Category: Science

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Education Secretary visits University of Dundee

    Source: Scottish Government

    Taskforce membership is announced.

    Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth has met with staff and students as she visited the University of Dundee’s School of Life Sciences.

    It came as the wider membership of an external Taskforce, set up to advise the University on its current financial challenges, was announced, including business and industry organisations, trades unions, enterprise agencies, NHS and academic representatives.

    Visiting the Drug Discovery and Medical Research units at the school, Ms Gilruth heard about how its work has helped contribute to the treatment of conditions like Parkinson’s Disease.

    The university was ranked top in Biological Sciences in the most recent Research Excellence Framework, a UK-wide assessment of research quality at higher education institutions.

    Meeting with university Principal Shane O’Neill, the Education Secretary underlined the Scottish Government’s determination to support the University through its current financial challenges, with a wide-ranging package of financial support and expertise in place to help secure its future.

    Ms Gilruth said: 

    “It was inspiring to hear about the world-leading and life changing work being undertaken at the Life Sciences school here at Dundee. This is vitally important research which underlines the strength of academic excellence and innovation in Scotland

    “This work and research also has a major impact on inward investment for the area and the Scottish Government is clear it should be a vital component of our knowledge economy for the coming generations.

    “We know that this unit and the wider Life Sciences school at Dundee attracts students, researchers and cutting-edge companies from across the globe to the city.

    “That’s why this Government has been clear in our determination to ensure that the University of Dundee is fully supported and the wider membership of the taskforce we are setting out today will provide the right mix knowledge and experience to help advise on the current financial challenges.”

    Professor Shane O’Neill, Interim Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dundee, said:

    “We are extremely grateful to the Scottish Government for their continued support and we have been delighted to welcome the Cabinet Secretary today to see first hand the impactful work of our researchers in Life Sciences.

    “We will continue to work with the Government and the Scottish Funding Council towards a secure and successful future for the University, and we will also engage fully with the Advisory Taskforce regarding our wider impact on Dundee, the Tay Cities region and beyond.”

    Background

    In addition to the Chair Alan Langlands University of Dundee, City of Dundee Council, Scottish Funding Council and the Scottish Government, the membership of the Taskforce will include:

    • Universities Scotland
    • Abertay University
    • University of St Andrews
    • Dundee and Angus College
    • Trade Unions representation
    • Student Union representation
    • Tay Cities Regional Economic  Partnership / City Deal
    • Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce
    • Scottish Enterprise
    • Skills Development Scotland
    • NHS Education for Scotland
    • Business representation
    • Alumni/graduates representation

    The Scottish Government has provided £25 million to the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to support universities like Dundee facing immediate financial challenges. This is on top of £1.1 billion of investment already in the budget for university teaching and research

    Deputy First Minister chairs a regular cross-government group in support of SFC and to consider the issues

    REF 2021 in Life Sciences | University of Dundee, UK

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Masterpieces of vocal music and architectural plein air: what the capital’s cultural venues have prepared for the Days of Historical and Cultural Heritage

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    More than 55 venues in the capital have prepared over 280 eventsDays of Historical and Cultural Heritage. On April 20, concerts, lectures, excursions and master classes await guests. Entrance to museums and exhibition halls will be free. To attend events within the framework of the campaign, you must first purchase free tickets on the website Ticket.Mos.ru.

    Learn all about ceramics and the secrets of cinema

    At 12:00 and 14:00, the Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve will host a mediator tour, “Form of Thought,” around the exhibition “To Be in the Material. Contemporary Ceramic Art.” https://bilet.mos.ru/?spheres=[“442299”] The exhibition tells, among other things, about the connection between ceramic art and industrial design. You can discuss the work with an art mediator and understand what emotions it evokes.

    A lecture will be held at 16:00 in the gallery “Na Shabolovke” of the association “Exhibition halls of Moscow” “Cinema through the eyes of an artist”. It will be read by Nikita Bestuzhev, a film artist, graphic artist, illustrator, member of the Moscow Union of Artists, teacher and curator of the Moscow Film School. Participants will learn how films are created, see storyboards of famous Russian and foreign films, learn about what was not included in the final versions, and discuss interesting and unknown to the general public stories of the creation of films. During the lecture, guests will be asked to draw a storyboard.

    Listen to music and learn to dance

    The Alfred Mirek Museum of Russian Accordion invites you to a concert by Elena Filippova and Pavel Korbankov at 15:00. They are participants in folklore festivals, concerts and creative evenings, laureates of the XXI Moscow International Festival “Accordion – the Soul of Russia”, the Interregional Folklore and Ethnographic Festival “Russian Sound”, the Moscow annual festival in honor of the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. The musicians play ancient traditional instruments – Yelets piano and Tula seven-valve accordions, balalaikas and gusli, as well as on objects of peasant life, sometimes the most unusual and unexpected.

    Concert “Masterpieces of Russian Vocal Music” will be held at the Yesenin Center of the Moscow State S.A. Yesenin Museum. It will begin at 17:00. The performance will feature works by composers from different eras, including Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Alexander Varlamov, Boris Fomin, Sergei Banevich, Isaak Dunaevsky, Valery Gavrilin, as well as Russian folk songs.

    At the Museum of the Estates of Russia, at 13:00 and 16:00 you can take part in an interactive program “Salon of noble leisure”. It is dedicated to the leisure time of nobles in pre-revolutionary Russia of different eras. The host will show household items, such as a gramophone with pre-revolutionary records and an old camera, and will tell about ballroom etiquette and the language of the fan. Artists in historical costumes will perform several classical dances. Under the guidance of the host, participants will be able to learn the basics of salon dancing. And all this – to the accompaniment of a piano.

    A folk music concert will begin at 12:00 at the Kuskovo estate “Cultural Bridges: Music of the Times”. It will take place in the Big Stone Greenhouse. Guests will see a performance by students and teachers of the Russian State Social University. Romances, spiritual poems, spring chants, songs of residents of various regions of Russia, as well as original musical works, arrangements and instrumental tunes will be performed.

    Learn about the fates of writers and their work

    A lecture will be held at the scientific and educational center of the Mikhail Bulgakov Museum on Arbat at 15:00 “…Where will you live? Mikhail Bulgakov’s Moscow addresses”. The writer found himself in Moscow in the autumn of 1921. Over the course of more than 18 years in the city, he changed his address several times. Elena Mikhailova, head of the scientific and educational center, will tell us about the writer’s life in Moscow and whether he found the apartment of his dreams.

    The Mikhail Bulgakov Museum has also prepared a walking tour “Once upon a time at Patriarch’s”. It will be conducted by accredited tour guide Elena Primorskaya. Participants will go on a journey in the footsteps of the heroes of the novel “The Master and Margarita”, starting from the garden where an attempt was made on the life of the administrator of the Variety Theatre Varenukha. Gathering at 14:00, 16:00 and 17:45 at the entrance to the Aquarium Garden (near the Mossovet Theatre).

    A literary and musical evening in memory of Yuri Kuznetsov will be held at 16:00 in the concert hall of the Alexander Solzhenitsyn House of Russian Abroad “I will set my soul free…”. Guests will hear the poet’s poems and songs written to his works, performed by his students, contemporary Russian poets and artists. Among the participants of the evening are music critic Denis Stupnikov, poet and musician Dmitry Cherny (Echelon group), poetess Vasilisa Spogreyeva, poetess and singer-songwriter Irma Molochnaya, singer Ekaterina Kadik and musician Artemy Kadik, literary scholar Evgeny Bogachkov.

    Yuri Kuznetsov’s father died at the front, so the war became one of the main themes of his work. The poet graduated from the A.M. Gorky Literary Institute, was its professor, worked in publishing houses, magazines, taught, and led a poetry seminar. In addition, he translated the works of outstanding poets, including Friedrich Schiller, John Keats, and Arthur Rimbaud. Due to the emotionality and vivid imagery of his work, Yuri Kuznetsov is called the “twilight angel of Russian poetry.”

    Excursion-conversation “Heart, Imagination and Reason, or Where Does Culture Originate?” prepared at the K. G. Paustovsky Museum. It will take place at 11:00 and 12:00. Participants will learn about the history of the museum building, which is a cultural heritage site of federal significance, a monument of Moscow architecture of the late 18th century. In addition, they will be shown the main exhibition, which tells about the most important creative mission of the writer Konstantin Paustovsky.

    The tour will be held in an interactive format of dialogue with visitors. The main topic of the conversation is the understanding of the famous statement by Konstantin Paustovsky: “Heart, imagination and mind – this is the environment where what we call culture is born.” During the tour, guests will learn about the most important pages of the writer’s biography, his creative method, social activities and main books.

    Try your hand at painting

    Master class “Microcopies of works by Russian artists” will begin at 13:20 in the Peresvetov Pereulok gallery of the Moscow Exhibition Halls association. Participants will feel like master miniaturists, creating their own copies of famous works by Russian artists: landscapes by Isaac Levitan, portraits by Ilya Repin, marine paintings by Ivan Aivazovsky.

    At 16:30 in the Izmailovo Gallery of the Moscow Exhibition Halls Association architectural plein air, dedicated to the beauty of the houses of the district of the same name. In Izmailovo there are buildings designed by brilliant architects, including Georgy Chaltykyan, Johann Gokhar-Harmandaryan, Mikhail Moshinsky. In the open air, guests will be offered to be inspired by their creations and paint their own picture. All necessary materials will be provided by the gallery.

    Dive into the past and touch nature

    At the Timiryazev State Biological Museum, a special program dedicated to the Days of Historical and Cultural Heritage will be held at three sites at once. At 12:00 and 14:00 in the museum building on Malaya Gruzinskaya Street (building 15), you can join an excursion “The Estate in Gruziny: History and Architecture”. Guests will learn about the history of the former estate of the collector and philanthropist Pyotr Shchukin, the creator of the Museum of Russian Antiquities. Its building is an architectural monument of the 19th century.

    At 13:00 and 15:00, a tour will begin in pavilion No. 31 “Geology” at VDNKh “Geology in “Geology””. Participants will be able to touch the fossil remains of extinct creatures and learn what sciences geology unites and how paleontology relates to it. The guide will tell what the building has in common with geological sciences, what the structure looked like in the second half of the 20th century. Using the museum collection as an example, you can get to know a number of rocks and minerals better and learn about their use.

    At 13:00 and 15:00 in pavilion No. 28 “Beekeeping” at VDNKh there will be a tour “About bees and not only”. The exhibition is dedicated to the honey bee, one of two domesticated species of insects. Visitors will learn the differences between worker bees, drones, and queens. They will be told about the role of drones in a bee colony, who likes to eat bees and who likes to eat bee products, how people collect honey, and what a bee dance is. A research assistant will introduce visitors to bee breeds and the main honey plants.

    In addition, the guides of the Museum of Moscow will conduct excursions to the Petrovsky Travel Palace, the building of the Moscow City Duma, as well as the house of the Governor-General, which now houses the Moscow City Hall.

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152615073/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI China: Neighborhood diplomacy takes center stage as Xi begins visit to Southeast Asia

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

    HANOI, April 15 — In a world grappling with growing uncertainty and instability fueled by rising protectionism and unilateralism, China has reaffirmed the continuity and stability of its neighborhood diplomacy and its vision for lasting peace and shared development in Asia.

    That was the message delivered by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, as he arrived in Vietnam on Monday for a state visit, the first leg of his five-day, three-nation tour of Southeast Asia. It is also his first overseas trip this year.

    “We will stay committed to the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. We will continue to pursue the policy of forging friendship and partnership with our neighbours. And we will steadily deepen friendly cooperation with them to advance Asia’s modernization,” Xi said in a signed article published Monday in the Nhan Dan Newspaper of Vietnam.

    Pham Phu Phuc, former deputy head of the World News Desk at the Vietnam News Agency, welcomed China’s diplomatic approach.

    In light of unexpected and uncertain changes in the region and across the world in recent years, this vision emphasizes peace, sincerity, mutual benefit and shared development through cooperation, he said.

    Xi’s visit came as China and Vietnam mark the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year. During his talks with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam on Monday, Xi said that facing the changing and turbulent world, China and Vietnam have stayed committed to peaceful development and deepened their friendly cooperation, bringing much-needed stability and certainty to the world.

    In interviews with Xinhua, observers noted that the China-Vietnam partnership embodies a broader Asian ethos championed by China, emphasizing dialogue over confrontation, partnership over rivalry, and development over division.

    The Chinese leader’s visit underscores the commitment of both Vietnam and China to peaceful development and regional stability, said Bui Minh Long, managing editor of the Vietnamese daily newspaper Tien Phong (Pioneer). “I believe that closer Vietnam-China relations will become a stabilizing force in Southeast Asia.”

    A SHARED VISION

    During Xi’s visit to Vietnam in December 2023, the bilateral relationship reached a new height when both sides agreed to build a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance on the basis of deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

    On Monday, Xi proposed six measures to deepen the building of the China-Vietnam community with a shared future, including lifting strategic mutual trust to a higher level, building stronger security safeguards, expanding higher quality mutually beneficial cooperation, tightening the bond of people-to-people ties, conducting closer multilateral coordination, and engaging in more constructive maritime interactions.

    Building the China-Vietnam community with a shared future carries great global significance, Xi said in his meeting with To Lam, noting that as the two countries jointly pursue peaceful development, their combined population of over 1.5 billion is jointly advancing toward modernization, which will contribute to regional and global peace and stability while promoting common development.

    For Vietnamese scholars, Xi’s emphasis on the building of the China-Vietnam community with a shared future underscores a core pillar of China’s neighborhood diplomacy — forging strong partnerships with neighboring countries based on mutual respect, win-win cooperation and long-term commitment.

    This approach, they said, reflects China’s broader vision of a peaceful and prosperous region.

    Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa, a researcher at the Institute for Asia-Pacific Studies under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, said the effort to build a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance reflects both the continuation and the deepening of the enduring friendship between the two countries.

    “It is built on the foundation of political trust, the promotion of commonalities and especially the sharing of benefits and mutual concerns,” she said. “The ultimate goal is to bring benefits to the people of both nations, support each country’s development and contribute to regional peace and stability.”

    GREATER COMMON DEVELOPMENT

    Over the past year, the agreement on building the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance has already injected fresh momentum into the bilateral relationship, said Nguyen Vinh Quang, vice president of the Vietnam-China Friendship Association, noting that businesses from both sides have demonstrated increased confidence in each other.

    Chinese direct investment in Vietnam exceeded 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, maintaining strong growth, Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yongqian said on Thursday.

    Meanwhile, bilateral trade has surpassed 200 billion dollars for four consecutive years, reaching 260.65 billion dollars in 2024, a 13.5-percent increase year-on-year.

    Noting that both countries are committed to opening up, Xi said during his meeting with To Lam on Monday that both countries have played a constructive role in maintaining the stability and smooth operation of regional industrial and supply chains, as well as contributing to the advancement of economic globalization.

    Both China and Vietnam are beneficiaries of economic globalization, and the two sides should strengthen strategic resolve, jointly oppose unilateralism and bullying practices, and work together to uphold the global free trade system and maintain the stability of industrial and supply chains, Xi said.

    In recent years, the global governance system has faced serious challenges, as some nations have introduced regulations that contravene international law, said Tran Khanh, former editor-in-chief of the Journal of Southeast Asian Studies at the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences.

    China and Vietnam can work together to uphold the global order based on international law, including an international trade system based on established international norms, he said.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU Launches Innovative AI Service for Dental Health Diagnostics

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Startup Studio of Novosibirsk State University with the support of the Coion syndicate, presented an innovative development – an analyzer of dental and oral health. It is implemented in several formats – a mobile application, a Telegram bot, a VKontakte application, and generates a set of recommendations for dental care for the user based on a photo. The service is based on the original methodology of Elena Leontyeva, Associate Professor of the Department of Dentistry and Advanced Training at the Rostov Medical University, Candidate of Medical Sciences, supplemented by machine vision technologies.

    — This method was developed several years ago, and the goal was to motivate patients to maintain oral hygiene. It was initially created for general use: a doctor can use it for screening, and patients or sales consultants in specialized stores can use it to select the most suitable toothpastes and hygiene products in each specific case, — said Elena Leontyeva.

    To use the algorithms developed by the Rostov scientist, no special medical education is required. When Elena learned about the NSU startup “Smart Mirror”, she approached its developers with a proposal to create a similar service, but aimed at oral hygiene – detection of signs of inflammatory formations, early stages of caries, etc. At the same time, the service does not replace a doctor, but helps to notice problems at an early stage, making primary diagnostics as accessible as possible.

    We remind you that it was developed by the NSU Startup Studio as part of the development of technological entrepreneurship telegram bot “Smart Mirror” was introduced earlier this year. It can detect several skin conditions, rate your skin health as a percentage, and recognize signs of several common problems. If it detects your skin as healthy, it will advise you to continue your current skin care routine and use sunscreen. If the Smart Mirror suspects any skin abnormalities, it will advise you to see a specialist for a more detailed diagnosis or problem determination, and then for treatment.

    Similar principles are used in the operation of the new product, called SmileScan.

    — This application is a product of three-way cooperation. On the one hand, a medical scientist from Rostov, the creator of the very method of analyzing the condition of teeth, when a single recommendation mechanism is formed from disparate data. On the other hand, the NSU Startup Studio, which contributed its experience in working with machine vision and other modern information technologies. And the third party is the Coion syndicate, which took on the closure of expenses during the project. As a result, we received an interesting technological solution and a successful example of translating the results of intellectual activity into a marketable software product financed by a private company, — noted the director of the NSU Startup Studio Maria Galyamova.

    Today, the service is already working in Telegram — @dentalcheckupai_bot, and it is free for the user, and the investor company expects to benefit through indirect commercialization (offering the user products of certain brands, affiliate links, etc.).

    — And the most important thing for Coion as a business structure is that many startups develop due to hypergrowth. We form a pool of users around the application, the base of which is capital in itself, since they are interesting for other companies, — explained the managing partner of the Coion syndicate Evgeny Ivanov.

    Such projects with indirect commercialization are one of the key areas of work of the startup studio, because many potential partners are focused on the so-called deep-tech. And it is in this area that the level of primary sales is not so important as the potential of the technology underlying the startup as a driver of further growth, emphasized Maria Galyamova.

    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: The capital plant presented an innovative cable for industrial automation systems

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The Moscow plant, which has the status of an industrial complex, was the first in Russia to introduce an innovative cable for the Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) data transmission standard. Thanks to the active support of the city, the capital’s enterprises are expanding their product line and increasing the volume of production of cable and wire products. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry Maxim Liksutov.

    Today, SPE technology is becoming more relevant in the field of industrial automation due to its simplicity and lighter weight, greater compactness and reduced installation time. One cable can provide simultaneous power supply and data transmission between different devices.

    “On the instructions of Sergei Sobyanin, the city is actively increasing the potential of the cable and wire industry. This allows us to regularly increase the output of in-demand products – according to the results of the first two months of 2025, the volume of cable production in the capital increased by 18 percent. Moscow develops and brings to market science-intensive and high-tech solutions, strengthening the country’s technological leadership. Thus, the capital’s industrial complex presented a unique product for industrial automation systems. It will go into serial production this year,” said Maxim Liksutov.

    Unlike the traditional interface, the new product has improved performance characteristics, including increased resistance to mechanical impacts and extreme temperatures, and supports data transfer at speeds of up to 10 megabits per second. This simplifies the creation of industrial automation systems and eliminates the need for additional converters.

    “Cable and wire products in the capital are manufactured by about 20 enterprises, employing about three thousand specialists. Such products are needed in the construction, metallurgy, petrochemical, aviation, space, shipbuilding and many other industries. The new solution of the cable plant will find its application in the automotive industry and in modern machine tool manufacturing,” emphasized the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of Investment and Industrial Policy

    Anatoly Garbuzov.

    In order to integrate heterogeneous network segments, it was previously necessary to use gateways to convert protocols, which complicated the creation of complex building automation systems. New cables allow direct connection of end devices, ensuring ease of maintenance, accessibility to control systems and a high degree of compatibility between different subsystems.

    The representative of the developer company noted that the plant produces innovative products that may not be relevant today, but will become necessary for production in the future. This approach allows setting new standards of quality and technology and offering customers solutions that are ahead of their time.

    Previously The Mayor of Moscow reported, that the plant was the first in Russia to introduce ultra-thin cables for neuro- and cardiac pacemakers. The new products were created as part of the import substitution program, and the enterprise is already preparing for serial production.

    Modern infrastructure and support measures: what else helps the capital’s industry grow

    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.

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152592073/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Company and its director handed fines, suspended jail term, for illegal operation of a waste facility in Eagleby

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Issued: 15 Apr 2025

    An asbestos removal and demolition company and its director have been sentenced for the illegal operations of their waste facility in Eagleby, after previously pleading guilty to similar offences late last year in one of Queensland’s worst-ever illegal asbestos waste matters.

    The sentences were handed down on 14 April 2025, by the Beenleigh Magistrates Court. Asbestos Demolition Specialists was sentenced for the following offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1994:

    • two offences for carrying out an environmentally relevant activity without an environmental authority; and
    • one offence for wilfully contravening an environmental protection order.

    The company was ordered to pay a fine of $150,000.

    The company’s director, Mr Anthony Palmer, pleaded guilty to the following offences under the same act:

    • three executive officer offences for failing to ensure the company complied with the requirements of the Environmental Protection Act 1994;
    • two offences for carrying out environmentally relevant activities without an environmental authority; and
    • two offences for knowingly making false statements to the Department.

    Mr Palmer was sentenced to six months imprisonment wholly suspended for three years and ordered to pay a further fine of $30,000.

    The offences occurred between 6 October 2022 and 12 April 2024 and are largely a continuation of the previous offending related to receiving, storing, and disposing of waste illegally after an extensive investigation by the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation. While these offences are serious, they did not involve asbestos waste.

    In October 2024, Asbestos Demolition Specialists was fined $400,000, and the company’s director copped a $100,000 fine after pleading guilty to multiple offences relating to the illegal operation of a waste facility in Eagleby.

    These previous offences occurred between 29 May 2019 and 7 October 2022.

    “Our role as Queensland’s environmental regulator means taking strong enforcement action against operators found to be noncompliant with their environmental obligations.

    “Unlicensed operations have the potential to undermine and undercut licenced operators who have obtained the correct authorities to operate.

    “An Environmental Authority, issued by the department, provides businesses with conditions they must comply with to manage environmental risks associated with their operations.

    “The repeated nature of these offences, and the lack of action from the company and Mr Palmer is extremely disappointing.

    “Thanks to the hard work of our compliance officers and investigators, who were critical in holding this company and its director accountable for their actions.”

    Brad Wirth, Executive Director, Industry Development and South East Compliance, DETSI

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sergei Sobyanin wished Muscovites victory at the All-Russian School Olympiad

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The All-Russian School Olympiad in 12 subjects has ended. The results of the competitions in computer science, physics, chemistry, social science, history, astronomy, art (world artistic culture), Russian, Spanish, German, Italian and Chinese languages have become known. About this in his telegram channel Sergei Sobyanin said.

    Moscow schoolchildren won 825 diplomas, including 156 winners and 669 prize winners. This is 213 awards more than the capital team received last year in these subjects.

    “14 Muscovites became absolute winners. 39 schoolchildren became leaders of several competitions. I congratulate the guys on their wonderful results! I wish them good luck and new victories,” the Moscow Mayor wrote.

    Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @Mos_Sobyanin 

    This year, more than three thousand young Muscovites reached the final of the All-Russian School Olympiad. This is a record – a year earlier, there were a thousand fewer finalists.

    The competitions are held in 24 subjects. They are held in 14 subjects of the Russian Federation and in the federal territory “Sirius”. The names of the winners will be announced on April 30.

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12618050/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-Evening Report: A weird phrase is plaguing scientific papers – and we traced it back to a glitch in AI training data

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aaron J. Snoswell, Research Fellow in AI Accountability, Queensland University of Technology

    Google Deepmind / Unsplash

    Earlier this year, scientists discovered a peculiar term appearing in published papers: “vegetative electron microscopy”.

    This phrase, which sounds technical but is actually nonsense, has become a “digital fossil” – an error preserved and reinforced in artificial intelligence (AI) systems that is nearly impossible to remove from our knowledge repositories.

    Like biological fossils trapped in rock, these digital artefacts may become permanent fixtures in our information ecosystem.

    The case of vegetative electron microscopy offers a troubling glimpse into how AI systems can perpetuate and amplify errors throughout our collective knowledge.

    A bad scan and an error in translation

    Vegetative electron microscopy appears to have originated through a remarkable coincidence of unrelated errors.

    First, two papers from the 1950s, published in the journal Bacteriological Reviews, were scanned and digitised.

    However, the digitising process erroneously combined “vegetative” from one column of text with “electron” from another. As a result, the phantom term was created.

    Excerpts from scanned papers show how incorrectly parsed column breaks lead to the term ‘vegetative electron micro…’ being introduced.
    Bacteriological Reviews

    Decades later, “vegetative electron microscopy” turned up in some Iranian scientific papers. In 2017 and 2019, two papers used the term in English captions and abstracts.

    This appears to be due to a translation error. In Farsi, the words for “vegetative” and “scanning” differ by only a single dot.

    Screenshot from Google Translate showing the similarity of the Farsi terms for ‘vegetative’ and ‘scanning’.
    Google Translate

    An error on the rise

    The upshot? As of today, “vegetative electron microscopy” appears in 22 papers, according to Google Scholar. One was the subject of a contested retraction from a Springer Nature journal, and Elsevier issued a correction for another.

    The term also appears in news articles discussing subsequent integrity investigations.

    Vegetative electron microscopy began to appear more frequently in the 2020s. To find out why, we had to peer inside modern AI models – and do some archaeological digging through the vast layers of data they were trained on.

    Empirical evidence of AI contamination

    The large language models behind modern AI chatbots such as ChatGPT are “trained” on huge amounts of text to predict the likely next word in a sequence. The exact contents of a model’s training data are often a closely guarded secret.

    To test whether a model “knew” about vegetative electron microscopy, we input snippets of the original papers to find out if the model would complete them with the nonsense term or more sensible alternatives.

    The results were revealing. OpenAI’s GPT-3 consistently completed phrases with “vegetative electron microscopy”. Earlier models such as GPT-2 and BERT did not. This pattern helped us isolate when and where the contamination occurred.

    We also found the error persists in later models including GPT-4o and Anthropic’s Claude 3.5. This suggests the nonsense term may now be permanently embedded in AI knowledge bases.

    Screenshot of a command line program showing the term ‘vegetative electron microscopy’ being generated by GPT-3.5 (specifically, the model gpt-3.5-turbo-instruct). The top 17 most likely completions of the provided text are ‘vegetative electron microscopy’, and these suggestions are 2.2 times more likely than the next most likely prediction.
    OpenAI

    By comparing what we know about the training datasets of different models, we identified the CommonCrawl dataset of scraped internet pages as the most likely vector where AI models first learned this term.

    The scale problem

    Finding errors of this sort is not easy. Fixing them may be almost impossible.

    One reason is scale. The CommonCrawl dataset, for example, is millions of gigabytes in size. For most researchers outside large tech companies, the computing resources required to work at this scale are inaccessible.

    Another reason is a lack of transparency in commercial AI models. OpenAI and many other developers refuse to provide precise details about the training data for their models. Research efforts to reverse engineer some of these datasets have also been stymied by copyright takedowns.

    When errors are found, there is no easy fix. Simple keyword filtering could deal with specific terms such as vegetative electron microscopy. However, it would also eliminate legitimate references (such as this article).

    More fundamentally, the case raises an unsettling question. How many other nonsensical terms exist in AI systems, waiting to be discovered?

    Implications for science and publishing

    This “digital fossil” also raises important questions about knowledge integrity as AI-assisted research and writing become more common.

    Publishers have responded inconsistently when notified of papers including vegetative electron microscopy. Some have retracted affected papers, while others defended them. Elsevier notably attempted to justify the term’s validity before eventually issuing a correction.

    We do not yet know if other such quirks plague large language models, but it is highly likely. Either way, the use of AI systems has already created problems for the peer-review process.

    For instance, observers have noted the rise of “tortured phrases” used to evade automated integrity software, such as “counterfeit consciousness” instead of “artificial intelligence”. Additionally, phrases such as “I am an AI language model” have been found in other retracted papers.

    Some automatic screening tools such as Problematic Paper Screener now flag vegetative electron microscopy as a warning sign of possible AI-generated content. However, such approaches can only address known errors, not undiscovered ones.

    Living with digital fossils

    The rise of AI creates opportunities for errors to become permanently embedded in our knowledge systems, through processes no single actor controls. This presents challenges for tech companies, researchers, and publishers alike.

    Tech companies must be more transparent about training data and methods. Researchers must find new ways to evaluate information in the face of AI-generated convincing nonsense. Scientific publishers must improve their peer review processes to spot both human and AI-generated errors.

    Digital fossils reveal not just the technical challenge of monitoring massive datasets, but the fundamental challenge of maintaining reliable knowledge in systems where errors can become self-perpetuating.

    Aaron J. Snoswell receives funding from the Australian Research Council funded Discovery Project “Generative AI and the future of academic writing and publishing” (DP250100074) and has previously received research funding from OpenAI.

    Kevin Witzenberger receives funding from the Australian Research Council funded Discovery Project “Generative AI and the future of academic writing and publishing” (DP250100074)

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

    ref. A weird phrase is plaguing scientific papers – and we traced it back to a glitch in AI training data – https://theconversation.com/a-weird-phrase-is-plaguing-scientific-papers-and-we-traced-it-back-to-a-glitch-in-ai-training-data-254463

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Amnesty International Hong Kong office opens overseas

    Source: Amnesty International

    Amnesty International has announced the launch of a new Hong Kong section based overseas, following the closure of its offices in the city in 2021 amid a crackdown on human rights.

    The new entity, Amnesty International Hong Kong Overseas (AIHKO), will be led by Hong Kong diaspora activists operating from key international hubs including Australia, Canada, Taiwan, the UK and the USA.

    “The opening of Amnesty International Hong Kong Overseas marks a new chapter in the organization’s strengthened commitment to human rights in Hong Kong and its support for the Hong Kong diaspora around the world,” said Chi-man Luk, the new AIHKO Executive Director.

    “The gutting of Hong Kong’s civil society has been a tragedy for the city with more than 100 non-profits and media outlets shut down or forced to flee. But since the closing of Amnesty International Hong Kong three years ago, our dedication has only grown. We are now ready to intensify our efforts by building new communities of support driven by the Hong Kong diaspora.”

    Hong Kong’s human rights crisis

    Since the 2019 pro-democracy movement, more than 10,000 people, many of them students, have been arrested for protest-related activities. Over 300 people have been arrested for alleged acts of “endangering national security”.

    Prominent activists, including lawyer Chow Hang-tung and media advocate Jimmy Lai, face lengthy prison sentences for their peaceful advocacy.  Both have been designated as “prisoners of conscience” by Amnesty International.

    Hong Kong authorities have weaponized colonial-era sedition laws and introduced new repressive bills, creating an arsenal of tools against all forms of dissent, and even targeting overseas critics by issuing bounties and revoking passports.

    Joey Siu, AIHKO board member and one of 19 Hong Kong activists with police bounties placed on them, said: “The threats have only made us stronger. They serve as a reminder that freedom is denied, even to those who have left Hong Kong. To truly be free from repression, we must continue to fight for human rights beyond our borders. We will do so on behalf of Hong Kongers, both in Hong Kong and across the world.”

    Amnesty’s first section to operate wholly ‘in exile’

    AIHKO is Amnesty International’s first-ever section founded and operated entirely “in exile”, and follows the exodus of hundreds of thousands of Hongkongers who have gone abroad in search of safety and freedom.

    “Being overseas provides us with a degree of protection, allowing us to speak more freely and engage in advocacy work. We have a responsibility to do more to support those who remain in Hong Kong and continue their vital efforts,” said Fernando Cheung, AIHKO board member and former Hong Kong legislator.

    AIHKO joins an increasing number of civil society organizations focused on Hong Kong issues that have established operations outside the city due to the shrinking space for civil society and freedom of expression in Hong Kong.

    AIHKO, which is officially registered in Switzerland, will focus on advocating for human rights of Hongkongers, within Hong Kong and abroad, amplifying their voices and fostering a strong diaspora community globally.

    “Amnesty’s Hong Kong Overseas office demonstrates the resilience of our movement, our determination never to be silenced, and our commitment to defending human rights no matter the challenges we face. This new section, and the model behind it, will play a crucial role in our struggle against authoritarian threats, in Hong Kong and beyond,” said Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

    Background

    Amnesty International’s local ‘section’ office ceased operations on 31 October 2021, while the regional office – which is part of Amnesty’s International Secretariat – moved its operations to the organization’s other offices in the Asia-Pacific and Europe.

    Amnesty International considers a prisoner of conscience to be any person imprisoned solely because of their beliefs, identity or other status, and who has not used violence or advocated violence or hatred in the circumstances leading to their detention.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Universities – Inaugural Oceania Seabird Symposium underway at University of Auckland – UoA

    Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

    Inaugural Oceania Seabird Symposium is underway at Waipapa Taumata Rau,University of Auckland bringing experts from across Pacific region to learn more about protecting Oceania seabirds.

    The inaugural Oceania Seabird Symposium 2025 got underway at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, bringing experts from across the Pacific region and the world to learn more about protecting Oceania seabirds.

    The three-day symposium organised by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) runs from 14-17 April. Karen Baird, SPREP Threatened and Migratory Species Adviser, says the event is an invaluable opportunity to bring Western science, traditional culture, and knowledge together.

    Keynote speakers will cover topics that include traditional knowledge and valuing relationships with Oceania seabirds, improving conservation, threats to seabirds, se
    abird bycatch in fisheries and the health of the ocean environment.

    “This is so important because there’s so much to do. You heard already from a session this afternoon with discussions around traditional knowledge and culture about seabirds, says Baird.

    “We’re really just starting out in some ways across the Pacific. This is a great opportunity to ensure we work together, bringing Western science and traditional culture and knowledge together, to protect seabirds much more effectively than if we were to try and do that separately.”

    Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific Professor Jemaima Tiatia-Siau and SPREP Deputy Director General Easter Catherine Chu Shing opened the symposium.

    “Our goal is to conserve seabirds and their habitats, recognising the traditions and aspirations of the peoples of the Pacific Ocean and islands,” says Ms Chu Shing.

    Professor Tiatia-Siau spoke of the significance of hosting an event dedicated to one of the guardians of our oceans—our seabirds.

    “It is an honour to give an opening address at this important gathering, dedicated to one of the guardians of our oceans.

    “Across the vast Pacific, seabirds have long been more than just creatures of the sea and sky. They are carriers of ancestral knowledge, navigators of weather and ocean currents, and messengers that connect our islands to one another and to the wider world… We have employed the frigatebird, or manumanu ne caqi in na vosa vaka Viti (the Fijian language), as the metaphor to ground our university’s inaugural Pacific strategy entitled – Ala o le Moana (or pathways through the ocean)…

    “Seabirds are part of our identity as peoples of the Pacific,” says Professor Tiatia-Siau.

    Associate Professor Brendon Dunphy from the University of Auckland’s School of Biological Sciences says the symposium is timely, given the need for greater investment and research across the Pacific region. Ninety percent of Aotearoa New Zealand’s seabird species are under threat, warmer oceans and reduced food sources, and fishing nets and lines are all having an impact.
     
    “This is a very important symposium because it’s bringing together scientists. We’re in the seabird capital of the world. Seabirds are just messengers of what’s going on over the horizon and out at sea. They tell us about tuna stocks, fisheries, and all these impacts.

    “They live on land and feed out at sea. They bridge the important gap between land and sea; they integrate so many different stresses.”

    Associate Professor Dunphy says just by observing seabirds, there was so much information that could be gained.

    “Simply by looking at seabirds, from looking at their feathers, how they live, their chicks, there is so much we can gain from it. We see the Pacific as an area needing a lot of work. We need to put in a lot of research and investment, as there is so much change happening.”

    Esteemed Tohunga Tohorā (whale expert) Dr Ramari Stewart (Ngāti Awa) received an Honorary Doctor of Science from Waipapa Taumata Rau three years ago and was a keynote speaker on day one; she talked about the importance of relationships, seabirds and people.

    Renowned internationally for her commitment to mātauranga Māori (Indigenous knowledge) and science practices surrounding whales, she has extensive knowledge of the ngahere (forest) and the moana (ocean) as well as being a leading practitioner of rongoa (Māori medicine) and a trained nurse.

    Stewart told the audience about passing on stories and walking backwards into the future, of the need for stories to be perfect when passed on from one generation to the next, to avoid crucial information being lost.

    “Because stories are passed from one generation to another, it’s so important when they’re retold by the next generation, they need to be perfect… there is a whole lot of the tale that gets dropped out. Those details are so important.”

    As well as an esteemed programme of keynote experts still to present, the three-day symposium will also include a number of workshops around seabird identification, colony surveying and monitoring, restoration, and a necropsy (autopsy of seabirds) workshop.

    Symposium guests also have the opportunity to attend a number of field trips: a boat trip for seabird watching to the Poor Knights Islands and beyond, Tawharanui Open Sanctuary – a model for seabird restoration, Motuora Island, restoration island, and also a visit to Auckland’s west coast, working to save remnant colonies in Te Henga (Bethells Beach) and Muriwai.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Australia’s energy transition: a complex regulatory road to nuclear power

    Source: Allens Insights (legal sector)

    Establishing a suitable legislative framework 9 min read

    With the country’s coal-fired power fleet rapidly ageing, nuclear power has been suggested as a possible provider of low-emissions, reliable power to support the energy transition. This raises the question: what changes are required to Australia’s legal and regulatory framework to support the introduction of a nuclear industry?

    Developing any new industry takes time and involves significant, often complex, changes. The development of Australia’s offshore wind sector, for example, has encountered these kinds of challenges, along with its own unique hurdles. In the same way, lifting the federal and state/territory bans on nuclear power is essential to opening the door for nuclear energy projects in Australia.

    In this Insight, we explore the legal and regulatory reforms necessary for nuclear power projects to become a viable option in Australia.

    Key takeaways 

    • Establishing a nuclear industry in Australia requires significant legal and regulatory changes.
    • Lifting the federal and state/territory bans on nuclear power is essential to opening the door for nuclear energy projects in Australia.
    • A dedicated regulatory body would need to be established to oversee the nuclear industry, ensuring safety and compliance.
    • A comprehensive third-party liability regime would need to be implemented to manage risks and provide clarity around accountability.
    • Australian government financial support will be necessary, either via a government-owned nuclear power developer or combining government funding with private sector involvement to support nuclear power projects.
    • Coordination with states and territories would be crucial to align legislative frameworks and enable the successful development of nuclear power infrastructure.

    Key steps to establish a nuclear energy industry in Australia​

    Establishing a nuclear industry in Australia would require significant changes, including lifting existing bans, aligning federal and state legislation, creating a dedicated regulatory body, developing a third-party liability regime and implementing a financing structure capable of attracting long-term investment. 

    The initial steps would require the Government to:

    • lift legislative bans;
    • coordinate with states and territories to ensure consistent frameworks that support the nuclear sector;
    • establish a dedicated regulatory body to oversee the industry’s standards and operations;
    • implement a comprehensive third-party liability regime to address safety and accountability; and
    • develop financing structures that attract investors and international developers.

    1. Lift the federal ban on nuclear power plants

    The development and operation of nuclear power plants in Australia is currently banned under federal legislation, specifically the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 (Cth) (ARPANS Act) and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act), and various state legislation.

    The federal ban may be lifted by:

    • amending the EPBC Act to provide a pathway for federal environmental approval of nuclear installations—this would include amendments to the following sections of the EPBC Act: 37J (No declarations relating to nuclear action), 140A (No approval for certain nuclear installations), 146M (No approvals relating to nuclear actions) and 305(2)(d) (Minster may enter into conservation agreements); and
    • amending the ARPANS Act, which regulates the construction, operation, and licencing of small-scale nuclear and radioactive facilities primarily used for medical and medical research purposes (like the Lucas Heights Facility) to provide for the licencing and regulation of civil nuclear power stations. This would also involve expanding the existing scope and application of the licencing regime under that Act to address specific nuclear power plants development and operation issues.

    As an alternative to amending the ARPANS Act, adopting a similar approach to the one taken for the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines, which involved the enactment of the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Act 2024 (Cth) (ANNPS Act). Broadly, the ANNPS Act:

    • provided a licencing and safety regime for regulated activities (such as constructing and operating an AUKUS submarine) within designated zones in Western Australia and South Australia; and
    • excluded the operation of state and territory laws that would otherwise apply to such activities.

    Other federal legislation that may need to be amended to support nuclear power plants include: the National Radioactive Waste Management Act 2012 (Cth), the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Act 1987 (Cth), and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Act 1987 (Cth).

    2. Establish a nuclear energy regulator

    At the same time, Australia would require a new legal authority to regulate industry operations in areas such as nuclear safety, site licencing, construction, operation, decommissioning, fuel and waste.

    Such an authority would be similar to, for example, the UK’s Office for Nuclear Regulation, which oversees the 36 licensed nuclear sites in Great Britain (including the recently licensed Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C).

    The regulatory body could be established by:

    • expanding the mandate of the regulatory body established under the ARPANS Act (being the Australian Protection and Nuclear Safety Authority) to include licencing and regulation of nuclear power facilities (noting the Coalition’s Nuclear Energy Plan highlights the possibility of also consolidating the functions of this regulatory body with the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office—being the regulatory body responsible for nuclear and chemical weapons treaties); or
    • expanding the functions of the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator, which is responsible for the regulation of the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines.

    3. Coordinate state and territory legislation

    The Government would also need to work with the states and territories to coordinate new federal, state and territory legislation to support the delivery of nuclear power projects.

    This would require NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory to lift their respective bans on nuclear activities.

    4. Implement a third-party liability regime

    Domestic liability regime

    Given community and participant concerns about potential nuclear incidents, most nuclear energy jurisdictions have implemented a comprehensive domestic legal regime governing liability for nuclear events. We expect Australia would need to adopt a similar regime.

    These regimes typically cover topics such as:

    • Liability channelling: to reduce the number of defendants in any claim (and simplify the associated proceedings), jurisdictions adopt one or more mechanisms to ensure that nuclear liability is channelled to the nuclear installation operator only. For example, in the UK, the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (NIA) allocates liability for a nuclear incident to the operator and provides a full defence in the UK courts to others for the types of liability covered by the NIA. In the Australian context, this would require navigating Australia’s federal system, involving overlapping state and federal laws.
    • Strict liability: to simplify arguments around negligence and causation, many jurisdictions adopt a strict liability regime. That is, the nuclear operator is deemed to be liable for loss flowing from an incident at its installation, regardless of who is actually at fault.
    • Liability caps: while the regimes seek to make it easier to bring a nuclear claim, they typically provide a statutory liability cap in favour of the operator, often with the government operating as an insurer of last resort for claims above the statutory cap. For example, in the UK, the NIA sets annual financial caps on operator liability, after which the UK Government covers claims up to the required minimum thresholds.

    International liability regime

    In addition to implementing a comprehensive domestic liability regime, it is likely Australia would seek to sign and ratify one or more international nuclear liability treaties.

    There are three different (and somewhat competing) international regimes. While Australia might seek to participate in multiple treaties, in practice most jurisdictions choose to participate in one only.

    • The most recent treaty is the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC), which was established under the auspices of the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 1997 and covers the greatest number of nuclear power reactors globally. Importantly, the United States, Japan, India and Canada have signed and ratified the CSC only. Australia is a signatory to the CSC, but has not ratified the CSC.
    • The 1960 Paris Convention on Third Party Liability in the Field of Nuclear Energy (Paris Convention), supplemented by the Brussels Convention Supplementary to the Paris Convention and most recently updated in 2004, was developed under the auspices of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA). It mainly covers Western European states, including the United Kingdom and France.
    • The 1963 Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage, most recently updated in 2004, was also developed under the auspices of the IAEA, but mainly covers states in Eastern Europe and Latin America.

    While it would be possible for Australia to proceed without ratifying one of these conventions (as the PRC and South Korea have chosen to do), Australia’s dependence on a global nuclear supply chain means it is likely to ratify at least one.

    Ratifying a nuclear treaty would bolster Australia’s domestic nuclear liability regime, eg by precluding claims being brought in other signatory jurisdictions for incidents occurring in Australia. The choice of treaty would also shape Australia’s nuclear liability policy, eg because they mandate different levels of state indemnity for nuclear incidents.

    5. Adopt a financing structure

    Funding model

    It is unlikely that a foreign investor funding model, used in the UK and other nuclear energy jurisdictions, would be available for Australian projects. Instead, Australian nuclear power projects would likely be developed by:

    • a new government-owned nuclear power developer— perhaps similar to NBN Co, Australia’s national wholesale open-access data network; or
    • a private developer, partly financed by the Government through a combination of debt and equity—perhaps similar to funding models adopted for Badgerys Creek Airport and the WestConnex road project—both of which involved a mixture of federal grant funding and concessional loans.

    In either case, Australia would need to rely heavily on a ‘national champion’ to drive the development of these projects, in partnership with experienced private sector nuclear companies.

    Expansion of ARENA and CEFC

    Australia may also consider expanding the mandate of existing agencies such as the Australian Renewable Energy Agency and Clean Energy Finance Corporation to extend to nuclear energy projects, to provide such grant funding and concessional loans (respectively).

    Government support

    In addition, we expect that federal support would be required for the construction phase of each project, as well as a government offtake contract or revenue underwrite for these projects, in order to secure debt financing.

    To the extent that bank debt is proposed to be included in the financing mix, it is likely that financiers would require extensive due diligence to fully understand the proposed technology, due to the novelty of such technology in the Australian market, and proposed risk mitigants for delay and cost overruns given the challenges experienced for similar projects overseas.

    In determining an appropriate structure, Australia may look to existing nuclear energy jurisdictions for examples and lessons that can be learned.

    For example, in the UK, there has been a shift in the approach to government support contracts—from the ‘contract for difference’ model to a utility model involving a regulated asset base.

    • Contract for difference (Hinkley Point C): investors agree to pay the entire cost of constructing the nuclear plant, in return for an agreed fixed price for electricity output following completion—this is funded by consumers, who will pay the difference between the wholesale electricity price and the final fixed price once the plant is operational.
    • Regulated asset base model (Sizewell C): investors are able to share some of the project’s construction and operating risks with consumers from the start, lowering the cost of capital.

    The complex regulatory road ahead

    While the potential for nuclear energy to contribute to Australia’s low-emissions future is clear, the path to achieving this vision will involve overcoming significant challenges.

    Despite the hurdles, a carefully structured and long-term approach could pave the way for nuclear power to play a role in diversifying Australia’s energy mix and supporting its transition to a sustainable and low-emissions future.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Proposed updates to forest types and default carbon tables for exotic forests in the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme and other regulatory amendments

    Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

    Have your say

    The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is consulting on changes to improve the default carbon tables for exotic forests in the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS). Default carbon tables are used by small-scale forestry participants to calculate the carbon stored in their forests. We are also consulting on other technical regulatory amendments for forestry in the NZ ETS.

    We want your feedback about the proposals – summaries are on this page and full details are in the discussion document.

    You can send us your submission from 15 April until 5pm on 16 May 2025.

    Discussion document

    Proposed changes to forestry in the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS)  [PDF, 2.1 MB]

    Related documents

    Evaluating the potential for a default carbon table for redwoods and an updated default table for the exotic softwoods forest type for use in the ETS summary report [PDF, 3.3 MB]

    Section D: Technical report: Evaluating alternative carbon modelling and analysis models for redwoods [PDF, 2 MB]

    Section E: Impacts of silviculture and coppicing on carbon stocks in redwoods [PDF, 3.3 MB]

    Updated default tables for the exotic hardwoods forest type for use in the ETS [PDF, 2.7 MB]

    Updating radiata pine carbon yield tables for use in the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme [PDF, 3.6 MB]

    Proposed updated and new default carbon tables in Excel format [XLSX, 86 KB]

    Introduction and summaries of the proposals

    The Maximising Forest Carbon Programme aims to improve how we measure, recognise, and reward carbon storage in our native and exotic forests. One of the ways it will do this is by improving the accuracy of the default carbon tables.

    Find out about Maximising Forest Carbon Programme

    Summary of proposed changes to the default carbon tables for exotic forests

    Participants with less than 100 hectares of forest land registered in the NZ ETS use the default carbon tables to calculate their forest’s carbon storage. The tables were developed in 2007–2008 using the best data available at the time but have not been meaningfully updated since.

    Tree species in the NZ ETS are grouped into 5 forest types for carbon calculations. These are:

    • Pinus radiata (radiata pine)
    • Douglas-fir
    • exotic hardwoods
    • exotic softwoods
    • indigenous (native).

    We are proposing updates to default carbon tables for the following types of exotic forest:

    • exotic softwoods
    • exotic hardwoods
    • Pinus radiata (radiata pine)

    We’re also proposing to introduce a new forest type and default tables for redwoods. Redwoods are currently in the exotic softwoods forest type but under our proposals redwoods would be separated from exotic softwoods.

    These improvements will help to ensure:

    • the forest types in the NZ ETS reflect the main types of forest grown in New Zealand
    • the default carbon tables provide robust carbon sequestration estimates
    • small-scale forestry participants are fairly rewarded for their carbon sequestration.

    Summary of proposed regulatory amendments in the NZ ETS

    Separate to the default tables proposals, we are also proposing some smaller amendments to the Climate Change (Forestry) Regulations 2022. These changes address technical issues. They are: 

    • clarifying whether young forests that fail to thrive should be considered first or subsequent rotation under averaging accounting
    • updating the deadline for the input calculator to align more closely to the deadline for emissions returns
    • streamlining the processing for transmissions of interest
    • simplifying the treatment of small areas
    • future-proofing the method of spatial measurement used for determining land area.

    Making your submission

    Send us your feedback on the proposals by 5pm on 16 May 2025.

    You can submit feedback on the whole document, or just the areas relevant to you.

    There are 3 ways you can make a submission – using an online form, or by emailing or posting your submission. 

    Online

    Complete our online submission form – Alchemer

    Email or post

    If you are sending us a submission by email or post, we encourage you to use the submission template. The submission template has the same questions as the online form.

    Optional submission form template [DOCX, 120 KB]

    When you have completed your submission, email it to etsforestrychanges@mpi.govt.nz

    Or post it to:

    Maximising Forest Carbon Programme
    Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service
    PO Box 2526
    Wellington 6140.

    Include the title of the consultation document with your submission: Proposed changes to forestry in the NZ ETS.

    Additionally, you may choose to include the following optional details:

    • your name and title
    • your organisation’s name (if you are submitting on behalf of an organisation, and whether your submission represents the whole organisation or a section of it)
    • your contact details (such as phone number, address, and email).

    Providing this information is optional. If you do include it, it will help us gain more insights from your submission.

    If you’d like more information, email etsforestrychanges@mpi.govt.nz

    Submissions are public information

    Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website. Most often this happens when we issue a document that reviews the submissions received.

    People can also ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the content of submissions available unless we have good reason for withholding it. Those reasons are detailed in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.

    If you think there are grounds to withhold specific information from publication, make this clear in your submission or contact us. Reasons may include that it discloses commercially sensitive or personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may direct us to release it.

    Official Information Act 1982 – NZ Legislation

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI China: 5.0-magnitude quake hits Hokkaido, Japan Region: GFZ

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.0 jolted Hokkaido, Japan Region at 22:17:21 GMT on Monday, the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences said.

    The epicenter, with a depth of 10.0 km, was initially determined to be at 43.73 degrees north latitude and 145.97 degrees east longitude.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Taipower wins three major awards at 2024 Taiwan Corporate Sustainability Awards; secures Platinum Award, highest sustainability report honor

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    The Taiwan Corporate Sustainability Awards, known as the “Oscars of Corporate Sustainability”, held their award ceremony today (December 11). Taipower stood out among 526 companies to win the Corporate Sustainability Report Platinum Award, as well as a Best Sustainability Practice Awards in Taiwan and a Creative Communication Leadership Award. Notably, Taipower has been recognized in the Sustainability Reporting category for 16 years in a row since 2009. This also marks the sixth time the Company has received the Platinum Award, the highest honor in the Energy Industry category. A Taipower representative stated that because electricity is a vital foundation for Taiwan’s livelihood and economic development, Taipower remains committed to ensuring both stable power supply and environmental sustainability.

    For the 17th Taiwan Corporate Sustainability Awards in 2024, the individual performance awards were presented on November 20. Then, today, the award ceremony for the Sustainability Reporting and Comprehensive Sustainability Performance categories was held today at the Grand Hilai Taipei hotel. Department of Corporate Planning Director Kuo Chiu-Ying represented Taipower in accepting the prestigious awards from Eugene Chien, Chairman of the Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy.

    A Taipower representative pointed out that winning a Corporate Sustainability Report Platinum Award and a Best Sustainability Practice Awards ( Comprehensive Performance Category) this year highlights the Company’s outstanding achievements in three aspects – environmental sustainability, social inclusion, and corporate governance – and in thoroughly and transparently disclosing this information in the sustainability report. Taipower’s 2023 Sustainability Report outlines the Company’s comprehensive sustainability development plan, presenting five sustainability visions, ten strategic pathways, and initiatives corresponding to each. These efforts align with both the United Nations and Taiwan’s sustainable development goals (SDGs). This year, the report places even greater emphasis on disclosing information in key areas such as climate action, sustainable supply chain development, and ecological inclusion, showcasing Taipower’s concrete actions toward achieving sustainable operations.

    In recent years, Taipower has continuously advanced renewable energy development, promoted modernization for low-carbon power generation, and adopted new energy technologies, steadily progressing toward the goal of net-zero emissions for the power sector. In addition, Taipower embraces the spirit of other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs), applying nature-based solutions to foster harmony between power infrastructure and ecological systems, and thus protecting biodiversity and the natural environment. Examples include using conservation efforts at the Yong’an Wetlands near the Hsinta Power Plant to create a Flying Bird Power Plant; and implementing a bat habitat relocation project at the Taixi Wind Plant.

    A Taipower representative explained that this is the Company’s fifth time receiving the Creative Communication Leadership Award in the corporate governance category of the Sustainability Performance Awards. The Company has continued to promote popular science education on electricity through initiatives tailored to audiences of all ages. These initiatives include helping create the Taiwan Science Train and the Workplace Visitation Program for Youth; organizing the kW Design Award, Taiwan’s only electricity-themed design competition; and creating TAIPOWER D/S ONE, Taiwan’s first green energy-themed exhibition hall. Through these diverse, creative, interactive platforms, Taipower effectively connects knowledge of power to everyday life. In recognition of these efforts, Taipower was also honored with a Taiwan Sustainability Action Award at the 2024 SDG Asia this August.

    Spokesperson: Vice President Tsai Chih-Meng
    Phone: (02) 2366-6271/0958-749-333
    Email: u910707@taipower.com.tw
    Contact Person: Department of Corporate Planning Director Kuo Chiu-Ying
    Phone: (02) 2366-6440/0978-105-282
    Email: u004770@taipower.com.tw

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-Evening Report: What’s the difference between Easter egg chocolate and regular chocolate?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Margaret Murray, Senior Lecturer, nutrition, Swinburne University of Technology

    Stefanie Mohr Photography/Shutterstock

    With Easter around the corner, you’ll have seen chocolate Easter eggs on supermarket shelves. Maybe you’ve bought some already.

    But is there a difference between Easter chocolate and the everyday kind? Does Easter chocolate really taste better, as some people say?

    As we’ll see, any difference is less about the ingredients and more about how we experience the chocolate when we eat it.

    What do they contain?

    When we compared the ingredients and nutrients of Easter egg chocolate and regular chocolate from the same company, we found no major differences.

    Cadbury Dairy Milk hollow easter egg and Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate block both contain per 100 gram:

    • about 2,200 kilojoules of energy

    • 7g protein

    • 31g fat

    • 55g sugar

    Both products have a minimum 24% milk solids. The egg has a marginally higher percentage of cocoa solids (28%) than the block (27%).

    So if they contain pretty much the same ingredients, what else is going on?

    It’s more about the taste, texture and smell

    The difference between Easter chocolate and regular chocolate is more about how we experience the flavour of chocolate – via taste, texture and smell.

    Taste is the recognition of simple ingredients dissolving in saliva and entering the taste pores on our tongue. In the case of chocolate, we perceive the taste as sweet (sugar), fatty (cocoa butter) and potentially bitter (caffeine and other cocoa-based compounds).

    However, texture and smell make us most likely to tell the difference between Easter and regular chocolate.

    The mouth is incredibly sensitive to the texture of foods. We perceive multiple physical qualities of a food, which we call “mouthfeel”.

    Smoothness, creaminess and mouthcoating (for example, an oily feeling) are important components of chocolate’s mouthfeel.

    Consumers also expect round-shaped chocolate to be creamier than angular-shape chocolate.

    So even before we’ve taken a bite, we perceive a chocolate egg will be creamier than a block. These expectations can shape how we experience the flavour of chocolate.

    However, if the chocolate egg is not as creamy as expected, this can be disappointing.

    But it tastes so good!
    ibragimova/Shutterstock

    The temperature at which chocolate is made and stored also impacts its texture. Sometimes chocolate gets a whitish haze on its surface called chocolate bloom. This is when the fat and sugar separate from each other, forming fat or sugar crystals.

    It is safe to eat chocolate with bloom, but it may taste less creamy or more gritty than chocolate without bloom.

    Because the demand is so high during Easter, chocolate manufacturers sometimes use rapid-cooling techniques to produce hollow Easter eggs at a faster rate. This may make them more susceptible to chocolate bloom. Cheaper Easter chocolates using these rapid procedures may have a different texture than chocolate made the traditional way.

    Finally, smell contributes the most to how we perceive flavour in foods. When chocolate starts to melt in our mouth, aromas are released. These aromas make their way through the back of the nose where we smell the complex scents and notes of chocolate. Depending on the chocolate, this could include fruity, earthy, buttery or floral aromas.

    The shape of chocolate

    We’ve already heard the shape of chocolate influences how creamy we think it is. But the shape of chocolate also influences other aspects of our eating experience.

    Easter chocolate in the shape of an egg or an animal provides a large contact area inside the mouth meaning it will melt faster than a block. This impacts how quickly aroma compounds are released from the chocolate.

    Biting into hollow chocolate, such as eggs and animals, may also require more time to chew and swallow. This results in Easter chocolate spending longer in our mouths with a greater release of aromas. This means we perceive a greater intensity or diversity of flavours compared to eating small squares.

    Biting into hollow chocolate means a greater release of aromas.
    wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock

    Are you a sucker or a chewer?

    How someone eats chocolate can also change its flavour. One study categorised people who ate chocolate as “suckers” or “chewers”.

    Chewers tend to swallow chocolate more quickly and may perceive it to have a weaker flavour because of the shorter time for aromas to be released.

    So how a person eats Easter chocolate may also impact whether they prefer it over regular chocolate.

    Easter is only once a year

    Last of all, eating Easter eggs (and hunting for them) are often part of a shared family ritual. This can make Easter chocolate seem special. No wonder we enjoy the whole Easter egg experience.

    So whether you are a sucker or a chewer, Easter is a great time to slow down and celebrate with loved ones. Enjoy and savour your Easter chocolate in moderation, egg-shaped or otherwise.

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

    ref. What’s the difference between Easter egg chocolate and regular chocolate? – https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-easter-egg-chocolate-and-regular-chocolate-252026

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for April 15, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 15, 2025.

    Social media is the new election battleground. Is embracing influencers smart, risky or both?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Susan Grantham, Lecturer in Communication, Griffith University From Abbie Chatfield and Hannah Ferguson to Ozzy Man, influencers have never been more central to an Australian election campaign. Much has been made of the increasingly common site of politicians on TikTok or Instagram reels. Some political groups don’t

    Trump’s tariffs rollercoaster is really about Republican unity
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lester Munson, Non-Resident Fellow, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney After announcing Liberation Day – stiff “retaliatory” tariffs on every country and penguin-inhabited island in the world – US President Donald Trump rescinded the vast majority of tariffs eight days later when stock and bond markets

    Peters emphasises growing importance of NZ’s Pacific ties with the United States
    By Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai, RNZ Pacific journalist in Hawai’i New Zealand’s Pacific connection with the United States is “more important than ever”, says Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters after rounding up the Hawai’i leg of his Pacific trip. Peters said common strategic interests of the US and New Zealand were underlined while in the state. “Our

    Israeli military reservists court Australian universities amid ‘hypocrisy’ over anti-war protests
    Hundreds of university staff and students in Melbourne and Sydney called on their vice-chancellors to cancel pro-Israel events earlier this month, write Michael West Media’s Wendy Bacon and Yaakov Aharon. SPECIAL REPORT: By Wendy Bacon and Yaakov Aharon While Australia’s universities continue to repress pro-Palestine peace protests, they gave the green light to pro-Israel events

    Why the Mormon church is on an expansion project, with 2 secretive new temples planned for Australia
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brenton Griffin, Casual Lecturer and Tutor in History, Indigenous Studies, and Politics, Flinders University The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced it will build 15 new temples in countries across the world, including one in Liverpool, New South Wales. This follows a similar announcement

    Winter electricity prices are rising – how do we know we’re getting value for money?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Meade, Adjunct Associate Professor, Griffith University, Centre for Applied Energy Economics and Policy Research, Griffith University Shutterstock Winter is coming to New Zealand and Australia, and with it come those inevitably higher power bills from heating our homes. But even without that seasonal spike, household power

    Amid the election promises, what would actually help ‘fix’ the housing crisis? Here’s 5 ideas
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, John Curtin Distinguished Professor & ARC Future Fellow, Curtin University Shutterstock As the election campaign rolls on, housing has been, unsurprisingly, a major campaign focus. We’ve seen a series of housing policy announcements from across the political spectrum, including duelling announcements from the major

    New study finds no evidence technology causes ‘digital dementia’ in older people
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nikki-Anne Wilson, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), UNSW Sydney RDNE Stock project/Pexels In the 21st century, digital technology has changed many aspects of our lives. Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is the latest newcomer, with chatbots and other AI tools changing how we learn and creating

    Amid the election promises, what would actually help ‘fix’ the housing crisis? Here are 5 ideas
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, John Curtin Distinguished Professor & ARC Future Fellow, Curtin University Shutterstock As the election campaign rolls on, housing has been, unsurprisingly, a major campaign focus. We’ve seen a series of housing policy announcements from across the political spectrum, including duelling announcements from the major

    Cutting migrant numbers won’t help housing – the real immigration problems not being tackled this election
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter McDonald, Honorary Professor of Demography, Centre for Health Policy, The University of Melbourne Immigration is shaping as one of the most potent policy issues of the election campaign. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has announced a Coalition government would cut the two major migration programs – permanent

    Focusing on a child’s strengths can transform assessments – and help them thrive after an ADHD or autism diagnosis
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Guastella, Professor and Clinical Psychologist, Michael Crouch Chair in Child and Youth Mental Health, University of Sydney Jota Buyinch Photo/Shutterstock When parents are concerned about their child’s development, they often seek an assessment to address concerns and identify any conditions, such as autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

    Australian honeybees are under attack by mites and beetles. Here’s how to keep your backyard hive safe
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cornelia Sattler, Research Fellow in Ecology & Videographer, Macquarie University Varroa mites on a male bee larva. Theotime Colin Australia’s honeybees are facing an exceptional crisis. The tiny but devastating foreign pest Varroa destructor is steadily spreading across the country. The mite feeds on baby bees (larvae),

    Would looser lending rules help more people buy a house – or just put them at risk?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Grant, Associate Professor in Finance, University of Sydney doublelee/Shutterstock Big promises on housing were at the centre of both major parties’ announcements at the official federal election campaign launches on the weekend. Among the highlights, Labor pledged to build 100,000 new homes and extend a government-guaranteed

    Why is it so hard for everyone to have a house in Australia?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ehsan Noroozinejad, Senior Researcher, Urban Transformations Research Centre, Western Sydney University Bilalnol/Shutterstock Home ownership in Australia was once regarded as proof of success in life. However, it remains elusive for many people today. Prices have soared beyond wage growth, rents keep rising, and even some well-intentioned government

    Why the Mormon church is on an expansion project, with two secretive new temples planned for Australia
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brenton Griffin, Casual Lecturer and Tutor in History, Indigenous Studies, and Politics, Flinders University The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced it will build 15 new temples in countries across the world, including one in Liverpool, New South Wales. This follows a similar announcement

    Owners are officially no longer responsible for tourism accidents on their land – but they never really were
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Peace, Lecturer in Occupational Health and Safety, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington EyesWideOpen/Getty Images Newly announced reforms to the Health and Safety at Work Act mean landowners will no longer be responsible for tourism-related injuries on their properties. But it’s not clear this

    New Zealand’s humanity – does it include all of us, or only for some?
    COMMENTARY: By Katrina Mitchell-Kouttab “Wherever Palestinians have control is barbaric.” These were the words from New Zealand’s Chief Human Rights Commissioner Stephen Rainbow. During a meeting with Philippa Yasbek from Jewish Voices for Peace, Dr Rainbow allegedly told her that information from the NZ Security Intelligence Services (NZSIS) threat assessment asserted that Muslims were the

    Leaked ‘working paper’ on New Caledonia’s political future sparks new concerns
    By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A leaked “working paper” on New Caledonia’s future political status is causing concern on the local stage and has prompted a “clarification” from the French government’s Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls. Details of the document, which was supposed to remain confidential, have been widely circulated online

    Election Diary: Will Peter Dutton help son Harry buy a house?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Political leaders’ kids are routinely put on display to share the glory or the pain of election night. Earlier, they’re often at campaign launches to “humanise” the candidates. Peter Dutton pulled out all stops with the family for his Sunday

    Big Girls Don’t Cry is a powerful, heart-wrenching, and comical celebration of Indigenous resilience and survival
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Case, Lecturer in Musicology, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney Stephen Wilson Barker/Belvoir With Big Girls Don’t Cry, Gumbaynggirr/Wiradjuri playwright Dalara Williams proves herself to be a formidable talent. Cheryl (Williams), Queenie (Megan Wilding) and Lulu (Stephanie Somerville) are three best friends who share a

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI USA: Remarks by Director Kratsios at the Endless Frontiers Retreat

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    class=”has-text-align-center”>THE GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICAN INNOVATION
    AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY
    Endless Frontiers Retreat, Austin, Texas
    April 14, 2025
    THE DIRECTOR: Thank you for the kind introduction. It is a pleasure to speak to you all this evening, here in the early light of the new Golden Age of America.
    President Trump has given all of us who serve in his administration a monumental task—the renewal of our nation.
    I know, and I think you know, too, that such a renewal will require the reinvigoration of American science and industry. Over the last few decades, America has become complacent, forgetting old dreams of building a wondrous future.
    But we know the American pioneer spirit still seeks the exploration of endless frontiers. Our technologies, and what we do with them, will be the tools with which we will make the destiny of our country manifest in this century.
    Yet this American hope in the possibility of progress and the power of science and technology does not allow builders and innovators to retreat from politics. Indeed, quite the opposite, which is what brings me here today. A Golden Age is only possible if we choose it.
    ***
    There is nothing predestined about technological progress and scientific discovery. They require the efforts and energies of men and women, the collective choice for order and truth over disorder and opinion.
    The last century was called the American Century, as—despite wars and domestic conflict—the United States stood at the forefront of science and technology, building the future. With the strength of our industry and ingenuity, we created the largest middle class the world has ever seen. As President Trump said to me in his letter laying out the science and technology agenda of this administration, “The triumphs of the last century did not happen by chance.”
    Ours was the Atomic Age. Ours the victory in the Space Race. And ours the invention of the Internet, collecting and connecting the multiplicity of human knowledge.
    Today we fight to restore that inheritance. As the failure of the Biden administration’s “small yard, high fence” approach makes clear, it is not enough to seek to protect America’s technological lead. We also have a duty to promote American technological leadership.
    ***
    A gap lies between our moment and the speed of transformation America experienced midcentury. Progress has slowed. Yes, large language models astonish us, rockets still turn our eyes upward, and satellites envelop the globe. But as we look forward to America’s 250th birthday celebration next year, our progress today pales in comparison to the huge leaps of the 20th century. Consider the country of fifty years ago.
    As the nation approached its bicentennial, Americans looked forward to electricity too cheap to meter. By the end of 1972, 30 nuclear plants were operational, 55 were under construction, and more than 80 were planned or ordered. That same year, the Apollo 17 astronauts became the 11th and 12th men to walk on the moon. Five years before, the X-15 rocket plane had set a speed record for a crewed aircraft of Mach 6.7. America was flying higher, faster, and farther than ever before…
    Today, however, energy prices still burden producers and consumers alike, and the grid remains precarious. Over the past 30 years only three commercial nuclear reactors have been built and 10 have been closed. Despite spending almost twice as much on healthcare as peer nations, we have the lowest life expectancy. Apollo 17’s steps on the lunar surface have proved mankind’s last. The X-15’s record still stands, and the Concorde was decommissioned more than two decades ago. Our passenger planes are slower than they used to be. Our trains crawl compared to those in other parts of the world. Our cars do not fly
    Advances have not stopped, but something has gone wrong.  
    ***
    Stagnation was a choice. We have weighed down our builders and innovators. The well-intentioned regulatory regime of the 1970s became an ever-tightening ratchet, first hampering America’s ability to become a net-energy exporter and then making it harder and harder to build. We seem to have lost focus and vision, to have lowered our sights and let systems and structures and bureaucracies muddle us along.
    But we are capable of so much more.  
    Our technologies permit us to manipulate time and space. They leave distance annihilated, cause things to grow, and improve productivity.
    As Vice President Vance said in a recent speech, the tradition of American innovation has been one of increasing the capacities of America’s workers, of extending human ability so that more people can do more, and, more meaningful work. But unrestricted immigration, and reliance on cheap labor both domestically and offshore, has been a substitute for improving productivity with technology.
    We can build in new ways that let us do more with less, or we can borrow from the future. We have chosen to borrow from the future again and again. Our choice as a civilization is technology or debt. And we have chosen debt.
    Today we choose a better way.
    ***
    Our first assignment is to secure America’s preeminence in critical and emerging technologies. This administration will ensure that our nation remains the leader in the industries of the future with a strategy of both promotion and protection—protecting our greatest assets and promoting our greatest innovators.
    To the degree it even tried to accomplish this, the Biden administration failed on its own terms, led by a spirit of fear rather than promise. The old regime sought to protect its managerial power from the disruptions of technology, while promoting social division and redistribution in the name of equity. They secured American technology poorly, and failed to strengthen our leadership at all.
    Promoting America’s technological leadership requires three things of government. First, we have to make the smart choices of creatively allocating our public research and development dollars. Second, we have to make the right choices in constructing a common-sense, pro-innovation regulatory regime. And third, we have to make the easy choice to adopt the incredible products and tools made by American builders and to enable their export abroad.
    In a moment of strategic significance, we must be more creative in our use of public research and development money, and shape a funding environment that makes clear what our national priorities are. Whether in AI, quantum, biotech, or next-generation semiconductors, in partnership with the private sector and academia, it is the duty of government to enable scientists to create new theories and empower engineers to put them into practice. Prizes, advance market commitments, and other novel funding mechanisms, like fast and flexible grants, can multiply the impact of government-funded research.
    At a time defined by the desire to build in America again, we have to throw off the burden of bad regulations that weigh down our innovators, and use federal resources to test, to deploy, and to mature emerging technologies. We know, for example, the greatest obstacle to limitless energy in this country has been a regulatory regime opposed to innovation and development. This, too, has been the chief barrier to pushing the envelope again in transportation, whether supersonic aircraft or high-speed rail and flying cars. The time has come to review the rules on the books and to ask whom they really protect and what they really cost.
    For a future stamped with the American character, the federal government must become an early adopter and avid promoter of American technology. Our innovators make incredible breakthroughs, but consumers, government included, require products that meet their needs, not just the wide-open country of frontier technology. Our industrial might, unleashed at home, and our technical achievements from AI to aerospace, successfully commercialized, can also be powerful instruments of diplomacy abroad and key components of our international alliances. American progress in critical technologies will make us the global partner of choice and the standards setter to follow if we enable and encourage American companies to distribute the American tech stack around the world.
    ***
    This approach to promoting America’s technological leadership goes hand in hand with a threefold strategy for protecting that position from foreign rivals. First, we must safeguard U.S. intellectual property and take seriously American research security. Second, we must prevent rival nations from infiltrating our infrastructure and supply chains, as well as from embedding themselves in the infrastructure of our allies. And third, we must enforce export controls and other measures that keep American frontier technologies out of competitors’ hands.
    We face many dangers as a nation, but thanks to decades of feckless American leaders, China in particular has grown into both a geopolitical rival and technological competitor. This threat requires us to protect our science and technology resources with heightened vigilance, and defend the vital work American researchers do in public and corporate contexts alike from misuse, theft, and disruption. To safeguard our intellectual capital, we must restrict foreign access to sensitive data and strengthen oversight of international collaborators.
    Our infrastructure, supply chains, and those of our allies must be secured, too. We cannot afford to remain dependent, as we are in too many essential industries, on Chinese inputs and products, nor can we allow our closest partners to become points of insecurity by relying on Chinese-controlled critical infrastructure, whether in telecom, the grid, or AI. We must establish and secure trusted supply chains, implement public-private partnerships to enhance supply-chain resilience, and create investment incentives to reshore more critical manufacturing.
    Finally, after thirty years of subsidizing Chinese growth, it is time for us to stop helping a rival catch up with us in this race. Strict and simple export controls and know your customer rules, with an unapologetic America-first attitude about enforcing them, are central to stopping China from continuing to build itself up at our expense. We want peace between our countries, and that peace depends on keeping America’s bleeding-edge technology out of our competitor’s hands.
    ***
    The Golden Age of American innovation is on our horizon, if we choose it.
    In a changing technological environment, the task ahead of us is to adapt to new realities without destroying the American way of life or dis-inheriting the American worker. We seek, in the most basic terms, to secure our economy, restore our middle class, and uphold America as the planet’s best home for innovators.
    For many years now the temptation for the kinds of people represented in this room—builders and discoverers—has been to withdraw from politics. In the face of burdensome regulation and inefficient government and the circus of election cycles, many of you have chosen retreat of various kinds.
    But there is no substitute for victory. You and your fellow Americans cannot afford to give up on the nation. In a world so shaped by politics as well as technology, we must take action in both of these domains. We need all Americans to continue to rise to the occasion, to make full use of their talents, and to build.
    All of us must labor to preserve the inheritance of the American Century to share with posterity, and to ensure that the technologies that give shape to our world help the American people secure the blessings of liberty we received from our forebearers. I bear that responsibility in my role as the President’s Science and Technology Advisor. You bear it, too, in exercising whatever powers and responsibilities you have, whether in business, education, or the laboratory—as Americans.
    It is the choices of individuals that will make the new American Golden Age possible: the choice of individuals to master the sclerosis of the state, and the choice of individuals to craft new technologies and give themselves to scientific discoveries that will bend time and space, make more with less, and drive us further into the endless frontier.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi’s visit to strengthen China-Vietnam bond, regional growth

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, is warmly welcomed by Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, other senior officials and local representatives upon his arrival at the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 14, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese President Xi Jinping is on a state visit to Vietnam from Monday to Tuesday, infusing new vigor into the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

    In a signed article published Monday by the Nhan Dan Newspaper of Vietnam, Xi called for strengthened efforts on all fronts to build such a community.

    This marks Xi’s fourth state visit to Vietnam as general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president. The visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Vietnam, two socialist neighbors that have forged an enduring bond as “camaraderie plus brotherhood.”

    Xi’s visit will serve as a new milestone in bilateral ties, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said. He highlighted its importance in advancing the friendly neighborly relationship, deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and building a Vietnam-China community with a shared future.

    Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, greets the welcoming crowd upon his arrival in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 14, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    High-level exchange

    As socialist neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, China and Vietnam have formed a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, Xi said in a written statement upon his arrival.

    In exploring a socialist path suited to their respective national conditions, the two sides have learned from each other, advanced hand in hand, and jointly demonstrated to the world the bright prospects of the socialist system, Xi noted.

    In recent years, the leaders of the CPC and the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) as well as the two countries have maintained frequent high-level exchanges, steering the development of the bilateral ties.

    Xi paid a historic visit to Vietnam in December 2023, during which the two sides announced the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, marking a new stage in bilateral relations.

    In August 2024, To Lam, general secretary of the CPV Central Committee, visited China during his first overseas trip after taking office, further enhancing the momentum of China-Vietnam cooperation.

    The frequent mutual visits between the leaders of the two nations reflect a high level of strategic mutual trust, said Dinh Cong Tuan, head of the Chinese language department at Hanoi Foreign Languages and Technology College.

    Xi’s visit, coming at a pivotal moment in the development of China-Vietnam relations, presents an important opportunity for both sides to deepen their strategic dialogue, the professor added.

    Nguyen Vinh Quang, deputy chair of the Vietnam-China Friendship Association, expressed his hope that both countries will seize the opportunity to explore new avenues for future cooperation and to elevate the building of a community with a shared future to a new level.

    Citizens prepare to take a train of the Cat Linh-Ha Dong urban elevated railway in Hanoi, Vietnam, Oct. 9, 2024. The Cat Linh-Ha Dong urban elevated railway was built by the China Railway Sixth Group as an important project of the synergy of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative with Vietnam’s “Two Corridors and One Economic Circle” plan. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Robust practical cooperation

    Under the strategic guidance of the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, practical cooperation between China and Vietnam has continued to expand across various sectors, providing solid foundations for building a community with a shared future.

    Economic and trade relations between the two sides have reached new heights. China has remained Vietnam’s largest trading partner for more than two decades, with total bilateral trade exceeding 260 billion U.S. dollars in 2024. Chinese enterprises’ direct investment in the Southeast Asian nation surpassed 2.5 billion dollars in the same year, sustaining swift growth.

    Agricultural cooperation continues to bear fruit. High-quality Vietnamese products are increasingly welcomed by Chinese consumers, bringing tangible benefits to Vietnamese farmers and catering to the growing demand in the Chinese market.

    Infrastructure connectivity has also seen significant progress, further facilitating cross-border trade.

    “Railway connectivity and cold-chain transport between China and Vietnam have cut logistics costs, accelerated customs clearance, and ensured fresher, more affordable Vietnamese produce for Chinese consumers,” said Nguyen Ba Hai, an official at the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade.

    In a major development, Vietnam’s National Assembly approved investment for the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway project in February, marking a key step in strengthening cross-border exchanges.

    Vietnam plans to begin construction on this line in 2025, with planning for the Mong Cai-Ha Long-Hai Phong and Dong Dang-Hanoi standard-gauge railways expected to be completed by 2026, said Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son.

    In the signed article, Xi expressed China’s readiness to advance cooperation with Vietnam on the three standard-gauge railways in northern Vietnam.

    Upgrading cross-border railways and ports can not only boost bilateral trade, but also enhance connectivity and resilience across the region, said Do Thi Thu, a senior lecturer at the Banking Academy of Vietnam.

    Meanwhile, China and Vietnam have launched a number of landmark livelihood projects, enhancing the synergy of their development strategies.

    Solar panels, waste-to-energy plants and other bilateral clean energy projects have boosted electricity supply in Vietnam, while the Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro line built by a Chinese company makes public transport in Hanoi more convenient.

    “The benefits brought by Vietnam-China economic and trade cooperation are evident,” said Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa, deputy director at the Institute of Chinese Studies of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences.

    The enhanced economic exchanges have also contributed to vibrant cultural exchanges.

    In 2024 alone, Chinese tourists made over 3.7 million visits to Vietnam. The launch of the Detian-Ban Gioc Waterfall Cross-Border Tourism Cooperation Zone has made it possible to visit both countries in a single day. Chinese film and television productions and video games are popular among young Vietnamese, and more people in Vietnam are learning Chinese.

    Noting that this year marks the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges, Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam He Wei said that through a series of activities, the bond between the two peoples will become even closer, and the public support for bilateral relations will become increasingly robust.

    An aerial drone photo shows a view of Guangxi Pingxiang Integrated Free Trade Zone in Pingxiang City, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 1, 2025. With the booming economic and trade cooperation between China and Vietnam, major border ports witness increasing border traffic. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Multilateral collaboration

    As the world undergoes accelerated changes unseen in a century, regional peace and development face mounting challenges, making solidarity and cooperation more crucial than ever.

    China and Vietnam, both vocal advocates of multilateralism, have actively engaged in regional and international cooperation to tackle common challenges and promote shared prosperity.

    The two nations play active roles within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations cooperative framework, contributing to the bloc’s efforts to foster economic integration and regional stability.

    Both nations are signatories to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), underscoring their dedication to an open, rules-based trading system.

    Noting that the trade war and tariff war will produce no winner, and protectionism will lead nowhere, Xi said in the signed article that “our two countries should resolutely safeguard the multilateral trading system, stable global industrial and supply chains, and open and cooperative international environment.”

    China and Vietnam can work together to uphold the global order based on international law, including an international trade system based on established international norms, said Tran Khanh, former editor-in-chief of the Journal of Southeast Asian Studies at the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences.

    As RCEP members, the two countries can use this platform to promote deeper regional integration and contribute to a stable trading system, Do Thi Thu said, adding that the two neighboring countries can also work together to make greater contributions to regional stability.

    Xi’s visit underscores the commitment of both Vietnam and China to peaceful development and regional stability, said Bui Minh Long, managing editor of the Vietnamese daily newspaper Tien Phong. “I believe that closer Vietnam-China relations will become a stabilizing force in Southeast Asia,” Bui said.

    Amid a complex and volatile international landscape, Ambassador He emphasized that China and Vietnam should deepen their comprehensive strategic cooperation and inject more certainty and stability into the region. This, he said, is not only an essential aspect of building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, but also a necessary step to promote regional cooperation and development.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Government-backed guarantees ease financing strains for China’s SMEs

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Li Shiji, who owns a small grain-processing company in Shenyang of northeast China’s Liaoning Province, found it difficult to secure business loans for most of his career due to a lack of collateral. But the recent launch of a government-backed financing tool has eased his company’s financial pressures, he says.

    A government financing guarantee product initiated by Liaoning Province Financing Guaranty in partnership with various banks has helped Li’s firm secure 5 million yuan (about 693,385 U.S. dollars) in much-needed loans.

    By analyzing common traits among enterprises in specific industries and establishing a standardized, scenario-based financing model, the product effectively enables small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entities in rural industries to access loans. As of the end of March, the program had supported 16 county-level industrial clusters, providing 430 million yuan in guaranteed loans and sustaining 3,800 jobs.

    China has promoted government financing guarantees to help small businesses and rural ventures overcome long-standing lending barriers. Unlike commercial guarantors, public financing guarantee institutions prioritize public welfare over profits, offering credit enhancement, risk sharing and lower fees to facilitate lending to small-scale borrowers.

    The country has built a three-tier system to ensure the system fully covers all cities and counties. The National Financing Guarantee Fund, which is the cornerstone of the system, had backed loans totaling 5.81 trillion yuan by the end of March, benefiting approximately 5 million borrowers. Of that total, 98.96 percent was allocated to small or agricultural businesses, significantly reducing borrowing costs.

    He Daixin, a finance expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted that government guarantees have become a key countercyclical macroeconomic tool, supporting growing numbers of SMEs and rural entities.

    Yet challenges persist, including the vague definition of institutional roles and sustainability concerns. In response to these challenges, Chinese authorities in February introduced new measures to regulate government financing guarantees, setting operational requirements for these institutions.

    In effect since March 1, 2025, the regulations mandate that government-backed guarantee institutions should expand services to help enterprises weather challenges while stabilizing and boosting employment. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Rural development funds improve lives nationwide

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A drone photo taken on March 19, 2024 shows drones spraying pesticides on the crops at the smart farm at Shuanglou Village, Bozhou City of east China’s Anhui province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    The China Foundation for Rural Development received donations totaling 1.127 billion yuan ($155 million) and spent 1.145 billion yuan on public welfare projects in 2024, benefiting 7.44 million people across the country, according to its newly released annual report.
    More than 48,300 volunteers participated in the foundation’s charitable services last year, which focused on rural industry development, talent cultivation, infrastructure improvement, social services, and civic engagement, the report said.
    Social services related to rural children, education, and healthcare accounted for nearly 40 percent of all donations and about 37 percent of expenditures. Long-term programs, such as the Love Package Project, have been operating for more than a decade. New initiatives were launched last year to promote rural science education and support grassroots football development.
    The foundation allocated 144 million yuan to rural industry development projects in 2024, aiming to upgrade the sector and raise farmers’ incomes. Donations for a mechanized agriculture program surged from 1.43 million yuan in 2023 to more than 40 million yuan last year, benefiting nearly 6,000 farming households across 10 counties nationwide.
    To improve living conditions and environmental sustainability in rural areas, the foundation spent 366 million yuan last year on infrastructure and disaster mitigation projects, addressing issues such as sanitation, ecological restoration, and disaster risk reduction.
    The foundation also expanded its international outreach by implementing aid and development programs in 10 countries, including Myanmar, Nepal, Ethiopia, Burundi, and Pakistan. More than 320,000 people benefited from the programs, which involved more than 52 million yuan in funding.
    By the end of 2024, the foundation had raised a cumulative 12.84 billion yuan in donations and in-kind contributions since its establishment, benefiting more than 80.59 million people in China and about 2.56 million in over 30 countries and regions, the report said.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Kiwi Farmers doing their bit on emissions

    Source: New Zealand Government

    New figures released today confirm that New Zealand farmers are on track to meet the target of a 10 percent reduction in biogenic methane emissions by 2030 Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. 

    “New Zealand farmers are among the most carbon-efficient food producers in the world and these latest results further demonstrate that Labour’s failed He Waka Eke Noa was not needed, and that we were right to take agriculture out of the Emissions Trading Scheme,” Mr McClay says. 

    New Zealand’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2023) shows there was a further 2 per cent drop in agricultural emissions in 2023, supporting the government’s projections showing methane to be on track to reduce emissions by 10.1% by 2030. 

    “This is a step in the right direction; however, New Zealand cannot afford to reduce emissions through the planting of food producing land or further reduction of stock numbers,” Mr McClay says.

    “That is why we are introducing legislation this year to restrict full farm to forest conversions and instead support agricultural methane reduction through a $400m commitment to science and innovation. 

    “The primary sector is responsible for 360,000 jobs and contributes $58 billion each year to the New Zealand economy through exports. 

    “This latest emissions reduction was achieved without Labour’s proposed taxes or a price on methane and I would like to thank our farmers for their hard work and commitment to innovations. 

    “The Government is committed to meeting New Zealand’s climate obligations without closing down farms or sending jobs and production overseas,” Mr McClay says. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Slams Trump Proposal to Rescind Public Broadcasting Funding

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Boston (April 14, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and Congress’s leading proponent for funding for public broadcasting, released the following statement today after news reports stated that the Trump administration is seeking to rescind funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) as part of a larger rescission package it plans to send to Capitol Hill.

    There are 170 locally-operated, locally-controlled, locally-focused public television licensees in the country, which reach almost 97 percent of Americans, including many rural and remote communities where commercial television can’t succeed. For the 22nd year in a row, public television was ranked the most trusted institution, with 76 percent of Americans agreeing that public television provides an excellent value to communities.

    “The White House’s attempt to gut funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is an outrageous and reckless attack on one of our most trusted civic institutions,” said Senator Markey. “The CPB supports a public media system that keeps communities informed, educates our children, and reflects the full breadth of America. This rescission package threatens that mission — and would harm the millions of Americans, especially in rural and underserved communities, who rely on public television and radio as their only source of news, culture, and educational programming.

    “From ‘PBS NewsHour’ to ‘Sesame Street,’ public television has set the gold standard for programming that empowers viewers, particularly young minds. Cutting off this lifeline is not budget discipline, it’s cultural sabotage. I will fight to ensure that the Trump administration doesn’t pull the plug on this essential public good.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi calls for deepening building of China-Vietnam community with shared future

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, on Monday called for deepening the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future.

    Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, holds talks with To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, at the CPV Central Committee headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

    Xi made the remarks when meeting with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam during his state visit to Vietnam.

    Xi pointed out that he was very pleased to pay a state visit to Vietnam and realize the first round of mutual visits with General Secretary To Lam.

    This year marks the 95th anniversary of the founding of the CPV, the 80th anniversary of the founding of Vietnam and the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South, he said, extending warm congratulations to Vietnam on behalf of the CPC and the Chinese government.

    China will, as always, support Vietnam in taking a socialist path that suits its national conditions, successfully holding the 14th National Congress of the CPV in 2026, and its steadfast pursuit of realizing the two goals set for the centenary of the party and the country.

    This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Vietnam, as well as the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges, said Xi, stressing that over the past 75 years, regardless of changes in the international landscape, China and Vietnam have supported each other in the struggle for national independence and liberation, advanced side by side in the cause of socialist development, and forged ahead in their respective modernization endeavors, setting an example of solidarity and cooperation between socialist countries.

    Facing the changing and turbulent world, China and Vietnam have stayed committed to peaceful development and deepened their friendly cooperation, bringing much-needed stability and certainty to the world, Xi said.

    Standing at a new historical starting point, the two sides should build on past achievements, forge ahead together and carry forward the profound traditional friendship featuring “camaraderie plus brotherhood,” said Xi.

    Guided by the overall goals of achieving higher political mutual trust, more solid security cooperation, deeper practical cooperation, stronger public support, closer multilateral coordination and better management and resolution of differences, the two countries should work to advance their comprehensive strategic cooperation with high quality, ensure steady and sustained progress in building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, and contribute even more to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said.

    Building the China-Vietnam community with a shared future carries great global significance, Xi said, noting that as the two countries jointly pursue peaceful development, their combined population of over 1.5 billion is jointly advancing toward modernization, which will contribute to regional and global peace and stability while promoting common development.

    Both countries are committed to opening up and have played a constructive role in maintaining the stability and smooth operation of regional industrial and supply chains, as well as contributing to the advancement of economic globalization, Xi said.

    A small boat with a lone sail cannot withstand rough seas, Xi said, noting that only by working together in the same boat can they ensure stability and long-term progress.

    He noted that both China and Vietnam are beneficiaries of economic globalization, and the two sides should strengthen strategic resolve, jointly oppose unilateralism and bullying practices, and work together to uphold the global free trade system and maintain the stability of industrial and supply chains.

    Xi proposed six measures to deepen the building of the China-Vietnam community with a shared future.

    First, enhance strategic mutual trust at a higher level.

    Leaders of the two parties and countries should communicate with each other as relatives, Xi said, noting the two sides should give full play to the role of channels including inter-party, legislative bodies and political consultative organizations, deepen the exchange of experience in governance, and improve the leadership of the two parties in promoting national modernization.

    Second, build a stronger security barrier.

    The two sides should set the “3+3” strategic dialogue on diplomacy, defense and public security between the two countries at the ministerial level to enhance strategic coordination.

    It is necessary to give full play to the role of defense and law enforcement security cooperation mechanisms, resolutely tackle online gambling, telecom fraud and other cross-border crimes, strengthen bilateral and multilateral law enforcement and judicial cooperation, especially within the framework of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, so as to safeguard people’s lives and property and uphold regional peace and stability.

    Third, expand higher quality mutually beneficial cooperation.

    Seize the major opportunities of China’s new quality productive forces and Vietnam’s new productive forces to accelerate the formation of practical cooperation between the two countries. Realize the comprehensive connection of standard-gauge railways, highways, and smart ports at an early date. Promote high-tech cooperation such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. China’s mega market is always open to Vietnam, and the country welcomes more high-quality Vietnamese products. China encourages its companies to invest in Vietnam and hopes that Vietnam will create a more fair and friendly business environment.

    Fourth, tighten the bonds of people-to-people ties.

    China and Vietnam should take the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges as an opportunity and organize more people-oriented exchange activities, and enhance cooperation in tourism, culture, media, public health and other fields.

    The two sides should continue to explore resources of revolutionary heritage and promote stories of friendship. In the next three years, China will invite Vietnamese youth to China for “Red Study Tours,” which will help the younger generation of both countries better understand the hard-won nature of the socialist countries and the great value of China-Vietnam good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation, and will cultivate greater vitality for the development of bilateral relations and the respective national development endeavors.

    Fifth, conduct closer multilateral coordination.

    China and Vietnam should jointly uphold the outcomes of World War II, firmly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, promote a more equal and orderly multi-polar world and an economic globalization that is more inclusive and beneficial for all, and enhance cooperation under the frameworks of the three major global initiatives.

    China will stay committed to the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, and to the policy of pursuing friendship and partnership with its neighbors. It will deepen friendly cooperation with neighboring countries so that the fruits of Chinese modernization can better benefit the region.

    Sixth, achieve more positive maritime interaction.

    The two countries should earnestly implement the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, properly manage maritime issues, expand maritime cooperation, demonstrate resolve in launching joint development, and work toward the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

    For his part, To Lam extended a warm welcome to Xi on his state visit to Vietnam, which took place on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He said that Xi is not only an outstanding leader of the Chinese people but also a great friend of the Vietnamese people.

    Xi’s choice to make Vietnam his first overseas destination this year fully reflects the importance he attaches to China-Vietnam relations and his support for Vietnam, the Vietnamese leader said. This visit will mark a new milestone in the history of friendly exchanges between the two parties and countries, further advancing the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, he added.

    Under Xi’s strong leadership, To Lam noted, China has achieved historic accomplishments in advancing socialism with Chinese characteristics, made comprehensive progress in its path to modernization, and witnessed rapid development of new quality productive forces. With China’s international stature on the rise, Vietnam extends its congratulations and expresses gratitude for China’s long-standing support and assistance, he said.

    Emphasizing that both Vietnam and China are socialist countries under the leadership of a communist party, To Lam said that developing relations with China is an objective requirement, a strategic choice, and a top priority for Vietnam. Vietnam firmly adheres to the one-China policy, supports China’s efforts toward national reunification, and resolutely opposes any separatist actions aimed at “Taiwan independence,” he said.

    Advancing Vietnam-China relations, To Lam noted, is in the fundamental interest of both peoples and conforms with the trend of the times. Vietnam looks forward to strengthening high-level exchanges between the two parties and countries, enhancing exchanges on governance experience, deepening strategic security cooperation, and continually consolidating political mutual trust; further elevating bilateral cooperation by creating new highlights in areas such as trade, science and technology, infrastructure and environmental protection; and promoting people-to-people exchanges, encouraging local and youth interactions, and enhancing tourism cooperation to nurture closer bonds between the peoples, he said.

    Vietnam supports the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind and the three major global initiatives proposed by Xi, To Lam said. Vietnam lauds the vision set forth during the CPC’s central conference on work related to neighboring countries, which envisions building a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home with neighboring countries and insists on fostering friendly, mutually beneficial and prosperous relationships, he said.

    Vietnam is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China, uphold multilateralism and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, safeguard international trade rules, abide by the agreements signed by both sides, and jointly make greater contributions to world peace and human progress, To Lam said, adding that Vietnam is also willing to properly address maritime differences with China to ensure maritime stability.

    Before the talks, To Lam invited Xi to a small-group chat over tea. The two general secretaries exchanged views on party building and national governance. Xi stressed that party building is crucial to the destiny of the party and the country, and that the party’s work style bears on whether it can win public support. The CPC Central Committee has decided to carry out an in-depth campaign throughout the party this year to learn and implement the spirit of the eight-point decision on improving work conduct. This is intended to secure new achievements in work style transformation to further support comprehensive reform and advance modernization. Both general secretaries agreed to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning, and pursue progress in socialist development.

    After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the display of 45 bilateral cooperation documents signed by China and Vietnam. These documents cover areas including connectivity, artificial intelligence, customs inspection and quarantine, agricultural trade, culture and sports, public welfare, human resource development, media, and more.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi calls on China, Vietnam to oppose hegemonism, unilateralism, protectionism

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

    Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, meets with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 14, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    HANOI, April 14 — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday urged China and Vietnam to jointly oppose hegemonism, unilateralism and protectionism.

    In his meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Xi said that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Vietnamese government, the country has achieved political and social stability, and made impressive achievements in its cause of Doi Moi (reform), while its international status is increasing, for which China feels rejoiced.

    Both sides shoulder the historical mission of realizing national rejuvenation and accelerating national development, Xi noted.

    He called on the two countries to forge a strong sense of a community with a shared future, and deepen comprehensive strategic cooperation, so as to serve their respective modernization processes, and better benefit the two peoples.

    The two sides, Xi said, should strengthen the strategic coordination and consolidate the political foundation for building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future.

    He urged the two sides to intensify high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic communication, and jointly oppose hegemonism, unilateralism and protectionism.

    Xi also called on the two sides to implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, so as to jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, and safeguard peace, stability, development and prosperity in Asia and beyond.

    Xi said the two sides should promote high-quality development to provide solid strategic support for the two countries’ joint march toward modernization.

    China and Vietnam, Xi said, should give full play to their geographical advantages of being connected by land and sea, strengthen the alignment of development strategies and tap the potential of industrial cooperation.

    He also called on the two countries to steadily advance cooperation in infrastructure development, enhance connectivity and ensure a smooth flow of trade.

    The two countries should expand cooperation in traditional areas such as trade and investment, and expand cooperation in emerging industries such as 5G, artificial intelligence, clean energy and digital economy.

    Xi also said China and Vietnam should firmly uphold the multilateral trading system, and work together to push for economic globalization that is more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all.

    The two sides should deepen cultural cooperation and promote the main theme of China-Vietnam friendship, Xi said.

    He urged the two sides to ensure a series of activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of China-Vietnam diplomatic ties and the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges a success, so as to tell stories well of friendship, mutually beneficial cooperation, as well as their joint pursuit of modernization.

    Xi also urged the two sides to carry out more projects to win the hearts and minds of the people and improve their lives.

    For his part, Pham Minh Chinh said that Xi’s state visit to Vietnam is the most important high-level exchange between the two countries this year, adding that this is a great, joyous event in Vietnam-China relations and of historic significance, and will surely lead Vietnam-China relations to greater development and inject strong impetus into bilateral cooperation.

    Since Xi’s visit to Vietnam in 2023, the strategic mutual trust between the two countries has been further enhanced, practical cooperation has witnessed significant progress and the friendship of the two peoples has deepened, he said.

    Vietnam attaches great importance to its relations with China and is determined to firmly promote the building of a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, said the Vietnamese prime minister.

    Noting that Vietnam sincerely congratulates China on its tremendous development achievements, he said Vietnam supports China’s sustained development and growth, and hopes to learn from China’s experience in the governance of the party and the country, its spirit of self-reliance and its development philosophy and model.

    The Vietnamese leader noted that his country looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China in areas including economy and trade, investment, connectivity, science and technology, as well as finance to enhance economic vitality and growth drivers so as to jointly cope with risks and challenges.

    He also said that Vietnam looks forward to the successful hosting of the Vietnam-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges and expects more robust personnel exchanges and sub-national cooperation, and closer bond of the two peoples.

    He said that his country also looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China in international and regional affairs, so as to maintain strategic focus in the complex and volatile international situation, and jointly safeguard multilateralism and the international order.

    Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, meets with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 14, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Macao SAR chief executive delivers 1st policy address

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Chief Executive of China’s Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Sam Hou Fai delivered the 2025 fiscal year policy address on Monday, outlining the overall policy direction, enhancing diversification, improving people’s livelihood, strengthening governance, and integrating into national development.
    Sam delivered his first policy address at the Legislative Assembly. He stated that the new SAR government will work closely with all sectors of society and the public to pursue innovative development and usher in a new chapter for Macao.
    He noted strengthening coordination mechanisms as a key initiative in the government’s effort to reform administration and improve governance capacity, elaborating that the government has established six leadership groups and working groups to coordinate the advancement of major cross-sectoral affairs.
    Sam also pointed out that Hengqin is key to unlocking Macao’s appropriate economic diversification, and the SAR government regards the high-quality achievement of the second-stage development goals of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin as a significant task.
    In his address, Sam set forth the government’s primary expectations for 2025: to consolidate economic recovery, improve employment conditions, deepen administrative reform, and pursue deeper integration into national development.
    He said that infrastructure connectivity within the Greater Bay Area will be further enhanced, and Macao will further enrich its role as a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
    Sam said the SAR government will move forward with several major infrastructure projects, including an international education (university) city, the Macao international integrated tourism and cultural zone, an international aviation hub along the Pearl River, and a science and technology R&D industrial park. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi calls for deepening building of China-Vietnam community with a shared future

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

    Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, holds talks with To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, at the CPV Central Committee headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 14, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    HANOI, April 14 — Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, on Monday called for deepening the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future.

    Xi made the remarks when meeting with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam during his state visit to Vietnam.

    Xi pointed out that he was very pleased to pay a state visit to Vietnam and realize the first round of mutual visits with General Secretary To Lam.

    This year marks the 95th anniversary of the founding of the CPV, the 80th anniversary of the founding of Vietnam and the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South, he said, extending warm congratulations to Vietnam on behalf of the CPC and the Chinese government.

    China will, as always, support Vietnam in taking a socialist path that suits its national conditions, successfully holding the 14th National Congress of the CPV in 2026, and its steadfast pursuit of realizing the two goals set for the centenary of the party and the country.

    This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Vietnam, as well as the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges, said Xi, stressing that over the past 75 years, regardless of changes in the international landscape, China and Vietnam have supported each other in the struggle for national independence and liberation, advanced side by side in the cause of socialist development, and forged ahead in their respective modernization endeavors, setting an example of solidarity and cooperation between socialist countries.

    Facing the changing and turbulent world, China and Vietnam have stayed committed to peaceful development and deepened their friendly cooperation, bringing much-needed stability and certainty to the world, Xi said.

    Standing at a new historical starting point, the two sides should build on past achievements, forge ahead together and carry forward the profound traditional friendship featuring “camaraderie plus brotherhood,” said Xi.

    Guided by the overall goals of achieving higher political mutual trust, more solid security cooperation, deeper practical cooperation, stronger public support, closer multilateral coordination and better management and resolution of differences, the two countries should work to advance their comprehensive strategic cooperation with high quality, ensure steady and sustained progress in building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, and contribute even more to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said.

    Building the China-Vietnam community with a shared future carries great global significance, Xi said, noting that as the two countries jointly pursue peaceful development, their combined population of over 1.5 billion is jointly advancing toward modernization, which will contribute to regional and global peace and stability while promoting common development.

    Both countries are committed to opening up and have played a constructive role in maintaining the stability and smooth operation of regional industrial and supply chains, as well as contributing to the advancement of economic globalization, Xi said.

    A small boat with a lone sail cannot withstand rough seas, Xi said, noting that only by working together in the same boat can they ensure stability and long-term progress.

    He noted that both China and Vietnam are beneficiaries of economic globalization, and the two sides should strengthen strategic resolve, jointly oppose unilateralism and bullying practices, and work together to uphold the global free trade system and maintain the stability of industrial and supply chains.

    Xi proposed six measures to deepen the building of the China-Vietnam community with a shared future.

    First, enhance strategic mutual trust at a higher level.

    Leaders of the two parties and countries should communicate with each other as relatives, Xi said, noting the two sides should give full play to the role of channels including inter-party, legislative bodies and political consultative organizations, deepen the exchange of experience in governance, and improve the leadership of the two parties in promoting national modernization.

    Second, build a stronger security barrier.

    The two sides should set the “3+3” strategic dialogue on diplomacy, defense and public security between the two countries at the ministerial level to enhance strategic coordination.

    It is necessary to give full play to the role of defense and law enforcement security cooperation mechanisms, resolutely tackle online gambling, telecom fraud and other cross-border crimes, strengthen bilateral and multilateral law enforcement and judicial cooperation, especially within the framework of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, so as to safeguard people’s lives and property and uphold regional peace and stability.

    Third, expand higher quality mutually beneficial cooperation.

    Seize the major opportunities of China’s new quality productive forces and Vietnam’s new productive forces to accelerate the formation of practical cooperation between the two countries. Realize the comprehensive connection of standard-gauge railways, highways, and smart ports at an early date. Promote high-tech cooperation such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. China’s mega market is always open to Vietnam, and the country welcomes more high-quality Vietnamese products. China encourages its companies to invest in Vietnam and hopes that Vietnam will create a more fair and friendly business environment.

    Fourth, tighten the bonds of people-to-people ties.

    China and Vietnam should take the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges as an opportunity and organize more people-oriented exchange activities, and enhance cooperation in tourism, culture, media, public health and other fields.

    The two sides should continue to explore resources of revolutionary heritage and promote stories of friendship. In the next three years, China will invite Vietnamese youth to China for “Red Study Tours,” which will help the younger generation of both countries better understand the hard-won nature of the socialist countries and the great value of China-Vietnam good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation, and will cultivate greater vitality for the development of bilateral relations and the respective national development endeavors.

    Fifth, conduct closer multilateral coordination.

    China and Vietnam should jointly uphold the outcomes of World War II, firmly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, promote a more equal and orderly multi-polar world and an economic globalization that is more inclusive and beneficial for all, and enhance cooperation under the frameworks of the three major global initiatives.

    China will stay committed to the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, and to the policy of pursuing friendship and partnership with its neighbors. It will deepen friendly cooperation with neighboring countries so that the fruits of Chinese modernization can better benefit the region.

    Sixth, achieve more positive maritime interaction.

    The two countries should earnestly implement the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, properly manage maritime issues, expand maritime cooperation, demonstrate resolve in launching joint development, and work toward the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

    For his part, To Lam extended a warm welcome to Xi on his state visit to Vietnam, which took place on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He said that Xi is not only an outstanding leader of the Chinese people but also a great friend of the Vietnamese people.

    Xi’s choice to make Vietnam his first overseas destination this year fully reflects the importance he attaches to China-Vietnam relations and his support for Vietnam, the Vietnamese leader said. This visit will mark a new milestone in the history of friendly exchanges between the two parties and countries, further advancing the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, he added.

    Under Xi’s strong leadership, To Lam noted, China has achieved historic accomplishments in advancing socialism with Chinese characteristics, made comprehensive progress in its path to modernization, and witnessed rapid development of new quality productive forces. With China’s international stature on the rise, Vietnam extends its congratulations and expresses gratitude for China’s long-standing support and assistance, he said.

    Emphasizing that both Vietnam and China are socialist countries under the leadership of a communist party, To Lam said that developing relations with China is an objective requirement, a strategic choice, and a top priority for Vietnam. Vietnam firmly adheres to the one-China policy, supports China’s efforts toward national reunification, and resolutely opposes any separatist actions aimed at “Taiwan independence,” he said.

    Advancing Vietnam-China relations, To Lam noted, is in the fundamental interest of both peoples and conforms with the trend of the times. Vietnam looks forward to strengthening high-level exchanges between the two parties and countries, enhancing exchanges on governance experience, deepening strategic security cooperation, and continually consolidating political mutual trust; further elevating bilateral cooperation by creating new highlights in areas such as trade, science and technology, infrastructure and environmental protection; and promoting people-to-people exchanges, encouraging local and youth interactions, and enhancing tourism cooperation to nurture closer bonds between the peoples, he said.

    Vietnam supports the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind and the three major global initiatives proposed by Xi, To Lam said. Vietnam lauds the vision set forth during the CPC’s central conference on work related to neighboring countries, which envisions building a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home with neighboring countries and insists on fostering friendly, mutually beneficial and prosperous relationships, he said.

    Vietnam is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China, uphold multilateralism and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, safeguard international trade rules, abide by the agreements signed by both sides, and jointly make greater contributions to world peace and human progress, To Lam said, adding that Vietnam is also willing to properly address maritime differences with China to ensure maritime stability.

    Before the talks, To Lam invited Xi to a small-group chat over tea. The two general secretaries exchanged views on party building and national governance. Xi stressed that party building is crucial to the destiny of the party and the country, and that the party’s work style bears on whether it can win public support. The CPC Central Committee has decided to carry out an in-depth campaign throughout the party this year to learn and implement the spirit of the eight-point decision on improving work conduct. This is intended to secure new achievements in work style transformation to further support comprehensive reform and advance modernization. Both general secretaries agreed to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning, and pursue progress in socialist development.

    After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the display of 45 bilateral cooperation documents signed by China and Vietnam. These documents cover areas including connectivity, artificial intelligence, customs inspection and quarantine, agricultural trade, culture and sports, public welfare, human resource development, media, and more.

    Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, holds talks with To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, at the CPV Central Committee headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 14, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, holds talks with To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, at the CPV Central Committee headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 14, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, invites Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, to a small chat over tea before their talks at the CPV Central Committee headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 14, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, and To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, witness the display of 45 bilateral cooperation documents signed by the two sides after their talks in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 14, 2025. Xi held talks with To Lam at the CPV Central Committee headquarters on Monday. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Better data reveals growing pressures on NZ marine mammals

    Source: Department of Conservation

    Date:  15 April 2025

    The number of marine mammal species in New Zealand classified as Threatened or At Risk has increased from 10 in 2019 to 14 today, with the sperm whale, pygmy blue whale, southern right whale dolphin, goose-beaked whale, and pygmy sperm whale added to the list. Leopard seals were moved from at-risk to migrant.

    A ‘Threatened’ species status is given to animals in serious trouble. New Zealand has the highest proportion of threatened indigenous species in the world – more than 4000 native species are currently threatened or at risk of extinction.

    Panel lead and DOC Senior Science Advisor, Dr Dave Lundquist, says several species have been shifted to a more threatened conservation status. This includes sperm whales, which were moved from Data Deficient to At Risk – Declining.

    “Research published by the University of Otago in 2022 shows a long-term decline in the number of sperm whales seen off Kaikōura during summer,” says Dave Lundquist.

    “We don’t yet know if this reflects a broader drop in sperm whale numbers across New Zealand, but the panel has taken a precautionary approach and assumed it could be.”

    Thanks to improved population data, eight other marine mammal species previously considered Data Deficient now have updated conservation statuses. This includes pygmy blue whales, now listed as Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable.

    The New Zealand sea lion has also been moved to a higher risk category – from Nationally Vulnerable to Threatened – Nationally Endangered. This is due to a smaller estimated number of breeding adults and a faster rate of population decline than previously thought.

    “Estimates suggest sea lion numbers could decline by 30–70% over the next 30 years, which is about three generations. Multiple human-caused threats are likely to be contributing to this decline,” says Dave Lundquist.

    Bottlenose dolphins are the only species whose status has improved – from Threatened – Nationally Endangered to Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable. However, Dave Lundquist says this change is due to better information, not an actual increase in numbers.

    “We previously estimated fewer than 1000 coastal bottlenose dolphins in New Zealand, plus an unknown number of oceanic ones. We now know there are over 1000 oceanic dolphins, which improved the overall status. But coastal populations are still at risk and depend on local conservation efforts to survive.”

    Dave Lundquist says the positive takeaway is that when people act to reduce threats and protect nature, it makes a real difference.

    “This information is valuable for everyone involved in marine mammal conservation – including iwi, community groups, businesses, fishers, councils and government.

    “When we understand the conservation status of marine mammals, we’re all better equipped to make informed decisions to help protect them and their habitats.”

    The conservation status of 57 marine mammal types found in New Zealand waters was reviewed by an independent panel of national and international experts. They used the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – a tool that assesses the extinction risk of native species.

    NZTCS assessments are reviewed roughly every five years and are based on factors such as population size, trends, and distribution. DOC uses these results to prioritise conservation work, guide resource allocation, and shape policy decisions. The assessments also support collaboration with iwi, researchers, community groups, and others working to protect native species.

    Visit the New Zealand Threat Classification System’s website for the latest marine mammal conservation status data and background notes.

    Background information

    Explanation of Conservation Status.

    The NZTCS is a rule-based system for experts to assess the risk of extinction faced by organisms in Aotearoa New Zealand. The NZTCS is administered by the Department of Conservation (DOC) and complements the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Independent panels of experts assess groups of taxa (for examples, birds, reptiles or marine mammals. Species, subspecies, varieties and forms are collectively known as taxa, singular = taxon), approximately every five years, using criteria of population state, size and trend.

    Knowing a species’ risk of extinction provides a basis for setting priorities and making decisions, planning recovery programmes and research, monitoring the effectiveness of management and gaining support for habitat protection. Taxa assessed as ‘Threatened’ face greater risk of extinction because they have small population with greatest rate of decline. Taxa assessed as ‘At Risk’ are not considered Threatened, but they could quickly become so if conservation management reduces, if a new threat arises, or if the declines continue.

    Published assessments and manuals can be found on the New Zealand Threat Classification System Lists. Data supporting these publications can be accessed from the NZTCS database.

    The expert panel assessed the conservation status of 57 taxa of whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, fur seals and sea lions.

    Thirteen species have changed status since last assessed in 2019. One has a more threatened status, one has a less threatened status, and the remainder are neutral status changes (into and out of the category Data Deficient).

    The published research on sperm whale decline in Kaikōura can be found here: Long‐term decline in abundance of male sperm whales visiting Kaikōura, New Zealand.

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoyer Remarks at Press Conference on the Impact of Trump’s Proposed Cuts to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) delivered remarks at a press conference with U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Congressman Glenn Ivey (MD-04) outside of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland following a tour of the facility and a briefing from officials on its missions. Below is a full transcript of his opening remarks:
     

    Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) speaking at a press conference outside of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

    “Thank you very much, Senator. I had the great privilege of representing Goddard for 42 years, so I’ve been here a while, [and] I know the extraordinary work that goes on here. The extraordinary work that we cannot predict the specific advances that this will make in science and technology and the economic effect that it will have, but we do know from the many past years of NASA that they will occur, even though we may not know the specifics of it. I am pleased to join Glenn Ivey, who now represents this area, but he and I think of Prince George’s County as a unit, not as a single or two units, and we represent them together. And I’m so glad to be on Team Ivey, with respect to Goddard Space Flight Center.

    “Let me say, I was a colleague of Bill Nelson. Some of you may remember Senator Nelson. Senator Nelson served in the United States House of Representatives, and I served with him. He then went to the United States Senate, and then he went to space. He was the ‘Senator in Space.’ He came back and he was one of the great proponents, not only of Goddard Space Flight Center, but all of the NASA components. And then, of course, he became the administrator of NASA in the last administration. He heard about this proposal, and here’s what he said: ‘They’re going to run NASA into a very deep ditch if they proceed with this kind of savagery.’ His words, not mine. He went on to say, ‘If you savaged NASA science, you have savaged our entire exploration program. And that will affect the human exploration program as well,’ which was essentially, Senator, what you said.

    “We’ve seen, over the last three months, an effort to essentially disassemble American enterprise, American government, and American progress by a group that knew everything about how they were going to do it and do it quickly. But as in this instance, in almost every instance in which they’ve undertaken, they do not know the consequences, and the consequences will be dire, as Senator Nelson said, with respect to Goddard Space Flight Center.

    “This center is the envy of one of our greatest competitors: China. This enterprise is going to be critical as we compete with China in science and in space and in technology. To disassemble this, to cut it in half, and Senator Van Hollen made the point that we were going to abandon the investment that’s already been made. Now, let me say what that investment is: $3 billion has gone into the Roman telescope and to look for habitable worlds, Senator. What they’re cutting is $600 million, which is the completion of this program, as Senator Van Hollen said, our budget. What a penny wise and pound foolish that decision would be.

    “I am going to urge, Senator Van Hollen’s going to urge, and Glenn Ivey is certainly going to be leading the pack for the Congress not to do this. And I predict that Congress is not going to do this because it makes no economic sense, it makes no competitive sense, [and] it makes no national security sense for them to do this.

    “The people who are doing this know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. We need to make sure that America continues to be a leader: a leader in space, a leader in culture, a leader in economics. This center is absolutely critical to be able to make the further investment to complete a project, which, as you said, is on budget, so far on time.

    “So, I’m pleased to join my two colleagues, Senator Van Hollen and Congressman Ivey. And we are going to fight this with every fiber in our bodies, because America’s future success and national security depend upon it. Now let me yield to my dear colleague Glenn Ivey, who, while a new Member of Congress as a Member, worked for the Congress for many, many years. He has extraordinary experience in our state and around the country, and he was an extraordinary partner of mine as we represent, not only with Senator Van Hollen and Senator Alsobrooks, our districts, our state, and also the national interest. Congressman Ivey.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Announces Four Appointments to State Board of Education

    Source: US State of Missouri

    APRIL 14, 2025

     — Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced four appointments to the State Board of Education. As his first appointments to the Board, these individuals reflect Governor Kehoe’s vision and commitment to supporting education.

    Michael Matousek, of Kansas City, was appointed to the State Board of Education.

    Mr. Matousek currently serves as the director of the Government Freight Conference at the American Trucking Association. He has previous experience as the state legislative affairs director for the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and legislative director in the Office of Congressman Sam Graves. Mr. Matousek earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Florida.

    Kenneth “Brooks” Miller Jr., of Sunrise Beach, was appointed to the State Board of Education.

    Mr. Miller previously served as the president and CEO of Jordan Valley Community Health Center. In addition to his professional career, he has served as the vice president of the Springfield Board of Public Utilities and was most recently on the Truman State University Board of Governors. Mr. Miller earned his master’s degree in education administration and bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northeast Missouri State University.

    Jon Otto, of Kansas City, was appointed to the State Board of Education.

    Mr. Otto serves as corporate counsel for Evergy, Inc. focusing on corporate governance, SEC compliance, corporate finance, and real estate transactions. Prior to joining Evergy, he was an attorney at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, LLP and Polsinelli, PC law firms. Mr. Otto has served as a board member for Académie Lafayette charter school, University Health KC, Missouri Charter Public School Association, Child Protection Center, Minddrive, and the UMKC Law Alumni Association. Mr. Otto earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law and his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Clark Atlanta University.

    Dr. Thomas Prater, of Springfield, was appointed to the State Board of Education.

    Dr. Prater is a physician and partner at Mattax-Neu-Prater Eye Center in Springfield. From 2016 to 2020, he served as the Zone 2 Councilman on the Springfield City Council. He was also a member of the Springfield R-12 Board of Education from 1998 to 2014. Dr. Prater is an active member of the Missouri State Medical Society and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

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    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Global: Canada is lagging in innovation, and that’s a problem for funding the programs we care about

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Andrew Maxwell, Bergeron Chair in Technology Entrepreneurship, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, Canada

    As Canadians prepare to vote in another federal election, the country’s economy faces a sobering reality. As the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) notes, productivity is stagnating, our innovation performance lags global peers and high-potential startups often fail to scale.

    Despite these warning signs, innovation policy remains largely absent from political discourse. Canadians hear a great deal about how political parties are going to spend money, but little about where the money is going to come from.

    This is a critical oversight. Canada’s enduring productivity gap is more than an economic statistic — it’s why the country is struggling to sustain the social programs, such as health care and education, that Canadians value.

    If Canadians want to maintain their standard of living, Canada must close that gap through a more deliberate, strategic approach to innovation.

    Innovation is economic strategy

    In today’s knowledge-based economy, as business executive and innovator Jim Balsillie observes, power flows to countries that own digital data and their “value-added applications” (like apps or platforms) and intellectual property.

    Countries like the United States, China and South Korea have embedded innovation into national strategy, investing in sectors like artificial intelligence (AI), clean technology and biotech to drive growth and resilience. Canada, by contrast, has taken a fragmented, reactive approach.

    Canada’s over-reliance on research and development (R&D) spending and patent counts has failed to translate into commercial success. According to the OECD, Canada ranks among the highest in public R&D investment but among the lowest in innovation outcomes such as productivity growth and technology adoption.

    Canada also often conflates research with innovation. While both are vital, innovation is about turning knowledge into use through deployment, adoption, commercialization and scaling. Much of today’s transformative innovation, particularly in AI and software, depends on the transfer of tacit knowledge (related to things like user insights, execution experience and expertise in a particular domain) not just codified knowledge (for example, patents, technical drawings and licenses).

    Why innovation policy fails

    Governments struggle with innovation because it defies conventional policymaking:

    • It requires failure tolerance. Innovation is iterative. But political systems fear failure.

    • It demands long-term vision. Results may take years, beyond typical electoral cycles.

    • It’s technically complex. Few policymakers have deep expertise in emerging technologies or understand the research and development process.

    • It’s often misunderstood. Funding research is not the same as building innovation capacity or developing innovation processes.

    • It’s hard to quantify. Quantifying innovation outcomes is complex and challenging to measure, making it also difficult to measure return.

    As economist and innovation policy expert Mariana Mazzucato argued in The Entrepreneurial State: Debunking Public vs. Private Sector Myths, innovation success depends on bold missions, cross-sector collaboration and a willingness to learn from failure. Canada’s current model lacks these ingredients.

    Breaking the cycle of failure

    To break this cycle, Canada needs a non-partisan national innovation institution — an agency empowered to advise on strategy, evaluate outcomes and embed technical expertise into policy at the federal, provincial and municipal levels.

    Models like DARPA from the U.S., Vinnova from Sweden and the Israel Innovation Authority show how long-term, high-impact innovation can be achieved with the right institutional scaffolding and appropriate knowledge.

    Video about Vinnova, Sweden’s national innovation agency.

    Canadians have created a number of innovation organizations with national implications, such as the Council of Canadian Academies, the CD Howe Institute, Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity (ICP), which closed in 2019.

    Yet none have been national organizations that addressed the broad proposed mandate to explicitly advise governments on technology and policy strategy, evaluate innovation outcomes and embed technical expertise into recommendations.

    A non-partisan national innovation institution must:

    1. Track outcomes more than inputs. Innovation success can be measured by a number of project- or industry-specific outcomes, such as productivity, firm growth and export revenue. The ICP proposed measuring the “prosperity gap,” comparing innovation performance to peer jurisdictions.

    2. Support long-term strategic objectives, focusing on Canada’s strengths in critical areas like AI, clean technology, energy health-care technology, and leveraging expertise and experience in these and other areas.

    3. Embed technology experts alongside health-care and education experts in the decision-making process. Recruit scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs to anticipate technology and market trends, guiding both implementation and policy development.

    4. Differentiate innovation from research. Support both, but recognize the differences and explicitly link innovation to adoption and new use cases.

    5. Promote value capture. Ensure Canadian firms and the country benefit from and retain control of key technologies that enable them to scale domestically.

    6. Recognize the inherent risks in innovation and the potential for failure. Evaluate and build on impact and learn from failure to enhance innovation processes and improve future outcomes.

    7. Align our educational institutions with innovation goals revising programs, creating more flexible learning options and enhancing entrepreneurship so that more research outcomes are commercialized.

    These steps aren’t hypothetical. They’re backed by evidence from countries that have succeeded in turning innovation into sustained economic performance.

    Why now?

    Canada’s economy is heavily dependent on resource exports and vulnerable to technological disruption. Meanwhile, the global AI and clean tech races are accelerating. Canada is at risk of falling further behind — not just economically, but geopolitically.

    But Canada also has strengths: world-class researchers, diverse entrepreneurial talent and global partnerships. What’s missing is a cohesive national strategy to harness this potential. Creating a non-partisan innovation institution would be a powerful first step.

    If Canadians want to provide revenue for governments decide how to fund education, health care and climate adaptation, they must grow their economy. And to do that, Canada needs smarter innovation policy.

    It’s time to stop celebrating activity and start rewarding outcomes. Let’s build the structures that allow Canadian ingenuity to thrive — not in theory, but in practice.

    Andrew Maxwell works for York University, but received no direct benefit from comments in this article. He receives funding from various research agencies for his work in the area, but none of which creates the potential for conflict. He is a member of the Academy of Management, the International Society for Professional Innovation Management and Professional Engineers Ontario..

    ref. Canada is lagging in innovation, and that’s a problem for funding the programs we care about – https://theconversation.com/canada-is-lagging-in-innovation-and-thats-a-problem-for-funding-the-programs-we-care-about-254423

    MIL OSI – Global Reports