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Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: English rendering of PM’s speech at the launch of various development works in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 6:05PM by PIB Delhi

    Bharat Mata Ki Jai!

    Bharat Mata Ki Jai!

    Bharat Mata Ki Jai!

    Chhattisgarh Mahtari Ki Jai! (Hail Chhattisgarh!)

    Ratanpur Wali Mata Mahamaya Ki Jai!

    Karma Maya Ki Jai! Baba Guru Ghasidas Ki Jai!

    (Addressing the gathering in local language)

    Jai Johar from the bottom of my heart!

    Governor of Chhattisgarh, Shri Ramen Deka ji; the popular and dynamic Chief Minister of the state, Shri Vishnudeo Sai ji; my esteemed colleague in the Union Cabinet, Manohar Lal ji; the Member of Parliament from this region and Union Minister, Tokhan Sahu ji; Speaker of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly and my dear friend, Raman Singh ji; Deputy Chief Minister, Vijay Sharma ji; Arun Sahu ji; all the ministers, MPs, and MLAs of the Chhattisgarh Government; and my brothers and sisters who have gathered here from far and wide!

    Today marks the beginning of the New Year. It is also the first day of Navratri, and this land is blessed as the abode of Mata Mahamaya. Chhattisgarh is the paternal home of Mata Kaushalya. In this sacred context, these nine days, dedicated to divine feminine energy, hold special significance for Chhattisgarh. I consider myself truly fortunate to be here on the very first day of Navratri. Only a few days ago, a postage stamp was issued in honour of Bhakta Shiromani Mata Karma, and I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of you on this occasion.

    Friends,

    The festival of Navratri will culminate with the grand celebration of Ram Navami, and Chhattisgarh’s devotion to Lord Ram is truly remarkable. Our Ramnami Samaj (a sect) has devoted itself entirely to the divine name of Lord Ram. I extend my warmest wishes to the people of Lord Ram’s maternal land and to all of you, my friends. Jai Shri Ram!

    Friends,

    On this auspicious day, with the blessings of Mohbhatta Swayambhu Shivling Mahadev, I have been given the opportunity to further accelerate the development of Chhattisgarh. Just a short while ago, we laid the foundation stone and inaugurated projects worth more than Rs 33,700 crore. These projects encompass housing for the underprivileged, schools, roads, railways, electricity, and gas pipelines—initiatives that will significantly enhance the quality of life for the people of Chhattisgarh. They will also generate new employment opportunities for the youth. My heartfelt congratulations to all of you on these important developmental projects.

    Friends,

    In our tradition, providing shelter to someone is considered a great virtue. But what could bring greater joy than the fulfilment of a person’s dream of owning a home? Today, on this auspicious occasion of Navratri and the New Year, three lakh underprivileged families in Chhattisgarh are moving into their new homes. A short while ago, I had the opportunity to meet three beneficiaries, and I could see the immense joy on their faces. One of the women was so overwhelmed with happiness that she could hardly contain her emotions. I extend my heartfelt best wishes to all these families—three lakh families—on this new chapter of their lives. The possibility of a secure roof over the heads of these poor families has become a reality only because of all of you. I say this because you placed your trust in Modi’s guarantee. Under the previous government, the dream of a pucca house for lakhs of families in Chhattisgarh remained buried in files. We had assured you that our government would turn this dream into reality. That is why, as soon as Vishnudeo ji’s government was formed, the very first cabinet decision was to construct 18 lakh houses. Today, three lakh of those homes have been completed. I am particularly pleased that many of these houses have been built in tribal regions. Numerous families from Bastar and Surguja now have pucca houses. One can truly appreciate the significance of this for families whose generations have endured hardship in makeshift huts. For those who may not fully grasp the magnitude of this change, let me put it into perspective. Imagine you are on a long journey by train or bus, standing the entire way because you cannot find a seat. The moment you secure a seat, the relief and joy you feel are immense, aren’t they? Now, imagine families who have spent their entire lives in slums or huts. Today, as they move into pucca houses, their joy knows no bounds. When I see this transformation, it fills me with new energy and strengthens my resolve to work tirelessly for my fellow countrymen.

    Friends,

    While the government has provided assistance in constructing these homes, the decision on how each house is built rests with the beneficiaries themselves—not the government. These are the homes of your dreams, and our government does not just build houses; it strives to enrich the lives of those who live in them. Efforts have been made to equip these homes with essential amenities, including toilets, electricity, Ujjwala gas connections, and tap water. I can see that a large number of mothers and sisters are present here today. Most of these pucca houses have been registered in the names of our women. Thousands of sisters have, for the first time, had a property legally registered in their name. My dear mothers and sisters, the happiness on your faces and your heartfelt blessings are my greatest asset.

    Friends,

    When such a vast number of houses are built—lakhs of them—it leads to another significant development. Consider this: who constructs these houses? Where do the materials used in their construction come from? These materials are not sourced from Delhi or Mumbai; rather, they come from local markets. The large-scale construction of houses provides employment to our masons, skilled workers such as Rani Mistris (queen/head masons), and labourers in villages. It also benefits local small shopkeepers who supply construction materials. Additionally, those who transport these goods in trucks and other vehicles gain employment opportunities. In this way, the construction of lakhs of homes has not only provided shelter but also generated widespread employment across Chhattisgarh.

    Friends,

    The BJP government is steadfastly fulfilling every promise made to the people of Chhattisgarh. The Chief Minister just mentioned that elections for local self-governance institutions were recently held—the three-tier elections—and the overwhelming support you have shown is truly commendable. As I stand before you today, I take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude for your trust and blessings.

    Friends,

    A large number of beneficiaries of various government schemes have gathered here today. You have personally witnessed how swiftly our government is honouring its commitments. We have fulfilled our promise to the women of Chhattisgarh. Paddy farmers have received the bonuses due for two years, and paddy has been procured at an increased Minimum Support Price (MSP). As a result, lakhs of farming families have collectively received thousands of crores of rupees. Under the previous Congress government, recruitment examinations were plagued by widespread corruption. The BJP government has ordered a thorough investigation into these examination scams. Moreover, we are now ensuring that recruitment exams are conducted with complete transparency. These honest efforts have strengthened public confidence in the BJP. Following the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, the BJP has now triumphed in the civic elections as well, with its flag flying high across Chhattisgarh. The people of this state are wholeheartedly supporting the BJP government’s vision and initiatives.

    Friends,

    Chhattisgarh has now completed 25 years as a state, marking its silver jubilee year. Coincidentally, this year also commemorates the centenary of Atal Ji. In honour of his legacy, the Chhattisgarh government is celebrating 2025 as Atal Nirman Varsh. Our commitment is clear—we have built it, and we will make it even better. Every infrastructure project inaugurated or initiated today is a testament to this resolution.

    Friends,

    Chhattisgarh was created as a separate state to ensure that the benefits of development reached its people. However, under Congress rule, development remained stagnant, and wherever work was undertaken, corruption followed. The Congress party has never truly cared for your well-being. But we have. We have prioritised your lives, your comfort, and your children’s future. Our government is taking development initiatives to every village in Chhattisgarh. I have noticed a young girl here holding up a painting for quite some time. I request the security personnel to take note of her name and address. Daughter, I will send you a letter. Someone please collect it and ensure it reaches me. Thank you, dear child. Thank you very much. Today, you can see the transformation taking place—good roads are now reaching even the most remote tribal areas. For the first time, trains are connecting new regions, and I have just flagged off a new service here. Electricity is reaching these places for the first time, piped water supply is becoming a reality, and mobile towers are being installed in areas that never had connectivity before. New schools, colleges, and hospitals are being built. Chhattisgarh’s landscape is changing, and with it, its destiny is being rewritten.

    Friends,

    Chhattisgarh has now joined the ranks of states where 100% of the railway network operates on electricity—a remarkable achievement. Currently, railway projects worth approximately Rs 40,000 crore are underway in Chhattisgarh. Additionally, this year’s budget has allocated Rs 7,000 crore specifically for the state’s railway infrastructure. These developments will significantly enhance rail connectivity across various regions of Chhattisgarh while also improving links with neighbouring states.

    Friends,

    Along with financial resources, good intentions are essential for development. If there is dishonesty in both thought and action—like we witnessed under Congress rule—then even the largest treasury will be drained. We have seen this happen during Congress’s tenure, where corruption and mismanagement prevented development from reaching tribal areas. Take coal as an example—Chhattisgarh is rich in coal reserves, yet the state struggled to get enough electricity to meet its needs. Under Congress rule, the power sector remained neglected, and little effort was made to develop power plants. In contrast, our government is now actively setting up new power plants to ensure a reliable energy supply.

    Friends,

    We are also making significant efforts to generate electricity from solar energy. Let me introduce you to a remarkable scheme initiated by Modi—a scheme that will eliminate your electricity bill and even allow you to earn money by generating electricity at home. This initiative is called the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. Under this scheme, our government is providing financial assistance of Rs 70,000–80,000 per household for installing solar panels. Here in Chhattisgarh, more than two lakh families have already registered for this scheme. I encourage you all to join as well and reap its benefits.

    Friends,

    Another example of good governance and vision is the development of gas pipelines. Chhattisgarh, being a landlocked state, is far from the sea, making gas supply a significant challenge. The previous government failed to invest adequately in gas infrastructure, leaving the state dependent on costly transportation methods. We are now addressing this issue head-on. Our government is actively laying gas pipelines in Chhattisgarh, reducing the reliance on transporting petroleum products by trucks. This will lead to lower prices for fuel and energy-related products. Additionally, the introduction of gas pipelines will enable vehicles to run on CNG, providing a cleaner and more affordable alternative. Moreover, this initiative will bring piped cooking gas directly to homes. Just as water flows to the kitchen through pipes, gas will now be supplied in the same way. We are currently working towards connecting over two lakh homes with direct piped gas supply. Beyond household benefits, the availability of gas will pave the way for new industries in Chhattisgarh. This, in turn, will create thousands of new job opportunities.

    Friends,

    In past decades, Congress’s policies fuelled the spread of Naxalism across several states, including Chhattisgarh. Wherever there was scarcity and lack of development, Naxalism took root and flourished. But what did the party that ruled for 60 years do? Instead of addressing the challenges, it simply declared such districts as backward and turned away from its responsibilities. As a result, entire generations of our youth were lost. Many mothers had to endure the heart-wrenching loss of their sons, and countless sisters were left grieving for their brothers.

    Friends,

    The indifference shown by those past governments only aggravated the crisis. You have witnessed first-hand how some of the most underprivileged tribal families were left struggling in various districts of Chhattisgarh. The Congress government never cared for them. We did. We ensured that poor tribal families had proper sanitation by launching the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. We prioritised their healthcare needs by introducing Ayushman Bharat Yojana, providing free treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh. We made essential medicines affordable through PM Jan Aushadhi Kendras, where medicines are available at an 80% discount.

    Friends,

    Those who claim to be the champions of social justice were the very ones who ignored the tribal community for decades. This is why I say: Modi stands for those whom no one else cares for. We are actively working towards the upliftment of the tribal society through special initiatives. One such programme is the Dharti Aaba Janjati Utkarsh Abhiyan, under which Rs 80,000 crore is being invested in tribal development. This initiative is benefiting nearly 7,000 tribal villages in Chhattisgarh alone. Additionally, we recognise that within the tribal community, there exist extremely backward groups that need special attention. For the first time ever, our government has introduced the PM Janman Yojana, specifically designed for these communities. Under this scheme, development work is underway in more than 2,000 settlements across 18 districts of Chhattisgarh. Nationwide, 5,000 kilometres of roads have been approved in tribal settlements—half of these, approximately 2,500 kilometres, will be constructed in Chhattisgarh itself under the PM Janman Yojana. Moreover, many families present here today have received pucca houses through this scheme. This is the transformation we are bringing—development that reaches every doorstep.

    Friends,

    Today, under the double-engine government, Chhattisgarh is witnessing rapid transformation. When a health centre in Sukma district receives a national quality certificate, it instils a sense of confidence. When a health centre in Dantewada resumes operations after years of inactivity, it brings renewed optimism. These efforts are paving the way for a new era of lasting peace in Naxal-affected areas. In December’s Mann Ki Baat broadcast, I spoke about the Bastar Olympics. You may have heard how thousands of young people enthusiastically took part in the event. Their participation is clear proof of the positive change unfolding in Chhattisgarh.

    Friends,

    I can see a bright future for the youth of Chhattisgarh. The state’s implementation of the New Education Policy is commendable. Across the country, more than 12,000 modern PM Shri Schools have been established, with approximately 350 located in Chhattisgarh. These institutions will serve as model schools, elevating the entire education system of the state. Additionally, Eklavya Model Schools are already making remarkable progress in Chhattisgarh. Many schools in Naxal-affected areas have also been reopened, providing children with new opportunities for learning. Today, the Vidya Samiksha Kendra has also been launched in Chhattisgarh, marking another significant milestone in the state’s education sector. This initiative will enhance the quality of education, enabling real-time assistance for both teachers and students in classrooms.

    Friends,

    We have honoured yet another promise made to you. Under the new National Education Policy, medical and engineering studies have now commenced

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: To mark the 80th anniversary of the Victory, the Polytechnic launched a student video blog

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    In the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland and on the eve of the 80th anniversary of the Victory, the Polytechnic will publish a student video blog, “The Memory of Glory Lives.”

    Today it is difficult to imagine that the Main Building of the Polytechnic University once housed a military hospital, the windows of the Chemical Building were crosswise sealed with paper tape, and in place of a cozy park alley there was a gaping two-meter shell crater. Hurrying about our business, we pass by monuments, memorial plaques and rarely think about what they symbolize, what they can tell us.

    Our university has many places associated with the Great Patriotic War. What events took place here in those distant years? The video blog “Memory of Glory is Alive” and its host, IMMiT SPbPU student Yegor Bredikhin, answer these questions.

    In the vlog episodes, he will talk about the university’s memorable locations and the unforgettable stories they have kept for decades.

    “This project has become another page in the educational work of the university, which includes our own initiatives, such as “Stories of Polytechnic Families”, and participation in all-Russian events, such as “Scientific Regiment”, – said the head of the Public Relations Department Marianna Dyakova. – In the year of the 80th anniversary of the Victory, we decided to make a video project together with students about the places inside the Polytechnic associated with the Great Patriotic War. Students, especially those who are just starting to study, know almost nothing about them. And if they hear from other students the history of the monument, the memorial plaque, it will be perceived with trust and understanding, and will cause reciprocal emotions. We don’t want the project to be didactic, we want to touch the souls and hearts of the Polytechnicians, so that every student who watches the video, passing by such a significant place, stops for a second, thinks about the Great Patriotic War, about the cost of how many lives the victory was achieved.”

    The premiere of the first issue dedicated to the Monument to the Fallen Polytechnicians has already taken place. The most famous monument on the Polytechnic campus was opened on September 23, 1967. It was built with funds from teachers, employees, students and graduates of the M. I. Kalinin LPI. Two military helmets lying on the pedestal were found at the battle sites.

    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: SUM shares experience: the second webinar on the exchange of best practices of project-based learning for university representatives was held

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On March 28, the second online seminar in 2025 was held for teachers and staff of higher education institutions, dedicated to the issues of introducing project-based learning into the educational process.

    The webinar was organized by the State University of Management as an interregional educational and methodological center for project-based learning and the Association of Project-Oriented Organizations of Science and Higher Education.

    The webinar featured three diverse reports. Each speaker shared the unique experience of their educational institution, telling about cases of successful implementation of project activities among students.

    Head of the Department of Advertising and Public Relations of the State University of Management Vasily Starostin covered the issues of organizing project work of marketing students from the point of view of the experience of the Institute of Marketing of the State University of Management. The audience was especially interested in the methodology of setting the task for the implementation of project work by students of the 1st to 3rd years of the bachelor’s degree.

    Elena Stukalova, head of the startup studio at the Financial University, shared her experience in developing student startup projects. Participants learned what tools and resources are used to support young entrepreneurs as part of the educational process.

    Director of the Institute of Creative Industries of VVSU Inna Klochko spoke about the organization of project activities at Vladivostok State University. Examples of successful projects implemented at the university became clear evidence of the effectiveness of the proposed approaches.

    The State University of Management expresses gratitude to all participants and speakers for productive cooperation and hopes for further development of mutually beneficial dialogue within the framework of the exchange of best practices of project-based learning.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 03/31/2025

    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 United Kingdom: AI-generated child abuse images are a growing threat

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    By Simon Bailey and Samantha Lundrigan, Anglia Ruskin University

    The UK aims to be the first country in the world to create new offences related to AI-generated sexual abuse. New laws will make it illegal to possess, create or distribute AI tools designed to generate child sexual abuse material (CSAM), punishable by up to five years in prison. The laws will also make it illegal for anyone to possess so-called “paedophile manuals” which teach people how to use AI to sexually abuse children.

    In the last few decades, the threat against children from online abuse has multiplied at a concerning rate. According to the Internet Watch Foundation, which tracks down and removes abuse from the internet, there has been an 830% rise in online child sexual abuse imagery since 2014. The prevalence of AI image generation tools is fuelling this further.

    Last year, we at the International Policing and Protection Research Institute at Anglia Ruskin University published a report on the growing demand for AI-generated child sexual abuse material online.

    Researchers analysed chats that took place in dark web forums over the previous 12 months. We found evidence of growing interest in this technology, and of online offenders’ desire for others to learn more and create abuse images.

    Horrifyingly, forum members referred to those creating the AI-imagery as “artists”. This technology is creating a new world of opportunity for offenders to create and share the most depraved forms of child abuse content.

    Our analysis showed that members of these forums are using non-AI-generated images and videos already at their disposal to facilitate their learning and train the software they use to create the images. Many expressed their hopes and expectations that the technology would evolve, making it even easier for them to create this material.

    Dark web spaces are hidden and only accessible through specialised software. They provide offenders with anonymity and privacy, making it difficult for law enforcement to identify and prosecute them.

    The Internet Watch Foundation has documented concerning statistics about the rapid increase in the number of AI-generated images they encounter as part of their work. The volume remains relatively low in comparison to the scale of non-AI images that are being found, but the numbers are growing at an alarming rate.

    The charity reported in October 2023 that a total of 20,254 AI generated imaged were uploaded in a month to one dark web forum. Before this report was published, little was known about the threat.

    The harms of AI abuse

    The perception among offenders is that AI-generated child sexual abuse imagery is a victimless crime, because the images are not “real”. But it is far from harmless, firstly because it can be created from real photos of children, including images that are completely innocent.

    While there is a lot we don’t yet know about the impact of AI-generated abuse specifically, there is a wealth of research on the harms of online child sexual abuse, as well as how technology is used to perpetuate or worsen the impact of offline abuse. For example, victims may have continuing trauma due to the permanence of photos or videos, just knowing the images are out there. Offenders may also use images (real or fake) to intimidate or blackmail victims.

    These considerations are also part of ongoing discussions about deepfake pornography, the creation of which the government also plans to criminalise.

    All of these issues can be exacerbated with AI technology. Additionally, there is also likely to be a traumatic impact on moderators and investigators having to view abuse images in the finest details to identify if they are “real” or “generated” images.

    What can the law do?

    UK law currently outlaws the taking, making, distribution and possession of an indecent image or a pseudo-photograph (a digitally-created photorealistic image) of a child.

    But there are currently no laws that make it an offence to possess the technology to create AI child sexual abuse images. The new laws should ensure that police officers will be able to target abusers who are using or considering using AI to generate this content, even if they are not currently in possession of images when investigated.

    We will always be behind offenders when it comes to technology, and law enforcement agencies around the world will soon be overwhelmed. They need laws designed to help them identify and prosecute those seeking to exploit children and young people online.

    It is welcome news that the government is committed to taking action, but it has to be fast. The longer the legislation takes to enact, the more children are at risk of being abused.

    Tackling the global threat will also take more than laws in one country. We need a whole-system response that starts when new technology is being designed. Many AI products and tools have been developed for entirely genuine, honest and non-harmful reasons, but they can easily be adapted and used by offenders looking to create harmful or illegal material.

    The law needs to understand and respond to this, so that technology cannot be used to facilitate abuse, and so that we can differentiate between those using tech to harm, and those using it for good.

    Simon Bailey, Chair, International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute, Anglia Ruskin University and Samantha Lundrigan, Professor of Investigative Psychology and Public Protection, Anglia Ruskin University

    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

    The opinions expressed in VIEWPOINT articles are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARU.

    If you wish to republish this article, please follow these guidelines: https://theconversation.com/uk/republishing-guidelines

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: List of support measures for SVO participants and their children

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The State University of Management reminds you of the list of support measures for SVO participants and their children that are available to them at our university.

    Federal Law No. 273-FZ of December 29, 2012 “On Education in the Russian Federation” provides special rights (benefits) for admission to bachelor’s and specialist’s degree programs for SVO participants and their children, including the right to admission at the expense of budgetary allocations within a separate quota.

    Benefits for admission of children of SVO participants also apply to adopted children. Classification as a category of persons entitled to admission within a separate quota is confirmed by a corresponding certificate provided in the established manner.

    Also, participants of the SVO and their children are granted the right to be admitted to preparatory departments of educational organizations for training at the expense of budget funds. The list of educational organizations in whose preparatory departments training is carried out at the expense of budgetary allocations of the federal budget for the 2025/26 academic year was approved by order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia dated November 15, 2024 No. 765.

    In accordance with the order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia dated August 28, 2023 No. 822 “On approval of the procedure and cases of transition of persons studying in educational programs of secondary vocational and higher education from paid education to education at the expense of budgetary allocations of the federal budget, budgets of constituent entities of the Russian Federation and local budgets or at the expense of the organization’s own funds carrying out educational activities, including funds received from income-generating activities, voluntary donations and targeted contributions of individuals and (or) legal entities” children of persons taking or who took part in SVO, studying in an educational organization on the basis of an agreement on the provision of paid educational services, who do not have academic debt, disciplinary sanctions, or arrears in tuition fees at the time of filing the application, are classified as persons having a priority right to transition from paid education to free education.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 03/31/2025

    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: Polytechnic University hosted a case championship on polymer and composite materials

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    From March 24 to 27, the Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University hosted a case championship on polymer and composite materials. The event aimed to develop practical skills in working with modern materials, as well as interdisciplinary thinking at the intersection of materials science, mechanics and digital modeling.

    The championship was opened by Dmitry Bogdanov, Director of the Gazpromneft-Polytech Scientific and Educational Center.

    Polymers and composite materials are becoming key for a number of industries today, from aircraft manufacturing to medicine. We strive to give students not just knowledge, but engineering thinking that allows them to adequately assess the properties of materials and factor them into the calculations at the design stage, he noted.

    Two teams of four people took part in the competition — 3rd and 4th year students. The theme of the championship was the development of a concept for a serial product: a light, durable and ergonomic chair designed for use in cafes and restaurants. The main condition was the use of polymer or composite materials, taking into account their physical characteristics, production limitations and aesthetic requirements.

    Before starting work, the students attended a series of lectures on the physical and chemical foundations of polymers and their engineering applications. The classes were conducted by Viktor Nazarichev, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Macromolecular Compounds of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Ignatiy Abrosimov, an engineer at the Gazpromneft-Polytech Scientific and Educational Center. Particular attention was paid to numerical modeling methods in ANSYS and the principles of selecting reinforcing fillers in composite systems.

    Over the course of three days, the participants worked intensively — from idea generation to strength calculations and geometry modeling. Students learned to set material parameters, analyze their behavior under load, take into account the fiber structure and the features of the binder. The focus was not only on strength characteristics, but also on the manufacturability of the structure.

    The victory was won by a team of 4th-year students from the Higher School of Theoretical Mechanics and Mathematical Physics in the field of “Biomechanics and Medical Engineering”. It included Alexander Plotnikov, Stanislav Bakhmetyev, Ivan Afanasyev and Ivan Strebkov.

    Working with composites requires a different engineering approach. Here you can’t rely on intuition, as when designing with traditional materials – precise parameter adjustment, anisotropy calculation, and reinforcement direction control are important. This is an interesting challenge that forces you to reconsider the very logic of design, Stanislav Bakhmetyev shared his impressions.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Election diary: Energy is in the foreground – but climate change is ‘in the shadows’

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    This election is already shaping up as very much about energy. But notably, ambitions for and debate about combatting climate change have receded in recent times.

    Peter Dutton has his proposal for an east coast gas reservation scheme at the centre of his campaign. Then of course there is that much-contested nuclear policy. But the government has declined to produce a 2035 emissions reduction target before polling day and, apart from its commitment to net zero by 2050, the Coalition won’t talk targets in opposition.

    John Connor, CEO of the Carbon Marketing Institute, says “probably not since 2004 has climate been so much in the shadows, at least at this stage”. It’s a matter of the “energy wars” rather than the “climate wars” so far, he says.

    The climate change issue was potent in 2022, especially in helping the “teal” candidates get elected. It probably is still cutting through in their sort of seats. And climate change demonstrators are targeting election events.

    But more generally, things have changed.

    The Freshwater poll in the Australian Financial Review on Monday asked people to list three issues of top concern for them.

    Unsurprisingly, cost of living was a mile ahead of anything else, at 74%. Then came housing (37%), healthcare (27%), economy (26%), crime (25%) and tax (19%). Climate change followed seventh, with 18%, ahead of immigration (15%) and defence (13%).

    When asked who would be best to respond to concern about climate change, Labor held a solid lead, 35% to the 22% who nominated the Coalition, but 43% said neither or were unsure.

    The Morgan poll early this year compared issues of most importance to people in the September quarter of 2024 and the June quarter of 2022. Just under a third nominated global warming and climate change in 2022 (32%); by 2024 this was down to less than a quarter (23%).

    The cost-of-living crisis is the most obvious reason why climate change has faded in many voters’ minds. That has pushed almost everything else aside, as families struggle with financial practicalities.

    (The Carbon Market Institute says, however, that polling it commissioned, to be released later this week does show the public understand the link between climate change and the cost of living, even if the politicians are reluctant to go there just now. 62% of respondents agreed impacts of climate change – such as more frequent and severe bushfires and flooding – worsen the cost of living through insurance cost increases and grocery prices, with just 13% disagreeing.)

    Now we are deeply into the transition to a clean economy the inevitable downsides are more to the fore. However necessary, they are painful, including high power bills (that have had to be subsidised by the government) and local arguments about transmission lines and wind farms blighting parts of the landscape.

    After it was elected Labor highlighted the importance of climate change by legislating its 2030 43% emissions reduction target. But it has become reticent when asked to talk about the 2035 target for Australia.

    That was initially due to be submitted under the Paris agreement by February, but now it won’t be announced until closer to the September deadline. Nor will the Climate Change Authority, headed by former NSW Liberal treasurer Matt Kean, produce its recommendation to the government before the election. The government’s explanation for its delay is that it can’t act before the the authority’s recommendation.

    Dutton remains committed to the Paris agreement and the zero emissions by 2050 target. But he flagged at the weekend that he would not proceed with Australia’s bid to host COP31 in 2026.

    The opposition says it would keep the safeguards mechanism that regulates emissions from large emitters, but we don’t know what changes it would make to it.

    Nor do we know what would happen under a Dutton government to the various framework institutions around climate change policy. But Kean and his authority are certainly in the gun sights. Opposition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume has said, “I don’t think that we could possibly maintain a Climate Change Authority that has been so badly politicised”.

    Peter Dutton wouldn’t live in The Lodge (though it was good enough for Robert Menzies)

    What is it about some modern conservative leaders and The Lodge?

    Peter Dutton on Monday declared that, if he became PM, he would live at Kirribilli House, not The Lodge.

    “We love Sydney, we love the harbour, it’s a great city, and so yes. You’ve got the choice between Kirribilli or living in Canberra. I think I’ll take Sydney any day over living in Canberra,” he said.

    The opposition leader’s disdain for Canberra was obvious. Then again, perhaps when you’re planning to get rid of tens of thousands of Canberra-based public servants, Kirilly Dutton might find a browse around the Manuka shops potentially awkward.

    From the way he extolled the virtues of Sydney, it doesn’t seem that Dutton wishes he could stay in his home city of Brisbane, prevented from doing so only by the lack of an official residence there.

    As prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull didn’t just stay living in Sydney – he chose to remain in his own house. It was certainly more glam than The Lodge.

    Yet The Lodge was good enough for the leader to whom the Liberals all pay homage. Robert Menzies and his family lived there quite happily for a very long time. Menzies’ daughter Heather Henderson, in her book A Smile for My Parents, tells of life in the bush capital, when her mother kept a shanghai in the wisteria to take potshots at the currawongs.

    They were simpler days. The security-conscious Dutton would be appalled at the anecdote about the intruder who appeared one night in the Lodge kitchen. Pattie Menzies, who happened to be carving the roast for dinner at the time, walked into the kitchen, armed with the knife. The intruder fled. There was no official inquiry – just a reprimand for the maid for not snibbing the door.

    Michelle Grattan 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. Election diary: Energy is in the foreground – but climate change is ‘in the shadows’ – https://theconversation.com/election-diary-energy-is-in-the-foreground-but-climate-change-is-in-the-shadows-253115

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New children’s home extends city’s work to care for children and young people

    Source: City of Coventry

    A new children’s home has opened, the second to open in recent months, as part of the ongoing strategy and work by Coventry City Council.

    This is to improve care across the city and support our children, young people and their families.

    The home can care for up to four children and young people at a time and is aimed at providing ‘same-day, short-term’ care when help is needed at short notice, enabling siblings to remain together when possible or preventing children from being placed at a distance.

    Earlier this year, the city officially opened its first purpose-built home for children in care with disabilities that can cater for four children and young people at a time.

    Two smaller homes are due to open in early 2026 for children in the city with the most complex needs. There is also ongoing work to recruit more foster carers to ensure we can meet the diverse individual needs of children in care from Coventry.

    Creating new homes enables more children to be given the care and support they need, remaining near to their family, friends and communities, while continuing their education and prevents them being placed with external providers, who may increase costs or seek to make a profit from caring for vulnerable children.

    Cllr Patricia Seaman, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “It is wonderful that we have been able to open a second home in recent months, and there is more to come as we continue our work to put our city’s families at the heart of all we do.

    “We are determined to help Coventry children stay close to home and their support groups, and to be supported by the excellent care and dedicated professionals available in our city.

    “Building these new homes makes financial sense, but we would not do it if it wasn’t the right thing to do for the children and young people. Their welfare comes above all for us and we will continue to make Coventry a true child-friendly city where every child and young person has the same opportunities to live happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.”

    Sukriti Sen, Director of Children and Education Services at Coventry City Council, added: “The new home is warm and welcoming and will really help to make a difference for children and young people who are going through difficult times.

    “With our dedicated social workers and foster carers, these new homes are helping to change lives. Thank you to everyone who is a part of that work to make Coventry such a caring city.”

    To read more about how the city cares for children and young people, visit the Council’s website.

    Monday, 31st March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Free and low-cost things to do in Leeds over the Easter school holidays

    Source: City of Leeds

    Looking for free and low-cost things to do with the family over the Easter school holidays? Check out our list of events and activities taking place in Leeds.

    Dragon Quest: The Search for the Lost Eggs at Lotherton
    Calling all adventure seekers! Take part in a brave quest across Lotherton this Easter to earn your stripes in the field of mythical beast exploration.
    Saturday 5 to Monday 21 April, cost: included in general admission, free for members
    Find out more: Dragon Quest at Lotherton

    Where’s Wooly? at Temple Newsam
    Help find the missing sheep from Home Farm – before the farmer finds out! Enjoy lots of family fun as you explore the house and learn about sheep and wool, including crafts, trails, and activities in the House and Farm.
    Saturday 5 to Monday 21 April, cost: included in general admission
    Find out more: Where’s Wooly? at Temple Newsam

    Medieval Easter at the Royal Armouries
    It’s going to be an action-packed Easter at the Royal Armouries with combat demonstrations and themed activities. Plus, you can explore their amazing national collection of arms and armour.
    Saturday 5 to Thursday 17 April, cost: free
    Find out more: Medieval Easter at the Royal Armouries

    Easter Fun with Crackle the Crocodile at Tropical World
    This Easter, join Tropical World’s entertaining and educational trail, where your Little Explorers can find out all about Crackle, Yorkshire’s only Morelet’s Crocodile! Take part in Crackle’s Easter egg hunt, listen to keeper talks, and take part in craft activities and story time.
    Saturday 5 to Monday 21 April, cost: included in general admission
    Find out more: Easter Fun with Crackle the Crocodile at Tropical World

    Bunny Fun at  Abbey House Museum
    Bunnies have taken over Abbey House Museum this Easter! There will be grocer bunnies weighing carrots, bunny barmaids pulling pints, and some famous faces like Peter Rabbit. There will be a bunny counting competition, their usual range of fun trails and scavenger hunts, plus a range of crafts in the Education Room.
    Saturday 5 to Sunday 20 April, cost: included in admission
    Find out more: Bunny Fun at Abbey House Museum

    Miffy collage crafts at Leeds City Museum
    Visit the museum every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the Easter school holidays for Miffy-themed crafts. You can design your own Miffy ears, make a Miffy finger puppet or create your own collaged Miffy scene.
    Tuesday 8 to Thursday 17 April, 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm, cost: free
    Find out more: Miffy crafts at Leeds City Museum

    Den building, crafts and colouring, and Lego and DUPLO building at Kirkgate Market
    Get creative this Easter and join the team at Kirkgate Market for some den building with Leeds-based artist Chris Harman. Chris specialises in den building activities and workshops. Other family friendly activities include crafts and colouring plus Lego and DUPLO building tables. All activities will take place in the Market Kitchen and are accessible for families with disabled children, with quieter times generally from 11am to 12pm.
    Tuesday 8 to Thursday 10 April, cost: free
    Find out more: Family activities at Kirkgate Market

    LEGO® Build the Change at Leeds Industrial Museum
    Leeds Industrial Museum are taking back their museum grounds, and they need your help! Bring your family along during the Easter school holidays and get creative using LEGO® bricks to design how they can make their grounds better for them and their environment.
    Tuesday 8 to Thursday 17 April, cost: included in admission
    Find out more: Lego at Leeds Industrial Museum

    Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is at Leeds Discovery Centre
    In a free family workshop during the school holidays, learn about ancient Roman coins and trade and have a go at minting your own chocolate coins in time for Easter.
    Wednesday 9 April, 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm, cost: free
    Find out more: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is at Leeds Discovery Centre

    Blue and Bingo Story Time at Merrion Centre
    Get ready for a day of fun as everyone’s favourite Heeler pups, Bluey & Bingo, arrive at the Merrion Centre for some free fun story time experiences, led by a narrator, in The Green area in the main mall.
    Wednesday 9 April, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm (sessions last 30 minutes), cost: free
    Find out more: Blue and Bingo Story Time at Merrion Centre

    Leeds Young Film Festival 2025: Movie Club at Carriageworks Theatre
    Movie Club, part of LYFF 2025, is all about hands-on fun for kids (no parents allowed!). Whether they love making TikToks, YouTube videos, or just getting creative, this is the perfect place to develop new skills and bring their ideas to life with real industry professionals.
    Tuesday 15 to Wednesday 16 April, cost: £7.50 per workshop
    Find out more: Movie Club at Carriageworks Theatre

    Looking for more information on other events and activities taking place over Easter? Check out Child Friendly Leeds’ Easter Guide.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Regional University Industry Collaboration masterclasses

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Issued: 31 Mar 2025

    Dozens of university researchers and business stakeholders have been honing their partnership building expertise at masterclass events in Rockhampton, to support more regional Queensland research projects to get off the ground.

    Over the past six weeks, 35 researchers from across the state have been taking part in the Regional University Industry Collaboration (RUIC) program masterclass series held at CQUniversity (CQU) and James Cook University (JCU).

    The $7 million Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) initiative delivered by CSIRO, aims to transform project ideas in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, into impactful real-world solutions.

    Research leaders have been given the skills and tools to effectively identify, approach, engage and collaborate with small to medium enterprises (SMEs) across regional Queensland – assisting them during the research and development stages of a concept – from ideation to commercialisation.

    Queensland Chief Scientist Professor Kerrie Wilison said these masterclasses are expected to equip researchers and business-minded individuals with the knowledge and strategies to effectively transform scientific ideas into viable commercial ventures.

    “This program increases opportunities for business and industry investment in science and recognises and supports entrepreneurship,” she said.

    “The RUIC program promotes economic growth in Queensland’s regional areas, ensuring that local SMEs remain competitive and continue to thrive.

    “We want to boost regional collaboration between businesses and researchers, to grow industry engagement across the state and get more projects launched.”

    CQUniversity Regional Futures Executive Director Paul Hodgson said the RUIC program is an excellent platform to develop relationships between regional universities and SMEs.

    “As a regional university, CQUniversity is proudly focused on delivering ‘research with impact’, which is only possible through strong partnerships with industry, particularly SMEs,” he said.

    “The RUIC masterclass series was a timely and critical process in upskilling the engagement capability and confidence of our researchers to deliver sustained impact into the future”.

    View further details on the Regional University Industry Collaboration program.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Kung fu master from Cameroon wants Chinese culture to ‘light up’ lives

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Fabrice Mba’s passion for Chinese culture and martial arts budded in the southern Cameroon town of Sangmelima, where he grew up watching kung fu movies.

    Mba (right, front) instructs a young man in martial arts movements in Yaounde, capital of Cameroon. [Photo provided to China Daily]

    His elder brother was a projectionist and as a youngster, Mba often helped him sweep the theater.

    For the first time, he saw Shaolin monks on the screen. “I discovered kung fu and Chinese culture. It spoke a lot to me.”

    He and his friends would imitate characters from the movies, but there was no kung fu club to train them.

    When he was 8, he left home with his elder sister to settle in the capital, Yaounde.

    Life was difficult, his father was absent and his mother could not take care of all her children.

    “I grew up on the street,” he says.

    Mba’s life changed with the arrival of a group of Chinese engineers in the 1980s. They built the Yaounde Conference Center, a China-aid project that remains one of the landmarks in Cameroon to this day.

    He and his sister lived not far from the center. One of the Chinese engineers at the construction site was skilled in martial arts and trained regularly, to the amazement of Mba and his friends.

    “I often went with my friends, and we stood and watched (him training) from afar,” he says.

    One day, the man called to them and asked them to take a posture, with knees slightly bent as if holding a tree in their arms. “We stood facing the wall. It hurt,” says Mba.

    After that, he came every morning to learn kung fu. He trained hard, learning the fundamental elements.

    Mba returned briefly to Sangmelima to help his brother, but life was difficult there, and he returned to the capital, where he did odd jobs to survive.

    Fabrice Mba gives a lecture on traditional Chinese medicine to his students at the Confucius Institute at the University of Yaounde II in Soa, Cameroon, in February. [Photo provided to China Daily]

    His life took another turn in 2011, when he encountered a codirector of the Confucius Institute at the University of Yaounde II, during one of his training sessions.

    Mba enrolled in the institute. “That marked a turning point in my kung fu journey.”

    Thanks to a scholarship, he got the opportunity to train in martial arts and traditional Chinese medicine at the Shaolin Temple in Henan province. Between 2015 and 2019, he visited the temple three times.

    Today, Mba is a household name in Cameroon when it comes to kung fu and traditional Chinese medicine.

    “I am president of the Cameroon Kung-Fu Federation. I am a specialist in Chinese traditional medicine. I have been the president of the Association for the Promotion of Chinese Martial Arts since 2010, and I am also a Shaolin cultural ambassador of the time,” says the 46-year-old disciple.

    He runs a program that offers free short-term training in physiotherapy and other subjects to disadvantaged young people to help them find work. He also teaches kung fu in several schools.

    “Be your own boss” is the slogan of his Lotus and Water Lily program.

    “I train them to be morally upright and useful to society,” Mba says. “I went through difficulties as a child, and I do not want them to face the same hardships.”

    Martin Mangwandjo was one of Mba’s students. About seven years ago, Mangwandjo started learning kung fu, which changed his life. Now 29, he also teaches martial arts and runs a kung fu club of his own.

    “Kung fu has enabled me to fit into the social milieu more easily,” says Mangwandjo, who has a congenital disability in his left leg and walks on crutches. “It has given me a winning mentality, because I’ve understood that a man’s strength lies not in his physique, but in his mind.”

    Now, he wants to emulate his mentor and help promote Chinese culture. “I’d like to encourage other people, who have full mobility but still hesitate to take the plunge, telling themselves that these things are not feasible or not attainable, to really encourage them to embrace Chinese culture as I have,” he says.

    Mba’s knowledge and love of Chinese culture is also visible in the literary world. He has published several books of poetry and prose focused on kung fu, Chinese culture and nonviolence.

    “Martial arts is about moral values, peace, respect and life,” he says. “Cameroonians and Africans who read the books always come back to me, and say they now have a better understanding of Chinese people and their culture.”

    Mba says that as more people take up kung fu in Cameroon, he hopes to continue to offer valuable training.

    “Promoting Chinese culture in Cameroon does not mean turning Cameroonians into Chinese,” he says. “It’s like putting Cameroonians in front of a mirror, enabling them to understand that through hard work, they can reshape their mentality, shed poverty, and achieve the results they want, just like the Chinese.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why have supermarkets around Australia recalled bagged salad products? A gastroenterologist explains

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vincent Ho, Associate Professor and Clinical Academic Gastroenterologist, Western Sydney University

    Kristi Blokhin/Shutterstock

    People are being asked to check the use-by dates of bagged salad products they’ve purchased recently after a number of Australian supermarkets issued recalls due to potential bacterial contamination.

    Recalls issued over the past week have affected bagged and pre-packaged salad products sold at supermarkets around the country including Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and IGA.

    The potential contaminant is shiga-toxin-producing E. coli or STEC. But so far, no cases of illness have been reported.

    So what is this bacterium and how could it affect the salad leaves in your dinner or lunch?

    E.Coli and STEC

    Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacterium that normally lives in the intestines of healthy people and animals. Fortunately most strains of E. coli are harmless and don’t cause symptoms.

    But there are certain strains that can lead to symptoms such as abdominal cramping, diarrhoea, fever and vomiting. In some cases a severe infection can even result in kidney failure.

    STEC is one strain that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms. It’s called “shiga toxin-producing” because the toxin from this strain of E. coli is very similar to that produced by the Shigella bacterium.

    Shigella causes shigellosis, a gastrointestinal infection which can involve similar symptoms to STEC. Both can cause abdominal cramping, bloody diarrhoea, fever and vomiting.

    Most people recover within ten days of the onset of symptoms. People suffering from STEC infection should stay hydrated and seek medical care if symptoms are serious or don’t resolve.

    E. coli normally lives in our bodies without causing harm. But some strains can make us sick.
    Ezume Images/Shutterstock

    How common is it?

    One estimate suggests at least 2.8 million STEC infections occur globally every year.

    In general STEC infections in Australia are very rare with less than four people per million affected annually.

    The diagnosis of STEC infection is made by testing a sample of a person’s stool for the presence of the bacterium.

    Children under five, adults aged over 65 and people with weakened immune systems are at an increased risk of STEC infection and of getting very sick with it.

    Why are bagged salads often a culprit?

    The current recalls are not the first time bagged salads have been subject to food safety issues in Australia or elsewhere. These products can be vulnerable to bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella.

    Contamination in bagged salads can occur at various stages, from farm to table. It can begin early during growing when leafy greens can be exposed to bacteria from contaminated water, soil or manure.

    During harvesting, handling and processing, cross-contamination can happen if the equipment or surfaces are not properly disinfected. Finally, packaging can contribute to contamination if it comes into contact with contaminated surfaces or hands.

    The current outbreak

    Health authorities sometimes test for the presence of food-borne bacteria by culturing bacteria from packaged foods in the lab as part of a proactive public health surveillance program.

    If they identify the presence of concerning food-borne bacteria they will work with retailers to undertake recalls of that food product as a precaution to protect public health.

    To date there have been no cases of illness linked to the current recalls. The presence of STEC doesn’t necessarily mean people will get sick from eating the salad product, but this is an early detection aimed to prevent food-borne illness.

    Members of the public have been urged not to consume any of the recalled products, and to throw them away or return them to where they bought them for a refund. Anyone who has consumed the products and has health concerns should seek medical advice.

    E. coli infection can cause a range of gastrointestinal symptoms.
    PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

    Washed and ready to eat?

    Many bagged salad products come with a selling point along the lines of “washed and ready to eat”. Given the current recalls, you might ask whether it really is safe to eat pre-packaged salads without giving the leaves a wash yourself.

    Unfortunately, research shows using tap water to wash bagged leafy salads isn’t effective in removing bacteria. But washing your raw vegetables is still helpful in getting rid of any clinging dirt that may contain clumps of bacteria.

    Fortunately the risk of getting sick from eating bagged lettuce is generally very low. It’s also important to wash your hands before handling food, check the expiry dates of bagged salads and pay attention to health alerts.

    Vincent Ho 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. Why have supermarkets around Australia recalled bagged salad products? A gastroenterologist explains – https://theconversation.com/why-have-supermarkets-around-australia-recalled-bagged-salad-products-a-gastroenterologist-explains-253427

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How should police officers use force? The Kristian White case is an insight into what the community thinks

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Ryan, Lecturer in Criminology, Deakin University

    When a jury in the New South Wales Supreme Court found Kristian White guilty of manslaughter, it was the first verdict of its kind in recent Australian history.

    The verdict is significant because it offered a rare opportunity for the community to have a prominent say in what should and shouldn’t be regarded as reasonable use of force by police.

    The sentence of a two-year community-based order means White won’t spend any time behind bars – a judgement that surprised some legal scholars.

    Clare Nowland, aged 95, died after she was tasered by White, a police officer, in a nursing home in 2023. Nowland had approached White in distress while holding a steak knife. She fell after being tasered and died a week later in hospital.

    In finding White guilty, the jury drew an important line in the sand around the appropriate use of tasers, and use of force more generally, by police in Australia.

    It follows an emerging international trend, suggesting community expectations around police use of force are shifting. Recent convictions of Derek Chauvin in the United States and Benjamin Monk in the United Kingdom demonstrate this.

    We don’t know much about what the public thinks about this issue. While this case is highly specific, it’s the first major window into what everyday people think police should and shouldn’t be able to do in the line of duty.

    Excessive force: what are the rules?

    Excessive use of force by police is notoriously difficult to define.

    “Situational use of force” models, such as that used in the NSW Police, offer little insight, for officers or juries, about what level of force is appropriate for what level of resistance.

    Officers in NSW are reminded that “the decision to apply force, including use of a Taser, is an individual one for which every officer will be held accountable”.

    In this model, any officer who carries an array of weapons (as White did on that fateful evening) must be an expert in how to use those weapons proportionately to the threat they face.

    But what tangible guidance do they have about what constitutes excessive force? Given persistent concerns among police scholars about deficiencies in training and other policy documents, it can be hard to discern what is reasonable or excessive force legally.

    Every critical incident carries specific and different dynamics, and officers cannot realistically be trained for every possible scenario. Much depends on their individual decision-making.

    So can we reach a definition?

    How then can we find a universal way to recognise “excessive force”?

    One of the better definitions of such force comes from North American police ethics scholar Carl Klockars, who suggested in 1996 excessive force was “any force that a police officer of the highest skill might find a way to avoid”.

    This definition encourages us to think (and talk) more about what a police officer of the highest skill looks like. This is important in an era when ideas about what police can and should do are strongly shaped by Hollywood fantasies.

    In the tragic set of circumstances that unfolded in the Cooma aged care home, we can ask ourselves: what might an officer of the highest skill have done?

    Notably, a recently retired senior officer answered this question in the media the day after the events unfolded. He said “they could have thrown a blanket over her”.

    Evidently, the jury agreed there were other options available that didn’t involve the use of a taser.

    Modern policing must reckon with what a highly skilled officer looks like, especially as the profession adopts so-called “less lethal” force technologies such as tasers. What characteristics do we really want in a police officer’s “skills armoury”? Do we want a good aim, a strong physical presence, high levels of empathy or perhaps ethical decision-making? What should be prioritised?

    The Nowland case has asked these questions. The jury’s verdict set the stage for a sentence that established a higher standard for policing vulnerable people, which made it surprising that a non-custodial sentence was ultimately imposed.

    What does the public think?

    The sentencing outcome will spur more debate and has disappointed Nowland’s family.

    Justice Ian Harrison found there were mitigating factors, such as White’s claim he felt “justified” in his actions. As a police officer, this likely carried significant weight to reduce moral culpability and the need for “punishment”.

    Justice Harrison also found White’s actions fell at the lower end of objective seriousness for manslaughter.

    But what about ensuring the sentence reflects community ideals about policing standards, as reflected in the guilty verdict?

    Many may now wonder whether there is any kind of police misuse of a taser that could be deemed worthy of the ultimate penalty of imprisonment.

    But the case nevertheless remains a watershed moment. It provides an insight into what the public expects of police, and how strongly courts choose to reinforce those expectations.

    Emma Ryan 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 should police officers use force? The Kristian White case is an insight into what the community thinks – https://theconversation.com/how-should-police-officers-use-force-the-kristian-white-case-is-an-insight-into-what-the-community-thinks-245151

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: FSD open day scheduled for Apr 13

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    In support of National Security Education Day, the Fire Services Department will hold an open day at the Fire & Ambulance Services Academy in Tseung Kwan O on April 13. Citizens can apply for admission tickets from today until Wednesday.

    Activities will include an introduction to the department’s efforts in safeguarding national security, a fire appliances parade, firefighting and rescue demonstrations, and displays of training facilities, equipment and special vehicles.

    The event will also feature an exhibition on fire safety education, game booths, a recruitment area, and a demonstration involving Fire Services working dogs.

    The Fire & Ambulance Services Education Centre & Museum will also be open to the public on the day.

    The open day will be held from 9am to 5pm. People can apply for a maximum of four admission tickets by using the latest version of the Fire Services Department mobile application, which can be downloaded from the Apple App Store, Google Play or Huawei AppGallery for free.

    Tickets will be allocated by computer ballot and successful applicants will receive a notification through the mobile app this Thursday. Children aged three or below do not require a ticket.

    Call 2411 8773 for enquiries.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Mini robot to explore world’s deepest sea trench

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A team of Chinese scientists has developed a miniature 2.7-kilogram deep-sea robot to explore the deepest natural frontier on Earth — the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean, according to a study published in the journal Science Robotics in March.
    The researchers from Beihang University, formerly known as the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, have further consolidated China’s position as one of the few nations able to explore the deepest depths of the oceans.
    Headed by Professor Wen Li, researchers from the university’s School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation started working on the robot’s design in 2019 and completed its construction in 2021. So far, the team has collaborated with peers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering and Zhejiang University to use the 50-centimeter-long machine for deep-sea exploration.
    Zuo Zonghao, a doctoral student at the school and a member of Wen’s team, said that the overall goal of the project was to build a robot to demonstrate new actuator technologies and to verify a new configuration of deep-sea probes.
    “The core part of our robot is a centimeter-scale deep-sea soft actuator that weighs 16 grams. It incorporates bistable chiral metamaterials and tube-sealed shape-memory alloys,” he said.
    These actuators and materials mean that the robot is able to move its fins, flex and swim, as well as glide and crawl on the surface of the seafloor.
    The robot has already been used by two of China’s most advanced crewed submersibles — Shenhai Yongshi, or Deep-sea Warrior, and Fendouzhe, or Striver, and has carried out 14 seabed trips to assess its capabilities and performance.
    “Under the sea, it is powered by a special lithium battery and is released and retrieved by the submersibles’ robotic arms. During each operation, it worked for more than 20 minutes,” Zuo said.
    “During one of the operations that took place in 2021, it was released by Fendouzhe onto the seafloor of the Mariana Trench, reaching a depth of 10,666 meters.”
    During the next phase, researchers will mount buoyancy and scientific devices such as special cameras and sensors on the robot, and they plan to build a larger prototype, he said.
    Such robots can be used in marine resource development, archaeological excavation and environmental monitoring in the future, Zuo added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: NITI Aayog organises National Workshop on “Internationalisation of Higher Education in India: Challenges, Best Practices, and Policy Interventions” at IIT Madras, Chennai on March 29, 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 7:16PM by PIB Delhi

    A one-day National Workshop on ‘Internationalisation of Higher Education in India’, was organised by the Education Division of NITI Aayog, as a part of the NITI–State workshop series, an initiative under the State Support Mission, and in collaboration with its knowledge partners, IIT Madras, Association of Indian Universities (AIU), and Acumen at the IIT Madras campus in Chennai on Saturday, 29th March 2025.

    The workshop brought together officers from the Centre, State and UT Governments, Institutions of National Importance, Central Universities, State Public Universities, Private Universities, Deemed Universities, International Universities, and representatives from several countries to deliberate on challenges, best practices and policy interventions for implementing internationalisation initiatives in Indian higher education at the systemic and institutional levels as envisioned in the National Education Policy 2020.

    Dr. Vinod Kumar Paul, Hon’ble Member (Education), NITI Aayog delivered the Keynote Address and the Concluding Address and chaired the entire workshop’s proceedings. Prof. Kamakoti Veezhinathan, Director, IIT Madras, delivered the Inaugural Address. Dr. Sonia Pant, Programme Director (Education), NITI Aayog welcomed the 140-strong audience. Prof. Raghunathan Rengaswamy, Dean – Global Engagement, IIT Madras, Dr. (Mrs.) Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General, Association of Indian Universities, and Shri Adrian Mutton, Executive Chairman, Acumen addressed the gathering on behalf of the knowledge partners’ consortium.

    The workshop featured 40 speakers across 4 technical sessions on: (i) Internationalisation of Higher Education in India (in retrospect and future prospects), (ii) Academic Mobility for Learning and Research, (iii) Internationalisation of Curricula & Programmes, and (iv) Expanding Global Presence of Indian universities through Offshore Campuses and beyond. Special case studies on successes of Indian and international universities were presented including Indian universities setting up overseas campuses and international universities establishing campuses in India including at the GIFT City. Several country case studies including those of Australia, France, New Zealand, UK, USA, among others were also presented at the workshop.

    As discussions proceeded, participants emphasized actionable strategies such as enhancing infrastructure, streamlining regulations, and promoting India as a destination for academic collaboration, research, and learning on a global scale.

    This workshop marked a significant milestone in India’s journey towards internationalisation of higher education. The insights generated will feed into the ongoing NITI policy research study that aims to position Indian higher education institutions at the forefront of global academic excellence, ensuring India-centric internationalisation, and creating world class and world ready talent to enable India to play an influential role as a knowledge economy and achieve its vision of becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

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    MJPS/SR

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Text of the Vice–President’s address at valedictory session of National Conference on Environment- 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi (Excerpts)

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 6:34PM by PIB Delhi

    Good evening, all of you. Frankly, I’m not used to such kind of order.

    I’m more used to disorder in the house. And secondly, when I sit in the chair, as Chairman Rajya Sabha, on my right is the Government, on the left is the Opposition. Today there’s a strange combination, excellence, sublimity, of bar and bench on my right side.

    One regret that I have, of parting with the jealous mistress, the legal profession, by becoming Governor-State of West Bengal and now the Vice-President, I did not have the occasion to appear before one of the finest judges of this country, Justice P. S. Narsimha. And similarly, I had no occasion to cross swords with another legal luminary, Shri Tushar Mehta. A source of inspiration and motivation for me.

    Because rarely there is a combination where dedication, excellence, commitment, and nationalism converge. Very soothing experience. Justice P. S. Narsimha, Judge Supreme Court of India, Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal, I know him while he was Chief Justice, Calcutta High Court, while I was in Kolkata, because the High Court continues to be known as Calcutta High Court, exemplified highest judicial decorum and standards, and was not eyesore to anyone, fructifying, game-changing decisions.

    A chairman of the National Green Tribunal, you know what he is. But I must share one thing, that is common between us. We both fear our wives. Pradeepti is here, so is Dr. Sudesh. They are our strength. Shri Tushar Mehta Ji has equal challenge in the family as we have. No issue on that. Shri Thirumal Kumar, an IAS officer, I have admired him for a long time, he knows it. So he was a little astounded that I still recollect that.

    Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, nothing has happened to me by virtue of these constitutional offices. I am what I am. The only loss that I have is, a legal profession is known as a jealous mistress. I quoted the jealous mistress. When I joined the bar, the year I was married. So along with my wife, there was a jealous mistress.

    But it was very thoughtful of the President of India, Ramnath Kovind Ji. He chose 20th of July 2019, that I forsake the jealous mistress, because that happened to be the birthday of my wife. We have in the audience distinguished Chief Justices, acting Chief Justices, judges, lawyers, environmentalists, boys and girls, but I must recognise the presence of some.

    Justice Vishwanath, some other, I have one thing in common with him. We both belong to the Daughters Club. He has a daughter, and so do we have. And had the satisfaction of knowing him for long. Justice Ashutosh Kumar, Acting Chief Justice, Patna High Court, I’m sure I’ll be making some mistakes. So I leave it at that. My greetings to all of you.

    When I reflected on 20th of July, my wife’s birthday, it doesn’t end there. 20th of July, Neil Armstrong in 1969, landed on the moon for the first time. But my wife was born 12 years before. But what Neil Armstrong said is extremely relevant today for what we are discussing and deliberating. Neil Armstrong reflected, I quote him, “there’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

    That is what we need to deal with the issue. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it’s a privilege to address the valedictory session of this National Conference on Environment. Grateful to Chairman Prakash Shrivastava for securing convergence of over 1,200 environmental experts, judicial and administrative minds, as also most vital stakeholders, young boys and girls.

    They are supremely interested, both in democracy and environment. They will go a long way. I am confident the deliberations over the last two days must have been very fruitful and must have generated a lot of hope and possibility.

    Our planet faces, in the shape of climate change, not an ordinary challenge. It’s an existential challenge. And the nature of the existential challenge is unknown to history ever before.

    The situation is critical and cliffhanging and far too long, engaging the attention of everyone, governments and people all over the globe. The solution to this burning issue is complexed by the belief that someone else will fix it. This is not to be true. We’ll have to do it on our own. There is now live realisation of this menace. It has to be moderated to begin with and solved by all of us in tenement togetherness.

    Resolute addressing of the problem is paramount. And neither we have the time nor we have another planet to cohabit. This problem of huge dimensions has to be fixed by all individuals acting individually, organisations and the governments with immediate, urgent, concerted and sustained effort.

    Let me share with the distinguished audience. Everyone is positioned to make his or her contribution. And the contribution when converges in totality will be result-orientated. We need to realise we are trustees of everything offered by Mother Earth and there is divine ordainment that we must pass on to the future generations all this in good shape writing on the wall. Have we done it? The answer comes from within. Certainly not.

    The present scenario is alarming, daunting and far distanced from what it should have been. In such a scenario an institution like the National Green Tribunal in the largest democracy habitat for one-sixth of humanity is playing vital and significant role catalysing scenarios for containment and searching for solutions. I join Justice P.S. Narsimha in complimenting Justice Shrivastava for taking this initiative and it is not a day too soon.

    India happens to be the third country as was reflected not by this number as such by Shri Tushar Mehta that we have taken a number of initiatives, innovative steps, affirmative government policies in the country but we were amongst the first three in the world to have an institution and regulator like the National Green Tribunal. Distinguished audience not many countries in the world can claim to have civilisational depth which we as Bharat have thousands of years of civilisational ethos. Long before sustainability became a global buzzword much long before centuries before it became a global buzzword India lived it for centuries where every banyan tree was a temple, every river a goddess and waste an unknown concept in a civilisation that worshipped circularity.

    Our Vedic literature is gold mine for nurturing of mother earth and propagating harmony between men and nature. From Ayurveda’s living harmony to Gandhi’s world has enough for need not for greed. The wise sage who transformed democratic landscape of the world bringing about change through non-violence he said the world has everything, earth has everything for need but not for greed.

    India’s DNA carries the only vaccine against ecological collapse, conspicuous consumption. We only have to read what is there in our gold mine. Environmental depredation if we see the cause of it is brought about on the planet only by one species amongst living beings.

    We do it, no one else does it. Distinguished audience we have to be aware the planet is not exclusive to us we are not its owners. Flora and fauna must flourish and blossom alongside and so must all other living beings.

    In such a scenario men will have to learn to live in harmony with nature and other living beings. Are we doing it? No. Every technological development increasing human prowess is used to captivate and make others’ lives vulnerable to other living beings.

    There will have to be individual focus on optimal utilisation of resources of nature. This has to be our habit. Our fiscal power and our fiscal capacity cannot determine the use of natural resources.

    The consumption has to be optimal. We are paying heavy price already for reckless exploitation of these resources and thoughtless consumption conspicuous and lacking empathy. Distinguished audience protecting earth for future generations, an urgent need calls for sustainable practices that recognise nature’s inherent worth while reconciling conservation with development needs. It’s a delicate balance and NGT is required to navigate the fine print of it.

    Human activities particularly climate change and water management now influence seismic events. Studies have revealed earthquakes we all know are normally because of tectonic processes but then the way we conserve waters, build dams and get them emptied is a cause of profound impact on geological situations and therefore there is a global need to evolve and believe in environmental ethics. This underscores human’s moral obligations to protect and preserve the environment.

    This is the interconnection of all living beings. I can assure you once we lose it we know the worth of it. Let us realise the worth before we lose it forever.

    Both ecological extension and conservation ethics advocate harmonious human-nature relationships and are so easy to bring about. It doesn’t call for anything but a positive mindset towards life, we have to focus on environmental preservation and prudent resource stewardship for generational sustainability. Friends, global environmental challenges necessitate cross-border cooperation and innovative strategies that simultaneously advance ecological sustainability and economic development.

    No individual, no group, no nation can by itself resolve this issue. It has to be done by one and all on the planet. There will have to be convergence.

    I am so glad that a step has been taken by the chairman NGT Mr. Shrivastava by having this conference. More of it and it’s kind of needed. Environmental security must inform nuclear policy also.

    We all know weapon systems have huge ecological impact from manufacturing through potential deployment and pose existential risk that undermines their perpetrated security benefits. Something that is for security will result in our defacement from the planet. There has to be a thought process.

    Developed nations must transcend the political boundaries, environmental thinking adopting models where planetary health becomes foundational to human prosperity and well-being. They cannot isolate themselves. Okay, we are doing fine. We have means, technological means to generate a healthy ecosystem. It can last for some years but not forever. They will have to be enveloped into the menace if they do not join the rest of the global community.

    Friends, just look around. Proliferation of air purifiers, masks, water filters, generators usually witnessed in the last few decades. They represent the grievous symptoms of environmental degradation rather than solutions.

    Authentic progress requires eliminating pollution sources. We have to eliminate them because they are created by us. They are man-made.

    Transforming our relationship with nature and exploitation to stewardship. The Bhopal gas tragedy relations are still unlearned. The Union carbide leakage of 1984. I think if I’m not wrong it was in 2015 that Justice Shrivastava, the judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court dealt with as a commissioner what compensation could be given. It was mega environmental negligence. Even after four decades families suffered generation after generation genetic disorders and groundwater contamination.

    30 years after it as I reflected Justice Shrivastava dealt with an issue for welfare of the victims. Just imagine how pathetic was the lack of awareness. We did not have an institution like NGT.

    We did not have a regulatory regime that could address the issue. Things would have been very different if there had been a regulatory regime of the current level then. Distinguished audience there is a growing concern that environmental justice often follows a troubling pattern of 4Ds delay, deny, dispose, dissolve.

    This cycle must be broken. I am happy to note NGT is catalysing sensitisation on all fronts on this aspect. And I am sure intervention to the NGT exercise will be scarce.

    It is an expert body. I am not for a moment questioning anybody’s authority or power, sir. But then when expert bodies function and have the facility of getting expertise from people who are really knowledgeable, stalling their action delays environmental protection.

    It is soothing to note that the National Green Tribunal shifts from delay to decisiveness from denial to accountability from mere disposal to true restoration and from dissolution to sustainable resolution is increasingly getting respect of the people, institutions corporate world and workers. Our environmental jurisprudence in the country has to grow by looking into our reservoir I said, gold mine reflected in our Vedic literature. Fortunately, trends are emerging that now transcend remediation to embracing ecological preservation as a fundamental mandate.

    Why should we get into remediation, repair? Let us keep an eagle’s eye. Let us keep it in deep focus. Why should there be no preservation? I admire and compliment the Chairman NGT. He has made no efforts to secure scientific expertise to assist and this is turning out to be a cutting edge to NGT’s adjudicatory functions helping it play a visionary role in environmental governance. The tribunal’s environmental jurisprudence is progressively integrating emerging scientific understanding with established legal doctrines and I can share it with you. Having had modest global exposure, the tribunal’s judgments are looked at with great deference globally.

    Invoking the power to interpret the Constitution, the Supreme Court has, and I would say earliest in the world, given dimensions to Article 21, that healthy environment and right to clean air are integrated inalienable facets of Article 21. Friends, despite the synergy between our constitutional values and cultural ethos, there is now an urgent need to deal with citizenry neglect that is widely evident. I reflect on occasions when no Indian who is abroad throws a banana skin out of a running vehicle. No one does it. Why do we have negligence on our holy land? Citizens must be sensitised and made aware. Such kinds of conferences as indicated by Justice Narasimha play a pivotal role because they get media attention and traction. Steps have been taken by the government, and I can share many steps that are game-changing. Toilet in the house, gas connection in the house. Just imagine making that kind of bulbs, making solar power available. Just imagine. Just a decade ago, our solar power capacity was in single-digit gigawatts. It is now beyond 100 gigawatts. We have an international solar alliance here. During G20, India took the initiative for biofuels.

    So world is changing, but India is changing fastest in the last 10 years, both in economy and infrastructure. But we need to do more because we have to lead on the front foot for the entire world and humanity. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

    At an individual level, we have to be constantly mindful of the environment as guided by one of the पंच प्राण, पर्यावरण संरक्षण यह हमारा धर्म है, यह हमारा कर्म होना चाहिए, यह हमारा दैनिक कर्म होना चाहिए, इसको करने से हम खुद को लाभ देते हैं, देश को देते हैं, दुनिया को देते हैं।

    We should proactively try to reduce our carbon footprint. And mind you, India is the only country where the Prime Minister could declare that not only we abide by the Paris Declaration, but we will meet the target aead other nations and the world has applauded us. The way I look, Chairman Shrivastava, to NGT and for nurturing G for green and T for tomorrow. NGT for me is nurturing green for tomorrow.

    Friends, this is not just wordplay. It is the vision of an institution that connects law, science, and ethics to transform our relationship with nature. Let us draw from our Vedic roots, wield cutting edge tools, and uphold climate justice with unwavering resolve.

    Shanti path from Yajurveda I’ll conclude with that. Let peace prevail in the sky and space. Let peace reign and radiate in earth, in water, and in all plants. Let peace prevail everywhere.

    द्यौः शान्तिः अन्तरिक्षं शान्तिः पृथ्वी शान्तिः वनस्पतयः शान्तिः। ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

    The earth is not for us to conquer. It is for us to cherish and pass on to posterity to future generations. The NGT which it’s blend of judicial mind and moral clarity is uniquely positioned to lead the charge under the guidance of Justice Prakash Shrivastava. I am grateful for this opportunity. Thank you everyone for your patience.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi lays foundation stone, inaugurates development works in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh worth over ₹33,700 crore

    Source: Government of India

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi lays foundation stone, inaugurates development works in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh worth over ₹33,700 crore

    Today, on the auspicious day of Navratri, on the New Year, three lakh poor families of Chhattisgarh are entering their new houses: PM

    Government is concerned about providing health facilities and medical treatment for poor tribals: PM

    Government is running a special campaign for the development of tribal society: PM

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 6:17PM by PIB Delhi

    In line with his commitment to enhance infrastructure development and sustainable livelihood, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone, initiated commencement of work and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 33,700 crore in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh today. Marking the auspicious beginning of the New Year today and the first day of Navratri, he emphasized the significance of Chhattisgarh as the land of Mata Mahamaya and the maternal home of Mata Kaushalya. He highlighted the special importance of these nine days dedicated to feminine divinity for the state. He expressed his privilege to be in Chhattisgarh on the first day of Navratri and congratulated everyone on the recent issuance of a postal stamp in honor of Bhakt Shiromani Mata Karma. He further remarked that the Navratri festival will conclude with the celebration of Ram Navami, highlighting the unique devotion to Lord Ram in Chhattisgarh, particularly the extraordinary dedication of the Ramnami Samaj, which has devoted their entire being to the name of Lord Ram. He extended his heartfelt wishes to the people of Chhattisgarh, referring to them as the maternal family of Lord Ram.

    With the blessings of Mohbhatta Swayambhu Shivling Mahadev on this auspicious occasion, Shri Modi highlighted the opportunity to accelerate development in Chhattisgarh. He noted the inauguration and foundation laying of projects worth over ₹33,700 crore, which include housing for the poor, schools, roads, railways, electricity, and gas pipelines. He stressed that these projects are aimed at enhancing convenience for Chhattisgarh’s citizens and creating new employment opportunities. He extended his congratulations to all for the progress achieved through these development initiatives.

    Emphasizing the cultural significance of providing shelter, calling it a great virtue, the Prime Minister said that it was an unparalleled joy of fulfilling someone’s dream of owning a home. On the auspicious occasion of Navratri and the New Year, he highlighted that three lakh poor families in Chhattisgarh are entering their new homes. He extended his heartfelt wishes to these families for a new beginning. He credited the realization of these homes to the trust placed in his leadership, noting that the dream of permanent housing for lakhs of families in Chhattisgarh was previously lost in bureaucratic files. He recalled the Government’s commitment to fulfilling this dream. He remarked that under Shri Vishnu Deo’s leadership, the first Cabinet decision was to construct 18 lakh houses, of which three lakh have been completed. He expressed happiness that many of these homes are in tribal areas, benefiting families in Bastar and Surguja, acknowledging the transformative impact of these homes for families who have endured generations of hardship in makeshift shelters, calling it a significant gift.

    “While the Government provided assistance in building these homes, the beneficiaries themselves decided how their dream homes would be designed”, said Shri Modi, emphasising that these homes are not just four walls but a transformation of lives. He highlighted the efforts to equip these homes with essential facilities such as toilets, electricity, Ujjwala gas connections, and piped water. He noted the significant presence of women at the event and remarked that most of these homes are owned by women. He acknowledged the milestone achieved by thousands of women who, for the first time, have property registered in their names. He expressed his gratitude for the joy and blessings reflected on the faces of these women, calling it his greatest asset.

    Highlighting the broader impact of constructing lakhs of homes which not only created the employment opportunities for local artisans, masons, and laborers in villages, the Prime Minister said that the materials used for these homes are sourced locally, benefiting small shopkeepers and transport operators. He noted that these housing projects have generated significant employment in Chhattisgarh, contributing to the livelihoods of many.

    Underlining that their Government is fulfilling every promise made to the people of Chhattisgarh, Shri Modi highlighted the presence of a large number of beneficiaries from various schemes, emphasizing the swift implementation of government guarantees. He noted that the promises made to the women of Chhattisgarh have been honored, including the disbursement of two years’ pending bonuses to paddy farmers and the procurement of paddy at increased MSP rates. These measures have provided thousands of crores of rupees to millions of farming families. The Prime Minister criticized the previous Government for recruitment exam scams and highlighted their Government’s transparent investigations and fair conduct of examinations. He emphasized that these honest efforts have strengthened public trust with growing support, evident from its victories in Assembly, Lok Sabha, and now municipal elections in Chhattisgarh. He expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support of the people for their Government’s initiatives.

    Shri Modi noted that this year was 25th anniversary of Chhattisgarh’s statehood, celebrating it as the state’s Silver Jubilee Year was coinciding as this year also marked the birth centenary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He said that the Chhattisgarh Government is observing 2025 as “Atal Nirman Varsh” and reaffirmed the commitment, “We built it, and we will nurture it.” He emphasized that the infrastructure projects inaugurated and launched today are part of this resolution. 

    Mentioning that Chhattisgarh had to be formed as a separate state because the benefits of development were not reaching the region, the PM criticized the previous Government for its failure to deliver development and for corruption in the projects that were undertaken. He underscored that their Government has prioritized the well-being of the people, focusing on improving their lives, facilities, and opportunities for their children. He highlighted the efforts to bring development schemes to every village in Chhattisgarh.

    Underlining the progress in remote tribal areas, where quality roads are now reaching for the first time, Shri Modi mentioned the introduction of train services to several regions, including the flagging off of a new train earlier in the event. He also highlighted the arrival of electricity, piped water, and mobile towers in previously underserved areas. He remarked on the construction of new schools, colleges, and hospitals, emphasizing that these initiatives are transforming the landscape of Chhattisgarh. 

    Highlighting Chhattisgarh’s achievement of becoming one of the states with a fully electrified rail network, calling it a significant milestone, the Prime Minister noted that approximately ₹40,000 crore worth of rail projects are currently underway in the state, with ₹7,000 crore allocated in this year’s budget to improve rail connectivity in various regions and neighboring states. Stressing that development requires both budgetary support and honest intentions, Shri Modi criticized the previous Government for its corruption and inefficiency, which hindered progress in tribal areas. He cited the example of coal, noting that despite Chhattisgarh’s abundant reserves, the state faced electricity shortages due to the neglect of power plants by previous dispensations. He remarked that under their Government, new power plants are being established to address these issues and ensure reliable electricity for the state.

    Highlighting the Government’s focus on solar energy and introduction of the ‘PM Suryagarh Muft Bijli Scheme,’ which aims to eliminate electricity bills and enable households to generate income by producing electricity, the Prime Minister noted that the Government is providing ₹78,000 assistance per household for installing solar panels. He added  that over two lakh families in Chhattisgarh have already registered for the scheme and encouraged others to join for significant benefits.

    Stressing on the Government’s efforts to address the challenge of delivering gas pipelines to Chhattisgarh, a landlocked state, Shri Modi criticized the previous Government for neglecting necessary investments in gas infrastructure and highlighted the ongoing work to lay gas pipelines in the region. He noted that these pipelines will reduce dependency on truck transportation for petroleum products, lower costs for consumers, and enable the use of CNG vehicles. He remarked that households will benefit from piped cooking gas, with a target of reaching over two lakh homes. He also emphasized that the availability of gas will facilitate the establishment of new industries in Chhattisgarh, creating significant employment opportunities.

    Criticizing the previous dispensation’s policies over the decades, stating that they contributed to the rise of Naxalism in Chhattisgarh and other states, the Prime Minister said that Naxalism thrived in areas lacking development and resources, and instead of addressing these issues, such districts were declared as backward, shirking their responsibility. He highlighted the neglect faced by the most underprivileged tribal families in many districts of Chhattisgarh under previous Government’s rule. In contrast, he emphasized their Government’s efforts to address the needs of poor tribal communities. He noted the initiatives undertaken, such as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to provide toilets, the Ayushman Bharat scheme offering free treatment up to ₹5 lakh, and the establishment of PM Jan Aushadhi Kendras, which provide medicines at an 80% discount.

    The Prime Minister criticized those who falsely claim to champion social justice while neglecting the tribal community. He emphasized his Government’s commitment to the development of tribal societies, highlighting the launch of the “Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Utkarsh Abhiyan,” under which approximately ₹80,000 crore is being invested in tribal areas, benefiting nearly 7,000 tribal villages in Chhattisgarh. Noting the unique challenges faced by particularly vulnerable tribal groups, Shri Modi mentioned the introduction of the “PM Janman Yojana,” the first initiative of its kind for these communities. He remarked that under this scheme, over 2,000 settlements in 18 districts of Chhattisgarh are being developed. He highlighted the approval of 5,000 kilometers of roads for tribal settlements across the country, with nearly half—2,500 kilometers—being constructed in Chhattisgarh under the PM Janman Yojana. He also noted that many beneficiaries have received permanent homes under this initiative.

    Highlighting the rapid transformation of Chhattisgarh under the Union and State governments, Shri Modi remarked on the renewed confidence brought by achievements such as Sukma district’s health center receiving a national quality certificate and the reopening of a health center in Dantewada after several years. He emphasized that these efforts are ushering in a new era of lasting peace in Naxal-affected areas. Referring to the Bastar Olympics, discussed during his “Mann Ki Baat” program in December 2024, as evidence of the positive changes in Chhattisgarh, he noted the enthusiastic participation of thousands of youth in the event, reflecting the state’s progress. He expressed optimism about the bright future of Chhattisgarh’s youth and praised the state’s effective implementation of the New Education Policy. He highlighted the establishment of over 12,000 modern PM Shri Schools across the country, including approximately 350 in Chhattisgarh, which will serve as models for other schools and elevate the state’s education system.

    The Prime Minister acknowledged the excellent work being done by Eklavya Model Schools in Chhattisgarh and the reopening of schools in Naxal-affected areas. He also inaugurated the Vidya Samiksha Kendra in the state, calling it a significant step for the nation’s education system. He emphasized that this initiative will enhance the quality of education, providing real-time support to teachers and students in classrooms.

    Mentioning the fulfillment of another promise under the New National Education Policy, which enables medical and engineering studies

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: NFRA and IIT Kanpur jointly organize a Hackathon on Large Language Models (LLM) and Generative AI

    Source: Government of India

    NFRA and IIT Kanpur jointly organize a Hackathon on Large Language Models (LLM) and Generative AI

    Generative AI’s potential to revolutionize financial statement analysis showcased

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 4:54PM by PIB Delhi

    NFRA and IIT Kanpur jointly organized a Hackathon to encourage students to build cutting-edge solutions using Large Language Models (LLM) and Generative AI. The objective was to demonstrate  democratizing complex financial statements so that financial information is more readable and understandable. The challenge given was to transform financial data into clear, engaging stories to enable well informed decisions. The hackathon tried to address the challenge, leveraging GenAI. Teams attempted transformative solutions to simplify financial statements and unlock deeper insights.

    Students from various engineering colleges in India participated in hackathon held at IIT Kanpur from 28th and 29th March 2025.

    The hackathon enabled the interaction of academia, students and the regulator joining hands to address common challenges. The solutions were discussed and students were guided how to carry their innovative ideas further forward.

    The presentations made by the teams at the hackathon showed that GenAI has the potential to revolutionize financial statement analysis by simplifying complex financial concepts, automating data extraction, and generating insightful narratives. As technology continues to evolve, stakeholders can expect to see increased adoption in financial reporting leading to more efficient, accurate, and informed financial decision-making.

    Teams from VIT Vellore, MNNIT Allahabad, IIT Lucknow and Rajiv Gandhi University Of Knowledge Technologies, Nuzvid emerged winners in the competitions. The Hackathon was judged by a combined team of experts from IIT Kanpur and NFRA.

    It is also noteworthy that many of the winning teams choose to offer their innovations to the open-source community so that more improvements and value additions can happen and these solutions can be further developed and used by anyone interested. NFRA looks forward to further such opportunities to engage with the student community.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan lead Fit India Sundays on Cycle Event Across Nation

    Source: Government of India

    Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan lead Fit India Sundays on Cycle Event Across Nation

    Cricketer Deepti Sharma as well as Boxers Sonia Lather and Prachi Dhankhar join event in New Delhi

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 3:52PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya once again led the Fit India Sundays on Cycle in Junagadh, Gujarat, today. Simultaneously, the cycling rally was flagged off by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan from Cliff House, Trivandrum.

    In Junagadh, over 500 cyclists embarked on a route from the iconic Girnar Gate to the revered Bhavnath Mahadev temple, hosted by Sports Authority of India (SAI) Regional Centre in Gandhinagar. In Trivandrum, the rally followed an iconic 7 km route, from the Cliff House through the Central Stadium; this was hosted by the SAI Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education (SAI LNCPE).

    This week’s Sundays on Cycle placed a special emphasis on the involvement of school students across the country, who cycled alongside their parents and teachers. “You can make a lifelong friendship with cycling, so make this exercise your best friend,” Dr. Mandaviya encouraged participants at the event in Junagadh. “The Fit India campaign is developing as a nationwide festival, and today, the large participation of school children in Sundays on Cycle vividly depicts this. Paying attention to health is crucial for the progress of the country.”

    Active cycling drives were also conducted across Khelo India Centres (KICs), in districts such as Shivtarai in Bilaspur and Janjgir Champa in Chhattisgarh, Darbhanga in Bihar, and Orai in Uttar Pradesh.

    In Trivandrum, over 500 fitness enthusiasts, cycling groups, and organizations from across Kerala, including Indian Army CRPF, BSF, NCC, Kerala Police (SAP), Kerala Police (Traffic), Crime Branch, Collectorate, FCI, RBI, Department of Sports, Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs, KRCC, KSSC, NSS, Trivandrum Golf Club, Kerala Olympic Association, Kerala Cycling Association, participated.

    In the national capital, the Fit India Sundays on Cycle event saw presence of prominent sports personalities. Arjuna Awardee boxer Sonia Lather and Asian U-22 Championships 2024 gold medalist and Khelo India scheme athlete Prachi Dhankhar joined the gathering. ‘Push-up man of India’ Rohtash Chaudhary returned for the event, while Indian cricketer Deepti Sharma contributed to the event virtually, extending the reach of the fitness message.

    “As a cricketer, I understand the profound significance of physical activity,” remarked Deepti Sharma, a key member of the Indian women’s cricket team that secured gold at the Asian Games 2022. “Cycling is not only a fantastic way to stay fit but also an enjoyable activity that strengthens connections within our communities and promotes environmental consciousness. It is truly amazing that over 2 lakh riders from all age groups have participated in the Sundays on Cycle initiative since its start in December 2024, spanning over 4500 locations across the country.”

    21-year-old boxer Prachi Dhankhar expressed her appreciation for the broader impact of the Fit India Movement. “The Fit India Movement is a fantastic initiative, launched under the visionary leadership of our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in 2019, with the aim of creating a healthier and more active nation. So many diverse events have been conducted through this movement – walking, jogging, and now cycling. It is truly heartening to see,” she shared.

    Sonia Lather, silver medalist at the 2016 World Boxing Championship, conveyed her enthusiasm for the event’s inclusive nature. “Fitness should be the foremost priority for everyone, regardless of age,” Lather emphasized. “It was a truly enriching experience to ride alongside children as young as 6 or 7 years old, as well as individuals well over and under 70 years old.”

    The nationwide events on March 30 also witnessed strong participation from students representing a diverse range of educational institutions — Tagore International School EOK, Delhi Public School Gurugram Sec 45, Modern School Barakhamba Road, Modern Public School Shalimar Bagh, St Marks School Meera Bagh, Bal Bharati Public School Noida, DAV Public School CMC, Army Public School Sankar Vihar, Bal Bhavan Public School Mayur Vihar, DLF School Sahibabad and KV Sangathan.

    The Sundays on Cycle initiative sees simultaneous events held nationwide at Sports Authority of India (SAI) Regional Centres, National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), and Khelo India Centres (KICs). These events are collaborated with key stakeholders, including the Cycling Federation of India (CFI), the Physical Education Foundation of India (PEFI), doctors from the Indian Medical Association (IMA), and various cycling groups.

    *****

    Himanshu Pathak

    (Release ID: 2116807) Visitor Counter : 65

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: NESTS to celebrate its ‘7th Foundation Day’ on 1st April, showcasing transformative impact on tribal education

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 10:39AM by PIB Delhi

    National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, is set to celebrate its 7th Foundation Day on April 01, 2025, at Akashwani Bhawan, Parliament Street, New Delhi. The NESTS establishes and manages Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), which provide quality education from class 6th -12th to tribal students.

    This foundation day celebration will be graced by the presence of Minister of Tribal Affairs, Shri Jual Oram, as the Chief Guest, along with Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Shri Durgadas Uikey, as the Guest of Honour. Shri Vibhu Nayar, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, will grace the occasion as the Special Guest. Senior officers from Ministry and the NESTS will also witness this event.

    The foundation day celebrations will feature keynote addresses by dignitaries, cultural performances by EMRS students, and a special segment highlighting NESTS’ role in enabling tribal youth to compete at national and global levels while preserving their traditions. The event will also recognize outstanding EMRS students, with twelve students being felicitated in the morning session, while the staff who excelled in the Sports meet will be awarded in the evening program. A special screening will showcase the remarkable achievements of EMRS over the past year, emphasizing their impact on education, skill development, and holistic growth.

    Since its inception, the NESTS has been a transformative force in tribal education, spearheading the expansion of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) across the country. These schools serve as centres of empowerment, providing tribal students with quality education, modern skill development, and a strong connection to their cultural heritage. With the continuous efforts of Shri Ajeet Kumar Srivastava, Commissioner, NESTS, and his team, under the guidance of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the NESTS has made significant strides in enhancing infrastructure, teaching and non-teaching staff recruitment, and access to quality education for tribal students.

    The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, through NESTS, remains committed to empowering tribal communities with quality education, providing them a platform to preserve their rich heritage, thrive in their homeland, and excel in the modern world.

    ***

    Pawan Singh Faujdar/Divyanshu Kumar

    (Release ID: 2116701) Visitor Counter : 26

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: In Ancient Greece and Rome, who were the harpies, and why did they stink so much?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kitty Smith, PhD Candidate in Classical Greek and Roman History, University of Sydney

    Krikkiat / Shutterstock.com

    Once yelled at women seen to be pestering or annoying – or at feminists questioning and threatening the status quo – “harpy” has long been used as a derogatory term targeting women.

    But have you ever wondered what a harpy was in the first place?

    Much like similar derogatory titles “siren” and “fury”, the term “harpy” is derived from a group of monstrous female figures from ancient Greek and Roman mythology.

    This picture depicts the harpies being driven from the table of King Phineus, a story told in the Argonautica by Apollonius of Rhodes, in which Jason and the Argonauts search for the golden fleece.
    The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Rogers Fund, 1967

    Who were the harpies?

    In Greek and Roman myth, the harpies were a group of animal-human hybrid monsters on par with other such mythological creatures like the sirens, the sphinx, and the centaurs.

    Harpies were commonly imagined as an amalgam of a bird’s body, such as wings and claws, with a woman’s head.

    The ancient story of the Aeneid, by Latin poet Virgil, describes the story’s hero Aeneas encountering harpies on his quest to found Rome, saying:

    Maiden faces have these birds, foulest filth they drop, clawed hands are theirs, and faces ever gaunt with hunger.

    This description matches a common design from Greek and Roman art of birds with women’s heads.

    In Greco-Roman myth, the harpies were typically tasked with meting out justice on behalf of Zeus and other gods by using their great speed from their wings and sharp talons.

    The importance of their claws was likely a result of their name, which was derived from the Ancient Greek word for “snatching” (ἁρπάζω or harpazdo).

    As was common of many mythological figures with hybrid features, the way their animal features were portrayed tended to vary across different media (art or literature), different narrative purposes, and over time.

    Sometimes the claws were emphasised; other times it was their supernaturally swift wings and voracious hunger.

    Harpies were also a common motif in many parts of the Muslim world. This roughly 12th Century statue is from modern-day Iran.
    The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Cora Timken Burnett Collection of Persian Miniatures and Other Persian Art Objects, Bequest of Cora Timken Burnett, 1956

    Enforcers of swift justice

    The harpies were not nice people. They existed in myth to dish out punishments from the gods.

    Their primary target? Phineus, a seer and king of Salmydessus in Thrace, a city believed to have been located on the Western coast of the Black Sea near the modern day Turkish town of Kıyıköy.

    His story is told in the Argonautica by ancient Greek author Apollonius of Rhodes. This tale centres on the journey of Jason and the Argonauts in search of the golden fleece.

    In the story, Phineus is said to have abused his powers as a seer by sharing too many of the gods’ secrets with mortals.

    This was among the most egregious of crimes in the eyes of the gods, so an especially awful punishment was decided upon.

    Phineus was blinded and given the dubious gift of immortality while still allowed to age endlessly. And worst of all, he was set upon by the harpies.

    Every time Phineus picked up and tried to eat food, the harpies would burst out from the clouds, moving as fast as lightning, and

    with their crooked beaks incessantly snatched the food away from his mouth and hands.

    The harpies brought a further gift for Phineus: their smell. This supernaturally “intolerable stench” could putrefy food, so any scraps the harpies didn’t grab were left rotting on the table. You couldn’t even stand near it, “so foully reeked the remnants of the meal”.

    And while the harpies swooped in and out in seconds, their smell stuck to the rotting food (and probably poor Phineus).

    Some ancient poets add a little extra zest and disgust by also suggesting the harpies may have been defecating on the food, and presumably Phineus.

    Most notable is Virgil in his text the Aeneid who wrote about “foedissima ventris proluvies”, meaning:

    the foulest discharges from their bellies.

    This was likely an exaggeration of their bird-like qualities, used to emphasise how disgusting and monstrous they were.

    Phineus was eventually given a reprieve from the harpies, by order of Zeus, so he could help the hero Jason on his quest for the golden fleece.

    Having completed their job, the harpies then flew to Crete to live in a cave far away from annoying mortals – only being disturbed once by Aeneas on his meandering path to Rome.

    The story of Phineus helped harpies become a metaphor for greed.

    Those compared to harpies could include greedy house-guests overstaying their welcome, people living extravagantly or frivolously, or even family members taking advantage of wealthy relatives.

    Although the harpies were female monsters, the term was not exclusively applied to women, but used to describe groups of greedy people.

    Harpies were often associated with greed. In this Renaissance painting, part of a series depicting the Seven Deadly Sins, a harpy-drawn chariot is being used by Gluttony (who has wings, carries a jug and and wears wine leaves in her hair).
    The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. Frederic R. Coudert Jr., in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh A. Murray, 1957.

    Harpies today

    Happily, today the title of “harpy” is falling out of favour as a derogatory term. But the hordes of monstrous, snatching, winged women live on in modern books, games, comics, movies and TV shows.

    From video games with swathes of harpy-like creatures snatching and clawing at the protagonist, like the 2020 video game Hades, to characters in stories inspired by Greek and Roman myth, the harpies are sticking around – like a bad smell.

    Kitty Smith is a member of the Australian Society for Classical Studies.

    – ref. In Ancient Greece and Rome, who were the harpies, and why did they stink so much? – https://theconversation.com/in-ancient-greece-and-rome-who-were-the-harpies-and-why-did-they-stink-so-much-249722

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: These 3 arguments are part of the long game in Trump’s trade wars

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Markus Wagner, Professor of Law and Director of the UOW Transnational Law and Policy Centre, University of Wollongong

    Since returning to office in January, US President Donald Trump has doubled down on using trade measures – mostly tariffs – to reshape global trade. He plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on what he has labelled “Liberation Day”, April 2.

    The Trump administration claims US producers face higher tariffs and more restrictions abroad than foreign producers when they export to the US.

    The administration also examined tax systems such as Europe’s Value Added Tax and Australia’s GST, import regulations and other factors. It believes – mostly wrongly – these unfairly disadvantage American businesses and contribute to the US trade deficit.

    As with many Trump initiatives, actual tariffs often change significantly between announcement and implementation, if they are implemented at all.

    His reciprocal tariffs have been narrowed to imports from the US’ largest trading partners instead of imports from all countries. There may also be tariffs on specific sectors. Last week, Trump announced 25% tariffs on cars from overseas. At the weekend said he “couldn’t care less” if this made cars more expensive for US consumers.

    Coercive control, revenue and re-shoring

    President Trump has raised a myriad of puzzling arguments in favour of tariffs. They largely fall into three categories:

    The first is the use of tariffs as a coercion tool against other countries. In the first Trump presidency, trading partners were pressured to renegotiate trade agreements such as the renamed but largely identical US-Mexico-Canada agreement.

    Similarly, the Trump administration used the threat of tariffs to gain market access, elicit better trade terms or as a form of weaponised trade to achieve unrelated foreign policy goals.

    Last week, Trump suggested he would consider a reduction in tariffs on China in exchange for a sale of TikTok by its Chinese owner.

    The second category is the use of tariffs as a source of revenue. The Trump administration envisions tariffs to be collected by a yet-to-be-created External Revenue Service. This would form the flip side of the powerful and much-maligned Internal Revenue Service.

    Trump claims tariffs will be paid by the exporting country. This would be in theory to finance future tax cuts. In practice, tariffs are almost always paid by the importer of goods and usually get passed on to consumers.

    There is a potential contradiction between these two rationales. It appears the Trump administration wants to make at least some tariffs permanent. But doing so would almost nullify the use of tariffs as a bargaining chip and coercion tool.

    The final category is to encourage companies to “re-shore” production to the US to avoid tariffs and to support US jobs.

    This would signal a reversal of what 1994 presidential candidate Ross Perot, speaking of the North American Free Trade Agreement, called the “giant sucking sound going south”. Some manufacturing may return to the US. But the high costs of building new factories, re-routing supply chains and uncompetitive US labour costs will hinder large-scale re-shoring efforts.

    A long-term plan?

    The Trump administration’s trade moves can be seen as part of a larger strategy to reshape the US domestic and the global economic system.

    In a recent speech, US Vice-President JD Vance argued for a structural reshaping of the US economy, to increase domestic innovation capacity.

    Vance warned “deindustrialisation poses risks both to our national security and our workforce”. Vance himself sums up this approach by characterising tariffs as a “necessary tool to protect our jobs and our industries”.

    This line of argument overlooks a number of critical factors. Tariffs lead to higher prices for consumers. Unless currencies adjust, the inflationary impact could disadvantage the very people that can least afford it.

    The same is true if other countries respond to US trade measures by responding in kind, as Canada and the European Union already have.

    American farmers and other export-oriented industries will be hard hit. From a strategic perspective, the US position as global leader has suffered a severe blow. Some countries are openly pivoting to its geopolitical and economic rival, China.

    If this scenario comes to pass, the US pullback – an outright withdrawal is unlikely – from the highly integrated international trading system might end up a more chaotic version of the UK’s pursuit of Brexit.

    A step back in time

    The world of liberalised trade that followed the end of the Cold War in 1990 is ending. Countries will turn inwards, prioritising their economic security and resilience. The costs of this turn away from multilateralism and international institutions, however, are not just economic.

    The close economic integration we have witnessed post-1990 has led to reduced uncertainty in international economic relations, increased international security and greater prosperity.

    A return of the “beggar thy neighbour” policies of the 1930s would be a dangerous path, with the world inching closer to the abyss. “Liberation Day” might push the world over the edge.



    Read more:
    What are non-tariff barriers – and why is agriculture so exposed?

    Markus Wagner 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. These 3 arguments are part of the long game in Trump’s trade wars – https://theconversation.com/these-3-arguments-are-part-of-the-long-game-in-trumps-trade-wars-252516

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Exploring local Howick Enviroschools

    Source: Auckland Council

    Howick Local Board members recently embarked on an inspiring visit to four local Enviroschools, where they saw firsthand the innovative environmental initiatives being embraced by students and staff.

    Enviroschools is a programme that supports children and young people to plan, design and implement sustainability actions.

    Participating schools range from early childhood through to secondary school and beyond.

    Enviroschools are a key part of the board’s Tō Tātou Taiao/Our Environmental [5.92MB] in its local board plan, with $200,000 in funding supporting the effort. This works alongside other Pest Free Howick initiatives including the annual Pest Free competition, native tree projects for birds, iwi-led restoration of Te Naupata/Musick Point, and Garden To Table.

    Enviroschool tour

    Sustainable Schools Advisor Cate Jessep shares that the purpose of these visits is to highlight the significant outcomes of Howick Local Board’s long-term support for Enviroschools in the area. These visits allow the Board to see firsthand the impact of their investment in helping teachers and principals engage students in real, sustainable learning.

    On Friday 28 March 28, Howick Local Board members, along with new Enviroschools principals and key teachers, visited four local Howick Enviroschools, including Pakuranga Baptist Enviro-Kindergarten, Our Lady Star of the Sea in Howick, Mission Heights Junior College, and Mission Heights Primary in Flatbush.

    Howick Local Board chair Damian Light says, “Empowering our community to take environmental action is a key objective of our Local Board Plan. And our tamariki and rangatahi are critical to the success of this. It’s been wonderful to see firsthand the amazing work that is happening in our local kura.”

    Everyday activities that make an Enviroschool thrive

    Pakuranga Baptist Enviro-Kindergarten is buzzing with exciting activities. From Outdoor Explorers walks to a bee water station, their garden is thriving. The kids engage in 3D mapping, recently explored Ohuiārangi Pigeon Mountain, and participate in local plantings. What’s more, they have regular conversations about caring for Papatūānuku, with composting being a key topic. It’s a fantastic, hands-on approach to environmental learning.

    “Enviroschools in Howick have made a significant impact, with over 1,000 students in the Pest Free Howick program, 40 schools reducing waste by up to 74%, and initiatives like the Moth Plant competition, Garden to Table, and carbon footprint programs. Four new schools have joined this year, bringing the total to 33 out of 44 schools in Howick. These efforts are creating a generation of leaders in sustainability, with many students advancing to leadership roles in sustainable careers. This is what we aim to showcase through these visits,” Cate adds.

    Ka mihi ki a Ranginui, ki a Papatūānuku, ka mihi ki te ngao o te wheiao I About Enviroschools

    Enviroschools is a nationwide programme supported by Toimata Foundation and a large network of regional partners. Early childhood centres and schools commit to a long-term sustainability journey, where tamariki/students connect with and explore the environment, then plan, design and act in their local places in collaboration with their communities.

    There are 1,629 enviroschools nationwide of which 343 are in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

    Integrating Enviroschools into school and centre life offers many benefits, including:

    1. Environmental: Promotes healthy spaces, biodiversity, and water quality

    2. Economic: Fosters youth entrepreneurship and reduces waste

    3. Educational: Turns schools into learning hubs for sustainability

    4. Social and Cultural: Reduces litter and vandalism, encouraging community involvement.

    Stay connected

    Sign up to receive our Howick Local Board monthly e-newsletters.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The best space telescope you never heard of just shut down

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Nicole Driessen, Postdoctoral Researcher in Radio Astronomy, University of Sydney

    ESA / Gaia / DPAC, CC BY-SA

    On Thursday 27 March, the European Space Agency (ESA) sent its last messages to the Gaia Spacecraft. They told Gaia to shut down its communication systems and central computer and said goodbye to this amazing space telescope.

    Gaia has been the most successful ESA space mission ever, so why did they turn Gaia off? What did Gaia achieve? And perhaps most importantly, why was it my favourite space telescope?

    Running on empty

    Gaia was retired for a simple reason: after more than 11 years in space, it ran out of the cold gas propellant it needed to keep scanning the sky.

    The telescope did its last observation on 15 January 2025. The ESA team then performed testing for a few weeks, before telling Gaia to leave its home at a point in space called L2 and start orbiting the Sun away from Earth.

    L2 is one of five “Lagrangian points” around Earth and the Sun where gravitational conditions make for a nice, stable orbit. L2 is located 1.5 million kilometres from Earth on the “dark side”, opposite the Sun.

    L2 is a highly prized location because it’s a stable spot to orbit, it’s close enough to Earth for easy communication, and spacecraft can use the Sun behind them for solar power while looking away from the Sun out into space.

    It’s also too far away from Earth to send anyone on a repair mission, so once your spacecraft gets there it’s on its own.

    Keeping L2 clear

    L2 currently hosts the James Webb Space Telescope (operated by the USA, Europe and Canada), the European Euclid mission, the Chinese Chang’e 6 orbiter and the joint Russian-German Spektr-RG observatory. Since L2 is such a key location for space missions, it’s essential to keep it clear of debris and retired spacecraft.

    A final status update from Gaia.
    ESA, CC BY-SA

    Gaia used its thrusters for the last time to push itself away from L2, and is now drifting around the Sun in a “retirement orbit” where it won’t get in anybody’s way.

    As part of the retirement process, the Gaia team wrote farewell messages into the craft’s software and sent it the names of around 1,500 people who worked on Gaia over the years.

    What is Gaia?

    Gaia looks a bit like a spinning top hat in space. Its main mission was to produce a detailed, three-dimensional map of our galaxy, the Milky Way.

    To do this, it measured the precise positions and motions of 1.46 billion objects in space. Gaia also measured brightnesses and variability and those data were used to provide temperatures, gravitational parameters, stellar types and more for millions of stars. One of the key pieces of information Gaia provided was the distance to millions of stars.

    A cosmic measuring tape

    I’m a radio astronomer, which means I use radio telescopes here on Earth to explore the Universe. Radio light is the longest wavelength of light, invisible to human eyes, and I use it to investigate magnetic stars.

    But even though I’m a radio astronomer and Gaia was an optical telescope, looking at the same wavelengths of light our eyes can see, I use Gaia data almost every single day.

    I used it today to find out how far away, how bright, and how fast a star was. Before Gaia, I would probably never have known how far away that star was.

    This is essential for figuring out how bright the stars I study really are, which helps me understand the physics of what’s happening in and around them.

    A huge success

    Gaia has contributed to thousands of articles in astronomy journals. Papers released by the Gaia collaboration have been cited well over 20,000 times in total.

    Gaia has produced too many science results to share here. To take just one example, Gaia improved our understanding of the structure of our own galaxy by showing that it has multiple spiral arms that are less sharply defined than we previously thought.

    Not really the end for Gaia

    It’s difficult to express how revolutionary Gaia has been for astronomy, but we can let the numbers speak for themselves. Around five astronomy journal articles are published every day that use Gaia data, making Gaia the most successful ESA mission ever. And that won’t come to a complete stop when Gaia retires.

    The Gaia collaboration has published three data releases so far. This is where the collaboration performs the processing and checks on the data, adds some important analysis and releases all of that in one big hit.

    And luckily, there are two more big data releases with even more information to come. The fourth data release is expected in mid to late 2026. The fifth and final data release, containing all of the Gaia data from the whole mission, will come out sometime in the 2030s.

    This article is my own small tribute to a telescope that changed astronomy as we know it. So I will end by saying a huge thank you to everyone who has ever worked on this amazing space mission, whether it was engineering and operations, turning the data into the amazing resource it is, or any of the other many jobs that make a mission successful. And thank you to those who continue to work on the data as we speak.

    Finally, thank you to my favourite space telescope. Goodbye, Gaia, I’ll miss you.

    Laura Nicole Driessen is an ambassador for the Orbit Centre of Imagination at the Rise and Shine Kindergarten, in Sydney’s Inner West.

    – ref. The best space telescope you never heard of just shut down – https://theconversation.com/the-best-space-telescope-you-never-heard-of-just-shut-down-253343

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU scientists have used a CT scanner to study ancient bone knives for the first time beyond the Urals

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    In the Laboratory of Nuclear and Innovative Medicine Physics Department of NSU Research is being conducted on archaeological finds from the collections of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences using a computer tomograph. Until recently, this device was used by the laboratory’s research staff in preclinical studies of neuron capture therapy to examine animals and solve similar problems. However, the technical capabilities of the computer tomograph allow us to study not only biological but also non-biological objects. Currently, computer tomography is being performed on composite bone and horn tools from the late Pleistocene-early Holocene.

    Composite tools – in this case knives, arrowheads and spearheads – made using insert technology. They are a horn or bone base with grooves cut along the edges, into which cutting elements are successively attached – sharp, elongated knife-shaped stone plates. They are fixed in the grooves using glue of plant or animal origin: resin, tar, bone glue, honey or clay. Such tools appeared in Eastern Siberia about 15 thousand years ago and in a short time became widespread throughout its territory.

    The project of the junior researcher at the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of the SB RAS Ekaterina Bocharova, who received the support of the RNF grant (No. 25-79-30002), is aimed at a comprehensive study of composite bone and horn tools using the most modern methods, among which computer tomography is important. At the moment, the study has no analogues in Russian or foreign archaeological studies. Scientists seek to obtain fundamentally new information about the technology for the manufacture of composite tools with stone inserts, their use and repair. Researchers plan to reconstruct these processes using modern methods such as three -dimensional scanning and CT. The data obtained during the project will allow you to study at a higher scientific level to study the technological and cultural features of the archaeological complexes of the late Pleistocene – the initial holocene in Eastern Siberia, as well as to explore the mobility of the ancient population and the processes of transmission of technologies and ideas. But for this, it is necessary to obtain high -quality models of the inner surface of the grooves of the studied tools, which is possible only with the help of high -precision three -dimensional scanning and computed tomography. More recently, this was not possible, since the conduct of research of non -biological objects on computer tomographs, which have medical centers, medical institutions and clinics, is prohibited at the legislative level. Last year, a laboratory -class microtomograph appeared at the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of the SB RAS, but very small samples can be explored on it. Bone knives with 15 cm long for him are too large.

    – When we started preclinical studies on a computer tomograph in the framework of neutron -grinding therapy and hyperthermia on animal models, there were proposals to use this device to study non -biological objects – various archaeological artifacts and bone structures. Scientists of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of the SB RAS proposed conducting computed tomography of bone and stone tools from their funds. Such studies in our laboratory were carried out for the first time, but their quality turned out to be quite high. Now we have in joint plans – large -scale work on in -depth tomographic research of archaeological finds that have been accumulated by scientists of the IAET of the SB RAS for many decades. The benefits of these works are mutual: employees of the NSU Lihs master new competencies, and archaeologists receive a unique opportunity to study ancient artifacts using tomography. Of course, many medical institutions are equipped with computer tomographs, however, their use is prohibited at the legislative level to study non -biological objects. In our case, there are no such restrictions: our tomograph is the only one in Siberia and the Far East, permitted for scientific research. We are ready to cooperate with scientists who need this method. The strategy and concept of our Center for Tomographic Studies of the NSU is to eliminate this gap in science-in providing researchers with the opportunity to use CT-methodics to study artifacts and other objects that previously remained outside the tomographic analysis zone, ”said Vladimir Kanygin, head of the LEGU, NSU.  

    Researchers at the tomography department of the NSU Laboratory of Mathematical Analysis believe that it is much easier to work with non-living samples. There is no need for anesthesia, the introduction of a contrast agent, or the work of anesthesiologists, which is necessary when studying animals.

    — The samples are placed on the tomograph table in the order determined by the archaeologists: either as individual objects or as part of a composition studied as a whole. Then, together with the archaeologists, the obtained data is analyzed — mainly with the aim of studying the internal structures and identifying changes that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Ultimately, we provide a full information package, including three-dimensional reconstructions created by our equipment, — Vladimir Kanygin explained.

    Tomographic studies provide scientists with valuable information about archaeological objects that cannot be obtained using other research methods. The image of the object is scanned in three projections. It can be rotated, zoomed in, zoomed in, and broken down into fragments. The physical parameters of the image can be used to determine the material it is made of — stone, bone — or at least get as close to the answer as possible.

    — In the process of scanning objects, we obtain thin-section images based on X-ray examination and then create its reconstructions — both two-dimensional and three-dimensional — allowing us to see finer internal structures without damaging the samples. Based on this data, we can say what substances or their combinations a particular structure consists of, whether it is monolithic or folding, whether there is an adhesive composition that holds its parts together, or they are held due to the tightness of the fit. We can also reliably establish the shape and size parameters of the grooves of composite tools, examine internal microcracks and their direction. Based on this data, archaeologists will be able to establish the purpose of the object: household, hunting, combat or ritual. It is even possible to determine whether the weapon was used in battle, or was lost immediately after production, — explained radiologist, senior lecturer at the Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies of NSU Lyubov Vasilkiv.

    Composite insert tools, according to scientists, are considered universal because their owner, when going hunting or into battle, did not have to carry several monolithic stone tools of similar purpose with the expectation that they would break. Instead, he could carry many small and light pointed replaceable stone plates, and quickly repair the tool as needed, replacing broken inserts with new ones.

    — Tools with replaceable inserts gave ancient people more mobility. Such tools were more convenient to use than simple stone knives or tips. As part of the project, we take a new look at composite tools. Using tomographic images, we will be able to look “inside” the object: accurately determine the shape of the groove and track its changes along the entire length, as well as measure, for example, the depth of the grooves or the angles of convergence of the sides. This data will help us determine how and with what tool the groove could have been cut. In addition, we plan to make replicas of such tools and try to model different options for their use. And then compare CT images of experimental and archaeological tools: what microdamages occur and from what action. The use of new, digital methods allows us to obtain new information about how the tool was made and how it was used, — said Ekaterina Bocharova.

    For the research, the scientists formed a sample of composite tools from the late Pleistocene-early Holocene industries of Eastern Siberia from several sites: Kazachka, Ust-Keul, Ust-Edarma (Northern Angana), Ust-Kyakhty-3 (Transbaikalia). For comparison, composite tools from the early Holocene complex of the Kaminnaya site (Altai), the Chernoozerye site (Western Siberia), the Gorbunovsky peat bog sites (Middle Trans-Urals), as well as materials from museum collections will be studied.

    — The use of computer tomography in archaeology in Siberia has not yet become widespread, which opens up great opportunities for technological research. Since inanimate objects are being studied, new tomographic approaches can be developed, various scanning modes can be tested, and device options that are rarely used in medical research can be used. As practice has shown, a number of available tomograph modes allow such studies to be carried out with technical novelty, which makes them especially valuable for archaeological science, — said Vladimir Kanygin.

    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 Nations: ‘Furious kickback against equality’ must end, UN chief tells women activists as conference adopts landmark declaration

    Source: United Nations 4

    “A surge in misogyny, and a furious kickback against equality threaten to slam on the brakes, and push progress into reverse,” he said.

    “Let me be clear: This is unacceptable, immoral, and self-defeating. We must stop it – and we must stop it together.”

    The event, marking 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and 25 years since the landmark Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, saw civil society leaders raise concerns about shrinking civic space, underfunding of feminist movements and rising gender-based violence.

    Backsliding on rights

    While acknowledging progress in maternal health and education, the Secretary-General warned that hard-won gains are at risk.

    “Women’s organizations and civil society played a major role in securing those gains. I applaud your efforts. Yet, women and girls still face an appalling array of wrongs,” he said.

    The threats facing women’s rights defenders were a major concern. “Around the world, women’s rights defenders face harassment, threats and violence – even murder.”

    “They face shrinking civil space and shrinking funds. The result: the erosion of rights and a deficit of accountability,” he warned.

    Linda Sestock of the Canadian Federation of University Women asked the UN chief how civil society could be better integrated into CSW negotiations.

    Mr. Guterres acknowledged the challenge, noting that “power is never given, it must be taken” and urged feminist movements to mobilise.

    Power and parity

    The Secretary-General emphasised the structural inequalities that persist. “We still live in a male-dominated world with a male-dominated culture,” he said.

    Highlighting progress within the UN system, he stated that “the UN system has reached, and sustained, gender parity at leadership level.”

    Women now hold 53 per cent of senior management positions, though he admitted challenges remain in field offices in conflict zones, where representation is lower.

    Speakers also highlighted male dominance in technology and engineering.

    “Clear male predominance in areas like technologies, engineering and mathematics (…) can be seen in many of the algorithms produced by the tech industry being biased against women,” he noted.

    Funding gaps

    A representative from the youth movement Restless Development called for dedicated funding for young feminists, particularly those living in conflict zones.

    “True inclusion requires co-creation, dedicated funding and decision-making power for young people at every level,” she said.

    The Secretary-General agreed, pointing to the limited resources available. “Let’s be clear, the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund has raised $100 million since 2023 for this purpose, which is completely insufficient to support adequately the civil society.”

    Civil society leaders pressed for concrete commitments, urging the UN and Member States to revitalise CSW by decentralising consultations and improving accessibility, and guarantee sustainable funding for feminist organizations.

    A woman Secretary-General?

    As the event concluded, a representative from the Sociologists for Women in Society asked the question many have long posed:

    “When are we finally going to have the first woman, female UN Secretary-General?”

    Mr. Guterres responded candidly. “Now, I’m not going to apologise for the fact that I’m not a woman,” he said as the Assembly responded with laughter, but he suggested he had been determined to “act decisively against the routine and to promote an effective mechanism of gender parity for the UN.”

    He reaffirmed the UN’s goal of full gender parity by 2028, with steady progress already made, and expressed “hope” that those who will choose the next Secretary General “will be wise.”

    “We share a common vision: a world of equality, where the human rights of women and girls are realised in full. Let’s keep working together to make that vision a reality,” he concluded.  

    Political Declaration adopted

    Later in the day, Member States adopted by consensus a powerful Political Declaration reaffirming their commitment to advancing the rights, equality and empowerment for all women and girls.

    Recognizing that 2025 presents a significant opportunity to intensify efforts toward the full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, originally adopted in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women, Member States reaffirmed that gender equality is essential for sustainable development and for fulfilling the pledge to leave no one behind.

    Welcoming its adoption, Sima Bahous, Under Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women said that “at a time when hard-fought gains for gender equality are under attack the global community has come together in a show of unity for all women and girls, everywhere”.

    2025, ‘a pivotal moment’

    The Declaration reinforces commitments to women, peace, and security, emphasising the need to integrate women’s voices and leadership into all stages of conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and conflict resolution.

    It recommits Member States to eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls, including emerging forms such as digital violence, online harassment, and cyberbullying.

    “No nation has yet fully achieved gender equality”, Ms. Bahous added, stating that the Declaration “makes clear that the world’s governments recognize 2025 as a pivotal moment, where promises made 30 years ago can no longer be deferred”. 

    Soundcloud

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Foreign auto brands seize growth opportunities in China

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    An increasing number of foreign-funded enterprises are seizing development opportunities in China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) sector by boosting investment, expanding their market presence, and advancing projects, research and cooperation.

    The global automotive industry’s shift from internal combustion vehicles to NEVs has opened new opportunities for both China and Germany, said Helmut Stettner, CEO of Audi FAW NEV Co., Ltd.

    “We see that the switch to electric mobility is accelerating in China, especially in the premium market. Despite some challenges, it continues to offer significant growth potential for Audi. We want to and will participate in this development,” he added.

    In March, German carmaker BMW partnered with Chinese tech giant Huawei to develop an in-car digital ecosystem specifically tailored for the Chinese market. Tesla’s Megafactory in east China’s Shanghai, the first of its kind built by Tesla outside the United States, also exported its first batch of Megapack energy-storage batteries this month.

    “China’s NEV market holds immense potential, continuously improving business environment and complete, efficient industrial and supply chains, which are the key factors driving foreign auto companies to invest and deepen their presence in the Chinese market,” said Gao Yuning, deputy dean of School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University.

    In 2024, China’s production and sales of NEVs both exceeded 12 million units, solidifying the country’s leading position in the global market. China has established a comprehensive industrial chain, supplying 70 percent of the world’s battery materials and 60 percent of power batteries.

    In recent years, the Chinese government has created a favorable development environment for the NEV market through policies and measures such as purchase subsidies, extensive charging infrastructure, and the construction of intelligent connected vehicle demonstration zones.

    Data from the Ministry of Commerce showed that over 60 percent of vehicles purchased under the automobile replacement and renewal subsidy policy in 2024 were NEVs. As of Dec. 19, 2024, foreign brands accounted for more than 35 percent of the vehicles purchased through the policy.

    The open-mindedness of Chinese consumers toward new technologies and innovation, coupled with their focus on intelligent networking technology, has created new avenues for reform and business opportunities for foreign car companies.

    According to a Tesla salesperson in Changchun, northeast China’s Jilin Province, in the past, customers paid more attention to cruising range and cost performance, but now they look at the intelligent configuration of vehicles, such as smart cockpits and automatic parking.

    An increasing number of foreign car companies in China believe that developing new models tailored to the Chinese market is key to their future success. They are focusing on integrating smart driving, car networking and green solutions that align with the preferences and habits of Chinese consumers to achieve market breakthroughs.

    Among them, Volkswagen Group signed a strategic cooperation agreement with China’s First Automobile Works (FAW) in March to introduce 11 new models specifically tailored for the Chinese market, starting in 2026.

    “Our enduring partnership with FAW is a strong pillar of our success in China. Aligned with our ‘In China, for China’ strategy, we are further advancing FAW-VW’s product portfolio covering all powertrains, with a strong focus on NEVs, to meet evolving customer needs,” said Ralf Brandstaetter, chairman and CEO of Volkswagen Group China.

    The steady development of the Chinese economy and China’s continuous high-level opening-up are the biggest sources of confidence for foreign investment to boost their presence in China, Gao Yuning said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: School phone ban one year on: our student survey reveals mixed feelings about its success

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cara Swit, Associate professor, School of Health Sciences, University of Canterbury

    DavideAngelini/Shutterstock

    One year after the government banned cellphones from schools to help students focus and reduce distractions in class, we’re beginning to see how it has been implemented and how successful it’s been.

    As part of that process, our new research asked young people about the ban. Unsurprisingly, they had a lot to say.

    Schools around the world, including in Australia, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, China and parts of the United States, have implemented similar bans. The guiding principle everywhere has been to help students do better in school.

    When New Zealand’s ban came into effect in April 2024, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said it was time to cut the distractions so kids could learn and achieve.

    But studies have shown these bans often don’t work as planned. For example, recent research from the UK involving over 1,200 students found no significant difference in academic grades or wellbeing between schools with strict phone bans and those with more relaxed policies.

    With so many questions at the time of the ban about how it would be enforced, we wanted to hear what was going on in schools and what young people really thought. We spoke to 77 young people aged 12 to 18 from 25 schools around the country. Some liked the bans, some didn’t and some weren’t sure.

    Mixed feelings

    Many students had mixed feelings about the bans. Some admitted the bans helped reduce distractions and gave them a break from using their phones. As one explained,

    otherwise, we’ll be on our phone all day, all afternoon, all night, and it won’t be healthy for our minds.

    But other students said the ban had created new problems.

    First, some students felt stressed and anxious when they couldn’t contact their parents or caregivers during the day. Second, they said the rules weren’t always clear or fair. Some teachers were strict, others weren’t. And sometimes, teachers used their phones in class, but students couldn’t.

    That perceived double standard – where teachers can use phones but students can’t – left many of our respondents feeling frustrated and unfairly treated. In some cases, it even made them more secretive about their phone use. One student said,

    Even though we’re not allowed to use our phones, everyone is sneaky and uses it anyway.

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the cellphone ban would cut distractions so kids could learn and achieve.
    Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

    A lack of consultation

    A lot of students said they weren’t asked what they thought before the bans were introduced. They felt as if adults made the rules without asking them or listening to them. One of our interviewees said,

    It feels like they just ban everything, thinking it will fix the problem.

    Many didn’t understand the purpose of the ban, especially since they still have to use laptops and other technology in class.

    Recent research found more than 80% of students in Aotearoa New Zealand say technology in class is distracting – not just phones.

    Already, some students have found clever ways around the phone ban. At one Auckland school, students started using walkie-talkies instead of phones to stay connected with their peers.

    Examples like this show bans don’t always change behaviour the way they’re intended to. It can simply make students feel as though adults underestimate how tech-savvy they really are.

    Young people as active problem solvers

    The young people in our research offered some alternatives to the ban.

    Many suggested allowing phones at break and lunch times. That way, they could stay connected without interrupting class. They also said adults needed to model healthy digital habits, not just set the rules.

    Based on student responses, it does appear that learning and teaching how to use phones in healthy ways would be more helpful than banning them altogether.

    Research from the Digital Wellness Lab supports this balanced approach, emphasising skill building over restriction. But for this to work, adults need support too. Teachers and parents need training and resources to help guide young people – and should also be surveyed on how they feel about the ban.

    Banning phones doesn’t fix the bigger issue of helping young people to use technology safely and responsibly. If schools really want to support students, they need to move beyond one-size-fits-all rules.

    Our research shows young people aren’t just passive users of technology. They’re active problem solvers. They want to be part of the conversation – and part of the solution.

    This would involve replacing top-down bans with meaningful conversations involving young people and adults to build fair and practical digital guidelines, where everyone benefits.

    Cara Swit received funding from The Oakley Mental Health Foundation, InternetNZ and the University of Canterbury’s Vision Mātauranga Development Fund to conduct this research.

    Aaron Hapuku received funding from The Oakley Mental Health Foundation, InternetNZ and the University of Canterbury’s Vision Mātauranga Development Fund to conduct this research.

    Helena Cook received funding from InternetNZ, Oakley Mental Health Foundation and UC Vision Mātauranga Development Fund.

    Jennifer Smith received funding from Internet New Zealand and The Oakley Mental Health Foundation.

    – ref. School phone ban one year on: our student survey reveals mixed feelings about its success – https://theconversation.com/school-phone-ban-one-year-on-our-student-survey-reveals-mixed-feelings-about-its-success-252179

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: A symphony of cultures at kindergarten

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Just days ahead of “Sanyuesan,” a traditional ethnic festival in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, a unique musical endeavor was unfolding in a kindergarten in the heart of Nanning, the regional capital.

    Inside the brightly-lit auditorium, Huang Shaozheng, a retired English professor in his 60s and a Zhuang culture advocate, along with Jake Philip Tucker, a 28-year-old English teacher and trained musician from Britain, were on a musical quest to blend the timeless folk songs of Liu Sanjie, the legendary “Song Fairy” and a cultural icon of the local Zhuang culture, with a contemporary flair, bridging heritage and modernity.

    The “Sanyuesan” festival is the perfect platform for this cultural fusion. Held annually on the third day of the third lunar month, this beloved event, which falls on March 31 this year, is set to transform the region into a kaleidoscope of music, dance, and tradition, drawing together China’s rich array of ethnic groups.

    The pupils, in the distinctly colored costumes of the Zhuang, Han, Yao, and Hui ethnic groups, turned the campus into a lively parade of Guangxi’s rich cultural tapestry.

    “Throwing red embroidered balls is a ‘Sanyuesan’ tradition,” explained Sherry Zeng, the principal of the kindergarten. “Historically thrown as tokens of affection, here they remind the children of the culture of the place they live.”

    In the midst of this festive ambiance, Huang and Tucker collaborated to breathe new life into Liu Sanjie’s songs.

    “Try this: ‘Follow me all the way. On both banks of the river, we are singing along,’” suggested Huang with a tone that was patient yet firm.

    With a Ukulele slung casually over his shoulder, Tucker adjusted the rhythm and responded. “How about this? I put a little western spin onto it.”

    Their partnership was a seamless blend of tradition and innovation as Huang’s profound knowledge of Zhuang culture and Liu Sanjie’s legacy guided Tucker’s contemporary musical flair.

    The session crescendoed as the kindergarten students joined in. Clad in colorful attires, the children were joining Huang and Tucker in a joyful chorus: “By the mountains, under the stars, we sing as one,” accompanied by Tucker’s Ukulele and the melodies they have known since infancy.

    Their voices resonated with a cultural essence at the heart of the “Sanyuesan” festival.

    “It’s about giving them a sense of pride,” said Huang as he gazed with avuncular jocularity at the engaged faces of the children. “They’re the future of this culture.”

    For these young voices, each a small part of Guangxi’s ethnic mosaic, the experience is both a celebration and a lesson in heritage, said Zeng.

    Liu Sanjie is more than just a figure of the distant past. Her legend, tracing back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), tells of a young woman who taps into the wellspring of music to face down oppression, earning her a place as an immortal symbol of freedom among Zhuang ethnic group.

    During “Sanyuesan,” her songs, steeped in romance and reverence for Guangxi’s breathtaking landscapes, echo across the festival, threading tradition through the pulsating festivities.

    Huang’s ambitious project to translate these melodies into English is no small feat.

    “It’s particularly demanding to preserve the thematic and poetic integrity of the originals while making them easily accessible to those who don’t even speak a word of Mandarin,” said Huang.

    Yet, his efforts are paying off, as Liu Sanjie’s voice begins to echo far beyond her native mountains with the publication of “Liu Sanjie and her free mountain songs” in 2021, which renders the scripts of Liu Sanjie opera and other popular Liu Sanjie’s ballads into modern English with singable lyrics and musical notation.

    Australian writer Mark Tredinnick wrote in the preface to a book of Liu’s folk tunes that Huang translated, he wrote of allowing one to “hear the heartbeat of the earth — how the earth loves us and how it would be loved in return.”

    This kindergarten event was a microcosm of “Sanyuesan” and Huang’s broader vision: to bridge Guangxi’s ethnic heritage with international appreciation.

    As the session ended, the children’s cheers mingled with the fading notes of Ukulele, a triumph taking root within the campus walls, according to Huang.

    “It brings people together,” said Huang. “Through these songs, we’re not just preserving our past, we’re inviting others to join us. That’s what culture is all about.”

    “This kind of cross-language exchange is super fun and important,” said Tucker. “It helps introduce the authentic Zhuang culture to new audiences like me and other expats, and hints at its potential to go global.”

    MIL OSI China News –