Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI: The Lost Generator Under Review: DIY Edison Generator Energy Plan to Create Free Electricity (Step-by-Step Guide)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Denver, May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    In This Article, You’ll Discover:

    • A comprehensive review of The Lost Generator blueprint and how it enables users to generate free electricity using a DIY Edison generator method
    • The real-world energy crisis pain points that this step-by-step guide is designed to solve, especially for homeowners facing high electricity bills
    • A clear explanation of how thermal energy conversion is used to power essential devices without solar panels or grid dependency
    • Who The Lost Generator is best suited for — including preppers, off-grid households, and individuals seeking energy independence
    • What’s included in the digital download, including parts lists, assembly instructions, and safety guidelines
    • Current pricing information, refund policies, and secure ordering instructions from the official website
    • Real customer testimonials sharing practical experiences with building and using this DIY home energy system
    • Answers to frequently asked questions about legitimacy, effectiveness, safety, and scaling potential

    TL;DR – Summary:

    The Lost Generator Under Review: DIY Edison Generator Energy Plan to Create Free Electricity (Step-by-Step Guide) explores a growing interest in affordable off-grid power solutions amidst rising energy costs and unstable grid infrastructure. This in-depth article examines The Lost Generator — a downloadable blueprint that teaches users how to build a home-based, thermal-powered electricity generator without relying on solar panels or batteries.

    Developed by Barnaby Brown, a retired engineer, The Lost Generator is designed for accessibility, offering beginner-friendly instructions to help users reduce electricity bills, prepare for outages, and gain long-term energy resilience. The article covers key benefits, safety protocols, parts sourcing, and practical applications, while embedding trending terms like “DIY free electricity,” “off-grid energy system,” and “self-sustaining power source.”

    Readers also gain clarity on pricing, refund policies, customer support, and real-world testimonials. All claims are presented with disclaimers and accurate sourcing, ensuring that both potential buyers and media syndication partners can reference and republish the content responsibly.

    Introduction

    What Is The Lost Generator and Why Are People Talking About It?

    In a world dominated by rising energy prices, frequent power outages, and growing concern over grid reliability, individuals are looking for smarter, more affordable ways to power their homes. This growing interest has sparked a surge in demand for DIY alternative energy solutions, and one blueprint stands out among the rest — The Lost Generator.

    This guide, inspired by the forgotten principles of Thomas Edison’s early generator experiments, which focused on [brief history of Thomas Edison’s early generator experiments], claims to help everyday people build a self-sustaining, off-grid electricity source without needing solar panels or wind turbines. The system has attracted buzz across survivalist forums, prepper communities, and households that simply want to slash their power bills or become energy independent.

    This comprehensive article explores every angle of The Lost Generator, from how it works and what’s inside, to real-world benefits and potential limitations. If you’re someone who has felt frustrated by the grip of energy companies, or if the idea of creating your own DIY free energy generator appeals to your independence, read on — this could be the step-by-step system you’ve been looking for.

    What This Article Will Cover

    • Discover the true pain points of modern electricity dependence and the liberating relief that The Lost Generator offers.How The Lost Generator proposes to solve them
    • What’s inside the blueprint and how it works
    • Uncover the detailed pros, cons, cost breakdowns, and money-back guarantee that could make you feel financially savvy and secure with The Lost Generator.Get a glimpse into the trending buzzwords, energy freedom concepts, and real user insights that will make you feel informed and part of a community with The Lost Generator.This long-form guide is not just a review. It’s an investigative breakdown of what makes this blueprint potentially revolutionary for anyone ready to take power back into their own hands.

    This long-form guide is not just a review. It’s an investigative breakdown of what makes this blueprint potentially revolutionary for anyone ready to take power back into their own hands.

    Understanding the Energy Crisis

    Why the Modern Grid Is Failing Homeowners

    The traditional energy grid was built for a different era — a time when consumption was lower, outages were rare, and electricity didn’t cost a fortune. Fast-forward to today, and millions are feeling the pressure of skyrocketing energy bills, unstable service, and a centralized power model that no longer fits the reality of our modern needs.

    Recent events — from hurricanes and wildfires to grid overloads during extreme weather and government-regulated energy shutdowns — have exposed a serious flaw in the system: homeowners are vulnerable. One storm, one blackout, or one bill spike can disrupt your entire household. And for many, the pain is not just financial, but emotional and logistical.

    Real Pain Points Consumers Are Facing Today

    • Unpredictable power outages that leave families in the dark
    • Soaring monthly utility bills with no relief in sight
    • Overdependence on outdated grid infrastructure
    • Lack of control over one of the most essential elements of modern life: electricity
    • Growing anxiety over energy security, especially during emergencies or natural disasters

    These aren’t just minor inconveniences — they’re constant stressors that can impact quality of life. It’s no wonder so many are seeking ways to break free from the system and find more self-reliant, off-grid energy alternatives.

    The Rising Popularity of Off-Grid Living and DIY Energy Hacks

    With trending search terms like “prepper energy solutions” (which are energy solutions designed for emergency preparedness) and “free energy survival blueprints” (which are guides for creating sustainable energy sources in survival situations) gaining traction in 2025, a shift is clearly happening. People want more than just savings — they want independence, reliability, and long-term peace of mind.

    The Lost Generator, a comprehensive guide to building your own off-grid power system, taps into this movement by offering a blueprint that promises to do more than reduce costs — it aims to eliminate the need for the grid entirely for many users, especially when used as a supplemental or emergency backup power solution.

    Start producing your own power at home using science-backed methods from Edison’s original concepts. Get The Lost Generator guide and start saving money immediately.

    Introducing The Lost Generator

    A DIY Edison-Inspired Energy Plan for Modern Times

    The Lost Generator isn’t just another energy-saving tip or solar panel tutorial. It’s a comprehensive, yet simple, step-by-step digital blueprint that empowers you to create your own free energy generator using basic materials. This concept is inspired by Thomas Edison’s forgotten principles of thermal energy conversion, making it accessible to everyone.

    This system is not just a theoretical concept. It’s a practical, at-home solution that focuses on affordability, simplicity, and functionality. Even if you have no engineering background, you can confidently use this DIY plan to gain more control over rising electric bills and potential grid failures.

    Meet the Creator: Barnaby Brown

    The blueprint was developed by Barnaby Brown, a retired mechanical engineer from Boulder, Colorado. After a prolonged blackout left his family without power, food preservation, or safety, Barnaby began looking for a way to generate reliable electricity without relying on the grid.

    Through his research, he discovered archived notes connected to Edison’s lesser-known experiments in thermal electricity. These notes became the foundation for what is now known as The Lost Generator — a system that uses readily available components and a proven energy conversion process to produce real power.

    According to Barnaby, this generator can produce enough energy to power essential appliances — offering critical support during outages, or even supplementing daily use to cut electric bills dramatically.

    The Core Promise Behind the Blueprint

    The Lost Generator is marketed as a way to:

    • Break free from energy companies
    • Gain peace of mind during emergencies
    • Cut your bills by up to 90%
    • Build a working generator in just a weekend
    • Avoid solar panel costs, permits, or maintenance hassles

    The program is built for accessibility — meaning no technical knowledge or engineering degree is required. Every detail is explained in plain language, and the materials list includes affordable parts you can pick up locally or online.

    Disclaimer: Individual results may vary depending on how accurately the guide is followed, the quality of components used, and power demands. This product is intended to supplement energy needs, not serve as a full-time replacement for commercial utilities in every scenario.

    How The Lost Generator Works

    Simple Science Meets Practical Engineering

    At the core of The Lost Generator system is a straightforward DIY energy generation method that relies on heat-based electricity conversion. This concept, once explored by Thomas Edison, is now presented in an easy-to-follow guide for everyday users. The key mechanism involves harnessing thermal energy and converting it into usable power through a low-resistance process.

    Unlike solar panels, which depend on weather conditions and expensive equipment, or wind turbines that require space and mechanical complexity, The Lost Generator uses thermal differentials. This principle, which refers to the difference in temperature between two points, is a reliable energy source available in nearly every home.

    The Energy Conversion Process Explained

    While the exact technical schematics are provided in the blueprint itself, the general process includes:

    • A heat source (such as a small flame or controlled burn)
    • A series of metal components designed to channel and amplify thermal gradients
    • A simple generator motor that transforms the heat into electrical energy
    • Wiring and circuit instructions to safely store or distribute the energy created

    Everything is broken down into step-by-step visual instructions within the package, making the process accessible even to those without prior experience. The system uses basic physics and proven mechanical laws, not fringe pseudoscience or perpetual motion fallacies.

    Disclaimer: This system does not generate infinite electricity and is not a perpetual energy machine. Instead, it offers a legitimate alternative power method that may supplement household energy needs based on setup quality and consistency of use.

    Materials and Tools Required

    Most of the materials can be found at local hardware stores or ordered online at minimal cost. A preview of what’s typically needed includes:

    • Heat-safe metal plates
    • Small DC motor
    • Thermoelectric modules or conductors
    • Basic wiring and connectors
    • Multimeter (optional for testing output)
    • Simple hand tools (screwdrivers, pliers, wire cutters)

    The Lost Generator is designed to make DIY power generation affordable, achievable, and scalable. There’s no need for rare metals, high-voltage equipment, or advanced tools. This aligns with the system’s goal and makes it accessible to a wide range of users.

    Assembly Time and Ease-of-Use

    According to the blueprint’s estimates and user feedback:

    • Build time: 3–5 hours total for most users
    • Learning curve: Low to moderate, depending on comfort with basic tools
    • Support materials: Diagrams, checklists, safety warnings, and video guides included

    This makes The Lost Generator particularly attractive to DIY enthusiasts, off-grid homesteaders, and even senior citizens or families who want a hands-on, educational power project.

    Want to reduce your energy bills by up to 90%? Learn how others are building their own generators with The Lost Generator blueprint — and start your journey today.

    Benefits of Using The Lost Generator

    Why This DIY Power Plan Is Gaining National Attention

    In a market saturated with expensive power gadgets, solar scams, and overpriced backup battery packs, The Lost Generator shines as a cost-effective and empowering solution. Instead of selling you another product to plug in, it equips you with the knowledge to generate electricity yourself — giving you the confidence to keep your home running, even when the grid fails.

    This blueprint is more than just a tool. It’s a freedom-focused energy movement, tapping into trending lifestyle shifts like off-grid living, sustainable survival solutions, and energy self-sufficiency. It resonates with consumers not just because of cost savings, but because it gives them something the grid never could: control over their energy usage.

    Key Benefits That Matter to Real People

    • Cut Electricity Bills by Up to 90% Use the generator to supplement daily power use, especially during peak rate hours. This alone can significantly reduce costs over time.
    • Total Energy Independence Power your essential appliances, tools, or even medical devices without needing the grid. Ideal for emergencies, outages, or full off-grid living.
    • Reliable During Crises Whether it’s a hurricane, wildfire, or planned blackout, this system works when others don’t — as long as you have a heat source.
    • Budget-Friendly Entry into DIY Energy Unlike solar setups that cost thousands upfront and often require permits, this plan can be built for a fraction of the cost with no bureaucratic red tape.
    • Eco-Conscious and Sustainable No emissions. No fossil fuels. The process supports a greener lifestyle and adds to your household’s environmental sustainability.
    • Educational and Empowering Learn real-world physics, engineering, and survival skills — great for families, classrooms, and preparedness communities.

    Who This Is NOT For

    • Those seeking a full-home energy replacement for high-wattage usage
    • Anyone unwilling to follow instructions or work with basic tools
    • People expecting a “magic box” that generates unlimited free energy without effort

    Disclaimer: While The Lost Generator offers a powerful supplement to traditional energy, it is not intended to power an entire modern household independently or act as a replacement for all conventional power needs.

    A Shift Toward Self-Sufficiency

    The surge in popularity for terms like“self-reliant home energy,” “emergency electricity backup,”and“free energy DIY hack”signals a powerful consumer trend. The Lost Generator meets this demand by providing more than just a product — it provides the knowledge to build resilience.

    For many, it’s not just about saving money — it’s about taking back control in a world where control is often sold off by the kilowatt.

    Who Can Benefit from The Lost Generator

    The Lost Generator, a versatile and reliable power solution, isn’t just for Preppers — It’s for Everyone Who Wants Control(H2)The Lost Generator is not limited to survivalists or rural homesteaders. It’s built for ordinary people with extraordinary concerns — from suburban homeowners and off-grid enthusiasts to urban renters looking for backup electricity solutions.

    What unites them is a shared desire to stop depending on an outdated, unstable power system and start building resilience at home.

    Homeowners Dealing with High Utility Bills

    For those who feel trapped in a cycle of rising electricity costs, this DIY plan, which includes step-by-step instructions and all necessary components, offers a practical path toward savings. You won’t need to deal with contractors, permit offices, or confusing solar lease agreements — just a hands-on project with a long-term payoff.

    Off-Grid Living Advocates and Homesteaders

    Whether you’re living remotely by choice or necessity, The Lost Generator can offer a portable, low-cost power source that runs independently from the grid. It’s ideal for cabins, RVs, tiny homes, or bug-out locations.

    Trending buzzwords like “energy autonomy,” “homestead power hacks,” and “green off-grid tech” all point to the growing interest in exactly what this system provides: low-maintenance electricity in unpredictable environments.

    Preppers and Emergency Planners

    In survival and preparedness circles, redundancy is key. The Lost Generator adds a new layer of energy security — one that doesn’t rely on fuel stockpiles, solar exposure, or battery shelf life. It’s a reliable source of power that gives peace of mind when everything else goes dark.

    DIY Enthusiasts and Hobbyists

    Even if you’re not trying to escape the grid entirely, this system offers a fun, educational challenge. Many buyers use it as a weekend project with their kids or as an experiment to test out Edison-style electrical theories, such as circuit design and power generation, in real life.

    Seniors or Families in Vulnerable Areas

    For those in hurricane zones, wildfire regions, or rural areas where blackouts are common, The Lost Generator can serve as an essential backup system. It’s a quiet, compact, and reliable source of power that requires no ongoing maintenance or fuel, providing a sense of security and peace of mind.

    Disclaimer: Always follow all safety instructions when assembling and operating the system. While the guide is designed for non-technical users, care must be taken when handling electrical components or open heat sources.

    Affordable, effective, and beginner-friendly — The Lost Generator shows you exactly how to build your own DIY generator and slash your bills. Start now while supplies last.

    What’s Included in the Package

    Everything You Need to Build the DIY Edison Generator at Home

    The Lost Generator isn’t a physical device you order and plug in — it’s a comprehensive digital package that equips you with the knowledge and step-by-step instructions to build your own thermal-based energy generator using commonly available parts.

    What sets it apart from other energy guides is the clarity of instruction, simplicity of materials, and universal accessibility — no prior electrical experience is needed.

    Here’s What You Get with Your Purchase

    • The Lost Generator Main Guide: A downloadable PDF blueprint with detailed, illustrated instructions on assembling your thermal generator. Every phase of the process — from materials selection to power output testing — is clearly documented.
    • Parts List with Sourcing Tips: A full breakdown of all required components, including estimated pricing and sourcing tips for budget-friendly hardware. Many items can be found at local home improvement stores or ordered online.
    • Step-by-Step Assembly Instructions: Each step is broken down in a beginner-friendly manner, supported by illustrations and checklists to minimize confusion or error.
    • Safety Guidelines and Testing Protocols: Includes warnings and best practices for safely handling components, operating heat sources, and checking electrical output to ensure performance and safety.
    • Free Bonus Guides (subject to availability)
    • Depending on current promotions, buyers may receive bonus content such as:
      • How to Expand Your Generator’s Output
      • Emergency Survival Energy Tips
      • Maintenance-Free Energy Storage Tricks

    Disclaimer: Bonus items may vary based on availability and ongoing promotions on the official website. Always check thelostgenerator.com for the latest updates and bundle offers.

    Digital Format, Instant Access

    Once your payment is processed, you’ll gain immediate digital access to all materials. This means you can dive into the exciting process of building your generator on the very same day you make your purchase.

    No shipping delays. No subscription. Just a one-time download with the added peace of mind of lifetime access. You can revisit the materials whenever you need, ensuring you’re always equipped for your DIY energy project.

    Note: To access your materials, you’ll need a device that can open PDFs and an internet connection. Please be aware that physical components are not included in the package. However, you’ll be guided on how to source these locally or online.

    The next power failure isn’t a matter of if, but when. Download The Lost Generator now and have your emergency energy system ready before the grid lets you down.

    Pricing and Purchase Information

    How Much Does The Lost Generator Cost?

    The Lost Generator stands out for its affordability, a key advantage over traditional energy solutions. While solar panel systems can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000, and even basic home generators often run $1,000+, The Lost Generator blueprint is available for a one-time digital purchase.

    As of the latest update:

    • Standard Price:
    • Current Discounted Offer:$49 one-time payment
    • (no recurring subscription, no upsells required to access core content)

    With your purchase, you’ll receive the complete digital blueprint, a detailed materials list, a comprehensive safety guide, and access to any promotional bonuses currently offered on the official website. This ensures you have everything you need to get started with The Lost Generator.

    Disclaimer on Pricing: Always check the official website before purchasing. Prices, promotions, and bonus content are subject to change at any time without notice based on availability and marketing offers.

    Is There a Money-Back Guarantee?

    Yes, you can purchase with confidence as the system is backed by a 60-day money-back guarantee. This gives you a full two months to test the guide, try building the system, and evaluate whether it meets your expectations. If you’re unsatisfied for any reason, you can request a full refund through our support team.

    This risk-free offer has made the system more accessible to skeptical users, providing a sense of security who might otherwise hesitate to try a DIY power plan without proof it works.

    How to Order Safely Online

    To ensure you receive the authentic, up-to-date version of the blueprint:

    • Only purchase through the official website: https://thelostgenerator.com
    • A trusted third-party platform handles secure checkout processing
    • Instant digital access after purchase — no physical shipment required
    • Customer support contact info is included with your order confirmation for any questions or refund requests

    Caution: Avoid third-party resellers or “free download” sites claiming to offer the blueprint, as these may contain outdated files or potential security risks.

    Customer Testimonials

    What Real Users Are Saying About The Lost Generator

    One of the most compelling ways to assess a DIY system like this is to listen to the people who have already put it to the test. Below are several firsthand reviews from users who’ve successfully built and used The Lost Generator, experiencing a sense of accomplishment, cutting costs, preparing for emergencies, and feeling more energy independent.

    Verified Experiences from Around the Country

    John M. – Texas

    “After last year’s winter blackout, I swore I’d never be unprepared again. I built the generator in a weekend using The Lost Generator blueprint. Now I have backup power for my freezer, lights, and even my radio. Best $49 I’ve ever spent.”

    Lana B. – Oregon

    “I’m a single mom with no tech experience. I followed the guide and built the generator step-by-step. It powers my camper and saves me serious money when off-grid camping with the kids. Instructions were super clear.”

    Daniel K. – Florida

    “This is now part of my hurricane prep kit. The heat-to-power setup is ingenious. I’m not fully off-grid, but I can keep the fridge and fans running when the grid fails. The savings have already paid for the blueprint.”

    Greg S. – Pennsylvania

    “I didn’t expect much at first, but after seeing how it actually works with thermal energy, I was blown away. I’ve tested it during two outages, and it delivered. Plus, I got to build it with my teenage son, which was an added bonus.”

    Common Themes Across Reviews

    • Ease of setup, even for those with no engineering background
    • Functional power output for essential devices and lights
    • Reliability in emergencies, especially during blackouts or storms
    • Cost-effectiveness of building a generator from basic components
    • Educational value for families, preppers, and DIY tinkerers

    Disclaimer: These testimonials reflect individual experiences. Results may vary depending on technical accuracy, environment, component quality, and personal use. This product is not guaranteed to eliminate energy bills entirelybutmay significantly supplement household electricity in specific scenarios.

    Build confidence, peace of mind, and a backup energy source all in one weekend. Get The Lost Generator plan now and learn the step-by-step method to generate your own electricity.

    Addressing Common Concerns

    Is The Lost Generator Too Good to Be True?

    It’s natural to approach claims of “free energy” with skepticism. In a marketplace filled with overhyped products and pseudoscientific schemes, many wonder whether a DIY power generation system like this can actually deliver real results.

    Here, we address the most common questions and concerns surrounding The Lost Generator to give you a balanced perspective before making any decisions.

    Concern #1: Does It Really Work?

    Yes — for many users who follow the guide accurately and use quality parts, The Lost Generator system has successfully produced usable electricity. It’s based on real thermal conversion principles, which involve harnessing heat to generate small but functional electrical outputs. This process is not a perpetual motion machine, but a reliable method of energy generation.

    That said, it’s important to note that this is not a perpetual motion machine, nor does it promise to replace your entire home’s electrical system. It’s designed to supplement your power, reduce bills, and serve as a reliable off-grid or emergency energy source. Understanding these limitations will help you make an informed decision about whether The Lost Generator is right for you.

    Disclaimer: Performance depends on proper assembly, safe operation, and realistic energy expectations. Results vary based on how the system is built and what it’s being used to power.

    Concern #2: Is It Safe?

    The guide is meticulously crafted with detailed safety precautions to ensure your responsible handling of heat sources and electrical components. It’s designed with beginners in mind, and when the directions are followed correctly, the risk is minimal.

    However, users should always:

    • Avoid using flammable materials near open heat
    • Use proper insulation when handling wiring
    • Keep the system away from children and pets
    • Operate in a well-ventilated area
    • Test output with a multimeter before regular use

    Concern #3: Is It a Scam or Legitimate?

    The Lost Generator has gained popularity not only because of its promises, but becausebuyers are protected by a 60-day money-back guarantee. That safety net alone speaks to its legitimacy and gives skeptical users a chance to test it with zero risk.

    Additionally, the creator, Barnaby Brown, is transparent in his messaging: this is not a magic box, it’s a DIY educational energy plan built on scientific principles and practical application.

    Concern #4: What If I’m Not Tech-Savvy?

    The system was specifically designed for everyday users — not electricians or engineers. The digital blueprint provides:

    • Clear visuals
    • Plain-language instructions
    • Tool and part checklists
    • Testing guidance to verify output

    Even users who’ve never done a DIY electronics project before have reported success with the system.

    For best results, it’s crucial to go slowly, follow each step carefully, and not skip any safety protocols. You can even involve a friend or family member to make the project more approachable and ensure all safety measures are in place.

    Conclusion

    Is The Lost Generator Worth It? A Final Takeaway

    In a time of mounting energy bills, unpredictable grid failures, and a growing desire for sustainability and control, The Lost Generator emerges as more than just a DIY project — it’s a practical response to real-world problems.

    This isn’t a gimmick or a pie-in-the-sky promise. It’s a blueprint designed to empower everyday people with the tools to generate real, usable electricity using principles that date back to Edison’s own workshop. This is about you taking control of your energy needs, not being at the mercy of utility companies. And it’s doing so in a way that aligns with today’s most important consumer trends: off-grid readiness, survival planning, self-reliance, and environmental awareness.

    Who This Is Really For

    The Lost Generator is a standout choice for:

    • People tired of being at the mercy of utility companies
    • Anyone preparing for grid outages, blackouts, or emergencies
    • Budget-conscious homeowners looking to cut recurring costs
    • Homesteaders, preppers, and off-grid lifestyle adopters
    • Families looking for an educational DIY challenge with real benefits

    It’s not a silver bullet. But it does exactly what it promises — give you the power (literally and figuratively) to produce your own electricity when and where you need it most.

    Your Next Step to Energy Freedom

    With instant digital access, a 60-day money-back guarantee, and a proven system that has already helped thousands of users, The Lost Generator is a choice that offers high-impact benefits with low risk. It’s a secure investment for those ready to take back control of their energy future.

    If you’re looking for a simple, sustainable, and smart energy solution, you’ll find few options more practical and effective than this one. The Lost Generator is not just a theoretical concept, it’s a proven system that has already helped thousands of users.

    Pricing Notice: The current discounted price is $49 (regularly $97), but this offer may not last.

    Always verify pricing, bonuses, and refund terms on the official website, as details are subject to change at any time.

    Energy freedom is closer than you think. With The Lost Generator, you can build your own sustainable power solution and stop paying sky-high bills. Get the blueprint today.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    These FAQs are crafted to support primary and long-tail SEO keywords, address real user concerns, and help reinforce the article’s credibility while encouraging conversions.

    What exactly is The Lost Generator?

    The Lost Generator is a digital step-by-step guide that teaches you how to build a DIY generator system using heat conversion — based on energy principles connected to Thomas Edison’s original inventions. It allows you to create free electricity at home using affordable, commonly available parts.

    Can The Lost Generator really help me cut my electricity bill?

    Yes, many users report significant savings on their monthly utility bills by using The Lost Generator as a supplemental power source. While it’s not a total grid replacement, it can reduce dependence on expensive utility rates — especially during peak hours or outages.

    Disclaimer: Results may vary depending on your energy consumption, the size of the build, and how frequently it’s used.

    Is this a physical generator or a download?

    The Lost Generator is a digital product. You’ll receive a downloadable PDF blueprint that contains all the instructions, parts list, and safety guidance tobuild your own generator. It does not include any physical hardware.

    How long does it take to build The Lost Generator?

    Most users complete the assembly in 3 to 5 hours. It depends on your comfort level with basic tools and how quickly you gather the materials. The guide is broken down clearly to make the process smooth, even for beginners.

    Do I need any prior electrical or mechanical experience?

    Not at all. The Lost Generator is built for everyday users, not engineers. If you can follow a checklist and use basic hand tools, you’ll be able to build the system. It’s a great introduction to DIY energy generation and off-grid electricity solutions.

    Is this a perpetual motion or free energy scam?

    No — this is a real system based on thermal-to-electric energy conversion. It is not a perpetual motion machine or unscientific scheme. The output depends on the heat source and generator configuration as taught in the guide.

    Disclaimer: This is a practical DIY generator system, not a mystical or “infinite power” device. All claims are grounded in tested mechanical processes.

    What can The Lost Generator power?

    Depending on your setup, it can power:

    • LED lighting systems
    • Emergency radios
    • Small fans
    • Laptops and USB-charging devices
    • Refrigerators (with extended setups)
    • Sump pumps or electric tools (in limited use)

    It’s ideal for off-grid survival, power outages, or reducing utility costs by covering some of your home’s daily load.

    What does The Lost Generator cost?

    As of the latest update, the guide is available for a one-time payment of $49 (discounted from $97). There are no hidden fees or recurring subscriptions.

    Pricing Disclaimer: Always check the official website for the most current price and promotions, as these may change at any time.

    Is there a refund policy?

    Yes, The Lost Generator comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with the product or your results, you can request a full refund — no questions asked. This makes it a risk-free investment in your energy independence.

    Is this system legal to use in my home or community?

    Yes. Since it is a low-voltage, heat-powered system, there are no legal or permit requirements in most areas. You’re building a private-use generator, not installing a large-scale power source. It’s considered a personal project — just like solar cookers or water collection systems.

    Where do I get the parts?

    The guide includes a fullparts list with sourcing tips. Most items can be found at local hardware stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s, or ordered online via Amazon or specialty electronics stores. Total estimated material cost ranges from $72 to $200, depending on location and upgrades.

    Can I scale or upgrade The Lost Generator?

    Absolutely. Once you understand the core principles, you can build multiple units or modify your build to increase output. Many users customize their setup to power larger devices or charge battery storage systems for extended use.

    No solar? No problem. The Lost Generator guide shows you how to use heat to power your home affordably — order now and get everything you need in one easy download.

    Disclaimers & Disclosures

    General Information Disclaimer

    This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice of any kind. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation, whether technical, electrical, medical, or legal. Always consult a qualified professional before beginning any do-it-yourself electrical or energy project. Readers assume full responsibility for the use of the information provided.

    Performance Disclaimer

    Results mentioned in this article, including but not limited to energy savings, performance capabilities, and system functionality, are based on individual use cases and may not be typical. There is no guarantee that every user will achieve the same results, and performance may vary depending on numerous factors including user skill, quality of components, environmental conditions, and adherence to instructions.

    No Energy or Utility Claims

    This content does not claim to eliminate dependence on public utilities, replace full-house energy systems, or promise uninterrupted power delivery. The product referenced is marketed as a supplemental energy solution and should not be interpreted as a substitute for commercial or regulated electricity services.

    Medical and Safety Disclaimer

    Any mention of health or safety benefits related to emergency preparedness or backup energy use is not intended to be construed as medical or therapeutic advice. Always follow official safety protocols and local codes when dealing with heat sources, wiring, or electrical components. Improper setup or misuse of components may result in injury, damage, or fire hazards.

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    This article may contain affiliate links, meaning the publisher could receive a commission if readers decide to make a purchase through those links, at no additional cost to the reader. This helps support the content and research efforts behind the article. All opinions expressed are those of the writer and are based on publicly available information or direct product research.

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    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins Questions HHS Secretary Kennedy on Cuts to NIH Research, Alzheimer’s Program Workforce

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
    Q&A on NIH Research Indirect Costs Cap: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download
    Q&A on Alzheimer’s Law Implementation: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download
    Washington, D.C. – Today, at a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Senator Susan Collins questioned HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Her questions focused on the Department’s proposed cap on indirect costs for National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded research, as well as how workforce reductions at the Department could harm the implementation of laws such as the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Reauthorization Act, a bill Senator Collins authored that was signed into law last year.
    Q&A on NIH Research Indirect Costs Cap
    Senator Collins:
    I chaired, recently, the first Appropriations Committee hearing of the year, and we focused on biomedical research and how important it is that America not lose its global edge in innovation that’s producing life-saving and life-enhancing discoveries. Among the many issues that we covered, as you might expect, the hearing explored the 15%, arbitrary, one-size-fits-all cap that NIH has imposed on indirect, but still research-related, costs for its grants.
    What we heard is that this cap will mean less basic research, fewer clinical trials, and that it will also cause our scientists and researchers to leave the United States and go to other countries. I believe strongly that this proposed cap is poorly thought out, that it’s harmful, and I know that it violates current law, because since 2018 we’ve included in the appropriations bill specific language that prevents NIH from imposing such a cap. So, I know the system needs to be looked at, but are you reviewing how NIH’s approach of this one-size-fits-all 15% cap on indirect costs would affect laboratories, whether they’re private nonprofit labs, or whether they’re in universities, as far as doing crucial biomedical research?
    Secretary Kennedy:
    Senator, we are, and you and I have talked about this issue. And I think the impetus for the cap was that there were a lot of private universities with giant endowments, like Stanford and Harvard, that were getting indirect payments of 78%. What that means, if you get a million-dollar grant, the NIH then has to pay you an extra $780,000 for administrative costs. And a lot of those costs weren’t even going to anything to do with science.
    But I understand the University of Maine, the University of Alabama, many other universities and state universities were not abusing it. We lost about $9 billion a year in those kinds of costs. And so, we have a plan for how to address issues like what’s happening at the University of Maine.
    Q&A on Alzheimer’s Law Implementation
    Senator Collins:
    Mr. Secretary, nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and caring for people with this devastating chronic disease costs us some $360 billion a year. I am the author of a law that’s known as the BOLD Act. It takes a public health approach to Alzheimer’s, it educates providers, promotes earlier diagnosis, it helps caregivers and it also promotes lifestyle changes. I have worked very hard to make sure that HHS has the resources to carry out this law, which was just recently extended. I’m concerned that the reductions in force, of approximately 10,000 staff across HHS, will completely undermine this Act.
    For example, the Healthy Aging Branch administers the BOLD Act for Alzheimer’s. It has lost all of its staff. So, how can you ensure that the CDC continues to implement the BOLD Act and the Alzheimer’s programs under it, when all of the staff responsible for that administration have either been placed on administrative leave or let go?
    Secretary Kennedy:
    I know that that division has been folded into the Agency for a Healthy America. And a lot of the reports that whole divisions have been liquidated were just wrong. They were divisions that were being reassigned under the reorg.
    On that budget line, I will work with you, I’m committed. You know, Alzheimer’s has run in my family, as you know. You know my cousin, Maria Shriver, who’s deeply involved in it. The NIH had a very, very checkered history on studying Alzheimer’s because of the amyloid plaque scandal. And we have an opportunity now to do really good science and find a cure very quickly, and also find out, equally importantly, why so many people are getting Alzheimer’s in this generation. I want to make that happen. I want to work with you, Senator, to make sure that that happens and that those programs continue.
    +++
    At a recent U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee hearing chaired by Senator Susan Collins, she questioned Dr. Hermann Haller, President of the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, on how the proposed NIH cap on indirect costs would affect the important biomedical research occurring in Maine and at institutions across the country.
    With Senator Collins’ support, funding for the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act has grown from $10 million in fiscal year 2020 to $34 million in fiscal year 2024. In September 2020, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services received one of the first BOLD Program Awards. This investment has allowed for great progress in implementing the Maine State Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias. In September 2023, Maine received a second BOLD award from the CDC for Alzheimer’s prevention programs, which provides implementation funding to build on its initial investments and allow the state to carry out the Maine Alzheimer’s Prevention Program and the CDC’s Healthy Brain Initiative Road Map.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-Evening Report: Ferocity, fitness and fast bowling: how Virat Kohli revolutionised Indian cricket

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vaughan Cruickshank, Senior Lecturer in Health and Physical Education, University of Tasmania

    Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday.

    While his Instagram message just said this was the “right time”, his poor recent Test form, mental fatigue and desire to spend more time with his family, charity foundation and expanding business empire have been suggested as other influential factors.

    During his 14-year Test career “King Kohli” has been the backbone of the Indian batting line-up, and his absence is a huge blow as the Indians prepare to tour England next month.

    The megastar scored 9,230 runs in 123 Tests at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries.

    These numbers put him in the top five Indian test batsmen of all time, but his legacy extends far beyond his batting achievements.

    Kohli, 36, quit Twenty20 Internationals last year (after India won its second world title). He may continue to play one-day internationals.

    Rising to the top of Test cricket

    Kohli has been the greatest Indian batsman of his generation.

    He made his Test debut in 2011 against the West Indies and played his final match against Australia in January.

    He scored centuries against every country he played against, with more than half of these coming overseas.

    His seven Test centuries in Australia is the second most by an overseas batsman.

    He was at his peak between 2014 and 2019, when he averaged more than 60 in Test cricket and became one of the “fab four” (the world’s best Test batsmen) alongside Steve Smith, Kane Williamson and Joe Root.




    Read more:
    Is Steve Smith set to become the best? What data says about Test cricket’s elite 10,000+ run club


    This period also included six double-hundreds in 18 months, and 13 months as the number one ranked Test batsman in the world.

    Kohli the leader

    Kohli is India’s greatest ever Test captain.

    His tenure from 2014 to 2022 was a golden age for Indian Test cricket.

    India won 40 of 68 Tests (59%) in this period and did not lose a Test series at home. India was the number one ranked Test team in the world from 2016–20 and won its first Test series in Australia in 2018–19.

    These statistics make Kohli one of the most successful Test captains of all time.

    Beyond these numbers, he was a charismatic and aggressive captain who redefined India’s approach to Test cricket by bringing a more competitive edge to the team.

    He drove higher expectations around fitness, training intensity and fast bowling that continue to shape Indian cricket.

    Mandatory fitness testing and improved dieting and recovery practices, which redefined the team’s standards, are attributed to Kohli’s leadership.

    Similarly, Indian success was strongly contributed to by Kohli encouraging the development of a world-class pace bowling attack, which marked a significant shift from the spin-heavy approach of Indian cricket.

    Controversies

    While Kohli’s energy, passion and intensity contributed to his success as batsman and captain, they also led to numerous confrontations with opposition players, which some believed to be disrespectful and arrogant.

    His intense celebrations and assertive body language also drew criticism from conservative cricketing audiences.

    Kohli’s collision with Sam Konstas during the Boxing Day Test versus Australia.

    Many of these controversies have occurred in Australia, where Kohli enjoyed a love-hate relationship with Australian players and crowds.

    Examples include flipping the bird to the crowd, making sandpaper gestures (in reference to the 2018 Australian ball tampering scandal, also known as Sandpapergate) and shoulder-barging young Australian batsman Sam Konstas.

    What will his Test legacy be?

    For more than a decade, Kohli has been the heartbeat of the Indian Test team, and his retirement marks the end of an era.

    He reshaped the mindset of Indian cricket and cultivated a faster, fitter, fiercer, more successful team.

    Kohli was also one of the greatest ambassadors of Test cricket, and has played a significant role in ensuring the game remains relevant in an era increasingly dominated by T20 cricket.

    He made Test cricket aspirational again because he wanted it to thrive. He knew India needed to dominate the hardest format to be respected.

    His social media reach (272 million followers on Instagram and 67.8 million on X) is more than Tiger Woods, LeBron James and Tom Brady combined, and was even referred to by LA2028 Olympics organisers when they announced cricket’s entry into the games.

    In recent days, Kohli has been described as “a modern-day giant”, a “provocateur in chief”, and “his generation’s most profound figure”.

    Love him or hate him, he elevated the spectacle of Test cricket. His electric energy brought the best out of India and its opponents and made him impossible to ignore when batting or fielding.

    As respected cricket writer Peter Lalor noted recently:

    Nobody is irreplaceable, but nobody can replace Virat.

    The Conversation

    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. Ferocity, fitness and fast bowling: how Virat Kohli revolutionised Indian cricket – https://theconversation.com/ferocity-fitness-and-fast-bowling-how-virat-kohli-revolutionised-indian-cricket-256560

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 15, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 15, 2025.

    Ferocity, fitness and fast bowling: how Virat Kohli revolutionised Indian cricket
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vaughan Cruickshank, Senior Lecturer in Health and Physical Education, University of Tasmania Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday. While his Instagram message just said this was the “right time”, his poor recent Test form, mental fatigue and desire to spend more time with

    Curious Kids: if our eyes see upside down, how does the brain flip the picture?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Joyce, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, University of Southern Queensland I heard that we see upside down, but our brain flips the image. How does it do that? –Jasmine, Mount Evelyn, Victoria Our eyes work thanks to light. Objects we can see are either sources of light

    Return of the huia? Why Māori worldviews must be part of the ‘de-extinction’ debate
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nic Rawlence, Associate Professor in Ancient DNA, University of Otago A museum specimen of the extinct huia. Wikimedia Commons/Auckland Museum collection, CC BY-SA The recent announcement of the resurrection of the dire wolf generated considerable global media attention and widespread scientific criticism. But beyond the research questions,

    After an autocratic leader was toppled in Bangladesh, democratic renewal remains a work in progress
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Intifar Chowdhury, Lecturer in Government, Flinders University Last July, a powerful student-led uprising in Bangladesh toppled the authoritarian, corrupt government led for 15 years by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh now shows modest signs of democratic recovery. Months into its tenure, a transitional government has reopened political

    Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior to return for 40th anniversary of French bombing
    By Russel Norman The iconic Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior will return to Aotearoa this year to mark the 40th anniversary of the bombing of the original campaign ship at Marsden Wharf in Auckland by French secret agents on 10 July 1985. The return to Aotearoa comes at a pivotal moment — when the fight to

    Can we confront cancel culture by finding common ground between moderate leftists and ‘wokists’?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hugh Breakey, Deputy Director, Institute for Ethics, Governance & Law, Griffith University A.C. Grayling’s new book Discriminations: Making Peace in the Culture Wars sees the renowned philosopher wading into the ethical minefields of “woke” activism, cancellation, and conservative backlash. Filled with thoughtful analysis, deep reflection, and fascinating

    Justice on demand? The true crime podcasts serving up Erin Patterson’s mushroom murder trial
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Cantrell, Senior Lecturer – Writing, Editing, and Publishing, University of Southern Queensland The trial of the so-called “mushroom cook” Erin Patterson, currently underway in the Victorian town of Morwell, continues to generate global attention. The mother of two is charged with three counts of murder and

    This 6-point plan can ease Australia’s gambling problems – if our government has the guts
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Charles Livingstone, Associate Professor, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University WHYFRAME/Shutterstock We have a refreshed and revitalised Australian government, enriched with great political capital. During the last term of parliament before the election, opportunities to address Australia’s raging gambling habit were neglected. Could this

    Whatever happened to Barbie’s feet? Podiatrists studied 2,750 dolls to find out
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cylie Williams, Professor, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University elinaxx1v/Shutterstock What do you get when a group of podiatrists (and shoe lovers) team up with a Barbie doll collector? A huge opportunity to explore how Barbie reflects changes in the types of shoes women

    Economic pessimism is behind the drift of voters to minor parties and independents
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viet Nguyen, Principal Research Fellow, Macroeconomics Research Program, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne Growing economic pessimism appears to have pushed many voters away from Australia’s two major parties, Labor and the Coalition. Support for minor parties and independents has doubled

    A law change will expand who we remember on Anzac Day – the New Zealand Wars should be included too
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato The New Zealand Wars memorial in new Plymouth. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA Anzac Day has come and gone again. But – lest we forget – war and its consequences are not confined to single days in the calendar. Nor

    Newly discovered frog species from 55 million years ago challenges evolutionary tree
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roy M. Farman, Adjunct Associate Lecturer, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney Australian Green Tree Frog (_Litoria caerulea_). indrabone/iNaturalist, CC BY-NC Australian tree frogs today make up over one third of all known frog species on the continent. Among this group, iconic species such

    Two lizard-like creatures crossed tracks 355 million years ago. Today, their footprints yield a major discovery
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Long, Strategic Professor in Palaeontology, Flinders University Marcin Ambrozik The emergence of four-legged animals known as tetrapods was a key step in the evolution of many species today – including humans. Our new discovery, published today in Nature, details ancient fossil footprints found in Australia that

    Politics with Michelle Grattan: Andrew Leigh on more productive work in the age of AI
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Australia’s productivity performance has stagnated for years, and Treasurer Jim Chalmers has declared addressing this is a second term priority. “Productivity” is now an added part of the remit of Assistant Minister Andrew Leigh, along with his responsibility for competition,

    Caitlin Johnstone: Israel admits it bombed a hospital to kill a journalist for doing journalism
    Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone The IDF has admitted to bombing a hospital in order to assassinate a prominent Palestinian journalist in Gaza, Hassan Aslih, explicitly stating that they assassinated him for engaging in journalistic activities. The official Israel Defense Forces account made the following post on

    Men are shaving off their eyelashes on TikTok. Here’s why that might be a bad idea
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amanda Meyer, Senior Lecturer, Anatomy and Pathology, James Cook University Bhatakta Manav/Shutterstock Videos of men removing their eyelashes, by trimming or shaving, have been circulating on social media in recent weeks. This trend is based on the idea short eyelashes look more masculine. Hair can tell us

    Soon, your boss will have to pay your wages and super at the same time. Here’s how everyone could benefit
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Helen Hodgson, Professor, Curtin Law School and Curtin Business School, Curtin University Dragon Images/Shutterstock If you have a job in Australia, you’ve probably noticed each of your payslips has a section telling you how much superannuation will be paid alongside your wages. But while your wages are

    What is the ‘glass cliff’ phenomenon – and why do women often find themselves on the precipice?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kerrie-Anne Hammermeister, PhD Candidate in the School of Humanities and Communication, University of Southern Queensland GoodStudio/Shutterstock Speaking to the media after being named leader of the Liberal Party, Sussan Ley was asked if this appointment was an example of the “glass cliff effect”. Ley said “I don’t

    Fiji Indians in NZ ‘not giving up’ on Pasifika classification struggle
    By Susana Suisuiki, RNZ Pacific Waves presenter/producer, and Christina Persico, RNZ Pacific bulletin editor The co-founder of Auckland’s Fiji Centre is concerned that Indo-Fijians are not classified as Pacific Islanders in Aotearoa. This week marks the 146th anniversary of the arrival of the first indentured labourers from British India to Fiji, who departed from Calcutta.

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI China: How China, LAC countries bolster shared development, boost Global South unity

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum and delivers a keynote speech at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, capital of China, May 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

    Chinese President Xi Jinping announced on Tuesday the launch of five major programs to advance China’s shared development and revitalization with Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries at the just concluded fourth ministerial meeting of a key cooperation platform for the two sides in Beijing.

    A container with the words “from Chancay to Shanghai” printed on it is pictured at Yangshan Port, east China’s Shanghai, Dec. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

    The five programs, ranging from solidarity, development and civilization to peace and people-to-people connectivity, provide a clear roadmap for deepening cooperation and advancing the common goals of both sides.

    Over the past decade since the China-CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum was established, political trust between China and LAC countries has been strengthened, their development strategies aligned, and cultural exchanges promoted.

    FROM SAPLING TO PILLAR

    The seeds of the forum were sown in July 2014, when President Xi paid a state visit to Brazil and attended the first meeting between leaders of China and LAC countries.

    At that meeting in Brasilia almost 11 years ago, the leaders agreed to establish the China-CELAC Forum, an institutional framework to advance the vision of building a China-LAC community with a shared future.

    “At that meeting, President Xi held a very frank dialogue with Latin American leaders, focusing on issues such as poverty alleviation and infrastructure improvement,” recalled Valdemar Carneiro Leao, who witnessed the historic event as then Brazilian ambassador to China.

    “The China-CELAC Forum is a newborn, just like a young shoot sprouting out of the earth, whose sturdy growth into a towering tree needs meticulous cultivation of both sides,” Xi said at the first ministerial meeting of the forum in 2015.

    In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the forum on Tuesday, Xi revisited the metaphor, saying that 10 years on, with dedicated nurturing of both sides, the forum has grown from a tender sapling into a towering tree.

    Having witnessed how China-LAC relations have withstood global turbulence with ever-growing mutual political trust, Leao said Xi’s initiative to create the China-CELAC Forum has a forward-looking vision of the times.

    Since its inception, the forum has grown into a robust platform for cooperation as China and the CELAC Quartet have held eight rounds of foreign ministerial dialogues to date, alongside more than 100 events spanning agricultural production, technological innovation, poverty reduction, green development, disaster response, defense cooperation, think tank exchanges and anti-corruption efforts.

    Meanwhile, a range of institutional platforms, including the China-LAC Sustainable Food Innovation Center and the China-LAC Technology Transfer Center, have also taken root, helping the forum become a pillar of China-LAC cooperation.

    “China-LAC cooperation has experienced a splendid golden decade, and is about to enter an even more promising diamond decade,” said Song Junying, director of the Department for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at the China Institute of International Studies.

    COMMON GROWTH, SHARED FUTURE

    An electric and combustion dual-power train manufactured by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. awaits departure at the central station in Santiago, Chile, Jan. 19, 2024. (Photo by Jorge Villegas/Xinhua)

    China and LAC countries ride the tide of progress together to pursue win-win cooperation, Xi said on Tuesday, noting that while embracing the trend of economic globalization, the two sides have deepened cooperation in trade, investment, finance, science and technology, infrastructure, among other fields.

    In the framework of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, China and LAC countries have implemented more than 200 infrastructure projects, creating over a million jobs and forging a path of cooperation bridging the Pacific.

    Notable examples include the China-LAC satellite cooperation program, which has become a model for high-tech South-South collaboration and the inauguration of Chancay Port in Peru, which has created a new land-and-sea connectivity link between Asia and Latin America.

    China has also signed free trade agreements with Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Nicaragua. Last year, trade between China and LAC countries exceeded 500 billion U.S. dollars for the first time, an increase of over 40 times from the beginning of this century.

    For ordinary people like Leonardo Talledos, an operations control engineer for Colombia’s Bogota Metro Line 1, the significance of China-LAC cooperation today goes far beyond trade figures and project counts — it shapes his career and supports his aspirations.

    Built and operated by Chinese companies, Bogota Metro Line 1 is Colombia’s largest infrastructure project to date. Once operational in 2028, it will cut travel time between terminal stations from nearly three hours to just 27 minutes.

    In 2023, Talledos traveled to Xi’an, capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, for a year-long training program in metro operations, where he witnessed the rapid development of China’s urban transit systems. Inspired by the experience, he returned to Colombia to help compile training materials and operational guidelines for the metro line.

    Trainees from Bogota pose for a group photo during the commencement of a metro operation training program in Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, Nov. 12, 2024. (Xinhua)

    “From the moment we were hired, we were told that being part of this project was being part of Bogota’s history, because it was the beginning, the first line of many lines to come in the future,” said Talledos.

    GREATER SOLIDARITY, BIGGER VOICE

    As part of the Year of the Snake celebrations, Brazilian soprano Marilia Vargas gave a moving performance of the Chinese song “I Love You, China” at Rio de Janeiro’s Municipal Theater. Dressed in a flowing red gown, her voice echoed powerfully throughout the hall.

    Vargas, who has learned many Chinese songs in recent years, said her bond with China has deepened alongside the growth of the China-CELAC Forum. “Since the forum’s foundation, many more opportunities for cultural exchange between LAC countries and China have opened up.”

    She told Xinhua that in the future, she will continue to “explore more Chinese musical treasures” and remain dedicated to advancing cultural exchanges between China and Brazil as well as between China and other LAC countries.

    Over the past decade, cultural exchanges under the China-CELAC Forum have flourished. Joint archaeological projects have yielded substantial results, the number of exchange students has steadily increased, and interest in the Chinese language continues to surge across LAC countries.

    “Mutual respect, diversity, knowledge and understanding” were the words used by Rogelio Rivero, Mexican archaeologist and director of the Archaeological Zone of Teotihuacan, to describe his experience in the cultural exchanges and dialogues held in China.

    Members of China National Symphony Orchestra perform at the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Claudia Martini/Xinhua)

    Rivero believes that LAC countries, by strengthening cultural exchanges with China and other Global South countries, will effectively contribute to breaking with “Western-centrism” and balancing unilateral narratives at the global level.

    Despite differences in civilizations and cultures, independence and self-determination remain a shared and defining spirit of the Global South, said Ninfa Montano, president of the China-Mexico Cultural Development Foundation.

    “The China-CELAC Forum unites the strength of the Global South, promoting unity and cooperation among many developing countries, and will contribute to establishing a more just and equitable global governance system,” Montano said.

    Montano’s view was echoed by many analysts, who see the ministerial meeting as a chance to deepen cooperation, address global challenges and reinforce South-South solidarity.

    The cooperation between China and LAC countries has set a model of mutually beneficial South-South collaboration, said Manuel Alberto Hidalgo, economist at Peru’s National University of San Marcos.

    By deepening bilateral partnership, both sides have effectively strengthened solidarity and cooperation in the Global South and made positive contributions to promoting the bloc’s greater role in global governance, he said.

    For Ingrid Chavez, executive director of the Colombian-Chinese Chamber of Investment and Commerce, the cooperation helps build up “a common voice as a bloc,” empowering LAC countries to negotiate more effectively on the global stage.

    It helps LAC countries “establish interregional, multilateral relations and somewhat change the power dynamics that have existed until now at the global level,” she added.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Storm recovery in East Coast Bays

    Source: Secondary teachers question rationale for changes to relationship education guidelines

    Following major storms in 2023, Auckland North Community and Development (ANCAD) is working with the Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery Office, to facilitate community-led recovery planning in East Coast Bays communities. This is part of a series of partnerships in heavily impacted neighbourhoods across Auckland. Communities are being supported to develop practical plans, which will include activities and priorities to improve well-being and enable them to come out of recovery stronger. 

    A community responds 

    In major 2023 storms, East Coast Bays suburbs like Browns Bay, Mairangi Bay, Murrays Bay and Campbells Bay were hit with flooding and slips, cutting off roads, shops, and vital services. 

    Even emergency services were affected. The Mairangi Bay Surf Lifesaving Club was flooded and forced to relocate — yet still rescued 69 people that day. The club is now working with the community to plan a more resilient future. 

    Around 30 homes in the area have been classified as Category 3, meaning they face serious future risk. These properties are now eligible for council buy-outs, with land use decisions to follow based on safety. 

    Flooding in Mairangi Bay village

    Finding a Way Forward, Together 

    Through a series of community engagements with affected clubs and residents, the top priorities for the community were determined by the community: Knowing Our Neighbours and Leveraging the Community Systems.

    “Two remarkable things stand out about talking with the club management teams severely impacted by the floods: how much care they have for their community, and how resourceful they were to connect with others to help them recover. The community can be so proud to have them as their local leaders,” says Kristi Shaw, community-led storm recovery facilitator in East Coast Bays. 

    “All the conversations so far have had a similar thread – how well we recovered is about how well we have been connected with each other.

    “Our aim is to weave people, groups, and community initiatives to deepen relationships while discovering and leveraging our community systems.” 

    Community initiative and collaboration has developed the Making Visible Workshops and Exhibition to connect residents with each other, and their experiences of living here, now, with the extreme storms. 

    Sharing experiences through artwork 

    Making Visible is a community-led project facilitated by local artist and arts therapist, Wendy Lawson 

    Through a series of neighbourhood gatherings, residents are invited to bring an object that holds meaning, whether emotionally, symbolically, or as a tangible part of their experience of the storms or storm recovery. Shared stories and objects lead to a co-created artwork that is designed to be temporary, woven from the contributions and materials offered by the group. 

    Wendy knows first-hand what storm impact feels like. 

    Rope used to tether Wendy’s art studio after the 2023 floods; later incorporated into the workshop and exhibition as an object of significance.

    “We’ve already seen how much people care about this coastal landscape and one another. It’s about listening carefully and shaping something meaningful together.” 

    The dynamic artwork, along with shared experiences and insights gathered throughout the workshop, will be curated into the ‘Making Visible’ exhibition at Mairangi Arts Centre from 14–19 June. 

    Get involved 

    If you live in the East Coast Bays and are aged 16 or over, you’re invited to register for one of the upcoming Making Visible Workshops. All you need is a curious mind and a willingness to share. 

    • Sat 17 May, 1pm, Browns Bay Presbyterian Church 
    • Sat 24 May, 1pm, RAFT Studios, Torbay 

    Visit the ANCAD website to register or email kristi@ancad.org.nz for more information. 

    Many hands making together – Making Visible Workshop, process photo.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Reminder: categorisation programme is closed

    Source: Secondary teachers question rationale for changes to relationship education guidelines

    Following recent bad weather, the Recovery Office has noted an increase in homeowners asking to join the categorisation programme.

    While we sympathise with homeowners across the region affected by flooding, we are unable to admit any further properties into the programme.

    The programme was a limited, one-off scheme co-funded by Auckland Council and the Government in response to the 2023 North Island Weather Events.

    Affected homeowners were able to voluntarily register for a risk assessment between June 2023 and October 2024, and the programme was widely publicised over the 15-month period including via regional and national media, paid advertising campaigns, social media, community events and through local MPs and councillors.

    The agreement with the Government requires all category 3 purchases to be completed by the end of 2025.

    Outside of this limited programme, the council does not, categorise private properties to determine risk, and is not funded to acquire properties that are at risk of future flooding.

    The council’s Healthy Waters and Flood Resilience teams, along with Auckland Emergency Management, will continue to help homeowners understand their level of flood risk and what they can do to prepare for future flooding.

    Category 3 and 2P properties progressing

    As you can see in the graphic above, the Category 3 buy-outs are progressing well with 703 properties now settled.

    Category 2P works are also progressing with 17 homeowners having completed their mitigations.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Resilience and unity in Mt Roskill – recovery events

    Source: Secondary teachers question rationale for changes to relationship education guidelines

    Storm recovery efforts are well underway in Mt Roskill, with council and the community working together to build resilience after the major 2023 storms. But recent weather events have been a reminder that the job isn’t over — and that preparing for future storms is just as important as recovering from past ones. 

    Local groups, with support from the recovery planning Wesley and Roskill Leadership Rōpū, are working with flood-affected residents to understand what matters most to them in this space — including how to be better prepared for floods. The goal is to create a Community-Led Recovery Plan that genuinely reflects the needs of the people who live there. 

    Upcoming events will help bring together different voices and experiences, ensuring that everyone’s input shapes the future. The goal is to not just to recover from the 2023 storms, but to be stronger and more ready for what’s ahead. 

    Promoting emergency preparedness 

    Two local groups— Acts of Roskill Kindness (ARK) and Global Hope Missions (GHM) — have multiple projects planned to support connection and preparedness. 

    “With these events we are looking to understand what our community needs to feel recovered after flooding. Alongside that, we are conducting workshops with Auckland Emergency Management, Civil Defence, and other organisations to support these families and encourage them to be prepared so that in the event of a natural disaster our community is more resilient,” says Peter Leilua of ARK and GHM. 

    As part of this series of events, they have launched ‘Road to Recovery’ workshops to help young people in Wesley and Mt Roskill learn about how to stay safe during natural disasters like floods and cyclones.  

    “The 2023 storms caused a great deal of disruption in our families and communities, and a lot of those families are still suffering,” Peter adds. So, we are very excited to have such a diverse group of student leaders from various high schools participating in this community leadership project.”  

    • Road to Recovery youth workshops: Saturday 23 May, 4-6pm followed by the free ‘Love and Light’ gig until 9pm. Roskill Youth Zone, 740 Sandringham Road, Mount Roskill. Performances by KMUX, Irene Folau, Lomez Brown, Switche, Brotherhood MUSIQ, and more. Registrations for workshops are essential. Those wanting to attend are invited to invited scan the QR code to register and answer some storm recovery questions.

    Nik Naidu from the Wesley Whānau Community Hub

    Engaging all communities  

    This Sunday, the Wesley Whānau Community Hub is hosting an Ethnic Communities Festival — a celebration of culture, connection, and recovery — at Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall. 

    “Our Roskill and Wesley communities are amazingly diverse, so our focus is really on hearing from as many different flood-affected locals as we can,” says Nik Naidu, event organiser.  

    “A celebration of ethnic diversity is a great way to start those conversations. We’ll be chatting with people about their experiences of recovery: what kind of support they still need; what a happy and healthy neighbourhood looks like for them; and what might be getting in the way.  

    “Puketāpapa is one of the most diverse areas in Aotearoa, and that’s something we’re proud to reflect in this event.” 

    • Ethnic Communities Festival: Sunday 18 May, 4-8pm, Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall, 15 May Road, Mt Roskill. Supporting Community led Flood Recovery with food, dance, performances and kai vouchers for survey participants. 

    These events are part of a wider local effort to support community-led flood recovery in the Roskill–Wesley area. 

    If you’d like to help out, come along to an event, or share your thoughts, email Heather at thecommunitycollectivenz@gmail.com.  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI China: 2025 World Digital Education Conference opens in Wuhan

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

    This photo taken on May 14, 2025 shows the opening ceremony of the 2025 World Digital Education Conference in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province. Under the theme of “Education Development and Transformation: The Era of Intelligence,” the 2025 World Digital Education Conference opened here on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Du Zixuan)

    1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   >  

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: China launches scientific expedition to glacial headwaters of Yellow River

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

    China launches scientific expedition to glacial headwaters of Yellow River

    Xinhua | May 15, 2025

    A scientific expedition to Mount Anyemaqen, a critical water conservation area at the headwaters of the Yellow River, was launched Tuesday in Xining, capital of northwest China’s Qinghai Province, as part of the country’s broader efforts to protect its second-longest river.

    Researchers will monitor changes in glaciers, permafrost and water resources to better understand the region’s response to climate change. The findings are expected to guide long-term ecological protection and restoration strategies, according to the organizers of the expedition.

    Located in the Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Mount Anyemaqen is the largest snow-capped mountain in the Yellow River source area. The mountain is home to more than 40 glaciers, key components of the cryosphere and sensitive indicators of climate change.

    With more than 100 square kilometers of glacial coverage, the area plays a vital role in maintaining water levels in source lakes that feed the Yellow River.

    “With global warming, the glaciers of Mount Anyemaqen are experiencing profound changes,” said Hou Guangliang, a professor at Qinghai Normal University’s school of geographical sciences. “We’re seeing declining glacier surface elevations, rapidly retreating glacier tongues and more frequent ice avalanches.”

    Experts say the research will support China’s broader efforts to safeguard water security and biodiversity in the Yellow River basin amid global changes.

    The mission is being led by the Sanjiangyuan Ecological Protection Foundation, the Three-River-Source National Park administration, and Qinghai Normal University.

    The Yellow River, measuring 5,464 km in length, originates in Qinghai Province and flows through Sichuan, Gansu, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Shanxi and Henan, before passing through Shandong in east China and emptying into the Bohai Sea. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-Evening Report: Return of the huia? Why Māori worldviews must be part of the ‘de-extinction’ debate

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nic Rawlence, Associate Professor in Ancient DNA, University of Otago

    A museum specimen of the extinct huia. Wikimedia Commons/Auckland Museum collection, CC BY-SA

    The recent announcement of the resurrection of the dire wolf generated considerable global media attention and widespread scientific criticism.

    But beyond the research questions, there are other issues we must consider – in particular, the lack of Indigenous voices in discussions about de-extinction.

    It is undeniable that biotechnology company Colossal Biosciences achieved a major scientific breakthrough. It has successfully changed the genome of a vertebrate species, introduced desired traits, and created apparently healthy hybrid wolf pups.

    The main scientific criticisms were that genetically engineering gray wolves with dire wolf traits doesn’t constitute de-extinction. And regardless of the achievement, we still have to ask whether we should bring back extinct species in the first place.

    But given the company’s goals of resurrecting species significant to Indigenous groups, including the thylacine (Tasmanian tiger) and the moa, it is vital Indigenous views contribute to decisions.

    Gene technologies in conservation

    Colossal Biosciences’ achievement shows the potential of new gene-editing technologies to contribute to conservation efforts. This could include introducing desirable traits into threatened species or removing harmful ones.

    It could even mean creating ecological equivalents of extinct species, as the company has suggested.

    In Aotearoa New Zealand, hapori Māori (tribal groups) are the kaitiaki (guardians) of many threatened taonga (treasured) species. There is growing international interest in the resurrection of some of New Zealand’s extinct birds, including the moa, Haast’s eagle and huia, despite Māori concerns.

    Their voices in this debate are crucial, as are those of other Indigenous groups when biotech proposals are relevant to them.

    Colossal Biosciences has an Indigenous Council (made up of North American Indian Nations) and has established an advisory committee for the thylacine de-extinction project with Indigenous representation.

    New Zealand has lost several bird species, including the moa, Haast’s eagle and huia.
    Paul Martinson, CC BY-SA

    But in our engagements with Māori from around the country over the past decade, we’ve found virtually no Māori support for the de-extinction of taonga species.

    Lost ecosystems and opportunity costs

    One reason we have heard involves a lack of suitable habitats for de-extinct species. Most of Aotearoa New Zealand is highly modified, with only 25% of native forest remaining. This requires ongoing predator control.

    That means there are very few suitable sites to release de-extinct species. For some lost ecosystems, there is no suitable analogue at all. The effort required to establish and manage sites would be substantial.

    There would also need to be ongoing financial resourcing to support kaitiaki responsibilities, which would be expected of Māori communities within whose rohe (traditional boundaries) de-extinct species might be released.

    In our view, kaitiaki prefer gene technology funding to be spent on applications that support their guardianship role, such as environmental DNA. Or they would like it expanded for the management of remaining and often threatened taonga species.

    Without new funding, there is a real opportunity-cost risk of money being pulled from other areas, potentially resulting in further extinctions of endangered taonga species.

    In all likelihood, maintaining a genetically diverse population of a de-extinct species (with at least 500 individuals) would be a challenging exercise, given how slowly New Zealand’s taonga species breed.

    Treaty breaches and tikanga

    Without meaningful Māori support and involvement, the release of a de-extinct species would effectively constitute a breach of Article Two of te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi). The te reo Māori version states Māori have exclusive rights to taonga.

    This is also the essence of the Waitangi Tribunal WAI262 claim that Māori have intellectual property rights over flora and fauna. Māori have whakapapa (genealogy) relationships with taonga species and a moral obligation to look after their welfare and the taiao (environment) they are in.

    This has led to concerns that altering the whakapapa of an existing species to resemble another species is unnatural and disrespectful (compared to natural hybridisation). This could have negative consequences for hybrid species as well as other organisms and the taiao.

    Hybrids may not be sufficiently adapted to existing threats (such as introduced mammalian predators) or the new environments they find themselves in. Conversely, they could be so well adapted they disrupt the ecosystem and become a pest.

    There are long-held concerns that Māori have been excluded from conversations about applying gene technologies. This is despite the successful use of tikanga-based frameworks (customs) for evaluating specific uses of the technologies in individual cases.

    These concerns include potential biopiracy, bioprospecting and trademarking of taonga species by overseas companies. They are echoed in submissions to the draft Gene Technology Bill, which all but eliminates Māori consultation on the release of genetically modified organisms into the environment.

    Looking to the future

    Without substantive Māori involvement, internationally led and resourced de-extinction of a taonga species could well become yet another negative colonisation experience.

    Such conversations need to involve a wide range of Māori, and employ tikanga-based protocols, to ensure sufficiently thorough and holistic evaluation of potential de-extinction projects.

    There is currently nothing to stop biotechnology companies utilising specimens of taonga species housed in museums worldwide.

    We argue that addressing these issues and reaching a national consensus should be a prerequisite for any application of gene-editing technology in conservation, whether it is to suppress pest species or support struggling taonga species.

    Many of the concerns raised by Māori will no doubt be shared by Indigenous people around the world. They need to be part of the conversation and critical commentary around de-extinction and potential reintroduction of organisms into the wild. Their knowledge of environmental management, which dates back hundreds to tens of thousands of years, is something we must learn from.

    Phillip Wilcox receives research funding from various NZ government sources. He is co-chair of Te Ira Tātai Whakaeke Trust, a Māori-owned charitable trust aimed at promoting ethically appropriate use of genomic technologies for the benefit of Māori communities, particularly Māori health.

    Nic Rawlence 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. Return of the huia? Why Māori worldviews must be part of the ‘de-extinction’ debate – https://theconversation.com/return-of-the-huia-why-maori-worldviews-must-be-part-of-the-de-extinction-debate-255605

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-Evening Report: Curious Kids: if our eyes see upside down, how does the brain flip the picture?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Joyce, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, University of Southern Queensland

    I heard that we see upside down, but our brain flips the image. How does it do that?

    –Jasmine, Mount Evelyn, Victoria

    Our eyes work thanks to light. Objects we can see are either sources of light themselves – like a candle or a phone screen – or light bounces off them and makes its way to our eyes.

    First, light passes through the optical components of the eyes such as the cornea, pupil and lens.

    Together, they help focus the light onto the retina that senses light, while also controlling the intensity of light to help us see well while avoiding damage to the eye.

    The function of the lens is to correctly focus light that comes from objects at different distances. This process is known as accommodation.


    Marochkina Anastasiia/Shutterstock

    While performing this important task, light passing through the lens becomes inverted. This means that light from the top of the object falls lower on the retina than light from the bottom, which falls higher on the retina.

    So, light exiting the lens to land on the retina is indeed flipped upside down. But that doesn’t mean the brain is actually flipping the picture “back”. Here’s why.

    The orientation doesn’t actually matter

    While the light being interpreted by the brain is “upside down” compared to the real world, the question is: is that actually a problem for us?

    From your own experience you can tell the answer is probably no. We seem to navigate and interact with the world just fine.

    So, where in the brain is the image flipped or rotated 180 degrees to be the “right way up” again?

    You may be surprised to learn that vision scientists reject the idea a flipping or rotation needs to happen at all. This is because of how our brains process visual information.

    The object you perceive is “encoded” by the firing of various neurons – brain cells that process information – in various locations in the brain. This pattern of firing is what encodes the information about the object you’re focusing on. That info takes into account the object’s relation to everything else in the scene, your body in the world, and your movements.

    As long as the relative encodings of these are all consistent with one another, as well as stable, there’s no need for a flip to happen at all.

    We can function with ‘upside down’ goggles!

    Several studies have looked at how we adapt to large changes in visual input by asking people to wear goggles that flip the image coming in.

    This means the image lands on the retina the “right way up”, so to speak, but upside down from what the brain has learned it should be.

    In the 1930s, two scientists in Austria performed the Innsbruck Goggle Experiments. For weeks or even months at a time, participants in these studies wore goggles that altered the way the world around them looked. This included goggles that turn the incoming image upside down.

    A person blinks while wearing an ‘invertoscope’ – goggles that turn the incoming image upside down.
    Dmitry Hoh/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

    As you can imagine, people wearing these goggles at first found it really difficult to get by in their day-to-day activities. They would stumble and bump into things.

    But this was temporary.

    Participants reported seeing the world upside-down for the first few days, with difficulties navigating the environment, including trying to step over ceiling lights that appeared to them as on the floor.

    Around the fifth day, however, performance seemed to improve. Things that were at first seen upside down now appeared the right way up, and this tended to improve with more time.

    In other words, with continued exposure to the upside-down world, the brain adapted to the changed input.

    More recent studies are beginning to identify which areas of the brain are involved in being able to adapt to changes in visual input, and what the limits of our ability to adapt might be.

    Adaptation may even allow “colour blind” people to see colour better than is predicted from their condition.

    Daniel Joyce 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. Curious Kids: if our eyes see upside down, how does the brain flip the picture? – https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-if-our-eyes-see-upside-down-how-does-the-brain-flip-the-picture-254303

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley, Kelly Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Law Enforcement Recruitment and Retention

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)

    Wednesday, May 14, 2025

    Today, U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) introduced the Educational and Career Opportunities for Public Safety (EdCOPS) Act, bipartisan legislation to address staffing shortages in law enforcement by providing educational benefits to public safety officers and their dependents.  
    “There is no profession more honorable than one that keeps our streets safe. Our men and women in uniform deserve Congress’ full support. I’m proud to co-sponsor legislation this National Police Week and prove to law enforcement that we have their back every step of the way,” said Senator Hawley.
    “As the son of two police officers, I know how important it is to have experienced, trusted officers on the job. But right now, law enforcement agencies across the country are struggling to recruit qualified candidates and losing the people who know their communities best,” said Senator Kelly. “By expanding education and career opportunities, we’re helping officers build a more secure future for themselves and their families. It’s an investment that will help departments keep the experienced, dedicated officers that protect our communities.”  
    Law enforcement agencies across the country face a historic crisis in hiring and keeping qualified officers. The EdCOPS Act would help agencies attract and retain experienced officers by offering financial assistance for higher education to public safety officers who have served for at least eight years with a single employer and agree to serve an additional four years. An eligible public safety officer can transfer unused education benefits to a dependent. 
    Read the full bill text here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley Secures Pledge from RFK to Review ‘Alarming’ Mifepristone Data, Support Bill Cracking Down on Big Pharma Ads

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)

    Wednesday, May 14, 2025

    Today in a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) secured a commitment from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Jr. that he would review ‘alarming’ new data on the chemical abortion drug mifepristone. RFK Jr. also stated that in light of the new data, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) label for mifepristone should change to accurately reflect the adverse effects of the drug.

    A new study on the chemical abortion drug shows 11% of women experience adverse effects serious enough to send them to the ER@SecKennedy just pledged to conduct a top-to-bottom review of the drug – and said the FDA label needs to change
    That’s a win for life pic.twitter.com/gy65iCZjI5
    — Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) May 14, 2025

    “You’ve previously testified to the committee that you would do a top-to-bottom review of mifepristone,” said Senator Hawley. “Do you continue to stand by that, and don’t you think this new data shows that the need to do a full review is indeed pressing?”
    “It’s alarming, and it indicates that at the very least, the label should be changed,”RFK said regarding the new mifepristone data. “I’ve asked Marty Makary at the FDA to do a complete review and report back.”
    RFK Jr. also promised he would submit his own recommendation to President Trump based on the data. This exchange comes after Senator Hawley has advocated for reinstating safety guardrails surrounding mifepristone since the new study was released, from introducing legislation to urging the Department of Justice to reconsider its defense of the Biden Administration’s policy on mifepristone.
    In the same hearing, Senator Hawley also questioned RFK Jr. on his stance towards tax breaks for Big Pharma’s television deals, prompting RFK Jr. to pledge his support for Senator Hawley’s bipartisan, bicameral bill cracking down on Big Pharma’s sweetheart deals.

    Now it’s on the record: @SecKennedy just pledged his support to pass my bipartisan, bicameral bill cracking down on Big Pharma’s sweetheart deals
    Let’s make it illegal for Big Pharma to make taxpayers foot the bill for Pharma advertisements pic.twitter.com/siN1GHd1r0
    — Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) May 14, 2025

    Watch the full hearing here.  

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Announces Town Halls in Coos, Curry and Jackson Counties

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    May 14, 2025
    U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle will co-host senator’s upcoming open-to-all town halls in Coos and Curry counties
    Portland – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will hold town halls on Saturday, May 24 in Coos and Curry counties with U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle, and one more on Sunday, May 25 in Jackson County.
    Heading into these three open-to-all town halls, Wyden has held 1,117 open-to-all town halls in keeping his promise to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon’s 36 counties. 
    “As we remember our fellow Americans over Memorial Day weekend who made the ultimate sacrifice, I know Oregonians are always grateful for the freedoms of speech and assembly these heroes fought to preserve,” Wyden said. “And as a senator proud to represent all Oregonians, I believe it’s more important than ever to exercise those freedoms statewide with direct open-to-all conversations to hear Oregonians’ opinions and answer their questions. I’m glad Congresswoman Hoyle will be joining me in Coos and Curry counties, and look forward very much to those discussions on May 24, as well as my town hall in Jackson County on May 25.”
    “I’m proud to join Senator Wyden for town halls on Memorial Day weekend to remember those who lost their lives in service to our country and to hear directly from south coast residents on issues of importance to them,” said Hoyle. “Their opinions help us to better represent their interests in Washington, D.C., which is essential for a healthy democracy.”
    The schedule for the town halls with both Wyden and Hoyle on Saturday, May 24 is as follows:
    Coos County, 2:30 pm, North Bend Middle School Gym, 1500 16th St, North Bend
    Curry County, 6 pm, Driftwood Elementary School Gym, 1210 Oregon St., Port Orford
    The schedule for the town hall just with Wyden on Sunday, May 25 is as follows:
    Jackson County, 4 pm, Medford Armory, 1701 S Pacific Hwy, Medford
    Although these were the largest venues available for these three town halls on these dates, space may still be limited. Doors will open one hour before the town hall start times for attendees. For everyone’s security, backpacks and large bags will not be allowed in the town hall.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Warren, Pressley Reintroduce Legislation To Suspend Garnishments for Student Loan Borrowers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), along with U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07), reintroduced the Ending Administrative Wage Garnishment Act of 2025, legislation that would provide borrower relief and support by suspending garnishment as a tool for student debt collection by the federal government.

    On April 22, 2025, the Department of Education announced that, starting May 5th, it will resume collections on defaulted federal student loans, including wage garnishments, tax refund interceptions, and seizure of Social Security benefits. For the nearly 5.5 million people currently in default—and soon for the projected 8 million additional people in delinquency—this means that they will face the government’s harsh collection tactics for the first time in over five years. This shift coincides with mass firings at the Department of Education and limited access to income-driven repayment plans, leaving students without critical support to navigate the repayment process.  

    “Wage garnishment allows the government to instruct employers to withhold up to 15 percent of an individual’s hard-earned wages, as well as intercept tax refunds, and seize Social Security benefits in order to collect student loan debt,” said Senator Booker. “If resumed, this harmful practice will hurt millions of Americans already struggling to make ends meet while paying off their student loans. This legislation will put an end to the Trump’s administration’s attempt to punish vulnerable student loan borrowers.”

    “It’s cruel for the Trump administration to restart collections while it crashes the economy and fires employees that help people navigate the loan repayment system,” said Senator Warren. “Our commonsense bill stops the administration from going after working people and improperly taking a chunk of borrowers’ paychecks.”

    “No one should have their hard-earned wages, tax refunds, and Social Security checks seized by Donald Trump—and our bill would ensure they do not,” said Representative Pressley. “The Trump Administration should not be in the business of picking the pockets of our most vulnerable borrowers, gutting the Department of Education or exacerbating the student debt crisis. I am proud to partner with Senators Booker and Warren to push back against this Administration’s shameful garnishment tactics and stand up for our student borrowers.”

    “Amidst unprecedented economic uncertainty and as millions of working families are struggling with the rising costs of everyday essentials, the Trump Administration’s calloused decision to unleash abusive and uncontrollable collection tools that have the power to take borrower’s hard earned wages without safeguards. Instead of helping the 5 million borrowers that have fallen into default and the millions more that are behind and now at risk of default later this year, this Administration appears set on inflicting massive economic harm on millions of Americans—a decision that will further drag down an already struggling economy,” said SBPC Policy Director Aissa Canchola Banez. “We applaud Senator Booker and Congresswoman Pressley for introducing the Ending Administrative Garnishment Act which will rein in the Secretary of Education’s authority to subject borrowers to administrative wage garnishment and ensure that critical safeguards are in place.”

    The Ending Administrative Wage Garnishment Act of 2025 would:

    1. Suspends the Secretary of Education’s authority to garnish wages, tax refunds, Social Security checks, or other earned benefits.
    2. Mandates the Department of Education to:
      1. Promptly refund improperly garnished wages within one week.
      2. Establish the ability to independently suspend or terminate garnishment operations upon identifying errors.
      3. Ensure employers verify garnishment information quarterly.
    3. Prohibits garnishment on loans that have been outstanding for more than 10 years.
    4. Establishes a private right of action allowing borrowers to sue employers who improperly garnish wages after a garnishment order is suspended.
    5. Requires the Department to pay double damages to borrowers whose wages are improperly garnished.

    To read the full text of the bill, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Global: Two lizard-like creatures crossed tracks 355 million years ago. Today, their footprints yield a major discovery

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By John Long, Strategic Professor in Palaeontology, Flinders University

    Marcin Ambrozik

    The emergence of four-legged animals known as tetrapods was a key step in the evolution of many species today – including humans.

    Our new discovery, published today in Nature, details ancient fossil footprints found in Australia that upend the early evolution timeline of all tetrapods. It also suggests major parts of the story could have played out in the southern supercontinent of Gondwana.

    This fossil trackway whispers that we have been looking for the origin of modern tetrapods in the wrong time, and perhaps the wrong place.

    The first feet on land

    Tetrapods originated a long time ago in the Devonian period, when strange lobe-finned fishes began to haul themselves out of the water, probably around 390 million years ago.

    This ancestral stock later split into two main evolutionary lines. One led to modern amphibians, such as frogs and salamanders. The other led to amniotes, whose eggs contain amniotic membranes protecting the developing foetus.

    Today, amniotes include all reptiles, birds and mammals. They are by far the most successful tetrapod group, numbering more than 27,000 species of reptiles, birds and mammals.

    They have occupied every environment on land, have conquered the air, and many returned to the water in spectacularly successful fashion. But the fossil record shows the earliest members of this amniote group were small and looked rather like lizards. How did they emerge?

    The oldest known tetrapods have always been thought to be primitive fish-like forms like Acanthostega, barely capable of moving on land.

    Acanthostega, an early tetrapod that lived about 365 million years ago, was a member of the ancestral stock that gave rise to amphibians and amniotes.
    The authors

    Most scientists agree amphibians and amniotes separated at the start of the Carboniferous period, about 355 million years ago. Later in the period, the amniote lineage split further into the ancestors of mammals and reptiles-plus-birds.

    Now, this tidy picture falls apart.

    A curious trackway

    Key to our discovery is a 35 centimetre wide sandstone slab from Taungurung country, near Mansfield in eastern Victoria.

    The slab is covered with the footprints of clawed feet that can only belong to early amniotes, most probably reptiles. It pushes back the origin of the amniotes by at least 35 million years.

    Mansfield slab, dated between 359-350 million years old, showing positions of early reptile tracks.
    The authors

    Despite huge variations in size and shape, all amniotes have certain features in common. For one, if we have limbs with fingers and toes, these are almost always tipped with claws – or nails, in the case of humans.

    In other tetrapod groups, real claws don’t occur. Even claw-like, hardened toe tips seen in some amphibians are extremely rare.

    Claws usually leave obvious marks in footprints, providing a clue to whether a fossil footprint was made by an amniote.

    Close up showing the oldest known tracks with hooked claws from Mansfield, Victoria. Left, photo; right, optical scan.
    The authors

    The oldest clawed tracks

    The previous oldest fossil record of reptiles is based on footprints and bones from North America and Europe around 318 million years ago.

    The oldest record of reptile-like tracks in Europe is from Silesia in Poland, a new discovery also revealed in our paper. They are around 328 million years old.

    However, the Australian slab is much older than that, dated to between 359 and 350 million years old. It comes from the earliest part of the Carboniferous rock outcropping along the Broken River (Berrepit in the Taungurung language of the local First Nations people).

    This area has long been known for yielding many kinds of spectacular fossil fishes that lived in lakes and large rivers. Now, for the first time, we catch a glimpse of life on the riverbank.

    Fossil hunters search the Carboniferous red sandstone in the Mansfield area of Victoria. Such outcrops recently yielded the trackways of the world’s oldest reptile.
    John Long

    Two trackways of fossil footprints cross the slab’s upper surface, one of them overstepping an isolated footprint facing the opposite direction. The surface is covered with dimples made by raindrops, recording a brief shower just before the footprints were made. This proves the creatures were moving about on dry land.

    All the footprints show claw marks, some in the form of long scratches where the foot has been dragged along.

    The shape of the feet matches that of known early reptile tracks, so we are confident the footprints belong to an amniote. Our short animation below gives a reconstruction of the ancient environment around Mansfield 355 million years ago, and shows how the tracks were made.

    A short animation showing the creature making the tracks and its scientific significance. By Flinders University and Monkeystack Productions.

    Rewriting the timeline

    This find has a massive impact on the origin timeline of all tetrapods.

    If amniotes had already evolved by the earliest Carboniferous, as our fossil shows, the last common ancestor of amniotes and amphibians has to lie much further back in time, in the Devonian period.

    We can estimate the timing of the split by comparing the relative lengths of different branches in DNA-based family trees of living tetrapods. It suggests the split took place in the late Devonian, maybe as far back as 380 million years ago.

    This implies the late Devonian world was populated not just by primitive fish-like tetrapods, and intermediate “fishapods” like the famous Tiktaalik, but also by advanced forms including close relatives of the living lineages. So why haven’t we found their bones?

    The location of our slab provides a clue.

    Big evolutionary questions

    All other records of Carboniferous amniotes have come from the northern hemisphere ancient landmass called Euramerica that incorporated present-day North America and Europe. Euramerica also produced the great majority of Devonian tetrapod fossils.

    The new Australian fossils come from Gondwana, a gigantic southern continent that also contained Africa, South America, Antarctica and India.

    In all of this vast landmass, which stretched from the southern tropics down across the South Pole, our little slab is currently the only tetrapod fossil from the earliest part of the Carboniferous.

    The Devonian record is scarcely much better. The Gondwana fossil record of early tetrapods is shockingly incomplete, with enormous gaps that could conceal – well, just about anything.

    This find now raises a big evolutionary question. Did the first modern tetrapods, our own distant ancestors, emerge in the temperate Devonian landscapes of southern Gondwana, long before they spread to the sun-baked semi-deserts and steaming swamps of equatorial Euramerica?

    It’s quite possible. Only more fieldwork, bringing to light new discoveries of Devonian and Carboniferous fossils from the old Gondwana continents, might one day answer that question.


    We acknowledge the Taungurung people of Mansfield area where this scientific work has taken place.

    John Long receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Grzegorz Niedzwiedzki receives funding from the Swedish Research Council and the European Research Council.

    Per Ahlberg receives funding from the European Research Council and the Knut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation.

    ref. Two lizard-like creatures crossed tracks 355 million years ago. Today, their footprints yield a major discovery – https://theconversation.com/two-lizard-like-creatures-crossed-tracks-355-million-years-ago-today-their-footprints-yield-a-major-discovery-254301

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI China: Jordan holds final of 24th ‘Chinese Bridge’ contest in Amman

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

    Contestants pose for a group photo during the final of the 24th edition of the “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students in Jordan in Amman, Jordan, on May 14, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The 24th edition of the ‘Chinese Bridge’ Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students in Jordan selected the country’s champion on Wednesday to represent the country at the global finals, to be held in Beijing later this year.

    During the country’s final held at the University of Jordan, 13 contestants from the University of Jordan, Philadelphia University in Jordan, and the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Confucius Institute showcased their Chinese language skills through speeches, knowledge tests, and talent performances.

    Younis Abu Alsondos from the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Confucius Institute secured the champion and will represent Jordan for the Beijing finals. Sama Al Shuaibi from the University of Jordan won second place.

    The country’s final was organized by the Chinese Embassy in Jordan and hosted by the Amman Chinese Cultural Center and the University of Jordan.

    Addressing the final, Chinese Ambassador to Jordan Chen Chuandong stressed the importance of language in understanding the world and connecting people’s hearts.

    “Through the Chinese language, we can feel the pulse of the changing times and get up close to the open, inclusive, and ever-changing modern China,” he said.

    Chen highlighted the growing popularity of Chinese language learning in Jordan, with over 1,000 students enrolled in the country’s two Confucius Institutes and seven Chinese language programs.

    He called on the youth to tell the stories of the China-Jordan and China-Arab friendship, and contribute to mutual learning and closer connection between Chinese and Arab civilizations, as well as deepening practical cooperation between China and Arab countries.

    Marwan Al-Jarrah, dean of the School of Foreign Languages at the University of Jordan, highlighted the vital role of language in building bridges between cultures, saying that the Chinese language has become a key to understanding and engaging with the world, and that his university has placed the Chinese language at the heart of its development. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Global: Curious Kids: if our eyes see upside down, how does the brain flip the picture?

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Daniel Joyce, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, University of Southern Queensland

    I heard that we see upside down, but our brain flips the image. How does it do that?

    –Jasmine, Mount Evelyn, Victoria

    Our eyes work thanks to light. Objects we can see are either sources of light themselves – like a candle or a phone screen – or light bounces off them and makes its way to our eyes.

    First, light passes through the optical components of the eyes such as the cornea, pupil and lens.

    Together, they help focus the light onto the retina that senses light, while also controlling the intensity of light to help us see well while avoiding damage to the eye.

    The function of the lens is to correctly focus light that comes from objects at different distances. This process is known as accommodation.


    Marochkina Anastasiia/Shutterstock

    While performing this important task, light passing through the lens becomes inverted. This means that light from the top of the object falls lower on the retina than light from the bottom, which falls higher on the retina.

    So, light exiting the lens to land on the retina is indeed flipped upside down. But that doesn’t mean the brain is actually flipping the picture “back”. Here’s why.

    The orientation doesn’t actually matter

    While the light being interpreted by the brain is “upside down” compared to the real world, the question is: is that actually a problem for us?

    From your own experience you can tell the answer is probably no. We seem to navigate and interact with the world just fine.

    So, where in the brain is the image flipped or rotated 180 degrees to be the “right way up” again?

    You may be surprised to learn that vision scientists reject the idea a flipping or rotation needs to happen at all. This is because of how our brains process visual information.

    The object you perceive is “encoded” by the firing of various neurons – brain cells that process information – in various locations in the brain. This pattern of firing is what encodes the information about the object you’re focusing on. That info takes into account the object’s relation to everything else in the scene, your body in the world, and your movements.

    As long as the relative encodings of these are all consistent with one another, as well as stable, there’s no need for a flip to happen at all.

    We can function with ‘upside down’ goggles!

    Several studies have looked at how we adapt to large changes in visual input by asking people to wear goggles that flip the image coming in.

    This means the image lands on the retina the “right way up”, so to speak, but upside down from what the brain has learned it should be.

    In the 1930s, two scientists in Austria performed the Innsbruck Goggle Experiments. For weeks or even months at a time, participants in these studies wore goggles that altered the way the world around them looked. This included goggles that turn the incoming image upside down.

    A person blinks while wearing an ‘invertoscope’ – goggles that turn the incoming image upside down.
    Dmitry Hoh/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

    As you can imagine, people wearing these goggles at first found it really difficult to get by in their day-to-day activities. They would stumble and bump into things.

    But this was temporary.

    Participants reported seeing the world upside-down for the first few days, with difficulties navigating the environment, including trying to step over ceiling lights that appeared to them as on the floor.

    Around the fifth day, however, performance seemed to improve. Things that were at first seen upside down now appeared the right way up, and this tended to improve with more time.

    In other words, with continued exposure to the upside-down world, the brain adapted to the changed input.

    More recent studies are beginning to identify which areas of the brain are involved in being able to adapt to changes in visual input, and what the limits of our ability to adapt might be.

    Adaptation may even allow “colour blind” people to see colour better than is predicted from their condition.

    Daniel Joyce 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. Curious Kids: if our eyes see upside down, how does the brain flip the picture? – https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-if-our-eyes-see-upside-down-how-does-the-brain-flip-the-picture-254303

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Youth voice added to Council Committee

    Source: PISA results continue to show more to be done for equity in education

    Two young people have been appointed as youth representatives on Canterbury Regional Council’s Strategy and Policy Committee.

    At the 14 May Committee meeting, Jolie Sarginson and Liam Speechlay were appointed after being shortlisted by the Youth Rōpū.   

    The Youth Rōpū is a group of people aged 14-24 from across the region who are enthusiastic about the environment, civics and empowering young people. The rōpū advocates for and supports the inclusion of a youth voice in Environment Canterbury’s decisions and work.   

    Jolie and Liam will sit on the Committee for two years and while they won’t have voting rights, they will be able to provide a youth perspective on issues discussed by the Committee.  

    Jolie said her three passions are youth advocacy, te taiao (the natural world), and te ao Māori (Māori culture and values).  

    “Our aim as youth representatives is to bring an intergenerational perspective to the table,” Jolie said.  

    Liam said he brings a diverse range of youth voices to the table – urban, climate change and rural.  

    “I’m very excited for the learning this experience will provide me and the learnings you will be able to take from myself and Jolie,” Liam said.  

    Canterbury Regional Council Chair Craig Pauling said youth representation was an important voice to have at the table and welcomed both Jolie and Liam to the Committee.   

    “We’ve had youth representation on a few of our committees over the last three or four years and I’m really proud to be here to welcome you both to the Strategy and Policy Committee today.”  

    “I’m looking forward to your insights and the contributions you will bring to our work,” Chair Pauling said.    

    Strategy and Policy Committee Chair Councillor Vicky Southworth also welcomed the pair to the Committee.  

    “I am excited to have both Liam and Jolie joining us for the next two years, they will bring important perspectives to our discussions and help influence some of our decision making.”  

    “It’s important to have them join us, as they represent young people from across Canterbury,” Cr Southworth said. 

    Jolie Sarginson  

    Jolie has completed a bachelor’s degree in Social Environmental Sustainability, majoring in Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Partnerships, with a minor in te reo Māori.  

    She has been part of the Youth Rōpū for three years and brings a strong voice, a grounded cultural perspective, and a genuine desire to help our communities.  

    Liam Speechlay  

    Liam is a law student at the University of Canterbury of Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Ruanui descent. He has a passion for learning Ngai Tahu’s history within Waitaha, and for tikanga and matauranga Māori.  

    He has been involved with EnviroPAST, Lincoln University, and the Youth Advisory Council at Te Whatu Ora Waitaha. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Samsung Electronics Hosts Accessibility Festival Week in Europe To Promote and Advance Accessibility for All

    Source: Samsung

    Now in its third year, the 2025 Accessibility Festival Week (AFW) is taking place at Samsung Electronics UK (SEUK) from May 13 to 15. The event showcases accessible products and services designed to deliver inclusive experiences for all — including people with disabilities, older adults and those with temporary physical limitations.
     
    Organized in celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), this year’s AFW is the result of close collaboration between the CDO at Samsung Electronics Corporation (SEC), Samsung Electronics Europe Office (EO), Samsung Design Europe (SDE), Samsung R&D Institute UK (SRUK) and SEUK — all of which make up the AFW task force.
     
    First held at Samsung Seoul R&D Campus in 2023, AFW serves as a platform to reinforce and expand the company’s commitment to accessibility among employees. Samsung Newsroom visited this year’s edition in Europe to witness how that vision is being brought to life.
     
     
    Day 1: Learning From Europe’s Accessibility Practices
    AFW opened on May 13 with an Inspiration Tour, bringing together accessibility leaders from SEC and members of the AFW task force to explore exemplary accessibility practices across Europe and inspire future initiatives.
     
    Participants visited Samsung KX in King’s Cross, London — recognized as a model for inclusive retail — where they examined products through the lens of accessibility and observed how inclusive design shapes the in-store customer experience.
     
    ▲ Inspiration Tour at Samsung KX in King’s Cross, London
     

    ▲ Visiting Google’s Accessibility Discovery Center, London
     
    In the afternoon, the group visited the Accessibility Discovery Center at Google King’s Cross to engage with real-world solutions designed to better support people with a wide range of disabilities.
     
    “The Inspiration Tour broadened my perspective on accessibility,” said Youngkyung Jung from the User Experience (UX) Strategy Group, CDO. “So many breakthroughs in accessibility come from collaboration between companies, and today’s program showed how powerful inclusive partnerships can be.”
     
     
    Day 2: Driving Innovation Through a Cross-Functional Accessibility Symposium
    Samsung held an accessibility symposium at the SEUK office on the morning of May 14, welcoming employees from CDO, EO, SDE, SRUK and SEUK. Colleagues from various departments including People, Workplace Solutions and Employee Resource Groups — along with planning, design, development and marketing teams — shared their experiences and strategies for embedding accessibility into their work.
     
    Discussions covered current accessibility trends, accessibility in UX strategy including UX evaluation framework, practical R&D insights and more. Team members openly exchanged lived-in experience and ideas with one another, finding common ground to build stronger connections across regions and functions.
     
    ▲ Employees networking and engaging in discussions at the Symposium
     
    “Accessibility features originally designed for users with disabilities often become essential tools that benefit everyone,” said Ray Jessel from EO Marketing. “It was especially helpful for my work to hear the unique experiences of different departments.”
     
     
    Day 3: Building a Shared Accessibility Vision for Inclusive Innovation
    To mark GAAD on May 15, Samsung is hosting a special session at the SEUK office to share its accessibility strategy and future vision for inclusive innovation with employees across Europe.
     
    The event will begin with an opening speech from Simon Sung, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics Europe, who will emphasize accessibility as a core value in advancing Samsung’s global vision and encourage teams across the region to champion accessibility innovation with a unified voice.
     
    Jinsoo Kim, Head of Accessibility Committee at SEC, will join the session in person to meet with employees, highlight the company’s accessibility principles and speak on the significance of AFW as the company looks toward a more inclusive future.
     
    Accessibility leaders from various business divisions at SEC will then introduce product-specific strategies and key features prioritized for the year. Through these presentations, employees are expected to gain a clearer understanding of Samsung’s accessibility roadmap and align on a shared vision for customer-first, inclusive innovation. The keynote will be livestreamed to teams across Europe.
     
    ▲ Day 3 Keynote Speech Schedule
     
     
    In the afternoon, a hands-on workshop will be held with experts from the external community group Studio Exception — a design and innovation consultancy focused on inclusive design. Registered employees will have the opportunity to explore inclusive design thinking and reflect on how to apply it to their day-to-day work.
     
    “AFW has been an inspiring and meaningful experience for us in Europe. Accessibility is no longer optional — it’s a strategic imperative that defines future competitiveness,” said Alice Jackson from the SEUK People Team. “It was especially impactful to have people from SEC visit Europe and deliver such a clear, unified message. This event has created a powerful sense of shared purpose, understanding and empathy — values we are passionate about in our efforts to support our colleagues and future talent at Samsung.”
     

    ▲ Employees exploring the AFW exhibition displayed in the Atrium
     
    As the three-day AFW draws to a close, momentum and optimism continue to grow among employees. Samsung hopes AFW will help foster a lasting culture of inclusive innovation — one that goes beyond convenience to deliver better experiences for all.

    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: University Research – Fossil tracks show reptiles appeared on Earth up to 40 million years earlier – Flinders

    Source: Flinders University

    The origin of reptiles on Earth has been shown to be up to 40 million years earlier than previously thought – thanks to evidence discovered at an Australian fossil site that represents a critical time period.

    Flinders University Professor John Long and colleagues have identified fossilised tracks of an amniote with clawed feet – most probably a reptile – from the Carboniferous period, about 350 million years ago.

    “Once we identified this, we realised this is the oldest evidence in the world of reptile-like animals walking around on land – and it pushes their evolution back by 35-to-40 million years older than the previous records in the Northern Hemisphere,” says Professor Long, Strategic Professor in Palaeontology at Flinders.

    Published today in the journal Nature, this discovery indicates that such animals originated in the ancient southern supercontinent of Gondwana, of which Australia was a central part

    The fossil tracks, discovered in the Mansfield district of northern Victoria in Australia, were made by an animal that Professor Long predicts would have looked like a small, stumpy, Goanna-like creature.

    “The implications of this discovery for the early evolution of tetrapods are profound,” says Professor Long.

    “All stem-tetrapod and stem-amniote lineages must have originated during the Devonian period – but tetrapod evolution proceeded much faster, and the Devonian tetrapod record is much less complete than we have believed.”

    Fossil records of crown-group amniotes – the group that includes mammals, birds and reptiles – begin in the Late Carboniferous period (about 318 million years old), while previously the earliest body fossils of crown-group tetrapods were from about 334 million years ago, and the oldest trackways about 353 million years old.

    This had suggested the modern tetrapod group originated in the early Carboniferous period, with the modern amniote group appearing in the early part of the Late Carboniferous period.

    “We now present new trackway data from Australia that falsify this widely accepted timeline,” says Professor Long, who worked with Australian and international experts on the major Nature journal paper.

    “My involvement with this amazing fossil find goes back some 45 years, when I did my PhD thesis on the fossils of the Mansfield district, but it was only recently after organizing palaeontology field trips to this area with Flinders University students that we got locals fired up to join in the hunt for fossils.

    “Two of these locals – Craig Eury and John Eason (coauthors on the paper) – found this slab covered in trackways and, at first, we thought they were early amphibian trackways, but one in the middle has a hooked claw coming off the digits, like a reptile – an amniote, in fact.

    “It was amazing how crystal clear the trackways are on the rock slab. It immediately excited us, and we sensed we were onto something big – even though we had no idea just how big it is.”

    The Flinders palaeontology team working on this project included Dr Alice Clement, who scanned the fossil footprints to create digital models that were then analysed in detail, working closely with a team from Uppsala University led by Professor Per Erik Ahlberg, a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

    “We study rocks and fossils of the Carboniferous and Devonian age with specific interest to observe the very important fish-tetrapod transition,” says Dr Clement.

    “We’re trying to tease apart the details of how the bodies and lifestyles of these animals changed, as they moved from being fish that lived in water, to becoming tetrapods that moved about on land.”

    Another coauthor Dr Aaron Camens, who studies animal trackways from around Australia, produced heatmaps that explain details of the fossil footprints much more clearly.

    “A skeleton can tell us only so much about what an animal could do, but a trackway actually records its behaviour and tells us how this animal was moving,” says Dr Camens.

    Because Professor Long had been studying ancient fish fossils of this area since 1980, he had a clear idea of the age of rock deposits in the Mansfield district – from the Carboniferous period, which started about 359 million years ago.

    “The Mansfield area has produced many famous fossils, beginning with spectacular fossil fishes found 120 years ago, and ancient sharks. But the holy grail that we were always looking for was evidence of land animals, or tetrapods, like early amphibians. Many had searched for such trackways, but never found them – until this slab arrived in our laboratory to be studied.

    “This new fossilised trackway that we examined came from the early Carboniferous period, and it was significant for us to accurately identify its age – so we did this by comparing the different fish faunas that appear in these rocks with the same species and similar forms that occur in well-dated rocks from around the world, and that gave us a time constraint of about 10 million years.”

    La Trobe University’s Dr Jillian Garvey, who liaised with the Taungurung Land and Waters Council for the study, has researched in the Mansfield basin since the early 2000s.

    “This discovery rewrites this part of evolutionary history,” Dr Garvey says. “It indicates there is so much that has happened in Australia and Gondwana that we are still yet to uncover.”

    The research – ‘Earliest amniote tracks recalibrate the timeline of tetrapod evolution’ (2025) by John A Long, Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki, Jillian Garvey, Alice M Clement, Aaron B Camens, Craig A Eury, John Eason and Per E Ahlberg (Uppsala University) – has been published in Nature. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08884-5

    Available online: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08884-5

    Fossil tracks show reptiles appeared on Earth up to 40 million years earlier – Google Drive

    Acknowledgements: P.E.A. acknowledges the support of ERC Advanced Grant ERC-2020-ADG 10101963 “Tetrapod Origin”. J.A.L. and A.M.C. receive funding from the Australian Research Council, DP 220100825 and DP 200103398. The authors acknowledge that NMV P258240 comes from Taungurung Country, and pay their respects to Taungurung Elders past and present, and all of the Taungurung community.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Flat out Fabulous: Barbie puts her best foot forward over the years

    Source:

    15 May 2025

    Author supplied. The Barbie Team (from L to R): Barbie Fashionista (#197) wears an amazing yellow platform heel with ankle straps, Barbie Fashionista (#208) has Down Syndrome and uses sneakers to accommodate her ankle foot orthoses, Barbie Fashionista (#171) wears a high heel white ankle boot and lives with Vitiligo, Barbie Paramedic has her workboots ready to go, Barbie Fashionista (#210) models comfy yellow slides and Barbie Interior Designer wears ballet flats on both her foot and prosthetic limb.

    Foot health enthusiasts have researched Barbie’s footwear choices since her debut in the 1950s –and it turns out the iconic doll’s career really took off when she stepped into flatter shoes.

    But the study – conducted by Monash University, the University of South Australia and Queen Mary University of London – also found Barbie still loves her high heels, and real women who wear them should not be ‘heel shamed’.

    Inspired by the 2023 Barbie movie and published in PLOS One, the project explored correlations and relationships between Barbie’s foot posture, equity/diversity, employment, and time.

    The researchers, who included a Barbie collector, audited 2750 Barbie dolls and Barbie Land friends from between 1959 and June 2024.

    They used their unique FEET system: Foot posture (flat or equinus [tiptoe]); Equity (diversity and inclusion); Employment (fashion vs employed); and Time period (decade of manufacture).

    Over time, the study showed a decreased prevalence in tiptoe foot posture, from 100% in the first period, to 40% in the last.

    Researchers found that Barbie’s flat foot posture had a very strong positive correlation with employment, and time point, while tiptoe foot posture had a very strong positive correlation with fashion. Similarly, equity (diversity) had a very strong positive correlation with fashion, and strong positive correlation with employment.

    Given Barbie is known to reflect societal norms, the researchers contended that this was most likely true for most ‘real life’ high-heel wearers.

    “While Barbie has moved with the times, it appears footwear health messaging about high heel wearing needs to catch up,” says senior author, UniSA’s Dr Helen Banwell.

    “Health professionals castigating high heels through public messaging should remember that emphasising health benefits consistently drives positive behaviour change, over highlighting negative consequences.

    “Barbie clearly makes sensible determinations regarding her body autonomy; high heel wearers should have that same ability.”

    First author and Monash University Professor Cylie Williams, a podiatrist and School of Primary and Allied Health Care Deputy Head, says Barbie’s movie meltdown over her feet being flat when she entered the real world inspired the project

    “We talked about it, posted on social media and talked to our patients about it,” Prof Williams says

    “Then we thought: hang on, has Barbie always been rocking high heels that much? What do her foot postures say about her jobs, how inclusive is she, and has that changed over time?

    “While Barbie was working, we observed she was more likely to embrace flat shoes, sneakers and slides. Barbie also had more job roles since the 1990s and increasingly represented people with disabilities and used assistive technology. We saw Barbie in her wheelchair wearing her high heels, while Barbie with an above knee amputation wearing flats to accommodate her prosthesis.

    “Barbie wears flats when she’s busy breaking glass ceilings, working in health care or being an athlete. But she still loves her high heels when she’s not. Maybe it’s time health messaging caught up. Let’s stop heel-shaming and start empowering people to choose what works for them.”

    Dr Helen Banwell, who heads the University of South Australia’s podiatry program, says shoes were a hot topic for podiatrists and some health professionals were toey about high heels.

    “Most foot problems happen to people not in heels, yet high heels get blamed for everything from bunions to bad moods,” Dr Banwell says.

    “This study let us unpack the myths, celebrate informed choices, and see how a global icon like Barbie reflects (or challenges) social norms. Also, research can be fun, and it was way more fun when Barbie was involved.

    “Barbie clearly has body autonomy – so should everyone else. And if so, if high heel wearers want to rock a stiletto, we propose they are already aware of how they feel and how they can move in them. Let’s leave health messing to things that have a higher impact on health behaviours.

    “It is time we recognised that high-heel wearers, including Barbie as a socially constructed representative woman, make sensible choices based on what works for them.”

    Dr Kristin Graham, who is a senior lecturer at UniSA’s podiatry program, says research on wearing high heels was scant, but we know wearing high heels makes you walk slower, and the higher the heel height, the more instability, pain and possible injury risks.

    As a result, she says many health professionals discouraged high heeled footwear, often linking it to bunions, knee osteoarthritis, plantar fasciitis and low back pain. Yet many of these health conditions were prevalent in the general population regardless of preferred heel height

    “We don’t know that there is a direct impact on long term foot and leg health,” Dr Graham says.

    “This is because it’s never been studied in detail or over time, and because people who wear high heels often wear them for a different length of time each day, or interchangeably with flat shoes.

    “We do know many of the things that people attribute to high heel wear, including tight calf muscles, bunions and heel pain, can happen in people who don’t wear high heels. So, while there might be a risk, we only know what the risk is while they are being worn, and it’s a variable risk because of how variable high heels actually are both in shape and height.”

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

    Media contacts:
    UniSA: Annabel Mansfield E: Annabel.Mansfield@unisa.edu.au M: +61 479 182 489
    Monash University: Cheryl Critchley E: cheryl.critchley@monash.edu M: +61 477 571 442

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Thompson Announces Winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Glenn Thompson (5th District Pennsylvania)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson today announced the 2025 Congressional Art Competition winner: Emma Zacherl, a sophomore at Clarion-Limestone High School.

    Ms. Zacherl, of Clarion, won for her water mixable oils painting, titled “Waiting.” An independent panel of judges selected Ms. Zacherl’s work from 72 entries. Ms. Zacherl also took home the top prize in the 2024 art competition. The winners were announced Saturday during an exhibit at the Winkler Gallery of Fine Art in DuBois, Pa.

    “Congratulations to Emma Zacherl on another first-place win in the Congressional Art Competition,” Rep. Thompson said. “Emma is an exceptional artist, and I continue to be impressed by her skills. I look forward to welcoming her again to Washington, D.C. to celebrate this achievement.”

    The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for Members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since then, more than 650,000 high school students have participated in the nationwide competition.

    Ms. Zacherl’s artwork will be displayed in a special exhibit in the U.S. Capitol for one year with winners from each congressional district in the nation. She is invited to attend a reception in Washington, D.C. with other winners, which will take place in June.

    2025 Congressional Art Competition Winners:

    First Place 
    NAME: Emma Zacherl
    SCHOOL: Clarion-Limestone High School
    SUBMISSION: Waiting
    HOMETOWN: Clarion, Pa.
    TEACHER: Karl Jacobson

    Second Place
    NAME:  Nefeli Dionysiou Karali
    SCHOOL:  DuBois Area Senior High School
    SUBMISSION: Feline Feminism
    HOMETOWN: DuBois, Pa.
    TEACHER: Cheyenne Kanouff

    Third Place 
    NAME:  Madison Ray
    SCHOOL: Clarion-Limestone High School
    SUBMISSION: Modern Sax
    HOMETOWN:  Strattanville, Pa.
    TEACHER:  Kendra Zerbe

    Fourth Place 
    NAME:  Kaleb Gooden
    SCHOOL:  Keystone High School
    SUBMISSION: Maturity
    HOMETOWN: Shippenville, Pa.
    TEACHER:  Janet Hockman

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Thompson, Stevens Introduce Resolution Celebrating 60th Anniversary of SkillsUSA 

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Glenn Thompson (5th District Pennsylvania)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) and Haley Stevens (D-MI) today introduced a resolution celebrating the 60th anniversary of SkillsUSA.

    Since 1965, SkillsUSA has been a leader in equipping students with the skills they need to succeed in the modern economy, serving more than 15 million students and professional members. SkillsUSA has been instrumental in encouraging career and technical education (CTE), closing workforce gaps, and helping students pursue fulfilling careers.

    “I’ve long championed career and technical education and its role in strengthening our communities and economy,” said Rep. Thompson, co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional CTE Caucus. “SkillsUSA is leading the charge when it comes to closing skills gaps and preparing the next generation of workers with technical acumen, professionalism, and the confidence they need to succeed.”

    “This bipartisan resolution recognizes the importance Career and Technical Education (CTE) and SkillsUSA’s contributions to growing CTE,” Rep. Stevens said. “In Michigan and across the country, SkillsUSA has provided pathways to prosperity for students and supported the workforce businesses need to innovate through CTE. As our state and our country looks to compete in the 21st century economy and create quality middle class jobs, we will need to stay laser focused on the critical CTE work done of SkillsUSA.”

    “As we celebrate SkillsUSA’s 60th anniversary, we reflect on the incredible journey of our organization as a national workforce development leader—empowering millions of students across the country to find purpose, direction, and opportunity through CTE,” said Chelle Travis, Executive Director of SkillsUSA. “This resolution is a powerful recognition of the lasting impact our students, educators, and industry partners have made in closing the skills gap and driving innovation across the American economy. We are deeply grateful to Representatives Thompson and Stevens for their leadership in bringing this resolution forward.”

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    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI China: 2025 World Digital Education Conference kicks off in Wuhan

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

    Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends the opening ceremony of the 2025 World Digital Education Conference and delivers a speech, in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, May 14, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    WUHAN, May 14 — The 2025 World Digital Education Conference kicked off on Wednesday in the city of Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.

    China attaches great importance to the development of digital education, said Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

    China, which is accelerating its efforts to become a leading country in education, will continue to promote digital transformation and intelligent upgrading in the education sector, he said.

    China is building a modern digital education system that is fairer, of higher quality, more intelligent, and accessible to all for lifelong learning, Ding added.

    Ding called for seizing the momentum of educational development in the era of intelligence, deepening international cooperation in digital education, and accelerating the implementation of the Global Digital Compact introduced by the United Nations.

    The 2025 World Digital Education Conference, themed “Education Development and Transformation: The Era of Intelligence,” will run through Friday.

    The opening ceremony brought together over 600 participants, including government officials from China and abroad, heads of international organizations, representatives from universities, primary and secondary schools, and experts and scholars.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: 2025 World Digital Education Conference opens in China’s Wuhan

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

    2025 World Digital Education Conference opens in China’s Wuhan

    Updated: May 15, 2025 07:54 Xinhua
    This photo taken on May 14, 2025 shows the opening ceremony of the 2025 World Digital Education Conference in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province. Under the theme of “Education Development and Transformation: The Era of Intelligence,” the 2025 World Digital Education Conference opened here on Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People visit the Digital Education Achievements Exhibition of the 2025 World Digital Education Conference in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, May 14, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on May 14, 2025 shows AI-powered robotic fish displayed at the Digital Education Achievements Exhibition of the 2025 World Digital Education Conference in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People visit the Digital Education Achievements Exhibition of the 2025 World Digital Education Conference in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, May 14, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on May 14, 2025 shows a robotic dog displayed at the Digital Education Achievements Exhibition of the 2025 World Digital Education Conference in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on May 14, 2025 shows the opening ceremony of the 2025 World Digital Education Conference in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People attend the opening ceremony of the 2025 World Digital Education Conference in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, May 14, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: City puts safety first with new speed reductions

    Source: South Australia Police

    The speed limit along two busy streets in Jindalee and Butler has been reduced from 50km to 40km, in a push to increase safety.

    The City of Wanneroo applied to Main Roads WA for the speed reduction earlier this year, after concerns were raised by the local community about speeding and pedestrian safety along Jindalee Boulevard in Jindalee and Kingsbridge Boulevard in Butler.

    Wanneroo Deputy Mayor James Rowe said he was pleased that Main Roads had approved the City’s application, which was informed by a comprehensive study of traffic in the Butler/Jindalee area.

    “Reducing the speed limit was identified as the most effective intervention for the streets in question, as vehicle speed was a significant contributing factor to road safety in the area,” he said.

    “Studies show that reducing the speed limit from 50km to 40km significantly increases the chance of pedestrian survival if a crash were to occur.

    “The speed reduction will also provide pedestrians, cyclists and other active transport users with an improved sense of safety as they navigate the City’s local road network.”

    The new limits are the latest in a series of successful applications for speed reductions, with similar initiatives recently being implemented in Gnangara, Jandabup, Yanchep and the Wanneroo Town Centre.

    These speed reductions are supported by the City’s Road Safety Management Plan 2024-2030, which demonstrates the City’s ongoing commitment to reducing the risks of accidents and improving road safety for all.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Waters, Senator Merkley Launch New Effort to Boost Congress’ Oversight of Trump’s Mass Firings

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (43rd District of California)

    Washington, D.C. – As the Trump Administration continues mass firings of federal employees, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, today introduced first-of-its-kind legislation to strengthen Congress’ authority to protect workers and override federal staffing cuts implemented without consultation.

    The Reduction in Force (RIF) Review Act empowers Congress to overrule any president’s workforce cuts at all federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Health and Human Services. The bill makes RIF plans subject to the Congressional Review Act (CRA) and bolsters Congressional oversight of the executive branch’s actions.

    “Donald Trump and co-President Elon Musk are engaged in a lawless and reckless restructuring of the federal workforce. By firing thousands of federal workers, they are dismantling the infrastructure supporting Social Security, veterans’ healthcare, and our entire government. Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress are sitting by and refusing to perform their duty under the Constitution to provide a check on this President. That’s why I’m proud to partner with Senator Merkley to introduce the Reduction in Force Review Act, which will restore Congress’ role in overseeing major changes to the federal workforce. Agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which I’ve been fighting to protect as Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, protect ordinary Americans from financial scams and predatory lenders. If Republicans want to declare open season on working families, they should at least have to vote on it,” said Waters.

    Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), the top Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee, led the Senate introduction of the RIF Review Act.

    “Trump and his unelected billionaire sidekick Elon Musk’s reckless decision to fire tens of thousands of federal employees threatens the critical services that families, veterans, seniors, and children rely on,” said Merkley. “This isn’t about fiscal responsibility—it’s about cruelly shifting resources away from those who need them most to the very richest among us. Gutting resources and staff from vital programs is not resulting in better services or increased efficiency, but is instead causing pain for folks in Oregon and across the country. Congress must step in and exercise its oversight of the executive branch.”

    The RIF Review Act makes an agency’s reduction in force plan subject to a vote in both houses of Congress under the CRA process and enhances existing RIF reporting requirements to include:

    • The specific reasons for the reduction in force;
    • The anticipated impact of the reduction in force on the employees and operations of the federal agency;
    • Any alternatives to the reduction in force that the federal agency considered, including the reasons that the federal agency rejected those alternatives;
    • A summary of the consultations that the federal agency has held with employees of the federal agency who will be affected by the reduction in force (or representatives of those employees); and
    • A summary of how the reduction in force will impact employees of the Federal agency who are veterans.

    In addition to Waters and Merkley, the RIF Review Act is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Doris O. Matsui (CA-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Jill N. Tokuda (HI-02) and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). 

    The RIF Review Act is endorsed by the AFL-CIO, SEIU, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), and National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE).

    “The Trump administration’s reckless attempt to dismantle our government without congressional approval threatens vital services Americans depend on every day—from caring for veterans and safeguarding public health, to protecting our environment and maintaining national security. This illegal power grab would gut federal agencies, disrupt communities nationwide, and put critical public services at risk. AFGE is proud to support the RIF Review Act to protect not just the patriotic public servants we represent, but the integrity of American government and the essential services that our nation deserves,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley.

    “DOGE’s illegal firings are an attack on federal workers and on the communities across the country who rely on them. Veterans will be left waiting even longer for care, and the workers who ensure our food is safe and water is clean have been fired. If these cuts are not overturned, we’ll see seniors waiting for delayed Social Security checks, and kids and teachers going without vital school programs. The RIF Review Act is critical to stopping these reckless cuts and restoring the jobs that make these programs work. We urge Congress to act now: stand with working people and support this bill or let the Trump administration and an unelected billionaire dismantle the essential services that millions of Americans count on,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler.

    “This administration’s war on the services that Americans rely on is despicable,” said Doreen Greenwald, National President of the NTEU. “These illegal mass firings not only harm thousands of dedicated civil servants across the country, but also millions of taxpayers who need these services and local communities who will suffer from increased unemployment. I applaud Senator Merkley and Congresswoman Waters for their leadership in ensuring that Congress can step in and stop these efforts before it’s too late.”

    Full text of the RIF Review Act can be found by clicking here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-Evening Report: After an autocratic leader was toppled in Bangladesh, democratic renewal remains a work in progress

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Intifar Chowdhury, Lecturer in Government, Flinders University

    Last July, a powerful student-led uprising in Bangladesh toppled the authoritarian, corrupt government led for 15 years by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

    Bangladesh now shows modest signs of democratic recovery. Months into its tenure, a transitional government has reopened political and civic space, especially at universities, and begun reforming key state bodies.

    Yet, violence and political retribution persist. This week, the interim government banned Hasina’s former party, the Awami League, under the country’s Anti-Terrorism Act while a tribunal investigates its role in the deaths of hundreds of protesters last year.

    Elections have also been delayed and may not happen until 2026.

    Amid this fragile transition, interim leader Muhammad Yunus, the 84-year-old Nobel-prize winning economist, has emerged as a rare figure of trust and calm. His popularity is so high, in fact, many are calling for him to remain at the helm for another five years.

    Given the uncertainty, Bangladesh faces some uncomfortable questions: can it afford electoral democracy right now? Or must stability come first, with democracy postponed until institutions can catch up?

    And what happens if emergency governance becomes the new normal?

    Fraught road to democratic renewal

    According to a global democracy report, Bangladesh is still classified as an “electoral autocracy” — one of the few in the category that actually got worse in 2024.

    The opposition, chiefly the Bangladesh National Party (BNP), has mounted a fierce challenge to the interim government’s legitimacy, arguing it lacks a democratic mandate to implement meaningful reforms.

    While the BNP and its former ally, the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, may appeal to segments of Bangladesh’s Muslim majority, their support is undermined by reputational baggage and limited resonance with younger voters.

    At the same time, radical, right-wing, Islamist forces are exploiting the vacuum to reassert themselves, exacerbating tensions between Muslims and the Hindu minority.

    Economically, the country is also still reeling from the damage done under Hasina’s regime.

    Corruption hollowed out the banking system, leaving key institutions almost bankrupt. Although Yunus has taken steps to stabilise the economy by bringing in competent officials, uncertainty continues to dampen investor confidence.

    Inflation remains high. And unless job creation accelerates, especially for the youth, the seeds of further unrest are already planted.

    In addition, law and order has deteriorated sharply. The country’s police force has been tainted by its association with the Alami League, and the former police chief is facing charges of crimes against humanity.

    Street crime is rising and minorities are experiencing growing harassment. Women feel deeply unsafe — both online and on the streets. Some parties are also seen as a threat to countering violence against women.

    Despite strong laws on paper, weak law enforcement and victim-blaming are allowing violence to flourish. It’s very difficult to hold perpetrators of crimes to account.

    Bangladesh is also increasingly isolated on the global stage.

    India, long allied to Hasina’s government, has turned its back on the interim government. The United States is disengaging, as well. USAID had committed nearly US$1 billion (A$1.6 billion) from 2021–26 to help improve the lives of Bangladeshis, but this funding has now been suspended.

    Some gains on civil liberties

    This year, Bangladesh improved slightly in Freedom House’s index on political freedoms and civil liberties, from a score of 40 points out of 100 last year to 45. This is a step in the right direction.

    Among the improvements in the past year, the government has:

    The appointment of new election commissioners and the creation of advisory commissions for judicial and anti-corruption reform also signal an institutional reset in motion.

    But gains remain fragile. While politically motivated cases against opposition figures have been dropped, new ones have emerged against former ruling elites. The military’s policing role has expanded and harassment of Awami League supporters by protesters persists.

    In addition, media freedom remains heavily constrained, with a human rights group reporting the interim government had targeted hundreds of journalists in the past eight months.

    In this fractured environment, urgent reforms are needed. But these need to be sustainable, as well. Whether the interim government has the time, authority or support to deliver them remains in doubt. The government also needs to deliver on its promise to hold free and fair elections.

    A new party on the rise

    The country’s politically engaged youth have not been dissuaded by these issues. Rather, they are trying to reshape the political landscape.

    The new National Citizen Party (NCP) was formed in early 2025 by leaders of last year’s student uprising. It has positioned itself as the party to bring a “second republic” to Bangladesh. Drawing from historical models from France and the US, the party envisions a new elected, constituent assembly and constitution.

    With organisational support and tacit backing from the interim government, the NCP has rapidly grown into a viable political force.

    Still, the party faces a steep, uphill climb. Its broad, ideological umbrella risks diluting its message, blurring its distinctions with the BNP.

    For the NCP to turn protests into policy, it must sharpen its identity, consolidate its base, and avoid being co-opted or outflanked.

    Whether this moment of political flux leads to real transformation or yet another cycle of disillusionment will depend on how boldly — and how sustainably— the interim government and new actors like the NCP act. And they must not draw out the process of transition for too long.

    Intifar Chowdhury 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. After an autocratic leader was toppled in Bangladesh, democratic renewal remains a work in progress – https://theconversation.com/after-an-autocratic-leader-was-toppled-in-bangladesh-democratic-renewal-remains-a-work-in-progress-253846

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz