NewzIntel.com

Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The Children’s Mile set to return to War Memorial Park

    Source: City of Coventry

    The highly anticipated Children’s Mile is returning to Coventry’s War Memorial Park this summer.

    The event is set to offer thousands of local school children an exciting opportunity to get active and enjoy the outdoors.

    This inclusive event that will take place on Sunday 22 June features a fully accessible, one-mile route designed to encourage participation from students, teachers and staff from schools across Coventry.

    With 1000’s of students expected to take part, the Children’s Mile promotes a fun and supporting environment where participants can choose to walk, jog, or run the route at their own pace.

    Each participant will receive a commemorative t-shirt and a certificate to celebrate their achievement.

    By encouraging schools, families and the local community to come together, the Children’s Mile encourages healthy habits while showcasing the importance of staying active and enjoying one of Coventry’s beautiful parks.

    Councillor Kamran Caan, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport, said: “It’s wonderful to hear that the Children’s Mile is returning this summer. This event is open to all young people across the city.

    “Initiatives like this are fantastic for our young people, offering an inclusive opportunity to get active while exploring the city’s fantastic War Memorial Park.

    “I’m excited to see as many schools as possible participating in this year’s mile and helping to inspire a love for physical activity as we prepare for yet another fantastic summer of sport in Coventry.”

    Coventry’s School Games Organisers, Danny Kingham and Stuart Davoile, added: “We’re incredibly excited for this year’s Children’s Mile. Our goal is to have more schools than ever participate in this fantastic initiative, which is open to all primary schools all over the city.

    “We encourage students and staff at our schools to join in and take part in the one-mile route. We also want to see as many parents and supporters there as possible, cheering on the children.”

    Detailed entry information and the registration system will be available after February half-term.

    If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our team at covsport@coventry.gov.uk.

    Stay up to date with information on Coventry Children’s Mile over on the Sport Facebook and Instagram.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Dundee University can no longer ignore staff

    Source: Scottish Greens

    30 Jan 2025

    Universities are not businesses.

    Lecturers, researchers, technicians and student support workers should not be made to pay the price for the negligence and incompetence of Dundee University management, says Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman.

    Ms Chapman was commenting as voting by university staff in a strike ballot comes to an end. If successful, mass strike action within six months of the ballot is a possibility.

    This follows a financial crisis that has seen university senior management freezing all spending, including for postgraduate students, and threatening compulsory redundancies for staff.

    On 13th November last year, staff received notice that University management had built up a £30 million deficit. Whilst no formal process for voluntary or compulsory redundancies has started, senior managers have threatened people with job cuts and warned that the University’s future is at stake. 

    There are, apparently, ongoing discussions about a recovery plan, but staff and students have not been part of these discussions in any meaningful way. Both staff and students have condemned the lack of proper process or justification for these cuts. 

    Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman, who represents Dundee as part of the North East Region, said:

    “This crisis is a product of senior management’s bad decision-making and poor governance. 

    “What little financial information has been made available shows that staff costs are not the cause of the deficit. Lecturers, researchers, technicians, student support workers – all those who actually make the university work – should not be made to pay the price for the negligence and incompetence of management.

    “The University Executive Group hasn’t even afforded staff the dignity of transparency, clarity, or security. Senior leaders have failed to conduct any meaningful engagement with unions, and continue to evade any line of questioning. Whatever the outcome of this ballot, it will be impossible for the University to continue ignoring the voices of their staff.

    “It is shameful, and a complete injustice, that the executive is offloading the consequences of their actions onto those who are in no way to blame for this deficit.” 

    “This crisis reveals a deeper fracture in our higher education sector, where universities have sought to operate like businesses focused on profit rather than as education institutions focused on wider societal benefit and wellbeing and supporting staff and students.” 

    The University has hosted two all-staff ‘town hall’ meetings. Both have been attended by over 1000 staff members. Both saw staff voicing their concerns directly to the Interim Principal. Neither saw any questions from staff properly answered. There appears to be no faith in the Interim Principal nor the wider Executive Group.

    Ms Chapman added:

    “Staff aren’t just angry, they’re exhausted. They’re hurt. They’re being treated as financial liabilities, but it is senior management that poses the greatest risk to the University. Failing in their key duty to maintain the sustainability of the institution, they have tarnished the University’s reputation and lost the faith of their staff.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: SPbGASU expands cooperation on water supply and water resources protection with Kairos Engineering

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –

    Dmitry Ulrich

    A meeting of Kairos Engineering representatives with Dmitry Ulrikh, Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Urban Management, was held at SPbGASU. Key issues of cooperation were discussed, including within the framework of the agreement signed in June 2024. Kairos Engineering was represented by Alexander Gottfried, Director of Project Production, Sergey Kostrov, Chief Engineer, Yulia Balandina, Chief Technologist, and Maxim Zuev, Project Manager.

    “We have outlined a plan for the implementation of joint projects, in particular, in the field of ecology and water resources: treatment facilities, water supply systems and water treatment,” Dmitry Ulrikh specified.

    Kairos Engineering has been operating in the industrial design market for over ten years and offers design solutions based on digital modeling in the field of water resources and heat and energy generation.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Doorstop interview, Shellharbour

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    Stephen Jones:

    Well, after 15 years and 5 elections, I’ve decided that it’s time for me to hand the baton on to somebody else and this will be my last term of office as the member for Whitlam. I want to start by thanking this fantastic community for the trust and the faith that they’ve placed in me over 15 years, together we’ve done lots of great things. I want to thank the members of the Australian Labor Party who supported me over 5 elections. I’ve held our values dearly and always have had those values in the forefront as I’ve made the decisions that I’ve made as a local member and as a Minister in the Albanese government.

    I want to thank the Prime Minister who’s been a friend of mine for many decades. I want to thank him for the faith that he’s placed in me and allowing me to be the Assistant Treasurer and the Minister for Financial Services in his government. The toughest job and the best job that I’ve ever had and it’s been an enormous honour. I want to thank all the amazing staff who are standing behind you, who are working for me and the staff that have worked with me over the last 15 years. Everything that I’ve done has been a group effort and in large part, it’s been a result of the amazing commitment, the loyalty, the dedication, and the brilliance of the people who’ve worked for them from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for everything that you’ve done for me.

    I want to thank my family, my wife Brooke, Jess is with me here today, my daughter, my son, Patty. For the love and affection and my huge friendship network, for the support that they’ve given me over those 15 years. It’s been a long journey, but a great one. And an enormous honour. Together, we’ve done lots of things. I have had the pleasure of growing up in this fantastic region. And lived most of my life here and I’ve seen enormous changes over those years. We still make steel here and we still mine coal, but as a region, we’re much, much more.

    We’ve got a world‑class university, which is on a yearly basis, graduating thousands of students, many of whom are the first in their generation ever go to university. And it’s giving them a great opportunity in life. We’re rebuilding the TAFE system, which is actually the reason I first came to the Illawarra when my father moved down here to be a TAFE teacher at Wollongong TAFE and its a sense of great pride to me that my government is prioritising TAFE and apprenticeships and fee‑free TAFE to ensure that whether you go to university or whether you take up a trade, you’ve got a path in life, which is going to give you a secure and decent job.

    There’s new infrastructure for new suburbs. Anyone who has lived down here in the southern part of the Illawarra or up in the Southern Highlands will know where once there was farmland, there are now suburbs. Large parts of the electorate that I represent weren’t actually there when I was first to elected to parliament. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know and representing a diverse and vibrant community from the coast to the Hume Highway, and all the challenges that has entailed.

    We’re building new infrastructure. More needs to be done in that area. I look with pride at the fact that we’re investing in social housing. There are kids who are down the road living in social and supported housing in Warilla because of the investments that we’ve put into this region. We’ve connected every house and business to the NBN. It was a big feature of my first campaign back in 2010 to connect the region and connect the businesses, and the things we now take for granted had to be fought for and had to be delivered. More to come in that area.

    The National Disability Insurance Scheme, I worked in the disability sector here in the Illawarra before I was elected and I have a sense of great pride that I belong to a government that said, now’s the time and we’re going to make this second. Not perfect, more needs to be done, but we’ve got a scheme and people’s lives are immeasurably better because it took the courage and the conviction of the government that I was a part of back in 2010 to put that in place.

    We’re rebuilding Medicare. It’s a huge priority. GP services are stretched here in the Illawarra, both the availability and the affordability, so Medicare, which I believe will be a key feature of the campaign, is more important now than ever and rebuilding Medicare after years of neglect, is a national priority.

    I have also had the great honour of being a member of the government’s economic team. When we came into government, inflation was double what it is today, so we put a lot of work into bringing inflation down while supporting people. Many people who are saying we should just slash and burn. Australia would be in a recession today if we followed their advice and that would mean instead of millions of people being in work, there’d be millions of people who are out of work.

    I left school in 1983 in this region. Some of you might remember, I remember what it was like when people were leaving school and couldn’t get a job and didn’t have hope for their future. So people will criticise the decisions we’ve made, but they were right. It means Australians, particularly young Australians are in jobs today and I’m proud of that. We’ve balanced our budgets, but we’ve done that in a responsible way. We’ve got full employment, something that I haven’t seen in my adult lifetime.

    And as a minister, I’ve been really proud to prioritise consumer protections, new rights, and new methods for consumers to ensure that whether it’s at the supermarket or online, their rights are protected and their money is kept safe. I’ve got a bill in parliament next week, which I want to get passed. The Scams Prevention Framework, I’ve put a lot of work into that over the last 5 or 6 years when I started talking about it nobody was. Now everyone’s talking about it. I want to ensure that Australia is the safest place for Australians to do their business and the hardest place for criminals to rip Australians off. So my job is not done. I’ve got some work to do. I want to get legislation through parliament. The Prime Minister has asked that I stay on until the election in the role as Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, I’ll continue to do that.

    I’ll continue to fight for something I started as a scruffy union official in the mid‑80s. To fight for superannuation. I feel passionate about that. I want to ensure that this great national institution that started from zero is now the fourth largest pool of private savings anywhere in the world, tenth largest economy, fourth largest pool of superannuation savings. That’s an amazing achievement. A lot of people want to pull it apart, I’ve put a lot of work into saving it and ensuring that as of July this year, every worker gets 12 per cent of their salary on a fortnightly basis going into their pay. Nobody at the age of sixty thinks ‘I’ve got too much money in super’, nobody and that’s because of the great system that we have built.

    We’re building financial advice so that people who retire and have access to the information and advice that they need. Now in a moment I’ll take some questions, and my media advisors will hate when I say this, people sometimes ask you into moments like this, what’s your legacy? I’ve always thought that people in my position they brag about their legacy, they’re Wallys. This is always a collective and a group effort and I strongly believe that we’re custodians. We look after something while we’re here. The truly greats have a legacy and the rest of us, we’re custodians and we do our best, we ensure that the system we inherited is looked after and improved along the way. And that’s where I put myself and it has been one of the great honours of my life to be the member for this amazing area, and a Minister in this fantastic government. Happy to take your questions.

    Journalist:

    I guess the big question is what has prompted the decision to call it quits?

    Jones:

    Thanks Glen. Fifteen years is a long time. The average length of time for a member of Parliament is 5 and a bit years. I’ve done 15. I’ve just reached the stage in my life where I think, it’s time for me to do something else, I don’t know what that is yet, frankly. I don’t know what that is yet. I’m taking a decision which some people might describe as courageous. I’m going to do something different, and I’m confident that the Labor party will select a candidate who’ll run in this election and uphold the values and stand for the things that people in this region need. Whether it’s free TAFE, better infrastructure, the future for our steel industry, rebuilding Medicare, I didn’t say enough about the steel industry by the way. There were times over my 15 years where it was touch and go. I remember in that first term of one between 2010 and 2013, it was direct intervention by the Gillard government which ensured that Port Kembla Steelworks continued to exist and if it didn’t make those interventions, which I was involved in, it wouldn’t have. It’s going from strength to strength today, it’s turning a profit and that’s a great thing and I’m proud to have been a part of that. Wherever I am, whatever I’m doing, I’ll be fighting for the future of manufacturing in this country and this region, that’s really important.

    Journalist:

    What achievements are you most proud of Stephen?

    Jones:

    Proud of being a part of a government that delivered the NDIS, delivered the National Broadband Network. I’m proud of a bunch of the conversations that I’ve either been a part of or lead or been a leader in. When I first stood up in, if you look back through your archives, Glen, you’ll see some front pages of the Illawarra Mercury, saying perhaps some unfavourable things about me for standing up on marriage equality. It was controversial then it’s the law of the land today. It was a part about trying to make that a mainstream issue. It’s about equality. I was proud of how an issue that’s on the agenda again today.

    Some you might remember a bloke by the name of Robbie Waterhouse who was on our TV screens every 15 seconds back in 2012/13. I was annoyed that I’d take my kids to the sport and they’d hear more about the odds than the rules of the game and there weren’t a lot of voices jumping up then and saying, yeah, we’ve got knock this gambling advertising on the head and we reformed it and it’ll fall to others to do more in that space down the track.

    Really proud of protecting superannuation, the former government tried to cancel the superannuation guarantee levy increases from 9.5 per cent to 12 per cent. I was proud back then when a lot of people thought that was a campaign that couldn’t be won, I said, this is a campaign that must be won. Worked with my good mate, Paul Keating, who I was talking to this morning and we agree this is a campaign that must be won, this is a Labor story, that must be protected for generations to come. Proud of that. We’ll continue to fight for superannuation.

    Almost 3 years to the day. I was talking to my sister a couple days ago, the anniversary of the death of my nephew almost 3 years to the day, I got up in parliament and gave a speech which was very heartfelt as a father and an uncle about the conversation that the country was headed down. I don’t think it’s the role of parliament to be telling individuals who their identity is or parents how they should be parenting, and I felt that very personally, and more than that, I thought the conversation that the nation was involved in about people’s sexual identity and gender identity was not only wrong, it was incredibly harmful because this was sending a very clear message to people that they weren’t right and they weren’t loved. I thought that was not only wrong, I thought it was dangerous. What we say in parliament matters, the tone with which we use our voice matters and it was important to me. So, when you talk about legacy, I think some of it is how we set the public conversation and how we talk about things that matter and I’ve always tried to use my voice responsibly and that way to ensure, the people’s rights and values and dignity and individualism is protected.

    Journalist:

    And when did you use your voice to tell the prime minister that you were going to step down and what was his response for hearing that news?

    Jones:

    Anthony, the Prime Minister is a very old mate of mine and a great Australian and a great Prime Minister. I had the first conversation with him about 6 months ago just thinking about this, I love what I’m doing but I don’t know if I’ve another 3 years in me, I had the conversation again before Christmas and went away on leave to see whether it was going to pass, it didn’t. Anyone – some of you have – worked alongside me for many years know, I chuck everything at it. There’s no off button and you can only do that for so long. These people behind me deserve a bit more time. I’m not going to use that cliche line. But I actually do want my weekends back. And I want to spend a bit more time with the people I love. It’s true. It’s a bit hacky, but more than anything, I want to hand the baton over, I want to leave well, and I want to ensure that I go on and lead a new chapter in my life.

    Journalist:

    Are you confident that Whitlam will remain Labor heartland?

    Jones:

    I’ve never taken this seat for granted. I’ve always treated it as a seat that is marginal, and if you act like that the people will see that you’re not taking them or their issues for granted and they’ll respect that. And that’s the advice I will give to whoever succeeds me.

    Journalist:

    Any regrets? Anything you wish you could re‑do?

    Jones:

    There’s always things you thought you might have gone harder at, you might have gone, maybe I shouldn’t have said that this way, but, I always look forward, not backwards again, Liv, it’s been an honour of my life to represent a region that I love and that I grew up in and that has given so much to me. I hope people reflect on my time here and agree that I’ve given everything I could to it.

    Journalist:

    Are you going to remain here?

    Jones:

    I love this region and I’ll always be attached to it. I haven’t decided what I’m going to do next. In large part that’ll be driven by that. But frankly, if you had a choice between spending a summer afternoon on a beach in Sydney or a summer afternoon on any of the beaches around here, you wouldn’t linger too long on which place you’d go to, would you?

    Journalist:

    And in terms of the replacement, will the branches get to preselect their own candidate, or is that going to be something parachuted in by the Prime Minister?

    Jones:

    That’ll be a matter for the party to work through and I deeply respect the views and aspirations of the members in that respect, but I’m only one voice in that. I will continue to serve with all my heart, energy and strength until the election is determined. But matters of succession will be dealt with by others, I’m just one just one voice in it.

    Journalist:

    What does Labor need to do to stay in government given the polls are suggesting we’re heading towards a minority government?

    Jones:

    I think if people look at the bare facts and ask themselves, who’s got the better plan for the future, there is only one answer to that. If your concern is energy, then ensuring that you vote for the party that backed you in and gave you energy relief, instead of the party that voted against energy relief is a rational decision. If your concern is about having a new energy generation system, which is fit for the future, has got the best technology and is online over the next year or 2. You’ll go with Labor’s plan, not this nuclear fantasy which won’t generate one new watt of power for another 20 years. That is a recipe to provide every Australian household with an increase in their power bills of $1,200 a year. That’s nuts.

    I think we’ve done a lot in the last 2 and a half years. We’ve restored workers rights, we’re rebuilding Medicare, we’ve balanced the budget twice, paid down $80 billion worth of debt, we’ve got a million Australians who are in work who wouldn’t otherwise be. We need another term to finish the job to ensure that we rebuild manufacturing in this region in this country through a Future Made in Australia. We rebuilt Medicare, we fixed the National Disability Insurance Scheme. And more than anything can I say this to you?

    Australia’s got to have a big story. Australia is a great country and a big continent, it’s got to have a big story and there’s got to be a place in it for everyone. We don’t want to have a prime minister and a government that goes down the route of saying, my path to government is by dividing Australians and saying to some Australians there is no place in our national conversation for you and you’ve got to be invisible because I’ve got this view about Australia looks like and that’s the only view of Australia that I’m comfortable with and I think we’re better than that. I think the story of Australia, as I said once before, it’s the story of Breaker Morant, It’s the story of Puberty Blues, it’s the story Priscilla Queen of the Desert, it’s the story of Jedda, it’s the story of The Chant of Jimmie – it’s all of these stories. And to ignore one or some of them and say the only way to be Australian is the one that looks like me is un‑Australian.

    Journalist:

    And what’s it been like to be serving in an electorate named for perhaps the party’s greatest leader?

    Jones:

    He’s a great man. And it’s a great honour. As you can see I’ve got some of his key photos on the wall. He was a great man. Australia’s largest trading partner is China. You talk about economic management, Scott Morrison and the Liberals left our trading relationship with China in tatters. Over 3 years we’ve rebuilt it. It means farmers are selling produce into China that they were locked out of. It means iron ore is flowing into Chinese ports. It means our traded goods are moving into China and Australians are wealthier for it. That started with Gough Whitlam. That started with the Labor government when it was controversial to say we need to trade with every country in Asia, a Labor government did it and we are immeasurably wealthier as a country to today and we will be immeasurably wealthier as a country, over the next 3 years if we back in the Albanese government, the Future Made in Australia and a plan to build a better future that has a place in it for every Australian. Unless there’s any further questions.

    Journalist:

    Just one last one Stephen. I just want to ask one just about the news bargaining code. Who would you like to see take up the work negotiating with the tech giants?

    Jones:

    I will continue the work until the election on the news media bargaining code. I’ve been working closely with my colleague Michelle Roland on this, we will continue that work. I want to see a unity ticket across the parliament on this because when we are talking to the rest of the world, we should talk with one voice. Not as the blue team, or the red team or the green team or the brown team, or whatever, we should be talking with one voice. So I want a unity ticket across the parliament and I’ll continue to put as much energy over the next few months into that as I did over the last 6 months. Thanks so much.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Caring school rated Good in all areas by inspectors

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    They visited St Matthias in December and, in their report published recently, found that ‘everyone belongs here’ and that pupils ‘appreciate how caring the school is’.

    The school provides a calm and orderly environment, behaviour is good, and relationships between pupils and staff are ‘positive, courteous and respectful’.

    Staff are ‘passionate’ about working with pupils and their families to ensure that pupils are ready to learn, and the school’s revamped curriculum offers a wider range of subjects, is challenging and meets the interests of learners.

    The curriculum also reflects the school’s high aspirations for its pupils, including those with special educational needs and or disabilities (SEND) who are supported well in St Matthias’ specially resourced SEND provision.

    Teachers explain new ideas clearly, carefully check how well pupils understand their work and make good use of new technologies to identify gaps in pupils’ knowledge.

    The school provides many opportunities for pupils to enrich their social and cultural understanding, and pupils recognise that St Matthias is ‘helping them to become responsible and respectful citizens’.

    Pupils have opportunities to demonstrate leadership skills as school ambassadors or fundraising for the community, and also enjoy wide range of clubs and activities. Meanwhile, a ‘well-structured’ careers programme gives them the chance to understand more about the world of work and enable them to feel ‘ready for their next steps in life and education’.

    Inspectors judged the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management all to be Good.

    Headteacher Dean Coombes said: “We are pleased that a team of inspectors confirmed what we already know. Our children and our adults are doing a good job. I am proud of them.”

    Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, added: “This is another excellent report for St Matthias School which describes a calm and caring school where pupils and staff respect one another, and where students achieve well. I would like to congratulate everyone at St Matthias on their continuing success.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New INTERPOL Regional Bureau for North Africa and the Middle East moves a step closer

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    30 January 2025

    RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – The creation of a new INTERPOL Regional Bureau for North Africa and the Middle East (MENA) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has taken an important step forward.

    The ‘Host Country Agreement’ was signed at a ceremony attended by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of the Interior, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz Bin Saud Bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, INTERPOL President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi and INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza.Aimed at strengthening INTERPOL’s engagement with the MENA region, the new Regional Bureau will serve as a hub for the Organization’s activities in supporting member countries in combating transnational crime and terrorism.

    It will also work closely with existing national and regional structures, such as the Arab Interiors Ministers’ Council, GCCPOL, and the Naif Arab University for Security Sciences to strengthen cooperation and information sharing.

    INTERPOL Secretary General (L) and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of the Interior (R) sign the agreement

    The establishment of the Regional Bureau was first proposed in 2016 at the INTERPOL Chiefs of Police Meeting for the MENA region. The plan was subsequently endorsed by INTERPOL’s General Assembly in Santiago, Chile, in 2019, with final approval for the Host Country Agreement from the Executive Committee in May 2024.

    The Agreement incorporates principles essential to ensuring the Regional Bureau’s proper functioning. The next steps in finalizing the creation and opening of the Regional Bureau will cover the financial, administrative, security and logistical aspects.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Corporate transparency is a step toward a greener economy, but further change is needed

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Madlen Sobkowiak, Associate Professor in Social and Environmental Accounting, EDHEC Business School

    Could corporate transparency be one of the solutions to climate change? Or, at the very least, could it be a way to hold businesses accountable for their environmental impacts? Not by itself, according to our paper, “Shaping nature outcomes in corporate settings”, recently published by The Royal Society.

    Ninety-four percent of investors are doubtful of the validity of corporate sustainability reporting, citing unsupported claims, according to PwC’s Global Investor Survey 2023. And their skepticism is not unfounded.

    Indeed, our paper shows that while corporate transparency is a crucial first step toward a more sustainable economy, it alone will not be enough to drive positive corporate nature outcomes. For change to actually happen, three critical steps are needed: linking corporate actions to their environmental impact, embedding nature outcomes into daily operations and aligning financial incentives with ecological goals.

    The risk of greenwashing

    Even if there is a growing push for nature-related regulation, and especially nature-related disclosures, companies have only started to provide information about their nature-related performance, impacts and risks. This is the essence of the European Union’s Sustainable Finance Disclosures Regulation (SFDR) that came into effect in 2021 and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) that came into effect in 2023. Both initiatives aim to strengthen transparency obligations on environmental, sustainable and governance (ESG) issues within the bloc. This is characteristic of a certain kind of governance, which uses mandated information disclosure as a way of regulating behaviour.

    Does it work? Not on its own, as companies still struggle to fully understand their impacts on nature or the impacts of their supply chain. And they often lack the knowledge and expertise to navigate the evolving and complex landscape of national and international sustainability reporting requirements, let alone take meaningful action. This could result in the dilution of the concept of transparency and a rise in greenwashing, the process of making false or misleading environmental claims.

    Greenwashing might distort relevant information that investors require to make decisions and, in the end, erode their trust in sustainability-related products and/or practices. A study commissioned by the European Union in 2023 found that 53% of green claims on products and services make vague, misleading or even unfounded claims, and 40% have no supporting evidence. In the United States, 68% of executives admitted to being guilty of greenwashing. In this context, the standardisation of sustainability reporting in the EU is necessary and overdue.

    Three key factors for corporate accountability

    My co-authors and I identify three conditions for information disclosures to positively impact nature outcomes: linking companies and ecosystems, translating aspiration into operations and shaping financial-system responsiveness.

    Our current approach, which uses disclosure requirements to drive company behaviour, may be limited, because providing information does not in itself encourage companies to fully achieve nature-positive impacts.

    Linking companies and ecosystems

    This first condition means putting in place radical traceability that links company actions to outcomes in particular settings. This would create the potential for companies to be held accountable regardless of whether they publish data, as well as incentives for them to produce their own data rather than having to respond to requirements created by third parties.

    One example is Cargill, a supplier for the food sector. In the company’s “South American Soy Sustainability Report”, it traces the soy it produces and purchases through its supply chain with locations in several South American countries. The sites are geospatially located with data on the degree of deforestation in each polygon obtained from satellite images. In this respect, traceability creates the possibility for nature accounts.

    Translating aspirations into operations

    This approach is about developing routines and tools that translate strategic intent into on-the-ground behaviour: in other words, linking knowledge and action. Even if companies are well informed about their impacts on nature, translating strategies to reduce impacts and restore nature into operational targets might be difficult. In this regard, it might be useful to translate ambitions into specific metrics that, once embedded in companies, create visibilities and routines that focus on making a change.

    For example, Holcim Spain, an aggregates and cement producer, has developed a monitoring system to evaluate restoration processes by studying nature assets. It has also studied resources based on field samples by cataloguing flora, identifying vegetation, establishing the distribution of birds and insects, assessing the status of biodiversity in the quarry and developing strategies and action plans. Monitoring of activities has been undertaken using a biodiversity index developed in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)‘s Biodiversity Indicator and Reporting System.

    Shaping financial-system responsiveness

    The final requirement relates to identifying how financial-system actors can enable company actions. To put it another way, it is about aligning financial incentives with environmental goals.

    Company owners and those who fund companies are the most powerful financial actors in this context. Financial stability relies on well-functioning ecosystems; indeed, recent studies have shown that climate change threatens it. Information governance could be used to draw investor attention to nature impacts, mirroring more developed interventions. An example of such a mechanism is the EU’s SFDR, which requires banks, insurers and asset managers to provide information about how they address sustainability risks.

    Another example comes from ASN Bank, which specialises in sustainability banking products and has developed a biodiversity footprinting tool for financial institutions to estimate the impacts of an investment portfolio and identify hotspots therein.

    Better information, less greenwashing

    The more solid, standardised and transparent corporate sustainability information is shared, the better we can combat the greenwashing that undermines the credibility of sustainability efforts. But, while disclosure is key, it is time we take its limits into account. For businesses, this implies adopting governance approaches that shape action and ceasing to rely solely on reporting.

    Madlen Sobkowiak ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.

    – ref. Corporate transparency is a step toward a greener economy, but further change is needed – https://theconversation.com/corporate-transparency-is-a-step-toward-a-greener-economy-but-further-change-is-needed-243215

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Sterling Trading Tech Builds its Business Development

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Chicago , Jan. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sterling Trading Tech (Sterling), a leading global provider of technology in order management, risk & margin, and trading platforms, today announced that industry technology sales professional Chris Contrino has joined the firm. Sterling has a robust business development team in place and Contrino brings substantial expertise that will be additive in achieving growth projections.

    Sterling’s products are designed to meet and anticipate the complexity and challenges its clients face in the current global trading environment – driven by regulation, competition, and technology. Clients across professional segments worldwide now look to Sterling’s product suite as they consider cross-asset requirements in risk, order management, and trading technologies. 2024 saw substantial interest in and success with Sterling’s approach across all market segments worldwide and the firm is poised for further growth.

    Contrino brings a breadth and depth of client service and business development capability to the role shaped by key positions at leading financial technology firms. Most recently he served as Customer Service Manager at Trading Technologies and previously contributed to client and business solutions at Eventus and Fidessa, specializing in derivatives. Contrino was a trader with The New York Mercantile Exchange and holds a BA from Brown University.

    Said Jennifer Nayar, Sterling CEO: “We are committed to our clients’ success, as reflected in the confidence they have in our approach and offerings. As Sterling continues to expand globally, attracting top talent is crucial to ongoing success. Chris brings the expertise and skill set that will aid in strengthening our franchise as we grow regionally, diversify asset classes, broaden client segments, and enhance product offerings.”

    -END-

    About Sterling Trading Tech

    Sterling Trading Tech (Sterling) is a leading provider of professional trading technology solutions for the global equities, equity options and futures markets. With over 100 clients including leading brokers, clearing firms and prop groups in over 20 countries, Sterling provides solutions tailored to clients’ needs. Sterling is committed to providing fast, stable technology along with outstanding customer service. Sterling provides trading platforms, OMS and risk products to its clients.

    Media Contact:

    Magdalena Mayer
     magdalena.mayer@sterlingtradingtech.com
    (312) 346-9600 

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: School and kindergarten: an educational complex will be built in Troitsk

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    An educational complex will be built in the Desna microdistrict of the Novye Vatutinki district in TiNAO. The installation of the monolithic part and waterproofing of the walls, as well as backfilling of the pit, are currently being completed. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “The educational facility is being built at the address: Troitsk district, block 4. It will include a school for 1,350 students and a kindergarten for 350 pupils. After the construction is completed, the facility will be transferred to the city. Thus, the school will include laboratory and research complexes, a hall for holding events and an IT testing ground. The project also includes an amphitheater. The kindergarten, school and sports and health cluster will be located in different parts of the complex. The construction is planned to be completed in 2026,” Vladimir Efimov noted.

    The school building will house modern universal and specialized classrooms and studios, halls with zoning options, a room for individual lessons with a teacher-psychologist. The complex will include a gymnastics hall and a transformable sports hall, as well as a gym for primary school students.

    “The educational complex project is distinguished by its design and engineering solutions: in the universal and specialized classrooms, a large surface of the walls will be made of magnetic marker coating, on which you can draw, and the gym will have panoramic windows. The media library will be equipped with an amphitheater staircase, where students will be able to comfortably spend time between classes. In the adjacent territory, specialists will organize a physical education and sports area with areas for gymnastics, active games and mini-football with stands. They will allocate areas for tennis, basketball, volleyball, equip running tracks and a preschool block with children’s play areas,” added the head of the Department for the Development of New Territories of the City of Moscow.

    Vladimir Zhidkin.

    A ceremonial area for events will be arranged in front of the school entrance. A heated room will be built on the territory, where parents will be able to wait for their children in comfort in any weather.

    According to the head of the capital’s State Construction Supervision Committee (Mosgosstroynadzor) Anton Slobodchikova, the permit for the construction of a social facility with a total area of 26.6 thousand square meters was issued in February 2024. The work is supervised by inspectors of Mosgosstroynadzor, who regularly go out for inspections. Specialists from the subordinate Center for Expertise, Research and Testing in Construction also participate in them: they assess the quality of the work performed and the materials used for compliance with the requirements of the design documentation.

    Earlier Sergei Sobyanin reported, that in 2025 it is planned to complete the construction and reconstruction of about 30 educational institutions in TiNAO.

    The construction of social facilities in Moscow corresponds to the goals and initiatives of the national project “Infrastructure for life”.

    Construction of a road to an educational complex in Troitsk is nearing completion

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/149476073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Transcript – Rural Queensland Today with Ben Dobbin

    Source: Australian Executive Government Ministers

    BEN DOBBIN [HOST]: Welcome back to Rural Queensland Today on the Resonate Broadcast Network, it’s my great pleasure to bring in Senator Anthony Chisholm, the Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Ag, Fisheries and Forestry. He’s a Queenslander and it’s great to have him on the show. Good morning, Anthony. Thanks so much for being with us.

    ANTHONY CHISHOLM [ASSISTANT MINISTER]: Good morning, Ben. Good to be with you and your listeners.

    DOBBIN: Mate, a lot going on but some good news. Yesterday you joined the University of Queensland to speak about the Federal Government’s efforts to help students pursue a career in the ag sector through the AgConnections program.

    CHISHOLM: Yeah, we think this will be an important program, Ben. And when you get around and meet with farmers on the land, you know that they’re always struggling to find future workers and I think for a lot of Queenslanders, particularly those from the city, they don’t necessarily think about a career in Ag, they don’t have that exposure. But there’s so many different jobs in agriculture these days, particularly when you consider how much new tech is involved. We want to grow that next generation of workers and think that this is a really good program. The University of Queensland have obviously got a proud history in this regard of connecting the two and ensuring that we have that future production line of workers coming through that are going to experience the ag sector, become passionate about it and go on to have a fabulous career in agriculture.

    DOBBIN: It’s a pretty significant day. You are right with the University of Queensland. It’s a first of its kind that will encourage students to diverse their disciplines. I’ve got a son who is at University of Queensland and all he wants to do is be back on the land at the farm, but he has to go and do a degree and so he’s doing engineering. But this now offers people who can go and get some skills, can go and get a university degree with some hands-on experience through an unbelievable team. But I’ve got to say, is this, is this a band aid from the State Government’s dark days when they closed the Ag colleges? I mean there was always a pathway and I understand this is a state level and you’re a Federal Senator, but I mean this seems to me like, yes, I’m so pleased this is happening, but it could have also been prevented a little bit if the State Government hadn’t gone and shut all these Ag colleges down a few years ago. Is that the reason why UQ and why the Federal Government have stepped in for this?

    CHISHOLM: We’ve also provided support to some of the other universities around the country, including Charles Sturt, ANU, and Charles Darwin University. So, there is some diversity there. It’s funny you mentioned the Ag colleges and I was out in Longreach just before Christmas, and they’ve turned the Longreach college there into a Regional University Study Hub, which will be a great addition. But I understand the point you’re making and from my point of view, who’s got responsibility for workforce issues within agriculture, what I want to see is growing the pie, and this is what I talk to industry about. So, we need people in school thinking about a career in agriculture. We need those who are studying at university thinking about agriculture. We need to look at what we can do in vocational training to ensure that there’s people coming through interested in agriculture. But I think the challenge is exposing people to the industry and then realising that you don’t have to have a family farm, you don’t have to grow up in a farming location. There are so many diverse jobs and a great career and you’ll have so much fun at the same time. That’s what it’s about. So, we understand that there’s going to be a need for people coming in on visas overseas or backpackers of the PALM scheme. All of that is in the mix. But we also want to grow those people who live in Australia and get an opportunity in Ag, and I’m confident that once they get that taste, they’ll really enjoy and want a career in that area.

    DOBBIN: Yeah, this is a very, very good initiative. I’ve got to be honest with you, and everybody needs to be congratulated on this. You also are Assistant Minister for Regional Development. Gee whiz, you’ve got a headache there trying to get the regions right. I mean, we are a little bit behind in this state and you know it too well. And you talked about Longreach, you talked about some of these areas that are growing, but we’ve got some challenges. How do we fast track it and not just be so laser focused on the south east?

    CHISHOLM: Yeah, it’s something that I see as an important responsibility for me. I try and get around the country as much as I can. I’m off to Toowoomba today to help open a bridge out of town there. So, I think it’s about ensuring that we’re working with councils and investing in infrastructure that’s going to make a difference. I think the other challenge in many of these places is housing and the program that we’ve had to support councils to develop their headworks, whether it be sewerage, whether it be guttering and be able to build more houses in what is often the case where they lack builders or lack a market for new houses. So, I think those sorts of things are really important that are going to make a difference in these regional rural communities. I was in Normanton last year and they’ve got some money to develop some land for housing. So, that just shows you that the work that’s going on. We will continue to invest in the Growing Regions Program and the Regional Precincts and Partnership Program that invest in place-based infrastructure as well. But obviously childcare is another really important issue because a lot of people moving to these towns want to know that they’ve got access for childcare. So, I think across a range of measures we’re making progress. But I accept what you’re saying and it can’t happen quick enough and we need to ensure that we’re constantly out there listening, but then acting on that and delivering at the same time.

    DOBBIN: Well, this is a great news story and we’ve led the show with the Ag Skills Accelerator given the green light. You were part of the University of Queensland yesterday, where there is now going to be, as you said, an opportunity for people who haven’t been born and bred in the bush, who can make a choice to choose Ag and go into there and do a university degree and create a future for themselves around this industry. A great news story. Senator, we really appreciate your time this morning. Anthony Chisholm, Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Ag and Fisheries, thanks so much for being with us.

    CHISHOLM: Thanks, Ben. Good to be with you.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese New Year celebrated across world

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

    Chinese New Year celebrated across world

    Updated: January 30, 2025 10:21 Xinhua
    A participant tries on a traditional Chinese costume during an event in celebration of the Chinese New Year at the Confucius Institute of Far Eastern Federal University of Russia, in Vladivostok, Russia, Jan. 29, 2025. The Confucius Institute of Far Eastern Federal University of Russia hosted a Chinese New Year cultural experience event, attracting many participants. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Participants try Chinese calligraphy during an event in celebration of the Chinese New Year at the Confucius Institute of Far Eastern Federal University of Russia, in Vladivostok, Russia, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Participants paint Beijing Opera masks during an event in celebration of the Chinese New Year at the Confucius Institute of Far Eastern Federal University of Russia, in Vladivostok, Russia, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People watch a lion dance performance during the Chinese New Year celebration in the departure hall of Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, on Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People watch a lion dance performance during the Chinese New Year celebration in the departure hall of Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, on Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Performers present a lion dance during a Spring Festival gala at the Chinese Cultural Center in Cotonou, Benin, Jan. 25, 2025. The 2025 “Happy Chinese New Year” celebrations kicked off here recently, and will last till Feb. 12. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Local Chinese language learners perform Chinese crosstalk during a Spring Festival gala at the Chinese Cultural Center in Cotonou, Benin, Jan. 25, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A local martial arts lover performs during a Spring Festival gala at the Chinese Cultural Center in Cotonou, Benin, Jan. 25, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Artists of China Conservatory of Music stage a performance in Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 29, 2025. A concert celebrating the Spring Festival was held at Bozar Art Center in Brussels on Wednesday. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Zhang Qianyuan of China Conservatory of Music performs the Suona Concerto “A Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix” in Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview – Rural Queensland Today

    Source: Australian Ministers for Education

    BEN DOBBIN [HOST]: Welcome back to Rural Queensland. Today on the Resonate Broadcast Network, it’s my great pleasure to bring in Senator Anthony Chisholm, the Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Ag, Fisheries and Forestry. He’s a Queenslander and it’s great to have him on the show. Good morning, Anthony. Thanks so much for being with us.

    ANTHONY CHISHOLM [HOST]: Good morning, Ben. Good to be with you and your listeners.

    DOBBIN: Mate, a lot going on but some good news. Yesterday you joined the University of Queensland to speak about the Federal Government’s efforts to help students pursue a career in the ag sector through the AgConnections program.

    CHISHOLM: Yeah, we think this will be an important program, Ben. And when you get around and meet with farmers on the land, you know that they’re always struggling to find future workers and I think for a lot of Queenslanders, particularly those from the city, they don’t necessarily think about a career in Ag, they don’t have that exposure. But there’s so many different jobs in agriculture these days, particularly when you consider how much new tech is involved. We want to grow that next generation of workers and think that this is a really good program. The University of Queensland have obviously got a proud history in this regard of connecting the two and ensuring that we have that future production line of workers coming through that are going to experience the ag sector, become passionate about it and go on to have a fabulous career in agriculture.

    DOBBIN: It’s a pretty significant day. You are right with the University of Queensland. It’s a first of its kind that will encourage students to diverse their disciplines. I’ve got a son who is at University of Queensland and all he wants to do is be back on the land at the farm, but he has to go and do a degree and so he’s doing engineering. But this now offers people who can go and get some skills, can go and get a university degree with some hands-on experience through an unbelievable team. But I’ve got to say, is this, is this a band aid from the State Government’s dark days when they closed the Ag colleges? I mean there was always a pathway and I understand this is a state level and you’re a Federal Senator, but I mean this seems to me like, yes, I’m so pleased this is happening, but it could have also been prevented a little bit if the State Government hadn’t gone and shut all these Ag colleges down a few years ago. Is that the reason why UQ and why the Federal Government have stepped in for this?

    CHISHOLM: We’ve also provided support to some of the other universities around the country, including Charles Sturt, ANU, and Charles Darwin University. So, there is some diversity there. It’s funny you mentioned the Ag colleges and I was out in Longreach just before Christmas, and they’ve turned the Longreach college there into a Regional University Study Hub, which will be a great addition. But I understand the point you’re making and from my point of view, who’s got responsibility for workforce issues within agriculture, what I want to see is growing the pie, and this is what I talk to industry about. So, we need people in school thinking about a career in agriculture. We need those who are studying at university thinking about agriculture. We need to look at what we can do in vocational training to ensure that there’s people coming through interested in agriculture. But I think the challenge is exposing people to the industry and then realising that you don’t have to have a family farm, you don’t have to grow up in a farming location. There are so many diverse jobs and a great career and you’ll have so much fun at the same time. That’s what it’s about. So, we understand that there’s going to be a need for people coming in on visas overseas or backpackers of the PALM scheme. All of that is in the mix. But we also want to grow those people who live in Australia and get an opportunity in Ag, and I’m confident that once they get that taste, they’ll really enjoy and want a career in that area.

    DOBBIN: Yeah, this is a very, very good initiative. I’ve got to be honest with you, and everybody needs to be congratulated on this. You also are Assistant Minister for Regional Development. Gee whiz, you’ve got a headache there trying to get the regions right. I mean, we are a little bit behind in this state and you know it too well. And you talked about Longreach, you talked about some of these areas that are growing, but we’ve got some challenges. How do we fast track it and not just be so laser focused on the south east?

    CHISHOLM: Yeah, it’s something that I see as an important responsibility for me. I try and get around the country as much as I can. I’m off to Toowoomba today to help open a bridge out of town there. So, I think it’s about ensuring that we’re working with councils and investing in infrastructure that’s going to make a difference. I think the other challenge in many of these places is housing and the program that we’ve had to support councils to develop their headworks, whether it be sewerage, whether it be guttering and be able to build more houses in what is often the case where they lack builders or lack a market for new houses. So, I think those sorts of things are really important that are going to make a difference in these regional rural communities. I was in Normanton last year and they’ve got some money to develop some land for housing. So, that just shows you that the work that’s going on. We will continue to invest in the Growing Regions Program and the Regional Precincts and Partnership Program that invest in place-based infrastructure as well. But obviously childcare is another really important issue because a lot of people moving to these towns want to know that they’ve got access for childcare. So, I think across a range of measures we’re making progress. But I accept what you’re saying and it can’t happen quick enough and we need to ensure that we’re constantly out there listening, but then acting on that and delivering at the same time.

    DOBBIN: Well, this is a great news story and we’ve led the show with the Ag Skills Accelerator given the green light. You were part of the University of Queensland yesterday, where there is now going to be, as you said, an opportunity for people who haven’t been born and bred in the bush, who can make a choice to choose ag and go into there and do a university degree and create a future for themselves around this industry. A great news story. Senator, we really appreciate your time this morning. Anthony Chisholm, Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Ag and Fisheries, thanks so much for being with us.

    CHISHOLM: Thanks, Ben. Good to be with you.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Academician Lingyun Xiang was awarded the International Cultural Exchange Ambassador Certificate by the Ukrainian Ambassador to China

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Beijing, China, Jan. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Recently, Professor Lingyun Xiang, a Foreign Academician of the National Academy of Engineering of Ukraine, was awarded the International Cultural Exchange Ambassador Certificate by the Embassy of Ukraine in China.

    Ukrainian diplomat Gili and the Secretary to Professor Lingyun Xiang, a Foreign Academician of the National Academy of Engineering of Ukraine in China.

    Ukraine, with its capital Kyiv, is located in Eastern Europe along the northern coasts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It shares borders with Belarus to the north, Russia to the northeast, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary to the west, and Romania and Moldova to the south. Rich in mineral resources, Ukraine covers 603,700 square kilometers, making it the second-largest country in Europe by land area. The country is divided into 24 oblasts (provinces), one autonomous republic (the Republic of Crimea), and two cities with special status (the capital Kyiv and Sevastopol).

    As of September 2022, Ukraine’s total population was 41.13 million (excluding the Crimea region). Ukraine is classified as a developing country with a highly advanced agricultural sector, though its industrial development, particularly in manufacturing, lags. Ukraine ranks as the fifth-largest exporter of IT services in the world. It is the largest market for software development, programming, and IT outsourcing services in Central and Eastern Europe. In 2021, Ukraine’s GDP was approximately $200 billion.

    The National Academy of Engineering of Ukraine (Академія Інженерних Наук України) is one f Ukraine’s highest academic institutions. It originated as the Ukrainian Republic Branch of the Soviet Union Academy of Engineering. In 1998, it became a member of the International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS), a global alliance that includes engineering academies from 27 countries, such as the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

    As of December 2023, the National Academy of Engineering of Ukraine has over 160 academicians, more than 130 corresponding members, and over 50 foreign academicians. The current president of the academy is Petro Mihailovich Talanchuk, who previously served as Ukraine’s Minister of Education and Science, President of the National Technical University of Ukraine (formerly Kyiv Polytechnic Institute), a candidate in the 1994 Ukrainian presidential election, and currently an advisor to the President of Ukraine.

    Professor Xiang was elected on July 22, 2024. He is also a recipient of the British King’s Medal and the European Outstanding Achievement Award, a Fellow of the Royal Society of the United Kingdom, a Lifetime Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering of the United Kingdom, and a Foreign Full Member of Academy of Engineering Sciences of Ukraine, a lifelong full-time professor of the European Union University, a lifelong professor (doctoral supervisor) of the National University of Maryland, a Special Term professor of Peking University Boya, a visiting professor of Beijing Union University, a visiting professor of Capital Normal University, a visiting professor of Shaanxi University of Science & Technology.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Klaus Agent Becomes the First Blockchain AI Agent to Integrate Custom DeepSeek Model

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Klaus Agent, the AI-powered blockchain assistant, has officially integrated a custom DeepSeek model, making it one of the most intelligent, cost-effective, and autonomous AI agents in the market.

    Built on the Klaus meme, the Klaus AI agent is designed to be an advanced digital assistant, capable of voice-to-voice interactions and executing real-world tasks such as sending emails, purchasing products, trading crypto, and managing schedules.

    With this latest integration, the Klaus development team has downloaded, modified, and optimized the DeepSeek large language model (LLM) to run on their own GPUs, enhancing performance, efficiency, and affordability within its proprietary tech stack.

    A Breakthrough AI Tech Stack

    Unlike most AI agents that rely solely on external LLMs, Klaus Agent operates on a proprietary AI system built for speed, intelligence, and autonomy. The core tech stack includes:

    • Google DialogFlow – Enables ultra-fast response times by interpreting user commands before engaging LLM processing.
    • Klaus Novel Graph – A supervised learning graph that categorizes and routes user queries, reducing reliance on generative AI.
    • Klaus Neural Network – A multi-cluster system that organizes and processes AI-driven tasks, from shopping to crypto trading.
    • Klaus Vectorized Database – A self-learning database that enables continuous improvement, user behavior adaptation, and seamless AI development.
    • Claude Anthropic – Enhances response structuring while providing advanced human-like interaction modeling.

    DeepSeek Integration: A New Era of AI Learning

    DeepSeek’s open-source model has now been fully incorporated into the Klaus Agent’s unsupervised learning framework. Unlike closed-source LLMs such as GPT or Claude, DeepSeek allows fine-tuning using the Klaus vectorized data, enabling the AI to learn and evolve based on real-world interactions.

    “This integration means Klaus Agent is no longer just a passive AI responding to prompts—it’s an adaptive digital entity, capable of learning from its experiences while leveraging DeepSeek’s extensive training data,” said the Klaus Agent’s Lead Developer.

    Klaus Agent’s First Live Deployment

    The first use case of this powerful AI integration is already live at x.com/Klaus_Agent, where Klaus:

    • Finds and verifies the latest news using AI-driven fact-checking.
    • Cross-references multiple sources to eliminate misinformation.
    • Presents unbiased, AI-curated insights in real time.

    Join the AI Revolution

    As one of the first blockchain AI agents with an independently trained DeepSeek model, Klaus is pioneering the future of autonomous digital assistants.

    For more information, visit x.com/Klaus_Agent and experience the next evolution in AI.

    Media details:
    Webmail: Info@klausoneth.com
    Website: https://www.klausoneth.com
    Location: Dubai, UAE
    Person Name: Liam Johnson

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by Klaus on ETH. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the sponsor and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in cloud mining and related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/96dd2bcd-841c-45f5-b2e3-2273b4d62ac0

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Will new $10,000 apprentice payments help solve job shortages in construction? Not anytime soon

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

    In an election pitch last week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced new incentive payments of $10,000 for eligible apprentices in residential construction.

    The federal government has committed to an ambitious target of building 1.2 million new homes over the next five years through the National Housing Accord. That means it urgently needs to boost Australia’s construction workforce.

    But a recent strategic review into incentives for Australian apprentices and trainees found cost-of-living pressures were a major barrier to apprenticeship entry and completion.

    Only about half of apprentices currently finish their apprenticeships.

    The new program has been touted as the federal government’s initial response. It will target 62,690 apprentices and cost $627 million.

    But previous attempts to attract new apprentices with cash payments have had mixed results. A similar 2023 scheme to get more tradies into “green jobs” only attracted about 2,200 sign-ups in the first year.

    There are also concerns the new scheme may have unintended consequences, such as diverting talent from important sectors of the new economy – including the previous “green jobs” scheme.



    Read more:
    There may not be enough skilled workers in Australia’s pipeline for a post-COVID-19 recovery

    How will it work?

    From July 1, eligible apprentices in the new Housing Construction Apprenticeship Program will receive five payments of $2,000 each: after six, 12, 24 and 36 months, and upon completion. The payments are staged to encourage apprentices to complete their training.

    Cash payments won’t be the only new financial incentive. There’ll also be a boost to the Living Away From Home Allowance to help cover the costs of relocating, while an increase in the Disability Australian Apprentice Wage Support payment provides financial support to employers who hire apprentices with disability.



    Read more:
    Albanese to promise $10,000 for apprentices in housing construction

    Will the scheme succeed?

    The government’s previous attempts to address chronic labour shortages through cash incentives have had mixed results.

    Introduced in 2023, the New Energy Apprenticeships Program also offers $10,000 in staged payments to apprentices in priority green roles, such as electric vehicle technicians.

    Despite 2,200 apprentices joining in the first year, the program was deemed too restrictive by the industry. That was despite employers themselves receiving $15,000 per apprentice (which is also what is proposed for the construction scheme).



    Read more:
    Yes, we know there is a ‘skills shortage’. Here are 3 jobs summit ideas to start fixing it right away

    As part of the strategic review, the Centre for International Economics was commissioned to conduct an international literature review. It found that financial incentives such as wage or training subsidies and incentives were only “somewhat relevant” to the Australian context, and there was mixed support, at best, for their effectiveness.

    A major factor behind the mixed results may be the crowding-out effect in economic theory.

    This suggests that increasing public spending (by giving financial incentives) could undermine the intended effect by reducing or even eliminating private-sector investment. And it does not address apprehension among employers, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, about taking on more apprentices.

    More than six months after the government expanded eligibility for clean energy work, the green energy sector continues to face significant skills shortages.

    While these payments may help in the long run, their staggered nature over three years won’t provide immediate relief.

    The plan will likely only contribute to the government’s home-building targets by 2029, if and when more Australians enrol and complete their apprenticeships in the construction sector.

    Will this have effects outside the construction industry?

    More strategically, by shifting the focus from “new economy” industries outlined in the Future Made in Australia policy, this scheme risks weakening efforts to transform Australia’s economy.



    Read more:
    Australia has a new National Skills Agreement. What does this mean for vocational education?

    The cash incentive for apprentices in home-building comes at a time when there is intense global competition for skills in “new industries”.

    However, despite the many state and federal government initiatives for fee-free TAFE courses since the COVID pandemic, recently released data indicates a continued trend of long-term decline in Vocational Education and Training (VET) enrolments.

    Albanese was asked about the government’s commitment to technology and digital innovation, with increasing global competition in artificial intelligence.

    He responded by discussing the government’s commitment to the “new economy”.

    However, the construction sector has until now not been identified as an essential part of the new economy’s priority industries by the government.

    Instead, expanding incentives to construction apprentices marks a shift away from the priorities on green energy and new industries, and towards more traditional trades.

    The cash incentives could divert school leavers from considering apprenticeships in key future industries. That is something that schemes such as the new energy program were specifically designed to do in response to multiple skills and training reviews over the past two decades.

    So, despite the lack of evidence that cash incentives work, and the fact they may cause unintended effects, the proposed incentive payments appear to be a pitch addressing cost-of-living/cost-of-building concerns for the upcoming election.

    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. Will new $10,000 apprentice payments help solve job shortages in construction? Not anytime soon – https://theconversation.com/will-new-10-000-apprentice-payments-help-solve-job-shortages-in-construction-not-anytime-soon-248446

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: As antisemitic attacks reach ‘disturbing’ levels, is strengthening hate crime laws the answer?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Keiran Hardy, Associate Professor, Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University

    Mike Burgess, head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, has issued a stark warning following the discovery of explosives in a caravan in northwest Sydney, alongside a note bearing the address of a Sydney synagogue.

    We have seen a disturbing escalation in the targeting of Jewish interests, and a disturbing escalation in the severity and recklessness of the targeting.

    In response to the recent spate of antisemitic incidents in Sydney – which include a childcare centre being set alight and graffitied – NSW Premier Chris Minns has also pledged to strengthen the state’s hate laws.

    Changes to these laws would bring NSW in line with other states. However, they will have limited impact on a serious social problem. Both nationally and in the states, many existing laws can be used to prosecute people for these crimes, including incitement to violence on the basis of religion, race or ethnicity.

    Responding quickly to the growing crisis around antisemitic attacks is understandable, but greater long-term investments must also be made to prevent extreme, hateful beliefs from developing in our communities in the first place.

    What crimes are being committed?

    Different laws can be triggered depending on the nature of a particular offence.

    The firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue late last year was treated as an act of terrorism, while a joint counter-terrorism team is investigating the caravan explosives.

    Other hateful acts can be charged as arson, property damage or serious vilification.

    For conduct to be treated as terrorism, it must be done for the purpose of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause.

    Extreme right-wing or neo-Nazi beliefs can certainly satisfy this. But whether an individual case will be treated as terrorism depends on whether there is enough evidence of an underlying ideological motive.

    Serious vilification offences apply when someone incites others to cause harm on the basis of race, religion, sexuality or gender identity.

    Both nationally and in the states, new offences also apply for displaying Nazi symbols. Neo-Nazis who were arrested after a march in Adelaide this month, for example, were charged with various offences, including failing to cease loitering and displaying a Nazi symbol.



    Read more:
    Legal in one state, a crime in another: laws banning hate symbols are a mixed bag

    What is NSW considering changing?

    The biggest change would be to section 93Z of the NSW Crimes Act.

    Section 93Z is a serious vilification offence, but it applies only to the incitement of violence. Equivalent offences in other states are broader because they also include incitement to hatred, serious contempt or severe ridicule.

    In Queensland, this requires threats or inciting threats of physical harm. In Victoria, changes likely to pass in parliament soon would remove a similar harm requirement.

    In NSW, vilification on broader grounds is still unlawful, but it falls under civil law. Complaints can be made to Anti-Discrimination NSW and this may lead to lawsuits and potential compensation – but not criminal prosecution.

    It makes sense for NSW to match section 93Z to equivalent laws in other states. But this would go against the very recent recommendations of the NSW Law Reform Commission.

    In its report last November, the commission concluded that strengthening laws is not always the best way to address underlying social issues. It said the low prosecution rate for section 93Z could be explained by police preferring other, more serious offences for these types of crimes.

    Still, it appears Minns may go ahead with the reforms, saying an antisemitic attack “begins with hateful, racist language”.

    If I can stop it at its source with changes to the law, that’s exactly what we’ll do.

    Would these changes make a difference?

    The proposed changes are quite technical and are unlikely to have a significant impact on the growing threat of antisemitism.

    Widening section 93Z could generate some additional prosecutions for hate speech that falls below inciting violence. But in most cases, other, more serious offences are already available to prosecutors.

    Ultimately, in addition to the ongoing investigations, there needs to be greater investment in efforts to understand extremism in Australian society. This includes developing clearer answers to these questions:

    • why extreme, hateful beliefs are thriving in our communities
    • who is most likely to develop these beliefs and act on them, and
    • how extremist narratives can best be countered, in our communities and online.

    Countering violent extremism programs are improving over time. These include interventions for at-risk youth and broader efforts to educate communities. But investments in these approaches have never kept pace with changes to the criminal law.

    Antisemitism has no place in Australian society, and changing the law in NSW will send a quick message that the government is taking the problem seriously. But taking it seriously also means doing whatever else we can as a society to ensure no one experiences hate or violence for who they are or what they believe.

    Keiran Hardy receives funding from the Australian Research Council for a Discovery Project on conspiracy-fuelled extremism.

    – ref. As antisemitic attacks reach ‘disturbing’ levels, is strengthening hate crime laws the answer? – https://theconversation.com/as-antisemitic-attacks-reach-disturbing-levels-is-strengthening-hate-crime-laws-the-answer-248549

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why the WHO has recommended switching to a healthier salt alternative

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Xiaoyue (Luna) Xu, Scientia Lecturer, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney

    goodbishop/Shutterstock

    This week the World Health Organization (WHO) released new guidelines recommending people switch the regular salt they use at home for substitutes containing less sodium.

    But what exactly are these salt alternatives? And why is the WHO recommending this? Let’s take a look.

    A new solution to an old problem

    Advice to eat less salt (sodium chloride) is not new. It has been part of international and Australian guidelines for decades. This is because evidence clearly shows the sodium in salt can harm our health when we eat too much of it.

    Excess sodium increases the risk of high blood pressure, which affects millions of Australians (around one in three adults). High blood pressure (hypertension) in turn increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease, among other conditions.

    The WHO estimates 1.9 million deaths globally each year can be attributed to eating too much salt.

    The WHO recommends consuming no more than 2g of sodium daily. However people eat on average more than double this, around 4.3g a day.

    In 2013, WHO member states committed to reducing population sodium intake by 30% by 2025. But cutting salt intake has proved very hard. Most countries, including Australia, will not meet the WHO’s goal for reducing sodium intake by 2025. They WHO has since set the same target for 2030.

    The difficulty is that eating less salt means accepting a less salty taste. It also requires changes to established ways of preparing food. This has proved too much to ask of people making food at home, and too much for the food industry.

    There’s been little progress on efforts to cut sodium intake.
    snezhana k/Shutterstock

    Enter potassium-enriched salt

    The main lower-sodium salt substitute is called potassium-enriched salt. This is salt where some of the sodium chloride has been replaced with potassium chloride.

    Potassium is an essential mineral, playing a key role in all the body’s functions. The high potassium content of fresh fruit and vegetables is one of the main reasons they’re so good for you. While people are eating more sodium than they should, many don’t get enough potassium.

    The WHO recommends a daily potassium intake of 3.5g, but on the whole, people in most countries consume significantly less than this.

    Potassium-enriched salt benefits our health by cutting the amount of sodium we consume, and increasing the amount of potassium in our diets. Both help to lower blood pressure.

    Switching regular salt for potassium-enriched salt has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and premature death in large trials around the world.

    Modelling studies have projected that population-wide switches to potassium-enriched salt use would prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths from cardiovascular disease (such as heart attack and stroke) each year in China and India alone.

    The key advantage of switching rather than cutting salt intake is that potassium-enriched salt can be used as a direct one-for-one swap for regular salt. It looks the same, works for seasoning and in recipes, and most people don’t notice any important difference in taste.

    In the largest trial of potassium-enriched salt to date, more than 90% of people were still using the product after five years.

    Excess sodium intake increases the risk of high blood pressure, which can cause a range of health problems.
    PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

    Making the switch: some challenges

    If fully implemented, this could be one of the most consequential pieces of advice the WHO has ever provided.

    Millions of strokes and heart attacks could be prevented worldwide each year with a simple switch to the way we prepare foods. But there are some obstacles to overcome before we get to this point.

    First, it will be important to balance the benefits and the risks. For example, people with advanced kidney disease don’t handle potassium well and so these products are not suitable for them. This is only a small proportion of the population, but we need to ensure potassium-enriched salt products are labelled with appropriate warnings.

    A key challenge will be making potassium-enriched salt more affordable and accessible. Potassium chloride is more expensive to produce than sodium chloride, and at present, potassium-enriched salt is mostly sold as a niche health product at a premium price.

    If you’re looking for it, salt substitutes may also be called low-sodium salt, potassium salt, heart salt, mineral salt, or sodium-reduced salt.

    A review published in 2021 found low sodium salts were marketed in only 47 countries, mostly high-income ones. Prices ranged from the same as regular salt to almost 15 times higher.

    An expanded supply chain that produces much more food-grade potassium chloride will be needed to enable wider availability of the product. And we’ll need to see potassium-enriched salt on the shelves next to regular salt so it’s easy for people to find.

    In countries like Australia, about 80% of the salt we eat comes from processed foods. The WHO guideline falls short by not explicitly prioritising a switch for the salt used in food manufacturing.

    Stakeholders working with government to encourage food industry uptake will be essential for maximising the health benefits.

    Bruce Neal receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and MTP Connect, for research on potassium-enriched salts. All funds are administered by UNSW Sydney and The George Institute for Global Health.

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

    – ref. Why the WHO has recommended switching to a healthier salt alternative – https://theconversation.com/why-the-who-has-recommended-switching-to-a-healthier-salt-alternative-248436

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU and Kim Il Sung University to cooperate in scientific and educational spheres

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    A delegation from Kim Il Sung University, the leading university in the DPRK, visited Novosibirsk State University. During the visit, representatives of the two universities agreed to intensify inter-university cooperation, the priority areas of which are student and faculty mobility, joint scientific conferences and scientific research in the following priority areas – chemistry, mathematics, information technology and new materials. To more effectively organize joint work, the parties will prepare a roadmap (work plan) for the coming year.

    Kim Il Sung University was represented by Rector Kim Seung Chan, deans of the faculties of Materials Science and Chemistry, Director of the Institute for Advanced Technology Development, Director of the Department of International Relations, Head of the Department of Juche Philosophy of the Faculty of Philosophy, and Head of the Department of Russian Language and Literature of the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literature. NSU was represented by Rector, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Mikhail Fedoruk, deans Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics And Faculty of Natural Sciences Igor Marchuk and Vladimir Reznikov, Head of the Education Export Department Evgeny Sagaydak. Also present at the meeting was Svetlana Malina, Head of the Department of Professional Education and Higher Education of the Ministry of Education of the Novosibirsk Region.

    Mikhail Fedoruk, Rector of NSU, mentioned the long-standing historical ties not only between Russia, but also between Novosibirsk and North Korea, stressed that it is a great honor for NSU to be friends with Kim Il Sung University, and expressed readiness to implement joint projects in the educational and scientific spheres in the very near future.

    “In the current historical period, the traditional Korean-Russian friendly relations have turned into a comprehensive strategic partnership. We hope that in the future, cooperation between our two universities will expand to a new, higher level in accordance with the common interests and aspirations of the peoples,” said the rector of the North Korean university, Kim Seung-chan, in his welcoming speech.

    The universities agreed to cooperate in the following areas:

    – organization of student internships from one to three months, conducting research work at NSU and research institutes of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences;

    – joint research in the field of cutting-edge technologies;

    – inviting teachers to teach courses;

    – preparation of joint scientific publications.

    — Novosibirsk State University is one of the leaders in the field of education export and international cooperation. We, as a ministry, support the expansion of cooperation between the two universities and are ready to provide all possible assistance in organizing joint events, conferences and internships, — emphasized Svetlana Malina.

    Among the upcoming events that North Korean university students can take part in are: International scientific student conference of NSU, which has been held practically since the university’s founding, traditionally in April, and will be held for the 63rd time this year; and Big Mathematical Workshop, which is organized by Mathematical center in Akademgorodok and the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics of NSU. The workshop has been held for 5 years, usually in the summer, and in 2024 it became international for the first time – students from one of the Chinese universities took part in it. NSU also invited a student delegation from a North Korean university to take part in the events of Interweek, which will be held at the end of April.

    In 2026, Kim Il Sung University celebrates its 80th anniversary, and a delegation from NSU plans to take part in an international scientific conference organized by the North Korean university as part of the anniversary events.

    The two universities are also considering the possibility of jointly preparing schoolchildren for admission to Russian universities on the basis of SUNC NSU.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy Announces 119th Congress Committee Assignments

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    January 29, 2025

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Wednesday announced his Committee assignments for the 119th Congress. In addition to maintaining his positions on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Murphy will serve as the Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security and the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation.
    Murphy is the first U.S. Senator from Connecticut to serve on the Appropriations Committee since 1987. As a member of the Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee, Murphy will continue working to secure funding to create good-paying jobs, combat the fentanyl crisis, and support communities in Connecticut.  
    As a member of the HELP and Foreign Relations Committees, Murphy will also continue advocating to invest in mental health care, stand up for workers, improve school safety, advocate for anti-gun violence programs, and support U.S. diplomatic efforts abroad.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Even as the tide turned for fur, crocodile leather kept selling in high-end fashion. But for how much longer?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Lamarche-Beauchesne, Senior Lecturer in Fashion Enterprise, Torrens University Australia

    apple2499/Shutterstock

    Dotted across northern Australia are 21 saltwater crocodile farms, home to around 130,000 crocodiles. Their skins are turned into crocodile leather, long sought for use in luxury handbags, belts and other items.

    While fur lost favour due to welfare concerns about animals such as mink, chinchillas and arctic foxes raised for their skins, crocodile leather has kept selling. Australia dominates the global market of saltwater crocodile skins, producing almost 60% of all such skins traded internationally.

    But the industry now faces real headwinds. Major retailers and fashion events in Australia and internationally are phasing out or banning crocodile and other exotic skins due to growing concerns over animal welfare.

    The Northern Territory government’s crocodile farming plan acknowledges shifting consumer demand and increasing scrutiny as the industry’s largest threat.

    Most of the world’s crocodile leather comes from Australian farms.
    Venus Angel/Shutterstock

    Feathers, fur and now skins

    Early animal rights activists in the 19th century focused on feathers due to concern about the enormous environmental damage done by plume hunters killing ostriches and egrets. Only later did activists turn their focus to fur.

    In the early 20th century, countries such as the United States and Britain enacted bans or restrictions on feathers. In this century, sentiment has largely turned against wearing real fur, though faux fur and vintage fur are still popular.

    But even as feathers went out of fashion, new animal products were arriving. By 1928, exotic skins such as crocodile, alligator and snake began commercialisation in Europe and the US. By the 1970s, they were widely used in fashion.

    That looks to be changing.

    By 2026, department store David Jones will phase out all exotic skins, including ostrich, crocodile, alligator, lizard and snake. The move builds on the company’s existing animal welfare policies, which already prohibit the sale of fur, angora rabbit wool and foie gras (duck or goose liver).

    The 2025 Melbourne Fashion Festival will also ban exotic leathers, while London Fashion Week will be the first of the “Big Four” fashion weeks to follow suit.

    In recent years, the kangaroo leather industry has also come under pressure due to concerns over animal welfare. California banned it altogether, and a full US ban is under consideration.

    Feathers are also under increasing scrutiny, with fashion weeks in Copenhagen, Helsinki and Melbourne announcing feather bans starting this year.

    These decisions reflect a growing shift toward ethical fashion, driven by consumer demand and rising awareness of animal welfare.

    Fur has lost its appeal for many consumers.
    ChiccoDodiFC/Shutterstock

    Exotic leather, native species

    Crocodile leather is described as an “exotic” skin, even though saltwater crocodiles are native to Australia.

    Two-thirds of Australia’s skins come from the Northern Territory, while Queensland and Western Australia have smaller industries.

    Crocodile farms operate by harvesting eggs from the wild and raising the animals in captivity. In the wild, they are protected from hunting. But in farms, they are legally considered stock or production animals, which means they lose these protections.

    When we farm animals, it’s common to think of them as resources waiting to be used for our purposes.

    But the fashion backlash suggests another way of thinking is emerging. My research points to a more animal-centric perspective on how animal-derived materials are produced for fashion.

    Crocodile farms emerged as a way to protect these reptiles from being hunted to extinction. But the industry is now under increasing scrutiny.
    RWK007/Shutterstock

    From unregulated hunting to farmed crocodiles

    Skin hunters nearly drove the saltwater crocodile to extinction in Australia. An estimated 300,000 animals were killed for their skins between 1945 and 1970. Saltie populations fell as low as 3,000 animals before authorities acted.

    Freshwater crocodiles, too, were hunted for their skins from 1959. After both species were protected in the 1970s, their populations rebounded.

    Crocodile farming started in Queensland in 1972, and in the Northern Territory in 1979.

    In 1975, the international Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora on trading endangered animals came into effect, in part to regulate the trade of exotic animals in luxury products.

    But this agreement doesn’t rule out uses for fashion. As crocodile experts at the International Union for Conservation of Nature write:

    […] crocodile farming was seen not only as a way to reduce pressure on the wild populations, but also as a means through which commercial incentives for the conservation of crocodilians could be generated.

    As the website of one Australian crocodile farm states, crocodiles are a “natural renewable resource with considerable potential for sustainable commercial use”.

    By 2018, the crocodile farming industry was worth A$26.7 million to the Northern Territory’s economy. Around 100,000 juvenile crocodiles are raised annually on farms. The NT industry plans to expand in coming years, with a target of 50,000 skins annually.

    Trends in fashion heavily influence how crocodiles are farmed. While saltwater crocodiles can live up to 70 years in the wild, it takes three to four years for a crocodile to reach 1.5 metres, at which point their skins can make larger fashion items.

    But in recent years, crocodiles have been slaughtered at around two years. Their smaller skins are used for smaller accessories.

    Welfare concerns

    The crocodile farming industry promotes its sustainability and positive economic impacts on First Nations communities. But this has come under question in recent years, with the release of documentaries featuring ex-crocodile farm workers, while activists from the Farm Transparency Project flew drones over crocodile farms and released footage of slaughtering practices in an effort to increase scrutiny and draw media coverage.

    This image of a crocodile in a Northern Territory farm was taken by activists using a drone.
    Farm Transparency Project, CC BY

    Animal welfare organisations such as the RSPCA have long opposed the practice.

    In 2023, the federal government announced an update of the code of humane treatment of wild and farmed crocodiles to incorporate new science and techniques, according to Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek. The updated code was expected late last year but has not been released.

    In response, NT Crocodile Farmers Association chief Jodi Truman said the industry “supports independent audits to ensure humane treatment”. She added:

    […] animal rights activists have made clear that they are against all farms and the farming of all animals.

    This drone image taken by animal activists shows the slaughter of crocodiles at a NT farm.
    Farm Transparency Project, CC BY

    What’s likely to happen?

    While commercial operators and governments plan to expand, there are now real barriers to the industry’s growth.

    For decades, animal derived products such as fur, feathers and leather have been prized in fashion. But consumers are increasingly less comfortable with how these products are made. That’s the thing about fashion – it changes.

    The author has previously been a member and lower-house candidate for the Animal Justice Party in Victoria.

    – ref. Even as the tide turned for fur, crocodile leather kept selling in high-end fashion. But for how much longer? – https://theconversation.com/even-as-the-tide-turned-for-fur-crocodile-leather-kept-selling-in-high-end-fashion-but-for-how-much-longer-245471

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is a ‘vaginal birth after caesarean’ or VBAC?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hannah Dahlen, Professor of Midwifery, Associate Dean Research and HDR, Midwifery Discipline Leader, Western Sydney University

    MVelishchuk/Shutterstock

    A vaginal birth after caesarean (known as a VBAC) is when a woman who has had a caesarean has a vaginal birth down the track.

    In Australia, about 12% of women have a vaginal birth for a subsequent baby after a caesarean. A VBAC is much more common in some other countries, including in several Scandinavian ones, where 45-55% of women have one.

    So what’s involved? What are the risks? And who’s most likely to give birth vaginally the next time round?

    What happens? What are the risks?

    When a woman chooses a VBAC she is cared for much like she would during a planned vaginal birth.

    However, an induction of labour is avoided as much as possible, due to the slightly increased risk of the caesarean scar opening up (known as uterine rupture). This is because the medication used in inductions can stimulate strong contractions that put a greater strain on the scar.

    In fact, one of the main reasons women may be recommended to have a repeat caesarean over a vaginal birth is due to an increased chance of her caesarean scar rupturing.

    This is when layers of the uterus (womb) separate and an emergency caesarean is needed to deliver the baby and repair the uterus.

    Uterine rupture is rare. It occurs in about 0.2-0.7% of women with a history of a previous caesarean. A uterine rupture can also happen without a previous caesarean, but this is even rarer.

    However, uterine rupture is a medical emergency. A large European study found 13% of babies died after a uterine rupture and 10% of women needed to have their uterus removed.

    The risk of uterine rupture increases if women have what’s known as
    complicated or classical caesarean scars, and for women who have had more than two previous caesareans.

    Most care providers recommend you avoid getting pregnant again for around 12 months after a caesarean, to allow full healing of the scar and to reduce the risk of the scar rupturing.

    National guidelines recommend women attempt a VBAC in hospital in case emergency care is needed after uterine rupture.

    During a VBAC, recommendations are for closer monitoring of the baby’s heart rate and vigilance for abnormal pain that could indicate a rupture is happening.

    If labour is not progressing, a caesarean would then usually be advised.

    Giving birth in hospital is recommended for a vaginal birth after a caesarean.
    christinarosepix/Shutterstock

    Why avoid multiple caesareans?

    There are also risks with repeat caesareans. These include slower recovery, increased risks of the placenta growing abnormally in subsequent pregnancies (placenta accreta), or low in front of the cervix (placenta praevia), and being readmitted to hospital for infection.

    Women reported birth trauma and post-traumatic stress more commonly after a caesarean than a vaginal birth, especially if the caesarean was not planned.

    Women who had a traumatic caesarean or disrespectful care in their previous birth may choose a VBAC to prevent re-traumatisation and to try to regain control over their birth.

    We looked at what happened to women

    The most common reason for a caesarean section in Australia is a repeat caesarean. Our new research looked at what this means for VBAC.

    We analysed data about 172,000 low-risk women who gave birth for the first time in New South Wales between 2001 and 2016.

    We found women who had an initial spontaneous vaginal birth had a 91.3% chance of having subsequent vaginal births. However, if they had a caesarean, their probability of having a VBAC was 4.6% after an elective caesarean and 9% after an emergency one.

    We also confirmed what national data and previous studies have shown – there are lower VBAC rates (meaning higher rates of repeat caesareans) in private hospitals compared to public hospitals.

    We found the probability of subsequent elective caesarean births was higher in private hospitals (84.9%) compared to public hospitals (76.9%).

    Our study did not specifically address why this might be the case. However, we know that in private hospitals women access private obstetric care and experience higher caesarean rates overall.

    What increases the chance of success?

    When women plan a VBAC there is a 60-80% chance of having a vaginal birth in the next birth.

    The success rates are higher for women who are younger, have a lower body mass index, have had a previous vaginal birth, give birth in a home-like environment or with midwife-led care.

    For instance, an Australian study found women who accessed continuity of care with a midwife were more likely to have a successful VBAC compared to having no continuity of care and seeing different care providers each time.

    An Australian national survey we conducted found having continuity of care with a midwife when planning a VBAC can increase women’s sense of control and confidence, increase their chance to be upright and active in labour and result in a better relationship with their health-care provider.

    Seeing the same midwife throughout your maternity care can help.
    Tyler Olson/Shutterstock

    Why is this important?

    With the rise of caesareans globally, including in Australia, it is more important than ever to value vaginal birth and support women to have a VBAC if this is what they choose.

    Our research is also a reminder that how a woman gives birth the first time greatly influences how she gives birth after that. For too many women, this can lead to multiple caesareans, not all of them needed.

    Hannah Dahlen receives funding from NHMRC, ARC and MRFF.

    Hazel Keedle and Lilian Peters 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. What is a ‘vaginal birth after caesarean’ or VBAC? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-a-vaginal-birth-after-caesarean-or-vbac-247572

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner Questions RFK Jr. on Medicaid, Federal Funding Freeze, and His Pledge to Fire 2,200 HHS Employees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner

     

    BROADCAST-QUALITY VIDEO OF THE FULL EXCHANGE IS AVAILABLE HERE 

    WASHINGTON – Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, today questioned President Trump’s nominee for U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy’s career has focused on touting disproven claims about vaccines, and he has a rapidly changing record on abortion rights. 

    Responding to Kennedy’s statements maligning Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, Sen. Warner said (0:05):

    “Well, I have to tell you, for literally hundreds of thousands of Virginians, Medicaid is what prevents them from health crises on a daily and weekly basis. And some imaginary new plan? If there was a new plan, that was to be the basis of what Trump was going to do on repealing Obamacare… I would have thought by now we’d have seen it.” 

    Sen. Warner’s questions also follow an unlawful directive from President Trump on Monday night to freeze trillions in government grants, loans, and programs. While the action was successfully blocked until Feb. 3 by a federal judge, it could still go into effect at that point, directly threatening countless federal benefits, funding for public schools and community health centers, local domestic violence shelters, firefighters and law enforcement, and much more.

    Kennedy’s campaign fundraised off this unlawful directive in an email to supporters, celebrating it as a way to “prevent unelected bureaucrats from further undermining our health freedom.” Kennedy’s unsuccessful presidential campaign is $2 million in debt, and the email was an attempt to garner donations from supporters to cover that shortfall. Questioning Kennedy on these decisions, Sen. Warner said (1:20),

    “So the fact that you celebrate this freeze, do you think that was a good idea to put all of this on hold for 90 days, NIH funding, and any kind of further work in your research? I’d like you to explain to a domestic violence center in Richmond that’s saying, because of this freeze, they may have to close down… where are those battered women going to go? Or to a rural nonprofit I’ve got in the Shenandoah Valley saying that freeze is going to potentially shut down their ability to operate…”

    Sen. Warner also pushed Kennedy on his pledge to remove 2,200 HHS employees, and asked what departments he might be firing people from. He also touched on President Trump’s questionably legal action to offer all federal employees a “buyout” (2:41):

    “Now, you’ve said publicly you want to immediately get rid of 600 workers on job one on day one… When we had our meeting, you said you actually like to get rid of 2,200 people from HHS. Which offices are you going to start cutting and ripping these 2,200 workers from? … When we’re looking at this purge and we’re looking at laying off workers, when we’re looking at potentially the president’s illegal offer to try to buy out federal employees, which I would say to any federal employees, think twice… has this individual in his business role ever fulfilled his contracts or obligations to any workers in the past? … But if you are in this position, will you pledge that you will not fire federal employees who work on food safety, work on trying to prevent things like salmonella?”

    While Kennedy refused to answer any specific departments he would protect or fire, Sen. Warner pushed him to see if his determinations on worthy departments would be at his discretion or based on President Trump’s ideas. When Kennedy responded that it would be his choice, Sen. Warner answered (5:09),

    “So I guess that means a lot of folks who’ve had any type of views on vaccines will be out of work.”

    Sen. Warner went on to question Kennedy about protecting funding for community health centers (5:20) and continue to push him on the federal funding freeze (6:00). His full comments can be watched here.

    Kennedy will face additional questioning in front of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) tomorrow, before the Finance Committee eventually votes on his nomination.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Release: Seymour’s school lunch cuts already failing kids

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

    It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging.

    “This Government slashed school lunch funding and handed the job to a global corporation instead of supporting local suppliers—now kids are stuck with worse meals,” Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said.

    “Their choice to prioritise cuts over proper nutrition for our kids is a disgrace.”

    Parents and teachers have been sharing stories of inferior meals that kids could not eat, meals arriving hours after they were needed, and mislabelled packaging.

    A Cabinet Paper in March 2024 informed the Government that changes to the school lunch programme would risk achievement, attendance, nutrition, and wellbeing of children, as well as having wider impacts on reducing child poverty. They made these changes anyway.

    “Sadly, this was entirely predictable. Instead of investing in children’s nutrition and supporting local food suppliers, this government chose cost-cutting ahead of quality,” Jan Tinetti said.

    “Proper nutrition is essential for kids to focus and learn. Rather than showing leadership and prioritising our kids’ wellbeing, Christopher Luxon followed David Seymour’s reckless advice and chose cuts over quality. As an educator, I have heard similar horror stories from my former colleagues, and I am deeply concerned that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

    “Children should not have to suffer because of the Government’s poor choices,” Jan Tinetti said.

    Stay in the loop by signing up to our mailing list and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEA President: Trump’s latest punitive executive order silences and punishes educators for teaching the truth

    Source: US National Education Union

    By: Miguel Gonzalez

    Published: January 29, 2025

    WASHINGTON—The Trump administration issued yet another dangerous executive order that aims to withhold federal funds to schools that teach the whole history of America. 

    NEA President Becky Pringle issued the following statement in response to the latest Trump executive order that attempts to restrict educators’ ability to teach an honest and accurate curriculum and create schools where students feel safe, seen, and valued:

    “Every student, of every race and in every place, deserves the freedom to learn from a quality educator in a safe and welcoming public school. At a time when our students need us most and when parents and educators are working together tirelessly to do everything we can to support them, this administration continues to take action that aims only to distract and divide us. This unnecessary and punitive executive order does nothing to help educators inspire their students to learn and to give them the resources needed to succeed.

    “Instead of lifting students, Trump and his allies are shamelessly trying to restrict the freedom of educators to teach and students to learn, while also punishing educators for ensuring schools are a safe space where all students—regardless of gender identity or race—have a sense of belonging. 

    “Educators won’t be silent as anti-public education politicians hurt our students, our families, and our communities across America. Together with parents and allies, we will continue to organize, advocate, and mobilize so that all students have well-resourced schools that provide an honest, accurate, and inclusive curriculum that prepares them for the future.” 

    Follow us on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/neapresident.bsky.social and https://bsky.app/profile/neatoday.bsky.social

    # # #

    The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Health Opens New Home for New England Sickle Cell Institute and Connecticut Bleeding Disorders Center

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    It’s a new year and brand-new home for the New England Sickle Cell Institute and Connecticut Bleeding Disorders Center at UConn Health.

    CEO Dr. Andy Agwunobi leading a round of applause for Dr. Biree Andemariam on Jan. 29.

    The Institute held a large, festive celebratory grand opening and ribbon-cutting for leadership, supporters, and its patient community on January 29.

    The newly renovated multi-million-dollar, patient-friendly 12,840 sq. ft. comprehensive care space is located on the fully renovated fourth floor of UConn Health’s Main Building in the Connecticut Tower of UConn John Dempsey Hospital.

    Sickle cell and bleeding disorder patients at UConn Health now have a combined Institute as a dedicated place to call home for all their outpatient care needs. The Institute brings the latest innovative care, medications, supportive services, and clinical trials to its patients all in one space that patients can call their home away from home.

    “Dedicating a new brick and mortar medical home– a place of healing, a place of nurturing, a place of expertise, a place of guidance, and, honestly, a place of love– will ensure that individuals with sickle cell disease and bleeding disorders will always have a safe place to receive top-notch care into the infinite future—including those not yet born!” shared Dr. Biree Andemariam, founder and longtime director of the Institute at the celebration event attended by over 400 guests including 150 patients and their family members.

    Large patient room of New England Sickle Cell Institute and Connecticut Bleeding Disorders Center.

    The new space marks a formal beginning of a joint home for the care of individuals with sickle cell disease as well as those with inherited bleeding disorders.  Both conditions affect the blood, both are hereditary, both are relatively rare and largely without a lot of doctors and nurses and social workers with experience or comfort in taking care of them. Together, the two programs at UConn Health provide care for patients from all over Connecticut and serve as both a regional and national referral base from physicians across many disciplines, including other hematologists.

    The new location has all new equipment such as apheresis technology used for blood transfusions, ultrasound, and EKGs.  It has six large patient rooms, ten infusion rooms, and even a large common area for patients and their families to use.

    The Institute, founded in 2009, has served the majority of adult sickle cell patients in the state. Part of the renovation project was supported with a $75,000 generous grant from CHEFA. Uniquely, the Institute with the help of UConn Health’s art curator Andre Rochester hand-selected original artwork of artists from across Connecticut to decorate and brighten its new hallway and room spaces. The artists hail from across the state in Hartford, Bloomfield, Bridgeport, New Haven, Wolcott, and beyond. Plus, one Oakland, California artist shared a beautiful terra cotta sculpture.

    Dr. Genice Nelson embracing sickle cell patient Lola Odesina on Jan. 29.

    “Our new Institute home is absolutely amazing, and the high-quality space definitely matches the high-quality care our patients always receive,” shared the Institute’s Nursing Director Dr. Genice Nelson. “The old hospital space has been completely renovated down to his studs to be a very modern, comfortable, patient-centered, and colorful, warm inviting space for our patients who often spend a great amount of time receiving therapeutic treatments here.”

    “We sincerely thank Caryl Ryan, RN, COO of John Dempsey Hospital, Dr. Andy Agwunobi, CEO of UConn Health, Dr. Pramod Srivastava, director of the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Dr. Bruce T. Liang, dean of the UConn School of Medicine. Without their strong leadership this new, dream home for our Institute would not be possible. Thank you!” says Andemariam.

    Andemariam also pays tribute to her former UConn Health mentor Dr. Robert Bona who was a longtime director of the bleeding disorders program: “This year marks the 50th year since the start of UConn Health’s first Hemophilia Center. Without him, the bleeding disorders program would not have continued to thrive for so many decades, and I would not have been able to launch our sickle cell program back in 2009 without his support and encouragement.”

    Dr. Biree Andemariam on Jan. 29 hosting the opening of the New England Sickle Cell Institute and Connecticut Bleeding Disorders Center.

    UConn Health’s Bleeding Disorders Center is one of the longest-running specialty clinical programs in the institution’s history. In fact, it has long been recognized as a premier center for the care of patients with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders and one of only two adult bleeding disorder programs in the state.

    “Biree is the visionary that has made this all possible! I want to thank everyone who has come together to make this Institute possible. The number and excitement of the people here today is a true testament to the work of the Institute,” shared Dr. Andy Agwunobi, CEO of UConn Health, in the full Keller Auditorium.

    “This Institute opening is a major milestone for us. Congrats to Dr. Andemariam and all of your team,” shared Dr. Bruce T. Liang, dean of the School of Medicine. “For patients, and future patients, hope is right here, right now at UConn Health.”

    In 2009, Andemariam first established at UConn Health the New England Sickle Cell Institute after witnessing first-hand the health care disparities experienced by sickle cell disease patients. The Institute is the first and only dedicated outpatient regional center of its kind for managing the painful inherited red blood cell condition to help adults combat the daily suffering associated with sickle cell disease and improve their overall quality of life.

    Waiting room of the New England Sickle Cell Institute and Connecticut Bleeding Disorders Center.

    Continued mentorship and support were vital to Andemariam’s ability to develop the world-class Institute, and she credits her chairman and mentor, Dr. Pramod Srivastava, for playing that role, “every single day and every step of the way.” She says, “Most hospital systems don’t have the courage to do what we have done. Dr. Srivastava assured me that we would find a way, and together, we did.”

    Andemariam and her team have tirelessly worked to identify more and more sickle cell patients in the surrounding communities to help them better manage their health, reduce their pain symptoms and disease complication risks, and to keep them out of the hospital so they could enjoy their lives more.

    The once small program has grown to serve the Institute’s hundreds of patients and has a national referral base. Plus, the Institute’s global collaborations have published evidence-based, best practice guidelines, and the research team is conducting clinical trial testing for promising experimental drugs aimed at reducing the disease’s trademark cell sickling, blood vessel blockages, organ damage, frequent hospitalizations, and premature deaths.

    Andemariam concludes, “It was the willingness of UConn Health and School of Medicine leaders, Dr. Agwunobi, Dr. Liang, and Caryl Ryan, who heeded our call to do something extraordinary for the community of individuals with sickle cell disease who had long been abandoned by the medical community.”

    Lola Odesina sharing her sickle cell success story at the celebration.

    Patient Success

    One of the many patient success stories of the Institute include Lola Odesina, 40, of Wethersfield. She was born with the painful, inherited red blood cell disease of sickle cell and has been treated by UConn Health since 2007. As a result of her regular, comprehensive care at the Institute she reports that she is thriving.

    “In my adulthood I definitely have hit a stride with my health,” says Odesina. “It has a lot to do with the comprehensive care I have received at the Institute.”

    Odesina is a pharmacist. Her career path was inspired by her health experience and to work in the health care world to help other people just like her.

    “We are all so very excited for the Institute’s new home and the opportunity for sickle cell patients to be served in an enhanced way, and the greater capacity to serve even more patients,” says Odesina. “It is very reassuring to know people here at UConn Health care and always want to help. The Institute has an amazing supportive team that is always there for us and in anyway.”

    Sickle cell patient Lola Odesina celebrating at the Institute’s grand opening. She is thriving thanks to the Institute’s longtime care.

    Odesina is a mom of two young children. She is very grateful and credits the Institute’s care team for helping her safely through each of her pregnancy journeys with excellent coordinated care and communication with her maternal care providers.

    For blood disorder condition care at the Institute’s Connecticut Bleeding Disorders Center, one of the many grateful patients is Robert Hoyt, 66, of Naugatuck. He has long turned to UConn Health’s expertise for his blood disorder care since 2008.

    He was first diagnosed at 9 months old after hitting his head on his baby crib and the bleeding just wouldn’t stop. He has the most severe form of hemophilia called hemophilia A with inhibitor.

    “I have the worst of the worst type of hemophilia. I spent half of my first 11 years of life in the hospital. Back then there were no good treatments. But I survived!” he happily shares. “At about 40 years of age I needed a knee replacement, but another center wouldn’t do the operation due to its dangers. So, I went to UConn and Dr. Andemariam and the care team guided me through. It was so successful I had my second knee replaced.”

    Robert Hoyt sharing his successes thanks to the longtime care of Dr. Andemariam for his severe form of hemophilia.

    Hoyt adds, “Dr. Andemariam is the doctor I have been looking for my whole life. I want to live life to the fullest, to do that you need to take chances. Her and the Institute’s care has allowed me to do that!”

    “UConn Health is really on the cutting-edge of helping the bleeding disorder community,” Hoyt concludes. “With today’s medications and technology, life with hemophilia is much easier.”

    Hoyt also shared at the ribbon-cutting ceremony other successful health news thanks to the close management of his bleeding disorder condition care by UConn Health’s Andemariam: “I had the first in the nation mitral valve clip repair at Mount Sinai for a hemophilia patient.”

    He concluded, “We will see generations of patients succeed at this new clinic.”

    Looking to the Future
    The Institute, in collaboration with the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program directed by Dr. Kapil S. Meleveedu, is working diligently to bring bone marrow transplant offerings to sickle cell patients.

    Minister Shevalle T. Kimber, M.Div. sharing her invocation for the new Institute and its sickle cell and bleeding disorder patients.

    Also, they are working in earnest to soon bring access to the newly FDA-approved sickle cell gene therapy currently available right now only at a few centers nationwide. They also have several clinical trials open at UConn Health.

    Plus, the Institute will continue to train and educate the next generation of health care providers for sickle cell and bleeding disorders.

    “We are going to take sickle cell disease treatment to new heights,” shared the Neag Cancer Center’s Dr. Pramod Srivastava with the large crowd of attendees.

    The grand-opening event also included a special invocation for the Institute’s new home by the sister of Dr. Genice Nelson. Minister Shevalle T. Kimber, M.Div.  shared a special blessing and prayer for all patients of the Institute to continue to thrive in 2025.  Kimber is co-pastor of The First Calvary Baptist Church in New Haven and serves as the First Lady of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.

    “We are filled with gratitude and reverence,” shared Kimber. “We ask for your blessing on the lives these programs will touch. May this be a safe place of healing and hope.”

    The doors are open at the New England Sickle Cell Institute and Connecticut Bleeding Disorders Center. It was opened by Dr. Genice Nelson, Caryl Ryan, RN, Dr. Andy Agwunobi, Janel Simpson, Dr. Pramod Srivastava, Dr. Biree Andemariam, and Dr. Bruce T. Liang (UConn Health Photo/Tina Encarnacion).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘Digital doppelgangers’ are helping scientists tackle everyday problems – and showing what makes us human

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alicia (Lucy) Cameron, Principal Research Consultant & Team Leader, Data61, CSIRO

    cybermagician/Shutterstock

    As rising seas lap at its shore, Tuvalu faces an existential threat. In an effort to preserve the tiny island nation in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, its government has been building a “digital twin” of the entire country.

    Digital twins are exactly what they sound like – a virtual double or replica of a physical, real-world entity. Scientists have been creating digital twins of everything from molecules, to infrastructure, and even entire planets.

    It’s also now possible to construct a digital twin of an individual person. In other words, a “digital doppelganger”.

    A doppelganger is someone who looks spookily like you but isn’t. The word originated in German, and literally means a “double walker”. A number of industries are now using digital doppelgangers for a range of reasons. These include enhancing athletic performance, offering more personalised healthcare and improving workplace safety.

    But although there are benefits to this technology, there are significant risks associated with its development. Having digital doppelgangers also forces us to reflect on which of our human attributes can’t be digitally replicated.

    Modelling complex systems

    The development of digital twins has been enabled by advances in environmental sensors, camera vision, augmented reality and virtual reality, as well as machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI).

    A digital twin allows us to build and test things in cyberspace – cheaply and without risk – before deploying in the real world.

    For example, we can build and stress-test infrastructure such as bridges or water supply pipes under a variety of conditions. Once built, we can use digital models to maintain the infrastructure proactively and prevent disastrous and costly structural breakdowns. This technology is a game-changer for planning and engineering, not only saving billions of dollars, but also supporting sustainability efforts.

    Of course, replicating individual humans requires much more complex modelling than when building digital twins of bridges or buildings.

    For a start, humans don’t live in a structured world, but rather inhabit complex social and physical environments. We are variable, moody and motivated by any number of factors, from hunger to tiredness, love to anger. We can change our past patterns with conscious thought, as well as act spontaneously and with creativity, challenging the status quo if needed.

    Because of this, creating perfect digital twins of humans is incredibly challenging – if not impossible. Nevertheless, digital doppelgangers are still useful for a number of purposes.

    The digital patient

    Clinicians increasingly use scans to create virtual models of the human body, with which to plan operations or create artificial body parts.

    By adding extra biometric information (for example, blood chemistry, biomechanics and physiological responses), digital models can also mirror real-world bodies, live and in real time.

    Creating digital patients can optimise treatment responses in a move away from one-size-treats-all healthcare. This means drugs, dosages and rehabilitation plans can be personalised, as well as being thoroughly tested before being applied to real people.

    Digital patients can also increase the accessibility of medical expertise to people living in remote locations. And what’s more, using multiple digital humans means some clinical trials can now be performed virtually.

    Scaled up further, this technology allows for societal-level simulations with which to better manage public health events, such as air pollution, pandemics or tsunamis.

    The digital athlete

    Imagine being able to train against a digital replica of an upcoming opponent.

    Sports scientists are increasingly working with digital athletes to trial and optimise strength and conditioning regimes, as well as test competitive play. This helps to increase the chances of winning as well as prevent injuries.

    Researchers at Griffith University have been pioneers in this space, creating models of real athletes. They have also trialled wearable sensors in patches or smart clothing that can measure a range of biomarkers: blood pressure and chemistry, temperature, and sweat composition.

    CSIRO and the Australian Sports Commission have also used digital humans to improve the performance of divers, swimmers and rowers.

    The digital worker

    As well as building virtual replicas of sports people, scientists at CSIRO have also being building virtual simulations of employees in various workplaces, including offices and construction sites.

    This is helping them analyse movements, workflows and productivity – with the broader aim of preventing workplace injuries. For example, scientists can use a model of a digital worker to assess how heavy items are lifted in order to better understand how this puts strain on different parts of the body.

    With 6.1 million Australians impacted by musculoskeletal conditions, preventing workplace injuries can not only improve lives, but save the economy billions of dollars.

    Digital dopplegangers can help prevent workplace injuries.
    Rose Marinelli/Shutterstock

    Responsible development of digital doppelgangers

    Building a digital doppelgangers requires a lot of very personal data. This can include scans, voice and video recordings, or performance and health data.

    Personal data can also be harvested from an array of other sources. These include as cars, mobile phones, and internet-connected smart devices.

    The creation of data-hungry digital replicas is forcing us to redefine legal rights. Think copyright, deepfakes and identity theft or online scams.

    The power of this technology is inspiring. But ensuring a future in which we live happily alongside our digital doppelgangers will require governments, technology developers and end-users to think hard about issues of consent, ethical data management and the potential for misuse of this technology.

    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. ‘Digital doppelgangers’ are helping scientists tackle everyday problems – and showing what makes us human – https://theconversation.com/digital-doppelgangers-are-helping-scientists-tackle-everyday-problems-and-showing-what-makes-us-human-247574

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Carson Introduce Bicameral Youth Mentoring Bills

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and John Boozman (R-AR) introduced legislation to expand insurance coverage for prostate cancer screenings. The bipartisan Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Screening for High-risk Insured Men (HIM) Act would require private health insurance plans to cover preventive prostate cancer screenings without imposing any cost-sharing requirements for men who are at high risk of developing prostate cancer. 
    “Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men in the United States, with Black men being disproportionately impacted and over twice as likely to die following a diagnosis,” said Senator Booker. “I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation that will increase affordability and access to lifesaving screening services, help men detect the disease early, and save lives.”
    “Like so many others, my family has experienced the impact of this disease. Since we know early detection leads to better health outcomes, making access to screening easier can help save lives. I’m proud to work in a bipartisan way to expand prostate cancer detection and early intervention, particularly for at-risk men,” said Senator Boozman.
    Prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 American men in their lifetime and disproportionately affects African American men with 1 in 6 being diagnosed. Individuals who have at least one close family member diagnosed with the disease are at least twice as likely to be diagnosed themselves.
    Currently, the Prostate-Specific Antigen test is the most effective tool for detection. When detected in early stage, it is almost 100 percent survivable.
    “The PSA Screening for HIM Act is a crucial step toward removing financial barriers to life-saving prostate cancer screenings,” said chair of the American Urological Association’s Public Policy Council Mark Edney, MD. “By ensuring high-risk groups can access PSA testing without cost-sharing, this legislation will save countless lives through earlier detection, where survival rates are nearly 100 percent, compared to later stages where survival rates are around 30 percent.”
    “The introduction of the PSA for HIM Act represents a critical step forward in protecting men’s health and saving lives through early detection. At ZERO Prostate Cancer, we know that access to prostate cancer screening is fundamental in the fight against prostate cancer, particularly for those at highest risk,” said ZERO Prostate Cancer CEO Courtney Bugler.
    “The PSA Screening for HIM Act would eliminate a significant hurdle that keeps far too many at high risk for prostate cancer from getting tested for the disease,” said Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick, interim Chief Executive Officer of the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. “We thank Sens. Boozman and Booker for introducing this bill and look forward to working with them to get it passed.”
    “With the increase in prostate cancer diagnoses and deaths, and the growing racial disparity, the PSA Screening for HIM Act is more important now than ever,” said Thomas A. Farrington, President and Founder of the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN).
    To read the full text of the bill, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Better urban precincts for a growing Adelaide

    Source: Australian Executive Government Ministers

    The Albanese Government is supporting the growth and development of Adelaide, investing $33 million in two new urban projects that will boost tourism and assist local amenity. 

    The two projects are funded under the Government’s urban Precincts and Partnerships Program (uPPP) which provides transformative investment in urban precincts that grow economies and support local communities. 

    Over $26 million will go towards the construction of a new Family Health and Wellbeing Hub in Elizabeth Vale to support residents of Adelaide’s northern suburbs. 

    The Hub will feature community spaces, education and health services, and short-term residential accommodation for new mothers.

     Led by the Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation Inc., the project is a community partnership supported by the City of Playford, Flinders University, and the South Australian Government. 

    Almost $7 million will go towards a new arts and culture facility in Glenside to revitalise the south Adelaide precinct for visitors and locals alike. 

    The project will deliver a multi-use cultural facility featuring studios and galleries, a First Nations artist residential studio, educational spaces, a native edible garden and a social enterprise café. 

    Led by the Adelaide Central School of Art, the project is supported by partners including the Ananguku Arts and Cultural Aboriginal Corporation and the South Australian Government. 

    The urban Precincts and Partnerships Program focuses on a partnership approach, bringing together governments, businesses and communities to deliver multi-purpose urban precincts that unify places. 

    It is part of the Albanese Government’s plan to boost local economies and support community by investing in the infrastructure it needs to thrive. For more information on the urban Precincts and Partnerships Program, visit: infrastructure.gov.au/urban. 

    Quotes attributable to Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King: 

    “The Albanese Government is supporting local jobs, tourism and cultural opportunities in Adelaide, investing in the infrastructure the city needs to thrive. 

    “Elizabeth Vale’s new Hub will provide equitable access to healthcare and social services whilst promoting sustainable urban development. 

    “Glenside’s new arts zone will create opportunities for local Adelaide artists to develop and display their works.” 

    “Our investments are building better urban places for people across South Australia with new community facilities that create new opportunities.” 

    Quotes attributable to Senator for South Australia Marielle Smith: 

    “This project will preserve local heritage while supporting our thriving arts scene. 

    “The native gardens and a social enterprise cafe will provide spaces for artists and visitors to relax and connect with each other.” 

    Quotes attributable to Member for Spence Matt Burnell: 

    “The new, Family Health and Wellbeing Hub will provide essential accommodation and supportive services for those that need it most. 

    “Here in the North, families have been calling for additional support services, especially with the birth of a first child. I am proud to be part of a Labor Government that is delivering on this need. 

    “Since my election, I have been working tirelessly to improve health outcomes and access to vital services in the North to ensure our community is not left behind. 

    “This announcement builds on the establishment of an Urgent Care Clinic in Elizabeth, Headspace in Gawler, and a Medicare Mental Health Centre in Elizabeth, on top of our commitment to addressing bulk billing and cost of medicines.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Announces Committee Leadership Assignments for 119th Congress

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after the Senate Appropriations Committee fully organized, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) announced his full slate of committee and subcommittee assignments for the 119th Congress. 
    Senator Reed will continue serving on four ‘A’ committees: Armed Services; Appropriations; Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; and the Select Committee on Intelligence.  These assignments include two of the three ‘Super A’ Committees: Armed Services and Appropriations.
    Senator Reed will serve as Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and as the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG), which has jurisdiction over a diverse group of agencies responsible for regulating the financial and telecommunications industries; collecting taxes and providing taxpayer assistance; providing small business assistance; overseeing the White House and judicial branch operations, and the District of Columbia; construction and management of federal buildings; and overseeing the Federal workforce.
    With these assignments, Reed is well-positioned to deliver for Rhode Island while overseeing the U.S. Department of Defense and federal spending decisions through the appropriations process.
    “These key committee posts help me fix our roads and bridges, strengthen our economy, deliver for Rhode Island, and chart a responsible fiscal path.  My new assignment on the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee provides another tool to support small business growth, expand economic opportunity, boost Rhode Island’s broadband connections, and ensure the health and safety of our financial markets,” said Reed.  “As Congress grapples with a range of complex challenges, I will do everything in my power to help lower prices for working families and ensure Rhode Islanders’ needs are met.  I will continue to be a relentless advocate for our state and focus on the issues that Rhode Islanders care about.  And I will promote and uphold the constitutional role of Congress, including Congress’s power of the purse. ”
    ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
    Senator Reed is the Ranking Member of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, which is responsible for overseeing the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), military services operating across the domains of land, sea, air, cyberspace, and space, and all DOD agencies, including their budgets and policies, and national security aspects of nuclear energy.  Each year, SASC is tasked with producing and passing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
    In 2024, under Reed’s leadership as SASC Chairman, Congress passed the fiscal year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorized $883.7 billion for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and the national security programs of the U.S. Department of Energy.  The NDAA offers a blueprint to equip, supply, and train U.S. forces; provide for military families; and strengthen oversight of the Defense Department and military programs. The defense industry is a high-tech sector that contributes to Rhode Island’s economic growth, generates good-paying jobs, and has been a resilient segment of the state’s economy. According to the latest Rhode Island data, the defense industry generated over $4.3 billion in annual economic impact for Rhode Island and a total employment share of 6.2 percent of the state’s workforce.
    In addition to his leadership on the Armed Services Committee, Reed is also a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, which provides him with additional oversight responsibilities in determining how defense dollars are spent.
    APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
    Senator Reed will continue to serve as Rhode Island’s only member of the powerful Appropriations Committee, which controls the funding of the federal government.
    Senator Reed is the third most senior Democrat on the Appropriations Committee.  He works tirelessly to direct federal funding to the Ocean State to create jobs, strengthen infrastructure, and support economic and community development initiatives.
    Senator Reed will give up his leadership post on the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch in order to help lead the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee. 
    The FSGG subcommittee drafts the spending plan and oversees annual funding for financial-related agencies including the U.S. Department of Treasury; the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  It is responsible for funding the Executive Office of the President and federal election security initiatives.  The panel also has jurisdiction over two dozen key agencies and programs that have a direct impact on Rhode Island, including:
    – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), which supports local entrepreneurs and small businesses with outreach and loans and also provides loans following federally-declared disasters.
    – The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which helps ensure competition in broad sectors of the economy and helps protect consumers from false advertising and business practices.
    – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which has jurisdiction over telecommunications and broadband matters.
    – The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), which provides funding for High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas nationwide and to Rhode Island.
    – The Federal Election Commission (FEC), with has jurisdiction over federal campaign finance laws.
    – The General Services Administration (GSA), which manages federal properties in Rhode Island and nationwide.
    – The Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund which provides hundreds of millions annually to generate economic growth in local communities and provide access to credit and technical assistance to underserved areas.
    Additionally, Senator Reed will serve on five other Appropriations Subcommittees: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS); Defense; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-H); Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA); and Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD).
    BANKING, HOUSING & URBAN AFFAIRS
    A champion of affordable housing, consumer protection, and mass-transit, Senator Reed will continue serving as a key member of the Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Committee, which has broad oversight over our nation’s financial institutions, capital markets, consumer finance, monetary policy, and housing and mass-transit programs. 
    Senator Reed is the most senior Democratic member of the panel, but Senate rules dictate that members may only serve atop one full committee at a time.
    Senator Reed has used his Banking Committee post to author Wall Street reform and consumer protection laws, including his ‘warrants law,’ which forced the return of over $10 billion dollars to taxpayers.  He also successfully urged the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to focus greater attention on climate risk disclosures for public companies.  The committee also oversees federal housing policy and authorizes mass-transit investments, and Senator Reed used his role on the committee led to create two affordable housing funds: the Housing Trust Fund and the Capital Magnet Fund.
    It was Senator Reed’s leadership on the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, coupled with his work on the Appropriations Committee, that earned him a spot as one of twenty members of the bipartisan working group that was tasked with developing the CARES Act (Public Law No. 116-136).  Senator Reed was the driving force behind the successful effort to create the $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) in the CARES Act and successfully secured a small state minimum of $1.25 billion in the law.  Senator Reed continues to play an active role in pushing legislation to direct additional federal funds to states and local governments to help save lives and address the economic impact caused by the pandemic.
    As America faces an affordable housing crisis, which worsened during the pandemic, Senator Reed will play a key role in providing relief for renters and homeowners, and helping to revitalize communities by expanding the supply of affordable housing. Reed will also use his seat on this committee to boost mass-transit infrastructure in order to help connect communities and more Americans to jobs and economic opportunity.
    Senator Reed will serve on three key Banking subcommittees: Economic Policy; Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection; and Securities, Insurance, and Investment.
    INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE
    By virtue of his leadership of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Reed is also an ex officio member of the high-profile Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, which oversees the U.S. Intelligence Community.  As an ex officio member of the panel, Senator Reed regularly participates in open and closed-door briefings and hearings with top intelligence officials from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and the National Security Agency (NSA), but he does not vote in committee.
    The Intelligence Committee was established in 1976 to oversee the range of civilian and military agencies and departments that make up the U.S. Intelligence Community, and has wide influence over U.S. national security and foreign policy.
    The President of the United States is required by law to ensure that the Intelligence Committee is kept “fully and currently informed” of intelligence activities.  As a result, U.S. intelligence agencies must notify the Committee of its activities, including covert actions.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Relentless focus on literacy & numeracy at school

    Source: New Zealand Government

    As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.

    “A world-leading education system is a key driver to economic growth. We want all children to be proficient and confident in reading, writing and maths so they grow up and live the lives they want. Our future playwrights and songwriters need to have a mastery of literacy and numeracy as much as our future mechanical engineers, doctors and electricians.

    “From this week all state schools will benefit from a clear, detailed and knowledge-rich curriculum grounded in the science of learning.

    “Students will benefit from explicit teaching through structured teaching of literacy and mathematics that doesn’t leave learning to chance. They will also benefit from consistent assessment tools so those students who need targeted interventions will get them earlier to bring them up to speed.

    “We are ensuring teachers get the professional learning, development and resources they need to teach the new curriculum confidently. They will know what to teach, when, and how.

    “Our $30 million investment will ensure 433,000 students have access to high-quality maths workbooks, tactile resources and online supports. This will help teachers and parents see the progress their children are making,” Ms Stanford says.

    “No matter where you are in the country, parents can have confidence this Government is putting the foundations in place so their child can strive to do their best at school.

    “As we embed structured approaches to literacy and numeracy in 2025, work will continue in the background, including updating every curricula area up to Year 13, revitalising NCEA, and delivering equitable property outcomes.

    “I wish all educators, tamariki, and parents the very best for the start of the new school year.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –