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Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI Global: Critically ill patients in African hospitals aren’t getting the care they need: new survey

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Tim Baker, Associate Professor, Karolinska Institutet

    When someone falls critically ill, hospitals are expected to provide life-saving care. But in many African countries, intensive care units are rare. Critically ill patients are treated in general hospital wards, and the provision of essential emergency and critical care is limited.

    Critical illness refers to any life-threatening condition where at least one vital organ – such as the heart, lungs, or brain – is failing. It can arise from any underlying condition including infections, injuries, or non-communicable diseases such as heart attacks and strokes, and can affect anyone of any age.

    In high-resourced settings some critically ill patients are treated in intensive care units. They receive continuous monitoring, oxygen support, medication to stabilise their blood pressure, and other life-saving treatments. Until now, most data on critical illness and critical care in Africa has come from small, single-hospital studies. These studies hinted at a serious problem.

    For example, a study in Uganda found that 11.7% of inpatients were critically ill, with a 22.6% chance of dying within a week. However, there was no large-scale research showing how widespread this was across the continent.

    That is why we, a collaboration of clinical researchers across Africa, conducted the African Critical Illness Outcomes Study, providing the first large-scale look at the state of critical illness care across the continent.

    The study builds on a network of clinicians, researchers and policy makers that has been growing for over a decade now, working out how to identify and treat patients who are critically ill.

    The findings, published in The Lancet, are striking. One in eight hospital inpatients in Africa is critically ill, over two-thirds of the critically ill are in general wards, and one in five dies within a week.

    Most of these patients do not receive the essential emergency and critical care such as oxygen and fluids that could save their lives.

    What we found

    The African Critical Illness Outcomes Study investigated 20,000 patients at one point in time in 180 hospitals in 22 countries across Africa. Countries throughout the continent were included, from Tunisia in the north to South Africa in the south, from Ghana in the west to Tanzania in the east.

    Between September and December 2023, all adult inpatients in each hospital were examined on a single day to collect data about their clinical condition and treatments, and then a week later, their in-hospital outcomes.

    The key findings were:

    • 12.5% of hospital inpatients were critically ill

    • 69% of critically ill patients were treated in general hospital wards, not intensive care units

    • more than half of critically ill patients didn’t receive the treatments they needed

    • critically ill patients were eight times more likely to die in hospital than other patients.

    The study also revealed gaps in the most basic life-saving interventions:

    • only 48% of patients with respiratory failure received oxygen therapy

    • just 54% of patients with circulatory failure (such as shock) received fluids or medications to stabilise blood pressure

    • less than half of patients with a dangerously low level of consciousness received airway protection or were placed in the recovery position.

    These findings highlight a clear and urgent problem: many critically ill patients in Africa are not receiving the essential treatments that could keep them alive.

    What can be done?

    The study suggests that thousands of lives could be saved if hospitals had better access to essential emergency and critical care. This is a set of simple, low-cost interventions that can prevent deaths from critical illness.

    The care interventions include:

    • ensuring oxygen is available for patients struggling to breathe

    • providing fluids or medications to stabilise blood pressure

    • training healthcare workers in basic life-support techniques to manage unconscious patients.

    Unlike high-tech intensive care unit treatments, essential emergency and critical care can be given in general wards with minimal resources.

    Strengthening these systems could dramatically reduce preventable deaths from conditions such as pneumonia, sepsis and trauma.

    Urgent action is needed

    This study sheds light on a healthcare crisis affecting millions of people, yet one that has remained largely overlooked.

    Every critically ill patient, no matter where they are treated, should receive the basic life-saving care they need.

    We call for urgent action.

    • Governments in Africa should make essential emergency and critical care a core part of universal health coverage. It should be integrated into policies and health benefit packages.

    • The World Health Organization should embed essential emergency and critical care measures into its resolutions.

    • African health funders should support studies and implementation of essential emergency and critical care.

    • Professional medical societies and institutions should include this care in clinical guidelines and training. Frontline healthcare workers must have the tools they need to save lives.

    The EECC Network, a global community dedicated to sharing knowledge, research and best practices, has been started to help prevent needless deaths.

    * Nick Leech, who works on the promotion of essential emergency and critical care on behalf of EECC Global, contributed to this article.

    Tim Baker declares technical consultancies with UNICEF, the World Bank, USAID, and PATH, has received research funding from Wellcome Trust and the National Institute for Health and Care Research and is a board member at the non-profit organisation EECC Global.

    Karima Khalid is a board member of EECCGlobal

    – ref. Critically ill patients in African hospitals aren’t getting the care they need: new survey – https://theconversation.com/critically-ill-patients-in-african-hospitals-arent-getting-the-care-they-need-new-survey-253355

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: ASEAN and New Zealand commit to strengthening strategic partnership and cooperation

    Source: ASEAN

    Da Nang, Viet Nam, 9 April 2025 – ASEAN and New Zealand reaffirmed their strong and enduring partnership during the 32nd ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue held in Da Nang, Viet Nam, today. The Dialogue provided an opportunity for both sides to review cooperation and discuss its future direction, particularly in light of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue Relations this year.

    The discussion was focused on key areas of ASEAN-New Zealand cooperation, with a view to strengthening peace, stability, prosperity, and sustainable development.On peace and stability, both sides agreed to continue enhancing cooperation in areas such as countering terrorism, transnational crime, maritime cooperation, and cyber security.

    Both sides emphasised the importance of strengthening trade and investment and regional economic integration, including through the full implementation of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP).

    The Meeting underscored the growing importance of enhancing people-to-people ties and  the need to further amplify cooperation in education, human capital development, and Technical and Vocaltional Education and Training (TVET).

    In line with the theme  of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship Year of “Sustainability and Inclusivity”, both sides discussed fostering closer collaboration on climate change, environmental protection, disaster management, and narrowing the development gap, with New Zealand reaffirming its support for ASEAN’s green agenda and sustainable development initiatives.

    In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of dialogue relations, the Meeting noted the ongoing discussion on the proposal for an ASEAN-New Zealand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the development of a new ASEAN-New Zealand Plan of Action (2026-2030) to guide future cooperation. The Meeting further noted upcoming ASEAN-New Zealand engagements, including preparations for an ASEAN-New Zealand Commemorative Summit to be held back-to-back with the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summit in Malaysia in November 2025.

    ASEAN and New Zealand also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest and concern. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to upholding multilateralism and strengtening the ASEAN-led regional architecture, including through the implementation of  the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

    The 32nd ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue was co-chaired by H.E. Do Hung Viet, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam and ASEAN SOM Leader of Viet Nam, and H.E. Grahame Morton, Deputy Secretary for Asia and Americas Group and New Zealand’s SOM Leader for ASEAN, and attended by Senior Officials of ASEAN Member States and the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political-Security Community. Timor-Leste attended as Observer.

    ***

    Images Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Viet Nam
    The post ASEAN and New Zealand commit to strengthening strategic partnership and cooperation appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How windfalls from commodity price booms come back to bite exporters

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lotanna Emediegwu, Senior Lecturer in Economics, Manchester Metropolitan University

    Zhengzaishuru/Shutterstock

    When the wholesale prices of essential goods like food or oil suddenly rise, it can cause deep shifts in the economy that upend trade balances and hike inflation rates. This is known as a commodity price boom.

    The outbreak of war in Ukraine in February 2022 spurred European and US sanctions on Russian oil companies which restricted global oil supply. The ensuing shock hiked energy prices in the international market and meant that the price of Brent crude, a global benchmark for oil prices, reached US$122 (£95) a barrel on March 21 that year, its highest level since 2015.

    Price inflation has forced households in importing nations like the UK to pay a premium to fill up cars. It has also raised food prices, as the cost of shipping food to supermarkets and restaurants has increased, as well as utility bills.

    Meanwhile resource-rich exporter nations can make a killing and choose to use the additional revenue to subsidise energy for consumers, issue rebates, or increase funding for public services. Less evident, but no less significant however, are the environmental consequences of these booms.

    A study I published with colleagues showed that democratic nations in oil-rich regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa, are especially prone to increasing pollution when the oil price suddenly soars. This phenomenon stems from the need to ramp up production quickly, to capitalise on fleeting price hikes, which economies with less democratic oversight are able to bypass.

    These (ostensibly) democratic economies appear most attentive to market signals, and in their unbridled rush for quick economic gain, typically raise pollution as they extract and sell more. This is especially true with oil extraction, which produces pollutants linked to cancer.

    We investigated global commodity price booms using the commodity windfall index. This is a collection of prices that market analysts collate to track changes and detect booms as they develop. We measured the effect of price booms on the environment by analysing how air pollution changed in producer countries when the prices of commodities in the index changed.

    The index covers 40 commodities across energy, metals, food and beverages, and agricultural raw materials such as wheat. One is particularly damaging to the environment: oil production.

    The top five oil producers as of 2023 (the most recent year for which data exists) are developed nations: the US (22%), Saudi Arabia (11%), Russia (11%), Canada (6%), and China (5%). As global exporters, all benefit from windfalls caused by oil price spikes.

    Increasing commodity prices justify more intense exploration for new reserves. In the case of oil exploration, this involves seismic surveys, drilling and the use of heavy machinery which consumes lots of fossil energy and releases greenhouse gases like CO₂.

    Oil price surges could make democracies less green

    Among oil-producing and exporting economies, democratic nations are more likely to experience increased pollution during commodity windfalls, compared with autocratic regimes. We characterised democracies by the presence of competitive political participation and regular free and fair elections, among other qualities.

    This is because democratic nations are particularly prone to ramping up resource extraction during price booms. Political pressures drive this tendency, as governments seek to fund popular initiatives or bolster public services before elections. For example, in the US during the 2008 oil price spike, president George W. Bush advocated for increased domestic oil drilling and natural gas extraction with an aim to reduce energy prices and create jobs.

    Autocratic regimes might appear less urgent to exploit commodity windfalls. There are, after all, fewer electoral or public accountability considerations. However, one-party state China’s position as the world’s largest polluter is primarily due to its manufacturing base, not raw material extraction.

    The environmental consequences of commodity booms are a global issue that requires cooperation to solve.

    Developing regions like sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean will struggle to reduce emissions from extractive activities, as much economic growth here depends on it. The US$300 billion (£235 billion) annual climate funding pledge for developing countries, agreed at the most recent UN climate summit in Azerbaijan, is not enough to finance the creation of new industries.

    Advanced economies, which bear historical responsibility for the majority of global emissions, must take the lead in addressing this imbalance. This involves both reducing their emissions and providing substantial financial and technical support to resource-dependent nations. A failure to do so would perpetuate global inequalities, as developing nations are asked to sacrifice economic growth for environmental goals while industrialised countries continue to expand their economies.

    The challenge, then, is not just in managing the financial rewards of commodity booms, but in ensuring they do not come at an unsustainable environmental cost.

    Lotanna Emediegwu 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 windfalls from commodity price booms come back to bite exporters – https://theconversation.com/how-windfalls-from-commodity-price-booms-come-back-to-bite-exporters-244878

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Sounds of the Ukraine war: what these recordings of daily life reveal about the human and environmental costs

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Janine Natalya Clark, Professor of Transitional Justice and International Criminal Law, University of Birmingham

    A Kyiv resident describes it as her favourite morning sound. She is referring to the crisp, clear sound of a trumpet coming from a nearby street. The music is beautiful and soulful, played by a military veteran who sits in the same spot every weekend.

    “I am inspired by this strong person who not only plays but also brings a ray of hope to the whole district with his music,” the interviewee reflects.

    Trumpet.
    Ukrainian interviewee, CC BY2.16 MB (download)

    Existing research on war and sound has mainly focused on what J. Martin Daughtry, associate professor of ethnomusicology and sound studies at New York University, terms “the belliphonic” – meaning the spectrum of sounds produced by armed combat. Gunfire. Shellings. Explosions.

    In reality, what people hear and remember as the sounds of war are often far more diverse. When I asked a group of Ukrainians to make recordings of their local soundscapes, they captured a wide range of different sounds including the belliphonic – in particular, the increasingly “normal” sound of air raid sirens.

    Air raid siren.
    Ukrainian interviewee, CC BY784 KB (download)

    Yet they were also much more varied than I had expected – a school run; a walk in a winter forest; stridulating crickets; silence during curfew (typically from midnight to 5am); generators on the street; an end-of-project celebration; a rollerskating club.

    I also asked participants about their recordings, including how they felt when they listened back to them, as well as more general questions such as how their soundscapes had changed due to the war, and what sounds they missed. These recordings are featured in a recently launched online exhibit.

    As I have learnt from my research over the past seven months, sound can offer different – and distinctive – insights into experiences of war. It can elicit thoughts and information that might not arise from conversations and interviews alone.

    I had a particular reason for asking Ukrainians to make these soundscape recordings (more than 40 in total). Ecologists, bio-acousticians (scientists who study the creation, transmission and reception of sound) and others have used sound to analyse and monitor soil biodiversity, the healthiness of coral reefs and the impact of wildfires on birdsong.

    This fascinating area of research, however, remains neglected in war and armed conflict contexts. In particular, studies examining the environmental impacts of war – including the war in Ukraine – have overlooked the relevance of sound in terms of what it might tell us about the impact of conflict.

    In Ukraine, some of the areas that have suffered the greatest environmental damage are not accessible – or at least, not easily. They are saturated with landmines and other unexploded ordnance, occupied by Russian forces, or close to frontline areas.

    Russian air attacks on Kyiv in April 2025.

    My interviewees were not able to record the sounds of burning forests and steppes (grasslands); or of wild animals in Askania-Nova (Ukraine’s oldest nature reserve) fleeing in fear from low-flying enemy aircraft. All of the interviewees, moreover, were based in cities. Their recordings, however, illustrate some of the ways the war in Ukraine is affecting not just humans but the whole environment.

    In one of the recordings, made at night in the city of Zaporizhzhia in south-east Ukraine, there is the sound of explosions as Ukraine’s air-defence system shoots down Shahed drones. Neighbourhood dogs can be heard barking throughout the entire recording.

    Drone attack.
    Ukrainian interviewee, CC BY1.37 MB (download)

    In another recording, in the city of Dnipro in central Ukraine, dogs bark in response to the wailing sound of an air raid siren – and a large dog close-by lets out two prolonged howls.

    Howling dog.
    Ukrainian interviewee, CC BY1.41 MB (download)

    It is impossible to listen to these recordings without thinking about the animals and what they were experiencing and feeling.

    A zoologist shared with me a recording he made in 2013, a year before the start of the war in eastern Ukraine. The audio captures the chirping of a steppe marmot in Luhansk region. As the area is now under occupation, you might wonder when listening to it how the sounds of this steppe have changed as a consequence of the war.

    Attentiveness to sound has wider implications for justice, and in particular for transitional justice (how societies respond to the legacies of massive and serious human rights violations) – my area of research.

    Ukraine is investigating more than 200 cases of environmental war crimes which are alleged to have taken place during the current conflict. Of these, 14 are additionally being investigated as ecocide – a crime included in article 441 of Ukraine’s criminal code. One case relates to the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, in Kherson region, in June 2023.

    These legal developments can significantly contribute to addressing the neglect of nature and the environment in transitional justice – a field that remains strongly focused on humans.

    Sound is also highly relevant in this regard. As the barking dogs illustrate, it can powerfully capture ways that human and animal experiences of war are deeply entangled.

    Using sound as a way of actively monitoring different ecosystems over a period of time can also provide valuable information about changes occurring within them. This is important for understanding how these ecosystems have been harmed and, additionally, how they might be recovering . Oleksii Marushchak, a researcher at the I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology in Kyiv, said after listening to the recordings:

    It is important to reiterate that the majority of interviewees at the time of participating in the study were far from the frontline, where the horrors of war are much more intense than anything that you will hear in the soundscape recordings. One can only imagine what it must be like for people and animals living in close proximity to frontline areas.

    Sound is relevant not just to criminal investigations but also the issue of environmental reparations. There now exists a Register of Damage for Ukraine, as the first step in creating an international compensation mechanism to deal with multiple damages – including to the environment – caused during the war. It would be a highly innovative, and welcome, development if this future mechanism were to admit soundscape ecology evidence.

    There is also scope for Ukrainian prosecutors to further expand their pioneering work in investigating environmental war crimes and ecocide (which has wider relevance to the work of the International Criminal Court in The Hague) by listening to such recordings – and to the rich information that animals, forests, rivers and soil can help communicate through sound.

    When the war ends, it will be essential to consider all the evidence of its many effects and consequences, and sound recordings could be very important.

    Janine Natalya Clark receives funding from the Leverhulme Trust.

    – ref. Sounds of the Ukraine war: what these recordings of daily life reveal about the human and environmental costs – https://theconversation.com/sounds-of-the-ukraine-war-what-these-recordings-of-daily-life-reveal-about-the-human-and-environmental-costs-253390

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: After 100 years, The Great Gatsby still reminds us of the ability of literature to transform everyday life

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alice Kelly, Assistant Professor of Literature and History, University of Warwick

    Canva, CC BY

    Last November, I flew to New York to see a play: Gatz, an eight-hour reading of the entire text of The Great Gatsby by the experimental theatre ensemble the Elevator Repair Service.

    As a Fitzgerald enthusiast, I couldn’t miss it. My journey to the US felt like a gesture of such luxurious excess that it seems to belong in the book itself. But I was surprised to find that the production was only in part about the novel. It was simultaneously a commentary on the ability of literature to take us beyond our everyday lives – and the upcoming centenary of The Great Gatsby will be the same.

    With its fantastical, romantic subject matter, luxurious excess and its beloved language – not to mention the nostalgia many feel from studying it in school – The Great Gatsby reminds us of the ability of literature to transform everyday life.

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    Gatz opens with an office worker discovering his computer doesn’t work and idly beginning to read aloud a copy of the novel on his desk. As his coworkers enter the office, they gradually become the characters of Fitzgerald’s novel. A brawny security guard becomes Tom Buchanan, an androgynous postal worker turns into Jordan Baker. The ageing boss becomes Jay Gatsby himself.

    Gradually the first-person narration of the novel turns our unnamed office worker into the novel’s narrator, Nick Carraway. We remain in the harshly lit, dingy, unwelcoming office, which is transformed through inventive staging. The drunken party at Tom and Myrtle’s apartment is seen through office paper being thrown in the air and Gatsby pulls his shirts out of office filing cabinets.

    Towards the end of the play, Nick starts flipping through the pages of the novel, while still reciting the words – his, and our, immersion in the novel is complete.

    The trailer for Gatz.

    The joy of being read to

    I saw the play on the Friday of election week in the US. In that context, the final entrancing passage of the novel had the effect of a secular incantation in a troubled world.

    Carraway imagines the Dutch sailors (or colonisers) who first set sight on the Americas and how “for a transitory enchanted moment man must have held his breath in the presence of this continent […] face to face for the last time in history with something commensurate to his capacity for wonder”.

    The play is a reminder of the joy of communal reading, an activity lost in our private silos of individualised content. Can the other characters hear Nick as he reads the novel aloud? It is unclear.

    Adults love being read aloud to as much as children, as the increasing popularity of audiobooks demonstrates.

    Reviewers of the original London production of Gatz in 2012 picked up on this, saying “a usually private activity, reading, has been turned into a collective one and it is intensely, surprisingly moving”.

    Or are we meant to think that as the office worker becomes increasingly immersed in the book, the reality around him gradually disappears – as happens when we become lost in the pages of a book?

    Actor Jeff Goldblum describes his enjoyment of reading The Great Gatsby aloud.

    The clock on stage in the office doesn’t change time throughout the play, suggesting that we are outside of time when we read. Some reviewers argued that the play is about the private experience of reading: “What goes on in your head is, in a way, the real subject of Gatz, which is not, strictly speaking, a staged reading of The Great Gatsby … It’s more a dramatisation of the act of reading itself – of what happens when you immerse yourself in a book.”

    Gatsby is a good choice for a play about the transformative role that reading and literature can play in life. It’s a representative text for what literature can do and achieve.

    Gatsby wasn’t always great

    Largely ignored on first publication, the novel didn’t achieve critical or commercial success until being sent by the Council on Books in Wartime to American soldiers serving overseas during the second world war, after Fitzgerald’s death.

    F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1929.
    Wiki Commons

    Fitzgerald himself was torn between knowing he had written a masterpiece to doubting the success of the book. “Gatsby was far from perfect in many ways but all in all it contains such prose as has never been written in America before,” he wrote in a letter to a friend in May 1925. In autumn that year, he wrote to another friend about the novel’s cold reception: “At first, you know, I thought Gatsby must be a terrible failure.”

    The novel now is arguably over-canonised – frequently set on British and American school syllabus, regularly hailed as the “greatest” American novel, with the idolisation of the text at the expense of Fitzgerald’s other work. Don’t get me wrong: I love the book, but I’m not sure even Fitzgerald himself held it in such high esteem as his dedicated readers do.

    As the novel reaches its centenary this month – preceded by its passing out of copyright and into the public domain – the Gatsby industry has gone into overdrive. The enduring fascination with this story has already been seen in numerous film adaptations (the first, now lost, was released in 1926, a year after the novel was published). These have been complemented by biographies of the novel, graphic adaptations, a thriving tourist industry (The Great Gatsby Boat Tour, anyone?) and two new musicals.

    The endless controversies over the novel continue. Who was the inspiration for Gatsby? Is Gatsby black? Is Gatsby’s love for Daisy romantic or delusional? Was Fitzgerald inspired by Great Neck and the contours of the north shore of Long Island for the geography of the novel? Or, in fact, his earlier home in Connecticut, as a recent documentary claims?

    Gatsby has become more than just a novel, but instead a site for what literature can mean, and its endless capacity for interpretation and reinterpretation.

    At the end of Gatz, there’s no return to the office setting of the play’s opening, no final framing narrative, just the lights going down after those final hypnotic words of the novel. Is this ending pure escapism – knowing the audience will shortly leave the space of the theatre and return to their everyday lives? Or does literature ultimately take us out of our mundane, harshly lit everyday existence, into other realms? If any novel can transport us, it’s The Great Gatsby.

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

    – ref. After 100 years, The Great Gatsby still reminds us of the ability of literature to transform everyday life – https://theconversation.com/after-100-years-the-great-gatsby-still-reminds-us-of-the-ability-of-literature-to-transform-everyday-life-253664

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Menstrual blood is being used to research a range of health conditions — from endometriosis to diabetes and cancer

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By April Rees, Lecturer, Biochemistry & Immunology, Swansea University

    Menstrual blood contains immune cells, stems cells and endometrial cells. ADragan/ Shutterstock

    Menstrual blood has historically been overlooked in research – considered only to be a waste product.

    But menstrual blood actually has a rich cellular and molecular makeup. It contains immune cells, stems cells and endometrial cells – as well as metabolites such as proteins and lipids (fat). This makes menstrual blood a potential goldmine for insights into many different health conditions. It can also be a less invasive way for researchers to access important biological material without the need for surgical biopsies or other invasive techniques.

    Given its important composition, researchers are now using menstrual blood to investigate whether it can be used to uncover the causes of a disease, identify signs of a health condition and develop personalised treatments.

    One area where menstrual blood could be integral is research investigating endometriosis. This condition causes endometrial tissue (which normally lines the uterus) to grow outside of the womb and on other organs, such as the bowel and ovaries.

    Research into endometriosis is severely underfunded, despite it affecting 10% of women. It’s also difficult to understand the mechanisms behind the disease without using invasive procedures. As a result, current treatment options – which include surgical lesion removal, hormonal contraceptives and pain relief – fail to address the root cause or associated complications (such as infertility).

    But some researchers have managed to develop organoids using the endometrial cells from menstrual blood. Organoids are miniature, lab-grown 3D models of organs derived from the stem cells found in the blood. These organoids can mimic what happens in the actual endometrium (the innermost lining of the uterus). This gives researchers a non-invasive way to investigate the health status of the endometrium.

    By developing organoids from the menstrual blood of those suffering with endometriosis, researchers are able to model the disease in the lab. This may one day lead the way to better understanding the underlying mechanisms of the condition.

    Endometriosis is also considered to be an inflammatory condition. This is because there’s an over-activation of the immune system seen in people with endometriosis, which worsens symptoms. As such, an area of high interest for research into endometriosis is the study of the immune system.



    Read more:
    Endometriosis: how the condition may be linked to the immune system

    Menstrual blood contains live immune cells which have come from the reproductive tract. These immune cells offer insight into the inflammation that’s occurring in the womb. This may help researchers better understand and develop treatments for painful sex, a common symptom for people with endometriosis which is linked to inflammation.

    While the presence of endometrial cells makes it an ideal tool for studying endometriosis, menstrual blood is also being used to offer insights into other reproductive diseases. For example, it has unveiled immune differences in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss that was not previously detectable using blood from the vein.

    Stem cell research

    Menstrual blood also contains stem cells, which makes it an important resource for research into a variety of other health conditions – including those involved in critical processes such as cardiovascular function, respiration and nervous system function.

    Menstrual blood is even being used to monitor blood sugar levels.
    Pixel-Shot/ Shutterstock

    Stem cells are defined by their naive status and ability to become a new, specialised type of cell under the right conditions. Adult stem cells are usually taken from umbilical cord blood, amniotic fluid, bone marrow or fat tissue. However, it requires invasive techniques to extract a stem cell sample from these areas – and only small amounts can be acquired.

    But menstrual blood, a fluid which is typically produced monthly, has been found to contain stem cells that are also capable of differentiating into various other cell types. This is particularly exciting as menstrual blood is readily available, naturally regenerates and collecting it does not require any surgical procedures or discomfort. This makes it a convenient and ethical option for stem cell research and potential therapies.

    Aside from using these menstrual blood-derived stem cells to investigate reproductive diseases such as endometriosis, there are also several studies looking at using these cells in other applications. For example, researchers have used them to investigate techniques for promoting wound healing and improving blood sugar levels in diabetes patients.

    On the topic of diabetes, menstrual blood is also being used for a proof-of-concept study to monitor glycaemic control. This offers alternatives to traditional blood tests – such as the Q pad, a pad which contains a removable collection strip for blood testing.

    Other diseases which are showing promising results in being diagnosed through menstrual blood include cervical cancer, chlamydia and diseases associated with lipid levels – such as atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease.

    The new normal?

    Menstrual blood is gaining traction in research due to its novelty and because it’s a less invasive way to collect different cells and molecules for testing. It’s easily accessible as a monthly “waste” product, and allows women to collect samples themselves. This could bypass the need for doctors and nurses and the inconvenience of appointments if it becomes a more reliable diagnostic tool.



    Read more:
    ‘Dirty red’: how periods have been stigmatised through history to the modern day

    But despite its promise, there are practical challenges that researchers face. Discussion around menstrual blood is still sometimes seen as taboo. Some women may not feel comfortable handling their own blood.

    There are also inconsistencies with how menstrual blood is collected between studies. For example, studies which only required a smaller volume of menstrual blood have been able to make use of sanitary pads and tampons to collect samples. However, those which require a larger sample used menstrual cups. The first issue with this is that the products used have different compositions, which can interfere with the reliability of the results. Another issue lies predominantly with menstrual cups and the lack of knowledge surrounding their proper use.

    As such, addressing stigma and promoting awareness around menstrual blood research is vital. While it has historically been overlooked, menstrual blood must now be recognised as a powerful, non-invasive tool in advancing research.

    April Rees receives funding from Royal Society.

    – ref. Menstrual blood is being used to research a range of health conditions — from endometriosis to diabetes and cancer – https://theconversation.com/menstrual-blood-is-being-used-to-research-a-range-of-health-conditions-from-endometriosis-to-diabetes-and-cancer-253384

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Donald Trump’s policies are more than dumb — they’re stupid, according to stupidity researchers

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jerry Paul Sheppard, Associate Professor of Business Administration, Simon Fraser University

    Before he stepped down as Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau called Donald Trump’s tariff policies “very dumb.” This might be an accurate description of many Trump administration policies — but the more objectively correct word is “stupid.”

    In fact, Québec’s largest newspaper, Le Journal de Montréal, published a front-page photo of Trump in early February with the word “stupid” in 350-point type. Some may call this an opinion, but the science of stupidity tells us that it’s more of a definition.

    Recent research has produced a succinct label for the poorly calculated actions of decision-makers: stupidity.

    This is not simple name-calling, but a phenomenon that comprises loss and features a set of actions that are either outright recognizably dysfunctional, or appear so at odds with any sensible course of action that it seems a hidden agenda could be involved.

    Stupidity that causes everyone to lose

    According to the seminal and transactional view of human stupidity by Carlo Cipolla, the late Italian economic historian, interactions fall into four categories:

    1. Intelligent interactions that are beneficial to all – a positive-sum game like Scottish philosopher Adam Smith’s notion of wealth through specialization and trade;

    2. Helpless interactions that result in a loss in a zero-sum game;

    3. Bandit interactions that result in a gain in zero-sum game;

    4. Stupid interactions that cause all parties to suffer a loss.

    Free trade is based on an intelligent positive-sum interaction. Trump’s transactional zero-sum view is that for every winner there is a loser.

    He apparently doesn’t understand that tariffs are only successful if other countries don’t retaliate. But other countries do retaliate, and as the world is now witnessing, the resulting trade war can decimate the global economy.

    Trump’s protectionist measures aimed at boosting the U.S. economy can therefore be considered “stupid” interactions that deepen and lengthen economic depression.

    Stupidity as recognizable actions

    Modern-day researchers have also identified three recognizable sets of actions embodying stupidity:

    Confident ignorance that involves people taking risks without having the necessary skills to deal with them. It’s not just being ignorant of one’s ignorance — explained by the Dunning-Kruger effect — but being self-assured despite contrary evidence.

    Trump may know what he does not know, so he delegated many tasks to Tesla founder Elon Musk and trade tariff architect Pete Navarro, both of whom seem to possess no such awareness.

    Absent-minded failure means people knew the right thing to do but were not paying sufficient attention to avoid doing something stupid. Organizations create agendas, but if issues don’t reach a point where they seriously impact the organization’s objectives, they are ignored.

    An example is the recent U.S. strikes against Yemeni Houthis. U.S. officials ignored critical security components by sharing information about their plans over unsecure connections and with a member of the media.



    Read more:
    ‘Signalgate’ was damaging to the Trump administration. It could be deadly for Yemeni civilians

    Lack of control means that autocratic decision-makers compromise their organizations by failing to accept objections from those charged with implementing the leader’s preconceived plans.

    Such autocratic decision-makers may select biased information to support their proposals. Those working under these leaders either buy into efforts to selectively use information, limit alternatives and execute these preconceived plans or they leave the organization (either voluntarily or not).

    In the U.S., witness the firing of Justice Department pardon attorney Elizabeth Oyer. She failed to support restoring gun rights to actor Mel Gibson, who had been convicted of domestic violence in 2011. Gibson’s pardon was reportedly based on his personal relationship with the president.

    Types of stupidity

    Organizational researchers have used the term functional stupidity to describe those who refuse to use their intellectual capacities when making decisions and then avoid justification for their actions. This allows group members to quickly execute routine functions without much thought.

    Dysfunctional stupidity is a lack of organizationally supported reflection, reasoning and justification. Organizations fail to use intellectual resources to process knowledge or question norms or claims of knowledge when confronted with new or non-routine decisions. By blocking communications, muffling criticism and squelching doubts, organizations ensure adherence to superiors’ edicts.

    One Trump administration example is the unquestioning permission given to allow the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Musk, to access to a wide array of government data.

    It can take the combined efforts of organizational officials on multiple levels to maintain stupidity.

    Individually, stupidity is reinforced by ignoring crucial information because of a need for a rapid response.

    Consequently, quick decisions and shortcuts made by individuals result in negative outcomes. An example would be the Trump administration’s apparent need to appear to find cost savings quickly to allow for tax cuts, overriding a more logical approach to find ways to achieve those savings without gutting legally mandated services.

    Organizationally, stupidity is reinforced because organizations limit acceptable alternative behaviours when they cannot process all available information. Data is restricted, controls are tightened and organization officials fall back to using previously well-learned responses in their comfort zones. Inexperienced decision-makers fall back on uninformed assumptions, or no assumptions at all.

    Witness Trump’s “reciprocal” trade tariffs currently decimating financial markets worldwide. No tariffs were calculated using current tariff rates, while others were based on American trade deficits with other countries. Other tariffs seem to be based on no rationale at all.



    Read more:
    No, that’s not what a trade deficit means – and that’s not how you calculate other nations’ tariffs

    Stupidity as a hidden agenda?

    Some actions that appear stupid may simply hide a hidden agenda. When the Trump administration erroneously detains and deports anyone under the Alien Enemies Act, is it an accident or a way to instil fear in everyone that authorities can detain, mistreat and deport them without due process at any point?

    Many of the actions being taken by the Trump administration appear stupid.
    Tariffs, for example, represent a loss — a transactionally negative sum game.

    Trump’s decisions exhibit confident ignorance, absent-minded failure and lack of control. They also show dysfunctional stupidity as Trump officials seemingly refuse to use their full intellectual resources. Stupidity is also being reinforced through unfounded assumptions. Is this all hiding a secret agenda?

    “You can’t fix stupid,” so the saying goes. But having capable administrators in place while other branches of government exercise their constitutionally mandated oversight role might dampen some of the Trump administration’s stupidity.

    Jerry Paul Sheppard 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. Donald Trump’s policies are more than dumb — they’re stupid, according to stupidity researchers – https://theconversation.com/donald-trumps-policies-are-more-than-dumb-theyre-stupid-according-to-stupidity-researchers-253009

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New NATO-Ukraine Centre hosts resilience workshop to enhance cooperation and readiness

    Source: NATO

    The NATO Joint Analysis Training and Education Centre (JATEC) in Bydgoszcz, Poland held a workshop on total defence and resilience on 2-3 April 2025.

    21 participants from six NATO Allies and Ukraine addressed topics including the security of critical services, strategic communications, transport and military mobility. The workshop aimed to enhance collaboration and inform future planning for NATO and Ukraine, identify key challenges and develop actionable strategies for Ukraine’s long-term security and defence readiness. In the workshop, experts from several Swedish government agencies shared Sweden’s approach to national resilience-building. This was complemented by NATO’s pool of resilience civil experts, who offered experience and best practices from across the Alliance. 

    In 2024, Allies agreed to deepen cooperation with partners on resilience. The mutually beneficial work between NATO and Ukraine through JATEC directly contributes to this initiative. In the same year, Allies also agreed to continue supporting Ukraine, including by establishing JATEC. Opened in February 2025, JATEC is the first civil-military organisation to be jointly run by NATO and a partner nation. It analyses wartime experiences in Ukraine and provides NATO and Allies with insights on the latest battlefield developments, emerging technologies, lessons learned, and new education and training systems, as well as developing and testing new military concepts. JATEC’s work will help to further strengthen Ukraine’s defence sector, enhance its deterrence and defence, and reach full interoperability with NATO.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: First place in cheerleading competitions at the Winter Spartakiad

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    The team of the NSU student pedagogical detachment “Sintez” took first place in the cheerleading competition within the framework of the Winter Spartakiad

    This Sunday, the final stage of the XV Winter Spartakiad of the Novosibirsk Regional Branch took place at NSTU – a cheerleading competition, where NSU students took first place with their performance.

    We talked to the squad members and found out how long it took to prepare the number, what was the most difficult and what their impressions of the victory were.

    Alevtina Sapozhnikova, candidate for the squad (has not yet worked the summer virgin lands) and a first-year student majoring in Fundamental and Applied Linguistics Humanitarian Institute of NSU: “The hardest thing was to keep training in the moments when it seemed that fatigue overpowered the desire to go to training”

    — How long did you prepare for the competition, what did the preparation consist of and what was the most difficult part?

    — We prepared for a little over a month — we met for training 3-4 times a week as a team, rehearsed the program we were performing, and also did exercises as a warm-up and cool-down to become stronger and more resilient. Perhaps the hardest thing was to continue training at times when it seemed that fatigue overpowered the desire to go to training. But not showing up means letting the team down, so we steadfastly went through all the difficulties, and it was not in vain!

    — Share your impressions of the victory in general: what did you like and remember most?

    — Of course, it was incredibly nice to receive the coveted winners’ cup and just compete. But “cheer” became something more than just training for all of us. We became attached to each other, experienced ups and downs together. I would like to express my gratitude to our coaches — they did a lot for us, and we owe our victory, which Sintez worked towards for 3 years, to them in many ways! I will definitely miss this time, which left only the warmest memories in my soul.

    Polina Lukina, detachment commissar and third-year student Faculty of Economics, NSU: “It was important to convey the emotions with which we trained and which overwhelmed us all this time”

    — This year the competitions were as captivating as ever! All the teams that took part showed themselves in all their glory: bright costumes, cool music, well-rehearsed routines and incredible energy!! We also tried to keep up with everyone and show our team in the best light. But in addition to the technical component of the performance, it was equally important for us to convey the emotions with which we trained and which overwhelmed us all this time!

    — Tell us about the significance of this victory for the squad, what are your plans for the future — will there be similar competitions in the near future or are you perhaps already preparing for virgin soil?

    — This victory means a lot to the squad. We have been striving for it for 3 years, and this year we have succeeded, which once again proved that the impossible is possible! In the future, we will direct our efforts to other equally important events, such as the All-Russian rally of counselors in Perm and the Starting rally of NRO squads, where we will again try to show ourselves from the best side!

    We congratulate the team on their victory and look forward to conquering new heights!

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: One million NHS staff to benefit from new support measures

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    One million NHS staff to benefit from new support measures

    Government delivers on promise to support frontline staff with new action to tackle violence, improve working lives and enhance career progression

    • Measures include improved reporting and prevention of violence and aggression in the workplace as incidents against healthcare workers reach alarming levels
    • New measures will make sure staff are paid correctly for the work they are asked to deliver

    Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, will today announce a comprehensive support package to tackle violence and improve the working lives of NHS staff.

    The measures are part of a range of recommendations accepted by the government under the Agenda for Change contract – which covers over a million frontline NHS workers – following the agreement of the 2023 pay deal.

    Violence against healthcare workers has become a critical issue, with the 2024 NHS Staff Survey revealing that one in seven experienced physical violence from patients, their relatives or other members of the public.

    A quarter of NHS staff experienced at least one incident of harassment, bullying or abuse in the last 12 months. Many incidents currently go unreported, hampering efforts to address the problem systematically.

    New measures will be put in place to encourage staff to report incidents of violence or aggression towards them, and to ensure this information is collected at national level. Data will also be analysed to better understand if certain staff groups – whether by race, gender, disability status, or role – face disproportionate risks, allowing trusts to protect the most vulnerable workers.

    In a keynote speech to UNISON’s National Health Care Service Group Conference in Liverpool, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, said:

    No one should go to work fearing violence. Yet one in every seven people employed by the NHS have suffered violence at the hands of patients, their relatives, or other members of the public.

    Protecting staff from violence is not an optional extra. Zero tolerance for violence and harassment of NHS staff. It’s a commitment to make sure healthcare workers can focus on saving lives without fear for their own safety.

    I owe my life to the NHS staff who cared for me through kidney cancer. I owe a debt of gratitude that I will never be able to repay, but I certainly intend to try. You were there for me, and I’ll be there for you.

    The package of measures will also address longstanding issues around ensuring staff are paid correctly for the work they deliver. Staff being routinely required to work beyond their job description with no compensation has led to a number of local disputes, such as those relating to clinical support worker roles in the Midlands at Kettering General Hospital and University Hospitals of Leicester.

    The Department of Health and Social Care is working closely with NHS England, NHS Employers and the Staff Council to implement a national digital system to support the fair and consistent application of the Job Evaluation Scheme.

    This will ensure staff are placed in the appropriate pay band recognising the skills and knowledge required for the role.

    Further measures include:

    • enhanced career progression support for nurses such as more learning and development, leadership training and career coaching for managers
    • new guidance for employers on how to recognise overseas experience on appointment into the NHS and share best practice on recruitment and selection processes
    • steps to reduce reliance on expensive agency workers by making it easier for NHS staff to take up flexible working and developing good practice guidance on working patterns for existing staff
    • encouraging six-month career reviews tailored specifically for ethnic minority nurses to identify progression pathways and provide targeted interview preparation support

    In total, 36 recommendations have been accepted by ministers. These measures are expected to have a considerable and positive impact on the NHS workforce, improve staff morale and enhance recruitment and retention.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ajay Sharma named new British High Commissioner to Malaysia

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    World news story

    Ajay Sharma named new British High Commissioner to Malaysia

    Mr Ajay Sharma CMG has been appointed British High Commissioner to Malaysia in succession to Ms Ailsa Terry CMG.

    Mr Ajay Sharma CMG

    This is Ajay’s fourth Head of Mission role. He was the UK Chargé d’affaires to Iran from 2013 to 2015, the British Ambassador to Qatar from 2015 to 2020 and Chargé d’affaires to Turkey from 2022 to 2023. Ajay has also served in Moscow and in Paris as the Deputy Ambassador to France.

    Prior to taking up this role, Ajay was a Director International Affairs in the National Security Secretariat of the Cabinet Office and a Director in the Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Office.

    During his 30-year career as a diplomat, Ajay has been involved in several international negotiations, including as the UK Representative for a Cyprus Settlement from 2021 to 2022 and as the Deputy Negotiator for the Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA).

    Born in London, Ajay is a graduate of Oxford University. He is fluent in French and Turkish, and is currently learning Bahasa Melayu.

    Ajay is set to arrive in Malaysia with his family in the next few weeks to commence his appointment. David Wallace remains the Acting High Commissioner until Ajay arrives.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Environment Agency opens world of construction to young people

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Environment Agency opens world of construction to young people

    Pupils from a local high school joined the Environment Agency and project partners last week on the Bewdley Flood Risk Management Scheme in Worcestershire.

    Constructing Change team photo

    The day was part of a new social initiative Constructing Change which is encouraging young people, especially girls, to consider careers in the construction industry.

    Founded last year by Elizabeth Griffin-Bennett and supported by the Environment Agency, Constructing Change is working to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion within the construction industry.

    A number of students from Bewdley High School are pictured on site where they received careers advice from Environment Agency officers, project designers ARUP and contractors Jackson Civil Engineering and NuWeld.

    As part of the day, the group was safely escorted around the site and also joined in construction activities, such as bricklaying and surveying.

    Constructing Change team at work

    The first Constructing Change initiative was organised earlier this year by the project team for the Littleborough Flood Risk Management Scheme in Rochdale. Further events are being planned across the country.

    David McKnight, Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager for the Environment Agency, said:

    “Constructing Change seeks to improve the diversity of the construction industry by bringing young people safely into construction sites.

    “The Environment Agency fully supports this initiative and the opportunity to provide valuable insights into the construction methods we have employed in the Bewdley flood scheme.”

    Ravi Darigala, Regional Director for Jackson Civil Engineering, said:

    “Jackson are committed to investing in the next generation, challenging stereotypes and promoting an inclusive and diverse culture.

    “We are delighted to be among the first to host a Constructing Change event, and welcome the opportunity to showcase the exciting and varied opportunities within the construction industry.

    “The Bewdley Flood Risk Management Scheme aims to improve flood protection for the community, and we hope that it can also help to inspire industry professionals of the future.” 

    More Information on the Bewdley Flood Risk Management Scheme

    https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/west-midlands/bealesfrms/

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Telephone scammers and online extremism: Polytechnic University held training for students

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    On April 8, a training session for students entitled “Counteracting telephone scammers, measures to prevent the spread of terrorist and extremist manifestations through telecommunications networks among university students” was held in the White Hall of SPbPU.

    Currently, telephone fraud is one of the most common forms of cybercrime in the modern world. Every year, the number of such scams increases, and the methods of attackers become more sophisticated. According to experts, the number of cybercrimes, as well as the number of fraudulent schemes, will grow. The training was dedicated to the methods and techniques of counteracting telephone scammers.

    We already held a similar event for the staff of our university a month ago. Today we appeal to young people. Our task is to know the tactics, methods and ways of action of fraudsters and intruders. This topic is very relevant, so we must be extremely attentive. Listen thoughtfully to our experts to help your friends and family, – said Vice-Rector for Security of SPbPU Alexander Airapetyan.

    The presentation was made by the Director of the Higher School of Jurisprudence and Forensic Science, Dmitry Mokhorov.

    Terrorism is a threat to the national security of the Russian state, and cyber fraud has become one of the tools used by criminals. Fraud is evolving along with technology, acquiring a transnational character. Digital scams and corruption crimes dominate, which have become more complex, larger-scale and more sophisticated. The fight against them requires not only tightening laws, but also increasing the financial and legal literacy of the population. Caution and critical thinking are the main methods of protection in the era of digital risks, – emphasized Dmitry Mokhorov.

    Tatyana Kalyamina, representative of the North-West Bank of Sberbank, shared the organization’s experience in the field of security. Lyudmila Tikhonova, head of the coordination center for issues of developing an active civic position among young people, preventing interethnic and interfaith conflicts, countering the ideology of terrorism and preventing extremism at the St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design, gave parting words.

    The event was also attended by representatives of the FSB of Russia, employees of the departments of the Center for Combating Extremism of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, the Main Directorate of the Russian Guard for St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, the UMVD of Russia for the Kalininsky District of St. Petersburg, and the chairman of the veteran organization OMON “Baltika” (on transport).

    The experts shared information about common telephone fraud schemes and methods of criminals, told how to act to prevent extremist activity, showed video materials. Particular emphasis was placed on the need to conduct educational and explanatory work among young people and the elderly. In conclusion, the polytechnicians asked questions.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Milestone for Big Canberra Battery

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Williamsdale battery will deliver 250MW of storage.

    The ACT Government has reached a major milestone in its work to future-proof Canberra’s energy supply.

    The development application has been approved to deliver Stream 1 of the project – a grid-scale battery in Williamsdale.

    This ACT Government has partnered with Eku Energy on this project. Construction will begin later this year.

    The Big Canberra Battery will be capable of delivering 250 MW of power – more than a third of Canberra’s peak electricity demand. It will be able to deliver this power for two hours.

    The Big Canberra Battery will have 500 MWh of capacity, which on a single charge could supply 23,400 households with their daily energy use.

    Approximately 180–200 jobs will also be created through the project.

    More batteries for Canberra

    The Government has also finalised the installation of batteries at nine government sites in the ACT as part of its work on Stream 2 of the project.

    The sites include:

    • Belconnen Parks Depot
    • Gungahlin Family and Child Centre
    • Allara Depot
    • Kambah Depot
    • Ron Reynolds Centre
    • Chifley Community Hub
    • Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm
    • Cotter Depot
    • Greenway Ambulance Station.

    The batteries capture energy generated from rooftop solar panels. This will help power the sites and will reduce government spend on electricity, benefitting the broader network during peak electricity consumption times.

    Two further batteries will be installed at Mount Stromlo High School and 255 Canberra Avenue, Fyshwick in early 2025.

    The ACT Government has also partnered with the Commonwealth Government and Evoenergy through the Community Batteries for Household Solar Program.

    Through this, three medium-sized neighbourhood-scale batteries will be installed in Casey, Dickson and Fadden.

    A battery operator will be selected in late 2024 following a procurement process.

    The Big Canberra Battery project will provide renewable energy security across the electricity grid.

    It will help grow the ACT’s renewable energy sector, provide more local employment opportunities, and deliver a positive financial return for the territory.

    Building a cleaner future

    Battery storage technology is a critical component of the ACT’s net-zero emissions future.

    The ACT has delivered 100 per cent renewable electricity since 2020.

    Initiatives like this build on that achievement and demonstrate the viability of renewable energy in supporting a robust, affordable and sustainable energy grid.

    Find out more about the Big Canberra Battery Project and other ways Canberra is leading the way on climate action by visiting climatechoices.act.gov.au

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Rehab robots help patients with brain injuries

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The equipment can help to improve function after serious brain injuries.

    Three new robots at the University of Canberra Hospital are helping patients recover from serious brain injuries.

    The hospital is the second public facility of its kind in Australia to offer this service. The robots are a joint venture between Canberra Health Services and the University of Canberra.

    The equipment is a tool for treating patients. It can help them to improve function after serious brain injuries including stroke.

    World experts have trained the hospital’s team to use these robots. This helps them to find the best ways to build the robots into client treatment.

    Students studying occupational therapy and physiotherapy at the university will learn about robotics as part of their coursework. The students will be involved in ongoing research projects at the university.

    The university’s Honours students will also be speaking to clinicians and patients about the robots and how they have helped to improve treatment and further build on research.

    “By embedding elements of robotics rehabilitation into the University’s relevant course curricula, our students will be exposed to this innovative technology,” Professor Stuart Semple, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health, University of Canberra said.

    “That will enhance their learning outcomes and career opportunities in the health workforce of the future.”

    The ACT Government and the Canberra Hospital Foundation funded the three robots. Generous donors and the Canberra Hospital Foundation’s community partnership with GIO also helped.

    Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:


    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Release and Special Screening of Two Significant Documentaries on Indian Buddhist Heritage at National Museum

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 09 APR 2025 10:37AM by PIB Delhi

    The National Museum, New Delhi, in collaboration with the Nava Nalanda Mahavihara (NNM), Nalanda, and the Light of the Buddhadharma Foundation International, India (LBDFI), hosted the release and screening of two important documentary films at the National Museum Auditorium, New Delhi, on April 8th or 9th, 2025.

    In the opening address, Professor Siddharth Singh, Vice Chancellor of Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, mentioned that their university is working to raise awareness about the footsteps of the Buddha. These documentary films are part of this initiative. He added that the current ‘in the footsteps of the Buddha’ pilgrimage is limited to a few popular sites, whereas there exists an extensive Buddhacarika (footsteps of the Buddha) that the world is unaware of. Their effort is to increase the scope and span of the Buddhist Pilgrimage.

    During the event, Prof. Buddha Rashmi Mani, Director General of the National Museum, delivered the Presidential address. In his speech, Prof. Mani highlighted the significance of preserving and promoting India’s Buddhist heritage. He emphasized the important role these documentaries play in showcasing the rich history of Buddhism and its cultural legacy. Prof. Mani further remarked on the importance of such initiatives for both academic and public awareness.

    Ms. Wangmo Dixey, the Executive Director of LBDFI, also spoke at the event, offering her insights on the occasion. She emphasized the significance of the event, highlighting how it represents a crucial step in the nation’s collective effort to preserve and promote the teachings of Buddhism, ensuring that the legacy of this ancient tradition continues to inspire generations to come.

    About the Films

    Nalanda: A Journey through Time

    The documentary Nalanda: A Journey through Time is a groundbreaking film that showcases the unparalleled contributions of Sri Nalanda Mahavihara (Ancient Nalanda University) to the development of Buddhist literature, philosophy, art, and architecture. From the Sth to the 13th centuries, Nalanda played a pivotal role in the spread of Buddhism across Asia. It was a hub fora global exchange of ideas, influencing Buddhist thought, art, and iconography across countries such as China, Korea, Japan, and Tibet.

    The film aims to document the critical role Nalanda played in shaping Buddhist traditions and philosophies. It features insightful interviews with Dr. BR Mani, Director General of the National Museum and a renowned Indian archaeologist, along with other subject matter experts, including the former Vice Chancellor of NNM and Ven. Geshe Dorji Damdul, Director of Tibet House, New Delhi. This film was previously showcased at the first edition of The Bodhipath Film Festival, held on March 11, 2025, at the India International Centre in New Delhi.

    Gurpã: The Last Footsteps of Mahakasyapa

    Gurpã: the Last Footsteps of Mahakasyapa traces the pilgrimage of 25 international monks from Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and India as they retrace the final journey of Mahakasyapa from Veluvana (Rajgir) to Gurpã Mountain. The film combines documentary storytelling with cinematic techniques to present the sacred walk of the Venerable Mahasangha of the ITCC and the profound significance of Mahäkasyapa’s last journey.

    The documentary highlights the historical, prophetic, and spiritual aspects of Mahakasyapa’s life, and the sacredness of Gurpā Mountain, one of the most significant locations in Buddhism. The film underscores the connection between the Buddha’s teachings and the Buddhacarika, the geographical entity encompassing the areas of the Buddha’s sublime wanderings and those of his principal disciples.

    Director, Shri Surinder M. Talwar is an acclaimed Indian filmmaker with over 40 years of experience in the audio-visual industry. He has directed a wide range of films, including research-based documentaries, short features, docu-dramas, corporate films, and award-winning music videos. His films have been showcased at various forums, including the United Nations. In recent years, Talwar has focused solely on projects related to Buddhismand Indian Buddhist heritage. His film Buddhism: A Spiritual Journey has won numerous awards both in India and internationally.

    This project, conceived by the Light of the Buddha Dhamma Foundation International – India (LBDFI) and the Nava Nalanda Mahavihara (NNM), seeks to revive the 70 km trail that Mahakãsyapa took over 26 centuries ago to reach his final resting place at Gurpã Mountain. The film aims to raise awareness of Mahakasyapa’s contributions to Buddhism and promote the revival of the ancient Cetiya Carikã tradition. This significant documentary will also be showcased at the upcoming United Nations Vesak Celebration 2025.

    ***

    Sunil Kumar Tiwari

    pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

    (Release ID: 2120275) Visitor Counter : 84

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sols 4505-4506: Up, up and onto the Devil’s Gate 

    Source: NASA

    Written by Catherine O’Connell-Cooper, Planetary Geologist at University of New Brunswick
    Earth planning date: Monday, April 7, 2025
    Over the weekend, we completed our drive up the steep side of a canyon, up onto “Devil’s Gate,” a small butte which forms part of the ridge along the top of the canyon and now we can see down into the next canyon. It is always true that we are going somewhere no one has been before – that’s the idea of an exploratory mission after all, and everyone kind of gets used to it, we don’t stop to think about it. But today, coming over the top of a hill like this and fully looking for the first time into an area that we have only had glimpses of before, it really brings it home that the mission is doing something extraordinary, something out of this world …. and brings that feeling of awe back into focus. 
    We did not pass SRAP (Slip Risk Assessment Process) a couple of times as we climbed up the side of this canyon, meaning that the contact science instruments (APXS and MAHLI) had to stand down for that day’s planning. However, this morning, in addition to a brand new vista, we saw that all six wheels are firmly on the ground and we passed SRAP quickly this morning, which must have been a relief to the rover planner in charge of assessing it today! (no one wants to be the bearer of bad news, day after day!) 
    Bedrock here has both flat bedrock and amazing large nodular features, which appear to have “wind tails” caused by winds consistently blowing in the same direction. This is a Touch and Go plan, so APXS and MAHLI are focusing on a single target, the brushed “Coronado” target on the flat bedrock in front of us. ChemCam will use LIBS to investigate the nodular features at “La Cumbre Peak.”  
    Near the rover, Mastcam will image some small diagenetic features at “Boulder Oaks” and the LIBS target. The 3×2 (2 rows of 3 images) “La Jolla Valley” mosaic focuses on a very nodular patch, just outside of the workspace reachable by the arm. Further from the rover, the 6×2 mosaic (2 rows of 6 images) “Los Penasquitos” looks at an amazing almost vertical vein. This discontinuous vein stretches for about 6 meters (about 18 feet), with vein fins sticking above the surface at various points, like a series of shark fins breaking the bedrock surface. Much further afield, ChemCam will acquire a long distance image on “Condor Peak,” which appears to have large scale vein networks, known as “boxwork structures” and may be an early example of the boxworks we are hoping to reach in Fall 2025.  
    The ENV (Environmental and Atmospheric group) planned a Mastcam “tau” measurement, to look at dust in the atmosphere. There is a paired Navcam activity, looking at dust devils towards the north of the crater on the first sol and towards the south on the second sol. A suprahorizon movie and our usual DAN and REMS measurements round out this plan.  
    Let’s see what the next drive will reveal to us! 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Text of the Catechesis of the Holy Father

    Source: The Holy See

    The following is the text of the catechesis of the Holy Father, prepared for 9 April 2025:

    Catechesis of the Holy Father
    Cycle of Catechesis – Jubilee 2025
    Jesus Christ our hope
    II. The life of Jesus. The encounters
    4. The rich man.
    Jesus looked at him (Mk 10:21)
    9 April 2025
     
    Reading: Mk 10:17-22
    As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”. Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honour your father and your mother”.
    He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth”. Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me”.
    At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
     
    Dear brothers and sisters,
    Today we will look at another of Jesus’ encounters, narrated by the Gospels. This time, however, the person encountered does not have a name. The evangelist Mark presents him simply as “a man” (10:17). He is a man who has observed the commandments ever since his youth but who, despite this, has not yet found the meaning of his life. He is searching for it. Perhaps he is one who has not yet truly made up his mind, despite his appearance as a committed person. Indeed, beyond the things we do, our sacrifices and successes, what truly counts in order to be happy is what we carry in our heart. If a ship has to set sail and leave the port to navigate in the open sea, it can be a wonderful ship, with an exceptional crew, but if it does not pull up the ballast and the anchors that hold it down, it will never manage to depart. This man has made himself a luxurious ship, but he has stayed in the port!
    As Jesus makes His way through the street, this fellow runs up to Him, kneels before Him and asks: “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (v. 17). Notice the verbs: “what must I do to have eternal life”. Since observance of the Law did not give him the happiness and security of being saved, he turns to the Master Jesus. What is striking is that this man does not know the vocabulary of gratuitousness! Everything seems to be owed. Everything is a duty. Eternal life is for him an inheritance, something that is obtained by right, through meticulous observance of commitments. But in a life lived in this way, although certainly for good purpose, what space can love have?
    As always, Jesus goes beyond appearances. While on the one hand this man sets out before Jesus his fine resume, Jesus goes beyond and looks within. The verb that Mark uses is very significant: “looking at him” (v. 21). Precisely because Jesus looks within each one of us, He loves us as we truly are. Indeed, what will He have seen inside this person? What does Jesus see when He looks within every one of us and loves us, despite our distractions and our sins? He sees our fragilty, but also our desire to be loved as we are.
    Looking at him, says the Gospel, He “loved him” (v. 21). Jesus loves this man before He even extended the invitation to follow Him. He loves him just as he is. Jesus’ love is gratuitous: exactly the opposite of the logic of merit that has beset this person. We are truly happy when we realize we are loved in this way, freely, by grace. And this also applies to the relationships between us: as long as we try to buy love or beg for affection, those relationships will never make us feel happy.
    The proposal Jesus makes to this man is to change his way of living and relating with God. Indeed, Jesus recognizes that inside him, as in all of us, something is lacking. It is the desire we carry in our heart to be loved. There is a wound that belongs to us as human beings, the wound through which love passes. To overcome this lack we do not need to “buy” recognition, affection, consideration: instead, we need to “sell off” everything that weighs us down, to make our hearts freer. There is no need to continue to take for ourselves, but rather to give to the poor, to provide, to share.
    Finally, Jesus invites this man not to stay alone. He invites him to follow Him, to be within a bond, to live a relationship. Indeed, only in this way will it be possible to emerge from his anonymity. We can hear our name only within a relationship, in which someone calls us. If we remain alone, we will never hear our name spoken, and will continue to be that “man”, anonymous. Perhaps today, precisely because we live in a culture of self-sufficiency and individualism, we find ourselves more unhappy because we no longer hear our name spoken by someone who loves us freely.
    This man does not accept Jesus’ invitation and stays alone, because the ballast of his life keeps him in the port. His sadness is the sign that he has not managed to leave. At times, what we think are riches are instead only burdens that are holding us back. The hope is that this person, like each one of us, will sooner or later change and decide to set sail.
    Sisters and brothers, let us entrust to the Heart of Jesus all people who are sad and undecided, so that they may feel the loving gaze of the Lord, who is moved by looking tenderly within us.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: TransUnion Study Finds More than Half (56%) of Canadians Said They Were Targeted by Fraud in Second Half of 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Almost One in Five (17%) Canadians Reported Losing Money Due to Fraud in Last Year with
    Median Loss of $2,013

    Gaming, Government and Communities were Most Targeted Sectors by Digital Fraudsters in Canada

    Key Study Findings:

    • 39% of Canadians surveyed said fraud concerns is the top reason why they abandon online shopping carts.
    • 46% prioritize security of personal data as the #1 quality (more than cost savings or quality of goods and services) when deciding what online company to do business with.
    • 13% report taking no action when discovering they became a victim of fraud.
    • 43% who said they were targeted by fraud involved phishing.
    • 11% of attempted digital gaming transactions (including online betting, poker, etc.) where consumer was in Canada were suspected of digital fraud in 2024.

    TORONTO, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — According to the newly-released TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) H1 2025 Update to the State of Omnichannel Fraud Report, more than half (56%) of 1,000 Canadians surveyed said they were targeted by fraudsters through email, online, phone call or text messaging channels from August to December 2024. Nearly one in 10 (9%) of those reporting being targeted said they fell victim to it. Furthermore, when surveyed from Nov. 21 to Dec. 6, 2024, nearly one-fifth of Canadians (17%) said they lost money due to email, online, phone call or text messaging in the past year. The number of Canadians targeted and who fell victim may be significantly higher, but people may be unaware they were targeted.

    “Our research indicates that many Canadians don’t take the proper steps if they have fallen victim to Digital Fraud,” said Patrick Boudreau, head of identity management and fraud solutions at TransUnion Canada. “These steps should include reporting the suspected fraud to your bank or credit card company to freeze accounts and changing all passwords. Consumers should also notify credit bureaus, including TransUnion, to place a fraud alert on their file, as well as report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. If personal information was compromised or large sums of money were involved, it should be reported to the local police as well.”

    Fraud concerns have major influence on who Canadians choose to do business with online.
    When engaging online, concerns around security and fraud has a significant impact on Canadians’ preferences and behaviours, including when making purchases or choosing who to do business with.

    According to the survey that was part of TransUnion’s State of Omnichannel Fraud Report:

    • 91% of Canadians said having confidence that their personal data will not be compromised is important when choosing who to transact with online.
    • 46% said security of personal data is the number one consideration when deciding what company to do business with online, significantly higher than prioritizing cost savings (25%) and quality of goods and services (19%).
    • 70% said fraud concerns would cause them not to return to a website.
    • 31% said they have switched doing online transaction to another website due to fraud or security concerns.
    • 39% said fraud and/or security concerns is a top reason to abandon their online shopping cart. Conversely, 16% said having too many security steps is a top reason to abandon their online cart.
    • 35% said they have abandoned an online application for a financial or insurance product before completing it.

    While many Canadians took various actions after discovering they had become a victim of fraud, more than 1 in 10 (13%) reported no action at all.
    Among Canadians who said they fell victim to email, online, phone call or text messaging fraud from August to December 2024, they reported taking the following actions:

    • 51% contacted relevant impacted companies such as credit card issuers, retailers, etc.
    • 48% placed a freeze on their credit.
    • 29% placed a fraud alert on their credit report.
    • 16% called the police.
    • 15% contacted a company that compiles and provides credit reports.
    • 13% said they took no action.

    While Canadians were targeted by a mix of fraud schemes, phishing was the most reported kind.
    Among those who said they were targeted by email, online, phone call or text messaging fraud in the second half of last year, the most common reported method by them was phishing (43%). Phishing is when a fraudster uses an email, website, social post or QR code that appears to legitimate meant to trick a consumer into sharing personal information. Other common fraud attempt methods reported by those who said they were targeted include:

    • Smishing (40%), where fraudulent text messages try to trick recipients into revealing data.
    • Vishing (35%), where fraudulent phone calls try to induce recipients into revealing personal information.
    • Third-party seller scams on legitimate online retail websites (19%).

    Gaming, Government and Communities Were the Top 3 Industries Targeted by Digital Fraudsters in Canada.
    Gaming (including online betting, poker, etc.) had the highest rate of suspected digital fraud1 attempts where the consumer or fraudster was in Canada when transacting. Over 11% of all attempted digital gaming-related transactions were suspected of fraud in 2024, an 80% increase from 2023. This was followed by government (9%), communities which includes online dating sites and forums (7%) and video gaming (6%).

    The logistics industry, which has seen growth in shipping fraud (often perpetrated by organized crime rings), saw the greatest suspected digital fraud attempt rate and volume growth among industries analyzed, up 203% and 180% respectively for transactions from Canada YoY compared to 2023. However, the suspected digital fraud attempt rate for that industry was a relatively modest 2% in 2024. Conversely, telecommunications saw the biggest YoY suspected digital fraud attempt rate and volume decrease from 2024 (-88% and -86%) from Canada in that time period.

    Canadian Sectors that Experienced Shifts in YoY Suspected Digital Fraud in Many Cases Differed from Global Changes:

    Industry Canada suspected digital fraud attempt rate 2024 Change from 2023 Global suspected digital fraud attempt rate 2024 Global change from 2023
    Gaming (online sports betting, poker, etc.) 11.1% +80% 7.8% +20%
    Government 8.5% +21% 1.7% +6%
    Communities (online dating, forums, etc.) 7.0% -19% 11.6% +9%
    Video gaming 6.4% +15% 10.8% -23%
    Financial services 4.7% +13% 4.9% +3%
    Retail 4.6% +9% 7.6% -45%
    Insurance 3.3% +54% 2.0% -29%
    Logistics 1.9% +203% 2.6% +101%
    Telecommunications 0.3% -88% 3.0% -79%
    Travel & leisure 0.2% -26% 0.9% -38%

    Source: TransUnion TruValidate™

    “While cybercriminals will attack at any time using any channel, they appear to focus on channels most popular in the regions they are targeting,” added Boudreau. “Emails are widely used in Canadians’ personal and business lives, while many use their mobile phones for everything from work calls to ordering groceries and organizing their families’ lives. Fraudsters view these channels as the most likely way that they’ll be able to trick people into sharing personal information, which is why all Canadians need to be vigilant about responding to messages of any kind on their digital platforms.”

    TransUnion came to its conclusions about digital fraud based on intelligence from TransUnion TruValidate.

    Specific country and regional data in the report includes Canada, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Hong Kong, India, Kenya, Mexico, Namibia, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States and Zambia. Download the TransUnion H1 2025 Update to the State of Omnichannel Fraud Report for more information and insights about the global fraud trends.

    About TransUnion® (NYSE: TRU)
    TransUnion is a global information and insights company with over 13,000 associates operating in more than 30 countries, including Canada, where we’re the credit bureau of choice for the financial services ecosystem and most of Canada’s largest banks. We make trust possible by ensuring each person is reliably represented in the marketplace. We do this by providing an actionable view of consumers, stewarded with care.

    Through our acquisitions and technology investments we have developed innovative solutions that extend beyond our strong foundation in core credit into areas such as marketing, fraud, risk and advanced analytics. As a result, consumers and businesses can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good® — and it leads to economic opportunity, great experiences and personal empowerment for millions of people around the world.

    For more information visit: www.transunion.ca

    For more information or to request an interview, contact:
    Contact: Katie Duffy
    E-mail: katie.duffy@ketchum.com
    Telephone: +1 647-772-0969

    1 The rate or percentage of suspected digital fraud attempts reflects those which TransUnion customers determined met one of the following conditions: 1) denial in real time due to fraudulent indicators, 2) denial in real time for corporate policy violations, 3) fraudulent upon customer investigation, or 4) a corporate policy violation upon customer investigation — compared to all transactions assessed. The country and regional analyses examined transactions in which the consumer or suspected fraudster was located in a select country or region when conducting a transaction. Global statistics represents every country worldwide and not just the select countries and regions.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Change of British High Commissioner to Mauritius: Paul Brummell

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Change of British High Commissioner to Mauritius: Paul Brummell

    Mr Paul Brummell CMG has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Mauritius.

    Mr Paul Brummell

    Mr Paul Brummell CMG has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Mauritius in succession to Ms Charlotte Pierre who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.  Mr Brummell will take up his appointment during July 2025.

    Curriculum vitae

    Full name: Paul Brummell           

    Year Role
    2021 to present Riga, His Majesty’s Ambassador
    2018 to 2021 FCDO, Head of Soft Power and External Affairs Department
    2014 to 2018 Bucharest, Her Majesty’s Ambassador
    2013 to 2014 Pre-posting training (including Romanian language training)
    2009 to 2013 Bridgetown, British High Commissioner to the Eastern Caribbean
    2005 to 2009 Astana, Her Majesty’s Ambassador
    2002 to 2005 Ashgabat, Her Majesty’s Ambassador
    2001 FCO, Afghanistan Emergency Unit
    2000 to 2001 FCO, Deputy Head of Eastern Department
    1995 to 2000 Rome, First Secretary (Political, Press and Public Affairs)
    1993 to 1994 FCO, Environment, Science and Energy Department
    1992 New York, Conference Support Officer, UK Mission to the United Nations
    1989 to 1992 Islamabad, Third later Second Secretary (Political)
    1988 to 1989 FCO, South America Department
    1988 FCO, Research Department
    1987 Joined FCO

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: GUU-Auto opens its doors: new recruitment of future drivers starts

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On April 15, GUU-Auto launches a new training stream under the program “Professional training of drivers of category “B” vehicles.”

    Classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 19:00.

    Hurry while there are still places!

    Additional information by phone: 8 (495) 377 6446, 8 (916) 760 1014 (WhatsApp, Telegram), as well as in the educational department of the UC GUU Auto (room A-219) and on the official page of the UC GUU-Auto

    The GUU-Auto training center is a structural division of the State University of Management, providing paid educational services in professional training programs for drivers of vehicles.

    Subscribe to the tg channel “Our State University” Announcement date: 04/15/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The State Management Institution and the Ministry of Cleanliness of the Moscow Region will form a rating of heads of management organizations

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On April 8, 2025, the Ministry for Territory Maintenance and State Housing Supervision of the Moscow Region held a seminar for the region’s management organizations, at which representatives of the State University of Management spoke.

    The event was moderated by Deputy Minister of Cleanliness of the Moscow Region Svetlana Vikulova.

    The speakers of the seminar from our university were the head of the department of scientific research coordination Maxim Pletnev and the deputy head of the department of “Statistics” Tatyana Pershina. The specialists presented the methodology for the efficiency and effectiveness of the activities of the heads of management organizations, the founders of which include municipalities of the Moscow region, developed in 2024 at the State University of Management.

    “The six main indicators included in the developed methodology will allow us to characterize the activities of the head of the management company as transparently as possible, identify problem areas and growth points. Now the working group faces the following task – collecting data from management organizations, on the basis of which the rating will be formed,” explained Maxim Pletnev.

    The heads of management organizations participating in the seminar were presented with the criteria included in the rating, the mechanism and frequency of the assessment.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/09/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SLW’s speaking notes on labour, manpower development and retirement protection policy areas tabled at LegCo Finance Committee special meeting

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following are the speaking notes of the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, on labour, manpower development and retirement protection policy areas tabled at the special meeting of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Finance Committee today (April 9):

    Chairman and Honourable Members,

         Recurrent government spending on labour and manpower development in 2025-26 is estimated to be $3,480 million, representing an increase of about $350 million (11.1 per cent) over the revised estimate of $3,140 million last year. It accounts for 0.6 per cent of the total recurrent government expenditure. I will highlight the key areas of work in respect of the relevant areas in the coming year.

    Abolishing the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) offsetting arrangement

         The abolition of the MPF offsetting arrangement will take effect on May 1 this year, alongside the launch of a 25-year subsidy scheme on the same date. I would like to remind employers again that the abolition has no retrospective effect, and the pre-transition portion of severance payment (SP) and long service payment for existing employees can still be offset after May 1. Dismissing employees before the abolition takes effect will not save money. 

    Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS)

         The Labour Department (LD) has implemented the ESLS since September 4, 2023, to suspend the general exclusion of the 26 job categories as well as unskilled or low-skilled posts from labour importation under the previous Supplementary Labour Scheme for two years. As at March this year, the ESLS received over 12 000 applications for importing about 107 000 workers. During the period, over 7 800 applications involving around 54 000 imported workers were approved. The LD is reviewing the ESLS, including its coverage, operation and implementation arrangements; measures to promote and ensure employment priority for local workers; measures to protect the rights and benefits of imported workers; as well as other requirements and matters relating to the ESLS. The Government will take full account of the views of stakeholders, including employer associations and labour organisations, in mapping out the way forward. 

    Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW)

         The SMW rate will be raised from the prevailing level of $40 per hour to $42.1 on May 1, providing further protection to low-income employees. Moreover, the Government is firming up a new annual review mechanism for future SMW rates. The first rate derived under the new mechanism is expected to take effect on May 1 next year.

    Amending the Trade Unions Ordinance (TUO)

         The Government also proposes to amend the TUO to better safeguard national security and strengthen the regulatory regime for trade unions. The Labour Advisory Board (LAB) and the Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Manpower supported the amendment proposals. The Government will introduce the Bill into the LegCo this month.

    Relaxing the “continuous contract” requirement under the Employment Ordinance (EO)

         Based on the consensus reached by the LAB, the Government is amending the EO to relax the working hours threshold of the “continuous contract” requirement, enabling more employees to enjoy fuller protection. The Government will introduce the Bill into the LegCo this month.

    Increasing the ceiling of ex gratia payment on SP under the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund (PWIF)

         The Government on March 21 this year increased the ceiling of ex gratia payment on SP under the PWIF from $100,000 plus 50 per cent of any excess entitlement to $200,000 plus 50 per cent of any excess entitlement, further strengthening the protection for the rights of employees affected by business closures. 

    Strengthening youth employment services

         The LD in January this year enhanced the Greater Bay Area (GBA) Youth Employment Scheme to relax the eligibility requirements to include young people aged 29 or below with sub-degree or higher qualifications, and increase the limit of allowance granted to enterprises to $12,000 per young person per month. The LD also raised the upper age limit for participants of the Youth Employment and Training Programme to 29 and introduced workplace attachment opportunities in the GBA to enhance young people’s employability.

    Re-employment Allowance Pilot Scheme

         The LD on July 15 last year launched the three-year Re-employment Allowance Pilot Scheme. The response is very favourable. As at March this year, the Scheme recorded over 38 000 participants and more than 16 000 placements, mobilising more older and middle-aged persons to join the employment market.

    Enhancing occupational safety and health (OSH)

         The LD is highly concerned about the levels of OSH risks across different industries, as well as the changes in these risks, with a particular focus on the construction industry. On top of routine OSH inspections, the LD conducts special enforcement operations, safety audit inspections and in-depth inspections targeting high-risk processes and construction sites with poor safety performance. In addition, the LD has stepped up district patrols targeting minor repair, maintenance, alteration and addition works to curb unsafe work activities.

         The LD will also enhance the application of technology by introducing small unmanned aircraft in the second half of this year to assist with inspections, evidence collection, law enforcement operations, etc.

         Last year, the LD brought the remaining four elements of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Safety Management) Regulation into operation and revised the Code of Practice on Safety Management to strengthen the safety management system. The LD also revised the Code of Practice for Bamboo Scaffolding Safety and the Code of Practice for Safety and Health at Work in Confined Spaces to further strengthen bamboo scaffolding safety and enhance OSH in confined space works. Following the revision of the Guidance Notes on Prevention of Trapping Hazard of Tail Lifts in March this year, the LD will revise the Code of Practice for Safe Use of Tower Cranes and the Guidance Notes on Safe Use of Power-operated Elevating Work Platforms in 2025-26 to enhance the safety requirements for operating the relevant machinery.

    Talent attraction 

         To address the labour shortage across industries, the Government, on top of the ongoing promotion of local training, has also implemented various well-received talent attraction measures, including the launch of the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) since the end of 2022.

         As at end-March this year, over 460 000 applications were received under various talent admission schemes, of which over 300 000 were approved. During the same period, a total of about 203 000 talents arrived in Hong Kong. Some of them brought along families to settle in Hong Kong, and about 189 000 spouses of the approved applicants and their children under the age of 18 arrived in Hong Kong. These incoming talents and their families bring about a positive impact on Hong Kong’s labour force and add new impetus to the local economy. The first batch of visas under the TTPS have started to expire from end-December last year, with nearly 10 000 TTPS visas estimated to expire by the middle of the year. As only a small number of applications have been processed at present, we will analyse in detail the relevant statistics when a certain number of applications for extension of stay have been accumulated and release them at an opportune time.

         The Government is reforming various aspects of the talent admission regime to continue to strive to trawl for and retain talents. We have also initiated the arrangements under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme for proactively inviting top-notch and leading talents to come to Hong Kong for development, which have been endorsed by the Committee on Education, Technology and Talents led by the Chief Secretary for Administration. Under the new mechanism, we will, having regard to various development needs of our country and Hong Kong, proactively persuade the target top-notch talents to settle in Hong Kong, promoting Hong Kong as the focal point of international high-calibre talents. The Government will provide throughout the process various personalised facilitations to the invitees. It is well appreciated that these top-notch talents are highly sought after worldwide. To avoid affecting the lobbying, we will not disclose the specific operational details about the invitation mechanism.

         In addition, to address the acute manpower shortage in the local skilled trades, we will enhance the General Employment Policy and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals to allow young and experienced non-degree talents with relevant professional and technical qualifications to come to Hong Kong to join the skilled trades facing acute manpower shortage. Meanwhile, the 2023 Policy Address announced the launch of the two-year pilot Vocational Professional Admission Scheme (VPAS). The number of eligible programmes in the 2025/26 admission cohort will be increased to 34. While applications will be only open next year upon the graduation of the first batch of eligible non-local students, we have noticed that since the announcement of VPAS, many non-local students have been attracted to enrol in the eligible programmes that had difficulties enrolling local students in the past. The Vocational Training Council will enhance its promotional efforts and support non-local graduates in applying under the scheme for staying in Hong Kong for one year to seek jobs relevant to their disciplines.

         Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) provides comprehensive one-stop support to incoming talents. It organises online and offline workshops (including Cantonese learning courses), seminars and job fairs centred on living, employment and entrepreneurship in Hong Kong, as well as social inclusion activities (including the Talent+ Volunteer Programme), to help incoming talents settle in Hong Kong, and promote Hong Kong’s advantages to the world and recruit talents. HKTE organised the inaugural Global Talent Summit．Hong Kong (GTS) in May 2024 and will organise the second GTS early next year to reinforce Hong Kong’s status as an international hub for high-calibre talents.

    Reform of the Employees Retraining Board

         The Employees Retraining Board (ERB) is taking forward its reform and has since early this year implemented short-term measures to enhance its services, including lifting the restriction on educational attainment of trainees. In the medium to long term, the ERB will rename the organisation, enhance training and employment support services, strengthen research capabilities, and formulate a pertinent training framework. The ERB will submit an implementation plan to the Government by the end of this year. The Government will continue to work with the ERB to implement the reform, with a view to enhancing local manpower training, upskilling and re-skilling.

         To encourage more young people to participate in the Apprenticeship Scheme and join the relevant trades, each registered apprentice, for a period of three years starting from 2024-25, is provided with an additional training allowance of $1,000 per month, and graduated apprentices will be subsidised to undertake upskilling courses of relevant trades. Meanwhile, the VTC receives subvention to organise short in-service training courses with a view to meeting the market demand. 

    Manpower projection

         The LWB released the report on the 2023 Manpower Projection in 2024, projecting that Hong Kong will face an overall manpower shortage of 180 000 by 2028, with over one-third being skilled technical workers. We would commence a mid-term update of the 2023 Manpower Projection in late 2025, with the findings expected to be available in 2026.

         Chairman, this concludes my opening remarks. Members are welcome to raise questions. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: First batch of non-locally trained dentists join DH to provide public service

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    First batch of non-locally trained dentists join DH to provide public service 
    Following the passage of the Dentists Registration (Amendment) Bill 2024 by the Legislative Council in July last year, new pathways were to be introduced to admit qualified non-locally trained dentists. The DH launched a global recruitment drive in the same month. Apart from posting the information on its website, the DH collaborated with the offices outside Hong Kong to organise a series of online briefings and disseminated information to dental institutions and dental associations around the world.
     
    The DH received over 90 applications from non-locally trained dentists and issued 12 letters of appointment after a rigorous selection process. The Dental Council of Hong Kong (DCHK) is actively processing the relevant registration matters. Three of them, after obtaining the DCHK’s approval for limited registration in February this year, took up their appointments with the DH on March 10 this year.
     
    “The DH welcomes non-locally trained dentists to join the team. The three new colleagues have practical experience of practising in the Mainland, the United Kingdom and Australia after obtaining their professional qualifications in dentistry from Mainland and overseas institutions respectively,” said the Consultant in-charge, Dental Services of the DH, Dr Kitty Hse.
     
    “A one-week induction training was provided to these non-locally trained dentists to help them better understand the scope of public dental services in Hong Kong and the duties of government dentists. The three new colleagues, who are proficient in Cantonese, have been assigned to work in government dental clinics with general public sessions to serve the public,” she added.
     
    Dr Hse stressed that the DH will continue to adopt a multipronged approach to the recruitment and retention of dentists, and will maintain close contact with the DCHK to complete the vetting and approval of registration applications from non-locally trained dentists as soon as possible in order to meet the demand for local dental services.
     
    The three newly recruited dentists expressed their honour in being able to utilise their professional knowledge and experience to serve the citizens of Hong Kong. They were particularly pleased to be able to contribute to the place where they grew up and have more time to spend with their families. They noted that the DH’s induction training was comprehensive and practical, covering topics such as infection control, operation of the medical record system and consultation procedures, adding that it has helped them quickly adapt to the work environment. The professional support and teamwork from their colleagues have enabled them to start their work smoothly. Looking ahead, they are eager to develop their careers in Hong Kong on a long-term basis and continue to serve the community with their professionalism.
     
    With the commencement of the amended provisions of the Dentists Registration Ordinance (Cap. 156), new pathways for qualified non-locally trained dentists to come to Hong Kong have been introduced with effect from January 1 this year, including limited registration which is open to all dentists and special registration targeting specialist dentists. Non-locally trained dentists who are selected for full-time employment in specified institutions, including the DH, the Hospital Authority, the University of Hong Kong and Prince Philip Dental Hospital, subject to the approval of the DCHK, can directly practise in specified institutions to better meet the demand for public or subsidised dental services in Hong Kong.
    Issued at HKT 15:45

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Home Building Fund — Esquire Developments Ltd

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Home Building Fund — Esquire Developments Ltd

    How Homes England supported an ambitious developer based in Kent.

    Home Building Fund Developer Case Study: Esquire Developments Ltd

    Esquire Developments Ltd, an award-winning SME housebuilder, was established in 2011 and currently delivers approximately 120 homes annually across Kent and the South East.

    Esquire Developments approached Homes England to support their project Millers Field, a 1.21-acre site in Maidstone, Kent and we provided a £2.68 million loan to transform the site into 9 attractive family homes.

    Esquire Developments is known for its dedication to quality and sustainability, achieving up to 50% carbon reduction in their developments compared to current building standards. They also prioritise sourcing materials and supply chains locally, and all the homes in this project were equipped with air source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging stations.

    Following the successful completion of Millers Field, Homes England has supported Esquire Developments with a second scheme, Hill Farm in Sittingbourne, which is made up of 30 homes, 3 key worker homes and an overflow carpark for Demelza Children’s Hospice situated next to the development.

    More information about the Home Building Fund can be found on our Home Building Fund — development finance page, or you can get in touch with one of our regional specialists. You can:

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Home Building Fund — Windyridge Property Investments

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Home Building Fund — Windyridge Property Investments

    Watch our film to see how Homes England has supported a new SME developer to deliver a scheme of starter homes in West Bromwich.

    Home Building Fund Developer Case Study: Windyridge

    In March 2022 Homes England supported Windyridge Property Investments, a new entrant SME developer, with a £1.4 million development loan to deliver Sienna Way, a scheme comprising of 9 homes based in West Bromwich. As a first-time developer, Windyridge had experienced numerous funding barriers before receiving support from the Home Building Fund. Funding was legally contracted in 54 days from credit approval, demonstrating Homes England’s ability to provide SMEs access to much needed funding at pace.  

    Our regional team worked closely with the developer to design a flexible funding structure that incorporated possible delays in build completions and generous timeframes to sell the homes.  

    Completed in July 2023, Sienna Way meets the latest energy efficiency standards and provides a high-quality living environment for first time buyers, key workers and young families. Features include private courtyards, electric car charging points and underfloor heating. The scheme uses locally sourced, sustainable products, minimising waste in the construction process. 

    Jatinder Singh Gakhal, Managing Director, Windyridge said:

    As a new SME housing developer, we found securing development funding particularly challenging given the macro-economic factors affecting the construction industry. However, thanks to the team at Homes England, who provided exceptional support and guidance throughout the application process, we swiftly secured a development loan to fully fund our scheme. We strongly recommend SMEs consider Homes England funding to help unlock their future development sites.

    More information about the Home Building Fund can be found on our Home Building Fund — development finance page, or you can get in touch with one of our regional specialists. You can:

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: New cooperation: GUU and FNAC VIM signed an agreement

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    A cooperation agreement was concluded between the State University of Management and the Federal Scientific Agroengineering Center VIM. The document was signed by the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev and the director of the Federal Scientific Agroengineering Center VIM Andrey Izmailov.

    One of the first projects for joint implementation will be “Ensuring food security of the country based on the creation of software and hardware systems and intelligent platform digital solutions in the field of development of agro-industrial technologies of the full life cycle”, which will be implemented in the period from 2024 to 2026.

    The development of a working project for a digital agricultural management platform is planned for 2025.

    The specialists of the Federal Scientific and Technical Center of VIM are experts in the field of development, production and testing of robotic systems and digital technologies used in agriculture, which will expand the range of innovative technical solutions and technologies that are the basis for the formation of a technological package, on the basis of which the specialists of the State University of Management are developing a digital platform for agricultural management.

    Let us recall that in March, a delegation from the State University of Management visited the Federal Scientific and Technical Center of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation for preliminary discussions on areas of future cooperation.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/09/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Orenburgneft’s environmental investments in 2024 exceeded 3 billion rubles

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Orenburgneft (part of the Rosneft oil production complex) allocated more than 3 billion rubles for environmental protection activities in 2024, which is almost 13% more than the previous year. The funds were used to implement the gas investment program, improve the reliability of pipelines, reclaim land, improve the efficiency of industrial waste disposal, resource conservation, reforestation and maintain the biodiversity of water resources.

    As part of the target gas program, in 2024 the main process equipment was installed at the gas compressor station of the Donetsk-Syrtovskoye field, and the construction of gas pipelines of the Eastern group of fields is being completed. These measures will allow additional volumes of associated petroleum gas to be sent to the Buzuluk gas processing plant, where the gas is prepared to commercial quality and a wide fraction of hydrocarbons is separated from it – a valuable raw material for the petrochemical industry.

    Investments in the implementation of the pipeline reliability improvement program ensured the planned replacement of pipeline sections, repair and inhibition of pipes. Stable operation of the field infrastructure is ensured, among other things, by diagnostics using modern devices.

    The company is implementing resource-saving technologies. Last year, Orenburgneft reduced energy consumption by 6.8 million tons of equivalent fuel, which contributed to improving the environmental performance of production. Key initiatives included optimizing the operation of pumping equipment in reservoir pressure maintenance systems, upgrading downhole submersible equipment in oil production, and reengineering ground infrastructure.

    The enterprise provides environmental monitoring of natural components. Regular sampling of atmospheric air, water, and soil is carried out in the territories where production activities are carried out. Methane emissions are monitored using advanced technical means.

    Orenburgneft uses modern technologies for recycling industrial waste. The resulting secondary products are re-involved in industrial use. The company’s volunteers contribute to preserving the environment. For several years, employees have been organizing the collection of used plastic and waste paper. Schoolchildren from the region participate in environmental campaigns of oil workers. In 2024, more than 12 tons of secondary raw materials were sent for recycling through joint efforts.

    Employees carry out volunteer campaigns to clean up the territories of the cities where they are present and the coastal zones of water bodies, and organize clean-up days. Over the past three years, oil workers have planted about 3 thousand young pines, firs, lindens, and birches. Together with activists from the “Movement of the First,” oil workers cleaned up the territory of the Dendrosad in the Buzuluksky Bor National Park. Earlier, with the support of the company’s employees, a tourist trail was laid in the reserve, which is integrated into the network of ecological trails of the National Park.

    The company’s environmental performance has been repeatedly noted at various levels. In the regional competition “Leader of Economy”, “Orenburgneft” has been recognized as the winner in the nomination “Leader of Environmental Responsibility” for over 10 years.

    Reference:

    JSC Orenburgneft, a subsidiary of NK Rosneft, carries out production activities in the Orenburg, Samara and Saratov regions. Cumulative oil production exceeds 470 million tons.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft April 9, 2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Why the state values science fiction writers, while business attaches importance to predictive models

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    In the 20th century, a pragmatic approach to the future began to form. In a certain sense, it became an object of management. “The task of people who professionally deal with the future — forecasters, strategists, futurologists and futurists — is now not to make forecasts, but to make the future. And the future began to be understood not as a certain calendar date, but as a project that a person or an organization can implement,” says Sergei Zhigarev.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: US tariffs to rattle global trade, backfire on US: Egyptian expert

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Sweeping U.S. tariffs could destabilize global trade and ultimately backfire on the United States itself, an Egyptian analyst told Xinhua in a recent interview.

    Mokhtar Ghobashy, secretary general of the Al-Farabi Center for Political Studies in Egypt, said that U.S. President Donald Trump “dropped an economic bomb on the global trade system,” and that while the repercussions will be felt worldwide, the United States may be among the hardest hit.

    Trump’s tariff package includes a 10 percent baseline tariff on goods from all countries and “reciprocal tariffs” targeting economies with allegedly “high trade barriers” to U.S. exports. Some Middle Eastern countries, including Syria, Iraq and Jordan, are facing levies as high as 41 percent, 39 percent and 20 percent, respectively.

    “In the Arab world, Iraq maintains an annual trade surplus of nearly 6 billion U.S. dollars with the United States, while Jordan recorded in 2024 a trade surplus of about 1 billion dollars with the country,” he said, explaining why some of the regional countries were dealt with a heavier blow.

    Trump’s thinking behind his tariff measures, he said, is clearly dominated by an “America First” mentality, promoting unilateralism and reshaping international power dynamics in favor of Washington.

    The United States is going through one of its most dangerous phases — “imperial overstretch,” meaning it has hit its peak and is now facing a decline. But still, Trump believes the tariffs could help preserve U.S. status as the world’s sole superpower and prevent a rapid decline, he noted.

    “Many economists have criticized these U.S. actions, warning that they could lead to a major global recession,” Ghobashy said.

    The ongoing tariff tensions could shift global trade dynamics in ways that would undermine U.S. interests, he warned.

    “In this context, it has been suggested that the EU and China might strengthen their trade relations,” he said, adding that some nations may even begin to distance themselves from Washington and pursue new alliances and trade paths that exclude the United States.

    The United States has started a trade war “believing it will ultimately serve its interests,” but will only find it straining trade relations with numerous countries, said Ghobashy. 

    MIL OSI China News –