Category: Science

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome banquet for Canadian parliamentary delegation

Source: Republic of China Taiwan 3

Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome banquet for Canadian parliamentary delegation

Date：2025-02-20
Data Source：Department of North American Affairs

February 20, 2025
No. 043

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung hosted a welcome banquet on February 17 for a delegation from the Parliament of Canada led by Senator Michael MacDonald, Chairman of the Canada-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group. The two sides exchanged opinions on deepening economic and trade exchanges and strengthening talent development.

In his remarks, Minister Lin first expressed thanks for Canada’s staunch support of cross-strait peace and stability in recent years, including the February 16 transit of the Taiwan Strait by the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa. This was yet another concrete demonstration that the Taiwan Strait constitutes international waters. Since releasing its Indo-Pacific Strategy in 2022, Canada has continued to bolster cooperation with Taiwan on economics and trade as well as science and technology. The two sides have signed the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Arrangement as well as the Science, Technology, and Innovation Arrangement.

In the context of Taiwan promoting a policy of integrated diplomacy, Minister Lin expressed hope that Canada would continue to support Taiwan’s participation in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, strengthen regional economic cooperation, and jointly build resilient non-red supply chains. With Canada holding the rotating presidency of the G7 this year, Minister Lin said he expected it to play a pivotal role in upholding the international order and leading like-minded nations in a continued coordinated effort to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

In his response, Senator MacDonald praised Taiwan’s achievements in high tech, education, public health, and democratic development. He expressed support for Taiwan’s appropriate participation in international organizations and said that he hoped national security would no longer be an issue of concern for Taiwan in the near future.

In addition to Senator MacDonald, the delegation included Sens. Donald Neil Plett and John M. McNair. The group will attend the HFX Taipei Forum and call on government agencies and private organizations including the Legislative Yuan, Executive Yuan Office of Trade Negotiations, Tainan City government, and Doublethink Lab.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 26, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Hong Kong unveils its first generative AI model

Source: China State Council Information Office

Hong Kong on Tuesday unveiled its first-ever generative artificial intelligence (AI) model, dubbed HKGAI V1, heralding a new chapter in the city’s AI development.

The tool was developed by the Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Center (HKGAI) under the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government’s InnoHK innovation program.

As of now, approximately 70 HKSAR government departments have test-run the locally developed AI tool powered by DeepSeek’s data learning model. This innovative achievement signifies the successful localization of DeepSeek in Hong Kong, injecting new vitality into the city’s AI ecosystem while showcasing the robust collaborative innovation capabilities between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland in AI, according to an HKGAI press release.

Speaking at the launch event, Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR government, emphasized that AI is at the forefront of a new technological revolution and industrial transformation, and Hong Kong is actively engaging in this AI wave.

Sun also underscored the HKSAR government’s broader efforts to support AI development, including the establishment of an AI supercomputing center, a 3-billion-Hong Kong dollar (386-million-U.S. dollar) AI funding scheme, and the clustering of over 800 AI companies at Science Park and Cyberport.

He expressed optimism that the locally developed large language model will soon be made available for use, not only by businesses and residents but also by overseas Chinese communities.

MIL OSI China News –

February 26, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Innovative forces seen as key to driving rural vitalization

Source: China State Council Information Office

China aims to cultivate new quality productive forces through technological innovation to empower modern agriculture, a policy priority that has been underscored in this year’s “No 1 central document”, which was released on Sunday.

The blueprint document is the first policy statement released by China’s central authorities each year. And this year, the nation plans to leverage scientific innovation to inject impetus into the modernization of agriculture, amid China’s rapid advancements in biotech and smart farming equipment.

Policy support

China’s “No 1 central document” for 2025 outlines its priorities in deepening rural reforms, and takes solid steps to advance all-around rural vitalization.

The document emphasizes the importance of developing new quality productive forces in agriculture according to local conditions, and calls for the cultivation of leading high-tech agricultural enterprises and the acceleration of breakthroughs in seed varieties.

The country will support the development of smart agriculture and expand the application scenarios of artificial intelligence, big data and low-altitude technologies, according to the document.

Sunday’s release is a top-level development framework for the cultivation of new quality productive forces in the field of agriculture, said Jin Wencheng, director of the Research Center for the Rural Economy, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

The document stresses the importance of improving the agricultural sci-tech innovation system, and of nurturing agri-tech talent and emerging enterprises, while accelerating the large-scale application of agricultural sci-tech achievements, Jin said.

To address barriers hindering the application of new technologies and product commercialization, the country will establish a modern institutional framework that aligns with the development needs of new quality productive forces in agriculture.

He noted that a regional approach to the transformation and modernization of traditional agriculture is needed, as it balances the adoption of new technologies with employment stability.

Seed revolution

Seed innovation is crucial to China’s agricultural modernization, and the document emphasizes the importance of accelerating breakthroughs in seed varieties through the country’s key agricultural research platforms, and of advancing the industrialization of biological breeding.

Technology has been boosting the seed industry, said Ru Zhengang, a professor at the Henan Institute of Science and Technology, citing the country’s improvements in grain yields over the decades.

Official data show that the national average grain yield stood at 389.7 kilograms per mu (0.067 hectares) in 2023, an increase of 321.1 kilograms per mu compared to 1949.

“The quality and breeding speeds of crop varieties are important factors affecting grain yields,” Ru said, stressing the importance of leveraging new varieties and technologies to boost total grain yield and ensure the country’s food security.

Ru also noted that interactive collaboration among farmers, agricultural researchers and enterprises has facilitated synergistic development between supply and demand, enhancing agricultural productivity and efficacy.

Industrial upgrade

Beyond seeds, rural industries are reinventing themselves through storytelling and tech integration.

Zhejiang’s Lizu village, for example, has transformed its local pears into a “sweet industry” by branding itself with intellectual-property terms like the name of its cultural mascot — Zu’er — and blending farm products with tourism and entertainment, according to Jin Jing, who is in charge of the village’s business operations and often dubbed the CEO of Lizu.

To stimulate innovative rural industries, the village has established innovation spaces that combine entrepreneurial mentorship, incubation and e-commerce training to provide tailored policy support and funding resources for entrepreneurs who are willing to lay down roots in rural regions.

Locals have also jumped on the startup bandwagon, forming a multitude of wealth-creation industries. In 2024, the local per capita disposable income reached 66,000 yuan ($9,206).

And the changes in Lizu can be seen as a microcosm of rural vitalization in Zhejiang province. Rural industries across the province have attracted 80,000 young entrepreneurs, over half of whom were born after 1990.

To attract talent, Jin stressed the importance of building incubation platforms, and of introducing policy incentives and resources to boost entrepreneurship.

“The countryside needs young people, and young people need the countryside even more,” Jin said, calling on more young people to contribute to rural vitalization.

MIL OSI China News –

February 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: A film about the development of digital technologies in the capital can now be watched online

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

The popular science mini-series “Moscow in Digital” can now be watched online. Each episode immerses the viewer in the history of the capital’s technological projects and allows you to learn more about how the city has become one of the most developed megacities in the world in 30 years.Department of Information Technology of the City of Moscow told where and how you can watch the film, which premiered at the end of last year.

“The educational mini-series “Moscow in Digital” is dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Runet and tells how technologies have developed over three decades, services have been created, projects have appeared that today make the lives of Muscovites even more comfortable, vibrant and safe. Each episode covers a certain area of the city’s life and immerses you in the history of not only digitalization, but also Moscow itself. The frame intertwines archival footage and photographs that remind adults and tell the new generation about the times when issues were resolved in a live queue, phone numbers were remembered by heart, people went to the library or bookstore to find information, and visited five different departments to pay bills. From February 26, you can watch the series at any convenient time

on Rutube and in social networks “VKontakte”, as well as on streaming platforms,” the press service of the capital’s Department of Information Technology reported.

The film reflects each stage of the development of urban technologies, shows the path traveled and painstaking work on creating the digital infrastructure of the metropolis. When creating the mini-series, gigabytes of information were collected and hundreds of documents were studied, experts and specialists who were engaged in the digitalization of Moscow for three decades were involved. The comfortable timing of the film – each episode lasts from 20 to 25 minutes – allows you to immerse yourself in the history of the development of IT projects, while the easy and entertaining form of presentation of information does not tire the viewer with complex terminology and excessive amounts of information.

Moscow Government experts not only talk about how digitalization became a familiar part of the city’s main areas of life – healthcare, transport, education, construction and others, but also share their personal experience as residents and users of electronic products. In essence, the film is an educational and entertaining encyclopedia about the capital’s technological projects and services. There you can learn, for example, how artificial intelligence is helping doctors across the country today, or walk around a virtual copy of VDNKh, and also find answers to many other questions.

“Of course, the best way to feel how convenient it is to use modern services in the capital is to simply live in Moscow. Many are so accustomed to the good that they do not even notice how technology has changed the lives of city residents. And our mini-series will help to fully understand the possibilities of digital Moscow, truly one of the most advanced megacities in the world,” said Russian TV and radio host Alexander Pushnoy, who helps viewers of the film immerse themselves in the atmosphere of innovation.

He remembers the times when payphones were everywhere, Moscow was studied using a city atlas and a route with identification signs was drawn on a piece of paper. And today, on the mos.ru portal, you can solve almost any issue with a couple of clicks. Artificial intelligence helps to deal with many everyday tasks, and the management of the megalopolis is built using big data analysis.

Each episode gives a full picture of how digitalization was introduced into various spheres of life in the metropolis. For example, from the first one, you can learn how high technologies and projects make the city truly smart. The viewer will have to go all the way from the start of the first round-the-clock server in the Moscow City Hall building to the creation of a digital twin of the city, the Mos.Tech technological platform and the capital’s metaverse. The second episode tells about the development of projects in the social sphere: the Muscovite card, the unified medical information and analytical system and the Moscow Electronic School, as well as projects for young people. In the third one, you can learn how the mos.ru portal turned from a news feed with a guest book into a resource used by more than 15.9 million people, and about the evolution of Moscow transport, one of the most comfortable in the world. The final part is dedicated to digitalization in the sphere of culture and tourism. It also talks about the opportunities for every Muscovite to take part in the life of the city and influence what the capital will be like in the future.

The film was shot by the Gorky Film Studio production center, which is part of the Moscow film cluster, and the director was Konstantin Reich.

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/150569073/

MIL OSI Russia News –

February 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: $1b set aside for AI R&D institute

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

In his 2025-26 Budget Speech this morning, Financial Secretary Paul Chan outlined that Hong Kong is committed to cultivating new quality productive forces in accordance with national strategies, and to leveraging the economic potential of innovation and technology (I&T), including the development and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI).

In particular, he announced that a Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute will be set up to promote the application of research outcomes.

Mr Chan highlighted that the Government will strive both to develop AI as a core industry and to empower traditional industries to upgrade and transform through AI adoption.

Announcing that $1 billion has been set aside for the establishment of a Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute, he explained that it will spearhead both research and development (R&D) and industrial applications of AI, with the Digital Policy Office being given responsibility for the institute’s formulation.

Mr Chan also reported that computing power at Cyberport’s AI Supercomputing Centre is on schedule to reach 3,000 petaFLOPS this year, and that two pilot lines at the Hong Kong Microelectronics Research & Development Institute will begin operating at the Microelectronics Centre in Yuen Long next year.

To boost Hong Kong’s international standing in the industry, the finance chief revealed that the Hong Kong Investment Corporation will host the first International Young Scientist Forum on Artificial Intelligence, and the first International Conference on Embodied AI Robots.

In addition, he said the Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing, with support from the Securities & Futures Commission, will take forward the establishment of a dedicated “technology enterprises channel” to help specialist technology and biotechnology companies, especially those listed in the Mainland, raise funds and expand their business. Meanwhile, the Government will review tax deduction arrangements for various expenditures incurred by firms in obtaining intellectual property rights.

Mr Chan reported that the Government’s New Industrialisation Funding Scheme has now part-funded the setting up of more than 100 new smart production lines by local manufacturing enterprises across industries ranging from biotechnology and nanofibre materials to new energy. Additionally, the New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme, launched in September to help firms build smart production facilities, recently approved its first project, awarding $200 million to an enterprise in the life and health technology sector.

Complementing these initiatives, Mr Chan said the Government plans to launch a two-year Pilot Manufacturing & Production Line Upgrade Support Scheme this year, and has earmarked $100 million for it. The scheme will provide funding of up to $250,000 to enterprises, on a one-to-two matching basis, to support their adoption of advanced production technologies.

The Government will also set up a $10 billion I&T Industry‑Oriented Fund to channel more market capital towards investing in emerging and future industries of strategic importance. It is inviting organisations to submit expressions of interest and aims to seek funding approval from the Legislative Council in the middle of this year.

Moreover, the Government is preparing to launch a $180 million I&T Accelerator Pilot Scheme. It will provide up to $30 million in funding, on a one‑to‑two matching basis, to professional start-up service agencies, with a view to enriching Hong Kong’s I&T start-up ecosystem.

Mr Chan also shared that the Government will invite proposals, imminently, for the establishment of a third InnoHK research cluster, to be focused on advanced manufacturing, materials, energy and sustainable development.

Furthermore, the Financial Secretary said the Commerce & Economic Development Bureau and the Office of the Communications Authority are together exploring a set of streamlined procedures for vetting licence applications for the operation of Low Earth Orbit satellites.

Highlighting that the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster was ranked as the world’s second top science and technology cluster for a fifth consecutive year by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in its Global Innovation Index 2024, Mr Chan mentioned that WIPO will hold the launch event for the publication of this year’s index in Hong Kong. He said this underlined the importance of Hong Kong as a core city in the Greater Bay Area and in China’s overall I&T development.

With regard to life and health technology, the finance chief said the Innovation & Technology Commission is inviting local universities to submit proposals to obtain funding to set up life and health technology research institutes. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation is studying the sector’s demand for manufacturing facilities that comply with the Good Manufacturing Practices.

Mr Chan also revealed that an interdepartmental Working Group on Developing Low‑altitude Economy, established at the end of last year, is examining applications for a first batch of Regulatory Sandbox pilot projects and will announce the results soon. In addition, the Government is reviewing the regulatory regime in relation to Hong Kong’s low‑altitude economy and plans to introduce amendments to the Small Unmanned Aircraft Order in the second quarter of this year. It will also consider enacting legislation with regard to Advanced Air Mobility.

The Financial Secretary pledged that the Government will provide more support for local technology companies to promote their products. For example, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council will add a thematic pop-up display area at the Hong Kong Design Gallery, and at venues hosting major exhibitions, to showcase local I&T products.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Sobyanin approved priorities for the development of the Moscow education system

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

The Presidium of the Moscow Government considered the issue of priorities for the development of the education system in the capital for 2025. Based on its results, Sergei Sobyanin decided to increase the standards for per capita financing of general education schools to improve the quality of education while simultaneously leveling the standards for grades 5-11. 46 billion rubles will be allocated for these purposes. In addition, a decision was made to develop a system of mathematical and natural science training for schoolchildren, increase the number of budget places in colleges for Muscovites – ninth-grade graduates to support the growing interest in secondary vocational education, and to build five advanced schools of the future.

The capital is among the top five world leaders in the quality of school education. The decisions taken will help maintain and improve these positions, as well as ensure the competitiveness of Moscow school graduates in the context of the transformation of the labor market and the development of digital technologies.

Increased funding and regulations

In 2025, funding for school education will be further increased by 13 percent. 46 billion rubles will be allocated from the city budget for these purposes.

High results and success of students in high school, college and university largely depend on basic fundamental training in elementary school and in grades five to nine, since it is during this period that interest in learning is formed, and the talents and abilities of the child are revealed. Therefore, today it is important to pay the same attention to elementary and basic school as to high school. This will become an important factor in the further growth of the quality of capital education and the success of students.

In this regard, the Moscow Government decided to introduce a single high standard of financing in grades 5-11 instead of two different ones for the middle and senior levels, and also to increase its size. It will amount to 197 thousand rubles per year per student.

In basic school (grades 5–9), the standard will increase by almost 20 percent, and for grades 10–11, by 5.4 percent. The per capita standard in primary school (grades 1–4) will increase by almost 15.7 percent, to 171,000 rubles per year.

Strengthening the natural science and mathematics areas in school

In addition, additional budget funds will be allocated to improving the quality of mathematical and natural science training for schoolchildren, which determines the achievement of the capital’s technological leadership.

Starting from the new 2025/2026 academic year, schools will organize city-wide courses in mathematics, science, and technology for grades one through six. Students will solve creative problems, developing logic, spatial, and analytical thinking. New city Olympiads will also appear, including experimental ones, for the early identification of children’s talents and their subsequent individual support. Already in April next year, at the “Ready for Life in a Smart City” Olympiad, students in grades three through four will be able to demonstrate the skills they acquired in additional classes.

Conducting such classes will also require a more advanced level of teacher training and acquisition of new competencies. From April 1 of this year, teachers will be offered a new system of training and advanced training in special courses.

The decision to develop additional courses for schoolchildren was made taking into account the growing interest of schoolchildren in mathematical and natural science education. In 2025, a record 60 percent of eleventh-graders will take the advanced level mathematics course on the Unified State Exam — more than 32 thousand graduates.

Over the past five years, interest in computer science has grown by 46 percent, with 16,000 people taking the exam this year. In addition, physics has become a popular subject for the first time in the last few years, with more than 10,000 graduates choosing it.

Building schools of the future and upgrading educational infrastructure

Systematic development of education is impossible without the formation of a high-quality educational environment. The capital has begun implementing an unprecedented project to update school infrastructure and material and technical base.

Since 2024, a large-scale program “My School” has been implemented, within the framework of which it is planned to modernize up to 100 school buildings per year. Now, after reconstruction, the first four buildings have been opened. By the beginning of the new academic year, about 50 schools in Moscow will be modernized. More than 35 thousand children will study in modern, comfortable and high-tech classes.

At the same time, the city continues to build new school buildings. In particular, a decision was made to create five advanced schools of the future in Presnensky, Meshchansky, Basmanny and Tagansky districts. New educational buildings will be built according to innovative standards, including the creation of comfortable spaces for scientific experiments, group and individual work, exhibition areas for projects, a media library with an atrium and recreation areas. Particular attention will be paid to visual openness and filling the space with light.

By 2032, about a thousand school buildings will be built or modernized in the capital.

Expanding educational choice for young people

The priority task in the field of education is to provide young people with the widest possible choice of educational trajectory in accordance with the interests and talents of each student.

Schoolchildren who continue their education in grades 10-11 study at least two subjects in depth to better prepare for entering a university. The capital’s pre-professional education standard, which is based on the “school-college-university-enterprise” model, has also proven its effectiveness.

Traditionally, after completing the ninth grade, many graduates choose to continue their education in college, which allows them to quickly obtain a sought-after profession and begin an independent life. More than 75 percent of vacancies on the Moscow labor market are aimed at specialists with secondary vocational education. The share of graduates of city colleges who get a job in their specialty is 95 percent.

The 2024 admission campaign showed a growing interest among ninth-graders in secondary vocational education. The allocated 16 thousand additional target places were filled by 100 percent. Twice as many ninth-graders became college students — about 36 thousand people.

Among the most popular areas are information technology and programming, graphic design, cooking and confectionery, tourism and hospitality. Demand among applicants for specialties in finance and trade, education and the social sphere is growing.

Taking this trend into account, in 2025 the Moscow Government decided to increase the number of budget places in city colleges for ninth-grade graduates according to need.

Starting in 2023, the city will implement a set of measures to modernize and systematically develop secondary vocational education. It is based on two basic principles:

— relevance and demand (educational programs are developed with the direct participation of employers and professional associations);

– practical orientation (students are immersed in a professional environment from the first year of study at college, and practical classes make up at least 70 percent of the total training time and are conducted under the guidance of experienced mentors and industrial training masters).

One of the key elements of change is constant interaction with employers, working according to their requests. Today, city colleges have more than three thousand partners from all sectors of the economy.

Another important area of modernization of secondary vocational education in Moscow is the large-scale re-equipment of colleges. Over the course of several years, it is planned to re-equip or create anew more than two thousand laboratories and workshops. This will allow practical and laboratory work to be carried out at a modern technological level using equipment that operates at city enterprises.

Three flagship practical training centers will also be built on the basis of modern production facilities. One of them, located in the Rudnevo industrial park, opened in October 2024.

The plans include building seven innovative educational campuses with a total area of over 400,000 square meters to accommodate over 60,000 students by 2031. Among them are colleges in the creative industries, information technology, healthcare, hospitality, industry, transport, construction, and others.

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

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

HTTPS: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12423050/

MIL OSI Russia News –

February 26, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Church hymns and social beers: how Australia is reviving the magic of singing together

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wendy Hargreaves, Senior Learning Advisor, University of Southern Queensland

State Library of Victoria

It was 2009. John Farnham walked on stage at the disaster relief concert for the most devastating bushfires in Australian history. He belted out You’re The Voice to 36,000 people at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Then, as he lowered his microphone, 36,000 voices belted it right back.

Farnham knew the real star that day was not himself, but the thousands of everyday Australians singing in solidarity with their hurting nation.

Singing together is electrifying, but can Australians tap into this magic without the tragedy?

We’re all the voice.

The science behind the magic

Group singing has a proven ability to produce positive social bonding and help us tune in to others’ feelings.

That sense of connecting and relating can boost our mental health; particularly crucial given many Australians seriously neglect self-care.

After taking part in a year-long community singing program, Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander adults reported reduced depression, increased resilience and a greater sense of social connection.

Physiologically, research shows group singing can increase the hormone oxytocin which helps us bond with people and feel good. It can decrease cortisol levels to positively modulate our immune system. Making music together may also release endorphins that help our tolerance of pain.

Rewinding on Australian singing

Australia’s identity as a singing nation has never quite matched countries like Wales, “the land of song”. Centuries-old singing traditions are well-suited to huddling indoors in snowy northern hemisphere villages.

Indeed, the tradition of singing Christmas carols was devised as a cure for the European winter blues. Our warmer Australian climate, in contrast, coaxes us outdoors for other activities in wide open spaces.

Hymn singing at Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building in 1882.
State Library of Victoria

Australia’s choral tradition grew initially through church music; printed on tiny 12x7cm pages, books from the early 1800s provide a glimpse at the hymns church choirs and congregations once sang.

Music researcher Dianne Gome reports these books were also used for official state occasions and in the home. They were so popular, Australians began to create their own versions.

Singing was part of 19th century Australian life. At home, pianos were treasured for family singalongs and a sign of wealth and culture. Choirs blossomed, such as the The Brisbane Musical Union (now The Queensland Choir) which formed in 1872 with 112 members. Singing was valued, and local journals critiqued technique. Even The Wireless Weekly reported a radio poll “to decide the worst singer” in 1942.

Work songs – morale boosters as workers labour through repetitive tasks – also showed our early singing culture. One Queensland man recently described life as a 14-year-old in a 1930s tram track foundry:

Every night I came home exhausted. It was hard work, but we used to sing […] How many people sing at their work today?

Alongside its presence in churches, work places and social gatherings, singing became a pillar of Australian education.

A book on education history in Victoria reports singing was introduced in the 1850s for “harmonising and refining the mind” and as a “most favourable influence […] on the moral associations of the goldfields”.

While some traditions in schools continue today, claims of a crowded curriculum and de-valuing of the arts have pushed school singing from essential to optional.

There also exists a social pressure on Australian boys to play sport rather than sing in choirs.

Today’s Aussie group singing style

A fair dinkum Aussie singing style is well established in sporting circles.

The 1978 World Cricket Series jingle C’mon Aussie C’mon was so simple and catchy its tune still rings through stadiums today. Likewise, Mike Brady’s Up There Cazaly – inspired by the 1910s footballer whose name was used in World War II battle cries – has been a favourite crowd singalong at AFL Grand Finals for decades.

Footy club theme songs aside, Brisbane Lions fans will be particularly familiar with a modern opportunity for sports singing: goal songs. After every goal at a Lions’ home game, a snippet from a player-chosen track blares across the stands.

Not all of these song selections make successful singalongs, but Charlie Cameron’s choice of Take Me Home Country Roads is a clear favourite. Tellingly, the crowd keeps singing after the music stops.

At the other end of the spectrum of group size and vocal expertise is the small Australian-bred a capella group The Idea of North. Their expert musical arrangements and blended sound perfectly encapsulates collaborative singing with unity, harmony and joy.

For a quirky Australian choral option, a group of men from Mullumbimby formed the “fake” Russian choir, Dustyesky (a wordplay on the famous Russian writer Dostoevsky). They don’t speak the language, yet their energy and passion for singing made them a hit in Russia and brought about an invitation to sing in Moscow.

With millions of internet views, another highly successful Australian response to group singing came from Astrid Jorgensen, creator of Pub Choir. With laughter and a drink, members of the public meet at a licensed venue to learn a song in three-part harmony.

Jorgensen’s tailored musical arrangements of popular songs suit untrained singers, don’t require music reading skills and make singing in harmony with complete strangers easy and fun. Jorgensen found the key to motivating Aussies to sing together is crowds, humour and a social beer.

Wendy Hargreaves 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. Church hymns and social beers: how Australia is reviving the magic of singing together – https://theconversation.com/church-hymns-and-social-beers-how-australia-is-reviving-the-magic-of-singing-together-250254

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

February 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Sergey Netesov, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Laboratory of Bionanotechnology, Microbiology and Virology of the Faculty of Natural Sciences of NSU: “The new coronavirus does not pose a visible danger to people yet”

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

Sergey Netesov, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Laboratory of Bionanotechnology, Microbiology and Virology Faculty of Natural Sciences of NSU: “The new coronavirus does not yet pose a visible danger to people”

— Having studied the primary sources — articles published in February 2025 in the journals Cell and Nature — I can say that the discovery of the HKU5-CoV-2 virus, which is a type of the HKU5 virus, is an interesting fact, but so far this virus does not pose a visible danger to humans.

The HKU5 virus was first identified in bats in China back in 2006. The above-mentioned articles indicate that one of its variants seems to have a binding site in the S protein for the same human cell receptors as the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19. However, this virus has not yet caused disease in any human, although it has the potential to do so. However, almost any animal virus has this potential.

It should be noted that the bats from whose organisms it was isolated are carriers of hundreds of different viruses, but only a few are capable of infecting people. This means that the danger of the newly discovered virus to people is highly questionable.

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 –

February 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow schoolchildren can prepare for the Unified State Exam with the help of “MESh”

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

On the platform “Moscow Electronic School” (MES) provides services for students and their parents, allowing them to competently organize preparation for the Unified State Exam and Basic State Exam (USE and OGE), as well as consciously choose a suitable educational institution.

“The Moscow Electronic School has become an important assistant for Moscow schoolchildren in their studies. The platform includes a wide range of content, including for preparing for final exams, so students can save time and quickly find the topics they need. This approach simplifies preparation and makes it more structured,” the press service of the Moscow

Department of Education and Science.

Thus, the service “Exams” is available for graduates, where all the necessary materials for successfully passing the Unified State Exam are collected. During this academic year, more than 80 thousand schoolchildren used it almost 320 thousand times. Here, graduates can familiarize themselves with the content of exercises in all subjects and recommended materials for preparation. In particular, these are annually updated video analysis of Unified State Exam assignments, in which the best teachers of the capital share their experience and analyze examples from previous years. This format helps children to better understand complex topics, avoid common mistakes and increase their self-confidence before exams. Teachers can use the materials in workshops to prepare for the Unified State Exam or attach them to homework so that students repeat the topic covered and better assimilate the material.

Video analysis of Unified State Exam assignments in all subjects has appeared in the MES library

This year, 424 video analyses have already been created. They are available in the “Exams” service in the web version of the electronic diary on the website Shul.mos.ru and in the mobile application “MESH Diary”, as well as on the home page of the MES library in the selection “Preparation for the Unified State Exam-2025”. In this section, 281 video analysis for preparation for the unified city test appeared. The materials were published in advance so that graduates had enough time to fully work through the topics.

To consolidate the material studied, the Exams service offers about 1,600 tests with automatic checking. Students can study at a comfortable pace, devoting more time to those tasks that cause difficulties. In addition, MES has more than 100 videos with recommendations on how to manage time during the exam and fill out the Unified State Exam forms, as well as with advice from psychologists on stress management and memory development.

In order for the students to understand what they should focus on during their preparation, the topics that may be encountered on the Unified State Exam and the Basic State Exam are marked with special icons in the MESH electronic diary. They are displayed in the lesson cards in the schedule and help to find the necessary materials faster. These functions can be used in the web version of the electronic diary on the website Shul.mos.ru and in the mobile application “MESH Diary”.

In addition, everything necessary for preparing for exams is collected in the MES library. Thus, the service provides educational materials on mathematics, which were developed by specialists of the electronic educational system “Gipermatika”. Graduates can use collections of problems to prepare for the Unified State Exam, and students in grades 6-11 can take mathematical courses, including theoretical and practical parts.

A virtual laboratory will help you prepare for the OGE and USE in computer science on your own “MESH Informatics”. A selection of courses and practical tasks will allow you to consolidate or improve your knowledge of the subject, as well as understand how much time it takes to solve a particular test.

In addition, the children can use the materials of the online service “Cloud of Knowledge”. They include 430 simulators and 142 assignment options for preparing for the Unified State Exam and the Basic State Exam.

You can get help in choosing a college in the service “Student Portfolio”. This contains the results of professional testing and personal recommendations from career mentors. Ninth-graders can learn more about their abilities, identify their inclinations for certain professions, and decide on the direction of their further education.

“Moscow Electronic School”— a joint project of the capital’s Departments of Education and Science Andinformation technology, created in 2016. A single digital educational platform is available to Moscow teachers, students and their parents. Among the main services of “MES” are a library of educational materials, an electronic diary and journal, “Moskvenok”, “Student Portfolio” and “Olympiads”.

Providing the capital’s schoolchildren with modern digital services increases the efficiency of the educational process, helps children to plan their school and personal time wisely and corresponds to the objectives of the “All the Best for Children” national project “Youth and Children”.

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/150570073/

MIL OSI Russia News –

February 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Walk in an ancient oak grove and watch animals: how to spend Wildlife Day at VDNKh

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

March 3 is World Wildlife Day. The holiday is designed to show people the beauty of animals and plants, and also to remind them of the importance of preserving biological diversity on the planet. On this day, it is worth going for a walk in the picturesque corners of forests and parks, enjoying their beautiful views. One of the best places for such walks in Moscow can be VDNKh. Here you can meet squirrels, as well as tits, woodpeckers, nuthatches, jays, magpies, ducks, owls and other birds. VDNKh invites you to take a break from the bustle of the metropolis and enrich your knowledge of wildlife.

Wander through an ancient oak grove and treat curious squirrels

To see and study the habits of birds and animals, VDNKh guests need to go to the Kamensky ponds cascade, the Sheremetyevskaya oak grove, and Ostankino Park. Many trees grow in these places and there are ponds, so most of the feathered inhabitants have chosen them.

You can start your walk from the Sheremetyevskaya oak grove. This is a unique place on the territory of VDNKh. There is a natural broad-leaved forest here, which has been preserved for many centuries. In the 18th-19th centuries, the oak grove belonged to the possessions of one of the most prominent noble families – the Sheremetevs. However, a dense forest was on this territory in the 16th century. Today, pedunculate oaks, as well as larch, pine, Manchurian walnut and other trees grow in the grove. The average age of oaks is 150 years, but there are also 200-year-old specimens.

The Sheremetyevskaya oak grove is one of the squirrels’ favorite habitats. In winter, their fur is bluish-gray, and in summer, it is red. You can bring healthy treats for the friendly rodents: walnuts and pine nuts, dried fruits, sunflower seeds or wheat crackers. The main thing is that the treat is not salty, fried or sweet, and does not contain aromatic or flavor additives.

Another place where hundreds of squirrels live is Ostankino Park. In addition, you can watch the nimble fluffy animals and listen to the birds singing by climbing the eco-trail. This half-kilometer walking path is above the ground. Its height reaches 6.5 meters. Walking along the path is safe for both adults and children. The structure is completely fenced with railings, and the boards have an anti-slip coating. From above, visitors can admire the beautiful views of nature and notice squirrels and birds in the tree branches. The path has many twists and turns, so the walk will not seem monotonous. In the evenings, the lighting is turned on here.

After the Sheremetyevskaya oak grove, it is worth heading to the cascade of Kamensky ponds. It was created in 1803. In 1954, all four ponds became part of the territory of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition (later VDNKh). During the reconstruction in 2018, the reservoirs were drained, cleaned and refilled with water. The most notable object here is the Golden Ear fountain. It is located in the center of the Third Kamensky pond and is considered the most spectacular at VDNKh. In early spring, it is pleasant to admire the beautiful views here. And when it gets warmer, there is a chance to meet common newts, toads, grass and sharp-nosed frogs, viviparous lizards and snakes.

Meet the red duck and other birds

According to ornithologists, more than 70 species of birds live at VDNKh in the warm season, including rare species listed in the Red Book. Most of them fly away to the southern regions for the winter when the cold weather sets in. But there are also those that live in the exhibition park area all year round. For example, tits, sparrows, woodpeckers, crows, nuthatches, jays, magpies. Most of the birds live near the Kamensky ponds cascade, the eco-trail in the Sheremetyevskaya oak grove and in Ostankino Park.

Common mallards live on the VDNKh ponds. They have frost-resistant paws with few nerve endings. Thermoregulation is arranged in a special way. The arteries that bring blood to the ducks’ paws are closely intertwined with the veins, which ensures the exchange of heat between the hot arterial and colder venous blood. Thanks to this, mallards can easily walk on ice and snow.

And in the Ostankino Park lives the common shelduck, or red duck. These birds are listed in the Red Book of Russia under the third category of rarity. During wintering, shelducks gather in small groups with other birds.

Owls live in Ostankino Park and the N.V. Tsitsin Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences. These birds are nocturnal, so they can only be seen at night. Four species of owls can be found at VDNKh: the gray owl, the long-eared owl, the long-tailed owl, and the pygmy owl. These places are also home to two species of hawks that lead an exclusively diurnal lifestyle: the sparrowhawk and the goshawk.

Anyone going for a walk around VDNKh should take bird food with them. Stationary and hanging feeders can be found in Ostankino Park. Winter feeding will help birds survive the cold. In addition, this is a great opportunity to watch them and study their habits. Different treats in the feeder will attract certain types of birds. For example, if you put cereals, sparrows will flock there. Pine cones, nuts, and acorns will interest woodpeckers and jays. Bullfinches will come to taste dried rowan or hawthorn berries.

However, it is important to remember that birds should not be given fresh and rye bread, smoked and fried foods, chips and salted seeds. The amount of food should not be excessive. In addition, do not put in the feeders what you were going to throw away, you need to put only fresh products. You can feed them with unsalted seeds, oatmeal, fresh and dried fruits and berries.

Before the walk, it is recommended to study the “VDNKh Bird Book”. The publication contains interesting information about different species and behavioral characteristics of birds, including those wintering in their native lands. In addition, a map of the exhibition and Ostankino Park is published here, where the most convenient places for bird watching are marked. The electronic version of the book is posted on the VDNKh website.

With the arrival of spring, migratory birds will return to VDNKh. The first to arrive here after wintering will be rooks, starlings and finches. Guests will be able to see them very soon – in March. In April, thrushes, warblers and robins usually return. And in May, the park will be filled with the delightful singing of nightingales and the ringing chirping of orioles and lentils.

The Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy (VDNKh) is one of the largest green areas of the capital. Its ensemble is a unique object of landscape architecture, a monument of garden and park art of the mid-20th century.

Today VDNKh is a major international exhibition center, a museum city and a modern platform for education and recreation of city residents and tourists. Many important cultural, scientific and economic events are held here, which are visited by tens of thousands of people. The total area of the territory is more than 325 hectares.

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/150593073/

MIL OSI Russia News –

February 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Developments by enterprises of the Technopolis Moscow SEZ have won grants from the Russian Science Foundation

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

Developments by enterprises of the special economic zone (SEZ) Technopolis Moscow have won grants from the Russian Science Foundation (RSF) in the field of Microelectronics. Seven companies of the SEZ Technopolis Moscow presented projects in the field of microelectronics. This was reported by the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of Investment and Industrial Policy Anatoly Garbuzov.

“The Technopolis Moscow Special Economic Zone is a center for the development of high technologies. Here, companies create unique and innovative products that have no analogues either in Russia or in the world. Seven Moscow enterprises became winners of the competition held by the Russian Science Foundation. They presented 10 scientific and scientific-technical projects. According to the terms of the competition, the foundation will conclude agreements on further cooperation with the winners. At the next stage, contractors will be selected for the work on proposals that will be financed by the RSF. The projects must be implemented within three years,” said Anatoly Garbuzov.

The Russian Science Foundation allocates grants for fundamental research and supports applied developments within the framework of strategic initiatives defined by the President of Russia. According to Deputy Chairman of the Scientific and Technological Council of the Russian Science Foundation, Doctor of Technical Sciences Sergey Gavrilov, one of the criteria for assessing the results of scientific activity can be the level of science intensity and demand for products manufactured by enterprises of the Technopolis Moscow SEZ. According to this indicator, companies based in the Technopolis Moscow SEZ occupy leading positions in their fields, he added. They become winners of the RSF competitions, which confirms the high scientific level of research and development of companies. Subsequent implementation of scientific and technical projects on selected technological proposals will make a breakthrough in the development of the radio-electronic industry and raise it to a new level of competence and capabilities.

“The development and implementation of these proposals will allow Russia to achieve technological sovereignty in the field of microelectronics. In addition, the active replacement of foreign software and equipment allows companies to increase their profits,” emphasized Gennady Degtyarev, General Director of the Technopolis Moscow SEZ.

For example, the Elta company, one of the winners of the competition, proposed the development of silicon CMOS photodetectors and an optoelectronic unit for the rapid determination of glycated hemoglobin in the blood. As General Director Yuri Glukhov noted, today in Russia they produce devices that analyze it and are necessary for monitoring and screening in clinics to detect diabetes or prediabetes. The development of an optoelectronic unit for the creation of a domestic portable medical analyzer will allow for the import substitution of such medical equipment.

Another resident of the Technopolis Moscow SEZ, the Research Institute of Molecular Electronics, presented a project to create domestically produced ultra-pure materials for the microelectronics industry. As noted by General Director Alexander Kravtsov, precursors (organometallic compounds) will be used to develop structures for ferroelectric and resistive memory, as well as to form a gate dielectric in transistors of a topological level of 45 nanometers and less.

In addition, the winners of the RSF competition included such companies as NM-Tech, Epiel, Proton Plant, Zelenograd Nanotechnology Center, and Lassard.

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/150522073/

MIL OSI Russia News –

February 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Prestigous Farrer Memorial Medal awarded to Andrew Barr
Source: New South Wales Department of Primary Industries

26 Feb 2025

Vision pack available at https://tinyurl.com/2s4f73kx

The prestigious Farrer Memorial Medal has been awarded to South Australian grain grower and former plant researcher Dr Andrew (Andy) Barr for 2024, recognising his outstanding contributions to plant breeding and agricultural research in not only Australia, but across the globe.

DPIRD Executive Director of Agriculture, Darren Bayley, congratulated Dr Barr on receiving the honour, acknowledging his significant impact on the industry by helping to develop over 25 varieties of oats, barley and wheat , ranging from disease-resistant strains to high-yield cultivars.

“The Farrer Memorial Trust was established to perpetuate the memory of William James Farrer, a pioneering plant breeder, and has upheld a long-standing tradition since 1936 of providing encouragement and inspiration to those engaged in agricultural science, particularly in cropping fields,” Dr Bayley said.

“The NSW DPIRD holds the Chair for the Farrer Memorial Trust and is proud to offer the annual Farrer Memorial Medal that recognises individuals who have dedicated their careers to advancing plant breeding and crop science.

“Andy Barr exemplifies this commitment – he has made remarkable contributions in the development of improved oat and barley varieties such as the well known Echidna oats and Commander barley, all which have significantly benefited Australian farmers and agriculture.”

Among some of Dr Barr’s proudest achievements are:
- Development of ‘Echidna’ oats—Australia’s first semi-dwarf oat variety, offering a 25 percent yield increase, superior lodging, shattering and stem rust disease resistance, which was the dominant variety in eastern Australia for 20 years.
- Release of ‘Wallaroo’ and ‘Marloo’ oats in 1988—the first multipurpose varieties with resistance to cereal cyst nematode, which causes heavy yield losses in grain crops up to 50% in wheat and oats. This innovation in Wallaroo and Marloo laid the foundation for South Australia’s export hay industry.
- Breeding ‘Sloop SA’ barley, the first malting variety with cereal cyst nematode resistance for South Australia, and ‘Commander’ barley, a leading malting variety in eastern Australia during the 2000s.
- Working with the Australian barley research community to apply molecular marker technology across all of the barley breeding programs to accelerate genetic gains
Dr Barr expressed his gratitude for the honour and credited the many scientists, technicians, research funders, and farmers he has worked with throughout his 30 years in breeding and 20 years in farming, consulting and research management.

“It is a tremendous privilege to be recognised by the Farrer Memorial Trust and I hope that all the great colleagues I have worked with—as a practicing plant breeder, a consultant, and a research administrator—share in this recognition,” Dr Barr said.

“There are many rewarding things about plant breeding – driving around the country and seeing your varieties being grown in farmers paddocks, talking to farmers who have great feedback about the varieties you have bred and working with brilliant researchers to integrate their science into a practical outcome in a breeding program.”

Raised on a mixed farm at Pinery in South Australia, Dr Barr said growing up in a family who valued high quality education prompted his love of plant biology and genetics.

“I attended an Ag careers night with my family when I was in year 10, and that sealed the deal – at uni, I loved plant biology, and genetics in my early years and so it was a natural progression to major in plant breeding later,” Dr Barr said.

Beyond his research, Dr Barr has played a critical role in advancing Australian and global crop science through his work on the boards of CIMMYT, GRDC, and SAGIT, reviewing numerous crop breeding programs and hosting research trials on his family farm which support the development of new and existing varieties.

Looking ahead, Dr Barr remains optimistic about the future of Australian grain research.

“Australia has a proud history of world-class innovation in plant breeding, and I believe that will continue. Exciting technologies such as genomic selection, machine learning, AI, and gene editing are still in their early stages and will mature to deliver even greater benefits to Australian farmers,” Dr Barr said said.

The 2024 Farrer Memorial Medal will be officially presented to Andy Barr at the Australian Crop Breeders Week Event Dinner on Tuesday, 4 March 2025 in Melbourne.

Tickets for the event are available on their website.

For more information on the Farrer Memorial Trust, including how you can nominate someone for the 2025 medal, visit the DPIRD website.

Media contact: pi.media@dpird.nsw.gov.au

MIL OSI News –
February 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Cotton, Coons Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Restore Injunctive Relief for Patent Infringement

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton

Cotton, Coons Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Restore Injunctive Relief for Patent Infringement

Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware) today reintroduced the Realizing Engineering, Science, and Technology Opportunities by Restoring Exclusive (RESTORE) Patent Rights Act of 2025. This bipartisan, bicameral bill would restore the presumption that courts will issue an injunction to stop patent infringers, strengthening protections for U.S. inventors, entrepreneurs, universities, and startups. Representatives Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas) and Madeleine Dean (D-Pennsylvania) also introduced the House companion bill.

“American ingenuity should be rewarded and protected,” said Senator Cotton. “Current patent law fails to protect inventors and leaves them vulnerable to intellectual property theft from adversaries like China. This bipartisan legislation will help solidify America’s edge in technological innovation.”

“Thanks to a wrongheaded decision from the Supreme Court, there are now companies who steal patented technologies rather than license them from inventors and then justify their actions as simply the cost of doing business. Innovators at universities and startups who lack resources are often unable to stop patent infringement in court and are forced into licensing deals they do not want,” said Senator Coons. “The RESTORE Patent Rights Act will protect innovators across the country, stop the infringe-now, pay-later model in its tracks, and strengthen America’s economic competitiveness for generations to come.”
For more than two centuries, courts granted injunctive relief in most patent cases upon a finding of infringement, preventing patent infringers from continuing to produce goods that ran afoul of patent laws. However, this practice was upended in 2006 when the Supreme Court’s decision in eBay v. MercExchange created a four-factor test to determine whether a permanent injunction is warranted in infringement cases, altering the longstanding remedy for patent infringement.

Since that decision, obtaining injunctive relief in patent cases has become significantly more difficult and rare. A recent study found that requests for permanent injunctions in patent cases fell by 65% for companies that use their patented technology to manufacture a product; grants of permanent injunctions to those companies fell even more significantly. Requests and grants for licensing patent owners like universities and research clinics dropped even further: Requests fell by 85%, and grants fell by 90%.

The RESTORE Patent Rights Act would undo the damage of the eBay decision by returning to patent owners a rebuttable presumption that an injunction is warranted after a court makes a final ruling that their rights are being infringed. This would deter predatory infringers and restore meaning to the right to exclude.

“American innovation is only as strong as the confidence in knowing ideas cannot be stolen by competitors. In the last two decades, innovators have found it harder to obtain a permanent injunction from U.S. courts, which stops bad actors from stealing their intellectual property (IP). Our legislation will restore the rights of American innovators by ensuring permanent injunctions are accessible from U.S. courts. This bill will provide greater certainty in the protection of IP and prevent cases from being taken overseas to countries like China. When U.S. courts enforce the exclusivity of patent rights, America becomes a world leader in innovation,” said Congressman Moran.

“Enforceable patents are vital to our ability to invent, improve and advance – yet today, it is increasingly difficult for patent holders to enforce their rights through permanent injunctions, even after proving infringement in court,” said Congresswoman Dean. “The bipartisan, bicameral RESTORE Act addresses this issue and safeguards American innovation. I’m grateful to be joined by Congressman Moran, Senator Coons, and Senator Cotton in our push to protect patentholders, including universities, research laboratories, and startups.”

“Years of economic pitfalls and regulatory restrictions have stifled innovation and competition, preventing American companies from flourishing and dominating markets. As new competitors emerge against American companies, safeguarding intellectual property rights and strong patent protections are more necessary than ever. Congress has a duty to protect the fruits of Americans’ labor and secure America’s success against our competitors. The RESTORE Patent Rights Act is an important bill that promotes domestic innovation and healthy industry competition that will secure American superiority in global markets,” said Heritage Action Executive Vice President Ryan Walker.

Text of the bill may be found here.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Queensland launches coordinated feral cat management in Channel Country
Source: Government of Queensland

Issued: 25 Feb 2025
- An innovative new partnership funded by the Australian Government will help target feral cats across 180,000 hectares of south-west Queensland.
- The Channel Country Threatened Species Partnership comprises twelve partnering groups representing government, First Nations, pastoralists and conservation groups.
- Iconic threatened species like the greater bilby and night parrot will receive greater protection through the removal of feral cats.
In a move to protect some of Queensland’s most vulnerable species, the innovative Channel Country Threatened Species Partnership (CCTSP) has been formed to target feral cats across 180,000 hectares of south-west Queensland.

Feral cats, one of the nation’s most devastating predators, pose an ongoing threat to more than 200 native species.

The partnership comprises twelve groups representing government, First Nations, pastoralists and conservation groups.

The project is being coordinated by the Queensland Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation and the Desert Channels Queensland NRM Group.

The project has received $498,973 funding through the Australian Government’s Saving Native Species Program to implement the national Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032.

“For threatened species like the greater bilby, kowari, night parrot, and plains-wanderer, this is an important project,” Deputy Director-General of Queensland’s Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, Mr Ben Klaassen, said.

“Feral cats are relentless hunters that don’t recognise property boundaries.

“Innovative collaborative partnerships increase our chances of successfully managing such a damaging pest species and improving recovery outcomes for threatened species,” Mr Klaassen said.

Eight sites have been selected for the project, building on existing efforts by the partners to effectively double feral cat management in the Channel Country.

“While the program’s actual feral cat control efforts will focus on a land area of some 180,000 hectares, the eight sites comprise an area of up to 500,000 hectares across the Channel Country,” Mr Klaassen said.

Control efforts include humane ground shooting and trapping, enhanced by technology such as thermal imaging scopes.

To gauge the project’s success, wildlife cameras and bioacoustic recorders will monitor both predator and prey populations, offering insights into the effectiveness of these measures.

The partnership’s efforts aim to improve the conservation outcomes for priority species being targeted for feral cat management by the project:
- The Greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis): Listed as Endangered in Queensland and Vulnerable nationally.
- The Night parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis): Listed as Endangered at both state and national levels.
- The Plains-wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus): A quail-like ground bird that is listed as Critically Endangered on both state and national lists.
- The Kowari (Dasyuroides byrnei): A small carnivorous marsupial that is listed as Endangered at both state and national levels.
“Without intervention, these iconic species face an uncertain future,” said Desert Channels Queensland Chief Executive Officer Leanne Kohler.

“This program marks a turning point by uniting traditional custodians, pastoral companies, conservation groups, and the Queensland Government in a shared mission to safeguard the environment and biodiversity of our remarkably beautiful Channel Country.

“This project is a chance to turn the tide,” Ms Kohler said.

MIL OSI News –
February 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: NSU scientists are the first in the world to use a time-projection chamber for accelerator mass spectrometry

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

Researchers of the Center for Collective Use “Accelerator Mass Spectrometry of NSU-NNC” have tested for the first time an ion detector based on a low-pressure VPK on the MICADAS accelerator spectrometer and obtained the first results. This device was installed instead of the native MICADAS detector (ionization chamber), in which the ions of the C14 isotope are counted, based on the results of which the dating of the studied sample is performed.

In 2023, this time-projection chamber was installed for the first time on a domestic accelerator mass spectrometer, which is made and maintained by the G.I. Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics SB RAS and is located in the Cenozoic Geochronology Shared Utility Center of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography SB RAS. It was successfully tested on a beam of 14C ions with an energy of 4 MeV and proved to be operational. Later, this chamber was tested on a beam of 14C ions with an energy of 0.4 MeV at the MIKADAS UMS. If the experiments are successful, a smaller VPK will be created in the future for installation on the prototype of the first domestic low-voltage universal accelerator mass spectrometer, which is being created by NSU scientists within the framework of the Priority-2030 program.

Time-projection chamber (TPC) — in application to accelerator mass spectrometry, this is a method of identifying low-energy heavy ions based on measuring their path lengths in gas. The principle of operation is as follows: ions fly into the chamber through a thin entrance window. Then they lose energy due to ionization losses. As a result, a trail of gas ions and electrons is formed along the track. These electrons, under the influence of an external electric field, drift in the gas at a constant speed in the direction of the GEM, where they are amplified. At the end, the amplified electrons are collected on a collector and digitized by the data acquisition system. Thus, the electron collection time corresponds to the ion path length.

— Previously, the time-projection chamber was developed for the INP UMS to separate ions with the same atomic masses and different nuclear charges. This gas detector will separate Be10 (beryllium) ions from B10 (boron). Since the nuclei of boron and beryllium have different charges, with equal initial energies, their path lengths in a gas environment are different and the VPK will separate them. Be10 has a longer half-life (1.39 million years) compared to 14C (5730 years), so measuring the 10Be content will allow scientists to date geological samples, — explained Ekaterina Parkhomchuk, Director of the UMS NSU-NNC Collective Use Center.

The MICADAS accelerator mass spectrometer, unlike the domestic multiisotope, is aimed only at detecting and determining the amount of the rare isotope C14 in the samples being studied. C14 ions pass through the entire accelerator mass spectrometer and then enter the gas detector, where they are identified and counted.

— Accelerator mass spectrometers are equipped with various types of detectors. For example, the MICADAS UMS has an ionization chamber. We replaced it with a time-projection chamber. One of the important parts of the MICADAS ionization chamber is the preamplifier. If it fails, MICADAS will stop, and we will have to either buy a new preamplifier, which is very difficult in the current circumstances, — said Alexey Petrozhitsky, engineer at the Center for Collective Use “Accelerator Mass Spectrometry NSU-NNC”.

It is important that ionization chambers have one significant drawback – they operate in a mode where the signal-to-noise ratio is far from optimal. In addition, the preamplifier is very demanding of electronics, unlike the gas analyzer, which is equipped with a time-projection chamber.

— In our detector, we amplify the signal using a gas electron multiplier, which significantly reduces the requirements for the electronics of the data acquisition system. In addition, our VPK produces a much better signal-to-noise ratio, is easy to manufacture, operate and repair. We needed to find an answer to the question: is it possible to use the VPK as a detector of 14C ions with an energy of 0.4 MeV? And in the course of our work, we came to a positive answer. We are confident that the time-projection chamber we have developed can be used as the final detector in the first domestic universal low-voltage accelerator mass spectrometer, which we are currently working on. The experiments we are currently conducting are aimed precisely at testing the detector for the first domestic UMS, and the MICADAS setup acts as an ion beam source available to us. This can be called the first brick for building our own setup. When a project already has a detector that registers particles, it means that a significant area of problems has already been covered and other specialists can join in the creation of a new UMS, ensuring the execution of work at the next stage, commented Tamara Shakirova, a junior researcher at the Institute of Nuclear Physics SB RAS, the Center for Collective Use “Accelerator Mass Spectrometry NSU-NNC”.

Currently, tests of the time-projection chamber at MICADAS are carried out on two types of samples: the ANU standard sample (IAEA-C6, sugar) with a 14C content close to the modern level and a “blank” (polyethylene CH – Elemental Microanalysis B2024 standard) with a 14C content of 0.002 of the modern level. The purpose of the tests is to optimize the operating parameters: working gas pressure, gain, electron drift velocity.

— We have collected a sufficient amount of data, and are currently processing and analyzing it. The main thing is that we have made sure that the time-projection chamber works in the mode we expect and produces clearly readable signals above background values. We can certainly say that we can read C14 from them, which is quite suitable for conducting radiocarbon analysis of samples, — said Alexey Petrozhitsky.

Reference:

Accelerator mass spectrometry is a method for measuring the concentration of rare long-lived cosmogenic isotopes in a sample: 10Be, 14C, 26Al, 36Cl, 41Ca, 129I. It is based on the extraction of atoms from the sample with subsequent “piece by piece” counting of the isotopes of interest. The high accuracy of AMS analysis allows measuring the concentration of a rare isotope. This method is used in many sciences, for example, in archeology, geology, biomedicine, ecology, astrophysics. It is most widely used in radiocarbon dating of archaeological objects, that is, recording the concentration of the carbon-14 isotope. The time interval of dating for 14C goes back as far as 50 thousand years. Determining the concentration of another cosmogenic nuclide 10Be is also of interest, since the time interval of dating is much wider – up to 10 million years.

Currently, the NSU-NSC Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Shared Utility Center has two UMS installations. The first was created by scientists from the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics SB RAS more than 10 years ago. The second Swiss-made MICADAS accelerator mass spectrometer was purchased in 2019. Scientists from Novosibirsk State University, the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics SB RAS, the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography SB RAS, and the Boreskov Institute of Catalysis as part of the Center’s research group are working on creating a domestic low-voltage universal accelerator mass spectrometer that will combine the advantages of the first two installations. The project is designed for five years and is being implemented with the support of the Priority-2030 program.

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 –

February 26, 2025
MIL-OSI China: New light shed on diversity of plateau’s plants

Source: China State Council Information Office 2

Aerial photo shows the scenery at Mt Nyanpo Yutse in Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Golog of Northwest China’s Qinghai province. Qinghai province, located in Northwest China, much of which lies on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is the home to the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers. [Photo/Xinhua]
Chinese scientists have discovered what determined the distribution of unique high-altitude plants across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, thereby answering a major global scientific question.
Known as the “Roof of the World” and the “Third Pole of the Earth”, the plateau hosts exceptionally rare plants, with over one-third of them found nowhere else on Earth.
“This makes it a global biodiversity hot spot,” said Wang Tao, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research and the lead author of a related study published recently in the journal Nature Communications.
“For decades, scientists have tried to understand how these mountain-specific plants developed their unique distribution patterns,” he said.
Working with researchers from the University of Basel in Switzerland, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Peking University, Wang’s team found that historical shifts in tree growth limits — the highest altitude at which trees can survive — played a crucial role.
The study re-created a model to show how the plateau’s tree line, the upper forest limit, moved over time since the last Ice Age 22,000 years ago.
Wang said it is widely accepted that the uplift of the plateau played a key role in the origin of its flora, while periodic climate fluctuations during the Quaternary Period 2.6 million years ago drove the diversification of species.
Earlier studies have warned that global warming pushes trees higher up mountains, squeezing the habitat of alpine plants. This new research reveals that past tree line shifts also left a lasting mark.
In addition to the Quaternary climate fluctuations, the fluctuations regarding past tree line shifts “have also influenced the diversity of endemic alpine species in alpine areas, a factor that had not been explored before”, Wang said.
The study found that the average elevation of the tree line in the distant past on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was lowest — roughly 3,426 meters — during the Last Glacial Maximum, which lasted from 29,000 to 19,000 years ago, and highest — about 4,187 meters — during the Holocene Thermal Maximum about 8,000 years ago. The average present-day tree line is at 4,009 meters.
The fluctuation in tree line elevation between glacial and interglacial periods reached up to 850 meters, causing the habitat area for endemic alpine species during interglacial periods to be about 50 percent of the habitat area during glacial periods.
“Areas with stable environments over time developed more unique plant mixes. In contrast, regions with frequent tree line changes had simpler, more uniform plant communities,” Wang said.
Team member Xu Jinfeng said: “Think of environmental changes as a sieve — only the toughest species survive repeated shifts, making plant groups look similar. Stable areas let plants develop special traits, creating richer diversity.”
According to the study, rapid warming and rising tree lines could threaten the plateau’s unique plants.
“These species aren’t built to handle double pressures from climate change and invading trees,” said Wang. “Our findings help design better protection plans.”

MIL OSI China News –

February 26, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Why do we fall for wellness scams? Our cultural biases and myths are often to blame

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jesse Ruse, Clinical Psychologist, PhD Candidate, University of Sydney

Netflix

Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar has renewed interest in Belle Gibson’s infamous wellness scam, reminding us how vulnerable we can be to deception. While Gibson’s scheme eventually collapsed, her story highlights how fraudsters can exploit our psychological and cultural biases to lure us into wellness traps.

Part of our culture includes the shared mythologies and symbols that help us make sense of the world. These stories and symbols seem to make our lives more “efficient” by surpassing tedious fact-checking. Over time, these cultural codes become embedded into our psychologies, operating as background biases that shape our decision-making.

By becoming aware of these biases, we can develop a more critical approach to evaluating information presented to us. In doing so, we can protect ourselves from the Belle Gibsons of the world.

A desire for inner bodily purity

One pervasive wellness mythology suggests health can be found in the “pure” state of the body, and that illness occurs when outside contaminants pollute the body.

As anthropologist Mary Douglas notes, we symbolically equate the “inner” with purity and the “outer” with pollution. This leads to efforts to protect ourselves from outside threats. We are disgusted by the idea of the harmful “outside” getting inside and violating the body’s inner sanctum.

Gibson’s cookbook and app promoted a diet that claimed inner health problems (such as cancer) are the result of outside contamination, in this case by “bad” foods.

This symbolism also appears in various diets that advocate for removing certain types of food, such as sugar or gluten, to achieve a state of inner sanctity and, therefore, health.

Similarly, various “clean eating” diets will specifically link certain foods to cleanliness and others to dirtiness. In their most extreme form, these diets constitute orthorexia, a clinical condition defined by an “obsession” with healthy eating.

The allure of ‘ancient wisdom’

Each day we face an overwhelming array of choices, from the products we use to how we construct our identities. As people living in modern, affluent societies we are, as philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre put it, “condemned to be free”.

In this context of choice overload and decision fatigue, ancient wisdom offers a seductive simplicity: a return to simpler times.

In 1953, psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan observed that we possess a nostalgia for an idealised golden age (regardless of whether it ever truly existed). We yearn for a mythical era of simplicity, safety and happiness. This psychological bias for the past manifests as a deep reverence for “ancient wisdom”, seemingly passed down through generations and untainted by modern influence.

This preference can be seen in our instinctive trust in grandparents’ remedies and traditional healing practices, even when scientific evidence doesn’t always support them. Gibson and others co-opt this nostalgia by selling us products that connect us to the past.

Suspicion of industrial-scale production

Our minds are often suspicious of large-scale and complex manufacturing processes, and will often devalue industrially produced products.

This scepticism of scale stems from negative associations with factory work, questionable standards and a history of multinational corporations prioritising profit over people. As a public, we are growing understandably weary of the multinational companies whose influence we can’t seem to escape. Politicians often further this narrative by claiming that globalisation – replacing local cottage industries with industrialised mega-companies – screws the little guys like you and me.

Gibson capitalised on a growing suspicion of the industrial-scale pharmaceutical industry to promote her bespoke “homegrown” wellness products. Locally-made goods often have increased value simply because they are made on a smaller scale, regardless of their quality or materials.

Historically, various groups including the Luddites and the hippie movement have rejected the industrial push. More recently, we saw these dynamics play out in COVID-19 vaccine denial, which partially stems from suspicions of the pharmaceutical companies.

A preference for natural over artificial

Culturally, the concept of the “natural” holds powerful meaning, positioning things found in nature as inherently superior to those manufactured by humans (deemed “artificial”).

This natural/artificial dichotomy establishes a symbolic framework in which natural remedies, raw foods and authenticity represent the “proper” order of things – how life should be. The “appeal to nature” bias persists because it resonates with our collective intuition that modern life has somehow disconnected us from important truths or healthier ways of living.

Research has demonstrated we tend to have a positive association with the concept of the “natural”, which we understand as objects not altered by human intervention. This preference isn’t merely aesthetic. It also reflects our belief in a moral order.

Gibson famously claimed alternative therapies – most notably apple cider vinegar – helped treat her alleged cancer. Similar patterns appear throughout the wellness industry, where influencers and companies market products by emphasising their natural origins and minimal processing.

These claims leverage our psychological bias toward natural remedies, even when the scientific evidence for their efficacy is lacking.

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

– ref. Why do we fall for wellness scams? Our cultural biases and myths are often to blame – https://theconversation.com/why-do-we-fall-for-wellness-scams-our-cultural-biases-and-myths-are-often-to-blame-250790

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

February 26, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Ignore the ‘ivory tower’ clichés – universities are the innovation partners more Kiwi businesses need

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Omid Aliasghar, Senior Lecturer, Management and International Business, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

NicoElNino/Shutterstock

When it comes to turning research into real-world success, New Zealand has a problem.

Despite the country’s NZ$3.7 billion research and development spending in 2023 – a 17% jump from the previous year — too many New Zealand businesses fail to commercialise innovation.

According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, New Zealand ranks 21st for innovation inputs. This means we’re good at investing in research and development. But we rank 45th in knowledge outputs and 78th in industry diversification. Essentially, we’re spending more but getting less.

So, what’s holding the country back? In a lot of cases, it can boil down to a lack of collaboration with universities.

Universities are typically focused on generating novel or new-to-the world knowledge, with researchers, cutting-edge technology and deep industry connections.

Working with universities can connect businesses to researchers, government agencies, private industry and global networks. Collaboration can also offer businesses credibility. It signals to investors, partners and customers that they are serious about innovation.

Yet many businesses underestimate their value. They assume collaboration is slow, academic or bureaucratic.

Our study – based on a digital survey of 541 firms across a wide range of industries and regions in New Zealand – looked at whether collaborating with universities could help businesses to bring ideas to market, sell intellectual property and develop technology.

We also considered whether there was a difference in working with international universities versus collaborating with local institutions. While identifying details of the individual businesses were kept confidential, here is what we learned.

The case for foreign university partnerships

Our research found partnering with foreign universities allowed New Zealand businesses to tap into global expertise and advanced research. It also provided access to diverse knowledge networks, where businesses could learn from various real-world applications of scientific knowledge.

For example, a New Zealand business specialising in artificial intelligence (AI) can gain game-changing insights by collaborating with top universities in the United States.

The partnerships can provide access to leading AI models, advanced algorithms, and global industry connections. These partnerships can enable the business to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market.

Additionally, many universities had well-established technology transfer offices. These had experience in helping businesses commercialise research.

In short, foreign university collaborations opened doors to the world’s best knowledge and technology – critical for firms operating in fast-moving industries.

New Zealand technology businesses have benefited from partnering with universities based in the United States on artificial intelligence projects.
Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock

The strength of local university collaborations

We also found local university collaborations had their own advantages, including
an understanding of New Zealand’s specific challenges, from climate change impact on agriculture to AI adoption in small businesses.

This contextual knowledge made their expertise highly relevant for firms aiming to commercialise innovation within New Zealand’s unique market conditions.

Working with local universities also allowed businesses to build strong, personal relationships with researchers, fostering faster and more effective knowledge exchange.

Unlike foreign partnerships, where interactions may be limited to emails and virtual meetings, local collaborations allowed for regular in-person brainstorming, experimentation and problem solving.

Finally, collaborating with New Zealand’s universities gave businesses access to top local talent, helping them recruit skilled graduates familiar with the domestic market and its needs.

A balanced approach

Investing in research and development alone won’t drive innovation for businesses. Without strategic collaboration, firms risk wasting resources on ideas that never reach the market.

Businesses should take a balanced approach. Foreign university collaborations can offer groundbreaking advances, cutting-edge knowledge and global networks. At the same time, local university collaborations offer accessible knowledge, local expertise and stronger working relationships.

By embracing these partnerships, New Zealand businesses can turn research into commercial success, drive national economic growth, and position themselves as global innovation leaders. The question is no longer if firms should collaborate with universities – it’s how quickly they can start.

This research was completed with Annique Un (Northeastern University), Kazuhiro Asakawa (Keio University), Jarrod Haar (Massey University) and Sihong Wu (University of Auckland).

Omid Aliasghar receives funding support for this research provided by Building New Zealand’s Innovation Capacity Spearhead within the Science for Technological Innovation National Science Challenge.

– ref. Ignore the ‘ivory tower’ clichés – universities are the innovation partners more Kiwi businesses need – https://theconversation.com/ignore-the-ivory-tower-cliches-universities-are-the-innovation-partners-more-kiwi-businesses-need-249129

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

February 26, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Chinese dating simulator Love and Deepspace now has a period tracker – it signals a shift in mobile gaming

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephanie Harkin, Lecturer, Games, School of Design, RMIT University

Papergames

24/7 companionship. Spend time with him whenever you want.

This is the promise made by Love and Deepspace, a mobile romance game by the Chinese company Papergames.

Some think video games are all guns and cars, but romance games or “dating simulators” are immensely popular, especially among young women.

Love and Deepspace reached 50 million users across more than 170 countries and regions in January. Despite their popularity, dating sims, as they are known for short, usually fly under the radar in discussions about games.

Meanwhile, a recent major update for Love and Deepspace has furrowed some brows by introducing an unusual new feature: a period tracker.

Need help keeping track of tasks?

Dating sims offer a fantasy of romantic, intimate companionship. Otome games (from the word “maiden” in Japanese) are a sub-genre of dating sims that are catered to women. They offer a suite of boyfriends to choose from – each attentive, caring and, of course, incredibly handsome.

Ideal in every way except being fictional.

Love and Deepspace is a science-fiction otome game that stands out with its unusual blend of combat, magic, dating and gacha (meaning random rewards) microtransactions – which are controversial for their parallels to gambling.

Its latest update introduced a Remind Me feature, where players can ask their virtual boyfriends to remind them of daily tasks and special events, as well as their upcoming period. Players input information about their menstrual cycle and the game then generates its own predictive calendar and notifications.

The player’s in-game boyfriend will offer to pick up some sanitary products or even reach towards the screen and provide an imaginary abdomen massage.

The millions of users drawn to a fantasy about considerate men says a lot about the frustrations women have with modern dating and dating apps.

Women are conscious of the conservative gender roles within otome games, but at the same time find pleasure in their focus on the female gaze and ability to explore their sexual desire privately.

In China, where otome games are especially popular, censorship of explicit content for women has intensified. These games are able to convey sexually suggestive themes that are subtle enough to elude censorship.

Otome games are not new

Otome games have been around for three decades.

Angelique, a game made by an all-women team in 1994, is considered to be the first. It helped set the stage for other boyfriend fantasy media for women as seen in the rising popularity of “boyfriend ASMR” on audio and video platforms today. These are designed to directly address the listener in both sensual and everyday scenarios.

Video games have changed a lot since then, especially as mobile devices have evolved to be more intimate, accompanying us everywhere.

Love and Deepspace is introducing more features including “Quality Time”, which rewards players for working or studying with the game open. The rewards come in the form of an animated man sighing and whispering into the player’s headphones.

‘Feel his deepening breath, rising heartbeat, and the trickle of sweat. He’s working out together with you!’
Love and Deepspace/X

Periods and privacy

Love and Deepspace’s period reminders mirror existing period tracker apps, though they do not incorporate the usual fertility date predictions or ability to log symptoms and sexual activity. That’s probably a good thing.

Period tracker apps have faced scrutiny for mishandling users’ data. Popular period tracker app Flo has faced a lawsuit in the British Columbia Supreme Court in Canada for sharing personal data to third-party tech firms, including Facebook and Google, which use the data for targeted advertising.

Meanwhile, the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the United States has threatened many people’s bodily autonomy and made them concerned about the legal risks of sharing personal biological information.

Love and Deepspace’s privacy policy states any menstruation data is only used for the prediction and reminder features, and that it will not be shared with any third parties without the player’s consent.

The banning of the Chinese-owned platform TikTok in the US was driven by fears of foreign influence and data privacy. Yet our privacy may not be safer with a US company than a Chinese one.

US-owned companies have been just as liable to sell sensitive information to third parties, such as location data to abortion clinics and gay clubs.

Australia’s Privacy Act does not just apply to Australian companies. Papergames could be sanctioned if it breaches its privacy policy.

That said, it is unlikely many users will be familiar with the policy or read future changes made to it. It is best to always practise caution when entering any kind of personal information in platforms, apps or video games.

A potential shift

Period tracking is not a core component in the game. But this new feature signals a potential shift towards more mobile games integrating popular app functions, such as health data.

Instead of a casual time-filler, mobile games like Love and Deepspace are competing for players’ attention over other apps – which is concerning given its controversial gacha random rewards.

It’s also possible the game’s designers are picking up on a widespread desire for men to care more about their partner’s periods.

Stephanie Harkin 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. Chinese dating simulator Love and Deepspace now has a period tracker – it signals a shift in mobile gaming – https://theconversation.com/chinese-dating-simulator-love-and-deepspace-now-has-a-period-tracker-it-signals-a-shift-in-mobile-gaming-250497

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

February 26, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Unleashing private sector’s dynamism for high-quality development

Source: China State Council Information Office

Half a month before the annual sessions of China’s top legislature and political advisory body, a high-level symposium on private enterprises was convened, sending a signal of strong support for private businesses.

The symposium, attended by President Xi Jinping, underscored the Chinese authorities’ latest endeavor to bolster confidence and boost the development of the private sector, which is key to the country’s high-quality development.

Unswerving support

During the symposium, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed that the basic principles and policies for the development of the private sector have been incorporated into the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and “cannot and will not be changed.”

This message highlighted the country’s unswerving commitment to the sector. During a similar symposium in November 2018, Xi said that private enterprises and private entrepreneurs “belong to our own family” and the sector should only grow stronger instead of being weakened.

From the symposiums and key meetings that outline plans for the country’s reform and development to Xi’s visits to private companies, the country’s support for the private sector has been evident.

During a group discussion at the country’s “two sessions” in 2023, after listening to Zeng Yuqun, chairman of private firm CATL, the Chinese leading battery maker, Xi expressed his hope that the country’s new energy industry would seize opportunities and ride the tide, while ensuring both development and security. Xi also urged the authorities to provide support and guidance for private enterprises during times of difficulty.

Founded in 2011 in Ningde, east China’s Fujian Province, CATL has quickly risen to become one of the world’s leading industry players and its “Shenxing Plus” battery has drawn worldwide attention for high energy density and fast-charging capabilities.

Among key policies to ramp up the growth of the private sector, China set up a bureau under its top economic planner, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), in 2023. The country is also pushing forward the legislative process of its first basic law specifically aimed at promoting the development of the private sector.

Under a nurturing policy environment, the private sector has become a prominent part of the country’s economy, driving innovation, employment and overall economic growth.

Private firms now make up more than 90 percent of the country’s total enterprises, with their numbers more than quintupling between 2012 and 2024. Their global presence has also expanded, with the number of Chinese private firms in the Fortune Global 500 list rising to around 30.

Yet the sector’s development is now at a pivotal moment: Domestically, China is battling headwinds, including insufficient demand to reinforce its economic recovery while fostering innovation-driven development; globally, businesses have to navigate escalating trade tensions, rising protectionism, and the latest wave of technological revolution that is transforming industries, production models and lifestyles.

Despite the difficulties and challenges, it is important to see the path forward and the bright future, stay committed to development, bolster confidence, and maintain an enterprising spirit, Xi said at the latest symposium.

High-quality development

The Chinese authorities have encouraged private enterprises to embrace high-quality development, which is viewed as both a strategic imperative and a necessity for them to thrive in the increasingly complex and competitive global landscape.

On many occasions, Xi has urged private enterprises to unswervingly pursue high-quality development, boost independent innovation and strengthen their core competitiveness.

Private enterprises have already been the backbone of the country’s innovation drive, accounting for more than 90 percent of high-tech companies.

The private sector also contributes to more than 70 percent of the country’s technological innovation achievements. Among the country’s national-level “little giant” firms — a term that refers to novel elites of small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in manufacturing, specializing in a niche market and boasting cutting-edge technologies — the proportion of private companies has surpassed 80 percent.

From competitive electric vehicles and DeepSeek, a rising star in artificial intelligence, to Unitree Robotics, a pioneer in humanoid robot development, private enterprises are at the forefront of China’s economic transformation.

To empower the sector, the NDRC pledged to further remove market access barriers, revise the market access negative list for private enterprises in a timely manner, and encourage greater private sector participation in major national projects and programs.

Authorities also vowed to tackle challenges such as difficulties and high costs of financing for private businesses, address payment arrears owed to private enterprises, and effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of private businesses and entrepreneurs in accordance with the law.

These efforts are not just about clearing hurdles, but fostering an ecosystem which further unleashes private enterprises’ dynamism and ensures that they can fully capitalize on the opportunities in front of them.

With the rapid development of education, science and technology, a vast and high-caliber talent pool and workforce, well-developed industrial and infrastructure systems, and a supersized market of more than 1.4 billion people with huge potential, the private sector enjoys abundant new opportunities and greater headroom for development, Xi said.

MIL OSI China News –

February 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: The UK must make big changes to its diets, farming and land use to hit net zero – official climate advisers

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Neil Ward, Professor of Rural and Regional Development at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, University of East Anglia

William Edge / shutterstock

If the UK is to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, over one-third of its sheep and cows will have to go, with their fields being replaced by huge new areas of woodland. That’s one conclusion of the latest report by the the Climate Change Committee (CCC), the UK government’s independent advisor on climate change.

The CCC is tasked with outlining how much greenhouse gas the UK can emit if it is to achieve its climate targets – its “carbon budget”. The committee also recommends how the country might reduce its emissions to get within that budget. It sets future budgets every five years or so. This latest report, the seventh carbon budget, looks at emissions in the period 2038 to 2043. It updates the sixth carbon budget produced in 2020.

The UK has almost halved its greenhouse gas emissions since 1990, but that was the easy half. Most dirty industries are long gone, for instance, and coal power plants have been replaced with gas and renewable energy.

Next, the country will be grappling with the most challenging sectors including the focus of my academic research: agriculture and land use. This challenge will be worsened by the impacts of climate change and geopolitical uncertainties that raise doubts about the UK’s food security.

Currently, agriculture makes up about 11% of UK emissions, but this proportion will rise considerably over the next 15 years as other sectors decarbonise further. Cattle and sheep contribute most of these emissions, and the latest carbon budget suggests their numbers will have to be reduced by 22% by 2035 and by over 38% by 2050.

This is principally to release land to plant tens of thousands of hectares of new woodland each year (60,000 hectares a year by 2040) and to grow energy crops (38,000 hectares a year by 2040). It will also mean fewer emissions from the animals themselves and from growing animal feed.

The UK needs a lot more of this.
Callums Trees / shutterstock

Less meat and dairy

The latest carbon budget suggests that dietary change is key to this anticipated change in farming and land use. While British people won’t need to give up meat entirely, they will need to reduce consumption of meat and dairy products by around 35% by 2050 compared to 2019 levels.

Meat and dairy consumption are already falling, however, and the trend has accelerated since 2020. To meet the budget, the decline would need to continue but more rapidly than the long-term trend.

The CCC is in the business of advising on what government should do to address climate change, not in the business of telling people what to eat. It hopes that food labels with additional information about emissions will help people make better choices for themselves.

Emphasising non-meat options and altering the layout of supermarkets may also help change the “choice environment” and so change consumption practices. Nevertheless, before long, the UK and devolved governments will have to grasp the nettle of diet change, land use and livestock. There have already been successful legal challenges for having inadequate plans in this area.

It helps that diets good for the planet are also good for people’s health. In October 2024, the House of Lords food, diet and obesity committee estimated diet-related ill health and obesity cost £98 billion a year. This is a significant drag on productivity and places acute pressures on the NHS.

Plant-based foods are better for food security

Energy security is currently prompting much thought and action, but food security has not. Dietary change can also help improve the UK’s food security, however, since meat and dairy take up more land per calorie than healthier alternatives. A large-scale shift in diet and land use could render the UK more resilient to future wars, pandemics or anything else that causes shocks to food prices and supplies.

For farmers and landowners there has been increasing interest in greener approaches to production, sometimes called regenerative farming. Some within, or clustered around, farming will protest about the scale of reduction in animal numbers implied by net zero.

Faced with the basic maths, a marked reduction looks unavoidable. The sooner the conversation can shift from whether change is needed to how it might best be fairly and equitably pursued, the better.

This carbon budget brings positive opportunities for nature restoration, diversifying rural economies and improving the appearance and ecology of the countryside. But for net emissions to come down enough, the amount of wooded land will need to increase from 13% to 19% by 2050 – that’s over a million extra hectares, or roughly equivalent to Cornwall, Devon and Dorset combined.

These are very stretching targets, and tree planting over the past few years has fallen far short of the rates required. Because afforestation is such an important factor in the carbon budget, if the UK fails to meet its targets, the dietary changes may need to be even greater.

Heightened international instability threatening UK food security could mean the same. Indeed, some food, health and environmental organisations will point to the seventh carbon budget and say the CCC has not gone far enough.

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

Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

Neil Ward receives funding from UKRI in his role as Co-lead of the AFN (AgriFood4NetZero) Network+.. He is a member of the Labour Party and the National Trust.

– ref. The UK must make big changes to its diets, farming and land use to hit net zero – official climate advisers – https://theconversation.com/the-uk-must-make-big-changes-to-its-diets-farming-and-land-use-to-hit-net-zero-official-climate-advisers-250158

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 26, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Tibet is one of the most linguistically diverse places in the world. This is in danger of extinction

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gerald Roche, Lecturer in Linguistics, La Trobe University

Three days after he was released from prison in December, a Tibetan village leader named Gonpo Namgyal died. As his body was being prepared for traditional Tibetan funeral rites, marks were found indicating he had been brutally tortured in jail.

His crime? Gonpo Namgyal had been part of a campaign to protect the Tibetan language in China.

Gonpo Namgyal is the victim of a slow-moving conflict that has dragged on for nearly 75 years, since China invaded Tibet in the mid-20th century. Language has been central to that conflict.

Tibetans have worked to protect the Tibetan language and resisted efforts to enforce Mandarin Chinese. Yet, Tibetan children are losing their language through enrolment in state boarding schools where they are being educated nearly exclusively in Mandarin Chinese. Tibetan is typically only taught a few times a week – not enough to sustain the language.

My research, published in a new book in 2024, provides unique insights into the struggle of other minority languages in Tibet that receive far less attention.

My research shows that language politics in Tibet are surprisingly complex and driven by subtle violence, perpetuated not only by Chinese authorities but also other Tibetans. I’ve also found that outsiders’ efforts to help are failing the minority languages at the highest risk of extinction.

Tibetan culture under attack

I lived in Ziling, the largest city on the Tibetan Plateau, from 2005 to 2013, teaching in a university, studying Tibetan and supporting local non-government organisations.

Most of my research since then has focused on language politics in the Rebgong valley on the northeast Tibetan Plateau. From 2014 to 2018, I interviewed dozens of people, spoke informally with many others, and conducted hundreds of household surveys about language use.

I also collected and analysed Tibetan language texts, including government policies, online essays, social media posts and even pop song lyrics.

When I was in Ziling, Tibetans launched a massive protest movement against Chinese rule just before the Beijing Olympics in 2008. These protests led to harsh government crackdowns, including mass arrests, increased surveillance, and restrictions on freedom of movement and expressions of Tibetan identity. This was largely focused on language and religion.

Years of unrest ensued, marked by more demonstrations and individual acts of sacrifice. Since 2009, more than 150 Tibetans have set themselves on fire to protest Chinese rule.

Not just Tibetan under threat

Tibet is a linguistically diverse place. In addition to Tibetan, about 60 other languages are spoken in the region. About 4% of Tibetans (around 250,000 people) speak a minority language.

Government policy forces all Tibetans to learn and use Mandarin Chinese. Those who speak only Tibetan have a harder time finding work and are faced with discrimination and even violence from the dominant Han ethnic group.

Meanwhile, support for Tibetan language education has slowly been whittled away: the government even recently banned students from having private Tibetan lessons or tutors on their school holidays.

Linguistic minorities in Tibet all need to learn and use Mandarin. But many also need to learn Tibetan to communicate with other Tibetans: classmates, teachers, doctors, bureaucrats or bosses.

In Rebgong, where I did my research, the locals speak a language they call Manegacha. Increasingly, this language is being replaced by Tibetan: about a third of all families that speak Manegacha are now teaching Tibetan to their children (who also must learn Mandarin).

The government refuses to provide any opportunities to use and learn minority languages like Manegacha. It also tolerates constant discrimination and violence against Manegacha speakers by other Tibetans.

These assimilationist state policies are causing linguistic diversity across Tibet to collapse. As these minority languages are lost, people’s mental and physical health suffers and their social connections and communal identities are destroyed.

How do Manegacha communities resist and navigate language oppression?

Why does this matter?

Tibetan resistance to Chinese rule dates back to the People’s Liberation Army invasion in the early 1950s.

When the Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959, that resistance movement went global. Governments around the world have continued to support Tibetan self-determination and combat Chinese misinformation about Tibet, such as the US Congress passage of the Resolve Tibet Act in 2024.

Outside efforts to support the Tibetan struggle, however, are failing some of the most vulnerable people: those who speak minority languages.

Manegacha speakers want to maintain their language. They resist the pressure to assimilate whenever they speak Manegacha to each other, post memes online in Manegacha or push back against the discrimination they face from other Tibetans.

However, if Tibetans stop speaking Manegacha and other minority languages, this will contribute to the Chinese government’s efforts to erase Tibetan identity and culture.

Even if the Tibetan language somehow survives in China, the loss of even one of Tibet’s minority languages would be a victory for the Communist Party in the conflict it started 75 years ago.

Gerald Roche has received funding for this research from the Australian Research Council. He is also affiliated with the Linguistic Justice Foundation.

– ref. Tibet is one of the most linguistically diverse places in the world. This is in danger of extinction – https://theconversation.com/tibet-is-one-of-the-most-linguistically-diverse-places-in-the-world-this-is-in-danger-of-extinction-246316

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

February 26, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China pledges global cooperation to address climate change

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

HANGZHOU, Feb. 25 — China is willing to work with all parties to jointly address the challenges of extreme weather and climate risks, said Chen Zhenlin, head of the China Meteorological Administration (CMA).

Chen made the remarks at the 62nd session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), an important international platform for the assessment of climate change, that opened on Monday in Hangzhou, capital of east China’s Zhejiang Province.

In China, actively responding to climate change has become an essential requirement for achieving sustainable development and a responsibility for promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

The CMA has done a lot of work in responding to climate change, including strengthening its integrated land-sea-air-space monitoring capabilities, researching and developing global and regional climate models, and assessing the impacts and risks of climate change, Chao Qingchen, head of the National Climate Center under the CMA, told Xinhua.

These efforts have greatly contributed to climate change adaptation and mitigation, Chao added.

In Zhejiang, the meteorological disaster early warning system has further improved its accuracy to the township level, with alerts for sudden strong convective weather now issued 50 minutes in advance.

The IPCC is meeting in Hangzhou to reach agreement on the outlines of the three working group contributions to the “Seventh Assessment Report” and the “Methodology Report on Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies, Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage.” Representatives from over 130 IPCC member countries, relevant observer organizations and international organizations are attending the meeting.

The IPCC is now in its seventh climate change assessment cycle. Over the past six cycles, it has published a total of 43 assessment reports on climate change.

Liu Zhenmin, China’s special envoy for climate change, said the IPCC reports reflect humanity’s deepening understanding of climate science, which has advanced global efforts to address climate change and provided an important scientific foundation for continuously strengthening and improving global climate governance.

Over the years, hundreds of Chinese scientists have participated in writing and reviewing the assessment reports, making significant contributions to scientific, comprehensive and objective assessments of climate change.

MIL OSI China News –

February 26, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Plan to increase digital skills to deliver growth and opportunity for all
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

Plan to increase digital skills to deliver growth and opportunity for all

Government sets out first steps to break down barriers to digital inclusion affecting 1 in 4 Britons to help put more money into people’s pockets.
Digital Inclusion Action Plan. We’re making sure everyone can be included in our digital world.

Tech Secretary: Improving digital skills essential to economic growth and success of Plan for Change

Government sets out first steps to break down barriers to digital inclusion affecting 1 in 4 Britons to help put more money into people’s pockets

Comes as Ministers secure backing of business, with Google vowing to deliver intensive digital skills training to support adults with low digital skills

Millions of people in Britain are set to gain greater digital skills, as ministers tackle the scourge of digital exclusion currently holding too many people back from boosting their employability and accessing vital services.

With daily tasks like speaking to a GP, applying for jobs, or renting and buying a house becoming increasingly digitalised, improved digital skills and access to technology hold the key to many of the government’s commitments in the Plan for Change. Businesses are also set to gain from greater skills, with too many employers currently struggling to recruit candidates with the digital skills required to help them grow their business and ultimately boost economic growth.

Research shows that people who are digitally excluded can face higher costs for things like home insurance, train travel and food – with people paying up to 25% more than consumers who are online.  

The Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has set out today (26th February) urgent actions to begin fixing digital exclusion, publishing a new Digital Inclusion Action Plan that will help people in Britain reap the benefits of the online world.

This includes funding for local initiatives targeted to the most digitally-excluded groups, including the elderly and low-income households and partnering with inclusion charity Digital Poverty Alliance to provide laptops to people who are digitally excluded.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:

The technological revolution we are living in is not only transforming everyone’s lives, but is advancing at breakneck speed, and will not slow down any time soon. 

Leaving people behind in the process could threaten our mission to maximise technology for economic growth and better public services, which is central to our Plan for Change.

Only by making technology a widely accessible force for good can we make it a positive catalyst for societal change – whether that means helping a sick patient speak to a GP remotely or giving a young person the devices they need to apply for online jobs or renting a flat. 

Charities, local and combined authorities will have access to funding for digital inclusion programmes, boosting communities’ digital access, skills and confidence in the online world. This new funding will empower Mayors and other local leaders to develop local solutions for the most digitally excluded groups in their areas, recognising the challenges they face will be different across the country.

It also includes pledges by key technology companies to help the government achieve its mission of breaking down the digital divide. Google and BT have pledged to deliver digital skills training to thousands in the UK while Vodafone has committed to help one million people by donating connectivity and technology, affordable services, and upskilling communities.  

Telecoms Minister Chris Bryant said:

Digital services are a key part of everyday life. Banking, parking your car, searching for the best value insurance, these are all part of modern life. But digital innovation cannot be a privilege of the wealthy or the young.

From boosting digital skills to improving access to laptops, today we are setting out clear actions to give everyone across the UK the skills, confidence, and opportunity to make the most of the digital world and thrive in our modern society.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester said:

There is still too much digital exclusion in the UK. Technology should be accessible to all, and I welcome the recognition of Mayoral Combined Authorities as leaders in driving locally-led solutions. In Greater Manchester, we aim to empower every resident with the essential skills and tools to thrive in a digital world.

Through a deeper collaboration with the government, we will unlock the potential of technology, building a fairer, more prosperous future for all, ensuring no one gets left behind.

Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, said:

Digital inclusion is not just about providing access to technology; it’s about unlocking opportunities for everyone. In the Liverpool City Region, we’ve seen first-hand the transformative power of ensuring that nobody is left behind in the digital age.

With this new`government initiative, we are taking a giant step forward in closing the digital divide, giving individuals the tools they need to succeed and thrive, whether that’s through education, employment, or improving their everyday lives.

Figures show that many in Britain risk being left behind if no action is taken, with 1.6 million people in the UK currently living offline, meaning they lack the devices, connection or skills to get online, and around a quarter of the UK population struggle to use online services.

Widespread access to technology will boost economic growth and raise living standards in every part of Britain, equipping people with better skills to enter a competitive workforce and giving investors the confidence that the British public will exploit tech innovation.

Notes to editors

Industry pledges

Google

Google will develop a new partnership with Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to deliver intensive digital skills training to support adults with low digital skills, helping them succeed in the modern work environment.

CityFibre

CityFibre has committed to installing 170 connections to 170 premises in Norfolk, Suffolk, Leicestershire, Kent, East and West Sussex, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and surrounding areas by 2030. As part of this, these premises — including residential and community hubs — will be given their first 6-month broadband package for free.

Virgin Media O2

Virgin Media O2 has already connected over 350,000 digitally excluded people. It is committing to increasing this to 1 million people by the end of 2025, through expanded provision of data and devices to those that need it.

Vodafone

Vodafone will help 1 million people cross the digital divide in 2025 through donating connectivity and technology, affordable services, and upskilling communities. This includes a commitment to maintain their social tariff product offerings. To support closing the digital infrastructure divide, Vodafone will continue to invest in rolling out their network to the whole of the UK.

WightFibre

WightFibre commits to providing free or discounted broadband to community groups and charities, including community centres, digital hubs and village halls, on the Isle of Wight. These community organisations will promote that they have free Wi-Fi available on-site for public use.

Good Things Foundation, Vodafone and Deloitte

Good Things Foundation, Vodafone, and Deloitte are working together with the government to lead the development of a charter for responsible device donation. This will establish common principles for businesses and organisations to commit to: increasing the number of devices donated to digitally excluded people; reducing electronic waste; and promoting circularity.

BT

Connectivity:

BT has already connected over 300,000 digitally excluded households through its social tariffs, which also include a lower £15 tariff for ‘zero income’ households, and will continue to offer these tariffs to millions of people on Universal Credit who are eligible for them.

Community WiFi:

BT Group has the country’s largest public WiFi network, with some 5.5 million EE and BT hub locations (in households and commercial premises) available for eligible customers to connect to. BT and EE have agreed to pilot 2 new approaches to extend the use of this network to a much larger number of digitally excluded households:
1. by providing log-ins for free WiFi to eligible families through charity and public sector partnerships
2. by providing community WiFi services, free at the point of use, at a much larger number of libraries and community centres, including working with government to identify and prioritise connections to 500 community hubs in deprived areas

To succeed, this initiative will need support from local partners, which the pilot phase of the project will seek to ensure.

Skills:

BT commits to providing digital training to thousands of older people and children in 2025, through their partnership with AbilityNet and their Work Ready programme.

BT commits to providing 500 adults with disabilities with digital devices, data and support in 2025, through their partnership with Keyring.

Openreach

Openreach is building ultrafast ultra-reliable Full Fibre broadband to 25 million premises by December 2026 and ultimately aiming to reach as many as 30 million by 2030 if the right investment conditions exist.

As we build, we’ll work with the government to upgrade connectivity to at least 500 community hubs in deprived areas, helping people across the country to get online, with the majority delivered by the end of 2026. We’ll also work with our communications provider customers to offer the services these sites need, as soon as our network’s been built.

Sky

Through Sky Up — Sky’s social impact programme — Sky will commit to supporting 70 Sky Up Hubs across the UK help people bridge the digital divide by providing reliable internet connections, tech equipment and digital training in partnership with local charities in 2025.

Three

To support those facing digital exclusion, Three will donate over 2 million GB of data to an estimated 80,000 people by 2026.

To help bridge the digital divide, Three’s Discovery digital-skills training programme seeks to reach over 270,000 people by 2030.

Through the Reconnected scheme, Three aims to save around 30,000 unused devices to help disadvantaged people get connected.

Supportive quotes:

Helen Milner OBE, Group Chief Executive, Good Things Foundation, said:

For the first time ever, digital inclusion is firmly on the national agenda. It’s fantastic to see recognition from the heart of government that urgent and joined-up action is needed to enable millions of people to overcome barriers to good work, good health and realising their full potential. As the UK’s leading digital inclusion charity, Good Things Foundation is delighted to see recognition of the vital role hyper local community organisations and civil society has played in fixing the digital divide, and a clear vision for how the national and devolved government can amplify and build on that. This is a major milestone in our push for an inclusive and prosperous society where no-one is left behind.

Debbie Weinstein, President of Google EMEA and Interim Head of Google UK, said:

It’s essential that we bridge the digital divide and equip everyone with the skills they need to harness the opportunities of the online world. We’re excited to be a part of the Digital Inclusion Action Plan – building on our legacy of training over 1 million Brits in digital skills. Ensuring that everyone benefits from helpful, productivity boosting AI-powered technologies is key to growth and to what we do.

Nicki Lyons, Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer at Vodafone UK, said:

Vodafone has long been an advocate of greater digital inclusion across society. During our time working in this space, we have learnt that the scale of our progress is directly linked to the success of our partnerships. Which is why we are delighted to be joining forces with Good Things Foundation, Deloitte and the UK government.

Through the Digital Inclusion Action plan, we are establishing a common set of principles for businesses and organisations to commit to when it comes to responsible device donation. Not only will this help increase the number of devices donated to those who are digitally excluded, but it will also help reduce electronic waste and promote circularity. All while laddering up to Vodafone’s pledge to help 1 million people cross the digital divide by 2025, as part of a wider 4 million target through our everyone.connected programme.

Councillor Abi Brown OBE, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Improvement and Innovation Board, said:

Councils are critical to tackling digital inclusion, providing strategic leadership of local support, and running council-led initiatives, such as digital skills improvement support and refurbishing old equipment to donate or lend to residents who rely on devices.

Our world is increasingly digital by default, with banking, democratic functions, job applications, benefits and other public services being moved online. Digital skills, equipment and reliable connectivity, as well as the confidence to be online, are crucial to enable people to fully participate in society and engage in education and employment.

Given their role as local leaders, councils want to go much further, building on their work with local voluntary and community sector organisations to reach socially excluded groups.

The Digital Inclusion Action Plan recognises that local authorities are key to the delivery of digital inclusion ambitions, and we look forward to helping government empower all areas to support all those who are underserved by the move to a modern digital society.

Elizabeth Anderson, Chief Executive Officer, Digital Poverty Alliance, said:

The Digital Poverty Alliance is delighted to be playing a practical role by distributing government devices to those in need – and more widely we’re pleased to see so many key aspects of digital inclusion tackled in a comprehensive way in this Action Plan. Leadership from government, combined with tangible support for charities and local authorities and firm commitments from industry, sets a firm basis towards tackling an issue that prevents millions of people from accessing key services online and achieving their potential. Our work together on this pilot programme will provide real help right now and demonstrate the huge impact that device redistribution schemes have on families and households.

Antony Walker, Deputy CEO, techUK said:

Everyone, regardless of their background, should have access to the digital skills they need to be empowered not just at work but also in their day-to-day life. In the digital age we live in today, it is imperative that everyone is at ease using digital technologies.

The UK tech sector stands behind the government’s mission to close the digital divide. Many of our members are already tackling digital exclusion head on and this Action Plan will support their efforts and enable businesses to do even more.

Liz Williams MBE, Chief Executive, FutureDotNow, said:

Today 21 million adults of working age don’t have the full suite of digital essentials. Leading businesses are already working with FutureDotNow, coalescing around the Workforce Digital Skills Charter to ensure everyone has the essential digital capability for work today and our rapidly evolving digital future. This clear direction from government will help accelerate progress as we work to close the workforce essential digital skills gap.

Nicola Green, Chief Communications and Corporate Affairs Officer at Virgin Media O2, said:

We welcome the government’s Digital Inclusion Action Plan and its leadership to drive digital inclusion across the UK.

I’m proud that Virgin Media O2 is recognised in the Action Plan, having already connected more than 350,000 digitally excluded people through our pioneering programmes, such as the National Databank and Community Calling, which have provided devices, data, and digital skills to help people access essential online services – from applying for work, booking medical appointments, accessing training courses and keeping in touch with loved ones.

We look forward to working with government to further tackle digital exclusion so more people can access the internet and transform their lives.

DSIT media enquiries

Email press@dsit.gov.uk

Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 300

Share this page

The following links open in a new tab

Share on Facebook (opens in new tab)

Share on Twitter (opens in new tab)

Updates to this page

Published 26 February 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
February 26, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to study suggesting high dietary fish intake linked to slowed disability progression in Multiple sclerosis (MS)

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

February 25, 2025

A study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry looks at fish intake and slowed disability progress in Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Dr Shelly Coe, Senior Lecturer in Nutrition Science, Oxford Brookes University, said:

“It is great to see more research into MS and diet approaches for managing symptoms and disability progression, with the current research showing that higher lean and oily fish consumption is associated with a reduced risk of MS disability progression. Benefits of this study include the high sample size and that people with MS have a confirmed diagnosis and are recruited from clinics throughout Sweden.

“Fish consumption is assessed with a 4-point scale for oily or lean fish intake, and therefore this could result in some limitations; however considering the study design this is overall a suitable method for assessing diet in this population.

“Those with higher lean and oily fish intake overall showed an association with lower disability progression. More benefits were found in those who consistently had a higher fish consumption over time, however those who increased their fish consumption over time also had an associated reduced disability progression, although less pronounced. This therefore highlights that even if someone with MS changes their diet later in their condition to a diet richer in oily and lean fish, there is still a beneficial association with disability progression to some extent. Overall, analysis seems thorough considering all aspects of the data.”

Dr Aravinthan Varatharaj, Clinical Lecturer in Neurology, University of Southampton, said:

“This is a well-conducted study with robust findings. Sweden has an excellent registry where most people with multiple sclerosis include their data. Using this data, the researchers found that people eating more fish were relatively protected against worsening of their disability.

“There could be lots of reasons for this. All fish contain important nutrients and amino acids which are beneficial for health. Oily fish contain essential omega-3 fatty acids which cannot be otherwise produced by the human body. UK guidelines recommend we eat at least two portions of fish per week, with at least one of oily fish. However, most people in the UK eat less than this, and only a minority regularly eat oily fish. People with multiple sclerosis already know the importance of a healthy balanced diet, and this study is another bit of evidence to say that eating more fish is good for you.

“The study also showed that for people who didn’t each much fish and were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, if they started eating more they still benefited. This goes to show that making a lifestyle change after diagnosis can have a positive impact.

“However, previous studies done in the 1970s looking at fish oil supplementation did not show a strong benefit for people with multiple sclerosis. Dietary studies can be at risk of confounding by hidden factors. One thing this study didn’t look at is whether people who ate less fish were also less well-off. Fish can be expensive, so this could be a factor. We know that people with lower incomes have worse health outcomes (for multiple sclerosis and many other conditions).”

Dr Ruth Dobson, Clinical Senior Lecturer in Neurology (Multiple Sclerosis), Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), said:

“The Swedish EIMS study has done a lot to enhance our understanding of MS epidemiology. The question about fish consumption playing a role in MS susceptibility and/or severity is one that has been hypothesised for some time from a biological basis. Diet is of significant interest to people living with MS, and high quality studies to investigate the effect of diet are hard to do; this study provides a really useful avenue for investigation.

“There appears to be a consistent dose-response relationship between fish consumption and MS severity, the first time this has been reliably described. Notably, the same is true for physical activity and smoking behaviour, which has been shown before.

“I don’t think this fully answers the question about whether it is fish consumption directly that influences MS (although this is completely plausible), whether it is synergistic with other lifestyle traits (I think this is most likely), or whether it is purely acting as a surrogate for other lifestyle traits (less likely). They do adjust for some of these but residual confounding remains a concern in all studies like this. But the paper as presented is fair and does discuss this.”

‘Impact of fish consumption on disability progression in multiple sclerosis’ Eva Johansson et al. was published in Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry at 23:30 hours UK time Tuesday 25 February 2025.

DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2024-335200

Declared interests

Dr Aravinthan Varatharaj: I am involved in trials of disease-modifying treatments for progressive multiple sclerosis. I am also an investigator on the UK MS Register. I have received funding from Roche who make pharmaceuticals for MS.

Dr Ruth Dobson: No COIs relating to this research.

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

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

February 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Hagerty Introduces Trump’s Nominee for Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
Michael Kratsios will advance U.S. technological dominance and national security
WASHINGTON—United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today appeared before a Senate Commerce Committee hearing to introduce Michael Kratsios, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

*Click the photo above or here to watch*
Remarks as prepared for delivery:
Today, I am privileged to introduce Michael Kratsios, President Trump’s nominee to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
The OSTP Director advises the President on key “industries of the future,” including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, 5G, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, and more. Indeed, Michael and I worked closely together on 5G and our telecommunications infrastructure when I served in my previous role as U.S. Ambassador to Japan.
Now, more than ever, emerging technologies present us with immense opportunities to maintain America’s global dominance. At such a critical time, we cannot afford to make policy errors here in Washington.
That’s exactly why we need a leader of Michael’s caliber serving in this vital role.
While AI has rapidly ascended to become one America’s most important policy priorities, Michael had the foresight to see this technology’s potential nearly a decade ago. And he has been working tirelessly on the issue ever since.
His impressive record of public service in the field of science and technology policy include his past service as Chief Technology Officer of the United States and the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. In these roles and others, he coordinated public-private partnerships and served as the architect of national strategies on AI and quantum technologies.
After leaving public service, he served as Managing Director of Scale AI, helping it become one of the most valuable and well respected privately held AI companies in the world.
Michael’s research outside of the government provided the first quantifiable evidence of how banned Chinese technologies were still procured by state and local governments across the country. He also brought to light the significant risks posed by PRC-manufactured ship-to-shore cranes in American ports.
America must remain the world leader in scientific and technological innovation. Our national security, our liberty, and our prosperity depend on it. Michael understands this mission, and that’s why I wholeheartedly support his nomination. Thanks to my colleagues here today for giving Michael your careful consideration.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 26, 2025
MIL-OSI: $HAREHOLDER ALERT: The M&A Class Action Firm Continues To Investigate The Merger – NVRO, LGTY, AVTE, PLYA
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Monteverde & Associates PC (the “M&A Class Action Firm”), has recovered millions of dollars for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm by ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. We are headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and are investigating:
- Nevro Corp. (NYSE: NVRO), relating to the proposed merger with Globus Medical. Under the terms of the agreement, Globus Medical will acquire all shares of Nevro for $5.85 per share.
Click here for more https://monteverdelaw.com/case/nevro-corp-nvro/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
- Logility Supply Chain Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: LGTY), relating to the proposed merger with Aptean. Under the terms of the agreement, Aptean will acquire all of Logility’s outstanding common stock for $14.30 per share in an all-cash transaction.
Click here for more https://monteverdelaw.com/case/logility-supply-chain-solutions-inc-lgty/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
- Aerovate Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVTE), relating to a proposed merger with Jade Biosciences. Under the terms of the agreement, pre-merger Aerovate stockholders are expected to own approximately 1.6% of the combined company, while pre-merger Jade stockholders are expected to own approximately 98.4% of the combined entity.
Click here for more information https://monteverdelaw.com/case/aerovate-therapeutics-inc-avte/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
- Playa Hotels & Resorts N.V. (Nasdaq: PLYA), relating to the proposed merger with Hyatt Hotels Corporation. Under the terms of the agreement, Hyatt will acquire all outstanding shares of Playa for $13.50 per share in cash.
ACT NOW. The Tender Offer expires on April 25, 2025.

Click here for more https://monteverdelaw.com/case/playa-hotels-resorts-n-v-plya/ It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

NOT ALL LAW FIRMS ARE THE SAME. Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask:
1. Do you file class actions and go to Court?
2. When was the last time you recovered money for shareholders?
3. What cases did you recover money in and how much?
About Monteverde & Associates PC

Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholders…and we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

No company, director or officer is above the law. If you own common stock in any of the above listed companies and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

Contact:
Juan Monteverde, Esq.
MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC
The Empire State Building
350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4740
New York, NY 10118
United States of America
jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com
Tel: (212) 971-1341

Attorney Advertising. (C) 2025 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

The MIL Network –
February 26, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Giant glaciers pulverised Earth’s ancient rocks, setting the stage for complex life

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Kirkland, Professor of Geochronology, Curtin University

Petr Jan Juracka / Shutterstock

Imagine floating in space, gazing on a frozen white orb. The ball hangs in the void, lonely and gleaming in the light from its star. From pole to equator, the sphere is covered in a thick crust of ice. In orbit around the white planet is a single cratered moon.

You are gazing on Earth in the Cryogenian period, 700 million years ago. This is about three times as long ago as the earliest dinosaurs roamed – but still not long in the scheme of Earth’s mind-bending 4.5 billion years of history.

During the Cryogenian, our planet was plunged into a series of deep freezes when enormous glaciers flowed across the globe.

In new research published in Geology, we show that these crushing rivers of ice, sometimes kilometres deep, pulverised the planet’s rocky surface like enormous bulldozers. When the ice eventually thawed, the ground-up minerals washed into the oceans where they may have provided the nutrients needed for the evolution of complex life.

Into the fridge

According to the Snowball Earth hypothesis, Earth underwent at least two extreme global glaciations during the Cryogenian. Traces of these events can be seen across the globe in sedimentary rocks formed under glacial conditions, strongly suggesting that ice spread from the poles to reach the equatorial region.

Nobody is sure exactly what triggered these deep-freeze events, though scientists have proposed a range of possibilities. One key may have been a significant decline in atmospheric greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide (CO₂).

During ‘Snowball Earth’ phases, our planet was encrusted with a thick layer of ice.
Oleg Kuznetsov / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA

The CO₂ levels in the atmosphere may have fallen because of increased weathering of rocks situated on a large tropical continent that existed at the time. When continents are positioned in tropical regions, warm, moist conditions accelerate chemical weathering, pulling CO₂ out of the atmosphere, locking it away in carbonate minerals.

Tectonic activity during the breakup of continents that happened during this period may have also played a part. It could have created conditions such as shallow seas, leading to more removal of CO₂ from the air.

As ice sheets advanced toward the tropics, they reflected more sunlight back into space, leading to further cooling. These processes together caused ice to spread rapidly until the planet was almost entirely frozen.

How did Snowball Earth end?

Volcanic activity may have played a crucial role in ending these ice ages. As glaciers covered the planet, interactions between Earth’s crust, oceans and atmosphere slowed dramatically. As a result, when volcanic eruptions injected CO₂ into the atmosphere, it would not have been re-absorbed but rather accumulated over millions of years.

These high levels of CO₂ created a runaway greenhouse effect, warming the planet and eventually melting the ice. The resulting thaw caused rapid sea level rise and an influx of nutrients into the oceans.

Distinct rock formations were created during this abrupt climate change, as the chemistry of the oceans responded to the new conditions. The surge of nutrients may have contributed to a cascade of biological changes, possibly setting the stage for the rise of complex life.

Many scientists have considered the idea that changing atmospheric conditions on the thawing of Snowball Earth led to changes in ocean chemistry. In our new research, we found that material scraped off the continents during the thaw may also have played a role.

Snowball to slushball, glacial bulldozer to planetary power hose

We studied sections of rock, from older to younger, through the snowball period to melt down. By doing this, we built up a picture of what the glaciers and the subsequent river systems were doing to the crust of our planet.

We explored minerals with these sequences of rock and found consistent distinctive changes during periods of time when snowball events started and also when thawing occurred.

Snowball Earth events were associated with a pronounced increase in older, deeper crust being exposed and ground down under kilometres of ice.

As the glaciers retreated during thaw periods, massive outflows of melt water transported mineral grains that had been trapped and stabilised under the ice. Once exposed to liquid water, fragile minerals dissolved, releasing chemicals.

This process – like the changes in the atmosphere – would have changed the chemistry of the oceans. The glacial retreat help shaped the distribution of elements critical to ocean ecosystems.

Lessons from the past

The timescales of Earth’s natural processes are important to keep in mind. Over thousands, millions and billions of years, processes such as plate tectonics, erosion, and atmospheric cycles will continue to shape the planet’s future.

On shorter timescales, however, human activities have become the dominant force driving climate change.

While Earth itself will endure, the survival of complex human societies depends on our actions today. We are passengers on an extraordinary “spaceship Earth”, a planet that recycles its chemical building blocks through dynamic geochemical cycles, using matter originally forged in ancient stars.

These processes regulate Earth’s surface and sustain life, even as our planet’s fate is tied to the evolution of the Sun and the cosmos. Humanity, uniquely among Earth’s species, has developed the tools and systems to mitigate existential threats such as climate change, famine, war and even asteroid impacts, yet the effective use of these capabilities remains in our hands.

The deep past provides a guide on how chemical cycles on our planet operate. Whether we will be wise enough to use this information is yet to be seen.

Chris Kirkland 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. Giant glaciers pulverised Earth’s ancient rocks, setting the stage for complex life – https://theconversation.com/giant-glaciers-pulverised-earths-ancient-rocks-setting-the-stage-for-complex-life-249612

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

February 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: AI-detection software isn’t the solution to classroom cheating — assessment has to shift

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Michael Holden, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Winnipeg

Two years since the release of ChatGPT, teachers and institutions are still struggling with assessment in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).

Some have banned AI tools outright. Others have turned to AI tools only to abandon them months later or have called for teachers to embrace AI to transform assessment.

The result is a hodgepodge of responses, leaving many kindergarten to Grade 12 and post-secondary teachers to make decisions about AI use that may not be aligned with the teacher next door, institutional policies, or current research on what AI can and cannot do.

One response has been to use AI detection software, which rely on algorithms to try to identify how a specific text was generated.

AI detection tools are better than humans at spotting AI-generated work. But they’re a sufficiently imperfect solution, and they do nothing to address the core validity problem of designing assessments where we can be confident in what students know and can do.

Teachers using AI detectors

A recent American survey, based on nationally representative surveys of K-12 public school teachers published by the Center for Democracy and Technology, reported that 68 per cent of teachers use AI detectors.

This practice has also founds its way into some Canadian K-12 schools and universities.

AI detectors vary in their methods. Two common approaches are to check for qualities described as “burstiness,” referring to alternating and short and long sentences (the way humans tend to write) and complexity (or “perplexity”). If an assignment does not have the typical markers of human-generated text, the software may flag it as AI-generated, prompting the teacher to begin an investigation for academic misconduct.

To its credit, AI detection software is more reliable than human detection. Repeated studies across contexts show humans — including teachers and other experts — are incapable of reliably distinguishing AI-generated text, despite teachers’ confidence that they can spot a fake.

Teachers should not be confident they can spot AI-generated text. Icons for apps DeepSeek and ChatGPT on a smartphone screen in Beijing, Jan. 28, 2025.
(AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Accuracy of detectors varies

While some AI detection tools are unreliable or biased against English language learners, others seem to be more successful. However, what success rates should really signal for educators is questionable.

Turnitin boasts that their AI detector has a 99 per cent success rate, vis-à-vis their near one per cent rate of false positives (that is, the number of human-generated submissions their tool incorrectly flags as AI-generated). This accuracy has been challenged by a recent study that found Turnitin only detected AI-generated text about 61 per cent of the time.

The same study suggested how different factors could shape accuracy results. For example, GPTZero’s accuracy may be as low as 26 per cent, especially if students edit the output an AI tool generates. Yet a different study of the same detector suggested a wide range of results (for example, between 23 and 82 per cent accuracy or 74 and 100 per cent accuracy).

Considering numbers in context

The value of a percentage depends on its context. In most courses, being correct 99 per cent of the time is exceptional. It’s above the most common threshold for statistical significance in academic research, which is often set at 95 per cent.

But a 99 per cent success rate would be atrocious in air travel. There, a 99 per cent success rate would mean around 500 accidents every day in the United States alone. That level of failure would be unacceptable.

To suggest what this could look like: at an institution like mine, the University of Winnipeg, about 10,000 students submit multiple assignments — we could ballpark five, for argument’s sake — for around five courses every year.

That would be about 250,000 assignments every year. There, even a 99 per cent success rate means roughly 2,500 failures. That’s 2,500 false positives where students did not use ChatGPT or other tools, but the AI detection software flags them for possible use of AI, potentially initiating hours of investigative work for teachers and administrators alongside stress for students who may be falsely accused of cheating.

Time wasted investigating false positives

While AI detection software merely flag possible problems, we’ve already seen that humans are unreliable detectors. We cannot tell which of these 2,500 assignments are false positives, meaning cheaters will still slip through the cracks and precious teacher time will be wasted investigating innocent students who did nothing wrong.

This is not a new problem. Cheating has been a major concern long before ChatGPT. Ubiquitous AI has merely shed a spotlight on a long-standing validity problem.

When students can plagiarize, hire contract cheaters, rely on ChatGPT or have their friend or sister write the paper, relying on take-home assessments written outside class time without any teacher oversight is indefensible. I cannot presume that such forms of assessment represent the student’s learning, because I cannot reliably discern if the student actually wrote them.

Need to change assessment

The solution to taller cheating ladders is not taller walls. The solution is to change how we are assessing — something classroom assessment researchers have been advocating for long before the onset of AI.

Just as we don’t spend thousands of dollars on “did-their-sister-write-this” detectors, schools should not rest easy simply because AI detection companies have a product to sell. If educators want to make valid inferences about what students know and can do, assessment practices are needed that emphasize ongoing formative assessment (like drafts, works-in-progress and repeated observations of student learning).

These need to be rooted in authentic contexts relevant to students’ lives and their learning that centre comprehensive academic integrity as a shared responsibility of students, teachers and system leaders — not just a mantra of “don’t cheat and if we catch you we will punish you.”

Let’s spend less on flawed detection tools and more on supporting teachers to develop their assessment capacity across the board.

Michael Holden 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. AI-detection software isn’t the solution to classroom cheating — assessment has to shift – https://theconversation.com/ai-detection-software-isnt-the-solution-to-classroom-cheating-assessment-has-to-shift-246102

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 26, 2025

MIL-OSI: EXL Reports 2024 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Results; Issues 2025 Guidance

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

2024 Fourth Quarter Revenue of $481.4 Million, up 16.3% year-over-year
Q4 Diluted EPS (GAAP) of $0.31, up 28.4% from $0.24 in Q4 of 2023
Q4 Adjusted Diluted EPS (Non-GAAP) ⁽¹⁾of $0.44, up 26.1% from $0.35 in Q4 of 2023

2024 Revenue of $1.84 Billion, up 12.7% year-over-year
2024 Diluted EPS (GAAP) of $1.21, up 10.0% from $1.10 in 2023
2024 Adjusted Diluted EPS (Non-GAAP) ⁽¹⁾of $1.65, up 15.4% from $1.43 in 2023

NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ExlService Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXLS), a global data and AI company, today announced its financial results for the quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024.

Rohit Kapoor, chairman and chief executive officer, said, “As we executed our data and AI strategy in 2024, we achieved several key milestones, including launching an enterprise AI platform in partnership with NVIDIA, introducing our insurance-specific large language model (LLM) and expanding our data management capabilities with the acquisition of ITI Data. Our focus on innovating with speed led to industry-leading full-year revenue growth of 12.7% and adjusted EPS growth of 15.4%. As AI adoption continues to increase, EXL is well positioned to capture this opportunity and continue its strong growth momentum.”

Maurizio Nicolelli, chief financial officer, said, “We finished 2024 with robust growth across our business segments, a formidable balance sheet and strong free cash flow. For the full year 2025, we expect revenue to be in the range of $2.025 billion to $2.060 billion, representing a 10% to 12% increase year-over-year on a reported basis and 11% to 13% on constant currency basis. We expect adjusted diluted EPS to be in the range of $1.83 to $1.89, representing a 11% to 14% increase over 2024.”

__________________________________________________

Reconciliations of adjusted (non-GAAP) financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures, where applicable, are included at the end of this release under “Reconciliation of Adjusted Financial Measures to GAAP Measures.” These non-GAAP measures, including adjusted diluted EPS and constant currency measures, are not measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Financial Highlights: Fourth Quarter 2024

Revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 increased to $481.4 million compared to $414.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, an increase of 16.3% on a reported basis and constant currency basis. Revenue increased by 2.0% sequentially on a reported basis and 2.4% on a constant currency basis, from the third quarter of 2024.

	Revenue						Gross Margin
	Three months ended						Three months ended
Reportable Segments	December 31, 2024		December 31, 2023		September 30, 2024		December 31, 2024		December 31, 2023		September 30, 2024
	(dollars in millions)
Insurance	$	162.0	$	139.1	$	157.6	36.9	%	36.2	%	36.3	%
Healthcare		31.6		26.0		30.5	31.7	%	36.9	%	33.6	%
Emerging Business		80.1		67.0		80.0	40.7	%	41.0	%	40.2	%
Analytics		207.7		182.0		204.0	39.0	%	35.4	%	38.5	%
Revenues, net	$	481.4	$	414.1	$	472.1	38.1	%	36.7	%	37.8	%

Operating income margin for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 was 14.8%, compared to 13.1% for the fourth quarter of 2023 and 14.7% for the third quarter of 2024. Adjusted operating income margin for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 was 18.8%, compared to 17.8% for the fourth quarter of 2023 and 19.9% for the third quarter of 2024.
Diluted earnings per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 was $0.31, compared to $0.24 for the fourth quarter of 2023 and $0.33 for the third quarter of 2024. Adjusted diluted earnings per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 was $0.44, compared to $0.35 for the fourth quarter of 2023 and $0.44 for the third quarter of 2024.

Financial Highlights: Full Year 2024

Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased to $1.84 billion compared to $1.63 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of 12.7% on a reported basis and constant currency basis.

	Revenue				Gross Margin
	Year ended				Year ended
Reportable Segments	December 31, 2024		December 31, 2023		December 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
	(dollars in millions)
Insurance	$	614.0	$	529.9	36.4	%	35.5	%
Healthcare		116.4		106.0	33.0	%	34.6	%
Emerging Business		311.7		265.7	41.8	%	43.2	%
Analytics		796.3		729.1	37.5	%	36.8	%
Revenues, net	$	1,838.4	$	1,630.7	37.6	%	37.3	%

Operating income margin for the year ended December 31, 2024 was 14.3%, compared to 14.6% for the year ended December 31, 2023. Adjusted operating income margin for the year ended December 31, 2024 was 19.4%, compared to 19.3% for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $1.21, compared to $1.10 for the year ended December 31, 2023. Adjusted diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $1.65, compared to $1.43 for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Business Highlights: Fourth Quarter 2024

Won 17 new clients in the fourth quarter of 2024, with 8 clients in digital operations and solutions and 9 in analytics. For the year, we won 69 new clients, with 32 in digital operations and solutions and 37 in analytics.
Launched EXLerate.AI, an agentic AI platform designed to help enterprises reimagine and build AI-native workflows that drive greater efficiency, lower costs, and increased accuracy and scalability across business operations.
Named a Leader in the ISG Provider Lens™ Generative AI Services 2024 report. Analysts cited EXL’s data integration capabilities, domain-specific expertise, and robust transformational framework as key differentiators driving its leadership in this space.
Recognized as a Market Leader in the HFS Research 2024 AADA Quadfecta Services for the Generative Enterprise™ 2024 study. The study evaluated 27 leading analytics, AI, data platforms, and automation service providers on their ability to unlock deep insights from data, automate complex processes, and enhance operational efficiencies. The Market Leader designation is the report’s highest distinction.

2025 Operating Model

To accelerate the execution of our data and AI strategy, capture a greater share of the growing AI market and drive EXL’s long-term growth, the company is changing its operating model. The new model is comprised of Industry Market Units focused on delivering higher value to clients leveraging our full suite of capabilities; and Strategic Growth Units focused on rapidly advancing our capabilities specific to various industries and client needs.

This enhances our ability to deepen client relationships, unlock new buying centers, expand our addressable markets across industries and geographies, accelerate investments in data and AI capabilities and industry-specific solutions, and create more professional development opportunities for our employees. This model enables us to deliver AI-powered integrated solutions more effectively and evolve engagements to maximize value for our clients.

EXL will adopt new financial reporting segments consistent with how management will be reviewing financial information and making operating decisions beginning in the first quarter of 2025. Our data, AI and analytics capabilities are driving all our solutions and business lines. Accordingly, we will now report data and AI revenue alongside our new reporting segments beginning with the first quarter of 2025. This shift will provide a higher quality and more relevant representation of our business performance as we continue executing our data and AI growth strategy. The new reportable segments, aligned to our Industry Market Units, are as follows:

Insurance
Healthcare and Life Sciences
Banking, Capital Markets and Diversified Industries
International Growth Markets

The change in segment presentation will not have any effect on our consolidated statements of income, balance sheets or cash flows. The revised presentation will be reflected in our periodic and annual reports beginning in the first quarter of 2025.

2025 Guidance

Based on current visibility, and a U.S. dollar to Indian rupee exchange rate of 87.0, U.K. pound sterling to U.S. dollar exchange rate of 1.25, U.S. dollar to the Philippine peso exchange rate of 58.0 and all other currencies at current exchange rates, we are providing the following guidance for the full year 2025:

Revenue of $2.025 billion to $2.060 billion, representing an increase of 10% to 12% on a reported basis, and 11% to 13% on a constant currency basis, from 2024; and
Adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.83 to $1.89, representing an increase of 11% to 14% from 2024.

Conference Call

ExlService Holdings, Inc. will host a conference call on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at 10:00 A.M. ET to discuss the Company’s fourth quarter and year-end operating and financial results. The conference call will be available live via the internet by accessing the investor relations section of EXL’s website at ir.exlservice.com, where an accompanying investor-friendly spreadsheet of historical operating and financial data can also be accessed. Please access the website at least fifteen minutes prior to the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software.

To join the live call, please register here. For those who cannot access the live broadcast, a replay will be available on the EXL website ir.exlservice.com for a period of twelve months.

About ExlService Holdings, Inc.

EXL (NASDAQ: EXLS) is a global data and artificial intelligence (“AI”) company that offers services and solutions to reinvent client business models, drive better outcomes and unlock growth with speed. EXL harnesses the power of data, AI, and deep industry knowledge to transform businesses, including the world’s leading corporations in industries including insurance, healthcare, banking and financial services, media and retail, among others. EXL was founded in 1999 with the core values of innovation, collaboration, excellence, integrity and respect. We are headquartered in New York and have more than 59,000 employees spanning six continents. For more information, visit www.exlservice.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You should not place undue reliance on those statements because they are subject to numerous uncertainties and factors relating to EXL’s operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond EXL’s control. Forward-looking statements include information concerning EXL’s possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of its business strategy. These statements may include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate” or similar expressions. These statements are based on assumptions that we have made in light of management’s experience in the industry as well as its perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate under the circumstances. You should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although EXL believes that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, you should be aware that many factors could affect EXL’s actual financial results or results of operations and could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These factors, which include our ability to maintain and grow client demand, risks related to the use of AI technology, impact on client demand by the selling cycle of our contracts, fluctuations in our earnings, our ability to hire and retain sufficiently trained employees, and our ability to accurately estimate and/or manage costs, are discussed in more detail in EXL’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including EXL’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made herein, or elsewhere, speaks only as of the date on which it is made. New risks and uncertainties come up from time to time, and it is impossible to predict these events or how they may affect EXL. EXL has no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date hereof, except as required by applicable law.


EXLSERVICE HOLDINGS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In thousands, except per share amount and share count)

							(Unaudited)
	Year ended December 31,						Three months ended December 31,
	2024			2023			2024			2023
Revenues, net	$	1,838,372		$	1,630,668		$	481,426		$	414,058
Cost of revenues⁽¹⁾		1,147,359			1,022,902			298,023			262,211
Gross profit⁽¹⁾		691,013			607,766			183,403			151,847
Operating expenses:
General and administrative expenses		225,672			198,294			58,477			53,730
Selling and marketing expenses		146,502			120,227			37,520			31,553
Depreciation and amortization expense		55,219			50,490			16,164			12,298
Total operating expenses		427,393			369,011			112,161			97,581
Income from operations		263,620			238,755			71,242			54,266
Foreign exchange gain, net		891			1,532			218			694
Interest expense		(19,256	)		(13,180	)		(5,111	)		(3,150	)
Other income/(expense), net		16,092			10,834			4,216			4,240
Income before income tax expense and earnings from equity affiliates		261,347			237,941			70,565			56,050
Income tax expense		62,936			53,536			19,850			15,763
Income before earnings from equity affiliates		198,411			184,405			50,715			40,287
Gain/(loss) from equity-method investment		(114	)		153			(43	)		(4	)
Net income	$	198,297		$	184,558		$	50,672		$	40,283
Earnings per share:
Basic	$	1.22		$	1.11		$	0.31		$	0.24
Diluted	$	1.21		$	1.10		$	0.31		$	0.24
Weighted average number of shares used in computing earnings per share:
Basic		162,718,840			166,341,213			161,292,473			165,254,017
Diluted		164,321,656			168,161,371			163,436,793			166,880,836

⁽¹⁾Exclusive of depreciation and amortization expense.


EXLSERVICE HOLDINGS, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands, except per share amount and share count)

	As of
	December 31, 2024			December 31, 2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	153,355		$	136,953
Short-term investments		187,223			153,881
Restricted cash		9,972			4,062
Accounts receivable, net		304,322			308,108
Other current assets		140,317			76,669
Total current assets		795,189			679,673
Property and equipment, net		101,837			100,373
Operating lease right-of-use assets		68,784			64,856
Restricted cash		8,071			4,386
Deferred tax assets, net		104,747			82,927
Goodwill		420,387			405,639
Other intangible assets, net		49,331			50,164
Long-term investments		13,972			4,430
Other assets		56,085			49,524
Total assets	$	1,618,403		$	1,441,972
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	5,884		$	5,055
Current portion of long-term borrowings		4,886			65,000
Deferred revenue		19,264			12,318
Accrued employee costs		129,994			117,137
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		113,597			114,113
Current portion of operating lease liabilities		16,491			12,780
Total current liabilities		290,116			326,403
Long-term borrowings, less current portion		283,598			135,000
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion		59,851			58,175
Deferred tax liabilities, net		1,403			1,495
Other non-current liabilities		53,573			31,462
Total liabilities		688,541			552,535
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 15,000,000 shares authorized, none issued		—			—
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 400,000,000 shares authorized, 206,510,587 shares issued and 161,801,212 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and 203,410,038 shares issued and 165,277,880 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2023		206			203
Additional paid-in capital		588,583			508,028
Retained earnings		1,281,960			1,083,663
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(154,722	)		(127,040	)
Total including shares held in treasury		1,716,027			1,464,854
Less: 44,709,375 shares as of December 31, 2024 and 38,132,158 shares as of December 31, 2023, held in treasury, at cost		(786,165	)		(575,417	)
Total stockholders’ equity		929,862			889,437
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	1,618,403		$	1,441,972

EXLSERVICE HOLDINGS, INC.Reconciliation of Adjusted Financial Measures to GAAP Measures

In addition to its reported operating results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), EXL has included in this release certain financial measures that are considered non-GAAP financial measures, including the following:

(i)		Adjusted operating income and adjusted operating income margin;
(ii)		Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin;
(iii)		Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share; and
(iv)		Revenue growth on constant currency basis.

These non-GAAP financial measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles, should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP, and may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Accordingly, the financial results calculated in accordance with GAAP and reconciliations from those financial statements should be carefully evaluated. EXL believes that providing these non-GAAP financial measures may help investors better understand EXL’s underlying financial performance. Management also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, when read in conjunction with EXL’s reported results, can provide useful supplemental information for investors analyzing period-to-period comparisons of the Company’s results and comparisons of the Company’s results with the results of other companies. Additionally, management considers some of these non-GAAP financial measures to determine variable compensation of its employees. The Company believes that it is unreasonably difficult to provide its earnings per share financial guidance in accordance with GAAP, or a qualitative reconciliation thereof, for a number of reasons, including, without limitation, the Company’s inability to predict its future stock-based compensation expense under ASC Topic 718, the amortization of intangibles associated with future acquisitions and the currency fluctuations and associated tax effects. As such, the Company presents guidance with respect to adjusted diluted earnings per share. The Company also incurs significant non-cash charges for depreciation that may not be indicative of the Company’s ability to generate cash flow.

EXL non-GAAP financial measures exclude, where applicable, stock-based compensation expense, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, provision for restructuring and litigation settlement matters, effects of termination of leases, certain defined social security contributions, allowance for certain material expected credit losses, other acquisition-related expenses or benefits and effect of any non-recurring tax adjustments. Acquisition-related expenses or benefits include, changes in the fair value of contingent consideration, external deal costs, integration expenses, direct and incremental travel costs and non-recurring benefits or losses. Our adjusted net income and adjusted diluted EPS also excludes the effects of income tax on the above pre-tax items, as applicable. The effects of income tax of each item is calculated by applying the statutory rate of the local tax regulations in the jurisdiction in which the item was incurred.

A limitation of using non-GAAP financial measures versus financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP is that non-GAAP financial measures do not reflect all of the amounts associated with our operating results as determined in accordance with GAAP and exclude costs that are recurring, namely stock-based compensation and amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets. EXL compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from non-GAAP financial measures to allow investors to evaluate such non-GAAP financial measures.

EXL’s primary exchange rate exposure is with the Indian rupee, the Philippine peso, the U.K. pound sterling and the South African rand. The average exchange rate of the U.S. dollar against the Indian rupee increased from 83.28 during the quarter ended December 31, 2023 to 84.72 during the quarter ended December 31, 2024, representing a depreciation of 1.7% against the U.S. dollar. The average exchange rate of the U.S. dollar against the Philippine peso increased from 55.86 during the quarter ended December 31, 2023 to 58.19 during the quarter ended December 31, 2024, representing a depreciation of 4.2% against the U.S. dollar. The average exchange rate of the U.K. pound sterling against the U.S. dollar increased from 1.25 during the quarter ended December 31, 2023 to 1.28 during the quarter ended December 31, 2024, representing an appreciation of 1.9% against the U.S. dollar. The average exchange rate of the U.S. dollar against the South African rand decreased from 18.63 during the quarter ended December 31, 2023 to 18.18 during the quarter ended December 31, 2024, representing an appreciation of 2.4% against the U.S. dollar.

The following table shows the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the three months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 and the three months ended September 30, 2024:

Reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted EBITDA (Amounts in thousands)

	Year ended						Three months ended
	December 31,						December 31,						September 30,
	2024			2023			2024			2023			2024
Net income (GAAP)	$	198,297		$	184,558		$	50,672		$	40,283		$	53,037
add: Income tax expense		62,936			53,536			19,850			15,763			15,460
add/(subtract): Foreign exchange gain, net, interest expense, gain/(loss) from equity-method investment and other income/(loss), net		2,387			661			720			(1,780	)		908
Income from operations (GAAP)	$	263,620		$	238,755		$	71,242		$	54,266		$	69,405
add: Stock-based compensation expense		72,658			58,437			15,479			15,452			21,232
add: Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles		13,630			14,678			4,024			3,168			3,449
add: Restructuring and litigation settlement costs (a)		6,174			613			—			613			—
add/(subtract): Allowance/(reversal) for expected credit losses (b)		—			1,436			—			(264	)		—
add: Other expenses (c)		—			771			—			282			—
Adjusted operating income (Non-GAAP)	$	356,082		$	314,690		$	90,745		$	73,517		$	94,086
Adjusted operating income margin as a % of Revenue (Non-GAAP)		19.4	%		19.3	%		18.8	%		17.8	%		19.9	%
add: Depreciation on long-lived assets		41,589			34,434			12,140			9,130			10,350
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)	$	397,671		$	349,124		$	102,885		$	82,647		$	104,436
Adjusted EBITDA margin as a % of revenue (Non-GAAP)		21.6	%		21.4	%		21.4	%		20.0	%		22.1	%

(a) To exclude effects of employee severance costs and outplacement support costs of $4,762 and $nil and litigation settlement costs and associated legal fees of $1,412 and $613 for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. To exclude effects of litigation settlement costs and associated legal fees of $nil and $613 for the three months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

(b) To exclude the effects of material allowance/(reversal) for expected credit losses on accounts receivables related to a customer bankruptcy event.

(c) To exclude effects of lease termination of $nil and $489 and other items, individually insignificant of $nil and $282 for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. To exclude effects of other items, individually insignificant of $nil and $282 for the three months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.


Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share (Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

	Year ended						Three months ended
	December 31,						December 31,						September 30,
	2024			2023			2024			2023			2024
Net income (GAAP)	$	198,297		$	184,558		$	50,672		$	40,283		$	53,037
add: Stock-based compensation expense		72,658			58,437			15,479			15,452			21,232
add: Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles		13,630			14,678			4,024			3,168			3,449
add: Restructuring and litigation settlement costs (a)		6,174			613			—			613			—
add/(subtract): Changes in fair value of contingent consideration		(589	)		1,900			—			(600	)		—
add: Other tax expenses (b)		3,817			223			3,817			223			—
add/(subtract): Allowance/(reversal) for expected credit losses (c)		—			1,436			—			(264	)		—
add: Other expenses (d)		—			489			—			—			—
subtract: Tax impact on stock-based compensation expense (e)		(17,576	)		(17,333	)		(1,769	)		(374	)		(5,830	)
subtract: Tax impact on amortization of acquisition-related intangibles		(3,318	)		(3,622	)		(921	)		(792	)		(866	)
add/(subtract): Tax impact on restructuring and litigation settlement costs		(1,540	)		—			48			—			—
add/(subtract): Tax impact on changes in fair value of contingent consideration		146			152			(5	)		152			—
add/(subtract): Tax impact on allowance/(reversal) for expected credit losses		—			(364	)		—			65			—
subtract: Tax impact on other expenses		—			(280	)		—			(157	)		—
Adjusted net income (Non-GAAP)	$	271,699		$	240,887		$	71,345		$	57,769		$	71,022
Adjusted diluted earnings per share (Non-GAAP)	$	1.65		$	1.43		$	0.44		$	0.35		$	0.44

(b) To exclude other tax expenses/(benefits) related to certain deferred tax assets and liabilities.

(c) To exclude the effects of material allowance/(reversal) for expected credit losses on accounts receivables related to a customer bankruptcy event.

(d) To exclude effects of lease termination of $nil and $489 for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

(e) Tax impact includes $9,714 and $15,055 for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 respectively, $500 and $1,883 for the three months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 respectively, and $1,673 for the three months ended September 30, 2024 related to discrete benefit recognized in income tax expense in accordance with ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation.

Contacts:
Investor Relations
John Kristoff
Vice President, Investor Relations
+1 212 209 4613
ir@exlservice.com

Media – US
Keith Little
Assistant Vice President, Media Relations
+1 703 598 0980
media.relations@exlservice.com

The MIL Network –

February 26, 2025

Category: Science

Increased funding and regulations

Strengthening the natural science and mathematics areas in school

Building schools of the future and upgrading educational infrastructure

Expanding educational choice for young people

The science behind the magic

Rewinding on Australian singing

Today’s Aussie group singing style

Wander through an ancient oak grove and treat curious squirrels

Meet the red duck and other birds

A desire for inner bodily purity

The allure of ‘ancient wisdom’

Suspicion of industrial-scale production

A preference for natural over artificial

The case for foreign university partnerships

The strength of local university collaborations

A balanced approach

Need help keeping track of tasks?

Otome games are not new

Periods and privacy

A potential shift

Less meat and dairy

Plant-based foods are better for food security

Tibetan culture under attack

Not just Tibetan under threat

Why does this matter?

Plan to increase digital skills to deliver growth and opportunity for all

Notes to editors

Industry pledges

Google

CityFibre

Virgin Media O2

Vodafone

WightFibre

Good Things Foundation, Vodafone and Deloitte

BT

Openreach

Sky

Three

Supportive quotes:

Share this page

Updates to this page

February 25, 2025

Into the fridge

How did Snowball Earth end?

Snowball to slushball, glacial bulldozer to planetary power hose

Lessons from the past

Teachers using AI detectors

Accuracy of detectors varies

Considering numbers in context

Time wasted investigating false positives

Need to change assessment