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“The true essence of Australia.” That’s how volunteer truck driver Inaya Stone describes the huge convoy snaking its way across the Nullarbor from Western Australia to South Australia, laden with desperately needed drought relief for SA farmers. “The most Australian thing you can do is helping someone out that needs a hand, and you know, reaching out and letting them know that you’re there,” the 26-year-old told ABC News. Inaya Stone is one of scores of volunteers driving 85 trucks across the Nullarbor to provide drought relief for SA farmers. (ABC News) “I think that there’s so much more to it than just delivering hay or feed or whatever you’re delivering. “I think you’re just delivering hope at the same time. “Someone knows that you’re thinking of them.” Bound for Wudinna Ms Stone is driving one of 85 trucks piled high with hay and straw — more than 6,000 bales in total — that set off from WA’s Fraser Ranges station on the Western Nullarbor Plain on Friday afternoon bound for Ceduna. The volunteers left Fraser Range station in WA on Friday, bound for Ceduna. (Supplied: Need for Feed) From there, the trucks will travel to Wudinna, where the first of the bales are expected to be unloaded to farmers in need. Relief is expected to be provided to about 400 farming businesses in SA, where severe drought has hit throughout the state’s agricultural regions. Ms Stone estimated the truck convoy stretched more than 3 kilometres long. (Supplied: Need for Feed) Many areas have recorded record-low rainfall over the past 12 months, with the Mid North and the upper Eyre Peninsula the worst affected, according to data from the Bureau of Meteorology. However, widespread heavy rain has fallen across SA this week, including in agricultural areas, and is expected to continue over the weekend, bringing some relief. The truck convoy left the WA town of Norseman on Friday, bound for South Australia. (Supplied: Need for Feed) The massive interstate logistical exercise is a project between charities Farmers Across Borders and Need for Feed, with support from the South Australian government. Truck drivers check their load before departing for South Australia. (Supplied: Need for Feed) The trucks were loaded with fodder from farms across WA’s Wheatbelt over the past week before setting off on their epic serpentine journey, which Ms Stone expected would be slow going. “I worked out there’s about three and a half kilometres worth of trucks, so once you spread that out over the highway, it takes a long time to get anyone anywhere,” she said. The convoy is a collaboration between farming charities Need for Feed and Farmers Across Borders. (Facebook: Need for Feed) Ms Stone, who is from a farming background herself, said her family had been involved in the hay convoys for more than a decade when aid group Farmers Across Borders was formed. As well as human volunteers, the giant convoy includes dogs. (Supplied: Need for Feed) She said her own experiences meant she had an affinity with SA farmers suffering the effects of drought. “We moved to Esperance 13 years ago now after we had a bunch of bad years in a row and had to sell the farm,” she said. The convoy includes cars as well as trucks, bound for South Australian farms. (Supplied: Hay From WA) “So I fully understand firsthand how the feeling is for these people, and that just having someone that’s there for you makes a big difference.” Read More

It has been dubbed the “convoy of compassion”. Eighty-five trucks, loaded with more than 6,000 bales of hay and straw, have begun the trek across the Nullarbor, headed to drought-stricken parts of South Australia. The massive logistical exercise is a project between charities Farmers Across Borders and Need for Feed, with support from the South Australian government. The fodder has been sent to support 400 farming businesses and feed 450,000 head of stock. More than eighty trucks are expected to join the convoy. (ABC News: Mark Bennett) Top quality feed The trucks have been loaded across Western Australia’s agricultural heartland over the past seven days. At Kulin, 300 kilometres east of Perth, farmer Michael Lucchesi said the 1,000 bales coming from his property were good quality. Trucks were loaded with fodder at Michael Lucchesi’s property as part of the convoy.  (ABC News: Mark Bennett) “It’s export quality. It was some of the first stuff we bailed last year and we got a bit more than what we needed,” he said. “We got a phone call and it was available and I thought, ‘Well, might as well give it to someone that needs it.’” Hay is loaded onto one of the trucks in Kulin.  (ABC News: Mark Bennett) It was the first time Mr Lucchesi had been involved in a hay run but he said it was something close to his heart. “We’ve been there, probably 15 years ago,” he said. “To have a drought, it’s not very nice.” Logistical feat Co-ordinating more than 80 trucks, obtaining permits across two states, and ensuring the convoy could travel along one of Australia’s major national highways without disruption has been a feat of organisation by truck driver Peter Warburton. Peter Warburton was busy coordinating the convoy in Kulin this week. (ABC News: Mark Bennett) While it had been trying at times, Mr Warburton said knowing the difference the fodder would make on the ground made it worthwhile. “Logistically, we’ve been probably five weeks in doing this,” he said.  “I did the main roads permits here in West Australia and then permits in SA. “It’s not just hay for the livestock, it’s also for the the farmers over there to know there’s people out there that care for them and want to help them.” Rob Gill, from Narembeen, has also donated his time to drive a truck in the convoy. He said keeping everyone on the road safe was a top priority. “Going over there’s up to 90 trucks,” he said. “They’ll put them in groups of 20 or 21, thereabouts, so there’s not 80 or 90 trucks all in one [group],” he said. Trucks depart Fraser Range Station carrying hay across the Nullarbor. (ABC Esperance: Tara De Landgrafft) “[The safety considerations are] especially for people with cars when they’re trying to pass.” The charities involved have also reached out on social media to other groups of road users to alert them of the convoy and instruct them of the signage and communication plans they have in place to ensure road safety. Rob Gill has a truck full of fodder for South Australian farmers. (ABC News: Mark Bennett) Opportunity to make a difference The convoy is a financial feat as well — with trucks to run, fuel to pay for, mouths to feed, and accommodation to book. Justin Williams has taken time off work to be involved. “I thought I’d just get a little gap to come help out,” he said. Justin Williams is taking part in the “convoy for compassion”. (ABC News: Mark Bennett) “The first few times I missed it, but this time around I got a chance so I thought I’d jump on it, just be a part of it.” Fellow volunteer Michael Young said seeing the impact of the drought firsthand made him keen to help. “A friend of mine that’s been on the run a couple of times rang me and I said, ‘We’re straight in,’” he said. “It will be just nice to help out and do our little bit for our fellow farmers.” Farmers Across Borders president Sam Starcevich said she had lost count of how many hay runs she had done since becoming involved in 2014.  She said the convoy was her third trip “across the paddock” to do a hay run over the Western Australian border.  Recently relaxed biosecurity laws in South Australia have enabled other states, including Western Australia, to export hay from green snail-free areas.  “It’s well and truly over half-a-million-dollars worth of hay, and then the fuel is probably three times, four times that amount,” Ms Starcevich said. This hay run is the third Sam Starcevich has done ‘across the paddock’ to South Australia. (ABC News: Tara Delandgrafft.) The impressive trip has been met with one further hurdle at the last stop in Fraser Range before making the journey across the border. Damaging winds reached 100 kilometres per hour as a storm rolled across southern parts of the state, delaying the convoy’s plan to leave in the early hours of Friday. Nonetheless, Ms Starcevich hoped they would be able to get to farmers by Sunday.  “It’s crazy weather isn’t it,” she said. “Where there’s a will there’s a way, we’ve proved we could do it before and we’ll do it again.” Despite the massive undertaking, Need for Feed chairman Graham Cockerell said the convoy still would not meet all requests for assistance the organisation had received. The charity had been sourcing hay from across the country, going as far as northern New South Wales to provide relief to the most drought-stricken parts of South Australia. “We’ve got about 450 [requests], and this will get to about 300,” he said. “We know people who have de-stocked to a large extent, and they’re pretty desperate trying to hang onto their breeding stock. Read More

It might not be on our plates or menus just yet, but US beef has been a hot topic of conversation across the nation after this week’s decision to lift import restrictions that had been in place for more than two decades.  Australia banned beef imports from the US in 2003 after the fatal neurological disease bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also known as mad cow disease, was discovered in American cattle. The blanket ban was lifted in 2019, but restrictions remained on beef that was sourced from Canada or Mexico and slaughtered in the US, amid concerns it could carry the disease. “The Americans were unwilling to … do the traceability work to make sure that beef that was coming to Australia wasn’t actually rebranded from somewhere else,” veterinarian and former NSW Farmers Association president, James Jackson, said. James Jackson says biosecurity concerns initially prompted restrictions. (ABC New England: Matt Bedford) “We don’t want foot and mouth disease in this country, we don’t want our consumers to eat beef and get Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which is the disease you get from eating cattle with mad cow disease.” While some in the industry were optimistic that lifting the restrictions would open up trade opportunities for Australian producers, others raised concerns that Australia’s biosecurity could be compromised. What has changed? The federal government said the move was the result of a decade-long biosecurity review that found more robust movement controls had been introduced in the US. “The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is satisfied the strengthened control measures put in place by the US effectively manage biosecurity risks,” Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said. “The Albanese Labor government will never compromise on biosecurity.” Julie Collins says the government is confident in its biosecurity review. (ABC News: Brendan Esposito) Nationals leader David Littleproud questioned the timing of the decision, saying it looked as though it was a trade to appease US President Donald Trump.  The biosecurity restrictions on beef imports from the United States were one of the key grievances that led the Trump administration to impose tariffs on Australia. Red Meat Advisory Council chair John McKillop said while the decision may have been pushed through “slightly quicker” than expected, he was confident it was the result of a long-running assessment. “Probably the timing isn’t a great look, but these changes have been in the pipeline for many years,” he said. Are there still biosecurity risks? Global AgriTrends analyst Simon Quilty said the risk of US beef imports introducing diseases to Australia was now much lower.  “They have improved their traceability methods within America and I think, in all honesty, that the degree of risk is significantly low,” he said. Simon Quilty hopes the decision will keep US-imposed tariffs steady.  (ABC Wodonga: Ashlee Charlton) Mr McKillop said any risk would also be mitigated by the limited amount of beef Australia was likely to import from the US. “They have the lowest beef herd in 70 years in the US at the moment [due to drought],” he said. “The most [beef] that was ever brought in, and this was pre-BSE … was 210 tonnes … in contrast to the 395,000 tonnes we exported to the US last year.” Mr McKillop said the US was also experiencing near-record beef and cattle prices, and it was unlikely Australians would want to pay high prices for their product. Will Australians buy US beef? While the amount of beef coming into Australia from the US may be limited, Mr Jackson said there could be a market for it. “There may be some lines [of product] come into Australia, people who want to sell American beef on a restaurant menu or something like that,” he said. Angus beef is considered a premium product around the globe. (Supplied: Angus Australia) Mr Jackson said Australia must be open to accepting American beef if it wanted to maintain a trade relationship with the US. “Part of a trade deal is that you’re willing to take product from other countries,” he said. “Are we happy with Australian consumers eating American beef? Well, probably we’re not that happy, but the reality is that if you trade, you’ve got to be happy to take other people’s product as well.” What does this mean for US-imposed tariffs? The trade restriction on US beef has been a key grievance for the Trump administration, which placed a 10 per cent tariff on all Australian imports earlier this year. Professor Ben Lyons, from the University of Southern Queensland’s Rural Economies Centre of Excellence, said it was difficult to know how the move would impact that tariff.  “Nothing would surprise us at the moment because that’s the new paradigm under the Trump administration — full of surprises,” he said.  Ben Lyons says US-imposed tariffs have so far had little impact on Australia’s beef exports. (ABC News: Victoria Pengilley) Dr Lyons said he was confident the Australian beef industry would maintain a strong export market, regardless of US-imposed tariffs. “If past performance is the best indicator of the future, we always seem to find a way with our export markets,” he said. “Even the announcement of this tariff on Australian beef at the beginning of the year hasn’t really had any economic impact as yet on our exports. “I think we should just carry on calmly and do what we do best. I don’t really see this as being a long-term issue for Australian agriculture.” Read More

It’s 5am on a Friday, and Rusty’s Markets has just opened. Stallholders have been setting up for hours, readying themselves for the thousands of people who will walk through the pavilion over the weekend. This has been the routine for decades, and as the landmark Cairns markets celebrate their 50th anniversary, the bustling hive of stalls is testament to their popularity. Rusty’s Markets began with a dirt floor in 1975. (ABC Far North: Sophie Johnson) Rusty’s has come a long way from the early days when the marketplace was just a dirt floor, with a handful of stallholders selling goods from the back of their cars. Over the years, more than 180 stores have found a home here. Rusty’s Markets are a landmark destination in Cairns. (ABC Far North: Sophie Johnson) It all started with the hippies The markets were established in 1975 by Emrys “Rusty” Rees, who saw an opportunity to help nearby farmers sell produce directly to the public. His son, Wayne Rees, 74, said hippies initially hired out the space from Rusty to start a Saturday morning market, but that venture didn’t last long. “They disappeared after a few months, so my old man started [Rusty’s Markets], kept it going,” Mr Rees said. Wayne Rees says his father would be proud of how the markets have evolved. (ABC Far North: Brendan Mounter) He said his father wanted farmers to get a fair price for their goods. “He knew a lot of the farmers, and a lot of the farmers were getting ripped off by wholesalers, so he said to them, ‘Why don’t you come to the market?’ “He just saw an opportunity where the farmers and the public of Cairns could have a win-win situation.” Local farmers sell their produce directly to the public at the markets. (ABC Far North: Sophie Johnson) Rusty’s vision has grown into a tourism drawcard. “People have come to Cairns and know of Rusty’s Markets,” Mr Rees said. “Then they go back to their country and tell their friends, ‘If you go to Cairns, you’ve got to go to the market.’” Although his father died 25 years ago, Mr Rees said his legacy had lived on through the markets. A variety of produce and other goods are sold at Rusty’s Markets. (ABC Far North: Sophie Johnson) Decades of stallholders The markets are the primary source of income for farmer Ricky Lee, who has sold fresh produce from his Innisfail farm for three decades. He started with a 2-square-metre table, selling mostly bananas. Ricky Lee has been selling fresh fruit and vegetables at the markets for about 30 years. (ABC Far North: Sophie Johnson) “We’ve got four cubicles now,” Mr Lee said. “We try to get as much as we can from our farm and then from the local growers around the place.” Heidi Piccolo’s family flower stall, Basilisk Blooms, has also operated from the markets for about 30 years. Heidi Piccolo says her flowers are sold around the world thanks to their exposure at Rusty’s Markets. (ABC Far North: Sophie Johnson) “People from all over the world come to Cairns, not just to go out to the reef, but to … see Rusty’s Markets and [it’s] put us on the world stage,” she said. “These [flowers] go all around the world, they go all around Australia.” Read More

Lauren Black was 35 and raising a toddler when her mum died unexpectedly. “Mum was the centre pin for so many people in my family, and the family business, and suddenly that fell to myself and my older brother,” says the 42-year-old from Albury-Wodonga, on the traditional lands of the Wiradjuri people. “I stepped into Mum’s place for my dad, took over the care of their two dogs as well as my own, stepped in as my grandmother’s support with the onset of dementia, and stepped in to work with my brother as he took over the family business.” Lauren says the sudden change and increased responsibility, which included moving back to her hometown from city life in Canberra, was a strain on her marriage. “My husband got the last of my time and our relationship suffered.” Lauren wrote to us after reading our story on being the sandwich generation. We spoke to Lauren to hear more about how caring for a young child and older family members affected her marriage, and also asked two experts for their insights into the toll being in the sandwich generation can have on relationships. ‘We didn’t have any time together’ Michelle O’Shea is a senior lecturer in the School of Business at Western Sydney University and has been analysing data on sandwich carers, provided by Carers NSW. “What really resonated was the cognitive load. Respondents consistently talked about this idea of care taking up such a large part of their time and mental energy,” Dr O’Shea says. She says there was also a physical toll that left carers exhausted. “[One woman spoke about] having to render assistance to her mother, which included bathing and assisting around the house, while also doing those things in her household as well.” The mental and physical load means there is often nothing left to give anyone else in their lives, Dr O’Shea says, including quality time with a partner. Lauren says moving back to her hometown on a whim to help family was part of the struggle, because her husband Matt didn’t have the same social network in the area. “I was his person in Albury, but I wasn’t available. “We didn’t have any time together, and any time I did have, I needed to look after myself. “Matt and I have always so had different interests, so he’s not coming to a ceramics workshop, where I want to sit down and chat to other women who are going through the same thing as me.” The couple also missed out on creating the family they had imagined for themselves. “We never had any other children as I couldn’t take on any more stress or responsibility at that time, and I’ve regretted that decision over the years.” Changing family dynamics Being a part of the sandwich generation is one of the most intense life stages many couples face, says Queenie Wu, a clinical psychologist in Brisbane/Meanjin. She says many couples may experience communication breakdown, resentment over an unequal responsibility, and financial pressures. “Clients talk about going from lovers to logistic managers without realising it.” Couples who cope well with being in the sandwich generation regularly check in and prioritise time together, experts say. (Pexels) This can be impacted further when the aging parent lives in the home. “Even with love and goodwill, it shifts the emotional centre of the home,” Dr Wu says. “Couples’ connection can take a big hit … there can be a grief and loss of privacy and that safe haven.” She says parents living in the home can also create confusion around roles. “Sometimes parents overstep and undermine.” Gender and cultural influences Lauren says the bulk of the caring duties fell to her. “It’s a gendered issue … but Matt was also struggling a lot. “While I was drowning in responsibility, I had so many women around me going through the same thing, so I was able to connect and get that support. “Whereas Matt focused on his work and playing sport, where there isn’t always the opportunity to discuss your struggles.” Dr O’Shea says even when there might be multiple adult children in the family, most of the time caring duties rest with the daughter or daughter-in-law. “There were lots of women speaking [about] the care of their own parents, but also their in-laws. “And what’s different about women in this sandwich generation to prior generations, is not only are these women caring for their children and elder relatives, but they’re also working.” And while it might be more common or expected in certain cultures to take care of aging parents, it’s often no less difficult, says Dr Wu. “For many Chinese Australians like me, it’s not just an expectation [to care for aging parents], but a fundamental responsibility ingrained from childhood. “Cultural values may shape the stories, but the stress is still real.” Dr O’Shea says many migrant families in Australia may also be dealing with supporting family from afar. “They also have care commitments for aging relatives living abroad. “There is another layer to that care.” Protecting the relationship Many carers don’t feel seen in the work they are doing. “It’s invisible,” says Dr Wu. For that reason, she says it’s important couples acknowledge and validate the care that is being undertaken. To stay connected, couples should prioritise time together like they would “a medical appointment”, she says. “We need to make it happen — treat it as sacred.” Ongoing communication and regular check-ins are also essential, says Dr Wu. “Couples who come through this chapter stronger are those who stay intentional. “They talk openly, share the load fairly, protect small moments of connection, and see themselves as a team. “Even amidst the chaos, they choose each other, again and again.” Lauren says life is slowly becoming more manageable. For example, her career is “back on track”, her dad has a new partner, and her brother runs the family business independently. But she says it will take time to fully

Centenarian Joan Plunkett had a strong reaction when she heard Burrangiri Aged Care Respite Centre would close. “I was disgusted because the people that were there really needed to be there and they were relaxed and happy there,” the 101-year-old said. Now, the Canberran is relieved the ACT government will abandon that plan, instead keeping the 15-bed centre in Canberra’s south open for another two years. “It’s good news but it’s only half news because two years is nothing … So, they need to get busy and start on a decent-sized replacement,” Mrs Plunkett said. She stayed at the respite centre for several weeks while her carer and daughter had a break. “It was very pleasant, and the girls are all lovely. All the carers are delightful. Nothing’s a trouble,” Mrs Plunkett recalled. Ruth Carter, one of Mrs Plunkett’s daughters, agreed. “Mum’s residing here with my sister and her husband, so obviously it’s crucial [they] have ongoing respite. Mum needs to go somewhere,” she said. “The centre’s been open for 35 years and what you have is continuity of care.” Ms Carter said closing Burrangiri would have been “hugely catastrophic for Canberra”. Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith announced Burrangiri will no longer close next month. (ABC News: Michael Barnett) In announcing its pivot, the government stressed the building the service is housed in still needs major works. “The health directorate’s advice remains that the facility would require a significant scope of work to be fit for purpose,” Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said. The building has just two bathrooms and electrical and safety issues. Ms Stephen-Smith said today’s reversal sensibly weighed those issues against the strong community demand for Burrangiri’s services, offering an apology for the uncertainty. ‘Carers will be very happy’ The Salvation Army will continue to operate the respite facility, with independent MLA Fiona Carrick saying the two-year extension gave workers “certainty” and “anything shorter, people start leaving”. Ms Carrick said she had heard from concerned Canberrans who relied on Burrangiri and that those “carers will be very happy”. “It’s not the end of Burrangiri. We don’t know how the options will play out. Potentially, Burrangiri could still be on the table [after the two-year extension],” she said. Independent MLA Fiona Carrick says many Canberrans rely on Burrangiri. (ABC News: Michael Barnett) As part of its re-election pitch, federal Labor had promised $10 million for respite aged care beds in the ACT. Ms Stephen-Smith said she had written to Health Minister Mark Butler asking for federal support to fund the extension of Burrangiri, as well as “expediting their $10-million commitment”. “The Commonwealth government has really accepted that aged care respite is its responsibility,” Ms Stephen-Smith said. She said Burrangiri’s two-year extensions buys the federal government time to deliver on its commitment to fund the ACT’s respite beds going forward. The ACT government has yet to determine what it’s going to do with the Burrangiri facility. (ABC News: Joel Wilson) ACT Senator Katy Gallagher said Burrangiri’s lifeline was a “great outcome for the Save Burrangiri Group and broader ACT community.” She said the public had “argued strongly to keep this important service open for families that rely on the care and respite it provides.” ‘Dragged kicking and screaming’ Canberra Liberals leader Leanne Castley said Burrangiri’s reprieve came after the opposition’s pressure on Ms Stephen-Smith “forced her hand”. “It’s absolutely fabulous, of course, but I think the question is: ‘Why all of a sudden was the minister able to change her mind?’ “There were so many excuses thrown at us, when actually, [the government] can make it happen. They just needed to do the work. “Unless you’re willing to push and push and push, and they are dragged kicking and screaming, they actually won’t take action.” Read More

The Crisafulli Government elevates funding to fuel homegrown start-up growth. QIC and Brighter Super to support next wave of successful Queensland businesses from early commercial traction to global market leadership. $50 million mandate to invest Queenslanders’ retirement savings back into the State’s economy to drive productivity. The Crisafulli Government is boosting funding for homegrown businesses thanks to a new partnership between the Queensland Government’s investment arm and one of the State’s largest superannuation funds. A $50 million mandate will see Brighter Super and Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) invest Queenslanders’ retirement savings back into the State’s economy to drive productivity. With QIC as investment manager, the mandate will generate investment in innovative Queensland companies across a range of sectors, particularly those leveraging rapidly developing artificial intelligence technology, digitisation, agtech, healthtech and frontier tech. Initial investments will include Attekus, Australia’s leading booking and event management platform provider tailored to local councils, and autonomous agriculture pioneers SwarmFarm Robotics. The mandate is part of Brighter Super’s Queensland Investment Strategy which will see an additional $500 million invested into Queensland assets in the next three to five years, on top of the $1 billion already invested in the State. Treasurer David Janetzki said the deal would capture the potential next wave of Queensland’s successful global market leaders. “Brighter Super and QIC are both giants of the financial services sector with a shared commitment to Queensland, its people and economic growth,” Treasurer Janetzki said. “Together, they bring the capital and capability to support ambition, reward innovation and ensure the next generation of market leaders are born and grown right here in Queensland. “I’ve been clear about my desire for our iconic Queensland institutions to invest in Queensland and this partnership delivers in spades.” Minister for Finance Ros Bates said Queenslanders made up the majority of Brighter’s membership. “This new mandate simply makes good financial sense – it supports members where they live, putting retirement savings to work locally and meaningfully,” Minister Bates said. Brighter Super Chief Executive Officer Kate Farrar said she was excited to announce the partnership, which followed a longstanding relationship between QIC and Brighter Super. “This partnership reinforces Brighter Super’s commitment to investing in Queensland under our Queensland Investment Strategy to support our local communities and members by allocating capital to meaningful Queensland-based opportunities,” Ms Farrar said. “We believe investing in these businesses can produce strong returns for Brighter Super’s members whilst contributing positively to Queensland’s economy and productivity.” QIC Chief Executive Officer Kylie Rampa said the partnership with Brighter Super connected capital, capability and a commitment to Queensland. “Since 2016, QIC has invested in more than 85 local businesses, enabling exceptional founders to create over 1,300 jobs building real-world solutions within a thriving, sustainable ecosystem,” Ms Rampa said. “Now, leveraging this capability and a dedicated local team, QIC is proud to manage this mandate on behalf of, and for the benefit of, Brighter Super members.” /Public Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).View in full here. Read More