NewzIntel.com

Category: Science

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Be ‘cass-o-wary’ on the road this World Cassowary Day

    Source: Government of Queensland

    Issued: 26 Sep 2024

    A recent wildlife vehicle strike has revealed a common reality – one of the world’s most enigmatic and endangered birds, the cassowary, is falling victim to road fatalities at an alarming rate.

    Wildlife officers at the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) received a call from a witness reporting a car striking a cassowary chick. It was severely injured and transported to Tully Tropical Vets for emergency care.

    Following a nine-month rehabilitation period at Garners Beach Cassowary Rehabilitation Facility, the chick was successfully released back into the wild.

    This World Cassowary Day (26 September), DESI implores all road users in Cassowary Country (Wet Tropics and Cape York) to be ‘cass-o-wary’ as this endangered species frequently cross our roadways.

    Over the past 12 months, there have been 21 cassowaries killed in road strikes – making road collisions the leading cause of death of cassowaries reported to DESI.

    In this same timeframe, two cassowaries have been successfully rehabilitated and released back into the wild. This disparity demonstrates that many cassowaries struck by vehicles are sadly not able to be saved.

    Wildlife officer Stephen Clough highlights the severe implications that feeding cassowaries can have.

    “We respond to a variety of cassowary incidents, including vehicle strikes, injured and orphaned birds, aggressive birds, and even birds who find themselves lost in farm paddocks. Many of these issues could be avoided if the birds hadn’t developed an association between humans and food.

    “Feeding cassowaries can draw them out of their rainforest habitats and into residential areas, where they face increased risks of vehicle strikes and dog attacks. They can become more aggressive, posing a serious threat to both people and pets.

    “It is illegal to feed cassowaries and penalties of up to $6,452 can apply.

    “Our Cassowary Rehabilitation Centre in Garners Beach can hold up to 9 birds at a time. We currently have 4 in rehabilitation for release. Unfortunately, many of the birds involved in road strikes are killed in the incident, or sustain such severe injuries that they can’t be saved and need to be humanely euthanised.

    “Cassowaries play a crucial role in distributing seeds from native rainforest trees, and by leaving them to do their job as rainforest gardeners, we are helping not only to protect this iconic Australian bird, but also the rainforest environment they live in.

    “We encourage people to report all injured, sick or orphaned cassowaries by calling 1300 130 372.”

    The southern cassowary is considered endangered, and its population is limited to rainforest areas of the Wet Tropics and Cape York.

    Cassowaries can inflict serious injuries to people and pets by kicking out with their large, clawed feet. People are asked to Be cass-o-wary at all times in the Wet Tropics.

    • Never approach cassowaries.
    • Never approach chicks – male cassowaries will defend them.
    • Never feed cassowaries – it is illegal, dangerous and has caused cassowary deaths.
    • Always discard food scraps in closed bins and ensure compost bins have secure lids.
    • Slow down when driving in cassowary habitat.
    • Never stop your vehicle to look at cassowaries on the road.
    • Keep dogs behind fences or on a leash.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Deceased whale floating off Great Sandy Straits

    Source: Government of Queensland

    Issued: 24 Sep 2024

    Marine Park rangers have secured a deceased adult humpback in a secluded location near Dream Island in the Great Sandy Straits off K’gari (formally Fraser Island).

    A member of the public reported the whale to the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) on 22 September 2024.

    Marine Park rangers conducted a visual inspection of the whale on 23 September 2024 and confirmed it was deceased.

    The adult humpback whale is approximately 10 to 12 metres in length. No necropsy will be performed but samples of the animal have been taken for analysis.

    Marine Park rangers towed the whale approximately one kilometre from where it initially beached itself to secured mangroves in the local area to allow the natural processes of decomposition to continue.

    During the annual migration, whales can strand or die for different reasons including poor health, injury or predation.

    Whenever a whale strands or moves on the tides in open water, people are advised to stay away from the animal. Whales can carry zoonotic diseases, and people are advised never to touch them.

    People must be aware that sharks feed on whale carcasses, which can increase the danger if people approach a stranded or deceased whale.

    Deceased or stranded marine life, including whales, should be reported immediately to DES on 1300 130 372 or to the relevant council.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: In a new manifesto, OpenAI’s Sam Altman envisions an AI utopia – and reveals glaring blind spots

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hallam Stevens, Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies, James Cook University

    Ryan Carter Images / Shutterstock

    By now, many of us are probably familiar with artificial intelligence hype. AI will make artists redundant! AI can do lab experiments! AI will end grief!

    Even by these standards, the latest proclamation from OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, published on his personal website this week, seems remarkably hyperbolic. We are on the verge of “The Intelligence Age”, he declares, powered by a “superintelligence” that may just be a “few thousand days” away. The new era will bring “astounding triumphs”, including “fixing the climate, establishing a space colony, and the discovery of all of physics”.

    Altman and his company – which is trying to raise billions from investors and pitching unprecedently huge datacentres to the US government, while shedding key staff and ditching its nonprofit roots to give Altman a share of ownership – have much to gain from hype.

    However, even setting aside these motivations, it’s worth taking a look at some of the assumptions behind Altman’s predictions. On closer inspection, they reveal a lot about the worldview of AI’s biggest cheerleaders – and the blind spots in their thinking.

    Steam engines for thought?

    Altman grounds his marvellous predictions in a two-paragraph history of humanity:

    People have become dramatically more capable over time; we can already accomplish things now that our predecessors would have believed impossible.

    This is a story of unmitigated progress heading in a single direction, driven by human intelligence. The cumulative discoveries and inventions of science and technology – Altman reveals – have led us to the computer chip and, inexorably, to artificial intelligence which will take us the rest of the way to the future. This view owes much to the futuristic visions of the singularitarian movement.

    Such a story is seductively simple. If human intelligence has driven us to ever-greater heights, it is hard not to conclude that better, faster, artificial intelligence will drive progress even farther and higher.

    This is an old dream. In the 1820s, when Charles Babbage saw steam engines revolutionising human physical labour in England’s industrial revolution, he began to imagine constructing similar machines for automating mental labour. Babbage’s “analytical engine” was never built, but the notion that humanity’s ultimate achievement would entail mechanising thought itself has persisted.

    According to Altman, we’re now (almost) at that mountaintop.

    Deep learning worked – but for what?

    The reason we are so close to the glorious future is simple, Altman says: “deep learning worked”.

    Deep learning is a particular kind of machine learning that involves artificial neural networks, loosely inspired by biological nervous systems. It has certainly been surprisingly successful in a few domains: deep learning is behind models that have proven adept at stringing words together in more or less coherent ways, at generating pretty pictures and videos, and even contributing to the solutions of some scientific problems.

    So the contributions of deep learning are not trivial. They are likely to have significant social and economic impacts (both positive and negative).

    But deep learning “works” only for a limited set of problems. Altman knows this:

    humanity discovered an algorithm that could really, truly learn any distribution of data (or really the underlying “rules” that produce any distribution of data).

    That’s what deep learning does – that’s how it “works”. That’s important, and it’s a technique that can be applied to various domains, but it’s far from the only problem that exists.

    Not every problem is reducible to pattern matching. Nor do all problems provide the massive amounts of data that deep learning requires to do its work. Nor is this how human intelligence works.

    A big hammer looking for nails

    What is interesting here is the fact that Altman thinks “rules from data” will go so far towards solving all humanity’s problems.

    There is an adage that a person holding a hammer is likely to see everything as a nail. Altman is now holding a big and very expensive hammer.

    Deep learning may be “working” but only because Altman and others are starting to reimagine (and build) a world composed of distributions of data. There’s a danger here that AI is starting to limit, rather than expand, the kinds of problem-solving we are doing.

    What is barely visible in Altman’s celebration of AI are the expanding resources needed also for deep learning to “work”. We can acknowledge the great gains and remarkable achievements of modern medicine, transportation and communication (to name a few) without pretending these have not come at a significant cost.

    They have come at a cost both to some humans – for whom the gains of global north have meant diminishing returns – and to animals, plants and ecosystems, ruthlessly exploited and destroyed by the extractive might of capitalism plus technology.

    Although Altman and his booster friends might dismiss such views as nitpicking, the question of costs goes right to the heart of predictions and concerns about the future of AI.

    Altman is certainly aware that AI is facing limits, noting “there are still a lot of details we have to figure out”. One of these is the rapidly expanding energy costs of training AI models.

    Microsoft recently announced a US$30 billion fund to build AI data centres and generators to power them. The veteran tech giant, which has invested more than US$10 billion in OpenAI, has also signed a deal with owners of the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant (infamous for its 1979 meltdown) to supply power for AI. The frantic spending suggests there may be a hint of desperation in the air.

    Magic or just magical thinking?

    Given the magnitude of such challenges, even if we accept Altman’s rosy view of human progress up to now, we might have to acknowledge that the past may not be a reliable guide to the future. Resources are finite. Limits are reached. Exponential growth can end.

    What’s most revealing about Altman’s post is not his rash predictions. Rather, what emerges is his sense of untrammelled optimism in science and progress.

    This makes it hard to imagine that Altman or OpenAI takes seriously the “downsides” of technology. With so much to gain, why worry about a few niggling problems? When AI seems so close to triumph, why pause to think?

    What is emerging around AI is less an “age of intelligence” and more an “age of inflation” – inflating resource consumption, inflating company valuations and, most of all, inflating the promises of AI.

    It’s certainly true that some of us do things now that would have seemed magic a century and a half ago. That doesn’t mean all the changes between then and now have been for the better.

    AI has remarkable potential in many domains, but imagining it holds the key to solving all of humanity’s problems – that’s magical thinking too.

    Hallam Stevens has previously received funding from the Ministry of Education (Singapore), the National Heritage Board (Singapore), the National Science Foundation (USA) and the Wenner-Gren Foundation.

    – ref. In a new manifesto, OpenAI’s Sam Altman envisions an AI utopia – and reveals glaring blind spots – https://theconversation.com/in-a-new-manifesto-openais-sam-altman-envisions-an-ai-utopia-and-reveals-glaring-blind-spots-239841

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Are private hospitals really in trouble? And is more public funding the answer?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Scott, Professor of Health Economics and Director, Centre for Health Economics, Monash Business School, Monash University

    Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

    A battle between private hospitals and private health insurers is playing out in public.

    At its heart is how much health insurers pay hospitals for their services, and whether that’s enough for private hospitals to remain viable.

    Concerns over the viability of the private health system have caught the attention of the federal government, which has launched a review into private hospitals that has yet to be made public.

    But are private hospitals really in trouble? And if so, is more public funding the answer?

    Private hospitals vs private health insurers

    Many private hospital operators have reported significant pressures since the start of the COVID pandemic, including staff shortages.

    Inflationary pressures have increased the costs of supplies and equipment, pushing up the costs of providing hospital care.

    Now, private hospitals have publicised their difficult contract negotiations with private health insurers in an attempt to gain support and help their case.

    Healthscope, which runs 38 for-profit private hospitals in Australia, has been threatening to end agreements with private health insurers.

    St Vincent’s, which operates ten not-for-profit private hospitals, announced it would end its contract with nib (one of Australia’s largest for-profit health insurers) but then reached an agreement.

    UnitingCare Queensland, which operates four private hospitals, announced it would end its contract with the Australian Health Service Alliance, which represents more than 20 small and medium non-profit private health insurers. Since then, the two parties have also kissed and made up.

    Why should we care?

    There are three reasons why viability of the private health sector affects us all, regardless of whether we have private health insurance or use private hospitals.

    1. Taxpayers subsidise the private health system

    Australian taxpayers subsidised private health insurance premiums by A$6.3 billion
    (in premium rebates) in 2021–22. Much of this makes its way to private hospitals. Medicare also subsidised fees for medical services delivered for private patients in private and public hospitals to the tune of $3.81 billion in 2023–24.

    But when the going gets tough, the private health sector (both hospitals and health insurers) turns to the government for more handouts.

    So we should be concerned about the value we currently get from our public investment into the private health system, and if more public investment is warranted.

    2. Public hospitals may be affected if private hospitals close

    Calls for greater government support for private health have long argued that a larger private hospital sector would help reduce pressures on the public system.

    Indeed, this was the justification for a series of incentives introduced from the late 1990s to support private health insurance in Australia.

    However, the extent of this is hotly debated. Recent evidence shows higher private health insurance coverage leads to only very small falls in waiting times in public hospitals.

    While it is possible the closure of a few private hospitals might lead some patients to seek care in public hospitals, this shift might not be that large and will not increase waiting times too much.

    3. Fewer private beds, but is that a bad thing?

    If unviable private hospitals close or merge, we’d expect to see fewer
    private hospital beds overall.

    Fewer private hospital beds is not necessarily bad news. Mergers of small private day hospitals, in particular, might make them more efficient and lead to lower costs, which in turn lowers health insurance premiums.

    We might also need fewer private beds. This is due to policies that try to shift health care out of hospitals into the community or the use of
    hospital-in-the-home schemes (where patients receive hospital-type care at home with the support of visiting health staff and/or telehealth). The private health insurers are supporting both.

    If a few small private hospitals close, this reflects the market adjusting to less demand for hospital care. Some of the closures have been for maternity wards but with falling birth rates, this also seems like an appropriate market adjustment.

    Falling birth rates mean less demand for maternity wards.
    christinarosepix/Shutterstock

    What do we know?

    Any objective data about what is happening in the private hospital sector is scarce. This is mainly because the Australian Bureau of Statistics has stopped a compulsory survey of all private hospitals. The latest data we have is from 2016–17.

    Health insurers are the largest payer of private hospitals and hence wield a considerable amount of negotiating power. In 2016–17, almost 80% of private hospitals’ income came from private health insurers. Health insurers have also increasingly become “active” purchasers of health care – not just passively paying insurance claims, but wanting to strike a good deal with private hospitals for their members to keep premiums (and costs) down, and profits high.

    Reports of hospitals closing ignore hospitals that are opening at the same time. But since 2016–17 there are no publicly reported data on the total number of private hospitals in Australia or changes over time.

    The latest figures we have show about half of all hospitals in Australia are private, and of these 62% are for-profit with the rest run by not-for-profit organisations (such as St Vincent’s).

    The main for-profit providers are Ramsay Health Care and Healthscope. Both have operations overseas and were in trouble before the COVID pandemic.

    Fast-forward to 2024 and the recent issues with contract negotiations suggests the financial situation of for-profit private hospitals might not have improved. So this could reflect a long-term issue with the sustainability of the private hospital sector.

    What are the options?

    The private health system already receives large public subsidies. So the crux of the current debate is whether the government should intervene again to prop up the private sector. Here are some options:

    • do nothing and let this stoush play out Closure and mergers of private hospitals might be good if smaller hospitals and wards are no longer needed and patients have other alternatives

    • introduce more regulation Negotiations between small groups of private hospitals and very large dominant private health insurers may not be efficient. If the insurers have significant market power they can force small groups of private hospitals into submission. Some private hospital groups may be negotiating with many different health insurers at the same time, which can be costly. Regulation of exactly how these negotiations happen could make the process more efficient and create a more level playing field

    • change how private hospitals are paid Public hospitals are essentially paid the same national price for each procedure they provide. This provides incentives for efficiency as the price is fixed and so if their costs are below the price, they can make a surplus. Private hospitals could also be funded this way, which could remove much of the costs of contract negotiations with private hospitals. Instead, private hospitals would be free to focus on other issues such as the number and quality of procedures, and providing high-value health care.

    How do we help private hospitals become more efficient? Regulating prices and contract negotiations are a start.
    Kitreel/Shutterstock

    What next?

    Revisiting the regulation of prices and contract negotiations between private hospitals and private health insurers could potentially help the private hospital sector to be more efficient.

    Private health insurers are rightly trying to encourage such efficiencies but the tools they have to do this through contract negotiations are quite blunt.

    As we wait for the results of the review into the private hospital sector, value for money for taxpayers is paramount. We are all subsidising the private hospital sector.

    Anthony Scott has previously received funding from the Medibank Better Health Foundation.

    Terence C. Cheng 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. Are private hospitals really in trouble? And is more public funding the answer? – https://theconversation.com/are-private-hospitals-really-in-trouble-and-is-more-public-funding-the-answer-238891

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU to begin classes as part of a practical course for postgraduate students “Fundamentals of Scientific Research”

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Classes within the postgraduate course “Fundamentals of Scientific Research” will begin at Novosibirsk State University on September 26. This course is an integral part of the educational component of the new model of postgraduate study at NSU along with another discipline – “Academic English”. They are mandatory for first-year postgraduate students of all faculties of the university.

    The course program was developed by the head of the laboratory of functional diagnostics of low-dimensional structures for nanoelectronics Physics Department of NSU Pavel Geidt in 2022. The course is designed for one semester. Some postgraduate students study it in the first half of the academic year, the rest in the second. Over 360 young scientists have completed it in two years.

    — This course does not involve mastering the deep theoretical aspects of philosophy, entrepreneurship, communication psychology, natural sciences and other classical disciplines. It is rather a synthesis of several sections of these disciplines that have the greatest practical significance for graduate students at this stage. Its goal is to help young scientists from various sciences undergo postgraduate studies and further engage in independent research activities. The idea of ​​the course comes from a common problem: often university teachers do not tell graduate students in a structured way about a lot of practical information related to scientific activity, about its organizational and reporting aspects, about performance in projects, about the features of preparing grant applications, about etiquette in the scientific community and team , about information retrieval tools, about computer tools for working with data arrays and much more. As a result, graduate students face many difficulties: how to formulate a hypothesis for their research, how to prepare a publication for a scientific publication, how to successfully defend their dissertation and other uncertainties. The knowledge that they will receive as part of the course will help young scientists at the very beginning of their scientific career to build relationships with scientific supervisors, heads of departments and faculties, heads of scientific projects, employees of their laboratory, foundations, monitoring agencies and other structures that they will encounter ,” explained Pavel Geidt.

    The course consists of 8 lectures, including “The Main Aspects of Conducting Research”, “The Role of Management in Scientific Research”, “Financing Scientific Activity”, “Writing Scientific Publications”, “Participation in Scientific Events” and “Methods of Defending Dissertations through the Higher Attestation Commission and the NSU Dissertation Council”. These lectures will be given by Pavel Geidt, as well as Ilya Beterov, Associate Professor of the Quantum Electronics Department of the NSU Physics Faculty, Anna Komarova, Associate Professor of the Political Economy Department of the EF, Leading Researcher of the Laboratory of Empirical Analysis of Industry Markets of the EF, and Natalia Aksenova, Head of the Department of Support and Analysis of Scientific Research at NSU.

    The course includes two practical classes. Unlike lectures, which are a summary of existing knowledge and organized information from various sources, practical classes are original authorial material. The first class, “Michael Faraday’s Principle: Work, Finish, Publish,” was developed by Pavel Geidt.

    — Publication of research results in scientific journals is mandatory for every scientist, but for those who are taking their first steps in big science, this causes many difficulties. Which journal should I send my work to? How to write and format a manuscript correctly? How to respond to reviewers’ comments? Who decides whether to publish an article? What should I do if my manuscript is not accepted for publication? How can I make sure that it is published anyway? And these are far from all the questions that young researchers have at the first stage of their independent, thoughtful scientific work. We tried to recreate the process of preparing an article for publication in a classroom setting so that it would be understandable and “transparent.” The students are divided into 4 groups: a group of authors, the university administration, the editorial board of a foreign scientific journal, and the editorial board of a domestic publication. Each participant in the practical lesson receives their own role: scientist, scientific supervisor, editor-in-chief of a scientific journal, reviewer, and others. In this way, all stages of the process of creating and publishing an article are reproduced, and the roles of the participants in this process acquire meaning, as if they come to life, said Pavel Geidt.

    The second practical lesson “Critical Thinking in Science. TRIZ: Relevance for Technical and Humanitarian Sciences and Further Prospects for the Application of TRIZ for Dissertations” was developed and is being conducted by the Director Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization of NSU Alexander Kvashnin. Teamwork is also important here. Mixed groups of young scientists from different faculties and institutes work together to resolve complex contradictions in science and technology that require a creative approach. Here, graduate students are also given homework: find a way to solve a technical problem within the framework of their dissertation research and describe it in 200 words.

    At this stage, it is expected that graduate students will develop the skills to formulate research problems and systematically design ways to solve these problems in the types of activities that interest them, encourage young scientists to methodologically reflect on their research project, instill a desire for clarity, structure and internal coherence of arguments and reasoning in their written works and oral presentations, and maintain interest in further in-depth mastery of disciplines related to the courses within and beyond the framework of their dissertations.

    — A budding scientist must be prepared for practical scientific work in graduate school and be able to conduct independent scientific research. This requires a clear knowledge of current scientific problems, the ability to analyze the state of the topic of interest and the related field of activity. Graduate students need skills in preparing grant applications, planning the execution of work and completing a project on time. Submitting reports with the publication of the results of intellectual activity, speaking at international conferences and, of course, successfully defending a dissertation are also important. We will teach graduate students to do science independently, as well as to speak about it in an understandable language, — Pavel Geidt summarized.

    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 accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.nsu.ru/n/media/nevs/science/classes-will-begin-in-the-practical-course-for-graduate-students-fundamentals-of-scientific-research/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by SITI at event of “Unleashing Tomorrow, Today at InnoPark” (English only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Speech by SITI at event of “Unleashing Tomorrow, Today at InnoPark” (English only)
    Speech by SITI at event of “Unleashing Tomorrow, Today at InnoPark” (English only)
    ******************************************************************************************

         Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the event of “Unleashing Tomorrow, Today at InnoPark” today (September 26):Sunny (Chairman of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC), Dr Sunny Chai), Albert (Chief Executive Officer of HKSTPC, Mr Albert Wong), honourable LegCo Members, Ivan (Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Mr Ivan Lee), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,     Good morning. I am delighted to join you all today at the event of “Unleashing Tomorrow, Today at InnoPark”. It is my pleasure to witness the launching of the two notable initiatives in InnoPark, namely the High-Performance Computing Service in Tseung Kwan O and the Microelectronics Centre (MEC) in Yuen Long.      A complete innovation and technology (I&T) industry chain has to be backed by industries. We strive to attract and nurture more technology industries of strategic importance conducive to the real and digital economy and promote the development of “new industrialisation” in Hong Kong. Developing AI (artificial intelligence) and microelectronics industries are both our focus.     The Government has been adopting all-round strategy to develop the AI ecosystem. The new High-Performance Computing Service is expected to support the growth of around 300 companies working on AI and data technology in Science Park’s ecosystem and provides them with new insights and discovery in various fields. Together with the new AI Supercomputing Centre in Cyberport, with the first phase facility to start operating this year, the support to the strong local demand for computing power will be further strengthened.     Earlier this year, we obtained the LegCo’s approval for the establishment of the Hong Kong Microelectronics Research and Development Institute (MRDI). As the anchor tenant, the MRDI will make good use of microelectronics-specific infrastructure to be provided by the MEC, including the lightweight workshops and co-working spaces to be commissioned later this year. I also look forward to the timely commissioning of the remaining critical parts, before end of next year to bolster the full support for the microelectronics industry, from design to pilot run and beyond.      Taking this opportunity, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Hong Kong Science Park for launching these two meaningful initiatives. I look forward to the synergy to be created with other stakeholders to promote the development of emerging industries, including AI and microelectronics, in Hong Kong, and to build a vibrant I&T ecosystem, so as to contribute to the development of “new quality productive force” and high-quality development for our country and Hong Kong. Thank you very much.

     
    Ends/Thursday, September 26, 2024Issued at HKT 13:26

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Access to a GP can make all the difference in surviving lung cancer – and that is a problem for Māori

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ross Lawrenson, Professor of Population Health, University of Waikato

    Surviving lung cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand could depend on whether you can access a GP – raising questions about equity in the country’s health system.

    Our new research examines the outcomes for patients who are diagnosed with lung cancer through their GP versus those who are diagnosed at the emergency department (ED).

    Examining 2,400 lung cancer diagnoses in Waikato between 2011 and 2021, we found those who are diagnosed with lung cancer after ED visits tended to have later-stage disease and poorer outcomes compared to those diagnosed after a GP referral.

    We also found diagnosis after ED attendance was 27% higher for Māori than non-Māori and 22% higher for men than women.

    These results raise important questions about health inequity in New Zealand and highlight the need to ensure everyone is able to access an early cancer diagnosis.

    Limited access to everyday health care

    Currently half of all general practices have closed their books to new patients, leaving 290,000 patients unenrolled and reliant on emergency departments for their health care.

    Some 80% of practices have closed their books to new patients at some point since 2019.

    For those who are enrolled in a practice, the wait times for appointments are often such that the only option is to go to the ED for help.

    This is especially true in rural areas where the hospital can become the default route to diagnosis.

    Lung cancer is New Zealand’s single biggest cause of cancer deaths, with over 1,800 per year. Some 80% of those who are diagnosed with lung cancer present with advanced disease and very poor prospects of survival.

    It’s also the cancer with the largest equity gap. The mortality rate for Māori with lung cancer is three to four times that of people of European descent.

    While much of this disparity is due to differences in the rates of smoking among ethnic groups, there is also evidence delays in diagnosis and poorer access to surgery are also major influences on survival rates.

    Identifying lung cancer

    Lung cancer usually starts in the tissue lining the airways and symptoms can initially be relatively minor – some shortness of breath during exercise, a niggly cough or sharp pains while breathing.

    Patients with these sorts of symptoms usually go to a GP to check whether this is something that needs further investigation.

    But if someone cannot get an appointment, or does not recognise the symptoms as serious, then they are likely to delay taking action.

    Advanced symptoms of lung cancer include coughing up blood or having lumps in the neck due to lymphatic spread of the cancer. People with these alarming symptoms tend to go to the hospital for treatment.

    Our study confirms earlier findings that those diagnosed through the emergency department are:

    • more likely to have advanced disease
    • more likely to have a more aggressive type of cancer (called small cell cancer), and
    • have substantially poorer likelihoods of survival.

    The median survival for those who never went to the ED was 13.6 months, while the median survival for those with one ED visit was just three months.

    That said, attending an emergency department has some advantages. These include being seen by a doctor within a few hours, immediate access to x-rays and, in our major hospitals, access to the definitive diagnostic tool for a lung cancer – a computed tomography (CT) machine.

    Our study found 25% of cases went to the ED two or more times in the two weeks before their diagnosis. This was especially true for those going to one of the Waikato rural hospitals, where a second or third visit was more likely before being diagnosed.

    Barriers to care

    It is clear New Zealand still has several barriers to primary care. This has lead to an over-reliance on emergency departments for diagnosing cancer, despite the long-running faster cancer treatment targets.

    The situation is unlikely to improve. Access to GPs is getting worse, in part due to increasing fees.

    Māori and Pacific patients with lung cancer were less likely than other ethnic groups to have been enrolled with a primary health organisation when they were diagnosed. They were also less likely to have visited a GP in the three months prior to diagnosis.

    Making it easier to see a GP

    Making general practice care more accessible is the most effective way of addressing the inequities in our lung cancer statistics.

    Currently, New Zealand has only 74 GPs per 100,000 people, compared to 110 in Australia.

    It is clear we need to substantially increase the number of GPs. This is a long-term project but needs to be a strategic goal for the health sector.

    In the meantime, we need to make primary care more accessible by increasing patient subsidies and reducing the direct patient costs to see a doctor. At the same time, we need to better equip GPs with access to diagnostic facilities, including in our rural hospitals.

    Ross Lawrenson receives funding from NZ Health Research Council. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners.

    Chunhuan Lao receives funding from NZ Health Research Council.

    – ref. Access to a GP can make all the difference in surviving lung cancer – and that is a problem for Māori – https://theconversation.com/access-to-a-gp-can-make-all-the-difference-in-surviving-lung-cancer-and-that-is-a-problem-for-maori-239808

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Slotkin Highlights Bipartisan Wins in Speech on House Floor

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin (MI-08)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-07) took to the House floor today to highlight the passage of three bipartisan bills she championed and call for bipartisan congressional action on additional legislative priorities. This week, the House passed the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism Pilot Program Act, IMPACTT Human Trafficking Act, and Building Chips in America Act, which are now set to be signed into law.

    Slotkin also called upon her colleagues to work in a bipartisan way on legislation pertaining to other outstanding legislative priorities. She urged Congress to support the Department of Commerce’s efforts to restrict the import of advanced vehicles manufactured by China and pass a bipartisan Farm Bill and National Defense Authorization Act.

    “These bills are evidence that we do not need to be at each other’s throats. In fact, being at each other’s throats is principally against the mission of what it means to be a Representative. It means you’re not getting work done. It means you’re doing things for political posturing. It means that you care more about making a statement that makes the news or goes viral on Twitter than you are about actually moving the ball down the field for your constituents,” said Slotkin. “I hope that when Congress returns in November, and when a new Congress is sworn in next year, we can learn that basic lesson. We do our best work when we work together – even when it’s hard.”

    Slotkin full remarks on the House floor can be found HERE

    A transcript of Slotkin’s remarks as delivered can be found HERE

    The bipartisan Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism Pilot Program Act would cut red tape for companies that transport goods across our borders by allowing more freight and warehouse companies to participate in Customs and Border Protection’s CTPAT program. 

    Through partnership between supply chain leaders and the federal government, the CTPAT program expedites freight through the country, reducing disruptions in international trade and supply chains while keeping the border secure.

    Slotkin introduced the bill, which is co-led by Reps. Rob Menendez (NJ-08), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), and Morgan Luttrell (TX-08). Its Senate companion is led by Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), James Lankford (R-OK), and John Cornyn (R-TX). 

    The bipartisan IMPACTT Human Trafficking Act would ensure survivors of human trafficking and law enforcement officers working to combat these terrible crimes receive the resources and support they need.

    The bill would make permanent and expand the Homeland Security Investigations Victim Assistance Program that helps provide support and services to individuals impacted by human trafficking. It would also make permanent the Investigators Maintain Purposeful Awareness to Combat Trafficking Trauma (IMPACTT) Program which supports the employees and partners who are exposed to repeated stress through their work combating these crimes. 

    Slotkin is an original co-sponsor of the bipartisan legislation, which is led by Rep. Dave Joyce (OH-14) and co-led by Ann Wagner (MO-02) and Dina Titus (NV-01). Its Senate companion is led by Sens James Lankford (R-OK) and Gary Peters (D-MI). 

    The bipartisan Building Chips in America Act, of which Slotkin is a cosponsor, would streamline approval processes for domestic semiconductor manufacturing projects that receive funding through the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act.

    And on Monday, the Department of Commerce announced a new proposed rule to restrict the import of advanced, connected vehicles manufactured by China that pose a risk to U.S. national security. Slotkin applauded the announcement, and called upon Congress to pass her legislation that would strengthen America’s ability to address the threat posed by these vehicles.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Joint statement by Prime Minister Trudeau and President Macron

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    We, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron, reaffirm, here in Ottawa, the strong bond between Canada and France. This meeting reflects the importance of our historical and cultural ties and the enduring friendship between our nations that is rooted in a shared history, a common language and the values that drive what we do. 

    We also enjoy a strong trade relationship. Together, we are working to promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth, as well as a transparent, rules-based multilateral trade system. Since the provisional implementation of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in 2017, trade between Canada and France has grown significantly (over 53% for Canadian exports and nearly 46% for French exports in the span of seven years). Our bilateral trade helps to make life more affordable for our citizens and create good jobs on both sides of the Atlantic.

    In an international context marked by many different overlapping and mutually reinforcing crises, our two countries are determined to protect fundamental democratic principles in the face of authoritarian, populist and hateful ideologies. We stand up for human rights, fairness, and the rule of law, with due respect for international law and state sovereignty.

    Canada and France are facing foreign information manipulation and interference operations. Canada and France will strengthen their exchanges to effectively respond to these threats. In particular, Canada and France will work closely within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to create tools to guide countries in developing public policy focused on strengthening information integrity. In addition, through fora such as the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) and the Forum on Information & Democracy, we are also developing collective approaches to counter other threats to democracy and will continue to advance these objectives in our successive G7 presidencies in 2025 and 2026.

    Enhancing our bilateral cooperation 

    This year, we commemorated the sacrifices made by Canadians, the French and our Allies on the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landing. We will work to step up our bilateral cooperation in security and defence in order to improve our ability to respond to geopolitical crises. To that end, the Canada-France Declaration on a Stronger Defence and Security Partnership, which we are announcing today, will enable us to provide more effective support to Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, contribute to regional stability and security in the Indo-Pacific, strengthen our cooperation in modernizing our armed forces, and combat foreign information manipulation and interference. 

    To support French and Canadian citizens around the world, we also wish to strengthen our cooperation with respect to emergency preparedness and crisis management. We applaud the work of Canada’s Emergency Watch and Response Centre and France’s Centre de crise et de soutien in this area.

    Fighting climate change and protecting the ecosystems and environment

    In response to the triple planetary crisis of climate warming, biodiversity loss, and pollution, we will continue to step up our cooperation, particularly in the fight against climate change and ocean protection. We will do this through our bilateral and multilateral actions, in line with the France-Canada Partnership, which was renewed in April, in which we pledged to work together, in particular to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Diversity Framework and to strengthen our climate and energy commitments, as well as our shared commitment to adopting a legally binding international agreement to address plastic pollution.

    Our Canada-France Declaration on the Ocean speaks to our readiness to put oceans at the heart of the bilateral and international agenda—with recognition of their critical role in the environmental and climate balance—in preparation for the June 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice. We also underscore their importance in providing food and energy sources, a vector for economic exchanges, and a vital link between countries and communities. The Prime Minister and the President also emphasized their commitment to working together in the fisheries sector, as demonstrated by the recent agreement reached on the Atlantic halibut fishery.

    Our two countries will also pursue their political commitment towards the adoption of a legally binding treaty to put an end to plastic pollution that meets our peoples’ expectations, with ambitious measures throughout the life cycle of plastic, from production to waste management. 

    To keep the Paris Agreement’s 1.5 °C target within reach, we will accelerate efforts on operationalizing the global stocktake’s decision on transitioning away from fossil fuels, including in the context of our G7 presidencies. We will continue to work with determination to align financial flows with the Paris Agreement, in particular by disclosing climate change risks and phasing out fossil fuel subsidies. We will continue our work together to expand the scope and use of carbon market instruments, while supporting countries that are interested in implementing these instruments.

    Canada is pleased to join France and the many countries that support The Paris Pact for People and the Planet (4P) in responding to the dual challenge of combatting poverty and preserving the planet. Further, to encourage increased funding in support of sustainable development, our two countries will continue to participate actively in the United Nations Secretary-General’s SDG Stimulus Leaders’ Group.

    Our responses to energy security concerns will aim to secure long-term energy supply in keeping with our climate objectives, and in a manner that ensures continued prosperity for both of our countries. Building on the Joint Statement Between Canada and France on Nuclear Energy Cooperation of fall 2023, we are working together to step up civil nuclear cooperation between our two countries, with a focus on identifying project funding solutions and upgrading skills and training for the trades. We will also work to accelerate the global phase-out of coal through our support for the Powering Past Coal Alliance and the Coal Transition Accelerator. 

    Recognizing the key role of critical minerals in supporting a green and digital economy, our two countries will work on the need to explore opportunities for joint investment in critical minerals projects, with the aim of securing their respective value chains. Canada and France are also founding members of the Sustainable Critical Minerals Alliance, which aims to promote on a global scale sustainable and socially inclusive mining, processing and recycling practices, and responsible critical minerals supply chains. We will continue to work with like-minded countries to reaffirm these values. Lastly, Canada and France will work together to develop low-carbon, efficient, sustainable and resilient transportation systems, whether in the aviation, rail or marine sectors.

    Embracing artificial intelligence responsibly

    Canada and France consider science and technology to be important levers for meeting the major challenges of the 21st century. We are mindful of the importance of developing a responsible approach to artificial intelligence (AI) that takes into account both risks and benefits, as demonstrated in the joint launch of the Global Partnership for Artificial Intelligence in 2020. The Canada-France Declaration on Artificial Intelligence published today reiterates our commitment to responsible, safe AI that respects human rights and democratic values. To promote and support scientific research in the field of AI, we welcome the recent call for proposals from last July for new funding, launched under the auspices of the Joint Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation uniting our two countries. 

    Expanding Canada-France collaboration in all areas of AI, we will further our work together at the AI Action Summit, to be hosted by France on February 10 and 11, 2025. With a view to promoting outreach and cooperation between our companies and business organizations and providing solutions, Canada is proud to announce that it will be Country of the Year at VivaTech 2025 in Paris. Responsible use of AI can create economic benefits for everyone, and adopting it can increase economic productivity and growth, for the benefit of all workers and businesses.

    In addition, our two countries will continue to work together to establish a digital dialogue on platform governance and ensure that AI is designed, developed, and deployed ethically and in compliance with copyright. This would allow us to recognize the important shared challenges in the digital space that have a considerable impact on the strength and health of culture and media in Canada and France.

    Promoting the French language throughout the world

    Canada and France reaffirm their support for the promotion of French and for the institutions of La Francophonie, and they commit to concluding a Canada-France Memorandum of Understanding on the Cité Internationale de la Langue Française on the margins of the upcoming Francophonie Summit in Villers-Cotterêts and Paris, France, on October 4 and 5. With our partners in the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, we will support linguistic and cultural diversity, peace, democracy, and human rights. The Summit will also provide an opportunity to strengthen education, research, and innovation in French, as well as economic and digital cooperation for sustainable development. 

    Addressing geopolitical challenges

    We reiterate our strongest condemnation of Russia’s more than 900-day war of aggression in Ukraine. In the face of this war, which jeopardizes the security of the entire Euro-Atlantic region, we reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine in all areas, for as long as it takes. We continue to work towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on international law, and in particular the principles of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. In line with the NATO Washington Summit Declaration, we will continue to deepen our support for Ukraine, to give it the means to defend itself and deter Russian aggression. We are pursuing our efforts to support Ukraine in its reform process, notably in the fields of justice, the fight against corruption, and promotion of the rule of law. We also underscore the efforts of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, co-chaired by Canada with the participation of France. Finally, we are committed to helping to operationalize the agreement reached at the G7 Summit in Apulia to leverage immobilized Russian sovereign assets for the benefit of Ukraine.

    We also condemn in the strongest possible terms the October 7 massacres perpetrated by Hamas against Israel, and recognize Israel’s right to defend itself in accordance with international law and international humanitarian law. We are extremely concerned by the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and by the appalling situation of the civilian population, which has been repeatedly displaced within the country and is unable to meet its most basic needs. Canada and France therefore call for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and the unfettered access of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Canada and France support the two‑state solution, which includes the creation of a Palestinian state, living in peace and security, alongside the State of Israel.

    We also wish to maintain our support for Haiti, to help re-establish security, the rule of law, and democracy. While we remain concerned about the humanitarian and security situation there, we are nevertheless pleased to note the progress made, including the establishment of the Transitional Presidential Council, a Prime Minister and a Cabinet of Ministers. We also welcome the fact that the creation of the Provisional Electoral Council is well underway. We are committed to supporting preparations for free, fair, and transparent elections. Canada and France will continue to work closely together to support the Haitian National Police, the Multinational Security Support Mission, and the strengthening of the justice sector and the fight against corruption and financial crime. 

    In the Indo-Pacific region, our two countries will study the deployment of joint patrol missions in the future, and will maintain their participation in multilateral exercises. To this end, our two countries will work on the possibility of integrating Canadian support into the deployment of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier.

    Coordinating our successive 2025 and 2026 G7 presidencies

    We will strengthen strategic coordination between our governments in the context of our bilateral and multilateral exchanges, and with a view to our successive G7 presidencies in 2025 and 2026. We are determined to meet today’s global challenges, guided by our shared desire to build a better future based on our common values, and supported by the rich and dynamic relationship between our two countries.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Maryland Delegation Announces More Than $10 million for Chesapeake Bay Watershed Restoration, Preservation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maryland Ben Cardin

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) today announced $10,698,764 in National Fish and Wildlife Foundation funding for 11 Maryland projects to protect and restore water quality, species and habitats in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
    “Maryland’s ecological and economic identity revolves around the health and preservation of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Bay watershed puts food on our tables, supports the livelihood of thousands of people across the region and provides critical habitat for a variety of wildlife species,” said the lawmakers. “In order to maintain this legacy, Team Maryland continues to fight for and secure investments to restore our environment and protect public health. Through these projects and the work of our local partners, we’re working to ensure that generations to come can continue to rely on our beloved Bay.”
    The following agencies and organizations received awards:
    $2,839,348, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy: To engage Talbot County landowners, the Coastal Conservation Association and high school volunteers to install 280 oyster reef balls and restore 2,700 linear feet of living shoreline, as well as nearly two acres of low-marsh habitat.
    $1,481,650, Blue Water Baltimore, Inc.: To mitigate stormwater runoff and pollution in Baltimore’s urban watershed by building rain gardens and permeable pavements at more than a dozen sites across the City.
    $1,274,392, Prince George’s County Government: To restore more than 1,000 linear feet of a degraded, unhealthy tributary to Lower Beaverdam Creek.
    $1,225,069, Future Harvest, Inc.: To advance the adoption of soil health and climate-smart farm management systems by engaging underserved agricultural producers to improve water quality and habitat restoration in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
    $1,081,656, Stewardship Network: To accelerate the installation and maintenance of nature-based green infrastructure solutions across Central Maryland by growing the nascent Climate Crew Network.
    $997,500, The Resilience Authority of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County: To mitigate flooding and improve water quality in the historic community of Columbia Beach, Maryland.
    $542,994, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science: To improve the delivery of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Report Card and increase its relevance to watershed citizens by integrating socially relevant indicators and community perspectives on watershed ecosystem health.
    $420,247, Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts, Inc.: To increase the adoption of conservation practices through a refreshed farm certification program.
    $330,000, Chesapeake Stormwater Network, Inc.: To deliver core stormwater training programs to the stormwater management community across the Chesapeake Bay watershed and expand efforts to focus on younger and more diverse audiences of existing and emerging stormwater professionals.
    $265,877, Nature Forward, Inc.: To collaborate with four local community organizations to improve water quality and restore pollinator habitat in underserved areas of the Anacostia River watershed.
    240,028, Civic Works, Inc.: To engage community residents and young AmeriCorps adults in training and installation of stormwater best management practices in East Baltimore.
    The awards were made available through the Chesapeake Small Watershed Grants Program, which the lawmakers fought to provide funding for within Fiscal Year 2024 annual appropriations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell, Collins Release GAO Report Revealing Federal Government is Ill-Equipped to Handle Cost of Climate Change

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    09.26.24
    Cantwell, Collins Release GAO Report Revealing Federal Government is Ill-Equipped to Handle Cost of Climate Change
    Conservative estimates find climate impacts will cost federal government many trillions of dollars
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a new report requested by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, on the economic impacts of climate change to the federal government.
    The report, titled Climate Resilience: Congressional Action Needed to Enhance Climate Economics Information and to Limit Federal Fiscal Exposure, warns that “Available estimates indicate significant projected costs to the economy and the federal government as a result of climate change,” and that “the federal government is currently not well-organized to manage this reality.”
    “This bipartisan request to GAO to ask how much taxpayers are at risk has revealed we have big exposure.  We already know we are being buffeted by more frequent wildfires, shrinking snowpacks, coastal erosion, and harmful ocean acidification. This report makes clear that Congress should act to limit the U.S. government’s alarming fiscal exposure due to the intensifying impacts of climate change,” Sen. Cantwell said.
    “In Maine, our economy is inextricably linked to the environment. From rising sea levels to warming waters to damaging storms, the impacts of climate change are already threatening our working waterfronts and coastal communities,” said Sen. Collins. “This nonpartisan GAO report Senator Cantwell and I requested contains astonishing numbers about the cost of climate-related weather events to the federal government. These findings support the need for a coordinated plan by the federal government to increase climate resiliency efforts and improve reporting of climate-related financial risks.”
    After reviewing agency documents, conducting literature reviews, and interviewing government experts, the GAO discovered that federal agencies currently have little capacity to analyze or report climate-related risks, making it difficult to evaluate potential climate resilience actions or investments the U.S. government could take to lessen future damages and ultimately save taxpayers money.
    GAO’s work on costs to the federal government follows eye-opening analysis last November in the Fifth National Climate Assessment that found the cost of climate damages to the entire U.S. economy from extreme weather events is already $1.5 trillion per decade. This number is a conservative estimate that does not account for loss of life, health care-related costs, or damages to ecosystem services noted the authors, which include federal science agencies whose assessment was reviewed by external experts and required by statute.
    GAO’s report identified six key sectors of great financial risk to the federal government due to the projected impacts of climate change: crop insurance, coastal disaster relief, health care expenditures, wildland fire suppression, flood insurance, and sea level rise. By synthesizing scientific and economic analysis across different government and private-sector sources, GAO reported that changes in the first four sectors would cost the federal government an estimated $18 billion annually by midcentury and nearly $69 billion annually by late century. Payouts for flood insurance are estimated to increase by nearly $4 billion per year by 2050, and hurricanes alone are projected to reduce America’s balance sheet by $36 billion per year by 2050 in a high emissions future.

    Additionally, there are more than 160,000 federal buildings in a current 500-year flood plain valued at over $490 billion that are at ever increasing risk of flooding due to climate change, while damages to federal facilities due to sea level rise may be even worse. GAO noted that these sectors are not comprehensive and climate change has many other significant impacts, including falling tax revenues due to decreased real estate values, household income, and business revenues.

    This report builds on an October 2017 GAO report requested by Senators Cantwell and Collins on the costs of climate change to the federal government.
    The full 2024 GAO report can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Deputy Secretary-General’s remarks at the opening segment of the high-level meeting on antimicrobial resistance [as delivered]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    President of the General Assembly, President of EOCSOC, Excellencies, Dear Colleagues,

    I welcome this opportunity to address the critical issue of antimicrobial resistance.

    I thank His Excellency Mr. Francois Jackman and Her Excellency Ms. Vanessa Frazier, for their unwavering efforts to shine the spotlight and bring Member States together around this important agenda.

    Our deep appreciation goes to Her Excellency Prime Minister Mia Mottley, for her steadfast and personal leadership as chair of the Antimicrobial Resistance Global Leaders’ Group.

    Dear Colleagues,

    AMR is a complex, and an existential danger. The World Health Organization has named AMR as one of the top ten threats to global health and development.

    It has profound implications for the environment, for food security, animal health, and human health.

    Already, AMR is directly responsible for 1.3 million deaths a year. One in five are children. Without a step-change in action before 2030, anti-microbial resistance will reduce global life expectancy by almost two years.

    These are not just numbers; they represent lives that are lost, families that are shattered, and futures that are stolen. The worst is that they are preventable tragedies.

    AMR is a major challenge to sustainable development.

    This is a crisis that costs the world an estimated US$ 800 billion a year in healthcare costs and productivity losses and that threatens to reverse decades of medical progress.

    It is deeply intertwined with poverty, food and nutrition insecurity, environmental degradation, inadequate water and sanitation, and a lack of access to essential health services and medicines. Vulnerable populations worldwide, particularly in the Global South, shoulder the heaviest burden of the AMR crisis.

    Addressing anti-microbial resistance is a health, a socio-economic, and an environmental necessity. It is equally a moral imperative.

    Excellencies, Friends,

    We must take a One Health response and tackle this crisis as a whole.  And move to the sustainable use and production of antimicrobials, preserving these extraordinary medicines for generations to come.

    The Political Declaration from the first High-level Meeting on AMR in 2016 was a crucial step, which generated significant momentum.

    Since then, over 90% of countries now have multisectoral national plans to combat AMR. The path forward is clear. 

    But countries face obstacles in implementation. Chief among them, is finance. The vast majority lack dedicated funding to address gaps and make corrective actions where needed. And this must change. The institutions and capacities must be primed to deliver an effective cross-sector and multi-level
    response, from grassroot and community to national, regional, and global levels. 

    It also will be vital to engage partners across the board: from the private sector and civil society, to farmer’s associations and consumers, to patients and practitioners, given the multi-dimensional nature of the crisis.

    Let me also underscore the importance of the research community that must be a partner of first choice. For without science, we will surely lose the battle. This is essential.  

    Excellencies,

    The political declaration today paves the way for a robust response to AMR.

    I am calling on Member States to be bold in implementing it. With actions that are inclusive, equitable, and coordinated. 

    Actions that target sustainable and diversified financing of the AMR response.

    And actions that support health systems that address the needs of all populations for safe and nutritious food, fresh air and clean water, particularly in the Global South.

    As we stand in solidarity today, let us elevate the political significance of the AMR challenge, reignite the urgency, work together to deliver its benefits for people and for our planet.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chair Murray Speaks in Support of Short-term CR, Urges Serious Bipartisan Negotiations of Full-year Funding Bills

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ICMYI: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Energy and Water, Defense, LHHS, and Financial Services Appropriations Bills

    ICYMI: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Commerce-Justice-Science, Interior-Environment, State and Foreign Operations, and Transportation-HUD Appropriations Bills

    ICYMI: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Subcommittee Allocations, Legislative Branch, Ag-FDA, and Military Construction-VA Bills

    ***WATCH: VIDEO of Senator Murray’s Floor Speech***

    Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke on the Senate floor ahead of consideration of the continuing resolution, urging her colleagues to engage in serious bipartisan and bicameral negotiations to pass full-year funding bills before the end of the year.

    Murray’s full remarks, as delivered, are below:

    “Thank you, M. President. I am very pleased we have a straightforward, bipartisan compromise to fund the government, and avoid a pointless, devastating shutdown. I hope every single one of my colleagues will join us in voting to pass this bill.

    “But, M. President, our work does not end here. My hope is that now we can get going in earnest on hammering out bipartisan, full year funding bills—including providing long-overdue disaster assistance. It’s time for Democrats and Republicans to negotiate those bills together—instead of House Republicans just following the loudest voices on the far right.

    “Because M. President, it is getting a little exhausting to watch some House Republicans push again and again for the most extreme, partisan cuts and policies—stuff that is not realistic at all—before learning the same lessons the hard way—yet again.

    “You cannot strike a deal to govern with people who do not really want to govern. You can’t avoid a shutdown trying to placate the people who want a shutdown.

    “But—here’s the important thing—you do not have to waste time trying. If you are serious about governing—you do not have to let a few extreme House Republicans set the agenda, or let Donald Trump call the shots.

    “There is a better way. And I know, because it is the path that we’ve been following here in the Senate. Vice Chair Collins and I passed 11 funding bills out of Committee with overwhelming bipartisan support.

    “We negotiated strong bills, that could actually be signed into law, and would make a real difference for folks back at home. We did it by listening to each other, listening to folks back home, rejecting partisan policies, and focusing on how we set our nation and families up for success.

    “That is the same approach I hope we can now take, now that this CR gives us the time we need to negotiate bipartisan, bicameral, full year bills.

    “M. President, I know that compromise takes time and hard work—I have hammered out many tough deals in my time here. But I think we have proven this Congress, many times over, that the path of bipartisanship is far easier—and far more productive—than the dead end MAGA extremism House Republicans keep making their very first priority.

    “So let’s all vote to pass this CR. And then let’s get right to work, in a serious, bipartisan way on full year funding bills, and on meeting the long overdue disaster relief needs of so many of our states and our communities. Thank you.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Premier US Army CBRNE Command hosts South Korean counterparts for exercise

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Maryland  –  

     American and South Korean military leaders held a tabletop exercise to strengthen their combined counter Weapons of Mass Destruction posture, Sept. 25.

    The U.S. Army’s 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command hosted the Republic of Korea Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Defense Command for Exercise Liberty Shield.

    Leaders from the 20th CBRNE Command welcomed their South Korean counterparts to their headquarters on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in Northeast Maryland’s science, technology and security corridor.

    American Soldiers and U.S. Army civilians from 20th CBRNE Command deploy from 19 bases in 16 states to confront and defeat the world’s most dangerous hazards in support of joint, interagency and multinational operations.

    The 20th CBRNE Command is home to 75 percent of the active-duty U.S. Army’s CBRN specialists and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians, as well as the 1st Area Medical Laboratory, CBRNE Analytical and Remediation Activity, Weapons of Mass Destruction Teams and Nuclear Disablement Teams (Infrastructure).

    Established in 2002, the ROK CBRN Defense Command incorporates personnel from all branches of the South Korean Armed Forces.

    The ROK CBRN Defense Command and 20th CBRNE Command routinely train together in the U.S. and South Korea.

    From peninsula-wide exercises in South Korea to field training exercises at the National Training Center on Fort Irwin, California, the allied commands have forged an enduring partnership, much like the enduring alliance they support.

    U.S. Army Brig. Gen. W Bochat, the commanding general for 20th CBRNE Command, met with her counterpart, ROK Army Brig. Gen. Jaehoon Yoo, the commanding general of the ROK CBRN Defense Command.

    Yoo said the relationship between the two highly specialized commands continues to strengthen the counter Weapons of Mass Destruction posture on the Korean Peninsula.

    Bochat emphasized the importance of the annual meeting to the ROK-U.S. Alliance and the CBRNE forces that serve in it.

    Bochat previously served as the first female chief of staff in the 107-year history of the storied South Korea-based 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division.

    “The relationships that I have had personally and professionally both on and off the peninsula cannot be overstated,” said Bochat.

    The ROK-U.S. Alliance was officially established by the Mutual Defense Treaty that was signed on October 1, 1953.

    The ROK-U.S. Alliance has provided the security on the Korean Peninsula and stability in Northeast Asia that enabled the meteoric rise of South Korea from the ashes of war to become one of the world’s leading economic and cultural powers.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Is an ankle sprain also a brain injury? How neuroscience is helping athletes, astronauts and ‘average Joes’

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gordon Waddington, AIS Professor of Sports Medicine Research, University of Canberra

    Have you ever thought of an ankle sprain as a brain injury? Most people probably wouldn’t.

    However, we are starting to understand how the brain is constantly adapting, known as plasticity.

    Even though the damage of an ankle sprain happens at the ankle, there may also be some changes going on in the brain to how it well it senses pain or movement.

    One of our doctoral students, Ashley Marchant, has shown something similar happens when we change how much weight (or load) we put on the muscles of the lower limb. The closer the load is to normal earth gravity, the more accurate our movement sense is; the lower the muscle load, the less accurate we get.

    This work means we need to rethink how the brain controls and responds to movement.

    Solving an important puzzle

    Historically, movement science has attempted to improve muscle function through resistance training, cardiovascular exercise and flexibility.

    One of the big issues in the treatment and prevention of sport injuries is that even when the sports medicine team feels an athlete is ready to return, the risk of a future injury remains twice to eight times higher than if they’d never had an injury.

    This means sports medicos have been missing something.

    Our work at the University of Canberra and the Australian Institute of Sport has targeted sensory input in an attempt to solve this puzzle. The goal has been to assess the ability of the sensory reception, or perception, aspect of movement control.

    Input (sensory) nerves outnumber output (motor) nerves by roughly ten to one.

    Over 20 years, scientists have developed tools to allow us to determine the quality of the sensory input to the brain, which forms the basis of how well we can perceive movement. Gauging this input could be useful for everyone from astronauts to athletes and older people at risk of falls.

    We can now measure how well a person gets information from three critical input systems:

    • the vestibular system (inner ear balance organs)
    • the visual system (pupil responses to changes in light intensity)
    • the position sense system in the lower limbs (predominantly from sensors in the muscles and skin of the ankle and foot).

    This information allows us to build a picture of how well a person’s brain is gathering movement information. It also indicates which of the three systems might benefit from additional rehabilitation or training.

    Lessons from space

    You may have seen videos of astronauts, such as on the International Space Station, moving around using only their arms, with their legs hanging behind them.

    The crew of the International Space Station have some fun with ‘synchronised space swimming’ in 2021.

    This shows how when people leave earth’s gravity, they get minimal information to the sensory system from the skin and muscles of their legs.

    The brain rapidly deactivates the connections it normally uses for controlling movement. This is OK while the astronaut is in space but as soon as they need to stand or walk on the earth or moon surface, they are at greater risk of falls and injury.

    Similar brain changes might be occurring for athletes due to changes in movement patterns after injury.

    For example, developing a limp after a leg injury means the brain is receiving very different movement information from that leg’s movement patterns. With plasticity, this may mean the movement control pattern doesn’t return to an optimum pre-injury status.

    As mentioned previously, a history of injury is the best predictor of future injury.

    This suggests something changes in the athlete’s movement control processes after injury – most likely in the brain – which extends beyond the time when the injured tissue has healed.

    Measures of how well an athlete perceives movement are associated with how well they go on to perform in a range of sports. So sensory awareness could also be a way to identify athletic talent early.

    In older people and in the context of preventing falls, poor scores on the same sensory input perception measures can predict later falls.

    This might be due to reduced physical activity in some older people. This “use it or lose it” idea might show how brain connections for movement perception and control can degrade over time.

    Precise health care

    New technologies to track sensory ability are part of a new direction in health care described as precision health.

    Precision health uses technologies and artificial intelligence to consider the range of factors (such as their genetic make-up) that affect a person’s health and provide treatments designed specifically for them.

    Applying a precision health approach in the area of movement control could allow much more targeted rehabilitation for athletes, training for astronauts and earlier falls prevention for older people.

    Gordon Waddington owns shares in Prism Neuro Pty Ltd a perceptual neuroscience ability measurement company. He receives funding from the Medical Research Futures Fund, Australian Research Council, NSW Institute of Sport, Queensland Academy of Sport and the Australian Institute of Sport.

    Jeremy Witchalls receives funding from the NSW Institute of Sport and the Australian Institute of Sport.

    – ref. Is an ankle sprain also a brain injury? How neuroscience is helping athletes, astronauts and ‘average Joes’ – https://theconversation.com/is-an-ankle-sprain-also-a-brain-injury-how-neuroscience-is-helping-athletes-astronauts-and-average-joes-230416

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Greenpeace – Luxon Govt shows total disregard for public concerns about climate

    Source: Greenpeace

    Showing a profound disregard for the people of New Zealand, the Government has allowed only five days for the public to make submissions on the Government’s climate denying law to restart oil and gas exploration.
    The Crown Minerals Amendment Bill was only introduced into Parliament on Tuesday, September 24. Today, the chair of the Economic Development Select Committee decided the closing date for public submissions is Tuesday night October 1st. The Bill aims to restart offshore oil and gas exploration and weaken the requirement for oil companies to pay for the clean-up after they finish work.
    Greenpeace Aotearoa executive director Russel Norman says, “The Government has already shown complete disregard for climate science in proposing to restart oil and gas exploration.
    “The decision to allow only five days for public submissions on the bill, three working days, shows they also have complete disregard for the people of New Zealand who care about climate change.
    “Regardless of whether this climate denying bill passes through Parliament, the Government is dreaming if they think oil and gas exploration will restart. The people of New Zealand mobilised in their tens of thousands to end oil and gas exploration and they will again.
    “Whatever Chris Luxon might think, the future of Aotearoa is in clean energy not climate destroying fossil fuels.”
    Over thirty thousand people have signed on to an ‘ open letter of resistance’ to the oil industry published by Greenpeace. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese publishers shine at Indonesia International Book Fair

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    People visit the booth of China Publication during the 2024 Indonesia International Book Fair at Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sept. 25, 2024. A delegation of Chinese publishers on Wednesday showcased more than 700 volumes of premium Chinese books at the 2024 Indonesia International Book Fair (IIBF), held from Sept. 25-29 in Jakarta. Organized by China National Sci-Tech Information Import & Export Co., Ltd, the collection featured over 400 types of books, covering topics such as traditional Chinese culture, Mandarin learning, literature, social sciences, children’s books, and traditional Chinese medicine. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

    A delegation of Chinese publishers on Wednesday showcased more than 700 volumes of premium Chinese books at the 2024 Indonesia International Book Fair (IIBF), held from Sept. 25-29 in Jakarta.

    Organized by China National Sci-Tech Information Import & Export Co., Ltd, the collection featured over 400 types of books, covering topics such as traditional Chinese culture, Mandarin learning, literature, social sciences, children’s books, and traditional Chinese medicine.

    The delegation set up a digital reading stand showcasing Chinese history, culture, and advancements in fields like economics and ecology. The stand’s interactive photo feature allowed visitors to capture memorable moments.

    A highlight of the event was a signing ceremony between China’s publisher Higher Education Press and Indonesia’s PT Legacy Utama Kreasindo, which secured the Indonesian language rights for “Experiencing Chinese for Primary Schools (International Version).” This comprehensive series, designed for overseas elementary students, will be published in Indonesia later this year.

    IIBF Chairperson Wedha Stratesti remarked that the 2024 event, featuring publishers from 15 countries, represents a milestone for the fair. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s FAST telescope continues to contribute to global radio astronomy research

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Core Array of China’s Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) in southwest China’s Guizhou Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    The construction of the Core Array of China’s Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) started Wednesday, highlighting China’s growing potential in global radio astronomy research.
    As a proposed extension of FAST, the world’s largest single-dish radio telescope, the Core Array integrates 24 secondary 40-meter antennas implanted within 5 kilometers of the FAST site, said Jiang Peng, deputy director of the National Astronomical Observatories under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
    The Chinese-designed array will combine the unprecedented sensitivity of FAST with a high angular resolution, thereby exceeding the capabilities at similar frequencies of next-generation arrays in the world.
    The FAST Core Array is estimated to be completed and put into operation in 2027.
    According to a study conducted by CAS, the Core Array will be equipped with advanced devices to improve the survey efficiency of FAST, whose broad frequency coverage and large field of view (FOV) will be essential to study transient cosmic phenomena such as fast radio bursts and gravitational wave events; conduct surveys and resolve structures in neutral hydrogen galaxies; monitor or detect pulsars; and investigate exoplanetary systems.
    Jiang said that once operational, the FAST Core Array could provide more possibilities for global radio astronomy research, owing to a wide range of potential scientific applications from cosmology to exoplanet science.
    Wednesday also marks the eighth anniversary of the launch of FAST. In less than a decade, FAST has already significantly expanded its astronomical observation capability, and the FAST Core Array is set to enhance its observational capabilities further.
    Jiang said observations made solely with FAST are like using a pencil to draw a sketch, while the FAST Core Array is akin to capturing the night sky with a digital camera.
    To date, FAST has identified more than 900 new pulsars since its launch in 2016. The number of new pulsars discovered by FAST is more than three times the total number of pulsars found by foreign telescopes during the same period.
    FAST started formal operations in January 2020 and was officially opened to the world in March 2021. The telescope provides astronomers around the globe with a powerful tool to uncover the mysteries and evolution of the universe.
    Since its formal opening to the global scientific community on March 31, 2021, FAST has facilitated over 900 hours of observations for research teams from 15 countries, including the United States, the Netherlands, and Australia, covering various scientific objectives.
    On April 6 this year, FAST reopened applications for observation projects for the 2024-2025 season, offering 1,600 hours of telescope time for freely applied projects.
    British astronomer Ralph Eatough said that opening up FAST to the world means that astronomers can now perform experiments that were previously not possible due to insufficient telescope sensitivity, with a prime example of this being the potential to detect pulsars located in external galaxies.
    Chen Xianhui, an academician at CAS, said, “FAST is helping mankind explore the origins, evolution, and structure of the universe, providing crucial observational data for understanding pressing scientific questions, while also serving as an important platform for international scientific exchange and collaboration.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Eight years on, China’s FAST telescope continues to contribute to global radio astronomy research

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The construction of the Core Array of China’s Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) started Wednesday, highlighting China’s growing potential in global radio astronomy research.
    As a proposed extension of FAST, the world’s largest single-dish radio telescope, the Core Array integrates 24 secondary 40-meter antennas implanted within 5 kilometers of the FAST site, said Jiang Peng, deputy director of the National Astronomical Observatories under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
    The Chinese-designed array will combine the unprecedented sensitivity of FAST with a high angular resolution, thereby exceeding the capabilities at similar frequencies of next-generation arrays in the world.
    The FAST Core Array is estimated to be completed and put into operation in 2027.
    According to a study conducted by CAS, the Core Array will be equipped with advanced devices to improve the survey efficiency of FAST, whose broad frequency coverage and large field of view (FOV) will be essential to study transient cosmic phenomena such as fast radio bursts and gravitational wave events; conduct surveys and resolve structures in neutral hydrogen galaxies; monitor or detect pulsars; and investigate exoplanetary systems.
    Jiang said that once operational, the FAST Core Array could provide more possibilities for global radio astronomy research, owing to a wide range of potential scientific applications from cosmology to exoplanet science.
    Wednesday also marks the eighth anniversary of the launch of FAST. In less than a decade, FAST has already significantly expanded its astronomical observation capability, and the FAST Core Array is set to enhance its observational capabilities further.
    Jiang said observations made solely with FAST are like using a pencil to draw a sketch, while the FAST Core Array is akin to capturing the night sky with a digital camera.
    To date, FAST has identified more than 900 new pulsars since its launch in 2016. The number of new pulsars discovered by FAST is more than three times the total number of pulsars found by foreign telescopes during the same period.
    FAST started formal operations in January 2020 and was officially opened to the world in March 2021. The telescope provides astronomers around the globe with a powerful tool to uncover the mysteries and evolution of the universe.
    Since its formal opening to the global scientific community on March 31, 2021, FAST has facilitated over 900 hours of observations for research teams from 15 countries, including the United States, the Netherlands, and Australia, covering various scientific objectives.
    On April 6 this year, FAST reopened applications for observation projects for the 2024-2025 season, offering 1,600 hours of telescope time for freely applied projects.
    British astronomer Ralph Eatough said that opening up FAST to the world means that astronomers can now perform experiments that were previously not possible due to insufficient telescope sensitivity, with a prime example of this being the potential to detect pulsars located in external galaxies.
    Chen Xianhui, an academician at CAS, said, “FAST is helping mankind explore the origins, evolution, and structure of the universe, providing crucial observational data for understanding pressing scientific questions, while also serving as an important platform for international scientific exchange and collaboration.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Predator control helps rare mountain wren

    Source: Department of Conservation

    Date:  26 September 2024

    DOC has monitored rock wrens across the South Island for the past five years to see how they fare both with and without predator control using methods like trapping and aerial 1080.

    DOC Science Advisor Tristan Rawlence says monitoring shows rock wren numbers are mostly increasing where predators are regularly controlled but gradually declining at unmanaged sites.

    “On average, there are more than double the number of rock wrens in areas with predator control compared to areas without,” says Tristan.

    “Stoats can be common in alpine areas and we’re increasingly seeing rats in this environment too, possibly due to warmer temperatures.”

    Rock wrens hop and flit rather than flying and nest on the ground, making them easy prey for introduced predators like rats and stoats. They are threatened with extinction.

    With five years of monitoring data, Tristan says it’s now possible to see which predator control methods are of most benefit to rock wren.

    “We’re seeing the best results where we’re using aerial 1080 in the alpine area above the tree line where rock wrens live year-round, and not just in the surrounding forest.

    “We’ve also learnt we need to control predators whenever the beech forest seeds, as predator numbers soar in response to more food.”  

    Rock wrens live in alpine areas in the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o Te Moana and Kahurangi. They can go into torpor or semi-hibernation (dropping their body temperature and energy needs), an adaptation thought to help them survive harsh winter conditions.

    Each summer since 2019, DOC researchers have surveyed for rock wrens at 25 sites ranging from Fiordland to Kahurangi. There are 19 monitoring sites where rock wrens are protected through predator control and six sites where there is no management. Monitoring frequency has now been reduced with sites visited every two years. 

    Previous research has shown rock wrens produce 3-5 times as many chicks when predators are controlled. A study in Kahurangi National Park over four years showed 58% of rock wren nests were successful in fledging young following aerial 1080 predator control, while just 13% were successful without.

    This monitoring programme is part of DOC’s National Predator Control Programme, which protects the most at-risk wildlife and forests across New Zealand’s public conservation land.

    Rock wrens belong to an ancient lineage of New Zealand wrens that once included seven species. Today, only the rock wren and rifleman/titipounamu survive.

    Background information

    Rock wren populations found in northern and southern areas of the South Island have been found to be genetically distinct. The northern birds are assessed as more threatened (classified ‘Nationally Critical’ under the New Zealand Threat Classification System) than the southern ones (classified ‘Nationally Endangered’).

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Building a stronger weather forecasting system

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government is looking at integrating the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and the MetService to improve the weather forecasting system for New Zealand, Science, Innovation & Technology Minister Judith Collins says.

    “We have agreed in-principle to NIWA acquiring the MetService, with the MetService retaining its role as New Zealand’s authorised meteorologist, subject to further work being completed.

    “Having a strong weather forecasting system which combines weather forecasting science with land and hydrological system sciences through to daily public weather updates will help us meet the current and future demands of New Zealanders,” Ms Collins says. 

    “Our weather forecasting system is critically important, not only to give us warning of severe weather so that we can prepare, but for daily operations of the aviation, marine and energy industries, and many businesses across New Zealand. It is crucial that our capabilities are streamlined in order to ensure that it is easy to access information about the weather from a single trusted source.

    “Extreme weather events in 2023 resulted in a tragic loss of life. These events cost nearly $12 billion in economic terms and $5 billion in insured loss. The Weather Forecasting System Review found that there is a compelling case for change.

    “Bringing together the science around climate, weather forecasting, hydrology, and coastal hazards will improve our understanding and allow us to better prepare for, and respond to, severe weather events,” Ms Collins says.

    “More work is needed before this change can happen. We have asked officials at the Treasury and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to work with the MetService and NIWA to provide implementation details as soon as possible.

    “A more streamlined system will increase safety, improve efficiencies and support a future focused weather forecasting system that works for all New Zealanders.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Have your say on the Crown Minerals Amendment Bill

    Source: New Zealand Parliament

    The Crown Minerals Amendment Bill seeks to promote the strategic and responsible development of New Zealand’s natural resources. It supports the Government’s objective to promote petroleum exploration and production to ensure that gas remains a transition fuel until viable and cost-effective alternatives in place.

    The Crown Minerals Amendment Bill would:

    • reverse the 2018 ban that limited new petroleum exploration permits outside onshore Taranaki
    • provide greater flexibility to the decommissioning regime
    • return the Act’s purpose statement to “promote prospecting for, exploration for, and mining of Crown owned minerals for the benefit of New Zealand”
    • introduce a new permit class (Tier 3) to make it easier for small-scale, non-commercial mining operations.

    The bill would also make changes to improve investor confidence in the New Zealand petroleum sector.

    Tell the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee what you think

    Make a submission on the bill by 11.59pm on Tuesday, 1 October 2024.

    For more details about the bill:

    ENDS

    For media enquiries contact:

    Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee staff

    EDSI.legislation@parliament.govt.nz

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sinema Introduces Sharad Desai, Nominee for U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona to the Senate Judiciary Committee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kyrsten Sinema (Arizona)
    Sinema worked directly with the White House to nominate Sharad Desai to serve as a U.S. District Court Judge 

    For a broadcast-quality HD clip, click HERE.
    For an MP3 soundbite, click HERE.WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema introduced Sharad Desai, nominee to the U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Arizona to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sinema recommended Mr. Desai and worked directly with the White House on his nomination to the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona.  “Sharad Desai represents the best of the Arizona legal community. He possesses the experience, integrity, and intellect to serve honorably as a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona,” said Sinema.  Earlier this year, Sinema applauded Sharad Desai’s nomination to serve as a U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Arizona. Mr. Desai is a native Arizonan and, if confirmed by the U.S. Senate, he would be Arizona’s first South Asian federal district judge. Mr. Desai currently serves as Vice President and General Counsel for Honeywell’s Integrated Supply Chain and Information Technology groups, where he manages legal risk, ensures compliance with laws and regulations across the globe, resolves disputes prior to litigation, and more. At Honeywell, Mr. Desai has served in numerous roles, including as Litigation Counsel for Honeywell’s Aerospace division and Chief Litigation Counsel for the Safety and Productivity Solutions division. In these roles, Mr. Desai managed a docket of federal and state court matters and arbitrations – including commercial, qui tam, product liability, and toxic tort matters. Mr. Desai also selected outside counsel, developed the litigation strategy, and coordinated discovery efforts. He was also responsible for handling government subpoenas and civil investigatory demands, as well as subpoenas received in connection with civil and criminal matters. Mr. Desai also worked almost for a decade at the Arizona law firm Osborn Maledon, becoming a partner in the litigation group where he represented clients – including individuals, small business, and Fortune 100 companies – in commercial litigation and appellate matters. In this role, Mr. Desai regularly appeared in both federal and state courts, mental health court proceedings, and lawyer ethics matters. After graduating from New York University Law School in 2006, Mr. Desai clerked for Arizona Supreme Court then-Vice Chief Justice Rebecca White Berch. Mr. Desai earned a Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Magna Cum Laude, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Arizona in 2003, where he was a Flinn Scholar. Sinema has a track record of earning broad bipartisan support for judicial nominees. Earlier this year, Sinema celebrated the Senate confirmation of Arizona’s Angela Martinez and Krissa Lanham as federal judges for the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona – which Sinema personally ensured both nominees earned a broad bipartisan vote. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Health: how to sort out truth from falsehood?

    MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –

    Source: Republic of France in FrenchThe French Republic has issued the following statement:

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    Fake news

    Published on September 26, 2024 – Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

    Does fasting really help fight cancer? Is collagen really effective in fighting pain? The French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) helps you decipher fake news, this false or deliberately biased information, contributing to misinformation, which circulates on the internet and social networks in terms of health.

    Image 1Credits: Krakenimages.com – stock.adobe.com

    Detox Channel

    When spread en masse, false information can affect the power of discernment and influence public opinion in a negative way.

    To combat disinformation, Inserm is setting up a series to promote scientific discourse: Detox Channel. You will find short videos and tips to help you decode the news and verify the information circulating in the field of science and health.

    This new campaign aims to encourage citizens to turn to scientific sources for information.

    What topics are covered on Canal Détox?

    Here are some examples of fake news covered in the Inserm series:

    Namely

    Do you want to report illegal content on the Internet? Go to Pharos, the Ministry of the Interior’s portal dedicated to reporting illegal content on the Internet. Do you have questions about your child’s use of digital tools? You can consult the platform I protect my child.

    See also

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: 09.25.2024 ICYMI: Cruz-Kelly Chips Permitting Reform Bill Passed Congress with Widespread Bipartisan Support

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz
    WASHINGTON, D.C. –– In case you missed it, earlier this week, U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Sen. Mark Kelly’s (D-Ariz.) semiconductor plant permitting reform bill cleared the House after unanimously passing the Senate last December. The bill, S.2228 as replaced by the Kelly-Cruz full substitute amendment, is now headed to the President’s desk to be signed into law. The legislation would expedite the process to construct semiconductor manufacturing plants by removing burdensome environmental reviews and permits for microchip projects.
    The Kelly-Cruz chips permitting reform bill received widespread bipartisan support, including from Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. The legislation is a critical step in decreasing dependency on China and creating more jobs and incentives for investment in Texas.
    Watch the interview and read more about the legislation below.
    Local News Live: Congress passes bill to streamline federal process for chip manufacturing projects in America
    CLICK HERE TO WATCH
    “Congress passed a bill this week that will streamline federal reviews for some microchip manufacturing projects in America.
    “The Building Chips in America Act passed in the House on Monday and is now on its way to President Joe Biden’s desk.
    “The bill streamlines the environmental review process for semiconductor manufacturing facilities that were incentivized by the CHIPS and Science Act.
    “Several projects are in the works but supporters of the bill have said that they have been delayed because of government red tape.
    “The bipartisan bill was authored in the Senate by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ).
    “Cruz said that the passage of the bill will benefit communities across the country where the projects are happening like his home state of Texas.
    “‘What this is going to mean is new manufacturing plants will be built in Texas much faster. It will mean billions more dollars invested in the economy in Texas, and it will mean thousands more high-paying jobs in Texas. It’s a great victory for jobs in Texas,” said Sen. Cruz.
    “The senator also said the bill will also make America safer by manufacturing the chips domestically.”
    The Texas: U.S. House Passes ‘Kelly-Cruz Amendment’ to CHIPS Act, Sent to Biden’s Desk
    “The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill on Monday aimed at streamlining permitting laws to facilitate the domestic construction of semiconductor factories.
    “The bipartisan legislation passed by a vote of 257 to 125, with 49 members not voting, and now moves to the president’s desk for approval.
    “The bill passed the Senate last year, and was passed in the House of Representatives this week as the “Kelly-Cruz substitute amendment.”
    “Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) submitted the amended text of their Senate bill in December 2023.
    “When a bill passes as a “substitute amendment” in Congress, the original text is entirely replaced with new content. This new version of the bill, offered as an amendment, becomes the text that is voted on and passed.
    “It aims to accelerate the construction of U.S. semiconductor facilities, as the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act of 2022 has made over $50 billion available to promote domestic production and innovation.
    “It will also streamline federal permitting by designating the Department of Commerce as the lead agency for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews, exempting certain projects from NEPA, providing the Secretary of Commerce with greater authority to expedite reviews in coordination with state and local governments, and limiting court challenge timelines.
    “Cruz and Kelly celebrated the amendment’s passage in a joint statement after the House passed it this week.
    “‘My number one priority in the Senate is delivering jobs for Texans. When soon signed into law, the Kelly-Cruz legislation will mean tens of thousands of good-paying jobs and hundreds of billions in new investments for the Lone Star State,” wrote Cruz.
    “‘I’m proud to have led this effort with Senator Mark Kelly to streamline environmental permitting for semiconductor factories, a crucial step in onshoring jobs and making our country less dependent on China for semiconductors critical to national defense.”
    “Cruz continued to exchange jabs with Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX-32), who voted to pass the most recent act, over the past year regarding Cruz’s “no” vote on related legislation last year.
    “At the time, Cruz supported one portion of the CHIPS Act but disagreed with another.
    “Cruz explained in 2023 that the CHIPS Act consisted of two key parts: the Facilitating American-Built Semiconductors (FABS) Act, offering a tax credit to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing investment, and the CHIPS Act itself, providing billions in direct subsidies to companies. While Cruz co-sponsored the FABS Act, he voted against the CHIPS Act due to his opposition to direct subsidies, favoring the more indirect incentive of the tax credit.
    “Following this week’s passage of the Building Chips in America Act, Samsung celebrated by saying that the bill is “ensuring U.S. innovation continues to surge!”
    “Texas has seen businesses flocking to the state over the past few years, and semiconductor manufacturers have already started construction on facilities in towns like Taylor and Sherman.
    “The ongoing battle for semiconductor supremacy between China and the U.S. is intensifying as both nations invest heavily in domestic chip production and innovation, with the global semiconductor industry projected to reach a value of approximately $1 trillion by 2030.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chang’e-6 lunar samples to be displayed at 15th Airshow China

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

    BEIJING, Sept. 25 — Lunar samples collected by China’s Chang’e-6 mission from the far side of the moon will be on display at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China, the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense announced Wednesday.

    The Chang’e-6 return capsule will also be showcased, allowing the public to witness the advancements of China’s space industry, said Li Yang, an official with the agency.

    The airshow is scheduled for Nov. 12-17 in Zhuhai, a city in south China’s Guangdong Province, and will feature various types of aircraft and carrier rockets.

    According to Hao Changfeng, spokesperson for China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the company will present nearly 200 high-tech products, including first-time exhibits such as the Chang’e-6 probe and the Long March-8A carrier rocket. “About 150 items will be debuting, with new exhibits making up 75 percent of the display,” said Hao.

    Wu Jiwei, spokesperson for the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, announced that the company will showcase more than 260 products, emphasizing advancements in new quality productive forces.

    Since its inception in 1996, Airshow China has become an important window for showcasing advanced aviation and aerospace technologies and equipment from home and abroad. It has also become an international platform for promoting business cooperation in aviation and aerospace technologies and equipment.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA Roundup: September 20, 2024

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    For Immediate Release:

    Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is providing an at-a-glance summary of news from around the agency: 

    • Today, the FDA and NIH announced “Advancing Smoking Cessation: FDA and NIH Priorities” – a joint public meeting focused on advancing innovation of smoking cessation products to help both adults and youth. The meeting will be held October 21, 2024, and will feature presentations and panel discussions on several smoking cessation-focused topics, as well as an opportunity for public comment on several topics related to cessation.
    • On Thursday, the FDA approved Zenrelia (ilunocitinib tablets), a new animal drug used to control pruritus (itching) associated with allergic dermatitis and to control atopic dermatitis (environmental allergies) in dogs at least 1 year of age.

      Zenrelia is safe and effective when used according to the label. However, the product labeling carries a boxed warning stating that dogs should not be vaccinated at least 28 days before and after treatment with Zenrelia, due to the risk of fatal vaccine-induced disease and inadequate immune response to vaccines.

    • On Thursday, the FDA approved Rybrevant (amivantamab-vmjw) with carboplatin and pemetrexed for adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R substitution mutations whose disease has progressed on or after treatment with an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Full prescribing information for Rybrevant will be posted on Drugs@FDA. 
    • On Wednesday, the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine announced that it is supporting a collaborative agreement to the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA to conduct a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis. This SWOT analysis aims to research the challenges within, and unmet needs of, the animal health, animal food and veterinary industries, and explain the economic impact of these gaps.
    • On Wednesday, the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine announced the establishment of four Animal and Veterinary Innovation Centers (AVICs) and recipients of funding for work to advance regulatory science and further development of innovative products and approaches to better support animal health and veterinary interventions. These AVICs further the goals outlined in the FDA’s Animal and Veterinary Innovation Agenda (AVIA), which describes the agency’s plans to spur innovation to better protect human and animal health. The three areas of concentration for the AVICs focus on:
      • Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and emerging zoonotic disease threats or One Health issues; 
      • Intentional genomic alternations (IGAs) in animals and the advancement of regulatory science in this field, with a focus on IGAs that support agricultural resilience, food security, animal health, or public health; and 
      • Unmet veterinary medical needs in both minor and major species that create a significant animal or public health burden.
    • On Wednesday, the FDA updated the outbreak advisory, Investigation of Illnesses: Diamond Shruumz-Brand Chocolate Bars, Cones, & Gummies to include additional cases.
    • On Tuesday, the FDA approved Kisqali (ribociclib) with an aromatase inhibitor for the adjuvant treatment of adults with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative stage II and III early breast cancer at high risk of recurrence. Additionally, the FDA also approved the Kisqali Femara Co-Pack (ribociclib and letrozole co-pack,) for the same indication. Full prescribing information for Kisqali and Kisqali Femara Co-Pack will be posted on Drugs@FDA. 
    • On Tuesday, the FDA approved Keytruda (pembrolizumab) with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy as first-line treatment of unresectable advanced or metastatic malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Full prescribing information for Keytruda will be posted on Drugs@FDA.

    Related Information

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bice Votes in Favor of Continuing Resolution to Avoid a Government Shutdown

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stephanie Bice (OK-05)

    September 25, 2024

    Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government through December 20th

    Congresswoman Bice issued the following statement:

    “While this CR is imperfect and not what I preferred, it was the only option left. I could not in good conscience vote to shut the government down, which would have damaging effects on our community, our military, and our border patrol agents.

    “The true disservice is that Senator Schumer and Senate Democrats refuse to bring any meaningful piece of legislation for a vote. The House has passed numerous appropriations bills, encompassing over 70% of government funding, while also working to secure our border and our elections. The Senate has done nothing but Judicial nominations.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New support for semiconductor firms to grow, powering growth in £10 billion UK industry

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Support for semiconductor scale-ups announced as Lord Vallance kicks off a stakeholder forum ahead of the G7 Semiconductors Points of Contact group in Cambridge.

    16 semiconductor scale up projects backed to advance innovative tech

    • Science Minister Lord Vallance unveils new support for UK semiconductor scale-ups to advance innovations, from phone screens to medical tech
    • Support to help businesses grow unveiled as Minister welcomes leading tech nations to a stakeholder forum preceding the G7 Semiconductors Points of Contact group in Cambridge
    • Comes as new report finds rapidly growing UK semiconductor industry valued at nearly £10 billion and expected to rise this decade

    UK semiconductor firms producing vital technology from phone screens to surgical lasers are being backed in their efforts to scale up into large businesses and drive economic growth.

    The science Minister Lord Patrick Vallance has announced the 16 projects that will win a share of a £11.5 million pot – provided by Innovate UK – that will help drive innovation, as he opened an industry conference of G7 nations today (Thursday 26 September).

    Pioneering projects across the country will help take the UK’s thriving semiconductor industry to the next level as it further enhances everyday life – from more efficient medical devices to energy saving phone screens – and kickstart economic growth.

    This comes shortly before the Government’s International Investment Summit which will showcase the UK as a place to do business. Today’s move is yet another reason for business to choose the UK as a place to invest – as it is backing the industries of the future.

    A new report by Perspective Economics reveals the UK semiconductor sector, which includes over 200 companies in research, design, and manufacturing, is valued at almost £10 billion and could grow up to £17 billion by 2030.

    Semiconductors are small chips at the core of everyday technology from smartphones to renewable energy systems and this support will help to scale up domestic manufacturing and strengthen supply chain resilience, so the UK is fit for the future in a global industry.

    The funding comes as the G7 Semiconductors Point of Contact group kicks off with a stakeholder forum at major UK tech company Arm’s HQ in Cambridge, where member states, research organisations, and industry representatives are discussing key issues affecting the global semiconductor industry, like supporting early-stage innovation and sustainability.

    Science Minister, Lord Vallance, said:

    Semiconductors are an unseen but vital component in so many of the technologies we rely on in our lives and backing UK innovators offers a real opportunity to growth these firms into industry leaders, strengthening our £10 billion sector and ensuring it drives economic growth.

    Our support in these projects will promote critical breakthroughs such as more efficient medical devices that could significantly lower costs and faster manufacturing processes to improve productivity.

    Hosting the G7 semiconductors Points of Contact group is also a chance to showcase the UK’s competitive and growing sector and make clear our commitment to keeping the UK at the forefront of advancing technology.

    Among the funded projects, receiving a share of £11.5 million, is Vector Photonics Limited in collaboration with the University of Glasgow, which aims to enhance the power and cost-effectiveness of blue light lasers in everyday technology by using gallium nitride, a high-performance material. Blue lasers are key in devices like medical equipment, quantum displays and car headlights.

    Another project, led by Quantum Advanced Solutions Ltd with the University of Cambridge, is developing advanced shortwave infrared (SWIR) sensors which improve vision in critical sectors like defence, by supporting surveillance in challenging conditions in low-visibility environments, such as during adverse weather conditions or atmospheric disturbances. The project looks to simplify production using innovative quantum dot materials – tiny semiconductor particles that emit light at specific wavelengths – offering higher sensitivity and performance, cutting costs and making this advanced technology more accessible to multiple sectors including manufacturing and healthcare.

    Andrew Tyrer, Deputy Director, Electronics, Sensors and Photonics, Innovate UK, said:

    Innovate UK’s investment in this programme directly supports the National Semiconductor Strategy launched in 2023 and aims to ensure the UK’s place in the global landscape.

    Iain Mauchline Innovation Lead – Electronics, Sensors, and Photonics at Innovate UK, added:

    It has been recognised that semiconductors are key enablers for the UK ambitions across all critical technology areas. Funding these diverse projects highlights the strengths and depth of the UK’s semiconductor ecosystem.

    The G7 Semiconductors Point of Contact Group, established under Italy’s G7 Presidency earlier this year, continues its mission to address issues impacting the semiconductor industry, including early-stage innovation, crisis coordination, sustainability, and the impact of government policies and practices.

    Rene Haas, CEO, Arm said: 

    It is an honour to host the G7 Semiconductor working group at Arm’s global headquarters in Cambridge to advance collective efforts from industry, research organizations, and governments to increase supply chain resilience, security, and energy efficiency.  We look forward to continued partnership with the G7 representatives and the UK government as we work to enable innovation and realize the full potential of AI.” 

    This meeting immediately follows the OECD Semiconductor Informal Exchange Network gathering, where countries and stakeholders shared strategies for strengthening global semiconductor supply chains and addressing shared challenges in the semiconductor industry.

    The UK is playing a key role in the OECD’s efforts to unite government and industry in navigating the complexities of the global chip supply chain.

    Charles Sturman, CEO of TechWorks said:

    This report represents the first detailed economic study of the UK Semiconductor sector in many years. I am proud to have been part of this important work and pleased with the results. Key findings here show that the UK already sees significant revenue from the sector and, by building on strong innovation, we can see significant opportunity to increase this together with our ~2% share of global semiconductor revenues; ultimately creating much more than the 86,000 jobs currently in the wider economy. The industry is set to grow rapidly in the next decade and the right mix of scale-up support and industrial policy can secure future growth of the UK semiconductor sector.

    Notes to editors

    DSIT media enquiries

    Email press@dsit.gov.uk

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

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: In a US presidential election with razor-thin margins, will ‘couch-sitters’ decide who wins?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jeff Bleich, Professorial fellow, Jeff Bleich Centre for Democracy and Disruptive Technologies, Flinders University

    In countries with compulsory voting, such as Australia and many in Latin America, the system usually ensures an overwhelming majority of voters cast their ballots election after election.

    In the United States, it’s a very different story. Two-thirds of eligible voters turned out to vote in the 2020 presidential election – the highest rate since 1900. Turnout in presidential elections before 2020 tended to hover between 50% and 65%.

    Often, it’s the voters choosing to stay home on the couch who effectively decide an election’s outcome.

    Under the United States’ unusual Electoral College presidential voting system, the candidate who wins the most votes nationally does not necessarily win the election. Twice in the past 25 years, Democrats have won the popular vote in the presidential race and still lost the election. That includes Donald Trump’s win over Hillary Clinton in 2016.

    As such, victory depends on getting more voters “off the couch” in key battleground states where the decisive Electoral College votes are up for grabs. In those states, it doesn’t matter what percentage of people show up to vote, or how much a candidate wins by, it is winner take all.

    A voter who doesn’t vote, therefore, actually makes an active choice — they remove a vote from the candidate they would have likely chosen, and so give an important advantage to the person they would not have voted for.

    The “couch” is effectively where Americans go to vote against their self-interest.

    Who is more incentivised to vote?

    As this year’s presidential election between Trump and Kamala Harris approaches, we ask a simple question: whose “couch” will decide one of the most consequential elections in living memory?

    Recent research demonstrates that partisanship is an important driver of voter choice in presidential elections.

    The fact that the US is deeply divided is not news to most, but current survey data show how evenly split along partisan lines it actually is. With about 30% of Americans identifying as a Republican and 30% identifying as a Democrat, there is virtually no difference in the total number of voters who support each major party.

    The remaining 40% of Americans identify as “independent” – that is, not loyal to either major political party. Almost seven decades of research on the American voter shows, however, that independents heavily “lean” towards one party or the other, with about half leaning Republican and the other half leaning Democrat.

    One possible insight into which group has greater incentive to vote is polling on people’s dissatisfaction with their party’s candidate.

    According to the most recent Gallup Poll data, 9% of Republicans currently have an unfavourable opinion of Trump. In contrast, only 5% of Democrats have an unfavourable opinion of Harris.

    Partisan voters who are dissatisfied with their party candidate have a massive incentive to “stay on the couch” and refrain from voting. They don’t really want to vote for “the other team”, but they can’t stand their own team anymore either.

    For example, Republican women in the suburbs, veterans and traditional Republicans have started to abandon Trump over his stances on reproductive rights and national security, and his temperament. The Trump campaign clearly knows this. At a rally in New York a few days ago, he told attendees to “get your fat ass out of the couch” to go vote for him.

    Should these disaffected Republican and Republican-leaning voters stay home on November 5, Harris may well have a decisive edge over Trump.

    When the couch wins, America loses

    In 2016, Trump defied the polls and traditional voter turn-out trends by convincing some disaffected, working-class Democrats to stay on the couch, vote for an unelectable third party candidate or, in some cases, vote for him.

    Could this happen again? Or will Democrats be able to reverse this phenomenon by getting exhausted Republicans suffering Trump fatigue to stay home, while motivating everyone from Taylor Swift fans to “never Trumpers” to veterans of foreign wars to get out to vote.

    Recent trends suggest overall turnout will be comparatively high, in line with the past three federal US elections.

    Democrats have traditionally benefited from higher voter turn-out, but it is not as clear this is still the case in 2024. Recent research shows higher turnout rates seem to have favoured the Republican Party since 2016.

    Yet both parties still have significant numbers of people who don’t vote. According to the Pew Research Center, 46% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents didn’t vote in the past three elections (2018, 2020 and 2022), compared to the 41% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents.

    So again, who sits on the couch matters. Inevitably, many of those who stay home will get precisely what they don’t want. When the couch wins, America loses.

    Jeff Bleich is a former US ambassador to Australia and a member of the National Security Leaders for America, a group of 700 former generals, admirals, service secretaries, ambassadors, and other national security professionals, that has endorsed Kamala Harris in the presidential election. He was also special counsel to President Barack Obama and served as chair of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board under President Donald Trump and as a member of President Joe Biden’s (non-partisan) National Security Education Board.

    Rodrigo Praino receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the Australian Government Department of Defence, and SmartSat CRC.

    – ref. In a US presidential election with razor-thin margins, will ‘couch-sitters’ decide who wins? – https://theconversation.com/in-a-us-presidential-election-with-razor-thin-margins-will-couch-sitters-decide-who-wins-239394

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –