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Category: Transport

  • MIL-Evening Report: Scam Factories: the inside story of Southeast Asia’s brutal fraud compounds

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ashlynne McGhee, Digital Storytelling Editor

    Scam Factories is a special multimedia and podcast series by The Conversation that explores the inner workings of Southeast Asia’s brutal scam compounds.

    The Conversation’s digital storytelling and podcast teams collaborated with three researchers: Ivan Franceschini, a lecturer in Chinese Studies at the University of Melbourne; Ling Li, a PhD candidate at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice; and Mark Bo, an independent researcher.

    The researchers have spent the past few years interviewing nearly 100 survivors of these compounds and documenting the rise of the industry in Southeast Asia for a forthcoming book.

    Scam Factories will unfold across three multimedia articles and three podcast episodes this week. We’ll update this page as more is published.

    Part 1

    Our first article explores how people are lured into the industry and what life is like inside the compounds, where scammers are forced to work long hours and are often subjected to violence.

    And in our first podcast episode, No skills required, our researchers travel to a village in Cambodia called Chrey Thom to see what these compounds look like. And we hear from two survivors, a Ugandan man we’re calling George and a Malaysian woman we’re calling Lee, about how they were recruited into compounds in Laos and Myanmar.

    The Conversation contacted all the companies mentioned in this series for a comment, except Jinshui, which we couldn’t contact. We did not receive a response from any of them.

    Credits

    The podcast series was written and produced by Gemma Ware with production assistance from Katie Flood and Mend Mariwany. Sound design by Michelle Macklem. Leila Goldstein was our producer in Cambodia and Halima Athumani recorded for us in Uganda. Hui Lin helped us with Chinese translation. Photos by Roun Ry, KDA, Halima Athumani and Ivan Franceschini.

    Justin Bergman at The Conversation in Australia edited the articles in the series and Matt Garrow worked on the graphical elements of the stories. Series oversight and editing help from Ashlynne McGhee.

    – ref. Scam Factories: the inside story of Southeast Asia’s brutal fraud compounds – https://theconversation.com/scam-factories-the-inside-story-of-southeast-asias-brutal-fraud-compounds-250448

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lyons Magnus Recalls Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplemental Shakes Manufactured by Third Party Because of Possible Health Risk

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    Summary

    Company Announcement Date:
    FDA Publish Date:
    Product Type:
    Food & Beverages
    Foodborne Illness
    Reason for Announcement:

    Recall Reason Description

    Possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination

    Company Name:
    Lyons Magnus LLC
    Brand Name:

    Brand Name(s)

    ReadyCare, Imperial

    Product Description:

    Product Description

    Frozen supplemental shakes

    Company Announcement

    FRESNO, Calif. – February 22, 2025 – Lyons Magnus LLC (“Lyons Magnus”) today announced that it is voluntarily recalling 4 oz. Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplemental Shakes due to the potential for the products to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Lyons Magnus is taking this action in response to a recall of the products by their manufacturer, Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. (“Prairie Farms”) from the Prairie Farms facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

    Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

    Lyons Magnus handled distribution of the recalled products, which were manufactured and supplied to Lyons Magnus by Prairie Farms. The recalled products were distributed primarily to long-term care facilities and were not available for retail sale. As soon as Lyons Magnus learned of the issue, it took immediate action to halt the purchase of all products from the affected Prairie Farms facility, notify customers, and ensure that impacted products were removed from distribution nationally. Lyons Magnus’ utmost concern is protecting consumers.

    The recalled products were distributed throughout the United States and packed in 4 oz. cartons under the Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial brand names. The top of the carton has printing that identifies the Lot Code and Best By Date for these products. A chart listing all recalled products is provided below.

    The recall is being conducted in cooperation with Prairie Farms, Sysco, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. According to a statement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, there have been 38 illnesses associated with the strain of Listeria monocytogenes that may have contaminated these products, including 11 deaths.

    Anyone who has a recalled product in his or her possession should quarantine the recalled products. Consumers with questions may visit the Lyons Magnus website at ***.lyonsmagnus.com for more information or contact us at frozenshakerecall@lyonsmagnus.com.

    The recalled products are:

    Key 

    Item Number 

    Product Name 

    BB (Best By) 

    1

    1733

    ReadyCare Frozen Vanilla Shake

    022125 to 022126

    2

    1734

    ReadyCare Frozen Chocolate Shake

    022125 to 022126

    3

    1735

    ReadyCare Frozen Strawberry Shake

    022125 to 022126

    4

    1736

    ReadyCare Frozen Vanilla Shake NSA

    022125 to 022126

    5

    1737

    ReadyCare Frozen Strawberry Shake NSA

    022125 to 022126

    6

    1747

    ReadyCare Frozen Chocolate Shake Plus

    022125 to 022126

    7

    1749

    ReadyCare Frozen Strawberry Shake Plus

    022125 to 022126

    8

    1754

    ReadyCare Frozen Vanilla Shake Plus

    022125 to 022126

    9

    1844

    ReadyCare Frozen Strawberry Banana Shake NSA

    022125 to 022126

    10

    3633

    ReadyCare Frozen Chocolate Shake NSA

    022125 to 022126

    11

    3338

    Imperial Frozen Vanilla Shake

    022125 to 022126

    12

    3339

    Imperial Frozen Chocolate Shake

    022125 to 022126

    13

    3340

    Imperial Frozen Strawberry Shake

    022125 to 022126

    14

    3341

    Imperial Frozen Vanilla Shake NSA

     

    15

    3342

    Imperial Frozen Strawberry Shake NSA

     

    16

    3364

    Imperial Frozen Strawberry Banana Shake NSA

     

    17

    3699

    Imperial Frozen Chocolate Shake NSA

     

    About Lyons Magnus
    A leader in the food industry, Lyons Magnus produces and markets a wide array of products for the global foodservice and food ingredient channels. Lyons Magnus’ expertise includes a robust product development platform and the ability to commercialize both custom formulations and premium Lyons brand products.

    Contacts
    Aaron Palash / Spencer Hoffman / Catherine Simon Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
    +1 212-355-4449

    FDA Outbreak Investigation

    Company Contact Information

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Is reality TV ‘harmful’? We asked 5 experts – including an ex-reality TV participant

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Noor Gillani, Digital Culture Editor

    Reality TV – love it or hate it, there’s no denying it’s addictive. From explosive arguments to over-the-top love triangles, it can be hard to look away. But is all this drama just for fun, or might it do more harm – to watchers and participants – than we realise?

    We asked five experts, and most of them said it might, especially when it comes to promoting negative body image and leaving contestants emotionally scarred.

    But one expert argued reality TV is a valuable form of entertainment overall, which reflects modern culture and sparks important conversations.

    Here are their detailed responses:

    – ref. Is reality TV ‘harmful’? We asked 5 experts – including an ex-reality TV participant – https://theconversation.com/is-reality-tv-harmful-we-asked-5-experts-including-an-ex-reality-tv-participant-233114

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: After 3 years of war, Ukrainian business leaders share their lessons on survival

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy L. Kenworthy, Professor of Management, Bond University

    Drop of Light/Shutterstock

    It’s exactly three years since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

    During that time, Ukrainians have lived through one of the world’s largest and most brutal humanitarian crises. Yet their resilience remains high.

    The United Nations estimates that 64% of micro, small and medium enterprises had to either suspend or close their operations in Ukraine at some stage after the war began.

    But the vast majority of these have since opened back up.

    Over the past year, our international team of researchers from both Australia and Ukraine sought to find out what might drive such extraordinary resilience. The answer, according to Ukrainian business leaders, is their people.

    Running a business in a war

    Ukrainians are currently living through their third winter of this war. Some of Russia’s latest attacks have targeted the gas infrastructure and other energy facilities crucial for keeping people alive.

    These daily attacks have made previously safe cities no longer safe, leaving residents without water, heat and electricity in bitterly cold conditions.

    According to the UNHCR’s 2025 Global Appeal, Russia’s targeting of homes, hospitals and communities has resulted in civilian deaths, mass displacements, restricted access to humanitarian aid, and severely disrupted essential services.

    For businesses, the war has impacted virtually every aspect of commercial activity. Beyond the immediate threat of coming under direct attack, firms have had to deal with everything from disrupted supply chains through to frequent power outages.

    As one interviewee put it:

    Many of us are afraid our main businesses may go bankrupt. We are constantly facing periods with no electricity which stops businesses and cuts us off from the world. We live with constant air raid alarms, moving in and out of underground shelters. We have a significant shortage of personnel because so many have gone to fight on the front lines or left the country.

    The UN estimates that utilisation of production capacity for Ukraine’s micro, small and medium enterprises dropped from 72.4% before the war to 45.7% in 2023.

    To make matters worse, with millions of people having fled Ukraine, finding and retaining qualified personnel has become extremely difficult.

    Women have been stepping into historically male dominated professions such as mining, truck driving and welding to fill the gap left by men who’ve joined the fight. But there is still a significant labour shortage.

    A diverse range of sectors have continued to operate in Ukraine since the war began, despite labour shortages and other issues.
    Oleksandr Filatov/Shutterstock

    Over the past year, our international team of researchers from both Australia and Ukraine surveyed business leaders from 85 different small and medium-sized businesses across 19 different industries in Ukraine.

    These spanned engineering, transportation, aviation and mining through to agriculture, tourism, IT, healthcare, entertainment and finance.

    We asked which resources were – and still are – key to the survival of their organisations.

    Finance and access to funding came in at number two, followed by production and energy, new customers & markets, equipment technology & information and policy & regulations.

    The most important resource

    The most important resource, highlighted by 82% of the business leaders we surveyed, was their people.

    When operating within an environment of severe crisis and disruption, the pressure can be enormous. But the Ukrainian executives we interviewed figured out a way to unite and lead their teams into the future.

    As one reflected:

    When team members are motivated, they are more likely to be optimistic and resilient when facing difficulties. Motivated employees are more productive than demotivated ones. This is important when people need to accomplish more with fewer resources.

    Forcing positive adaptation

    For many organisations in our research, operating within a crisis had pushed them to implement valuable human resource practices other businesses often struggle with.

    Some had transitioned to a “flatter” organisational structure, speeding up decision making by giving employees more autonomy. Others invested in team training which focused on empowering employees to share their thoughts on how to best move forward.

    Our processes and planning horizons have changed completely. We’ve had to become more agile and flexible in our approach to leadership, often reducing planning cycles and adapting to new realities much faster than before.

    A focus on wellbeing was another common theme. Some organisations hosted more meetings to allow their employees to share stories – not only about work but also about their personal fears and victories.

    Some also encouraged their employees to complete volunteer work together during work hours.

    There was an emphasis across interviews on the fact all employees need additional rest and recovery time, and encouraging them to take time off whenever needed.

    Making sacrifices

    Many of the new support mechanisms had financial consequences for the organisations.

    One business cancelled the salaries of its top management team one month after the war started. Another hired a full-time psychologist to provide counselling in both formal and informal sessions.

    Some continued to pay the salaries of their serving members:

    All our mobilized employees who are serving in the military have been receiving their salaries for the past three years. We also ensure they are equipped with everything they need, stay in constant contact with them, and support their families.

    Knowing their business was supporting the war effort had a positive impact on employee motivation:

    The only difference in employee motivation is the understanding that our company actively supports the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Thus, every employee in the company understands that through their work, they are involved in this support.

    In the end, it is the connections between people these leaders saw as the key to their organisational resilience.

    No matter how hard things get, how much grief and suffering we endure, we know for certain that tomorrow the sun will rise. And even if it’s not for us, it will be for our children. This is what gives us the strength to continue living, creating, and preserving Ukraine — for us and for future generations.

    The authors would like to acknowledge their academic partners and coauthors from the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, Ukraine, Yaryna Boychuk, Valeria Kozlova, Sophia Opatska, and Olena Trevoho, and thank all the Ukrainian business leaders who participated in this research.

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

    – ref. After 3 years of war, Ukrainian business leaders share their lessons on survival – https://theconversation.com/after-3-years-of-war-ukrainian-business-leaders-share-their-lessons-on-survival-249145

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A powerful force is stopping the Indian Ocean from cooling itself – spelling more danger for Ningaloo

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Boden-Hawes, PhD Candidate in oceanography, The University of Western Australia

    Violeta Brosig/Blue Media Exmouth

    Widespread coral bleaching at Ningaloo Reef off Western Australia’s coast has deeply alarmed scientists and conservationists.

    Photos captured by divers, published by The Guardian last week, show severe bleaching at several sites along the reef, which runs for 260 kilometres off the state’s northwest.

    A severe marine heatwave in the Indian Ocean off WA has caused the coral bleaching. In some places, surface temperatures up to 4°C warmer than usual have been recorded.

    Hotter temperatures aren’t only happening at the ocean’s surface – data indicates they also extend several hundred metres deep. Warm, deeper water can shut down the ocean’s natural cooling process, putting corals at even greater risk of bleaching.

    Counting the cost

    The full extent of damage to Ningaloo won’t be known until scientists conduct field surveys in coming months.

    So far, bleaching has been documented at several sites, including Turquoise Bay, Coral Bay, Tantabiddi, and Bundegi (Exmouth Gulf).

    Other sites such as Scott Reef, Ashmore Reef, the Rowley Shoals and Rottnest Island are also at risk.

    Damage wrought by the heatwave extends beyond coral. More than 30,000 fish have died since the September onset.

    The below images show the heatwave’s progression. Temperatures from February last year are included for comparison.

    The white circle shows the location of Ningaloo. Cooler temperatures are in blue and purple. Warmer temperatures are in yellow and orange.

    The images show the heatwave reached Ningaloo in December last year and moved south in January. Temperatures fell slightly in February due to strong southerly winds. From March, temperatures are forecast to increase again.

    A complex warming picture

    According to recent data and modelled forecasts, hotter ocean temperatures off northern WA run several hundred metres deep.

    This has been caused by developing La Nina conditions. La Nina and its opposite, El Nino, influence ocean temperatures and weather patterns across the Pacific.

    During La Nina, trade winds strengthen and push warm water westward. This intensifies two important ocean currents.

    The first is the Indonesian Throughflow – which carries warm Pacific waters through the Indonesian seas and into the eastern Indian Ocean. The second is the Leeuwin Current, which picks up this warm water and takes it further south towards Perth.

    This has led to a build-up of hotter water along the WA coastline.

    La Nina is also affecting WA’s reefs in other ways.

    Some coral reefs are naturally cooled by local tides which pull deep, colder water towards the surface. This process, which has been likened to an ocean’s “air conditioner”, can temporarily relieve heat stress for reefs.

    The process relies on “stratification” – that is, layers of seawater that differ in temperature, salinity and density (or weight). Warmer, less dense water collects at the surface and colder, denser water falls to deeper levels.

    La Nina conditions can suppress, or even shut down, this cooling effect in two ways.

    First, it reduces the difference in density between ocean layers. This causes water to draw upwards from shallower depths. Second, it increases water temperatures at depth.

    All this means the water pumped to the surface isn’t much cooler than temperatures at the surface.

    For many reefs along the coast of WA, the suppression of this tidal cooling is probably contributing to worsening conditions, and more coral bleaching.

    Most bleaching forecasts rely on sea surface temperatures. This means scientists may be underestimating the vulnerability of deeper reefs.

    What’s in store for Ningaloo and surrounds?

    Looking ahead, the situation at Ningaloo and surrounding reefs remains critical.

    Bleached reefs are able to recover if temperatures cool quickly. This means theoretically, Ningaloo and other affected reefs may survive the summer.

    But unfortunately, temperatures are rising again and the marine heatwave is expected to continue until April, as the below image shows.

    Sea surface temperature anomaly forecast for March to May. Ningaloo denoted with black ‘X’.
    Bureau of Meteorology

    Climate change is making marine heatwaves more intense and frequent. It means reefs often don’t have time to recover between destructive bleaching events.

    All this is compounded by the general trend towards warmer oceans as the planet heats up.

    Drastic action on climate change is needed now. If this alarming pattern continues, the world’s reefs risk being lost entirely.

    Nicole L. Jones receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Western Australian government.

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

    – ref. A powerful force is stopping the Indian Ocean from cooling itself – spelling more danger for Ningaloo – https://theconversation.com/a-powerful-force-is-stopping-the-indian-ocean-from-cooling-itself-spelling-more-danger-for-ningaloo-250151

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Falling vaccination rates put children at risk of preventable diseases. Governments need a new strategy to boost uptake

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Breadon, Program Director, Health and Aged Care, Grattan Institute

    Yuri A/Shutterstock

    Child vaccination is one of the most cost-effective health interventions. It accounts for 40% of the global reduction in infant deaths since 1974 and has led to big health gains in Australia over the past two decades.

    Australia has been a vaccination success story. Ten years after we begun mass vaccination against polio in 1956, it was virtually eliminated. Our child vaccination rates have been among the best in the world.

    But after peaking in 2020, child vaccination in Australia is falling. Governments need to implement a comprehensive strategy to boost vaccine uptake, or risk exposing more children to potentially preventable infectious diseases.

    Child vaccination has been a triumph

    Thirty years ago, Australia’s childhood vaccination rates were dismal. Then, in 1997, governments introduced the National Immunisation Program to vaccinate children against diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, and measles.

    Measures to increase coverage included financial incentives for parents and doctors, a public awareness campaign, and collecting and sharing local data to encourage the least-vaccinated regions to catch up with the rest of the country.

    What followed was a public health triumph. In 1995, only 52% of one-year-olds were fully immunised. By 2020, Australia had reached 95% coverage for one-year-olds and five-year-olds. At this level, it’s difficult even for highly infectious diseases, such as measles, to spread in the community, protecting both the vaccinated and unvaccinated.

    By 2020, 95% of children were vaccinated.
    Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock

    Gaps between regions and communities closed too. In 1999, the Northern Territory’s vaccination rate for one-year-olds was the lowest in the country, lagging the national average by six percentage points. By 2020, that gap had virtually disappeared.

    The difference between vaccination rates for First Nations children and other children also narrowed considerably.

    It made children healthier. The years of healthy life lost due to vaccine-preventable diseases for children aged four and younger fell by nearly 40% in the decade to 2015.

    Some diseases have even been eliminated in Australia.

    Our success is slipping away

    But that success is at risk. Since 2020, the share of children who are fully vaccinated has fallen every year. For every child vaccine on the National Immunisation Schedule, protection was lower in 2024 than in 2020.

    Gaps between parts of Australia are opening back up. Vaccination rates in the highest-coverage parts of Australia are largely stable, but they are falling quickly in areas with lower vaccination.

    In 2018, there were only ten communities where more than 10% of one-year-old children were not fully vaccinated. Last year, that number ballooned to 50 communities. That leaves more areas vulnerable to disease and outbreaks.

    While Noosa, the Gold Coast Hinterland and Richmond Valley (near Byron Bay) have persistently had some of the country’s lowest vaccination rates, areas such as Manjimup in Western Australia and Tasmania’s South East Coast have recorded big declines since 2018.

    Missing out on vaccination isn’t just a problem for children.

    One preprint study (which is yet to be peer-reviewed) suggests vaccination during pregnancy may also be declining.

    Far too many older Australians are missing out on recommended vaccinations for flu, COVID, pneumococcal and shingles. Vaccination rates in aged care homes for flu and COVID are worryingly low.

    What’s going wrong?

    Australia isn’t alone. Since the pandemic, child vaccination rates have fallen in many high-income countries, including New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

    Globally, in 2023, measles cases rose by 20%, and just this year, a measles outbreak in rural Texas has put at least 13 children in hospital.

    Alarmingly, some regions in Australia have lower measles vaccination than that Texas county.

    The timing of trends here and overseas suggests things shifted, or at least accelerated, during the pandemic. Vaccine hesitancy, fuelled by misinformation about COVID vaccines, is a growing threat.

    This year, vaccine sceptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr was appointed to run the US health system, and Louisiana’s top health official has reportedly cancelled the promotion of mass vaccination.

    In Australia, a recent survey found 6% of parents didn’t think vaccines were safe, and 5% believed they don’t work.

    Those concerns are far more common among parents with children who are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated. Among the 2% of parents whose children are unvaccinated, almost half believe vaccines are not safe for their child, and four in ten believe vaccines didn’t work.

    Other consequences of the pandemic were a spike in the cost of living, and a health system struggling to meet demand. More than one in ten parents said cost and difficulty getting an appointment were barriers to vaccinating their children.

    There’s no single cause of sliding vaccination rates, so there’s no one solution. The best way to reverse these worrying trends is to work on all the key barriers at once – from a lack of awareness, to inconvenience, to lack of trust.

    What governments should do

    Governments should step up public health campaigns that counter misinformation, boost awareness of immunisation and its benefits, and communicate effectively to low-vaccination groups. The new Australian Centre for Disease Control should lead the charge.

    Primary health networks, the regional bodies responsible for improving primary care, should share data on vaccination rates with GPs and pharmacies. These networks should also help make services more accessible to communities who are missing out, such as migrant groups and disadvantaged families.

    State and local governments should do the same, sharing data and providing support to make maternal child health services and school-based vaccination programs accessible for all families.

    Governments can communicate better about the benefits of vaccination.
    Yuri A/Shutterstock

    Governments should also be more ambitious about tackling the growing vaccine divides between different parts of the country. The relevant performance measure in the national vaccination agreement is weak. States must only increase five-year-old vaccination rates in four of the ten areas where it is lowest. That only covers a small fraction of low-vaccination areas, and only the final stage of child vaccination.

    Australia needs to set tougher goals, and back them with funding.

    Governments should fund tailored interventions in areas with the lowest rates of vaccination. Proven initiatives include training trusted community members as “community champions” to promote vaccinations, and pop-up clinics or home visits for free vaccinations.

    At this time of year, childcare centres and schools are back in full swing. But every year, each new intake has less protection than the previous cohort. Governments are developing a new national vaccination strategy and must seize the opportunity to turn that trend around. If it commits to a bold national plan, Australia can get back to setting records for child vaccination.

    Grattan Institute has been supported in its work by government, corporates, and philanthropic gifts. A full list of supporting organisations is published at www.grattan.edu.au.

    Wendy Hu 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. Grattan Institute has been supported in its work by government, corporates, and philanthropic gifts. A full list of supporting organisations is published at www.grattan.edu.au.

    – ref. Falling vaccination rates put children at risk of preventable diseases. Governments need a new strategy to boost uptake – https://theconversation.com/falling-vaccination-rates-put-children-at-risk-of-preventable-diseases-governments-need-a-new-strategy-to-boost-uptake-249591

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: NASA’s new telescope will create the ‘most colourful’ map of the cosmos ever made

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deanne Fisher, Associate Professor of Astronomy, Swinburne University of Technology

    NASA’s SPHEREx observatory undergoes integration and testing at BAE Systems in Boulder, Colorado, in April 2024. NASA/JPL-Caltech/BAE Systems

    NASA will soon launch a new telescope which it says will create the “most colourful” map of the cosmos ever made.

    The SPHEREx telescope is relatively small but will provide a humongous amount of knowledge in its short two-year mission.

    It is an infrared telescope designed to take spectroscopic images – ones that measure individual wavelengths of light from a source. By doing this it will be able to tell us about the formation of the universe, the growth of all galaxies across cosmic history, and the location of water and life-forming molecules in our own galaxy.

    In short, the mission – which is scheduled for launch on February 27, all things going well – will help us understand how the universe came to be, and why life exists inside it.

    A massive leap forward

    Everything in the universe, including you and the objects around you, emits light in many different colours. Our eyes split all that light into three bands – the brilliant greens of trees, blues of the sky and reds of a sunset – to synthesise a specific image.

    But SPHEREx – short for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer – will divide light from everything in the sky into 96 bands. This is a massive leap forward. It will cover the entire sky and offer new insights into the chemistry and physics of objects in the universe.

    The mission will complement the work being done by other infrared telescopes in space, such as the James Webb Space Telescope and Hubble Space Telescope.

    Both of these telescopes are designed to make high-resolution measurements of the faintest objects in the universe, which means they only study a tiny part of the sky at any given time. For example, the sky is more than 15 million times larger than what the James Webb Space Telescope can observe at once.

    In its entire mission the James Webb Space Telescope could not map out the whole sky the way SPHEREx will do in only a few months.

    SPHEREx will take will take spectroscopic images of 1 billion galaxies, 100 million stars, and 10,000 asteroids. It will answer questions that require a view of the entire sky, which are missed out by the biggest telescopes that chase the highest resolution.

    NASA’s SPHEREx mission will use these filters to capture spectroscopic images of the cosmos.
    NASA/JPL-Caltech

    Measuring inflation

    The first aim of SPHEREx is to measure what astronomers call cosmic inflation. This refers to the rapid expansion of the universe immediately after the Big Bang.

    The physical processes that drove cosmic inflation remain poorly understood. Revealing more information about inflation is possibly the most important research area of cosmology.

    Inflation happened everywhere in the universe. To study it astronomers need to map the entire sky. SPHEREx is ideal for studying this huge mystery that is fundamental to our cosmos.

    SPHEREx will use the spectroscopic images to measure the 3D positions of about a billion galaxies across cosmic history. Astronomers will then create a picture of the cosmos not just in position but in time.

    This, plus a lot of statistics and mathematics, will let the SPHEREx team test different theories of inflation.

    The SHEREx mission will complement the work of the James Webb Space Telescope, which captured this composite image of stars, gas and dust in a small region within the vast Eagle Nebula, 6,500 light-years away from Earth.
    NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI

    Pinpointing the location of life-bearing molecules

    Moving much closer to home, SPHEREx aims to identify water- and life-bearing molecules (known as biogenic molecules) in the clouds of gas in our galaxy, the Milky Way.

    In the coldest parts of our galaxy, the molecules that create life (such as water, carbon dioxide and methanol) are trapped in icy particles. Those icy biogenic molecules have to travel from the cold gas in the galaxy onto planets so life can come to be.

    Despite years of study, this process remains a huge mystery.

    To answer this fundamental question about human existence, we need to know where all those molecules are.

    What SPHEREx will provide is a complete census of the icy biogenic molecules in our surrounding galaxy. Icy biogenic molecules have distinct features in the infrared spectrum, where SPHEREx operates.

    By mapping the entire sky, SPHEREx will pinpoint where these molecules are, not only in our galaxy but also in nearby systems.

    Located some 13,700 light-years away from Earth in the southern constellation Centaurus of the Milky Way, RCW 49 is a dark and dusty stellar nursery that houses more than 2,200 stars.
    NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Wisconsin

    Once we know where they all are, we can determine the necessary conditions to form biogenic molecules in space. In turn, this can tell us about a crucial step in how life came to be.

    Currently 200 spectra have been taken on biogenic molecules in space. We expect the James Webb Space Telescope will obtain a few thousand such measurements.

    SPHEREx will generate 8 million new spectroscopic images of life-bearing molecules. This will revolutionise our understanding.

    Mapping the whole sky enables astronomers to identify promising regions for life and gather large-scale data to separate meaningful patterns from anomalies, making this mission a transformative step in the search for life beyond Earth.

    Deanne Fisher receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. NASA’s new telescope will create the ‘most colourful’ map of the cosmos ever made – https://theconversation.com/nasas-new-telescope-will-create-the-most-colourful-map-of-the-cosmos-ever-made-247104

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police put pressure on gangs

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police have filed over 3000 charges against gang members since the introduction of the Gangs Act in late November.

    Between 21 November 2024 and 19 February 2025, Police filed 337 charges for insignia breaches and 3037 charges for other offending including serious violence, drugs, and firearms.

    Police Commissioner Richard Chambers says the charges are a result of targeted enforcement action against those causing fear and harm in our communities.

    “Our expectations around this legislation have been clear from the very beginning — if you wear a gang patch in public, or display a sign or symbol associated with a gang, you can expect Police attention — and these numbers demonstrate that.

    “They also paint a picture of other very serious offending committed by those in or connected to gangs, including possession of illicit drugs and unlawful firearms and violence.”

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Police Minister Mark Mitchell, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Commissioner Chambers are today visiting the Gang Disruption Unit in Counties Manukau to celebrate the success of Operation Nickel – a nationally-led plan to support all Police staff with the new enforcement powers.

    Operation Nickel ran from 21 November 2024 to 31 January 2025.

    “Police around the country have done an outstanding job from planning right through to implementation on the frontline,” Commissioner Chambers says.

    “Nationwide, we continue to see generally high levels of compliance with the Act.

    “In the months before the legislation came into effect, Police met with gangs to ensure they were clear on our enforcement approach and to encourage them to make good choices.

    “The high level of compliance we’re seeing now reflects the fact most gangs have exercised good judgement. We acknowledge and continue to encourage that.

    “It’s a positive start, and my staff continue to follow up reported breaches, either at the time of the offence or at a later date.

    “The policing of gangs is and will remain an all-of-Police priority.”

    As announced last year, the work of Operation Cobalt will be continued through District staff including Gang Disruption Units and coordinated by the National Gang Unit.

    Operation Cobalt ran across all 12 Police districts for two and a half years. In that time, 107,073 charges were filed.

    “I want to acknowledge the hard work, dedication and successes of all those staff involved in Operation Cobalt over the past two and a half years, from national coordinators to frontline teams that have made a real impact in combatting gang-related crime,” Commissioner Chambers says.

    “It’s pleasing to see the NGU, and District Gang Disruption Units up and running, assisting with search warrants, investigations and helping apprehend priority offenders.

    “Police will take every opportunity to enforce the law. The pressure on gang members is not going away.”

    POLICING GANGS – BY THE NUMBERS

    Op Nickel/Gangs Act (21 November 2024 – 19 February 2025):

    • 76 patches seized
    • 316 additional insignia items seized
    • 337 insignia breach charges under Gangs Act
    • 3037 other charges against gang members (including drugs, firearms, serious violence)
    • 67 firearms seized from gang members

    Note: No dispersal notices, non-consorting charges or prohibition orders have been issued.

    Operation Cobalt (June 2022 – December 2024):

    • 1,954 search warrants
    • 1,069 warrantless searches
    • 107,073 charges filed
    • 143,610 IONs issued (traffic-related offending)
    • 757 firearms seized

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Hochul was a guest on CBS’ “Face the Nation”.

    Source: US State of New York

    Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul was a guest on CBS’ “Face the Nation”.

    AUDIO: The Governor’s remarks are available in audio form here.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:

    Margaret Brennan, CBS News: We turn now to Trump’s clash with Democratic governors. Joining us now from Albany, New York, is the Governor, Kathy Hochul. Good morning to you, Governor.

    Governor Hochul: Good morning.

    Margaret Brennan, CBS News: I know you were just here in Washington and you met privately with President Trump. In the past, you’ve said the relationship doesn’t have to be adversarial. Was your meeting with him adversarial? And what was your top message?

    Governor Hochul: It wasn’t an adversarial meeting, but I was very clear — especially after I found that the Trump Administration had ended a program that was put in place, congestion pricing, by the duly elected members of our Legislature representing the voice of the people — and with a tweet, he claims that he is the king and therefore he has the power to destroy it. And I have a problem with that characterization, because we labored under a king 250 years ago, and as I said, we’re not going back there.

    So I wanted to take my case to him directly and let him see the benefits of this program, because our city is paralyzed with gridlock. And we had a path forward to be able to make the City move again, and it’s working. I wanted to just have that opportunity to convey that, but I don’t know that we’re very persuasive on that front, but that’s okay. The people in my state need to know I’m willing to take the fight wherever I have to.

    Margaret Brennan, CBS News: So just to explain for our audience, congestion pricing — you’re talking about this $9 toll you put on people driving into lower Manhattan, below 60th Street. Your fellow Democrat, Phil Murphy of New Jersey, says he doesn’t like this policy. He actually asked President Trump to stop it. President Trump’s office says this is discriminatory against working class people. How do you respond to that?

    Governor Hochul: I respond this way: With all due respect to the State of New Jersey, they do not tell us in New York what to do, nor does Washington when it comes to policies that we believe are going to reduce congestion, move along vehicles; emergency vehicles are moving faster and air quality is improving. So I have arguments that are important, but no one else should be able to second guess us, because that’s not how our system of laws and states was set up. I’m the Governor of New York. I will deal with the internal issues before me without interference from New Jersey, or indeed, the federal government.

    Margaret Brennan, CBS News: So this is going to the courts?

    Governor Hochul: Oh yes, it’s going to the courts. And I believe we will be victorious in the courts and this program will continue.

    Margaret Brennan, CBS News: You know, this is not the only standoff between the State and federal government, and the tension here. I know you were in Washington with other governors who were meeting with the President this week. Federal funds account for about 40 percent of your state’s budget. President Trump is threatening to withhold federal funds to governors in order to force compliance with his agenda. Here’s what he said to the Governor of Maine. Take a listen.

    President Donald Trump: Is Maine here, the Governor of Maine?

    Governor Janet Mills: Damn right I am. Yeah, I’m here.

    President Donald Trump: Are you not going to comply with it?

    Governor Janet Mills: I’ll comply with the state and federal law.

    President Donald Trump: Well I’m — we are the federal law. You better do it. You better do it, because you’re not going to get any federal funding at all if you don’t.

    Margaret Brennan, CBS News: That was about transgender athletes on girls sports teams. Are you Democratic governors going to start to work together on this? Is there legal pushback?

    Governor Hochul: What he is doing, as they’ve described it, is flooding the zone. They’re attacking California when it comes to FEMA dollars, they’re filing lawsuits in Illinois, they’re going after Maine on this, and they’re coming after programs that have been duly put in place in the State.

    What they’re trying to do is create this theater of all kinds of activity that is trying to be a distraction to us. And when someone floods the zone in a football game, what you need to have is the defenders be very disciplined, smart, but also stand their ground. And that’s exactly what New York governors — the Governor of New York — will do in cooperation with our governors.

    We’re not going to sit idly by and let our rights be attacked. We’ll work with you when there’s common ground, no doubt about it. Let’s build great projects and infrastructure. There’s areas where we’re going to work with you on immigration and getting the violent criminals off our streets. We do not dispute that. But don’t think that you can just come in and bully us around and not expect a reaction from governors.

    Margaret Brennan, CBS News: You know that when it comes to your state, there’s been a lot of focus on Manhattan and the Department of Justice, because of Eric Adams and the ongoing legal issues he has. In the past week, four Deputy Mayors resigned. Seven federal prosecutors resigned after the Trump justice department moved to dismiss those five counts of federal corruption indictments against Mayor Adams. You know, the allegation is that the dismissal of the charges was related to a quid pro quo around immigration compliance. Did you discuss this case at all with the President when you were in the room with him one on one?

    Governor Hochul: No, I did not. In fact, it’s — we’re waiting for the decision by a judge on whether he’s going to accept the recommendation for a dismissal. So that’s still in litigation. But I will say this: We are not allowing the Trump Administration to interfere in the operations of our city. And the legal problems that the Mayor is facing because of the Trump Administration and the phrasing they have used — and indeed, an interview that was done by one of his representatives on national television saying that he’s basically got the Mayor under his control — that’s concerning. And I have to be able to put in safeguards.

    Of course everyone says I had the option to remove him. I still hold that option to remove him. It is an extraordinary power, and I know there’s a lot of people disappointed and angry, and want something done immediately. But I will always stand on the fact that we are a nation of laws, and one individual — the Governor of New York — should not use her voice and her will to override the will of the voters. We have an election in a few months in a primary. I’m going to let the voters decide, but I’m also going to be very cognizant. I need to keep an eye on this situation, especially the way the Trump Administration has telegraphed that they want to get into our operations, and I have to be the firewall to stop that.

    Margaret Brennan, CBS News: So having said that, does that mean you do believe there was a quid pro quo understanding with Eric Adams?

    Governor Hochul: I am going by what the perception could be. I cannot let the integrity of the administration in the City of New York be undermined by perception that the Trump Administration actually created. They created this perception. The reality I will never know. But as long as there’s the faith of New Yorkers that has been undermined by what the Trump Administration is doing trying to give the appearance of holding the city hostage — that’s exactly what they’re trying to do.

    Again, they’re trying to create chaos, but we have to be smart as Democrats and as leaders, and parse through all this and just go do what’s right. That will always be my North Star.

    Margaret Brennan, CBS News: Governor Hochul, thank you for your time this morning.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Public Service – Oranga Tamariki workers strike over insulting pay offer, unmanageable workloads – PSA

    Source: PSA

    Strike to begin 28 February with two hour full labour withdrawal 7 March
    PSA members at Oranga Tamariki are taking strike action over an insulting pay offer and a refusal to address the concerns of workers over unsafe and unmanageable workloads.
    “Enough is enough – Oranga Tamariki is effectively offering a real pay cut and failing to ensure workloads are reasonably sized and well managed,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, Assistant Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
    The strike covers around 2,800 workers including social workers, supervisors, staff in care and protection and youth justice residences, family group conference workers and admin support staff.
    “It’s insulting to workers who are doing vital work for the agency supporting at risk tamariki and rangatahi at a time of rising stress for many families.”
    In bargaining for a new collective agreement Oranga Tamariki has offered small lump sum payments and no salary increases and provided no solutions to the long standing and growing workload management issues which have only been aggravated by last year’s big job cuts.
    “The workers care deeply about the children they support, but they are left with no choice. The pressure on staff to keep working after hours, such as with emergency care placements for children overnight in motels or offices, is unacceptable.
    “Workers are sending a strong message to the Government that it must make a fair offer, and develop a fair workload management system or more staff will face burn out.
    “Decades of reviews and inquiries at Oranga Tamariki have consistently identified high staff workloads as a barrier to good outcomes for tamariki, rangatahi and whānau. Without progress, we will see more skilled people leave Oranga Tamariki – how can that be good for the children in the agency’s care?
    [See attached stories from workers about the stress they are enduring]
    “The latest child poverty statistics this week show no change in the number of children living in material hardship. We know poverty creates stress for families. This is the time when the Government should be investing in the services Oranga Tamariki provides, and doing all it can to support and retain workers.
    “Instead it has gutted Oranga Tamariki, forced it to shed over 400 workers, increased workloads, cut contracts for many community service providers and now is turning a blind eye to the pay and conditions of so many of its own workers.
    “This risks creating lasting damage to the tamariki, rangatahi and whānau of New Zealand who need Oranga Tamariki’s support.”
    Details of strike action
    A variety of actions will be taken by PSA members. Some actions include members working in essential services; care and protection residences, youth justice residences, residential homes, and the national contact centre (their actions begin 7 March). There will be a total withdrawal of labour across the agency for two hours from 3pm Friday 7 March.
    The actions begin at 5pm on Friday 28 February and end on Friday 18 April. They include:
    -A ban on all work that is not paid work, including only working standard hours of work and taking all rest and meal breaks.
    -A ban on using all work-related systems and software outside of paid work, including online case recording systems.
    -A ban on working paid overtime; and a ban on working overtime for TOIL.
    -A ban on working double shifts.
    -A ban on being on-call and working call-back (after-hours duties).

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Sea-level rise: a new method to estimate the probability of different outcomes – including a worst case

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Benjamin P. Horton, Director of the Earth Observatory of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University

    Here is a depressing fact: over the coming decades, sea-level rise will continue to threaten ecosystems, communities and cities. No matter how quickly we reduce our carbon emissions, our past emissions commit us to ongoing sea-level rise, given the long-drawn-out impact of climate warming on the oceans and ice sheets. Just how bad it gets, however, will depend on our current and future emissions.

    Even as we strive for net-zero emissions, we must prepare for devastating possibilities. But decision-makers face a major obstacle: the specific rate and magnitude of future sea-level rise is deeply uncertain. Different methods produce different projections of long-term sea-level rise. The problem of reconciling these different methods and projections has undermined planning to protect people from future sea-level rise.

    In a recent paper published in Earth’s Future, we and our colleagues tackle this problem. We propose a new method that combines the complementary strengths of different sea-level projections. We use our method to quantify the uncertainty of future sea-level rise. It allows us to estimate a “very likely” range. “Very likely” means that there is a 9-in-10 chance (90% probability) that future sea-level rise will lie within this range, if our future emissions follow an assumed emissions scenario.

    Under a low-emissions scenario that corresponds to approximately 2°C warming above pre-industrial levels, global sea level will “very likely” rise between 0.3 and 1.0 metres by the end of this century. Under a high-emissions scenario that corresponds to approximately 5°C warming, global sea level will “very likely” rise between 0.5 and 1.9 metres. Given that we will likely exceed 2°C warming, preparing for more than a metre of sea-level rise by 2100 is, therefore, necessary.

    Adapted from Grandey et al. (2024).
    Benjamin P. Horton and Benjamin S. Grandey, CC BY-ND

    The challenge of poorly understood processes

    Our method builds on and complements the current reference document for many decision-makers: the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report IPCC 6AR. For five emissions scenarios, the IPCC published a most-likely “median” projection and a “likely” range. “Likely” means that there is at least a 2-in-3 chance (66% probability) of sea-level rise within this range. The “likely” range may understate the risk of more extreme possibilities, a weakness that can be addressed by a complementary “very likely” range. However, the IPCC did not estimate a “very likely” range because poorly understood ice sheet processes posed a challenge. We address this challenge, to provide decision-makers with more reliable estimates of future possibilities.

    Many processes contribute to sea-level rise. Of particular importance are ice sheet processes in Greenland and Antarctica. Some of these ice sheet processes are well understood, but others less so. We have only a poor understanding of processes that could drive abrupt melting of ice, producing rapid sea-level rise.



    À lire aussi :
    We used 1,000 historical photos to reconstruct Antarctic glaciers before a dramatic collapse

    Climate models and ice sheet models, such as those used in the IPCC 6AR, are very good at simulating well-understood processes, such as thermal expansion of the ocean. The IPCC used model-based projections to derive a reliable median projection and “likely” range. However, these models often neglect poorly understood processes that could cause the ice sheets to melt much faster than we expect. To complement the models, experts can provide alternative projections based on their understanding of these processes. This is known as expert elicitation. Therefore, the use of models and expert elicitation can provide complementary sea-level projections, but planners have great difficulty deciding when and where to apply the two different approaches.

    In our paper, we have developed a novel method to combine the complementary sea-level projections from models and experts. We use our method to quantify the full uncertainty range of future sea-level rise using a probability distribution. This is how we can estimate a “very likely” range and explore the question, “What high-end sea-level rise should we plan for?”

    A high-end projection

    To make informed judgements, decision-makers often need information about low-likelihood, high-cost possibilities. A high-end projection of sea-level rise is especially useful when planning long-lasting critical infrastructure that is vital for the functioning of society and the economy. A high-end projection can also highlight a catastrophic risk associated with unrestrained carbon dioxide emissions.

    We define our high-end projection as the 95th percentile of the probability distribution under the high-emissions scenario. Our high-end projection of global sea-level rise is 1.9 metres by the end of this century.

    Our high-end projection complements existing high-end projections of 21st century sea-level rise. The IPCC 6AR included two: 1.6 metres and 2.3 metres. Our projection of 1.9 metres falls between these two values.

    In contrast to the IPCC 6AR, we estimate the probability of reaching the high-end projection. If our future emissions follow the high-emissions scenario, we estimate that the probability of reaching 1.9 metres by the end of this century is 5% (1 in 20). Considering that the high-emissions scenario is unlikely, our high-end projection can be interpreted as a worst-case outcome. We also estimate the probability of exceeding 1.0 metres by the end of this century: 16% (about 1 in 6) under the high-emissions scenario, and 4% (1 in 25) under the low-emissions scenario.

    Reducing the uncertainty

    Through climate science, we have learned much about the Earth’s climate system. However, we still have much more to discover. As our understanding improves, the uncertainty in sea-level rise should reduce. Therefore, the “very likely” range of future sea-level rise should narrow, due to the ongoing research efforts of the climate science community.

    In the meantime, we need to identify potential solutions that can reduce coastal flood risk in ways that support the long-term resilience and sustainability of communities and the environment, and reduce the economic costs associated with flood damage. Alongside local adaptation, the best way to mitigate sea-level rise is to slow down climate change by implementing the commitments laid out in the Paris Agreement in 2015.

    If we can limit warming to well below 2°C, consistent with the agreement, we estimate that the probability of reaching 1.9 metres by the end of the century shrinks to less than 0.2% (1 in 500). The more the world limits its greenhouse gas emissions, the lower the chance of triggering rapid ice loss from Greenland and Antarctica, and the safer we will be.

    This research is supported by the National Research Foundation, Singapore, and National Environment Agency, Singapore under the National Sea Level Programme Funding Initiative (Award No. USS-IF-2020-3) and Ministry of Education, Singapore, under its AcRF Tier 3 Award MOE2019-T3-1-004.

    Created in 2007 to help accelerate and share scientific knowledge on key societal issues, the Axa Research Fund has supported nearly 700 projects around the world conducted by researchers in 38 countries. To learn more, visit the website of the Axa Research Fund or follow @AXAResearchFund on X.

    Benjamin P. Horton was supported by the Singapore Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund: MOE2019-T3-1-004.

    Benjamin S. Grandey’s research is supported by the National Research Foundation, Singapore, and National Environment Agency, Singapore under the National Sea Level Programme Funding Initiative (Award No. USS-IF-2020-3).

    – ref. Sea-level rise: a new method to estimate the probability of different outcomes – including a worst case – https://theconversation.com/sea-level-rise-a-new-method-to-estimate-the-probability-of-different-outcomes-including-a-worst-case-250180

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Mining Mali: how policy changes are reshaping the sector

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Mamadou Camara, enseignant-chercheur, Université des Sciences sociales et de Gestion de Bamako

    As Mali’s mining sector faces growing tensions — highlighted by the recent seizure of gold stocks from the Canadian company Barrick by the military government — questions about economic sovereignty and mining governance have become more relevant than ever.

    The mining sector plays a strategic role in Mali’s economy, with gold as its driving force. Yet, governance challenges persist at the heart of the sector’s evolution. In this interview, Mamadou Camara, a mining policy researcher, examines ongoing reforms, the impact of these developments, and the key challenges that must be addressed to ensure the sustainable and equitable exploitation of Mali’s mineral resources.

    What role does the mining sector play in the Malian economy?

    In 2023, the mining sector contributed 644 billion CFA (about US$1 billion) to Mali’s state budget. This represents 21.5% of Mali’s budget for the year and a slight increase from the previous year.

    Gold remains the main product, with a production of 70 tonnes in 2023. Of these revenues, 644 billion CFA came from mining companies (US$1.1 billion), and 3 billion CFA (US$4.7 million) came from social payments — taxes based on employee wages, such as housing tax, flat-rate contributions, and professional training levies.

    This highlights the significant role of the mining sector in the country’s economy. Including gold, the extractive sector contributed 6.3% of Malian GDP in 2023, up from 5.9% in 2022.

    Exports amounted to 500 billion CFA francs (about US$784 million), accounting for three-quarters of the country’s total export revenue. The sector also created 61,023 new jobs in 2023, including 10,000 direct jobs.

    Since 2013, Mali has been facing a security and political crisis that has led to coups d’état and the occupation of part of its territory by rebel groups. Amid this crisis, mining revenues have played a key role in financing major infrastructure projects.

    These investments have built and maintained schools, health centres, roads and bridges, strengthening trade.

    Today, the sector is increasingly seen as a pillar of national sovereignty, a key objective for Malian authorities. In 2023, the government issued 12 new exploration licences, prioritising Malian companies while also granting some permits to foreign firms.

    Estimating the volumes extracted in the informal mining sector remains highly complex. Many actors operate outside formal regulatory frameworks, making precise data collection difficult.

    What are the key changes in Mali’s new mining code and their expected impact?

    The 2023 mining code reflects Mali’s ambition to increase its gains from mining, promote more inclusive local development, and strengthen sovereignty (control) over its natural resources. It emphasises “local content”.

    With the introduction of specific legislation on local content, the new mining code prioritises the inclusion of Malian businesses and workers in the extractive sector.

    The law sets clear guidelines for their participation and representation.

    This initiative could boost local employment and strengthen the national economy. The authorities want Malians to directly feel the benefits of mining. Mining operators are now required to contribute 0.75% of their quarterly revenue to a local development fund. The new code also revises tax exemptions, particularly for fuel, to maximise state revenue.

    As a strategic move, Mali now aims to increase its stake in mining projects. The state is set to secure an initial 10% share in any project, and it may get an additional 20% during the early years of production.

    With 5% allocated to the Malian private sector, the total share could reach 35%, compared to the current 20%. This approach is expected to generate an additional 500 billion CFA francs (approximately US$784 million) for the national budget.

    Mali has also restructured the duration and terms for granting mining licences. The new code allows for better resource exploitation. Large mines are now granted renewable permits for 12 years, while exploration licences are issued for a maximum of nine years.

    Before the new mining code was adopted in 2023, exploration licences were granted for an initial period of three years, with the possibility of two renewals of three years each, totalling a maximum duration of nine years.

    These changes aim to encourage more intensive and structured resource exploration.

    What are the main challenges facing Mali’s mining sector?

    The rise of the mining industry has brought both benefits and challenges. To manage these, the players involved have decided to develop a community development policy. This approach aims to create income opportunities while mitigating potential negative effects, such as environmental damage caused by mining operations.

    Adaptation strategies are essential. These include improving access to financing, creating joint economic activities, and ensuring the security of mining zones. Other key areas are land management, housing, healthcare and schooling, as well as supporting public policies, programmes and civil society initiatives.

    Artisanal gold mining has environmental impacts: it causes deforestation and pollution. Cutting trees destroys wildlife habitats, harms useful plant species and weakens the soil.

    Pollution is another major concern. Chemicals contaminate water, soil, plants, animals and people. Air pollution is common due to overcrowding around mining sites.

    The mining industry affects the economy, environment and society. It is a very important source of revenue for the country and it provides direct and indirect jobs to many people through the provision of services to companies operating in this sector.

    To limit harm, mining communities should focus on four goals:

    • increase productivity by building the capacity of stakeholders

    • reduce the socio-economic vulnerability of local communities

    • strengthen stakeholders’ resilience to the effects of mining industry development

    • improve biodiversity conservation and mitigate environmental degradation.

    How can Mali improve mining governance and sustainability?

    The new mining code already improves governance by addressing the legitimate expectations of Mali’s population and government. It promotes a more responsible approach to managing the sector.

    This code ensures that mining benefits are shared fairly among all stakeholders, including local communities, authorities and mining companies.

    Mali is rich in mineral resources. The country has vast untapped potential throughout its territory. However, security issues in the north hinder exploration and mining activities. Some areas remain unassigned to companies due to ongoing insecurity.

    Mamadou Camara is a member a political party in Mali.

    – ref. Mining Mali: how policy changes are reshaping the sector – https://theconversation.com/mining-mali-how-policy-changes-are-reshaping-the-sector-249232

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: CTF153 and USS Stout ‘Ready Together’ for Red Sea Maritime Security

    Source: United States Naval Central Command

    MANAMA, Bahrain —

    Combined Maritime Forces’ Combined Task Force 153 and the United States Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Stout (DDG 55) have remained ‘ready together’ as they safeguard maritime security in the Red Sea.

    The guided-missile destroyer and its crew provided direct support to the Australian-led multinational task force during January and February, keeping watch for illicit activities including piracy, smuggling and narcotics trafficking.

    While on patrol, crewmembers practiced skills needed to safely visit, board and search vessels, and to legally seize illicit materials being smuggled through the vital waterway.

    The training came as CTF153 refocused on its core maritime security mission after responsibility for Operation Prosperity Guardian—the international response to attacks  on merchant shipping by Houthi terrorists—was transferred from CMF to U.S. Navy Destroyer Squadron 50 (DESRON 50).

     

    Commander CTF 153, Royal Australian Navy Capt. Jorge McKee praised the Stout commanding officer and crew for the teamwork with his staff ashore.

    “While our task force team ashore closely monitor the Red Sea for any activity requiring closer investigation by ships at sea, the crew of Stout are keeping their skills sharp and ready,” Captain McKee said. “It is an honor to work with USS Stout, as it is named in honor of U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Herald F. Stout, who served alongside Australians in the Second World War.”

    Established in 2022, CTF 153 is one of five task forces under CMF. Its mission is to deter and impede illicit non-state actors in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab and Gulf of Aden.

    CTF153’s area of responsibility includes some of the world’s most important shipping lanes, connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean and the greater Middle East region.

    Combined Maritime Forces, a 46-nation naval partnership headquartered in Bahrain, is the world’s largest multinational naval partnership. It is committed to upholding the rules-based international order at sea, promoting security, stability and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters, including crucial shipping lanes.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Mining Mali: how policy changes are reshaping the sector

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Mamadou Camara, enseignant-chercheur, Université des Sciences sociales et de Gestion de Bamako

    As Mali’s mining sector faces growing tensions — highlighted by the recent seizure of gold stocks from the Canadian company Barrick by the military government — questions about economic sovereignty and mining governance have become more relevant than ever.

    The mining sector plays a strategic role in Mali’s economy, with gold as its driving force. Yet, governance challenges persist at the heart of the sector’s evolution. In this interview, Mamadou Camara, a mining policy researcher, examines ongoing reforms, the impact of these developments, and the key challenges that must be addressed to ensure the sustainable and equitable exploitation of Mali’s mineral resources.

    What role does the mining sector play in the Malian economy?

    In 2023, the mining sector contributed 644 billion CFA (about US$1 billion) to Mali’s state budget. This represents 21.5% of Mali’s budget for the year and a slight increase from the previous year.

    Gold remains the main product, with a production of 70 tonnes in 2023. Of these revenues, 644 billion CFA came from mining companies (US$1.1 billion), and 3 billion CFA (US$4.7 million) came from social payments — taxes based on employee wages, such as housing tax, flat-rate contributions, and professional training levies.

    This highlights the significant role of the mining sector in the country’s economy. Including gold, the extractive sector contributed 6.3% of Malian GDP in 2023, up from 5.9% in 2022.

    Exports amounted to 500 billion CFA francs (about US$784 million), accounting for three-quarters of the country’s total export revenue. The sector also created 61,023 new jobs in 2023, including 10,000 direct jobs.

    Since 2013, Mali has been facing a security and political crisis that has led to coups d’état and the occupation of part of its territory by rebel groups. Amid this crisis, mining revenues have played a key role in financing major infrastructure projects.

    These investments have built and maintained schools, health centres, roads and bridges, strengthening trade.

    Today, the sector is increasingly seen as a pillar of national sovereignty, a key objective for Malian authorities. In 2023, the government issued 12 new exploration licences, prioritising Malian companies while also granting some permits to foreign firms.

    Estimating the volumes extracted in the informal mining sector remains highly complex. Many actors operate outside formal regulatory frameworks, making precise data collection difficult.

    What are the key changes in Mali’s new mining code and their expected impact?

    The 2023 mining code reflects Mali’s ambition to increase its gains from mining, promote more inclusive local development, and strengthen sovereignty (control) over its natural resources. It emphasises “local content”.

    With the introduction of specific legislation on local content, the new mining code prioritises the inclusion of Malian businesses and workers in the extractive sector.

    The law sets clear guidelines for their participation and representation.

    This initiative could boost local employment and strengthen the national economy. The authorities want Malians to directly feel the benefits of mining. Mining operators are now required to contribute 0.75% of their quarterly revenue to a local development fund. The new code also revises tax exemptions, particularly for fuel, to maximise state revenue.

    As a strategic move, Mali now aims to increase its stake in mining projects. The state is set to secure an initial 10% share in any project, and it may get an additional 20% during the early years of production.

    With 5% allocated to the Malian private sector, the total share could reach 35%, compared to the current 20%. This approach is expected to generate an additional 500 billion CFA francs (approximately US$784 million) for the national budget.

    Mali has also restructured the duration and terms for granting mining licences. The new code allows for better resource exploitation. Large mines are now granted renewable permits for 12 years, while exploration licences are issued for a maximum of nine years.

    Before the new mining code was adopted in 2023, exploration licences were granted for an initial period of three years, with the possibility of two renewals of three years each, totalling a maximum duration of nine years.

    These changes aim to encourage more intensive and structured resource exploration.

    What are the main challenges facing Mali’s mining sector?

    The rise of the mining industry has brought both benefits and challenges. To manage these, the players involved have decided to develop a community development policy. This approach aims to create income opportunities while mitigating potential negative effects, such as environmental damage caused by mining operations.

    Adaptation strategies are essential. These include improving access to financing, creating joint economic activities, and ensuring the security of mining zones. Other key areas are land management, housing, healthcare and schooling, as well as supporting public policies, programmes and civil society initiatives.

    Artisanal gold mining has environmental impacts: it causes deforestation and pollution. Cutting trees destroys wildlife habitats, harms useful plant species and weakens the soil.

    Pollution is another major concern. Chemicals contaminate water, soil, plants, animals and people. Air pollution is common due to overcrowding around mining sites.

    The mining industry affects the economy, environment and society. It is a very important source of revenue for the country and it provides direct and indirect jobs to many people through the provision of services to companies operating in this sector.

    To limit harm, mining communities should focus on four goals:

    • increase productivity by building the capacity of stakeholders

    • reduce the socio-economic vulnerability of local communities

    • strengthen stakeholders’ resilience to the effects of mining industry development

    • improve biodiversity conservation and mitigate environmental degradation.

    How can Mali improve mining governance and sustainability?

    The new mining code already improves governance by addressing the legitimate expectations of Mali’s population and government. It promotes a more responsible approach to managing the sector.

    This code ensures that mining benefits are shared fairly among all stakeholders, including local communities, authorities and mining companies.

    Mali is rich in mineral resources. The country has vast untapped potential throughout its territory. However, security issues in the north hinder exploration and mining activities. Some areas remain unassigned to companies due to ongoing insecurity.

    – Mining Mali: how policy changes are reshaping the sector
    – https://theconversation.com/mining-mali-how-policy-changes-are-reshaping-the-sector-249232

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Education Innovation in Focus at National Governors Association Winter Meeting

    Source: US State of Colorado

    Washington, DC – National Governors Association (NGA) Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis was joined by ParentData CEO Emily Oster and technology journalist Kara Swisher as Governors explored how to harness data and technology to advance education innovations. The conversation was the latest in a series of events held in support of Governor Polis’ NGA Chair’s Initiative, Let’s Get Ready: Educating All Americans for Success. NGA Vice Chair Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and Governors from across the nation shared updates on implementation of education priorities in their states. 

    “Governors have a responsibility to guarantee every student has access to a quality education,” said Governor Polis. “Our mission with Let’s Get Ready is to learn how to better measure success so we can expand and scale what works, and change what doesn’t. Test scores and high school diplomas are important but no longer sufficient to determine if students are career- or college-ready. With two job openings for every jobseeker in most states, it’s clear we need to do a better job equipping students with the skills they need to succeed. Governors are working to create innovative pathways for students and schools to succeed; no excuses, no exceptions.” 

    “If kids aren’t leaving high school college ready or career ready, we haven’t done our job,” said Governor Stitt. “Governors are focused on working with businesses, schools and universities to create more internships and apprenticeships that set students up for success. We’re innovating to ensure schools are equipped to succeed, and kids have options to go to the school where they learn best. As Governors, we recognize that building a strong workforce is important for individuals in our states, and it’s important for U.S. competitiveness.” 

    “The most important general principle here is to say that if we have a policy, we must have something to measure that we can use to evaluate if it works,” said Emily Oster. “If we’re going to have a policy around vocational training, which I think is very important, we need a way to measure that. How do we measure college and career readiness? There’s no systematic way people are measuring that. What do we mean that someone is ready to contribute to the workforce, and how can we try to measure it?” 

    “It’s really important to think about what’s going to happen with AI and the deleterious effects of technology,” said Kara Swisher. “Ninety-nine percent of intelligence is going to be digital or AI-generated in the future, and 1 percent is going to be human intelligence. We have to think about what does that mean for jobs? I have four children, and I think about this a lot. Three things are critically important: Promoting creativity, because AI cannot make creativity. Second is team-building – teaching kids how to team build, work together and collaborate. Last is critical thinking. There’s no need for memorization anymore. But how do you learn about history, English or humanities and then pull them together in a cogent way?” 

    Launched in July 2024, Let’s Get Ready is a yearlong initiative designed to support the nation’s Governors in driving innovative education policies. Let’s Get Ready aims to help Governors form policies that better evaluate outcomes for state investments in education and improve outcomes for learners at all stages of their education journey. The initiative also focuses on the ways states can meet the future needs of the workforce by preparing students for success in and outside of the classroom. 

    At NGA’s Winter Meeting, Governors have met with federal officials and leaders from business, academia and philanthropy for solutions-driven conversations around the top issues in states and territories. 

    Learn more about the Let’s Get Ready initiative and upcoming bipartisan events on the NGA website. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governors Approve Federal Priorities at Winter Meeting

    Source: US State of Colorado

    WASHINGTON, DC – At the 2025 Winter Meeting of the National Governors Association (NGA), Governors approved federal priorities to advocate to the 119th Congress and the administration. The priorities were developed by three bipartisan, Governor-led task forces who meet regularly to discuss issues and policies that impact states, territories and commonwealths. The federal priorities are backed by a resolution that was unanimously voted on at today’s business session to serve as a roadmap for NGA’s advocacy efforts at the federal level. 

    “As Governors, we are always looking for new ideas that can help us deliver better results,” said NGA Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis. “State input is key to avoid abrupt changes that create uncertainty and adversely impact the countless services we run to support infrastructure, education, health care, economic growth and disaster response in our states. Governors are ready and willing to work together, and with the administration and Congress, to evaluate and improve the efficiency of these services. We are open to bipartisan conversations with anyone from state and local governments, fellow governors, Congress, and the federal government.” 

    “Governors of both parties share common purpose when it comes to making our economy, infrastructure, and education and health systems the best they can be,” said NGA Vice Chair Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt. “I appreciate the opportunity to talk with fellow Governors to discuss how states and territories can work with the White House and Congress to reduce debt and grow the economy. Governors balance our budgets, and we are the ones building roads and implementing education reforms. The perspective of Governors is critical to ensure states and territories work effectively with the federal government to achieve the best possible outcomes for Americans.” 

    The full resolution text adopted by Governors for 2025: 

    Governors believe federal action should be limited to the powers expressly conveyed by the Constitution, preserving state sovereignty in legislative and regulatory matters the Executive Committee has added the following bipartisan priorities: 

    • Enhancing emergency management; 
    • Streamlining permitting processes; 
    • Supporting flexibility and waiver opportunities and funding for state and territorial designed Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF; 
    • Ensuring the federal government meets its already committed obligations for federally funded projects across states, territories and Commonwealths. 

    The task forces have developed the following list of federal priorities to advance the mission of the Association: 

    Task Force on Economic Development and Revitalization 

    • Accelerating infrastructure project delivery and streamlining permitting, while establishing Governors priorities for the next surface transportation reauthorization; 
    • Advancing technology innovation and securing energy resilience to strengthen the country’s economy and national security; 
    • Working with Congress on the most impactful programs for states and territories contained in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and the CHIPS and Science Act; 
    • Investing in state and territorial efforts to protect water resources and clean water. Ensuring Governors have a voice as Congress considers tax reform and international trade agreements. 

    Task Force on Public Health and Disaster Response 

    • Ensure Governors are consulted, and their gubernatorial authorities are maintained, in the areas of defense, homeland security, emergency management, health, and human services, including those outlined in U.S.C. Title 10 and 32 pertaining to National Guard readiness and structure; 
    • Advocate for flexibility and support for a robust health and human service system including safety net programs, such as Medicaid and SNAP, and oppose shifting essential federal funding obligations to states and territories without adequate planning; 
    • Ensure the National Guard is equipped with sufficient resources and capabilities to fully recruit and man a force ready to support domestic emergencies and fulfill its role as the operational reserve for national security missions; 
    • Enhance emergency response and disaster recovery by ensuring federal programs, such as Disaster Relief Fund, National Flood Insurance, and Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery, are sufficient, adaptable, and streamlined to meet the diverse needs of states and territories, and easier to navigate for individuals, businesses, and all levels of governments; 
    • Strengthen preparedness efforts by fostering both inter-state and federal-state collaborations to maintain resilient supply chains and stockpiles for critical infrastructure before, during, and after emergencies; Support federal initiatives that provide tools and flexibility to states and territories to ensure safe communities for all Americans in areas such as malicious unmanned aircraft systems, cyberattacks, border security, trafficking, substance use disorder, justice-involved re-integration, crisis response systems, and comprehensive safety measures. 

    Task Force on Education, Workforce and Community Investment 

    • Supporting reauthorization of the Farm Bill; 
    • Supporting efforts to expand innovative educational experiences, apprenticeship opportunities and non-degree pathways including but not limited to the reauthorization of WIOA; 
    • Working with the House and Senate bipartisan Paid Leave Working Groups as they consider a legislative framework around paid family leave; 
    • Supporting continued investment in federal education programs that address workforce needs and efforts to improve state longitudinal data systems; 
    • Increasing supply of housing by strengthening the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and giving states and territories the tools necessary to streamline burdensome zoning, permitting, and land use policies. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Measles: A resurgent threat in Canada

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Ruchika Gupta, Assistant Professor and Medical Microbiologist, Department of Pathobiology and Lab Medicine, LHSC and Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University

    The resurgence of measles in Canada is a stark reminder that we cannot take public health achievements for granted. (CDC and NIAID), CC BY

    In the landscape of public health, few stories are as compelling as the unexpected return of a disease we once thought was conquered. Measles, a highly contagious viral infection formally considered eliminated from Canada in 1998, is making a surprising comeback, challenging our public health systems and communities at large.

    The rising numbers of measles cases are a concern as they represent real people and real risks. The current measles situation in Canada is a public health challenge and a critical moment for awareness and action. From urban centres like Toronto and Montréal to smaller communities across the provinces, an emerging pattern demands attention and understanding.

    Outbreaks in Canada

    Current measles outbreaks in Canada are primarily affecting Ontario and Québec. In Ontario, 57 confirmed cases have been documented in 2025, as of Feb. 13. Meanwhile, Québec is experiencing its second outbreak, with 24 confirmed cases reported this year, as of Feb. 21. An earlier outbreak in Québec involved 51 cases from February to June 2024.

    This resurgence can be attributed to several factors, including declining vaccination rates, international travel reintroducing the virus into Canada and the highly contagious nature of measles.

    Vaccination rates for the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine have dropped to approximately 82.5 per cent, a significant decline observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This reduction has created a population of highly susceptible individuals, undermining community immunity — commonly referred to as herd immunity — which requires a vaccination coverage of 95 per cent to effectively prevent outbreaks.

    How measles spreads

    Measles is also one of the most contagious infectious diseases, with a basic reproduction number (R₀) of 12–18. This means that, in a fully susceptible population, one case of measles can lead to an average of 12–18 secondary cases. For the current outbreak, although the initial source was linked to international travel, the majority of cases are now the result of local transmission within Canada, highlighting the importance of maintaining high vaccination coverage and swift public health interventions.

    Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease that spreads easily through respiratory droplets. When an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes, they release virus particles into the air. These particles can remain infectious for up to two hours, even after the person has left the area. What makes measles particularly challenging to control is its extended period of contagiousness.

    An infected individual can spread the virus from four days before the characteristic rash appears until four days after its onset. This means people can unknowingly transmit the disease before they even realize they’re infected.

    The virus’s ability to spread before symptoms appear, combined with its long contagious period, makes it difficult to contain outbreaks once they begin. This is why maintaining high vaccination rates across the population is crucial. It’s not just about individual protection, but about safeguarding the entire community, especially those who cannot be vaccinated due to age or medical conditions.

    While anyone who isn’t immune either through vaccination or previous infection can contract measles, certain groups — including pregnant women, immunocompromised patients and unvaccinated children under age five — are at higher risk of complications including pneumonia and brain swelling.

    Protecting individuals and communities

    The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and highly effective, with two doses providing up to 99 per cent protection.
    (Shutterstock)

    The message from health-care providers is clear: vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles. Here’s what you can do:

    1. Ensure vaccination is up to date: The measles vaccine is typically combined with mumps and rubella (MMR) or with varicella (MMRV). Two doses of the vaccine are 99 per cent effective at preventing infection.
    2. Check your immunization records: If you’re unsure about your vaccination status, consult your health-care provider or check your Personal Immunization Record.
    3. Vaccinate children on schedule: In Ontario, children receive two doses of the measles vaccine before age seven as part of routine vaccinations.
    4. Consider early vaccination for infants: In areas with ongoing outbreaks, infants as young as six months may be eligible for early vaccination. Contact your health-care provider before travel for their advice.
      Plan ahead for travel: If you’re traveling internationally, consult a health-care provider at least six weeks before your trip to review your immunization history.
    5. Be aware of the symptoms: high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a characteristic rash.

    If you suspect you or someone in your family has measles, call your health-care provider before visiting a medical facility. This allows them to take necessary precautions to prevent further spread.

    Vaccination is our most effective tool against measles. The MMR vaccine is safe and highly effective, with two doses providing up to 99 per cent protection. By maintaining high vaccination rates across our communities, we can prevent outbreaks and protect those who can’t be vaccinated due to age or medical conditions. As we navigate this situation, it’s crucial to stay informed and follow public health guidelines. Together, we can work to contain these outbreaks and protect the health of all Canadians.

    The resurgence of measles in Canada is a stark reminder that we cannot take our public health achievements for granted. Vaccination has been one of the most successful public health interventions in history, saving millions of lives. By working together — health-care providers, parents and communities — we can turn the tide on this resurgence and protect our most vulnerable populations from this preventable disease.

    Measles is not just a childhood illness or a simple rash. It’s a serious disease with potentially severe complications. But with vigilance, education and a commitment to vaccination, we can once again push measles to the brink of elimination in Canada. The health of our communities depends on it.

    Ruchika Gupta 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. Measles: A resurgent threat in Canada – https://theconversation.com/measles-a-resurgent-threat-in-canada-249932

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How to teach hope when democracy is retreating

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Joel Westheimer, University research chair in democracy and education, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

    In the wake of Donald Trump’s reelection, the United States has lurched further toward a democratic crisis.

    Institutions once considered stable now feel precarious. The assault on truth — already well underway — has intensified, with political leaders openly flouting constitutional principles, suppressing dissent and dismantling democratic safeguards.

    The rhetoric of grievance and retribution has become the soundtrack of public discourse.

    The U.S. is not alone. Across the globe, democracy is in retreat. The list of nations such as Hungary, Poland, Brazil and India where autocrats and aspiring autocrats have tried to erode democratic norms is growing. Far-right movements in France, Germany, Finland and elsewhere, bolstered by economic anxieties and digital disinformation, stoke resentment and fear.



    Read more:
    What does Donald Trump’s win mean for his brand of populist authoritarianism?

    People, exhausted by economic precarity and what author, activist and documentarian Astra Taylor calls the deliberate manufacturing of insecurity, are drawn to the false promise of strongman rule. The desire for stability — however undemocratic — threatens to eclipse commitments to liberty and justice.

    For educators or civic leaders who teach young people about democracy these are not abstract concerns. Civic educators’ struggles to foster students’ civic engagement and strengthen their commitments to democratic institutions and the growing crisis in democracy makes these efforts even harder.

    As a professor of democracy and education, and as an educator, I cannot promise young people that their efforts will always succeed. But I can assure them that whether in the face of victories or defeats, they are walking a powerful and worthwhile path.

    The risk of civic despair

    One popular approach to strengthening commitments to democracy is to engage students in community projects that address difficult societal challenges.

    Some teachers take students to engage in community work that is deeply tied to the curriculum, through approaches known as action civics or service learning.

    But when young people take on social action projects — especially those aimed at addressing systemic injustices — the experience can backfire if it leads only to frustration and failure.

    Studies have shown that students who participate in civic initiatives that do not produce tangible change often become less likely to engage in civic life in the future.

    When efforts to improve conditions in their schools, communities or governments meet bureaucratic obstacles or outright resistance, young people do not always emerge more energized. Instead, many walk away discouraged, cynical and convinced that the system cannot be moved.

    This is not to say that teachers, parents or other adult mentors should avoid encouraging activism — far from it. But if educators fail to prepare students for the realities of social change — that it can be slow and difficult — we risk reinforcing exactly the kind of disengagement we seek to combat.

    If young people see the struggle for justice only as a series of disappointments, it’s easy to understand why they may turn away.

    Redefining hope

    To counter this despair, we need to redefine what it means to hope.

    We need to cultivate the kind of hope that sustains action despite uncertainty — the kind that fuels long-term struggles for justice, even when victories are slow in coming.



    Read more:
    6 ways to build resilience and hope into young people’s learning about climate change

    Václav Havel, the Czech playwright and political dissident who later became president, wrote that hope is not the same as choosing struggles that are headed for quick success: “Hope … is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.”

    This distinction is vital. As I explore in my book about education for democracy, hope is not a guarantee of success, but the insistence that working for justice is meaningful in and of itself. When we work collectively on projects we believe in, we form bonds that are valued and energizing.

    Howard Zinn, the late historian and activist, echoed this idea when he urged us to “hold out, even in times of pessimism, the possibility of surprise.”

    Being part of something bigger

    History is filled with unexpected turns, reversals and moments when change happens against all odds. As German theorist and activist Rosa Luxemburg wrote, before the revolution, everyone says it’s impossible. After, they say it was inevitable.

    The singer-songwriter Holly Near expressed this artfully in her anthem to the many social change movements that have existed for as long as there have been things to improve. Change does not always happen at broadband speeds, but knowing one is part of a timeless march toward good goals makes much of what we do worthwhile. In her song “The Great Peace March,” Near sings:

    “Believe it or not / as daring as it may seem / it is not an empty dream
    To walk in a powerful path / neither the first nor the last / great peace march.”

    Social change is about connecting with one another and being part of something larger than ourselves — a “powerful path” that stretches beyond any single moment or movement.

    Hope as a practice

    So how do we teach hope? How do we equip young people not just to work for change, but to sustain that work over the long haul?

    First, we must be honest about setbacks. Too often, we romanticize past movements, presenting them as linear progressions toward justice. We do young people a disservice when we erase the years of struggle, failure and uncertainty that preceded social victories. A more honest history includes moments of despair as well as triumph.

    Second, we must frame civic action as an ongoing practice rather than a single event. Students should see their work as part of a continuum.

    Finally, we must model hope ourselves. Young people are watching us. If we meet today’s challenges with cynicism and resignation, they will learn that democracy is a lost cause. But if we demonstrate an enduring commitment to engagement and justice, they will see that democracy is not something we inherit; it is something we build.

    We can promise young people that to engage in the work of justice is to be part of a legacy that stretches across generations. And that, I believe, is hope worth teaching.

    Joel Westheimer receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. How to teach hope when democracy is retreating – https://theconversation.com/how-to-teach-hope-when-democracy-is-retreating-249926

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s tariff and land grab threats signal U.S. expansionist ambitions

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Ilan Kapoor, Professor, Critical Development Studies, York University, Canada

    When U.S. President Donald Trump first suggested Canada should become the 51st American state, the federal government dismissed it as just a joke. Finance Minister Dominic Leblanc insisted it was “in no way a serious comment.”

    Similar skepticism was expressed by political leaders across the world when Trump talked about seizing Greenland and the Panama Canal in early January, by military force if necessary, to buttress U.S. national security. He also floated the idea of taking over Gaza to transform it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”

    Now that Trump has carried through on his aggressive economic threats — launching a trade war with China and raising the possibility of similar conflicts with Canada, Mexico and the European Union — his imperialist expansionism is in plain sight.

    Canadian leaders have come to realize that Trump’s actions may not be a temporary or minor irritant, but rather an attack on Canadian sovereignty itself.

    The failure to take Trump’s words seriously is reminiscent of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s skepticism in 1938 that Hitler would actually risk world war despite the latter’s aggressive rhetoric, annexation of Austria and threats to Czechoslovakia and Poland.

    What, then, have been the signs of Trump’s expansionist tendencies? American economic and military might, albeit declining relative to emerging powers like China and India, still provides a solid basis for the projection of U.S. supremacy. But there are also two new key elements at play.

    A billionaire-corporate administration

    The Trump administration appears to operate with a distinctly corporate mindset, treating the nation like a business empire. Trump has stacked his administration with private sector leaders and corporate billionaires such as Elon Musk, Doug Burgum and Howard Lutnick.

    Like other billionaires, their immense business success has been founded not on mainstay competitive market practices like productivity or cost-cutting, but on predatory and cannibalistic ones.

    These include controlling resources like oil, gold, diamonds and coltan to secure production inputs; buying out competitors to monopolize markets and patents; and deliberately breaking up and destroying companies through mergers and acquisitions with little regard for the resulting job losses.

    It is within this framework that Trump’s allegations about buying Greenland and Gaza, annexing Canada through “economic force” and capturing the Panama Canal need to be seen.



    Read more:
    Billionaires and loyalists will provide Trump with muscle during his second term

    Under the guise of national security, the idea is not simply to safeguard borders, but to engage in economic expansionism and real estate development, aided by the U.S. military when needed. Taking control of land, waterways and mineral wealth is critical to building “America’s Golden Age” of corporate capitalism.

    This approach seems to be a mainly business one, with little concern for the social costs (recession, unemployment, violence) produced by such imperialistic ventures. In line with his infamous book, The Art of the Deal, Trump appears to view foreign nations and domestic opponents alike as obstacles to be callously bullied, degraded, manipulated, exploited and finally vanquished.

    American nationalist populism

    The Trump administration’s imperial ambitions lie in the nationalist populism that propelled Trump and his allies into power for the second time.

    Trump’s populism has successfully tapped into widespread anxieties among Americans — job insecurity, food prices, the housing crisis — by promising to soothe their worries through the “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) agenda.



    Read more:
    Trump’s view of the world is becoming clear: America’s allies come second to its own interests

    Like other right-wing populist movements around the globe — Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s in Turkey, Viktor Orbán’s in Hungary and the Brexit campaign in the U.K. — the MAGA movement has sought to unify the U.S. by identifying and targeting perceived national enemies. These include so-called “illegal” migrants, transgender people and the country’s largest trading rivals: Mexico, Canada and China.

    By blaming these groups, especially those seen as contributing to America’s economic decline, MAGA whips up nationalist sentiment in the form of suspicion, aggression and vengeance. The result is a deeply polarized nationalist discourse in which one is either a loyal supporter or an enemy; a believer or a “woke” liberal.

    A lethal imperial set-up

    The combination of U.S. global power, nationalist populism and the Trump administration’s corporate-driven, predatory approach makes for a dangerous dynamic.

    This mix is fuelling a form of economic expansionism that is now beginning to manifest itself. The impending trade wars, potential dismantling of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (which Trump initiated in 2018 to avoid unilateral trade moves by its signatories) and the brazen disregard for the socioeconomic consequences of foreign territorial control, such as the forced displacement of Palestinians, are all signs of this.

    While many assumed Trump’s administration would be protectionist and isolationist, a more troubling and nefarious reality is emerging. His administration appears to be intent on securing America’s industrial dominance through trade wars while expanding it through hawkish economic imperialism.

    There is a clear ruthlessness to this approach, with a willingness to pressure not only America’s perceived enemies but also its allies. “America First” is starting to looks like “America Above All Others” as Trump attempts to bully U.S. rivals into subordination, with disturbing echoes of past authoritarians.

    Unravelling American imperial designs

    Many obstacles could prevent Trump’s aggressive expansionism from fully taking shape. While the key ingredients may already be there, and some have begun to be deployed, that doesn’t mean they will come to fruition.

    The Trump administration’s policymaking process is often chaotic and theatrical, prioritizing short-term political gains over long-term strategy. This instability undermines any consistent efforts at expansion.

    There is also the risk that Trump’s trade wars will backfire. They could end up causing hardship to U.S. companies and consumers through higher food and energy prices, job losses in key industries like agriculture and auto manufacturing, and increased stock market instability. Such consequences could negatively affect Trump’s corporate allies.

    Meanwhile, Trump’s economic and military rivals could forge new alliances to challenge his attempts at global supremacy. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, for instance, recently met with the head of NATO and other European allies to strengthen trade and security ties.

    The first step to any countermoves by Trump’s foreign adversaries will be seeing his regime’s designs for what they are: chaotic, perhaps, but serious expansionist ones.

    Ilan Kapoor 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. Trump’s tariff and land grab threats signal U.S. expansionist ambitions – https://theconversation.com/trumps-tariff-and-land-grab-threats-signal-u-s-expansionist-ambitions-249924

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: High-speed railway linking Shanghai, Nanjing and Hefei under construction

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

    High-speed railway linking Shanghai, Nanjing and Hefei under construction

    Updated: February 23, 2025 21:02 Xinhua
    An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 23, 2025 shows the installation site of box girders of a high-speed railway linking Shanghai, Nanjing of Jiangsu Province and Hefei of Anhui Province in east China. The railway is part of China’s high-speed rail network that centers around eight main vertical lines linking the north and south and eight horizontal lines connecting the east and west. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 23, 2025 shows the installation site of box girders of a high-speed railway linking Shanghai, Nanjing of Jiangsu Province and Hefei of Anhui Province in east China. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 23, 2025 shows the installation site of box girders of a high-speed railway linking Shanghai, Nanjing of Jiangsu Province and Hefei of Anhui Province in east China. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 23, 2025 shows the installation site of box girders of a high-speed railway linking Shanghai, Nanjing of Jiangsu Province and Hefei of Anhui Province in east China. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Farming activities in full swing in China’s Hainan in early spring

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

    Farming activities in full swing in China’s Hainan in early spring

    Updated: February 23, 2025 21:11 Xinhua
    Farmers work at a field in Yacha Town of Baisha Li Autonomous County, south China’s Hainan Province, Feb. 20, 2025. Farming activities are in full swing in south China’s Hainan Province in early spring. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A farmer picks strawberries at Pingdi Village of Dongcheng Town in Danzhou City, south China’s Hainan Province, Feb. 23, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A farmer picks strawberries at Pingdi Village of Dongcheng Town in Danzhou City, south China’s Hainan Province, Feb. 23, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Farmers transplant rice seedlings in Yacha Town of Baisha Li Autonomous County, south China’s Hainan Province, Feb. 20, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A farmer carries seedlings in Yacha Town of Baisha Li Autonomous County, south China’s Hainan Province, Feb. 20, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Beijing-Tangshan intercity railway under construction

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

    Beijing-Tangshan intercity railway under construction

    Updated: February 23, 2025 20:22 Xinhua
    Workers are busy laying tracks at the construction site of the Beijing Sub-center Station along the Beijing-Tangshan intercity railway in Tongzhou District, sub-center of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 22, 2025. With a designed speed of 350 km per hour, the 148.7-km-long Beijing-Tangshan intercity railway will link Beijing sub-center comprehensive transportation hub in Beijing and Tangshan City in Hebei Province after completion of the Beijing section of the route. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Workers are busy laying tracks at the construction site of the Beijing Sub-center Station along the Beijing-Tangshan intercity railway in Tongzhou District, sub-center of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 22, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Workers are busy laying tracks at the construction site of the Beijing Sub-center Station along the Beijing-Tangshan intercity railway in Tongzhou District, sub-center of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 22, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Workers are busy laying tracks at the construction site of the Beijing Sub-center Station along the Beijing-Tangshan intercity railway in Tongzhou District, sub-center of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 22, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Workers are busy laying tracks at the construction site of the Beijing Sub-center Station along the Beijing-Tangshan intercity railway in Tongzhou District, sub-center of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 22, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/SENEGAL – Resignation and appointment of metropolitan archbishop of Dakar

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Saturday, 22 February 2025

    Dakar (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the metropolitan archdiocese of Dakar, Senegal, presented by Archbishop Benjamin Ndiaye.The Holy Father has appointed Bishop André Gueye, until now bishop of Thiès and apostolic administrator of Saint-Louis du Sénégal, as metropolitan archbishop of Dakar, Senegal.Archbishop-elect André Gueye was born on 6 January 1967 in Pallo-Younga. He carried out his studies in philosophy in the major seminary of Sebikhotane in Dakar, and in Brin, Ziguinchor. He studied theology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University of Rome, as a guest of the Pontifical Urban College.He was ordained a priest on 27 June 1992 in the Cathedral of Thiès.He has held the following offices: parish vicar of Sainte Croix in Bambey (1992-1997), parish vicar of Sainte Anne Cathedral in Thiès (1997-2004), parish priest of Sainte Croix in Bambey (2004-2006), and teacher of philosophy at the Saint Jean Marie Vianney Major Seminary of Brin, diocese of Ziguinchor (2006-2012).He was elected bishop of Thiès on 18 January 2013, and was consecrated the following 25 May.Since 12 January he has served as apostolic administrator of Saint-Louis du Sénégal. (Agenzia Fides, 22/2/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/NIGER – Resignation and appointment of bishop of Maradi

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Saturday, 22 February 2025

    Maradi (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Maradi, Niger, presented by Bishop Ambroise Ouédraogo.The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Fr. Ignatius Anipu, M.Afr., until now delegate of the Provincial of Western Africa and director of the Institut de Formation Islamo-Chrétienne of Bamako, Mali.Msgr. Ignatius Anipu, M.Afr., was born on 7 November 1959 in the diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga, Ghana. He studied philosophy at Saint Victor’s Major Seminary in Tamale, Ghana, and theology at the Institut Catholique de Toulouse, France. He was awarded a licentiate at the Pontifical Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies in Rome.He was ordained a priest on 20 July 1991.He has held the following offices: parish vicar of Saint Teresa of Ávila in Zinder, Niger, and national chaplain for the country’s youth (1991-1995), parish priest of Saint Vincent de Paul in Birni N’Konni, Niger (1998-2001), provincial counsellor (1999-2001) and head of the Community of the White Fathers of Birni N’Konni (2000-2002), lecturer in missiology, traditional African religions and Islamology at the Missionary Institute of London (2002-2008), in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, and in Bamako, provincial of the White Fathers for West Africa (2011-2016), and general assistant and general counsellor of the White Fathers in Rome (2016-2022).Since 2023 he has been the delegate of the provincial of West Africa and director of the Institut de Formation Islamo-Chrétienne in Bamako. (Agenzia Fides, 22/2/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: DRC: People are trapped in a climate of insecurity amidst clashes in Uvira

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    In recent days, the security situation around the city of Uvira, in South Kivu province of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has rapidly deteriorated, reaching a critical point on 15 February. Residents describe scenes of looting, increased violence, and clashes within the city between the Congolese army (FARDC) and the Wazalendo fighters. Medical facilities have not been spared from gunfire, impacting patient care. Staff from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) who were present at the onset of the clashes testify to the situation.

    “When we heard the shots, we had to take cover quickly, as did the patients, and we had to stop our activities, which delayed their care and treatment,” says an MSF colleague. “The next day, gunfire was coming from everywhere, so we had to stay at home. But the hospital [Uvira’s general referral hospital] was starting to receive a lot of wounded, so we came to the hospital as reinforcements, taking the risk of catching a stray bullet.”

    Since 17 February, the region’s hospitals have been faced with an influx of wounded people, receiving around 10 people a day, including civilians, per structure. Despite the insecurity, Ministry of Health staff continue to provide emergency care, and a large number of staff from other hospital departments have come to help with surgery and the operating theatre. In all, more than a hundred injured people have been treated in just a few days.

    “This week, the city became unlivable, with gunfire from morning to night,” explains an MSF staff member. “Personally, I’ve lost track of the days because we have all been affected. Some of my colleagues were victims of all this chaos, some have been robbed at home by armed men.”

    The chaos in the city and the incessant gunfire have severely impacted the roads and people’s ability to move. This lack of mobility prevents even emergency responders from intervening in time. Ambulances face difficulty moving around, but they continue to pick up lifeless bodies on the roads whenever they can.

    On several occasions, the general referral hospital of Uvira has been caught in the crossfire, seriously endangering patients and staff. The night before last, medical activities had to be interrupted again, and patients had to take shelter to avoid being hit. Armed men also entered the hospital premises roaming and firing inside.

    “These violations and the extreme climate of insecurity that has persisted for several days are unacceptable,” says Caglar Tahiroglu, MSF activities coordinator in Uvira. “We call on all parties to the conflict to respect the protection of civilians, medical personnel and infrastructures as soon as possible so that we can continue to provide medical care to the population.”

    The city of Uvira, which shares a border with Burundi, is on the brink of chaos. Several waves of displacement have been observed amid a climate of distress. Burundian authorities estimate that more than 35,000 people have been on the move since the beginning of February.

    “The first days, I saw entire families leaving their homes with luggage, heading in different directions,” says an MSF medical staff member. “Then I saw the streets empty and become completely deserted. People are afraid. They have very little information about what is actually happening, and they have been affected by the rapid escalation of the crisis in the country, and they imagine all possibilities. Access to food is becoming critical because economic activities have been blocked for six days. We do not know what tomorrow holds for us.”

    Amid persistent insecurity, MSF was forced to reduce its teams in Uvira, where we had been supporting the Ministry of Health in diagnosing and treating patients suffering from mpox for several months. Faced with the influx of wounded and the shortage of equipment, MSF is redirecting some activities to support the care of war-wounded people by delivering vital medical equipment to several medical facilities in the Uvira health zone.

    Staff were anonymised for our colleagues’ protection and safety.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Ukraine three years on: Pain, loss, solidarity and hope for a better future

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    By Nargiz Shekinskaya

    Humanitarian Aid

    24 February 2025 marks the third year of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the civilian population continues to face near daily-attacks. The UN staff living alongside them, enduring the same difficult conditions, have been a lifeline throughout the war.

    “I’m trying not to cry, but I can’t help it. I’m glad I have tissues on hand,” admits Natalia Datchenko, a Ukrainian staff member of the UN children’s agency, UNICEF, struggling to hold back her tears as she recounts the explosions that awoke many Ukrainians three years ago, heralding the start of the conflict.

    Courtesy of Natalia Datchenko

    Natalia Datchenko, employee of UNICEF-Ukraine

    Alongside feelings of shock and anger, Ms. Datchenko also felt a surge of energy. “I knew, with absolute clarity, that I wanted to help others, to protect people. I knew I had to do something,” she recalls.

    UNICEF leadership instructed staff to prioritise their own safety and that of their families before resuming their work. Ms. Datchenko evacuated to Lviv, a city in the west of Ukraine, with her family.

    “There were 12 of us crammed into a small train compartment,” she says. “I held someone else’s child in my arms because there was no place for them to sit. The train moved slowly to avoid being targeted. When we finally arrived, we saw families with children sitting directly on the cold stone floor of the Lviv station. It was February, and it was freezing.”

    Life goes on

    Lyudmyla Kovalchuk, a staff member of the UN Women office in Ukraine, lived near Kyiv International Airport, one of the war’s first targets.

    “We woke up at five in the morning to the sound of explosions,” she explains. “It was shocking. Even though we had heard warnings of an impending invasion, we couldn’t believe it was actually happening.”

    Photo provided by Ludmila Kovalchuk

    Lyudmyla Kovalchuk, UN-Women Ukraine staff member

    After three years, exhaustion has set in but life and work continue. Women in Ukraine need the UN’s support – psychological, legal, logistical and financial. Many Ukrainian women are raising children alone, searching for jobs to support them and constantly moving to keep them safe from the war. Ms. Kovalchuk says that about 75,000 Ukrainian women are serving in the military and represent a group with unique needs that require specific support.

    “We have adapted to working under new conditions,” Ms. Kovalchuk says. “Whenever we arrange to meet somewhere, we check if there is a shelter nearby in case of an attack. We don’t plan long events as the risk of shelling increases the longer we stay in one place. During the pandemic, we learned to work in a hybrid format, and that experience has been invaluable.”

    ‘Hardest part was hearing their stories’

    Anastasia Kalashnyk, another UN Women staff member, used to live in Zaporizhzhia. Two years ago, she relocated to Kyiv with her family. “After 24 February 2022, my children stopped attending daycare and school, and my husband lost his job – the foreign company he worked for immediately shut down operations and left the country,” she says.

    However, Ms. Kalashnyk’s workload increased significantly. Since 2017, she has been responsible for emergency aid provided by UN Women in Ukraine, focusing on women in Luhansk and Donetsk regions. After 2022, many of these women were forced to flee their homes.

    © DRC Ukraine/Svitlana Koval

    In a town in Mykolaivska Oblast, a reconstructed kindergarten shelter now provides 200 children with a safe, fully equipped space for learning during frequent air alerts.

    “Looking back, the hardest part was hearing their stories – women I had known for years – about how they escaped occupied territories and what happened to their husbands who had gone to fight,” she says.

    For these and other Ukrainian women in need, UN Women, in collaboration with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), established so-called “safe spaces”. These centres provide essential support, allowing women to connect, share experiences and heal.

    “I watched as Olga, one of the women who came to the centre, quite literally come back to life after experiencing trauma,” a UN worker recalls. “She started smiling again. Now, Olga is one of the centre’s activists, helping others.”

    The cost of war

    According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 12,600 civilians have been confirmed killed and over 29,000 injured over the last three years. At least 2,400 children are among the casualties.

    Millions live in constant fear, while those in occupied territories face severe restrictions and limited access to humanitarian aid. An entire generation of Ukrainians is growing up in wartime.

    © UNICEF/Oleksii Filippov

    Alina, 12, stands next to her damaged home in Kobzartsi, Mykolaiv region.

    Relentless attacks on infrastructure are deepening the crisis. Over 10 per cent of Ukraine’s housing stock has been damaged or destroyed, leaving at least two million families without adequate shelter. More than 3,600 schools and universities have been hit, forcing hundreds of thousands of children into remote learning.

    Repeated strikes on the energy system – three winters in a row – have left towns without electricity, heating and essential services in freezing conditions. A total of 12.7 million people require humanitarian aid.

    Hopes for the future

    “Of course, everything that has happened is exhausting,” Ms. Kalashnyk says. “But my children give me hope for a better future. What they are going through now is unfair. I have to be strong, not just for them but for all Ukrainian families.”

    She adds that she also finds hope in the solidarity shown by the UN and other organizations. “They didn’t abandon Ukraine,” she explains. “They stayed. They continue to help. They didn’t come just for a month or two. They’ve been here for years. And now, they’re talking about rebuilding. These discussions about the future give me confidence that we have one.”

    Ms. Datchenko from UNICEF also speaks of unity and solidarity. “At first, we were all united by anger,” she recalls. “We shared our burdens. We shared our pain. We were furious together. But anger is no longer the driving force. Now, we are united by the desire to rebuild what has been destroyed. We want to restore our communities, support families and rebuild our country, not as it was, but better, to leave behind the Soviet legacy and create a truly new nation, built on human rights.”

    © UNFPA/Danil Pavlov

    Supplies are distributed by UNFPA at a centre for survivors of gender-based violence in Kherson, Ukraine.

    She says her work gives her hope. “I have a unique opportunity to reassess old programmes, create new ones, listen to the voices of the most vulnerable, direct resources where they are truly needed and bridge different sectors to bring together the best for those in need. I believe that working for UNICEF has helped me survive—it’s still my survival strategy.”

    ‘We have to become stronger’

    Ms. Datchenko also finds solace in culture. “I seek inspiration and motivation in the beauty that still exists in Ukraine. Our museums are open, concerts are happening, music is playing. For many, culture is a survival strategy.”

    Today, many Ukrainians are searching for their own survival strategies. “One of the biggest challenges we face in our work is the psychological toll, not only in supporting ourselves, but also our colleagues,” Ms. Kovalchuk says. “Recently, one of our colleague’s brothers went missing. Sometimes, it’s incredibly difficult to find the right words of comfort, yet we work with people – women and girls affected by war – who need our support.”

    “But, on the other hand, when you face one tragedy after another, one crisis after another, you start to feel stronger and more experienced. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.”

    Then, with a sad smile, she adds that “maybe it’s true, but I always say I wish I didn’t have the experience I have now. But I have no choice. This experience is mine to bear.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Prime Minister announcement on Grangemouth

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Prime Minister announcement on Grangemouth

    Sir Keir Starmer announces £200 million investment to propel long term future for Grangemouth

    • Transformational commitment to support investment in Grangemouth community through National Wealth Fund.

    • Project Willow to report shortly on long-term future of industrial site.

    • Grangemouth Training Guarantee to support refinery workers into new jobs – as part of the Plan for Change.

    The National Wealth Fund will provide £200 million of investment to new opportunities in Grangemouth as part of a major intervention to ensure the long-term future of the industrial site, the Prime Minister announced today [Sunday 23 February].

    The funding will be available for co-investment with the private sector to help unlock Grangemouth’s full potential and secure our clean energy future.  

    The UK Government is also providing a ‘training guarantee’ for all Grangemouth refinery staff to ensure that any worker who would like skills training at the local college is supported, with funding provided by the UK Government – this will help workers into new, good jobs with local employers. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 

    “My government has already taken decisive action to protect good British jobs in industries that are vital for our economic security: saving Harland and Wolff, investing in the future of Hitachi in North-East England, a new plan for an electric arc furnace at Port Talbot – secured this week. 

    “We will grasp the opportunities at Grangemouth, work alongside partners to develop viable proposals and team up with business to get new industries off the ground.

    “And to attract private investment into the partnership we need we will allocate £200 million from the National Wealth Fund for investment in Grangemouth – an investment in Scotland’s industrial future.”

    The announcement comes on top of existing investments from the UK Government, in partnership with the Scottish Government, to ensure the long-term economic future of the area. These investments are a strong commitment to people in the central belt, and include:   

    • The £100 million Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal, delivered jointly with the Scottish Government, to support the community and its workers by investing in local energy projects to create new opportunities for growth in the region.

    • Joined-up support from DWP and DESNZ to provide tailored career and skills support for refinery workers to assist in finding new employment.

    • The £1.5 million Project Willow feasibility study, jointly funded with the Scottish Government, to identify credible long-term industrial options for the Grangemouth site.

    The Prime Minister has also reiterated the UK Government’s commitment to working in partnership with the Scottish Government to identify a viable, low carbon industrial future for the Grangemouth site.  

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: 

    “We have always said that we will leave no stone unturned in seeking a sustainable industrial future for Grangemouth and its workers. 

    “Alongside our ongoing support for affected workers, this investment will help unlock the site’s long-term potential, with the backing of the private sector. This will create good jobs in vital new industries and drive growth and investment in the local community as part of our Plan for Change.” 

    Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said:  

    “The UK Government has been working at speed to ensure a long-term future for Grangemouth and the National Wealth Fund allocation announced today demonstrates our commitment to this.  

    “We remain committed to working closely with the Scottish Government and other partners to support the refinery workers and ensure the long-term future of this site.”   

    Project Willow, the co-funded initiative which is examining the green-energy future of the industrial site, is expected to produce its report in the spring. 

    ENDS

    Notes to editors:

    Any National Wealth Fund investment will be subject to investible propositions and the Fund’s criteria – the proposition must deliver a positive return, drive regional and economic growth or support activity to tackle climate change, invest in key sectors, and crowd in private finance.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: View from The Hill: Dutton tries to neutralise health issue by saying, ‘we’ll do just what Labor does’

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    Peter Dutton has launched a game of one-upmanship after Anthony Albanese at the weekend unveiled Labor’s $8.5 billion health policy that promises near universal bulk billing for GP visits by 2030.

    Dutton wants to neutralise health as an election battleground. So he immediately pledged to match the Albanese policy. He’s included another $500 million, from an already announced Coalition policy for mental health, so he can get to the bigger number of $9 billion.

    What’s more, the Opposition leader said the government should legislate the health plan before the election. There are two issues with that call.

    On the present parliamentary sitting timetable, legislation could in theory be passed in budget week, which is set to start March 25. But, as everyone who’s paying attention knows, the current speculation is there probably won’t be a budget, with many players and observers anticipating Albanese will soon announce an April election.

    Secondly, however, legislation is not needed. The changes can be made by regulation.

    The Coalition decision to take over the Labor health policy holus bolus may be tactically smart – time will tell. Fixing up bulk billing will be popular; the opposition knows it would be on risky ground getting into an argument about it, even on detail.

    But just adopting such a big Labor policy, within hours of seeing it, without further thought or strutiny, raises questions about the Coalition’s policy rigour.

    Doesn’t it have a few ideas of its own? Labor’s policy, while welcomed, has already come under some criticisms. For instance, there are suggestions it might be harder to address the bulk billing issue in certain areas than in others, so maybe the claims for the policy are too sweeping. And some experts would prefer greater attention on more fundamental reforms to Medicare.

    In strict policy terms, as distinct from political expediency, the Coalition’s approach just seems lazy. Shadow health minister Anne Ruston is said to have been out and about with stakeholders – did she come to exactly the same policy conclusions as Labor? Presumably, given the policy’s expense, a Coalition government would not be able to spend more on other health initiatives, which restricts its scope to do further or different things.

    On the fiscal side, Dutton is looking for general spending cuts but says there will be no cuts in health. “The Coalition always manages the economy more effectively and that’s why we can afford to invest in health and education,” he said on Sunday.

    Can we believe in this “no cuts” line? The government points back to Tony Abbott’s time when similar promises were made and the reality didn’t match the rhetoric. Dutton was health minister then and the government tried to introduce a Medicare co-payment. That attempt fizzled in face of opposition, but some voters might think that a Coalition that puts on Labor’s clothes so readily might shed some of them when in office, pleading the weather was hotter than it expected. That’s especially possible when it is a policy that stretches out several years, as this one does.

    Certainly Labor has already been homing in on Dutton’s record from more than a decade ago.

    None of this alters the fact that something needs to be done to boost bulk billing, which has now fallen to about 78% of GP visits. The govenrment’s disputes the opposition’s figure that it reached 88% under the Coalition but indisputably, it has certainly tumbled from where it once was.

    The question now is, who will people trust more to fix it up?

    Dr Chalmers goes to Washington

    Meanwhile, the government is still battling on all fronts to make its case heard in Washington for an exemption from the US tariffs on aluminium and steel.

    In a flying trip at the start of this week Treasurer Jim Chalmers will be the first Australian minister to visit there since President Trump announced the tariffs.

    The treasurer will have discussions with the US treasury secretary Scott Bessent, whom he met (courtesy of ambassador Kevin Rudd) before the presidential election. So the talks will have the advantage of familiarity.

    Chalmers on Sunday played down the prospect of any finality on tariffs coming out of his visit, which will also take in a conference of superannuation fund investors looking to put money into American businesses. The conference is being held at the Australian embassy.

    If Australia eventually gets a favourable result on tariffs in the near term, the treasurer will be able to claim at least a tick for his efforts.

    Michelle Grattan 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. View from The Hill: Dutton tries to neutralise health issue by saying, ‘we’ll do just what Labor does’ – https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-dutton-tries-to-neutralise-health-issue-by-saying-well-do-just-what-labor-does-250606

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: ‘Ne Zha 2’ dominates Australian cinemas 2 weeks on

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The Hoyts Sunnybank cinema in Brisbane, Australia’s third largest city, presented 14 sessions of the Chinese animated film “Ne Zha 2” on Sunday, significantly more than other popular films including “Captain America: Brave New World” which was shown in eight sessions.

    This photo taken on Feb. 13, 2025 shows a projected poster for the Chinese fantasy feature “Ne Zha 2” at a shopping mall in Sydney, Australia. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

    While Sunnybank has a concentrated Chinese diaspora population, another Brisbane cinema Event Garden City Mt Gravatt showed “Ne Zha 2” in 11 sessions, the same as “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.”

    About two weeks after the release and pre-screening of the Chinese animation blockbuster, mainstream Australian cinemas have greatly increased their screening schedules of “Ne Zha 2” across the country due to strong demand from local audiences, with a majority of the seats taken in most sessions.

    “Ne Zha 2” entered the top three at Australia’s weekend box office in its debut last week in 91 cinemas, following “Captain America” and “Bridget Jones” last weekend, according to box office reporting company Numero on Monday.

    Where was the marketing

    Peter Koevari, director of GP2 Entertainment, a Brisbane-based independent film production company, attended the opening screening of “Ne Zha 2” and was shocked by how little promotion this film received, although “the cinema was absolutely packed out and the film was excellent.”

    “Fantastic sound, fantastic imagery and characterization … but … where was the marketing?” said Koevari who is also director at Queensland-based FilmLab Academy. His voice-acting students recently tried their hand at dubbing a trailer for “Ne Zha 2.”

    Following the tale of an iconic boy god from Chinese mythology, “Ne Zha 2,” the highest-grossing animated movie of all time globally, has seen its box office revenue worldwide, including presales, surpass 13 billion yuan (about 1.8 billion U.S. dollars), according to ticketing platforms on Saturday.

    “The film is breaking records worldwide at exceeding levels, but it hasn’t really been marketed at all in the West — there wasn’t even a poster up and the trailers cannot be seen anywhere. The only people that know about this are those in the Chinese community or those who know people in the Chinese community… Just imagine how this film would be doing if it was marketed properly,” Koevari said.

    Ancient philosophies

    “Ne Zha 2,” the sequel to the 2019 Chinese blockbuster “Ne Zha,” is more than a high-octane, action-packed and visually stunning animated spectacle, full of hilarious moments and thrilling fight scenes. Beneath all that, it’s something much deeper: a bold re-imagining of Chinese traditional mythology, cultural history and philosophies, said Hong Yanyan, PhD candidate in communication and media studies at the University of Adelaide.

    “Ne Zha 2” carries the weight of Eastern cultural essence — Daoist balance, Confucian ethics, Mohist resistance, Legalist reform and the strategic wisdom of “The Art of War,” Hong said.

    In Daoist philosophy, evil and good, often known as Yin and Yang, are not absolute, but are rather shifting, interconnected forces, which is embodied in Ne Zha’s character in the film, she said, adding the film proves that even the smallest, most underestimated individual can change the world.

    Maryam, a viewer from Adelaide, said, “The movie really made me think about how good people are not always good, and bad people are not always bad, which made me really even look into human nature more deeply.”

    “Ren” (benevolence), a core Confucian virtue, is reflected in the film’s emotional climax when Ne Zha is struck by the “heart-piercing curse,” a brutal spell that covers his body in ten thousand thorns, causing unbearable pain and keeping him under control by targeting his heart. Ne Zha’s human mother, Lady Yin, clings to him as his thorns pierce her skin — yet she refuses to let go.

    “It’s a moment of heartbreak, parental love and inner awakening. As his mother takes her final breath, in Ne Zha’s grief, his body shatters into a million pieces. And then, he is reborn,” Hong said.

    She also highlighted the most profound transformation which comes from the dragon prince Ao Bing, whose once-imposing father Dragon King releases his grip: “Your path is yours to forge.” The weight of tradition gives way to something new, reflecting a changing China where younger generations are defining their own paths, she added.

    Beyond Daoist and Confucian ideals, “Ne Zha 2” also weaves in Legalist reform and Mohist resistance, she said, adding these philosophies challenge rigid hierarchies, or in Ne Zha’s case, “divine order,” and advocate for collective justice. The celestial-demon war itself plays out like a lesson in Sun Tzu’s Art of War.

    Penetrating cultural barriers

    “‘Ne Zha 2’ is undoubtedly another success story. People love the imaginative and legendary old story, and the high-tech special effects give the movie a new charm,” Associate Professor Gong Qian at the School of Education of Curtin University told Xinhua.

    Despite the expansion of the Chinese community in Australia, young people’s enthusiasm for Chinese culture is still some way off compared to their affinity for Japanese and Korean culture, she said.

    While lion and dragon dances, kung fu, dragon boats and Chinese festivals, often with fixed ritual times, are not easily integrated into the daily lives of Australians, Chinese vlogger Li Ziqi’s short videos, the video game “Black Myth: Wukong,” the TV series Three-Body, and TikTok are popular among Australian young people because they are more modern forms of art and entertainment, Gong added.

    “Ne Zha 2” has a “coolness” that easily penetrates cultural barriers and enters the hearts and minds of Australians, Gong said, adding there are still countless intellectual properties (IPs) in Chinese culture that need to be developed. 

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  • MIL-Evening Report: Labor and the Coalition have pledged to raise GP bulk billing. Here’s what the Medicare boost means for patients

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne

    Labor yesterday foreshadowed a major Medicare change to address the falling rate of bulk billing, with an A$8.5 billion election announcement. The government said it would increase incentive payments for GPs to bulk bill all patients, from November 1 2025.

    Today the Coalition said it would match Labor’s Medicare investment dollar-for-dollar.

    Medicare was designed as a universal scheme to eliminate financial barriers to access to health care. The contemporary slogan is that you only need your Medicare card, not your bank card, to see your doctor.

    But fewer than half of Australians are always bulk billed when the see a doctor. So how did we get into this situation? And what could these changes mean for access to care?



    Read more:
    Albanese pledge: nine in ten GP visits bulk billed by 2030, in $8.5 billion Medicare injection

    Why bulk billing has been declining

    Until changes introduced by then Health Minister Tony Abbott in 2003, Medicare was the same for everyone.

    But in response to declining rates of GP bulk billing at the time, the then Coalition government backed away from Medicare’s universality and introduced targeted bulk billing incentives for pensioners and health-care card-holders, children, people in rural and remote Australia and, in a political fix to appease then Tasmanian independent Senator Brian Harradine, all Tasmanians.

    Fast-forward to 2014 and then Health Minister Peter Dutton introduced legislation as part of the budget for a compulsory copayment for GP consultations – a proposal that did not survive six months and failed in the Senate. A smaller optional payment also failed to get approval.

    But the idea of getting Australians to pay out of pocket to see a GP survived. It was introduced by stealth by freezing GP rebates, rather than adjusting them to inflation. This slowly forced GPs to introduce patient co-payments as their costs increased and their rebates didn’t.

    By the time Labor was elected, bulk billing was said to be in freefall.

    Labor’s first response was to restore the indexation of rebates, so they increase increase in line with inflation in November of each year.

    It then tripled the bulk billing incentive. This meant GPs received a greater rebate when they didn’t charge patients an out-of-pocket fee.

    But the new incentive was not enough to cover the gap between rebate and fees in metropolitan areas.

    What proportion of Australians are now bulk billed?

    Only about 48% of people have the security of “always” being bulk billed when they see a GP. A further 24% are “usually” bulk billed.

    Bulk billing rates are highest in poorer areas – South West Sydney has an “always” rate of 81%, almost quadruple the rate in the ACT (23%), which has Australia’s lowest “always” rate.

    The always bulk billed rate – excluding special COVID items which required bulk billing – has dropped from about 64% in 2021–22.

    The rate of bulk billing as a percentage of all visits to the GP, rather than people, is much higher. Around 78% of all attendances (aka visits) in the second half of 2024 were bulk billed. The higher rate is because more frequent users, such as older Australians, are bulk billed at a higher rate than younger people.

    What does the new bulk billing package include?

    The initiative announced yesterday includes three positive changes.

    First, it again increases the bulk billing incentive.

    It also introduces an additional bonus for general practices which achieve 100% billing.

    The new combined Medicare rebate in metropolitan areas for a standard bulk billed visit to the GP is A$69.56 when both changes are applied. This is $27 above the current rebate of $42.85 (without any bulk billing incentive).

    The current average out-of-pocket payment when a service is not bulk billed is $46. So there will still be a gap, but the difference between bulk billing and not is now significantly smaller.

    *Totals include item Medicare rebate, Bulk Billing Incentive item rebate, and 12.5% Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program payment.
    Government Press Release

    The government expects a major uplift – to 90% of visits bulk billed – as a result.

    State government payroll taxes, also encourage bulk billing, by not requiring GPs to pay payroll tax on consultations that are bulk billed. This will provide a further incentive to increase the bulk billing rate.

    The second positive change is that the new initiatives are for everyone. This ends the two-tiered incentive the Coalition introduced in 2003 and restores Medicare as a truly universal scheme.

    Australia will now rejoin all other high-income countries (other than the United States) in having health funding underpinned by universality.

    Third is the introduction of a 12.5% “practice payment” bonus for practices that bulk bill all patients.

    This starts the necessary transition from a reliance on fee-for-service payments as the main payment type for general practice.

    A “practice payment” is more holistic and better suited to a world where more people have multiple chronic disease which require care for the whole person, rather than episodic care. It signals payments need to be redesigned for that new reality.

    Over time, this could fund and encourage multi-disciplinary teams of GPs, nurses and allied health professionals such as psychologists and physiotherapists – rather than patients always seeing a GP.

    The downsides

    The main risk practices face in contemplating these changes is the fear of how long this new scheme will last. A previous Coalition government showed it was prepared to use a rebate freeze to achieve its policy of a shift away from Medicare as a universal scheme.

    The best way of reducing that risk would be to build in indexation of the rebate, and the incentive, into legislation.

    The Royal Australian College of GPs says not everyone will be bulk billed because rebates are still too low to cover the cost of care.

    This is true, as the gap between the prevailing metro bulk billed fee and the new rebate plus incentive will be about $20. But the aim is to increase bulk billing to 90% not 100% – and that is probably achievable.

    Bottom line

    The new arrangements will likely reverse the decline in the rates of bulk billing. The government can reasonably expect a bulk billing rate of around 90% of visits in the future.

    For consumers facing cost-of-living pressures, it will be a very welcome change. There will be more 100%-bulk-billing practices and patients will no longer face a lottery based on a doctor’s or receptionist’s mood or whim about whether they will be bulk billed.

    Yesterday’s announcement and the Coalition’s backing is a watershed, benefiting patients and general practices.

    Labor is playing to its strengths and it will hope to reverse its current polling trends with this announcement.

    The Coalition obviously hopes to negate the impact of a popular announcement by matching it. What will weigh in voters’ minds, though, is whether today’s Coalition announcement will be delivered after the election. The Coalition has a long history – dating back to Malcolm Fraser – of promising one thing about health policy before an election and reversing it after the vote, and this will probably fuel a “Mediscare” campaign by Labor.

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

    – ref. Labor and the Coalition have pledged to raise GP bulk billing. Here’s what the Medicare boost means for patients – https://theconversation.com/labor-and-the-coalition-have-pledged-to-raise-gp-bulk-billing-heres-what-the-medicare-boost-means-for-patients-250604

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –