NewzIntel.com

    • Checkout Page
    • Contact Us
    • Default Redirect Page
    • Frontpage
    • Home-2
    • Home-3
    • Lost Password
    • Member Login
    • Member LogOut
    • Member TOS Page
    • My Account
    • NewzIntel Alert Control-Panel
    • NewzIntel Latest Reports
    • Post Views Counter
    • Privacy Policy
    • Public Individual Page
    • Register
    • Subscription Plan
    • Thank You Page

Category: Education

  • MIL-Evening Report: Laws governing space are 50 years old. New ones are needed to prevent it becoming a ‘wild west’

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yucong Wang, Lecturer, School of Law and Justice, University of Newcastle

    In the first few months of 2025, there’s been a flurry of private venture space missions. Some have been successful, such as American company Firefly Aerospace landing its spacecraft Blue Ghost Mission 1 on the Moon. This was the first successful lunar landing of a privately owned spacecraft.

    But there have also been several recent failures. None have been more spectacular than the repeated explosions of tech billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship rockets in January and March.

    In theory, there are a range of international laws governing these activities. However, most were established roughly half a century ago, before space was within reach of private companies eager to explore it and exploit its untapped resources.

    With this development, there is an urgent need to update laws governing what happens in space, in order to prevent it becoming a kind of “wild west” where tech billionaires and the companies they own can do as they please with little to no accountability, consequence or regard for the public good.

    Laws as old as the Cold War

    Space activities are mainly governed by United Nations treaties. These include the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, the 1972 Liability Convention, and the 1979 Moon Agreement.

    But these agreements were created during the Cold War, when space exploration was shaped by military sensitivities and mainly conducted by nation states.

    Yet private companies are now major players in space. They can bring the allure of space to the masses, for a pretty penny. For example, most of the roughly 11,000 active satellites orbiting Earth are privately owned.

    NASA now relies on partnerships with companies to combine expertise and save costs. The European Space Agency does the same, as do many of the 77 countries with space programs

    Elon Musk has expertly tapped into this trend, securing US$22.6 billion in United States government funding for SpaceX.

    Private spacecraft journeys may combine commercial and national goals. For example, the Blue Ghost Mission 1 was contracted by NASA through its Commercial Lunar Payloads initiative. It carried a suite of NASA science and technology instruments.

    Just days later, another company put a spacecraft on the Moon. Yet the Intuitive Machines Athena spacecraft landed awkwardly. It toppled over and was soon declared dead. It too was carrying expensive NASA cargo.

    National space agencies will continue to rely on company partners in more ambitious ventures. But what happens when things go wrong? How can private companies be held accountable if they damage the property of others, or cause environmental harm on celestial bodies?

    Space traffic

    There is an increasing risk of collisions among satellites, spacecrafts and space debris. And while there are some mechanisms for collision warnings, there is no global approach to assess the risk of collisions.

    The 1972 Liability Convention provides guidance about addressing liability after satellite collisions. However, it only directly applies to states, not private companies.

    If a private company’s spacecraft causes damage, the affected party can only initiate a claim via diplomatic channels against the launching state, not the company itself. The claims pathway can be complex, slow and subject to diplomatic negotiations.

    Also, some satellite operators purchase insurance to cover damage from collisions, wisely bypassing the convention. Insurance creates an efficient private mechanism to address damages, avoiding the need to involve states or navigate the diplomatic processes required under the Convention.

    But space insurance is incredibly expensive, so most satellites are not insured.

    The Outer Space Treaty says countries must avoid contamination of space. But it does not specifically address the problem of accumulated space debris.

    The long-term sustainablity of space activities, including the build up of debris, was not the pressing issue for the treaty’s drafters. Moreover, the treaty’s language is vague, requiring states to act with “due regard” for others’ interests and conduct “appropriate” consultation before undertaking potentially harmful activities. However, it does not define what these terms mean.

    Who owns the resources in space?

    The prospect that humans will be able to collect and sell mineral resources from astronomical objects is edging closer to reality. Initial focus is on the Moon. But who owns the resources on the Moon?

    There is no internationally agreed-upon property rights regime beyond Earth. The US is trying to achieve private ownership of space resources through its 2020 “Artemis Accords”.

    This effort is a big boost to the privatisation of space. But it contrasts with the “common heritage of mankind” concept – the cornerstone of the 1979 Moon Agreement.

    So far 53 countries have signed the Artemis Accords. But only 17 countries are parties to the Moon Agreement. Without clear rules applicable to all space players, lunar exploration and mining by private entities may run into trouble.

    There are many worrying scenarios. A private spacecraft might crash into a country’s lunar accommodation facility due to a lack of “rules of the road” on the Moon. Lunar traffic and mining might cause damage to the Moon’s surface.

    Can private entities be held accountable for this damage? The current space law regime does not address such hypothetical problems that may become real in coming years.

    NASA now relies on partnerships with private companies such as SpaceX to combine expertise and save costs.
    SpaceX/Flickr, CC BY-NC

    Safe and sustainable space exploration

    Space law must evolve to ensure safe and sustainable commercial space travel and lunar exploration. This can only be achieved by building international consensus on new rules for space missions.

    This requires many challenging discussions.

    What types of damage to the Moon should be remediated, and by who? What is the most suitable avenue for affected entities to apply for compensation? What rules should be in place to manage the increased traffic volume in outer space? How can countries be incentivised to strengthen their oversight of their private entity partners in joint missions?

    Perhaps the easiest issue to solve is which side of future lunar highways to drive on. With the US and China leading the way at the moment, it would be on the right side.

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

    – ref. Laws governing space are 50 years old. New ones are needed to prevent it becoming a ‘wild west’ – https://theconversation.com/laws-governing-space-are-50-years-old-new-ones-are-needed-to-prevent-it-becoming-a-wild-west-252014

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Adolescence is a technical masterpiece that exposes the darkest corners of incel culture and male rage

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Cantrell, Senior Lecturer – Writing, Editing, and Publishing, University of Southern Queensland

    Netflix

    Filmed in a one-take style, Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham’s new crime drama Adolescence is being hailed by critics as a technical masterpiece.

    Out now on Netflix, the four-part series follows the fallout surrounding 13-year-old Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper) after he is arrested and later charged for the murder of his classmate, Katie. Co-creator Stephen Graham stars as Jamie’s father, Eddie.

    Adolescence draws inspiration from the United Kingdom’s knife crime epidemic, the rise of incel culture and the brutality of online bullying. These malignant forces combine to create every parent’s worst nightmare.

    However, unlike true crime, where there is often a resolution, there is no escape from the horror.

    The show’s continuous filming style offers no reprieve, and the story itself provides no easy outs – refusing to provide a simple explanation for why an intelligent boy from an “ordinary” loving family would borrow a knife from a friend and, on a casual Sunday evening, stab another child to death.

    While Jamie’s motives remain murky, the show makes one thing clear: today’s teens inhabit an online world that adults, however well-intentioned, are incapable of understanding if they do not listen.

    Anxieties distorted by algorithms

    At the centre of the show’s broken heart is a devastating truth: the most dangerous place in the world for a teenager is alone in their bedroom.

    Trapped in the dark mirror of social media, Jamie – like a growing number of teenage boys – turns to the digital “manosphere” and the grim logic of online misogynists.



    Read more:
    The draw of the ‘manosphere’: understanding Andrew Tate’s appeal to lost men

    He subscribes to the “red pills” of incel culture, so-called truth groups and the 80/20 rule (the theory that 80% of women are attracted to 20% of men, and that women only seek out men who are physically and socially desirable).

    While Jamie is, for the most part, an outwardly “normal” and well-adjusted teen, his explosive rage and aggrieved entitlement is revealed in a climatic scene in episode three, when he intimidates and shouts down a female psychologist (Erin Doherty).

    “You do not control what I do!” he yells. “Get that in that fucking little head of yours!”

    Jamie is quick to apologise when a guard intervenes. “I shouted,” he says. “I’m sorry. Can I have another hot chocolate, please?”

    In one particularly unnerving moment, Jamie recalls his decision to ask Katie out after receiving a topless photo of her on Snapchat.

    “I thought she might be weak cause everyone was calling her a slag,” he says. “I just thought that when she was that weak, she might like me. It’s clever, don’t you think?”

    While the sinister child-teen killer trope has been a mainstay of horror, from Child’s Play (1988) to The Exorcist (1973), Adolescence out-scares its predecessors in its unflinching portrayal of a radicalised misogynist-turned murderer.

    A nightmare with no end

    The show’s most stunning achievement is without a doubt its one-take style. Each hour-long episode is filmed in a single take which, as director Philip Barantini explains, “basically means that we press record on the camera, and we don’t stop until the very end of the hour”.

    Tapping into today’s true crime zeitgeist, the series renders Jamie’s story more real than it actually is by imitating the cinéma vérité style of documentary filmmaking.

    Each episode creates an immersive fly-on-the wall experience that is deeply compelling and uncomfortable. The lack of breaks forces viewers to feel as trapped as the characters, in an unfathomable spiral through confusion, guilt and shame.

    This unease is heightened when the action is shot in claustrophobic spaces, such as inside the family van or a police interrogation room.

    The continuous shooting style makes the viewer feel as trapped as the characters as they spiral through confusion, guilt and shame.
    Netflix

    The soundtrack adds another layer of gritty true crime trauma, with random sirens, slamming doors and thumping discordant notes designed to mirror the inner turmoil of the characters.

    As the story unfolds, it charts the devastating impact of Jamie’s crime on those around him. While Katie’s school friends struggle to process their unfathomable grief, Jamie’s parents must also confront their son’s capacity for cruelty.

    “We made him,” despairs Jamie’s mother (Manda Miller).

    The unbroken style, in this regard, is important for understanding how broken this family is. Because there are no cuts, there is no escape from the nightmare.

    Indeed, Jamie seems to have fallen through the cracks of the social institutions we relied on in the pre-internet age: the schooling system, the judiciary and the family itself.

    Jamie has fallen through the cracks of the schooling system – a social institution that is supposed to help keep him and his peers safe.
    Netflix

    The generational chasm

    The show’s true sympathy lies not with its cast of troubled teens but with the baffled adults around them. Like Jamie’s parents, viewers must surrender to the sorrow and disbelief of never truly understanding what went wrong.

    Adolescence is a convincing portrayal of the widening chasm between parents and their teenage children in a savage, unregulated digital age.

    It is also a social commentary on how little we know about how to communicate with teens effectively.

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

    – ref. Adolescence is a technical masterpiece that exposes the darkest corners of incel culture and male rage – https://theconversation.com/adolescence-is-a-technical-masterpiece-that-exposes-the-darkest-corners-of-incel-culture-and-male-rage-252390

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: First Nations Australians are more likely to present to hospital with asthma and allergies – new research

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Desalegn Markos Shifti, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Child Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland

    Nils Versemann/Shutterstock

    Australia is often called the allergy capital of the world. Allergic diseases – such as allergic asthma, hay fever, eczema and food allergies – affect almost one in five people. And this figure is expected to rise in the years to come.

    An allergy happens when the body’s immune system mistakenly reacts to certain foods or other substances as if they were dangerous.

    But do allergies affect all Australians equally?

    In a recent study, we looked at emergency department (ED) presentations related to asthma and other allergic diseases in central Queensland. The region has a population of 228,246 according to the most recent Census data, and 7.2% of residents identify as First Nations.

    We found First Nations Australians were almost twice as likely to present to hospital with asthma or other allergy-related illnesses compared to other Australians.

    What we did and found

    We analysed 813,112 ED presentations from 12 public hospitals in central Queensland from 2018 to 2023. The hospitals were spread across regional and remote areas.

    Of the conditions we looked at, asthma was the most likely to bring patients to the ED. This was followed by unspecified allergies, atopic dermatitis (or eczema) and anaphylaxis (a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction). First Nations people were more likely than other Australians to present with each of these conditions.

    Overall, we found First Nations people were almost twice as likely to visit an ED for asthma or allergic diseases compared to other Australians. It should be noted that asthma is not always caused by allergies, and in this study we looked at all presentations for asthma, regardless of the cause.

    Our study also found ED visits for allergic diseases among First Nations people increased over time. They were around 1.5 times more common in 2023 compared to 2018.

    Further, we found a notable peak in asthma-related visits to the ED among First Nations people in 2019. This increase may have been partly due to Australia’s Black Summer bushfires during 2019–20.

    Other research has shown ED visits and hospitalisations for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease increased during the Black Summer bushfires. Exposure to bushfire smoke significantly increases the risk of breathing problems and other health issues.

    The increase in asthma-related ED visits could also be linked to the severe flu season in 2019, as flu is known to trigger asthma attacks.

    We looked at ED presentations for allergic conditions such as eczema and anaphylaxis.
    Ternavskaia Olga Alibec/Shutterstock

    Are these findings surprising?

    National data shows asthma is one of the most commonly reported chronic illnesses for First Nations Australians. More than 16% of First Nations Australians reported they had asthma in 2022–23 compared to 10.8% of the general Australian population.

    So it’s not entirely surprising that hospital presentations for asthma were higher among First Nations people.

    However, we were surprised to find First Nations people visited the ED more often for other allergic diseases. Allergies have not necessarily been recognised as an important concern among First Nations people, particularly in remote areas.

    That said, international studies have reported a higher burden of allergic and atopic diseases (eczema, hay fever and asthma) among the Indigenous peoples of Canada.

    How about food allergies?

    Interestingly, we didn’t find any food allergy cases in our data. But some of the “unspecified” allergies could be linked to food allergies, as could some of the cases of anaphylaxis.

    Australian researchers have found differences in the prevalence of food allergies among different groups, but they lacked specific data on First Nations populations. We know little about how common food allergies are in First Nations Australians.

    In a recent national survey, 12% of First Nations people self-reported an allergy to a food, drug, or other substance (compared to 14% in the overall population). But some cases might go unrecognised or unreported, and these data were not broken down into different types of allergies.

    Allergies have not necessarily been recognised as an important concern among First Nations people.
    Bobbi Lockyer/Refinery29 Australia – We Are Many Image Gallery/Getty Images

    Some limitations

    This is the first comprehensive study, to our knowledge, that looks at asthma and allergic disease-related ED visits among both First Nations people and other Australians in an under-researched part of Australia.

    However, we only looked at asthma and allergic diseases treated in the ED, which doesn’t encompass all cases. For example, some people might visit other health services such as GPs when they’re having a less severe allergic episode.

    Ultimately, we need more research to better understand how common allergies and allergic diseases are among First Nations Australians.

    Why do these gaps exist?

    We don’t know exactly why there are disparities in ED presentations for allergic diseases between First Nations people and other Australians.

    One possibility is that asthma and allergic diseases might be more severe in First Nations people, leading to more hospital visits, even if they’re not more common.

    Another reason could be limited access to specialists, especially in rural and remote First Nations communities. Long wait lists to see allergy doctors and their limited availability in some areas could lead to delays in care and make it harder to get the right treatment. This can worsen asthma and allergic disease symptoms, causing patients to seek ED care instead.

    We want to learn more about how allergies affect First Nations people, especially in regional and remote areas, and whether people have unmet needs. In initial conversations with First Nations Australians living with a food allergy, we’ve heard allergies might not be well understood in rural areas. This could be because they’re rare or because traditional lifestyles offer some protection.

    We’re interested in finding out more, especially whether allergies are a concern for First Nations people, and, if so, how we can support communities to develop targeted and culturally respectful strategies to address them.

    Desalegn Markos Shifti is supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)-funded Centre for Food and Allergy Research (CFAR) Postdoctoral Funding.

    Jennifer Koplin receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. She is a member of the Executive Committee for the National Allergy Centre of Excellence (NACE), which is supported by funding from the Australian government.

    Renarta Whitcombe 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. First Nations Australians are more likely to present to hospital with asthma and allergies – new research – https://theconversation.com/first-nations-australians-are-more-likely-to-present-to-hospital-with-asthma-and-allergies-new-research-251720

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Women’s sexual pleasure is still taboo – but the Kamasutra tells a different story

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharha Sharha, PhD Candidate in Kamasutra Feminism, Cardiff Metropolitan University

    A carved erotic scene on the outer wall of temple in Khajuraho complex, India. Cortyn/Shutterstock

    For some people, the Kamasutra is little more than a name associated with condom brands, scented oils and chocolates shaped into erotic positions. In India, where sex remains a taboo subject, this ancient sex manual has often been reduced to merely a “dirty book”.

    But beneath this narrow view lies a deeper message: the Kamasutra is a treatise on sexual autonomy, one that could be revolutionary for women.

    In Indian society, women’s sexual pleasure is often invisible, buried beneath layers of cultural silence. Women are often taught to suppress their desires, their voices stifled by traditions that prioritise male needs. Yet, it was in this very country that the Kamasutra was written.

    Composed in the ancient Sanskrit language in the 3rd century by the Indian philosopher Vatsyayana, the Kamasutra is more than a book about sexual positions. The word “kama” means love, sex, desire and pleasure, while “sutra” translates to a treatise. The text explores relationships, ethics and social norms. It offers a framework for mutual respect and understanding between partners.

    In her 2016 book Redeeming the Kamasutra, scholar of Indian culture and society Wendy Doniger argues that Vatsyayana was an advocate of women’s pleasure as well as stressing their right to education and the freedom to express desire. Far from reinforcing male dominance, the Kamasutra originally emphasised the importance of mutual enjoyment and consent. It presents sex as a shared experience rather than a male conquest.

    Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821 – 1890).
    Rischgitz/Stringer/Wikimedia

    The perception of the Kamasutra as a male-centred sex manual can be traced back to its first English translation by Sir Richard Burton in 1883.

    Burton, a British soldier and explorer, omitted or altered passages that highlighted women’s autonomy. It shifted their role from active participants to passive recipients of male pleasure.

    In contrast, scholars such as Ganesh Saili have argued that the Kamasutra originally depicted women as equal partners in intimacy. According to the text, women communicated their needs through gestures, emotions and words, ensuring that their pleasure was just as valued as men’s. Importantly, conversation played a central role in intimacy, reinforcing the necessity of a woman’s consent before having sex.

    Despite this rich history, Indian society continues to largely suppress discussions around female sexuality. Indian sex educator and journalist Leeza Mangaldas argues that women’s sexual pleasure remains a taboo topic, policed by cultural expectations that dictate women must remain silent, subservient and sexually inactive before marriage.

    Social scientist, Deepa Narayan, argues that this suppression begins at home. Girls are often taught to deny their own bodies and prioritise male desires.

    The title page of the 1883 edition of Sir Richard Burton’s translation.
    Ms Sarah Welch/Wikimedia, CC BY

    This control extends to patriarchal social norms that uphold virginity as a virtue for women while imposing no such expectation on men. Sex is framed as something women “give” rather than something they experience. Pleasure is seen as a right for males but merely an afterthought for females. Sex is for men but for women, it is only for producing babies.

    Yet the Kamasutra itself tells a different story. In its original form, it described women as active participants in their pleasure and compared their sensuality to the delicacy of flowers – requiring care, attention and respect.

    My own research explores “Kamasutra feminism”. This is the idea that this ancient text is not just about sex but about sexual autonomy. It challenges patriarchal norms by promoting women’s freedom to articulate their desires and take control of their pleasure. The Kamasutra rejects the notion that women’s sexuality should be regulated or repressed. Instead, it advocates for mutual satisfaction and consent.

    Doniger describes the Kamasutra as a feminist text, citing its emphasis on women choosing their partners, expressing their desires freely and engaging in pleasurable sexual relationships. It recognises economic independence as a crucial factor in women’s sexual autonomy. Financial freedom is linked to the ability to make personal choices.

    An original Kamasutra manuscript page preserved in the vaults of the Raghunath Temple in Jammu & Kashmir.
    Ms Sarah Welch/Wikimedia, CC BY

    Patriarchy versus sexual liberty

    Ultimately, the Kamasutra represents a clash between patriarchy – where women’s sexuality is controlled – and a vision of sexual liberty. It offers an alternative narrative, one where seduction is about mutual enjoyment rather than male domination. Its teachings encourage open discussions about intimacy, allowing women to reclaim their voices in relationships.

    For more than a century, the Kamasutra has been misinterpreted, its radical message buried beneath layers of censorship and cultural shame. But if we look beyond its erotic reputation, we find a text that speaks to the importance of consent, equality and female agency.

    Reclaiming the Kamasutra as a guide for sexual empowerment could help dismantle deeply ingrained taboos and reshape the conversation around women’s pleasure. In a world where female desire is still widely policed, this ancient manuscript reminds us that women’s pleasure is not a luxury, but a right.

    Sharha Sharha 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. Women’s sexual pleasure is still taboo – but the Kamasutra tells a different story – https://theconversation.com/womens-sexual-pleasure-is-still-taboo-but-the-kamasutra-tells-a-different-story-251987

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dr. Linda S. Durst Elevated to Fellow of The American College of Psychiatrists

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    New recruit Dr. Linda S. Durst, associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UConn School of Medicine and medical director of the Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic at UConn Health, has been named a fellow of The American College of Psychiatrists.

    Durst was prestigiously elevated to the rank of fellow at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Psychiatrists in Hawaii on February 20.

    Durst has been a member of the ACP since 2017. Membership in ACP is limited to psychiatrists who have demonstrated outstanding competence in the field of psychiatry, and who have achieved national recognition. The ACP is a not-for-profit honorary association dedicated to providing continuing education to its members, promoting the latest advances in the specialty, and supporting the highest standards in psychiatry.

    In January Durst joined UConn’s faculty from MaineHealth, where she served as chair of psychiatry. She is a board-certified psychiatrist who practices in general behavioral health and specializes in suicide and violence prevention, grief therapy, quality, and safety.

    She received her medical degree from the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and completed residency training at The Institute of Pennsylvania Hospital.

    “Dr. Durst has an impressive background as a leader in psychiatry, and this important national award from the ACP reflects just that,” shared Dr. David C. Steffens, chair of the Department of Psychiatry at UConn School of Medicine.

    “I am happy to join the UConn Health family and share my knowledge around suicide care, violence screening and quality initiatives with my team,” said Durst. “Returning to the role of Clinician/Educator is very rewarding to me.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Expansion

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced a $4 million expansion of the Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program to include licensed professionals serving children and adolescents at programs licensed or funded by the state. Administered by the state Office of Mental Health (OMH), in partnership with the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), the funding will provide at least 400 awards of up to $30,000 to help mental health professionals serving youth repay education loans and student debt, provided they work a minimum of three years at eligible mental health programs.

    “The effectiveness of New York State’s mental health care system relies on our ability to attract top professionals to do this critical work,” Governor Hochul said. “By expanding the Community Mental Health Loan Repayment program to programs and facilities serving youth, we can help our state retain existing staff and recruit new professionals and avoid experiencing the shortages seen in many other areas of our nation.”

    The Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program provides up to $120,000 for psychiatrists and $30,000 for other mental health professionals to repay qualified education loans and student debt, provided they remain employed by licensed community mental health programs for three years. Program eligibility includes many licensed mental health professionals, including master and clinical social workers; mental health counselors; marriage and family therapists; creative arts therapists, psychoanalysts, and psychologists.

    A high priority for workforce capacity is in the child and youth behavioral health workforce, due to the youth mental health crisis and the need for mental health professionals to address the national emergency in child and adolescent mental health. The expansion will further focus on eligible licensed professionals serving children and adolescents at community programs licensed, designated, or funded by OMH or OCFS to increase access and availability of mental health services for children and youth.

    The latest expansion of the loan repayment program will extend at least 400 awards to OMH and OCFS providers offering direct care mental health services to children or adolescents. This includes children’s day treatment programs, Home Based Crisis Intervention programs, community residence for eating disorder integrated treatment programs, and voluntary foster care agencies, limited secure programs approved under New York City’s ‘Close to Home’ initiative, and runaway and homeless youth programs.

    New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “Growing our youth mental health workforce is critical in expanding access to mental health services for our young New Yorkers. This expansion of the loan repayment program will help us build a mental health care workforce that is truly responsive to our needs today and long into the future. I applaud Governor Hochul’s continued focus on strengthening our mental health care system and ensuring all New Yorkers have the support they need to live and thrive.”

    New York State Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden said, “The tremendous investments that Governor Hochul has made in the mental health system is responsive to the growing needs for supports, services, and opportunities for those who require intervention, as well as individuals who are critical to the system’s workforce. With one in five people in the U.S. suffering from mental health disorders – and alarming rates of youth and children with high-acuity needs – it is necessary to build the career pipeline to support the mental health system. Our mental health professionals are a critical part of supporting the comprehensive well-being of children and youth. OCFS supports the aims of the governor and the Office of Mental Health to bolster the mental health workforce by extending the Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program to licensed professionals serving children and adolescents in OCFS licensed programs.”

    An additional $3 million is available for eligible professionals employed by OMH-licensed providers, including comprehensive psychiatric emergency programs, residential treatment facilities, assertive community treatment teams, children’s day treatment, mental health outpatient treatment and rehabilitative services and crisis stabilization centers. This funding is remaining from previous rounds of the program and will support at least 120 awards, including 60 psychiatrists and 60 psychiatric nurse practitioners or psychiatric physician assistants.

    So far, the program has provided roughly $9.6 million annual loan repayment on behalf of 909 community mental health program employees. This includes 77 psychiatrists, 164 psychiatric nurse practitioners and physician assistants and 668 licensed mental health practitioners.

    Governor Hochul established the loan repayment program in 2022 with $9 million in state funding to help community mental health agencies recruit and retain psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners. The program was expanded in 2023 with an additional $5 million, allowing licensed mental health professionals to apply for awards.

    Nationally, rising rates of mental illness and substance use disorder have created heightened demand for psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, a need that is expected to outpace growth of this area of the workforce. Based on findings from the Center for Health Workforce Studies, New York State is projected to have a shortfall of between roughly 1,180 and 2,650 psychiatrists by 2030.

    The expansion of the loan repayment program reflects Governor Hochul’s steadfast commitment to addressing and improving youth mental health statewide. Her FY 2026 Executive Budget will expand Teen Mental Health First Aid training for high school students to help them respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges; and will add four Youth Safe Spaces across the state to provide a place for young people to access behavioral health wellness resources.

    As part of her landmark $1 billion mental health initiative, Governor Hochul has also significantly expanded access to mental health care and resources for young people and their families –investments that were increased again in the FY25 Enacted Budget. These investments include $20 million in start-up funding and a rolling application process for school-based mental health clinics; and providing $9.6 million to add 12 new Youth Assertive Community Treatment to ensure resources and support are available for more families.

    State Senator Samra G. Brouk said, “As Chair of the Senate Committee on Mental Health, I have actively worked to address the statewide youth mental health crisis while supporting the mental health workforce. I have been fighting to increase support for individuals providing lifesaving care with my legislation to establish a school-based mental health loan repayment program that aids youth mental health practitioners. I applaud Governor Hochul for expanding the Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program to help our mental health workers continue to deliver high-quality, compassionate services for our young New Yorkers.”

    Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi said, “I’m grateful to Governor Hochul for expanding the Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program. This loan forgiveness program helps ensure we have enough qualified professionals to meet the mental health crisis facing our state, particularly impacting our children.”

    Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon said, “Addressing the youth mental health crisis starts with investing in the professionals who are on the front lines, providing essential care and support. Expanding loan forgiveness is a critical investment in our future, strengthening the pipeline of diverse mental health professionals. This will help ensure that young people across New York get the targeted and timely care they need and deserve.”

    Governor Hochul also established the Youth Mental Health Advisory Board, a 30-member advisory board which includes youth between the ages of 11 and 17. The advisory board convenes quarterly and is designed to ensure that youth-informed best practices continue to be incorporated in developing behavioral health programs and policies.

    New York State Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare Executive Director Lauri Cole said, “The 165 members of the New York State Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare applaud Governor Hochul and our tireless colleagues at the Office of Mental Health for having the vision to deliver this important expansion of a critical loan repayment program that focuses on the mental health needs of children, youth and families so we can recruit and retain the workforce needed to serve them. Few things could be more important than ensuring these New Yorkers have quick access to services at a level of care best suited to meet their needs. That can only happen if we incentivize psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, licensed mental health practitioners and others who want to make a difference in the lives of these New Yorkers, but who are often saddled with unmanageable debt.”

    New York State Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies President and CEO Kathleen Brady-Stepien said, “We thank the Governor for prioritizing the mental health needs of youth in the state, and for recognizing the critical importance of the role of our child welfare workforce in the behavioral health spectrum. We are thrilled to see this investment to support staff in achieving their higher education and career goals, as a stable and well-trained workforce is crucial for ensuring quality services, positive outcomes for our children and families, and reduced lengths of stay in foster care.”

    New York State Coalition for Children’s Behavioral Health President and CEO Kayleigh Zaloga said, “We greatly appreciate the prioritization of child-serving practitioners, and the inclusion of providers licensed by OCFS in this expansion of the Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program. It is a welcome step toward strengthening the children’s behavioral health workforce by investing in the practitioners that youth and families rely on. Easing the financial burden of student loan debt is a meaningful benefit that will enable more licensed practitioners to remain in the programs that need them, at a time when community need for behavioral health services continues to rise. As a field largely composed of women, we also want to highlight the value of investing in the children’s behavioral health workforce as a strategy for supporting women’s economic stability at the same time as improving children and families’ access to care.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Police struggle to identify the riskiest domestic abuse perpetrators – here’s how they can do better

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Barry Godfrey, Professor of Social Justice, University of Liverpool

    Shutterstock

    The government cannot achieve its target to halve violence against women and girls if it doesn’t address the most serious perpetrators – and it isn’t anywhere near knowing how to identify them. Our new research shows where they are going wrong, and how they can do better.

    The most recent statistics show that violence against women and girls affects one in 12 women in England and Wales. A quarter of domestic abuse incidents reported to police involve known, repeat perpetrators. But despite being told by government to identify and control the most serious perpetrators, police do not currently have systems good enough to do that.

    Currently, police forces use an algorithm to determine which offenders pose the greatest risk to women and girls. This is known as the RFGV algorithm – perpetrators are propelled up or down a list based on the recency, frequency, gravity (seriousness) of reported incidents, and the vulnerability of the victim.

    The gap in this approach is that it largely treats incidents as isolated, when they should be looked at as a whole. Research has also found it is used inconsistently between forces.

    Most police perpetrator lists contain hundreds or even thousands of people, making them difficult tools to use. They also do not seem to be able to distinguish who the most serious offenders are, with men with very similar profiles near the top, middle and bottom of the lists.

    We propose an alternative method, which would assess the whole of a perpetrator’s record of incidents. This would allow police to identify not only the most dangerous perpetrators, but also opportunities to better address their offending earlier on. This might be with diversion to programmes designed to support better choices and rehabilitation, or arrest and incarceration to prevent them harming other people.

    By joining together incidents recorded by police for individual perpetrators, we constructed detailed case studies using police officer’s notes. Here is a summary of two people who appear in one force’s perpetrator list.

    1. Male born mid 1980s, involved in 340 incidents over 20 years

    His offending begins with an indecent assault on a young teenage girl when he is 19. He is increasingly involved in drug-related offending in his 20s. He is later sentenced to six years in jail for arson endangering life. Released on conditional licence, he is re-convicted of the harassment of his ex-partner and recalled to prison.

    Release is followed by further offences until the mid-2010s when he is imprisoned again. When released, his offending is erratic (low-level public order, violence, threats, drug-related offending).

    Throughout his 30s, he frequently victimises partners and ex-partners. He has no settled address and is homeless at various points of his life. He is still subject to frequent mental health episodes.

    2. Male born early 1980s, involved in 396 incidents over 25 years

    In his teens he was involved in low-level thefts, criminal damage and breaches of an antisocial behaviour order. He was also suspected of selling drugs to schoolchildren, and imprisoned, aged 18, for drug-related violence.

    In his 20s he “associates with” children and is found with a missing vulnerable schoolgirl hiding in his house. He continues to commit offences of criminal damage, drug dealing, and stealing vehicles. Another missing teenage girl is found to be living with him.

    In his early 20s he very violently assaults and harasses much younger partners. He continues to commit public order offences and to threaten, harass, and assault current and ex-partners, kicking his pregnant partner in the stomach.

    In the early 2020s, police attend his ex-partner’s house following abandoned 999 calls – they find him with his hand over her mouth to stop her calling out to the police. He continues to be violent to ex-partners and his involvement in drug-related offending deepens. He is currently in prison for a violent offence.

    Who is the danger?

    Both men pose a real and severe threat of violence to women and girls as well as the public. But the RFGV algorithm places the first man more than a thousand places higher than the second. Clearly treating the offences they commit in isolation is not sufficient to distinguish which man poses the greatest risk.

    A life-course approach, which takes into account the type and pattern of offending as it develops over time, is less susceptible to fluctuations which move an offender rapidly up or down the priority lists. Therefore, it more reliably reflects who poses the greatest risk.

    The current system looks at incidents in isolation.
    Vadim Kulikov/Shutterstock

    A better ranking system is clearly required. The RFGV algorithm provides a “score”, but a more sophisticated system would also evaluate the direction of offending of individuals – is it escalating, more frequent, more serious?

    A life-course approach could be used separately or together with RFGV to allow police analysts to identify the most serious perpetrators. It may also be possible to use artificial intelligence to identify trends in offending and escalation of risk through analysis of thousands of police incident reports in real time.

    The system could then identify opportunities for early intervention which have been shown to be effective in reducing re-offending against current and future victims. It could also automatically trigger warnings to neighbourhood officers, specialist domestic abuse-trained officers, mental health services and so on.

    We won’t really know the full capability until new systems are tried, and evaluated. This also means including the voices of survivors and focusing on the lives of persistent perpetrators – often substance use, homelessness, estrangement, imprisonment and mental health problems are at play. The possibilities of learning from artificial intelligence or other technology should not be privileged over the very sources of the data such intelligence relies upon: victims’ experiences.

    David Gadd currenty receives research grant funding, via the University of Manchester from the ESRC, NIHR, and Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

    Barry Godfrey 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. Police struggle to identify the riskiest domestic abuse perpetrators – here’s how they can do better – https://theconversation.com/police-struggle-to-identify-the-riskiest-domestic-abuse-perpetrators-heres-how-they-can-do-better-247734

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: New report calls for return of human remains – but UK museums lack the resources to act

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By William Carruthers, Lecturer, School of Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Essex

    Shutterstock/David Herraez Calzada

    The display of human remains in museums has long been a contentious issue. Last week, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Afrikan Reparations (APPG-AR) published a report on the African human remains collected by British museums during, and due to, colonialism and the slave trade.

    Introduced by the MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy (the APPG-AR’s chair), and produced by Afford (The African Foundation for Development), the publication of the report, Laying Ancestors to Rest, is another high-profile and meaningful intervention in an area where developments now seem inevitable.

    The report makes a number of recommendations. First, that the sale of human remains should be made illegal in the UK. It also suggests that the Human Tissue Act of 2004 should be amended to make stipulations about remains older than 100 years.

    This would include banning their public display without consent from the Human Tissue Authority and ensuring that museums obtain a licence from the authority for their storage. It’s further recommended that the UK parliament’s culture, media and sport committee should launch an inquiry into restitution.

    Laying Ancestors to Rest should be welcomed. It seems likely to be successful in achieving at least one of its recommendations. Calling for a ban on the trade in human remains in Britain, as the report does, is not particularly controversial.

    However, the report’s blanket approach towards banning the display of human remains without consent is, in the present environment, unlikely to succeed.

    This article is part of our State of the Arts series. These articles tackle the challenges of the arts and heritage industry – and celebrate the wins, too.

    The report itself hints at the reasons for this. The success of its recommendations rests on the financial health of the UK’s museum landscape. Resources matter, not least in terms of the relationships which those resources allow museums to build.

    Instead of a blanket response, developments in this area are likely to be piecemeal – both due to the significant effort required to carry out the task effectively and the limited resources many museums have to do so. In that sense, it is unclear whether calling for a blanket ban now is all that useful, other than as a wake-up call.

    This point is not to absolve museums for their historical part in this situation. It is though, to argue that work in understanding the collections of human remains held by British museums – where they come from, who they might belong to – has, at times (and certainly not in all circumstances), been happening. It is also to clarify what the often slow-paced norms of effective understanding and restitution are.

    In 2020, for example, the University of Oxford’s Pitt-Rivers Museum removed its well-known collection of tsantsa (shrunken heads) from display. The removal happened with a view to working with Shuar and Achuar delegates to decide on the best way forward with regard to the care and display of the human remains. That work continues.

    In 2020 the Pitt-Rivers Museum removed its well-known collection of shrunken heads from display.
    Shutterstock/John Wreford

    A few years earlier, Laura Peers, then curator of the Americas collections at the museum, wrote about the slow, quiet and bureaucratic process of returning a single femur “collected by a missionary as a medical curiosity, from an Indigenous nation with whom I have longstanding professional and personal relationships”.

    Such work is, when it happens, painstaking and careful. Even with the best of intentions, it is not a fast process

    Funding restitution

    The often-halting nature of that work is likely to continue. Museum professionals – particularly newer museum professionals – know that this work has to happen and are, I would argue, in large part invested in doing it.

    In a contemporary funding environment marked by almost continuous cuts, even the most dedicated staff will find their actions curtailed. They may, in some cases, be able to remove remains from display, as the report recommends (and as the Pitt Rivers Museum has done).

    However, securing consent for the limited display of mummified Egyptian bodies, for instance, will be challenging. Without funding, it is difficult to build the relationships necessary for conversations about consent, ownership and restitution.

    In his afterword to the report, Dan Hicks of the University of Oxford writes that “this is a time of immense hope and optimism for British museums”. The problem is that that hope in part rests on the funding that he also admits has been subject to “austerity and swingeing cuts”.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    The contradiction is not difficult to see – particularly when the report’s recommendations are similar to the 2018 one written for French collections by cultural researchers Felwine Sarr and Bénédicte Savoy.

    The Restitution of African Cultural Heritage: Toward a New Relational Ethics, which was commissioned by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, has been widely read. It has catalysed thinking beyond current international legal norms when it comes to restitution.

    Yet progress on the goal of restitution even in France has been slow, at least in part due to the time involved in building the new relationships that the report calls for. There is also the question of whether attitudes regarding restitution within African countries are consistent. By February 2024, France had returned only 26 objects to Benin and one (a sword) to Senegal.

    Worse still, the legislative picture across British collections remains complex. Collections such as the Pitt Rivers Museum have been able to move on restitution because they are university collections. As such, they are subject to different legislation than “national” collections such as the British Museum or the V&A, which were established by acts of parliament and are funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

    As the V&A’s director, Tristram Hunt, recently wrote, the UK’s national museums remain in “debilitating stasis” on restitution. Hunt argues that this is the case because these collections are hampered by the proscriptions of the 1983 National Heritage Act. That act – by rule or by choice, dependent on your view – effectively forbids such collections from disposing of objects, including human remains.

    As Laying Ancestors to Rest recommends, this situation needs to change. The likelihood is, however, that any change will come more slowly and with more deliberation even than the report itself acknowledges is necessary.

    Progress on this issue is by no means impossible. But without real political will and without the money to back it up, a blanket approach to the display and restitution of human remains in British museums remains difficult to enforce.

    William Carruthers works for the University of Essex as Lecturer in Heritage.

    – ref. New report calls for return of human remains – but UK museums lack the resources to act – https://theconversation.com/new-report-calls-for-return-of-human-remains-but-uk-museums-lack-the-resources-to-act-252547

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why I’m training Colombian Amazonians to become archaeology tourist guides

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By José Iriarte, Professor of Archaeology, University of Exeter

    Professor Jamie Hampson discusses the interpretation of rock art with diploma students in front of the Tapirs rock art panel. Jose Iriarte, CC BY-NC-ND

    Diana Vera, a passionate local guide from Serranía de la Lindosa, Colombia, leads a group of sweaty and panting European tourists through the hot, lush Amazonian rainforest. Together, they climb the flattop hill (known as tepui) of Nuevo Tolima. Their destination? A vast, ancient painted wall perched at the very top of the tepui that whispers stories from a time long past.

    As the tourists reach the site, Vera brings history to life. She recounts how archaeology tells us that the first humans arrived here some 13,000 years ago.

    She explains how they left their mark on these landscapes by painting their stories, beliefs and visions of the world on the walls of these hills. Because archaeologists have closely analysed the paintings and their chemical signatures, she can explain how paintings were crafted with local ochre using their fingers and brushes.

    She gestures towards the intricate depictions of animals, plants and people, pausing at an especially intriguing image – a now-extinct ice age “palaeolama” or prehistoric llama.

    Then, she shows them a fascinating hybrid figure – a fusion of bird, deer and human. Much of this artwork is probably shamanic in nature – possibly representing spiritual transformations, most likely induced by hallucinogenic rituals or prolonged fasting.

    After Colombia’s peace process was signed in 2016 between participants in a violent civil war, the rock art of Serranía de la Lindosa became a major draw for research and tourism.

    As well as attracting visitors, this cultural and natural heritage has sparked positive social change in the region. Families of more than 100 tourist guides benefit because tourism provides an economic alternative for these communities.

    It’s a path away from illicit activities such as coca cultivation, destructive deforestation for cattle ranching or joining dissident factions of the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) guerrilla movement.

    Until now, these local guides have largely relied on self-taught knowledge. There are no universities in the region to provide formal education. Little archaeological research has been conducted in this area, so much of its history and heritage remains unexplored.

    To address this gap, my colleagues and I have co-created a diploma degree in cultural heritage management for local tourism guides.

    Our team at the University of Exeter worked closely with Colombian partners including the University of Antioquia, the Secretariat of Culture and Tourism of Guaviare Department and the Geographical Society of Colombia to make sure that the diploma met the needs of local people. This diploma is based on knowledge from our systematic study of archaeology and rock art of the region, as part of a European Research Council-funded project called the LastJourney project.

    A new cultural heritage diploma degree trains archaeology tourist guides in the Colombian Amazon.

    Local community archaeology tourism benefits the heritage, the people and the rainforest. As Colombian archaeologist Javier Aceituno states in The Painted Forest, the 2022 book we co-wrote: “The paintings need the people, and the people need the paintings.”

    The Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History, the national heritage authority, has officially designated la Lindosa as an archaeological protected area. However, like many national parks in the Amazon, there are very limited resources for enforcement and preservation of these large rural areas. Local communities can help protect these rock paintings by controlling access and providing guided visits to the sites.

    Forty people took part in the first iteration of this three-month-long diploma in 2023-2024. Each of three 30-hour modules are delivered in rural communities of Cerro Azul, Nuevo Tolima and Raudal del Guayabero in Guaviare department, Colombia.

    Alongside my colleagues from the University of Exeter and the University of Antioquia, I taught modules in communal village buildings, where we conducted experimental archaeology. This included manufacturing stone tools and recreating paint recipes from scratch, providing a practical, hands-on learning experience bringing archaeology to life.*

    This diploma has empowered communities to take a stronger role in managing their archaeological and bio-cultural heritage. By deepening their understanding of this unique history, communities can better protect and manage their heritage, ultimately enriching the tourist experience.

    Three graduates from the course also visited UK archaeological sites, including Stonehenge in Wiltshire, to explore how such sites are preserved and presented to tourists abroad. At the Ancient Technology Centre in Dorset they learnt how visitors can experience archaeology in creative ways through hands-on experiences and demonstrations of ancient crafts and sustainable building techniques.

    Archaeologists and rock art specialists aren’t just sharing their expertise. My colleagues and I are also learning from Indigenous participants. Victor Caycedo, of the Indigenous Amazonian Desana ethnicity, and Ismael Sierra, from the Tukano people of southern Colombia, bring invaluable ancestral knowledge to the diploma.

    They have shared insights into the shamanic and animistic worldviews that have shaped these landscapes for centuries. Their perspectives add a deeper, living dimension to the study of rock art, bridging past and present in a way that only those rooted in these traditions can reveal, as recently published in the journal Arts.

    For Diana Vera, this diploma represents “learning about heritage and the ancient lifeways of the people of La Lindosa”. She told me that she now better understands “the union of three villages with a single purpose of conservation and preservation” and has a greater sense of belonging to these ancestral places and nature. Most of all, this diploma marks the opportunity for “a new beginning” in this region by introducing more sustainable and responsible tourism, she said.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    José Iriarte receives funding from the European Research Council, Arts and Humanities Research Council (UK), British Academy, National Geographic, Wenner Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research, FAPESP (Brazil), and CAPES (Brazil).

    – ref. Why I’m training Colombian Amazonians to become archaeology tourist guides – https://theconversation.com/why-im-training-colombian-amazonians-to-become-archaeology-tourist-guides-251651

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Can a daily nap do more harm than good? A sleep researcher explains

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Talar Moukhtarian, Assistant Professor in Mental Health, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick

    Olga Rolenko/Shutterstock

    You’re in the middle of the afternoon, eyelids heavy, focus slipping. You close your eyes for half an hour and wake up feeling recharged. But later that night, you’re tossing and turning in bed, wondering why you can’t drift off. That midday snooze which felt so refreshing at the time might be the reason.

    Naps have long been praised as a tool for boosting alertness, enhancing mood, strengthening memory, and improving productivity. Yet for some, they can sabotage nighttime sleep.

    Napping is a double-edged sword. Done right, it’s a powerful way to recharge the brain, improve concentration, and support mental and physical health. Done wrong, it can leave you groggy, disoriented, and struggling to fall asleep later. The key lies in understanding how the body regulates sleep and wakefulness.

    Most people experience a natural dip in alertness in the early afternoon, typically between 1pm and 4pm. This isn’t just due to a heavy lunch – our internal body clock, or circadian rhythm, creates cycles of wakefulness and tiredness throughout the day. The early afternoon lull is part of this rhythm, which is why so many people feel drowsy at that time.

    Studies suggest that a short nap during this period – ideally followed by bright light exposure – can help counteract fatigue, boost alertness, and improve cognitive function without interfering with nighttime sleep. These “power naps” allow the brain to rest without slipping into deep sleep, making it easier to wake up feeling refreshed.

    But there’s a catch: napping too long may result in waking up feeling worse than before. This is due to “sleep inertia” – the grogginess and disorientation that comes from waking up during deeper sleep stages.

    Once a nap extends beyond 30 minutes, the brain transitions into slow-wave sleep, making it much harder to wake up. Studies show that waking from deep sleep can leave people feeling sluggish for up to an hour. This can have serious implications if they then try to perform safety-critical tasks, make important decisions or operate machinery, for example. And if a nap is taken too late in the day, it can eat away from the “sleep pressure build-up” – the body’s natural drive for sleep – making it harder to fall asleep at night.

    When napping is essential

    For some, napping is essential. Shift workers often struggle with fragmented sleep due to irregular schedules, and a well-timed nap before a night shift can boost alertness and reduce the risk of errors and accidents. Similarly, people who regularly struggle to get enough sleep at night – whether due to work, parenting or other demands – may benefit from naps to bank extra hours of sleep that compensate for their sleep loss.

    Nonetheless, relying on naps instead of improving nighttime sleep is a short-term fix rather than a sustainable solution. People with chronic insomnia are often advised to avoid naps entirely, as daytime sleep can weaken their drive to sleep at night.

    Certain groups use strategic napping as a performance-enhancing tool. Athletes incorporate napping into their training schedules to speed up muscle recovery and improve sports-related parameters such as reaction times and endurance. Research also suggests that people in high-focus jobs, such as healthcare workers and flight crews, benefit from brief planned naps to maintain concentration and reduce fatigue-related mistakes. Nasa has found that a 26-minute nap can improve performance of long-haul flight operational staff by 34%, and alertness by 54%.

    How to nap well

    To nap effectively, timing and environment matter. Keeping naps between ten and 20 minutes prevents grogginess. The ideal time is before 2pm – napping too late can push back the body’s natural sleep schedule.

    The best naps happen in a cool, dark and quiet environment, similar to nighttime sleep conditions. Eye masks and noise-cancelling headphones can help, particularly for those who nap in bright or noisy settings.

    Despite the benefits, napping isn’t for everyone. Age, lifestyle and underlying sleep patterns all influence whether naps help or hinder. A good nap is all about strategy – knowing when, how, and if one should nap at all.

    For some it’s a life hack, improving focus and energy. For others, it’s a slippery slope into sleep disruption. The key is to experiment and observe how naps affect your overall sleep quality.

    Done wisely, naps can be a valuable tool. Done poorly, they might be the reason you’re staring at the ceiling at midnight.

    Talar Moukhtarian previously received funding from UKRI Medical Research Council (MRC).

    – ref. Can a daily nap do more harm than good? A sleep researcher explains – https://theconversation.com/can-a-daily-nap-do-more-harm-than-good-a-sleep-researcher-explains-251630

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Women’s sexual pleasure is still taboo – but the Kamasutra tells a different story

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sharha Sharha, PhD Candidate in Kamasutra Feminism, Cardiff Metropolitan University

    A carved erotic scene on the outer wall of temple in Khajuraho complex, India. Cortyn/Shutterstock

    For some people, the Kamasutra is little more than a name associated with condom brands, scented oils and chocolates shaped into erotic positions. In India, where sex remains a taboo subject, this ancient sex manual has often been reduced to merely a “dirty book”.

    But beneath this narrow view lies a deeper message: the Kamasutra is a treatise on sexual autonomy, one that could be revolutionary for women.

    In Indian society, women’s sexual pleasure is often invisible, buried beneath layers of cultural silence. Women are often taught to suppress their desires, their voices stifled by traditions that prioritise male needs. Yet, it was in this very country that the Kamasutra was written.

    Composed in the ancient Sanskrit language in the 3rd century by the Indian philosopher Vatsyayana, the Kamasutra is more than a book about sexual positions. The word “kama” means love, sex, desire and pleasure, while “sutra” translates to a treatise. The text explores relationships, ethics and social norms. It offers a framework for mutual respect and understanding between partners.

    In her 2016 book Redeeming the Kamasutra, scholar of Indian culture and society Wendy Doniger argues that Vatsyayana was an advocate of women’s pleasure as well as stressing their right to education and the freedom to express desire. Far from reinforcing male dominance, the Kamasutra originally emphasised the importance of mutual enjoyment and consent. It presents sex as a shared experience rather than a male conquest.

    Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821 – 1890).
    Rischgitz/Stringer/Wikimedia

    The perception of the Kamasutra as a male-centred sex manual can be traced back to its first English translation by Sir Richard Burton in 1883.

    Burton, a British soldier and explorer, omitted or altered passages that highlighted women’s autonomy. It shifted their role from active participants to passive recipients of male pleasure.

    In contrast, scholars such as Ganesh Saili have argued that the Kamasutra originally depicted women as equal partners in intimacy. According to the text, women communicated their needs through gestures, emotions and words, ensuring that their pleasure was just as valued as men’s. Importantly, conversation played a central role in intimacy, reinforcing the necessity of a woman’s consent before having sex.

    Despite this rich history, Indian society continues to largely suppress discussions around female sexuality. Indian sex educator and journalist Leeza Mangaldas argues that women’s sexual pleasure remains a taboo topic, policed by cultural expectations that dictate women must remain silent, subservient and sexually inactive before marriage.

    Social scientist, Deepa Narayan, argues that this suppression begins at home. Girls are often taught to deny their own bodies and prioritise male desires.

    The title page of the 1883 edition of Sir Richard Burton’s translation.
    Ms Sarah Welch/Wikimedia, CC BY

    This control extends to patriarchal social norms that uphold virginity as a virtue for women while imposing no such expectation on men. Sex is framed as something women “give” rather than something they experience. Pleasure is seen as a right for males but merely an afterthought for females. Sex is for men but for women, it is only for producing babies.

    Yet the Kamasutra itself tells a different story. In its original form, it described women as active participants in their pleasure and compared their sensuality to the delicacy of flowers – requiring care, attention and respect.

    My own research explores “Kamasutra feminism”. This is the idea that this ancient text is not just about sex but about sexual autonomy. It challenges patriarchal norms by promoting women’s freedom to articulate their desires and take control of their pleasure. The Kamasutra rejects the notion that women’s sexuality should be regulated or repressed. Instead, it advocates for mutual satisfaction and consent.

    Doniger describes the Kamasutra as a feminist text, citing its emphasis on women choosing their partners, expressing their desires freely and engaging in pleasurable sexual relationships. It recognises economic independence as a crucial factor in women’s sexual autonomy. Financial freedom is linked to the ability to make personal choices.

    An original Kamasutra manuscript page preserved in the vaults of the Raghunath Temple in Jammu & Kashmir.
    Ms Sarah Welch/Wikimedia, CC BY

    Patriarchy versus sexual liberty

    Ultimately, the Kamasutra represents a clash between patriarchy – where women’s sexuality is controlled – and a vision of sexual liberty. It offers an alternative narrative, one where seduction is about mutual enjoyment rather than male domination. Its teachings encourage open discussions about intimacy, allowing women to reclaim their voices in relationships.

    For more than a century, the Kamasutra has been misinterpreted, its radical message buried beneath layers of censorship and cultural shame. But if we look beyond its erotic reputation, we find a text that speaks to the importance of consent, equality and female agency.

    Reclaiming the Kamasutra as a guide for sexual empowerment could help dismantle deeply ingrained taboos and reshape the conversation around women’s pleasure. In a world where female desire is still widely policed, this ancient manuscript reminds us that women’s pleasure is not a luxury, but a right.

    Sharha Sharha 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. Women’s sexual pleasure is still taboo – but the Kamasutra tells a different story – https://theconversation.com/womens-sexual-pleasure-is-still-taboo-but-the-kamasutra-tells-a-different-story-251987

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Argentina: despite the scandals, Milei’s politics are here to stay

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Juan Pablo Ferrero, Senior Lecturer in Latin American Politics, University of Bath

    The Argentinian president, Javier Milei, is going through the toughest moment of his short but remarkable political career. He is facing impeachment calls – as well as legal action – over his promotion of a cryptocurrency on social media.

    The cryptocoin $Libra, which Milei mentioned in a social media post on February 14, quickly rose in value before nosediving, causing severe losses for people who had invested in it. Milei has insisted that his post did not constitute an endorsement.

    “I’m a techno-optimist … and this was proposed to me as an instrument to help fund Argentine projects,” he said in a television interview. “It’s true that in trying to help out those Argentines, I took a slap in the face.”

    I doubt this is it for Milei. But even if it is the beginning of the end, Milei’s politics are here to stay. His leadership style, discourse and actions represent an emerging constituency with both a present and a future.

    This is because Milei is not, in my opinion, the effect of a crisis of representation. He is instead a faithful representative of a new reactive society emerging worldwide, which is largely sceptical of institutional mediation and values problem solvers and strong executives.

    People at the inauguration of Javier Milei in December 2023.
    Facundo Florit / Shutterstock

    To explore this phenomenon, imagine if you will, “Ricardo”, a fictitious yet representative member of a vulnerable segment of Argentina’s workforce. People like Ricardo returned to the labour market after the pandemic with precarious jobs and lower wages.

    He is a delivery worker who uses multiple digital platforms to earn a living. His life, characterised by the gig economy and labour informality, reflects a broader trend affecting around 50% of workers in Argentina.

    Ricardo had previously voted for Argentina’s left-wing leader, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. But he voted for Milei in the last election, as did many others, and says he would vote for Milei again today. His sympathy for Milei has grown over the year he has been in office.

    According to a recent poll put together by political consultancy firm Tendencias, 89.6% of those who voted for Milei in the 2023 general election were happy with their choice. A growing share of Argentina’s population seemingly approves of the Milei administration.

    During the pandemic, Ricardo’s ability to support his family was diminished by government-imposed restrictions on travel and movement. These restrictions, which were often violently enforced by security forces, pushed him into poverty. The rate of poverty in Argentina increased to over 40% during the pandemic.

    This experience led Ricardo to feel a sense of satisfaction when Milei began mass layoffs of public employees to cut public spending. He thought this was payback time for those in the public sector, with job security, who did not have to endure what he had to during the pandemic.

    For Ricardo, they were all ñoquis (gnocchi), a slang term widely used in Argentina to refer to public employees who receive a salary but allegedly do little work. These workers are called ñoquis because many Argentinians traditionally eat gnocchi on the 29th day of every month, around the time people receive their monthly paychecks.

    Ricardo consumes all of the short clips circulating online from television interviews and talks at international forums of Milei “destroying” career politicians, whom he calls la casta (the caste). Milei sees the main aim of the caste as the reproduction of themselves, so he advocates for a small state or no state at all. Milei believes that nearly everything should be privatised.

    While Ricardo thinks politicians should be compensated for their job, many from across Argentina’s political spectrum have become extremely wealthy, so he’s with Milei on this one too. He even wears a chainsaw as a key ring – a nod to Milei’s promise to slash the size of the state.

    Ricardo acknowledges that life has become very expensive in Argentina since Milei took office. This is because, while inflation has gone down, the Argentinian peso has gained value, making Argentina one of the most expensive countries in the world. However, he believes this remains a price worth paying for a stable and prosperous Argentina.

    The aforementioned poll suggests that many Argentinians feel that their economic situation is better than a year ago, and will improve over the course of the next six months. Inflation, which was the leading concern in most polls ahead of the election, has fallen to sixth place.

    Ricardo is persuaded by Milei’s mantra: “If printing money would end poverty, printing diplomas would end stupidity”. And in recent times, Ricardo has spent his scarce leisure moments watching videos on his phone where internet influencers teach him how to multiply his dwindling income by investing in cryptocurrencies that promise high returns in a short time.

    In Argentina, like many other areas of the world, the appetite for gambling or investing in highly risky ventures such as cryptocurrency has multiplied as a means to win money fast. This is especially true among young people, often with devastating consequences.

    Representation of a new society

    There is a new political subject emerging worldwide marked by the precariousness of new forms of work, whose socialisation occurs in the digital world dominated by influencers. These people see the state not only as unnecessary, but as an enemy to be destroyed and distrust all institutional political intermediaries. Milei represents this new society.

    The process by which an issue becomes a subject of political debate and action has also changed. Solutions to single issues have replaced political programmes with complex visions about the future as the main source of popular validation. Big personalities can carry this forward more successfully than bureaucratic political parties.

    Presidents have become more like city majors judged by their ability to provide solutions to a single issue. In the case of Milei, it’s inflation. For Nayib Bukele in El Salvador, it’s security. And for Donald Trump in the US, it’s China.

    The figureheads of new political formations might change, but the politics of these formations will not.

    Juan Pablo Ferrero 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. Argentina: despite the scandals, Milei’s politics are here to stay – https://theconversation.com/argentina-despite-the-scandals-mileis-politics-are-here-to-stay-250183

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko discussed the national project “Youth and Children” with State Duma deputies

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    March 18, 2025

    Dmitry Chernyshenko discussed the national project “Youth and Children” with State Duma deputies.

    Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko presented the passport of the national project “Youth and Children” and the results of the implementation of youth policy for 2024 during a meeting of the State Duma Committee on Youth Policy.

    Dmitry Chernyshenko congratulated those present on the Day of Reunification of Crimea and Sevastopol with Russia, thanked the State Duma deputies who work in the regions, locally, and also emphasized the importance of cooperation.

    “The national project “Youth and Children” covers a huge audience. This is over 50 million people, or a third of the population of our country, and taking into account those involved and involved – parents, teachers and mentors – half of all citizens. The goals and objectives that are spelled out in the national project are based on the successful implementation of the national projects “Education” and “Science and Universities”. As promised to President Vladimir Putin, we took the best and supplemented it with tools for modernizing the most important areas of life in our country. The success of Russia and its future depend on the level of education, and science is the basis of technological development – this is what the head of state says,” the Deputy Prime Minister noted.

    Thanks to the national project “Science and Universities”, 940 youth laboratories and 15 world-class scientific and educational centers have been created, in which about 330 billion rubles of extra-budgetary funds have been invested. The instrument base of scientific organizations has been updated by more than 60%. The indicators of the national project “Education” have been met. In total, during its implementation throughout the country in more than 1.5 thousand schools, this helped to create about a million new places for children.

    Since this year, many instruments that have proven their effectiveness are being implemented within the framework of the state programs “Education Development” and “Scientific and Technological Development”, as well as the new national project “Youth and Children”. It includes 9 federal projects and 165 events. They will ensure the achievement of the national goal – the realization of the potential of each person, the development of their talents, the education of a patriotic and socially responsible person.

    Among the tasks for 2030, the Deputy Prime Minister indicated that 45% of young people should be involved in volunteer and social activities and 85% should support traditional spiritual and moral values. In addition, 75% of young people will be involved in events aimed at professional self-realization, 12 leading schools for gifted children will be opened and more than 8 thousand schools will be overhauled, at least 2 million specialists in blue-collar jobs for key sectors of the economy will be trained, another 800 youth laboratories and 50 advanced engineering schools will be created, 25 university campuses will be built and 800 dormitories will be renovated.

    According to Dmitry Chernyshenko, among the important tasks of the national project “Youth and Children” is the formation and development of a patriotically minded generation of Russian citizens capable of ensuring the sovereignty, competitiveness and future of Russia based on traditional spiritual and moral values defined by the decree of the President.

    In conclusion, Dmitry Chernyshenko answered questions, including about the development of the mentoring institute, a comprehensive system of measures to support volunteering, and the implementation of additional professional education programs. He also gave a number of instructions, including analyzing existing measures to support mentors in the regions, developing proposals for creating regional and municipal programs for such support, and taking into account comments when developing the draft Concept for the Development of Mentoring in the Russian Federation until 2030.

    The event was attended by the head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs Grigory Gurov, Deputy Minister of Education Irina Shvartsman, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Andrei Omelchuk, as well as State Duma deputies.

    “The national project “Youth and Children” is aimed at achieving the national goal of Russia’s development – the realization of the potential of each young person, their talents, the education of a patriotic and socially responsible person. It consists of nine federal projects, three of which are under the jurisdiction of Rosmolodezh, others – under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia. The total budget of the national project is over 3.7 trillion rubles. The opportunities that are opened up to the audience of the national project cover all stages of growing up and becoming a young person,” said Grigory Gurov.

    He also said that the main measures of the national project include the presidential program “Region for the Young”, projects of the platform “Russia – the Country of Opportunities”, year-round youth educational centers, development of the volunteer ecosystem, implementation of international programs, support for children’s and youth initiatives within the framework of thematic projects and competitions, construction of modern schools and campuses, development of infrastructure for training specialists in blue-collar jobs, support for student families, increasing the prestige of Russian education in the world, and others.

    Deputy Minister of Education and Science Andrey Omelchuk noted that federal projects implemented by the ministry are aimed at significantly updating the educational infrastructure and involving students in professional and scientific activities.

    “Special attention is paid to such programs as Priority 2030, as well as the creation of a network of campuses and advanced engineering schools, youth laboratories. They contribute to the development of universities and the training of engineering personnel for the implementation of technological projects. In addition, international initiatives are planned to attract foreign students, which will strengthen Russia’s position in the global educational space,” he added.

    Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Youth Policy Artem Metelev noted that, at the initiative of the committee, five results were included in the national project “Youth and Children”. One of them should be the adoption of a law aimed at systematizing and expanding support measures for youth and children’s non-profit organizations.

    “The goal is to improve the mechanism of state support for sectoral NPOs, create a digital registry and a clear list of support measures at all levels. All this is being done so that the “third sector” is also integrated into achieving the goals and objectives of the national project “Youth and Children”, and the support provided to it is linked to specific results and social effects,” said Artem Metelev.

    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 –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Kemp Appoints State DOL Commissioner

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA – Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced his appointment of Bárbara Rivera Holmes as Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Labor. Joined by her family and supporters, she will be sworn into office on April 4th and serve the remainder of the term won by Bruce Thompson in 2022, who sadly passed away last November.

    “Marty and I are proud to make this historic announcement and to congratulate Bárbara Rivera Holmes on her new leadership role that will benefit our entire state,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “As someone who has a proven track record of success in economic development and education, I know she will bring the same level of dedication to this position that she has to the people of Dougherty County and the surrounding area. I wish her continued success, both for her career and office, but especially on behalf of the hardworking people of Georgia.”

    “Marty, the girls, and I also want to thank Louis DeBroux and the leadership team at the Department of Labor who have kept the Department moving forward after the painful loss of Bruce Thompson last year,” Governor Kemp continued. “Their hard work and uninterrupted commitment to the people of our state will not be forgotten.”

    “Throughout my career, I’ve been committed to creating opportunities and building stronger communities by fostering partnerships and statewide alliances that drive job growth, tap into our state’s talent and enhance Georgia’s competitiveness,” said Bárbara Rivera Holmes. “I’m grateful to Governor Kemp for the opportunity to build on this work, pledging to always put Georgians first as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Labor. I look forward to working alongside my fellow constitutional officers and Team Georgia as champions of our great state.”

    “Bárbara is an excellent choice for Commissioner of Labor,” said former Governor Nathan Deal. “She brings years of experience in economic development, workforce, and higher education to the job. Bárbara will join a talented team helping ensure our state continues to be the best place for business, raise a family, and call home.”

    “I want to extend my congratulations to Bárbara Rivera Holmes on her appointment to serve as Georgia’s Labor Commissioner,” said Lt. Governor Burt Jones. “As we continue to mourn the loss of our dear friend and former Commissioner Bruce Thompson, we warmly welcome Ms. Rivera Holmes. Her role as the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, along with her extensive background in business and workforce development, make her a great fit to take on this important role. I look forward to working with her on key issues impacting Georgia’s businesses, workforce, and overall economic success.”

    “The Georgia House is incredibly excited to welcome Bárbara Rivera Holmes into her new role as Commissioner of Labor,” said Speaker of the House Jon Burns. “Her wealth of experience in economic development and small business advocacy will undoubtedly be invaluable as we continue our efforts to strengthen Georgia’s workforce in every corner of the state.”

    “Bárbara Rivera Holmes has been for many years a fierce advocate for Georgia’s workforce and economic development, and she’s been a strong partner in our fight to combat fraud and cybercrimes in Southwest Georgia and beyond,” said Attorney General Chris Carr. “We’re proud to join in congratulating her on this historic appointment, and we look forward to continuing to work together to ensure that Georgia remains the best place to live, work, and build a business.”

    “I am thrilled to congratulate my friend and a Great Georgian, Bárbara Rivera Holmes, on her historic appointment to serve as Georgia Labor Commissioner,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. “As a longtime resident of Albany, I know Bárbara has a deep understanding of Georgia’s No. 1 industry, and she knows that for Georgia’s farm families, agriculture is more than just a job or a hobby – it is our way of life. I’m excited to welcome Barbara to our fantastic team of Constitutional Officers, and I look forward to working together to deliver for Georgia farmers and consumers alike.”

    “With a long history of hard work and strong leadership, there is no doubt that Bárbara Rivera Holmes will create lasting, positive changes in our state,” said Insurance Commissioner John King. “She brings an incredible depth of experience and understanding of the challenges Georgians face, and I look forward to working with her to move Georgia towards a brighter future.”

    “I’ve known Bárbara Rivera Holmes for quite a while now and I congratulate her on her appointment,” Public Service Commission Chairman Jason Shaw said on behalf of his fellow Commissioners. “She is one of the true champions of South Georgia and the entire state. Her dedication to community service, economic development, and higher education will certainly provide her a solid base as she begins work as our newest Labor Commissioner.”

    “I commend Governor Kemp for appointing Bárbara Rivera Holmes as Georgia’s Labor Commissioner,” said Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. “Her expertise in economic development has positively impacted many lives in Southwest Georgia, and I’m optimistic about her extending that success statewide. I also want to express my gratitude to Louis DeBroux for his leadership in continuing the work of our friend Bruce Thompson and working tirelessly to improve the lives of all Georgians.”

    “I wish to congratulate Bárbara Rivera Holmes on her historic appointment as Georgia’s Commissioner of Labor, and I look forward to the valuable perspective she’ll bring to the role as someone rooted in rural Georgia,” said State School Superintendent Richard Woods. “Education and workforce concerns are so closely intertwined, and I look forward to working with Commissioner Rivera Holmes to ensure a prosperous future for our students and our state as a whole.”

    “As a former regent for the University System of Georgia, Bárbara Rivera Holmes understands the university system provides talent flow for industry,” said University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue. “Combined with her longtime experience leading the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, she knows how to build community, solve business challenges, and partner with decision-makers, employers, and innovators. We look forward to working with her closely as she develops a workforce for Georgia’s future.”

    Bárbara Rivera Holmes is president and CEO of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce. She is also CEO of the Albany Area Chamber Foundation. Under her leadership, the organizations build economic opportunity, community, and a path forward for Albany’s future by solving businesses’ greatest challenges, working with decisionmakers to inform smart policy, and partnering with employers and educators to build a modern and adaptive workforce.

    Previously, she served as Vice President of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission (ADEDC), overseeing the development of its brand, marketing campaigns, and its successful business retention and expansion program which facilitates existing industry job creation and capital investment in Albany-Dougherty County.

    Prior to her work at the ADEDC, Holmes was the senior business writer with The Albany Herald, where she earned four Georgia Associated Press awards for excellence in journalism. In 2018, she was appointed by former Governor Nathan Deal to the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and also served as co-chair of the Georgia Innovates Task Force to help design the state’s innovation blueprint. Earlier this year, Governor Brian Kemp appointed Holmes to the House Rural Development Council.

    A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Holmes is fluent in Spanish. She graduated as a double major from Florida Southern College, where she studied Journalism and Spanish. Holmes lives in Albany with her husband, David, and their daughter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: HSE Ranks Second Among Universities Participating in the Priority 2030 Program

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The HSE team successfully defended the university development program before the Council for Support of Development Programs for Higher Education Organizations and took second place among the participants.Priority-2030” In total, 119 universities will receive support, including 100 in the main track.

    The Council for Support of Development Programs for Universities Participating in Priority 2030, chaired by the Minister of Education and Science Valery Falkov, approved the list of participants in the main track of the program.

    Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko said that the updated architecture of the Priority 2030 program evaluates the target model of the university and its focus on achieving technological leadership by our country. “An important result is the strengthening of the connection between universities and the real sector of the economy,” he says.

    A distinctive feature of the current council is the new view of universities on their development programs. The focus of universities was on specific projects for interaction with industry, noted the head of the Ministry of Education and Science Valery Falkov.

    From 2025, the focus of the Priority 2030 program is on achieving technological leadership for Russia, including through the implementation of strategic technological projects of universities – projects whose goal is to accelerate the transition of research results in various fields of science and technology into technological innovations with high commercial potential and significant impact on society.

    HSE, along with ten other universities, entered the first group of the ranking of universities participating in the Priority 2030 program, taking second place.

    In the updated HSE Development Program identified three strategic technology projects planned for implementation by 2030 and for the future up to 2036: “National Center for Socio-Economic and Scientific-Technological Forecasting”, “Complex of Technologies for Trusted 6G Communication Systems” and “Multi-Agent Platform for AI Solutions for Industry Tasks”.

    HSE Vice-Rector Elena Odoevskaya noted that the university is implementing its unique strategy and “our results are noticeable not only in Russia, but also beyond its borders.”

    “The quality of our programs, research and development is confirmed by the demand among students, businesses and the state. Our result at the defense is a victory for the entire university, which would not have been possible without the involvement of the entire team in developing the development program and achieving our target indicators for the university’s development,” she emphasized.

    Nikita Anisimov, Rector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics

    “For the Higher School of Economics, the course on creating new technologies is a strategy that has been consistently implemented by our research teams since 2021. Successful defense within the framework of the Priority program is in many ways a recognition of the correctness of this approach. Today, we set ourselves the ambitious task of increasing the capitalization of our intellectual potential by an order of magnitude in the next five years, primarily through the creation and patenting of new technological developments. For HSE, this is a real challenge, because we are not a technological university created to solve such problems, but a multidisciplinary university with some of the best competencies in the country in the socio-economic and humanities.”

    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 –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘Politically weakened’ or ‘muddling through’ – Luxon and Hipkins ranked on their mid-term prospects

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grant Duncan, Teaching Fellow in Politics and International Relations, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

    Getty Images

    We’re roughly half way through this parliamentary term, and it looks as though the 2026 election could deliver “Christopher vs Chris: the sequel”.

    Neither leader is currently riding high, though. National’s Christopher Luxon and Labour’s Chris Hipkins are both scoring in the low 20s in the most recent preferred prime minister polls.

    Most voters, it seems, are ambivalent or unimpressed with them. And Luxon has been the subject of media speculation about a possible leadership change.

    But it pays to be cautious, especially this far from an election. Leadership is a complex mix of individual ability, career stage and political context.

    We can think of political leaders having a “stock” of leadership “capital” that fluctuates over time. They build up credit or authority, but they have to spend it. Former supporters can become bored, disappointed or disillusioned.

    Any assessment of a leader will involve some subjective judgements. But the Leadership Capital Index (LCI) was developed by three British and European political scientists as a framework for scoring leadership on a range of sliding measures.

    As this example using former British prime minister Tony Blair shows, the LCI accounts for a leader’s skills, support and reputation based on their performance, polling and prospects over time.

    I applied the LCI to Hipkins and Luxon. Ideally, this would be conducted by a panel, and more than once over a career. But readers are welcome to examine and comment below on my assessments – a virtual panel, if you like. You can see more detail about my reasoning here.

    The LCI’s ten factors are a mixture of the objective and subjective, adding up to an overall ranking of a leader’s political capital on a five-point scale:

    • depleted – “lame duck”

    • low – “politically weakened”

    • medium – “muddling through”

    • high – “momentum”

    • exceptional – “political weather maker”.

    Neither Luxon nor Hipkins performed very well: Luxon came out on the low-capital range looking “politically weakened”, while Hipkins was “muddling through” on medium capital.

    Leadership capital changes over time, and the LCI takes account of that. This assessment relates to mid-March 2025.

    The Leadership Capital Index

    1. Political/policy vision: (1. Completely absent. 2. Unclear/inconsistent. 3. Moderately clear/consistent. 4. Clear/consistent. 5. Very clear/consistent.)

    I’ve given both leaders 4 out of 5 here. Both have presented clear and consistent political and policy visions. Readers who disagree will see I take some relevant issues into account in the items below.

    2. Communication performance: (1. Very poor. 2. Poor. 3. Average. 4. Good. 5. Very good.)

    Luxon has been struggling here. His failure to give broadcaster Mike Hosking a straight answer about a cabinet sacking didn’t help, and he has been criticised for his corporate speaking style. Hipkins has performed better as a communicator (regardless of your views on his values). I’ve given Luxon 2/5 and Hipkins 4/5.

    3. Personal poll rating relative to the most recent election: (1. Very low (–15% or less), 2. Low (–5 to –15%), 3. Moderate (–5% to 5%), 4. High (5-15%), 5. Very High (15% or more).)

    This is an objective numerical measure based on preferred prime minister polls just before the 2023 election compared with the most recent ones. Both Luxon and Hipkins score 3/5.

    4. Longevity (time in office as prime minister): (1. less than 1 year. 2. 1-2 years. 3. 2-3 years. 4. 3-4 years. 5. More than 4.)

    At March 2025, Luxon gets 2/5 and Hipkins gets 1/5. If we included time in office as party leaders, the numbers would be higher.

    5. Selection margin for party leadership: (1. Very small (less than 1%). 2. Small (1-5%). 3. Moderate (5-10%). 4. Large (10-15%). 5. Very large (more than 15%).)

    Both leaders were elected as party leader by their respective caucuses. These votes are private, but it’s known Hipkins’ selection was unanimous. I believe Luxon also won by a large margin (greater than 15%). So they both get 5/5.

    6. Party polling relative to most recent election result: (1. –10% or lower. 2. –10% to –2.5%. 3. –2.5% to +2.5%. 4. +2.5% to 10%. 5. More than 10%.)

    In early March, Labour was polling in the low 30s, up from an election result of 26.9%. So Hipkins gets 4/5. National was also polling in the low 30s, down from 38.1%. So Luxon gets 2/5.

    7. Levels of public trust: (1. 0-20%. 2. 20-40%. 3. 40-60%. 4. 60-80%. 5. 80-100%.)

    Going back to a “trust” poll in early 2023 and a similar one in May that year, Luxon scored a lower trust level (37%) than Hipkins (53%). So Luxon gets 2/5 and Hipkins gets 3/5.

    8. Likelihood of credible leadership challenge within next 6 months: (1. Very high. 2. High. 3. Moderate. 4. Low. 5. Very low.)

    This relies on predictions, but Luxon is in greater danger than Hipkins. National’s polling is down, with some predicting a leadership change (although others acknowledge this could carry more costs than benefits). Hipkins lost the 2023 election but seems secure as Labour leader. Luxon gets 3/5 (moderate risk) and Hipkins gets 4/5 (low risk).

    9. Perceived ability to shape party’s policy platform: (1. Very low. 2. Low. 3. Moderate. 4. High. 5. Very high.)

    This is subjective but not about liking or disliking the policies. Both leaders perform moderately well here on 3/5. Luxon has put his own managerial style on policymaking, notably with quarterly targets. When Jacinda Ardern resigned as prime minister, Hipkins lit a “policy bonfire” to begin afresh. But he is taking time to announce new ones. We’d expect to see improvements for both leaders closer to the election.

    10. Perceived parliamentary effectiveness: (1. Very low. 2. Low. 3. Moderate. 4. High. 5. Very high.)

    Hipkins has an advantage, given his greater parliamentary experience. Luxon hasn’t dealt decisively with two attention-grabbing coalition partners, especially over ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill. Hipkins gets 4/5, Luxon 2/5.

    Final scores – now have your say

    The results add up to a ranking on the leadership capital index. Out of a possible 50, Luxon scores 28 and Hipkins 35. Neither is a great score; both careers look stalled.

    On the index, this defines Luxon as “politically weakened”. This could improve through better communication, sounder leadership of an ambitious team, and greater control over coalition dynamics.

    But Luxon’s leadership capital has never been particularly high. He didn’t enjoy a post-election “honeymoon” and may have peaked early – and low. More low polls may see National remove him, but there is also still time for his policies to pay off.

    The index has Hipkins “muddling through”. He needs to connect with voters, boost his reputation as a future leader (rather than election loser) and sharpen Labour’s policy platform.

    Hipkins’ leadership capital might have peaked in early 2023 when he became prime minister. Labour party polls are up a bit since the election, but his own preferred prime minister polling has stayed relatively low.

    Finally, neither leader has performed well compared with their predecessors John Key and Jacinda Ardern at their heights. But political fortunes can be unpredictable, and crises can even boost them, so the future remains unwritten.

    Is this assessment fair or unfair? Readers are welcome to critique my analysis and offer alternative ratings in the (moderated) comments section below.

    Grant Duncan 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. ‘Politically weakened’ or ‘muddling through’ – Luxon and Hipkins ranked on their mid-term prospects – https://theconversation.com/politically-weakened-or-muddling-through-luxon-and-hipkins-ranked-on-their-mid-term-prospects-252483

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Colorado Teen Rize Simmons Wins State Poetry Out Loud Competition for the Second Year in a Row

    Source: US State of Colorado

    Once again, headed to the National Finals to represent Colorado in Washington, DC

    DENVER — Gov. Polis, Colorado Creative Industries (CCI), a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), and Empowered are pleased to announce that Rize Simmons of Windsor High School in Weld County has been named the 2025 Colorado Poetry Out Loud State Champion. A seasoned competitor, Simmons will advance to the national competition May 5 through 7—his second time representing Colorado on the national stage.

    “Art, including poetry, serves as a valuable outlet for personal expression and bringing individuals from all backgrounds together. I am incredibly proud of all the participating young poets and congratulate Rize Simmons for winning the Poetry Out Loud competition and advancing to the national stage. Colorado is cheering you on as you represent our state at nationals,” said Governor Polis.

    This year marks a special milestone for Poetry Out Loud, as it commemorates the 20th anniversary of the program, encouraging high school students to learn about classic and contemporary poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. Presented in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, 3,200 Colorado youth poets participated in the program. Participating Poetry Out Loud students are 1.7 times more likely to have 4-year college or graduate school aspirations than nonparticipants, even after researchers controlled for other factors. Since the program began in 2005, more than four million students across the country have participated in Poetry Out Loud.

    “Poetry Out Loud truly enriches the lives of participants by helping them develop public speaking and interpretation skills while fostering a lifelong love of arts. Rize Simmon embodies the best of Colorado’s innovative spirit and we are excited to see him excel on the national stage.” said OEDIT Executive Director, Eve Lieberman.

    This afternoon, 15 students from 15 Colorado schools, including last year’s champion, competed at the annual state finals at the Denver Center for Performing Arts—The Randy Weeks Conservatory Theatre. This year’s event was attended by Poetry Foundation’s Angelica Flores, emceed by the inaugural poet laureate of Adams County, Colorado Kerrie Joy and judged by some of Colorado’s finest poets: Meca’Ayo (Tameca L. Coleman), Cipriano Ortega, Piper Mullins, Joseph Hutchinson, and Jose “Jozer” Guerrero.

    “For nearly two decades, Poetry Out Loud has shown that poetry is truly timeless,” said Angelica Flores of the Poetry Foundation. “The anthology spans from Shakespearean works to contemporary poets, yet students continue to find poems they deeply connect with. No matter how much time passes, poetry remains relevant, offering each new generation a chance to discover its power.”

    Rize, from Windsor High School, had the highest scores for his performance of “Alternate Names for Black Boys,” by Danez Smith, “Eddie Priest’s Barbershop & Notary,” by Kevin Young, and “On Liberty and Slavery,” by George Moses Horton. As State Champion, Simmons will receive $500 and an all-expense paid trip to Washington D.C., with an adult chaperone, to compete in the Poetry Out Loud national competition. Windsor High School will also receive $500 for the purchase of poetry materials.

    When asked what draws them to poetry, Simmons said, “the style or poetry I gravitate toward is very personal, poems that reflect both the challenges and celebrations of being a person of color. I like upbeat poems with strong imagery and visuals. My mom and I do a lot of research, and I choose poems that I relate to and feel and feel a personal connection with.”

    Reid Stenberger from Valor Christian High School was second place, while Kenley Ellis from Kent Denver School finished in third place.  

    A total of $50,000 in awards and school/organization stipends will be given at the Poetry Out Loud National Finals, held from May 5-7, 2025, including a $20,000 award for the National Champion, $10,000 for second place, $5,000 for third place, and $1,000 for fourth through ninth places. The Colorado Poetry Out Loud competition is overseen by CCI and Empowered to encourage young Colorado performers to bring the words of great poets to life and celebrate the role of poetry in literary history and contemporary life.

    “For 20 years, Poetry Out Loud continues to ignite confidence, creativity, and a profound sense of belonging for young voices across Colorado and the nation, proving that poetry is not just written—it’s lived,” said CCI Director Josh Blanchard. “We are especially proud to celebrate Rize, whose dedication and talent exemplify the very essence of this competition and the transformative impact of poetry.”

    “Poetry inspires young people to discover their voices and express themselves in powerful ways. We are so proud of Rize Simmons for this incredible accomplishment and wish him success as he represents Colorado at the National Finals in Washington, D.C.” said Jesse Martinez, CEO of Empowered.

    Empowered, Ltd.

    Empowered is a ground-breaking nonprofit, arts, education, and community-driven consulting group. We are passionate about making a difference and committed to empowering people, organizations, and communities. Our 25+ years of experience spans the education, arts and culture, and nonprofit sectors, adding a unique and creative perspective that allows us to think innovatively about your work and your organization’s future. Whether you are in the education sector looking to improve educational outcomes, an arts organization seeking ways to deliver culturally responsive programming, a nonprofit set on pivoting toward the future, or a philanthropic foundation eager to innovate, let us ignite your passion for change and impact. To learn more, go to www.empowered-people.com

    Colorado Creative Industries

    Established in 1967, Colorado Creative Industries (CCI), the state’s designated arts agency, is a division of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Established to harness the immense potential of Colorado’s creative sector, CCI leads an $18.1 billion industry that supports 104,163 jobs, and outpaces industries like utilities, education, and agriculture—advancing its mission to promote, support and expand the creative industries to drive Colorado’s economy, grow jobs and enhance our quality of life.

    Poetry Out Loud—presented in partnership with the Colorado Creative Industries, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Poetry Foundation—lifts poetry off the page, creating community and connection. Through this program, high school students across the country participate in a dynamic poetry recitation competition that is designed to improve their public speaking skills, help build confidence, and teach them about literary history and contemporary life.

    Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade

    The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) works to empower all to thrive in Colorado’s economy. Under the leadership of the Governor and in collaboration with economic development partners across the state, we foster a thriving business environment through funding and financial programs, training, consulting and informational resources across industries and regions. We promote economic growth and long-term job creation by recruiting, retaining, and expanding Colorado businesses and providing programs that support entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes at every stage of growth. Our goal is to protect what makes our state a great place to live, work, start a business, raise a family, visit and retire—and make it accessible to everyone. Learn more about OEDIT.

    ###
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Polis Meets With Regional Leaders to Discuss Colorado’s Leadership and Efforts to Address Workforce Needs

    Source: US State of Colorado

    ARVADA – Today, Governor Polis met with industry and education leaders from around the Denver region to discuss much needed career pathway solutions and begin developing workforce plans to ensure that Colorado workers develop the skills employers need. Hosted by the Talent Innovation Division within the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) and the Arvada Chamber of Commerce, the summit is one of seven Opportunity Now Regional Talent Summits being held across the state.

    “Colorado is the best place to live and start a business. As a state, we continue investing in talent development initiatives so  all Coloradans can access good-paying jobs and employers can find the skilled workers needed to grow and thrive,” said Gov. Polis.

    Today’s summit focused on advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defense, and renewables and clean energy in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Gilpin and Jefferson counties. The roundtable discussions and industry breakout sessions will inform the creation of tactical plans to develop industry-specific career pathways that connect Coloradans to good-paying jobs and meet the needs of the region’s employers.

    “Ensuring Colorado’s employers have access to workers equipped with the skills needed for today’s and tomorrow’s jobs is central to our commitment to building a strong, inclusive economy that benefits everyone. These summits will ensure that workforce development solutions prioritize the needs of industry that are unique for each region,” said Eve Lieberman, OEDIT Executive Director.

    The Regional Talent Summits, established by HB24-1365, build on the impact of the Opportunity Now grant program which has, to date, distributed nearly $90 million to 89 grant recipients to launch and expand innovative talent development programs across the state. Within the nine-county region represented at today’s Regional Talent Summit, notable grant recipients include:

    • BuildStrong Academy – An industry-driven, on-the-job training program enabling participants to learn construction skills while earning a wage. This program places hundreds of Coloradans into jobs every year while supporting the construction of much-needed homes and apartments as well as maintenance of existing structures.
    • Innosphere Ventures – In collaboration with the aerospace industry, structured internship and apprenticeship programs are training a new generation of systems engineers equipped to meet the demands of Colorado’s rapidly growing aerospace sector.
    • CoorsTek – The CoorsTek Training Academy partners with educational institutions to offer youth and mid-career advanced manufacturing apprenticeship programs that teach technical and soft skills.
    • AdvanceEDU – A combination of on-the-job training and college courses support Coloradans to enter the health care industry. Nearly all students are the first in their family to attend college and the program has a 90% success rate for student completion and job placement. This success is attributed in part to services like free childcare, technology, career coaching and financial aid.

    Grant recipients from ActivateWork, AdvanceEdu, African-American Trade Association, BuildStrong Academy, Colorado Community College System/Red Rocks Community College, CoorsTek, CrossPurpose, Denver Economic Development Office (DEDO), Innosphere Ventures, and the St. Vrain Valley School District also participated in today’s summit.

    “These summits empower local business, education and economic development partners to create real, sustainable solutions for workforce development. Understanding these needs and identifying solutions on a regional level is crucial to our success as a state, and I look forward to the action plans that result from this important work,” said House Speaker Julie McCluskie.

    “As a state, we know that workforce development is key to strengthening our economy and helping Coloradans continue to thrive. These summits build on momentum created by the Opportunity Now grant program and will result in real action that connects Denver area workers to good-paying jobs,” said Sen. Jeff Bridges.

    Today’s event follows the Northeast Regional Talent Summit held last month at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, which focused on advanced manufacturing, construction and healthcare. Five more summits will take place across the state between now and June 2025, and each region’s tactical workforce plans will be published in the 2025 Colorado Talent Pipeline report, with annual progress reports being published through 2030. The next summit will take place April 2 in Pueblo, focused on advanced manufacturing, construction and technology.

    About the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade

    The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) works to empower all to thrive in Colorado’s economy. Under the leadership of the Governor and in collaboration with economic development partners across the state, we foster a thriving business environment through funding and financial programs, training, consulting and informational resources across industries and regions. We promote economic growth and long-term job creation by recruiting, retaining, and expanding Colorado businesses and providing programs that support entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes at every stage of growth. Our goal is to protect what makes our state a great place to live, work, start a business, raise a family, visit and retire—and make it accessible to everyone. Learn more about OEDIT.

    ###
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Microsoft Ability Summit 2025: Accessibility in the AI era

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Microsoft Ability Summit 2025: Accessibility in the AI era

    Today, we hosted the 15th annual Microsoft Ability Summit, with over 20,000 attendees from 164 countries coming together virtually to discuss the future of AI and accessibility. Microsoft has a long-standing commitment to investing in accessibility, grounded in our business model and going back over three decades from the earliest accessibility features in Windows 95 and continuing today with new hardware and software functionalities powered by AI. We are innovating faster than ever before and people with disabilities continue to lead the way.

    Accessibility is a fundamental right for people with disabilities and makes technology easier for everyone. We see this reflected in how customers are using Microsoft technologies around the world. Copilot for Microsoft 365 is unlocking workplace productivity like never before, more than 10 million people use Edge each month to have the web Read Aloud, over 1 million people use Immersive Reader to make webpages easier to read and partners like Tobii Dynavox and Special Olympics are bringing AI to people with disabilities globally. And these are just some of the highlights of what we shared today!

    Here’s a quick summary of the new accessibility products, features and programs announced at the 2025 Ability Summit.

    What’s new in 2025?

    We announced that the Xbox Adaptive Joystick is now available for purchase exclusively at Microsoft Store. With more than 429 million players with disabilities worldwide, we know each player has unique needs and preferences for how they choose to play. The Xbox Adaptive Joystick is a singular, wired controller primarily designed to meet the needs of players with limited mobility. Its versatility helps players seamlessly incorporate it into their existing gaming setups. Built with the Gaming and Disability community who inform the development of Xbox products from the beginning. The joystick joins our family of adaptive accessories including the mouse, pen, adaptive kit and Xbox Adaptive Controller. For more details visit Xbox Support.

    And all our Microsoft hardware comes in packaging designed to be accessible and sustainable. No more plastic clamshells! To help others with accessible packaging, today at the Summit, the Packaging and Content Team at Microsoft published its Accessible Packaging Design Guide, which offers practical guidelines, best practices and strategies to create accessible packaging and foster a trusted customer experience.

    At the Summit, Microsoft teams and partners also shared ways they are working to further advance accessibility through technology:

    • Tobii Dynavox is integrating Microsoft Neural Voice, a capability of Azure AI Speech, into their assistive communication solutions. This AI-powered feature gives more personal options for individuals who use assistive communication devices using eye gaze. Neural Voices are available in over 50 languages within their apps TD Talk and TD Phone.
    • Microsoft Teams will improve for those using Sign Language View. Later this year, Teams will be able to identify when someone is using sign language and feature them prominently as a speaker in the meeting. These video customizations are part of our ongoing product development to help deliver clear and accessible communication for everyone.
    • Copilot is powering neurodiverse talent. Recently, an EY study found that Copilot helped 76% of neurodiverse employees perform better at work by enhancing communication, memory recall and focus. At the Summit, we shared how new simple features like Team Reflow and PowerPoint Designer are helping people do their work. See four early adopters of Copilot in New York share their stories.

    YouTube Video

    • AI comes to Narrator. Rich image descriptions powered by AI will be coming to Narrator in Windows Insider Preview this spring and Azure AI Foundry announced new UI improvements to reduce cognitive load.
    • Over 5 million learners around the world have participated in our Accessibility Skilling program and we’re grateful to our partners including Teach Access, Computacenter UK and the City of New York. The free, virtual training includes the latest on AI and is available for organizations to use in their learning management systems.
    • Speech recognition improved up to 60%. The Speech Accessibility Project, led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, unlocked a breakthrough improving accuracy gains for non-standard speech, and the Azure platform team demonstrated how developers can leverage GitHub Copilot to write accessible code.
    • Special Olympics shared how Copilot has been a game-changing training companion for their coaches and athletes with intellectual and development disabilities for the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy.

    All this progress is possible because of the people who design technology with accessibility in mind. In this way, technology benefits everyone, creating a more productive and efficient workplace. It is beautiful to see that reflected in this profile of Dave Dame, Senior Director of Accessibility and Human Factors at Microsoft, where he shared how accessible technology helps him thrive as a leader.

    Onward

    For over 30 years, Microsoft has focused on accessibility in our products. Accessibility makes our tools and technologies easier for everyone and accelerates innovation for the world. From the introduction of Sticky Keys and speech recognition in Windows 95 to Seeing AI in 2016 and beyond, accessibility innovations have benefited people in ways we designed for and ways we could have never expected. Just think about how closed captions are now invaluable for everyone watching videos and calls.

    AI has the potential to create significant advancements across every sector of our economy and society. We will continue to be grounded and responsible in our approach as we work to get the latest technology to the people who can benefit from it the most.

    Whether this is your first or fifteenth Ability Summit, thank you for joining and we hope you picked up a new feature, skill or nugget that helps you, your community or your organization get the most out of technology. All content will be available to watch after the event.

    Let’s move forward together.

    Tags: accessibility, AI, AI for Accessibility, Azure, Azure AI Foundry, Microsoft Ability Summit, Microsoft Teams, XBOX

    MIL OSI Economics –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: COLUMN: Walker: Week Nine Under the Gold Dome

    Source: US State of Georgia

    By: Sen. Larry Walker, III (R–Perry)

    We’re in the final stretch of the 2025 Legislative Session, and things are getting down to the wire. Last Thursday was Crossover Day, the last chance for bills to clear their first major hurdle. With less than 10 legislative days left, Senate Republicans are doubling down to push through real, commonsense legislation that puts Georgians first and stands up to the continued nonsense coming from the radical left.

    Over the next three weeks, we’ll work in House committees to get Senate bills across the finish line. That means defending Georgia values, making our communities safer, cutting bureaucratic red tape, and pushing back against the destructive policies that have left hard-working Georgians struggling to make ends meet. I’m proud to report that my bill, SB 35, made it through the House Committee on Insurance and is one step closer to becoming law. This legislation increases the number of days’ notice required to be given to a policyholder before the nonrenewal of their homeowners’ insurance policy, which helps Georgians maintain coverage and address any concerns with their provider. SB 35’s progress is a win for our district, and I’ll keep you updated as we get it over the finish line.

    On Thursday, the Senate took up the House’s budget recommendations for 2025-2026. Let’s be clear: this is your money. You work hard to put food on the table, and it’s our job to make sure the government isn’t wasting a single penny of it. Our Senate Appropriations Subcommittees focus on holding agencies accountable and making sure taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely. We’re cutting waste, prioritizing law enforcement and ensuring your kids can get their education safely.

    Beyond the budget, we ramped up committee work to pass meaningful, conservative legislation. I supported House Bill 182 in the Senate Committee on Insurance and Labor. This bill, originally introduced by Rep. Eddie Lumsden (R–Armuchee), would ensure that group life insurance policies cannot exclude active-duty service members solely based on that military status. Currently, an active-duty service member can get into an accident driving to the grocery store but lack coverage by group life insurance. This legislation streamlines insurance policies so that normal incidents affecting everyday Georgians will also be protected for the men and women actively serving our country. This is exactly the type of policy we need, emphasizing real solutions to real problems.

    I’m also carrying House Bill 81 to better support the mental health of our students. HB 81 allows Georgia to join the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists, making it easier for skilled professionals outside the state to fill the gaps in our schools. Many students lack access to mental health resources, particularly in rural areas, and this bill is a critical step toward improving the quality of care for students statewide.

    Finally, the Senate proudly welcomed our United States Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, to the State Capitol. Secretary Rollins held a round table with state legislators to hear about issues affecting Georgia’s farmers and ranchers, including H-2A policies, which govern the temporary agricultural employment of foreign workers. We also discussed President Donald J. Trump’s planned tariffs, with Secretary Rollins assuring our farmers that Georgia’s agricultural community will likely receive assistance to protect our state’s strong interstate and global trade relations. In combination with federal disaster relief soon headed to revitalize areas affected by Hurricane Helene, Secretary Rollins’ visit proves promising for the future of our rural communities, and I wish her the best in her new role.

    Whether it’s small business owners, law enforcement officers, or hard-working Georgians just trying to make a living, your voices are why I’m here. We need more of you stepping up, speaking out, and staying engaged because the fight for Georgia’s future isn’t just happening at the Capitol—it’s happening in our communities, our schools and at our kitchen tables.

    With just a few weeks left in this session, if you have concerns, ideas, or just want to know more about what’s happening under the Gold Dome, reach out. Your voice matters, and I’m here to make sure it’s heard.

    # # # #

    Sen. Larry Walker serves as Secretary of the Majority Caucus and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Insurance and Labor. He represents the 20th Senate District, which includes Bleckley, Dodge, Dooly, Laurens, Treutlen, Pulaski and Wilcox counties, as well as portions of Houston County.  He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-0095 or by email at Larry.Walker@senate.ga.gov.

    For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: DOJ Files Statement of Interest Supporting Equal Access to Educational Opportunities and Facilities for Jewish UCLA Students

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – The Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism announced today that the Justice Department has filed a statement of interest in Los Angeles federal court to advance the appropriate interpretation of federal laws that prohibit colleges and universities from discriminating against students because of their religion or national origin.

    The statement of interest – filed on Monday – is part of the Task Force’s nationwide effort to combat antisemitism in all its forms.         

    According to the allegations in Frankel et al. v. Regents of the University of California et al., in the spring of 2024 administrators of the University of California system allowed members of a protest encampment to physically prevent University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) students and faculty from accessing portions of the UCLA campus if they were wearing articles reflective of their Jewish faith or if they refused to denounce Israel.

    The plaintiffs are Jewish students and a Jewish professor at UCLA who allege that the university knowingly acted in concert with or allowed members of the protest encampment to prevent them from accessing a central campus space and adjacent classrooms and library on the basis of their Jewish faith or national origin in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, and California state law. The United States’ statement of interest addresses the sufficiency of plaintiffs’ claims that defendant administrators violated Title VI and the Equal Protection Clause.

    The Justice Department recently announced the formation of a multi-agency task force coordinated by the Civil Rights Division to combat antisemitism, which is visiting 10 university campuses that have experienced antisemitic events.

    The Department also recently announced its investigation into the University of California to assess whether the university system engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination based on race, religion and national origin against its professors, staff and other employees by allowing an antisemitic hostile work environment to exist on its campuses, including UCLA.

    The Task Force also recently announced that the Department, together with other federal agencies, would cancel $400 million in federal contracts and grants to Columbia University due to the school’s inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.

    “Discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated in our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph McNally. “Our office will enforce anti-discrimination laws to address the issue of antisemitism affecting our residents.”

    “The President, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and the Task Force know that every student must be free to attend school without being discriminated against on the basis of their race, religion or national origin,” said Leading Task Force member and Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Leo Terrell. “The Department of Justice is working to combat antisemitism using all of the tools at our disposal.”

    Assistant United States Attorney Katherine M. Hikida of the Civil Division’s Civil Rights Section and Senior Trial Attorneys Peter W. Beauchamp and Laura C. Tayloe of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division’s Educational Opportunities Section are representing the United States in this matter.

    To learn more about the Civil Rights Division visit www.justice.gov/crt, and to report possible violations of federal civil rights laws go to www.civilrights.justice.gov or call toll-free at (800) 253-3931.

    MIL Security OSI –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Soroka & Associates Representing Victim in Huber Heights Daycare Abuse Case

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Columbus, OH, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Reports of abuse at the Early Beginnings Child Care and Learning Center in Huber Heights, Ohio, are now leading to lawsuits. Soroka & Associates is representing one of the victims of this disturbing pattern of abuse at the child care facility and has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the family. At least four families allege that their children were injured by staff at Early Beginnings Child Care and Learning Center. It appears the facility took no steps to report the abuse and failed to take any remedial action upon learning of said abuse. 

    Roger Soroka spoke about the case and the firm’s commitment to advocating for their client. 

    “As counsel for one of the families impacted by this day care’s negligence, our firm is committed to holding the responsible parties accountable for the harm caused by the day care employee and the day care facility’s failure to act. The severity of the injuries suffered by our infant client is deeply distressing, and the emotional toll on the family is immeasurable. Learning that a child has been hurt while in the care of a trusted institution is a devastating experience that no family should ever have to endure.

    The betrayal felt by our clients is profound. Day care facilities are entrusted with the most vulnerable members of our society, and it is their duty to provide a safe and nurturing environment. When this trust is broken, the consequences are not only physical but also emotional and psychological.

    The safety and well-being of children must always be the top priority, and we will continue to fight for a system where families can trust that their children are protected.”

    Background on allegations against Early Beginnings

    Reports show that one of the victims was just three months old when he suffered a severe brain injury that required emergency surgery after an employee allegedly shook the child. A witness claims to have seen the abuse. Even more shocking, the victim was one of at least four children who suffered similar injuries, including Soroka & Associates’ client. The existence of multiple victims and an ongoing criminal child abuse investigation at Early Beginnings indicate that leaders at the facility knew about the abuse and neglected to act to prevent other children from being injured. As such, the firm has moved forward with a lawsuit.

    Soroka & Associates is a Columbus-based trial firm that fights for victims of negligence, abuse, and serious injuries. The firm has a strong record of success in personal injury and civil litigation and takes on complex cases, including those involving child abuse, wrongful death, and negligent security. Soroka & Associates is committed to holding wrongdoers accountable and securing justice for those they represent.

    Soroka & Associates is now fighting on behalf of one of the young victims injured at Early Beginnings Child Care and Learning Center and their family. If you have any information about allegations of child abuse at this facility or are interested in learning more about Soroka and Associates, visit sorokalegal.com or follow the firm on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

    The MIL Network –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: The 30,000 year old vulture that reveals a completely new type of fossilisation

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Valentina Rossi, Postdoctoral researcher, Palaeontology, University College Cork

    Fossilised feathers of the wing of a Pleistocene Vulture from central Italy. Edoardo Terranova, CC BY-SA

    A surprising discovery in the feathers of a fossil vulture from central Italy has revealed that volcanic deposits can preserve delicate tissue structures in unprecedented detail, offering new insights into the fossilisation process.

    In 1889 in the foothills of Mount Tuscolo, 25km south-east of Rome, farm workers discovered something extraordinary. While digging the ground for a new vineyard, they encountered a layer of bedrock with a strange void. This contained the skeleton of a large bird, including apparent imprints of its plumage on the surrounding rocks.

    The bizarre find prompted the landowner to call in the renowned Italian geologist Romolo Meli. By the time of Meli’s arrival on site, however, the workers had consigned most of the fossil blocks to the waste pile, and many were broken.

    After salvaging most of the rocks, Meli identified the specimen as a fossilised griffon vulture. He also noted that the preservation of the plumage was unusual considering the host rock was volcanic.



    Read more:
    Pompeii: ancient remains are helping scientists learn what happens to a body caught in a volcanic eruption

    Meli produced a report about the discovery later that year, and then the fossil vulture faded into obscurity and most of the rock samples were lost. All that remains today are blocks containing the plumage of one wing and the imprint of the bird’s head and neck.

    A few years ago, advances in analytical approaches to studying fossils prompted researchers to become more interested in the specimen, which probably dates from around 30,000 years ago. In 2014 one of us (Dawid Iurino) led a new study using CT scanning (computed tomography) of the imprint of the head and neck.

    This revealed three-dimensional details of the bird’s eyelids, tongue and the texture of its skin and neck (see the video below). Such fine preservation of biological features exceeds even that of the victims of Pompeii.

    In our new study, we then examined the feathers and it became clear that we were looking at something out of the ordinary. Our preliminary microscope analyses surprisingly revealed that the feathers, which have an orange colour that contrasts with the host rock, were preserved in three dimensions.

    Three-dimensional fossil feathers are more commonly found in amber, whereas those in rocks are normally two-dimensional thin layers of dark-coloured organic matter.

    Yet there were still important unanswered questions around how the feathers were preserved in a volcanic deposit, so we carried out some further investigations.

    A new way to fossilise

    The fossil feather.
    Edoardo Terranova, CC BY-SA

    A more detailed microscopic analysis revealed that this three-dimensional preservation extended to the delicate branches of the feathers. We could even see feather structures that were less than one micron (0.001mm) wide, specifically tiny cell organelles (part of a cell) called melanosomes whose pigments contribute to the colouration of feathers.

    Even stranger was the fact that the fossil feather was made of a mineral called zeolite. This mineral is not associated with any other fossil tissues, revealing a means of fossilisation that has never been recorded before. It came about because zeolite forms via the dissolution of volcanic ash and glass.

    The fossil’s level of tissue detail, plus the chemical composition of the feathers, indicates some important differences between the pyroclastic flows that entombed the vulture and the flow that buried Pompeii.

    The ancient residents of Pompeii were buried alive by hot fast-moving, turbulent flows of gas and ashes known as pyroclastic flows, at temperatures exceeding 500°C. At these temperatures, their soft tissues were vaporised, leaving only skeletons and charcoal.

    On the other hand, we do not know exactly how the vulture died. It may have been asphyxiated by toxic clouds of volcanic gas, or may have been killed directly by the pyroclastic flow. What we do know is that the flow was relatively cool because it was diluted with water or far from the volcanic source.

    The processes by which the volcanic sediment hardened into rock and formed zeolite happened relatively quickly (within days), which may explain why delicate structures such as feathers can preserve well in three dimensions. This opens up the possibility that many other ash-rich volcanic rocks may contain remarkable fossils, and are therefore exciting new targets for palaeontological research.

    Valentina Rossi received funding from The Palaeontological Association (UK) and The Paleontological Society (USA). She is currently receiving funding from the European Research Council (H2020-ERC-CoG-1010003293-PALAEOCHEM awarded to Prof. Maria Mcnamara).

    Maria McNamara receives funding from the European Research Council and Research Ireland.

    Dawid Iurino 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 30,000 year old vulture that reveals a completely new type of fossilisation – https://theconversation.com/the-30-000-year-old-vulture-that-reveals-a-completely-new-type-of-fossilisation-252400

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: What Trump could learn from the British and Irish trade war of the 1930s

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Richard Carr, Lecturer in History and Politics, Anglia Ruskin University

    The Blue Water Bridge border crossing connects Michigan in the US with Ontario in Canada. ehrlif/Shutterstock

    During his election campaign, US president Donald Trump claimed the word tariff is “more beautiful than ‘love’”. Now in office, Trump has targeted his closest neighbours and trading partners with those self same policies. He initially concentrated his levies on Canada, China and Mexico – two of which share land borders with the US – before implementing blanket tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports.

    History shows us the impacts these policies can have. In 1932, during Neville Chamberlain’s time as British chancellor, the country slapped what became 40% levies on key exports (including cattle, butter and other agricultural products) from the then Irish Free State. These were promptly met by Irish retaliation on British goods including coal and steel.

    A trade war ensued – and lasted in some form for almost six years.

    As with Trump today, raising tariffs is often partly about some other policy goal. As far as the British-Irish trade war goes, I show in my new book Britain and Ireland From the Treaty to the Troubles that the initial beef (pun intended) was over a decades-long debt obligation. These annuities, as they were known, were predominantly owed by Irish farmers to Anglo-Irish landowners, and were widely disliked.

    In early 1932 Éamon de Valera secured electoral victory in Ireland for his Fianna Fáil party, partly on the basis of refusing to hand over this money. At £5 million, it was a significant sum for a government that took in around £25 million annually.

    Instead, de Valera planned to use the annuities for domestic purposes. He wanted to reward his agricultural and working-class electoral bases principally in Ireland’s west, as well as win over new voters with the nationalist and anti-English nature of his message.

    The legality of the annuities dispute was ambiguous. But de Valera withheld the money, and to recoup the missing millions the British imposed tariffs and punitive quotas. This was swiftly followed by retaliatory measures from Dublin – just as Trump’s moves have seen reaction from abroad.

    The stakes were high. A massive 92% of Irish exports went to the UK, and civil servants in Dublin fretted about the knock-on effects. In the short term, they were right to. Exports of cattle, bacon and other goods collapsed, and emergency domestic subsidy was needed to plug the gap.

    Irish attempts to land a major trade deal with the US by way of compensation went nowhere, and Britain remained its key customer for decades.

    Yet, unlike Trump, de Valera had a clear end goal into which the tariff war fitted rather well. He wanted to retool Irish farming away from livestock towards crops, and invest in Ireland’s nascent industry elsewhere. This included expanding the country’s energy independence and kick-starting its manufacturing sector.

    The retained annuities and the increased political capital his government gained from the trade war both helped with these objectives.

    It took until about 1937, after two more election wins and a referendum victory for de Valera, for British leaders to accept that the Irish public broadly backed their leader. They realised that a bilateral agreement was necessary.

    The dispute was finally ended in April 1938. As the ink dried on a deal that saw tariffs dropped in exchange for a one-off payment from Dublin and the return of three ports to Ireland, the British media hailed the achievement of Chamberlain – now prime minister.

    But this reaction also tells us something. Initially, Chamberlain was portrayed as a genius who had clearly won. But then critics pointed to it being a rather better deal for de Valera (the £10 million one-off sum was nowhere near the £100 million the British had a nominal claim for).

    In this new stance, it had been a great deal precisely because Chamberlain had been so magnanimous. A terrible deal was actually a great deal. Some of that mentality could be seen in reactions to the Munich Agreement with Adolf Hitler a few months later.

    All told, the consequences had been significant. Perhaps 3% of the Irish economy was lost.

    In the meantime, Irish immigration to Britain consequently ticked up as people looked for work. Smuggling at the Northern Irish border ballooned, leading to additional costs to police a frontier where cattle were hurried across unmanned fields and rivers to avoid the tariff.

    Guinness even moved production to London in order to avoid future tariffs.
    gabriel12/Shutterstock

    Major Irish-based industry, including Guinness and Ford, moved operations to the London periphery (Park Royal and Dagenham respectively) to avoid any future duties. Although Ford kept some tractor production in Cork in the south of Ireland, for large parts of its European and imperial business the only way was now Essex.

    All this meant economic dislocation and diplomatic animosity at a point where the geopolitical outlook was troubled – not an unfamiliar story. Although Ireland remained neutral during the second world war – the ultimate show for de Valera of its independence – intelligence cooperation and the service of Irish men and women in the Allied war effort illustrated that the two countries just about muddled through.

    But today, tariffs provoking wider turmoil remains a big worry. As former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau noted, Trump’s actions are “a very dumb thing to do” and could lead to “exactly what our opponents around the world want to see … a dispute between two friends and neighbours”.

    Trump may also be wise to note that de Valera’s position was bolstered when he could claim that he was being bullied by a more powerful neighbour. In the past few weeks, the Canadian Liberal Party has surged back in the polls, partly on the back of the same dynamics. The little guy sometimes swings back.

    Richard Carr 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. What Trump could learn from the British and Irish trade war of the 1930s – https://theconversation.com/what-trump-could-learn-from-the-british-and-irish-trade-war-of-the-1930s-252128

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Young people to benefit from creative education boost

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Young people to benefit from creative education boost

    New package announced to support young people to access high-quality arts education and enrichment activities as well as AI and tech opportunities.

    Young people across the country will have greater access to high-quality arts education, wider creative and sporting activities as well as opportunities to gain in-demand skills in AI and tech under plans announced today (18 March) by the Education Secretary.

    The announcements will help deliver the government’s Plan for Change to break the link between background and success, driving high and rising school standards so every child can achieve and thrive. 

    The plans include the development of a National Centre for Arts & Music Education which will promote opportunities for children and young people to pursue their artistic and creative interests in school – including through the government’s network of music hubs. An Enrichment Framework will also be developed in collaboration with a panel of experts, covering a wide range of extra-curricular activities from sport to debating and volunteering. Alongside this, a new Digital, AI and Technology Task and Finish Group made up of sector and digital experts will advise the government on what changes can be made to prepare children and young people for the jobs of the future.

    It comes as the curriculum and assessment review expert panel, led by Professor Becky Francis, publishes its interim report and sets out its next steps to develop a curriculum and assessment system that will set young people up with the essential knowledge they need for life and work. 

    The Education Secretary has also confirmed today that compulsory tests, checks and assessments that ensure children leave primary school with solid foundations in reading, writing and maths will remain a core part of the curriculum and assessment system. This is in recognition of the role they play in providing crucial information to schools, parents and government on pupils’ progress and helping to close the gap between disadvantaged children and their peers.

    Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

    I welcome the important progress Becky Francis and her expert review are making to drive forward work to take the curriculum into the modern era and help deliver on the government’s Plan for Change.

    That means keeping what’s working and evolving what’s not. The report is clear on the importance of primary school assessment, which are simply non-negotiable if we are going to keep pushing standards up for every child and close the attainment gap.

    High standards must also mean greater opportunities and a curriculum fit for the world of today and tomorrow. Our new National Centre for Arts and Music, alongside a renewed focus on giving young people the AI and technical skills they need, are significant steps on the path to making sure every child, wherever they grow up, leaves school truly ready for life and work.

    Plans announced today include:

    • The appointment of a new National Centre for Arts and Music Education to support the delivery of high-quality arts education through a new online training offer for teachers, promoting opportunities for children and young people to pursue their artistic and creative interests in school – including through the government’s network of Music Hubs – and boost partnerships between schools and cultural providers.
    • To support schools to offer pupils high-quality creative and other extra-curricular activities, a new Enrichment Framework will be developed in collaboration with a panel of experts. The Framework is expected to cover a wide range of activities which could be anything from sport to gardening, board games to school bands, or debating to volunteering.
    • A new Digital, AI and Technology Task and Finish Group made up of sector and digital experts will also be established. The group will advise the government on what changes can be made to improve the AI and digital skills talent pipeline, prepare children and young people for the jobs of the future, and drive better teaching and learning through the use of AI and Technology. The group will report to the Education Secretary before the end of the academic year.

    Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy said: 

    Arts and music bring people together and are enjoyed by communities across the country. We want every child and young person to have equal opportunities to access a high quality arts and music education, to ensure creativity can be explored by all and not just the privileged few.

    The government’s new National Centre for Arts and Music Education will ensure more children and young people’s untapped potential can be unleashed, improving the pipeline of talent for our world class creative industries.

    Darren Henley CBE, CEO of Arts Council England said:

    This bold innovation will nurture England’s next generation of creators, performers and audiences, levelling the playing field for all young people whatever their background. Subjects like art and design, dance, drama and music are central to every child’s education. They come with the added bonus of equipping young people for life by boosting their creativity, their confidence and their social skills. A National Centre for Arts and Music Education is a vital initiative, and we welcome it wholeheartedly.

    Kate Varah, Executive Director and Co-CEO, National Theatre 

    Access to excellent arts teaching and experiences at school should be a right for all young people to fuel a creative nation. The National Theatre welcomes today’s announcement from the Department for Education that it will establish a new National Centre for Arts & Music Education, recognising the need to support high quality arts provision in schools. We look forward to consulting with the DfE on the remit of the new Centre and its relationship to the arts sector. It’s brilliant to see the Government’s clear focus on the value of the arts in schools and the need to ensure equity of access for all young people.

    Ruth Marvel OBE – CEO The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

    Enrichment activities and high-quality personal development are a crucial part of a well-balanced, enriched education for all young people – helping them to develop essential skills for life and work, explore their individual interests and talents, and build meaningful relationships with trusted adults and peers. 

    We are therefore delighted that Government has responded to calls from DofE, NCS and our partners across the youth and education sectors and today announced it will develop an enrichment framework. The framework, together with best practice guidance and benchmarks, will support schools and colleges to deliver a high-quality enrichment offer for all young people. We look forward to working with the Government, alongside other expert partners, to develop this essential framework.

    The plans come alongside wider measures in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to deliver high-quality teachers in every classroom, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change by breaking down barriers to opportunity and giving every child and young person the best life chances.

    Last year the government launched a Review of the curriculum and assessment system, led by Professor Becky Francis, to look closely at the key challenges to attainment for young people, and the barriers which hold children back from the opportunities and life chances they deserve – in particular those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, or with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). 

    The curriculum and assessment review interim report highlights the value of primary assessment, citing its importance in supporting children’s transition from primary to secondary, establishing whether children have learned the national curriculum and the role of assessment in holding schools to account.

    Alongside the review, the government is also continuing to drive high and rising school standards so every family can be confident they have access to a good local school for their child.

    This includes through the landmark Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill which will ensure there are high-quality teachers in every classroom, there is a floor on pay and no ceiling, so all teachers can rely on a core offer and all schools can innovate to attract and retain the best talent.

    These measures, alongside new regional improvement teams and Ofsted reforms, will make sure every child has an education as good as the best.

    The bill will also ensure that, once the curriculum has been revised to take account of the recommendations of the review, all state schools – including academies who currently do not have to follow the national curriculum – will be required to teach the national curriculum up to age 16. This will give parents certainty over their children’s education and allow all children to benefit from the strengthened curriculum, whatever type of school they go to.

    Notes to Editors

    • Primary school tests and assessments include the phonics screening check (taken in year 1 at age five or six), the multiplication tables check, (taken in year 4 at aged eight or nine) as well as maths, reading and grammar, punctuation and spelling tests and assessments taken in year 6 (aged 10 or 11 just before pupils leave primary school).

    • The National Centre for Arts and Music is expected to be established in September 2026, with a delivery lead appointed through an open procurement. It will be expected to:
      • Promote arts education – including signposting to industry-backed careers guidance, and to opportunities to support children and young people to pursue their artistic and creative interests in school, including through our national network of Music Hubs.
      • Support excellent arts teaching – through a new online CPD offer for primary and secondary school teachers, and support to access the brilliant teacher development provision available from cultural providers.
      • Support partnerships – bolstering collaboration between schools and the many arts and cultural organisations with fantastic offers for children and young people, to maximise those opportunities for the most children, no matter where they live.
    • The DfE, working closely with DCMS, has committed to publishing the new Enrichment Framework by the end of the year. Building on the work of the sector, we will develop the framework alongside a working group consisting of experts from schools, youth, sports and arts organisations and research bodies. The framework will highlight effective practice on enrichment by:
      • identifying and reflecting practice in the best schools to set out what a high-quality enrichment offer looks like – we will consider with the sector whether standardised benchmarks and tools can form a useful part of that support.
      • providing advice for schools with how to plan a high-quality enrichment offer more strategically and intentionally and how to make use of specific programmes to increase access to sport and arts
    • The new Digital, AI and Technology Task and Finish Group will advise on how  the school and college education system in England can ensure that every child and young person is equipped to thrive in an AI and digital world, creating strong foundations for access to more specialist AI and digital pathways and making the most of the opportunities to use AI and educational technology to drive better teaching and learning. We intend that this work will commence shortly and conclude before the end of the academic year.

    DfE media enquiries

    Central newsdesk – for journalists 020 7783 8300

    Share this page

    The following links open in a new tab

    • Share on Facebook (opens in new tab)
    • Share on Twitter (opens in new tab)

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND, MORELLE ANNOUNCE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS FEDERAL CANCER CENTER DESIGNATION FOR WILMOT CANCER INSTITUTE

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
    Designation Will Boost Clinical Opportunities, Reputation, And Research $$ For U Of R’s Wilmot Cancer Institute, Upstate NY’s Largest Cancer Provider, Which Has Made Significant Cancer Discoveries And Treats Thousands Each Year
    Schumer, Gillibrand, Morelle All Urged NCI Director To Give This Designation, And Schumer Personally Called Former NIH Director To Advocate For It
    Schumer, Gillibrand, Morelle: Cancer Center Designation Will Boost Fed Support For Wilmot’s Cancer Research And Treatment
    U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and U.S. Congressman Joe Morelle today announced the University of Rochester’s Wilmot Cancer Institute has received the prestigious federal Cancer Center designation from the National Cancer Institute. The Wilmot Cancer Institute is Upstate New York’s largest and busiest cancer provider, and conducts medical research and treats cancer patients.
    “I am proud to announce that following my advocacy, Rochester’s Wilmot Cancer Institute has received the prestigious federal Cancer Center designation. This designation is the ultimate recognition for the world-class staff here in Rochester that they are leading America in cancer research and through their work will make new breakthroughs in cancer treatment and save lives,” said Senator Schumer. “The Wilmot Cancer Institute is Upstate New York’s largest cancer provider, and this designation is a national spotlight to uplift them as one of the top cancer research centers in the country. It means additional funding, better support for our doctors & nurses, increasing clinical opportunities, and enhancing the center’s ability to recruit cancer investigators. I personally called the former NIH director to advocate for this designation last fall and will always fight to ensure New York’s medical researchers have the resources they need to provide the medical care New Yorkers deserve.”
    “The designation of the Wilmot Cancer Center as a federal Cancer Center is a testament to the groundbreaking clinical research, lifesaving treatments, and exceptional patient care that it provides for patients across Upstate New York,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This designation will unlock up to $10 million in additional funding, which will enhance the Wilmot Cancer Center’s ability to advance scientific discovery and improve access to high-quality care for cancer patients. I am honored to have worked alongside Senator Schumer and Representative Morelle to secure this designation, reinforcing the Wilmot Cancer Center’s leadership in the fight against cancer and its commitment to medical excellence, and I extend my congratulations to the University of Rochester for this prestigious designation.”
    “The Wilmot Cancer Institute’s designation as a National Cancer Institute is an historic achievement—one that cements its place among the nation’s premier cancer research and treatment centers. This recognition is not just about a title; it is a testament to the relentless dedication of the doctors, researchers, and caregivers who bring hope to families in their most challenging moments,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “It is deeply moving to see the team that cared for my daughter, Lauren—and so many other families like ours—receive this nationally-recognized symbol of excellence. I’m grateful to the many partners whose advocacy helped make this a reality, and most importantly, to the dedicated team at Wilmot fighting tirelessly for a cancer-free future.”
    “Today is a monumental day for the University of Rochester and the Wilmot Cancer Institute—one that is more than 10 years in the making,” said University of Rochester President Sarah Mangelsdorf. “This National Cancer Institute designation allows us to forge a new path to removing the burden of cancer in our community and throughout upstate New York. From here, our goals are to continue making the discoveries right here in Rochester that advance our understanding of cancer, improve the effectiveness of current therapies, and through research and clinical trials provide new life-saving and life-extending treatments to all of our patients in need. This couldn’t have happened without the strong bipartisan support and efforts from our Congressional delegation. I want to profoundly thank Sen. Chuck Schumer for his unwavering support to the University and the Rochester community that has helped us reach this milestone. I also want to thank Rep. Joe Morelle for his leadership and Senator Gillibrand, Rep. Langworthy and Rep. Tenney for their strong support.”
    The Wilmot Cancer Institute is Upstate New York’s largest cancer provider, supporting 27 counties with a population of more than 3.2 million people. This region, which lacks an NCI-designated cancer center, is one of the largest underserved areas in the nation in terms of access to cutting-edge cancer research and treatment.  There is strong bipartisan support for boosting funding for the Wilmot Cancer Institute, which has made significant cancer research discoveries and treats thousands of cancer patients each year.
    Wilmot Cancer Institute, celebrating its 50th anniversary, is New York’s busiest cancer center outside of NYC, serving a 27-county region with over 3.2 million people, a geographic area larger than Vermont and New Hampshire combined. It operates across 13 locations in a unique catchment area that lacks any other NCI-designated cancer center and faces significantly higher cancer incidence and mortality rates than the rest of the state and nation. If this region were its own state, it would rank second in the country for cancer incidence behind Kentucky. The region includes rural communities and areas of high poverty, including Rochester, ranked third in poverty among the 75 largest U.S. metropolitan areas. Additionally, 12 counties in this region are designated as part of Appalachia, further limiting healthcare access, and it has the largest per-capita Deaf population in the country, requiring specialized approaches to cancer care. Cancer disparities by geography, race, and ethnicity are stark, with access challenges and higher rates of smoking, obesity, and inactivity.
    Over the past eight years, Wilmot Cancer Institute has embarked on a bold strategic plan with the goal of becoming an NCI-designated cancer center. Wilmot has significant institutional commitment from the University of Rochester and broad community support and has been successful in recruiting over 30 world-class scientists, doubling accruals to clinical trials, doubling external funding for cancer research, and establishing impactful Community Outreach and Engagement, and Cancer Research Training and Education programs resulting in an elite cancer center worthy of NCI designation.
    The Cancer Center designation provides additional research funding, increases clinical opportunities and patient volume, and enhances ability to recruit cancer investigators, among other benefits. In addition to federal funding, the University of Rochester has committed over $100 million in institutional investment to strengthen Wilmot’s infrastructure, research capabilities, and workforce recruitment.  Based on a based on an estimate from the Center for Governmental Research, the designation is also expected to generate nearly 1,900 new jobs, create $194 million in labor income, and contribute $15 million annually in income and sales tax revenue—making it a major economic driver for the region.
    The members of the New York Congressional delegation – Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, Congressman Morelle, Congressman Higgins, Congresswoman Stefanik, Congresswoman Tenney, Congressman Langworthy, and Congressman Molinaro – in fall 2023 wrote a bipartisan letter to former Acting Director of the National Cancer Institute Douglas R. Lowy advocating for this designation, and Schumer also personally called former NIH Director Dr. Monica Bertagnolli about the University of Rochester’s application. During his direct advocacy, Schumer emphasized that Wilmot’s service area has one of the highest cancer burdens in the country and is one of the largest areas nationwide without access to an NCI-designated cancer center. He underscored how the NCI designation would help boost clinical trials, improve research capacity, and help ensure Upstate New York’s underserved populations receive the best possible cancer care. The lawmakers explained that the Wilmot Cancer Institute has met rigorous standards for research, education, and cancer prevention and patient care and presents a significant opportunity for continued growth and expansion of federally supported cancer research.
    The New York Congressional Delegation’s letter to former Acting Director of the National Cancer Institute Douglas R. Lowy can be found HERE or below:
    Dear Dr. Lowy:
    We write in strong support of the University of Rochester’s Wilmot Cancer Institute’s A1 revised application for a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Center Support Grant. Wilmot has established itself as the leader in cancer care and research in our region and is poised to join other NCI designated centers.
    Last year, we were disappointed to learn that, despite presenting a strong application, the significant needs in our districts, and receiving an excellent score that was better than several of the most recent new Cancer Center Support Grants approved in other states, Wilmot did not receive a Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG). However, the University of Rochester remains steadfastly committed to the goal of NCI designation, and over the past two years, Wilmot has worked to address the feedback received from the NCI review committee and strengthen their application. The University has articulated this commitment in its strategic plan, including a financial pledge of over $100 million to Wilmot, and plans to expand the cancer research footprint with additional physical space over the next five years. With NCI designation and the University’s significant commitment, Wilmot will continue to push the frontiers of cancer science, enhance community engagement, and expand collaborations, including with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, the nearest NCI center and a frequent research partner.
    The Wilmot Cancer Institute is New York’s largest cancer provider outside of New York City, providing care for a catchment area that includes 27 counties with a population of more than 3.2 million people. As Upstate New York’s largest cancer center, Wilmot’s 159 oncology physicians and 336 nurses treated over 5,500 cancer cases across 14 regional locations in 2021. Over its nearly 50-year history, Wilmot’s research has led to significant advances in oncology standards of care and has helped lead the way in two of the top five cancer discoveries of the past half century as identified by the American Society of Clinical Oncology: utilizing virus-like particles to create the first approved HPV vaccine and carrying out clinical trials to demonstrate the effectiveness of anti-emetic therapy in patients undergoing chemotherapy. With over $30 million in annual sponsored research funding – including over $14 million in annual direct funding from NCI – Wilmot is leveraging its longstanding strengths within a framework of collaboration through three multidisciplinary programs that study cancer biology, the tumor environment, and cancer prevention and toxicity management.
    Data shows that cancer incidence and mortality is significantly higher in the region that Wilmot Cancer Institute serves, as compared to the rest of New York State and the nation. This catchment area is the equivalent to the size of the States of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island combined and, if considered as a state, would have the second highest cancer incidence in the nation behind only the State of Kentucky. Approximately one-third of people in this catchment area live in rural communities that are underserved, understudied, and negatively impacted by social factors. Of the 27 counties in this area, 26 have a higher poverty level than the U.S. average, including the City of Rochester, which ranks third in overall poverty among the nation’s 75 largest metropolitan areas, and 12 of the 14 counties that are part of Appalachian portion of New York State. Furthermore, there are drastic and unacceptable cancer disparities by geography, race, and ethnicity among this population. Among other indices of disparity, individuals in Wilmot’s catchment area experience longer delays between diagnosis and the onset of treatment, and higher rates of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.
    While New York has seven other NCI-designated centers, we want to stress that the catchment area Wilmot will support is not covered by another existing center representing a large geographic portion of New York State, and has the support of Roswell Park, the closest and only other NCI center in upstate New York. As such, Wilmot has strong bipartisan support from not only the Congressional delegation, but Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature. Given the size of this region and scope and severity of disease, investment in Wilmot’s research infrastructure by the NCI through a Cancer Center Support Grant would allow Wilmot to expand its efforts to reduce the significant burden of cancer on our constituents by guiding efforts and attention where the need is greatest, collaborating with underserved communities to better understand and resolve cancer disparities, providing greater access to clinical trials and innovative treatments, and in turn, offering valuable data to NIH on a unique and currently uncaptured population that would have broader benefits to cancer care and research. Furthermore, an NCI Center would not only have an enhanced public health benefit, but based on an estimate from the Center for Governmental Research, it would also have a significant economic impact to the region adding nearly 1,900 new jobs, creating $194 million in labor income, and generating $15 million in income and sales tax annually.
    Many of us have met individually with the Wilmot team from the University of Rochester to discuss Wilmot’s application, and understand securing this designation remains not only a top University priority, but also continues to garner significant community commitment. It is clear from our discussions that following years of preparation and investment, and consideration of the feedback received from NCI last year, Wilmot is even more equipped with the resources to meet and maintain the rigorous standards for research, education, and cancer prevention and patient care required for NCI designation, and is prepared to capitalize on future opportunities for continued growth. As members of Congress representing upstate New York we are eager for our constituents to realize the benefits of representation by an NCI Center through access to improved research efforts, enhanced prevention programs, and the highest quality subspecialty multidisciplinary cancer care for patients and their families.
    Again, we wish to convey our strongest support for an NCI A1 Cancer Center Support Grant for the University of Rochester’s Wilmot Cancer Institute. Thank you for your full consideration of their application. Please feel free to contact any of us with any questions or concerns you may have.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why Canada must treat its food system as a matter of national defence

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Karen Foster, Associate Professor, Sociology and Social Anthropology and Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Rural Futures for Atlantic Canada, Dalhousie University

    Rising tensions between Canada and the United States have made increased military investment and a renewed focus on national defence all but inevitable.

    A recent Angus Reid poll found three in four Canadians want to see the country’s military strengthened in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to annex Canada as the 51st state. In early March, former prime minister Justin Trudeau committed publicly to increasing military spending.

    While it makes sense for a country feeling vulnerable to invasion to look at recruiting new soldiers and increasing its arsenal, there is an additional facet of national defence that is too often overlooked: food preparedness.

    Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs are already “stoking a new nationalism” in Canadians and sparking interest in buying local, but food should be part of the national defence conversation, too.

    The double edge of globalization

    The globalization of food systems, in Canada and the rest of the world, has intensified since the Second World War. This has brought some benefits, such as year-round access to fresh produce, but it has also made Canada’s food systems vulnerable to the whims of its trading partners.

    Academics focused on food security and sovereignty have long raised concerns about import-dependence on key nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables.

    Even in 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic shone a harsh light on food supply chains in Canada, research showed that the production of fresh produce was declining while imports were increasing.

    Now, faced with both a trade war and annexation threats, Canada must confront whether its domestic food systems can feed its population in a crisis — economic, political, environmental or otherwise.

    Food systems and national defence

    Trade-dependent countries worldwide are recognizing food security as a matter of national defence. Some, like Sweden, are making plans to take stock of the capacity and resilience of their food systems, and actively working toward a system that can sustain the lives of their citizens in a crisis.

    Sweden’s total goods trade accounted for 67 per cent of its GDP in 2023, compared to Canada’s 53 per cent. Despite its high level of trade dependence, Sweden has put food at the heart of the country’s total defence approach to national security.

    Total defence is a defence policy that emphasizes both traditional military activities and civilian activities, including their food systems.

    The Swedish government, in its defence resolution, states: “A well-functioning and robust food supply and personal preparedness of the civil population are ultimately a matter of survival and maintaining the will to defend.”

    This approach is not focused only on individual or household levels of preparedness — that is, whether people have enough in their pantries — but also includes the overall preparedness of the systems that produce, process and distribute food.

    Canada, with its heavy reliance on global trade and the U.S. as a primary trading partner, would do well to take note.

    Food sovereignty in Canada

    There are hundreds of scholars and thousands of community entities working to make Canada’s food systems more sustainable and resilient in the face of financialization, farmland consolidation and the globalization of supply chains.

    In Québec, for example, there is a growing movement to mobilize and empower producers, community entities, the agrifood sector, policymakers and additional stakeholders to build more resilient, territorial food systems across the province.



    Read more:
    Making our food fairer: Don’t Call Me Resilient EP 12

    Canadian experts play a key role in global discussions on food systems resilience, with scholars contributing to the United Nations Committee on World Food Security’s Building Resilient Food Systems draft report. This report is designed to help countries make their food systems more resilient, equitable and sustainable.

    Yet Canada’s efforts are not co-ordinated, empowered or moving fast enough in the push for greater food sovereignty. The point is not to abandon trade, but to manage it more strategically.

    Both international and domestic markets are crucial for Canadian farmers, and many local companies are devoted to importing everyday goods like coffee, tea and bananas under fair trade and agroecological conditions.

    Trade relations, however, are about more than economics; they involve building political partnerships with Mexico, the European Union, Asian countries and beyond — something Canada needs now more than ever.

    Sweden has already recognized this. Its food preparedness strategy involves deepening co-operation with like-minded Nordic countries and collaborating around the supply, transport, stockpiling and testing of food.

    Crisis-proofing Canada’s food systems

    To ensure Canada can feed itself in a crisis, the government must invest in domestic production, processing and distribution infrastructure. This would create more efficient, connected local markets that removes some of the burden of buying local from individuals.



    Read more:
    Boycotting U.S. products allows Canadians to take a rare political stand in their daily lives

    The Canadian government must also promote diversification in production and export. Canada needs to move away from monoculture farming and toward more regional networks and agroecological approaches. These approaches are more resilient to both crops themselves and the diverse markets they open up, reducing Canada’s dependence on single trading partners like the U.S.

    Key agricultural policies such as the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership need to go beyond the long-standing focus on prioritizing export markets. They must also invest in infrastructure and partnerships in Canada to strengthen their support of Canadian producers, ranchers, fisheries and food system players at home, to help them work together at a regional scale.

    Correcting power imbalances in our food systems is also critical. Greater local and regional autonomy over how food is produced, processed and distributed would help with this. These strategies would make Canada less vulnerable to supply chain disruption.

    Countries like Sweden recognize these efforts as part of national defence — an approach Canada should consider.

    But while we fight annexation from the kitchen table, we must recognize it doesn’t start there; it starts at a higher level. Only better policy, infrastructure and systemic change can prepare Canada to be more proactive and resilient in the face of world crises — economic or otherwise.

    Karen Foster receives research funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) as well as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). She is the director of the SSHRC/AAFC-funded Common Ground Canada Network.

    Alicia Martin is a Postdoctoral Fellow with the SSHRC/AAFC-funded Common Ground Canada Network.

    Gavin Fridell receives funding from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada. He is a member of the Trade and Investment Research Project at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

    Kathleen Kevany receives funding from The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, for the Food Impact Network research and knowledge mobilization for the handbook of sustainable diets; Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) for food waste prevention work, and Mitacs for internships on food procurement and food environment analysis.

    I am advised to Farm to Cafeteria Canada (F2CC) an NGO.

    – ref. Why Canada must treat its food system as a matter of national defence – https://theconversation.com/why-canada-must-treat-its-food-system-as-a-matter-of-national-defence-251118

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Deputy Lord Mayor Designate announced

    Source: City of Plymouth

    Lord Mayor Designate Councillor Kathy Watkin has announced that Councillor Chip Tofan will be her Deputy for the year.

    Chip was born in Iasi, Romania, graduating from Iasi Gheorghe Ashachi University, with a bachelor’s degree in engineering and now runs his own business providing consultancy services.

    Chip was first elected to Plymouth City Council in May 2022, representing Eggbuckland Ward.

    During his time as a councillor, Chip has been a member of different committees including Scrutiny, Licensing, Natural Infrastructure and the Growth Scrutiny Panel.

    Councillor Tofan said: “I am really pleased that Kathy has asked me to be her Deputy for the next year, I look forward to joining her at civic events and meeting residents of Plymouth, it truly is an honour.

    “I am happy to extend my passion for helping the community from the Eggbuckland ward to the wider community.”

    Lord Mayor Designate, Councillor Kathy Watkin, said: “I am thrilled that Chip has agreed to be my Deputy for the next year, I look forward to us working together.

    “I have known Chip for many years as a friendly, community minded gentleman.

    “Of Romanian heritage, he gained his UK citizenship in Plymouth. As such, he is uniquely placed to understand the challenges facing people of diverse languages and cultures we welcome to Plymouth and can demonstrate that with hard work and commitment anyone can achieve their goals in this great city.

    “Although a relative newcomer to Plymouth City Council he is very enthusiastic about the challenge offered by being Deputy Lord Mayor of Plymouth and will be a huge support to me in my mayoral year.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: King, Colleagues Demand USDA Reverse $1 Billion in Canceled Local Food Purchases for Maine Schools, Farmers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King is demanding the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reverse its cancelation of food purchase programs for food banks, schools and childcare centers in Maine and across the United States. In a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins from King and a number of his colleagues, the Senators said the reported $1 billion in cancelled purchases by the USDA adds further pain at a time of high food prices and instability within U.S. agricultural markets. 

    “We ask that you reverse the cancellation,” the Senators wrote. “We have grave concerns that the cancellation…poses extreme harm to producers and communities in every state across the country. At a time of uncertainty in farm country, farmers need every opportunity to be able to expand market access for their products.” 

    In Maine, cancelation of purchases through USDA’s Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS) puts more than $1.3 million in local food purchases for food-insecure Maine people at risk in Fiscal Year 2025. 

    “At Good Shepherd Food Bank, we use LFPA funding to purchase fresh local produce from dozens of Maine farmers,” said Heather Paquette, President of Good Shepherd Food Bank. “The reduction of these funds will have a significant negative impact on farmers who plan on this income continuity, and neighbors who benefit from this nutritious local produce. We appreciate [Senator King’s] consideration for reinstating this LFPA25 extension.”

    “The Maine School Nutrition Association would like to extend their gratitude and support of the letter that Senator King has sent to the USDA asking to reinstate Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS) funds,” said Caroline Trinder, Maine School Nutrition Association President Elect. “These funds have been beneficial to both our students and farmers, with 119 districts in all 16 counties in Maine buying local. School districts have been able to source local fish, beef, dairy, and produce from our farmers and fishermen here in Maine. This food provides our children healthy, minimally processed foods that we are proud to serve in our cafeterias! Thank you, Senator King, for advocating for our students and farmers!”

    The full letter sent to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins can be found here and below.

    +++

    Dear Secretary Rollins:  

    We write to express serious concerns regarding the cancellation of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs supporting local and regional food purchases providing assistance to those in need. These successful programs, the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS), allow states, territories, and Tribes to purchase local foods from nearby farmers and ranchers to be used for emergency food providers, schools, and child care centers.  

    At a time when food insecurity remains high, providing affordable, fresh food to food banks and families while supporting American farmers is critical. Notably, LFPA and LFS have benefitted producers and consumers by providing funding for purchases through all 50 states, four territories, and 84 tribal governments. Through LFPA and LFS, USDA has prioritized the procurement and distribution of healthy, nutritious, domestic food. It has also taken an important step towards igniting rural prosperity by expanding and strengthening markets among farmers and rural economies. As of December 2024, the programs had supported over 8,000 producers, providing increased marketing opportunities.  

    Most importantly, we ask that you reverse the cancellation of LFPA and LFS. We also ask that you provide a thorough and complete update on USDA’s implementation of LFPA and LFS, including answers to the following questions:  

    1.        What is the status of reimbursements for entities that have agreements with USDA through LFPA and LFS? What is the last date for which states, territories, and Tribes received reimbursements for food purchases under LFPA and LFS?  

    2.        Has the Administration conducted any assessments of how these program cancellations will impact producers and recipient organizations (e.g., food banks, schools, child care centers)? If so, please provide a copy of any such assessments.  

    We have grave concerns that the cancellation of LFPA and LFS poses extreme harm to producers and communities in every state across the country. At a time of uncertainty in farm country, farmers need every opportunity to be able to expand market access for their products.  

    Please provide responses to the information requested in our questions no later than Friday, April 4. Thank you for your attention to this urgent and important matter.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: PASSED THE SENATE: Senators Hassan, Shaheen’s Bipartisan HALT Fentanyl Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan

    WASHINGTON – A bipartisan bill that U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen helped introduce to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act passed the U.S. Senate last week. The Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act passed with an 84-16 bipartisan vote.  

    “New Hampshire’s fentanyl crisis has resulted in devastating losses for our families and communities,” said Senator Hassan. “As the fentanyl crisis has evolved, cartels and traffickers have also changed their tactics, altering the chemical makeup of the synthetic opioid by just one or two molecules to try to evade prosecution under existing law even though the slightly altered drug has the same effects as fentanyl does. This bipartisan legislation to permanently classify these fentanyl-like substances as being in the same category as the most dangerous narcotics will help ensure that law enforcement officials have the tools that they need to get these illegal drugs off our streets. I am glad that it passed the Senate.”

    “In the Granite State we’ve lost far too many lives due to fentanyl overdoses, and we must do everything we can to prevent more deaths,” said Senator Shaheen. “I was proud to join my colleagues in passing this legislation that will help stop the flow of fentanyl into our communities, hold traffickers accountable and save lives.”  

    The HALT Fentanyl Act would finally make permanent the scheduling of illicitly produced fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs and streamline the regulatory process for scientists seeking approval to research Schedule I substances. The HALT Fentanyl Act places the strongest controls and penalties on fentanyl-related substances, which have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. In 2018, the Drug Enforcement Administration first temporarily scheduled fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs, and Congress has repeatedly extended that scheduling. The temporary scheduling is now set to expire on March 31, 2025.  

    This bipartisan bill is part of Senator Hassan’s ongoing efforts to stop drug trafficking and support communities devastated by the fentanyl crisis. Senator Hassan helped advance the DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act, which was signed into law in December and is supporting law enforcement with enhanced tools to find and eliminate illegal substances such as fentanyl and xylazine. Senators Hassan, Shaheen, and their colleagues also passed into law the FEND Off Fentanyl Act, which targets the illicit fentanyl supply chain and imposes sanctions on traffickers. Senator Hassan also developed the END FENTANYL Act, signed into law last year, which helps Customs and Border Protection crack down on fentanyl trafficking at the border. 

    Shaheen has spearheaded crucial legislation and funding to fight the substance use disorder epidemic, including through her leadership on the pivotal U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, which funds the U.S. Department of Justice. Shaheen also recently introduced her bipartisan Keeping Drugs Out of Schools Act to help prevent youth opioid use and overdoses by establishing a new grant program that allows current or former Drug-Free Communities (DFC) coalitions to partner with schools to provide resources educating students about the dangers of synthetic opioids. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 19, 2025
←Previous Page
1 … 627 628 629 630 631 … 1,010
Next Page→
NewzIntel.com

NewzIntel.com

MIL Open Source Intelligence

  • Blog
  • About
  • FAQs
  • Authors
  • Events
  • Shop
  • Patterns
  • Themes

Twenty Twenty-Five

Designed with WordPress