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Category: Universities

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: AI literacy: What it is, what it isn’t, who needs it and why it’s hard to define

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Daniel S. Schiff, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Purdue University

    AI literacy is a lot more than simply knowing how to prompt an AI chatbot. DNY59/E+ via Getty Images

    It is “the policy of the United States to promote AI literacy and proficiency among Americans,” reads an executive order President Donald Trump issued on April 23, 2025. The executive order, titled Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth, signals that advancing AI literacy is now an official national priority.

    This raises a series of important questions: What exactly is AI literacy, who needs it, and how do you go about building it thoughtfully and responsibly?

    The implications of AI literacy, or lack thereof, are far-reaching. They extend beyond national ambitions to remain “a global leader in this technological revolution” or even prepare an “AI-skilled workforce,” as the executive order states. Without basic literacy, citizens and consumers are not well equipped to understand the algorithmic platforms and decisions that affect so many domains of their lives: government services, privacy, lending, health care, news recommendations and more. And the lack of AI literacy risks ceding important aspects of society’s future to a handful of multinational companies.

    How, then, can institutions help people understand and use – or resist – AI as individuals, workers, parents, innovators, job seekers, students, employers and citizens? We are a policy scientist and two educational researchers who study AI literacy, and we explore these issues in our research.

    What AI literacy is and isn’t

    At its foundation, AI literacy includes a mix of knowledge, skills and attitudes that are technical, social and ethical in nature. According to one prominent definition, AI literacy refers to “a set of competencies that enables individuals to critically evaluate AI technologies; communicate and collaborate effectively with AI; and use AI as a tool online, at home, and in the workplace.”

    AI literacy is not simply programming or the mechanics of neural networks, and it is certainly not just prompt engineering – that is, the act of carefully writing prompts for chatbots. Vibe coding, or using AI to write software code, might be fun and important, but restricting the definition of literacy to the newest trend or the latest need of employers won’t cover the bases in the long term. And while a single master definition may not be needed, or even desirable, too much variation makes it tricky to decide on organizational, educational or policy strategies.

    Who needs AI literacy? Everyone, including the employees and students using it, and the citizens grappling with its growing impacts. Every sector and sphere of society is now involved with AI, even if this isn’t always easy for people to see.

    Exactly how much literacy everyone needs and how to get there is a much tougher question. Are a few quick HR training sessions enough, or do we need to embed AI across K-12 curricula and deliver university micro credentials and hands-on workshops? There is much that researchers don’t know, which leads to the need to measure AI literacy and the effectiveness of different training approaches.

    Ethics is an important aspect of AI literacy.

    Measuring AI literacy

    While there is a growing and bipartisan consensus that AI literacy matters, there’s much less consensus on how to actually understand people’s AI literacy levels. Researchers have focused on different aspects, such as technical or ethical skills, or on different populations – for example, business managers and students – or even on subdomains like generative AI.

    A recent review study identified more than a dozen questionnaires designed to measure AI literacy, the vast majority of which rely on self-reported responses to questions and statements such as “I feel confident about using AI.” There’s also a lack of testing to see whether these questionnaires work well for people from different cultural backgrounds.

    Moreover, the rise of generative AI has exposed gaps and challenges: Is it possible to create a stable way to measure AI literacy when AI is itself so dynamic?

    In our research collaboration, we’ve tried to help address some of these problems. In particular, we’ve focused on creating objective knowledge assessments, such as multiple-choice surveys tested with thorough statistical analyses to ensure that they accurately measure AI literacy. We’ve so far tested a multiple-choice survey in the U.S., U.K. and Germany and found that it works consistently and fairly across these three countries.

    There’s a lot more work to do to create reliable and feasible testing approaches. But going forward, just asking people to self-report their AI literacy probably isn’t enough to understand where different groups of people are and what supports they need.

    Approaches to building AI literacy

    Governments, universities and industry are trying to advance AI literacy.

    Finland launched the Elements of AI series in 2018 with the hope of educating its general public on AI. Estonia’s AI Leap initiative partners with Anthropic and OpenAI to provide access to AI tools for tens of thousands of students and thousands of teachers. And China is now requiring at least eight hours of AI education annually as early as elementary school, which goes a step beyond the new U.S. executive order. On the university level, Purdue University and the University of Pennsylvania have launched new master’s in AI programs, targeting future AI leaders.

    Despite these efforts, these initiatives face an unclear and evolving understanding of AI literacy. They also face challenges to measuring effectiveness and minimal knowledge on what teaching approaches actually work. And there are long-standing issues with respect to equity − for example, reaching schools, communities, segments of the population and businesses that are stretched or under-resourced.

    Next moves on AI literacy

    Based on our research, experience as educators and collaboration with policymakers and technology companies, we think a few steps might be prudent.

    Building AI literacy starts with recognizing it’s not just about tech: People also need to grasp the social and ethical sides of the technology. To see whether we’re getting there, we researchers and educators should use clear, reliable tests that track progress for different age groups and communities. Universities and companies can try out new teaching ideas first, then share what works through an independent hub. Educators, meanwhile, need proper training and resources, not just additional curricula, to bring AI into the classroom. And because opportunity isn’t spread evenly, partnerships that reach under-resourced schools and neighborhoods are essential so everyone can benefit.

    Critically, achieving widespread AI literacy may be even harder than building digital and media literacy, so getting there will require serious investment – not cuts – to education and research.

    There is widespread consensus that AI literacy is important, whether to boost AI trust and adoption or to empower citizens to challenge AI or shape its future. As with AI itself, we believe it’s important to approach AI literacy carefully, avoiding hype or an overly technical focus. The right approach can prepare students to become “active and responsible participants in the workforce of the future” and empower Americans to “thrive in an increasingly digital society,” as the AI literacy executive order calls for.

    Funding from Google Research helped to support part of the authors’ research on AI literacy.

    Funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research under the funding code 16DHBKI051 helped to support part of the authors’ research on AI literacy.

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

    – ref. AI literacy: What it is, what it isn’t, who needs it and why it’s hard to define – https://theconversation.com/ai-literacy-what-it-is-what-it-isnt-who-needs-it-and-why-its-hard-to-define-256061

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Embedding academic support improves learner outcomes

    Source: Tertiary Education Commission

    Last updated 10 June 2025
    Last updated 10 June 2025

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    Auckland University of Technology’s (AUT’s) Te Mātāpuna Library & Learning Services share their approach to embedding academic support services that enable better outcomes for learners.
    Auckland University of Technology’s (AUT’s) Te Mātāpuna Library & Learning Services share their approach to embedding academic support services that enable better outcomes for learners.

    Te Mātāpuna Library & Learning Services are getting their library workshops and resources in front of thousands of AUT students, which is making a positive impact on learner success.  
    Kate Absolum, Senior Manager Learning and Academic Engagement at Auckland University of Technology’s Te Mātāpuna Library & Learning Services, covers three key initiatives in this Learner Success Community of Practice lightning session.  
    First, Kate shares how AUT’s library services have embedded learning support into academic courses and how this has helped enable better learner outcomes. She then covers the asynchronous learning materials available through their library, and how they support students to use generative AI ethically and productively.  
    Kate has over 20 years of experience teaching, writing and designing learning materials across diverse educational settings in New Zealand, Australia, South Korea and Hong Kong. Her areas of interest and expertise include curriculum development, assessment and materials design, academic integrity, generative AI and academic literacy education. 
    To watch Kate’s 12-minute lightning session, visit the Learner Success Community of Practice. 
    Learner Success Community of Practice sessions 
    The Tertiary Education Commission hosts online and pre-recorded online Community of Practice sessions in partnership with the tertiary sector. The aim is to connect tertiary education organisations to share knowledge, collaborate, and promote individual, group and organisational development to improve the success of their learners. 
    To find out about upcoming sessions, please contact 0800 601 301 or customerservice@tec.govt.nz with the subject line [EDUMIS # Learner Success Community of Practice]. 
    To view recordings of previous sessions, visit Learner Success Community of Practice. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: LIS Technologies Inc. Appoints Former Deputy Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration Brent Park Ph.D., as its Executive Director of Nuclear Security and Safeguards Policy

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Oak Ridge, Tennessee, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LIS Technologies Inc. (“LIST” or “the Company”), a proprietary developer of advanced laser technology and the only USA-origin and patented laser uranium enrichment company, today announced that it has appointed Brent Park, Ph.D., as its Executive Director of Nuclear Security and Safeguards Policy.

    “LIST’s technology arrives at a pivotal moment, as the United States accelerates efforts to build a secure, domestic nuclear‑fuel supply chain,” said Brent Park, Ph.D., Executive Director of Nuclear Security and Safeguards Policy of LIS Technologies Inc. “This proprietary technology can be a key step toward reducing reliance on foreign sources of enriched uranium and strengthening our national energy independence. I’m honored to join the Company and look forward to advising the leadership team as they advance the CRISLA technology from revival to commercialization.”

    Brent is a nuclear physicist and a former government official with demonstrated leadership experience at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Nevada Test Site (NTS), and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Between 2018 and 2021, with Senate confirmation just 6 weeks after being nominated by President Donald J. Trump, Brent served as Deputy Administrator at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). He led Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation programs to support the nation’s efforts in nonproliferation treaties and international arms control, international nuclear security, safeguards, and export control policies. Prior to joining NNSA, Brent was Associate Laboratory Director at ORNL, leading the science-to-application efforts for national security programs. Research topics are wide-ranging, with particular focus on materials science and engineering, cybersecurity, high-performance computing and big data analytics, artificial intelligence, and nuclear science and engineering.

    Figure 1 – LIS Technologies Inc. Appoints Brent Park, Ph.D., as its Executive Director of Nuclear Security and Safeguards Policy.

    Previously, Brent was the director of NNSA’s Remote Sensing Laboratory, where he led efforts to advance and field cutting-edge diagnostics and communications instruments in support of counterterrorism and radiological incident response for the nation. As the NNSA’s non-proliferation chief, he led efforts and engagements to prevent nuclear weapons proliferation and to reduce the threat of nuclear and radiological terrorism around the world. Earlier, Brent managed and contributed to basic and applied research programs at LANL in the areas of physics and engineering, modeling and analysis, and nuclear weapons physics and engineering in support of stockpile stewardship, as well as nuclear emergency response and nuclear facility operations. Brent earned a bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics at Illinois State University and a master’s degree in physics with an emphasis on remote sensing at Indiana State University. Later he shifted the direction of his research to nuclear physics and earned a master’s degree at Indiana University. Brent performed a thesis experiment using the spallation neutron source at LANL and earned a PhD in physics at Ohio University. He held a prestigious Physics Division postdoctoral fellowship at LANL before becoming a technical staff member.

    “Brent steps into this role with real enthusiasm, and we’re honored to welcome him to our team,” said Jay Yu, Executive Chairman and President of LIS Technologies Inc. “A distinguished leader, public official, and scientist, he brings a depth of experience that will benefit the Company both now and well into the future. During his tenure at the NNSA, Brent worked with some of the most advanced nuclear technologies in the industry. Now, his decision to join LIST reflects the promise of our patented, proprietary and U.S.-based CRISLA technology and the dedication that has shaped our company’s growth.”

    “Brent’s depth of experience and extensive network are a testament to his distinguished career, and it is a pleasure to welcome him to LIS Technologies,” said Christo Liebenberg, CEO and Co-Founder of LIS Technologies Inc. “His technical expertise, combined with his longstanding relationships across key institutions, will be instrumental as we navigate complex licensing, regulatory and non-proliferation pathways and advance our CRISLA technology through testing, demonstration activities and eventually to commercialization.”

    About LIS Technologies Inc.

    LIS Technologies Inc. (LIST) is a USA based, proprietary developer of a patented advanced laser technology, making use of infrared lasers to selectively excite the molecules of desired isotopes to separate them from other isotopes. The Laser Isotope Separation Technology (L.I.S.T) has a huge range of applications, including being the only USA-origin (and patented) laser uranium enrichment company, and several major advantages over traditional methods such as gas diffusion, centrifuges, and prior art laser enrichment. The LIST proprietary laser-based process is more energy-efficient and has the potential to be deployed with highly competitive capital and operational costs. L.I.S.T is optimized for LEU (Low Enriched Uranium) for existing civilian nuclear power plants, High-Assay LEU (HALEU) for the next generation of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and Microreactors, the production of stable isotopes for medical and scientific research, and applications in quantum computing manufacturing for semiconductor technologies. The Company employs a world class nuclear technical team working alongside leading nuclear entrepreneurs and industry professionals, possessing strong relationships with government and private nuclear industries.

    In Dec 2024, LIS Technologies Inc. was selected as one of six domestic companies to participate in the Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) Enrichment Acquisition Program. This initiative allocates up to $3.4 billion overall, with contracts lasting for up to 10 years. Each awardee is slated to receive a minimum contract of $2 million.

    For more information please visit: LaserIsTech.com

    For further information, please contact:
    Email: info@laseristech.com
    Telephone: 800-388-5492
    Follow us on X Platform
    Follow us on LinkedIn

    Forward Looking Statements

    This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements mean statements related to future events, which may impact our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would” or “may” and other words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this news release and represent management’s current views and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events or results and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control. For LIS Technologies Inc., particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following which are, and will be, exacerbated by any worsening of global business and economic environment: (i) risks related to the development of new or advanced technology, including difficulties with design and testing, cost overruns, development of competitive technology, loss of key individuals and uncertainty of success of patent filing, (ii) our ability to obtain contracts and funding to be able to continue operations and (iii) risks related to uncertainty regarding our ability to commercially deploy a competitive laser enrichment technology, (iv) risks related to the impact of government regulation and policies including by the DOE and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and other risks and uncertainties discussed in this and our other filings with the SEC. Only after successful completion of our Phase 2 Pilot Plant demonstration will LIS Technologies be able to make realistic economic predictions for a Commercial Facility. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. These factors may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Russia Day

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –

    Russia Day is a national holiday celebrated annually on June 12. It was established in honor of the event of 1990, when the first Congress of People’s Deputies adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the RSFSR. The document established the supremacy of the Constitution and laws of the RSFSR throughout the country, the principle of separation of powers, and the equality of political parties and public organizations.

    At first, the holiday was called Independence Day. In 1994, it received official status and a name – Day of Adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Russia. Since 1998, the holiday has been renamed Russia Day.

    On this day, our fellow citizens celebrate the beginning of a new stage in our national history. Russia Day embodies love for the Motherland, reminds us of the importance of unity and mutual respect for each other.

    The staff of the Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering celebrates this day together with everyone else. Everyone contributes to the development of the country – through their scientific research, conscientious work, success in studies, social activities, sports and creativity.

    On Russia Day, we wish everyone success, energy and productive work for the benefit of the Motherland!

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Congratulations from the Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov on Russia Day

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –

    Dear friends, colleagues, fellow citizens!

    Happy Russia Day!

    This day embodies the power and greatness of our state. It symbolizes civil harmony and unity of the multinational people, preserving the memory of the labor and military exploits of our ancestors.

    The history of Russia is full of grandiose achievements of our people. And today we are united by the spirit of patriotism, a noble sense of responsibility for the fate of the country.

    We are proud of the heroes of our time – the participants of the special military operation who valiantly defend our common home – Russia. We are proud of the scientists, engineers, teachers – all who contribute to the development of Russia with honor and dignity every day.

    Dear friends! On this festive day I wish you good health, prosperity and success in all your endeavors for the benefit of our Motherland!

    Valery Falkov

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Grattan on Friday: the galahs are chattering about ‘productivity’, but can Labor really get it moving?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    Former prime minister Paul Keating famously used to say the resident galah in any pet shop was talking about micro-economic policy. These days, if you encounter a pet shop with a galah, she’ll be chattering about productivity.

    Productivity is currently the hot topic for a conversation on economic reform. Australia, like many other countries, has a serious problem with it. Our productivity hasn’t significantly increased for more than a decade (apart from a temporary spike during the pandemic).

    Now Treasurer Jim Chalmers has named productivity as his priority for Labor’s second term; assistant minister Andrew Leigh, part of the government’s economic team, has had it inserted into his title; the Productivity Commission has put out 15 potential reform areas for discussion, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a roundtable to canvass the way ahead.

    The roundtable appears to be a prime ministerial initiative. Announcing it at the National Press Club on Tuesday, Albanese made a point of saying he had asked Chalmers to convene it. Perhaps it’s a case of the prime minister emulating his forerunner Bob Hawke, with his penchant for summits, while Chalmers seeks to be a contemporary Keating, as he searches for reforms to promote.

    It would be a major achievement if people were able to remember the second-term Albanese government for paving the way for a significant lift in Australia’s productivity. It would probably also be an economic and political miracle.

    Let’s never knock a summit, but let’s not be taken in by the suggestion that the planned August meeting, involving employers, unions and the government, will mark some breakthrough moment. Business representatives are approaching it with a degree of cynicism; they saw the 2022 jobs and skills summit as preparing the ground for the new government to meet union demands.

    This summit is expected to have fewer participants than the 2022 meeting, and may be briefer. Albanese described it as “a more streamlined dialogue than the jobs and skills summit, dealing with a more targeted set of issues”. Chalmers will announce more details next week. We can expect the government will package a collection of initiatives at least for further work, and perhaps a few for early action.

    While many stakeholders give lip service to improving productivity, there are huge obstacles to actually doing so.

    There’s perennial talk about tax reform – from business and economists, rather than the government. But serious change produces winners and losers, and having “losers” has become a political no-no, especially when there is not enough money to compensate them.

    The housing crisis could be eased, with more homes built faster, if there were less onerous regulations, notably at state and local level. Governments are working around the edges of this, but attempting to seriously slash regulation immediately runs into opposition from those who, variously, argue that will harm city-scapes, the environment, safety or the like.

    Red tape hampers big projects, but interest groups concerned about fauna, flora or the climate defend extensive hurdles and appeals processes as important for other priorities.

    We’d be more productive if people with skills (whether immigrants or those moving between states) faced fewer complexities in getting their credentials recognised. But critics would point to the risk of underqualified people getting through.

    Regulations are both barriers and protections. Whether you see particular regulations as negative or positive will depend where you are coming from. Less regulation can enhance productivity – but in certain cases the trade-off can be less protection and/or more risk. We have, for good or ill, become a more risk-averse community.

    Employers say various industrial relations laws and regulations restrict changes that could boost productivity. A Labor government interlocked with the union movement is going to listen to its industrial base on that one. Asked on Tuesday whether his message to business groups going to the summit was, “don’t waste your breath if you’re going to raise IR” Albanese said, “People are entitled to raise whatever they want to raise. But I’m a Labor prime minister.”

    Artificial Intelligence presents great opportunities to advance productivity. But it will cost some jobs and produce dislocation. Industry Minister Tim Ayres said recently, “I will be looking in particular at how we can strengthen worker voice and agency as technology is diffused into every workplace in the Australian economy. I look forward to working with our trade union movement on all of this.” Employers’ ears pricked at the union reference.

    While the government is signalling it wants to do something meaningful on productivity, the prime minister is also highly cautious when it comes to getting ahead of what he considers to be the government’s electoral mandate. Nor is he one to gamble political capital.

    He is not like, for example, John Howard, who before the 1996 election said he would “never ever” have a GST, then brought forward an ambitious GST package that he took to the 1998 election. That package had plenty of compensation for losers but Howard, who had a big parliamentary majority, was nearly booted out of office.

    Reform is more difficult than it was in the Hawke–Keating era – though it wasn’t as easy then as is often portrayed now. The voters are less trusting of government, and less willing to accept the downsides of change.

    The voices of those wanting to say “no” to various proposed changes are greatly amplified, in a highly professionalised political milieu and ubiquitous media opportunities. In the era of the “permanent campaign”, opinion polling has become so constant that politicians are always measuring their support in the moment, making a government hyper-nervous.

    Progress on productivity is also harder these days because the easier things have been done, and because changes in our economy – especially the growth of the care economy – mean in some sectors efficiencies are not so readily available, or measurable.

    We don’t actually need more inquiries, or a roundtable, to come up with ideas for what could or should be done on productivity. There have been multiple reports and thousands of recommendations. What is required is for the government to devise a bold program, have the will and the skill to implement it, and the ability to sell it to the public. But that runs into the problem of not having sought permission from the voters – which forces the government back to incrementalism.

    Whatever the problems, it is not too fanciful to see Chalmers hanging his hat on the productivity peg in his longer-term bid to be the next Labor prime minister. We’ll see how he goes.

    Michelle Grattan 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. Grattan on Friday: the galahs are chattering about ‘productivity’, but can Labor really get it moving? – https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-the-galahs-are-chattering-about-productivity-but-can-labor-really-get-it-moving-257337

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “Innovative Music-making Journey to China: MO x e-Orch” concert to showcase musical achievements

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    “Innovative Music-making Journey to China: MO x e-Orch” concert to showcase musical achievementsIssued at HKT 12:00

    The public concert of the Innovative Music Making: MO x e-Orch music training programme during the 2024/25 academic year will be held at 7.30pm on July 12 (Saturday) at the Auditorium of Kwai Tsing Theatre, under the title “Innovative Music-making Journey to China: MO x e-Orch”, to showcase the students’ achievements. The programme is organised by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, in collaboration with the Education University of Hong Kong. Four digital music orchestras (e-Orchs) formed by about 80 students participating in the training programme from the Buddhist Chan Wing Kan Memorial School, Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Primary School, Chan Sui Ki (La Salle) Primary School and St. Rose of Lima’s School will showcase their original collaborative multimedia works at the concert. They will also collaborate with the string and Chinese music ensembles of the Music Office to perform original and arranged works. Musicians from the eOrch@EdUHK Contemporary Music and Digital Instrument Lab will also be invited to present their original works combining music and technology. Various awards and certificates of attendance will also be presented to participating students at the concert as encouragement. Apart from original works of the students, the concert also presents world premieres of local composers Wat Nga-man’s “Lion Dance” and Lau Hiu-lam’s “The Guardians of The Underground Empire”, which are commissioned by the Music Office with 12/06/2025, 11:31 “Innovative Music-making Journey to China: MO x e-Orch” concert to showcase musical achievements https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202506/12/P2025061100295p.htm 1/2 sponsorship from the CASH (Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong) Music Fund. Rearrangements of Ren Guang’s “Colourful Clouds Chasing the Moon” and the traditional Chinese music “Evening Song of the Fishermen” by Lau and Wat respectively, will also be performed in the concert. To promote the integration of music and technology on school campuses, the Music Office launched the first Innovative Music Making: MO x e-Orch music training programme in 2022 for students of participating primary and secondary schools to form eOrchs and learn musical knowledge and music creation with the use of tablets. Tickets priced at $70 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2158 6467 or 3842 7776 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/mo/activities/schoo lprogrammes/arttech/24art/2025imm.html. The concert is one of the programmes of the Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) 2025. For more information about programmes and activities of the CCF 2025, please visit www.ccf.gov.hk. Ends/Thursday, June 12, 2025 Issued at HKT 12:00

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to London-bound passenger plane crashing shortly after take-off in India

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on a London-bound Boeing 787-8 aircraft crashing shortly after take-off in India. 

    Prof Graham Braithwaite, Director of Aerospace and Aviation, Cranfield University, said:

    What do we know about the situation so far?

    “The aircraft involved is an 11-year-old Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. This is the first major accident involving the 787.

    “At this point we don’t know whether there are any survivors or whether there have been any casualties on the ground.

    What don’t we know and are waiting to find out?

    “At this stage the focus will be on search and rescue at the site. For the airline, they will be focused on caring for family members and friends at both the departure airport and destination. Until the manifest is confirmed, they will be dealing with a very high number of enquiries from concerned friends and families. Early information about the accident is unlikely to be accurate so even though people will look at tools like FlightRadar 24, it won’t tell us anything about the “why it happened”. We should be very careful not to speculate on cause when there is so little reliable information available.

    Is it unusual for a plane crash to occur so soon after take-off?

    “Yes. Although take off is a critical stage of flight, aircraft accidents are incredibly rare, especially involving modern aircraft types such as the Boeing 787. Take off is a critical stage because the aircraft is still accelerating and any problem-solving requires a rapid response.

    Any other information you think is relevant for journalists to know.

    “The accident will be investigated by the Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau – an organisation which is independent from the aviation regulator, and which is focused on ‘not for blame’ safety investigations. This is governed by an international standard known as ICAO Annex 13. Under that, participants will include the US National Transportation Safety Board as the State of Manufacturer. Stated with a significant number of people on board will also have a right to participate so I would expect the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch to be involved.”

    Declared interests

    No reply to our request for DOIs was received.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: College prepares students for real-world success

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    Writtle College students and staff celebrate the Ofsted report

    Writtle College has been recognised for preparing students for real-world success through a strong curriculum and industry-relevant teaching, following its first Ofsted inspection since becoming part of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).

    The inspection team noted that students at Writtle College are developing business-relevant skills through hands-on learning, expert teaching, tailored support and a curriculum shaped by industry needs, with courses in areas such as animal management, horticulture, equine studies, and floristry.

    These programmes are enriched by employer feedback and include practical skills like customer service, pricing strategies, and the use of industry-standard tools.

    Inspectors particularly commended the college’s support for students with high needs and those who have previously faced challenges in education. They found that learners feel safe, respected, and well-supported, with clear pathways into further study or employment.

    The college’s partnerships with local and regional employers were described as a key strength. These collaborations provide students with meaningful work placements, real-world projects, and exposure to current industry practices.

    The college also plays a vital role in regional skills development initiatives, including the Chelmsford Partnership for Skills and the upcoming Essex Rural Skills Summit. Writtle College offers Level 2 and 3 courses, including T-Levels and apprenticeships, for 16-18-year-olds as well as adult learners.

    New courses starting in September 2025 include; Level 1 provision with Animal and Equine pathways, Level 2 Horticulture, Level 2 Veterinary Care Assistant and a Level 2 Apprenticeship in Land-Based Service Engineering.

    The college received a “Good” rating across all categories, affirming its role as a leading provider of land-based and vocational education in the region.

    “We are proud of this outcome, which reflects the college’s commitment to excellence and community impact in the land-based education sector as well as the dedication of our staff, the enthusiasm of our students, and the strength of our partnerships.

    “This is a significant milestone in our journey as part of Anglia Ruskin University, and we remain focused on continuous improvement.”

    Philip Grant, Principal of Writtle College

    For more information about Writtle College and its programmes, visit aru.ac.uk/study/college-courses/about-writtle-college

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Schools and workplaces to take part in Clean Air Day

    Source: City of Leicester

    LEICESTER schools and workplaces are getting ready to take part in Clean Air Day next week.

    Clean Air Day, on Thursday 19 June, is the UK’s biggest initiative to reduce air pollution, raising awareness about air quality and encouraging action for a healthier environment.

    Selected roads will be closed to traffic so that sports, games and fun activities can be held out on the streets in front of several schools in Leicester.  

    Among the schools taking part in Leicester are Castle Mead Academy, which will be running sporting activities on the street and waterside activities in conjunction with the Canal & River Trust and Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre, including a ‘park and paddle’ where pupils will be able to arrive at school by bell boat.

    Dovelands Primary School will have sports on the streets, cycling activities and the Hop! fully electric green bus, with its signature ‘ribbit’ effect bell, will pay a visit. The Children’s Bookbus will be at Kestrel Mead Infants School, and there will be sport on the street outside Rushey Mead Primary School, as well as a visit from Strider the walking mascot.

    Temporary road closures will be in place on Thursday 19 June from 8am until 4pm on Magnus Road, Bessingham Close, Richard III Road, Eastfield Road, Hazeldene Road and Bramble Close.

    Parking, waiting and loading will be prohibited from 8am on Wednesday 18 June until 4pm on Thursday 19 June 2025 on sections of Mundesley Road, Kestrel Lane, Richard III Road, Maidenwell Avenue, Foxglove Road and Laverton Road.

    Some of the city’s largest workplaces are also getting involved in Clean Air Day. The University of Leicester has organised a walk in Victoria Park, meeting at the memorial arch at 12pm. The walk is suitable for all abilities and is open to staff, students and the public. Researchers from the Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability, who work on air quality and pollutants, will be taking part in the walk and will be available to discuss their research, how air pollution impacts health and ways we can all support reductions in air pollution.

    The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust will have information stands in hospital restaurants in the run-up to Clean Air Day, offering advice and information to staff and the public on how they can help reduce air pollution, with information on travel, food and nutrition, energy use and some simple flash card quizzes.

    The events are being supported by Leicester City Council, national walking, wheeling and cycling charity Sustrans and Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, as well as by the Canal & River Trust and Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre.

    Assistant city mayor responsible for air quality, Cllr Geoff Whittle, said: “Clean Air Day is a chance for schools to take part in some fun activities on traffic-free streets, while delivering an important message about improving air quality.

    “It’s also a great chance for local workplaces to get involved by promoting the benefits of active travel.

    “It is very encouraging to see so many people across the city marking Clean Air Day in this way.”

    The city council’s air quality action plan includes commitments to carry out education and awareness campaigns in communities and schools to improve knowledge and understanding of the main sources of pollution and their impact, as well as working with schools to encourage active travel.

    More information on air quality in Leicester is available at www.leicester.gov.uk/airquality

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Regional workshop on anti-money laundering co-organised by Hong Kong Customs and University of Hong Kong concludes (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The four-day Regional Workshop on AML Frameworks: Tackling Traditional and Modern Challenges in the Digital Age (Workshop), co-organised by Hong Kong Customs and the University of Hong Kong (HKU), started on June 9 and concluded today (June 12). This Workshop brought together over 60 participants from customs administrations, government agencies, international organisations, law enforcement agencies and academia across Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific (A/P) region.
     
    Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with HKU at the International Forum on Combating Money Laundering and Transnational Organized Crimes in December last year, the Workshop was held to further strengthen Customs’ capacity in anti-money laundering (AML) enforcement with particular focus on risks and trends of virtual assets.   
     
    In his closing remarks today, the Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise (Intelligence and Investigation), Mr Wong Ho-yin, highlighted the Workshop’s success in enriching knowledge, fostering regional co-operation, and building critical connections among law enforcement agencies, academia, and industry. He reaffirmed that adaptability, international collaboration and capacity building were crucial to mitigating the risks of financial crimes. Participants should work on the groundwork laid for closer regional partnerships by the Workshop to promote intelligence sharing and support cross-boundary investigations and enforcement co-operation.
     
    The Dean of Engineering of HKU, Professor David Srolovitz, emphasised the timeliness of this Workshop in the age of rapid digital transformation and the importance of uniting academia, technology developers, law enforcement authorities, government, and the financial industry to address the complexities of financial crimes today. HKU Engineering, he said, remains dedicated to driving innovation and education to empower professionals to create a secure and transparent financial future.
     
    The Workshop featured a comprehensive programme with leading experts and practitioners delivering lectures on a wide range of topics including AML strategies and emerging typologies, regulation of virtual assets, crypto-related crime investigations, application of regtech in financial crime prevention, and international co-operation in AML/counter-terrorist financing.
     
    As the World Customs Organization (WCO) Vice-Chair for the A/P region and the WCO Regional Training Centre in the A/P region, Hong Kong Customs strives to connect with local and overseas law enforcement agencies to foster knowledge exchanges and capacity building in AML, contributing to a safer and more resilient financial environment across the A/P region.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Cash for sharks: the unintended consequences of paying fishermen to release sharks caught in their nets – podcast

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Gemma Ware, Host, The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation

    As Jaws marks its 50th anniversary this year, sharks continue to get a bad rap. Film after film portrays them as terrifying hunters, the bane of surfers and swimmers.

    But in Indonesia, sharks are the hunted. It’s the world’s largest shark-fishing nation, with more species of sharks found in Indonesian waters than in any other country. It’s estimated that one in three species of shark and their close relatives, including rays, are threatened with extinction.

    Indonesia was the ideal place for conservation scientist Hollie Booth and her colleagues at a local NGO that she founded called Kebersamaan Untuk Lautan (an Indonesian phrase meaning “togetherness for the ocean”), to test out a new idea: would paying fishermen to release any sharks and rays caught accidentally in their nets help to keep more alive?

    “ Nobody’s ever done a randomised control trial of an incentive-based marine conservation programme before,” Booth, a researcher at the University of Oxford, told The Conversation Weekly podcast, “ and it is the best way to get good evidence on what is and isn’t working.”

    Booth and her colleagues were delighted that the vessels taking part in the trial were sending back videos of fishermen releasing sharks and rays caught up in their nets.

    But when they had enough data to really analyse what had been happening, they realised that the incentive programme had some unintended consequences. “ It wasn’t all quite as positive and rosy as we’d originally hoped,” says Booth. “I felt like a fraud.”

    Listen to Hollie Booth and her colleague M. Said Ramdlan discuss their new study on The Conversation Weekly podcast.

    This episode of The Conversation Weekly was written and produced by Gemma Ware with production assistance from Mend Mariwany and Katie Flood. Gemma Ware is the executive producer. Mixing and sound design by Eloise Stevens and theme music by Neeta Sarl.

    Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here. A transcript of this episode is available on Apple Podcasts.

    Hollie Booth is the founder and Chair of Kebersamaan Untuk Lautan. The program and this research was funded by Save Our Seas Foundation and the UK Darwin Initiative. M Said Ramdlan works as a project coordinator and secretary for Kebersamaan untuk Lautan and has received research funding from the Save Our Sea Foundation.

    – ref. Cash for sharks: the unintended consequences of paying fishermen to release sharks caught in their nets – podcast – https://theconversation.com/cash-for-sharks-the-unintended-consequences-of-paying-fishermen-to-release-sharks-caught-in-their-nets-podcast-258350

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • Yoga workshop organised by Parliamentary Affairs Ministry ahead of Yoga Day

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In the run-up to International Yoga Day on June 21, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs organised a yoga workshop in New Delhi on Wednesday. Led by Dr. Ramesh Kumar, a professor in the Department of Yoga Science at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University, the session focused on promoting stress management and workplace wellness through the practice of yoga.

    The workshop was inaugurated by Dr Satya Prakash, Additional Secretary in the Ministry, who highlighted the importance of incorporating yoga into daily life, particularly for professionals engaged in high-pressure administrative roles.

    Dr Kumar led participants through various asanas and pranayama techniques, while also offering insights into how short, mindful yoga practices during office hours can help boost concentration and reduce anxiety.

    Senior officials, including Directors A.B. Acharya and Sanjeev (NIC), Deputy Secretaries Mukesh Kumar and S.S. Patra, along with other officers and staff of the Ministry, took part in the session.

    The initiative is part of the ministry’s efforts to encourage holistic health and well-being among its personnel, in line with the broader objectives of International Yoga Day, observed annually on 21 June.

    The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs on Wednesday organised a yoga workshop in the national capital. Conducted under the guidance of Dr Ramesh Kumar, Professor at the Department of Yoga Science, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University, the session aimed to promote stress management and workplace wellness through yoga.

    The workshop was inaugurated by Dr Satya Prakash, Additional Secretary in the Ministry, who highlighted the importance of incorporating yoga into daily life, particularly for professionals engaged in high-pressure administrative roles.

    Dr Kumar led participants through various asanas and pranayama techniques, while also offering insights into how short, mindful yoga practices during office hours can help boost concentration and reduce anxiety.

    Senior officials, including Directors A.B. Acharya and Sanjeev (NIC), Deputy Secretaries Mukesh Kumar and S.S. Patra, along with other officers and staff of the Ministry, took part in the session.

    The initiative is part of the ministry’s efforts to encourage holistic health and well-being among its personnel, in line with the broader objectives of International Yoga Day, observed annually on 21 June.

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Asia Pacific programme hosts event on Japanese foreign policy during the second Trump administration

    Source: Chatham House –

    Asia Pacific programme hosts event on Japanese foreign policy during the second Trump administration
    News release
    jon.wallace

    The event, the second in a series held at Japan House in London, discussed the impact of President Trump’s new administration on Japanese domestic politics and foreign policy.

    Ben Bland, Director of Chatham House’s Asia-Pacific Programme, chaired an event at Japan House on 11 February 2025 to discuss Japanese foreign policy at a time of minority government in Tokyo and a new Trump administration in Washington. 

    The event also discussed related issues including the Japan–China relationship, the impact of the ongoing political crisis in South Korea and broader security connections between Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

    Speaking at the event were Kanehara Nobukatsu, chief cabinet secretary to the prime minister of Japan from 2012-19; Tsuruoka Michito, an associate professor in the Faculty of Policy Management at Keio University; and Kristi Govella, an associate professor of Japanese politics and international relations at the University of Oxford.

    Ben Bland said:

    ‘The return of Donald Trump to the White House has brought added turbulence to an already contested Indo-Pacific, making it an important time discuss the impact on Japan and its relations with key partners in the region. 

    ‘We are grateful to Japan House London for enabling us to host this timely discussion at their venue, and for giving us the opportunity to connect with a new network of individuals following events in Asia.’

    Watch the event in full here.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Resistance to mining grows in El Salvador as environmentalists’ face persecution

    Source: Council on Hemispheric Affairs –

    Update on El Salvador

    by CISPES

    First published January 31, 2025

    Despite a unanimous October ruling in their favor, five anti-mining activists from the community of Santa Marta will be back on trial on February 3. The retrial sets a dangerous precedent, allowing the Attorney General to move a case to a different jurisdiction through an appeal in search of a guilty verdict. It also comes amidst growing resistance to a December law opening the country to metals mining which reverses a historic national ban on mining passed in 2017.

    At a January 8 press conference, supporters of the Santa Marta 5, as well as leaders of the anti-mining struggle throughout the country, denounced increased harassment and suspicious activity related to mining in the districts of Santa Marta and nearby San Isidro. Since the January 2023 arrests, the organizations have maintained that the trial against the Santa Marta 5 is related to the reactivation of mining. “We have been saying that this case is intended to weaken or eliminate opposition to mining in Cabañas, which has proven to be true with the approval of the new law,” said the University of Central America’s Andrés McKinley.

    “The mask is off,” said Vidalina Morales, president of the Santa Marta Social and Economic Development Association (ADES), who have been warning about the government’s intent to overturn the mining ban for years.

    Morales warned that unknown vehicles have begun entering the community, which is close to a former mining operation. “Our peace of mind as residents of Santa Marta is constantly being threatened by the presence of people from outside our community interrupting our privacy.

    At night there is a lot of activity in our community and we want to denounce this publicly because we [also] experienced this situation prior to the capture of our comrades.”

    The increased activity in the community, according to Morales, has stoked fears that there could be additional criminalization of activists, which could take the shape of additional members of the community being added to the February trial. Other Santa Marta residents report that the Attorney General’s office is building a case against up to 40 additional Santa Marta community members, including Vidalina Morales.

    According to ADES spokesperson Alfredo Leiva, members of the San Isidro community have reported an increased military presence in the areas previously identified by mining interests. “They are sending us the message that it is no longer the companies that are going to protect these areas, but the state, through the army… So the message to the communities is that there may be more repression– not only through judicial processes but also through direct [violent] acts.”

    The new mining law requires the Salvadoran state to operate any new mines (likely through  public-private partnerships, which are permitted under the law), opening the door to further direct confrontation between communities defending their lands and a law enforcement apparatus that has seen its budget and personnel balloon under Nayib Bukele’s government. A State of Exception that eliminates civil liberties and further empowers the police and military has also been in place since March 2022. The State of Exception has been repeatedly used to militarize organized communities, including Santa Marta, and led to the detention of Morales’s son in 2023.

    Speaking at a January 15 press conference, ADES member Peter Nataren denounced the role of the United States in supplying equipment to the Salvadoran Armed Forces. “We, as a community, have privately asked U.S. authorities on multiple occasions to please stop equipping the Salvadoran military, for example, with helicopters and drones. At this point, our only option is to make that public because we know this has now become an issue of communities defending their land on one side and the military on the other.”

    “People are not going to let their land be taken away or their water polluted. So that is going to lead to violence and the current U.S. ambassador has been equipping the Salvadoran army, which he has been doing since he arrived,” Nataren continued.

    Nataren explained that U.S. mining companies Titan Resources Limited and Thorium Energy Alliance signed an agreement with the Salvadoran government. He called on U.S. organizations to pursue the details of the agreement under U.S. law, as it has been classified as confidential for five years in El Salvador.

    Resistance to the Mining Law Grows

    Following the initial wave of protests against the mining law in December, Salvadorans have taken to the streets in greater numbers to show their opposition to the measure. A January 12 march, convened by the Popular Rebellion and Resistance Bloc (BRP) in commemoration of the 1992 Peace Accords, highlighted the member-organizations’ opposition to the mining law. The march drew thousands of participants and ended with an impromptu rally at the steps of the National Library.

    On January 19, thousands more attended a rally, also held at the National Library, convened by a new group of young Salvadorans called the Voice of the Future Movement. While the crowd was largely made up of young people, including students from the University of El Salvador, a January 22 survey by the Francisco Gavidia University revealed that only 23.5% of all Salvadorans support the new mining law.

    Rally organizers, along with the Catholic Church and student organizations have been circulating a petition of Salvadorans who oppose the mining law, which has already gathered tens of thousands of signatures. The Catholic Church, as well as leaders in the Episcopal, Lutheran, and Baptist Churches, have been outspoken against mining, with San Salvador Archbishop José Luis Escobar Alas calling it “a life or death situation.”

    According to Alfredo Leiva, in the absence of a law prohibiting metals mining, the only option left is for communities to band together. “In such a small, densely populated, and deforested country, mining is akin to suicide. Therefore, if we want to continue living in this country, we need to organize ourselves creatively because the legal instrument that we had to prohibit mining no longer exists.”

    Original article: https://cispes.org/article/resistance-mining-grows-environmentalists%E2%80%99-trial-approaches

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Chile: Back to the Future

    Source: Council on Hemispheric Affairs –

    By Maximiliano Véjares

    Washington DC

    Chile’s recent local elections, in which moderate, traditional parties staged a comeback, offer a promising sign of political stability. Following five years of uncertainty marked by a social uprising in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic, and two unsuccessful attempts to rewrite the Pinochet-era constitution, the country appears to be approaching a turning point.

    Historically recognized as a model of democratic transition and economic progress, Chile’s recent challenges have cast significant doubt on its democratic resilience. However, the recent election outcome suggests that the period of uncertainty may be drawing to a close.

    The center-right Chile Vamos coalition demonstrated its strength by surpassing the far-right Republicanos in their competition for dominance in that sector. Simultaneously, the center-left Socialismo Democratico coalition increased its vote share vis-à-vis the more left-leaning Communist Party and Frente Amplio. Mayors, municipal and regional (states) councilmembers, and governors, are much more evenly distributed across the ideological spectrum than before the elections.

    Chilean Democracy Undergoes Dramatic Shifts Since 2019

    Since 2019, the country’s democracy has undergone dramatic shifts. That year, a widespread social uprising triggered the election of a constitutional assembly reflecting deep-seated demands for systemic change. In September 2022, however, the population decisively rejected a progressive constitutional draft, with 63% voting against it. Undeterred, political elites attempted a do-over, now with a reformed electoral system, hoping to elect a more balanced constitutional assembly. Despite these efforts, the strategy backfired. Republicanos secured a plurality of votes and the chance to veto decisions in the new assembly, resulting in a conservative draft. Ultimately, the latest proposal met the same fate as its predecessor, with 55% of Chileans rejecting the new constitutional project.

    Given these rapid political transformations, last November’s local election results offer a promising sign of renewed stability for Chile. Voters appear to have moved beyond the climate of uncertainty, shifting away from supporting outsider candidates who promised sweeping economic and social restructuring and instead gravitating towards more moderate, centrist political alternatives.

    Despite hurting citizens’ aspirations to rewrite the Pinochet-era constitution, the instability caused by years of institutional uncertainty is most likely over. Every significant coalition has agreed not to attempt new constitutional changes in the near future. The new political landscape indicates an emergent recalibration of Chile’s party system.

    Despite the good news, some fundamental challenges remain. Political parties and Congress continue to suffer from extremely low public trust, with recent polling indicating that only 8% and 4% trust these institutions, respectively. Moreover, an electoral reform implemented in 2015 that replaced the archaic Pinochet-era binomial system incentivizes politicians to act as individual political entrepreneurs rather than committed party-builders.

    The increasing personalization of politics has consequently made legislation and governance increasingly tricky. Recognizing this fragmentation, a cross-party group of senators has proposed a bill to raise the vote threshold required for an electoral list to enter Congress, with the explicit goal of reducing the number of parties in Congress. Improving the institutional design could help political elites enhance policymaking to face the country’s most pressing challenges: rising public safety concerns and a stagnating economy

    Chile’s political stability is critical not only for its citizens but also for the global energy landscape. As a significant contributor to the energy transition, the country commands an extensive share of the world’s lithium and copper reserves and production. With the United States and China seeking to develop resilient supply chains and invest in renewable energy infrastructure, Chile is positioned to play a pivotal role in the emerging geopolitical dynamics of critical mineral production and clean energy development.

    The Presidential Race Heats Up

    Together with more centrist incumbents at the local level, two issues will lurk behind the presidential and legislative elections of November 2025: economic stagnation and escalating public safety concerns. Evelyn Matthei, a right-wing moderate and the daughter of Fernando Matthei—a former military junta member—is the clear frontrunner. A recent poll shows that 22% of citizens would support her if the election were held this week, positioning her ahead of all left-leaning presidential hopefuls. The poll also indicates that Matthei would defeat every contender in a potential runoff, including the far-right Kast. On the contrary, the poll suggests every left-leaning candidate would lose against Matthei in a runoff. In the case Kast made it to a second round, he could be defeated by left leaning former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, should she have a change of heart and decide to run.

    Matthei faces two far-right challengers: José Antonio Kast and Johannes Kaiser. In the 2021 election, Kast beat Chile Vamos but was ultimately defeated by Gabriel Boric in the runoff. Kaiser, a polarizing far-right politician, left the Republicanos party in 2023. Current polling indicates Kaiser’s candidacy is gaining traction, with 8% of voters expressing potential support—a trajectory that suggests growing political momentum.

    It is unclear who the contenders on the left will be. Gabriel Boric’s government (2021-2025) is relatively unpopular, with an average approval rating of 30%. Such context makes it hard for many left-leaning political figures to dissociate from the government. Thus far, former president Michelle Bachelet is the only competitive candidate, although at this time she still loses against Matthei in the polls mentioned above. Recently, former President Bachelet indicated that she will not run for a third time.

    Lately, the coalitional dynamics within Chile’s left have shifted rapidly. The once-powerful Socialismo Democrático has lost support after endorsing the 2019 wave of demonstrations which, according to research conducted in 2024 by CADEM, are now viewed with disapproval by a majority of respondents. Meanwhile, the more progressive Frente Amplio has emerged as the dominant force among left-leaning parties.

    Looking ahead to the June 2025 primaries, two distinct scenarios could emerge if left-wing candidates gain momentum. Under Socialismo Democratico leadership, we would likely see a more market-oriented approach, leveraging their extensive governmental experience and networks of skilled technocrats. On the other hand, if a candidate from Frente Amplio or the communist party prevails, the presidential race would likely center on increasing state control over natural resources and expanding wealth redistribution programs.

    Although primary elections are not mandatory, it has become common for large coalitions to nominate their presidential candidates through this mechanism.

    Whatever happens next year, the institutional uncertainty stemming from the constitutional discussion has mostly dissipated. If political elites create a more balanced electoral system and find a way to jumpstart the economy, Chile may be back on track on the road to economic progress and democratic stability.

    Photo Credit: Universidad de Chile.

    Maximiliano Véjares holds a PhD. from Johns Hopkins and an MA from the University of Chicago. He is a senior research associate at Johns Hopkins University’s Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab and a nonresident fellow at American University in Washington, DC. His academic interests are the origins of political development, including democracy, state capacity, and the rule of law. Beyond His scholarly work, Maximiliano has broad professional experience in government and international organizations.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-Evening Report: View from The Hill: Is the US playing cat and mouse ahead of expected Albanese-Trump talks?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    For the first time in memory, an Australian prime minister is approaching a prospective meeting with a US president with a distinct feeling of wariness.

    Of course Anthony Albanese would deny it.

    But it’s undeniable the government is relieved that Albanese’s coming trip (for which he leaves Friday) won’t feature a visit to Washington with a meeting in the Oval Office. Having seen what happened publicly to some other leaders in such encounters, Albanese has at least avoided any such risk. Instead, Albanese and President Donald Trump are expected to meet on the sidelines of the G7 in Canada.

    Think about this. Normally, an Australian prime minister heading to North America would be deeply disappointed at not receiving an invitation to Washington, especially when he had not yet met the president face to face (although Albanese and Trump have had phone calls).

    The non-Washington encounter, expected on the sidelines of the G7, is less hazardous but still highly unpredictable for Albanese.

    It could go swimmingly. But that will depend on Trump’s mood on the day and what briefings he has had. And who can make sound predictions about any of that? Australian officials find the White House difficult to deal with or read.

    Now, on the cusp of Albanese’s trip, a US review of AUKUS has become public.

    The story appeared in the Financial Times, which quoted a Pentagon spokesperson saying the departmental review was to ensure “this initiative of the previous administration is aligned with the president’s ‘America First’ agenda”. The spokesperson noted US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had “made clear his intent to ensure the [defence] department is focused on the Indo-Pacific region first and foremost”.

    The review is to be led by the undersecretary of defence for policy, Elbridge Colby, who months ago flagged the US wanted Australia to be spending some 3% of GDP on defence. This was upped to 3.5% in a recent meeting between Defence Minister Richard Marles and Hegseth.

    The Australian government is playing down the AUKUS review as being more or less routine. Marles said he has known about it for some time. He told Sky, “I am comfortable about it and I think it’s a pretty natural step for an incoming government to take and we’ll have an opportunity to engage with it”.

    Nevertheless, the fact of the review and the timing of the report about it will turn the screws on Albanese over defence spending.

    The prime minister makes two points on this – that Australia takes its own decisions, and that defence spending should be set on the basis of the capability needed rather than determined by a set percentage.

    But there is a general view among experts that Australia will need to boost substantially its spending. Albanese won’t want to capitulate on the issue, but he will need some diplomatic lines. He could point out Australia has its next Strategic Defence Review in 2026. This is more an update on delivery than a fundamental review but could give an opportunity for a rethink.

    On AUKUS, Albanese will want to reinforce its mutual benefits and importance. He canvassed AUKUS in his first call with Trump, after the presidential election.

    The president may or may not be briefed on the latest attacks on the pact by two former prime ministers, triggered by the review.

    Paul Keating, an unrelenting critic of the agreement, said in a statement the AUKUS review “might very well be the moment Washington saves Australia from itself”.

    Malcolm Turnbull said in a social media post that the United Kingdom and the United States are conducting reviews of AUKUS but “Australia, which has the most at stake, has no review”.

    The Trump–Albanese conversation could be complicated by the Australian government’s imposition this week of sanctions on two hardline Israeli ministers for inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

    This action, in concert with the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway, was immediately condemned by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who called for the sanctions to be withdrawn.

    All this before we even get to the issue of tariffs, and Australia offering a deal on critical minerals to try to get some concessions.

    There is a lot of scripting prepared before such meetings. Albanese will have his talking points down pat. But with Trump being an “off-script” man, it is not an occasion for which the PM can be confident ahead of time that he is fully prepared.

    But Albanese has one safeguard, in domestic political terms. If things went pear-shaped Australians – who have scant regard for Trump – could be expected to blame the president rather than the prime minister.

    Michelle Grattan 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. View from The Hill: Is the US playing cat and mouse ahead of expected Albanese-Trump talks? – https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-is-the-us-playing-cat-and-mouse-ahead-of-expected-albanese-trump-talks-257336

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council collaboration delivers Sustainable Tourism Programme

    Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

    Joanne McElmeel, ABC Tourism Trade Liaison Officer pictured with local tourism businesses who successfully completed the Sustainable Business Pathway Programme.

    Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council in partnership with Tourism Northern Ireland has successfully delivered the Sustainable Business Pathway Programme, reinforcing their commitment towards becoming a more sustainable and resilient tourism destination.

    As one of the first councils in Northern Ireland to introduce the localised Sustainable Tourism Business initiative, the Council is taking steps to support the local industry in adopting environmentally and socially responsible practices. Facilitated by sustainability training specialists The Tourism Space, the 15-week programme supported ten tourism businesses from across the Borough and encouraged practical, collective action on sustainability at a local level.

    Each business developed its own sustainability action plan as part of the programme, outlining measurable targets for reducing environmental impact, identifying cost savings and enhancing visitor experience. Their participation and sustained commitment was recognised with a Level 4 Certificate in Sustainable Tourism Practice in Destinations, accredited by Ulster University.

    Speaking about the programme, Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Alderman Stephen Moutray said:

    “As one of the first councils in Northern Ireland to partner with Tourism NI on this important initiative, we are proud to be leading the way in sustainable tourism development. The Sustainable Business Pathway Programme reflects our Borough’s commitment to responsible growth and innovation. I commend all participating businesses for embracing this opportunity. Their dedication not only strengthens our local tourism sector but also helps secure a more sustainable future for our communities and visitors alike.”

    Reflecting on her experience, Helen Forster of Charlemont Arms Hotel commented,

    “This programme has equipped me with new insights, renewed confidence and a clear sense of direction. As a small hotel in beautiful historic City of Armagh we have both a responsibility and an opportunity to contribute to the promotion of the place we call home as a sustainable destination.”

    With the programme now complete, ABC Council are now part of a growing network of destinations across Northern Ireland working to embed sustainability into the visitor experience. The insights gained and outcomes achieved will help shape future council initiatives, while participating businesses are now well placed to begin acting as local champions for more sustainable tourism.

    For more information on support available for Tourism and Hospitality businesses, please contact Joanne McElmeel 

    *protected email*

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Iterate.ai Raises $6.4 Million from Auxier Asset Management and eBags Board Alumni to Accelerate AI Expansion

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN JOSE, Calif. and DENVER, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Iterate.ai, recently named one of the 20 Hottest AI Software Companies by CRN, has announced $6.4 million in funding led by Auxier Asset Management and with participation from Peter Cobb, Mike Edwards, and Dave Zentmyer. All four are former eBags board members.

    Jeff Auxier, founder of Auxier Asset Management, was a longtime board member at eBags, where he worked closely with Iterate.ai CEO Jon Nordmark. He’s joined by other eBags board veterans including Cobb (co-founder of eBags and Designer Brands (DSW) board director), Edwards (a seasoned retail executive and four-time CEO, including at eBags), and Zentmyer, former SVP of Lands’ End. Their collective involvement signals a powerful vote of confidence in Iterate’s AI growth journey as it expands distribution channels and introduces its key productivity solution, Generate Enterprise.

    The investors’ decision to collaborate once again with Nordmark and his CDTO/co-founder Brian Sathianathan reflects the strong trust and mutual respect established during their successful tenure together at eBags, which sold $1.65 billion worth of travel products before it was acquired.

    Before co-founding Iterate.ai with Sathianathan—who was a six-year member of Apple’s 60-person Secret Products Group that developed the first iPhone and is a patent holder on that groundbreaking product—Nordmark co-founded eBags in 1998 with Cobb. Cobb brings extensive experience scaling successful digital pure-play businesses, co-founding eBags (acquired by Samsonite) and 6pm.com (acquired by Zappos). He has served on the boards of publicly traded companies such as Designer Brands (DSW), and spent a decade as board director for the National Retail Federation and its digital predecessor, Shop.org.

    “Iterate.ai’s approach to AI innovation is not only forward-thinking but also pragmatic, ensuring real-world application and success for enterprises,” said Cobb. “Look at how Iterate partnered with Intel to pioneer AI inference processing using CPUs on the Edge.” The company’s method of building technologies recently earned it a spot in Fast Company’s Best Workplaces for Innovators and recognition from the Colorado Technology Association as Colorado’s top technology company.

    Edwards is a seasoned CEO and board chairman with over 35 years of leadership experience spanning public and private companies across industries such as digital commerce, consumer-tech AI, and CPG brands. A trusted investor and independent director with SEC financial expertise, he brings a wealth of strategic insight. His leadership roles include CEO of eBags (following Nordmark), as well as Lucy (acquired by VF), Hanna Andersson, and Borders, where he was appointed by Ben Lebow and Bill Ackman. Earlier in his career, Edwards served as EVP at Staples and CompUSA, following his graduation from Drexel University, where he is now a trustee.

    “Iterate.ai recognized the transformational opportunity of AI in 2015 when it added the dot AI to its name, and customers like Ulta Beauty and Pampered Chef have been benefiting from Iterate’s cutting-edge technology for years,” said Edwards, strategic investor, Iterate.ai. “This is an incredibly smart team with a clear vision for how businesses can adopt next-gen AI effectively and securely—while outpacing and outmaneuvering competitors with innovative applications. I’m excited to help Iterate write the next chapter in the company’s story.”

    Zentmyer—a former SVP of Lands’ End—helped build that company’s revenues from $10 million to a few billion after earning his MBA from Stanford University. “Iterate spent the past 18 months establishing partnerships with hardware providers like NVIDIA, Qualcomm, Intel, and distributors/resellers like TD SYNNEX that will help Iterate architect a rollout at scale,” said Zentmyer. “Building those partnerships is a tremendous feat because each of those Big Tech firms has a significant vetting process.”

    With their track records, Auxier, Cobb, Edwards, and Zentmyer are well-positioned to offer valuable guidance and help Iterate.ai refine operational strategies, expand into new channels, and unlock the vast market potential of its patented solutions—further strengthening its presence in key industry verticals.

    “This AI PC revolution is underway—analysts project over 100 million AI PCs will ship by 2025—and we’ve meticulously optimized Generate across Intel’s CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs to harness that on-device performance and efficiency,” said Sathianathan. “At the same time, we’re evolving Generate Enterprise into a unified, one-stop platform for agent building with a no-code interface and air-gapped, secure document RAG—complete with built-in vector databases and seamless integration into large-scale enterprise storage environments.”

    Iterate.ai offers an AI platform and four distinct AI products, including its newest product, Generate. Generate is an AI Assistant that can run entirely on an AI PC, even without an internet connection.

    Iterate’s low-code AI platform, Interplay, empowers traditional enterprises and Big Tech to rapidly build and scale AI solutions. With Interplay, Iterate creates its own innovative products, like Generate. Leading companies, including Ulta Beauty, Circle K, Hughes, FUJIFILM, MUFG, e.l.f. Cosmetics and Pampered Chef, leverage Interplay to enhance operational efficiency, develop custom AI-powered social media managers, implement deep-learning-based OCR, and tackle many other advanced AI initiatives.

    “I’ve known each of these leaders for at least twenty years. Each brings a wealth of practical experience and strategic insight to fuel Iterate’s growth,” said Nordmark. “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Mike, Dave, Peter, and the Auxier group as investors and strategic advisors.”

    About Iterate.ai

    Iterate.ai is at the forefront of empowering businesses with state-of-the-art AI solutions, like Generate and its AI low-code platform, Interplay. Interplay is cloud-agnostic and can run AI on the edge and in secure private environments. With seven patents granted (including “drag-and-drop AI”) and nearly a dozen more pending, Iterate.ai’s platform offers corporate innovators a low-risk, systematic way to scale in-house, near-term digital innovation initiatives. With its largest offices in San Jose, CA and Denver, CO, Iterate.ai has a global presence with other offices in North America (Texas, Washington, Arizona), Europe (Stockholm), and Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Singapore).

    Contact
    Kyle Peterson
    kyle@clementpeterson.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Global outrage over Gaza has reinforced a ‘siege mentality’ in Israel – what are the implications for peace?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Eyal Mayroz, Senior Lecturer in Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Sydney

    After more than 20 months of devastating violence in Gaza, the right-wing Israeli government’s pursuit of two irreconcilable objectives — “destroying” Hamas and releasing Israeli hostages — has left the coastal strip in ruins.

    At least 54,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military, close to two million have been forcibly displaced, and many are starving. These atrocities have provoked intense moral outrage around the world and turned Israel into a pariah state.

    Meanwhile, Hamas is resolved to retain control over Gaza, even at the cost of sacrificing numerous innocent Palestinian lives for its own survival.

    Both sides have been widely accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and mainly in Israel’s case, genocide.

    While the obstacles to ending the fighting remain stubbornly difficult to overcome, a troubling pattern has become increasingly apparent.

    The very outrage that succeeded in mobilising, sustaining and swelling international opinion against Israel’s actions — a natural psychological response to systematic injustice — has also reinforced a “siege mentality” already present among many in its Jewish population.

    This siege mentality may have undermined more proactive Israeli Jewish public support for a ceasefire and “day-after” concessions.

    A toxic cocktail of emotions

    Several dominant groups have shaped the conflict’s dynamics, each driven by a distinct set of emotional responses.

    For many Israeli Jews, the massacres of October 7 have aggravated longstanding feelings of victimhood and mistrust, fears of terrorist attacks, perceptions of existential threats, intergenerational traumas stemming from the Holocaust, and importantly, the strong sense of siege mentality.

    Together, these emotions have produced a toxic blend of anger, hatred and intense desire for revenge.

    For the Palestinians, Israel’s devastation of Gaza has followed decades of oppressive occupation, endless rights violations, humiliation and dispossession. This has exacerbated feelings of hopelessness, fear and abandonment by the world.

    The wider, global pro-Palestinian camp has been driven by moral outrage over the atrocities being committed in Gaza, alongside empathy for the victims and a sense of guilt over Western governments’ complicity in the killings through the provision of arms to Israel.

    Similarly, for Israel’s supporters around the world, anger and resentment have led to feelings of persecution, and in turn, victimisation and a sense of siege.

    Many on both sides have become prisoners of this moral outrage. And this has suppressed compassion for the suffering of the “other” — those we perceive as perpetrators of injustice against the side we support.

    Complaints of bias and content omissions

    Choosing sides in a conflict translates almost inevitably into biases in how we select, process and assess new information.

    We search for content that confirms what we already believe. And we discount information that would go against our pre-existing perceptions.

    This tendency also increases our sensitivity to omissions of facts we deem important for our cause.

    Since early in the crisis, voices in the two camps have accused the mainstream media in the West of biased coverage in favour of the “other”. These feelings have added fuel to the moral outrage and sense of injustice among both sides.

    Outrage in the pro-Israel camp has focused mainly on a perceived global conspiracy to absolve Hamas of any responsibility.

    In that view, Israel has been singled out as the only culpable party for the killings in Gaza. This is despite the fact Hamas unleashed the violence on October 7, used the Gazan population as human shields while hiding in tunnels, and refused to release all the Israeli hostages to end the fighting.

    On the other side, pro-Palestinian outrage has focused on “blatant” omissions by the media and Western governments of important historical facts that could provide context for the October 7 attacks.

    These included:

    On both sides, then, significant focus has been placed on omissions of facts that could support one’s own narrative or cause.

    A siege mentality in Israel

    Many Israelis continue to relive October 7 while remaining decidedly blind to the daily horrors their military inflicts on Gaza in their name. For them, the global outrage has reinforced a long-existing and potent siege mentality.

    This mindset has been fed by a reluctance to directly challenge Israeli soldiers risking their lives and other rally-around-the-flag effects. It’s also been bolstered by the desire for revenge and an intense campaign of dehumanising all Palestinians — Hamas or not.

    The so-called “ring of fire” created around Israel by Iran and its proxies —Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Houthis — has further amplified this siege mentality. Their stated objective is the destruction of Israel.

    I’ve conducted an exploratory study of Israeli media, government statements and English Jewish diaspora publications from October 2023 to May 2025, reviewing some 5,000 articles and video clips.

    In this research, I’ve identified strong, consistent uses of siege mentality language, phrases such as:

    In a detailed analysis of 65 English articles from major Israeli outlets, such as The Jerusalem Post and Times of Israel, and Jewish publications in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia, I found siege mentality language in nearly nine out of ten searches.

    Importantly, nearly half of these occurrences were in response to pro-Palestinian rhetoric or advocacy: campus protests and actions targeting Israelis or Jews, university groups refusing to condemn October 7, or foreign governments’ recognition of Palestinian statehood.

    The sharp increase in attacks on Jews and Jewish installations since October 7 has also sparked global debates over rising antisemitism. Distinguishing honest critiques of Israel’s actions in Gaza from antisemitic rhetoric has become contentious, as has the use of antisemitism claims by Israeli leaders to dismiss much of this criticism.

    Moving forward

    When viewed through the prism of injustice, the strong asymmetry between Israeli and Palestinian suffering has long been apparent. But it’s grown even wider following Israel’s brutal responses to October 7.

    The culpability of Israel’s government and Hamas for the atrocities in Gaza is incontestable. However, many in the Israeli-Jewish public must also share some of the blame for refusing to stand up to – or by actively supporting – their extremist government’s policies.

    The pro-Palestine movement’s justice-driven campaigns have done much to combat international bystanding and motivate governments to act. At the same time, the unwillingness to unite behind a clearer unequivocal condemnation of Hamas’ massacres may have been a strategic mistake.

    By ignoring or minimising the targeting of civilians, the hostage-taking and the reports of sexual violence committed by Hamas, a vocal minority of advocates has weakened the movement’s otherwise strong moral authority with some of the audiences it needed to influence most. First and foremost, this is people in Israel itself.

    My research suggests that while injustice-based outrage can be effective at generating attention and engagement, it can also produce negative side effects. One adverse impact has been the polarisation of the public debate over Gaza, which, in turn, has contributed to the intensification of Israelis’ siege mentality.

    Noam Chomsky, a well-known Jewish academic and fierce critic of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, once noted in relation to Palestinian advocacy:

    You have to ask yourself, when you conduct some tactic, what the effect is going to be on the victims. You don’t pursue a tactic because it makes you feel good.

    The question, then, is how to harness the strong mobilising power of moral outrage for positive ends – preventing bystander apathy to atrocities – without the potential negative consequences. These include polarisation, expanded violence, feeding a siege mentality (when applicable), and making peace negotiations more difficult.

    The children in Gaza and elsewhere in the world deserve advocacy that will prioritise their welfare over the release of moral outrage — however justified.

    So, what approaches would most effectively help end the suffering?

    Most immediately, the solution rests primarily with Israel and, by extension, the Trump administration as the only international actor powerful enough to force Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to halt the killings.

    Beyond that, and looking toward the future, justice-based activism should be grounded in universal moral principles, acknowledge all innocent victims, and work to create space for both societies to recognise each other’s humanity.

    I served as a counterterrorism specialist with the Israeli Defence Forces in the 1980s.

    – ref. Global outrage over Gaza has reinforced a ‘siege mentality’ in Israel – what are the implications for peace? – https://theconversation.com/global-outrage-over-gaza-has-reinforced-a-siege-mentality-in-israel-what-are-the-implications-for-peace-258561

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Happy Russia Day!

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    35 years ago, on June 12, 1990, the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the RSFSR was adopted. Today we celebrate this holiday as Russia Day – the starting point of the modern history of our state.

    The modern Russian Federation is the successor of the glorious traditions of the past, confidently embodying the ideas of freedom and respect for human dignity through fair legislation and a rich culture. Every year our country strengthens its position on the world stage, becoming an example of a stable democratic society, where everyone is given the opportunity to prove themselves in a variety of areas of life. Thanks to the efforts of millions of Russians, the state successfully solves the most important economic, social and political problems, ensuring the security and well-being of all its citizens.

    Rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev: “In the 35 years since the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty, Russia has overcome many obstacles on the path of its development, has significantly transformed itself and discovered even broader prospects for itself. Therefore, ahead of us all lies a long and difficult road to achieving the intended strategic goals. This road is difficult because it leads to an ascent, it cannot be otherwise. The State University of Management is proud and happy to share this glorious upward movement with the entire country. Together and supporting each other, we will undoubtedly achieve any goals for the sake of future generations of Russians. Happy holiday! Happy Russia Day!”

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • Solar Orbiter spacecraft obtains first images of the sun’s poles

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The robotic Solar Orbiter spacecraft has obtained the first images ever taken of our sun’s two poles as scientists seek a deeper understanding of Earth’s host star, including its magnetic field, its 11-year cycle of activity and the solar wind.

    The European Space Agency on Wednesday released images taken in March using three of Solar Orbiter’s onboard instruments. They show the sun’s south pole from a distance of roughly 40 million miles (65 million km), obtained at a period of maximum solar activity. Images of the north pole are still being transmitted by the spacecraft back to Earth.

    Solar Orbiter, developed by ESA in collaboration with the U.S. space agency NASA, was launched in 2020 from Florida.

    Until now, all the views of the sun have come from the same vantage point – looking face-on toward its equator from the plane on which Earth and most of the solar system’s other planets orbit, called the ecliptic plane.

    Solar Orbiter used a slingshot flyby around Venus in February to get out of this plane to view the sun from up to 17 degrees below the solar equator. Future slingshot flybys will provide an even better view, at beyond 30 degrees.

    “The best is still to come. What we have seen is just a first quick peek,” said solar physicist Sami Solanki of the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Germany, who heads the scientific team for the spacecraft’s Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager instrument.

    “The spacecraft observed both poles, first the south pole, then the north pole,” Solanki said. “The north pole’s data will arrive in the coming weeks or months.”

    Solar Orbiter is gathering data on phenomena including the sun’s magnetic field, its activity cycle, and the solar wind, a relentless high-speed flow of charged particles emanating from the sun’s outermost atmospheric layer that fills interplanetary space.

    “We are not sure what we will find, and it is likely we will see things that we didn’t know about before,” said solar physicist Hamish Reid of University College London’s Mullard Space Science Laboratory, UK co-principal investigator of Solar Orbiter’s Extreme Ultraviolet Imager instrument.

    The sun is a ball of hot electrically charged gas that, as it moves, generates a powerful magnetic field, which flips from south to north and back again every 11 years in what is called the solar cycle.

    The magnetic field drives the formation of sunspots, cooler regions on the solar surface that appear as dark blotches. At the cycle’s beginning, the sun has fewer sunspots. Their number increases as the cycle progresses, before starting all over again.

    “What we have been missing to really understand this (solar cycle) is what is actually happening at the top and bottom of the sun,” Reid said.

    The sun’s diameter is about 865,000 miles (1.4 million km), more than 100 times wider than Earth.

    “Whilst the Earth has a clear north and south pole, the Solar Orbiter measurements show both north and south polarity magnetic fields are currently present at the south pole of the sun. This happens during the maximum in activity of the solar cycle, when the sun’s magnetic field is about to flip. In the coming years, the sun will reach solar minimum, and we expect to see a more orderly magnetic field around the poles of the sun,” Reid said.

    “We see in the images and movies of the polar regions that the sun’s magnetic field is chaotic at the poles at the (current) phase of the solar cycle – high solar activity, cycle maximum,” Solanki said.

    The sun is located about 93 million miles (149 million km) from our planet.

    “The data that Solar Orbiter obtains during the coming years will help modelers in predicting the solar cycle. This is important for us on Earth because the sun’s activity causes solar flares and coronal mass ejections which can result in radio communication blackouts, destabilize our power grids, but also drive the sensational auroras,” Reid said.

    “Solar Orbiter’s new vantage point out of the ecliptic will also allow us to get a better picture of how the solar wind expands to form the heliosphere, a vast bubble around the sun and its planets,” Reid added.

    A previous spacecraft, Ulysses, flew over the solar poles in the 1990s.

    “Ulysses, however, was blind in the sense that it did not carry any optical instruments – telescopes or cameras – and hence could only sense the solar wind passing the spacecraft directly, but could not image the sun,” Solanki said.

    (REUTERS)

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Universities – Time to prepare for better floodwater management at Murray Mouth – Flinders

    Source: Flinders University

    Extended drought and warm weather are damaging South Australia’s marine ecosystems, and periodic flooding of the River Murray poses another major risk.

    A significant flood in the Murray-Darling Basin in 2022-23 gave Flinders University researchers a rare opportunity to analyse conditions that damaged biodiversity and water quality for both marine species and local ecosystems, some at popular tourist locations south of Adelaide.

    A new study led by the Beach and Dune Systems (BEADS) Lab at Flinders University provides a detailed framework for understanding how the river discharge increased turbidity (silt, clay and other suspended particles in the water) as the sediment plume expanded across thousands of kilometres from the river mouth westwards around the Fleurieu Peninsula into Gulf St Vincent.

    “During this period of high riverine discharge, we measured the spatial extent and intensity of the surface sediment plume, with our satellite imagery providing a reference point for future plume behaviour – particularly near shore for targeted monitoring,” says Flinders environmental science honours student Evan Corbett.

    “Interestingly we found the historically important sediment plume within the coastal region reached its maximum spatial extent of 13,681 km2 during the eight-day period beginning on 11 December 2022, more than a month before the peak discharge occurred.”

    The local monitoring and satellite imaging between November 2022 and February 2023 measured the volume of water discharge, turbidity levels affecting regular seawater quality, surface winds, barrage controls and other factors.

    The study found the major plume typically pooled near the river’s mouth within the northern corner of Long Bay, before migrating persistently westward around the Fleurieu Peninsula through Backstairs Passage into Gulf St Vincent, occasionally exhibiting brief eastward migration periods.

    Fine organic and inorganic particulate matter in water can make it cloudy or opaque, often having a detrimental impact on ecosystems when it occurs in large amounts.  

    Strategic Professor in Coastal Studies Patrick Hesp, who leads Environmental Sciences at Flinders University’s College of Science and Engineering, says the study – in collaboration with University of Adelaide lecturer Dr Sami Rifai – used technology which effectively built a useful dataset to direct future research.

    “This study highlights the significant role of riverine discharge in driving the surface sediment plume’s spatial extent and intensities, particularly within the plume’s inner core,” says Professor Hesp.

    “Revealing when and where plumes are likely to form and evolve, this study provides a foundation for targeted monitoring, timely management interventions, and informed planning to reduce the discussed ecological and socio-economic risks associated with extreme river discharge events in the future.

    “By improving how we measure and analyse these environmental events, we pave the way for better coastal management strategies, ensuring beaches and ecosystems remain more stable and resilient in the face of changing climate and weather conditions.”

    The article, ‘Temporal and spatial distribution of 2022–2023 River Murray major flood sediment plume’ (2025) by Evan Corbett, Sami W Rifai (University of Adelaide), Graziela Miot da Silva and Patrick A Hesp has been published in the journal Remote Sensing. DOI: 10.3390/rs17101711.

    https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17101711

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Not all insecure work has to be a ‘bad job’: research shows job design can make a big difference

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rose-Marie Stambe, Adjunct Research Fellow, social and economic marginalisation, The University of Queensland

    Matej Kastelic/Shutterstock

    Inflation has steadied and interest rates are finally coming down. But for many Australians, especially those in low-paid, insecure or precarious work, the cost-of-living crisis feels far from over.

    The federal government has recently focused on improving outcomes for this group in a number of ways. Labor has advocated strongly for real wage increases and taken measures to protect weekend penalty rates.

    Such wage-based policies go some way towards addressing workers’ financial struggles. But they aren’t the only way to improve workers’ lives.

    We know that in contemporary society, having a job is important for subjective wellbeing. We also know not all jobs are equal in terms of quality. Permanent, full-time employment is considered the gold standard, with insecure or precarious work the most detrimental.

    Yet not all insecure work is the same. Our recent study provides additional evidence that how a job is designed may be just as important as what kind of job it is. It also hints at the ingredients for designing better jobs.

    Good jobs, bad jobs

    Many books – from Arne Kalleberg’s Good jobs, Bad jobs to Guy Standing’s The Precariat – have explored the negative impacts job insecurity can have on individuals, their families and communities.

    “Bad jobs” are more likely to affect waged workers with low levels of education or those with a history of unemployment.

    But many different types of insecure work are bundled into what researchers call “contingent employment” – which can include labour hire, casual work and self-employment. And not all have to be “bad jobs”.

    Labour hire is one common form of ‘contingent employment’ arrangements.
    VisualArtStudio/Shutterstock

    Our research

    Using 16 years of nationally representative data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey, we examined the relationship between different forms of contingent employment and job satisfaction.

    We found the link between employment type and job satisfaction (our proxy for worker wellbeing) isn’t straightforward. Some forms of contingent work are clearly worse for workers. Others, under the right conditions, can support job satisfaction and wellbeing.

    This is where it becomes important to understand the concept of “job resources” – such as high skill use, autonomy or job security – which help to reduce the cost of meeting job demands.

    Without adequate resources to support job demands, workers’ wellbeing can suffer, including through increased risk of burnout.

    It all depends on job design

    We found that job satisfaction varies significantly across different kinds of contingent roles.

    For example, self-employment is, on average, associated with higher job satisfaction. Our study suggests a number of reasons for this, including that this group enjoys greater autonomy, more flexibility and more opportunities to use a range of skills.

    In our study, self-employment was associated with high job satisfaction.
    Jacob Lund/Shutterstock

    These “job resources” appear to compensate for the lack of traditional employment benefits, such as job security.

    At the other end of the spectrum, labour hire workers (who are hired by a labour hire agency and then supplied to a host organisation to perform work under its direction), experience lower job satisfaction than permanent workers.

    While these jobs tend to be less demanding in terms of workload, they offer very few job resources. Labour hire positions are often marked by low levels of autonomy, minimal skill use and little opportunity for development.

    These conditions are closely linked with lower motivation, disengagement and long-term dissatisfaction.

    Casual differences

    Casual employment sits somewhere in the middle, and our findings reveal important gender differences.

    For men, we found casual work is associated with lower job satisfaction. For women, however, the picture is more complicated.

    Our analysis suggests women in casual jobs may experience certain unmeasured benefits, such as work-life balance, that offset some of the downsides.

    We couldn’t directly measure these benefits in our dataset. But our results align with other studies, showing how the flexibility of casual work can be useful for some women with caregiving responsibilities.

    There were gender differences in the satisfaction levels associated with casual work.
    Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Shutterstock

    Job design is the missing link

    What connects these findings is the role of job characteristics. Across the board, we found that features like skill use, autonomy, task variety and flexibility play a major role in shaping workers’ satisfaction.

    When insecure jobs include these positive characteristics, they can be satisfying. When they don’t, the downsides build on each other.

    In an ideal world, there should be a perfect trade-off between positive and negative job characteristics. For example, jobs with undesirable characteristics, such as job insecurity, would offer higher wages to attract workers or other desirable characteristics.

    In our study, that only held true for some groups, such as self-employed workers and women in casual roles. For many others, casual or labour hire jobs offer neither security nor satisfaction.

    Designing better jobs

    These findings have implications for how we think about work and wellbeing.

    For employers and policy makers the message is clear: improving job quality isn’t just about offering permanent contracts. While security matters, it’s also about how the job itself is designed.

    Even in non-permanent roles, providing workers with more autonomy, opportunities to use their skills, and flexible scheduling can significantly improve job satisfaction and retention. It’s also important for supporting gender equality in the workplace.

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

    – ref. Not all insecure work has to be a ‘bad job’: research shows job design can make a big difference – https://theconversation.com/not-all-insecure-work-has-to-be-a-bad-job-research-shows-job-design-can-make-a-big-difference-257642

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Cheating by car makers, tampering by owners: crucial car pollution control is being sabotaged

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robin Smit, Adjunct Professor of Transport, University of Technology Sydney

    Peter Cade/Getty

    Emission control systems in modern cars have slashed air pollutants such as particulate matter and nitrogen oxides.

    But these systems face two major challenges: carmakers cheating on pollution tests and owner tampering. Cheating means high-polluting cars can be sold when they shouldn’t be, while tampering can increase some pollutants up to 100 times.

    In our new research review, we found the impacts of cheating and tampering on emissions of pollutants are substantial across the globe. For instance, researchers in Spain found almost half the diesel trucks had been tampered with, while the Volkswagen Dieselgate cheating scandal uncovered in 2015 led to an estimated A$60 billion in health costs in the European Union. In California, researchers found one in 12 trucks had a damaged or malfunctioning diesel particulate filter – and these high-emitting trucks contributed 70% of the entire fleet’s emissions of tiny particulate matter.

    The solutions? Better detection of tampering, cheating and malfunctioning emission systems – and vigilance to get high polluting cars off the road.

    Catalytic converters and other emissions control systems have slashed air pollutant emissions from modern cars.
    Virrage Images/Shutterstock

    How did we get here?

    From the 1950s onwards, smog, air pollution and health issues from car exhausts led many regulators to require carmakers to reduce dangerous air pollutants.

    These days, modern combustion-engine cars are complex computer-controlled systems optimised to balance engine performance, durability and emission control. When working properly, new vehicles can reduce air pollutant emissions by 90% or more. However, they can increase carbon dioxide emissions by using slightly more fuel.

    But these pollutants can soar if emissions control systems malfunction – or suffer from intentional cheating or tampering.

    Cheating and tampering are not new. Cheating was first reported in the 1970s and it’s still happening. Tampering, too, dates back to the 1970s.

    Both issues worsen air quality. These excess air pollutants have substantial costs to human health, as they can trigger respiratory conditions and can cause disability and premature death.

    While the numbers of electric vehicles are rising, they’re only about 5% of the global fleet – about 60 million compared to about 1.5 billion cars powered by petrol, diesel and gas.

    Because cars have relatively long lifespans, many fossil-fuel powered cars will still be in use in 2050, now just 25 years away. Many will be exported from rich countries to developing economies. That means effective pollutant control still matters.

    Cheating by manufacturers

    It’s well established combustion engine cars produce substantially more emissions and pollutants during real-world driving than they do in regulatory tests.

    There are many reasons for this, including natural wear and tear. But one big reason may be cheating.

    Authorities in many nations rely on testing to see if a new model is emitting at rates low enough to meet emission standards.

    Manufacturers can take advantage of the known quirks of official tests and intentionally alter how their vehicles operate during testing. To do this, they may install a “defeat device”, usually deep in the car’s engine or its computer code.

    These devices shift the car to a special low-emissions mode if testing is detected. They’re typically easy for the automaker to install and difficult to detect.

    Car makers can cheat on emission tests by installing defeat devices or other countermeasures.
    Belish/Shutterstock

    Defeat devices are mainly found in diesel cars and trucks, since diesel emissions control systems are more complicated and expensive than petrol or LPG. Adding an emission control system to meet Euro 6 standards costs about $600 for a petrol car. For diesel, the cost can be three to five times higher.

    In 2015, the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the state of California announced Volkswagen had been using a software-based defeat device to make its diesel cars appear substantially cleaner. The scandal drew worldwide attention and cost the company about $50 billion.

    For those caught, large fines and mandatory recalls have followed. But this hasn’t been enough to stop the practice.

    The way these tests are conducted usually has to be disclosed by law to ensure transparency and make results comparable and repeatable. Unfortunately, having detailed knowledge of the tests makes it easier to cheat.

    Tampering by car owners

    Tampering is largely done by owners of diesel cars and trucks. Owners can tamper with emission control systems to improve performance, rebel against laws they don’t agree with or avoid extra costs such as Adblue, a liquid needed to reduce nitrogen oxides emissions from diesel trucks.

    Tampering is usually illegal. But that hasn’t stopped the production of aftermarket tampering devices, such as software which deactivates emission control systems. It’s not necessarily illegal to sell these devices, but it is illegal to install and use them.

    In the road freight sector, the use of aftermarket tampering by vehicle owners also acts as an unfair economic advantage by undercutting responsible and law-abiding operators.

    What should be done?

    Combustion engine cars and trucks will be on the world’s roads for decades to come.

    Ensuring they run as cleanly as possible over their lifetime will require independent and in-service emissions testing. Authorities will also need to focus on enforcement.

    Creating an internationally agreed test protocol for the detection of defeat devices will also be necessary.

    Combating tampering by owners as well as malfunctioning emissions systems will require better detection efforts, either through on-road emissions testing or during a car service.

    One approach would be to add telemetry to the onboard diagnostics systems now common in modern cars. Telemetry radio transponders can report emissions problems to the owner and relevant authorities, who can then act.

    Shifting to EVs offers the most robust and cost-effective way to combat fraud and cut exhaust pollutants and carbon emissions from road transport. But this will take decades. Authorities need to ensure diesel and petrol vehicles run as cleanly as possible until they can be retired.

    Robin Smit is the founding Research Director at the Transport Energy/Emission Research (TER) consultancy.

    Alberto Ayala 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. Cheating by car makers, tampering by owners: crucial car pollution control is being sabotaged – https://theconversation.com/cheating-by-car-makers-tampering-by-owners-crucial-car-pollution-control-is-being-sabotaged-255882

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: IVF is big business. But when patients become customers, what does this mean for their care?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hilary Bowman-Smart, Research Fellow, Australian Centre for Precision Health, University of South Australia

    Monash IVF CEO Michael Knaap has resigned after one of the company’s Melbourne clinics mistakenly transferred the wrong embryo to a patient. The patient wanted her partner’s embryo, but instead her own embryo was transferred.

    It is the second time this year Monash IVF has made such an announcement. In April, the company revealed a clinic in Brisbane had mixed up two different couples’ embryos.

    IVF is big business in Australia. When Monash IVF was listed on the stock exchange in 2014, it raised more than A$300 million, with financial analysts noting the potential for massive profits, as “people will pay almost anything to have a baby”.

    Total annual revenue in Australia from the IVF industry is more than $800 million. But what does the booming IVF industry mean for patients?

    Strong regulation is crucial

    In Australia, regulation of the IVF industry largely happens at the state and territory level. This leads to variation, such as restrictions on single women accessing IVF in Western Australia, which other states do not have.

    Victoria passed legislation in 2008, with a guiding principle to safeguard children born through assisted reproduction. However, until recently, Queensland largely relied on industry self-regulation.

    The Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand, the peak body for reproductive medicine, has called for a national regulatory framework to address the current “patchwork” of legislation.

    Commercialisation is not necessarily a bad thing for patients. It can lead to innovation that improves the chances of successfully having a baby.

    However, clinicians, ethicists and patients have raised concerns about the effects of commercialisation on the quality and cost of service provision in IVF.

    With the rapid growth of the sector and high-profile incidents such as those at Monash IVF, stronger and more comprehensive regulation at the national level can help ensure quality and safety for patients.

    High costs can lead to inequities in access

    Most IVF in Australia occurs in private practice, not the public system. While Medicare rebates are available, there is usually a significant out-of-pocket expense. This can range from a few hundred dollars to many thousands for each cycle. IVF can therefore be a big financial decision. Financial expense is one of the biggest barriers, which leads to inequities in access between those who can afford it and those who can’t.

    The costs stack up even more if you want non-essential “add-ons”, such as pre-implantation genetic testing, acupuncture, or embryo time-lapse imaging. A study in 2021 found 82% of women using IVF in Australia had used an add-on during their IVF treatment.

    Many IVF clinics offer these add-ons, which are promoted as improving patient experience, or the chance of a successful birth. Add-ons are offered as a point of difference on the market.

    However, the evidence for these claims is often weak or non-existent. They also come with significant costs and can potentially take advantage of people’s hopes, if they are willing to pay “whatever it takes” to have a baby.



    Read more:
    IVF add-ons: why you should be cautious of these expensive procedures if you’re trying to conceive

    Patients or customers?

    Commercial providers in the IVF industry can help provide choice, particularly as it is difficult to get IVF in the public system.

    However, when health care becomes a business, a risk is that the relationship between the patient and doctor can be affected: a patient seeking treatment becomes a “customer” buying a product.

    The therapeutic relationship should be about enhancing patients’ health and wellbeing, relieving suffering, and promoting human flourishing.

    When we talk about “choice” in medicine, we often think about ideas such as informed consent, autonomy and the best interests of the patient. However, if we think of patients as customers, “choice” may become more about being free to purchase what you want to.

    The commercialisation of the sector can also increase the risk of over-servicing, where financial incentives may shape medical decision-making.

    This doesn’t necessarily mean clinics are making deliberate decisions or misleading patients for financial benefit. However, it can mean doing more IVF cycles, even as success becomes increasingly unlikely.

    We need to ensure doctors don’t feel pressure – directly or indirectly – to provide particular treatments just because a patient is willing to pay for it.

    Medical professionals’ obligations

    Doctors and other healthcare professionals have special responsibilities and moral obligations because of their role. They serve an essential human need in society because of their particular expertise in health and wellbeing. And they often have a monopoly on the essential services they offer.

    Without patients’ trust that clinicians are being guided by medical reasons instead of financial ones, their special and privileged role to promote human flourishing can be undermined.

    This special role is not necessarily incompatible with business. However, it is essential we allow doctors to maintain their focus on patient wellbeing. This is reflected in the doctors’ code of conduct, which notes their “duty to make the care of patients their first concern”.

    What happens next?

    Much public and media discourse has framed the embryo mix-up primarily as a reputational and financial risk to Monash IVF – but it is about patients. It’s not (just) an error of corporate governance, it’s about the special trust that we as a society place in medical practice.

    IVF is expensive, and can be tough both emotionally and physically. One of the ways we can ensure trust in IVF services is by moving towards consistent and improved regulation at the national level. This might include more uniform standards and policies around who is eligible for IVF.

    IVF industry regulation is on the agenda for the federal and state health ministers tomorrow. While there is still much to be done, a review of the regulation and processes in this sector could help prevent more embryo mix-ups from happening in the future.



    Read more:
    Why do women get ‘reassurance scans’ during pregnancy? And how can you spot a dodgy provider?

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

    – ref. IVF is big business. But when patients become customers, what does this mean for their care? – https://theconversation.com/ivf-is-big-business-but-when-patients-become-customers-what-does-this-mean-for-their-care-258585

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: In most mammals, one gene determines sex. But 100 million years ago, platypuses and echidnas went their own way

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Linda Shearwin, Researcher, Comparative Genome Biology Laboratory, University of Adelaide

    Rob D / Shutterstock

    For decades, scientists have known that platypuses and echidnas – Australia’s unique egg-laying mammals – have another developmental quirk: they don’t use the same genetic toolkit as other mammals to develop male and female embryos.

    What’s more, just how they do it has been a mystery. Until now.

    In a recent study published in Genome Biology, our research team has found strong evidence that monotreme sex comes down to a single gene – one that’s much more like what we see in some fish and amphibians than other mammals.

    The search for the secret of monotreme sex

    The Australian platypus and echidna are monotremes, the most ancient living group of mammals. These unique creatures are famously the only mammals to lay eggs, and they also have other reptile-like features.

    Humans and many other mammal species have two sex-determining chromosomes, X and Y. An embryo with an XX pair of chromosomes will develop as female, while an XY pair leads to a male embryo.

    In many mammals, the process that makes an embryo develop as male is triggered by a gene called SRY on the male Y chromosome. However, the SRY gene in monotremes has never been found.

    About 20 years ago, it was discovered that monotremes have an entirely different system that uses multiple X and Y chromosomes. Scientists assumed the Y chromosomes must still hold a gene that determined sex, but very little was known about what it might be.

    In 2008 a full genome sequence of a platypus was published, which was a step in the right direction. However, the genome was from a female so it had no information about Y chromosomes.

    By 2021, a new and improved platypus genome and a first echidna genome included sequences of multiple Y chromosomes. A gene emerged as the frontrunner for the role of sex determination in monotremes: the anti-Muellerian hormone (or AMH), which is involved in the sexual development in many animals.

    A 100-million-year-old change

    Our new research provides the first real evidence that an adapted version of AMH found on one of the monotreme Y chromosomes (dubbed AMHY) is the sex determination gene in monotremes.

    We showed that changes in the AMH gene long ago, early in the evolution of monotremes, could explain how AMHY arose and took on a role in male sexual development.

    This event would have set the stage for the evolution of the novel sex chromosome system in the ancestor of today’s platypus and echidna, about 100 million years ago when the AMH gene on the XY chromosomes embarked on separated paths.

    We showed that although the AMHY gene has changed significantly from the original AMH gene (AMHX), it has retained its essential features. Importantly, we could show for the first time that AMHY is turned on in the right tissue and at the right time to direct development of the testes during male development, which was an important missing piece of the puzzle.

    A first for mammals

    Unlike the other mammal sex determination genes, which act directly on the DNA to switch on other genes that lead to male development, AMHY is a hormone. It does not interact with DNA, but instead acts at the surface of cells to turn genes on or off.

    There is growing evidence that AMHY also plays a role in sex determination in a number of fish and amphibian species. However, AMHY in monotremes would be the first known example of a hormone playing a sex-determining role in mammals.

    What’s next? Our ongoing research investigate in detail how AMHX and AMHY work differently in monotremes compared to other mammals.

    The work discussed in this article was carried out by researchers from the University of Adelaide, the University of Melbourne, the University of Queensland, Monash University and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

    Linda Shearwin receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Frank Grützner 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. In most mammals, one gene determines sex. But 100 million years ago, platypuses and echidnas went their own way – https://theconversation.com/in-most-mammals-one-gene-determines-sex-but-100-million-years-ago-platypuses-and-echidnas-went-their-own-way-258801

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: In most mammals, one gene determines sex. But 100 million years ago, platypuses and echidnas went their own way

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Linda Shearwin, Researcher, Comparative Genome Biology Laboratory, University of Adelaide

    Rob D / Shutterstock

    For decades, scientists have known that platypuses and echidnas – Australia’s unique egg-laying mammals – have another developmental quirk: they don’t use the same genetic toolkit as other mammals to develop male and female embryos.

    What’s more, just how they do it has been a mystery. Until now.

    In a recent study published in Genome Biology, our research team has found strong evidence that monotreme sex comes down to a single gene – one that’s much more like what we see in some fish and amphibians than other mammals.

    The search for the secret of monotreme sex

    The Australian platypus and echidna are monotremes, the most ancient living group of mammals. These unique creatures are famously the only mammals to lay eggs, and they also have other reptile-like features.

    Humans and many other mammal species have two sex-determining chromosomes, X and Y. An embryo with an XX pair of chromosomes will develop as female, while an XY pair leads to a male embryo.

    In many mammals, the process that makes an embryo develop as male is triggered by a gene called SRY on the male Y chromosome. However, the SRY gene in monotremes has never been found.

    About 20 years ago, it was discovered that monotremes have an entirely different system that uses multiple X and Y chromosomes. Scientists assumed the Y chromosomes must still hold a gene that determined sex, but very little was known about what it might be.

    In 2008 a full genome sequence of a platypus was published, which was a step in the right direction. However, the genome was from a female so it had no information about Y chromosomes.

    By 2021, a new and improved platypus genome and a first echidna genome included sequences of multiple Y chromosomes. A gene emerged as the frontrunner for the role of sex determination in monotremes: the anti-Muellerian hormone (or AMH), which is involved in the sexual development in many animals.

    A 100-million-year-old change

    Our new research provides the first real evidence that an adapted version of AMH found on one of the monotreme Y chromosomes (dubbed AMHY) is the sex determination gene in monotremes.

    We showed that changes in the AMH gene long ago, early in the evolution of monotremes, could explain how AMHY arose and took on a role in male sexual development.

    This event would have set the stage for the evolution of the novel sex chromosome system in the ancestor of today’s platypus and echidna, about 100 million years ago when the AMH gene on the XY chromosomes embarked on separated paths.

    We showed that although the AMHY gene has changed significantly from the original AMH gene (AMHX), it has retained its essential features. Importantly, we could show for the first time that AMHY is turned on in the right tissue and at the right time to direct development of the testes during male development, which was an important missing piece of the puzzle.

    A first for mammals

    Unlike the other mammal sex determination genes, which act directly on the DNA to switch on other genes that lead to male development, AMHY is a hormone. It does not interact with DNA, but instead acts at the surface of cells to turn genes on or off.

    There is growing evidence that AMHY also plays a role in sex determination in a number of fish and amphibian species. However, AMHY in monotremes would be the first known example of a hormone playing a sex-determining role in mammals.

    What’s next? Our ongoing research investigate in detail how AMHX and AMHY work differently in monotremes compared to other mammals.

    The work discussed in this article was carried out by researchers from the University of Adelaide, the University of Melbourne, the University of Queensland, Monash University and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

    Linda Shearwin receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Frank Grützner 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. In most mammals, one gene determines sex. But 100 million years ago, platypuses and echidnas went their own way – https://theconversation.com/in-most-mammals-one-gene-determines-sex-but-100-million-years-ago-platypuses-and-echidnas-went-their-own-way-258801

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Tianjin hosts event “Languages Unite SCO, Theatre Links Silk Road”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) — A themed event titled “Languages Unite the SCO, Theatre Links the Silk Road” was held at the Institute of Foreign Languages of Nankai University in Tianjin, north China, on June 8, bringing together teachers and students from different countries.

    The opening number of the event, “Dance of the Shepherds,” demonstrated the richness of Chinese culture. The joint recitation of poems by A.S. Pushkin and Shu Ting (a famous Chinese poet) by Chinese and foreign students showed the special charm of Russian and Chinese poetry.

    Then, Sergey, a teacher from Russia, shared his experience of studying, working and living in China in fluent Chinese. Xu Lili, an associate professor at the Russian language department of the aforementioned institute, spoke about the profound value of the language and the role of Russian as a link in the SCO.

    In the interactive cultural zone, games such as a competition to pronounce the Russian letter “R”, a quiz on theatre knowledge, a competition on knowledge of the SCO summits and tongue twisters in Chinese allowed participants to gain a deeper understanding of the cultures of different countries.

    In the creative workshop “Man-made Civilization”, master classes on painting matryoshka dolls and calligraphy were held simultaneously; Chinese and foreign teachers and students, while painting bright Russian matryoshka dolls, felt the deep meaning of the “Shanghai Spirit”.

    The event, which took the form of multilingual interactive events and cultural performances, aimed to use language as a tool and culture as a connecting thread to deepen mutual understanding between peoples and promote cultural exchanges between SCO member countries.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The Jack’s Law expansion is a symbolic step – it’s not a solution to knife crime

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Janet Ransley, Professor, Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University

    khak/Shutterstock

    Laws just passed in Queensland give police unprecedented powers to scan people with a handheld wand and potentially search them in all public places, without needing a warrant or reasonable suspicion.

    Earlier versions of “Jack’s Law” were copied in other jurisdictions, such as New South Wales, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Queensland’s expanded laws may flow on to them now, too.

    However, while the newly expanded Jack’s Law may detect more weapons, there’s no evidence it reduces violent crime. It may, in fact, do more harm than good, while putting human rights at risk.

    What is Jack’s Law?

    Jack’s Law is named after 17-year-old Jack Beasley who was stabbed to death outside a convenience store in Surfers Paradise in 2019.

    Passed in 2021, the law resulted in a time-limited trial allowing officers to “wand” people with metal detectors in some entertainment precincts.

    Since then, the trial was expanded twice to include public transport, stations, shopping centres and licensed entertainment venues.

    In a little more than two years, Queensland police conducted 116,287 scans and removed 1,126 weapons – a detection rate of about 0.9%.

    The majority of charges that followed were for minor drug offences, or breaches of knife-carrying bans.

    The trial was set to expire on October 30, 2026 after another mandatory review.

    Instead, the law has now been made permanent with the scope extended again to allow wanding in all public places.

    The changes also remove safeguards, such as the need for senior officer oversight, reporting requirements and a further review of the impact of wands on crime and on civil liberties.

    Our research into Jack’s Law

    Our review of the 12-month trial of Jack’s Law on the Gold Coast in 2021–22 is the only publicly available evidence about the impact of metal detector wanding on knife violence in Queensland.

    We found there was no reduction in violence as a result of the use of the hand-held scanners.

    There’s also potential for bias when officers using the wands are influenced by factors that aren’t related to evidence. This includes the unfair targeting of minorities. More people could also be caught up in the justice system for minor, non-violent breaches.

    What’s needed to reduce knife violence are evidence-based programs addressing underlying causes such as mental health, poverty, child maltreatment and domestic and family violence.

    Wanding has no impact on these underlying causes and diverts resources and police attention from where they’re really needed.

    Does the law reduce knife crime?

    While the intention behind Jack’s Law is to enhance public safety by deterring knife-related crimes, the evidence suggests this is unlikely to happen.

    Our study found that although the use of metal-detecting wands can lead to increased detection of weapons, there is no evidence this in turn reduces violent crimes involving knives.

    Confiscated knives are easily replaced and we found no evidence that scanning deterred people from carrying weapons.

    This is consistent with research from the UK showing “stop and search” laws had no effect on violent crime, and Victorian research showing no effect of similar stop and search laws on violent crimes.

    Concern over human rights

    The expansion of police powers under Jack’s Law raises human rights concerns.

    The ability to stop and search people without reasonable suspicion may lead to racial profiling and erode public trust in law enforcement.

    A 2022 independent inquiry into the Queensland Police Service highlighted issues of systemic racism and sexism within the force, underscoring the potential risks of granting broader discretionary powers without adequate oversight.

    Our review also found evidence of police wanding decisions being based on discriminatory stereotypes. This makes the removal of oversight and review mechanisms of particular concern.

    Additionally, searches for knives following wanding have led to a rise in minor drug charges. This funnels more young people into the criminal justice system, which increases their risk of re-offending and also places more pressure on an already overburdened criminal justice system.

    While the expansion of Jack’s Law is a visible response to public concerns about knife crime, it is essential to recognise such measures are not a silver bullet.

    Further erosion of the already tenuous trust in the police service among minority communities in Queensland, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, could lead to reduced public trust and have long-term negative impacts on public safety.

    Why a holistic approach is needed

    Addressing the root causes of knife violence requires a comprehensive approach that includes investment in support services and community programs.

    We also need to recognise around 50% of serious violent crime occurs in the context of domestic and family violence, in private settings. Wanding does nothing to help those victims.

    Understanding why people carry knives and implementing targeted prevention strategies are crucial steps toward creating a safer society.

    While Jack’s Law serves as a symbolic gesture honouring the memory of Jack Beasley, its efficacy in reducing knife crime remains unlikely and will now not be reviewed.

    Policymakers must balance the desire for immediate action with evidence-based strategies that address underlying factors contributing to violence.

    Only through a holistic approach can we hope to achieve lasting change and truly honour the lives lost to such senseless acts.

    Janet Ransley receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Paul Ramsay Foundation. The Queensland Police Service funded the research referred to in this article.

    – ref. The Jack’s Law expansion is a symbolic step – it’s not a solution to knife crime – https://theconversation.com/the-jacks-law-expansion-is-a-symbolic-step-its-not-a-solution-to-knife-crime-258804

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –