Category: Universities

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pressley, Markey, McGovern Applaud Court Decision Ordering Rümeysa Öztürk’s Transfer to Vermont

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    LawmakersMet with Öztürk at Louisiana ICE Facility Where She Has Been illegally Detained Since March

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Congressman James P. McGovern (MA-02) released the following statement after the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit directed the Trump administration to comply with a lower court order to transfer Rümeysa Öztürk from ICE custody in Louisiana to Vermont. The court ordered the government to move Ms. Öztürk within one week. On March 25, 2025, Ms. Öztürk, a PhD student at Tufts University, was abducted by six plainclothes ICE agents off the streets of Somerville, Massachusetts. She was quickly moved across state lines and shipped more than 1,500 miles away from her community to a detention facility in Louisiana. 

    “We applaud the Second Circuit for rejecting the Trump administration’s attempt to delay complying with the district court’s order to transfer Rümeysa Öztürk from Louisiana to Vermont, where she will be closer to her community and to her legal counsel,” said Pressley, Markey, and McGovern. “Rümeysa should never have been abducted and transferred thousands of miles away to begin with. She is being unlawfully detained for writing an op-ed in her school newspaper and has not been charged with a single crime. Last month, we visited Rümeysa in detention in Louisiana, where she faces intolerable conditions and has suffered multiple asthma attacks. Rümeysa’s case is part of an alarming trend by the Trump administration to trample individuals’ constitutional rights to due process and free speech. Rümeysa must be released and have her visa restored immediately, and we will continue to ring the alarm loudly until that is the case.”

    On April 22, 2025, Pressley, Markey and McGovern, along with Representative Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Ranking Member of House Committee on Homeland Security, and Representative Troy Carter (LA-02), visited the Louisiana ICE facility where Rümeysa Öztürk was being held. Also on April 22, Senator Markey, Representative Pressley, and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons to demand answers about the Trump administration’s concerning practice of detaining individuals, such as Öztürk, far from their attorneys and communities and in legal environments where their rights are more difficult to defend. The Trump administration is forum shopping to obtain a legal outcome favorable to its deportation agenda.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Statement on Rep. Amodei’s Flawed Proposal That Would Make Nevada Lose Out on Millions of Dollars in Public Land Sales to Pay for More Tax Cuts for Billionaires

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) released the following statement after Congressman Mark Amodei (R-NV-02) and House Republicans snuck in a hastily-drafted proposal to sell off Nevada public lands to pay for more tax cuts for billionaires. 
    “I am outraged that Congressman Amodei sold out Nevadans in the dead of night by passing a flawed, hastily-drafted proposal that undermines the careful balance struck in the Washoe County Lands Bill and would result in our state losing out on much-needed funding. For years, I’ve worked in good faith with a wide array of stakeholders to craft a balanced bill that makes more land available for housing and economic development in Washoe County, while at the same time conserving precious public lands and advancing Tribal priorities,” said Senator Rosen. “While I will always support taking steps to address Nevada’s housing crisis, I will not support a Washington-drafted proposal that will lead to Nevada losing out on millions of dollars in funding for our local priorities like education and restoration around the Truckee River, all so Republicans in Washington can pay for more tax cuts for billionaires.”
    Without consulting Senator Rosen or the rest of the Nevada delegation, Congressman Amodei proposed and passed a flawed amendment in the House Natural Resources Committee that would sell off nearly 16,000 acres of public lands in Washoe County and hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands in Pershing County to pay for Congressional Republicans’ budget reconciliation proposal. This proposal abandons key provisions in the Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act, also known as the Washoe County Lands Bill, and directs funds from public land sales in Nevada to the U.S. Treasury, instead of keeping the funding in Nevada. It also ignores the balance struck in Senator Rosen’s Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act.
    Senator Rosen’s Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act would: 
    Permanently protect a million acres of public lands, which Congressman Amodei cut in his proposal.
    Promote sustainable growth and economic development by directing over 15,200 acres of public lands to be made eligible for sale, all of which must be assessed for its suitability for new affordable housing. An additional 33 acres are set aside to only be sold for affordable housing. Any land sold for affordable housing would have to be sold at less than fair market value.
    Support local Tribal communities by expanding land held in trust by more than 8,400 acres for the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, 11,300 acres for the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, and over 1,000 acres for the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, none of which is in the Amodei proposal.
    Provide local governments over 3,700 acres for public purposes such as parks, water treatment facilities, and schools, all of which is excluded from the Amodei proposal. Land is specifically conveyed to Washoe County, the City of Reno, the City of Sparks, the Incline Village General Improvement District, the Gerlach General Improvement District, the State of Nevada, the Truckee River Flood Management Authority, the Washoe County School District, and the University of Nevada, Reno.
    Keep proceeds from land sales in Nevada for priorities like education and restoration around the Truckee River, unlike the Amodei proposal that sends money from land sales to the federal government in Washington, D.C.
    For years, Senator Rosen has worked closely with a wide range of stakeholders across Washoe County to develop this comprehensive legislation. In 2023, she unveiled a working draft of the bill and collected feedback from hundreds of Nevadans during a public comment period, which she then incorporated into this legislation, which was previously introduced last year with the support of local government officials, conservation advocates, and business leaders.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ACCP to lead research into European child abuse responses

    Source:

    08 May 2025

    ACCP researcher Dr James Herbert will lead the project to analyse the Barnahus model .

    UniSA’s Australian Centre for Child Protection (ACCP) will lead research into the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary and child friendly response to child sexual abuse in Europe.

    ACCP has been awarded a $910,000 Oak Foundation grant to help evaluate the impact of the Barnahus response to child abuse.

    The Barnahus model (translates to ‘Children’s House’ in Icelandic) is a multidisciplinary and child friendly response to child sexual abuse in Europe that aims to bring together all relevant professionals under one roof, creating a safe and child-centred environment for investigation and support.

    Dr James Herbert will lead the million-dollar research project with partners in the United Kingdom and Germany to better understand the variations in how countries implement Barnahus and how to measure the impact of these different models for children.

    “The project will evaluate the impact of Barnahus in Europe and look at the evidence,” says Dr Herbert.

    “An Australian being awarded this grant for a project in Europe is a really important recognition of the work that ACCP has done to date in advancing research into multidisciplinary responses like Children’s Advocacy Centres (CAC) and Barnahus.”

    Along with research into multi-disciplinary models in Australia, Dr Herbert has a strong track record of international collaboration.

    This has included a national survey of CACs in the United States to identify the scale of resources they had to support children, contributing to a review of medical services at the Chicago CAC, supervising a research project in Canada into the alignment of multi-disciplinary teams, and serving on the international evaluation advisory committee for the Scottish ‘Bairns Hoose’.

    The research team will work closely with the Barnahus Network and their membership on the project across 28 countries in Europe.

     “The Barnahus approach is an excellent example of what systems change can look like and what’s possible when we put children at the centre of our considerations,” Dr Herbert says. “Long term, I’m hoping that we will be able to bring the learning and experience from this work back to Australia.”

    The ACCP has received the Oak Foundation grant under their Prevent Child Sexual Abuse Programme.

    The ACCP is Australia’s premier research centre for the prevention of child abuse and neglect; the Director is currently Professor Leah Bromfield (2025 Australian of the Year for SA). It was established by the Commonwealth Government in partnership with the University of South Australia in 2004 to better prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect by helping to not only grow the evidence base but also translate it into practice.

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Contact for interview: Dr James Herbert M: +61 402 298 734 E: james.herbert@unisa.edu.au

    Media contact: Candy Gibson M: +61 434 605 142 E: candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Polis Appoints Michal A. Lord-Blegen to the 17th Judicial District Court

    Source: US State of Colorado

    DENVER – Today, Governor Polis appointed Michal A. Lord-Blegen to the 17th Judicial District Court. The appointment fills the vacancy occasioned by the retirement of the Honorable Rayna Gokli. The appointment is effective June 7, 2025. 

    Ms. Lord-Blegen is a Magistrate in the Seventeenth Judicial District, a position she has held since 2020. Her docket consists of juvenile matters. Previously, she was a Magistrate in the Second Judicial District (2016-2020); Managing Partner at Wohl Stetler Lord-Blegen, PLLC (2012-2016); Sole Practitioner at Michal Lord-Blegen (2010-2012); and Associate Attorney at Mitch Baker (2010-2011). Ms. Lord-Blegen earned her B.A. from Hood College in 1990, and her J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 2009.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey, Pressley, McGovern Applaud Second Circuit Decision Ordering Rümeysa Öztürk’s Transfer to Vermont

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Lawmakers met with Öztürk at Louisiana ICE facility where she has been illegally detained since March
    Washington (May 7, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Representatives Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Jim McGovern (MA-02) released the following statement after the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit directed the Trump administration to comply with a lower court order to transfer Rümeysa Öztürk from ICE custody in Louisiana to Vermont. The court ordered the government to move Ms. Öztürk within one week. On March 25, 2025, Ms. Öztürk, a PhD student at Tufts University, was abducted by six plainclothes ICE agents off the streets of Somerville, Massachusetts. She was quickly moved across state lines and shipped more than 1,500 miles away from her community to a detention facility in Louisiana. 
    “We applaud the Second Circuit for rejecting the Trump administration’s attempt to delay complying with the district court’s order to transfer Rümeysa Öztürk from Louisiana to Vermont, where she will be closer to her community and to her legal counsel. Rümeysa should never have been abducted and transferred thousands of miles away to begin with. She is being unlawfully detained for writing an op-ed in her school newspaper and has not been charged with a single crime. Last month, we visited Rümeysa in detention in Louisiana, where she faces intolerable conditions and has suffered multiple asthma attacks. Rümeysa’s case is part of an alarming trend by the Trump administration to trample individuals’ constitutional rights to due process and free speech. Rümeysa must be released and have her visa restored immediately, and we will continue to ring the alarm loudly until that is the case.”
    On April 22, Senator Markey and Representatives Pressley and McGovern, along with Representative Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Ranking Member of House Committee on Homeland Security, and Representative Troy Carter (LA-02), visited the Louisiana ICE facility where Rümeysa Öztürk was being held. Also on April 22, Senator Markey, Representative Pressley, and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons to demand answers about the Trump administration’s concerning practice of detaining individuals, such as Öztürk, far from their attorneys and communities and in legal environments where their rights are more difficult to defend. The Trump administration is forum shopping to obtain a legal outcome favorable to its deportation agenda.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Global: Indian airstrikes in Kashmir following tourist attack raises fears of a regional conflict

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By MD Rakib Jahan, PhD Student, Department of Political Studies, International Relations, Queen’s University, Ontario

    In response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir last month,, India has launched “Operation Sindoor,” a series of targeted airstrikes on nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

    The killing of 26 tourists in Kashmir’s Baisaran Valley on April 22 did more than shatter a moment of peace in one of South Asia’s most scenic regions. The assault has significantly increased India-Pakistan tensions and generated worries of possible military conflict between two nuclear-armed countries.

    Though Pakistan denies the charges, India has specifically held Pakistan responsible for sheltering terrorist groups.

    In response to the attack, India has taken several actions against Pakistan, including downgrading diplomatic ties, recalling diplomats, suspending participation in a vital water-sharing agreement and closing a significant border crossing.

    This rapidly deteriorating situation underscores the broader consequences of the devastating Pahalgam assault.




    Read more:
    India and Pakistan have fought many wars in the past. Are we on the precipice of a new one?


    Human tragedy

    Described by the region’s chief minister, Omar Abdullah, as “much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years,” the assault in Pahalgam is not only a humanitarian tragedy and a blow to Kashmir’s economy but a flashpoint in an already fragile regional relationship.

    The Pahalgam attack’s timing coincided with United States Vice President JD Vance’s visit to India in April. This mirrors a grim pattern that includes former U.S. president Bill Clinton’s 2000 trip, when militants struck Chittisinghpura in Jammu and Kashmir hours before his arrival.

    By staging violence during diplomatic milestones, militants aim to amplify global attention and send a message to the Indian government. As global attention shifts back to Kashmir, the Baisaran massacre appears to mark a new chapter in the long-fought battle over this territory — one that risks tourism, targets civilians and threatens to unravel regional stability.

    Strategic targeting of Kashmir’s economy

    Though Kashmir has seen warfare for decades, militant groups had mostly avoided targeting visitors because of the the economic significance of tourism to Kashmir.

    The calculated selection of Pahalgam — one of Kashmir’s top tourist sites — reveals a plan to attack the core of Kashmir’s economy. According to counter-terrorism expert Ajai Sahni, the local community and militant groups have an implicit understanding not to compromise the tourism industry.

    By breaking this unwritten rule, the militants have demonstrated a willingness to inflict economic harm on the population.

    Nearly everyone in Kashmir, particularly in the valley, depends on tourism either directly or indirectly. Tourism, which has seen a resurgence since the COVID-19 pandemic, generates thousands of direct and indirect jobs and more than eight per cent of Kashmir’s GDP.

    Experts like Amitabh Mattoo, from the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, warn that Kashmir may experience long-term devastating effects from a drop in tourism. A significant exodus of travellers from Kashmir has already taken place.




    Read more:
    Why are India and Pakistan on the brink of war and how dangerous is the situation? An expert explains


    Challenging India’s post-2019 Kashmir narrative

    The assault also weakens India’s narrative on Kashmir, an area that has been disputed by both Pakistan and India since their independence from Britain in 1947.

    The attack took place as India Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to open a multi-billion-dollar railway project to the Kashmir Valley, which his government contends will enhance tourism and economic development.

    Modi’s administration has presented the rise in tourism as proof of “normalcy” coming back to Kashmir following India’s removal of special status to Kashmir.

    The intentional targeting of visitors sends a message that the illusion of normalcy is misleading.

    A deadly departure from past tactics

    The Resistance Front (TRF), a rather unknown militant group founded in 2019 and designated as a “terrorist organization” by the Indian government in January 2023, claimed responsibility for the assault via social media. They offered no proof to back their assertion.

    TRF represents a new breed of militant Kashmiri nationalism and resistance. Indian intelligence agencies have connected the group to the Pakistan-based terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba.

    TRF’s communication regarding the assault emphasized resistance to new “outsider” residency rights. This corresponds with worries voiced by some Kashmiris after 2019 modifications permitted non-locals to acquire land and get employment in the area.

    The government disclosed in April 2025 that 83,000 individuals have been given residence certificates under these new standards in the last two years.

    The future of Kashmir’s stability

    Apart from causing obvious human sorrow, the Pahalgam slaughter also endangers years of economic development and could send Jammu and Kashmir back into a cycle of bloodshed and instability.

    Targeting tourists could mean militants are willing to risk Kashmir’s economic core. The assault appears to be an attempt to internationalize the Kashmir problem at a time when worldwide interest had started to fade. It also exploits religious divides, and has succeeded in inciting severe security reactions.

    The future seems more and more uncertain for ordinary Kashmiris caught between security crackdowns and militant brutality. Historical trends indicate that more militancy usually results in more security policies, putting more strain on civilian life.

    For many teenagers and young people in Jammu and Kashmir, the lack of consistent income, mobility limitations and increased monitoring intensifies sensations of marginalization and anger.

    Radical groups can take advantage of these frustrations. To counter this, economic policies must address these inequalities.




    Read more:
    India-Pakistan strikes: 5 essential reads on decades of rivalry and tensions over Kashmir


    A strategy for the way ahead

    The Pahalgam incident calls for a counter-terrorism strategy that balances security with socio-economic stability.

    For example, tourism profit-sharing systems could be implemented and tax advantages or subsidies could be offered to tour businesses, especially those employing young marginalized demographics. This could help to bring some financial respite as well as long-term stability and has been successful in countries like Rwanda.

    The failure to pre-empt the attack despite heightened security during the Vance’s visit and the Hindu pilgrimage season reveals systematic intelligence failures.

    The way ahead calls for tackling both security issues and the underlying complaints still driving militancy in Jammu and Kashmir as the region once again confronts the possibility of violence.

    United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged both nations to de-escalate and return to diplomacy.

    MD Rakib Jahan 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. Indian airstrikes in Kashmir following tourist attack raises fears of a regional conflict – https://theconversation.com/indian-airstrikes-in-kashmir-following-tourist-attack-raises-fears-of-a-regional-conflict-256166

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-Evening Report: Marvel’s Thunderbolts* shines a light on men’s mental illness – but falls down with this outdated plotline

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emily Baulch, Research Associate, Discipline of Media and Communications, University of Sydney

    Marvel Studios

    This piece contains spoilers.


    Marvel’s men are sad. And that’s a good thing.

    Thor’s depressed in Avengers: Endgame. Tony Stark has panic attacks in Iron Man 3. Peter grieves in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

    In Marvel’s latest release Thunderbolts* (or The New Avengers), we finally see a male superhero seek advice on how to deal with mental illness.

    The only problem? His impromptu therapist is a woman he’s only just met.

    A blanket of darkness

    Bob Reynolds (Lewis Pullman) is a new and damaged superhero experiment. Bob believes the world might be better off without him – foreshadowing that he’s not entirely wrong.

    Bob turns to Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) for help. Yelena understands, saying “that darkness gets pretty enticing”. As she struggles to describe the feeling, Bob supplies the word: a void.

    Yelena offers a survival tactic: push the darkness deep down and carry on. It’s terrible advice and they both know it. But in that moment, it’s honest, and it connects them.

    Thunderbolts explores suicidal thoughts, PTSD and bipolar disorder. Bob speaks of the euphoric highs and shattering lows he experiences, often resulting in blackouts. His mental illness becomes metaphoric: his internal darkness manifests in his powers, and he becomes the villainous superpower of the film.

    Some of the film handles these themes well. Bob’s bipolar spreads into a dangerous blanket of darkness into which others, literally, vanish. At the film’s climax, Bob battles the dark, depressed version of himself. He beats himself up, seeking to beat the evil version of himself and, metaphorically, his mental illness. It doesn’t work. The darkness spreads to his stable self, too.

    But Yelena and the Thunderbolts fight their way to him, embracing him in a hug, and their support gives him the strength to confront his trauma.

    Women as emotional supports

    Done well, positive depictions of mental health struggles can be important pieces of representation.

    Unfortunately, most mental health depictions in major films are not done well, when they are included at all. Accurate portrayals of bipolar disorder remain rare. Research shows on young adult literature continues to lack mental health representation, especially by authors with lived experience.

    Across Hollywood, from Rey saving Kylo Ren in Star Wars to Beauty fixing the Beast, women are constantly cast as emotional supports for men.

    This is also true throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Black Widow offers the Hulk her hand; Tony Stark punches him to sleep. Scarlet Witch is forced to carry her grief for Vision. In Thunderbolts, Yelena becomes the latest emotional ballast for a traumatised man.

    The film’s depiction of men’s mental illness through the story of Bob Reynolds (Lewis Pullman) is an important one.
    Marvel Studios

    These women take these roles despite their own troubles, often without support or recognition from their male counterparts.

    Yelena steps into the dark emanating from Bob, believing her own struggles will allow her to help him. It’s poignant and beautiful in a way. Those who have walked through hell know the pathway through.

    But it’s also troubling.

    To save Bob from himself, she must risk her body, mind and mental wellbeing. Alone, her flashbacks become real as she comes face to face with her childhood trauma, undergoing psychological torture at Bob’s hands to reach him.

    The weight of emotional labour

    Yelena’s actions aren’t just a trope. They reflect a broader cultural script where women are expected to take on emotional responsibility not just for themselves but also for the men around them.

    Women are taught to care about others. At home and at work, the emotional labour undertaken by women often goes unnoticed, but it comes with real costs: stress, burnout and self-neglect.

    As men struggle with loneliness and a lack of friendships, women are expected to fill that gap. This dynamic, sometimes called “mankeeping”, leaves women doing the emotional work of informal therapy without support or reciprocity.

    Taking on these informal therapist roles results in disempowerment and dissatisfaction.

    The film’s depiction of Bob’s mental health issues has positive aspects: it goes against the pressure to conform to traditional ideas of masculinity, where men are taught to suppress their emotions and be stoic. Bob is allowed to be vulnerable and ask for help, and, despite his actions, is still shown to be worth helping.

    Too much caring responsibility falls on the shoulders of Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), who has her own struggles.
    Marvel Studios

    A significant number of young men who follow masculinity influencers believe they need to be stoic and control their emotions and that women should occupy traditional gender roles, being soft, nurturing, motherly and supportive.

    These beliefs can not only discourage men from seeking professional help: they set women up to carry the emotional burden in relationships, often at great personal cost.

    Addressing mental health

    Toxic masculinity is well and truly alive, but women aren’t the answer to it.

    Addressing mental health issues effectively requires a multifaceted approach that includes professional intervention, personal responsibility and mutual support within relationships.

    Thunderbolts gestures toward progress, but doesn’t quite escape old tropes. Bob’s pain is real, but it’s also weaponised. His mental illness becomes a threat, and his instability something others must contain.

    The film acknowledges he’s struggling, but ultimately treats his struggle as dangerous as his void-like inner turbulence is unleashed on those around him. It’s a reflection of a broader cultural pattern: when men’s emotional pain is left unaddressed, it festers, and women are often expected to absorb the cost.

    We’re left with a troubling question: in the stories we tell, are we promising struggling young men a fairytale ending of romance and self-sacrifice in the shape of a young woman coming to save them from themselves?


    If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

    Emily Baulch 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. Marvel’s Thunderbolts* shines a light on men’s mental illness – but falls down with this outdated plotline – https://theconversation.com/marvels-thunderbolts-shines-a-light-on-mens-mental-illness-but-falls-down-with-this-outdated-plotline-255869

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-Evening Report: Vietnam is poised to become a top 20 economy, so why is Australia taking so long to make trade and investment links?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anne Vo, Senior lecturer in Vietnamese culture and politics, University of Wollongong

    Aritra Deb/Shutterstock

    At a time of widespread global trade instability, Australia should be expanding and diversifying its economic partnerships. Supply chains remain fragile, and protectionist rhetoric is once again gaining traction in major Western economies.

    US President Donald Trump’s America First agenda includes sweeping tariffs on imports, withdrawal from multilateral agreements and pressure to take production in-house.

    At the same time, China, Australia’s largest trading partner, has often used trade for geopolitical leverage. In 2020, Beijing imposed tariffs of more than 200% on Australian wine. This wiped 30% off the sector’s export value.

    So economic diversification is not only desirable but strategically imperative.

    An opportunity

    Fifty years on from the fall of Saigon, Vietnam presents a compelling opportunity for economic and strategic diversification. The reunited country is eager to move beyond its wartime image and assert itself as an emerging economic powerhouse.

    Vietnam’s capital, Ho Chi Min City. The country has shifted from being a place synonymous with war to becoming one of the world’s top economies.
    Nguyen Quang Ngoc Tonkin/Shutterstock

    Since the launch of the Doi Moi reforms in 1986, Vietnam has embraced economic liberalisation and market-oriented policies. The Doi Moi reforms opened the economy to foreign trade, allowed private ownership and restructured state-owned enterprises.

    From a growth rate of just 1.6% in 1980, Vietnam is now set to become one of the world’s top 20 economies by 2050. In 2023 alone, it attracted A$8.5 billion in foreign direct investment, underscoring strong investor confidence.

    The 50th anniversary of reunification on April 30 provided insights into the country’s growth. Celebrations included military parades, 3D virtual reality displays and exhibitions promoting advances in technology.

    Slow to act

    Yet Australia has been slow to act. Despite geographic proximity and shared interests, Australia’s economic footprint in Vietnam remains surprisingly small. In 2023, Australian foreign direct investment totalled just A$3 million. It ranked 22nd, behind countries including Switzerland and Seychelles.

    In trade, the disparity is similarly stark. Vietnam accounts for only 2.33% of Australia’s exports and 1.4% of imports. Two-way trade between the two countries reached $26.3 billion in 2022. At the same time, Vietnam’s trade with the United States, topped A$191.9 billion.

    Some Australian firms are already making inroads. BlueScope Steel, Linfox, and SunRice have invested significantly in manufacturing, logistics and agriculture. And RMIT University has been a key player in transnational education since it opened the first of three campuses in Vietnam in 2000.

    ANZ and Qantas also have a visible presence. However, small and medium-sized enterprises – which comprise more than 98% of Australian businesses – remain largely absent. Many prefer export partnerships or distributor agreements over direct investment.

    Potential obstacles

    Australian companies have long favoured English-speaking or high-income markets. These offer greater institutional and cultural familiarity and regulatory certainty.

    Vietnam’s relationship-based commercial environment poses challenges, especially for firms lacking embedded networks and local knowledge. Concerns around regulatory transparency, intellectual property protection, contract enforcement and corruption – though improving – continue to weigh on corporate decisions.

    Small to medium enterprises, in particular, face extra barriers due to limited institutional support, regulatory understanding, market intelligence and in-country networks.

    Help from government

    The Australian government has taken some steps to catch up. The Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy, launched in 2021, aims to double two-way investment and elevate both nations to top ten trading partner status.

    It identifies priority sectors such as agriculture, education, clean energy, digital technology and manufacturing. However, the strategy contains no enforceable legal protections, tariff concessions or means of dispute resolution.

    Manufacturing is one of the priority areas recognised in Australia’s Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy for Vietnam.
    Hien Phung Tu/Shutterstock

    The lack of these matters. Japan, South Korea and the European Union have pursued coordinated economic strategies that include concessional loans, robust legal frameworks and in-market support services. These help their businesses thrive in Vietnam’s complex regulatory environment.

    Similarly, the EU has integrated trade promotion with legal certainty under agreements like the EU Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.

    More needs to be done

    Without comparable tools, Australia’s initiatives risk being more aspirational than actionable.

    Last year’s upgrade in bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, signals growing political will.

    For Australia to realise the potential of its relationship with Vietnam it should back long-term policies. These policies should reduce market entry barriers, incentivise small to medium enterprises and increase joint skills development.

    Investors also need legal and institutional support.

    Australia has strong potential to expand into emerging sectors. These include renewable energy, digital technology, healthcare, vocational education and training, green and smart infrastructure and agritech.

    Vietnam’s push for environmentally sustainable economic growth, digital transformation and workforce training aligns closely with Australian strengths. This creates opportunities for strategic investment and cooperation.

    There is the potential for Australia to build a dynamic partnership with Vietnam central to its long-term economic position in the Indo-Pacific.

    Anne Vo 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. Vietnam is poised to become a top 20 economy, so why is Australia taking so long to make trade and investment links? – https://theconversation.com/vietnam-is-poised-to-become-a-top-20-economy-so-why-is-australia-taking-so-long-to-make-trade-and-investment-links-255722

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why is hospital parking so expensive? Two economics researchers explain

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Farrell, Professor of Economics (Health Economist), RMIT University

    ThirtyPlus/Shutterstock

    Imagine having to pay A$39 dollars a day to park your car while visiting your sick child in hospital.

    For families already struggling in a cost-of-living crisis, hospital parking fees are not just another expense. They can be a financial barrier to supporting loved ones in their most vulnerable moments.

    Hospital parking is a big revenue earner. In New South Wales, public hospitals collected almost $51.7 million in parking fees in 2024. That was up from $30.2 million in 2023.

    It may be tempting to view hospital parking fees as exploiting a captive market. But the reality is much more complex.

    It involves urban economics, pressures on health-care funding and competing demands for limited space, often in busy city centres.

    Let’s start with supply and demand

    Basic economics tells us that price is the mechanism for balancing supply and demand. This is known as the equilibrium price. If demand is greater than supply, the price rises. So for urban hospitals, where parking spaces are limited, this scarcity creates market conditions that, not surprisingly, drive up prices.

    But economics also tells us that if there’s still demand for parking despite the price, then under some circumstances suppliers can charge more than the equilibrium price. Put simply, this “inelastic demand” means it is possible to charge more to a captive audience.



    You could certainly argue hospital patients and visitors are a captive audience. While many hospitals are well serviced by public transport, hospital patients and visitors are often too sick or time-poor to use it. So they have little choice than to pay for parking. For rural hospitals, there is limited or no public transport, so visitors have to drive.

    So are hospitals taking advantage of the inelastic demand for parking? Are they price gouging – setting prices above what is considered reasonable or fair? Or are there reasons for setting such high prices?

    Location, location, location

    Car parks of hospitals in prime locations are not just attractive to hospital patients and visitors. They’re also attractive to other users, such as those working in the city or sightseeing. High parking fees deter these users, ensuring spaces are available for hospital users.

    High prices prevent hospital users from overstaying. This prevents them doing non-hospital activities (such as shopping) after their hospital appointment or visits and before returning to their cars.

    Hospitals also charge high prices to raise revenue for health care. In a statement to the ABC earlier this year, NSW Health said extra money raised from parking is reinvested into health services and facilities.

    Hospitals are often in prime locations, such as Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney’s inner west.
    Rose Marinelli/Shutterstock

    But it makes sense to encourage visitors

    However, raising parking fees to support hospital budgets could be a false economy. We know hospital visitors have an important role in patients’ recovery times. So if high parking costs deter visitors or carers, this could lead to longer hospital stays for their loved ones.

    Cheaper parking might allow for more visiting, leading to shorter hospital stays and significant cost savings per patient.

    I (Lisa) had firsthand experience of this when my elderly father with dementia was admitted to hospital recently. The hospital allowed 24/7 visitor access for carers (in this case, my mother) and free hospital parking. Access 24/7 is important for patients with dementia who are often disorientated in hospital. This disorientation is typically worse in the evening (known as sundowning).

    Having carers present meant staff could focus on medical issues. It facilitated visits outside normal visiting hours (when dementia patients typically need the extra support) and when the demand for parking spaces is lower.

    Visitors are great for patients’ wellbeing and help their recovery. So we want to encourage them.
    DC Studio/Shutterstock

    Who needs cheap parking?

    High parking prices reflect the high demand for a fixed supply of parking spaces that are rationed to those most willing to pay (those with the income). But a better solution is to ration according to need (that is, to boost patient wellbeing).

    The economics solution is to charge different users different prices. Most hospitals do this already by offering concessions. But concessions can differ by hospital or state. Not everyone knows concession-rate parking is available, and it can be hard for some people to find out if they qualify.

    So if you are concerned about the cost of hospital parking, know the fees and available concessions before you park. You can find this on most hospitals’ websites.

    Currently, concessions are generally based on income (including the possession of a concession card). But we need a greater shift towards providing concession rates based on need. For example those visiting long-stay patients clearly need concessions to support patient wellbeing.

    A media campaign has called for a national cap on hospital parking costs for frequent users.

    Most car parks have a daily limit but frequent users can soon accumulate large bills over weeks or months of hospital visits. For many patients, particularly those requiring frequent treatments such as dialysis, parking costs accumulate annually.

    For people having frequent treatments, such as dialysis, parking costs can add up over the years.
    ainata/Shutterstock

    How could we make things cheaper and fairer?

    We need to apply concession rates to hospital visitors on the basis of need, not just income. Need should be informed by patient wellbeing and the importance of visitors to the healing process.

    We need a consistent set of rules across hospitals about concession-rate parking. This would simplify the process for hospital car park users.

    We also need to look at longer-term solutions. When expanding hospitals or planning new ones, we can consider transitioning away from prime locations. This would help make parking less attractive to non-hospital users.

    The challenge for health-care systems is balancing operational necessity of recovering costs with the ethics of equity and access that prevent necessary care.

    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. Why is hospital parking so expensive? Two economics researchers explain – https://theconversation.com/why-is-hospital-parking-so-expensive-two-economics-researchers-explain-255716

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-Evening Report: While the Liberals haemorrhaged, the Nationals held their own. Is it time to break up the Coalition?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Linda Botterill, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University

    Among the notable features of this year’s election campaign was that Australia’s second-oldest political party was apparently missing in action. At the same time, it managed to avoid the rout inflicted on its coalition partner.

    The Nationals, who have represented rural and regional Australia in the federal parliament for more than a century, were nowhere to be seen as an identifiable, separate political party.

    This isn’t unusual. The parties that make up the Coalition do highly targeted messaging in their electorates, but then fall neatly into policy lockstep when an election is called. This time, however, the Nationals seemed particularly shy.

    Leader David Littleproud stopped issuing media releases on April 24, a full nine days before the election was held, and his speech to the National Press Club given that day was not available on the party website. It is hard to imagine former party leaders Tim Fischer, John Anderson or Ian Sinclair being quite so reticent.

    The focus of the commentary since election night has been on the Liberals’ failings, particularly in the major cities. You could be forgiven for thinking “Coalition” was a synonym for “Liberals”.

    But as the Liberal Party tries to reckon with these failings, the Nats are in a position of increasing power. The great survivors of Australian politics now appear to be better at surviving than their coalition counterparts. It’s just a question of how they want to use that power and longevity.

    Growing party power

    The Nationals are a uniquely Australian phenomenon. First, they are an avowedly agrarian party in a highly urbanised country.

    Second and more distinctly, they are part of what the rest of the world would see as a decidedly odd coalition arrangement. Elsewhere, coalition governments are negotiated after the election result is known and involve public bargaining and horse trading.

    In the Australian coalition arrangement, these negotiations occur behind closed doors and can hold even in opposition. The Nats benefit because they have access to ministerial and shadow ministerial positions with the power, salary and other advantages that these confer.

    The National Party largely held its own in the face of the Labor landslide. At most, it lost one of its 10 House of Representatives seats: Calare in northern New South Wales, which has been held by a former Nat, now independent.

    Its primary vote actually increased marginally from 3.6% in 2022 to 4.0%. This is less than One Nation (6.3%) but because of its dispersed vote, One Nation didn’t win a lower house seat.

    The Nats appear likely to lose a NSW senator as part of the joint party ticket. Nonetheless, the Nats are now a proportionally larger force in the Coalition, with Nats and Nationals-aligned LNP members accounting for just over 40% of Coalition MPs.

    On that basis they could become more influential over policies and shadow portfolios. Including senators, they now account for 30% of the Coalition party room.

    At a crossroads

    The demise of the Nationals has been predicted for decades, but still they persist.

    The peculiar Australian coalition arrangement works for them. They will benefit both from holding shadow ministerial positions if the Coalition is retained and likely having a greater role in determining policy direction.

    Whether the Liberals benefit from a continuing coalition is an open question. They need to rebuild in the cities and focus on regaining the support of voters who are socially liberal but economically conservative, younger, and female. There’ll inevitably be a review of what went wrong for the Liberals, and this might best be done free of ties to the Nats.

    The choice seems to be between shifting policy closer to the ten community independents or remaining hitched to the conservative Nationals. The ill-fated nuclear power policy has, after all, been attributed to David Littleproud.

    Deciding which way to fall won’t be easy. Apparently aware of his party’s increased leverage, Nationals Senator Matt Canavan has said they were led too much by the Liberals during the last parliament. He said:

    I worry that we have been gun shy in this last term of parliament in a futile attempt to give the Liberals space or some sort of opportunity to win seats in the city.

    So is now the time for the Coalition partners to go it alone? Probably not.

    On present numbers, the Liberals could struggle to form the opposition in their own right. The combined LNP in Queensland makes the situation even more complicated.

    The Nats have no incentive to leave. Open competition could see them lose seats to the Liberals in the future.

    And besides, two Liberal leadership contenders, Angus Taylor and Sussan Ley, hold seats with significant rural histories, both of which have been held by the Country/National Party.

    Linda Botterill has in the past received funding from the Australian Research Council, the Grains Research and Development Corporation, and Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (now Agrifutures).

    ref. While the Liberals haemorrhaged, the Nationals held their own. Is it time to break up the Coalition? – https://theconversation.com/while-the-liberals-haemorrhaged-the-nationals-held-their-own-is-it-time-to-break-up-the-coalition-255626

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘Utu’ as foreign policy: how a Māori worldview can make sense of a shifting world order

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicholas Ross Smith, Senior Research Fellow, National Centre for Research on Europe, University of Canterbury

    Getty Images

    There is a growing feeling in New Zealand that the regional geopolitical situation is becoming less stable and more conflicted. China has ramped up its Pacific engagement, most recently with the Cook Islands, and the United States under Donald Trump is abandoning the old multilateral world order.

    As a result, we’re beginning to see New Zealand shift away from a two-decades-long preference for engaging with multiple partners towards a more conventional balancing strategy.

    Essentially, this attempts to counter the perceived threat from a strong country – namely China – with a combination of external alliances and internal policies.

    Externally, New Zealand has sought re-align itself within the US-led security sphere. Participation in pillar two of the AUKUS security pact has been seriously discussed, and New Zealand has actively engaged with NATO as a member of the “Indo-Pacific Four” (along with Australia, Japan and the Republic of Korea).

    Internally, a NZ$12 billion “defence plan” was announced in early April. This will see New Zealand increase defence spending from just over 1% of GDP to more than 2% over the next eight years.

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made no secret of these changing priorities. He has said he is simply taking “the world as it is”, adding:

    this realism is a shift from our predecessors’ vaguer notions of an indigenous foreign policy that no-one else understood, let alone shared.

    This was a direct repudiation of the previous Labour government’s foreign minister, Nanaia Mahuta. Her tenure had offered a glimpse of what a foreign policy guided by te ao Māori – the Māori worldview – might look like.

    Four tikanga Māori principles underpinned the policy: manaakitanga (hospitality), whanaungatanga (connectedness), mahi tahi and kotahitanga (unity through collaboration), and kaitiakitanga (intergenerational guardianship).

    ‘The world as it is’: Foreign Minister Winston Peters speaks at Rātana celebrations in Whanganui, January 24 2025.
    Getty Images

    Beyond Western-centric thinking

    Clearly, te ao Māori offers a very different way of looking at international relations. At its core it adopts a “relational” understanding of the world that views reality as a series of entanglements: “human with human, human with nonhuman, nonhuman with human, human and nonhuman with transcendent”.

    It is also a non-anthropocentric view: humans are not the masters of the world but rather stewards or custodians of a complex web of relations.

    But as we argue in a recent Global Policy article, despite good intentions, Mahuta’s four tikanga Māori were mostly used rhetorically. They did not fundamentally alter New Zealand’s foreign policy, which remained firmly Western-centric.

    We suggest those four tikanga principles would be enhanced by adding the concept of “utu” as a kind of overarching framework.

    Largely thanks to the famous 1983 film of the same name, utu is often thought to simply mean violent revenge. In fact, it is a much deeper concept that refers to the “process of restoring physical and spiritual relationships to an equal or harmonious state”.

    Utu as a foreign policy framework

    A foreign policy underpinned by utu, therefore, would seek to build relationships that are harmonious and reciprocal.

    Harmony, in this sense, goes beyond notions of an international order characterised by global peace, greater connectedness, increased cooperation and interdependence.

    While these are important, an utu-informed view of harmony would also take into account the relationship between humans and the natural world, and between present, past and future generations.

    Similarly, in the Western-centric view, reciprocity is typically “invoked as an appropriate standard of behaviour which can produce cooperation among sovereign states”.

    But utu involves a reciprocity built through hospitality (manaakitanga), something which has to be given even if serious discord exists in a relationship. Reciprocity is also important in interactions between humans and the natural world.

    Consequently, an utu foreign policy doctrine would offer a radically different lens than New Zealand is currently using.

    A genuinely independent foreign policy

    Firstly, it would require New Zealand to reject the Western geopolitical construct
    of the “Indo-Pacific”, which vastly oversimplifies the complex realities of the region.

    And it would mean viewing China not as an existential threat, but rather as a crucial relationship that is subject to the principles of manaakitanga, despite growing discord and diplomatic challenges.

    Secondly, it would see New Zealand recognise climate change as the primary existential threat to the status quo. This would align closely with the country’s Pacific neighbours whose Blue Pacific initiative offers an alternative to the Indo-Pacific focus.

    Lastly, it would help New Zealand more consistently and coherently pursue a genuinely independent foreign policy. This should have bipartisan appeal, as it would give New Zealand a unique perspective on the world.

    Ultimately, as New Zealand faces a more complex regional environment and a range of national security challenges, utu in its true sense offers a more constructive framework.

    Perhaps adopting a more complex – and more humble – understanding of the world, as provided by te ao Māori, would give policymakers an alternative pathway to simply taking “the world as it is”.


    The author acknowledges the contribution of independent researcher Bonnie Holster, co-author of the Global Policy paper on which this article is based.


    Nicholas Ross Smith 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. ‘Utu’ as foreign policy: how a Māori worldview can make sense of a shifting world order – https://theconversation.com/utu-as-foreign-policy-how-a-maori-worldview-can-make-sense-of-a-shifting-world-order-255602

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to study looking at ultra-processed foods and early signs of Parkinson’s disease

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A study published in Neurology looks at ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and signs of Parkinson’s disease. 

    Dr Katherine Fletcher, Research Lead at Parkinson’s UK, said:

    Research into diet in general is difficult as people often will inaccurately self-report what their diet comprises. This could be down to forgetting to fill in the diary at the time, to subjective interpretation of amounts of UPFs.

    “The study group also lacked ethnic and socio-economic diversity, which is vital when looking to better understand factors that contribute to the causes of a health condition.

    “In respect of strengths, it was a long-running study with a reasonably large sample size, building on a theory that already exists about the impact of diet.  Nonetheless, a much wider body of research is required before drawing any conclusions i.e. looking globally at different diets.

    “This paper builds on previous research, such as the work of Dr. Laurie Mischley1 at Bastyr University, which has shown an association between processed foods and faster progression of Parkinson’s.  Additionally, evidence suggests that following a Mediterranean-style diet2 – rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, pulses, and olive oil – could reduce someone’s risk of going on to develop Parkinson’s.

    “Research into diet and nutrition is crucial, as there is growing evidence that, for some individuals, Parkinson’s may originate from changes in the gut.  Ongoing studies are exploring alterations in the gut microbiome in Parkinson’s and investigating potential interventions to address these changes and as well as investigating diet and supplements to help manage symptoms.”

     

    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29081890/

    Prof Eef Hogervorst, Professor of Psychology, Loughborough University, said:

    Firstly, the outcome term ‘early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease’ is a bit misleading as symptoms such as constipation, and body pain here found to be associated with consumption of Ultra Processed Foods (UPF) are quite common in ageing and are not necessarily indicative of Parkinson’s disease.

    “Even the most likely predictor of Parkinson’s disease – probably REM sleep disorder – is seen in 65% of Parkinson patients but also in 10% of controls, with low (65%) sensitivity for Parkinson’s disease, even when people already have this disease (Kakazu, 2024: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2024.09.042).  This symptom only shows relations with the highest intake of UPF.

    “Other symptoms like reduced sense of smell, daytime sleepiness, impaired colour vision and depression by themselves seem not related to consumption of UPF.

    “With regards to the UPF outcome, 30% of food consumption assessed by questionnaire was not agreed on and while experts apparently re-assessed these, it is not clear how they agreed on categorisation of foods, so whether they were UPF or not.

    “It seemed strange that non-UPF food included beef, pork, lamb chicken or turkey sandwich (all processed meats); cream; pancakes or waffles; pie, home-baked or readymade; popcorn; potato or

    corn chips; soy milk; and tomato sauce, as well as distilled alcohol and dairy coffee.

    “Individual foods such as UPF breads or cereals and indeed microwaveable meals were by themselves not associated with the ‘early Parkinson disease symptoms’ while sauces, sweets, artificial sweetened drinks and desserts were as well as savoury snacks, animal and dairy products including yogurts.  Such foods are associated with diabetes mellitus and vascular (heart) disease, respectively, which can impact on brain disease because of their sugar and trans fat contents, respectively.

    “However, it is not the first study to show associations of UPF and brain disease.  We early wrote a piece on studies investigating dementia risk and processed meat consumption

    https://theconversation.com/processed-red-meat-isnt-just-bad-for-your-heart-its-also-associated-with-dementia-247619   A healthy varied whole food diet is associated with prevention of many diseases including dementia.

    “Lastly, these two cohorts were mainly white health professionals so the results do not necessarily translate to everyone.

    “So this study may be affected by UPF categorisation as a predictor, where also not all UPF foods showed an association; the limited study group associations were assessed in (only mainly white health professionals and nurses) and also by the outcome, as these symptoms are not necessarily predictive of Parkinson’s disease, nor were these symptoms individually all associated with UPF consumption.”

     

    Dr Daniel J van Wamelen, Clinical Senior Lecturer in Neuroscience and Honorary Consultant Neurologist, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, said:

    “The findings in this study are interesting and appear to be based on solid research with conclusions well supported by the data.  However, it is important to highlight that the symptoms examined in this study are possible early signs of Parkinson’s disease, not definitive indicators that someone will go on to develop it.  The study did not track whether participants were diagnosed with Parkinson’s later on.

    “Many of the individual symptoms noted, such as sleep disturbances, constipation, and mood changes, are common in the general population.  While the study found that people who ate more ultra-processed foods tended to report more of these non-motor symptoms, it did not find a direct increase in the risk of Parkinson’s disease itself.  That said, having more of these symptoms suggests a higher risk over time.  For example, a person experiencing a combination of REM sleep behaviour disorder, constipation, and depressive symptoms has a higher likelihood of developing Parkinson’s down the line, but the risk is not absolute.  To better understand the long-term implications, we would need a longer follow-up to see how many participants go on to develop Parkinson’s and how this is associated with their diet.

    “In short, this is an interesting piece of research addressing important questions.  But the connection to Parkinson’s disease should be viewed with caution until more definitive evidence becomes available.”

     

     

     

    ‘Long-Term Consumption of Ultraprocessed Foods and Prodromal Features of Parkinson Disease’ by Peilu Wang et al. was published in Neurology at 21:00 UK time on Wednesday 7 May 2025. 

    DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000213562

     

     

    Declared interests

    Dr Katherine Fletcher: “The author declares that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence their comment reported in this article.”

    Prof Eef Hogervorst: “A previous consultancy for Proctor on omega 3 and folic acid supplement review to protect against dementia (these did not in meta-analyses), and unpaid but a travel reimbursed media appearance (breakfast TV BBC) to discuss the Lancet 2024 risk factors for dementia and her own articles including the Conversation piece on nutrition and dementia risk https://theconversation.com/processed-red-meat-isnt-just-bad-for-your-heart-its-also-associated-with-dementia-247619.  Eef also acted as unpaid but travel reimbursed consultant for NICE on menopausal HRT and dementia risk and has received travel reimbursement to speak at ESG and BMS conference on dementia prevention in 2024/2025.”

    Dr Daniel J van Wamelen: “Supported by research funding from CHDI Inc, MRC, and BRC; received travel grants and speaker fees for educational purposes from Bial Pharma; served on advisory boards for Britannia Pharmaceuticals and Invisio Pharma; received in kind contributions (equipment) from Chrono Eyewear BV for research projects.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI: Silvaco Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Achieved gross bookings of $13.7 million and revenue of $14.1 million in the first quarter 2025

    Signed 9 new customers in the first quarter 2025 and expanded relationship with existing customers across key markets including AI, Photonics, and IoT

    Expanded Product Portfolio with the Acquisition of Tech-X Corporation

    SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Silvaco Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SVCO) (“Silvaco” or the “Company”), a provider of TCAD, EDA software, and SIP solutions that enable innovative semiconductor design and digital twin modeling through AI software and automation, today announced its first quarter 2025 results.

    “We are pleased to have completed our first acquisition since our IPO in the first quarter of 2025, and have since announced our second acquisition of 2025, advancing our inorganic growth strategy and expanding our product portfolio,” said Dr. Babak Taheri, Silvaco’s Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Taheri continued, “We believe our solid fundamentals and focus on innovation position us to sustain strong customer momentum and drive continued growth in our EDA and TCAD product lines through 2025. We are committed to defending shareholder value through performance, transparency, and responsible capital management. We believe the fundamentals of Silvaco are strong—and we’re taking clear, measurable steps to align our market presence with the long-term strength of our business.”

    Commenting on the financial results and outlook, Keith Tainsky, Silvaco’s Interim Chief Financial Officer, added, “Given the current economic uncertainty, we have provided a broad guidance range for the second quarter of 2025. The company remains well positioned to deliver solid growth, supported by strong customer demand. We also updated our full-year guidance and remain confident in our ability to achieve our strategic and financial objectives.”

    First Quarter 2025 and Recent Business Highlights

    • Acquired 9 new customers across key markets including AI infrastructure (Power, Memory, Foundry) Photonics, and IoT markets, which represented approximately 23% of gross bookings for the quarter. We also expanded opportunities with existing customers, which accounted for 38% of gross bookings.
    • Gained momentum with Power, Photonics, and Advanced CMOS customers as they expand adoption of the FTCO platform for their next-generation product development. We announced that Excelliance MOS adopted Silvaco DTCO Flow for next generation silicon carbide devices and our partnership with Korean Kyung Hee University’s Professor Jin Jang on FTCO for next generation display technologies.
    • Expanded SAM by an estimated $600 million with the acquisitions of Cadence’s PPC product line and Tech-X Corporation.
    • Faraday Technology selected Silvaco FlexCAN IP for advanced automotive ASIC design.
    • ProMOS adopted our Victory TCAD solution for the development of next generation silicon photonics devices.
    • On April 29, 2025, Silvaco closed the acquisition of Tech-X Corporation, expanding our product offerings into wafer-level and photonics digital twin modeling.
    • Beginning with this quarter, we will be providing a new performance metric called Annual Contract Value, or ACV. We use ACV internally as a supplemental measure to evaluate the performance of our customer agreements and the underlying momentum of the business. While not a measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, we believe ACV provides additional insight into the scale and timing of customer commitments, which may not be fully reflected in recognized revenue due to the timing of revenue recognition under ASC 606.

    First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    GAAP Financial Results

    • Revenue of $14.1 million, down 11% year-over-year and down 21% quarter-over-quarter.
      • TCAD revenue of $7.9 million, down 26% year-over-year, primarily due to earlier renewals last year.
      • EDA revenue of $5.1 million, up 8% year-over-year, including the addition of PPC product revenue of $1.9 million.
      • SIP revenue of $1.1 million, up 89% year-over-year, primarily driven by new bookings in automotive and IoT customers.
    • GAAP gross profit and GAAP gross margin were $11.1 million and 79%, respectively, which includes the impact of $0.2 million in stock-based compensation expense, and $0.2 million in amortization of acquired intangible assets, down from $13.9 million and 88% in Q1 2024.
    • GAAP net loss of $19.3 million, compared to a GAAP net income of $1.4 million in Q1 2024.
    • GAAP basic net loss per share of $(0.67), compared to GAAP basic and diluted net income per share of $0.07 in Q1 2024.
    • As of March 31, 2025, cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $74.5 million.

    Key Operating Indicators and Non-GAAP Financial Results:

    • Gross bookings were $13.7 million, down 15% year-over-year.
    • As of March 31, 2025, the remaining performance obligation balance of $33.7 million, 45% of which is expected to be recognized as revenue in the next 12 months.
    • Non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin were $11.5 million and 82%, respectively, down from $13.9 million and 88% in Q1 2024.
    • Non-GAAP net loss of $1.9 million, compared to non-GAAP net income of $2.4 million in Q1 2024.
    • Non-GAAP diluted net loss per share of $(0.07), compared to non-GAAP diluted net income per share of $0.12 in Q1 2024.
    • On a trailing-twelve-month (TTM) basis ACV was $52.3 million for the first quarter, up 21% year-over-year. This increase was driven by the amount of growth in organic growth of term-based licenses and renewals, as well as the acquisition of PPC. While quarterly revenue may fluctuate, core annual recurring revenue from new bookings has shown consistent annual growth.

    For a discussion of the non-GAAP metrics presented in this press release, as well as a reconciliation of non-GAAP metrics to the nearest comparable GAAP metric, see “Discussion of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Other Key Business Metrics” and “GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation” in the accompanying tables below.

    Supplementary materials to this press release, including first quarter 2025 financial results, can be found at https://investors.silvaco.com/financial-information/quarterly-results.

    Second Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Outlook

    As of May 7, 2025, Silvaco is providing updated guidance for its second quarter of 2025 and its full-year 2025, which represents Silvaco’s current estimates on its operations and financial results. The financial information below represents forward-looking financial information and in some instances forward-looking, non-GAAP financial information, including estimates of non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating income (loss) and non-GAAP diluted net income (loss) per share. GAAP gross margin is the most comparable GAAP measure to non-GAAP gross margin and GAAP operating income (loss) is the most comparable GAAP measure to non-GAAP operating income (loss). GAAP diluted net income (loss) per share is the most comparable GAAP measure to non-GAAP diluted net income (loss) per share. Non-GAAP gross margin differs from GAAP gross margin in that it excludes items such as stock-based compensation expense, amortization of acquired intangible assets, and acquisition-related professional fees and retention bonuses. Non-GAAP operating income (loss) differs from GAAP operating income (loss) in that it excludes items such as acquisition-related estimated litigation claim and legal costs, stock-based compensation expense, amortization of acquired intangible assets, acquisition-related professional fees and retention bonuses and IPO preparation costs. Non-GAAP diluted net income (loss) per share differs from GAAP diluted net income (loss) per share in that it excludes certain costs, including IPO preparation costs, acquisition-related estimated litigation claim and legal costs, stock-based compensation expense, amortization of acquired intangible assets, acquisition-related professional fees and retention bonuses, change in fair value of contingent consideration, foreign exchange (gain) loss, and the income tax effect on non-GAAP items. Silvaco is unable to predict with reasonable certainty the ultimate outcome of these exclusions without unreasonable effort. Therefore, Silvaco has not provided guidance for GAAP gross margin, GAAP operating income or GAAP diluted net income (loss) per share or a reconciliation of the forward-looking non-GAAP gross margin or non-GAAP operating income or non-GAAP diluted net income (loss) per share guidance to GAAP gross margin or GAAP operating income or GAAP diluted net income (loss) per share, respectively. However, it is important to note that these excluded items could be material to our results computed in accordance with GAAP in future periods.

    Based on current business trends and conditions, the Company expects for second quarter 2025 the following:

    • Gross bookings in the range of $14.0 million to $18.0 million, which would compare to $19.5 million in the second quarter of 2024.
    • Revenue in the range of $12.0 million to $16.0 million, which would compare to $15.0 million in the second quarter of 2024.
    • Non-GAAP gross margin in the range of 80% to 83%, which would compare to 86% in the second quarter of 2024.
    • Non-GAAP operating loss in the range of ($4.0) million to ($2.0) million, compared to non-GAAP operating income of $1.7 million in the second quarter of 2024.
    • Non-GAAP diluted net loss per share in the range of ($0.10) to ($0.03), compared to net income per share of $0.07 in the second quarter of 2024.

    Based on current business trends and conditions, the Company expects for full year 2025, the following:

    • Gross bookings in the range of $67.0 million to $74.0 million, which would represent a 2% to 13% increase from $65.8 million in 2024.
    • Revenue in the range of $64.0 million to $70.0 million, which would represent a 7% to 17% increase from $59.7 million in 2024.
    • Non-GAAP gross margin in the range of 83% to 86%, which would compare to 86% in 2024.
    • Non-GAAP operating (loss) income in the range of ($2.0) million loss to $1.0 million income, which would compare to $5.5 million income in 2024.
    • Non-GAAP diluted net (loss) income per share in the range of ($0.07) net loss per share to $0.03 net income per share, compared to $0.25 net income per share in 2024.

    Q1 2025 Conference Call Details

    A press release highlighting the Company’s results along with supplemental financial results will be available at https://investors.silvaco.com/ along with an earnings presentation to accompany management’s prepared remarks. An archived replay of the conference call will be available on this website for a limited time after the call. Participants who want to join the call and ask a question may register for the call here to receive the dial-in numbers and unique PIN.

    Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
    Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time
    Webcast: Here (live and replay)

    About Silvaco

    Silvaco is a provider of TCAD, EDA software, and SIP solutions that enable semiconductor design and digital twin modeling through AI software and innovation. Silvaco’s solutions are used for semiconductor and photonics processes, devices, and systems development across display, power devices, automotive, memory, high performance compute, foundries, photonics, internet of things, and 5G/6G mobile markets for complex SoC design. Silvaco is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and has a global presence with offices located in North America, Europe, Brazil, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This press release contains forward-looking statements based on Silvaco’s current expectations. The words “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “project”, “will”, and similar phrases as they relate to Silvaco are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current views and assumptions of Silvaco and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations.

    These forward-looking statements include but are not limited to, statements regarding our future operating results, financial position, and guidance, our business strategy and plans, our objectives for future operations, our development or delivery of new or enhanced products, and anticipated results of those products for our customers, our competitive positioning, projected costs, technological capabilities, and plans, and macroeconomic trends.

    A variety of risks and factors that are beyond our control could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements including, without limitation, the following: (a) market conditions; (b) anticipated trends, challenges and growth in our business and the markets in which we operate; (c) our ability to appropriately respond to changing technologies on a timely and cost-effective basis; (d) the size and growth potential of the markets for our software solutions, and our ability to serve those markets; (e) our expectations regarding competition in our existing and new markets; (f) the level of demand in our customers’ end markets; (g) regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries; (h) changes in trade policies, including the imposition of tariffs; (i) proposed new software solutions, services or developments; (j) our ability to attract and retain key management personnel; (k) our customer relationships and our ability to retain and expand our customer relationships; (l) our ability to diversify our customer base and develop relationships in new markets; (m) the strategies, prospects, plans, expectations, and objectives of management for future operations; (n) public health crises, pandemics, and epidemics and their effects on our business and our customers’ businesses; (o) the impact of the current conflicts between Ukraine and Russia and Israel and Hamas and the ongoing trade disputes among the United States and China on our business, financial condition or prospects, including extreme volatility in the global capital markets making debt or equity financing more difficult to obtain, more costly or more dilutive, delays and disruptions of the global supply chains and the business activities of our suppliers, distributors, customers and other business partners; (p) changes in general economic or business conditions or economic or demographic trends in the United States and foreign countries including changes in tariffs, interest rates and inflation; (q) our ability to raise additional capital; (r) our ability to accurately forecast demand for our software solutions; (s) our expectations regarding the outcome of any ongoing litigation; (t) our ability to successfully integrate recent acquisitions; (u) our expectations regarding the period during which we qualify as an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act and as a smaller reporting company under the Exchange Act; (v) our expectations regarding our ability to obtain, maintain, protect and enforce intellectual property protection for our technology; (w) our status as a controlled company; and (x) our use of the net proceeds from our initial public offering.

    It is not possible for us to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. Accordingly, you should not rely on any of the forward-looking statements. Additional information relating to the uncertainty affecting Silvaco’s business is contained in Silvaco’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These documents are available on the SEC Filings section of the Investor Relations section of Silvaco’s website at http://investors.silvaco.com/. These forward-looking statements represent Silvaco’s expectations as of the date of this press release. Subsequent events may cause these expectations to change, and Silvaco disclaims any obligation to update or alter these forward-looking statements in the future, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    Discussion of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Other Key Business Metrics

    We use certain non-GAAP financial measures to supplement the performance measures in our consolidated financial statements, which are presented in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures include non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating income (loss), non-GAAP net income (loss), and non-GAAP diluted net income (loss) per share. We use these non-GAAP financial measures for financial and operational decision-making and as a means to assist us in evaluating period-to-period comparisons.

    We define non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin as our GAAP gross profit and GAAP gross margin adjusted to exclude certain costs, including stock-based compensation expense, amortization of acquired intangible assets and acquisition-related professional fees and retention bonuses. We define non-GAAP operating income (loss), as our GAAP operating income (loss) adjusted to exclude certain costs, including IPO preparation costs, acquisition-related estimated litigation claim and legal costs, stock-based compensation expense, amortization of acquired intangible assets, and acquisition-related professional fees and retention bonuses. We define non-GAAP net income (loss) as our GAAP net income (loss) adjusted to exclude certain costs, including IPO preparation costs, acquisition-related estimated litigation claim and legal costs, stock-based compensation expense, amortization of acquired intangible assets, acquisition-related professional fees and retention bonuses, change in fair value of contingent consideration, foreign exchange (gain) loss, and the income tax effect on non-GAAP items. Our non-GAAP diluted net income (loss) per share is calculated in the same way as our non-GAAP net income (loss), but on a per share basis. We monitor non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating income (loss), non-GAAP net income (loss) and non-GAAP diluted net income (loss) per share as non-GAAP financial measures to supplement the financial information we present in accordance with GAAP to provide investors with additional information regarding our financial results.

    Certain items are excluded from our non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating income (loss), non-GAAP net income (loss) and non-GAAP diluted net income (loss) per share because these items are non-cash in nature or are not indicative of our core operating performance and render comparisons with prior periods and competitors less meaningful. We adjust GAAP gross profit, GAAP gross margin, GAAP operating income (loss), GAAP net income (loss), and GAAP diluted net income (loss) per share for these items to arrive at non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating income (loss), non-GAAP net income (loss), and non-GAAP diluted net income (loss) per share because these amounts can vary substantially from company to company within our industry depending upon accounting methods and book values of assets, capital structure and the method by which the assets were acquired. By excluding certain items that may not be indicative of our recurring core operating results, we believe that non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating income (loss), non-GAAP net income (loss) and non-GAAP diluted net income (loss) per share provide meaningful supplemental information regarding our performance.

    We believe these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors and others because they allow for additional information with respect to financial measures used by management in its financial and operational decision-making and they may be used by our institutional investors and the analyst community to help them analyze our financial performance and the health of our business. However, there are a number of limitations related to the use of non-GAAP financial measures, and these non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or in isolation from, our financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP. Other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate these non-GAAP financial measures differently or not at all, which reduces their usefulness as comparative measures.

    Annual Contract Value (“ACV”) is a key performance metric for Silvaco and is useful to investors in assessing the strength and trajectory of the business. ACV is a supplemental metric to help evaluate the annual performance of the business. Over the life of the contract, ACV equals the total value realized from a customer. ACV is not impacted by the timing of license revenue recognition. ACV is used by management in financial and operational decision-making. ACV is not a replacement for, and should be viewed independently of, GAAP revenue and deferred revenue, as ACV is a performance metric and is not intended to be combined with any of these items. There is no GAAP measure comparable to ACV.

    ACV is composed of the following: (i) the annualized value of term based software licenses with start dates or anniversary dates during the period, plus; (ii) the value of perpetual license contracts with start dates during the period, plus; (iii) the annualized value of maintenance & support as well as any fixed-term services contracts with start dates or anniversary dates during the period, plus; (iv) the value of fixed-deliverable services contracts. Silvaco and the Silvaco logo are registered trademarks of Silvaco Group, Inc. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

    SILVACO GROUP, INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (Unaudited, in thousands except share and par value amounts)
           
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024
    ASSETS      
    Current assets:      
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 29,489     $ 19,606  
    Current marketable securities   45,048       63,071  
    Accounts receivable, net   5,783       9,211  
    Contract assets, net   15,102       11,932  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets   4,500       3,460  
    Total current assets   99,922       107,280  
    Non-current assets:      
    Non-current marketable securities         4,785  
    Property and equipment, net   890       865  
    Operating lease right-of-use assets, net   1,534       1,711  
    Intangible assets, net   9,997       4,369  
    Goodwill   14,337       9,026  
    Non-current portion of contract assets   9,860       12,611  
    Other assets   1,595       1,698  
    Total non-current assets   38,213       35,065  
    Total assets $ 138,135     $ 142,345  
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY      
    Current liabilities:      
    Accounts payable $ 2,137     $ 3,316  
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   32,426       19,801  
    Accrued income taxes   1,728       1,668  
    Deferred revenue, current   8,618       7,497  
    Operating lease liabilities, current   644       744  
    Vendor financing obligation, current   1,191       1,462  
    Total current liabilities   46,744       34,488  
    Non-current liabilities:      
    Deferred revenue, non-current   3,604       3,593  
    Operating lease liabilities, non-current   866       946  
    Vendor financing obligation, non-current   2,995       2,928  
    Other non-current liabilities   333       307  
    Total liabilities   54,542       42,262  
    Stockholders’ equity:      
    Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 , respectively          
    Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized; 28,805,280 and 28,526,615 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively   3       3  
    Additional paid-in capital   132,937       130,360  
    Accumulated deficit   (47,285 )     (28,012 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (2,062 )     (2,268 )
    Total stockholders’ equity   83,593       100,083  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 138,135     $ 142,345  
           
           
    SILVACO GROUP, INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF (LOSS) INCOME
    (Unaudited, in thousands except share and par value amounts)
           
      Three Months Ended March 31,
        2025       2024  
    Revenue:      
    Software license revenue $ 10,009     $ 12,258  
    Maintenance and service   4,083       3,631  
    Total revenue   14,092       15,889  
    Cost of revenue   3,016       1,973  
    Gross profit   11,076       13,916  
    Operating expenses:      
    Research and development   4,800       3,616  
    Selling and marketing   4,719       3,312  
    General and administrative   8,120       4,600  
    Estimated litigation claim   13,069        
    Total operating expenses   30,708       11,528  
    Operating (loss) income   (19,632 )     2,388  
    Interest income   863        
    Interest and other expense, net   (291 )     (205 )
    (Loss) income before income tax provision   (19,060 )     2,183  
    Income tax provision   213       805  
    Net (loss) income $ (19,273 )   $ 1,378  
    Net (loss) income per share:      
    Basic and diluted $ (0.67 )   $ 0.07  
    Weighted average shares used in computing per share amounts:      
    Basic and diluted   28,694,295       20,000,000  
           
           
    SILVACO GROUP, INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    (Unaudited, in thousands)
           
      Three Months Ended March 31,
        2025       2024  
    Cash flows from operating activities:      
    Net (loss) income $ (19,273 )   $ 1,378  
    Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:      
    Depreciation and amortization   438       120  
    Stock-based compensation expense   2,277        
    Provision for credit losses   10       222  
    Estimated litigation claim   13,069        
    Accretion of discount on marketable securities, net   (261 )      
    Change in fair value of contingent consideration   35       (8 )
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:      
    Accounts receivable   3,520       (1,844 )
    Contract assets   440       (3,679 )
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets   (1,026 )     788  
    Other assets   119       (274 )
    Accounts payable   (1,183 )     877  
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   55       (729 )
    Accrued income taxes   58       574  
    Deferred revenue   567       (21 )
    Other non-current liabilities   20       24  
    Net cash used in operating activities   (1,135 )     (2,572 )
    Cash flows from investing activities:      
    Maturities of marketable securities   23,000        
    Acquisition of Process Proximity Compensation   (11,500 )      
    Purchases of property and equipment   (96 )     (10 )
    Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities   11,404       (10 )
    Cash flows from financing activities:      
    Proceeds from loan facility         4,250  
    Deferred transaction costs         (364 )
    Payroll taxes related to shares withheld from employees   (252 )      
    Contingent consideration   (46 )     (13 )
    Payments of vendor financing obligation   (205 )      
    Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities   (503 )     3,873  
    Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash and cash equivalents   117       27  
    Net increase in cash and cash equivalents   9,883       1,318  
    Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period   19,606       4,421  
    Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 29,489     $ 5,739  
           
    SILVACO GROUP, INC.
    REVENUE
    (Unaudited)
        2024   2025
        Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Year   Q1
    Revenue by Region:                
    Americas   27 % 51 % 31 % 40 % 38 %   20 %
    APAC   62 % 41 % 58 % 52 % 53 %   66 %
    EMEA   11 % 8 % 11 % 8 % 9 %   14 %
    Total revenue   100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 %   100 %
                     
    Revenue by Product Line:                
    TCAD   66 % 69 % 59 % 71 % 68 %   56 %
    EDA   30 % 20 % 24 % 24 % 24 %   36 %
    SIP   4 % 11 % 17 % 5 % 8 %   8 %
    Total revenue   100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 %   100 %
                     
    Revenue Item Category:                
    Software license revenue   77 % 74 % 62 % 78 % 74 %   71 %
    Maintenance and service   23 % 26 % 38 % 22 % 26 %   29 %
    Total revenue   100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 %   100 %
                     
    Revenue by Country:                
    United States   26 % 50 % 30 % 39 % 37 %   20 %
    China   11 % 17 % 25 % 23 % 18 %   14 %
    Other   63 % 33 % 45 % 38 % 45 %   66 %
    Total revenue   100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 %   100 %
                     
    SILVACO GROUP, INC.
    GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation
    (Unaudited, in thousands except per share amounts)
     
      Three Months Ended
      3/31/2025   3/31/2024
           
    GAAP Cost of revenue $ 3,016     $ 1,973  
    Less: Stock-based compensation expense   (199 )      
    Less: Amortization of acquired intangible assets   (249 )      
    Less: Acquisition-related professional fees and retention bonus   (8 )      
    Non-GAAP Cost of revenue $ 2,560     $ 1,973  
    GAAP Gross profit $ 11,076     $ 13,916  
    Add: Stock-based compensation expense   199        
    Add: Amortization of acquired intangible assets   249        
    Add: Acquisition-related professional fees and retention bonus   8        
    Non-GAAP Gross profit $ 11,532     $ 13,916  
    GAAP Research and development $ 4,800     $ 3,616  
    Less: Stock-based compensation expense   (244 )      
    Less: Acquisition-related professional fees and retention bonus   (18 )      
    Less: Amortization of acquired intangible assets   (51 )     (70
    Non-GAAP Research and development $ 4,487     $ 3,546  
    GAAP Selling and marketing $ 4,719     $ 3,312  
    Less: Stock-based compensation expense   (323      
    Less: IPO preparation costs         -127  
    Non-GAAP Selling and marketing $ 4,396     $ 3,185  
    GAAP General and administrative $ 8,120     $ 4,600  
    Less: Stock-based compensation expense   (1,511 )      
    Less: Acquisition-related estimated litigation claim and legal costs   (726 )     (594 )
    Less: Acquisition-related professional fees and retention bonus   (677 )      
    Less: Amortization of acquired intangible assets   (62 )      
    Less: IPO preparation costs         (139 )
    Non-GAAP General and administrative $ 5,144     $ 3,867  
    GAAP Estimated litigation claim $ 13,069     $  
    Less: Acquisition-related estimated litigation claim and legal costs   (13,069 )      
    Non-GAAP Estimated litigation claim $     $  
    GAAP Operating expenses $ 30,708     $ 11,528  
    Less: Stock-based compensation expense   (2,078 )      
    Less: Acquisition-related estimated litigation claim and legal costs   (13,795 )     (594 )
    Less: Acquisition-related professional fees and retention bonus   (695 )      
    Less: IPO preparation costs         (266 )
    Less: Amortization of acquired intangible assets   (113 )     (70 )
    Non-GAAP Operating expenses $ 14,027     $ 10,598  
    GAAP Operating (loss) income $ (19,632 )   $ 2,388  
    Add: Stock-based compensation expense   2,277        
    Add: Acquisition-related estimated litigation claim and legal costs   13,795       594  
    Add: Acquisition-related professional fees and retention bonus   703        
    Add: IPO preparation costs         266  
    Add: Amortization of acquired intangible assets   362       70  
    Non-GAAP Operating (loss) income $ (2,495 )   $ 3,318  
    GAAP Net (loss) income $ (19,273 )   $ 1,378  
    Add: Stock-based compensation expense   2,277        
    Add: Acquisition-related estimated litigation claim and legal costs   13,795       594  
    Add: Acquisition-related professional fees and retention bonus   703        
    Add: IPO preparation costs         266  
    Add: Amortization of acquired intangible assets   362       70  
    Add (Less): Change in fair value of contingent consideration   35       (8 )
    Add (Less): Foreign exchange (gain) loss   205       130  
    Add (Less): Income tax effect of non-GAAP adjustment   (5 )     (33 )
    Non-GAAP Net (loss) income $ (1,901 )   $ 2,397  
    GAAP Net income (loss) per share:      
    Basic and diluted: $ (0.67 )   $ 0.07  
    Non-GAAP Net income (loss) per share:      
    Basic and diluted $ (0.07 )   $ 0.12  
    Weighted average shares used in GAAP and non-GAAP net income (loss) per share:      
    Basic and diluted   28,694,295       20,000,000  
           

    Investor Contact:
    Greg McNiff
    investors@silvaco.com 

    Media Contact:
    Farhad Hayat
    press@silvaco.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Global: No matter who the next pope is, US Catholics stand ‘at a crossroads’ − a sociologist explains

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Maureen K. Day, Research Fellow, Center for Religion and Civic Culture, University of Southern California

    Parishioners attend a memorial Mass in honor of Pope Francis at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles on April 21, 2025. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

    More than 130 cardinals entered the Sistine Chapel on May 7, 2025. With the announcement “Extra omnes” – “all out” – the doors have been closed and the cardinals sequestered to elect the next leader of the Catholic Church. They will vote, confer, pray and vote again until a candidate acquires the two-thirds majority needed to become pope.

    Ten of the men voting this week are from the United States. The Conversation U.S. asked Maureen Day, a researcher at the University of Southern California who has written several books about the contemporary church, to explain what Catholicism looks like in the U.S. at this high-stakes moment.

    How is Catholic identity and practice in the U.S. changing, compared with a generation ago?

    In 1987, the year of the first American Catholic Laity survey, nearly half of American Catholics said that faith was “the most” or “among the most” important parts of their life. Now, only 37% say the same.

    Others are leaving the Catholic Church completely. The General Social Survey, a national survey conducted every year or two since the 1970s, asks people about the faith they grew up with, as well as their present religious identity. According to our analysis of its data, in 1973 only 10% of Americans who grew up Catholic had changed religions, and another 7% had left religion altogether. By 2018, each of those percentages had increased to 18%.

    A Pew Research Center study conducted in 2024 found that for every American who converts to Catholicism, another 8.4 leave. The only reason that Catholicism is able to maintain a relatively steady share of the U.S. population – about 20% – is due to the high percentage of immigrants and migrants who are Catholic.

    So my co-authors and I chose the title of our 2025 book, “Catholicism at a Crossroads,” quite intentionally. The church has been facing a variety of challenges for decades, both nationally and across the globe. It’s not just about disaffiliation, but also issues such as the sexual abuse crises and bishops’ decreasing influence on lay Catholics’ personal decisions.

    The Rev. Athanasius Abanulo celebrates Mass in Lanett, Ala., in 2021. Many international clergy, like Abanulo, are helping to ease a shortage of priests in the U.S.
    AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski

    In response, church leaders have mostly offered minor adjustments, such as encouraging parishes to become more family- or young adult-friendly. They have not yet made larger shifts that could substantially alter some of those trend lines.

    Some of your work focuses on what you call ‘cultural Catholics’ − defined as Catholics who attend Mass less than once per month. How would you describe cultural Catholicism in the U.S. today?

    A big concern of Catholic leaders right now is decreasing Mass attendance, as weekly Mass is an important precept of the Catholic Church. Sunday Mass is a place for Catholics to participate in the sacraments, strengthen their faith and build relationships with other Catholics.

    One of the things Catholic leaders tend to attribute this drop in attendance to is a broader trend of secularism. There might be some merit to this, but it can’t be the whole story. In our analysis of General Social Survey data, for example, the percentage of Protestant Christians who say they attend worship services weekly was 35% in 1950 and 40% in 2023. Among Catholics, however, weekly Mass attendance has declined from 63% to 30% in these same years.

    “Cultural Catholics” who say they attend Mass “a few times a year” or “seldom or never” account for 53% of U.S. Catholics. Many of them demonstrate strong ties to Catholic teachings in other ways. For example, around 70% to 80% of cultural Catholics say that it is “essential” or “somewhat essential” to Catholicism to help the poor, have a devotion to Mary and practice daily prayer.

    There are findings that can lend themselves to either a “glass half empty” or “glass half full” interpretation. For instance, it might be heartening to Catholic leaders to know that 62% of cultural Catholics say it is important that future generations of their family are Catholic – although this is much lower than the 89% among those who attend Mass frequently.

    Sister Maris Stella Vaughan teaches a religion class at St. John Paul II Catholic School in Phoenix, Ariz., in 2020.
    AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills

    And when these cultural Catholics imagine future generations of their family being Catholic, what does that mean? Perhaps it entails simply a few milestones, like receiving baptism, First Communion and possibly Confirmation – the three sacraments that initiate a person into the Catholic faith. The way many cultural Catholics are loosely tethered to the church, without much involvement in parish life, is a great concern for many Catholic leaders.

    What main challenges do you see for the American church under the next pope?

    I would argue that the American church’s biggest challenge is how to heal the factionalism within itself.

    On the one hand, there is a great deal of common ground among the most active Catholics, even with the diversity still found here. According to our analysis, 20% of Catholics are “high commitment”: those who say they attend Mass weekly, are unlikely to leave the faith, and that the church is very important to them. These Catholics are more likely to depart from their political party’s position on an issue if it does not align with Catholic teachings. For example, high-commitment Catholic Republicans are much more likely to support the bishops’ position on making the immigration process easier for families. High-commitment Catholic Democrats, meanwhile, are more likely to be against abortion than are their moderate- or low-commitment counterparts.

    In other words, these high-commitment Catholics tend to be less polarized and could find common cause with one another.

    Catholics pray during Mass at Benedictine College on Dec. 3, 2023, in Atchison, Kan.
    AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

    However, there are more extreme pockets – such as those who called into question the legitimacy of Francis’ papacy – that are more militant about their vision of Catholicism. While these Catholics are few in number, they are very vocal. There are fringe groups that mobilized to try to change the direction of the Catholic Church after Francis’ papacy, which they saw as a series of liberal reforms.

    Within more mainstream Catholicism, there are divides over styles of worship, with media attention on some young Americans flocking to more conservative or traditional parishes. However, sociologist Tim Clydesdale and religion scholar Kathleen Garces-Foley found that young adult Catholics are split: While some are attracted to churches with pastors who demonstrate “orthodoxy,” a similar number prefer “openness.”

    What do you wish more people understood about Catholicism in the U.S.?

    I think the “missing piece” for many is the incredible diversity of U.S. Catholicism, from race and ethnicity to politics and practice. Many Americans tend to associate the religion with one or two issues, such as abortion and same-sex marriage, and assume that Catholics are fairly monolithic, both in their demographics and their politics.

    Catholics themselves can also forget – or never learn – that their small slice of Catholicism is not the whole of Catholicism.

    Recognizing and elevating what unites this vast family of Catholics, both personally and collectively, is going to be critical as the church moves forward.

    The work mentioned in this article was funded largely by the Louisville Institute. Her previous research has received funding from many sources, including the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

    ref. No matter who the next pope is, US Catholics stand ‘at a crossroads’ − a sociologist explains – https://theconversation.com/no-matter-who-the-next-pope-is-us-catholics-stand-at-a-crossroads-a-sociologist-explains-255177

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Ensuring access to justice for Albertans

    Albertans deserve to have access to a fair, accessible and transparent justice system. To strengthen the judiciary and improve access to justice for those involved in civil, criminal and family matters, Alberta’s government has appointed a new assistant chief justice and justice.

    “Alberta’s government is keeping its commitment to filling vacancies at the Alberta Court of Justice. We will continue to strengthen the capacity of our courts to ensure Albertans can get timely access to justice. I congratulate Justice Hancock and Clarissa Pearce, and I am confident they will excel in their new roles.”

    Mickey Amery, Minister of Justice and Attorney General

    The Honourable Justice David G. Hancock, ECA, is appointed assistant chief justice of the Alberta Court of Justice, Edmonton Family and Youth Division, effective today, and Clarissa V. Pearce, KC, will be appointed as a justice of the Alberta Court of Justice, Calgary Criminal Division and Calgary Region, effective May 14.

    “Congratulations to Justice Hancock on his appointment to assistant chief justice of Edmonton Family and Youth. His experiences and abilities will serve him well in maintaining access to justice for families in the Edmonton area. Further congratulations to Ms. Pearce on her appointment to the Alberta Court of Justice. She brings a wealth of experience and ability to the court.”

    James Hunter, chief justice, Alberta Court of Justice

    Since June 2023, Alberta’s government has made 23 judicial appointments including three assistant chief justices and nine new justices in 2024, and one assistant chief justice and two new justices in early 2025. These latest appointments bring that total to 25 appointments in less than two years.

    The Honourable Justice David G. Hancock, ECA received his bachelor of laws degree from the University of Alberta in 1979. Justice Hancock has been serving in the Edmonton Family and Youth Division since 2017. He began his career at Matheson & Company and became a partner. A former Premier, deputy premier, government house leader and cabinet minister, Justice Hancock was an elected representative in the Alberta legislature for more than 17 years. Currently, he is a committee board member for the Alberta Law Reform Institute, and – at the Alberta Court of Justice – is a member of the Edmonton Family and Youth Child Protection Committee, the Indigenous Strategies Committee, the Reforming Family Justice Advisory Committee and co-convener of the Reforming Family Justice System.

    Clarissa V. Pearce, KC received her bachelor of laws degree from Dalhousie University in 2007 and her master of laws degree from Harvard University in 2010. She started her career as an articled clerk at the Court of Queen’s Bench in Calgary (now Court of King’s Bench), practiced law at Norton Rose Fulbright (formerly Macleod Dixon LLP) until 2016, then was legal counsel at the Provincial Court of Alberta (now Alberta Court of Justice) and is presently executive legal counsel to the chief justice of the Alberta Court of Justice. In 2024, she was a member of the Indigenous Justice System – Knowledge Sharing Symposium Planning Committee for the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice and acted as a facilitator and co-master of ceremonies at the symposium when it took place on Tsuut’ina Nation. Currently, she is a board member of the Canadian Child Abuse Association.

    Quick facts

    • Lawyers with at least 10 years at the bar can apply to become a justice with the Alberta Court of Justice. 
    • Lawyers with at least five years at the bar can apply to become a justice of the peace. Justice of the peace appointments are for 10 years.
    • Applications are reviewed by the Alberta Judicial Council and Alberta Judicial Nominating Committee, and then recommended to the minister of justice and cabinet for appointment.

    Related information

    • Alberta’s government is actively recruiting justices and justices of the peace and encourages qualified lawyers to apply. Qualified lawyers who wish to be considered for appointment can access the application form online.

     Related news

    • Judicial appointments increase Albertans access to justice (April 9, 2025)
    • Increasing court capacity (Jan. 15, 2025)
    • Strengthening Alberta’s courts (Dec. 4, 2024)

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: IADC Suez University Chapter Organizes Petroleum Engineering Advancements & Knowledge Summit

    Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors – IADC

    Headline: IADC Suez University Chapter Organizes Petroleum Engineering Advancements & Knowledge Summit

    On 29 April, the IADC Suez University Student Chapter organized an impactful one-day event alongside the SPE Student Chapter at the British University in Egypt (BUE). The first-ever Petroleum Engineering and Advancements Summit, also known as PEAKS 2025, brought together students, professionals, and industry leaders. 

    Attendees had the opportunity to engage with industry pioneers through expert-led sessions that delivered real-world knowledge and valuable technical insights. There were many technical sessions and live demonstrations, as well as opportunities for students to network in person with top energy companies. The event celebrated dedication and potential through exciting giveaways and competitions. 

    According to Ahmed Mobasher, IADC Suez University Treasurer: 

    “We’re incredibly proud of what we achieved together and grateful to every speaker, guest, and student who made it possible. We can’t wait to continue this journey and make the next edition of PEAKS even bigger. Here’s to the future of petroleum engineering — and to the bright minds who will lead it.”

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Congrats to IADC’s Brooke Polk for Being Named an OTC 2025 Emerging Leader!

    Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors – IADC

    Headline: Congrats to IADC’s Brooke Polk for Being Named an OTC 2025 Emerging Leader!

    Brooke Polk, IADC VP – Accreditation Operations, was recently named a 2025 Emerging Leader by the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC). The prestigious program recognizes young professionals with less than 10 years of experience in the energy industry who have demonstrated exceptional talent, commitment, and promise as future leaders in the offshore energy sector.

    Alex Martinez, Chair of the OTC Board, stated: 

    “Our Emerging Leaders are clear representations of the talent and excellence that will define the next generation of the offshore industry. We’re proud to recognize the contributions of these young professionals and remain eager spectators to the many future accomplishments they will undoubtedly achieve.” 

    The following honorees were recognized in a special ceremony in the Energy Evolution Exchange Theater and Lounge on Tuesday, 6 May 2025 at NRG Center in Houston. 

    2025 Emerging Leaders:

    • Dr. Ellen Reat Wersan, Exploration Geoscientist, Chevron, AAPG
    • Dr. Yingda Lu, Assistant Professor, Petroleum & Geosystems Engineering Department, The University of Texas at Austin, AlChE
    • Dr. Olusola Komolafe, Project Engineer, Geosyntec Consultants Inc., ASCE
    • Brooke Polk, Vice President-Accreditation Operations, International Association of Drilling Contractors, IADC
    • Gabriel Correa Perocco, Project Manager, MODEC do Brasil, IBP
    • Dr. Zheng Fan, Assistant Professor, University of Houston, IEEE-OES
    • Sridhar Krishnamoorthy, Senior Research Fellow, PhD Research Scholar, Indian Institute of Technology Madras Chennai India, MTS
    • Daniel Toerner, Technical Sales Engineer, Bardex Corporation, SNAME
    • Olawale Ajayi, Reservoir Engineer, NNPC Limited, SPE
    • Scott Pisarik, Lead Materials and Corrosion Engineer, Chevron, TMS

    IADC wishes to congratulate Brooke and all other recipients on this impressive achievement! 

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Global: MAGA’s ‘war on empathy’ might not be original, but it is dangerous

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Michael Cameron, PhD Candidate of English, Dalhousie University

    During his most recent appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, Elon Musk levelled a critique at empathy, calling it “the fundamental weakness of western civilization.”

    If your first instinct is to brush this off as another example of Musk’s awkwardness, we suggest you think again. As journalist Julia Carrie Wong noted in The Guardian in April, Musk’s comments have appeared “amid a growing wave of opposition to empathy from across the American right.”

    A diverse coalition of figures have taken up this “war on empathy,” including pastor Joe Rigney, conservative podcaster Allie Beth Stuckey and marketing professor Gad Saad.

    Each has coined their own meme-able phrase: “The Sin of Empathy,” “Toxic Empathy” and “Suicidal Empathy,” respectively.

    You may find a war on empathy perplexing — even downright dangerous — given that our contemporary global historical moment is one marked by climate-induced migration, rising political authoritarianism and a “relentless opposition” against LGBTQIA+ rights.

    Doesn’t this moment call out for more empathy rather than less?

    What is empathy anyway?

    But first, we need to know what we are talking about.

    Some recent criticisms of empathy have been premised on bad definitions. For instance, Albert Mohler, the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, recently claimed that empathy is “destructive” for immigration policy because “empathy means never having to say no.” This definition is not accurate.

    Though a precise definition of empathy still eludes us, empathy is simply the ability to feel what someone else might be feeling. “Imagining yourself in another’s place,” writes neurologist Richard E. Cytowic, “is the basis of empathy.” Coming from a different angle, literary scholar Suzanne Keen defines empathy as “a vicarious, spontaneous sharing of affect” that “can be provoked… even by reading.”

    The word “empathy” was coined in 1909. Previously, what we today call “empathy” fell under the name “sympathy.” For instance, writing in the 18th century, Scottish economist and philosopher Adam Smith described sympathy as the imaginative capacity to “enter as it were into [another’s] body, and become in some measure the same person.”

    With the discovery of “mirror neurons,” modern neuroscience has in a sense validated Smith’s theories. As neuroscientist Christian Keysers explains: “The mirror system builds a bridge between the minds of two people,” showing that our brains are not only “deeply social” but also “magically connected to each other.”

    Put simply, we are hardwired for empathy.

    Sympathy and social contagion

    In our research, we have explored literary depictions of self-destructive, suicidal and monstrous sympathies. We recognize some parallels between MAGA’s war on empathy and conceptual debates of the past, parallels at times interesting and worrisome.

    During his appearance on Rogan’s podcast, Saad criticized Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde’s appeal to Trump for mercy on behalf of undocumented immigrants and those in the LGBTQIA+ community, suggesting it was indicative of the “parasitic idea” of open borders and an example of “suicidal empathy.”

    A few months later, Canadian pop-psychologist Jordan Peterson echoed Saad and told Rogan that today’s political left is vulnerable to those who “parasitize empathy.”

    This association between empathy and parasitic contagion is not at all new.

    As literary scholar Mary Fairclough explains, in the 18th and 19th centuries, sympathy was “understood as a disruptive social phenomenon which functioned to spread disorder and unrest between individuals and even across nations like a ‘contagion.’”

    As an example, Fairclough quotes the author Thomas De Quincey, who opined that “many a man has been drawn, by the contagion of sympathy with his own class acting as a mob, into outrages of destruction.”

    The writer Mary Shelley literalized this notion of contagious sympathy in her 1826 novel The Last Man, which depicts a (perhaps uncomfortably familiar) plague pandemic. The novel paints sympathy as a method of mass control and societal dissolution just as contagious as the plague.

    But unlike De Quincey, Shelley also celebrates sympathy as our most valuable and effective collective resource in times of crisis. This celebration is most notable in the character of Adrian, who devotes his life to “bring[ing] patience, and sympathy, and such aid as art affords, to the bed of disease.’”

    The uses and abuses of empathy

    Much as Shelley suggests for sympathy, research shows that empathy must be properly channelled so it isn’t used to divide and manipulate.

    For example, research shows that empathy is not impartial. People tend to empathize more easily with those who share their racial or social background, and less with those who are perceived as different. In other words, racial prejudices may bias our instinctive empathetic responses.

    At the same time, empathy has been linked to problematic practices like racial impersonation and colonial appropriation, where members of dominant groups claim to identify with marginalized people in ways that often reinforce power imbalances rather than dismantle them.

    But MAGA’s approach to empathy is less a well-meaning critique than an all-out war and comes at the issues with a far less benevolent set of assumptions and goals. As Wong noted: “We are witnessing the construction of the ideological architecture to excuse violence and suffering on a mass scale.”

    Consider what Musk said to Rogan regarding immigration:

    “I believe in empathy, like I think you should care about other people, but you need to have empathy for civilization as a whole and not commit to a civilizational suicide.”

    This comment is strikingly similar to the idea of “racial suicide” endorsed by eugenicist thinkers in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Racial suicide was a concept rooted in the xenophobic fear that one’s own ethnic population would be replaced by another racialized population that happened to have a higher birth rate.

    As the historian Rob Boddice notes, “eugenic morality” was “to be guided by sympathy construed as sympathy for the whole of society” rather than towards individuals. For the eugenicists, this ideology justified extreme measures, such as forced sterilizations and racial segregation. The horrors of eugenics and its influence on the Nazi Holocaust are well documented.

    Despite these history lessons, Musk and his ilk, however, seem unperturbed and even enthusiastic about repeating history.

    Much can be said about empathy’s potential limitations alongside its many virtues. But while MAGA supporters may have balked at her speech and her call for empathy, we would do well to remember the words of Bishop Budde:

    “We should be merciful to the stranger, for we were once strangers in this land.”

    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. MAGA’s ‘war on empathy’ might not be original, but it is dangerous – https://theconversation.com/magas-war-on-empathy-might-not-be-original-but-it-is-dangerous-255300

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: Tips for starting a business in Canada, according to entrepreneurs who have done it

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Nazha Gali, Assistant Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, University of Windsor

    Each year, about 100,000 small businesses are created in Canada. But what does it actually take to start a business in Canada — not just on paper, but in practice?

    To better understand what launching a startup in Canada truly involves, we interviewed entrepreneurs across various sectors. As experts in strategy and entrepreneurship, we combined their first-hand experiences with research findings to determine key factors that contribute to business success.

    What emerged is a clearer picture of the realities of Canadian entrepreneurship that shows building a business is as much about managing relationships, risks and resilience as it is about having a novel idea.

    Solving real consumer problems

    Before launching a business, it’s essential to identify your target customers. Successful ventures begin by solving a real problem for a clearly defined group. Conducting market research to ensure a strong product-market fit is a critical first step in this process.

    One of the most common blind spots for new entrepreneurs, according to Ariz Bhimani, founder of apparel brand BRFZY, is assuming the problem they face is universal. “Without genuine data from potential customers, you’re just guessing,” he said in an email interview.

    This is where customer discovery comes in. It involves understanding customers’ situations, needs and pain points. Techniques such as user interviews and creating detailed customer personas can help founders better understand who their product is for.

    This approach is crucial for both startups and established organizations looking to enter new markets.

    Another vital part of the early-stage process is building a minimum viable product (MVP): a basic version of a product that includes only the core features needed to test the idea with users.

    MVPs allow entrepreneurs to gather feedback and refine the product before investing significant time or money in full development.

    Manage your money wisely

    Once a market need is identified, securing funding is often the next major challenge. This process typically begins with creating a compelling pitch — a presentation that outlines the product or service and financial projections to attract potential investors.

    This pitch is crucial to a startup’s success, Mohammad Faiyaz, founder and CEO of Wavermark, told us.

    There are tools and resources available to help, such as the pitch deck developed by PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel and AI feedback tool AI Fornax.

    Having a solid pitch prepared is a necessary step to attract potential investors for your business.
    (Shutterstock)

    But while funding is essential, managing those funds wisely is equally important. Chris Colasanti, vice president at Rocket Mortgage Canada, explained via email that one of the most common mistakes new entrepreneurs make is failing to control costs.

    Many first-time founders become preoccupied with revenue growth while overlooking expenses. Colasanti argued that unless you have endless investor backing, your survival depends on lean operations. “Obsess about your costs,” he advised.

    Bhimani echoed this caution. “I would budget two to three times more time and money to get a task done, especially in the ideation stage,” he wrote to us. Entrepreneurs should be prepared for unexpected costs.

    Building a business plan

    Many startup founders are eager to scale their businesses quickly, but doing this prematurely can increase the risk of failure by 20 to 40 per cent.

    “Growth is one of the most taxing activities a company can experience,” Colasanti told us. “Fight the urge to grow. Hire when it hurts and let sales drive your growth.”

    To scale successfully, companies need a strong foundation. This means having a comprehensive business plan in place. A well-structured plan outlines a company’s mission, market strategy, operations, finances and key milestones.

    Beyond serving as a roadmap for internal decision-making, business plans also help communicate a company’s vision and strategy to investors and other stakeholders.

    The Business Development Bank of Canada offers guides to help entrepreneurs build effective business plans.

    Hire the right people for the job

    Hiring the right employees for the job is crucial for startup success. “You cannot overpay for talent,” Colasanti told us. “The first 10 people you hire will make or break your business.”

    Hiring decisions should go hand-in-hand with intentionally building a workplace culture. Research shows that a positive workplace culture leads to higher employee satisfaction, retention and overall productivity.

    “Your business will develop a culture whether you create it or not,” he said. Many first-time founders let poor behaviours slide to avoid conflict, but this is risky.

    Hiring the right employees for the job is crucial for startup success.
    (Shutterstock)

    Bhimani also emphasized the importance of hiring those who genuinely understand your company’s mission. “Then I know they’re invested and will put forth their best effort,” he told us.

    There are important legal considerations to keep in mind. Employers must comply with federal and provincial labour laws, and entrepreneurs should seek legal advice or consult government resources when building their teams.

    Seek out a knowledgeable mentor

    While entrepreneurship is often seen as a solo pursuit, research and experience suggest otherwise. In reality, founders who are mentored by successful entrepreneurs are over three times more likely to be successful themselves.

    Both Bhimani and Dhwani Shah, founder and CEO of Aadhya Navik Inc., highlighted the importance of mentors.

    “Even if you just have an idea,” Bhimani told us via email, “you should strive to talk about it as much as possible with people in the industry who have relevant experience.”

    Shah similarly attributed her growth to constant learning and expert guidance: “I have a long-term vision and actively seek advice while working on the product.”

    Resources like the Business Benefits Finder and programs like Futurpreneur Canada and Startup Canada can connect early-stage founders with financing and mentorship.

    Passion and persistence are key

    Mindset is also a differentiating factor that sets successful entrepreneurs apart. The entrepreneurial mindset is a way of thinking that involves seeing opportunities where others see obstacles, and maintaining a strong sense of initiative and resilience.

    All the entrepreneurs we interviewed said intrinsic motivation was the key to longevity. “Starting a business makes you wear multiple hats, which can be intimidating but also gives you immense satisfaction,” Shah told us. Research has also confirmed this to be true.




    Read more:
    Entrepreneurs know that failure is sometimes necessary – here’s what we can learn from them


    Colasanti told us fear often leads founders to switch from experimentation to protection mode too early. “They stop taking big swings and start firing bullets instead of cannonballs,” he said. That mindset shift can lead to complacency and stagnation.

    Successful entrepreneurs are often those who can stay agile, embrace discomfort and persist even when the stakes are high.

    Make use of resources

    There are a number of supports for entrepreneurs in Canada. National initiatives like Futurpreneur Canada and Startup Canada, and financial supports from Business Development Bank of Canada, are also available.

    Most provinces and territories have web pages dedicated to resources for small businesses and entrepreneurs, including British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario.

    In southern Ontario, WETech Alliance offers a model example of how regional innovation hubs can support founders. Their programs help connect entrepreneurs to expertise, capital and community.

    Starting a business in Canada has never been more possible or more competitive. As the experts we spoke to remind us, success lies in execution. The journey is hard, but for those who are ready, it can also be deeply rewarding.

    Bharat Maheshwari has received funding from Mitacs, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and several other organizations that regularly fund academic research in Canada.

    Nazha Gali 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. Tips for starting a business in Canada, according to entrepreneurs who have done it – https://theconversation.com/tips-for-starting-a-business-in-canada-according-to-entrepreneurs-who-have-done-it-247985

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI USA: Establishing 10 Youth Assertive Community Treatment Teams

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that $4.5 million in state funding was awarded to establish 10 new Youth Assertive Community Treatment teams, including five in New York City, two on Long Island and three in areas north of the metropolitan area. Administered by the state Office of Mental Health, the new multidisciplinary teams will support 360 additional youth with serious emotional disturbances who are either at risk of entering, or are returning home from high intensity services, such as inpatient settings or residential services.

    “Children and youth living with mental illness sometimes require additional care to remain at home or return back into the community,” Governor Hochul said. “This expansion of our Youth ACT program will help provide more families with this critical support and the services they can rely on to bring their child home after inpatient care or from a residential facility.”

    OMH provided $450,000 in one-time start-up funding to 10 service providers to establish the new teams, with each serving up to 36 children between the ages of 10 and 21. Award recipients include:

    • Access Supports for Living Inc., serving Westchester County
    • The Charles Evans Center, serving Nassau County
    • Central Nassau Guidance and Counseling, serving Suffolk County
    • Children’s Home of Wyoming Conference, serving Chenango County
    • Interborough Developmental & Consultation Center, serving Brooklyn
    • The Child Center of NY, two teams serving Manhattan and Queens
    • Jewish Child Care Association of NY, serving the Bronx
    • Child and Family Services of Erie County, serving Erie County
    • Richmond University Medical Center, serving Staten Island

    In addition to announcing the awards, Governor Hochul also issued a proclamation designating Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week in New York State. The proclamation was presented this week during the annual ‘What’s Great in Our State’ Celebration of Children’s Mental Health event in Albany, which recognizes individuals and programs successfully advancing the cause of children’s mental health.

    With the first teams established in 2022, New York was the first state nationally to adapt the successful Assertive Community Treatment model to serve youth and young adults. The state now hosts 20 Youth ACT teams in 27 counties, providing services including youth and family therapy, medication management, family and peer supports, and skill-building.

    Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “New York’s Youth ACT program is a fantastic first-in-the-nation adaptation to a model that has proven extremely successful with adults living with mental illness. By adding teams statewide, we can help more young people and their families to access the care and support they can use to live and thrive within their community. The expansion of this successful program demonstrates Governor Hochul’s ongoing commitment to expand access to mental healthcare throughout our state.”

    Youth ACT teams include mental health clinicians and psychiatric prescribers, peer advocates, and clinical support staff, offering 24-hour support, seven days per week. These teams are focused on improving or ameliorating the significant functional impairments and severe symptomatology experienced by the youth due to mental illness or serious emotional disturbance.

    Clinical and rehabilitative interventions are also focused on enhancing family functioning to foster wellbeing, stability, and re-integration. Services are delivered using a family-driven, youth-guided, and developmentally appropriate approach that comprehensively addresses the needs of the youth.

    Governor Hochul’s support for youth mental health has resulted in major investments into youth services and supports and nation-leading legislation to address online safety. Her $1 billion mental health initiative and the FY 2025 Budget has significantly expanded access to mental health care and is providing resources for young people and their families.

    Last year, Governor Hochul established the Youth Mental Health Advisory Board, a 30-member advisory board which includes youth between the ages of 11 and 17. The advisory board convenes quarterly and is designed to ensure that youth-informed best practices continue to be incorporated in developing behavioral health programs and policies.

    New York also now supports more than 1,200 school-based mental health clinic satellites to provide mental health services at districts statewide. These clinics bring a licensed mental health care provider to school campuses, allowing students to access these services in a familiar stigma-free setting.

    Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, the state has also significantly expanded HealthySteps, an innovative program that supports young families with high-quality care for mental and physical health development for children 3 years old or younger. New York now supports 125 sites in 35 counties statewide.

    Additionally, the state continues to expand Home-Based Crisis Intervention teams, which provide critical mental health services so that at-risk children and youth can avoid psychiatric hospitalization. The state now funds 55 teams, which have the capacity to assist 3,500 families annually.

    New York State Coalition for Children’s Behavioral Health President and CEO Kayleigh Zaloga said, “New York’s Youth ACT program fills a critical role in the behavioral health service continuum for adolescents and families, enabling hundreds of young people with significant mental health needs to remain or reintegrate into their families, schools, and communities. The multidisciplinary team approach offers families the support they need when they need it, delivering intensive in-home therapy, peer support, medication management, and crisis intervention centered on each young person’s goals. This work not only stabilizes youth and families in the short term, but also helps them build the skills, resilience, and community connections necessary to thrive into adulthood.”

    Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon said, “Youth Assertive Community Treatment teams are meeting young people where they are at, in their homes, in their communities, and often at their most critical moments. This investment means more families won’t have to choose between getting help and staying together. By surrounding youth with compassionate and expert care, we’re not just addressing symptoms, we’re giving them the support they need,” said

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Professor Bird Awarded Fulbright Scholarship to Conduct Legal Research in Finland

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Business Law professor Robert Bird has been selected as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar and will spend three months studying human-centered legal strategy and design in Finland next semester.

    “I’m excited about this opportunity to collaborate with my peers in Finland, who are doing some interesting work on strategic legal design,’’ he said. “I believe this research will add value to organizations, make complex contracts easier to understand, and benefit my students as well.’’

    The Fulbright is a prestigious award granted to faculty based on their previous leadership and contributions to society. The program was created to increase mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and other countries, and is the world’s largest international educational exchange program. UConn typically has four or five Fulbright professors each year.

    Bird will be based at the University of Vaasa, a seaside campus, approximately a four-hour train ride north of Helsinki. The university is ranked as the top college in Finland for business administration, and recently underwent extensive renovations to enhance sustainability. The Fulbright award is co-sponsored by the Fulbright Finland Foundation and the University of Vaasa.

    The goal of the project is to develop innovative contracts and other legal tools to make the documents easier for people to understand, minimize disputes, and add more valuable for organizations.

    For example, sustainable supply chain contracts and codes of conduct are typically filled with complex language and legal jargon, Bird said. By using design methods to transform them into visually appealing and accessible documents, the professor and his colleagues believe they can foster greater participation, enhance trust-building, and maximize collaboration.

    In addition to his work in Finland, Bird plans to complete some guest lectures at other universities in Europe, as part of his sabbatical.

    When he returns to UConn for the spring 2026 semester, Bird will host a Legal Strategy Summit at UConn which will include a discussion of new legal designs based on his Fulbright experience.

    “I’m looking forward to being an ambassador for UConn, for Husky values, and for the United States,’’ he said. “I’m looking forward to working with outstanding Finish colleagues. European scholars often think about things differently than we do and I hope to bring that back to UConn and to the United States.’’

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Rand Paul Honored Retiring Murray State University President Dr. Bob Jackson in Bowling Green

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Rand Paul
     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
    May 6th, 2025 
     Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-578-8903 
    Senator Rand Paul Honored Retiring Murray State University President Dr. Bob Jackson in Bowling Green 
    BOWLING GREEN, KY – U.S. Senator Rand Paul honored Dr. Bob Jackson, retiring President of Murray State University, during a recognition ceremony this week at the Senator’s State office 
    During his remarks, Senator Paul stated, “If you’re looking for people who are the next generation of farmers and agriculture, they’re most likely to be kids of people who are farming in agriculture. So, it’s great to have a university that has expertise in the agricultural sciences and the kids who want to remain in and have an opportunity. I see it as serving a great purpose. We’ve worked well with Doctor Jackson over the years, and we wish him success.” 
    “It has been an honor to work with Sen. Paul during these past many years as we worked to advance our Commonwealth and Murray State University,” said Dr. Bob Jackson. “Importantly, we greatly appreciate the Senator’s support of a School of Veterinary Medicine at Murray State University which will have a major and lasting impact on agriculture in Kentucky.” 
    Under Dr. Jackson’s leadership, Murray State established an accredited school of veterinary medicine—a transformative achievement aimed squarely at addressing the severe shortage of large-animal veterinarians in rural Kentucky. This initiative has positioned Murray State as a leader in supporting Kentucky’s animal agriculture economy, equipping local students to serve farm communities and helping ensure the long-term viability of the state’s livestock industry. 
    Dr. Jackson will retire on June 30, 2025, and begin serving as President Emeritus on July 1. During the ceremony, he presented Senator Paul with a commemorative gift from Murray State to be displayed in the State office. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Congressional testimony: Supporting American leadership in quantum technology

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Congressional testimony: Supporting American leadership in quantum technology

    Editor’s note: On Wednesday, May 7, Dr. Charles Tahan, Partner, Microsoft Quantum, testified before the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. To view the proceedings, please visit the committee’s website.


    Written Testimony of Dr. Charles Tahan
    Partner, Microsoft Quantum, Microsoft Corporation

    U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
    “From Policy to Progress: How the National Quantum Initiative Shapes U.S. Quantum Technology Leadership”

    Chairman Babin, Ranking Member Lofgren, and Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you to discuss the importance of quantum technology and the transformative role it will play for this country and for our collective future.

    It is an honor to be here again. I first appeared before this Committee nearly two years ago. Then, I was Assistant Director of Quantum Information Science and Director of the National Quantum Coordination Office (NQCO), an office within the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The NQCO was created in the first Trump Administration by the National Quantum Initiative Act of 2018. Our job was to coordinate the more than 20 agencies led by the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, along with the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community, to develop and execute a national strategy to strengthen American leadership in quantum information science and technology. I spent almost four years in that job, which capped an almost 17-year career as a practicing physicist and technical leader at the National Security Agency and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), where I worked on quantum computing, high-performance computing, and other advanced technologies. I now work at Microsoft where I lead technical teams within Microsoft Quantum that are working both internally and with our close partners to build the world’s first useful quantum computers.

    Through my testimony I hope to outline the transformative potential of quantum technology and why the United States must lead and win the quantum race. To provide some context, I will begin by highlighting the revolution in quantum sciences and why quantum matters in the age of artificial intelligence. I then expand on Microsoft’s leadership in this field—both through our own research and through our strategic collaborations with other leaders in the quantum ecosystem. But, despite our tremendous progress, sustaining American leadership requires government action. I therefore offer three focus areas that I believe this Committee and Congress should prioritize: (1) advancing the quantum sciences; (2) developing, attracting, and retaining a skilled quantum workforce; and (3) building a resilient and secure supply chain. Taken together, these strategic actions will not only bolster our nation’s security and competitive edge against competitors and adversaries, but it will also drive innovation and economic growth at home towards a new frontier of American prosperity.

    The Quantum Information Revolution

    I like to think of quantum science as the operating system of the universe. What we physicists call quantum mechanics are essentially the rules that the universe follows at the microscopic level. Over the last 100 years, we have learned a tremendous amount about how those rules work. They appear strange to us because we do not experience them in our daily lives. As we have learned more about these quantum effects, we have been able to leverage them to build new tools and technologies.

    The National Quantum Initiative Act of 2018 recognized that we were on the cusp of a new technological revolution—a quantum information revolution— where we could harness the more advanced and unusual properties of quantum mechanics. This revolution is not just about new research discoveries but also about creating fundamentally new types of information technology like quantum computers, quantum networks, and quantum sensors. The full implications of this shift in quantum information science are unclear, but we do know that maintaining our global technological leadership is critical to sustaining economic prosperity, enhancing our well-being, and safeguarding our national security. We also know this is the first moment in our lifetimes in which we are able to radically reimagine how we build computers. As a country, and as a computing company, we must take that seriously.

    Why Quantum Matters in the Age of AI

    In the two years since my last appearance before this Committee, the world has shifted dramatically. The remarkable rise of AI systems has surprised all of us and increasingly affordable AI capabilities are likely to transform the world even more profoundly than the internet. Despite its immense potential, artificial intelligence—even coupled with the most powerful classical computers today—has limitations. There are problems that AI and classical computing will never be able to solve, not in our lifetimes or even in a hundred lifetimes, because of the fundamental limitations of how they are designed.

    Quantum technology can offer unprecedented capabilities for computing. Consider two quick examples where quantum computers are exponentially faster than anything we could imagine a classical computer could do. The first is code-breaking, which has serious implications to our national security and privacy. A sufficiently large quantum computer could break the public key cryptography systems we now rely on in days or weeks. Even the most powerful classical computer we could ever imagine would take the age of the universe to solve the same problem. That is the power of exponential improvement. And it is why we must move to quantum resistant cryptography as fast as possible.

    The other more commercially relevant application is, quite simply, making things—designing new materials, new chemicals, and new medicines. If you think about what the future holds, what will differentiate nations in an era of intelligence is their ability to create new things using tools that enable them to do so better, faster, and at lower cost. And this is why quantum is so important, not only because it helps us understand the universe as scientists but because it gives us unprecedented capabilities to dramatically improve our lives.

    Microsoft’s Leadership in Quantum

    It is important to appreciate that bringing quantum technology to practical application is hard. It requires focused and sustained investments, sophisticated infrastructure, and the best talent in the world.  It also requires new types of hardware—quantum hardware—and a new quantum technology stack, from chips to the control and readout layers to the user interface. This requires science and innovation at every level. That is what makes developing quantum technology expensive.

    The quantum team at Microsoft has been pursuing quantum computing for over 20 years. Our research program has spanned all three CEOs. We are singularly focused on building quantum computers that are able to solve meaningful problems, like problems in chemistry and material science. To do this, we need quantum computers that can scale to potentially millions of qubits—or quantum transistors—as compared to the small number currently available in prototype systems today. Microsoft has been pursuing this on two fronts: through our decades-long internal research and through strategic collaborations in the quantum ecosystem.

    1. Microsoft’s First-Party Research: The Topological Approach

    Microsoft’s internal hardware effort is based on a unique scientific approach aimed at developing qubits that rely on very novel physics. These are called topological qubits. We think they are promising for quantum computing because they have the potential to make it much easier to scale, meaning to control and enable readout of the millions of qubits needed to develop a useful quantum computer. However, to build even one topological qubit, the team had to take a scientific theory that was first proposed in the 1930s and make it a reality—a feat that included creating a new state of matter and engineering a device in which to exhibit it.

    Earlier this year, Microsoft unveiled new technical results that begin to validate our roadmap toward a topological quantum computer.[1] In addition, Microsoft presented the Majorana 1 chip, which brought together for the first time all the key components, validated individually, that will be needed to build quantum systems that scale: cryogenic electronics, interconnect wiring, and a qubit microchip layout that is compatible with both the physics of topological operation and the limits of control electronics. It is the embodiment of Microsoft’s topological roadmap[2] and the team is proud of it.

    Our approach has been evaluated by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which spent nearly two years vetting Microsoft’s architecture and engineering plan and the unique properties that enable topological qubits to scale.[3] As a result, DARPA selected Microsoft for the final phase of its Underexplored Systems for Utility-Scale Quantum Computing (US2QC) program—one of the programs that makes up DARPA’s larger Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI). To date, the US2QC program has brought together over fifty experts from leading government and academic institutions, including Air Force Research Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and NASA Ames Research Center, to verify our approach to quantum hardware, software, and applications. DARPA referred to this evaluation as “an incredibly rigorous and deeply technical analysis from what is almost certainly the world’s best quantum computing test and evaluation team.” The final phase of US2QC now envisions the development of a fault-tolerant prototype based on topological qubits—a crucial acceleration step toward making a utility-scale quantum computer a reality.

    Majorana 1 represents the pursuit of hundreds of scientists and engineers over the course of 20 years. Along the way there have been and will continue to be tremendous advances and contributions to the greater field of quantum information science and technology because of this pursuit. And this is why I came to Microsoft—to work on the hardest problems that promise to have an outsized impact for technology and for our society. Technical terms you may not have heard of, such as Topological and Floquet codes, pristine superconductor-semiconductor materials, measurement-based approaches to quantum computing, are all new technologies spun out of this pursuit with implications for many other types of qubits and other types of technologies, even other domains like astronomy. They came about because the Microsoft team found solutions to the hard problems—to the benefit of not only our company, but the entire quantum ecosystem.

    1. Strategic Collaborations

    At its core, Microsoft is a platform company. We want to empower our customers with the best computers in the world, whether they are quantum computers or classical computers, for the applications they care about. While we are excited about the continued advancement and promise of our own topological approach, we have no preference for which qubits ultimately provide our customers with quantum capabilities. We want the system to be the best technology for their use case. This means we develop software for multiple different technologies and layers of the quantum computer stack, everything from AI copilot to quantum languages to the real-time operating system needed to run a quantum computer with millions of moving parts.

    To do this, we work with, invest in, and partner with many different quantum computing technology companies, big and small, to help them make useful quantum computers a reality. We have entered into strategic collaborations with leading quantum hardware startups like Atom Computing, Quantinuum, and Photonic, and others. By applying our industry-leading error-correction and control software to their hardware platforms, we are accelerating the industry’s transition from rudimentary “Level 1” machines that use noisy physical qubits to the world’s first “Level 2” machines that rely on reliable, error-corrected logical qubits, composed of many physical qubits—which make quantum computing more useful for practical applications.

    Our breakthroughs in this area are coming fast. In April 2024, Microsoft and Quantinuum demonstrated the first logical qubits on record that outperform the underlying physical qubits.[4] Five months later, in September 2024, Microsoft and Quantinuum demonstrated 12 logical qubits on Quantinuum’s ion-trap machine, the most reliable logical qubits then on record.[5] Two months later, in November 2024, Microsoft and Atom Computing doubled this feat, creating and entangling 24 logical qubits made from neutral atoms.[6] These breakthroughs led by Microsoft, Atom Computing, and Quantinuum have for the first time moved the quantum industry firmly out of the “Level 1” noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) era to Level 2 resilient quantum computing. With Atom Computing, we are now offering the world’s first commercially available Level 2 quantum machines. These collaborations enable us to deliver best-in-class logical qubits for our customers today, further cementing Microsoft’s leadership in the quantum ecosystem. But even these “Level 2” systems that aim to provide 1000s of physical qubits will pale to the scale of a true, utility-scale quantum computer powered by a million qubits or more. Getting to this point will require more sustained, large-scale investments in many areas—from talent development to new domestic capabilities to supply chain resilience.

    Winning the Race in Quantum

    While Microsoft has made significant investments in quantum technology, the efforts of individual companies alone are insufficient for the United States to secure the leadership position. Winning the quantum race will not happen without clear-eyed, intentional, and decisive government action. Indeed, these actions will decide whether American global leadership will continue for the rest of this century.

    In his first term, President Trump and Congress laid the foundation for American leadership in the quantum sciences. The passage of the National Quantum Initiative Act (NQIA) was a strong first step in moving from dispersed quantum science initiatives to a more active, coordinated effort to not only lead in the foundational research, but also take scientific breakthroughs through to practical technological innovation.

    As this Committee considers reauthorization of the NQIA and other specific actions that the United States must take to secure our technological leadership in quantum, we offer more detailed recommendations across three policy priorities: (1) robust funding for quantum research, (2) developing top-tier quantum talent, and (3) securing the quantum supply chain. These three categories—described more fully below—require U.S. government leadership to maintain a competitive edge, drive innovation, and safeguard national security in the face of growing global competition.

    1. Advancing Quantum Research

    First, we must continue our long American tradition of leading the world in groundbreaking scientific research. Our curiosity, our ability to innovate, and our desire to build has been responsible for a century of American prosperity. Indeed, the past century of our global leadership is rooted in our ability to not only innovate but innovate first. For quantum, the first-mover advantage is likely to define the geopolitical landscape for the rest of this century – and likely well beyond.

    Last week, Microsoft President and Vice Chair Brad Smith wrote specifically about the critical role of the American research triad—the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and the National Science Foundation—in driving American scientific and technological innovation.[7] I will add to that the unique role that the National Institute of Standards and Technology has contributed to quantum information science since the field’s inception. In addition, there have been vital investments by the Intelligence Community’s research funding organizations, who have core missions that demand expertise to monitor progress in quantum information technologies. We must make it a continuing national imperative to energize these institutions—for our economic future, for our national security, and for sustaining our global leadership. The American scientific enterprise is unmatched in the world and there is no private sector substitute. We benefit from multiple institutions that have very different models for how to fund science. This allows the U.S. to fund everything from basic ideas to large, very focused development programs to purchasing novel supercomputers. There is nothing else quite like it in the world.

    Federal funding is the key to leveraging these institutions to sustain our leadership in quantum research and development.  Following passage of the NQIA, U.S. funding for the quantum sciences more than doubled from $456 million in 2019 to $1.041 billion in 2022.[8] But recent years have seen a decline, as reflected in President Biden’s $998 million budget request for FY2025. This has come as our global competitors are doing the opposite. Governments around the world are accelerating spending on quantum R&D – and China’s estimated $15 billion commitment dwarfs publicly reported U.S. funding levels.[9]

    To stay competitive, Congress should not only reauthorize the National Quantum Initiative Act but be purposeful in expanding initiatives through a coordinated national strategy. Key recommendations include:

    • Fully Fund and Expand Quantum Initiatives across the Federal Government: Reauthorize and fully fund the National Quantum Initiative Act and its programs. Congress should ensure agencies like the Department of Energy (DOE) and its National Labs, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), along with the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community receive sustained appropriations to expand fundamental quantum science research and development. This includes supporting the NSF’s Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes and the DOE’s National Quantum Information Science Research Centers, which have a proven record of leveraging each federal dollar to attract additional private investment. Expanding these programs will spur innovation nationwide and solidify U.S. leadership in critical quantum technologies.
    • Increase Directed Quantum R&D Funding: Move beyond fragmented funding by adopting a more directed, strategic investment approach. A recent ITIF survey suggests that China’s centralized funding strategy gives it advantages over the diffuse U.S. approach.[10] Congress can consider targeted increases in quantum R&D budgets across key agencies, aiming to exceed past funding peaks and keep pace with competitor nations. Restoring growth in federal quantum R&D funding—particularly after the dip in recent years—is the first and most urgent step to ensure the U.S. does not fall behind.
    • Expand Translational Research Programs: Boost funding for government evaluation and prototype development programs to build a bridge between lab discoveries, engineering initiatives, and real-world applications. For example, DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI)—the flagship program for assessing quantum breakthroughs—should be expanded and fully funded. Congress can direct agencies (DOD, DOE, NSF) to coordinate on identifying high-value quantum research projects and push them toward validation programs (like DARPA’s QBI program) and then to practical realization with additional grants, prizes, or public-private partnerships.
    • Encourage Public-Private Collaboration: Federal investment should be paired with incentives for private sector co-investment in quantum R&D. Each dollar of federal funding often leverages additional private sector investment, so policies like matching grants, or innovation challenges can multiply the impact of public funds. Congress should also support joint research centers and consortia that bring together government, academia, and industry to solve quantum engineering hurdles. In addition, maintaining a stable, long-term funding outlook will give industry the confidence to invest alongside the government in quantum technology development.
    • Provide access to the latest quantum capabilities: Congress should streamline pathways for government agencies to provide the latest quantum computing technology to the researcher community, which would allow them to better identify impactful quantum applications and use cases.

    By significantly increasing federal funding and focusing it strategically, Congress can reinvigorate America’s quantum R&D enterprise. Continued U.S. scientific leadership depends on this commitment and history shows that breakthroughs from federally funded basic research (from the internet to GPS) drive decades of innovation and economic growth. Investing ambitiously in quantum now will pay dividends for American security and prosperity in the years to come.

    2. Developing & Attracting Quantum Talent

    Throughout its history, the United States has developed and attracted the brightest and most innovative minds– and it is what powers Microsoft, the broader American technology sector, and our great academic and research institutions. But this country now faces a severe shortage of STEM talent and, even more critically, a shortage of specialized quantum expertise.

    The global quantum talent pool remains small even as demand increases. It is no exaggeration to say that a handful of gifted physicists, engineers, and mathematicians could sway the balance of power and shift the dynamics in the race to develop quantum technology. Globally, there are as many as three job postings for every one qualified quantum worker.[11] In the U.S., we are struggling to develop our own talent and labor pool. Today the U.S. STEM workforce consists of approximately 36.8 million people, but 43% of doctorate-level scientists and engineers are foreign-born.[12] In 2021, more than half of doctorate-level computer scientists, mathematicians, and engineers working in the United States—occupations directly connected to critical and emerging technologies—were born outside the country.[13] Meanwhile, other countries are sprinting ahead in producing STEM graduates. In 2020, the U.S. awarded roughly 900,000 undergraduate STEM degrees annually, compared to 2 million in China and 2.5 million in India.[14] That gap may have widened in the past five years and today, the European Union leads in quantum talent concentration, with India and China also surpassing the U.S. in the number of quantum-trained specialists. Without a bigger domestic pipeline of quantum talent, even the most well-funded programs will struggle to succeed.

    Congress should enact policies to train, attract, and retain top quantum talent. Important steps include:

    • Strengthen STEM Education at All Levels: Congress must be laser focused on expanding the STEM pipeline from K-12 through to graduate school programs. This includes initiatives through the NSF, as well as state and local partners to enrich science and math curricula and increase awareness and interest in emerging technology. By introducing comprehensive STEM education early (in elementary and secondary schools), we can inspire more students to pursue careers in emerging technology and quantum-related fields.
    • Invest in Higher Education and Training: Congress should also continue and expand initiatives to train the next generation of scientists and engineers. We must continue to fund scholarships, fellowships, and research assistantships, particularly those focused in STEM and specifically in the quantum sciences. This must include developing high-caliber talent at our nation’s premier research institutions through grants and quantum research programs.  It must also include prioritizing community colleges and technical institutes that often launch students into STEM careers. Programs like the NSF’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) and Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) are critical to engaging more students and providing educators with hands-on quantum projects.  Congress should also increase federal support for STEM graduate students in quantum-related disciplines—currently, only 15% of U.S. full-time STEM grad students are supported by the U.S. government, down from 21% in 2004.[15] Bolstering fellowships and traineeships will produce more Ph.D.-level researchers ready to push the boundaries of quantum science.
    • Retrain and Upskill the Existing Workforce: To meet immediate needs, Congress should also consider activating NSF and the Department of Labor for workforce retraining programs that would help add talent to the quantum ecosystem. Adult education, professional development, and certificate programs in STEM and basic quantum fundamentals can rapidly expand the pool of “quantum-aware” professionals. These efforts will help fill roles in quantum research and product development that do not necessarily require Ph.D.-level expertise but do need specialized training.
    • Attract and Retain Global Talent:  Many of the world’s best minds—in quantum science and across disciplines—come to the U.S. for education and we must continue to find ways to support their continued contributions to our country after graduation. For example, from 2018–2021, temporary visa holders made up 37% of U.S. science and engineering Ph.D. graduates and over 70% of those students intended to stay in the U.S. after graduating.[16]  Congress should create expedited pathways for highly skilled quantum experts and expand the number of visas for Ph.D. graduates in quantum-related fields. Easing green card backlogs for advanced STEM degree holders could help the U.S. retain and attract international talent that would otherwise find opportunities outside the United States.
    • Promote International Collaboration: Congress should encourage collaborative research and exchange programs with allied nations to broaden the talent base within a trusted network. Joint initiatives with allies can pool expertise and resources to collectively train more quantum scientists. By deepening ties with like-minded countries the U.S. can both learn from our allies and ensure that we lead the quantum future together.

    By implementing these measures, the United States can build a robust pipeline of quantum talent. A comprehensive strategy spanning education, training, and international collaboration will equip the U.S. with the skilled workforce needed to drive quantum innovation and outpace global competitors.

    3. Securing the Quantum Supply Chain

    Building a secure and reliable quantum supply chain is essential. Quantum technologies across the board—computing, communication, and sensing—depend on specialized materials and components. This includes hardware like cryogenic refrigerators to advanced lasers and quantum chips. There are currently few suppliers or fabrication facilities for these items and most are globally distributed. This creates a real risk of supply bottlenecks or dependencies on foreign sources, which could stall our R&D progress or even compromise the technology stack. It currently takes 12 to 18 months to get certain components and equipment we need, many of which come from overseas. The U.S. must be able to either build quantum components and devices domestically or have reliable, secure sources through trusted allies. We also need prototyping facilities that are rapid, focused, and work at the pace of industry. However, establishing a resilient supply chain will not happen without focused government action. It is a complex challenge requiring coordination between agencies and partnership with industry. And the need to act is now.

    Congress and the Administration should pursue a national strategy to strengthen the quantum supply chain through the following actions:

    • Develop a National Quantum Supply Chain Strategy: We recommend that the Administration—perhaps via the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee or another interagency task force—develop a comprehensive strategy to develop the quantum supply chain. This strategy should identify key supply vulnerabilities, set goals for domestic capacity in quantum-related manufacturing, and provide the Administration with an action plan on how to spur public and private investment for key technology components. Congress may also consider regular reporting on quantum supply chain risks and a roadmap to de-risk dependencies.
    • Diversify Sources of Critical Components: The government should consider using federal purchasing power and funding to ensure multiple reliable sources for essential quantum hardware components. Congress can empower the Department of Commerce and Department of Energy to organize long-term purchase agreements or commit to buying key items (e.g. dilution refrigerators, superconducting amplifiers, high-purity qubit materials, photonic components) in bulk. Strategic investment (such as grants) could also target any chokepoints where the U.S. is overly reliant on foreign suppliers. By deploying capital toward widely needed quantum components, the government can incentivize companies within the United States (or, abroad in partnership with trusted allies) to build expertise and capacity.
    • Establish Quantum Manufacturing Facilities: Congress should also focus on building specialized infrastructure facilities for quantum device fabrication and testing. Building quantum computers and sensors often requires custom fabrication processes (for novel types of qubits, cryogenic electronics, etc.) and advanced packaging techniques. Congress should support the creation of one or more quantum foundries or test beds—perhaps through our National Labs or public-private partnerships—equipped to prototype and produce quantum components at scale. This includes facilities dedicated to fabrication, packaging, and assembly of quantum chips and systems, as well as laboratories for testing cryogenic and photonic components under quantum operating conditions. By investing in such infrastructure, the U.S. will reduce the need to rely on foreign fabrication facilities or suppliers for cutting-edge parts. These centers can also serve as innovation hubs where academia and industry collaborate on next-generation manufacturing techniques for quantum technology.
    • Prioritize Domestic Production of Advanced Components: Congress should create incentives (tax credits, grants, or loan guarantees) for companies to build production lines in the U.S. for critical quantum hardware. This includes the design and fabrication of advanced lasers, precision optics, microwave components, and quantum-grade semiconductors, as well as cryogenic electronics and ultralow-temperature refrigeration systems required for quantum labs. Capabilities like high-precision metrology (chip characterization) and advanced 3D packaging for quantum devices should also be developed domestically. Some of these areas overlap with semiconductor and photonics industries—where recent government efforts were aimed at boosting U.S. manufacturing— but specialized focus on quantum needs is essential. By onshoring production of these components, the U.S. will mitigate risks of foreign supply cut-offs and foster a local ecosystem of quantum suppliers and startups.  In tandem, federal R&D programs can partner with U.S. manufacturers to improve yields and performance in quantum-specific production, driving the costs down over time.

    By implementing these measures, the U.S. can build a resilient quantum supply chain that supports our nation’s long-term leadership. A combination of strategic planning, direct investment, public-private partnerships, and incentives will reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and ensure that our scientists and quantum innovators have access to the tools and components they need to succeed.

    Conclusion

    In closing, the government plays a critical role in coordinating our quantum ecosystem, funding the base of scientific discoveries and talent that the industry relies on, and being the first customer for next generation computers.

    Quantum technology promises to redefine the next era of human progress. The United States must act with urgency to ensure our continued leadership over the next hundred years.

    [1][2502.12252] Roadmap to fault tolerant quantum computation using topological qubit arrays.

    [2] Interferometric single-shot parity measurement in InAs–Al hybrid devices | Nature and Realizing Topological States on Quantum Hardware | APS Global Physics Summit.

    [3] DARPA selects two discrete utility-scale quantum computing approaches for evaluation | DARPA.

    [4] How Microsoft and Quantinuum achieved reliable quantum computing – Microsoft Azure Quantum Blog.

    [5] Microsoft and Quantinuum create 12 logical qubits and demonstrate a hybrid, end-to-end chemistry simulation – Microsoft Azure Quantum Blog.

    [6] Microsoft and Atom Computing offer a commercial quantum machine with the largest number of entangled logical qubits on record – Microsoft Azure Quantum Blog.

    [7] Investing in American leadership in quantum technology: the next frontier in innovation – Microsoft On the Issues.

    [8] National Science and Technology Council:  Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science, National Supplement to the President’s FY 2025 Budget.

    [9] Hodan Omaar and Martin Makaryan, “How Innovative is China,” Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, September 2024.

    [10] Id.

    [11] McKinsey & Company, “Quantum Technology Monitor,” April 2023.

    [12] National Science Board, “The State of U.S. Science and Engineering 2024,” March 2024.

    [13] Id.

    [14] Id.

    [15] Id.

    [16] Id.

    Tags: quantum, Senate Testimony, Technology

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Microsoft Fusion Summit explores how AI can accelerate fusion research

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Microsoft Fusion Summit explores how AI can accelerate fusion research

    The pursuit of nuclear fusion as a limitless, clean energy source has long been one of humanity’s most ambitious scientific goals. Research labs and companies worldwide are working to replicate the fusion process that occurs at the sun’s core, where isotopes of hydrogen combine to form helium, releasing vast amounts of energy. While scalable fusion energy is still years away, researchers are now exploring how AI can help accelerate fusion research and bring this energy to the grid sooner. 

    In March 2025, Microsoft Research held its inaugural Fusion Summit, a landmark event that brought together distinguished speakers and panelists from within and outside Microsoft Research to explore this question. 

    Ashley Llorens, Corporate Vice President and Managing Director of Microsoft Research Accelerator, opened the Summit by outlining his vision for a self-reinforcing system that uses AI to drive sustainability. Steven Cowley, laboratory director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (opens in new tab), professor at Princeton University, and former head of the UK Atomic Energy Authority, followed with a keynote explaining the intricate science and engineering behind fusion reactors. His message was clear: advancing fusion will require international collaboration and the combined power of AI and high-performance computing to model potential fusion reactor designs. 

    Applying AI to fusion research

    North America’s largest fusion facility, DIII (opens in new tab)-D, operated by General Atomics and owned by the US Department of Energy (DOE), provides a unique platform for developing and testing AI applications for fusion research, thanks to its pioneering data and digital twin platform. 

    Richard Buttery (opens in new tab) from DIII-D and Dave Humphreys (opens in new tab) from General Atomics demonstrated how the US DIII-D National Fusion Program (opens in new tab) is already applying AI to advance reactor design and operations, highlighting promising directions for future development. They provided examples of how to apply AI to active plasma control to avoid disruptive instabilities, using AI-controlled trajectories to avoid tearing modes, and implementing feedback control using machine learning-derived density limits for safer high-density operations. 

    One persistent challenge in reactor design involves building the interior “first wall,” which must withstand extreme heat and particle bombardment. Zulfi Alam, corporate vice president of Microsoft Quantum (opens in new tab), discussed the potential of using quantum computing in fusion, particularly for addressing material challenges like hydrogen diffusion in reactors.

    He noted that silicon nitride shows promise as a barrier to hydrogen and vapor and explained the challenge of binding it to the reaction chamber. He emphasized the potential of quantum computing to improve material prediction and synthesis, enabling more efficient processes. He shared that his team is also investigating advanced silicon nitride materials to protect this critical component from neutron and alpha particle damage—an innovation that could make fusion commercially viable.

    Microsoft Research Blog

    AIOpsLab: Building AI agents for autonomous clouds

    AIOpsLab is an open-source framework designed to evaluate and improve AI agents for cloud operations, offering standardized, scalable benchmarks for real-world testing, enhancing cloud system reliability.

    Exploring AI’s broader impact on fusion engineering

    Lightning talks from Microsoft Research labs addressed the central question of AI’s potential to accelerate fusion research and engineering. Speakers covered a wide range of applications—from using gaming AI for plasma control and robotics for remote maintenance to physics-informed AI for simulating materials and plasma behavior. Closing the session, Archie Manoharan, Microsoft’s director of nuclear engineering for Cloud Operations and Infrastructure, emphasized the need for a comprehensive energy strategy, one that incorporates renewables, efficiency improvements, storage solutions, and carbon-free sources like fusion.

    The Summit culminated in a thought-provoking panel discussion moderated by Ade Famoti, featuring Archie Manoharan, Richard Buttery, Steven Cowley, and Chris Bishop, Microsoft Technical Fellow and director of Microsoft Research AI for Science. Their wide-ranging conversation explored the key challenges and opportunities shaping the field of fusion. 

    The panel highlighted several themes: the role of new regulatory frameworks that balance innovation with safety and public trust; the importance of materials discovery in developing durable fusion reactor walls; and the game-changing role AI could play in plasma optimization and surrogate modelling of fusion’s underlying physics.

    They also examined the importance of global research collaboration, citing projects like the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (opens in new tab) (ITER), the world’s largest experimental fusion device under construction in southern France, as testbeds for shared progress. One persistent challenge, however, is data scarcity. This prompted a discussion of using physics-informed neural networks as a potential approach to supplement limited experimental data. 

    Global collaboration and next steps

    Microsoft is collaborating with ITER (opens in new tab) to help advance the technologies and infrastructure needed to achieve fusion ignition—the critical point where a self-sustaining fusion reaction begins, using Microsoft 365 Copilot, Azure OpenAI Service, Visual Studio, and GitHub (opens in new tab). Microsoft Research is now cooperating with ITER to identify where AI can be exploited to model future experiments to optimize its design and operations. 

    Now Microsoft Research has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) (opens in new tab) to foster collaboration through knowledge exchange, workshops, and joint research projects. This effort aims to address key challenges in fusion, materials, plasma control, digital twins, and experiment optimization. Together, Microsoft Research and PPPL will work to drive innovation and advances in these critical areas.

    Fusion is a scientific challenge unlike any other and could be key to sustainable energy in the future. We’re excited about the role AI can play in helping make that vision a reality. To learn more, visit the Fusion Summit event page, or connect with us by email at FusionResearch@microsoft.com.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Global: India-Pakistan strikes: 5 essential reads on decades of rivalry and tensions over Kashmir

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Matt Williams, Senior International Editor

    Indian paramilitary soldiers patrol a street in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir on May 4, 2025. Firdous Nazir/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    Indian airstrikes deep into Pakistan and retaliatory shelling across the border have put the subcontinent on edge once again, with many fearing a further escalation between the two nuclear neighbors.

    At least 26 people were killed on May 6, 2025, by missiles launched by India, according to Pakistani authorities. India says it targeted “terrorist infrastructure” sites in the operation in response to an attack on April 22 that saw dozens of tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir killed by gunmen.

    Pakistan warned it would respond “at a time, place and manner of its choosing.” Meanwhile, shelling by Pakistan across the “line of control” separating the Indian- and Pakistani-controlled parts of Kashmir killed 15 people, India says.

    It represents the most serious fighting between the two countries in decades. But Kashmir has long been a source of tension between India and Pakistan, as articles from The Conversation’s archive explain.

    1. The roots of the conflict

    The dispute over Kashmir, which sits on the northern tip of the Indian subcontinent and borders Pakistan to the west, can be traced back to the partition of India in 1947 and the policies of colonial British rule that preceded it.

    As Sumit Ganguly, an expert of Indian politics and foreign policy, explains, the British gave the rulers of nominally autonomous princely states the choice of which country they wanted to join post-partition: Muslim-majority Pakistan or Hindu-majority India. This put Maharaja Hari Singh, the monarch of Jammu and Kashmir, in a tricky position – he was a Hindu ruling over a predominantly Muslim population.

    “India, which was created as a secular state, wanted to incorporate Kashmir to demonstrate that a predominantly Muslim region could thrive in a Hindu-majority country committed to secularism. Pakistan, on the other hand, sought Kashmir because of its physical proximity and Muslim majority,” writes Ganguly.

    While Singh was still deliberating, a rebellion broke out in Kashmir, with newly independent Pakistan giving the insurgents support. India sent troops in on condition that Singh formally accede to India, and the first of four Indian-Pakistan wars began in 1947. It ended with Pakistan gaining control of a third of the disputed region.

    “Neither country has wholly reconciled itself to Kashmir’s status. India claims the state in its entirety, as it became a part of its territory legally. Pakistan, however, has historically held the view that Kashmir was ceded to India by a ruler who did not represent its majority Muslim population. Indeed, this dispute between two nuclear-armed powers remains a potential global flashpoint,” Ganguly adds.




    Read more:
    75 years ago, Britain’s plan for Pakistani and Indian independence left unresolved conflicts on both sides – especially when it comes to Kashmir


    2. More than a border dispute

    But to see Kashmir solely through the lens of Indian-Pakistani rivalry would do the complicated conflict a disservice. Often neglected in this reading is the views of many Kashmiris themselves, many of whom would prefer independence.

    Chitralekha Zutshi, a professor of history at William & Mary, notes that the desire for autonomy by groups in the region has resulted in numerous independence movements and repeated uprisings.

    Fighters from the pro-independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front parade in 1991.
    Mushtaq Ali/AFP via Getty Images

    Pakistan has supported some of these movements, a fact that India has seized upon to “write off unrest in the Kashmir Valley as a byproduct of its territorial dispute with Pakistan,” Zutshi writes. But in so doing, the grievances of “an entire generation of young Kashmiris” who view India as “an occupying power” have been ignored, the scholar continues.

    She concludes: “The Kashmir dispute cannot be resolved bilaterally by India and Pakistan alone – even if the two countries were willing to work together to resolve their differences. This is because the conflict has many sides.”




    Read more:
    Kashmir conflict is not just a border dispute between India and Pakistan


    3. A water war?

    Backing up the claim that the views of Kashmiris are often neglected is the fact that the Indus Waters Treaty – a crucial decades-old agreement that allows Pakistan and India to share water use from the region’s rivers – was drawn up largely without the input of Kashmiri people, writes Fazlul Haq, a research scientist at Ohio State University.

    Haq, who helps run the university’s Indus Basin Water Project, explains that even before the latest flare-up of violence, a dispute over the treaty was causing tension between India and Pakistan. The problem was that the original treaty, hailed as a success for many years, didn’t take into account the impact of climate change. Melting glaciers have put the long-term sustainability of the treaty at risk, jeopardizing the water supply for more than 300 million people.


    Fazlul Haq/Bryan Mark/Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center/Ohio State University, CC BY

    “Despite being the primary source of water for the basin, Kashmiris have had no role in negotiations or decision-making under the treaty,” Haq writes. Nor did it provide a mechanism for any regional disputes. “Tensions over hydropower projects in Kashmir were bringing India and Pakistan toward diplomatic deadlock long before the recent attack,” Haq notes.

    “The treaty now exists in a state of limbo. While it technically remains in force, India’s formal notice for review has introduced uncertainty, halting key cooperative mechanisms and casting doubt on the treaty’s long-term durability,” Haq writes. Pakistan has said any attempt to disrupt its water supply under the treaty would be considered “an act of war.”




    Read more:
    Tensions over Kashmir and a warming planet have placed the Indus Waters Treaty on life support


    4. On the precipice of a new war?

    There have been four full-scale conflicts between India and Pakistan: in 1947, 1965, 1971 and 1999.

    But since the turn of the millennium, cross-border skirmishes in Kashmir have largely been contained, in part due to external pressure from the United States and others who fear the economic and regional consequences of a conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

    International relations expert Ian Hall, of Griffith University in Australia, writes that the calculus has changed a little. He notes that there is little economic cost to escalation, with “practically no trade between India and Pakistan.”

    The main concern for both sides now is “the political cost they would suffer from not taking military action,” Hall adds.




    Read more:
    India and Pakistan have fought many wars in the past. Are we on the precipice of a new one?


    5. The need for a Pakistan-India hotline

    During past crises between Pakistan and India, Washington has played an important role in deescalating tensions.

    U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments that he believes Pakistan and India will “figure it out one way or the other” suggests this is one occasion in which the U.S. may take a back seat.

    But as Syed Ali Zia Jaffery at the University of Lahore and Nicholas John Wheeler at the University of Birmingham in the U.K. note, that creates a problem.

    “The absence of a trusted confidential line of communication between the leaders of India and Pakistan is a major barrier to empathetic communication. It prevents the two reaching a proper appreciation of shared vulnerabilities that is so critical to crisis de-escalation,” they write.

    Their article uses the example of the Cuban missile crisis of 1962 to tout the importance of what the two scholars describe as “empathetic channels of communication.” U.S. President John F. Kennedy and his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, “exchanged a series of letters in which they acknowledged and expressed their shared vulnerability to nuclear war,” Jaffery and Wheeler write. Establishing mutual empathy and a bond of trust were critical to the peaceful resolution of the crisis.

    “Such a hotline between the highest levels of Indian and Pakistani diplomacy would be an important step towards preventing these crises from spinning out of control. More crucially, it could play a pivotal role in managing crises when they do occur, offering a vital channel for reassurance and de-escalation,” Jaffery and Wheeler add.




    Read more:
    Why a hotline is needed to help bring India and Pakistan back from the brink of a disastrous war


    ref. India-Pakistan strikes: 5 essential reads on decades of rivalry and tensions over Kashmir – https://theconversation.com/india-pakistan-strikes-5-essential-reads-on-decades-of-rivalry-and-tensions-over-kashmir-256157

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI USA: School of Pharmacy 2025 Commencement Speakers

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    The School of Pharmacy is excited to announce JoAnn Trejo as the commencement speaker for the 2025 Pharm.D. ceremony. As the Honorary Degree Recipient and Keynote Speaker for the School of Pharmacy, Trejo is a professor of pharmacology and senior assistant vice chancellor for health sciences faculty affairs at the University of California San Diego. She completed her undergraduate at UC Davis, her PhD and MBA at UC San Diego and her postdoctoral training at UCSF. 

    Headshot of JoAnn Trejo

    Committed to research with passion and dedication, Trejo has expertise in cell signaling in the context of vascular inflammation and cancer. With her research published in more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and continuously being funded by the NIH, Trejo is an excellent educator, mentor, and leader. Through her work advancing the fields of science and pharmacology, Trejo is the recipient of an NIH R35 Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA) and the American Heart Association Established Investigator Award.  

    Beyond her research, Trejo is the director of five NIH-supported training programs and served as an elected member of the leadership Council for the ASCB and the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. As a current member of the scientific advisory boards for Septerna and Versiti and the NIGMS Advisory Council, Trejo has received numerous awards for leadership and service. Trejo is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) among other organizations. 

    Joe Honcz, the B.S. ceremony commencement speaker, is a distinguished expert in managed care and market access as a Registered Pharmacist and currently serves as the Senior Vice President at Petauri Advisors. With a 25-year career that spans various sectors of the healthcare industry, Joe played a critical role in the launch of Medicare Part D and had instrumental involvement in the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Joe holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and an MBA from UConn and continues to serve the UConn community as an AMCP diplomat to the School.  

    Headshot of Joe Honcz

    Recently leveraging his understanding of managed care to deliver strategic market access insights, Joe has empowered over 20 biotech and pharmaceutical clients to effectively navigate complex dynamics. Joe’s contributions have been important in the launch of innovative products in traditional and rare disease categories and he continues to drive innovation while supporting the emerging pharmaceutical and health tech industries as a “pharmacy futurist.”  

    Outside of his role as Senior Vice President, Joe is involved at Yale Ventures and UConn Technology Commercialization Services as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor and is on the Board of Directors for the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) and Avery’s Little Army. 

    Joe’s background includes diverse roles at Pfizer, Walgreens, CVS, and more.  

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Law Enforcement Seizes 9 DDoS-for-Hire Webpages as Part of Global Crackdown on ‘Booter’ and ‘Stresser’ DDoS Services

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – The Justice Department today announced the court-authorized seizure of nine internet domains associated with some of the world’s leading DDoS-for-hire services. Poland’s Central Cybercrime Bureau simultaneously announced the arrests of four administrators of such services, investigations which were assisted by U.S. authorities. Several of the arrested administrators operated websites seized pursuant to previous operations by the Central District of California. 

    Federal law enforcement continues to seize websites that allow paying users to launch powerful distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. These attacks flood targeted computers and servers with information to prevent them from being able to access the internet.

    Booter services such as those named in this action allegedly attacked a wide array of victims in the United States and abroad, including schools, government agencies, gaming platforms, and millions of people. In addition to affecting targeted victims, these attacks can significantly degrade internet services and completely disrupt internet connections. 

    The websites targeted in this operation were used for hundreds of thousands of actual or attempted DDoS attacks targeting victims worldwide. While some of these services claimed to offer “stresser” services that purportedly could be used for network testing, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) determined these claims to be a pretense, and “thousands of communications between booter site administrators and their customers…make clear that both parties are aware that the customer is not attempting to attack their own computers,” according to an affidavit filed in support of court-authorized warrants to seize the booter sites.

    Today’s announcement builds on the success of the prior cases by targeting all known booter sites, shutting down as many as possible, and undertaking a public education campaign. In the last four years more than 11 defendants have been charged in Los Angeles and Anchorage for facilitating DDoS-for-hire services. More than 75 domains associated with such services have been seized.

    “Booter services facilitate cyberattacks that harm victims and compromise everyone’s ability to access the internet,” said United States Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “This week’s sweeping law enforcement activity is a major step in our ongoing efforts to eradicate criminal conduct that threatens the internet’s infrastructure and our ability to function in a digital world.”

    “DDoS for hire criminal booter services impact internet services for victims in every corner of the United States, including Alaska,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “This threat highlights the continued need to pursue cybercrime services like booter providers. We remain committed to bolstering our collaborative partnerships in the U.S. and abroad to address threats to critical internet infrastructure and services.”

    “The enforcement actions launched today, made possible by enduring partnerships between law enforcement and private industry, represents continued pressure on DDoS-for-hire services and the cybercriminals and hacktivists who use them.” said Special Agent in Charge Kenneth DeChellis of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Cyber Field Office. “This success demonstrates the resolve of the DCIS to relentlessly pursue those who target our warfighters and their information systems.”

    In conjunction with the website seizures, Homeland Security Investigations, DCIS, and the Netherlands Police have launched an advertising campaign using targeted placement ads in search engines, which are triggered by keywords associated with DDoS activities. The purpose of the ads is to deter potential cybercriminals searching for DDoS services in the United States and around the globe, and to educate the public on the illegality of DDoS activities.

    In recent years, booter services have continued to proliferate as they offer a low barrier to entry for users looking to engage in cybercriminal activity. These types of DDoS attacks are so named because they result in the “booting” or dropping of the targeted computer from the internet.

    For additional information on booter and stresser services and the harm that they cause, please visit: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/anchorage/fbi-intensify-efforts-to-combat-illegal-ddos-attacks.

    The seizures announced today were performed by DCIS’s Cyber-West Resident Agency.

    These law enforcement actions were taken in conjunction with Operation PowerOFF, an ongoing, coordinated effort among international law enforcement agencies aimed at dismantling criminal DDoS-for-hire infrastructures worldwide, and holding accountable the administrators and users of these illegal services. Principal partners in Operation PowerOFF include EUROPOL; the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska; The Department of Justice Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS); FBI’s Anchorage and Los Angeles field offices; HSI’s Columbus field office; Germany’s Bundeskriminalamt (BKA); United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA); Netherlands Police; Polish Central Cybercrime Bureau; Brazilian Federal Police, Japan’s National Police Agency, France’s Police Nationale, and many others.

    Assistance was provided by Akamai, Amazon Web Services, Cloudflare, Digital Ocean, Flashpoint, Google, PayPal, The University of Cambridge, and Unit 221B.

    Assistant United States Attorneys James E. Dochterman of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section and Aaron Frumkin of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section are handling this investigation.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why Trump fails to understand China’s trade war tactics, and what his negotiators should be reading

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Tom Harper, Lecturer in International Relations, University of East London

    As US and Chinese representatives prepare to meet in Switzerland in an effort to ease their escalating trade war, a potential sign of Beijing’s approach has emerged in an opinion piece published in the state-owned journal Beijing Daily.

    Articles in the publication are often seen as a reflection of Beijing’s official stance. The latest piece – Today, it is necessary to revisit On Protracted War – argues that the trade war is an American attempt to strangle China’s economic growth and that it is necessary to perceive the current trade tensions as a long-term development.

    What’s particularly important here is that the title refers to former Chinese leader Mao Zedong’s 1938 essay On Protracted War, a piece of writing that set out Mao’s approach to combating the invading Japanese during the second Sino-Japanese war between 1937 and 1945.

    This strategy was also key to the subsequent establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, after the communist victory in the long-running Chinese civil war. Mao became the chairman of the Chinese Communist party from 1943 until his death in 1976 and created a set of political theories referred to as Maoism. He wrote extensively on political strategy.


    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences. Join The Conversation for free today.


    Chinese policymakers and media figures often invoke the nation’s history to justify domestic and foreign policy. And the decision to reference Mao’s text reflects not only China’s strategy in the current trade war but also the lasting influence of his ideas.

    Mao’s 1938 essay described a struggle that might seem, at first glance, a world away from the current China/US tariff conflict. His key thesis was that guerrilla warfare was a long-term affair with little chance for a quick victory.

    Mao’s argument was that a war of attrition would end with a Chinese victory as it would slowly bleed the conventionally stronger Japanese forces of resources.
    Such an approach has been a key feature of insurgencies throughout the modern world, with movements such as the Taliban in Afghanistan using the long war of attrition against larger or more technologically advanced foes.

    By invoking On Protracted War, it would appear that Beijing perceives its economic struggles with the US as a conflict without a swift resolution, something that may come as a shock to Donald Trump who is clearly signalling that he now wants a deal.

    This long view approach has also been reflected in how Beijing has been preparing for a second Trump trade war ever since its experiences in the first Trump presidency.

    How US/China tariff war is affecting US markets.

    In contrast to China, the US administration appears to have banked on the trade war being a comparatively brief affair that should be ended by a quick and decisive knock-out blow against Beijing. And a public relations coup for Trump. This explains the showmanship behind the “liberation day” announcements, and the speed at which Washington deployed its key moves.

    But by preparing its citizens for a protracted trade war, it would appear that China’s strategy, similarly to Mao’s, is to slow down the process and grind out the best deal it can over time.

    Beijing believes that Chinese consumers are more capable of “eating bitterness” (coping with hardship) than Americans. So US diplomats would be well advised to dip into On Protracted War to understand more of China’s president Xi Jinping’s intentions.

    Mao’s long shadow

    However, this is not the only way in which Mao’s strategies are relevant to global politics right now.

    Another of Mao’s political ideas was what he termed the “people’s war”. This envisioned a slow movement where one group creates “shadow institutions” that gradually displace established ones in order to build support from the local population.

    This echoes part of China’s approach to globalisation, where China has supported, or created, alternatives to US-led institutions.

    Many of Beijing’s international institutions, such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the belt and the road initiative are created to be alternatives to more established international bodies, such as the IMF and the World Bank. These Beijing felt were too dominated by the US.

    While China has worked on this policy for decades, it seems to chime with Trump’s lack of commitment to US involvement in international institutions, such as the IMF and Nato. In this aspect of international politics, Xi and Trump seem to have somewhat similar goals, and could open up more space for Chinese leadership of these institutions.

    It’s becoming clear that the Trump administration has severely miscalculated by assuming that Beijing would quickly capitulate, showing a lack of understanding of Chinese culture and political history. The expected instant deal has failed to materialise, and US stores are now warning that shelves may soon be empty of many goods.

    The trade war has become a war of attrition, and whatever moves Xi makes now are likely to be only his first in what he sees as a very long game, in the great Maoist tradition.

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

    ref. Why Trump fails to understand China’s trade war tactics, and what his negotiators should be reading – https://theconversation.com/why-trump-fails-to-understand-chinas-trade-war-tactics-and-what-his-negotiators-should-be-reading-256126

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why Trump’s plans for tariffs on foreign films probably won’t have a happy ending

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jean Chalaby, Professor of Sociology, City St George’s, University of London

    Bill Chizek/Shutterstock

    With its tariffs policies, the administration of US president Donald Trump aims to correct the country’s persistent goods trade deficit. The president has argued that the US has been “looted, pillaged, raped and plundered” by other countries. Trump feels it is now America’s “turn to prosper” – and he has the film and TV industries in his sights with threats of 100% tariffs on foreign films.

    Economists cite multiple reasons why tariffs are bad for economies, from stunting growth to adding inflationary pressure. But there is a more fundamental problem, which is notable in the case of the film and TV industries. While trade data reflects a country’s overall performance, it says nothing about the nature and ownership of the traded goods.

    Indeed, the cross-border activities and foreign investments of US-based multinationals widen the US trade deficit. Global trade flows in film and TV are a good example.

    In terms of the origin of a movie, it is determined by factors including the nationality of those in key creative roles, financing, filming location and the culture reflected in the theme and story. The US has long been the world’s largest exporter of films and TV, dominating global media flows for much of the 20th century.


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    In the 1970s, the country exported seven times as much film and TV programming as that of its nearest competitor (the UK). Three decades later, the US was still exporting 4.5 times the amount of content it imported – US$12.6 billion (£9.4 billion) versus US$2.8 billion.

    US exports have increased, reaching US$24.7 billion in 2023, and Hollywood remains the world’s largest movie exporter. However, the US balance of trade in the sector has shifted dramatically. While US exports grew by 95.4% between 2006 and 2023, US imports increased by 898%.

    The trade in film and TV programming achieved balance in 2019, and my research shows that since then, the US has imported more films and TV shows than it exported. The deficit was narrowing in 2023 but imports remained 12.1% higher than exports (US$27.7 billion versus US$24.3 billion).

    This deficit deserves an explanation. Are Asian and European producers suddenly flooding the US with films and TV shows? Has the American public developed an insatiable appetite for Nordic noir or K-drama? The reality is that US-based media conglomerates like Disney, Netflix and Warner Bros Discovery have changed strategy. They have moved away from their previous focus on exports to direct-to-consumer international distribution.

    What does this mean? Well, instead of licensing content to foreign broadcasters and cinemas (which they still do, but to a lesser extent), they retail their content internationally, using their own global streaming services.

    The US entertainment paradox

    Maintaining these large content libraries explains the shift of the US trade balance. US-based streamers export less because they now retain more of their content for exclusive distribution on their own streaming platforms. And they import more because they acquire foreign content in greater quantities than ever before.

    For example, Stranger Things is produced by Netflix in the US. As such, it does not show up in export figures. Squid Game, on the other hand, is a Korean export and shows up in US import data.

    Moreover, Walt Disney has decided to retain the exclusive rights to its franchises, forgoing licensing sales. In 2020, the company licensed 59% of its scripted series to third parties, 18% in 2021, and only 2% in 2022.

    All the US streaming giants license and commission foreign content. Netflix in particular has spent more on international content than US programming since 2024 (US$7.9 billion versus US$7.5 billion). Hence the creation of a paradox: US trade data in audiovisual services reveals a trade deficit, yet the US-based entertainment industry has never been so dominant globally.

    There are similar patterns in industries in which US-based multinationals are located at the apex of transnational supply chains. The jeans that Levi Strauss imports from Bangladesh, the trainers that Nike imports from Vietnam, and the car components Ford imports from Brazil all show up in US trade statistics. But these goods are, essentially, American-owned assets.

    About 70% of trade involves global value chains (GVC), as raw materials and components cross borders multiple times before being assembled into a final product.

    In today’s global economy, the complexity of most products requires companies to cooperate along transnational production networks. As businesses and countries specialise in specific tasks, GVCs are the most efficient way of producing goods and services. The streaming industry simply mirrors these wider patterns.

    Mindful of the US trade deficit in films and TV programmes, Trump announced the plans for 100% tariffs on all films produced outside the US. However, his attempt to “make Hollywood great again” is misguided.

    While Hollywood has new rivals to contend with, notably South Korea, it remains the world’s largest film and TV exporter. Following a short period of decline in the late 2010s, US exports have continued to grow to reach a record US$24.3 billion.

    For Trump, the vexing issue is that the US imports more films and TV programmes than its exports. But that is due to US-based platforms’ foreign content hoarding. Adolescence and Squid Game have indeed contributed to extending the gap between US imports and exports, but they are US-owned assets that have earned Netflix hundreds of millions of dollars in subscription fees. (Squid Game’s impact value for Netflix was estimated at US$891 million in 2021.)

    Squid Game is an import, but it’s a giant money-spinner for US streamer Netflix.

    And American content on US-based streaming giants does not show up in trade data. The whole world is watching Black Mirror and Ransom Canyon, but these series have never been exported. Rather, they are on a global platform (Netflix). US-based media conglomerates have never been so dominant in the global media market.

    In short, trade data does not tell the whole story. If implemented, these tariffs will certainly have far-reaching consequences for the film and TV industry. But they are unlikely to make anyone more prosperous.

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

    ref. Why Trump’s plans for tariffs on foreign films probably won’t have a happy ending – https://theconversation.com/why-trumps-plans-for-tariffs-on-foreign-films-probably-wont-have-a-happy-ending-256004

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Farmers Back President Trump’s Tariffs

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    American farmers are behind President Donald J. Trump and his relentless push to restore fairness in global trade and secure new markets for homegrown producers.
    According to the latest Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer:
    70% of farmers expect the President Trump’s tariffs to strengthen the agricultural economy in the long-term.
    Farmer sentiment improved in April, marked by rises in current and future expectations.
    The Farm Capital Investment Index rose to its highest reading since May 2021.
    “This month, one out of four respondents said it was a good time to make large investments, nearly double the percentage of respondents who said it was a good time to invest when surveyed from May through October of last year.”

    The Farm Financial Performance Index “marked the fourth month in a row that the index was above 100, indicating that producers expect financial performance this year to equal or slightly exceed the year-ago level.”

    MIL OSI USA News