NewzIntel.com

Category: Science

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ambitious changes to Canadian conservation law are needed to reverse the decline in biodiversity

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Trevor Swerdfager, Practitioner-In-Residence, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo, University of Waterloo

    Canada’s biodiversity is in decline. Globally, climate change, urbanization, overexploitation of resources and habitat loss are combining to drive biodiversity loss across all ecosystems.

    The recent biodiversity assessment of the Americas, from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, documents these trends. Domestically, the 2024 State of Canada’s Birds Report points to falling bird populations over time, while a 2020 World Wildlife Fund report emphasized similar declines across the full range of plants, animals and other living organisms in Canada.

    Put simply, Canada’s efforts to reverse this decline are not succeeding.

    The State of Canada’s Birds Report 2024 shows that some bird populations have declined dramatically.
    (Government of Canada/Birds Canada)

    Laws protecting biodiversity

    There is a foundational reason for our subpar progress in conserving biodiversity: the poor state of biodiversity law in Canada.

    Laws matter. They codify societal values and priorities, define acceptable behaviours and establish the government programs and institutions needed to tackle complex problems. Canadian biodiversity law is neither meeting today’s challenges nor positioning us for the future.

    Federally, biodiversity laws include: the Fisheries Act (1868); Migratory Birds Convention Act (1917); Canada National Parks Act (CNPA, 1930); Canada Wildlife Act (1973); Forestry Act (1985); Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Inter-provincial Trade Act (1992); Oceans Act (1997); Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act (2002); and the Species At Risk Act (2002).

    Over the years, important additions to these acts include habitat and sustainability provisions to the Fisheries Act in 1977 and 2019 respectively, and a 2011 amendment to the CNPA, requiring that National Parks be managed to ensure their “ecological integrity.”

    Nevertheless, several of the laws are pre-date the Second World War and all pre-date the internet, climate change and current biodiversity science.

    Whooping cranes are considered endangered, and are protected under the Species at Risk Act.
    (Shutterstock)

    Disconnected approach

    Canadian biodiversity laws evolved through multiple unconnected legislative events over 150 years. They legislatively fragment the environment into separate components and fracture accountability into multiple agencies. They entrench program silos fostering conflicting departmental priorities and operational inefficiencies.

    They establish no biodiversity goals, reporting mechanisms or mandates for biodiversity science. Their structures impedes public data sharing and transparency, dissuades Indigenous engagement and consistently sparks federal-provincial tensions.

    They contain no mechanisms for translating Canada’s commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework into legal or programmatic action.

    Nothing on the horizon suggests that these shortcomings will be addressed through new leadership, new policy or plain old good luck. On the contrary, these laws seem destined to yield the same sub-optimal outcomes.

    The Jefferson salamander is listed as endangered by both federal and provincial legislation.
    (iNaturalist/evangrimes), CC BY

    Meeting the challenge

    If we are to meet current and future biodiversity conservation challenges, we must develop a new legislative approach. This approach should support the creation of modern biodiversity programs and institutions and drive integrated, transparent and inclusive decision-making.

    Our work suggests that we need a single unified law for biodiversity: a Canadian Biodiversity Conservation and Protection Act (CBCPA). A new act of this kind would replace the existing nine laws and could usefully include:

    1. Principles requiring — not just encouraging — nature-positive programs emphasizing biodiversity, science, ecosystems, transparency, accountability and inclusivity.

    2. Mandated biodiversity target and objective setting, including those of the Global Biodiversity Framework. This should also include reporting measures that offer actionable insights into program effectiveness and delivery improvement opportunities.

    3. Requirements for the use and public documentation of science in decision-making, including the requirement that all government biodiversity data should be made available to the public.

    4. Establishment of governance arrangements embracing Indigenous rights and interests, as well as mechanisms to bring conservation communities together around collective actions, facilitated by a new Biodiversity Conservation Fund.

    5. Creation of a Biodiversity Conservation Agency to fuse the existing four agencies into one, and establish clear ministerial accountability and a stronger voice for biodiversity in Cabinet.

    6. Operational elements governing the establishment and operation of protected areas, the management of fish and migratory birds, and the protection and recovery of species at risk in a cohesive and mutually reinforcing manner.

    A CBCPA would dramatically improve policy and regulatory certainty for industry. It would drive program cohesion and efficiency, build trust in government decision-making and facilitate intra- and inter-governmental collaboration. It would remove key obstacles to biodiversity conservation success and create the societal conditions so urgently needed to reverse biodiversity decline in Canada.

    This would obviously be an ambitious legislative project replete with substantive policy and political challenges. But the importance of biodiversity to Canada’s ecological, economic and social well-being is difficult to overstate. Maintaining the legislative status quo or adopting minimalist incrementalism is unwise.

    As we transform our economic and trade systems in Canada to grapple with climate change, a fundamental shift in how we conserve and protect biodiversity is equally vital. This is a time for ambition, not apathy.

    Derek Armitage has received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

    Trevor Swerdfager 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. Ambitious changes to Canadian conservation law are needed to reverse the decline in biodiversity – https://theconversation.com/ambitious-changes-to-canadian-conservation-law-are-needed-to-reverse-the-decline-in-biodiversity-252781

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Atana Wins 2025 HR Tech Award for Best Talent Development Solution

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BELLEVUE, Wash., April 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Seeking to redefine workplace culture and training, Atana has been named Best Innovative or Emerging Tech Solution for Learning and Talent Development in the 2025 HR Tech Awards. The award marks Atana’s second notable win this month.

    The HR Tech Awards, powered by Lighthouse Research & Advisory and presented by UNLEASH, spotlight excellence and innovation across the HR technology landscape. The program is designed to help HR leaders and technology buyers identify solutions that drive real results.

    “Atana distinguishes itself with a comprehensive, award-winning training platform that is designed to create a more respectful and inclusive workplace, using engaging content to tackle even the most challenging topics like diversity and sexual harassment prevention,” said Ben Eubanks, Chief Research Officer, Lighthouse Research & Advisory. “By leveraging behavioral theory and robust analytics, Atana empowers organizations to drive meaningful change and quantify the positive impact on both employees and the business as a whole.”

    Atana CEO John Hansen shared, “Winning an HR Tech Award is a proud moment for the Atana team. It’s a testament to how our solution innovates and elevates workplace training, driving employee engagement and delivering measurable impact across the workforce. This recognition fuels our mission to help create healthy, positive and respectful workplaces.”

    Now in its sixth year, the HR Tech Awards are judged by an independent panel of industry practitioners, educators and consultants. Each winner is vetted based on overall innovation, product demonstrations and customer case studies. Lighthouse Research & Advisory notes that with more than 5,000 providers competing in today’s HR technology landscape, the HR Tech Awards recognize 1-2 percent of those companies in the space, reinforcing Atana’s value in the market.

    For more information about Atana’s award-winning solutions, visit atana.com.

    About Atana

    Bringing together decades of experience, award-winning courses, and a powerful analytics platform, Atana takes learners from best intentions to actionable and measurable behavioral change at scale. With Atana, employers can build more inclusive workplaces through engaging content and science-backed learning and development. For more information, please visit atana.com.

    Note to editors: Trademarks and registered trademarks referenced herein remain the property of their respective owners.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f2e8d93b-07b9-488b-8af4-d77f5b7fcecb

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic University Accepts the Challenge

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University hosted a roadshow of the National Prize in Future Technologies “Challenge”. The organizers explained what the new scientific award is and what the criteria for selecting the winners are. The special guest of the meeting was the 2024 laureate of the prize in the “Perspective” nomination, the outstanding Russian chemist Leonid Fershtat, who gave a lecture on his scientific developments.

    Opening the event, the first vice-rector of SPbPU, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vitaly Sergeev noted that the future of the country depends on the level of development of science, the quality and quantity of innovative developments. Vitaly Vladimirovich called on young scientists to actively follow the example of the participants of the “Challenge” award, and not only generate ideas, but also popularize science.

    “Behind every seemingly simple and obvious solution, such as this laser pointer, there are scientific discoveries of its time,” Vitaly Sergeev emphasized. “That is why I would like today’s meeting to give you motivation and a desire to do science, to realize how high the prestige of a scientist is in our country, and to inspire you to new achievements.”

    In her welcoming speech, First Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Science and Higher Education of St. Petersburg Irina Ganus noted the importance of creativity in the activities of young people and the significance of projects such as the National Challenge Prize for motivating young scientists.

    In turn, the Vice President of the Foundation for the Development of Scientific and Cultural Relations “Challenge” Elena Eremenko emphasized that stimulating creativity and involving young people in scientific activities is the main goal of the award, and expressed hope for an increase in the number of applications from scientists in St. Petersburg in general and from SPbPU in particular.

    “We see our mission in creating an environment in which science, technology and knowledge are the most important values of society for solving the social and technological problems of the country,” said Elena Eremenko. “It is important that scientists become heroes of our time, real stars and role models for the younger generation. We show with real examples that it is possible to achieve success in science and be in demand.”

    Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the National Prize in the Field of Future Technologies “Challenge”, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Head of the Materials Design Laboratory, Distinguished Professor of the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Department of Materials Science of Semiconductors and Dielectrics of the University of MISiS Artem Oganov spoke about the features of submitting applications for the “Challenge” Prize and the differences between the prize and other scientific awards.

    “Awards are needed, on the one hand, to attract scientists’ attention to certain areas, and on the other hand, to attract investment in science,” said Artem Oganov, emphasizing that the quality of the award depends on the quality of its laureates. And in the case of the “Challenge” award, according to him, all the laureates are real, active and successful scientists.

    The application procedure for participation in the award is very simple: you just need to write a short message to the committee about your development. You don’t need to collect any documents. And then experts will take over, check everything and make a decision. Applications for the award are open on the website premiumchallenge.rf until May 21.

    The roadshow was completed by the winner of the 2024 National Prize in the Field of Future Technologies “Challenge” in the “Perspective” nomination, Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Head of the Laboratory of Nitrogen-Containing Compounds of the N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor of the Joint Department of the N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry of the National Research University Higher School of Economics Leonid Fershtat. In the lecture “There is no such thing as too much nitrogen: why are heterocycles with a high nitrogen content needed?” the scientist presented his developments in the field of creating new organic substances based on nitrogen-oxygen heterocyclic compounds. Heterocyclic compounds are widespread in living organisms, so these studies can contribute to the creation of new drugs. On the other hand, the bonds “carbon – nitrogen”, “nitrogen – nitrogen” and “nitrogen – oxygen” have high energy, which makes it possible to create energy-intensive materials on their basis that can be useful in the aerospace and mining industries.

    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: Best Vice-Rector for Science: Maria Karelina Becomes Laureate of the National Award

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    Vice-Rector of the State University of Management Maria Karelina received the national award “Vice-Rector of the Year for Research” in the nomination “Economic Universities”.

    The winners of the award were announced at the Scientific Professorial Forum, organized by the Russian Professorial Assembly, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and the Russian Academy of Education as part of the Decade of Science and Technology in the Russian Federation.

    For over 100 years, the State University of Management has not only been a leader in management education, but also actively participates in the development of science, the formation of new methods and developments, making discoveries and implementing scientific developments in practice.

    Under the supervision of Maria Yuryevna, the volume of R&D carried out by our university has increased threefold, and the goal for 2025 is to double this figure.

    On the basis of the State University of Management, work is being carried out on a major scientific project in the field of agro-industrial complex, an Advanced Engineering School was created jointly with the M.D. Millionshchikov State Petroleum Technical University, developments are being carried out in the field of UAVs, state assignments are being carried out, projects with the support of the Russian Science Foundation and fundamental research are being carried out.

    The student design bureau of the State University of Management became one of the winners of the Competition of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia in the nomination “Creation and Development of a Student Design Bureau”, the projects of the Engineering Project Management Center were presented to the Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee Andrey Kartapolov, young scientists of our university were recognized as the best in several major competitions, and these are far from all the victories and achievements of the State University of Management in the field of science in 2024.

    We congratulate Maria Karelina on her well-deserved award and wish her further success in her professional development, endless energy to bring all her ideas to life, and a loyal team that will support her along the way.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/22/2025

    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: BEN Launches “iSKYE” AI Platform

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WILMINGTON, Del., April 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Brand Engagement Network Inc. (BEN) (Nasdaq: BNAI), a global innovator in AI-driven customer engagement solutions, announces the Generally Available (GA) release of its iSKYE platform to enable businesses to quickly deploy and scale customized AI solutions with enterprise grade security, flexibility and control.

    Why iSKYE? Transforming AI Integration and Scalability for Businesses

    iSKYE is a new approach to AI Agent development by combining industry-specific training, robust full-stack platform, and scalable deployment. It enables businesses to regain control of their AI projects, build secure, relevant engagement solutions, and accelerate time to value. Whether it’s sharing healthcare information or receiving relevant offers from favorite brands, BEN’s new iSKYE platform individualizes each engagement vs. LLMs delivering generic responses.

    “Businesses are quickly learning that sole reliance on large language models (LLMs) is not sufficient to ensure appropriate engagement with the users,” said Paul Chang, CEO of Brand Engagement Network. “LLMs are important components of GenAI but they are prone to hallucinations and inappropriate responses. iSKYE is the result of BEN’s multi-year effort to evolve a set of orchestrated AI modules from its original SKYE AI Agents(1)into a robust turnkey GenAI platform. iSKYE provides businesses with the ability for its users to have personalized and natural dialogue with the AI Agents while injecting process control and management to the interactions.”

    Key platform features include:

    • Proprietary, Industry-Specific Design – iSKYE leverages several AI modules, industry-specific datasets to fine-tune its model, optimized Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architecture, and most importantly, to mitigate hallucinations. This novel architecture facilitates injection of business rules in the response generation process to ensure proper procedures, protocols, and adherence to business processes.
    • Small Footprint for Cost-Effective Deployment – iSKYE’s small footprint architecture allows for more efficient deployment with lower infrastructure and operational costs. It can run on CPUs, reducing energy consumption while maintaining performance and scalability, making AI more accessible without compromising user experience.
    • Scalable, Adaptable Architecture for Seamless Integration – iSKYE integrates with existing workflows and legacy enterprise systems, supporting high-precision, industry-specific applications across sectors like healthcare, finance, and automotive. Its scalable design allows AI solutions to evolve alongside business needs, automating routine tasks to support teams and improve operational efficiency.
    • Fully Customizable AI Agent – With iSKYE’s built-in graphics studio, businesses can design lifelike 3D AI avatars tailored to their exact needs. From appearance, to gestures, to speech tone, every agent feature is configurable to align with brand goals and deliver a personalized customer experience.
    • Enterprise-Grade Security and Compliance – iSKYE’s closed-loop system ensures HIPAA and SOC2 compliance on U.S.-based cloud servers. The platform supports on-premise deployment and even offline usage, providing businesses assurance on data security and regulatory compliance.

    Looking ahead, BEN plans to expand the iSKYE platform with additional industry-specific solutions, white-label offerings, OEM partnerships, and plug-in modules to further enhance its flexibility and functionality. We believe these innovations will help businesses unlock ever greater potential and drive more impactful AI-driven engagement across various sectors.

    (1)SKYE AI Agents were developed by Deep Machine Lab (DMLAB), which was acquired by BEN in 2023.

    About Brand Engagement Network (BEN)
    Brand Engagement Network Inc. (NASDAQ: BNAI) innovates in AI-powered customer engagement by delivering safe, intelligent, and scalable solutions. Its proprietary Engagement Language Model (ELM™) and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architecture enable highly personalized interactions supported by customers’ curated data in closed-loop environments. BEN develops AI-driven engagement solutions for the life sciences, automotive, and retail industries, featuring AI-powered avatars for outbound campaigns, inbound customer service, and real-time recommendations. With a global AI research and development team, BEN provides secure cloud-based and on-premises deployments, granting complete control of the technology stack and ensuring compliance with GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, and SOC 2 Type 1 standards. The company holds 21 patents, with 28 pending, demonstrating its commitment to advancing AI-driven consumer engagement. For more information, visit www.beninc.ai.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Certain statements in this communication are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws. They are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect, among other things, BEN’s current expectations, assumptions, plans, strategies, and anticipated results. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements, which are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance.

    There are a number of risks, uncertainties and conditions that may cause BEN’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the risk factors described in Part I, Item 1A of Risk Factors in BEN’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the other risk factors identified from time to time in the BEN’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Filings with the SEC are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

    Many of these circumstances are beyond BEN’s ability to control or predict. These forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions on BEN’s part. These forward-looking statements may include words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “should,” “may,” “will,” “might,” “could,” “would,” or similar expressions. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on BEN’s behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements that appear throughout this communication. Furthermore, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, which are based on the information currently available to the Company and speak only as of the date they are made. BEN disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements.

    Media Contact 
    Amy Rouyer
    P: 503-367-7596
    E: amy@beninc.ai

    Investor Relations
    Susan Xu
    P: 778-323-0959
    E: sxu@allianceadvisors.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s Hefei launches 10-billion-yuan fund for smart robotics industry

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

    HEFEI, April 22 — Hefei, capital of east China’s Anhui Province and a major sci-tech center in the country, is planning to establish a fund amounting to 10 billion yuan (about 1.39 billion U.S. dollars) to promote its smart robotics industry.

    It is part of the municipal government’s comprehensive plan to strengthen Hefei’s position as a leading hub for intelligent robotics, the International Advanced Technology Application Promotion Center (Hefei) under the municipal government told Xinhua on Tuesday.

    Under the program, Hefei will provide public services and technical support to 100 companies and promote the application of robotics.

    As a national innovation center, Hefei has built a solid foundation in terms of robotics R&D, manufacturing and application.

    In 2024, the output value of Hefei’s intelligent robotics industry exceeded 50 billion yuan, with the number of enterprises increasing by 83 percent.

    The city has attracted over 160 upstream and downstream enterprises in the industry chain, establishing an integrated R&D and manufacturing framework encompassing the entire value chain.

    According to Nature Index 2024 Science Cities, a supplement to the journal Nature, Hefei was ranked 15th among the top 20 science cities in the world, having achieved impressive research output in biological sciences, chemistry, health sciences and physical sciences.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Victory Monument and others. We remember the iconic works of Zurab Tsereteli

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The outstanding sculptor, President of the Russian Academy of Arts (RAA) Zurab Tsereteli was born on January 4, 1934 in Tbilisi. The boy began to draw in early childhood, pencils were given to him by his uncle, the famous Georgian artist Georgiy Nizharadze. He also taught him to appreciate nature, to notice the beauty around him. Famous artists David Kakabadze, Lado Gudiashvili, Sergo Kobuladze gathered in Nizharadze’s studio, they talked a lot about art. According to Zurab Konstantinovich’s memoirs, as a child he understood little of their conversations, but he was very interested in listening and observing.

    Tsereteli graduated from the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts (now the Apollon Kutateladze Tbilisi State Academy of Arts) in 1958, specializing in monumental painting. There he studied (and called it a great fortune) with the artist Vasily Shukhaev, whom he considered a brilliant draftsman and an outstanding teacher. After completing his studies, he began working as an artist-architect at the Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnography of the Georgian Academy of Sciences (now the Ivane Javakhishvili Institute of History and Ethnology).

    In the 1960s, he was a senior master of the design workshop of the Tbilisi Art and Production Plant of the Art Fund of Georgia and the chief artist of the resorts of Georgia (he decorated buildings in Sukhumi, Gagra, Pitsunda, Borjomi). In 1967, Zurab Tsereteli’s first personal exhibition took place.

    In the 1970s and 1980s, he was the chief artist of the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1979, Tsereteli was elected a corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Arts. In 1980, he was appointed chief artist of the XXII Olympic Games in Moscow. Since 1992, he has held the post of president of the Moscow International Foundation for Assistance to UNESCO. Since 1997, he has headed the Russian Academy of Arts.

    Zurab Tsereteli’s first solo exhibition in Moscow was held in 1998, and he dedicated it to his late wife Inessa Andronikashvili. In 2007, his exhibition was held at UNESCO headquarters (Paris). Tsereteli’s solo exhibitions were also held in Palermo, Rome, Ancona (2011), Zurich (2014), Verona (2016), Cannes (2017) and many other cities around the world. In September 2023, Tsereteli’s exhibition “More Than Life” was held in China.

    Zurab Konstantinovich initiated the creation of the Moscow Museum of Modern Art (1999) and donated his personal collection of 20th century works to the new institution. In 2001, he opened the Zurab Tsereteli Art Gallery in Moscow.

    The Legacy of Zurab Tsereteli

    The artist’s most important works are probably familiar to almost all residents and guests of Moscow. In particular, he worked on the reconstruction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Zurab Tsereteli called himself a believer – he became acquainted with church art during numerous expeditions to Georgia, and this experience, according to him, seriously helped him in his work.

    The artist was responsible for the sculptural part of the bronze obelisk as part of the Victory Memorial Complex on Poklonnaya Hill — in an interview, he said that this work would always be in his heart as a special stage in his life. In 1996, a sculptural composition appeared in the Moscow Zoo, which the zoo’s management called the “Tree of Fairy Tales”. The famous monument to Peter I on the artificial island at the division of the Moscow River and the Vodootvodny Canal was erected in 1997. That same year, Zurab Tsereteli developed the overall artistic and design solution for Manezhnaya Square.

    The sculptor’s monumental works adorn cities in different countries. Among the most famous are “Happiness for Children of the World” (Brockport, USA, 1979), “Good Conquers Evil” (New York, 1990), “Birth of a New Man” (Seville, Spain, 1995), monuments to Nikolai Gogol (Rome, 2002), Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker (Bari, Italy, 2003), Princess Olga (Pskov, 2003), Pope John Paul II (Ploermel, France, 2006), Marina Tsvetaeva (Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, France, 2012), a monument dedicated to the fight against international terrorism (Bayonne, USA, 2006), the compositions “Saint George” (Tbilisi, 2005) and “Fathers of the European Union”. (Metz, France, 2012).

    People’s Artist of the USSR (1980) and the Russian Federation (1994), he was awarded many other awards and honorary titles: the Lenin Prize (1976), USSR State Prizes (1970, 1981-1982), the State Prize of the Russian Federation in Literature and Art (1995), the Order of Merit for the Fatherland of the 3rd (1996), 2nd (2006), 1st (2010) and 4th (2014) classes, the Order of Friendship of Peoples (1994). Zurab Tsereteli was awarded, in particular, the Picasso Gold Medal (2007), the Order of the Legion of Honor (2010) and Carl Faberge (2016).

    The sculptor’s daughter and grandson also connected their lives with art. According to Zurab Konstantinovich, he always tried to support their interest in creativity. Elena Tsereteli is a graphic artist, academician of the Russian Academy of Arts, Vasily Tsereteli is an artist, vice-president of the Russian Academy of Arts, executive director of the Moscow Museum of Modern Art.

    Zurab Tsereteli worked fruitfully almost until the very last days of his life – according to him, even when busy with administrative tasks, he always found time to approach the canvas or go to the foundry, and he carried an album and an ink pen with him everywhere. In an interview, the artist noted that all his works are about love – for the world, people, life.

    Among his recent creations are a monument to Alexander Pushkin (Apatity, 2017), a bust of the first President of Russia Boris Yeltsin (Moscow, 2018), monuments to dancer Rudolf Nureyev (Kazan, 2018), writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn (Kislovodsk, 2018), scientist Zhores Alferov (Saint Petersburg, 2019) and poet Andrei Dementyev (Moscow, 2020), a bust of Alexander Nevsky (Saint Petersburg, 2021), and a monument to composer Tikhon Khrennikov (Yelets, 2023).

    The artist passed away on April 22, 2025.

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152973073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow Mayor Announces Opening of Sports Complex for Blind Children

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In the north-east, a sports complex of boarding school No. 1 has opened. This was reported in on your telegram channel Sergei Sobyanin said.

    “This unique educational institution on 3rd Mytishchinskaya Street has been teaching and rehabilitating children with severe visual impairments for over 140 years. Thanks to the talent of teachers, the work of parents and their own persistence, many of the school’s graduates achieve great success in life. Now the children have even more opportunities to improve their health and play sports,” the Moscow Mayor wrote.

    Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @Mos_Sobyanin

    The construction of the sports complex on 3rd Mytishchinskaya Street (building 5, building 6) was completed in December 2024. It has all the necessary conditions for sports and rehabilitation of people with special needs – blind and visually impaired students of boarding school No. 1.

    The sports complex’s exterior finish is made of blue and white aluminum panels, complemented by vertical slats and pylons. Decorative screens made of perforated aluminum protect the space from sunlight, ensuring comfortable exercise at any time of day. The stained glass windows on the first floor create a feeling of lightness and spaciousness. The façade is decorated with the name of the specialized Moscow boarding school No. 1 for the education and rehabilitation of the blind, written in Braille.

    The four-story building with an area of 4.7 thousand square meters houses:

    — a swimming pool for recreational swimming 25 by 11 meters with four lanes and stands for spectators; a stationary lift has been installed for comfortable immersion in the water for students with disabilities;

    — a universal sports hall with spectator space: with the help of special partitions it can be divided into several sections, which allows for simultaneous training and competitions in various sports, including mini-football, basketball and volleyball;

    – gym;

    — a recreational space with a salt cave and a showdown table (a game for the visually impaired that combines elements of table tennis and air hockey).

    In addition, the new complex has comfortable changing rooms, storage facilities for equipment and a medical center.

    A barrier-free environment has been created inside the sports complex. In particular, tactile tiles for the visually impaired are laid on the floor throughout the building – not on the right or left, as in standard sports complexes, but as a central path. The buttons of the information terminal at the entrance are equipped with inscriptions made in Braille.

    An elevator with a lifting capacity of up to a thousand kilograms has been installed. At the second floor level, a covered heated passage has been arranged, which will allow comfortable and safe movement between the main building of the boarding school and the sports complex without going outside.

    The area next to the sports complex was landscaped and greened. Sports and playgrounds were equipped here, and small architectural forms were installed.

    The new sports complex on 3rd Mytishchinskaya Street will host physical education classes and additional training, as well as competitions in swimming, goalball, mini-football (group B1, sports for the blind), track and field, judo and other sports.

    Individual lessons are provided for children with severe and multiple developmental disabilities outside of school hours. It is expected that up to 150 students will visit the swimming pool weekly, and up to 300 schoolchildren will visit the gym.

    In addition, from May, from Monday to Saturday in the evening (from 18:00 to 22:00), the sports complex will be open for training to all those who wish to do so by prior appointment.

    Boarding school No. 1 for the education and rehabilitation of the blind

    The history of Moscow Boarding School No. 1 for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind dates back more than 140 years, when in the fall of 1882, on the first floor of a three-story building in Sokolovsky (now Elektrichesky) Lane, the Moscow Educational and Upbringing Institution for Blind Children (20 people) was opened, under the patronage of Empress Maria Feodorovna. Blind children received primary education in accordance with the program of a two-year primary school for sighted children and were taught accessible crafts: weaving baskets, straw rugs, edge carpets and chair seats, making brushes, knitting stockings and scarves, and needlework.

    In October 1918, the institution was renamed Children’s Home No. 1 for the Blind, where children received free primary education and were fully supported by the state. Nine years later, it was transformed into the Moscow Institute for Blind Children, which switched to eight-year education in 1932.

    During the Great Patriotic War, the institute was evacuated to the city of Menzelinsk in the Tatar ASSR. Graduates who remained in Moscow worked at the educational and production enterprises of the All-Russian Society of the Blind and prepared products for the front: boxes for anti-tank mines, iron stoves for trenches and dugouts, various brushes. A group of graduates, led by the blind teacher of Russian language and literature Maria Ksenofontova, organized patronage over military hospitals in Moscow. They taught blind soldiers to read and write using Braille.

    In 1948, the institute was transformed into Secondary General Education Boarding School No. 1 for blind children with 11 years of education.

    In 1956, the institution moved to a new four-story building on Novoalekseevskaya Street (now 3rd Mytishchinskaya Street, Building 5), where it remains to this day. Throughout its history, Boarding School No. 1 has been an important scientific and methodological center, conducting scientific research in the field of typhlopedagogy and typhlopsychology, developing educational programs and scientific and methodological manuals, and holding thematic events to improve the qualifications of specialists working with blind and visually impaired children. In particular, the school was a pioneer in the introduction of computer technology for blind users and programmers, programs for special types of labor training, special training for admission to universities, and the integration of the blind into society.

    Over the years of its work, more than 1.6 thousand people have graduated from the school. Among them are scientists, teachers, lawyers and attorneys, musicians and composers, writers and journalists, poets, programmers, computer system operators, managers and foremen of enterprises of the All-Russian Society of the Blind, outstanding athletes (masters of sports, winners of world and European championships) and other specialists.

    Today, Boarding School No. 1 is a modern specialized educational institution, where 352 children study, 80 percent of whom are totally blind. The children undergo adapted programs of preschool, primary, basic and secondary general education.

    The boarding school has created all the conditions for the harmonious development of children with special needs, and this is largely due to the team of highly qualified typhlopedagogic teachers and educators who generously give the children their knowledge, rich experience and boundless love. The school’s workforce consists of 267 employees, including 62 teachers, 50 educators and 40 teaching staff.

    The education is based on the reading and writing system of the French typhlopedagogue Louis Braille and lasts one year longer than in regular schools – 12 years, because the primary school course takes five years.

    A nine-year course of study has been developed for children with combined diseases and severe developmental disabilities. Since 2017, there have been work rehabilitation groups for such school graduates. The children are engaged in carpentry, knitting from wool on their fingers and weaving string bags with a fishing shuttle.

    In addition to the main educational building on 3rd Mytishchinskaya Street (building 5), boarding school No. 1 includes:

    — a preschool department with 24-hour care on Raketny Boulevard (building 14);

    — a rehabilitation department on Kosmonavtov Street (building 4), where work rehabilitation groups are organized;

    — the health resort and recreational structural unit “Solnyshko” in the village of Kostino in the Moscow region, where children receive comprehensive rehabilitation services in an inpatient setting.

    In 2022, an all-Russian center for gifted visually impaired children was opened on the school’s premises, where talented children from other regions of our country can enroll based on the results of testing in mathematics, Russian and English, as well as an interview. Currently, 23 children from 14 subjects of the Russian Federation (Khabarovsk and Krasnoyarsk territories, Nizhny Novgorod, Orenburg, Ryazan and other regions) are studying here as part of this project.

    The socio-cultural rehabilitation of children is facilitated by additional education, represented by programs of various focus areas: physical education and sports, artistic and aesthetic, cultural and natural science. In particular, since 2018, a branch of the E.F. Svetlanov Children’s Art School (Equal Opportunities Department) has been operating at Boarding School No. 1, where 70 people with profound visual impairments study. 95 percent of children attend clubs and sections.

    In the 2023/2024 academic year, 17 eleventh-graders graduated from the school. Five of them were awarded federal and Moscow medals for outstanding academic achievements. Based on the results of the Unified State Exam, 44 graduates (37 percent) received more than 220 points in three subjects, of which 20 people (17 percent) received more than 250 points. Six people received 100 points in one subject.

    In addition, last academic year, 18 students received diplomas of winners and prize winners of the municipal stage of the All-Russian School Olympiad. Two students became prize winners of the regional stage, 44 students became prize winners of the city Olympiad “Museums. Parks. Estates”, and one student became the winner of the Moscow championship “Abilympics” in the “Vocal” competence. In the 2024/2025 academic year, two students became prize winners of the Moscow School Olympiad.

    Thanks to its high educational results, the school is annually a laureate of the Moscow Mayor’s grants (first and second degree).

    The capital’s education system for people with disabilities

    For children with various developmental disabilities, the Moscow city social protection system has eight rehabilitation and educational centers, where about two thousand children undergo comprehensive rehabilitation and receive a quality education.

    Highly qualified doctors, psychologists, teachers, speech therapists and other specialists work with the children, and the centers themselves are equipped with modern innovative equipment. For example, today VR helmets are used to teach children with disabilities: thanks to augmented reality, teachers simulate situations that are only available in the laboratory or in special conditions. Students try themselves in the role of chefs or interns in chemical laboratories. Visualization and immersion in a specific situation help children understand the processes taking place, and thanks to the game form, the knowledge gained during classes is absorbed much better.

    Based on the results of the 2023/2024 academic year, 15 graduates of boarding schools were awarded federal and Moscow medals for outstanding academic achievements.

    It is planned to build a new rehabilitation and educational center for 800 students in the territory of TiNAO.

    At the same time, the majority of children with special needs (over 42 thousand) study in regular city schools, where the most favorable conditions for social adaptation have been created for them.

    In the 2023/2024 academic year, inclusive practices were implemented in 478 educational organizations in Moscow.

    It is possible to choose the form of training:

    – in groups or classes together with students who do not have special educational needs;

    – in separate groups or classes with small occupancies;

    — in special correctional schools implementing adapted educational programs for various nosological groups.

    Every year the number of students with disabilities who are winners and prize winners of the All-Russian and Moscow School Olympiads is growing.

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

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

    HTTPS: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12646050/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Public Service Commission Announces Final Results of Civil Services Exam 2024

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 22 APR 2025 2:25PM by PIB Delhi

    Based on the result of the written part of Civil Services Examination, 2024 held by the Union Public Service Commission in September, 2024 and the interviews for Personality Test held in January-April, 2025, following is the list, in order of merit, of candidates who have been recommended for appointment to:

    (i) Indian Administrative Service;

    (ii) Indian Foreign Service;

    (iii) Indian Police Service; and

    (iv) Central Services, Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’.

    2. A total number of 1009 candidates have been recommended for appointment as per following break-up:

    GENERAL

    EWS

    OBC

    SC

    ST

    TOTAL

    335

    (incl.

    10 PwBD-1,

    05 PwBD-2,

    11 PwBD-3 & 05 PwBD-5)

    109

    (incl.

    Nil PwBD-1,

    01 PwBD-2,

    Nil PwBD-3 &

    Nil PwBD-5)

    318

    (incl.

    02 PwBD-1,

    02 PwBD-2,

    03 PwBD-3 &

    03 PwBD-5)

    160

    (incl.

    Nil PwBD-1,

    Nil PwBD-2,

    Nil PwBD-3 & 01 PwBD-5)

    87

    (incl.

    Nil PwBD-1,

    Nil PwBD-2, 02 PwBD-3 & Nil

    PwBD-5)

    1009

    (incl.

    12 PwBD-1,

    08 PwBD-2,

    16 PwBD-3 & 09 PwBD-5)

     

    3. In accordance with Rule 20 (4) & (5) of the Civil Services Examination Rules 2024, the Commission is maintaining a consolidated Reserve List of candidates as under:

    GENERAL EWS OBC SC ST PwBD-1 TOTAL 115 35 59 14 06 01 230

    4. Appointment to the various Services will be made according to the number of vacancies available with due consideration to the provisions contained in the Rules for the Examination. The number of vacancies reported by the Government to be filled is as under:

    SERVICES GEN EWS OBC SC ST Total

    I.A.S. 73 18 52 24 13 180

    I.F.S. 23 05 13 09 05 55

    I.P.S. 60 14 41 22 10 147

    Central Services Group ‘A’ 244 57 168 90 46 605

    Group ‘B’ Services 55 15 44 15 13 142

    Total 455 109 318 160 87 1129*

     

    * includes 50 PwBD vacancies (12 PwBD-1, 08 PwBD-2, 16 PwBD-3 & 14 PwBD-5)

    5. The candidature of 241 recommended candidates has been kept provisional.

    6. Result of 01 candidate has been kept withheld.

    7. UPSC has a “Facilitation Counter” near Examination Hall in its campus. Candidates can obtain any information / clarification regarding their examinations / recruitments on the working days between 10:00 hours to 17:00 hours in person or over telephone Nos. 23385271 / 23381125 / 23098543. Result will also be available on the U.P.S.C. website i.e. http//www.upsc.gov.in. Marks will be available on the website within 15 days from the date of declaration of result.

    Highlights

    The final result of Civil Services Examination (CSE), 2024 has been declared today, the 22 nd April, 2025.

    Highlights of the result are following:

    The Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2024 was conducted on 16th June, 2024. A total of 9,92,599 candidates applied for this examination, out of which 5,83,213 candidates actually appeared in the examination.

    A total of 14,627 candidates qualified for appearance in the Written (Main) Examination which was held in September, 2024. Out of these, 2,845 candidates qualified for the Personality Test of the examination.

    Eventually, a total of 1009 candidates (725 men and 284 women) have been recommended by the Commission for appointment to various Services.

    Among the finally qualified candidates, the top five comprise three women and two men. Ms. Shakti Dubey (Roll No. 0240782) has secured the first position in the Civil Services Examination, 2024. She qualified the examination with Political Science & International Relations as her optional subject. She has done her graduation (B.Sc.) in Biochemistry from the University of Allahabad.

    Ms. Harshita Goyal (Roll No. 0101571), a graduate (B.Com.) from MS University of Baroda, secured second rank with Political Science & International Relations as her optional subject.

    Sh. Dongre Archit Parag (Roll No. 0867282), a graduate (B.Tech.) in Electrical & Electronics Engineering from VIT, Vellore stood third in the rank with Philosophy as his optional subject.

    Ms. Shah Margi Chirag (Roll No. 0108110), B.E. in Computer Engineering from Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad, secured fourth rank with Sociology as her optional subject.

    Sh. Aakash Garg (Roll No. 0833621), B.Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi, secured fifth rank with Sociology as his optional subject.

    The top 25 candidates comprise 11 women and 14 men. Their educational qualifications range from graduation in Engineering, Humanities, Science, Commerce, Medical Science, and Architecture from premier institutions of the country such as IIT, NIT, VIT, JNU, University of Delhi, and University of Allahabad.

    The top 25 successful candidates have opted for a wide range of optional subjects in the Written (Main) Examination, including Anthropology, Commerce & Accountancy, Geography, Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science & International Relations, Public Administration, Sociology, and Literature of Tamil Language.

    The recommended candidates also include 45 Persons with Benchmark Disability, comprising 12 Orthopedically Handicapped, 08 Visually Challenged, 16 Hearing Impaired, and 09 with Multiple Disabilities.

    Click here to see Result in English

    Click here to see Result 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow to Speed Up Testing of AI Services in Medicine Thanks to New Developments

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Moscow scientists have developed new method testing of artificial intelligence (AI) systems in healthcare. It will allow for faster and more accurate assessment of their reliability. This was reported by Moscow’s chief radiologist Yuri Vasiliev.

    “Moscow has been a leader in the use of artificial intelligence in medicine for many years, and now we have taken another important step forward. Scientists from the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine have conducted a large-scale study and found a new and reliable way to test AI systems in this area. Until now, there was no clear answer to the question of how many studies are needed to objectively test a neural network. We had to test on huge samples, which required a lot of time and resources. Now we know exactly how many studies are needed to evaluate the accuracy of AI, and when further increasing the sample does not change the result. This discovery will allow developers to quickly adapt their technologies, and doctors to use them more effectively in their work,” said Yuri Vasiliev.

    He added that now the capital’s specialists will be able to implement AI services even faster, being confident in their reliability. The method has already proven its effectiveness in radiation diagnostics, but it can also be used in other areas of medicine. This approach will help make artificial intelligence an even more accurate and safe tool for doctors and patients, which means it will improve the quality of diagnostics and speed up the detection of diseases at early stages.

    Scientists analyzed more than two million test variants and proved that at least 400 studies are needed to objectively assess the accuracy of binary classification algorithms (for example, identifying pathologies in images). Of these, at least 10 percent should belong to each of the classes, that is, have the noted signs of pathologies. Further increase in the sample does not change the result, which makes this method the most effective. The study was conducted using radiation diagnostics as an example, but this approach can be applied in other areas where AI works on the “yes or no” principle. This discovery will allow faster testing and implementation of artificial intelligence in medicine, increasing its accuracy and reliability.

    “Classical methods of testing artificial intelligence did not give an exact answer to the question of how many studies are needed to objectively verify its accuracy. The complexity of the problems that AI solves in medicine is constantly growing, so scientists from the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine proposed an alternative approach. They analyzed more than two million combinations of test sample parameters and 25 thousand images, studied the behavior of diagnostic metrics and proved that at least 400 studies are needed to obtain a stable result. The minimum share of each class should be at least 10 percent, that is, 40 studies, and a further increase in the sample does not affect the final accuracy. The data obtained does not depend on the type of images or a specific neural network, which makes the method universal. The study was conducted using radiation diagnostics as an example, but this approach can be scaled to other medical AI systems with binary classification, which will be the next stage of scientific work,” added Yuri Vasiliev.

    Article “An Empirical Method for Calculating Sample Size for Testing Artificial Intelligence Algorithms” has already received a positive review from academicians of the Russian Academy of Sciences and other involved parties and has become the winner of the AI Journey competition.

    Since 2020, the Diagnostics and Telemedicine Center has been conducting the world’s largest prospective clinical study – an experiment on the implementation of computer vision for the analysis of medical images. Scientists have developed unique methods for a comprehensive assessment of the quality and maturity of AI technologies. In addition, they have substantiated specific methods and scenarios for the use of such technologies in the work of the radiation diagnostic service.

    Center for diagnostics and telemedicine Moscow Department of Health— a leading scientific and practical organization in the structure of the social development complex of the Moscow City Hall. It was founded in 1996. The center specializes in the implementation of artificial intelligence technologies in medicine, the development of radiation diagnostics, the organization of the work of departments in medical institutions, conducting scientific research, and educating health workers.

    The project is in line with the goals and objectives of the Moscow healthcare development strategy until 2030 and is aimed at improving the quality and accessibility of medical care for residents of the capital.

    Moscow achievements: which projects of the Russian capital have been recognized with international awards

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152926073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The story behind the ‘Moko’ drums, sacred musical instruments from the Alor-Pantar archipelago

    Source: The Conversation – Indonesia – By Francesco Perono Cacciafoco, Associate Professor in Linguistics, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

    The day was still alive when a group of Abui people danced in a circle around the ‘maasang’ – the central altar of their village – alternating coordinated movements with rhythmic pauses. The drums were played, marking each step with their sounds, believed to connect the world of the gods with the world of humans.

    They were performing the ‘lego-lego’ dance, an integral part of ancestral rituals. The dance was directed by the cadenced rhythm produced by the ‘Moko’ drums, distinctive musical instruments that are also prestigious heirlooms and sacred tools, mostly found in the Alor-Pantar archipelago, in East Nusa Tenggara.

    Recently, with Shiyue Wu, my Research Assistant at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (Suzhou, Jiangsu, China), I developed and published research about the names of the ‘Moko’ drums and bronze gongs from Alor in three representative Papuan languages spoken in the island: Abui (Central Alor), Sawila (Eastern Alor), and Kula (Eastern Alor).

    This research aims to increase our knowledge on the ‘Moko’ drums and their significance and sanctity for the cultural identity and heritage of the peoples living in the Alor-Pantar archipelago.



    Baca juga:
    Finding ‘Kape’: How Language Documentation helps us preserve an endangered language

    Unclear historical references

    Among the many ancestral traditions and ritual objects attested in Southeastern Indonesia, the ‘Moko’ drums represent a unique blend of symbolic and religious values and practical functions in the social life of the local Papuan communities. Technically, they are bronze kettle-drums, specifically membranophones, instruments that produce their sounds by being hit on their vibrating skins, or membranes.

    Despite their widespread use and cultural significance among indigenous communities in Alor, Pantar and beyond — like in Timor and among the Austronesian and Papuan groups of Flores —, the history and origins of these musical instruments are still relatively obscure and seem to fade into the mists of time.

    The ‘bronze gongs’ from the Alor-Pantar archipelago vary in size and are typically round, flat metal discs played with a mallet. They are equivalent to the ‘Moko’ drums, at the level of musical and social functions.

    The indigenous peoples believe that the drums and gongs have no local origins from the islands, but their possible place of production is unknown. We recently confirmed this through fieldwork conversations with our Abui local consultant.

    ‘Moko’ drums’ unique attributes

    Each ‘Moko’ drum (and bronze gong) is characterised by physical (size, shape, and the produced sounds) and aesthetic (iconography and decorations) features, which make it unique. The uniqueness of the drums and gongs is strengthened by the fact that each type of these membranophones has an ‘individual’ name, which indicates a specific category, with its dedicated musical and iconographic attributes.

    For example, there are ‘fiyaai futal’ (in Abui), the “candlenut-flower” drum, and ‘bileeqwea / bileeq-wea‘ (in Abui), the “lizard-blood” drum.

    All the ethnic groups in Alor, Pantar and surrounding areas use their own local variants for the names of the different drums. This nomenclature reflects specific ritual and trading features of each musical instrument.

    Despite this, the native speakers cannot explain the name ‘Moko’ in itself, with its etymological and semantic origins. They agree upon the likely foreign origin of the instruments, but no one can pinpoint a possible location for their production (some say Java, Makassar, India, Vietnam, or even China, but without any conclusive evidence) or the trade routes across which they were likely imported to the islands.

    Some local myths and origin stories) tell about the unexpected discovery, by local people, of ‘Moko’ drums buried in the ground, adding a veil of mystery to their enigmatic roots. Being treasured items, the drums were actually buried under the ground by locals, to avoid the risk to fall into the hands of colonisers or to be taken away by outsiders.

    The term ‘Moko’ is universally attested and used in everyday conversations by the Alor-Pantar speakers, independently of their languages and villages. However, nobody, among the locals, can explain the roots of the name or propose an interpretation for its possible meaning. The ‘Moko’ drums are, therefore, an unsolved puzzle in the context of the material culture and linguistic landscape of the Alor-Pantar archipelago.

    It is possible that the name ‘Moko’ was coined ‘internally’, in Alor and Pantar, perhaps in the ‘Alor Malay’ language, which is commonly spoken in the archipelago since the 14th century. The denomination would have, then, spread towards external areas.

    However, this hypothesis cannot be proven with incontrovertible evidence, and the direction of the naming process could have also been the opposite, from outside into Alor and Pantar.

    Our paper presents systematic lists of the names of drums and gongs, with the original denominations in the three different above-mentioned languages, the related translations, name-by-name, synthetic notes on the possible origins of their nomenclature, a catalogue of the instruments by categories (based on fieldwork and direct observation), and a set of pictures reproducing a small selection of drums according to their cultural significance.

    Beyond musical functions

    The ‘Moko‘ drums are relatively ancient ritual objects commonly used, in the past, in generally pre-Christian worship ceremonies performed by the indigenous communities. The traditions survived until today, through local folklore and public celebrations.

    The drums, as well as the related bronze gongs, still play an important role as a valuable local ‘currency’. Highly regarded as prestigious family possessions, they are used for trade and social practices embedded into traditional customs, like bride-price negotiations.

    The path towards a full understanding of the historical dynamics of the production and spread of the ‘Moko’ drums and gongs — as well as their provenance and the etymologies of their names — might still be long. However, this does not diminish their cultural and material significance among the Alor-Pantar peoples.

    Despite their obscure origins, ‘Moko’ drums and bronze gongs are meticulously catalogued, described and rated by the local communities in the islands. Periodically, a multi-ethnic council gathers to assess, update and validate the different values and levels of social prestige and rarity of every single instrument.

    This safeguarding effort, combined with the collection and systematisation of ‘first hand’ data, which we are currently developing, may considerably help in shedding light on the nature and origins of these enigmatic instruments.

    Francesco Perono Cacciafoco received funding from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU): Research Development Fund (RDF) Grant, “Place Names and Cultural Identity: Toponyms and Their Diachronic Evolution among the Kula People from Alor Island”, Grant Number: RDF-23-01-014, School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS), Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), Suzhou (Jiangsu), China, 2024-2025.

    – ref. The story behind the ‘Moko’ drums, sacred musical instruments from the Alor-Pantar archipelago – https://theconversation.com/the-story-behind-the-moko-drums-sacred-musical-instruments-from-the-alor-pantar-archipelago-253225

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic University Wins Student Design Bureau Competition

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    At Bauman Moscow State Technical University, as part of the competition of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, projects of Student Design Bureaus were defended. One of the participants was the team of SKB “System Engineering” of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. Polytechnic University scientists demonstrated a strategy for training young engineers capable of solving breakthrough problems in the interests of industry and technological development of the country. The project was presented in the direction of “Student Design Leadership”. It was among the five winning universities in its nomination. Grant support in the amount of 20 million rubles will be used to develop the educational ecosystem of SKB, as well as to purchase materials and components for prototypes of products created by students.

    “Highly qualified engineers capable of contributing to the country’s technological leadership are trained at youth design bureaus. Students, postgraduates and young scientists develop competitive technologies, solve specific scientific, technical and engineering problems, and are widely involved in work on orders from industrial enterprises. It is important that the initiative has shown high demand – 178 universities from 81 regions of the country submitted applications for the first competition. 15 winning universities will receive support for the creation of new and development of existing sites, including the purchase of modern equipment,” said Russian Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov.

    SKB “System Engineering” is being implemented within the framework of the university’s development strategy and program to achieve technological leadership and integrate education, science and industry. The main goal of the project is to form a cross-cutting trajectory for training engineering personnel – from early career guidance for schoolchildren to the inclusion of senior students in real research and design activities commissioned by industry. Interest in the project results was expressed by 12 partners, including JSC Power Machines, which will provide co-financing for the SKB’s work in the amount of almost 15.5 million rubles in 2025.

    Speaking at the defense, the project manager, director of the Higher School of Power Engineering, deputy director of the Scientific and Educational Center “Aircraft Engines and Power Plants” of the PISH “Digital Engineering” Alena Aleshina emphasized that the work of the SKB directly corresponds to the national development goals of Russia until 2036 and is aimed at training highly motivated specialists capable of working to overcome modern technological challenges.

    In 2025, the SKB’s main focus is on two key areas that correspond to national projects of technological leadership: “new nuclear and energy technologies” and “unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)”. In the future, it is planned to integrate other strategically significant areas into the SKB structure.

    Oleg Rozhdestvensky, Head of the SPbPU Office of Technological Leadership, emphasized: “As part of the SKB, we introduce schoolchildren to engineering, invite them to continue their education at the Polytechnic, where we give them the opportunity, already as students, to find themselves and try their hand at different areas during their 1st and 2nd years, during general engineering training. And in their 3rd and 4th years, we select the most qualified students to work at the request of our industrial partners.”

    A special feature of the Polytechnic University’s approach is the creation of a three-level educational ecosystem covering different age categories of students, formed on the basis of the methodological and scientific-technical background of the SPbPU PIS “Digital Engineering”.

    School design bureaus — early career guidance, development of engineering thinking and involvement in the technological environment already at the stage of school education. In March 2025, with the support of the government of St. Petersburg and the Academy of Talents, 12 agreements were signed on the opening of new school design bureaus. Youth design bureaus — work with students in grades 10–11 and students of secondary vocational education, including them in project activities with real tasks from partners. Thus, a laboratory is already operating at the Institute of Secondary Vocational Education of SPbPU, where students create small series of antennas ordered by the enterprise. Student design bureaus — focus on general engineering training of 1st–2nd year students and a gradual transition to conscious engineering practice and participation in R&D from the 3rd year.

    The development program of the SKB “System Engineering” will be implemented on the basis of the Office of Technological Leadership of the Polytechnic University. It is integrated into the University Development Strategy until 2030, with a perspective until 2036 and will be based on the principles of network interaction of various SPbPU divisions, including: the Student Design Bureau “Power Machines – Polytechnic”, operating since 2020, the SKB of the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering”, participating in the implementation of a large project on drones since 2024, as well as the Center for Youth Trajectories and others.

    Director of the Engineering Center of JSC Power Machines Konstantin Savichev noted the importance of the project in terms of training qualified engineering personnel at the company’s request and said that students are already being trained in the process of working on R&D commissioned by the company. The SKB team has already signed a contract for R&D worth 12 million rubles, in which students are participating. By the end of 2025, it is planned to attract more than 25 million rubles for the implementation of projects and the development of prototypes.

    “The key objective of our SKB is to give each student the opportunity to find their place in engineering. We strive not only to transfer knowledge, but also to develop skills, teach how to work with advanced digital and production technologies, so that young specialists can make a real contribution to achieving technological leadership in the country,” noted Alena Aleshina.

    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 China: China adds 29 new majors to higher education catalog

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

    BEIJING, April 22 — China’s Ministry of Education has introduced 29 new majors to advanced education institutions in response to the evolving needs of national strategies and the pursuit of high-quality development.

    The ministry on Tuesday announced updates to the catalog of undergraduate majors in general colleges and universities, adding majors such as carbon neutrality science and engineering and international cruise management.

    Among the new additions serving strategic areas of national interest are majors such as marine science and technology and health and medical security.

    In recognition of technological trends, majors including smart molecular engineering, medical device and equipment engineering, and spatiotemporal information engineering have been included.

    To cater to emerging market trends, the catalog now includes majors such as international cruise management and aviation sports.

    Reflecting the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in modern society, the ministry has introduced majors such as AI education, smart audio-visual engineering, and digital drama.

    To facilitate a more agile response to national strategies, the ministry has implemented a new mechanism allowing swift adjustments to the curriculum in response to newly prioritized strategic areas.

    Addressing the rapid development needs of the low-altitude economy, six universities, including Beihang University, have been guided to add a major in low-altitude technology and engineering.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “HSE is a very good place: smart students, strong teaching staff”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Sergey Kuksin

    © Higher School of Economics

    Since March of this year Faculty of Mathematics, National Research University Higher School of Economics The leading Russian mathematician, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Honorary Professor of the University of Edinburgh, National Professor of the PRC and laureate began working Prizes named after A.M. Lyapunova Sergey Kuksin. In an interview with Vyshka.Glavnoe, he spoke about the role of personality in mathematics, KAM theory, and why analysis is so relevant today.

    — Sergey Borisovich, what brought you to the HSE?

    — A year ago, I received a mega-grant from the Russian government, started working at RUDN and visiting Moscow for seminars, and when the grant ended, I was offered a job at HSE. I know many people at the HSE Mathematics Department. Mathematicians, they are all connected one way or another. True, given that mathematics is divided into three large parts: algebra, geometry and analysis. What is algebra, it is clear, right? For example, it is addition of fractions, square trinomial, “x plus y squared” and so on. Geometry, as we all remember well, is plane geometry, problems on construction and all that sort of thing. Well, and analysis is when there are functions and graphs.

    – And which one of them are you?

    – I am analysis.

    — Have you been here before?

    — Of course, I have. HSE is a very good place: smart students, a strong faculty. Many years ago, I even gave a short course of lectures at the local mathematics department. But that experience was not very successful. The thing is that the HSE department was organized by big algebra enthusiasts and was focused on algebra, so the students were not very impressed. They simply did not understand why they needed it. And that is wrong. Everyone needs to know analysis. Analysis is also probability theory, which is very relevant now, since it is closely related to such topics as artificial intelligence, machine translation, and pattern recognition. By the way, the then management understood this well when they invited me to give the course. But in mathematics, in order to get something moving, you have to make serious efforts. And it seems that this is happening now — the expansion of the profile of the mathematics department. That is partly why they invited me.

    — Will you teach or work as a researcher?

    — First of all, I will work as a researcher. One of my main tasks is to participate in the creation of a seminar with the preliminary title “Dynamics, Analysis and Probability”. I would like it to be a seminar of the highest level, with the involvement of good speakers who motivate students to develop in this area. This is not easy, but it is possible, especially since the impetus to develop the analysis component comes from the faculty management. In particular, from the dean Alexandra Skripchenko. By the way, she recently defended her doctoral dissertation.

    — Remember the most vivid impression in your life related to mathematics.

    — My parents, with whom I was very lucky, subscribed to several magazines for me. One of them was “Knowledge is Power”. Once, when I was still in high school, I read an article about mathematics. And there was a phrase in it that I still remember: “The heights of mathematics are beautiful, and it’s a pity that very few can admire them.” I wanted to admire them and, yes, I confirm: they are beautiful.

    — What qualities do you need to have to become a good mathematician?

    — You know, mathematics is, fortunately, a gift that manifests itself early. Or doesn’t. That is, a person already at school understands whether mathematics is for him or not. Already in high school, I couldn’t imagine that I would do anything else in this life.

    — Which of your scientific achievements do you consider the most significant?

    – I’ll start from afar. There was such a scientist, the largest Soviet mathematician Andrei Nikolaevich Kolmogorov. He was a completely fantastic person who made a huge contribution to mathematics. Including was the founder of Cam-theoria. This is an abbreviation composed of the first letters of the surnames of the authors: Kolmogorov, Arnold and Moser. And now let’s figure out what Cam-theoria is. Consider the solar system. For this, they usually take five main planets from Venus to Saturn. We know that each planet rotates according to the ellipse – according to the law of Kepler. This is because the sun attracts it. But besides, the planets interact with each other. Therefore, their movement – the Kepler movement – is gradually distorted. And there is a relatively simple equation that describes how the planet interacts with the sun. But when we also take into account the interaction of the planets with each other, then small disturbances and interaction are added to the main equation. Due to these interactions, the orbit of the planets begin to gradually deform. The question that Isaac Newton still raised is what will happen to this ellipse, for example, after a million years? After all, he can burst, and then the planet will fly away to distant galaxies. The ellipse can stretch out so much that at the point closest to the sun, the planet will fall into the sun and burn. Ellips orbits of different planets can cross, and the planets will collide. It is clear, not in the next ten thousand years, but still. It was an outstanding, wonderful task, and it was solved with the help of Cam-theoria.

    – And what is the answer?

    — The answer is negative: the orbits will always be close to the initial ones. The exact statement is more complicated and has significant reservations, which it is inappropriate to state now. But such a simplified story describes the essence of KAM theory quite accurately. To answer your question about my contribution to mathematics: I learned to do calculations for systems that have not five or even five hundred, but an infinite number of components. This was the topic of my doctoral dissertation — “KAM theory for partial differential equations.”

    — You were awarded the Lyapunov Prize of the Russian Academy of Sciences for it?

    — Yes, that’s right: for the creation and development of the Kolmogorov-Arnold-Moser theory for partial differential equations.

    — What would you like to achieve while working at the Higher School of Economics?

    — To participate in the development of analysis at the HSE in particular and in Moscow in general. During the Soviet Union, analysis here was very strong, but for a number of reasons it has declined significantly. Unlike, say, algebra. Which confirms the thesis about the role of personality in history, since this happened solely due to the efforts of several outstanding algebraists who never left Moscow. They were the ones who preserved the seminars and the youth in the seminars.

    — Would you like to become the person in mathematics who will move analysis forward?

    — I would like to participate.

    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 United Kingdom: Experts a whisker away from discovering secrets of hippo’s facial fuzz

    Source: City of Leeds

    Museum experts in Leeds are bristling with excitement after their resident hippo’s fabulous facial hair was studied during new research into the inner workings of whiskers.

    Analysis recently carried out at the Leeds Discovery Centre saw curators comb through their vast collection of historic taxidermy, including century old stuffed hippo Billie, to explore exactly how the number and placement of their whiskers help animals sense the world around them.

    The study is believed to be the very first time hippopotamus whiskers have ever been examined in such detail, and could lead to better knowledge about the aquatic giants and the way they utilise their hundreds of tiny tactile hairs.

    The project saw the Discovery Centre, which is home to more than 6,000 taxidermy mammals, host sensory biologist Dr Robyn A Grant. During the visit, Dr Grant got an up-close look at Billie, a former resident at London Zoo, who was once among the attraction’s biggest stars in the late 1920s.

    Acquired by Leeds Museums in 1938, Billie has recently undergone an extensive refurbishment to restore him to his original condition, making him an ideal subject for an in-person study.

    Dr Grant said: “Whiskers are present on most mammals, and act as amazingly sensitive touch sensors. In my research, I try to understand the diversity of whisker numbers and arrangements across mammals.

    “We can see that some large aquatic species, like hippos, walruses and manatees have hundreds of very small whiskers. While walruses and manatees have been studied a little, hippo whiskers have never been looked at.

    “So, we are looking at hippo whiskers for the very first time. Working with zoos and museums such as Leeds Discovery Centre, we are trying to understand how the whiskers are arranged, and what the animals use them for.”

    Found on most mammals, whiskers, also known by their scientific name vibrissae, are extremely sensitive, coarse hairs usually located on the face, which are used to sense the surrounding environment.

    Many older taxidermy specimens are missing their whiskers due to age or bad craftsmanship, but examples in the Leeds collection still sporting impressive facial hair include chinchilla, harp seals and coypu, a large South American rodent.

    Many of the taxidermy mounts in Leeds were collected in the early 20th century, when deceased animals were often purchased by taxidermists before being stuffed and mounted.

    Sarah Burhouse, Leeds Museums and Galleries curator of natural sciences, said: “We’re delighted that Billie and our collection have been able to support such a fascinating research project, which could help our understanding of how hippos and other animals use whiskers to interact with their environment.

    “It also demonstrates how important taxidermy collections like ours can be, enabling researchers to study creatures and aspects of their anatomy up close in ways which could be impossible, or even dangerous, with a live animal.

    “It’s amazing that these specimens, some collected more than a century ago, can still tell us so much about the natural world and help inform our understanding of how we can protect vulnerable species today and in the future.”

    Leeds Discovery Centre is home to more than a million objects which span tens of millions of years of world history.

    Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “Leeds has a truly impressive museums collection and it speaks volumes that it can still be used to support and inform modern-day research projects like this.

    “We’re also extremely fortunate that so much of this remarkable collection can be seen by the public, and that it can inspire visitors and capture the imaginations of the next generation of young scientists too.”

    Leeds Discovery Centre is available to visit by appointment. For more details on how to book, visit:  https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/leeds-discovery-centre

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Science and Leadership: SUM Academic Council Discusses Development Prospects

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On April 21, 2025, a meeting of the Academic Council of the State University of Management was held. There were 18 issues on the agenda, including preparation for the Admissions Campaign of the 2025/2026 academic year and the results of individual areas of activity for 2024.

    Traditionally, the meeting began with a ceremonial part. Rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev presented a diploma of Doctor of Economics to the head of the Department of Economics and Management in Construction Olga Astafieva and congratulated the birthday boys of the month.

    First of all, those gathered, through a secret vote that was conducted electronically, approved the awarding of the academic titles of associate professors to GUU teachers Dmitry Dolgopolov, Valeria Ivanova and Bulat Nuriyev.

    Vice-Rector Maria Karelina presented to those gathered the results of the implementation of the plan for scientific research and publication activity of the State University of Management for 2024 and spoke about the planned indicators for 2025.

    “In 2024, the volume of work increased threefold compared to 2022, mainly due to the increase in the number of technical R&D. The most significant contribution in 2024 was made by a large scientific project of the digital village. Two projects are being implemented within the framework of the advanced engineering school, the PISH itself showed excellent results, which allowed it to rise to the second group of projects of the Ministry of Education and Science and receive additional funding for development. I would like to note that the scientific function is not only the task of scientific departments, but a common function of all university teachers. For 2025, we have an ambitious task of significantly increasing the volume of scientific research, which we strive to implement,” concluded Maria Yuryevna.

    Vladimir Stroev continued the theme of the importance of science, emphasizing that the State University of Management has significant potential in this area.

    “Today, the volume of scientific work at the State University of Management is decent, it hasn’t been like this for a long time, the prospects are good, everyone needs to get involved as much as possible. There are specific state tasks, so let’s implement them together. We have a great moment to once again prove our leadership and show our capabilities. We don’t need to watch what is happening from the sidelines, we need to act,” the rector urged.

    Director of the Department of Digital Development and Admission of Applicants Vadim Dikikh informed about the progress of preparations for the 2025/2026 admissions campaign and spoke about the changes that have occurred in the process itself.

    “Starting this year, the admission campaign for bachelor’s, master’s, and postgraduate studies will be carried out only through the state services portal. The university will also present its programs through the state services showcase, and the social network Vkontakte will become the official communicator between applicants and the state,” said Vadim Dikikh.

    Acting Director of the Institute of Information Systems Olga Pisareva reported on the Institute’s work results for 2024 and development prospects for 2025.

    “The number of graduates from our institute has tripled in 5 years. The average passing score for the budget has also increased. This year, only 8 budget places have been allocated in the field of “business informatics”, but we will cope and conduct admission at a high level,” Olga Mikhailovna noted.

    The director was supported by Vladimir Stroyev, who recalled that “computer science, and previously cybernetics, is a long-standing traditional direction of the State University of Management.”

    Advisor to the rector’s office, head of the department of state and municipal administration Sergei Chuev spoke about the prospects of memorial work at the State University of Management and the opening of an exhibition in the scientific hall named after N.N. Nekrasov at the Scientific Library of the State University of Management.

    “This year marks the 145th anniversary of the Aleksandrovsky School and 140 years since the first day of classes there. The State University of Management is the main successor of this educational institution. Firstly, the Moscow Industrial and Economic College (MPET), now GUU, was opened in the building of the Aleksandrovsky School. Secondly, we have documentary evidence that the majority of teachers and students from the school transferred to MPET,” said Sergei Chuev.

    In this regard, it was proposed to change the logo of the State University of Management, as well as to hold a series of exhibitions to remember the unfairly forgotten names of scientists and outstanding employees of the university.

    Continuing the theme of historical memory, Nikolai Mikhailov, an advisor to the rector’s office, proposed naming auditorium No. 209 of the continuous auditorium building after the recently deceased professor, Doctor of Economics Alexei Lyalin, who was the rector of our university from 2006 to 2011.

    In addition, the meeting considered the “University Shifts” program, the provision of discounts on tuition, the approval of continuing education programs, the assignment of the Academic Council’s recommendation stamp to a number of publications, and other working issues.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/22/2025

    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: Results of the Nevsky Radiological Forum: NSU professor awarded M. I. Nemenov medal, and resident won prize in young scientists competition

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    The XVI International Congress “Nevsky Radiological Forum – 2025” was held in St. Petersburg on April 11-12. Several thousand people from all over the world gathered at the congress to exchange diagnostic experience and improve skills.

    During the congress, Andrei Aleksandrovich Tulupov, professor of the Department of Fundamental Medicine Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies NSU, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, was awarded the “Professor M. I. Nemenov” medal, the highest award in the field of radiation diagnostics in the Russian Federation. This is a professional award from the Presidium of the St. Petersburg Radiological Society for outstanding achievements in the field of X-ray radiology.

    Andrey Aleksandrovich Tulupov is a renowned scientist, one of the leading specialists in Russia in the field of radiation diagnostics, nuclear medicine and neurosciences. The professor has been working at NSU for many years and was the first in the world to launch his own course in MRI anatomy for students majoring in General Medicine. Since 2009, he has been in charge of the residency in radiology. During this time, Andrey Aleksandrovich created a scientific school of radiologists, which is developing a fundamentally new direction in the field of radiation diagnostics, nuclear medicine and neurosciences – functional neurovisualization.

    The “Professor Nemenov M.I.” medal was established in 2007 for specialists in radiation diagnostics and radiation therapy who have made an invaluable contribution to the development of domestic radiology and have taken an active part in the training of scientific and pedagogical personnel. It is a form of recognition of the achievement of the highest results in professional, scientific, educational and social activities.

    Mikhail Isaevich Nemenov was a Soviet radiologist, doctor of medicine, professor, doctor of biological sciences, doctor of medical sciences, honored scientist of the RSFSR, one of the founders of domestic radiology.

    Another significant event of the forum for NSU was the competition of young scientists, where Vladimir Popov, a 2nd-year resident in the specialty “Radiology”, took 3rd place among more than 30 competitors from among postgraduate students and research staff. He presented a report on the topic: “Possibilities of non-contrast MR perfusion in the quantitative assessment of cerebral blood flow during dynamic monitoring of ischemic stroke” (scientific supervisor – Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Aleksandrovich Tulupov).

    “It was a grand forum with the opportunity not only to meet colleagues, delve into and notice something new for yourself, but also to practice your speaking skills, hear comments from professionals on the expert committee and see possible growth points for improving your work,” said Vladimir Popov.

    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: The government has pledged $10 million for inclusive LGBTQIA+ health care. Here’s what that means

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karinna Saxby, Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne

    Lee Charlie/Shutterstock

    Last week, the federal government announced a $10 million commitment to make Medicare more inclusive for LGBTQIA+ Australians. It aims to improve their access to “inclusive, culturally safe primary care” through training and accreditation for GPs, nurses and other health-care providers.

    The precise details will depend on which training provider wins the government’s grant. But they will have a strong body of evidence to draw on, which shows the challenges LGBTQIA+ people face in health care – and what it would take to make mainstream services more inclusive.

    Why is this needed?

    Many LGBTQIA+ Australians lead happy and healthy lives. But, unfortunately, a disproportionate number experience significantly poorer health outcomes compared to the general population.

    LGBTQIA+ Australians are more likely to experience depression, anxiety and psychological distress. They also have higher rates of suicidal thoughts, self-harm and suicide.

    Many of these health inequalities stem from experiences of discrimination and stigma. These can lead LGBTQIA+ people to avoid health services for routine as well as preventive care (such as screening and regular check-ups).

    LGBTQIA+ Australians are also less likely to have a regular GP. And they report lower levels of satisfaction with the care they receive.

    They are also more likely to live with disability or long-term health conditions and have unmet health needs. For some groups, such as trans and gender-diverse Australians, these health disparities are even getting worse.

    This points to the unique and diverse needs of different groups within the LGBTQIA+ community.

    For example, young people are more likely to have elevated mental health distress. Some communities have higher rates of HIV, while others face barriers to preventive care. For instance, trans men and non-binary people may miss out on cervical cancer screening.

    Young people in the LGBTQIA+ community are more likely to experience mental health distress.
    Alexx60/Shutterstock

    What does ‘inclusive, culturally safe’ care look like?

    Inclusive and safe health care means more than just rainbow posters in the waiting room. It’s a concrete change in how care is delivered.

    At a basic level, this involves respectful communication – using a patient’s correct pronouns and chosen name, and avoiding assumptions about their body, relationships or identity.

    For example, an inclusive GP will ask open-ended questions (“do you have a partner?”) rather than presume a patient’s partner is of the opposite sex. They will not assume a trans patient’s health-care needs are only related to being trans.

    Training might cover how to discuss sensitive topics (such as sexual behaviour or gender dysphoria) in a non-judgmental, inclusive way, and how to handle mistakes.

    Making people feel safe to disclose their LGBTQIA+ status is also crucial. This has been shown to improve continuity of care and access to high-value preventive care. It may also help people disclose other sensitive issues, such as family violence.

    When GPs and others in primary care understand LGBTQIA+ health needs, they’re better placed to make appropriate referrals – for example, to psychologists with relevant expertise or to specialist gender-affirming care services.

    How this funding could help

    This funding is part of the government’s ten-year national action plan to improve the health and wellbeing of LGBTQIA+ people.

    The plan focuses on enhancing community-led and specialist LGBTQIA+ services (such as gender-affirming care or HIV medicine) and mainstream services, so they work better in tandem.

    It was developed through extensive consultations with LGBTQIA+ communities across Australia. These consultations found inclusive primary care was a top concern.

    Making “mainstream” health care more inclusive is important because it is the most frequently accessed point of care for most Australians, including LGBTQIA+ Australians.

    An estimated 84% of LGBTQIA+ Australians use “mainstream” medical clinics for their primary health care. Only 6% use LGBTQIA+ specific clinics – in part, because they are not widely available.

    Improving mainstream primary care for LGBTQIA+ Australians is therefore particularly important for those in rural areas, where there can be reduced access to specialist health-care providers. People should not have to hide who they are or travel long distances to get the care they need.



    Read more:
    We tracked the mental health of trans and gender-diverse Australians for over 20 years. And we’re worried

    Translation into practice

    The announcement will also fund a voluntary LGBTQIA+ accreditation program for health-care providers who meet best practice standards.

    This means patients will be able to easily identify services that are “safe and trusted” for LGBTQIA+ communities. It could affect the look and feel of the waiting room, but will also be reflected in policies, procedures and management.

    For example, accredited services should have intake forms that meet Australian Bureau of Statistics standards. Record-keeping would reflect options for diverse genders, titles and family structures. Patients would be assured their information is kept private and confidential, so they feel safe disclosing personal information.

    Accredited services would recognise different genders and family structures.
    Kaboompics.com/Pexels

    Existing training resources have been available and processes such as Rainbow Tick accreditation have had modest take-up in some larger hospitals and community health centres.

    But primary care providers are often overwhelmed by many other essential training needs and have under-utilised these offerings to date.

    This funding will be a huge incentive for many of these clinicians and services to step up, as it signals a new level of priority.

    If implemented effectively, this program could mark a significant step toward a health-care system where LGBTQIA+ Australians – whether a queer teenager in the city, a Brotherboy in a remote community, or an older trans woman in aged care – can get the care they need without discrimination or fear.

    The challenge now will be turning this $10 million promise into real on-the-ground change. This means accrediting a majority of clinics, training thousands of health workers, partnering with LGBTQIA+ community organisations and ultimately ensuring every patient is treated with the understanding and respect they deserve.

    Karinna Saxby has previously received funding from the Department of Health and Aged Care.

    Ruth McNair was part of the expert advisory group for the LGBTIQA+ health and wellbeing ten-year action plan from 2023 to 2024.

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

    – ref. The government has pledged $10 million for inclusive LGBTQIA+ health care. Here’s what that means – https://theconversation.com/the-government-has-pledged-10-million-for-inclusive-lgbtqia-health-care-heres-what-that-means-254611

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: 6th national campaign for fitness underway

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

    China has launched its sixth national physical fitness monitoring campaign to assess citizens’ health and help guide public fitness policies.

    The initiative, held every five years, is jointly organized by the General Administration of Sport, the Ministry of Education and seven other departments. It is currently underway across 31 provincial-level regions and includes 1,877 sampling points. Data will be collected from 248,000 people aged 3 to 79 via questionnaires and physical tests in three categories: children, adults and seniors.

    Feng Qiang, an official with the General Administration of Sport, told China Central Television that for the first time, this year’s campaign will feature the real-time uploading of data to a national platform to ensure authenticity.

    In another first, monitoring will include exercise-specific metrics such as cycling, high-knee lifts and pushups. The updates reflect shifting health priorities, with 25 core indicators now measuring body shape, physiological function, physical fitness and exercise habits.

    Body weight and body mass index are now mandatory measurements. These align with the national “Weight Management Year” campaign, which calls on the public to focus on weight control, healthy eating and regular exercise.

    According to the 2020 report, 49.6 percent of Chinese adults were overweight or obese, a 6.4 percentage point increase from the 2014 assessment.

    In Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, 3,200 residents are taking part in the testing. Xue Liang, from the Zhejiang sports science institute, said the updated standards help identify individual fitness weaknesses. Experts on-site now offer personalized exercise prescriptions based on the results.

    “Our goal is for more people to get their fitness monitored and also encouraged to exercise more often and scientifically,” Xue said.

    Hangzhou resident Wu Xiaowei said he discovered balance issues during his assessment that he had not noticed before, and now plans to address them through targeted training.

    The national data collection is scheduled to conclude by June 30, with an official report expected in November.

    Since its launch in 2000, the campaign has helped track shifting trends in public fitness.

    The fifth survey, conducted in 2019, showed modest progress overall but raised concerns about increasing weight and declining muscular strength in some groups.

    Experts noted that 25 years of continuous national fitness monitoring has helped build a clearer picture of China’s evolving public health. The data also supports the development of improved public fitness services and helps identify gaps in sports infrastructure and participation.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Tiny dips in sea level reveal flow of climate-regulating underwater waterfalls

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthis Auger, Research Associate in Physical Oceanography, University of Tasmania

    NASA ICE via Flickr, CC BY

    Beneath the surface of the Southern Ocean, vast volumes of cold, dense water plunge off the Antarctic continental shelf, cascading down underwater cliffs to the ocean floor thousands of metres below. These hidden waterfalls are a key part of the global ocean’s overturning circulation – a vast conveyor belt of currents that moves heat, carbon, and nutrients around the world, helping to regulate Earth’s climate.

    For decades, scientists have struggled to observe these underwater waterfalls of dense water around Antarctica. They occur in some of the most remote and stormy waters on the planet, often shrouded by sea ice and funnelled through narrow canyons that are easily missed by research ships.

    But our new research shows that satellites, orbiting hundreds of kilometres above Earth, can detect these sub-sea falls.

    By measuring tiny dips in sea level – just a few centimetres – we can now track the dense water cascades from space. This breakthrough lets us monitor the deepest branches of the ocean circulation, which are slowing down as Antarctic ice melts and surface waters warm.

    Dense water helps regulate the climate

    Antarctic dense water is formed when sea ice grows, in the process making nearby water saltier and more dense. This heavy water then spreads across the continental shelf until it finds a path to spill over the edge, plunging down steep underwater slopes into the deep.

    As the dense water flows northward along the seafloor, it brings oxygen and nutrients into the abyss – as well as carbon and heat drawn from the atmosphere.

    But this crucial process is under threat. Climate change is melting the Antarctic ice sheet, adding fresh meltwater into the ocean and making it harder for dense water to form.

    Underwater waterfalls around Antarctica carry dense, salty surface water into the depths of the ocean.

    Past research has shown the abyssal circulation has already slowed by 30%, and is likely to weaken further in the years ahead. This could reduce the ocean’s ability to absorb heat and carbon, accelerating climate change.

    Our research provides a new technique that can provide easy, direct observations of future changes in the Southern Ocean abyssal overturning circulation.

    Satellites and sea level

    Until now, tracking dense water cascades around Antarctica has relied on moorings, ship-based surveys, and even sensors attached to seals. While these methods deliver valuable local insights, they are costly, logistically demanding, carbon-intensive, and only cover a limited area.

    Satellite data offers an alternative. Using radar, satellites such as CryoSat-2 and Sentinel-3A can measure changes in sea surface height to within a few centimetres.

    And thanks to recent advances in data processing, we can now extract reliable measurements even in ice-covered regions – by peering at the sea surface through cracks and openings in the sea ice.

    Openings or ‘leads’ in sea ice can reveal the height of the sea surface beneath.
    NASA ICE via Flicker, CC BY

    In our study, we combined nearly a decade of satellite observations with high-resolution ocean models focused on the Ross Sea. This is a critical hotspot for Antarctic dense water formation.

    We discovered that dense water cascades leave a telltale surface signal: a subtle but consistent dip in sea level, caused by the cold, heavy water sinking beneath it.

    By tracking these subtle sea level dips, we developed a new way to monitor year-to-year changes in dense water cascades along the Antarctic continental shelf. The satellite signal we identified aligns well with observations collected by other means, giving us confidence that this method can reliably detect meaningful shifts in deep ocean circulation.

    Cheap and effective – with no carbon emissions

    This is the first time Antarctic dense water cascades have been monitored from space. What makes this approach so powerful is its ability to deliver long-term, wide-reaching observations at low cost and with zero carbon emissions – using satellites that are already in orbit.

    These innovations are especially important as we work to monitor a rapidly changing climate system. The strength of deep Antarctic currents remains one of the major uncertainties in global climate projections.

    Gaining the ability to track their changes from space offers a powerful new way to monitor our changing climate – and to shape more effective strategies for adaptation.

    Matthis Auger receives funding from the Australian Research Council Special Research Initiative, Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science.

    – ref. Tiny dips in sea level reveal flow of climate-regulating underwater waterfalls – https://theconversation.com/tiny-dips-in-sea-level-reveal-flow-of-climate-regulating-underwater-waterfalls-253940

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: China, Indonesia hold ministerial talks

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China and Indonesia pledged shared efforts to ensure the peace and stability of the South China Sea, expand security cooperation and uphold the multilateral trading system during their first joint meeting of foreign and defense ministers, also known as the “2+2” dialogue, in Beijing on Monday.

    The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun with Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.

    The dialogue mechanism between Beijing and Jakarta is the first of its kind that China has established with a foreign country.

    The two sides agreed to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea and set an example in maritime cooperation, Wang told a news conference after the meeting, adding that the coast guard agencies of both countries signed a maritime security cooperation agreement.

    Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and to accelerating consultations on a Code of Conduct.

    Wang stressed that as each other’s major trading partners, the two countries should remain committed to opposing any kind of unilateralism or trade protectionism.

    “We believe that abusing tariffs will seriously undermine the normal trade exchanges between countries, and we pledged to jointly promote regional economic integration, ensure stable and smooth supply and industrial chains and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the Global South,” Wang said.

    In terms of security cooperation, he said that Beijing and Jakarta agreed to establish a bilateral consultation mechanism on disarmament, nonproliferation and arms control.

    They also agreed to enhance law enforcement and security cooperation and jointly combat transnational crimes, such as transnational gambling and online and telecommunication fraud, and strengthen cybersecurity cooperation, Wang noted.

    Speaking of defense cooperation, Dong called on the two sides to have more substantive cooperation in areas including strategic communication, exchanges between services, equipment and technology, and maritime security.

    Calling the meeting a milestone in bilateral ties, Sugiono said that Indonesia is willing to work with China to further consolidate political mutual trust, enhance exchanges at all levels, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and strengthen communication and coordination under multilateral frameworks such as ASEAN-China cooperation.

    Indonesia firmly upholds the one-China policy and opposes any foreign intervention in China’s domestic affairs, he added.

    Sjamsoeddin said that Indonesia is committed to enhancing strategic trust with China through transparent and equitable defense cooperation.

    Indonesia is the largest economy in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, while China has been Indonesia’s largest trading partner for 12 consecutive years.

    In 2024, bilateral trade exceeded $147.8 billion, marking a year-on-year increase of 6.1 percent, according to Wang Lutong, Chinese ambassador to Indonesia.

    Xu Liping, director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ Center for Southeast Asian Studies, said that the establishment of the joint foreign and defense ministerial dialogue will help expand China’s neighborhood diplomacy.

    The mechanism places greater emphasis on deepening China-Indonesia comprehensive strategic partnership and translating it into concrete actions, Xu said.

    During President Xi Jinping’s Southeast Asian tour last week, China and Malaysia, and China and Cambodia agreed respectively to establish joint foreign and defense dialogue mechanisms, while the strategic dialogue mechanism of diplomacy, national defense and public security was upgraded to the ministerial level with Vietnam.

    Such arrangements show that strategic security dialogues and cooperation with neighboring countries have become increasingly institutionalized and mature, Xu said, adding that this brings greater stability and predictability to regional peace and prosperity.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for April 22, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 22, 2025.

    How will a new pope be chosen? An expert explains the conclave
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Darius von Guttner Sporzynski, Historian, Australian Catholic University Following the death of Pope Francis, we’ll soon be seeing a new leader in the Vatican. The conclave – a strictly confidential gathering of Roman Catholic cardinals – is due to meet in a matter of weeks to elect

    Haka in the House: what will Te Pāti Māori’s protest mean for tikanga in parliament?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominic O’Sullivan, Professor of Political Science, Charles Sturt University and Adjunct Professor Stout Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington and Auckland University of Technology., Charles Sturt University Te Pāti Māori’s Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke lead a haka with Eru Kapa-Kingi outside parliament, November 19, 2024. Getty

    Pope Francis has died, aged 88. These were his greatest reforms – and controversies
    ANALYSIS: By Joel Hodge, Australian Catholic University and Antonia Pizzey, Australian Catholic University Pope Francis has died on Easter Monday, aged 88, the Vatican announced. The head of the Catholic Church had recently survived being hospitalised with double pneumonia. Cardinal Kevin Farrell’s announcement began: “Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the

    Fossil fuel companies ‘poisoned the well’ of public debate with climate disinformation. Here’s how Australia can break free
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Naomi Oreskes, Professor of the History of Science, Harvard University President Donald Trump has issued an executive order that would block state laws seeking to tackle greenhouse gas emissions – the latest salvo in his administration’s campaign to roll back United States’ climate action. Under Trump, the

    Is a corporation a slave? Many philosophers think so
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Duncan Ian Wallace, Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Monash University f11photo/Shutterstock If you’ve ever heard the term “wage slave”, you’ll know many modern workers – perhaps even you – sometimes feel enslaved to the organisation at which they work. But here’s a different way of thinking about it:

    Rates will never be enough – councils need the power to raise money in other ways
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Guy C. Charlton, Adjunct Associate Professor at Auckland University of Technology and Associate Professor, University of New England Getty Images You might have recently received voting papers for your local body elections. Going by our historically low participation rates, many of those envelopes will remain unopened. This

    Early voting opens in the federal election – but it brings some problems for voters and parties
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zareh Ghazarian, Senior Lecturer in Politics, School of Social Sciences, Monash University More than 18 million Australians are enrolled to vote at the federal election on May 3. A fair proportion of them – perhaps as many as half – will take advantage of early voting, which

    ‘I’m a failure’: how schema therapy tackles the deep-rooted beliefs that affect our mental health
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Houlihan, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, University of the Sunshine Coast Jorm Sangsorn/Shutterstock If you ever find yourself stuck in repeated cycles of negative emotion, you’re not alone. More than 40% of Australians will experience a mental health issue in their lifetime. Many are linked to

    Parents delay sending kids to school for social reasons and physical size. It’s not about academic advantage
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Penny Van Bergen, Associate Professor in the Psychology of Education, Macquarie University If you have a child born at the start of the year, you may be faced with a tricky and stressful decision. Do you send them to school “early”, in the year they turn five?

    Since its very conception, Star Wars has been political. Now Andor will take on Trump 2.0
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Golding, Professor and Chair of the Department of Media and Communication, Swinburne University of Technology Lucasfilm Ltd™ Premiering today, the second and final season of Star Wars streaming show Andor seems destined to be one of the pop culture defining moments of the second Trump presidency.

    Election Diary: Albanese government stays mum over whatever Russia may have said to Indonesia
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The imbroglio over the reported Russian request to Indonesia to base planes in Papua initially tripped Peter Dutton, and now is dogging Anthony Albanese. After the respected military site Janes said a request had been made, the Australian government quickly

    How the next pope will be elected – what goes on at the conclave
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mathew Schmalz, Professor of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross Cardinals attend Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, before they enter the conclave to decide who the next pope will be, on March 12, 2013, in Vatican City. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Image With the death of

    Twinkling star reveals the shocking secrets of turbulent plasma in our cosmic neighbourhood
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Reardon, Postdoctoral Researcher, Pulsar Timing and Gravitational Waves, Swinburne University of Technology Artist’s impression of a pulsar bow shock scattering a radio beam. Carl Knox/Swinburne/OzGrav With the most powerful radio telescope in the southern hemisphere, we have observed a twinkling star and discovered an abundance of

    Pope Francis has died, aged 88. These were his greatest reforms – and controversies
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joel Hodge, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Theology and Philosophy, Australian Catholic University Pope Francis has died on Easter Monday, aged 88, the Vatican announced. The head of the Catholic Church had recently survived being hospitalised with a serious bout of double pneumonia. Cardinal Kevin Farrell’s announcement began:

    Pope Francis tried to change the Catholic Church for women, with mixed success
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracy McEwan, School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences, University of Newcastle Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, died on Easter Monday at the age of 88. On Easter Sunday, he used his message and blessing to appeal for peace in Middle East and

    ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for April 21, 2025
    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 21, 2025.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Improving New Zealand’s environmental reporting

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government is improving the way the state of New Zealand’s environment is measured and reported on, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says.
    “Having data and information about our changing environment means we can make informed decisions that protect our homes, build a strong and enduring economy, and ensure New Zealand is best prepared for the future,” Ms Simmonds says.
    The Environmental Reporting Act 2015 plays an important role in making sure New Zealanders have access to robust and credible environmental data and research.
    “The recently published Our Environment 2025 report – jointly produced by the Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ under the Act – is a clear example of how this kind of reporting helps us better understand the state of New Zealand’s environment,” Ms Simmonds says.
    “However, the Act’s inflexible structure means the reporting programme is inefficient, and the impact of the reports in supporting New Zealand’s decisions about the environment is limited.”
    Ms Simmonds says changes to the Act will increase efficiency; improve data quality and make it more accessible and useful; ensure that reports provide timely and relevant information; and strengthen data and environmental research.
    An expert panel will provide independent advice on matters related to environmental science, economics, health and monitoring and reporting. 
    The changes will include reducing the frequency of environmental reports from six-monthly to annually and introducing ‘drivers’ and ‘outlooks’ into environmental reporting. Drivers are factors that cause pressures on the environment – such as human influences and natural conditions that drive environmental change. Outlooks describe how the environment may change in the future.
    “Reducing the frequency of reports to better align with the pace of environmental change will enable the Ministry for the Environment to focus on improving the quality of the data it collects, rather than maintaining the cycle of continual reporting required under the current legislation,” Ms Simmonds says.
    “Reporting on drivers will help decision-makers understand the causes of pressures on the environment. Meanwhile, reporting on outlooks will support understanding of the future impact of decisions.
    “These additions will ensure greater consistency in reporting over time, enable more comprehensive reporting on the environment, and bring New Zealand in line with reporting practices in other OECD countries.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese agriculture poised for breakthroughs in new quality productive forces

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A latest report projects systemic breakthroughs in China’s new quality productive forces in terms of agriculture over the next decade, with grain yield per unit area expected to increase by 7.8 percent.

    The China Agricultural Outlook Report (2025-2034), released at the 2025 Agricultural Outlook Conference held at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) in Beijing on Sunday, reviewed China’s agricultural market performance in 2024 and forecast production, consumption, trade and price trends for major farm products in the course of the next decade.

    The report highlighted structural optimization in China’s agricultural supply during 2024 — marked by steady modernization progress and quality development. Notable achievements included enhanced supply of green and high-quality products, with 139,000 new crop germplasm resources collected, 1.07 million livestock genetic materials preserved, and 120,000 aquatic genetic materials documented.

    Agricultural technology and infrastructure continued to strengthen in 2024, contributing more than 63 percent to productivity growth, the report said. High-quality crop variety coverage exceeded 96 percent, while comprehensive mechanization reached 75.4 percent. Over 5.33 million hectares of high-standard farmland were newly developed or upgraded, bringing total coverage to 66.67 million hectares.

    According to the report, China’s agricultural green development has progressed significantly — with livestock waste utilization reaching 79.4 percent, crop straw utilization exceeding 88 percent, and agricultural film recycling surpassing 80 percent.

    The decade-long forecast predicts fundamental improvements in rural revitalization and agricultural modernization. Grain production capacity will achieve both quantitative and qualitative enhancements, with the cultivated area stabilizing at 119 million hectares by 2034.

    Supported by accelerated technological advancement and promotion of high-yield, stress-resistant crop varieties, grain yield is projected to rise 7.8 percent to 6,311 kg/ha by 2034. Corn and soybean yields are expected to reach 7,350 kg/ha and 2,775 kg/ha, respectively, the report said.

    It noted that rising consumer demand for premium, healthy and diversified agricultural products aligns with China’s economic growth and living standard improvements.

    The report also said that agricultural trade patterns will optimize through deeper global supply chain integration — with grain imports expected to decline to 113 million tonnes by 2034. Vegetable and fruit exports are forecast to grow annually by 2.6 percent and 8.8 percent, respectively, maintaining international competitiveness.

    Organized by the Agricultural Information Institute of the CAAS, the conference emphasized enhancing comprehensive production capacity to address external uncertainties. It also emphasized advancing AI and emerging technologies to strengthen monitoring systems, reaffirming commitment to building China into an agricultural powerhouse.

    The event featured high-level discussions on food security, smart agriculture development, trade coordination mechanisms, and AI-powered market monitoring, reflecting current industry focus areas.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Tech – STOP THE PINGS: HALF OF KIWIS OVERWHELMED BY NOTIFICATIONS

    Source: 2degrees

    2degrees calls on Kiwis to take control of their notifications as part of Fairer Phones Project

    Every day, New Zealanders are bombarded by a relentless flood of notifications. Social media, emails, and app alerts disrupt focus, invade downtime, and fragment attention. Research commissioned by 2degrees now reveals that 50% of Kiwis feel overrun by notifications.

    For Gen Z, the first generation to grow up entirely online, the impact is even greater, with 38% regularly feeling overwhelmed, panicked, or anxious due to the sheer number of notifications they receive. Research from Common Sense Media in the US revealed that teenagers receive an average of 237 notifications per day.

    The mental load is mounting, and it’s taking a toll on productivity, relationships, and wellbeing.

    NO-tifications is the latest initiative from 2degrees’ Fairer Phones Project, as part of its ongoing commitment to support healthier relationships with phones. The telco is calling on Kiwis to take action.

    “Phones are powerful tools for connection, but when notifications dictate our attention, we’re not using them on our terms,” says Mark Callander, Chief Executive of 2degrees. “We’re calling on Kiwis to take control of their notifications before notifications take control of them.”

    According to Kathryn Berkett, neuroscience and digital wellbeing expert, notifications trigger dopamine, making them addictive. “We think we’re good at multitasking, but in reality, we’re task-switching, which drains our energy and reduces focus. It also disrupts our real-world interactions – our attention is physically pulled away the moment we hear or see a ping,” says Berkett.

    Berkett highlights the impact of excessive notifications: 

    • They distract us – making it harder to focus and complete tasks efficiently

    • They affect our relationships – pulling attention away from real-life interactions

    • They disrupt our sleep – keeping us up at night and impacting wellbeing

    • They physically alter brain development – cells that fire together, wire together


    The Impact of Notification Overload

    A 2degrees-commissioned survey uncovered that for Gen Z:

    • 46% say they receive far too many or too many notifications

    • 38% regularly feel overwhelmed, panicked, or anxious by the number of notifications received

    • 40% find it difficult to concentrate due to the number of notifications they receive, leading to constant phone checking

    • Biggest culprits: Social media (65%) and email (60%)


    Across all age groups (16+):

    • 50% received too many notifications

    • 37% feel overwhelmed, panicked or anxious

    • 30% struggle to concentrate due to the number of notifications


    Sean Lyons, Chief Online Safety Officer at Netsafe, New Zealand’s online safety organisation, backs the initiative. “At Netsafe, we’re seeing growing concern about how constant connectivity and screen time affect young people’s focus and their overall wellbeing. 2degrees’ Fairer Phones Project initiative taps into an important conversation – how we can all be more intentional in our digital lives. Encouraging people to pause and reflect on their phone habits is a valuable step toward building healthier, more balanced relationships with technology.”


    To regain control, 2degrees suggests:

    1. Say No – When apps ask to send notifications, be selective. Only allow the ones that genuinely require your attention. 

    2. Tidy Up – Regularly review your notification settings and mute unnecessary alerts.

    3. Plan Ahead – Set specific times to check notifications rather than reacting to them all day. 


    For more information and tips, visit www.2degrees.nz/fairerphonesproject.  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Haka in the House: what will Te Pāti Māori’s protest mean for tikanga in parliament?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominic O’Sullivan, Professor of Political Science, Charles Sturt University and Adjunct Professor Stout Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington and Auckland University of Technology., Charles Sturt University

    Te Pāti Māori’s Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke lead a haka with Eru Kapa-Kingi outside parliament, November 19, 2024. Getty Images

    Time is apparently running out for the three Te Pāti Māori MPs whose haka in parliament during the Treaty Principles Bill debate last year attracted huge international attention.

    Parliament’s Privileges Committee has summoned the MPs to appear on Wednesday (April 23). But given their previous resistance to fronting up, it seems unlikely they will.

    The committee is investigating whether the haka broke parliament’s rules. The MPs say they don’t think they’ll get a fair hearing because the committee won’t allow legal representation or evidence from an expert in tikanga Maori.

    According to Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngawera-Packer, this “is a display of power designed to silence us”.

    But the case is about more than possible breaches of parliamentary protocol and standing orders. It also asks serious questions about our liberal democracy in general.

    Everybody needs to express themselves freely and without fear. So, when MPs leave their seats and come close to their opponents, does it cross a line? That was certainly the ruling last year when Green MP Julie Anne Genter was censured for crossing the floor and confronting another MP.

    Perhaps there is still good reason for New Zealand following the British parliamentary tradition of the government and opposition benches being two and a half sword lengths apart.

    But it has already been established that haka are allowed in parliament. The real questions are how, when, why and according to which rules or tikanga?

    The problem with ‘partnership’

    According to the political philosopher Nancy Fraser, democracy should support every citizen to participate in public life equally:

    [Justice] requires social arrangements that permit all members to participate in social interaction on a par with one another. So that means they must be able to participate as peers in all the major forms of social interaction.

    If parliament and the democratic system belong equally to everyone, then everyone should be able to say this ideal matches their experience. In other words, people have one voice of equal value, not just one vote.

    This is why the appropriate use of haka in parliament needs to be worked out. At one level it is about people being able to express their ideas in ways that make sense to them and the people they represent.

    At a deeper level, the issue revolves around who actually “owns” parliament. Everyone? Or everyone except Māori people and their representatives? Does everyone have a voice of equal value?

    Part of the problem is the notion of “partnership” between Māori and the Crown proposed by the Court of Appeal in 1987. Well intentioned as it might have been, this also created an “us and them” way of thinking.

    In this sense, the Crown and its institutions are seen as separate or foreign to Māori – as belonging to other people. If that’s the case, parliament can’t then belong to everybody or reflect everybody’s customs and ways of being.

    But if parliament belongs to everyone and sovereignty is not simply the oppressive authority of a distant king, but rather the shared property of every citizen, then the haka belongs as a distinctive form of political expression. It becomes part of the tikanga of the parliament.

    Tikanga Māori in practice

    However, tikanga is not simply about how parliamentary procedure deals with haka, waiata or the Māori language itself.

    As an authority on tikanga, Hirini Moko Mead, put it, the concept is

    a set of beliefs and practices associated with procedures to be followed in conducting the affairs of a group or an individual. These procedures, as established by precedents through time, are held to be ritually, are validated by usually more than one generation and are always subject to what a group or an individual is able to do.

    Like parliamentary standing orders, tikanga is procedural and grounded in broader principles of justice and ethics.

    Legal scholars Māmari Stephens and Carwyn Jones describe how tikanga prioritises relationships, collective obligations and inclusive decision-making. The Māori concept of wānganga or “active discussion”, Jones has written, is a framework for robust debate to enhance mutual understanding, but which doesn’t necessarily require consensus.

    Tikanga Māori and deliberative democracy

    The idea that political decisions should be based on reasoning, listening and serious reflection is known as deliberative democracy. It’s basically the opposite of outright majority rule based on “having the numbers”, which sometimes happens without any debate at all.

    Political theorists Selen Ercan and John Dryzek define deliberative democracy as being about

    putting communication at the heart of politics, recognising the need for reflective justification of positions, stressing the pursuit of reciprocal understanding across those who have different frameworks or ideologies.

    If that is true, then shouting across the parliamentary debating chamber doesn’t help. Nor does using the haka to intimidate.

    But using it to make a fair and reasonable point, to which others may respond, is essential to a parliament that is genuinely a “house of representatives”. Tikanga Māori and deliberative democratic processes offer complementary ways of working out what this could mean in practice.

    Dominic O’Sullivan 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. Haka in the House: what will Te Pāti Māori’s protest mean for tikanga in parliament? – https://theconversation.com/haka-in-the-house-what-will-te-pati-maoris-protest-mean-for-tikanga-in-parliament-254772

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/HOLY LAND – Father Faltas remembers Pope Francis: The power of meekness, the courage of Love

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Monday, 21 April 2025

    by Father Ibrahim Faltas ofm*Jerusalem ( Fides Agency) – We were in Emmaus when Pope Francis left us. We were remembering the living presence of the Risen One when the Holy Father joined him. The news of his death left us stunned and surprised after we felt hopeful seeing him again the last few days among people, with his usual willingness to shake hands, offer a benevolent smile, and a loving glance.The Holy Father has marked the path of hope in peace: he has traced the way with signs, gestures, and simple, concrete, direct appeals. He has walked that path with humanity, just as Jesus shared the path of the disciples of Emmaus, reassuring them with his presence. Will we be able to start again and continue on this path? His strength in demanding value and dignity for human life has strengthened timid consciences, his meekness has given security and support to the demand for truth and justice.As Pope Francis left this earthly life, the world continues to be enveloped in violence and suffering. Children dying with the complicity of the world’s indifference, children trying to save themselves from the flames of miserable tents, their only refuge, are the image of the failure of politics and diplomacy to which the Holy Father referred in his numerous appeals.Until his last breath, Pope Francis had thoughts and concerns for the Holy Land and for the wars in the world. Until his last breath, he called for a ceasefire. The Holy Father always courageously denounced those who build and sell instruments of death, those who have an interest in continuing war to conquer territories and destroy lives, and those who do not take responsibility for peace.The Holy Father leaves us with a great responsibility and a great gift: the courage to love. Lord, to whom shall we go? You alone have the words of eternal life! ( Fides Agency 21/4/2025)*Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Move more, think sharper: How physical activity boosts brain health in ageing

    Source:

    22 April 2025

    A brisk walk, a splash of water aerobics, or even a light jog around the block – if your heart rate goes up then so too will your brain health according to new research from the University of South Australia.

    Conducted in partnership with the US-based AdventHealth Research Institute, the new study found that staying active through moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is associated with significantly better processing speed, working memory, and executive function in older adults.

    Interestingly, the biggest cognitive gains were seen among people who went from doing no moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, to even doing just five minutes, clearly illustrating the power of exercise for the human brain.

    Assessing data from 585 older adults (aged 65-80 years) in the USA-based IGNITE trial*, the study examined associations between time spent in sleep, sedentary behaviour, light physical activity, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity across the 24-hr day, and cognitive performance.

    Researchers identified a two-way relationship between ‘huff-and-puff’ physical activity and brain health: do more exercise and your brain health improves; but do less and it declines.

    UniSA researcher, Dr Maddison Mellow says the study highlights how small changes to your daily activities can have big impacts on your brain health.

    “There are three mutually exclusive lifestyle behaviours in the 24-hour day – sleep, sedentary behaviour and physical activity – and how these interact to influence our health outcomes,” Dr Mellow says.

    “For example, we know that being more active can improve our sleep; or having a better night’s sleep could boost our energy levels to perform physical activity the next day. But what we don’t know is the optimal balance of time spent in each of these behaviours to maximise cognitive performance.

    “In this study we explored how different uses of time impact your brain. We found that higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity – that is, activity performed at higher intensities that increases your heart rate and breathing – was related to better cognitive performance.

    “Specifically, ‘huff-and-puff’ physical activity (like aerobic exercise) improves processing speed (how fast your brain thinks), executive function (how well you plan, focus, and multitask) and working memory (your ability to store information for short periods of time).

    “Importantly, the opposite was also true: lower levels of this higher intensity physical activity were related to poorer performance on these tests.”

    The findings were consistent across different genetic and demographic backgrounds. Interestingly, the findings did not extend to episodic memory (the what, where and when details of an event) or visuospatial function outcomes (your ability to recognise places and navigate through spaces).

    Co-researcher, Dr Audrey Collins, says understanding the interplay between different activities could empower older people to make positive health changes.

    “There are only 24 hours in a day, so every day, we make decisions about how we spend our time. For example, if we sleep for eight hours, then there’s 16 hours remaining for waking behaviours like physical activity or sedentary behaviour; that’s the basic reality,” Dr Collins says.

    “Our results show that how we choose to spend our time across the 24-hour day may be differentially related to our brain health.

    “Understanding that we need to prioritise physical activity – such as physical activity that gets our heart rates up, according to our findings – is the key.

    “With one in six people in the world expected to be 60 years or older by 2030, we need to make sure we are supporting and empowering people to age well.

    “In this instance, we hope that knowledge is power: boost your physical activity and boost your brain health to stay fit and well as you age. However, these results are cross-sectional and need to be tested longitudinally and experimentally.”

    Notes for editors:

    * The IGNITE study was conducted at the University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA), University of Kansas Medical Center (Kansas City, KS), and Northeastern University (Boston, MA) and involved a large, well-characterised sample of cognitively unimpaired older adults. Participants were, on average, 69.8 years of age, predominantly female (70%), and self-reported as inactive.

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Contacts for interview:  Dr Maddison Mellow E: Maddison.Mellow@unisa.edu.au

    Dr Audrey Collins E: CFD.ExternalComm@adventhealth.com
    Media contact: Annabel Mansfield M: +61 479 182 489  E: Annabel.Mansfield@unisa.edu.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Fossil fuel companies ‘poisoned the well’ of public debate with climate disinformation. Here’s how Australia can break free

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Naomi Oreskes, Professor of the History of Science, Harvard University

    President Donald Trump has issued an executive order that would block state laws seeking to tackle greenhouse gas emissions – the latest salvo in his administration’s campaign to roll back United States’ climate action.

    Under Trump, the US has clearly abdicated climate leadership. But the US has in fact obstructed climate action for decades – largely due to damaging actions by the powerful fossil fuel industry.

    In 20 years studying attacks on climate science and the powerful forces at work behind the scenes, I’ve come to think the United States is simply not going to lead on climate action. The fossil fuel industry has so poisoned the well of public debate in the US that it’s unlikely the nation will lead on the issue in our lifetimes.

    Australia, on the other hand, has enormous potential.

    I recently visited Australia from Harvard University for a series of public talks. This nation is very close to my heart. I trained as a mining geologist and spent three years in outback South Australia, before returning to academia.

    The vacuum Trump has created on climate policy provides a chance for other countries to lead. Australia has much more to gain from the clean-energy future than it stands to lose – and your climate action could be pivotal.

    The climate crisis: a long time coming

    Scientists first warned against burning fossil fuels way back in the 1950s. When the US Clean Air Act was passed in 1970, the words “weather” and “climate” were included because scientists had already explained to Congress that carbon dioxide was a pollutant with serious — even dire — effects.

    In the late 1980s, scientists at NASA observed changes in the climate system that could only be explained by the extra heating effect of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The predictions had become reality.

    When George H.W. Bush ran successfully for president in 1988, he promised to use the power of the “White House effect” to fight the “greenhouse effect”. In 1992, Bush and other world leaders gathered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to sign the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Together, 178 countries promised action to prevent “dangerous anthropogenic interference” with Earth’s climate. But that action never came.

    Trump has undoubtedly been bad news for global climate action. He makes preposterous claims about science and is dismantling the federal agencies responsible for supporting climate science and maintaining climate data.

    But the US has long failed to play its part in cutting dangerous greenhouse gas emissions. The reason for this lies largely outside the White House.

    If only George H.W. Bush had used the White House effect to counter the greenhouse effect, as he once promised to.
    mark reinstein, Shutterstock

    A long-running campaign of disinformation

    The fossil fuel industry has known about climate change for as long as scientists have.

    In the late 1970s and early 1980s, scientists at Esso (later ExxonMobil) actively researched the topic, building climate models and coauthoring scientific papers.

    The scientists informed their managers of the risk of catastrophic damage if the burning of oil, gas and coal continued unabated. They even suggested the company might need a different business model – one not so dependent on fossil fuels.

    But managers at ExxonMobil made a fateful decision: to turn from information to disinformation. Working in tandem with other oil, gas and coal companies, as well as automobile and aluminium manufacturers, ExxonMobil launched an organised campaign, sustained over decades, to block climate action by casting doubt on the underlying science.

    They ran ad campaigns in national and local newspapers insisting the science was too unsettled to warrant action. They created “astroturf” organisations that only pretended to be green, and funded “third-party allies” to argue that proposed remedies would be too expensive, cost jobs and damage the economy.

    The company funded outlier scientists to publish papers claiming atmospheric warming was the result of natural climate variability. They pressured journalists to give equal time to “their side” of the story in the name of “balance”.

    Over the next three decades, whenever any meaningful climate policy seemed to be gaining traction, the industry and its allies lobbied Congress and state legislatures to block it. So, neither Democratic nor Republican administrations were able to undertake meaningful climate action.

    While people were dying in climate-charged floods and fires, the fossil fuel industry persuaded a significant proportion of the US population, including Trump, that the whole thing might just be a hoax.

    Rise up Australia

    In a matter of weeks after becoming president, Trump pulled out of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming, shut down government websites hosting climate data, and withdrew support for research that dares to mention the word “climate”.

    This has created a vacuum that other countries, including Australia, can step up to fill.

    Few countries have more to lose from climate change than Australia. The continent has already witnessed costly and devastating wildfires and floods — affecting remote areas and major cities. It’s not unreasonable to worry that in coming years, significant parts of Australia could become uninhabitable.

    Like the US, Australia has a powerful fossil fuel industry that has disproportionately influenced its politics. Unlike the US, however, that industry is based mainly on coal for export, which Australians do not depend on in their daily lives.

    And Australia is truly a lucky country. It has unsurpassed potential to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy.

    More than 15 years ago, Australian researchers in the Zero Carbon Australia project offered a blueprint for how the country could eliminate fossil fuel use entirely. Since then, renewable energy has only become cheaper and more efficient.

    South Australia has proved the point: the state was 100% reliant on fossil fuels for electricity in 2002, but now more than 70% comes from renewables.

    Across Australia, the share of renewable electricity generation is growing. Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland are vying for second place after SA. It’s fascinating to watch the National Electricity Market balance supply and demand in real time, where a large proportion of the electricity comes from rooftop solar.

    For decades, the fossil fuel industry has told the public our societies can’t manage without fossil fuels. Large parts of Australia have proved it’s just not so. The rest of the nation can follow that lead, and model the energy transition for the world. Here’s your chance.

    Over the past two decades, Naomi Oreskes has received grant funding from various governments and non-government organisations to support the research upon which this piece is based. She serves on the board of The Climate Science Legal Defense Fund, which works to protect the integrity of climate science, and climate scientists, from politically motivated attacks. The Fund is a registered 501 c(3) non-profit organisation, meaning it does not engage in political activities. She is also an emerita board member of Protect our Winters, a 501 c (3) that works with the winter sports community to educate people about climate change and the threat it poses to winter sports. Naomi serves on the board of the Kann-Rasmussen foundation (Denmark), a non-profit foundation that works “to support the transition to a more environmentally resilient stable, and sustainable planet”.
    Naomi currently serves as a consultant to a number of groups pursuing climate litigation in the United States, and recently submitted an expert report to the International Court of Justice on behalf of Vanuatu. She also receives speaking fees and book royalties for talks and publications on the history of climate science and climate change denial. Co-author, with Erik M. Conway, of Merchants of Doubt (2010) and The Big Myth (2023).

    – ref. Fossil fuel companies ‘poisoned the well’ of public debate with climate disinformation. Here’s how Australia can break free – https://theconversation.com/fossil-fuel-companies-poisoned-the-well-of-public-debate-with-climate-disinformation-heres-how-australia-can-break-free-251221

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Parents delay sending kids to school for social reasons and physical size. It’s not about academic advantage

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Penny Van Bergen, Associate Professor in the Psychology of Education, Macquarie University

    If you have a child born at the start of the year, you may be faced with a tricky and stressful decision. Do you send them to school “early”, in the year they turn five? Or do you “hold them back” and send them in the year they turn six?

    Media reports refer to parents who want to “hold children back”. This is particularly the case for boys. Some parents express concerns boys may develop more slowly and school activities may favour girls.

    Our new study surveyed Australian parents to understand their reasons for sending children to school early or on time or holding them back.

    School entry in Australia

    State regulations for the age of starting school vary across Australia, and between public, Catholic and independent schools.

    Typically, however, children born in the first part of the year can be sent to school in either the year they turn five or the year they turn six. This can lead to big age caps in a school year level.

    Public school cutoff dates are April 30 in Victoria, May 1 in South Australia, June 30 in Queensland and July 31 in New South Wales.

    A 2019 study of more than 160,000 NSW students showed overall, 26% of children were held back, although there was variation between different regions. This is much higher than in many other countries. For example, delayed entry is as low as 5.5% in the United States and 6% in Germany.



    Read more:
    A push to raise the school starting age to 6 sounds like good news for parents, but there’s a catch

    Our research

    In our research published in Early Education and Development, we surveyed 226 Australian parents who had a choice about whether to send their child to school in the year they turned five or six. Parents were from a mix of states and recruited via social media and a variety of other media, including parenting magazines.

    We found 29% of parents intended to send their child to school in the first year they were eligible and 66% planned to start later. About 5% were unsure. Consistent with trends in other countries, parents were almost four times as likely to report they intended to start boys later than girls.

    There were five key factors guiding their decisions.

    1. Money and work

    One group of factors, which we labelled “practical realities”, meant parents were more likely to send a child on time or early.

    This included high early childhood education costs (it is much cheaper to send a child to a government school than pay for daycare) and parents’ work demands (and the benefits of regular school hours). As one parent said:

    School is a cheaper option for many parents and community preschool (which is cheaper, depending on the number of days) is not a practical option for many working families.

    2. A child’s size

    Parents also considered their child’s physical size relative to their peers. Other studies suggest parents worry smaller boys will be bullied and will struggle to demonstrate sporting prowess.

    Reflecting on this trend, one parent said:

    I would prefer that my child wasn’t starting school with children well over a year older just because other parents think boys need a bit more time to mature. They are then significantly older and bigger by then.

    3. Social readiness

    Another group of factors involved children’s social, emotional and behavioral readiness for school. This includes their ability to pay attention and sit still, follow instructions, regulate and manage emotions and show empathy and consideration for others.

    One parent sending their child to school in the year they turn five said:

    Our child will be fine […] He is able, social and confident and hopefully this will mean he will have a positive school experience irrespective of what year he starts.

    Another who chose to hold their child back suggested:

    I want my child to be introduced to formal schooling as late as possible to ensure his brain development and emotional regulation are mature enough to handle the transition.

    4. Family time

    Another set of reasons influencing parents’ decisions was a desire to spend time together with their child before formal schooling. As one parent said:

    I always hear that no one ever regrets sending their child a bit later but they often regret sending early. I can afford for her to have an extra year of preschool and time at home and that is a luxury I acknowledge not everyone has.

    5. Milestones

    Parents also looked to the future and considered their child’s age relative to peers. This included when they would be starting high school or completing teenage milestones, such as driving, drinking, managing friendships and finishing school. This might explain why rates of holding children back vary by region. As one parent told us:

    The people around me having a choice (and holding their children back) ended up influencing my choice. She [my daughter] could have started school but would have been in a peer group that had been held back.

    What about academic concerns?

    Interestingly, parents did not typically express academic concerns or motivations (such as a desire to see their child move ahead of others academically) as a factor in their decision. Indeed, as one parent said:

    I have very strong beliefs about what school readiness means and for me it is much more than just being academically ready.

    Although there is evidence older children have a developmental advantage over younger children when entering school, academic benefits dissipate over time. For example, older children do better on Year 3 and 5 NAPLAN numeracy and literacy tests, but benefits fade or disappear by Year 9.

    What does this mean?

    Our research suggests the reasons why parents start a child early or hold them back are complex – and very much based on the needs of individual families and children.

    Taken together they suggest teachers not only need to accommodate a wide range of ages starting school but a sizeable portion of families who will have “delayed” school for a variety of personal reasons.

    Penny Van Bergen receives funding from the ARC, Google and the Marsden Fund.

    Naomi Sweller receives funding from the ARC.

    Rebecca Andrews receives funding from NSW Department of Education and the Australian Children’s Early Childhood Quality Authority.

    Anne McMaugh and Kay Bussey 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. Parents delay sending kids to school for social reasons and physical size. It’s not about academic advantage – https://theconversation.com/parents-delay-sending-kids-to-school-for-social-reasons-and-physical-size-its-not-about-academic-advantage-254076

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –