Category: Science

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £750,000 to break down barriers and get more young people into aviation jobs
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

Press release

£750,000 to break down barriers and get more young people into aviation jobs

Organisations have until 12 September 2025 to apply for the latest Reach for the Sky Challenge fund.
new funding will break down barriers and help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds into aviation careers

this brings the Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund to over £3 million: helping to secure the pilots, engineers and aviation professionals of the future

this funding will further turbocharge the £20 billion air transport and aerospace sector, supporting its 240,000 UK jobs and delivering growth through our Plan for Change

The next generation of pilots and engineers will benefit from new £750,000 funding to inspire them, support them into jobs and break down barriers to the sector.

Organisations can, from today (20 June 2025), apply for the latest Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund to help deliver aviation outreach programmes targeting disadvantaged young people, including those from ethnic minorities, who may not have considered a career in the sector before.

Now on its fourth round, Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund has already delivered £2.5 million to 40 organisations and has reached over 100,000 young people across the country.

Funding can be used to deliver a range of programmes from career events, mentorship schemes, interactive demonstrations and educational initiatives with schools and universities.

This builds on the government’s promise to secure the long-term success of aviation by growing the workforce of the future. It will also break down the barriers which prevent people from joining the industry, including limited access to education, financial constraints and lack of exposure to career options.

To launch the funding, Aviation Minister Mike Kane visited a careers workshop being held by current funding recipients, The King’s Trust, in a Liverpool youth centre. Young adults, ranging from 16 to 30, met aviation specialists, learning about the job opportunities locally in the industry and how to apply. They also took part in employability workshops focused on developing the practical skills needed for work.

Aviation Minister, Mike Kane, said:

This is exactly what this government is all about – breaking down barriers to opportunity so that everyone, no matter their background, has a decent shot at getting a good career and building a good life.

This funding will enable organisations like The King’s Trust to reach out to disadvantaged kids and support them into careers in aviation.

It also delivers on our promise to help the sector grow, by delivering the pilots, engineers and technicians of the future, boosting jobs and growth across the country as part of the Plan for Change.

Such DfT-funded schemes have already supported over 100,000 young adults across the country to consider joining the industry.

Aspiring aerospace engineer James, 24, from Bath, has struggled to find work since finishing school. Challenges with his mental health impacted his studies and confidence, and he left without the qualifications he wanted.

After completing a King’s Trust ‘Get Ready with Aviation’ programme last November, he successfully applied to study science, engineering and maths at Bristol University and starts in September.

James said:

Before the programme, I felt lost and uncertain about my future. I’d always been interested in space, but didn’t know where to start or what my options were. It felt out of reach. The programme helped me realise that working in the industry is possible and inspired me to apply for university and pursue my dream.

Applications for the fund are now open until 12 September 2025 and applications will be reviewed by a joint panel of  DfT and UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) , which administers the fund on DfT’s behalf.

Sophie Jones, STEM Sponsor at the CAA, said:

As the aviation regulator, we are dedicated to inspiring the next generation who will take the sector forward.

The Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund helps reach people making the first step.

By reaching and empowering diverse communities and creating a lasting impact, we are inspiring young people across the UK to explore exciting careers in aviation.

Julia Beaumont, Chief Technology and Programmes Officer at The King’s Trust, said:

During the past 2 years, this funding has been vital in raising awareness of the job opportunities available for young people in the aviation industry, alongside equipping them with the confidence and skills to pursue these roles.

With a rapidly changing jobs market, supporting this generation to overcome the barriers they face in accessing these opportunities is crucial, not only benefiting them, but also their local communities and economy.

Jeni Trice, CEO and Chief Coding Adventurer at Get with the Program, said:

We’re already so pleased by the fantastic impact of our 2024 Reach for the Sky grant, which is helping us inspire 18,000 children aged 5 to 8 to become the aerospace tech innovators of the future.

We know that higher aspirations, skills development, and social mobility opportunities are all vital for the UK’s future economic success and through this grant funding, we’ve been able to deliver initiatives, such as our ‘Moon Landing Coding Adventure’, which exposes children to exciting STEM careers in aerospace.

Mariya Tarabanovska, Founder of Flight Crowd and DfT Aviation Ambassador, said:

Thanks to this funding, Flight Crowd has connected the next generation of talent with the fast-evolving Future Flight sector — delivering outreach, mentoring, 1:1 career support and industry insights that have empowered over 400 students to shape the skies of tomorrow.

As a 2-time recipient and DfT Aviation Ambassador, I know how vital it is to invest in our future workforce. This is an unmissable opportunity for organisations to create real, lasting impact.

Aviation, Europe and technology media enquiries

Media enquiries 0300 7777 878

Switchboard 0300 330 3000

Share this page

The following links open in a new tab

Share on Facebook (opens in new tab)

Share on Twitter (opens in new tab)

Updates to this page

Published 20 June 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
June 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: In recent years, the strategic partnership between Russia and Cuba has only strengthened

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

20 hours ago

At SPIEF-2025, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko welcomed the participants of the first high-level business dialogue “Russia – Cuba”.

“Our countries are linked by strong, time-tested, friendly ties. President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel have repeatedly emphasized the importance of strategic partnership. In recent years, it has only strengthened.

Diplomatic, cultural and trade-economic relations are actively developing. Mutual trade turnover has grown by more than 13%. Last year alone, we achieved significant results in tourism, the agro-industrial complex and education.

Cuba was visited by 160 thousand Russian tourists, which is a record figure. The number of Cubans who visited Russia also increased by 50%. Deliveries of domestic cars to Cuba have resumed. A project to process Russian wheat at a Cuban flour mill is being successfully implemented. Cooperation in the fields of healthcare, education and science is expanding. Joint projects to exchange experience in medicine have been launched, and a Center for Targeted Training of Specialists for Energy and Electronics is operating.

Our strategic partnership in various areas will continue to develop. Therefore, the St. Petersburg Forum is an excellent platform for strengthening cooperation and finding new points of contact.

I am confident that through joint efforts we will achieve great success for the benefit of the economies of Russia and Cuba. Friends, I wish you fruitful work and productive dialogue on the sidelines of the forum!” the Deputy Prime Minister noted.

During the event, topics of development of the Caribbean state’s tourism industry were raised, including its digitalization, restoration of the sugar industry, achieving Cuba’s food sovereignty and much more.

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 –

June 20, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Despite decades of cost cutting, governments spend more than ever. How can we make sense of this?

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Lovering, Lecturer in International Relations, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

Getty Images

Recent controversies over New Zealand’s Ka Ora, Ka Ako school lunch program have revolved around the apparent shortcomings of the food and its delivery. Stories of inedible meals, scalding packaging and general waste have dominated headlines.

But the story is also a window into the wider debate about the politics of “fiscal responsibility” and austerity politics.

As part of the mission to “cut waste” in government spending, ACT leader and Associate Education Minister David Seymour replaced the school-based scheme with a centralised program run by a catering corporation. The result was said to have delivered “saving for taxpayers” of $130 million – in line with the government’s overall drive for efficiency and cost cutting.

While Finance Minister Nicola Willis dislikes the term “austerity”, her May budget cut the government’s operating allowance in half, to $1.3 billion. This came on top of budget cuts last year of around $4 billion.

Similar policy doctrines have been subscribed to by governments of all political persuasions for decades. As economic growth (and the tax revenue it brings) has been harder for OECD countries to achieve over the past 50 years, governments have looked to make savings.

What is strange, though, is that despite decades of austerity policies reducing welfare and outsourcing public services to the most competitive corporate bidder, state spending has kept increasing.

New Zealand’s public expense as a percentage of GDP increased from 25.9% in 1972 to 35.9% in 2022. And this wasn’t unusual. The OECD as a whole saw an increase from 18.9% in 1972 to 29.9% in 2022.

How can we make sense of so-called austerity when, despite decades of cost cutting, governments spend more than ever?

Austerity and managerialism

In a recent paper, I argued that the politics of austerity is not only about how much governments spend. It is also about who gets to decide how public money is used.

Austerity sounds like it is about spending less, finding efficiencies or living within your means. But ever rising budgets mean it is about more than that.

In particular, austerity is shaped by a centralising system that locks in corporate and bureaucratic control over public expenditure, while locking out people and communities affected by spending decisions. In other words, austerity is about democracy as much as economics.

We typically turn to the ideology of neoliberalism – “Rogernomics” being the New Zealand variant – to explain the history of this. The familiar story is of a revolutionary clique taking over a bloated postwar state, reorienting it towards the global market, and making it run more like a business.

Depending on your political persuasion, the contradiction of austerity’s growing cost reflects either the short-sightedness of market utopianism or the stubbornness of the public sector to reform.

But while the 1980s neoliberal revolution was important, the roots of austerity’s managerial dimension go back further. And it was shaped less by a concern that spending was too high, and more by a desire to centralise control over a growing budget.

Godfather of ‘rational’ budgeting: US Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara at a Vietnam War briefing in 1964.
Getty Images

Many of the managerial techniques that have arrived in the public sector over the austerity years – such as results-based pay, corporate contracting, performance management or evaluation culture – have their origins in a budgetary revolution that took place in the 1960s at the US Department of Defense.

In the early 1960s, Defense Secretary Robert McNamara was frustrated with being nominally in charge of budgeting but having to mediate between the seemingly arbitrary demands of military leaders for more tanks, submarines or missiles.

In response, he called on the RAND Corporation, a US think tank and consultancy, to remake the Defense Department’s budgetary process to give the secretary greater capacity to plan.

The outcome was called the Planning Programming Budgeting System. Its goal was to create a “rational” budget where policy objectives were clearly specified in quantified terms, the possible means to achieve them were fully costed, and performance indicators measuring progress were able to be reviewed.

This approach might have made sense for strategic military purposes. But what happens when you apply the same logic to planning public spending in healthcare, education, housing – or school lunches? The past 50 years have largely been a process of finding out.

What began as a set of techniques to help McNamara get control of military spending gradually diffused into social policy. These ideas travelled from the US and came to be known as the “New Public Management” framework that transformed state sectors all over the world.

What are budgets for?

Dramatic moments of spending cuts – such as the 1991 “Mother of all Budgets” in New Zealand or Elon Musk’s recent DOGE crusade in the US – stand out as major exercises in austerity. And fiscal responsibility is a firmly held conviction within mainstream political thinking.

Nevertheless, government spending has become a major component of OECD economies. If we are to make sense of austerity in this world of permanent mass expenditure, we need a broader idea of what public spending is about.

Budgets are classically thought to do three things. For economists, they are a tool of macroeconomic stabilisation: if growth goes down, “automatic stabilisers” inject public money into the economy to pick it back up.

For social reformers, the budget is a means of progressively redistributing resources through tax and welfare systems. For accountants, the budget is a means of cost accountability: it holds a record of public spending and signals a society’s future commitments.

But budgeting as described here also fulfils a fourth function – managerial planning. Decades of reform have made a significant portion of the state budget a managerial instrument for the pursuit of policy objectives.

From this perspective, underlying common austerity rhetoric about eliminating waste, or achieving value for money, is a deeper political struggle over who decides how that public money is used.

To return to New Zealand’s school lunch program, any savings achieved should not distract from the more significant democratic question of who should plan school lunches – and public spending more broadly.

Should it be the chief executives of corporatised public organisations and outsourced conglomerates managing to KPIs on nutritional values and price per meal, serving the directives of government ministers? Or should it be those cooking, serving and eating the lunches?

Ian Lovering is affiliated with the Tertiary Education Union Te Hautū Kahurangi o Aotearoa.

– ref. Despite decades of cost cutting, governments spend more than ever. How can we make sense of this? – https://theconversation.com/despite-decades-of-cost-cutting-governments-spend-more-than-ever-how-can-we-make-sense-of-this-258902

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 20, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Despite decades of cost cutting, governments spend more than ever. How can we make sense of this?

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Lovering, Lecturer in International Relations, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

Getty Images

Recent controversies over New Zealand’s Ka Ora, Ka Ako school lunch program have revolved around the apparent shortcomings of the food and its delivery. Stories of inedible meals, scalding packaging and general waste have dominated headlines.

But the story is also a window into the wider debate about the politics of “fiscal responsibility” and austerity politics.

As part of the mission to “cut waste” in government spending, ACT leader and Associate Education Minister David Seymour replaced the school-based scheme with a centralised program run by a catering corporation. The result was said to have delivered “saving for taxpayers” of $130 million – in line with the government’s overall drive for efficiency and cost cutting.

While Finance Minister Nicola Willis dislikes the term “austerity”, her May budget cut the government’s operating allowance in half, to $1.3 billion. This came on top of budget cuts last year of around $4 billion.

Similar policy doctrines have been subscribed to by governments of all political persuasions for decades. As economic growth (and the tax revenue it brings) has been harder for OECD countries to achieve over the past 50 years, governments have looked to make savings.

What is strange, though, is that despite decades of austerity policies reducing welfare and outsourcing public services to the most competitive corporate bidder, state spending has kept increasing.

New Zealand’s public expense as a percentage of GDP increased from 25.9% in 1972 to 35.9% in 2022. And this wasn’t unusual. The OECD as a whole saw an increase from 18.9% in 1972 to 29.9% in 2022.

How can we make sense of so-called austerity when, despite decades of cost cutting, governments spend more than ever?

Austerity and managerialism

In a recent paper, I argued that the politics of austerity is not only about how much governments spend. It is also about who gets to decide how public money is used.

Austerity sounds like it is about spending less, finding efficiencies or living within your means. But ever rising budgets mean it is about more than that.

In particular, austerity is shaped by a centralising system that locks in corporate and bureaucratic control over public expenditure, while locking out people and communities affected by spending decisions. In other words, austerity is about democracy as much as economics.

We typically turn to the ideology of neoliberalism – “Rogernomics” being the New Zealand variant – to explain the history of this. The familiar story is of a revolutionary clique taking over a bloated postwar state, reorienting it towards the global market, and making it run more like a business.

Depending on your political persuasion, the contradiction of austerity’s growing cost reflects either the short-sightedness of market utopianism or the stubbornness of the public sector to reform.

But while the 1980s neoliberal revolution was important, the roots of austerity’s managerial dimension go back further. And it was shaped less by a concern that spending was too high, and more by a desire to centralise control over a growing budget.

Godfather of ‘rational’ budgeting: US Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara at a Vietnam War briefing in 1964.
Getty Images

Many of the managerial techniques that have arrived in the public sector over the austerity years – such as results-based pay, corporate contracting, performance management or evaluation culture – have their origins in a budgetary revolution that took place in the 1960s at the US Department of Defense.

In the early 1960s, Defense Secretary Robert McNamara was frustrated with being nominally in charge of budgeting but having to mediate between the seemingly arbitrary demands of military leaders for more tanks, submarines or missiles.

In response, he called on the RAND Corporation, a US think tank and consultancy, to remake the Defense Department’s budgetary process to give the secretary greater capacity to plan.

The outcome was called the Planning Programming Budgeting System. Its goal was to create a “rational” budget where policy objectives were clearly specified in quantified terms, the possible means to achieve them were fully costed, and performance indicators measuring progress were able to be reviewed.

This approach might have made sense for strategic military purposes. But what happens when you apply the same logic to planning public spending in healthcare, education, housing – or school lunches? The past 50 years have largely been a process of finding out.

What began as a set of techniques to help McNamara get control of military spending gradually diffused into social policy. These ideas travelled from the US and came to be known as the “New Public Management” framework that transformed state sectors all over the world.

What are budgets for?

Dramatic moments of spending cuts – such as the 1991 “Mother of all Budgets” in New Zealand or Elon Musk’s recent DOGE crusade in the US – stand out as major exercises in austerity. And fiscal responsibility is a firmly held conviction within mainstream political thinking.

Nevertheless, government spending has become a major component of OECD economies. If we are to make sense of austerity in this world of permanent mass expenditure, we need a broader idea of what public spending is about.

Budgets are classically thought to do three things. For economists, they are a tool of macroeconomic stabilisation: if growth goes down, “automatic stabilisers” inject public money into the economy to pick it back up.

For social reformers, the budget is a means of progressively redistributing resources through tax and welfare systems. For accountants, the budget is a means of cost accountability: it holds a record of public spending and signals a society’s future commitments.

But budgeting as described here also fulfils a fourth function – managerial planning. Decades of reform have made a significant portion of the state budget a managerial instrument for the pursuit of policy objectives.

From this perspective, underlying common austerity rhetoric about eliminating waste, or achieving value for money, is a deeper political struggle over who decides how that public money is used.

To return to New Zealand’s school lunch program, any savings achieved should not distract from the more significant democratic question of who should plan school lunches – and public spending more broadly.

Should it be the chief executives of corporatised public organisations and outsourced conglomerates managing to KPIs on nutritional values and price per meal, serving the directives of government ministers? Or should it be those cooking, serving and eating the lunches?

Ian Lovering is affiliated with the Tertiary Education Union Te Hautū Kahurangi o Aotearoa.

– ref. Despite decades of cost cutting, governments spend more than ever. How can we make sense of this? – https://theconversation.com/despite-decades-of-cost-cutting-governments-spend-more-than-ever-how-can-we-make-sense-of-this-258902

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 20, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Bribe or community benefit? Sweeteners smoothing the way for renewables projects need to be done right
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hugh Breakey, Deputy Director, Institute for Ethics, Governance & Law, Griffith University

Louise Beaumont/Getty

When a renewable energy developer announces a new project, there’s one big question mark – how will nearby communities react?

Community pushback has scuttled many renewables projects. Sometimes, communities are angry landowners hosting infrastructure will be paid, but neighbours and those further afield may not.

As a result, renewable projects often involve schemes where the developer gives funding or resources to local community initiatives.

Australia has dozens of these schemes, with many more to come as the clean energy transition accelerates. The Clean Energy Council estimates developers contribute about A$1,050 to communities for every megawatt of wind and about $850 for solar.

The problem is, research shows poorly designed schemes can look a lot like bribery. Developers dish out money to gain community acceptance. Our new research points to a clear solution: design these schemes carefully.

How do these schemes work?

Renewable developers usually structure community-benefit schemes in one of three ways:
- community funds, where a developer offers a one-time or ongoing payment for local infrastructure such as roads, services or community projects
- in-kind benefits, such as investment in local sports fields or tourism initiatives
- local ownership models, such as offering community members preferential access to shares in the company or a community co-ownership model of the project.
In Australia, a number of community schemes are already established or planned.

More are on their way. The Queensland government has introduced laws which require wind and solar farm developers enter into community benefit agreements.

Worldwide, offshore wind farms have for many years involved community benefit sharing. Australia is very likely to follow suit as this industry emerges.

Developers will sometimes set up more targeted neighbour payment schemes where funding is given to nearby landowners.

What are they for?

There are three reasons why benefit sharing can be a good idea overall. They are:

1. Impact on locals: solar farms take up large areas of land, while wind farms on land or sea draw the eye and can compete with other uses of the space. Community benefit schemes can help counterbalance these impacts.

2. Benefits are centralised: solar, wind and battery developments generate significant economic value. But this is largely captured by the developer. Benefit schemes can make residents feel the deal is fairer.

3. Acceptance: change of any kind is often hard. Offering incentives to towns and communities can make the change easier.

Payments to communities hosting renewable projects can look like bribes if not done carefully.
myphotobank.com.au/Shutterstock

Straying into bribery?

The definition of a bribe is a benefit which influences or intends to influence a person to violate their role-based obligations. Offering money to a police officer to avoid losing your licence would count as a bribe.

Community benefit sharing isn’t a bribe in a strict legal sense. But the payments can resemble bribes if they influence community members to accept the new development. Improving community acceptance is often a central goal of such schemes.

The accusation is common. In the United Kingdom, researchers observe these schemes are regularly seen:

as an attempt by local developers to ‘bribe’ local communities to ‘buy’ support for their wind farm development.

Community members may decry a scheme as a “paltry bribe” or “shut up candy”. Some insist their “principles are not for sale”.

Developers recognise this too. As one says:

you don’t just turn up in a community and say, don’t worry, we’ll buy you a new rugby pitch […] because it really does look like you’re trying to buy them off.

But do local communities have obligations which accepting a renewables project might violate?

As part of a democracy, residents have civic obligations to make public-spirited decisions, evaluating policies and developments based not on self-interest but in a principled way.

This is why it’s illegal to pay someone to vote for a particular candidate in an election, for instance.

Offering money for community initiatives isn’t intrinsically wrong. As a community objector to a wind farm proposal put it:

Of course it is a relevant planning consideration if a wind power company is offering to pour significant sums of money into a community for the life of a wind farm […] Why should that not be recognised as a good thing?

But any economic boon to a town must be considered alongside other important concerns, rather than wiping them away.

If these schemes operate by influencing citizens to ignore their civic duties, that’s intrinsically wrong. Worse still, it risks a backlash from offended community members.

In the worst cases, benefit sharing operates as a pay-off, where uneasy communities are given money to reduce their resistance.

Offshore wind farm developers overseas often set up community benefit schemes.
Tupungato/Shutterstock

Achieving fairness, avoiding bribery

The solutions are straightfoward: design these schemes strategically so they are fair and avoid eroding civic obligations. Here are four aims:

1. Minimise self-interest. Schemes should avoid large up-front payments and focus on in-kind benefits.

2. Respect the community. Employ and contract local staff, keep the community informed and respond transparently to complaints.

3. Encourage community involvement. Big renewable projects should stack up on energy, environmental, economic and community grounds. Robust and genuine community consultation should be used when designing any benefit scheme.

4. Ensure integrity. Development and implementation of any scheme should be genuine, transparent and accountable.

Getting it right

As climate change intensifies, Australia’s clean energy transition has a clear moral urgency. But this cannot be done by steamrolling local residents or buying them off with cash for community projects.

When community benefit schemes are sensibly designed with local input, it will boost both climate action and civic legitimacy.

Hugh Breakey receives funding from the Blue Economy CRC. This research was funded through the project ‘Pre-conditions for the Development of Offshore Wind Energy in Australia’ by the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre.

Charles Sampford receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the Professional Services Council and the Blue Economy CRC.

Larelle Bossi 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. Bribe or community benefit? Sweeteners smoothing the way for renewables projects need to be done right – https://theconversation.com/bribe-or-community-benefit-sweeteners-smoothing-the-way-for-renewables-projects-need-to-be-done-right-258903
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
June 20, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Bribe or community benefit? Sweeteners smoothing the way for renewables projects need to be done right
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hugh Breakey, Deputy Director, Institute for Ethics, Governance & Law, Griffith University

Louise Beaumont/Getty

When a renewable energy developer announces a new project, there’s one big question mark – how will nearby communities react?

Community pushback has scuttled many renewables projects. Sometimes, communities are angry landowners hosting infrastructure will be paid, but neighbours and those further afield may not.

As a result, renewable projects often involve schemes where the developer gives funding or resources to local community initiatives.

Australia has dozens of these schemes, with many more to come as the clean energy transition accelerates. The Clean Energy Council estimates developers contribute about A$1,050 to communities for every megawatt of wind and about $850 for solar.

The problem is, research shows poorly designed schemes can look a lot like bribery. Developers dish out money to gain community acceptance. Our new research points to a clear solution: design these schemes carefully.

How do these schemes work?

Renewable developers usually structure community-benefit schemes in one of three ways:
- community funds, where a developer offers a one-time or ongoing payment for local infrastructure such as roads, services or community projects
- in-kind benefits, such as investment in local sports fields or tourism initiatives
- local ownership models, such as offering community members preferential access to shares in the company or a community co-ownership model of the project.
In Australia, a number of community schemes are already established or planned.

More are on their way. The Queensland government has introduced laws which require wind and solar farm developers enter into community benefit agreements.

Worldwide, offshore wind farms have for many years involved community benefit sharing. Australia is very likely to follow suit as this industry emerges.

Developers will sometimes set up more targeted neighbour payment schemes where funding is given to nearby landowners.

What are they for?

There are three reasons why benefit sharing can be a good idea overall. They are:

1. Impact on locals: solar farms take up large areas of land, while wind farms on land or sea draw the eye and can compete with other uses of the space. Community benefit schemes can help counterbalance these impacts.

2. Benefits are centralised: solar, wind and battery developments generate significant economic value. But this is largely captured by the developer. Benefit schemes can make residents feel the deal is fairer.

3. Acceptance: change of any kind is often hard. Offering incentives to towns and communities can make the change easier.

Payments to communities hosting renewable projects can look like bribes if not done carefully.
myphotobank.com.au/Shutterstock

Straying into bribery?

The definition of a bribe is a benefit which influences or intends to influence a person to violate their role-based obligations. Offering money to a police officer to avoid losing your licence would count as a bribe.

Community benefit sharing isn’t a bribe in a strict legal sense. But the payments can resemble bribes if they influence community members to accept the new development. Improving community acceptance is often a central goal of such schemes.

The accusation is common. In the United Kingdom, researchers observe these schemes are regularly seen:

as an attempt by local developers to ‘bribe’ local communities to ‘buy’ support for their wind farm development.

Community members may decry a scheme as a “paltry bribe” or “shut up candy”. Some insist their “principles are not for sale”.

Developers recognise this too. As one says:

you don’t just turn up in a community and say, don’t worry, we’ll buy you a new rugby pitch […] because it really does look like you’re trying to buy them off.

But do local communities have obligations which accepting a renewables project might violate?

As part of a democracy, residents have civic obligations to make public-spirited decisions, evaluating policies and developments based not on self-interest but in a principled way.

This is why it’s illegal to pay someone to vote for a particular candidate in an election, for instance.

Offering money for community initiatives isn’t intrinsically wrong. As a community objector to a wind farm proposal put it:

Of course it is a relevant planning consideration if a wind power company is offering to pour significant sums of money into a community for the life of a wind farm […] Why should that not be recognised as a good thing?

But any economic boon to a town must be considered alongside other important concerns, rather than wiping them away.

If these schemes operate by influencing citizens to ignore their civic duties, that’s intrinsically wrong. Worse still, it risks a backlash from offended community members.

In the worst cases, benefit sharing operates as a pay-off, where uneasy communities are given money to reduce their resistance.

Offshore wind farm developers overseas often set up community benefit schemes.
Tupungato/Shutterstock

Achieving fairness, avoiding bribery

The solutions are straightfoward: design these schemes strategically so they are fair and avoid eroding civic obligations. Here are four aims:

1. Minimise self-interest. Schemes should avoid large up-front payments and focus on in-kind benefits.

2. Respect the community. Employ and contract local staff, keep the community informed and respond transparently to complaints.

3. Encourage community involvement. Big renewable projects should stack up on energy, environmental, economic and community grounds. Robust and genuine community consultation should be used when designing any benefit scheme.

4. Ensure integrity. Development and implementation of any scheme should be genuine, transparent and accountable.

Getting it right

As climate change intensifies, Australia’s clean energy transition has a clear moral urgency. But this cannot be done by steamrolling local residents or buying them off with cash for community projects.

When community benefit schemes are sensibly designed with local input, it will boost both climate action and civic legitimacy.

Hugh Breakey receives funding from the Blue Economy CRC. This research was funded through the project ‘Pre-conditions for the Development of Offshore Wind Energy in Australia’ by the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre.

Charles Sampford receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the Professional Services Council and the Blue Economy CRC.

Larelle Bossi 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. Bribe or community benefit? Sweeteners smoothing the way for renewables projects need to be done right – https://theconversation.com/bribe-or-community-benefit-sweeteners-smoothing-the-way-for-renewables-projects-need-to-be-done-right-258903
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
June 20, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: New cases of meningococcal disease have been detected. What are the symptoms? And who can get vaccinated?

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Archana Koirala, Paediatrician and Infectious Diseases Specialist; Clinical Researcher, University of Sydney

Two Tasmanian women have been hospitalised with invasive meningococcal disease, bringing the number of cases nationally so far this year to 48. Health authorities are urging people to watch for symptoms and to check if they’re eligible for vaccination.

Invasive meningococcal disease is a rare but life-threatening illness caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. Invasive means the infection spreads rapidly through the blood and into your organs.

Early emergency medical care is important for survival and to reduce the chance of long-term complications. Even in those who survive, up to 30% suffer permanent cognitive, physical or psychological disabilities.

Thankfully, vaccines are available to protect against it.

How do you catch it?

Around one in ten people carry the meningococcal bacteria in their nose or throats.

The bacteria does not easily pass from person to person by breathing the same air or sharing drinks or food – and the bacteria do not survive well outside the human body.

It is spread through close and prolonged contact of oral and respiratory secretions, such as saliva, from others who live in your household or through deep, intimate kissing.

There is no way to know if you carry the bacteria, as carriers don’t have symptoms.

Who is most at risk?

Meningococcal disease can affect anyone.

But infants under one, adolescents and young adults aged 15–25 years, and people without a spleen or who are immunosuppressed are at a higher risk of developing invasive disease.

Meningococcal disease notifications by age and sex

Babies and teens are more likely to contract the disease than other age groups.
National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System

Although sensitive to common antibiotics such as penicillin, the meningococcal bacteria can cause severe infection and death in a matter of hours. The difficulty in picking up meningococcal disease early is that, early on, it can mimic common viral illnesses that people would recover from without any treatment.

Most people experience a sudden onset of fever, difficulty looking at light and/or a rash. The rash is non-blanching, meaning it doesn’t fade when you apply pressure to it. But early in the illness, it can start out as a blanching rash that fades with pressure.

Young infants may also become irritable, have difficulty waking up, or refuse to feed.

The bacteria usually causes a meningitis – inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord – or a bloodstream infection, called septicemia or sepsis. But sometimes it can cause an infection of the bone, lungs (pneumonia) or eyes (conjunctivitis).

Protection against different strains

There are 13 types of meningococcal bacteria that cause invasive disease, but types A, B, C, W and Y cause the most illness.

The rapid disease progression occurs because the bacteria has a sugar capsule which allows it to evade the immune system.

But each of the 13 types has its own unique capsule. So immunity to one strain does not offer immunity to other strains.

Currently, two types of vaccines are available: a vaccine that protects against meningococcal A, C, W and Y (MenACWY); and another vaccine that protects against meningococcal B.

The vaccines are manufactured differently and therefore have different mechanisms of protection.

The MenACWY vaccine uses parts of the sugar capsule within each of the bacteria and joins them to a protein. This is called a “conjugate vaccine” and allows for a better immune response, especially in young infants.

The MenB vaccine does not contain the sugar capsule but includes four other proteins from the surface of the meningococcal B bacteria.

Both vaccines are registered for all people aged six months and older, and are safe for immunocompromised people.

The vaccines can be given from six months.
lavizzara/Shutterstock

MenACWY vaccine

The MenACWY vaccine is funded under the National Immunisation Program, and given for free, to all infants aged 12 months. There is also a free catch-up program for teens in Year 10.

The MenACWY vaccine protects against disease and also decreases the bacteria load in the throat, reducing the likelihood of transmission to others.

MenB vaccine

The MenB vaccine recommended for all infants aged six weeks or more. But it’s only available for free to infants in South Australia and Queensland, through state-based programs, and to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants nationally, via the National Immunisation Program.

Parents of non-Indigenous infants in other states will pay around A$220–270 for two doses of the MenB vaccine.

The MenB vaccine is highly protective against invasive disease for the person who receives the vaccine. But it does not eradicate the bacteria from the throat, nor does it decrease spread of the bacteria to others.

Reducing meningococcal disease

Other people who are at high risk of meningococcal exposure are also recommended for vaccination: people without a functional spleen, those with certain immunocompromising conditions, certain travellers and some lab workers.

Since the rollout of the conjugate MenC vaccine in 2001 and the MenACWY in 2018, rates of invasive meningococcal disease have dropped dramatically, from 684 cases in 2002, to 136 cases in 2024. The most common strain to cause disease is now meningococcal B.

Meningococcal notifications by jurisdiction

Vaccination has reduced case numbers.
National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System

Another reason for adults to get vaccinated

The MenB vaccine has also been shown to lower rates of another bacterial infection, gonorrhoea, by 33–47%. This is because the gonococcal bacteria is closely related and shares similar surface protein structures to meningococcal bacteria.

In Australia, rates of gonorrhea have doubled over the past ten years , with higher rates among young Aboriginal and Torres Islander people.

The Northern Territory began offering the vaccine to people aged 14 to 19 last year as part of a research trial.

Further research is underway in Australia to better understand the meningococcal bacteria, its capability to evade the immune system and the cross protection against gonorrhoea.

Archana Koirala has worked on research funded by the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care and NSW health. She is the chair of the Vaccination Special Interest Group through the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases.

– ref. New cases of meningococcal disease have been detected. What are the symptoms? And who can get vaccinated? – https://theconversation.com/new-cases-of-meningococcal-disease-have-been-detected-what-are-the-symptoms-and-who-can-get-vaccinated-259049

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 20, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: New cases of meningococcal disease have been detected. What are the symptoms? And who can get vaccinated?

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Archana Koirala, Paediatrician and Infectious Diseases Specialist; Clinical Researcher, University of Sydney

Two Tasmanian women have been hospitalised with invasive meningococcal disease, bringing the number of cases nationally so far this year to 48. Health authorities are urging people to watch for symptoms and to check if they’re eligible for vaccination.

Invasive meningococcal disease is a rare but life-threatening illness caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. Invasive means the infection spreads rapidly through the blood and into your organs.

Early emergency medical care is important for survival and to reduce the chance of long-term complications. Even in those who survive, up to 30% suffer permanent cognitive, physical or psychological disabilities.

Thankfully, vaccines are available to protect against it.

How do you catch it?

Around one in ten people carry the meningococcal bacteria in their nose or throats.

The bacteria does not easily pass from person to person by breathing the same air or sharing drinks or food – and the bacteria do not survive well outside the human body.

It is spread through close and prolonged contact of oral and respiratory secretions, such as saliva, from others who live in your household or through deep, intimate kissing.

There is no way to know if you carry the bacteria, as carriers don’t have symptoms.

Who is most at risk?

Meningococcal disease can affect anyone.

But infants under one, adolescents and young adults aged 15–25 years, and people without a spleen or who are immunosuppressed are at a higher risk of developing invasive disease.

Meningococcal disease notifications by age and sex

Babies and teens are more likely to contract the disease than other age groups.
National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System

Although sensitive to common antibiotics such as penicillin, the meningococcal bacteria can cause severe infection and death in a matter of hours. The difficulty in picking up meningococcal disease early is that, early on, it can mimic common viral illnesses that people would recover from without any treatment.

Most people experience a sudden onset of fever, difficulty looking at light and/or a rash. The rash is non-blanching, meaning it doesn’t fade when you apply pressure to it. But early in the illness, it can start out as a blanching rash that fades with pressure.

Young infants may also become irritable, have difficulty waking up, or refuse to feed.

The bacteria usually causes a meningitis – inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord – or a bloodstream infection, called septicemia or sepsis. But sometimes it can cause an infection of the bone, lungs (pneumonia) or eyes (conjunctivitis).

Protection against different strains

There are 13 types of meningococcal bacteria that cause invasive disease, but types A, B, C, W and Y cause the most illness.

The rapid disease progression occurs because the bacteria has a sugar capsule which allows it to evade the immune system.

But each of the 13 types has its own unique capsule. So immunity to one strain does not offer immunity to other strains.

Currently, two types of vaccines are available: a vaccine that protects against meningococcal A, C, W and Y (MenACWY); and another vaccine that protects against meningococcal B.

The vaccines are manufactured differently and therefore have different mechanisms of protection.

The MenACWY vaccine uses parts of the sugar capsule within each of the bacteria and joins them to a protein. This is called a “conjugate vaccine” and allows for a better immune response, especially in young infants.

The MenB vaccine does not contain the sugar capsule but includes four other proteins from the surface of the meningococcal B bacteria.

Both vaccines are registered for all people aged six months and older, and are safe for immunocompromised people.

The vaccines can be given from six months.
lavizzara/Shutterstock

MenACWY vaccine

The MenACWY vaccine is funded under the National Immunisation Program, and given for free, to all infants aged 12 months. There is also a free catch-up program for teens in Year 10.

The MenACWY vaccine protects against disease and also decreases the bacteria load in the throat, reducing the likelihood of transmission to others.

MenB vaccine

The MenB vaccine recommended for all infants aged six weeks or more. But it’s only available for free to infants in South Australia and Queensland, through state-based programs, and to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants nationally, via the National Immunisation Program.

Parents of non-Indigenous infants in other states will pay around A$220–270 for two doses of the MenB vaccine.

The MenB vaccine is highly protective against invasive disease for the person who receives the vaccine. But it does not eradicate the bacteria from the throat, nor does it decrease spread of the bacteria to others.

Reducing meningococcal disease

Other people who are at high risk of meningococcal exposure are also recommended for vaccination: people without a functional spleen, those with certain immunocompromising conditions, certain travellers and some lab workers.

Since the rollout of the conjugate MenC vaccine in 2001 and the MenACWY in 2018, rates of invasive meningococcal disease have dropped dramatically, from 684 cases in 2002, to 136 cases in 2024. The most common strain to cause disease is now meningococcal B.

Meningococcal notifications by jurisdiction

Vaccination has reduced case numbers.
National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System

Another reason for adults to get vaccinated

The MenB vaccine has also been shown to lower rates of another bacterial infection, gonorrhoea, by 33–47%. This is because the gonococcal bacteria is closely related and shares similar surface protein structures to meningococcal bacteria.

In Australia, rates of gonorrhea have doubled over the past ten years , with higher rates among young Aboriginal and Torres Islander people.

The Northern Territory began offering the vaccine to people aged 14 to 19 last year as part of a research trial.

Further research is underway in Australia to better understand the meningococcal bacteria, its capability to evade the immune system and the cross protection against gonorrhoea.

Archana Koirala has worked on research funded by the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care and NSW health. She is the chair of the Vaccination Special Interest Group through the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases.

– ref. New cases of meningococcal disease have been detected. What are the symptoms? And who can get vaccinated? – https://theconversation.com/new-cases-of-meningococcal-disease-have-been-detected-what-are-the-symptoms-and-who-can-get-vaccinated-259049

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 20, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Commend Thailand on Gender Inclusive Climate Action, Ask about Combatting Patriarchal Stereotypes and Ensuring Education for Marginalised Girls

Source: United Nations – Geneva

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today concluded its consideration of the eighth periodic report of Thailand, with Committee Experts commending Thailand on its climate change master plan, which was gender inclusive, while raising questions about how the State was combatting patriarchal stereotypes and ensuring the right to education for marginalised girls.

A Committee Expert congratulated Thailand on the steps being taken to revise the climate change master plan which focused on gender and social inclusive climate action, including climate finance, adaptation and mitigation, recognising that women and girls experienced disproportionately greater loss and damage from the impacts of climate change.

Another Expert said Thailand remained a patriarchal society where women were expected to be caregivers while men were seen as leaders, which was reinforced in the media and other avenues. What programmes were in place to dismantle harmful gender stereotypes? Were there programmes to engage men and boys in efforts to transform discriminatory social norms? What mechanisms were in place to ensure that women from all communities could access justice and public services without stigma or discrimination?

A Committee Expert said the Committee was concerned about the high dropout rates among stateless and refugee girls and the fact that Patani Malay girls were discouraged from continuing their education due to early marriage and lack of education in Malay. Were there policies specifically targeted for expanding education to minorities? What steps were being taken to ensure the safety of girls living in the Southern Border Provinces?

The delegation said Thailand was aware that gender stereotypes were ingrained, and this would take a lifetime effort to overcome. Currently, changing the mindset of the people was difficult. It was important to raise awareness and re-learn what was appropriate. The Department of Women’s Affairs coordinated with academics to work with young people on a project to identify sexist language in textbooks in schools. A guidebook had been created and distributed to teachers to provide guidance on how to combat harmful gender stereotypes in schools.

The delegation said there were mechanisms in place to ensure women from marginalised groups received education. There were schools established in the Southern Border Provinces, with border patrol officers teaching the students. The State provided safety in all areas to prevent threats to students. A religious school, supported by the Government, was located in the Southern Border Provinces, providing additional opportunities for students.

Introducing the report, Ramrung Worawat, Director-General of the Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand, head of the delegation, said the act amending the Civil and Commercial Code (no. 24) or the equal marriage act came into force in January 2025. The act raised the minimum marriage age from 17 to 18 years old, adopted gender-neutral terms on marriage, permitted child adoption by same-sex couples, and ensured inheritance rights to them. Recent results of the general election in 2023 reflected a notable increase in the number of women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex individuals elected to leadership positions. The current cabinet included eight females at ministerial rank, the highest number in Thailand’s political history.

In closing remarks, Ms. Worawat said the discussion with the Committee had been very fruitful. The State would aim to take forward the Committee’s recommendations, with a will to transform them into concrete actions.

In her closing remarks, Nahla Haidar, Committee Chair, thanked Thailand for the constructive dialogue which had provided further insight into the situation of women and girls in the country.

The delegation of Thailand was comprised of representatives of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security; the Ministry of Public Health; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Administrative Centre of the Southern Border Provinces; the Royal Thai Police; the Office of the Attorney General; the National Institute of Development Administration; and the Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s ninety-first session is being held from 16 June to 4 July. All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage. Meeting summary releases can be found here. The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

The Committee will next meet at 10 a.m. on Friday, 20 June to begin its consideration of the eighth periodic report of Ireland (CEDAW/C/IRL/8).

Report

The Committee has before it the eighth periodic report of Thailand (CEDAW/C/THA/8).

Presentation of Report

RAMRUNG WORAWAT, Director-General of the Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand, head of the delegation, said women made up just over half of Thailand’s population and almost 70 per cent of those were women between 15 to 59 years of age. Since the submission of Thailand’s last report in 2017, Thailand had been revising and drafting laws to further promote women’s rights, gender equality, and the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.

The act amending the Civil and Commercial Code (no. 24) or the equal marriage act came into force in January 2025. The act raised the minimum marriage age from 17 to 18 years old, adopted gender-neutral terms on marriage, permitted child adoption by same-sex couples, and ensured inheritance rights to them. In addition, the gender equality act was being reviewed to ensure it further aligned with international standards.

The draft anti-discrimination act would strengthen the legal basis for the elimination of discrimination on all grounds, including sex and gender, and address situations of multiple and intersecting discrimination. Furthermore, the draft act on the protection and promotion of the way of life of ethnic groups was being considered by the Parliament. The act focused on eliminating discrimination and promoting equality based on cultural diversity. The plan of action on women’s development (2023-2027) was developed to ensure women’s participation in socio-economic development and to promote their leadership in public spaces.

The National Women’s Development Policy and Strategy Committee and the Committee for the Promotion of Gender Equality were responsible for setting and driving gender equality policies. A substantial budget was allocated for the main agencies, with an additional budget allocated to assist specific groups of women and advance gender equality in an integrated manner. A strategic plan for the promotion and protection of children and youth in the use of online media was being developed, and a coordinating centre, Child Online Protection Action Thailand, was established to lead collaborative efforts with partners.

Thailand continued its policy of inclusive education and provided 15 years of free education for all children without discrimination. The country supported royal-initiated “Phiengluang Schools” for special target groups in border or underserved areas with limited access to rights and social welfare. An online teacher training programme aimed to help schools and teachers plan inclusive sexuality education.

Economic empowerment measures had been introduced to protect both formal and informal female workers. The Women’s Role Development Fund was established to enable women to pursue careers and income opportunities, improve women’s access to financial resources, and expand childcare services for children under three years old to promote equality in family responsibilities. The child support grant programme and the state welfare card programme provided monthly allowances and financial assistance to support low-income households.

Women were increasingly taking part in politics at the national and local levels and within the public administration. Recent results of the general election in 2023 reflected a notable increase in the number of women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex individuals elected to leadership positions. The current cabinet included eight females at ministerial rank, the highest number in Thailand’s political history. There were currently 15 female provincial governors, including the appointment of the first Muslim female governor of Pattani Province in 2022.

The Thai Government promoted universal access to public health services and implemented measures to ensure that vulnerable women, including informal female workers and registered migrant women, could access healthcare. All women and girls were guaranteed equal access to health services under the Universal Health Coverage Scheme. The most challenging task for Thai Government agencies was advanced and disaggregated data collection. Enhanced data collection would enable Thailand to better implement policies and undertake targeted actions to empower specific groups.

In October 2024, the Cabinet approved guidelines to accelerate the resolution of nationality and legal status issues for long-term migrants and their children born in Thailand, to ensure the legal recognition and integration of stateless individuals who had lived in the Kingdom for extended periods, as well as their Thai-born descendants.

The draft policy on administration and development in the Southern Border Provinces (2025-2027) was developed to support vulnerable groups, strengthen family and community roles in problem-solving, and develop networks of women and youth to foster peace at the family and community level. The Coordination Centre for Women and Children in the Southern Border Provinces was established as a joint mechanism between the Government and civil society, serving as a platform to coordinate and mobilise resources, receive complaints, and resolve issues involving women and children.

Thailand had developed a national adaptation plan for climate change, with a strong emphasis on gender dimensions at every stage, from planning and decision-making to community participation. The country was committed to promoting gender equality and to upholding and protecting the human rights of women, girls, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex individuals, and those facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. Thailand’s progress in gender equality was not just a matter of fulfilling international obligations, but a national priority.

Statement by the National Human Rights Institution

PORNPRAPAI GANJANARINTR, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand, said while the Thai Government had made efforts to promote gender equality, many women, especially those from vulnerable groups, continued to face serious barriers in accessing their basic rights. Women with disabilities faced violence and barriers in accessing the justice system, were subjected to forced sterilisation and abortion, and were excluded from decision-making processes. Ethnic women remained without legal status and were not protected under the law. Women in detention faced overcrowding, with 46 per cent of women’s detention facilities in Thailand exceeding their capacity, leading to poor hygiene, limited space, and mental health issues.

These cases illustrated that many women were still blocked from accessing basic rights due to deep-rooted discrimination. The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand believed that the structural reform needed action in three key areas: inclusive participation in policymaking bodies at different levels; legal reform and proper enforcement; and the empowerment of women. It was vital to ensure that every woman, regardless of her background, could fully enjoy her rights.

Questions by a Committee Expert

RANGITA DE SILVA DE ALWIS, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur,

signalled two significant law reform initiatives. Thailand was the first country in Southeast Asia to guarantee same sex marriage in 2024. The marriage equality bill had helped bend the arch of justice toward all. The organic act on anti-corruption (No. 2) included provisions to protect those who reported corruption.

The Committee looked forward to the expedited revision of the domestic violence law and the new sex worker protection law. Thailand’s national artificial intelligence strategy must remain vigilant as this was an important new frontier for gender justice and women’s leadership. Thailand was encouraged to cite the Convention as an authoritative tool in all jurisprudence.

How would Thailand broaden the civic space for female journalists and female human rights defenders? How did Thailand provide protection from arbitrary arrest for women human rights defenders? How were they ensured the right to a fair trial? How were they protected from online crimes and cyber harassment? How did the Safe Internet Coalition address hate speech and tech-facilitated gender-based violence? How was free speech for women guaranteed in politics?

Despite the de facto moratorium on the death penalty, Thailand had one of the largest proportions of women on death row, predominately for drug-related offenses. Many of these women had faced numerous stressors throughout their lives, including mental health problems. Would Thailand consider reviewing mandatory sentencing guidelines so that specific exculpatory or mitigatory factors such as homelessness and metal health were considered?

Thailand should be lauded for its women, peace and security plan, which addressed both traditional and non-traditional security challenges. Not citing the Convention in relation to climate change was a missed opportunity. How were Muslim women, indigenous women, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex women engaged as peacemakers? Would cyber security be considered in the women, peace and security plan?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said pregnant women were entitled to paid maternity leave, to protect the health and safety of mothers and children. This was considered a form of positive discrimination. Male, female and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex inmates were separated in prisons to ensure their rights. Thailand recognised the important role of women human rights defenders, and they had been identified as a key target group under the national human rights plan. The plan included special provisions for developing laws and mechanisms to protect this group. Thailand had been forced to strengthen its legislative framework to create a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders. The anti-corruption act aimed to protect whistleblowers reporting corruption or public misconduct.

A course had been developed to promote internet awareness among children, youth and older persons. In Thailand, most victims of online scams were older persons. The implementation of the training was carried out in collaboration with public and private companies, academics and non-governmental organizations. The training fostered skills to ensure safe and secure internet use. Work to strengthen child and youth protection mechanisms on online media was driven by child protection committees and child protection centres.

The Department of Corrections was fully committed to ensuring the protection of the rights of all women in custody. Special attention was given to the emotional wellbeing of women prisoners and their accompanying children. Women were subject to non-invasive scans to avoid invasive strip searches. Women prisoners underwent initial screenings by medical staff upon entry, and were ensured that their specific health needs were fulfilled. Counselling services were provided to female inmates at least one month, and those who required further psychological support were identified.

Female death row inmates benefitted from the right to communicate with their family. For pregnant women facing capital punishment, the sentence would be suspended until three years after the child was born. The human rights of female death row inmates were ensured, while also upholding legal and ethical safeguards.

Thailand had participated in many United Nations peacekeeping operations for several decades, and believed female peacekeepers helped foster trust within the communities. The State was committed to providing more female peacekeepers. Thailand was finalising the national action plan on women, peace and security for 2024 to 2027, which would focus on women affected by conflict-affected situations. It was expected to be launched by the end of 2025. Gender initiatives had been integrated into several aspects of the peacekeeping module, including training courses.

The Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre had established the subdistrict Peace Councils in 317 subdistricts. Thailand’s climate change response aimed to allocate a budget for funding assistance to support women engaging in climate change and revise laws which created barriers for women’s participation.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert recognised important advances, including the marriage equality act, and the adoption of a national strategy on this issue. What measures had the State party adopted to ensure the territorialised adoption of gender policies in areas affected by armed conflict? What measures had been taken to harmonise religious and customary laws with State legislation and gender equality? How was it ensured that data collected reflected the multiple inequalities by marginalised groups?

Another Expert said the Committee was happy to note that the Government had improved relevant policies and regulations and formulated a national action plan for women’s development. During the pandemic, the Government took a variety of measures to improve women’s working measures and legal provisions. Would the State party adopt temporary special measures to address the persistent underrepresentation of women in the public and private sectors?

Would special measures be adopted to address intersecting forms of discrimination faced by women from marginalised groups, including indigenous women and elderly women? Would temporary special measures be adopted to further reduce poverty and levels of violence for women in Southern Border Provinces, including female genital mutilation? Would these measures be coupled with capacity building to ensure their effectiveness?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said Thailand had established gender-responsive budgeting. Seminars had been organised by Government officials and representatives of the private sector to ensure that gender-responsive budgeting was understood, and that women and girls could benefit from the national budget. The private business sector cooperated with United Nations Women to integrate gender-responsive budgeting into business operations.

A study had been conducted which focused on the allocation of quotas for women and gender diverse individuals at national and local levels of politics. The Government encouraged political parties to include women proportionally to men in their candidate lists. Thailand’s number of female candidates had dramatically increased since 2019 and was on a positive trend.

Under the application of Islamic law in certain provinces, the Islamic family law was currently applied to Muslim citizens in the Southern Border Provinces. A hybrid court system was responsible for handling cases involving disputes with family cases. Muslim women who were victims of domestic violence and sexual violence could seek assistance through alternative avenues. Marriages were regulated under the Central Islamic Committee, which prohibited marriage for anyone under the age of 17. Most of the Southern Border Provinces were Muslim. There were also channels for grievances for Islamic women, including remedies for victims affected by the conduct of officials. Assistance had been provided to more than 3,000 victims, and remedy was also provided to those affected by violence in the Southern Border Provinces. Scholarships and education support was provided to children affected by the unrest.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert said patriarchal practices continued to drive high rates of gender-based violence. Current frameworks prioritised family reunification over the protection of the survivors. How was it ensured that survivor centred protection and legal remedies were available to all victims, including those in conflict-affected areas? Were there plans to enact comprehensive legislation which criminalised online violence against women? How was it ensured that survivors could report cases of violence safely without fear of reprisals? How were gender-based violence policies being monitored and evaluated?

Thailand remained a patriarchal society where women were expected to be caregivers while men were seen as leaders, which was reinforced in the media and other avenues. What programmes were in place to dismantle harmful gender stereotypes? Were there programmes to engage men and boys in efforts to transform discriminatory social norms? What mechanisms were in place to ensure that women from all communities could access justice and public services without stigma or discrimination? What steps was the State party taking to explicitly criminalise and eliminate harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and bride abduction, and to conduct awareness campaigns on their impact on women’s rights?

Another Expert asked what steps the State party would take to effectively combat labour trafficking of women? The anti-trafficking act allowed courts to waive punishments for parents who forced their children into labour due to extreme poverty and other extenuating circumstances; this was unacceptable. How did the State party intend to ensure the protection of the girl child from being trafficked by her parents? What steps was the State party taking to ensure the effective implementation of the national referral mechanism throughout the country.

The Committee commended the State party for the significant efforts made to bring the perpetrators of trafficking in persons to justice, including corrupt officials who protected traffickers. While training was provided to police, immigration and labour officials, and prosecutors and judges, it was not mandatory for new judges. What steps would be taken to ensure all those responsible for trafficking cases and prosecutions were adequately trained? How did the State party envisage regulating prostitution in the future? Would sex workers be decriminalised and prostitution be legal?

Another Expert asked what the State was doing to combat cyber trafficking, which was an increasingly prevalent issue?

RANGITA DE SILVA DE ALWIS, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said the Thai President had been the victim of a voice scam. How were scams tackled in the context of women in political and public life?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said the domestic violence protection act was approved in 2025. The Ministry of Public Health in Thailand opposed female genital mutilation and recognised it as a grave violation of human rights. Thailand was committed to eliminating this harmful practice in all its forms and was focused on providing education about its potential health consequences. This effort was carried out in collaboration with community networks.

During the period 2021–2023, there were no violations found by labour inspectorates. Thailand maintained proactive oversight through the labour inspectorate system. Thailand aimed to conduct awareness raising among children and youth on trafficking and had developed youth focused education and training in this regard.

Thailand was aware that gender stereotypes were ingrained, and this would take a lifetime effort to overcome. Currently, changing the mindset of the people was difficult. It was important to raise awareness and re-learn what was appropriate. The Department of Women’s Affairs coordinated with academics to work with young people on a project to identify sexist language in textbooks in schools. A guidebook had been created and distributed to teachers to provide guidance on how to combat harmful gender stereotypes in schools. While gender stereotypes were the key focus currently, the States pledged to eventually address all kinds of stereotypes.

The country operated under the premise that sex work was not considered a crime and that sex workers should have access to appropriate justice avenues if required.

Questions by Committee Experts

An Expert acknowledged the second female Prime Minister of Thailand, who was historically the youngest. The Committee was concerned about the low levels of women’s representation in political institutions. Cultural norms and stereotypes actively discouraged women from entering politics. What legislative measures were being taken to combat issues such as gender hate speech and harmful stereotypes which deterred women from participating in public life? Were there plans to address workplace bullying in parliament? What was the level of representation of Muslim women in politics?

Women appeared to be underrepresented in the Foreign Office, comprising just 15 per cent of ambassadors. What steps were being taken by the State party to ensure this underrepresentation of women was rectified, including minorities such as women from the deep south and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex women? The Committee commended the Thai Government for increasing the protection of human rights defenders. How many recommendations from the fourth and fifth national human rights plan targeting human rights defenders had been implemented? Were there plans to address the small number of female military personnel? How was it ensured that civil society could participate in multilateral environments?

A Committee Expert said Thailand had over half a million registered stateless persons in January 2022, many of whom were ethnic minorities in remote areas who were unaware of their rights. Thailand had not ratified key United Nations Conventions on statelessness. There were differences when it came to men and women obtaining Thai nationality. Would the State plan to make amendments to the national act, providing equality on citizenship for men and women? What measures had been taken to decrease the number of stateless women and children? How did the Government plan to support refugee women, including Rohingya women?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said female police officers could advance to the Commissioner rank through examinations. Female police officers occupied the highest rank within the Thai police. The representation of women in the Superintendent rank rose from 13 per cent in 2021 to 16.7 per cent in 2025. Approximately 66 per cent of Thai diplomats were women, and around 36 per cent of Thai ambassadors were women. Measures including maternity leave were put in place to ensure the support of female staff. Women were encouraged to participate in multilateral fora.

For decades, the Thai Government had continually adopted policies and measures to improve the protection of stateless persons in the country. Their access to public services had been increased. In 2024, a cabinet solution was adopted to expedite the process to nationality acquisition to a large group of the population. This would allow stateless children to obtain Thai nationality.

It was important to analyse data to determine how to counter the trend of violence against female political candidates.

Comprehensive health access was ensured for all migrants, including women. The migrant health insurance scheme was a voluntarily contributory scheme utilised by migrant workers in the informal sector, prior to national health insurance enrolment. Public health care was actively working to address the needs of unregistered migrants. Although Thailand was not party to the 1951 Convention relating to the protection of refugees, the State had taken other steps to ensure their rights were upheld. For instance, a memorandum of understanding had been developed to ensure children and their mothers were placed in child protection centres, instead of being held in immigration centres.

Recent steps showed that 80 per cent of Thai women wished to start their own business, with 45 per cent of Thai women considering themselves to be entrepreneurs.

The delegation said within the fourth national human rights action plan (2019-2022), there were several recommendations for human rights defenders, including strengthening the protection act, studying best practices on the protection of freedom of assembly, and allocating more funding, among others. The fifth national human rights action plan also contained three specific recommendations for human rights defenders, including acceding to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, which came into effect in Thailand in 2024.

The Committee for the Promotion of Gender Equality was responsible for formulating policies, measures and operational plans to promote gender equality across all sectors.

Questions by a Committee Expert

A Committee Expert said the Committee noted with satisfaction the adoption of the national education act of 1999 which guaranteed all children equal rights and opportunities to receive free and compulsory basic education. The Committee encouraged the State party to continue efforts aimed at reaching gender parity in primary and secondary school enrolment. Despite these efforts, the Committee was concerned about the high dropout rates among stateless and refugee girls and the fact that Patani Malay girls were discouraged from continuing their education due to early marriage and lack of education in Malay.

Were there policies specifically targeted for expanding education to minorities? What steps were being taken to ensure the safety of girls living in the Southern Border Provinces? How was cyber bullying against transgender students being addressed in schools and universities?

Thailand was commended for leading in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields; how was it ensured these translated into employment opportunities for young women? What steps was the State party taking to ensure age-appropriate sexual reproductive education in schools?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said there were mechanisms in place to ensure girls from marginalised groups received education. There were schools established in the Southern Border Provinces, with border patrol officers teaching the students. Schools in rural areas faced disadvantages; however, there were no discriminatory practices for migrant girls to access schools. The current school graduation rates showed a higher percentage of girls compared to boys. The State provided safety in all areas to prevent threats to students. A religious school, supported by the Government, was located in the Southern Border Provinces, providing additional opportunities for students.

Bullying stemmed from stereotypes, and the Ministry of Education was aware of this issue. Work had been undertaken to combat bullying of transgender students, including launching a digital platform for reporting on school safety. At risk students, including victims and perpetrators, were identified, and activities were conducted to encourage friendship and positive interaction. Support was strengthened for teachers to enable them to identify early warning signs and respond in a timely fashion. The development of science and technology projects had provided scholarships to students of all genders. Thailand was committed to providing age-appropriate sexual and reproductive education in schools. The protest “One School One Hospital” encouraged hospitals to provide advice on sexual health and contraception directly to students.

Questions by a Committee Expert

A Committee Expert said the gender pay gap remained at around 11 per cent in Thailand, and around 66 per cent of female workers in the agricultural sector earned below the minimum wage. Had the equal pay act been adequately enforced? What was being done to address noncompliance? What measures were being taken to ensure women in the domestic sector and migrant workers were covered under social protection schemes?

How was the effective protection of pregnant women ensured, particularly in small businesses? Was there a plan to introduce mandated paternity leave? What steps had been taken to ensure sexual harassment protections extended to all sectors? What mechanisms were in place to monitor sexual harassment? Were there any plans to formalise the employment pathway for migrant workers?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said the labour protection act mandated that employers paid equal wages for equal work, regardless of a person’s gender. Thailand was developing a draft act to facilitate the empowerment of informal workers. Thailand provided compensation for women migrant workers, including paid maternity leave and protection against dismissal due to pregnancy. Thailand had enacted legislation which prohibited sexual harassment in all workplaces. Steps were being taken to bring informal migrant workers into the formal system. The State provided legal guidance on rights and duties under the law, including regarding labour disputes.

Questions by a Committee Expert

A Committee Expert said according to the Criminal Court, abortion could be interrupted up to the twelfth week, but after this time period, a pregnant woman was required to have a consultation with a doctor, and faced a sanction and fine if she proceeded with an abortion. Did the State plan to amend its Criminal Code to fully decriminalise abortion and abolish the need for consultations after the 12-week mark? How was the State combatting the stigma of abortion by health staff? The number of forced sterilisation and coercive abortions of persons with disabilities was concerning. What was being done to end these damaging practices? What mechanisms were put in place to ensure appropriate measures were taken in this area? Would the State provide reparations to victims?

Women in the Southern Border Provinces faced further issues, including female genital mutilation and unsafe abortions, as well as mental health issues due to the violence they experienced. How was the State addressing these issues? What steps was it taking to combat female genital mutilation, ensuring Muslim women could access care appropriate to their religious beliefs? The Committee had heard that women living with HIV were subject to tests without their consent and were pressured to undergo sterilisation. What steps were being taken to ensure these tests were carried out without coercive pressure? What was being done to ensure full access to HIV therapy for the most vulnerable groups? How was the right to health guaranteed for women in the prison system?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said a woman could fully terminate her pregnancy under 12 weeks without criminal liability. Between 12 and 20 weeks, abortion services were accessible following certified consultations with public health professionals and based on medical grounds. Medical personnel received specialised training to enhance their expertise in abortion care. The current national reproductive health policy aimed to ensure equitable and inclusive births, including for persons with disabilities.

Any HIV treatment was provided based on consent, and testing without consent was considered a violation of a patient’s rights. Sterilisation could only be performed with an individual’s free and informed consent. Women and others living with HIV were only treated if they gave their informed consent; there were no practices of forced testing, and any allegations of such cases were investigated. Thailand focused on improving standardised medical treatment for females who were incarcerated. Screenings were carried out for cancers and other diseases. The Universal Health Coverage Scheme also covered the border areas, as did the mental health programme.

Questions by a Committee Expert

A Committee Expert asked how the State party planned to reduce gender disparity in social security, particularly for refugees and migrants residing in camps? Initiatives supporting women’s entrepreneurship were welcomed, including the Women’s Empowerment Fund. However, women in rural communities faced issues in accessing services. What policies were in place for ensuring equal access to financial services for women in all areas? What measures were in place to promote disadvantaged women in sports and culture?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said the Human Development Fund was available to provide opportunities for women to access funds for businesses and economic empowerment. Currently, there were around 17 million female members of this Fund. By 2024, 17-million-baht worth of loans had been provided to females across the country. Work needed to be done to provide larger loans to women.

Questions by a Committee Expert

A Committee Expert asked what concrete steps the State party was taking to ensure the protection and empowerment of marginalised women and girls? What was being done to effectively advance the rights of these women and girls? How was the State party effectively implementing the international standards for the treatment of prisoners as provided for in the Nelson Mandela Rules and the Bangkok Rules?

The Expert congratulated the State party on the steps being taken to revise the climate change master plan which focused on gender and social inclusive climate action, including climate finance, adaptation and mitigation, recognising that women and girls experienced disproportionately greater loss and damage from the impacts of climate change. What concrete steps was the State party taking to ensure that climate financing, adaptation and mitigation strategies met the specific needs of women and girls?

What steps was the State party taking to ensure that the blue economy and agriculture were sustainable, inclusive, and resilient to climate change, to meet the specific needs of women and girls? What measures was the State party taking to ensure the protection of all women and girls from the disproportionate impacts of air pollution?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said inmates in the prison system received three nutritious meals daily which respected local, cultural and religious practices, and drinking water was supplied in adequate quantities. To address overcrowding concerns, the Department of Corrections could authorise inmates to be moved to alternative custody alternatives. A committee had been established to manage this process.

A national adaptation plan on climate change had been developed, aligning with global adaptation goals. The plan emphasised the importance of gender equality in planning, decision making and public participation. Measures in the plan included enhancing early warning systems, developing adaptation guidelines for vulnerable farming communities, and gender-responsive budgets, among other measures.

Questions by a Committee Expert

A Committee Expert commended the State party for raising the minimum age of marriage to 18 years. In addition, Thailand had become the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise same-sex marriage. However, child marriage persisted in Thailand, particularly in lower income areas. Polygamy was prohibited under the Civil Code, but it was still practiced. What enforcement mechanisms were in place to eradicate exceptions permitting marriage under the age of 18? What progress was being envisaged in harmonising Islamic family and inheritance law? What was the body specifically assigned for this important task? How was the State party addressing systemic barriers that Muslim women faced in accessing divorce? What concrete steps were being taken to eradicate polygamous unions?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said Islamic family law was currently provided to Muslim citizens in the Southern Border Provinces. Government authorities had supported the application of the use of Islamic family law in line with human rights and standards. The Administrative Centre of the Southern Border Provinces had disseminated a family law handbook on inheritance and other laws. After divorce, women were required under the Civil Code to wait for a certain number of days before remarrying. They could remarry earlier, if they could provide a certificate from a doctor which stated they were not pregnant. Door to door outreach was conducted to screen populations at risk of air pollution, including pregnant women.

Closing Remarks

RAMRUNG WORAWAT, Director-General of the Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand, head of the delegation, said the discussion with the Committee had been very fruitful. The State would aim to take forward the Committee’s recommendations, with a will to transform them into concrete actions. Thailand wished to maintain the dialogue with the Committee and advance this important agenda at the international level.

NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chair, thanked Thailand for the constructive dialogue which had provided further insight into the situation of women and girls in the country.

___________

Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media;
not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

CEDAW25.014E

MIL OSI United Nations News –

June 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Light-powered reactions could make the chemical manufacturing industry more energy-efficient

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Arindam Sau, Ph.D. Candidate in Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder

Plants use light to make energy – and a team of scientists is using the same principle to power chemical reactions. fhm/Moment via Getty Images

Manufactured chemicals and materials are necessary for practically every aspect of daily life, from life-saving pharmaceuticals to plastics, fuels and fertilizers. Yet manufacturing these important chemicals comes at a steep energy cost.

Many of these industrial chemicals are derived primarily from fossil fuel-based materials. These compounds are typically very stable, making it difficult to transform them into useful products without applying harsh and energy-demanding reaction conditions.

As a result, transforming these stubborn materials contributes significantly to the world’s overall energy use. In 2022, the industrial sector consumed 37% of the world’s total energy, with the chemical industry responsible for approximately 12% of that demand.

Conventional chemical manufacturing processes use heat to generate the energy needed for reactions that take place at high temperatures and pressures. An approach that uses light instead of heat could lower energy demands and allow reactions to be run under gentler conditions — like at room temperature instead of extreme heat.

Sunlight represents one of the most abundant yet underutilized energy sources on Earth. In nature, this energy is captured through photosynthesis, where plants convert light into chemical energy. Inspired by this process, our team of chemists at the Center for Sustainable Photoredox Catalysis, a research center funded by the National Science Foundation, has been working on a system that uses light to power reactions commonly used in the chemical manufacturing industry. We published our results in the journal Science in June 2025.

We hope that this method could provide a more economical route for creating industrial chemicals out of fossil fuels. At the same time, since it doesn’t rely on super-high temperatures or pressures, the process is safer, with fewer chances for accidents.

Plants capture sunlight to convert carbon dioxide from the air into carbohydrates, or sugars.
Wattcle, Nefronus/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

How does our system work?

The photoredox catalyst system that our team has developed is powered by simple LEDs, and it operates efficiently at room temperature.

At the core of our system is an organic photoredox catalyst: a specialized molecule that we know accelerates chemical reactions when exposed to light, without being consumed in the process.

Much like how plants rely on pigments to harvest sunlight for photosynthesis, our photoredox catalyst absorbs multiple particles of light, called photons, in a sequence.

These photons provide bursts of energy, which the catalyst stores and then uses to kick-start reactions. This “multi-photon” harvesting builds up enough energy to force very stubborn molecules into undergoing reactions that would otherwise need highly reactive metals. Once the reaction is complete, the photocatalyst resets itself, ready to harvest more light and keep the process going without creating extra waste.

Designing molecules that can absorb multiple photons and react with stubborn molecules is tough. One big challenge is that after a molecule absorbs a photon, it only has a tiny window of time before that energy fades away or gets lost. Plus, making sure the molecule uses that energy the right way is not easy. The good news is we’ve found that our catalyst can do this efficiently at room temperature.

Center for Sustainable Photoredox Catalysis researcher Amreen Bains performs a light-driven photoredox catalyzed reaction.
John Cline, Colorado State University Photography

Enabling greener chemical manufacturing

Our work points toward a future where chemicals are made using light instead of heat. For example, our catalyst can turn benzene — a simple component of crude oil — into a form called cyclohexadienes. This is a key step in making the building blocks for nylon. Improving this part of the process could reduce the carbon footprint of nylon production.

Imagine manufacturers using LED reactors or even sunlight to power the production of essential chemicals. LEDs still use electricity, but they need far less energy compared with the traditional heating methods used in chemical manufacturing. As we scale things up, we’re also figuring out ways to harness sunlight directly, making the entire process even more sustainable and energy-efficient.

Right now, we’re using our photoredox catalysts successfully in small lab experiments — producing just milligrams at a time. But to move into commercial manufacturing, we’ll need to show that these catalysts can also work efficiently at a much larger scale, making kilograms or even tons of product. Testing them in these bigger reactions will ensure that they’re reliable and cost-effective enough for real-world chemical manufacturing.

Similarly, scaling up this process would require large-scale reactors that use light efficiently. Building those will first require designing new types of reactors that let light reach deeper inside. They’ll need to be more transparent or built differently so the light can easily get to all parts of the reaction.

Our team plans to keep developing new light-driven techniques inspired by nature’s efficiency. Sunlight is a plentiful resource, and by finding better ways to tap into it, we hope to make it easier and cleaner to produce the chemicals and materials that modern life depends on.

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

– ref. Light-powered reactions could make the chemical manufacturing industry more energy-efficient – https://theconversation.com/light-powered-reactions-could-make-the-chemical-manufacturing-industry-more-energy-efficient-257796

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Light-powered reactions could make the chemical manufacturing industry more energy-efficient

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Arindam Sau, Ph.D. Candidate in Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder

Plants use light to make energy – and a team of scientists is using the same principle to power chemical reactions. fhm/Moment via Getty Images

Manufactured chemicals and materials are necessary for practically every aspect of daily life, from life-saving pharmaceuticals to plastics, fuels and fertilizers. Yet manufacturing these important chemicals comes at a steep energy cost.

Many of these industrial chemicals are derived primarily from fossil fuel-based materials. These compounds are typically very stable, making it difficult to transform them into useful products without applying harsh and energy-demanding reaction conditions.

As a result, transforming these stubborn materials contributes significantly to the world’s overall energy use. In 2022, the industrial sector consumed 37% of the world’s total energy, with the chemical industry responsible for approximately 12% of that demand.

Conventional chemical manufacturing processes use heat to generate the energy needed for reactions that take place at high temperatures and pressures. An approach that uses light instead of heat could lower energy demands and allow reactions to be run under gentler conditions — like at room temperature instead of extreme heat.

Sunlight represents one of the most abundant yet underutilized energy sources on Earth. In nature, this energy is captured through photosynthesis, where plants convert light into chemical energy. Inspired by this process, our team of chemists at the Center for Sustainable Photoredox Catalysis, a research center funded by the National Science Foundation, has been working on a system that uses light to power reactions commonly used in the chemical manufacturing industry. We published our results in the journal Science in June 2025.

We hope that this method could provide a more economical route for creating industrial chemicals out of fossil fuels. At the same time, since it doesn’t rely on super-high temperatures or pressures, the process is safer, with fewer chances for accidents.

Plants capture sunlight to convert carbon dioxide from the air into carbohydrates, or sugars.
Wattcle, Nefronus/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

How does our system work?

The photoredox catalyst system that our team has developed is powered by simple LEDs, and it operates efficiently at room temperature.

At the core of our system is an organic photoredox catalyst: a specialized molecule that we know accelerates chemical reactions when exposed to light, without being consumed in the process.

Much like how plants rely on pigments to harvest sunlight for photosynthesis, our photoredox catalyst absorbs multiple particles of light, called photons, in a sequence.

These photons provide bursts of energy, which the catalyst stores and then uses to kick-start reactions. This “multi-photon” harvesting builds up enough energy to force very stubborn molecules into undergoing reactions that would otherwise need highly reactive metals. Once the reaction is complete, the photocatalyst resets itself, ready to harvest more light and keep the process going without creating extra waste.

Designing molecules that can absorb multiple photons and react with stubborn molecules is tough. One big challenge is that after a molecule absorbs a photon, it only has a tiny window of time before that energy fades away or gets lost. Plus, making sure the molecule uses that energy the right way is not easy. The good news is we’ve found that our catalyst can do this efficiently at room temperature.

Center for Sustainable Photoredox Catalysis researcher Amreen Bains performs a light-driven photoredox catalyzed reaction.
John Cline, Colorado State University Photography

Enabling greener chemical manufacturing

Our work points toward a future where chemicals are made using light instead of heat. For example, our catalyst can turn benzene — a simple component of crude oil — into a form called cyclohexadienes. This is a key step in making the building blocks for nylon. Improving this part of the process could reduce the carbon footprint of nylon production.

Imagine manufacturers using LED reactors or even sunlight to power the production of essential chemicals. LEDs still use electricity, but they need far less energy compared with the traditional heating methods used in chemical manufacturing. As we scale things up, we’re also figuring out ways to harness sunlight directly, making the entire process even more sustainable and energy-efficient.

Right now, we’re using our photoredox catalysts successfully in small lab experiments — producing just milligrams at a time. But to move into commercial manufacturing, we’ll need to show that these catalysts can also work efficiently at a much larger scale, making kilograms or even tons of product. Testing them in these bigger reactions will ensure that they’re reliable and cost-effective enough for real-world chemical manufacturing.

Similarly, scaling up this process would require large-scale reactors that use light efficiently. Building those will first require designing new types of reactors that let light reach deeper inside. They’ll need to be more transparent or built differently so the light can easily get to all parts of the reaction.

Our team plans to keep developing new light-driven techniques inspired by nature’s efficiency. Sunlight is a plentiful resource, and by finding better ways to tap into it, we hope to make it easier and cleaner to produce the chemicals and materials that modern life depends on.

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

– ref. Light-powered reactions could make the chemical manufacturing industry more energy-efficient – https://theconversation.com/light-powered-reactions-could-make-the-chemical-manufacturing-industry-more-energy-efficient-257796

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: What UK involvement in Iran could look like – and the political questions it raises

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Geraint Hughes, Reader in Diplomatic and Military History, King’s College London

Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street, CC BY-NC-ND

At the time of writing, US President Donald Trump is deliberating over whether to join Israel’s air campaign to destroy Iran’s suspected nuclear weapons programme. This is already a contentious issue within Washington DC and the Trump administration. But if the president decides to take the US into a war with Iran, it will have significant implications for the US’s allies, not least the UK.

As the recent strategic defence review emphasises, the US is Britain’s main ally, an essential partner in defence and intelligence.

However, the Trump administration has made clear to its European allies that it no longer regards the defence of the continent as a US national security priority. And the president’s commitment to Nato is uncertain.

It is possible that Britain and other European allies could be publicly pressured by Trump to support any intervention on Israel’s side. The US may expect this in return for the US’s continued involvement in Nato and its readiness to honour article 5 (the collective defence principle, which obliges collective retaliation to aggression against one member) for its allies.

Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

Given the importance of American military power in deterring wider Russian aggression in Europe – and Trump’s transactional character – this would present Keir Starmer with a particularly stark dilemma.

A purely US air campaign against Iran is feasible. The US Navy will soon have two carrier strike groups in the Middle East region. And the US Air Force’s B2 strategic bombers can launch raids across the globe from bases in the continental US.

The US also has several military bases in the region. However, as was the case with the 1991 and 2003 wars with Iraq, Washington DC will need permission from Gulf Arab allies to use them.

Nonetheless, the Trump administration could request authorisation from the UK’s Labour government to use US airbases in the UK and its overseas territories to support an air campaign against Iran. This would not involve the UK deploying forces, but would require the UK to approve the use of the airbases.

The Diego Garcia airbase in the Indian Ocean would be a useful asset in this case. But its employment would reopen the controversy over its establishment in the 1960s.

It could also call into question the diplomatic deal the UK made with Mauritius last month to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, while keeping this base open. The Mauritians are likely to oppose US airstrikes on Iran.

Britain also has options for direct participation. RAF Typhoon jets stationed at Britain’s airbase in Akrotiri, Cyprus provided air defence support for Israel during the Iranian missile and drone strikes in April and October 2024. They could conduct similar missions now.

But from the Royal Navy’s perspective, it would be difficult to divert the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales from its deployment to the Indo-Pacific, partly because the task group it sails with is a multinational one.

Given that the British armed forces are already overstretched, it is difficult to see whether the UK could provide more than basing rights and air support to the Israelis (if requested).

A discreet commitment of UK special forces (the 22nd Special Air Service regiment and the Special Boat Service) on the ground is conceivable. This can be – and indeed has been – authorised by previous governments without parliamentary debate. But any further British military commitment is likely to cause a political row.

Legal and political ramifications

The key question for Starmer and his ministers will not be whether Britain could back a US war against Iran but whether it should. After the debacle of the Iraq war and the ensuing Chilcot inquiry, it is difficult to see how any government – let alone a Labour one – can take Britain into a major interstate conflict on this scale without firm parliamentary support and a solid case in international law.

To this end, the Attorney General Richard Hermer has reportedly questioned the legality of Israel’s preemptive attack on Iran, and has argued that any British military intervention should be limited to the defence of its allies.

We should not forget that Starmer was a human rights lawyer and the head of the Crown Prosecution Service before he became a politician.

Another legacy of Iraq is that it is customary (though not a legal requirement) for prime ministers to seek parliamentary approval for any major military operation. David Cameron lost a vote in the House of Commons to approve airstrikes against Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria in August 2013. But he gained parliamentary support for Britain’s commitment to the fight against Islamic State in 2015.

A similar debate now is unlikely to lead to approval of British military intervention in this case. Within the Labour party, there is already widespread condemnation of Israeli tactics and Palestinian civilian casualties in Gaza.

There is little popular appetite for sending British sailors and airmen into a war with Iran. And, given the US vice-president’s own dismissive comments about the military experiences of European allies, the public is also entitled to ask why British servicemen should die or risk breaching international law for an administration that probably will not appreciate their sacrifice.

Geraint Hughes 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 UK involvement in Iran could look like – and the political questions it raises – https://theconversation.com/what-uk-involvement-in-iran-could-look-like-and-the-political-questions-it-raises-259420

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: HSE and RHB sign cooperation agreement

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

On June 19, as part of the St. Petersburg International Forum, Rector of the Higher School of Economics Nikita Anisimov and the founder of Wildberries, head of the RBB (United Company Wildberries

The company will give vouchers to the Summer Economic School “I Love Economics” (SES) to 10 talented schoolchildren from 10 regions of Russia: Penza, Voronezh, Moscow, Irkutsk, Ulyanovsk, Saratov, Tambov regions, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad and the Chuvash Republic. SES is the largest Olympiad visiting economic school in Russia, organized with the participation of HSE.

“Our partnership with the Higher School of Economics opens up new opportunities for synergy between education, science and business. For us, this is an opportunity not just to share experience, but to provide HSE students with a real base for their research and ideas – access to our platforms, data, technologies and experts. I am confident that practice on real projects, where you can test the theory and immediately see the result, is the best way to prepare sought-after specialists,” said Tatyana Kim.

The cooperation between a large IT company and a university with a fundamental research base, a leader among Russian universities for talented and creative youth, will allow both parties to significantly expand their capabilities and competencies in educational and scientific activities, as well as in the field of development and support of professional personnel.

As part of the agreement, the Higher School of Economics and RVC plan to launch and develop joint educational programs, internships for university students within the walls of the united company, conduct joint scientific and educational events, organize scientific research, and support talented students and schoolchildren.

“The Higher School of Economics traditionally strives to provide the highest possible quality of education for its students through partnerships with the country’s industrial leaders. In the person of Wildberries

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 –

June 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s unpredictable approach to Iran could seriously backfire

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Michelle Bentley, Professor of International Relations, Royal Holloway University of London

US president Donald Trump has now publicly approved a plan of attack against Iran, which includes a strike against its underground nuclear facility at Fordow (though, at the time of writing, a final decision to go ahead hasn’t been made).

The world is now waiting to see whether Trump will put this plan into action. And that’s exactly what Trump wants. This is not a case of indecision or buying time. Trump has long based his foreign policy on being unpredictable. Iran is another example of his strategy to be as elusive as possible. Yet, his approach has always been difficult – and now threatens to destabilise an already fractious conflict.

One interpretation of Trump’s new public threat towards Iran could be deterrence. Trump is warning Iran that there would be significant consequences if they do not reverse their nuclear ambitions. Change or you will regret it.

If this is Trump’s plan, then he is doing it badly. Successful deterrence relies on clearly communicating the exact penalties of not complying. While Trump has specified a possible attack on Fordow, the rest of the plan is extremely hazy. Trump said he wants “better than a ceasefire”.

Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

But what does that mean? Just Fordow? Boots on the ground? Regime change? His ambiguity creates problems for deterrence because if your adversary doesn’t know what the outcomes of their actions will be, they can’t formulate a response or will think you just aren’t serious.

But current US foreign policy on Iran is more than bad deterrence. Trump’s vague rhetoric and his refusal to commit reflects his long-standing strategy of being unreliable when it comes to foreign policy.

Trump’s prevarication has all the hallmarks of his unpredictability doctrine – which states that you should never let anyone know what you will do. The doctrine is also about uncertainty. The idea being that you unnerve your opponents by making them unsure, allowing you to take the advantage while they have no idea what to do themselves.

Trump’s rhetoric on Iran reflects that unpredictability doctrine. Trump actively said of his future action: “I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do.”

This would not be the first time he has used unpredictability in relation to Iran. In 2018, Trump withdrew the US from the joint comprehensive plan of action (JCPOA). This agreement – signed by the US, France, Germany, the UK, China, Russia and the EU – was designed to limit Iran’s nuclear activity in return for sanctions relief. The US withdrawal was seen as disruptive and creating unnecessary uncertainty, not just for Iran but also US allies.

Will the strategy work?

Being unpredictable is a dangerous way of doing foreign policy. Stable international politics depends on knowing what everyone else will do. You can’t do that with Trump.

The downsides of unpredictability will be even worse in a conflict. In the case of Iran, adding even more uncertainty to a fragile situation will only add fuel to what is already a massive fire.

Read more:
China positions itself as a stable economic partner and alternative to ‘unpredictable’ Trump

Trump’s refusal to specify exactly what the US response would be is more proverbial petrol. The insinuation that this could escalate to regime change may be true or not (or just unpredictable bluster).

It’s also the case that only 14% of Americans support military intervention and so a more aggressive policy may not be realistic. But if Iran is led to think that Trump is directly threatening their state, this could encourage them to hunker down as opposed to changing their nuclear policy – risking greater military action on both sides.

Donald Trump being unclear about whether the US is going to bomb Iran.

Even just the implicit threat of US military intervention will damage what little relations there are between America and Iran. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has said: “Any US military intervention will undoubtedly cause irreparable damage.” Unpredictability then undermines any diplomatic negotiations or solution to the crisis.

Trump is also risking his foreign policy relations beyond Iran. While preventing a new member of the nuclear club is a laudable aim, any US attack on a state over weapons of mass destruction (WMD) will lie in the difficult shadow of the “war on terror”, the US-led military campaign launched after 9/11.

With the International Atomic Energy Agency questioning Iran’s capacity to build a nuclear bomb, the US’s legacy of intervention over the WMD in Iraq that never were still looms large. Trump will need to be fully transparent and clear if any action over nuclear arms is going to be seen as legitimate. Unpredictability does not allow for that.

Trump’s fellow state leaders are going to feel disrupted by yet another example of unpredictability. Even if they support curbing Iran, they may find it difficult to back someone they simply can’t depend on. And if they feel cautious about the Iran situation because they can’t rely on Trump, Trump needs to start asking whether he can rely on them for support in whatever his next move is.

Michelle Bentley 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. Trump’s unpredictable approach to Iran could seriously backfire – https://theconversation.com/trumps-unpredictable-approach-to-iran-could-seriously-backfire-259399

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s unpredictable approach to Iran could seriously backfire

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Michelle Bentley, Professor of International Relations, Royal Holloway University of London

US president Donald Trump has now publicly approved a plan of attack against Iran, which includes a strike against its underground nuclear facility at Fordow (though, at the time of writing, a final decision to go ahead hasn’t been made).

The world is now waiting to see whether Trump will put this plan into action. And that’s exactly what Trump wants. This is not a case of indecision or buying time. Trump has long based his foreign policy on being unpredictable. Iran is another example of his strategy to be as elusive as possible. Yet, his approach has always been difficult – and now threatens to destabilise an already fractious conflict.

One interpretation of Trump’s new public threat towards Iran could be deterrence. Trump is warning Iran that there would be significant consequences if they do not reverse their nuclear ambitions. Change or you will regret it.

If this is Trump’s plan, then he is doing it badly. Successful deterrence relies on clearly communicating the exact penalties of not complying. While Trump has specified a possible attack on Fordow, the rest of the plan is extremely hazy. Trump said he wants “better than a ceasefire”.

Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

But what does that mean? Just Fordow? Boots on the ground? Regime change? His ambiguity creates problems for deterrence because if your adversary doesn’t know what the outcomes of their actions will be, they can’t formulate a response or will think you just aren’t serious.

But current US foreign policy on Iran is more than bad deterrence. Trump’s vague rhetoric and his refusal to commit reflects his long-standing strategy of being unreliable when it comes to foreign policy.

Trump’s prevarication has all the hallmarks of his unpredictability doctrine – which states that you should never let anyone know what you will do. The doctrine is also about uncertainty. The idea being that you unnerve your opponents by making them unsure, allowing you to take the advantage while they have no idea what to do themselves.

Trump’s rhetoric on Iran reflects that unpredictability doctrine. Trump actively said of his future action: “I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do.”

This would not be the first time he has used unpredictability in relation to Iran. In 2018, Trump withdrew the US from the joint comprehensive plan of action (JCPOA). This agreement – signed by the US, France, Germany, the UK, China, Russia and the EU – was designed to limit Iran’s nuclear activity in return for sanctions relief. The US withdrawal was seen as disruptive and creating unnecessary uncertainty, not just for Iran but also US allies.

Will the strategy work?

Being unpredictable is a dangerous way of doing foreign policy. Stable international politics depends on knowing what everyone else will do. You can’t do that with Trump.

The downsides of unpredictability will be even worse in a conflict. In the case of Iran, adding even more uncertainty to a fragile situation will only add fuel to what is already a massive fire.

Read more:
China positions itself as a stable economic partner and alternative to ‘unpredictable’ Trump

Trump’s refusal to specify exactly what the US response would be is more proverbial petrol. The insinuation that this could escalate to regime change may be true or not (or just unpredictable bluster).

It’s also the case that only 14% of Americans support military intervention and so a more aggressive policy may not be realistic. But if Iran is led to think that Trump is directly threatening their state, this could encourage them to hunker down as opposed to changing their nuclear policy – risking greater military action on both sides.

Donald Trump being unclear about whether the US is going to bomb Iran.

Even just the implicit threat of US military intervention will damage what little relations there are between America and Iran. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has said: “Any US military intervention will undoubtedly cause irreparable damage.” Unpredictability then undermines any diplomatic negotiations or solution to the crisis.

Trump is also risking his foreign policy relations beyond Iran. While preventing a new member of the nuclear club is a laudable aim, any US attack on a state over weapons of mass destruction (WMD) will lie in the difficult shadow of the “war on terror”, the US-led military campaign launched after 9/11.

With the International Atomic Energy Agency questioning Iran’s capacity to build a nuclear bomb, the US’s legacy of intervention over the WMD in Iraq that never were still looms large. Trump will need to be fully transparent and clear if any action over nuclear arms is going to be seen as legitimate. Unpredictability does not allow for that.

Trump’s fellow state leaders are going to feel disrupted by yet another example of unpredictability. Even if they support curbing Iran, they may find it difficult to back someone they simply can’t depend on. And if they feel cautious about the Iran situation because they can’t rely on Trump, Trump needs to start asking whether he can rely on them for support in whatever his next move is.

Michelle Bentley 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. Trump’s unpredictable approach to Iran could seriously backfire – https://theconversation.com/trumps-unpredictable-approach-to-iran-could-seriously-backfire-259399

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Israel’s attacks have exposed weaknesses in Iran, but it’s in little danger of collapsing

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Farhang Morady, Principal Lecturer in International Development, University of Westminster

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said that his country’s campaign in Iran “could certainly” lead to regime change. In an interview with Fox News on June 15, he called the government in Tehran “very weak” and added that, given the opportunity, “80% of the [Iranian] people would throw these theological thugs out”.

Israel’s military actions so far indicate that its goals probably do extend beyond eliminating Iran’s nuclear programme. Airstrikes have targeted military leadership, internal security facilities and the headquarters of Iran’s state broadcaster. Israel’s aim is seemingly to destabilise the regime by inciting a popular uprising and fragmenting elite support.

Tehran, meanwhile, has been eager to project an image of strength and stability. It has sought to illustrate its resilience and unity through constant coverage by state media, highlighting its military readiness while also broadcasting public displays of loyalty. Government officials have also visited affected regions.

This raises the question: is more than four decades of theocratic rule in Iran really as close to collapse as Netanyahu says it is?

Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

The Israeli attacks have exposed weaknesses in the Iranian state. Several senior military officials and top nuclear scientists have been killed, while Israel has been able to strike targets in the Iranian capital, Tehran, with relative ease after crippling Iran’s air defences.

Strategic sites in Iran have proven vulnerable, with nuclear sites and military command headquarters hit hard. Many residents of Tehran have fled to other cities fearful that the situation will worsen.

However, despite inflicting significant damage, the strikes have not caused the downfall of the regime’s core institutions. The deaths of at least 20 key commanders prompted the Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to reshuffle Iran’s military leadership to maintain stability and control. New appointments were made swiftly.

And, at least publicly, the Iranian elite is maintaining its position that the country can endure the crisis without giving in to foreign pressure. Khamenei has even warned the US president, Donald Trump, that the US will “face irreparable harm” should it become involved in the conflict.

Diplomatic manoeuvres behind the scenes, however, suggest the regime is demonstrating a willingness to compromise to ensure its survival. An unverified Iranian diplomatic statement on June 16 even indicated that the regime would be willing to suspend uranium enrichment to maintain itself.

The Iranian government is probably displaying confidence in public as a strategic move to prevent domestic unrest. Iran is facing significant economic, political and social challenges. Over 60% of its population is under 30 years old, and this demographic is increasingly disconnected from the principles promoted by the regime.

Widespread protests erupted in 2022 following the death of a young woman called Mahsa Amini while she was in police custody for allegedly violating hijab regulations. The protests demonstrated deep-seated discontent with the regime and its morality laws that dictate women’s attire and public behaviour.

The protests were suppressed, but underlying discontent remains. Israeli leaders hope that striking Iran might start a chain reaction leading to an uprising that topples the Islamic Republic. Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, hinted as much on June 19. He said the military has been instructed to intensify strikes on targets in Tehran in order to destabilise the “Ayatollah regime”.

No imminent collapse

Despite immense pressure, the collapse of Iran’s theocratic regime is not imminent. It continues to hold authority over its military and controls the media. The regime sustains itself through its powerful institutional base rather than public approval.

Opposition movements are also fragmented and lack an organised structure. Groups like Mojahedin-e-Khalq and the movement led by Reza Pahlavi, the exiled eldest son of the last shah of Iran, have sought to gain influence with western support. However, they lack popular backing within Iran.

The Islamic Republic appears to be on a path of gradual deterioration rather than complete collapse. However, Trump does appear to be warming to the idea of helping Israel overthrow the government in Tehran. And any US involvement would intensify pressure on the regime significantly.

On June 17, Trump described Khamenei as an “easy target” who is safe only “for now”. Trump has since said his patience with Iran had run out, saying “I may do it, I may not do it” when asked a question about US involvement in Iran.

The US possesses the 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bomb capable of damaging Iran’s deep-lying uranium enrichment facilities and the B-2 stealth bomber to carry it. And it has been moving military assets to its bases in the Middle East.

It is uncertain whether these actions represent direct provocation or simply an attempt by Trump to exert more pressure on Iran to negotiate an end to the conflict.

Trump’s camp is split over potential US involvement in Iran. Some US military and intelligence officials – including the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard – have expressed concerns about a direct confrontation.

It is also possible that Israeli and US attempts to impose a change of government in Iran could even unite the regime. The Islamic Republic has a history of using foreign pressure to justify domestic crackdowns and increase its domestic control.

The external efforts to accelerate the collapse of the regime could, somewhat counterintuitively, help the regime survive in the short-term while deeper internal problems continue to exist.

Farhang Morady 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. Israel’s attacks have exposed weaknesses in Iran, but it’s in little danger of collapsing – https://theconversation.com/israels-attacks-have-exposed-weaknesses-in-iran-but-its-in-little-danger-of-collapsing-259230

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Israel’s attacks have exposed weaknesses in Iran, but it’s in little danger of collapsing

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Farhang Morady, Principal Lecturer in International Development, University of Westminster

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said that his country’s campaign in Iran “could certainly” lead to regime change. In an interview with Fox News on June 15, he called the government in Tehran “very weak” and added that, given the opportunity, “80% of the [Iranian] people would throw these theological thugs out”.

Israel’s military actions so far indicate that its goals probably do extend beyond eliminating Iran’s nuclear programme. Airstrikes have targeted military leadership, internal security facilities and the headquarters of Iran’s state broadcaster. Israel’s aim is seemingly to destabilise the regime by inciting a popular uprising and fragmenting elite support.

Tehran, meanwhile, has been eager to project an image of strength and stability. It has sought to illustrate its resilience and unity through constant coverage by state media, highlighting its military readiness while also broadcasting public displays of loyalty. Government officials have also visited affected regions.

This raises the question: is more than four decades of theocratic rule in Iran really as close to collapse as Netanyahu says it is?

Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

The Israeli attacks have exposed weaknesses in the Iranian state. Several senior military officials and top nuclear scientists have been killed, while Israel has been able to strike targets in the Iranian capital, Tehran, with relative ease after crippling Iran’s air defences.

Strategic sites in Iran have proven vulnerable, with nuclear sites and military command headquarters hit hard. Many residents of Tehran have fled to other cities fearful that the situation will worsen.

However, despite inflicting significant damage, the strikes have not caused the downfall of the regime’s core institutions. The deaths of at least 20 key commanders prompted the Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to reshuffle Iran’s military leadership to maintain stability and control. New appointments were made swiftly.

And, at least publicly, the Iranian elite is maintaining its position that the country can endure the crisis without giving in to foreign pressure. Khamenei has even warned the US president, Donald Trump, that the US will “face irreparable harm” should it become involved in the conflict.

Diplomatic manoeuvres behind the scenes, however, suggest the regime is demonstrating a willingness to compromise to ensure its survival. An unverified Iranian diplomatic statement on June 16 even indicated that the regime would be willing to suspend uranium enrichment to maintain itself.

The Iranian government is probably displaying confidence in public as a strategic move to prevent domestic unrest. Iran is facing significant economic, political and social challenges. Over 60% of its population is under 30 years old, and this demographic is increasingly disconnected from the principles promoted by the regime.

Widespread protests erupted in 2022 following the death of a young woman called Mahsa Amini while she was in police custody for allegedly violating hijab regulations. The protests demonstrated deep-seated discontent with the regime and its morality laws that dictate women’s attire and public behaviour.

The protests were suppressed, but underlying discontent remains. Israeli leaders hope that striking Iran might start a chain reaction leading to an uprising that topples the Islamic Republic. Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, hinted as much on June 19. He said the military has been instructed to intensify strikes on targets in Tehran in order to destabilise the “Ayatollah regime”.

No imminent collapse

Despite immense pressure, the collapse of Iran’s theocratic regime is not imminent. It continues to hold authority over its military and controls the media. The regime sustains itself through its powerful institutional base rather than public approval.

Opposition movements are also fragmented and lack an organised structure. Groups like Mojahedin-e-Khalq and the movement led by Reza Pahlavi, the exiled eldest son of the last shah of Iran, have sought to gain influence with western support. However, they lack popular backing within Iran.

The Islamic Republic appears to be on a path of gradual deterioration rather than complete collapse. However, Trump does appear to be warming to the idea of helping Israel overthrow the government in Tehran. And any US involvement would intensify pressure on the regime significantly.

On June 17, Trump described Khamenei as an “easy target” who is safe only “for now”. Trump has since said his patience with Iran had run out, saying “I may do it, I may not do it” when asked a question about US involvement in Iran.

The US possesses the 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bomb capable of damaging Iran’s deep-lying uranium enrichment facilities and the B-2 stealth bomber to carry it. And it has been moving military assets to its bases in the Middle East.

It is uncertain whether these actions represent direct provocation or simply an attempt by Trump to exert more pressure on Iran to negotiate an end to the conflict.

Trump’s camp is split over potential US involvement in Iran. Some US military and intelligence officials – including the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard – have expressed concerns about a direct confrontation.

It is also possible that Israeli and US attempts to impose a change of government in Iran could even unite the regime. The Islamic Republic has a history of using foreign pressure to justify domestic crackdowns and increase its domestic control.

The external efforts to accelerate the collapse of the regime could, somewhat counterintuitively, help the regime survive in the short-term while deeper internal problems continue to exist.

Farhang Morady 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. Israel’s attacks have exposed weaknesses in Iran, but it’s in little danger of collapsing – https://theconversation.com/israels-attacks-have-exposed-weaknesses-in-iran-but-its-in-little-danger-of-collapsing-259230

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Jaws helped spur a fishing frenzy – so how have the world’s sharks fared since the 1975 release?

Source: The Conversation – UK – By David Sims, Professor of Marine Ecology, University of Southampton

Steven Spielberg’s Jaws opened across North America on June 20 1975, and immediately tapped into the primal human fear of being hunted by a huge, savvy predator.

Set on a fictional island off the coast of New England, the film depicts an epic battle between three men on a boat and an enormous great white shark. Jaws was hugely popular, grossing a record US$100 million in its first 59 days.

Young and already mad about sharks, I left the film wanting to know more about their behaviour and ecology. But films affect people in different ways, and the movie has since spawned what social scientists call “the Jaws effect”.

This contended that sharks became widely demonised as a result of the film’s depiction of them as relentless killers obsessed with attacking humans. Director Spielberg’s inspired use of fleeting glimpses of the shark’s fin knifing through the water, accompanied by the film’s sinister and unforgettable music, heightened those feelings. That’s how Jaws affected us. But 50 years on, how have shark populations fared?

Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

Both Spielberg and Peter Benchley, Jaws author and screenplay contributor, regretted the film’s influence on public perception of sharks. Indeed, Benchley became an advocate for shark conservation who enjoyed working with scientists (I was invited onto his radio show to discuss my research satellite-tracking basking sharks).

In the years following the film’s release, increasing numbers of sharks – including the movie’s great white – were reportedly killed in shark fishing tournaments that had risen in popularity.

Sharks grow slowly, take a long time to reach sexual maturity and have relatively few offspring. This makes many species vulnerable to overfishing. Fishing at this level removes too many sharks from the population too quickly, such that the remaining sharks cannot replace them fast enough, and the population declines. A recorded decline can be relatively large if the starting population size is already small, like that of top predators such as the great white shark.

Several data sources, including rod-and-reel and longline fishing, indicate a significant decline in the abundance of white sharks in the 1970s and 1980s along the US east coast where the film is set. The Jaws effect in action?

Actually, rapid declines were not limited to US waters. White shark catches in bather protection nets off the southeast coast of Australia recorded a similarly large decrease in the mid-1970s. And this particular source suggests white shark populations had begun declining from the mid-1950s, 20 years before Jaws.

Additional factors, such as commercial overfishing, were obviously at play. The film’s influence probably exacerbated white shark declines that were already happening.

Globally, the white shark has been assessed as vulnerable by conservationists, with a decreasing population trend. Fortunately, there are signs of recovery.

National protection measures for white sharks were implemented in the 1990s where these animals were formerly abundant, like the US, South Africa and Australia, and worldwide protections came a few years later.

Since the 1990s, there have been apparent increases in abundance off the US east coast (when populations are so small and data so sparse, a short-term increase may not be a lasting trend). Welcome signs that measures such as prohibiting catches in 1997 are having a positive effect following decades of over-exploitation. But this species is still vulnerable to incidental capture, so protection measures must be maintained and enforced to sustain any recoveries.

The Jaws effect was not limited to great white sharks. Many other large sharks were captured and killed in shark fishing tournaments that became more common following the film. Unfortunately, the killing continues in remaining US tournaments today.

But over the past few decades the overwhelming cause of large shark declines globally, particularly in the open ocean far from shore, has been the expansion of industrial-scale commercial fisheries targeting sharks for their fins and meat.

It was estimated in 2024 that fishing vessels are killing around 100 million sharks a year – a number that rose during the last decade. Nearly a third of shark species are now threatened with extinction.

It was estimated in 2021 that the global abundance of shark and ray species which prowl the open ocean (such as the oceanic whitetip or shortfin mako) has declined by an average of 71% since 1970 due to rocketing fishing pressure on the high seas (areas beyond national jurisdictions).

My own research analysing shark satellite tracks in collaboration with over 150 shark scientists, showed that 24% of the space used by these sharks each month on average falls under the footprint of surface longline fisheries. These include vessels that can deploy lines 100km-long carrying 1,000 baited hooks for up to 24 hours. We found the overlap was even greater, about 75%, for commercially valuable species such as the blue shark.

More sharks die in these overlap hotspots than in adjacent areas, according to more recent research.

Demystifying Jaws

Are there any signs of recovery for these species under existing management measures? For many oceanic sharks, the answer is still no.

At present, measures in place (if any) on the high seas are insufficient to safeguard populations. There is very little or no protection of shark activity hotspots. And some of the measures, such as shark finning bans, have been shown to be ineffective.

My colleagues and I revealed that catches of internationally protected species are sometimes 90 times greater than official reports.

So there is still a very long way to go to rebuild global shark populations.

Jaws helped promote a negative image of sharks that has no basis in reality. Rather, shark behaviour appears as complex in some cases as that of birds and mammals.

Tracking sharks revealed they can migrate thousands of kilometres to feed in specific remote habitats, before returning to the very same place they left months before. Some prefer to hang out with familiar individuals, and sharks even form persistent social networks. Giant basking sharks take part in speed-dating-like behaviour when they form courtship swimming circles at the end of summer.

The serial killer image has probably made it harder to convince people to sympathise with the plight of sharks. Jaws came at a time when very little was known about sharks, so fiction filled the void.

But there are now more shark scientists thanks to Jaws. Demystifying these creatures has been the first step to their potential recovery.

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

Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

David Sims has received funding from the European Research Council, the European Commission’s Horizon Europe programme and the UK Natural Environment Research Council.

– ref. Jaws helped spur a fishing frenzy – so how have the world’s sharks fared since the 1975 release? – https://theconversation.com/jaws-helped-spur-a-fishing-frenzy-so-how-have-the-worlds-sharks-fared-since-the-1975-release-255444

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Israel’s conflict with Iran escalates as Trump considers US involvement

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sam Phelps, Commissioning Editor, International Affairs

This article was first published in The Conversation UK’s World Affairs Briefing email newsletter. Sign up to receive weekly analysis of the latest developments in international relations, direct to your inbox.

Israel’s attack on Iranian nuclear facilities and military leadership last week has quickly escalated into the most severe conflict between the two foes in decades. They have been trading missile attacks, with Israel now hinting that it seeks to overthrow the government in Tehran.

On June 19, after an Iranian missile struck a hospital in the Israeli city of Beersheba, Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, announced that he had instructed the military to increase the intensity of attacks against Iran. The goal, he said, was to “undermine the regime”.

Israel has long made it clear that it would like to see a change of government in Tehran – though not necessarily through direct military action. Katz’s comments, which also involved saying that the Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, “will pay for his crimes”, are the first time Israel has claimed regime change as an official goal since the conflict with Iran began.

Sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter from The Conversation UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations.

We asked Farhang Morady, a lecturer in international development at the University of Westminster, how precarious the Iranian government’s grip on power really is. He explains that, despite being under immense pressure, the regime is not at imminent risk of collapse.

Israeli strikes have inflicted significant damage, Morady says. But they have not caused the downfall of the regime’s core institutions. Khamenei has reshuffled Iran’s military leadership to maintain stability and control, swiftly appointing successors to replace assassinated commanders.

At least publicly, Morady writes, the Iranian elite is eager to demonstrate its position that the country is capable of enduring the crisis without giving in to foreign pressure. At the same time, the regime has been employing back-channel diplomacy to ensure its survival. It has even reportedly indicated that it is willing to suspend uranium enrichment to maintain itself.

Read more:
Israel’s attacks have exposed weaknesses in Iran, but it’s in little danger of collapsing

However, pressure on the regime could be set to intensify. US president Donald Trump has made it clear that he is considering joining Israel’s campaign against Iran.

As part of a string of social media posts, which followed his early exit from the G7 summit in Canada, Trump described Khamenei as an “easy target” who is safe “for now”. Then, on June 18, when asked a question about the US striking Iran, Trump said: “I may do it, I may not do it.”

Whether Trump’s antics are a bluff to force Iran to negotiate an end to the conflict – or, in his own words, an “unconditional surrender” – remains to be seen.

But in the view of Natasha Lindstaedt, a professor in the department of government at the University of Essex, Trump’s statements suggest he is being won over by the Israeli government’s pressure campaign to convince Washington that the time is right for a joint military assault on Iran.

The US possesses the 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bomb, and the B-2 stealth bomber to carry it, capable of destroying Iran’s deep-lying uranium enrichment sites. Lindstaedt sees a situation arising soon where Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, convinces Trump to use this weapon against Iran.

Read more:
Trump breaks from western allies at G7 summit as US weighs joining Iran strikes

Any American military action in Iran has the potential to cause a split in Trump’s base of support, says Richard Hargy, an expert on US politics at Queen’s University Belfast. In this piece, Hargy details how Trump’s condemnation of former US presidents for leading the US into foreign wars won him plaudits with his “make America great again” (Maga) base.

These people remain fiercely opposed to US involvement in another conflict in the Middle East. Steve Bannon, an America-first backer and staunch Trump ally, has warned that US action in Iran would “blow up” Trump’s coalition of support.

At the same time, Hargy says Trump has several prominent Republican hawks urging him to take military action against Iran. Senator Lindsey Graham, for example, has this week called on Trump to go “all in” to help “Israel eliminate the [Iranian] nuclear threat”.

Whatever Trump decides over Iran will be a pivotal moment for his presidency.

Read more:
Iran air strikes: Republicans split over support for Trump and another ‘foreign war’

Confrontation was inevitable

A direct conflict between Israel and Iran has been a long time coming. Tensions between the two countries have been simmering for years. But why did Israel chose to act now? Matthew Moran and Wyn Bowen, professors of international security at King’s College London, say two factors have converged that made this confrontation all but inevitable.

First, Iran’s regime has been left exposed by events over the past 12 months or so. Israeli strikes in October 2024 seriously degraded Iran’s air defences, while Israel’s military response to the October 7 Hamas attacks has decimated Iran’s regional proxy network. These events have undermined Iran’s ability to deter adversaries and have emboldened Israel.

And second, Iran’s nuclear programme has advanced since Trump withdrew the US from a deal negotiated during Barack Obama’s presidency that greatly rolled back Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

Moran and Bowen point to a recent report by the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security that suggests Iran could convert its current stock of 60% enriched uranium into enough weapons-grade uranium for seven nuclear weapons. This could be done in as little as three weeks.

US national intelligence and the International Atomic Energy Agency say there is no evidence to suggest Iran is, in fact, looking to build a nuclear bomb. Nevertheless, even the possibility that Iran was close to developing one crossed an Israeli red line and triggered action.

In the words of Moran and Bowen: “Iran’s brinkmanship around its effort to hedge its bets on a nuclear option meant it was always operating in a dangerous space.”

Read more:
Israeli aggression and Iranian nuclear brinkmanship made this confrontation all but inevitable

According to Brian Brivati of Kingston University, there is one other factor may have encouraged Israel to take action against Iran: the collapsing credibility of the international legal order.

In this piece, Brivati traces how the Israeli and US governments have systematically weakened the global institutions designed to uphold international law over the past few years. The Israeli government has ignored court rulings over its actions in Gaza, while the US has disabled the mechanisms of accountability.

This has created a situation in which states can act with impunity, confident that international mechanisms can be ignored. Israel’s initial attack on Iran, which was conducted without authorisation from the UN security council, is a symptom of this. And other global powers like Russia and China may now look to follow its lead.

We have arrived at a moment so stark, Brivati says, that it should be seen as a turning point for the international order.

Read more:
Israel, Iran and the US: why 2025 is a turning point for the international order

World Affairs Briefing from The Conversation UK is available as a weekly email newsletter. Click here to get updates directly in your inbox.

– ref. Israel’s conflict with Iran escalates as Trump considers US involvement – https://theconversation.com/israels-conflict-with-iran-escalates-as-trump-considers-us-involvement-259201

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Canada bolsters its measures to protect Canadian steel and aluminum workers and industries
Source: Government of Canada News (2)

June 19, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Finance Canada

Canada’s new government has a mandate to build the strongest economy in the G7. While the government negotiates a new economic and security partnership with the United States, we will ensure workers and industry are protected against the unjust and unprovoked American tariffs. Today, the Minister of Finance and National Revenue, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, announced a series of measures to protect Canadian steel and aluminum producers and workers.

The government will take these measures to bolster its response:
- First, Canada will adjust its existing counter-tariffs on steel and aluminium products on july 21, to levels consistent with progress that has been made in the broader trading arrangement with the United States.
- Second, effective June 30, the government will begin implementation of reciprocal procurement policies to limit access to federal procurements to suppliers from Canada and from our reliable trading partners that provide reciprocal access to suppliers from Canada through trade agreements. As shared earlier this year, the government is also exploring additional ways to maximize the use of Canadian steel and aluminum in government-funded projects, including in coordination with Canadian provinces and territories.
- Third, the government will protect Canada’s steel industry by establishing new tariff rate quotas of 100 per cent of 2024 levels on imports of steel products from non-free trade agreement partners to stabilize the domestic market and prevent harmful trade diversion as the result of the U.S. actions that are destabilizing markets. These quotas will be applied retroactively and will be reviewed in 30 days.
- Fourth, the government will adopt additional tariff measures over the coming weeks to address risks associated with persistent global overcapacity and unfair trade in the steel and aluminum sectors, which are exacerbated by U.S. actions. Measures will be applied on the basis of “country of melt and pour” for steel and “country of smelt and cast” for aluminum.
- Fifth, the government will immediately create two government-stakeholder task forces, one for steel and one for aluminum. These committees will meet regularly to closely monitor trade and market trends to support government decision making – to better support our industries and workers.
- Finally, the new $10 billion Large Enterprise Tariff Loan facility remains open to applicants. This program supports eligible large businesses that are facing difficulties in accessing traditional sources of market financing by providing access to liquidity. This will help employers that were viable before the recent U.S. trade actions sustain their operations and return to financial resilience as the market stabilizes.
The government remains prepared to take additional steps as needed and will continue to review the appropriateness of its response, pending developments with U.S. tariffs. The federal government will continue to work closely with provinces and territories to ensure their input and regional interests are reflected in its response to the U.S. tariffs.

A remission process is in place to give businesses time to adjust their supply chains, with remissions currently granted under narrow, time-limited conditions to ensure a targeted and balanced approach. Additional individual requests are expected to be approved in the coming days. The Government of Canada will also review its remission framework to favour the use of Canadian steel and aluminum in Canadian-made products.

As the government defines a new economic and security relationship with the United States, it will defend the interests of Canadians, safeguard Canada’s workers and businesses, and build one Canadian economy – the strongest economy in the G7.

MIL OSI Canada News –
June 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Information overload: smartphones are exposing children to an avalanche of irrelevance

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dorje C. Brody, Professor of Mathematics, University of Surrey

Aleksandra Suzi/Shutterstock

More than 80% of children aged ten to 12 in the UK own a smartphone, according to a recent report by media watchdog Ofcom. Many people think this is a bad thing: there has been much debate about whether children should be allowed to have smartphones.

The discussions around the potential negative aspects of children’s smartphone use often focus on the possible mental health risks of social media, or how spending too much time glued to a screen rather than in nature or interacting with others might affect children. On the other hand, smartphones may help children stay connected and interact with supportive communities.

But there’s another aspect to this debate: information overload.

My research is in the science of information. Here we encounter one of the most fundamental laws of nature, commonly known as the second law of thermodynamics. It says that over time, order is replaced by disorder, and information is overshadowed by noise.

Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

To understand this idea in the context of messaging, think of the development of communication facilities. A long time ago, when it was difficult to disseminate information – mainly through handwritten letters that might take months to arrive – people would do so only if the information was of importance.

You wouldn’t expect a friend living a thousand miles away to inform you that their dog had just barked at a neighbour’s cat if it meant that missive would physically have to make a journey of a thousand miles.

Printing, wire communications, the internet and mobile devices have changed this. With each innovation that eases communication, the quality of information that is transmitted reduces.

Nowadays, much of the information surrounding us is noise. By noise, I mean insignificant and irrelevant information that no one needs to know. Nowadays, we know not only that our friend’s neighbour’s cat has been antagonising a dog, but about the lives of the cats and dogs of countless internet acquaintances and strangers.

Increasing noise contamination is a consequence of the law of nature that cannot be beaten easily, if at all. That said, with concerted efforts, sometimes the effect can be reversed momentarily.

Measuring information content

If irrelevant and insignificant information is “noise”, we can – using the terminology of communication theory – call information of interest the “signal”.

Imagine a child wanting to look up specific information on a smartphone for a school project – one of the planets in the Solar System, perhaps. The webpage they end up on contains a huge amount of unrelated information – reader comments, links to other content, maybe advertisements or videos. To reach the knowledge they are looking for, they will have to wade through, and end up absorbing, a huge amount of unnecessary information.

Information online is accompanied by a lot of irrelevant ‘noise’.
Ground Picture/Shutterstock

You can think of the proportion of relevant versus irrelevant or incorrect information as the signal-to-noise ratio. A calculation shows that typically, if the noise level doubles, you will have to consume about twice the amount of information to obtain the same level of relevant knowledge. That amounts to doubling your screen time.

So, if the noise level were to grow exponentially, as is inevitable from the second law, then you’ll have to consume exponentially more messages to get the same amount of relevant information. You’ll have to be glued to your smartphone 24-7. This is obviously something we want to avoid – for us and our children.

To make matters worse, the information we consume will affect what we consume next, and information overload can negatively affect this process. When this happens, it becomes all too easy to end up hopping from one site to another without gathering any useful information.

So is there a way out? Well, the answer, in theory, is simple. We just have to keep the level of noise low.

Biological systems in natural environments – that is, without human intervention – tend to maintain stable communication without increasing noise level very much. This is because the methods of communication between animals, typically through sound, olfactory, or visual signals, or between green plants, typically through volatile organic compounds, have hardly changed for thousands of years. Only humans are capable of advancing technologies that significantly increase confusion.

Limiting children’s access to these technologies means their environment becomes a lot less noisy and more calm. The same, of course, applies to adults. An outright ban on smartphones for children is impractical and possibly unhelpful – but creating an environment in which parents can comfortably say “no” to a smartphone, or alternatively in which parents can have an open and transparent dialogue with their children on their smartphone use, might work better.

Dorje C. Brody 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. Information overload: smartphones are exposing children to an avalanche of irrelevance – https://theconversation.com/information-overload-smartphones-are-exposing-children-to-an-avalanche-of-irrelevance-244604

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Silent night: anatomical solutions for snoring

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Michelle Spear, Professor of Anatomy, University of Bristol

Yuri A/Shutterstock.com

Snoring is often dismissed as a harmless quirk – or the punchline of bedtime jokes – but it can signal deeper issues that go beyond mere acoustic annoyance.

Snoring occurs when turbulent airflow causes soft tissue in the upper airway to vibrate during sleep. It can stem from something as minor as a blocked nose, but it can also hint at more serious concerns like obstructive sleep apnoea. This condition is linked to an increased risk of stroke and heart disease, impaired thinking, and fatigue that lasts all day.

For partners sharing a bed (it affects about 40% of men and 24% of women) the relentless drone of disrupted airflow can cause broken sleep, affecting mood, productivity and emotional wellbeing.

Addressing snoring is not just about restoring peace and quiet, it’s about improving your health. Understanding the anatomy involved opens the door to effective, non-invasive solutions.

Read more:
How Cpap machines work: the anatomical science behind a noisy night-time lifesaver

The nose

The problem often starts at the nose. When nasal breathing is impeded by allergies, polyps or a deviated septum, the body switches to mouth breathing. This increases airflow turbulence as it bypasses the nasal turbinates – bones covered by soft tissue that normally regulate airflow.

Nasal turbinates explained.

Saline nasal rinses and sprays can help clear allergens and mucus, promoting smooth airflow. And mechanical aids, such as nasal strips or nostril dilators, widen the nasal aperture, encouraging nose breathing. Even the simple act of practising nasal breathing during the day can help reduce snoring.

The jaw

A lower jaw that sits too far back – whether due to genetics or possibly injury – can cause the tongue to fall backwards during sleep and block the airway. If the mouth also falls open, it throws off the balance between the space in the mouth and the surrounding soft tissues, making snoring more likely.

Sleeping on your side counteracts this gravitational collapse, and “mandibular advancement devices” subtly reposition the jaw forward, mechanically enlarging the space behind the tongue – the so-called retroglossal airway.

For chronic mouth breathing, gently closing the lips with hypoallergenic tape can promote nasal breathing and help stabilise the jaw, when used safely.

The tongue

The tongue is no passive passenger during sleep. As we fall into deeper sleep, the muscles that keep it in place relax. In people with a large tongue, weak tongue muscles or a loose tongue tie, the tongue can fall backwards and block part of the airway. This makes the air passage smaller, causing air to rush through faster and increasing the vibrations that lead to snoring.

Targeted exercises can improve tongue strength and control, reducing this effect. One such exercise is the “tongue push-up”, where the tongue is pressed against the roof of the mouth and held for several seconds before relaxing.

Another involves sticking the tongue out as far as possible and moving it in different directions – up, down and side to side – to enhance flexibility and tone. For those prone to mouth breathing, mouth taping also plays a role by ensuring the tongue remains in its natural position, preventing it from collapsing backwards.

The soft palate

Just behind the mouth is the soft palate – a flexible, muscular part that continues from the hard roof of your mouth and ends in the uvula (the little dangly bit you often see in cartoons when a character screams or snores).

These soft tissues help control airflow and stop food or liquid from going up into the nose when you swallow. But during sleep – especially in REM sleep – the muscles in the throat that normally lift it become relaxed. In some people, this causes the soft palate to flap or sag into the airway, making breathing noisy and difficult.

A long soft palate or an enlarged uvula can make the problem worse. However, doing exercises to strengthen the muscles in this area can help stop them from collapsing during sleep. Singing, especially using sounds like “la” and “ka”, is a simple and effective way to do this.

Balloon blowing is another useful technique, as the resistance required to inflate a balloon tones the muscles of the palate and throat. A simpler approach is to mimic chewing motions while pressing the tongue to the roof of the mouth, which engages and strengthens the muscles in this area.

The pharynx

Deeper still lies the pharynx – a muscular conduit linking the nasal and oral cavities to the larynx and oesophagus. Unlike the bony nasal cavity, the pharynx is a collapsible tube. Its walls are lined with soft tissues such as the tonsils and adenoids, which, when enlarged, create bottlenecks.

The muscles in the throat help keep the airways open when you’re awake, but they relax during sleep. As we get older, or after drinking alcohol or taking sedatives, these muscles can become weaker.

In people who are overweight, extra fat around the neck can also create external pressure on the airway, especially when lying down. Doing specific breathing and voice exercises can help strengthen these muscles to keep the airway from collapsing.

Doesn’t have to be this way

Snoring may be the soundtrack of sleep for many, but it doesn’t have to be the norm.

Beneath the nightly noise lies a fascinating anatomy, one that, when understood, offers simple, effective solutions. From strengthening sleepy muscles to fine-tuning the way we breathe, the path to quieter nights doesn’t always require surgery or machines.

Sometimes, all it takes is a shift in sleeping position, a splash of saline or even a balloon. So if you’re dreaming of a silent night, start by getting to know your airway.

Michelle Spear 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. Silent night: anatomical solutions for snoring – https://theconversation.com/silent-night-anatomical-solutions-for-snoring-247729

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: British holidaymaker dies from rabies: what you need to know about the disease and getting the jab if you’re going abroad this summer

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dan Baumgardt, Senior Lecturer, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol

Olexandr Panchenko/Shutterstock.com

The recent death of a British woman from rabies after a holiday in Morocco is a sobering reminder of the risks posed by this almost universally fatal disease, once symptoms begin.

If you’re considering travelling to a country where rabies is endemic, understanding how rabies works – and how to protect yourself – may go a long way in helping you stay safe.

Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

Rabies is a zoonotic disease – meaning it is transmitted from animals to humans – and is caused by a viral infection. In 99% of cases the source of the infection is a member of the canidae family (such as dogs, foxes and wolves). Bats are another animal group strongly associated with rabies, as the virus is endemic in many bat populations.

Even in countries that are officially rabies-free, including in their domestic animal populations – such as Australia, Sweden and New Zealand – the virus may still be found in native bat species. Other animals known to transmit rabies include raccoons, cats and skunks.

Rabies is caused by lyssaviruses (lit. rage or fury viruses), which are found in the saliva of infected animals. Transmission to humans can occur through bites, scratches or licks to broken skin or mucous membranes, such as those in the mouth. Once inside the body, the virus spreads to eventually reach the nervous system.

Because it causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, symptoms are primarily neurological, often stemming from damage to the nerve pathways responsible for sensation and muscle control.

Patients who develop rabies symptoms often experience altered skin sensation and progressive paralysis. As the virus affects the brain, it can also cause hallucinations, and unusual or erratic behaviours. One particularly distinctive symptom – hydrophobia, a serious aversion to water – is believed to result from severe pain and difficulty associated with swallowing.

Once rabies symptoms appear, the virus has already caused irreversible damage. At this stage, treatment is limited to supportive intensive care aimed at easing discomfort – such as providing fluids, sedation and relief from pain and seizures. Death typically results from progressive neurological deterioration, which ultimately leads to respiratory failure.

It’s important to note that rabies symptoms can take several weeks, or even months, to appear. During this incubation period, there may be no signs that prompt people to seek medical help. However, this window is crucial as it offers the best chance to administer treatment and prevent the virus from progressing.

Another danger lies in how the virus is transmitted. Even animals that don’t appear rabid – the classical frothing mouth and aggressive behaviour for instance – can still transmit the virus.

Rabies can be transmitted through even superficial breaks in the skin, so minor wounds should not be dismissed or treated less seriously. It’s also important to remember that bat wounds can often be felt but not seen. This makes them easy to overlook, should there be no bleeding or clear mark on the skin.

Don’t be tempted to pet stray animals in rabies endemic countries, not matter how cute they appear.
cristi180884/Shutterstock.com

The vaccine

The good news is that there are proven and effective ways to protect yourself from rabies – either before travelling to a higher-risk area, or after possible exposure to an infected animal.

Modern rabies vaccines are far easier to administer than older versions, which some may recall – often with discomfort. In the past, treatment involved multiple frequent injections (over 20 in all) into the abdomen using a large needle. This was the case for a friend of mine who grew up in Africa and was one day bitten by a dog just hours after it had been attacked by a hyena.

The vaccine can now be given as an injection into a muscle, for instance in the shoulder, and a typical preventative course requires three doses. Since the protective effect can wane with time, booster shots may be needed for some individuals to maintain protection.

Sustaining a bite from any animal should always be taken seriously. Aside from rabies, animals carry many potentially harmful bacteria in their mouths, which can cause skin and soft tissue infections – or sepsis if they spread to the bloodstream.

Read more:
How to treat a wound – without using superglue, grout or vodka, like some people

First aid and wound treatment is the first port of call, and seeking urgent medical attention for any bites, scratches or licks to exposed skin or mucous membranes sustained abroad. In the UK, this also applies to any injuries sustained from bats.

A doctor will evaluate the risk based on the wound, the animal involved, whether the patient has had previous vaccines, and in which country they were bitten, among other things. This will help to guide treatment, which might include vaccines alone or combined with an infusion of immunoglobulin infusions – special antibodies that target the virus.

Timing is crucial. The sooner treatment is started, the better the outcome. This is why it is so important to seek medical help immediately.

In making the decision whether you should get a vaccine before going on holiday, there are recommendations, but ultimately the choice is individual. Think about what the healthcare is like where you are going and whether you’ll be able to get treatment easily if you need it.

Vaccines can have side-effects, though these tend to be relatively minor, and the intended benefits vastly exceed the costs. And of course avoid contact with stray animals while on holiday, despite how tempting it may be to pet them.

Several rules of thumb can counteract the dangers of rabies: plan your holiday carefully, seek travel advice from your GP, and always treat animal bites and scrapes seriously.

Dan Baumgardt 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. British holidaymaker dies from rabies: what you need to know about the disease and getting the jab if you’re going abroad this summer – https://theconversation.com/british-holidaymaker-dies-from-rabies-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-disease-and-getting-the-jab-if-youre-going-abroad-this-summer-259325

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Jaws at 50: the Jewish sensibility that shaped Spielberg’s blockbuster and transformed cinema

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nathan Abrams, Professor of Film Studies, Bangor University

It’s hard to believe Steven Spielberg was just 27 when he directed Jaws. Before that he’d mostly worked in television, helming episodes of detective show Columbo and the acclaimed TV movie Duel. He’d made just one theatrical feature, The Sugarland Express.

Then came Jaws, a technically ambitious shoot set on open water with a mechanical shark that barely worked. But the result was a record-breaking blockbuster that redefined what Hollywood could be.

Adapted from Peter Benchley’s 1974 novel, the film almost didn’t happen. When Spielberg first read it he said he found himself rooting for the shark because the human characters were so unlikable.

What followed was a series of creative rewrites and re-castings that gave Jaws its distinctive personality and enduring power.

Spielberg brought in Howard Sackler, a writer and scuba diver, to work on the script. Sackler left early without a screen credit. The director then turned to actor Carl Gottlieb, originally hired to play a toadying local newspaper editor, to redraft the script. Screenwriter and director John Milius, a second world war expert, also contributed.

John Williams added what became an iconic musical score. Its simple two-note motif created suspense and became one of the most recognisable cinematic themes of all time.

Jaws’ opening shark attack featuring its iconic score by John Williams.

As a researcher of Jewishness in popular culture, I argue that many of these creatives brought a Jewish sensibility that lurked beneath the surface of the film.

Spielberg took Benchley’s bitter, cynical and pessimistic novel and gave it a more hopeful vibe. He even humanised the shark, giving it the name Bruce after his lawyer, Bruce Ramer, a powerful and influential Los Angeles attorney specialising in entertainment law, also Jewish.

That choice layers in unexpected meanings, from the “loan shark” stereotype to echoes of Shakespeare’s Shylock from The Merchant of Venice.

Hooper v Quint

Spielberg cast Jewish actor Richard Dreyfuss as Matt Hooper, the young ichthyologist and oceanographer. Against him stood Robert Shaw as Quint, the grizzled boat captain, who is a sexist, misogynistic, racist macho drunk. Hooper is everything Quint is not. Making up the triumvirate is Roy Scheider as police captain Martin Brody. Together, the three seek to capture and kill the shark that is menacing the town of Amity.

The casting of Dreyfuss as Hooper, whom Spielberg called “my alter ego”, significantly changed the character and the tone of the film. Together, Dreyfuss, Gottlieb and Spielberg fleshed out Hooper’s part, making him much more sympathetic than in the novel. He became a “nebbishy novice on a swift learning curve”.

For Spielberg, Hooper “represents the underdog in all of us”. Benchley, however, was less than impressed, describing him as “an insufferable, pedantic little schmuck”. It’s telling that Benchley used a Yiddish epithet to describe Hooper as if recognising his underlying Jewishness.

Together, Spielberg and Gottlieb used Hooper as a mouthpiece to voice a social perspective. Brody wishes to close the beaches but is prevented from doing so by the mayor and the town council because Amity needs the business. The mayor puts commerce before human life. In a shift from Benchley’s novel where the pressure to keep the beaches open comes from shadowy pseudo-Mafia figures in the background, Spielberg placed the blame firmly on Amity’s merchants and civic representatives.

Throughout, Spielberg undermines the dominant masculinity of the screen action hero of the 1970s. This was an era dominated by men like Burt Reynolds, Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman. Nerdy Hooper outlives Quint, who becomes the shark’s fifth victim (hence his name, which is Latin for five or fifth). To show his contempt for Quint, Spielberg gives him a particularly gruesome death.

Quint gets eaten.

And because Spielberg identified with the shark, we see things from its subjective perspective. This was also dictated by pragmatic concerns as the mechanical shark kept breaking down. Shooting the killings from the shark’s point of view was a cinematic device borrowed from A Study in Terror (1965), a British thriller about Jack the Ripper.

Jaws was a box office smash, breaking records previously set by The Godfather and The Exorcist and becoming the first film to reach the US$100 million (£74.5 million) mark at the American box office.

Read more:
Jaws at 50: a cinematic masterpiece – and an incredible piece of propaganda

Before Jaws, studios typically released major films in the autumn and winter, leaving the summer for lower-quality movies. Jaws proved that it could be a prime time for big-budget, high-profile releases, leading to the current dominance of tentpole films during the summer season.

It pioneered the strategy of opening a film in a wide release, rather than a gradual rollout. This helped it break box office records and redefine Hollywood’s practices. It was something that people got excited about, planned for and lined up for tickets in advance.

Why has the film lasted?

Half a century on, Jaws still has the power to shock. When I took my kids to see the 3D re-release, we all jumped during the scene when the decapitated head bobbed out of the sunken boat – even though I knew it was coming.

Another reason why the film has lasted is the shark itself. It’s a primal, prehistoric creature that taps into our deepest fears. Quint calls it a thing with “lifeless eyes, black eyes, like a doll’s eyes”. It’s a chilling line.

Read more:
50 years after ‘Jaws,’ researchers have retired the man-eater myth and revealed more about sharks’ amazing biology

But the film also works as allegory. The shark is a floating (or swimming) signifier, open to interpretation. Amity, the town it terrorises, is all white picket fences and small-town harmony. The shark’s arrival punctures that illusion.

There’s also a political undercurrent. Hooper becomes the conscience of the film, voicing the dangers of civic denial and inaction.

And in the end, Jaws isn’t just about a shark. It’s about masculinity, morality and capitalism. It’s about the stories we tell ourselves to feel safe. That’s why it endures. That, and one of the most iconic scores in cinema history – John Williams’ two-note motif that still makes swimmers glance nervously at the waterline to this day.

Nathan Abrams receives and has previously received external funding from charities and government-funded, foundation or research council grants.

– ref. Jaws at 50: the Jewish sensibility that shaped Spielberg’s blockbuster and transformed cinema – https://theconversation.com/jaws-at-50-the-jewish-sensibility-that-shaped-spielbergs-blockbuster-and-transformed-cinema-253292

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Indigenous engagement is essential for small modular nuclear reactor projects

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Rhea Desai, Post Doctoral Fellow, Department of Biology, McMaster University

Urban Indigenous gathering for community well-being, showing the importance of interconnectedness in Indigenous Communities in Hamilton, Ont. in August 2021. This way of being must be reflected in nuclear projects to better work alongside Indigenous Peoples. (Michelle Webb)

With climate change-fuelled natural disasters becoming more frequent and devastating for communities around the world, the need for cleaner energy solutions is more urgent than ever.

When it comes to transitioning away from fossil fuels, much of the focus tends to be on solar, wind or hydroelectricity. However, small modular reactors (SMRs) are an emerging technology showing promise globally.

SMRs are a specific type of nuclear reactor that, as the name suggests, are small in energy output and modular in their manufacturing. Provinces like New Brunswick, Alberta and Saskatchewan have made progress on strategic plans to make SMRs part of their provincial climate action plans.

Unlike traditional nuclear reactors that generally produce more than 1,000 megawatts of electricity, SMRs are designed to produce as low as five megawatts. The modularity of such reactors allows for manufacturing off-site and installation at the desired location. This can decrease construction time, manufacturing costs and certain environmental costs associated with building on site.

This means SMRs are more feasible for many off-grid communities that lack reliable access to electricity, many of which are Indigenous. In 2023, the Canada Energy regulator said there were 178 remote Indigenous and northern communities not connected to the North American electricity grid and natural gas infrastructure.

In an effort to shift reliability from carbon-emitting resources to nuclear power, SMRs provide an exciting alternative, but implementation needs effective engagement with Indigenous communities to flourish.

Small modular reactors (SMRs) could be relatively feasible way to generate power for many off-grid communities.
(A. Vargas/IAEA)

Engaging Indigenous communities

Much of Canada’s electricity is already generated from low-carbon emission sources. However, there are still areas in northern Canada that are reliant on diesel, and therefore SMR plans are often aimed at providing electricity to these communities.

While on paper, this might sound like the perfect solution, there’s a lot to consider about SMR siting from an environmental perspective in these remote communities. These considerations include but are not limited to potential locations, source term, refuelling and waste management.

As research continues into the engineering and science behind SMR technology, meaningful community engagement with Indigenous communities is also required.

Thoughtfully considered and integrated consultations are necessary to ensure projects respect treaties, land rights and the surrounding environment. Consultation is needed to understand the needs and goals of the community for creating an energy transition plan.

In addition, incorporating traditional ecological knowledge in environmental risk assessments is vital. Ultimately, projects designed alongside Indigenous communities should strive for Indigenous sovereignty over growing infrastructure.

Why community engagement is important

Indigenous communities continue to face challenges as a result of colonization. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) seventh Call to Action highlights the need to eliminate educational and employment disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians.

A direct way to address in terms of Canada’s nuclear landscape is to train members of those communities in technical roles related to the planning, deployment and sustained use of a nuclear facility. Specifically, training today’s Indigenous youth so they can fulfil these roles in their future careers.

The TRC’s Call to Action 92 calls on Canada’s corporate sector to engage in meaningful consultation, respectful relationship-building and equitable access to training and education opportunities that will contribute to long-term benefits from any economic development projects.

Through understanding the need for this relationship-building, there is a lot that western practices can learn from adopting Indigenous ways of knowing. Indigenous people have a long history of sustainable practices in their culture and traditions, and although western science now consider sustainable practices, it is not deeply woven into community and industrial initiatives.

As nuclear projects advance in Canada, it’s vital to respect Indigenous knowledge through weaving with western science. Projects can adopt a Two-Eyed seeing approach. This refers to viewing a problem with one eye using an Indigenous knowledge perspective and the other with a western knowledge lens. There is much to learn from understanding the philosophy behind Indigenous ways of knowing that can be applied to protect the environment.

Indigenous knowledge varies across Canada and comes with different insights, but a commonality is the teaching that all living things are interconnected and must be respected and cared for. This perspective is necessary for the future of nuclear projects to ensure the environment is sustained to support the biodiversity of regions throughout Canada.

This informed approach of protecting the environment, together with an ecosystem approach that considers the uniqueness and interconectedness of each organism, will ultimately lead to improved nuclear policies and safety.

The actions that institutions and private industry take today to build strong relationships with Indigenous communities and work towards an increasingly sustainable future will support already resilient communities so they can see growth well beyond the deployment of SMRs. A path to a cleaner future is in reach, but only if we walk beside Indigenous leaders, knowledge holders, community members and, especially, youth.

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. Indigenous engagement is essential for small modular nuclear reactor projects – https://theconversation.com/indigenous-engagement-is-essential-for-small-modular-nuclear-reactor-projects-252134

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 20, 2025
Dr. Jitendra Singh highlights 11 years of transformational growth in space, tech and innovation

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

In a compelling address at the Economic Times Education Summit 2025, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh underscored the sweeping technological transformation that has permeated Indian society over the past 11 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. The Minister, who holds charge of Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and the Department of Space, said India is now witnessing an unprecedented wave of scientific advancement and innovation reaching into every household.

Dr. Singh credited this shift to the creation of an enabling ecosystem that has nurtured talent across sectors. He pointed to “Operation Sindoor” as a landmark achievement that showcases India’s enhanced scientific capacity and defense readiness, particularly in countering drone and missile threats.

“There was never a lack of talent in this country. What we lacked was an enabling environment to nurture it. PM Modi’s visionary leadership over the past decade has created that ecosystem,” said the Minister.

He highlighted the impact of key reforms such as the opening up of the space and nuclear sectors, which he said have had a multiplier effect on diverse fields including agriculture, education, defence, disaster management, land records, and e-governance.

Emphasizing India’s emergence as a global hub for aspirational youth, Dr. Singh said the nation is now defined by its scientific ambitions and technological confidence. “The rise of aspirations enabled by science and innovation is testimony to the Ease of Living as well as the Ease of Doing Research. Indians abroad today wear their identity with pride, and the world respects that,” he said.

Reflecting on India’s economic journey, the Minister projected that the country’s continued ascent to becoming the fourth-largest economy and beyond would be driven by core sectors such as space, marine technology, and biotechnology. He drew special attention to the recently launched BIO-e3 Policy, which centers on Economy, Employment, and Environment, calling it a catalyst for a biotechnology revolution.

Dr. Singh also spotlighted India’s achievements in healthcare, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the development of the world’s first DNA-based vaccine and the execution of the largest vaccination campaign globally.

He lauded India’s rapid progress in space exploration, recalling the landmark Chandrayaan-3 mission that made India the first country to land on the Moon’s South Pole. Looking ahead, he said India’s participation in the upcoming Axiom-4 mission, with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as Mission Pilot, marks a new chapter of international collaboration in space. This mission will feature Indian-developed biotechnology experiments focusing on space nutrition and self-sustaining life support systems using microgravity-compatible biotech kits.

“These kits, conceptualized and validated by Indian scientists, will lay the foundation for long-duration human spaceflight research,” he stated.

The Minister also projected robust growth for India’s space economy, estimating a rise from the current $8 billion to $44 billion in the coming years. He noted that India now has over 300 space startups, a remarkable leap from the single-digit count in 2014. Space medicine, he added, would be a key frontier in which India is already making strides.

Highlighting the use of technology for citizen-centric governance, Dr. Singh cited innovations like face recognition technology for pension verification and the evolution of the CPGRAMS grievance redressal system, which now handles 26 lakh complaints annually, up from just 2 lakh in 2014.

While acknowledging the growing role of artificial intelligence, Dr. Singh cautioned against over-reliance on AI-only models and advocated for a hybrid approach that integrates AI with human judgment to maintain empathy and integrity in governance.

“India has matured into a nation where scientific research is not just academic—it’s strategic, secure, and sovereign,” he concluded.

June 20, 2025
Dr. Jitendra Singh highlights 11 years of transformational growth in space, tech and innovation

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

In a compelling address at the Economic Times Education Summit 2025, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh underscored the sweeping technological transformation that has permeated Indian society over the past 11 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. The Minister, who holds charge of Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and the Department of Space, said India is now witnessing an unprecedented wave of scientific advancement and innovation reaching into every household.

Dr. Singh credited this shift to the creation of an enabling ecosystem that has nurtured talent across sectors. He pointed to “Operation Sindoor” as a landmark achievement that showcases India’s enhanced scientific capacity and defense readiness, particularly in countering drone and missile threats.

“There was never a lack of talent in this country. What we lacked was an enabling environment to nurture it. PM Modi’s visionary leadership over the past decade has created that ecosystem,” said the Minister.

He highlighted the impact of key reforms such as the opening up of the space and nuclear sectors, which he said have had a multiplier effect on diverse fields including agriculture, education, defence, disaster management, land records, and e-governance.

Emphasizing India’s emergence as a global hub for aspirational youth, Dr. Singh said the nation is now defined by its scientific ambitions and technological confidence. “The rise of aspirations enabled by science and innovation is testimony to the Ease of Living as well as the Ease of Doing Research. Indians abroad today wear their identity with pride, and the world respects that,” he said.

Reflecting on India’s economic journey, the Minister projected that the country’s continued ascent to becoming the fourth-largest economy and beyond would be driven by core sectors such as space, marine technology, and biotechnology. He drew special attention to the recently launched BIO-e3 Policy, which centers on Economy, Employment, and Environment, calling it a catalyst for a biotechnology revolution.

Dr. Singh also spotlighted India’s achievements in healthcare, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the development of the world’s first DNA-based vaccine and the execution of the largest vaccination campaign globally.

He lauded India’s rapid progress in space exploration, recalling the landmark Chandrayaan-3 mission that made India the first country to land on the Moon’s South Pole. Looking ahead, he said India’s participation in the upcoming Axiom-4 mission, with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as Mission Pilot, marks a new chapter of international collaboration in space. This mission will feature Indian-developed biotechnology experiments focusing on space nutrition and self-sustaining life support systems using microgravity-compatible biotech kits.

“These kits, conceptualized and validated by Indian scientists, will lay the foundation for long-duration human spaceflight research,” he stated.

The Minister also projected robust growth for India’s space economy, estimating a rise from the current $8 billion to $44 billion in the coming years. He noted that India now has over 300 space startups, a remarkable leap from the single-digit count in 2014. Space medicine, he added, would be a key frontier in which India is already making strides.

Highlighting the use of technology for citizen-centric governance, Dr. Singh cited innovations like face recognition technology for pension verification and the evolution of the CPGRAMS grievance redressal system, which now handles 26 lakh complaints annually, up from just 2 lakh in 2014.

While acknowledging the growing role of artificial intelligence, Dr. Singh cautioned against over-reliance on AI-only models and advocated for a hybrid approach that integrates AI with human judgment to maintain empathy and integrity in governance.

“India has matured into a nation where scientific research is not just academic—it’s strategic, secure, and sovereign,” he concluded.

June 20, 2025
India-UK FTA paves way for actionable cooperation in trade, technology: Piyush Goyal

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has reaffirmed India’s commitment to transitioning the free trade agreement (FTA) from a negotiated text into a transformative economic partnership, the ministry said on Thursday.

The minister showcased India’s strategic global outlook and economic leadership at the India Global Forum (IGF) 2025 in London. His visit marked a significant moment following the historic signing of the India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in May 2025.

Delivering the keynote address, the Union Minister described the FTA as a reflection of shared ambition between two vibrant democracies. He stated that the agreement not only enhances bilateral trade, but also demonstrates India’s ability to negotiate balanced and future-oriented trade frameworks aligned with its national interests.

Goyal was joined by UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, with moderation by international journalist Mark Barton.

Outlining the next phase of implementation, Goyal highlighted key priorities such as strengthening institutional mechanisms for joint governance, unlocking early benefits for SMEs and startups, and facilitating smooth mobility of skilled professionals across sectors.

On June 19, the Union Minister participated in a special session on “UK–India Science, Technology and Innovation Collaboration” at the Science Museum in London.

The session explored opportunities for UK stakeholders to contribute to India’s expanding investments in digital public infrastructure, sustainable manufacturing, and green technologies.

Discussions also covered efforts to make India a global manufacturing hub through Make in India, PLI schemes, and enhancing collaboration in sectors such as fintech, artificial intelligence, and creative industries, according to the ministry.

The FTA’s role in deepening cooperation in critical technologies, defence production, and advanced manufacturing was also highlighted. The session further examined how innovations like UPI and CoWIN can be scaled globally through bilateral collaboration.

“By leveraging the India–UK FTA, both nations aim to unlock new avenues in goods, services, technology, and innovation for shared prosperity,” said the ministry.

(IANS)

June 20, 2025
India-UK FTA paves way for actionable cooperation in trade, technology: Piyush Goyal

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has reaffirmed India’s commitment to transitioning the free trade agreement (FTA) from a negotiated text into a transformative economic partnership, the ministry said on Thursday.

The minister showcased India’s strategic global outlook and economic leadership at the India Global Forum (IGF) 2025 in London. His visit marked a significant moment following the historic signing of the India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in May 2025.

Delivering the keynote address, the Union Minister described the FTA as a reflection of shared ambition between two vibrant democracies. He stated that the agreement not only enhances bilateral trade, but also demonstrates India’s ability to negotiate balanced and future-oriented trade frameworks aligned with its national interests.

Goyal was joined by UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, with moderation by international journalist Mark Barton.

Outlining the next phase of implementation, Goyal highlighted key priorities such as strengthening institutional mechanisms for joint governance, unlocking early benefits for SMEs and startups, and facilitating smooth mobility of skilled professionals across sectors.

On June 19, the Union Minister participated in a special session on “UK–India Science, Technology and Innovation Collaboration” at the Science Museum in London.

The session explored opportunities for UK stakeholders to contribute to India’s expanding investments in digital public infrastructure, sustainable manufacturing, and green technologies.

Discussions also covered efforts to make India a global manufacturing hub through Make in India, PLI schemes, and enhancing collaboration in sectors such as fintech, artificial intelligence, and creative industries, according to the ministry.

The FTA’s role in deepening cooperation in critical technologies, defence production, and advanced manufacturing was also highlighted. The session further examined how innovations like UPI and CoWIN can be scaled globally through bilateral collaboration.

“By leveraging the India–UK FTA, both nations aim to unlock new avenues in goods, services, technology, and innovation for shared prosperity,” said the ministry.

(IANS)

June 20, 2025
MIL-OSI: Italian Science Fiction Writer Roberto Quaglia Participates in SPIEF-2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

MOSCOW, RUSSIA, June 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is in Russia from June 18 to 21. Among the participants is Italian writer and publicist Roberto Quaglia, holder of the title of Europe’s best science fiction writer. He noted the significance of SPIEF as a space where the architecture of the future world is being formed.

“There are places in time and space where the future is created. This is one of them. Today, a new multipolar world is born—with new connections, centres of power, and initiatives. The economy plays a decisive role here, and that is precisely why the forum in Russia has special significance,” emphasised Roberto Quaglia.

One of the main events of the first day of SPIEF was the session “Shaping a New Platform for Global Growth”, which opened the business program. It was organised based on the results of the Open Dialogue of the Russia National Centre. Leading specialists from Russia, Cameroon, Spain, Azerbaijan, and Canada participated in the discussion, as well as authors of the best essays from the Open Dialogue.

Experts discussed tectonic shifts in the world system, Africa’s potential as a centre of future economic development, demographic challenges, and the role of advanced technologies. Special attention was paid to the theme of the economy’s cultural foundations and business’s social responsibility. Maxim Oreshkin noted that open and substantive dialogue is necessary to develop sustainable solutions.

Social Links

Telegram: https://t.me/gowithRussia

VK: https://vk.com/gowithrussia

Media Contact

Brand: Russia National Centre

Contact: Media Team

Email: pressa@russia.ru

Website: https://future.russia.ru/

The MIL Network –

June 20, 2025