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Category: Universities

  • MIL-Evening Report: View from The Hill: uninspiring leaders, stressed voters and the shadow of Trump make for an uncertain contest

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

    The usual story for a first-term government is a loss of seats, as voters send it a message, but ultimate survival.

    It can be a close call. John Howard risked all in 1998 with his GST, and almost lost office, despite having a big majority.

    But you have to go back to 1931 to find a first-term government thrown out.

    So, going into this campaign, Anthony Albanese has the weight of history on his side. But modern day politics is volatile, and the voters are cranky, which has in recent months given the opposition hope it could run the government close or even defy the odds.

    Government and opposition start the formal campaign with the polls close on the two-party vote. In the past few weeks, the government has improved its position, arguably to be now in the lead. If the election were held today, Labor would probably win more seats than the Coalition, and form government.

    But the margins are narrow. With the next parliament, like this one, expected to have a large crossbench, present polling is pointing towards a minority government as a likely outcome. Things can change during a campaign.

    Albanese started the term with substantial public goodwill – although his majority was razor thin, and his 2022 election owed more to the unpopularity of then prime minister Scott Morrison than to any real enthusiasm for Labor.

    If one had to point to the single biggest political mistake the prime minister made, it was his over-investment in the Voice referendum. Whatever one thinks of the proposal itself, Albanese let it distract from what was a growing-cost-of-living crisis. The referendum was probably always destined to fail, but Albanese and the “yes” side were also out-campaigned by the “no” forces, strongest among them opposition spokeswoman Jacinta Price.

    Albanese never properly recovered from the Voice’s defeat.

    Early in the term the government was complacent about its opponents, believing Peter Dutton was unelectable. Indeed, that was a widespread view, including among many on the conservative side of politics. It underestimated Dutton’s strategic and tactical skills, the changing nature of the electorate, and how deeply the cost-of-living crisis – with its dozen interest rate rises under Labor, on top of one under Morrison – would bite.

    Suburbia up for grabs

    What was once ALP heartland, outer suburbia, is now up for grabs. Many of the tradies have become conservatives, to whom Dutton’s blunt, black-and-white political pitch is not just acceptable but potentially attractive.

    Labor’s appeal to working people in this campaign is that that the worst is over on the economy, with unemployment still low and real wages in (slightly) positive territory. The latest national accounts figures showed Australia’s per capita recession, which had lasted seven quarters, was over. The February interest rate fall has also been a plus for the government: it may not be a big vote changer but it has reinforced Labor’s argument that things are going in the right direction.

    The question remains: will people buy the story of life getting better when they are still not back to where they were a few years ago, and continue to feel under the financial pump?

    This week’s budget and Dutton’s reply have homed in on cost of living. The government has come up with modest tax cuts, starting mid next year. These were legislated in a rush before parliament rose, so the Coalition was forced into saying it would repeal them. Dutton countered by promising an immediate cut to the excise on petrol and diesel. The opposition leader also used his budget reply to open another front in the battle over the energy transition, with the promise of a gas reservation scheme.

    In the past month or two, there has been some change in the political atmosphere. Dutton’s momentum seemed to have stalled. The tight internal disciple he had maintained frayed somewhat, with messages over some policy and internal fears Dutton had left policy announcements too late.

    Will voters think they don’t know enough about Peter Dutton?

    The risk for Dutton is that people will fear they’re buying a pig in a poke. He has run a small target strategy; leaders (Howard in 1996, Abbott in 2013) have won on these before.

    But if Dutton’s policy offerings in the campaign fall short, or his policy doesn’t stand up to the forensic scrutiny that comes in a campaign, he is likely to stall. So far, Dutton has established himself as a strong negative campaigner but he has yet to come through as a positive alternative prime minister.

    His signing up to Labor’s $8.5 billion bulk-billing initiative was an example of a short-term tactic to neutralise an issue that raised questions about the Coalition’s inability to produce its own health blueprint.

    The government will mobilise industrial relations against the Coalition, arguing Labor has delivered benefits to workers that a Coalition government would attack. This is risky for Dutton. His plans for slashing the public service, curbing working-from-home and removing the right to disconnect will fuel Labor’s negative campaigning, which will focus too on Dutton’s general plan to cut spending.

    The Trump factor

    A major unknown is what impact overseas events will have on this election. There has been a general swing to the right internationally. But the Trump factor has become a danger for Dutton.

    His opponents seek cast Dutton as Trump-lite. The opposition leader is a critic of Trump on Ukraine, and he’s aware Trumpism is now politically scary for many voters. Nevertheless, Dutton’s pre-occupation with the size of the public service and his emphasis on cuts (without giving detail) will, to some voters, sound like echoes (albeit faint) of Trump. Labor claims its focus groups show people have been increasingly seeing Dutton as Trumpist.

    Trump this week announced tariffs on foreign cars (not a worry to Australia, which doesn’t make any anymore). Next week he’ll announced the next stage in his tariff policy. This will feed into the election campaign. The extent it does will depend on whether Australia is directly hit. The government is busy with intense last-minute lobbying.

    The cost of living is front and centre in the election, but the recent appearance of Chinese ships near Australia and their live-fire exercise has contributed to making national security and defence (especially how much we should be spending on it) issues as well, although second tier for most voters.

    Major attention in this election will be on the performance of independents. Half a dozen so-called teals seized Liberal seats in 2022, and it would be very hard for the Coalition to obtain a majority without regaining some of them. The Melbourne seats of Kooyong and Goldstein will be especially closely watched. In New South Wales, one teal seat has already been lost through the redistribution.

    The teals ran last time on climate change, integrity, and equity for women. This election, climate is less to the fore in the voters’ minds, while we now have an anti-corruption body, the National Anti-Corruption Commission. And there is no Scott Morrison, who was a lightning rod for the Liberals’ “women problem”. So in terms of issues, the teals have a harder case to make than before.

    On the other hand, people remain deeply disillusioned with the major parties, and the teals have had plenty of time to dig into their seats. The general “community candidate” movement has strengthened and broadened. Whatever its precise composition, the new House of Representatives is expected to have a large crossbench.

    In the event of a hung parliament, the crossbench will come into play. This means its potential members, especially the teals, will be under pressure during the campaign to indicate what factors they would take into account in deciding to whom to give confidence and supply. They are likely to keep their cards close to their chests.

    The election will also test whether the hardline positions the Greens have taken, on local and foreign issues, have alienated or attracted voters. The Greens are at an historic high with four seats in the lower house. The three of those that are in Queensland will be on the line.

    Given the closeness of the polls as the formal campaign starts, what happens in the coming five weeks, and notably the personal performances of Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton could be crucial to the outcome. This is not one of those elections where either side can be confident it has the result in the bag.

    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: uninspiring leaders, stressed voters and the shadow of Trump make for an uncertain contest – https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-uninspiring-leaders-stressed-voters-and-the-shadow-of-trump-make-for-an-uncertain-contest-250775

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Albanese calls May 3 election, with cost of living the central battleground

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

    Australians will go to the polls on May 3 for an election squarely centred on the cost of living.

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Governor-General Sam Mostyn at Yarralumla first thing on Friday morning.

    Later he told an 8am news conference at parliament house the election choice was “between Labor’s plan to keep building or Peter Dutton’s plan to cut.

    “Only Labor has the plan to make you better off over the next three years,” he said. “Now is not the time for cutting and wrecking, punching down.”

    Less than a week after the federal budget and following an earlier delay caused by Cyclone Alfred, the formal campaign starts with government and opposition neck and neck and minority government considered a real possibility.

    But in recent days, the government has gained more momentum and Labor enters the campaign more confident than at the start of the year.

    The aggregated January-March quarterly Newspoll had the Coalition leading Labor 51-49%, but Albanese leading Peter Dutton as preferred PM 45% to 40%. Polling only shows a snapshot of the present, and the campaign itself could be crucial to the election result.

    This is the fourth consecutive election launched off the back of a budget, with both sides this week bidding for voters’ support with big handouts.

    Labor pushed through legislation for its $17 billion tax cut, the first stage of which comes in mid next year. Opposition leader Peter Dutton in his budget reply promised a 12-month halving of excise on petrol and diesel and a gas reservation scheme.

    Labor goes into the election with 78 seats in the lower house, and the Coalition with 57 (counting the seats of two recent Liberal defectors). The large crossbench includes four Greens and half a dozen “teals”.

    With a majority being 76 seats in the new 150-seat parliament, the Coalition needs to win 19 seats for an outright majority. This would require a uniform swing of 5.3% (although swings are not uniform). A swing of less than 1% could take Labor into minority. The Coalition would need a swing of about 3.6% to end with more seats than the government. While all states are important if the result is close, Victoria and NSW are regarded as the crucial battlegrounds.

    If the Coalition won, it would be the first time that a first-term government had been defeated since 1931, during the great depression.

    Since the end of the second world war, while all first term governments have been reelected, each saw a two-party swing against them.

    One challenge for Albanese is that he has only a tiny majority, providing little buffer against a swing.

    The combined vote of the major parties will be something to watch, with the vote steadily declining from 85.47% of the vote just 19 years ago at the 2007 election, to only 68.28% at the 2022 election.

    Labor won the last election with a two-party vote of
    52.13% to the Coalition’s 47.87%.

    As of December 31 2024, 17,939,818 Australians were enrolled to vote.

    The start of the formal campaign follows a long “faux” campaign in which both leaders have been travelling the length and breadth of the country non-stop, with the government making a series of major spending announcement but the opposition holding back on policy.

    Marginal seats based on the redistribution

    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. Albanese calls May 3 election, with cost of living the central battleground – https://theconversation.com/albanese-calls-may-3-election-with-cost-of-living-the-central-battleground-250774

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Happy job, happy life? Works both ways, new research shows

    Source:

    28 March 2025

    A major new international study exploring the long-term relationship between job and life satisfaction shows that personal happiness is the major driver for a satisfying work life, not the other way around.

    The finding, published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior, challenges conventional thinking that job satisfaction has a stronger influence on life satisfaction than vice versa, and provides crucial insights for employers about the importance of work-life balance.

    Researchers from the US, Germany and South Australia analysed data from more than 160,000 people across multiple global studies, demonstrating how the intertwined paths of job and life satisfaction shift and shape each other over time.

    The study found that individuals with higher life satisfaction were 32% more likely to experience increased job satisfaction over time. While job satisfaction does have a positive effect on future life satisfaction, it is comparatively weaker and diminishes over time.

    First author Christopher Wiese, Assistant Psychology Professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, says the study highlights the critical role of holistic wellbeing in professional performance and career fulfillment.

    “Organisations that focus solely on job satisfaction initiatives may be missing a fundamental component of employee happiness,” he says.

    “By prioritising overall wellbeing strategies – including mental health support, work-life balance initiatives, and personal development – organisations can foster a more engaged and satisfied workforce.”

    Christian Dormann, Professor of Business Education & Management from Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Germany, and an Adjunct Research Professor at the University of South Australia, says that psychologists have long assumed that job satisfaction drives overall happiness.

    “However, our research shows that the opposite is more powerful,” Prof Dormann says. “If employers truly want to enhance workplace satisfaction, they need to invest in employees’ broader wellbeing.”

    “This study provides a compelling case for businesses to adopt a people-first approach. If employees are happy in their personal lives, they bring that positivity to work. It’s a cycle that organisations can help nurture.”

    The researchers have made several recommendations based on the study findings:

    • Implementing flexible work arrangements to support employees’ personal commitments
    • Encouraging mental health and wellness programs to improve overall life satisfaction
    • Providing opportunities for personal and professional growth that extend beyond job-related tasks
    • Fostering a workplace culture that values employees’ lives outside of work

    Notes for editors

    “Happy Work, Happy Life? A Replication and Comparison of the Longitudinal Effects Between Job and Life Satisfaction Using Continuous Time Meta-Analysis” is published in the Journal of Organizational Behaviour. DOI: 10.1002/job.2861

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

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

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Press Briefing Transcript: Julie Kozack, Director, Communications Department, March 27, 2025

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    March 27, 2025

    SPEAKER:  Ms. Julie Kozack, Director of the Communications Department, IMF

    MS. KOZACK: Good morning, everyone, and welcome to today’s IMF Press Briefing. It’s great to see you all, those of you here in person and, of course, our colleagues online as well.

    I am Julie Kozak, Director of Communications at the IMF.  And as usual, this program press briefing is embargoed until 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time in the United States.  I will start with two short announcements and then I’ll take your questions in person, on Webex, and via the Press Center. 

    First, the 2025 Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank Group will take place from Monday, April 21st, to Saturday, April 26th.  The press registration to attend these meetings in person in Washington is now open, and you can register through www.imfconnect.org. 

    And second, I would like to announce that the Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, will be delivering her Curtain Raiser speech outlining the key issues facing the world economy.  The speech and a related fireside chat will be held here at IMF headquarters on Thursday, April 17th.  It will be open to registered media and via live streaming on our Press Center and IMF social media channels.  And we will provide more details closer to the date.

    And with that, I will now open the floor for your questions.  For those connecting virtually, please turn on both your camera and microphone when you are speaking.  And I’m now over to you.

    All right, let’s start with you.  Thank you.  Microphone here in the front. 

    QUESTIONER: Thank you very much, Julie.  Minister Luis Caputo announced this morning in Argentina that the Argentine government had agreed with the IMF staff amount of $20 billion for the new program.  I’m sure you know this was a very highly unusual announcement.  I wanted to know first if this was coordinated with the IMF, if you had agreed with Mr. Caputo to release this information?  Second, if you can confirm that the actual amount of the program that’s been discussed is $20 billion.  Then the IMF has a lot of internal processes before a program is actually announced, so could this number change through that process?  And if you can give us a sense of the timing before the actual staff-level agreement announcement and eventually the board meeting and that’s all.  Thanks. 

    MS. KOZACK: Okay, very good. Thank you. Other questions on Argentina. 

    QUESTIONER: Mr. Caputo said the disbursement will be $20 billion.  Will it be a single disbursement, just one single disbursement?  Thank you, Julie.

    MS. KOZACK: Okay, thank you. Let’s go online.

    QUESTIONER: Hi, good morning.  Well, we are all referring to the speech of Caputo, which was a big surprise in Argentina at least.  So one of the rumors that Minister Caputo denied was that the IMF was demanding a 30 percent devaluation.  My question is, does the IMF believe an exchange rate correction is necessary?  Thank you, Julie. 

    MS. KOZACK: Thank you.

    QUESTIONER: Yes.  Hi, Julie.  Thank you.  So my question is, first of all, if you can confirm how much of the $20 billion dollars are going to be freely available?  And second, if there is any certainty at this stage of the negotiations whether the new program will include modifications to the current exchange rate regime, as the market and private sector seem to have considered in recent days?  Thank you.

    QUESTIONER: Good morning.  Well, I would like to know if a scheme of exchange rate bands is being considered in this agreement and if the agreement implies an increase in depth with the IMF?  And finally, if there is a technical agreement already done?

    MS. KOZACK: Okay, thank you. Anybody else want to come in on Argentina? Okay, let me go ahead and take these questions. 

    So first I want to just start by saying, and this is consistent with our previous statements, that Argentina has embarked on a truly impressive stabilization program.  And the country has shown that it’s determined to steer the — the authorities have shown that they are determined to steer the economy toward a more sustainable path. 

    Since the end of 2023, inflation has declined thanks to a very large fiscal consolidation and steps to heal the Central Bank’s balance sheet.  These measures have been complemented by deregulation, market reforms, and the elimination of distortions and some controls.  The reforms are starting to bear fruit.  Despite the sharp macroeconomic adjustment, economic activity is recovering strongly, real wages are increasing and poverty is declining.  This decline in poverty also reflects, of course, a significant increase in social assistance to vulnerable groups.  There is also a shared recognition between the Fund and the authorities that now is the time to move to the next steps of the authority’s stabilization plan. 

    In this regard, significant progress has been made in reaching understandings toward a new IMF supported program.  And this has followed intense and productive discussion, and those include in-person meetings in Buenos Aires and also here in Washington, D.C.  And at the Fund we have engaged at all levels. 

    What I can say now is that discussions on a new Fund supported program are very advanced and those discussions include discussions around a sizable financing package.  The size of that package is ultimately to be determined by our Executive Board, but I can confirm that discussions are focusing on a sizable package. 

    As for our processes, we do have a set of processes that we always follow when engaging with country authorities on a program.  And as part of these routine internal processes, we have also been engaging with our Executive Board.  With respect to the policies that will be covered under the program, as we’ve noted in the past here, discussions are still ongoing on the specific policies that will be covered under the program. 

    What I can say is that to sustain the gains that have been achieved so far by the authorities, there is a shared recognition about the need to continue to adopt a consistent set of fiscal, monetary, and foreign exchange policies while fostering further and furthering growth enhancing reforms.  And what I can also say is that we will keep you updated as discussions continue. 

    QUESTIONER: What about the amount?

    MS. KOZACK: So with respect to the amount, the amount or the size of the program will be determined ultimately by our Executive Board. What I can say today is that discussions are focused on a sizable financing program.

    And in terms of your question about single disbursement versus a phased disbursement, as with all of our programs, disbursements will come in tranches over the life of the program.  But the exact phasing and the size of each tranche is also, of course, part of the discussions that are underway. 

    QUESTIONER: The number is okay?

    MS. KOZACK: All I’m saying now is that the discussion is around a sizable financing program. That’s what I can say today.

    QUESTIONER: Thank you, Julie. 

    MS. KOZACK: Okay. Let’s go here.

    QUESTIONER: Thank you so much, Julie.  So I would like to ask you about the IMF prospects on the Russian economy.  Does the IMF plan to update its outlook on Russian GDP growth in 2025 during its next review?  What is the overall perspective on inflation easing signs?  Does the IMF plan to highlight any changes in potential monetary policy from the Central Bank?  And what is, from the IMF perspective, the current level of business activity in the Russian economy?  Thanks. 

    MS. KOZACK: Okay, thank you. On Russia.

    QUESTIONER: The Central Bank of Russia has maintained its key interest rate at 21 percent since October 2024 to combat inflation.  How does the IMF assess the effectiveness of this high-interest rate policy in controlling inflation?  And what are the IMF’s projections for Russia’s inflation trajectory in 2025 and what factors are expected to influence these trends?  Thank you. 

    MS. KOZACK: Great. Thank you very much. Are there any other questions on Russia?  Okay. 

    What I can say about the Russian economy is that our assessment is that the Russian economy was affected by overheating in 2024 and growth was driven by private consumption, which was supported by a tight labor market, fast-growing wages, and buoyant credit from the banking system into the economy.  This overheating also reflected strong corporate investment.  Fiscal policy did play a role in driving growth. 

    In 2025, what I can say is, and here I’m quoting from the January WEO, and I can confirm that we will be updating the projections for Russia, as with all countries for the April WEO.  But in January, we said we expected a slowdown in 2025 as the impact of tighter monetary policy took hold and the cyclical recovery ran its course, meaning that the boost to growth waned into 2025.  So in January, we had growth slowing from 3.8 percent in 2024 to 1.4 percent in 2025.  And again, that assessment will be updated as part of the WEO. 

    Now, with respect to inflation in particular, inflation in Russia remains high.  It is well above the Central Bank of Russia’s target, which is 4 percent.  And this partly reflects the tight labor market and also strong wage growth.  Currently, we are not seeing signs of an easing of inflation, although the projections that we had in the January WEO did suggest an easing of price pressures in the coming year.  And of course, just to reiterate that our assessment of Russia, the Russian economy, will be updated as part of the WEO. 

    QUESTIONER: Thank you, Julie.  My question is on the inflation expectation at the global level, not only U.S. but also in Japan recently, inflation expectation raised substantially up.  And how much are you concerned about such movement translating into the real inflation and, in the near future, given the tariff policies conducted by U.S. Administrations?  Thank you. 

    MS. KOZACK: Thank you. So what I can say on inflation at the global level, and this is, again, I’m going to be quoting here from our January and October WEOs. So what we expected at the time of our January WEO update was that global inflation would continue to decline.  We expected in January that it would reach 4.2 percent in 2025 and 3.5 percent in 2026.  And at that time, we expected that advanced economies would achieve their inflation targets earlier than emerging market economies. 

    Now, since that January update, what we have seen is greater than expected persistence in inflation.  And so this is a key factor that will be taken into account as we are updating not only our growth projections in the April WEO, but also our inflation projections.  And what this means for central banks and policymakers is, of course, that agile and proactive monetary policy is going to be needed to ensure that inflation expectations remain well anchored.  And of course, we’ll have a full discussion of inflation developments at the time of the WEO. 

    QUESTIONER: Hi.  Thanks, Julie.  I’m wondering if you can weigh in a bit on President Trump’s announcement yesterday of universal car tariffs of 25 percent.  This is going to send shock waves through a production system throughout the world that provides employment to millions of people, and supports economies all over.  I know it’s early to gauge the exact impact of what this would mean, but I’m wondering if you can talk directionally about how this could start to impact countries, particularly emerging markets that are in that supply chain.  Thanks. 

    MS. KOZACK: Thank you. Same topic, right?

    QUESTIONER: Thank you.  We have seen the impacts of the — sorry, let me start over again.  So following up on what David said regarding the tariff, how do you see the impact on these on economies — on the African continent in particular?  And also, you know, we are seeing more of nationalism and protectionism.  It’s from the U.S., and it’s spreading around the world as well.  So how concerned is the IMF regarding these. 

    QUESTIONER: Just to follow up.  In terms of the WEO that you’re preparing, how will these tariff actions be filtered into that in terms of inflation projections as it raises costs, does the IMF sort of see these as a one-time jump up in price level or is it going to contribute to ongoing inflation?  Thank you. 

    MS. KOZACK: Same topic?

    QUESTIONER: Thank you, Julie.  As a result of all the policy that we are witnessing right now, can the IMF rule out any risk of recession in the United States in 2025, 2026, or if we are not talking about annual decline, could you see any risks in quarter estimates? 

    MS. KOZACK: Okay, so let me say a few — respond to this set of questions.

    What I can say today is, we’ve seen several new developments on the trade front over the past several weeks and of course yesterday we had announcements about tariffs on the auto sector.  And the U.S. administration has also noted and announced that it will — that there will be new announcements coming next week on April 2nd. 

    What  I can say today is that we are in the process of assessing the impact of all of these announcements, and we will continue to do that work in the context of our World Economic Outlook that will be released as I noted in April. 

    We have previously noted that for countries like Mexico and Canada that if sustained tariffs could have a significant effect on Mexico and Canada, a significant adverse impact on Mexico and Canada.  For other regions and groups of countries, we’re in the process of undertaking that analysis at the moment. 

    What I can say about the way or the process by which this will be incorporated into the WEO, the way the process works is we will look at all of the announcements and economic developments and data up until as far as we can into the process.  But at some point, there will need to be sort of a cutoff date after which we’re no longer able to incorporate new information.  We’re not there yet.  But at some point in the process there will be a date after which we just for production processes, need to kind of stop the churning of the data. 

    What the WEO will then have is a very clear exposition of what is incorporated into our baseline forecast, our main forecast.  We’ll talk about the assumptions that are included and any policy announcements and actions that are included in the baseline forecast.  Anything that occurs after our cut-off date will be discussed in qualitative terms or as part of the risks section of the report.  But we will aim, of course, in that report to be very clear about what is incorporated into the forecast and what is not incorporated into the forecast.  And of course, you will have an opportunity the week of the Annual Meetings to not only read the WEO, but we will have a press conference led by our Economic Counselor to answer detailed questions around the forecast.  And we will also have the press conferences of our regional area department heads to talk to answer specific regional questions. 

    And just maybe on the question about the U.S. economy, just to say perhaps a few words.  What I can say now is that the performance of the U.S. economy has been remarkably strong throughout the recent monetary policy tightening cycle.  Activity and employment exceeded expectations, and the disinflation process proved less costly than most feared.  And this was our assessment at the time of our January WEO.  Since then, of course, there have been many developments.  Large policy shifts have been announced, and the incoming data is signaling a slowdown in economic activity from the very strong pace in 2024.  All of this said, recession is not part of our baseline. 

    Let’s now move online. 

    QUESTIONER: Thank you, Julie, for taking my questions.  My question is on Sri Lanka.  Sri Lanka’s Central Bank Governor has hinted, also suggested that the heavily indebted state-owned enterprises should be listed in the Colombo Stock Exchange as part of a program to perform these enterprises.  What is the IMF’s take on such a proposal given that the program also calls for extensive reforms in SEOs — I beg your pardon, SOEs? At the same time, $334 million was approved by the IMF Executive Board recently.  Has that tranche been given to Sri Lanka?  If not, why?  Thank you. 

    MS. KOZACK: Okay. Any other questions on Sri Lanka online? Okay, let me take this question on Sri Lanka. 

    So first, let me just step back on Sri Lanka.  First, I’ll say that on Friday, February 28th, the IMF Executive Board approved the Third Review under the EFF (Extended Fund Facility) arrangement for Sri Lanka.  And this provided the country with immediate access to $334 million of support.  So, yes, once the Board approved that Third Review, the $334 million was made available to Sri Lanka to support its economic policies and reforms.  And with this $334 million, it brings total financial support from the IMF to Sri Lanka to $1.34 billion. 

    What I can also add is that reforms in Sri Lanka are bearing fruit.  The economic recovery is gaining momentum.  Inflation remains low in Sri Lanka, revenue collection on the fiscal side is improving, and international reserves are continuing to accumulate.  Economic growth reached 5 percent in 2024, and that was after two years of economic contraction.  And we do expect the recovery to continue in 2025 in Sri Lanka.  These are all very positive developments for Sri Lanka and for the people of Sri Lanka. 

    All of this said, the economy still does remain vulnerable, and therefore it is critical that the reform momentum be sustained to ensure that macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability are durably achieved. 

    And with respect to your specific question, I don’t have anything for you on that regarding the SOEs, but we’ll come back to you bilaterally. 

    I have one question here online from Shoaib Nizami from ARY News TV.  And the question is, when will Pakistan receive Climate Resilience Funds?  So before I turn to this, are there any other questions on Pakistan?  Okay, let me talk a little bit about Pakistan then. 

    So again, just stepping back to explain where we are with Pakistan.  On September 25th of 2024, the Executive Board approved a 37-month EFF arrangement for Pakistan, and it was for $7 billion.  The First Review took place… the First Review mission took place recently, and a staff-level agreement on the First Review was reached on March 25th.  And in addition to reaching a staff-level agreement on the EFF arrangement for the First Review, there was also a staff-level agreement reached on an RSF, a Resilience and Sustainability Facility, that was also reached on March 25th.

    Under the EFF part – so I’m going to talk about both of them.  So the EFF part, which is the First Review under the program, once approved by the IMF’s Executive Board, that would enable Pakistan to have access of about $1 billion for that disbursement.  For the RSF over the length of the arrangement, again subject to approval by the IMF’s Executive Board, the staff-level agreement references an amount of $1.3 billion and that access will be over the life of the RSF, delivered in tranches. 

    Okay.  Kyle, you had a question in the room. 

    QUESTIONER: Good morning.  Kyle Fitzgerald with the National.  So, following the recent staff visit to Lebanon, the IMF and Lebanon agreed to remain in close contact on a new economic reform program.  I was just wondering if you could provide more clarity on what the next steps are and what a potential timeline for this looks like.  Thank you. 

    MS. KOZACK: Okay, very good. With respect to Lebanon, I also have another question online which I am going to read out loud. It is from Sabine Oawais from Annahar (phonetic).  There are two questions here.  The first is when does the IMF anticipate the signing of a program with Lebanon?  What prior actions must the Lebanese government take before reaching final agreement?  The second is, given Lebanon’s ongoing economic challenges, what specific reforms does the IMF see as critical for stabilizing the country’s financial system and securing a sustainable recovery? 

    Before I respond on Lebanon, are there any other questions on Lebanon?  Okay.

    So on Lebanon, an IMF fact-finding mission visited Lebanon from March 10th to 13th.  And on that mission, the staff welcomed the authority’s request for a new IMF-supported program to support the authority’s efforts to address Lebanon’s significant economic challenges.  We have received, obviously, this request for a new program.  We’re working with the authorities to help them develop their comprehensive economic reform program.  The engagement and discussions with the Lebanese authorities are ongoing. 

    And in terms of what is needed, what I can say is that first and foremost what is needed is a comprehensive strategy for economic rehabilitation.  This is going to be critical to restore growth, reduce unemployment and improve social conditions.  The authority’s reform program is going to need to be focused on fiscal and debt sustainability, financial sector restructuring, international reserves are continuing to accumulate.  Economic growth reached 5 percent in 2024, and that was after two years of economic contraction.  And we do expect the recovery to continue in 2025 in Sri Lanka.  These are all very positive developments for Sri Lanka and for the people of Sri Lanka. 

    All of this said, the economy still does remain vulnerable, and therefore it is critical that the reform momentum be sustained to ensure that macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability are durably achieved. 

    And with respect to your specific question, I don’t have anything for you on that regarding the SOEs, but we’ll come back to you bilaterally. 

    I have one question here online . And the question is, when will Pakistan receive Climate Resilience Funds?  So, before I turn to this, are there any other questions on Pakistan?  Okay, let me talk a little bit about Pakistan then. 

    So again, just stepping back to explain where we are with Pakistan.  On September 25th of 2024, the Executive Board approved a 37-month EFF arrangement for Pakistan, and it was for $7 billion.  The First Review took place… the First Review mission took place recently, and a staff-level agreement on the First Review was reached on March 25th.  And in addition to reaching a staff-level agreement on the EFF arrangement for the First Review, there was also a staff-level agreement reached on an RSF, a Resilience and Sustainability Facility, that was also reached on March 25th.

    Under the EFF part – so I’m going to talk about both of them.  So the EFF part, which is the First Review under the program, once approved by the IMF’s Executive Board, that would enable Pakistan to have access of about $1 billion for that disbursement.  For the RSF over the length of the arrangement, again subject to approval by the IMF’s Executive Board, the staff-level agreement references an amount of $1.3 billion and that access will be over the life of the RSF, delivered in tranches. 

    QUESTIONER: Good morning. So, following the recent staff visit to Lebanon, the IMF and Lebanon agreed to remain in close contact on a new economic reform program.  I was just wondering if you could provide more clarity on what the next steps are and what a potential timeline for this looks like.  MS. KOZACK: Okay, very good.  With respect to Lebanon, I also have another question online which I am going to read out loud.  There are two questions here.  The first is when does the IMF anticipate the signing of a program with Lebanon?  What prior actions must the Lebanese government take before reaching final agreement?  The second is, given Lebanon’s ongoing economic challenges, what specific reforms does the IMF see as critical for stabilizing the country’s financial system and securing a sustainable recovery? 

    Before I respond on Lebanon, are there any other questions on Lebanon?  So on Lebanon, an IMF fact-finding mission visited Lebanon from March 10th to 13th.  And on that mission, the staff welcomed the authority’s request for a new IMF-supported program to support the authority’s efforts to address Lebanon’s significant economic challenges.  We have received, obviously, this request for a new program.  We’re working with the authorities to help them develop their comprehensive economic reform program.  The engagement and discussions with the Lebanese authorities are ongoing. 

    And in terms of what is needed, what I can say is that first and foremost what is needed is a comprehensive strategy for economic rehabilitation.  This is going to be critical to restore growth, reduce unemployment and improve social conditions.  The authority’s reform program is going to need to be focused on fiscal and debt sustainability, financial sector restructuring, governance improvements, and reforms to state owned enterprises.  And critically, it’s going to be important to enhance data provision, to improve transparency and to inform policymaking.  And that is the latest update that I have on Lebanon.  We’ll of course keep you updated and I just want to reassure that we are fully committed to working with the Lebanese authorities and the engagement is ongoing and constructive. 

    Let me go online.  We have a few online before I come back to the room.  And I have another question to read here, which is on Egypt.  The question on Egypt is how do you assess the Egyptian economy right now, taking into consideration the impact of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East region? 

    So let me say a few words on Egypt, but before I do so, are there any other questions on Egypt?  So on Egypt, first, I just want to start by saying that on March 10th, the IMF’s Executive Board concluded the 2025 Article IV consultation and completed the Fourth Review under the EFF arrangement.  This enabled the authorities to draw $1.2 billion.  The Executive Board at that time also approved the RSF arrangement, which paves the way for Egypt to access about $1.3 billion over the life of the RSF. 

    Now, with respect to the specific question, our projections for growth, and this is the question about the impact on the Egyptian economy of tensions, our projections for growth in inflation for the next fiscal year — Egypt uses fiscal year, so it’s a 2025-2026 fiscal year — indicate a growth rate of 4.1 percent.  And this is an increase from 3.6 percent in the previous fiscal year.  And on the inflation side, we expect inflation to continue a downward trajectory and reach 13.4 percent by the end of this period.  We’ll be looking to update these projections for Egypt as part of our update in April of the World Economic Outlook.  And of course, those projections will take into account any recent developments. 

    What I can say more broadly for Egypt is that the main economic impact on Egypt of the tensions in the region has been through disruptions in the Red Sea and the disruptions to revenues through the Suez Canal.  Trade disruptions in the Red Sea in Egypt since December of 2023 have reduced foreign exchange inflows from the Suez Canal by about $6 billion in 2024 alone for Egypt.  And the volume of transit trade is about one third of pre conflict levels.  And so this has of course, adverse spillovers to growth in Egypt and also to fiscal revenues in Egypt.  That is the main area that we’re focused on in terms of how Egypt is being affected by the tensions in the region.  And of course, we’ll continue to closely monitor that as part of our deep and constructive engagement with Egypt. 

    QUESTIONER: Yes, thank you, Julie.  Can you hear me all right? 

    MS. KOZACK: Yes, we can hear you.

    QUESTIONER: Just a quick follow up on Argentina.  You mentioned the amount of discussion will be sizable.  I appreciate we can’t discuss what a final figure might be at this point, but can you confirm that Argentina has requested a loan package of around $20 billion or at least discussed a similar figure as Minister Caputo said this morning. 

    MS. KOZACK: Look, I’m not — just as with the other questions in terms of the ongoing discussions, I’m not going to get into the details of those discussions. They are ongoing. And I can simply confirm that the size of the final package for Argentina will be determined by our Executive Board and that the discussions are for a sizable financing package. 

    QUESTIONER: I want to look at the Caribbean specifically on this one.  With the U.S. proposing to tariff Chinese vessels to the tune of $1.5 million docking to an extent in the U.S., what recommendations or how does the — what does the IMF foresee in terms of potential economic fallouts for Small Island States within the Caribbean region going forward?  And this is in keeping with the tone of questions in the room there.  Do you foresee any potential — or what recommendation would the IMF give to Small Island States, especially those in the Caribbean region, about potential inflation as you look towards the future and tariffs “here is the name of the game” from the United States?

    MS. KOZACK: I’d say like with all of the other impacts of recent developments, we will be discussing this in our World Economic Outlook. But also, I think importantly for the Caribbean, we will have a discussion around regional developments by our Western Hemisphere Department.  And that discussion will, of course, cover the specific impacts on the Caribbean. 

    What I can say today about the Caribbean is to just give a sense of where we stood in our latest forecast, which was in January of 2025.  At that time we expected that growth in the region would be normalized.  So, what we saw in the Caribbean was a kind of rapid recovery after the Pandemic.  And now we’re seeing a normalization phase, or at least that was our assessment in January.  And we expected real GDP growth to reach 2.4 percent in 2025, which would have been about the same as in 2024.  What we saw on inflation again in January was that it had moderated significantly in 2023 and 2024 and that inflation in the Caribbean had returned to pre-Pandemic levels.  So of course, we will then incorporate any of the recent developments in our revised forecast, which will be coming out in April, and we can have a — we’ll have a fuller picture at that time. 

    But just to say a few words on the policy advice, our policy advice for the Caribbean has been more broadly to continue to pursue sustainable fiscal policies to continue to rebuild policy buffers and to strengthen the resilience of domestic economies and institutions.  We also encouraged Caribbean economies to accelerate investment in infrastructure and to implement necessary reforms to boost growth.  And again, we will have a fuller update in January — I mean, sorry, in April. 

    I see some more questions coming online for me to read.  I have a question online on Kenya.  And the question says at the end of the Eighth Review, and I assume under the program, Ms. Gita Gopinath stated, Kenya’s economy remains resilient with growth above the regional average, inflation decelerating and external inflows supporting the shilling and a buildup of external buffers despite a difficult socioeconomic environment.  What has changed since then that has prevented completion of the Final Review under the program? 

    So, before I move to Kenya, are there other questions on Kenya?  QUESTIONER: Thank you, Julie.  Yes, on Kenya, if there’s any details on, on why that last review was ditched as, as my colleague asked, and did they fail to meet any of their targets?  And can we expect any update on, on a request of a new program?  MS. KOZACK: Okay.  I don’t see anything else on Kenya.  So let me give this update on Kenya. So we did recently have an IMF staff team recently visited Kenya for a staff visit.  We did issue a statement on March 17th and in that statement, what was noted is that the Kenyan authorities and the IMF reached an understanding that the Ninth Review under the EFF and ECF programs would not proceed. 

    Where we — what I can say more generally is that the authorities, policy, agenda, and reform programs have been supported by the IMF and they have helped improve Kenya’s economic resilience.  As was stated in the first question, the external position has indeed strengthened over the past year and inflation has eased. 

    All of this said, fiscal challenges do remain amid continued revenue shortfalls and the materialization of additional spending pressures.  And what this is going to require is a reassessment of the medium-term fiscal consolidation strategy to ensure that fiscal sustainability can be preserved.  These challenges will require more time to resolve, and the IMF has therefore received a formal request for a new program from the authorities.  And we are going to — we are, our team is engaging on this request of the authorities, and they remain closely in contact with the authorities.  We’ll provide additional details as we have them.  I can just add that we do remain committed to supporting Kenya’s efforts to realize its full economic potential. 

    QUESTIONER: So I was wondering if you could provide an update on Nigeria, Senegal, and Zambia.  I know the Managing director met with the Finance Minister of Zambia yesterday.  So if you have any update that you could provide regarding the debt restructuring.  And on Senegal, there was a release that was issued yesterday by the IMF defining, confirming that there was a significant underreporting of the fiscal deficit.  How did the IMF miss that information and how do you plan to ensure that it doesn’t happen?  And are you looking to change your methodology? 

    MS. KOZACK: So, on Nigeria, what I can say is [that] the first Deputy Managing Director, Gita Gopinath, traveled to Abuja and Lagos on March 3rd and 4th. She met with Finance Minister Edun, Central Bank Governor Cardoso, as well as civil society groups and private sector leaders. And she also participated in an event with students at the University of Lagos.  Our staff are planning to travel to Nigeria next week in preparation for the 2025 Article IV Consultation.  The authorities’ policies to stabilize the economy and to promote growth are welcome, and they will, of course, need to be accompanied by targeted social transfers to support the most vulnerable populations. 

    We do recognize the extremely difficult situation that many Nigerians face.  And for that reason, I just want to emphasize that completing the rollout of cash transfers to vulnerable households is an important priority for Nigeria, as is improving revenue mobilization domestically. 

    And that is the latest that I have on Argentina and not will — not Argentina, I’m looking at Rafael — on Nigeria, and we will have, of course, more after the mission completes its work.

    MS. KOZACK: Now on Senegal, what I can say on Senegal is, you know, we are actively engaged with the Senegalese authorities and a staff team, which included experts from several different IMF departments, visited Senegal on March 18th through 26th. And they released the statement, of course, that you referred to at the end of that mission. The purpose of the mission was to advance efforts to resolve the recent misreporting case. 

    I think, as we have discussed here before, Senegal’s Court of Auditors released its final report on February 12.  The Court confirmed that the fiscal deficit and public debt were under-reported over the period 2019 to 2023.  And we’re also, our team is also working closely with the authorities to resolve those — that misreporting case and to look at what measures can be taken to ensure, of course, that it doesn’t happen going forward, what are the root causes, and what needs to be done to support Senegal as it seeks to move forward.

    What I can also add is that we collaborate.  The IMF collaborates closely with member countries in all of our engagements, but at the end of the day, it is the member country that is responsible for providing us with accurate and comprehensive data.  While we are partners in the process, it is really the primary responsibility of the country authorities to ensure that the credibility and the quality of the data is accurate.  And we do, of course, for countries that are finding shortcomings in data quality or data accuracy or who want to improve their data reporting, we do offer technical assistance through our experts to help support countries that are interested in improving their data provision. 

    QUESTIONER: Can I quickly ask, regarding that, about the technical support that you provide?  How much — how many African countries are taking advantage of? 

    MS. KOZACK: It is a good question. I do not have the numbers in front of me, but we can certainly come back to you bilaterally. Overall, the continent of, you know — well, Sub-Saharan Africa, the region of Sub-Saharan Africa, is a heavy user of technical assistance services.  How [many] of those are in the area of data and statistics, I do not know.  But we can certainly come back to you bilaterally with that information

    And then on Zambia, I don’t have an update here for you, but we can come back to you bilaterally on Zambia. 

    QUESTIONER: Okay.  Thank you very much.

    MS. KOZACK: Last question.

    QUESTIONER: Thank you, Julie.  And I am sorry for bothering you a third time in a row.  It is about the Black Sea Grain Initiative.  I presume that it is too early to assess, but from the IMF perspective, how can potential moratorium on strikes on the Black Sea between Russia and Ukraine contribute to global trade, food security, and overall, does the IMF monitor the current ongoing discussions on this topic?  MS. KOZACK: Okay, very good.  So, on this one, what I can say is, of course, we are closely monitoring the discussions around the Black Sea.  I do not have a full assessment, of course, now.  What I can say is that there is quite a bit of global trade that goes through the Black Sea.  I think the number is about 7 percent.  And also, we know that some of that global trade is concentrated in key food commodities like wheat.  And to the extent that there is a, let us say, improvement in the ability for transit through the Black Sea, particularly with respect to important global food commodities, that should help ease food shortages globally. 

    With that, I’m going to bring this Press Briefing to a close.  Thank you all for joining us today.  As a reminder, the briefing is embargoed until 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time in the United States.  A transcript will be made available later on IMF.org and as always, in the case of clarifications or additional queries, please do not hesitate to reach out to my colleagues at media@imf.org.

    This concludes our Press Briefing for today, and I wish everyone a wonderful day.  I look forward to seeing you next time and, of course, at the Spring Meetings.  Thank you. 

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Brian Walker

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    @IMFSpokesperson

    MIL OSI Economics –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: University Research – Land water loss the leading cause of sea level rise in 21st century – UoM

    Source: University of Melbourne (UoM)

    An international team of scientists led jointly by the University of Melbourne and Seoul National University has found global water storage of land has plummeted since the start of the 21st century, overtaking glacier melt as the leading cause of sea level rise and measurably shifting the Earth’s pole of rotation.

    Published today in Science, the research combined global soil moisture data estimated by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) Reanalysis v5 (ERA5), global mean sea level measurements and observations of Earth’s pole movement to estimate changes in terrestrial (land) water storage (TWS) from 1979 to 2016.

    “The study raises critical questions about the main drivers of declining water storage on land and whether global lands will continue to become drier,” said University of Melbourne author Professor Dongryeol Ryu.

    “Water constantly cycles between land and oceans, but the current rate of water loss from land is outpacing its replenishment. This is potentially irreversible because it’s unlikely this trend will reverse if global temperatures and evaporative demand continue to rise at their current rates. Without substantial changes in climate patterns, the imbalance in the water cycle is likely to persist, leading to a net loss of water from land to oceans over time.”

    Between 2000 and 2002, soil moisture decreased by around 1614 gigatonnes (1 Gt: one cubic kilometre of water), nearly double Greenland’s ice loss of about 900 Gt in 2002–2006. From 2003 to 2016, soil moisture depletion continued, with an additional 1009 Gt lost.

    Soil moisture had not recovered as of 2021, with little likelihood of recovery under present climate conditions. The authors say this decline is corroborated by independent observations of global mean sea level rise (~4.4mm) and Earth’s polar shift (~45cm in 2003-2012).

    Water loss was most pronounced across East and Central Asia, Central Africa and North and South America. In Australia, the growing depletion has impacted parts of Western Australia and south-eastern Australia, including western Victoria, although the Northern Territory and Queensland saw a small replenishment of soil moisture.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Powers leads new compliance and training initiatives

    Source: US International Brotherhood of Boilermakers

    Our job is to keep everyone complying with the law and our Constitution and following best practices. Our job is to help our locals.

    Gary Powers, Director of Compliance and Training

    International President Tim Simmons has named Gary Powers as Director of Compliance and Training. The new role is part of measures to ensure U.S. International Reps and local lodges have the information and support they need to properly conduct local lodge business in compliance with the Office of Labor-Management Standards recordkeeping and reporting requirements, the Boilermakers’ Constitution and general best practices.

    “The purpose was to create a department that works directly with local lodges in compliance with government reporting and International bylaws and provide training, guidance and tools so lodge leaders and those who support them can fulfill their duties,” Powers said.

    Through the new Compliance and Training Department, IBB has hosted several training sessions for International Reps and lodge leaders. The sessions, which have taken place at IBB headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, the Great Lakes and Southeast Sections and online, have been conducted by Dr. John Lund, professor emeritus of the University of Wisconsin School for Workers and former Director of the Office of Labor-Management Standards for the U.S. Department of Labor, and author of “Auditing Local Union Financial Records: A Guide for Local Union Trustees”.

    “The OLMS training was eye opening and game changing for me. I was glued to the screen,” said Scott Widdicombe, BM-ST for Local 242 (Spokane, Washington), who attended a virtual session. “There are things I just didn’t know I should be doing or shouldn’t be doing.”

    In the past, much information on how to conduct lodge business was passed down from lodge leader to lodge leader; and sometimes, the information was incorrect. That, said Powers, has been a problem. With no formal training, lodge leaders only learned how their predecessors’ handled things, for good or bad.

     “There’s a lot I wasn’t aware of, because no one ever told me, and I don’t know any different if no one tells me,” Widdicombe said. He said grateful for the training and plans to attend any time it’s offered, and he noted that L-242’s office assistant attended the session with him—something he and Powers recommend to other lodges.

    “We recommend lodges have their clerical staff participate as well, because they’re going to be helping fulfill duties,” Powers said. “They’re often the ones handling the day-to-day. It’s important they know proper record keeping, how to handle credit cards, etc.”

    In addition to the compliance training sessions with Lund, Powers and staff from IBB’s Auditing Department are conducting in-person audits at local lodges. The audits are an overall look at how locals operate. The auditors examine finances, meeting minutes, union meeting practices and more, as well as compare lodge bylaws with the Boilermakers Constitution.

    “This is not meant to be authoritarian,” Powers said, noting the audits—and their findings—have been overwhelmingly met with gratitude from lodge leaders like Widdicombe.  

    “We’ve had nothing but good feedback. It’s a chance to work with local lodge leaders, take a closer look at locals’ financial records and see where they can improve processes or put new policies in place to better manage in a positive way.”

    When the audits are complete, a report is provided to the local lodge recommending possible improvements to practices. When the team finds something egregious, they strongly recommend changes. The team also provides tools to help make lodge leadership and compliance a little easier and more consistent, and Powers has plans for templates to make financial record-keeping reporting consistent for everyone.

    “Our job is to keep everyone complying with the law and our Constitution and following best practices. Our job is to help locals,” said Powers.

    “Everyone’s been very open to this. They’re not pushing back, and most say they wish we’d had this when they first became lodge leaders.”

    Widdicombe agreed: “I thought I was doing everything right, and now I know what I have to do and what I can’t do. I look at my local and what I’m doing now in a different light. I’m more aware now, and I’m looking at everything.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Wintrust Names New Leader for Brand, Engagement, and Impact

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ROSEMONT, Ill., March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wintrust Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: WTFC) today announced Amy Yuhn has been named Executive Vice President for Brand, Engagement, and Impact, a new position that will oversee marketing, corporate communications, and community impact for the company.

    “We are pleased to welcome Amy to Wintrust,” said Tim Crane, President and Chief Executive Officer, Wintrust. “Under Amy’s leadership, we will continue to build our brand, enhance internal and external engagement, and support our community outreach to further our mission to serve our clients, strengthen our communities, and grow our businesses.”

    Yuhn joined Wintrust from CIBC, where she spent 15 years as Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Corporate Communications for CIBC U.S. (formerly The PrivateBank) before most recently serving as Head of CIBC’s U.S. Personal and Community Development Banking Group. She began her career as a journalist with The Associated Press and Reuters and then joined the Corporate Communications team at Harris Bank (now BMO) before moving to The PrivateBank to build its corporate communications and marketing programs.

    “Wintrust is a well-respected company whose focus on client relationships and community engagement is a real differentiator,” Yuhn said. “I look forward to working with the team across Wintrust to show that our different approach drives better results for our clients, our employees, our communities, and our shareholders.”

    Yuhn earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Michigan State University and her master’s degree in organizational communication at Northwestern University. She serves on the board of the Women’s Business Development Center, where she is chair of the Fundraising Committee.

    About Wintrust
    Wintrust is a financial holding company with $64.9 billion in assets whose common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. Guided by its “Different Approach, Better Results®” philosophy, Wintrust offers the sophisticated resources of a large bank while providing a community banking experience to each customer. Wintrust operates more than 200 retail banking locations through 16 community bank subsidiaries in the greater Chicago, southern Wisconsin, west Michigan, northwest Indiana, and southwest Florida market areas. In addition, Wintrust operates various non-bank business units, providing residential mortgage origination, wealth management, commercial and life insurance premium financing, short-term accounts receivable financing/outsourced administrative services to the temporary staffing services industry, and qualified intermediary services for tax-deferred exchanges. For more information, please visit wintrust.com.

    FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Timothy S. Crane, President & Chief Executive Officer
    David A. Dykstra, Vice Chairman & Chief Operating Officer
    (847) 939-9000
    Website address: www.wintrust.com

    The MIL Network –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: NextNRG Reports Strong Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Stronger Revenue, Improved Margins, and Expanded Volumes

    — FY 2024 Revenue Increased 20% to $27.8 Million from $23.2 Million in 2023 —
    — FY 2024 Gross Profit Grew 64% to $2.3 Million, Up from $1.4 Million in 2023 —

    — Q4 2024 Revenue Increased 21% to $6.9 Million from $5.7 Million in Q4 2023 —
    — Q4 2024 Gross Profit Grew 97% to $652 Thousand, Up from $330 Thousand in Q4 2023 —

    Conference Call Scheduled March 31stat 4:30 PM ET

    MIAMI, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NextNRG, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXXT), a pioneer in AI-driven energy innovation—transforming how energy is produced, managed, and delivered through its advanced Utility Operating System, smart microgrid technology, wireless EV charging, and on-demand mobile fuel delivery solutions— today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, and provided a strategic update on its key growth initiatives.

    The Company will hold a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2024 financial results on March 31st at 4:30 pm ET. Dial in and webcast details are below.

     
    Selected Financial & Operational Highlights
     
    Metric Q4 2024
    (unaudited)    		 Q4 2023
    (unaudited)    		 FY 2024 FY 2023
    Revenue $6.9M $5.7M $27.8M $23.2M
    Gross Profit $652K $330K $2.3M $1.4M

    “We entered 2024 with the clear goal of laying the groundwork for long-term growth—and we believe we delivered on that vision,” said Michael D. Farkas, CEO of NextNRG. “Through enhanced operating efficiency and higher-margin fuel delivery, we increased revenues by 20%, expanded gross profit, while investing in transformative technologies. Our pipeline in microgrids and EV infrastructure is larger than ever, and we believe we are just beginning to unlock the full value of our platform. Additionally, our expanding footprint in mobile fueling is set to open significant opportunities to convert these fleets to electric, aligning with our commitment to sustainable energy solutions”

    Strategic and Operational Milestones

    • Corporate Rebranding: Completed transition from EzFill Holdings to NextNRG, Inc. in Q1 2025, aligning with the Company’s expanded clean energy vision.
    • Fueling Platform Growth: Delivered 7.2 million gallons in 2024 (+22% YOY), supported by 140 operational trucks across six states.
    • Smart Microgrid Pipeline: Company expects to put out guidance on expanded microgrid pipeline in the next quarter.
    • EV Innovation: Advanced static and dynamic wireless EV charging solutions (grid to vehicle and vehicle to grid capabilities) through exclusive technology licenses from Florida International University.
    • Capital Raise: Completed $15 million public offering in February 2025 to support scale and strengthen the balance sheet.

    Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Highlights

    • Revenue increased 20% year-over-year to $27.8 million, compared to $23.2 million in 2023, driven by volume growth and improved fuel margin.
    • Gross profit rose to approximately $2.3 million, a 44% increase from the prior year.
    • Cash balance at year-end was $438,299, up from $226,985 at the end of 2023.

    Fourth Quarter 2024 Performance

    • Revenue for Q4 2024 totaled $6.9 million, an increase of 21% compared to $5.7 million in Q4 2023, driven by higher fuel volumes and improved margin per gallon.
    • Gallons delivered during the quarter rose to 1.8 million, up from 1.5 million in the prior-year period, reflecting new fleet accounts and increased market penetration.
    • Average fuel margin per gallon expanded to $0.71, compared to $0.65 in Q4 2023, reflecting a continued focus on pricing optimization and operational discipline.
    • Gross profit for the quarter more than doubled year-over-year to $652,000, compared to $330,000 in Q4 2023.

    Looking Ahead

    NextNRG enters 2025 with a clear mandate: to scale its AI/ML-powered energy solutions through a combination of SaaS contracts, infrastructure deployment, and recurring mobile fueling revenue. The Company is targeting sustainable long-term growth across multiple verticals.

    “We believe NextNRG’s integrated platform—combining mobile fueling, wireless EV charging, and AI-optimized Utility Operating System and smart microgrids—is uniquely positioned to power the distributed energy future.”

    Teleconference and Webcast Information

    To participate, domestic callers may dial 1-866-524-3160 and international callers may dial 1-412-317-6760 at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the call and ask to join the NextNRG call.

    A simultaneous webcast of the call may be accessed here: https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=YHcg0e4d

    A replay of the call will be available at 1-877-344-7529 or 1-412-317-0088, access code 1610449, through April 7, 2025. The call will also be available for replay on the Company’s website at www.nextnrg.com.

    About NextNRG, Inc.

    NextNRG Inc. (NextNRG) is Powering What’s Next by implementing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into renewable energy, next-generation energy infrastructure, battery storage, wireless electric vehicle (EV) charging, and on-demand mobile fuel delivery to create an integrated ecosystem.

    At the core of NextNRG’s strategy is its Utility Operating System which leverages AI and ML to help make existing utilities’ energy management as efficient as possible; and the deployment of NextNRG Smart Microgrids, which utilize AI-driven energy management alongside solar power and battery storage to enhance energy efficiency, reduce costs, and improve grid resiliency. These microgrids are designed to serve commercial properties, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, parking garages, rural and tribal lands, recreational facilities, and government properties, expanding energy accessibility while supporting decarbonization initiatives.

    NextNRG continues to expand its growing fleet of fuel delivery trucks and national footprint, including the acquisition of Yoshi Mobility’s fuel division and Shell Oil’s trucks, further solidifying its position as a leader in the on-demand fueling industry. NextNRG is also integrating sustainable energy solutions into its mobile fueling operations. The company hopes to be an integral part of assisting its fleet customers in their transition to EV supporting more efficient fuel delivery while advancing clean energy adoption. The transition process is expected to include the deployment of NextNRG’s innovative wireless EV charging solutions.

    To find out more visit: www.nextnrg.com

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statement describing NextNRG’s goals, expectations, financial or other projections, intentions, or beliefs is a forward-looking statement and should be considered an at-risk statement. Words such as “expect,” “intends,” “will,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those related to NextNRG’s business and macroeconomic and geopolitical events. These and other risks are described in NextNRG’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. NextNRG’s forward-looking statements involve assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove correct, could cause its results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although NextNRG’s forward-looking statements reflect the good faith judgment of its management, these statements are based only on facts and factors currently known by NextNRG. Except as required by law, NextNRG undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements for any reason. As a result, you are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements.

    Investor Relations Contact

    NextNRG, Inc.
    Sharon Cohen
    SCohen@nextnrg.com

    The MIL Network –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Understanding Cosmic Explosions: StarBurst Arrives at NASA for Testing

    Source: NASA

    StarBurst, a wide-field gamma ray observatory, arrived at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, March 4 for environmental testing and final instrument integration. The instrument is designed to detect the initial emission of short gamma-ray bursts, a key electromagnetic indicator of neutron star mergers.
    “Gamma-ray bursts are among the most powerful explosions in the universe, and they serve as cosmic beacons that help us understand extreme physics, including black hole formation and the behavior of matter under extreme conditions,” said Dr. Daniel Kocevski, principal investigator of the StarBurst mission at NASA Marshall.
    According to Kocevski, neutron star mergers are particularly exciting because they produce gamma-ray bursts and gravitational waves, meaning scientists can study these events using two different signals – light and ripples in space time.

    The merging of neutron stars forges heavy elements such as gold and platinum, revealing the origins of some of Earth’s building blocks.
    “By studying these gamma-ray bursts and the neutron star mergers that produce them, we gain insights into fundamental physics, the origins of elements, and even the expansion of the universe,” Kocevski said. “Neutron star mergers and gamma-ray bursts are nature’s laboratories for testing our understanding of the cosmos.”
    StarBurst will undergo flight vibration and thermal vacuum testing at Marshall in the Sunspot Thermal Vacuum Testing Facility. These tests ensure it can survive the rigors of launch and harsh environment of space.
    Final instrument integration will happen in the Stray Light Facility, which is a specialized environment to help identify and reduce unwanted light in certain areas of the optical systems.

    StarBurst is a collaborative effort led by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, with partnerships with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, the University of Alabama Huntsville, the Universities Space Research Association, and the UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory. StarBurst was selected for development as part of the NASA Astrophysics Pioneers program, which supports lower-cost, smaller hardware missions to conduct compelling astrophysics science.
    To learn more about StarBurst visit:

    StarBurst

    Media Contact:
    Lane FigueroaMarshall Space Flight CenterHuntsville, Alabama256.544.0034lane.e.figueroa@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA, NSIDC Scientists Say Arctic Winter Sea Ice at Record Low

    Source: NASA

    Winter sea ice cover in the Arctic was the lowest it’s ever been at its annual peak on March 22, 2025, according to NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) at the University of Colorado, Boulder. At 5.53 million square miles (14.33 million square kilometers), the maximum extent fell below the prior low of 5.56 million square miles (14.41 million square kilometers) in 2017. 
    In the dark and cold of winter, sea ice forms and spreads across Arctic seas. But in recent years, less new ice has been forming, and less multi-year ice has accumulated. This winter continued a downward trend scientists have observed over the past several decades. This year’s peak ice cover was 510,000 square miles (1.32 million square kilometers) below the average levels between 1981 and 2010. 
    In 2025, summer ice in the Antarctic retreated to 764,000 square miles (1.98 million square kilometers) on March 1, tying for the second lowest minimum extent ever recorded. That’s 30% below the 1.10 million square miles (2.84 million square kilometers) that was typical in the Antarctic prior to 2010. Sea ice extent is defined as the total area of the ocean with at least 15% ice concentration.
    The reduction in ice in both polar regions has led to another milestone — the total amount of sea ice on the planet reached an all-time low. Globally, ice coverage in mid-February of this year declined by more than a million square miles (2.5 million square kilometers) from the average before 2010. Altogether, Earth is missing an area of sea ice large enough to cover the entire continental United States east of the Mississippi. 
    “We’re going to come into this next summer season with less ice to begin with,” said Linette Boisvert, an ice scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “It doesn’t bode well for the future.”

    Scientists primarily rely on satellites in the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, which measure Earth’s radiation in the microwave range. This natural radiation is different for open water and for sea ice — with ice cover standing out brightly in microwave-based satellite images. Microwave scanners can also penetrate through cloud cover, allowing for daily global observations. The DMSP data are augmented with historical sources, including data collected between 1978 and 1985 with the Nimbus-7 satellite that was jointly operated by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
    “It’s not yet clear whether the Southern Hemisphere has entered a new norm with perennially low ice or if the Antarctic is in a passing phase that will revert to prior levels in the years to come,” said Walt Meier, an ice scientist with NSIDC.
    By James RiordonNASA’s Earth Science News Team
    Media contact: Elizabeth VlockNASA Headquarters

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: State funding distributed to leading engineering schools of the second wave

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Universities participating in the second wave of the Advanced Engineering Schools project reported on the work done over the year. All 20 schools created at the end of 2023 remained in the project. Based on the results of their defenses, they will receive funding from the federal budget in the amount of more than 4 billion rubles.

    “Advanced engineering schools, in close cooperation with partner companies, make an important contribution to the training of highly qualified engineering personnel and the creation of developments to achieve technological leadership – the national goal set by President Vladimir Putin. In our country, the development of advanced engineering schools is carried out within the framework of the national project “Youth and Children”. In total, there are currently 50 advanced engineering schools in 23 regions. By 2030, on the instructions of the head of state, their number should be increased to 100. Based on the results of the defenses, 20 Russian universities, on the basis of which advanced engineering schools were opened, will receive more than 4 billion rubles in 2025,” said Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    The head of the Ministry of Education and Science, Valery Falkov, noted that the project “Advanced Engineering Schools” found a great response from representatives of the real sector of the economy.

    “If at the start of the implementation of our flagship project, the schools had about 80 industrial partners, now their number has increased by 3.5 times – now there are more than 280. Among the partners of advanced schools in different regions of the country are such large companies as, for example, Rosatom, Roscosmos, Rostec, Sibur Holding, Gazprom Neft. It is important that business does not just finance the development programs of advanced engineering schools, it participates in the development of educational programs, organizes internships for students, sends specialists as mentors to universities and facilitates the employment of students,” the minister emphasized.

    In 2024, leading engineering schools managed to attract 1.2 rubles from extra-budgetary sources for every budget ruble. This year, schools plan to raise the bar.

    The reports on the implementation of the development programs of the PIS are assessed by the Council for the Review of Issues and Coordination of Activities of Advanced Engineering Schools according to a number of criteria, including the ambitiousness of the goals and the results of their implementation (including compliance with the Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development of Russia), work with high-tech companies and the amount of funds that enterprises have invested in the school.

    Participants of the Advanced Engineering Schools project of the second selection wave are divided into three groups. Thus, schools from the first group have been allocated 311.8 million rubles for 2025. Participants of the second group – 210.1 million rubles. The third group – 88.1 million rubles.

    The first group consists of:

    — National Research University “Moscow Institute of Electronic Technology”,

    — Almetyevsk State Technological University “Higher School of Oil”,

    — Kazan National Research Technical University named after A.N. Tupolev – KAI,

    — MIREA – Russian Technological University,

    — Rybinsk State Aviation Technical University named after P.A.Soloviev.

    Composition of the second group:

    — South Ural State University (National Research University),

    — Togliatti State University,

    — Saint Petersburg State University,

    — Grozny State Oil Technical University named after Academician M.D. Millionshchikov,

    — Tula State University,

    — Russian University of Transport,

    — Saint Petersburg State Electrotechnical University “LETI” named after V.I. Ulyanov (Lenin),

    — Ulyanovsk State University,

    — Moscow State University named after. M.V. Lomonosov,

    — Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State University of Railway Engineering.

    Composition of the third group:

    — Cherepovets State University,

    — Sakhalin State University,

    — Voronezh State University,

    — Omsk State Technical University,

    — Moscow State Technological University “Stankin”.

    The first wave (30 PISs created in 2022) will report on their activities in April and continue to operate using funds from industrial partners.

    The Advanced Engineering Schools project was developed by the Ministry of Education and Science as one of 42 strategic initiatives approved by the Government and was part of the state program “Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation”. As part of the implementation of the Decree of the President of Russia dated May 7, 2024 No. 309 “On the national development goals of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030 and for the future up to 2036”, since 2025 the continuity of the activities of the PISH project was ensured by including them in the federal project “Universities for the Generation of Leaders” of the national project “Youth and Children”.

    The goal of the project is to train highly qualified engineering personnel capable of ensuring the country’s achievement of technological sovereignty.

    In 2024, 6,000 people studied in 50 advanced engineering schools, more than 1,500 students completed practical training and internships, more than 13,500 engineers and more than 14,000 teachers improved their qualifications. More than 1,200 new educational programs for advanced training of engineering personnel were developed, more than 400 special educational spaces equipped with modern equipment were created. 81 thousand schoolchildren took part in the activities of the PISH.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why Muslims often don’t celebrate Eid on the same day – even within one country

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zuleyha Keskin, Associate Professor of Islamic Studies, Charles Sturt University

    Wikimedia Commons, CC BY

    Eid is a special time for Muslims. There are two major Eid celebrations each year: Eid al-Fitr is celebrated at the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting, and Eid al-Adha is connected to the dates of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

    Eid, which means “festival” or “feast” in Arabic, is a celebratory occasion for more than one billion Muslims worldwide. However, in some countries, especially multicultural ones like Australia, Muslims don’t always celebrate Eid on the same day. Here’s why.

    Worshippers pray outside the Taj Mahal on Eid al-Fitr. Muslim emperor Shah Jahan commissioned the mausoleum in 1631 to hold his wife’s tomb.
    Wikimedia, CC BY-SA

    Eid comes 10-12 days earlier each year

    Beyond different groups celebrating on different days, the timing of Eid celebrations also shift as a whole each year. That’s because Islam follows the lunar calendar, based on the moon’s cycles – unlike the Gregorian calendar, which follows the sun.

    As such, dates on the Islamic calendar come 10–12 days earlier each year. This means the dates of both Eids also move about 11 days forward each year.

    In terms of the Islamic calendar:

    • Eid al-Fitr happens on the 1st of the month of Shawwal (the 10th month), which comes right after the month of Ramadan.
    • Eid al-Adha happens on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah (the 12th month), during Hajj.

    What about local discrepancies?

    Since Islam follows the lunar calendar, determining the start of each Islamic month, and the dates of both Eids, requires sighting the new crescent moon, which comes directly after the new moon (the phase in which the moon is invisible).

    But there are different methods for doing this, and different scholarly interpretations regarding what method is best. These variations are the reason one group in a community might celebrate on a Sunday, while others may celebrate on a Monday.

    The Islamic month of Ramadan lasts 29 to 30 days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next. Moon sighting approaches can vary between countries, communities and even households.
    Shutterstock

    Some Muslims believe each country should rely on its own local moon sighting.

    This means if the new crescent moon is visible in neighbouring countries, but not in Australia (such as if it’s hidden behind clouds), then Australia should celebrate a day after its neighbours. The organisation Moonsighting Australia follows this method, only declaring Eid when the moon is seen locally.

    However, others argue if the moon has been sighted anywhere in the world, it should be accepted by all Muslims as the start of the new Islamic month. Some Muslims in Australia opt for this “global moon sighting” approach, following Saudi Arabia’s Eid announcement even when the moon is not sighted locally.

    As far back as the early centuries AD, people in the Arab world used astrolabes to survey the skies. This instrument belonged to Yemeni sultan, mathematician and astronomer Al-Ashraf Umar II (circa 1242-1296).
    Metropolitan Museum of Art

    Apart from the question of where the crescent moon is sighted, there are also different views over how it should be sighted. Many scholars believe in physically sighting it with the eyes, as was practised during the time of Prophet Muhammad.

    But some Muslim countries, such as in Turkey and parts of Europe, use astronomical calculations to predict the new moon’s birth. This allows them to pre-set the date of Eid months, or even years, in advance.

    Australia versus majority-Muslim countries

    In Muslim-majority countries, deciding the day of Eid happens at a government level.

    For example, in Saudi Arabia, the Supreme Court officially declares the date based on moon sighting reports. This decision sets the timing for Eid prayers and public holidays for the entire nation, allowing for unified celebrations across the country.

    But Muslims in Australia come from diverse cultural backgrounds, and hold varying views regarding how the moon should be sighted. Some may follow the Eid announcement from their country of origin. Others may rely on local announcements, or on dates set by peak bodies such as the Australian National Imams Council.

    One 2023 report published by the ISRA Academy surveyed more than 5,500 Muslims in Australia to understand how they determined the date of Eid.

    The findings reveal notable differences across communities. Respondents from the Arab community were almost evenly split between following their local mosque (28.5%) and the Australian National Imams Council (28.0%), with a slightly lower percentage (23.9%) following Moonsighting Australia. Only 0.6% followed their country of origin.

    Among the Turkish community, 16.1% followed their country of origin, while the largest proportion (28.5%) relied on a local mosque or Islamic organisation. But given Turkish mosques tend to follow Turkey’s state religious institution, Diyanet, most Australian Turks (44.6%) ultimately align with Turkey’s decision on Eid.

    Of the others, 18.8% followed Moonsighting Australia and 14.6% following the national imams’ council.

    In the African Muslim community, 48.4% followed Moonsighting Australia, while 32.8% relied on a local mosque, and 11.7% on the imams’ council.

    Eid celebrations will keep evolving

    While celebrating Eid on different days may seem divisive and fragmenting, there are positive aspects to this.

    For one thing, it means Australian Muslims actively seek out information from various religious authorities. This reflects a high level of public engagement in religious decisions – rather than following blindly.

    The strong influence of organisations such as the Australian National Imams Council and Moonsighting Australia also suggests local religious institutions are a trusted source for guidance.

    Moreover, the high percentage of Muslims now following Moonsighting Australia indicates a trend towards a localised determination of Eid. And this trend will likely become stronger with the emergence of third- and fourth- generation Australian Muslims who are less connected with their ancestral homelands.

    Only time will tell whether most Australian Muslims will eventually celebrate Eid on the same day. In the meantime, families and communities continue to navigate these differences with understanding and respect.

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

    – ref. Why Muslims often don’t celebrate Eid on the same day – even within one country – https://theconversation.com/why-muslims-often-dont-celebrate-eid-on-the-same-day-even-within-one-country-248227

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: How can I tell if my child is too sick to go to school?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liz Sturgiss, Professor of Community Medicine and Clinical Education, Bond University

    Chay_Tay/Shutterstock

    As a GP and mum to two boys I have many experiences of trying to navigate the school morning when my boys aren’t feeling well. It always seems to happen on the busiest days.

    None of us want to send our child to school when they are not well – I hate the thought of my kids feeling sick in the classroom and also the idea they might make other children sick.

    Lots of families have someone for whom illnesses are more dangerous. They might have a weakened immune system because they are going through cancer treatment or suffer from another illness.

    But it can be hard to tell. A child might be dramatically crying “my tummy HURTS” one minute and racing around with their sibling the next. Or you might wonder if they are angling for some time off in front of the TV.

    How can you tell if your child is too sick to go to school?

    None of us want to send our child to school when they are not well.
    Pixel Shot/ Shutterstock

    Symptoms to look out for

    In school-aged children here are some symptoms to consider.

    Fever: if your child feels hot to touch, or you have a thermometer showing a fever (a temperature above 38 degrees), then they shouldn’t attend school.

    This is even if you are giving them regular paracetamol or ibuprofen to keep their temperature down. Your child won’t feel comfortable at school with a fever and they have a high chance of making others unwell.

    Vomiting and diarrhoea: children should stay home until it is at least 24 hours since their last vomit or runny poo. This is to reduce the spread of viral gastroenteritis (or stomach flu) and to make sure your child can stay hydrated and well. If your child is vomiting or has diarrhoea, it also is important to keep a close eye on them to make sure they are improving and to seek medical care if they are getting worse.

    Runny noses: a runny nose without a fever might be a sign of hayfever, especially if your child has other symptoms like itchy eyes or sneezing. On its own, this is not a reason to stay home.

    But a new runny nose with a fever is a reason to stay home. Many infections, including influenza, COVID and even measles can start with a fever and runny nose, although usually it signals a common cold.

    The common cold needs rest, fluids and encouraging your child to keep their nose clear with gentle blowing or saline sprays. And a reminder, the annual flu vaccine is an excellent way to protect your family from the serious consequences of the “proper flu”.

    Cough: there are many different reasons for a child to cough. This includes infections such as COVID, whooping cough and influenza and non-infectious reasons such as hayfever and reflux. If your child has developed a new cough, and especially if they are also feverish, this is a reason to keep them at home. A cough that doesn’t go away after two weeks should also be checked out by your GP.

    Tiredness: mostly on Fridays, my kids are tired after a busy week – much like me! Tiredness can be an early sign of a lurking infection or some other health issue. But on its own is probably not a reason to keep your child home. However, ongoing tiredness is a good reason to have your child checked out by your GP as there are many causes from poor sleep to iron deficiency.

    Poor appetite: kids’ appetites can vary so wildly, especially when they move into growing phases. Not wanting to eat breakfast in the morning might be an early gastro infection, a sign of constipation or nervous butterflies for the day ahead. If your child is otherwise OK, with no tummy pain, fever or tiredness, then a lack of appetite for breakfast is not a solid reason to stay home.

    It’s common for kids to feel tired, but this on its own is not a reason to skip school.
    Andrew Will/ Shutterstock

    Watch out for school refusal

    I find it helpful to let my child know if they stay home, they will need to stay in bed with no screens to rest and get well. This tends to separate the “truly feeling unwell” days from the “just hoping to have a rest” days.

    But feeling unwell in the morning – particularly in the tummy, tiredness or unexplained headaches – can be an early sign something might not be going smoothly for your child at school or home.

    School refusal is a serious problem where a child is completely overwhelmed and unable to attend school. It can come on gradually or suddenly. Talking with your child’s school is a critical first step if you are concerned about school refusal – it should be a conversation that happens promptly and your school should have procedures for helping you to manage it.



    Read more:
    Is it school reluctance or refusal? How to tell the difference and help your child

    Phone a friend

    If you’re not sure, consider giving a trusted friends or family member a quick call to talk things over.

    You can also contact Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (or 13 Health if you are in Queensland). This is a national phone service open 24 hours for anyone who has symptoms and needs advice on what to do next.

    Liz Sturgiss receives funding from the NHMRC, MRFF, RACGP Foundation, Diabetes Australia and VicHealth that is unrelated to this article. She is affiliated with Australian Journal of Primary Health (CSIRO), Australian Prescriber, RACGP, NAPCRG, Guidelines Development Committee for the review and update of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Overweight and Obesity in Adults, Adolescents and Children in Australia and Australasian Association for Academic Primary Care.

    – ref. How can I tell if my child is too sick to go to school? – https://theconversation.com/how-can-i-tell-if-my-child-is-too-sick-to-go-to-school-252731

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: The Coalition wants to increase Medicare psychology rebates from 10 to 20 sessions. Here’s what happened last time

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joanne Enticott, Associate Professor, Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, Monash University

    Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

    The most disadvantaged Australians have long experienced higher rates of mental illness than the broader population. But they also access fewer mental health services.

    Increasing everyone’s access to mental health care led to the creation of the Better Access initiative, which subsidised psychology sessions under Medicare. Officially called Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners through the Medicare Benefits Schedule, the Howard government launched the initiative in November 2006.

    During COVID, the former Morrison Coalition government temporarily expanded the yearly cap on the number of psychology sessions, from ten to 20. The Labor Albanese government reverted to ten sessions at the end of 2022.

    Now the Coalition says if elected at this year’s polls, it will take the number of sessions back to 20.

    But did capping sessions at 20 increase access to mental health care, especially for disadvantaged Australians? Or are there more effective ways to achieve this?

    How does it work?

    Australians can access up to ten rebated psychology sessions annually. Patients need to have a mental health treatment or management plan from their GP or psychiatrist.


    The Australian Psychological Society recommends consultation fees of around $311 for a standard 46- to 60-minute consultation.

    The typical Medicare rebate is $141.85 per session with a clinical psychologist and $96.65 with other registered psychologists. (All psychologists are university qualified mental health professionals, but clinical psychologists have more qualifications.)

    Psychologists can choose their own fees. They can bulk bill (no out of pocket cost for patients) or charge consultation fees, leaving some patients hundreds of dollars out of pocket for each session.

    How did access change during COVID?

    To assess the changes during COVID, we need to consider three components: number of people accessing services, service use rates (number of sessions per population) and the average number of sessions per patient.

    1. Number of people accessing services

    In 2020-21, all states saw a 5% jump in the number of people accessing Medicare mental health services, coinciding with the first year of the COVID pandemic.

    In the three years prior to this, there was an average yearly increase of about 3% more people.

    However, a 2022 independent evaluation of the Better Access initiative showed that between 2018 and 2021, new users declined from 56% to 50%, with the steepest drop between 2020 and 2021.

    This reduction in new users coincided with the temporary increased cap to 20 sessions.

    Australians from disadvantaged backgrounds continued to have poorer access to psychologists than those from wealthier population groups, despite an increase in the number of sessions.

    2. Service use rates (number of sessions per population)

    Service use rates tell us how much a particular service is being used each year. To compare service use rates between different years, and because the Australian population is growing yearly, we report service use rates per 1,000 people in the population.

    In 2020-21, service use rates for clinical psychologists and other psychologists increased by 18%. This was a large increase compared to the typical 5% increases in previous years. This persisted in the next two years.

    When the cap on number of sessions was reduced to ten sessions, there was a small drop in service use rates, but it didn’t return to the pre-pandemic levels.

    Most clients use ten or fewer sessions a year.
    Ben Bryant/Shutterstock

    3. Average number of sessions people used

    The increase in services occurring in the first two years of the COVID pandemic (and around the time as the cap temporarily increased from ten to 20 sessions), resulted in a small increase in the average number of sessions per patient.

    In the ten years between 2013-14 and 2022-23, average number of sessions with a clinical psychologist increased from five to six sessions whereas the average number of sessions with other psychologists increased from four to five sessions.

    Importantly, more than 80% of people received fewer than ten sessions.

    What does this tell us?

    Overall, most people used ten or fewer sessions, even when up to 20 sessions were available.

    Some extra services were provided to existing clients during COVID and this may have actually prevented new people from receiving services.

    So the evidence suggests simply increasing the number of rebated psychology sessions from ten to 20 for everybody isn’t the most effective approach.

    What should Labor and the Coalition do instead?

    We don’t limit the number of chemotherapy sessions for cancer patients, so why do we cap evidence-based psychological treatments for mental illness?

    Instead of capping access to Medicare rebates for mental health care, access should be based on a person’s needs and treatment outcomes. The number of sessions should be determined collaboratively between the person and the provider, ensuring people receive the appropriate level of evidence-based care for their condition.

    Measure outcomes

    Currently in Australia for Medicare-funded mental health services, we only measure service activity. Patient outcomes are not collected, which hinders the development of value-based mental health care.

    Without collecting outcomes, current initiatives to address inequities are only partially informed and may not work as intended.

    We urgently need to establish a set of outcomes (patient-reported outcome measures and experience measures) through consensus with the community, providers, professional organisations and governments.

    Address affordability

    We should also address inequities, such as gap fees that act as barriers to accessing services.

    Greater rebates and bulk billing incentives for vulnerable people can assist those with less money.

    Offer other evidence-based support

    Evidence also suggests people with mild to moderate mental health problems can benefit from psychological and social supports provided by people who are non-health-care professionals, such as the Friendship Bench and digital mental health programs.

    We need to develop and invest in a range of services that cater to differing levels of need. This would ensure more specialised services are available for those with higher complexity or severity.

    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. The Coalition wants to increase Medicare psychology rebates from 10 to 20 sessions. Here’s what happened last time – https://theconversation.com/the-coalition-wants-to-increase-medicare-psychology-rebates-from-10-to-20-sessions-heres-what-happened-last-time-249606

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Reliable science takes time. But the current system rewards speed

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Chin, Senior Lecturer, College of Law, Australian National University

    P.Cartwright/Shutterstock

    Lately, there have been many headlines on scientific fraud and journal article retractions. If this trend continues, it represents a serious threat to public trust in science.

    One way to tackle this problem – and ensure public trust in science remains high – may be to slow it down. We sometimes refer to this philosophy as “slow science”. Akin to the slow food movement, slow science prioritises quality over speed and seeks to buck incentive structures that promote mass production.

    Slow science may not represent an obvious way to improve science because we often equate science with progress, and slowing down progress does not sound very appealing. However, progress is not just about speed, but about basing important societal decisions on strong scientific foundations. And this takes time.

    Unfortunately, the pressures and incentives modern scientists face are almost universally against slow science. Secure, permanent university jobs are scarce, and with budget cuts, this appears to be getting worse.

    As a result, the pressure to publish has never been higher. Indeed, in my yearly performance meetings, I am asked how many articles I’ve published and what is the status of the journals I published in. I am not asked how robust my methods are and how discerning my peer reviewers were.

    The problems with fast science

    Our current “fast science” approach has produced a host of problems.

    Much as with fast food, scientists are incentivised to produce as much science as possible in as little time as possible. This can mean cutting corners. We know, for instance, that larger samples lead to more trustworthy results because they are more likely to be representative of the relevant population. However, collecting large samples takes time and resources.

    Fast science is also associated with gaming the system. As a hypothetical example, an educational scientist might collect data to find evidence for their theory that a new teaching style promotes better learning. Then, they look at the data and realise the intervention did not quite improve learning. But if you squint at it, there might be a trend if you drop a couple of pesky outliers that didn’t see a benefit. So, they do just that.

    This an example of what’s known as a “questionable research practice”, because it’s not considered outright fraud by conventional standards. Surveys in many fields suggest these practices are widespread, with about 50% of scientists saying they have engaged in them at least once.

    Fast science is also associated with more obviously unethical practices.

    Reports of fabricated data are likely due, in part, to scientists trying to publish as quickly as possible. An industry has even sprung up around scientific fraud – what are known as “paper mills”. These organisations produce articles around fabricated data and then sell authorship to those papers.

    Surveys have shown about 50% of scientists have engaged in questionable research practices such as slightly tweaking research data.
    National Cancer Institute/Unsplash

    Why trustworthy science takes time

    So, what does slow science look like and how can it help?

    The late English statistician Douglas Altman provided one of the most famous descriptions of the slow science mantra: “We need less research, better research, and research done for the right reasons”.

    In many ways, it is the opposite of fast science: large samples and careful, well-documented, transparent practices.

    Recall the hypothetical example of the scientists testing a new education practice. Rather than immediately jumping into data collection, the slow practice would be to first write a “registered report”. In other words, scientists would write out their theory and how they propose to test that theory, and send that out for peer review prior to collecting data.

    The journal would then follow the normal process of soliciting peer reviews and allowing the scientists to revise their report in response to those reviews. Then, the authors would collect data, with publication in the journal being assured as long as they follow the agreed upon methods.

    There are two major benefits to registered reports: it allows for peer feedback while it is still possible to improve the study and it removes an incentive to engage in questionable or fraudulent practices. Using the registered report format can take longer. But it is associated with more credible findings.

    Two other slow practices worth mentioning are conducting research in a way that is reproducible and correcting errors in the existing body of research.

    In theory, all science should be reproducible. That is, scientists should share their methods and data such that other scientists can both verify that work and build on it (developing new recipes, to continue the analogy to slow food).

    Similarly, cleaning up the scientific record is incredibly important. For the same reasons that chef Gordon Ramsay likes to a clean a kitchen out before improving it, science needs to get a handle on what existing findings are reliable before we can build on them.

    This means carefully going through existing publications to find studies that show indications of being fabricated or otherwise unreliable. This sleuthing is rare among university scientists because it does not typically result in publications. But it is highly important.

    Slow science is the opposite of fast science: large samples and careful, well-documented, transparent practices.
    National Cancer Institute/Unsplash

    Slow science is slowly gaining steam

    Currently, it requires bravery to engage in slow science.

    Universities are keen to move up the university rankings lists. Those rankings are driven by publishing. So, universities hire, promote and retain their scientists based on their publications. This makes it risky to slow down.

    There are, however, some reasons to hope. Movements are afoot to redefine research quality to take into account more aspects of slow science.

    The Declaration on Research Assessment is a worldwide initiative to move away from ranking systems that ignore the principles of slow science.

    Grassroots organisations are also creating platforms for more open and exacting peer review.

    And advocates for more careful research practices have recently been appointed to important positions, such as with research funders and academic journals.

    These developments are worth following and building upon because society does not need heaps of low-quality science. It needs science that deserves trust.

    Jason Chin is affiliated with the Association for Interdisciplinary Metaresearch and Open Science (AIMOS), a charity that promotes the study and improvement of research methods. AIMOS is a co-founder of the open peer-review platform, MetaROR.

    – ref. Reliable science takes time. But the current system rewards speed – https://theconversation.com/reliable-science-takes-time-but-the-current-system-rewards-speed-249497

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: 19th MSI Research Day Draws Nearly 100

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Dr. Jordan Bauer, second-year orthopedic surgery resident, presents at UConn Health’s MSI Research Day, March 14, 2025. (Photo by Lisa Cianchetti)

    Nearly 100 current and future physicians and scientists attended 2025 UConn Musculoskeletal Institute (MSI) Research Day, March 11 at the Cell and Genome Sciences Building.

    The day included oral presentations, a symposium on osteoarthritis, 18 poster presentations, an awards ceremony, and a keynote address from an international leader in the field of cartilage and developmental biology.

    Dr. Ernesto Canalis, MSI co-director, speaks at MSI Research Day at UConn Health, March 14, 2025. (Photo by Lisa Cianchetti)

    “This is a day where clinical and research faculty meet and get together to share recent accomplishments in musculoskeletal research at the University of Connecticut,” says Dr. Ernesto Canalis, professor of orthopedic surgery and medicine and MSI co-director. “It allows for interactions among faculty and presentations by faculty, students, residents, and trainees.”

    It was the 19th MSI research day and the most well-attended since before the pandemic, with the UConn School of Medicine’s Departments of Orthopedic Surgery, Medicine, and Neuroscience represented, as well as the UConn School of Dental Medicine’s Center for Regenerative Medicine and the Department of Biomedical Engineering, a joint department of the dental, medical, and engineering schools.

    The keynote speaker was Dr. Maurizio Pacifici, director of research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

    Dr. Maurizio Pacifici, director of research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, delivers the keynote address at UConn Health’s MSI Research Day, March 14, 2025. (Photo by Lisa Cianchetti)

    “Dr. Pacifici was an ideal speaker, as he has first-hand experience translating basic science discoveries into clinical treatment – a core mission of the UConn MSI”, says Dr. Isaac Moss, professor and chair of orthopedic surgery and MSI co-director.

    “Participants leave this event having learned recent advances in musculoskeletal research at UConn, with the opportunity to learn from a national leader,” Canalis says. “Faculty interactions are expected to lead to new collaborative efforts to enhance research in the musculoskeletal field.”

    From left: Research intern Tomer Korabelnikov, Dr. Cory Edgar, clinical research assistant Nandan Nayak, and research intern Rohan Patel are among those who collaborated on projects presented at MSI Research Day at UConn Health, March 14, 2025. (Photo by Lisa Cianchetti)

    Awards presented:

    • Best MD/Ph.D., Marta Stetsiv
    • Best Graduate Student, Biology, Kai Clarke
    • Best Graduate Student, Engineering, Travis Wallace
    • Best Young Innovative Investigator Program, Arianna Cedeño
    • Best Undergraduate Student, Bailey Millis
    • Best Medical Student, Daniel Brocke
    • Best Orthopedic Research Resident Fellow, Lisa Tamburini
    • Best Orthopedic Research Fellow, Rohan Patel

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Brandon Beach Appointed Treasurer of the United States

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA (March 27, 2025) — This week, President Donald J. Trump has appointed Georgia State Senator Brandon Beach (R–Alpharetta) Treasurer of the United States.

    “I have loved serving in the Georgia State Senate for the past 13 years, and it has been one of the greatest honors of my life to be a part of this esteemed institution,” said Sen. Beach. “The Senate body holds a special place in my heart, and I will always cherish the time I spent serving the great people of Georgia. Being appointed by President Donald J. Trump to serve as Treasurer of the United States is a life-changing opportunity, and I am deeply humbled and grateful for the trust placed in me. I look forward to continuing my service to this great nation, upholding the values of fiscal responsibility, economic growth, and American prosperity. President Trump’s bold leadership and unwavering commitment to putting America first have paved the way for historic economic achievements that I am honored to help carry forward. While I embark on this new chapter, I will never forget where I came from, and I remain forever grateful for the people and principles that have shaped my journey.”

    Sen. Beach serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Economic Development and is the Executive Director and founder of the North Fulton Improvement District (NFCID). He has previously held key leadership roles, including serving on the boards of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) and the Georgia Department of Transportation and as Chair of the Public-Private Partnership Committee and the Land Development Committee. Additionally, he has served as Chairman of the Fulton County Development Authority.

    Sen. Beach currently serves on the Georgia World Congress Center Oversight Board, the Georgia Lottery Corporation Oversight Board, and the Alpharetta Rotary. He earned his undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University and a Master of Business Administration from Centenary College.

    He will be the first Georgian to serve as the United States Treasurer. This position is responsible for the U.S. Mint and Fort Knox and serves as a liaison to the Federal Reserve. Further, the Treasurer serves as a senior advisor to the Treasury Secretary on issues relating to community development.

    For more information on the U.S. Department of the Treasury, you can read here.

    # # # #

    Sen. Brandon Beach serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism. He represents the 21st Senate District, including portions of Cherokee and Fulton County.  He can be reached at (404) 463-1378 or by email at brandon.beach@senate.ga.gov.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Massive boost to innovation in South East Queensland

    Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

    Over $200 million in funding contributed by the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments and industry partners will help South East Queensland become a leading innovator in health and biotech, through the South East Queensland Innovation Economy Fund.

    The Fund has awarded eight successful projects $94 million in joint Government funding, with industry leaders across critical sectors co-contributing over $122 million. This partnership between governments and industry will unlock $217 million worth of investments across South East Queensland.

    Successful projects include:

    • A $25 million grant to establish the Health and Advanced Technology Research and Innovation Centre (HATRIC) at the Gold Coast will build on the region’s leadership in biomedicine, biotechnology and additive manufacturing.
    • Bringing together Griffith University, neighbouring hospitals and medical institutes, the project will leverage another $75 million from partners to expand the cutting-edge Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct. It already employs more than 14,000 people, and is home to innovation such as the world’s first artificial rotary heart.
    • An Australian-first biomedical scale-up and manufacturing facility will be established at the Bogo Road Innovation Precinct, thanks to $3 million in funding. The new Hub will support start-ups to develop innovative medical products, manufacture them on site and undertake clinical trials, positioning Brisbane to become leaders in bio-manufacturing. 
    • A $25 million grant awarded to the AATLIS Innovation Precinct Industry Biotechnology Centre (IBC) to bring together start-ups and industry leaders to establish Australia’s first vertically-integrated biotechnological facility to support the rapid design, building and testing of new solutions for the agriculture sector.
    • The University of Sunshine Coast Innovation Centre will be upgraded with five new specialist innovation labs to boost jobs and accelerate the local economy, thanks to a nearly $3 million investment. It includes a new Digital Health Productivity Lab, which will harness technology to advance innovation in the aged care sector and improve patient experience.

    Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Cities Jenny McAllister:

    “The Albanese Government is building Australia’s future by backing Queensland innovation.

    “By bringing together the expertise of universities, research institutes and industry, we can boost innovation, and create local jobs.

    “It’s terrific to see investment in biotech that will not just improve health outcomes but also provide opportunities to build our economic future by leveraging world class research.

    Quotes attributable to Queensland Minister for Science and Innovation Andrew Powell:

    “Queensland Government is dedicated to investing in a thriving innovation ecosystem in South East Queensland.

    “Strategic investment in world-class innovation precincts will drive the creation of high value knowledge-intensive jobs that will propel South East Queensland into a new era of prosperity.

    “These precincts are the incubators for solutions to the region’s most pressing social and economic challenges.”

    Further information:

    SEQ Innovation Economy Fund successful applicants:

    Applicant Location Joint Commonwealth and Queensland Funding Project description
    Therapeutic Innovation Australia Limited Boggo Road Innovation Precinct, Brisbane $3 million Establishing the Bioproduction Hub (PM1) for multi modal therapeutics Phase 1 manufacturing at TRI. This Australian-first facility will enable production of biologics, vaccines, radiopharmaceuticals and mRNA therapeutics to support first-in-human clinical trials. The integration of specialist therapeutic manufacturing capability, quality control and regulatory expertise aims to streamline and fast-track the pathway from discovery science to clinical evaluation.
    Translational 
    Research Institute    		 Boggo Road Innovation Precinct, Dutton Park $6,807,251

    This project will supercharge the Translational Manufacturing (TM@TRI) project and in turn supercharge the Boggo Road Innovation

    Precinct, accelerating the impact of this critical infrastructure.
    Southern RNA LNP-mRNA-Enable Project (LEAP): Driving LNP-mRNA Therapeutics to Clinical Trials $2,777,667

    The LNP-mRNA-Enable project aims to supercharge Queensland’s biomedical sector by building infrastructure and capacity that will unlock Queensland’s ability to locally translate and produce mRNA therapeutics. Led by Southern RNA and supported by research and industry partners in the field, the project will specifically develop capability around the development and manufacturing of Lipid

    Nanoparticle-mRNA, a vital step in the production and delivery of mRNA.
    Witmack Industrial AATLIS Innovation Precinct Industry Biotechnology Centre (IBC), Toowoomba $25,000,000

    The AATLIS Innovation Precinct Industry Biotechnology Centre (IBC) is a groundbreaking $50m initiative to establish Australia’s first vertically integrated biotechnological facility for distribution, sales, logistics, R&D, and toll manufacturing.

    This “One Stop Shop” will integrate AI-driven research and world-class technology with best-practice manufacturing capabilities and global end-users to strengthen supply chain security, advance environmentally conscious practices like reducing synthetic chemical use, and boost economic growth and export opportunities.

     
    University of Queensland

    Queensland Animal Science Precinct, Lockyer Valley

     

    		 $21,807,000 Queensland Animal Science Innovation Hub – a place animal producers, farmers and industry can test and trial, scale and commercialise new farming and biosecurity innovations which enhances food security and the supply of affordable and reliable meat and animal products to Queensland and the world.

    University of the Sunshine Coast

     

    		 Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast $2,724,431 Future Skills Lab – five future skills specialist innovation labs, delivered in partnership with industry, and equipped with the latest tools and resources that accelerate the design, prototyping and testing of cutting-edge digital innovations.
    Urban Utilities Luggage Point Innovation Precinct, Brisbane

    $7,670,811

    		 Luggage Point Innovation Precinct Expansion: Pioneering Sustainable Water Solutions for Green Industries. Creating new spaces for pilot projects, sampling and research; and innovation-enabling infrastructure that will drive development and commercialisation of innovative water-related products and technologies including accelerating recycled water innovation; encouraging the adoption of recycled water; addressing persistent contaminants; and enabling hydrogen production to develop novel products from biogas, biosolids and organic waste.
    Griffith University Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct, Gold Coast $25 million Health and Advanced Technology Research and Innovation Centre (HATRIC), a partnership between Griffith University (GU) and Economic Development Queensland is a new building that will significantly boost and synthesise the precinct’s capabilities, creating a seamless interface between university R&D and commercialisation with industry partners. Innovations enabled through HATRIC may include spinal injury repair, new vaccines, rehabilitation equipment, artificial ligaments, customised bionics for limb loss, quantum technologies for sportstech and circular economy technologies in recycling medical waste and lithium-ion batteries.

    More information on the SEQ Innovation Economy Fund can be found at SEQ Innovation Economy Fund | Advance Queensland.

    MIL OSI News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why Serena Williams joining the WNBA’s Toronto Tempo as a part-owner is so important for women’s sports

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Treisha Hylton, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University

    Tennis legend Serena Williams is now part of the ownership group of the Toronto Tempo, marking a significant moment for women’s professional sports. The Toronto Tempo is set to kick off their inaugural WNBA season in 2026 and her involvement will help secure the longevity, success and impact the team.

    There has never been a better and more exciting time to be a fan, advocate and researcher of women’s professional sports. Momentum continues to build toward the ultimate goal of achieving equity in sports, and it’s clear that real progress is being made.

    Back in 2023, I attended the first WNBA exhibition game in Canada at Scotiabank Arena. The overwhelming support and enthusiasm made it clear that Toronto was ready to embrace and support women’s professional sports. Fast forward three years, and that vision is fast becoming a reality.

    Women’s professional sports are at an all-time high. Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league set to commence its inaugural season in April, the WNBA continues to expand and the Professional Women’s Hockey League keeps setting attendance records.

    Across the board, media coverage is skyrocketing for women’s sports. Opportunities for women and girls in sport have never been greater. All this and Williams’ investment in the Toronto Tempo is a fitting milestone to celebrate during Women’s History Month.

    A new era for women’s sports

    Williams is a trailblazer and widely considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time. She dominated tennis for years, made history and broke barriers, all while proudly being herself in the face of discrimination, blatant double standards and constant ridicule.

    She stands as an example of excellence and perseverance in women’s sports and social justice.

    Williams is a role model for many Black women and girls, athletes and non-athletes alike. Her new role as a part-owner of the Toronto Tempo holds just as much significance as her ground-breaking career in tennis. Now, she is once again paving the way by demonstrating how women, particularly Black women, can break into leadership positions in professional sports.

    Williams highlighted the significance of her new role, stating:

    “This moment is not just about basketball. It is about showcasing the true value and potential of female athletes. I have always said that women’s sports are an incredible investment opportunity.”

    Her commitment to advancing women’s sports is nothing new. Williams is also a founding owner of the National Women’s Soccer League’s Angel City FC. The WNBA, and other sports leagues, need more women like Williams in ownership and executive positions to drive real change.

    Despite the progress made toward equity in women’s professional sports, there is still a staggering difference in pay and representation in leadership roles.

    A glaring example is tennis star Coco Gauff, the highest-paid woman athlete of 2024, who didn’t even make it into the top 100 highest-paid athletes. This highlights the persistent gap in earnings and need for continued advocacy for pay equity in professional sports.

    Black women in sport leadership

    Black women remain vastly underrepresented in sports leadership roles, including as owners, CEOs, coaches and presidents. In the WNBA, where 70 per cent of the players are Black, there is currently only one Black woman head coach.

    There is a clear need for meaningful representation at all levels of the game. Leadership must reflect the diversity of the athletes on the court.

    For the WNBA and other women’s professional sports leagues to achieve equity, Black women must be better represented in leadership positions. The focus needs to go beyond token representation toward true representation to inspire future generations of young Black girls.

    Serena Williams’ investment in the Toronto Tempo is a step in the right direction. Equally significant is the appointment of Monica Wright Rogers, a former collegiate player and experienced executive, as the team’s new general manager.

    Together, Williams and Rogers represent the progress being made toward better representation of Black women in leadership roles.

    Elevating women’s sports

    The fight for racial and gender equality in sports is far from finished. The Toronto Tempo is a business first, and centring community must be part of its investment strategy.

    The Tempo must prioritize building connections with grassroots organizations and ensure racialized girls and women have access to opportunities in coaching, community spaces and building life-sports synergy skills.

    I’ve always believed grassroots organizations are the beating heart of sports, laying the foundation for the next generation of athletes and role models. Without them, many young girls would never get the chance to see themselves in the game. Two organizations that are community development-focused are Lady Ballers Centre and Black Girl Hockey Club.



    Read more:
    Women’s sports are thriving in Canada — here’s how to ensure it stays that way

    The Tempo must reject the notion that success and equity in sports can be represented by just one story. While Williams’ journey is undeniably inspiring, it cannot be the sole narrative that defines progress in women’s sports. Instead, a multitude of stories, particularly those of Black and racialized women across all levels of sport, must be uplifted.

    Investing in women’s sports isn’t just the right thing to do, but is also beneficial for society as a whole. Women athletes have consistently proven they deserve professional sports leagues, pay equity, endorsement deals, equal media coverage and better sporting facilities. Supporting this movement is the right direction for the Tempo.

    Williams’ experience and commitment to women’s sports make her an ideal fit for ownership. Toronto fans are ready, and there’s little doubt the first Tempo games will be sold out. I, for one, am excited to attend the inaugural game in 2026. Let’s go Tempo!

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

    – ref. Why Serena Williams joining the WNBA’s Toronto Tempo as a part-owner is so important for women’s sports – https://theconversation.com/why-serena-williams-joining-the-wnbas-toronto-tempo-as-a-part-owner-is-so-important-for-womens-sports-252592

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lunar microwave to purify water frozen in Moon’s soil wins UK Space Agency’s Aqualunar Challenge

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Lunar microwave to purify water frozen in Moon’s soil wins UK Space Agency’s Aqualunar Challenge

    A transformational technology that uses microwaves to defrost and ultrasound to break down contaminants in melted lunar ice to provide clean, drinkable water for astronauts has won the UK Space Agency-funded Aqualunar Challenge.

    SonoChem System by Naicker Scientific. Credit: Max Alexander

    • The Aqualunar Challenge is an international prize for technologies to purify ice frozen in the Moon’s soil to make human habitation on the lunar surface possible.
    • SonoChem System by Naicker Scientific named winner for its innovative use of microwaves and ultrasound to generate millions of microbubbles in melted lunar ice, producing clean, drinkable water for astronauts.
    • FRANK by father-and-sons team RedSpace and AqualunarPure from a team from Queen Mary University named runners up.

    The Aqualunar Challenge is a £1.2 million international prize funded by the UK Space Agency’s International Bilateral Fund and delivered by Challenge Works – part of Nesta. It aims to drive the development of innovative technologies that make human habitation on the Moon viable by purifying water buried beneath the lunar surface.

    The SonoChem System by Gloucestershire-based Naicker Scientific, led by Lolan Naicker, was named the winner by UK Space Agency’s Meganne Christian at a ceremony in Canada House in London’s Trafalgar Square, where the team was awarded the £150,000 first prize.

    Meganne Christian, European Member of the Astronaut Reserve, Commercial Exploration at the UK Space Agency and chair of the Aqualunar Challenge judging panel, said:

    NASA has set the goal of establishing a permanent crewed base on the Moon by the end of the decade. The Artemis programme, as it is known, is supported by the UK Space Agency through its membership of the European Space Agency.

    Astronauts will need a reliable supply of water for drinking and growing food, as well as oxygen for air and hydrogen for fuel. 5.6% of the soil (known as ‘regolith’) around the Moon’s south pole is estimated to be water frozen as ice. If it can be successfully extracted, separated from the soil and purified, it makes a crewed base viable.

    The SonoChem System by Naicker Scientific. Credit: Max Alexander

    The SonoChem System employs Naicker Scientific’s groundbreaking core technology to purify water derived from lunar ice. Harnessing powerful sound waves, it spontaneously forms millions of tiny bubbles in contaminated water. The extreme temperature and pressure created within each micro bubble generates free radicals (unstable atoms which are highly chemically reactive) which effectively removes contaminants.

    Lolan Naicker, Technical Director, Naicker Scientific explained:

    Imagine digging up the soil in your back garden in the middle of winter and trying to extract frozen water to drink. Now imagine doing it in an environment that is -200°C, a nearly perfect vacuum, under low gravity, and with very little electrical power. That’s what we will have to overcome on the Moon.

    If we can make the SonoChem System work there, we can make it work anywhere, whether that’s on Mars’ glaciers, or here on Earth in regions where accessing clean water is still a challenge.

    UK Science Minister, Lord Vallance said:

    The Aqualunar Challenge was set up to overcome one of the most significant obstacles to humans surviving on the Moon or other planets – the availability of clean drinking water. By teaming up with our Canadian partners and harnessing the wealth of talent and creativity found across the UK, the challenge has uncovered a range of new ideas, including Naicker Scientific’s SonoChem system.

    Many of these ideas could not only fuel future space exploration, but also help improve lives and solve water shortages here on Earth – mitigating the impacts of climate change as we work towards a net zero future, a key ambition in our Plan for Change.

    Naicker Scientific was awarded the £150,000 first prize, with two runners up winning £100,000 and £50,000 respectively:

    First runner up: FRANK – Filtered Regolith Aqua Neutralisation Kit – developed by father and sons team RedSpace Ltd, Aldershot. A three-stage approach designed to deliver a continuous flow of drinking-grade water in a lunar environment first heats the regolith sample in a sealed chamber to separate off volatile gases and leave a liquid of water, methanol and regolith fragments. The liquid is passed through a membrane to remove solid particles. The remaining liquid is distilled to separate the methanol from the water.

    FRANK – Filtered Regolith Aqua Neutralisation Kit – by RedSpace Ltd. Credit: Max Alexander

    Second runner up: AquaLunarPure: Supercritical Water Purification on the Moon – developed by Queen Mary University of London. A reactor melts lunar ice to separate the dust and rock particles, then heats it to more than 373°C at 220 bars of pressure to turn it into “supercritical water” – not a solid, a liquid or a gas, but a fourth state that appears like a thick vapour – in which oxidation will remove all the contaminants in one step.

    AquaLunarPure by Queen Mary University of London. Credit: Max Alexander

    10 finalist teams were each awarded £30,000 seed funding in July 2024 to develop their technologies in pursuit of the prize and provided with a comprehensive package of non-financial support, including expert mentoring and access to testing facilities.

    The Aqualunar Challenge is delivered by Challenge Works – part of the UK’s innovation agency for social good, Nesta – and the UK Space Agency, in collaboration with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and Impact Canada, with half the prize being awarded to UK-led teams, and half being awarded to Canadian-led teams.

    Holly Jamieson, Executive Director, Challenge Works said:

    Challenge prizes are open innovation competitions that level the playing field for innovators whether they are well-established in a sector or coming to it for the first time – rewarding ideas rather than reputations. The Aqualunar Challenge successfully attracted new entrants to work in the space sector – a sector that already generates £19 billion of income a year in the UK, but where there is great potential for growth.

    Competing teams have reported back that participating in the prize has helped them secure investment and open up commercial conversations to grow their businesses. There may only be one first prize, but the Aqualunar Challenge has produced many winners.

    To find out more about the Aqualunar Challenge in the UK and learn more about all ten competing teams, visit aqualunarchallenge.org.uk.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Shoes that can warn you of injuries? How wearable technology is transforming foot care

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Craig Gwynne, Senior Lecturer in Podiatry, Cardiff Metropolitan University

    Your feet work hard every day supporting your body, absorbing impact and adapting to different surfaces. But they often get ignored until something goes wrong.

    Imagine your shoes alerting you to foot injuries before you feel any pain, or your socks warning you about the risk of an ulcer before symptoms even appear. This is the promise of new wearable foot technology.

    About one in five adults in middle and old age experiences foot pain, ranging from minor aches to problems that limit daily activities. Some foot conditions, particularly linked to diabetes, can be life-threatening.

    Diabetic foot ulcers have a five-year death rate of around 40%. This means that patients with foot ulcers caused by diabetes have a 40% chance of dying within five years of symptoms appearing, which is higher than many cancers. If untreated, ulcers can lead to severe infections and even necessitate amputation.

    New wearable devices, such as smart insoles and socks, can prevent these serious complications through early detection. They work by constantly tracking your foot pressure, walking patterns and even skin temperature.

    The collected information is analysed using advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence, providing timely warnings about potential foot problems. Machine learning, for instance, has successfully predicted diabetic foot ulcers from this wearable data, helping healthcare providers intervene before complications occur.

    A diabetic foot ulcer.
    Zay Nyi Nyi/Shutterstock

    Smart insoles contain tiny sensors that measure how pressure spreads across your feet when you walk or run. They can detect abnormal walking patterns with over 90% precision, spotting issues before they cause pain or injury.

    These devices have proven especially useful for older adults and people with neurological conditions like stroke, multiple sclerosis, or movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.

    Smart socks use sensors to constantly measure foot temperature and pressure, detecting early signs of inflammation. They’re particularly beneficial for people with diabetes, as research shows these socks can predict and help prevent foot ulcers.

    Smart compression socks, which also monitor blood oxygen levels, can identify important changes during daily activities. This further reduces the risk of severe complications such as poor circulation, tissue damage and infection.



    Read more:
    Fighting fungal nail infections: simple steps for healthier toenails

    Continuously tracking a person’s foot health in these ways allows potential issues to be identified before they escalate, shifting foot care from reactive treatment to proactive management. So, wearable foot technology offers advantages for groups like athletes and people with chronic conditions.

    Athletes, especially those involved in high-impact sports like running, often put immense stress on their feet, increasing injury risk. Smart insoles provide immediate feedback, allowing athletes to adjust their running technique. Studies have shown that athletes using these insoles improved their running form and experienced fewer injuries.

    People with chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, also stand to benefit greatly from wearable technologies. Continuous monitoring with smart devices significantly lowers the risk of severe complications.

    For example, one study found that high-risk patients with diabetes who used smart socks with continuous temperature monitoring had much better outcomes. They experienced a 71% lower rate of foot ulcers and a 52% lower rate of amputations. This improvement was linked to earlier detection and intervention.

    Potential challenges

    Privacy remains a significant issue with these devices, as they constantly collect sensitive health data. Ensuring data is secure is therefore crucial. Accuracy is also important, as devices must reliably avoid false alarms or missed warnings. And although prices have decreased, wearable technology may still be expensive for many people, limiting its widespread use.

    The future of wearable foot technology is promising, however. Devices are becoming smaller, more affordable and easier to use. Innovations like 3D printing now enable customised smart insoles that perfectly match a person’s foot shape, boosting comfort and accuracy.

    Upcoming developments also include flexible sensors that can connect to smartphones and healthcare systems. These allow for remote monitoring and personalised care. For example, researchers have recently developed smart pyjamas with built-in fabric sensors. These sensors track breathing patterns and detect sleep disorders. The data is then sent directly to a phone app for analysis.



    Read more:
    High heels, flat arches, clubfoot and corns – our feet are amazing but they can be treated terribly

    Like these innovations, smart insoles and socks are moving toward more flexible, user-friendly designs that can integrate into everyday life. The goal across all this different technology is the same – to make health monitoring more accessible, comfortable and proactive without the need for bulky equipment or clinic visits.

    Wearable tech is a significant step forward for foot health. It offers early warnings and personalised insights beyond traditional methods. From preventing severe complications like diabetic ulcers to enhancing athletic performance, these devices could soon become standard parts of everyday healthcare.

    Craig Gwynne 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. Shoes that can warn you of injuries? How wearable technology is transforming foot care – https://theconversation.com/shoes-that-can-warn-you-of-injuries-how-wearable-technology-is-transforming-foot-care-252463

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Investment in the Hundred could save UK cricket from a financial sticky wicket

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Robbie Millar, Lecturer, Academy of Sport, Sheffield Hallam University

    English cricket, up in the air? Brian A Jackson/Shutterstock

    Cricket is an old sport that has evolved over centuries. But 2025 is shaping up to be a historic – and lucrative – year for the game in England and Wales.

    For the first time, private equity investment has entered the domestic game, changing the business structure of professional cricket forever. The source of this corporate interest – worth around £550 million – is the league of eight teams known as the Hundred.

    Established in 2021 by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the focus of the Hundred was appealing to new audiences who have not engaged with cricket before.

    It is a much shorter format than traditional forms of the game such as the four-day County Championship competition, or the One Day Cup, which is made up of 50 overs (300 balls) per side.

    With the Hundred, each side gets 100 balls to bowl at their opponent’s wickets. The highest number of runs wins. It’s very simple. And entertaining.

    Not everyone is a fan of course, and there has been criticism of the tournament’s design, its addition to an already congested cricket calendar, and the fact that only eight of the 18 county cricket clubs (CCCs) are involved.

    But the ECB stood firm. And given the recent investment into the Hundred, it will no doubt feel vindicated.

    Because the cash is sorely needed. Our research shows that CCCs have struggled financially for a while, and are overdue an economic boost.

    To help with this, the Hundred started off with the ECB owning all eight teams or “franchises” in the league. Now it has sold 49% of each franchise and gifted the remaining 51% to each Hundred-hosting county.

    So now, for example, 51% ownership of the Oval Invincibles is in the hands of Surrey CCC. Each hosting county was then given the option of selling their share – and so far Yorkshire and Lancashire have done just that.

    The total sale of the franchises has generated £550 million, far exceeding expectations. From that, 10% (£55 million) will be ringfenced by the ECB to invest in measures to increase participation in cricket throughout England and Wales.

    A slightly complicated division of the rest of the spoils then basically leaves each Hundred-hosting county cricket club with £18 million (plus the 51% ownership of the franchise). The non-hosting CCCs will receive around £32 million each.

    For context, in 2023, Surrey CCC had the highest revenue at £65 million, while Leicestershire had the lowest at £5.5 million. So a one-off injection of £18 million would represent significant growth for clubs across the scale.

    Not cricket?

    But it’s not all good news, as the influence of private equity may cause internal conflicts about a CCC’s strategy. For while the ECB has said it will remain in control of the Hundred as a competition, the primary goal of the franchise sales is to achieve a return for investors.

    This will probably mean that the Hundred is prioritised over the other formats of domestic cricket – and even international commitments. As many of the high-profile players play across the different formats, they will need to manage their schedules and are likely to choose whatever brings the greatest financial rewards.

    And while the ECB has hinted at increasing the number of franchises in the future, the worry will still be that some clubs benefit more than others.

    More traditional fans may feel alienated.
    Graeme Dawes/Shutterstock

    Yet investment in the future is essential if cricket is to remain relevant and appeal to new audiences. There are already suggestions that Gen Z prefers other sports such as basketball and boxing, over cricket.

    Investment must also be used to improve stadium infrastructure and facilities, to attract good crowds and to generate the superstars of the future. But the influx of money means the Hundred is likely to dominate the broadcast schedule, and prioritising the tournament in this way may alienate some more traditionally minded fans.

    The commercial interest now stretches towards international markets and other sports. Four of the investment groups now involved in the Hundred are owners of Indian Premier League cricket franchises, while others are linked to the worlds of professional football (Birmingham Phoenix and Birmingham City FC) and Silicon Valley (London Spirit).

    Eventually, this could lead to increasing levels of commercialisation, of the kind sports fans have become accustomed to within English Premier League football.

    Overall then, cricket fans may look back on 2025 as a year of major change in the sport in England and Wales. Success is far from guaranteed but the early indications, especially with regards to finance, are overwhelmingly positive.

    And that was probably the point of the whole exercise. It might not be cricket as it used to be – but as with other sports today, many of the biggest decisions come down to whether or not they make money.

    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. Investment in the Hundred could save UK cricket from a financial sticky wicket – https://theconversation.com/investment-in-the-hundred-could-save-uk-cricket-from-a-financial-sticky-wicket-244989

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: The End: philosopher explains new climate-collapse musical using the allegory of Plato’s Cave

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Matthew Duncombe, Associate Professor in Philosophy, University of Nottingham

    The End tells the story of a wealthy family who survived the collapse of the climate and civilisation in a bunker inside an abandoned mine. Before the collapse they were rich, and they continue to enjoy every luxury.

    Mother (Tilda Swinton) hangs Renoirs in their private gallery. Mary (Danielle Ryan) cooks delicious cakes. Doctor (Lennie James) provides medication, with casual cruelty. Butler (Tim McInnerny) decorates their library. And Father (Michael Shannon) tells Son tales from his life as an oil executive.

    Son (George MacKay), who was born in the bunker, spends his time making models of American history, including the Moon landings and the transcontinental railroad. The family live in an unreal world of fictions, from the paintings they hang, to the models they make, their artificial lights and their fake house within the bunker.

    They tell themselves, and each other, that they are good people, that their life is worth living and they did what they had to to survive. The fact that this film is a musical only makes it feel more unreal.

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    One day, Girl (Moses Ingram) stumbles into the bunker. Starving, weak and haunted by guilt, she tells the family of the terrible things she did get to safety. She challenges their response that “you had no choice”.

    As she grows closer to Son, she points out uncomfortable truths, like the fact that thousands of immigrant workers died while building the transcontinental railroad. At first, Son repeats what his parents have told him. But he soon comes to cruelly and openly mock the stories his family have concocted, seeing how self-serving they are.

    The trailer for The End.

    As the film unfolds, we learn the guilt, lies and self-deceptions that allowed each person to survive, and the stories they cling to.

    The End has more than one meaning. On the surface, the title refers to the end of civilisation. But “the end” can also mean the purpose of something, like the meaning of life. As one of the songs on the film asks, how can we make a “life worth living”?

    Plato’s Cave

    Some viewers have compared the film to Plato’s Cave. The allegory is described in The Republic, the ancient Greek philosopher’s exploration of justice, politics and the ideal society.

    The allegory describes a group of prisoners who are chained in a cave. On the wall, various shadow-images are projected: animals, people, objects. Because they don’t know any better, the prisoners take these shadows to be reality, and spend their time predicting which shadows will come next.

    One day, a prisoner escapes and makes their way to the surface. There they see the real things which correspond to the shadows. They even see the dazzling sun in real life. Upon returning to the cave, the prisoner tries to free the other prisoners from their delusions. But they refuse to be shaken from them, and kill him.

    Many interpret this escaped prisoner as Plato’s mentor, Socrates, the philosopher who was executed after he challenged Athenian citizens on questions of the ethical life.

    An animation of Plato’s cave analogy, narrated by Orson Welles.

    One message from the cave analogy is that living in ignorance, even wilful ignorance is not living a good life. The prisoners in the cave are not living a good life but they aren’t unhappy. In fact, they’re so comfortable with their illusions that they’d rather kill the escaped prisoner than listen to him. But their lives are still empty, because they are built on lies.

    The End is not Plato’s Cave: The Movie, but the similarities with the allegory are clear. It too focuses on a group of people who live in an underground, unreal world, where their activities are meaningless because they are disconnected from reality, and who actively deceive themselves and others. Someone with knowledge of the outside world enters the community and confronts them with the truth – that their lives are built on falsehoods.

    Just like the prisoners in Plato’s Cave allegory, the lives of the family before the Girl arrives are fine. But the Girl forces them to see things differently. When she finds the wine bitter, Father admits that that the wine is bitter. Her guilt forces them to face their own. Her integrity, and refusal to deceive herself about the choices she made, forces them to confront their self-deceptions. The love that blooms between Girl and the Son forces Mother, Father and Butler to recognise their own isolation.

    In a way Girl is like Socrates, forcing people to examine their lives. But unlike Socrates, she allows herself to be vulnerable. She causes the change in the others not through Socratic questioning of their beliefs, but simply by expressing her own feelings, and what she knows to be true.

    Unlike Socrates, Girl does not declare that the unexamined life is not worth living. But she does cause the family to examine their lives, albeit briefly and incompletely.

    When we sit in a cinema, we are a bit like Plato’s prisoners, watching images projected onto a wall. Mostly, movies let us escape reality. But The End doesn’t. It forces us to face real truths – the need for honesty and self-examination in the face of the immanent collapse of our climate. We have a choice – how to respond.

    Matthew Duncombe receives funding from the British Academy, Loeb Classical Library Foundation and the Spanish Ministry of Education.

    – ref. The End: philosopher explains new climate-collapse musical using the allegory of Plato’s Cave – https://theconversation.com/the-end-philosopher-explains-new-climate-collapse-musical-using-the-allegory-of-platos-cave-252315

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: The US has the power to switch off the UK’s nuclear subs – a big problem as Donald Trump becomes an unreliable partner

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Becky Alexis-Martin, Peace Studies and International Development, University of Bradford

    Keir Starmer aboard one of the UK’s Vanguard class submarines. CC BY-NC-ND

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently boarded one of the UK’s four nuclear-armed submarines for a photo call as part of his attempts to demonstrate the UK’s defence capabilities as tensions with Russia continue.

    However, Starmer faces a problem. The submarine, and the rest of the UK’s nuclear fleet, is heavily reliant on the US as an operating partner. And at a time when the US becomes an increasingly unreliable partner under the leadership of an entirely transactional president, this is not ideal. The US can, if it chooses, effectively switch off the UK’s nuclear deterrent.

    British and US nuclear history is irrevocably interwoven. The US and UK cooperated on the Manhattan project, under the 1943 Quebec agreements and the 1944 Hyde Park aide memoire. This work generated the world’s first nuclear weapons, which were deployed on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

    It also led to the first rupture. In 1946, the US classified UK citizens as “foreign” and prevented them from engaging in secret nuclear work. Collaboration with the UK immediately ceased.

    The UK decided to develop its own arsenal of nuclear weapons. The successful detonation of the “Grapple Y” hydrogen bomb in April 1958 cemented its position as a thermonuclear power.

    In the meantime, however, Russia’s launch of the Sputnik satellite in 1957 had demonstrated the lethal reach of Soviet nuclear technology. This brought the US and UK back together as nuclear partners.

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    Talks on how to counter the Russian threat became the foundation of an atomic partnership that endures to the present day. This mutual defence agreement, signed in 1958, has provided the UK with affordable access to the latest nuclear technology and a reliable western ally. The treaty has been amended and adapted over time to reflect changes in the US-UK working relationship and the two are now so entangled that it is very hard to leave the co-dependent relationship.

    Both sides have benefited from security and protection, especially during the cold war. However, Trump’s new “special relationship” with Russia’s Vladimir Putin has reconfigured the global order of geopolitics.

    Serious concerns are now being raised about the UK’s nuclear capacity, given the unpredictability and potential unreliability of the new US administration. Trump could ignore or threaten to terminate the agreement in a show of power or contempt.

    The UK’s nuclear subs

    The UK’s Trident nuclear deterrence programme consists of four Vanguard nuclear-powered and armed submarines. The UK has some autonomy, as it is operationally independent and controls the decision to launch.

    However, it remains dependent on the US because the nuclear technologies at the heart of the Trident system are US designed and leased by Lockheed Martin – and there is no suitable alternative. The Trident system therefore relies on the US for support and maintenance.

    The UK is currently in the process of upgrading the current system. But its options seem limited. If the US were to renege on its commitments, the UK would either have to produce its own weapons domestically, collaborate with France or Europe or disarm. Each scenario creates new issues for the UK. Manufacturing nuclear weapons from scratch in the UK, for example, would be a costly and protracted activity.

    Technical collaboration with France seems the most plausible back-up option at the moment. The two countries already have a nuclear collaboration treaty in place. France has taken a similar submarine-based approach to deterrence as the UK and French president Emmanuel Macron has suggested its deterrent could be used to protect other European countries. Another alternative would be to spread the cost across Europe and create a European deterrence – but both strategies just re-embed the UK’s current nuclear reliance.

    The UK is reliant on others for its nuclear deterrent.
    Number 10/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND

    While these weapons may deter a hostile nuclear strike, they have failed to prevent broader acts of aggression. Nuclear weapons have not been used in warfare for 80 years. Perhaps it is time to completely and permanently unshackle the UK from nuclear deterrence, and consider alternative forms of defence.

    The UK’s nuclear arsenal is expensive to maintain. The cost of replacing Trident is £205 billion. In 2023, the Ministry of Defence reported that the anticipated costs for supporting the nuclear deterrent would exceed its budget by £7.9 billion over the next ten years. This funding could be channelled into more pressing security threats, such as cybersecurity, terrorism or climate change.

    Nuclear weapons will become strategically redundant if the UK cannot act independently. As Nato and the US dominate the global nuclear stage, the UK’s capacity to respond has become contested. The time has come to decide whether the US is really our friend – or a new foe.

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

    – ref. The US has the power to switch off the UK’s nuclear subs – a big problem as Donald Trump becomes an unreliable partner – https://theconversation.com/the-us-has-the-power-to-switch-off-the-uks-nuclear-subs-a-big-problem-as-donald-trump-becomes-an-unreliable-partner-252674

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why rapid at-home PSA tests for prostate cancer are fast, convenient – and unreliable

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dipa Kamdar, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, Kingston University

    Microscopic image of a prostate gland biopsy showing cancer in a patient with elevated PSA. David A Litman/Shutterstock

    A recent BBC investigation questioned the accuracy of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) self-tests – rapid at-home tests for men worried about prostate cancer. The BBC analysed five of these tests using one blood sample and found varying results: one positive, three negative, and one unreadable.

    PSA blood tests measures levels of PSA, a protein produced by the prostate gland. All men have some PSA in their blood but a raised level can suggest a problem with the prostate, including cancer.

    In the UK, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.

    Unlike many other cancers, there is no national screening programme for prostate cancer and the NHS doesn’t offer routine PSA testing. But anyone who has a prostate and is over 50 years old – or over 45 and from a high-risk group – can request PSA testing on the NHS. A doctor may also request testing if they think a patient has prostate cancer symptoms or want to monitor a diagnosed prostate condition.

    A faster and potentially more convenient alternative is self-testing. Currently, anyone over the age of 18 can buy a PSA self-testing kit for home use. With no proactive NHS screening programme, home testing is on the rise to catch prostate cancer early – even before there are any symptoms. By catching fast-growing cancers early, treatment can prevent them from spreading and causing serious problems.

    As with COVID self-testing, the PSA home kits use test cassettes. You use a lancet (small needle) to prick your finger to get a few drops of blood, put the blood into a pipette and then drip this on to the test cassette along with a buffer solution. Depending on the test kit, a positive or negative result is displayed in five-to-ten minutes.

    This might sound convenient, but some users find the detailed instructions for home PSA tests difficult to follow, which can lead to errors. A review found the information provided with self-tests is generally inadequate.

    But as the BBC report showed, even when used correctly, PSA home tests can give varying results.

    Not a cancer test

    Positive tests or high PSA levels may cause men to worry unnecessarily. PSA tests are not blood tests for prostate cancer, and a PSA test can neither diagnose nor rule out prostate cancer. Rather, higher levels of PSA indicate a potential problem with the prostate.

    In many men, this could be caused by a benign prostatic hyperplasia – an enlarged prostate. This is a non-cancerous condition affecting 8% of men in their fifties, where the prostate gland grows larger. It can cause urinary problems, such as difficulty in starting pee, a weak urine stream and frequent or urgent urination. The likelihood of developing an enlarged prostate increases with age.

    An inflamed prostate (prostatitis) can also cause raised PSA, as can urine infections – and even vigorous exercise and sexual activity.

    In some cases, rapid home tests can give a false negative result, offering false reassurance for users who should go on to have further tests for cancer.

    Another drawback of home-testing kits is that there is no medical professional to refer a test user for further checks or to help interpret results. For example, a normal PSA level doesn’t mean the person testing is cancer-free: PSA levels can be normal even in someone with prostate cancer.

    Tests are not a GP substitute

    While rapid at-home PSA tests can be unreliable, other types of PSA self-testing kit allow you to collect the blood sample in a small tube, then send it to a laboratory for testing. Getting these results can take a few days but can offer a more detailed PSA value, compared with rapid at-home tests. But again, these lab tests can neither diagnose nor rule out prostate cancer.

    Whatever the method of testing, high PSA levels should be followed up with a doctor who can order more tests and scans to check for cancer.

    Many men might find the Prostate Cancer UK online risk checker useful. It asks three main questions about age, ethnicity and family history.

    The older a man is, the higher their risk of prostate cancer. Men of black ethnic heritage have double the chance of developing prostate cancer, while those with a close relative – father or brother – who has had prostate cancer are also at increased risk.

    The online risk checker also provides useful resources, information to take to the doctor, and contact details for specialist nurses.

    If a man is experiencing any symptoms of prostate problems, falls into a higher risk group, has genetic risk factors, has a positive PSA home-test, or just has concerns about prostate cancer, it’s always best to check with the doctor – they can provide more support, information and further testing.

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

    – ref. Why rapid at-home PSA tests for prostate cancer are fast, convenient – and unreliable – https://theconversation.com/why-rapid-at-home-psa-tests-for-prostate-cancer-are-fast-convenient-and-unreliable-252415

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Junbo Zhao from UConn College of Engineering Wins NSF CAREER Award

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    For those of us old enough to remember, the 2003 blackout in New York City and parts of the Northeast served as a grim reminder of the tenuous nature of the electrical grid we all take for granted. Electrical generation and distribution systems are complex and, in many cases, overtaxed and quite old. But technology has significantly improved since that fateful day, and if today’s grid operators had access to some of the tools now in place or currently being developed, they might have been able to mitigate or avoid that memorable and traumatic power interruption.

    Looking back, explains Junbo Zhao, Castleman Term professor in Engineering Innovation, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), part of the problem was that the control systems that existed in 2003 didn’t offer any functional way to give operators the needed visibility to adjust to generations and demands in real time. They lacked the tools they needed to reroute or divert power from other sources and, in hindsight, to have seen the problems as they were developing.

    “Traditionally, power grid operators use a method called static state estimation (SSE) to monitor systems and ensure reliable data for decision-making,” Zhao explains. “However, this method struggles under extreme conditions, which contributed to the 2003 blackout, causing billions of dollars in losses.”

    With the rapid growth of renewable energy sources like solar and wind, he adds, as well as increased battery storage, the power grid is becoming more dynamic. Traditional SSE is no longer enough to keep up with these fast-changing conditions.

    To help address these challenges, Zhao, from the UConn College of Engineering (CoE), has received a five-year National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program grant. The CAREER Program is a foundation-wide activity that offers the NSF’s most prestigious awards in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.

    Junbo Zhao, second from left, works with students (from left) Alaa Selim, Yingyi Tang, Tong Su, and Bendong Tan on CAREER project logistics. (photo, Christopher LaRosa/UConn)

    According to Zhao, beyond technical advancements, this project also will foster collaboration between industry and academia, update courses, and provide hands-on training in renewable energy, data analytics, and power engineering. Special efforts will be made to engage K-12 students, helping to build the next generation of energy experts.

    “We’re looking at ways to expand now to ensure that our energy systems are more resilient and expandable in the future,” Zhao explains. “We are exploring dynamic abilities and creating tools that can be utilized to guide effective decision-making and prevent catastrophic blackouts, rather than simply respond to them.”

    Researchers help ensure stability going forward

    This grant project aims to improve grid operators’ ability to monitor and control the power system in real time, ensuring stability as more renewable energy sources are added. The project will introduce new ways to use measurements for tracking system conditions, diagnosing and fixing model issues, and improving measurement setups to enhance grid reliability and security.

    “Dr. Zhao’s NSF CAREER award is a testament to the ECE department’s dedication to integrating research and educational excellence,” says John Chandy, professor and ECE department head. “The award will support his research efforts in power grid reliability and resilience as well as an integrated education program focused on undergraduate and graduate students. Additionally, the program will extend his outreach efforts to the community as well as to industry and national lab partners. I am confident that this new CAREER project will drive innovations that further enhance the university mission and strengthen the ECE department’s power and energy program.”

    Zhao earned his Ph.D. from Virginia Tech in 2018. He also serves as director, DOE Northeast University Cybersecurity Center for Advanced and Resilient Energy Delivery, and is a research scientist for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

    According to Emmanouil Anagnostou, executive director of CoE’s institute of environment and energy, the Eversource Energy Center, Zhao’s CAREER research will further enhance the center’s role in enhancing grid reliability and resilience, particularly as the integration of renewable energy continues to expand.

    “Dr. Zhao’s CAREER project will significantly benefit both the utility industry and the research community by advancing integrated research and education on the scientific and engineering principles necessary for modeling, monitoring, and digitizing future power systems,” says Anagnostou. “With the growing adoption of renewable energy, this work is essential for ensuring a secure and reliable power supply.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boulder, Colorado Named New Host of Sundance Film Festival Beginning in 2027

    Source: US State of Colorado

    Press conference to be held at 2 p.m. today in downtown Boulder 

    BOULDER — Today, the Sundance Institute named Boulder, Colorado as the new host of the Sundance Film Festival starting in 2027. To celebrate the announcement, a press conference will be held at 2 p.m. today, March 27, in front of the Boulder Theater on the southwest corner of 14th and Spruce in downtown Boulder, Colorado. State officials, including Gov. Polis, Sundance Institute representatives, and Visit Boulder are all expected to speak. Members of the media who plan to attend should RSVP to Ally Sullivan at ally.sullivan@state.co.us.

     “I’m beyond excited to welcome the Sundance Film Festival to Colorado starting in 2027. Powerful films tell our stories; who we were, who we are, and who we aspire to be. Here in Colorado we also celebrate the arts and film industry as a key economic driver, job creator, and important contributor to our thriving culture. Now, with the addition of the iconic Sundance Film Festival, we can expect even more jobs, a huge benefit for our small businesses including stores and restaurants, and to help the festival achieve even greater success. Thank you to the Sundance Film Festival and all of the partners including the City of Boulder, Visit Boulder, the Boulder Chamber of Commerce, and I also want to thank the bipartisan legislators and leadership who have worked tirelessly to make this possible,” said Governor Jared Polis. 

    Today’s announcement follows the submission of a winning proposal by the Boulder Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Boulder) with support from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), the Colorado Office of Film Television and Media (COFTM), OEDIT’s Business Funding & Incentives Division, Colorado Creative Industries (CCI), the Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) and a regional coalition of partners, including the City of Boulder, the Boulder Chamber, the University of Colorado Boulder, and the Stanley Film Center. The proposal to host the Sundance Film Festival in Boulder has also secured bipartisan support, including the sponsors of HB25-1005, which is still moving through the legislative process, House Majority Leader Monica Duran, Rep. Brianna Titone, Sen. Judy Amabile and Sen. Mark Baisley. 

    “We’re beyond excited that Boulder has been chosen as the future home for the Sundance Film Festival. With its thriving creative spirit, stunning mountain backdrop, and welcoming community, Boulder offers a truly one-of-a-kind experience for filmmakers and attendees alike. This moment is a testament to what happens when a community comes together to champion art, culture, and connection. Congratulations, Boulder and all of Colorado — this is our moment to shine!” said Charlene Hoffman, CEO of Visit Boulder. 

    Through this historic opportunity, Colorado will honor the Festival’s roots in the mountain west, while supporting its ongoing growth and success and boosting the state’s creative economy. The Festival’s presence in Boulder will benefit the region and beyond, increasing tourism and boosting sales to restaurants and small businesses during a quiet time of year, while bolstering Colorado’s creative economy and generating new jobs for Coloradans. 

    “Colorado has long been known for its culture of collaboration, and that spirit was on full display throughout the proposal process. Recognizing the opportunity to strengthen our creative economy, create new jobs for Coloradans, boost tourism and elevate Colorado on the global stage, a diverse group of partners came together to showcase Colorado as the ideal next home for the Sundance Film Festival. The relationships we have built and strengthened, especially our partnership with the Sundance Institute, will ensure the Festival’s next act is a tremendous success,” said OEDIT Executive Director, Eve Lieberman. 

    “We are thrilled to welcome the Sundance Film Festival to Colorado and work with our new partners at the Sundance Institute to ensure a smooth transition to Boulder in 2027. We can think of no better partner to elevate filmmaking and storytelling in Colorado and look forward to celebrating the many creative milestones that lie ahead,” said Colorado Film Commissioner, Donald Zuckerman. “With our world-renowned Rocky Mountain landscapes, well-established creative communities, strong hotel bed base, and robust domestic and international connectivity through Denver International Airport, Colorado is the perfect stage for the Sundance Film Festival’s next act. Congratulations to Boulder, and welcome to our new Festival partners!” said Colorado House Majority Leader Monica Duran. 

    “Hosting the Sundance Film Festival is an incredible win for the Boulder region and the state of Colorado. The 2024 festival generated $132 million in gross domestic product, created 1,730 jobs paying $69.7 million in wages, and attracted 24,000 out-of-state visitors who spent an average of $735 a day. We expect to see a similar impact for Coloradans and look forward to welcoming the Festival in 2027,” said Colorado Rep. Brianna Titone. 

    “The Tax Incentive for Film Festivals is advancing through the Colorado legislature with bipartisan support, paving the way for today’s historic announcement and demonstrating our state’s commitment to ensuring the success of the Sundance Film Festival in Colorado. This exciting news will elevate our creative industries and create new jobs for Coloradans for years to come,” said Colorado Sen. Judy Amabile. 

    “Today’s announcement is a tremendous win for Colorado small businesses. We welcome the Sundance Film Festival making its new home in Boulder. This will boost sales at restaurants, retailers and other small businesses throughout the region that rely on tourism, bringing much needed revenue to Colorado communities during a quiet time of year,” said Colorado Sen. Mark Baisley.

     About Visit Boulder 

    Visit Boulder, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, is the official destination marketing organization for the city of Boulder, Colorado. Established in 1985, Visit Boulder strengthens the local economy by inspiring visitor connections to Boulder’s vibrant landscape and unique culture. (www.bouldercoloradousa.com) 

    About the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade 

    The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) works to empower all to thrive in Colorado’s economy. Under the leadership of the Governor and in collaboration with economic development partners across the state, we foster a thriving business environment through funding and financial programs, training, consulting and informational resources across industries and regions. We promote economic growth and long-term job creation by recruiting, retaining, and expanding Colorado businesses and providing programs that support entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes at every stage of growth. Our goal is to protect what makes our state a great place to live, work, start a business, raise a family, visit and retire—and make it accessible to everyone. Learn more about OEDIT. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Phyllis Nomura Promoted to Chief Financial Officer of First Fed Bank and First Northwest Bancorp

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PORT ANGELES, Wash., March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — First Northwest Bancorp (NASDAQ: FNWB) and its subsidiary First Fed Bank (collectively the “Company”), today announced the promotion of Phyllis Nomura to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of First Fed. She will also serve as EVP/CFO and as Treasurer for First Northwest. Nomura joined First Fed as Senior Director of Accounting in November 2024.

    “We are excited to welcome Phyllis to our executive team. She was hired in 2024 as part of our management succession plan and brings over 30 years of experience in accounting, finance, and audit. Her leadership skills and experience are a meaningful addition to our team,” said Matt Deines, President and CEO of FNWB and First Fed.

    “I am deeply honored to step into the role of Chief Financial Officer. In the time I have been a part of this incredible team, I’ve witnessed first-hand our unwavering commitment to our mission to improve the lives of those we serve. I am thrilled to be working alongside our talented team and to continue building on our strong foundation and creating value for our customers, employees, communities, and shareholders,” said Nomura.

    Nomura brings more than 20 years of financial experience in Chief Financial Officer (CFO) positions. Prior to joining First Fed, she served as CFO of the YWCA Seattle King Snohomish, located in Seattle, from May 2023 to November 2024, and CFO of Kosmos Management, in Seattle, from August 2016 to November 2022, and CFO of First Sound Bank, also in Seattle, from June 2013 to January 2016. She held other CFO positions prior to First Sound Bank and served as an Auditor and Senior Audit Manager at Deloitte from January 1994 to September 2001. Nomura holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Grand Valley State University and is a licensed CPA.

    Consistent with the management succession plan, Geri Bullard will continue to serve as Chief Operating Officer leading the Bank’s initiatives to enhance profitability, efficiency, and back-office operations. She is responsible for our core operating system and related systems. Her financial background will be invaluable to the Bank as she focuses on leading departments that are critical to our success.

    “Geri is the hardest working person I have ever known. She has handled her responsibilities as CFO with aplomb, managing our Accounting and Finance Team, SEC reporting, budgeting and financial planning. She has significantly enhanced the Accounting and Finance teams, our financial reporting, investment portfolio, expense management, financial analysis, interest rate and liquidity reporting and capital management. Her work with our balance sheet restructure over the past five quarters helped place us in the position to return to profitability in 2025 and beyond. She is a loyal and trusted advisor to me, the Board, and the entire Senior Team,” said Deines.

    About FNWB

    First Northwest Bancorp (Nasdaq: FNWB) is a financial holding company engaged in investment activities including the business of its subsidiary, First Fed Bank. First Fed is a Pacific Northwest-based financial institution which has served its customers and communities since 1923. Currently First Fed has 18 locations in Washington state including 12 full-service branches. First Fed’s business and operating strategy is focused on building sustainable earnings by delivering a full array of financial products and services for individuals, small businesses, non-profit organizations and commercial customers. In 2022, First Northwest made an investment in The Meriwether Group, LLC, a boutique investment banking and accelerator firm. Additionally, First Northwest focuses on strategic partnerships to provide modern financial services such as digital payments and marketplace lending. First Northwest Bancorp was incorporated in 2012 and completed its initial public offering in 2015 under the ticker symbol FNWB. First Fed is headquartered in Port Angeles, Washington.

    First Fed Bank was recognized by Puget Sound Business Journal as a Best Workplace in 2023 and top Corporate Philanthropist in 2023 and 2024. By popular vote, First Fed received 2024 awards for Best Bank and Best Lender in Best of the Peninsula for Clallam County. First Fed is a Member FDIC and equal housing lender.

    Contact: Matthew P. Deines
    President & CEO
    (360) 457-0461

    The MIL Network –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Energy bills and debt are rising yet again – here are three things that would help vulnerable households

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Elaine Robinson, Research Associate, Centre for Research in Social Policy, Loughborough University

    Energy prices are rising faster than benefits, wages or pensions, meaning the amount that UK households owe to energy suppliers – their energy debt – is also likely to grow.

    On April 1 2025, the energy price cap, which is the maximum amount suppliers can charge, will rise by 6.4%. This is the third consecutive quarterly increase, and a rise of 9.4% compared with the limit set the previous April, which amounts to an increase of £159 on the typical bill.

    Meanwhile, benefits such as universal credit are being increased by only 1.7%, which will mean those on low incomes will find it challenging to pay for the energy they need. The increase is so low because, every April, benefits rise in line with the rate of overall inflation for the previous September.

    State pension increases have outpaced increases to working age benefits due to “the triple lock”, which ensures annual increases are pegged to the highest of earnings growth, inflation or 2.5%. Nonetheless, the state pension is set to rise by only 4.1%.

    Combined with the loss of the winter fuel payment (at least £200 a year) for all but the poorest pensioner households, the price cap rise will especially hurt those who are just above the threshold to receive pension credit.

    People in low-paid work will fare slightly better. But still, the minimum wage rise of 6.7% for those over 21 in April 2025 will not keep pace with the 9.4% annual increase in energy prices. Essentials, such as energy, make up a greater proportion of spending for low-income households, so these price rises will have a greater impact here.

    Energy debt highest since 2012

    Energy regulator Ofgem reported those in arrears (without a repayment plan) owed an average of £1,568 for electricity and £1,324 for gas at the end of September 2024, an annual increase of 33% and 85% higher than debt levels in September 2021.

    Even for those on repayment plans, debt remains high, having risen by two-thirds since the start of 2022. Record levels of energy debt – the highest since records began in 2012 – are inflating bills for all consumers, as energy providers seek to recover the cost of debt. This situation looks set to worsen, given that this data precedes price rises since October 2024.

    Moving to a fixed rate or cheaper tariff with another supplier is not possible for those with more than 28 days unpaid energy bill debt. Households at risk of going into debt also tend to ration their energy use or self-disconnect. But living in a cold home risks damp and mould, which has severe health consequences.

    Available help is not enough

    The government is expanding the warm home discount scheme to make more households eligible for an annual payment of £150, but it is unclear at this stage who will benefit. The payment may not be enough, since price cap changes mean that from April 2025, average annual bills will be £159 more expensive. Crucially, energy debt repayments are not reflected in the government’s fuel poverty calculations.

    The government urgently needs to introduce an effective debt relief scheme.

    Ofgem has acknowledged that energy is essential for everyone and that disconnection has harmful consequences. It also recognises energy market failures prevent those with small debts from accessing better deals. The regulator recommends a debt relief fund of up to £1 billion to help vulnerable households that have been affected by the energy crisis and for suppliers to adopt consistent standards in handling and preventing debt.

    Here’s are three ways the government can protect vulnerable households.

    1. Store more energy

    Renewable energy sources like wind and solar are intermittent, so demand won’t always match supply. In a marketised energy system, that means prices will be more volatile. However, a leading cause of high bills in the last few years has been the fact that Britain’s privatised system sets electricity bills according to the wholesale price of gas, which is often the most expensive energy source.

    If the UK can create more energy storage options (such as batteries, pumped hydro and thermal storage), the grid can store excess green energy when it is abundant to use when it is needed. This would reduce price volatility and reliance on expensive gas.



    Read more:
    How gas keeps the UK’s electricity bills so high – despite lots of cheap wind power

    2. Insulate homes

    Home improvements such as insulation and draught-proofing can help people spend less on energy for heating, which accounts for most of the cost of domestic energy bills. This needs to be combined with adequate ventilation to prevent damp and mould.

    3. Cover medical energy costs

    Since late 2024, energy pricing reform has permitted tariffs without a standing charge. This is an amount you pay on your energy bill every day, regardless of whether you use any energy. The change will benefit those who spend the least on energy. However, it won’t help people whose energy needs are higher due to health conditions, or who spend more time at home.

    Older people, the disabled and those who are terminally ill will need more help, as highlighted by research I led on fuel poverty in the last year of life. Living in a cold home can exacerbate health conditions and cut lives short.

    People who are dying are more vulnerable to cold and may need to use more electricity for medical equipment. Our research found that they are more likely to be in fuel poverty. For the terminally ill, home energy-efficiency improvements take time that they don’t have. Getting work done is disruptive. What these people urgently need is help with their bills.

    End-of-life charity Marie Curie is campaigning for a social tariff which would provide cheaper energy for those who are terminally ill. It has asked the government for additional help to cover the energy costs of medical equipment, so that vulnerable people don’t fall into energy debt.

    Incomes are failing to keep pace with rising energy prices and existing schemes to help those on low incomes fall well short. This will push more people into hardship. The government must put the needs of the most vulnerable first.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Elaine Robinson is a member of the Labour Party. She has received funding from Marie Curie.

    – ref. Energy bills and debt are rising yet again – here are three things that would help vulnerable households – https://theconversation.com/energy-bills-and-debt-are-rising-yet-again-here-are-three-things-that-would-help-vulnerable-households-252570

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Melsonby hoard: iron-age Yorkshire discovery reveals ancient Britons’ connections with Europe

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Duncan Garrow, Professor of Archaeology, University of Reading

    The Melsonby hoard is a remarkable collection of more than 800 iron-age metal artefacts, which was found in a field near Melsonby, North Yorkshire, in December 2021.

    Its discovery represents a triumph of cross-sector collaboration in British archaeology. This extraordinary find excavated from Yorkshire soil is not just a collection of ancient objects, but signals a need for a significant revision of how we understand iron-age Britain.

    The presence of materials imported from the Mediterranean, and a type of continental European wagon new to Britain, challenges the idea that iron-age Britons were isolated. Instead, it tell us that “wealthy” iron-age people in northern England had contacts extending out across Europe.

    This 2022 excavation, supported by a £120,000 grant from Historic England and expertise from the British Museum, revealed more than 800 items dating to the first century BC – around the time of the Roman conquest under Emperor Claudius. The objects are almost certainly associated with the Brigantes tribe who dominated northern England during this period.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    The scale of this discovery sets it apart from typical iron-age finds. The hoard includes partial remains of at least seven four-wheeled wagons and/or two-wheeled chariots, harnesses for at least 14 horses, 28 iron tyres (many deliberately bent), three ceremonial spears and two ornate cauldrons.

    In iron-age Britain, communities regularly placed metalwork in rivers and bogs to mark significant life events, including death. The Thames has yielded deliberately deposited human skulls alongside weapons and metal objects. The Melsonby hoard can be seen as a land-based equivalent of these water deposits.

    One of the most significant aspects of this discovery is the first evidence of four-wheeled wagons used by iron-age British tribes, possibly imitating vehicles seen in continental Europe. This finding suggests that northern Britain was far from isolated, instead participating in widespread networks spanning Europe to the Mediterranean.

    The craftsmanship displayed in the hoard as whole is exceptional. Some horse harnesses feature Mediterranean coral and coloured glass, showcasing the distinctive curving patterns typical of Celtic Art. One cauldron, likely used for mixing wine, combines Mediterranean and iron age artistic styles – concrete evidence of cultural exchange between Britain and continental Europe.

    Particularly intriguing is evidence that many items were deliberately burned or broken before burial. This practice of ritually “killing” valuable objects has deep roots in British prehistory, stretching back to the bronze age. By destroying such items, iron age elites may have been demonstrating their wealth and status through conspicuous consumption.

    However, the burning might also relate to funerary practices in some way. Though no human remains were found, the objects could have been burned on a funeral pyre in a cremation ritual. This places the Melsonby hoard in an interesting position between traditional archaeological categories. It is part “hoard” (a deliberate deposit of objects) and part “grave goods” (items placed with the dead).

    This dual nature isn’t without precedent. Chariot burials are well-documented in iron-age Yorkshire, while collections of horse equipment appear in other discovered hoards. The Melsonby find might represent a combination of these traditions.

    However, we wouldn’t know about any of this if it hadn’t been for the decision of metal detectorist Peter Heads to resist unearthing the hoard himself.

    On making the discovery in December 2021, Heads immediately contacted archaeologists at Durham University, setting in motion a textbook example of proper archaeological practice. This allowed crucial contextual information that would have been lost forever had the site been disturbed without professional supervision.

    The hoard’s objects were carefully identified using scanning technology at the University of Southampton, allowing archaeologists to excavate without causing damage. This meticulous approach will enable years of productive research into these artefacts.

    Valued at £254,000, the Melsonby hoard is now the subject of a fundraising campaign by the Yorkshire Museum. A selection of objects is already on display, giving the public access to these remarkable artefacts.

    As research continues on this extraordinary find, it stands as a powerful example of how proper archaeological practice – from responsible metal detecting to collaborative, well-funded excavation – can transform our understanding of Britain’s past.

    The Melsonby hoard offers a unique window into iron-age life in Britain, challenging long-held historical assumptions about regional development and cultural sophistication.

    Duncan Garrow 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. Melsonby hoard: iron-age Yorkshire discovery reveals ancient Britons’ connections with Europe – https://theconversation.com/melsonby-hoard-iron-age-yorkshire-discovery-reveals-ancient-britons-connections-with-europe-253274

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 28, 2025
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