Category: Fisheries

MIL-OSI Global: Can books be bad for you? Only if you’re a ‘bad reader’ like Don Quixote

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Karen Attar, Research Fellow in Institute of English Studies, School of Advanced Study, University of London

An illustration from an edition of Don Quixote where the eponymous protagonist goes mad from reading. Wikimedia, CC BY

Books as a backdrop in a portrait or an interview lend gravitas. They stand for literacy, for education, for a way to open the mind, develop the imagination and get on in life. But not all books are considered to convey such benefits.

Opinions about which books are worthy and which are not have dogged fiction. Which are frivolous nonsense, sure to pollute the mind, and which are worthy intellectual pursuits? Also, are there books which are just too dangerous to read?

Is Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye sure to influence unwanted behaviour? Are there those who can read a book like Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince and not see it as real advice of how any immoral act is justified if they lead to power and glory?

In short, are there bad books, or are there just bad readers?

The theme of bad books versus bad readers runs through my recent publication Books, Reading and Libraries in Fiction, which I wrote with Institute of English Studies Reader Andrew Nash. It starts with Don Quixote (1605), which is considered the first modern novel in Europe and an enduring classic of world literature.

By the beginning of the 17th century, medieval chivalric romances about knights riding around the countryside seeking adventures and saving damsels in distress were distinctly old-fashioned. Don Quixote did not realise that. He spent all his time reading such romances, neglecting all other duties, to the extent that he went mad.

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Believing the stories implicitly, he set off in search of knightly adventures. Don Quixote is the quintessential bad reader who takes fiction literally and who focuses on the activity of fighting instead of the metaphorical value of striving for good against evil. It’s the uncritical way children may read, but not the way we expect adults to.

It is because he was a man that Don Quixote had the purchasing power to surround himself with books (there were no public libraries in those days) and travel around. So, it has more often been women who have typically been portrayed as poor readers, over-identifying with the heroines of novels, reading books that are bad for them, or reading when they should be doing something else.

The Female Quixote, a little-known novel by Charlotte Lennox (1752), draws consciously on Don Quixote as heroine Arabella expects life to reflect the French novels she has read. At the end a doctor must explain to her the difference between fiction and reality. The reader of The Female Quixote is expected to have a lot more sense and distance than the reader within the novel. They are supposed to learn from Arabella’s silliness.

Jane Austen, who we know loved reading novels, has most to say about relegating fiction to its place. She does it famously in a gentle, high-spirited way through her heroine in Northanger Abbey (1817), Catherine Morland. This young woman gorges on sensational gothic romances and this fiction starts to seep into her perception of reality.

On one particularly stormy gothic night in a strange country house, she finds a roll of paper in a drawer. “What is it?” she thinks. Her candle goes out and she tosses and turns until early morning, her imagination leading her to terrifying conclusions. In the cold light of morning, she discovers that the paper is only an old laundry bill.

The worst case of “bad reading” in our book occurred in a 1855 novella Faust by Russian novelist Ivan Turgenev. The story deals with a young woman whose mother had banned the reading of fiction. The young male narrator introduces her to the first part of Goethe’s drama Faust. Overwhelmed by the emotions it arouses, unequipped to deal with them from any former contact with imaginative literature, the heroine falls ill and dies.

Like her fictitious predecessors, she over-identifies with fiction. In her case she suffers because, had she read fiction when she was younger, she would have been more robust now. Typically in fiction of the past, fortunate women had wise men to guide them and their reading. Vera in Turgenev’s tale is rather unfortunate in her guide’s lack of discrimination.

Does it mean that Faust, considered by many the pinnacle of German literature, is a “bad” book? No. Neither are gothic romances. We know from her letters that Jane Austen devoured novels, and that she liked Ann Radcliffe, one of the most prominent Gothic writers. Also, medieval chivalric romances can be inspiring.

The challenge for characters in fiction, as for us, is to read with distance and discernment. It helps to start young, unlike Turgenev’s Vera. We must read to understand and follow worthy principles, rather than blindly imitating the behaviour of characters in novels. But most of all, we must read all sorts of fiction. And then we shall be reading thoughtfully, wisely and well.

Karen Attar 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. Can books be bad for you? Only if you’re a ‘bad reader’ like Don Quixote – https://theconversation.com/can-books-be-bad-for-you-only-if-youre-a-bad-reader-like-don-quixote-252428

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: The animal alliances reshaping our understanding of intelligence

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alexandra Schnell, Research Fellow in Comparative Psychology, University of Cambridge

Cleaner wrasse form unlikely alliances with other fish Azrael3141/Shutterstock

In nature, interactions between species are often framed in terms of survival — those that hunt and those that are hunted. But research is showing some animals form surprising partnerships, reshaping scientists’ ideas about how intelligence evolves in the animal kingdom.

Take Octavia and Finn, a striking duo hunting along a coral reef. I observed this pair while exploring a research site on the Great Barrier Reef as part of a project to understand complex behaviour in the wild. Octavia moves with fluid grace, slipping between the rocks, while Finn zips through the water with bursts of speed. They work as a team. Each of them brings a unique skill to the hunt – Octavia with her dexterity, Finn with his quick strikes. Octavia is a day octopus, and Finn is a coral trout.

This kind of collaboration isn’t unique to the ocean — on land, other species have also developed remarkable partnerships. Take, for instance, the relationship between the greater honeyguide bird (Indicator indicator) and humans. Honeyguides call and flutter to lead humans to bee nests. Once the humans harvest the honey, the bird swoops in for the leftovers, beeswax and larvae – a treat that it couldn’t easily access without help. The two species engage in a kind of cross-species conversation, each relying on the other’s skills.

Other collaborations show how different species can use trust and deception to their advantage. The fork-tailed drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis) acts as a sentinel for meerkats (Suricata suricatta), issuing alarm calls to warn them of approaching predators. Drongos sometimes give false alarms, sending meerkats scattering so the bird can steal their abandoned food. Even so, the relationship is beneficial for both parties: meerkats gain an extra set of eyes, while the drongo secures an occasional meal.

In the underwater world, similar dynamics are at play. Cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) remove parasites from the bodies of larger “client” fish, such as groupers and manta rays. Client fish will congregate at underwater “cleaning stations”, often atop coral heads, and will even queue up for their turn. But these partnerships aren’t always fair. Sometimes, cleaner wrasse sneak a nibble of their client’s protective mucus instead. When this happens, the client fish can cut the interaction short and leave. This disruption suggests that these relationships involve strategic decision-making.

Perhaps the most captivating example of marine collaboration happens between octopuses and fish. Initially, scientists assumed fish took advantage of octopuses, snatching prey they flushed out. But thanks to advances in tracking technology, a richer, more cooperative dynamic is emerging. Combining data from two cameras allows researchers to study highly accurate movement patterns. One of my collaborators applied this method to study the octopus-fish partnership, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution in 2024.

The day octopus keeps its partner in line.
Shpatak/Shutterstock

The day octopus (Octopus cyanea) collaborates with fish such as coral trout (Plectropomus spp.) and goatfish (Parupeneus spp.) during hunts. The 2024 study found these fish don’t just follow the octopus, they participate in the hunt. Scientists have even observed octopuses “punching” fish that aren’t pulling their weight. Fish like the coral trout produce signals by using their bodies. They perform a “head-stand”, tipping their heads downward and hovering above crevices to indicate hidden prey. This prompts the octopus to flush it out with its dexterous arms. Although octopuses are solitary animals, these brief partnerships reveal a degree of social sophistication.

A blend of ecological and cognitive factors probably underpins these partnerships. Dietary overlap plays a crucial role, as partnerships are more likely to form when animals of different species feed on similar prey.

Cognitive abilities are equally important. For these partnerships to work, both species must recognise each other as reliable partners. Octopuses demonstrate behavioural flexibility, adapting their tactics in real time, based on their partner’s actions. Fish show self-control by holding back until the octopus has flushed prey from hiding.

Habitat complexity also shapes the partnership. Coral reefs, with their maze of crevices, make hunting alone difficult). Timing may also help make these partnerships work. Since both species are active during the day they can capitalise on daylight to communicate using visual signals.

Rethinking animal intelligence

It remains unclear whether octopuses truly understand the meaning behind their partner fish signals or follow them instinctively. But either way the interaction hints at a surprising level of cognitive sophistication. Research in animal cognition suggests that behaviour such as perspective-taking – (understanding that others may have different views) and theory of mind (the ability to attribute thoughts, beliefs, or intentions to others) – could be involved in referential signals.

These abilities are typically seen in social animals (such as chimpanzees, crows, or jays) that live in groups or among family members, where understanding one another’s intentions can offer a real survival advantage. Animal alliances are challenging the traditional view in research that intelligence and social skills develop solely through interactions within the same species.

This idea broadens the way in which scientists think about social intelligence, showing that the capacity to collaborate can arise wherever there’s something to be gained from working together. A project funded by the National Geographic Society through the Meridian Grant Program aims to push these ideas further. A team of behavioural ecologists, comparative psychologists (including myself), robotics researchers, and underwater storytellers are developing a robotic fish to interact with day octopuses. By controlling one partner in the interaction, we can test responses and decode the signals exchanged between octopuses and their fish collaborators.

Just like the octopus and fish, this project is a reminder that some tasks can only be achieved through collaboration. No single species, or team, can do it alone.

Alexandra Schnell receives funding from the National Geographic Society.

– ref. The animal alliances reshaping our understanding of intelligence – https://theconversation.com/the-animal-alliances-reshaping-our-understanding-of-intelligence-251301

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: South Africa hasn’t given individuals access to the African Court – this needs to be fixed

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Frans Viljoen, Professor of International Human Rights Law, Centre for Human Rights, and acting SARChI Chair in International Constitutional Law, University of Pretoria

US President Donald Trump’s second term has brought South Africa’s domestic human rights record into stark international prominence. Based on misinformation, Trump’s anti-South African campaign seems designed to weaken South Africa’s image as an international torch bearer for human rights.

At the heart of the issue lies American resentment about South Africa’s submission in December 2023 to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of a case alleging that Israel has violated the 1948 Genocide Convention.

South Africa has won accolades for its principled and courageous submission of the ICJ case. Nevertheless, its role in advancing human rights on the African continent has been more ambiguous.

My research has focused on the African regional human rights architecture, set up under the African Union (AU) as a continental bulwark for human rights. The primary continental judicial body for human rights is the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, based in Arusha, Tanzania.

South Africa has fallen short in one key aspect when it comes to championing human rights on the continent: it has failed to sign up to accepting direct individual access to the court. This matters because almost all cases submitted to and decided by the court have reached it in this way.

South Africa’s role in African human rights system

One of the first human rights treaties South Africa formally accepted after its full embrace of democracy in 1994 is the core African Union human rights treaty, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Since then, it has made significant contributions to the charter monitoring body, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Two prominent South African human rights experts served as members of the 11-member continental human rights watchdog. Professor Barney Pityana, who was also the first chair of the South African Human Rights Commission, served between 1997 and 2003; and Advocate Pansy Tlakula, who had been the chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission, served from 2005 to 2017.

When the idea of establishing a continental human rights court to complement the protective mandate of the African Commission was flagged, South Africa played a pivotal role by stepping forward to host the inaugural drafting meeting for the enabling instrument, bringing together experts from around the continent to Cape Town in 1995.

This was the first building block that culminated in the adoption of an optional protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, allowing for the creation of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

South Africa was also one of the first states to accept the court’s jurisdiction in 2002. Today, 34 of the 55 African Union member states have formally accepted the protocol, thereby agreeing to the court’s jurisdiction. Two South Africans have been part of the 11 judges of the court.

Since it became operational, the African Court has adjudicated several human rights cases, including those affecting marginalised groups such as persons with albinism in Tanzania.

In these cases, the court has been instrumental in defining the scope of human rights guarantees under the charter and related treaties. It also defined appropriate measures that states should take to respect, protect and fulfil these rights.

A missing piece

South Africa falls short when it comes to the most crucial measure of the African Court – the acceptance of direct individual access.

A case by an individual or group against a state party to the charter can end up before the court in one of two ways.

First, a case can reach the court indirectly, via the commission. In this scenario, an individual initially submits a case alleging human rights violations by a state to the commission. The commission then has a discretion to refer the case to the African Court. This access route applies to all 34 states that have become party to the court protocol. However, this route has yielded a very small number of cases – three in total – being submitted to the court.

Complex reasons account for this. One of them seems to be linked to an unfortunate institutional turf war between the commission and the court, manifesting itself in an unwillingness on the part of the commission to have its findings ‘reviewed’ by the court.

Second, a case can reach the court directly, when an individual or nongovernmental organisation (NGO), after exhausting domestic remedies, submits a case directly. But this is only possible if a state has made a declaration to accept the competence of individuals and NGOs with observer status with the commission to directly access the court.

So far, the majority of cases handled by the African Court reached it along this avenue. Around 260 judgements have been delivered in respect of direct access cases.

Of the 34 states parties accepting the court’s jurisdiction, only seven currently allow their nationals direct access to the court. They are Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mali, Niger and The Gambia. While 12 states have made the optional declaration, five of them have subsequently changed their mind, and withdrawn their optional acceptance of direct access to the court. Rwanda was the first to withdraw its acceptance, in 2016. The most recent withdrawal, on 7 March 2025, was by Tunisia.

The reasons for withdrawal differ. But a common thread is the aggravation of governments for being held accountable by the court for human rights violations, often of the most marginalised persons, or of political opponents of the ruling government.

The most immediate consequence of these withdrawals has been a drop in the number of cases submitted to the African Court. In 2024, only 15 new cases were submitted. There were 66 in 2019.

Why direct individual access matters

It’s not clear why South Africa has not (yet) accepted direct access to the court. But there are compelling reasons for it to do so.

First, allowing direct access from South African courts to the African Court would serve to complement domestic human rights protection by allowing for redress and reparations beyond the national level. This will be in line with the South African constitution. It will also be in line with the principle of subsidiarity, in terms of which recourse to the African Court will only be possible after all domestic remedies had been exhausted.

Second, bolstering the effectiveness of the court is an investment in African institutions, and will underscore South Africa’s full embrace of its African identity. And if it accepts the court’s direct access jurisdiction, it will become the AU member state with the largest population and economy to do so.

The right moment

The court protocol, which South Africa has ratified, requires that a declaration accepting direct individual access be made. The relevant provision (article 34(6)) stipulates that state parties to the court protocol are required to (“shall”) make such a declaration. What is left to the discretion of states is the timing. According to the protocol, these states “shall” do so “at the time of the ratification of this protocol or any time thereafter”.

There has never been a more opportune and important time for South Africa to make this declaration.

The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights risks being underused and receding into irrelevance. This is happening in a landscape increasingly inimical to rights and rights institutions. South Africa should signal to other states that it accepts independent judicial scrutiny of its human rights record as the logical end result of having helped create the African Court.

Frans Viljoen 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. South Africa hasn’t given individuals access to the African Court – this needs to be fixed – https://theconversation.com/south-africa-hasnt-given-individuals-access-to-the-african-court-this-needs-to-be-fixed-252749

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI: Roach Howard Smith & Barton Selects Applied Pay to Digitize Premium Payments

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Chicago, IL., March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Applied Systems® today announced that Roach Howard Smith & Barton (RHSB), the exclusive Assurex Global partner in North Texas, has adopted Applied Pay to simplify and speed up their premium collection process. The firm is using Applied Pay with its native integration into its core management system to automate payment reconciliation, reducing the efforts and delays associated with collecting paper check payments.

“Our staff experienced a lot of delays waiting for checks to arrive and utilized valuable personnel resources sorting the mail and determining which payments went to which accounts,” said Stacie Rand, AVP, Quality Program Manager, RHSB. “Applied Pay’s convenient payment link eliminates the need for clients to mail in paper checks, ensuring we receive their payments in a timely fashion and can reconcile them with minimal effort.”

Applied Pay is a cloud-based electronic payments hub that enables agents and brokers to provide their clients with a secure, online way to pay for new and recurring premiums. Directly integrated into Applied Epic, Applied CSR24 and EZLynx Client Center, Applied Pay provides intuitive, branded checkout pages where policyholders can go to pay for premiums via credit/debit card or ACH bank transfer. It automatically handles payment authorization and tokenizes sensitive information to increase security and ensure compliance. The solution also leverages intelligent automation to reconcile receivables at the account level, reducing the time and effort presently needed to reconcile payments.

“Agencies need to be thoughtful and strategic about how they utilize their resources, and unfortunately, manually collecting and reconciling payments squanders valuable time and labor,” said Chase Petrey, President, Applied Pay, Applied Systems. “Applied Pay’s full-cycle accounts receivable capabilities relieve this burden, reducing internal workloads so the RHSB team can devote more time to their clients.”

# # #

The Applied products and logos are trademarks of Applied Systems, Inc., registered in the U.S.

About Applied Systems
Applied Systems is the leading global provider of cloud-based software that powers the business of insurance. Recognized as a pioneer in insurance automation and the innovation leader, Applied is the world’s largest provider of agency and brokerage management systems, serving customers throughout the United States, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, and the United Kingdom. By automating the insurance lifecycle, Applied’s people and products enable millions of people around the world to safeguard and protect what matters most.

About RHSB
RHSB (Roach Howard Smith & Barton) is an insurance brokerage firm with a rich history spanning 80 years. It was established through the merger of two distinguished agencies, united by a shared commitment to service and complementary strengths in product offerings and industry expertise. The company takes pride in its extensive experience and client-centric approach. It is the exclusive Assurex Global partner in North Texas. RHSB maintains its roots in Dallas and Fort Worth, with offices in both cities providing a suite of services to businesses, families, and individuals. Their offerings encompass a wide range of insurance solutions, risk management strategies, and employee benefit plans, serving clients locally, nationally, and globally. RHSB’s dedication to client-first service and community engagement continues to be the cornerstone of its success and reputation.

The MIL Network –

March 21, 2025

MIL-OSI: Carronade Says Dramatic Change Needed at Cannae Holdings to Halt Persistent Underperformance and Egregious Governance Practices

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Nominates Four Director Candidates with Expertise, Independence and Accountability Required to Unlock Shareholder Value

Believes Proposed Initiatives Could Result in Share Price Upside of at Least 50%

DARIEN, Conn., March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Carronade Capital Management, LP (together with its affiliates, “Carronade Capital”, “our” or “we”), which beneficially owns approximately 2.9 million shares of Common Stock of Cannae Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNNE) (“Cannae” or the “Company”) and is one of the Company’s top five shareholders, today announced it has issued the below letter to Cannae’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and nominated four independent director candidates for the four Board seats up for election at the Company’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Carronade Capital believes Cannae’s total shareholder return and corporate governance can be meaningfully improved, and significant opportunities exist to unlock substantial value for all shareholders. We believe Cannae can halt persistent underperformance and restore shareholder confidence by improving capital allocation and unlocking portfolio value through spin outs or buybacks, reducing overhead costs and aligning management incentives, and establishing corporate governance and accountability. If decisive action is taken, we believe that Cannae equity could have a share price upside of at least 50% as a result of activities initiated by year end.

Carronade’s four highly qualified nominees are as follows:

Mona Aboelnaga

35 years of experience including at Siguler Guff & Company and Proctor Investment Managers with expertise in investment management and private equity industries.
Extensive corporate governance expertise as a board member of both public and private companies including Webster Financial, a financial services company, Perpetual Limited, an Australian-based diversified global financial services company, and Sterling Bancorp, a regional financial services company.

Benjamin Duster

45 years of experience including at Wells Fargo and Salomon Brothers with expertise in working with companies to improve execution effectiveness and create long-term sustainable value.
Extensive public and private company board service including Expand Energy, an oil and gas production company, Weatherford International, a global energy services company, Republic First Bancorp, a commercial bank, and Alaska Communications Systems, a broadband and telecommunications service provider.

Dennis Prieto

21 years of experience including at Aurelius Capital Management and Evercore with expertise in financial analysis and restructuring oversight.
Significant investment management and board experience including GO Lab, a privately held building products company, Aventiv Technologies, a provider of telecommunications and technology solutions, Mohawk Gaming Enterprises, a gaming company, and Endo International GUC Trust, a trust established to obtain recoveries for creditors of Endo International plc.

Cherie Schaible

24 years of experience including as General Counsel of Ankura Consulting Group and Associate General Counsel of AIG Investments with expertise in complex legal and financial matters.
Extensive experience in structuring, negotiating and leading a variety of corporate legal matters in public and private companies.

The full text of the letter is below:

March 20, 2025

Cannae Holdings, Inc.
1701 Village Center Circle
Las Vegas, Nevada 89134
Attn: Board of Directors

Dear Members of the Board of Directors,

Entities managed by Carronade Capital Management, LP (together with its affiliates, “Carronade Capital” or “We” or “Us” or “Our”) beneficially own approximately 2.9 million shares of Common Stock of Cannae Holdings, Inc. (“Cannae” or the “Company” or “You” or “Your”), making us one of your top five investors. We believe Cannae’s total shareholder return (“TSR”) and corporate governance can be meaningfully improved, and significant opportunities exist within the control of both management and the Board of Directors (the “Board”) to unlock substantial value for all shareholders. We are reiterating these previously communicated views to you, and the broader market, to ensure the entire Board is made aware of our discussions to date and to highlight this potential value creation opportunity in the hope of building a consensus for the best path forward.

Our letter today outlines why we believe the status quo at Cannae is untenable and why dramatic change is required to halt persistent underperformance and egregious governance practices for the benefit of all stakeholders. We believe there are numerous ways to drive value creation, and, by extension, shareholder returns, including by reducing costs and aligning incentives, improving capital allocation, unlocking the value of the parts of the portfolio, and establishing corporate governance and accountability by reconstituting the Board with truly independent directors. If Cannae takes decisive action to properly implement these achievable steps and rebuild investor confidence, we believe that the equity could have share price upside of at least 50% as a result of activities initiated by year-end.

The Status Quo is Untenable

In our view, there is an urgent need for changes in strategy and governance based on Cannae’s substantial long-term relative TSR underperformance, persistent discount to intrinsic value, shareholder frustration with corporate strategy, and a pattern of governance deficiencies that we believe have significantly hindered the Company’s ability to create shareholder value. Our concerns are underscored by the high degree of interconnectedness amongst the current directors and Cannae’s classified Board structure which, among other governance concerns, have resulted in repeated adverse voting recommendations from leading proxy advisory firms. We were further shocked by the Board’s egregious actions earlier this week, while we were engaged in active settlement discussions, to accelerate equity vesting for directors if they fail to be re-elected by shareholders and to require the repurchase of half of CEO and Chairman Bill Foley’s shares at a significant premium to market prices. This is on top of his already rich compensation package if he invokes his right to resign because a single director is elected without his consent. That a Board of Directors deemed these actions consistent with their fiduciary duties and in the best interest of shareholders demonstrates a complete lack of independence and an abdication of their duty. We believe such an offensive combination of entrenchment techniques and unfair enrichment are beyond the pale and make it crystal clear that immediate change is necessary in the boardroom.

Management’s stated strategy consists of “improving the performance and valuation of our portfolio companies, making new investments primarily in private companies that will grow NAV, and returning capital to shareholders.”¹ Put plainly, management’s plan is not working. Cannae has a valuable collection of assets, but buybacks to date have failed to close the discount due to market concerns around overall strategy and perceived misalignment of interests between management and shareholders. Shareholders have consistently shared concerns that they do not want Cannae to sell public shares to invest in small private positions with no disclosure – such actions we believe would only compound the current problems and Cannae’s persistent value discount. Despite a handful of successful investments in the past, the current portfolio of private investments is consistently marked at cost and the remaining investments in public equities have destroyed approximately $900 million of value.² Market feedback that we have gathered to date suggests a near unanimous view that numerous shareholders prefer a return of their capital as opposed to management’s stated goal of selling down public positions to invest more in private equity.

“Since Ceridian, they have made a bunch of bad capital allocation decisions…We would rather them distribute value than re-invest. They haven’t earned the right to keep that capital.”

– Top 10 Shareholder, Nov. 2024

Furthermore, a lack of strategic cohesion amongst investments and limited portfolio company disclosure weigh on investor confidence. There has been no clear investment narrative for shareholders to rally behind, as we consistently hear Cannae described simply as the Bill Foley co-investment vehicle. Additionally, we believe the persistent marking of private investments at cost without balance sheet information and absence of third-party valuations, or enough disclosure for investors to determine performance, are significant contributors to the wide NAV discount. As one analyst queried on the Company’s third quarter 2024 earnings call:

“If you had your wish how many positions would you have? How large would they be and I just think I kind of look at some of the parts… It’s just kind of all over the place you have things that are worth less than $1 per share and I just don’t see the focus here.”

– Oppenheimer Q&A on Q3 2024 Earnings Call

As a result of these perceptions in the market, Cannae trades at a much steeper discount to NAV than its disclosed proxy peers and closed end fund peers. The discount widened persistently after the IPO of Dun & Bradstreet in 2019 and the sell down of Dayforce from 2020 through 2023, implying the market lacks confidence in the current leadership’s ability to execute a viable strategy for value creation going forward. Over the past three years, Cannae equity has traded at an average discount to its NAV per share of -40%, which places it in the bottom tenth of US investment firms with assets over $500 million.³ Approximately 90% of Cannae’s market cap is covered by public holdings net of debt, and the market is valuing the remaining nearly $900 million of private NAV at an 85% discount. A well-managed company with a strong asset base should not be trading at such a deep discount. We believe this misalignment points to a failure in capital allocation, strategic planning, and governance oversight.

Shareholders ‘vote with their feet’, and the most objective indication that fundamental change is required is relative TSR underperformance compared to peers over the long term. Even when viewed on an absolute basis, Cannae shareholders have suffered a negative total return since Cannae became an independent public company despite the backdrop of one of the strongest bull markets in history. Despite the readily identifiable value in the Company’s portfolio, Cannae’s stock has significantly underperformed most relevant benchmarks.⁴Consistent underperformance is the market telling Cannae, “The status quo is unacceptable.”

Dramatic Change is Required Immediately

As discussed previously with Mr. Foley and Mr. Caswell, we believe Cannae can resolve these issues through decisive action in the near term. We believe that Cannae must pursue the following initiatives without delay:

Reduce overhead costs and align management incentives – A history of burdensome fees and non-performance linked compensation paid out to management are out of step with the overall performance of Cannae’s portfolio, are impacting the discount which the market places on the NAV, and need to be streamlined to reflect best-in-class approach. We believe the Company should implement a corporate overhead cost reduction program and convert the termination fee payable to its manager, Trasimene Capital Management, into performance-based, vesting stock compensation.
Improve capital allocation, unlock portfolio value, and provide a clear investment narrative – Management’s current strategy is vague and undifferentiated, and shareholder feedback is that management has lost its mandate from shareholders to allocate capital in this way. We believe a commitment from management and the Board to return shareholder capital tied up in Dun & Bradstreet, Alight and Paysafe shares either via spin outs or substantial buybacks would force a collapse of the discount placed on those assets and result in a re-rating of the remaining portfolio. We appreciate that management has conceded in its last earnings call that a significant return of capital is a priority; however, we believe that Cannae should commit definitively to returning a substantial majority of this capital on an accelerated timeline. Management could then reallocate its time from monitoring small stakes in large public companies where their ability to “improve the performance and valuation” is limited to focusing on improving disclosure and valuation of the remaining private assets.
Establish governance oversight – We believe that market confidence in this new plan would be best supported by new fit-for-purpose directors that will be a voice for shareholders on the Board. To that end, we delivered a formal notice in December nominating a slate of four highly qualified and independent director candidates for election to the Board at the Company’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). In addition to the four new directors, we believe the Board should refresh leadership of the Affiliate Transaction Committee and the Nomination and Governance Committee chosen from the four new candidates, and the Board should also create a new committee for Value Maximization tasked with the formulation and oversight of successful execution of a plan designed to improve shareholder returns. The need for immediate and significant governance reform is underscored by Cannae’s entrenchment and unfair enrichment actions earlier this week.

Our intent at the time of nomination was, and continues to be, to engage constructively with the Board with the goal of reaching a consensual solution for the benefit of all stakeholders. However, it appears that the current Board fails to recognize the urgency of the situation. We are therefore prepared to take all necessary steps to ensure that shareholders have the opportunity to vote for directors who they believe have the skill sets and experience necessary to drive value creation and ensure accountability in the boardroom.

Management’s Lack of Willingness to Meaningfully Engage

We have sought to engage with management and the Board for several months to convey our views with respect to corporate strategy and governance with the aim of closing the NAV discount and improving relative share price performance. As discussed in our original private letter to the Board dated December 19, 2024, we submitted our nomination notice as required under the Company’s Bylaws despite the nomination deadline of December 27, 2024, nearly six months ahead of the anticipated Annual Meeting date. We did so in order to preserve our rights as shareholders to elect directors at the Annual Meeting, but with the hope that it would serve as a starting point for further positive discussions. Unfortunately, we now believe our sincere efforts to engage constructively have not been meaningfully reciprocated in good faith.

While the Company confirmed receipt of our December letter and nomination notice, it was more than thirty days before we received any further communication. Given the Company’s significant governance failings and chronic underperformance, we have offered to travel to meet in-person with relevant Board members, but Cannae has yet to permit us to speak with any non-management directors. Perhaps as a result, the Board has failed to appreciate the market’s call for urgent, meaningful governance changes. Then on March 17, 2025, we were astounded to learn via a Company 8-K that the Board, in an apparent move to entrench and enrich leadership, determined to further compensate themselves and Mr. Foley at the expense of shareholders. We believe this offensive action trounces shareholder rights and the Board’s fiduciary duties and further disenfranchises the Company’s true owners. It also makes clear to us that Cannae has not been engaging in good faith dialogue despite our persistent and sincere efforts, which necessitated the need to release this letter with the goal of reaching the entire Board and building a market consensus on the best path forward for the Company.

Carronade Has Nominated Four Highly Qualified Director Candidates

The fundamental role of a Board in its fiduciary duty to shareholders is to be an advocate in providing oversight of management and corporate strategy. Shareholders deserve a board that is proactive, transparent, and fully committed to driving long-term value. As evidenced by their backgrounds below, we believe our candidates will bring the expertise, independence and accountability required to correct the chronic underperformance of Cannae and champion its strategic transformation.

Mona Aboelnaga
- 35 years of experience including at Siguler Guff & Company and Proctor Investment Managers with expertise in investment management and private equity industries.
- Extensive corporate governance expertise as a board member of both public and private companies including Webster Financial, a financial services company, Perpetual Limited, an Australian-based diversified global financial services company, and Sterling Bancorp, a regional financial services company.

Benjamin Duster
- 45 years of experience including at Wells Fargo and Salomon Brothers with expertise in working with companies to improve execution effectiveness and create long-term sustainable value.
- Extensive public and private company board service including Expand Energy, an oil and gas production company, Weatherford International, a global energy services company, Republic First Bancorp, a commercial bank, and Alaska Communications Systems, a broadband and telecommunications service provider.

Dennis Prieto
- 21 years of experience including at Aurelius Capital Management and Evercore with expertise in financial analysis and restructuring oversight.
- Significant investment management and board experience including GO Lab, a privately held building products company, Aventiv Technologies, a provider of telecommunications and technology solutions, Mohawk Gaming Enterprises, a gaming company, and Endo International GUC Trust, a trust established to obtain recoveries for creditors of Endo International plc.

Cherie Schaible
- 24 years of experience including as General Counsel of Ankura Consulting Group and Associate General Counsel of AIG Investments with expertise in complex legal and financial matters.
- Extensive experience in structuring, negotiating and leading a variety of corporate legal matters in public and private companies.

Conclusion

We remain committed, engaged investors in Cannae due to our conviction in the significant opportunity for value creation that will flow from implementing achievable actions to unlock value, outlining a clear corporate strategy, establishing governance and restoring investor confidence. We repeat our request to meet in-person with the Board, including non-management directors, to discuss these proposals in more detail and explore a consensual solution that is in the best interests of all shareholders. If meaningful changes are not enacted, we are prepared to take our case to shareholders so that they have the opportunity to vote for directors who they believe will best prioritize their interests and ensure accountability in the boardroom.

Sincerely,

Dan Gropper
Managing Partner

Andy Taylor
Partner and Head of Research

About Carronade Capital
Carronade Capital is a multi-strategy investment firm based in Connecticut with over $2.2 billion in assets under management that focuses on process driven investments in catalyst-rich situations. Carronade Capital was founded in 2019 by industry veteran Dan Gropper and is based in Darien, Connecticut. The Funds managed by Carronade Capital were launched on July 1, 2020, and the firm employs 15 team members. Dan Gropper brings with him nearly three decades of special situations credit experience serving in senior roles at distinguished investment firms, including Elliott Management Corporation, Fortress Investment Group and Aurelius Capital Management, LP.

Media Contact:
Paul Caminiti / Jacqueline Zuhse
Reevemark
(212) 433-4600
Carronade@reevemark.com

Investor Contact:
Andy Taylor / Win Rollins
Carronade Capital Management, LP
(203) 485-0880
ir@carronade.com

Disclaimers

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein in any state to any person. This press release does not recommend the purchase or sale of a security. There is no assurance or guarantee with respect to the prices at which any securities of Cannae Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) will trade, and such securities may not trade at prices that may be implied herein. In addition, this press release and the discussions and opinions herein are for general information only, and are not intended to provide financial, legal or investment advice. Each shareholder of the Company should independently evaluate the proxy materials and make a decision that aligns with their own financial interests, consulting with their own advisers, as necessary.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and may include projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to future financial results, events, operations, services, product development and potential, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “plans”, “will be” and similar expressions. Although Carronade Capital and its affiliates believe that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties—many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of Carronade or the Company—that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. In addition, the foregoing considerations and any other publicly stated risks and uncertainties should be read in conjunction with the risks and cautionary statements discussed or identified in the Company’s public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including those listed under “Risk Factors” in the Company’s annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q . The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and, other than as required by applicable law, Carronade does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements. Certain information included in this press release is based on data obtained from sources considered to be reliable. Any analyses provided herein is intended to assist the reader in evaluating the matters described herein and may be based on subjective assessments and assumptions and may use one among alternative methodologies that produce different results. Accordingly, any analyses should not be viewed as factual and should not be relied upon as an accurate prediction of future results. All figures are estimates and, unless required by law, are subject to revision without notice.

Certain of the funds(s) and/or account(s) managed by Carronade (“Accounts”) currently beneficially own shares of the Company. Carronade in the business of trading (i.e., buying and selling) securities and intends to continue trading in the securities of the Company. You should assume the Accounts will from time to time sell all or a portion of its holdings of the Company in open market transactions or otherwise, buy additional shares (in open market or privately negotiated transactions or otherwise), or trade in options, puts, calls, swaps or other derivative instruments relating to such shares. Consequently, Carronade’s beneficial ownership of shares of, and/or economic interest in, the Company may vary over time depending on various factors, with or without regard to Carronade’s views of the Company’s business, prospects, or valuation (including the market price of the Company’s shares), including, without limitation, other investment opportunities available to Carronade, concentration of positions in the portfolios managed by Carronade, conditions in the securities markets, and general economic and industry conditions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event of a change in the Company’s share price on or following the date hereof, Carronade may buy additional shares or sell all or a portion of its Account’s holdings of the Company (including, in each case, by trading in options, puts, calls, swaps, or other derivative instruments relating to the Company’s shares). Carronade also reserves the right to change the opinions expressed herein and its intentions with respect to its investment in the Company, and to take any actions with respect to its investment in the Company as it may deem appropriate, and disclaims any obligation to notify the market or any other party of any such changes or actions, except as required by law.

Certain Information Concerning the Participants

Carronade Capital Management, LP, together with the other participants named herein (collectively, “Carronade Capital”), intends to file a preliminary proxy statement and accompanying proxy card with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to be used to solicit votes for the election of Carronade Capital’s highly-qualified director nominees at the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders of Cannae Holdings, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”).

CARRONADE CAPITAL STRONGLY ADVISES ALL STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER PROXY MATERIALS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. SUCH PROXY MATERIALS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE ON THE SEC’S WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV. IN ADDITION, THE PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PROXY SOLICITATION WILL PROVIDE COPIES OF THE PROXY STATEMENT WITHOUT CHARGE, WHEN AVAILABLE, UPON REQUEST. REQUESTS FOR COPIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE PARTICIPANTS’ PROXY SOLICITOR.

The participants in the proxy solicitation are anticipated to be Carronade Capital Master, LP (“Carronade”), Carronade Capital, Carronade Capital GP, LLC (“Carronade GP”), Carronade Capital Management GP, LLC (“Carronade Management GP”), Dan Gropper, Mona Aboelnaga, Benjamin C. Duster, IV, Dennis A. Prieto and Chérie L. Schaible.

As of the date hereof, Carronade beneficially owns directly 2,627,877 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”). Carronade GP, as the general partner of Carronade, may be deemed the beneficial owner of the 2,627,877 shares of Common Stock owned by Carronade. As of the date hereof, 262,770 shares of Common Stock were held in a certain account managed by Carronade Capital (the “Managed Account”). Carronade Capital, as the investment manager of Carronade, may be deemed the beneficial owner of an aggregate of 2,890,647 shares of Common Stock directly owned by Carronade and held in the Managed Account. Carronade Management GP, as the general partner of Carronade Capital, may be deemed the beneficial owner of an aggregate of 2,890,647 shares of Common Stock directly owned by Carronade and held in the Managed Account. As the Managing Member of Carronade Management GP, Mr. Gropper may be deemed the beneficial owner of an aggregate of 2,890,647 shares of Common Stock directly owned by Carronade and held in the Managed Account. As of the date hereof, Ms. Aboelnaga directly beneficially owns 800 shares of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, Mr. Duster directly beneficially owns 1,338.329 shares of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, Mr. Prieto directly beneficially owns 820 shares of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, Ms. Schaible directly beneficially owns 1,360 shares of Common Stock.

____________________________

Note: All analyses performed as of 3/17/2025.
¹ Ryan Caswell on Q3 2024 Earnings Call.
² Current GAV plus realized sales compared to original cost basis of DNB, ALIT, PSFE, and SST.
³ Company published NAV reports.
⁴ TSR per Bloomberg as of 3/17/2025. Average cumulative shareholder return. TSR Proxy Peers include APO, FSK, GBDC, PSEC, CODI, NMFC. Closed End Fund Peers include UTG, STEW, KYN, CET, GAM, IGR, EOI, MEGI, PEO.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/77496dfe-1ffc-44b7-94dd-bbd69816468b

The MIL Network –

March 21, 2025

MIL-OSI Global: Atlantic sturgeon were fished almost to extinction − ancient DNA reveals how Chesapeake Bay population changed over centuries

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Natalia Przelomska, Research Associate in Archaeogenomics, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution

Sturgeon can be several hundred pounds each. cezars/E+ via Getty Images

Sturgeons are one of the oldest groups of fishes. Sporting an armor of five rows of bony, modified scales called dermal scutes and a sharklike tail fin, this group of several-hundred-pound beasts has survived for approximately 160 million years. Because their physical appearance has changed very little over time, supported by a slow rate of evolution, sturgeon have been called living fossils.

Despite their survival through several geological time periods, many present-day sturgeon species are at threat of extinction, with 17 of 27 species listed as “critically endangered.”

Conservation practitioners such as the Virginia Commonwealth University monitoring team are working hard to support recovery of Atlantic sturgeon in the Chesapeake Bay area. But it’s not clear what baseline population level people should strive toward restoring. How do today’s sturgeon populations compare with those of the past?

VCU monitoring team releases an adult Atlantic sturgeon back into the estuary.
Matt Balazik

We are a molecular anthropologist and a biodiversity scientist who focus on species that people rely on for subsistence. We study the evolution, population health and resilience of these species over time to better understand humans’ interaction with their environments and the sustainability of food systems.

For our recent sturgeon project, we joined forces with fisheries conservation biologist Matt Balazik, who conducts on-the-ground monitoring of Atlantic sturgeon, and Torben Rick, a specialist in North American coastal zooarchaeology. Together, we wanted to look into the past and see how much sturgeon populations have changed, focusing on the James River in Virginia. A more nuanced understanding of the past could help conservationists better plan for the future.

Sturgeon loomed large for millennia

In North America, sturgeon have played important subsistence and cultural roles in Native communities, which marked the seasons by the fishes’ behavioral patterns. Large summertime aggregations of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in the Great Lakes area inspired one folk name for the August full moon – the sturgeon moon. Woodland Era pottery remnants at archaeological sites from as long as 2,000 years ago show that the fall and springtime runs of Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) upstream were celebrated with feasting.

Archaeologists uncover bony scutes – modified scales that resemble armor for the living fish – in places where people relied on sturgeon for subsistence.
Logan Kistler and Natalia Przelomska

Archaeological finds of sturgeon remains support that early colonial settlers in North America, notably those who established Jamestown in the Chesapeake Bay area in 1607, also prized these fish. When Captain John Smith was leading Jamestown, he wrote “there was more sturgeon here than could be devoured by dog or man.” The fish may have helped the survival of this fortress-colony that was both stricken with drought and fostering turbulent relationships with the Native inhabitants.

This abundance is in stark contrast to today, when sightings of migrating fish are sparse. Exploitation during the past 300 years was the key driver of Atlantic sturgeon decline. Demand for caviar drove the relentless fishing pressure throughout the 19th century. The Chesapeake was the second-most exploited sturgeon fishery on the Eastern Seaboard up until the early 20th century, when the fish became scarce.

Conservation biologists capture the massive fish for monitoring purposes, which includes clipping a tiny part of the fin for DNA analysis.
Matt Balazik

At that point, local protection regulations were established, but only in 1998 was a moratorium on harvesting these fish declared. Meanwhile, abundance of Atlantic sturgeon remained very low, which can be explained in part by their lifespan. Short-lived fish such as herring and shad can recover population numbers much faster than Atlantic sturgeon, which live for up to 60 years and take a long time to reach reproductive age – up to around 12 years for males and as many as 28 years for females.

To help manage and restore an endangered species, conservation biologists tend to split the population into groups based on ranges. The Chesapeake Bay is one of five “distinct population segments” the U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in 2012 created for Atlantic sturgeon.

Since then, conservationists have pioneered genetic studies on Atlantic sturgeon, demonstrating through the power of DNA that natal river – where an individual fish is born – and season of spawning are both important for distinguishing subpopulations within each regional group. Scientists have also described genetic diversity in Atlantic sturgeon; more genetic variety suggests they have more capacity to adapt when facing new, potentially challenging conditions.

The study focused on Atlantic sturgeon from the Chesapeake Bay region, past and present. The four archaeological sites included are highlighted.
Przelomska NAS et al., Proc. R. Soc. B 291: 20241145, CC BY

Sturgeon DNA, then and now

Archaeological remains are a direct source of data on genetic diversity in the past. We can analyze the genetic makeup of sturgeons that lived hundreds of years ago, before intense overfishing depleted their numbers. Then we can compare that baseline with today’s genetic diversity.

The James River was a great case study for testing out this approach, which we call an archaeogenomics time series. Having obtained information on the archaeology of the Chesapeake region from our collaborator Leslie Reeder-Myers, we sampled remains of sturgeon – their scutes and spines – at a precolonial-era site where people lived from about 200 C.E. to about 900 C.E. We also sampled from important colonial sites Jamestown (1607-1610) and Williamsburg (1720-1775). And we complemented that data from the past with tiny clips from the fins of present-day, live fish that Balazik and his team sampled during monitoring surveys.

Scientists separate Atlantic sturgeon scute fragments from larger collections of zooarchaeological remains, to then work on the scutes in a lab dedicated to studying ancient DNA.
Torben Rick and Natalia Przelomska

DNA tends to get physically broken up and biochemically damaged with age. So we relied on special protocols in a lab dedicated to studying ancient DNA to minimize the risk of contamination and enhance our chances of successfully collecting genetic material from these sturgeon.

Atlantic sturgeon have 122 chromosomes of nuclear DNA – over five times as many as people do. We focused on a few genetic regions, just enough to get an idea of the James River population groupings and how genetically distinct they are from one another.

We were not surprised to see that fall-spawning and spring-spawning groups were genetically distinct. What stood out, though, was how starkly different they were, which is something that can happen when a population’s numbers drop to near-extinction levels.

We also looked at the fishes’ mitochondrial DNA, a compact molecule that is easier to obtain ancient DNA from compared with the nuclear chromosomes. With our collaborator Audrey Lin, we used the mitochondrial DNA to confirm our hypothesis that the fish from archaeological sites were more genetically diverse than present-day Atlantic sturgeon.

Strikingly, we discovered that mitochondrial DNA did not always group the fish by season or even by their natal river. This was unexpected, because Atlantic sturgeon tend to return to their natal rivers for breeding. Our interpretation of this genetic finding is that over very long timescales – many thousands of years – changes in the global climate and in local ecosystems would have driven a given sturgeon population to migrate into a new river system, and possibly at a later stage back to its original one. This notion is supported by other recent documentation of fish occasionally migrating over long distances and mixing with new groups.

Our study used archaeology, history and ecology together to describe the decline of Atlantic sturgeon. Based on the diminished genetic diversity we measured, we estimate that the Atlantic sturgeon populations we studied are about a fifth of what they were before colonial settlement. Less genetic variability means these smaller populations have less potential to adapt to changing conditions. Our findings will help conservationists plan into the future for the continued recovery of these living fossils.

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

– ref. Atlantic sturgeon were fished almost to extinction − ancient DNA reveals how Chesapeake Bay population changed over centuries – https://theconversation.com/atlantic-sturgeon-were-fished-almost-to-extinction-ancient-dna-reveals-how-chesapeake-bay-population-changed-over-centuries-241104

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: VATICAN – Cardinal Tagle consecrates Bishops Sangalli and Sarrió Cucarella: Like Saint Joseph, be ‘silent’ heralds of the Word of God

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Wednesday, 19 March 2025

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – Bishops are called to be “silent” heralds of the Word of God. They do their work well when, without being protagonists, they become humble “guardians of the active presence of God in his Church”. And if their projects do not progress, it is better to “sleep” like Saint Joseph and “dream the dreams of God,” said Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle in an address to Samuele Sangalli and Diego Ramón Sarrió Cucarella during the liturgy of their episcopal ordination in the Vatican Basilica on the afternoon of March 19, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph.Samuele Sangalli, Adjunct Secretary and Head of the Administration of the Dicastery for Evangelization (Section for First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches), was appointed Archbishop and Titular Bishop of Zella by Pope Francis on February 6 (see Fides, 6/2/2025). Diego Ramn Sarrió Cucarella, former President of the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies (PISAI), of the Missionaries of Africa, was appointed by the Pope as the new Bishop of Laghouat, Algeria, on January 25.More than 30 bishops and Cardinals participated in the solemn ordination liturgy at the main Altar in St. Peter’s Basilica. Cardinal Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Missions and Principal Consecrator, had as co-consecrators Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio of Lombardy and Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization (Department for First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches).On the Solemnity of Saint Joseph and exactly 12 years after the solemn inauguration of Pope Francis’s Petrine Ministry (“for whose complete recovery we pray”), Cardinal Tagle turned his attention to the Spouse of Mary in his homily to offer the two new bishops valuable inspiration for their new journey as Successors of the Apostles. According to the Second Vatican Council, they are called “to care for the flock of which they are shepherds in God’s place, as teachers of doctrine, priests of worship, and ministers of the government of the Church”, and “to be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with the blood of his own Son,” as Saint Paul says. “Beautiful teachings,” remarked the Filipino Cardinal, “which make even bishops tremble. How can a bishop live up to such a great responsibility? Surely only by the grace of God.””Saint Joseph too,” Cardinal Tagle emphasized, “accepted God’s call in faith.” Faith “is the source of Joseph’s courage and creativity, who always subordinates his project to God’s, even when it is incomprehensible and uncomfortable.” Similarly, the ordained ministry of priests and bishops must be “rooted in a response of faith in God and exercised as a response of faith.” Often, Cardinal Tagle noted, “we plan and expect God to carry out our plans.” In reality, however, “we are not the planners, and God is not the executor of our plans.” And “if your vision and your plans do not seem to be moving forward,” he added, addressing the new Bishops, “sleep like Saint Joseph.” For “when we sleep, we are vulnerable, have less control, and are therefore more receptive and open. Sleep and dream the dreams of God. Wake up to realize the dreams of God with obedience and zeal.”Saint Joseph, according to the Pro-Prefect of the Missionary Dicastery, is also considered a “silent saint.” Not a single word of his is recorded in the Gospels. Nevertheless, “he accompanies, nurtures, and preserves the Word of God, made flesh in Mary’s womb, the most important Word.” And “every thought, every heartbeat, and every action of Joseph speaks of one Word: Jesus. It is the only thing that matters. His own words pale before the greatest Word. He can remain silent.” Following in the footsteps of Saint Joseph, “deacons, priests, and bishops must also remain ‘silent’ when proclaiming the Word of God.” For “it is not our word that counts and must be preserved for posterity, but the Word of God.” And “if our thoughts, plans, decisions, and actions do not speak of Jesus, we could be “like resounding brass or a clanging cymbal.”Furthermore, Saint Joseph is “a reliable guardian of Jesus.” And while carrying out his mission to guard the Son of God, “Joseph knows that Jesus belongs to his Father’s house. Joseph’s house in Nazareth has value only if it remains a shadow of the Father’s house, from which he must draw light.” Along these same lines, Cardinal Tagle noted: “Deacons, priests, and bishops are also called to be guardians of God’s active presence in his Church.” Because “bishops are not substitutes for the eternally living God nor competitors of the Redeemer.” And like Saint Joseph, they are called to be “authentic signs of God’s presence in the Church” with a “discreet visibility of the shadow that depends on the light.”Precisely, imitating the “sober and essential style of Saint Joseph,” at the end of the solemn liturgy, Archbishop Sangalli read a few simple “words of thanks.” They were addressed primarily to the “Providence of God, which has granted this afternoon full of grace” and to Pope Francis, “who has called us to be bishops and to whom we renew our affection and our prayers for a complete recovery as Head of the Church.”The new bishop’s thanks were also directed to the three consecrators, “who truly express the universality of the Church, and to all the other concelebrating cardinals and bishops, for whose service we were admitted to the College of Bishops through the gift of the ‘Spiritus principalis,’ the Spirit who governs and guides the Church.” This Spirit, Archbishop Sangalli added, “I received from the Church” and “from the good example of my dear parents, who today are already in eternal Life.” Finally, the new Archbishop’s thanks also went to the “brothers and family members who have accompanied, supported, and encouraged my journey,” as well as to the clergy and “the Ambrosian people of Lecco and the Seminary of Milan, with my former companions.”Archbishop Sangalli also thanked “the communities and associations I served, not least the Sinderesi Foundation,” as well as the academic communities of the Pontifical Gregorian University and the various universities where Sangalli was a student and professor.The gratitude of the new Archbishop was also expressed towards the Dicastery of Bishops, where Sangalli served for 20 years and lived “in contact with the vibrant heartbeat of the building of the local Churches and the election of their pastors.” The new Archbishop’s final words of thanks went to “the great family of the Dicastery for Evangelization, which opens the whole world to the richness of different traditions and cultures, each capable of sharing and transmitting the Gospel in its own singular way.” (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 19/3/2025)
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MIL OSI Europe News –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Rosneft supported the main festival of the indigenous peoples of Yamal

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

With the support of RN-Purneftegaz and Kharampurneftegaz (part of the oil and gas production complex of NK Rosneft), the village of Kharampur celebrated the holiday of the indigenous people of the North – Reindeer Herder’s Day. Reindeer herders and fishermen from all over the Purovsky District of Yamal, as well as guests from the cities of Gubkinsky and Tarko-Sale, gathered in the national village, where more than 800 forest Nenets currently live.

Traditional reindeer sled races were held on the banks of the Aivasedapur River. The fastest participants received gifts from the oil workers. A spectacular part of the festival was the reindeer sled parade, for which the residents of the national village also decorated the reindeer with beads and ribbons of multi-colored cloth. Reindeer herders also competed in national sports – wrestling, jumping over sleds, throwing a tynzyan on a khorey (tynzyan is a lasso, and a khorey is a long pole used to drive reindeer). Women took part in a competition for the best traditional outfit. In the boarding school built by Rosneft in Kharampur, the traditions and techniques of this craft and sewing of national costumes are passed on to young people in the beading circle.

Guests of the festival were treated to traditional Nenets cuisine: stroganina, lightly salted fish, shurpa made from reindeer meat and desserts made from tundra berries. The culmination of the festival was a concert by Yamal creative groups.

Preservation of the national culture of the indigenous peoples of the North and their traditional way of life is one of the significant areas of Rosneft’s social policy. The Company’s enterprises implement many projects in the regions of their operations, develop the infrastructure of northern villages, help reindeer herder families, improve the material and technical base of educational institutions and social facilities in the areas of original residence of indigenous peoples.

Reference:

The settlement of Kharampur (translated from Nenets as “Larch on a noisy river”) was founded in the 1920s as a permanent trading post. With the support of Rosneft, the settlement was revived as a national village in 2002. Thanks to the Company’s patronage, Kharampur became the cultural center of the Forest Nenets. Oil workers built the communal and social infrastructure of the settlement, a cultural and leisure center, a library and a boarding school, where children of reindeer herders and fishermen, in addition to the general education program, study their native language and traditional crafts. Two-story octagonal cottages, stylized as a Nenets chum dwelling, were built for the residents.

RN-Purneftegaz is implementing a grant project aimed at preserving the unique language and national identity of the Forest Nenets.

Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft March 20, 2025

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Bluefin tuna fishery applications set to open
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story

Bluefin tuna fishery applications set to open

Fishers with commercial licences who want to apply for an authorisation to fish commercially for bluefin tuna in English waters in 2025 can start the process from 20 March 2025.
Marine Management Organisation (MMO), in support of Defra, has published guidance to support fishers through the application process and explain how the fishery will operate this year.

The UK has a quota allocation of 66 tonnes of bluefin tuna in 2025. From this, 45 tonnes will be used for the commercial fishery.

MMO aim to issue licence authorisations for 15 commercial vessels with three tonnes of quota per vessel. The fishery will be open from 1 July to 31 December 2025.

In summary, to be eligible to apply you must:

Hold a commercial fishing licence and be registered in either England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.

Apply for a vessel of 12 metres and under in overall length.

Agree to limit each fishing trip targeting bluefin tuna to no more than 24 hours.

Agree to use rod and reel fishing gears only. No chumming will be permitted.

Agree to record all catches of bluefin tuna and submit an Electronic Bluefin Tuna Catch Document (eBCD) record for all landings.

The application period will close on 21 April 2025. Incomplete applications or those submitted after the deadline will not be considered. For further information and to apply please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bluefin-tuna-bft-commercial-fishery-within-uk-waters.

Information on the English catch and release recreational bluefin tuna fishery will be available in due course. Information when available will be published on https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bluefin-tuna-bft-fisheries-in-2025.

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Published 20 March 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
March 20, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: Hunger skyrockets by nearly 80 percent in Eastern and Southern Africa over past five years amidst worsening water crisis
Source: Oxfam –
Nearly 116 million people in eight African countries, hardest hit by severe water crises, lack access to drinking water.

Globally, flash floods have become 20 times more frequent between 2000 and 2022

The climate crisis has dramatically worsened water scarcity in Eastern and Southern Africa over the past few decades, leaving nearly 116 million people –or 40 percent of the population – without safe drinking water, according to a new Oxfam report.

Climate change is supercharging extreme weather events like droughts, cyclones and flash floods, and has led to the disappearance of more than 90 percent of Africa’s tropical glaciers and the depletion of groundwater. This has had knock-on effects on Africa’s small-scale farmers, pastoralists and fisherpersons leaving millions without basic food, drinking water or income.

Oxfam’s report –Water-Driven Hunger: How the Climate Crisis Fuels Africa’s Food Emergency – published ahead of World Water Day, looked at the links between water scarcity and hunger in eight of the world’s worst water crises: Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It found that the number of people experiencing extreme hunger in those countries has surged by nearly 80 percent over the past five years – reaching over 55 million in 2024, up from nearly 31 million in 2019. That is two in every ten persons.

The report warns that La Niña weather pattern, which will last through this month, will worsen floods in swaths of Southern Africa and South Sudan while causing severe drought in East Africa further threatening people’s food availability and income.

Globally, flash floods have become 20 times more frequent between 2000 and 2022 and the duration of droughts has risen by 29% since 2000, impacting the most vulnerable communities.

Existing poverty, deep inequality and chronic under-investment along with poor governance in water systems have compounded this climate-fuelled water crisis. African governments are currently meeting less than half the US$50 billion annual investment target required to achieve water security in Africa by 2030.
“The climate crisis is not a mere statistic—it has a human face. It affects real people whose livelihoods are being destroyed, while the main contributors to this crisis—big polluters and super-rich—continue to profit. Meanwhile, national governments neglect to support the very communities they should protect.”

Fati N’Zi Hassane,

Director, Oxfam in Africa
Fati N’Zi-Hassane, Oxfam in Africa Director said:

“The climate crisis is not a mere statistic—it has a human face. It affects real people whose livelihoods are being destroyed, while the main contributors to this crisis—big polluters and super-rich—continue to profit. Meanwhile, national governments neglect to support the very communities they should protect.”

The Oxfam report also found that:

In the eight countries studied, 91 percent of small-scale farmers depend almost entirely on rainwater for drinking and farming.

In Ethiopia, food insecurity has soared by 175 percent over the past five years, with 22 million people struggling to find their next meal.

In Kenya, over 136,000 square kilometers of land have become drier between 1980 and 2020, which has decimated crops and livestock.

In Somalia, one failed rainy season is pushing one million more people into crisis-level hunger, raising the total to 4.4 million—24% of the population.

A farmer from Baidoa, Somalia explains: “In the past, we knew when to farm and when to harvest but that has all changed. The rains now come late or not at all. Last year, I lost all my crops and animals. I have now planted, but the rains have still not come. If this continues, I will not be able to feed my family.”

Deep inequalities mean that disadvantaged people like women and girls are too often the first and most severely punished by this water crisis. In Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia, women and girls walk up to 10 kilometers in search of water, facing violence and extreme exhaustion. Many women and girls in rural households spend hours each day collecting water—time that could otherwise be spent on education or income generation.

“At the heart of this climate crisis lies a justice crisis. Sub-Saharan Africa receives only 3-4 percent of global climate finance, despite being heavily affected by climate change. Rich polluting nations must pay their fair share. It’s not about charity, it’s about justice.

“African governments must also double down on their investment in water infrastructures and social protection to effectively manage natural resources, and help the most vulnerable communities cope with climatic shocks,” added N’Zi-Hassane.
MIL OSI NGO –
March 20, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: ‘Dump the bill, not the Skate’: Albanese goes all out for wildlife extinction

Source: Greenpeace Statement –

SYDNEY, 20 MARCH 2025 — Greenpeace Australia Pacific has slammed the Albanese Government for seeking to weaken Australia’s national nature laws in order to prop up polluting and environmentally harmful industries, and urged the Albanese government to dump a proposed bill scheduled for debate next week.

The EPBC Amendment (Reconsiderations) Bill is scheduled for debate in the House of Representatives next Tuesday and in the Senate on Wednesday. Media reports indicate the proposed legislation aims to curtail the ability of third parties to request lawful reconsideration of the scope of environmental impacts of major projects.

“The move has been designed to shield the Tasmanian salmon industry from environmental scrutiny over its impact on the critically endangered Maugean skate but could have far-reaching consequences beyond this,” said Glenn Walker, Head of Nature at Greenpeace Australia Pacific

“With this Bill, the Albanese Government appears to have turned its back on its promise to end species extinctions.

“Australia has one of the worst rates of wildlife extinction in the world. Animals like the Maugean skate are hurtling towards extinction due to government inaction and free passes for polluting and harmful industries. Even the koala is listed as endangered in Queensland and New South Wales; that’s how severe the problem is.”

“The Albanese Government promised to end extinctions and protect Australia’s wildlife through law reform. Instead, they are signing the extinction warrant for the Maugean skate.

“Australia urgently needs strong, new nature laws that will end the extinction crisis and an independent watchdog to enforce them. We urge the Albanese Government to dump the Bill, not the skate, and get on with delivering this. It’s critical that the government give an ironclad guarantee that this will be delivered within the first 12 months of government if reelected this year.”

—ENDS—

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact Vai Shah at 0452 290 082 / [email protected]

MIL OSI NGO –

March 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: Fisheries Subsidies: Colombia’s acceptance

Source: World Trade Organization – WTO (video statements)

Colombia deposited its instrument of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on 19 March. Ambassador Mauricio Alberto Bustamante García presented Colombia’s instrument of acceptance to Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

More:
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news25_e/fish_19mar25_e.htm

Download this video from the WTO website:
https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/webcas_e/webcas_e.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlCjRW5w8ro

MIL OSI Video –

March 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Sky News Afternoon Agenda with Ashleigh Gillon

Source: Australian Government – Minister of Foreign Affairs

ASHLEIGH GILLON, HOST: Well, Peter Dutton has addressed the Lowy Institute, outlining his foreign policy agenda. The Opposition Leader discussed the wars between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas, and he also said the Coalition will grow Australia’s trading relationships and nurture international relationships.

Joining us live with reaction is the Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Minister, thank you for your time. Mr Dutton said earlier that one of his first acts as Prime Minister would be to call the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to affirm Australia’s support for Israel. He attacked your handling of this relationship, saying instead of treating Israel like the ally it is, this government, he said, has treated Israel like an adversary. As a friend of Israel, do you support the strikes that’s carried out on the Gaza Strip in recent days, which has led to hundreds of people dying?

PENNY WONG, FOREIGN MINISTER: That’s a very long question and first, it’s good to be with you, Ashleigh. And I think what we saw from this speech from Peter Dutton is, as he said, you know, past behaviour is the best indicator of future behaviour. And I’d agree with him, because what we know about Peter Dutton is he’s lost in our region. We know that he made fun of the Pacific. He was part of the government that withdrew from the Pacific, leaving a vacuum for others to fill. We’ve seen him both in opposition and also in government, beating the drums of war. This is a man lost in our region. In terms of what we are seeing in the Middle East, where we are seeing, unfortunately, the ceasefire that Mr Dutton opposed has broken. We continue to urge all parties to observe the ceasefire for hostages to be returned, we want humanitarian aid to flow. We have been clear in that position alongside the majority of the international community, and it was Mr Dutton who is out of step.

GILLON: Let’s turn to Mr Dutton’s comments on Ukraine. He again criticised your government’s willingness to send Australian peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, saying Australia doesn’t have the ability to have a presence in multiple theatres. Why would Australia send troops halfway around the world to Ukraine when the US has said it won’t? And Russia has made it very clear any such move would lead to grave consequences, in its words, for Australia.

FOREIGN MINISTER: Well, first, I’d say a few things about what Mr Dutton said. He made a lot of criticism in relation to Ukraine, and I think everyone can see what he’s trying to do, which is, he’s trying to back up an argument which the facts don’t support. The reality is, if you ask President Zelenskyy what sort of friend and supporter he has in Australia and in this government, I think he’d be very clear about that, and he has been very clear about that. What I’d say is that the Prime Minister has articulated very clearly the reason why we want to back Ukraine, why it is something that matters to us. It’s because Russia’s behaviour is both illegal and immoral and is a breach of the UN Charter. And a permanent member of the Security Council has used its veto to justify a breach of the UN Charter. Now, that matters to middle powers like Australia. Now, what we have said is that if a request is made, we would consider it. Unfortunately, Mr Dutton, he had a chance to back Australia again, but as always, he wants to pick a political fight. Back Australia – he never chooses that path, always wants to pick a political fight.

GILLON: I’m sure you were pleased to hear Mr Dutton say the PBS wouldn’t be up for negotiation with the Trump Administration if he does become Prime Minister. But what actually can Australia do to avoid potential tariffs on Australian medicine exports to the US? Our efforts, as we know so far, when it’s come to aluminium and steel, have failed.

FOREIGN MINISTER: Well, first on the PBS, you can never trust Mr. Dutton on the PBS. We know that the only reason the PBS was protected when the US Free Trade Agreement was first struck was because of the Labor Party back in 2004. We know what Mr Dutton’s record is when it comes to health. And what the Prime Minister has said is this government, this Labor Government, is very clear. We are not up for negotiation on the PBS. We will fight to protect it. Full stop and end of story.

In terms of the position of President Trump and the administration, I think every Australian can see President Trump’s second administration is taking a much harder position. A much harder position. In excess of 30 countries got exemptions the last time around, in the first Trump Presidency, on steel and aluminium, not one now. So, it’s very clear from that they’ve taken a much harder position. We will continue to engage, we will continue to negotiate, and we also continue to be very clear that the American pharmaceutical companies may be doing what they did some 20 years ago where they came after the PBS, this government is not for moving.

GILLON: I’m keen for your thoughts on a developing story today. Malaysia has just announced it’s come to an agreement with the exploration firm Ocean Infinity. It’s going to be resuming the search for the wreckage of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. Has Australia received a briefing from either Malaysia or Ocean Infinity on where exactly they’re searching? Is there any support that we can be providing via the Australian Transport Safety Bureau?

FOREIGN MINISTER: Oh, look, we have been part of the engagement on the search for MH370 for a very long time. We’ll continue to engage as Malaysia requires. Obviously, this is a tragedy, and it was a tragedy that so many families still carry with them. And so we continue to look for justice and resolution for those who lost their loved ones on that flight.

GILLON: Well, considering our prolonged involvement in this, does the government have a view as to where it would be best to begin this search? As you know, there’s been a lot of speculation that the wreckage lies in the Seventh Arc in the Indian Ocean.

FOREIGN MINISTER: Look, I’m not going to speculate about the location of this aircraft. Obviously, there’s been a lot of years, a lot of experts involved. What we hope is that it can be found and that there can be some closure for those who lost loved ones and for whom the lack of resolution here is a continued source of pain.

GILLON: Foreign Minister Penny Wong, really appreciate you making the time. Thank you.

FOREIGN MINISTER: Great to speak with you, Ashleigh.

MIL OSI News –

March 20, 2025
MIL-OSI: Enerflex Ltd. Announces Leadership Transition
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

MARC ROSSITER STEPS DOWN AS PRESIDENT, CEO, AND DIRECTOR

PREET DHINDSA NAMED INTERIM CEO

REAFFIRMS 2025 OUTLOOK AND CONCURRENTLY ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF DIRECT SHAREHOLDER RETURNS

CALGARY, Alberta, March 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enerflex Ltd. (TSX: EFX) (NYSE: EFXT) (“Enerflex” or the “Company”) today announced that Marc Rossiter has stepped down as President, CEO, and Director, effective immediately.

Preet Dhindsa, Enerflex’s current Senior Vice President and CFO, will serve as Interim Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Dhindsa joined Enerflex in October 2023 and is a seasoned executive with more than 25 years of experience, primarily in the energy and financial services industries.

Joe Ladouceur, Vice President Treasury, Tax & Insurance, will serve as Interim CFO.

The Board is undertaking a comprehensive search to identify the Company’s next CEO and has retained a leading executive search firm to assist with this process.

Kevin Reinhart, Chair of the Board of Directors, stated, “As we look to the future and position Enerflex to create shareholder value over the long-term, the Board decided that now is the right time to undertake a leadership transition. We thank Marc for his more than 25 years of dedicated service and commitment to Enerflex, including the last six years as CEO, and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

Mr. Rossiter said, “Leading Enerflex has been a true privilege, and I’m incredibly proud of all that we’ve accomplished together to propel the business forward over the past six years. Thanks to the dedication of a talented team, Enerflex is well-positioned to build on its positive momentum and I believe the Company has a bright future.”

Mr. Reinhart added, “Preet has been instrumental in Enerflex’s efforts to “Simplify, Optimize, and Grow” and we are fortunate to have him serve as Interim Chief Executive Officer. With the support and collaboration of a deep bench of executive talent, we are confident in Preet’s ability to lead Enerflex in this interim period as we complete our search for a permanent CEO.

Enerflex’s near-term priorities remain unchanged and include: (1) enhancing the profitability of core operations; (2) leveraging the Company’s leading position in core operating countries to capitalize on expected increases in natural gas and produced water volumes; and (3) maximizing free cash flow to further strengthen Enerflex’s financial position, provide direct shareholder returns, and invest in selective customer supported growth opportunities.”

Mr. Dhindsa commented, “I am excited to continue working closely with the Board, management, and our colleagues across the Company. Our focus remains on generating sustainable free cash flow, further improving balance sheet health, and positioning the Company for long-term growth and value creation. With the Company operating within its target leverage range, Enerflex is positioned to increase direct shareholder returns, as reflected by (1) the previously announced 50% increase of the Company’s quarterly dividend and (2) today’s concurrent announcement of the Company’s intention to implement a normal course issuer bid.”

OUTLOOK

All amounts presented are in U.S. Dollars (“USD”) unless otherwise stated.

Enerflex is reaffirming its outlook for 2025, which reflects:
1. Steady demand across the Company’s business lines and geographic regions, although Enerflex continues to closely monitor geopolitical tensions across North America, including the potential impact of tariffs. Based on currently available information, the direct impact of tariffs on Enerflex’s business is expected to be mitigated by the Company’s diversified operations and proactive risk management.
2. Approximately 65% of the Company’s gross margin before depreciation and amortization is generated by the highly contracted Energy Infrastructure product line and the recurring nature of its After-Market Services business.
3. The expectation that Engineered Systems’ gross margin before depreciation and amortization will be more consistent with the historical long-term average for this business line and that near-term revenue is expected to remain steady.
4. A disciplined capital program in 2025, with total capital expenditures of $110 million to $130 million. Growth capital spending of $40 million to $60 million will focus on customer supported opportunities in the US and Middle East.
About Preet Dhindsa

Since joining Enerflex, Preet has spearheaded several corporate initiatives including improving balance sheet health and enhancing the global finance function. Prior to joining Enerflex, Preet served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at ENMAX Corporation, a regulated utility with energy generation and retail lines of business. Prior thereto, Preet was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Global Banking & Markets (GBM), at Scotiabank, leading international finance teams. Preet began his career as a professional accountant with KPMG and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics & Statistics from Western University and a Graduate Diploma in Accounting from Wilfrid Laurier University. Preet is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Director.

About Joe Ladouceur

Prior to joining Enerflex, Joe served as President and CEO of Platinum Energy Services Ltd. until he successfully managed its sale in 2022. With over 30 years of experience in the finance and energy industries, Joe has held numerous executive leadership roles with Canadian E&P, energy services, and equipment fabrication companies. He began his career with Royal Bank of Canada and RBC Dominion Securities, where he was involved in corporate banking and global energy projects. Joe holds an Honors Business Administration degree with a major in finance from the Ivey Business School in London, Ontario, a Master of Business Administration from KU Leuven in Belgium, and an Honorary Fellowship from St. Mary’s University in Calgary.

ADVISORY REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and “forward-looking statements” (and together with “forward-looking information”, “FLI”) within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact are FLI. The use of any of the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”, “future”, “intend”, “may”, “plan”, “potential”, “predict”, “should”, “will” and similar expressions, (including negatives thereof) are intended to identify FLI.

In particular, this news release includes (without limitation) forward-looking information and statements pertaining to:
- the Company’s near-term priorities and its positioning for long-term growth and value creation;
- the CEO transition and the CEO search, including with respect to the time it will take to complete the CEO search and the impact the CEO search and the CEO transition may have on the Company and its operations;
- the Company’s intention to implement a normal course issuer bid, the terms and conditions of such bid, the anticipated receipt of all required regulatory approvals, and the timing associated therewith;
- disclosures under the heading “Outlook” including:
  - expectations for steady demand across the Company’s business lines and geographic regions;
  - the potential impact of tariffs and the expectation that such impact will be mitigated by the Company’s diversified operations and proactive risk management;
  - the highly contracted Energy Infrastructure product line and the recurring nature of After-Market Services will, together, account for approximately 65% of Enerflex’s gross margin before depreciation and amortization;
  - the expectation that Engineered Systems gross margin before depreciation and amortization will be more consistent with the historical long-term average for this business line and that near term revenue will remain steady;
  - total capital expenditures in 2025 being $110 million to $130 million with growth capital spending of $40 million to $60 million focused on customer supported opportunities in the US and Middle East; and
- the ability of Enerflex to continue to pay a sustainable quarterly cash dividend.
FLI reflects management’s current beliefs and assumptions with respect to such things as the impact of general economic conditions; commodity prices; the markets in which Enerflex’s products and services are used; general industry conditions, forecasts, and trends; changes to, and introduction of new, governmental regulations, laws, and income taxes; increased competition; availability of qualified personnel; political unrest and geopolitical conditions; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Enerflex. More specifically, Enerflex’s expectations in respect of its FLI are based on a number of assumptions, estimates and projections developed based on past experience and anticipated trends, including but not limited to:
- Enerflex has the financial capacity, regulatory compliance, and board approval necessary to pursue a normal course issuer bid and that market conditions will support such a buyback program within the anticipated timeframe;
- any tariffs imposed will have a manageable impact on our operations and cost structure and increased domestic energy production will offset any negative effects of such tariffs;
- market dynamics, including increased energy demand, infrastructure development, and production activity, will drive growth in natural gas and produced water volumes across Enerflex’s core operating countries;
- market conditions, customer activity, and industry fundamentals will support stable demand across our business lines and geographic regions throughout 2025;
- the high level of contractual commitments within the Energy Infrastructure product line and the predictable, recurring revenue from After-Market Services will continue;
- existing customer contracts within the Energy Infrastructure product line will remain in effect and with no material cancellations or renegotiations over their remaining terms;
- Enerflex will maintain sufficient cash flow, profitability, and financial flexibility to support the ongoing payment of a sustainable quarterly cash dividend, subject to market conditions, operational performance, and board approval.
As a result of the foregoing, actual results, performance, or achievements of Enerflex could differ and such differences could be material from those expressed in, or implied by, the FLI. The principal risks, uncertainties and other factors affecting Enerflex and its business are identified under the heading “Risk Factors” in: (i) Enerflex’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024, dated February 27, 2025; and (ii) Enerflex’s Annual Report dated February 26, 2025, copies of which are available under the electronic profile of the Company on SEDAR+ and EDGAR at www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov/edgar, respectively.

The FLI included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and are based on the information available to the Company at such time and, other than as required by law, Enerflex disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any FLI, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. This news release and its contents should not be construed, under any circumstances, as investment, tax, or legal advice.

The outlook provided in this news release is based on assumptions about future events, including economic conditions and proposed courses of action, based on Management’s assessment of the relevant information currently available. The outlook is based on the same assumptions and risk factors set forth above and is based on the Company’s historical results of operations. The outlook set forth in this news release was approved by Management and the Board of Directors. Management believes that the prospective financial information set forth in this news release has been prepared on a reasonable basis, reflecting Management’s best estimates and judgments, and represents the Company’s expected course of action in developing and executing its business strategy relating to its business operations. The prospective financial information set forth in this news release should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future results. Actual results may vary, and such variance may be material.

ABOUT ENERFLEX

Enerflex is a premier integrated global provider of energy infrastructure and energy transition solutions, deploying natural gas, low-carbon, and treated water solutions – from individual, modularized products and services to integrated custom solutions. With over 4,600 engineers, manufacturers, technicians, and innovators, Enerflex is bound together by a shared vision: Transforming Energy for a Sustainable Future. The Company remains committed to the future of natural gas and the critical role it plays, while focused on sustainability offerings to support the energy transition and growing decarbonization efforts.

Enerflex’s common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “EFX” and on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “EFXT”. For more information about Enerflex, visit www.enerflex.com.

For investor and media enquiries, contact:

Preet S. Dhindsa
Interim Chief Executive Officer
E-mail: PDhindsa@enerflex.com

Jeff Fetterly
Vice President, Corporate Development and Capital Markets
E-mail: JFetterly@enerflex.com

The MIL Network –
March 20, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: EIT Tairāwhiti Valedictorian honours community behind her success | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

3 minutes ago

EIT Tairāwhiti’s 2025 Valedictorian, Heather Glover (Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti), never expected to be in the spotlight.

The 30-year-old recently completed her Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) and is now eight weeks into her teaching career at Mangapapa School.

Despite preferring to stay behind the scenes, she is embracing this moment of recognition.

“It’s truly an honour, and I am incredibly grateful to my tutors for recognising something I didn’t have the confidence to see in myself.”

Originally from Tolaga Bay, Heather discovered her passion for teaching while working at Te Pūtake Whakatupuranga Kōhanga Reo for several years.

“My passion for teaching was sparked by a remarkable woman who created a structured routine with care and consistency. More than the learning itself, it was the foundational elements—routine, structure, and a diverse curriculum—that laid the groundwork for success.”

EIT student Heather Glover (Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti) is the Valedictorian at the Tairāwhiti Campus graduation ceremony at the War Memorial Theatre in Gisborne on Friday.

EIT Tairāwhiti proved to be the perfect place to study. The combination of face-to-face learning, hands-on experience in schools, and a strong support system helped her thrive. Throughout her degree, she worked in both rural and local schools, gaining experience with students from new entrants to Year 8.

“The mix of on-campus learning and practical placements gave me the ideal environment to succeed.”
Balancing study with motherhood was one of her biggest challenges, but EIT’s supportive environment made it possible.

“EIT made it possible for me to achieve my goals. One tutor, in particular, was there for me in my first year before I took a break to have my son, and she was still there when I graduated. That kind of support made all the difference.”

Now teaching Year 2 students, Heather is adjusting to the challenges and joys of being a new educator.

“The support from the school staff has been incredible. Teachers provide helpful resources, thoughtful advice, and valuable information that make each day a bit smoother. There’s been so much new learning—not just for my students, but for me as well.”

As she prepares for her valedictory speech, Heather admits the process has been both exciting and daunting. While she is still shaping the final version, she knows her speech will be centred around gratitude and the collective journey of all graduates.

“Every day brings something new for my speech, and as the ceremony approaches, I think I’ll surprise myself with what I end up saying. But at its core, it will be about the people who helped me get here. Completing assignments and attending classes took personal effort, but my achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support I received. My speech will celebrate not just my own journey, but the collective contributions of every graduate and those who helped us reach this point.”

Her partner, son, parents, and siblings will be there to witness the milestone with her.

Heather believes achievements are often recognised through certificates and speeches, but the foundation behind them deserves acknowledgment too.

“We’re often recognised for our achievements with a piece of paper or a speech, but what’s often overlooked is the foundation we’ve built and carried with us through life. That deserves its own recognition. For me, that foundation is te ao Māori—a culture rooted in kotahitanga, whanaungatanga, and aroha. It’s the world my mother nurtured us in, and now, I’m fortunate enough to share that same world with my own family and the students I teach.”

Primary Education Lecturers Storm Dunn, Megan Kanz and Emma McFadyen say they will proudly watch and listen to Heather as she delivers her valedictory speech.

“She has never lost sight of the end goal of becoming a teacher and steps out to make a difference for young people in Tairāwhiti having genuinely worked hard to achieve the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) degree.”

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

March 20, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Women Champion Environmental Justice, Biodiversity, Commission Hears

Source: United Nations 4

In an interactive dialogue on environmental conservation, protection and rehabilitation, the Commission on the Status of Women today heard from speakers who called on Governments to bridge the gap between policy and practice and empower Indigenous women and other marginalized groups in a world where progress is “being slashed by anti-rights actors that are in the league with fossil-fuel industries and tech billionaires”.

The Commission’s two-week annual session has centered on accelerating the implementation of the Platform for Action adopted at the 1995 World Conference on Women in Beijing, where world leaders pledged to achieve gender equality and uphold women’s rights. Today’s panel discussion centred on cultivating a coordinated response to the triple planetary crisis — climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution — while emphasizing the need to reinvigorate efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Another dialogue was held on peaceful and inclusive societies.

Lorena Aguilar, Executive Director at Kaschak Institute for Social Justice for Women and Girls at Binghamton University in New York, said that the discussion will centre on the key barriers Indigenous women face in securing land and resource rights, exploring how Governments and non-State actors, including academia, civil society and international organizations, can more effectively support Indigenous communities in overcoming these challenges. Speakers will also examine the disconnect between policy and practice, particularly the obstacles preventing young women from pursuing education and careers in fields that foster their meaningful participation in the green and blue economies. Looking ahead to 2030, she said, the dialogue will showcase best practices and scalable strategies that align the Beijing Platform for Action with the SDGs, advancing gender-responsive climate and environmental action.

Exclusion of Women from Green, Blue Economies

Manasiti Omar, Founder and Executive Director of Spring of the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands, said that, as a young Indigenous woman who has personally encountered the barriers hindering young women’s participation in the green and blue economies, she knows that the promise of a just transition will remain unfulfilled if powerful obstacles persist. Too often, young women especially those from Indigenous, rural and marginalized communities struggle to access education, employment and leadership opportunities in climate and environmental action. “The reality is a system designed to exclude young women,” she said. On paper, many Governments have policies promoting environmental education, technical training and gender inclusion, yet these commitments rarely translate into real, tangible opportunities. Structural inequalities, financial constraints, cultural biases and a lack of mentorship or institutional support create layers of exclusion that prevent young women from fully engaging in the green and blue economies. It is important to dismantle these barriers, bridge the gap between policy and practice, and create pathways that empower young women to lead in climate and environmental action. “I have seen first hand that, when young women are given the right opportunities, we don’t just participate, we transform entire communities, but we cannot do it alone,” she said.

Need to Address Structural Inequalities

Astrid Puentes Riaño, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, said that she is the first woman to serve as a UN Rapporteur and the first person from the Global South in this role, covering not only the environment, but also climate, toxins and water. “This is the kind of changes, of course, that we need,” she added. However, true progress isn’t about checking boxes; it requires a systematic and sustained approach to breaking barriers that have historically excluded women, particularly those from marginalized and Indigenous communities. Looking ahead to 2030 and beyond, she said it is essential to ensure that policies promoting gender inclusion in environmental governance translate into real opportunities. This means addressing structural inequalities, ensuring access to education and leadership roles, and creating pathways for women to actively participate in shaping climate and environmental action. The need for expertise-driven, inclusive leadership is more critical than ever, and only by dismantling these barriers can truly create a just and sustainable future. “Women and girls in marginalized situations are not only victims; we are also key actors for change,” she stressed.

Hopes Slashed by Anti-Rights Actors

“I am angry at what is happening in the world today,” said Sascha Gabizon, Executive Director of Women Engage for a Common Future and Co-Facilitator of the Women’s Major Group on SDGs. She recalled working in Beijing at the fourth World Conference on Women 30 years ago. “We had so much hope that we could make this world a better place,” she added, emphasizing: “But, unfortunately, our work is being slashed by anti-rights actors that are in the league with fossil-fuel industries and tech billionaires that are clearly only interested in their own profit.” Authoritarian regimes are trying to silence and criminalize climate activists and women environmental rights defenders. In the Caucasus, where she works, the Government has rolled back gender equality laws and institutions and silenced feminist and civil society organizations through what they call foreign agent laws, a tactic which is spreading also now in other countries. Half of the CO₂ emissions come from only 36 fossil-fuel corporations annually, she noted. Each year, $700 billion go into subsidies for fossil fuels. “That is where we should be cutting,” she said, adding that “billionaires produce more carbon in 90 minutes than each of you in your entire life”. She urged the need to continue to mobilize and collectively organize, to engage in policy processes, “to claim our seats, to go on strikes, to go onto the streets and to implement gender just solutions on the ground”.

Solar Farming

Valbona Mazreku, Founder and Director of Milieukontakt Albania, said that integrating gender-responsive policies into climate adaptation is crucial. Over 50 per cent of rural women in Albania are engaged in agriculture, yet they have limited access to resources and technology, and “only 8 per cent of agricultural land is owned by women”, restricting their ability to make sustainable land-use decisions. Highlighting the high cost of water, she said her organization worked with a group of farmers from a small village in south-east Albania to develop Piskova Solar Farming, a renewable energy cooperative. It also created a curriculum on renewable energy aimed at young people “to influence women’s career aspirations in the energy sector”, she said. Noting that the organization’s trainers and experts are women, she said: “We not only break down gender stereotypes, but also prepare the next generation for participation in the green economy.” Women should not just be seen as victims of climate change, but as key agents of change, she said, calling on UN-Women to partner with local organizations.

Fisherwomen ‘Guardians of Local Biodiversity’

Yuli Velásquez, Director of the Federation of Artisanal, Environmental and Tourist Fishermen of Santander, Colombia, speaking via video, said that, while her fishing community is male dominated, it is the fisherwomen of the Federation who serve as guardians of local biodiversity. They are on the front lines of fighting for environmental justice, she said, highlighting several examples, including their work gathering evidence about water pollution in the Magdalene River. Highlighting the crucial role of “community water monitoring”, she said: “We are now learning how to do so with technical tools and instruments,” to facilitate this data-collection. Women in her community who spoke out against corruption have received threats. “We have spoken out robustly,” she said, but due to prevailing impunity, the cases are often closed. This demonstrates the need for stronger State institutions to ensure investigation and prosecution of crimes against social and environmental activists.

__________

* The 16^th meeting was not covered.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

March 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 8th Joint Working Group Meeting between INDIA-GERMANY on Agriculture held today.

Source: Government of India (2)

8th Joint Working Group Meeting between INDIA-GERMANY on Agriculture held today.

Cooperation in digital agriculture, seeds sector, mechanization & technology, horticulture sector, animal husbandry and fisheries were discussed in detail.

Posted On: 19 MAR 2025 9:00PM by PIB Delhi

The meeting was chaired by co-chaired by Ms. AlkaUpadhyay, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Ms. Silvia Bender, State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). Cooperation in digital agriculture, seeds sector, mechanization & technology, horticulture sector, animal husbandry and fisheries were discussed in detail.

The 8th India-Germany Joint Working Group (JWG) Meeting on Agriculture was co-chaired by Ms. AlkaUpadhyay, Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and Ms. Silvia Bender, State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), on 19th March 2025 at the National Agricultural Science Complex, PUSA, New Delhi.

In her welcome address, Ms. Upadhyay underscored the strong ties between India and Germany, highlighting the robust collaboration on global issues and the strategic partnership nurtured through the Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) since 2011. She emphasized the significance of cooperation in the agricultural sector, particularly in digital technologies, and noted the impressive agricultural trade between the two nations. She also pointed out ongoing collaborations in agroecology, seed production, and sustainable practices, reaffirming India’s commitment to deepening ties and exploring new avenues for agricultural cooperation.

Ms. Silvia Bender expressed Germany’s deep appreciation for its partnership with India and reaffirmed the shared commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, especially in agriculture and allied sectors. She acknowledged the common challenges faced by both countries and stressed the importance of working together to find innovative solutions. She further reiterated Germany’s readiness to share its experience and vision to enhance cooperation in agriculture.

Mr. Ajeet Kumar Sahu provided an insightful overview of India’s agricultural achievements, emphasizing its pivotal role in both domestic and global food security. He highlighted the government’s initiatives, including the Digital Agriculture Mission, the LakhpatiDidi Program, KrishiSakhi, and efforts to empower farmers through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). Mr. Sahu also elaborated on programs such as Natural and Organic Farming, Crop Insurance, e-NAM, and AgriSURE, all aimed at advancing the agriculture sector and fostering rural development.

In discussing areas of cooperation, Dr.PramodMehreda highlighted the crucial role of digital agriculture, emphasizing the importance of exchanging best practices in the use of digital technologies for pest and disease management.

The meeting focused on critical areas of cooperation, including artificial intelligence, digitization in agriculture, mechanization, the seed sector, horticulture, animal husbandry, and fisheries.

The German delegation included representatives from BMEL, its subordinate authorities, and various institutions.From Indian side, Joint Secretaries of Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare for Horticulture, Natural Resource Management, and Mechanisation participated in the meeting along with representatives of Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

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MG/RN/KSR

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HKETO holds spring reception in Tokyo to celebrate arrival of spring and flower blossom season (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

HKETO holds spring reception in Tokyo to celebrate arrival of spring and flower blossom season
Speaking to guests from various sectors including Japanese political and business circles, academia, media and community groups, the Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative (Tokyo), Miss Winsome Au, said that Hong Kong and Japan have strengthened economic and trade relations, flourished through collaborations on different fronts, and made shared achievements together in the past year.

She noted that Hong Kong was the fifth-largest inbound tourist source market for Japan, reaching more than 2.68 million tourists for 2024, and remained the second-largest export market for Japanese agricultural, forestry and fishery products in the year.

“With direct connections to 15 airports in Japan, and soon 18, we are confident that our people-to-people exchanges will continue to grow,” Miss Au added.

On the business front, she noted that over 1 430 Japanese companies operate in Hong Kong, making them the largest group from overseas. Notably, Invest Hong Kong has attracted over 500 enterprises outside Hong Kong to set up in the city in 2024, with more renowned Japanese brands expanding their presence.

She also updated the guests of the latest developments of Hong Kong, and shared with them the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s measures to fast-track Hong Kong’s economy through reform and innovation in the 2025-26 Budget and the 2024 Policy Address.

The spring reception was organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo), and supported by Invest Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
Issued at HKT 23:09

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Categories24-7, Asia Pacific, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Government special administrative region, MIL OSI

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “Govt Plans Sagarmala 2.0 with New Funding to Bridge Infrastructure Gaps”: Sarbananda Sonowal

Source: Government of India (2)

“Govt Plans Sagarmala 2.0 with New Funding to Bridge Infrastructure Gaps”: Sarbananda Sonowal

“Govt Invests ₹5.79 Trillion under Sagarmala to Develop 839 Projects in India”: Sarbananda Sonowal

Sagarmala Start Up Innovation Initiative (S2I2) Launched at NSAC, to Foster Innovation & Entrepreneurship in Maritime Sector

4th National Sagarmala Apex Committee Meet Decides to Boost Port Led Development

“Modi Government Committed to Maritime Sector Transformation Under Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision Roadmap (MAKV 2047)”: Sarbananda Sonowal

“Maritime sector will witness a new wave of RISE — Research, Innovation, Startups, and Entrepreneurship”: Sarbananda Sonowal

Posted On: 19 MAR 2025 7:54PM by PIB Delhi

The 4th National Sagarmala Apex Committee (NSAC) meet decided to boost port led development and enhance maritime infrastructure of the country. The meet reviewed the implementation status of key projects under the “Sagarmala” — the flagship programme of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW).

The Ministry is executing 839 projects worth ₹5.79 lakh crore under the Sagarmala Programme, with 272 projects already completed at an investment of ₹1.41 lakh crore. Under Sagarmala, 234 port modernisation projects worth ₹2.91 lakh crore are underway, with 103 projects completed, adding 230 MTPA capacity. In connectivity, 279 projects worth ₹2.06 lakh crore are being implemented, with 92 projects completed, boosting 1,500 km of port links. Port-led industrialisation saw 14 projects worth ₹55,000 crore, with 9 completed. Over 310 projects worth ₹26,000 crore under Coastal Community Development and Inland Waterways have benefitted 30,000+ fishermen and coastal infrastructure. The Ministry has also provided ₹10,000 crore for 119 projects across coastal states and UTs under Sagarmala.

Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, “Sagarmala has been a game-changer in unlocking the true potential of India’s maritime sector. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the huge value of maritime sector, that remained neglected for decades, was realised with Sagarmala. As we move towards Sagarmala 2.0, our focus is on bridging critical infrastructure gaps with fresh investments, driving coastal economic growth, and positioning India as a global maritime leader in line with the Hon’ble Prime Minister Modiji’s vision for a Viksit and Atmanirbhar Bharat by 2047.”

Sagarmala 2.0 is a visionary upgrade with a new focus on shipbuilding, repair, breaking, and recycling. Backed by ₹40,000 crore in budgetary support, it aims to catalyse investments worth ₹12 lakh crore over the next decade.

Sagarmala has made India’s ports faster, boosted the coastal economy, revived inland waterways, and improved global logistics rankings. Coastal shipping grew 118% in a decade, Ro-Pax ferries moved over 40 lakh passengers, and inland waterway cargo rose 700%. Nine Indian ports rank in the world’s top 100, with Vizag in the top 20 container ports. Indian ports now outperform many advanced maritime nations on key metrics.

The meet was held under the chairmanship of the Union Minister of MoPSW, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal who was joined by the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Shri Nitin Gadkari; the Vice Chairman, Niti Aayog, Suman Bery. The Chief Minister of Goa, Dr Pramod Sawant as well as ministerial representation from Gujrat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Andaman & Nicobar islands. The meeting witnessed key discussions on the progress and future roadmap of the Sagarmala Programme, aiming to strengthen port-led development and enhance India’s maritime infrastructure.

A major highlight of the meeting was the launch of the Sagarmala Startup Innovation Initiative (S2I2), a forward-looking program aimed at accelerating innovation and entrepreneurship in the maritime sector. S2I2 aims at empowering startups working in areas such as green shipping, smart ports, maritime logistics, shipbuilding technology, and sustainable coastal development. The initiative will offer funding, mentorship, and industry partnerships to nurture cutting-edge solutions. Through S2I2, the maritime sector will witness a new wave of RISE — Research, Innovation, Startups, and Entrepreneurship — driving economic growth and unlocking transformative technological advancements. Through initiatives like S2I2 and Sagarmala 2.0, India reaffirms its commitment to maritime excellence and sustainable coastal growth.

Over the past 10 years, the Sagarmala Programme has significantly advanced India’s maritime infrastructure. More than 100 port modernisation projects, valued at approximately ₹32,600 crore, have added 230 MTPA to port capacity. Additionally, over 80 port connectivity projects worth around ₹52,000 crore have enhanced 1,500 km of connectivity to ports. Under the Coastal Community Development pillar, fishing harbour projects have positively impacted over 30,000 fishermen. Furthermore, the Ministry has extended financial support to 119 projects worth approximately ₹10,000 crore across coastal States and Union Territories (UT) under the Sagarmala scheme.

Speaking further, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, “In line with the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji’s vision, our ministry is working to transform India’s maritime sector by 2047 through initiatives such as the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision (MAKV). It aspires to position India among the world’s top five shipbuilding nations by adding 4 million GRT of shipbuilding capacity. It also targets expanding port handling capacity to 10 billion metric tons annually, representing the most significant growth trajectory ever for India’s maritime industry.”

NSAC was constituted in May 2015 for planning and implementation of Port Led Development under Sagarmala project. NSAC is the apex body for policy direction and oversight of the Sagarmala Programme. The 4th NSAC meeting saw review of the implementation status of key projects under the Sagarmala pillars of port modernisation, port industrialisation, port connectivity, coastal shipping and coastal community development. Senior officials from the MoPSW, NITI Aayog, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, and other line Ministries along with senior representatives from the States and UTs participated in the deliberations. The Sagarmala Programme aims to reduce logistics costs for EXIM and domestic trade by enhancing port-led development, improving port efficiency, and promoting coastal economic zones. With the successful conclusion of the 4th NSAC meeting, the Government of India reaffirmed its commitment to maritime excellence, sustainable coastal development, and fostering innovation through targeted interventions such as S2I2 and Sagarmala 2.0.

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: North India’s first Nuclear project coming up in Haryana in a small town called Gorakhpur,

Source: Government of India (2)

North India’s first Nuclear project coming up in Haryana in a small town called Gorakhpur,

Jaitapur Nuclear Plant to Contribute 10% of India’s 100 GW Clean Energy Goal Dr. Jitendra Singh in Lok Sabha

Environmental Concerns Over Jaitapur Addressed, Project on Track

In a significant policy shift, the government is also opening the nuclear energy sector to private participation to accelerate expansion.

Posted On: 19 MAR 2025 5:01PM by PIB Delhi

North India’s first Nuclear project is coming up in Haryana in a small town called Gorakhpur.

This was revealed by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh while reaffirming the government’s commitment to the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project, calling it a critical step toward India’s clean energy future.

Responding to concerns raised in the Lok Sabha, Dr. Jitendra Singh clarified that environmental clearance for the project is under renewal and that necessary safeguards are in place to address ecological and safety concerns.

Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that the government remains confident in the safety of the project despite objections from conservation groups and concerns about its location in a seismic zone. He stated that concerns about risks to marine life and local livelihoods have been raised repeatedly, and every time, the government has “tried to allay all these apprehensions that there is no such risk to the marine life, the fisheries, or the people living around, there are ample number of evidence-based studies to prove that.” He further clarified that the environmental clearance had expired in December 2022 due to procedural delays, not because of any new environmental objections. “If there were very serious environmental hazards or any apprehension or evidence, then we would not have got the environment clearance even earlier,” he explained.

Tracing the project’s timeline, the Minister explained that while initial approvals were given in 2008, delays occurred due to shifts in agreements with French stakeholders. With technical agreements now finalized, discussions are ongoing to settle commercial terms with the French side. The Jaitapur plant, once operational, will house six nuclear reactors, each with a capacity of 1,730 MW, totaling 10,380 MW—accounting for 10% of India’s 100 GW nuclear energy target by 2047.

Addressing concerns about nuclear liability, Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that India’s Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) framework provides clear safeguards. The primary responsibility rests with the operator, and an insurance pool of ₹1,500 crore has been set up, with additional commitments from the government if required. Furthermore, India has aligned with global compensation mechanisms to ensure financial security in case of an incident.

In a significant policy shift, the government is also opening the nuclear energy sector to private participation to accelerate expansion. Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the upcoming Gorakhpur Nuclear Power Plant in Haryana, marking India’s first nuclear project in North India, as part of this broader vision.

With India aiming for net-zero emissions by 2070, the Jaitapur project is expected to play a crucial role in achieving the country’s clean energy ambitions while strengthening its position as a leader in nuclear technology.

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NKR/PSM

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Colombia formally accepts Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies

Source: World Trade Organization

DG Okonjo-Iweala said: “I am grateful for Colombia’s formal acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. As an active participant in fisheries subsidies discussions at the WTO, Colombia has consistently demonstrated its commitment to advancing ocean sustainability and safeguarding the livelihoods of those who depend on it. Colombia’s ratification marks another important step as we work together to implement this historic agreement. I call on those members who have not yet ratified to swiftly follow suit — we only need 18 for the Agreement to enter into force and begin to deliver its benefits for people and the planet.”

Ambassador Bustamante said: “Colombia’s formal acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies symbolizes the country’s commitment to the conservation of marine resources, and the impetus for more sustainable and equitable fisheries within the framework of clear and predictable multilateral rules. This Agreement, the first in the history of the Organization to have an environmental and sustainability focus, establishes disciplines to limit high-seas subsidies, to intensify efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and to reduce harmful subsidies that have a negative impact on fish stocks and marine ecosystems. The Agreement also recognizes the importance of preserving the regulatory space necessary to promote sustainable fisheries and support artisanal fishers, whose livelihood is directly dependent on the health of the oceans.”

“By depositing the instrument of ratification of the Agreement, Colombia not only reaffirms its commitment to sustainable development and the responsible management of fisheries resources but also contributes to the revitalization of a rules-based multilateral trading system, promoting greater certainty, transparency and fairness in global trade. This action reflects the country’s determination to contribute to the establishment of fairer conditions in the fisheries sector and in the adoption of trade practices aligned with the principles of sustainability and environmental conservation.” Ambassador Bustamente said.

Colombia’s instrument of acceptance brings to 93 the total number of WTO members that have formally accepted the Agreement. Eighteen more formal acceptances are needed for the Agreement to come into effect. The Agreement will enter into force upon acceptance by two-thirds of the membership.

Adopted by consensus at the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), held in Geneva on 12-17 June 2022, the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies sets new, binding, multilateral rules to curb harmful subsidies, which are a key factor in the widespread depletion of the world’s fish stocks. In addition, the Agreement recognizes the needs of developing economies and least-developed countries and establishes a fund to provide technical assistance and capacity building to help them implement the obligations.

The Agreement prohibits subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, for fishing overfished stocks, and for fishing on the unregulated high seas.

Members also agreed at MC12 to continue negotiations on outstanding issues, with a view to adopting additional provisions that would further enhance the disciplines of the Agreement.

The full text of the Agreement can be accessed here. The list of members that have deposited their instruments of acceptance is available here. Information for members on how to accept the Protocol of Amendment is available here.

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MIL OSI Economics –

March 20, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Kaine, Chesapeake Bay State Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Help Farmers Cut Costs, Enhance Bay Health
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), alongside Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), John Fetterman (D-PA), and Mark Warner (D-VA), announced the introduction of the Chesapeake Bay Conservation Acceleration Act. This legislation would incentivize agricultural conservation practices by providing federal resources to help cut costs for the region’s farmers while improving the health of the Chesapeake Bay. As approximately one-third of the Chesapeake Bay’s 64,000-square-mile watershed is agricultural land, enabling more farmers to implement conservation and environmental resilience measures will help reduce nutrient runoff into the Bay and its tributaries – a significant cause of harm to the health of the Bay’s fisheries and ecosystem. Companion legislation was introduced in the House on a bipartisan basis by U.S. Representatives Rob Wittman (R-VA-01), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD-03), Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), and Bobby Scott (D-VA-03).

“Responsible stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay’s ecosystem is crucial to protecting tourism jobs, farmers, and our local seafood industries,” said Kaine. “This legislation will help give Virginia’s agricultural producers—who are especially vulnerable to a changing climate—the support they need to implement smart conservation measures that will reduce pollution in the Chesapeake Bay and ensure the watershed is healthy for generations to come.”

“The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure and a regional economic engine – it puts food on our tables, supports the livelihoods of thousands of Marylanders, and serves as a critical habitat for wildlife. This bipartisan legislation will help us both support our farmers and agricultural communities, while providing greater resources to protect the Bay and reducing harmful runoff,” said Van Hollen.

“The Chesapeake Bay is the heart of Maryland – our state treasure,” said Alsobrooks. “We must do all we can to conserve it. The Bay is one of Maryland’s key economic drivers – supporting the tourism industry, our watermen, and farmers all across the state. And this legislation won’t just support Maryland – it will help Americans across our region access clean drinking water. Let’s get this done.”

“The Chesapeake Bay is synonymous with Virginia, and it’s crucial that we take meaningful steps to help protect it. I’m proud to introduce this legislation that will boost conservation efforts by providing direct support to the farmers on the ground who are vital to the health and safety of the bay,” said Warner.

The full text of the bill is available here.

The Chesapeake Bay Conservation Acceleration Act is endorsed by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Choose Clean Water Coalition, and Chesapeake Bay Commission.

Background on Chesapeake Bay Conservation Acceleration Act

As extreme weather events and flooding occur with increasing frequency, the Chesapeake Bay region’s farmers are contending with crop damage and runoff of soil and fertilizers, which also carries pollution into waterways. Agricultural conservation practices are one of the most cost-effective solutions to address these urgent problems and they provide multiple benefits. Practices that focus on building healthy soils and maintaining permanent vegetation such as forest buffers can reduce runoff, remove carbon from the atmosphere, and improve the land’s ability to withstand floods, drought, and other extreme conditions. In addition, many practices help producers cut costs and make their farms more resilient to economic shocks by increasing yields.

The Chesapeake Bay Conservation Acceleration Act focuses federal resources on the approximately 83,000 farms in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to boost voluntary conservation efforts that help achieve water quality goals, increase soil health, and provide economic benefits. Additionally, the legislation provides solutions for developing a more robust agriculture workforce to get more technical assistance on the ground, and it would simplify harvesting invasive blue catfish from the Bay.

Specifically, this legislation:
- Authorizes the Chesapeake Bay States’ Partnership Initiative (CPSI). In May 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an additional $22.5 million in conservation assistance in fiscal year 2022 to help farmers boost water quality improvements and conservation in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This administrative action was a significant step toward closing the estimated $737 million investment gap needed to meet agriculture sector nutrient reduction goals. USDA also announced a new task force, jointly with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to better quantify the voluntary conservation efforts of farmers in the Bay watershed. This legislation codifies these administrative actions, empowering USDA to provide targeted support to Chesapeake Bay watershed farmers.
- Reforms the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) to boost participation. CREP was once the dominant source of financial and technical assistance for riparian forest buffers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. However, enrollment has slowed in recent years, despite the cost effectiveness of buffers to address water quality concerns. This bill removes administrative barriers to implementation and allows states to more easily take advantage of legislative improvements to the program.
- Creates a Chesapeake Bay Watershed Turnkey Pilot Program. This legislation establishes a pilot “turnkey” program for the installation, management, and maintenance of riparian forest buffers (RFB) to be implemented by a third party, where the landowner assigns the cost-share and practice incentive payments to the third party but continues to receive the annual rental payment. This program offers a simple process for landowners who wish to install RFB buffers to apply.
- Strengthens Chesapeake Bay Watershed Workforce Development. This bill expands the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Higher Education Challenge Grant Program to include community college and post-secondary vocational programs, as well as paid work-based learning opportunities. Additional capacity is needed to support the implementation of conservation technical assistance. This legislation will increase the workforce pipeline for trained professionals that work with producers to inform, design, engineer, and install agricultural best management practices in a way that maximizes the benefits for both the producer and the environment. Promoting agricultural conservation courses at institutions that offer one- and two-year programs will help bring students to the workforce more quickly and with a lower student loan debt burden, making these jobs more attractive.
- Provides Invasive Blue Catfish Inspection Relief. This legislation transfers primary regulatory oversight of domestic wild-caught catfish invasive to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem from the Department of Agriculture to the Food and Drug Administration. In 2017, all catfish were placed under the regulatory jurisdiction of the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, including wild-caught, domestic blue catfish. The establishment of this inspection program has placed constraints on catfish processing in the Bay region.
“Across the Chesapeake Bay watershed, producers are doing their part to protect the health of their soils and local streams by installing conservation practices. To keep faith with our farmers, we need a strong Farm Bill that enhances the technical and financial support producers need for success,” said Anna Killius, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Commission. “We applaud Senator Van Hollen and all of the original cosponsors of the Chesapeake Bay Conservation Acceleration Act for their forward-thinking approach for the Farm Bill, for our region’s farmers, and for the Chesapeake Bay. “

“Farmers are essential to restoring the Bay and its waterways. The Chesapeake Bay Conservation Acceleration Act would encourage more farmers to adopt conservation practices that reduce fertilizer and sediment runoff, the largest source of water pollution to the Bay. The bill would also enable more watermen to improve their bottom line by harvesting invasive blue catfish. This would help protect native Bay species and the seafood industry from this voracious predator while supporting the region’s economy. With the staffing turmoil at USDA, the proposals for increasing the number of trained professionals on the ground helping farmers improve water and soil quality are more important than ever,” said Keisha Sedlacek, Federal Director at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “The Chesapeake Bay Foundation thanks Reps. Wittman, Scott, Elfreth, and Kiggans and Sens. Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, Fetterman, Kaine, and Warner for reintroducing this bipartisan legislation. We urge Congress to quickly pass a new, more Bay-friendly Farm Bill that includes the smart policy changes outlined in this bill.”

“With farmers as the original conservationists, we applaud the Chesapeake Bay Conservation Acceleration Act, which will help farmers implement more conservation projects on their land. These projects will not only help local waterways, but also support local economies,” said Kristin Reilly, Director of the Choose Clean Water Coalition. “We thank Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA) for their leadership in this effort.”
MIL OSI USA News –
March 20, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Figs, meat – and not too much sex. A good diet in ancient times was more than what you ate

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Konstantine Panegyres, Lecturer in Classics and Ancient History, The University of Western Australia

The Feast of Acheloüs by Peter Paul Rubens and Jan Brueghel the Elder, ca. 1615 The Metropolitan Museum of Art

In the modern world, we know good nutrition is essential for our health.

Doctors in ancient Greece and Rome knew this too – in fact diet advice was a mainstay of medical practice and health routines. There were extensive and intricate discussions of how to regulate food and drink to stay healthy.

Some of their ideas – such as eating fish and vegetables as a healthy way to lose weight – make sense today. But others may raise eyebrows, such a fig-only diet for Olympic athletes.

So, what did diet and nutrition look like in ancient times? And is there anything we can learn today?

An expansive diet

In modern times, diet refers to food and drink. In ancient times, however, the idea of diet was more expansive.

Our word “diet” comes from the ancient Greek word diaita. This could refer to what we eat and drink, but it could also refer to our lifestyle as a whole – including exercise, sleep, sex and other activities.

When prescribing a diaita, ancient doctors did not just tell patients what to eat and drink. They also advised them on what sorts of other activities they should be doing, like exercising or even going to the theatre.

For instance, in the sixth book of the Epidemics, a medical text written in the late fifth century BC, the author calls for moderation not just in what we eat and drink, but also in exercise, sleep and sex.

Ancient doctors believed balance was important for health.

Extreme dieting

However, not all ancient texts advocate moderation. There are some extreme cases of dieting. For example, the historian Hegesander of Delphi (2nd century BC) wrote:

Anchimolus and Moschus, who were sophistic teachers in Elis, drank nothing but water all their lives and ate nothing but figs, but were no less physically vigorous than anyone else. Their sweat, however, smelled so bad that everyone tried to avoid them in the baths.

Some ancient athletes swore by a fig-only diet.
Wikimedia Commons

In the seventh century BC, athletic trainers also focused on diet as a way to improve their athletes’ physical condition. Trainers such as Iccus of Tarentum introduced strict diets for their athletes to try and gain a competitive edge.

However, their methods were often questionable, according to today’s standards and our knowledge about nutrition.

For example, the Olympic runner Chionis of Laconia apparently also had a strict diet of figs when he was training for his competitions. He won in his event at the Olympics in 668, 664, 660, and 656BC, a remarkable record. Other athletes, such as Eurymenes of Samos (sixth century BC), opted for a diet entirely comprised of meat.

However, there is no evidence to show these restricted diets would have improved athletic performance – and would not be recommended today.

The physician Galen.
Pierre-Roch Vigneron/Wikimedia Commons

An ancient doctor’s perspective

Greek and Roman doctors could not conduct controlled trials as scientists do today.

Nevertheless, they were keen observers of the effects of certain foods on their patients – and saw with their own eyes that a bad diet is not good for us.

For example, the physician Galen of Pergamum (129-216AD) in his work Hygiene attributes his patients’ ill health to poor diet.

He observed

some who are continuously diseased, not due to the intrinsic constitution of the body, but through a bad regimen, or living an idle life, or working too hard, or being in error regarding the qualities, quantities or times of foods, or practicing some exercise that is harmful, or erring in regard to the amount of sleep, or excessive indulgence in sex, or needlessly tormenting themselves with grief and anxiety. Every year I see very many who are sick through such a cause.

Galen thought hard about how certain foods and drinks affect our health and wrote various books on the subject, such as On the Powers of Foods.

This work contains many anecdotes. For instance, one young man drank the juice of the scammony plant, “to cleanse his system” (presumably as a laxative). However

five hours after the dose no evacuation had taken place, and he complained that his stomach felt compressed, his belly was heavy and swollen, consequently he was pale and anxious.

Galen also recognised different diets affect people in different ways:

some people are harmed and some are benefited by the same things and similarly with opposites. […] I know of some who immediately become sick, if they remain three days without exercise, and others who continue indefinitely without exercise and yet are healthy.

Nutrition and balance

Galen’s advice for overweight or obese patients may sound familiar: a “thinning” diet and a lot of fast running. So, exercise, combined with foods that fill you up but don’t make you gain weight.

According to Galen this meant eating vegetables and fish and avoiding wheat, red meat, fruit and wine.

A lot has changed in the world of diet and nutrition. We now have professional dietiticians and empirical methods to measure the nutritional values of foods.

However in their broader definition of “diet”, ancient doctors identified something that remains as true today: the importance of eating well as part of a healthy lifestyle, one that takes care of body and mind and includes exercise, sleep and pleasure.

Konstantine Panegyres 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. Figs, meat – and not too much sex. A good diet in ancient times was more than what you ate – https://theconversation.com/figs-meat-and-not-too-much-sex-a-good-diet-in-ancient-times-was-more-than-what-you-ate-249571

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

March 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: AMERICA/HAITI – A network of paths for human and economic development in Pourcine Pic Makaya

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Wednesday, 19 March 2025

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Pourcine (Agenzia Fides) – In Pourcine Pic Makaya, the sowing season is coming to an end. The next two months will be difficult for the people awaiting the harvest. They have “put everything they have in the form of money into the ground,” that is, they have used it to prepare the land and sow.”In the coming weeks, agricultural work will decrease significantly; the Community will be able to work on repairing some roads and paths that connect the village plateau with other towns,” writes Father Massimo Miraglio, a Camillian missionary in Haiti, to Fides.“With a salary for the people, organized into work teams, we can help several families in a very difficult economic time. The results we seek are twofold,” continues the Camillian parish priest of Notre Dame du Perpétuel Secours in Pourcine: “to improve the usability of some roads (also to make them safer for children going to school) and to financially assist more than 200 families with a small financial contribution from their work.”The village of Pourcine Pic Makaya is located on a plateau at an altitude of approximately 1,000 meters and surrounded by rugged mountains, where numerous hamlets are connected by difficult and steep paths. Just under 300 families live in Pourcine, with a total of almost 1,500 people; the hamlets, about 15 in number, are home to around 2,000 people. The village is the center of all the area’s inhabitants, and a market is held every Wednesday, the center of the area’s economic activity. In Pourcine, there are two schools, one public and one parish, and a small (informal) parish clinic. Paths lead from the plateau to all the other villages (some several hours’ walk away) and to the three main tracks that connect Pourcine to the rest of the region: the first to the town of Beaumont, the second to the adjacent Castillon valley, and the third to the valley floor and Jérémie.“This entire network of mountain roads plays a fundamental role,” explains Fr. Miraglio, “allowing people to travel from the center to the villages, to the land they cultivate, to the markets for local produce, and to the neighboring towns in the region. Unfortunately, due to the terrain, heavy rainfall, and poor maintenance, this network of roads is in poor condition and, especially during the rainiest periods, is often impassable. Rural roads in particular, which are especially valuable because they allow the transport of products on mule and ensure connections to neighboring areas, are in poor condition. On rare occasions, the local community organizes, with the limited resources at its disposal, to clear the roads and improve their viability.”To help the population, Father Máximo is working on a project to “rehabilitate and maintain the roads and mule tracks that connect the villages of the Pourcine-Pic Makaya mountain community.” This project will enable the population to travel more safely and quickly, using the mules available to transport more local products and essential goods for the community’s life. The project also aims to foster the economic and social development of the area, counteracting depopulation and promoting a participatory and sustainable work model.“The direct beneficiaries of the project will be 268 people,” reports the Camillian, “who will be directly involved in the cleaning and maintenance of the trails, while the indirect beneficiaries will be the entire population of Poucine Pic Makaya, who will be able to benefit from the improvements to the trail network. In particular, the children who daily walk the trails leading from the various villages to the plateau where the school is located will be able to travel more safely and quickly. The direct beneficiaries, men and women (coordinators, team leaders and laborers), will be chosen from among the residents of the most remote areas who most need these income-generating activities at a particularly difficult time for the farmers in the area.” (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 19/3/2025)
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MIL OSI Europe News –

March 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Reducing regulatory burden for the fisheries sector – E-001034/2025
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001034/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Bert-Jan Ruissen (ECR)

The Commission is seeking to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses. Scrapping and simplifying existing rules is badly needed, as is averting obstructive new rules. The European fisheries sector urgently needs there to be a comprehensive review of fisheries and environmental policies. That must go beyond merely scaling back and digitising reporting obligations. At his hearing in Parliament on 6 November 2024, Commissioner Kadis announced that, within DG MARE, the entire rulebook would be screened, the aim being to shrink it by 30-35%.

1.Does the Commission agree that digitising the rulebook is not enough to bring about a substantial cut in regulatory burden, but that rules should actually be scrapped?

2.In addition to the internal departmental screening, does the Commission intend to enter into a dialogue with the fisheries sector on reducing regulatory burden?

3.Is the Commission prepared to revisit new laws, such as the Nature Restoration Act and the revised Control Regulation, as part of this review?

Submitted: 10.3.2025
Last updated: 19 March 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
March 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – The Government’s attempt to cover up the crime at Pylos – E-001028/2025
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001028/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Kostas Papadakis (NI), Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos (NI)

The Pylos shipwreck, a tragic crime which claimed the lives of at least 600 refugees and migrants, remains unpunished. The Greek Ombudsman’s findings reveal that the Nea Dimokratia Government bears huge responsibility in the matter.

These findings follow on from Frontex’s own report, in which serious accusations were made against the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Coast Guard. However, Frontex’s findings are being hushed up and the enormous responsibilities of Frontex itself are being concealed. Although the Frontex plane sighted the fishing vessel and detected the dangerous route it was on, it failed to issue a mayday call and made no attempt whatsoever to prevent the shipwreck because it ‘was ordered not to’.

In light of the above,

1.What is the Commission’s take of the information brought to light in the Greek Ombudsman’s findings and in the previous findings of Frontex’s Fundamental Rights Office and of the European Ombudsman, which show that the Nea Dimokratia Government and the Greek authorities bear objective responsibilities for the deadly Pylos shipwreck, as does Frontex, given that it made no effort to prevent the shipwreck even though it was present in the area?

2.What view does the Commission take of the fact that the continuous and recurring shipwreck incidents that have turned the Mediterranean into a graveyard, are the result of the EU and government policy of stepping up the migration crackdown at the borders, with the assistance of Frontex, which will intensify with the Pact on Migration and Asylum that is being promoted?

Submitted: 10.3.2025
Last updated: 19 March 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
March 20, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Governor Launches Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trail

Source: US State of New York

overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of the Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trail. Officially opened today, the South Shore Trail runs from Bay Shore to Montauk and is intended to drive business and tourism to locations proudly serving and selling locally raised and wild-caught, sustainably harvested fish and shellfish while promoting Long Island’s seafood industry. The Trail is a part of the State’s Blue Food Transformation initiative, first announced in the Governor’s 2024 State of the State proposal, which was created to reinvigorate New York’s aquaculture and wild-caught seafood industries and strengthen local food systems.

“Long Island’s aquaculture and seafood industries are vital to New York’s agricultural economy – they create jobs, support a healthy environment, and provide New Yorkers with fresh, nutritious seafood,” Governor Hochul said. “The Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trails highlight the amazing fish and shellfish harvested locally, showcase our outstanding small businesses, and attract more visitors to this incredible region.”

Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trails

Today’s announcement was made at a special ribbon cutting ceremony at The Snapper Inn in Oakdale where State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball joined representatives from Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Suffolk County, state and local elected officials, local business owners, and other partners to unveil the first of two planned Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trails. The Snapper Inn is on the western end of the South Shore Trail, which will include 20 official locations and other points of interest to spotlight New York’s seafood industry, and drive visitors to businesses that serve and sell locally wild-caught, sustainably harvested fish and shellfish. The North Shore Trail, which will run from Oyster Bay to Greenport, is under development and slated to launch in the coming months.

The event also featured a sneak peek of the forthcoming Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trail digital app, which will make it even easier for customers to discover Long Island establishments serving seafood-centric dishes. Currently under development, the app will guide customers to Long Island establishments where they can enjoy a fine local seafood meal, pick up a variety of oysters for a local oyster tasting, take-out a quick seafood lunch, or fillets from a local seafood shop to prepare a fish dinner at home. An online version of the app is available on the Long Island Seafood Trail website, and the mobile app is expected to be available on the Apple App Store and Google Play in the coming weeks.

Visitors are encouraged to follow the trail for locations that are known to appreciate and celebrate the bounty of Long Island’s waters while boosting business and supporting local fishing communities. Regional points of interest and local events are also integrated into the app to support a full tourism experience. Visit the Seafood Trail page on the Local Fish website for more information.

The Trail was created by CCE of Suffolk County’s Marine Program, in collaboration with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM). AGM additionally worked closely with the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) on the designation of the trails. A list of trail stops is available on the AGM website.

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “Long Island’s waters are abundant with fresh, delicious fish and shellfish, and our seafood industry works tirelessly in harvesting and raising these local delicacies. I encourage New Yorkers to visit any number of the many stops on the new Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trail to discover some delicious foods and help support our local aquaculture community.”

Cornell Cooperative Extension Suffolk Executive Director Vanessa Lockel said, “The CCE Suffolk Marine Program plays a key role in preserving Long Island’s waterways through science, restoration, and education. We are proud to have partnered on the Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trail, a project that aligns with our mission by highlighting the region’s aquaculture and seafood industries—industries that are critical to both our economy and the health of our environment.”

Seafood Processing Feasibility Study

Also funded through the Governor’s Blue Food Transformation initiative, CCE of Suffolk County has engaged industry stakeholders and conducted research to define and mitigate challenges necessary to expand capacity for seafood processing on Long Island. The project examines operating models, locations, basic facility design, and capital budget as a baseline for standalone seafood processing facilities. A final draft report will be presented for industry feedback at the Long Island Seafood Summit this month.

Inter-Agency Task Force

In addition to the cuisine trails and feasibility study, the Governor also announced that AGM, the Department of Environmental Conservation, Empire State Development, Department of Health, New York Sea Grant, and other agencies involved in the production and marketing of seafood formed the New York State Seafood Interagency Workgroup. The group was tasked with evaluating and coordinating state policies and programs that impact aquaculture licensing, food safety, and economic development measures, and considering pathways for industry growth. The Workgroup’s final report is available online at the AGM website.

New York State has a diverse sustainable wild-caught seafood industry and growing aquaculture industry that harvest a variety of products including finfish, kelp, and shellfish. Commercial fishermen on Long Island sustainably harvested over 16 million pounds of finfish in 2023, worth over $28 million dollars. Montauk, the state’s largest commercial fishing port, is 51st in the nation for wild-caught seafood based on poundage, and 53rd in the nation based on dollar value.

From Long Island to the Finger Lakes, both small-scale and commercial-scale aquaculture operations grow fresh, safe, and sustainable seafood, and harvest wild-caught, sustainable fish. According to the most recent USDA Census of Agriculture, the aquaculture industry accounts for over 25 percent of farms on Long Island, with 155 operations in Suffolk County and 15 in Nassau County. Combined, the two counties generated over $14.5 million in sales in 2022.

Department of Environmental Conservation Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “Thanks to Governor Hochul’s sustained support and protection of the South Shore’s irreplaceable marine habitat and resources, the Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trails initiative is gearing up to launch its first segment and celebrate the fantastic seafood associated with Long Island’s vibrant coastal culture and maritime traditions. DEC appreciates the work of our partners at the Department of Agriculture and Markets and their work to support local hatcheries, boosting the Long Island’s shellfish farming economy and complementing the State’s ongoing efforts to ensure the success of New York’s commercial fishing industry while protecting seafood for consumers.”

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “Long Island is one of the epicenters of New York’s internationally recognized food and beverage industry, with its world-renowned vineyards, rich farmlands and storied fishing history. The Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trail, which New York State DOT proudly supports, will enhance sustainable and healthy aquaculture and is a perfect way for South Shore residents and visitors to take in Long Island’s pristine beaches and native wildlife, while enjoying some of the most nutritious and delicious seafood anywhere in the world. See you on the Trail!”

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “The new Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trail will showcase the world class culinary offerings available to residents and visitors alike across the South Shore. This will highlight the importance of the region’s aquaculture industry and introduce more people to the unique small businesses that are vital to local economies.”

Long Island Farm Bureau Director Rob Carpenter said, “Commercial fishing and aquaculture are very important legacy industries on Long Island. Our fishermen, baymen, and oyster growers provide residents with some of the highest quality and most flavorful seafood found anywhere in the world. This seafood trail will help to promote the incredible restaurants, shops, and seafood products available right in our own backyard for residents to experience and enjoy.”

Long Island Oyster Growers Association President Eric Koepele said, “If Dorothy hailed from Long Island, every oyster shell trail would skip Oz for a seafood paradise like The Snapper Inn—where local oysters are shining gems behind the curtain. I encourage visitors to check out more beautiful locations over the rainbow on the Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trail to sample the best of Long Island’s delicious, fresh, local oysters.”

Long Island Commercial Fishing Association Executive Director Bonnie Brady said, “For far too long, consumers and visitors to Long Island had to be “in the know,” to find the local specials of the day from restaurants, seafood shops, and boat-to-table small businesses. Now with the app, anyone can find the freshest Long Island seafood meal, north or south, no matter which Fork they live on or are visiting!”

Discover Long Island President and CEO Kristen Reynolds said, “Long Island’s rich maritime heritage and world-class seafood industry are key drivers of tourism and economic vitality for our region. As Long Island’s only accredited destination marketing organization with an audience of more than 10 million global viewers, we look forward to sharing this exciting new product, encouraging both locals and visitors to explore and support the small businesses, restaurants, and coastal communities that make our destination truly unique.”

New York State Restaurant Association President and CEO Melissa Fleischut said, “With its vibrant culinary scene, Long Island is renowned for its outstanding restaurants, and we’re delighted to see Governor Hochul and other state leaders continue their support for local businesses across the state. The summer months are a peak time for tourism, making the launch of the Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trails especially timely. We are eager to see the positive impact this initiative will have on the region’s restaurant industry, driving both awareness and visitors to these local establishments.”

State Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “Cuisine trails are roadmaps to some of the best local food New York has to offer, guiding people to delicious meals and products while supporting the small businesses that serve them. The launch of the Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trails adds a new layer to New York’s expanding food trail system and we were proud to move this initiative forward in last year’s budget. It’s exciting to see the trail come to fruition, knowing it will give locals and visitors the chance to try the freshest catches, explore new communities, and discover hidden gems along the way.”

Assemblymember Donna Lupardo said, “I’m very pleased that the Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trail is up and running. We included the Blue Food Transformation Initiative in last year’s state budget to support New York’s aquaculture industry and initiatives like this. Cuisine Trails have proven to be very popular as they promote local food and farm businesses through agri-tourism. This new Trail and digital app will shine a spotlight on the locally raised and harvested fish and shellfish that Long Island is known for.”

Assemblymember Jarett Gandolfo said, “Long Island’s seafood industry isn’t just a key part of our local economy, it’s part of who we are. From family-owned restaurants to hardworking fishermen, so many livelihoods depend on a thriving aquaculture industry. The launch of the Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trail is a great way to highlight and support these businesses while also giving residents and visitors the chance to experience the incredible seafood our waters provide. Investing in our local seafood industry means protecting jobs, strengthening Long Island’s tourism, and preserving a tradition that has been passed down for generations. I’m genuinely excited to see this take off and be able to see the positive impact it will have on our community.”

Town of Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter said, “Long Island’s waterways are one of our greatest natural resources, and initiatives like the Seafood Cuisine Trail not only celebrate our long-standing maritime heritage but also support the hardworking individuals who sustain our local seafood industry. Through our Town’s Shellfish Hatchery initiative, we are committed to protecting water quality, replenishing shellfish populations, and ensuring that locally harvested seafood remains a cornerstone of our economy and culture. I’m proud to stand alongside so many dedicated partners today as we continue working toward a thriving, sustainable future for Long Island.”

The Blue Food Transformation Initiative was announced in the Governor’s 2024 State of the State proposal to increase consumer demand for local food and strengthen the local food system. The effort will include $5 million in infrastructure funding to bolster marine agriculture, promote a healthy natural environment, and provide New Yorkers with a nutritious source of locally grown seafood. These investments build on the Governor’s commitment to boost demand for New York agricultural products, bolster New York’s food supply chain, and ensure all New Yorkers can access fresh, local foods. This includes the Governor’s Executive Order 32 directing State agencies to increase the percentage of food sourced from New York farmers and producers to 30 percent of their total purchases within five years.

New York State continues to prioritize increasing access to food for all New Yorkers and providing new markets for farmers through a number of programs and initiatives, including the enhanced FreshConnect Fresh2You initiative, the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs, the Urban Farms and Community Gardens Grants Programs, and more. The Department also administers the Nourish New York program, which is slated for an additional $5 million investment in the Governor’s proposed Executive Budget this year.

The NYS 30 percent Initiative for schools, the State’s Farm-to-School program, and child nutrition programs administered by the State Education Department are focused on buying more local products from New York farmers and increasing healthy and nutritious local foods for New York school lunches.

Additionally, the Governor is dedicating $50 million over five years to support regional cooking facilities that will facilitate the use of fresh New York State farm products in meal preparation for K-12 school children and a $10 million grant program to support the establishment of farm markets, supermarkets, food cooperatives, and other similar retail food stores, along with supporting infrastructure in underserved communities and regions of the State.

Learn about the AGM’s programs and initiatives focused on providing new markets for farmers, increasing food access to underserved communities, and building healthier communities on the AGM website at the “Healthy Communities” page.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 20, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: The Australian economy has changed dramatically since 2000 – the way we work now is radically different

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland

The most striking feature of the Australian economy in the 21st century has been the exceptionally long period of fairly steady, though not rapid, economic growth.

The deep recession of 1989–91, and the painfully slow recovery that followed, led most observers to assume another recession was inevitable sooner or later.

And nearly everywhere in the developed world, the Global Financial Crisis of 2007–08 did lead to recessions comparable in length and severity to the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Through a combination of good luck and good management, Australia avoided recession, at least as measured by the commonly used criterion of two successive quarters of negative GDP growth.

Recessions cause unemployment to rise in the short run. Even after recessions end, the economy often remains on a permanently lower growth path.

Good management – and good luck

The crucial example of good management was the use of expansionary fiscal policy in response to both the financial crisis and the COVID pandemic. Governments supported households with cash payments as well as increasing their own spending.

The most important piece of good luck was the rise of China and its appetite for Australian mineral exports, most notably iron ore.

This demand removed the concerns about trade deficits that had driven policy in the 1990s, and has continued to provide an important source of export income. Mining is also an important source of government revenue, though this is often overstated.

Still more fortunately, the Chinese response to the Global Financial Crisis, like that in Australia, was one of massive fiscal stimulus. The result was that both domestic demand and export demand were sustained through the crisis.

The shift to an information economy

The other big change, shared with other developed countries, has been the replacement of the 20th century industrial economy with an economy dominated by information and information-intensive services.

The change in the industrial makeup of the economy can be seen in occupational data.

In the 20th century, professional and managerial workers were a rarefied elite. Now they are the largest single occupational group at nearly 40% of all workers. Clerical, sales and other service workers account for 33% and manual workers (trades, labourers, drivers and so on) for only 28%.

The results are evident in the labour market. First, the decline in the relative share of the male-dominated manual occupations has been reflected in a gradual convergence in the labour force participation rates of men (declining) and women (increasing).

Suddenly, work from home was possible

Much more striking than this gradual trend was the (literally) overnight shift to remote work that took place with the arrival of COVID lockdowns.

Despite the absence of any preparation, it turned out the great majority of information work could be done anywhere workers could find a desk and an internet connection.

The result was a massive benefit to workers. They were freed from their daily commute, which has been estimated as equivalent to an 8–10% increase in wages, and better able to juggle work and family commitments.

Despite strenuous efforts by managers, remote or hybrid work has remained common among information workers.

CEOs regularly demand a return to full-time office work. But few if any have been prepared to pay the wage premium that would be required to retain their most valuable (and mobile) employees without the flexibility of hybrid or remote work.

The employment miracle

The confluence of all these trends has produced an outcome that seemed unimaginable in the year 2000: a sustained period of near-full employment. That is defined by a situation in which almost anyone who wants a job can get one.

The unemployment rate has dropped from 6.8% in 2000 to around 4%. While this is higher than in the post-war boom of the 1950s and 1960s, this is probably inevitable given the greater diversity of both the workforce and the range of jobs available.

Matching workers to jobs was relatively easy in an industrial economy where large factories employed thousands of workers. It’s much harder in an information economy where job categories include “Instagram influencer” and “search engine optimiser”.

As we progress through 2025, it is possible all this may change rapidly, for better or for worse.

The chaos injected into the global economy by the Trump Administration will radically reshape patterns of trade.

Meanwhile the rise of artificial intelligence holds out the promise of greatly increased productivity – but also the threat of massive job destruction. Economists, at least, will be busy for quite a while to come.

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

– ref. The Australian economy has changed dramatically since 2000 – the way we work now is radically different – https://theconversation.com/the-australian-economy-has-changed-dramatically-since-2000-the-way-we-work-now-is-radically-different-249942

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

March 20, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: In 2000, Australia was defined by the Olympics, border politics and reconciliation. So what really has changed?

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua Black, Visitor, School of History, Australian National University

The world had its eyes on Sydney in 2000. A million people lined the harbour to ring in the new millennium (though some said it was actually the final year of the old one) on January 1.

US television reporters called it “the biggest party in Australian history”. Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, whose corporation seemed to represent the coming age, was among those watching on.

Sydney offered not only a world-leading party, but also a litmus test for the much-feared Y2K bug, which threatened to knock planes out of the sky and bring the global economy to a halt. Australia and New Zealand were said to be the “tripwire for the world’s computer systems”.

It was fine in the end, although plenty of work had in fact been undertaken behind the scenes to make Australia’s systems more millennium-proof than they might have been.

This was arguably the defining feature of Australia in the year 2000: a confident display for the world concealing a lot of angst and uncertainty. Australia was the “oldest continent on Earth”, the US broadcasters told their viewers, but it was “much more of an Asian nation”, and much closer to the rest of the world “thanks to technology”.

Those confident claims would probably have surprised many Australians. Theirs was an old country trying to keep up with a new, interconnected world, and also a relatively young one trying to reconcile itself with the ancient cultures that its settler forebears had dispossessed.

A curated Australia

In September, the world’s sporting and political elite, followed by a train of journalists, arrived in Sydney for the 2000 Olympic Games. It had been years in the making, and every level of government was involved. There were no fewer than 47,000 volunteers.

There was something for everyone in the well-curated opening ceremony. The event opened with the crack of a stockman’s whip and a fleet of flag-waving bushmen on horseback. There were highly sanitised displays of European arrival, pastoral settlement and a tribute to an armour-clad colonial Victorian bushranger that must have baffled those viewers watching from abroad who had not seen a Sidney Nolan painting before.

Ancient stories and new cultural sensibilities were on display too. There were stylised performances of the Dreaming, striking First Nations dances and the distinctive sounds of the didgeridoo. A section entitled “Arrivals” recognised the importance of migration in the nation’s story.

A young Aboriginal sprinter, Cathy Freeman, lit the cauldron in what became one of the iconic images of the year. The cauldron’s hydraulics unfortunately got stuck as it ascended, and the flame was mere seconds from snuffing out in what could have been a global embarrassment. But big ambitions incur big risks.

This global performance of Australian-ness was arrestingly simple: that of a nation confident in its own diversity and capable of catering to everyone’s tastes.

Even the musical selections seemed to reconcile the needs of the youth (with performances from a young Vanessa Amorosi and even younger Nikki Webster), and the more mature (represented by John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John).

Australia’s athletes had their best ever showing with 58 medals, including Freeman’s own gold.

Not quite comfortable, not quite relaxed

The Olympics masked as much as they revealed.

In 2000, many white Australians still weren’t sure if theirs was, or should be, a multicultural society.

The reactionary Pauline Hanson was out of parliament for the time being, but her One Nation Party had won 7.5% of the vote in New South Wales in the March 1999 state election, and nearly 23% of the vote in Queensland the year before.

Eight weeks before millennium day, Australians had roundly rejected two referendum proposals, one to become a republic, and for a Constitutional preamble that, among other things, recognised Indigenous Australians as “the nation’s first people”.

But whether Hanson liked it or not, her lifetime had coincided with great demographic and social change.

In 1976, roughly 1.8% of the population said they were born in Asia or the Middle East. In the 2001 census, 1.6% of the population were born in China or Vietnam alone, and many more were the descendants of migrants from these places.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population had more than doubled over the same period, while those identifying as Christian decreased from nearly 79% in 1976 to 56% in 2001.

This increasingly diverse Australia claimed to be on a journey to “reconciliation”. That process had been sorely tested during the nasty debates about land rights and the Stolen Generations.

Corroboree 2000, held on May 27 in Sydney, saw the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and the nation’s political leaders present their visions for the next phase of national healing. The leaders symbolically left their handprints on a “reconciliation canvas”.

The following day, 250,000 Australians walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in a moving display of togetherness. John Howard, the prime minister, declined to participate.

But his treasurer, Peter Costello, made a point of showing up for a similar event in Melbourne that December, leading Victorian Liberals and another 200,000 or so Australians.

Their different approaches showed that the past was still a troubling present. Howard rebuffed suggestions of a treaty between Indigenous and settler Australians and maintained his refusal to apologise on behalf of the Commonwealth to the Stolen Generations, though all the states had done so by this time.

The idea of such an apology was not as popular then as it seemed later on. The prime minister was sensitive to the fact that his was “an unpopular view with a lot of people”, but an opinion poll in The Australian newspaper showed a majority of voters were opposed to a national apology.

Two survivors of the Stolen Generations, Peter Gunner and Lorna Cubillo, sued the Commonwealth for damages in 2000, giving their opponents the chance to challenge the legitimacy of their experiences. None of this looked like a nation that was as “comfortable and relaxed” as Howard had hoped it would be under his watch.

Border politics

Australian collective memory often gravitates toward 2001, the year of the Tampa affair and the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York.

But Australia’s border was already highly politicised in 2000.

In January, a boat arrived from Indonesia carrying 54 Christians fleeing religious conflict. They spent ten weeks at Port Hedland Immigration Detention facility, from which 39 went back to Indonesia and only 15 moved on to Adelaide to build new lives.

Port Hedland and other detention centres made the news for all the wrong reasons. There were riots, hunger strikes and multiple breakouts. Authorities responded with upgraded security perimeters, character checks, and strip searches without warrants.

Frustrated refugees set fire to South Australia’s Woomera facility, which former prime minister Malcolm Fraser publicly condemned as a “hell-hole”.

In an end-of-year reflection for The Age newspaper, Gary Tippet said there had been a “touch of mean-spiritedness” about the handling of it all. Chris Wallace rightly suggests 2000 was a crucial moment in the “march towards an absolute offshore, extraterritorial approach” to refugees in Australia.

In the intervening quarter-century, Australian officials have made mean-spiritedness an art form at the border and on the seas.

First-rate democracy, third-rate economy

Compared to the many legal challenges that came out of the US presidential contest in November 2000, Australia’s elections looked pretty smooth and sensible. The US seemed to have a backward democracy grafted onto its world-leading, information-age economy.

Australia looked the opposite: a first-rate democracy with what looked increasingly like a “branch-office economy”.

Reformers had tried for 20 years to make Australia efficient and competitive, but as one editorial in The Australian Financial Review explained, the country still suffered from its “old economy image”.

The tech boom would soon become the tech wreck.
Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Certainly, Australia still sold its minerals and farm products to the world in exchange for quality cars and cutting-edge computers.

With global capitalists still enthralled by the global tech boom (though it was soon to become the “tech wreck”), they had little need for the Aussie dollar.

The currency’s value declined through the year to just 50 US cents, and it would fall further in the following months. On its own, this mattered little, but a quarter of negative growth at the end of the year meant, as Paul Kelly later wrote, an “election-year recession” seemed a “real threat”.

In the meantime, the much-debated Goods and Services Tax took effect around midnight on June 30 (a few hours later for businesses trading through the night).

The 10% consumption tax was a big deal. Costello said in his memoir the “prices of three billion products were to change all at the same time”.

The measure was politically brave, but soon became unpopular, helping raise petrol prices and alienate small business owners.

The punters were pretty confident the Howard government was heading for defeat in 2001. They were wrong.

Between the old and new

The pace of social change accelerated from 2000.

In the 2021 census, 2.6% of the population said they were born in India, and a further 3.2% in China and Vietnam. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians had more than doubled over two decades, such that they made up 3.2% of the total population in 2021.

People increasingly related to their economy differently, too. Half of the workforce had been unionised in the 1980s, but coverage fell to roughly a quarter in 2000 and just 12.5% in 2022.

These and other changes make our politics look different from that of 25 years ago. Nailbiter elections are now more common than thumping majorities and attitudes toward the once-feared “minority government” have softened.

For all that, many of the challenges of 2000 are still with us.

Many Australians are less tolerant of overt racism than they once were, but the 2023 Voice referendum and our offshore detention regime remind us that race still matters in this country.

Kevin Rudd apologised to the Stolen Generations in 2008, but Treaty and Truth-Telling are left unresolved.

And for all our talk about human capital and the digital economy, resources make up a much higher share of our total export mix today than in 2000.

A quarter-century on, Australia is still caught between the old and the new.

Dr Joshua Black is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at The Australia Institute.

– ref. In 2000, Australia was defined by the Olympics, border politics and reconciliation. So what really has changed? – https://theconversation.com/in-2000-australia-was-defined-by-the-olympics-border-politics-and-reconciliation-so-what-really-has-changed-250791

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

March 20, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Wisconsinites’ Years of Work Fighting Fentanyl
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson

The Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl (HALT) Act passed the Senate last week with an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 84-16.

The HALT Fentanyl Act incorporates the permanent scheduling of fentanyl-related substances, which I first introduced in 2017 in the Stopping Overdoses of Fentanyl Analogues Act (SOFA). It ensures law enforcement has the tools they need to stop fentanyl’s flow into our country.

SOFA served as the template for the Trump administration’s temporary scheduling rule in 2018, and it recognizes the admirable devotion of Wisconsinites Dr. Tim Westlake and Lauri Badura (pictured above). Ms. Badura, who founded Saving Others for Archie, made it her life’s mission to end the fentanyl crisis after tragically losing her son, Archie, to fentanyl poisoning.

WATCH: Video message from families (including Baduras) to pass the HALT Act

WATCH: 2017 video with Lauri telling Archie’s story

As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, I met with President Trump last week and we discussed my plan to get spending back to pre-pandemic levels – saving a minimum of $700 billion.

There is so much room for reducing the size of the federal government and balancing the budget is entirely doable. I look forward to working with the White House and getting spending under control.

Thank you to Kevin O’Leary for highlighting my chart on Fox Business. This is an eminently reasonable approach to returning to a pre-pandemic level of spending.

WATCH: Sen. Johnson on Fox Business discusses his White House meeting

WATCH: Sen. Johnson on the Jesse Kelly podcast reviews his plan to balance budget
- LISTEN: I joined the MAHA Alliance podcast for a powerful discussion on the MAHA movement, RFK Jr., and government corruption.
- I was highly disappointed to hear that the nomination of Dr. David Weldon to lead the CDC has been withdrawn. Although we will never know exactly why his nomination was pulled, I suspect it had something to do with the fact he has had the courage to be skeptical of the consensus “narrative” surrounding the childhood vaccine schedule. Skepticism is the vital attribute of true science, and it is beyond unfortunate that someone with his background and integrity will not be able to help fix what is broken at the CDC. (I discussed this on Off the Record podcast with Emily Jashinsky.)
- My X post on the news that Steak n’ Shake will soon be using Wisconsin butter instead of a “buttery blend”.
I helped introduce a bipartisan, bicameral bill to expand federal funding for bike and pedestrian safety. The bill is named for American diplomat and Wisconsin native Sarah Debbink Langenkamp, who was killed in 2022 while riding her bicycle in Bethesda.

The Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Safety Transportation Act will expand federal funding opportunities for local governments to improve roadway safety for bicyclists and pedestrians.

While honoring Sarah, this bill will protect Wisconsinites by investing in infrastructure to enhance road safety for pedestrians and cyclists. By using taxpayer dollars effectively, it will help prevent further deaths from preventable traffic accidents and ensure Americans feel safe when using our roads.

Thank you to everyone who participated in my 114th telephone town hall last week.

We are now streaming our town halls on X, so you can listen to it here.

Questions asked include:

11:45    Introduction
13:45    Protecting personal information from DOGE
16:27    Will there be cuts to Social Security and Medicare?
18:40    Justice System transparency
20:20    Wasteful spending examples
24:00    Is Social Security a legal Ponzi scheme?
29:00    ICE and deportations
31:31    Federal worker layoffs
35:04    How do we make the spending cuts permanent?
40:55    Inspector Generals and oversight
43:30    Support for Veterans and the VA
46:08    COVID-19 vaccine requirements for citizenship
48:04    Wisconsin manufacturing and tariffs
51:35    Controlling crime and fentanyl
54:35    Taxing pensions
56:45    Bipartisanship
1:00:25 Federal voter ID and proof of citizenship
1:02:36 Balancing the budget

To join future telephone town halls live, sign up here. There is also a link on that page to submit written questions during the live town halls.
MIL OSI USA News –
March 20, 2025

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An expansive diet

Extreme dieting

An ancient doctor’s perspective

Nutrition and balance

Good management – and good luck

The shift to an information economy

Suddenly, work from home was possible

The employment miracle

A curated Australia

Not quite comfortable, not quite relaxed

Border politics

First-rate democracy, third-rate economy

Between the old and new

8th Joint Working Group Meeting between INDIA-GERMANY on Agriculture held today.

Cooperation in digital agriculture, seeds sector, mechanization & technology, horticulture sector, animal husbandry and fisheries were discussed in detail.

“Govt Plans Sagarmala 2.0 with New Funding to Bridge Infrastructure Gaps”: Sarbananda Sonowal

“Govt Invests ₹5.79 Trillion under Sagarmala to Develop 839 Projects in India”: Sarbananda Sonowal

North India’s first Nuclear project coming up in Haryana in a small town called Gorakhpur,

Jaitapur Nuclear Plant to Contribute 10% of India’s 100 GW Clean Energy Goal Dr. Jitendra Singh in Lok Sabha