% reduced risk of developing ovarian cancer compared to those who had not had children.

    Ahead of World Cancer Day on 4 February, the findings have potential to support early diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

    In Australia, ovarian cancer is the tenth most common cancer in women and the sixth most common cause of death from cancer in women. 

    In 2023, 1786 females were diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Australia; the same year, 1050 females died of the disease.

    UniSA researcher Dr Amanda Lumsden says understanding risks and preventative factors for ovarian cancer is key for improved treatment and outcomes.

    “Ovarian cancer is notoriously diagnosed at a late stage, with about 70% of cases only identified when they are significantly advanced,” Dr Lumsden says.

    “Late detection contributes to a survival rate of less than 30% over five years, in comparison to more than 90% for ovarian cancers that are caught early. That’s why it’s so important to identify risk factors.

    “In this research, we found that women who had used the oral contraceptive pill had a lower risk of ovarian cancer. And those who had last used the Pill in their mid-40s, had an even lower level of risk.

    “This poses the question as to whether interventions that reduce the number of ovulations could be used as a potential target for prevention strategies for ovarian cancer.”

    Supported by the MRFF, the study used artificial intelligence to assess the data of 221,732 females (aged 37-73 at baseline) in the UK Biobank.

    Machine learning specialist, UniSA’s Dr Iqbal Madakkatel, says the study shows how artificial intelligence can help to identify risk factors that may otherwise have gone undetected.

    “We included information from almost 3000 diverse characteristics related to health, medication use, diet and lifestyle, physical measures, metabolic, and hormonal factors, each measured at the start of the study,” Dr Madakkatel says.

    “It was particularly interesting that some blood measures – which were measured on average 12.6 years before diagnoses – were predictive of ovarian cancer risk, because it suggests we may be able to develop tests to identify women at risk at a very early stage.”

    Project Lead, Professor Elina Hyppönen, says that identifying risk factors for ovarian cancer could help to improve survival rates through prevention and earlier detection.

    “It is exciting that our data-driven analyses have uncovered key risk factors for ovarian cancer that can be acted upon,” Prof Hyppönen says.

    “It is possible that by using the contraceptive pill to reduce ovulations or by reducing harmful adiposity, we may be able to lower to risk of ovarian cancer. But more research is needed to establish the best approaches to prevention, as well as the ways in which we can identify women most at risk.”

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

    Contacts for interview:  Dr Amanda Lumsden E: Amanda.Lumsden@unisa.edu.au

    Professor Elina Hyppönen: E: Elina.Hypponen@unisa.edu.au
    Media contact: Annabel Mansfield M: +61 479 182 489 E: Annabel.Mansfield@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Regional Australia to get 10 new University Study Hubs

    Source: Australian Executive Government Ministers

    The Albanese Labor Government today announced the locations of 10 new Regional University Study Hubs across the country, bringing university closer to students living in the regions.

    This comes as new data shows a 32 per cent increase in the past year of students using the existing 43 Study Hubs across the country.

    The new 10 new Regional University Study Hubs are:

    • Clermont and Moranbah, QLD
    • Hughenden, QLD 
    • Hay, NSW
    • Tumut, NSW
    • Northam, WA
    • Kununurra, WA
    • Kangaroo Island, SA
    • Hamilton, VIC
    • St Helens, TAS 
    • Burnt Pine, Norfolk Island.

    The 10 new Hubs are expected to be operational from mid-2025. 

    Once these open, there will be 56 Regional University Study Hubs located across the country. 

    43 of these Hubs are open and another 3 expected to open by Semester 1, 2025. There are also 10 Suburban University Study Hubs that are expected to be operational by mid-2025.

    Study Hubs provide student support and campus-style facilities for students who are doing a university degree without having to leave their community. 

    The evidence shows that where they are, university participation increases. 

    The current 43 Hubs support over 5,200 students, with the most popular courses among students at Regional University Study Hubs are in areas of skills need such as health (34 per cent) and education (17 per cent).

    These 10 new Hubs are part of the Albanese Government’s $66.9 million investment to double the number of University Study Hubs across Australia.

    This announcement builds on the first round of new Regional University Study Hubs announced last year, which are located in:

    • East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory
    • Victor Harbor, South Australia
    • Warwick, Queensland
    • Chinchilla, Queensland
    • Innisfail, Queensland
    • King Island, Tasmania
    • Katanning, Western Australia
    • The Pilbara (Tom Price and Onslow), Western Australia
    • Central Western Queensland (Longreach, Barcaldine, Blackall, Winton, Boulia, Bedourie, Birdsville and Jundah)
    • East Gippsland (Mallacoota, Orbost, Omeo, Heyfield and Yarram), Victoria

    The Government also provided additional funding to two existing Regional University Study Hubs located in:

    • Cowra, New South Wales
    • Mudgee, New South Wales

    The new University Study Hubs are part of the Government’s response to the Universities Accord.

    For more information: Regional University Study Hubs – Department of Education, Australian Government

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

    “Today, almost one in two young people in their 20s and their 30s have a university degree. But not everywhere. Not in the outer suburbs and not in regional Australia. 

    “That’s why we are doubling the number of University Study Hubs, to bring university closer to them.

    “We know they work. The evidence is they increase the number of people going to uni degree. 

    “Bringing university closer to where you live will encourage more people who otherwise might decide not to go to university at all to give it a crack.”

    Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Education and Regional Development Anthony Chisholm:

    “Each time we open a new hub in a regional, rural or remote community, we’re removing an educational barrier that can stop people from getting a tertiary qualification.

    “These 10 new locations will mean more young people in the regions have the opportunity to stay in their communities and near their support networks while studying a tertiary qualification.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How we’re recovering priceless audio and lost languages from old decaying tapes

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nick Thieberger, Associate Professor in Linguistics and a Chief Investigator in the Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language, The University of Melbourne

    Nick Thieberger

    Remember cassettes? If you’re old enough, you might remember dropping one into a player, only to have it screech at you when you pressed “play”. We’ve fixed that problem. But why would we bother?

    Before the iPod came along, people recorded their favourite tunes straight from the radio. Some of us made home recordings with our sibling and grandparents – precious childhood snippets.

    And a few of us even have recordings from that time we travelled to a village in Vanuatu, some 40 years ago, and heard the locals performing in a language that no longer exists.

    In the field of linguistics, such recordings are beyond priceless – yet often out of reach, due to the degradation of old cassettes over time. With a new tool, we are able to repair those tapes, and in doing so can recover the stories, songs and memories they hold.

    A digital humanities telescope

    Our digital archive, PARADISEC (Pacific and Regional Archive for Digital Sources in Endangered Cultures) contains thousands of hours of audio – mainly from musicological or linguistic fieldwork. This audio represents some 1,360 languages, with a major focus on languages of the Pacific and Papua New Guinea.

    The PARADISEC research project was started in 2003 as a collaboration between the universities of Melbourne and Sydney, and the Australian National University.

    Like a humanities telescope, PARADISEC allows us to learn more about the language diversity around us, as we explained in a 2016 Conversation article.

    Lubing the screech

    While many of the tapes we get are in good condition and can be readily played and digitised, others need special care, and the removal of mould and dirt.

    We work with colleagues at agencies such as the Solomon Islands National Museum, for whom we recently repaired a set of cassettes that were previously unplayable and just screeched. We’ll be taking those cassettes, now repaired and digitised, back to Honiara in February and expect to pick up more for further treatment.

    Screeching happens when a tape is dried out and can’t move through the mechanism easily. The screeching covers the audio signal we want to capture.

    In 2019, my colleague Sam King built (with the help of his colleague Doug Smith) a cassette-lubricating machine while working at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. This machine – likely the first of its kind in Australia – allowed us to play many previously unplayable tapes.

    Last year, Sam built two versions of an updated machine called the LM-3032 Tape Restorator for PARADISEC, improving on the previous model. Between hand building some parts, 3D printing others and writing code for the controllers, it took him more than a year.

    The 2024 LM-3032 Tape Restorator is an improved version of a model built in 2019.
    Sam King

    Preserving culture and heritage

    The LM-3032 Tape Restorator works by applying cyclomethicone (a silicone-based solvent used in cosmetics) to the length of a tape. This leaves behind an extremely thin film of lubrication that allows smoother playback, making digitisation possible. See more details here.

    Tests have shown this process has no negative long-term effects on the tape. In fact, tapes treated with this method five years ago still play without issues.

    This technological wizardry allows us to salvage precious analogue recordings before it’s too late. For many languages, these may be the only known recordings – stored on a single cassette, in a single location, and virtually inaccessible. Some of the primary research records digitised by PARADISEC have survived long periods of neglect in offices, garages and attics.

    The audio below is from a tape that was kept at Fitzroy Crossing in the Kimberley for 40 years. It features beautiful singing in the local Walmajarri language, with guitar accompaniment. The first seven seconds are from the untreated tape, while the rest is from the treated version.

    Singing in Walmajarri, with guitar accompaniment. A side-by-side comparison of a tape treated with the LM-3032 Tape Restorator.
    CC BY-NC-SA410 KB (download)

    Our experience has shown community members truly value finding records in their own languages, and we’re committed to making this process easier for them.

    Here’s one testimonial from E’ava Geita, Papua New Guinea’s current acting Solicitor General. In 2015, Geita was overjoyed to hear digitised records capturing PNG’s Koita language:

    If only you witnessed and captured the reaction in me going through the recordings at home! It is quite an amazing experience! From feeling of awe to emotion to deep excitement! The feeling of knowing that your language has been documented or recorded in a structured way, kept safely somewhere in the world, hearing it spoken 50–60 years ago and by some people you haven’t seen but whose names you only hear in history is quite incredible. It is most heartwarming to know that it is possible to sustain the life of my language. Thank you once again for the opportunity to listen to the records.

    Acknowlegement: I’d like to thank Sam King for the technical information provided in this article.

    The Tape Restorator was funded by the School of Languages and Linguistics, University of Melbourne, and by a grant from the Australian Research Council (LE220100010)

    – ref. How we’re recovering priceless audio and lost languages from old decaying tapes – https://theconversation.com/how-were-recovering-priceless-audio-and-lost-languages-from-old-decaying-tapes-248116

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Demolition should be the last resort for Melbourne’s 44 public housing towers – retrofit and upgrade instead

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nigel Bertram, Practice Professor of Architecture, Monash University

    Investment in public housing is long overdue. But the current proposal to demolish all 44 of Melbourne’s social housing towers, relocate more than 10,000 residents and redevelop the sites is deeply flawed.

    This blanket approach risks repeating the traumatic dislocation of vulnerable communities that happened when the towers were built more than 50 years ago. It also involves wasting money, energy and construction materials.

    The state government says the old high-rises are being redeveloped to meet modern standards and house more people. But the decision to demolish and rebuild, rather than upgrade, has been challenged repeatedly.

    I coauthored one of the most recent reports from concerned independent architects, urban designers and researchers. Together we argue retrofitting and upgrading existing housing stock, when combined with strategic new building, is technically feasible, cheaper and better for people and the planet.

    At the same time, a class action lawsuit is awaiting a legal ruling on whether the government should be forced to release documents justifying demolition over retrofitting.

    We know retaining and reusing existing structures saves energy and other resources, ultimately reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Across 44 buildings, this could also save around A$1.5 billion in construction costs.

    Playing the numbers game

    The federal government has set a national target to build 1.2 million homes by 2029. Victoria has a “bold” target to build 800,000 new homes over the next ten years. But how they go about meeting these targets matters too.

    Melbourne’s housing commission towers are home to established communities, where connections between people have developed over a long period. This has immense social value.

    The 44 towers also represent substantial embodied carbon. This is the carbon dioxide (CO₂) already emitted in extracting, manufacturing, transporting, installing and eventually disposing of existing concrete, bricks and other reusable materials.

    Our analysis of one tower at Atherton Gardens estate revealed a potential saving of 16,000 tonnes of CO₂ through retrofitting. Multiplying this by 44 adds up to more than 700,000 tonnes – roughly equivalent to taking 150,000 cars off the road.

    Taking tips from overseas

    Overseas, similar postwar housing precincts have been updated and redeveloped in a more careful, considered way. Residents have even been able to stay in place while improvements are made. Such approaches incorporate a mix of renovation and retrofitting of existing buildings, combined with new infill and upgrades to public open spaces.

    This approach integrates the precincts into the surrounding city and upgrades facilities to contemporary standards – without wholesale disruption and dislocation of the residents and their established communities.

    It’s hard to know whether this work was considered during the decision-making process. The Victorian government and its housing agency Homes Victoria have so far refused to release the relevant reports or documents explaining their reasoning.

    Such lack of transparency and consultation led to the launch of the class action. Residents at the Flemington and North Melbourne Estates have come together to argue their human rights were not considered when the decision to demolish their homes was made.

    Two reports provide independent analysis

    Filling the void, professional groups have undertaken two separate independent studies on a pro-bono basis. These reports analyse the different options based on the available information.

    I helped compare three scenarios for a 20-storey tower at Atherton Gardens, Fitzroy. The research analysed two retrofit scenarios for the tower and compared these with a hypothetical equivalent new building.

    We established the scope of building works required for each scenario. The team then measured capital cost, embodied carbon and carbon during operation for each case.

    We found considerable savings can be made in capital costs (25–30%), embodied carbon (34–36%) and construction time (15–20%) through retrofitting, compared with constructing an equivalent new building.

    When multiplied over 44 towers, these savings amount to about A$1.5 billion in raw construction value alone. This is without considering the additional costs of relocating existing residents, providing alternative accommodation during construction, or the social and health and wellbeing costs associated with long-term dislocation of communities.

    A separate more detailed report on the Flemington Estate was released in October by charitable not-for-profit design and research practice OFFICE. Both reports independently arrived at very similar solutions for ways to address structural, fire and servicing upgrades.

    Breaking down the barriers

    Several reasons have been circulated as to why these high-rise towers are unsuitable for retrofitting. The two reports go through each in turn.

    The towers are constructed from precast concrete slabs and internal walls are load-bearing. This makes refurbishment difficult, because the majority of walls cannot be moved. The buildings were also designed when the requirement to resist earthquakes was minimal.

    A range of other technical hurdles, such as improving acoustic, thermal and fire separation and repairing degraded concrete, would also complicate upgrades. But none of these issues is insurmountable.

    Both reports include strategies to address these issues, costed into the estimates. For example, the cost of strengthening to meet earthquake codes has been estimated as $1.73 million in Flemington and $3.85 million for Atherton Gardens. That’s around 3.7% of the total $105 million estimated construction cost for a single Atherton Gardens tower.

    Exploring alternatives

    The fact a building does not meet current regulatory standards is not in itself a reason for demolition. More than 80% of the city’s buildings would fail to meet these standards, including everything built in the 19th and 20th centuries. Our building codes recognise the value of existing structures and have provisions for renovation scenarios.

    Retention and reuse of existing building fabric can achieve results surpassing current legislative standards while minimising waste, retaining the value of existing embodied carbon, and retaining the fabric, character and social memory of the city in the process.

    Retrofitting can also avoid the mass displacement of existing residents, who would otherwise need to be accommodated during the construction phase. For instance, construction can allow refurbishment on a floor-by-floor basis, minimising relocation time for residents.

    With the right design, skilled consultants, and genuine care for residents, it’s possible to overcome the barriers typically faced when reusing existing building stock.

    I am grateful to Simon Robinson of OFFICE for his contributions to this article.



    Read more:
    Why knock down all public housing towers when retrofit can sometimes be better?

    Nigel Bertram has previously received funding from the Australian Research Council

    – ref. Demolition should be the last resort for Melbourne’s 44 public housing towers – retrofit and upgrade instead – https://theconversation.com/demolition-should-be-the-last-resort-for-melbournes-44-public-housing-towers-retrofit-and-upgrade-instead-246327

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Pregnant women can now get a free RSV shot. What other vaccines do you need when you’re expecting?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Archana Koirala, Paediatrician and Infectious Diseases Specialist, University of Sydney

    voronaman/Shutterstock

    From today, February 3, pregnant women in Australia will be eligible for a free RSV vaccine under the National Immunisation Program.

    This vaccine is designed to protect young infants from severe RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). It does so by generating the production of antibodies against RSV in the mother, which then travel across the placenta to the baby.

    While the RSV vaccine is a new addition to the National Immunisation Program, it’s one of three vaccines provided free for pregnant women under the program, alongside ones for influenza and whooping cough. Each offers important protection for newborn babies.

    The RSV vaccine

    RSV is the most common cause of lower respiratory infections (bronchiolitis and pneumonia) in infants. It’s estimated that of every 100 infants born in Australia each year, at least two will be hospitalised with RSV by six months of age.

    RSV infection is most common roughly between March and August in the southern hemisphere, but infection can occur year-round, especially in tropical areas.

    The vaccine works by conferring passive immunity (from the mother) as opposed to active immunity (the baby’s own immune response). By the time the baby is born, their antibodies are sufficient to protect them during the first months of life when they are most vulnerable to severe RSV disease.

    The RSV vaccine registered for use in pregnant women in Australia, Abrysvo, has been used since 2023 in the Americas and Europe. Real-world experience there shows it’s working well.

    For example, over the 2024 RSV season in Argentina, it was found to prevent 72.7% of lower respiratory tract infections caused by RSV and requiring hospitalisation in infants aged 0–3 months, and 68% among those aged 0–6 months. This research noted three deaths from RSV, all in infants whose mothers did not receive the RSV vaccine during pregnancy.

    This was similar to protection seen in a large multinational clinical trial that compared babies born to mothers who received this RSV vaccine with babies born to mothers who received a placebo. This study found the vaccine prevented 82.4% of severe cases of RSV in infants aged under three months, and 70% under six months, and that the vaccine was safe.

    Vaccinating mothers during pregnancy protects the newborn baby.
    StoryTime Studio/Shutterstock

    In addition to the maternal vaccine, nirsevimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody, provides effective protection against severe RSV disease. It’s delivered to the baby by an intramuscular injection, usually in the thigh.

    Nirsevimab is recommended for babies born to women who did not receive an RSV vaccine during pregnancy, or who are born within two weeks of their mother having received the shot (most likely if they’re born prematurely). It may also be recommended for babies who are at higher risk of RSV due to a medical condition, even if their mother was vaccinated.

    Nirsevimab is not funded under the National Immunisation Program, but is covered under various state and territory-based programs for infants of mothers who fall into the above categories.

    But now we have a safe and effective RSV vaccine for pregnancy, all pregnant women should be encouraged to receive it as the first line of prevention. This will maximise the number of babies protected during their first months of life.

    Flu and whooping cough

    It’s also important pregnant women continue to receive flu and whooping cough vaccines in 2025. Like the RSV vaccine, these protect infants by passing antibodies from mother to baby.

    There has been a large whooping cough outbreak in Australia in recent months, including a death of a two-month-old infant in Queensland in November 2024.

    The whooping cough vaccine, given in combination with diphtheria and tetanus, prevents more than 90% of whooping cough cases in babies too young to receive their first whooping cough vaccine dose.

    Similarly, influenza can be deadly in young babies, and maternal flu vaccination substantially reduces hospital visits associated with influenza for babies under six months. Flu can also be serious for pregnant women, so the vaccine offers important protection for the mother as well.

    COVID vaccines are safe in pregnancy, but unless a woman is otherwise eligible, they’re not routinely recommended. You can discuss this with your health-care provider.

    When and where can you get vaccinated?

    Pregnant women can receive these vaccines during antenatal visits through their GP or in a specialised antenatal clinic.

    The flu vaccine is recommended at any time during pregnancy, the whooping cough vaccine from 20 weeks (ideally before 32 weeks), and the RSV vaccine from 28 weeks (before 36 weeks).

    It’s safe to receive multiple vaccinations at the same clinic visit.

    The RSV vaccine is now available for pregnant women under the National Immunisation Program.
    Olga Rolenko/Shutterstock

    We know vaccination rates have declined in a variety of groups since the pandemic, and there’s evidence emerging that suggests this trend has occurred in pregnant women too.

    A recent preprint (a study yet to be peer-reviewed) found a decrease of nearly ten percentage points in flu vaccine coverage among pregnant women in New South Wales, from 58.8% in 2020 to 49.1% in 2022. The research showed a smaller drop of 1.4 percentage points for whooping cough, from 79% in 2020 to 77.6% in 2022.

    It’s important to work to improve vaccination rates during pregnancy to give babies the best protection in their first months of life.

    We know pregnant women would like to receive information about new and routine maternal vaccines early in pregnancy. In particular, many pregnant women want to understand how vaccines are tested for safety, and their effectiveness, which was evident during COVID.

    GPs and midwives are trusted sources of information on vaccines in pregnancy. There’s also information available online on Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation, a collaboration led by the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance.

    Archana Koirala is the chair of the Vaccination Special Interest Group and an executive member of the Australia and New Zealand Paediatric Infectious Diseases group of the Australasian Society of Infectious Diseases. She has received funding to her institution from the Australian government Department of Health and Aged Care and NSW government for her research activities.

    Bianca Middleton is a member of Vaccination Special Interest Group of the Australasian Society of Infectious Diseases. She is an investigator on several research studies funded by NHMRC/ MRFF, and also an investigator on an industry-sponsored clinical vaccine trial. She does not receive any direct funding from industry.

    Prof Margie Danchin receives funding from NHMRC, MRFF, Victorian and Commonwealth government and DFAT and WHO. She is a member of Vaccination Special Interest Group of the Australasian Society of Infectious Diseases (ASID), Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).

    Peter McIntyre receives funding from the Health Research Council (New Zealand) and the Otago Medical Research Foundation and until the end of 2024 was a member of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts for immunisation

    Rebecca Doyle 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. Pregnant women can now get a free RSV shot. What other vaccines do you need when you’re expecting? – https://theconversation.com/pregnant-women-can-now-get-a-free-rsv-shot-what-other-vaccines-do-you-need-when-youre-expecting-246413

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Podcasts have helped sway many young American men to the right. The same may well happen in Australia

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

    Shutterstock

    The 2024 US presidential election saw a historic shift to the right, driven by the largest swing of young male voters in two decades. Analysts attribute this partly to podcasters like Joe Rogan, whose unfiltered, conversational content bypassed traditional media to mobilise this demographic.

    Our own research shows that Donald Trump’s podcast strategy during the election campaign boosted his support by 1% to 2.6%, with more than half of this linked to Rogan’s platform. In contrast, Kamala Harris’s reliance on traditional, curated media lacked the authenticity that resonated with Trump’s base.

    This trend has clear parallels in Australia, where media strategy has long mirrored the US. In 1949, Robert Menzies used radio to reassure the public, much like Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “fireside chats”. In the 1980s, television brought Bob Hawke into voters’ homes, showcasing charisma akin that of John F. Kennedy in his earlier televised debates. Kevin Rudd’s 2007 “Kevin 07” campaign effectively mirrored Barack Obama’s use of social media to engage younger voters. Similarly, Scott Morrison’s 2019 campaign emulated Trump-style microtargeting on Facebook to connect with specific demographics.

    Today, podcasts have become the latest battleground for political influence. Their conversational, long-form format enables politicians to address complex issues in a direct, personal manner. This medium resonates particularly with younger voters, who are increasingly turning away from traditional media.

    The 2025 federal election will likely see a turning point in the influence of podcasts on election campaigns, and even the outcome.

    The Australian podcasting landscape

    Podcast consumption in Australia continues to rise, with listenership increasing by 8.7% in early 2024. This comes after reaching a record 43% in 2023, up from 17% in 2017.

    Dubbed “the world’s most avid podcast listeners”, Australian men aged 18–34 dominate the audience, drawn to popular news and politics podcasts such as ABC News Top Stories and The Party Room, as well as global hits like The Joe Rogan Experience.

    Podcasts appeal through their intimacy and authenticity, fostering a “close-knit friend group” atmosphere. Younger voters increasingly use podcasts to explore issues such as housing affordability and climate change.

    Rogan’s podcast exemplifies this appeal, particularly among young Australian men. With 80% of his audience male, and half aged 18–34, Rogan’s unapologetic masculinity and focus on topics such as combat sports, hunting and societal controversies position him as a counterbalance to identity politics. His “living room” style, seen during Trump’s three-hour appearance, makes polarising or extremist ideas more palatable. This reflects a broader cultural shift among young men toward what they see as “traditional values”.

    While podcasts often feature diverse viewpoints, their unregulated nature can expose listeners to harmful ideologies, fostering echo chambers or radicalisation. Misinformation spreads more easily in these spaces, as evidenced by the US, where fragmented media contributed to the rise of Trumpism. Although Australia’s stricter campaign finance laws and media regulations reduce such risks, they cannot eliminate them entirely.

    As the 2025 election nears, understanding how podcasts shape voter behaviour is critical for balanced political discourse and social cohesion.

    Australia’s political landscape

    Recent polls show the Liberal-National Coalition leading Labor 53.1% to 46.9% in two-party preferred voting, with 39% of voters preferring Peter Dutton as prime minister compared with Anthony Albanese’s 34%. While the Coalition uses Trump-style strategies, Albanese appears to have a problem with male voters.

    Dutton emulates Trump in using podcasts to connect directly with young male voters and amplify culture war themes, anti-woke sentiment, and populist rhetoric.

    His Elon Musk-inspired push for a “government efficiency” department mirrors Trump’s populist promises of cutting “wasteful spending”.

    The Coalition has tapped into a broader cultural shift among young men. Many of these men have gravitated toward influencers like Andrew Tate – alleged rapist and human trafficker with ambitions to become UK prime minister – whose divisive rhetoric reinforces regressive ideals.

    Surveys reveal 28% of Australian teenage boys admire Tate, while 36% find him relatable. Moreover, half of surveyed schools link his influence to negative behavioural changes.

    These strategies seem to work, with polls showing increased male voter support for the Coalition (52.7% to Labor’s 47.3%).

    Australia’s compulsory voting and multi-party preferential system encourage broad-based appeals. But they also risk amplifying polarisation.

    Australia’s concentrated media ownership, dominated by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, further shapes public discourse by amplifying conservative perspectives.

    Although younger Australians – especially women – remain a strong progressive base for Labor, the rise of right-wing podcasts and their impact on young male voters poses a significant challenge. The Coalition’s ability to connect with this demographic via podcasts, leveraging dissatisfaction and cultural shifts, could shape the election’s outcome.

    Opportunity and risk

    Podcasts present both opportunities and risks for Australian politics. They offer a powerful platform for politicians to engage younger voters on crucial issues, fostering deeper connections. However, their unregulated nature enables the spread of misinformation and the normalisation of polarising ideas.

    To address this, voters should critically evaluate podcast content, fact-check claims using resources such as RMIT ABC Fact Check and AAP FactCheck, and seek diverse perspectives. Politicians, meanwhile, must use podcasts strategically, balancing authenticity with accountability.

    Progressive ideas could better resonate with young male audiences by reframing topics such as climate action, housing affordability and workplace equity as opportunities for leadership, empowerment and responsibility. Partnering with relatable influencers and using accessible, conversational podcast formats can help progressives connect with this demographic.

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

    – ref. Podcasts have helped sway many young American men to the right. The same may well happen in Australia – https://theconversation.com/podcasts-have-helped-sway-many-young-american-men-to-the-right-the-same-may-well-happen-in-australia-248135

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How psychologists kick-started AI by studying the human mind

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Ludlow, Lecturer in Psychology, Swinburne University of Technology

    The Mark I Perceptron used one of the first artificial neural networks to identify letters of the alphabet. National Museum of the U.S. Navy / Wikimedia

    Many people think of psychology as being primarily about mental health, but its story goes far beyond that.

    As the science of the mind, psychology has played a pivotal role in shaping artificial intelligence, offering insights into human cognition, learning and behaviour that have profoundly influenced AI’s development.

    These contributions not only laid the foundations for AI but also continue to guide its future development. The study of psychology has shaped our understanding of what constitutes intelligence in machines, and how we can address the complex challenges and benefits associated with this technology.

    Machines mimicking nature

    The origins of modern AI can be traced back to psychology in the mid-20th century. In 1949, psychologist Donald Hebb proposed a model for how the brain learns: connections between brain cells grow stronger when they are active at the same time.

    This idea gave a hint of how machines might learn by mimicking nature’s approach.

    Psychologist Frank Rosenblatt designed the perceptron in imitation of the connections in the human brain.
    Frank Rosenblatt / Wikimedia

    In the 1950s, psychologist Frank Rosenblatt built on Hebb’s theory to develop a system called the perceptron.

    The perceptron was the first artificial neural network ever made. It ran on the same principle as modern AI systems, in which computers learn by adjusting connections within a network based on data rather than relying on programmed instructions.

    A scientific understanding of intelligence

    In the 1980s, psychologist David Rumelhart improved on Rosenblatt’s perceptron. He applied a method called backpropagation, which uses principles of calculus to help neural networks improve through feedback.

    Backpropagation was originally developed by Paul Werbos, who said the technique “opens up the possibility of a scientific understanding of intelligence, as important to psychology and neurophysiology as Newton’s concepts were to physics”.

    Rumelhart’s 1986 paper, coauthored with Ronald Williams and Geoffrey Hinton, is often credited with sparking the modern era of artificial neural networks. This work laid the foundation for deep learning innovations such as large language models.

    In 2024, the Nobel Prize for Physics was awarded to Hinton and John Hopfield for work on artificial neural networks. Notably, the Nobel committee, in its scientific report, highlighted the crucial role psychologists played in the development of artificial neural networks.

    Hinton, who holds a degree in psychology, acknowledged standing on the shoulders of giants such as Rumelhart when receiving his prize.

    Self-reflection and understanding

    Psychology continues to play an important role in shaping the future of AI. It offers theoretical insights to address some of the field’s biggest challenges, including reflective reasoning, intelligence and decision-making.

    Microsoft founder Bill Gates recently pointed out a key limitation of today’s AI systems. They can’t engage in reflective reasoning, or what psychologists call metacognition.

    In the 1970s, developmental psychologist John Flavell introduced the idea of metacognition. He used it to explain how children master complex skills by reflecting on and understanding their own thinking.

    Decades later, this psychological framework is gaining attention as a potential pathway to advancing AI.

    Fluid intelligence

    Psychological theory is increasingly being applied to improve AI systems, particularly by enhancing their capacity for solving novel problems.

    For instance, computer scientist François Chollet highlights the importance of fluid intelligence, which psychologists define as the ability to solve new problems without prior experience or training.

    An example question from a test of ‘fluid intelligence’ designed by Francois Chollet.
    ARC Prize

    In a 2019 paper, Chollet introduced a test inspired by principles from cognitive psychology to measure how well AI systems can handle new problems. The test – known as the Abstract and Reasoning Corpus for Artificial General Intelligence (ARC-AGI) – provided a kind of guide for making AI systems think and reason in more human-like ways.

    In late 2024, OpenAI’s o3 model demonstrated notable success on Chollet’s test, showing progress in creating AI systems that can adapt and solve a wider range of problems.

    The risk of explanations

    Another goal of current research is to make AI systems more able to explain their output. Here, too, psychology offers valuable insights.

    Computer scientist Edward Lee has drawn on the work of psychologist Daniel Kahneman to highlight why requiring AI systems to explain themselves might be risky.

    Kahneman showed how humans often justify their decisions with explanations created after the fact, which don’t reflect their true reasoning. For example, studies have found that judges’ rulings fluctuate depending on when they last ate — despite their firm belief in their own impartiality.

    Lee cautions that AI systems could produce similarly misleading explanations. Because rationalisations can be deceptive, Lee argues AI research should focus on reliable outcomes instead.

    Technology shaping our minds

    The science of psychology remains widely misunderstood. In 2020, for example, the Australian government proposed reclassifying it as part of the humanities in universities.

    As people increasingly interact with machines, AI, psychology and neuroscience may hold key insights into our future.

    Our brains are extremely adaptable, and technology shapes how we think and learn. Research by psychologist and neuroscientist Eleanor Maguire, for example, revealed that the brains of London taxi drivers are physically altered by using a car to navigate a complex city.

    As AI advances, future psychological research may reveal how AI systems enhance our abilities and unlock new ways of thinking.

    By recognising psychology’s role in AI, we can foster a future in which people and technology work together for a better world.

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

    – ref. How psychologists kick-started AI by studying the human mind – https://theconversation.com/how-psychologists-kick-started-ai-by-studying-the-human-mind-248542

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: KiwiSaver shakeup: private asset investment has risks that could outweigh the rewards

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aaron Gilbert, Professor of Finance, Auckland University of Technology

    New Zealand’s superannuation is no longer enough to live on for the country’s retirees. Research has found people need hundreds of thousands in savings to live a comfortable life after work.

    But the KiwiSaver scheme, introduced in 2007 to encourage New Zealanders to build their retirement savings, continues to be a political football. Since its creation, there have been multiple tweaks to the scheme, threatening to undermine its core purpose: supporting New Zealanders in their retirement.

    In late 2024, the government proposed changes that would make it easier for KiwiSaver managers to invest in private assets.

    The government says these changes could unlock billions to fund essential infrastructure or to provide capital for businesses, outcomes that could benefit the country as a whole.

    But the changes required to enable investing in private assets – such as reduced transparency around fees – are concerning and may not be worth the limited benefits it would bring to KiwiSaver members.

    Expanding KiwiSaver

    At the moment KiwiSaver managers predominantly invest in publicly traded assets, specifically stocks and bonds.

    The changes would open up KiwiSaver investors to a wide range of opportunities such as infrastructure projects (for example, toll roads), unlisted companies (KiwiBank has already been suggested by one provider) and property investments, among others.

    Increasing private asset exposure from the current 2-3% of funds under management to a level similar to Australian super funds (15%+) could unlock significant investment for infrastructure or business capital.

    But while there is definite appeal in using more KiwiSaver money to build roads and other essential infrastructure, the benefits to investors may be more modest.

    The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment argues private assets may increase fund returns and should reduce risk for investors by reducing fund exposure to stock and bond markets.

    But to achieve these possible outcomes KiwiSaver members risk being locked into a fund provider or having their funds split across providers when they opt to move. There is also the concern that transparency around the fees being charged by managers could worsen.

    Gumming up the works

    The advantage of the current system of investing in publicly traded assets is that they are relatively cheap to trade, can be bought or sold quickly and their market value is constantly known.

    Private assets are none of these things.

    Fund managers are currently required to release your funds within ten days when you opt to switch manager. Large investments in private assets that can not be sold quickly, or even worse, may be distressed (where the value is currently significantly below what it was bought for), could create a liquidity issue for a fund if a lot of investors decide to switch.

    To encourage managers to invest in private assets the proposed changes would allow your existing fund manager to hold onto a portion of your investment until private assets could be liquidated if they deemed it in your best interest.

    Essentially, you may have to stay with a fund manager for an indeterminate period even if you want to change, presumably while still paying them fees on the funds they are looking after.

    New Zealand’s retirees rely on KiwiSaver to top up insufficient superannuation payments.
    Stramp/Shutterstock

    Hiding fees

    The government’s changes also suggest allowing managers to change the way the fees they report is calculated.

    To encourage managers to invest in private assets, the government has proposed allowing them to exclude the costs associated with private assets from their reported fees. Why? Because private asset investing is significantly more expensive.

    Managers may need to build specialised teams to evaluate private asset investments. There are substantial costs (consultants, lawyers, experts etc) incurred when evaluating these investments in the same way that a home buyer faces costs such as builder and valuer reports.

    Additionally, managers will need to hire valuers periodically to reevaluate the value of the assets, resulting in more costs.

    Removing private asset costs from disclosures will make it harder for New Zealanders to compare the fees on different funds.

    Multiple other problems

    Several other problems also exist with the plan.

    The KiwiSaver market is relatively fragmented with 21 providers, nearly half of which manage less than NZ$1 billion in assets. Many private asset investments would require tens of millions, which means funds run the risk of becoming heavily exposed to just a few large investments. Only a handful of funds currently have the size to effectively use private assets to reduce investor risk.

    There is also the difficulty in valuing private assets. Valuers can provide a best guess, but it will depend largely on what the market is willing to pay at the time you come to sell.

    What is also unclear is how the value of private assets will be reflected in the unit prices that impact the price at which you buy into or sell out of fund. This introduces yet more opacity to a system that is currently transparent.

    KiwiSaver will increasingly become a critical aspect of New Zealanders’ retirement. Changes to it need to be carefully considered and evaluated to avoid undermining confidence in KiwiSaver and to ensure that they support the primary goal, ensuring financial security in retirement. It is not clear that this change meets that threshold.

    Aaron Gilbert 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. KiwiSaver shakeup: private asset investment has risks that could outweigh the rewards – https://theconversation.com/kiwisaver-shakeup-private-asset-investment-has-risks-that-could-outweigh-the-rewards-247684

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Online performance reviews: How technology has changed manners and etiquette

    Source: The Conversation – France – By George Kassar, Full-time Faculty, Research Associate, Performance Analyst, Ascencia Business School

    Thoughtful netiquette can help create a respectful, clear and productive virtual appraisal experience. Gerd Altmann/Pixabay

    As we settle into the new year, one meeting often weighs heavily on the minds of employees: the performance appraisal review. For some, it’s a time of validation and recognition, while for others, it brings a mix of anticipation and uncertainty.

    These meetings are a common practice in human resource management and are an important part of the performance management process. Despite some debates on the effectiveness of these systematic assessments, they are still frequently used to help organizations evaluate employee output, provide feedback and set future goals and rewards.

    With the rise of modern technologies, the dynamics of these appraisals have changed dramatically, especially in terms of manners and etiquette.

    What are performance appraisal reviews?

    Performance appraisals are a set of structured evaluations of employees’ job performance against set criteria and organizational goals. These evaluations are essential for managing human resources effectively. They provide insights into employee productivity, help identify training needs and align individual goals with the broader organizational mission. They also play a critical role in career development by offering feedback that helps employees understand their strengths and areas for improvement. And they are a key factor in management decisions about promotions, compensation, and sometimes, terminations.

    Employee reactions to performance appraisals can vary greatly depending on multiple factors. Active participation in the appraisal process can lead to more positive perceptions of its fairness and effectiveness. Further, fair and constructive appraisals can boost employee satisfaction and commitment, whereas poorly conducted ones can lead to dissatisfaction and disengagement.

    On the other hand, performance appraisals can also be a significant source of stress for employees. The anticipation of critical feedback and the high stakes associated with these evaluations can induce anxiety and tension. In fact, some studies suggests that performance appraisals contribute to employee burn-out.

    This stress-inducing aspect of appraisals can greatly influence the manners, attitudes and behaviors of employees during these meetings.

    The influence of modern technologies on manners and etiquette

    In the last few years, especially during the Covid pandemic, modern technologies have transformed performance appraisal reviews. Video conferencing and communication tools integrated into performance management software have made remote and flexible appraisals possible. These tools have significantly altered communication styles, shifting the focus to digital interactions that often lack non-verbal cues. Some behavioral scientists even noted that while online communication was essential during the pandemic, it lacks the richness of face-to-face interaction, which can affect the clarity and warmth of communication.

    Netiquette, or Internet etiquette, consists of the polite behaviors expected in online communications. The importance of netiquette in performance appraisals is basically to ensure clear and respectful communication. Adhering to netiquette helps maintain a professional tone and reduces the risk of misunderstandings in virtual settings.

    So while digital communication has led to new norms and expectations for politeness, clarity and respect remain crucial factors. Without physical presence, explicit expressions of politeness and consideration are more important than ever, helping to replicate the nuances of face-to-face communication in a virtual environment.

    Theoretical perspectives on manners and etiquette

    The late sociologist Norbert Elias’s theories offer a historical perspective on how manners and societal norms evolve. In his book, The Civilizing Process, Elias traces the development of manners from medieval times to the modern era, arguing that societal norms become more regulated and refined over time. This process involves both sociogenetic aspects, which concern social changes over long periods, and psychogenetic ones, which concern the internalization of social norms.

    Elias’s theories can also help us understand how manners and etiquette in modern organizations are evolving. His ideas have been shown to apply to organizational behavior, highlighting the importance of self-regulation and refinement in professional settings. As performance appraisals become more formalized, they reflect broader societal trends in these directions.

    Further applying Elias’s civilizing process to the digital age involves understanding how manners and etiquette adapt to technological advancements. Developing new norms for digital behavior helps maintain respectful and effective communication; netiquette is a contemporary extension of the civilizing process. As performance appraisals increasingly move online, adhering to netiquette helps ensure positive and constructive experiences.

    Implications for performance appraisals

    Modern technologies have blurred the traditional boundaries of place, time and organization, affecting employee behavior and manners. These changes challenge traditional notions of hierarchy and authority, encouraging more egalitarian and flexible interactions. This shift requires employees to adapt to the new culture of organizations. Observing the netiquette guidelines that follow can significantly enhance the online appraisal experience for both employees and managers.

    Preparation as self-regulation: Testing the Internet connection, camera and microphone reflects Elias’s concept of internalized norms as self-regulatory practices that enhance interactions. Creating a quiet, well-lit space shows respect for the meeting and fosters a focused environment.

    Professional presentation: Dressing appropriately and using a distraction-free background reflect Elias’s view of manners as societal refinement markers. A clean, professional setup conveys respect for the occasion and the participants.

    Simulated social cues: Making eye contact by looking at the camera, maintaining good posture, and using natural gestures to recreate in-person cues help make for effective communication.

    Clarity of speech: Speaking clearly and avoiding vague terminology aligns with Elias’s view that refined language is essential for civilized interactions. Clarity helps overcome the comparative lack of non-verbal cues in virtual settings.

    Time management: Joining the meeting a few minutes early and silencing notifications reflect Elias’s ideals of punctuality and order, showing respect for everyone’s time.

    Follow-up: A thank-you message after the appraisal supports Elias’s civilizing process by reinforcing professional gratitude and respect.

    If your next performance appraisal review is scheduled online, consider these straightforward yet impactful practices. Thoughtful netiquette – when adopted by both managers and employees – can create a respectful, clear and productive virtual appraisal experience, making a real difference on how feedback is communicated and received.

    George Kassar ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.

    – ref. Online performance reviews: How technology has changed manners and etiquette – https://theconversation.com/online-performance-reviews-how-technology-has-changed-manners-and-etiquette-244056

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Lake beds are rich environmental records — studying them reveals much about a place’s history

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Irene Gregory-Eaves, Professor, Biology, McGill University

    It’s important to study how climate change and human activity affects our lakes. (Shutterstock)

    Canada has more lakes than any other country in the world, with a huge diversity of lake sizes, depths, shapes, water chemistries, underlying geologies and hydrologies (the waters that flow in and out of them). Sediments accumulate on lake floors which, at the offshore and undisturbed depths, act as archival records.

    Paleolimnology is the study of lake sediments to identify changes in climate and human activity.

    When a lake develops algal blooms, fishless conditions or masses of weeds, it is difficult to determine whether this is part of the lake’s natural cycle or the result of human activities. To understand this, we need to know a lake’s history, and particularly what it was like before humans settled in the area in large numbers.

    As researchers in paleolimnology, the historical study of freshwater sediments, we examine the sediments that settles at the bottom of lakes. This accumulation of both organic and inorganic matter from within and outside then lake ecosystem helps us understand the history of these lakes and how they may have changed over time.

    Seeing through glass walls

    One group of microbes that preserve very well in lake sediments is the diatoms. These single-celled algae have delicately ornamented cell walls, of which each species is characterized by its distinct morphology. Because diatom cell walls are comprised of opaline silica — essentially, glass — they remain preserved in sediments even after their organic components have decomposed.

    Freshwater diatoms and plankton viewed under a microscope.
    (Shutterstock)

    The shape of diatom cell walls often reflects their habitats in the lake — whether they lived floating in the open water (planktic species) or nearer to the shoreline or lake bottom, often attached to rocks, sediments or vegetation (benthic species). Additionally, different species are adapted to distinct environments, for example high or low nutrient concentrations, different salinity levels or lake acidity. As such, we can use the diatom remains in sediments to reconstruct past lake environments.

    Unfortunately, not everything that lives in lakes will be preserved, and much of the cellular material of photosynthetic microbes decomposes over time. The main photosynthetic pigment across all photosynthetic organisms is chlorophyll a, which gradually breaks down over time. However, the molecules into which it degrades are more stable.

    By measuring chlorophyll a and its degradation products in lake sediments, we can get a sense of how lake primary production (the amount of photosynthetic biomass produced in the lake) has changed through time. This is done by using spectroscopy to measure how sediments absorb and reflect light, since chlorophyll a and its degradation products absorb light in specific wavelengths.

    By examining changes in the diatom species combined with sedimentary chlorophyll a from different core intervals, we can infer how the fundamental “producers” at the base of the lake food web have changed over the centuries, and even millennia.

    Canada’s changing lakes

    Our research team examined diatoms and sedimentary chlorophyll a from more than 200 lakes across Canada as part of a large-scale sampling program known as LakePulse.

    Collecting sediment cores from lake beds.
    (D. Akeya), CC BY

    At each lake, we collected a sediment core and samples from the upper-most and bottom-most sections of the mud were analyzed. These represented modern (deposited in the last few years) and pre-industrial (laid down more than 150 years ago, before the establishment of industrialized practices) samples. Comparing modern and pre-industrial diatoms in each lake, we found two clear patterns resulting from the impacts of direct human development and climate warming.

    The first pattern was that lakes with high concentrations of agriculture or urban development surrounding them showed the biggest changes. Diatom species composition changed to forms better adapted to higher nutrients and salinity. The most pronounced changes occurred in the Prairies, which are currently characterized by intense agricultural development and relatively shallow lakes that are more susceptible to nutrient pollution.

    The second pattern that we identified was a general increase in planktic diatoms. During the summer, a pattern known as thermal stratification develops in many lakes, where the upper water is heated by the sun and sits on top of colder water. As climates warm, the period during which lakes are stratified in summer has been getting longer.

    Based on earlier research, we know that planktic diatoms thrive in thermally stratified, open water environments. LakePulse researchers noticed an increase of planktic diatoms in the majority of lakes across Canada regardless of the degree of human impacts, which suggested that climate change is having a marked effect on the composition of these primary producers.

    Sedimentary chlorophyll a also indicated increased primary production in a majority of Canadian lakes, reflecting longer open-water periods (when most lakes show their maximum production) as ice duration decreases due to climate change.



    Read more:
    Climate change could alter the chemistry of deepwater lakes and harm ecosystems

    Manitou Lake, Sask. is a fishless lake in western Saskatchewan that has been severely impacted by drainage for urban, industrial and agricultural purposes.
    (Shutterstock)

    Preserving lakes

    Across Canada, the effects of climate change and human activities are changing primary producers in lake food webs. Physical conditions are also changing, with transitions towards stronger and longer periods of stratification for many lakes, and increased nutrients and salinity levels in lakes with high human impacts.

    These changes can have major negative consequences. Increased algal production means that as the organisms die and settle to the lake bottom, they are decomposed, which uses up the oxygen in bottom waters. Longer stratified periods can lead to greater oxygen depletion, as the time between episodes of mixing that renew oxygen in cold bottom waters increases.

    This can have devastating impacts for cold-water species, such as lake trout, that need high-oxygen cold water to survive through the summer months.

    By using paleolimnology to understand how ecosystems have changed over time, we gain valuable insights into the impacts that human activity and climate change may have on Canadian lakes. This knowledge will serve to preserve the health of our freshwater resources for future generations.

    Katherine Griffiths of Champlain College Saint-Lambert co-authored this article.

    Irene Gregory-Eaves receives funding from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Fonds de recherche du Québec -nature et technologies (FRQNT) and the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) programs.

    Dermot Antoniades receives funding from NSERC, FRQNT, CFI and CRC.

    Hamid Ghanbari 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. Lake beds are rich environmental records — studying them reveals much about a place’s history – https://theconversation.com/lake-beds-are-rich-environmental-records-studying-them-reveals-much-about-a-places-history-247504

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Students cheating with generative AI reflects a revenue-driven post-secondary sector

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Salmaan Khan, Assistant Professor (LTF), Department of Criminology, Toronto Metropolitan University

    The higher education sector continues to grapple with the advent of generative artificial intelligence (genAI), with much of the concern focused on ethical issues around student misconduct.

    GenAI models such as ChatGPT offer students untraceable and economic means of churning out answers and term papers on any given subject.

    For many instructors, this means traditional forms of course evaluation are now ineffective. The question that faculty and administration across the sector are asking is: how can we effectively assess and evaluate student competence on a given subject?

    An equally significant question that needs to be asked — but remains relatively absent in current discussion — is the following: what existing conditions in higher education are shaping the scale and nature of the impact of genAI on learning?

    As I argue in a recent article in the Journal of Interactive Technology and Pedagogy, widespread use of genAI among students needs to be understood as reflecting economic, structural and learning conditions specific to post-secondary education today.

    This is not to justify violations of academic integrity codes. Rather, it is to emphasize that only by considering the realities of their milieu can educators contemplate more critical and engaged learning. It is also to underscore that this problem begs more systemic reforms.

    The context

    Since the mid-1980s, a political ideology that values the free market and the deregulation of government services has continued to inform federal and provincial levels of government — neoliberalism.



    Read more:
    What exactly is neoliberalism?

    In this context of deregulation, higher education has been undergoing what can be described as a “neoliberal turn.” This has happened as successive governments have either initiated or tacitly allowed for consistent funding cuts to public services in the education, health-care and social-service sectors.

    In Ontario, while provincial funding made up 78 per cent of university operating revenue in the 1987-88 fiscal year, by 2022 it made up only 24 per cent.

    Similar trends have been identified for federal and provincial government funding for higher education across the country, which is in steady decline as revenues from tuition fees continue to make up an increasing share.

    The impacts of neoliberal policies have, for higher education, translated into a number of effects:

    • The marketization of education as a private investment for individual students, as opposed to a public good, as public investment shrinks;

    • A rise in tuition fees and increase in student debt;

    • A restructuring of academic labour where casual and low-paid contract faculty now make up half the academic workforce.

    A 2018 Policy Options report notes a correlation between a decrease in public funding and increased class sizes: “In 2005, just under 25 per cent of first-year Ontario university courses had more than 100 students. By 2018, that number was 32 per cent.” Large classes, the report notes, reduce opportunities for more student-faculty contact, and result in a poorer learning experience for the students.

    Institutions have shifted as they increasingly adopt the competitive and cost-cutting measures needed to survive amid receding public funding.

    Universities are now more “revenue-driven and expenditure-adverse,” with administrators prioritizing activities that enhance the institution’s revenue, such as research work or the securing of grants. Falling by the wayside is the practice of teaching and the education of students.



    Read more:
    With precarious jobs, work identities shift — including for contract academics

    The impact on students

    A recent report published by Wiley surveyed more than 2,000 undergraduate students at institutions of higher education in North America on the topic of academic integrity in the era of AI.

    Of the students surveyed, a majority noted the role of emerging technologies, such as ChatGPT, in making it easier to cheat than before. When asked why more students may turn toward cheating, almost half responded that because education is so expensive, there is an added pressure to pass or attain certain grades.

    Thirty six per cent of students said they are more willing to cheat because it is hard to balance going to school with work or family commitments.



    Read more:
    ChatGPT: Student insights are necessary to help universities plan for the future

    Many students face significant hardships in making ends meet while the cost of living rises.
    (Shutterstock)

    Pressures facing students

    There are innumerable pressures facing undergraduate students today. Neoliberal cuts to education have drastically increased the cost of education, and many students face significant hardships in making ends meet as wages stagnate while the cost of living rises.

    When I ask my students about their employment situation, most are working part-time. Many are working full-time while juggling a full course load and some even take more than a full course load.

    When larger numbers of students are batched into lecture halls, there are fewer opportunities for active student-teacher engagement, characterized by dialogue,
    which is a key ingredient in fostering engaged and critical learning. In this context, should we be surprised if students feel disconnected?

    In the same Wiley report, students noted they are more likely to resort to cheating if they do not sense the significance of the course material to either their own lives or to the real world.

    A case for structural change

    These conditions are not isolated, nor are they the flaw of only one educational institution. They reflect broader structural conditions.

    The crisis spurred by concerns with student ethics or of the use of genAI to cheat on assigned work must be understood within this larger context, as opposed to being seen as emerging from features specific to genAI.

    If provided with the right conditions, genAI — as with other digital learning tools like PowerPoint slides or game-based platforms — can be harnessed in the service of developing more engaged learning practices.

    However, doing so will require fundamental transformations to the higher education industry, and to its existing pedagogical commitments.

    Salmaan Khan 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. Students cheating with generative AI reflects a revenue-driven post-secondary sector – https://theconversation.com/students-cheating-with-generative-ai-reflects-a-revenue-driven-post-secondary-sector-247304

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How political polarization informed Mexico’s protests against femicide

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Arturo Tejeda Torres, Sessional instructor, Department of Social Sciences, University of Alberta

    Between 2015 and 2024, more than 8,000 women were killed in Mexico because of their gender.

    These crimes are referred to as femicides and, unlike homicides, are not the consequence of private or personal disputes. Instead, they are the result of a culture of oppression and domination that historically has targeted women and perpetuated a patriarchal society.

    While the number of femicides has decreased in recent years, there has not been any significant decline, and it remains a serious crisis. According to government data, around 10 women and girls across Mexico are killed every day by intimate partners or other family members. Worsening the crisis is Mexico’s systemic impunity, with many crimes going unreported or uninvestigated, and unreliable data masking the true scale of this problem.

    As a result, femicides in Mexico have been described as “another pandemic” — one driven by a deeply embedded machismo culture of violence against women, combined with a lack of transparency and justice from the state.

    In response to this crisis, protests led by feminist groups have gained increasing attention in recent years. They have urged Mexican society to recognize the severity of this problem and called on authorities to act. However, the polarized political climate in Mexico has undermined the demands of these demonstrations.

    Polarization shaped public conversation

    My doctoral research focused on examining the political and public discourse surrounding protests against gender-based violence in Mexico. More specifically, my work analysed how polarizing narratives, especially on social media platforms, affected these demonstrations.

    In 2020, feminist collectives organized the annual International Women’s Day march alongside a silent strike called #UnDiaSinNosotras (#ADayWithoutUs) in which women abstained from all public activities for an entire day.

    While the support for these protests grew, even from conservative groups traditionally opposed to feminist ideals, speculations emerged about the movement being used opportunistically to undermine the left-wing federal government.

    Initially, then-president Andrés Manuel López Obrador expressed solidarity with feminist groups. However, after refusing to revise his strategy on femicide, he warned that conservative elements could be infiltrating the protests. This created an unusual scenario where conservative groups backed feminist demands while the left-wing federal government dismissed them.

    Such a turbulent political climate raises several questions: Did conservative groups suddenly embrace progressive feminist ideals? Did feminist groups align with conservatives despite historically opposing their ideas? Did the left-wing government adopt conservative positions to counter feminist movements? More importantly, how did this scenario impact the calls of the protests against femicide?

    A fluid polarization

    Polarization is typically framed as a stark and often stagnant political divisions between two dominant and opposing narratives. However, the interactions produced in scenarios like Mexico’s feminist protests suggest more fluid dynamics.

    Rather than a rigid conflict between two opposing sets of ideals, polarization here should been seen as a relationship between narratives that are constantly reshaped and defined by each other.

    This can be observed in how the narratives aligned with the federal government and those opposing it demonstrated apparent contradictions based on the other’s positioning regarding the protests.

    Following this, it can be interpreted that conservative groups backed the protests as a way of reinforcing their opposition to the government. Similarly, the left-wing governing party, typically associated with more progressive ideals, appeared as dismissive of the protests and their demands to distance itself from perceived conservative influences.

    Viewing polarization this way helps explain how unlikely allies find themselves on the same side of particular issues. In this context, polarization is less about fixed beliefs and values and more about maintaining a distinct identity relative to the opposing side. In essence, polarization becomes an exercises in being as opposed as possible to the other side.

    Obscuring social issues

    My analysis of social media comments about the protests revealed they centred on two themes: debates on whether the feminist movement was being co-opted by conservative forces and criticism of López Obrador and his administration.

    In both cases, the discussions shifted away from the urgent issue of femicides, ignoring the protests’ central calls. Moreover, these conversations reinforced existing political divisions rather than addressing the root problem. This way, the interplay between the narratives involved created a polarized environment in which political rivalries overshadowed meaningful discussion of the structural violence against women.

    In other words, polarized dynamics can obscure urgent and immediate social issues, contributing to impunity and a lack of action.

    The Mexican political landscape reveals how forms of violence and oppression can be reproduced and reinforced through the interactions happening around them. In this sense, addressing femicides requires not only structural modifications to current strategies but also changing how this issue is discussed.

    It’s also essential to recognize how polarization, as a fluid dynamic, shapes the public space. Doing this can provide insights into how meaningful action can happen in the context of today’s social and political debates framed by stark perceived divisions.

    Arturo Tejeda Torres 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. How political polarization informed Mexico’s protests against femicide – https://theconversation.com/how-political-polarization-informed-mexicos-protests-against-femicide-246974

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Ukraine: UNICEF alarmed over incessant attacks devastating young lives

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed deep alarm over relentless attacks on populated areas in Ukraine and their devastating impact on children.

    “I’m devastated by the ongoing attacks hitting heavily populated areas and killing and injuring many people, including children,” said Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative to Ukraine, in a statement on Saturday.

    In Poltava, a missile strike on a residential building reportedly injured three children, while at least four others were reportedly wounded in Kramatorsk, Sumy and Synelnykove in recent days.

    The violence has left children not only with physical wounds but also deep psychological scars.

    “These brutal attacks do not only cause physical and mental harm but strike at the holistic development of children,” Mr. Mammadzade stressed.

    Schools damaged

    The attacks are also taking a devastating toll on education.

    In Odesa, two schools were reportedly damaged – one of which had received shatter-resistant film from UNICEF, preventing major interior damage. Two other schools in Nikopol and Zaporizhzhia also suffered damage.

    UNICEF reiterated its call for the protection of children and the infrastructure they rely on such as schools, health facilities, social services and energy systems.

    “Hitting heavily populated areas with explosive weapons must be avoided for the sake of every child, every civilian,” Mr. Mammadzade urged.

    He also emphasised the need for a sustained peace, one in which children can recover from war, regain their education and rebuild their futures.

    Health system under strain

    The violence has exacerbated the already dire humanitarian situation, amid widespread destruction of homes, hospitals and other critical infrastructure.

    Fighting has intensified along the Donetsk and Kharkiv frontlines, leading to mass displacement. In the first two weeks of January alone, over 1,600 people, including children, fled their homes, with mandatory evacuations ordered for families in high-risk areas, according to the Health Cluster.

    Authorities reported the evacuation of 132 people, including 12 children, from Donetsk oblast on 11 January, while on 23 January, 267 children were evacuated from high-risk areas in Kharkiv oblast.

    Responding to the situation, Health Cluster partners, in collaboration with local authorities, continue to deploy mobile medical teams to provide essential healthcare services and mental health and psychosocial support.

    In January alone, teams delivered essential health services to 578 people in two designated transit centers in Kharkiv and Dnipro oblasts.

    Led by UN World Health Organization (WHO), the Health Cluster coordinates the efforts of over 900 partners globally to address health needs in humanitarian emergencies, providing expertise, capacity-building and technical guidance to ensure effective and life-saving responses in crisis-affected regions.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Afterschool Programs in the Lehigh Valley Get a

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    January 29, 2025 – Allentown, PA

    Afterschool Programs in the Lehigh Valley Get a “BOOST” from the Shapiro-Davis Administration

    Three afterschool and summer camp programs in the Lehigh Valley will be able to expand, helping to keep kids safe and providing them with enrichment opportunities, thanks to new state funding from the Shapiro-Davis Administration.

    State and local officials visited the Casa Guadalupe Center in Allentown today to celebrate the new “Building Opportunity through Out-of-School Time” (BOOST) initiative, which is providing $11.6 million in grants to 46 programs (44 local and two statewide) across the Commonwealth.

    “Investing in afterschool programs isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s the smart thing to do,” said Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, who leads the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). “The return on investment for these types of programs is somewhere in the neighborhood of $7 for every dollar invested. In addition, there’s huge demand – for every kid who is enrolled in an afterschool program, there are four more waiting to get into one.”

    Speakers Include:
    Casa Guadalupe Executive Director Lucy Delabar
    Casa Guadalupe Education Director Andrea Wilson
    Rep. Mike Schlossberg
    Sen. Nick Miller
    Rep. Josh Siegel
    Mayor Tuerk
    Casa Guadalupe student Amir Abril
    Casa Guadalup Board President Julio Guridy

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Canada-U.S. tariff war: How it will impact different products and industries

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Sylvanus Kwaku Afesorgbor, Associate Professor of Agri-Food Trade and Policy, University of Guelph

    U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed a 25 per cent tariff on most Canadian goods. A senior governmental official said they are expected to come into effect on Feb. 4.

    This tariff will have significant economic consequences on both sides of the border, as the U.S. and Canada share one of the largest bilateral trade relationships in the world.

    A key concern is the highly integrated supply chains between the two countries. Many goods cross the border multiple times as intermediate inputs before becoming final products. Imposing tariffs at any point in this supply chain will raise production costs and increase prices for a wide range of goods traded between the U.S. and Canada.

    For Canada, the tariffs on Canadian products will significantly affect Canada’s competitiveness in the U.S. market by driving up prices. Such tariffs could pose serious challenges for various sectors in Canada, given the country’s heavy reliance on the U.S. economy.

    Effects on different sectors

    The impact of U.S. tariffs on Canadian prices is likely to differ across sectors and products, depending on their reliance on the U.S. market.

    Sectors with a higher dependence on U.S. trade are likely to experience more severe disruptions. If the tariffs make certain products uncompetitive, Canadian producers may struggle to secure alternative markets in the short term.

    Industries such as agriculture, manufacturing and energy will experience varying degrees of impact. Energy products and motor vehicles, which represent Canada’s largest exports to the U.S., are expected to be among the most adversely affected.

    In the agricultural and forestry sector, wood and paper products, along with cereals, are among Canada’s largest exports to the U.S., with the U.S. accounting for 86 to 96 per cent of these exports, according to data from the World Integrated Trade Solution.

    In the energy and mineral sector, crude oil is Canada’s top export, reaching US$143 billion in 2023, with 90 per cent destined for the U.S. Given its critical role as Canada’s largest export across all sectors, it is not surprising that Trump has noted crude oil would subject to a lower tariff of 10 per cent.

    Canada’s dependence on U.S. trade

    When examining the impact on different products, it’s not only the value of trade that matters, but also the share of trade. The share of trade indicates how reliant Canada is on the U.S. compared to other markets.

    A high trade share with the U.S. suggests a product is particularly vulnerable to trade disruptions, as Canada depends heavily on the U.S. market for that product. Conversely, a lower share indicates that Canada has diversified suppliers, which reduces its dependence on the U.S.



    Read more:
    Trump’s tariff threat could shake North American trade relations and upend agri-food trade

    For instance, in 2023, Canada’s top exports to the U.S. included vehicles and parts, nuclear machinery and plastics, according to data from the World Integrated Trade Solution. The U.S. accounted for 93 per cent of vehicle and parts exports, 82 per cent of nuclear machinery exports, and 91 per cent of plastics exports.

    This data highlights Canada’s extreme dependence on the U.S. market, making these industries within the manufacturing sector highly susceptible to the tariff. This could harm jobs in the manufacturing sector, which is vital to employment in Canada, providing jobs for over 1.8 million people.

    Canada’s reliance on the U.S. is also evident in imports. In 2023, vehicle imports totalled US$92 billion, with the U.S. accounting for 58 per cent of that amount.

    The dependence is also evident in the agri-food and forestry sector, where Canada heavily relies on U.S. imports. This suggests that retaliatory tariffs on agricultural goods from the U.S. could have a substantial impact on food prices in Canada.

    Retaliatory tariffs and inflationary pressures

    Canada has announced it’s imposing $155 billion of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports in response. This could contribute to inflationary pressures within Canada.

    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says this includes immediate tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods as of Tuesday, followed by further tariffs on $125 billion worth of American products in 21 days’ time to “allow Canadian companies and supply chains to seek to find alternatives.”

    This will include tariffs on “everyday items such as American beer, wine and bourbon, fruits and fruit juices, including orange juice, along with vegetables, perfume, clothing and shoes,” and also on major consumer products like household appliances, furniture and sports equipment, and materials like lumber and plastics.

    Given Canada’s significant dependence on U.S. imports, the retaliatory tariffs will raise the cost of American goods entering the country, further driving up consumer prices and exacerbating inflation.

    In its latest policy rate announcement, the Bank of Canada warned of the severe economic consequences of Trump’s tariffs, highlighting their potential to reverse the current downward trend in inflation.

    What should Canada do now?

    Canada must extend its economic diplomacy efforts beyond the Trump administration, engaging with the U.S. Congress and Senate to advocate for the reconsideration of tariffs on Canadian goods. The Canadian government should persist in leveraging this channel to push for a reversal of the tariffs. This kind of broader negotiation remains the most effective approach to mitigating trade tensions and ensuring stable economic relations with the U.S.

    At the same time, Canada must reduce dependence on the U.S. market by adopting a comprehensive export diversification strategy. While the U.S. remains a convenient and accessible trade partner, expanding into emerging and developing markets would help mitigate risks and create more stable long-term trade opportunities.



    Read more:
    Trump’s tariff threat is a sign that Canada should be diversifying beyond the U.S.

    One effective way to achieve export diversification is by expanding free trade agreements (FTAs) with emerging and developing economies. Currently, Canada has 15 FTAs covering about 51 countries, but there is room for expansion. However, signing FTAs alone is insufficient; Canada must ensure these agreements translate into tangible trade growth with partner countries.

    International politics is increasingly shaping global trade, making it imperative for Canada to proactively manage diplomatic and trade relations. In recent years, tensions have emerged with key partners such as China, India and Saudi Arabia. These countries could all become potential markets for Canadian products. Given that China is Canada’s second-largest export destination, there is significant potential to expand trade ties.

    Additionally, countries like the United Arab Emirates present promising markets, particularly for agricultural products, as the UAE imports about 90 per cent of its food.

    Boosting innovation and productivity

    Canada stands at a critical juncture in its trade relationship with the U.S. While diplomatic efforts remain essential to averting harmful tariffs, they cannot be the country’s only line of defence.

    Boosting productivity is one of the most effective ways for Canada to improve its competitiveness in global markets. Canadian producers should prioritize innovation and the adoption of advanced technologies to enhance efficiency and maintain a competitive edge, particularly as they seek to expand beyond the U.S.

    In response to potential U.S. tariffs, the Canadian government should implement a bailout strategy to provide short-term relief and mitigate revenue losses to firms that will be mostly affected. Additionally, Canada should leverage its embassies and consulates worldwide to promote exports and help affected firms identify and access new market opportunities.

    By doing this, Canada can position itself as a more self-reliant and competitive player in the global economy — one less vulnerable to shifting U.S. policies.

    Sylvanus Kwaku Afesorgbor receives funding from the OMAFRA and the USDA. He is affiliated with the Centre for Trade Analysis and Development (CeTAD Africa).

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

    – ref. Canada-U.S. tariff war: How it will impact different products and industries – https://theconversation.com/canada-u-s-tariff-war-how-it-will-impact-different-products-and-industries-248824

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Palestine prisoners’ release ‘symbolic win’ showing unity in face of occupation, says academic

    Asia Pacific Report

    Sultan Barakat, a professor at Qatar’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University, says the release of Palestinian prisoners is a “symbolic win” rather than a victory for the Palestinians, primarily showing the inhumane conditions they live under.

    “Israel can capture people in the West Bank and Gaza because they all live in a confinement area under the control of Israel,” he told Al Jazeera.

    Dr Barakat discussed the way Palestinians were “arbitrarily rounded up, taken to prison and treated badly” by Israel.

    A total of 183 Palestinian prisoners were released today from Israeli jails as part of the exchange for three Israeli hostages under the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel.

    They included 18 serving life sentences and 54 serving lengthy sentences, as well as 111 detained in Gaza since 7 October 2023.

    Dozens of Palestinians released from Israeli jails showed signs of torture and starvation, said the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society.

    Barakat stressed that the release of prisoners also “shows the unity of the Palestinians in the face of occupation”.

    “The prisoners are not all necessarily Hamas sympathisers — some were at odds with Hamas for a long time,” the academic said.

    “But they are united in their refusal of occupation and standing up to Israel,” he added.

    Hamas ‘needs to stay in power’
    Another academic, Dr Luciano Zaccara, an associate professor at Qatar University’s Gulf Studies Center, told Al Jazeera that Hamas needed to stay in power for the ceasefire agreement to be implemented in full.

    “How are you going to reconstruct Gaza without Hamas? How are you going to make this deal complied [with] if Hamas is not there?” he questioned.

    Dr Zaccara also said Israel seemed to have no plan on what to do in Gaza after the war.

    “There was never a plan,” he said, adding that Israel did not want Hamas or the Palestinian Authority in the enclave running the administration.

    The Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz, quoting a security source, reported that the Red Cross had expressed “outrage” at how the Israel Prison Service handled the Palestinian prisoners being released from Ketziot Prison.

    Ha’aretz said the Red Cross alleged that the prisoners were led handcuffed with their hands above their heads and bracelets with the inscription “Eternity does not forget”.

    The newspaper quoted the Israel Prison Service spokesman as saying that “the prison warders are dealing with the worst of Israel’s enemies, and until the last moment on Israeli soil, they will be treated under prison-like rule.

    “We will not compromise on the security of our people.”

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Education in Zimbabwe has lost its value: study asks young people how they feel about that

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Kristina Pikovskaia, Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh

    Education, especially higher education, is a step towards adulthood and a foundation for the future.

    But what happens when education loses its value as a way to climb the social ladder? What if a degree is no guarantee of getting stable work, being able to provide for one’s family, or owning a house or car?

    This devaluing of higher education as a path to social mobility is a grim reality for young Zimbabweans. Over the past two decades the southern African country has been beset by economic, financial, political and social challenges.

    These crises have severely undermined the premises and promises of education, especially at a tertiary level. A recent survey by independent research organisation Afrobarometer found that 90% of young Zimbabweans had secondary and post-secondary education compared to 83% of those aged between 36 and 55. But 41% of the youth were unemployed and looking for a job as opposed to 26% of the older generation.

    The situation is so dire that it’s become a recurring theme in Zimdancehall, a popular music genre produced and consumed by young Zimbabweans. “Hustling” (attempts to create income-generating opportunities), informal livelihoods and young people’s collapsed dreams are recurrent topics in songs like Winky D’s Twenty Five, Junior Tatenda’s Kusvikira Rinhi and She Calaz’s Kurarama.

    I study the way people experience the informal economy in Zimbabwe and Zambia. In a recent study I explored the loss of education’s value as a social mobility tool in the Zimbabwean context.

    My research revealed how recent school and university graduates think about the role of education in their lives. My respondents felt let down by the fact that education no longer provided social mobility. They were disappointed that there was no longer a direct association between education and employment.

    However, the graduates I interviewed were not giving up. Some were working towards new qualifications, hoping and preparing for economic improvements. They also thought deeply about how the educational system could be improved. Many young people got involved in protests. These included actions by the Coalition of Unemployed Graduates and the #ThisGown protests, which addressed graduate unemployment issues. Some also took part in #ThisFlag and #Tajamuka protests, which had wider socio-economic and political agendas.

    Understanding history

    To understand the current status and state of education in Zimbabwe it’s important to look to the country’s history.

    Zimbabwe was colonised by the British from the late 19th century. The colonial education system was racialised. Education for white students was academic. For Black students, it was mostly practice-oriented, to create a pool of semi-skilled workers.

    In the 1930s education was instrumental in the formation of Zimbabwe’s Black middle class. A small number of Black graduates entered white collar jobs, using education as a social mobility tool. The educational system also opened up somewhat for women.

    Despite some university reforms during the 1950s, the system remained deeply racialised until the 1980s. That’s when the post-colonial government democratised the education system. Primary school enrolment went up by 242%, and 915% more students entered secondary school. In the 1990s nine more state universities were opened.

    However, worsening economic conditions throughout the 1990s put pressure on the system. A presidential commission in 1999 noted that secondary schools were producing graduates with non-marketable skills – they were too academic and focused on examinations. Students’ experiences, including at the university level, have worsened since then.

    The decline has been driven by systemic and institutional problems in primary and secondary education, like reduced government spending, teachers’ poor working conditions, political interference and brain drain. This, coupled with the collapse of the formal economic sector and a sharp drop in formal employment opportunities, severely undermined education’s social mobility function.

    ‘A key, but no door to open’

    My recent article was based on my wider doctoral research. For this, I studied economic informalisation in Zimbabwe’s capital city, Harare. It involved more than 120 interviews during eight months of in-country research.

    This particular paper builds on seven core interviews with recent school and university graduates in the informal sector, as well as former student leaders.

    Winky D’s “Twenty Five” is about young Zimbabweans’ grievances.

    Some noted that education had lost part of its value as it related to one’s progression in society. As one of my respondents, Ashlegh Pfunye (former secretary-general of the Zimbabwe National Students Union), described it, young people were told that education was a key to success – but there was no door to open.

    Some of my respondents were working in the informal sector, as vendors and small-scale producers. Some could not use their degrees to secure jobs, while others gave up their dreams of obtaining a university degree. Lisa, for example, was very upset about giving up on her dream to pursue post-secondary education and tried to re-adjust to her current circumstances:

    I used to dream that I will have my own office, now I dream that one day I’ll have my own shop.

    Those who had university qualifications stressed that, despite being unable to apply their degrees in the current circumstances, they kept going to school and getting more certification. This prepared them for future opportunities in the event of what everyone hoped for: economic improvement.

    Historical tensions

    Some of my interviewees, especially recent university graduates and activists, were looking for possible solutions – like changing the curriculum and approach to education that trains workers rather than producers and entrepreneurs. As Makomborero Haruzivishe, former secretary-general of the Zimbabwe National Students’ Union, said: “Our educational system was created to train human robots who would follow the instructions.”

    Entrepreneurship education is a popular approach in many countries to changing the structure of classic education. In the absence of employment opportunities for skilled graduates, it is supposed to provide them with the tools to create such opportunities for themselves and others.

    Read more: Nigeria’s universities need to revamp their entrepreneurship courses — they’re not meeting student needs

    In 2018, the government introduced what it calls the education 5.0 framework. It has a strong entrepreneurship component. It’s too soon to say whether it will bear fruit. And it may be held back by history.

    For example, the introduction of the Education-with-Production model in the 1980s, which included practical subjects and vocational training, was met with resistance because it was seen as a return to the dual system.

    Because of Zimbabwe’s historically racialised education system, many students and parents favour the UK-designed Cambridge curriculum and traditional academic educational programmes. Zimbabwe has the highest number of entrants into the Cambridge International exam in Africa.

    Feeling let down

    The link between education and employment in Zimbabwe has many tensions: modernity and survival, academic pursuits and practicality, promises and reality. It’s clear from my study that graduates feel let down because the modernist promises of education have failed them.

    – Education in Zimbabwe has lost its value: study asks young people how they feel about that
    – https://theconversation.com/education-in-zimbabwe-has-lost-its-value-study-asks-young-people-how-they-feel-about-that-244661

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Sudan war: ethnic divisions are being used to cover up army failures – peace scholar

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Jan Pospisil, Associate Professor at the Centre for Peace and Security, Coventry University

    Sudan’s civil war has devastated the country and strained relations with neighbouring South Sudan. Events in January 2025 have stirred up xenophobic feelings in Sudan and outrage in its southern neighbour, heightening the risk of regional instability.

    Early in the year, the Sudanese Armed Forces captured Wad Madani, a town in Sudan’s central Al Gazira state. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces had seized control of the town at the start of Sudan’s civil war in April 2023.

    In the days following the army’s takeover of Wad Madani, various images and videos surfaced online. They showed brutal reprisals from the soldiers, including systemic killings and torture. Some of these acts were ethnically targeted against South Sudanese workers employed in the region’s agricultural schemes.

    These images sparked outrage in South Sudan. This led to anti-Sudanese riots in the capital Juba and other cities on 16 January 2025, resulting in fatalities, injuries and widespread looting.

    The Sudanese army formed a committee to investigate the attacks in Wad Madani. The credibility of these investigation is questionable, however, given that the committee is composed of army loyalists.

    Further hurting the investigation’s credibility was a statement a few days later from the army’s second-in-command, Mohamed al-Atta, alleging that South Sudanese fighters constitute 65% of the Rapid Support Forces.

    These events have strained relations between Sudan and South Sudan, compounding an already volatile association.

    They also highlight a war strategy the Sudanese army is pursuing to gain domestic support: that the Rapid Support Forces is primarily composed of foreigners, in this case, South Sudanese fighters.

    Read more: War in Sudan puts South Sudan in danger too: the world’s youngest nation needs a stable neighbour

    This rhetoric has been fuelled by historical tensions between Sudan and South Sudan arising from the liberation war and the latter’s subsequent independence. South Sudan’s independence resulted in the loss of valuable oil resources for Sudan.

    Further, the narrative that the Rapid Support Forces largely comprises foreign fighters – helpfully for the army – feeds and taps into nationalistic and xenophobic sentiments in Sudan. These sentiments date back to the post-independence efforts of the ruling elite to establish an Islamic and Arab state. This marginalised smaller ethnic groups.

    The army’s rhetoric is further supported by the overlap of tribal and ethnic affiliations across Sudan’s borders, including South Sudan and Chad. There are also the numerous reports of the paramilitary group receiving support from foreign players like the United Arab Emirates.

    I have studied transition processes and conflict dynamics in Sudan and South Sudan for more than 15 years. In my view, the army has used the narrative that the Rapid Support Forces is a foreign one to rally domestic support – and distract attention from its own actions and failures.

    The strategy

    The leadership of the Sudanese Armed Forces has frequently emphasised the Rizeigat origins of the paramilitary forces’ leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, or Hemedti.

    The Rizeigat tribe spans both the Darfur and Chad border. This has supported claims that the Rapid Support Forces includes Chadians. Reports of the paramilitary group recruiting in Chad and the presence of Chadian militants in Khartoum have further reinforced this portrayal.

    When it comes to South Sudanese involvement, there is documented evidence of South Sudanese fighters participating in the Sudan conflict. However, the scale of their involvement is grossly overstated. Even the highest estimates from my research contacts suggest fewer than 5,000 South Sudanese fighters have been involved. This is a mere fraction of the Rapid Support Forces’ estimated 100,000-strong militia.

    Read more: Sudan is burning and foreign powers are benefiting – what’s in it for the UAE

    Another contributing factor to the narrative around South Sudanese involvement is the South Sudan People’s Movement/Army. This is an opposition group that operates along the Sudan-South Sudan border. It targets South Sudanese government forces, sometimes using Sudan as a base of operations.

    Since the onset of the war, I have learned in the course of my work that some South Sudan People’s Movement/Army troops have aligned with the Rapid Support Forces and participated in battles across Khartoum. Others have used their time in Sudan to acquire weapons and supplies for operations in South Sudan.

    However, these opposition fighters are primarily motivated by pragmatic considerations. These include access to resources and political leverage, rather than any ideological alignment with the paramilitary group’s broader goals. These goals include reshaping the power dynamics in Sudan.

    The South Sudanese group’s leader Stephen Buay has formally denied any links with the Rapid Support Forces. However, he has occasionally praised the paramilitary troops’ push against the Sudanese army.

    Buay is participating in peace talks in Nairobi, where he has collaborated with other South Sudanese opposition figures to form a new joint force. This underscores his focus on South Sudan rather than Sudan.

    The implications

    Against this background, al-Atta’s claim that South Sudanese fighters make up most of the Rapid Support Forces is best understood as part of a broader strategy to justify the army’s actions and rally nationalist sentiment.

    This strategy, however, worsens ethnic and regional tensions. It scapegoats South Sudanese fighters and further entrenches divisions between the two nations.

    Read more: How militia groups capture states and ruin countries: the case of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces

    This rhetoric aligns with the Sudanese army regime’s broader propaganda efforts, which frequently vilify perceived outsiders or adversaries to consolidate power and justify its actions on the battlefield.

    This approach risks perpetuating the cycle of violence, mistrust and regional instability.

    – Sudan war: ethnic divisions are being used to cover up army failures – peace scholar
    – https://theconversation.com/sudan-war-ethnic-divisions-are-being-used-to-cover-up-army-failures-peace-scholar-248325

    MIL OSI Africa –