NewzIntel.com

Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI China: Sporting events emerge as popular holiday attractions in China

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

    A Peking Opera performance during the World Aquatics Diving World Cup Super Final at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing, China, on May 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Na Yuqi)

    A captivating performance of Peking Opera staged on the diving platform amazed the audience during the World Aquatics Diving World Cup Super Final at the National Aquatics Center, famously known as the “Water Cube,” in Beijing on Saturday.

    “I was truly impressed by the vibrant atmosphere in the Water Cube. I traveled from Tianjin with my children to watch the Super Final, and the shows were beyond the competition itself. I believe I made a great choice for our holiday,” said Zhang Shaoyin during the three-day event that began on Friday.

    The Water Cube, originally built for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, hosted swimming and diving competitions during the Games, as well as the curling events during the 2022 Winter Olympics, after having been transformed into the “Ice Cube.”

    During China’s five-day Labor Day holiday starting Thursday, the dual-Olympic venue has been once again in the spotlight of the sports world.

    “I hadn’t watched a diving competition since Beijing 2008,” said Bai Xiaoke, a local resident. “I used to take my son to the water park here, but this time our family is here for this high-level international event.”

    The Super Final also attracted Jorge Alberto Cueva from Mexico, who also used mobile payment platforms such as Alipay for the first time.

    “Everything here is new for me. It is definitely a delightful experience, and I will keep the memory for a long time,” said Cueva.

    Organizers launched around 40 official licensed products, including pins, cups, bags, and keychains. Many fans purchased plush turtle toys — popular to Chinese star diver Quan Hongchan — to show their admiration.

    Tian Yao, a sports presentation manager at the Super Final, introduced, “Many cultural elements including the famous landmarks along the Beijing Central Axis, such as Tiananmen and Yongdingmen Gate, were vividly displayed in the venue through 3D projection. It is just like a city tour in the Water Cube for the audience.”

    “Sporting events held during holiday have a multiplier effect. The Super Final’s box office surpassed 5.7 million yuan (784,000 U.S. dollars), with over 7,000 spectators attending the diving competitions on Friday,” revealed Zhang Yun, deputy director of Beijing Sports Competitions Administration and International Exchange Center.

    Meanwhile, in Xiamen, Fujian Province, the Sudirman Cup is another major event attracting visitors. According to a manager at Wutong Pliport Hotel, room bookings have surged since the tournament began on April 27, with more than 80 percent of the 620 rooms reserved. The hotel provides shuttle services to the badminton venue and prepares food packs featuring local snacks and drinks for fans.

    Zhou Jiaze, 19, from Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, shared, “I love playing badminton. I missed the last Sudirman Cup two years ago when I was in high school, but now I’m here. I plan to explore the city and visit Xiamen University.”

    “I spent over 14 hours to get here, with a transfer in Tianjin,” said Xu Yuyan, traveling from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. “I will stay here for five days and hope to see great performance of Chinese players.”

    Geoff Stensland, president of the Bellevue Badminton Club of Seattle, Washington, also visited Xiamen for the Sudirman Cup. “Badminton is getting more popular in America with new clubs opening almost every month. The Sudirman Cup is real fun,” Stensland said.

    Also during the Labor Day holiday, the Equestrian Shanghai Global Champions Tour was held from Friday to Sunday, attracting international tourists eager to enjoy outdoor sports. Additionally, the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series and a World Tour event also took place in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. In less than 100 days, Chengdu will host the 12th World Games – the first major global sports event in western China since the 31st Universiade in 2023.

    “As an increasing number of sporting events are held in China in recent years, people have got used to taking exciting games as an integral part of their holiday,” said Zou Xinxian, a professor at Beijing Sport University. “This trend can not only boost the host city’s vitality, but also spur the economy driven by international events.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia can no longer take a ‘business as usual’ approach to the US. On security, it’s time for courage and confidence

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joanne Wallis, Professor of International Security, University of Adelaide

    The re-election of the Albanese Labor government by such a wide margin should not mean “business as usual” for Australia’s security policy.

    The global uncertainty instigated by US President Donald Trump means Australia’s security landscape is very different today from when Labor was first elected in 2022, or even when its Defence Strategic Review was released in 2023.

    As we argue in our recent book, the Albanese government faces increasingly difficult questions.

    How can we maintain our critical security alliance with the US while deepening partnerships with other countries that have reservations about US policy?

    And, given Trump’s recent actions, how much can we continue to rely on the United States and what are the potential costs of the alliance?

    With a massive parliamentary majority, the new government has an opportunity for bold thinking on national security. This is not the time for Australia to keep its head down – we need to face the rapidly changing world with our heads held high.



    Read more:
    Blaming Donald Trump for conservative losses in both Canada and Australia is being too kind to Peter Dutton

    Trump 2.0 is not the same as 1.0

    We do not advocate Australia step away from the US alliance. We are also realistic that decades of defence procurement mean Australia is heavily reliant on US defence materiel (and its subsequent sustainment) for our security.

    The deep interoperability between the Australian Defence Force and the US military is something alliance sceptics too readily gloss over: much Australian military capability cannot function without ongoing American support.

    At the same time, many alliance advocates underestimate the impact of the new challenges we face. Some assumed a continuity between the first and second Trump administrations. However, we are not convinced the lessons learned from Trump 1.0 are still valid.

    A key difference between Trump 1.0 and 2.0 is the effect of his move away from respecting international law.

    For example, the US has voted with Russia against UN Security Council resolutions condemning the Ukraine war, withdrawn from the Paris Climate Agreement and World Health Organization, and damaged relations with NATO allies, among many other actions.

    As a middle power, Australia has long relied on the “rules-based order” to advance its foreign and strategic policy interests.

    Even if “normal transmission” resumes under a new US president in 2029, we are concerned the Trump administration’s structural changes to the international order will not easily be wound back. American soft power has been decimated by cuts to the US State Department, USAID and international broadcasting services. This will also not be rebuilt quickly.

    A second difference is there are few “adults left in the room” in the Trump administration.

    The advisers who kept Trump in check during his first administration have been replaced by loyalists less likely to push back against his ideas and impulses. This includes his long-held grievance that allies have been exploiting the US.

    The Albanese government needs to think more deeply about how to hedge against dependence on the US. This means investing in relations with other partners, especially in Asia and the Pacific, and working with them to promote the laws, rules and norms that maintain stability and predictability in global affairs.

    An idealistic vision for the future

    We are also concerned that many in the national security community base their policy recommendations on the assumption that war between the US and China is inevitable, and such a conflict could draw in Australia as America’s ally.

    Rather, the Trump administration’s preference for “deals” opens the possibility the US and China might come to an arrangement that will affect US presence and leadership in our region.

    Australia may not be prepared for this. The new government must engage in more open discussion about how we would maintain our security if the US does pull back from the region or makes decisions Australians don’t support.

    As a start, we need to consider how Australia can better pursue self-reliance within the alliance structure. We need a range of strategic options in the future that don’t rely on an outdated image of the US as a reliable partner.

    This debate should be guided by what we call “pragmatic idealism”.

    Rather than accepting the way things are, the government and members of the national security community need to re-imagine how things can be.

    We argue the Albanese government should draw confidence from its thumping electoral win to articulate a politics of hope, opportunity and possibility for our future security. This needs to drown out the cynicism, passive acceptance and learned helplessness that often characterises Australian national security debates.

    We are conscious that being “idealistic” is often dismissed as impractical, naïve “wishful thinking”. But the new government needs to demonstrate to Australians it has the courage to face the diverse, interlinked and complex security challenges we face – potentially on our own. These extend to issues such as cyber attacks, transnational crime and climate change.

    Practical steps

    As a first step, the Albanese government urgently needs to commission an integrated National Security Strategy that considers all the tools of statecraft Australia can use to respond to these challenges.

    This means engaging more with partners in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. In particular, Australia should consider investing more heavily in information programs and public diplomacy as the US withdraws from this arena.

    The government must also engage better with the public and be more transparent about its security options and decisions.

    On AUKUS, for instance, the government must build its “social licence” from the public to sustain such a massive deal across generations. Australians need to be better informed about – and consulted on – the decisions they will ultimately pay for.

    This also includes being upfront with Australians about the need for greater defence spending in a tumultuous world.

    It is understandably tempting for the new Albanese government to continue a “small target” when it comes to the US. This has meant minimising domestic debate about the alliance that could undermine support for AUKUS and avoid risking the ire of a thin-skinned Trump.

    But the government needs the courage to ask difficult questions and imagine different futures.

    Joanne Wallis receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the Australian Department of Defence, and the government of South Australia. She is a Senior Nonresident Fellow of the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C.

    Rebecca Strating receives funding from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

    – ref. Australia can no longer take a ‘business as usual’ approach to the US. On security, it’s time for courage and confidence – https://theconversation.com/australia-can-no-longer-take-a-business-as-usual-approach-to-the-us-on-security-its-time-for-courage-and-confidence-255598

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Rally held in Tokyo on Japan’s Constitution Day to honor peace, oppose war

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

    Nearly 40,000 peace-seeking Japanese participated in a rally in a park in Tokyo on Constitution Memorial Day on Saturday, calling for honoring the country’s pacifist constitution and opposition to war and arms expansion.

    Many Japanese lawmakers, scholars and citizens were invited to speak at the rally, with many participants holding banners and placards such as “Oppose arms expansion” and “Love the Constitution and safeguard world peace!” to express their firm support for the concept of peace.

    The current Constitution of Japan was enacted in 1947 and is known as the pacifist postwar constitution, in which Article 9 renounces war and bans the country from maintaining land, sea and air forces, as well as other war potential.

    For decades, Article 9 has been a fundamental constraint on Japan’s military endeavors. However, in recent years, the Japanese government has taken steps such as lifting the ban on collective self-defense and updating three security and defense-related documents, which have caused grave concern among the public.

    Senior officials from opposition parties called for not allowing the Diet, the country’s parliament, to propose constitutional amendments, while underscoring the need to protect peace, lives, livelihoods and human rights by utilizing the current constitution.

    Tomoko Tamura, head of the Japanese Communist Party, pointed out in her speech that the Japanese government’s series of actions have essentially incorporated the Self-Defense Forces into the U.S. military command system, adding that Japan should promote peace diplomacy in East Asia free from war concerns in accordance with the Constitution and build a broader framework for dialogue and cooperation.

    Ex-Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry official Shigeaki Koga said the world is undergoing profound changes and Japan should adhere to the spirit of peace embodied in its constitution. He stressed that Japan should break away from its dependence on certain countries and rebuild diplomatic relations based on people-to-people exchanges and understanding, noting that only through dialogue can confrontation be resolved and peace maintained.

    Emeritus Manabu Sato of the University of Tokyo criticized the current Japanese government’s military expansion policy as being contrary to the spirit of the Constitution and questioned the huge defense expenditure. He believes that war-renouncing Article 9 has brought long-term peace to Japan after the war, and the government should give priority to using resources for education, people’s welfare and the improvement of social structure.

    The rally attracted a large number of young people and families. A mother who brought her children to the rally told Xinhua: “I hope my children can grow up in an environment free from the threat of war. As a parent, I have the responsibility to pass on this concept.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Far right candidate leads Romania’s presidential election rerun: exit polls

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

    Exit polls showed that George Simion, chairman of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians, took the lead in the first round of the Romanian presidential election rerun on Sunday.

    According to the exit polls conducted by the Center for Urban and Regional Sociology (CURS), Simion garnered 33.1 percent of the vote, followed by Crin Antonescu of the electoral alliance Romania Forward with 22.9 percent and Mayor of Bucharest Nicusor Dan, an independent candidate, with 20.9 percent.

    In another exit poll carried out by the AVANGARDE Socio-Behavioral Studies Group, Simion secured 30 percent of the vote while Antonescu and Dan both had 23 percent.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Singapore’s ruling party clinches landslide victory

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

    The decisive victory of Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party in Saturday’s elections gave Prime Minister Lawrence Wong a strong mandate in his first electoral test, extending the party’s 66-year rule in the city-state.

    The PAP secured 65.57 percent of share of the popular votes and won 87 of 97 parliamentary seats. Analysts said the landslide victory ensures that it has “outright political legitimacy” at a time when Singapore’s trade-dependent economy is being challenged by geopolitical tensions.

    Wong thanked the voters for a “clear signal of trust, stability and confidence”.

    “Singaporeans too can draw strength from this and look ahead to our future with confidence. The results will put Singapore in a better position to face this turbulent world,” Wong said on Sunday.

    Tan Ern Ser, an adjunct principal research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies in Singapore, said the PAP “has a strong mandate and competence to help Singapore steer through the treacherous waters ahead”.

    David Black, founder and CEO of polling firm Blackbox Research in Singapore, said Wong has delivered a “decisive victory” for the PAP, giving the party an “outright political legitimacy in their own right”.

    According to a preelection survey conducted by Blackbox Research, the rising cost of living and soaring home prices were top concerns for voters.

    Champa Ha, a 34-year-old researcher, said her salary can barely catch up with the rising cost of living. “I’m worried that someday I might be priced out of a life in Singapore.”

    A 30-year-old marketing executive expressed satisfaction with the PAP’s performance in the past five years but voiced frustration over the government’s decision to raise the goods and services tax. She said she hopes more can be done to help Singaporeans cope with rising living expenses.

    James Chin, a professor of Asian studies at the University of Tasmania in Australia, said Singaporeans are largely worried about living costs and the threat to their rice bowl.

    “With Singaporeans thinking that the state of the economy is in trouble because of what (United States President Donald) Trump is doing in the international arena, they believe it’s better to go to the PAP,” Chin said.

    The main opposition Workers’ Party held on to the 10 seats it won in 2020. However, the WP polled consistently above 40 percent in the wards they lost, and introduced new candidates with strong credentials.

    Voters did not reject the WP outright, said Eugene Tan, an associate professor of law at Singapore Management University. “They signaled that they recognized the WP’s role, but (they) want it to measure up first.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: ‘Green-collar’ workers on the rise amid China’s green development quest

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

    On Changxing Island in east China’s Shanghai, a fisheries company operates bustling cold storage facilities to keep seafood fresh, while a nearby energy storage power station plays a crucial role in managing electricity costs.

    This energy storage system stores electricity during off-peak hours when rates are lower, and discharges during peak hours when prices rise, thereby helping the fisheries company reduce energy expenses.

    Wu Xiaochun patrols the power station to ensure the facilities run safely and efficiently. His role, energy storage power station maintenance administrator, is one of 19 new professions added to China’s list of officially recognized occupations in July 2024. Playfully, he refers to himself as a “green-collar” worker.

    As China pushes forward with its green transition, a wave of low-carbon industries has emerged, driving a surge in demand for “green-collar” workers.

    To date, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security has officially recognized 137 green professions. Notably, by the end of 2024, the number of practitioners in the ecological and environmental protection sector in China had exceeded 3.4 million.

    Many graduates are now choosing careers in green industries, such as environmental engineers, environmental, social and governance (ESG) consultants, renewable energy engineers, and environmental policy analysts, according to Yu Aitao from the School of Environmental Science and Engineering at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

    “Students are drawn to these professions out of personal interests as well as by promising development potential supported by the country’s favorable policies,” Yu said.

    After graduation, Qin Jiawei, a young professional in his twenties, took up a position as a carbon capture technician at a power station on Changxing Island.

    In 2023, the station launched a 100,000-tonne carbon capture, utilization and storage project, aiming to capture the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by the plant and supply it to local marine equipment manufacturers.

    Qin is among 22 professionals, with an average age of 25, employed by the station to support the project’s operation. “As we plan to expand the project, the demand for skilled workers will continue to grow,” said Shen Hao, general manager of the power station.

    To meet the growing need for a green workforce, many colleges and universities have ramped up efforts to cultivate suitable professionals. Xu Juan, vice dean of the School of Ecological and Environmental Science at East China Normal University, said green talent is increasingly equipped with interdisciplinary skills — spanning fields including science and engineering, finance and management.

    In a laboratory at the College of Civil Engineering of Tongji University, professor Zhang Fengshou leads a team researching the potential of CO2 sequestration using basalt from the sea.

    “Civil engineering is not just about building roads and houses as it is generally perceived. We can also cultivate students with expertise in the low-carbon sector,” Zhang said.

    To better nurture green talent, Xu highlighted the need to establish academic programs focused on green and low-carbon development, such as carbon neutrality and green finance, as well as offering dual-degree programs and interdisciplinary courses to enhance students’ comprehensive abilities.

    Industry insiders have also pointed out that, compared with traditional occupations, emerging green professions still need improved occupational standards and certification systems.

    “The establishment of new green jobs is just the beginning,” said Lei Ting from State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company, calling for joint efforts by government and enterprises to regulate such practitioners’ qualifications, guide vocational training, and boost employment and entrepreneurship.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Thought the election campaign was boring? Maybe you’re just not on TikTok

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Susan Grantham, Lecturer in Communication, Griffith University

    This year’s election campaign marked a turning point in Australian politics. TikTok has emerged not just as another tool, but as a main battleground.

    Although it played a part in the 2022 election, this was the first time the two major parties and the Greens embraced short-form video as a serious campaign strategy.

    These videos may seem silly or nonsensical, but for many Gen Z voters, they may have been the only political messages they encountered in the entire five-week campaign. Given the dominance of Gen Z and Millennial voters, social media videos are increasingly important.

    A blend of trends, podcasts and thirst traps

    The Australian Labor Party’s campaign leaned heavily into TikTok culture, crafting a multi-pronged strategy to reach younger voters where they scroll. This included meme engagement like this absurdist #italianbrainrot trend.

    #brainrot refers to deliberately absurd, low-effort videos that thrive on chaos and nonsensical repetition.

    It’s an existing TikTok trend that started in early 2025 and is designed to capture attention in an oversaturated feed. In other words, don’t try to understand, just watch and enjoy.

    Another standout is a now-viral video of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese edited with the stylistic flair typical of TikTok “thirst trap” content. The editing style and music choice are both characteristic of this sub-genre of video designed to make the subject appear attractive.

    It walked a fine line between irony and sincerity: an intentional nod to the platform’s unique language and humour. While some lapped it up as clever, others question whether such tactics undermine the seriousness of politics.

    Labor also heavily invested in podcasting, with Albanese appearing on youth-oriented shows with the likes of Abbie Chatfield and Ozzy Man. These long-form interviews were mostly promoted by the podcasters themselves, which was a clever use of their existing audiences. It contributed to a strategy that prioritised personality as much as policy.

    Combined with a coordinated influencer outreach, including briefings with popular creators, Labor’s campaign showed a keen understanding of the algorithmic economy. Whether it was cringey or clever, it was undeniably calculated.

    Trendsetters with turbulence

    The Liberal Party started its TikTok campaigning back in December 2024. These early videos, many AI-generated, saw remarkable traction. The highest-viewed video, an AI voice-change take on a scene from “The Grinch”, has been viewed 2.8 million times.

    Then came “Tim Cheese”, a trending fictional character they used to blur the lines in political storytelling. A “bad guy”, Tim Cheese was used by the Liberals to highlight that the known bad guys aren’t always bad.

    One standout video was the introduction of “Cheesy Albanese”, which merged political satire with platform-native humour that resonated with the audience.

    The Liberals also tapped into trending sounds and aesthetics such as #brainrot and #italianbrainrot. In fairness, they were the first to use it before the official campaign started.

    But with any innovative campaign comes risk.

    A notable misstep was the repurposing of influencer content, including that of Holly MacAlpine.

    Topham Guerin, the strategy company behind the campaign, has a reputation for provocative approaches that can come close to, but don’t actually break, the law. However, this use of content did wear thin for some followers, sparking early signs of disengagement.

    The campaign’s second major stumble came on election day.

    US-based TikTok creator Ray William Johnson, who has more than 18.5 million followers, called out the Liberals for blocking his account when they clearly used his video and animation style.

    Johnson said he had no issue with the mimicry, but the party’s pre-emptive blocking of him fuelled backlash. His response video, now seen more than 12 million times, ends with a blunt directive: “I hope everyone goes out and votes for the other guy.”

    It was a viral moment that undid much of the earlier momentum, and demonstrates the high stakes of campaigning in the age of creator culture.

    Despite a clever response video from the Liberals, it was overshadowed by the sheer scale of the backlash.

    With these lows there was still highs, including a highly effective and trending video game that saw players “Escape Albo”.

    The Liberals were early trendsetters, creating boundary-pushing content for all users, even those without strong political views. They experimented with styles that went on to be mimicked, particularly with Labor’s #brainrot-inspired content.

    Greens go from giant toothbrushes to DJ sets

    In a bid to connect with the gaming community, Tasmanian Senator Nick McKim took to livestreaming sessions of the popular game Fortnite. Donning comfortable clothes and a headset, McKim engaged viewers with gaming lingo and humour, aiming to make politics more relatable to younger audiences.

    These videos were a huge success, with this one being viewed 1.4 million times.

    A central feature of the Greens social media campaign was the deployment of a giant toothbrush prop, symbolising the party’s commitment to integrating dental care into Medicare. It featured across various platforms and was a nice link to events in Brisbane and Melbourne.

    These events featured the support of big-name influencers and prompted spinoff videos launching Greens Leader Adam Bandt’s DJ career.

    But despite the flashy props, influencer cameos and party vibes, the Greens’ campaign often felt more like a collection of stunts than a cohesive digital strategy: memorable in moments, but ultimately lacking impact.

    Did it make any difference?

    While many labelled the 2025 election dull, the TikTok campaign told a different story. It was unpredictable, occasionally “cringe”, but deeply entertaining.

    It’s too soon to know if any of this shifted votes or even opinions. Party officials, campaign strategists and academics will all be watching closely to find out.

    While social media is ubiquitous in our lives, using it to campaign is still relatively new in our political history. There are no best-practice guidelines or proven approaches. Of all this content thrown at the wall, it will be fascinating to see what sticks.

    But to the millions of Australians on TikTok, politics has never looked or sounded quite like it did in 2025.

    Susan Grantham 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. Thought the election campaign was boring? Maybe you’re just not on TikTok – https://theconversation.com/thought-the-election-campaign-was-boring-maybe-youre-just-not-on-tiktok-255847

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Farm of the Future”: Possibilities of Genetic Engineering in Agriculture

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    As part of the 63rd International Scientific Student Conference, which was held at NSU in the second half of April, candidate of biological sciences, head of the laboratory of developmental genetics of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICG SB RAS), associate professor of the Department of Cytology and Genetics Faculty of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University Nariman Battulin gave a popular science lecture, “Farm of the Future: How Genetic Technologies Change Animals.” The scientist told conference participants in an accessible form about how geneticists can influence the genome of farm animals.

    How to read a genome?

    A geneticist reads genetic texts (genomes) the same way we all read books or posts on the Internet. There are only 4 letters in DNA – A, T, G, C, but one line of the human genome contains 3 billion letters. These texts describe all the characteristics and features of living organisms, right down to eye color and perception of cold. Geneticists study these texts with great interest and try to decipher them.

    — The control section of DNA switches on and off certain genes in the right organ at the right time and at the right stage of development. If we learn to understand the “genetic texts”, we will be able to control the properties of organisms. Replacing just one letter can lead to dramatic changes. For example, “turning” brown eyes into blue. Naturally, this excites the imagination of scientists, because it opens up huge opportunities for them. Knowing the DNA “texts”, it is possible to solve many problems in various fields. The simplest is forensics: if the perpetrator left his DNA at the crime scene, it can be read and certain properties of his body and even some details of his appearance can be restored. A more difficult task is genetic modification. If we learn to modify DNA, we will be able to artificially set the properties of the organism we need. To do this, we need to solve a big interesting problem — learn to find those sections of DNA that are responsible for the formation of a certain feature, — explained Nariman Battulin.

    The scientist said that geneticists learn which letters in the DNA “text” are responsible for certain properties of the body using genome-wide association studies (GWAS), which helps scientists identify genes associated with a certain disease (or other trait). This method studies the entire DNA set (genome) of a large group of people, identifying small variations called single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs. It is based on a statistical procedure that determines the significance of the difference of a particular SNP between groups of people with and without a trait. In this way, it is possible to identify areas of the genome responsible for eye color or hair structure, cognitive abilities and mental characteristics. Up to the genes responsible for a person’s sense of musical rhythm or sense of humor, as well as the grades they receive in class or the level of income they will be able to achieve. Thanks to such studies, geneticists, if a person detects any pathology or body trait, can determine in which area of the genome the gene “breakdown” occurred.

    More muscles!

    In animal husbandry, similar studies are aimed at identifying genes responsible for economically valuable traits in animals, such as muscle mass in cattle, pigs and sheep, or egg production in birds. Geneticists have learned to identify regions of the genome that enable cows to produce record milk yields, which has revolutionized agriculture, because since this approach was first used to identify the best milk or meat producing animals, there has been a significant increase in agricultural productivity. This approach is no more than 10 years old, but the results achieved during this time allow us to look to the future with optimism and confidently predict further growth in productivity in the livestock industry.

    There is another approach: geneticists look for genome sections responsible for any pathological features of an organism by studying the genomes of animals with deformities. “Breakdowns” of genes can lead to the strangest changes in the phenotype of organisms. These changes are an excellent source of information for searching for DNA sections responsible for their development.

    Nariman Battulin mentioned the Belgian Blue cow breed as an example. Its characteristic feature is hypertrophied, sculpted muscles. It seems that this is how a product of genetic engineering should look, but no. The reason for this was not the experiments of geneticists, but a random mutation in one gene, which increased muscle growth. It happened quite a long time ago, but was fixed by breeders by selecting individuals with increased muscle mass as an economically valuable trait. Then it turned out that the initial mutation occurred as a result of a “breakdown” of just one gene – myostatin, which prevents the formation of an excessive number of muscle cells. If this gene is knocked out, nothing prevents muscle growth and their volume increases twice as much as normal. And scientists quickly learned to use this.

    There is another effective way to interfere with the genome of living organisms. Since they are all distant relatives and have a common ancestor, they also have common genes. If a “broken” myostatin gene is found in cows, this may indicate that a similar gene is present in other animals, and most likely, in their organisms it is responsible for the same trait or property.

    There is only one example in the scientific literature of a “breakdown” in a gene that prevents excessive muscle growth in humans—the same one that affects Belgian Blue cows. This is a boy born with a knockout of the myostatin gene. The baby had twice as much muscle tissue as his peers.

    — It would seem that here it is, an alternative to grueling workouts in gyms: it is enough to block myostatin, and relief muscles are provided from birth and without any effort. But this medal has a reverse side. All muscles increase twofold, and even those whose increase directly affects the quality of life and health. For example, the tongue, which is also a muscle.

    The complexity of such modifications is that each gene affects many traits at once. On the one hand, myostatin knockout increases muscle growth, on the other hand, it creates problems with nutrition due to the tongue being twice as large, and on the third hand, such massive animals with such a large muscle volume cannot be born naturally. For example, the same breed of cows, the Belgian Blue. Almost always, calves of this breed are born by cesarean section. Therefore, before creating such animals using genetic technologies, one should think: will it be economically justified and is it worth settling them on the farm of the future? Yes, they will give much more meat, but how many veterinarians will be needed if the production of meat from such cows is put on stream? After all, the birth of each calf will be accompanied by a surgical operation, – said Nariman Battulin.

    As a result, it turns out that the economic effect of one mutation is not really that impressive due to the additional costs of changing the technology of keeping animals with a knocked-out gene. Genetic engineers should always think through such situations. “Improving” one trait can lead to problems with another. And finding a balance so that the desired genetic variants are productive and economically effective is very difficult. In addition, as practice shows, there are very few of them.

    “Genetic scissors”

    — From the point of view of fundamental biology, if we want to learn how genes work, we need to study this mechanism in animals in which the mutation occurred by chance. But to better understand this mechanism, we need to reproduce it ourselves, transferring this genetic variant to another organism, and see what happens. Geneticists have several tools for this task. The most popular is the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing tool. It is based on an element of the bacterial defense system that biologists have adapted to make changes to the DNA of plants, animals and humans. It consists of using short RNA that directs CRISPR/Cas9 to the desired site in the genome. After attaching to the target DNA, CRISPR/Cas9 cuts two DNA strands, allowing scientists to either deactivate the gene or insert a new DNA segment in place of the cut. Just one break is enough to “break” the gene and make changes to the DNA. In essence, this genomic editing tool is a biological molecule that can find the right place in the genome to “hit”. This is very important because the human genome, like the genome of a cow and other mammals, consists of 3 billion nucleotides, and finding the right one is not so easy. Genomic editing tools allow us to do this, – explained Nariman Battulin.

    With these tools, the most popular genetic variants can be transferred from one animal species to another. For example, the genome of the same Belgian Blue cows contains a knockout of the myostatin gene, while cows of other breeds do not. It is possible to introduce this genetic change by crossing, but it will take too much time. But with the help of genomic editing tools, it is quite possible to introduce the desired genetic variant directly into the DNA of meat breeds. And such calves have already been obtained.

    One of the scientific articles on this topic, “Efficient introduction of mutations into the piglet genome using CRISPR/Cas9,” which was published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports, says that the authors obtained 8 piglets with a knockout of the myostatin gene. And indeed, their muscles were twice as big as those of normal piglets. However, all the modified animals died within a week. But why did genome editing, which is successfully carried out on cows, fail on pigs?

    — The thing is that each gene affects not just one function, but several at once. For example, the genomes of Belgian Blue cows contain other genetic variants that compensate for the negative impact of myostatin knockout on the body, while pigs do not have such variants. Therefore, it is important for geneticists to remember that the results of transferring one genetic variant to another genetic background can be unpredictable and undesirable, which is what happened in the case of piglets, in whose genome the myostatin gene was knocked out. But sometimes the results are positive. Lambs successfully tolerated the knockout of the myostatin gene — their muscle mass increased, but, unlike piglets, they were viable. This gene was successfully blocked in fish. In Japan, sea bream was subjected to this manipulation, after which the muscle mass of this species increased by 17%. Experiments on “building up” muscles in these fish continue, attempts are being made to bring genetically improved sea bream to market. But genetically modified salmon has already entered the American market. True, it took the enterprise implementing such a bold project 30 years of work and 100 million dollars in investments. If a regular salmon at the age of 18 months reaches 33 cm in length and weighs 1.3 kg, then its transgenic relative is twice as long and reaches a weight of 3 kg, – said Nariman Battulin.

    By the way, the farm of the future will have a place for aquaculture, which is currently becoming an important element of agriculture. Most of the fish that comes to our table are not caught in the wild, but grown in fish farms.

    Beneficial mutations

    With the help of genetic engineering, scientists can make various useful changes to the genome of animals. For example, depriving cattle of horns, which will avoid many problems, namely, injury to other animals or farm workers.

    — There are genetic variants of natural mutations obtained in hornless cows. By identifying the genes responsible for such a beneficial mutation, it is possible to artificially edit the genome of cows of other breeds, and calves will be born that fully correspond to their breed with only one exception — they will not grow horns. At the same time, other features and advantages of the breed remain unchanged. Such calves have already been obtained. Normally, animals of their breed are characterized by long horns, but genetically modified cows of this breed do not have them, — Nariman Battulin specified.

    By means of genome editing, it is possible to “adapt” cows to climate change. For example, to global warming. There are genetic variants that allow increasing their temperature adaptation, i.e. resistance to heat stress. For example, if you introduce a corresponding mutation into the genome of Angus cows, “breaking” just one gene, the skin of the genetically modified animal becomes slightly thinner, and the wool becomes thinner, which reduces body temperature by 0.3-0.5 degrees under heat stress. Therefore, despite the fact that the absolute figures are small, from the point of view of the biological system, this is a very significant change.

    Cold-resistant animals can be created in a similar way. In this task, geneticists are looking for inspiration in the Yakut breeds of cattle, which can withstand even the harshest frosts. They can winter in open areas, so there is no need to build warm barns. And the reason for such resistance to the cold lies, of course, in their genome. Scientists have identified the very genetic variant that affects the cold resistance of Yakut breeds of cattle. This same genetic variant is found in deep-diving animals, as well as in mammals that can hibernate or significantly change their own body temperature.

    — Before actually reproducing these genetic variants in other breeds, it is very important to try to understand the mechanism by which these processes are realized. Therefore, at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, we created modified mice in which we reproduced the genetic variant of Yakut cows. Now we are trying to understand how these mice feel in low temperatures. We are observing changes in the heart rate of mouse embryos depending on the decrease in the ambient temperature. And there is hope that very soon we will understand how this mechanism works and will be able to create cold-resistant mice. But it is desirable that they do not exist on the farm of the future, — the scientist said.

    According to Nariman Battulin, the most impressive thing that could be on a farm of the future is pigs that will become organ donors for humans. Unfortunately, humanity does not have the ability to provide donor organs to everyone in need. Genetically modified animals, whose organs can be transplanted to humans, could become an alternative to regular donors. By many parameters, the only species that can be used for these purposes is the pig. In recent years, significant progress has been made in this area. There are known cases of successful xenotransplantation of a kidney from a transgenic pig to a human in the world. However, after this, the few patients lived very short lives. The record holder was a man who underwent surgery in the United States in January of this year. He has been living with such a kidney for four months now.

    — The most complex genetic changes that were made on animals were made on pigs for the purpose of subsequent xenotransplantation. In this case, it is necessary to introduce dozens of modifications into the genome, to “break” the genes that produce proteins that our immune system perceives as foreign. In addition, it is necessary to combine the immune systems and blood coagulation systems of humans and pigs. And many such modifications need to be made — the more, the more successful the xenotransplantation procedure will be. Geneticists from all over the world, including scientists from the Novosibirsk Akademgorodok, are working on solving this problem, — the lecturer noted.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Link personal pursuit with the country — Xi’s message to Chinese youth

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China celebrates its annual Youth Day on Sunday, honoring the legacy of the patriotic May Fourth Movement of 1919 that shaped modern Chinese history.

    Around this time, President Xi Jinping usually sends greetings to young people and champions the inseparable bond between youth empowerment and national progress.

    Still fresh in the public’s mind is Xi’s visit to an AI incubator in Shanghai on Tuesday. During the inspection of the AI industry in the eastern metropolis, Xi spent some time engaging with young entrepreneurs participating in an innovators’ salon.

    “AI is a nascent industry, and it’s also an industry that belongs to young people,” Xi said, encouraging the younger generation to demonstrate their talent and capabilities at a time when “China is advancing the great cause of building a strong nation and realizing national rejuvenation on all fronts.”

    Xi urged the young people to cherish a deep love for the country, set their sights on serving the nation, and strengthen their capabilities. The youth should “closely link their personal endeavors with the country’s future,” he said.

    Xi has on multiple occasions stressed the necessity for young people to have unwavering dedication to the nation and the people, a conviction forged from his early experiences.

    In the late 1960s, as part of a national movement, millions of urban youth went to rural areas to work and live alongside farmers, aiming to foster resilience through hard labor. Among them was 15-year-old Xi, who arrived in a remote village in Shaanxi Province.

    Taking on farming, hauling coal, and building dams, Xi’s resilience, thirst for knowledge, and reputation as a “learned problem-solver” won the trust of villagers, who elected him as their Party branch secretary.

    As a young man toiling on the barren Loess Plateau of northern Shaanxi, Xi’s aspiration at that time was to ensure that all fellow villagers could have enough to eat. It was there that Xi forged a conviction to dedicate his life to the country and the people.

    Now, as China’s top leader, Xi frequently urges the younger generation to devote themselves to national development.

    Ahead of the Youth Day 2023, Xi penned a reply letter to students from China Agricultural University. For over a decade, the university has been operating the “science and technology backyards” program, sending postgraduate students specializing in agriculture to rural areas to assist in solving practical problems.

    In his letter, Xi expressed the hope for the students to closely integrate textbook knowledge with practices in rural areas, and devote their youth and strength to speeding up rural and agricultural modernization and the construction of a modern socialist country.

    In an article published on Thursday in Qiushi Journal, the flagship magazine of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Xi again underscored the importance of strengthening the ideals and convictions of the younger generation.

    Young people should serve as pioneers and vital forces in areas such as scientific and technological innovation, rural revitalization, green development, social services, and national defense, the article noted.

    In his latest Youth Day greetings, Xi commended a group of volunteer teachers working in a remote border school in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

    In the reply letter to the volunteer teachers, Xi noted that more young people have chosen to serve as volunteers in the country’s western regions and rural areas over the years, demonstrating their spirit of dedication and sense of responsibility.

    “Contribute to the country’s modernization drive by serving where the nation and the people need you most,” he urged.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China rolls out comprehensive measures to foster young scientific talent

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

    The 2025 China Youth May Fourth Medal honor was recently awarded to 30 individuals and 30 groups for making outstanding contributions, with sci-tech professionals accounting for a significant and growing share of recipients, showcasing the dynamism of China’s young scientific talent.

    Recipients this year include Gui Haichao, an astronaut who served as a payload expert on the Shenzhou-16 mission, and Wang Xingxing, founder of Unitree Technology, who made breakthroughs in the robotic technology field. The 2025 list also features researchers such as Du Lingjie, whose team for the first time presented experimental evidence of a graviton-like particle called chiral graviton modes.

    Du comes from the School of Physics, Nanjing University, in east China’s Jiangsu Province. The findings presented by Du and his team were published in the journal Nature in 2024, marking the first experimental substantiation of the concept of gravitons, posited by pioneering works in quantum gravity since the 1930s.

    As this study demanded costly and specialized equipment to operate in extremely low temperatures and strong magnetic fields, the research team once found itself in a budget crisis.

    A lifeline came from the Jiangsu provincial natural science foundation, which had established a special funding channel for early-career researchers. After expert reviews of his efforts, Du secured 3 million yuan (about 416,586 U.S. dollars) in project funding, resolving the team’s financial difficulties.

    “Early-career researchers face critical funding gaps despite the transformative potential of their research,” said Sun Jian, vice director of Nanjing University’s Office of Science and Technology.

    In recent years, Jiangsu Province has significantly boosted its support for early-career scientists, increasing both project allocations and financial grants — while eliminating application quotas in physics and applied mathematics and other fields.

    To incentivize innovation, a special funding channel for non-consensus research has been established, supporting projects that challenge conventional scientific paradigms. Once general objectives are approved, the funding channel grants the relevant research team full autonomy in terms of experimental design and budget execution.

    This mechanism minimizes the burden of operational management for scientists and maximizes intellectual freedom for groundbreaking discoveries, Sun added.

    While easing financial concerns faced by fundamental researchers, China has simultaneously bolstered efforts to commercialize applied research — ensuring that laboratory breakthroughs translate into tangible societal and economic gains while guaranteeing that scientists can benefit from the fruits of their applied work.

    Taking drug development as an example. This process requires rigorous testing, leading-edge infrastructure and specialized industrial services. To empower medical researchers to translate theoretical achievements into tangible clinical applications, China’s Ministry of Education and local governments in Jiangsu have established several biomedical innovation centers to facilitate related development. These centers provide research equipment leasing and other services, including intellectual property protection and funding applications.

    To further lower the risks in commercialization for research institutions and businesses, the innovation center in the city of Suzhou in Jiangsu has creatively partnered with an insurer to launch an insurance program, which covers losses arising from failed technology transfers, patent disputes, and other risks.

    Lin Yuhui, a 36-year-old associate professor at Nanjing Medical University, took part in this program through a stroke medication project. “Such institutional innovation empowers young scientists to focus on research and entrust commercialization to market forces, and provides financial incentives for our work,” said Lin.

    Many local governments across China are increasing the benefits scientific researchers can derive from transforming scientific research into practical outcomes — thereby encouraging the commercialization of research.

    Central China’s Hubei Province has introduced a policy requiring that at least 70 percent of net income or equity from commercializing scientific breakthroughs should be allocated to the researchers or teams behind them.

    East China metropolis, Shanghai, aims to achieve 100 billion yuan in cumulative technology commercialization contracts across public research institutions by 2027, while also embedding tech transaction services into Yangtze River Delta integration strategy.

    Over the past several years, the central government has consistently emphasized support for young scientists and the need to give them important responsibilities in government work reports.

    As part of this push to develop young scientists, China has introduced a series of policies, such as requiring researchers aged under 40 to fill at least half of leading or core roles in major science and technology projects. Meanwhile, the government requires setting aside over 45 percent of projects in the National Natural Science Foundation of China for early-career scientists, targeting pioneering work in emerging fields and interdisciplinary breakthroughs.

    “While research funding and equipment have been improved, the spirit of truth-seeking has persisted across generations of scientists. Today’s young researchers are not only passionate and innovative but also committed to upholding this spirit, thereby continuing to explore and pioneer new frontiers in technology,” said Zhang Jingyang, a professor at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A digital assistant for housing and communal services in the science city of Koltsovo is being created at NSU

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Employees of the Center for Artificial Intelligence of Novosibirsk State University have begun to create a digital twin of the infrastructure management systems of the science city of Koltsovo. The first project, the prototype of which should be presented this summer, will be a digital assistant for preparing the public utilities of the science city for the heating season. This was reported by Igor Boldyrev, Deputy Director of the NSU Center for Artificial Intelligence.

    — Our cooperation is developing within the framework of the agreement between Koltsovo and NSU, the leadership of the science city set us a number of tasks, in the solution of which artificial intelligence technologies could help. And to date, we have advanced the furthest in cooperation with the enterprises of the city housing and communal services, namely in the area of preparing the municipality for the beginning of the heating season, — he explained.

    At present, following a series of working meetings, a technical assignment has been formed for the team of developers of the NSU Center for Information Technologies, which determines what tasks their digital assistant should solve.

    First of all, preparation for the heating season involves following certain protocols, including collecting information and preparing relevant documentation, all within strictly specified timeframes.

    “This work fits completely into our concept of a digital twin of the SIGMA control system, which is one of the central developments of the NSU Artificial Intelligence Center,” Igor Boldyrev emphasized.

    In addition, NSU Center for Information Technologies and Communications specialists propose using their competencies in the field of creating systems for monitoring the state of the heating system and forecasting possible accidents and heat leaks, also integrating its work with a digital assistant. This will further increase the efficiency of both preparation for the heating season and its implementation.

    The university notes that virtually all municipalities in our country face similar challenges, and after testing on the Koltsovo infrastructure, the solutions created can be offered for widespread implementation in other populated areas.

    — Now the Center is entering a stage where we are moving from theoretical work to creating specific digital products and services based on this research, which involve the use of artificial intelligence in urban management and the construction industry. Let me remind you that the practical application of our developments was one of the key conditions for opening the center. And the science city of Koltsovo was immediately considered as one of the main sites for the implementation of pilot projects, — noted Alexander Lyulko, Director of the NSU Center for Innovative Research.

    The prototype of the digital assistant should be ready by the end of June, so that during the summer municipal enterprises of Koltsovo can test its operation and give appropriate assessments.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 5, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 5, 2025.

    Trump’s push on deep sea mining leaves Nauru’s commercial ambitions ‘out in cold’
    By Teuila Fuatai, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Nauru’s ambition to commercially mine the seabed is likely at risk following President Donald Trump’s executive order last month aimed at fast-tracking ocean mining, anti-deep sea mining advocates warn. The order also increases instability in the Pacific region because it effectively circumvents long-standing international sea laws and processes

    A ‘Trump slump’ has lifted the left in Canada and now Australia – what are the lessons for NZ?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grant Duncan, Teaching Fellow in Politics and International Relations, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Trying to capitalise on the electoral success of US President Donald Trump, now that his policies are having real-world effects, is proving to be a big mistake for conservative leaders. Australian voters

    What is a ‘smart city’ and why should we care? It’s not just a buzzword
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne guitar photographer/Shutterstock More than half of the world’s population currently lives in cities and this share is expected to rise to nearly 70% by 2050. It’s no wonder “smart cities” have

    We talk a lot about being ‘resilient’. But what does it actually mean?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter McEvoy, Professor of Clinical Psychology, Curtin University Kinga Howard/Unsplash In a world with political polarisation, war, extreme weather events and increasing costs of living, we need to be able to cope as individuals and communities. Our capacity to cope with very real stressors in our lives

    Newly discovered tropical oyster reefs are thriving across northern Australia – they deserve protection
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marina Richardson, Research Fellow in Marine Science, Griffith University Marina Richardson Oysters are so much more than a seafood delicacy. They’re ecosystem engineers, capable of building remarkably complex reefs. These structures act as the kidneys of the sea, cleaning the water and keeping the coast healthy, while

    New deal for journalism – RSF’s 11 steps to ‘reconstruct’ global media
    Australia (ranked 29th) and New Zealand (ranked 16th) are cited as positive examples by Reporters Without Borders in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index of commitment to public media development aid, showing support through regional media development such as in the Pacific Islands. Reporters Without Borders The 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without

    Blaming Donald Trump for conservative losses in both Canada and Australia is being too kind to Peter Dutton
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Smith, Associate Professor in American Politics and Foreign Policy, US Studies Centre, University of Sydney Australia’s federal election, held less than a week after Canada’s, has produced a shockingly similar outcome. Commentators all over the world have pointed out the parallels. In both countries, centre-left governments

    In its soul-searching, the Coalition should examine its relationship with the media
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Ricketson, Professor of Communication, Deakin University Among the many lessons to be learnt by the Liberal-National Coalition parties from the election is that they should stop getting into bed with News Corporation Australia. Why would a political party outsource its policy platform and strategy to people

    Second-term Albanese will face policy pressure, devastated Liberals have only bad options
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra On February 1, on The Conversation’s podcast, Anthony Albanese not only declared that Labor would retain majority government, but held out the prospect it could win the Victorian Liberal seats of Menzies and Deakin. This was when the polls were

    Election flops – a night to forget for minor parties on the left and the right
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maxine Newlands, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Policy Futures, University of Queensland, Adjunct Principal Research Fellow, Cairns Institute, James Cook University Minor parties were all the rage at the last election when, along with independent candidates, they secured almost a third of votes. But they have

    ‘Dead weight comes to mind’ when thinking about Gazan parents and genocide
    World Media Freedom Day reflections of a protester Yesterday, World Media Freedom Day, we marched to Television New Zealand in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland to deliver a letter asking them to do better. Their coverage [of Palestine] has been biased at its best, silent at its worst. I truly believe that if our media outlets reported

    Independents will not help form government – but they will be vital in holding it to account
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua Black, Visitor, School of History, Australian National University When the newspapers delivered their standard election-eve editorials, there were few surprises. Former Fairfax papers and smaller outlets offered qualified support for Labor, while the News Corp papers unashamedly championed the Coalition. In Adelaide, The Advertiser ran a

    State of the states: 6 experts on how the election unfolded across the country
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Clune, Honorary Associate, Government and International Relations, University of Sydney While counting continues nationally, the federal election result is definitive: a pro-Labor landslide and an opposition leader voted out. But beyond the headline results, how did Australians in the key seats in each state vote, and

    ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 4, 2025
    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 4, 2025.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A ‘Trump slump’ has lifted the left in Canada and now Australia – what are the lessons for NZ?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grant Duncan, Teaching Fellow in Politics and International Relations, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

    Trying to capitalise on the electoral success of US President Donald Trump, now that his policies are having real-world effects, is proving to be a big mistake for conservative leaders.

    Australian voters have delivered a landslide win for the incumbent Labor Party, returning Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for a second term with a clear majority of seats.

    When he said in his victory speech that Australians had “voted for Australian values”, an unspoken message was that they’d firmly rejected Trumpian values.

    Meanwhile, opposition and Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton had such a bad election he lost his own seat. While not the only reason for his electoral demise, Dutton’s adoption of themes associated with Trump backfired.

    As recently as mid-February, however, it was a completely different story. Opinion polls were projecting Dutton’s Coalition to win. Betting markets followed suit, pricing in a change of government.

    But by March, Labor had pulled ahead in the polls, and exceeded expectations in the election itself. As one commentator put it, the Liberals were “reduced to a right-wing populist party that is all but exiled from the biggest cities”.

    Reversal of fortune

    Where, then, did Dutton go wrong? Commentators identified a number of reasons, including his “culture wars” and being depicted by Labor as “Trump-lite”.

    Following a Trumpian pathway turned out to be a strategic blunder. And Dutton’s downfall mirrors Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s defeat in Canada’s election on April 28.

    In January, Canada’s incumbent centre-left Liberals were heading for defeat to the Conservatives. But there were two gamechangers: the Liberals switched leaders from Justin Trudeau to Mark Carney, and Trump caused a national uproar with his aggressive tariffs and his call for Canada to become the 51st US state.

    Pre-election opinion polls then did a dramatic flip in favour of the Liberals, who went on to win their fourth election in a row.

    Poilievre’s campaign had adopted elements of the Trump style, such as attacking “wokeness” and using derogatory nicknames for opponents.

    His strategy failed as soon as Trump rolled out “America First” policies contrary to Canadians’ economic interests and national pride. The takeaway for serious right-wing leaders in liberal democracies is clear: let Trump do Trump; his brand is toxic.

    Not a universal trend

    Trump’s actions are harming America’s allies. His tariffs, disregard for the rule of law, and tough policies on migrants, affirmative action and climate change have seen voters outside the US react with self-protective patriotism.

    A perceived association with Trump’s brand has now upended the electoral fortunes of (so far) two centre-right parties that had been in line to win, and had been banking on the 2024 MAGA success somehow rubbing off on them.

    Admittedly, what has been dubbed the “Trump slump” isn’t a universal trend.

    In Germany, the centre-left Social Democratic-led government was ousted in February, in spite of Trump ally Elon Musk’s unhelpful support for the far-right, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

    And in the United Kingdom, the populist Reform UK party has risen above 25%, while Labour has fallen from 34% in last year’s election to the low 20s in recent polls.

    But other governing centre-left parties are seeing an upside of the Trump effect.
    Norway’s next election is on September 8. In early January it looked like the incumbent Labour Party would be trounced by the Conservatives and the right-wing Progress Party.

    Opinion polls dramatically flipped in early February, however, boosting Labour from below 20% back into the lead, hitting 30%. If that trend is sustained, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre will get another term in office.

    Denmark’s governing Social Democrats have enjoyed a small polling boost, too, since Trump declared he’d like to take Greenland off their hands.

    Lessons for NZ’s left and right

    The common denominator underlying these shifts to the left seems to be the Trump effect. Voters in countries normally closely allied with the US are turning away from Trump-adjacent politicians.

    In 2024, elections tended to go against incumbents. But, for now at least, people are rallying patriotically around centre-left, sitting governments.

    Ironically, Trump is harming leaders who could have been his allies. Unrepentant as always, the man himself seemed proud of the impact he had in Canada.

    Winston Peters: culture war rhetoric.
    Getty Images

    In Australia and New Zealand, polls in mid-2024 showed support for Trump was growing – heading well above 20%. Australia’s election suggests that trend may now be past its peak.

    In New Zealand, with debate over ACT’s contentious Treaty Principles Bill behind it, and despite NZ First leader Winston Peters’ overt culture-war rhetoric (which may appeal to his 6% support base), the right-wing coalition government’s polling shows it could be on track for a second term – for the time being.

    While the Trump effect may have benefited centre-left parties in Australia and Canada, polling for New Zealand’s Labour opposition is softer than at the start of the year.

    While “America First” policies continue to damage the global economy, centre-right leaders who learn the lesson will quietly distance themselves from the Trump brand, while maintaining cordial relations with the White House.

    Centre-left leaders, however, could do worse than follow Anthony Albanese’s example of not getting distracted by “Trump-lite” and instead promoting his own country’s values of fairness and mutual respect.

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

    – ref. A ‘Trump slump’ has lifted the left in Canada and now Australia – what are the lessons for NZ? – https://theconversation.com/a-trump-slump-has-lifted-the-left-in-canada-and-now-australia-what-are-the-lessons-for-nz-255715

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is a ‘smart city’ and why should we care? It’s not just a buzzword

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne

    guitar photographer/Shutterstock

    More than half of the world’s population currently lives in cities and this share is expected to rise to nearly 70% by 2050.

    It’s no wonder “smart cities” have become a buzzword in urban planning, politics and tech circles, and even media.

    The phrase conjures images of self-driving buses, traffic lights controlled by artificial intelligence (AI) and buildings that manage their own energy use.

    But for all the attention the term receives, it’s not clear what actually makes a city smart. Is it about the number of sensors installed? The speed of the internet? The presence of a digital dashboard at the town hall?

    Governments regularly speak of future-ready cities and the promise of “digital transformation”. But when the term “smart city” is used in policy documents or on the campaign trail, it often lacks clarity.

    Over the past two decades, governments around the world have poured billions into smart city initiatives, often with more ambition than clarity. The result has been a patchwork of projects: some genuinely transformative, others flashy but shallow.

    So, what does it really mean for a city to be smart? And how can technology solve real urban problems, not just create new ones?

    What is a smart city, then?

    The term “smart city” has been applied to a wide range of urban technologies and initiatives – from traffic sensors and smart meters to autonomous vehicles and energy-efficient building systems.

    But a consistent, working definition remains elusive.

    In academic and policy circles, one widely accepted view is that a smart city is one where technology is used to enhance key urban outcomes: liveability, sustainability, social equity and, ultimately, people’s quality of life.

    What matters here is whether the application of technology leads to measurable improvements in the way people live, move and interact with the city around them.

    By that standard, many “smart city” initiatives fall short, not because the tools don’t exist, but because the focus is often on visibility and symbolic infrastructure rather than impact.

    This could be features like high-tech digital kiosks in public spaces that are visibly modern and offer some use and value, but do little to address core urban challenges.

    The reality of urban governance – messy, decentralised, often constrained – is a long way from the seamless dashboards and simulations often promised in promotional material.

    But there is a way to help join together the various aspects of city living, with the help of “digital twins”.

    Slick digital dashboards that show the stats of a city at a glance are a far cry from the messy reality of city governance.
    thinkhubstudio/Shutterstock

    Digital twin (of?) cities

    Much of the early focus on smart cities revolved around individual technologies: installing sensors, launching apps or creating control centres. But these tools often worked in isolation and offered limited insight into how the city functioned as a whole.

    City digital twins represent a shift in approach.

    Instead of layering technology onto existing systems, a city digital twin creates a virtual replica of those systems. It links real-time data across transport, energy, infrastructure and the environment. It’s a kind of living, evolving model of the city that changes as the real city changes.

    This enables planners and policymakers to test decisions before making them. They can simulate the impact of a new road, assess the risk of flooding in a changing climate or compare the outcomes of different zoning options.

    Used in this way, digital twins support decisions that are better informed, more responsive, and more in tune with how cities actually work.

    Not all digital twins operate at the same level. Some offer little more than 3D visualisations, while others bring in real-time data and support complex scenario testing.

    The most advanced ones don’t just simulate the city, but interact with it.

    Where it’s working

    To manage urban change, some cities are already using digital twins to support long-term planning and day-to-day decision-making – and not just as add-ons.

    In Singapore, the Virtual Singapore project is one of the most advanced city-scale digital twins in the world.

    It integrates high-resolution 3D models of Singapore with real-time and historical data from across the city. The platform has been used by government agencies to model energy consumption, assess climate and air flow impacts of new buildings, manage underground infrastructure, and explore zoning options based on risks like flooding in a highly constrained urban environment.

    In Helsinki, the Kalasatama digital twin has been used to evaluate solar energy potential, conduct wind simulations and plan building orientations. It has also been integrated into public engagement processes: the OpenCities Planner platform lets residents explore proposed developments and offer feedback before construction begins.

    Urban planners in Helsinki have been using a digital twin to help plan building orientations.
    Mistervlad/Shutterstock

    We need a smarter conversation about smart cities

    If smart cities are going to matter, they must do more than sound and look good. They need to solve real problems, improve people’s lives and protect the privacy and integrity of the data they collect.

    That includes being built with strong safeguards against cyber threats. A connected city should not be a more vulnerable city.

    The term smart city has always been slippery – more aspiration than definition. That ambiguity makes it hard to measure whether, or how, a city becomes smart. But one thing is clear: being smart doesn’t mean flooding citizens with apps and screens, or wrapping public life in flashy tech.

    The smartest cities might not even feel digital on the surface. They would work quietly in the background, gather only the data they need, coordinate it well and use it to make citizens’ life safer, fairer and more efficient.

    Milad Haghani receives funding from The Australian Research Council & The Australian Government.

    Abbas Rajabifard receives funding from Victorian Government via Land Use Department.

    Benny Chen 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. What is a ‘smart city’ and why should we care? It’s not just a buzzword – https://theconversation.com/what-is-a-smart-city-and-why-should-we-care-its-not-just-a-buzzword-255419

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Universities – Robinson Research Institute awarded $71 million to host advanced technology platform – Vic

    Source: Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
     
    Robinson Research Institute, a pioneer in high-temperature superconductivity (HTS) research, has received funding of $71million towards setting up and hosting an advanced technology platform in Future Magnetic and Materials Technologies.
     
    The funding for the advanced technology platform was announced by Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Shane Reti at Robinson Research Institute’s facility in Lower Hutt, and will operate through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment-administered Strategic Science Investment Fund (SSIF) portfolio over a period of seven years.
     
    In line with the objective to grow New Zealand’s hi-tech exports, the advanced technology platform will apply materials and engineering expertise across a range of sectoral themes including space, electric aviation, critical minerals and technologies for fusion energy. The platform will play a crucial role in lifting New Zealand’s innovation capacity, enabling companies to take technology to market, and in accelerating the growth of the domestic manufacturing sector.  
     
    Professor Nick Long, director, Robinson Research Institute, said “It is an honour for the Institute to receive this strategic funding. At Robinson, our focus has always been on how applications of HTS can be leveraged to address real-world issues, ranging from propulsion in space to more accessible Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners. With proven capabilities in emerging areas like space and advanced aviation, Robinson is well-placed to drive growth in this area. Initially leveraging our capability in magnetics, the Institute has also developed processing methods for critical minerals from New Zealand resources. This funding will enable us to solve some problems with scaling these methods to commercial levels.”
     
    Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Professor Magaret Hyland is excited by the possibilities that the funding offers. “Te Herenga Waka has a strong culture of research excellence and the work that our staff undertake has impact on national and international scales.  
     
    “A valued part of the University community, Robinson Research Institute has a strong track record of projects evolving into pilot projects or commercial enterprises. This new platform is a significant opportunity for Robinson to strengthen collaborations with the wider research community, in a way that delivers stronger outcomes for Aotearoa New Zealand. With an established network of research and commercialisation partnerships, within New Zealand and abroad, I can see Robinson now playing an even bigger role in enhancing New Zealand’s capabilities in advanced technology.”
     
    The objectives of the platform will include developing workforce capability through internships and postgraduate study, and encouraging early career researchers to take their research beyond the laboratory. Projects from the platform will also enhance local and international research and commercial partnerships, and encourage inward investment into the New Zealand research and development sector.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Arkansas Farmers Face Lingering Floodwaters

    Source: NASA

    After a slow-moving weather system swamped the Midwest U.S. in early April 2025, many rivers’ water levels soared to near-historic levels. Arkansas was particularly hard hit, with floodwaters spilling across rural landscapes in the Arkansas Delta, a region where commodity crops such as rice, corn, soybeans, and wheat are widely grown. Many farmers still faced high water levels more than a month after the flooding began.
    “This is one of the largest, most dramatic, and long-lasting agricultural floods we’ve seen in Arkansas in decades,” said Jason Davis, a remote sensing expert with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service, noting that the April 2025 flood exceeded the severity of floods in the state in 2018, 2019, and 2023.
    The OLI-2 (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 9 captured this false-color image (right) showing flooding along the borders of Craighead and Jackson counties in northeastern Arkansas on April 13. For comparison, the other image shows the same area on April 17, 2023, when water levels were much lower. The images combine shortwave infrared, near infrared, and red light (bands 6-5-4) to make it easier to distinguish water (blue) from land (brown) and vegetation (green).
    The Cache River crested on April 7, but floodwaters lingered as water from upstream worked its way through the watershed, breaching a key levee and pooling in areas that drain poorly. Joe Christian, a rice and soybean farmer who farms along the Cache, chronicled the state of his farm as floodwaters overwhelmed it.

    Posts on X showed an aerial photo of his flooded storage shed, young plants that were submerged for days (above), and muddy rows that he simply describes as “toast.”  
    In the Landsat imagery, notice how the river widens a few kilometers upstream of Grubbs. “That’s the line where ‘channelizing’ and ‘dredging’ of the river stopped in the 1970s,” Christian said in an interview with NASA Earth Observatory. “North of Grubbs, we get floods almost every year now.”
    Astronauts aboard the International Space Station also captured several photos (available here) showing the scope of flooding in Arkansas. The photo below shows flooding along the White River in Jackson County near the towns of Newport and Bradford on April 15.
    Many Arkansas farmers got an early start on planting this spring, thinking it would lead to bumper harvests in the fall, explained Jarrod Hardke, a rice agronomist for the extension service. Instead, many farmers will likely muddle through a season that brings lower than usual yields, he said.

    Rice is more flood-tolerant than corn or soybeans, “but there’s a limit to that tolerance,” Hardke said. The chance of rice surviving “can drop dramatically” after being submerged for 10 days. If floodwaters cover the ground before young rice plants emerge from the soil, they can die even sooner, he added.
    Hardke and Davis are part of a University of Arkansas team that estimated that the deluge inundated about 30 percent of the 839,000 acres that farmers had planted, amounting to losses of $79 million. Some wheat will be a total loss, while corn, soybeans, and rice will have to be replanted, the team reported.
    Losses of rice were notably high despite its water tolerance. That’s in part because farmers often plant rice in fields with the poorest drainage. “Many fields have been flooded for more than 25 days now,” Hardke said. “Seeds that haven’t emerged are just rotting in the soil.”
    Though losses would have been even higher later in the season, replanting costs will be significant. The extension service team estimated $11 million for corn, $10 million for soybeans, and $21 million for rice. Replanting costs include new seeds, herbicides, diesel fuel, and fertilizer. The aerial image below, taken by a farmer from the area, shows flooded fields and roads along the Cache.

    “I don’t think most people realize how much time, money, and energy goes into every acre of crop that gets planted,” Davis said. “It’s expensive—a complete nightmare,” said Christian, noting that the flood killed about three-quarters of his soybeans.
    Davis is using satellite observations to validate and supplement the extension team’s crop damage estimates, which are typically based on farmer surveys. The survey response rate can be low in some counties, but the growing availability of timely satellite observations makes it easier to assess the scope of flooding events quickly.
    Davis typically uses imagery from several satellites to analyze an event like this—“anything and everything I can get,” he said, often leaning on data from Planet, NASA, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the European Space Agency. He uses the raw imagery to produce maps of flooded areas, which he then combines with data about crop type to calculate damage estimates.
    “Then we share what we’re finding with the governor’s office, state and federal ag officials, and others involved in disaster response,” he said. “The goal is to deliver actionable information to people making decisions as quickly as possible.”

    The aerial photograph above, taken by a local farmer, shows where a helicopter was used to place white sandbags in a levee breach. As the flood situation evolves, the Division of Agriculture extension team will continue to use satellite imagery and ground observations to update damage estimates for farmers and policymakers.
     
    NASA Earth Observatory images by Wanmei Liang, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Flooded plant photo courtesy of Joe Christian. Astronaut photograph provided by NASA’s Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit. Aerial photographs courtesy of David Hodges and provided by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Story by Adam Voiland.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom statement on selection of new UC President

    Source: US State of California 2

    May 2, 2025

    SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement today after the University of California Board of Regents named James Milliken the new president of the University of California:

    “California’s future depends on the strength of our institutions, and few are more vital than the University of California. Chancellor Milliken brings years of experience and the steady, strategic leadership needed to expand UC’s impact across the state. I am excited to see him drive the next chapter of innovation, talent, and progress that will shape California and the country for generations to come.

    “I also want to thank Dr. Michael Drake for his leadership and vision during his tenure — he is a strong partner and his intellect, experience and commitment to our students has helped grow the next generation of California leaders. We wish him well in his retirement.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    James B. (“JB”) Milliken is chancellor of The University of Texas System, where he also holds the Lee Hage and Joseph D. Jamail Regents Chair in Higher Education Leadership. As chancellor, he oversaw 14 academic and health institutions, including seven medical schools and five Carnegie R1 research universities. Before joining the UT System, Milliken served as the chancellor of The City University of New York (CUNY), president of the University of Nebraska, and senior vice president of the University of North Carolina. 

    Press Releases

    Recent news

    May 2, 2025

    News What you need to know: As part of the California Jobs First initiative, the state is awarding $30.5 million in tax credits to seven companies committed to creating new jobs and investing over $2.1 billion across key industries like clean energy, advanced…

    May 1, 2025

    News LOS ANGELES — California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom today joined students, mental health professionals, and athletes at two schools in Pasadena and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula’s East Palo Alto Clubhouse to celebrate Move Your Body, Calm…

    May 1, 2025

    News What you need to know: For the second year in a row, California’s Department of Finance released data showing the Golden State’s population grew. In 2024, the state added more than 100,000 residents. SACRAMENTO — Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Blaming Donald Trump for conservative losses in both Canada and Australia is being too kind to Peter Dutton

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By David Smith, Associate Professor in American Politics and Foreign Policy, US Studies Centre, University of Sydney

    Australia’s federal election, held less than a week after Canada’s, has produced a shockingly similar outcome. Commentators all over the world have pointed out the parallels.

    In both countries, centre-left governments looked like they were in serious trouble not long ago.

    On February 23, a Resolve Strategic poll found the Coalition leading Labor 55-45% on a two-party-preferred basis. An Angus Reid poll in December found voting intention for Canada’s Liberals dropping to just 16%, compared to 45% for the Conservatives.

    Yet, both governments are now celebrating historic victories. And in both countries, the conservative opposition leaders, Pierre Poilievre and Peter Dutton, lost their own seats.

    US President Donald Trump was undoubtedly a factor in both elections. Even Trump’s most ardent Australian fans admit the reversal of the Coalition’s fortunes in the polls seems to have been precipitated by Trump’s actions, particularly his chaotic tariff announcements and his White House humiliation of Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky.

    In Canada, Trump cheerfully presented himself as an existential threat to the country.

    But if anything, Labor’s landslide win in the Australian election on Saturday highlights just how poorly the Coalition fared under Dutton compared to Canada’s Conservatives. The Coalition bottomed out, while the Tories fared reasonably well in the face of difficult circumstances.

    A painful but respectable loss for Conservatives in Canada

    So, why the huge difference between the two parties? This is largely because of the differences between the Canadian and Australian electoral systems.

    Unlike Australia, Canada does not have preferential voting – a vote for one party is a vote against another. The Liberals’ rise in the polls came mostly at the expense of the left-wing New Democratic Party (NDP) rather than the Conservatives.

    Back in December, 21% of voters preferred the NDP, compared to 16% for Justin Trudeau’s deeply unpopular Liberals. But when Trudeau stepped down and Mark Carney became the party’s new leader, the threat posed by Trump unified centre-left Canadian voters behind the Liberals, who had the best chance of winning.

    This is the strategic voting that is necessary in winner-take-all systems. The NDP has never won the largest share of seats in a national election, and it never had a chance of winning this one.

    The NDP was left with seven seats in last week’s election and under 7% of the vote, losing their party status in parliament and their leader. This was the most significant “Trump effect” on the Canadian election.

    Canada’s Conservatives ended up with 41.3% of the vote. This was only a few points down from their December high of 45% in the Angus Reid poll. They also won the greatest share of the national vote by any centre-right party since 1988, and expanded their share of seats in the parliament.

    The Liberals, meanwhile, barely won the popular vote and fell three seats short of a majority.

    Poilievre was rightly criticised for failing to respond effectively to the challenge posed by Trump’s bullying, instead continuing to campaign as if the election were still a referendum on Trudeau.

    That may have cost him a victory that seemed certain months earlier, especially considering Carney made his campaign all about standing up to Trump.

    Yet, the Conservatives still performed well enough for Poilievre to retain his position as opposition leader despite losing his seat. Another Conservative sacrificed his own seat to let Poilievre back into parliament.

    Dutton’s mistakes were bigger

    It’s hard to imagine any member of Dutton’s party doing the same. Dutton handed Labor a staggeringly high two-party-preferred vote and (likely) the most seats it has ever had. Labor won 86 seats in 1987, while Anthony Albanese’s party will have at least 86, with the count continuing.

    Dutton’s campaign has been widely described as “shambolic”. But it wasn’t just the last five weeks that doomed the Coalition.

    From the moment he became leader, it was clear Dutton had little interest in winning back the former Liberal heartland seats that fell to Teal independents in 2022. Instead, he held out the promise the outer suburbs would become the new heartland.

    Following the patterns established by John Howard, Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison, he believed the loss of middle-class women, once the backbone of the Liberal vote, could be compensated by gains among working-class men.

    This was always a pipe dream, given the flimsiness of the culture war issues that have been Dutton’s preferred terrain. But it drove urban voters further away from the Liberal Party.

    The Liberals should have been alarmed that in state elections and byelections last year, they were making almost no gains in metropolitan seats, whether inner suburban or outer suburban.

    The Coalition should resist seeing Trump as a natural disaster over which they had no control. Dutton consciously positioned himself as part of the global populist right that Trump leads. Voters recognised this, even when Dutton half-heartedly tried to distance himself from Trump.

    Not all right-wing populists are the same. Poilievre and Dutton have their own brands of populism they have spent decades cultivating, as have other right-wing populists like Javier Milei in Argentina. But in the suffocating global environment created by Trump, there is limited room for brand differentiation. He is the unavoidable reference point of right-wing politics.

    Last November, many right-wing figures thought this would benefit them. One of them is now a spectacular political casualty.

    David Smith 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. Blaming Donald Trump for conservative losses in both Canada and Australia is being too kind to Peter Dutton – https://theconversation.com/blaming-donald-trump-for-conservative-losses-in-both-canada-and-australia-is-being-too-kind-to-peter-dutton-255599

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ‘Silver lining’ effect for many women who separate in midlife

    Source:

    05 May 2025

    A new study challenges a common assumption that Australian women who divorce or separate in midlife are destined for a bleak future.

    While finances can be a struggle and personal happiness declines in the short term, it gradually increases within a few years, often exceeding pre-divorce levels.

    That’s one finding from a South Australian study that tracked over 1400 women who had divorced or separated, comparing them with a control group of over 2500 women who remained in long-term relationships.

    Life satisfaction was tracked over multiple decades, using data from nine waves of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. The findings have been published in the Journal of Happiness Studies.

    Researchers from the University of South Australia (UniSA) and the University of Adelaide said that social support, perceived control, and income satisfaction influenced how well women adjusted after their relationships dissolved.

    Lead author, UniSA clinical psychology master’s student Olivia Arcangeli, says that divorce and separation are among the most stressful experiences of adulthood, yet little is known about the impact of later-life relationship dissolution.

    “When long-term relationships end during midlife (age 45-50), people still have decades ahead of them, but also less time to re-establish themselves financially and in other ways,” Arcangeli says.

    “We found that within three to four years, divorced and separated women returned to their pre-dissolution levels of life satisfaction. This contrasts with a similar study in Germany, which showed that women still had not returned to pre-divorce levels of happiness five to six years after their relationship ended.”

    The difference between the two countries may be attributed to more lenient attitudes towards divorce in Australia, where there is far less stigma around divorce than in Germany.

    University of Adelaide psychology lecturer, Dr Anastasia Ejova, says the Australian study showed that life satisfaction levels for divorced and separated women matched those of married and partnered women approximately 13.5 years after their relationship ended, and continued growing somewhat faster, slightly exceeding the control group’s life satisfaction in the last few years of measurement.

    “This finding can be explained through the lens of post-traumatic growth, whereby individuals who experience major crises may develop increased insight and gratitude regarding their circumstances, which in turn increases their wellbeing,” Dr Ejova says. “We would ideally need to keep following the women for another few years to see whether the faster growth post-separation is sustained.”

    Women whose life satisfaction levels fell sharply in the years surrounding the relationship breakup experienced greater long-term happiness afterwards.

    The researchers say this could be linked to feelings of relief after dealing with high levels of stress and conflict during their relationship.

    Among the control group, happiness levels also rose later in the marriage, consistent with the view that many marital problems were able to be resolved over time.

    Women with strong support networks, a sense of control over their lives, and a greater ability to manage on their available income reported higher life satisfaction post separation.

    The effects of re-partnering, having children, and education were either non-significant or unexpected.

    Unlike previous research on men and women, this study did not find re-partnering to improve life satisfaction levels post-divorce for Australian women. The researchers note it is possible that the benefits of re-partnering are more likely to be seen in men.

    In addition, despite an assumption that children present significant emotional and financial challenges for divorcees, the study showed minimal differences in happiness levels post-divorce between women with and without children.

    “The findings highlight the need for targeted support services for middle-aged women going through divorce and separation,” Arcangeli says.

    “Providing access to counselling, financial advice and social support networks could help women navigate the emotional and economic challenges of separation more effectively, making a big difference to their long-term wellbeing.”

    Notes for editors

    “Does Time Heal All Wounds? Life Satisfaction Trajectories in Australian Middle-Aged Women Before and After Relationship Dissolution” is published in the Journal of Happiness Studies.
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-024-00853-5

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

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

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Reform or retreat? The Catholic church in Africa after Pope Francis

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Stan Chu Ilo, Research Professor, World Christianity and African Studies, DePaul University

    The Catholic church faces a fundamental question as it prepares to elect a new pope. That is, whether to go back to a monarchical papacy with its pomp and pageantry, or to build on the momentum begun by Pope Francis. He focused on the poor and proffered a humble lifestyle and message of hope.

    I am a theologian who has studied the development of Catholicism in Africa, especially under the leadership of Pope Francis. In my view, the church after him will be defined by two forces, which will be at play during the process of choosing a new pope.

    First, those who embrace Pope Francis’ wide-ranging, modernising changes in the Catholic church. The reform-minded pope made it possible to advance a new church culture that respected the voice and agency of the non-ordained. He pushed for a servant leadership, and a more pastoral, missionary, and accountable exercise of authority.

    In the second camp are those Catholics who oppose the reforms introduced by Pope Francis. They see cultural evolution and social change as destroying the traditions and teachings of the church. They would like to restore the Latin Mass with its ancient church rituals and male clerical culture.

    Read more: How the next pope will be elected – what goes on at the conclave

    These camps are entrenched in their positions. The 138 cardinals (18 of whom are Africans) who will elect the new pope will voice their views at meetings held ahead of the conclave. These processes will determine who will be elected.

    The 18 African cardinal-electors will be fully aware that the divisive issues in contemporary Catholicism often neglect the concerns and needs of Africa. These concerns include a continued colonial structure, and racialised thinking and mentality that sees Africa as one country rather than a continent of diversity and pluralism.

    My hope is that the cardinals will find among their ranks someone in the mould of Pope Francis who has a far-reaching vision. Someone with the courage to continue reforming the ecclesial systems and structures to meet this moment with the gospel of love.

    Catholicism in Africa

    Pope Francis often pointed to Africa, which is seeing the highest growth in population in the Catholic church, as the continent of joy and hope. A continent where the world can see how religious faith can bring about a different attitude to human relationship, communal resilience, solidarity, and global fraternity.

    But African Catholicism has been severely affected by the polarisation in the broader church. This is particularly true on issues of marriage and family life. Other polarising issues include same-sex marriages, climate change, the place of women in leadership in a patriarchal church, and the autonomy of local African Catholic dioceses from the central authority of the Roman Catholic Church.

    The Catholic bishops of Africa need to be united in addressing these issues. In particular, there is a growing consensus that the most pressing challenge facing African Catholicism is how to wean itself from being dependent on resources from the west.

    The Catholic church in Africa – despite its exponential growth – is still treated as a “mission territory”, in need of institutional, theological, pastoral and material support from Rome. As a result, it receives financial support for its activities, and the running of schools and social agencies, from the Roman Church and other western Catholic charities.

    This dependency has affected the growth and autonomy of African Catholics and churches in setting forth and implementing priorities and projects that address the unique situation of Africa. As mission churches, African Catholic churches are “under the protection” of the Roman agency in charge of evangelisation. As a result, there are limits to what African churches can do on their own without the permission and supervision of the Roman office.

    A self-reliant Catholic church in Africa that’s free from the control of Rome would be able to stand strong in world Catholicism. A less dependent African Catholic church could be an alternative staging ground for new forms of faith that meet the spiritual hunger of today’s world. This would mean providing vibrancy of worship and a sense of community through the social and spiritual bonds that exist in African churches.

    Read more: Pope Francis: why his papacy mattered for Africa – and for the world’s poor and marginalised

    Given the changing demographics in the world church – where a majority of the 1.4 billion Catholics live outside Europe – it’s clear that Africa and the rest of the global south can no longer accept being dominated by Eurocentric Catholicism. Catholicism cannot be reduced to a single cultural or ecclesial form. It is not a western prototype that has to be replicated in Africa and the rest of the global south without regard to the social, spiritual and cultural contexts of churches in these regions.

    Viewed in this light, the future of Catholicism in Africa must be built on the agency of African cultures, religious values and traditions. Not on a rigid centralisation of power that reduces African dioceses, institutions and congregations to outposts of Rome.

    The Catholic church in Africa must take the lead in promoting human rights, good governance and the empowerment of women. It needs to reflect the values of inclusion through its leadership, structures and priorities.

    Renewed focus

    Pope Francis’ attention to the poor and the victims of history, and his commitment to global solidarity and fraternity, captured the imaginations of many. In my view, the power that the Catholic church or the next pope will wield won’t arise from the power of position or a rigid doctrinal formula. It will come from the power of non-transactional and self-effacing love through gospel non-violence. This promotes reconciliation, justice and compassion.

    Catholicism suffers when it narrows what it means to be Catholic to rituals and repetitive communal practices and devotions, without attention to people’s personal experience and encounters with God, nature and others. Or when it interprets as normative and divine revelation those traditions, laws or structures that are the product of history, culture and human attempts to meet the challenges of a bygone age.

    – Reform or retreat? The Catholic church in Africa after Pope Francis
    – https://theconversation.com/reform-or-retreat-the-catholic-church-in-africa-after-pope-francis-255452

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Parent Portal launched to empower parents

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Every parent wants to see their child thrive at school — to feel confident, supported, and capable. Today, the Government is taking a major step toward making that aspiration a reality with the launch of a new Parent Portal: an online resource designed to enable families to play their part in their child’s learning.
    “This is about giving parents clarity, confidence, and practical tools to support their child’s learning journey,” says Erica Stanford.
    Launching today, the Parent Portal will provide a clear, easy-to-understand year by year guide to what children will be learning in English and maths under New Zealand’s refreshed, knowledge-rich curriculum.
    “This is about making the curriculum accessible to parents and caregivers, so they can be strong partners in their children’s education,” says Minister Stanford. “Until now, parents haven’t always had consistent access to this information – this new tool will change that.
    The Parent Portal will include:

    A parent-friendly breakdown of what children will learn in English and maths at each year level with other learning areas added as the curriculum refresh rolls out,
    Activities and resources to support learning at home that are aligned to the curriculum,
    Information and videos about what to expect when their child starts school, including the Phonics Checks at 20 and 40 weeks,
    Guidance on supporting structured literacy approaches, including access to decodable books and the sequence of sounds that are taught so parents can help with reading at home,
    Practical tips for parent-teacher interviews so parents can feel confident asking questions about their child’s progress,
    Online tools to practice maths will be added in the near future.

    “This is the first time parents will have access to such a comprehensive and practical resource,” says Minister Stanford. “It’s not just about information — it’s about helping your child succeed. Whether a child needs support to catch up or is ready to be extended, parents will now have the tools to help.”
    More resources will be added to the platform over time, building a rich library of information and resources to help raise achievement and close the equity gap.
    “Parents are a crucial part of their child’s education journey. Available on any device, the portal is about restoring their place at the heart of learning and giving them the confidence to make a real difference.”
    The Parent Portal is part of the Government’s broader commitment to raising educational achievement and ensuring every child reaches their full potential.
    Notes for editor:
    ‘Parent Portal’ can be accessed here: https://www.education.govt.nz/your-childs-learning
    Resources and supports for Te Marautanga o Aotearoa can be found here:
    Te Marautanga o Aotearoa year-by-year learning guide – Ministry of Education

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Boosting high-tech exports with advanced technology

    Source: New Zealand Government

    New investment in advanced technology research will boost high-tech exports, strengthen connections between research and industry and generate high value jobs, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today. 
    “Advanced technology research leads to life-changing innovation,” says Dr Reti. 
    “The breakthroughs that can be achieved through areas like cryogenic and quantum science are hugely significant. 
    “From developing portable MRI machines, to building smaller and faster engines, this investment will enable innovation that has the potential to improve our daily lives, while boosting economic growth in sectors like health, transport, energy and our space industry.” 
    The Government is investing $71 million over seven years into a new advanced technology science platform hosted by the Robinson Research Institute, who are based out of Victoria University of Wellington. 
    Dr Reti says this funding will not only support innovation that can be turned into economic gains but also maintain critical staff and develop young scientists into world-class innovators.
    “Through this new science platform, the Government is investing in the materials and engineering expertise needed to achieve technological breakthroughs and turn innovative ideas into real-world products and services right here in New Zealand,” says Dr Reti. 
    “This research platform aims to grow New Zealand’s hi-tech exports based on cryogenics, superconductors, magnets and processed materials.
    “Robinson Research Institute are known for world-leading expertise in superconductors, magnets and materials technologies and proven experience in commercialisation.
    “The team will develop workforce capability through internships and postgraduate study and encourage early career researchers to take their ideas beyond the laboratory. 
    “Projects from the platform will also enhance local and international research and commercial partnerships and encourage international investment into the New Zealand research and development sector.
    “I look forward to the contribution this platform will make to growing and diversifying our economy, supporting the development of world-class scientists and innovators and the creation of high-quality jobs for people in New Zealand.”  
    This investment is part of the Government’s work to drive economic growth by reforming and refocusing New Zealand’s science, innovation and technology system for the future. It is the first step in establishing the new Advanced Technology Public Research Organisation. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PM Narendra Modi Virtually Inaugurates Khelo India Youth Games at Patna’s Patliputra Sports Complex

    Source: Government of India

    PM Narendra Modi Virtually Inaugurates Khelo India Youth Games at Patna’s Patliputra Sports Complex

    By hosting Khelo India Youth Games, Bihar has taken PM Modi’s sports vision a step ahead: Dr Mansukh Mandaviya

    Dr Mandaviya says Khelo India will be a year-round activity with additional Games being added to the sports calendar

    Union sports minister highlights the necessity for talent spotting and grooming to produce champions for the 2036 Olympics

    Posted On: 04 MAY 2025 8:50PM by PIB Delhi

    Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the seventh edition of the Khelo India Youth Games in Bihar today. The Games, featuring 27 medal disciplines and one demonstration sport, will end on May 15.

    Present alongside PM Modi was Hon’ble Chief Minister of Bihar Shri Nitish Kumar, Hon’ble Union sports and youth affairs minister, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Hon’ble Union Minister of State Srimati Rakhsha Khadse and several dignitaries from the Bihar government and the Bihar State Sports Authority.

    This is the first major multi-discipline sporting event hosted by Bihar. The 27 medal sports are spread over five cities – Patna, Rajgir, Bhagalpur, Gaya and Begusarai – and New Delhi. For the first time in the KIYG program, sepaktakraw has been included as a medal sport and esports will be a demonstration event. More than 10,000 participants, including over 6,000 athletes, will take part in KIYG 2025.

    It may be pertinent to mention that in March this year the Indian men’s regu (three-player) team secured its first-ever gold medal at the International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF) World Cup in Patna.

    The victory sparked nationwide celebrations, with the Hon’ble Prime Minister extending his congratulations. This triumph at the Pataliputra Sports Complex marked India’s best-ever performance at the ISTAF World Cup, where 21 countries from four continents competed across seven events.

    “This is a very important time for Bihar. History tells us how Nalanda and Vikramshila were eminent knowledge centres. Now the same land will give us new sports development centres. It’s a matter of great pride for Bihar,” said Dr Mandaviya.

    “These Games are an opportunity to change Bihar’s image as a state capable of hosting big events. A Viksit Bihar is part of Viksit Bharat and now every sports talent in Bihar will get a stage and an opportunity to showcase their skills,” said Dr Mandaviya, adding that proper talent development was key to doing well in the 2026 Summer Olympics that India aspire to host.

    Bihar has been an integral part of Khelo India’s robust programme.  Out of the 1048 Khelo India Centres across the country, 38 Khelo India Centres have been established in Bihar across all districts. Led by past champion athletes, the centres have strengthened grassroots engagement.

    These Khelo India centres offer a range of disciplines such as table tennis, athletics, wrestling, football, hockey, weightlifting, archery, boxing, kabaddi and wushu. A total of 939 athletes (473 Males; 466 Female) are currently training in these centres. Additionally, 34 Khelo India State Centres of Excellence have been established across the country in collaboration with the state government.

    An indication of Bihar’s gradual improvement in sports was seen at the National Games in Uttarakhand. Bihar won 12 medals, including a gold, to record their best ever performance at the National Games.

    “The good times in Bihar sports have started and PM Modi believes that this is the time and it is the right time. And all this has been possible due to structured training, athlete-centric approach and local support system. We just have to be patient and let talent shine in due course,” said Dr Mandaviya.

    Dr Mandaviya added that the Sundays on Cycle program was gaining momentum across the country as he reiterated that “awareness for fitness was mandatory to keep lifestyle issues like obesity at bay.” The sports minister also said that the Khelo India calendar will see new events that will be more inclusive in nature.

    Dr Mandaviya said in future there will be a Khelo India School Games, a Beach Games in Diu, Khelo India indigenous Games in south India and a Tribal Games in Chattisgarh, among others. “Like this we will keep organizing events under the Khelo India umbrella,” said the minister.

    For More on Khelo India Youth Games, click: https://youth.kheloindia.gov.in/

    For Medal Tally of KIYG 2025, click: https://youth.kheloindia.gov.in/medal-tally

    ABOUT KHELO INDIA YOUTH GAMES

    Khelo India Youth Games are part of the Khelo India program that was launched on October 14, 2017. Khelo India aims to achieve the twin objective of mass participation and promotion of excellence in sports. The program has contributed immensely to India’s sporting success with several Khelo India athletes representing the nation at global events, including the Olympics and the Asian Games.  Bihar is hosting the seventh edition of the Khelo India Youth Games from May 4-15 in five different cities of the state and Delhi. KIYG 2025 will feature 27 sports and for the first time, esports has been included as a demonstration sport.

    ****

    Manish Gautam/Divyanshu Kumar

    (Release ID: 2126865) Visitor Counter : 90

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: WAVES 2025: A People’s Movement that Empowers Every Creator to be a Star

    Source: Government of India

    WAVES 2025: A People’s Movement that Empowers Every Creator to be a Star

    WAVES Bazaar a resounding success; records business transactions worth more than Rs. 1328 crores with 3000+ B2B Meetings in 3 days; Govt of Maharashtra signs MoUs worth Rs 8000 crores in M&E Sector

    Member Nations adopt WAVES Declaration at Global Media Dialogue

    Investment worth Rs 50 crores in pipeline as part of WAVEX Startup Accelerator

    Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) poised to be a milestone in capacity building for Creative Economy

    Create in India Challenge promises to foster Creative Economy in India

    Knowledge Reports unveiled at WAVES project India’s giant leaps in Creative Economy

    Posted On: 04 MAY 2025 7:48PM by PIB Mumbai

    Mumbai, 4 May 2025

     

    The premier edition of World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) concluded on a high note today in Mumbai, registering an overwhelming response from exhibitors, industry leaders, startups, policymakers, academia, and the general public. The summit emerged as a key convergence point for the media and entertainment ecosystem, drawing participation from every segment of the industry — from celebrated artists and influential content creators to tech innovators and corporate leaders. With a vibrant mix of exhibitions, panel discussions, and B2B collaborations, the event witnessed a remarkable turnout and reaffirmed India’s position as a rising global Powerhouse of media and entertainment.

    The celebration of creativity, technology, and storytelling began with the inauguration of its maiden edition by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in a star-studded event held in Jio World Convention Centre. In his inaugural address, Prime Minister Modi remarked that WAVES is not just an acronym, it is a wave of culture, creativity and universal connectivity. The Prime Minister said that India is emerging as a global hub for film production, digital content, gaming, fashion, music and live concerts. He called upon the creators of the world to dream big and tell their stories; to the investors to invest not just in platforms, but in people; and to the Indian youth – to tell their one billion untold stories to the world. Declaring WAVES as the dawn of India’s Orange Economy, he urged the youth to lead this creative surge and make India a global creative hub.

    High-impact Knowledge Sessions

    Taking forward the vision of the Prime Minister, WAVES 2025, over the last four days, acted as a platform for high-level exchange of ideas, skills, and sectoral insights. The Conference Track of WAVES 2025 served as a vital forum for dialogue and collaboration, bringing together thought leaders, industry pioneers, policymakers, and professionals from across the globe. Through a carefully curated series of plenary sessions, breakout discussions, and master classes, the summit explored the latest innovations and emerging strategies shaping the future of the Media & Entertainment industry. The sessions enabled meaningful exchange of ideas, cutting across domains and specialisations.

    The maiden edition of WAVES will be known for the high impact knowledge sessions and the discourse covering a broad spectrum of topics, including Broadcasting and Infotainment, AVGC-XR, Digital Media, and Films. With more than 140 sessions featuring more than 100 international speakers, spread across three main halls (each accommodating over 1,000 participants) and five additional halls with capacities ranging from 75 to 150, the Summit maintained overwhelming attendance levels — with many sessions recording full occupancy.

    The plenary Sessions featured over 50 keynote addresses by eminent personalities such as Mukesh Ambani, Ted Sarandos, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Neal Mohan, Shantanu Narayen, Mark Read, Adam Mosseri, and Nita Ambani. Their insights offered compelling perspectives on the evolving entertainment industry, advertising landscape, and digital transformation. Film icons including Chiranjeevi, Mohanlal, Hema Malini, Akshay Kumar, Nagarjuna, Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Allu Arjun, and Shekhar Kapur, many of whom were also members of the WAVES Advisory Board, engaged in thought-provoking conversations on the future of cinema and content creation in the age of virtual production and artificial intelligence.

    The 40 masterclasses at WAVES 2025 were designed to offer practical learning and creative exploration. Participants gained direct exposure to industry techniques through sessions such as The Art of Acting by Aamir Khan, Craft of Direction by Farhan Akhtar, and Insights into Filmmaking by Michael Lehmann. Other sessions explored behind-the-scenes narratives like the making of Panchayat by Amazon Prime, designing AR lenses, creating AI avatars, and developing games using generative AI. These sessions provided professionals and aspiring creators with actionable knowledge and tools to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving creative economy.

    WAVES also featured 55 breakout sessions, which provided a platform for in-depth discussions on specialised themes such as broadcasting, digital media, OTT, AI, Music, News, Live events, Animation, Gaming, Virtual production, Comics, and Filmmaking. These interactive sessions brought together senior professionals from leading companies including Meta, Google, Amazon, X, Snap, Spotify, DNEG, Netflix, and NVIDIA, along with representatives from industry bodies such as FICCI, CII, and IMI. Designed to encourage sector-specific insights and collaboration, the discussions addressed critical challenges and charted new directions for growth and innovation.

    WAVES Bazaar garners Rs 1328 crores in Business Deals; Govt of Maharashtra signs MoUs worth Rs 8000 crores in M&E Sector

    The inaugural edition of WAVES Bazaar, organized under the umbrella of WAVES, was a resounding success as it has established itself as a premier platform for international business collaboration in the creative industries. The marketplace recorded business deals or transactions worth Rs. 1328 crores across the film, music, radio, VFX, and animation sectors. Out of the total estimated outcome, Rs. 971 cr has been from B2B meetings alone. A key highlight of the Bazaar was the Buyer-Seller Market which witnessed over 3,000 B2B meetings. In a major achievement under international collaboration, Film India Screen Collective and Screen Canterbury NZ from New Zealand announced a collaborative proposal to launch the first-ever Indian Film Festival in New Zealand. Only Much Louder CEO Tushar Kumar and Alexander Zharov, CEO of Russian firm Gazprom Media CEO announcing early talks on a MoU to collaborate on cross-cultural festivals and co-produce comedy and music shows in Russia and India was another achievement. The announcement of the Prime Video & CJ ENM Multi-Year Collaboration was another highlight of the Bazaar as the strategic partnership was unveiled to distribute premium Korean content globally. The other milestones include the announcement of the film ‘Devi Chowdhurani,’ which became the India’s first official Indo-UK co-production, and the film ‘Violated’ which will be a co-production of Fusion Flicks from the UK and JVD Films.

    The Maharashtra government has also added business value to the summit by signing MoUs worth ₹8,000 crore at the WAVES. While MoUs worth ₹1,500 crore were signed each with the University of York and the University of Western Australia, the state’s Industries Department signed MoUs worth ₹3,000 cr and ₹2,000 cr with Prime Focus and Godrej respectively.

    Member Nations adopt ‘WAVES Declaration’ at the Global Media Dialogue 2025

    The Global Media Dialogue 2025, held during the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) in Mumbai, was a landmark event with participation from 77 nations, underscoring India’s pivotal role in the global media and entertainment arena. The dialogue highlighted the power of international collaborations in fostering creativity while respecting cultural sensitivities. The member nations collectively adopted the ‘WAVES Declaration’, emphasizing the urgency of bridging the digital divide and leveraging media to promote global peace and harmony. The discussions underscored the profound role of films in uniting diverse cultures and the growing significance of individual stories in the creator economy, amplified by technological advancements.

    Dr. S. Jaishankar, Union External Affairs Minister, stressed the need for a synergy between technology and tradition, advocating for the empowerment of youth through skill development and innovation. Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, highlighted the transformative impact of technology on content creation and the critical importance of fostering local content, co-production agreements, and joint funding initiatives. India’s “Create in India” challenges, which successfully identified over 700 global creators, were showcased, with plans to expand them to 25 languages in the next edition. This summit laid a robust foundation for future global cooperation in media and entertainment, emphasizing creative excellence and ethical content production.

    WAVEX: An Accelerator for Aspiring Start-ups in M&E Sector

    WAVES Start-Up Accelerator selected 30 M&E Start-Ups to pitch their unique ideas directly to a battery of heavy-weight investors like Lumikai, Jio, CABIL, WarmUp Ventures – among the 45 key angel investors on board. With over 1000 registrations, the initiative germinated investment discussions worth Rs. 50 crore that are in pipeline. Apart from this, over 100 Start-Ups exhibited their ideas and products to potential investors in the dedicated Start-Up pavilion. WAVEX as an initiative aims to create a palpable investment ecosystem for start-ups to thrive and grow by forming an angel investor network specifically focussed on the Media and Entertainment sector. Start-Ups from Tier 1 and Tier 2 shined at WAVEX and their founders took centre-stage. To facilitate such creators better, WAVEX will set up a network of incubators with dedicated mentors for handholding and investors for seed investment. WAVEX is unique as it facilitates ideas that do not have a tangible product yet, but have a solid potential.

    Key Knowledge Reports Released at WAVES 2025

    Dr. L. Murugan, Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, unveiled five pivotal reports at the WAVES Summit 2025 in Mumbai. These reports provide a comprehensive overview of India’s thriving media and entertainment ecosystem, covering key aspects like content production, policy frameworks, and live events.

    • Statistical Handbook on Media & Entertainment 2024-25:The Statistical Handbook, prepared by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, offers valuable data-driven insights into India’s media landscape. It highlights growth trends in broadcasting, digital media, film certifications, and public media services, providing essential information for future policymaking and industry strategies based on empirical evidence.
    • ‘From Content to Commerce’ by BCG:  Boston Consulting Group’s Report highlights the explosive growth of India’s creator economy, estimating 2 to 2.5 million active digital creators. These creators influence over $350 billion in annual spending, with projections to surpass $1 trillion by 2030. It emphasizes building long-term, authentic partnerships over transactional engagements with creators.
    • ‘A Studio Called India’ by Ernst & Young: Ernst & Young’s Report envisions India as a global content hub, leveraging its linguistic diversity, rich culture, and technological expertise. It highlights India’s 40%-60% cost advantage in animation and VFX services and growing international demand for Indian OTT content, strengthening India’s role in global cultural diplomacy.
    • Legal Currents and Live Events Industry Reports: Khaitan & Co.’s Legal Handbook covers vital issues such as influencer marketing and compliance norms, helping media stakeholders navigate India’s regulatory landscape. Additionally, the White paper on India’s live events industry outlines the sector’s 15% growth rate, advocating for upgraded infrastructure and streamlined licensing processes to support the booming sector.

    Indian Institute of Creative Technology: A National Centre of Excellence

    Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT)— a National Centre of Excellence being set up in Mumbai is poised to be a milestone in capacity building for Creative Economy. Dedicated exclusively to the AVGC-XR sector, the establishment of the Institute was formalized on Day-3 of WAVES 2025. WAVES also witnessed the signing of strategic MoUs with Industry Associations to transform IICT as a world-class institution in the M&E Sector. Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, who ceremonially flagged off these strategic associations, emphasized India’s potential to become a global leader in media and entertainment, stating that IICT is on track to evolve into a premier institution in its field, much like how IITs and IIMs have become benchmarks in technology and management education. Some companies who have extended their hands for long-term collaborations are JioStar, Adobe, Google & YouTube, Meta, Wacom, Microsoft and NVIDIA.

    Create in India Challenge & CreatoSphere: A Global Celebration of Creative Talent

    One of the standout highlights of WAVES 2025 was the grand culmination of the Create in India Challenge (CIC) Season 1, which drew nearly one lakh registrations from over 60 countries. Launched as a flagship initiative under WAVES, CIC brought together creators across age, geography, and disciplines, spanning animation, XR, gaming, AI, filmmaking, digital music, and more. The initiative has transformed every creator who participated to be a star.

    From 32 imaginative and future-forward challenges emerged 750+ finalists, including 1100+ international participants. These talented individuals showcased their work at Creatosphere, a dedicated innovation zone at WAVES, where they presented their projects, could network with industry leaders for potential associations.

    Beyond just a competition, the Create in India Challenge evolved into a movement celebrating diversity, youth energy, and storytelling rooted in both tradition and technology. With finalists ranging from 12 to 66 years of age, and strong participation from all Indian states and UTs, the initiative embodied inclusivity and aspiration. The Creatosphere was also a launchpad for themes like grassroots innovation, drone storytelling, and future-ready content offering a glimpse into the creative India of tomorrow. As Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw aptly said during the award ceremony of CIC, “The journey has just begun.” And with initiatives like the Indian Institute of Creative Technology on the horizon, the momentum is only growing stronger.

    8th National Community Radio Sammelan and National Awards for CRs

    Organized as part of the WAVES, the 8th National Community Radio Conference in which Union Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan honored 12 outstanding community radio stations with National Community Radio Awards at the event. Dr L. Murugan congratulated the winners and said that the national conference is aimed to strengthen the community media landscape in India through innovation, inclusiveness, and impact. The conference brought together representatives from more than 400 Community Radio (CR) Stations across the country on one platform to provide an opportunity for dialogue and collaboration. At present, there are 531 CR Stations across the country.

    Bharat Pavilion – India’s Journey from Kala to Code

    The Bharat Pavilion, an immersive viewing zone that took visitors through the continuum of India’s storytelling traditions at WAVES 2025, has received an overwhelming reception and response from the public. The Pavilion, under the theme “From Kala to Code”, offered a compelling narrative of India’s evolution in media and entertainment—from oral and visual traditions to cutting-edge digital innovations.

    The Pavillion presented the soul of India, balancing our rich cultural heritage with the new waves of technical advancements that are already underway. On the inaugural day of WAVES 2025, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited the Pavilion. Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, External Affairs Minister Shri S. Jaishankar, Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw and many other dignitaries visited the pavilion and appreciated its role in telling the story of Bharat. The pavilion also garnered huge footfall, leaving people in awe and wonder on discovering the many treasures of our nation.

    Celebrating India’s creative journey, the Bharat Pavilion was not just an exhibition of content but a powerful expression of India as a creator. It projected India’s cultural depth, artistic excellence, and emerging dominance in global storytelling.

    WAVES concludes with the promise of bright future for Creative Economy

    WAVES 2025 has set a benchmark as a global platform that seamlessly brought together creativity, commerce, and collaboration. From visionary policy announcements and landmark international agreements to robust business deals and groundbreaking startup investments, the summit underscored India’s growing stature as a global leader in the creative economy. The adoption of the WAVES Declaration by 77 participating nations and the success of the WAVES Bazaar and WAVEX Accelerator collectively signal a future anchored in innovation, inclusivity, and international partnerships. As the curtains fall on this historic first edition, WAVES has not only showcased India’s creative prowess but has also catalysed a sustained global movement — one that will continue to inspire, invest in, and elevate the voices of creators worldwide.

     

    For official updates on realtime, please follow us: 

    On X : 

    https://x.com/WAVESummitIndia

    https://x.com/MIB_India

    https://x.com/PIB_India

    https://x.com/PIBmumbai

    On Instagram: 

    https://www.instagram.com/wavesummitindia

    https://www.instagram.com/mib_india

    https://www.instagram.com/pibindia

     

    * * *

    PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Rajith/Lekshmipriya/Poushali/Swadhin/Sriyanka/Riyas/Nikhitha/ Darshana | 178

    (Release ID: 2126844) Visitor Counter : 68

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses the inaugural ceremony of 7th Khelo India Youth Games

    Source: Government of India

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses the inaugural ceremony of 7th Khelo India Youth Games

    Best wishes to the athletes participating in the Khelo India Youth Games being held in Bihar, May this platform bring out your best and promote true sporting excellence: PM

    Today India is making efforts to bring Olympics in our country in the year 2036: PM

    The government is focusing on modernizing the sports infrastructure in the country: PM

    The sports budget has been increased more than three times in the last decade, this year the sports budget is about Rs 4,000 crores: PM

    We have made sports a part of mainstream education in the new National Education Policy with the aim of producing good sportspersons as well as excellent sports professionals in the country: PM

    Posted On: 04 MAY 2025 8:02PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the inaugural ceremony of 7th Khelo India Youth Games via videoconferencing today. Addressing the athletes, coaches, and staff members present at the event, he remarked that players from across the country had gathered, showcasing exceptional talent and determination. He highlighted their dedication and hard work, acknowledging their contribution to the sporting spirit of the nation. Emphasizing the remarkable skills and commitment of the athletes, the Prime Minister affirmed that their passion for sports and continuous pursuit of excellence bring pride to the nation. He extended his best wishes to them for their future endeavors.

    Highlighting the extensive competitions to be held across multiple cities in Bihar during the Khelo India Youth Games, including Patna, Rajgir, Gaya, Bhagalpur, and Begusarai, Shri Modi noted that in the coming days, over six thousand young athletes would participate, carrying their dreams and aspirations with them. He extended his best wishes to all the players, emphasizing that sports in India is now evolving into a distinct cultural identity. “As India’s sporting culture grows, so will the country’s soft power on the global stage”, said Shri Modi, underscoring the significance of the Khelo India Youth Games in providing a major platform for the nation’s youth.

    Underscoring the importance of continuous improvement for athletes, emphasizing the necessity of playing more matches and participating in more competitions to refine their skills, the Prime Minister reiterated that their government has always given top priority to this aspect in its policies. He highlighted that various sporting events under Khelo India—University Games, Youth Games, Winter Games, and Para Games—are held throughout the year at multiple levels nationwide. These consistent competitions, he remarked, boost athletes’ confidence and bring their talent to the forefront. Citing an example from cricket, the Prime Minister lauded Bihar’s own Vaibhav Suryavanshi for his outstanding performance in the IPL at such a young age. He emphasized that while Vaibhav’s hard work was crucial, the exposure to multiple competitions also played a key role in shaping his talent. The Prime Minister asserted that the more an athlete plays, the more they thrive. He remarked that the Khelo India Youth Games provide young athletes with an opportunity to understand the nuances of national-level sports and gain valuable experience.

    Stressing that hosting the Olympics in India has been a long-cherished dream of every citizen, Shri Modi underlined India’s efforts to bring the Olympics to the country in 2036, reaffirming the nation’s commitment to strengthening its presence in international sports. He underscored the government’s focus on identifying sporting talent at the school level and providing them with structured training. He remarked that initiatives like Khelo India and the Target Olympic Podium (TOP) scheme have contributed to building a robust sports ecosystem, benefiting thousands of athletes across Bihar and the rest of the country. He stressed the importance of giving athletes opportunities to explore diverse sports. He noted that Khelo India Youth Games has incorporated traditional and indigenous games like Gatka, Kalaripayattu, Kho-Kho, Mallakhamb, and even Yogasana to promote India’s rich sporting heritage. Shri Modi also acknowledged the growing presence of Indian athletes in new and emerging sports. He highlighted recent commendable performances in disciplines such as Wushu, Sepak Takraw, Pencak Silat, Lawn Bowls, and Roller Skating. He recalled the historic moment when India’s women’s team secured a medal in Lawn Bowls at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, bringing global recognition to the sport in India.

    The Prime Minister highlighted the government’s focus on modernizing India’s sports infrastructure, noting that in the past decade, the sports budget has increased more than threefold, reaching approximately ₹4,000 crore this year, with a significant portion allocated to infrastructure development. He remarked that over 1,000 Khelo India Centers are operational across the country, including more than three dozen in Bihar. He emphasized that Bihar is benefiting from the Union and State governments, with the state government expanding several initiatives at its level. The Prime Minister acknowledged the establishment of the Khelo India State Centre of Excellence in Rajgir and institutions like Bihar Sports University and the State Sports Academy. He highlighted the ongoing construction of a Sports City along the Patna-Gaya Highway and the development of sports facilities in Bihar’s villages. He affirmed that the Khelo India Youth Games will further strengthen Bihar’s presence on the national sports map.

    “The world of sports and its associated economy extend far beyond the playing field, sports are creating new avenues for employment and entrepreneurship for young individuals”, said Shri Modi. He noted various emerging fields such as physiotherapy, data analytics, sports technology, broadcasting, e-sports, and management, which offer diverse career opportunities. He remarked that young professionals could explore roles as coaches, fitness trainers, recruitment agents, event managers, sports lawyers, and media experts. “Today, a stadium is no longer just a venue for matches but has become a source of thousands of jobs”, stated Shri Modi, underlining the growing possibilities in sports entrepreneurship, with initiatives like the establishment of National Sports Universities and the integration of sports into mainstream education through the new National Education Policy. Shri Modi stressed the importance of sportsmanship in every aspect of life, highlighting how sports instill teamwork, collaboration, and perseverance. Encouraging the athletes, he urged them to perform at their best and represent the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ as brand ambassadors. He expressed confidence that the athletes would carry fond memories from Bihar. He also encouraged those visiting from outside the state to savor the taste of Litti Chokha and Bihar’s famous Makhana.

    Expressing hope that the Khelo India Youth Games would elevate both the spirit of sportsmanship and patriotism among the participants, the Prime Minister officially announced the commencement of the seventh edition of the Khelo India Youth Games.

    The Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Nitish Kumar, Union Ministers Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, Smt Raksha Khadse, Shri Ram Nath Thakur were present among other dignitaries at the event.

     

     

    ***

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2126850) Visitor Counter : 27

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, attends the grand closing ceremony of 1008 Sanskrit Sambhashan Shivirs in New Delhi as the Chief Guest

    Source: Government of India

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, attends the grand closing ceremony of 1008 Sanskrit Sambhashan Shivirs in New Delhi as the Chief Guest

    Since 1981, Sanskrit Bharati has been working to present the vast knowledge available in Sanskrit to the world and to train and enable millions of people to speak and learn Sanskrit

    Due to the efforts of Sanskrit Bharati, the interest in Sanskrit and acceptance of Sanskrit among the people of the country, both are increasing

    Sanskrit is one of the most scientific languages of the world

    Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, now a favorable environment for the promotion of Sanskrit is available in the country

    It is now time to work for the revival of Sanskrit instead of merely remembering its decline

    PM Modi launched the ‘Gyan Bhartam Mission’ with a fund of ₹500 crore for the preservation of manuscripts

    Sanskrit is the mother of most Indian languages, and therefore, the rise of Sanskrit is intrinsically linked to the rise of India

    The richer and more powerful Sanskrit becomes, it will strengthen more every language and dialect of the country

    By compiling and presenting the knowledge available in Sanskrit, solutions to all of the world’s problems can be found

    Posted On: 04 MAY 2025 5:31PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, today attended the grand closing ceremony of 1008 Sanskrit Sambhashan Shivirs in New Delhi as the Chief Guest. The event was graced by several distinguished dignitaries, including Delhi Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta.

    In his address at the event, the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation praised Sanskrit Bharati for its remarkable and courageous initiative in organizing 1008 Sanskrit Sambhashan Shivirs. He noted that the decline of Sanskrit began even before the era of colonial rule, and its revival will require time and sustained effort. He emphasized that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, a favorable atmosphere has emerged across the country for the resurgence of Sanskrit. He added that the government, the public, and the collective mindset are all firmly dedicated and committed to the revival and promotion of Sanskrit.

    Shri Amit Shah said that since 1981, Sanskrit Bharati has been working to present the vast knowledge available in Sanskrit to the world and to train and enable millions of people to speak and learn Sanskrit. He highlighted that many renowned global scholars have acknowledged Sanskrit as the most scientific language. Emphasizing a forward-looking approach, he said that rather than dwelling on the history of Sanskrit’s decline, efforts should now focus on its resurgence. Shri Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has launched various initiatives to promote Sanskrit. He mentioned that around 18 projects have been implemented under the Ashtadashi scheme, and the Government of India provides financial support for the publication, bulk purchase, and reprinting of rare Sanskrit texts. Moreover, the honorarium for distinguished Sanskrit scholars has been increased.

    Union Home Minister highlighted that the Modi government’s new National Education Policy (NEP) places strong emphasis on the Indian Knowledge System, with Sanskrit as its core pillar. He noted that the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan has been elevated to the status of a Central Sanskrit University. He also mentioned that under the Sahasra Chudamani Yojana, the government has facilitated the appointment of retired eminent Sanskrit scholars as educators. Shri Shah emphasized that one of the most significant initiatives of the Modi government is a nationwide campaign with a budget of approximately Rs 500 crore aimed at collecting scattered manuscripts in Sanskrit and Prakrit. He said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has launched the Gyan Bharatam Mission with a foundational corpus of Rs 500 crore dedicated to manuscript preservation, with allocations planned in every budget going forward. He further informed that over 52 lakh manuscripts have already been documented, around 3.5 lakh digitized, and 1,37,000 made available online at namami.gov.in. To support this massive effort, a team comprising scholars from various disciplines and languages has been constituted to translate and preserve these rare manuscripts.

    Shri Amit Shah said that the work undertaken by Sanskrit Bharati since 1981 is truly unparalleled. He emphasized that the solutions to many of the world’s challenges can be found through the revival, propagation, and simplification of the profound knowledge contained in Sanskrit. He highlighted that since its inception, Sanskrit Bharati has introduced over one crore people to spoken Sanskrit, trained more than one lakh Sanskrit teachers, and nurtured 6,000 families who converse exclusively in Sanskrit. Moreover, there are now 4,000 villages in India where all communication is conducted entirely in Sanskrit. Shri Shah noted that Sanskrit Bharati has established 4,500 centers across 26 countries and, in 2011, organized the world’s first World Sanskrit Book Fair. It also hosted the Sahitya Utsav in Ujjain in 2013. He stated that these efforts have significantly increased public interest in Sanskrit and its acceptance is steadily growing. The Home Minister affirmed that while there is no opposition to any language, no one can be distanced from their mother tongue — and Sanskrit is the mother of nearly all Indian languages. He concluded by saying that as Sanskrit becomes richer and stronger, it will, in turn, empower every language and dialect across the country.

    Union Home Minister said that 1008 Sanskrit Sambhashan Shivirs have concluded here today.  He shared that, through these Shivirs (camps), over 17,000 participants were introduced to Sanskrit over a 10-day period starting from April 23. During this time, they also engaged in spoken Sanskrit practice, which will help foster greater interest and enthusiasm for the language among the public.

    Shri Amit Shah said that Sanskrit represents India’s faith, tradition, truth, and timeless essence. He emphasized that the light of knowledge and wisdom is deeply embedded in the Sanskrit language. As the mother of most Indian languages, Sanskrit’s promotion is not just about its revival, but also about advancing the nation’s overall progress. He noted that for thousands of years, the churning of ideas across various disciplines has produced a wealth of knowledge preserved in Sanskrit. He said that this vast treasure spans every field and should be made accessible to the entire world. Shri Shah stressed that the profound wisdom contained in the Vedas, Upanishads, and countless Sanskrit manuscripts must reach a global audience. He added that the ongoing efforts by Sanskrit Bharati are a significant first step toward achieving this goal.

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that Sanskrit is not only the most scientific language in the world, but also possesses an unparalleled grammatical structure. He noted that Sanskrit was the first language to refine the use of meter and syllables, which has contributed to its continued vitality and relevance even today.

    ****

    VV/PR/PS

    (Release ID: 2126786) Visitor Counter : 31

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman to attend ADB’s Annual Meeting in Milan, Italy, from 4th to 7th May 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman to attend ADB’s Annual Meeting in Milan, Italy, from 4th to 7th May 2025

    The Union Finance Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with Finance Ministers of Italy, Japan, and Bhutan as well as heads of other international organisations, besides meeting global think-tanks, business leaders and CEOs in Milan

    Smt. Sitharaman will also interact with the Indian diaspora in Milan and also address a plenary session in at the Bocconi University on “Balancing Economic and Climate Resilience”

    Posted On: 04 MAY 2025 4:04PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman will lead the Indian delegation of officials from the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, to attend the 58th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of Asian Development Bank (ADB), scheduled to take place in Milan, Italy, from May 4 to 7, 2025.

    The meetings will be attended by official delegations of Board of Governors of ADB, official delegations of ADB members and international financial institutions. The Union Finance Minister will participate in the Annual Meeting’s focal events like the Governors’ Business session, Governor’s Plenary Session and as a panelist in the ADB Governors’ Seminar on “Cross-Border Collaboration for Future Resilience”.

    On the sidelines of the ADB’s 58th Annual Meeting, Smt. Sitharaman will also hold bilateral meetings with Finance Ministers of Italy, Japan, and Bhutan, in addition to meetings with President of ADB, the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

    The Union Finance Minister will also interact with the Indian diaspora in Milan, besides meeting global think-tanks, business leaders and CEOs, and participating in a Plenary Session of the NEXT Milan Forum at the Bocconi University on “Balancing Economic and Climate Resilience”.

    ****

    NB/KMN

    (Release ID: 2126754) Visitor Counter : 122

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Leads 750 Participants in Special Event with Teachers at Fit India Sundays on Cycle in Delhi

    Source: Government of India

    Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Leads 750 Participants in Special Event with Teachers at Fit India Sundays on Cycle in Delhi

    Olympian Wrestlers Ravi Dahiya and Deepak Punia Join Alongside Teachers of Various Institutions in the National Capital

    Posted On: 04 MAY 2025 3:05PM by PIB Delhi

    The Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here turned into a celebration of fitness and inspiration this Sunday morning as the latest edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle witnessed enthusiastic participation from 750 participants, including teachers, athletes, Fit India influencers and fitness lovers.

    Leading the charge was Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, who cycled alongside Union Sports Secretary, Sh. Hari Ranjan Rao along with a powerful line-up of national icons, including Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Ravi Dahiya, Olympian and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Deepak Punia, Guinness World Record holder Rohtash Chaudhary (Push-up Man of India), and renowned mountaineer Narender Kumar, who recently conquered Mount Annapurna, the 10th highest mountain in the world at 8091 meters, in a record time of 12 days.

    With this week’s theme being ‘Cycling with Teachers’, the event witnessed educators, mentors, and academic coaches from various educational institutions across the city, including schools, universities and private institutes.

    “Teachers are the heroes for our students and now, you have to become heroes for Viksit Bharat. You all can make cycling a fashion and I urge all teachers to restart using cycles themselves and ask students to emulate the same. We are into the digital age but we need to also improve our physical fitness. So, we have to transition from digital activity to physical activity. This will ensure the mission of ‘Fight Against Obesity’ and the vision of Fit India and Viksit Bharat, which our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has laid down, takes shape,” Dr. Mandaviya said while addressing the participants.

    This Sunday’s event was conducted with the teachers in collaboration with our esteemed partners – the Cycling Federation of India (CFI), MY Bharat and the State Governments. The special partners included Physical Education Foundation of India (PEFI), Delhi University, CBSE and CISCE boards, Kendriya Vidyalaya, National Progressive School Conference, National Forensic Sciences University, Yogasana India, Indian Rope Skipping Foundation, and more.

    Wrestling stars Ravi Dahiya and Deepak Punia shared words of encouragement with the crowd, urging youth and educators alike to incorporate physical fitness into their daily lives. “This is a very important movement started by our government to ensure physical fitness is given thorough attention. ‘Sharir is shaktimaan’ (your body is the mightiest thing) and keeping this mantra in mind, everyone should cycle at least 1-2 hours a day,” remarked Ravi Dahiya, silver medalist, Tokyo Olympics.

    “I truly appreciate this movement as a commendable initiative, and I believe everyone should take up cycling as it promotes fitness and contributes to a pollution-free India,” added Deepak Punia, who narrowly missed out on a medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

    Also present was Narender Kumar, fresh from his Mount Annapurna expedition. “I believe, cycling is a great start to better health. Sundays on Cycle seems like a perfect way to promote that. For me, climbing the Annapurna was undoubtedly difficult, but what made it possible was consistent efforts towards fitness. This movement also gives out that message,” he said.

    The Fit India Sundays on Cycle initiative has touched 2.5 lakh participation from over 5000 locations, since its launch in December 2024. The wide expanse of the cycling drive has seen the event reach places like Andaman and Nicobar, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh as well as Lakshwadeep Islands. Events are simultaneously held nationwide with massive participation from SAI Regional Centres, National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), SAI Training centres, SAI Extension centres, the Khelo India centres (KICs) and Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCEs), among others.

    *****

    Manish Gautam/Divyanshu Kumar

    (Release ID: 2126743) Visitor Counter : 63

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Pune Railway Station to Undergo Major Transformation; World-class facilities including four new platforms are planned

    Source: Government of India

    Pune Railway Station to Undergo Major Transformation; World-class facilities including four new platforms are planned

    Inauguration of Hadapsar-Jodhpur Express; major relief for Rajasthani citizens in Pune

    Moves underway for Pune-Nagpur Vande Bharat, new Pune-Nashik routes – Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

    Posted On: 03 MAY 2025 9:16PM by PIB Mumbai

    Pune, 3 May 2025

     

    Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today said, that considering the historic and industrial significance of Pune city, the government has decided to completely transform Pune railway station. He added that under this major initiative world class facilities will be provided on the railway station including four new platforms.

    He was speaking  after inaugurating two new express trains – Hadapsar–Jodhpur Express and MGR Chennai Central–Bhagat Ki Kothi Express – by flagging them off from Hadapsar near Pune in Maharashtra. Minister of State for Cooperation and Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, Minister for Higher and Technical Education and Parliamentary Affairs Chandrakant Patil, and Members of Parliament Shrirang Barne and Medha Kulkarni were present on the occasion. Union Ministers of State L. Murugan (from Chennai) and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (from Jodhpur) joined the event virtually.

       

    Vaishnaw said that  development plan for six railway stations – Pune, Hadapsar, Khadki, Shivajinagar, Uruli Kanchan, and Alandi – is in the final stage. He also stated that discussions have been held with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding the introduction of a Pune–Nagpur Vande Bharat train. He added that trial runs are underway on new alignments for the Pune–Nashik railway corridor, which holds strategic importance due to the presence of a world-class testing laboratory at Khodad. Additionally, work on the third and fourth railway lines on the Pune–Lonavala route will be completed shortly.

       

    Minister of State for Cooperation and Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol expressed confidence  that the Hadapsar–Jodhpur Express will greatly benefit the Rajasthani community residing in Pune. Railway development projects worth ₹1 crore are underway in the state. Under the Amrit Bharat Scheme, development works are progressing at Pune, Hadapsar, Uruli, and Shivajinagar stations. 

    MP Medha Kulkarni demanded the launch of a new train between Pune and Nashik, especially in view of the upcoming Kumbh Mela.

    Schedule for Hadapsar–Jodhpur Express:

    The train will run regularly from May 5, 2025.

    • Departure from Hadapsar: 7:15 PM | Arrival at Jodhpur: 3:00 PM the next day
    • Departure from Jodhpur: 10:00 PM | Arrival at Hadapsar: 5:00 PM the next day

    Halts: Chinchwad, Lonavala, Kalyan, Vasai Road, Vapi, Surat, Vadodara Junction, Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Palanpur, Abu Road, Pindwara, Jawai Bandh, Falna, Rani, Marwar Junction, Pali Marwar, and Luni.

     

    * * *

    PIB Pune | A.Chavan/S.Patil/D.Rane

    (Release ID: 2126625) Visitor Counter : 66

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 15 local groups benefit from City’s Community Grants Program

    Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

    Fifteen local groups have shared a total of $116,656 in funding from the City of Greater Bendigo’s Community Grants Program Medium Grants category to undertake a diverse range of projects.

    City of Greater Bendigo Healthy Communities and Environment Acting Director Andie West said the City’s Community Grants Program is very important for many local groups to undertake important activities that benefit many people in the community.

    “The City’s Medium Grants category provides up to $10,000 to support activities that align with the aims of the Greater Bendigo’s Council Plan 2021-2025 Mir wimbul or a local community plan,” Ms West said.

    “The Community Grants Program is an important program that has benefited many diverse groups over a long period of time.”  

    In the latest round the following grants were provided:

    • $10,000 to Eaglehawk Bendigo Badminton and Table Tennis Stadium for construction of a bus drop-off zone to cater for para-athletes and facility users
    • $10,000 to Bendigo Basketball Association for the purchase of a trailer to transport sports wheelchairs
    • $10,000 to Junortoun Community Action Group to develop and prepare a landscape plan for Honeyeater Bushland Reserve
    • $10,000 to Bendigo Winter Night Shelter towards operation of the 2025 Night Shelter
    • $9,774 to Bendigo Foodshare Inc towards the purchase of a ride on mower to maintain the grounds of Foodshare’s new premises
    • $9,000 to Bendigo Region Women’s Shed Inc. towards developing the operation of the shed
    • $8,730 to Discovery Science and Technology Museum Inc to provide the Beyond Curious – innovation STEM and literacy program
    • $8,341 to Huntly Men’s Shed Inc. towards the purchase of occupational healthy safety requirements
    • $7,838 to Eaglehawk North Primary School towards the implementation of a Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden
    • $7,100 to Ex-Fortuna Survey Association Inc.to digitise and preserve historical film negatives and slides from the Royal Australian Survey Corps and Women’s Australian Army Corps
    • $6,500 to Lifeline Loddon Mallee Ltd to support recruitment and training of volunteers
    • $6,247 Wellsford Forest Friends and Landcare Group to fund an ecological study of vegetation in Wellsford Forest
    • $6,156 to Bendigo Agricultural Show Society to develop a free of charge Kids Zone for children to explore and learn at the 2025 Bendigo Show
    • $5,320 to Star Cinema Community Association Pty Ltd to support he Eaglehawk Film Festival
    • $1,650 to Ostomates – Bendigo Stoma Support Group to support participant education and operation of the group

    MIL OSI News –