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Category: Education

  • MIL-Evening Report: A marine heatwave in northwest Australia is killing huge numbers of fish. It’s heading south

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sina Pinter, PhD Candidate in Ocean Dynamics, The University of Western Australia

    Ningaloo Reef is facing the heat James C. Farr/Shutterstock

    Tens of thousands of fish have died off northwestern Australia, as a large and long-lasting marine heatwave intensifies.

    The fish kill at Gnoorea Beach near Karratha is concerning our team of scientists, as the hot mass of water heads south towards Ningaloo Reef and the seagrass gardens in Shark Bay. That’s because we’ve seen this before. An enormous marine heatwave in 2010-11 devastated fisheries and ecosystems further down the WA coast.

    This marine heatwave began in September, with temperatures up to 3°C warmer than usual off Broome. There’s no end in sight.

    The heatwave comes as oceans worldwide experience recordbreaking heat, driven by climate change. More than 90% of all heat trapped by greenhouse gases goes into the oceans.

    The fish kill is a visible way to glimpse a disaster often out of sight and out of mind. But these marine heatwaves do much more, from wiping out seagrass meadows and kelp beds to trashing fisheries.

    Up to 30,000 dead fish have washed up around Gnoorea Beach near Karratha.
    WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

    How bad is this marine heatwave?

    Marine heatwaves are periods of at least five consecutive days when ocean temperatures are significantly higher than the long-term average for the region and season.

    Since September 2024, temperatures off Australia’s northwest coast have been high enough to be considered a heatwave.

    In late December, the area of hotter water expanded southward along the Pilbara coast and became more intense. Temperatures hit 4–5°C above normal at the surface. Our research group has gathered data from satellite measurements, which tells us it’s hotter than usual. Data from autonomous ocean gliders also show unusual levels of heat as far down as 200 metres.

    In January, this heatwave has become bad enough to be classified in some areas as a severe marine heatwave.

    There’s no relief in sight yet. The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts marine heatwave conditions to continue through February.

    figure showing intensity of marine heatwave in northwest Western Australia
    On the left, the marine heatwave on the Northwest Shelf is visible in dark red. On the right, the intensity of the heatwave is shown over time on the Northwest Shelf and further south in Central Western Australia.
    Author provided, CC BY

    Will it be worse than the 2010 heatwave?

    The current marine heatwave is, so far, the second-worst in Western Australia’s recorded history.

    Over the 2010–11 summer, a severe marine heatwave devastated seas off the state. Temperatures hit up to 5°C above average, peaking in February and March.

    The worst-hit areas were seas off the central West Australian coastline, leaving those to the north largely unaffected. But the heatwave stretched 2,000 kilometres, from the Pilbara all the way down to Denmark in the southwest.

    The reason the 2010 heatwave spread so far south was due to the Leeuwin Current, which was stronger than usual due to weak southerly winds linked to a low pressure system off the coast.

    figure showing the 2010-11 marine heatwave in Western Australia
    The 2010-11 marine heatwave hit Central West Australian waters hardest. The Leeuwin Current ferried heat southward.
    Author provided, CC BY

    The heat led to local extinction of kelp species along a 100km stretch of coastline. Scallop and blue swimmer crab fisheries had to close. Seagrass meadows in Shark Bay collapsed. Tropical species were sighted in new areas. And coral bleached at Ningaloo.

    By contrast, this current marine heatwave has concentrated on the northern coastline, but may spread south in coming weeks.

    Unfortunately, there are strong similarities between the 2010–11 heatwave and this one. Both occurred during a La Niña year.

    A similar low pressure system in December 2024 weakened southerly winds during this heatwave, though not as pronounced as in 2010-11. We can expect to see the Leeuwin Current intensify and carry more warm water than usual south, but perhaps not as far as in 2010–11.

    Weather systems at present are developing slightly differently to 2010–11, but they could still lead to weaker southerly winds and produce a stronger current channelling heat.

    What does this mean for ocean life?

    Marine heatwaves at this size and intensity can profoundly damage marine ecosystems and fisheries. The Karratha fish kill is the most visible sign of ecosystem distress.

    We have already seen signs of bleaching in the coral reefs of the Kimberley region, while corals are experiencing heat stress at world-famous Ningaloo Reef.

    The heat is now affecting the Gascoyne region between Carnarvon and Exmouth, and is likely to head further south.

    Damage from the heatwave could threaten valuable industries such as the rock lobster fishery and marine tourism on the Coral Coast.

    bleached coral linked to marine heatwave.
    Bleached corals in Cygnet Bay north of Broome. Photo taken on 16th January.
    Kayleigh Foste, CC BY

    More heatwaves will come

    As the climate changes, modelling indicates marine heatwaves will hit more often and to intensify.

    Worldwide, marine heatwaves have devastated ecosystems. One of the worst, the Pacific “blob” heatwave of 2014-2016, killed an estimated 100 million Pacific cod and four million birds from a single seabird species, as well as contributing to the starvation of about 7,000 humpback whales. The intense heat killed off cold-loving species and paved the way for tropical species to enter and even thrive.

    Right now, 28% of the world’s oceans are in heatwave conditions, based on surface temperatures.

    While there is a clear link between the 2010-11 marine heatwave and climate change, we cannot conclusively say this current heatwave off Western Australia is linked to climate change.

    That’s because we don’t have enough data about what’s happening under the surface. Temperatures in the ocean vary greatly by depth, and a hot surface doesn’t always mean heat has reached deeper water.

    So while we know a marine heatwave is in progress, we don’t know how bad it is or how far down the heat has reached in different regions. We need better ways to measure temperatures at depth, to be able to gauge how bad a heatwave is. Installing more temperature sensors along the WA coastline would allow us to better monitor and respond to temperature extremes.

    The earlier we know about a heatwave, the more we can do to prepare. The 2010-2011 heatwave made many people aware of what damage heat can do to an ocean, as fishing boats sat idle and tourists steered clear of dying coral.

    More, and worse, is likely to come. Better conservation and management of our oceans can help. But tackling the root cause of intensifying heat – unchecked greenhouse gas emissions – is still far and away the most important challenge.

    The Conversation

    Matt Rayson receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Western Australian government. .

    Nicole L. Jones receives funding from Australian Research Council and the Western Australian government.

    Sina Pinter 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. A marine heatwave in northwest Australia is killing huge numbers of fish. It’s heading south – https://theconversation.com/a-marine-heatwave-in-northwest-australia-is-killing-huge-numbers-of-fish-its-heading-south-248139

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: DeepSeek: why the hot new Chinese AI chatbot has big privacy and security problems

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mohiuddin Ahmed, Senior Lecturer of Computing and Security, Edith Cowan University

    The Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company DeepSeek has rattled the tech industry with the release of free, cheaply made AI models that compete with the best US products such as ChatGPT.

    Users are rushing to check out the new chatbot, sending DeepSeek’s AI Assistant to the top of the iPhone and Android app charts in many countries.

    However, authorities have sounded a note of caution. US officials are examining the app’s “national security implications”. Australia’s former cybersecurity minister said national security agencies will soon issue formal guidance for users.

    Why are governments and security experts so concerned? The main issue is the app is made in China and stores data there – but that doesn’t mean all the worry is just xenophobia.

    What information does DeepSeek record?

    DeepSeek does not appear to be spyware, in the sense it doesn’t seem to be collecting data without your consent. However, like many online services, it clearly tells you it will record a lot of data about you and your behaviour.

    Specifically, the company’s privacy policy says it collects three categories of information.

    First, there is information you provide directly, such as your name and email address and any text you type in or files you upload.

    Next, there is automatically collected information, such as what kind of device you are using, your IP address, details of how you use the services, cookies, and payment information.

    Finally, there is information from other sources, such as Apple or Google login services, or third-party advertising and analytics companies.

    This is broadly similar to the data collected by ChatGPT and Claude.

    What does DeepSeek do with the information?

    DeepSeek says it uses this information for a range of purposes: to provide services, enforce terms of use, communicate with users, and review and improve performance.

    The policy also contains a rather sweeping clause saying the company may use the information to “comply with our legal obligations, or as necessary to perform tasks in the public interest, or to protect the vital interests of our users and other people”.

    DeepSeek also says it may share this information with third parties, including advertising and analytics companies as well as “law enforcement agencies, public authorities, copyright holders, or other third parties”.

    DeepSeek will also keep the information “for as long as necessary” for a broad range of purposes.

    Again, this is all fairly standard practice for modern online services.

    Causes for concern

    Much of the cause for concern around DeepSeek comes from the fact the company is based in China, vulnerable to Chinese cyber criminals and subject to Chinese law.

    DeepSeek stores the information it collects “in secure servers located in the People’s Republic of China”. The company says it maintains “commercially reasonable technical, administrative, and physical security measures” to protect the information.

    However, we should keep in mind that China is one of the most cyber crime-prone countries in the world – ranking third behind Russia and Ukraine in a 2024 study.

    So even if DeepSeek does not intentionally disclose information, there is still a considerable risk it will be accessed by nefarious actors.

    China is home to a sophisticated ecosystem of cyber crime organisations that often build detailed profiles of potential targets. Microsoft and others have accused the Chinese government of collaborating with cybercrime networks on cybercrime attacks.

    These organisations can use personal information to craft convincing targeted phishing attacks, which try to trick people into revealing more sensitive information such as bank details.

    Should you download DeepSeek?

    So, should you download DeepSeek?

    If you are an experienced user who is familiar with online privacy and the capabilities of modern AI systems, go ahead – but proceed with caution and be very wary about what information you share.

    And if you’re less experienced – if you’re a casual user who is less internet-savvy – my expert advice is to stay well away. DeepSeek won’t give you much you can’t get from other chatbots such as ChatGPT or Claude, and it might make your data vulnerable to Chinese cyber criminals and subject to Chinese law.

    DeepSeek also raises questions for governments. Efforts to prevent scams and cybercrime often focus on banks, telecommunications companies, and social media platforms – but what about chatbots?

    Mohiuddin Ahmed 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. DeepSeek: why the hot new Chinese AI chatbot has big privacy and security problems – https://theconversation.com/deepseek-why-the-hot-new-chinese-ai-chatbot-has-big-privacy-and-security-problems-248544

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: DeepSeek’s success challenges assumptions about Chinese tech companies – and the US-China competition

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wanning Sun, Professor of Media and Cultural Studies, University of Technology Sydney

    The release of the new DeepSeek-R1 artificial intelligence (AI) model has shocked the tech world.

    Launched on January 20 with little fanfare, the Chinese AI model was reportedly developed at only a fraction of the cost of OpenAI’s GPT-4o, and over a much shorter period of time. One Chinese commentator has called its release a “Pearl Harbor attack” on the AI world.

    Though the reference to an “attack” may be a strong word, it alludes to the growing competition between the United States and China over dominance in the AI sphere, which the US had been leading thus far.

    Indeed, people across China were celebrating a homegrown success story on Wednesday, as DeepSeek’s AI app soared to the top of the Apple and Google stores in the US.

    So, what does the emergence of DeepSeek’s model say about US-China competition in this space?

    Chinese government control

    First, DeepSeek’s success is undoubtedly sending a message to the Chinese government that excessive control kills innovation.

    Until mid-2023, enthusiasm for innovation in China’s tech companies had been stifled by increasingly restrictive regulations. The Chinese government had embarked on a sweeping crackdown of tech companies like Alibaba and others in order to prevent the spread of rampant entrepreneurial capitalism in China.

    The launch of ChatGPT in 2023 promised to open up exciting new frontiers for the development of AI in the West. But it must have come as a rude shock to China’s tech companies. The Chinese government changed tact and reassured them that it recognised the crucial role of the digital economy as a key driver of economic growth. It soon began to relax its tight grip over the sector.

    But the elephant in the room is how DeepSeek – and China’s AI companies in general – will deal with censorship.

    As it stands, politically sensitive words and questions seem to be no-go areas for DeepSeek. When asked what happened on June 4 1989 in Tiananmen Square (the site of the government’s crackdown on democracy protesters), the chatbot’s answer was along the lines of, “Sorry, that’s beyond my current scope. Let’s talk about something else.”

    This raises the question: can a Chinese AI tool be truly competitive in the global tech race without a solution to the challenge of censorship?

    US efforts to contain Chinese tech development

    Meanwhile, the US has adopted a wide array of measures aiming at curbing China’s AI development over the past few years. These included the Biden administration’s attempts to restrict China’s access to the advanced chips needed for AI, as well as the export of chip-making equipment and other technology to China.

    The US has also blacklisted a large number of Chinese entities that it has identified as having both military and commercial technology.

    The launch of DeepSeek raises questions over the effectiveness of these US attempts to “de-risk” from China in relation to scientific and academic collaboration.

    For one, DeepSeek was able to evade US restrictions on advanced chips by stockpiling downgraded chips made by Nvidia before the Biden administration moved to ban them.

    Western observers have often portrayed China’s AI initiatives as limited due to these US controls. However, these observers have somehow failed to take seriously the emergence of a new generation of Chinese entrepreneurs who prioritise foundational research and long-term technological advancement over quick profits.

    DeepSeek is a good example of this approach. It has embraced open-source methods, pooling collective expertise and fostering collaborative innovation. This approach not only mitigates resource constraints, but also accelerates the development of cutting-edge technologies.

    Another common assumption in the West is that Chinese companies are mere followers or imitators. DeepSeek’s achievements likewise challenge this perception. As the company’s chief executive, Liang Wenfeng, said to one Chinese media outlet:

    Innovation such as ours happens all the time in the US. The Americans are surprised by us, mainly because we are a Chinese company, and we are entering their game as an innovator with original contribution, not as followers.

    DeepSeek’s success also calls into question the legislation supported by both the Biden and Trump administrations that aims to prevent Chinese graduate students from attending universities in the US.

    The assumption behind what researchers call “STEM talent de-coupling” is that the Chinese government may use some of these students to engage in knowledge and technology transfer when they return to China.

    Liang, however, never studied outside China. And he recruited graduates and students from top Chinese universities to staff his research team. None studied overseas.

    These developers belong to a generation of young, patriotic Chinese who harbour personal ambition, as well as a broader commitment to advancing China’s position as a global innovation leader.

    What does this mean for Australia?

    In Australia, the initial reaction to DeepSeek’s AI chatbot has been one of
    caution, even concern. Clare O’Neil, the former cyber security minister, said the government would examine more closely how the app works before providing guidance to Australians on potential data security concerns.

    But DeepSeek may also be a reminder that Australia’s scientific collaborations should be guided primarily by research excellence rather than geopolitical considerations. To stay competitive and reduce its reliance on external technology providers, Australia needs to invest in its own AI research infrastructure and build its own talent pool.

    A narrow focus on political alignments and a growing paranoia about partnering with Chinese researchers means that Australia risks missing out on the next wave of breakthrough technologies.

    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. DeepSeek’s success challenges assumptions about Chinese tech companies – and the US-China competition – https://theconversation.com/deepseeks-success-challenges-assumptions-about-chinese-tech-companies-and-the-us-china-competition-248531

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: After fleeing the Taliban, the Afghan women’s cricket team is finally playing together – in Australia

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Ordway, Associate Professor Sport Management and Sport Integrity Lead, University of Canberra

    Women cheer and wave the Afghanistan flag during a cricket game in 2023 Vector and photos/Shutterstock

    A Twenty20 cricket contest featuring a women’s team made up of refugees from Afghanistan who now live in Australia may “only” be an exhibition game, but it could be the beginning of something much more.

    On Thursday, an Afghan women’s cricket team will take on a Cricket Without Borders XI at Melbourne’s Junction Oval.

    It is the first time the women will play as a team since migrating to Australia after the Taliban takeover in 2021. The group has since settled in Canberra and Melbourne.

    Regardless of the result, it could be a step towards Afghanistan’s women’s team entering international cricket.

    Before I explain why, though, it’s important to rewind a bit.

    International cricket and Afghanistan

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) claims it has “one of the toughest” policies on anti-discrimination in world sport.

    The governing body commits to:

    promote and encourage participation at all levels regardless of race, colour, religion, descent, culture, ethnic origin, nationality, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status and/or maternity status and to ensure that there is no discrimination in the sport.

    In the case of its member federation, the Afghanistan Cricket Board, the ICC’s refusal to uphold its own policy is providing both actual and implied support to the Taliban’s gender apartheid regime.

    The ICC admitted Afghanistan as a full voting member in 2017, despite being “the only full member to have received that status without having an operational women’s team in place.”

    As a full member, Afghanistan was, according to the ICC’s funds disbursement model: “expected to get around $US40 million ($A64 million) for the 2016-23 commercial rights cycle based on projected ICC revenues of $US2.7 billion ($A4.32 billion).”

    Meanwhile, the other ICC, the International Criminal Court, recently issued arrest warrants against two of the Taliban leaders for crimes against women.

    The Taliban’s policies against women go far beyond sport and make it more reason for the International Cricket Council to act.

    On any reading, the ICC’s membership rules on governance ethics requirements in relation to Afghanistan are in breach.

    From Afghanistan to Australia

    Ironically, it was the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s reluctant and token measure taken to build a women’s team, by issuing contracts to 25 women in 2020, that has allowed them to now play cricket in Australia.

    In August 2021, the Taliban took over Afghanistan and banned women’s sports. Athletes were intimidated, harassed and warned of ramifications if they continued playing.

    That situation sparked action from a handful of passionate volunteers, including myself, ex-Australian cricketer Mel Jones, and Emma Staples (formerly the head of diversity and community engagement at Cricket Victoria). We knew we needed to get these women out of Afghanistan.

    We applied to the Australian government to issue emergency humanitarian visas to the contracted women’s cricketers, with the applications granted.

    Now, all they want is a chance to represent their country as a team, and to send a message of hope back to their sisters suffering under the oppression of Afghan gender apartheid.

    Put simply, the Afghan women’s team is desperate to be given the same opportunities as its male counterparts.

    The team has written several times and asked for meetings with the ICC, to no avail.

    The ICC instead has set up an all-male working group on Afghanistan.

    It’s not clear what its terms of reference are, or if they have even met.

    Possible solutions

    Cricket Australia has chosen not to play bilateral matches against Afghanistan, citing the Taliban’s human rights restrictions for women and girls since returning to power.

    But boycotts often impact athletes more than government policies.

    Instead, the focus should be on supporting Afghan women who want to play cricket. The ICC could implement targeted actions including:

    • replacing Afghanistan’s cricket board with ICC-appointed administrators, including women
    • adjusting Afghanistan’s funding to reflect they are only developing cricket for less than half the population
    • setting up a global development fund for Afghan girls and women to identify talent and to provide coaching.

    There are several international sport models – for example, FIFA’s Normalisation Committees and the IOC’s independence requirements – that could serve as models for the ICC requiring Afghanistan’s Cricket Board to comply with the its anti-discrimination policies.

    A chance to compete

    On Thursday, these Afghan women finally get to play as a team, in the exhibition game organised by Cricket Australia.

    The team is keen for this to be an ongoing opportunity to develop skills and represent their nation, not just a one-time event.

    The Olympic movement’s model of refugee teams could inspire the creation of a refugee team for Afghan women in cricket, allowing them to participate in future youth and summer Olympic Games and other competitions.

    Catherine Ordway voluntarily represented the Afghan women’s cricket team to evacuate them to Australia following the Taliban re-occupation in August 2021, and continues to provide ongoing support to the women, the staff and their families.

    – ref. After fleeing the Taliban, the Afghan women’s cricket team is finally playing together – in Australia – https://theconversation.com/after-fleeing-the-taliban-the-afghan-womens-cricket-team-is-finally-playing-together-in-australia-248445

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Glavarkhiv published rare documents for the 165th anniversary of Anton Chekhov’s birth

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    To mark the 165th anniversary of Anton Chekhov’s birth, Glavarkhiv opened a new online exhibition, “I’ll Fly to Moscow on Wings…”. Its materials introduce the writer’s life and work in the city. Here Chekhov spent his student years, began his literary work and became famous as a playwright. The exhibition can be viewed in the “Media Library” section, in the subsection “Exhibitions”.

    The exhibition includes photographs of Chekhov and his family, documents about the writer’s studies at the Imperial Moscow University (now Moscow State University), records in the register of marriage of Anton Chekhov and Olga Knipper in 1901, as well as the writer’s death in 1904, and other materials. One of the sections of the exhibition tells about the perpetuation of the memory of Anton Chekhov – the creation of a memorial house-museum of the writer on Sadovaya-Kudrinskaya Street and the holding of events in honor of the celebration of his anniversaries.

    Anton Chekhov first visited Moscow in 1877, when he was 17 years old. Two years later, he entered the medical faculty of the Imperial Moscow University and became one of 10 scholarship holders of the Taganrog City Duma, which allocated funds for the education of city natives in higher educational institutions. At the exhibition, you can see a document on the release of the bearer of a coupon for an assignment of 25 rubles, delivered from the Taganrog City Council, on which Anton Chekhov signed. In 1884, he completed his studies at the university. The document on conferring the title of district doctor on students, among whom Chekhov is also mentioned, was signed by the dean of the medical faculty, Nikolai Sklifosovsky.

    A separate section of the exhibition is devoted to Anton Chekhov’s collaboration with the Moscow Art Theatre (MKhT). Documents and photographs make it possible to trace the history of productions of plays based on the playwright’s plays and see the actors who participated in them. The exhibition presents theatre posters, programmes and tickets for MKhT performances, as well as the memories of spectators who saw the productions in 1899–1900.

    Due to his health, the writer was forced to leave Moscow and settle in Yalta. In the summer of 1904, due to a sharp exacerbation of his illness, Anton Chekhov and his wife Olga Knipper-Chekhova went to a resort in Germany. On July 15, he died in the town of Badenweiler. The writer was buried in Moscow at the Novodevichy Convent Cemetery.

    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/149432073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: How Technopolis Moscow SEZ Enterprises Support People in the SVO Zone

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Students and staff of the National Research University of Electronic Technology (MIET), the flagship university of the Technopolis Moscow special economic zone (SEZ), collected more than 150 kilograms of humanitarian aid for the participants of the special military operation (SMO).

    “The enterprises of the Technopolis Moscow special economic zone actively participate in humanitarian actions. Assistance and support are provided not only to participants in the special military operation and residents of border regions, but also to children’s shelters and centers for keeping homeless animals. Another action to collect humanitarian aid was held at the National Research University of Electronic Technology. In two weeks, employees and students collected 150 kilograms of warm clothes, various household chemicals and special equipment, which have already been transferred to the front lines,” said Gennady Degtyarev, CEO of the SEZ.

    The university staff and students collected sets of thermal underwear, tools, catalytic heaters, fleece clothing and much more. The students wove camouflage nets, which are so necessary for the fighters, themselves. This is not the first such action of the university – in August 2024, the institution’s employees handed over 250 kilograms of humanitarian aid to residents of the Kursk region, and in September they collected things for residents of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.

    Collections of humanitarian aid for residents of border regions were held at the sites of the special economic zone “Technopolis Moscow”. Employees of the management company and workers of over 50 enterprises brought more than 2.5 tons of various products.

    Other capital enterprises also provide support to the SVO participants and residents of border territories. For example, a manufacturer of ATMs and other high-tech products donated a number of devices it made to help the military. Among them are metal storage boxes, entrenching hooks, heating stoves, and transport equipment.

    The capital’s coffee and sweets factory has shipped more than one ton of its products since 2022. In addition, the company delivered 4.5 thousand coffee bean bags to the special military operation zone, which are used by military personnel to equip flooring.

    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/149441073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Chinese New Year”: what awaits guests of “Winter in Moscow” on Tverskoy Boulevard

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The Chinese New Year festival, which is taking place in the capital from January 28 to February 9 as part of the Winter in Moscow project, awaits guests at the venues on Tverskoy Boulevard. There are two chalets there, where master classes, lectures and creative activities are held under the guidance of experts in Eastern culture, including representatives of China and masters studying centuries-old traditions. Admission to all events is free.

    The festival was a continuation of the events dedicated to the Cross Years of Culture of Russia and China, and is timed to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries.

    “Russia and China are the largest neighbors, they have been developing friendly and partnership relations for many decades. In order to strengthen mutual understanding between the peoples of our countries, it is necessary to talk about traditions and customs. The festival movement in Moscow unites and brings together the cultures of Russians and Chinese in holidays, games, master classes, theatrical performances,” said Olga Dolgikh, one of the organizers of the master classes within the framework of the festival, a teacher of the Chinese language, director of the Center for International Education and Professional Training.

    Spring Festival in a Chalet at the Monument to K.A. Timiryazev

    In the chalet, located near the monument to K.A. Timiryazev, guests will become acquainted with the world of Chinese art.

    On January 29 from 12:00 to 15:00 there will be a master class on traditional paper cutting – jianzhi. This activity as an element of the spring festival symbolizes happiness and prosperity, and the patterns created become a bright decoration of houses.

    On January 30, from 12:00 to 14:00, participants of the master class will create a composition called “Wild Orchid and Fry”, and from 19:00 to 19:45, they will create a snowflake, which is associated with spring in China.

    On January 31, from 12:00 to 14:00, guests will learn how to depict geranium, a flower that in Chinese art often symbolizes renewal and harmony.

    From 3 to 7 February, from 12:00 to 15:00, the chalet will host painting and calligraphy classes.

    On February 9 at 19:00 there will be a master class on drawing a meihua plum – a spring symbol of resilience, joy and the awakening of nature.

    Calligraphy, woodcut and tea ceremony in a chalet near the monument to S.A. Yesenin

    In the chalet near the monument to S.A. Yesenin, guests will discover Chinese calligraphy, woodcuts and tea drinking traditions.

    From January 29 to 31, from 12:00 to 15:00, calligraphy classes will be held here. Participants will learn how the elegant lines of hieroglyphs reflect the philosophy and aesthetics of China.

    On January 31 from 19:00 to 19:45, guests are invited to a lecture with a demonstration about the clothing of the main nationality of China, the Han. They will also demonstrate the traditional Chinese costume, Hanfu.

    On February 2, from 12:00 to 15:00, there will be a master class on Chinese xylography – printing from wooden boards, the ancient art of creating illustrations.

    On February 3 at 19:00, the chalet will host a master class on creating an image of a meihua plum. Participants will learn to work in the realistic Chinese painting technique of gongbi. It involves precise drawing of details and the use of delicate gradations of colors.

    On February 5 and 6, from 12:00 to 14:00, guests of the chalet will be immersed in the culture of Chinese tea drinking. Participants will learn how this drink became part of the culture of the Celestial Empire, and will also enjoy its taste and aroma.

    Project “Winter in Moscow”— the main event of the season, which until February 28 unites various events of the capital. Citizens and tourists are invited to remember traditions and history, warm up with tea and hot buns, go skating, skiing and tubing, watch ice shows, give gifts to people who find themselves in a difficult life situation, show care for those who need it.

    Muscovites and guests of the capital are offered a huge selection of events in the open air and in cultural and sports institutions. The atmosphere of winter traditions has engulfed the entire city – more than 1.9 thousand sites are open. The project organically intertwined with the largest festivals of the capital “Moscow Estates”, “Moscow Tea Party”, “City of Light”, “Snow and Ice in Moscow” and many others. All information about the project and winter season events can be found in a special section Mos.ru.

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/149437073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Burning Hearts: Stories of Those Who Received the Moscow Volunteer Badge

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    These people represent different generations: some have recently graduated from school, while others have already retired. But they are united by a common cause – volunteering. They help organize and hold the Victory Parade, are on duty at major events and collect humanitarian aid, and Resource center “Mosvolonter” — preparation and coordination of concerned Muscovites. The unofficial motto of such enthusiasts is “No other way!” On January 21, Sergei Sobyanin presented the “Volunteer of Moscow” badge of distinction 30 residents of the capital.

    About what merits can lead to receiving an honorary award, how kindness leads to the profession of dreams and helps to create a family – in the material mos.ru.

    A smile as a reward

    One of the youngest volunteers to earn the badge was 18-year-old Yuri Potolokov. He studies at the Moscow City Pedagogical University and plans to teach geography in the future. But even after graduating and getting a job, Yuri plans to participate in public events.

    The young man joined the volunteer movement in 2022, while still at school. “One day I went to a concert at VDNKh and saw guys handing out raincoats to the audience because it was raining. That’s when I noticed that people were smiling at the volunteers. And I realized that I wanted to receive such smiles too. After all, this is the best gratitude for your work! After the concert, I told my mother: “I’m going to volunteer!” She happily accepted my choice,” our interlocutor recalls.

    Yuri Potolokov is a graduate of a cadet school and has been interested in Russian history since childhood. That is why patriotic events are closest to him, for example, meeting veterans who came to Moscow from different cities for Victory Day at train stations. However, over the past two years, the young man has had the opportunity to volunteer at other events. For example, he helped participants National Championship “Abilympics”in 2022 and 2023, navigate the site and get to the competitions on time, coordinated guests at the World Youth Festival in 2024. And recently, I sorted out New Year’s decorations at the N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology: I twisted the branches of artificial trees with insulating tape, packed the toys and sent them to the warehouse. Moreover, I was already performing the duties of a team leader, managing a team of five people.

    In total, he has over three thousand volunteer hours to his credit. Nevertheless, the mos.ru interviewee did not expect to be among those awarded.

    “I can imagine how many people applied for the badge! And they chose me. Now I want to try even harder than before. In the near future, I hope to hold a master class on creating eco-paintings from recycled materials in the “Good Place” space in the South-Eastern Administrative District,” says Yuri Potolokov, holder of the “Volunteer of Moscow” badge.

    From the veterans’ meeting to the registry office

    Kirill Kononaev is 21 years old. The volunteer is a final-year student at the Moscow Institute of Economics. He joined the “club of caring people” three years ago: first, he headed the student council, and soon he wanted to do good deeds outside the university. “The opportunity presented itself: the pandemic began, and I went to deliver food to the elderly,” recalls the mos.ru source.

    Then there were other events, for example the International Forum of Civic Participation “Moscow helps”The young man devoted more than 1,700 hours to volunteer work. He personally liked patriotic events.

    “Once I was distributing water in the center of the capital during the Immortal Regiment march. It was an amazing feeling: we were met by participants carrying portraits of their fathers and grandfathers who fought for their country in the Great Patriotic War. And it was in our power to make sure that they did not feel thirsty. Another time I was processing applications for the “Faces of Victory” campaign: relatives sent touching stories about their ancestors, battle heroes,” says Kirill Kononaev, holder of the “Moscow Volunteer” badge.

    At one of these events at the headquarters, organized to meet veterans, our interlocutor met his future wife: Taisiya Borisova, a student at the Moscow State Pedagogical University, also a volunteer. They got married in February 2024 and now come to help together.

    “It was very nice to receive a badge of distinction this year. And although I have less and less free time, I will continue to volunteer. So, soon it will be time to distribute St. George ribbons to Moscow residents. Even when I feel tired, helping people and the city allows me to switch off, charges me with positive energy,” smiles Kirill Kononaev.

    Dream job

    Margarita Buchina teaches English at school #2075In 2018, when the capital hosted the World Cup, her students enthusiastically and delightedly told how they rooted for the teams and interacted with foreign guests on the city streets.

    “I thought it was good language practice and a new experience. And soon I signed up through the website Mosvolonter.ruto her first large-scale event — the Moscow Urban Forum — 2019, where guests from different countries came. She successfully passed the interview and became part of the team of volunteers with knowledge of foreign languages, who help at the information desks,” recalls the mos.ru interlocutor.

    Already at the event, Margarita Buchina realized that applying her knowledge for the benefit of the city is her calling. In addition to her teaching profession, she is also a photographer and journalist. Therefore, she offered her help as a media volunteer.

    “Every year on June 22, I go to the Krymskaya Embankment to collect material for a report on the “Candle of Memory” campaign: I get amazing emotional portraits of volunteers in military uniform from the Great Patriotic War, who came to light the lights in honor of those who died in 1941-1945. I was the manager of the volunteer corps at the International Exhibition and Forum “Russia” at VDNKh and supervised media volunteers, photographed Christmas trees decorated with balls with children’s wishes, as part of the “Kind Christmas Tree” charity campaign at festival venues, photographed artists performing at the International Military Music Festival “Spasskaya Tower”. In addition, I am a volunteer editor of the “Good News” magazine, which tells about the lives of active and caring city residents,” says Margarita Buchina, holder of the “Volunteer of Moscow” badge.

    Now she is trying to find her dream job and realize herself as a journalist. But she does not plan to leave volunteering.

    “When I was awarded the “Moscow Volunteer” badge for my services, I once again realized how important and useful my good deeds are for the city. And you can do them in different ways, for example, by helping to collect humanitarian aid. If you were born with a kind heart, then it is not difficult for you to share kindness with others, volunteering is forever!” our interlocutor believes.

    Six thousand hours of good deeds

    Elena Akhtyrskaia is a “silver” volunteer, she is 56 years old. “In 2015, I began to actively attend excursions organized Department of Cultural Heritage of Moscow. Once I was asked to help a guide gather a group and make sure no one was left behind during a walk around the capital. It turned out to be much more interesting than just listening! So I joined the ranks of cultural volunteers. Now I also help organize events for Mosconcert,” she says.

    During the winter holidays, Elena Akhtyrskaya was on duty at the New Year’s game-journey through Russian fairy tales in the Petrovsky Travel Palace, and after the performance she gave gifts to the young spectators.

    However, our interlocutor participates not only in cultural programs. For example, she had the opportunity to accompany the Victory Parade in 2024. “This is the highest honor for a volunteer!” she admits. Elena Akhtyrskaya met visitors at the entrance to Red Square and explained where to go next, and then seated veterans in the stands and watched the procession from a place of honor.

    “I have dedicated almost six thousand hours to good deeds. But when I was awarded the “Volunteer of Moscow” badge, I was surprised. After all, there are many worthy candidates, including “silver” ones, and they are older than me. Of course, it is very nice to receive such an award. However, something else is more important to me: the emotional response of those whom I helped, eyes full of joy and gratitude!” – summarizes the holder of the “Volunteer of Moscow” badge Elena Akhtyrskaya.

    A Holiday for Everyone: How the Mosconcert Cultural Brigade Congratulated Soldiers and Children on the New Year“Moscow Helps”: Sobyanin Told How Muscovites Support SVO ParticipantsOver a thousand events were held in 2024 in the Dobroe Mesto centers in MoscowThe number of events in Moscow involving cultural heritage volunteers has almost doubledWhat dreams does the “Kind Tree” of the “Winter in Moscow” project fulfill?

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/149440073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Skoltech and NSU discussed cooperation in the development of new functional materials

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Representatives of the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology visited Novosibirsk State University to discuss cooperation on R&D carried out by Skoltech on behalf of the NTI Competence Center for New Functional Materials based at NSU. The delegation included Ivan Sergeichev, Director of the Center for Materials Technology at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Dmitry Krasovsky, Deputy Director of the Center for Relations with Industry, participants in joint projects with NSU, as well as specialists in building interactions between stakeholders.

    The purpose of the visit was to get acquainted with the structure of the Competence Center of the National Technology Initiative in the direction of “Technologies for modeling and developing new functional materials with specified properties”, which was created at NSU in 2021 with the financial support of the NTI Foundation, as well as with its capabilities and industrial partners.

    — At the end of last year, we signed agreements with Skoltech to implement three large-scale projects: “Design of Materials for Thermal Barrier Coatings”, “Development of Additive Manufacturing Technology for Complex-Geometry Ceramic Rods for Casting Gas Turbine Blades”, and “Metal Oxide Nanoparticles for Protecting Products and Materials from Counterfeiting”. Our task is to create samples of new materials and software products in a short period of time in order to begin introducing new materials and products made from them to the market as soon as possible through interaction with potential industrial partners. These could be manufacturers of engines, gas turbine units and their parts, polymer-composite materials and various products made from them, the authenticity of which, among other things, must be protected from counterfeiting, — explained Alexander Kvashnin, Director of the NTI Center for New Functional Materials at NSU.

    Following the meeting, the parties developed mutually beneficial forms of cooperation. One of them involves Skoltech’s participation in the work of three distributed centers created by the Center for New Functional Materials and its partners at the end of last year – the Distributed Center for Modeling, Calculations and Design, the Distributed Center for Research and Development of Materials and Technologies for Their Production, as well as the Distributed Production Site for Small Batch Products, where it is possible to produce small batches of new materials and products made from them using NSU technologies for further delivery for testing at industrial enterprises. The software developed by the partners will be used in the distributed center for modeling, calculations and design.

    Meanwhile, in Skolkovo, during the implementation of these three projects, the necessary innovative equipment will be created, including a new 3D printer for complex printing of ceramic rods for gas turbine units and a reactor for the production of metal oxide nanoparticles to protect materials and products from counterfeiting. This equipment will be used as part of distributed centers.

    “Our cooperation with Skoltech will allow the university to expand the circle of its Moscow partners and potential customers, which may include the state corporation for assistance in the development, production and export of high-tech industrial products Rostec, United Engine Corporation, Gazpromneft and other large Russian corporations interested in the development and implementation of advanced technologies,” commented Alexander Kvashnin.

    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 –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU scientists have found a way to make platelets react to light

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Scientists from the Laboratory of Optics and Dynamics of Biological Systems Physics Department of NSU and the Department of Organic Chemistry Faculty of Natural Sciences of NSU created a new photosensitive molecule, the breakdown of which under the influence of ultraviolet radiation releases adrenaline without the formation of the oxidized form (adrenochrome), which has a neuro- and cardiotoxic effect. It was used to influence platelet receptors with light. It turned out that the release of adrenaline significantly increases the activation of platelets.

    The results of the study were published in January of this year on the website of the Journal of Xenobiotics (Reducing the Formation of Toxic Byproducts During the Photochemical Release of Epinephrine). The article is available at the link: HTTPS: //d.org/10.3390/eh15010008. The study was supported by the grant of the Russian Science Foundation No. 23-75-10049 and is being conducted within the framework of the project “Study of platelet activation under the influence of combined stimuli using optically-mediated release of ligands”.

    -The idea of ​​managing living cells with the help of light is very attractive for researchers, because it can be accurately focused on a particular area, turn on at a given moment and influence any photosensitive receptor. The only problem is that not all living cells have such receptors. They are just platelets. We needed to “force” them to feel light through any signal molecules. The fact is that almost all cells have receptors sensitive to some substances. Different cells feel different signal molecules, and one of the ways is to make artificial compounds that absorb light, and after that they can, decaying into the components or in any way by rebuilding their structure, join the receptors. Then, after the exposure of the light, the cell will begin to “feel” them. This is how it is possible to “force” the cell to show sensitivity to light. Scientists began to develop and apply various compounds of this action to various cells for a long time – from the second half of the last century. Within the framework of our laboratory, this activity has also been conducted over the past years. Our chemical colleagues from the laboratory of photo activated processes of the SB RAS are engaged in the synthesis of molecules, but we study their properties and use to study various cells, mainly platelets, ”explained Alexander Moskalensky, head of the optics and dynamics of the FF NSU Biological Systems.

    Classic photosensitive adrenaline analogues developed in the 90s of the last century, when exposed to light, release adrenaline, which in the process of oxidation is converted into adrenochrome, which is toxic to living cells. For this reason, it is undesirable to use it as an activator of sensitivity to light in living cells, since this substance can trigger other undesirable processes in them or even kill them. Therefore, scientists were faced with the task of finding a way to reduce the formation of adrenochrome, but without stopping the release of adrenaline. As a result, it turned out that this problem can be solved by a simple modification of the molecule, namely, the introduction of a carbamate bridge of 4 carbon and oxygen atoms. The release of adrenaline in this case continued as before, and the amount of its transition to the oxidized form was significantly reduced.

    — We compared two lines of molecules — classical and modified. Surprisingly, while the classical compound resulted in the formation of adrenochrome, its analog with a carbamate bridge did not cause this by-product, which resulted in a pure release of the active substance, i.e. adrenaline. The exposure of both compounds to light was carried out under identical conditions, then the products obtained by photolysis were analyzed using ultraviolet spectroscopy, chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance. Subsequently, we evaluated the new compound using an in vitro platelet activation assay. The results showed that the release of adrenaline significantly enhances platelet activation, which makes it a valuable tool for in-depth studies of cellular signaling, — said Alexander Moskalensky.

    Since UV radiation does not penetrate the body, it is not possible to use modified molecules of the photosensitive adrenaline analogue inside the body. Therefore, scientists plan to use them to study platelet activation in a test tube, namely, in blood samples. With their help, it will be possible to develop new analysis methods and obtain new information about the platelet activation process.

    This method will allow researchers to obtain more accurate data on the effect of adrenaline on platelet activation. This is important because platelets are very sensitive to mechanical impacts, fluid flows, and other types of impact that can affect the results of such studies.

    Currently, the laboratory’s scientists are developing the next molecule – a photosensitive analogue of adrenaline based on the dye BODIPY, which will be activated by light in the green region of the spectrum, and they also have an understanding of how to modify molecules that could be activated in the red region of the spectrum.

    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 –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schatz: Illegal Trump Shutdown Causing Pain Across the Country

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) took to the Senate floor today to speak about the Trump Administration’s recent decision to freeze all federal grants, ignoring Article I of the Constitution.
    “There is real pain starting today because of this funding freeze. Schools, child care facilities, fire departments, community health centers, domestic violence shelters all of them will instantly lose their funding at 5 p.m. today because somebody said, ‘we’re fiscal conservatives,’” said Senator Schatz. “You want to enact a fiscally conservative appropriations bill? Pass a law.”
    “If you’re a disaster survivor in North Carolina or Louisiana, or California or Texas or Florida or Maui, you don’t know what happens next,” he continued. “If you’re a low-income family that relies on the Women, Infants, and Children Program to get healthy meals for your kids, if you live in a remote area like Wai?anae or Lana?i in Hawai‘i, and you go to a community health center to fill your prescriptions or to get a checkup, this freeze on funding means you don’t get help.”
    Schatz concluded, “What is happening today is unconstitutional. It is also against statutory law. But most importantly, it is causing pain across the country.”
    The full text of Senator Schatz’s remarks, as delivered, is below. Video is available here.
    Mr. President, the government shutdown that Donald Trump just ordered is illegal and unconstitutional. He is not a king and we do not live in a monarchy. It is Congress’s authority to decide on federal funding. The power of the purse is the foundational funding of the Article I branch. Everybody talks like that. Everybody says those things. But now we are all put to the test – Democrats and Republicans. Are we going to forfeit all of our power?
    We’re the elected branch. We make the laws. And the President of the United States just ordered a funding freeze for stuff he doesn’t feel like funding. That is literally not how it works. And today, the White House Press Secretary was asked about specific, popular, essential programs. And you know what she said?
    She said, “Have those people talk to Russ Vought and make an appeal to him.” Now there’s a couple of problems with that. First of all, Russ Vought doesn’t get to decide in an appropriations law, which parts of the law to follow and which parts not to follow. Second of all, let’s be really clear about this. Russ Vought is not a government employee right now.
    He’s a nominee to lead the Office of Management and Budget. And so we’re supposed to have, I don’t know, Medicaid recipients, VA home loan recipients, nursing homes, education organizations, health care organizations, transportation contractors appeal mercy to the king. “Will you please release these dollars?”
    That’s not how the American system works. This is illegal.
    There is real pain starting today because of this funding freeze. Schools, child care facilities, fire departments, community health centers, domestic violence shelters all of them will instantly lose their funding at 5 p.m. today because somebody said, “we’re fiscal conservatives.”
    You want to enact a fiscally conservative appropriations bill? Pass a law. Pass a law.
    I also would like to select the federal funding, which I agree with and fund that, and select the funding that I disagree with and defund that. But I’m not a monarch and neither is Donald Trump.
    We’re hearing from so many constituents across the country, and I had a bit of a time delay because it’s earlier in Hawai‘i, but all of my colleagues were getting incoming texts and calls and panicked people. This isn’t about some arcane government program. This is like basic stuff. People are like staged to do construction and told not to show up for work.
    Some of these construction projects are in places where you only have a narrow window during which you can even do construction, so a 90-day freeze means wait till next year. I don’t care what the law says, wait till next year.
    If you’re a disaster survivor in North Carolina or Louisiana, or California or Texas or Florida or Maui, you don’t know what happens next.
    If you’re a low-income family that relies on the women, infants, and Children program to get healthy meals for your kids, if you live in a remote area like Wai?anae or Lana?i in Hawai‘i, and you go to a community health center to fill your prescriptions or to get a checkup, this freeze on funding means you don’t get help.
    People are you know how long it takes to get a home loan, VA home loan, or any other kind of home loan. People are showing up to get their VA home loans and saying, “not today”. You might be like 45 days from closing. You’re a veteran. You’re entitled to this thing under the law. Russ Vought, not a member of the federal government yet, has decided you don’t get your home loan today.
    What an embarrassing abdication of the role of the Congress.
    All of this high-minded talk from my fellow appropriators about, you know, there’s two parties. There’s really three parties in the Congress. It’s the old joke. Democrats, Republicans, and appropriators. Right. And the idea is that the appropriators are the adults in the room, the appropriators are the adults in the room, and they’re not going to let nonsense, unconstitutional, illegal acts happen because we’re the ones that control the purse strings.
    And I want to make one final point in addition to all the pain that’s being caused: My goodness, the door swings both ways in Washington.
    Imagine a progressive president reaching into the federal budget after an appropriations bill is passed and saying, “You know what? I don’t like that thing. I don’t like that other thing. I don’t like this one. I don’t like that one. I’m in charge”.
    What are we even here for? And so this is not going to be business as usual. I will tell you one thing. I have never in my 13 years withheld my unanimous consent. I’ve used a little leverage. Everybody does.
    But we better get this straight on a bipartisan basis. Not because I want to score partisan points, not because I want to characterize Donald Trump in one way or the other, but because we all worked so hard and made real sacrifices to get to this place so we could have a position of responsibility to uphold the Constitution of the United States.
    What is happening today is unconstitutional. It is also against statutory law. But most importantly, it is causing pain across the country.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schatz, Cruz, Murphy, Britt Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Keep Kids Safe, Healthy, off Social Media

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a senior member of the Senate Commerce Committee, Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) introduced bipartisan legislation to keep kids off social media and help protect them from its harmful impacts. The Kids Off Social Media Act would set a minimum age of 13 to use social media platforms and prevent social media companies from feeding algorithmically-targeted content to users under the age of 17. In addition to Schatz, Cruz, Murphy, and Britt, the Kids Off Social Media Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Angus King (I-Maine), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and John Curtis (R-Utah).
    “There is no good reason for a nine-year-old to be on Instagram or Snapchat. The growing evidence is clear: social media is making kids more depressed, more anxious, and more suicidal. Yet tech companies refuse to anything about it because it would hurt their bottom line. This is an urgent health crisis, and Congress must act with the boldness and urgency it demands,” said Senator Schatz. “Protecting kids online is not a partisan issue, and our bipartisan coalition – which includes several parents of kids and teenagers – represents the millions of parents across the country who’ve long been asking for help.”
    “Every parent I know is concerned about the online threats to kids—from predators to videos promoting self-harm, risky behavior, or low self-esteem. Many families have suffered due to Big Tech’s failure to take responsibility for its products. The Kids Off Social Media Act addresses these issues by supporting families in crisis and empowering teachers to better manage their classrooms. I am proud to work with Senator Schatz on this bipartisan legislation to combat the harms social media poses to children, especially in schools. As Chairman of the Commerce Committee, I am confident we can swiftly move this legislation and similar measures through committee and urge Congress to heed the calls of parents everywhere by delivering this bill to President Trump’s desk to help protect America’s youth,” said Senator Cruz.
    “Everyone knows how harmful social media can be to kids. As a parent, I’ve seen firsthand how these platforms use intentionally addictive algorithms to spoon-feed young people horrifying content glorifying everything from suicide to eating disorders. Yet these companies have proven they will choose profits over the wellbeing of our kids unless we force them to do otherwise. This bipartisan legislation will finally hold social media companies accountable,” said Senator Murphy.
    “There’s no doubt our country is in the throes of a mental health crisis, and the rise of social media usage among children and teenagers is inextricably tied to this issue,” said Senator Britt. “As a mom, this is something my own kids and their friends have to contend with every day. And as a Senator, I know our nation has to contend with it to safeguard the next generation. Putting in place commonsense guardrails that protect our kids from the dangers of social media is critical for their future and America’s future. I’m committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to put parents in the driver’s seat and enact commonsense, age-appropriate solutions to tackle this generational challenge.”
    No age demographic is more affected by the ongoing mental health crisis in the United States than kids, especially young girls. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 57 percent of high school girls and 29 percent of high school boys felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021, with 22 percent of all high school students—and nearly a third of high school girls—reporting they had seriously considered attempting suicide in the preceding year.
    Studies have shown a strong relationship between social media use and poor mental health, especially among children. From 2019 to 2021, overall screen use among teens and tweens (ages 8 to 12) increased by 17 percent, with tweens using screens for five hours and 33 minutes per day and teens using screens for eight hours and 39 minutes. Based on the clear and growing evidence, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory in 2023, calling for new policies to set and enforce age minimums and highlighting the importance of limiting the use of features, like algorithms, that attempt to maximize time, attention, and engagement.
    “Social media can take a serious toll on kids’ mental health and wellbeing, and it’s critical those problems don’t go unaddressed,” said Senator Welch. “I’m proud to partner with a bipartisan group of my colleagues to protect children’s safety, mental health, and wellbeing online.”
    “Parents across North Carolina are rightly concerned about the mental health crisis impacting the next generation. I’m proud to join this bipartisan bill to set commonsense limits and help protect children from harmful habits that rob them of their attention and undermine their development. I thank Senators Cruz and Schatz for leading this effort,” said Senator Budd.
    “Children in Maine and across the country deserve protection from the potential harm posed by social media – especially during their most vulnerable years,” said Senator King. “The bipartisan Kids Off Social Media Act would limit the harmful impacts of social media by establishing reasonable guardrails such as age minimums for new accounts and restrictions on targeting content to children under the age of 17. Our children deserve to grow up in a safe and supportive environment – and that doesn’t define the harsh tone proliferating on online platforms – so this bipartisan legislation will ensure this protection for generations to come.”
    “Parents across the country have seen the negative impact of unrestricted social media use on their children’s mental and physical health,” said Senator Warner. “I’m proud join this bipartisan effort to help better protect kids and teens online with simple, commonsense guardrails.”
    “As a father and grandfather, I’ve witnessed firsthand how deeply the pressures and challenges of the digital age impact our children’s mental health and well-being,” said Senator Curtis. The Kids Off Social Media Act isn’t about taking something away; it’s about giving our kids back their childhoods and protecting their development during these critical years. By limiting harmful algorithms and enforcing a reasonable age threshold, this legislation is a vital step in fostering an environment where young people can thrive with fewer distractions and healthier minds. Utah has always valued family and community above all, and I’m proud to support bipartisan efforts like this that put kids first,” said Senator Curtis.
    Specifically, the Kids Off Social Media Act would:
    Prohibit social media platforms from allowing children under the age of 13 to create or maintain social media accounts;
    Prohibit social media companies from pushing targeted content using algorithms to users under the age of 17;
    Provide the FTC and state attorneys general authority to enforce the provisions of the bill; and
    Follow existing CIPA framework, with changes, to require schools to work in good faith to limit social media on their federally-funded networks, which many schools already do.
    Parents overwhelmingly support the mission of the Kids Off Social Media Act. A survey conducted by Count on Mothers shows that over 90 percent of mothers agree that there should be a minimum age of 13 for social media. Additionally, 87 percent of mothers agree that social media companies should not be allowed to use personalized recommendation systems to deliver content to children. Pew finds similar levels of concern from parents, reporting that 70 percent or more of parents worry that their teens are being exposed to explicit content or wasting too much time on social media, with two-thirds of parents saying that parenting is harder today compared to 20 years ago—and many of them cited social media as a contributing factor.
    The Kids Off Social Media Act is supported by Public Citizen, National Organization for Women, National Association of Social Workers, National League for Nursing, National Association of School Nurses, KidsToo, Count on Mothers, American Federation of Teachers, American Counseling Association, National Federation of Families, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Council for Mental Wellbeing, Parents Television and Media Council, Tyler Clementi Foundation, Parents Who Fight, Conservative Ladies of America, David’s Legacy Foundation, Digital Progress, HAS Coalition, Parents Defending Education Action, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
    The full text of the bill is available here. For more information on the Kids Off Social Media Act, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Lower inflation in the December quarter boosts chances of an interest rate cut

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra

    ChameleonsEye/Shutterstock

    Australia’s headline inflation rate dropped to a three-year low of 2.4% in the December quarter, according to the Consumer Price Index, adding to pressure for an interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank as soon as next month.

    Since it peaked at 7.8% in December 2022, inflation has now fallen for seven out of eight quarters.

    The closely watched core inflation measure dropped sharply to 3.2% from 3.6%, below market expectations, but the central bank is concerned about how sustainable the fall in inflation will be. Strength in the labour market is also weighing against the need for a cut in interest rates.

    The long-running quarterly measure of the CPI is a better indicator than the more volatile monthly version. But the monthly rate is currently very similar; it ended the year at 2.5%.

    Why did inflation fall?

    A main reason headline inflation fell was the electricity rebates, which led to the price of electricity falling by 25.2% during 2024.

    The fall in global oil prices, which led to petrol prices dropping 7.9% during 2024, also contributed to the decline in inflation.

    The rental market is easing, with rents slowing from growth of 7.3% during 2023 to 6.4% during 2024. Increases in Commonwealth Rent Assistance contributed to the deceleration. This still leaves a lot of families facing rental stress.

    Home builders offering discounts have moderated the “new dwellings” component of the CPI. It increased by only 2.9% during 2024, a marked deceleration from the growth rates of around 20% seen in 2022.

    Urban transport fares also fell during 2024.

    Working against the downward trend were increases to the tobacco excise, in addition to the standard indexation, which led to tobacco prices rising by 12.2% during 2024.

    Insurance costs continue to rise, increasing by 11% during 2024. If the Californian fires lead to insurers revising up their assessment of the risks posed by climate change, insurance premia could rise further.

    The decline in the Australian dollar, while not as alarming as some media reports would suggest, would have added to the price of some goods, particularly those imported from the United States or whose price is denominated in US dollars.



    Read more:
    The Australian dollar has hit a 5 year low. Sounds bad but don’t panic

    The decline in inflation may be a pleasant surprise to the half of voters who were expecting inflation to get worse.

    The “underlying” rate of inflation, which looks through temporary measures such as the electricity subsidies and is the preferred measure of the central bank, has also declined. It is now 3.2%.

    Australia’s inflation performance is similar to that in comparable countries. It is slightly lower than inflation in the United Kingdom (2.5%) and the same as in the euro area. It is higher than in New Zealand (2.2%) and Canada (1.8%).

    The fall in inflation to a rate significantly below the 3.5% at which wages are increasing means that the cost of living crisis is abating, although not yet over.

    The quarterly increases in the CPI during 2024 were 1.0% in March and June and 0.2% in September and December. As the large increases in the first half of 2024 are replaced, the annual rate should drop further in coming quarters.

    What does it mean for interest rates?

    The current Reserve Bank board meets next on February 18. By the following meeting, on April 1, the decisions will be taken by the new monetary policy board, which will have two new members.



    Read more:
    The Reserve Bank will now have a separate board just to set interest rates. Here’s why that’s significant

    This is the second consecutive quarter that inflation has been within the Reserve Bank’s medium-term target band of 2–3%. It is now just below the mid-point of the band.

    Inflation is also below the Bank’s latest forecasts of 2.6% (and 3.4% for the “underlying” rate).

    But the bank has stated it will only cut interest rates when “members are confident that inflation is moving sustainably towards target”.

    Inflation that is low just because of temporary electricity subsidies may not be regarded as ‘sustainable’. That is why the Bank places more emphasis on the underlying inflation measure. While not yet within the target band, underlying inflation has been steadily heading there and is now only just above it. This may be enough to give the Bank board members the confidence they seek. Financial markets now think so.

    The government would dearly like to see rates coming down before the election, likely to be in April or May. It faces a nervous wait.

    John Hawkins was formerly a senior economist at the Reserve Bank and Treasury.

    – ref. Lower inflation in the December quarter boosts chances of an interest rate cut – https://theconversation.com/lower-inflation-in-the-december-quarter-boosts-chances-of-an-interest-rate-cut-246987

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: U.S. Rep. Nanette Barragán Joins Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco to Address Affordable Housing Crisis in Southern California

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Committed to prioritizing solutions for the affordable housing crisis in Southern California, U.S. Rep. Nanette Barragán, (CA-44) hosted a roundtable discussion with the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLBank San Francisco) today at The Enclave in Torrance, California. The roundtable brought together affordable housing leaders, community organizations, financial institutions, and other stakeholders throughout the area to discuss how organizations and public-private partnerships could play a pivotal role in solving the housing crisis in Southern California after tens of thousands were displaced by the recent wildfires in the region.

    “Many families in my district, and across Los Angeles County, struggle to afford housing,” said Rep. Nanette Barragán. “This roundtable brings together key partners to explore solutions to increase housing supply, reduce costs, and expand opportunities for homeownership. Together, we can make real progress for our communities.”

    Rep. Barragán has a history of leading on issues related to affordable housing and has secured millions in federal funding for local projects that support affordable housing development, advance homeownership for first time homebuyers and expand supportive housing options. By teaming up with FHLBank San Francisco and its members, she is working to find local solutions to the housing crisis.

    “This roundtable comes at a critical moment for our district, as many families and individuals have been displaced by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. We are proud to partner with Representative Barragán, a dedicated leader and tireless advocate for addressing the housing crisis in Southern California,” said Alanna McCargo, president and chief executive officer of FHLBank San Francisco. “Collaboration is essential to develop innovative solutions that improve affordability, expand housing supply and support the rebuilding of communities impacted by these wildfires. Our Bank is a valuable and trusted community partner that can leverage an extensive network of member financial institutions to help turn these ideas into action.”

    In 2024, FHLBank San Francisco awarded $6.75 million in Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grants to support a range of projects in Los Angeles. Statewide, more than $49 million in AHP grants were awarded through its member financial institutions to help address and expedite solutions to California’s affordable housing crisis.

    Attendees at the roundtable included:

    • Dora Leong Gall, A Community of Friends
    • Holly Benson, Adobe communities
    • Andrea Parker, Farmers and Merchants bank
    • Jeremy Empol, FHLBank San Francisco
    • Anabel Cuevas, FHLBank San Francisco
    • Darrell Simien, Habitat for Humanity LA
    • Laura Archuleta, Jamboree
    • Suny Lay Chang, LINC Housing
    • Michael Ruane, National CORE
    • Gerald Phillips, Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County
    • Patricia Valladolid, One San Pedro/Century Housing
    • Michael Faulwell, SchoolsFirst FCU
    • Brent Terecero, SchoolsFirst FCU

    FHLBank San Francisco is dedicated to supporting housing initiatives throughout its three-state region, including Arizona, California, and Nevada. Since the Affordable Housing Program (AHP) was created in 1990, FHLBank San Francisco has awarded over $1.35 billion in AHP grants to support the construction, rehabilitation, or purchase of over 154,600 homes affordable to lower-income households, including $61.8 million in 2024 alone. Together, the 11 regional FHLBanks that make up the Federal Home Loan Bank System are one of the largest privately capitalized sources of grant funding for affordable housing in the United States.

    About the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco

    The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco is a member-owned cooperative supporting local lenders in Arizona, California, and Nevada to build strong communities, create opportunity, and change lives for the better. The tools and resources we provide to our member financial institutions — commercial banks, credit unions, industrial loan companies, savings institutions, insurance companies, and community development financial institutions — propel homeownership, finance quality affordable housing, drive economic vitality, and revitalize neighborhoods. Together with our members and other partners, we are making the communities we serve more vibrant, equitable, and resilient.

    Contact:
    Tom Flannigan
    tom.flannigan@fhlbsf.com
    415-616-2695

    The MIL Network –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla Raises Alarm on Trump Administration Illegally Blocking Hundreds of Billions in Federal Support

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla Raises Alarm on Trump Administration Illegally Blocking Hundreds of Billions in Federal Support

    Urges Budget Committee to Delay OMB Nominee
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement after President Trump’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) ordered federal agencies to freeze all congressionally approved federal grants and loans, including disaster relief for Californians:
    “Donald Trump is illegally blocking hundreds of billions of dollars for essential federal programs to support families recovering after catastrophic fires, law enforcement agencies we rely on to keep our communities safe, and children and families who depend on federal child care and nutrition programs. All in his effort to pay for his tax cuts for large corporations and billionaires, like the ones he surrounded himself with during his inauguration. This overreach is unconstitutional and hurts the thousands of Californians who have been devastated by the recent fires. When Congress approves federal funds for programs to help communities, they are not optional: they are legal mandates.
    “Americans in every corner of the country will feel the impact of Donald Trump’s unlawful directives. I am calling on my Republican colleagues to not confirm Russell Vought to be OMB Director until Trump reverses this reckless order.”
    The sweeping directives in the Trump Administration’s memorandum are set to go into effect at 5 p.m. ET this evening. If implemented as written, the directives could block funding for California and national priorities including:
    Disaster Relief: Public assistance and hazard mitigation grants from the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) to state, tribal, territorial, and local governments and non-profits to help communities quickly respond to, recover from, and prepare for major disasters will be halted — right as so many Southern California communities are struggling amid the recent fires.
    Firefighting: Grants to support firefighters across the country will be halted. This includes grants that help states and localities purchase essential firefighting equipment.
    Public Safety: Grants for law enforcement and homeland security activities will cease to go out the door, undermining public safety in every state and territory.
    Infrastructure Projects: All federally-funded transportation projects — roads, bridges, public transit, and more — will be halted, including projects already under construction.
    Homelessness/Housing: In the midst of a homelessness and housing crisis, the Trump Administration is freezing housing and homelessness funding, which will exacerbate our housing crisis.
    988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Funding for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline that Senator Padilla significantly improved, as well as grants for mental health services, will be cut off.
    Nutrition Assistance: Millions of American citizens who rely on nutrition assistance programs like school lunch programs will be left hungry as funding is cut off and non-profits who provide additional assistance lose federal funding.
    Combating the Fentanyl Crisis: Funding for communities to address the substance use disorder crisis and combat the fentanyl crisis will be cut off.
    Emergency Preparedness: Critical preparedness and response capability funding used to prepare for disasters, public health emergencies, and chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear events will be frozen.
    Child Care: Child care programs across the country will not be able to access the funding they rely on to keep their doors open.
    K-12 Schools: Federal funding for K-12 schools will be halted. School districts may not be able to access key formula grant funding including Title I, IDEA, Impact Aid, and Career and Technical Education, which would pose tremendous financial burdens on schools in the middle of the school year.
    Biomedical Research: There will be immediate pauses on all funding for critical health research, including research on cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes, as well as clinical trials at the NIH Clinical Center and all across the country — disrupting lifesaving and often time-sensitive research.
    Higher Education and Job Training: Millions of students relying on federal student loans and federal work study will have their plans to pursue postsecondary education and further their careers thrown into chaos as federal financial aid disbursements are paused.
    Health Services: Federal funding for community health centers that provide health care for over 30 million Americans will be immediately frozen, creating chaos for patients trying get their prescriptions, a regular checkup, and more.
    Small Businesses: The Small Business Administration will have to halt loans to small businesses — including those in disaster-ravaged California communities. 
    Veterans Care: Federal grants to help veterans in rural areas access health care and grants to help veterans get other critical services, including suicide prevention resources, transition assistance, and housing for homeless veterans, will be cut off.
    Tribes: Funding to tribes for basic government services like health care, public safety, programs, tribal schools, and food assistance will be halted.
    Preventing Violence Against Women: All Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grants, as well as funding for victims assistance and state and local police, will be cut off.
    U.S. Competitiveness: Existing grants to support research for Artificial Intelligence and quantum computing will be halted and any new grant funding would be paused — undermining U.S. innovation and competitiveness with China and putting California jobs at risk.
    Energy Jobs: Grants for critical energy projects nationwide will be cut off — halting billions of dollars in investment nationwide and jeopardizing good-paying American jobs. The Department of Energy Loan Program Office will halt loans in 28 states, impacting hundreds of thousands of construction and operations jobs.
    Food Inspections: Some states will have to take on the full financial burden of ensuring the nation’s meat supply is safe if federal cooperative agreements for meat inspection are halted.
    Support for Servicemembers: Support for a host of Department of Defense financial assistance and grant programs supporting servicemembers and their families will be halted, including the Fisher House, Impact Aid, community noise mitigation, ROTC language training, STEM programs, and the USO.
    Military Readiness: Grants and other assistance appropriated to strengthen military effectiveness and defense capacity will be halted, including Defense Production Act support for the defense industrial base, basic research grants necessary to advance key technologies, and small business support to strengthen supply chains.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: One Month Away: Submission Deadline Approaches for Senator Sullivan’s Student Fentanyl Awareness Competition

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan

    01.28.25

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) reminded Alaskans today of the approaching February 28th deadline for high school students across Alaska to participate in a public awareness campaign about the dangers of fentanyl in their community. The competition is part of the statewide “One Pill Can Kill – Alaska” public awareness campaign that Senator Sullivan launched in May of 2024. Since the campaign began, Senator Sullivan has highlighted the One Pill Can Kill campaign in community visits, roundtables and student listening sessions across the state, including in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Wasilla, Ketchikan, Cordova, Valdez, Glenallen, Kotzebue and Utqiagvik. More information on the competition can be found below and by clicking here.

    “Fighting the deadly fentanyl crisis in our state means enlisting the help of all Alaskans,” Senator Sullivan said. “After hearing from youth across our state, it became clear that in order for this campaign to succeed, young Alaskans in particular would need to play a big role. Young Alaskans are impacted by this crisis—and they’re motivated to action. By harnessing the creative and bright minds of Alaska’s next generation of leaders, we can finally turn the tide against this horrendous plague on our communities.”

    Competition Details:

    What: We are asking students to launch a “One Pill Can Kill” media campaign to reach high school students.  The campaign can reach students in a variety of ways: posters in hallways, advertisements in student newspapers, or videos on social media are a few examples. Creativity is key.

    The campaigns should use the “One Pill Can Kill” messaging and highlight the dangers of fentanyl, the risks of non-prescription drug use, and the importance of staying informed and seeking help.

    Who: This competition is open to groups of high school students in Alaska. Schools are encouraged to submit one campaign per school but may submit more. Each entry must include at least two students’ participation. Home schooled students may also participate by launching a media campaign that reaches youth in locations other than school, including online.

    How: After launching the campaign, contestants must submit a report to Senator Sullivan’s communications team explaining their campaign, how it was executed and what they learned. Final submissions can be sent to helen_martin@sullivan.senate.gov. Keep in mind the judging criteria below. Examples of the campaign’s media materials must be included or linked to in the report.

    Judging Criteria:

    1. Effectiveness – Is the campaign effective?
    2. Targeted Audience – Does the campaign reach the intended audience?
    3. Messaging – Does the campaign incorporate the theme of “One Pill Can Kill – Alaska?”
    4. Creativity – Is the campaign innovative?
    5. Accuracy – Are the facts about fentanyl and its risks correct and well-researched?
    6. Lessons Learned – Does the report explain what they learned from the experience?

    Prize:

    While all campaigns will be featured on Senator Sullivan’s website, the winning campaign will work with Senator Sullivan’s communications team to design public service announcements featured as part of the statewide “One Pill Can Kill – Alaska” campaign. It will be shared on Senator Sullivan’s social media channels and offered for distribution to local television, radio, and print media across Alaska.

    Timeline:

    • Report Submission Deadline: February 28, 2025
    • Winners Announced: March 14, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Lieutenant General Ulisses De Mesquita Gomes of Brazil – Force Commander of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO)

    Source: United Nations MIL-OSI 2

    nited Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Lieutenant General Ulisses De Mesquita Gomes of Brazil as Force Commander of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

    Lieutenant General Gomes succeeds Acting Force Commander Major General Khar Diouf of Senegal, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his dedication and service.

    Lieutenant General Gomes brings to the position 35 years of experience in crisis response, conflict management and peacekeeping.  He has both operational and strategic expertise as well as diplomatic experience.  His last position was with his national military, where he served as Deputy Chief of Army Logistics Command.  Prior to that, he was the Brazilian Military Attaché to the United States of America.

    He previously served as the 7th Infantry Brigade Commander in Brazil, the Defence Adviser of the Minister of Strategic Affairs of the Brazilian Government and the Chief of Planning and Operations of the 11th Infantry Brigade.  His international experience includes his deployment with the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) (2008-2009) and his appointment as the Chief of the Current Military Operations Service and Policy & Doctrine Team in the Office of Military Affairs of the UN Department of Peace Operations (2017-2019).
     
    Lieutenant General Gomes holds a bachelor’s degree in law from the Federal University, Brazil, and a master’s degree in military science and law from the Brazilian Army Staff College. He is fluent in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is the 90-year-old tax rule Trump could use to double US taxes on foreigners?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Miranda Stewart, Professor of Law, The University of Melbourne

    US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons

    US President Donald Trump isn’t happy about the way some countries are taxing American citizens and companies. He has made clear he’s willing to retaliate, threatening to double taxes for their own citizens and companies.

    Can Trump really do that, unilaterally, as president? It turns out he can, under a 90-year-old provision of the US tax code – Section 891.

    In an executive memo signed on January 20 outlining his “America First Trade Policy”, Trump instructed US Treasury to:

    investigate whether any foreign country subjects United States citizens or corporations to discriminatory or extraterritorial taxes pursuant to Section 891 of Title 26, United States Code.

    A sweeping power

    Section 891 of the US Internal Revenue Code is short, but it is in sweeping terms.

    If the president finds that US citizens or corporations are being subjected to “discriminatory or extraterritorial taxes” under the laws of any foreign country, he “shall so proclaim” this. US income tax rates on the citizens or corporations of that country are then automatically doubled.

    The extra tax that could be collected is capped at 80% of the US taxable income of the taxpayer. The president can revoke a proclamation, if the foreign country reverses its “discriminatory or extraterritorial” taxation.

    Section 891 is an extraordinary provision – but it has never been applied. As far as I know, no other country has legislated such a rule. Importantly, it would only apply to a person or business subject to income taxation by the US.

    Take, for example, a foreign national earning a wage in the US. If this individual’s home country became subject to a proclamation under Section 891, their individual tax rate in the US would be doubled – to as much as 74%.

    A foreign company earning taxable profits in the US would face a doubling of the company tax rate from 21% to 42%.

    A bit of history

    A version of Section 891 has been in the US tax code since 1934, an earlier troubled time of tax disputes and economic depression.

    It was signed into law by Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt on May 10 1934, amid a tax dispute between the US and France.

    US President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Section 891 into law in 1934, putting pressure on France to end a tax dispute.
    Vincenzo Laviosa/Wikimedia Commons

    According to US tax historian Joseph Thorndike, the move followed attempts by France to levy additional taxes on US companies operating there, beginning in the mid-1920s.

    France had tried to use an 1873 law to tax US companies operating in France on profits earned in the parent company back in the US, and in other subsidiaries around the world, not just the French company profits.

    The aim was to counter international profit-shifting, which could be used to reduce the tax payable by US subsidiaries operating in France by claiming deductions or shifting income to other group companies outside France.

    The dispute was long-standing and France tried to assess taxes going back decades for some US companies. The potentially massive tax bill (it seems the tax was never actually collected) became a geopolitical issue, and the companies asked the US government to intervene on their behalf.

    Thorndike explains that a bilateral tax treaty was negotiated between the US and France to remedy this “double tax” situation. But the French legislature refused to ratify it.

    In retaliation, US Congress passed Section 891, and six months later, France ratified its bilateral tax treaty with the US.

    Parallels with today

    In 1934, there were no digital multinational enterprises like Meta or Google. But that tax dispute nevertheless has parallels with modern concerns about taxing companies internationally.

    The French government was trying, with a rather heavy hand, to counter international profit-shifting by large US multinationals.

    Section 891 was re-enacted in later US tax codes, up to today, with minor amendments and no attempt to invoke it. It has remained in the background as a potential exercise of US fiscal and market power, supported by both sides of US politics.

    Tax professor Itai Grinberg, who worked in the Biden administration on the OECD tax deal, suggested it could be applied to the European Union decision that taxes Apple in Ireland.

    The US tech giants are only the latest in a long line of powerful American multinational corporations.
    Tada Images/Shutterstock

    What might Trump do?

    President Trump has specifically targeted the OECD global tax negotiations with this threat, just a month after Australia has legislated the global minimum tax under “Pillar Two” of the OECD Global Tax Deal.

    The OECD deal aims to ensure large multinational enterprises pay a minimum 15% effective tax rate in all the jurisdictions in which they operate, by applying a top-up tax and under-taxed profit tax.

    Trump asserted in a memorandum that the OECD Global Tax Deal is “extraterritorial”, instructing the US Secretary of the Treasury and the US Trade Representative to investigate it.

    Could Australia be singled out?

    Trump’s memorandum also ordered an investigation into “other discriminatory foreign tax practices” that may harm US companies.

    This includes whether any foreign countries are not complying with their US tax treaties or have, or are likely to put in place, any tax rules that “disproportionately affect American companies”.

    Notably, this could put Australia’s proposed “news bargaining incentive” in the crosshairs.

    Under this proposal, digital platforms (many of which are US-owned) would have to pay a new levy, which could be offset if they negotiate or renew deals with Australian news media publishers to pay for hosting news content.

    Section 891 could apply to such taxes if they were found by Trump to be “discriminatory” against US companies. What “discriminatory” means is not clear.

    Its been suggested that foreign citizens or companies could be protected from Section 891 by their country’s tax treaty with the US, under the standard approach that a later treaty prevails over an older code section. But Australia’s tax treaty with the US took effect in 1983, before the most recent re-enactment of Section 891 in the US tax code.



    Read more:
    News bargaining incentive: the latest move in the government’s ‘four-dimensional chess’ battle with Meta

    Miranda Stewart receives funding from the Australian Research Council. Miranda is on the Permanent Scientific Committee of the International Fiscal Association.

    – ref. What is the 90-year-old tax rule Trump could use to double US taxes on foreigners? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-90-year-old-tax-rule-trump-could-use-to-double-us-taxes-on-foreigners-248154

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is a ‘crime scene’, really? An expert explains how it’s more than just blue police tape

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vincent Hurley, Lecturer in Criminology. Police and policing. Dept of Security Studies & Criminology, Macquarie University

    When you watch the news, one phrase usually comes up as soon as crime is mentioned: “police have established a crime scene”.

    If you’re a fan of the forensics crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, it will conjure up images of police waving a blue, fluorescent UV light in a darkened room looking for blood, saliva, fingerprints, footprints or tooth impressions.

    CSI has influenced an entire generation – this year, the franchise will celebrate its 25th anniversary. But the reality of crime scene investigation is far more complex.

    As a criminology lecturer and ex-police officer, I know a thing or two about crime scenes, having managed hundreds of them. I have even been a crime scene myself. Here’s what they really entail.

    There’s usually more than one crime scene

    In the early 20th century, French forensic science pioneer Edmond Locard noted it’s impossible for criminals to act “without leaving traces of this presence”. No matter where a criminal steps or what they touch, they leave behind, even unconsciously, evidence that serves as a silent witness against them.

    The idea that criminals will leave something behind at the crime scene while taking something with them is known today as Locard’s principle.

    Crime scenes are incredibly diverse. They don’t just involve the physical location. A person’s body and any objects found in relation to the crime are also part of a crime scene.

    The primary crime scene is where the event took place – for example, where a murder, arson attack or drive-by shooting occurred.

    There will be several additional crime scenes, too. In the course of the investigation, a second crime scene might be established where the criminal planned the crime. If they dumped a getaway vehicle, that’s a third crime scene. If they stashed a weapon, clothes or other objects in a safe house after the crime, that’s a fourth crime scene.

    A fifth crime scene will be established when the criminal is arrested – they themselves are also a crime scene. Their hair, clothing and fingernails will be tested for various residues, such as the skin or blood of a victim, or even illicit substances if the crime involves drug trafficking.

    Lastly, the victim is a crime scene, too. They may have body fluids, skin, hair and other material from the criminal on them.

    In my detective career, I myself have been a crime scene when I found a badly injured abduction victim who collapsed in my arms. At that point, traces of the offender’s blood and hair transferred onto my clothing. I had to take the clothes off and they were kept as evidence.

    Hair found on a victim’s clothing can serve as evidence.
    Sendo Serra/Shutterstock

    Crime scenes are confusing

    Shows like CSI often portray crime scenes as neat and clear cut, with evidence easily obtained.

    In reality, crime scenes are chaotic. They are full of clutter and the police don’t know what’s relevant and what’s not.

    During a crime scene search, police have to speculate about what happened, as often there are no eyewitnesses. A bullet casing or a bloody knife would be obvious. But what of the more common household items in the house or room? Who owns the shirt or jumper? Why is the bedroom in disarray, is that normal? What did the criminal touch or not touch? Was there just one criminal or two? What belongs to the victim?

    Unlike on TV, police don’t always know what they are looking for because often they don’t know how the crime occurred. The cause of a death can be obvious, but how it unfolded is not.

    Crime scenes are fragile

    With a murder on a TV show, the CSI team usually arrives at a home or an outdoor crime scene, surrounded by crime scene tape. The first thing they do is lift the tape and walk straight to the body.

    This is the worst possible crime scene practice.

    The detectives would be walking directly on and over the same entry or exit path the offenders used. This would destroy fragile microscopic residues of blood, dirt or plant vegetation.

    In reality, walking in and out of a crime scene this way does not happen. Prior to entering any crime scene, police look around and try to figure out which way the offender may have come and gone.

    Once weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of each option, they’ll pick a specific entry and exit point, and stick to that until the scene has been completely examined.

    Lifting the police tape and walking straight to the body is bad practice – the tape is there for a reason.
    Gordenkoff/Shutterstock

    A systematic search – and not just for DNA

    Crime scenes are also searched in different ways.

    One way to ensure no evidence is missed is with a “grid and height” search. This means searching one square metre at a time. As the police get closer to the walls of the room, they start looking from the floor up to the height of their knees.

    Once this is done, they go from their knee to their waist, then from their waist to their shoulder, then their shoulder to the top of their head, and then from the top of their head to a metre above it – until they reach the ceiling. Then they examine the ceiling.

    Police don’t look solely for the holy grail of DNA. Rather, they are trying to piece together a jigsaw puzzle of what happened, why it happened, and what the criminal unintentionally left behind.

    Decades of forensic TV dramas have resulted in the “CSI effect” – the idea that finding, collecting and analysing evidence at a crime scene is straightforward, and that the evidence is infallible. This is not so. But shows like CSI have also spawned a generation of people interested in becoming real crime scene investigators and forensic scientists.

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

    – ref. What is a ‘crime scene’, really? An expert explains how it’s more than just blue police tape – https://theconversation.com/what-is-a-crime-scene-really-an-expert-explains-how-its-more-than-just-blue-police-tape-245369

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: University Research – Genomic evidence confirms white shark liver is on the Aussie killer shark menu – Flinders

    Source: Flinders University

    For the first time, DNA evidence has confirmed killer whales in Australia hunted a white shark for its liver.

    Based on DNA analysis from the bite wounds on the carcass of a large white shark washed ashore near Portland in Victoria in 2023, the Flinders University-led study identified that killer whales were responsible for consuming the mid-section containing the nutritionally rich liver.

    Around the world, killer whales (Orcinus orca) have been observed preying on various shark species including white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) – as previously documented in California and South Africa.

    The discovery of a 4.7 metre white shark missing its liver on a beach in southeastern Australia offered a rare opportunity to analyse distinctive bite wounds and unravel the predator’s identity.

    “The liver, digestive and reproductive organs were missing, and there were four distinctive bite wounds, one of which was characteristic of liver extraction by killer whale, similar to what has been observed in South Africa,” says lead author Isabella Reeves, a PhD candidate with Flinders University’s Southern Shark Ecology Group and the West Australian Cetacean Research Centre (CETREC).

    “Swabs were taken from bite wounds on the white shark and sequenced for remnant genetic material from the shark’s predator. We were able to confirm the presence of killer whale DNA in the primary bite area, while the other three wounds revealed DNA from scavenging broadnose sevengill sharks.

    “These findings provide compelling evidence of killer whale predation on white sharks in Australian waters, with a strong indication of selective liver consumption. This suggests that such predation events may be more widespread and prevalent across the globe than previously believed.”

    The study, published in Ecology and Evolution, used wildlife forensic techniques to confirm killer whales were responsible for excising and consuming the liver from the white shark. Civilian bystanders had witnessed several killer whales, including locally known individuals called ‘Bent Tip’ and ‘Ripple, catching a large prey in Bridgewater Bay two days before the white shark carcass washed ashore.

    The beached large white shark carcass was collected by state government fisheries officers for investigation.

    Killer whales in Australia have occasionally recorded preying on various shark species, including blue shark (Prionace glauca), porbeagle (Lamna nasus), shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus), ground sharks (most likely school shark, Galeorhinus galeus), and tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier). But white shark liver consumption had yet to be observed in Australia – despite numerous reports of such behaviour in California and by notorious duo ‘Port’ and ‘Starboard’ in South Africa.

    Several interactions between killer whales and white sharks have been reported in Australia, including at least one suspected kill at the Neptune Islands Group Marine Park in South Australia in February 2015. On that occasion, an oil slick indicative of a successful predation was observed following the interaction, although no carcass was recovered to confirm the kill.

    Rhodes University (South Africa) marine biologist, Dr Alison Towner, an author in the study, says similar killer whale predation on white sharks have led to disruptions in local shark populations in both South Africa and California. “However direct observations of these interactions remain rare and their frequency is poorly understood,” she says.

    Co-lead author, Flinders adjunct Associate Professor Adam Miller, says the study raises “really interesting questions around predator-prey interactions and the behaviour and intelligence of killer whales”.

    “We don’t know how frequently these events occurred in Australian waters and therefore how significant these findings are. But, as Alison points out, these types of predation events in South Africa have further impacted on already declining white shark numbers,” says Associate Professor Miller, also a senior ecologist with Cesar Australia, where the genetic analyses were performed.

    “Evidence suggests that the white sharks being displaced or directly killed as a result of the killer whale predation in South Australia has led to cascading shifts in the wider marine ecosystem.

    “We know that white sharks are key regulators of ecosystem structure and functions, so it’s very important we preserve these top predators. Therefore it is important that we keep a tab on these types of interactions in Australian waters where possible.”

    Another author, Flinders University Research Fellow Dr Lauren Meyer, adds, “This study also provides DNA evidence that scavenging is facilitated by killer whales’ tissue selection, whereby the liver and internal organs are consumed, but much of the carcass remains as a nutrient source benefiting local ecosystems.”

    The ‘Nature Notes’ article ‘Genetic Evidence of Killer Whale Predation on White Sharks in Australia’ (2025) by Isabella MM Reeves, Andrew R Weeks, Alison V Towner, Rachael Impey, Jessica J Fish, Zach SR Clark, Paul A Butcher, Lauren Meyer, David M Donnelly, Charlie Huveneers, Nicky Hudson and Adam D Miller has been published in Ecology and Evolution (Wiley) First published: 27 January 2025 https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70786

    The study was supported by experts from Victoria’s EnviroDNA, The University of Melbourne, Rhodes University in South Africa, the South African International Maritime Institute, Deakin University’s EcoGenetics Lab, the NSW Department of Primary Industries National Marine Science Centre, Killer Whales Australia and Dolphin Research Institute in Victoria and the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, Victoria.

    Acknowledgements: Researchers acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this research was conducted, the Gunditjmara and Wurundjeri peoples. Thanks to Cameron McCallum and John Melis from the Victorian Fisheries Authority and the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owner Aboriginal Corporation. The carcass is now held by Museums Victoria.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: DeepSeek shatters beliefs about the cost of AI, leaving US tech giants reeling

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Michael J. Davern, Professor of Accounting & Business Information Systems, The University of Melbourne

    Almost A$1 trillion (US$600 billion) was wiped off the value of artificial intelligence microchip maker Nvidia overnight on Monday, when a little-known Chinese startup, DeepSeek, threatened to upend the US tech market.

    While Nvidia suffered the biggest one-day loss in sharemarket history, other tech giants – Microsoft, Alphabet and Amazon, who are investing heavily in competing AI tools including ChatGPT and Gemini – were also hit.

    The rout was caused by investors’ shock at the claimed performance of DeepSeek’s new R1 chatbot. The Chinese AI was reported to be more advanced than its competitors and less expensive to develop.

    DeepSeek R1 has soared, becoming the top free downloaded app on Apple’s app store, as US technology and related stock prices fell dramatically.

    Why tech stocks took a deep dive

    The market was surprised by DeepSeek providing what amounts to cheaper technology but comparable performance.

    This has dramatically changed the market’s expectations of computing power, showing more can be done for less. It has also compromised the competitiveness of the US tech companies’ existing AI products and developments.

    Stock prices are driven by market expectations. The claimed performance of DeepSeek R1 prompted a major revision of expectations about what was technologically possible and about how cheaply AI could be developed and operated.

    Investors have rapidly incorporated the news of a low-cost Chinese AI competitor into stock prices, anticipating this new entrant could disrupt the market and erode the competitive advantage of existing leaders.

    Who is DeepSeek and what is R1?

    DeepSeek was founded in 2023 by Chinese hedge fund High Flyer, which had been exclusively using AI in trading since 2021.

    DeepSeek develops large language models (LLMs) that can underpin chatbots and other AI-based tools. R1 is the latest iteration of DeepSeek’s chatbot and underlying model. It builds on earlier versions of generative AI models developed by DeepSeek, and considerable amounts of data, but is a surprising leap forward in performance and cost.

    R1 is the latest version of DeepSeek’s chatbot.
    Koshiro K/Shutterstock

    Technology investors believe R1 matches or outperforms competitors, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT 4.o1 on numerous benchmarks.

    However, there are some key differences:

    1. The model underlying R1 operates in a much less intensive manner. It is much cheaper to develop and run, requiring less data and computing power.

    2. The training of the model was possible despite the US export ban preventing Chinese companies such as DeepSeek from accessing chips from US companies such as Nvidia. The Biden administration had introduced laws restricting the sale of certain computer chips and machinery to China, in a move intended to block its rival from accessing some of the world’s most advanced technology.

    3. The training data and data uploaded to R1 sit on servers in China. Given concerns about data privacy and intellectual property have already been raised about US-based companies, having data under jurisdiction of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is arguably even more concerning.

    4. The chatbot program code is free to download, read and modify, unlike ChatGPT. This is however somewhat a false transparency – what matters more is the underlying model, not the Chatbot code.

    5. R1 is known to censor its responses in line with Chinese Communist Party values.

    The future of AI and tech stocks

    It is unknown whether this crash in price of tech stocks is an irrational panic that will reverse, or whether it simply reflects correct pricing. The future costs and benefits of AI are still uncertain.

    This is both a technological and an economic question.

    In technological terms, it is yet to be seen whether R1 really does require less computing power and less data to train and use.

    Economically, there are potential winners and losers. AI users may win with cheaper access to AI, and LLMs in particular, leading to increased adoption and associated productivity gains. Existing producers such as Nvidia may lose out in what was a market with few real competitors.

    More broadly, society may benefit from less computationally intensive, and therefore more energy-efficient, AI. However, the geopolitical risk of a single country capturing the market, together with concerns about data privacy, intellectual property and censorship may outweigh the benefits.

    Michael J. Davern has previously received funding from CPA Australia for industry research into Artificial Intelligence.

    Matt Pinnuck 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. DeepSeek shatters beliefs about the cost of AI, leaving US tech giants reeling – https://theconversation.com/deepseek-shatters-beliefs-about-the-cost-of-ai-leaving-us-tech-giants-reeling-248424

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: When news is stressful, how do you balance staying informed with ‘doomscrolling’?

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Lisa Harrison, Lecturer in Digital Communications, Flinders University

    Mart Production/Pexels

    It all begins innocently – a late-night peek at your favourite social media site before bed. You catch a headline that grabs your attention with “breaking news” you can’t afford to miss.

    Like following digital breadcrumbs, one click leads to another. Before you know it, you’re tumbling down a rabbit hole of endless updates and emotionally charged social media posts. Two hours later, your shoulders are tense, your stomach is in knots, but you can’t put your phone down.

    This endless scrolling through bad news – known as “doomscrolling” – sneaks up on us.

    It’s important to stay in touch with what’s happening in the world. Being informed helps us make better decisions, engage meaningfully in our communities, and respond effectively to changes that affect our lives and those around us.

    But just like a healthy diet, we must be smart about our news consumption to avoid it taking a toll on our health.

    The good news is there are proven ways to stay informed without letting it take over your life. Research shows setting clear boundaries around your news consumption can make a huge difference. So, how can you strike the right balance?

    How to set boundaries with news consumption

    It’s worth considering why you feel compelled to stay constantly informed. Ask yourself: “will this information change what I can do about it?”.

    Often, we scroll not because the information is actionable, but because we are trying to gain a sense of control in an uncertain world.

    Research shows scrolling through negative news can disrupt your sleep and increase anxiety. To make sure your media consumption is intentional, there are a few steps you can take.

    Be picky with the news sources you read. Choose a few trusted outlets instead of letting social media algorithms decide what you see. It’s like sticking to a balanced meal plan, but for your mind.

    While engaging with the news, pay close attention to how you’re feeling. When you notice physical signs of anxiety or emotional distress, that is your cue to take a break.

    Set aside time earlier in the day with clear boundaries around your news consumption: maybe with your morning coffee or during your lunch break, whatever works for your schedule. Consider implementing a “digital sunset”, too. This is a cut-off time for news and social media, ideally an hour or two before bedtime, to give your mind time to process what you have learned without disrupting your sleep.

    The world will always be there, but you will be in a better head space to process what is happening.

    You don’t have to feel helpless

    Taking breaks from consuming news is not burying your head in the sand – it’s practising self care. Studies have shown that people who set healthy boundaries around news consumption are often better equipped to engage meaningfully on important issues and take constructive action when needed.

    When you check the news, be an active consumer. Instead of endless scrolling:

    • choose one or two in-depth articles to read thoroughly

    • discuss the news with colleagues, friends and family to process your feelings

    • look for solution-focused news stories that highlight positive change

    • take meaningful action on issues you care about.

    There are also various apps and tools that can help you form healthier digital habits. Productivity apps use various approaches to help you stay focused, providing ways to snap you out of mindless scrolling.

    News curation apps and apps that allow you to save articles to read later can help you establish a balanced news diet, and remove the urgent need to read everything immediately.

    Many smartphones now come equipped with screen time management features, such as Apple’s Screen Time or Android’s Digital Wellbeing. You can use these to monitor your scrolling habits and to manage how much time you spend on social media or news apps.

    One useful feature is to block apps from use during certain times of day or after you’ve used them for a set amount of time.

    Screen time management features allow you to pause or block apps from use.
    The Conversation

    Stay mindful, stay engaged

    Staying informed doesn’t mean staying constantly connected. By mindfully setting boundaries and using supportive tools, you can keep up with important events while protecting your wellbeing.

    If you’re trying productivity apps and other tools, start small. Choose one tool that resonates with you rather than trying everything at once. Set realistic goals that fit your life, and use these apps’ insights to understand your habits better.

    Pay attention to what triggers your doomscrolling and adjust your settings accordingly. Remember, these tools work best when combined with offline activities you enjoy.

    The goal isn’t to disconnect completely, but to find a sustainable balance between staying informed and maintaining peace of mind. With thoughtful boundaries and the right support tools, you can stay engaged with the world while keeping your mental health intact.

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

    – ref. When news is stressful, how do you balance staying informed with ‘doomscrolling’? – https://theconversation.com/when-news-is-stressful-how-do-you-balance-staying-informed-with-doomscrolling-248017

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health – College of GPs welcomes newest GP and rural hospital medicine trainees

    Source: Royal NZ College of General Practitioners

    The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) welcomes the 221 year 1 registrars who have started their journeys to becoming specialist general practitioners or rural hospital doctors.
    Of this group, 201 registrars are starting on the General Practice Education Programme (GPEP) and 20 are starting on the Rural Hospital Medicine (RHM) training programme.
    With 90 percent of medical conditions being treated in the community, the College continues to advocate for well-resourced training programmes for our community-based workforce who are valued and supported to care for their patients.
    College Chief Executive Toby Beaglehole says, “We’re delighted that our new registrars have recognised the impact they can have on improving health outcomes by working on the frontline in their communities.
    “Growing our workforce continues to be a priority for the College this year. The new Health Minister has signalled his commitment to increasing access to general practice, which will come from having more specialists trained and working in the community, and we welcome the opportunity to discuss this with him.”
    College President Dr Samantha Murton says, “We know the value that we bring to healthcare, which comes from the vast depth and breadth of knowledge and skills that we build on during our specialist training, and throughout our careers.
    “To all our new registrars I say welcome, we’re so glad you’ve joined us, and I hope you take every opportunity to get involved, ask questions and share your own experiences about your journey that has led you into choosing this highly rewarding career.”
    Chair of the College’s Division of Rural Hospital Medicine (DRHM) Dr Andrew Laurenson says, “Having these new rural trainees entering the programme is a great boost as we work towards having an accessible and thriving rural health workforce for the approximately 900,000 New Zealanders who live rurally.”
    More information about the programmes and how to apply is available on the College website: https://www.rnzcgp.org.nz/study-with-us/

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fire Safety – Celebrate without fireworks this Lunar New Year

    Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

    Fire and Emergency New Zealand is asking people to be vigilant during their Lunar New Year celebrations.
    “We want everybody to have a wonderful time celebrating Lunar New Year, but we’re asking people to avoid using fireworks or sky lanterns as part of their celebrations,” Community Education Manager Tom Ronaldson says.
    Some parts of the country are in prohibited and restricted fire seasons, and a ban on fireworks has been imposed for parts of Mid-South Canterbury and Otago.
    These areas are Lake Clearwater and Lake Camp in the Ashburton Lakes area, the Mackenzie Basin, Naseby, Upper Waitaki zones, Central Otago and Central Lakes zones which include Wakatipu Basin, Wānaka and Hāwea areas.
    A fireworks ban means you can’t light and set off any fireworks, including sparklers.
    Sky lanterns also pose a significant risk to buildings and vegetation.
    “We strongly recommend you do not light lanterns, as you have no control over where they travel. If they land in dry vegetation, they can quickly cause a fire,” Tom Ronaldson says.
    “This includes tethered lanterns, as there is a risk of them becoming untethered and causing a fire.
    “We’ve seen hot, dry and windy conditions in many parts of the country this summer, which means much of our vegetation is dry and ready to ignite,” he says.
    “Again, we strongly encourage you to celebrate without fireworks or sky lanterns. But if you do decide to use them, please go to www.checkitsalright.nz to find out if it’s safe to do so.
    “The website advises on the risk for different types of fire activity, provides fire safety advice, and tells you what fire restrictions your location is under if you aren’t sure.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Joint statement on Australian state, territory and local government response to the launch of the updated Australia’s Disability Strategy

    Source: Ministers for Social Services

    29 January 2025

    The Australian Federal Government, all state and territory governments and the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), have today reaffirmed their commitment to building a more inclusive Australia, where all people with disability can participate on an equal basis, through the release of the updated Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031.

    As part of the joint response to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, Australian and state and territory governments accepted the Royal Commission’s recommendation to review the Strategy.  

    Throughout the review, people with disability, representative organisations and the Strategy’s Advisory Council shared their important perspectives on how governments can continue to improve the everyday lives of people with disability.

    All governments are committed to the Strategy’s vision and policy priorities of breaking down barriers and creating accessible, inclusive communities where all people with disability can participate on an equal basis.

    Governments have also established new Targeted Action Plans (TAPs) under the Strategy to apply an intensive focusing on Community Attitudes, Safety, Rights and Justice and Inclusive Homes and Communities, which are all areas that people with disability have identified as being of critical importance.

    Each state, territory and many local governments are also implementing disability plan(s) in place to progress reform consistent with the Strategy.  

    Governments will continue to work closely with the disability community, employers, unions, non-government organisations and the broader community as we move forward with this work, ensuring the voices, experience and lived expertise of people with disability are directly shaping the reforms that affect them.

    Signed by the Prime Minister, all First Ministers and the President of ALGA, the Strategy is our national framework, based on the social model of disability, to improve the lives of people with disability in Australia over ten years.

    The updated Strategy is accompanied by a range of supporting resources, including:

    • An updated 10-year milestone roadmap
    • A revised Data Improvement Plan
    • Guide to applying Australia’s Disability Strategy
    • Educational videos to outline what we have heard in the review and changes that are made
    • An accessible factsheet on updates to the Strategy.

    MIL OSI News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Oak Valley Community Bank to Open New Branch in Lodi

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OAKDALE, Calif., Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oak Valley Community Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Oak Valley Bancorp (NASDAQ: OVLY) recently announced it has received regulatory approval to establish its 19th full-service branch. The new office will be located at 31 South School Street in downtown Lodi and is scheduled to open mid-2025.

    Established in 1991, Oak Valley Community Bank opened its first branch in San Joaquin County in 2005. The Lodi Branch will be the bank’s sixth location in the county and offer a full line of personal and commercial banking services, a traditional walk-up ATM, and night deposit service. The branch will also include offices for commercial lending and administrative personnel.

    “We are pleased to expand our branch network into Lodi. This adds another convenient location to our footprint,” stated Rick McCarty, President & Chief Operating Officer. “As a community bank headquartered in the Central Valley, this addition will allow us to provide increased accessibility to clients and introduce our unique brand of first-class service to a new audience of prospective clients, particularly those in the northern portion of San Joaquin County,” he concluded.

    Oak Valley Bancorp operates Oak Valley Community Bank & their Eastern Sierra Community Bank division, through which it offers a variety of loan and deposit products to individuals and small businesses. They currently operate through 18 conveniently located branches: Oakdale, Turlock, Stockton, Patterson, Ripon, Escalon, Manteca, Tracy, Sacramento, Roseville, two branches in Sonora, three branches in Modesto, and three branches in their Eastern Sierra division, which includes Bridgeport, Mammoth Lakes, and Bishop.

    For more information, call 1-866-844-7500 or visit www.ovcb.com.

    Contact: Chris Courtney/Rick McCarty
    Phone: (209) 848-BANK (2265)
      Toll Free (866) 844-7500
      www.ovcb.com

    The MIL Network –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Does your school have enough trees? Here’s why they’re great for kids and their learning

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Margaret Stanley, Professor of Ecology, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

    Getty Images

    Do schools and trees mix? You may have memories of shady playing areas and shelter belts by playing fields, but our recent study suggests this is increasingly an exception rather than a rule.

    Trees are often seen as a health and safety risk, whether from branches or the whole thing falling, or from children falling out of them. Many schools have banned pupils from climbing trees as a result.

    Beyond that, trees are often seen as an optional “nice to have”. New Zealand’s current education minister criticised extensive landscaping and bespoke design when announcing a review of school properties in early 2024.

    But the benefits of trees and other vegetation in urban areas are well known, and increasingly important as housing density increases. Schools can play a significant role in encouraging the growth of “urban forests”.

    Unfortunately, there are also large differences in tree canopy cover in New Zealand cities (and elsewhere in the world), with low socioeconomic areas often having low tree canopy cover.

    This matters because trees and nature in general provide us with enormous health and wellbeing benefits, regardless of socioeconomic standing.

    Natural benefits

    Very little is known about green spaces on local school grounds. So, our research set out to survey the quantity and quality of green spaces in 64 urban primary schools in Auckland.

    We conducted the survey in the context of several known factors about the role and place of nature in education:

    • there has been a decline in the time spent outdoors by children since the 1950s

    • there is increasing evidence for the emotional and psychological benefits for children of connecting with nature

    • greening a school improves children’s appreciation for their daily environment and increases social wellbeing

    • highly vegetated schools provide a big opportunity to boost physical and mental health benefits for children, particularly in suburbs with low tree canopy cover

    • vegetation on school grounds can provide excellent opportunities for learning, particularly in science, with some evidence that greening increases academic achievement

    • trees and other vegetation can improve air quality at school, provide shade and UV protection from the sun.

    Because schools are fairly evenly distributed throughout cities, and can have a large spatial footprint, there’s also an opportunity to enhance wider native biodiversity, create ecological corridors and maintain cultural connections.

    Fields but few trees

    Unfortunately, our survey found the green spaces of most Auckland primary schools are dominated by sports fields.

    While it’s good news that children have access to these, adding trees and shrubs around the edges of the fields could provide many benefits without compromising existing play spaces.

    Native biodiversity was also lacking. In fact, 33% of school ground contained environmental weeds, such as woolly nightshade. There were also many more introduced plant species than native species, and most schools lacked a shrub layer.

    Urban green spaces in general tend to favour single trees with mown lawn underneath. But birds feed in different layers of vegetation and need that shrub layer and some vegetation complexity.

    The most common native tree by far was pōhutakawa. But planting a monoculture of pōhutakawa is a big risk if a disease (such as myrtle rust) has a big impact on that species.

    Diversity is key. Planting other native species such as pūriri, karaka, rewarewa or tītoki would increase plant diversity, attract native birds and other species, as well as provide sun shade.

    Room for improvement

    There was some good news, however. Of the 64 schools surveyed, 36% had a forest patch. This gives the children access to an outdoor learning resource that may be lacking from their immediate neighbourhood.

    It was heartening to find every school had at least one species associated with weaving, with both harakeke and tī kōuka present at 83% of schools.

    We know young Māori in cities are at risk of losing cultural knowledge and opportunities for cultural practices, so the availability of key weaving species is an excellent opportunity for schools and their whānau.

    If this was a report card, Auckland’s school green spaces would not be high-achieving. But there are plenty of opportunities to improve. Adding more diversity, more native plants, and planting trees around the edges of sports fields will provide a wealth of benefits to both children and the city’s overall biodiversity.

    Using outdoor spaces for learning will increase natural and cultural connections and improve children’s wellbeing. That is much more than a “nice to have”.

    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. Does your school have enough trees? Here’s why they’re great for kids and their learning – https://theconversation.com/does-your-school-have-enough-trees-heres-why-theyre-great-for-kids-and-their-learning-246411

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Shenzhen, Hong Kong jointly conserve mangrove wetlands

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

    SHENZHEN/HONG KONG, Jan. 28 — In the heart of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Guangdong Neilingding Futian National Nature Reserve in Shenzhen and the Mai Po Nature Reserve in Hong Kong are jointly safeguarding a vibrant expanse of mangrove wetlands.

    These wetlands are ecologically linked and integral parts of the Shenzhen Bay (Deep Bay) wetland ecosystem, which serves as an internationally important overwintering site and a refueling station for waterbirds on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

    In February 2023, Shenzhen’s Futian mangrove was designated as Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Together with the wetlands in Mai Po Nature Reserve, Shenzhen Bay now hosts two internationally recognized wetlands of significance.

    “Mangroves are unique and complex ecosystems, often difficult for humans to access. Their dense canopy provides birds with quiet, undisturbed nesting areas, making them vital for wildlife conservation,” said Simon Wong, nature officer (management) at the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department (AFCD), Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government.

    Moreover, mangroves protect coastlines from erosion caused by waves, while the mudflats they create harbor countless species and provide feeding and resting areas for migratory waterbirds, benefiting surrounding regions and other habitats, he added.

    According to Wong, mangroves and their soil have a high capacity for carbon sequestration through microbial activity, helping reduce atmospheric CO2 concentrations and mitigating the impacts of global warming and climate change. Mangroves can also accumulate heavy metals, help degrade organic pollutants, and exhibit an ecological interception effect against microplastics.

    The wetlands of the nature reserves in Futian and Mai Po not only support rich biodiversity but also symbolize the close cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in ecological conservation.

    Since signing the framework arrangement for the conservation of Shenzhen Bay (Deep Bay) wetlands in January 2023, the two cities have made significant strides in protecting mangroves and wetlands, offering valuable insights into the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

    “The Shenzhen Bay is essentially a shared wetland between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Despite being separated by the Shenzhen River, the ecosystem remains consistent,” said Yang Qiong, a senior engineer at Guangdong Neilingding Futian National Nature Reserve Administration Bureau.

    According to the framework, Shenzhen and Hong Kong will collaborate on ecological baseline and waterbird monitoring, synchronized surveys of black-faced spoonbills and their habitats, protection of inter-tidal mudflat and native mangrove species, capacity building, and experience sharing on environmental education.

    The framework provides an excellent platform for sharing experience in the wetland ecosystem conversation in Shenzhen Bay, said Toby Cheung, nature reserve officer (education) at the AFCD.

    The black-faced spoonbill, a key species in Shenzhen Bay and one of China’s top protected animals, has experienced a notably impressive population recovery. From fewer than 300 individuals in the 1990s to 6,988 counted globally in January 2024, the growth of black-faced spoonbill highlights the importance of Shenzhen Bay’s role in their protection.

    To accurately monitor the numbers and distribution of black-faced spoonbills, Shenzhen and Hong Kong conduct synchronized surveys and smart monitoring. Monthly synchronized data reflects the status of black-faced spoonbill throughout Shenzhen Bay, while annual global synchronized surveys provide a comprehensive understanding of population dynamics.

    High-definition cameras and AI-powered bird recognition technology are used for automated monitoring, particularly at night, reducing disturbance to resting birds while improving monitoring efficiency.

    On Nov. 6, 2024, an agreement was signed to establish the International Mangrove Center in Shenzhen, marking the beginning of deeper cross-border joint protection efforts in wetland conservation. In the future, the two cities aim to build a more comprehensive cross-border joint protection model and extend their cooperation to global mangrove conservation efforts.

    Yang said that Shenzhen and Hong Kong can learn from each other’s advanced experience and practices in wetland protection and implement cross-border joint conservation efforts. She noted that the wetland protection model in Shenzhen Bay, developed through collaboration between the two cities, could serve as a standout example for exchange at the International Mangrove Center.

    Nora Tam, chair professor of environmental science and conservation at Hong Kong Metropolitan University, noted that through the platform of the International Mangrove Center, Shenzhen and Hong Kong can increase exchanges and cooperation in science and technology, resources, management, and information, promoting wetland protection cooperation within the Greater Bay Area and beyond.

    MIL OSI China News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health – Proper funding of primary care nurses key to Kiwis getting into GPs – NZNO

    Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

    Primary care nurses must be paid the same as hospital nurses to fix the chronic staff shortages causing New Zealanders to be turned away from GP clinics, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) says.
    A Victoria University of Wellington study has found 36% of New Zealand’s general practices didn’t take new enrolments in 2024, with workforce shortages cited as the major reason people were being turned away.
    NZNO’s New Zealand College of Primary Health Care Nurses chair Tracey Morgan says the Coalition Government’s focus on the health sector is misdirected.
    “While the Government is focused on the five health targets, they are ignoring the most pressing issue – chronic staff shortages in primary care.
    “When people can’t get into their GP, they can end up at hospital even sicker. This puts more pressure on our already stretched hospitals and the Government’s own targets will be harder to meet,” Tracey Morgan says.
    Primary care nurses are leaving GP clinics to work in hospitals because they get paid 18% more despite having the same skills and qualifications, she says.
    “It is time for the Government to pay primary care nurses the same as their hospital counterparts and introduce a sustainable funding model for the primary care sector.
    “Until this is done, it is everyday New Zealanders who are trying to see a doctor when they are sick who will pay the price.
    “New Health Minister Simeon Brown has said he is ‘an advocate for everyday Kiwis who simply want timely, quality healthcare when they need it’. Here is his solution,” Tracey Morgan says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    January 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Reeves: I am going further and faster to kick start the economy

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Chancellor unveils new plans to deliver the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor that will boost the UK economy by up to £78 billion by 2035.

    • Rachel Reeves will today vow to go ‘further and faster’ to deliver the government’s Plan for Change to kick start economic growth and put more pounds in people’s pockets.
    • Chancellor to unveil plans to unleash the potential of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor that will add up to £78 billion to the UK economy according to industry experts, catalysing growth of UK science and technology.
    • Comes after Chancellor last week announced National Wealth Fund and Office for Investment will take new approaches to spur regional growth across the UK.

    Chancellor Rachel Reeves will today vow to go “further and faster” to kick start the economy, as she unveils new plans to deliver the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor that will boost the UK economy by up to £78 billion by 2035 according to industry experts.

    In a speech in Oxfordshire, the Chancellor will tell regional and business leaders that economic growth is the number one mission of this government and its Plan for Change. She will declare that Britain’s economy has “huge potential” and is at the “forefront of some of the most exciting developments in the world like artificial intelligence and life sciences.”

    She will back the redevelopment of Old Trafford and will review the Green Book – the government’s guidance on appraisal – in order to support decisions on public investment across the country, including outside London and the Southeast.

    The speech comes after the Chancellor last week announced a new approach for the National Wealth Fund (NWF) and the Office for Investment (OfI) to work with local leaders to build pipelines of incoming investment and projects linked to regional growth priorities. This includes the NWF trialling Strategic Partnerships in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, West Midlands, and Glasgow City Region and the OfI piloting an approach in the Liverpool City Region and the North East Combined Authority to connect their regions to central government and industry expertise in order to unlock private investment.

    Reeves will say “low growth is not our destiny, but that economic growth will not come without a fight. Without a government that is on the side of working people. Willing to take the right decisions now to change our country’s course for the better.”

    The Chancellor is expected to say: 

    Britain is a country of huge potential. A country of strong communities, with local businesses at their heart.

    We are the forefront of some of the most exciting developments in the world like artificial intelligence and life sciences. We have great companies based here delivering jobs and investment in Britain.

    And we have fundamental strengths – in our history, our language, and our legal system – to compete in a global economy.

    But for too long, that potential has been held back. For too long, we have accepted low expectations, accepted stagnation and accepted the risk of decline. We can do so much better.

    Low growth is not our destiny. But growth will not come without a fight. Without a government that is on the side of working people. Willing to take the right decisions now to change our country’s course for the better.

    That’s what our Plan for Change is about. That is what drives me as Chancellor. And it is what I’m determined to deliver.

    In her speech the Chancellor will announce:

    • The Environment Agency has lifted its objections to a new development around Cambridge that could unlock 4,500 new homes and associated community spaces such as schools and leisure facilities as well as office and laboratory space in Cambridge City Centre. This was only possible as a result of the government working closely with councils and regulators to find creative solutions to unlock growth and address environmental pressures.

    • That the government has agreed for water companies to unlock £7.9bn investment for the next 5 years to improve our water infrastructure and provide a foundation for growth. This includes nine new reservoirs, such as the new Fens Reservoir serving Cambridge and the Abingdon Reservoir near Oxford.

    • Confirming funding towards better transport links in the region including funding for East-West Rail, with new services between Oxford and Milton Keynes this year and upgrading the A428 to reduce journey times between Milton Keynes and Cambridge.

    • Prioritisation of a new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital as part of the New Hospitals Programme bringing together Cambridge University, Addenbrookes Hospital and Cancer Research UK.

    • Support for the development of new and expanded communities in the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor and a new East Coast Mainline station in Tempsford, to expand the region’s economy.
    • That she welcomes Cambridge University’s proposal for a new large scale innovation hub in the city centre. As the world’s leading science and tech cluster by intensity, Cambridge will play a crucial part in the government’s modern Industrial Strategy.
    • A new Growth Commission for Oxford, inspired by the Cambridge model, to review how best we can unlock and accelerate nationally significant growth for the city and surrounding area.
    • Appointment of Sir Patrick Vallance as Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor Champion to provide senior leadership to ensure the Government’s ambitions are delivered. 

    The Chancellor is expected to say:

    Oxford and Cambridge offer huge economic potential for our nation’s growth prospects.

    Just 66 miles apart these cities are home to two of the best universities in the world two of the most intensive innovation clusters in the world and the area is a hub for globally renowned science and technology firms in life sciences, manufacturing, and AI.

    It has the potential to be Europe’s Silicon Valley. The home of British innovation.

    To grow, these world-class companies need world-class talent who should be able to get to work quickly and find somewhere to live in the local area. But to get from Oxford to Cambridge by train takes two and a half hours.

    There is no way to commute directly from towns like Bedford and Milton Keynes to Cambridge by rail. And there is a lack of affordable housing across the region.

    Oxford and Cambridge are two of the least affordable cities in the UK. In other words, the demand is there but there are far too many supply side constraints on economic growth in the region.

    Designed to take advantage of the region’s unique strengths and potential, the announcements are further evidence of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy in action as it seeks to create the right conditions to increase investment in our leading growth sectors like life sciences, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.

    She will add:

    Taken together, these announcements show that for the first time a government is providing real leadership to deliver this project with a clear strategy for the entire region backed by funding for the housing and infrastructure we so badly need.

    The speech comes after the Chancellor last week announced a package of investment reforms to spur regional growth across the UK. Rachel Reeves set out a new approach for the National Wealth Fund (NWF) and the Office for Investment (OfI) to work with local leaders to build pipelines of incoming investment and projects linked to regional growth priorities. Putting local knowledge and leadership at the forefront, there will be tailored strategies for each region to ensure investment matches local needs and drives sustainable growth. Putting the government’s Plan for Change into action, the Chancellor set out that the goal is to harness growth everywhere to rebuild Britain and usher in a decade of national renewal. Measures included the NWF trialling Strategic Partnerships in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, West Midlands, and Glasgow City Region and the OfI piloting an approach in the Liverpool City Region and the North East Combined Authority to connect their regions to central government and industry expertise in order to unlock private investment.

    Science Minister, Lord Patrick Vallance said: 

    The UK has all the ingredients to replicate the success of Silicon Valley or the Boston Cluster but for too long has been constrained by short termism and a lack of direction.

    This government’s Plan for Change will see an end to that defeatism. I look forward to working with local leaders to fulfil the Oxford-Cambridge corridor’s potential by building on its existing strengths in academia, life sciences, semiconductors, AI and green technology amongst others.

    Together we will build the infrastructure and partnerships needed to join up this region’s academia, investors and business so that we can boost growth, deliver innovations and create new jobs that improve all our lives.

    Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander said:

    Well connected communities are a cornerstone for growth. East West Rail will not only provide better links and lasting benefits to Oxford and Cambridge, but to all the surrounding areas.

    I’m also delighted to announce a brand new station at Tempsford, which will be game changing for the region – allowing a new community and businesses to grow, unlocking faster and smoother access to opportunities, and delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change.

    More details

    • Yesterday, Moderna completed the build for their new vaccine production and R&D site in Harwell, Oxfordshire. They have committed to invest over £1 billion in R&D in the UK, strengthening our position as a global leader in biopharmaceutical innovation.
    • £78 billion added to the UK economy. Source: Public First research for the Oxford-Cambridge Supercluster Board (2025).
    • Dr Andy Williams, Chair of the Oxford-Cambridge Supercluster Board said: 

    The announcements today are extremely positive for the region and for the country. As Chair of the OxCam Supercluster Board, which comprises 45 members across business, academia, and investors, we know that the region has the potential to deliver truly remarkable growth in the coming decade and beyond, as evidenced by the research published this week. Achieving £78 billion in cumulative economic value by 2035 requires us to work dynamically and pro-actively across government, the private sector, educational institutions, and the investment community, to fully harness OxCam’s strengths and address its weaknesses. With the experience and knowledge of Sir Patrick Vallance leading this effort, we are excited by the opportunity to co-design a policy prospectus that will allow the OxCam Growth Corridor to realise its potential as a global centre for science and innovation.

    • Dipesh J. Shah OBE, Chair of the Oxford to Cambridge Partnership said: 

    I welcome the Chancellor’s drive to accelerate growth in the Oxford to Cambridge corridor and her support for strategic investments in enabling infrastructure. The region houses internationally acclaimed clusters of innovation in each of the growth sectors for the nation. Already one of the world’s great science powerhouses, the region’s full potential will rely on connecting its incredible ecosystems of businesses, places and communities. Investments announced today will spur more and will help local leaders to deliver on their ambitious plans for their communities.

    • Professor Alistair Fitt, Chair of Arc Universities Group and Vice-Chancellor Oxford Brookes University said:

    This region hosts a great diversity and scale of universities. Together we offer a wide range of key contributions: globally renowned research brilliance, the powerhouse of skills provision provided by cutting edge teaching, world class knowledge transfer and commercialisation. Our universities, working in close partnership, in alliance with others – particular the private sector – are organised into the Arc Universities Group.  We stand ready for the challenge. We welcome the oversight and experience that the leadership of Sir Patrick Vallance brings to the region, and we look forward to helping deliver the Chancellor’s aspirations for growth.

    • Darius Hughes, UK General Manager for Moderna said:

    We are proud to call Oxfordshire our home with the recent completion of construction of the Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre in Harwell. Today’s announcement demonstrates the government’s commitment to growth and innovation, and we look forward to delivering British-made vaccines to the UK public, advancing cutting-edge research, and strengthening partnerships in this globally significant region.

    • Steve Bates, CEO of the UK Bioindustry Association said:

    The UK is a global leader in biotech innovation and attracts the most venture capital in Europe. New figures we’ve published this week show that biotech is a vibrant growth sector of the UK economy with an exceptional ability to attract global investment. Delivering the infrastructure needed to support the growth at pace – especially in the Oxford Cambridge growth corridor- is key to the success of our sector.

    • The government is continuing to work with local partners to deliver sustainable growth in Cambridge, with the additional homes and infrastructure the city needs. Peter Freeman and the Cambridge Growth Company are building the evidence base for an infrastructure-first growth strategy to realise the full potential of Cambridge and improve lives for residents.
    • The Chancellor today announced that delivery of a new East Coast Mainline station in Tempsford will be accelerated by 3-5 years. The station will link services directly to London, with services in under an hour. It will eventually also be an interchange with the East West Rail station.  
    • The A428 (Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet) scheme will improve journeys between Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge. The scheme will see a new 10-mile dual carriageway delivered, as well as three grade separated junctions, three tier at Black Cat roundabout (A1/A421) and two tier at Cambridge Road (B1428) and Caxton Gibbet (A428/A1198) junctions, respectively. Main construction began in December 2023 and the road is expected to open in 2027.
    • The Environment Agency have lifted their opposition to new development around Cambridge (Waterbeach and the Beehive centre). This unlocks the delivery of 4,500 new homes and associated community spaces such as schools and leisure facilities as well as office and laboratory space in Cambridge City Centre. This demonstrates how the government, councils, and regulators are working together to find solutions that unlock growth and address environmental pressures.
    • The government has agreed water companies’ water resources management plans, including Cambridge Water’s, unlocking a now-confirmed £7.9bn investment in water resources in the next 5 years to provide a foundation for growth and improving our water infrastructure. These plans include nine new reservoirs, including the new Fens Reservoir serving Cambridge to South East Strategic Reservoir Option (Abingdon Reservoir) near Oxford.
    • The Chancellor will announce a new Growth Commission for Oxford, similar to the Cambridge Growth Company to bring together key stakeholders across the city and review how best to tackle the barriers that are constraining development of new housing and infrastructure to accelerate growth in the city.
    • AI Growth Zones, as recommended in the AI Action Plan launched by the PM earlier this month, are designated areas designed to fast-track the development of AI-focused data centres and supporting infrastructure. By concentrating government support on planning and energy, AIGZs aim to attract significant private investment, accelerate the build-out of critical AI infrastructure, and drive local economic regeneration. The first AI Growth Zone will be in Culham, Oxfordshire and the Chancellor today announced a ‘call for expressions of interest’ from regional and local authorities and industry, to inform the next stage of the AI Growth Zones programme. This will help us understand early opportunities and inform the next stage of the programme in what the government regards as a key growth sector in its modern Industrial Strategy.

    • On Monday 20th January the Health Secretary announced the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital is being prioritised for investment as part of wave 1 of the New Hospital Programme. This scheme will improve cancer survival rates by centralising Cambridge University Hospital cancer services under one roof and will further improve the proposition for the life sciences sector in the region, with AstraZeneca and CRUK researchers co-located at the facility, integrating the clinical and research models of cancer services. In doing so it will help create three new research institutes to be integrated with NHS clinical care helping to provide 10 new clinical trials per year and foster increased collaboration between top scientists and clinicians.

    • The Chancellor will welcome Cambridge University’s plans for a new largescale innovation hub in the heart of the city. The Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024 has ranked Cambridge as the world’s leading science and technological cluster by intensity for the third consecutive year.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 28 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 29, 2025
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