NewzIntel.com

Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI Global: Tove Jansson’s Moomin books explore the power of adventure and transformation

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sue Walsh, Lecturer, Department of English Literature, University of Reading

    This year marks the 80th anniversary of the first Moomin tale, The Moomins and the Great Flood. In the book, Moomintroll and his friends embark on a journey to find their home after a great flood devastates Moominvalley, meeting odd creatures and new friends along their journey.

    The book was first published in creator Tove Jansson’s native Swedish in 1945. However, the first Moomin book to have an English edition was in fact the third of the Moomin books, Trollkarlens Hatt (The Hobgoblin’s Hat). It was translated by Jansson’s friend Elizabeth Portch and reached its widest English-speaking audience when it was published by Puffin Books in 1961 as Finn Family Moomintroll.

    At the beginning of the story Moomintroll finds a magical top hat. It can transform anything that is placed inside of it into something else entirely – and so the adventures begin.

    This is part of a series of articles celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Moomins. Want to celebrate their birthday with us? Join The Conversation and a group of experts on May 23 in Bradford for a screening of Moomins on the Riviera and a discussion of the refugee experience in Tove Jansson’s work. Click here for more information and tickets.

    Unlike the Swedish-language edition, Portch’s translation of Finn Family Moomintroll begins with a letter from Moominmamma. It’s written in a curly cursive and dotted with love-hearts and an image of an apparently “hand-drawn” troll. The letter is addressed to a “dear child” who is “overseas”.

    In it, Moominmamma expresses disbelief at the idea that there may not be any Moomins “there over” and that the child she is addressing may “not even know what a troll is” (hence the illustration).

    Moominmamma’s wonder at the differences in custom between her own land and “your country” is based on an assumption that the two must be somewhat alike. Similarly, her explanation of what Moomintrolls are depends on their difference from the “usual common trolls”, which means there must be familial similarity between them.

    The Moomins and the Great Flood was Jansson’s first Moomins book.

    Both Moominmamma’s wonder at and explanation of difference assume an underlying essential similarity or sameness between Moominvalley, where she lives, and the reader’s home. This is significant in a story that explores ideas of foreignness and translation, change and transformation.

    Though the adventures in Finn Family Moomintroll might be said to only truly begin on the spring morning when Moomintroll, Sniff and Snufkin find “a tall black hat”, the book opens with the Moomins settling down for their winter hibernation and closes with the valley in autumn.

    Creator of The Moomins, Tove Jansson in 1970.
    Per Olov Jansson/Wiki Commons, CC BY-SA

    The changes wrought by the Hobgoblin’s hat are “quite different” because “you never know beforehand” what they will be. However, their extreme nature is framed and contained by a world in which there are known and predictable changes in the seasons, as well as routine – though sometimes dramatic – changes in the weather.

    The Hemulen is unperturbed by the hat’s transformation of eggshells into fluffy little clouds that Moomintroll and his friends are able to ride. That’s because he is “so used to [them] doing extraordinary things”. But when Moomintroll is transformed by the hat into “a very strange animal indeed”, so much so that his friends do not recognise him, it’s a very different matter.

    A moment of real jeopardy occurs when Moomintroll’s own mother does not seem to recognise him either. But this is soon dispelled when Moominmamma looks “into his frightened eyes for a very long time” and quietly declares: “Yes, you are my Moomintroll.”

    This moment of recognition breaks the spell and Moomintroll changes back into “his old self again”. One of the crucial features of the hat is the changes it makes are only temporary and this, together with Moominmamma’s reassurance that she will “always know [Moomintroll], whatever happens”, suggests an ultimately unchanging essence to things that cannot be denied.

    Changelessness as deadening

    On the other hand, the book suggests that some change is to be embraced.

    Sniff’s desire for things to stay the same “for ever and ever” is portrayed as immature and wrong-headed. As is the Muskrat’s obsessive quest for peace and stillness which ends up with his apparent, though temporary, transformation into a monster.

    Snufkin’s point that “life is not peaceful” offers a gentle rebuke to the Hemulen, who also wishes to “live his life in peace and quiet”. But perhaps the clearest indication of the book’s attitude to changelessness is the monstrous Groke. She is motivated by an unwavering drive to recover the “King’s Ruby”, not because this thing which “changes colour all the time” is “the most beautiful thing in the world”, but because it is “the most expensive”.

    The Groke’s inability to appreciate the ruby aesthetically is presented as being rooted in her own immutability. That the Groke’s hostility to change is itself deadening, becomes evident when she sits “motionless” before the Moomins and their friends, staring at them in a way that makes them feel “she would wait for ever” and eventually departs leaving the ground behind her frozen in the wrong season.

    This, then, is key. Adventure, transformation and change in Finn Family Moomintroll are both necessary and desirable, but they are also contained within a reassuring frame of reliable predictability. The final lines of the English translation are: “It is autumn in Moomin Valley, for how else can spring come back again?”

    Sue Walsh 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. Tove Jansson’s Moomin books explore the power of adventure and transformation – https://theconversation.com/tove-janssons-moomin-books-explore-the-power-of-adventure-and-transformation-245969

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why you don’t need to stress about cortisol ruining your waistline – or your face

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Craig Doig, Associate Professor of Metabolic Health, Nottingham Trent University

    tommaso lizzul/Shutterstock

    If you’ve been unfortunate enough to scroll through TikTok lately, the algorithm may have convinced you that cortisol, your body’s main stress hormone, is ruining your life.

    Yes, according to social media content creators, stress is giving you a repulsive “cortisol belly” and puffing up your sad “cortisol face.” And, of course, this is what’s holding us all back from achieving the full influencer, ideal dream life. If it weren’t for my raging cortisol levels, I’m sure I’d be knee-deep in Lamborghinis and beating off admirers with a stick by now.

    But is there any scientific evidence behind the cortisol craze? After all, this is just the latest in a long line of reasons social media has given us to believe we are inferior to the living gods of TikTok. Or maybe, just maybe, this is another grift designed to harvest likes, sell dodgy merch and drive engagement. Surely not.

    Cortisol is a natural hormone produced by your adrenal glands, located just above your kidneys. For millennia, humans have relied on cortisol – in fact, we can’t survive without it. Most of the time, it helps regulate our daily rhythms and behaviour.

    And yes, it’s true that stress (whether caused by an approaching sabre toothed tiger or having a high-pressure job) rapidly and reliably triggers cortisol release. But this isn’t bad. Cortisol isn’t trying to ruin your summer body, it’s trying to keep you alive and give you the energy to run or fight.

    That said, chronically elevated cortisol can contribute to some serious health issues, including weight gain. And to be very clear: if you’re experiencing symptoms of consistently high cortisol, you should be in conversation with a qualified healthcare professional.

    So yes, cortisol has its downsides – but then again, so does everything in excess. Even TikTok.

    Research shows that people with sustained high cortisol levels tend to store more fat in the abdominal area and around the face. This was first described nearly a century ago – in 1932, by neurosurgeon Harvey Cushing (don’t bother looking him up, he’s not on socials).

    But this applies to Cushing’s disease, a rare medical disorder. The cortisol released from everyday stress doesn’t even come close to the levels or duration seen in Cushing’s.

    Also, let’s not pretend your face or belly fat is solely cortisol’s fault. Fat distribution is the result of a complex mix of genetics, diet, sleep, exercise and hormones. Blaming one hormone for everything is like blaming the rise of air fryers for global warming.

    Chill out about cortisol

    If you’re genuinely concerned about stress or its effects on your health, I have good news: you don’t need to buy anything or follow the “cortisol detox” advice of social media influencers.

    Here are some stress-reducing tips. They are simple. They are boring. And they work:

    Get decent sleep – regularly.

    Exercise – regularly.

    Eat a balanced diet – regularly.

    Relax – a little.

    And if something feels off, talk to your doctor.

    “Cortisol belly” and “cortisol face” might sound catchy, but they reduce incredibly complex biological processes into bite-sized insecurities. Social media’s obsession with cortisol isn’t about health, it’s about content and clicks.

    Stress is real, but don’t let a billionaire influencer who wakes up at 3:53am to mainline turmeric tell you your face is “hormonal” and your stomach is “inflamed”.

    You don’t need to fix yourself with trendy hacks. Just put the phone down and chill. Which, ironically, might be the most effective cortisol-lowering advice of all.

    Craig Doig has received funding from The Physiological Society, Society for Endocrinology and the Defence Medical Services.

    – ref. Why you don’t need to stress about cortisol ruining your waistline – or your face – https://theconversation.com/why-you-dont-need-to-stress-about-cortisol-ruining-your-waistline-or-your-face-254335

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Jordan joins regional push to sideline Islamist opposition

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rory McCarthy, Associate Professor in Politics and Islam, Durham University

    The Jordanian authorities have banned the Muslim Brotherhood, the largest opposition movement in the kingdom, in a major new crackdown. On Wednesday April 23, security forces raided Brotherhood offices, confiscating assets and property, and outlawed all of the group’s activities.

    One week earlier, 16 Brotherhood members were arrested for allegedly plotting attacks on targets inside Jordan using rockets and drones. The Brotherhood, whose members Jordanian interior minister Mazen al-Faraya says “operate in the shadows and engage in activities that could undermine stability and security”, has denied any links to the attack plots.

    The ban on the Brotherhood, an Islamist movement that wants a greater role for religion in public life, comes at a time when the Jordanian government is facing intense pressure over the war in Gaza.

    The Brotherhood organised months of demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinians. It has also been vocal in its support for the Palestinian armed group Hamas, and has demanded the cancellation of Jordan’s peace treaty with Israel.

    At the same time, Jordan’s King Abdullah II has come under heavy pressure from the Donald Trump administration in the US to resettle Palestinians from the occupied Gaza Strip and West Bank. If he were to agree, the move would risk being seen as a betrayal of the Palestinian cause.

    The Jordanian authorities have had an uneasy relationship with the Brotherhood since the late 1980s, when the kingdom’s political system opened up. They have looked to curb its influence.

    In 2016, the Brotherhood’s headquarters in the capital, Amman, was closed and its assets were transferred to a new organisation called the Association of the Society of the Muslim Brotherhood, known as the “permitted” Muslim Brotherhood. As ideological splits emerged in the movement, the authorities have tried to exploit internal divisions.

    The latest crackdown represents a striking repressive turn. It marks a shift away from containing the movement to excluding it from public life.

    Yet the Brotherhood remains popular. In September 2024, the Islamic Action Front, the political party affiliated with the movement, surprised observers by winning parliamentary elections. It took 31 seats in the 138-seat parliament, securing victory in constituencies across the country in its best election performance in more than three decades.

    Its success was largely down to the Brotherhood’s demonstrations in support of Palestinians. These demonstrations resonated in Jordan, where around half the population is of Palestinian origin. The party also benefited from changes in the electoral laws prior to the election, which gave more weight to political parties and less to independent candidates.

    But under Jordan’s authoritarian system, the king holds most of the power, especially in internal security and foreign affairs. The palace tightly controls political life. So the Islamic Action Front was not invited to join the new government, which is made up of pro-monarchy parties.

    The key question now is whether the authorities will also ban the Islamic Action Front, despite its electoral gains.

    Conflict with the crown

    Even before the latest crackdown, Islamists in Jordan feared a confrontation with the authorities. Many suspected the palace wanted to close the Brotherhood movement and leave a weakened party that might be more easily contained.

    During a visit to Jordan shortly after the elections in September, one senior Islamic Action Front figure told me: “They [the monarchy] just want a party in a superficial form. A party without any presence.”

    Although the Brotherhood had been under pressure, it was still able to operate most of its activities. Senior party members even took part in a royal committee on “political modernisation” in 2021, which drew up reforms to change the electoral laws to strengthen political parties.

    Yet many in the Brotherhood feared a confrontation with the palace was coming. One senior Brotherhood figure told me in October 2024: “The Brotherhood is a vast, widespread organisation with a social and a political presence. A clash between the state and the Brotherhood would have negative effects on society and on the legitimacy of the political system.”

    Jordan’s Brotherhood is not alone in facing a crisis. Other Islamist organisations across the region are experiencing political setbacks, more than a decade after the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings seemed to offer them new opportunities.

    In Tunisia, where a democratic transition has been sharply reversed since 2021, dozens of leaders from the Islamist Ennahda party have been jailed.

    The arrests were part of a broad wave of repression against regime critics, including politicians, judges, lawyers and human rights activists. Ennahda, which spent a decade in government between 2011 and 2021, has suffered internal splits.

    In Morocco, the Justice and Development party, an Islamist party which also spent a decade in government from 2011, suffered a heavy defeat in the most recent elections in 2021.

    The party’s losses were partly a result of restrictions at the time of the vote. These included new rules about how seats were apportioned and the fact that some party candidates were disqualified from running.

    But the losses were also because of internal disputes after Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani signed a normalisation agreement with Israel in 2020 to avoid a confrontation with the monarchy, which controls foreign affairs.

    In Kuwait, parliament was suspended in 2024 because the ruling emir, Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, complained about political gridlock. This kept all opposition parties, including Islamists, out of the political process. And in Algeria, Islamist parties have been co-opted or marginalised since the bitter civil war of the 1990s.

    Opinion polls show that many people in the Middle East want to see a significant role for religion in public life. But rulers across the region are increasingly wary of Islamist parties, which want not only to introduce a more conservative social agenda but to challenge undemocratic regimes.

    Rory McCarthy receives funding for his academic research from the British Academy and the Leverhulme Trust.

    – ref. Jordan joins regional push to sideline Islamist opposition – https://theconversation.com/jordan-joins-regional-push-to-sideline-islamist-opposition-255243

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How Project 2025 became the blueprint for Donald Trump’s second term

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dafydd Townley, Teaching Fellow in US politics and international security, University of Portsmouth

    Throughout the 2024 presidential election campaign, Donald Trump denied claims he intended to shape his second administration’s policies around Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation’s blueprint for a renewed conservative America. But despite his repeated denials, Trump 2.0 has adopted much of Project 2025 into the White House’s agenda.

    The Heritage Foundation, the right-wing Washington think tank which published Project 2025, has provided policy guidance for Republican presidents since the Reagan administration. Despite the foundation’s longevity, Project 2025 has met with opposition from many quarters.

    The 900-page publication, Mandate for Leadership: the Conservative Promise, was published in 2023. It went largely under the radar until Democrats and civil liberty champions established Stop Project 2025 during the presidential campaign. Essentially, Project 2025 consists of policy recommendations for each department of the executive branch.

    The project has several broad objectives. It aims to reassert presidential power by removing federal agencies’ independence and appointing political loyalists rather than career civil servants. It sets out to dismantle the administrative state by cancelling initiatives and projects that do not match conservative aims.

    It reinforces traditional conservative family values and rolls back on LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights. It removes regulatory constraints aligned with climate and environmental protections and weakens consumer protection laws. And it calls for increased deportations of illegal aliens and the imposition of harsh immigration restrictions.

    Even before he had taken office, Trump and his team sought to replace career-long specialists in federal agencies with those that matched his own beliefs. His transition team used Project 2025 to guide its appointment of officials for the forthcoming administration. Reports quoting insiders within Trump’s team say that the team consulted a database of Trump loyalists created by the Heritage Foundation to fill vacancies.

    Contributors to Project 2025 were also appointed to key roles. These have included including border tsar, Tom Homan, and CIA director John Ratcliffe. Brendan Carr, the Trump-appointed chairman of the Federal Communications Committee, wrote a chapter of Project 2025 on the committee.

    The principal author of Project 2025, Russ Vought, has been appointed as director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) – the nerve centre of the federal government’s expenditure. Vought’s influence within the administration has led one journalist to call him “the real mastermind behind Trump’s imperial presidency”.


    How is Donald Trump’s presidency shaping up after 100 days? Here’s what the experts think. If you like what you see, sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter.

    The alignment of Trump’s policy decisions and Project 2025’s objectives continued after he was inaugurated on January 20. The raft of executive orders issued by Trump during the first few weeks reflected many of Project 2025’s ambitions.

    CNN analysed the 53 executive orders signed by Trump in his first week as president and concluded that 36 of those orders mirrored proposals within the Heritage Foundation’s brief. The alignment spread across numerous departments.

    Trump’s controversial reciprocal tariffs on US imported goods match Project 2025’s desire for free trade and its belief that the World Trade Organization’s most favoured nation principle is unfair. Although both Trump tariffs and Project 2025 have a foundation in economic nationalism, Trump has favoured a broad and aggressive approach compared to Project 2025’s more targeted aims.

    The savings to federal expenditure proposed by Doge, the unofficial Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk, are also broadly covered within the paper. A theme running throughout Project 2025 is ensuring value for taxpayers by reducing unnecessary government expenditure.

    But while a large amount of Project 2025 has already been incorporated into the administration’s policies, there is still a significant number of recommendations and initiatives that remain to be implemented.

    What’s still to come?

    While Trump has already ended the use of federal taxpayer dollars to fund or promote elective abortion through Executive Order 14182, Project 2025 calls for stronger initiatives to support a pro-life position by threatening to withhold funding to states if they fail to adhere to new guidelines. These penalties could be incurred through states failing to report to the Center for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC) data on how many abortions take place within the state, for example.

    The administration has also not yet matched Project 2025’s calls for increasing the defence budget to 5% of GDP. Earlier this month, however, Trump and his defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, promised that their next budget proposal would include a $1 trillion defence budget. Hegseth posted on X that the money would be spent on ‘lethality and readiness.’

    Trump’s recent criticisms of the refusal by Federal Reserve chair, Jerome Powell, to lower interest rates might suggest that he agrees with Project 2025’s criticism of the Federal Reserve and its recommendation that it be abolished. But the market’s negative reaction to Trump’s attack on Powell looks likely to end any prospect of eradicating the Fed.

    Perhaps a greater concern to Americans is Project 2025’s designs for social security. As part of the focus on fiscal stability, the authors of Project 2025 have recommended that the retirement age be increased from 67 to 69. Social security reforms have been discussed by the administration but yet to be put into place.

    When questioned, Republican legislators have stopped short of telling constituents that Social Security is safe from change. After all, Trump maintained that he has no plans to either reduce social security payments or increase the retirement age.

    However, just this week, Trump and Doge have announced cuts to the Social Security Administration (SSA), the body that administers payments. This has led to concerns for the former SSA director, Martin O’Malley, who suggested that the cuts would mean that future payments of vital benefits might be delayed.

    Where the administration turns next is unclear. There are hundreds of policy recommendations within the 900-page document, some of which have been implemented in full, others only in part.

    Nonetheless, Project 2025 has acted as a blueprint for much of the new Trump administration’s policies, even though the White House has shown some reluctance to incorporate all of the recommendations within the project.

    There are signs, however, that the administration has not yet finished with Project 2025 and that the conservative wishlist continues to influence the administration’s policymaking decisions.

    Dafydd Townley 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. How Project 2025 became the blueprint for Donald Trump’s second term – https://theconversation.com/how-project-2025-became-the-blueprint-for-donald-trumps-second-term-255149

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McClellan Announces 2025 Women of Excellence Award Winners

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (Virginia 4th District)

    Washington, D.C. –Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) announced the winners of the Second Annual Women of Excellence Awards. The awards recognize outstanding women or women’s organizations residing, studying, working, or serving Virginia’s Fourth District that have made a profound impact on the district and have meaningfully contributed to their communities. 

    “I am excited to recognize the work these incredible women have done to make Virginia’s Fourth District a better place,” said Congresswoman McClellan. “Women shaped our Commonwealth — and our nation — from the beginning, even when they have gone unseen and unnoticed. This year’s award recipients uplift our communities every day. They inspire me and remind us all that women can achieve.”

    Businesswoman of the Year – Monica Mueller

    Monica Mueller is Chief Strategy Officer of Softensity, a leading provider of software development and IT consulting services. As Softensity’s EVP, she spent five years transforming multiple departments, leveraging technology to streamline operations and improve performance.

    Non-Profit of the Year – Little Hands VA

    Little Hands Virginia’s mission is to ensure children in Central Virginia have essentials from birth to improve outcomes for life. They support families by providing items, like diapers, pack n’ plays for safe sleep, and strollers, to children newborn to three years old in need in Central Virginia.

    The Women of Impact in Education Award – Kayla Diaz

    Kayla Diaz is a Spanish-language interpreter for Colonial Heights Public Schools. While serving as a family resource coordinator at Colonial Heights Public Schools, she successfully advocated for the creation of a dedicated interpreter position translating conversations between school staff and families with developing English skills.        

    Women in Action Volunteer Award – Fatima Smith

    Fatima M. Smith is the founder of FMS Speaks, LLC, a platform through which she facilitates crucial conversations within institutions, government, and educational settings. She has committed herself to interpersonal violence prevention, child advocacy and more.

    The Dr. Gladys West Women in STEM Award – Pamela Bingham

    Pamela R. Bingham is a “social impact” environmental engineer and currently the Operations Manager for The Health, Environmental, and Economic Justice Lab in the University of Maryland School of Public Health.

    Law and Government Champion Award – Gray Montrose

    Gray Montrose is currently the Deputy Director of Land Conservation with the Capital Region Land Conservancy, a nonprofit land trust currently stewarding over fifteen thousand acres of priority forest, farm, and park land in central Virginia. Her role involves providing legal counsel to the organization and providing critical support to the development of new projects.

    Media and Communications Champion Award – Claudia Massey

    Claudia R. Massey is the co-founder of Patience for Patients, LLC, a non-medical homecare agency that provides personal care and companionship services to the geriatric population. She is a columnist for Diva Dynasty Magazine, a best-selling author, a radio host, and a TV host at Preach the Word Worldwide Network where she serves as their brand ambassador.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: GUU and ACIM combine competencies to form a digital economy

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On April 23, 2025, a meeting of the Board of the Association “Digital Innovations in Mechanical Engineering” (ACIM) was held, at which a decision was made to admit a new founder to ACIM – the State University of Management, as well as to include the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev in the Board of Trustees of the Association.

    The unification of the competencies of the State University of Management and the Center for Information Technologies and Communications will promote active innovation in the development of digital enterprise management models, the search for new forms of digital interaction between enterprises to form value chains, ensuring interoperability and cybersecurity of automated control systems, as well as the development of new educational programs for training specialists and managers in the field of digital transformation and digital enterprise management.

    Participation in the activities of the Board of Trustees of the Rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroev will accelerate the development of interaction between the university and leading Russian IT companies, and will also allow acquiring new competencies in the field of managing complex processes of digital transformation of industry, will facilitate the introduction of new IT systems in the educational process and the development of new educational programs for training personnel in the interests of developing the digital economy.

    The Association “Digital Innovations in Mechanical Engineering” was founded in 2019. Currently, it is one of the leading competence centers in the field of digital transformation and the formation of an ecosystem of digital mechanical engineering and related industries. The founders of the Association are leading universities (Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin, Ulyanovsk State University, MSTU “STANKIN” and others), large domestic IT companies (1C, GC “TSIFRA”, JSC “Iteko”, JSC “ASCON”, LLC “Tesis” and others), high-tech industrial enterprises and corporations (JSC “USC”).

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/25/2025

    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 USA: NCDIT Announces Artificial Intelligence Governance and Policy Leader

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: NCDIT Announces Artificial Intelligence Governance and Policy Leader

    NCDIT Announces Artificial Intelligence Governance and Policy Leader
    aljohnson

    The N.C. Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) has named I-Sah Hsieh as its first artificial intelligence governance and policy executive. Hsieh will advance North Carolina’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) to help the state become more efficient and effective while also maintaining digital safety. 

    “I-Sah’s appointment marks a significant step forward in North Carolina’s commitment to harnessing the power of AI for the benefit and protection of our residents, businesses, and visitors,” said NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Teena Piccione. “By overseeing governance structures that prioritize ethics and security, I-Sah will play a pivotal role in shaping how the state uses this technology and collaborating with the General Assembly, private industry, and government users to ensure we are able to innovate and grow with AI while protecting our residents’ data and privacy.”

    As an AI governance and ethics expert with more than 25 years of experience, Hsieh joins NCDIT from SAS where he most recently served as the company’s AI governance and data ethics practice principal. Previously, he has helped develop AI strategies and solutions as a consultant for policymakers, the United Nations, Fortune 1000 executives, and nonprofits. He holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Cornell University.

    Last year, NCDIT led development of the North Carolina Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence Framework. The framework, in alignment with existing state privacy laws and IT policies, highlights principles, practices, and guidance to provide a consistent approach for state agencies to innovate while ensuring privacy and limiting data protection risks. Hsieh’s hiring is part of NCDIT’s initiative to promote responsible use of AI in North Carolina.

    To help state employees navigate the potential use of generative AI, NCDIT has posted guidance, training and other resources on its website. The department is also developing comprehensive training for state employees.

    For more information and resources regarding the state’s use of AI, visit it.nc.gov/AI.

    Apr 25, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chair’s Statement: Fifty-First Meeting of the IMFC – Mr. Mohammed Aljadaan, Minister for Finance of Saudi Arabia

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    April 25, 2025

    In the context of the Fifty-First Meeting of the IMFC that took place in Washington, D.C. on 24th and 25th April, IMFC members welcomed the ongoing efforts to end wars and conflicts, recognizing that peace is essential to restoring stability and fostering sustainable growth. IMFC members underscored that all states must act in a manner consistent with the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter in its entirety. They acknowledged, however, that the IMFC is not a forum to resolve geopolitical and security issues which are discussed in other fora.

    The world economy is at a pivotal juncture. Following several years of rising concerns over trade, trade tensions have abruptly soared, fueling elevated uncertainty, market volatility, and risks to growth and financial stability. Near-term growth is projected to slow and intensifying downside risks dominate the outlook. We will step up our efforts to strengthen economic resilience and build a more prosperous future. We underline the critical role of the IMF in helping us navigate this challenging environment, as a trusted advisor and champion of strong policy frameworks. We thank our Deputies for discussing the medium-term direction of the IMF during their meeting in Diriyah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on April 6-7, 2025, and we agree on the annexed Diriyah Declaration.

     

    1. The world economy is at a pivotal juncture. Following several years of rising concerns over trade, trade tensions have abruptly soared, fueling elevated uncertainty, market volatility, and risks to growth and financial stability. Near-term growth is projected to slow, while disinflation is expected to continue but at a slower pace. Intensifying downside risks dominate the outlook, in an already challenging context of weak growth and high public debt. Wars and conflicts impose a heavy humanitarian and economic toll. Transformative forces, such as digitalization/artificial intelligence, demographic shifts, and climate transitions are creating opportunities, but also challenges.
    1. We will step up our efforts to strengthen economic resilience and break from the low-growth, high-debt path, while harnessing transformative forces, to build a more prosperous future. Comprehensive and well calibrated, well sequenced, and well communicated reforms and policy actions are needed to boost private sector-led growth, productivity, and job creation. We will pursue sound macroeconomic policies and advance structural reforms to improve the business environment, streamline excessive regulation, fight corruption, and mobilize innovation and technology adoption. We will deepen our pivot toward growth-friendly fiscal adjustments to ensure debt sustainability and rebuild buffers where needed. Fiscal adjustments should be mindful of distributional impacts and underpinned by a credible medium-term consolidation plan, while strengthening the efficiency of public spending, protecting the vulnerable, and supporting growth-enhancing public and private investments, taking into account country circumstances. Central banks remain strongly committed to maintaining price stability, in line with their respective mandates, and will continue to adjust their policies in a data dependent and well-communicated manner. We will continue to closely monitor and, as necessary, tackle financial vulnerabilities and risks to financial stability, while harnessing the benefits of innovation. We will work together to improve the resilience of the world economy and build prosperity and ensure the stability and effective functioning of the international monetary system. We will also work together to address excessive global imbalances, support an open, fair and rules-based international economic order, and reinforce supply chain resilience. We reaffirm our April 2021 exchange rate commitments.
    1. We will continue to support countries as they undertake reforms and address debt vulnerabilities and debt service challenges. We acknowledge the specific challenges faced by low-income and vulnerable countries, including fragile and conflict-affected states (FCS) and small developing states (SDS), which are further compounded by recent decrease in official development assistance. We underline the importance of the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust. We welcome the progress made on debt treatments under the G20 Common Framework (CF) and beyond. We remain committed to addressing global debt vulnerabilities in an effective, comprehensive, and systematic manner, including further stepping up the CF’s implementation in a predictable, timely, orderly, and coordinated manner, and enhancing debt transparency. We look forward to further work at the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable on ways to address debt vulnerabilities and restructuring challenges. We encourage the IMF and the World Bank to help advance the implementation of the 3-pillar approach to address debt service pressures in countries with sustainable debt, including through supporting them to implement growth-enhancing reforms, mobilize domestic resources, and attract private capital. We look forward to the review of the Low-Income Country Debt Sustainability Framework (LIC-DSF).
    1. We welcome the Managing Director’s Global Policy Agenda.
    1. We support further sharpening the focus of surveillance based on analytical rigor, evenhandedness, and tailored policy advice. We welcome a strong focus on helping countries strengthen their economic resilience and achieve macroeconomic and financial stability and sustainable growth by increasing productivity, addressing macro-critical risks, reducing excessive imbalances, achieving debt sustainability, and mitigating disruptive capital flows and exchange rate volatility. We look forward to the Comprehensive Surveillance Review that will set future surveillance priorities and modalities; and the Review of Financial Sector Assessment Programs to keep financial surveillance in step with evolving financial stability risks.
    1. We look forward to the Review of Program Design and Conditionality to strengthen further the effectiveness of IMF-supported programs and to the Review of the Short-Term Liquidity Line. We also look forward to the assessment of the Global Financial Safety Net, including the role of Regional Financing Arrangements (RFAs), and its ability to safeguard global financial stability.
    1. We support efforts to further strengthen capacity development and to ensure the sustainability of financing. We welcome the IMF’s ongoing work with the World Bank on the Joint Domestic Resource Mobilization Initiative. We welcome a more flexible and tailored delivery, better integrated with policy advice and program design, as set out in the 2024 Capacity Development Strategy Review.
    1. We reaffirm our commitment to a strong, quota-based, and adequately resourced IMF at the center of the GFSN. We have advanced the domestic approvals for our consent to the quota increase under the 16th General Review of Quotas and we look forward to the finalization of this process as soon as possible. We recognize that realignment in quota shares should aim at better reflecting members’ relative positions in the world economy, while protecting the voice of the poorest members. We acknowledge, however, that building consensus among members on quota and governance reforms will require progress in stages. In this regard, we agree on the annexed Diriyah Declaration on the way forward.
    1. We underline the critical role of the IMF in helping us navigate the current challenging environment, as a trusted advisor and champion of strong policy frameworks. We reaffirm our commitment to the institution and look forward to discussing further ways to ensure the Fund remains agile and focused, working in collaboration with partners and other IFIs. We reiterate our appreciation for staff’s high-quality work and dedication to support the membership and continue to encourage further efforts to improve regional and women’s representation within staff positions, and women’s representation at the Executive Board and in Board leadership positions.
    1. Our next meeting is expected to be held in October 2025.

    Annexed Diriyah Declaration

    Recalling the October 2024 IMFC Chair’s Statement, which stated: “We reiterate our strong commitment to the Fund on its 80th anniversary and look forward to further discussing at our next meeting ways to ensure the Fund remains well-equipped to meet future challenges, in line with its mandate, and in collaboration with partners and other IFIs. We ask our Deputies to prepare for this discussion.”; and

    Drawing on the work advanced by our Deputies, who met in the historic town of Diriyah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on April 6-7, 2025, to prepare for this discussion;

    We thank our Deputies and agree on the following Diriyah Declaration on the way forward with regard to IMFC processes and IMF quota and governance reforms.

    *****

    Enhancing IMFC Processes

    We agree that the IMFC plays a key role in the IMF’s governance structure, offering the IMF Board of Governors trusted advice and providing strategic direction to the work and policies of the Fund through structured, high-level, and consensus-driven policy guidance on all relevant issues.

    To enhance its effectiveness as a forum for effective engagement and consensus-building on complex challenges, we agree to further strengthen IMFC processes. To this end, we welcome recent improvements to the format of the Introductory IMFC session and the use of concise, accessible communiqués to effectively convey key IMFC messages to a broader audience. Moreover, we agree that deputy-level meetings focused on strategic rather than routine issues could support the work of IMFC principals.

    We appreciate the value of engagement across the international financial architecture, including with Regional Financing Arrangements (RFAs), to enhance cooperation and strengthen the resilience of the international monetary system.

     

    Strengthening IMF Governance

    We note that the world economy currently faces significant challenges and agree that the IMF makes a vital contribution to international cooperation, providing a long-established and trusted institution for policy discussions informed by rigorous analysis. We stress that the IMF’s mandate to promote macroeconomic and financial stability remains as relevant as ever, and its role to support members in addressing macroeconomic challenges through analysis and policy advice, capacity development, and financing where relevant, is key. We agree on the need to ensure that the institution remains strong, quota-based, adequately resourced, and efficiently managed to fulfil its mandate at the center of the global financial safety net.

    We agree that a strong, inclusive, and representative governance framework is fundamental to maintaining the Fund’s credibility and legitimacy among its diverse membership. Strengthening IMF governance will support its continued ability to effectively promote consensus among the membership in addressing global challenges. These efforts are also essential to fostering multilateralism and international cooperation.

    Given the strategic importance of governance reforms, we recognize that progress toward consensus should be made in stages. In this context, we agree to develop as a first step a set of general principles to guide future discussions and help foster convergence of views. Work on these principles should be completed in a timely manner to help ensure the efficient progression of future General Reviews of Quotas (GRQs), including under the 17th GRQ. Establishing these guiding principles would help ensure that governance changes are gradual, widely acceptable, and reflective of the interests of the entire membership, as well as maintain the Fund’s financial soundness.

    The Way Forward

    We agree that implementation of the 16th GRQ remains a priority. We recognize that realignment in quota shares should aim at better reflecting members’ relative positions in the world economy, while protecting the voice of the poorest members. To build consensus on future governance reforms, including under the 17th GRQ, we call on the Executive Board to develop, by the 2026 Spring Meetings, a set of principles to guide future discussions on IMF quotas and governance, drawing from the deliberations by IMFC Deputies during their meeting in Diriyah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on April 6-7, 2025. We look forward to a discussion of the status of advancement of this work at our next meeting. We ask our Deputies to prepare for this discussion.

    INTERNATIONAL MONETARY AND FINANCIAL COMMITTEE

     ATTENDANCE 

    Chair

    Mohammed Aljadaan, Minister of Finance, Saudi Arabia

    Managing Director

    Kristalina Georgieva

    Members or Alternates

    Ayman Alsayari, Governor of the Saudi Central Bank, Saudi Arabia (Alternate for Mohammed Aljadaan, Minister of Finance, Saudi Arabia)

    Mohammed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, United Arab Emirates

    Edgar Amador Zamora, Minister of Finance and Public Credit, Mexico

    Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury, United States

    Edouard Normand Bigendako, Governor, Bank of the Republic of Burundi

    Luis Caputo, Minister of Economy, Argentina

    Tiff Macklem, Governor of the Bank of Canada (Alternate for Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance, Canada)

    Sang Mok Choi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Republic of Korea

    Giancarlo Giorgetti, Minister of Economy and Finance, Italy

    Gabriel Galipolo, Governor, Central Bank of Brazil (Alternate for Fernando Haddad, Minister of Finance, Brazil)

    Jan Jambon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Pensions, National Lottery and Federal Culture Institutions, Belgium

    Katsunobu Kato, Minister of Finance, Japan

    Daniela Stoffel, State Secretary for International Finance, Federal Department of Finance, Switzerland (Alternate for Karin Keller-Sutter, Minister of Finance, Switzerland)

    Lesetja Kganyago, Governor, South African Reserve Bank, South Africa

    Jörg Kukies, Federal Minister of the Ministry of Finance, Germany

    François Villeroy de Galhau, Governor of the Bank of France (Alternate for Eric Lombard, Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, France)

    Adebayo Olawale Edun, Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Nigeria

    Gongsheng Pan, Governor of the People’s Bank of China

    Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, H.M. Treasury, United Kingdom

    Pavel Snisorenko, Director, Department of International Financial Relations (Alternate for Anton Siluanov, Minister of Finance, Russian Federation)

    Sanjay Malhotra, Governor, Reserve Bank of India (Alternate for Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Finance, India)

    Mehmet Simsek, Minister of Treasury and Finance, Republic of Türkiye

    Salah-Eddine Taleb, Governor, Bank of Algeria

    Perry Warjiyo, Governor, Bank of Indonesia

    Ida Wolden Bache, Governor, Bank of Norway

    Observers

    Agustín Carstens, General Manager, Bank for International Settlements (BIS)

    Elisabeth Svantesson, Chair, Development Committee (DC) and Minister for Finance, Sweden

    Christine Lagarde, President, European Central Bank (ECB)

    Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, European Commission (EC)

    Klaas Knot, Chair, Financial Stability Board (FSB) and President of De Nederlandsche Bank

    Celeste Drake, Deputy Director-General, International Labour Organization (ILO)

    Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

    Mohannad Alsuwaidan, Economic Analyst, Petroleum Studies Department, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

    Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator, United Nations (UN)

    Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

    Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, The World Bank (WB)

    Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General, World Trade Organization (WTO)

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Wafa Amr

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

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/04/25/pr-123-imfc-chairs-statement-fifty-first-meeting-of-the-imfc

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Sen. Markey, Rep. McGovern, Rep. Pressley Op-Ed in The New York Times: “We Visited Rümeysa Öztürk in Detention. What We Saw Was a Warning to Us All.”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Read the full piece in The New York Times
    Washington (April 25, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Representatives Jim McGovern (MA-02) and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) this morning published an op-ed in The New York Times titled: “We Visited Rümeysa Öztürk in Detention. What We Saw Was a Warning to Us All.”
    This week, Senator Markey and Representatives McGovern and Pressley met with Ms. Öztürk, a Turkish national and fifth-year doctoral student at Tufts University, who has been unlawfully detained by ICE and transported to Louisiana from her Somerville, Massachusetts, community in retaliation for her protected speech. The lawmakers called on the Trump administration to immediately release Ms. Öztürk and urged every American to defend the Constitution.
    We Visited Rümeysa Öztürk in Detention. What We Saw Was a Warning to Us All.
    By Edward J. Markey, Jim McGovern, and Ayanna Pressley
    Published April 25, 2025, by The New York Times
    We recently visited Ms. Öztürk at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Basile, La., operated by the for-profit company Geo Secure Services, contracted by the federal government. It’s part of the network of ICE facilities in Louisiana that the American Civil Liberties Union has described as a “black hole” — hard to reach and isolated, making visits from attorneys and family members prohibitively difficult and expensive.
    What we found was not just a young woman locked up without charge but also a democracy being put to the test.
    Read the full opinion piece in The New York Times.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Tensions over Kashmir and a warming planet have placed the Indus Waters Treaty on life support

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Fazlul Haq, Postdoctoral Scholar at the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, The Ohio State University

    The Indus River Valley in the cold desert of Ladakh, India. Pallava Bagla/Getty Images

    In 1995, World Bank Vice President Ismail Serageldin warned that whereas the conflicts of the previous 100 years had been over oil, “the wars of the next century will be fought over water.”

    Thirty years on, that prediction is being tested in one of the world’s most volatile regions: Kashmir.

    On April 24, 2025, the government of India announced that it would downgrade diplomatic ties with its neighbor Pakistan over an attack by militants in Kashmir that killed 26 tourists. As part of that cooling of relations, India said it would immediately suspend the Indus Waters Treaty – a decades-old agreement that allowed both countries to share water use from the rivers that flow from India into Pakistan. Pakistan has promised reciprocal moves and warned that any disruption to its water supply would be considered “an act of war.”

    The current flareup escalated quickly, but has a long history. At the Indus Basin Water Project at the Ohio State University, we are engaged in a multiyear project investigating the transboundary water dispute between Pakistan and India.

    Fazlul Haq walks through the Gargo Glacier floodplain in the Upper Indus Basin.
    Fazlul Haq/Indus Basin Water Project/Ohio State University, CC BY-SA

    I am currently in Pakistan conducting fieldwork in Kashmir and across the Indus Basin. Geopolitical tensions in the region, which have been worsened by the recent attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, do pose a major threat to the water treaty. So too does another factor that is helping escalate the tensions: climate change

    A fair solution to water disputes

    The Indus River has supported life for thousands of years since the Harappan civilization, which flourished around 2600 to 1900 B.C.E. in what is now Pakistan and northwest India.

    After the partition of India in 1947, control of the Indus River system became a major source of tension between the two nations that emerged from partition: India and Pakistan. Disputes arose almost immediately, particularly when India temporarily halted water flow to Pakistan in 1948, prompting fears over agricultural collapse. These early confrontations led to years of negotiations, culminating in the signing of the Indus Waters Treaty in 1960.


    Fazlul Haq/Bryan Mark/Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center/Ohio State University, CC BY

    Brokered by the World Bank, the Indus Waters Treaty has long been hailed as one of the most successful transboundary water agreements.

    It divided the Indus Basin between the two countries, giving India control over the eastern rivers – Ravi, Beas and Sutlej – and Pakistan control over the western rivers: Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.

    At the time, this was seen as a fair solution. But the treaty was designed for a very different world. Back then, India and Pakistan were newly independent countries working to establish themselves amid a world divided by the Cold War.

    When it was signed, Pakistan’s population was 46 million, and India’s was 436 million. Today, those numbers have surged to over 240 million and 1.4 billion, respectively.

    Today, more than 300 million people rely on the Indus River Basin for their survival.

    This has put increased pressure on the precious source of water that sits between the two nuclear rivals. The effects of global warming, and the continued fighting over the disputed region of Kashmir, has only added to those tensions.

    Impact of melting glaciers

    Many of the problems of today are down to what wasn’t included in the treaty, rather than what was.

    At the time of signing, there was a lack of comprehensive studies on glacier mass balance. The assumption was that the Himalayan glaciers, which feed the Indus River system, were relatively stable.

    This lack of detailed measurements meant that future changes due to climate variability and glacial melt were not factored into the treaty’s design, nor were factors such as groundwater depletion, water pollution from pesticides, fertilizer use and industrial waste. Similarly, the potential for large-scale hydraulic development of the region through dams, reservoirs, canals and hydroelectricity were largely ignored in the treaty.

    Reflecting contemporary assumptions about the stability of glaciers, the negotiators assumed that hydrological patterns would remain persistent with the historic flows.

    Instead, the glaciers feeding the Indus Basin began to melt. In fact, they are now melting at record rates.

    Construction site of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam along the Indus River.
    Fazlul Haq/Indus Basin Water Project/Ohio State University

    The World Meteorological Organization reported that 2023 was globally the driest year in over three decades, with below-normal river flows disrupting agriculture and ecosystems. Global glaciers also saw their largest mass loss in 50 years, releasing over 600 gigatons of water into rivers and oceans.

    The Himalayan glaciers, which supply 60-70% of the Indus River’s summer flow, are shrinking rapidly. A 2019 study estimates they are losing 8 billion tons of ice annually.

    And a study by the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development found that Hindu Kush-Karakoram-Himalayan glaciers melted 65% faster in 2011–2020 compared with the previous decade.

    The rate of glacier melt poses a significant challenge to the treaty’s long-term effectiveness to ensure essential water for all the people who rely on the Indus River Basin. While it may temporarily increase river flow, it threatens the long-term availability of water.

    Indeed, if this trend continues, water shortages will intensify, particularly for Pakistan, which depends heavily on the Indus during dry seasons.

    Another failing of the Indus Waters Treaty is that it only addresses surface water distribution and does not include provisions for managing groundwater extraction, which has become a significant issue in both India and Pakistan.

    In the Punjab region – often referred to as the breadbasket of both nations – heavy reliance on groundwater is leading to overexploitation and depletion.

    Groundwater now contributes a large portion – about 48% – of water withdrawals in the Indus Basin, particularly during dry seasons. Yet there is no transboundary framework to oversee the shared management of this resource as reported by the World Bank.

    A disputed region

    It wasn’t just climate change and groundwater that were ignored by the drafters of the Indus Waters Treaty. Indian and Pakistan negotiators also neglected the issue and status of Kashmir.

    Kashmir has been at the heart of India-Pakistan tensions since Partition in 1947. At the time of independence, the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir was given the option to accede to either India or Pakistan. Though the region had a Muslim majority, the Hindu ruler chose to accede to India, triggering the first India-Pakistan war.

    This led to a U.N.-mediated ceasefire in 1949 and the creation of the Line of Control, effectively dividing the territory between Indian-administered and Pakistani-administered Kashmir. Since then, Kashmir has remained a disputed territory, claimed in full by both countries and serving as the flashpoint for two additional wars in 1965 and 1999, and numerous skirmishes.

    A ruined village in Jammu and Kashmir, India, during the war between India and Pakistan in 1965.
    Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis via Getty Images

    Despite being the primary source of water for the basin, Kashmiris have had no role in negotiations or decision-making under the treaty.

    The region’s agricultural and hydropower potential has been limited due to restrictions on the use of its water resources, with only 19.8% of hydropower potential utilized. This means that Kashmiris on both sides — despite living in a water-rich region — have been unable to fully benefit from the resources flowing through their land, as water infrastructure has primarily served downstream users and broader national interests rather than local development.

    Some scholars argue that the treaty intentionally facilitated hydraulic development in Jammu and Kashmir, but not necessarily in ways that served local interests.

    India’s hydropower projects in Kashmir — such as the Baglihar and Kishanganga dams — have been a major point of contention. Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns that these projects could alter water flows, particularly during crucial agricultural seasons.

    However, the Indus Waters Treaty does not provide explicit mechanisms for resolving such regional disputes, leaving Kashmir’s hydrological and political concerns unaddressed.

    Tensions over hydropower projects in Kashmir were bringing India and Pakistan toward diplomatic deadlock long before the recent attack.

    The Kishanganga and Ratle dam disputes, now under arbitration in The Hague, exposed the treaty’s growing inability to manage transboundary water conflicts.

    Then in September 2024, India formally called for a review of the Indus Waters Treaty, citing demographic shifts, energy needs and security concerns over Kashmir.

    Indian Border Security Force soldiers patrol on a boat along the Pargwal area of the India-Pakistan international border.
    Nitin Kanotra/Hindustan Times via Getty Images

    The treaty now exists in a state of limbo. While it technically remains in force, India’s formal notice for review has introduced uncertainty, halting key cooperative mechanisms and casting doubt on the treaty’s long-term durability.

    An equitable and sustainable treaty?

    Moving forward, I argue, any reform or renegotiation of the Indus Waters Treaty will, if it is to have lasting success, need to acknowledge the hydrological significance of Kashmir while engaging voices from across the region.

    Excluding Kashmir from future discussions – and neither India nor Pakistan has formally proposed including Kashmiri stakeholders – would only reinforce a long-standing pattern of marginalization, where decisions about its resources are made without considering the needs of its people.

    As debates on “climate-proofing” the treaty continue, ensuring Kashmiri perspectives are included will be critical for building a more equitable and sustainable transboundary water framework.

    Nicholas Breyfogle, Madhumita Dutta, Alexander Thompson, and Bryan G. Mark at the Indus Basin Water Project at the Ohio State University contributed to this article.

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

    – ref. Tensions over Kashmir and a warming planet have placed the Indus Waters Treaty on life support – https://theconversation.com/tensions-over-kashmir-and-a-warming-planet-have-placed-the-indus-waters-treaty-on-life-support-244699

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why sitting down – and getting back up – might be the most important health test you do today

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Catherine Norton, Associate Professor Sport & Exercise Nutrition, University of Limerick

    Ruslan Huzau/Shutterstock

    If you or someone you love finds it difficult to stand up from the toilet without using your hands, it might seem like a small issue. But in health and ageing, this movement – known as the “sit-to-stand” – can be a red flag. It’s one of the strongest indicators of frailty, a condition that can threaten independence and quality of life.

    Frailty increases the risk of falls, hospital stays, slower recovery from illness, and early death. It’s more than just about being thin or weak – it’s about reduced muscle mass, strength and energy – and it’s one of the main reasons older adults lose the ability to live on their own.

    This loss of muscle strength and function isn’t just about growing old. It often begins as early as your 30s and accelerates after 60. The good news? It’s not inevitable. Frailty can be prevented – and even reversed – with simple, targeted changes in diet and physical activity.

    Surprisingly, carrying a bit of extra weight in older age can be beneficial. Studies suggest that being in the “overweight” BMI range is often linked to better outcomes than being underweight – as long as you’re carrying muscle, not just fat.

    What matters most is body composition – the ratio of muscle to fat. Lean muscle supports mobility, balance and resilience during illness or injury. In contrast, excess visceral fat (around the internal organs) increases the risk of disease.

    Muscle is made of protein and, as we age, our bodies become less efficient at using it. That means older adults need to eat more protein than younger people – not less. Aim for 1 to 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day. For a 70kg person, that’s around 70–85 grams daily, ideally spread across all meals.

    Good protein sources include:
    • Eggs, milk, cheese and yoghurt
    • Chicken, turkey, beef and oily fish
    • Lentils, beans, tofu and soy products
    • Nuts, seeds, and whole grains

    Also, don’t forget total calorie intake. If you’re undereating overall – especially during illness – your body will break down muscle to compensate, even if protein intake is adequate.

    Move it or lose it

    Muscle only stays if you use it – the “move it or lose it” mantra applies here. Regular strength training is one of the best things you can do to stay independent and strong.

    Aim for two to three sessions per week focused on strength. You don’t need a gym – bodyweight exercises at home count too.

    Effective strength activities include:

    • Sit-to-stand repetitions from a chair
    • Functional movements like stair climbing, gardening, or carrying groceries
    • Squats, lunges and push-ups
    • Using resistance bands or light weights

    Walking, swimming and cycling are great for cardiovascular and joint health, but they aren’t enough on their own to maintain muscle mass. Challenge your muscles regularly – even in small ways.

    Things to watch out for:

    • Struggling to stand up from low chairs or the toilet
    • Clothes feeling looser around the thighs or arms
    • Feeling weaker carrying bags or household items
    • Avoiding stairs or certain movements you used to do easily

    Catching these signs early can help you act before it affects your independence.

    Here are five things you can do for healthy ageing

    1. Prioritise protein: include it in every meal. Think eggs for breakfast, beans at lunch, and fish or chicken for dinner.
    2. Strength train weekly: find something you enjoy and can stick with – gardening, resistance bands, or a local class.
    3. Don’t fear healthy weight gain: especially if you’ve recently lost weight unintentionally. Focus on building muscle, not fat.
    4. Stay active daily: every movement counts – walking, stretching, or lifting household objects.
    5. Monitor your function: the sit-to-stand test is a simple way to track your strength. If it’s getting harder, take action.

    We can’t stop ageing, but we can age well. That means making muscle health a priority – not just for appearance, but for independence, dignity and quality of life.

    So, whether you’re thinking about your future or supporting an older loved one, remember this: building and maintaining muscle is one of the most powerful tools we have for healthy ageing.

    With the right habits, you can protect your strength, mobility and independence.

    And next time you sit down – think about how easily you get back up. That small action might be the most important health check you do all day.

    Catherine Norton receives funding organisations e.g. Food for Health Ireland, DAFM, Enterprise Ireland

    – ref. Why sitting down – and getting back up – might be the most important health test you do today – https://theconversation.com/why-sitting-down-and-getting-back-up-might-be-the-most-important-health-test-you-do-today-255057

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump can’t decide who to blame for a failing peace deal that would only lead to further conflict

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham

    After a second consecutive night of deadly Russian air attacks – against the capital Kyiv on April 23 and the eastern Ukrainian city of Pavlohrad on April 24 – a ceasefire in Ukraine seems as unrealistic as ever.

    With Russian commitment to a deal clearly lacking, the situation is not helped by US president Donald Trump. He can’t quite seem to decide who he will ultimately blame if his efforts to agree a ceasefire fall apart.

    Before the strikes on Kyiv, Trump blamed Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, for holding up a deal by refusing to recognise Crimea as Russian. The following day, he chided Vladimir Putin for the attacks, calling them “not necessary, and very bad timing” and imploring Putin to stop.

    The main stumbling bloc on the path to a ceasefire is what a final peace agreement might look like and what concessions Kyiv – and its European allies – will accept. Ukraine’s and Europe’s position on this is unequivocal: no recognition of the illegal Russian annexation.

    This position is also backed by opinion polls in Ukraine, which indicate only limited support for some, temporary concessions to Russia. The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, also suggested that temporarily giving up territory “can be a solution”.

    The deal that Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff apparently negotiated over three rounds of talks in Russia was roundly rejected by Ukraine and Britain, France and Germany, who lead the “coalition of the willing” of countries pledging support for Ukraine.



    Read more:
    Could Trump be leading the world into recession?

    This prompted Witkoff and US secretary of state Marco Rubio to pull out of follow-up talks in London on April 24. These ended with a fairly vacuous statement about a commitment to continuing “close coordination and … further talks soon”.

    And even this now appears as quite a stretch. Coinciding with Witkoff’s fourth trip to see Putin on April 25, European and Ukrainian counterproposals were released that reject most of the terms offered by Trump or at least defer their negotiation until after a ceasefire is in place.

    Why is it failing?

    The impasse is unsurprising. Washington’s proposal included a US commitment to recognise Crimea as Russian, a promise that Ukraine would not join Nato and accept Moscow’s control of the territories in eastern Ukraine that it currently illegally occupies. It also included lifting all sanctions against Russia.

    In other words, Ukraine would give up large parts of territory and receive no security guarantees, while Russia is rewarded with reintegration into the global economy.

    It is the territorial concessions asked of Kyiv which are especially problematic. Quite apart from the fact that they are in fundamental breach of basic principles of international law – the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states – they are unlikely to provide solid foundations for a durable peace.

    Much like the idea of Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, to divide Ukraine like post-1945 Berlin, it betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of what, and who, drives this war.

    Recent London peace talks in April failed to make progress.

    Kellogg later clarified that he was not suggesting a partition of Ukraine, but his proposal would have exactly the same effect as Trump’s most recent offer.

    Both proposals accept the permanent loss to Ukraine of territory that Russia currently controls. Where they differ is that Kellogg wants to introduce a European-led reassurance force west of the river Dnipro, while leaving the defence of remaining Ukrainian-controlled territory to Kyiv’s armed forces.

    If accepted by Russia – unlikely as this is given Russia’s repeated and unequivocal rejection of European peacekeeping troops in Ukraine – it would provide at best a minimal security guarantee for a part of Ukrainian territory.

    What it would almost inevitably mean, however, is a repeat of the permanent ceasefire violations along the disengagement zone in eastern Ukraine where Russian and Ukrainian forces would continue to face each other.

    This is what happened after the ill-fated Minsk accords of 2014 and 2015, which were meant to settle the conflict after Russia’s invasion of Donbas in 2014. A further Russian invasion could be just around the corner once the Kremlin felt that it had sufficiently recovered from the current war.



    Read more:
    Ukraine deal: Europe has learned from the failed 2015 Minsk accords with Putin. Trump has not

    The lack of a credible deterrent is one key difference between the situation in Ukraine as envisaged by Washington and other historical and contemporary parallels, including Korea and Cyprus.

    Korea was partitioned in 1945 and has been protected by a large US military presence since the Korean war in 1953. After the Turkish invasion of 1974, Cyprus was divided between Greek and Turkish Cypriots along a partition line secured by an armed UN peacekeeping mission.

    Trump has ruled out any US troop commitment as part of securing a ceasefire in Ukraine. And the idea of a UN force in Ukraine, briefly floated during the presidency of Petro Poroshenko between 2014 and 2019, never got any traction, and is not likely to be accepted by Putin now.

    The assumed parallels with the situation in Germany after the second world war are even more tenuous. Not only did Nazi Germany unconditionally surrender in May 1945 but its division into allied zones of occupation was formally and unanimously agreed by the victorious allies in Potsdam in August 1945.

    Muddling up Potsdam and Munich?

    By the time two separate German states of East and West Germany were established in 1949, the western allies had fallen out with Stalin but remained firmly united in Nato and western Europe. So the west German state was firmly protected under the US nuclear umbrella.

    The agreements made in Potsdam didn’t have the same implication of permanence as the US suggestion to formally recognise Crimea as Russian territory. The suggestion was always that the allied forces would pull out of Germany at some stage, and restore the country’s sovereignty.

    Most importantly, the allies did not reward the aggressor in the war or create the conditions for merely a brief interruption for an aggressor’s revisionist agenda.

    After all, what has driven Putin’s war against Ukraine is his conviction that “the collapse of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century”.

    The Trump administration deludes itself that it is applying the lessons of Potsdam by recognising Russia’s territorial conquests in Ukraine and handing them over. Instead it is falling into the trap of the 1938 Munich Agreement. Negotiators in Munich tried, but failed, to avoid the second world war by appeasing and not deterring an insatiable aggressor – a historical lesson that doesn’t need repeating.

    Stefan Wolff is a past recipient of grant funding from the Natural Environment Research Council of the UK, the United States Institute of Peace, the Economic and Social Research Council of the UK, the British Academy, the NATO Science for Peace Programme, the EU Framework Programmes 6 and 7 and Horizon 2020, as well as the EU’s Jean Monnet Programme. He is a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of the Political Studies Association of the UK and a Senior Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre in London.

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

    – ref. Trump can’t decide who to blame for a failing peace deal that would only lead to further conflict – https://theconversation.com/trump-cant-decide-who-to-blame-for-a-failing-peace-deal-that-would-only-lead-to-further-conflict-254841

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Celebrating our Volunteers During National Volunteer Week

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on April 25, 2025

    The Government of Saskatchewan, along with Sask Sport, SaskCulture and the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association would like to recognize our province’s volunteers and thank them for the incredible contributions they make to our quality of life.  

    Across the country, April 27 to May 3 is being celebrated as National Volunteer Week.

    “Volunteers are hard-working and humble individuals who come from diverse backgrounds, motivated by the simple desire to make our communities better,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Alana Ross said. “In the sport, culture and recreation world, we know them as coaches, instructors, leaders, board members, event planners, teachers, officials, caretakers and so much more.”  

    This year’s theme of Volunteers Make Waves – Together, we create ripples of change – helps highlight the importance, impact and power individuals and their collective volunteer efforts can have on our lives.  

    Saskatchewan is home to more than 330,000 residents who volunteer in their communities.  

    “We know the amazing talents these volunteers bring to our communities and that each individual volunteer contribution, big or small, has the power to influence and inspire, positive change,” Ross said. “On behalf of the Government of Saskatchewan I would like to thank those people who put in the countless hours to make our lives better.”  

    One major source for volunteer opportunities is through the Saskatchewan Lotteries Trust Fund for Sport, Culture and Recreation, which provides more than 1,200 organizations and communities with direct funding. In turn, this funding reaches approximately 12,000 beneficiary groups and a remarkable 600,000 participants across the province each year.  

    Volunteers help make the thousands of community events and activities held by these organizations each year successful.

    If you are looking for opportunities to volunteer in Saskatchewan, visit: Volunteer Connector.

    Visit Our Stories to learn about some amazing volunteers and their contributions to sport, culture and recreation in Saskatchewan at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/our-stories.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: New Pictou County Child-Care Spaces

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Families in Plymouth, Pictou County, will have more access to early learning and child-care spaces opening in their community.

    The Province is providing the Plymouth Community and Recreation Association with $3.1 million in infrastructure funding for a renovation and addition to the Plymouth Community Centre that will allow the creation of 58 early learning spaces, including 16 infant spaces.

    “Investments in child care are investments in families and in our future,” said Premier Tim Houston. “I’m pleased that our government is supporting the community centre to continue its legacy of helping young people and families by adding new child-care spaces.”

    The building has a long history educating and caring for young people in the community. It was first built as a school in 1865 and was converted to a community centre in the 1970s.

    The community centre will continue to offer community gathering and recreational space once the child-care centre opens in February 2026.

    The investment is from the Early Learning and Child Care Major Infrastructure Program.

    Quotes:

    “The board of the Plymouth Community and Recreation Association embraced this idea from its inception. This is a game-changer for our rural communities. Our building was purposely built as a school and is centrally located for young families to access. This is a community-based response to the pressing need for affordable and accessible child care.”
    — Janet MacDonald, board Chair, Plymouth Community and Recreation Association

    “This initiative expands access to sustainable child care, addressing a key barrier to workforce development in Pictou County. Through strong community collaboration and the partnership’s community impact programming made possible by the Sobey Foundation, it will empower families, support local employment and serve as a unique co-operative model for the future.”
    — Mary Ellen Makhlouf, community impact programming lead, Pictou County Partnership

    Quick Facts:

    • funding is through the Canada-Nova Scotia Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement
    • to date, the government has announced 11 projects under the major infrastructure pro-gram
    • since 2021, almost 7,000 new child-care spaces have been created across the province
    • Nova Scotia has signed a five-year extension to the Canada-Nova Scotia Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement and the Canada-Nova Scotia Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, worth more than $1 billion total

    Additional Resources:

    More information on early learning and child care in Nova Scotia: https://childcarenovascotia.ca/

    Canada-Nova Scotia Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement: https://www.canada.ca/en/early-learning-child-care-agreement/agreements-provinces-territories/nova-scotia-canada-wide-2021.html

    To receive regular updates about child care in Nova Scotia via newsletter: https://childcarenovascotia.ca/latest-news

    For information on child-care centres and family home agencies by community: https://nsbr-online-services.novascotia.ca/DCSOnline/ECDS/loadSearchPage.action

    Other than cropping, Province of Nova Scotia photos are not to be altered in any way.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: ReversingLabs Delivers Most Comprehensive Support for CycloneDX xBOM

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ReversingLabs (RL), the trusted name in file and software security, today announced the launch of leading support for eXtended Bill of Materials (xBOM) capabilities with Spectra Assure™. Available now, these new features include the Cryptographic Bill of Materials (CBOM), Software-as-a-Service Bill of Materials (SaaSBOM), and Machine Learning Bill of Materials (ML-BOM), marking an industry first for fully compiled commercial software. This innovation provides both software producers and enterprise buyers with unprecedented visibility into the components, services, and risks hidden within today’s increasingly complex software ecosystems.

    First-to-Market for Most Comprehensive Support for CycloneDX
    OWASP CycloneDX is a full-stack Bill of Materials (BOM) standard that provides advanced supply chain capabilities for cyber risk reduction. CycloneDX is an international standard ratified by Ecma International as ECMA-424.

    “CycloneDX elevates traditional SBOMs into a truly extensible, machine‑readable framework that captures critical supply chain metadata,” said Steve Springett, Chair of OWASP CycloneDX and Ecma TC54. “ReversingLabs Spectra Assure takes full advantage of these advanced specification features to deliver deep transparency and empower organizations to drive targeted risk reduction efforts.”

    With the evolution of software supply chain security, traditional ingredient-only SBOMs lack context and do little to address emerging risks. The Spectra Assure SAFE report includes the most comprehensive SBOM and risk assessment of an application to identify malware, tampering, suspicious behaviors, and more. With expanded xBOM support, Spectra Assure now offers comprehensive inventories with actionable security assessments for cryptographic assets, SaaS dependencies, and machine learning models. Producers are further empowered with the ability to edit SBOM components and declare SaaS services and ML models. The ability to go beyond the SBOM is critical as businesses increasingly face challenges such as quantum computing threats, interconnected cloud services, and AI-driven vulnerabilities.

    The new xBOM capabilities include the CBOM, ML-BOM, SaaSBOM, and the ability to declare and edit xBOM data.

    “ReversingLabs is proud to lead the charge in redefining software transparency with our xBOM capabilities,” said Tomislav Peričin, Chief Software Architect and co-founder at RL. “By offering an unparalleled view into cryptographic assets, SaaS dependencies, and machine learning models, we empower our customers with the visibility and context to build and buy software with confidence.”

    Prepares Businesses for AI and Quantum Computing Threats
    As software becomes more intelligent and interconnected, organizations must go beyond traditional SBOMs to meet escalating transparency demands. The xBOM capabilities offered by Spectra Assure enable businesses to:

    • Prepare for Quantum Computing Threats: CBOM provides insight into cryptographic assets that could be exploited by quantum computing advancements.
    • Understand SaaS Dependencies: SaaSBOM ensures visibility into external services that software relies on, reducing risks from third-party integrations.
    • Gain AI Supply Chain Visibility: ML-BOM identifies potentially malicious open-source models before they can be integrated into your products or deployed into your organization.

    Enables Regulatory Compliance
    Support for these new xBOM capabilities will help both software producers and their enterprise buyers adhere to increasingly strict compliance mandates. These include:

    • NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF): ML-BOM helps assess, manage, and mitigate risks throughout the AI lifecycle.
    • EU AI Act: ML-BOM enables compliance with strict risk-based obligations for AI systems in high-impact sectors.
    • ISO/IEC 42001 – ML-BOM helps with the first international standard for AI management systems, covering governance, transparency, and operational controls.
    • NIST 1800 38b – CBOM facilitates the Post-Quantum Readiness through cryptographic discovery.
    • EU Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA): Enables proprietary software from ICT third-party service providers to be properly analyzed prior to deployment.
    • EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA): Enable software manufacturers to generate the most comprehensive SBOM/xBOM.

    Replaces the Inherent Trust Model and Manual Questionnaires
    Traditionally, enterprise buyers have been relatively powerless when it comes to software supply chain security. Despite the fact that it is their responsibility to ensure the security of the software they bring into their organization, they have lacked any real control mechanism. Instead, they have relied on an inherent trust model that leans on security questionnaires and incomplete visibility into software components, associated services, and now AI, ML, and cryptographic components.

    With Spectra Assure, they can source this information without relying on their vendor. The Spectra Assure SAFE report provides a complete xBOM along with any critical risks – without the need for source code.

    Eliminates Friction of Software Supply Chain Security and Acquisition
    The lack of transparency into software components and risk slows the purchase and deployment of software, impacting both software producers and buyers.

    “Our xBOM support represents a new dimension of transparency for software. With xBOM, publishers can declare, and consumers can verify, software safety claims. This is a game changer for the software industry,” continued Peričin. “As a software vendor, I’m all too familiar with questionnaires and spreadsheets requested by security and procurement teams, which provide no real visibility into the real risk of an application. xBOM support expands Spectra Assure’s ability to quickly provide all the critical analysis and insights, eliminating the need for filling out questionnaires and time-consuming back and forth.”

    Additional Information
    For more information about the new xBOM capabilities in ReversingLabs Spectra Assure click here, schedule a demo, attend our webinar Beyond the SBOM: Welcome CycloneDX xBOM or meet with us at RSAC 2025, April 28 – May 1, 2025, San Francisco, Moscone Center, Booth N-4428.

    About ReversingLabs
    ReversingLabs is the trusted name in file and software security. We provide the modern cybersecurity platform to verify and deliver safe binaries. Trusted by the Fortune 500 and leading cybersecurity vendors, RL Spectra Core powers the software supply chain and file security insights, tracking over 422 billion searchable files with the ability to deconstruct full software binaries in seconds to minutes. Only ReversingLabs provides that final exam to determine whether a single file or full software binary presents a risk to your organization and your customers.

    Media Contact
    Doug Fraim
    Guyer Group
    Doug@Guyergroup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: The education system should become a support for scientific and technological breakthrough

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The Korsun Children’s Center, a branch of the Artek International Children’s Center, hosted a plenary session of the All-Russian Conference for heads of executive bodies of state power of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation responsible for education management. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko and Minister of Education Sergei Kravtsov took part in the event.

    Dmitry Chernyshenko, speaking at the meeting, noted the symbolism of holding the event in Sevastopol, the city of Russian naval glory. He emphasized that the valor demonstrated by the defenders of Sevastopol during the Crimean and Great Patriotic Wars is forever inscribed in the history of Russia’s military glory.

    The Deputy Prime Minister also noted that on the eve of Victory Day and in the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland, it is important to remember the exploits of heroes past and present, so that they become an example of honor, dignity and love for the Motherland for children.

    “Unlocking the potential of young people, realizing their capabilities and raising patriots are the national goals set by President Vladimir Putin. On the way to this goal, the country faces various challenges, such as value threats, demographic risks and technological changes. The education system, according to the head of state, should be the support for the scientific and technological breakthrough that our country needs not only to maintain sovereignty at all levels, but also to achieve technological leadership. Russia is among the top ten countries in terms of education quality and among the top 8 countries in terms of scientific research. This is a very competitive environment, and we need to try hard to strengthen and maintain this leadership,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that at the beginning of the year, strategic and district sessions were held in all regions, where proposals from the regions for the draft text of the strategy were discussed and formed. In total, more than 1,000 proposals were collected and processed.

    Dmitry Chernyshenko expressed gratitude to the Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov for the effective organization of this work. He noted that strategic documents in the field of education are created in such a way that the field itself makes a contribution with its own hands. During these sessions, key challenges were formulated and, most importantly, the goal, mission, vision and values of the education system.

    During the meeting, Dmitry Chernyshenko spoke about the creation of a benchmark system of indicators for the education sector, which will become the basis for making management decisions.

    He emphasized that the need to build such a system is due to the fragmentation of indicators, research and statistical data currently existing in the field of education. The new approach will allow obtaining systematized and unified data.

    “Work on creating a benchmark system of indicators for the education sector is being carried out on the instructions of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. A special project has been launched at the Government Coordination Center, which should fully characterize the education system at all levels,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    The Deputy Prime Minister noted that as a result of the analysis of the diversity of indicators used in the field of education, the project developers identified over 25 thousand criteria. “It is obvious that no one person can understand 25 thousand parameters,” he added, emphasizing the importance of creating convenient and understandable analytical panels.

    The results of joint work at the All-Russian conference will form the basis of an action plan for the implementation of the Education Development Strategy, determining further steps for the development of the industry.

    Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov expressed gratitude to representatives of all subjects of the Russian Federation who took an active part in the project “Living Memory of Grateful Generations” in the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland and the 80th anniversary of Victory. He also proposed actively inviting students to participate in the celebratory events dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, including the “Immortal Regiment” campaign.

    “This campaign should be held in every school, in person or online. Participation in the “No Statute of Limitations” project and communication with veterans are also important,” the head of the department said.

    In addition, Sergey Kravtsov announced changes that are planned within the framework of the organization of the educational process.

    “It is important that in each school, teaching is conducted in accordance with uniform educational programs, the number of hours is clear, and what students study is synchronized with the unified state exam,” the minister noted.

    He added that in 2026, an all-Russian school Olympiad in robotics with tasks on UAVs will be launched, and a “roadmap” for 2025–2026 for the introduction and teaching and methodological support of the subject “Spiritual and Moral Culture of Russia” (SMC) in schools has been approved.

    The All-Russian Conference of Heads of Executive Bodies of the Subjects of the Russian Federation Implementing Public Administration in the Sphere of Education is being held in Crimea from April 24 to 26. The event is a platform for professional dialogue, exchange of experience and formation of strategic decisions in the sphere of education. The business program includes practical seminars and strategic sessions. At the plenary session, the participants defined the vectors of development of education for the coming years.

    In addition, Dmitry Chernyshenko and Sergey Kravtsov launched the Year of Children’s Recreation in the Education System, announced by the Ministry of Education for 2025. This year will be special for the federal children’s centers “Artek”, “Orlyonok” and “Smena”, celebrating their anniversary.

    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 United Kingdom: ‘Plan ahead’ message as city gears up for 2025’s Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon

    Source: City of Leeds

    Thousands of runners are set to take part in the third Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon in partnership with Clarion, which is being held on Sunday, May 11.

    Organised by the not-for-profit sporting events company Jane Tomlinson’s Run For All with support from Leeds City Council, the marathon will raise funds for a whole host of good causes while giving people an opportunity to celebrate the life and achievements of the late rugby league legend Rob Burrow.

    Large crowds are expected to line the 26.2-mile route to cheer on the runners as they make their way through some of the city’s most scenic communities and picturesque areas of countryside.

    As is standard practice for an event on this scale, a wide-ranging programme of temporary road closures and other traffic measures will be in place to help ensure the day goes safely and smoothly.

    E-mails and letters giving details of the restrictions have already been sent directly to people living or working along the route.

    And, with the event just over a fortnight away, the wider Leeds public are now being asked to take the time to familiarise themselves with how the traffic and travel plans could affect any journeys they might be looking to make on the day.

    The marathon will start and end at AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium, with runners following a circular route that initially winds around Woodhouse Moor before striking out for Adel, Lawnswood, Bramhope, Pool in Wharfedale and Otley. The Leeds Half Marathon, which is also on May 11, will use much of the same route. The two events have together attracted more than 12,000 entrants.

    Part of St Michael’s Lane in Headingley will close to vehicles from 4am on the 11th before sections of Cardigan Road and Kirkstall Lane/North Lane follow suit at 6am. Closures of selected roads will kick in between 6am and 8am in other parts of Headingley and Far Headingley.

    Further closures will then come into force from 8.30am in the Adel, Lawnswood and Bramhope areas, and from 9am around Pool in Wharfedale and Otley.

    The marathon will get under way at 9am, with competitors in the half marathon setting off from Headingley at 10am.

    Affected roads along the route will be reopened on a rolling basis through the day as soon as it is safe to do so.

    Further road closure information – including a list of vehicle crossing points and leaflets giving access details for individual areas – can be found here.

    People travelling to Headingley – either to take part or support the runners – are being encouraged to use park and ride services that will be operating from Elland Road and Stourton. Shuttle buses will also be operating between the city centre and Headingley. There will be no dedicated event parking in Headingley itself.

    Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said:

    “The Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon is a wonderful occasion that has to date raised more than £9m for charity while shining a really positive light on our city.

    “We have been working hard alongside our partners at Run For All to ensure that this year’s event is another huge success, with traffic planning forming an important element of those preparations.

    “We’re encouraging everyone to find the time between now and May 11 to see how they might be affected by the temporary road closures that are needed for the safe and smooth delivery of the marathon.

    “We will be doing everything we can to minimise the impact of these measures, and thank residents in advance for their patience and understanding.

    “Having taken part in the first two marathons, I’m looking forward to running again next month and enjoying the fantastic sense of camaraderie and excitement that the event brings.”

    The marathon’s partner charities and good causes are the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association, Leeds Hospitals Charity, 4Ed, Alzheimer’s Society, Candlelighters, Happy Days Children’s Charity, Jane Tomlinson Appeal, Leeds North & West Foodbank, Leeds Rhinos Foundation, Macmillan Cancer Support, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, Stand Against MND and St Gemma’s Hospice.

    After being diagnosed with MND in 2019, Leeds Rhinos great Rob worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the condition and deliver improved care for those affected by it.

    This year’s marathon will be the first since his death and as a result the atmosphere out on the course is expected to be even more emotional than usual.

    The day will feature a new addition for 2025 in the shape of the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon Relay, which will see teams of seven tackling different legs of the full route.

    And, in another first, Run For All have teamed up with Leeds Beckett University to organise the inaugural MND Mile. Taking place at Leeds Beckett’s Headingley campus on Saturday, May 10, the event’s mile-long course has been designed to cater for participants of all ages and abilities.

    Tristan Batley-Kyle, operations director at Run For All, said:

    “Here at Run For All, we’re once again honoured to be organising the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon in partnership with Clarion, which not only showcases the strength and spirit of the running community but also raises crucial awareness and funds in the fight against MND.

    “The addition of the MND Mile and Relay provides a fantastic opportunity for everyone to be part of such an inspirational weekend and we encourage as many as possible to come along and get involved.

    “As with other events of this scale, significant road closures will be in place to ensure the safety of all involved and we’re working in partnership with Leeds City Council, emergency services and multi-agency planning groups to make sure the event is operated safely and securely.

    “We would like to thank all residents in advance for their understanding and we apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused. Please be assured that all closures will be lifted as soon as possible.”

    Note to editors:

    Run For All is a not-for-profit company that forms part of the lasting legacy of the late amateur athlete and fundraiser Jane Tomlinson CBE. Jane, from Leeds, made headlines around the world by taking part in a series of incredible endurance events despite being diagnosed with an incurable cancer.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Trinidad ISD business manager sentenced to federal prison for theft from school district

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    TYLER, Texas – An Orange, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for theft from the Trinidad Independent School District, announced Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.

    Brandon Delane Looney, 39, pleaded guilty to theft from a program receiving federal funds and was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on April 24, 2025.

    According to information presented in court, Looney stole nearly $340,000 from Trinidad ISD between 2017 and 2023 while he served as Trinidad ISD’s business manager. Federal law makes it a crime for someone to steal from an organization receiving more than $10,000 in federal funds annually.  Looney used the stolen funds to purchase personal trips to Walt Disney World and on spending sprees at the Disney Store.  Trinidad ISD is one of the poorest school districts in Texas and suffered adverse financial consequences as a result of Looney’s theft.

    Looney worked with the Financial Litigation Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to liquidate his available assets, including his home, to pay $200,000 of the restitution before sentencing.  The remaining balance of the restitution judgment will be collectible for 20 years after the termination of Looney’s incarceration.

    This case was investigated by FBI’s Tyler Field Office, with assistance from the Tyler Police Department and the Trinidad ISD.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Austin Wells.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s ‘Garden of American Heroes’ is a monument to celebrity and achievement – paid for with humanities funding that benefits everyday Americans

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jennifer Tucker, Professor of History, Wesleyan University

    Donald Trump speaks in front of a wax statue of John Wayne at the John Wayne Museum in Winterset, Iowa, during the 2016 GOP primaries. Al Drago/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images

    Donald Trump first came up with his plan for a “National Garden of American Heroes” at the end of his first term, before President Joe Biden quietly tabled it upon replacing Trump in the White House.

    Now, with Trump back in the Oval Office – and with the country’s 250th anniversary fast approaching – the project is back. The National Endowment for the Humanities is seeking to commission 250 statues of famous Americans from a predetermined list, to be displayed at a location yet to be determined.

    It isn’t clear who compiled the list of 250 to be honored. It includes names that are largely recognizable and whose accomplishments are well-known: politicians like Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy; jurists Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia; activists such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Harriet Tubman; celebrities such as John Wayne and Julia Child; and sports stars like Kobe Bryant and Babe Ruth.

    Donald Trump announces some famous Black Americans he plans to include in his ‘National Garden of American Heroes’ during a Black History Month event on Feb. 20, 2025, at the White House.

    The statue garden coincides with an executive order from March 2025 in which the Trump administration denounced what it saw as historical revisionism that had recast the country’s “unparalleled legacy of advancing liberty, individual rights, and human happiness.” Instead, it had constructed a story of the nation that portrayed it “as inherently racist, sexist, oppressive, or otherwise irredeemably flawed,” which “fosters a sense of national shame.”

    “We don’t need to overemphasize the negative,” explained Lindsey Halligan, a 35-year-old insurance lawyer who is named in the order as one of the people tasked with reforming museums that receive government funds.

    Trump often casts himself as a man of the people. But as historians, we don’t see a garden of heroes as a populist effort. To us, it represents a top-down approach to U.S. history, akin to the hagiography that Americans already regularly get from movies, television and professional sports.

    And it comes at a cost: It’s going to be paid for with funds that had been previously allotted to tell stories about people and places that may be less familiar than the proposed figures for Trump’s garden. But they’re nonetheless meaningful to countless communities across the nation.

    Only the movers and shakers matter

    Trump’s fixation on America’s luminaries is adjacent to the “great man” theory of history.

    In 1840, Scottish philosopher and historian Thomas Carlyle published “On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History,” in which he argued that “The History of the world is but the Biography of great men.”

    American biologist and eugenicist Frederick Adams Woods embraced the great man theory in his 1913 work, “The Influence of Monarchs: Steps in a New Science of History.” In it, he investigated 386 rulers in Western Europe from the 12th century until the French Revolution. He proposed a scientific measurement to quantify the relative impact these rulers had on the course of civilization.

    Then and now, many other historians and sociologists have pushed back, arguing that the “Great Man” view of history oversimplifies the past by attributing major historical events to the actions of a few influential individuals, while ignoring broader social, economic and cultural forces.

    Nonetheless, it continues to have broad appeal. It’s very popular among corporate leaders, for example, many of whom like to portray themselves as visionaries, with their business successes proof of their genius.

    Trump’s garden of heroes reflects his penchant for celebrating wealth, champions and successes, akin to what Walt Disney tried to capture with his Disney World ride Carousel of Progress, which highlights American technological advances.

    A national redundancy?

    However, the U.S. already has a national statuary hall, which opened in the U.S. Capitol in 1870. Each state has contributed two statues; for example, Massachusetts honors Samuel Adams and John Winthrop, while Ohio celebrates James Garfield and Thomas Edison.

    Today there are 102 statutes, though just 14 women.

    Importantly, the roster is fluid – not set in stone – and reflects debates over whom the nation ought to celebrate.

    Over time, the representation has become slightly more inclusive. The first woman, Illinois educator Frances Willard, was added in 1905. Only in 2022 did a Black American appear, when educator Mary Bethune replaced a Confederate general from Florida. And in 2024, Johnny Cash replaced James Paul Clarke, a former governor and senator from Arkansas with Confederate sympathies.

    Family members and elected officials attend the unveiling of the statue of Johnny Cash at the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 24, 2024.
    Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

    What about everyday Americans?

    We don’t think there’s anything wrong with celebrating and honoring popular figures in American history. But we do think there’s an issue when it comes at the expense of other historical and archival projects.

    The New York Times reported that US$34 million for the project would come from funds formerly allocated to the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities, whose budget has been cut by 85%.

    Many of the grants that have been slashed explore, celebrate and preserve history in ways that stand in stark contrast to a statue garden. They involve, as Gal Beckerman writes in the Atlantic, efforts that “are about asking questions, about uncovering hidden or overlooked experiences, about closely examining texts or adding to the public record.”

    They include one that supports the digitization of local newspapers and archival records; another to collect and preserve oral histories of local communities; a grant that funds the production of documentaries and podcasts about local communities; traveling exhibitions that bring items from the Smithsonian’s collection to small towns and rural areas; and a grant to fund the collection of first-person accounts of Native Americans who attended U.S. government-run boarding schools.

    These and countless similar history projects serve millions of people far from Washington, and they have broad support from lawmakers and citizens of all political stripes.

    In 1938, as forces of fascism gathered in Europe, a Connecticut high school social science teacher said, “The greatest need of America, on the threshold of the greatest epoch of its history, is citizens who understand the past out of which the nation has grown. … Let us look into the souls of the leaders and the common people who have made America great.”

    In his 2016 campaign, Trump promised to work on behalf of everyday Americans – the “forgotten man and woman.” But the proposed statue garden of famous figures cuts out the common people from America’s story – not just as subjects of history, but as its stewards for future generations.

    With funds slashed from organizations dedicated to local history, we wonder how many more stories will go untold.

    Jennifer Tucker has received funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities for research that examines the social and cultural role of modern technology, such as facial recognition, through a historical lens.

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

    – ref. Trump’s ‘Garden of American Heroes’ is a monument to celebrity and achievement – paid for with humanities funding that benefits everyday Americans – https://theconversation.com/trumps-garden-of-american-heroes-is-a-monument-to-celebrity-and-achievement-paid-for-with-humanities-funding-that-benefits-everyday-americans-254564

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Iowa Man Arrested on Federal Stalking Charge

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    DES MOINES, Iowa – A Nevada, Iowa man made his initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa today.

    According to allegations in the criminal complaint, between January and April 2025, Tanner Dean Bandy, 28, engaged in a pattern of threatening conduct against a former romantic partner through text messages and voicemails. Two days prior to his arrest, on April 17, 2025, Bandy left a voicemail message discussing his intention to conduct a mass shooting at an Iowa State University commencement ceremony. On April 17, 2025, law enforcement searched Bandy’s residence and vehicle and located two firearms and ammunition. Bandy will remain detained in federal custody pending further proceedings.

    United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigations, Iowa State University Police Department, and Story County Sheriff’s Office are investigating this case.

    A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Explore insights from the AI in Education Report

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Explore insights from the AI in Education Report

    The swift rise of generative AI is reshaping how schools approach creation, problem-solving, learning, and communication. Your schools are in a pivotal moment when critical thinking and metacognitive skills are more important than ever as new technology develops

    The swift rise of generative AI is reshaping how schools approach creation, problem-solving, learning, and communication. Your schools are in a pivotal moment when critical thinking and metacognitive skills are more important than ever as new technology develops.

    As we continue to learn, Microsoft believes it is important to share our early findings from our AI in Education Report. In this report, we highlight insights from our research, as well as research from partner organizations.

    Key takeaways from the AI in Education Report include:

    • Start AI conversations today. There is an urgent need to communicate clearly and openly about AI, increase AI literacy, and create usage guidelines at educational organizations.
    • Learn how AI can help. There is a clear opportunity for AI to help educators and administrators lighten workloads, boost productivity, and improve efficiency.
    • Explore new ways to learn with AI. Early studies demonstrate the potential of AI to improve educational experiences and learning outcomes.
    • Prepare for the workplace of the future. Students need to build people skills and technical capacity to prepare for a world transformed by AI.

    Explore the AI in Education Report for resources and recommendations that help represent the opportunities that come with this unique moment.

    Start AI conversations today

    When you’re getting started with using AI tools, it’s common to begin with figuring out ways to make everyday tasks easier. In education, AI also brings opportunities to provide actionable insights, improve learning outcomes, and make more time for human connection and collaboration. But there are also challenges to navigate and overcome to realize that potential. To better understand the needs and opportunities around AI in education, Microsoft surveyed educators, academic and IT leaders, and students from K-12 schools and higher education institutions about their perceptions, familiarity, uses, and concerns around AI tools.

    Sample findings from the survey include:

    • 47% of education leaders use AI every day
    • 68% of all educators have used AI at least once or twice
    • 62% of all students have used AI at least once or twice

    Survey results from the AI in Education Report show a comparison of the familiarity and usage of AI between leaders, all educators, and students in school settings. It highlights the significant difference in daily use of AI among these groups.

    Despite generally low familiarity with AI, especially among students, it’s noteworthy that respondents from each group are using AI. This widespread adoption underscores the need for clear guidance and practical frameworks to help navigate the complexities of AI in education. Concerns about cheating are prevalent across all groups, including students, further highlighting the importance of establishing transparent and consistent guidance.

    Take these next steps to start AI conversations at your school or institution:

    1. Request that your school or district leaders create clear guidelines and policies and provide professional learning opportunities. Consider sharing the TeachAI Toolkit as a resource.
    2. Help students learn how to use AI responsibly without compromising their academic integrity by setting clear expectations.

    AI can enable personalized learning, free up time for educators to focus on what matters most, and help address issues of equity and accessibility. It can also improve operational efficiency, bringing much-needed support to overburdened administrators and IT teams. There is a clear opportunity for AI to help educators and administrators lighten workloads, boost productivity, and improve efficiency.

    Among respondents who report using AI, some of the most common tasks they use it for include:

    • Leaders use AI tools mostly to improve efficiency of operational and administrative processes, improve access to resources, support communication with students, and identify opportunities for student improvement.
    • Educators use AI tools mainly to create or update lesson plans, brainstorm new ideas, simplify complex topics, free up their time, and differentiate instruction to address students’ needs.
    • Students use AI tools mostly to summarize information, help them brainstorm, get answers or information quickly, get initial feedback, and improve their writing skills.

    Survey results from the AI in Education Report show the widespread use and potential of AI in enhancing learning experiences and outcomes for different roles.

    Learn how AI can help your school

    Each month, the heaviest Microsoft 365 Education users receive hundreds of emails and chat messages to get things done. AI can enable greater productivity in tasks like lesson planning and curriculum development, which make up 45% of teachers’ responsibilities. That frees up time for educators to do the things only humans can do—like connect with students.

    Educational institutions are moving fast when it comes to AI, and they’re seeing significant returns on their investment. However, an IDC study on the opportunity of AI in education found that education leaders feel less prepared for AI-driven change than their peers in other industries.

    Education organizations can take these steps to increase preparedness and develop a strategy:

    • Establish a guiding committee that defines and steers AI strategy, responsible use policies, governance models, and priorities.
    • Prepare for change by building a centralized, cross-functional AI team that can connect AI initiatives to the organization’s existing priorities and create training opportunities.
    • Prioritize high-value, low-complexity AI use cases. Start small, collect, and respond to feedback, and plan for scalable and impactful solutions.

    To hear more IDC insights from a Microsoft sponsored study, explore the following resources:

    Explore new ways to learn with AI

    Students and educators alike have already made a discovery about the benefits of using generative AI in the classroom, particularly when used as a personalized academic coach that encourages learning and engagement rather than simply giving responses.

    Explore these key takeaways from early studies about the potential impact of generative AI on learning:

    • In December 2023, Microsoft Research and Harsh Kumar of the University of Toronto discovered that AI-generated explanations enhanced learning compared to solely viewing correct answers. The advantages were most significant for students who first attempted problems independently before receiving assistance.
    • A 2023 study by Harvard University and Yale University professors found that AI chatbots can give students in large classes an experience that approximates an ideal one-to-one relationship between educator and student.

    One student shared that it “felt like having a personal tutor…I love how AI bots will answer questions without ego and without judgment, generally entertaining even the stupidest of questions without treating them like they’re stupid.”

    Take these next steps to explore how AI can support student learning:

    • Model and encourage a growth mindset that includes learning, iteration, and curiosity.
    • Learn from others and explore educational AI resources.
    • Be intentional in your design of new AI experiences. What is your goal and how might AI help you achieve it?

    Prepare for the workplace of the future

    Workplaces, like classrooms, have been altered by the rise of generative AI tools. As a result, the skills that students need to learn have changed, too.

    Important findings about the evolution of workplace skills include that 82% of leaders surveyed for Microsoft’s 2023 Work Trend Index say employees will need new skills to be prepared for the growth of AI. And learning to work alongside AI won’t just be about building technical capacity. It will be necessary to prioritize people skills, and new analytical, emotional, and critical thinking skills. According to the 2023 LinkedIn Future of Work Report, 92% of U.S. executives agree that people skills are more important than ever.

    Survey results from Microsoft’s 2023 Work Trend Index show that skills like analytical judgment, flexibility, emotional intelligence, creative evaluation, intellectual curiosity, bias detection and handling, and AI delegation will be essential.

    Take these steps to help prepare your students for future-ready skills:

    • Teach students metacognitive and human-centered skills including the ability to analyze, understand, and control their own thought processes. You can start by asking students why they agree or disagree with AI-generated content.
    • Model using AI tools to spark discussion and explore alternative views instead of only providing answers.

    The rapid ascent of generative AI is revolutionizing how schools foster creativity, approach challenges, and enhance learning. Discover insights, resources, and recommendations in our AI in Education Report to seize the potential of this transformative era.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: University of Dundee Taskforce holds first meeting

    Source: Scottish Government

    Commitment to ensure vital institution thrives.

    An external advisory group established to advise on the future success of  the University of Dundee held its first meeting in the city.

    The group, which is chaired by Sir Alan Langlands, agreed on the urgency of action required to advise and support the university to address its current financial difficulties during the meeting yesterday.

    Representatives from the University, Dundee City Council, business, trades unions, student union, enterprise and skills bodies and the Scottish Government were among those who took part. 

    Sir Alan Langlands, chair of the Advisory group, said:

    “All members were clear that the University of Dundee is a leading research intensive institution, providing highly rated education, and playing a crucial role in the economic, cultural and social life of the City, region, and the country as a whole. There was a collective commitment to support the University in ensuring its short, medium and long term sustainability. 

    “Our discussion focussed on the context in which it is operating, and the urgent need to tackle its financial difficulties, build on its strengths, and set out a clear plan for the medium and long term future. 

    “The group respects the autonomy of the University, the decision making responsibilities of the University Court, and the role of the Scottish Funding Council in navigating the future. We hope that the support and advice we provide will be considered by the decision makers in a timely manner.” 

    Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: 

    “I am determined that the University of Dundee – with a vibrant community of staff and students at its heart – will thrive long into the future and the work of this Taskforce will help contribute to that.

    “The Scottish Funding Council has already provided £22 million to University of Dundee as support for liquidity, which is giving them the space and time to work through a plan for financial stability. Ministers have been clear we will carefully consider any further asks made to the Government. 

    “Students should accept their offers from the University and can be confident in its future.”

    Professor Shane O’Neill, Interim Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dundee, said:  

    “We welcome the support of Sir Alan and all parties involved with the Advisory Taskforce, which reflects the importance of the University to Dundee, the Tay Cities region and beyond, and the collective will to establish a more sustainable and successful future for the University.

    “We will work with the Taskforce, the Scottish Government, the Scottish Funding Council and others to ensure we achieve that goal.”

    Background

    Attendees at the meeting  included:

    • trade union representatives , including national and local representation
    • the leader of Dundee City Council  
    •  principals of Abertay and St Andrews Universities and Dundee & Angus College  
    • the Convenor of Universities Scotland 
    • the Dundee University Student Association President  
    • local representatives of Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland and Developing the Young Workforce 
    • the Chair of NHS Education for Scotland 
    • for business interests, Tim Allan, Chair of V&A Dundee

    In addition to the advisory Taskforce, the Deputy First Minister is chairing a cross-Ministerial group to consider what further action the Scottish Government may be able to take to support the University as it continues to develop its Financial Recovery Plan.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Guthrie Presents Kentucky Students with Awards for Congressional App Challenge and Congressional Art Competition

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brett Guthrie (2nd District Kentucky)

    This week, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) hosted two events to celebrate and honor the winners of both the 2024 Congressional App Challenge and the 2025 Congressional Art Competition. Both events were held on the campus of Barren County High School. 

    “I am so proud to see the hard work that our local students put into their submissions for both the Congressional App Challenge and Congressional Art Competitions,” said Congressman Guthrie“It was an honor to host these extraordinarily talented students, their families, teachers, and friends this week to celebrate their incredible accomplishments. I know that all of these students have bright futures ahead, and I look forward to seeing their continued success in whatever their futures hold. Keep up the great work!” 

    2024 Congressional App Challenge Awards Ceremony

    The Congressional App Challenge allows middle and high school students to compete with peers in their own Congressional District by creating and exhibiting their software applications, or “apps,” for mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their choice. 

    It was established by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2015 and is a nationwide competition intended to engage students’ creativity and encourage their participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields. Eligibility is limited to students currently enrolled in middle or high school and either reside or attend school in the district.

    OVERALL FIRST PLACE: Allergy Aware by Emmaline Phelps, Brooke Gibson and Cole Young from Barren County High School. Their app helps connect individuals with food allergies, as well as their friends and family members, with resources to identify and even treat common allergic reactions. This includes making users aware of risk factors and instructions to administer epinephrine and even contains alternative recipes to avoid the selected allergen.

    All three students from the winning student group recently had the opportunity to travel to the U.S. Capitol to participate in the Congressional App Challenge 2024 House of Code Showcase, where winning submissions from across the country were highlighted.

    OVERALL FOURTH PLACE: Serving Society by Danica Stephens from Glasgow High School. Their app creates a platform to connect individuals looking for service opportunities with churches, volunteer organizations, and community groups to solve the needs of their broader community. 

    Congressman Guthrie recently presented other winning students with their awards at a March event at Hebron Middle School. Information about the winners honored at that event can be found here. 

    Photos from the Congressional App Challenge Awards Ceremony can be found here.

    2025 Congressional Art Competition Reception and Awards Ceremony

    The Congressional Art Competition allows high school students in Kentucky’s Second Congressional District to compete for the chance to have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. This week’s reception gave artists from across the district to showcase their artwork for their peers, family members and judges. 

    The competition is judged by art professionals and professors from colleges and universities in the district. The “Overall First Place” winning artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. The second and third place submissions, in addition to the “Facebook Favorite” will be displayed in Congressman Guthrie’s various Congressional offices.

    All submitted artwork for the 2025 Congressional Art Competition can be found here.

    Pictures from this week’s reception can be found here.

    OVERALL FIRST PLACE: Liliana Garcia – “Dry Road”

     
    OVERALL SECOND PLACE: Ava Alford – “Sea to Shining Sea”

     
    OVERALL THIRD PLACE: Heloisa Almeida – “Onca Pintada”

    Almeida –
     
    FACEBOOK FAVORITE: Heloisa Almeida – “Run for the Roses”

     
    OVERALL HONORABLE MENTIONS:
    1.    Heloisa Almeida – “Run for the Roses”
    2.    Braden Bratcher – “Alone”
    3.    Serenyty Johnson – “Artist Inspiration Project”

    COUNTY WINNERS:

    Bullitt County: 
    1.    Hannah Sharrill – “Born in Ancient Giza”
    2.    Tatum Barrow – “Reach for the Stars”

    Butler County:
    1.    Heloisa Almeida – “Onca Pintada”
    2.    Heloisa Almeida – “Run for the Roses”
    3.    Braden Bratcher – “Alone”

    Hardin County: 
    1.    Liliana Garcia – “Dry Road”
    2.    Greta Warren – “Emerald Tree Boa”
    3.    Emily Armstrong – “World Wide Pollution”

    Hart County:
    1.    Braydon Thompson – “Aged to Perfection”
    2.    Braydon Thompson – “Modern Dragon”
    3.    Katie Matthews – “The Liderung”

    Nelson County:
    1.    Ava Alford – “Sea to Shining Sea”
    2.    Ava Alford – “Dreaming of Travel”
    3.    Zoey Kirchner – “The Warmth of Your Grasp”

    Warren County:
    1.    Liam McDonald – “Chevelle”
    2.    Bella Dillinger – “AI: Alternate Identity”
    3.    Shantel Isomura – “Our Lady’s Welcome”
     
    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: NPS Helps Joint Chiefs Develop Integrated Military, Economic Deterrence Options to Chinese Aggression

    Source: United States Navy

    When former Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Force Development (J7) director U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Stuart Munsch needed a cross-disciplinary team of regional and defense experts to examine in detail a full suite of integrated deterrence options for the Indo-Pacific theatre, he called upon the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) for support.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayor of Derry and Strabane and Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council receive Honorary Degrees fro

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Mayor of Derry and Strabane and Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council receive Honorary Degrees fro

    25 April 2025

    The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr and the Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Niamh Kennedy were in the United States this week where they were awarded Honorary Doctoral degrees from the Worcester State University.
    The honorary degrees are in recognition of their outstanding contributions to civic leadership, community engagement, and cross-border collaboration as part of  The North West Tertiary Education Cluster (NWTEC) a strategic alliance comprising the four publicly funded tertiary education providers in the North West City Region – the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) , Ulster University (UU) , North West Regional College (NWRC)  and Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB).

    The North West Tertiary Education Cluster was established to foster greater coherence and collaboration in the education and skills provision across the region and enhance the educational landscape and contribute to the economic and social development of the North West City Region. The cluster has the support and collaboration of the two Councils of Derry City and Strabane District Council and Donegal County Council who are leading partners in the North West Strategic Growth Partnership that brings together the two local authorities alongside further and higher education providers, and representatives from the NI Executive Office and the Irish Government to foster regional growth.

    Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Lilian Barr said it was a huge honour and privilege to be recognised by the university. She said: “The conferral of the honorary degrees underscores the strong and growing connections between Worcester State University and the regions of Derry and Strabane and County Donegal. It also highlights the importance of international cooperation and the positive impact of dedicated civic leadership. I am proud that my commitment to fostering growth, promoting community cohesion and championing social justice, equality and human rights has been instrumental in building bridges across communities. Worcester State University is a vibrant, student-centred public university committed to academic excellence, community engagement, and preparing students for success in a diverse and global society and it is a fantastic honour for me to receive an honorary degree from this education centre of excellence.”

    Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr. Niamh Kennedy said “I am deeply honoured to receive this prestigious recognition from Worcester State University. The honorary degree reflects not only my own personal commitment but also the collective efforts of our region in building stronger, more cohesive cross-border partnerships. This honour highlights the ongoing importance of collaboration between the North West Tertiary Education Cluster and the wider community. Together, we are fostering a more inclusive and prosperous future for our region. Worcester State University’s dedication to academic excellence and community engagement aligns closely with our values, and it’s a privilege to be acknowledged by such an esteemed institution.”

    President of Worchester State University, Barry M. Maloneys said: “We are deeply honoured to recognise Mayor Barr and Cathaoirleach Kennedy with honorary degrees – Doctorates of Humane Letters, honoris causa, – and formally acknowledge their dedication to public service and their commitment to fostering positive relationships across borders align perfectly with the values of Worcester State University. Their work serves as an inspiration to our students and the wider community. Our university has a very longstanding and positive working relationship with ATU, Ulster University and the wider education cluster and the honorary degrees awarded today further cement our commitment to fostering that connection.”

    The special ceremony took at Worcester State University and was led by the University President Barry M. Maloney. Members of the university community, local dignitaries, and invited guests were in attendance at the event which was part of the college’s annual academic achievement celebrations. 

    During their visit to Boston, the two Mayors also attended a reception hosted by the University where they had the opportunity to engage with students.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New wave of jazz talent to star at City of Derry Jazz Festival

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    New wave of jazz talent to star at City of Derry Jazz Festival

    25 April 2025

    The City of Derry Jazz Festival is just weeks away and Dery is looking forward to a bumper Bank Holiday weekend of music featuring some of the biggest names on the jazz circuit, from May 01 – 05.

    Now turning 24, the festival has established itself as one of the very best platforms for up and coming talent, welcoming new artists to the line up each year who relish the opportunity to play alongside some of the greats.

    Among the new wave of talent this year is award winning Sligo pianist Nils Kavanagh, already a sensation on the circuit, after scooping the title of Young Irish Jazz Musician of the Year in 2022.

    Nils will play alongside acclaimed local Jazz legend and academic, Dr Paul McIntyre, in the EY Jazz Lounge in one of the city’s most iconic music venues, St Columb’s Hall. The late night shows offer the chance to kick back and enjoy some of the very best music in an intimate and atmospheric setting, perfect for soaking up some authentic jazz.

    It’s festivals like this that give younger performers the opportunity to learn from more seasoned artists as Paul explains. “The Derry Jazz Festival provides wonderful opportunities for young jazz performers to cut their teeth! On Saturday 3rd May, Nils will be performing with the Quartet in the EY Jazz Lounge, which I’m really looking forward to. Welcoming junior players keeps jazz vibrant and fresh.

    “While teaching in Universities and Music Schools I’ve found and encouraged many young players as I can over the years. The legacy of supporting young jazz players goes back to my father Gay McIntyre, who always encouraged and showcased up and coming jazz players including Darren Beckett and Joseph Leighton.”

    Nils first became interested in jazz at the age of 16 through the Sligo Jazz Project Festival, and with a bit of gentle persuasion from his parents. After some initial reluctance, he joined the SJP summer school, and has never looked back, as it opened up a whole new world of music. “It’s safe to say it’s changed my life,” Nils admits. “I had never heard music being played like that before, with such joy and excitement. From then on, I was completely hooked.”

    As Nils continued his academic studies he realised that his love for music would lead naturally into a career. So he took a year out from education, practiced hard, and eventually was accepted to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Winning the Young Irish Jazz Musician of the Year award in 2022, and reaching the finals of the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2024, has led to even further opportunities to perform and bring his own material to audiences.

    As well as studying and teaching music, Nils also leads an energetic and innovative trio of Ireland’s top jazz performers. “It’s honestly been transformative for my career. It gave me the clout and confidence I needed to book an Irish tour in 2023, playing six dates across the country with my trio. The award also included a bursary, which I used to cover some of the costs of recording my debut album, which is releasing on May 14th, with some dates in Ireland set to happen later in the year, including playing in Bennigan’s Bar, Derry, on the 1st of November 2025.”

    Since it first launched 24 years ago the City of Derry Jazz Festival has always had a strong focus on inspiring and showcasing new talent, with opportunities to perform through the Live Music Now programme in local secondary schools, and the recent addition of the Gay McIntyre stage where younger performers can shine. And opportunities like this really do make a difference according to Nils.

    “Events like the City of Derry Jazz Festival are so important for introducing younger people to Jazz music. If I hadn’t gone to a similar festival in my own home town, I would have gone down a whole other career path. As someone who was directly affected by a Jazz Festival, I can with confidence say that events such as these are pivotal for the development of the Jazz scene. 

    “If I would give one piece of advice to young musicians, it would be this – don’t be afraid to ask. This industry and scene is all about putting yourself out there. Ask that older musician if they would like to play with you. Ask that venue for a gig. Ask the person you admire for a lesson, or some constructive criticism. You would be amazed how much you can get just by asking, and the worst that can happen is that someone says, “No”! In that case, you move on, and then in a couple years time, you might be ready.”

    You can catch Nils Kavanagh as he plays with the Paul McIntyre Quartet on Saturday May 03 in the EY Jazz Lounge at 11pm, featuring Curtis Efoua (Paris) on drums and Brian Questa (ÚSA) on Double bass, Phil Robson (UK) on Guitar on Sunday and the guest vocalist on both nights is the acclaimed Winnie Ama!

    The City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival is organised and funded by Derry City and Strabane District Council with support from Diageo and EY. 

    Tickets for the EY Jazz Lounge events, taking place on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th May at 11pm, are priced £10 and will be available to buy online at www.cityofderryjazzfestival.com/tickets.

    For regular updates follow the City of Derry Jazz Festival on Facebook Instagram and X @derryjazzfest.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Bennigans Bar announces world-class lineup for City of Derry Jazz Festival

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Bennigans Bar announces world-class lineup for City of Derry Jazz Festival

    25 April 2025

    Bennigans Bar, one of Derry’s most iconic music venues, has unveiled what promises to be its strongest programme to date for the upcoming City of Derry Jazz Festival. Taking place from 30th April to 5th May 2025, this year’s lineup features an exceptional blend of international talent, cherished local performers, and rising stars from across the jazz spectrum and beyond.

    Renowned as one of the festival’s most popular Jazz Hubs, alongside The Playhouse and The Guildhall, Bennigans has established itself as an essential destination for discerning jazz enthusiasts. The venue’s intimate atmosphere and commitment to musical excellence have made it a magnet for both performers and audiences seeking authentic jazz experiences during the annual celebration.

    Getting the festival off to a spectacular start on Wednesday, 30th April at 8pm will be the Garage Boys, who are returning to Derry from their home in Las Vegas. Festival-goers can expect a high-energy performance and eclectic sound from these returning favourites. This opening gig is free to the public.

    Each day will begin with a one-set performance followed by a jam session, creating opportunities for spontaneous collaboration among visiting musicians. Thursday, 1st May begins with the John Leighton Trio & Jam Session at 5pm, led by Bennigans’ owner and renowned pianist, offering a free platform for musicians and audiences to connect through improvisational jazz. Later that evening at 10pm, The Rubber Plants take the stage with their dynamic Led Zeppelin tribute performance for a ticket price of £15.

    The musical journey continues on Friday, 2nd May, starting at 4pm with the Joseph Leighton Trio & Jam Session. This free event showcases the talent of one of Ireland’s most promising six-stringers. At 8pm, the Murray Brothers Quartet take to the stage with their unique blend of swing and bebop. Brothers Conor and Michael Murray are no strangers to Bennigans, having played at the venue many times in their formative years. Now living in London and Amsterdam respectively, they return with new inspiration and a passion for the artform and will be joined by John Leighton on piano and Andrew McCoubrey on drums, tickets are priced at £15. The day concludes at 11pm with Dublin’s instrumental funk four-piece Chief Keegan, bringing their deep grooves and danceable jams to the bar for £15.

    Saturday, 3rd May offers another free John Leighton Trio & Jam Session at 4pm, followed by one of the festival’s most anticipated highlights at 8pm – the Kevin Brady Trio featuring Bill Carrothers. One of the most interesting and unique jazz trios to have emerged in the last ten years, this international collaboration between Irish jazz musician Kevin Brady, US pianist/composer Bill Carrothers, and bassist Dave Redmond has been critically acclaimed for its dynamism and musicality. Brady formed the trio in 2006 with the clear aim of creating and producing new contemporary jazz, and the impact was immediate. Since then, Brady, Carrothers & Redmond have toured regularly and consolidated their worldwide reputation as a compelling live act, winning the appreciation of discerning jazz audiences across the USA, Europe, UK, China and the Azores. Tickets for this exceptional performance are available now for £15.

    Saturday culminates at 11pm with the Jack McHale Trio, an electric guitar-driven ensemble with keys and drums. They play Blues, Funk ‘n’ Soul and are known to rock out on some seriously heavy riffs. Attendees can expect to hear tracks from the likes of James Brown, The Allman Brothers, Howlin’ Wolf, and Sly and the Family Stone, delivered with high energy and a good party vibe. Tickets are also £15.

    Sunday, 4th May begins with the free Lucian McCauley Trio & Jam Session at 4pm. The Lucian McCauley trio consists of Lucian McCauley on piano, James Leaver-Whitfield on bass, and Theo Hayhurst on drums. Lucian McCauley is a young local jazz pianist studying Jazz Piano at the Guildhall School of Music in London and one of the city’s emerging talents. As a trio, they are influenced by the great piano trios of Brad Mehldau, Bill Evans, and McCoy Tyner. Their sound relies heavily on interplay and improvisation. In terms of repertoire, the trio enjoy breathing new life into enduring jazz standards by the likes of Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington, as well as showcasing exciting new compositions by the band.

    The evening features the hard-swinging Shuffle Boil Quartet at 8pm for £15. The ensemble gathers four of Ireland’s most well-known and experienced jazz musicians to explore the repertoire of Thelonious Monk, one of the 20th Century’s most unique composers.

    This is followed by acclaimed jazz vocalist Sara Oschlag at 11pm for £15. Sara’s honest stage presence, clear, unaffectedly expressive voice, and effortless sense of swing have made her a firm favourite with jazz audiences across the UK. An effortlessly hip, intelligent interpreter of songs in the jazz tradition, her vocal influences include both singers and instrumentalists, showcasing her understanding and love for the history and language of jazz.

    The festival concludes at Bennigans on Monday, 5th May at 4pm with The Men Who Knew Too Much, festival regulars who are celebrated for their vibrant, eclectic repertoire, with tickets available for £5 on the door. This is the perfect wind-down to the weekend. Come and listen to the relaxing sounds of Percy Robinson on dobro guitar and vocals, Egon Callery on guitar and vocals, and Sean McCarron on saxophones and percussion.

    John Leighton, owner of Bennigans Bar, is enthusiastic about this year’s lineup: “We’ve curated what I believe is our strongest programme yet, showcasing the incredible diversity within jazz and its related genres. The mix of established performers, emerging talents, and our signature jam sessions creates the perfect environment for musical discovery and celebration. I’m particularly excited to welcome American jazz pianist Bill Carrothers, who’ll be performing with the Kevin Brady Trio in what promises to be one of the festival’s standout moments.”

    Aisling McCallion, Jazz Festival Coordinator with Derry City and Strabane District Council, praised Bennigans contribution to the festival: “We’re delighted to have Bennigans Bar as one of our Jazz Hubs during the City of Derry Jazz Festival. The combination of international talent alongside our homegrown musicians reflects the festival’s ethos of celebrating jazz in all its forms while nurturing local artistic development. The jam sessions in particular have become legendary for creating those magical, spontaneous moments that festival attendees remember for years to come.”

    Tickets for all paid events are available now through the City of Derry Jazz Festival website or directly from Bennigans Bar. Early booking is advised as these intimate performances typically sell out quickly.

    The City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival is organised and funded by Derry City and Strabane District Council with support from Diageo and EY. 

    For more information go to cityofderryjazzfestival.com and for regular updates follow the City of Derry Jazz festival on Facebook Instagram and X @derryjazzfest.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: $15M Awarded in Grants for Resilient Reforestation

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today celebrated Arbor Day 2025 by announcing $15 million in grant awards through New York State’s new Community Reforestation (CoRe) program. Sixteen of the funded projects will establish and expand resilient forests in and near New York’s urban communities, contributing to the 2024 State of the State “25 Million Trees Initiative” launched by Governor Hochul to recognize the importance of trees and forests for climate resiliency and community health.

    “Resilient urban forests support community health, well-being and sustainability,” Governor Hochul said. “I’m celebrating Arbor Day 2025 by awarding $15 million in new grants to support projects across the State that will bring the countless ecological and economic benefits of trees to urban areas.”

    Trees in urban areas help reduce high temperatures created by the urban heat island effect. CoRe-funded projects are predominantly located in communities with high heat vulnerability. Studies show that forested natural areas can be as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than under the shade of a street tree just a few hundred feet away. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) administers the new CoRe grant program, which supports the State’s efforts to plant 25 million trees by 2033.

    New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “The CoRe grant-funded projects announced today will help make New York’s communities cooler — expanding forest canopies, improving forest health, and moderating temperatures, all while engaging New Yorkers at the local, regional, and watershed levels. In addition to significant climate benefits, trees enhance biodiversity and improve overall community health and well-being for residents statewide.”

    All CoRe-funded projects will record tree planting input into DEC’s Tree Tracker, the GIS tool available for the public to upload every tree planted in New York State. Every New Yorker that uploads a tree planting to the Tree Tracker in the months of April and May 2025 will be automatically entered in a 25 Million Trees sweepstakes for a chance to win a year-long subscription to The Conservationist magazine and 25 Million Trees swag.

    DEC is awarding more than $7.4 million to municipalities, particularly to restore woodlands in public parks. Invasive species removal and expansion of native forests in these open spaces intends to enhance the ecosystem services provided to local residents, particularly enhanced canopy that provides shade and recreational opportunities.

    A total of $5.3 million is awarded to not-for-profit organizations for a variety of volunteer-driven projects focused on promoting forest health at the ecosystem-level, from riparian zone enhancement along the Upper Susquehanna watershed to protecting Bronx River ecological health.

    Four projects totaling approximately $1.7 million will be awarded to the State University of New York (SUNY) for reforestation projects on college campuses. Projects will serve as “living labs” for students to research best practices in tree planting, sustainable forest management and ecological monitoring.

    Many projects feature youth engagement and workforce development opportunities in their reforestation efforts. The Natural Areas Conservancy, awarded approximately $3 million for their restoration of parks across the five boroughs, plans to include field technicians as part of the City University of New York (CUNY) fellowship program. The city of Syracuse awarded $2 million to restore forests across the city and establish a resilient “food forest,” will enlist the help of Onondaga Earth Corps crews for plantings using youth volunteers.

    Funding for this round of the CoRe grant program was allocated by the Governor in the FY25 Enacted Budget. In addition to the $15 million allocation for the CoRe grant program, the Governor’s initial commitment to the 25 Million Trees Initiative came with $32 million to modernize the Saratoga Tree Nursery and enhance DEC’s technological capabilities for tracking tree planting and forest management across the state. The initiative is working to invigorate the State’s tree planting efforts by scaling up public-sector tree planting efforts, invigorating the private sector, harnessing technology and engaging the next generation of environmental stewards.

    Community Reforestation (CoRe) Grant Awards

    NEW YORK CITY

    Bronx County

    Bronx River Alliance – $500,000 for Bronx River Forest Restoration

    The Bronx River Alliance will restore riparian forests historically dominated by ash trees along the watershed by planting nearly 2,000 hardwood trees with the help of more than 300 volunteers.

    The New York Botanical Garden – $429,285 for Bronx River Riparian Forest Restoration

    As part of their Bronx River Riparian Forest Restoration Project, the NYBG and partners will enhance six degraded sites across the watershed — two sites on NYBG forestlands, three Westchester County Parks sites and a reservoir site in North Castle.

    New York County

    City of New York – $2,995,707 for NYC Parks Reforestation

    The city will restore canopy gaps in seven parks in four boroughs by planting more than 10,000 trees.

    Natural Areas Conservancy (NAC) Inc. – $2,958,846 for Restoration at Forest Park, Highbridge Park and Prospect Park

    NAC and partners will restore 37 acres of invasive species-dominated, degraded and not-regenerating forests across three parks in New York City.

    MID-HUDSON VALLEY

    Putnam County

    Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County – $300,000 for Tilly Foster Farm Forest Restoration

    Veteran citizen scientists will install a one-acre Miyawaki miniforest at Tilly Foster Farm.

    Ulster County

    City of Kingston – $1,608,947 for Restoration of Kingston Parks

    The city of Kingston will re-establish healthy forests across Kingston’s public parks by planting 8,100 trees across 72 acres in five parks.

    Westchester County

    The Research Foundation for the State of New York – $499,942 for Afforestation at SUNY Purchase

    The college will restore and reforest a three-acre plot on campus, and students will study comparative planting practices across three different sites.

    Village of Irvington – $382,316 for Irvington Woods Restoration

    The village’s community-driven task force will restore degraded forest stands in Irvington Woods, home to the largest remaining wetlands in southern Westchester County.

    Village of Hastings on Hudson – $356,511 for Restoration of Hillside Park Woodlands

    The village will restore Hillside Park’s woodlands to a native forest ecosystem by reforesting degraded stands, planting more than 6,500 trees and implementing protective fencing to prevent deer from browsing in the area.

    CAPITAL REGION

    Columbia County

    Columbia Land Conservancy Inc – $368,426 for High Falls Conservation Area Restoration and Reforestation

    The Columbia Land Conservancy will restore 13 acres of early successional forest in High Falls Park by planting trees, treating invasive species and controlling for deer over-browse.

    CENTRAL NEW YORK

    Onondaga County

    City of Syracuse – $2,080,083 for Forest Stand Restoration

    The city will restore eight degraded forest sites, totaling more than 38 acres, by planting trees in order to contribute to the goal of increasing the city’s tree canopy by seven percent.

    MOHAWK VALLEY

    Schoharie County

    The Research Foundation for the State of New York – $423,092 for SUNY Cobleskill Forest Restoration

    SUNY Cobleskill will create natural areas on campus by planting more than 5,300 trees across five acres of abandoned agricultural land, providing hands-on educational experiences for students.

    NORTH COUNTRY

    St. Lawrence County

    Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe – $498,000 for Forest Conservation Area Restoration

    The Tribe will restore a culturally significant conserved forest where much of the canopy was lost to the Emerald Ash Borer.

    SOUTHERN TIER

    Broome County

    The Research Foundation for the State of New York – $311,841 for Nuthatch Hollow Forest Restoration

    SUNY Binghamton will plant native trees and shrubs across 29 acres at Nuthatch Hollow, restoring regraded forestland while supporting research, education and public engagement.

    Delaware County

    The Research Foundation for the State of New York – $484,910 for SUNY Oneonta Forest Restoration

    SUNY Oneonta will plant more than 9,600 native trees and remove invasive species to enhance carbon sequestration and recreation opportunities on campus, as well as host student internships and service-learning opportunities.

    Tioga County

    Tioga County Soil and Water Conservation District – $802,091 for Upper Susquehanna Coalition Forest Restoration

    The Upper Susquehanna Coalition, in collaboration with Soil and Water Conservation Districts and municipalities, will reforest 71 acres of riparian forests at 48 different sites within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, planting more than 22,000 trees.

    Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick said, “Strengthening urban forestry around the state will not only absorb carbon in our atmosphere and absorb stormwater runoff, but also will bring a greater pastoral sense to even urban environments. I am glad that SUNY will be partnering in several projects so students will receive a valuable learning experience in arboriculture and urban forestry. Whenever we can simultaneously combat climate change and make our communities more beautiful and livable, we ought to do so.”

    Assemblymember George Alvarez said, “I’m proud to celebrate this critical investment in the Bronx’s natural resources through the CoRe grant program. The funding awarded to the Bronx River Alliance and The New York Botanical Garden will help restore our urban forests, improve air quality, and provide cooler, greener spaces for our residents. These projects not only strengthen our local environment but also engage our communities, especially our youth—in building a healthier, more resilient Bronx.”

    Assemblymember Karines Reyes said, “I applaud Governor Hochul and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation for this vital investment in the Bronx’s habitat and communities. The Borough of Parks’, as it is affectionately-known, is more than worthy of funding to improve the ecological health of our county. The nearly $1 million investment in Bronx-based institutions, like the Bronx River Alliance and The Bronx Zoo, will be well spent in service to keeping our borough’s trees clean and healthy. This investment in our local environment will have positive impacts on health and wellness, as we seek to reverse the disastrous impacts of pollution and the prolonged disinvestment of previous decades.”

    Assemblymember Emérita Torres said, “This is great news for the Bronx. Amid cuts from the current federal administration, it is more important than ever that our state invests in environmental restoration. This reforestation funding provides critical support for our environmental partners in the community, especially for the restoration along the Bronx River. Our communities continue to bear the brunt of long-term disinvestment and pollution. This funding is a step in the right direction.”

    Assemblymember John Zaccaro, Jr. said, “I applaud Governor Hochul for her commitment to expanding, restoring, and creating more forested natural areas to support our urban neighborhoods through the Community Restoration Grant Awards. Communities like those I represent in the Bronx have some of the worst health outcomes in the state and trees are an invaluable tool to bolster community resilience. Every tree that gets planted means a little more fresh air and a little more shade. We’re excited to get started as we work toward the state’s ambitious goal of planting 25 million trees by 2033.”

    Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson said, “We are grateful to Governor Kathy Hochul for her continued commitment to environmental justice and urban resilience through the launch of the Community Reforestation (CoRe) program and the historic 25 Million Trees Initiative. The Governor`s work on this effort aligns with our Greening the Bronx initiative, with investments that not only plant trees but also plant hope, healing, and long-term health in our communities. Projects such as the Bronx River Riparian Forest Restoration, led by the Bronx River Alliance and NYBG, are powerful examples of what can happen when government, institutions, and local volunteers work together to rebuild natural ecosystems and restore our borough’s green infrastructure. These nearly 2,000 new trees are a win for the Bronx and for improving our environment and our borough`s public health.”

    Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine said, “Urban trees are essential climate infrastructure and help create a greener, healthier, future for New York. These investments in our community through the CoRe program will help keep neighborhoods cooler, protect against the impacts of climate change, and improve mental health. Thank you to Governor Hochul and the Department of Environmental Conservation for celebrating this Arbor Day by investing in urban trees in Manhattan and beyond.”

    Chief Executive Officer and William C. Steere Sr. President of the New York Botanical Garden Jennifer Bernstein said, “The New York Botanical Garden applauds Governor Kathy Hochul for her vision and leadership in creating the inaugural Community Reforestation program. By supporting NYBG’s restoration work in the Bronx River corridor, families and neighbors will experience the benefits of forests for generations to come. Thank you Governor Hochul.”

    Bronx River Alliance Executive Director Siddhartha Sánchez said, “Thank you Governor Hochul for developing new funding opportunities to increase and improve tree canopy coverage in communities like the Bronx. Investing in reforesting dense urban areas benefits communities in numerous ways – mitigating heat island impacts and localized flooding while improving community health by increasing access to nature. These resources provide the Bronx River Alliance with the ability to do targeted reforestation over multiple years in Westchester and the Bronx, making our work more sustainable.”

    To further Governor Hochul’s goal of planting 25 million trees by 2033, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) will begin its Tree Power program 2025 season today. NYPA’s Tree Power program, first established in 1992, helps customers plant native tree varieties to provide wind breaks surrounding buildings, shading that reduces building energy use and removes carbon from the atmosphere. In 2024, the Power Authority planted more than 1,400 trees in 50 communities throughout the state under the program. Since 2016, more than 8,000 trees have been planted under the program, sequestering more than 400 metric tons of carbon emissions.

    NYPA customers that are eligible to participate in the Tree Power program include municipal electric utilities, rural electric cooperatives and State and local government customers, including the State University of New York and the City University of New York. For every tree that a customer purchases, NYPA will offer tree matches up to $5,000 in value. NYPA is accepting orders for the 2025 program through mid-September.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Construction industry specialists presented the results of their research at a conference at St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Opening of the conference. In the presidium, from left to right: Olga Pastukh, Andrey Nikulin, Evgeny Korolev, Director of the Soil Testing Center, Head of the Geotechnics Department of SPbGASU Anatoly Osokin

    The III National (All-Russian) Scientific and Technical Conference “Prospects of Modern Construction” was held at the Construction Faculty of St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering from April 21 to 23.

    The welcoming part of the plenary session opened with the showing of two videos, the first of which introduced the conference participants to our university. The other video was prepared by the creative team of the construction faculty for the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War and told about how the university lived during the difficult years of the Leningrad blockade.

    The moderator, Deputy Dean for Research, Associate Professor of the Department of Architectural and Construction Structures Olga Pastukh addressed the participants of the plenary session. Olga Aleksandrovna introduced the members of the conference organizing committee and invited them to visit the exhibition dedicated to safety in the construction industry that opened as part of the conference.

    On behalf of and on behalf of the rector of SPbGASU Evgeny Rybnov, the vice-rector for research activities Evgeny Korolev delivered a welcoming speech. Evgeny Valerievich noted that the conference could become a driver for the development of the national project “Infrastructure for Life”. The project, aimed at improving the comfort of housing, ensuring the safety of the urban environment, requires new, scientifically sound scientific solutions that will be implemented in practice.

    The Vice-Rector also emphasized the successes of the SPbGASU construction faculty team. Thus, on April 16, by decree of the President of Russia, Rashid Mangushev, professor of the geotechnical department, was awarded the title of “Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation”. Separate words of greeting were addressed to young researchers, whose presence in the hall, according to the Vice-Rector, is the key to the sustainability of science and the university. In conclusion, Evgeny Valerievich wished everyone fruitful work and constructive discussions.

    Dean of the Faculty of Construction Andrey Nikulin spoke about the activities of our university. Andrey Nikolaevich also introduced the faculty he heads, informed about its departments, laboratories, and partners.

    At the plenary session, the round table “Fire-safe construction – in the hands of youth” and six sections, scientists and specialists in the construction industry informed about new promising research results, exchanged experiences and ideas, and expanded their circle of professional acquaintances.

    The chairman of the metal and wooden structures section, head of the metal and wooden structures department, Yegor Danilov, spoke about the work of the section: “The section, which worked for three days, brought together more than 300 listeners, and about 90 people spoke as authors of reports. Among the participants were representatives of three construction companies, specialists from universities from Vologda, Yoshkar-Ola, Novocherkassk and other Russian cities, three foreign guests (Kazakhstan, China). The current problems of ensuring the spatial rigidity of modern multi-story wooden buildings, technical aspects of improving the standards of metal structures were discussed, and new methods for calculating joints were proposed. All days of the conference were eventful. The exchange of experience was extremely useful for both the students and the respected scientists-speakers.”

    Associate Professor of the Department of Technosphere Safety Olga Gorbunova was the Deputy Chairperson of the Occupational Safety in Construction section at the conference. According to her, the section was held in two stages: on the first day, representatives of professional communities in the field of occupational safety and faculty from universities in our country presented scientific reports, and on the second day, students did so. The topics of the reports touched upon current issues of ensuring human safety in the modern world, and issues of ensuring occupational safety in the construction industry. Olga Vladimirovna named some of the topics of student research: “The effects of man-made accidents using fuel oil on the state of the environment”; “Use of vacuum waste removal systems for collecting hazardous medical waste”; “On a unified system of cadastral control and fire safety”.

    Mikhail Zhavoronkov, Deputy Chairman and Associate Professor of the Department of Construction Materials and Metrology, reported on what was happening in the section on technology of building materials and metrology: “15 reports were announced. The work was held in a mixed mode: some reports were presented in person, and some – remotely. The speakers were teachers, postgraduates and master’s students of the department of TSMiM SPbGASU and other universities, representatives of organizations carrying out scientific and practical activities in the areas of work of the section. The reports were devoted to the study of the properties of concrete made using various fillers, various binders and using special additives; issues of formation of micro- and macrostructure of these concretes; development of a quality management system in construction, shortcomings of modern regulatory documentation and ways to overcome them. Of great interest were the works describing the properties of dispersion-reinforced concrete and dedicated to counteracting the explosive destruction of concrete during heating.”

    The reports at the section of the Department of Structural Mechanics raised issues of modeling geotechnical structures and earthquake-resistant construction.

    The section of the departments of construction organization and construction production technology started with the speeches of the heads of departments Roman Motylev and Anton Gaido, who spoke about the main areas of their scientific work. Particular attention was drawn to the reports “Formation of a resource-saving complex of machines for the construction of a roadbed by hydromechanization” by Vladimir Vanzha (associate professor of the Kuban State Agrarian University), “Application of modular heat-protective panels to ensure the reliability of installation of steel structures in the conditions of the Far North” by Milana Raslambekova (master’s student of St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering) and others. The participants of the scientific section noted the breadth of topics of the reports and the relevance of the choice of research topics by master’s and postgraduate students of the departments.

    Representatives of various Russian universities took part in the work of the section of the Department of Architectural and Building Structures. The presentations of Irina Chernyshkova (Associate Professor of the South-Russian Polytechnic University) on the topic of “Acoustic Features of Atrium Spaces” and Nikolay Cherepanov (Student of the St. Petersburg State University of Railway Engineering) on the topic of “Requirements for Architectural Structures of a Building for the Integration of Unmanned Delivery into an Urban Environment” aroused particular interest among the audience and a lively professional discussion.

    The students also presented reports on modular technologies, recycled materials and structures, the features of thermal insulation materials for various building structures and unique construction in the Arctic zone.

    In addition to the engineering and technical aspects of construction, there were reports on the renovation of industrial heritage from the point of view of architectural and urban planning, innovation, environmental and socio-economic aspects. Olga Pastukh and Qu Rulan (candidate of architecture, senior lecturer at Zhengzhou University, China) analyzed both the experience of historical Russian cities and the influence of Soviet urban planning ideas on the growth and development of industrial cities in China in the mid-20th century, as well as their current state. Their presentation was prepared based on the results of a joint research project, “The Influence of Soviet Urban Planning Concepts and Ideas on the Formation and Development of Industrial Cities in China in the Mid-20th Century.”

    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 Russia: GUU at a meeting at AFK Sistema: joint promotion of scientific projects

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On April 23, representatives of the State University of Management took part in an open dialogue on the topic of “Systemic communications: features of promoting innovative, knowledge-intensive and socially significant projects”, which was held at the head office of AFK Sistema

    The meeting with the executive vice president for public relations of AFK Sistema Sergey Kopytov brought together representatives of Lomonosov Moscow State University, RUDN University, HSE, RANEPA, Moscow Polytechnic University, State University of Management, Moscow State Institute of Culture, as well as the First Student Agency, a youth media outlet.

    The following took part from the State University of Management: Head of the Department for Coordination of Scientific Research Maxim Pletnev, Director of the Business Incubator Dmitry Rogov, Junior Researcher of the Department for Coordination of Scientific Research Anna Sotnikova and Analyst of the Center for Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Anna Grishkina.

    During the meeting, the Head of the Corporate Communications Department of AFK Sistema shared practical cases. In particular, he spoke about covering the corporation’s contribution to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and the formation of a high-tech pharmaceutical holding, information support for the IPO of forestry and microelectronic assets, as well as about the promotion of AFK Sistema Group projects that shape the technological future of the country in such areas as: hydrogen and satellite technologies, computer vision and microchip production, the creation of electric river vessels and charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

    The event was a continuation of the educational project implemented by the Sistema Charitable Foundation together with industrial partners from among the country’s leading high-tech companies as part of the Decade of Science and Technology in Russia. The project, which started in March 2025 at the R site

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/25/2025

    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 –