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Category: Science

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MILK ADULTERATION

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 12:48PM by PIB Delhi

    The Government of India enacted Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act- 2006 to unify food related laws and establish the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The FSSAI sets science-based standards for food articles and regulates their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.  The implementation and enforcement of FSS Act are carried out by FSSAI through Food Safety Commissioners of State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. FSSAI, via its regional offices for centrally regulated food businesses and in collaboration with States/UTs, conducts regular monitoring activities such as inspections, audits, surveillance, and random sampling to ensure compliance with the Act and its regulations. In FY 2023-24, FSSAI introduced the “National Annual Surveillance Plan”. Additionally, States /UTs conduct independent surveillance and enforcement measures tailored to their local needs, food trends, consumption patterns, and issues like adulteration. FSSAI also conducts periodic Pan-India Surveillance, focussing on staple foods and other commodities susceptible to adulteration.

    According to FSSAI, Mobile Food Testing Laboratory (MFTL), also known as “Food Safety on wheels” (FSW), play a crucial role in expanding food testing, training, and awareness programs, particularly in villages, towns, and remote areas. At present, 285 FSWs are operational across 35 States and Union Territories. These Units are equipped with essential infrastructure, including “Milk-o-Screen” equipment, for on spot testing of key quality parameters viz., Fat, SNF, protein, and adulterants like added water, urea, sucrose, maltodextrin and ammonium sulphate. Additionally, FSWs are capable of performing basic adulteration tests for other food products as well.

    Under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Food Business Operators (FBOs) are primarily responsible for ensuring full traceability of food products, from raw material procurement to the delivery of finished goods to consumers. They must maintain proper records and documentation throughout the supply chain to uphold transparency, accountability, and safety. Compliance with these requirements is verified during inspections and audits, and appropriate regulatory action are taken in case of violations.

    Additionally, the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying implements the national Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), which focuses on establishing and enhancing infrastructure for quality milk testing equipment and primary chilling facilities.  The NPDD also provides financial support to cooperatives and milk producer institutions for purchasing Automatic Milk Collection Units (AMCU) and Data Processing Milk Collection Units (DPMCU), ensuring transparency in milk collection at the village level.

    The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has established standards for milk and milk products under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. These standards apply uniformly to all Food Business Operations (FBOs), including dairy cooperatives, across the country to ensure compliance. When developing new standards or amending existing ones, FSSAI releases draft notifications to solicit feedback and suggestions from the general public and stakeholders. The feedback received, including input from dairy cooperatives, is thoroughly reviewed and considered during the standard-setting process.

    This information was given by Union Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, in a written reply in Lok Sabha on 25th March, 2025.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: East West Rail services planned to begin this year as Chiltern Railways named operator

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    East West Rail services planned to begin this year as Chiltern Railways named operator

    This milestone will unlock the potential of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor and provide greater connectivity across the region.

    • Chiltern Railways named as operator for first East West Rail services later this year   
    • passengers will benefit from better and faster connections between Oxford and Milton Keynes, unlocking job, education and business opportunities
    • forms a critical part of the government’s mission to kickstart economic growth by unleashing the potential of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor

    In a significant step towards boosting connectivity and growth between Oxford and Cambridge, the Rail Minister has today (25 March 2025) named Chiltern Railways as the operator for the first stage of East West Rail. 

    This comes ahead of its planned launch later this year, which will support almost 100 new jobs at Chiltern, boost local economies along the route and see passengers benefit from slashed journey times and better access to jobs, education and business opportunities. 

    When delivered in full, East West Rail is set to generate £6.7 billion of growth per year in Oxford-Cambridge by 2050, bolstering the thriving life science cluster and supporting up to 28,000 jobs in Cambridge alone. 

    Serving 6 stations, the new line will initially link Oxford and Milton Keynes for the first time in nearly 60 years, accelerating the regeneration of town centres and helping build new homes across the full line as part of our Plan for Change. 

    Rail Minister Peter, Lord Hendy, said: 

    Appointing Chiltern Railways to run the first East West Rail services is one of the crucial last steps in getting the line up and running later this year and means local people in the area are closer to experiencing the benefits of this transformative project. 

    This milestone demonstrates that we are serious about unlocking the potential of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, providing greater connectivity across the region and delivering on our Plan for Change mission to drive economic growth.

    A brand-new station at Winslow will reconnect the town to the rail network for the first time since the 1960s, with trains also stopping at Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village and a revamped Bletchley station along the new line. 

    Chiltern will manage the newly constructed station in Winslow, opening up better employment opportunities, easier access to public services and reduced reliance on road travel. 

    Richard Allan, Managing Director of Chiltern Railways, said:

    The first stage of East West Rail will provide fast, direct train services between Oxford and Milton Keynes and we are delighted that Chiltern has been announced as operator.  

    Chiltern has a proud track record of delivering new services and infrastructure, including our London to Oxford connections and introduction of new stations at Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village.  

    We are looking forward to carrying customers on this exciting new route which is set to make a critical contribution to the UK’s economic growth.

    David Hughes, CEO of East West Railway Co, said: 

    This is a huge milestone which will allow Chiltern Railways to deliver a much-needed rail service linking the dynamic cities of Oxford and Milton Keynes, providing new opportunities for commuters and leisure travellers alike. 

    This is the first part of East West Rail’s vision to extend services to Bedford and Cambridge, which will transform connectivity across the region and unlock new opportunities for economic growth.

    The announcement comes following a 10-week consultation period giving local people the chance to shape the second and third stages of East West Rail, which will see the line reaching Bedford from 2030 and Cambridge from the mid-2030s. 

    This outlined the government’s aim for trains to be powered on the route with greener traction and hybrid battery-electric trains, which would result in cleaner and faster journeys for passengers. 

    Gary Walsh, Route Director for West Coast South at Network Rail said: 

    We’re delighted by today’s announcement, which is fantastic news for passengers who will soon benefit from the new journey opportunities that East West Rail provides between Milton Keynes and Oxford.

    Following completion of major construction, which included installing 70km of new track, 17 brand new bridges and a modern signalling system, we’re working closely with our partners at Chiltern Railways and the DfT ahead of passenger services starting later this year.

    Rail media enquiries

    Media enquiries 0300 7777878

    Switchboard 0300 330 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic University and St. Petersburg Tractor Plant Develop Cooperation

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University and the Petersburg Tractor Plant signed a strategic partnership agreement aimed at developing scientific, educational and scientific and technical areas. The event took place on March 24 at SPbPU.

    The Polytechnic University was represented by Rector Andrey Rudskoy, Vice-Rector for Educational Activities Lyudmila Pankova, Vice-Rector for Additional and Pre-University Education Dmitry Tikhonov, Director of IMMiT Anatoly Popovich, Director of the Center for Scientific and Technological Partnership and Targeted Training Oleg Ipatov, Director of the Institute of Secondary Vocational Education Roman Baibikov. The Petersburg Tractor Plant was represented by Director Sergey Serebryakov, Head of the Engineering Center, Chief Designer Mikhail Dmitriev, Head of the Department for Organizing Work with Universities Natalia Borisova.

    It is of utmost importance for us to develop cooperation with the Petersburg Tractor Plant, especially in the area of achieving technological sovereignty of the country. Our cooperation opens up broad opportunities for mutual exchange of competencies, personnel and intellectual synergy, – Andrey Rudskoy emphasized.

    We are facing serious challenges that involve a lot of work at the intersection of many areas. We are confident that cooperation with the Polytechnic University will facilitate the training of personnel and the possibility of combining technologies, noted Sergey Serebryakov.

    According to the signed agreement, cooperation is aimed at ensuring a high level of training for young specialists, increasing the effectiveness of fundamental and applied scientific research, implementing joint activities in various fields, conducting scientific and educational, scientific research and experimental design work, jointly implementing scientific and technical programs, participating in solving socio-economic problems, and so on.

    The meeting participants discussed areas of further cooperation, as well as the creation of a named auditorium of the plant and a specialized scientific and educational laboratory at the Polytechnic University. The Director of PTZ Sergey Serebryakov was awarded a commemorative medal “For Services to SPbPU”. After the meeting, the plant representatives were given a tour of the institutes’ laboratories and presented with the scientific potential of the university.

    The cooperation between the Polytechnic University and the Petersburg Tractor Plant has been developing since 2019. Students of the Institute of Secondary Vocational Education undergo industrial practice at the enterprise. For several years, cooperation with the Natural Sciences Lyceum has been successfully developing under the agreement “School – University – Enterprise”. The Petersburg Tractor Plant is actively working with the Higher School of Transport and the Higher School of Mechanical Engineering Technology of IMMiT to train specialists with higher education.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s Hubei promotes development of humanoid robot industry

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

    China’s Hubei promotes development of humanoid robot industry

    Updated: March 25, 2025 17:01 Xinhua
    Humanoid robots show up at a conference on promoting the rise of China’s central region in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, Feb. 5, 2025. In recent years, Hubei Province has strengthened the introduction and training of scientific and technological innovation subjects and promoted the development of humanoid robot industry. Relying on strong scientific research capacity and industrial foundation, Hubei Province has organized many universities, research institutes and enterprises in the province to carry out scientific research of humanoid robots and explore the application scenarios. At present, the humanoid robot industry in Hubei Province has gathered a number of key enterprises. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A humanoid robot demonstrates obstacle passing skills at a conference on promoting the rise of China’s central region in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, Feb. 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A R&D team member debugs a humanoid robot at the Learning Algorithms & Soft Manipulation Lab of Wuhan University in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, March 19, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Members of the R&D team of Wuhan Glory Road Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. debug a humanoid robot at the company in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, Feb. 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Members of the R&D team of Wuhan Glory Road Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. debug humanoid robots at the company in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, Feb. 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A R&D team member debugs the motor nerve center system of a humanoid robot at HexaCercle, a science and technology company in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, March 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to study looking at the number of microplastics found in chewing gum

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A preprint published at the American Chemical Society Spring Meeting looks at microplastics in chewing gum. 

    Prof Oliver Jones, Professor of Chemistry, RMIT University, said:

    “This is an interesting preprint, but it has not undergone peer review, so its content may change before it is published, and I could not access the supplementary information. 
    “The idea that chewing gum might be a source of microplastics is not that new in itself, but this is the first study to attempt to quantify the potential problem.

    “An interesting finding from this study is that they found very similar microplastics of microplastics in both the synthetic and the natural gums, even though there weren’t supposed to be plastics in the natural gums at all. In fact, the data from both groups is almost identical. Logically, this means either

    1. i) There were actually microplastics in the natural gums when there shouldn’t have been.
    2. ii) There was another source of microplastics common to both groups that had nothing to do with the gum (e.g., lab contamination of some form).
      iii) There was some form of measurement error common to both groups.

    “A potential issue is that the authors used a dye called Nile Red to stain the microplastics to make them easier to see. This is a common approach, but the method has potential issues in that Nile Red can stain a wide variety of natural and synthetic particles (1), and some biological materials can autofluorescence, which makes them look like dyed plastic when they aren’t (2).

    “I can’t see from the pre-print how these factors were controlled for, but Nile Red based microplastic data are inconclusive without adequate controls.
    “If we assume the figures are accurate, 637, micrometre-sized pieces of plastic per gram of gum is a very small amount indeed. Since the lining of the intestine is fairly thick and well-regulated, any particles you swallowed would likely pass straight through you with no impact.

    “In short, while microplastics are something we should definitely be keeping an eye on, I don’t think you have to stop chewing gum just yet – although you should certainly dispose of it appropriately in a bin when you are finished with it.”  

    1 – Stanton, T., Johnson, M., Nathanail, P., Gomes, R.L., Needham, T. and Burson, A. (2019) Exploring the efficacy of Nile Red in microplastic quantification: a costaining approach. Environmental Science & Technology Letters 6, 606-611.

     2 – Catarino, A. I.;  Frutos, A.; Henry, T. B., Use of fluorescent-labelled nanoplastics (NPs) to demonstrate NP absorption is inconclusive without adequate controls. Science of The Total Environment 2019, 670, 915-920.”

    ‘Ingestion Risk of Microplastics from Chewing Gums’ by Mohanty et al. was presented at the American Chemical Society meeting at 09:00 UK time on Tuesday 25th March.

    Declared interests

    Prof Oliver Jones “I am a professor of Chemistry at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. I have no direct conflicts of interest to declare. I have previously published research on microplastics in the environment. I have also received funds from the Environment Protection Authority Victoria and various Australian Water utilities for research into environmental pollution.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 25 March 2025 Departmental update Despite global influenza vaccine production remaining steady, production and distribution challenges remain

    Source: World Health Organisation

    A recent WHO-led study published in Vaccine provides updated estimates on the global production capacity of influenza vaccines, highlighting both progress and persistent challenges in pandemic preparedness. As an activity tracked in the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework Partnership Contribution High-Level Implementation Plan III (2024-2030) Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, this analysis estimates that annual seasonal influenza vaccine production remains stable, however the lack of manufacturing facilities in the African region and in low- and middle-income countries could lead to unequal access and distribution in the event of a pandemic.

    The study found that since the last survey in 2019, annual seasonal influenza vaccine production capacity has remained relatively stable at 1.53 billion doses. This could support a pandemic vaccine capacity of 4.13 billion doses in a moderate-case scenario and 8.26 billion doses in a best-case scenario. This estimate does not reflect potential mRNA production capacity as no seasonal or pandemic influenza mRNA vaccines are licensed at this time.

    The analysis documents that over 80% of seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines rely on egg-based production, with inactivated influenza virus vaccines comprising the majority of supply. Reliance on embryonated eggs presents supply chain vulnerabilities, and access to other critical supplies may limit rapid scale-up during a pandemic. Expanding cell-based vaccines, including recombinant protein vaccine technologies, and investment in next-generation vaccines, such as mRNA-based influenza vaccines, could improve production speed and increase vaccine supply.

    The study also found that while vaccine manufacturing facilities exist in most WHO regions, the African Region remains without local production. Production capacity is concentrated in high income and upper-middle income countries. The authors recommend strengthening local vaccine manufacturing, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, to ensure equitable access.

    Seasonal influenza vaccination is important to prevent influenza and make illness less severe. It is especially important for people at high risk of influenza complications and their carers. Promoting seasonal influenza vaccination also supports global manufacturing capacity and bolsters pandemic readiness. This is because, in the event of a pandemic, manufacturers of the seasonal influenza vaccine leverage existing production processes and manufacturing facilities to create pandemic vaccines.

    As the world prepares for future influenza pandemics, addressing these production and distribution challenges is critical. WHO continues to support efforts to expand access, innovate vaccine technologies, and strengthen global preparedness.

    For more details, the full study is available in Vaccine (2025).

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s fiscal revenue down 1.6% in first two months

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    China’s fiscal revenue dipped 1.6 percent year on year to nearly 4.39 trillion yuan (about 611.59 billion U.S. dollars) in the first two months of the year, according to data from the Ministry of Finance released on Monday.

    The central government collected nearly 1.95 trillion yuan in fiscal revenue, down 5.8 percent year on year, while local governments collected nearly 2.44 trillion yuan, up 2 percent year on year.

    China’s fiscal expenditure expanded by 3.4 percent year on year to nearly 4.51 trillion yuan in the first two months. The central government’s fiscal expenditure rose by 8.6 percent year on year, while there was a 2.7 percent increase in expenditure by local governments during the same period.

    In breakdown, education expenditure hit 737.7 billion yuan, up 7.7 percent year on year, science and technology expenditure exceeded 112.2 billion yuan, a 10.6 percent year-on-year increase, and expenditure on social security and employment hit 854 billion yuan, up 6.7 percent year on year. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Building a better and fairer education system to support a stronger economy

    Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

    The Albanese Labor Government is building a stronger and fairer education system from early education to school education and in higher education.
     
    The Government knows that every stage of education is vital, because we need to give the next generation of Australians the best start in life, and the strongest foundation for success. The Budget continues the Government’s significant education reform agenda which includes:

    • Cutting the cost of early education and care for around 1 million families and building a universal early childhood education and care system.
    • Delivering full and fair funding for public schools attended by around 2.6 million students.
    • Cutting student debt by a further 20 per cent for 3 million Australians and making the repayment system fairer.

    The Budget builds on the Government’s significant education reform agenda by making important investments to help families and support students and teachers.
     
    Fully Funding Australian Public Schools
     
    The Albanese Labor Government is putting all public schools in Australia on a path to full and fair funding.
     
    The 10-year Better and Fairer Schools Agreement will see the Commonwealth increase its contribution to the Schooling Resource Standard to put every public school on a path to receive full funding.
     
    The Government will provide $407.5 million over four years from 2025–26 (and $7.2 billion from 2029–30 to 2035–36) to jurisdictions that have already signed updated Better and Fairer Schools Agreement (Full and Fair Funding 2025 – 2034) bilateral agreements.
     
    The Government is finalising bilateral agreements with other jurisdictions.
     
    This isn’t a blank cheque. This funding is tied to reforms to help students catch up, keep up and finish school, including:

    • Small group tutoring.
    • Year 1 phonics and early years numeracy checks.
    • More individualised support for students.
    • More mental health support.
    • More support to attract and retain teachers.

     Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred – Additional Supports for Families and Providers
     
    The Government has activated $2.5 million in additional support for families and early childhood education and child care providers affected by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
     
    A $10,000 Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred Support Payment will be available for Child Care Subsidy (CCS) approved early childhood education and care services who:

    • Are located where a CCS period of emergency has been declared.
    • Were closed, or partially closed, for eight days or more due to the cyclone.
    • Waived gap fees for families during the closure.

    Families who need extra help with the cost of child care may be eligible for Additional Child Care Subsidy (Temporary Financial Hardship) which usually covers the full cost of child care for up to 100 hours of care per fortnight, for up to 13 weeks.

    Boosting STEM Programs

    The Government will invest $7.01 million to expand successful science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) initiatives, including:

    • $1.15 million for the CSIRO STEM Professionals in Schools Program.
    • $1.46 million for Let’s Count, an early education maths program.
    • $0.65 million for Little Scientists, a training program for early learning educators.
    • $0.7 million for Curious Minds Program, a STEM summer camp and mentoring program for female students.
    • $0.9 million for the National Lending Library, which provides digital technology equipment and lesson plans for schools.
    • $2.15 million for three Australian Academy of Science programs (Primary Connections; Science by Doing; and reSolve).

     Closing the Gap Programs for First Nations Students

    The Government is continuing to invest in programs that support First Nations students, with a further $35.1 million for two key initiatives:

    • $33.6 million for the Clontarf Foundation to support up to 12,500 First Nations boys and young men at school.
    • $1.5 million for the MultiLit phonics-based program in 42 regional and remote primary schools until the end of 2026.

     More Medical School Places and Support for First Nations Medical Students
     
    The Government is investing $48.2 million over four years to deliver medical training opportunities including:

    • 100 new medical places each year from 2026, increasing to 150 CSPs from 2028, with a focus on primary care.
    • Demand-driven medical places for First Nations students from 2026.

    This Budget builds on the Albanese Labor Government’s significant education reform agenda which includes:

    • Cheaper Child Care that has cut out-of-pocket costs for families – with the average family using child care $4,400 better off.
    • A 15 per cent pay rise for early educators, with eligible providers limiting fee growth for families.
    • A $1 billion Building Early Education Fund to build early childhood education and care centres where they’re needed most.
    • A Three Day Guarantee, ensuring at least three days of subsidies for early childhood education and care for every family.
    • Agreements to fully fund all public schools in Australia.
    • $3 billion in student debt wiped by fixing how indexation is calculated and a re-elected Labor Government will cut a further 20 per cent off all student loan debt and make the repayment system fairer, subject to the passage of legislation.
    • A Commonwealth Prac Payment for teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work students.
    • Doubling the number of University Study Hubs – in the regions and for the first time established them in our outer suburbs to bring university closer to where people live. 
    • A new funding system for universities that will deliver more university places and guarantees a place at university for everyone from a disadvantaged background who gets the marks to get in. 
    • An independent National Student Ombudsman to investigate student complaints about issues such as sexual assault, racism, homophobia, course administration and teaching provision. 
    • Establishing the Australian Tertiary Education Commission to guide tertiary education reform over the long-term, subject to the passage of legislation.

    A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will continue to protect and invest in education.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: How Guest from the Future Was Filmed. On the 40th Anniversary of the Premiere of the Sci-Fi Film

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On March 25, 1985, the five-part children’s science fiction television film “Guest from the Future” by Pavel Arsenov, filmed at the Gorky Film Studio, was released on Soviet screens.

    The director based this mini-series on the story “One Hundred Years Ago” – one of the parts of the series that Kir Bulychev began writing back in 1965 for his daughter Alisa. Pavel Arsenov considered the fantasy genre to be very promising, he was inspired by Richard Viktorov’s works “Through Thorns to the Stars” and “Moscow – Cassiopeia”. And the idea to film this particular book by Kir Bulychev came to the director during a creative meeting with children. When asked which work they would advise him to make a film based on, most named “One Hundred Years Ago”. The writer co-authored the script for “Guest from the Future”, filming began in 1983 and ended in August 1984.

    According to the plot, Moscow schoolchildren find a time machine in the basement of an old house. Sixth-grader Kolya Gerasimov, who just went to the store for kefir, accidentally ends up in 2084. The robot Werther, whom he meets, allows him to walk around Moscow for a while and look at the future. Kolya meets Alisa Selezneva, the daughter of a professor and director of the space zoo “CosmoZoo”. The girl has a myelophone – a unique device designed to read thoughts, with the help of which she studies the behavior of animals. However, the myelophone is also of interest to space pirates – Rat and Veselchak U, who want to become the rulers of the Universe. Kolya and Alisa are in for an exciting adventure.

    Casting and filming

    More than a hundred young actresses applied for the role of Alisa Selezneva, including Natalya Shanaeva, who played Lena Dombazova in the film. In the end, the role went to Natalya Guseva and brought her enormous popularity – letters from fans came from outside the Soviet Union. At the time of the start of filming, she was 11 years old. However, Natalya did not dream of a professional acting career – after finishing school, she entered the Moscow State Institute of Fine Chemical Technology, became a biotechnologist and worked at the N.F. Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology.

    According to the recollections of actor Semyon Buzgan (Kolya Sadovsky), almost all the boys who starred in the film read an excerpt from the role of Fima Korolev at the first audition – based on the results of this “exam”, Pavel Arsenov determined whether the candidate had the ability to act. Sixth-grader Alyosha Fomkin, who already had acting experience in several stories of the film magazine “Yeralash”, was chosen for the role of Kolya Gerasimov.

    For adult roles, Pavel Arsenov invited many talented actors: Vyacheslav Nevinny and Mikhail Kononov became space pirates, Evgeny Gerasimov played the robot Werther, Yuri Grigoriev played Professor Seleznev, Igor Yasulovich played the employee of “CosmoZoo” Electron Ivanovich. Georgy Burkov, Valentina Talyzina, Lyudmila Arinina, Natalya Varley and other famous actors also starred in the film. Several episodic roles were played by one of the film’s cameramen, Alexander Lysykh, and his characters were voiced by Mikhail Kokshenov.

    The budget allocated for the creation of the impressive film was quite modest, so Pavel Arsenov, production designer Olga Kravchena, costume designer Valentina Olonovskaya and the special effects team had to use their imagination and ingenuity to achieve realism of what was happening on the screen. For example, the Moscow Institute of Time is just a model suspended at a height of more than 50 meters. For the flying flips, miniature copies with tiny figures inside were used – they were suspended from a rotating crane with a boom and filmed in the background, as if the actors were flying high in the sky. And the famous myelophone is actually a glass prism for a camera.

    Filming, in addition to the Gorky Film Studio, took place, of course, in various places in Moscow. For example, the building of the Institute of Time and “CosmoZoo” were filmed in the Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences named after N.V. Tsitsin, school scenes – in the building of school No. 20 (now No. 1239) on Vspolny Lane, since the characters study there. Also in the film you can see Prechistenka, Gogolevsky Boulevard, Kalinina Avenue (now Novy Arbat), the area around Samotechnaya Street, where Kolya Gerasimov discovered a time machine, Cosmonauts Alley and many other familiar places.

    The music for the film was written by composer Yevgeny Krylatov, whose song “Beautiful Far Away” with lyrics by Yuri Entin became a hit after the film’s release. The first screening took place at the Gorky Film Studio in October 1984. The television premiere of “Guest from the Future” took place from March 25 to 29, 1985, during the spring school holidays, and was a huge success. Later, the magazine “World of Fantasy” included “Guest from the Future” in the list of the best screen adaptations and called the film a cult film, despite some limitations of the film crew in technical means.

    Two years later, in 1987, Pavel Arsenov made the film “The Purple Ball” based on the story of the same name by Kir Bulychev, telling about the new adventures of Alisa Selezneva.

    Gorky Film Studio is one of the largest in Russia, the oldest film studio in Moscow. More than a thousand films have been released here, including “Seventeen Moments of Spring”, “Officers”, “Morozko”, “…The Dawns Here Are Quiet”, “Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka”, “Carnival”, “You Never Dreamed…”, “Three Plus Two” and many others. The film studio is one of the main sites of a large-scale Moscow film cluster, which unites infrastructure facilities, services and services for filmmakers. Its development is carried out by the Moscow Government as part of Sergei Sobyanin’s project “Moscow – City of Cinema”. The structure of the film cluster also includes the Moskino cinema chain, a film factory, a film park, a film commission and the Moskino film platform.

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/151745073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Scientists have denied the existence of a crisis of trust in science

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    An international group of researchers, including specialists from the National Research University Higher School of Economics, conducted a large-scale survey in 68 countries on the topic of trust in science. In most countries, people continue to highly value the work of scientists and want to see them become more active participants in public life. The results are published in Nature Human Behavior.

    Howresearch showsAccording to Arthur Lupia and David Allison, the last five years have seen a decline in trust in science and scientists in particular. The crisis of trust has become especially noticeable during the COVID-19 pandemic. To study this problem in more detail, the international multidisciplinary consortium TISP (Trust in Science and Science-Related Populism) conducted a survey to provide reliable data on attitudes towards science.

    More than 71,000 people answered questions about their trust in scientists and rated their competence, honesty, and concern for the common good. The survey design also included assessments of respondents’ education, income, and political views.

    The survey involved 68 countries, including those from the Global South, which are often overlooked in such studies. This allowed us to identify not only global trends in attitudes towards science, but also regional specifics.

    The survey found that 78% of respondents worldwide believe that scientists are competent, 57% believe that they are honest, and 56% believe that they care about the well-being of people. Respondents also believe that research aimed at improving public health, solving energy problems, reducing poverty, and combating climate change should be given high priority.

    Many people would like to see scientists involved in decision-making: 83% of respondents support open science, and 52% support researchers’ participation in public policy. However, less than half (42%) are confident that scientists themselves take public opinion into account.

    The study shows that the credibility of science remains high in most countries, but trust in scientists varies widely across countries and among different social groups within a country. In places where people were more reliant on scientific data, crises such as the pandemic were easier to deal with, and citizens were more likely to follow recommendations for vaccination and safety measures. Tackling mistrust of scientific findings is especially important because societies that trust scientists more are better able to deal with climate and health challenges.

    Among the main reasons for the weakening authority of science, researchers highlight misinformation, conspiracy theories, a crisis in the reproducibility of scientific data, and scientific populist sentiments, in which popular opinion is opposed to expert knowledge. These factors were especially evident during the pandemic, when, for example, opinion leaders called for the use of traditional medicine instead of vaccination.

    “Our results show that most people in most countries have a relatively high level of trust in scientists and want them to play an active role in society and politics,” says Albina Galliamova, a junior research fellow Center for Sociocultural Research HSE University. — One of the reasons for the decline in trust is insufficiently active educational activities in the public space. It is obvious that in order to overcome current problems, it is necessary to actively and clearly tell the audience about the results of your research.”

    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 Africa: African Development Bank Group to expand investment in Lesotho to $331 million

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    MASERU, Lesotho, March 25, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) plans to invest $331 million in key strategic sectors in Lesotho as part of its proposed Country Strategy Paper for 2025-2030 to boost economic growth and industrial competitiveness. 

    During an official visit to Lesotho — the first by an African Development Bank President — Dr. Akinwumi Adesina met with His Majesty King Letsie III to discuss strengthening development partnerships and expanding the Bank’s investments in the country. 

    His Majesty expressed delight at the Bank President’s visit, viewing the mission as a reflection of the Bank and Adesina’s appreciation for Lesotho’s progress in improving people’s lives. 

    “With haste, we will ensure that the policies and incentives to accommodate the needs of and attract the private sector are in place, especially in healthcare, agriculture, and manufacturing,” the King remarked. 

    King Letsie said he was confident that Adesina, whom he described as a ‘man of action,’ would help catalyze progress on the Bank’s strategic projects in Lesotho. 

    Adesina thanked King Letsie for his strong leadership role as the African Union Nutrition Champion since 2014, his advocacy for improved nutrition and food security on the continent — especially for women, adolescents, and children — and his passion for youth development. 

    The African Development Bank president commended His Majesty for his leadership on the  King Letsie III Just Energy Transition Fund, which aims to generate approximately 200 megawatts of power through private sector investments. 

    He also briefed King Letsie about the Bank’s new 2025-2030 Country strategy paper and planned investments of $331 million to support quality infrastructure, capacity building, energy, integration and interconnectivity, debt management and standards, and strengthening the office of the Prime Minister.  

    Referencing dwindling donor commitments globally, Dr. Adesina said, “Africa must prepare to engage more proactively with the private sector. Every challenge is an investor’s dream. Ultimately, capital, like water, will always find a receptive place to go.” 

    According to Adesina, the Bank has implemented 87 projects totaling $429 million since Lesotho joined the Bank in 1973.  

    “We have eight ongoing projects worth $60 million, and we look forward to significantly expanding our commitments,” Adesina said. 

    The Bank’s investment strategy for Lesotho will focus on several priority areas: 

    • Energy infrastructure, including electricity transmission lines connecting Lesotho to South Africa 
    • Agricultural development to enhance food security and rural livelihoods 
    • Climate resilience initiatives to address environmental challenges 
    • Digital transformation, including broadband expansion for digital financial inclusion and government service digitalization 
    • Water resource management, building on the success of the Lesotho Lowland Rural Water Supply Project 
    • Public financial management and debt management support 
    • Trade competitiveness enhancements through improved grades and standards for exports 

    The African Development Bank-led Lesotho Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project has delivered remarkable results: 190 kilometers of pipeline to distribution networks, water storage tanks with a total capacity of 3.48 million liters, and 166 public water points serving approximately 28,266 people across eight zones in Maseru and Berea districts. 

    Responding to King Letsie’s request, Dr. Adesina said the Bank will prioritize investments in primary healthcare centers across Lesotho.  

    “We will work on an integrated project that includes components of energy, a potential multi-partner $2.3 billion water transfer project from Lesotho through South Africa to Botswana, agro-value chains, and trade facilitation in Lesotho,” Adesina said after the meeting with King Letsie III. 

    The Bank is expected to support Lesotho in mobilizing approximately $260 million for the integrated water transfer project, which will supply 308 million cubic meters of water for domestic, agricultural, and industrial use through a 700 km pipe system. The project has the potential to generate up to 22 MW of hydropower. 

    Speaking earlier, Minister of Finance and Development Planning Retselisitsoe Matlanyane indicated that as Lesotho’s energy supply will exceed domestic demand by the end of 2026, the country intends to build a substation to export excess power production to South Africa. She reiterated Lesotho’s commitment to private sector-friendly policies and engagement. 

    The minister highlighted the importance of primary healthcare and nutrition investments to help combat extreme stunting in several parts of the country.  

    King Letsie is the African Union-appointed African Leaders for Nutrition champion.  The initiative, spearheaded by the African Development Bank and championed by African leaders, works to galvanize political will and significant investments to end malnutrition on the continent. 

    Dr. Adesina also met with Prime Minister Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane; and the ministers of Foreign Affairs; Agriculture, Food Security & Nutrition; Natural Resources; Health; Communication, Science & Technology; and Education & Training. 

    The Bank’s delegation to Lesotho included its Executive Director for Lesotho, Dr. Nomfundo X. Ngwenya; Deputy Director General for Southern Africa, Moono Mupotola; and Senior Advisor to the President for Communication and Stakeholder Engagement, Dr. Victor Oladokun. 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: Vect-Horus appoints Carole Imbert as Chief Financial Officer to further reinforce its executive management team

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

                                                                            PRESS RELEASE

    • Brings extensive experience in investor relations and financial research and analysis
    • Will drive financial strategy to support internal pipeline and partnerships

    Marseille, France, March 25, 2025 – Vect-Horus, a privately held biotechnology company that designs and develops molecular vectors facilitating the targeted delivery of therapeutic molecules and imaging agents, today announced the appointment of Carole Imbert as Chief Financial Officer and to the Executive Committee. 

    Carole Imbert brings a wealth of experience in financial management and structuring. Most recently at Crédit Mutuel Arkéa, she served as Head of Financial and ESG Research for Arkea Investment Services, overseeing the asset management divisions of Schelcher Prince Gestion and Federal Finance Gestion. She has also held senior positions as a Financial Analyst at Natexis, CPR, and Exane and as Head of Investor Relations and Financial Communication at both BIC and Eurazeo. She holds degrees from the Institut Supérieur de Gestion and the Société Française des Analystes Financiers.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Carole to our management team. Her extensive background in financial strategy and investor relations will be complementary to our existing skilled team, and an invaluable asset to drive our growth and secure a strong financial position to underpin development of our vectors that facilitate targeting and delivery of therapeutics,” said Alexandre Tokay, co-founder and CEO of Vect-Horus. “Carole’s leadership will be crucial in driving our financial strategy forward, based on our proprietary VECTrans® technology both to develop an internal pipeline of products and through partnerships.”

    This is a further reinforcement of the experienced Vect-Horus leadership and will drive forward the company’s financial strategy. It follows the recent appointments of two new Board members: Jerome Berger, with vast expertise in strategy, finance, and venture capital in the technology and life sciences sectors, and Jean-Christophe Dantonel, who has more than two decades of profound expertise in biological sciences, project management, and clinical research.

    Carole Imbert said: “I am excited to join Vect-Horus to collaborate with a very skilled team at this pivotal moment in the company’s journey, with an impressive technology and pipeline and a dozen collaborations, including three strategic licensing agreements with major pharmaceutical companies. I am looking forward to strengthen the financial strategy of the Company to ensure smooth continuity and support Vect-Horus’ mission to enhance transport of therapeutics across biological barriers.”

    About Vect-Horus

    Vect-Horus designs and develops vectors that facilitate targeting and delivery of therapeutic or imaging agents to organs, including the brain, and to tumors. Founded in 2005, Vect-Horus is a spin-off of the Institute for Neurophysiopathology (INP, UMR7051, CNRS and Aix Marseille University), formerly headed by Dr Michel Khrestchatisky, co-founder of the company. Vect-Horus has 42 employees (most in R&D).

    To learn more about Vect-Horus, visit www.vect-horus.com.

    Contacts

        For more information, please contact Vect-Horus

        Emmanuelle Bettendorf, BD & Alliance Management,

        Vect-Horus contact@vect-horus.com

        Media Relations

        Sophie Baumont, Cohesion Bureau – sophie.baumont@cohesionbureau.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s message on the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade [scroll down for French version]

    Source: United Nations – English

    strong>Download the video:  https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+Intl+Slave+Trade+21+Feb+25/MSG+SG+INTL+SLAVE+TRADE+21+FEB+25.mp4

    The transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans was a crime against humanity that resonates through history and continues to scar societies. Today, we remember the women, children, and men torn from their loved ones, forced to work in agonizing conditions, cruelly punished, and deprived of their dignity and human rights, and we recall their acts of resistance and demands for justice.

    For more than four centuries, millions of Africans were kidnapped, trafficked, abused and dehumanized. This horrific enterprise rested on the destructive lie of white supremacy. And it saw many colonizers, corporations and institutions amass unimaginable wealth.

    For too long, these unthinkable acts have remained unacknowledged, unspoken, and unaddressed, all as their legacies continue to shape our world. Many still benefit from the odious profits reaped from chattel slavery. Systemic racism has been embedded into institutions, cultures, and legal and other systems. Deeply rooted exclusion, racial discrimination and violence continue to undermine the ability of many people of African descent to thrive and prosper.

    As the theme of this year’s International Day reminds us, acknowledging the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade is an essential step towards addressing the past, repairing the present, and building a future of dignity and justice for all.  It is imperative to put in place reparatory justice frameworks that address this terrible history and its legacies. And we must end the evil of racism for good.

    The human dignity of every person stands at the heart of the United Nations. We will always stand with everyone, everywhere to combat racial discrimination and hate, and to defend the human rights and dignity of all.

    ***

    La traite transatlantique des Africains réduits en esclavage a été un crime contre l’humanité dont les répercussions se font sentir à travers les siècles et qui continue de marquer les sociétés. Aujourd’hui, nous honorons la mémoire des femmes, des enfants et des hommes qui ont été arrachés à leurs proches, contraints de travailler dans des conditions atroces, cruellement châtiés et privés de leur dignité et de leurs droits humains, et nous nous souvenons de leurs actes de résistance et de leurs appels à la justice.

    Pendant plus de quatre siècles, des millions d’Africains ont été enlevés aux fins de la traite, maltraités et déshumanisés. Ces atrocités étaient fondées sur un mensonge destructeur : le suprémacisme blanc. Nombre de colonisateurs, entreprises et institutions en ont profité pour amasser des richesses incalculables.

    Pendant trop longtemps, ces agissements inimaginables, qui ont été occultés et passés sous silence, n’ont suscité aucune réaction, alors que leurs effets continuent d’imprégner le monde. Nombreux sont ceux qui profitent encore des odieux bénéfices tirés de l’esclavage traditionnel. Le racisme systémique est ancré dans les institutions, les cultures ainsi que les systèmes juridiques et d’autres systèmes. Profondément enracinées, l’exclusion, la discrimination raciale et la violence continuent d’empêcher beaucoup de personnes d’ascendance africaine de s’épanouir et de prospérer.

    Cette année, le thème de la Journée internationale nous rappelle qu’il est indispensable de prendre conscience des horreurs de la traite transatlantique des esclaves pour faire face au passé, réparer le présent et bâtir un avenir où dignité et justice sont garanties pour tout le monde. Il est impératif d’établir des cadres de justice réparatrice qui permettent de regarder en face ce sombre chapitre de l’histoire et ses conséquences. Nous devons mettre un terme, une fois pour toutes, au fléau qu’est le racisme.

    La dignité humaine de chaque personne est au cœur de l’Organisation des Nations Unies. Nous nous tiendrons toujours aux côtés de tous ceux et celles qui, partout dans le monde, luttent contre la discrimination raciale et la haine et défendent les droits humains et la dignité de toutes les personnes.

    ***
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU scientists receive RSF grant for development of energy technologies in the context of climate change

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    The Russian Science Foundation has summed up the results of the competition in the priority area of activity “Conducting research by world-class scientific laboratories within the framework of implementing the priorities of scientific and technological development of the Russian Federation.” The Laboratory of Advanced Energy-Efficient Technologies, created under a mega-grant, was among the winners. Faculty of Physics, Novosibirsk State University with the project “Development of energy technologies in the context of climate change” (No. 25-79-30002), headed by Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Department of Physics of Nonequilibrium Processes at the Physical Department of NSU, Scientific Director of the NSU LabPET and the Institute of Thermal Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Chairman of the National Committee of the Russian Academy of Sciences on Heat and Mass Transfer, laureate of the International Prize “Global Energy” Sergei Alekseenko.

    — Energy is the basis of the economy of any country, regardless of the technological structure. The relevance of the topic of “anthropogenic climate change” is due to the fact that the predominant contribution to global warming, the destruction of the Earth’s ozone layer and climate change in general is made by energy on organic fuel.

    Our project is aimed at solving scientific problems of low-carbon and environmentally friendly energy development, allowing not to create, but to solve environmental and man-made problems of the Russian Federation and, in particular, the energy-rich Siberian region, effectively improving the environment to create more comfortable living conditions for humans. The undoubted advantage of this project is the comprehensive approach to achieving technological development in the energy sector of the Russian economy. Most of the problems addressed by this project are actively discussed in world literature, but the lack of practical solutions related to increasing the energy efficiency of existing technologies together with increasing their sustainability and reliability, in the context of existing climate risks, is repeatedly mentioned, – explained Sergey Alekseenko.

    Currently, the energy sector is undergoing significant transformations, both related to climate change and caused by the overall direction of development to improve the efficiency of hydrocarbon processing and the introduction of new energy sources. Since Russia is in extremely difficult sanctions conditions, there is an urgent need to develop domestic technologies in almost all areas of energy and the economy. The ongoing modernization and improvement of energy efficiency, the development of renewable energy sources and technologies that reduce carbon dioxide emissions, but at a rate that does not exceed the country’s economic capabilities, is becoming an urgent task.

    “The primary objectives of our scientific research are the development of low- and carbon-free energy technologies, as well as increasing the efficiency of energy equipment, which will help reduce the anthropogenic impact on climate change and the destruction of the Earth’s ozone layer,” explained Sergei Alekseenko.

    The project plans to conduct research in five main areas. The first is to increase the efficiency of using solid fossil fuel (coal) — the primary source of heat and electricity in Siberia and the Far East. It is aimed at environmentally friendly combustion of this type of fuel and the use of currently unclaimed low-calorie coal waste through the development of new technologies for separate and joint combustion of coal-water and pulverized coal fuel. To achieve these goals, the scientific foundations and mathematical modeling of promising approaches to environmentally friendly combustion of coal fuel in combustion chambers, the improvement of low-emission vortex technologies for multi-stage combustion and gasification, and the use of machine learning methods will be developed. The development of technology for separate and joint combustion of coal-water and pulverized coal fuel will ensure high boiler efficiency and low emissions of environmentally harmful NOx, which is one of the primary tasks of energy development in the Russian Federation.

    The second area of research is hydrokinetic conversion of natural flow energy: the basis for creating new modern technologies for producing and accumulating energy at pumped storage power plants (PSPP). In this area, it is necessary to achieve a reduction in resistance in the elements of energy structures. Within the framework of the project, scientists will form a scientific basis for creating modern technologies for producing and accumulating energy based on PSPP. The results obtained will contribute to the development of highly efficient energy storage technology, equalization of the heterogeneity of the electrical network load, as well as optimization and implementation of new renewable energy sources.

    The third direction will be devoted to the development of energy technologies based on the utilization of low-potential waste man-made and geothermal heat sources in absorption lithium bromide thermal transformers (ABTT). In this direction, it is planned to conduct a study of heat and mass transfer processes to improve energy efficiency and reduce the metal consumption of ABTT to enhance competitiveness in the domestic market of the Russian Federation. The use of ABTT as heat pumps will significantly reduce fuel consumption and utilize waste heat from enterprises, thermal power facilities and renewable geothermal sources.

    The object of research within the fourth direction of the project will be energy-efficient low-carbon technologies for cultivating microorganisms as a source of thermal energy from biomass with a high growth rate, and a source of unique biologically active compounds, as well as efficient utilization of CO2 emissions and wastewater treatment from organic waste of various agricultural enterprises. The project will develop scientific principles of vortex mixing and technical solutions for efficient cultivation of photosynthetic microorganisms of various systematic groups. The results in this area will allow significant progress in the utilization of CO2 emissions and additional treatment of wastewater from industrial enterprises, especially in regions with high solar intensity (Crimea, Krasnodar Krai).

    Another area of research within the framework of this project will be the development of scientific foundations and technologies for combating icing of load-bearing structures of energy facilities and cable routes in winter climate conditions and in the Arctic regions of the Russian Federation. A system of measures will be developed related to the development of a new technology for the use of superhydrophobic coatings. As a result of the study, scientists plan to determine a combined model of an anti-icing system that is optimal in terms of energy costs and efficiency and to develop a strategy for combating icing.

    — The expected result of the project will be the creation of scientific foundations for increasing the efficiency of energy technologies and the development of a concept for adapting the existing energy infrastructure to climate change. The results obtained in each of the five main areas of the project will contribute to the further development of energy, taking into account the existing climatic zones of our country, — said Sergey Alekseenko.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A budget splash to conserve 30% of Australia’s lands will save species – if we choose the right 30%

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Watson, Professor in Conservation Science, School of the Environment, The University of Queensland

    Hans Wismeijer/Shutterstock

    In 2022, Australia and many other nations agreed to protect 30% of their lands and waters by 2030 to arrest the rapid decline in biodiversity.

    Since then, the Albanese government has protected large new areas of ocean, taking the total up to 52% of territorial waters. In tonight’s federal budget, the government is expected to announce A$250 million in funding to protect an additional 30 million hectares of land over the next five years. At present, Australia protects 22% of its lands through its National Reserve System. This would take the total to 30%.

    You might expect conservationists to be ecstatic. But we’re not. Large new areas of desert and arid areas are likely to be protected under this scheme, because these areas have minimal population and are not sought after by farming. But these ecosystems are already well protected.

    We have to come back to the point of the 30 by 30 agreement: protect biodiversity. That means the government has to protect representative samples of all ecosystems – including in areas sought for farming or other human uses.

    This cropped map shows Australia’s protected lands and waters as of 2022. Subantarctic islands are not included.
    Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, CC BY

    Buying land is only a fraction of the task

    For years, Australia’s National Reserve System of national parks, state parks and Indigenous Protected Areas has languished. The last big infusion of funding and political interest came between 2007 and 2010 under a previous Labor government, when Peter Garrett was environment minister. Then, the government expanded the reserve system, grew Indigenous Protected Areas and ensured new reserves would preserve a representative sample of Australia’s ecosystems.

    Since then, conservation efforts have largely not been up to scratch. Funding has stagnated. National parks are riddled with invasive species and other environmental problems.

    On funding grounds alone, the $250m announced by Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek is welcome. It is, however, just a fraction of what’s needed to properly protect the right areas.

    In 2023, environmental organisations called for a $5 billion fund to buy and protect important habitat – and to pay for maintenance.

    The purchase of land represents perhaps 10% of the overall cost of conservation. If you buy land and do nothing, it can be overrun by invasive species. Australia’s ever-larger number of threatened species are often threatened because of these species, as well as the growing threat of land clearing in Queensland and the Northern Territory. Fire management is another cost.

    Feral pigs and other invasive species place pressure on many ecosystems.
    Russ Jenkins/Shutterstock

    Which lands actually need protection?

    As successive governments have backed away from conservation, non-government organisations such as the Australian Land Conservation Alliance, Bush Heritage Australia and Australian Wildlife Conservancy have stepped up. These organisations are doing fine work in protecting land and doing the necessary on-ground land management to safeguard threatened species and ecosystems, but they do not have access to resources at a government scale.

    So how will this government funding be used? It’s likely we will see further growth in Indigenous Protected Areas – areas managed by Traditional Owners alongside authorities to protect biodiversity.

    These areas are often located where low rainfall often means they are not viable for farming. This means there’s less conflict over what to do with the land. If our government is determined to meet the 30% target as quickly and cheaply as possible, we may well see more arid lands and desert protected.

    When you set a target of 30% protected land by 2030, governments often see the top-line figure and aim for that alone. But the text of the international agreement stresses the need to prioritise “areas of particular importance for biodiversity”.

    Governments have a choice: the easy, less effective way or the hard but effective way. The recent growth in marine protected areas suggests the government is taking the easy path. Even though the science is clear that marine parks bolster fish stocks in and outside the park, they are still controversial among fishers who believe they are being locked out.

    As a result, Australia’s marine park system has made greatest gains where there are very few humans who might protest, such as quadrupling the protected areas around the very remote Heard and McDonald Islands in the sub-Antarctic region. (The government has expanded marine parks at a smaller scale closer to population centres too.)

    This same story may well play out on land.

    What would it look like if our government was willing to do what was necessary? It would involve actively seeking out the ecological communities in clear decline, such as native grasslands, brigalow woodlands and swamps, and buying up remaining habitat.

    The oceans off Heard and McDonald Islands are now better protected – but was this the easy option? Pictured: Heard Island from satellite.
    zelvan/Shutterstock

    Saving here, clearing there

    On the one hand, 22% of Australia’s land and 52% of seas come under some form of protection. But on the other, over the last two decades an area the size of Tasmania has been cleared – largely for livestock farming and mining. Satellite analyses show land clearing is actually increasing in many parts of the country.

    Land clearing places further pressure on threatened species. In fact, most species considered threatened with extinction are largely in this situation because the land they live on has attributes prized by farmers or graziers, such as grass and water.

    Australia’s environment faces real challenges in the next few years. Intensified land clearing, worsening climate change and whiplash drought-flood cycles, to say nothing of ballooning feral populations.

    If we protect the right 30% of Australia, we have a chance to ensure most of our ecosystems have areas protected. But if we protect the wrong 30% and leave the rest open to bulldozers, we will only lock in more extinctions.

    James Watson has received funding from the Australian Research Council, National Environmental Science Program, South Australia’s Department of Environment and Water, Queensland’s Department of Environment, Science and Innovation as well as from Bush Heritage Australia, Queensland Conservation Council, Australian Conservation Foundation, The Wilderness Society and Birdlife Australia. He serves on the scientific committee of BirdLife Australia and has a long-term scientific relationship with Bush Heritage Australia and Wildlife Conservation Society. He serves on the Queensland government’s Land Restoration Fund’s Investment Panel as the Deputy Chair.

    – ref. A budget splash to conserve 30% of Australia’s lands will save species – if we choose the right 30% – https://theconversation.com/a-budget-splash-to-conserve-30-of-australias-lands-will-save-species-if-we-choose-the-right-30-252918

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s message on the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade [scroll down for French version]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Download the video:  https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+Intl+Slave+Trade+21+Feb+25/MSG+SG+INTL+SLAVE+TRADE+21+FEB+25.mp4

    The transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans was a crime against humanity that resonates through history and continues to scar societies. Today, we remember the women, children, and men torn from their loved ones, forced to work in agonizing conditions, cruelly punished, and deprived of their dignity and human rights, and we recall their acts of resistance and demands for justice.

    For more than four centuries, millions of Africans were kidnapped, trafficked, abused and dehumanized. This horrific enterprise rested on the destructive lie of white supremacy. And it saw many colonizers, corporations and institutions amass unimaginable wealth.

    For too long, these unthinkable acts have remained unacknowledged, unspoken, and unaddressed, all as their legacies continue to shape our world. Many still benefit from the odious profits reaped from chattel slavery. Systemic racism has been embedded into institutions, cultures, and legal and other systems. Deeply rooted exclusion, racial discrimination and violence continue to undermine the ability of many people of African descent to thrive and prosper.

    As the theme of this year’s International Day reminds us, acknowledging the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade is an essential step towards addressing the past, repairing the present, and building a future of dignity and justice for all.  It is imperative to put in place reparatory justice frameworks that address this terrible history and its legacies. And we must end the evil of racism for good.

    The human dignity of every person stands at the heart of the United Nations. We will always stand with everyone, everywhere to combat racial discrimination and hate, and to defend the human rights and dignity of all.

    ***

    La traite transatlantique des Africains réduits en esclavage a été un crime contre l’humanité dont les répercussions se font sentir à travers les siècles et qui continue de marquer les sociétés. Aujourd’hui, nous honorons la mémoire des femmes, des enfants et des hommes qui ont été arrachés à leurs proches, contraints de travailler dans des conditions atroces, cruellement châtiés et privés de leur dignité et de leurs droits humains, et nous nous souvenons de leurs actes de résistance et de leurs appels à la justice.

    Pendant plus de quatre siècles, des millions d’Africains ont été enlevés aux fins de la traite, maltraités et déshumanisés. Ces atrocités étaient fondées sur un mensonge destructeur : le suprémacisme blanc. Nombre de colonisateurs, entreprises et institutions en ont profité pour amasser des richesses incalculables.

    Pendant trop longtemps, ces agissements inimaginables, qui ont été occultés et passés sous silence, n’ont suscité aucune réaction, alors que leurs effets continuent d’imprégner le monde. Nombreux sont ceux qui profitent encore des odieux bénéfices tirés de l’esclavage traditionnel. Le racisme systémique est ancré dans les institutions, les cultures ainsi que les systèmes juridiques et d’autres systèmes. Profondément enracinées, l’exclusion, la discrimination raciale et la violence continuent d’empêcher beaucoup de personnes d’ascendance africaine de s’épanouir et de prospérer.

    Cette année, le thème de la Journée internationale nous rappelle qu’il est indispensable de prendre conscience des horreurs de la traite transatlantique des esclaves pour faire face au passé, réparer le présent et bâtir un avenir où dignité et justice sont garanties pour tout le monde. Il est impératif d’établir des cadres de justice réparatrice qui permettent de regarder en face ce sombre chapitre de l’histoire et ses conséquences. Nous devons mettre un terme, une fois pour toutes, au fléau qu’est le racisme.

    La dignité humaine de chaque personne est au cœur de l’Organisation des Nations Unies. Nous nous tiendrons toujours aux côtés de tous ceux et celles qui, partout dans le monde, luttent contre la discrimination raciale et la haine et défendent les droits humains et la dignité de toutes les personnes.

    ***
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Milestone moment as EIT Auckland celebrates largest ever graduation | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

    Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

    23 seconds ago

    Celebrations filled the Aotea Centre as EIT Auckland Campus held its largest ever graduation, with a record 216 students crossing the stage in front of proud family, friends and faculty.

    To accommodate the growing number of graduates, two ceremonies were held – 96 students in the morning and 120 in the afternoon. The graduates, many of whom are international students, received postgraduate degrees and diplomas across a variety of disciplines at the ceremony on Tuesday (March 25).

    The EIT Auckland Campus held its graduation ceremonies today.

    EIT Auckland Campus Director Cherie Freeman congratulated the graduates and acknowledged the commitment and perseverance they had shown throughout their studies.

    “This is a momentous occasion for our campus,” she said. “Not only is it our largest graduation to date, but it’s also a celebration of the incredible resilience, hard work and cultural diversity our students bring to EIT Auckland.”

    Among those honoured were valedictorians Muddassar Khot, who graduated with a Master of Information Technology, and Mai Nguyễn, who graduated with a Master of Business. Both delivered heartfelt speeches reflecting on their academic journeys and the support of their peers, tutors and families.

    EIT Auckland offers a selection of programmes in business, computing and health science, including the Master of Applied Management, Master of Digital Business, Master of Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Master of Information Technology, and Master of Health Science.

    “Graduation is a special occasion not just for our students, but for everyone who has supported them along the way,” said Cherie. “We’re excited to see the impact our graduates will go on to make in their communities and industries.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Science – Marine biosecurity watch at Port Taranaki – NIWA

    Source: NIWA

    A biosecurity survey of the waters of Port Taranaki was recently conducted as part of regular monitoring of a dozen New Zealand ports and marinas deemed high-risk biosecurity areas. The port has been part of MPI’s National Marine High Risk Site Surveillance (NMHRSS) programme since 2009, with marine surveys undertaken each summer and winter.
    The surveillance surveys identify potential seasonal changes in the abundance and distribution of marine non-indigenous species, says NIWA Principal Technician Marine Ecology Louis Olsen, who has led the team surveying Port Taranaki for the last seven years, the only west coast port in the programme. “The main aim of the surveys is to detect five primary target species: Pacific sea star, European shore crab, Aquarium caulerpa (alga), Chinese mitten crab and Asian clam. These species have not yet been detected within our waters but are identified as high-risk to our economy, environment, and societal values, based on how much damage they could cause and their history of invasive traits within other countries.”
    The NMHRSS programme also looks out for specific secondary target pest species that have been detected around New Zealand but with restricted distributions, as well as marine species not previously recorded within our waters. “From our work at other surveillance sites we are familiar with the native and introduced species, but if something different is found, we get it formally identified and notify MPI. Sometimes we get interesting fish coming across the Tasman Sea from Australia.”
    The data that our surveys collect on species not only assists MPI’s marine biosecurity management, but also helps Taranaki Regional Council and other territorial authorities, Māori partners, industry, and the many stakeholders who benefit from a port free from invasive species, he says.
    The survey, which takes three or four days, involves divers, boat skippers, scientists and technicians, with dives, seafloor sampling, shoreline searches, and trapping, including using crab ‘condo’ habitat traps. “The surveys are a significant part of NIWA’s marine biosecurity work. It’s a really important part of the science that we do to ensure our coasts remain safe from invasive species.”
    Once the taxonomic identity of any suspect samples taken are confirmed, MPI can inform Taranaki Regional Council, Māori partners, industry, and the many stakeholders with a vested interest of the survey results. Survey results from across all NMHRSS programme surveys are also uploaded to the open access Marine Biosecurity Porthole ( Home » Marine Biosecurity Porthole ), a collaboration between Biosecurity New Zealand and NIWA to provide greater access to information and data on marine non-indigenous species in New Zealand.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese universities boost, broaden AI courses amid tech boom

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

    BEIJING, March 25 — A course on large language models and generative AI at China’s elite Tsinghua University in Beijing has become very popular this new semester. One student even described it on social media as being “crazier than the Spring Festival travel rush.”

    A classroom hosting this course was packed beyond capacity, with doorways, aisles, steps and even the space immediately outside filled with eager learners, some of whom stood for the entire two-hour session just to be part of it.

    This frenzy came after Tsinghua’s launch of a program for all graduate students to boost AI skills, part of a broader national push to cultivate talent in cutting-edge fields amid rapid technological advancements.

    AI, notably, is no longer confined to science and engineering — it has become a general education subject for students across disciplines.

    “The integration of AI into university general education signifies that it has evolved into a universal technology for learning, researching and working,” said Wu Fei, director of the Institute of Artificial Intelligence of Zhejiang University in east China. “Mastering the use of AI is now a skill that everyone should acquire.”

    In 2023, China’s Ministry of Education laid out a plan for optimizing emerging disciplines by 2025, in a quest to keep in touch with new technologies, emerging sectors and new business modes.

    The recent government work report also emphasizes efforts to expand quality undergraduate education and accelerate the development of world-class universities and academic disciplines.

    Accordingly, leading Chinese universities such as Tsinghua University, Wuhan University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have announced plans to expand their enrollments in AI and related interdisciplinary fields to meet growing demands.

    Medicine is one of the most closely integrated disciplines. Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University currently offers over 20 AI-related courses, which cover both essential computer theories and practical applications.

    “Deep Learning in Medical Imaging” is one such course. The teaching team for this course consists of professors with backgrounds in biomedical engineering, who deeply understand the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration.

    “AI is a highly specialized field. Without systematic learning, it would be extremely challenging for medical students to study it on their own,” said Song Zhijian, the course director and a professor from the School of Basic Medical Sciences at Fudan.

    “After finishing each section, the programming instructors consistently verify whether we had grasped the content,” said Song Jiahao, an undergraduate who started his university studies in 2023. This student is currently working on a research project related to angiography, also known as radiography of blood vessels, which involves using image processing software and selecting appropriate images to train AI models.

    “We will promote the deep integration of medicine and AI through interdisciplinary education — including the introduction of a smart medicine major in medical schools,” said Zhu Tongyu, vice president of the medical college, adding that the smart medicine program has been added to the list of Shanghai’s top 10 future disciplines.

    While enhancing AI education, Chinese universities also place great emphasis on collaborating with industries and enterprises. For instance, Nanjing University in east China’s Jiangsu Province has worked closely with leading tech enterprises, such as Baidu and Huawei, to jointly develop intelligent tools that support AI-based teaching and assessment.

    Chengdu-based Southwest Jiaotong University in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, meanwhile, has partnered with Amazon, JD.com and other companies in designing AI courses to enhance the practical skills of students. The university has also established a training system for top-tier AI talent, spanning undergraduate to doctoral levels.

    China’s long-term vision for education was reinforced in January with the unveiling of a master plan concerning building the country into a leading nation in terms of education by 2035.

    “DeepSeek and robotics represent China’s achievements in technological innovation and talent cultivation, while also placing new demands on our education development and talent training,” said China’s Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng.

    The need is clear — job postings for drone engineers, algorithm engineers and machine learning positions saw a year-on-year increase of about 40 percent in February, according to a survey by Zhaopin, an online recruitment platform in China. Industry reports indicate that by 2030, China is likely to face a shortage of 4 million AI professionals.

    Experts believe that fostering collaboration between universities and enterprises is key to bridging the gap between talent development levels and enterprise needs — while also enhancing university research via enterprise technology.

    “Higher education in any country is a valuable resource for national strategy,” Huai said, adding that more efforts will be made to incorporate key fields, such as AI and biotechnology, to better align with national strategies and technological development.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Top legislator holds talks with Italy’s Senate president

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with Italy’s Senate President Ignazio La Russa in Beijing, capital of China, March 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Zhao Leji, China’s top legislator, held talks with Italy’s Senate President Ignazio La Russa in Beijing on Monday.

    Zhao, chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, said that key to the healthy and steady development of China-Italy relations is the commitment of both sides to mutual respect, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and pursuing win-win cooperation.

    China appreciates Italy’s adherence to the one-China principle and is willing to tap into cooperation potential in shipbuilding, aerospace and new energy, Zhao said, adding that cooperation in the fields of culture, art, tourism and education should also be strengthened.

    He called for increased exchange between the NPC and Italy’s parliament within bilateral and multilateral frameworks.

    He said China is ready to work with the EU to use the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to promote the sustained, steady and sound development of China-EU relations, and hopes Italy will continue to play a positive role in this regard.

    He said companies from all over the world, including those from Italy, are welcome to seize cooperation opportunities in and grow alongside the Chinese economy.

    La Russa said that Italy and China can work together to make new contributions to world peace and stability. Italy hopes to expand cooperation in the fields of the economy, trade, science, technology and culture to promote the continuous development of bilateral relations and the sound, steady development of EU-China relations.

    He added that Italy’s Senate is willing to take on closer exchanges with China’s NPC. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Technology has shaped human knowledge for centuries. Generative AI is set to transform it yet again

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Vivienne Bentley, Research Scientist, Responsible Innovation, Data61, CSIRO

    Cristóbal Ascencio & Archival Images of AI & AIxDESIGN/Better Images of AI, CC BY-SA

    Where would we be without knowledge? Everything from the building of spaceships to the development of new therapies has come about through the creation, sharing, and validation of knowledge. It is arguably our most valuable human commodity.

    From clay tablets to electronic tablets, technology has played an influential role in shaping human knowledge. Today we stand on the brink of the next knowledge revolution. It is one as big as — if not more so — the invention of the printing press, or the dawning of the digital age.

    Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is a revolutionary new technology able to collect and summarise knowledge from across the internet at the click of a button. Its impact is already being felt from the classroom to the boardroom, the laboratory to the rainforest.

    Looking back to look forward, what do we expect generative AI to do to our knowledge practices? And can we foresee how this may change human knowledge, for better or worse?

    The power of the printing press

    While printing technology had a huge immediate impact, we are still coming to grips with the full scale of its effects on society. This impact was largely due to its ability to spread knowledge to millions of people.

    Of course, human knowledge existed before the printing press. Non-written forms of knowledge date back tens of thousands of years, and researchers are today demonstrating the advanced skills associated with verbal knowledge.

    In turn, scribal culture played an integral role in ancient civilisations. Serving as a means to preserve legal codes, religious doctrines, or literary texts, scribes were powerful people who traded hand-written commodities for kings and nobles.

    But it was the printing press – specifically the process of using movable type allowing for much cheaper and less labour-intensive book production – that democratised knowledge. This technology was invented in Germany around 1440 by goldsmith Johannes Gutenberg. Often described as the speaking of one-to-many, printing technology was able to provide affordable information to entire populations.

    This exponential increase in knowledge dissemination has been associated with huge societal shifts, from the European Renaissance to the rise of the middle classes.

    The printing press was invented in Germany around 1440.
    Daniel Chodowiecki/Wikipedia

    The revolutionary potential of the digital age

    The invention of the computer – and more importantly the connecting of multiple computers across the globe via the internet – saw the arrival of another knowledge revolution.

    Often described as a new reality of speaking many-to-many, the internet provided a means for people to communicate, share ideas, and learn.

    In the internet’s early days, USENET bulletin boards were digital chatrooms that allowed for unmediated crowd-sourced information exchange.

    As internet users increased, the need for content regulation and moderation also grew. However, the internet’s role as the world’s largest open-access library has remained.

    Computers set in motion another knowledge revolution, providing a means for people to communicate, share ideas, and learn at an unprecedented scale.
    Masini/Shutterstock

    The promise of generative AI

    Generative AI refers to deep-learning models capable of generating human-like outputs, including text, images, video and audio. Examples include ChatGPT, Dall-E and DeepSeek.

    Today, this new technology promises to function as our personal librarian, reducing our need to search for a book, let alone open its cover. Visiting physical libraries for information has been unnecessary for a while, but generative AI means we no longer need to even scroll through lists of electronic sources.

    Trained on hundreds of billions of human words, AI can condense and synthesise vast amounts of information, across a variety of authors, subjects, or time periods. A user can pose any question to their AI assistant, and for the most part, will receive a competent answer. Generative AI can sometimes, however, “hallucinate”, meaning it will deliver unreliable or false information, instead of admitting it doesn’t know the answer.

    Generative AI can also personalise its outputs, providing renditions in whatever language and tone required. Marketed as the ultimate democratiser of knowledge, the adaptation of information to suit a person’s interests, pace, abilities, and style is extraordinary.

    But, as an increasingly prevalent arbitrator of our information needs, AI marks a new phase in the history of the relationship between knowledge and technology.

    It challenges the very concept of human knowledge: its authorship, ownership and veracity. It also risks forfeiting the one-to-many revolution that was the printing press and the many-to-many potential that is the internet. In so doing, is generative AI inadvertently reducing the voices of many to the banality of one?

    Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT can condense and synthesise vast amounts of information, across a variety of authors, subjects, or time periods.
    Ascannio/Shutterstock

    Using generative AI wisely

    Most knowledge is born of debate, contention, and challenge. It relies on diligence, reflexivity and application. The question of whether generative AI promotes these qualities is an open one, and evidence is so far mixed.

    Some studies show it improves creative thinking, but others do not. Yet others show that while it might be helping individuals, it is ultimately diminishing our collective potential. Most educators are concerned it will dampen critical thinking.

    More generally, research on “digital amnesia” tells us that we store less information in our heads today than we did previously due to our growing reliance on digital devices. And, relatedly, people and organisations are now increasingly dependent on digital technology.

    Using history as inspiration, more than 2,500 years ago the Greek philosopher Socrates said that true wisdom is knowing when we know nothing.

    If generative AI risks making us information rich but thinking poor (or individually knowledgeable but collectively ignorant), these words might be the one piece of knowledge we need right now.

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

    – ref. Technology has shaped human knowledge for centuries. Generative AI is set to transform it yet again – https://theconversation.com/technology-has-shaped-human-knowledge-for-centuries-generative-ai-is-set-to-transform-it-yet-again-252616

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Ukraine conflict brings EU-US ties to historic low

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The recent U.S.-brokered Russia-Ukraine peace talks highlighted growing divisions between Washington and Brussels, bringing trans-Atlantic relations to a historic low, an Italian geopolitical analyst has said.

    Sergio Fabbrini, a political science professor at Rome’s LUISS University, told Xinhua that the exclusion of Europe from the talks underscores the EU’s declining influence in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, due in large part to the bloc’s lack of unified foreign policy coordination.

    “This episode reveals the European Union’s structural weakness,” he said during a university conference on Monday. “Without a central authority to speak for all members, the bloc struggles to assert itself on the global stage, particularly when the U.S. chooses to act unilaterally.”

    This institutional fragmentation, he said, coincides with the skeptical view of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration of the EU. The U.S. president has repeatedly characterized the EU as “an institution designed to undermine American interests rather than bolster global security.”

    Fabbrini emphasized the fundamental divergence in how both sides perceive the Ukraine crisis. “For Europe, this is an existential security threat happening on our doorstep. For Washington, it’s a geopolitical calculation involving great powers,” he said.

    The professor warned that the current tensions mark “one of the worst crises in trans-Atlantic history,” urging Europe to develop more independent diplomatic capacity.

    “Geographical reality demands that Europe take greater responsibility for its own security architecture while maintaining equilibrium between national interests and collective European stability,” he said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s fiscal revenue down 1.6 pct in first two months

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China’s fiscal revenue dipped 1.6 percent year on year to nearly 4.39 trillion yuan (about 611.59 billion U.S. dollars) in the first two months of the year, according to data from the Ministry of Finance released on Monday.

    The central government collected nearly 1.95 trillion yuan in fiscal revenue, down 5.8 percent year on year, while local governments collected nearly 2.44 trillion yuan, up 2 percent year on year.

    China’s fiscal expenditure expanded by 3.4 percent year on year to nearly 4.51 trillion yuan in the first two months. The central government’s fiscal expenditure rose by 8.6 percent year on year, while there was a 2.7 percent increase in expenditure by local governments during the same period.

    In breakdown, education expenditure hit 737.7 billion yuan, up 7.7 percent year on year, science and technology expenditure exceeded 112.2 billion yuan, a 10.6 percent year-on-year increase, and expenditure on social security and employment hit 854 billion yuan, up 6.7 percent year on year. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s top legislator holds talks with Italy’s Senate president

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with Italy’s Senate President Ignazio La Russa in Beijing, capital of China, March 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Zhao Leji, China’s top legislator, held talks with Italy’s Senate President Ignazio La Russa in Beijing on Monday.

    Zhao, chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, said that key to the healthy and steady development of China-Italy relations is the commitment of both sides to mutual respect, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and pursuing win-win cooperation.

    China appreciates Italy’s adherence to the one-China principle and is willing to tap into cooperation potential in shipbuilding, aerospace and new energy, Zhao said, adding that cooperation in the fields of culture, art, tourism and education should also be strengthened.

    He called for increased exchange between the NPC and Italy’s parliament within bilateral and multilateral frameworks.

    He said China is ready to work with the EU to use the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to promote the sustained, steady and sound development of China-EU relations, and hopes Italy will continue to play a positive role in this regard.

    He said companies from all over the world, including those from Italy, are welcome to seize cooperation opportunities in and grow alongside the Chinese economy.

    La Russa said that Italy and China can work together to make new contributions to world peace and stability. Italy hopes to expand cooperation in the fields of the economy, trade, science, technology and culture to promote the continuous development of bilateral relations and the sound, steady development of EU-China relations.

    He added that Italy’s Senate is willing to take on closer exchanges with China’s NPC. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey Joins Peters, Senate Committee Ranking Members in Demanding Immediate Review by Agency Inspectors General of Trump Administration’s Mass Dismissals of Federal Employees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Senators Question Trump Administration Claims and Whether Actions Will Increase Waste and Abuse

    Washington (March 21, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee joined Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and 15 Senate Committee Ranking Members in sending a letter to the Inspectors General of 23 federal agencies, pressing for details on the impact of President Trump’s sweeping and unprecedented dismissal of tens of thousands of federal employees. The senators asked the Inspectors General to review the Trump Administration’s actions, citing potential violations of federal laws and procedures, which the senators warn could harm Americans’ access to vital government services and increase waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars.
    “The decision to terminate thousands of employees across multiple federal agencies will impose undue hardship on millions of Americans who rely on their services,” wrote the Senators. “The loss of experienced agency staff may risk causing serious disruptions to nearly 73 million Americans who rely on the Social Security Administration (SSA) to administer retiree and disability benefits and 9.1 million veterans who depend on the Department of Veteran Affairs (V.A.), many of which rely on the V.A. for life saving medical treatments and care.”  
    Highlighting the devastating consequences of these mass firings, the senators underscored the Trump Administration’s layoffs have already disrupted critical operations at agencies that millions of Americans depend on for survival. 
    “Among the 2,400 employees fired from the V.A. since Mr. Trump’s inauguration are workers who purchase medical supplies, schedule appointments and arrange rides for patients to see their doctors,” wrote the Senators, citing a NY Times report. “Additionally, taxpayers seeking in-person assistance as they navigate the 2025 filing season may find the support centers they previously relied on completely relocated or shuttered. That risk is a direct consequence of the Administration’s mass dismissals and decision to terminate over 100 IRS offices with Tax Assistance Centers (TAC) – which provide free, in-person assistance for those seeking it.”
    The senators are requesting that IGs examine whether these dismissals violated agency policies and assess the damage to agency missions, public safety, and national security, calling for an initial review to be completed within 60 days, with findings made available to the public to ensure transparency and accountability.  
    The letter was signed by U.S. Senators and Ranking Members Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Special Committee on Aging, Patty Murray (D-WA), Committee on Appropriations, Jack Reed (D-RI), Committee on Armed Services, Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Committee on Environment and Public Works, Ron Wyden (D-OR), Committee on Finance, Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Committee on Foreign Relations, Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Dick Durbin (D-IL), Committee on the Judiciary, Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Committee on the Budget.
    The full text of the letter can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Celebrates Opening of South Coast Rail

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    For the first time in 65 years, cities and towns in southeastern Massachusetts will have passenger rail service
    Boston (March 24, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, released the following statement celebrating the formal opening of South Coast Commuter Rail service. South Coast Rail will offer reliable public transit between Boston and communities in southeastern Massachusetts, including Taunton, New Bedford, Fall River, Middleborough, Freetown, and the surrounding region. It represents the first time since the late 1950s that riders on the South Coast can take a one-seat rail trip to Boston. Now, all major cities within 50 miles of Boston have Commuter Rail access.
    “We are one stop closer to transit justice with daily Commuter Rail service to southeastern Massachusetts,” said Senator Markey. “The opening of South Coast Rail represents a long-awaited celebration for Taunton, Fall River, New Bedford, and beyond. I am grateful to Governor Healey, the MBTA, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, and all the leaders and advocates on the South Coast who are making this project a reality. This milestone represents a major leap in addressing a critical gap in our state’s public transit system. Together, we are expanding rail service, reducing congestion, increasing economic opportunity, and more equitably connecting our Commonwealth. I look forward to continuing to work with state and local officials, community members, and our federal delegation to expand public transit throughout the South Coast and across Massachusetts.”
    Senator Markey is a long-time advocate for expanding rail transit. He previously introduced the Building Rail Across Intercity Networks To Ride Around Interior of the Nation (BRAIN TRAIN) Act, which established a new $25 billion passenger rail grant program and required the Federal Railroad Administration to prioritize projects that connect historically under-connected areas such as the South Coast. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law established a new Corridor Identification and Development Program aligned with, and that includes language from Senator Markey’s BRAIN TRAIN Act. Last Congress, he introduced the All Aboard Act, which would dedicate $200 billion over five years to build high-speed rail, expand existing passenger rail service, and electrify the most heavily polluting railyards and corridors. The legislation also includes critical labor protections for the existing union labor workforce and creates a rail personnel training grant program for rail workers. Senator Markey has also been a strong advocate to secure funding for West-East passenger train service running through Boston, Worcester, and Western Massachusetts, helping to secure a $108 million grant for the project, followed by a second $36.8 million grant.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Medicaid Cuts Would Cost Money and Endanger Lives, Say Central WA Health Care Providers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    03.21.25
    Medicaid Cuts Would Cost Money and Endanger Lives, Say Central WA Health Care Providers
    Medicaid, known in WA as Apple Health, would face significant cuts from GOP budget proposal to slash up to $880 billion from essential health care program
    RICHLAND, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), senior member of the Senate Finance Committee and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, held a press conference with Central Washington health care professionals and providers to discuss the harms that would result from proposed cuts to Medicaid.
    “Our health care system today does save money when we give people the freedom to see a doctor when they need to, instead of forcing them to wait until they absolutely have to,” said Sen. Cantwell. ”These attempts aren’t about reducing costs, they are literally about destroying our health care system.”
    “It is a tsunami. And trust me, this is not a drill,” she continued. “This is a real proposal, and we have to wake up the American people, and certainly here in Central Washington, to the devastating impacts they could see if Medicaid was cut.”
    “There’s very good evidence from multiple studies that preventive care delivers better quality of life, better health outcomes, at a lower overall cost,” said Dr. Richard Meadows, Chief Medical Officer, Providence Clinical Network. “The thought that somehow saving money by not funding Medicaid would be better for our country, it just does not make any financial sense, because we know from studies that if you wait and treat things later on it is far more expensive. People miss more time from work, they’re not able to be there for their families, and ultimately it costs all of us as taxpayers more money.”
    Brenda Morgan, a Tri-Cities area home care provider, shared the story of her client, Samantha, an autistic young adult with a heart condition, who needs a feeding tube for meals and medications. “She wants me to ask you,” Morgan said, “’Why aren’t people thinking about us? Do they not know that I can’t survive without Medicaid?’”
    Medicaid is the federal program that insures many low-income adults and children, pregnant people, seniors, and people with disabilities. Washington state’s Medicaid program, Apple Health, ensures that eligible Washingtonians can afford to seek health care and see providers when they need to.  The program also ensures that hospitals receive reimbursements for the significant number of low-income people they serve. Medicaid paid for $3.36 billion in hospital care in Washington state in state fiscal year 2024. More than 1.9 million Washingtonians are enrolled in Medicaid.
    In the 4th U.S. Congressional District, 70% of children and 24% of adults are covered by Medicaid / Apple Health.
    In Washington state legislative district 16, which includes Richland, 60% of kids and 32% of the total population are covered by Medicaid / Apple Health.
    In legislative district 8, which includes Kennewick and most of Benton County, 49% of kids and 26% of the total population are covered by Medicaid / Apple Health.
    In Yakima County’s legislative district 15, 87% of kids and 51% of the population are covered by Medicaid / Apple Health. These are the highest numbers for any legislative district in the state.
    On February 25, House Republicans voted to advance President Trump’s budget resolution, which proposes up to an $880 billion cut from Medicaid.
    Last month, Sen. Cantwell released a snapshot report highlighting the impact that slashing Medicaid to fund tax cuts for corporations and the ultra-wealthy would have on Washington state’s health care system — especially in Central and Eastern Washington.
    The other participants in today’s roundtable were Reza Kaleel, Chief Executive Southeast Washington Service Area Kadlec and Providence St. Mary; Regina Ahl, Director of Pharmacy, Tri-Cities Community Health; Dr. John Matheson, Chief Medical Officer, Kadlec Regional Medical Center; and Everett Maroon, Executive Director, Blue Mountain Heart to Heart.       
    Video of today’s entire press conference is HERE; video of Sen. Cantwell’s opening statement is HERE; photos are HERE; and a transcript of Sen. Cantwell’s opening statement is HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why does my kid eat so well at childcare but not at home?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nick Fuller, Clinical Trials Director, Department of Endocrinology, RPA Hospital, University of Sydney

    Maria Symchych/Shutterstock

    If you’ve ever picked up your child from childcare and wondered if they’re living a double life, you’re not alone.

    Parents often receive rave reports from educators about kids’ adventurous eating habits, only to face a different reality at home, when the child who devoured a veggie-packed curry at lunchtime morphs into a fussy eater refusing anything but dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets.

    While this confusing behaviour is frustrating, it’s completely normal.

    Here’s why it happens and what you can do.

    How kids’ tastes and eating behaviour develops

    To understand why kids eat differently in different settings, we need first to understand two factors that shape their tastes and food preferences:

    1. Genetics. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors developed physiological responses for survival that are embedded in our genes and influence taste preferences from birth. These include developing “food fussiness” – a natural aversion to unfamiliar foods and bitter flavours to avoid ingesting toxins – and learning to seek palatable foods rich in natural sugars, fat and protein to avoid starvation.

    2. Eating environment. As kids grow, their surroundings at mealtimes – namely carers’ eating habits, feeding practices, routines and social cues conveyed – shape what they actually eat and enjoy.

    The interaction between these two factors drives how fussy kids will be, their likes and dislikes and how open they are to new foods.

    Why eating behaviour differs between childcare and home

    The simple reason kids may eat differently at childcare comes down to the eating environment. Here’s what typically makes childcare different to home:

    1. Childcare has strict routines

    Childcare runs to a strict schedule, teaching kids to expect meals and snacks at set times and places. Meals are also planned to ensure kids sit down to eat when they’re hungry, and food is offered for a limited time – factors that help kids focus on eating.

    When mealtimes are less structured at home, it often leads to kids snacking, reducing their appetite at dinnertime. Distractions, like screens, also take kids’ attention away from eating.

    2. Kids are exposed to peer influence and different role models

    Kids are natural copycats, so seeing friends enjoying healthy food makes them more willing to try it. This behaviour is supported by a study showing that seating a preschooler who dislikes a vegetable next to a peer who enjoys it can gradually shift their preference, leading them to eat the previously disliked vegetable.

    Additionally, the social nature of eating in a group setting encourages kids to try new foods and eat more.

    Research also shows carers – who are trained to model enthusiasm for nutritious foods – shape healthy eating habits and help kids learn other valuable behaviours like table manners.

    At home, time constraints and limited knowledge can make it harder for parents to model these same behaviours.

    3. Childcare regularly exposes kids to new foods

    At childcare, meals are carefully planned according to Australian Dietary Guidelines and are focused on exposing kids to new foods regularly and repeatedly to get them comfortable with different tastes and textures.

    At home, busy family lives often lead to repetitive meal routines.

    4. Kids are offered limited choices

    At childcare, meals are planned with military precision and served without negotiation, teaching kids to try to eat what’s provided.

    At home, mealtimes can involve high-stakes negotiations when kids refuse certain foods, leading parents to surrender and offer alternatives – a tactic that only reinforces fussy eating and teaches kids to hold out for favourite foods.

    5. Kids are given some control over what they eat

    Kids have very little control over their daily lives – we’re constantly telling them what to do and when they’ll do it.

    However, one way kids assert control is by refusing to eat certain foods at home.

    Childcare cleverly gives kids the control they seek, encouraging them to serve themselves from shared platters, making them more willing to try new foods.

    6. Kids experience less attention and pressure

    At home, we naturally focus on what our child is eating (and not eating) which makes mealtimes stressful for kids.

    At childcare, kids don’t have an audience watching their every bite, so they feel less pressure, eat more freely and are more willing to try different foods.



    Read more:
    5 picky eating habits – and how to help your child overcome them

    Six ways to bring childcare eating habits home

    1. Stick to a strict routine

    Serve meals around the same time each day and establish snack times, ensuring they’re two hours before mealtimes so your child sits down hungry and ready to eat. Your routine should include putting devices away so your child’s full attention is on eating.

    2. Be a positive role model

    Because kids observe and mimic what they see, if you show enthusiasm for trying new foods and healthy eating your child will do the same.

    3. Get creative

    Take a leaf out of childcare’s book and ensure your child’s plate features different colours, textures and flavours presented in fun ways to capture and hold their interest in new foods.

    And just like childcare, do this regularly, as repeated exposure is key – it can take eight to ten exposures before your child will accept eating a new food.

    4. Limit food choices (but in a fun way)

    Offer limited choices but in a way that gives your child some control, like serving platter-style meals where they can choose what they want.

    Don’t give into food demands. While it’s tempting to offer alternatives when meals are refused, this creates more problems than it solves, reinforcing food fussiness and narrowing their diet.

    5. Encourage independence

    Actively involve your child in meal preparation, asking them to pick healthy recipes, help you shop and complete simple tasks like washing veggies and mixing ingredients. This can make them curious to taste the meal they’ve helped prepare.

    6. Make mealtimes stress-free

    Prioritise sitting down to eat as a family and ensure mealtimes are relaxed and fun – especially when you’re introducing new foods – to create positive associations with healthy eating.

    Nick Fuller is the author of Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids – a clinically proven blueprint to overcoming food fussiness.

    A/Professor Nick Fuller works for the University of Sydney and RPA Hospital and has received external funding for projects relating to the treatment of overweight and obesity. He is the author and founder of the Interval Weight Loss program, and the author of Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids with Penguin Books.

    – ref. Why does my kid eat so well at childcare but not at home? – https://theconversation.com/why-does-my-kid-eat-so-well-at-childcare-but-not-at-home-247447

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to UKHSA’s new Priority Pathogens reference tool

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on the UK Health Security Agency’s new Priority Pathogens reference tool for R&D funders.

    Prof Martin Hibberd, Professor of Emerging Infectious Disease, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), said:

    “I am pleased to see a guidance description for pathogens in a UK context being released, and that it will be up-dated yearly. As mentioned in the report, these lists cannot be comprehensive and different perspectives are likely to lead to different conclusions, but it’s release is likely to lead to more widespread consultations and honing of the findings for next year. While all the pathogen families are important, the three identified as priorities (Covid-19; Nipah virus; and avian influenza) are not surprising and I expect perhaps a more detailed, UK specific, priority list next year.”

     

    Darius Hughes, UK General Manager at Moderna, said:

    “This important work directly supports Moderna’s strategic partnership with the UK Government to strengthen national pandemic preparedness. By aligning our scientific innovation with the UKHSA’s priority pathogen list, we can help accelerate the development of vaccines where they are most urgently needed. This ensures our joint efforts are focused, forward-looking, and capable of responding rapidly to emerging biological threats—ultimately supporting the UK’s ambition to lead in global health security and protect public health through sustained innovation and collaboration.”

     

    Prof Miles Carroll, Professor of Emerging Viruses, Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, said:

    “This new Priority Pathogen Families R&D Tool from UK Health Security Agency is aligned with similar prioritisation from the UK Vaccines Network and the World Health Organization, but with a UK focus for obvious reasons.

    “The new R&D Tool is consistent with existing evidence, which is helping guide funders, policymakers and scientists on the most urgent research gaps in epidemic and pandemic pathogen threats.  Tools like this are important if we are to develop effective diagnostics, vaccines and treatments to support the UK Biological Security strategy.”

    Prof Robert Read, Professor of Infectious Diseases, University of Southampton, and Editor in Chief, Journal of Infection, said:

    “Lists like this have been made for many years, and they represent an effort to prioritise infections for advisory and funding purposes, ostensibly to align research funding as closely as possible to public health need.  Unfortunately, pathogens emerge or change constantly, and it is difficult to predict big infectious disease problems coming down the line.  For this reason, I think this list is at best pointless, and at worst potentially harmful to the public health.

    “Pointless because the list of viruses is so long that its tricky to name a significant viral pathogen that has not been included.  Potentially harmful because a prescriptive list like this could misdirect funding towards certain infections, and away from problems that need urgently to be solved.  For example, the list of bacteria of concern includes Yersinia pestis (the cause of plague, a massive problem in 14th-18th Century Europe) for which there is now good available treatment and potential vaccine candidates, but does not include Bordetella pertussis (the cause of Whooping Cough) which caused serious problems for the public during 2024 because vaccines remain sub-optimal and antibiotic treatment only works during the early phase.”

    Prof Mark Woolhouse, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, and Director of the Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa, University of Edinburgh, said:

    “A key recommendation of the UK Covid Inquiry’s Interim Report for Module 1 (Preparedness) was that prior to 2020 the UK was overly focussed on the risk of an influenza pandemic.  When Covid arrived, it took too long to adjust our response to a different threat, which was part of the reason we ended up in lockdown.

    “Since the pandemic, there have been many initiatives to better understand the diversity of pandemic threats that the UK and the world may face in the coming years.  The UKHSA’s pathogen prioritization exercise is a welcome contribution to this global effort.

    “Of the highest priority pathogens identified by the UKHSA, no one could argue with the inclusion of coronaviruses and influenza viruses (the latter being members of the Orthomyxoviridae family).

    “The UKHSA are also right to be concerned about another family of viruses, the Paramyxoviridae.  This is a group that includes the measles virus, itself a continuing cause for concern with large outbreaks regularly reported from around the world.

    “A novel measles-like virus would pose a threat far worse than Covid.  Such a virus would have a much higher R number than the original variants of Covid – making it impossible to control by even the strictest lockdown.  It would also be considerably more deadly, and (unlike Covid) it would be a threat to children.  This is the kind of pandemic that public health agencies around the world are most concerned about.

    “That said, there are many potential kinds of novel pandemic threats – so-called Disease X – and the UKHSA report is a timely reminder that we should not put all our eggs in one basket.  The possibility of different kinds of threat – different transmission routes, different types of disease, different populations at risk – means that our response needs to be scalable, adaptable and quick.  Knowledge, information and data collected in the first few weeks of the next pandemic will be crucial to tailoring our response appropriately.  We need the systems to gather that data in place in advance and ready to be activated, possibly at very short notice.”

    ‘Priority pathogen families research and development (R&D) tool: A reference tool to help guide England-based funders of research and development’ was published by the UK Health Security Agency at 00:01 UK time on Tuesday 25 March 2025.

    Declared interests

    Prof Mark Woolhouse: “I am a consultant for the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI) and a member of the Scottish Committee for Pandemic Preparedness (SCoPP).”

    Prof Martin Hibberd: “I have no conflicts with this topic, but I do work on some of the pathogens listed and have been funded by Industry (most recently J&J) – amongst other government support, to work on them.”

    Prof Miles Carroll: “I consult for PicturaBio diagnostics. I am a member of the WHO R&D BluePrint Pathogen Prioritisation Committee, UKVN, APHA SAB and MRC/UVRI SAB.”

    Darius Hughes: In December 2023, Moderna entered a 10-year strategic partnership with the UK government to establish an mRNA research development and manufacturing facility in the UK. The strategic partnership is managed by the UK Health Security Agency on behalf of the UK government.

    For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New executive chair selected to boost innovation and growth across the UK

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Press release

    New executive chair selected to boost innovation and growth across the UK

    Tom Adeyoola selected as preferred candidate to head up Innovate UK.

    Tom Adeyoola appointed as new executive chair for Innovate UK to drive pioneering R&D and transformative technologies

    • Tech entrepreneur and Metail founder Tom Adeyoola selected as preferred head of Innovate UK as the government ramps up plans to drive growth
    • Backing businesses across the UK, Innovate UK invests in game-changing innovation, from advanced AI to zero-emission transport, fuelling our Plan for Change
    • Under Tom’s leadership, Innovate UK will accelerate efforts to scale up British innovation and turn cutting-edge research into real-world impact, helping businesses grow and compete on a global stage

    Tech entrepreneur and business leader Tom Adeyoola will head up Innovate UK to unlock the potential of British business and turbocharge growth through our Plan for Change.

    Once confirmed by parliament, Tom will act as Chair of Innovate UK, part of the largest national public research funder, helping businesses turn cutting-edge ideas into real-world products.

    The agency funds ambitious companies, drives transformative technologies, and oversees the UK’s Catapult Network, which connects businesses with world-class R&D expertise. Through its £100 million Innovation Accelerator programme, it is already creating high-skilled jobs and new opportunities in Glasgow, Manchester, and the West Midlands, helping these regions become global hubs for research, from advanced manufacturing to life sciences.

    Over 450,000 innovators across the country were supported by the agency in 2023/2024, including support for successful scale-ups such as Pragmatic, a world leader in semiconductor innovation that has grown from a dozen to 330 employees in a decade – powering everyday tech from smartphones to medical devices, and Pragmatic’s ultra-thin, low-cost microchips open new possibilities for smart packaging and wearable health tech.

    Innovate UK was an early backer of Oxford Nanopore Technologies, whose handheld DNA sequencing technology is now used worldwide – from diagnosing diseases faster to tracking viruses like COVID-19. Their success has not only transformed healthcare but also driven economic growth, with the company now valued at £1.49 billion and generating annual revenues of around £183 million.

    People could see faster medical deliveries, air taxis cutting journey times, and greener transport options through Innovate UK’s flagship Future Flight Challenge, which works with businesses and regulators to develop drone technology and zero-emission aircraft.

    Tom Adeyoola brings a wealth of experience spanning technology, investment, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation.  As co-founder of Extend Ventures, he has worked with Innovate UK to improve diversity in grant funding and support underrepresented entrepreneurs. He also serves on the steering board of The Startup Coalition, advocating for high-growth tech businesses across the UK.

    Science Minister Lord Vallance said:

    Innovation is central to this government’s Plan for Change, helping to unlock new opportunities, boost productivity, and create high-value jobs across the UK.

    With his experience in technology, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation Tom Adeyoola is the right person to ensure Innovate UK delivers real impact – backing pioneering businesses, scaling up breakthrough innovations and ensuring the UK leads in the industries of the future.

    I thank Indro Mukerjee, and Stella Peace for all of their contributions up to this point and I look forward to working with Tom as we continue to make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow an innovative business.

    Whilst on the Board at Channel 4, he focused on digital transformation and championed innovation funding in the creative industries. He has also been a driving force in exploring the impact of generative AI on the economy, from education to public services. His blend of business, technology, and policy expertise makes him well-placed to steer Innovate UK’s investments – helping pioneering companies scale up, from greener aviation to sustainable food production.

    UKRI Chief Executive Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser said:

    Tom Adeyoola’s appointment is excellent news for Innovate UK and the whole of UKRI. His experience and insight as a technology entrepreneur and business leader will bring enormous benefits and expertise to the organisation at this critical time.

    I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Stella Peace for her superb leadership as interim Executive Chair. Stella will continue to play a major role for UKRI as Innovate UK’s Executive Director of Healthy Living and Agriculture.

    Under Tom Adeyoola’s leadership, Innovate UK will continue backing businesses and driving forward the government’s Plan for Change – supporting pioneering businesses, create high-value jobs, and turn cutting-edge ideas into solutions that improve lives across the UK.

    Incoming Executive Chair of Innovate UK, Tom Adeyoola said:

    Innovate UK plays a vital role in catalysing the businesses that will shape the UK’s future economy – whether through cutting-edge technologies, the creative industries, or AI.  

    I look forward to working with partners across the ecosystem, industry and government to ensure our investments have a multiplier impact, driving innovation that fuels economic growth and strengthens the UK’s position as a global leader in science and technology.

    Tom Adeyoola’s appointment follows a competitive recruitment process and is subject to a pre-appointment scrutiny hearing by the Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee, which is expected to take place on 8 April.

    Notes to editors

    Tom will be stepping down from all existing responsibilities besides his roles on the Board of Channel 4 and as a school governor.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 25 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –