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Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI: Lantronix Launches New Open-Q 8550CS System-On-Module Designed to Meet the Needs of Edge AI Computing

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    IRVINE, Calif., March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lantronix Inc. (NASDAQ: LTRX), a global leader of compute and connectivity for IoT solutions enabling Edge AI Intelligence, today announced its new Open-Q™ 8550CS System-on-Module (SOM). Powered by the Qualcomm Dragonwing™ QCS8550 processor, this production-ready module provides low-power, on-device Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) capabilities, simplifying design and empowering developers to more quickly bring innovative edge products to market.

    Lantronix’s Open-Q 8550 is uniquely designed to meet the higher AI/ML requirements of extreme Edge computing, including advanced video and AI applications such as video collaboration, video transcoding, camera applications and integration with Edge AI gateways. Like all Lantronix’s embedded compute technology, this platform uniquely provides a complete solution comprised of hardware, software, Device Management and Services, enabling customers to get to market faster. It is an ideal platform for the development of industrial Edge AI products, including drones, controllers, robotics and industrial handheld devices for a variety of industries, including smart warehousing, manufacturing, transportation, logistics and retail.

    “Qualcomm Technologies’ 15-year strategic collaboration with Lantronix supports our mutual goal of delivering integrated, collaborative solutions to elevate the success of IoT, Edge AI and AI/ML technologies to drive the development of advanced-edge applications,” said Suri Maddhula, vice president of IoT Solutions Product Management at Qualcomm Technologies Inc.

    “With the support of Qualcomm Technologies, Lantronix is driving seamless AI innovation at the Edge, empowering developers to harness embedded computing and IoT for cutting-edge, industrial-grade solutions. Together, we’re transforming the impossible into reality,” said Mathi Gurusamy, chief strategy officer at Lantronix.

    High-Performance Open-Q 8550CS SOM Meets AI/ML Requirements for Edge Computing

    The Open-Q 8550CS SOM features an on-device AI engine with premium performance, supporting the higher AI/ML requirements for extreme Edge computing, including Edge devices, Edge servers and Edge AI boxes.

    Key features include:

    • Low power consumption with a 4nm process
    • Kryo Octa-core CPU up to 3.2 GHz and Adreno A740 GPU
    • Dual eNPU delivering 48 INT8, 12 FP16 TOPs
    • Security features include Trusted Management Engine, Hypervisor, Secure Processing Unit, and DDR encryption
    • Enterprise-level connectivity with Wi-Fi 7 MU-MIMO supporting up to 5.8Gbps
    • Best-in-class performance across compute processing, camera, AI, security and audio.
    • Up to 8GB LPDDR5 RAM + 128GB UFS Flash
    • Android™ 13 and Linux Yocto Kirkstone
    • Dedicated Computer Vision Engine
    • Multiple MIPI camera and display ports
    • Multiple high speed connectivity options
    • Support for Qualcomm Sensing Hub 3.0

    Benefits include the ability to:

    • Enhance video conferencing meeting experiences, automated guided vehicle pathing, smart camera image quality and Edge AI box scalability with its octal-core computing capabilities and 48 AI TOPS tensor performance;
    • Perform complex 3D rendering and computer vision tasks with a powerful Adreno 740 GPU supporting ray tracing, Open GL ES, Vulkan and Open CL profiles and 4K240/8K60 video decoding and 4K120/8K30 encoding; and
    • Connect Edge AI boxes leveraging high-speed 2.5G and 10G Ethernet ports.

    Open-Q 8550 Dev Kit Speeds Development, Reduces Time-to-Market

    Providing an ideal starting point for evaluating the Open-Q 8550CS SOM, Lantronix’s Open-Q 8550CS SOM Development Kit is designed to facilitate easy evaluation of the SOM’s key features, such as the low-power AI subsystem with a dedicated DSP and AI accelerator supporting always-on audio, sensors, contextual data streams and an always-on camera.

    The kit supports the evaluation of C-PHY and D-PHY MIPI CSI and GMSL cameras, dual MIPI DSI, DisplayPort, audio, sensors, GNSS, Gigabit Ethernet and many more features. It comes with Lantronix’s Open-Q™ 8550CS SOM, an open-frame carrier board exposing all the available I/O, and a range of accessories to fast-track product development.

    TAA and NDAA Compliant Solutions

    Lantronix Open-Q development solutions are TAA and NDAA compliant, ensuring at least 10 years of longevity with strict Bill-of-Materials and rigorous quality control. Backed by more than 20 years of expertise, Lantronix has successfully delivered more than 1,200 hardware and software projects, setting the standard for reliability and innovation.

    Lantronix Engineering Services

    Lantronix Engineering Services delivers turn-key product development support for its Open-Q platforms and development kits. Backed by unparalleled engineering expertise behind 1,500+ successful products, our development team specializes in camera development and tuning, voice control, machine learning, mechanical and RF design, as well as thermal and power optimization. With cost-effective solutions, we accelerate developers’ go-to-market timelines, ensuring innovation meets efficiency.

    About Lantronix

    Lantronix Inc. is a global leader of compute and connectivity IoT solutions that target high-growth markets, including Smart Cities, Enterprise and Transportation. Lantronix’s products and services empower companies to succeed in the growing IoT markets by delivering customizable solutions that enable AI Edge Intelligence. Lantronix’s advanced solutions include Intelligent Substations infrastructure, Infotainment systems and Video Surveillance, supplemented with advanced Out-of-Band Management (OOB) for Cloud and Edge Computing.

    For more information, visit the Lantronix website.

    Lantronix Media Contact:
    Gail Kathryn Miller
    Corporate Marketing &
    Communications Manager
    media@lantronix.com

    Lantronix Analyst and Investor Contact:        
    investors@lantronix.com

    ©2025 Lantronix, Inc. All rights reserved. Lantronix is a registered trademark. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.

    Qualcomm-branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm, Kryo, Adreno and Qualcomm Dragonwing are trademarks or registered trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/208b6cd7-8503-4deb-97d2-5953513dde52

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU researchers discover new risk factor after heart surgery

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Scientists from Novosibirsk State University, as a result of a study conducted jointly with colleagues from the Meshalkin National Medical Research Center, have identified metabolic markers that warn of a high risk of developing certain complications in patients in the postoperative period.

    Statistics show that approximately 30% of patients after open-heart surgery develop delirium (“postoperative psychosis”) as a reaction to drug anesthesia. Such patients require special postoperative care, and the ability to predict the risk of developing such a condition in advance would be of significant help to doctors in this.

    As the researchers note, this reaction does not occur due to the drug, but rather due to the presence of certain prerequisites for the possibility of developing delirium in a person. And anesthesia in this case acts only as a “trigger”. Therefore, the solution to the problem was sought in the field of metabolomic research, which makes it possible to understand how metabolism occurs in the body and study the interrelations of biochemical reactions.

    — Metabolomics is part of omics technologies, which have been rapidly developing in the last couple of decades, largely due to the opportunities that processing large biological data gives us. With their help, it is possible to reconstruct biochemical networks through several “omics” layers (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics). And this is very important, since living organisms are integral systems and they need to be studied in a comprehensive manner, — explained the head of the Department of Fundamental Medicine Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, NSU Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Pokrovsky.

    Metabolomics makes it possible to understand how metabolism occurs in the body, to study the interrelations of biochemical reactions. As a result, it is possible to obtain a metabolic profile of a number of compounds in the body, to understand their role in physiological processes.

    And here the level of detail of the patient’s metabolic profile plays a major role. A conventional biochemical analysis covers about 10-20 different metabolites, but the method used by NSU researchers allows increasing their number to several hundred.

    “Within the framework of this project, we were able to examine about one hundred and fifty patients and, using our approach, identified certain molecules that can be used to predict the occurrence of delirium with a fairly high degree of accuracy,” said Andrey Pokrovsky.

    Using a biochemical blood test, doctors can already identify patients who are at risk of developing this postoperative complication before surgery and adjust their treatment strategy accordingly.

    In the future, scientists are considering the possibility of using the same approach to try to find similar markers of the risk of developing delirium not only after heart surgery – studies have already been published abroad indicating the presence of similar risks developing after other operations, also accompanied by long-term drug anesthesia.

    The study itself became part of a large-scale project carried out by NSU scientists to study the metabolic profiles of patients with various diseases in order to find new markers for their better diagnosis and prediction of the risks of various complications.

    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: NSU team wins silver medals in table tennis at the Universiade

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    The 48th Universiade among students of higher educational institutions of the Novosibirsk Region is in full swing – 2-3 types of the program are held every week. And the table tennis team brought another prize place to the NSU piggy bank. It is especially pleasant that this time our athletes rose to the second step of the podium, the last two years they were also in the prizes, but third.

    The team included:

    Maxim Bagin, FIT

    Alexander Dushenin, EF

    Polina Alekseeva, MMF

    Maria Tokareva, FEN

    Olesya Davydova, IMPZ

    Dmitry Filippenko, FF

    Prize winners in the team competition:

    1st place – SSUPS

    2nd place – NSU

    3rd place – NSTU

    Congratulations to our tennis players and their coach Dmitry Trotsenko on their Universiade medals!

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 03.26.2025 Senate Votes to Advance Sen. Cruz Resolution Overturning IRS Cryptocurrency Regulation for Presidential Signature

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the United States Senate voted 70-28 on final passage of a a resolution authored by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to overturn a Biden administration midnight rule imposing regulations on software developers of decentralized financial (DeFi) technology. The resolution had previously passed the House.
    The rule defined those developers as “brokers,” even though they did not touch any of the cryptocurrency being exchanged. The resolution has passed both chambers of Congress and now awaits the President’s signature to become law.
    Upon passage, Sen. Cruz said, “Cryptocurrency has become a leading driver in creating new markets and diversifying our economy. The American people know it and support crypto, and that support was reflected this evening in the overwhelming bipartisan majority that voted for my resolution. I look forward to the President signing it into law and I am proud to be leading the fight to defend cryptocurrency from Biden’s abusive regulatory assault.”
    An industry letter, signed by more than 75 members of the Blockchain Association, called for passage of Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-Texas) CRA.
    BACKGROUND
    The Internal Revenue Service rule that would be repealed by Sen. Cruz’s resolution in Gross Proceeds Reporting by Brokers That Regularly Provide Services Effectuating Digital Asset Sales. The rule was finalized on December 30, 2024.
    Sen. Cruz’s resolution was endorsed by:
    The Digital Chamber, Blockchain Association, DeFi Education Fund, Cedar Innovation Foundation, Uniswap, Paradigm, Cryptocurrency Council for Innovation, DCG, Stand With Crypto, Coin Center, Texas Blockchain Association, Crypto Freedom Alliance of Texas, Pennsylvania Blockchain Coalition, Ohio Blockchain Council, North Carolina Blockchain Initiative, South Carolina Blockchain, Virginia Blockchain Council, and California Blockchain Advocacy Coalition.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow schoolchildren and college students staged 745 performances last academic year

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The number of children’s and youth theaters in Moscow has grown by almost 10 percent compared to the previous academic year. Currently, more than 780 groups work in the capital’s schools, colleges, and centers for additional education. This was reported on World Theater Day Anastasia Rakova, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Social Development.

    “We try to create as many ways as possible for the comprehensive development of children, paying special attention to the creative direction. Theater is not only art, but also an opportunity to develop flexibility of thinking, concentration, imagination and communication skills. Therefore, theater workshops are organized on the basis of the capital’s schools, colleges and centers of additional education, where children, under the guidance of famous directors and actors, participate in master classes and master stage professions. Two years ago, we launched a large-scale project “Commonwealth of School Theaters”, which has already united more than 22 thousand young artists. In the 2023/2024 academic year, the children staged 745 performances and held 1.5 thousand shows,” said Anastasia Rakova.

    According to her, within the framework of the festival “Live Stage” young Muscovites performed at prestigious professional venues. These are the stages of the Boris Shchukin Theatre Institute, the Children’s Musical Theatre of the Young Actor, the Moscow New Drama Theatre, the theatre and concert hall “Palace on the Yauza” and the culture and arts centre “Shchukino”.

    The repertoire of children’s and youth theaters includes both modern original productions adapted for teenagers and classical works. It is important that the capital’s schoolchildren and college students have a unique opportunity to study with recognized masters, including Vladimir Mashkov, Evgeny Knyazev and others.

    At the same time, children not only master acting skills, but also try to create scenery, work with different types of puppets and plastic arts. There are more than 20 puppet theaters in Moscow educational institutions.

    In addition, children’s and youth theaters stage performances in foreign languages. They can be organized both in schools with a special language focus and in regular schools.

    A landmark event for young artists of the Commonwealth is the Moscow Theatre Festival-Competition of School Theatres “Live Stage”. In the 2023/2024 academic year, more than 500 creative groups took part in it. Schoolchildren and college students presented 30 dramatic and musical productions, which were watched by about seven thousand spectators.

    The project “Theatre Backstage” is popular among students. More than 700 children and 100 teachers have already visited the backstage of the Moscow Oleg Tabakov Theatre School, the Museum of the Moscow Art Academic Theatre named after Maxim Gorky and the Puppet Theatre named after S.V. Obraztsov, where they got acquainted with the work of makeup artists, costume designers, sound engineers and other theatre specialists.

    Special conditions have also been created for the professional growth of teachers. The Moscow Workshop of Theatre Pedagogy club was organized for the heads of school theatres. At meetings with cultural figures, they discuss the repertoire, methods of working with young actors and the specifics of the staging process. In 2024, the first enrollment was opened for the master’s program at the Moscow City Pedagogical University in the specialty of “school theatre teacher”. Students study the psychology of creativity, acting, directing and other disciplines under the guidance of experienced practitioners.

    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.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/151848073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Voice of America took jazz behind the Iron Curtain. Now, its demise signals the end of US soft power

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Hammond, PhD Student, Flinders University

    Since taking office in January, the Trump administration has adopted a heavy-handed approach to cutting any perceived wasteful spending in the US government.

    One of the more recent institutions targeted by Trump’s team, Voice of America, holds a potentially staggering implication: the end of American soft power.

    Soft power earned the US government a significant amount of goodwill over the course of the 20th century, with Voice of America one of the most effective conduits. Taking VOA off the airwaves could signify a new era in geopolitics.

    A short history of Voice of America

    The Voice of America (VOA) has been in operation for over 80 years and was one of the first major campaigns conducted by the American government to promote positive sentiments towards the US as a leader of the free world.

    The government-funded radio station began as a method of keeping US troops informed during the Second World War and was administered by the Office of War Information.

    After WWII, Congress passed the Smith-Mundt Act of 1948, which aimed to promote a “better understanding” of the US around the world and to “strengthen cooperative international relations”.

    This act put the VOA under the domain of the United States Information Agency (USIA). It became one of the US government’s many assets in combating Soviet propaganda during the Cold War.

    The VOA was essentially a method of generating soft power, an invaluable tool in international diplomacy made famous by the American political scientist, Joesph Nye.

    As Nye believed, a nation can use military intervention (“hard power”) to achieve its foreign policy aims, or it can create familiarity with other nations by promoting its culture, educational institutions and ideology (“soft power”).

    During the Cold War, VOA broadcasts were an invaluable method of cultivating soft power. People all over the world relied on them as a source of news and commentary, especially in countries where the media was state-controlled.

    Additionally, Voice of America effectively became an advertisement for the American way of life. The Music USA program, for instance, took Western popular culture to a global audience. This was especially effective in the Eastern Bloc, where jazz, in particular, became incredibly popular.

    Voice of America and the other US-funded radio stations operating during the Cold War, such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, had their share of critics. The majority came from the Eastern Bloc. Some, however, were American.

    In the 1970s, Senator William J. Fulbright, for instance, maintained that radio broadcasts such as VOA hindered diplomacy with the Soviet Union by disseminating American propaganda. He called them “Cold War relics”.

    They were not mere propaganda mouthpieces, though. Although these stations and many of the other radio outlets under the control of the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) were funded by the American government, they demonstrated a reliance on journalistic integrity.

    The VOA has also not shied away from reporting on negative aspects of American society. This is likely one reason why Trump has been so critical of its mandate.

    The end of US soft power?

    The short-term implications of Voice of America’s potential demise are worrying. Many journalists are out of work and a respected institution promoting international diplomacy hangs in the balance.

    The long-term geopolitical implications, however, could be far greater. First, Voice of America and other stations managed by USAGM have long provided an alternative to state-run media in countries such as Russia and China.

    Outlets like Russia’s Sputnik news organisation, which was recently removed from the airwaves in Washington for promoting antisemitic content and misinformation about the war in Ukraine, will now face fewer challenges reaching a global audience.

    Taking VOA off the air also signals the Trump administration is done with soft power as a diplomatic tool and has little regard for the harm this will cause America’s reputation on the global stage.

    If the US abandons the principles of appealing to other governments through soft power, it could resort to other means to achieve its geopolitical aims. This includes hard power.

    One soft power advocate, General James Mattis, told Congress in 2013 when he was overseeing US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, “If you don’t fund the State Department fully, then I need to buy more ammunition ultimately.”

    The Trump administration’s rejection of soft power as a diplomatic tool could also allow China, in particular, to take its place.

    As Nye himself pointed out in a recent Washington Post essay, polling in 24 countries in 2023 found the US was viewed much more positively than China. Another survey showed the US had the advantage over China in 81 of 133 countries surveyed.

    Nye concluded: “If Trump thinks he will easily beat China by completely forgoing soft power, he is likely to be disappointed. And so will we.”

    Ben Hammond has received funding from the Harry S. Truman Foundation and the Dwight D. Eisenhower foundation.

    – ref. Voice of America took jazz behind the Iron Curtain. Now, its demise signals the end of US soft power – https://theconversation.com/voice-of-america-took-jazz-behind-the-iron-curtain-now-its-demise-signals-the-end-of-us-soft-power-252898

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: High-level dialogues held during Boao Forum for Asia

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

    High-level dialogues held during Boao Forum for Asia

    Updated: March 27, 2025 13:45 Xinhua
    A high-level dialogue themed on “Building Trust in the Shifting Global Landscape” is held during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Jeffrey D. Sachs, professor of Columbia University, speaks at a high-level dialogue themed on “Building Trust in the Shifting Global Landscape” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Portugal’s Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel speaks at a high-level dialogue themed on “Building Trust in the Shifting Global Landscape” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Ban Ki-moon, chairman of Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) and former secretary-general of the United Nations, speaks at a high-level dialogue themed on “Global Governance after the UN Summit of the Future” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Maurizio Massari, permanent representative of Italy to the United Nations, speaks at a high-level dialogue themed on “Global Governance after the UN Summit of the Future” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A high-level dialogue themed on “Global Governance after the UN Summit of the Future” is held during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A high-level dialogue themed on “Global Governance after the UN Summit of the Future” is held during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Volkan Bozkir, president of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, speaks at a high-level dialogue themed on “Global Governance after the UN Summit of the Future” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong speaks at a high-level dialogue themed on “Global Governance after the UN Summit of the Future” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Danilo Turk, former Slovenian president and president of the World Leadership Alliance Club de Madrid, speaks at a high-level dialogue themed on “Global Governance after the UN Summit of the Future” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Wang Huiyao, founder and president of Center for China and Globalization (CCG), speaks at a high-level dialogue themed on “Global Governance after the UN Summit of the Future” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Munir Akram, permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, speaks at a high-level dialogue themed on “Global Governance after the UN Summit of the Future” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Liu Zhenmin, China’s special envoy for climate change, speaks at a high-level dialogue themed on “Achieving Sustainable Development in a Transforming World” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Andrew Forrest, executive chairman and founder of Fortescue Metals Group, speaks at a high-level dialogue themed on “Achieving Sustainable Development in a Transforming World” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    CEO of Astra Zeneca Pascal Soriot speaks at a high-level dialogue themed on “Achieving Sustainable Development in a Transforming World” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A high-level dialogue themed on “Achieving Sustainable Development in a Transforming World” is held during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Facility improvements benefit Alexander Maconochie Centre staff and detainees

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.

    Released 27/03/2025

    An $8 million investment in the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) has delivered upgraded and expanded spaces, benefiting staff and detainees. This infrastructure improvement is designed to enhance working conditions for staff and provide additional areas for detainees to engage in education and rehabilitation programs.

    Staff moved into the new building in February and work is underway to repurpose the previous admin areas into additional education spaces for detainees.

    One large classroom for group education sessions is available, while a large group program room, an additional distance education space, and a private, multi-purpose space for female detainees, will be completed in coming months.

    Minister for Corrections Dr Marisa Paterson said the new spaces improved conditions for both staff and detainees.

    “These upgrades are enhancing working conditions for staff and improving educational enrolment opportunities for detainees,” Minister Paterson said.

    “The new administration building is a significant improvement for our dedicated staff who work hard every day to provide a critical service to the Canberra community.

    “The vacating of the previous administrative areas has created an opportunity to expand the spaces available for detainee services. These new areas will increase the capacity to provide education and rehabilitation programs, helping reduce the likelihood of detainees re-offending and returning to detention.”

    Heating and cooling of new and existing detainee education spaces will also be improved as part of the project.

    Education currently offered at the AMC and delivered by registered training organisations include courses in construction, safe work practices, business, and hygienic practices and food safety.

    Rehabilitation programs currently include the Explore, Question, Understand, Investigate, Practice/Plan and Succeed (EQUIPS) suite of programs, such as EQUIPS Addiction and EQUIPS Domestic and Family Violence

    Distance Education is available for eligible detainees, with tertiary-level support from a senior education officer. External study is subject to approval, and detainees are responsible for the relevant administration, deliverables and costs. Library and ICT resources are available to detainees engaging in distance education.

    Quotes attributable ACT Corrective Services Commissioner Leanne Close:

    “Education and training opportunities are an extremely important factor in reducing recidivism,” Ms Close said.

    “While the ACT is well above the national average, with more than a third of eligible detainees enrolled in education or training programs, these new detainee spaces increase our ability to provide these critical programs moving forward.”

    – Statement ends –

    Marisa Paterson, MLA | Media Releases

    «ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Not just the stadium: what Brisbane Olympic organisers are planning for

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By H. Björn Galjaardt, PhD Candidate, The University of Queensland

    Brisbane was awarded the Olympics and Paralympics more than 1,300 days ago, and much has happened in between.

    On Tuesday, upbeat Queensland premier David Crisafulli revealed the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games plan.

    This came after a 100-day review by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA).

    More than 5,000 submissions were received from the general public. The review included topics such as precincts and transport systems, while evaluating topics such as demand and affordability.

    So, what’s going to be happening in Queensland before, during and after the games?

    The main event: venues

    Get ready for the likes of Taylor Swift, Pink, Coldplay and others to finally come to Brisbane with the announcement of a new world-class 63,000 seat Olympic Stadium to be built in Victoria Park in Brisbane.

    All indications are major codes, such as the Australian Football League (AFL) and cricket, are also very pleased, as they will have a new home replacing the outdated Gabba.

    Other venues, both in South East Queensland and in regional areas such as the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns and Townsville, were also outlined.

    One of these is a new 25,000-seat swimming complex at Spring Hill, making it one of the world’s best facilities.

    As Australia is a swimming powerhouse with major medal hauls expected in 2032, this news was well received.

    However, a few of the GIICA recommendations were not accepted. The government has announced rowing will take place in Rockhampton – and not interstate – in an existing flat water venue.

    Why the delays?

    There had been plenty of criticism of the decision-making delays on facilities and their locations. But the Queensland government’s 2032 Games Delivery Plan indicates there is no need to panic.

    Previously, the International Olympic Committee chose a host city seven years out, but under new protocols, Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032 have been given 11 years to finalise planning.

    Previous Australian games (Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000) only had seven years to organise their events.

    In the case of Melbourne, several controversies erupted due to the costs of building a new stadium at proposed sites such as the Royal Showgrounds or Princes Park.

    Eventually, politics and economics intervened, and a refurbished Melbourne Cricket Ground within an impressive Olympic Park precinct was agreed on.

    In the case of Sydney, the original idea back in the 1960s was to host either the Commonwealth Games or the Olympic Games at Moore Park, an inner-city region home to the Sydney Cricket Ground, a golf course and parklands.

    But many local residents were vehemently opposed to that suggestion, so other sites were sought.

    Eventually, the uninhabited Homebush site was chosen in 1973. This was an unexpected decision because it was the most polluted environment in Australia and its remediation, however noble, would be an enormous challenge.

    And so it proved.

    When Sydney was awarded the games in 1993, timeline pressures prompted organisers to bulldoze toxic waste into mounds on site, where they were covered with clay and landscaped.

    Meanwhile, the promised remediation of toxic waterways in Homebush Bay never proceeded.

    All that said, the Sydney games provided tangible legacies. The Olympic Village is now the suburb of Newington, there are parklands and cycle paths for visitors, and from a sport perspective several facilities remain in use today. In 2024, more than 10 million people visited the Sydney Olympic Park precinct, attending sport, concerts, or participating in social activities.

    Opportunities and hurdles

    The initial hiccups associated with the Brisbane games have resulted in some interesting and healthy debate, but this major project now has a positive vibe.

    There is more than enough time to build the new facilities (including the athletes’ villages), upgrade existing ones, build the necessary transport infrastructure, and ensure community engagement.

    The “Queensland way” seems not only to be referring to a better games, but also the legacy that comes with it.

    Generational infrastructure (for example, the upgrade of transport connectivity), housing (such as the conversion of the RNA Showgrounds and a multimillion dollar investment into grassroots clubs can enable the next generations of Queenslanders to compete.

    Tourism and regionalisation of the games through a 20-year plan should ensure the impact of the games goes far beyond 2032.

    Some fine-tuning is expected the next few years though, and there may be unforeseen issues that arise – here are some.

    1. Beyond the 31 core sports that must feature, will new sports necessitate changes or additions to proposed venues? Host cities are now allowed to have 4-5 sports added to the program which could cause increases to the budget.

    2. Will the federal government fund the games on the currently agreed 50-50 basis with the Queensland government? This currently sits at around $7 billion split two ways, but it is likely to rise based on cost over-runs on virtually all major builds across Australia.

    3. Will there be some tweaking of chosen venues due to local issues, lobbying by Olympic sports, political decisions and other factors?

    4. Will a global health issue (such as COVID during the Tokyo 2021 games) or a major world problem (such as the current Gaza or Ukraine conflicts) impact the games in some way?

    The Brisbane games are following the footsteps of Melbourne 1956 (affectionately referred to as the “friendly games”) and Sydney 2000 (the “best games ever”).

    The eventual Brisbane label has yet to be determined. But the Brisbane games will no doubt add to the Olympic folklore of Australia in their own unique way.

    Björn is a PhD Candidate in Olympic Coaches’ Learning at the University of Queensland and a casual academic in Sports Coaching subjects.

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

    – ref. Not just the stadium: what Brisbane Olympic organisers are planning for – https://theconversation.com/not-just-the-stadium-what-brisbane-olympic-organisers-are-planning-for-251247

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Alone Australia is back. An expert explains what happens to your body and mind when you’re starving

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Therese O’Sullivan, Associate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, Edith Cowan University

    SBS Publicity

    Alone Australia is back this week for a third season on SBS. And its ten contestants are learning what it means to be really hungry.

    They’ve been dropped alone into separate areas of the Tasmanian wilderness to film their experiences of the elements, isolation and hunger. The person who lasts the longest wins the A$250,000 prize.

    The contestants are trying various methods to find food. But not everyone’s had success in fishing, trapping and foraging. And the effects on their bodies and minds are already evident.

    Here’s what happens when hunger and starvation kick in.

    Shelter, water, food

    After shelter and water, food is a main concern for long-term survival – not just for Alone Australia contestants.

    Many of us are familiar with the feeling of hunger – discomfort caused by a lack of food. Hunger is a complex process that involves regulation of blood glucose levels and release of hormones that control appetite and how full you feel. For instance, when we are hungry, the stomach produces the hormone ghrelin, telling us it’s time to eat.

    Starvation is a much more serious state. It’s a long period without enough food that results in severe disruption to how the body normally works.

    A healthy person may be able to survive without food for around one to two months. However, the length of time is likely to be affected by many factors including age, sex, fitness, health, sleep and access to clean drinking water.

    Last year’s winner of Alone Australia made it to 64 days, much of it without enough food.

    But even successful survivalists can struggle to find and eat enough food to meet their requirements. One previous contestant lost as much as 11 kilograms over eight days.

    Hunger is already an issue for contestants, most of whom are struggling to find food.

    What happens if you don’t have enough food?

    A lack of food doesn’t just affect your body size. It also affects the way your body functions. People can experience extreme tiredness, have trouble remembering recent events, and feel colder due to a drop in body temperature.

    Prolonged starvation can also have psychological impacts and affect the way you think, reason and make decisions.

    We have some clues from a study that would be unethical to reproduce today.

    The Minnesota Starvation Experiment started in 1944 to examine the effects of starvation on the body. The idea was to replicate the degree of starvation experienced in areas of Europe during world war two.

    Thirty-six healthy young men who were conscientious objectors to war service volunteered to undergo a six-month semi-starvation phase where their calorie intake was halved, followed by a three-month rehabilitation.

    Data showed they lost an average of one-quarter of their body weight (including a reduced heart mass).

    But other impacts included depression, fatigue and irritability. One participant said:

    little things that wouldn’t bother me before or after would really make me upset.

    Participants had difficulty concentrating, and their attitudes towards food changed dramatically. They had constant thoughts about food, hoarded food and even started collecting cookbooks. Many of these attitudes and behaviours lasted even after rehabilitation back to a normal diet.

    Yes, feeling ‘hangry’ is real

    Most Australians will be fortunate to never experience the same levels of starvation as in the Minnesota experiment or in Alone Australia.

    But even skipping a meal can have an impact on our wellbeing. We become
    “hangry” – when hunger leads us to be irritable or angry.

    A study of 64 participants from Europe tracked their hunger and emotions over 21 days. The more hungry the participants were, the more hangry they felt and the more unpleasant feelings they reported (for example, feeling depressed or stressed versus feeling relaxed or excited).

    When people are hungry, they are also more likely to have intrusive, mind-wandering thoughts.

    In a complex reading and comprehension task, the minds of people who hadn’t eaten for five hours wandered more than the minds of people who had eaten recently. Those who were hungry also performed worse on the task.

    So in Alone Australia, it’s easy to see how hunger can lead people to lose focus on what they’re doing, and their minds wandering. Rather than focusing on the best spot to go fishing, contestants’ minds can wander to feelings of self-doubt.

    Muzza from Victoria caught some fish early on. But will his success continue?
    Credit Narelle Portanier/SBS

    Hunger also affects decision making

    Feeling hungry also affects how you make rational decisions, but there’s conflicting evidence.

    Hungry people are more likely to make impulsive decisions about food. In Alone Australia, this might result in a decision to eat fish raw rather than cooking it first, a more hazardous choice due to an increased risk of infection from parasites.

    However, hungry people can show better judgement when making complex decisions with uncertain outcomes – like a gambling task. So being mildly hungry (in this study, overnight fasting) might sharpen your survival instincts. In Alone Australia, hungrier contestants may make better decisions around where to place hunting traps.

    But hunger’s effect on decision making is likely to depend on the context. It may make people more impulsive in some situations, but more strategic and willing to take risks in others.

    For the contestants in Alone Australia, some risk taking will be required to secure an ongoing food supply. This will be crucial to successfully surviving in the Tasmanian wilderness.

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

    – ref. Alone Australia is back. An expert explains what happens to your body and mind when you’re starving – https://theconversation.com/alone-australia-is-back-an-expert-explains-what-happens-to-your-body-and-mind-when-youre-starving-249937

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: St. Petersburg State University Graduates Discuss Marketing and PR Trends | Saint Petersburg State University

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University – Saint Petersburg State University –

    Such meetings, as noted by Kamilla Nigmatullina, Head of the Department of Digital Media Communications at St. Petersburg State University, create a unique space for strengthening ties within the university community. Here, former students can not only talk about their professional path and demonstrate their achievements, but also participate in planning future projects, enriching themselves with the experience of their colleagues.

    The SPbU professor emphasized that maintaining close contact with graduates is a strategically important process. Two-way communication allows the academic environment to quickly respond to the challenges of the real sector, and university students to use the resources of the educational organization for professional development, achieving career heights and increasing competitiveness as specialists.

    “One of the tasks of St. Petersburg University is to create a space for alumni networking, since each of them is an integral part of a huge community united by the common values of university culture,” said Kamilla Renatovna, adding that the event’s program is structured in such a way as to provide participants with both the theoretical foundation and the practical tools necessary for the successful realization of their professional potential.

    St. Petersburg State University graduates can joinprofessional chat to exchange vacancies and experience in implementing their own projects.

    During the conference, graduates of various educational programs shared the results of their analysis of practical cases. VK UX researcher Polina Vanevskaya explained the differences between marketing and product research, revealing the specifics of each area. She also highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of the approaches, allowing you to optimize the decision-making process when choosing a work methodology. “Research for business is trending today. However, the key is choosing a relevant approach that will best meet the goals set, including studying customer (CX) and user (UX) experience,” the graduate said.

    Noting the practice-oriented format of the event, Tatyana Kolesnikova, Head of Marketing at Smartlight, shared recommendations for developing a personal brand in social networks. She argued for the growing importance of social capital for career growth and focused on the key features of creating an effective digital resume, noting that it is becoming not just an addition to a traditional portfolio, but a full-fledged alternative to it.

    The trend towards using social networks as a means of self-presentation is driven by three factors: expanding a professional network of contacts, creating a unique personal image, and establishing a direct link between the level of personal brand development and income level.

    Head of Marketing Department of Smartlight Tatyana Kolesnikova

    Editor-in-chief of the content marketing agency Palindrom Ekaterina Bezruchko revealed the secrets of successful regulation of creative copywriting and SEO optimization, explaining the algorithms for creating headlines that attract both readers and search engines. As part of her presentation, she analyzed the existing project “Datebook”, highlighting the principles of forming key positions and methods for integrating original elements into SEO-oriented content, and also gave practical advice on implementing similar strategies in other brand media.

    Anastasia Zubova, Product Marketing Manager (PMM) of ADAS at Atom, spoke about the role of a project management specialist in optimizing processes that link advanced technological solutions with the needs of the target audience. She presented an analysis of the mechanisms by which PMM ensures synergy between innovative technologies and market demand and accelerates the commercialization of products. According to the expert, in order to ensure the competitiveness of production, it is important to constantly interact with end users to identify their hidden needs.

    Senior Blogger Manager Anna Grakhova, based on eight years of experience and cases of successful advertising campaigns, described adaptive strategies for cooperation with media people in the conditions of the modern advertising environment. She reported on the current state of the online content market, taking into account the impact of new legislation, and proposed long-term solutions for planning and evaluating the effectiveness of marketing projects. As a key argument, she put forward the assumption that the distribution of investments between several medium-sized bloggers is more profitable than concentrating on one popular one.

    At the end of the event, the Head of the Alumni Relations Department of St. Petersburg University, Maria Edinova, noted the high level of involvement of the participants and expressed confidence that the conference would become a starting point for new partnerships and initiatives. “Creating a platform for communication between graduates of different years contributes to the formation of a strong professional community, where everyone can find support, advice and new opportunities for development. We strive to create an ecosystem where graduates feel their involvement in the University and actively participate in its life, benefiting themselves and their alma mater,” she emphasized.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: How a Muscovite and her family help SVO participants and residents of new territories

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Every day Muscovites help participants of the special military operation (SVO) and people living in new and border territories of Russia. They transfer patronage aid, as well as humanitarian aid collected at headquarters “Moscow helps”.

    Many city residents create volunteer squads and their own organizations that send everything they need to those who need support. One of them is Oksana Chelmodeeva, director of the center for assistance and development “OkVeAn” and head of humanitarian missions. She began volunteering in 2006, helping to find missing people. In 2016, she joined social projects, and three years later, she opened her own center.

    Training in resource center competency development programs “Mosvolonter” helped Oksana Chelmodeeva to competently build interaction with the team. In 2020, over 80 volunteers from the center took part in the mutual aid campaign “We are together”, delivering food and medicine to Muscovites forced to stay at home.

    With the start of the special military operation, Oksana Chelmodeeva and her team continued to support people, but already within the framework of the humanitarian project “Moscow Helps”. Volunteers participated in the “Let’s Get a Child Ready for School” campaign, providing children living in new territories with the necessary school supplies. In addition, the center regularly sends the collected aid to one of the headquarters in TiNAO. Since 2022, volunteers have also been working in Donetsk. They distribute humanitarian supplies coming from the capital.

    In total, since March 2022, the center has organized more than 60 aid shipments to SVO participants, hospitals, orphanages, shelters, rehabilitation centers and residents of new regions. In addition, more than 500 tons of sponsorship aid for fighters, special technical equipment, machinery and humanitarian aid for residents were transferred to the new territories. In Moscow, support was provided to more than 2.5 thousand displaced families. Many of them themselves joined the center’s volunteer headquarters to help those in need.

    Big team

    In 2024, Oksana Chelmodeeva created a humanitarian center “OkVeAn-Donbass”. It provides regular assistance to a specialized children’s home, the M.I. Kalinin Clinical Hospital and the Psychoneurological Hospital No. 2. Humanitarian aid is also delivered to guardianship and trusteeship authorities in nine districts of Donetsk: Budyonnovsky, Voroshilovsky, Kirovsky, Kalininsky, Kievsky, Kuibyshevsky, Leninsky, Petrovsky and Proletarsky. The center provides patronage assistance to more than 25 military units.

    “It is my duty to my Motherland to help the participants of the SVO and residents of the new territories. I would like to volunteer in the SVO zone, but my disability did not allow it. My whole family helps with me. I have three children, and they have been actively involved in volunteering since childhood. My son participates in loading and unloading humanitarian aid. Together, we have made more than 40 trips to the new territories. Now he lives in Donetsk and helps at the OkVeAn-Donbass center. The youngest daughter is the commander of the Young Army detachment. She participates in social and patriotic projects,” said Oksana Chelmodeeva.

    The Muscovite has a large team. Searchers send requests to factories, plants, production facilities and stores to collect the required amount of resources. At the warehouse, volunteers sort and form cargo into categories. Another team is responsible for transporting aid to the regions. Also among the volunteers are those who write posts about the work done, process citizens’ requests, and lawyers and psychologists provide support to the population and military personnel.

    The center not only provides social assistance, but also conducts military-patriotic work, organizes search expeditions and supports veterans of the Great Patriotic War. The military-patriotic club “Bylina” and a search squad operate on its basis. Together with the Moscow sports and leisure center “Atlant”, a youth army association was created, which was joined by 67 teenagers.

    “I first met caring helpers during a serious illness. People helped me and my family for free. When I recovered, I decided to devote myself to helping people. Now I actively involve children in the world of good. Such values as patriotism, historical memory and continuity of generations are eternal. They help to cultivate a sense of pride in the Motherland and its history, to awaken in them love for their native land, language, traditions and customs,” shared Oksana Chelmodeeva.

    For her active assistance to SVO participants, residents of new territories and the development of the volunteer movement in the city, the Muscovite received many awards. For example, the state medal “For assistance and mercy”, the honorary badge “For contribution to the development of the region”, the medal “Parental valor”, the honorary diploma of the People’s Council of the DPR, as well as letters of gratitude for personal contribution to patriotic education and pre-conscription training of the younger generation, for active public work and for a significant contribution to the development of the volunteer movement in the capital.

    You can find out more about the volunteer movement in the capital on the resource center website “Mosvolonter”, on his social network page “VKontakte” Andtelegram channel.

    Organizing volunteer activities and involving young people in city events are in line with the objectives of the national project “Youth and Children” and the federal project “We are together”.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Excursions, master classes, training: what Moscow parks have prepared for March 29 and 30

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Moscow parks will host excursions, master classes, lectures, games, health training and walks on March 29 and 30. The events and conditions for visiting them were reported in the capital’s Department of Culture.

    Saturday, March 29

    The race will take place in Angarskiye Prudy Park at 09:00. The morning will begin with a warm-up at 08:45 at the boat station of the Bolshoy Angarskiy Pond. The start is at 09:00. Each participant will be able to feel the adrenaline and joy of running in the fresh air. The preferred age of athletes is 12 years and older. The event is free.

    From 13:00 to 15:00, a historical excursion “History of Voroshilovsky Park” will be held on the territory of Filevsky Park. It will tell about the history of the previous owners of these places: Solodovnikovs, Soldatenkovs, Shelaputins. It will be interesting for guests aged six and older. Registration is not required.

    And at 20:15 in Filevsky Park there will be a parkrun for a distance of five kilometers. It is timed to coincide with the beginning of the running season in Moscow and will be the first evening parkrun in 2025. Athletes will gather near the main entrance. Registration is not required. Age category – from 18 years and older.

    From 13:00 to 14:00, the Babushkinsky Park Center for Creativity and Leisure will host a musical and educational lesson called “There Will Be a Song.” It is designed for children aged five to eight. A teacher from the Tertsia Center for Contemporary Art will immerse children in the world of music in an interactive way. Participants will learn what musical signs and notes look like, explore cartoon characters through melodies, learn songs by Russian composers, take part in logorhythmic games, solve musical riddles, and complete tasks for creative development. Admission is free.

    A lesson in courage will be held in the Severnoye Tushino Park by a military unit of the Russian National Guard. This event is aimed at patriotic education of children and teenagers, familiarization with the exploits of the people, outstanding figures of Russia and the formation of respect for the history of their country. Participants over 12 years old will learn about the military and labor achievements of their ancestors, understand the importance of protecting the Motherland and develop personal responsibility. The event starts at 1:30 p.m. in the Severnoye Siyaniye center, admission is free.

    The “Mezen Cube” master class will be held in the “Development and Creativity Club” pavilion at the southern entrance to the park. Participants will get acquainted with one of the northernmost types of Russian folk painting, learn to create patterns in traditional white, black and red colors, and then decorate their own cube. The event starts at 2:00 p.m. Children from six years old can participate. Admission is free.

    The master class “Spring Park” from the series “Drawing Basics for Everyone” will be held in the gazebo near the amphitheater of the Friendship Park. Visitors over six years old will learn techniques for depicting trees and foliage, create a spring landscape, and learn how to convey the depth of space in a drawing. Starts at 14:00. Registration is not required.

    At 18:00, a lecture entitled “Qigong. Traditional Chinese Medicine” will be held in one of the outbuildings of the Vorontsovo estate. It will be given by the president of the All-Russian Society of Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctors, a reflexologist, a qigong and taijiquan instructor, and a doctor for the Russian national gymnastics team. Guests will be immersed in the basics of traditional Chinese medicine and have a practical lesson in health qigong. The venue will be held at 8 Vorontsovsky Park from 18:00 to 19:30. Residents of the capital aged 12 and over are invited. The event is paid, tickets can be purchased by link.

    Sunday, March 30

    At 11:00 on the wooden podium behind the main stage of the Severnoye Tushino Park, there will be an open training session in joint gymnastics by the Bodrost hardening club. At 13:00 near the Bodrost pavilion on the park embankment, hardening exercises will begin. Experienced athletes of the club will tell about hardening methods, help participants take the first steps towards strengthening their immunity. Dousing, air baths and breathing exercises will charge you with energy and a good mood. Those wishing to participate are advised to bring towels, slippers and bathing suits. There are no age restrictions. Admission is free.

    At 2:00 p.m., adults and young park guests will be able to take part in a walk-talk called “Bird Day.” They will learn about migratory birds, their characteristics and migration routes, and will also go on a short excursion around the park with binoculars to observe the birds in their natural environment. Anyone aged six and over is invited. Admission is free.

    At 12:00, everyone is invited to a walking tour of the Hermitage Garden. An experienced guide will take you around the most theatrical garden in Moscow, tell you what was on the site of the Hermitage before it appeared, thanks to whom it was opened, and also share interesting facts about the cultural life of the garden with a 130-year history. Visitors will hear a story about how the pearl of the garden and park ensemble became the center of attraction for opera, ballet, and dramatic art. The meeting place is the main entrance (from Karetny Ryad Street), near the white fountain. Required registration.

    An English conversation club will open in the Bauman Garden on March 30. Students will watch films and TV series together, and listen to songs in the original language to learn to understand spoken English and communicate. After each lesson, a discussion of ideas and an exchange of opinions is planned. Meetings will be held every Sunday from 12:00 to 14:00 in the chess club. Participants over six years old are welcome. Participation is free, the number of places is limited, a registration.

    From 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, the Babushkinsky Park Center for Creativity and Leisure will host the “Game Library for Everyone.” Fans and experts of board games, as well as those who are interested in and want to try something new, are invited to the event. Participants will enjoy a cozy company and a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. Here, everyone will be able to find a game to their taste. The Game Library is live communication, interesting board games, people who will teach them the rules, and a pleasant pastime. Admission is free. Organizers: the SoBytie Foundation for the Support of Social Integration of Teenagers and the regional children’s public organization Soyuz Zvezdny.

    A master class on painting “Street in a Southern Town” from the “Magic Colors” series will be held in the gazebo near the amphitheater in Druzhby Park. At 2:00 p.m., participants will analyze the features of depicting white buildings, the rules for placing accents, and learn how perspective and reflexes work. Admission is free.

    The exhibition “Melnikov’s Moscow” has opened in the Maxim Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure behind the main entrance arch. The joint project with the A.V. Shchusev State Research Museum of Architecture is dedicated to the work of the famous avant-garde architect Konstantin Melnikov, one of the most controversial masters of the 1920s and 1930s, whose ideas combine both traditional approaches and those that were decades ahead of their time. Among his most famous works are the Rusakov Union of Communal Workers Club, the Kauchuk Plant Club, the Bakhmetevsky Garage, the garage on Novorizhanskaya Street, and the architect’s own house on Krivoarbatsky Lane. The exhibition will also tell about the architect’s projects for buildings in the capital that were not implemented. These are competition projects for the People’s Commissariat of Heavy Industry and the Palace of Soviets, urban development projects for the reconstruction of Luzhniki and Gorky Park. Admission is free.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: MES now offers computer science assignments with automatic checking

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The Moscow Electronic School (MES) now has computer science assignments with automatic checking for students in grades 5-11. Teachers have access to them in the electronic journal. Teachers can use the materials as homework. This will help assess the children’s knowledge level and, if necessary, adjust the curriculum.

    “Moscow Electronic School cooperates with many domestic developers of educational materials. This allows us to regularly update the collection of educational content and make the learning process more exciting and diverse. For example, recently MES has introduced computer science assignments with automatic checking, which were developed by specialists from the educational platform Yandex Textbook. The materials will save teachers’ time on checking homework and help them identify topics that students have difficulty studying,” the press service of the capital noted.

    Department of Education and Science.

    Students are given three attempts to complete the task. If all answers are incorrect, the correct one will be displayed. You can find out how to complete tasks with automatic checking in a special instructions.

    “My students and I have already started using the new materials as homework. After completing the test, the results are immediately available to the children. This helps them understand their problem areas and improve their academic performance,” said Dmitry Levitsky, a computer science teacher at School No. 1000.

    Yandex Textbook is an educational platform that offers more than 100 thousand educational materials. They are developed by experienced methodologists taking into account federal educational standards. The service is used by more than 1.3 million students and about 101 thousand teachers from all over Russia. About 800 thousand schoolchildren and over 8.5 thousand teachers regularly access the computer science materials. In the 2024/2025 academic year, they were included in the federal list of electronic educational resources of the Ministry of Education of Russia.

    Sergei Sobyanin approved priority projects in the sphere of Moscow education

    “Moscow Electronic School” — a joint project of the capital’s Department of Education and Science AndDepartment of Information Technology. It was created in 2016. The unified digital educational platform is available to Moscow teachers, students and their parents. Among the main services of “MESh” are a library of educational materials, an electronic diary and journal, “Moskvenok”, “Student Portfolio” and “Olympiads”.

    Providing Moscow schoolchildren with modern digital services increases the efficiency of the educational process, helps young Muscovites plan their time wisely and is in line with the objectives of the “All the Best for Children” national project “Youth and Children”.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Professions of the Future center has new partners

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The city center for innovative personnel services “Professions of the Future” has signed cooperation agreements with two new partners. This is an educational platform and one of the largest job search sites. The center’s new partners will offer Muscovites additional training programs for in-demand professions, as well as career support from leading HR experts.

    “The concept of “one education for life” is becoming a thing of the past, giving way to the trend of continuous learning. According to our statistics, 95 percent of Muscovites strive to develop skills and competencies in order to increase their competitiveness in the labor market or radically change the direction of their professional activity. The HR center “Professions of the Future” has become a platform that unites job seekers, leading employers and the best educational providers of the city, where everyone can choose one of 75 training programs, master a popular specialty and find employment in a new direction. We are actively developing our network of partners, and now they include the job search service hh.ru and the educational platform “Netology”. The new training provider will provide job seekers with more than 200 popular courses in programming, marketing, business, sales and development of soft skills. “Cooperation with the HeadHunter service will allow us to create joint projects and exchange experience with the platform’s career experts,” said Andrey Tarasov, Director of the Moscow Employment Service and Head of the Professions of the Future Center.

    Find a job and employees

    Currently, skilled personnel are in high demand among employers, so experts predict an increase in the need for them. 85 percent of those who completed retraining at the Professions of the Future center chose blue-collar jobs. City residents can get a new profession in a maximum of 3.5 months thanks to the center’s partnership with the largest providers.

    According to Valentina Kurenkova, GR Director of the educational platform Netology, together with the Professions of the Future center, training in engineering, industry and blue-collar jobs is being developed so that more people can find work in promising sectors of the economy. The platform was created in 2011 and became a member of the Association of Digital Innovations in Education, an association of leading participants in the EdTech market in Russia. With its help, clients of the Professions of the Future center will be able to take over 200 popular courses with a 50 percent discount.

    To improve the efficiency of their work, it is important for HR specialists not only to monitor changes in the profession, but also to continuously develop their skills. Professional development should be continuous. Director of the hh.ru brand center Nina Osovitskaya emphasized that regular participation in trainings and educational events aimed at developing negotiation skills, candidate assessment and emotional intelligence helps to keep up with the times. For example, leading specialists from one of the largest job search sites will share their expertise in automating the processes of searching, adapting and retaining personnel, and will talk about modern trends in the development of the labor market.

    The Moscow City Employment Service is the largest state personnel operator that helps residents of the capital find work. Its structure includes employment offices, many of which are located in the My Documents government service centers. The flagship centers are open at the following addresses: Kuusinen Street, Building 2, Building 1, and Shabolovka Street, Building 48. The specialized employment center My Career is located on Sergiya Radonezhskogo Street (Building 1, Building 1).

    At the Professions of the Future center (38 Shchepkina Street, Building 1), you can master one of 75 in-demand professions in various sectors of the economy in a maximum of three and a half months. Career mentors will help you find a job after completing your training. The center’s partners include more than three thousand employers. In addition, a comprehensive career guidance program is being implemented here for ninth-grade students.

    As Sergei Sobyanin noted indevelopment strategies social protection system of Moscow until 2030, the city offers any Muscovite and residents of other regions the opportunity to develop their human resources potential and successfully join the country’s largest labor market.

    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.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/151841073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government Cuts – Cuts will ramp up pressure on Corrections staff – PSA

    Source: PSA

    Proposed job cuts at the Department of Corrections in response to the Government’s programme of cutting public services will see a reduction in vital roles that support Corrections Officers, Probation Officers, Case Managers and managers do their jobs well.
    Corrections’ latest change proposal would result in a net reduction of 49 roles in its already stretched People and Capability, said Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons.
    “The proposed cuts will reduce the organisation’s ability to ensure its staff, who often work in risky environments, are trained and developed and have the right levels of health and safety and other support,” Fitzsimons said.
    The roles that are going include positions in Health and Safety and Learning and Development and capability building.
    “All these workers have important roles to play in ensuring Corrections supports and retains its staff.
    “The chain of cause and effect is clear: these cuts will degrade the quality of support to front-line staff. If front-line staff aren’t getting the support they need, their jobs will be harder and they’re more likely to leave. It’s going to impact the services that Corrections staff can deliver now and in the future. The impact of these cuts will be felt for years to come.
    “In the Government’s pursuit of cost savings to fund tax relief for landlords there has been little regard for how these proposed changes will negatively impact frontline services, let alone ensuring New Zealand has an effective Justice system.
    “More, not less funding is required to ensure that public services such as Corrections can keep delivering for New Zealanders.
    “One hand of the Government doesn’t know what the other is doing. It passes new sentencing laws to put people in prison for longer, but it’s also happy to kneecap those helping keep front-line staff safe and help them to do their job. This is yet another example of the senselessness of this programme of cuts,” Fitzsimons said.
    The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Universities – AI leads to breakthrough in knee surgery – UoA

    Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

    A combination of robotic surgery and AI has facilitated to a breakthrough in knee-replacement surgery, which a study shows gets better results for patients with bowed legs.

    Patients whose legs are naturally curved are responding well to a novel form of knee-replacement surgery that uses AI to find the best alignment of the new components for their body.

    Research published in full today, 27 March, involved patients randomised to receive either conventional knee-replacement surgery or the new ‘functionally aligned’ knee surgery.
    “The results are positive for patients whose legs are naturally bowed,” says lead author Associate Professor Simon Young of Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. See Journal of Arthroplasty.

    Young is also an orthopaedic surgeon at Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora Waitemata. He operates at the Elective Surgery Centre that is part of Auckland’s North Shore hospital campus, where they started using a robot for the knee operations in 2017, allowing greater accuracy.

    Traditionally, knee-replacement surgery is not universally successful, with around one in five patients not fully satisfied with their knee following the procedure. There are number of factors that may contribute but one reason could be because they had naturally bowed legs.

    Young saw the potential to use the surgical robot  to compare imaging of the patient’s knee with thousands of possible options for placement of the replacement knee, allowing the surgeon to select the best match for that person’s natural knee alignment.

    Conventional surgery puts the knee on straight, whereas the patient’s knee may have never been perfectly aligned with the leg bones to begin with.

    “We developed an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm to use with the robot to help surgeons position the knee components in a way that better matches each patient’s natural anatomy,” says Young, an associate professor in the University’s Department of Orthopaedics.

    Around thirty percent of the population have bowed legs either naturally or because of conditions such as arthritis, which cause the knees to wear out, Young says.

    “If you look around on a football pitch, you will see a lot of people who are young, fit, and healthy, who have naturally quite bowed legs. If, when they get older, they get arthritis and you put the new knee in straight, it will be in a position it has never been in their lives.

    “For these people, usual knee replacements that assume the leg is straight may not work as well as ones that are functionally aligned.”

    The new AI software takes the patient’s knee alignment and surrounding soft tissue and allows the surgeon to test different options – digitally.

    “When we are in the operating room, we’re virtually positioning the components, then we consider that patient’s native alignment, and also their soft tissue tension. The computer model goes through and analyses the 20,000-25,000 potential positions and ranks them according to what would be optimal for that patient.

    “We then we choose what we think is the best option.”

    For the study, Young and colleagues randomised 244 knee-replacement patients to traditional or AI-assisted alignment and then followed the patients for two years, assessing their recovery with x-rays and questionnaires.

    Overall, both groups had good outcomes and were happy with their knee replacements.

    However, patients who naturally had more bowed legs reported better results with the newer functionally aligned knees.

    Based on the study, Young would recommend surgeons consider a patient’s natural leg shape when planning knee replacement surgery.

    Young has developed an app for use by orthopaedic surgeons wishing to use functional alignment in New Zealand, Australia, and Asia.

    The study won the prestigious John N. Insall, MD award from The Knee Society in the US. This meant the paper that described the study was submitted to The Journal of Arthroplasty and Young received US$1,000.

    Young travelled to San Diego to attend the society’s annual meeting on March 14, where he received the award.

    The research is ongoing to refine and expand the tool to ensure the best possible outcomes for all patients, Young says.

    Read the paper here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arth.2025.02.065

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: First Responders – 24 new career firefighters join Fire and Emergency New Zealand

    Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

    Fire and Emergency New Zealand has welcomed 24 new career firefighters at their graduation ceremony at the National Training Centre (NTC) in Rotorua.
    Throughout their 12-week recruit course, the new firefighters learnt skills such as fighting fires, extricating people trapped in cars, and managing hazardous substances, which they demonstrated to whānau and friends at today’s ceremony.
    During the ceremony former aviation rescue firefighter for the Royal New Zealand Air Force, Tracey Barclay, was presented with the top recruit award for displaying outstanding skills, leadership and mana throughout the course.
    “Being the person who shows up on someone’s worst day is something I respect all fellow firefighters for,” says Tracey, who is 35 and will be based at Seaview Station.
    “I would rather help someone else than help myself.”
    “I’ve always been drawn to the team aspect of firefighting. You’re never going to be alone and the crew on that truck becomes your family,” she says.
    As someone with a firefighting background, Tracey’s favourite part of the course was the live firefighting block.
    “Learning how to tackle structure fires, search and rescue in darkness and combining all the skills we were taught over the course was definitely a highlight and a huge learning opportunity,” she says.
    Another graduate with a background as an aviation rescue firefighter is 32-year-old Lewis Jackson. He was based at Queenstown Airport and will be joining Invercargill Station.
    Lewis is no stranger to Fire and Emergency, as he was also a volunteer firefighter with the Frankton Volunteer Fire Brigade.
    Lewis enjoyed the more physical elements of the course, such as the urban search and rescue block.
    “I encourage people to really focus on their physical fitness in the lead up to the course. It can be demanding, so the more you prepare, the easier you’ll find it,” he says.
    Also among the graduates is 26-year-old Matai Wetere, who will be based at Paraparaumu Station.
    For the past six years, Matai has been reclaiming te reo Māori through his studies and mahi as a Māori policy advisor. Now Matai is after the fast-paced career firefighting offers.
    “I thrive in challenging environments and enjoy the adrenaline that comes with high-stake situations,” Matai says.
    “The breathing apparatus and urban search and rescue blocks of the course presented the most mental and physical challenges for me, but the satisfaction and sense of achievement I had after I’d completed them far outweighed the discomfort,” he says.
    Congratulations to all the graduates and nau mai ki te whānau – welcome to the family.
    Applications to be a career firefighter open on 10 April. For more information, go to www.fireandemergency.nz/join.
    “My advice to people considering a career in firefighting is don’t give up. If you’ve applied, failed an aspect in the recruitment process and still want it – keep applying, you’ll get there,” Tracey Barclay says.
    Locations of deployment:
    Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland: 13
    Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington: 8
    Whakatū | Nelson: 1
    Murihiku | Southland: 2

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The Glass Menagerie: the haunting beauty of Tennessee Wiliams’ play endures in this Sydney revival

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney

    Prudence Upton

    Tennessee Williams (1911-1983) is widely regarded as one of America’s greatest playwrights. A prolific and unabashedly autobiographical writer, Williams’ career spanned four decades of the 20th century.

    The Glass Menagerie, which premiered in Chicago on December 26 1944, was the writer’s first major success. It won scores of national theatrical awards and catapulted Williams to enduring fame.

    An engrossing new production of the classic play, currently running at Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre, does more than simply revive the famous piece of theatre. It revitalises it for modern audiences.

    A troubled family from St. Louis

    The Glass Menagerie is a lyrical exploration of memory, longing and familial obligation.

    Set in the 1930s in St. Louis, the play revolves around three adult members of the Wingfield family: Tom, a restless and possibly closeted young man torn between duty and desire; Laura, his painfully shy sister, whose physical disability and introversion leave her isolated from the world; and Amanda, their domineering but fragile mother who clings to faded Southern dreams.

    The plot is simple, and draws direct inspiration from Williams’ troubled family life. The Wingfields are struggling to get by. They live in a cramped apartment, in the shadow of an absent patriarch who we hear “fell in love with long distances” a long time ago.

    Amanda is desperate to secure a future for Laura. She pins her hopes on the arrival of a “gentleman caller”, convinced that marriage is the only hope for her daughter’s security.

    The plot follow the Wingfields, a small family struggling to get by in the 1930s in St. Louis.
    Prudence Upton

    When Tom – who is also the play’s narrator (a cutout for Williams himself) – invites a colleague to dinner, the overbearing Amanda seizes the opportunity to present Laura in the best possible light. Suffice to say, things do not end well.

    Lifting lyricism to its highest level

    Potted plot summaries don’t really do The Glass Menagerie justice.

    As Liesel Badorrek, director of the new production at Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre, points out, “Williams wanted to break with the prosaic realism that he felt had dominated the American theatre” and fashion a new, more symbolic approach to theatre, where memory and emotion take precedence over conventional forms of dramatic action.

    According to Williams himself, his aim was to demonstrate

    that truth, life, or reality is an organic thing which the poetic imagination can represent or suggest, in essence, only through transformation, through changing into other forms than those which were merely present in appearance.

    To bring his vision to life, Williams combined heightened poetic dialogue, repeated musical motifs and unconventional stagecraft. In doing so, he intentionally blurred the lines between reality and memory, allowing the audience to experience the emotional truth of the characters, rather than a literal depiction of events.

    This innovative approach to dramatic form was revolutionary at the time and became a hallmark of Williams’ mature work. As Arthur Miller once wrote:

    The Glass Menagerie in one stroke lifted lyricism to its highest level in our theatre’s history, but it broke new ground in another way. What was new in Tennessee Williams was his rhapsodic insistence that form serve his utterance rather than dominating and cramping it.

    Ensemble Theatre revives Williams’ play in a way that is both timeless and transcendent.
    Prudence Upton

    A fresh take with remarkable depth

    Miller’s observations about poetic rhapsody and form are worth keeping in mind when discussing the Ensemble Theatre’s impressive take on The Glass Menagerie.

    One of the great merits of the production is how it does justice to Williams’ formal innovations while also engaging the audience on an emotional level.

    Making excellent use of expressionistic lighting (Verity Hampson) and sound design (Maria Alfonsine and Damian de Boos-Smith), Badorrek’s production strikes a fine balance between preserving the play’s delicate, dreamlike structure and grounding its characters in charged performances that feel immediate and often painfully real.

    Deftly blending humour and pathos, the cast of four delivers strong performances that ensure the play’s vivid lyricism enhances (but does not overwhelm) its emotional core.

    Blazey Best’s Amanda delivers a tour de force performance.
    Prudence Upton

    Blazey Best’s Amanda is in equal measure maddening and charming, a true tour de force. Her verbal sparring with Danny Ball’s Tom was an early high point of the evening. One particularly striking moment was staged entirely in silhouette – elongated shadows stretching across the stage’s backdrop.

    That said, to me the true standouts were Bridie McKim and Tom Rogers, whose interpretations of Laura and the gentleman caller, Jim, lifted the entire production.

    In particular, McKim, who has called for greater disability representation in Australian theatre, brings remarkable depth and dynamism to the role of Laura. She imbues Laura with vulnerability and, crucially, strength.

    McKim imbues Laura with both vulnerability and strength.
    Prudence Upton

    McKim and Rogers breathe new life into this 81-year old staple of the dramatic canon. Their performances render Williams’ work fresh and contemporary, ensuring the play feels as urgent today as it would have in its post-war heyday.

    Alexander Howard 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. The Glass Menagerie: the haunting beauty of Tennessee Wiliams’ play endures in this Sydney revival – https://theconversation.com/the-glass-menagerie-the-haunting-beauty-of-tennessee-wiliams-play-endures-in-this-sydney-revival-252293

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: This budget’s tax tinkering isn’t the same as meaningful tax reform. Here’s why

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kristen Sobeck, Research Fellow, Tax and Transfer Policy Institute, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University

    Miha Creative/Shutterstock

    Labor’s tax changes this week do not tackle tax reform, or why we desperately need it. They only address the amount collected from personal income tax, which is the largest source of tax revenue.

    Real tax reform would review taxes such as the GST, taxes on savings (including housing and super), and personal and corporate income tax – and ensure they are sustainable over the long term.

    Tax cuts and tax revenue relate to the amount of tax the government collects. Reform needs to tackle both the amount of tax and how we collect it.

    It involves redesigning how we collect tax revenue in a way that is efficient, equitable, simple and resilient, to improve the well-being of all Australians.

    And the quantum – how much we collect as part of tax reform – depends on the demand for government services, which is growing, with structural budget deficits forecast for the next 10 years.

    So how does the income tax system work?

    When you earn a salary from your job, every dollar earned above A$18,200 is taxed. Income earned between $18,201 to $45,000 is taxed at 16 cents per dollar. Three higher tax brackets follow, as the table below shows. This is known as a progressive tax system, where the tax rate increases as your income rises.

    Mathematically, this means that if a worker named Jane has a $130,000 salary, the first $18,200 of her income is tax free, the next $26,800 of her salary is taxed at 16 cents for each dollar and so on. Her total income tax bill is $29,788.

    In the budget, the Labor government announced from July 1 2026, it would cut the 16 cents marginal income tax rate to 15 cents and from July 1 2027 to 14 cents. As the example above shows, the proposed reductions will affect all Australian income taxpayers, not just low income earners.

    The legislation passed parliament late on Wednesday night, but the Coalition has said it will repeal the cuts if it wins the election.

    What is bracket creep?

    Workers generally receive an increase in their wage each financial year. But in recent years, the increase in wages received by some workers hasn’t been enough to keep up with inflation (changes in prices).

    This is the case for our imaginary worker, Jane. Where she lives, prices have increased by 10%. Her employer has offered her a wage increase of 5%, so now she earns $136,500. However, everything where Jane lives is now 10% more expensive, so while her salary has increased, the purchasing power of her wage has declined.

    Unfortunately for Jane, the income tax system completely disregards her decline in living standards. Since her salary has increased she owes more income tax.

    This is what’s referred to as bracket creep. It’s also known as fiscal drag. It arises when our income tax bill goes up, our take-home pay (our disposable income) goes down as a result, and our standard of living declines.

    Sometimes inflation can push a person into a higher income tax bracket. This is the case for Jane, who now pays 37 cents per dollar on $555 of her income. However it also applies if a taxpayer remains in the same income tax bracket (since their salary still goes up and they owe more income tax).

    Is bracket creep a good or a bad thing?

    For workers, bracket creep is bad news because it reduces their after-tax income while their standard of living declines.

    However, for governments it can be a useful tool.

    First, bracket creep allows governments to collect more revenue than they would in the absence of inflation. Higher inflation means more revenue. This approach enables governments to increase expenditure and/or offer tax cuts to offset bracket creep. The government is doing the latter even in a period of budget deficit.

    Second, bracket creep can be useful for governments during periods of high inflation. Governments need to rein in spending to reduce high inflation and bracket creep is one way of achieving this goal.

    Given these benefits, Australia is not alone among developed countries that opt to change their income tax thresholds on a discretionary basis. Just over half (55%) of OECD countries took this approach in 2022 for their personal income tax systems.

    The remaining OECD countries (45%) applied automatic indexation in 2022. Indexation ensures that taxpayers’ income tax bills only increase (in real terms) when their wages increase by more than inflation.

    But ensuring tax brackets keep pace with inflation is only one part of the tax picture. Neither side of politics is addressing the sort of major tax reforms needed to make the tax system more sustainable and match fit for the 21st century. But the Tax and Transfer Policy Institute is prepared with ideas when they are.

    Kristen Sobeck 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. This budget’s tax tinkering isn’t the same as meaningful tax reform. Here’s why – https://theconversation.com/this-budgets-tax-tinkering-isnt-the-same-as-meaningful-tax-reform-heres-why-253121

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Baldwin, Welch Lead Schumer, Colleagues Spotlighting Trumps Cuts to Cancer and Alzheimer’s Cures

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    A full recording of the forum is available here
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Peter Welch (D-VT) led Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and 14 of their Senate colleagues at a forum to spotlight Elon Musk and President Donald Trump’s efforts to cut cancer, Alzheimer’s, and other diseases treatments and cures. The forum, “Cures in Crisis: What Gutting NIH Research Means for Americans with Cancer, Alzheimer’s, & Other Diseases,” featured witnesses that highlighted the dire impact of cuts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including former Director of the NIH, Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, M.D., two Alzheimer’s disease researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Emory University, and two patients who have benefitted from NIH clinical trials.
    “I truly wish I didn’t need to host this forum but Elon Musk’s DOGE and Donald Trump are quite literally on a path to rip away cures to cancer and Alzheimer’s disease – all to make room in their budget for tax breaks for the richest of the rich. Today, we heard from the people who will be paying the price – and I hope my Republican colleagues and the President were listening,” said Senator Baldwin. “Right now, we are wasting precious time that we cannot get back for American families hoping that their loved one has a chance to get better.”
    “The Trump Administration has taken a wrecking ball to the National Institutes of Health without a care about who gets hurt in the process. The first to feel the impact of these cuts will be American patients who rely on NIH’s cutting-edge research to get new therapies and cure diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer. DOGE’s mass firing spree has also left our nation’s top scientists on the chopping block, stifling American innovation and weakening our leadership in biomedical science for years to come. These cuts and layoffs mean the difference between life and death for communities in both red and blue states,” said Senator Welch. “I’m proud to join Senator Baldwin and our colleagues today to defend our commitment to science, research, and care across America.”
    “I resigned my post as NIH Director in January of this year. Since then, I have had no insight into how decisions are being made by our current leaders at HHS. I can speak, however, about the downstream effects of their decisions, and some irreparable damage that their policies are producing. To date more than 300 grants terminated; and about $1.5 billion in funding delays and barriers that are preventing NIH’s role of ensuring that funding is delivered to outstanding researchers across the nation,” said Dr. Bertagnolli, former Director of the NIH. “Today, we are just beginning to see progress against devastating diseases which have long been hopeless – Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, even pancreatic cancer – all because of NIH funding. And this has proven to be a great investment for American taxpayers – producing both extraordinary improvements in health, and significant profits for our nation’s economy. How can we afford to see this progress stalled? Overall, the loss to our nation on so many levels will be too great.”
    “I’m here to emphasize the critical importance of NIH funding in the fight against Alzheimer’s—a disease that is one of our greatest public health and economic challenges. While deaths from heart disease and cancer have leveled off or declined thanks to decades of NIH investment, deaths from Alzheimer’s and related dementias have increased. Over 6.9 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s today—a number projected to double by 2050 without effective solutions,” said Dr. Sterling Johnson, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor and Associate Director of Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. “Our patients who have this progressive disease don’t have the luxury of time to shoulder the unnecessary delays and uncertainty that we are currently experiencing. The clock is ticking for them and their families. Now more than ever we need the continued full resolve and commitment of the federal government to meet their need.”
    “I am here today as a scientist who has had 2 NIH grants abruptly terminated in the past month. On February 28th my first NIH grant was terminated, which had only 6 months remaining on a 4-year award… While these terminations are devastating for me and my team, particularly junior faculty and students, my primary concern is for the patients, research participants and the families who are already being impacted by the NIH’s recent radical shift in funding priorities,” said Dr. Whitney Wharton, PhD, Emory University Associate Professor and Alzheimer’s Disease researcher. “Termination of my peer reviewed grants, and hundreds of others, which were awarded based on merit, has potentially devastating implications for all Americans. It sets a concerning precedent where scientific inquiry and peer reviewed and awarded projects are turned off and on based on a set of changing priorities. Not only can this cause confusion, but it could also impact the pipeline of new and talented young investigators, and erase entire communities of patients, who are the most impacted by diseases like Alzheimer’s, from research entirely.”
    “I speak here today not only for myself, but for every patient who has ever held out hope that research would buy them another year — or another decade. Without robust, sustained, and predictable funding from the NIH, those bridges to the next treatment won’t be there when patients need them. The bridge that saved me was built through decades of investment, innovation, and relentless commitment from our nation’s scientific community. But those bridges don’t build themselves,” said Dr. Larry Saltzman, M.D., retired physician living with leukemia and former Executive Research Director for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. “I am living proof of what NIH research can do, and I don’t think I would be here today without the commitment that Congress has shown by prioritizing NIH funding over the past many decades. I ask you to protect this funding — so that more people can outlive their expiration dates.”
    “The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal agencies have been critical in funding groundbreaking research that offers hope to thousands of individuals like me, including by providing access to experimental treatments for ALS. The experimental drug I am taking could not only extend my life but could also lead to a cure. Access to this drug could mean seeing my son and grandson graduate high school and college, something I did not think was possible when I was diagnosed,” said Mr. Jessy Ybarra, veteran living with ALS and Board of Trustees member for the ALS Association. “But now funding cuts and reductions to funding at NIH and other research agencies threaten to derail decades of progress right when we are at the tipping point of finally finding a cure. But to be clear, this isn’t just about me, and everyone else impacted by ALS now and in the future. ALS costs our nation over one-billion dollars a year. Investing in finding a cure is not only fiscally responsible, but very simply, good public policy. I urge Congress to reject these harmful cuts to NIH and support the funding necessary to make ALS a livable disease and cure it. My life, our lives, and our economy depend on it.”
    Over the last two months, the Trump Administration has attacked, compromised, and gutted research at the NIH for lifesaving cures and treatments, including:
    Cutting Funding for Research Facilities: NIH announced last month that it was planning to arbitrarily cap indirect cost rates at 15%, which would slash billions of dollars in funding that helps research institutions, like the University of Wisconsin, operate their facilities and labs, pay staff, and buy equipment needed for groundbreaking work to find cures for diseases and treatments for patients.
    Funding Freeze for Alzheimer’s Disease: The Trump Administration is jeopardizing $65 million in funding for Alzheimer’s disease research at 14 research institutions across the country. 14 of the 35 Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) have had their funding halted because the Trump Administration continues to cancel NIH Advisory Council meetings, which are the final required step in the grant approval process.
    Terminating Grants for Lifesaving Research: The Trump Administration stopped all grant funding at NIH for ten days in February and is continuing to block funding for lifesaving disease research, like finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. This halt in funding is despite two court orders directing the Trump Administration to end its unlawful efforts to freeze all federal grants. This is in addition to Elon Musk indiscriminately terminating hundreds of active NIH grants every week, in direct defiance of federal court orders to stop NIH funding changes amid ongoing litigation.
    Gutting Critical Staff: Mass layoffs at HHS under Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s direction are impacting everything from research to clinical trials, including scientists, nurses, pharmacists, and experts tracking disease spread. Reports show the NIH is expected to cut between 3,400 and 5,000 positions from its workforce of 20,000.
    NIH funding contributed to research for roughly 99 percent of drugs approved between 2010 and 2019, including heart medications, according to the Center for American Progress. The advocacy group United for Medical Research found that in fiscal year 2023, funding from the agency supported more than 410,000 jobs, with 10,000 NIH-supported jobs in some states. In that same year, NIH-funded research fueled nearly $93 billion in economic spending. Overall, the economic benefit of NIH funding is more than twice the investment made through NIH appropriations. For a breakdown of how much funding each state receives from the NIH, click here.
    Joining Senators Baldwin and Welch at the forum were Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Patty Murray (D-WA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).
    A full recording of the forum is available here. Witnesses opening statements are available here.
    A one-pager on President Donald Trump’s actions to gut the NIH and its impacts is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Apple boosts China presence

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    U.S. tech giant Apple on Wednesday announced it is accelerating its support for the next generation of developers in China with a new 30 million yuan (about 4.18 million U.S. dollars) donation to Zhejiang University.

    “We believe coding is a powerful tool that empowers people to create, communicate, and solve problems in entirely new ways,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook while visiting the university in east China on the same day.

    “We are proud to expand our decade-long partnership with Zhejiang University to support the next generation of coders with the skills to create innovative apps and build dynamic businesses,” he said.

    The fund will connect students with industry leaders and investors through workshops, internships, and mentorships, providing more business-related training for students to succeed in the growing iOS app economy and beyond, the company said in a statement.

    In collaboration with Apple, Zhejiang University will establish the Apple App Incubation Fund to offer training in the latest technologies, with specialized curricula in app development, product design, marketing, and business operations.

    The new donation follows Apple’s decade of support for the Mobile Application Innovation Contest organized by Zhejiang University, which has benefited some 30,000 participants from nearly 1,000 universities across the country.

    The donation followed a new clean energy fund worth 720 million yuan set up in China by Apple on Monday, amid Cook’s latest visit to China, during which he attended the opening ceremony of the China Development Forum in Beijing.

    The investment fund seeks to create an additional annual wind and solar energy generation capacity of approximately 550,000 megawatt-hours for China’s power grid, with the figure expected to increase as more investors join, the tech firm said in a statement.

    Apple’s Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams visited the company’s suppliers in east China’s Jiangsu and Shandong provinces on Monday and Tuesday.

    “China is a central part of our critical supply chain and we’ve been investing here for 30 years,” said Williams. “We will continue to invest in China in a big way.”

    “What I consistently see here in China is this attitude of trying to figure out how to do what’s next. It really is inspiring to me,” Williams said.

    During his visit, he also paid close attention to the impact of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) on smart manufacturing.

    Whether it’s something as simple as glue dispensing or cosmetic inspection, it can now be done with AI in a way that is much more efficient and also much more effective than what a human can do, Williams said. “We’re seeing the growth of AI and its importance in our supply chain.”

    Apple began business operations in China in 1993. Currently, over 80 percent of its top 200 global suppliers maintain manufacturing facilities in China. The company said that over the past five years, it has invested 20 billion U.S. dollars in China, focusing on smart manufacturing and green initiatives.

    Some 59,000 new foreign-invested enterprises were established in China last year, reflecting an increase of 9.9 percent. Over the past five years, the rate of return on foreign direct investment in China has averaged approximately 9 percent, ranking among the highest globally.

    While meeting with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Beijing on Monday, Cook reaffirmed Apple’s commitment to increasing investments in sectors such as supply chains, research and development, and social responsibility in China. He also emphasized the company’s readiness to play an active role in promoting the stable, healthy development of China-U.S. economic and trade relations. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: When a 1-in-100 year flood washed through the Coorong, it made the vital microbiome of this lagoon healthier

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Keneally, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Environmental Microbiology, University of Adelaide

    Darcy Whittaker, CC BY

    You might know South Australia’s iconic Coorong from the famous Australian children’s book, Storm Boy, set around this coastal lagoon.

    This internationally important wetland is sacred to the Ngarrindjeri people and a haven for migratory birds. The lagoon is the final stop for the Murray River’s waters before they reach the sea. Tens of thousands of migratory waterbirds visit annually. Pelicans, plovers, terns and ibises nest, while orange-bellied parrots visit and Murray Cod swim. But there are other important inhabitants – trillions of microscopic organisms.

    You might not give much thought to the sedimentary microbes of a lagoon. But these tiny microbes in the mud are vital to river ecosystems, quietly cycling nutrients and supporting the food web. Healthy microbes make for a healthy Coorong – and this unassuming lagoon is a key indicator for the health of the entire Murray-Darling Basin.

    For decades, the Coorong has been in poor health. Low water flows have concentrated salt and an excess of nutrients. But in 2022, torrential rains on the east coast turned into a once-in-a-century flood, which swept down the Murray into the Coorong.

    In our new research, we took the pulse of the Coorong’s microbiome after this huge flood and found the surging fresh water corrected microbial imbalances. The numbers of methane producing microbes fell while beneficial nutrient-eating bacteria grew. Populations of plants, animals and invertebrates boomed.

    We can’t just wait for irregular floods – we have to find ways to ensure enough water is left in the river to cleanse the Coorong naturally.

    Under a scanning electron micrograph, the mixed community of microbes in water is visible. This image shows a seawater sample.
    Sophie Leterme/Flinders University, CC BY

    Rivers have microbiomes, just like us

    Our gut microbes can change after a heavy meal or in response to dietary changes.

    In humans, a sudden shift in diet can encourage either helpful or harmful microbes.

    In the same way, aquatic microbes respond to changes in salinity and freshwater flows. Depending on what changes are happening, some species boom and others bust.

    As water gets saltier in brackish lagoons, communities of microbes have to adapt or die. High salinity often favours microbes with anaerobic metabolisms, meaning they don’t need oxygen. But these tiny lifeforms often produce the highly potent greenhouse gas methane. The microbes in wetlands are a large natural source of the gas.

    While we know pulses of freshwater are vital for river health, they don’t happen often enough. The waters of the Murray-Darling Basin support most of Australia’s irrigated farming. Negotiations over how to ensure adequate environmental flows have been fraught – and long-running. Water buybacks have improved matters somewhat, but researchers have found the river basin’s ecosystems are not in good condition.

    Wetlands such as the Coorong are a natural source of methane. The saltier the water gets, the more environmentally harmful microbes flourish – potentially producing more methane.
    Vincent_Nguyen

    The Coorong is out of balance

    A century ago, regular pulses of fresh water from the Murray flushed nutrients and sediment out of the Coorong, helping maintain habitat for fish, waterbirds and the plants and invertebrates they eat. While other catchments discharge into the Coorong, the Murray is by far the major water source.

    Over the next decades, growth in water use for farming meant less water in the river. In the 1930s, barrages were built near the river’s mouth to control nearby lake levels and prevent high salinity moving upstream in the face of reduced river flows.

    Major droughts have added further stress. Under these low-flow conditions, salt and nutrients get more and more concentrated, reaching extreme levels due to South Australia’s high rate of evaporation.

    In response, microbial communities can trigger harmful algae blooms or create low-oxygen “dead zones”, suffocating river life.

    The big flush of 2022

    In 2022, torrential rain fell in many parts of eastern Australia. Rainfall on the inland side of the Great Dividing Range filled rivers in the Murray-Darling Basin. That year became the largest flood since 1956.

    We set about recording the changes. As the salinity fell in ultra-salty areas, local microbial communities in the sediment were reshuffled.

    The numbers of methane-producing microbes fell sharply. This means the floods would have temporarily reduced the Coorong’s greenhouse footprint.

    Christopher Keneally sampling for microbes in the Coorong in 2022.
    Tyler Dornan, CC BY

    When we talk about harmful bacteria, we’re referring to microbes that emit greenhouse gases such as methane, drive the accumulation of toxic sulfide (such as Desulfobacteraceae), or cause algae blooms (Cyanobacteria) that can sicken people, fish and wildlife.

    During the flood, beneficial microbes from groups such as Halanaerobiaceae and Beggiatoaceae grew rapidly, consuming nutrients such as nitrogen, which is extremely high in the Coorong. This is very useful to prevent algae blooms. Beggiatoaceae bacteria also remove toxic sulfide compounds.

    The floods also let plants and invertebrates bounce back, flushed out salt and supported a healthier food web.

    On balance, we found the 2022 flood was positive for the Coorong. It’s as if the Coorong switched packets of chips for carrot sticks – the flood pulse reduced harmful bacteria and encouraged beneficial ones.

    While the variety of microbes shrank in some areas, those remaining performed key functions helping keep the ecosystem in balance.

    From 2022 to 2023, consistent high flows let native fish and aquatic plants bounce back, in turn improving feeding grounds for birds and allowing black swans to thrive.

    A group of black swans cruise the Coorong’s waters.
    Darcy Whittaker, CC BY

    Floods aren’t enough

    When enough water is allowed to flow down the Murray to the Coorong, ecosystems get healthier.

    But the Coorong has been in poor health for decades. It can’t just rely on rare flood events.

    Next year, policymakers will review the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, which sets the rules for sharing water in Australia’s largest and most economically important river system.

    Balancing our needs with those of other species is tricky. But if we neglect the environment, we risk more degradation and biodiversity loss in the Coorong.

    As the climate changes and rising water demands squeeze the basin, decision-makers must keep the water flowing for wildlife.

    Christopher Keneally receives funding from the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. His research is affiliated with The University of Adelaide and the Goyder Institute for Water Research. Chris is also a committee member and former president of the Biology Society of South Australia, and a member of the Australian Freshwater Sciences Society.

    Matt Gibbs receives funding from the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

    Sophie Leterme receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC). Her research is affiliated with Flinders University, with the ARC Training Centre for Biofilm Research & Innovation, and with the Goyder Institute for Water Research.

    Justin Brookes 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. When a 1-in-100 year flood washed through the Coorong, it made the vital microbiome of this lagoon healthier – https://theconversation.com/when-a-1-in-100-year-flood-washed-through-the-coorong-it-made-the-vital-microbiome-of-this-lagoon-healthier-252633

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: ECEQ Transforms Sustainable Finance With Blockchain Innovation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DENVER, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ecole de Commerce Esprit Quantique (ECEQ), also known as Quantum Mind Business School, has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative that seamlessly integrates financial innovation with environmental responsibility through its innovative ECEQ Token. This revolutionary approach establishes new standards for sustainable investment in the French market and beyond.

    Blockchain Technology Powers ECEQ’s Environmental Finance Solutions

    The ECEQ Token represents a sophisticated financial instrument specifically designed to catalyze environmental and technological transformation. By leveraging advanced blockchain technology and artificial intelligence capabilities, ECEQ has created a comprehensive ecosystem that effectively incentivizes and supports sustainable community development initiatives.

    “Our vision at Ecole de Commerce Esprit Quantique extends beyond traditional financial returns,” explains the institution’s leadership team. “We’re creating a technological and financial framework that makes sustainable investment both accessible and profitable for all stakeholders involved in our ecosystem.”

    The ECEQ Token distinguishes itself within the digital asset landscape through several innovative features that highlight Quantum Mind Business School’s commitment to technological advancement and environmental stewardship:

    • Transparent Blockchain Financing: Utilizing blockchain technology to ensure complete transparency in all financial transactions, allowing investors to track every aspect of green project investments with unprecedented clarity and accountability.
    • Smart Contract Ecosystem: Implementation of advanced smart contract technology that automates fund distribution for green initiatives, ensuring precise resource allocation while significantly reducing administrative overhead costs.
    • Decentralized Energy Exchange: Facilitating community-level energy trading that empowers residents and businesses to efficiently utilize and trade renewable energy resources, creating economic incentives for sustainable energy practices.

    Sustainable Environmental Practices Thrive Through ECEQ Token Ecosystem

    Ecole de Commerce Esprit Quantique has introduced a revolutionary reward system that directly encourages sustainable living practices through its token ecosystem. Residents and businesses can earn ECEQ Tokens by actively participating in verified low-carbon activities, creating direct financial incentives for sustainable choices including utilizing green energy sources, implementing effective waste management practices, and choosing eco-friendly transportation options.

    The ECEQ Token reward system represents a fundamental shift in how environmental behavior can be incentivized through financial mechanisms. By providing tangible economic benefits for sustainable practices, Quantum Mind Business School has created a self-reinforcing ecosystem where ecological responsibility becomes financially advantageous for all participants.

    Environmental Leadership Defines ECEQ’s Market Position

    Professor Pierre Duboisier, the driving force behind Ecole de Commerce Esprit Quantique, brings a profound personal commitment to the institution’s environmental initiatives. His philosophy emphasizes that finance must transcend simple wealth generation to become a catalyst for meaningful social progress.

    His personal observations of environmental challenges, particularly regarding the Seine River’s ecosystem degradation, have been instrumental in shaping ECEQ’s mission and strategic priorities. This connection to real-world environmental issues reflects Quantum Mind Business School’s commitment to addressing pressing ecological concerns through innovative financial instruments like the ECEQ Token.

    Smart City Development Advances Through ECEQ’s Blockchain Framework

    Quantum Mind Business School is positioning itself at the forefront of a transformative movement that integrates technology, finance, and environmental stewardship. By combining blockchain capabilities, artificial intelligence, and an unwavering commitment to sustainability, the ECEQ Token ecosystem is designed to:

    • Optimize urban resource management through data-driven solutions and automated efficiency mechanisms that enhance city infrastructure and reduce environmental impact.
    • Enhance investment returns while simultaneously generating positive environmental impact, proving that profitability and sustainability can successfully coexist within the same financial framework.
    • Accelerate the ecological transformation of cities worldwide by providing both financial resources and technological frameworks necessary for meaningful change at municipal, regional, and national levels.

    About ECEQ – Ecole de Commerce Esprit Quantique

    Ecole de Commerce Esprit Quantique (ECEQ), also known as Quantum Mind Business School, stands as a pioneering institution operating at the critical intersection of financial innovation, technological advancement, and environmental sustainability. With a comprehensive global vision and steadfast commitment to transformative solutions, ECEQ is actively redefining the role of finance in creating a more sustainable world.

    By combining rigorous financial expertise with cutting-edge technology and ecological consciousness, Ecole de Commerce Esprit Quantique is establishing new paradigms for responsible investment in the 21st century. The ECEQ Token represents the culmination of this visionary approach, offering a tangible mechanism through which financial incentives can drive positive environmental outcomes.

    Contact Information for Quantum Mind Business School

    • Business Name: Quantum Mind Business School
    • Contact Person: Pierre Duboisier
    • Email: service@eceq.org
    • Website: https://eceq.org/
    • Address: 518, 17th St, Denver, CO 80202, United States

    For more information about ECEQ’s innovative sustainable finance initiatives and the ECEQ Token ecosystem, please visit https://eceq.org/ or contact Quantum Mind Business School directly.

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by Quantum Mind Business School. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/11fb9ea0-3ce1-4b00-9924-5bff7e9476cc

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Resident of the Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies of NSU took first place in the poster competition

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    On March 20, the XX International (XXIX All-Russian) Pirogov Scientific Medical Conference was held. Ivan Makhrov, a 2nd-year resident in the specialty “Therapy”, participated from the Center for Postgraduate Medical Education of the Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies (CPME IMMT) of NSU. The head of the residency is PhD, Associate Professor of the Department of Internal Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine and Psychology of NSU Denis Andreevich Deev. Ivan Makhrov won first place in the poster competition in the section “Diseases of the Cardiovascular System”.

    Ivan’s work is devoted to the very complex topic of “Study of risk factors affecting the effectiveness of drug cardioversion in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.”

    — I chose this topic because I like arrhythmology. The complexity of the work is due to the fact that only a small number of institutions in Novosibirsk can perform transesophageal echocardiography (a method of ultrasound examination of the heart using an endoscope with a transesophageal ultrasound sensor) and then perform electropulse therapy, which requires general anesthesia in the patient, — said Ivan Makhrov.

    The work is carried out at the clinical base of the Central PMO IMMT State Budgetary Healthcare Institution of the Novosibirsk Region “Novosibirsk Clinical Central District Hospital” (Krasnoobsk workers’ settlement).

    — There were a large number of participants at the conference, mostly students and residents, with serious clinical work. The level of work on idiopathic pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary embolism was very high. Therefore, it is doubly honorable to win such a competition, — Ivan noted.

    We congratulate Ivan Makhrov on his award and wish him further professional growth.

    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 New Zealand: EIT Auckland Valedictorian fulfils dream after long road to education | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

    Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

    22 minutes ago

    EIT Auckland valedictorian Muddassar Khot has always believed that education has no age limit.

    At 42, he has now graduated with a Master of Information Technology, having balanced work, fatherhood, and student leadership along the way.

    He crossed the stage as one of EIT Auckland’s two valedictorians at a graduation ceremony at the Aotea Centre today (Tuesday, March 25).

    “It’s a huge privilege,” he says. “I wasn’t always the top student, but I’ve always aimed high. I believe if you’re not updated, you’ll be outdated. That’s what kept me going.”

    Originally from India, Muddassar worked in Qatar in the education sector and nearly secured an IT director role in the Middle East. But when the final decision went to someone with a Western qualification, he was motivated to study abroad.

    That goal took time.

    “It took me five years to start the process,” he says. “Initially the plan was for my wife Shaheen to study first and then I would, however, she decided not to and then pushed me to study.”

    He arrived in New Zealand in 2020 to study a Postgraduate Diploma in IT and immediately felt supported at EIT.

    “During lockdown, we were isolated. But EIT acted like family. Cherie and the team organised virtual coffee mornings, moved learning online almost overnight, and made sure no one was left behind.”

    He describes EIT’s culture as one of genuine care.

    “The professors were incredible. They always answered my questions with a smile, even the silly ones. They never made me feel like just a student, but like a friend. That kind of support makes all the difference.”

    He returned to EIT in 2023 to pursue his master’s degree—while working as Lead Networks and Systems Engineer at The IT Team.

    He also juggled study with life at home, where he and Shaheen raise their three children, aged 2, 9, and 13. Their youngest was born during his studies, making the balancing act even more challenging.

    “It was intense. But my wife and kids were understanding, and I couldn’t have done it without my family’s support.”

    Muddassar also served as chairperson of the Student Association and helped organise trips and student support during lockdown.

    “Leadership is something I value deeply. Being a leader means feeling the pain of your team and doing what you can to help.”

    Looking ahead, Muddassar hopes to pursue a PhD and eventually become an entrepreneur.

    He also dreams of opening a not-for-profit organisation for people with visual impairments, inspired by his grandmother and father’s struggles with sight.

    “It’s my mother’s dream too,” he says. “If you can help someone, you should. Education is a treasure that never dies—and through it, we can all help build a better world.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Defence spending: our research shows how Australia can stop buying weapons for the wars of the past

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pi-Shen Seet, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Edith Cowan University

    Department of Defence

    Australia’s defence spending is on the rise. The future defence budget has already been increased to 2.4% of GDP. There is pressure from the new Trump administration in the United States to raise this further to at least 3%.

    The Albanese government has brought forward A$1 billion in defence spending for the 2025 federal budget. The Coalition in turn has promised to spend even more if elected.

    However, it is unclear whether the money will be spent wisely. Our recent research found that current defence planning may leave the Australian Defence Force (ADF) poorly prepared for future conflicts.

    To keep up, Australia must develop capabilities for contemporary “grey zone” operations (coercive statecraft activities that blur the line between peace and war, or fall short of war), as well as future 21st-century conflicts. Priority areas are cyber, information and space technologies.

    Positive signs and missteps

    In the past two years, we have seen a slew of announcements about the current and future capabilities of the ADF.

    Some have been positive. A new Defence Space Command has been set up. The 2023 Defence Strategic Review and 2024 Defence Industry Development Strategy were both promising.

    There have also been missteps. The MRH90 helicopters have been stood down. A $7 billion military satellite project was cancelled. And the Collins class submarines face ongoing problems.

    Defence experts have complained of “a lack of clear purpose and intent, a lack of direct connection between strategic objectives and industry policy, and a continuing project-by-project approach”.

    The ADF acknowledges the need for advanced technological capabilities. However, in practice it is still too focused on platforms and hardware suited more for the conflicts of the past.

    The current context and challenges

    Several Defence reviews over the past 50 years have found that the ADF procurement and acquisition system lacks the agility and resources to adapt to changes in the strategic environment.

    Defence spending as a share of GDP has been declining in Australia since the end of the Vietnam War. Notably, the ADF has focused on reducing costs, lowering errors in defence procurement, outsourcing to industry, and speeding up acquisition.



    Read more:
    FactCheck: is Defence spending down to 1938 levels?

    Despite the recent plans to increase defence budgets, critics argue the strategy is too little, too late. It delays the acquisition of most new capabilities to beyond five years from now.

    On October 30 2024, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy announced a major acquisition of missiles, other guided weapons and explosive ordnance. Many of these acquisitions were simply plugging existing gaps, and would not be ready until at least 2029.

    Many of the acquisitions (such as missiles, 155mm ammunition and submarines) did not quite align with the government’s Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy (DISTS) launched the previous month.

    The hard task of planning ahead

    Making plans for defence procurement is a difficult task. The strategic environment changes quickly, and technology can move even faster. As a result, planned acquisitions may be irrelevant by the time they arrive.

    However, there are ways to get better at forecasting. These include horizon scanning, to spot potentially important developments early, and systemic design for a big-picture approach. These approaches can also be combined with AI-supported analysis tools including scientometrics (which analyses the amount of research in different areas and how it is all linked) and natural language processing.

    We used these tools in recent research funded by the Australian Defence Department to explore the impact of emerging technologies on ADF capabilities.

    Scanning the horizon

    In our first project, we conducted a comprehensive horizon scan of emerging technologies, focusing on cyber, internet of things (or networked smart devices), AI, and autonomous systems.

    We used scientometric research methods, which provide a bird’s-eye view of research into disruptive and converging technologies.

    This was supplemented by a survey asking industry professionals and experts to evaluate emerging technologies. In particular, we asked about their potential impact, likelihood of deployment or utilisation, extensiveness of use, and novelty of use in future conflicts.

    The survey data was analysed using a qualitative, machine-driven, AI-based, data analysis tool. We used it for text mining, thematic and content analyses.

    We found the likelihood of deployment and utilisation of cyber technologies in conflict is very high in the near term, reflecting the growing challenges in this area. Similarly, AI technologies were also singled out for their immediate potential and urgency.

    We concluded that to maintain a competitive edge, the ADF must invest significantly in these priority areas, particularly cyber, network communications, AI and smart sensors.

    Designing better systems

    Our second project was a systemic design study evaluating Australia’s opportunities and barriers for achieving a technological advantage in light of regional military technological advancement.

    The study highlighted ten specific technologies or trends as potential force multipliers for the ADF. We found three areas with immediate potential and urgency: cybersecurity of critical infrastructure, optimisation and other algorithmic technologies, followed by space technologies.

    These findings were reinforced in further research supported by the Army Research Scheme. It found the ADF’s capabilities for operating effectively in the “grey zone” will be strongly facilitated by ensuring it is maintaining its technological edge in the integration of its cyber capabilities and information operations.

    A widespread challenge

    The ADF is not alone in these challenges. For example, successive UK governments have also identified persistent challenges in defence acquisition. These have included issues with budgetary planning due to limited competition, significant barriers to entry for new enterprises, and the constantly evolving geopolitical landscape.

    However, this should not be an excuse. Instead, in line with the Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy, and as our research has found, it should serve as a catalyst for action.

    The ADF should focus on fostering emerging technologies and enabling the development of disruptive military capabilities to deliver asymmetric advantage for the ADF. As Australia’s Chief Defence Scientist notes, this will help get emerging technologies into the hands of our war fighters faster.

    The authors would like to acknowledge the following people from Edith Cowan University who contributed to the research: Helen Cripps, Jalleh Sharafizad, Stephanie Meek, Summer O’Brien, David Suter and Tony Marceddo.

    Pi-Shen Seet received funding from the Australian Department of Defence’s Strategic Policy Grant Program and the Australian Army Research Scheme.

    Anton Klarin receives funding from the Australian Department of Defence’s Strategic Policy Grant Program and the Australian Army Research Scheme.

    Janice Jones receives funding from the Australian Department of Defence’s Strategic Policy Grant Program and the Australian Army Research Scheme

    Mike Johnstone receives funding from the Australian Department of Defence’s Strategic Policy Grant Program and the Australian Army Research Scheme.

    Violetta Wilk receives funding from the Australian Department of Defence’s Strategic Policy Grant Program and the Australian Army Research Scheme.

    – ref. Defence spending: our research shows how Australia can stop buying weapons for the wars of the past – https://theconversation.com/defence-spending-our-research-shows-how-australia-can-stop-buying-weapons-for-the-wars-of-the-past-242788

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: China to strengthen management of off-campus education

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    China’s Ministry of Education on Wednesday unveiled a set of guidelines on the application of a national platform for supervision and services related to off-campus education and training.
    The document states that the platform is a unified public service platform for off-campus training across the country. It provides technical support for the full-process regulation of and services related to off-campus training through website and mobile applications.
    Off-campus education and training organizations should register with the national platform to make public their courses and services, and place all prepayments under supervision, according to the guidelines.
    Students and parents are encouraged to select courses, make payments, request refunds, provide evaluations and lodge complaints through the platform to safeguard their own legitimate rights and interests, the document reads.
    Currently, more than 120,000 legitimate off-campus education and training institutions have been incorporated into the national platform’s unified management system.
    The platform was established in 2021 and officially launched in July 2023.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Strengthening safety and quality in early childhood education and care

    Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

    As we work to build the universal early childhood education and care system that works for families and gives children the best start in life, children’s wellbeing and quality early education and care is the top priority.

    The Albanese Labor Government is taking action to crack down on unscrupulous early childhood education and care providers and strengthen integrity across the care economy.

    Overwhelmingly, children in early childhood education and care are well looked after and the vast majority of providers prioritising child safety and wellbeing.

    However, we know that there are a very small number of providers doing the wrong thing – and when it comes to children’s best interests one dodgy operator is too many.

    While state and territory governments are responsible for ensuring early childhood providers are meeting minimum standards and operating within the Education and Care National Law, the Commonwealth is able to leverage its significant investment in the sector to improve quality and penalise the small number of providers doing the wrong thing.

    The Albanese Government will strengthen Commonwealth regulatory and enforcement powers to deal with providers that put profit over quality and child safety at risk by exploring measures to:

    • Prevent providers who persistently fail to meet minimum standards and repetitively breach the National Law from opening new Child Care Subsidy approved services.
    • Take compliance action against existing providers with egregious and continued breaches, including the option to cut off access to Child Care Subsidy funding where appropriate.
    • Strengthen powers to deal with providers that pose an integrity risk.

    The Albanese Government will consult closely with the sector and with states and territories to ensure these changes don’t negatively impact families and quality providers, only targeting the small number of providers doing the wrong thing.

    Unfortunately, when a dodgy operator is detected and removed from one part of the national care economy they sometimes pop up as an operator in another care sector.

    To stamp this out the Albanese Labor Government will also investigate stronger cross-sector banning order arrangements to stop people who have breached safety and quality standards in one part of the care economy from operating in other care sectors. 

    The Commonwealth will work closely with state and territory governments to put these strengthened arrangements in place.

    The Albanese Labor Government is undertaking significant reform across the early childhood education and care sector to build a system where children have universal access to high quality early learning.

    These reforms are being informed by a number or reports and reviews, along with input from families, the sector and experts.

    To learn more about these reforms visit education.gov.au/early-childhood/announcements/building-universal-early-education-and-care-system

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Anne Aly:

    “There’s no room for any dodgy operators in our early childhood education and care sector or in any part of the care sector.

    “We’re taking swift and divisive action to ensure child safety and improve quality and in the early childhood education sector. I expect state and territory governments to fulfill their regulatory obligations and ensure early childhood education services in their jurisdictions are meeting our world leading quality standards.

    “We know that the overwhelming majority of services and people in the sector do the right thing, but if you’re failing to deliver quality and safe early childhood education you shouldn’t have access to government funding and you shouldn’t be working in the sector.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth:

    “If you’ve done the wrong thing in one part of the care sector, we are going to stop you taking advantage of people in any other area.

    “We don’t want to see dodgy providers in the care economy simply pop up in another.

    “Cross-sector banning orders will help enable coordination and flexibility in preventing banned entities from operating in other parts of the care economy and I look forward to working with states and territories to make them a reality.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Humans are bad at reading dogs’ emotions – but we can learn to do better

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Juliane Kaminski, Associate professor of comparative Psychology, University of Portsmouth

    Seregraff/Shutterstock

    A lot of dog owners believe that they can tell what their dogs are feeling. They believe that they can assess their dog’s emotions no matter the context.

    Yet newspapers frequently publish stories about dogs who attack “out of nowhere”, where owners claim there were “no signs” prior to the attack. A recent US study has found the answer may lie with humans – as it turns out, we’re not very good at interpreting dogs’ emotions.

    Previous research has shown that experience with dogs affects how successful people are in assessing a dog’s emotional state. As a psychologist, the more I know about dogs and the more I study and observe them, the better I become in assessing their behaviour. However, even experts can struggle to get it right.

    In the recent US study, researchers looked at how successful people are at assessing dogs’ emotions from looking at pictures. The images showed the dogs in different postures such as submissive or anxious. Sometimes the context around the dog was positive (for example, the owner approaching the dog with a lead) and sometimes the context around was negative (a person about to scold the dog).

    The study found that the context influenced whether people assessed the dog’s behavioural response as positive or negative even though the posture and other signals didn’t change.

    Research also suggests we have the tendency to misinterpret some facial expressions of dogs. A 2018 University of Lincoln study examined how children aged three to five years old and their parents interpret dogs’ facial expressions.

    Participants were shown pictures of dogs, for example showing bare teeth, which signals high levels of distress. The children especially misinterpreted that as a smiling and happy dog. The study also showed that interventions, which educated participants on how to interpret dogs’ behavioural signals, increased their understanding of dogs’ stress signals (though this was mostly true in the adults).

    We tend to anthropomorphise and attribute human emotions to our dogs. A good example of this is the so-called guilty look. You often see videos on social media in which a dog avoids eye contact with humans, for example turning its head slightly to the side.

    If this happens after the dog has done something they shouldn’t have, the owner may classify this as indicative of shame or guilt. In reality, dogs avoid eye contact as a kind of deescalation behaviour.
    It indicates that they do not want a confrontation. Perhaps the owner has already reacted to the mishap. Or the dog has learned to expect a reaction from the owner in certain situations. Insecure or fearful dogs also often avoid eye contact because they feel threatened or intimidated. However, this behaviour has little to do with shame.

    Another classic misconception is that a dog that wags its tail is a happy and friendly dog. In reality, a wagging tail only means that the dog is aroused. To assess the dog’s emotional state, you also have to consider the position of the tail. If it is standing upright, then this is more a sign of a tense dog. If it is positioned lower and the movement of the tail is relaxed and wide from left to right, then it is probably a friendly signal.

    We anthropomorphise dogs because we have evolved a human-specific way to interpret others’ emotions. If we see a person who pulls up the corners of their mouth and smiles, then we understand them to be happy or at least cheerful. That leads to problems if we apply that system to interpret other species’ emotional expressions.

    So how can we analyse dogs’ emotional expression in an objective way? One approach that scientists use is a technical method called DogFACS. In this method, each facial muscle is assigned a movement on the surface of the face. Facial movements are documented by numbers and analysed separately from each other.

    In 2013 University of Portsmouth researchers went to dog shelters across the UK and filmed dogs for two minutes each. They then analysed the dogs’ behaviour, including their facial expressions.

    The animal shelter told the researchers how long it took for the filmed dogs to be adopted by new owners. Neither barking nor wagging tails influenced the adoption rate, but only a specific eyebrow movement: the so-called puppy dog eyes look. The more often the dogs raised their eyebrows and produced the puppy dog eyes, the quicker they were rehomed. Nothing else had an effect. This could be because the puppy dog eyes resemble a facial movement that we produce when we are sad and makes us want to care for the dog.

    Could you resist those puppy dog eyes?
    SakSa/Shutterstock

    In fact my 2019 study showed that the facial muscle anatomy of dogs has evolved for facial communication with humans. My team compared the facial muscle anatomy of dogs and wolves and demonstrated that the facial muscles of dogs and wolves are identical – except for one muscle, the levator anguli oculi medialis. This muscle is responsible for the lifting of the inner eyebrow in dogs.

    We may not be much good at reading dogs’ emotions but as the University of Lincoln study shows, we can learn to be.

    Juliane Kaminski receives funding from ASAB.

    – ref. Humans are bad at reading dogs’ emotions – but we can learn to do better – https://theconversation.com/humans-are-bad-at-reading-dogs-emotions-but-we-can-learn-to-do-better-252773

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