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Category: Science

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Agriculture Minister proposes biosecurity compact to safeguard SA’s food systems

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Agriculture Minister, John Steenhuisen, has proposed the development of a National Biosecurity Compact – shared commitment between government, industry, academia, and civil society to strengthen South Africa’s preparedness and resilience against biological threats.

    Speaking at the National Biosecurity Summit 2025, held at the University of Pretoria’s Hatfield Campus on Tuesday, Steenhuisen outlined the objectives of the proposed compact, which aims to coordinate national responses to animal and plant health risks.

    “This compact will define baseline vaccine stock levels; clarify roles and responsibilities during outbreaks; embed data-sharing mechanisms and institutional partnerships like the Biosecurity Hub; and provide a framework for coordinated, credible, and timely responses,” Steenhuisen said.

    Steenhuisen argued that the initiative is not only about defending against risk, but “it is about enabling growth.”

    He said export markets require sanitary and phytosanitary compliance, and they demand evidence of control, traceability, and institutional readiness.

    “Strengthening our biosecurity systems opens the door to new trade opportunities, safeguards jobs, and boosts investor confidence in South African agriculture. Biosecurity is not a “nice-to-have”, [but] it is as fundamental to national stability as clean water, reliable electricity, or functioning roads.

    “When it works, farmers prosper, food remains affordable, and our exports flourish. When it fails, the consequences are steep—economically, socially, and politically. We have the tools [and] the institutions, and now, we have the momentum,” the Minister said.

    The Minister also noted one of the country’s most significant structural weaknesses, vaccine production, highlighting operational backlogs and infrastructure limitations at Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) – the country’s primary vaccine producer.

    “We cannot afford to repeat the failures of the past. Vaccines are not a luxury – they are the first line of defence in any biosecurity system, and we will hold OBP accountable.”

    To address these challenges, the Minister announced that his office has implemented quarterly performance reviews, brought independent oversight, and is actively investigating diversification options to reduce dependence on a single supplier.

    Addressing veterinarian shortage

    The Minister also raised concerns about the critical shortage of veterinarians, particularly in the poultry industry and rural areas.
    “Nationally, we require 400 veterinarians. We currently have around 70 in the public system,” the Minister said.

    To close this gap, he said the department is expanding vet training posts, creating rural internships opportunities, and building regional partnerships.

    “Through the Biosecurity Hub, we are also mapping career pathways to attract a new generation of animal health professionals.”

    Biosecurity Hub at Innovation Africa

    Launched in October 2022, the Biosecurity Hub is a joint initiative between the Department of Agriculture, then Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), and Department of Science Technology and Innovation.

    The hub is an innovative platform designed to foster collaboration, enhance information sharing, and strengthen our collective capacity to respond to biological threats, not only for South Africa, but potentially across the continent.

    It is a strategic outcome aligned with the overarching objectives of the Agricultural Agro-Processing Masterplan (AAPM) and the Decadal Plan. Both these national frameworks emphasise the importance of safeguarding agricultural value chains, promoting sustainable, trade, agro-processing, and ensuring food security utilising also biotechnologically advanced practices. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • India, Norway reaffirm commitment to sustainable ocean governance at UN conference in France

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh met with Norway’s Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, Marianne Sivertsen Ness, in Nice, France, on Wednesday to advance bilateral cooperation in sustainable fisheries and ocean governance. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3).

    During their bilateral and delegation-level discussions, the two Ministers reaffirmed their countries’ long-standing partnership in marine resource management and the broader blue economy. The talks focused on shared priorities, including the sustainable use of marine resources, data sharing, and joint efforts to address overfishing and marine pollution, the Ministry of Earth Sciences said in a statement.

    Both sides emphasized the importance of global cooperation under the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), with a focus on knowledge exchange, technology sharing, and capacity building. They also discussed expanding existing collaborations aligned with the development of a sustainable and inclusive blue economy.

    The India-Norway dialogue is viewed as a key step toward reinforcing multilateral efforts to ensure the long-term sustainability of global ocean resources, said the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Representatives from 24 countries took part in the XXV Yasin International Scientific Conference of the Higher School of Economics

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    Program Committee of the Jubilee XXV Yasinsky (April) International Scientific Conference on Problems of Economic and Social Development (YaMNK) summed up the first results. In 2025, 1,384 people from 24 countries and 29 Russian regions took part in the conference events, 335 people made presentations.

    This year, for the first time, the conference was held in a scientific format only. The architecture of the program also changed, it was compiled within the framework of five scientific topics: “Economics”, “Human Capital and Society”, “Foresight Research”, “International Research”, “Instrumental Methods and Models in Management and Social Sciences”.

    Traditionally, many applications were submitted to the conference. This year, the competition was 3 people per place. Of the 1035 applications, 381 applications passed the scientific examination, and as a result, 335 people presented their papers at the conference.

    “I would like to especially emphasize that many applications were interesting, but during the selection we adhered to the principles that we always talk about, namely: a clear description of the problem under consideration and the extent to which it has been studied, an indication of the research methodology and its main results, their validity and novelty,” says Fuad Aleskerov, Chairman of the XXV YMNC Program Committee. “No less important was the criterion of compliance with the designated volume of the abstract.

    The diversity of affiliations in the program was an important factor. We are interested in making the conference open to many scientific schools, including those from Russian regions and foreign countries.”

    The conference doors were open to many participants. Thus, a total of 1,384 people took part in it, of which 637 were participants in sections and special events, and 747 were conference listeners. Among the participants were guests from 24 foreign countries and 29 Russian regions.

    “We thank everyone who applied and took part in the events. We believe that the discussions were held at the highest level and the Yasin (April) International Scientific Conference has retained its position as one of the leading conferences in its segment. We are already starting to work on organizing the next conference, so stay tuned for announcements and see you in the spring of 2026 at the HSE,” said Fuad Aleskerov.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic presented its initiatives to the rectors of BRICS countries at forums in Brazil

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    Rio de Janeiro hosted large-scale events — the second forum of university rectors from Russia, Brazil and Belarus, as well as the second forum of university rectors from the BRICS countries. The events were organized by the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro with the support of national rectors’ communities, including the Russian Union of Rectors. They became a powerful platform for strengthening academic ties and promoting joint initiatives. The forums were attended by more than 50 representatives of universities from Russia and Belarus, delegations from Iran, India, China, South Africa, Ethiopia, Indonesia and more than 60 universities from Brazil.

    At the section on educational cooperation, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Konstantin Mogilevsky emphasized the unique role of BRICS in the modern world: In the conditions of international turbulence, it is education and science that are becoming the most important tools for finding joint answers to global challenges. The BRICS association is one of the few international platforms where interaction is built on the principles of mutual respect and equality, where there are no main ones, where everyone is equal and is committed to working together for the sake of a common future. We see that this approach is of interest and response to many countries. The creation of a ranking of BRICS universities is especially relevant in the conditions of political commitment of the headquarters of international rating agencies. The new system for assessing the quality of education is in great demand.

    The Deputy Minister spoke in detail about the dynamic expansion of the association (the accession of new members: Egypt, Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Indonesia) and the priorities of the educational agenda. This is the development of the BRICS Network University, recognition of qualifications, support for talented youth and the creation of its own BRICS university ranking.

    The key sections and plenary session were held at the Museum of Tomorrow. SPbPU was represented by a delegation consisting of Vladimir Shchepinin, Director of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade; Ekaterina Belyaevskaya, Head of the Department of International Interuniversity Cooperation; and Nikita Lukashevich and Olga Ergunova, associate professors at the Graduate School of Management and Management. Vladimir Shchepinin spoke at one of the sessions, presenting the Polytechnic University as a key player in the scientific and educational space of Russia in the field of technological development. He drew the attention of the rectors’ community to the potential of SPbPU in solving the problems of sustainable development of the BRICS countries.

    At the thematic session “Artificial Intelligence and Education in the BRICS Countries”, Olga Ergunova presented a report “AI Optimization of Human Resource Management in Smart Cities”, based on the results of a large-scale scientific project supported by the Russian Science Foundation (grant No. 25-28-01469). She described in detail the neural network model developed under the auspices of the RSF for forecasting and managing labor markets in the BRICS megacities (Shanghai, Bangalore, Moscow, Sao Paulo).

    Olga Ergunova drew the attention of those gathered to a successful example of comprehensive cooperation between the BRICS countries — the international competition for young researchers “SMART CITY 2030: Sustainable Development Management of BRICS Cities”. The event was first held in 2024 in pilot mode and generated considerable interest. In 2025, the co-organizers of the competition are SPbPU, the Russian Institute of Tsinghua University (China), Lovely Professional University (India) and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). The Rectors’ Forum provided an opportunity to announce the expansion of the competition and invite new representatives of the BRICS countries to participate.

    The SPbPU delegation held talks with existing partner universities in Brazil (these are nine leading universities in the country), and also met with new promising educational institutions and agencies. Among them are the Federal Agency for Technological Education, the Secretariat for Supervision and Development in Higher Education. Both agencies operate under the Ministry of Education of Brazil.

    Polytechnic University signed cooperation agreements with the Federal University of Fluminense and the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro.

    During working meetings and negotiations with rectors and representatives of university delegations, projects in the field of joint research, academic mobility, joint educational programs of double degrees and the organization of summer schools were discussed.

    In the context of changing global educational landscapes, Brazilian universities are becoming key centers for ensuring the scientific and technological sovereignty of the BRICS countries. Their competencies in the field of sustainable development, green economy, bioeconomy, agribusiness, artificial intelligence and other areas, supplemented by Russian fundamental science, form a unique ecosystem of cooperation, its integration into the BRICS educational space through the mechanisms of the BRICS Network University. They allow the creation of new formats of cooperation that combine academic mobility with applied research in areas that are strategic for the countries, noted Vladimir Shchepinin.

    A pleasant surprise was the delegation’s meeting with a 1988 Polytechnic graduate, Electo Eduardo Silva Lora. He is currently a professor and holds the post of head of the Scientific Institute at the Federal University of Itajuba, a leading university in the field of electric power and electrical engineering. Electo Silva Lora spoke excellent Russian and recalled his teachers, professors at the Polytechnic University, with great warmth. He expressed a desire to renew scientific and academic ties with his alma mater and is already interacting with colleagues from the Institute of Power Engineering.

    In addition, Olga Ergunova visited the leading business school of Latin America — FGV EBAPE (Getulio Vargas Foundation), holder of the prestigious “Triple Crown” of accreditations (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS). She held business negotiations with the director-dean of the school, Professor Flavio Carvalho de Vasconcelos and the head of the international department of Yuna Fontoura.

    Representatives of the school expressed interest in cooperation with SPbPU. During the negotiations, specific steps were outlined: organizing academic exchanges, joint research in the field of innovation management, technological development and sustainable production.

    For FGV EBAPE, it is always valuable to establish connections with leading universities in the world, such as SPbPU. We are interested in developing academic mobility and joint research initiatives, especially in areas related to technology and innovation, – emphasized Flavio Vasconcelos.

    Universities in Brazil represent a huge potential for partnership. Of course, everyone understands the difficulties and cost of logistics between our continents, but even this does not become an obstacle for such innovative projects as, for example, the Smart Cities competition. A number of government agencies support the mobility of Brazilian students, and these opportunities should be used. Brazil has created the strongest scientific centers and technology hubs in the field of research into renewable energy, artificial intelligence, agricultural and food technologies, oil and gas. Colleagues are interested in joint publications, the development of postgraduate programs, international grants for joint research. There is a lot of work to do to turn today’s agreements into real projects with the participation of the Polytechnic University, – Ekaterina Belyaevskaya summed up.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pallone Leads New Bill to Block RFK Jr.’s Anti-Vaccine Agenda

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

    Legislation Would Take Politics Out of Medicine and Hold Reckless Leaders Accountable

    Today, Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA) introduced the Family Vaccine Protection Act to remove politics from the life-saving immunization schedule, hold Trump Administration officials accountable, and protect children and expectant mothers from vaccine-preventable diseases.

    “Secretary Kennedy is governing by conspiracy theory and putting the health of our children at risk,” said Pallone. “After just a few months in office, he’s already broken the promise he made during his Senate confirmation hearing to not interfere with the lifesaving childhood vaccine schedule. He’s simultaneously presided over the largest measles outbreak in decades while actively undermining vaccination efforts for COVID-19, measles, polio, and the flu—especially for pregnant women and the tiniest infants, two of the highest risk populations. Enough is enough—it’s time to take politics out of medicine and ensure all families have access to affordable life-saving vaccines. Dr. Schrier and I are introducing this legislation to keep Secretary Kennedy’s conspiracy theories out of the doctor’s office and to protect moms and their kids.”

    “Our current Secretary of Health and Human Services continues to undermine science and peddle conspiracy theories. This nation’s physicians and public health system have relied upon the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) for 61 years to evaluate scientific evidence, ask questions, and ultimately make a determination about whether to recommend a vaccine and for whom. This bill ensures that physicians and other scientific experts are the ones who evaluate those studies and make those decisions, as has always been the case. Recent efforts to undermine the ACIP by pressuring physicians like Dr. Lakshmi Panagiotakopoulos to parrot RFK, Jr. talking points have unfortunately made this bill necessary,” said Congresswoman Schrier, M.D. “I will continue to stand up for scientific integrity and fight RFK Jr. ‘s peddling of conspiracy theories.”

    The Family Vaccine Protection Act comes on the heels of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. ’s unilateral withdrawal of COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children and pregnant women. This reckless decision—circumventing science-based approval—begins a slippery slope toward a sicker America where Kennedy alone decides what’s best for American children.

    For months, RFK, Jr. ’s HHS and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have ignored science-based recommendations by the independent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). In April, ACIP voted unanimously to expand its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine recommendation and to provide a meningococcal vaccine to healthy teens and college-aged kids—but Kennedy ignored these recommendations. These actions are setting a dangerous precedent and jeopardizing access through critical programs like the Vaccines for Children program.

    Secretary Kennedy is actively backtracking on his own promise in November 2024 that he wouldn’t “take away anybody’s vaccines” and contradicting his own Food and Drug Administration’s framework. His brazen undermining of ACIP’s independence and persistent spreading of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories threatens decades of public health progress—and will put the lives of pregnant women and unvaccinated infants at risk. 

    The Family Vaccine Protection Act protects access to affordable vaccines by: 

    Codifying current practices of a rigorous, science-based system for recommending vaccines:

    • This bill sets a timeline for new vaccine consideration by ACIP and requires that both the CDC Director and HHS Secretary adopt such recommendations if supported by a preponderance of scientific evidence.

    Strengthening the independence of the Advisory Committee:

    • This bill writes the role of ACIP into statute and specifies its structure, its membership selection processes, meeting frequency, and expertise requirements—protecting it from dissolution or undue interference by the HHS Secretary.

    Keeping politics out of medicine by ensuring the Secretary cannot unilaterally make or withdraw vaccine recommendations contrary to the advice of scientific experts:

    • This bill requires the HHS Secretary to adopt the official vaccine decision as set by ACIP—and if the Secretary chooses to depart from an ACIP recommendation, it requires the Secretary to publish the basis for the agency action, including an explanation as to how the action is supported by the best available, peer-reviewed scientific evidence.

    Establishing guardrails to ensure vaccines remain accessible to all:

    • This bill protects the role of ACIP in making immunization recommendations for the Vaccines for Children Program as well as for the purposes of cost-free coverage of vaccines by health insurance plans—ensuring continued widespread access to life-saving vaccines.

    The Family Vaccine Protection Act has received the support of the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Public Health Association, American College of Physicians, Infectious Disease Society of America, and Vaccinate Your Family.

    Read the full bill text HERE and a section-by-section summary HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Malaria has returned to the Torres Strait. What does this mean for mainland Australia?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cameron Webb, Clinical Associate Professor and Principal Hospital Scientist, University of Sydney

    Aspect Drones/Shutterstock

    Malaria is one of the deadliest diseases spread by mosquitoes. Each year, hundreds of millions of people worldwide are infected and half a million people die from the disease.

    While mainland Australia was declared malaria-free in 1981, from time to time travellers return to Australia with an infection.

    Infections from local mosquitoes are incredibly rare. However, last week two cases of locally acquired malaria were reported in the Torres Strait.

    So what does this mean for local communities? And is this a risk for mainland Australia?

    What is malaria?

    Unlike other mosquito-borne disease, malaria is caused by protozoan parasites, not viruses. These parasites belong to the Plasmodium genus. While five of these parasites are considered a human health concern, Plasmodium falciparum poses the most serious threat.

    Symptoms can be mild and include fever, chills and headache. But sometimes people develop severe symptoms, such as fatigue, confusion, seizures and difficulty breathing.

    Without appropriate medical care, the disease can be fatal. Those most at risk of life-threatening illness include infants, children under five years, pregnant women and patients with HIV and AIDS.

    How does it spread?

    Malaria parasites are spread by the bite of a mosquito carrying the malaria parasite.

    Not all mosquitoes can carry the parasite. The group of mosquitoes responsible for most malaria transmission is called Anopheles. Aedes and Culex mosquitoes, which are typically associated with the spread of viruses, don’t transmit malaria to people.

    The Anopheles group of mosquitoes play an important role in transmitting malaria parasites.
    Cameron Webb (NSW Health Pathology), CC BY-NC-ND

    While there are medications available to prevent malaria, and these are routinely recommended to travellers, this is not a sustainable approach for communities within regions at risk. The cost of medications, as well as the risk parasites may develop resistance to medications over time, are barriers for routine use in high risk countries.

    Alternative strategies include using insecticide-treated bed nets and controlling mosquitoes by spraying insecticide on and around homes. Early diagnosis and treatment of those suspected to have an infection is also crucial.

    ‘Imported’ versus ‘locally acquired’ infections

    There is an important distinction between “imported” and “locally acquired” cases of malaria.

    “Imported” cases mean the person has been infected overseas and returned to Australia, where they’ve been diagnosed and treated. These cases appear in official statistics but are not the result of local mosquito bites.

    “Locally acquired” cases are where a person is infected without any overseas travel. These cases often result from the parasites first introduced into Australia by infected travellers. The travellers are then bitten by local mosquitoes that go on to bite and spread the pathogens to people who haven’t travelled.

    The last locally acquired malaria outbreak in mainland Australia occurred in 2002, when ten people were infected in Far North Queensland.

    When this happens, it indicates local mosquitoes are carrying the malaria parasites and there is a significant risk further infections have occurred (but are not yet diagnosed) or may be diagnosed in the near future. Mosquito control or other initiatives are required to prevent larger outbreaks.

    In the case of the Torres Strait, there is also the risk infected mosquitoes are transported, either by wind or boats, from Papua New Guinea.

    So, what’s happening in the Torres Strait?

    Queensland Health is currently investigating two recent cases of locally acquired malaria on Saibai Island.

    But cases of locally acquired malaria aren’t unusual in the Torres Strait. They’re often suspected to be linked to movement of people into the islands from PNG, a country that reports more than a million suspected cases of malaria each year.

    Previous locally acquired malaria cases in the Torres Strait were reported in 2023. Before that, a single case was reported in 2013 and eight cases in 2011.

    The tropical climate of the Torres Strait and presence of Anopheles mosquitoes means conditions are right for local spread once the parasites are introduced, either through infected mosquitoes or people.



    Read more:
    Torres Strait Islanders face more than their fair share of health impacts from climate change

    Could malaria spread to mainland Australia?

    Since the 1980s, there have only been a small number of cases reported on mainland Australia. The majority are in travellers returning to Australia who were infected overseas.

    Historically, malaria cases were reported in many parts of the country, especially in the 1940s, including suburbs around Sydney when soldiers infected overseas returned to Australia.

    The mosquitoes capable of spreading the parasites then are still present today. While the most important malaria mosquito in Australia, Anopheles faurati, is limited to northern regions of coastal Australia, Anopheles annulipes is widespread across much of the country.

    But just because the mosquitoes are there, it doesn’t mean there will be an outbreak of malaria.

    The parasite needs to be introduced and it needs to be warm enough for it to complete its life cycle in local mosquitoes. The cooler it is, the less likely that is to happen, even if suitable mosquitoes are present.

    The parasites also face additional challenges. Infected people need to be bitten by local Anopheles mosquitoes, not just any mosquitoes. And with modern health-care systems in Australia, untreated sick people are less likely to be exposed to mosquito bites.

    Malaria is one of the mosquito-borne pathogens considered at risk of increasing as a result of climate change. But there are many other factors at play that will determine future outbreak risk in mainland Australia, especially outside the tropical north of the country, such as a changing climate and seasonal changes in numbers and types of mosquitoes.

    How to stay safe

    The most important way local communities and visitors to the Torres Strait can stay safe is to avoid mosquito bites.

    Cover up when possible with long-sleeved shirts, long pants and covered shoes and apply an insect repellent.

    Insect screens, whether on buildings or in the form of bed nets will also provide protection overnight.



    Read more:
    Mozzies biting? Here’s how to choose a repellent (and how to use it for the best protection)

    Cameron Webb and the Department of Medical Entomology, NSW Health Pathology and University of Sydney, have been engaged by a wide range of insect repellent and insecticide manufacturers to provide testing of products and provide expert advice on medically important arthropods, including mosquitoes. Cameron has also received funding from local, state and federal agencies to undertake research into various aspects of mosquito and mosquito-borne disease management.

    – ref. Malaria has returned to the Torres Strait. What does this mean for mainland Australia? – https://theconversation.com/malaria-has-returned-to-the-torres-strait-what-does-this-mean-for-mainland-australia-258289

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: SPbPU students received support from the Rosmolodezh grant competition

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The results of the first season of the Rosmolodezh.Grants grant competition have been summed up. Students of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University became winners with five projects, receiving funding for a total of 2.5 million rubles.

    The All-Russian competition of youth projects “Rosmolodezh.Grants” is held by the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs and is aimed at supporting initiatives implemented by citizens of the Russian Federation aged 14 to 35. The winners of the first season of the competition in 2025 were five students of SPbPU. The projects cover a wide range of areas: from environmental education and engineering training to scientific volunteering, educational forums and socio-cultural initiatives.

    Alexandra Kuznetsova — project “Educational module on designing and constructing a geodome from recycled polymers”

    The project will include an educational course on separate waste collection and recycling in the Polytech Tower. The plastic recycling equipment, which the students assembled themselves, can be used to make various products from recycled polymers. Usually, these are souvenirs, but the project team has set an ambitious goal: to assemble a geodome from recycled plastic, which will be an addition to the Tower’s summer space next year. The project introduces plastic recycling processes in a visual and interactive form using compact equipment similar to industrial equipment. This creates a logical chain from packaging submitted for recycling to the finished product.

    Anna Melnichuk and the PCPS student club – the project “Autumn school “SPARK””

    The initiative of the PCPS (Polytechnic Club of Physical Students) club is an educational project aimed at 1st-2nd year students of physical and technical fields. The SPARK school is dedicated to the topic of building a career path in science. The event will include lectures and master classes from invited speakers – scientists from the Polytechnic University and other scientific institutions. They will talk about their own path in science, share practical advice, and also conduct classes on developing soft skills: writing a resume, a motivation letter, a scientific article, finding a scientific supervisor and other important aspects of a scientific career.

    Tatyana Tkachuk — the project “Forum of Case Clubs”

    The Case Club Forum is an event aimed at creating a space and favorable conditions for the exchange of ideas and experience between members of student associations promoting the case method in their activities. The project includes a seminar called “Case Club Forum”. The goal of the event is to create a space for the exchange of competencies and experience, allowing for improved communication between associations and the development of joint activities for the further promotion of the case method. Representatives of existing case clubs in St. Petersburg and Moscow will be invited to participate in the forum!

    Alexander Merkuriev – the project “Vaccination is impossible to remain silent”

    The project “Vaccination is not possible to remain silent” is aimed at educating young people about the safety and effectiveness of vaccination. During open lessons in schools in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, young specialists in biology and medicine will tell students from different classes about our immunity, the composition and production of modern vaccines, and myths about the dangers of vaccination. All these and many other questions will be discussed in class after a popular science lecture on the topic.

    Daria Khadjaridi – “Black Bear School” project

    “Black Bear School” is a five-day intensive course in sports management. Over the course of five days, experts will talk about lectures on SMM, photography, video, event organization, and working with partners. The intensive course will be useful for anyone who wants to learn something new in the field of sports media – whether you are a beginner or a pro, because the intensive course is divided into categories by level of training.

    The grant competition has been held since 2005 and is aimed at supporting projects of young people and student associations. The competition provides financial support in the amount of 5 thousand to 1 million rubles for the implementation of socially significant projects. In the first season of 2025, more than 15 thousand applications from all regions of Russia were received for participation. The selection of projects was carried out according to the criteria of relevance, feasibility, social significance and the presence of a sustainable result.

    Support for SPbPU student projects confirms the high level of project activities at the university, as well as the active civic position of students. The university will continue to provide methodological assistance to students and youth associations in participating in such competitions, developing a culture of project thinking and social leadership.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Scientific and cultural exchanges between Chinese and Russian youth took place in Heilongjiang Province

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) — Wudalianchi City Publicity Department of the CPC Wudalianchi Municipal Committee in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province said that events in the field of popular science and cultural exchanges between Chinese and Russian youth were held in Wudalianchi from June 4 to 5, 2025.

    On the evening of June 4, the opening ceremony was held at the Wudalianchi Cultural and Sports Center, where young people from the two countries in national costumes presented dance and song numbers. The melodic sounds, combined with the rhythmic performances of the kuaiban (recitative accompanied by an instrument made of bamboo planks), conveyed youthful enthusiasm and passion to the applause of the audience.

    During the events, the participants visited the city’s science and technology museum, where they immersed themselves in the world of space and conducted experiments with interactive exhibits. Then, at Xinrui Primary School, the Russian guests viewed an exhibition of creative projects, watched a show of robots and aircraft models, and tried their hand at Chinese calligraphy and playing traditional Chinese instruments. Then the participants learned about the principles of volcano formation, as well as the unique geological structure and evolution of the region.

    During the two-day exchange, the youth of the two countries not only enriched their scientific knowledge, but also laid a solid foundation for friendship. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Nanjing elevates biomedicine industry to new heights

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

    China SCIO | June 11, 2025

    Eastern China’s Nanjing is committed to making the biomedicine industry one of its leading industrial clusters, as part of the city’s efforts to foster new quality productive forces, a city official said Monday.

    Nanjing Biotech and Pharmaceutical Valley. [Photo provided to China SCIO]

    Wu Gang, deputy head of the Nanjing Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, said that Nanjing benefits from rich educational and industrial resources, which provide a strong foundation for the development of biomedicine and biopharmaceutical industries.

    Data shows that the city is home to four specialized colleges and over 20 key universities offering related programs. Each year, more than 60,000 graduates in the city complete their studies in biomedicine, ranking among the top in China.

    In addition, Wu said that the city has developed a complete industrial chain in the biomedicine sector, integrating education, research, industrialization, and clinical application.

    Nanjing has been hard at work to upgrade its biomedicine industry. In 2020, it introduced several key policies including a five-year plan for biomedicine industry development and an action plan for building a biomedicine industry cluster. These policies have provided comprehensive support for high-quality growth, with specific measures to foster R&D innovation, facilitate technology transfer, streamline regulatory approvals, and ensure talent development.

    The efforts have paid off. In 2024, Nanjing’s biomedicine industry generated over 210 billion yuan (US$29.25 billion) in revenue, up 5% from the previous year. Additionally, Nanjing now hosts 1,032 high-tech biomedicine enterprises and 35 national-level “little giant” firms, or small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that use specialized and sophisticated technologies to produce novel and unique products. 

    At the core of this success is the Nanjing Biotech and Pharmaceutical Valley (NJBPV), a biopharma industrial park located in Nanjing Jiangbei New Area. Established in 2011, NJBPV is home to over 1,300 life sciences companies, including five listed firms and 53 cutting-edge SMEs.

    A lab at biopharmaceutical company IASO Bio. [Photo by Cui Can/China SCIO]

    “The valley focuses on gene and cell therapies, innovative drugs, and high-end medical devices,” said Yang Tao, deputy director of the Life and Health Industry Development Management Office of Nanjing Jiangbei New Area. He added that over 400 drugs developed by pharmaceutical companies in the valley have already received market approval in China.

    Yang also noted that Nanjing Jiangbei New Area encourages these pharmaceutical companies to expand their footprint by providing tailored support regarding operational needs, regulatory requirements, and market entry challenges.

    For instance, IASO Bio, located in NJBPV, is a leading biopharmaceutical company specializing in innovative cell therapies. The company reached a milestone in recent months by delivering to a resident in Hong Kong its flagship CAR-T therapy , a cutting-edge cancer treatment, according to Zhang Jinhua, the firm’s founder and CEO. 

    The therapy requires strict time control when transporting the patient’s blood samples to IASO Bio for the production of CAR-T cell therapy drug, which was then delivered across the border to Hong Kong. Zhang said that after learning about the company’s needs, Nanjing Jiangbei New Area worked with local customs authorities to streamline clearance procedures, reducing delivery time to under 30 hours for blood samples and 144 hours for the final cell products.

    “After successfully establishing a cross-border delivery channel through Hong Kong, we’re now applying to expand this model to more regions and countries,” Zhang said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China Releases Guidelines for Deepening Shenzhen Pilot Comprehensive Reform /Detailed Version-1/

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) — China will continue to push forward the comprehensive reform pilot in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, deepening reform and innovation in the city and expanding its opening-up, according to a guideline released Tuesday.

    The document, jointly released by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council, outlines a new series of reform measures for Shenzhen to overcome institutional barriers in education, science and high-caliber talent training in a coordinated manner. It calls for strengthening the deep integration of innovation, industry, capital and talent chains, and exploring new paths, scenarios and platforms for cooperation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It also envisages pilot projects in areas such as building a modern, international and innovative city.

    As noted in the document, Shenzhen will deepen reform and expand opening-up from a higher starting point, at a higher level and to achieve higher goals, creating more new practices that can be replicated and disseminated. The city will further enhance its role as an important driving force for the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and a development stimulating center in the national strategy, and contribute to and set a model for the all-round construction of a modern socialist country.

    As part of the reform, foreign investors are encouraged to establish professional educational organizations in the city in accordance with the rules and introduce advanced advanced training courses, faculty and teaching methods.

    According to the document, employers in Shenzhen will be given greater autonomy in recruiting and managing foreign specialists.

    The document said Shenzhen will carry out reforms to enhance data security management capacity and explore efficient, convenient and secure mechanisms for cross-border data transfer while complying with relevant laws and regulations.

    In accordance with the guidelines, the results achieved in the pilot comprehensive reform programmes will be monitored and successful experiences will be disseminated on a wider scale. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Office of the Deputy President provides clarity regarding Deputy President Mashatile’s international programme travel expenses

    Source: President of South Africa –

    The Office of the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa wishes to provide clarity regarding Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s international travel expenses which has recently gained much attention in the media, with reports and commentary coming from News24, City Press, Sunday Times/Timeslive, SowetanLIVE, Independent Media/IOL, The Citizen, BusinessLive, ENCA and others. Categorically, the office and the Deputy President have not, as seems to be suggested, misused State funds or been extravagant in financing the costs of the Deputy President’s international travel.

    This unprecedented matter which involves the international work of the Deputy President’s travel costs, was first raised by Action SA, a political party represented in Parliament, in a written question to the Deputy President.  In light of such an expected phenomena, the Deputy President replied to the question in full and also provided specific details which include; correct figures and breakdown of individual costs by members of the delegation supporting the Deputy President. 

    The Office of the Deputy President wishes to reiterate that Deputy President Mashatile undertakes all international working visits, not in his personal capacity but on behalf of the South African Government as delegated by President Cyril Ramaphosa.  Moreover, the majority of these strategic international visits are aimed at strengthening existing bilateral, political, economic and diplomatic relations between South Africa and visited countries. 

    As part of South Africa’s global investment drive, and commitment to contribute to global peace and stability, South Africa, through the President and Deputy President as well as Ministers, have a role to play in advancing the global agenda, an aspect of which includes engagements with counterparts in other countries. For instance, the Deputy President co-chairs the SA-China BNC with Vice President Han Zheng and many other delegated countries including, but not limited to Vietnam and South Sudan.

    In summary, in the comprehensive answer to the Parliamentary Question by Action SA, it was stated that since Deputy President Mashatile assumed office on 3 July 2024, he has undertaken the following International official visits:

    • Ireland and United Kingdom Working Visits 26 September – 4 October 2024: Ireland 26 – 29 September 2024 and United Kingdom Working 30 September – 4 October 2024
    • Standing for President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Republic of South Africa at the Inauguration of the President of Botswana, H.E Duma Boko on 8 November 2024
    • Standing for President Ramaphosa and South Africa at the Extraordinary SADC Summit held on 20 November 2024 in Harare, Zimbabwe
    • Japan Working Visit 16 – 19 March 2025
    • France Working Visit 19 – 24 May 2025

    The Working Visit to Japan in particular, being the one raised by most media, was of strategic importance to South Africa, as it focussed on strengthening political, economic and social areas of cooperation between the two countries. The Working Visit came at the back of the two nations celebrating 115 years of strong diplomatic relations. The Deputy President was accompanied by Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Thandi Moraka; the Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, Mr Gayton McKenzie; the Minister of Higher Education, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane; the Minister of Agriculture, Mr John Steenhuisen; the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Parks Tau, and the Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Ms Nomalungelo Gina.

    In addition, the Japan Working Visit achieved several key objectives including representing the first high-level engagement between South Africa and Japan in the last 10 years; signalling an acknowledgement and appreciation for the long-standing relationship between the two countries based on a wide area of cooperation not limited to trade and investment. This visit was beneficial in terms of South Africa’s African Agenda, the current confluence of South Africa’s G20 Chairship and Japan’s hosting of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in August, presenting a unique opportunity for South Africa to communicate its own and the continent’s position and priorities to Japan and the expected support and role that Japan could to play in this regard.

    Finally, in our response to Parliament, the office has provided a breakdown of the cost to Government of all individual members of the delegation supporting the Deputy President. Regrettably, some of the figures presented by the media are significantly blown out of proportion and do not accurately reflect the cost of the trips. For example, one media liaison officer, referred to by Timeslive as the “most expensive supporting official”, is said to have cost R580, 582 for Japan alone, when in fact the total cost for that official is less than R66 000 including flights and accommodation. 

    While the cost of international travel is generally very high, these figures must always be seen in the context of their original currency in relation to the Rand Dollar exchange, as well as the going rate of such travel expenses, including ground transport, accommodation and flights. 

    In terms of the travel policy in the Presidential Handbook, transport for the President and Deputy President during travel outside South Africa is the responsibility and for the account of the State. Accommodation and incidental expenses of the President and Deputy President whilst on all official journeys abroad is arranged through, and paid for, by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. The logistics and choice of accommodation is not the responsibility or competency of the Office of the Deputy President or Presidency. In fact, DIRCO plays an integral role in reviewing, advising and endorsing Government Delegation compositions, ensuring that participation aligns with formal policy guidelines that emphasise relevance, necessity, and cost-effectiveness. These guidelines reflect government directives aimed at optimising resource allocation while maintaining operational effectiveness during international engagements.

    Regarding the financial aspects of the visits, responsibility for travel, accommodation, and other miscellaneous expenses is generally shared among DIRCO and other participating departments, depending on the officials’ affiliations and roles. Prior to the visit, DIRCO oversees the processing of budget submissions or cost estimates to ensure compliance with approved spending frameworks. This includes strict adherence to National Treasury guidelines on international travel, the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and other precepts governing public expenditure.

    In all these visits, the Office of the Deputy President has insisted on the most cost-effective provisions for the Deputy President and his delegations, and has therefore not misused nor extravagantly used State funds as alluded.

    Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 065 195 8840

    Issued by: The Presidency
    Pretoria
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Advocacy – “Look busy – the people are angry” in the face of genocide – Government brings shame on us all! – PSNA

    Source: Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)

    The government’s decision to sanction Israeli cabinet ministers is a cynical diversionary gesture, according to the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa.

    New Zealand has joined the UK, Australia, Canada, and Norway in banning the entry of Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

    PSNA Co-Chair, Maher Nazzal, says the just announced move is simply to placate New Zealanders angry at the government’s complicity with the mass killing of Palestinians and deliberate starvation of Occupied Gaza.

    “The New Zealand government statement was quite explicit that the sanctions were ‘not designed to sanction the wider Israeli government’ of which Ben-Gvir and Smotrich are ministers.”

    “The New Zealand government’s official statement is laying the blame for Israeli barbarity on just two ministers.  Our government is pretending that they alone are responsible for the military violence in the Gaza Strip, and Israel’s annexation of Palestinian land, expanding settlements, and forced displacement.”

    “All these war crimes are supported and stated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government.  These measures are all being carried out by the Israeli government.  These two ministers are quite rabid, but they are not just freelancers or ‘bad apples’.”

    “Netanyahu himself is wanted for trial on war crimes charges, so why does he escape the travel ban?”

     Nazzal says Ben-Gvir and Smotrich would never plan to come to New Zealand anyway.

    “The last time such an individual visited in 2006 the Auckland District Court issued a warrant for his arrest to face war crime charges.” (That was Israeli General Moshe Ya’alon – the ‘Butcher of Qana’.  The warrant was quashed by the then Attorney-General Michael Cullen)

     “Even if the government sanctioned the entire Israeli cabinet, it would be meaningless.”

    “Israel has made Gaza hell on earth for Palestinians, and is making it worse by the hour.  We should be cutting trade ties – including military technology, which might be finding its way to Israel, or sending up satellites from Mahia used by Israel to spy on Gaza.

    “New Zealand has bilateral agreements with Israel over science and movie-making.  They should stop.”

    “The government needs to ban Israeli soldiers coming here for genocide holidays, instead of Winston Peters going out of his way to welcome them.”

    “And it goes without saying that the Israeli ambassador should be booted out.”

    Nazzal says the forced starvation in Gaza has reached a crisis point.

    “The choice for the international community is stark.  Let tens of thousands starve to death in the next few weeks, or impose a no-fly zone over Gaza and provide military protection for UNRWA aid convoys.”

    “In that context, by limiting the travel options for two Israeli politicians our government feels like it’s conveying a message of  “Look busy – New Zealanders are angry, we must be seen to be doing something, but really,  we don’t care.”

     

    Maher Nazzal

    Co-Chair PSNA

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by SITI at International Society for Stem Cell Research 2025 Annual Meeting (English only) (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 2025 Annual Meeting today (June 11):

    Professor Greco (President of the ISSCR, Professor Valentina Greco), Mr Alm (Chief Executive Officer of the ISSCR, Mr Keith Alm), Professor Kathryn Cheah (2025 Annual Meeting Program Committee Co-Chair of the ISSCR), Professor Rocky Tuan (Lee Quo Wei and Lee Yick Hoi Lun Professor of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong), Professor Nancy Ip (President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Opening Speech By His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs At The Seventh Edition of the Global Security Forum

    Source: Government of Iran

    In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

    May peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you,,,

     

    I welcome you all to Doha on the occasion of the seventh edition of the Global Security Forum, under the theme “The Impact of Non-State Actors on Global Security”.

    At this time, this forum holds exceptional significance, as it brings us together at a moment when the world—more than ever—requires profound and sincere dialogue, as well as innovative partnerships capable of addressing the challenges of our turbulent world.

    Distinguished Attendees, 

    Our international system is currently undergoing profound transformations that compel us to reassess our concepts of security and stability.

    Conflicts are no longer transient events that can be contained; rather, they have evolved into prolonged phenomena that interconnect and overlap, imposing on the world complex crises that feed into one another—from Ukraine to Gaza, passing through the multiple crises in our region.

    At the core of this intricate scene, we observe the persistence and expansion of conflicts both temporally and geographically, with no clear prospects for resolution. This is due to the absence of collective political will and the prioritization of narrow interests over the requirements of just and comprehensive peace.

    At the core of this intricate scene, we observe the persistence and expansion of conflicts both temporally and geographically, with no clear prospects for resolution. This is due to the absence of collective political will and the prioritization of narrow interests over the requirements of just and comprehensive peace.

    This persistence leaves behind entire generations growing up under the shadow of violence, despair, and loss of hope, which is perhaps the most perilous consequence of these conflicts.

    Children of Gaza, Syria, Sudan, and Ukraine are not merely statistics in the reports of international organizations; rather, they represent the future of our societies and serve as a reflection of our success or failure in creating a world that is safer and more humane.

    And even if wars were to cease tomorrow, we would find ourselves facing the immense challenge of reconstruction—not only to repair the physical destruction but also to rebuild communities on social and psychological levels.

    Amid the multiplicity of crises and the decline in international funding, issues such as the reconstruction of Syria or Gaza appear to have become deferred aspirations on the agenda of the international community.

    Therefore, our vision for the solution is not limited to ceasefires and ending wars alone; it extends to establishing solid foundations for comprehensive and sustainable recovery, through collective responsibility and genuine international commitment.

    Ladies and Gentlemen, 

    Amidst these intertwined challenges, the role of humanitarian organizations, civil society institutions, media entities, and local initiatives has emerged as a pivotal element in the equation of security and peace.

    These entities have become the first line of defense in responding to crises, often overcoming bureaucratic and political constraints that hinder official bodies.

     However, on the other hand, we face non-state actors who exploit security vacuums and thrive on chaos and suffering, ranging from terrorist groups to organized crime networks.

    The rogue actions of certain states, which are met with only a small amount of wisdom and a great deal of weakness and complacency from some governments, serve as a pretext for infiltrating the hearts and minds of people and hijacking the role of the sole defender of their rights.

    Amidst this crisis-ridden landscape, the truth is obscured, and blame is scattered: Is the root cause the rogue states themselves, the weak governments failing to fulfill their duties, or the absence of wisdom, which has become a rare commodity in an era where standards are blurred and balances disrupted?

    Herein lies the importance of this year’s forum theme— the lines between construction and destruction, between those who seek peace and those who invest in war, must be drawn clearly and precisely.

    Addressing these challenges requires a smart approach; one that supports and empowers positive forces while containing and drying up the sources of terrorist and criminal organizations that exploit the suffering of peoples to advance their own agendas.

    This can only be achieved through more inclusive global governance and strategic partnerships between governments and civil society.

    Distinguished Attendees,

    What has been happening in the Gaza Strip for more than a year and a half offers painful lessons about this dynamic.

    Amid unprecedented destruction and a humanitarian disaster that has crossed all red lines, humanitarian organizations and local initiatives play a crucial role in keeping the lifeline flowing, in conveying the suffering of civilians to the world, and even in contributing to mediation and negotiation efforts.

    What is most painful, and a stain on the conscience of the entire world, is that food and medicine have become weapons in this war. The death of children from hunger and cold is exploited as a tool to achieve narrow political objectives, while an entire population is besieged and denied the most basic rights to receive aid, without any accountability.

    The State of Qatar will continue, in partnership with the Arab Republic of Egypt, the United States of America, and regional partners, its diligent efforts to achieve a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza and to ensure the unobstructed flow of humanitarian aid.

    We firmly believe that supporting the Palestinian people is not a matter of political negotiation, but a moral and humanitarian duty rooted in our commitment to justice.

     

     

    Ladies and Gentlemen,
    Despite the bleakness of the overall situation, positive indicators emerge that must be upheld and strengthened.

    • In Syria, we observe a nation undergoing reconstruction, with its people striving to shape a new vision for their country, while recognizing the sensitivity of the current phase and the necessity for a comprehensive national discourse.
    • In Lebanon, the election of a President of the Republic and the formation of the government represent an opportunity to revitalize institutions and strengthen confidence in the state and its future, provided that this is accompanied by substantial reforms and genuine engagement of civil society.

    We also observe encouraging positive signs, as recently witnessed here in Doha, through hosting peace talks between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda, which resulted in reaching preliminary understandings on a ceasefire, de-escalation, and confidence-building measures.

    These models demonstrate how formal processes, when combined with community initiatives, can help create a supportive environment for national reconciliation and regional stability.

    The diverse experiences we witness affirm a fundamental truth: sustainable security cannot be achieved solely through top-down decisions, but rather by building cohesive communities capable of resilience, through expanding partnerships and activating the role of all societal components in shaping the future.

    Distinguished Attendees,

    The State of Qatar has always been committed to the principle of dialogue as a fundamental means of resolving conflicts and building peace.

    We believe that constructive engagement with humanitarian organizations, civil society, the private sector, and academic circles constitutes an integral part of any serious effort to achieve sustainable stability.

    Based on our extensive experience in mediation and conflict resolution, we have realized that achieving genuine peace requires establishing channels of dialogue with all influential parties, respecting the specificities of each community, acknowledging historical grievances, and addressing them with a spirit of justice and reconciliation.

    Despite all the challenges we face, I firmly believe that hope remains our choice.

    The ability to bring about positive change is still within our reach, if there is genuine will, if we can rise above narrow interests, and if we place the human being—his dignity, rights, and aspirations—at the heart of every policy and initiative.

    In the State of Qatar, we are committed to continuing our role as an active partner in efforts toward peace and development. This includes supporting political solutions to conflicts, humanitarian actions, and building safety nets that protect communities from extremism and violence.

    We look forward to this forum serving as a platform for innovative ideas and practical solutions, and as a step towards closer partnerships between governments and communities, for a world that is safer, more just, and more respectful for human dignity.

    I wish you fruitful discussions and thank you for listening

     

    May peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you,,,

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Press Conference Remarks by HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs on the Sidelines of the Second Edition of the Qatar-UK Strategic Dialogue

    Source: Government of Iran

     

    In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

    May God’s peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you,

    First, I would like to extend a warm welcome to my friend, Mr. David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary of the friendly United Kingdom, in Doha to convene the Second Qatari-UK Strategic Dialogue.

    Your Excellency, since the convening of the first Strategic Dialogue, the Qatari-British partnership has witnessed intensive efforts to deepen cooperation across various levels, where the visit of His Highness the Amir of the State to London last December represented a historic milestone in the progress of relations between our two friendly nations, during which we reaffirmed our commitment to strengthening the strong and historic bilateral partnership between the two countries.

    The launch of the Second Strategic Dialogue today, under the theme “Partners for the Future”, represents another milestone in advancing the partnership between the State of Qatar and the United Kingdom. It also reaffirms our ongoing commitment to further strengthening cooperation across various sectors, including economy, trade, investment, defense, security, and collaboration in counter-terrorism efforts.

    Under the framework of our strategic dialogue, 8 joint working groups are convening today to develop practical steps towards achieving the shared aspirations of both countries.

    We are pleased to witness the launch of a working group in the field of technology, science, and innovation, as well as a working group in the field of health, reflecting the prospects available to advance the current cooperation between the State of Qatar and the United Kingdom in the areas of modern technology, artificial intelligence, and future opportunities, including their role in supporting healthcare applications and health data.

    The prosperous future is a motto we all stand behind. Undoubtedly, the State of Qatar and the United Kingdom share a vital and thriving economic, trade, and investment partnership, which stands as a landmark we take pride in within our strategic collaboration.

    The State of Qatar invests over 40 billion pounds sterling in the British economy, contributing to job creation, fostering growth and prosperity in the United Kingdom, while generating returns for the Qatari sovereign wealth fund to secure the future of upcoming generations in Qatar. The volume of trade exchange between the two countries exceeded 1.6 billion pounds sterling in the year 2024.

    The State of Qatar continues to play a pivotal role among major global investors in the United Kingdom, being the primary partner of leading British companies. We regard the United Kingdom as one of our most significant investment partners, with a proven track record of success in key investment areas.

    Our investments also contribute to supporting the growth of the British economy and its projects, increasing employment opportunities, fostering innovation, and promoting economic development in our two friendly nations, particularly in the fields of science, technology, sustainability, climate change adaptation, and digital advancement.

    Your Excellency, this partnership is a strong testament to the shared commitment to creating prosperity and a bright future for our two friendly peoples.

    Despite the distances that separate us, there is undoubtedly something unique about the relationship between our two friendly nations.

    Whether it pertains to the thousands of Qatari students who have benefited from education in British schools, colleges, and universities, or the tens of thousands of British citizens in Qatar who work alongside us to achieve our national goals and aspirations, goodwill and dynamism remain at the core of this relationship.

    Our joint efforts to expand this cooperation, particularly in the fields of education, culture, heritage, sports, health, research, and innovation—including genomics—have reaffirmed this bond, alongside our well-established traditions of cultural partnerships.

    Your Excellency, our partnership has become more significant than ever in light of the major risks and the ongoing and escalating tensions that threaten international security. In strengthening this partnership and within the framework of our strategic dialogue today, we announce the signing of a Letter of Intent for cooperation in the fields of peace, reconciliation, and conflict resolution, which will enhance technical collaboration with a view to developing capacities in this domain, and supporting our international efforts to promote peace.

    We also convened the inaugural Qatar-UK Development Taskforce to build upon joint efforts in addressing humanitarian challenges, global health, and fostering joint development initiatives, in light of doubling the Co-Funding Initiative for Financing Development Cooperation to $100 million.

    We will work on exploring joint programs in priority areas, including but not limited to: the Gaza Strip, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, and Bangladesh.

    However, the risks today are higher than ever before. The escalation, aggression, and ongoing Israeli siege on the occupied Palestinian territories and the Gaza Strip, along with the continued politicization of humanitarian aid, targeting of humanitarian workers, and the use of hunger as a tool for collective punishment, place our entire region on the brink of catastrophe.

    This represents a challenge to our humanity, and leaving it unaccounted for is an open invitation to those who may be tempted to employ such inhumane methods to impose political will upon any nation striving for its freedom.

    We hereby affirm our unwavering commitment to working towards de-escalation of tensions, urging Israel to cease obstructing the entry of humanitarian aid, and tirelessly supporting all efforts aimed at resolving disputes through dialogue and negotiation.

    Today, Your Excellency, we witness positive developments in Syria, represented by the reconstruction of a state devastated by war, and opportunities for peace supported by negotiations between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran mediated by Oman. Furthermore, not to mention the ongoing negotiations concerning peace in Ukraine, alongside other international efforts aimed at realizing humanity’s aspiration for a just and lasting peace for our peoples.

    We remain committed to supporting these efforts as we witness other crises with escalating humanitarian repercussions, foremost among them being the sisterly nations of Sudan and Yemen.

    Our objective is to realize our shared vision of peace and prosperity for our peoples and to strengthen our future partnership towards progress.

    I would like to extend my gratitude to you and the working teams for all the efforts exerted to ensure the success of this Second Strategic Dialogue. We look forward to reviewing these developments during the upcoming strategic dialogue.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Adelaide University appoints new Vice Chancellor

    Source:

    11 June 2025

    The inaugural Adelaide University Vice Chancellor, Professor Nicola Phillips

    Following a comprehensive global search, Australia’s new major university announces Professor Nicola Phillips as its new Vice Chancellor and President (Vice Chancellor) with effect from 12 January 2026.

    The Adelaide University Transition Council has unanimously resolved to appoint Prof. Nicola Phillips as the new Vice Chancellor of Adelaide University following exceptional global interest and a high-quality candidate field.

    Chancellor of the Adelaide University Transition Council (Transition Council), Ms Pauline Carr, said that finding the right person to lead the institution through its formative years was imperative.

    “We are delighted to announce Prof. Phillips as the new Vice Chancellor of Adelaide University as we boldly take our next steps as Australia’s new comprehensive university for the future,” Carr said.

    Prof. Phillips joins Adelaide University from the University of Melbourne, where she is currently the Provost and has served as both Acting and Interim Vice Chancellor. With some 30 years of experience in the higher education sector across Australia and the United Kingdom, Prof. Phillips has cultivated a deep understanding of the sector and brings a local and global perspective to the position.

    “Throughout her career, Prof. Phillips has been a formidable force, guiding significant step-changes across contemporary academic delivery, student access and equity, Aboriginal knowledges, online education, and cultural inclusivity – with strong alignment to Adelaide University’s strategic direction as a differentiated member of Australia’s Group of Eight,” Carr said.

    “The Transition Council would also like to recognise the monumental and continued contributions of the founding co-Vice Chancellors, Professors Peter Høj AC and David Lloyd, who are establishing the solid foundations on which the institution will see sustained success. They will also be instrumental in transitioning the leadership from now until when Prof. Phillips begins the role as well as winding down the foundation universities.”

    Prof. Phillips will actively shape Adelaide University as it begins operations.

    “I am thrilled to be joining Adelaide University at a time of unmatched potential and possibilities – and to call South Australia home,” Prof. Phillips said.

    “I look forward to leading Adelaide University and establishing the institution as a trailblazer for change, where education and research of the highest quality reach into all corners of our society to transform the lives of individuals and communities.”

    The global search was led by the Adelaide University Transition Council, in partnership with executive search firm, Korn Ferry, and informed by the Recruitment Recommendations Panel comprising internal and expert external members.

    Insights on selection criteria deemed most important were also provided by staff, students, alumni and key partners. Inspirational and visionary leadership, being a visible role model with high ethical standards, and building a cohesive and constructive culture as well as having strong academic credentials were identified amongst some of the most valued attributes.

    Prof. Phillips will commence in the role from 12 January 2026 to align with Adelaide University’s opening of its inaugural academic year.

    About Professor Nicola Phillips
    Professor Nicola Phillips is an esteemed leader and academic with some 30 years of experience in the higher education sector across Australia and the United Kingdom. She is a Professor of Political Economy with interests in global economic development, labour standards and inequality.

    Educated at King’s College London and the London School of Economics and Political Science, Prof. Phillips held positions at the Universities of Warwick, Manchester and Sheffield before becoming Vice President & Vice Principal (Education) at King’s College London, and then Provost at the University of Melbourne in September 2021. She has held visiting fellowships and professorships across the world, including the Australian National University, the University of British Columbia, and the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México.

    Among many notable honours, Prof. Phillips holds a Fellowship of the UK Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS) and a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), and was awarded The J. Ann Tickner Prize from the International Studies Association (ISA) for combining bravery in pursuing pioneering research that pushes the boundaries of the discipline with a deep commitment to teaching and mentorship.

    Media contact: Candy Gibson M: +61 434 605 142 E: candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU took 7th place in the ranking of the best universities in Russia in terms of salaries of IT specialists

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Portal Superjob published a rating of the best Russian universities by the salary level of IT specialists who graduated from the university in 2019-2024. Novosibirsk State University took 7th place, it comes right after the universities of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Two more universities are in the same position – Kazan Federal University and National University of Science and Technology “MISIS”. The average income of NSU graduates working in the IT sector was 230 thousand rubles, an increase of 30 thousand rubles compared to last year.

    At NSU, the IT direction is one of the key ones: for example, if you look at the distribution of budget places based on the results of the 2024 admission campaign, more than 20% are in IT. NSU has a specialized Faculty of Information Technology, which turns 25 this year, at the same time IT is represented in almost all faculties and in all institutes. The Mechanics and Mathematics Faculty has a program in systems programming, the Physics Faculty has a program in physical informatics, and the Humanities Institute has a program in fundamental and applied linguistics.

    Machine learning and artificial intelligence have also been actively developing at NSU in recent years. At the end of April this year, the university won a government grant to train top IT specialists and is launching a new bachelor’s degree program in Applied Artificial Intelligence from September 2025. It will be developed in cooperation with industrial partners Rostelecom and Innotech (T1). The pilot enrollment will be 150 students. Grant support will allow students to study for free and receive scholarships from partner companies.

     

    About the rating methodology

    The rating was prepared by the SuperJob research center based on an analysis of the average salaries of graduates of Russian universities graduating in 2019–2024. The source of information is the SuperJob resume database (more than 30 million resumes) and other open sources. The data collection period is 2 months before the rating release date. The sample for each university participating in the rating is at least 70 resumes of graduates of specialized faculties of the specified graduation years, excluding resumes of interns, junior specialists, and applicants with less than 1 year of work experience in their specialty. Resumes for positions in the fields of development, information security, software testing, DevOps, analytics, data research, Machine Learning, Data engineering, etc. are considered.

     

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese scientists develop wearable sweat analysis system for early warning of Parkinson’s disease

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    CHANGCHUN, June 11 (Xinhua) — A Chinese research team led by Zhang Qiang, a researcher with the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), has successfully developed a fully integrated wearable sweat sensor for online analysis of multiple biomarkers related to Parkinson’s disease.

    The results of their research were published on Tuesday Beijing time in the scientific journal Advanced Materials.

    According to its results, the system allows for real-time detection of biomarkers in sweat, which allows non-invasive monitoring of disease progression over time. This opens up new opportunities for early intervention during the “golden window” in the treatment of patients with Parkinson’s disease.

    Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is difficult to detect in its early stages. Symptoms such as tremors and slowness of movement may not appear until many years after the initial degeneration of neurons. Without treatment, patients currently rely primarily on long-term drug therapy. Early diagnosis and prognosis are therefore incredibly important in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

    “It’s only the size of a patch, but it contains a ‘miniature detector’ that we developed,” Zhang Qiang said. “It’s like installing a translator that converts the biological signals contained in sweat into user-friendly information that patients can understand.”

    Compared with traditional invasive testing, the flexible sensor device can overcome many technical problems.

    “It’s as easy to use as a watch,” Zhang Qiang added.

    “We hope that in the future, people at high risk of developing Parkinson’s disease will be able to access this health monitoring system,” Zhang Qiang said, adding that it will provide key technological support for the early diagnosis and prognosis of Parkinson’s disease. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Those ‘what I eat in a day’ TikTok videos aren’t helpful. They might even be harmful

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Catherine Houlihan, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, University of the Sunshine Coast

    Iren_Geo/Shutterstock

    You may have come across those “what I eat in a day” videos on social media, where people – usually conventionally attractive influencers wearing activewear – list everything they consumed that day.

    They might seem like harmless fun but in fact they can reinforce dangerous ideas about food, weight and body image.

    I’ve worked with people with eating disorders who watch these videos and have seen first hand how harmful this content can be.

    Here’s what the research says and what you need to know.

    Videos that promote ‘health’ can be unhealthy

    “What I eat in a day” videos have been popular for over a decade, with views reaching in the billions.

    They target both men and women and many claim to promote health and nutrition. Yet videos such as these can do more harm than good.

    Very few of these creators have formal qualifications in health or nutrition, increasing the potential for misinformation.

    They often depict low calorie diets, exclude entire food groups or promote “clean eating” (a problematic idea at best).

    Some even encourage dangerous behaviours such as skipping meals, eating very little or using laxatives to purge food.

    They can also send harmful messages about body image. Many such videos use beauty filters to create images promoting unrealistic body ideals.

    These videos often feature shots of how the person looks from the front, the side, in the gym, and in tight, form-fitting clothes. There may even be some “before and after” weight loss pics, sending the harmful message this should be everyone’s goal.

    The subtext is clear: “eat what I eat in a day and you can look like me”.

    But that’s not just a dangerous idea – it’s a totally false and erroneous one.

    Knowing what a certain person “eats in a day” doesn’t mean you’ll look like them if you follow their lead.

    In fact, a 24-hour rundown of one person’s food intake doesn’t even provide accurate information about that person’s nutritional health – let alone yours.

    These videos can target both men and women.
    Veja/Shutterstock

    You are not them

    Like our health, our nutritional needs are unique to us and can vary day to day.

    What constitutes a “healthy” choice for one person might be totally different for another depending on things such as:

    Links between health and diet are best examined over time, not in a single day.

    Basing our food intake on a brief snapshot of what someone else eats is unlikely to lead to better health. It might leave you worse off overall.

    5 ways these videos can affect mental health

    What we watch online can affect our mood, behaviour and body image.

    Alarm bells should ring if you frequently see these videos and notice you’re doing or experiencing these five things:

    1. disordered eating. Eating less than your body needs, skipping meals, cutting out entire food groups, binge eating and purging are all signs of disordered eating that can lead to serious mental health problems such as eating disorders

    2. low mood. Watching videos promoting low-calorie diets can worsen our mood; you might find yourself feeling deflated after comparing yourself to others (or rather, to the version of themselves they promote online)

    3. poor body image. Research shows watching “what I eat in a day” videos can leave people feeling worse about their bodies and appreciating them less

    4. obsessive thinking and anxiety. Obsessing over the “perfect” diet can increase anxiety about food and eating. Diets that encourage a very detailed approach to nutrition – including breaking meals down into components such as carbohydrates and proteins or weighing food – can further fuel obsessive thoughts

    5. narrow life focus. Having your social media feed filled with these types of videos can create an overemphasis on the importance of food, eating and body image on your self-worth. This ultimately affects your health and wellbeing.

    What we watch online can affect our mood, behaviour, and body image.
    GaudiLab/Shutterstock

    OK, so what can I do?

    If you’re encountering “what I eat in a day” videos often and find they’re affecting your mood, eating behaviour or sense of self-worth you can try to:

    • understand that these videos are not tailored to your individual health or nutritional needs and that many contain harmful messaging
    • avoid engaging with videos that promote disordered eating, idealised beauty standards or that make you feel bad after you watch them
    • unfollow accounts that regularly post such videos, or tap “not interested” on the TikTok video to stop the algorithm showing you more of them
    • balance your social media feed with content focused on other areas of life besides food and eating (such as art, design, animals, books, sports or travel). Fill your feed with interests that improve your personal sense of wellbeing
    • consider taking regular breaks from social media and seeing if you feel better overall.

    If you do want to view posts about food, seek out creators attempting to buck these negative trends by focusing more on fun and taste.

    And if you’re experiencing low mood, disordered eating or body image issues, seek help from your local GP. They can connect you with practitioners who provide evidence-based therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy.

    If you have a history of an eating disorder or suspect you may have one, you can contact the Butterfly Foundation’s national helpline on 1800 334 673 (or via their online chat).

    Ultimately, “what I eat in a day” videos aren’t really helpful. They contain very little useful information to guide your health or nutritional goals.

    If you are considering making changes to your diet, it’s important to consult a qualified professional, such as an accredited practising dietitian, who can learn about your situation and monitor any risks.

    Catherine Houlihan consults with an eating disorders service owned and operated by the Butterfly Foundation.

    – ref. Those ‘what I eat in a day’ TikTok videos aren’t helpful. They might even be harmful – https://theconversation.com/those-what-i-eat-in-a-day-tiktok-videos-arent-helpful-they-might-even-be-harmful-257127

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Do you talk to AI when you’re feeling down? Here’s where chatbots get their therapy advice

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Centaine Snoswell, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland

    Pexels/Mikoto

    As more and more people spend time chatting with artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots such as ChatGPT, the topic of mental health has naturally emerged. Some people have positive experiences that make AI seem like a low-cost therapist.

    But AIs aren’t therapists. They’re smart and engaging, but they don’t think like humans. ChatGPT and other generative AI models are like your phone’s auto-complete text feature on steroids. They have learned to converse by reading text scraped from the internet.

    When someone asks a question (called a prompt) such as “how can I stay calm during a stressful work meeting?” the AI forms a response by randomly choosing words that are as close as possible to the data it saw during training. This happens so fast, with responses that are so relevant, it can feel like talking to a person.

    But these models aren’t people. And they definitely are not trained mental health professionals who work under professional guidelines, adhere to a code of ethics, or hold professional registration.

    Where does it learn to talk about this stuff?

    When you prompt an AI system such as ChatGPT, it draws information from three main sources to respond:

    1. background knowledge it memorised during training
    2. external information sources
    3. information you previously provided.

    1. Background knowledge

    To develop an AI language model, the developers teach the model by having it read vast quantities of data in a process called “training”.

    Where does this information come from? Broadly speaking, anything that can be publicly scraped from the internet. This can include everything from academic papers, eBooks, reports, free news articles, through to blogs, YouTube transcripts, or comments from discussion forums such as Reddit.

    Are these sources reliable places to find mental health advice? Sometimes.
    Are they always in your best interest and filtered through a scientific evidence based approach? Not always. The information is also captured at a single point in time when the AI is built, so may be out-of-date.

    A lot of detail also needs to be discarded to squish it into the AI’s “memory”. This is part of why AI models are prone to hallucination and getting details wrong.

    2. External information sources

    The AI developers might connect the chatbot itself with external tools, or knowledge sources, such as Google for searches or a curated database.

    When you ask Microsoft’s Bing Copilot a question and you see numbered references in the answer, this indicates the AI has relied on an external search to get updated information in addition to what is stored in its memory.

    Meanwhile, some dedicated mental health chatbots are able to access therapy guides and materials to help direct conversations along helpful lines.

    3. Information previously provided

    AI platforms also have access to information you have previously supplied in conversations, or when signing up to the platform.

    When you register for the companion AI platform Replika, for example, it learns your name, pronouns, age, preferred companion appearance and gender, IP address and location, the kind of device you are using, and more (as well as your credit card details).

    On many chatbot platforms, anything you’ve ever said to an AI companion might be stored away for future reference. All of these details can be dredged up and referenced when an AI responds.

    And we know these AI systems are like friends who affirm what you say (a problem known as sycophancy) and steer conversation back to interests you have already discussed. This is unlike a professional therapist who can draw from training and experience to help challenge or redirect your thinking where needed.

    What about specific apps for mental health?

    Most people would be familiar with the big models such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, or Microsofts’ Copilot. These are general purpose models. They are not limited to specific topics or trained to answer any specific questions.

    But developers can make specialised AIs that are trained to discuss specific topics, like mental health, such as Woebot and Wysa.

    Some studies show these mental health specific chatbots might be able to reduce users’ anxiety and depression symptoms. Or that they can improve therapy techniques such as journalling, by providing guidance. There is also some evidence that AI-therapy and professional therapy deliver some equivalent mental health outcomes in the short term.

    However, these studies have all examined short-term use. We do not yet know what impacts excessive or long-term chatbot use has on mental health. Many studies also exclude participants who are suicidal or who have a severe psychotic disorder. And many studies are funded by the developers of the same chatbots, so the research may be biased.

    Researchers are also identifying potential harms and mental health risks. The companion chat platform Character.ai, for example, has been implicated in ongoing legal case over a user suicide.

    This evidence all suggests AI chatbots may be an option to fill gaps where there is a shortage in mental health professionals, assist with referrals, or at least provide interim support between appointments or to support people on waitlists.

    Bottom line

    At this stage, it’s hard to say whether AI chatbots are reliable and safe enough to use as a stand-alone therapy option.

    More research is needed to identify if certain types of users are more at risk of the harms that AI chatbots might bring.

    It’s also unclear if we need to be worried about emotional dependence, unhealthy attachment, worsening loneliness, or intensive use.

    AI chatbots may be a useful place to start when you’re having a bad day and just need a chat. But when the bad days continue to happen, it’s time to talk to a professional as well.

    Aaron J. Snoswell previously received research project funding from OpenAI in 2024-2025 to develop new evaluation frameworks for measuring moral competence in AI agents.

    Laura Neil receives funding through the Australian government Research Training Program Scholarship.

    Centaine Snoswell 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. Do you talk to AI when you’re feeling down? Here’s where chatbots get their therapy advice – https://theconversation.com/do-you-talk-to-ai-when-youre-feeling-down-heres-where-chatbots-get-their-therapy-advice-257732

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: China unveils guidelines to deepen reforms in Shenzhen

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

    A visitor experiences an immersive interactive project during the 21st China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong province, May 22, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China will further advance comprehensive reforms in the vibrant southern city of Shenzhen, and push for greater innovation and opening-up in the city, according to a set of guidelines unveiled Tuesday.

    The guidelines, issued by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, highlighted a new batch of reform measures for Shenzhen to break institutional barriers in education, science, and talent development. They emphasize strengthening the integration of innovation, industrial, capital, and talent chains, while exploring new pathways, scenarios, and platforms for Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) cooperation. They aim to pioneer modernization in the construction of a globally oriented, innovation-driven city.

    By advancing reforms and opening-up at a higher starting point, to a higher level, and for higher goals, Shenzhen will generate more replicable and scalable best practices. It will further amplify its role as a key engine in the GBA and as a radiating hub in the national development strategy. These efforts will contribute to building China into a modern socialist country in all respects, the guidelines said.

    Among the reform measures, overseas investors are encouraged to establish vocational training institutions in Shenzhen in compliance with regulations and introduce advanced training programs, faculty, and teaching methodologies.

    Employers in Shenzhen shall be granted greater autonomy in recruiting overseas talent and their management, according to the guidelines.

    To support financing for the real economy, insurance funds are supported to invest in private equity funds and venture capital funds that are established in Shenzhen with a primary focus on specific sectors. GBA enterprises listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange are permitted to also list on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in accordance with applicable policies.

    Shenzhen will carry out reforms to enhance data security governance and regulatory capabilities, and explore efficient, convenient and secure cross-border data flow mechanisms in compliance with laws, regulations, and relevant requirements, the guidelines said.

    The progress made in the comprehensive reform pilot programs will be closely monitored, the achievements be consolidated, and the proven experiences and effective practices be solidified and promoted on a larger scale, according to the guidelines.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China set to build future workforce with new tech-centric college majors

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

    With the grueling college entrance exams behind them, over 13 million Chinese students will begin exploring university options this year, amid an expanding array of tech-focused study programs.

    As China’s economy shifts toward high-tech manufacturing and services, new courses are part and parcel of its latest push to ensure the future workforce is equipped with the skills needed to support sustained growth and global competitiveness in an increasingly technology-driven world.

    The Ministry of Education has announced the addition of 29 new undergraduate majors across the country’s universities, many of them aligned with its strategic priorities in emerging sectors including artificial intelligence, carbon neutrality and low-altitude economy.

    One of the new majors is carbon neutrality science and engineering, with graduates likely to support the country’s ambitious climate goals of fulfilling its pledge to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

    The low-carbon program at University of Science and Technology Beijing, known for its steel programs, will integrate materials science with metallurgy to facilitate the transition of smoke-heavy traditional industries like steel.

    Institutions including Beihang University have designed programs that target China’s burgeoning drone and urban air mobility sectors, which hold trillion-yuan (about 140 billion U.S. dollars) market potential.

    Engineering disciplines like integrated circuits, marine technology, industrial software, intelligent molecular engineering, biomass, and medical device and equipment have also begun enrolling students, closely aligning with China’s national industrial development objectives.

    To drive digital transformation across consumer industries, China is also planning to cultivate next-generation professionals through new disciplines including intelligent emergency management, smart cities and intelligent imaging art.

    “China is essentially predicting what talent it will need five years from now,” explained Xiong Bingqi, an education researcher. “These new majors consider three key factors: national strategic development, technological advancement and social needs.”

    More than 500 universities now offer AI-related majors or have launched dedicated schools related to the field. Tsinghua University and Renmin University of China included AI into their 2025 enrollment expansion plans.

    However, some AI programs are affiliated with computer science colleges and lack faculty experienced in AI practice and application.

    Zhaopin.com data shows that in the month after the 2025 Spring Festival, AI instructor job postings doubled year-on-year, revealing a severe shortage of AI teaching staff.

    Xiong likened some superficial rebranding of existing programs with “smart” or “digital,” to “putting on a new coat without changing the essence.”

    This year, Beijing Normal University will launch a new major in AI education to address the shortage of AI teaching professionals.

    China’s education authorities have also approved 23 vocational undergraduate institutions, with programs focused technical workforce training for emerging industries, with practical training required to account for 50 percent of total class hours.

    Two vocational undergraduate institutions in Anhui, an eastern Chinese province, have set up majors in fields like new energy and intelligent connected vehicles, with a professional alignment rate to regional industries exceeding 90 percent.

    China wants vocational undergraduate enrollment to reach at least 10 percent of all higher vocational education admissions by 2025. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy on Trump Selling Off U.S. Foreign Policy: This Corruption Has No Precedent in American History

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
    [embedded content]  
    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Monday spoke on the U.S. Senate floor to call on his Senate colleagues to stand up to President Trump’s brazen corruption of U.S. foreign policy. Murphy will force a vote as early as this week on two joint resolutions of disapproval to block multi-billion-dollar weapons sales to Qatar and the UAE after Trump demanded billions of dollars in luxury gifts and business deals from the two countries, including a $400 million dollar luxury plane that he intends to keep for personal use. 
    Murphy exposed the historic nature of Trump’s corruption and the danger it poses to national security: “The blatant exchange of U.S. national security secrets, our most sensitive drone technology and our most sensitive chip technology, in exchange for cash into Donald Trump’s pocket, is perhaps the most brazenly corrupt act in the history of the American presidency. And we cannot normalize it just because he is doing it out in the open, in public.
    On Trump demanding Qatar gift him a luxury jet for his own personal use, Murphy said: “Now, this kind of gift, a $400 million luxury jet, it has no precedent in American history. No President has ever asked for, never mind been given, a $400 million gift from a foreign nation. Why? Well, because presidents know that that’s crossing a line. That is a massive abuse of their power. The leverage that presidents have over other countries, that they could use to ask for millions of dollars in gifts, it’s supposed to be used to benefit the nation’s security, not to enrich themselves. But also, it’s just illegal. There is a very specific clause in the Constitution that forbids this kind of gift from a foreign government to a president. And this body is supposed to be in charge of helping to enforce the Constitution. Our founders wrote that clause into the Constitution because they worried about this exact situation, where a president is using his authority like a monarch or a king to make himself the richest person in the world.
    Murphy stressed that Republicans and Democrats must unite to protect the U.S. Constitution and preserve a foreign policy rooted in furthering American interests: “Donald Trump is using the power of his office not to help or protect us, but to enrich himself and his family. He is doing it publicly, brazenly, out in the open. He is, in effect, daring us – specifically daring the legislative branch, the co-equal branch – to stop him…Republicans can’t ignore this just because the president is their party’s leader. We have that independent obligation to protect the Constitution, which clearly says that these gifts are illegal, whether they’re going to a Democratic president or a Republican president. We have a responsibility to our taxpayers to stop a president from immorally enriching himself, using the power we give him to help himself instead of helping us. 
    He concluded: “The net result is an American public that is poorer, and weaker, and less secure. And a president who is richer. It’s corrupt. It’s corrupt. We’ve never, ever, in the history of this country, allowed for a president to do this. Never in the 250 years that our republic has been on the Earth has a president ever asked another nation to enrich himself in this way, in exchange for preferential treatment from the U.S. taxpayers. If you are a Republican or a Democratic senator, you have to see this as unprecedented, as terrible for our nation, as corruption. American foreign policy should not be for sale. If we let these arms sales go through, we are greasing the wheels of that corruption. If we vote for these resolutions of disapproval, at least we have a shot to stop it.” 
    Murphy filed these joint resolutions of disapproval last month. 
    A full transcript of his remarks can be found below:
    MURPHY: “The U.S. Constitution and the American people give the American president vast power: the power to decide how billions of dollars are spent; the power to oversee the entire federal criminal justice system; the power to sell arms around the world; to deploy millions of American soldiers; to negotiate peace treaties. We give him these powers – the Constitution gives the president these powers – so that he uses them on our behalf: to deploy that vast power of the American presidency; to increase our quality of life; to protect the American people. We place immense trust in the president not to abuse these incredible authorities that are given to him. But Donald Trump is abusing that authority in ways that honestly shock the conscience.
    “Donald Trump is using the power of his office not to help or protect us, but to enrich himself and his family. He is doing it publicly, brazenly, out in the open. He is, in effect, daring us – specifically daring the legislative branch, the co-equal branch – to stop him.
    “Nearly three weeks ago, news broke that the White House had dialed up one of our key allies in the Middle East, the government of Qatar, and it asked that the Qataris give the president a luxury jet that is reportedly worth upwards of $400 million. 
    “Now, the nicest jet that I have ever been on is Air Force One, and it’s really nice. But the jet that Trump wants to make Air Force One, that he’s asking for from the Qataris, makes Air Force One, the current version, look like a tenement house. The Qatari jet that he is asking for, its interior is designed by a famed French designer, complete with a flowing grand staircase, sculpted ceilings, plush carpeting, leather couches, gold furnishings. The plane has been called the world’s most luxurious private jet. It includes nine bathrooms, five kitchens, swanky lounges, and a master bedroom suite. The arrangement that Trump proposed to the Qataris would briefly pass the jet through U.S. government hands, but only, as reported, for just a year or two before it would end up belonging personally to Donald Trump. The U.S. Government would essentially be a straw purchaser. The real owner of the jet, for all practical purposes, would be Donald Trump. 
    “Now, this kind of gift, a $400 million luxury jet, it has no precedent in American history. No President has ever asked for, never mind been given, a $400 million gift from a foreign nation. Why? Well, because presidents know that that’s crossing a line. That is a massive abuse of their power. The leverage that presidents have over other countries, that they could use to ask for millions of dollars in gifts, it’s supposed to be used to benefit the nation’s security, not to enrich themselves. But also, it’s just illegal. There is a very specific clause in the Constitution that forbids this kind of gift from a foreign government to a president. And this body is supposed to be in charge of helping to enforce the Constitution. Our founders wrote that clause into the Constitution because they worried about this exact situation, where a president is using his authority like a monarch or a king to make himself the richest person in the world. 
    “Now, the Qatar government feels like it had little choice but to say yes when asked for this $400 million gift – again, briefly to the U.S. Government – but really, for all practical purposes, to the president. They felt like they had no choice precisely because an American president has so much power. They have so much leverage, especially over a vulnerable country in the Middle East. In this case, Qatar really needs to keep the United States on its side. Middle East politics, they shift really quickly, and during Trump’s first term, when the Qataris were not close to Trump, they paid a price. They found themselves badly and dangerously isolated in the region. Saudi Arabia and the UAE, if you remember, effectively ganged up to blockade Qatar, and Trump gave that move implicit consent. Qatar, frankly, is willing to pay a very high price to avoid that fate again. 
    “But Qatar also has things that it wants from the United States. No Middle East country has ever been allowed to buy MQ-9 Reaper drones. These are the most lethal armed drone that America makes. We have previously judged that the region is just too volatile to allow any nation to possess the Reaper, and arguably there’s an arms control regime that doesn’t allow us to transfer that technology, but Qatar wanted to break that precedent. Of course they did. They wanted to be the first nation to have the Reaper technology, and Trump seemed willing to go along. So, a $400 million gift to the president, again, that the president was asking for, it’s a relatively small price to pay for that kind of military edge over your rivals in the region. 
    “But there was one more reason that Qatar had no choice but to give Trump, or at least they felt they had no choice but to give Trump, this wildly illegal gift: because Trump had made it clear to the whole region, to the whole of the Gulf region in the Middle East, that he was for sale and that preferential American treatment was for sale. And if Qatar didn’t pay, another country would. Qatar wasn’t going to be protected, frankly, by a collective refusal of Trump’s extortion in the region. And they had only to look next door to the United Arab Emirates to see how high the price was getting to win Trump’s affection. 
    “At the exact moment that Trump was leaning on Qatar to give him the luxury plane, he was also leaning on UAE to give him not a $400 million gift, but a $2 billion gift. And he didn’t have to lean hard. Just before the Qataris committed to give Trump the plane, an investment firm, backed by the Emirati government and chaired by Emirati government’s national security advisor, shocked the world and announced that it would use Trump’s brand-new stablecoin, this is a form of cryptocurrency, in a $2 billion investment deal that this investment fund, essentially an arm of the UAE government, was doing. And because of that $2 billion deal, overnight Trump’s stablecoin became one of the five largest stablecoins in the world, massively inflating the president’s wealth due to this one single investment. Now this wasn’t an ordinary investment decision. Out of all the stablecoin companies in the world, the Emiratis chose what at the time was a brand-new, relatively small crypto company, run by two people who had very little background in the industry. Why? To put money directly into the pocket of Donald Trump. On the website of World Liberty Financial – that’s the company that is issuing the Trump coin – they don’t hide the fact that this isn’t the Trump kids that own the business. On the website, it states 60% of this company, World Liberty Financial, is owned by an entity affiliated with Donald J. Trump.
    “But it gets even more corrupt because World Liberty Financial’s other cofounder is a guy named Zach Witkoff, who, not coincidentally, is the son of Steve Witkoff, Trump’s top Middle East advisor. The Trumps could have picked anybody in the world to run this stablecoin business with but they chose the son of the Middle East envoy, just so that when they were going around asking for money in the region, it was crystal clear that if you were doing business with World Liberty Financial, you were doing business with the people in the Trump administration who make all the decisions about the Middle East. So, in one fell swoop, the Emiratis can put money into the family that controls the White House and the family that deploys and decides Middle East policy. 
    “Now, just like the Qataris, the Emiratis want something in return, too. Their ask was for the U.S. to remove restrictions on selling the most advanced American-made computer chips to the UAE. The restrictions have been in place under Republican and Democratic administrations for a really good reason. The UAE has a very close, too close, relationship with China. And the U.S. is always rightly worried that if we gave advanced technology to UAE, it would pretty quickly, potentially, fall into the hands of the Chinese. Now, this would be really bad – especially regarding these microchips, these computer chips – because these chips power the most advanced and proprietary American A.I. systems. Losing these chips to China could cost us the lead to China on the global A.I. race. The UAE also wanted the United States to look the other way while they helped fund a death-spiral civil war in Sudan. The UAE is the main supplier of weapons to the worst of the two parties that are involved in the brutal, catastrophic, deadly, civil war in Sudan. And they want the United States to keep giving them weapons, most recently asking for a resupply of Chinook helicopters, even as they use their military prowess to destroy Sudan. 
    “Now, the end of this chapter of the story will not shock you. In coordination with the $400 million luxury plane and the $2 billion investment in Trump crypto, Qatar got sign-off on buying the Reaper drones. And Steve Witkoff, father of the co-owner of World Liberty Financial, marched over to UAE, right before the president was showing up himself, and announced that the United States would, in fact, magically lift those restrictions on the microchips. And just as unsurprisingly, Trump announced that he’ll sell the Chinooks to Abu Dhabi, with no requirement that they stop fueling the war in Sudan. 
    “The blatant exchange of U.S. national security secrets, our most sensitive drone technology and our most sensitive chip technology, in exchange for cash into Donald Trump’s pocket, is perhaps the most brazenly corrupt act in the history of the American presidency. And we cannot normalize it just because he is doing it out in the open, in public.
    “The Senate, which is given the responsibility by the Constitution to be a coequal branch with the president, we have independent responsibility to uphold and protect the Constitution, to set American foreign policy. We cannot pretend this is not happening. We cannot look the other way while the entire moral foundation of our foreign policy is being shattered. Republicans can’t ignore this just because the president is their party’s leader. We have that independent obligation to protect the Constitution, which clearly says that these gifts are illegal, whether they’re going to a Democratic president or a Republican president. We have a responsibility to our taxpayers to stop a president from immorally enriching himself, using the power we give him to help himself instead of helping us. 
    “What makes this moment so dangerous is that both UAE and Qatar, but especially Qatar, are key partners of the United States. They aren’t our adversaries. They are our allies. They’re imperfect allies, but they are our allies. In fact, I’ve been down on this floor in the past arguing on behalf of Qatar and the U.S.-Qatar relationship, when other senators have tried to denigrate the Qataris’ contributions to regional peace. The Qataris have been a critical partner of ours on so many important issues. It’s worth saying that. There’s no way that we would have been able to evacuate 124,000 people from Afghanistan on the eve of the Taliban takeover without Qatar’s help. The Qataris today host thousands of U.S. troops at Al Udeid Air Force Base. That’s the largest base in the region. The Qataris are critical mediators who helped us send back-channel messages to secure the release of American hostages or negotiate peace deals. There’s no question that Qatar is a country that helps stabilize the region and often is indispensable in protecting U.S. interests overseas. So, I want to cultivate and strengthen that important relationship. I honor the work that the United States and UAE does all around the region to try to track down and hold accountable terrorists. These are real partnerships. But our relationship with Qatar and the UAE, it can’t be a corrupt relationship. We can’t sell drones to Qatar, our friend, if our friend is willing to take part in Trump’s corruption. We cannot sell weapons to the UAE, our ally, if our ally is willing to take part in Trump’s corruption. 
    “We’ll have a chance this week to make this clear: that the United States Senate will not facilitate, will not grease the wheels of Trump’s corruption of our foreign policy. We can do that by voting to block these two arms sales to Qatar and the UAE. Not permanently, but until both countries commit to deny Trump’s requests for personal enrichment as part of the bilateral relationship. That’s why Senators Van Hollen, Kaine, Schatz, and Sanders have joined me in two resolutions of disapproval for those Reaper drone sales and the Chinook sale, and we’ll have a vote on these two resolutions as early as this week. 
    “President Trump has declared that U.S. foreign policy is for sale. And the opening bids, from two of the richest nations in the world, is a $2 billion investment in Trump’s crypto company, from the UAE, and a $400 million luxury plane, essentially for the president’s permanent personal use. At the exact same moment that Trump is trying to push a bill through this Congress that is going to ruin a lot of people’s lives, cutting off their health care or leaving kids without food at night, he’s making himself even richer by trading American national security policy for gifts. And, to make it worse, trading away U.S. national security secrets in exchange. The net result is an American public that is poorer, and weaker, and less secure. And a president who is richer. It’s corrupt. It’s corrupt. We’ve never, ever, in the history of this country, allowed for a president to do this. Never in the 250 years that our republic has been on the Earth has a president ever asked another nation to enrich himself in this way, in exchange for preferential treatment from the U.S. taxpayers. If you are a Republican or a Democratic senator, you have to see this as unprecedented, as terrible for our nation, as corruption. American foreign policy should not be for sale. If we let these arms sales go through, we are greasing the wheels of that corruption. If we vote for these resolutions of disapproval, at least we have a shot to stop it. 
    “I yield the floor.”
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom’s Address to California: Democracy at a Crossroads

    Source: US State of California Governor

    Jun 10, 2025

    What you need to know: In an address delivered to nearly 40 million Californians and Americans nationwide tonight, Governor Gavin Newsom condemned President Trump’s unlawful militarization of Los Angeles and warned that the President’s actions mark a dangerous inflection point for the nation.

    LOS ANGELES — In an address delivered to nearly 40 million Californians and Americans nationwide tonight, Governor Gavin Newsom condemned President Trump’s unlawful militarization of Los Angeles and warned that the President’s actions mark a dangerous inflection point for the nation.

    “What we’re witnessing is not law enforcement — it’s authoritarianism,” Governor Newsom said to Californians. “What Donald Trump wants most is your fealty. Your silence. To be complicit in this moment. Do not give in to him.”

    Governor Newsom recounted recent federal raids in Latino neighborhoods, the unlawful commandeering of 4,000 California National Guard members, and the deployment of over 700 active-duty Marines to the streets of an American city — all done without consultation with state or local officials. “Trump is pulling a military dragnet across Los Angeles,” Newsom said. “It’s weakness masquerading as strength.”

    Calling this a moment of national reckoning, the Governor urged Americans to take peaceful action. “The most important office in a democracy is not President or Governor — it’s citizen.”

    Watch and read the entire speech here:

    Governor Newsom’s Address to California: Democracy at a Crossroads

    I want to say a few words about the events of the last few days. 

    This past weekend, federal agents conducted large-scale workplace raids in and around Los Angeles. 

    Those raids continue as I speak.

    California is no stranger to immigration enforcement. 

    But instead of focusing on undocumented immigrants with serious criminal records and people with final deportation orders – a strategy both parties have long supported – this administration is pushing mass deportations.

    Indiscriminately targeting hardworking immigrant families, regardless of their roots or risk.

    What’s happening right now is very different than anything we’ve seen before. 

    On Saturday morning, when federal agents jumped out of an unmarked van near a Home Depot parking lot, they began grabbing people. 

    A deliberate targeting of a heavily Latino suburb.

    A similar scene also played out when a clothing company was raided downtown.

    In other actions: a US citizen, 9 months pregnant – arrested. A four-year-old girl – taken.

    Families separated. Friends disappearing.  

    In response, everyday Angelinos came out to exercise their Constitutional right to free speech and assembly

    To protest their government’s actions. 

    In turn, the State of California and the City and County of Los Angeles sent our police officers to help keep the peace, and with some exceptions, they were successful.

    Like many states, California is no stranger to this sort of civil unrest. We manage it regularly … and with our own law enforcement.

    But this, again, was different. 

    What then ensued was the use of tear gas. Flash-bang grenades. Rubber bullets. 

    Federal agents, detaining people and undermining their due process rights.

    Donald Trump, without consulting with California’s law enforcement leaders, commandeered 2,000 of our state’s National Guard members to deploy on our streets. 

    Illegally, and for no reason.

    This brazen abuse of power by a sitting President inflamed a combustible situation … putting our people, our officers, and the National Guard at risk. 

    That’s when the downward spiral began. He doubled down on his dangerous National Guard deployment by fanning the flames even harder.

    And the President did it on purpose.

    As the news spread throughout LA, anxiety for family and friends ramped up. Protests started again. 

    By night, several dozen lawbreakers became violent and destructive. They vandalized property. They tried to assault police officers. 

    Many of you have seen video clips of cars burning on cable news.  

    If you incite violence or destroy our communities, you are going to be held accountable. 

    That kind of criminal behavior will not be tolerated. Full stop. 

    Already, more than 370 people have been arrested. And we’re reviewing tapes to build additional cases, and people will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

    Again, thanks to our law enforcement officers and the majority of Angelenos who protested peacefully, this situation was winding down and was concentrated in just a few square blocks downtown.

    But that’s not what Donald Trump wanted. 

    He again chose escalation; he chose more force.

    He chose theatrics over public safety – he federalized another 2,000 Guard members. 

    He deployed more than 700 active U.S. Marines. 

    These are men and women trained in foreign combat, not domestic law enforcement. 

    We honor their service. We honor their bravery. But we do not want our streets militarized by our own Armed Forces. Not in L.A. Not in California. Not anywhere.

    We’re seeing unmarked cars in school parking lots. Kids, afraid to attend their own graduation. 

    Trump is pulling a military dragnet across LA, well beyond his stated intent to just go after violent and serious criminals.

    His agents are arresting dishwashers, gardeners, day laborers and seamstresses – That’s just weakness. Weakness, masquerading as strength.

    Donald Trump’s government isn’t protecting our communities – they are traumatizing our communities. And that seems to be the point. 

    California will keep fighting on behalf of our people – all of our people – including in the courts. 

    Yesterday, we filed a legal challenge to President Trump’s reckless deployment of American troops to a major American city.

    Today, we sought an emergency court order to stop the use of the American military to engage in law enforcement activities across Los Angeles.

    If some of us can be snatched off the streets without a warrant, based only on suspicion or skin color, then none of us are safe. 

    Authoritarian regimes begin by targeting people who are least able to defend themselves. But they do not stop there.

    Trump and his loyalists thrive on division because it allows them to take more power and exert even more control. 

    By the way, Trump – he’s not opposed to lawlessness and violence, as long as it serves HIM. 

    What more evidence do we need than January 6th?

    I ask everyone to take the time to reflect on this perilous moment.

    A president who wants to be bound by no law or constitution.

    Perpetrating a unified assault on American traditions.

    This is a President who, in just over 140 days, has fired government watchdogs that could hold him accountable for corruption and fraud.

    He’s declared a war on culture, on history, on science – on knowledge itself. Databases, quite literally vanishing.

    He’s delegitimizing news organizations and assaulting the First Amendment.

    At the threat of defunding them, he’s dictating what universities can teach.

    Targeting law firms and the judicial branch that are the foundation of an orderly, civil society.

    Calling for a sitting Governor to be arrested for no other reason than – to use his words – “for getting elected.”

    And we all know, this Saturday, he’s ordering our American heroes – the United States military – forcing them to put on a vulgar display to celebrate his birthday, just as other failed dictators have done in the past.

    Look, this isn’t just about protests in LA. 

    When Donald Trump sought blanket authority to commandeer the National Guard, he made that order apply to every state in this nation.

    This is about all of us. This is about you.

    California may be first – but it clearly won’t end here. Other states are next.

    Democracy is next.

    Democracy is under assault right before our eyes – the moment we’ve feared has arrived. 

    He’s taking a wrecking ball to our founding fathers’ historic project.

    Three independent, coequal branches of government. 

    There are no longer any checks and balances. Congress is nowhere to be found. Speaker Johnson has completely abdicated that responsibility.

    The rule of law has increasingly given way to the rule of Don.

    The founding fathers did not live and die to see this moment.

    It’s time for all of us to stand up. 

    Justice Brandeis said it best: in a democracy, the most important office is not president, it’s certainly not governor. The most important office is office of citizen.

    At this moment, we must all stand up and be held to a higher level of accountability. 

    If you exercise your First Amendment rights, please do so peacefully. 

    I know many of you are feeling deep anxiety, stress, and fear.

    But I want you to know that YOU are the antidote to that fear and anxiety.

    What Donald Trump wants most is your fealty. Your silence. To be complicit in this moment.

    Do NOT give in to him.

    Press releases

    Recent news

    Jun 10, 2025

    News LOS ANGELES – Governor Newsom and Attorney General Bonta are standing up all states by filing a lawsuit and request to block President Trump and the Department of Defense’s illegal militarization of Los Angeles and the takeover of a California National Guard (Cal…

    Jun 10, 2025

    News “Turning the military against American citizens” What you need to know:  Standing up for American citizens and the Nation’s foundational ban on martial law in peacetime, California Governor Newsom and Attorney General Bonta are requesting the court step in to…

    Jun 9, 2025

    News What you need to know: California is surging mutual aid resources to support law enforcement as they clean up the actions caused by President Trump. LOS ANGELES – Moving quickly to support local response to federal actions that have caused unrest in Los Angeles,…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: OpenAI releases AI reasoning model o3-pro

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

    OpenAI on Tuesday announced the launch of o3-pro, the company’s most advanced reasoning artificial intelligence (AI) model to date.

    O3-pro is a version of OpenAI’s o3, a reasoning model first introduced earlier this year. Reasoning models solve problems step by step, making them more reliable in fields such as physics, mathematics, and computer programming.

    The o3-pro model is available starting Tuesday for ChatGPT Pro and Team users, replacing the previous o1-pro model. Enterprise and Edu users will gain access the following week, according to OpenAI. O3-pro is also now live in OpenAI’s developer API as of Tuesday afternoon.

    The model is priced at 20 U.S. dollars per million input tokens and 80 dollars per million output tokens in the API. One million input tokens are approximately equivalent to 750,000 words.

    “In expert evaluations, reviewers consistently preferred o3-pro over o3 in every tested category — especially in key areas like science, education, programming, business, and writing assistance,” OpenAI stated. “Reviewers also rated o3-pro consistently higher for clarity, comprehensiveness, instruction-following, and accuracy.”

    O3-pro has access to a range of tools, including web browsing, file analysis, visual reasoning, Python execution, and personalized memory-based responses, according to the company.

    In internal testing, o3-pro achieved impressive results in widely used AI benchmarks. On AIME 2024, which assesses mathematical ability, o3-pro outperformed Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro. It also surpassed Anthropic’s Claude 4 Opus on GPQA Diamond, a benchmark for PhD-level science knowledge, the company reported. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The 12th International Youth Gathering Started in Heihe and Blagoveshchensk

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) — The opening ceremony of the 12th International Youth Conference was held at Heihe University in Heihe, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, on Tuesday, the university’s website reported.

    The event, which will last five days, attracted more than a thousand students and teachers from 10 higher education institutions in China and Russia. According to the plan, the first stage of the gathering will be held from June 9 to 11 in Heihe, and the second from June 11 to 13 at Blagoveshchensk State Pedagogical University.

    The holding of various scientific, educational and cultural events has become a good tradition for the Chinese city of Heihe and the Russian city of Blagoveshchensk, which are separated from each other by the Heilongjiang River (Amur).

    The International Youth Gathering, which first took place in 2010, has gained great popularity among young people in both countries.

    The organizers of the 12th International Youth Gathering were the Heilongjiang Provincial Education Department, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Amur Region and other departments. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Jacaranda, black locust and London plane: common street trees show surprising resilience to growing heat in Australia

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Manuel Esperon-Rodriguez, Senior Lecturer in Ecology, Western Sydney University

    Kokkai Ng/Getty Images

    As Australian cities heat up and dry out, street trees are emerging as frontline defenders of urban liveability.

    Street trees make city life more bearable during heatwaves. They also improve human health and wellbeing, filter pollutants and support biodiversity.

    But as climate change intensifies droughts and dials up more extreme heat, can urban forests survive in a hotter, drier future?

    To find out, we studied how ten of Australia’s most common non-native street trees grow and tolerate drought across seven cities. The familiar species we chose are the well-loved jacaranda and widely planted London plane tree as well as box elder, European nettle tree, honey locust, sweetgum, southern magnolia, callery pear, black locust and Chinese elm.

    Unexpectedly, our new research shows several species tolerate drought better than predicted, including jacaranda and London plane. Some even put on growth spurts during droughts of unprecedented duration and heat. But others showed greater sensitivity than we had anticipated, including honey locust and black locust.

    As cities plan for a hotter future, our research will help urban planners choose the toughest, most resilient street trees.

    Penrith street trees faced the hottest conditions.
    Author provided

    What did we do?

    Street trees cool cities both through their shade and by giving off water through transpiration. These effects can lower local temperatures by several degrees, which helps offset the extra heat trapped by roads, rooftops and hard surfaces.

    But the trees we rely on for cooling are vulnerable to mounting pressures from climate change. Drought, heatwaves and limited soil and water availability in cities can all threaten tree health, growth and survival.

    To test how these species were coping, we chose over 570 street trees in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, as well as Mildura in regional Victoria, Mandurah south of Perth and Parramatta and Penrith in Western Sydney.

    We extracted small cores of wood from the trunk, in a process that leaves the tree alive and largely unaffected. The oldest tree we sampled was a 70-year-old southern magnolia in Sydney.

    Growth rings in these cores let us reconstruct their growth histories and assess how they responded both to long-term climate patterns and extreme events such as the Black Summer of 2019–20 and the Millennium Drought from 1997–2009.

    How resilient are these trees?

    What we found was both reassuring and surprising.

    Across all seven cities, the fastest average growth for all species was recorded in Mildura in northern Victoria. Overall, the slowest growth was found in the warmest location – Penrith.

    Some species behaved predictably. The black locust grew faster in cooler, wetter cities such as Melbourne, as expected, while honey locust and Chinese elms grew more slowly in hotter cities.

    But others defied expectations. Species such as London plane and southern magnolia showed consistent growth trends across cities despite the difference in heat, while others varied depending on local conditions.

    Crucially, the growth records showed many street trees responded positively to wetter conditions during the warmest months, most likely due to the longer growing season and increased access to water.

    Surprisingly, species such as box elder and Callery pear actually increased their growth during the very hot periods over the Black Summer of 2019–20 as well as during wetter La Niña periods in 2021–22. This suggests these species have adapted to warm urban environments – or that care and watering was provided.

    Jacarandas have become popular street trees in warmer cities.
    Snowscat/Unsplash, CC BY-NC-ND

    What happened during drought?

    During drought, street trees generally demonstrated strong resistance. This means they maintained their growth during dry periods.

    But their resilience – measured by their ability to bounce back to pre-drought growth rates – was often limited, especially in drier cities.

    While many street trees can withstand short-term stress, this suggests repeated or prolonged droughts can still take a toll on their long-term health.

    Interestingly, species identified as vulnerable in climate models did not always show greater sensitivity to drought or climate extremes in our real-world study.

    Why? Local conditions and species-level characteristics such as leaf size, wood density and water use strategy may play a significant role in determining which individual trees will thrive as the climate changes.

    We also know care provided by council staff or local residents is extremely useful. When trees are irrigated during stressful conditions, they can help get the tree through tough times.

    Why no eucalypts?

    During their growing season each year, many northern hemisphere trees produce growth rings. These rings make it possible to reliably reconstruct their growth histories using our methods.

    But most eucalypts don’t form clear annual growth rings. This is why we didn’t include spotted gums and other common eucalypts seen on city streets.

    Eucalypts tend to grow whenever conditions are favourable rather than being constrained by a strict annual cycle. Only a few native species reliably produce datable annual rings, such as snow gums and alpine ash. This is because they live in cold, high elevation areas, where winter consistently limits growth each year. These conditions aren’t found in any major Australian city.

    What does this mean for city planners?

    Our research shows that species selection matters a great deal.

    Some street trees such as jacarandas, London plane and the European nettle tree can thrive even under extreme heat and drought, while honey locust and Chinese elms are more sensitive to local conditions.

    Authorities can maximise the benefits of urban forests and reduce tree decline or loss by choosing resilient species and matching them to the specific climate of each city or neighbourhood.

    As climate extremes become more common, even resilient species may face new challenges.

    Planting and maintaining diverse, climate-adapted urban forests will help ensure our cities remain liveable, healthy, and green in the decades to come.

    Mark G Tjoelker receives funding from The Australian Research Council.

    Manuel Esperon-Rodriguez, Matthew Brookhouse, and Sally Power 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. Jacaranda, black locust and London plane: common street trees show surprising resilience to growing heat in Australia – https://theconversation.com/jacaranda-black-locust-and-london-plane-common-street-trees-show-surprising-resilience-to-growing-heat-in-australia-257247

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic University climbed to 8th position in the ranking of IT universities in Russia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The SuperJob online recruiting service presented a rating of Russian universities by the level of salaries of young specialists employed in the IT industry who graduated from the university in 2019-2024. Over the year, the Polytechnic University rose by 1 position and took 8th place among Russian universities and third place among IT universities in St. Petersburg. On average, graduates of Peter the Great Polytechnic University in the field of information technology earn 220,000 rubles, which is 30,000 rubles higher than last year.

    Technological progress is impossible to imagine without the development of digitalization and IT technologies. Training highly qualified personnel in this area is a strategically important state task. It is the focus on the development of computer science, cybersecurity, information technology and artificial intelligence that will contribute to the technological leadership of our country, – notes the rector of SPbPU Andrey Rudskoy.

    The recruiting service notes that 97% of Polytechnic graduates look for work in St. Petersburg after completing their studies, which has a positive effect on strengthening the city’s human resources potential, reducing the brain drain, and also contributes to the development of local industry and the economy.

    Intellectual capital is the main strategic resource of any country. In the field of IT, digitalization and AI, we create strong competition for other countries. Therefore, the development and support of these areas is already an existential choice. And the university is the main partner of the state in the development of human potential capable of competing at a high level. Polytechnic University has shown positive dynamics this year, which means we are on the right track, – comments Vice-Rector for Human Resources Policy Maria Vrublevskaya.

    The SuperJob study involves public universities: classical and specialized technical universities. The SuperJob resume database (more than 30 million resumes) and other open sources are used as a source of information. Resumes for positions in the fields of development, information security, software testing, DevOps, analytics, data research, Machine Learning, Data engineering and others are considered.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Those ‘what I eat in a day’ TikTok videos aren’t helpful. They might even be harmful

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Houlihan, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, University of the Sunshine Coast

    Iren_Geo/Shutterstock

    You may have come across those “what I eat in a day” videos on social media, where people – usually conventionally attractive influencers wearing activewear – list everything they consumed that day.

    They might seem like harmless fun but in fact they can reinforce dangerous ideas about food, weight and body image.

    I’ve worked with people with eating disorders who watch these videos and have seen first hand how harmful this content can be.

    Here’s what the research says and what you need to know.

    Videos that promote ‘health’ can be unhealthy

    “What I eat in a day” videos have been popular for over a decade, with views reaching in the billions.

    They target both men and women and many claim to promote health and nutrition. Yet videos such as these can do more harm than good.

    Very few of these creators have formal qualifications in health or nutrition, increasing the potential for misinformation.

    They often depict low calorie diets, exclude entire food groups or promote “clean eating” (a problematic idea at best).

    Some even encourage dangerous behaviours such as skipping meals, eating very little or using laxatives to purge food.

    They can also send harmful messages about body image. Many such videos use beauty filters to create images promoting unrealistic body ideals.

    These videos often feature shots of how the person looks from the front, the side, in the gym, and in tight, form-fitting clothes. There may even be some “before and after” weight loss pics, sending the harmful message this should be everyone’s goal.

    The subtext is clear: “eat what I eat in a day and you can look like me”.

    But that’s not just a dangerous idea – it’s a totally false and erroneous one.

    Knowing what a certain person “eats in a day” doesn’t mean you’ll look like them if you follow their lead.

    In fact, a 24-hour rundown of one person’s food intake doesn’t even provide accurate information about that person’s nutritional health – let alone yours.

    These videos can target both men and women.
    Veja/Shutterstock

    You are not them

    Like our health, our nutritional needs are unique to us and can vary day to day.

    What constitutes a “healthy” choice for one person might be totally different for another depending on things such as:

    Links between health and diet are best examined over time, not in a single day.

    Basing our food intake on a brief snapshot of what someone else eats is unlikely to lead to better health. It might leave you worse off overall.

    5 ways these videos can affect mental health

    What we watch online can affect our mood, behaviour and body image.

    Alarm bells should ring if you frequently see these videos and notice you’re doing or experiencing these five things:

    1. disordered eating. Eating less than your body needs, skipping meals, cutting out entire food groups, binge eating and purging are all signs of disordered eating that can lead to serious mental health problems such as eating disorders

    2. low mood. Watching videos promoting low-calorie diets can worsen our mood; you might find yourself feeling deflated after comparing yourself to others (or rather, to the version of themselves they promote online)

    3. poor body image. Research shows watching “what I eat in a day” videos can leave people feeling worse about their bodies and appreciating them less

    4. obsessive thinking and anxiety. Obsessing over the “perfect” diet can increase anxiety about food and eating. Diets that encourage a very detailed approach to nutrition – including breaking meals down into components such as carbohydrates and proteins or weighing food – can further fuel obsessive thoughts

    5. narrow life focus. Having your social media feed filled with these types of videos can create an overemphasis on the importance of food, eating and body image on your self-worth. This ultimately affects your health and wellbeing.

    What we watch online can affect our mood, behaviour, and body image.
    GaudiLab/Shutterstock

    OK, so what can I do?

    If you’re encountering “what I eat in a day” videos often and find they’re affecting your mood, eating behaviour or sense of self-worth you can try to:

    • understand that these videos are not tailored to your individual health or nutritional needs and that many contain harmful messaging
    • avoid engaging with videos that promote disordered eating, idealised beauty standards or that make you feel bad after you watch them
    • unfollow accounts that regularly post such videos, or tap “not interested” on the TikTok video to stop the algorithm showing you more of them
    • balance your social media feed with content focused on other areas of life besides food and eating (such as art, design, animals, books, sports or travel). Fill your feed with interests that improve your personal sense of wellbeing
    • consider taking regular breaks from social media and seeing if you feel better overall.

    If you do want to view posts about food, seek out creators attempting to buck these negative trends by focusing more on fun and taste.

    And if you’re experiencing low mood, disordered eating or body image issues, seek help from your local GP. They can connect you with practitioners who provide evidence-based therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy.

    If you have a history of an eating disorder or suspect you may have one, you can contact the Butterfly Foundation’s national helpline on 1800 334 673 (or via their online chat).

    Ultimately, “what I eat in a day” videos aren’t really helpful. They contain very little useful information to guide your health or nutritional goals.

    If you are considering making changes to your diet, it’s important to consult a qualified professional, such as an accredited practising dietitian, who can learn about your situation and monitor any risks.

    Catherine Houlihan consults with an eating disorders service owned and operated by the Butterfly Foundation.

    – ref. Those ‘what I eat in a day’ TikTok videos aren’t helpful. They might even be harmful – https://theconversation.com/those-what-i-eat-in-a-day-tiktok-videos-arent-helpful-they-might-even-be-harmful-257127

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why does the US still have a Level 1 travel advisory warning despite the chaos?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samuel Cornell, PhD Candidate in Public Health & Community Medicine, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney

    No travel can be considered completely safe. There are inherent risks from transportation, criminal activity, communicable diseases, injury and natural disasters.

    Still, global travel is booming — for those who can afford it.

    To reduce the chances of things going wrong, governments issue official travel advisories: public warnings meant to help people make informed travel decisions.

    Sometimes these advisories seem puzzling – why, for example, does the US still have the “safest” rating despite the ongoing volatility in Los Angeles?

    How do governments assess where is safe for Australians to travel?

    A brief history of travel advisories

    The United States pioneered travel advisories in 1978, with other countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland following.

    Australia started providing travel advisories in 1996 and now runs its system under the Smart Traveller platform.

    To determine the risk level, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) draws on diplomatic reporting, assessments from Australian missions overseas about local security conditions, threat assessments from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and advice from Five Eyes intelligence sharing partners (Australia, the US, United Kingdom, New Zealand and Canada).

    The goal is to create “smart, responsible informed travellers”, not to restrict tourism or damage foreign relationships.

    DFAT has stressed its system is not influenced by “commercial or political considerations”.

    Soft power and safety

    In theory, these advisories are meant to inform travellers, keep them safe and reduce the burden on consular services.

    However, they can also subtly reflect politics and alliances.

    While travel advisories are presented as neutral, fact-based risk assessments, they may not always be free from political bias.

    Research shows governments sometimes soften their warnings for countries they are close with and overstate risks in others.

    A detailed analysis of US State Department travel warnings from 2009 to 2016 found only a weak correlation between the number of American deaths in a country and the warnings issued.

    In some cases, destinations with no record of US fatalities received frequent warnings, while places with high death tolls had none.

    In early 2024, Australia issued a string of warnings about rising safety concerns in the US and extremely strict entry conditions even with an appropriate visa.

    Yet, the US kept its Level 1 rating – “exercise normal safety precautions” – the same advice given for places such as Japan or Denmark.

    Meanwhile, Australia’s warning for France was Level 2 — “exercise a high degree of caution” — due to the potential threat of terrorism.

    Experts have also criticised Australia’s travel warnings for being harsher toward developing countries.

    The UK, a country with lower crime rates than the US, also sits at Level 2 — putting it in the same risk level as Saudi Arabia, Nicaragua and South Africa.



    Read more:
    In Trump’s America, the shooting of a journalist is not a one-off. Press freedom itself is under attack

    Inconsistencies and grey areas

    The problem is, the advisory levels themselves are vague: a Level 2 warning can apply to countries with very different risk profiles.

    It’s used for places dealing with terrorism threats like France, or vastly different law and respect for human rights such as Saudi Arabia, or countries recovering from political unrest such as Sri Lanka.

    Until early June 2025, Sweden was also rated Level 2 due to localised gang violence, despite relatively low risks for tourists. Its rating has since been revised down to Level 1.

    Travel advisories often apply a blanket rating to an entire country, even when risks vary widely within its borders.

    For instance, Australia’s Level 1 rating for the US doesn’t distinguish between different regional threats.

    In June 2025, 15 people were injured in Boulder, Colorado after a man attacked a peaceful protest with Molotov cocktails.

    Earlier in 2025, a major measles outbreak in West Texas resulted in more than 700 cases reported in a single county.

    Despite this, Australia continues to classify the entire country as a low-risk destination.

    This can make it harder for travellers to make informed, location-specific decisions.

    Recent travel trends

    Recent data indicate a significant downturn in international travel to the US: in March 2025, overseas visits to the US fell by 11.6% compared to the previous year, with notable declines from Germany (28%), Spain (25%) and the UK (18%).

    Australian visitors to the US decreased by 7.8% compared to the same month in 2024, marking the steepest monthly drop since the COVID pandemic.

    This trend suggests travellers are reassessing risk on their own even when official advisories don’t reflect those concerns.

    The US case shows how politics can affect travel warnings: the country regularly experiences mass casualty incidents, violent protests and recently has been detaining and deporting people from many countries at the border including Australians, Germans and French nationals.

    Yet it remains at Level 1.

    What’s really going on has more to do with political alliances than safety: increasing the US travel risk level could create diplomatic friction.

    What travellers can do now

    If you’re a solo female traveller, identify as LGBTQIA+, are an academic, come from a visible minority or have spoken out online against the country you’re visiting, your experience might be very different from what the advice suggests.

    So, here are some tips to stay safe while travelling:

    • Check multiple sources: don’t rely solely on travel advisories – compare travel advice from other countries

    • Get on-the-ground updates: check local news for coverage of events. If possible, talk to people who’ve recently visited for their experiences

    • For broader safety trends, tools like the Global Peace Index offer data on crime, political stability and healthcare quality. If you’re concerned about how locals or police treat certain groups, consult Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, or country-specific reports from Freedom House

    • Consider identity-specific resources: there are travel guides and safety indexes for LGBTQIA+ travellers like Equaldex, women travellers (Solo Female Travelers Network) and others. These may highlight risks general advisories miss.

    Travel advisories often reflect whom your country trusts, not where you’re actually safe. If you’re relying on them, make sure you understand what they leave out.

    Samuel Cornell receives funding from an Australian Government Research Training Program
    Scholarship.

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

    – ref. Why does the US still have a Level 1 travel advisory warning despite the chaos? – https://theconversation.com/why-does-the-us-still-have-a-level-1-travel-advisory-warning-despite-the-chaos-258182

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –