NewzIntel.com

Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI China: China strives to enhance people’s work ethics

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

    China will further improve people’s work ethics to enhance the public morality quality and show the advancement of social civilization.

    Ten central departments including the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security recently released a guideline focusing on improving people’s work ethics in the new era, by combining Chinese traditional virtues with modern professional morality.

    The guideline said that work ethics in the new era mainly include hard work, honesty, upholding justice, and warmth at work. It said that good practices of work ethics will be rewarded while behaviors of breaching work ethics will be denounced.

    Under the guideline, knowledge of work ethics should be available to students during their whole process of schooling, which can help the students to set up correct views of work, profession and employment.

    The nation will reward individuals and groups with good practices of work ethics and set them as examples to inspire the public. Also, the nation will improve the regulations and laws on work ethics and better the social environment to promote work ethics.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU scientists have developed a new model of a delivery drone

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Scientists at Novosibirsk State University have developed a new model of an unmanned aerial vehicle that will be used to deliver goods to hard-to-reach areas. Last week, a test flight was conducted in the Novosibirsk Region: the drone successfully covered a distance of 4.5 km across the Ob River and delivered the goods to their destination.

    The achievement of the scientists was commented on by the head of the Nizhnekamensk village council of the Ordynsky district of the Novosibirsk region, Natalya Yuryevna Guseva:

    —I believe that the latest development, the “delivery drone,” is a time-saver and a great opportunity for residents of the right bank to deliver, for example, medicines that are not available at our pharmacy, or a small parcel from the marketplace! The test flight was successful, so I would like to wish the scientists of the Novosibirsk State University good luck and further development!”

    The new development is the next stage in the development of a line of unmanned aerial vehicles, which NSU has been working on for the third year. The development team includes employees Research Center in the field of artificial intelligence of NSU, students Institute of Intelligent Robotics And Higher College of Informatics NSU, as well as employees of the Siberian Fire and Rescue Academy of the State Fire Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia and developers of a small innovative enterprise at NSU.

    — Now we understand that we have reached the next level: we can make a drone that will fly along a route in automatic mode, perform a certain action and return to the starting point, that is, these are fully autonomous machines. The creation of such devices is a pressing problem that is being solved not only in Russia. And we have a chance to make such a machine among the first, — said Alexey Okunev, director of the Institute of Intelligent Robotics at NSU.

    The delivery drone was designed at NSU: the developers independently design and print the parts of the device on a 3D printer. The UAV has imported electronics, but a significant part of the software, which is responsible for the logic of the device’s actions, flight control, processes the video signal, data from the sensors, is NSU’s own development. The drone uses odometry on the underlying surface (a method of measuring coordinates using machine vision) – a solution also developed at NSU. In the near future, it will be improved by introducing neural networks, which will allow the drone to determine its location with even greater accuracy, so that it is less dependent on the GPS signal.

    The new development has social significance and will find application in the delivery of goods, primarily to hard-to-reach areas. For example, to settlements in the territory of the Nizhnekamensk village council of the Ordynsky district of the Novosibirsk region, where the test flight was conducted. In the spring, when the ice crossing over the Obuv River is closed and the ferry has not yet started running, the village is deprived of land and ground communication for almost two weeks. If you carry out delivery by drone from the Ordynskoye workers’ settlement, you can do it directly across the river: the distance is only 4.5 km, which the UAV covers in 5 minutes. There are many such areas in Russia, the transport accessibility of which is limited for various reasons.

    — We plan to work in completely unprepared places: there is no need to create special infrastructure, build and equip airfields, drone ports, and so on. Our equipment must be as unpretentious and exceptionally smart as possible, because it needs to figure out, find and choose a place to land on its own. Now the first stage of technology development is underway — we are checking that this design is really capable of doing what is needed. The main element is that it will be able to fly over a river, leave the cargo and return back. Or simply bring the cargo one way and land. Last week we successfully conducted the first tests, — Alexey Okunev explained.

    Currently, the weight of goods that a drone can transport is limited to 500 grams. During the test flight, the drone delivered a set of medicines. The UAV can be used in any weather conditions, except for heavy rains and strong winds.

    The developers plan to produce a pilot batch of up to 5 units by summer and launch the delivery service for test operation: in the territory of the Nizhnekamensk village council in the summer there are a large number of vacationers, for whom drone delivery will save time on purchasing goods, rather than taking a ferry to the other side every time they need to urgently buy something.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for April 22, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 22, 2025.

    How will a new pope be chosen? An expert explains the conclave
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Darius von Guttner Sporzynski, Historian, Australian Catholic University Following the death of Pope Francis, we’ll soon be seeing a new leader in the Vatican. The conclave – a strictly confidential gathering of Roman Catholic cardinals – is due to meet in a matter of weeks to elect

    Haka in the House: what will Te Pāti Māori’s protest mean for tikanga in parliament?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominic O’Sullivan, Professor of Political Science, Charles Sturt University and Adjunct Professor Stout Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington and Auckland University of Technology., Charles Sturt University Te Pāti Māori’s Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke lead a haka with Eru Kapa-Kingi outside parliament, November 19, 2024. Getty

    Pope Francis has died, aged 88. These were his greatest reforms – and controversies
    ANALYSIS: By Joel Hodge, Australian Catholic University and Antonia Pizzey, Australian Catholic University Pope Francis has died on Easter Monday, aged 88, the Vatican announced. The head of the Catholic Church had recently survived being hospitalised with double pneumonia. Cardinal Kevin Farrell’s announcement began: “Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the

    Fossil fuel companies ‘poisoned the well’ of public debate with climate disinformation. Here’s how Australia can break free
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Naomi Oreskes, Professor of the History of Science, Harvard University President Donald Trump has issued an executive order that would block state laws seeking to tackle greenhouse gas emissions – the latest salvo in his administration’s campaign to roll back United States’ climate action. Under Trump, the

    Is a corporation a slave? Many philosophers think so
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Duncan Ian Wallace, Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Monash University f11photo/Shutterstock If you’ve ever heard the term “wage slave”, you’ll know many modern workers – perhaps even you – sometimes feel enslaved to the organisation at which they work. But here’s a different way of thinking about it:

    Rates will never be enough – councils need the power to raise money in other ways
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Guy C. Charlton, Adjunct Associate Professor at Auckland University of Technology and Associate Professor, University of New England Getty Images You might have recently received voting papers for your local body elections. Going by our historically low participation rates, many of those envelopes will remain unopened. This

    Early voting opens in the federal election – but it brings some problems for voters and parties
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zareh Ghazarian, Senior Lecturer in Politics, School of Social Sciences, Monash University More than 18 million Australians are enrolled to vote at the federal election on May 3. A fair proportion of them – perhaps as many as half – will take advantage of early voting, which

    ‘I’m a failure’: how schema therapy tackles the deep-rooted beliefs that affect our mental health
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Houlihan, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, University of the Sunshine Coast Jorm Sangsorn/Shutterstock If you ever find yourself stuck in repeated cycles of negative emotion, you’re not alone. More than 40% of Australians will experience a mental health issue in their lifetime. Many are linked to

    Parents delay sending kids to school for social reasons and physical size. It’s not about academic advantage
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Penny Van Bergen, Associate Professor in the Psychology of Education, Macquarie University If you have a child born at the start of the year, you may be faced with a tricky and stressful decision. Do you send them to school “early”, in the year they turn five?

    Since its very conception, Star Wars has been political. Now Andor will take on Trump 2.0
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Golding, Professor and Chair of the Department of Media and Communication, Swinburne University of Technology Lucasfilm Ltd™ Premiering today, the second and final season of Star Wars streaming show Andor seems destined to be one of the pop culture defining moments of the second Trump presidency.

    Election Diary: Albanese government stays mum over whatever Russia may have said to Indonesia
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The imbroglio over the reported Russian request to Indonesia to base planes in Papua initially tripped Peter Dutton, and now is dogging Anthony Albanese. After the respected military site Janes said a request had been made, the Australian government quickly

    How the next pope will be elected – what goes on at the conclave
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mathew Schmalz, Professor of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross Cardinals attend Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, before they enter the conclave to decide who the next pope will be, on March 12, 2013, in Vatican City. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Image With the death of

    Twinkling star reveals the shocking secrets of turbulent plasma in our cosmic neighbourhood
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Reardon, Postdoctoral Researcher, Pulsar Timing and Gravitational Waves, Swinburne University of Technology Artist’s impression of a pulsar bow shock scattering a radio beam. Carl Knox/Swinburne/OzGrav With the most powerful radio telescope in the southern hemisphere, we have observed a twinkling star and discovered an abundance of

    Pope Francis has died, aged 88. These were his greatest reforms – and controversies
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joel Hodge, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Theology and Philosophy, Australian Catholic University Pope Francis has died on Easter Monday, aged 88, the Vatican announced. The head of the Catholic Church had recently survived being hospitalised with a serious bout of double pneumonia. Cardinal Kevin Farrell’s announcement began:

    Pope Francis tried to change the Catholic Church for women, with mixed success
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracy McEwan, School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences, University of Newcastle Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, died on Easter Monday at the age of 88. On Easter Sunday, he used his message and blessing to appeal for peace in Middle East and

    ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for April 21, 2025
    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 21, 2025.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Eight regions report population increases

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A nurse works at a maternal and child health care hospital in Huai’an City, east China’s Jiangsu province, May 12, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    At least eight provincial-level regions in China reported growth in their resident populations last year amid rapid urbanization, according to data released by local authorities and experts.
    The regions that reported population growth are the Xinjiang Uygur and Xizang autonomous regions, and Shaanxi province in western China; Zhejiang, Anhui and Fujian provinces in the east; and Guangdong and Hainan provinces in the south, according to statistics from regional authorities.
    Meanwhile, the populations of Jiangsu province and Tianjin remained stable from the previous year, while 19 provincial-level regions reported a decline. Heilongjiang province and the Ningxia Hui autonomous region have yet to release their demographic data for last year.
    China’s total population declined for the third consecutive year in 2024, falling by 1.39 million to 1.408 billion, largely due to lower birth rates and a shrinking number of women of childbearing age.
    Population changes at the regional level are shaped by natural shifts — defined as the difference between births and deaths — as well as internal migration.
    Wang Jinying, a professor at Hebei University’s School of Economics and a demography expert, said provinces that saw population increases last year follow three distinct growth models.
    “Thanks to their thriving economies and ample job opportunities, provinces such as Zhejiang and Guangdong witnessed significant influxes of migrants from other regions, leading to an increase in their resident populations,” he said.
    Official data show Guangdong’s population grew by 740,000 to reach 127.8 million, while Zhejiang’s increased by 430,000 to 66.7 million.
    Xinjiang also followed this pattern, Wang said. The frontier region bordering Central Asia has become a key hub of the Belt and Road Initiative in recent years, drawing residents with increased economic and trade opportunities.
    In addition, provinces such as Anhui, Shaanxi and Fujian — once beset by a high number of out-migrants due to underdeveloped economies — have seen accelerated economic growth in recent years, Wang said.
    “This has not only curbed outward migration but also spurred a return of residents, boosting their resident population figures,” he said.
    However, the population growth in these regions remains relatively modest. Shaanxi and Anhui each recorded a year-on-year increase of fewer than 20,000 people, while Fujian’s population rose by 100,000.
    The third growth model is exemplified by Xizang, Yunnan and Hainan, where population increases are largely due to natural growth, with birth rates exceeding death rates, Wang said.
    Among the regions experiencing population decline last year are Jilin and Liaoning provinces in Northeast China. The region has seen the steepest declines in recent years due to large-scale emigration and low fertility rates.
    Still, both provinces recorded a modest rebound in the number of newborns, with each reporting about 9,000 more births year-on-year.
    Nationwide, China also saw a slight uptick in the number of newborns last year, rising by 520,000 to reach 9.54 million.
    “The increase in these regions, as well as the national figure, can be attributed to a sizable number of people who had postponed marriage and childbearing deciding to tie the knot and have babies,” Wang said. “Other contributing factors include the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and the auspicious Year of the Dragon in 2024. But the overall scale of the increase remains modest.”
    Experts said China’s urban population has been steadily growing and is expected to continue expanding as more people move to cities. However, Northeast China’s population is likely to keep shrinking.
    A recent study by Liu Houlian, a researcher at the China Population and Development Research Center, projected that China’s urbanization rate will reach 75.4 percent by 2035, up from 67 percent in 2024.
    The study noted a significant population increase in cities along the Yangtze River and coastal areas, as well as in provincial capitals. Meanwhile, the trend of population decline has spread from northeastern provinces to some central and western regions.
    “Driven by high-quality economic development, scientific innovation and improved public services, it is expected that the populations of economically vibrant cities in the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei regions will continue to grow,” the study said. “Conversely, less developed small and medium-sized cities are likely to face continued population shrinkage.”
    Wang said China’s total population will likely continue to decline, intensifying competition among regions for labor and widening the divergence in regional development.
    To address the trend, he suggested promoting high-quality, balanced regional development, with a focus on cultivating more central cities and urban clusters.
    “Hefei in Anhui province serves as a prime illustration of how an emerging economic hub can draw in population. An increasing number of people, previously concentrated in urban giants such as Shanghai, have opted to settle down in the city instead,” he said.
    Wang added that expanding public services, such as fertility support policies, healthcare and education, is essential to accommodate the influx of people into urban areas.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s Antarctic station powered by new energy

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Two droplet-shaped wind turbines spin in front of China’s Qinling station in Antarctica. [Photo/China Daily]
    A clean energy system tailored for polar conditions has been put into operation in China’s Qinling station in Antarctica.
    The breakthrough means China has become the first country to achieve the large-scale operation of a clean energy system under extreme Antarctic conditions.
    Lead scientist Sun Hongbin, 56, told China Daily that the project marks an achievement in China’s green scientific exploration in the field of polar energy, and signifies that the nation’s polar exploration has developed from the diesel era into a new era of green energy.
    The system will generate a wealth of data, as well as present challenges that will prompt continuous research, said Sun, who is also the chief scientist on polar clean energy at the Polar Research Institute of China and president of Taiyuan University of Technology in Shanxi province.
    Since the launch of the system on March 1, it has replaced traditional diesel power sources, providing uninterrupted zero-carbon power for the research equipment and essential living facilities at Qinling station, which was established in February last year as China’s fifth Antarctic research station.
    Photovoltaic and wind power account for 60 percent of the energy capacity of the system. In situations without wind or sunlight, stored hydrogen can provide power to the station, ensuring short-term operation for research equipment and basic living facilities.
    Sun stressed the primary challenges in ensuring the reliability and safety of the equipment. For instance, the development of the droplet-shaped wind turbine capable of operating on ice caps and hydrogen fuel cells demands cold-resistant power-up technology.
    Construction of the system at the station commenced in 2023.
    As much of the equipment and facilities required specialized research and modification to adapt to the extreme conditions, Taiyuan University of Technology established a digital twin laboratory simulating the environment of Antarctica.
    This laboratory possesses the capabilities to simulate nearly 10 extreme conditions, including extreme cold, strong winds, blizzards, polar day and night, intense geomagnetic fields, strong ultraviolet radiation, low pressure and low oxygen levels.
    The primary purpose of establishing this laboratory was to address the challenges of research, testing and operation, Sun said.
    “Once the equipment arrives in Antarctica, we have no means to procure a replacement if a single screw malfunctions,” he said. “Before deployment to Antarctica, various new energy devices underwent testing here. Now the laboratory receives and analyzes real-time data transmitted back from Antarctica.”
    In recent years, various countries have explored approaches to develop clean energy in Antarctica, with solar and wind energy being the primary focus.
    However, the extreme conditions and shortage of technologies make it tough for solar and wind power generation equipment to maintain stable and efficient operation.
    China is the first country to implement hydrogen energy in the extreme environment of Antarctica on a large scale, said Dou Yinke, dean of the Taiyuan university’s College of Electrical and Power Engineering, and a leading expert who has participated in multiple Antarctic expeditions since 2004.
    Against the backdrop of global warming and glacier melting, China proposed the concept of “green exploration” in 2017, Dou said. International organizations have repeatedly urged countries to transition from fuel-based power generation to clean energy in Antarctica.
    As Antarctica possesses vast wind and solar energy potential, countries worldwide have been exploring clean energy in this area.
    To date, approximately 30 Antarctic research stations have installed clean energy generation devices, with over half utilizing solar or wind, Dou said.
    However, due to the lack of systematic application and development of clean energy technologies tailored to the Antarctic environment, these systems cannot yet fully replace traditional energy systems on the aspects of safety and stability, he said.
    Currently, 80 to 90 percent of the world’s Antarctic research stations still rely on fuel-powered electricity generation, leading to significant environmental pollution in the polar regions, said Dou.
    Last year, the Taiyuan university led the formulation of the “Twelve-Year Development Outline for Clean Energy Utilization Technologies in the Antarctic”, aiming to establish a comprehensive clean energy supply system for Antarctic research stations by 2035.
    “I will dedicate my whole life to the cause. I believe we have just taken the first step on a long journey. It is a demonstration and an experiment,” Sun said. Key technology breakthroughs can also drive the energy revolution in the province, a major energy base in China, said Sun.
    Sun hopes to establish a 20,000-square-meter Antarctic extreme environment simulation laboratory in Shanxi to enhance future research.
    “With clean energy, people can survive in polar regions. In the future, we may even install and test this technology on the moon and Mars,” Sun said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese, Mozambican hospitals hold remote medical consultation

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Members of the Chinese medical team stationed in Mozambique and department heads from surgery, orthopedics, and neurosurgery on the Mozambican side attend an international remote medical consultation between West China Hospital of Sichuan University and Maputo Central Hospital in Maputo, Mozambique, on April 21, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    A successful international remote medical consultation was held Monday between West China Hospital of Sichuan University and Maputo Central Hospital in Mozambique, as part of ongoing medical cooperation under the 25th Chinese medical team in the country.

    The session brought together specialists in surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery, and emergency medicine from both hospitals. Participants included Chinese experts from West China Hospital, members of the Chinese medical team stationed in Mozambique, and department heads from surgery, orthopedics, and neurosurgery on the Mozambican side.

    Four medical cases were reviewed during the consultation, with discussions centering on diagnosis, treatment strategies, surgical challenges, and constraints in medical resources.

    “This is a very important opportunity for us,” said Barnabe Antonio Deuasse, director of the orthopaedics department of Maputo Central Hospital, adding that the consultations not only provide access to modern medical insights but also practical solutions for managing complex cases amid resource constraints.

    “It’s encouraging to know we can count on a second opinion and expert support when faced with difficult situations. We are always ready to collaborate and present cases for further discussion… We hope there will be more in the future,” said Barnabe.

    The session concluded with remarks by Atilio Morais, chief of surgery at Maputo Central Hospital, who underscored the value of such exchanges in enhancing clinical expertise and strengthening international medical cooperation. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: UN Chinese Language Day marked in Rwanda

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The Confucius Institute at the University of Rwanda held celebrations on Sunday afternoon to mark this year’s United Nations Chinese Language Day.

    The event, under the theme “Chinese Language: A Gift Across Time and Space,” offered attendees an immersive experience of Chinese culture and language.

    Speaking at the event, Lin Hang, charge d’affaires a.i. of the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda, said that as an official language of the United Nations, the Chinese language is an important bond of friendship between the Chinese people and the people around the world.

    “Language is a crucial tool of communication for human beings. As you may be aware, Chinese is the only ‘living language’ among the world’s ancient civilizations that is still in use today. At present, more than 190 countries and regions around the world are teaching Chinese, and 85 countries have incorporated Chinese into their national education systems,” she said.

    “China puts the spirit of real multilateralism into good practice, embraces an open and inclusive mindset, enhances mutual appreciation and learning, deepens understanding and friendship between the peoples across borders and among civilizations,” she added.

    Zeng Guangyu, director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Rwanda, told Xinhua during the event that when the institute was established in 2009, only a handful of students enrolled, as many thought it was too difficult to learn. However, nearly 20,000 Rwandans can now speak Chinese after years of sustained efforts.

    He noted that Chinese language skills have opened doors for Rwandan learners, enabling them to secure jobs, win scholarships, study in China, and even start businesses.

    “I have seen Chinese learners achieve their dreams through the language — by creating enterprises or finding good jobs. They are truly changing their lives through learning Chinese. English is used worldwide, but Chinese is a rising language in East Africa and across the globe. It represents the future,” Zeng said.

    He also highlighted that this year’s celebrations also featured the launch of a Kiswahili-Chinese-English textbook, aimed at bridging Chinese with two of East Africa’s most commonly spoken languages.

    “We held a lecture on Chinese characters, organized workshops on Chinese writing and calligraphy, and conducted many activities across different teaching posts to mark the occasion,” Zeng added. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese scientists develop world’s smallest untethered terrestrial-aerial micro-robot

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    This photo taken on Jan. 2, 2025 shows untethered terrestrial-aerial micro-robots developed by a research team from Tsinghua University, in Beijing, capital of China. [Photo/Tsinghua University handout via Xinhua]
    Enabling robots to walk, run, jump, fly, climb and “lock” into arbitrary shapes in real-time is crucial for expanding their application scenarios.
    A research team from Tsinghua University in Beijing has developed a thin-film-shaped small-scale actuator which enables micro-robots to continuously transform their shapes and “lock” into specific configurations, much like the “Transformers” seen in a famous cinema attraction, and thereby significantly enhancing their environmental adaptability. This breakthrough has been published online in Nature Machine Intelligence, a leading international journal.
    “By integrating this actuator with our Lego-inspired design strategy, we created the world’s smallest and lightest untethered terrestrial-aerial micro-robot known in the relevant literature, measuring just 9 centimeters in length and weighing 25 grams,” said Zhang Yihui from Tsinghua University’s School of Aerospace Engineering and the State Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Technology.
    Actuators, the “heart” of micro-robots, are devices with controllable shape-morphing capability.
    “Developing untethered, ultra-compact micro-robots with complex shape-morphing capabilities is extremely challenging,” Zhang explained.
    Existing actuators measuring under five centimeters in size typically face challenges in achieving continuous shape morphing and locking, severely limiting miniaturization and untethered control of multimodal robots.
    Through innovative synergistic material-structure design, Zhang’s team developed a miniature actuator as small as a few millimeters in size. Serving as a “morphable exoskeleton,” it can integrate functional components like sensors and motors to build complex robotic systems.
    Notably, this actuator can be electrically controlled to continuously morph into any desired shape and then “lock” the deformed configuration, which was difficult to achieve with previous small-scale actuators.
    “Using the Lego-inspired design strategy, we constructed an untethered terrestrial-aerial micro-robot capable of agile aerial flight and land movement, and with a speed of up to 1.6 meters per second on the ground,” Zhang said.
    In addition, the team also developed a 4.5-centimeter-high, 0.8-gram mini-“Transformer” actuator employing more than ten actuator units, as well as a multi-functional wheeled robot that can morph into “sports car,” “winged car,” and “van” modes.
    Inspired by grasshoppers and other insects, researchers incorporated biological morphologies and locomotion capabilities into their designs.
    This work offers new ideas and routes for the development of micro-robots. “Future applications include equipment diagnostics, geological surveys, and hazardous environment operations,” Zhang said. “The actuator can also be used in bio-electronic devices, enabling the development of deployable implantable medical devices and VR/AR haptic interfaces.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: City offers low-cost self defence classes for women aged 55 plus

    Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

    The City is offering a low cost, four week Women’s Self Defence and Situational Awareness Group program designed for women aged 55 plus to promote positive ageing in a fun, safe, and empowering space where they can connect and learn together.

    City of Greater Bendigo Community Partnerships Acting Manager Nikki Williams said the program is subsidised by the City and will be delivered by local self-defence school Ova it.

    “The program blends Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu-based techniques with practical situational awareness strategies and will equip participants with skills that focus on using leverage, timing, and energy efficiency,” Ms Williams said.

    “These are techniques that work for all ages and abilities, recognising and assessing risk in different environments and setting boundaries using verbal and psychological strategies.

    “Learning self-defence can empower people. It decreases fear and anxiety and increases confidence, sense of self-efficacy, and self-esteem and helps you feel stronger and more confident in your bodies.”

    Classes will take place each Thursday from 5.15pm to 6.15pm. There will be two groups one starting on Thursday May 8 and running each Thursday until May 29 and the other starting on Thursday June 26 and running each Thursday until July 17.  

    Participants must commit to a course of four sessions.

    The cost of each session is $5 per person payable on the day via cash or EFTPOS.

    Places are limited and bookings are essential. To book, visit:

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How will a new pope be chosen? An expert explains the conclave

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Darius von Guttner Sporzynski, Historian, Australian Catholic University

    Following the death of Pope Francis, we’ll soon be seeing a new leader in the Vatican. The conclave – a strictly confidential gathering of Roman Catholic cardinals – is due to meet in a matter of weeks to elect a new earthly head.

    The word conclave is derived from the Latin con (together) and clāvis (key). It means “a locked room” or “chamber”, reflecting its historical use to describe the locked gathering of cardinals to elect a pope.

    Held in the Sistine Chapel, the meeting follows a centuries-old process designed to ensure secrecy and prayerful deliberation. A two-thirds majority vote will be required to successfully elect the 267th pope.

    History of the conclave

    The formalised papal conclave dates back centuries. And various popes shaped the process in response to the church’s need.

    In the 13th century, for example, Pope Gregory X introduced strict regulations to prevent unduly long elections.

    Pope Gregory X brought in the rules to prevent a repeat of his own experience. The conclave that elected him in September 1271 (following the death of Pope Clement IV in 1268) lasted almost three years.

    Further adjustments have been made to streamline the process and emphasise secrecy, culminating in Pope John Paul II’s 1996 constitution, Universi Dominici gregis (The Lord’s whole flock). This document set the modern framework for the conclave.

    In 2007 and 2013, Benedict XVI reiterated that a two-thirds majority of written votes would be required to elect a new pope. He also reaffirmed penalties for breaches of secrecy.

    The secrecy surrounding the conclave ensures the casting of ballots remains confidential, and without any external interference.

    The last known attempt at external interference in a papal conclave occurred in 1903 when Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria sought to prevent the election of Cardinal Mariano Rampolla. However, the assembled cardinals rejected this intervention, asserting the independence of the electoral process.

    How does voting work?

    The conclave formally begins between 15 and 20 days after the papal vacancy, but can start earlier if all cardinals eligible to vote have arrived. Logistical details, such as the funeral rites for the deceased pope, can also influence the overall timeline.

    Historically, the exact number of votes required to elect a new pope has fluctuated. Under current rules, a minimum two-thirds majority is needed. If multiple rounds of balloting fail to yield a result, the process can continue for days, or even weeks.

    After every few inconclusive rounds, cardinals pause for prayer and reflection. This process continues until one candidate receives the two-thirds majority required to win. The final candidates do not vote for themselves in the decisive round.

    The ballot paper formerly used in the conclave, with ‘I elect as Supreme Pontiff’ written in Latin.
    Wikimedia Commons

    How is voting kept secret?

    The papal conclave is entirely closed to the public. Voting is conducted by secret ballot within the Sistine Chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the pope’s official residence.

    During the conclave, the Sistine Chapel is sealed off from outside communication. No cameras are allowed, and no live broadcast exists.

    The cardinals involved swear an oath of absolute secrecy – under threat of excommunication if violated – ensuring all discussions and voting remain strictly confidential.

    The iconic white smoke, produced by burning ballots once a pope has been chosen, is the only public signal the election has concluded successfully.

    Who can be elected?

    Only cardinals under 80 years of age at the time of conclave’s commencement can vote. Older cardinals are free to attend preparatory meetings, but can not cast ballots.

    While the total number of electors is intended not to exceed 120, the fluctuating nature of cardinal appointments, as well as the age restrictions, make it difficult to predict the exact number of eligible voters at any given conclave.

    Technically, any baptised Catholic man can be elected pope. In practice, however, the College of Cardinals traditionally chooses one of its own members. Electing an “outsider” is extremely rare, and has not occurred in modern times.

    What makes a good candidate?

    When faced with criticism from a member of the public about his weight, John XXIII (who was pope from 1958-1963) retorted the papal conclave was “not a exactly beauty contest”.

    Merit, theological understanding, administrative skill and global perspective matter greatly. But there is also a collegial element – something of a “popularity contest”. It is an election, after all.

    Cardinals discuss the church’s current priorities – be they evangelisation strategies, administrative reforms or pastoral concerns – before settling on the individual they believe is best suited to lead.

    The cardinal electors seek someone who can unify the faithful, navigate modern challenges and maintain doctrinal continuity.

    Controversies and criticisms

    The conclave process has faced criticism for its strict secrecy, which can foster speculation about potential “politicking”.

    Critics argue a tightly controlled environment might not reflect the broader concerns of the global church.

    Some have also questioned whether age limits on voting cardinals fully capture the wisdom and experience found among older members.

    Nonetheless, defenders maintain that secrecy encourages free and sincere deliberation, minimising external pressure and allowing cardinals to choose the best leader without fear of reprisal, or of public opinion swaying the vote.

    Challenges facing the new pope

    The next pope will inherit a mixed situation: a church that has grown stronger in certain areas under Francis, yet which grapples with internal divisions and external challenges.

    Like other religions, the church faces secularisation, issues with financial transparency and a waning following in some parts of the globe.

    For the newly elected pope, one of the earliest trials will be unifying the global Catholic community around a shared vision – an obstacle almost every pope has faced.

    Striking the right balance between doctrine and pastoral sensitivity remains crucial. Also, addressing sexual abuse scandals and their aftermath will require decisive action, transparency and continued pastoral care for survivors.

    Practical concerns also loom large. The new pope will have to manage the Vatican bureaucracy and interfaith relations, while maintaining the church’s voice on global crises such as migration and poverty – two issues on which Francis insisted mercy could not be optional.

    The cardinal electors have a tough decision ahead of them. The Catholic community can only pray that, through their deliberations, they identify a shepherd who can guide the church through the complexities of the modern world.

    Darius von Guttner Sporzynski 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 will a new pope be chosen? An expert explains the conclave – https://theconversation.com/how-will-a-new-pope-be-chosen-an-expert-explains-the-conclave-250506

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Announces Over $3.2 Million for Repairs Following Hurricanes Laura, Ida

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced Louisiana will receive $3,279,624.93 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in reimbursement for permanent repairs following Hurricanes Laura and Ida.
    “These grants help return communities and classrooms to wholeness,” said Dr. Cassidy. “It’s a step forward for South Louisiana families and their communities.”
    The City of Lake Charles will receive $1,681,034.13 in federal funding for permanent repairs to communication towers damaged during Hurricane Laura. The Jefferson Parish Public School System will receive $1,598,590.80 in federal funding for permanent repairs to Thomas Jefferson High School for Advanced Studies as a direct result of Hurricane Ida.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK Indo-Pacific Minister visits Cambodia to strengthen ties

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    World news story

    UK Indo-Pacific Minister visits Cambodia to strengthen ties

    UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West MP visits Cambodia to advance shared interests and boost cooperation.

    The UK and Cambodia are collaborating to advance climate initiatives and promote sustainable development.

    This includes at Techo International Airport in Kandal Province, Cambodia, where British architecture has gained international recognition for its innovative approach to green airport design.

    The airport, designed by British firm Foster + Partners, will be visited today (22 April 2025) by UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Catherine West MP, who is in Cambodia this week to strengthen ties between the two nations and promote economic growth, climate resilience, and security cooperation.

    The Minister will meet with H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and senior officials from Cambodia’s Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Council for the Development of Cambodia. Their discussions will cover expanding trade opportunities, advancing climate initiatives, promoting sustainable development, and enhancing regional security.

    UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Catherine West MP, said: 

    My visit to Techo International Airport today is testament to the modern UK-Cambodia partnership. Innovative and green infrastructure fit for Cambodia’s future, designed by British business – an achievement that would have been unimaginable thirty years ago. 

    Our relationship goes far beyond just this one building – but we bring the same partnership approach to everything we do, whether increasing trade to create jobs, protect our climate and nature, or increase access to education.

    Foster and Partners Associate Partner, Krzysztof Szymanski, said:

    We are incredibly proud and deeply honoured to lead the design of Techo International Airport, a project that aspires to be one of the greenest airports in the world. This airport offers a transformative vision for Phnom Penh, drawing deeply from Cambodia’s rich heritage and responding thoughtfully to its tropical climate. By integrating the latest technology with local craftsmanship, we are committed to creating sustainable and efficient infrastructure.

    This project not only creates a new gateway to the city and the country, enhancing Cambodia’s reputation on the global stage, but also sets a new benchmark for sustainable airport design. It is a privilege to contribute to such a significant endeavour that will shape the future of Cambodia’s capital.

    Minister West is going to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Economy and Finance on Strategic Infrastructure Development, demonstrating our commitment to partner to boost mutual economic growth, including support for the development of a Green Special Economic Zone.  Initiatives such as the Trade Partnerships programme and the Developing Countries Trading Scheme are also key to deepening ties and growth opportunities.

    The Minister will meet the British Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia to discuss how UK businesses are taking advantage of these policies to expand cooperation with Cambodian partners in key sectors including education, infrastructure, and financial services.

    Minister West will visit De Montfort University in Cambodia, the first UK university campus in the country, to discuss the UK’s role in addressing global environmental challenges, and highlighting how UK programmes, such as the Biodiverse Landscape Fund, are empowering local communities, including marginalised groups, to regenerate and conserve local environments and improve livelihoods.

    The visit also addresses shared security concerns, including combating serious organised crime and human trafficking, addressing online fraud and scam centres, and future defence cooperation initiatives.

    For more information, please contact: UKInCambodia@fcdo.gov.uk

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Compulsory consent education proposed in schools

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Parents are being encouraged to provide feedback on how relationships and sexuality education (RSE) is taught in schools.
    “As young people grow up, they deserve the chance to be equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to interact respectfully with others. Relationships and sexuality education can play an important role in this. Parents deserve certainty and clarity on what their children are learning, when and how in RSE at school so they can make informed decisions about their education,” Education Minister Erica Stanford says. 
    The Ministry of Education has released the draft relationships and sexuality framework for consultation. It was developed by Ministry of Education subject matter experts and quality assured by both internal and external experts. It outlines the proposed teaching to be covered in RSE each year, from Years 0 to 13.
    “It aims to ensure the content is age-appropriate, evidence-informed, and detailed about what is taught and when.”
    Research conducted by the Education Review Office (ERO) last year highlighted significant inconsistencies in the delivery of RSE across the country. It found more than three quarters of recent school leavers say they didn’t learn enough about consent.
    “Young people have been very clear that consent education is important to their development and have advocated for its inclusion in the national curriculum. We have ensured that age-appropriate consent education is present in all year levels of the draft framework,” Ms Stanford says.
    The consultation period is open until May 9 2025. The feedback will help shape the wider health and physical education learning area will be released for consultation in Term 4, 2025.
    “The new curriculum will give certainty to schools about what is to be taught, choice to parents over the level of their child’s participation, and consistency across the country, so all young people get the information they need to keep them safe and healthy.”
    Minister for Women, Nicola Grigg says she wants all women and girls to be safe from all forms of violence, including sexual violence.
    “Statistics show that in New Zealand, women are nearly three times more likely to experience sexual violence compared to men.
    “It is important that both boys and girls are taught how to engage in healthy relationships and that parents are aware of what their children are being taught. While consent education is not the only solution, it can contribute towards the necessary shift in behaviour to prevent forms of sexual violence and better equip young adults to be safe.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wicker, Rosen Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Address Physician Shortage in Rural Areas

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Jackie Rosen, D-N.V., introduced a bill to help increase the number of specialist doctors and other medical specialists in rural communities. The bipartisan Specialty Physicians Advancing Rural Care (SPARC) Act would tackle the shortage of physicians in rural communities by creating a student loan repayment program for specialist physicians and other specialist medical professionals practicing in rural areas. Mississippi, especially rural areas, face severe physician shortages and is among the most medically underserved states within the United States.
    Click here for bill text.  
    “The entire nation is dealing with a physician shortage, and rural communities in Mississippi have been particularly affected. Congress can help provide a solution,” said Senator Wicker. “The SPARC Act would offer targeted incentives to medical professionals who choose to work in underserved towns and cities. I believe this bill will encourage providers to bring their services to areas that need them most.”
    “Nevada’s shortage of medical professionals is jeopardizing the ability of families to get the care they need — especially in our rural communities,” said Senator Rosen. “We need new solutions to bring more physicians to all parts of our state, which is why I’m proud to introduce bipartisan legislation to create a student loan repayment program for specialist physicians practicing in rural areas. I’ll keep working to address the medical provider shortage crisis Nevada is facing.” 
    “As the only academic medical center and the largest health system in a rural state, the University of Mississippi Medical Center supports measures that increase access to health care for all Mississippians. The SPARC Act would be an effective tool to encourage more skilled physicians to establish specialty-medicine practices in rural Mississippi communities. UMMC’s overall mission is to foster a healthier Mississippi, and should this bill pass and be enacted, it will help us move closer to that goal,” said Dr. LouAnn Woodward, Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Dean of the School of UMMC.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Teens surprisingly ‘confident’ about money

    Source: Premier of Victoria

    Aussie teens report feeling confident about their financial skills but are keen to learn more about money outside the classroom, according to new NAB Economics data.

    The NAB Economics data found high school students felt most confident in:

    1. Opening a bank account: Nearly 70% of students feel confident doing this
    2. Tracking their expenses: Around 65% of students felt they could do this.
    3. Money management skills: 64% of students felt confident in this area.
    4. Creating a budget: 63% of students felt prepared to make one.
    5. Setting financial goals: 62% of students felt they could do this.

    NAB Banker Claudia Dior said the research challenged assumptions about teenagers and their relationship with money.

    “Contrary to popular belief, the research shows that today’s teens are relatively confident when it comes to talking about money.

    “They’ve grown up during significant economic shifts. Many of them have seen their parents flex their budgeting muscles, and they’re eager to learn how to set themselves up for success. They’re using their digital fluency to self-source their own financial knowledge, but it’s crucial they find the information through legitimate sources.

    “As a banker, I’ve noticed a shift in how young people approach banking. They’re asking informed questions about interest rates and long-term planning – things we rarely heard a decade ago.

    “At home, we discuss our family budget with my 18-year-old, and when we shop, we compare prices and value. All of a sudden, concepts from Economics textbooks have become part of our everyday life.”

    Thanks to early conversations around money management, Melbourne highschooler Hugo Black is clued into his finances. It’s come in handy, as the 17-year-old has held three jobs over the past two years.

    “My parents taught me the importance of being aware of my spending habits early on by helping me set savings goals and budget my pocket money,” Hugo said.

    “This foundation helped when I got my first job at 15. Now, working in hospitality and babysitting, I aim to save between 30 to 60% of my wages.”

    Hugo’s ultimate savings goal is to self-fund a gap year in Europe after high school.

    “My brothers did it after year 12 so seeing them go before me has shown it’s achievable. Having these goals means I’m working towards something. It keeps me responsible in managing my money. When I get back, I plan to save for a car and start investing in a share portfolio to build towards buying my first home.”

    NAB Banker Claudia Dior offers three tips for boosting kids financial literacy at home:

    • Use technology as a financial tool: Leverage your teens’ digital fluency by introducing them to legitimate banking apps to help them track their spending for a month, categorise expenses and identify patterns. This will help them build critical financial management habits.
    • Make the weekly grocery shop an economics lesson: Involve children in meal planning within a budget, comparing prices, identifying sales and calculating unit pricing. This teaches practical maths skills while demonstrating how small decisions accumulate into significant financial impacts.
    • Transform bill-paying into financial education: Rather than paying bills in private, invite children to watch how it’s done. Explain the difference between fixed and variable expenses, show how services are linked to costs, and discuss how income needs to cover these bills. This will help them understand household finances and prepare them for their future responsibilities.

    Notes to editors 

    • Data sourced from NAB Educations Insights Special Report Part Three

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    For all media enquiries, please contact the NAB Media Line on 03 7035 5015

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Haka in the House: what will Te Pāti Māori’s protest mean for tikanga in parliament?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominic O’Sullivan, Professor of Political Science, Charles Sturt University and Adjunct Professor Stout Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington and Auckland University of Technology., Charles Sturt University

    Te Pāti Māori’s Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke lead a haka with Eru Kapa-Kingi outside parliament, November 19, 2024. Getty Images

    Time is apparently running out for the three Te Pāti Māori MPs whose haka in parliament during the Treaty Principles Bill debate last year attracted huge international attention.

    Parliament’s Privileges Committee has summoned the MPs to appear on Wednesday (April 23). But given their previous resistance to fronting up, it seems unlikely they will.

    The committee is investigating whether the haka broke parliament’s rules. The MPs say they don’t think they’ll get a fair hearing because the committee won’t allow legal representation or evidence from an expert in tikanga Maori.

    According to Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngawera-Packer, this “is a display of power designed to silence us”.

    But the case is about more than possible breaches of parliamentary protocol and standing orders. It also asks serious questions about our liberal democracy in general.

    Everybody needs to express themselves freely and without fear. So, when MPs leave their seats and come close to their opponents, does it cross a line? That was certainly the ruling last year when Green MP Julie Anne Genter was censured for crossing the floor and confronting another MP.

    Perhaps there is still good reason for New Zealand following the British parliamentary tradition of the government and opposition benches being two and a half sword lengths apart.

    But it has already been established that haka are allowed in parliament. The real questions are how, when, why and according to which rules or tikanga?

    The problem with ‘partnership’

    According to the political philosopher Nancy Fraser, democracy should support every citizen to participate in public life equally:

    [Justice] requires social arrangements that permit all members to participate in social interaction on a par with one another. So that means they must be able to participate as peers in all the major forms of social interaction.

    If parliament and the democratic system belong equally to everyone, then everyone should be able to say this ideal matches their experience. In other words, people have one voice of equal value, not just one vote.

    This is why the appropriate use of haka in parliament needs to be worked out. At one level it is about people being able to express their ideas in ways that make sense to them and the people they represent.

    At a deeper level, the issue revolves around who actually “owns” parliament. Everyone? Or everyone except Māori people and their representatives? Does everyone have a voice of equal value?

    Part of the problem is the notion of “partnership” between Māori and the Crown proposed by the Court of Appeal in 1987. Well intentioned as it might have been, this also created an “us and them” way of thinking.

    In this sense, the Crown and its institutions are seen as separate or foreign to Māori – as belonging to other people. If that’s the case, parliament can’t then belong to everybody or reflect everybody’s customs and ways of being.

    But if parliament belongs to everyone and sovereignty is not simply the oppressive authority of a distant king, but rather the shared property of every citizen, then the haka belongs as a distinctive form of political expression. It becomes part of the tikanga of the parliament.

    Tikanga Māori in practice

    However, tikanga is not simply about how parliamentary procedure deals with haka, waiata or the Māori language itself.

    As an authority on tikanga, Hirini Moko Mead, put it, the concept is

    a set of beliefs and practices associated with procedures to be followed in conducting the affairs of a group or an individual. These procedures, as established by precedents through time, are held to be ritually, are validated by usually more than one generation and are always subject to what a group or an individual is able to do.

    Like parliamentary standing orders, tikanga is procedural and grounded in broader principles of justice and ethics.

    Legal scholars Māmari Stephens and Carwyn Jones describe how tikanga prioritises relationships, collective obligations and inclusive decision-making. The Māori concept of wānganga or “active discussion”, Jones has written, is a framework for robust debate to enhance mutual understanding, but which doesn’t necessarily require consensus.

    Tikanga Māori and deliberative democracy

    The idea that political decisions should be based on reasoning, listening and serious reflection is known as deliberative democracy. It’s basically the opposite of outright majority rule based on “having the numbers”, which sometimes happens without any debate at all.

    Political theorists Selen Ercan and John Dryzek define deliberative democracy as being about

    putting communication at the heart of politics, recognising the need for reflective justification of positions, stressing the pursuit of reciprocal understanding across those who have different frameworks or ideologies.

    If that is true, then shouting across the parliamentary debating chamber doesn’t help. Nor does using the haka to intimidate.

    But using it to make a fair and reasonable point, to which others may respond, is essential to a parliament that is genuinely a “house of representatives”. Tikanga Māori and deliberative democratic processes offer complementary ways of working out what this could mean in practice.

    Dominic O’Sullivan 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. Haka in the House: what will Te Pāti Māori’s protest mean for tikanga in parliament? – https://theconversation.com/haka-in-the-house-what-will-te-pati-maoris-protest-mean-for-tikanga-in-parliament-254772

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Paul S. Atkins Sworn In as SEC Chairman

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    Paul S. Atkins was sworn into office today as the 34th Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Chairman Atkins was nominated by President Donald J. Trump on January 20, 2025, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 9, 2025.

    “I am honored by the trust and confidence President Trump and the Senate have placed in me to lead the SEC,” said Chairman Atkins. “As I return to the SEC, I am pleased to join with my fellow Commissioners and the agency’s dedicated professionals to advance its mission to facilitate capital formation; maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets; and protect investors. Together we will work to ensure that the U.S. is the best and most secure place in the world to invest and do business.” 

    Prior to returning to the SEC, Chairman Atkins was most recently chief executive of Patomak Global Partners, a company he founded in 2009. Chairman Atkins helped lead efforts to develop best practices for the digital asset sector. He served as an independent director and non-executive chairman of the board of BATS Global Markets, Inc. from 2012 to 2015. 

    Chairman Atkins was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as a Commissioner of the SEC from 2002 to 2008. During his tenure, he advocated for transparency, consistency, and the use of cost-benefit analysis at the agency. Chairman Atkins also represented the SEC at meetings of the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets and the U.S.-EU Transatlantic Economic Council. From 2009 to 2010, he was appointed a member of the Congressional Oversight Panel for the Troubled Asset Relief Program. 

    Before serving as an SEC Commissioner, Chairman Atkins was as a consultant on securities and investment management industry matters, especially regarding issues of strategy, regulatory compliance, risk management, new product development, and organizational control. 

    From 1990 to 1994, Chairman Atkins served on the staff of two chairmen of the SEC, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt, ultimately as chief of staff and counselor, respectively.

    Chairman Atkins began his career as a lawyer in New York, focusing on a wide range of corporate transactions for U.S. and foreign clients, including public and private securities offerings and mergers and acquisitions. He was resident for 2½ years in his firm’s Paris office and admitted as conseil juridique in France.

    A member of the New York and Florida bars, Chairman Atkins received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1983 and his A.B., Phi Beta Kappa, from Wofford College in 1980.

    Originally from Lillington, North Carolina, Chairman Atkins grew up in Tampa, Florida. He and his wife Sarah have three sons.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Free breakfast clubs roll out as costs for families cut by £8,000

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Free breakfast clubs roll out as costs for families cut by £8,000

    Thousands of children to attend free breakfast clubs across the country today, as government delivers its manifesto commitment and promise to working families

    School mornings just got easier for families across the country as 750 schools open breakfast clubs today, offering 30 minutes of free childcare, a healthy start for kids and a little more breathing room before the school bell rings.

    Parents will be supported with additional time at the start of the day to attend appointments, get to work on time and run errands. In total, this means parents will be able to save up to 95 additional hours and £450 per year if their child attends free breakfast clubs every day. 

    This amount rises to a saving of up to £8,000 every year when combining the free breakfast clubs with further support through the expansion of government-funded childcare and new school uniform cap on branded items.

    With the cost of everyday essentials stretching budgets, these clubs will be a lifeline for working families simply trying to get by. When you’re raising a family, every penny counts and that’s why the government is stepping in to ease the pressure and put money back in parents’ pockets.

    No matter the postcode or the pay packet, every child deserves the same chance to thrive. That’s the principle behind this rollout — real support for families in every corner of the country, so no one is left behind.

    These clubs sit alongside action to tackle the cost of living, with inflation falling for two months in a row, wages growing faster than prices and fuel duty frozen. Together, they show the Plan for Change is delivering for working families.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    As a parent, I know that the combined pressures of family life and work can often feel impossible to juggle. That is why our manifesto promised to make parents lives easier and put more money in their pockets with free breakfast clubs. Under a year since we came into office, this government is delivering that through our Plan for Change.

    The rollout of free breakfast clubs is a truly game-changing moment for families in this country. They mean parents will no longer be hamstrung by rigid school hours and have the breathing space they need to beat the morning rush, attend work meetings and doctors’ appointments, or run errands. And crucially, it means better life chances for children.

    By making these clubs free and universal, we’re doing something that previous governments have never done. We’re going further and faster to deliver the change working families deserve. That’s the change this government was elected to deliver.

    Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: 

    Free breakfast clubs are a central part of our Plan for Change. At a time when there is so much pressure on families, they provide real help with the cost of living and ensure children start the day with a nutritious meal. 

    On top of the hectic school run, parents should not have to worry about how to balance work and getting their children fed and ready for school. These clubs will break down barriers and help children settle in, focus and get the most out of their learning.

    We are delivering on our promises and giving every child the best start in life while making sure families get the support they need, wherever they live.

    According to new government data, parents are also motivated to take up free breakfast clubs because of the improvements they can have on their wellbeing.

    Many see them as is an opportunity to socialise with other children before school (30%) and spend more time doing the activities they enjoy (28%) – offering a supportive start to the day that leads to better behaviour, and better life chances.

    The rollout delivers on the government’s manifesto promise to ensure state schools offer free breakfast clubs to all pupils; while supporting its Plan for Change milestone to ensure tens of thousands more children start school ready to learn.

    Victoria Taylor, mum of two children aged 5 and 7, said:

    For me, free breakfast clubs provide vital support, meaning I can get into work a little easier and ensure my two kids are settled and ready to learn.

    I’m a primary school teacher, so early mornings are a must however I try to not let my busy schedule dictate the pace of mornings.

    Taking my children to breakfast clubs means I know they are fed, ready to start the day and emotionally regulated – the commitment to rollout nationally will make the world of difference for working families.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Move more, think sharper: How physical activity boosts brain health in ageing

    Source:

    22 April 2025

    A brisk walk, a splash of water aerobics, or even a light jog around the block – if your heart rate goes up then so too will your brain health according to new research from the University of South Australia.

    Conducted in partnership with the US-based AdventHealth Research Institute, the new study found that staying active through moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is associated with significantly better processing speed, working memory, and executive function in older adults.

    Interestingly, the biggest cognitive gains were seen among people who went from doing no moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, to even doing just five minutes, clearly illustrating the power of exercise for the human brain.

    Assessing data from 585 older adults (aged 65-80 years) in the USA-based IGNITE trial*, the study examined associations between time spent in sleep, sedentary behaviour, light physical activity, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity across the 24-hr day, and cognitive performance.

    Researchers identified a two-way relationship between ‘huff-and-puff’ physical activity and brain health: do more exercise and your brain health improves; but do less and it declines.

    UniSA researcher, Dr Maddison Mellow says the study highlights how small changes to your daily activities can have big impacts on your brain health.

    “There are three mutually exclusive lifestyle behaviours in the 24-hour day – sleep, sedentary behaviour and physical activity – and how these interact to influence our health outcomes,” Dr Mellow says.

    “For example, we know that being more active can improve our sleep; or having a better night’s sleep could boost our energy levels to perform physical activity the next day. But what we don’t know is the optimal balance of time spent in each of these behaviours to maximise cognitive performance.

    “In this study we explored how different uses of time impact your brain. We found that higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity – that is, activity performed at higher intensities that increases your heart rate and breathing – was related to better cognitive performance.

    “Specifically, ‘huff-and-puff’ physical activity (like aerobic exercise) improves processing speed (how fast your brain thinks), executive function (how well you plan, focus, and multitask) and working memory (your ability to store information for short periods of time).

    “Importantly, the opposite was also true: lower levels of this higher intensity physical activity were related to poorer performance on these tests.”

    The findings were consistent across different genetic and demographic backgrounds. Interestingly, the findings did not extend to episodic memory (the what, where and when details of an event) or visuospatial function outcomes (your ability to recognise places and navigate through spaces).

    Co-researcher, Dr Audrey Collins, says understanding the interplay between different activities could empower older people to make positive health changes.

    “There are only 24 hours in a day, so every day, we make decisions about how we spend our time. For example, if we sleep for eight hours, then there’s 16 hours remaining for waking behaviours like physical activity or sedentary behaviour; that’s the basic reality,” Dr Collins says.

    “Our results show that how we choose to spend our time across the 24-hour day may be differentially related to our brain health.

    “Understanding that we need to prioritise physical activity – such as physical activity that gets our heart rates up, according to our findings – is the key.

    “With one in six people in the world expected to be 60 years or older by 2030, we need to make sure we are supporting and empowering people to age well.

    “In this instance, we hope that knowledge is power: boost your physical activity and boost your brain health to stay fit and well as you age. However, these results are cross-sectional and need to be tested longitudinally and experimentally.”

    Notes for editors:

    * The IGNITE study was conducted at the University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA), University of Kansas Medical Center (Kansas City, KS), and Northeastern University (Boston, MA) and involved a large, well-characterised sample of cognitively unimpaired older adults. Participants were, on average, 69.8 years of age, predominantly female (70%), and self-reported as inactive.

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

    Contacts for interview:  Dr Maddison Mellow E: Maddison.Mellow@unisa.edu.au

    Dr Audrey Collins E: CFD.ExternalComm@adventhealth.com
    Media contact: Annabel Mansfield M: +61 479 182 489  E: Annabel.Mansfield@unisa.edu.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Colleagues Call on Trump Administration to Reverse Plans to Defund Libraries and Museums

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) joined colleagues in a letter to the Acting Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) expressing serious concerns regarding President Trump’s call to eliminate the only federal agency dedicated to supporting the nation’s libraries and museums through federal LSTA grants. In the letter, the lawmakers called on the Administration to ensure continued funding, in accordance with federal law, for libraries, museums, and the critical programs and services that many Nevada communities rely on.
    “The consequences of eliminating IMLS will be devastating for states, local communities, and the millions of Americans who rely on these institutions every day,” wrote the lawmakers. “These institutions are critical pillars of educational opportunity, cultural preservation, civic engagement, and economic development in our communities.”
    “Museums and libraries are the cornerstone of our society that serve as protected spaces for people to learn, engage with their community, and build curiosity,” the lawmakers’ letter continued. “We urge you to uphold the law, immediately disburse all awarded LSTA grant funding to our states, […] and reverse any actions that jeopardize the future of the libraries and museums our communities rely on.”
    The full letter can be found HERE.
    In 2023, nearly 640,000 Nevadans benefited directly from an LSTA grant-funded program, including: 

    Nevada’s Talking Books Library, a program to provide reading materials to blind or disabled individuals with an emphasis on supporting disabled veterans;
    Access to academic and research databases for K-12 schools and all of Nevada’s public universities and community colleges;
    Youth and summer reading programs, and continuing education and training programs hosted at libraries across the state;
    Traditional language and culture-based learning programs for the Pyramid Lake and Walker River Paiute Tribes; and
    Continued maintenance and upgrades at the Discovery Children’s Museum in Las Vegas.

    Without intervention, all of the programs described above will be cut and ended immediately or quickly discontinued as federal funding they receive through LSTA grants will be paused, cancelled, or revoked.
    Senator Rosen has been fighting back against reckless cuts to education resources and their impacts on children and our communities. Last month, she joined Senate colleagues in a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon condemning the Administration’s reckless and illegal firing of half of the workforce at the Department. Senator Rosen also issued a statement denouncing President Trump’s executive order attempting to dismantle the Department of Education.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Promoting Work Zone Safety Statewide

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul is promoting work zone safety by urging all drivers to slow down, stay alert and follow New York State’s Move Over Law to protect roadside workers and other motorists. As construction season kicks into high gear statewide, these efforts highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week — which is celebrated from April 21-25, 2025 — and the national theme: “Respect the zone so we all get home.”

    “Every roadside worker deserves to return home safely at the end of their shift,” Governor Hochul said. “We’re asking all drivers to do their part by reducing speed, eliminating distractions and staying vigilant in work zones so that our hard-working and dedicated roadside workers are safe. A few extra seconds of your time and attention can save a life.”

    In 2024, there were more than 156 crashes in Thruway work zones resulting in one fatality and 30 injuries. Distracted driving, following too closely, an unsafe lane change or disregarding traffic warning signs caused the majority of the crashes. In addition, two Thruway Authority employees died and another was seriously injured in separate incidents while working on the New York State Thruway. In its 70-plus year history, 22 Thruway employees have been killed while on the job.

    In 2024, there were 322 intrusions in New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) work zones. These intrusions resulted in the deaths of two drivers who entered the work zones and 138 additional injuries to highway workers and the traveling public. A total of 58 members of the NYSDOT family have died on the job across New York State, dating as far back as 1939.

    Throughout National Work Zone Awareness Week, the New York State Thruway Authority and NYSDOT will be hosting awareness events, lighting digital highway signs with safety messages and sharing important safety reminders on social media platforms. In addition — at the direction of Governor Hochul — State landmarks will be illuminated in orange on Wednesday, April 23 in recognition of Go Orange Day. Drivers are encouraged to:

    • Slow down when approaching work zones.
    • Move over for all stopped vehicles including roadside workers, emergency responders and disabled vehicles.
    • Stay off phones and avoid other distractions while driving.
    • Follow posted signs and flagger instructions.

    This April also marks two years since the launch of the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement (AWZSE) pilot program. The pilot program was established by legislation enacted into law by Governor Hochul in 2021 which authorized a five-year pilot program run as a joint effort by NYSDOT and the Thruway Authority to enhance the State’s ongoing efforts to slow motorists down in work zones and make New York’s highways safer.

    More than 425,000 Notices of Liability have been issued statewide, with over 38,000 repeat offenders since the AWZSE program began issuing Notices of Liability in May 2023. In locations where the cameras have been present more than once, fewer Notices of Liability are being issued, meaning that people are slowing down when cameras are present.

    Fines through the pilot program are issued as follows:

    • First Notice of Liability: $50 fine
    • Second Notice of Liability: $75 fine if within an 18-month period of first violation
    • Third and Subsequent Notices of Liability: $100 fine if within an 18-month period of first violation

    To further protect the workers who build and maintain roads and bridges, Governor Hochul proposed making the AWZSE pilot program permanent and increasing penalties for repeat violators in her Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget, in addition to expanding the program to include Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Bridges and Tunnels and New York State Bridge Authority properties. Additionally, the Governor suggested enhancing penalties for assaults against transportation workers, extending protections similar to those provided to many MTA and retail workers. These actions will improve safety for both workers and drivers.

    Beginning with National Work Zone Awareness Week and continuing through the construction season, the New York State Police and local law enforcement agencies will once again be conducting “Operation Hardhat” details to enforce vehicle and traffic laws in highway work zones. Under “Operation Hardhat,” State Troopers or local police officers are dressed as highway maintenance workers in active NYSDOT or Thruway work zones across New York, identifying and citing motorists for several violations, including disobeying flagging personnel, speeding through work zones, cell phone and seatbelt use, and/or violations of the State’s Move Over law. Last year 2,755 tickets were issued by State Police and participating law enforcement agencies during 62 deployments across the State.

    The New York State Department of Transportation and Thruway Authority have produced new videos encouraging motorists to move over in work zones. See the NYSDOT video here and Thruway Authority video here.

    To celebrate “Go Orange Day” and to commemorate National Work Zone Awareness Week, the following New York State landmarks will be lit orange on Wednesday, April 23:

    • Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
    • Kosciuszko Bridge
    • The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
    • State Education Building
    • Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
    • Empire State Plaza
    • State Fairgrounds – Main Gate & Expo Center
    • Niagara Falls
    • The “Franklin D. Roosevelt” Mid-Hudson Bridge
    • Albany International Airport Gateway
    • MTA LIRR – East End Gateway at Penn Station
    • Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal
    • Moynihan Train Hall

    The New York State Bridge Authority (NYSBA) is observing Work Zone Awareness Week by conducting a “road show” at each of its five vehicular spans. Each day will consist of a meeting with staff, followed by a meeting with local stakeholders and first responders to discuss safety concerns, explore opportunities for collaboration, and share information about NYSBA’s upcoming construction season. Additionally, the necklace lights on the Mid-Hudson Bridge will be illuminated in orange in honor of “Go Orange Day” to promote work zone safety.

    New York State Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank G. Hoare said, “Each day, roadside workers risk their lives to enhance the safety of the roads we all rely on. It’s everyone’s responsibility to ensure they can perform their jobs safely and return to their families after their shifts. Drivers need to remain alert and reduce their speed in work zones. Let’s show our appreciation for the dedicated men and women who keep our roads operating safely.”

    New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “Our dedicated highway maintenance and construction workers routinely work in hazardous conditions so that the rest of us can get where we need to go, safely. They have families, friends and loved ones who love them and depend on them. We owe them all a debt of gratitude and paying back that debt begins with keeping them safe. I appreciate Governor Hochul’s continuing efforts to protect our workers so remember, every driver has a role to play — during National Work Zone Awareness Week and throughout the year – that is why I urge all motorists to put down your phones, slow down, and pay attention, especially in work zones. Lives are at stake.”

    New York State Bridge Authority Executive Director Dr. Minosca Alcantara said, “This week serves as an important reminder that work zone safety is a shared responsibility for everyone who travels on our state’s roadways. In recognition of this, the Bridge Authority is bringing together staff and local leaders at each of our five vehicular bridges to reinforce our partnerships and collective commitment to protecting employees working in construction zones. By remaining vigilant and looking out for our work crews, we help ensure that our staff return home safely to their loved ones—and that all travelers experience a safer journey.”

    New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “Highway workers, law enforcement officers and other emergency responders, work in a dangerous environment and risk their lives to keep the traveling public safe. They should be able to do their jobs without fear of harm and go home to their families at the end of each workday. It is important that motorists are aware of their responsibility to slow down, move over and put electronic devices away.”

    New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Mark J.F. Schroeder said, “As someone who spends a lot of time on the road driving across New York, I cannot understate my appreciation for the men and women who work to maintain the safety of those roads. We must all mind the rules of the road, and especially the rules of the work zone, to ensure that everyone on both sides of the cones and barricades are safe at all times.”

    State Senator Jeremy Cooney said, “This National Work Zone Awareness Week is a reminder for drivers to slow down, drive safely, and obey the rules of the road. Our highway employees work hard every day to improve our roads and get drivers where they need to go, and it’s only right that we work to keep them safe while on the job. I’m grateful to Governor Hochul, the Thruway Authority and NYSDOT for their continued partnership to keep all New Yorkers safe on the road.”

    Assemblymember William B. Magnarelli said, “Work Zone safety continues to be a priority for me as Chair of the Transportation Committee. In 2021, I was proud to sponsor and get passed into law legislation creating a pilot program for the use of speed cameras in work zones. There is no excuse for speeding and reckless driving in work zones. Our workers deserve a safe working environment and to safely go home to their families at the end of their shifts.”

    Associated General Contractors of New York State President and CEO Mike Elmendorf said, “Work zone safety isn’t just a one-week concern—it’s a year-round priority. As construction season ramps up, we urge all drivers: stay alert, slow down, and move over in work zones. Every day, highway workers and flaggers face serious risks from speeding and distracted drivers. That’s why New York’s work zone speed camera program is critical — it saves lives and must be made permanent and expanded. The recent rise in assaults on transportation workers makes it even more urgent to strengthen legal protections for those building and maintaining our infrastructure. AGC NYS is proud to partner with Governor Hochul and NYSDOT to create safer roads for workers and drivers alike. We applaud the Governor’s Executive Budget proposals to make the speed camera program permanent and close legal loopholes that leave workers vulnerable. Now, the Legislature must act to protect the men and women who keep New York moving.”

    New York State American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations President Mario Cliento said, “In just a few days, we will mark Workers Memorial Day to honor those who lost their lives on the job. As leaders move closer to finalizing the state budget, we have a unique opportunity to improve worker safety with new work zone protections and traffic laws. No worker should fear for their life while performing their job, and no family should have to grieve the loss of a loved one due to preventable and entirely avoidable roadway incidents. We thank Governor Hochul for prioritizing worker safety, and we look forward to working with her on protecting the workforce that keeps our roads safe.”

    New York State Building and Construction Trades Council President Gary LaBarbera said, “Construction sites are inherently dangerous and the added hazards and less-controllable variants of roadways and high speed traffic only increase the risks for worksites on our highways. This is why we must continue to encourage drivers to proceed with more caution and mindfulness around roadway work zones. We applaud Governor Hochul for her ongoing leadership and action on this important issue. Every hard-working New Yorker, including our brave tradesmen and tradeswomen working on our roadways, deserve to return home safely to their families at the end of each shift.”

    Laborers’ International Union of North America Vice President and New England Regional Manager Donato A. Bianco, Jr. said, “National Work Zone Awareness Week serves as an important reminder to everyone traveling our highways to slow down, stay alert and respect the men and women who perform this necessary and inherently dangerous work. Every day, LIUNA members build, repair and maintain the roads we drive to our jobs and back home to our families. It is because of these workers that our commutes are safer and more efficient. We all owe it to them to prioritize their safety and ensure they also return home to their loved ones at the end of their workday.”

    New York State Laborers Health and Safety Trust Fund Executive Director Frank Marchese, Jr. said, “National Work Zone Awareness Week is an important initiative that calls attention to the perils of road construction, and why driver attentiveness is imperative all year round. The data shows that prioritizing work zone safety legislation and initiatives creates a far less hazardous environment for workers simply doing their jobs by reducing speeding and distracted driving. Our union calls on everyone to do their part to keep workers safe, and show support for those who keep New York State moving forward.”

    New York State Conference of Operating Engineers President Thomas A. Callahan said, “Our members work hard building and repairing New York’s roads and bridges. That dangerous work becomes deadly with reckless and careless drivers. That’s why we urge the Legislature and the Governor to pass a budget that includes speed cameras in work zones legislation in addition to other safety measures.”

    Civil Service Employees Association Thruway Local 058 President Sean Kennedy said, “CSEA affirms our commitment to making sure all of our members make it home at the end of the work day. Drivers need to do their part too.”

    Civil Service Employees Association President Mary E. Sullivan said, “Our union joins Governor Hochul, the New York State Department of Transportation and the New York State Thruway Authority in observing National Work Zone Awareness Week from April 21 to April 25. As road work season begins, we want to once again highlight the importance of safe driving in highway work zones. This year, we observe this week remembering our union brother Stephen Ebling, who lost his life while working in a Thruway work zone. As motorists, we must always use caution while in work zones; respect the zone so we can all get home.”

    New York State Public Employees Federation President Wayne Spence said, “The 54,000 members of the New York State Public Employees Federation, especially the hardworking professionals at the NYS Department of Transportation, urge all New Yorkers to stay aware, on task and use caution when driving through highway work zones. As we enter National Work Zone Awareness Week, April 21-25, 2025, all New Yorkers should all be mindful that our highway workers have families that need them. In 2024 alone, there were more than 156 crashes in Thruway work zones resulting in one fatality and 30 injuries. Unfortunately, the vast majority of these accidents were entirely preventable if the drivers had focused on operating their vehicles and maintained appropriate work zone speeds — distracted driving and operator error were responsible for the vast majority of these crashes. PEF urges all motorists to pay attention and respect our highway work zones so all these dedicated workers can get home safely to their families.”

    Teamsters Local 456 President and Principal Officer Louis A. Picani said, “National Work Zone Awareness Week is a crucial time to reflect on the safety of our workers and the public. One of Teamsters Local 456’s objectives is to maintain the safety and well-being of our members. We support our partners in state government in enforcing stringent safety measures to protect those who build and maintain our roads. Local 456 not only represents the New York State Thruway workers, whose lives are in danger every day, but also the construction workers who are out fixing and maintaining roadways for those who travel them every day. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Governor Hochul for her unwavering support and commitment to enhancing work zone safety. Together, we can ensure that every work zone is a safe zone.”

    Safety is a shared responsibility. By working together, we can reduce accidents and ensure safer roads for workers and drivers alike.

    For more information on National Work Zone Awareness Week and how to stay safe while driving through work zones, visit the state’s comprehensive website at ny.gov/workzone.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: P10 Announces Appointments of Jennifer Glassman and Stephen Blewitt to Board of Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DALLAS, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — P10, Inc. (NYSE: PX), (“P10” or the “Company”), a leading private markets solutions provider, today announced the appointment of Jennifer Glassman and Stephen Blewitt to its Board of Directors (“the Board”). Ms. Glassman will join the Board as an independent Class I director, effective April 21, 2025, and will serve on the Company’s Audit Committee. Mr. Blewitt will join the Board as an independent Class III director, effective April 21, 2025, and will serve on the Company’s Compensation Committee.

    “We are thrilled to welcome these two investment industry veterans to the P10 Board,” said Luke Sarsfield, P10 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Jennifer and Stephen have proven track records within the alternative asset management sector that will immediately strengthen our board. This board refreshment further enhances our governance profile as we seek to create long-term value for our investment strategies and shareholders.”

    Ms. Glassman is a seasoned financial services leader and currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Towerbrook Capital Partners. Ms. Glassman was previously a partner and CFO at Soros Private Equity, and she also served in a variety of financial control and reporting roles for Soros Fund Management LLC. Prior to joining Soros, Ms. Glassman was a senior manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, where she worked in the Financial Services Business Assurance practice for over seven years. Ms. Glassman is a certified public accountant and earned her B.S. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and received her M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.

    Mr. Blewitt is the co-founder of Youth.Work.Connect, a mission-based organization, founded in 2024. It was created to help high school youth from underserved communities build social capital to promote economic mobility. Previously, Mr. Blewitt served as the Chief Investment Officer (Private Markets) and Head of Private Markets at Manulife Investment Management from October 2018 to June 2023, where he was responsible for leading global investment teams across a wide range of asset classes, including private equity and credit, real estate, infrastructure, timber, and agriculture. Prior to that, Mr. Blewitt led Manulife’s private equity and credit business in the U.S. for almost 20 years. Mr. Blewitt earned his B.A. from the University of Chicago and received his M.B.A. from Boston University.

    About P10
    P10 is a leading multi-asset class private markets solutions provider in the alternative asset management industry. P10’s mission is to provide its investors differentiated access to a broad set of investment solutions that address their diverse investment needs within private markets. As of December 31, 2024, P10’s products have a global investor base of more than 3,800 investors across 50 states, 60 countries, and six continents, which includes some of the world’s largest pension funds, endowments, foundations, corporate pensions, and financial institutions. Visit www.p10alts.com.

    P10 Investor Contact:
    info@p10alts.com

    P10 Media Contact:
    Josh Clarkson
    Taylor Donahue
    pro-p10@prosek.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Is a corporation a slave? Many philosophers think so

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Duncan Ian Wallace, Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Monash University

    f11photo/Shutterstock

    If you’ve ever heard the term “wage slave”, you’ll know many modern workers – perhaps even you – sometimes feel enslaved to the organisation at which they work.

    But here’s a different way of thinking about it: for-profit business corporations are themselves slaves.

    Corporations such as Microsoft, Google and Tesla are what the law describes as “legal persons”, with many of the same rights and duties in law as individual persons have.

    One right that they do not share with individuals, however, is the right not to be owned as property – the right not to be enslaved.

    For though Microsoft, Google and Tesla are persons in law, they are also owned by their shareholders as property. And as legal persons that are owned as property, I argue, such corporations are slaves.

    Wait, what?

    As someone who’s spent years researching the history and philosophy of corporate legal personhood, I’ve done a lot of thinking about the corporation as a kind of organism, or person.

    I have come to the belief that corporations are persons not only in law, but are persons also in reality. Their legal personalities are only the recognition of real, underlying, group personalities.

    I am far from the only person to believe in the reality of corporate personality.

    Philosophers Christian List and Philip Pettit, for example, advance the idea in their influential 2011 book, Group Agency.

    In the book, List and Pettit argue that an appropriately organised social group, such as a corporation, has attitudes independent of the attitudes of the group’s individual members.

    More than the sum of its parts

    Such a group is more than the sum of its parts. It has its own personality, which emerges from the coordinated action of its individual members. This personality can survive changes in membership.

    This shows, List and Pettit claim, such groups have “minds of their own”. They possess a sophisticated psychology enabling them to reflect on their choices and actions, make judgements on the basis of evidence and understand concepts such as right and wrong, or life and death.

    In short, appropriately organised social groups really are capable of being understood as persons – “group persons”. They exist, alongside individual persons, as a normal part of human society.

    And these group persons are capable of being owned as property. Consider for-profit corporations. They are traded on markets as commodities; are bought, sold and exploited; and are forced to maximise profits in the interests of their owners – their shareholders.

    They are persons owned as property. They are, in other words, in the condition of slavery.

    Look at Roman slave law

    The idea that group persons can be slaves is an old idea. With respect to the for-profit corporation, however, it is generally rejected by modern corporate law scholars.

    They argue that because corporations are persons in law, this demonstrates such entities cannot be owned.

    They also point out that shareholders have limited liability for the debts of their corporations. This shows, they say, that shareholders cannot be thought of as true owners.

    Such objections can be met, however, by examining the slave laws of societies where slavery was legal.

    Under Roman law, for instance, slaves – though the personal property of their masters – were clearly recognised as persons in law. They were able to own property, could contract, go into debt, be held responsible for wrongs, and sue others for wrongs committed against them.

    Indeed, it was common for such slaves to run businesses of their own (though ultimately for the financial benefit of the master).

    And when slaves ran such businesses, their masters had limited liability for the debts of their slaves – just as shareholders have limited liability for the debts of their for-profit corporations today.

    Roman slave law is no exception in these respects. The same can be found under the slave laws of Ancient Greece, medieval Islam, and in those of the 19th century American South.

    An Ancient Roman mosaic from Tunisia, showing slaves pouring drinks at a banquet.
    Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA

    4 reasons this matters

    Identifying for-profit corporations as slaves matters for four reasons.

    First, it highlights potential moral problems with owning corporations. When we have shares in the ownership of for-profit corporations, we are participating as masters in a system of slavery.

    Second, the ability to own for-profit corporations as “slaves” is a major driver of inequality. The richest people in the world have all made their money from owning corporations, and their ability to amass such wealth would be unimaginable otherwise.

    The third reason identifying for-profit corporations as slaves matters is because it provides an explanation for why corporations maximise profits in the interests of shareholders. It is because shareholders own them, and force this behaviour upon them.

    Fourth, identifying corporations as slaves offers a solution to the problem of corporate profit-maximising behaviour (a behaviour causing great social and environmental harm): getting rid of shareholders.

    Consider, for example, worker cooperatives like Mondragon Corporation in Spain and the John Lewis Partnership in the United Kingdom.

    They are share-less corporations. They are unowned. They are corporations free from enslavement.

    The effect is that they do not maximise profits. Instead, they value the wellbeing of their workers.

    Duncan Ian Wallace 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. Is a corporation a slave? Many philosophers think so – https://theconversation.com/is-a-corporation-a-slave-many-philosophers-think-so-253226

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Fossil fuel companies ‘poisoned the well’ of public debate with climate disinformation. Here’s how Australia can break free

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Naomi Oreskes, Professor of the History of Science, Harvard University

    President Donald Trump has issued an executive order that would block state laws seeking to tackle greenhouse gas emissions – the latest salvo in his administration’s campaign to roll back United States’ climate action.

    Under Trump, the US has clearly abdicated climate leadership. But the US has in fact obstructed climate action for decades – largely due to damaging actions by the powerful fossil fuel industry.

    In 20 years studying attacks on climate science and the powerful forces at work behind the scenes, I’ve come to think the United States is simply not going to lead on climate action. The fossil fuel industry has so poisoned the well of public debate in the US that it’s unlikely the nation will lead on the issue in our lifetimes.

    Australia, on the other hand, has enormous potential.

    I recently visited Australia from Harvard University for a series of public talks. This nation is very close to my heart. I trained as a mining geologist and spent three years in outback South Australia, before returning to academia.

    The vacuum Trump has created on climate policy provides a chance for other countries to lead. Australia has much more to gain from the clean-energy future than it stands to lose – and your climate action could be pivotal.

    The climate crisis: a long time coming

    Scientists first warned against burning fossil fuels way back in the 1950s. When the US Clean Air Act was passed in 1970, the words “weather” and “climate” were included because scientists had already explained to Congress that carbon dioxide was a pollutant with serious — even dire — effects.

    In the late 1980s, scientists at NASA observed changes in the climate system that could only be explained by the extra heating effect of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The predictions had become reality.

    When George H.W. Bush ran successfully for president in 1988, he promised to use the power of the “White House effect” to fight the “greenhouse effect”. In 1992, Bush and other world leaders gathered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to sign the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Together, 178 countries promised action to prevent “dangerous anthropogenic interference” with Earth’s climate. But that action never came.

    Trump has undoubtedly been bad news for global climate action. He makes preposterous claims about science and is dismantling the federal agencies responsible for supporting climate science and maintaining climate data.

    But the US has long failed to play its part in cutting dangerous greenhouse gas emissions. The reason for this lies largely outside the White House.

    If only George H.W. Bush had used the White House effect to counter the greenhouse effect, as he once promised to.
    mark reinstein, Shutterstock

    A long-running campaign of disinformation

    The fossil fuel industry has known about climate change for as long as scientists have.

    In the late 1970s and early 1980s, scientists at Esso (later ExxonMobil) actively researched the topic, building climate models and coauthoring scientific papers.

    The scientists informed their managers of the risk of catastrophic damage if the burning of oil, gas and coal continued unabated. They even suggested the company might need a different business model – one not so dependent on fossil fuels.

    But managers at ExxonMobil made a fateful decision: to turn from information to disinformation. Working in tandem with other oil, gas and coal companies, as well as automobile and aluminium manufacturers, ExxonMobil launched an organised campaign, sustained over decades, to block climate action by casting doubt on the underlying science.

    They ran ad campaigns in national and local newspapers insisting the science was too unsettled to warrant action. They created “astroturf” organisations that only pretended to be green, and funded “third-party allies” to argue that proposed remedies would be too expensive, cost jobs and damage the economy.

    The company funded outlier scientists to publish papers claiming atmospheric warming was the result of natural climate variability. They pressured journalists to give equal time to “their side” of the story in the name of “balance”.

    Over the next three decades, whenever any meaningful climate policy seemed to be gaining traction, the industry and its allies lobbied Congress and state legislatures to block it. So, neither Democratic nor Republican administrations were able to undertake meaningful climate action.

    While people were dying in climate-charged floods and fires, the fossil fuel industry persuaded a significant proportion of the US population, including Trump, that the whole thing might just be a hoax.

    Rise up Australia

    In a matter of weeks after becoming president, Trump pulled out of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming, shut down government websites hosting climate data, and withdrew support for research that dares to mention the word “climate”.

    This has created a vacuum that other countries, including Australia, can step up to fill.

    Few countries have more to lose from climate change than Australia. The continent has already witnessed costly and devastating wildfires and floods — affecting remote areas and major cities. It’s not unreasonable to worry that in coming years, significant parts of Australia could become uninhabitable.

    Like the US, Australia has a powerful fossil fuel industry that has disproportionately influenced its politics. Unlike the US, however, that industry is based mainly on coal for export, which Australians do not depend on in their daily lives.

    And Australia is truly a lucky country. It has unsurpassed potential to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy.

    More than 15 years ago, Australian researchers in the Zero Carbon Australia project offered a blueprint for how the country could eliminate fossil fuel use entirely. Since then, renewable energy has only become cheaper and more efficient.

    South Australia has proved the point: the state was 100% reliant on fossil fuels for electricity in 2002, but now more than 70% comes from renewables.

    Across Australia, the share of renewable electricity generation is growing. Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland are vying for second place after SA. It’s fascinating to watch the National Electricity Market balance supply and demand in real time, where a large proportion of the electricity comes from rooftop solar.

    For decades, the fossil fuel industry has told the public our societies can’t manage without fossil fuels. Large parts of Australia have proved it’s just not so. The rest of the nation can follow that lead, and model the energy transition for the world. Here’s your chance.

    Over the past two decades, Naomi Oreskes has received grant funding from various governments and non-government organisations to support the research upon which this piece is based. She serves on the board of The Climate Science Legal Defense Fund, which works to protect the integrity of climate science, and climate scientists, from politically motivated attacks. The Fund is a registered 501 c(3) non-profit organisation, meaning it does not engage in political activities. She is also an emerita board member of Protect our Winters, a 501 c (3) that works with the winter sports community to educate people about climate change and the threat it poses to winter sports. Naomi serves on the board of the Kann-Rasmussen foundation (Denmark), a non-profit foundation that works “to support the transition to a more environmentally resilient stable, and sustainable planet”.
    Naomi currently serves as a consultant to a number of groups pursuing climate litigation in the United States, and recently submitted an expert report to the International Court of Justice on behalf of Vanuatu. She also receives speaking fees and book royalties for talks and publications on the history of climate science and climate change denial. Co-author, with Erik M. Conway, of Merchants of Doubt (2010) and The Big Myth (2023).

    – ref. Fossil fuel companies ‘poisoned the well’ of public debate with climate disinformation. Here’s how Australia can break free – https://theconversation.com/fossil-fuel-companies-poisoned-the-well-of-public-debate-with-climate-disinformation-heres-how-australia-can-break-free-251221

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Since its very conception, Star Wars has been political. Now Andor will take on Trump 2.0

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Golding, Professor and Chair of the Department of Media and Communication, Swinburne University of Technology

    Lucasfilm Ltd™

    Premiering today, the second and final season of Star Wars streaming show Andor seems destined to be one of the pop culture defining moments of the second Trump presidency.

    Andor, which began airing in 2022, tells the story of the early days of the Rebel Alliance before the adventures of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. The series is the most politically articulate of the Star Wars franchise.

    Where older Star Wars entries focused on lightsaber battles and dogfights in space, Andor shows a world of political manifestos, fractious alliances between rebel groups, and surreptitious fundraising for revolution.

    Season one of the show followed the political awakening of the titular Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), who progresses from troubled thief to total ideological commitment to fighting the Empire. The show also follows a covert revolutionary leader (Stellan Skarsgård), an ineffective politician who secretly finances the rebellion (Genevieve O’Reilly), and two Imperials manoeuvring for power (Denise Gough and Kyle Soller).

    Showrunner Tony Gilroy has so far taken inspiration for Andor from a variety of real historical revolutionary events, from Stalin’s bank robbery in Tiflis of 1907 to the Baader-Meinhof group in West Germany.

    Aesthetically, Andor has more in common with the political filmmaking of the likes of The Battle of Algiers (1966), the films of Costa-Gavras, or early Paul Greengrass than the central Flash Gordon-inspired Star Wars saga.

    As authoritarian governments and conflicts loom large globally, the final season of Andor in 2025 is perfectly timed to articulate anxieties much closer to home than the galaxy far, far away.

    Star Wars has always been political

    Andor is far from the first time that Star Wars has captured the political zeitgeist. In fact, much of the franchise’s success stems from the way it provides us with a pop culture language to talk about politics.

    In 2016, Trump’s first election win coincided with the release of Rogue One, the Star Wars precursor to Andor.

    Within days, two Star Wars creatives made public comparisons between Trump and Rogue One’s villains, with writer Chris Weitz posting on Twitter “the Empire is a white supremacist (human) organization”. Writer Gary Whitta replied: “Opposed by a multi-cultural group led by brave women”.

    They were officially reprimanded by the studio. “This is a film that the world should enjoy,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger at the time. “It is not a film that is, in any way, a political film.”

    Under the ownership of a risk averse corporation like Disney, Star Wars is supposed to be family friendly, apolitical entertainment.

    However, since its very conception, Star Wars has been political.

    Inspired by anti-Vietnam war protests, director George Lucas described Darth Vader and the Empire as “Nixonian gangsters” in early drafts of the original film’s script. Lucas, who had developed Apocalypse Now before Francis Ford Coppola ultimately directed the film, has consistently claimed to have thought of the Rebel Alliance as similar to North Vietnamese fighters resisting United States forces.

    When it came time for the prequel trilogy in the 2000s, Lucas told a story of democracy willingly falling to dictatorship (beginning with a trade war, something not lost on contemporary observers). In 2005, Lucas even had Darth Vader paraphrase George W. Bush.

    It has also shaped politics. Scholars and critics like Andrew Britton and Robin Wood argued Star Wars was so escapist and disconnected from politics here on earth that it set the scene for Ronald Reagan’s good-versus-evil rhetoric.

    A galaxy not so far away

    It is precisely Star Wars’ apolitical image that gives it so much political utility. A series with such strong heroes and villains inevitably invites comparison.

    Almost immediately after its release in 1977, Star Wars became a pop culture language for understanding politics.

    When Maggie Thatcher won government in the United Kingdom on May 4 1979, the Conservative Party took out an advertisement in the London Evening News congratulating her with the words “May the Fourth Be With You”.

    When Ronald Reagan proposed a “Strategic Defense Initiative” missile system in 1983, critics immediately and famously labelled it “Star Wars” (something Lucas tried unsuccessfully to stop). Reagan himself eventually joined in, too, claiming in a speech in 1985 that “the Force is with us”.

    It is easy to find examples of politicians of all stripes being likened to Star Wars villains like Darth Vader (most enduring was Dick Cheney who claimed to not mind the comparison).

    Composer John Williams’ Imperial March has even been played at protests as a way to antagonise opponents.

    The enduring currency of the political language of Star Wars is in part due to its generalities. In any political conflict it helps to have a way to describe an archetypal evil puppet master (the Emperor), his henchman (Darth Vader), and the soulful heroes putting their lives on the line (the Jedi).

    The real trick to Star Wars’ ongoing relevance, however, lies in its very real inspirations. Whether it is George W. Bush, the Viet Cong, or the Bolsheviks, Star Wars has time and again turned the specifics of political history into mythology.

    At a time where many see global politics as having set the stage for the Empire to Strike Back, the final season of Andor may give many a language to articulate A New Hope.

    Dan Golding 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. Since its very conception, Star Wars has been political. Now Andor will take on Trump 2.0 – https://theconversation.com/since-its-very-conception-star-wars-has-been-political-now-andor-will-take-on-trump-2-0-254208

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Parents delay sending kids to school for social reasons and physical size. It’s not about academic advantage

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Penny Van Bergen, Associate Professor in the Psychology of Education, Macquarie University

    If you have a child born at the start of the year, you may be faced with a tricky and stressful decision. Do you send them to school “early”, in the year they turn five? Or do you “hold them back” and send them in the year they turn six?

    Media reports refer to parents who want to “hold children back”. This is particularly the case for boys. Some parents express concerns boys may develop more slowly and school activities may favour girls.

    Our new study surveyed Australian parents to understand their reasons for sending children to school early or on time or holding them back.

    School entry in Australia

    State regulations for the age of starting school vary across Australia, and between public, Catholic and independent schools.

    Typically, however, children born in the first part of the year can be sent to school in either the year they turn five or the year they turn six. This can lead to big age caps in a school year level.

    Public school cutoff dates are April 30 in Victoria, May 1 in South Australia, June 30 in Queensland and July 31 in New South Wales.

    A 2019 study of more than 160,000 NSW students showed overall, 26% of children were held back, although there was variation between different regions. This is much higher than in many other countries. For example, delayed entry is as low as 5.5% in the United States and 6% in Germany.



    Read more:
    A push to raise the school starting age to 6 sounds like good news for parents, but there’s a catch

    Our research

    In our research published in Early Education and Development, we surveyed 226 Australian parents who had a choice about whether to send their child to school in the year they turned five or six. Parents were from a mix of states and recruited via social media and a variety of other media, including parenting magazines.

    We found 29% of parents intended to send their child to school in the first year they were eligible and 66% planned to start later. About 5% were unsure. Consistent with trends in other countries, parents were almost four times as likely to report they intended to start boys later than girls.

    There were five key factors guiding their decisions.

    1. Money and work

    One group of factors, which we labelled “practical realities”, meant parents were more likely to send a child on time or early.

    This included high early childhood education costs (it is much cheaper to send a child to a government school than pay for daycare) and parents’ work demands (and the benefits of regular school hours). As one parent said:

    School is a cheaper option for many parents and community preschool (which is cheaper, depending on the number of days) is not a practical option for many working families.

    2. A child’s size

    Parents also considered their child’s physical size relative to their peers. Other studies suggest parents worry smaller boys will be bullied and will struggle to demonstrate sporting prowess.

    Reflecting on this trend, one parent said:

    I would prefer that my child wasn’t starting school with children well over a year older just because other parents think boys need a bit more time to mature. They are then significantly older and bigger by then.

    3. Social readiness

    Another group of factors involved children’s social, emotional and behavioral readiness for school. This includes their ability to pay attention and sit still, follow instructions, regulate and manage emotions and show empathy and consideration for others.

    One parent sending their child to school in the year they turn five said:

    Our child will be fine […] He is able, social and confident and hopefully this will mean he will have a positive school experience irrespective of what year he starts.

    Another who chose to hold their child back suggested:

    I want my child to be introduced to formal schooling as late as possible to ensure his brain development and emotional regulation are mature enough to handle the transition.

    4. Family time

    Another set of reasons influencing parents’ decisions was a desire to spend time together with their child before formal schooling. As one parent said:

    I always hear that no one ever regrets sending their child a bit later but they often regret sending early. I can afford for her to have an extra year of preschool and time at home and that is a luxury I acknowledge not everyone has.

    5. Milestones

    Parents also looked to the future and considered their child’s age relative to peers. This included when they would be starting high school or completing teenage milestones, such as driving, drinking, managing friendships and finishing school. This might explain why rates of holding children back vary by region. As one parent told us:

    The people around me having a choice (and holding their children back) ended up influencing my choice. She [my daughter] could have started school but would have been in a peer group that had been held back.

    What about academic concerns?

    Interestingly, parents did not typically express academic concerns or motivations (such as a desire to see their child move ahead of others academically) as a factor in their decision. Indeed, as one parent said:

    I have very strong beliefs about what school readiness means and for me it is much more than just being academically ready.

    Although there is evidence older children have a developmental advantage over younger children when entering school, academic benefits dissipate over time. For example, older children do better on Year 3 and 5 NAPLAN numeracy and literacy tests, but benefits fade or disappear by Year 9.

    What does this mean?

    Our research suggests the reasons why parents start a child early or hold them back are complex – and very much based on the needs of individual families and children.

    Taken together they suggest teachers not only need to accommodate a wide range of ages starting school but a sizeable portion of families who will have “delayed” school for a variety of personal reasons.

    Penny Van Bergen receives funding from the ARC, Google and the Marsden Fund.

    Naomi Sweller receives funding from the ARC.

    Rebecca Andrews receives funding from NSW Department of Education and the Australian Children’s Early Childhood Quality Authority.

    Anne McMaugh and Kay Bussey do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Parents delay sending kids to school for social reasons and physical size. It’s not about academic advantage – https://theconversation.com/parents-delay-sending-kids-to-school-for-social-reasons-and-physical-size-its-not-about-academic-advantage-254076

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘I’m a failure’: how schema therapy tackles the deep-rooted beliefs that affect our mental health

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Houlihan, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, University of the Sunshine Coast

    Jorm Sangsorn/Shutterstock

    If you ever find yourself stuck in repeated cycles of negative emotion, you’re not alone.

    More than 40% of Australians will experience a mental health issue in their lifetime. Many are linked to deep-rooted feelings that develop from childhood experiences.

    Changing these lifelong patterns takes time, energy and support. For some people, schema therapy can help.

    What is schema therapy?

    Schema therapy was developed in the 1990s by psychologist Jeffrey Young as an extension of cognitive behaviour therapy.

    Cognitive behaviour therapy is a popular psychotherapy that helps people change problematic patterns in their thoughts and behaviour, improving how they feel.

    Among psychological interventions, cognitive behaviour therapy has the strongest evidence for successfully treating the majority of mental health problems.

    However, not all conditions benefit from it.

    Cognitive behaviour therapy is brief (usually delivered across 10–12 sessions) and focuses on changing the “here and now”. But more complex issues – or those tied strongly to past experiences, such as multiple traumas – may need longer-term therapy.

    Like cognitive behaviour therapy, schema therapy aims to help reframe unhelpful ways of thinking through regular sessions with a psychotherapist.

    But instead of prioritising everyday challenges, it uncovers deep-rooted beliefs, explores how and why they formed, and how they affect day-to-day life and people’s perceptions of themselves.

    What are schemas?

    “Schemas” are mental blueprints that filter how we see ourselves, others and the world. Most of us are not consciously aware of them.

    Yet schemas run deep. Problematic ones – such as “I am a failure” or “others can’t be trusted” or “the world is scary and unsafe” – can affect our mental health and lead us to destructive patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving.

    For example, someone with a “failure” schema may be highly sensitive to criticism, experience crippling anxiety, and have low self-worth. Having a “mistrust” schema may cause issues with forming close relationships and lead to loneliness and depression.

    Schemas run deep and can make us feel stuck.
    Raul Mallado Ortiz/Shutterstock

    How does schema therapy work?

    Therapists may specialise in schema therapy through additional training and supervision, which can lead to accreditation with the International Society of Schema Therapy.

    During schema therapy you and your therapist will discuss your current concerns and develop a safe and trusting relationship before exploring the problematic schemas that are affecting you today. Schema therapy may involve talking, completing a schema questionnaire, and engaging in therapeutic activities during and in between sessions.

    These activities are tailored to your situation, once you’ve explored which schemas affect you and what negative emotions arise. They are designed to help you process and heal from negative feelings such as helplessness, anger and shame.

    One such activity involves using mental imagery to revisit challenging experiences in your past and to reframe how you think about them.

    Another is to use empty chairs in the therapy room to speak to the different parts of yourself that are connected to the negative emotions. For example, talking to your child self, or to the side of you that tries to hide your feelings from others.

    After this you will work with your therapist to come up with positive behaviour change strategies and apply them in daily life. These could include things such as reducing procrastination and self-sacrificing behaviour (prioritising others’ needs over your own), regulating emotions, and setting healthy boundaries in relationships.

    Who does it work for?

    Schema therapy was specifically designed to help conditions that don’t respond to cognitive behaviour therapy. Since the early nineties, it has shown promise among people experiencing chronic depression and personality disorders, and people in prisons.

    Schema therapy is increasingly being used with children and adolescents, as it can effectively be adapted to suit younger age groups and help them understand the complex psychological processes involved.

    Schema therapy can take more time than some other approaches, including cognitive behaviour therapy. You may be working with your therapist for several months to a year before seeing real results.

    It is likely to benefit people who can commit to the time needed and prioritise their therapy tasks over other things.

    Like all therapies, schema therapy will take emotional energy. As you implement changes planned in therapy, enlisting the support of close friends or family may help you achieve long-lasting change.

    Schema therapy can be effectively adapted for children and young people.
    SeventyFour/Shutterstock

    I’m interested in schema therapy – what next?

    Maybe you are experiencing a problem that short-term therapies don’t easily address.

    Perhaps you have already tried cognitive behaviour therapy and have noticed some improvements in your mental health, but realise you still have some way to go. Or it’s possible you have exhausted self-help options and are looking for something that will change the deep-rooted feelings you think are connected to your past.

    Learning about different therapy approaches is the first step in finding the right help for you.

    The Schema Therapy Institute Australia has a list of schema therapists practising around the country.

    You may see “schema therapy” listed as a therapy approach on your local psychology practices’ web pages. You can also ask your GP about referrals using Medicare options.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. ‘I’m a failure’: how schema therapy tackles the deep-rooted beliefs that affect our mental health – https://theconversation.com/im-a-failure-how-schema-therapy-tackles-the-deep-rooted-beliefs-that-affect-our-mental-health-250789

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Early voting opens in the federal election – but it brings some problems for voters and parties

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zareh Ghazarian, Senior Lecturer in Politics, School of Social Sciences, Monash University

    More than 18 million Australians are enrolled to vote at the federal election on May 3.

    A fair proportion of them – perhaps as many as half – will take advantage of early voting, which starts Tuesday April 22.

    Hundreds of locations around Australia will morph into pre-polling centres for the next couple of weeks as we enter the final phase of the campaign.

    Australians have enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to vote early in recent elections. But there are some risks for voters if they jump the gun too quickly. And it’s upending the way parties and other candidates organise their campaigns.

    Go early

    The popularity of voting early has been on an upward trajectory in recent decades.

    Research shows that in 2004, for instance, over 80% of Australians waited until polling day to cast their ballots.

    But at the 2022 federal election, almost half of all Australians on the electoral roll voted early.

    There were variations across jurisdictions. Queensland had the highest rate of pre-poll voting at 56.6%, while Tasmanians had the lowest at just 36.8%.

    The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) was actively encouraging people to vote early due to COVID concerns. Nonetheless, the trend is unmistakable. Voters want to skip the queues on election day.

    Logistical problems

    Early voting has been the subject of much scrutiny, especially the length of time it is available to voters. The major political parties have expressed concern about the impact it has on campaign planning and logistics.

    In its submission to a parliamentary inquiry into the conduct of the 2019 election, the Liberal Party highlighted how pre-poll voting placed “significant pressure on political parties” and their ability to provide booth workers for the entire early voting period, which was almost three weeks long.

    Similarly, Labor acknowledged “significant practical implications for political parties and campaign managers”. The Greens also indicated they were in favour of limiting the pre-poll period.

    Following the rise in early voting at the 2016 and 2019 elections, the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters recommended pre-polling be restricted to a fortnight before election day.

    The committee noted:

    a two week period best balances the opportunity to participate in an election as a voter, with the logistic demands placed on those who participate as contestants.

    The electoral laws were subsequently changed by the Morrison government in 2021.

    But given Easter Monday and Anzac Day both fall within the fortnight preceding May 3, the early polling window for this election will be further reduced.

    Campaign disruption

    The rising popularity of early voting plays havoc with the campaign plans of all candidates.

    In the past, when the overwhelming majority of voters waited for election day, it made sense for the major parties in particular to continually drip feed promises and announcements until the last day of voting.

    Parties now have less time to pitch for support during the campaign. The critical window of opportunity to appeal to voters is the time between the election being called and when Australians flock to the polls at the start of early voting.

    It is highly likely we have already seen all the major policies in this election, including the voter-friendly cost-of-living measures.

    But the parties are in a bind, because they must continue to appeal to the significant number of voters who will be considering who to vote for right up until election day itself.

    Skip the queue

    While many people will be tempted to vote early, the Australian Electoral Commission’s website reminds us there are some conditions for pre-poll voting.

    You can only vote early, either in person or by post, if on polling day you are:

    • travelling or unable to leave your workplace to vote
    • sick or due to give birth, or caring for someone who is
    • a person with a disability, or caring for someone who is
    • in prison serving a sentence of less than three years
    • prevented by religious beliefs from attending on election day
    • a silent elector, or reasonably fearful for your safety or wellbeing.

    Aware of the temptation to pre-poll, the AEC says people who wait until election day won’t have to battle long queues. In fact, 75% of them will be in and out of the polling place in under 15 minutes.

    The AEC says it’s worked out ways to minimise queuing on election day.

    Voter beware

    The numbers don’t lie. More and more voters are keen to participate in the democratic process before election day.

    However, voting early could be a double-edged sword. It may be convenient, but there is always the risk candidates or parties could say or do something that antagonises a voter after they have cast their ballot.

    As there is no way to withdraw an original vote or cast a new one if they change their minds, early voters are taking a risk.

    Moreover, by voting early, people may be missing out on the sausage sizzle, the craft stands, and the bake sales that many communities hold on voting day. These election day traditions raise funds and add a special community feeling to the ultimate exercise of democracy – choosing a government.

    Zareh Ghazarian 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. Early voting opens in the federal election – but it brings some problems for voters and parties – https://theconversation.com/early-voting-opens-in-the-federal-election-but-it-brings-some-problems-for-voters-and-parties-254172

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Rates will never be enough – councils need the power to raise money in other ways

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Guy C. Charlton, Adjunct Associate Professor at Auckland University of Technology and Associate Professor, University of New England

    Getty Images

    You might have recently received voting papers for your local body elections. Going by our historically low participation rates, many of those envelopes will remain unopened.

    This is a shame, because New Zealand’s local authorities face major financial challenges that affect nearly everyone. Only by increasing democratic engagement and giving ratepayers more reason to vote will real change happen.

    Local Government New Zealand recently estimated an extra NZ$11 billion is needed over the next seven years to meet unexpected cost increases. The credit rating agency S&P Global has downgraded 18 councils and three council-controlled organisations, and given negative outlooks to three more councils.

    The auditor-general reported in February that inflation has driven up the costs of construction, insurance and debt servicing. This is putting pressure on operational expenses and capital improvements at the same time as demand for council services is increasing.

    The central government problem

    Central government supports councils primarily through grants, subsidies, shared revenue (such as from road taxes) and development contributions. But its main response to the financial stress now being felt has been to urge local governments to focus on “core tasks”, not “pet” and “vanity” projects.

    To that end, the government has introduced annual council benchmark reports that will compare rates, debt levels, capital spending breakdowns and road conditions. It is also amending in the Local Government Act to remove references to the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of communities.

    It also wants to encourage inter-council cooperation with its Regional Deals Strategic Framework and streamline resource management requirements that it believes hinder economic development.

    It is unlikely these measures will be enough. Government contributions to councils have averaged around 10% of local government operating income since 2000, not enough to meet increasing legal and infrastructure costs.

    Other OECD countries transfer significantly higher proportions of central taxes to local governments. In New Zealand, this might include central government reimbursing taxes and other revenues it captures due to local government activity (such the GST on rates).

    The government could also pick up local costs that have national benefits, such as water and wastewater capacity at prime international tourism destinations. But more fundamental reform is needed.

    Councils’ operational budgets are static while demand for their services are increasing.
    Getty Images

    Rates aren’t enough

    At the moment, councils generate about 80% of their income from general and targeted rates, with the rest coming from things such as parking fines, amenities fees and investment interest.

    This heavy reliance of rates is clearly inadequate to pay for local operational and infrastructure costs. This is despite recent court decisions giving councils more leeway to set, raise and target rates.

    But to really make a difference, councils must also be given the legal authority to raise additional revenue themselves. This could include excise taxes on petrol and visitor accommodation, sales taxes and stamp duties.

    As the recently repealed Auckland regional fuel tax demonstrated, excise taxes can be an effective way to raise funds for specific activities. The roughly $780 million it raised helped pay for the Eastern Busway ($272 million) and new commuter train cars ($330 million).

    Room or lodging levies on overnight stays in hotels, motels, campgrounds, Airbnb and other short-term visitor rentals can help mitigate the impacts of tourism on local infrastructure and services.

    In the Queenstown Lakes district, for example, a 5% levy on the estimated $413 million spent on accommodation in 2023 would generate $210 million over ten years, about 30% of the $756 million cost attributed to tourism.

    Councils could also add a small extra levy on GST in their regions, a common practice in many large American cities and counties. Or they could apply a stamp duty on things like real estate transactions as Australia does.

    Stamp duties might be a political non-starter in New Zealand. But what are known as “tax incremental districts” could be an effective way of offsetting the infrastructure and public facilities costs of new developments or economic revitalisation projects.

    These schemes work by applying incremental increases in rates during the private development of an area. Done properly, they can be useful in brownfield redevelopment sites, as well as speeding up housing developments on city fringes.

    Reinvigorating local democracy

    New taxes are rarely popular, and selling the idea of local governments levying other sources of revenue to already stretched ratepayers will be difficult. But infrastructure and other costs cannot simply be ignored and passed down to future generations.

    On top of more funding from central government, local authorities need the flexibility to creatively address their financial and infrastructure needs. The decision on whether and how they do this ultimately resides with ratepayers and electors.

    Having more authority would also create more accountability in local government, reinvigorate local democracy and encourage overall policy innovation.

    Without greater funding authority and fewer constraints on their activities, elected community representatives risk becoming mere administrators of central government policy rather than truly reflecting and shaping their electorates.

    The author thanks Avi Charlton Diesch, a post-graduate student in finance at the University of Hong Kong, for his help with the preparation of this article.

    Guy C. Charlton 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. Rates will never be enough – councils need the power to raise money in other ways – https://theconversation.com/rates-will-never-be-enough-councils-need-the-power-to-raise-money-in-other-ways-252718

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: MiddleGround Capital Promotes Jordan Gabbert to Head of Investor Relations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LEXINGTON, Ky., April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MiddleGround Capital (“MiddleGround”), an operationally focused private equity firm that makes control investments in North American and European headquartered middle-market B2B industrial and specialty distribution companies, today announced that it has promoted Jordan Gabbert to Head of Investor Relations. She will continue to work from the firm’s Lexington office, reporting to John Stewart, Founding and Managing Partner of MiddleGround.

    In this role, Jordan will oversee all aspects of investor engagement and outreach, including fundraising and investor communications. She will communicate the firm’s investment considerations to its limited partners and other constituents, collaborating with MiddleGround’s investment professionals and team members to provide reporting and services to the firm’s investors.

    “Since joining MiddleGround four years ago, Jordan has continually impressed our team and our limited partners with her deep knowledge of this industry and the needs of institutional investors,” said Stewart. “This promotion reflects the great work and service she has provided, and we are excited to empower her to build on this momentum so that we continue meeting the needs of current and prospective investors.”

    Jordan joined MiddleGround in 2020 as a member of the Operations Team and transitioned to Investor Relations in 2023, where she has since taken on roles of increasing responsibility. Prior to joining MiddleGround, she held various positions in financial recruiting, business development, and financial analysis within the manufacturing sector.

    “I’m very grateful to John and the MiddleGround family for this opportunity,” said Gabbert. “As we work to deliver long term value to our stakeholders, I am looking forward to communicating the MiddleGround story to our ever-growing network of investors.”

    Jordan graduated from the University of Kentucky and earned undergraduate degrees in Management and Accounting, and her MBA from Midway University.

    About MiddleGround Capital
    MiddleGround Capital is a private equity firm based in Lexington, Kentucky with over $3.85 billion of assets under management. MiddleGround makes control equity investments in middle market B2B industrial and specialty distribution businesses. MiddleGround works with its portfolio companies to create value through a hands-on operational approach and partners with its management teams to support long-term growth strategies. For more information, please visit: https://middleground.com/.

    MiddleGround Capital Media Contacts
    Doug Allen/Maya Hanowitz
    Dukas Linden Public Relations
    MiddleGround@dlpr.com
    +1 (646) 722-6530

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