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Category: Universities

  • MIL-Evening Report: UNESCO expresses ‘utmost concern’ at the state of the Great Barrier Reef

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jon C. Day, Adjunct Principal Research Fellow, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University

    UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee has again raised grave fears for the future of the Great Barrier Reef, highlighting the problems of water pollution, climate change and unsustainable fishing.

    The committee this week released draft decisions regarding the conservation of 62 World Heritage properties. This included the Great Barrier Reef, for which it noted:

    Overall, while progress has been made, significant challenges remain in achieving water quality targets, managing extreme climate impacts, and ensuring the long-term resilience of the property.

    The comments confirm what experts already know too well: despite substantial investments from successive Australian governments, threats to the Great Barrier Reef remain.

    Climate change is the greatest threat to the Great Barrier Reef and other coral reefs around the world. But water pollution is the most significant local threat. That issue, along with unsustainable fishing, is entirely within Australia’s control.

    The World Heritage Committee will consider the draft decision at its next meeting in Paris in July. It may amend the decision, but the concerns are now on the public record.

    What’s all this about?

    The Great Barrier Reef has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage list for more than 40 years. The listing recognises outstanding natural and cultural places around the world.

    The reef is jointly managed by the Australian and Queensland governments. UNESCO’s draft decision expressed “utmost concern” at the findings of last year’s outlook report, published by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. It noted:

    the overall outlook for the property remains one of continued deterioration due largely to climate change, while the long-term outlook for the ecosystem of the property also remains ‘very poor’.

    Poor water quality persists

    Poor water quality is a major issue on the Great Barrier Reef. It is caused when sediment, nutrients, pesticides and pollution from land-based activities, such as land clearing, farming and coastal development, are carried into the ocean.

    In its draft decision, UNESCO noted with “regrets” that the latest water quality targets for sediment and nitrogen – a key component of fertilisers – were not achieved. UNESCO said the updated water quality plan should ensure targets and actions “are sufficiently ambitious and funded”.

    As the below graph shows, actions from 2009 to now have reduced pollution only by about half the desired amounts. At the existing rate of progress and funding commitments, the targets will not be met until 2047 (for sediment) and 2114 (for dissolved inorganic nitrogen).

    Huge gaps exist between current pollutants levels and the water quality targets. These and some other targets are well out of reach under existing funding levels.

    The draft decision also requests a halt to illegal land clearing while strengthening vegetation laws – both fundamental to reducing water pollution.

    Severe weather events exacerbate the water quality problem. In February this year, for example, floodwaters from ten major rivers merged to form extensive flood plumes along 700 kilometres of coastline from Cairns to Mackay, and up to 100 kilometres offshore.

    Such plumes can remain present for months after a flood. They can smother seagrass and corals, and cause damaging algal growth.

    Queensland’s floods in February discharged large plumes of sediment-laden floodwaters towards the Great Barrier Reef. This Sentinel 2 satellite image shows sediment from the Burdekin River estuary south of Townsville.
    Tropwater, CC BY-NC-ND

    The wicked problem of climate change

    UNESCO’s draft decision noted “the overall outlook for the property remains one of continued deterioration due largely to climate change”.

    Ocean heatwaves can lead to coral bleaching and potentially death. Mass bleaching occurred again this year on the Great Barrier Reef – the sixth such event since 2016.

    UNESCO described as “deeply concerning” preliminary results showing heat stress was the highest on record during the 2023–24 mass bleaching event.

    Climate change is also expected to produce more frequent and intense extreme weather events such as tropical cyclones, which can damage reefs and island ecosystems.

    UNESCO called on Australia to align its policies with the global goal of “limiting global temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels”, and to take steps to mitigate negative impacts from extreme weather events.

    The challenges of fishing

    Unsustainable fishing practices damage the Great Barrier Reef. UNESCO’s draft decision noted progress in eliminating gillnet fishing, which is on track for the target of 2027.

    The fishing method involves mesh nets which can accidentally kill other wildlife, including threatened species such as dugongs, turtles, dolphins and sawfish.

    But smaller nets can still be used throughout much of the World Heritage area, so some threats to threatened species remain.

    UNESCO also urged Australia to expand electronic monitoring of commercial fishing vessels, and to ensure the targets in its Sustainable Fisheries Strategy are met. It also called for a comprehensive review of coral harvesting, which primarily supplies the global aquarium trade.

    What next?

    Despite the significant resources and management efforts Australia expends on the Great Barrier Reef, serious threats remain.

    The Great Barrier Reef is struggling under the cumulative impacts of a multitude of threats. The problems outlined above are not isolated challenges.

    Both the Queensland and Australian governments could do far more to boost the health of the reef. Clearly, more funding is needed. Without it, the future of the Great Barrier Reef is in jeopardy, and so too its tourism and fishing economies, and thousands of jobs.

    UNESCO has now asked Australia to provide more comprehensive results from the recent mass bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef, along with an updated plan to improve water quality. Its draft decision maintains the spotlight on conservation concerns for this precious natural asset.

    Jon Day previously worked for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority between 1986 and 2014, and was one of the Directors at GBRMPA between 1998 and 2014. He also represented Australia as one of the formal delegates to the World Heritage Committee between 2007-2011.

    Scott F. Heron is the co-developer of the Climate Vulnerability Index; he receives funding from Australian Research Council.

    – ref. UNESCO expresses ‘utmost concern’ at the state of the Great Barrier Reef – https://theconversation.com/unesco-expresses-utmost-concern-at-the-state-of-the-great-barrier-reef-257638

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • Nepal takes game to new heights with T20 league

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Glamorgan all-rounder Dan Douthwaite was not alone among the foreign players in being unsure what to expect when he headed to the Himalayas to take part in the inaugural Nepal Premier League (NPL) late last year.

    Taking up a playing contract in the mountainous nation of 30 million was always going to be a novel challenge for the Englishman, not least because the Twenty20 league was staged at a ground some 1,350 metres above sea level.

    “I thought I was going to be constantly out of breath or struggling, but it wasn’t actually as bad as I thought it was going to be,” the 28-year-old recalled of his time playing for the Kathmandu Gurkhas.

    “I think I noticed it more so with sixes. When they got the ball it absolutely went miles. A lot of balls … kept going and going and going.

    “When you think you’ve hit one straight up and it’s a 70-metre six.”

    Apart from the extra flight of the ball at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground near Kathmandu, Douthwaite’s other big takeaway from the experience was the enthusiasm of the Nepali fans.

    “Cricket in Nepal is probably like the Premier League in England … there’s a kind of almost Indian cricket feel about the way people appreciate and love the game,” he told Reuters.

    This was the third attempt by Nepal, which became an ICC associate member in 1996 and has qualified for the T20 World Cup twice, to follow in the path of the Indian Premier League (IPL) by launching its own Twenty20 league.

    The NPL hopes the passion of the fans, combined with the country’s unique geography and society, will carve out a niche in a landscape dominated by the likes of the IPL and Australia’s Big Bash League.

    “We’re rich in terms of nature,” said Sandesh Katwal, the chief executive of the Gurkhas, one of eight NPL franchises.

    “It’s a beautiful country and we’re a friendly, welcoming people. The weather, the hospitality suits international players.”

    Former England batting all-rounder and IPL veteran Ravi Bopara, who turned out for Chitwan Rhinos, said it was a great experience, even if he turned down the offer of a helicopter trip to Everest Base Camp.

    GROWING PAINS

    A modest budget meant the NPL could not attract the really big names in the sport.

    All eight NPL franchises fetched a combined price of under 169 million Nepali rupees ($1.23 million) at an auction held last September. Prize money for the champions, Janakpur Bolts, was around $81,000.

    By contrast, India’s Rishabh Pant, the highest-paid player in the IPL, commanded over $3 million in the league’s player auction for the 2025 edition.

    A rushed first season also made it difficult to recruit international players, Katwal said.

    “Everything happened within a one to two-month period … most international players were already occupied. Many didn’t know about this tournament,” he added.

    “Since Christmas was near, many overseas players were in a hurry to return. From the second season I think we can plan to start a bit earlier, October or November.”

    Nevertheless, the NPL proved to be an effective proving ground for Nepal’s domestic talent, Bopara said.

    “There was a group of players who were full of potential but lacked experience,” he added.

    Katwal said he hoped the NPL would provide that valuable competitive experience, as the IPL has done for young Indian talents.

    “It’s a dream come true for Nepali players … sharing practice sessions with the foreign players, they definitely learned a lot. We also had coaches from India, Sri Lanka, England and elsewhere,” he said.

    “Since the IPL has started, you can see young players getting opportunities and it has paid off. The NPL is also an opportunity for Nepali players, a starting point.”

    (Reuters)

  • Operation Sindoor outreach: Panama backs India’s stance against terrorism during Tharoor-led delegation’s visit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Panama President Jose Raul Mulino Quintero on Thursday (Indian time) extended his support to India’s resolute stand against terrorism during a meeting with an all-party Indian parliamentary delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.

    The meeting took place at the Presidential Palace in Panama City and marked a key moment in India’s global outreach to garner international backing in the fight against cross-border terrorism.

    “The Indian delegation had a constructive and productive discussion with the President of Panama, Jose Raul Mulino Quintero, at his palace this afternoon. The President graciously expressed his understanding and support for India’s fight against terrorism,” Tharoor posted on X.

    In addition to the meeting with the President, the delegation held discussions with Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha and Vice-Minister Carlos Hoyos on Operation Sindoor and India’s determination to counter Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Panama’s Foreign Minister backed India for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council.

    “Had an excellent and constructive conversation with Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha at his Ministry today, followed by discussions over lunch. He was accompanied by several of his colleagues, including Vice-Minister Carlos Hoyos, as well as two MPs – a tribute to the regard in which India is held here,” Tharoor shared on X.

    “A fruitful meeting of Indian Parliamentary delegation with the President of Panama Jose Raul Mulino at Presidential Palace in Panama City. FM Javier Martinez-Acha Vasquez and senior officials were present. President underlined Panama’s support for India and opposition to terrorism,” posted delegation member and former Indian diplomat Taranjit Singh Sandhu.

    As part of the visit, the delegation paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi by laying floral offerings at his bust at the University of Panama and planting a mango sapling in his memory. Members of the Indian diaspora were also present during the ceremony.

    National Assembly President Dana Castaneda, who met the delegation earlier, also affirmed Panama’s support for India’s efforts.

    Speaking to reporters after the meeting, she said, “The message, which they have conveyed, has been very clearly understood by us. Panama wants to stand with India in this campaign for peace, and we hope that we can defeat terrorism.”

    The delegation’s visit to Panama marked the third leg of Shashi Tharoor-led parliamentarians who are a part of India’s global outreach campaign following the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed by Pakistan-linked terrorists.

    In addition to Tharoor, the delegation includes – Shambhavi of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Sarfaraz Ahmad of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Milind Murli Deora of the Shiv Sena, and BJP leaders Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, and Tejasvi Surya, along with GM Harish Balayogi of the Telugu Desam Party.

    (With agency inputs)

  • MIL-OSI Global: After a chaotic 6 months, South Koreans will elect a new president – and hope for bold leadership

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Alexander M. Hynd, Lecturer, Korean Politics/International Relations, The University of Melbourne

    On June 3, South Koreans will head to the polls to choose the country’s new president. The election may draw to a close one of the most chaotic and contentious periods in the country’s post-1987 democratic era.

    South Korea has been embroiled in a political crisis since December, when former President Yoon Suk Yeol disastrously declared martial law.

    Yoon ordered security forces to block lawmakers from entering the National Assembly, leading to a dramatic late night confrontation. His unconstitutional decree was overturned after just six hours.

    The fall-out was equally dramatic: Yoon was impeached and removed from office in a drawn-out process that was not finally resolved until April.

    This period coincided with massive street demonstrations both opposing and supporting Yoon, a far-right assault on a courthouse and a physical stand-off between investigators and Yoon’s personal security team.

    The country, meanwhile, has cycled through three short-lived caretaker leaders.

    With weak economic growth and high costs of living, in addition to an equally challenging security environment, South Korea is in desperate need of bold and effective leadership.

    Who are the candidates?

    The Democratic Party’s Lee Jae-myung is the clear frontrunner to be the next president, after finishing a close second in the previous 2022 election.

    Recent polling put the veteran left-leaning politician at around 49% support as the race entered the final week.

    This is a double-digit lead over his main conservative opponent, Kim Moon-soo, polling at 35%. Another conservative candidate, Lee Jun-seok, is polling at 11%. Notably, for the first time since 2007, there are no female candidates standing to be president.

    The high levels of support for Lee Jae-myung suggest a widespread desire among the public to repudiate Yoon’s martial law declaration.

    Kim, the labour minister in Yoon’s administration, has apologised for December’s declaration. But his opponents have continued to question him about it.

    Kim’s challenge has been to build a coalition of moderates and mainstream conservatives who firmly opposed the martial law declaration, while also winning support from those who believe far-right conspiracy theories around election fraud. Yoon, the former president, is continuing to promote these narratives.

    Lee’s compelling background

    Lee Jae-myung’s personal story has uplifting parallels with South Korea’s own history of economic and political development.

    Lee was born into poverty; the exact date of his birth is not known. He worked in factories from a very young age and permanently injured his left arm in an industrial accident when he was still a child.

    Lee went on to earn a scholarship to study law and, by the late 1980s, had established himself as a labour lawyer and activist.

    This activist image was highlighted when he live-streamed himself dramatically scaling a fence to enter the National Assembly and vote down Yoon’s martial law declaration in December. He has previously compared himself to populist, progressive US Senator Bernie Sanders.

    More recently, however, he has moderated his political rhetoric and policy platform to appeal to centrists and even some conservative voters.

    This shift may also help shield Lee from the “red-baiting” claims left-leaning South Korean candidates typically face from conservative opponents that they are “communists”, “pro-China”, or “pro-North Korea”.

    But Lee is also plagued by legal troubles, including corruption charges linked to a land development project. These charges, frequently highlighted by his opponents, risk derailing his administration if he wins the election.

    What are the main issues?

    Some international commentators have focused on how the next president will handle North Korea. South Koreans, however, are more interested in the candidates’ plans to fix the country’s troubled economy.

    Lee Jae-myung has pledged to immediately establish an emergency economic taskforce if he takes office.

    There has also been a vigorous debate over South Korea’s future energy policy. Kim favours expanding nuclear energy production to around 60% of the country’s energy mix. Lee has voiced safety concerns about nuclear power, arguing “the era of building more reactors should come to an end”.

    Additionally, questions remain over potential constitutional reform to end South Korea’s so-called “imperial presidency” system, which has been blamed for centralising too much power in the hands of the president.

    The system dates back to the rewriting of the constitution following mass protests in 1987. This established direct presidential elections and a single, five-year term.

    Both Lee and Kim support changing this to a four-year, two-term presidential system, similar to the United States.

    Big challenges lie ahead

    On the international stage, the new leader will face an uphill battle negotiating with US President Donald Trump over his punitive tariffs. Trump imposed 25% tariffs on South Korean goods in April, but lowered them temporarily to 10% until early July.

    Before his impeachment, Yoon was widely reported to be practising his golf skills to attempt to find common ground with Trump, much as former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did.

    The new leader will also face massive challenges bringing South Korean society together in the current climate. Political polarisation and the spread of disinformation worsened under Yoon’s presidency – and these trends will be hard to reverse.

    Alexander M. Hynd 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. After a chaotic 6 months, South Koreans will elect a new president – and hope for bold leadership – https://theconversation.com/after-a-chaotic-6-months-south-koreans-will-elect-a-new-president-and-hope-for-bold-leadership-257348

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Board of Commissioners

    Source: Tertiary Education Commission

     Our Board:

    sets our strategic direction, makes decisions about funding allocations and provides guidance on our operations
    monitors the performance of the Chief Executive and the organisation
    oversees management of strategic risk.

    Dr Alan Bollard CNZM, Chair

    Alan Bollard is Chair of the New Zealand Portrait Gallery. He is New Zealand Governor of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, a Director of China Construction Bank (NZ), and Chair of the New Zealand Pacific Economic Cooperation Council.
    He has been Chair of the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Professor of Pacific Region Business at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, and Chair of the Centres for Asia-Pacific Excellence.
    Alan was the Director of the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research from 1987 to 1994, Chair of the New Zealand Commerce Commission from 1994 to 1998, and the Secretary to the Treasury between 1998 and 2020. From 2002 to 2012, he was the Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. He was the Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Singapore from 2012 to 2018.
    Alan has published a number of economics and popular books. He is a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, a Fellow of Royal Society Te Apārangi, and has honorary doctorate degrees from the University of Auckland and Massey University.
    Robin Hapi CNZM, Deputy Chair

    Robin Hapi was a former Commissioner of the Tertiary Education Commission from 2007 to 2013 and joins TEC for a second time from February 2025. This follows a term of 12 years as Amokapua/Chair of Te Wānanga o Raukawa. He has served on several Boards and led a range of commercial and not-for-profit entities.
    Robin is currently Chair of Tū Ātea Ltd and Co-Chair of the Pūhoro STEMM Academy. His previous service includes positions on the Boards of Te Mātāwai, Kāinga Ora Homes and Communities, WorkSafe NZ and the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency; he has also been Chair of the Māori Economic Development Advisory Board, Chair of BERL and Deputy Chair of Callaghan Innovation. 
    Robin is an old boy of Hato Pāora College and an alumni of Massey University, where he graduated with a Master of Business Administration with Distinction. In December 2015 Robin was awarded the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in recognition of his contribution to governance, community and Māori, and in 2022 he received the Dame Mira Szászy Lifetime award from the University of Auckland Business School for his contribution to governance. Robin is also a Distinguished Fellow of the NZ Institute of Directors.
    Robin is of Ngāti Kahungunu descent and affiliates to Kahurānaki Marae, Te Hauke.
    Dr Alastair MacCormick, Commissioner, Chair Whatitata Whakau – Risk and Assurance Committee

    TEC’s longest serving Commissioner, Alastair was first appointed to the TEC Board of Commissioners in May 2017, and appointed as Chair of the Whatitata Whakau – Risk and Assurance Committee in August 2017.
    Alastair is an Emeritus Professor of the University of Auckland. He holds a Doctorate in Management Science from Yale University and an MCom in Economics and a BSc in Mathematics and Physics from Auckland. For a decade he was Dean of Business and Economics at the University of Auckland and subsequently Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic).
    Alastair also served over nine years on the Grants Committee of Callaghan Innovation for the Government support of Private Sector R&D and is a professional director with global experience in both public, private and listed companies.
    Alastair’s generosity with his time and expertise is demonstrated in his role as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Elizabeth Knox Home and Hospital (a voluntary role which Alastair has supported for almost 40 years) along with founding the New Zealand Education and Scholarship Trust in 1991. He has also spent 14 years on the Board of Trustees for Auckland Grammar School, serving as Chair of the Board for six years.
    Alastair was awarded a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in The Queen’s Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours for services to tertiary education and the community.
    Kirk Hope, Commissioner

    “People are our greatest asset and the drivers of our economy.  Business needs a training and development system to ensure everyone can reach their potential and New Zealand continues to prosper”. 

    Appointed in November 2019, Kirk brings strong current business sector knowledge to the TEC Board table. Kirk is the Chief Executive of the Financial Services Council. Previously, he was the Chief Executive of BusinessNZ, New Zealand’s largest business advocacy group with approximately 80,000 business connections.
    It is not just his knowledge and understanding of business that Kirk brings to TEC. He has held the positions of CEO of the New Zealand Bankers’ Association, Executive Director of the Financial Services Federation, along with several executive positions in both government and banking industries.
    The pairing of business acumen with a strong financial base, a Master’s in Law, an honours degree in political science, easily makes Kirk a great fit for TEC.
    Kirk’s passion is giving back, so sometime in the future we could see him sharing his wealth of knowledge and business expertise through teaching – perhaps that will be after he finishes PhD in economic history (a long term goal) or when he isn’t surfing.
    Samuelu (Sam) Sefuiva, Commissioner, Chair Ohu Tangata – People and Culture Committee

    Sam has over 30 years’ experience in public policy, strategic and business advice, cultural and economic development and executive leadership. He has a strong professional and personal interest in the Pacific region particularly in human rights, social enterprise and public policy. Sam joined the TEC Board in January 2023.
    Sam has mentored, led and facilitated senior executives in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific in improving international, regional and domestic non-government and community enterprise environments. His strengths are in high level policy advice and relations, strategic thinking, business planning and facilitation.
    Currently his leadership roles include: Mana Whakapai-AMPTI (consortium) Manager, Auckland Māori and Pasifika Trades Training Initiative; Trustee, Digital Wings Trust; and Trustee Black Grace (Dance) Trust. Previously, Sam was Chief Advisor to the Race Relations Commissioner at the NZ Human Rights Commission.
    Sam enjoys spending time with his family and including grandchildren, his wider Samoan fanau and village (Salani, Falealili), as well as some passive recreational activities such as reading, surfing, fishing.
    Deidre Shea, Commissioner

    “Accessible, quality educational opportunities for all New Zealanders throughout their lives are key to the health and success of our communities and our nation. I am privileged to be able to contribute to this as a member of TEC’s board.”

    Commissioned in 2023, Deidre received her Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday honours for services to Education.
    Deidre held leadership roles with Ōnehunga High School (OHS) from 1995 and was Principal from 2007 until 2022. Her leadership extended to the Auckland Secondary School Principals’ Association from 2008 to 2015 and the Secondary Principals’ Association of New Zealand (SPANZ) 2014 to 2023. She became President of SPANZ from 2019 to 2021, leading through numerous challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Deidre is committed to excellent, lifelong educational opportunities for all. She has overseen the establishment of a Construction School at OHS in 2005, followed by a Services Academy in 2007 and later a Health Science Academy. OHS operates the nation’s largest school-based Adult and Community Education programme.
    Deidre has chaired Te Hikoi (formerly the AIMHI Alternative Education consortium) for the past decade. 
    Bharat Guha, Commissioner

    Bharat Guha is the current Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the Invercargill Licensing Trust. He is a chartered accountant with extensive experience in the education and hospitality sector.
    Bharat has held numerous senior positions as CEO, Deputy CEO and CFO in different New Zealand and overseas organisations. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Bharat was based in London, working as the Group CFO for an LSE-listed company with branches in the UK, Malaysia, Singapore and Nepal.
    Bharat was recognised as a Fellow of the Australia New Zealand Chartered Accountants for his financial work on the Zero Fee Scheme for the Southern Institute of Technology. In addition, he has developed and led successful government–private tertiary institution partnerships for attracting international students to New Zealand.
    Bharat is a graduate of the University of Otago, undertaking a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Information Systems) and a Master in Business Administration. He also completed the Executive Leadership Programme at Oxford University and the Southland Leadership Academy.
    Bharat is committed and passionate about ensuring the future growth of tertiary education in New Zealand.
    Sharon McGuire, Commissioner

    Sharon McGuire has a strong commercial background and knowledge of the polytechnic and broader tertiary sector. She also has governance experience with several entities. Her tertiary experience includes being a director for regional economic development with the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology.
    Sharon’s commercial experience includes working as a general manager in the hotels sector, as a director of a major sports franchise, work with Chambers of Commerce, and as a business owner specialising in project services and advising on business viability.
    Sharon has held senior executive roles and is an experienced Director in the Not-for-Loss sector. Sharon is a great supporter of community organisations, and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow for services to Rotary and the wider community.
     Top

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Confucius Institute Ljubljana celebrates 15th anniversary

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

    Members of the Chinese Yangqin Art Troupe perform during the 15th anniversary celebration of the Confucius Institute Ljubljana in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on May 28, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Over 100 distinguished guests from the business, education, and cultural sectors of both China and Slovenia gathered in Ljubljana on Tuesday to mark the 15th anniversary of the Confucius Institute Ljubljana.

    Zhao Binghui, charge d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Slovenia, spoke highly of the Institute’s contributions to deepening multi-level and multi-field exchanges between China and Slovenia by promoting high-quality Chinese language education and organizing diverse cultural activities over the past 15 years.

    The Institute was jointly established by the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics (SUIBE) and the University of Ljubljana in May 2010.

    To date, the Institute has established five Confucius Classrooms and 26 teaching centers throughout Slovenia, providing Chinese language education from kindergarten to university level. “Language is a bridge for exchanges and mutual learning of civilizations,” he noted.

    Qi Ming, chairman of SUIBE, also emphasized the Institute’s role as a vital bridge between the two universities, helping foster mutual understanding between the Chinese and Slovenian peoples. He noted the partnership has led to diverse collaborations, including faculty and student exchanges, as well as joint research initiatives.

    Meanwhile, Danijela Voljc, the Slovenian director of the Institute, said that over 600 Slovenians are currently studying Chinese through its programs. Over the past 15 years, the Institute has trained several thousand more students, bringing Chinese and Slovenian cultures closer together, the director added.

    Since 2012, Chinese has been officially included in Slovenia’s national education system.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 29, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 29, 2025.

    Parents of autistic children are stressed. Here’s what they want you to know
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Trevor Mazzucchelli, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, Curtin University ErsinTekkol/Shutterstock If you’re a parent or carer of a child who’s autistic, the odds are you’re spinning more plates than the average person. The emotional, physical and logistical demands stack up, often without the kind of support you

    Sexual health info online is crucial for teens. Australia’s new tech codes may threaten their access
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giselle Woodley, Lecturer and Research Fellow, Edith Cowan University CarlosDavid / Getty Last week, organisations from Australia’s online industries submitted a final draft of new industry codes aimed at protecting children from “age-inappropriate content” to the eSafety commissioner. The commissioner will now decide if the codes are

    Politics with Michelle Grattan: Zoe McKenzie on everything that went wrong and whether a gender quota could help the Liberals
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Liberals, still reeling from their crushing 2025 election defeat and following with brief split in the Coalition, have a new frontbench and their eyes turning to the long road of rebuilding. New leader Sussan Ley stresses the importance of

    After a chaotic 6 months, South Koreans will elect a new president – and hope for bold leadership
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander M. Hynd, Lecturer, Korean Politics/International Relations, The University of Melbourne On June 3, South Koreans will head to the polls to choose the country’s new president. The election may draw to a close one of the most chaotic and contentious periods in the country’s post-1987 democratic

    Samoa parliament to be dissolved in June, election date to come
    By Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai, RNZ Pacific journalist Its official. Samoa’s Parliament will be dissolved next week and the country will have an early return to the polls. The confirmation comes after a dramatic day in Parliament on Tuesday, which saw the government’s budget voted down at its first reading. In a live address today, Prime Minister

    From working class pubs to sold-out stadiums: how darts has become a major international sport
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua McLeod, Senior Lecturer in Sport Management, Deakin University Few sports have witnessed a transformation as dramatic as darts in recent years. From its origins as a pub game stereotypically played with cigarette and beer in hand, darts is now serious business. With surging television ratings and

    Sudden arrivals: NZ ambulance crews describe what it’s like when babies are born out of the blue
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vinuli Withanarachchie, PhD candidate, College of Health, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University WOWstockfootage/Getty Images It doesn’t happen very often, but every now and then expectant mothers don’t quite make it to the delivery suite on time – requiring specialised care from emergency medical services (EMS).

    Why NZ must act against Israel’s ethnic cleansing and genocide
    ANALYSIS: By Ian Powell When I despairingly contemplate the horrors and cruelty that Palestinians in Gaza are being subjected to, I sometimes try to put this in the context of where I live. I live on the Kāpiti Coast in the lower North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand. Geographically it is around the same size

    Knife crime is common but difficult to investigate. Robots can help
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    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lara Herrero, Associate Professor and Research Leader in Virology and Infectious Disease, Griffith University VioletaStoimenova/Getty Images As we enter the colder months in Australia, COVID is making headlines again, this time due to the emergence of a new variant: NB.1.8.1. Last week, the World Health Organization designated

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    By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Papua New Guinea’s state broadcaster NBC wants shortwave radio reintroduced to achieve the government’s goal of 100 percent broadcast coverage by 2030. Last week, the broadcaster hosted a workshop on the reintroduction of shortwave radio transmission, bringing together key government agencies and other stakeholders. NBC had previously a

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Parents of autistic children are stressed. Here’s what they want you to know

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Trevor Mazzucchelli, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, Curtin University

    ErsinTekkol/Shutterstock

    If you’re a parent or carer of a child who’s autistic, the odds are you’re spinning more plates than the average person. The emotional, physical and logistical demands stack up, often without the kind of support you need. It can leave you exhausted and wondering if things will ever improve.

    Every child is different, and every day can bring new challenges. Some moments are beautiful. Some are overwhelming. Some end in tears and frustration. Just when you think you’re in a routine that works or made some headway, everything can change again.

    As a clinical psychologist, this is what parents of autistic children tell me. As a parent of an autistic child, I too experience some of these stresses.

    In fact, parents of autistic children have much higher levels of stress than parents of children with other disabilities.

    What is autism?

    Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, is a developmental condition that affects how a person communicates, interacts with others, and makes sense of the world around them.

    It involves a wide range of traits and abilities. But it often involves difficulties with interacting and communicating socially, such as understanding body language or holding a conversation, as well as patterns of restricted or repetitive behaviour.

    Autism is usually diagnosed in early childhood. While every child’s experience is unique, it can influence their behaviour, learning and daily routines in ways that affect the whole family.

    For parents, the impact is often intense. This is not just about managing meltdowns or navigating therapy waitlists. The stress can affect everything from mental health, relationships, finances and the ability to cope day-to-day.

    It’s an incredibly tough gig for many parents and carers.

    Why the stress?

    Many parents tell me and research confirms that the hardest part isn’t autism itself – it’s everything around it. The long waits for a diagnosis. The out-of-pocket costs to see specialists, or for therapy or educational supports. The endless phone calls and paperwork. Trying to get help, only to hit another wall.

    Funding cuts to programs such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (or NDIS) have removed crucial supports and added to the pressure.

    Parents often spend extra time coordinating appointments, supporting school engagement, and advocating for their child. That invisible workload can take a toll, especially when combined with social isolation, lack of respite and little time to care for their own wellbeing.

    Chronic stress and burnout are real risks for many parents, especially when the level of support required just isn’t there.

    What can parents and carers do?

    A few approaches can help lighten the load:

    • be kind to yourself, especially on the hard days. Even a short break and some deep breathing to release tension can take the edge off and help you reset. It might not solve everything, but it can give you a small window to regroup and keep going

    • ask for help if you’re struggling. Whether it’s from your GP, a psychologist, a parenting helpline or something else. Reaching out is a strength, not a weakness. Informal help can be just as important, for instance from other parents with similar experiences, who just get it. You can find them in online support groups

    • research shows evidence-based parenting programs can help families of children with disability feel more confident and less stressed. They can also make it easier to manage tough times and strengthen the parent-child bond. The Australian government offers a free, online, self-paced program, which I co-wrote, to help parents cope.

    When it’s tough going, it’s important to take a moment to reset.
    KieferPix/Shutterstock

    How friends, family and schools can help

    Many parents and carers carry a huge emotional load trying to help their autistic child feel supported in educational settings, such as childcare and schools.

    They often become the case manager, counsellor and advocate to make sure their child is included, safe and seen.

    If you’re a friend, family member, or part of the school community, try to understand how challenging this can be. The struggle is often ongoing. Parents and carers aren’t being difficult – they’re doing what they can to give their child their best chance.

    Compassion, a listening ear, or stepping in to help can make a real difference.

    Ongoing support, even small things such as dropping off a meal, helping with school pick-ups, or sending a kind message, can ease the load more than you might realise.

    Information and support for parents of autistic children is available. If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

    Trevor Mazzucchelli is a co-author of Stepping Stones Triple P – Positive Parenting Program and a consultant to Triple P International. The Parenting and Family Support Centre is partly funded by royalties stemming from published resources of the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, which is developed and owned by The University of Queensland (UQ). Royalties are also distributed to the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences at UQ and contributory authors of published Triple P resources. Triple P International (TPI) Pty Ltd is a private company licensed by UniQuest Pty Ltd on behalf of UQ, to publish and disseminate Triple P worldwide. Trevor has no share or ownership of TPI, but has received and may in the future receive royalties and/or consultancy fees from TPI. Trevor has a child with autism and accesses support through the National Disability Insurance Scheme. He is also a member of the Parenting and Family Research Alliance (PAFRA), a multidisciplinary research collaboration of experts from leading Australian universities and research centres. The alliance is actively involved in conducting research, communication, and advocacy pertaining to parenting, families, and evidence-based parenting support. PAFRA is supported by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course.

    – ref. Parents of autistic children are stressed. Here’s what they want you to know – https://theconversation.com/parents-of-autistic-children-are-stressed-heres-what-they-want-you-to-know-256871

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: After a chaotic 6 months, South Koreans will elect a new president – and hope for bold leadership

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander M. Hynd, Lecturer, Korean Politics/International Relations, The University of Melbourne

    On June 3, South Koreans will head to the polls to choose the country’s new president. The election may draw to a close one of the most chaotic and contentious periods in the country’s post-1987 democratic era.

    South Korea has been embroiled in a political crisis since December, when former President Yoon Suk Yeol disastrously declared martial law.

    Yoon ordered security forces to block lawmakers from entering the National Assembly, leading to a dramatic late night confrontation. His unconstitutional decree was overturned after just six hours.

    The fall-out was equally dramatic: Yoon was impeached and removed from office in a drawn-out process that was not finally resolved until April.

    This period coincided with massive street demonstrations both opposing and supporting Yoon, a far-right assault on a courthouse and a physical stand-off between investigators and Yoon’s personal security team.

    The country, meanwhile, has cycled through three short-lived caretaker leaders.

    With weak economic growth and high costs of living, in addition to an equally challenging security environment, South Korea is in desperate need of bold and effective leadership.

    Who are the candidates?

    The Democratic Party’s Lee Jae-myung is the clear frontrunner to be the next president, after finishing a close second in the previous 2022 election.

    Recent polling put the veteran left-leaning politician at around 49% support as the race entered the final week.

    This is a double-digit lead over his main conservative opponent, Kim Moon-soo, polling at 35%. Another conservative candidate, Lee Jun-seok, is polling at 11%. Notably, for the first time since 2007, there are no female candidates standing to be president.

    The high levels of support for Lee Jae-myung suggest a widespread desire among the public to repudiate Yoon’s martial law declaration.

    Kim, the labour minister in Yoon’s administration, has apologised for December’s declaration. But his opponents have continued to question him about it.

    Kim’s challenge has been to build a coalition of moderates and mainstream conservatives who firmly opposed the martial law declaration, while also winning support from those who believe far-right conspiracy theories around election fraud. Yoon, the former president, is continuing to promote these narratives.

    Lee’s compelling background

    Lee Jae-myung’s personal story has uplifting parallels with South Korea’s own history of economic and political development.

    Lee was born into poverty; the exact date of his birth is not known. He worked in factories from a very young age and permanently injured his left arm in an industrial accident when he was still a child.

    Lee went on to earn a scholarship to study law and, by the late 1980s, had established himself as a labour lawyer and activist.

    This activist image was highlighted when he live-streamed himself dramatically scaling a fence to enter the National Assembly and vote down Yoon’s martial law declaration in December. He has previously compared himself to populist, progressive US Senator Bernie Sanders.

    More recently, however, he has moderated his political rhetoric and policy platform to appeal to centrists and even some conservative voters.

    This shift may also help shield Lee from the “red-baiting” claims left-leaning South Korean candidates typically face from conservative opponents that they are “communists”, “pro-China”, or “pro-North Korea”.

    But Lee is also plagued by legal troubles, including corruption charges linked to a land development project. These charges, frequently highlighted by his opponents, risk derailing his administration if he wins the election.

    What are the main issues?

    Some international commentators have focused on how the next president will handle North Korea. South Koreans, however, are more interested in the candidates’ plans to fix the country’s troubled economy.

    Lee Jae-myung has pledged to immediately establish an emergency economic taskforce if he takes office.

    There has also been a vigorous debate over South Korea’s future energy policy. Kim favours expanding nuclear energy production to around 60% of the country’s energy mix. Lee has voiced safety concerns about nuclear power, arguing “the era of building more reactors should come to an end”.

    Additionally, questions remain over potential constitutional reform to end South Korea’s so-called “imperial presidency” system, which has been blamed for centralising too much power in the hands of the president.

    The system dates back to the rewriting of the constitution following mass protests in 1987. This established direct presidential elections and a single, five-year term.

    Both Lee and Kim support changing this to a four-year, two-term presidential system, similar to the United States.

    Big challenges lie ahead

    On the international stage, the new leader will face an uphill battle negotiating with US President Donald Trump over his punitive tariffs. Trump imposed 25% tariffs on South Korean goods in April, but lowered them temporarily to 10% until early July.

    Before his impeachment, Yoon was widely reported to be practising his golf skills to attempt to find common ground with Trump, much as former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did.

    The new leader will also face massive challenges bringing South Korean society together in the current climate. Political polarisation and the spread of disinformation worsened under Yoon’s presidency – and these trends will be hard to reverse.

    Alexander M. Hynd 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. After a chaotic 6 months, South Koreans will elect a new president – and hope for bold leadership – https://theconversation.com/after-a-chaotic-6-months-south-koreans-will-elect-a-new-president-and-hope-for-bold-leadership-257348

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Politics with Michelle Grattan: Zoe McKenzie on everything that went wrong and whether a gender quota could help the Liberals

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

    The Liberals, still reeling from their crushing 2025 election defeat and following with brief split in the Coalition, have a new frontbench and their eyes turning to the long road of rebuilding.

    New leader Sussan Ley stresses the importance of the Liberals “meeting people where they are” and the party represents modern Australia.

    But what that will actually look like for the party is still an open question. To talk about this uncertain future we’re joined by the newly-minted Shadow Assistant Minister for Education, Early Learning and Mental Health, Zoe McKenzie.

    McKenzie was elected to the Melbourne electorate of Flinders in 2022. Her seat encompasses the Mornington Peninsula, mixing urban and rural areas. At the May election she held off a Climate 200-funded teal challenger.

    On the Liberal Party’s commitment to net-zero by 2050 – which is likely to come up for debate this term – McKenzie says she thinks net-zero is “a given”.

    It’s where the markets are heading. It’s our responsibility as a developed economy to contribute to the decarbonisation of the planet. I went to COP-27 a few years back, and you can see that the world’s markets, investment markets, research and development markets have all moved into preparing for a net-zero environment and Australia will be part of that. I do think, though, people are right to say, please don’t take away our manufacturing base.

    I am confident that net zero is here to stay. But you cannot disconnect it from what it says about the energy market, energy security, and the future of Australian industry. We’ve got to keep this as an investment rich country.

    On the party’s issues with the women’s vote, while McKenzie says the Liberals should look at “all options” she still has some concerns with the idea of quota’s,

    I am reluctantly coming to the conclusion that we must look at all options. I am fearful for what happens if a woman is selected by the operation of a quota and whether she will feel she has deserved her place there and or whether it will be asserted that she only got there because of a quota.

    Asked if Labor’s introduction of quotas is proof they can work, McKenzie says,

    Labor sacrificed a generation of talented Labor men to get to 50-50.

    That sacrificed generation coincided with our many years of successful leadership of this nation. They are now though, because of that decision and because of the sacrifice that was made, and because of the way they went about it, they are in the enviable position of attracting talented, capable women for election, routinely, for each and every seat.

    The Liberal Party, it tends, by its very nature, to preference people who have been able to devote a significant amount of time, often while in your 20s or 30s, to both party and community events. […] It will favour men. It will favour women who don’t have their own biological children, or it will favour women who can afford high quality in-home help. So we are not getting the breadth of women we need presenting for pre-selection and we are going to have to think out of the box.

    On the rise of the teals, McKenzie’s looks to global examples to explain why two-party systems are changing,

    I’m not sure yet whether teal is here to stay but what I do know is that we have moved well beyond the paradigm when I was a kid, which is when it was a 40-40-20 voting bloc. We all fought over that 20 in the middle. It now looks like the 30-30-40 pattern is here to stay.

    That’s a message for all of us, in fact, to do better. So I should say, though, this is not unique to Australia. The demise of the two-party system can be observed worldwide.

    If you look at the United States, the Republicans and the Democrats remain, but some would say they remain in name only. They have both morphed significantly as political movements. The Labour and Tory parties in the UK have both evolved over time.

    On the Liberal’s lack of appeal to younger Australians McKenzie highlights what went wrong and why the party must do better with those voters,

    We hadn’t explained to them the basics of home ownership, let alone what a tax deduction on your interest payments on your first mortgage might look and feel like. If you’re 18, 19, 20, your first mortgage still feels 10 to 15 years away.

    We didn’t do enough, I think, to talk about their lives, to understand their lives and their aspirations and how Liberal policy was going to make their life easier. We must do a better job of that […] because the average voter now is either Gen Z or a millennial, no longer Gen X, which is my generation, or boomers above.

    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. Politics with Michelle Grattan: Zoe McKenzie on everything that went wrong and whether a gender quota could help the Liberals – https://theconversation.com/politics-with-michelle-grattan-zoe-mckenzie-on-everything-that-went-wrong-and-whether-a-gender-quota-could-help-the-liberals-257729

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Sexual health info online is crucial for teens. Australia’s new tech codes may threaten their access

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giselle Woodley, Lecturer and Research Fellow, Edith Cowan University

    CarlosDavid / Getty

    Last week, organisations from Australia’s online industries submitted a final draft of new industry codes aimed at protecting children from “age-inappropriate content” to the eSafety commissioner.

    The commissioner will now decide if the codes are appropriate to be implemented under the Online Safety Act.

    The codes aim to address young people’s access to pornography, high-impact violence, and material relating to self-harm, suicide and disordered eating.

    However, the draft codes may have unintended consequences. There is a real risk they may further restrict access to materials about sex education, sexual health information, harm reduction and health promotion.

    Social media can operate as a powerful medium to teach teens and young people sexual information.

    Social media campaigns (some government funded) target rising rates of sexual violence. They also disseminate important sexual health information.

    What are the industry codes?

    The eSafety commissioner is in the process of introducing codes of practice for the online industry “to protect Australians from illegal and restricted online content”. The Phase 1 codes, aimed at illegal content such as child sexual exploitation material, came into effect last year.

    Now the commissioner is looking at Phase 2. These are designed to prevent young people from accessing “inappropriate” but not illegal content. They will do this via age-assurance mechanisms and by filtering, de-prioritising, downranking and suppressing content.

    The codes will apply to operating systems, various internet services, search engines and hardware, such as smartphones and tablets.

    Tech companies will have more power (and responsibility) to remove content and suspend users. Companies that don’t follow the codes risk fines of up to US$49.5 million (around A$77 million).

    Suppression of sexual health content

    The idea of using technology to restrict online content by age is problematic. The Australian government itself has deemed that age-assurance technologies are not ready to be used. State-of-the-art software has shown racial and gendered bias.

    And digital platforms have a poor track record of governing sexual media.

    International human rights organisations, including the United Nations, have warned that automated content moderation is being used to censor sex education and consensual sexual expression.

    Research shows many platforms tend to remove or suppress content about drag queens, trans rights, sexual racism, body positivity and sex worker safety.

    At the same time, they allow health misinformation and hate speech directed at LGBTQ+ people.

    Sexual health organisations and educators already face challenges using social media to communicate with key audiences, including LGBTQ+ communities. These include having their content made less visible (“shadowbanning”) or outright removed.

    Unintended consequences

    Content moderation policies are already very restrictive. To enforce them, platforms use nudity and pornography detection software that is often biased toward heteronormative standards.

    For example, Google’s computer vision software has previously relied on word databases that link “bisexuality” with “pornography”, “sodomy” with “bestiality”, and “masturbation” with “self-abuse”.

    Many users currently use “algospeak”. This is language designed to avoid the notice of the algorithms that may flag content as inappropriate, often involving tweaks such as using emojis or “seggs” or “s&x” instead of “sex”.

    The government recognises the power of social media. It has committed more than A$100 million towards Our Watch (a leading organisation advocating against violence against women) and its teen-focused social media initiative The Line.

    Another A$3.5 million has gone to the Teach Us Consent organisation. This group creates social media content for teens and young people about consent, healthy relationships, pornography and sex.

    Like the looming youth social media ban, the proposed industry codes may undermine the government’s own efforts to reduce gender-based violence.

    Sex education and health promotion

    Social media platforms try to separate health information from general sexual content. For example, they may aim to allow nudity in cases like childbirth, breastfeeding, medical care or protests.

    However, evidence suggests these exceptions are currently almost impossible to moderate accurately. They rely on a distinction between sex education and sexual media that is blurry at best.

    In reality, sexuality education is not simply technical information about infections, sexual dysfunction or medical care. Sexual imagery plays an important role in sexual health promotion. Young people respond well to visual methods of communication and learning.

    Likewise, the importance of pleasure has been long recognised in HIV prevention, safer sex and violence prevention efforts. Industry codes should recognise sexual media as a potential medium for conducting sex education and promoting sexual and reproductive rights.

    Governments in many countries are moving to restrict sexual information and health services. This includes efforts to criminalise abortion, limit access to trans health care and prevent comprehensive sex education.

    In this context, access to online health promotion and sex education content is even more vital.

    Ensuring access to sexual health material

    The industry codes are intended to protect. However, they risk endangering the ability of Australians to access essential information.

    This is especially important for the many young people who do not have access to comprehensive sexuality and reproductive health information at home or school.

    To uphold sexual rights to information, privacy and expression, the codes must shift away from simply giving platforms an incentive to detect and suppress all sexual content.

    Instead, the codes should ensure non-discriminatory access and require platforms to promote material that supports sexual health, rights and justice. In practice, this necessitates careful consideration of content in context.

    This task might seem time consuming, resource heavy and difficult for regulators and platforms alike. But the implications of content suppression are too dire to overlook.

    In our view, the codes should be paused until they are able to balance protection with rights to information.

    Giselle Woodley has previously received funding from the Australian Research Council via Discovery Project DP190102435 ‘Adolescents’ perceptions of harm from accessing online sexual content’ and the ARC’s Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child. She currently receives funding under Discovery Project ID: DP250102379: Teen-informed strategies to counter sexual image abuse and sextortion. She is a co-founder of Bloom-Ed, a Relationships and Sexuality Education advocacy group, whose views are not expressed here. Giselle would like to thank Dr Elena Jeffreys and Professor Paul Haskell-Dowland for their contributions to this article.

    Kath Albury receives funding from the Australian Research Council Future Fellowship scheme, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making + Society; and FORTE, the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare. She has previously received funding from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner. She is a current member of pro-bono advisory groups for ASHM, Scarlet Alliance and UNESCO.

    Zahra Stardust has previously received funding from the QUT Digital Media Research Centre (for a project on Rainbow Capitalism, Pinkwashing and Targeted Advertising); FORTE, the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (for a project on LGBTQ Digital Sexual Health); from Google Asia Pacific (for a project on AI-related Image-Based Abuse); and from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making + Society (for projects on Alternative Sexual Content Moderation, Sexual Surveillance and the Political Economy of Sextech). She previously worked as a policy advisor for ACON (NSW’s leading HIV and LGBTI health organisation) and Scarlet Alliance, Australian Sex Workers Association.

    – ref. Sexual health info online is crucial for teens. Australia’s new tech codes may threaten their access – https://theconversation.com/sexual-health-info-online-is-crucial-for-teens-australias-new-tech-codes-may-threaten-their-access-257645

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  • MIL-OSI Global: RFK Jr. says annual COVID-19 shots no longer advised for healthy children and pregnant women – a public health expert explains the new guidance

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Libby Richards, Professor of Nursing, Purdue University

    Until now, the CDC has recommended that everyone ages 6 months and older get a yearly COVID-19 vaccine. Asiaselects via Getty Images

    On May 27, 2025, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will no longer include the COVID-19 vaccine on the list of immunizations it recommends for healthy children and pregnant women.

    The announcement, made in a video posted on the social platform X, comes on the heels of another announcement, made on May 20, in which the Food and Drug Administration revealed that it will approve new versions of the vaccine only for adults 65 years of age and older and for people with one or more risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes. The agency will require vaccine manufacturers to conduct clinical trials to demonstrate that the vaccine benefits low-risk groups.

    The Conversation U.S. asked Libby Richards, a nursing professor from Purdue University involved in public health promotion, to explain what these announcements mean for the general public.

    Why are HHS and FDA diverging from past practice?

    Currently, getting a yearly COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older, regardless of their health risk.

    In the video announcing the plan to remove the vaccine from the CDC’s recommended immunization schedule for healthy children and healthy pregnant women, Kennedy spoke alongside National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. The trio cited a lack of evidence to support vaccinating healthy children. They did not explain the reason for the change to the vaccine schedule for pregnant people, who have previously been considered at high-risk for severe COVID-19.

    Similarly, in the FDA announcement made a week prior, Makary and the agency’s head of vaccines, Vinay Prasad, said that public health trends now support limiting vaccines to people at high risk of serious illness instead of a universal COVID-19 vaccination strategy.

    Was this a controversial decision or a clear consensus?

    Many public health experts and professional health care associations have raised concerns about Kennedy’s latest announcement, saying it contradicts studies showing that COVID-19 vaccination benefits pregnant people and children. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, considered the premier professional organization for that medical specialty, reinforced the importance of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, especially to protect infants after birth. Likewise, the American Academy of Pediatrics pointed to the data on hospitalizations of children with COVID-19 during the 2024-to-2025 respiratory virus season as evidence for the importance of vaccination.

    Kennedy’s announcement on children and pregnant women comes roughly a month ahead of a planned meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a panel of vaccine experts that offers guidance to the CDC on vaccine policy. The meeting was set to review guidance for the 2025-to-2026 COVID-19 vaccines. It’s not typical for the CDC to alter its recommendations without input from the committee.

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has removed COVID-19 vaccines from the vaccine schedule for healthy children and pregnant people.

    FDA officials Makary and Prasad also strayed from past established vaccine regulatory processes in announcing the FDA’s new stance on recommendations for healthy people under age 65. Usually, the FDA broadly approves a vaccine based on whether it is safe and effective, and decisions on who should be eligible to receive it are left to the CDC, which bases its decision on the advisory committee’s research-based guidance.

    The advisory committee was expected to recommend a risk-based approach for the COVID-19 vaccine, but it was also expected to recommend allowing low-risk people to get annual COVID-19 vaccines if they want to. The CDC’s and FDA’s new policies on the vaccine will likely make it difficult for healthy people to get the vaccine.

    What conditions count as risk factors?

    The CDC lists several medical conditions and other factors that increase peoples’ risk for severe COVID-19. These conditions include cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, chronic kidney disease and some lung conditions like COPD and asthma. Pregnancy is also on the list.

    The article authored by Makary and Prasad describing the FDA’s new stance on the vaccine also contain a lengthy list of risk factors and notes that about 100 million to 200 million people will fall into this category and will thus be eligible to get the vaccine. Pregnancy is included. Reversing the recommendation for vaccinating healthy pregnant women thus contradicts the new framework described by the FDA.

    Studies have documented that COVID-19 vaccines are safe during pregnancy and may reduce the risk of stillbirth. A study published in May 2025 using data from 26,783 pregnancies found a link between COVID-19 infection before and during pregnancy and an increased risk for spontaneous abortions.

    Importantly, a 2024 analysis of 120 studies including a total of 168,444 pregnant women with COVID-19 infections did not find enough evidence to suggest the infections are a direct cause of early pregnancy loss. Nonetheless, the authors did state that COVID-19 vaccination remains a crucial preventive measure for pregnant women to reduce the overall risk of serious complications in pregnancy due to infection.

    Immune changes during pregnancy increase the risk of severe illness from respiratory viruses. Vaccination during pregnancy also provides protection to the fetus that lasts into the first few months of life and is associated with a lower risk of COVID-19 related hospitalization among infants.

    Change is coming to COVID-19 vaccine policy.
    Rick Obst, CC BY-SA

    The changes to the CDC’s and the FDA’s plan for COVID-19 vaccines also leave out an important group – caregivers and household members of people at high risk of severe illness from infection. This omission leaves high-risk people more vulnerable to exposure to COVID-19 from healthy people they regularly interact with. Multiple countries with risk-based vaccination policies do include this group.

    What about vaccines for children?

    High-risk children age 6 months and older who have conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 are still eligible for the vaccine. Existing vaccines already on the market will remain available, but it is unclear how long they will stay authorized and how the change in vaccine policy will affect childhood vaccination overall.

    To date, millions of children have safely received the COVID-19 vaccine. Data on whether children benefit from annual COVD-19 vaccines is less clear. Parents and clinicians make vaccination decisions by weighing potential risks with potential benefits.

    Will low-risk people be able to get a COVID-19 shot?

    Not automatically. Kennedy’s announcement does not broadly address healthy adults, but under the new FDA framework, healthy adults who wish to receive the fall COVID-19 vaccine will likely face obstacles. Health care providers can administer vaccines “off-label”, but insurance coverage is widely based on FDA recommendations. The new, narrower FDA approval will likely reduce both access to COVID-19 vaccines for the general public and insurance coverage for COVID-19 vaccines.

    Under the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance providers are required to fully cover the cost of any vaccine endorsed by the CDC. Kennedy’s announcement will likely limit insurance coverage for COVID-19 vaccination.

    Overall, the move to focus on individual risks and benefits may overlook broader public health benefits. Communities with higher vaccination rates have fewer opportunities to spread the virus.

    This is an updated version of an article originally published on May 22, 2025.

    Libby Richards has received funding from the American Nurses Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute.

    – ref. RFK Jr. says annual COVID-19 shots no longer advised for healthy children and pregnant women – a public health expert explains the new guidance – https://theconversation.com/rfk-jr-says-annual-covid-19-shots-no-longer-advised-for-healthy-children-and-pregnant-women-a-public-health-expert-explains-the-new-guidance-257705

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s vast market unlocks opportunities for ASEAN amid global trade headwinds

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

    At a fully automated production line in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, cans of energy drinks rolled off conveyors, destined for shelves across China.

    Operated by Thai conglomerate T.C. Pharmaceutical Industries Co., Ltd., this 1.3-billion-yuan (about 180.8 million U.S. dollars) facility with four automated production lines exemplifies the deepening foothold of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in China’s consumer market.

    Launched in January this year, the plant generated 75 million yuan in first-quarter output value, matching expectations.

    “China’s 1.4-billion-strong market, undergoing dual upgrades in consumption and industrial chains, is unlocking opportunities for high-level opening up,” said Bai Ming, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation. “ASEAN, as our close neighbor, is uniquely positioned to share these dividends.”

    Despite global trade headwinds, China-ASEAN trade surged 9.2 percent year on year to 2.38 trillion yuan in the first four months of 2025, with ASEAN retaining its position as China’s top trading partner, according to China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC).

    Guangxi, the country’s gateway to ASEAN, brings this partnership to life. At a center for China-ASEAN specialty commodities in Nanning, capital of Guangxi, Singaporean specialty dishes and Thai spices sit alongside Cambodian rice — all purchasable with a quick QR code scan.

    Since its launch in 2022, the center has featured over 5,500 types of products, serving as a one-stop platform for cross-border trade. Malaysian durian mooncakes find their way to Chinese dining tables via promotional livestreaming, while Chinese cosmetics gain traction in ASEAN markets thanks to multilingual influencers’ skillful introduction.

    Such centers tackled what was previously a headache for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in ASEAN — a lack of access to efficient cross-border industrial chains and storage solutions.

    “By providing these solutions and value-added supporting services, the center helps SMEs in ASEAN capitalize on China’s ultra-large market, facilitating smoother exchanges of high-quality products between China and ASEAN countries,” said Lu Chunmei, a deputy general manager at the center.

    This growing trade between China and ASEAN is also reshaping careers. In the bustling cross-border e-commerce training base of Guangxi International Business Vocational College, Indonesian student Putriyani enthusiastically showcased Chinese specialty products to global buyers via livestreaming. Nearby, her classmates from Vietnam, Thailand and Laos could be seen promoting products in their native languages.

    As the first college in Guangxi to offer cross-border e-commerce training programs, this institution graduates some 300 professionals annually, nurturing a talent pool fluent in both ASEAN languages and digital trade.

    “As the combined population of China and ASEAN accounts for about a quarter of the world’s total, their integrated development has continuously unleashed market potential, establishing an exemplary model of cooperation amid global headwinds,” said Lyu Daliang, spokesperson for the GAC.

    This synergy is set to deepen with the recent completion of negotiations on the Version 3.0 China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA), the world’s largest free trade zone among developing countries. The upgraded pact will introduce nine new chapters, including digital economy and support for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises that account for the majority of ASEAN’s business entities.

    Feng Gui, a law professor at Guangxi University of Finance and Economics, said the conclusion of CAFTA 3.0 negotiations will significantly enhance industrial capacity, technological collaboration and trade ties between China and ASEAN, accelerating their economic growth and industrialization.

    “This breakthrough provides renewed support for the multilateral trading system while charting the right pathway for the majority of countries committed to preserving free trade principles,” he added. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: German hidden champions seek collaborative development in Chinese market

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

    The China-Germany (China-Europe) Hidden Champions Forum 2025 concluded in Beijing on Tuesday. The importance of investment and collaboration in Chinese market is repeatedly emphasized during three days of in-depth discussions on industrial chain resilience, policy access and new technology cooperation.

    The forum brought together over 600 representatives from China and abroad, including company executives, government officials, and industry leaders.

    Hidden champions refer to highly successful yet lesser-known small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are global leaders in terms of market share in their respective niches.

    Würth Group is a hidden champion that provides over 125,000 product variants, from screws to chemical-technical products for automotive maintenance, assembly technology, rail transportation, etc.

    Harald Unkelbach, board member of Würth Group, highlighted the reliability and predictability of the Chinese market for foreign investors, noting that the group plans to increase its investment in China further, as it has already established 38 affiliated enterprises there.

    Amid rapid digitalization, forum participants emphasized the urgent need for SME digital transformation and supply chain modernization.

    According to Jiang Xiaojuan, professor at University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, digital platforms are helping SMEs engaged in cross-border research and development address challenges like low levels of product localization and slow development cycles.

    Another discussion point was the technological complementarity between China and Germany. Ivka Ocharova from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology noted that while Germany excels in foundational knowledge development and manufacturing technology, China leads in generative AI and applied technologies. This complementary dynamic creates vast potential for cooperation.

    The innovation cluster network is one of the attractive aspects of Beijing, the host city of this forum. Beijing ranks third in the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Science and Technology Cluster Ranking 2024 and that its GDP surged 5.2 percent to 4.98 trillion yuan (about 692.69 billion U.S. dollars) last year, noted Mu Peng, vice mayor of Beijing.

    Beijing has continued to improve the business environment by aligning with international standards, and over 8,300 foreign-funded enterprises have been established here in the past five years.

    Peng Jian, expert at International Cooperation Center of National Development and Reform Commission, pointed to the evolving role of hidden champions, with many transitioning from “in China, for China” to “in China, for the World.” He added that German enterprises set up research and development links in China for products intended for global emerging markets and gain technical inspiration from this process.

    Hans-Peter Friedrich, former vice president of the German Bundestag, said that not investing in China means missing out on prime access to Asia’s vast regional market.

    Friedrich shared a proverb at the forum that received applause from the guests in attendance: When the winds of change blow, some people build walls, others build windmills. He expressed the hope to collaborate with China to jointly create more “windmills” and promote shared development, especially during period of transformation. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: From working class pubs to sold-out stadiums: how darts has become a major international sport

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua McLeod, Senior Lecturer in Sport Management, Deakin University

    Few sports have witnessed a transformation as dramatic as darts in recent years.

    From its origins as a pub game stereotypically played with cigarette and beer in hand, darts is now serious business.

    With surging television ratings and huge demand for live events, the growth of darts continues to leave many sports looking on in envy.

    There has been a combination of factors at play – not least one exceptionally prodigious teenager. Before discussing those factors, it’s worth taking a closer look at the numbers.

    Becoming big business

    Darts sits alongside a select few sports to have achieved significant commercial growth over the past decade.

    While not at the scale of sports such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Formula 1, the rise of darts has been prolific.

    In the United Kingdom, a record-breaking peak of 3.7 million viewers watched the 2024 Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championship final. It was Sky Sports’ highest-ever non-soccer broadcast.

    In addition to the PDC World Championship – the sport’s premier knockout event – viewership records were also broken across the 2024 Premier League Darts season, a league-format competition featuring weekly fixtures between top-ranked players.

    On the UK’s Sky Sports, the 15 most-watched nights in the competition’s history all occurred that year.

    The PDC World Championship and Premier League Darts sit alongside the World Matchplay as the “Triple Crown” of most important darts events.

    Outside the UK, darts viewership also continues to grow.

    The Netherlands remains a strong and expanding heartland, while in Germany, viewership for the World Championship final has increased eightfold since 2008.

    In Australia, precise viewing figures are not widely available, but the Foxtel Group’s landmark four-year deal with the PDC in 2023 suggests rising demand.

    Surging audiences are translating into significantly larger broadcast deals.

    In 2025, Sky Sports reportedly outbid Netflix to secure a new £125 million (A$260.3 million) deal for exclusive UK coverage of the PDC for 2026–30. That was double the size of the previous deal.

    In contrast, many other sports face stagnation or even sharp declines in media rights value.

    For instance, the UK Super League rugby’s rights on Sky Sports fell from £40 million (A$83.3 million) per season in 2021 to £21.5 million (A$44.5 million) in 2024.

    Similarly, in soccer, the French Ligue 1’s TV deal with DAZN collapsed due to underwhelming subscriber numbers. Meanwhile, ESPN walked away from its long-standing agreement with Major League Baseball after unsuccessfully trying to cut its US$550 million (A$848 million) annual payment down to $200 million (A$309 million).

    Prize money in darts has also exploded.

    Next year, the winner of the two-week long World Championship will bank £1 million (A$2.08 million) – doubling this year’s purse.

    The prize money was £60,000 (A$124,960) in 2005, representing a 1,567% increase over 20 years.

    Tickets are also hot property. Premier League and World Championship sessions often sell out within minutes worldwide: the UK, Bahrain, New York and even Wollongong have become key stops in darts’ international calendar.

    The recipe for success

    Like Formula 1 and the UFC, darts benefits from being privately operated.

    Without the typical bureaucracy and conflicting interests seen in many traditional sport governing bodies, the PDC can respond more quickly to audience preferences and market opportunities.

    This streamlined, commercially driven approach has been key to darts’ growth.

    The sport has been expertly tailored to modern audiences.

    One of darts’ best-known selling points is the live event experience. The entertainment-first approach is known for loud music, the showmanship of player walk-ons, fancy dress from the crowd and yes, often plenty of alcohol.

    The lines are blurred between sport and party and fans love it.

    Culturally, darts is seen by many as fun, relatable, and rooted in working-class culture. After all, its heritage is in the pub.

    Darts is ideally suited to modern sport media consumption habits: PLD matches last only 20–30 minutes and the up-close TV product works perfectly for social media highlight clips.

    It is also one of the few sports where women compete directly against men.

    This adds another layer of interest for fans and has helped elevate stars such as Fallon Sherrock, who made headlines in 2019 by becoming the first woman to win a match at the PDC World Championship, eventually reaching the final 32.

    A prodigy emerges

    The so-called “Littler Effect” has given darts’ profile a significant boost.

    The emergence of talented teenager Luke Littler has broken new ground for the sport and drawn global interest.

    The English prodigy, who has quickly risen to fame, is by far the sport’s biggest star, but it would be unfair to say darts is a one-man band.

    Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen enjoy significant profiles while Phil Taylor is regarded as the sport’s greatest player. Australia’s Simon “The Wizard” Whitlock also forged a successful career.

    There is also colourful two-time world champion Peter Wright.

    Where to from here?

    The success of darts reveals much about modern sports audiences and their preferences.

    Darts does not rely on traditional ideas of athletic excellence, nor does it fit the Olympic ideal.

    Yet, darts is thriving while many traditional sports are stagnating.

    Darts’ success stems from remaining authentic to its working-class roots while evolving into an engaging commercial product suited for television, short-form content and digital media.

    For darts to fully achieve its global potential, the next step has to be continued international growth. Although it has grown steadily in markets like Australia and throughout Asia, the UK remains darts’ dominant base.

    As the global sports marketplace becomes more fragmented and competitive, darts is well positioned to continue growing.

    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. From working class pubs to sold-out stadiums: how darts has become a major international sport – https://theconversation.com/from-working-class-pubs-to-sold-out-stadiums-how-darts-has-become-a-major-international-sport-254807

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Show us your daggiest: Seeking UniSA cups, caps and clothing from days gone by

    Source:

    29 May 2025

    A memory contributed to the Time Capsule by staff member Annabel, who had the opportunity to teach Jimmy Barnes the Vulcan Salute when he attended a graduation ceremony to receive an honorary doctorate, alongside fellow awardee George Takei – who portrayed the captain of the starship Enterprise in the original Star Trek TV series (left).

    The University of South Australia’s Time Capsule is a fascinating trip back in time, bursting with vintage, celebrity and quirky memorabilia recorded over more than 150 years, including through preceding institutions.

    The online collection already holds almost 400 visual mementos contributed by staff, students, alumni and community members. Yet there’s an element UniSA’s Acting Vice Chancellor Distinguished Professor Marnie Hughes-Warrington AO says is underrepresented – the unfashionable and outdated merchandise she knows is out there.

    “I’m challenging the community to dig deep in their bottom drawers and storage boxes, seek out those outdated mugs, shirts, and hats that I know are out there,” Prof Hughes-Warrington says.

    The UniSA Time Capsule is a work in progress – a collection of photos, videos and documents celebrating achievements, history and culture across the sweep of the University’s teaching, learning, research and community and campus activities. The goal is to capture special UniSA moments and personal reflections, preserving the University’s past before it joins with the University of Adelaide to begin its new chapter as Adelaide University.

    “UniSA has a long legacy,” Prof Hughes-Warrington explains. “Including our antecedent institutions, our history goes back to 1856.

    A makeup class for aspiring kindergarten teachers at a UniSA antecedent institution, circa 1960s

    “We created this project to help our community tell the UniSA story as it relates to them. This is not a formal history of the University nor a repository for formal University records, it’s a people’s history.”

    Prof Hughes-Warrington, a globally acknowledged philosopher and historian with many history publications to her credit, believes museums and history books have an important place in the world but making history accessible to people is what matters most.

    “Most people connect with history visually, including through photos, films or television. It was important to us to create an experience where people could make history with us, not by giving us their objects, but by sharing their images, videos or other documents, memories that are important to them.

    “History is all around us, it’s what we wear, it’s what we carry around. There is nothing too small that isn’t important in our own stories and the story of UniSA, so we’re absolutely delighted that our community is embracing this project and sharing their own pieces of history.

    “Research shows that if people feel they are part of creating history and are involved in that process, they are more likely to contribute, to go and look at it, and the result will be a richer, more authentic story.”   

    Students in a UniSA antecedent institution’s Aboriginal Task Force program, 1973

    Within the Time Capsule, Proppa Stories is capturing and sharing the unique history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders at UniSA.

    The UniSA Time Capsule will continue collecting pieces of the University’s history until the end of the year, with many nostalgic, hilarious and proud moments already captured. From the conferral of Nelson Mandela’s honorary doctorate to art classes in the 1800s and teaching Jimmy Barnes the Star Trek Vulcan salute, the rich tapestry of UniSA’s legacy is taking shape for all to enjoy.

    Visit the time capsule here to view or contribute your photo, video or scanned document: https://timecapsule.unisa.edu.au/  

    Media contact: Megan Andrews M: +61 434 819 275 E: megan.andrews@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla Cosponsors Bill to Make Public Colleges and Universities Tuition Free

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — As President Trump and Congressional Republicans work to make college unaffordable and unattainable for millions of working-class families, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07), and eight Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to make public colleges and universities tuition free for 95 percent of students. The College for All Act would be the most transformative investment in higher education in 60 years and would substantially improve the lives of millions of students throughout the United States.

    Nearly 4 million student borrowers live in California, owing an average of $38,168 and a total of $148.6 billion in student loan debt.

    “As a first-generation college graduate from a low-income household, I know a good education is the foundation of the American dream, but I’ve seen firsthand the challenges of accessing and affording higher education,” said Senator Padilla. “We need bold, proactive solutions to make college more affordable — not the Trump Administration’s short-sighted plan to eradicate student financial aid and put higher education out of reach for millions of American families. The College for All Act would help millions of working families shoulder the financial burden of paying for their children’s college. When we invest in all students, we support our nation’s financial interests by ensuring that opportunity and economic prosperity are attainable for all, regardless of income.”

    “In a highly competitive global economy where technology is changing the very nature of work and the jobs we perform, we need the best educated workforce in the world,” said Senator Sanders. “Our nation used to lead the world in the percentage of adults with a college degree. Today, we are in 11th place behind countries like Japan, South Korea, Canada, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. That is not a prescription for a strong American economy of the future. It is a prescription for failure. Instead of increasing the cost of college in order to give more tax breaks to billionaires, we have a better idea. We are going to make public colleges and universities tuition free so that working class students can succeed and are not burdened with a lifetime of debt.”

    Making public colleges and universities tuition free is not a radical idea. In 1944, as World War II was coming to an end, the U.S. government made free higher education available to all those who served in the armed forces. That act not only improved the financial well-being of the Greatest Generation, but it also laid the groundwork for the greatest expansion of the American middle class in U.S. history. Moreover, over 50 years ago, many of America’s most prestigious public colleges and universities were also tuition free or virtually tuition free.

    Since this legislation was first introduced 10 years ago, several colleges and universities in America have provided free tuition for working class and middle-class students, including every state college in New Mexico, the State University of New York, the University of Texas, the University of Wisconsin, and Arkansas State University.

    Other wealthy countries like France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland have made their public colleges and universities tuition free or virtually tuition free because they understand the value of investing in their young people.

    The College for All Act would guarantee tuition-free community college for all students and allow students from single households earning up to $150,000 a year, and married households earning up to $300,000 a year, to attend college without fear of being saddled with student loan debt.

    Specifically, the College for All Act would also:

    • Double the maximum Pell Grant award for students enrolled at public and private non-profit colleges;
    • Establish a $10 billion grant program to improve student outcomes and address equity gaps at underfunded public colleges and universities;
    • Triple federal TRIO program funding;
    • Double GEAR UP funding; and
    • Double mandatory funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs).

    In addition to Senator Padilla, the legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).

    Senator Padilla has consistently advocated on behalf of students to make college more affordable and accessible. Last year, Padilla and Representative Norma J. Torres (D-Calif.-35) hosted local students and advocates to reintroduce the Basic Assistance for Students in College (BASIC) Act, bicameral legislation to help ensure college students can meet their basic needs while pursuing their education. He also introduced the Student Food Security Act of 2024, bicameral legislation to address food insecurity faced by college students nationwide. Padilla previously cosponsored the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act, bicameral legislation that would nearly double the Pell Grant maximum award, index the maximum award for inflation, and expand the program to include Dreamers.

    During the Biden Administration, Padilla led numerous letters urging the President to provide meaningful student debt cancellation, along with multiple letters urging former U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to leverage his authority under the Higher Education Act to provide expanded student debt relief to working and middle-class borrowers.

    A one-pager on the College for All Act is available here.

    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump says Harvard should have 15% cap on foreign students

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

    U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that there should be a cap of around 15 percent on foreign students at Harvard University, while continuing to pressure it to submit its list of foreign students.

    “Harvard has to show us their lists,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “They have foreign students. About 31 percent of their students are foreign based. Almost 31 percent. We want to know where those students come. Are they troublemakers?”

    Trump claimed that many of those students were troublemakers “caused by the radical left lunatics in this country.”

    “I think they should have a cap of maybe around 15 percent, not 31 percent, we have people want to go to Harvard and other schools they can’t get in because we have foreign students there,” he said.

    After Trump returned to the White House, he has targeted many U.S. universities, warning that those that do not adjust their policies will face funding cuts. The Trump administration’s main demands include eradicating antisemitism on campus and abolishing diversity initiatives that favor minority groups.

    With billions of dollars in funding frozen, its tax-exempt status in jeopardy and multiple investigations underway, Harvard is facing an unprecedented crisis.

    On May 22, the Department of Homeland Security announced the revocation of Harvard’s eligibility for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program — one of the latest moves by the Trump administration aimed at pressuring the university.

    Harvard has filed a lawsuit against the federal government, and a federal judge in Massachusetts has temporarily blocked the ban, and a court hearing on the issue was scheduled for May 29. Previously, Harvard filed a lawsuit against the administration over federal funding cuts.

    According to data from Harvard, as of fall 2023, international students made up more than 27 percent of the total student population. Currently, Harvard enrolls nearly 6,800 international students and scholars from over 140 countries and regions, most of whom are pursuing graduate programs. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Sudden arrivals: NZ ambulance crews describe what it’s like when babies are born out of the blue

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vinuli Withanarachchie, PhD candidate, College of Health, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University

    WOWstockfootage/Getty Images

    It doesn’t happen very often, but every now and then expectant mothers don’t quite make it to the delivery suite on time – requiring specialised care from emergency medical services (EMS).

    This can happen when babies come early, when the mother-to-be is in denial, or when they simply don’t know they are pregnant. These out-of-hospital births can increase the risks for both mother and child.

    While there haven’t been any New Zealand-specific studies, data from Norway and Ireland show infant mortality rates are two to three times higher for unplanned out-of-hospital births compared to those in medical facilities.

    In 2024, Hato Hone St John, Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest ambulance service, responded to 2,745 obstetric emergencies. This accounted for 0.9% of all ambulance patients – similar to comparable countries such as Australia and the United States.

    In our new research, we surveyed Hato Hone St John ambulance personnel to better understand their experiences attending unplanned out-of-hospital births. Although such events are rare, personnel must be prepared to provide care for mothers and newborns during any clinical shift.

    The 147 responses we received highlighted the need for ongoing and targeted training for staff as they balance supporting the safe arrival of a newborn with patient and whānau-centered care.

    Navigating the unknown

    EMS personnel reported being dispatched for reports of abdominal or back pain in female patients, only to encounter an unanticipated imminent birth upon arrival.

    In many of these cases, patients were unaware of their pregnancies and had received no prior antenatal care. This left EMS personnel to lead labour and birth care without crucial information about gestational age or potential complications. As one paramedic explained:

    The call was for non-traumatic back pain. The patient had a cryptic pregnancy and was not aware she was pregnant until I informed her that she was in labour. I was the senior clinician in attendance, we were 25 minutes to a maternity unit that didn’t have surgical facilities and a [neonatal unit].

    In some situations, EMS personnel attended teenage patients who were in denial of their pregnancies or fearful it would be discovered by their families.

    Attending to the mother’s emotional needs, respecting her dignity and navigating family dynamics compounded existing challenges to providing care. Another paramedic explained:

    Attended an 18-year-old that did not know or was in denial that she was pregnant. She had the baby on her own in the bathroom. The parents came home during the birth, and she was too scared to tell them and kept the baby quiet by nursing her. She called an ambulance from the bathroom and told them she didn’t want the parents to know.

    Unplanned out-of-hospital birts can test the skills of ambulance staff.
    hedgehog94/Shutterstock

    Practical challenges

    Complex births, medical emergencies and limited specialised neonatal equipment required EMS to improvise in such cases. While some focused on skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby, others prepared makeshift blankets using things such as plastic clingfilm to keep their newborn patients warm. An intensive care paramedic said:

    I needed to “chew” through the cord with the scissors provided, which was frustrating given the patient was under CPR. Also, I wanted to keep the patient warm as the house was cold and it was winter, so I used the Gladwrap in the ambulance. The roll I had was a new one and very difficult to start up as it shredded. I ended up using the patient’s industrial size wrap with a plastic blade attached.

    The distance to a specialised newborn care facility, as well as rules around who could be transported and when, meant mothers and babies sometimes needed separate transport. This distressed mothers and added pressure to already stressful situations. One North Island-based paramedic explained:

    The baby was flown to [a tertiary hospital] – great for the baby but very distressing for mum as she had to be transported by road.

    Detailed accounts emerged of EMS providing labour and birth care in remote and poorer areas, such as homes with no electricity or heating, far away from hospital facilities and with no back up readily available. Another South Island-based paramedic said:

    It was 2 degrees outside and the front door was open. The house was cold, and the mother was standing in the bathroom with the [newborn] lying on the cold floor. I called for backup as the mother had a severe postpartum haemorrhage, and the [newborn] required resuscitation. I was not sent assistance and had to manage the mother and [newborn] by myself during a 15-minute drive to the birth suite at hospital.

    The stories shared by New Zealand ambulance personnel not only described their critical role in providing care during labour and birth, but also highlighted a gap in care for women not accessing routine antenatal and birth services.

    Training and support needed

    Studies from Norway, Australia, the US and the United Kingdom have previously highlighted the need for dedicated EMS training and equipment to support out-of-hospital births.

    Change is happening in New Zealand. Recent updates to Hato Hone St John guidelines, resources and training, including education on cultural considerations related to birth, aim to prepare EMS personnel for these unpredictable and high-risk scenarios.

    Ongoing training and education will be critical to support clinicians to confidently address birth emergencies while continuing to deliver patient and whānau-centered care.

    Vinuli Withanarachchie works for Hato Hone St John.

    Bridget Dicker is an employee of Hato Hone St John.

    Sarah Maessen works for Hato Hone St John.

    Verity Todd receives funding from the Heart Foundation NZ and Health Research Council NZ. She is affiliated with Hato Hone St John.

    – ref. Sudden arrivals: NZ ambulance crews describe what it’s like when babies are born out of the blue – https://theconversation.com/sudden-arrivals-nz-ambulance-crews-describe-what-its-like-when-babies-are-born-out-of-the-blue-255965

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Can your cat recognise you by scent? New study shows it’s likely

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julia Henning, PhD Candidate in Feline Behaviour, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide

    Ever wonder if your cat could pick you out of a line up?

    New research suggests they could … but maybe not in the way you would expect.

    Previous research has found that only 54% of cats could recognise humans by their face alone.

    So how does your cat know it’s you?

    Studying the sniff

    A new study published today in PLOS One suggests your cat can recognise you by your smell. This feat has not been studied before and may reveal another layer of depth within cat-human bonds.

    Cats often get a bad rap for being aloof or uncaring about the people in their lives, but a growing number of studies are finding the opposite to be true. We now know that cats learn the names we give them, cats and their guardians form their own communication style, and most cats will pick human social interaction over food, a choice even dogs struggle with.

    And now, thanks to this most recent study, we know that cats can identify their people by smell, something they also rely on to identify their close feline social groups.

    The study, by Yutaro Miyairi and colleagues at Tokyo University of Agriculture, investigated the ability of 30 cats to differentiate between their guardian and an unknown person based on scent alone.

    Cats in the study were presented with a plastic tube containing swab samples from under the armpit, behind the ear and between the toes of either the cat’s guardian or of a human they had never met. As a control, cats were also presented with an empty plastic tube.

    The results?

    Cats in the study spent longer sniffing the scent of an unknown person compared to the scent of their guardian or the empty tube.

    A shorter sniffing time suggests that when cats came across the smell of their guardian, they recognised it quickly and moved along. But when they came to the swabs from an unknown person, the cat sniffed longer, using their superior sense of smell to gather information about the scent.

    Similar patterns have been observed previously, with kittens sniffing the odour of unknown female cats longer than the odour of their own mother, and adult cats sniffing the faeces of unfamiliar cats longer than those within their social group.

    The findings of this new study may indicate that we, too, are in our cats’ social circle.

    Cats do use their sense of smell to tell apart familiar and unfamiliar cats.
    Chris Boyer/Unsplash

    The brain and the nose

    The study also found a tendency for cats to sniff familiar scents with their left nostril, while unknown scents were more often sniffed using their right. But when cats became familiar with a scent after sniffing for a while, they switched nostrils from the right to the left.

    While this may sound like an odd finding, it’s a pattern that has also been observed in dogs. Current research suggests this nostril preference may indicate that cats process and classify new information using their right brain hemisphere, while the left hemisphere takes over when a routine response is established.

    Cats will sniff things with different nostrils depending on whether the information is familiar or not.
    Kevin Knezic/Unsplash

    Why scent?

    Cats rely on scent to gather information about the world around them and to communicate.

    Scent exchange (through cheek-to-cheek rubbing and grooming each other) is used as a way to recognise cats in the same social circle, maintain group cohesion, and identify unfamiliar cats or other animals that may pose a threat or need to be avoided.

    Familiar scents can also be comforting to cats, reducing stress and anxiety and creating a sense of security within their environment.

    When you come back from a holiday, if you notice your cat being distant and acting like you’re a total stranger, it might be because you smell like one. Try taking a shower using your usual home products and put on some of your regular home clothing. The familiar scents should help you and your cat settle back into your old dynamic sooner.

    And remember, if your cat spends a lot of time sniffing someone else, it’s not because they prefer them. It’s likely because your scent is familiar and requires less work. Instead of being new and interesting, it might do something even better: help your cat feel at home.

    Julia Henning 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. Can your cat recognise you by scent? New study shows it’s likely – https://theconversation.com/can-your-cat-recognise-you-by-scent-new-study-shows-its-likely-257614

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Knife crime is common but difficult to investigate. Robots can help

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paola A. Magni, Associate Professor of Forensic Science, Murdoch University

    The following article contains material that some readers might find distressing.

    Around the world, knives are a popular weapon of choice among criminals. In Australia, for example, they are the most common weapon used in homicides. And in countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada, knife crime has recently been on the rise.

    As common as they are, stabbings are also difficult to investigate. Our new study, published this week in WIREs Forensic Science, presents the most comprehensive review to date of the methods used by forensic investigators for the reconstruction of knife crimes. It also highlights the limitations of these methods and introduces mechanical and robotic stabbing machines as a solution.

    These technologies could significantly enhance forensic science and criminal investigations in the pursuit of justice.

    An intensely personal act of violence

    Stabbing is an intensely personal act of violence, carefully planned or opportunistic. It reflects not just an intent to harm but also a direct, physical engagement with the victim.

    Stabbings are also typically associated with high levels of aggression and frenzied attacks. For example, Joel Cauchi fatally stabbed six people and injured ten more in just three minutes during an attack at a Sydney shopping centre on November 13, 2024.

    Forensic investigators will rely on a range of evidence to investigate a stabbing. For example, they will gather statements from any witnesses. But witnesses’ memory can be affected by issues such as shock, lighting conditions or their vantage point.

    Forensic investigators will also gather physical evidence left behind after a stabbing. This can include bloodstain patterns, sharp-force damage in wounds and clothing, and impression evidence. It can also include trace evidence such as DNA, fibres, soil, glass and pollen from the victims clothing or suspected weapon.

    This physical evidence is crucial for the next step of a criminal investigation: reconstructing a crime scene.

    Knife cuts from a blunt blade (left) and a sharp blade (right) in cotton fabric reveal distinct yarn and fibre patterns, which forensic experts analyse to help identify the weapon used.
    Stevie Ziogos

    A forensic puzzle

    Investigators reconstruct a crime scene to determine the type of weapon used, estimate whether the stabbing was intentional or not and how forceful it was. But many variables complicate the analysis.

    For example, the attacker’s (or attackers’) physical characteristics such as their size, strength or preferred hand, their familiarity and experience in handling knives can all influence the stabbing motion. So too can the characteristics of a knife.

    The victim’s build, positioning, area of impact, and even the number of clothing layers they have on can also affect how a blade enters the body. For example, stabbing with a kitchen knife and slashing with a machete leave vastly different injuries, just as a thick jacket can slow or deflect a blade.

    Reconstructing a stabbing is a forensic puzzle. It requires a combination of scientific analysis, investigative techniques and the collaborative effort of experts. Each specialist provides a comprehensive perspective on the victim, the weapon, the manner in which it was used, and the impact of the surrounding environment.

    An accurate simulated stabbing

    In many stabbing investigations, it is necessary to confirm evidence through simulation.

    Our new research focuses on the different ways stabbing simulations are conducted. It provides an overview of current methodologies used to reconstruct sharp-force events, especially considering the role of clothing in the reconstruction.

    A well-planned simulation must account for key variables affecting damage to the body and textiles. These factors fall into three categories:

    1. Pre-impact (garment type, weapon and assailant-victim characteristics)
    2. Impact (stabbing method, force and angle)
    3. Post-impact (body decomposition, manipulation, contamination and environmental effects).

    While adding more parameters can improve the realism of a simulation, it may also introduce complexity that reduces accuracy. Because of this, careful planning is pivotal.

    A mix of methods is best

    The choice of simulation method depends on available personnel, tools and funding. Approaches are typically categorised as manual or mechanical, with emerging research exploring the potential of robotic systems.

    Manual simulations rely on human effort to replicate stabbing motions. They remain widely used in forensic testing and provide valuable insights into wound characteristics, biomechanics, and protective materials. But they can be subjective, particularly in force estimation and motion consistency.

    Mechanical simulations address this issue by using devices for controlled, repeatable tests. While they reduce variability, they are often limited by restricted motion, force constraints, and a lack of standardisation in forensic protocols.

    Robotic simulations offer a promising alternative. They combine the adaptability of manual approaches with the precision and repeatability of mechanical systems.

    However, their forensic application is still being developed. They also face challenges such as cost, accessibility, professional expertise and the need for validation in real-world casework.

    Our research suggests that combining manual simulations with robotic and mechanical systems can enhance the accuracy and reliability of stabbing simulations. The manual approach can be used to train robotic systems that replicate human actions while ensuring consistent and controlled measurements.

    By adopting this combined approach, forensic science can bridge crucial gaps in crime scene reconstruction. In turn, this would improve the interpretation of stabbing incidents and the pursuit of justice.

    We acknowledge that the research discussed in this article was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Kari Pitts, ChemCentre.

    Alasdair Dempsey, Ian Dadour, and Stevie Ziogos 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. Knife crime is common but difficult to investigate. Robots can help – https://theconversation.com/knife-crime-is-common-but-difficult-to-investigate-robots-can-help-248892

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Vladimir Putin’s bombing of Ukrainian civilians won’t end the war any faster. So, why is he doing it?

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Mark Edele, Hansen Professor in History and Deputy Dean, The University of Melbourne

    United States President Donald Trump was “not happy” with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, this week.

    For three consecutive nights, from Friday to Sunday, Russia launched about 900 drones and scores of missiles at Ukraine. At least 18 people were killed, including three children.

    “We’re in the middle of talking and he’s shooting rockets into Kyiv and other cities,” Trump told reporters on Sunday, after Putin ordered the largest air assault on Ukraine’s civilians in its three-year war.

    Following up on his remarks, Trump posted on social media that Putin had “gone absolutely CRAZY!”

    Putin is not crazy. He is a tactician with a long-term goal: to make Russia a great power again and secure his place in the history books as the re-builder of Russia’s imperial might.

    Trump announced after a phone call with Putin on May 19 that Russia and Ukraine would “immediately start negotiations” towards a ceasefire.

    With his latest air campaign on Ukraine, however, Putin is threatening to destroy the goodwill he’s built up in Washington, where Trump has been consistently soft on Russia and tough on his allies.

    So, what is Putin’s strategy? Why is he launching these massive air bombardments on Ukrainian civilians now?

    Putin sees weakness in the West

    One theory is these attacks are somehow preparations for a major offensive. That makes little sense.

    Attacking military facilities, weapons depots or even frontline troops are useful preparations for an impending attack. Indiscriminate bombing of civilians, meanwhile, is a sign of either desperation or impatience.

    Britain and the US bombed German cities during the second world war because they had no alternatives until they built up enough capacity to transport land forces across the sea to invade the continent.

    The US also sent bombers to Japan in the final stages of the war because the American public became tired of seeing their sons, husbands, brothers and fathers die on Pacific islands they had never heard of. The war had dragged on forever by this point, and there seemed no end in sight.

    Is Putin desperate or impatient? Likely the latter.

    From the perspective of the Kremlin, Russia’s strategic situation is as good as it has been for years.

    The US is trying to destroy itself through trade wars and boorish diplomacy. Trump clearly dislikes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and hopes the war will somehow end if he just demands it.

    Europe is continuing to back Ukraine. However, for the time being, it still needs US support because its entire security structure is built around NATO and US strength, both economic and military.

    What Putin sees when he surveys the international scene is weakness. In his thinking, such weakness needs to be exploited – now is the time to hurt Ukraine as much as possible, and hope it will crack. Analysts call this a “cognitive warfare effort”.

    Indiscriminate air war on civilians is the only means Putin currently has to pressure Ukraine. His army has been advancing, but painfully slowly. There is no breakthrough in sight, even once the spring muds dry and the summer fighting season starts in earnest.

    Russia has gradually advanced in Ukraine throughout 2024, but with no perceivable change in the overall situation. Putin does not command precision weapons or super spies, which he could use to take out Ukraine’s leadership.

    All he can do is rain death on women, children and the elderly from relatively cheap, unsophisticated weapons, such as drones. He now has these in large supply, thanks to ramping up military production at home.

    Bombing campaigns do not end wars

    A strategic air war on civilians seldom works, however.

    Japan’s surrender in 1945 is an exception, but it is misleading in many ways. The Americans had flattened Japan’s cities for a while already, just not using their new atomic weapons. Japan had already lost the war and the real question was if there would be a bloody US invasion or surrender.

    And as the US dropped its two nuclear bombs in August of that year, the Red Army joined the fight, racing across Manchuria to help occupy Japanese territories.

    In Germany, the British-American bombings from 1942 onwards certainly had an effect on war production, as they killed workers and destroyed factories. But they did not incapacitate the German army and certainly did not break morale.

    Instead, the bombings led to embitterment and a closing of ranks around the regime. German society fought to the last moment. It did so not just despite, but because of the air war. The German army was eventually defeated by the ground troops of the Red Army, who took Berlin in an incredibly bloody fight.

    Other historical failures are even more spectacular. The US air force dropped 864,000 tons of bombs on North Vietnam during an air campaign of more than 300,000 sorties lasting from 1965 to late 1968. The North Vietnamese lost maybe 29,000 people (dead and wounded), more than half of them civilians. The Americans and their South Vietnamese allies still lost the war.

    Putin’s air war will likely follow the historical pattern: it has further embittered the Ukrainians, who know very well that what comes from the east is not liberation.

    Another summer of fighting lies ahead. Ukraine’s friends in the democratic world need to urgently redouble their efforts to support Ukraine. The misguided hopes that Putin would somehow “make a deal” lie under the rubble his drones leave behind in Ukraine’s cities.

    Mark Edele receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. Vladimir Putin’s bombing of Ukrainian civilians won’t end the war any faster. So, why is he doing it? – https://theconversation.com/vladimir-putins-bombing-of-ukrainian-civilians-wont-end-the-war-any-faster-so-why-is-he-doing-it-257630

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Better investing in science and technology would free up 15 million hours of police time

    Source: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council

    Additional investment in science and technology could mean an extra 41,000 hours of police time available every day across England and Wales to be reinvested in neighbourhood policing and preventing crime. 

    Police chiefs are calling for the government to allocate circa £220 million to science and technology per year over the three-year spending review period to scale up tested science and technology capabilities.  

    As police chiefs set out their strategy for use of data and digital technology over the next five years, they make the case for government investment to enable police to roll out   technology that has been successfully trialled across England and Wales. 

    The independent Policing Productivity Review of forces in England and Wales reported examples of science and technology driving productivity. The Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser to Policing estimates that these projects saved 347,656 of workforce hours per year and led to direct savings of £8.2 million a year in costs. If they were scaled nationally, and similar gains were made in all 43 forces, potentially up to 15 million hours, worth £370m per year, could be saved and reallocated each year. 

    National Police Chiefs’ Council Chair Chief Constable Gavin Stephens said:  

    “A decade with very limited capital investment into policing has meant prioritising maintaining existing technology over innovation. The vast majority of police force technology budgets are spent on ageing systems and simply keeping the lights on. This has to change. 

    “Criminals are investing in technology to do harm; we need to invest to keep up and stop them.   

    “With government investment in the spending review, we are ready to roll out technology which could save millions of hours, finish investigations in days instead of months and keep pace with criminal advancements.   

    “Without investment, we will fall behind rather than become more productive.  We will not be able to restore neighbourhood policing.  Halving violence against women and girls and knife crime will become much harder to reach targets.” 

     A refreshed National Policing Digital Strategy 2025-2030 developed by NPCC, Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) working with Police Digital Service (PDS) has also been published today.  It sets out police digital and data ambitions and the roadmap to achieving them. This supports the NPCC’s Science and Technology Strategy published in May 2023. 

    National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Lead for Digital, Data and Technology Chief Constable Rob Carden, said: “Over the last decade, digital technology and data and analytics have become integral to policing’s ability to deliver an effective and efficient service and policing will spend nearly £2 billion on it in the next financial year. Policing must change the way we approach data, digital and technology to ensure we invest in solutions which can be used nationally across all police forces.  

    “The National Policing Digital Strategy will provide the direction, purpose and roadmap necessary for forces to enable the changes required. Working towards common goals, which can be upscaled at pace nationally to ensure we are making the savings in time and money in order to help our officers catch criminals and protect the public using data, digital and technology in the most effective way. 

    “One of our key ambitions is to give local communities more convenient ways to get in touch with their local force through improving things such as websites and apps, whilst developing a range self-service digital engagement channels that anyone is able to use and access. 

    “Transparency, fairness and ethical standards will be at the heart of all we implement.”

    Examples of investment: 

    • Roll out Live Face Recognition units.  On average, throughout 2024, there were 60 arrests per month across the three forces currently using Live Facial Recognition, of which a quarter involved registered sex offenders. Live Facial Recognition reduces the time spent on investigations, ultimately meaning swifter justice. 
       
    • Roll out Rapid Video Response –  a video call software that offers a discreet, quick and specialist police response to non-urgent reports of domestic abuse. Developed by Kent Police, it has led to a decrease in the average response time from 32 hours to just three minutes, and a 50% increase in arrests. 
       
    • Complete build of a new national digital forensics’ platform. Checking digital devices for evidence takes a lot of police time. A national digital forensics’ platform will help officers to process evidence on digital devices more quickly, return devices faster and make the process less intrusive for victims. This will help to address the current backlog of around 25,000 devices and keep pace with digital crime, which is growing 29 per cent annually.  
       
    • Enable the public to contact the police in the way that suits them best including adding services like AI-powered assistances and online case tracking, which in turn will reduce wait times for 101 or 999. 
       
    • Developing data and digital capability to catch offenders and protect victims.  This includes creation of a national Data and Analytics Office, which will lead improvements in data quality, compliance and sharing across the criminal justice system.  Continued investment in analytical capability will exploit this data, enabling, e.g. predictive tooling for multi-agency risk assessments and geo-spatial analyses to identify and address unsafe spaces. To date, this work has saved around £1m p.a. per force in productive time, by enabling efficient officer deployment, while early ANPR journey analysis has quadrupled drugs seizures.  
       
    • Funding a national Continuous Integrity Screening capability to provide ongoing detection of unacceptable behaviour from officers and staff and the removal of those who pose a risk. 
    • Expanding our regional centres for Robotic Process Automation.  In the three regions where it is deployed, automation is securing a return on investment of £8 in time saving for every £1 spent, covering 150 different administrative and crime management processes in relation to crime management and admin processes. Its national deployment will ultimately reduce administrative burden on frontline officers.  
    • Roll out nationally video and text redaction tools, automatic translation capabilities, summarisation tooling, and new deepfake detection capabilities.  Recent trials suggest these tools will offer significant time efficiencies and a better quality of service, with text redaction alone estimated to save around 1 million hours of workforce time, estimated at £16m a year.  
    • Fund the police service’s Aviation Pathway Programme will consider use of  Unmanned Arial Systems (i.e., drones). in investigations, surveillance and, to emergency response; improving service and reducing costs.  

    Latest research from the University of Birmingham and University Sheffield has demonstrated a clear link to increased economic growth and prosperity from investment in policing. Investment in policing, including technology investment, can lead to reduced demand on other parts of the public sector, level the playing field for companies who have to absorb the costs of crime, and reduce the need for the public to spend money as a consequence of crime. 

    For example the relationship between house prices and crime reduction shows that each £1 invested in policing yields £4.17 in economic benefits. Based on this, a 10% increase in policing i.e. around £1.7bn per year, will generate £14.5 billion in net benefits over twelve years, equivalent to 0.5% of annual GDP. Find out more in Issue 2 of Policing Tomorrow.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Behind the wellness industry’s scented oils and soothing music are often underpaid, exploited workers

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rawan Nimri, Lecturer in Tourism and Hospitality, Griffith University

    Prostock Studio/Shutterstock

    Wellness tourism is booming. Think yoga retreats in Bali, digital detox weekends in a rainforest, or a break on a luxury island to “find yourself”.

    It’s no longer just about taking selfies at the beach or in front of Instagrammable landmarks. Travellers today want to invest in activities aimed at improving their mental, spiritual and physical wellbeing. And, they’re willing to pay for these experiences.

    Global spending on wellness tourism is projected to hit US$8.5 trillion by 2027. Rather than being a passing fad, spending in this sector is forecast to nearly triple by 2035. This is big business.

    The Wellness Tourism Association says 90% of travellers report wellness activities are an essential part of their travel itineraries.

    Behind the luxe retreat

    But, while holidaymakers pursue their zen, the workforce is largely overlooked. The massage therapists, spa staff, yoga instructors and retreat hosts – often women, migrants and workers from the Global South – frequently experience substandard, undignified working conditions.

    Our new report, In Decent or Dirty Work?, examines an often overlooked part of the wellness industry. We propose a model to shift the industry from “dirty to decent” in line with the United Nations’ sustainable development goal eight supporting “decent work and economic growth”.

    The 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) were adopted by all UN member states in 2015. They support ending poverty and other deprivations as part of improving health and education, reducing inequality and encouraging economic growth – while tackling climate change and protecting the environment. These goals are designed to help businesses and governments develop sustainable and inclusive economies.

    Progress towards decent work in wellness tourism is undermined by workers in some cases facing low pay, insecure employment and poor working conditions.

    Wellness is often viewed as feminised work, rather than skilled or professional. Workers are expected to be calm, warm and nurturing, as well as emotionally available while juggling demanding workloads and unpredictable hours.

    Weak regulation

    Gaps in standards and regulation leave workers vulnerable. For example, Massage and Myotherapy Australia has raised concerns about exploitative contracting and loose employment arrangements. Without regulated certification, enforcement of fair contracts, and professional recognition, many workers experience underemployment or unsafe conditions.

    Wellness workers are often underpaid and sometimes treated with disrespect by clients.
    Shellygraphy/Shutterstock

    Research shows workers at some spas even describe their roles as feeling uncomfortably close to sex work, especially in settings where the boundaries are blurred and expectations can cross a moral line.

    The case of the Melbourne business penalised for underpaying migrant workers and reports of Asian massage therapists being asked regularly for “happy endings” reflect the devaluation and gendered risks for this workforce.

    Sociologists call this “dirty work” – jobs that are not physically messy but carry an emotional or moral burden. And while these roles are pivotal to customers’ experiences, the people doing them are often invisible. This makes it even harder to push for better training or fairer conditions.

    Proposed changes

    To improve the wellness industry’s sustainability and fairness, our research proposes three key changes.

    On an individual level, workers need to be empowered. Workers who have a connection with their job will gain personal fulfilment from helping clients with their health and relaxation. Satisfied workers means happier customers and superior work quality.

    However, workers should also receive external support to help improve job satisfaction.

    For example, management regularly reinforcing the value of staff to a business can enhance a worker’s sense of dignity. Additionally, protecting workers from such threats as immoral requests by customers, is key to cultivating the sense of a safe and dignified workplace.

    At the macro-level, policies, social structures and public perceptions shape how wellness work is valued. Without professional accreditation or recognition, these jobs will remain undervalued. Broader changes, like government reforms and public campaigns, would lift professional recognition and support dignity.

    Employees’ working conditions should be examined. Decent work – as per the UN sustainable development goals – means providing fair pay, safe environments, recognition and genuine opportunities for employees to develop and thrive at work.

    Also, investing in better training and standards benefits everyone, whether workers, businesses or customers.

    As Andrew Gibson, co-founder of the Wellness Tourism Association, said: “I don’t think wellness is a fad, but rather it’s a change in society, and what society now expects”.

    Leonie Lockstone-Binney receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Liz Simmons, Rawan Nimri, and Tom Baum 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. Behind the wellness industry’s scented oils and soothing music are often underpaid, exploited workers – https://theconversation.com/behind-the-wellness-industrys-scented-oils-and-soothing-music-are-often-underpaid-exploited-workers-257455

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: PCOS affects 1 in 8 women worldwide, yet it’s often misunderstood. A name change might help

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Helena Teede, Director of Monash Centre for Health Research Implementation, Monash University

    LightField Studios/Shutterstock

    Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects one in eight women globally. However, this complex hormonal condition is under-researched and often misunderstood.

    This is partly due to its name, which overemphasises “cysts” and the ovaries. In fact, you can have PCOS without cysts.

    It can affect many parts of the body, not just the ovaries, leading to acne, excess body hair, changes in metabolism and even mental health issues.

    Our new research, published today, shows that changing the name would help better reflect the complexity of PCOS and improve awareness about this condition. We surveyed 7,700 health professionals and people with PCOS and found the majority supported a name change.

    What is PCOS?

    PCOS is a chronic condition caused by an imbalance of multiple hormones – the body’s chemical messengers – that circulate through the body.

    Genes and environment play a role. Lifestyle factors, such as diet (especially ultraprocessed foods) and activity, can also lead to weight gain and worsen its severity.

    In PCOS, the “cysts” are actually partially developed eggs that, due to underlying hormonal imbalance, remain dormant. This means they are less likely to be released (ovulation).

    Unlike conventional ovarian cysts, these dormant eggs will generally not grow larger, cause pain, require surgery or burst. Instead, they are slowly reabsorbed over time back into the ovary.

    Having dormant eggs in your ovaries is not, by itself, enough to be diagnosed with PCOS – and you can have PCOS without any dormant eggs.

    So, what’s needed to diagnose PCOS?

    For adults, a diagnosis requires two of three features:

    1) irregular periods (due to limited ovulation)

    2) high levels of certain hormones (androgens), such as testosterone, which is evident either in blood tests or symptoms (excess facial and body hair, acne, and thinning/balding scalp)

    3) excess dormant eggs detected either on an ultrasound or ovarian hormone blood test

    In adolescents, only the first two criteria are needed for a diagnosis. Ovary tests (ultrasound or blood tests) are not recommended until after age 20, as changes in the ovaries are common during normal adolescent development.

    However, these criteria focus heavily on the ovaries and menstrual cycles, neglecting the condition’s broader impacts.

    Widespread health effects

    In fact, hormonal imbalances in PCOS affect multiple systems in the body. This can include:

    metabolism – higher blood pressure and cholesterol, and greater risk of heart disease and diabetes.

    reproductive system – irregular menstrual cycles, reduced fertility and pregnancy complications and increased endometrial cancer risk.

    skin – excess facial/body hair, acne, scalp hair thinning and dark skin patches.

    mental health – anxiety, depression, disordered eating and body image concerns.

    PCOS has also been linked to sleep apnoea (a sleep disorder involving irregular breathing, snoring and fatigue) and inflammatory conditions such as asthma.

    PCOS affects one in eight women globally.
    Brothers91/Getty

    Widespread confusion

    It’s not uncommon for women with PCOS to see two or three doctors and wait years for a diagnosis. Many types of doctors, including GPs and hormone, skin and fertility specialists, may be involved in care.

    Often, health-care providers focus on reproductive concerns, overlooking other health impacts.

    Common but problematic approaches include not informing women of the diagnosis, telling them not to “worry” about their PCOS until they wish to conceive, providing inadequate information or only addressing the problem in their speciality area, such as infertility.

    This fragmentation creates a troubling paradox. Some are told they’ll face infertility. Yet without proper education they may be unaware they can still occasionally ovulate and may experience unexpected pregnancies.

    Conversely, others planning for families often face unforeseen fertility difficulties that early comprehensive care – such as reproductive life planning, healthy lifestyle and early treatment – could have addressed.

    The case to change the name

    In our new study, we surveyed 3,462 health professionals and 4,246 people with PCOS across six continents.

    We wanted to find out what health-care professionals, doctors and those affected by the condition understood about PCOS, and whether understanding has improved over time.

    We also wanted to understand whether changing the name – for example, to include “endocrine” or “metabolic” – could have a positive impact, given frequent confusion and misdiagnosis.

    Support for a name change was widespread: 86% of women with PCOS and 76% of health professionals said renaming PCOS would better reflect the condition, reduce confusion and likely lead to better outcomes.

    We are now leading an international process to find a consensus on a new name and formally change it in the International Classification of Diseases. This involves engaging widely with health professionals and people with PCOS.

    By reframing PCOS beyond a purely reproductive disorder, a name change can support
    broader research funding, education and advocacy. It may lead to better recognition and improved diagnosis, care and outcomes for people with PCOS.

    Combating misinformation with evidence

    Accurate information is critical for proper PCOS management. Yet misinformation about the condition – for example, that PCOS can be cured through diet or exacerbated by the oral contraceptive pill – is rife on social media.

    We have also co-designed and developed evidence-based guidelines and free resources for people with PCOS to find out more about the condition, including the free “Ask PCOS” app.

    Renaming PCOS is another key step in improving knowledge about this understudied condition – and care for the 170 million women affected worldwide.

    Helena Teede receives funding from the Australian Government and the NHMRC

    Chau Thien Tay (Jillian) receives funding from NHMRC supported Centre for Research Excellence in Women’s Health in Reproductive Life. She is affiliated with Endocrine Society of Australia.

    Lorna is employed by MCHRI Monash Uni as consumer lead for women with PCOS.

    – ref. PCOS affects 1 in 8 women worldwide, yet it’s often misunderstood. A name change might help – https://theconversation.com/pcos-affects-1-in-8-women-worldwide-yet-its-often-misunderstood-a-name-change-might-help-256872

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The body as landscape: how post-war Japanese dance and theatre shaped performance in Australia

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan W. Marshall, Associate Professor & Postgraduate Research Coordinator, Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Edith Cowan University

    “Tamaokoshi (たまおこし-) – Evocation” (2013) by Yumi Umiumare. Performers: Umiumare, Felix Ching Ching Ho, Fina
    Po, Helen Smith, Willow Conway, Sevastian Peters-Lazaro, Takashi Takiguchi.     Photo by Vikk Shayen, reproduced courtesy of Umiumare and Shayen.

    Post-war Japan was home to exciting new theatrical forms. These included the often grotesque and contorted, but at times flowing, dance style “butoh”, created by dancer/choreographer Hijikata Tatsumi – and the intensely focused, sometimes militaristic, sometimes dreamy theatre of Suzuki Tadashi.

    Both Hijikata’s and Suzuki’s work attracted followers in Australia, and continue to have influence today. They often exchanged ideas, and several of Hijikata’s former dancers performed in Suzuki’s productions.

    Here’s a brief history of how these two helped bring Japanese performance to Australia – and how local artists made it their own.

    Suzuki’s training method

    Visits by Japanese performing artists to Australia increased during the 1990s, with Melbourne’s Playbox Theatre commissioning Suzuki Tadashi to direct an Australian cast in The Chronicle of Macbeth (1992). But even before he came here, several Australians visited his training institution in the Japanese mountains.

    Suzuki is best known for his training method, in which performers stomp up and down in a line, or swiftly move from one physical position to another.

    Suzuki claims this generates an actor who, even when standing still, is full of suppressed energy like a “Boeing 747, its brakes on and engines full-throttle just before take-off”.

    The performances themselves often have a dreamlike quality, similar to the Japanese noh theatre that inspired Suzuki.

    Tanaka brings butoh to Australia

    The first of Hijikata’s students to reach Australia was Japanese performer Tanaka Min. Tanaka appeared at the 1982 Sydney Biennale, showcasing his dance style of “Body Weather”.

    The Sydney Morning Herald described it as “the relationship between body and place […] improvisation and […] textures” – viewed as a shifting microclimate of impulses moving between the dancer’s body and their surroundings.

    Tanaka claimed Hijikata and his principal dancer Ashikawa Yoko taught him 1,000 embodied states that were prompted or described by poetic images or motifs. He passed these on to several Australian performers through his own training.

    Although similar to Hijikata’s approach, Tanaka’s focus on the body as an interactive landscape was unique to his version of butoh.

    Yumi Umiumare

    Japanese choreographer-director Maro Akaji had the greatest influence on Australian physical performance. His butoh company, Dairakudakan, appeared at the 1992 Melbourne Festival and left behind dancer Yumi Umiumare, who settled in the city. Dairakudakan established some of the key motifs recognisable in early Australian butoh.

    Maro’s Tale of the Sea-Dappled Horse (1991), opens with a group of almost-naked dancers in white makeup performing a grotesque group dance, coming together in a pulsating mass. As author Bruce Baird describes it, “on their hands and knees […] they convulse progressively energetically”.

    Umiumare’s Japanese heritage gives her the most direct link to butoh’s origins. After performing solos, duets and character roles, she developed what she calls “butoh cabaret”. This often surrealistically funny style is similar to Melbourne’s zanier comedy shows, as well as Dairakudakan’s own “grand seminarrative spectacles”.

    Umiumare says even her serious works in Melbourne were aimed at “audiences [who] really wanted a laugh”. In a 1995 cabaret skit, she parodied Madonna’s famous pointed cone bra costume. She pulled out accordian-style tubes placed over her breasts to render herself a phallic woman, before threatening and flirting with spectators.

    Umiumare continues to train and direct ensembles.

    Tess de Quincey

    Choreographer-dancer Tess de Quincey was the first non-Japanese, Australian-based artist to focus on Japanese physical theatre. She trained with Tanaka in Japan from 1985, before returning to performing in Sydney in 1988.

    De Quincey’s early Australian shows of 1988 and 1989 featured her naked body, all white like the Japanese butoh dancers, twisting and shifting in semi darkness.

    She later produced introspective multimedia works such as Nerve 9 (2001-05), structured around the slow unfolding of dissociated bodily gestures.

    Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre

    Hijikata’s butoh style was further explored by the Brisbane-based Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre, founded by performer/director/trainer Lynne Bradley and director/trainer Simon Woods. The pair also witnessed Suzuki’s training in Japan.

    Zen Zen Zo’s fusion of butoh, Suzuki’s method, and Jacques Lecoq’s approach to clowning culminated in the 1996 production The Cult of Dionysus, performed at the Brisbane Festival.

    Audiences described a “glamorously grotesque” chorus, attired in “ragged skirts of rich reds, oranges and pinks, and strings of beads across their […] bare torsos,” “smeared” with ochre.

    Although Zen Zen Zo’s work became increasingly varied during the 2000s, it still trains in Suzuki’s method.

    Frank Theatre

    Another pair dedicated to Suzuki’s theatre and training were former contemporary dancers Jacqui Carroll and John Nobbs. The pair founded Frank Theatre in Brisbane in 1992, drawing on many of the same performers as Zen Zen Zo.

    Nobbs rejected any dilution of Suzuki’s method, going on to develop what he characterises as an unsullied “regional variant”. Carroll and Nobbs also retained the often riotous grotesquerie and absurdism of Suzuki’s productions.

    Frank Theatre’s masterpiece was Carroll’s Doll Seventeen (2002), an adaptation of Ray Lawler’s Summer of the Seventeenth Doll (1955). Very similar to a Japanese noh play in its sense of inevitability, the characters intoned their words as though trapped in a slowly unfolding nightmare.

    Crisscrossing the Pacific

    Hijikata and Suzuki have also inspired performance-makers more distant from Japanese tradition.

    Australian dance company Marrugeku combines certain elements of Japanese theatre with First Nations performance.

    Similarly, multidisiplinary Māori–Australian artist Victoria Hunt combines butoh influences with her own whakapapa, or Māori genealogy.

    And Tony Yap, of Malaysian Chinese descent, has developed what he calls “trance dance”, drawing on Hijikata’s writings, Polish theatre director Jerzy Grotowski’s’s theatre of bodily and spiritual transfiguration, and Yap’s own background in Southeast Asian possession rituals.

    In these, and other exchanges, performance practices crisscross the Pacific, from Japan to Aotearoa New Zealand, to Australia, to Malaysia, and back.

    Some of Jonathan W. Marshall’s research into butoh was supported by an ARC-LIEF grant.

    – ref. The body as landscape: how post-war Japanese dance and theatre shaped performance in Australia – https://theconversation.com/the-body-as-landscape-how-post-war-japanese-dance-and-theatre-shaped-performance-in-australia-254814

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Antarctica’s sea ice is changing, and so is a vital part of the marine food web that lives within it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacqui Stuart, Postdoctoral Researcher in Marine Ecology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

    Jacqui Stuart, VUW, CC BY-NC-ND

    Antarctica is the world’s great cooling unit. This vital part of Earth’s climate system is largely powered by the annual freeze and melt of millions of square kilometres of sea ice around the continent.

    Our research shows changes to this annual freeze cycle in McMurdo Sound can lead to shifts in the diversity of algal communities that live within the sea ice.

    At the start of the southern winter, as sea water begins to freeze, it expels salt and forms heavy and very cold brine. This sinks to the seafloor, ultimately forming what’s known as Antarctic Bottom Water. This is then pumped out to the rest of the world through several major oceanic currents.

    Historically, this cycle meant that Antarctica effectively doubled in size and the continent was surrounded by an enormous apron of sea ice at the peak of winter. But the changing climate is shifting this annual cycle.

    Major ocean currents transport cold Antarctic Bottom Water out to the rest of the world.
    Jacqui Stuart, VUW, CC BY-NC-ND

    For the past decade, Antarctic sea ice has been in decline. It hasn’t been a steady trend, but each year since 2016 less sea ice has formed compared to historic averages.

    Antarctica’s annual maximum sea ice extent in September 2023 was the lowest on record, with approximately 1.75 million square kilometres less sea ice than normal – an area equivalent to about 6.5 times the land area of Aotearoa.

    Change happening at the continental scale is usually well documented and publicised. However, smaller, more local changes are also occurring in places such as McMurdo Sound, the home of Aotearoa New Zealand’s only Antarctic outpost.

    For four of the last seven years, unseasonable winter southerly storms have been associated with significant delays in the timing of sea-ice formation within McMurdo Sound.

    Where measurements were taken during these “unusual” years, the sea ice that formed later was thinner (1.5 metres compared to 2.5 metres) and had less snow cover (about 5 centimetres versus 15-30 centimetres) compared to the same locations during “typical” years.

    Ken Ryan and Jacqui Stuart measuring the depth of sea ice and the sub-ice platelet layer in McMurdo Sound in 2022.
    Svenja Halfter, NIWA, CC BY-NC-ND

    Icy reefs and algal meadows

    Another type of ice, known as “platelet ice”, also appears to be affected by the later formation of sea ice.

    A layer of platelet ice extends into the ocean below the sea ice in some regions around Antarctica, including McMurdo Sound. It is a fragile lattice structure made up of loosely consolidated plate-shaped ice crystals, creating an upside-down reef-like structure.

    The resulting protective environment is a hot spot for primary productivity – microscopic algae that support the base of the marine food web. When sea ice forms later, the platelet ice doesn’t have as much time to accumulate beneath and can be metres thinner than beneath older ice (down to about 1 metre from more than 3 metres).

    Scientist collecting cores of sea ice in McMurdo Sound.
    Jacqui Stuart, VUW, CC BY-NC-ND

    Why should we care about sea ice? Because, it isn’t just a frozen, lifeless sheet expanding out from the continent, broken by the odd silhouette of a seal or a gathering of penguins on the top.

    Beneath the desolate surface, where ice meets water, green meadows of microalgae can spread out as far as the eye can see.

    View from under the sea ice in McMurdo Sound, with the sub-ice platelet layer extending down into the water. The green-yellow tinge shows thriving microalgae living within the reef-like structure.
    Leigh Tate, NIWA, CC BY-NC-ND

    Microalgae are single-cell, plant-like organisms that use sunlight to create energy. Similar to land-based meadows, they provide food for many other creatures. In winter, when other sources of food can be scarce, this sea-ice superstore plays a crucial role in feeding other inhabitants of McMurdo Sound.

    Diminishing algal diversity under thinner sea ice

    Our research indicates that when the sea ice forms later, microalgal communities living within the ice are also different. In later-forming sea ice, these vital communities are less diverse and dominated by fewer species.

    Some species usually abundant in earlier-forming sea ice are absent or in low numbers when the sea ice forms later. Interestingly, though, it appears the quantity of microalgae in later-forming ice conditions is similar to “typical” ice. However, instead of being spread out through almost three metres depth of the platelet layer, they are crammed into a metre-thick habitat instead.

    These microscopic snacks are diverse in shape, size and the roles they play in the ecosystem. It can help to think of microalgal communities as the produce section in the supermarket. Each type has preferred growing conditions and different nutritional values, producing varied quantities of important resources such as proteins, carbohydrates and fatty acids.

    Microalgae come in different shapes, sizes and nutritional content, like fruits and vegetables.
    Jacqui Stuart, VUW, CC BY-NC-ND

    Imagine, one winter the weather is different and all that grows are cabbages and sweet peas. These won’t provide you with all the nutrients you need. This mirrors the problem when there is less diversity at the base of the food web. As the microalgal communities shift in the ways our research has observed, the quantity and quality of resources they provide are likely to change, too.

    These early signals matter. They foreshadow wider ecological impacts, especially, if Antarctic sea ice continues to thin, retreat or form later each year.

    We need more research to establish the nuances of these changes and the extent of their impact. But it is worth remembering that what happens at the base of the food web in Antarctica doesn’t necessarily stay there. These changes could ripple through ecosystems further afield with the potential to affect key fisheries in the Southern Ocean.

    By paying close attention now, we have a chance to understand and adapt, to ensure ecosystems stay resilient in a changing world.

    Natalie Robinson receives funding from the Marsden Fund and Antarctic Science Platform. She is affiliated with New Zealand Antarctic Society.

    Jacqui Stuart 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. Antarctica’s sea ice is changing, and so is a vital part of the marine food web that lives within it – https://theconversation.com/antarcticas-sea-ice-is-changing-and-so-is-a-vital-part-of-the-marine-food-web-that-lives-within-it-255606

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: X-rays have revealed a mysterious cosmic object never before seen in our galaxy

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ziteng Wang, Associate Lecturer, Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy (CIRA), Curtin University

    Author provided

    In a new study published today in Nature, we report the discovery of a new long-period transient – and, for the first time, one that also emits regular bursts of X-rays.

    Long-period transients are a recently identified class of cosmic objects that emit bright flashes of radio waves every few minutes to several hours. This is much longer than the rapid pulses we typically detect from dead stars such as pulsars.

    What these objects are, and how they generate their unusual signals, remains a mystery.

    Our discovery opens up a new window into the study of these puzzling sources. But it also deepens the mystery: the object we found doesn’t resemble any known type of star or system in our galaxy – or beyond.

    An image of the sky showing the region around ASKAP J1832-0911. The yellow circle marks the position of the newly discovered source. This image shows X-rays from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, radio data from the South African MeerKAT radio telescope, and infrared data from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope.
    Author provided

    Watching the radio sky for flickers

    There’s much in the night sky that we can’t see with human eyes but can detect when we look at other wavelengths, such as radio emissions.

    Our research team regularly scans the radio sky using the Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP), operated by CSIRO on Wajarri Yamaji Country in Western Australia. Our goal is to find cosmic objects that appear and disappear (known as transients).

    Transients are often linked to some of the most powerful and dramatic events in the universe, such as the explosive deaths of stars.

    In late 2023, we spotted an extremely bright source, named ASKAP J1832-0911 (based on its position in the sky), in the direction of the galactic plane. This object is located about 15,000 light years away. This is far, but still within the Milky Way.

    Some of the ASKAP antennas, located at Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory in Western Australia.
    CSIRO

    A dramatic event

    After the initial discovery, we began follow-up observations using telescopes around the world, hoping to catch more pulses. With continued monitoring, we found the radio pulses from ASKAPJ1832 arrive regularly – every 44 minutes. This confirmed it as a new member of the rare long-period transient group.

    But we did not just look forward in time – we also looked back. We searched through older telescope data from the same part of the sky. We found no trace of the object before the discovery.

    This suggests something dramatic happened shortly before we first detected it – something powerful enough to suddenly switch the object “on”.

    Then, in February 2024, ASKAPJ1832 became extremely active. After a quieter period in January, the source brightened dramatically. Fewer than 30 objects in the sky have ever reached such brightness in radio waves.

    For comparison, most stars we detect in radio are about 10,000 times fainter than ASKAPJ1832 during that flare-up.

    A lucky break

    X-rays are a form of light that we can’t see with our eyes. They usually come from extremely hot and energetic environments. Although about ten similar radio-emitting objects have been found so far, none had ever shown X-ray signals.

    In March, we tried to observe ASKAPJ1832 in X-rays. However, due to technical issues with the telescope, the observation could not go ahead.

    Then came a stroke of luck. In June, I reached out to my friend Tong Bao, a postdoctoral researcher at the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics, to check if any previous X-ray observations had captured the source. To our surprise, we found two past observations from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, although the data were still under a proprietary period (not yet public).

    We contacted Kaya Mori, a research scientist at Columbia University and the principal investigator of those observations. He generously shared the data with us. To our amazement, we discovered clear X-ray signals coming from ASKAPJ1832. Even more remarkable: the X-rays followed the same 44-minute cycle as the radio pulses.

    It was a truly lucky break. Chandra had been pointed at a different target entirely, but by pure coincidence, it caught ASKAPJ1832 during its unusually bright and active phase.

    A chance alignment like that is incredibly rare – like finding a needle in a cosmic haystack.

    NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory is the world’s most powerful X-ray telescope, in orbit around Earth since 1999.
    NASA/CXC & J. Vaughan

    Still a mystery

    Having both radio and X-ray bursts is a common trait of dead stars with extremely strong magnetic fields, such as neutron stars (high-mass dead stars) and white dwarf (low-mass dead stars).

    Our discovery suggests that at least some long-period transients may come from these kinds of stellar remnants.

    But ASKAPJ1832 does not quite fit into any known category of object in our galaxy. Its behaviour, while similar in some ways, still breaks the mould.

    We need more observations to truly understand what is going on. It is possible that ASKAPJ1832 is something entirely new, or it could be emitting radio waves in a way we have never seen before.

    Ziteng Wang 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. X-rays have revealed a mysterious cosmic object never before seen in our galaxy – https://theconversation.com/x-rays-have-revealed-a-mysterious-cosmic-object-never-before-seen-in-our-galaxy-256797

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Sues Trump Administration to Protect Scientific Research and Education Programs 

    Source: US State of New York

    EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today co-led a coalition of 15 other attorneys general in suing the Trump administration to stop its illegal attempts to cut critical National Science Foundation (NSF) programs and funding that help maintain the United States’ position as a global leader in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). On April 18, NSF began terminating projects focused on increasing the participation of women, minorities, and people with disabilities in STEM fields. On May 2, NSF announced that it would also cap “indirect costs” of research projects like laboratory space, equipment, and facility services at 15 percent. This arbitrary limit on indirect costs would slash millions of dollars for groundbreaking scientific research across the country, jeopardizing national security, the economy, and public health. With this lawsuit, Attorney General James and the coalition are seeking a court order blocking the implementation of NSF’s new directives to eliminate programs addressing diversity in STEM and cut vital funding for research across the country.

    “Every time we go online, scan a barcode at checkout, or get an MRI, we use technology made possible by the National Science Foundation,” said Attorney General James. “This administration’s attacks on basic science and essential efforts to ensure diversity in STEM will weaken our economy and our national security. Putting politics over science will only set our country back, and I will continue to fight to protect critical scientific research and education.”

    Since its creation in 1950, NSF has been an independent federal agency crucial to maintaining the United States’ dominance in STEM. From developing artificial intelligence (AI) technology to creating innovative solutions to environmental and energy challenges, NSF-funded research at American universities is vital to addressing the nation’s biggest challenges and maintaining the country’s competitive edge.

    NSF also has a Congressionally-mandated focus on improving diversity in STEM fields. Congress has instructed in law that a “core strategy” of NSF’s work must be to increase the participation of people who have historically been left out of STEM occupations. This policy has been a success. As Attorney General James and the coalition note, between 1995 and 2017, the number of women in science and engineering occupations, or with science or engineering degrees, has doubled. During that same time, people of color went from 15 percent to 35 percent of science and engineering job or degree holders.

    As a result of NSF’s April 18 directive to terminate programs seeking to increase diversity in STEM, dozens of projects have been canceled. In New York, these include 18 programs funded with $11 million in NSF funds within the City University of New York (CUNY) that specifically seek to promote participation in STEM fields by women, minorities, and people with disabilities. All of those programs have had their funding canceled.

    Attorney General James and the coalition also assert in the lawsuit that NSF’s directive to cap indirect costs at 15 percent would devastate scientific research at universities throughout the country. Twenty-three campuses across the State University of New York (SUNY) system participate in NSF-funded research and received over $104 million in NSF funding in fiscal year 2024. These funds supported cutting-edge research, including microelectronics research at the University at Buffalo, world-leading atmospheric science and climate research at the University at Albany, and the NSF Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine led by Binghamton University, which aims to establish a hub for new battery technology to decrease dependence on technology from China.

    As Attorney General James and the coalition argue, NSF’s new cap would mean essential research and infrastructure would be cut, leading to critical projects being abandoned, staff laid off, and research essential to national security, public health, and economic stability ending. In fiscal year 2025, SUNY expects to receive $24.6 million for indirect costs. A 15 percent cap on indirect costs would slash $18 million in critical research funding for the SUNY system. The administration’s unlawful attempts to cap indirect costs at 15 percent for National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Department of Energy (DOE) grants have already been stopped by courts, in part due to a lawsuit brought by Attorney General James and 21 other attorneys general.

    Attorney General James and the coalition argue that NSF’s directives violate the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution by unlawfully changing NSF policy and ignoring Congress’s intent for how NSF should function. The lawsuit seeks a court order ruling NSF’s new policies are illegal and blocking them from being implemented.

    Joining Attorney General James in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and Washington.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Sues to Stop Termination, Withholding of National Science Foundation Grants

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today filed a lawsuit to stop the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) from: (1) terminating grants for scientific research that seeks to promote and understand diversity in higher education and the workforce, and (2) imposing a 15% cap on indirect cost reimbursements for research projects. From creating AI technology that predicts weather patterns to protect communities, to developing sustainable solutions for environmental and economic challenges, to making power grids more sustainable, NSF-funded research at American universities has ensured the United States’ status as a global leader in scientific innovation. In the complaint, Attorney General Bonta and 15 other attorneys general ask the court to bar NSF from implementing the terminations and cost cap as arbitrary and capricious and contrary to law in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act.

    “President Trump wants to make America’s universities second tier with his backwards efforts to slash research funding that has kept us on the cutting edge of science and innovation,” said Attorney General Bonta. “For more than 50 years, Congress has expressly authorized the National Science Foundation to train up the next generation of talent and invest in the infrastructure necessary to keep our position as a global leader in STEM. With President Trump’s latest round of indiscriminate funding cuts, America is poised to fall behind its competitors at a critical moment in the global technology race. We’re suing to stop him.”

    At the direction of President Trump, NSF is taking aim at the twin pillars sustaining the United States’ STEM preeminence. First, NSF announced a departure from Congress’s longstanding policy to promote a robust STEM workforce that draws in underrepresented populations. Second, NSF announced that it would slash support for the infrastructure necessary for cutting edge American research. These actions violate the law and jeopardize America’s longstanding global leadership in STEM.  

    Since 1980, Congress has maintained that for the United States to maintain its competitive edge, the nation would need to encourage and prepare people from groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM to acquire skills and pursue careers in science and engineering fields.  And it has directed, empowered, and funded NSF to carry this policy out – with significant success. Between 1995 and 2017, the number of women in science and engineering occupations, or with science or engineering degrees, doubled; minorities, meanwhile, went from representing about 15% of those groups to about 35%.  

    To conduct NSF research, universities must maintain and staff substantial infrastructure, such as cutting-edge laboratories, advanced computer systems and networks, appropriate security, and specialized heating or cooling systems. Because the costs associated with such infrastructure often are not attributable solely to one federally sponsored research project, the federal government negotiates indirect cost rates that ensure research grants are sufficient to actually sustain university research efforts. By indiscriminately slashing indirect cost rates, NSF is repeating the unlawful practices of the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Energy, which districts courts have already enjoined.  

    In California, millions of dollars in funding are at risk across the California State University, University of California, and public community college systems. Many innovations — like the internet, GPS, and MRI technology — trace their origins to research initially funded by NSF. Without NSF funding, many California colleges and universities will be forced to substantially reduce or stop altogether potentially groundbreaking programs and research projects.

    Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Hawaii, New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and Washington in filing the lawsuit. 

    A copy of the complaint is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –