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Category: Universities

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Journalism’s Smith Receives Carnegie Fellowship

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Steven G. Smith, an award-winning multimedia storyteller and professor in the Department of Journalism, has been named an Andrew Carnegie Fellow for 2025, joining just 25 other scholars nationally in receiving the prestigious honor for researchers in the humanities and social sciences.

    Each fellow will receive $200,000 for research focusing on subjects related to political polarization, with the aim of eventually producing a book or other major study, the Carnegie Corporation of New York announced Wednesday.

    “Receiving the Carnegie Fellowship is an honor, and I’m excited to continue working on ‘These United States,’ my long-term documentary photo essay exploring American identity in the 21st century,” says Smith, who won a Pulitzer Prize for photography as part of the Rocky Mountain News photo essay team that was honored in 2003. “The fellowship will provide invaluable time and resources to develop the project further and share stories from across the country. I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity and for the support provided by the Carnegie Foundation and the University of Connecticut.”

    (Courtesy of Steven G. Smith)

    Smith, whose previous work includes the award-winning documentary films “The Long Goodbye: A Caregiver’s Journey” and “One World, One People,” has already been working on his current project for a year and a half, traveling the U.S. and documenting its people in photography.

    “My perspective as a visual journalist is to see what our country looks like right now,” Smith says. “It’s a portrait of America at the time of its 250th birthday.”

    Visual media like photography and film offer a chance to examine complicated and emotionally charged subjects with unique nuance, Smith says, which is partly what drew him to the project.

    “I’m a big believer in a wide variety of approaches,” he says. “Human beings are complex, and photography and visual communication can bring these subtleties and details to the surface that might otherwise be overlooked.”

    Smith is just the second UConn faculty member to receive a Carnegie fellowship; Yonatan Morse, associate professor of political science, became the first in 2020.

    Under the leadership of Carnegie president Dame Louise Richardson, the 2025 class marks the second year of the Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program’s focus on building a body of research focused on political polarization. Carnegie will commit up to $18 million to this effort over the three-year period.

    The winning proposals approach polarization through a wide array of disciplines and methods. Projects include analyzing the causes of the increasing political divides between men and women; assessing where Americans find common ground when it comes to their health; and understanding how partisan media, consultants, and entertainment industries are driving polarization for short-term profits, among other areas of research.

    “Through these fellowships Carnegie is harnessing the unrivaled brainpower of our universities to help us to understand how our society has become so polarized,” says Richardson. “Our future grantmaking will be informed by what we learn from these scholars as we seek to mitigate the pernicious effects of political polarization.”

    The focus on political polarization attracted more than 300 applications for the fellowship. A panel of jurors, chaired by Richardson and comprised of current and former leaders from some of the nation’s preeminent institutions, made the final selections. They prioritized proposals based on the originality and promise of the research, its potential impact on the field, and the applicants’ plans for communicating the findings to a broad audience.

    Smith says the final shape of his project is still to be determined, but envisions possibilities like a book and exhibition of the work.

    “I’d like to see this project be less overtly political and more a celebration of who we are,” Smith says. “Sometimes, when you’re out taking the pulse of the country, it can be a little frightening. But as I get out and shake hands and meet people and learn about their lives, I see a lot of kindness. That’s been very healing, to meet all these wonderful people and try to get just a little bit of their story.”

    Founded in 2015, the Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program provides the most generous stipend of its kind for research in the humanities and social sciences. To date, Carnegie has named almost 300 fellows, representing a philanthropic investment of more than $59 million. Congressional testimony by past fellows has addressed topics such as social media and privacy protections, transnational crime, governmental responses to pandemics, and college affordability. Fellows have received honors including the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, and National Book Award.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: NANO Nuclear Energy Launches Recruitment Drive to Build Full-Scale KRONOS MMR Reactors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NANO Nuclear Aims to Expand Engineering and Project Development Team to Support U.S. and Canadian KRONOS MMR Energy System Reactor Construction and Licensing Efforts

    New York, N.Y., April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nano Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear” or the “Company”) is launching a recruitment initiative focused on the Midwest region to support its ambitious plans to construct, demonstrate and gain regulatory approval for full-scale KRONOS MMR Energy Systems in both the United States and Canada.

    NANO Nuclear’s plans to extend its technical and project execution team are critical in the Company’s transition from design to ultimate commercial deployment of the proprietary, stationary KRONOS microreactor. In tandem with upcoming geological characterization work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) site, this workforce build-out will consolidate the expertise and provide the personnel necessary to complete the construction permit application and begin construction of the first KRONOS prototype on the UIUC campus shortly thereafter.

    Rendering of the KRONOS MMRTMEnergy System

    “As we prepare to break ground on the KRONOS reactor prototype at UIUC, it’s time to scale our team to match our vision,” said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer of NANO Nuclear. “This is a call to the best and brightest in nuclear and energy innovation in the Midwest region—we’re building a reactor, and we need you on the team.”

    Now Hiring Across All Core Disciplines

    NANO Nuclear is actively recruiting top talent across a variety of critical disciplines for the KRONOS MMR project. Open positions include:

    • Nuclear Engineers – Fuel & materials, reactor physics, thermal hydraulics, safety, and licensing
    • Mechanical Engineers – design, structural, CAD, balance of plant
    • Electrical Engineers – Instrumentation & control (I&C), power electronics, transmission
    • Civil Engineers & Geotechnical Experts – Site layout, structural foundations, drilling operations
    • Project Managers & Construction Specialists – Full-cycle oversight from permitting through commissioning
    • QA/QC Professionals – Nuclear-grade standards, documentation, and supplier oversight
    • Licensing & Regulatory Affairs Experts – NRC and CNSC compliance and filings
    • Skilled Technicians – Fabrication, assembly, testing, and field support

    Applicants with previous experience in nuclear R&D, DOE national labs, SMR or MMR programs, or international reactor development are especially encouraged to apply.

    “Our collaboration with UIUC will be a critical operations hub for our KRONOS reactor development effort,” said Jay Yu, Founder, Chairman and President of NANO Nuclear. “It will house the growing team that’s building not only our U.S. research reactor, but also laying the foundation for our demonstration reactor deployment in Canada, which will open the path for eventual commercial rollout in both the U.S. and Canada.”

    Canadian Reactor Construction Also in Focus

    In parallel with the UIUC research reactor, Nano Nuclear is actively preparing to construct a KRONOS demonstration reactor in Canada, where it will enter the licensing process under Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) oversight. The effort will establish a second fully licensed KRONOS unit, positioning NANO Nuclear to efficiently move its microreactor technology through construction, demonstration, regulatory licensing and eventual commercialization across North America.

    “Canada represents an incredible opportunity for clean, reliable microreactor deployment,” added Florent Heidet, Chief Technology Officer and Head of Reactor Development of NANO Nuclear. “By expanding our team and bringing additional talents onboard, we ensure we have the capacity to deliver simultaneous full-scale projects in two countries, each with independent regulatory pathways and future market potential.”

    Join the Team Shaping the Future of Nuclear Energy

    NANO Nuclear is a company that doesn’t just imagine the future—it’s engineering it, constructing it and moving towards regulatory licensing for it. With multiple microreactor project in progress, fuel qualification methodology already accepted by the NRC, and strategic partnerships underway, NANO Nuclear is one of the most active and ambitious advanced nuclear developers in the world.

    “This recruitment drive is about finding those who want to be part of history,” said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer of NANO Nuclear. “If you want to help build the next generation of nuclear reactors from the ground up—this is your chance.”

    How to Apply

    Interested candidates can view open positions, including details regarding salary ranges and benefit offerings, and apply directly at:

    https://nanonuclearenergy.com/careers

    For inquiries, please contact:
    Email: careers@nanonuclearenergy.com
    Business Tel: (212) 634-9206

    About NANO Nuclear Energy, Inc.

    NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) is an advanced technology-driven nuclear energy company seeking to become a commercially focused, diversified, and vertically integrated company across five business lines: (i) cutting edge portable and other microreactor technologies, (ii) nuclear fuel fabrication, (iii) nuclear fuel transportation, (iv) nuclear applications for space and (v) nuclear industry consulting services. NANO Nuclear believes it is the first portable nuclear microreactor company to be listed publicly in the U.S.

    Led by a world-class nuclear engineering team, NANO Nuclear’s reactor products in development include patented KRONOS MMR™Energy System, a stationary high-temperature gas-cooled reactor that is in construction permit pre-application engagement U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in collaboration with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U. of I.), “ZEUS”, a solid core battery reactor, and “ODIN”, a low-pressure coolant reactor, and the space focused, portable LOKI MMR™, each representing advanced developments in clean energy solutions that are portable, on-demand capable, advanced nuclear microreactors.

    Advanced Fuel Transportation Inc. (AFT), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is led by former executives from the largest transportation company in the world aiming to build a North American transportation company that will provide commercial quantities of HALEU fuel to small modular reactors, microreactor companies, national laboratories, military, and DOE programs. Through NANO Nuclear, AFT is the exclusive licensee of a patented high-capacity HALEU fuel transportation basket developed by three major U.S. national nuclear laboratories and funded by the Department of Energy. Assuming development and commercialization, AFT is expected to form part of the only vertically integrated nuclear fuel business of its kind in North America.

    HALEU Energy Fuel Inc. (HEF), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is focusing on the future development of a domestic source for a High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel fabrication pipeline for NANO Nuclear’s own microreactors as well as the broader advanced nuclear reactor industry.

    NANO Nuclear Space Inc. (NNS), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is exploring the potential commercial applications of NANO Nuclear’s developing micronuclear reactor technology in space. NNS is focusing on applications such as the LOKI MMR™ system and other power systems for extraterrestrial projects and human sustaining environments, and potentially propulsion technology for long haul space missions. NNS’ initial focus will be on cis-lunar applications, referring to uses in the space region extending from Earth to the area surrounding the Moon’s surface.

    For more corporate information please visit: https://NanoNuclearEnergy.com/

    For further NANO Nuclear information, please contact:

    Email: IR@NANONuclearEnergy.com
    Business Tel: (212) 634-9206

    PLEASE FOLLOW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES HERE:

    NANO Nuclear Energy LINKEDIN
    NANO Nuclear Energy YOUTUBE
    NANO Nuclear Energy X PLATFORM

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

    This news release and statements of NANO Nuclear’s management in connection with this news release contain or may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements mean statements related to future events, which may impact our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “potential”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would” or “may” and other words of similar meaning. In this press release, forward-looking statement relate to the NANO Nuclear’s recruitment drive and its development, demonstration, licensing and commercial plans, each as described herein. These and other forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this news release and represent management’s current views and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events or results and involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control. For NANO Nuclear, particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following: (i) risks related to our U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) or related state or non-U.S. nuclear fuel licensing submissions, (ii) risks related the development of new or advanced technology and the acquisition of complimentary technology or businesses, including difficulties with design and testing, cost overruns, regulatory delays, integration issues and the development of competitive technology, (iii) our ability to obtain contracts and funding to be able to continue operations, (iv) risks related to uncertainty regarding our ability to technologically develop and commercially deploy a competitive advanced nuclear reactor or other technology in the timelines we anticipate, if ever, (v) risks related to the impact of U.S. and non-U.S. government regulation, policies and licensing requirements, including by the DOE, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and (vi) similar risks and uncertainties associated with the operating an early stage business a highly regulated and rapidly evolving industry. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. These factors may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement, and NANO Nuclear therefore encourages investors to review other factors that may affect future results in its filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov and at https://ir.nanonuclearenergy.com/financial-information/sec-filings. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Donald Rodney: Visceral Canker – noteworthy retrospective of an artist as ambitious as he was audacious

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Richard Hylton, Lecturer in Contemporary Art, SOAS, University of London

    Donald Rodney’s art (1961-98) has been familiar to me for many years. But only rarely has it been possible to experience, at close quarters, anything approximating the sheer range and depth of his practice. In his first retrospective exhibition in over a decade and a half, Rodney’s remarkable work is given the platform it deserves.

    Spanning painting, drawing, oil pastels, photography, sculptural assemblages, installation and computer-generated art, Donald Rodney: Visceral Canker at London’s Whitechapel Gallery reveals an artist who was ambitious and prolific, audacious and innovative. An anathema to today’s market-driven art world.

    Invention was central to Rodney’s inimitable practice, but it was also integral to his life and upbringing. Growing up in what was often a racially and socially fractured Britain became central to his artistic concerns.

    Born in West Bromwich in 1961, Rodney was the youngest child of Harold and Iris, Jamaican immigrants, who settled in Britain in the late 1950s. They, like many postwar Caribbean arrivals, had to invent a new way of living and of surviving.

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    Rodney was brought up in Smethwick, a district on the outskirts of Birmingham. During the 1964 general election it became notorious for an anti-immigrant campaign led and won by Conservative MP Peter Griffiths. He helped set the stage for later, more extreme acts of racism – including new immigration laws meant to limit Black immigration, Enoch Powell’s Rivers of Blood speech, and the rise of the far-right National Front.

    However, by the 1970s and early 1980s, as Black children were becoming adults, new forms of British political and cultural identity were being fomented. This included an outpouring of artistic expression in Britain.

    With the likes of fellow art student Keith Piper, Rodney became part of the first generation of British-born Black students to attend art school in the UK, heralding a new chapter in British art.

    The painting How the West Was Won (1982) is named after John Ford’s epic western from 1962. It’s the earliest example of Rodney’s fledgling ability to sample and incorporate a wide variety of sources in his work – from Hollywood film and childhood memories of “cowboys and Indians”, to reimagining the cover of post-punk band Gang of Four’s influential debut album Entertainment (1979).

    Rodney’s composition used child-like mark-markings, vivid colours and crude portraiture, typifying a certain irreverence towards “proper” painting.

    While at Slade School of Fine Art between 1985-87, Rodney began making works using discarded X-rays.

    Visually alluring, these anonymous X-rays became his canvas. The House That Jack Built (1987), included in this exhibition, involved meticulous scalpel incisions of words and elaborate prose. X-ray was used as a metaphor for looking beneath the surface of images and society to better understand the workings of inequality and racism.

    The sculptural work Doublethink (1992), remade for this retrospective, comprises over 100 cheap sporting trophies, each emblazoned with shocking racial insults. These are intended to explore the paradoxes and pathologies of race-based discrimination.

    Rodney took his title from George Orwell’s dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, in which the language of Newspeak produces “doublethink”, a process in which two opposing ideas are truths, such as “ignorance is strength”. This, once again, demonstrates his capacity for invention.

    Self-portrait as social critique

    Nothing typified that capacity for invention more than Rodney’s approach to self-portraiture, which was often a conduit for wider social and political commentary.

    Rodney suffered from the hereditary blood disorder sickle cell anaemia. The relationship between his illness and art has routinely misunderstood to the detriment of his artistic ingenuity. Being X-rayed, having regular blood transfusions and invasive surgery were Rodney’s personal experiences. Transfigured into art, such medical predicaments became conduits for reinterpreting history and contemporary society.

    Visceral Canker (1990) is a circulatory blood pumping system overlaid on fabricated heraldic shields of Elizabeth I and slave trader Sir John Hawkins. It explored the intertwined relationships between Rodney’s Black British identity, slavery and British history.

    The photographic light-box Self Portrait: Black Men, Public Enemy (1990) and the analogue slide projection Cataract (1991) sought to question the perpetual representation of Black men in British society as criminal and deviant. Psalms (1997) is a poignant and affecting self-portrait in which an unoccupied and computer-powered wheelchair moves eerily in response to the gallery visitor.

    Rodney’s art-making process was resourceful. For example, the production of his important large oil pastel drawings on X-rays, including Britannia Hospital 2 (1988), were made in sections. This enabled Rodney to work at scale at a desk at home or in hospital.

    The photographic work In the House of My Father (1997), depicting a minuscule house made of the artist’s skin, was shot in King’s College hospital, London. Rodney was also a master at enlisting the active support from family, friends and associates to realise the production of entire exhibitions, including 9 Night in Eldorado (1997).

    The Whitechapel Gallery show is the final leg of a three-gallery tour which began in 2024. It was first presented at Spike Island, Bristol, the city in which Rodney first exhibited in 1982, followed by Nottingham Contemporary where he studied fine art as an undergraduate at Trent Polytechnic between 1981-85.

    London was where Rodney lived for most of his 16-year career. This retrospective brings together nearly all of the artist’s surviving works. However, about two-thirds of Rodney’s artistic output work has either been lost or destroyed. This does not diminish the retrospective but imbues archival material held by his estate and public collections with particular significance.

    The prominent role assigned to sketchbooks, working drawings and the screening of Three Songs on Pain, Light and Time (1995), directed by the Black Audio Film Collective, play an important supplementary role in narrating Rodney’s singular practice.

    Donald Rodney: Visceral Canker is at the Whitechapel Gallery until May 4.

    Richard Hylton 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. Donald Rodney: Visceral Canker – noteworthy retrospective of an artist as ambitious as he was audacious – https://theconversation.com/donald-rodney-visceral-canker-noteworthy-retrospective-of-an-artist-as-ambitious-as-he-was-audacious-254535

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: One to One: John & Yoko – documentary shows how Lennon and Ono shaped protest music, pop culture and each other

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stephanie Hernandez, PhD Candidate, Literature and Music, University of Liverpool

    The new documentary One to One: John & Yoko offers an illuminating look into John Lennon’s post-Beatles activism with his partner Yoko Ono. It captures an early 1970s climate that was charged with political unrest and media saturation.

    Rather than perpetuate the simplified myth of Lennon as a lone revolutionary figure, the film spotlights Ono’s equally influential role in their shared artistic and social endeavours. The film also highlights how Lennon and Ono aimed to galvanise a generation that had grown apathetic and disillusioned after the perceived failure of the 1960s “flower power” to deliver genuine social change.

    The film adopts a pop-art, “channel surfing” aesthetic that situates the viewer in a recreated version of Lennon and Ono’s Greenwich Village apartment. This form plays on Lennon’s own television addiction. The story unfolds amid rapid cuts between Richard Nixon reelection speeches, anti-war demonstrations and playful consumer ads for laundry soap or ground beef – as if the viewer is surfing television channels.

    These scenes coalesce into a surreal tapestry of commercialism and counterculture. The interplay echoes the way Lennon and Ono saw pop culture and radical activism as inescapably intertwined discourses. It underscores how even seemingly mundane aspects of consumer life impinged on their activism and vice versa.

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    Lennon’s politics had emerged during his time as a Beatle, as evidenced in the song Revolution (1968). But it was Ono’s avant-garde sensibility that nudged him into more radical territory – both musically and socially.

    I’ve researched Ono’s comedic artistry in her performance art. So I found the way One to One portrays Ono seamlessly blending her artistic principles with raw emotional outcries onstage especially compelling.

    Her presence surfaces most powerfully in her onstage performance of Don’t Worry Kyoko (Mummy’s Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow). There, her raw, piercing screams function as a form of cathartic protest rather than mere provocation. Despite widespread media ridicule (such as the infamous Chuck Berry footage that resurfaces on the internet every now and then), One to One clarifies that Ono’s screams constitute a highly personal mode of expression and resistance.

    The trailer for One to One: John & Yoko.

    Later in the film, Lennon’s own raw performance of his song Mother (1970) reveals how much Ono’s techniques informed his own. The documentary explores the emotional origins behind Ono’s shrieks, situating them within the context of primal scream therapy. This provides an interesting background to Lennon’s own wailing on Mother, a song about the lingering feeling of abandonment he had experienced since childhood.

    The film highlights a mutual borrowing. Lennon was not only the rock artist providing Ono exposure on the world’s stage but also a beneficiary of her experimental practices. Throughout the film, the couple are shown workshopping protest songs, connecting with countercultural figureheads such as poet Allen Ginsberg and activist Jerry Rubin, and aiding in counter-cultural protest of the American prison system.

    This sense of reciprocity between the couple is at the core of One to One.

    Complementary forces

    The One to One Benefit Concerts in August of 1972 at Madison Square Garden are at the epicentre of this film. Far from a publicity stunt, the shows sought tangible outcomes. They ultimately raised over US$1.5 million (£1,149,000) for Willowbrook State School, a facility for children with disabilities. Coincidentally, Lennon and Ono learned about the school through watching TV.

    The film includes an emotional scene of the children from Willowbrook playing in a park while Lennon performs Imagine. It shows how the song was never intended to canonise Lennon as a saint, but was rather to encourage social change.

    Although their plans to bail out people in prison on a Free The People tour fell through, Lennon and Ono’s capacity for integrating live music with direct engagement resonates in the concert footage.

    The film devotes considerable screen time to the concerts and crowd reactions. This portrays the physical energy of Lennon’s brand of rock ‘n’ roll and Ono’s more avant-garde flair as complementary forces. What emerges is a dynamic synergy, both onstage and off, that positions them as co-leaders of their own brand of pop activism.

    Towards the end of the film is footage of Ono delivering a speech about the ridicule she has faced in society and performing the song Age 39 (Looking Over from My Hotel Window) at the First International Feminist Conference at Harvard University in 1973.

    This segment includes home video footage of Ono walking among the witch sites of Salem, Massachusetts, symbolising her shifting role in society. She explains that she was “upgraded” from a “bitch” to a “witch”. One to One’s portrayal of Ono as a collaborator of Lennon’s rather than a reduction of her to a romantic partner points to how the narrative tide is changing, and Ono is finally getting her due recognition.

    One to One captures a moment when their combined artistry, activism, and mutual exchange of vocal techniques converged – creating an indelible record of how two personalities shaped protest music, pop culture and each other.

    Stephanie Hernandez 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. One to One: John & Yoko – documentary shows how Lennon and Ono shaped protest music, pop culture and each other – https://theconversation.com/one-to-one-john-and-yoko-documentary-shows-how-lennon-and-ono-shaped-protest-music-pop-culture-and-each-other-254640

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The role of carbon dioxide in airborne disease transmission: a hidden key to safer indoor spaces

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Allen Haddrell, Senior Research Associate, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol

    Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock

    We’ve long known that environmental factors – from humidity and temperature to trace chemical vapours – can influence how pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria and fungi, behave once released into the air. These tiny droplets of respiratory fluid, or aerosols, carry viruses and bacteria and can float for minutes or even hours. But while we’ve been busy focusing on physical distancing and surface cleaning, a quieter factor may have been playing a much bigger role in airborne disease transmission all along: carbon dioxide (CO₂).

    During the pandemic, we studied what happens to a virus when it travels through the air in tiny droplets from our breath – known as aerosols. In earlier research, we found that the droplet’s pH (how alkaline it is) can affect how quickly the virus loses its ability to infect people. Our more recent research, though, suggests that CO₂ levels in indoor air may significantly affect how long viruses survive once airborne – and the implications are profound.

    Airborne virus survival

    When someone coughs, sneezes, talks or sings, they release microscopic droplets into the air. These droplets start out in a warm, moist and CO₂-rich environment inside the lungs, where CO₂ levels reach a staggering 38,000 parts per million (ppm). Once expelled, they encounter the cooler, drier and typically much lower-CO₂ environment of indoor or outdoor air. This rapid change triggers a chain reaction inside the droplet.

    One key component inside these droplets is bicarbonate, which acts as a buffer and is formed when CO₂ dissolves in liquid. As CO₂ diffuses out of the droplet into the air, bicarbonate leaves with it. This causes the droplet’s pH to rise – becoming increasingly alkaline, sometimes reaching pH 10.

    Why does this matter? Viruses like COVID-19 don’t like alkaline environments. As the pH rises, their ability to infect decreases. In other words, the higher the pH, the quicker the virus becomes inactive. However, when the ambient CO₂ concentration is high, this pH shift is delayed or minimised, meaning the virus remains in a more hospitable environment – and stays infectious longer.

    Droplets suspended in Celebs technology, used to study airborne microbe behavior. Photo credit: Allen Haddrell

    What role does CO₂ play?

    While CO₂ doesn’t transmit viruses itself, it acts as a proxy for indoor crowding and poor ventilation. The more people in a space, the more CO₂ builds up from exhaled breath. When there isn’t enough ventilation, these levels stay high as do the chances that airborne viruses can linger longer and infect others.

    Outdoor CO₂ levels are around 421ppm, but in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces, indoor levels can easily exceed 800ppm. That’s the tipping point identified in the study, where the air starts allowing droplets to maintain a lower pH, increasing the survival time of viruses. In the 1940s, global CO₂ levels were much lower – around 310ppm – meaning indoor air offered less of a survival advantage to airborne pathogens.

    Looking ahead, climate projections estimate CO₂ levels could reach 685ppm by 2050, making this issue not only one of pandemic response but also of climate and public health policy. If we don’t address this now, we may be heading into a future where viruses survive longer in the air due to everyday indoor conditions.

    How exhaled aerosol pH increases to alkaline levels after exhalation. Bicarbonate evaporates as CO₂, leaving behind an inhospitable environment for viruses—unless there’s more CO₂ in the air. Illustration: Allen Haddrell

    Can we fix it?

    The good news? These findings suggest solutions we can implement right now.

    First, improve indoor ventilation. Increasing airflow and introducing outdoor air into enclosed spaces dilutes both CO₂ levels and any virus-containing aerosols. This simple change can significantly reduce the risk of airborne transmission – not just for COVID-19, but for future respiratory viruses as well.

    And, in the not-too-distant future, we might have indoor carbon capture technology. These devices, which are still being developed, could help remove excess CO₂ from the air, especially in hospitals, classrooms and public transport where the risk of spreading illness is higher.

    Also, monitoring indoor CO₂ levels using affordable sensors can empower individuals, schools and businesses to assess the indoor air quality and adjust the ventilation accordingly. If CO₂ levels rise above safe thresholds (often considered about 800ppm), it’s time to open windows, use air purifiers or ask some people to leave the room.

    This research reshapes the way we think about air quality. It’s no longer just about stuffiness or comfort – it’s about infection risk. As we face rising global CO₂ levels and continue to recover from the COVID pandemic, it’s clear that managing indoor air environments is essential to public health.

    By taking CO₂ seriously – not just as a climate metric but as a health indicator – we have a unique opportunity to reduce disease transmission in our everyday environments. Because when it comes to viruses in the air, the air itself might be our greatest ally – or our biggest threat.

    Allen Haddrell receives funding from the BBSRC and EPSRC.

    Henry Oswin previously received funding from the BBSRC and EPSRC, and currently receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. The role of carbon dioxide in airborne disease transmission: a hidden key to safer indoor spaces – https://theconversation.com/the-role-of-carbon-dioxide-in-airborne-disease-transmission-a-hidden-key-to-safer-indoor-spaces-229142

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: No kidding: goats prove brainier than sheep and alpacas

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Megan Quail, PhD Candidate at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University

    shutterstock Dudarev Mikhail/Shutterstock

    When we think about intelligent animals, farm species aren’t usually the first to spring to mind. We may picture tool-using primates or puzzle-solving crows. But my recent research suggests that sheep, goats and alpacas – staples of the barnyard – deserve more credit.

    In two separate studies, I tested how these animals learn, remember and make sense of the world around them. The findings reveal not only that we’ve underestimated their cognitive abilities, but also that there are important differences between species.

    Of the three, goats came out on top – outperforming both sheep and alpacas in tasks testing memory and problem-solving.

    Initial testing focused on spatial memory, which is the ability to remember the location of something important, like food. In the wild, this is a important survival skill. Animals need to recall where to find water, food or shelter.

    I set up a simple experiment. Each animal had to locate food hidden in one of several buckets in a small arena. Once they’d learned where the food was, I changed the positions and tested how quickly and accurately they could relocate it.

    Goats appeared to show the strongest spatial memory, finding the food faster and making fewer errors than the others. Sheep also performed well, although they made more mistakes than the goats. The alpacas, however, struggled to complete the tasks within the time limit.

    They’re cute but they lack some of the brain power of their goat counterparts.
    Siam Stock/Shutterstock

    This stronger spatial memory in goats could be linked to their evolutionary history. They have adapted to forage across wide, rocky landscapes and they have probably developed a sharp memory to help them navigate efficiently and return to good food sources.

    The second study looked at more complex cognitive skills: object permanence, numerical competence and categorisation – all central to making sense of a changing world.

    You may have tested object permanence without realising it, for example, if you’ve ever played peekaboo with a baby. This skill is knowing that an object still exists even when it’s hidden from view. It seems easy, but this ability is an important developmental milestone for humans. Other animals use object permanence to track food, predators, prey, or their own young. It’s an essential skill for survival.

    So, for this experiment, I placed food under a cup and gradually made the task harder. I added empty cups, or switched the positions of the cups so the animal had to mentally track the hidden reward.

    The goats again excelled at this task. They showed a higher awareness of object permanence than the sheep and alpacas, demonstrating the ability to mentally reconstruct where the hidden object was concealed.

    In other tasks, all three could tell the difference between larger and smaller quantities of food, usually picking the container with more treats. But when it came to grouping shapes that looked similar, they all found it equally difficult.

    Smarter than we think

    Together, these studies offer evidence to dispute the idea that farm animals are not intellectually gifted. Each species has different strengths. But my research suggests that goats understand, remember and process information with greater efficiency in the abilities tested than sheep and alpacas.

    Understanding how animals think isn’t just an academic exercise either – it has real-world implications. If we know more about an animal’s cognitive abilities, we can design better environments and improve their welfare. We can also better predict how they’ll behave when grazing or adapting to new surroundings.

    For instance, animals with poorer spatial memory may need extra help navigating a field or enclosure. Those with higher cognitive skills may benefit from more stimulating environments that allow them to explore and solve problems.

    There may be more going on in the barnyard than we often assume. So, next time you’re at a petting zoo or walking past a farm, don’t be fooled by the woolly coats and demeanour. Especially when it comes to the goats – they may just be outsmarting everyone.

    Megan Quail 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. No kidding: goats prove brainier than sheep and alpacas – https://theconversation.com/no-kidding-goats-prove-brainier-than-sheep-and-alpacas-253669

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The MOST Theatre is playing “Gudok!” Evgeny Slavutin on the premiere dedicated to young Soviet literature

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On April 17, the premiere of the play will take place on the main stage of the MOST Theatre “Beep!”, dedicated to the legendary editorial board of the newspaper of the same name. Its employees at the dawn of their careers were Valentin Kataev, Eduard Bagritsky, Yuri Olesha and other famous writers. “Kultura Moskvy” talked to Evgeny Slavutin, director, teacher, founder and artistic director of the theater, about choosing a plot for a production, the importance of creative energy and the ability to stay young at any age.

    — Evgeny Iosifovich, why did you decide to stage a play about young Soviet literature now? What makes this topic relevant?

    — Our theatre is young — this is its indisputable advantage and feature, which we try to take into account when choosing material for productions. In this case, we took a certain historical moment into work: young Odessans of the 1920s, passionately interested in poetry, passionately dream of making it and move to Moscow for this purpose.

    The age of our actors coincides with the age of their characters, and this is a good prerequisite for creating a live performance. We allowed the performers in the characters to look further, to go through their life’s journey to the end. This means that the performance will have an important psychological component that will be interesting to both the actors and the audience. Our task is to create a performance that penetrates the soul of the viewer, which will be relevant in its uniqueness. Relevance is not a task, but the result of the work.

    And then, it’s just very interesting material! A completely unique case: all our heroes find themselves in the same editorial office, moreover, in the same premises of the newspaper “Gudok”. Here, an amazing atmosphere of humor and creative energy arises, with the help of which they transform routine, utilitarian work, filling it with the brilliance of wit, turning it into a unique school of literary mastery. They raced to amaze each other, thereby setting a certain trend of cheerful, mischievous, and most importantly, real literature. And at this takeoff, they begin to write their big books. They create them in a festive atmosphere, despite the recent Civil War, hunger and domestic instability. They compose works that will make a splash.

    — You defined the genre of the play as a documentary phantasmagoria. What elements characterize it?

    — The script is based on the memories of real people. But literary memories, which sometimes become documents, are one thing, and a performance in which directors and actors convey the living energy of events, passing them through themselves, is quite another. In our case, through the energy of youth.

    Another important condition is the use of certain artistic techniques that involve the audience in the proposed events. Including a system of monologues built in the form of a direct appeal to the public. In short, this is a document, but played out and fertilized by the actor’s and director’s element.

    — The legendary newspaper “Gudok” was distinguished, among other things, by its amazing sense of humor. Were its satirical nature transferred to the production? What techniques did you use?

    — Satire is a reaction to topical moments in life. And despite the fact that our heroes wrote their newspaper articles brilliantly, the topic is a thing of the past. But a sense of humor is priceless, and we hope we managed to preserve it.

    — The performance was also prepared with the help of the plastic director Vladimir Belyaikin and the director-choreographer Elena Ershova. Does this mean that the audience should expect many dance numbers?

    — The theater requires an actor to demonstrate the ability to work with different capabilities. Not only intonation and voice, psychological expressiveness and authenticity are important, but also control of the body, which must be mobile and rhythmic. I have known Vladimir Belyaikin, winner of the Golden Mask award, for about 30 years. His works are amazing. Elena Ershova started in our theater as an actress, and now she is a candidate of pedagogical sciences, a dance specialist. But I would say that she is a co-director in the performance. Elena prepares dance and plastic numbers that express a certain essence of specific moments of the action. That is, the audience will see not isolated inclusions, but plastic solutions deeply connected with the course of the performance, in which not specially trained dancers take part, but actors.

    — Among the heroes of the play are Valentin Kataev, Eduard Bagritsky, Yuri Olesha, Mikhail Bulgakov, Ilya Ilf and Evgeny Petrov — figures of incredible scale for Russian literature, bright, original. Was it difficult to choose suitable performers for these roles?

    – No, it’s not difficult. We have a very large troupe – about 80 people – talented, charged with art, obsessed people who have gone through our school. Acting talent, in my opinion, consists of obsession with the material and the complex of tasks with which the artist goes on stage.

    A wonderful coincidence occurred here: first we chose the actors, then we looked at photographs of the heroes of our play and were surprised by the striking resemblance.

    — In collaboration with Alexander Vilkin, you once wrote the play “How It Was” based on the works of Ilf and Petrov. Did that experience help you to become even more deeply involved with the characters of the new production?

    – Of course, it helped. Alexander Vilkin is a very talented person. At one time, the play “How It Was” was brilliantly performed at the Moscow Theater of Miniatures, so it was impossible not to use some of the techniques. But still, these are different plays, even in formal moments. In that one there were two hosts – Ilya Ilf and Evgeny Petrov, in “Gudok!” most of the narration is from the point of view of Valentin Kataev, and the story of Ilf and Petrov is just one of the lines.

    — The ability to see and describe life like the characters in a play seems simple, but in reality, not everyone has it. What, in your opinion, will help develop it for those who would also like to become a great writer one day?

    — I have been teaching acting all my adult life: first at the Lomonosov Moscow State University Theatre, and for the last 25 years at the MOST Theatre. And I can say for sure that an actor is born and raised in collective work. You can’t train a person in acting techniques — the same goes for literary creativity. There must be some groups in which interesting cross-pollination occurs. If Ilya Ilf, Yevgeny Petrov, Yuri Olesha, Eduard Bagritsky and Mikhail Bulgakov sit and work in the same room, then most likely something incredible is happening there. They influenced each other willy-nilly, it is no coincidence that all these characters burst into the country’s leading theatre at almost the same time.

    — What is the essence of creativity and the main source of inspiration for you?

    — Passion, youth (at any age) and non-pragmatism. Yes, Alexander Pushkin’s phrase is well-known: “Inspiration is not for sale, but a manuscript can be sold.” But a manuscript must first be born in a state of inspiration. A person must write because he cannot help but write.

    And the source of inspiration for me is our actors. After all, these are people who are not crushed by their profession. People with talent, who unite in our acting school and then stay in the theater. We recruit study groups twice a year and literally after 12 classes we graduate artists who are free, easy and in love with their work. And the question of professionalism does not arise – all viewers note the special, bright energy and intelligent eyes of our actors. I attribute this to the fact that they are not only artists, but also physicists, biologists, journalists, that is, people living in a diverse, multi-tasking world, studying this world in its entirety. And working with such people, sometimes very difficult in the process of achieving those artistic goals that we are working on, endlessly inspires me.

    The next performance will be on May 20 and 21. Tickets can be purchased at Mos.ru.

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152653073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Poll shows Australians hate Trump policies and have lost trust in US, but still strongly believe in alliance

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

    Australians strongly disagree with key policies of US President Donald Trump, and have overwhelmingly lost trust in the United States to act responsibly in the world, according to the Lowy Institute’s 2025 poll.

    Despite this, 80% of people say the alliance is “very” or “fairly” important for Australia’s security, only fractionally down on last year’s 83%.

    The poll also found people nearly evenly divided on whether Peter Dutton (35%) or Anthony Albanese (34%) would be the better leader to manage Australia’s relations with Trump.

    But Albanese rated much more strongly than Dutton as better able to manage Australia’s relationship with China and President Xi Jinping (45% to 25%).

    Albanese was also well ahead (41%-29%) when people were asked who would be more competent at handling Austrlaia’s foreign policy over the next three years.

    The poll comes as the “Trump effect” has overshadowed the campaign, and increasingly worked against Dutton. Labor has cast Dutton as having looked to the US for policies, such as his proposed cuts to the public service. It has labelled him “DOGEy Dutton”, a reference to Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

    The Lowy poll of 2,117 people was taken between March 3 and 16. This was after Trump had announced plans for a 25% tariff on steel and aluminium imports, and other tariffs, but before his “Liberation Day” regime which saw a 10% general tariff hitting all countries.

    Trust in the US has plummeted since the last Lowy poll in 2024, with nearly two-thirds of respondents (64%) having little or no trust in the US to act responsibly in the world, compared with 44% a year before.

    This is a new low in the poll’s two-decade history. Trust fell dramatically among older voters. Trust was already relatively low among younger voters, and fell by a smaller margin.

    On various Trump stances, the poll found Australians most disapproving (89%) of Trump’s pressure on Denmark to sell or or hand over its self-governing territory of Greenland to the US.

    More than eight in ten (81%) disapproved of Trump’s use of tariffs to pressure other countries to comply with his administration’s objectives.

    Three-quarters disapproved of the US withdrawing from the World Health Organization (76%) and from international climate change agreements (74%).

    In addition, three-quarters (74%) disapproved of Trump negotiating a deal on the future of Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin that might require Ukraine to accept a loss of territory. The dramatic Oval Office showdown between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US Vice President JD Vance took place just before the survey.

    Australians also disapproved of the US cutting spending on foreign aid (64%) and undertaking mass deportations of undocumented migrants (56%).

    On Trump’s demand that US allies spend more on defence people were, however, evenly divided (49% approved/disapproved).

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

    – ref. Poll shows Australians hate Trump policies and have lost trust in US, but still strongly believe in alliance – https://theconversation.com/poll-shows-australians-hate-trump-policies-and-have-lost-trust-in-us-but-still-strongly-believe-in-alliance-254587

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: Draganfly Establishes Public Safety Advisory Board, Appoints Homeland Security and Law Enforcement Expert Paul Goldenberg as Chair

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Industry Veteran Joins Draganfly to Drive Innovation at the Intersection of Public Safety and Technology

    Tampa, FL, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO) (CSE: DPRO) (FSE: 3U8) (“Draganfly” or the “Company”), an industry-leading developer of drone solutions and systems, is proud to announce the formation of its Public Safety Advisory Board. This new initiative reinforces Draganfly’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge, mission-critical technologies that support enforcement and public safety agencies worldwide. Renowned global public safety expert and Homeland Security advisor Paul Goldenberg will serve as the inaugural Chair of the Board.

    With more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement, global security, and national intelligence, Goldenberg brings unparalleled expertise to the role. Recently named America’s Most Influential Person in Homeland Security, he has advised U.S. Presidents, members of Congress, and international security bodies on counterterrorism, cybercrime, and public safety. As a former senior member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC), Goldenberg led pivotal initiatives, including the DHS Cybersecurity Task Force and the Countering Foreign Influence Task Force. He currently serves as Chief Advisor for Policy and International Policing at the Rutgers University Miller Center on Policing, a Distinguished Visiting Fellow for Transnational Security at the University of Ottawa, and a member of the National Sheriffs’ Association Southern Border Security Committee.

    Goldenberg’s career also includes directing the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) transitional policing mission, working on the ground in regions such as Kosovo, Bosnia, Ukraine, and France. His efforts focused on strengthening police responses to extremism and fostering collaboration between law enforcement agencies and vulnerable communities.

    “Draganfly’s commitment to utilizing technology to enhance public safety and law enforcement aligns with my lifelong mission to improve security and foster trust between agencies and the communities they serve,” said Goldenberg. “Given the challenges law enforcement agencies face, including recruitment and retention issues, drones have become an invaluable tool that helps officers protect both themselves and the communities they serve.”

    Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly, emphasized the significance of Goldenberg’s appointment:
    “Paul’s vast experience in homeland security, counterterrorism, and law enforcement makes him the ideal choice to lead our Public Safety Advisory Board. His leadership will be instrumental in advancing Draganfly’s mission to deliver innovative, AI-powered drone technologies that improve situational awareness and operational efficiency for law enforcement agencies across the globe.”

    Goldenberg’s past roles have included serving as the first Chief of the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office for Hate Crime and Domestic Terrorism Investigations, managing major organized crime cases, spending six years deep undercover as part of the South Florida Task Force, and leading one of the United States’ largest social service and juvenile justice systems. His work has directly influenced modern policing strategies and shaped national and international policy.

    The creation of Draganfly’s Public Safety Advisory Board marks a pivotal step in the Company’s continued efforts to strengthen public safety and law enforcement capabilities, offering innovative solutions that support officers in the field.

    About Draganfly

    Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO; CSE: DPRO; FSE: 3U8A) is a pioneer in drone solutions, AI-driven software, and robotics. With over 25 years of innovation, Draganfly has been at the forefront of drone technology, providing solutions for public safety, agriculture, industrial inspections, security, mapping, and surveying. The Company is committed to delivering efficient, reliable, and industry-leading technology that helps organizations save time, money, and lives.

    For more information, visit www.draganfly.com.

    For investor details, visit:
    CSE
    NASDAQ
    FRANKFURT

    Media Contact
    media@draganfly.com

    Company Contact
    info@draganfly.com

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This release contains certain “forward looking statements” and certain “forward-looking ‎‎‎‎information” as ‎‎‎‎defined under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements ‎‎‎‎and information can ‎‎‎‎generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as ‎‎‎‎‎“may”, “will”, “expect”, “intend”, ‎‎‎‎‎“estimate”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “plans” or similar ‎‎‎‎terminology. Forward-looking statements ‎‎‎‎and information are based on forecasts of future ‎‎‎‎results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and ‎‎‎‎assumptions that, while believed by ‎‎‎‎management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant ‎‎‎‎business, economic and ‎‎‎‎competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements ‎‎‎‎include, but are not ‎‎‎‎limited to, statements with respect to the Public Safety Advisory Board advancing Draganfly’s mission to deliver innovative, AI-powered drone technologies that improve situational awareness and operational efficiency for law enforcement agencies across the globe. Forward-‎‎‎‎looking statements and information are subject to various ‎known ‎‎and unknown risks and ‎‎‎‎‎uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of the Company to ‎control or ‎‎predict, that ‎‎‎‎may cause ‎the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be ‎materially ‎‎different ‎‎‎‎from those ‎expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions ‎about ‎‎such ‎‎‎‎risks, uncertainties ‎and other factors set out here in, including but not limited to: the potential ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎impact of epidemics, ‎pandemics or other public health crises, including the ‎COVID-19 pandemic, on the Company’s business, operations and financial ‎‎‎‎condition; the ‎‎‎successful integration of ‎technology; the inherent risks involved in the general ‎‎‎‎securities markets; ‎‎‎uncertainties relating to the ‎availability and costs of financing needed in the ‎‎‎‎future; the inherent ‎‎‎uncertainty of cost estimates; the ‎potential for unexpected costs and ‎‎‎‎expenses, currency ‎‎‎fluctuations; regulatory restrictions; and liability, ‎competition, loss of key ‎‎‎‎employees and other related risks ‎‎‎and uncertainties disclosed under the ‎heading “Risk Factors“ ‎‎‎‎in the Company’s most recent filings filed ‎‎‎with securities regulators in Canada on ‎the SEDAR ‎‎‎‎website at www.sedar.com and with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on EDGAR through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes ‎‎‎no obligation to update forward-‎looking ‎‎‎‎information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-‎‎‎looking information represents ‎‎‎‎‎managements’ best judgment based on information currently available. ‎‎‎No forward-looking ‎‎‎‎statement ‎can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. ‎‎‎Accordingly, readers ‎‎‎‎are advised not to ‎place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or ‎‎‎information.‎

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Scientific developments of Rosneft-class students win all-Russian competition

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Research projects by students of Rosneft classes from Buzuluk and Sorochinsk were recognized as the best at the All-Russian forum-competition of research projects “School Premier League” in St. Petersburg.

    The final of the forum was held at the Empress Catherine II Mining University under the auspices of the Russian Federation Commission for UNESCO. The forum is aimed at finding and supporting talented senior school students to enter specialized universities that graduate specialists in the mineral resources complex.

    The winners of the competition included students of the specialized “Rosneft-classes” Ilya Grabar, Yulia Mustaeva, Tatyana Plaksina and Alina Galieva. Ilya presented a project of a mobile analyzer of the state of drilling mud during drilling. Its design includes a cleaning system that removes metal particles, rock and other impurities in real time. Thus, the mobile analyzer will extend the service life of the equipment, will contribute to safe and cost-effective drilling.

    Alina Galieva’s project attracted particular interest from the competition experts. Using a self-designed model, the girl demonstrated the possibility of using self-healing overhead power lines. Due to the special design of the fastening (without rigid fixation of the wire and the use of sliding suspension rollers), the wires are not damaged, which significantly increases the reliability and uninterrupted power supply to wells. The innovation is especially relevant for facilities located in wooded areas, where there is a high probability of damage to electrical wires due to falling branches or trees.

    Yulia Mustaeva developed her strategy for attracting and retaining young specialists, and Tatyana Plaksina presented a facial recognition program.

    In total, more than 800 research papers from all over the country were submitted to the selection round of the competition. The works of 14 students of Rosneft-classes from Orenburg reached the final, and eight of them became prize winners. In total, 48 people became winners of the competition in various nominations this year, 145 participants received prizes.

    As part of the forum, Rosneft-class students took part in educational interactive lectures, quests and events with leading Russian scientists. The children also visited the Mining Museum and the Mining University laboratory.

    The Rosneft-2030 strategy provides for the implementation of various projects in the field of education and development of the Company’s human resources. Orenburgneft, a Rosneft production asset, has been supervising specialized classes in the Orenburg region for over ten years. The company systematically improves the material and technical, scientific and educational bases of schools, equips them with modern computer technology and digital equipment. The company’s specialists introduce students to the work of production sites during interactive excursions, organizing meetings with industry experts.

    Reference:

    The Saint Petersburg Mining University of Empress Catherine II is a partner university of Rosneft. The company supports the University’s proposals to develop Russian engineering education. One of the results of the joint work was the inclusion of a group of specialties “Oil and Gas Engineering and Technology” in the higher education of the Russian Federation.

    Orenburgneft is a key subsidiary of Rosneft in the Volga region, and has been operating for over 60 years. The company has a corporate system of continuous education, “school – college/university – enterprise”. Personnel training begins in Rosneft classes, which operate in three schools in the region. Over eleven years, 587 students have graduated from specialized classes and continued their education at leading universities in the country, of which about 70% entered the company’s specialized specialties.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft April 16, 2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Delegation of the Humanitarian Institute visited the Gumilyov Eurasian University

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    As part of the Decade of Science, a delegation of teachers from the Humanitarian Institute visited the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (Kazakhstan). The long-standing and fruitful cooperation between the Humanitarian Institute of SPbPU and the Philological Faculty of ENU continues to strengthen, acquiring new formats of academic interaction.

    Commenting on the importance of interaction between universities, Director of the Humanitarian Institute Natalia Chicherina noted: International cooperation today is not just an exchange of knowledge, it is a joint search for new meanings, a unification of efforts in understanding the challenges of the time and the formation of transformative scientific thinking.

    The delegation included:

    Associate Professor of the Department of Foreign Languages Maya Bernavskaya; Member of the Union of Designers of Russia, Senior Lecturer of the Higher School of Media Communications and Public Relations Evgenia Tuchkevich; Senior Lecturer of the Higher School of Linguistics and Pedagogy Evgenia Vorontsova.

    The visit to Astana was an important step towards further expansion of interuniversity cooperation and strengthening of academic partnership. Polytechnics met with the Dean of the Faculty of Philology of ENU Serikzat Duysengazy, the Head of the Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics Evgeniya Zhuravleva, and the Professor of the Department Sholpan Zharkynbekova. The specialists discussed the prospects for expanding cooperation, strengthening scientific ties and implementing joint academic initiatives.

    SPbPU teachers spoke at the scientific seminar “New paradigms of scientific research in the era of AI: opportunities and transformation of research practices”, where they presented current approaches to the use of artificial intelligence technologies in scientific activities.

    They also held lectures for students of the Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, dedicated to the issues of digital transformation of education and the introduction of AI into the educational process. The lectures aroused great interest and became the reason for meaningful discussions with students.

    SPbPU expresses its sincere gratitude to Professor of the Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics Sholpan Zharkynbekova for the high level of organization of events and contribution to the development of scientific and educational dialogue between universities.

    Our delegation noted the high level of organization of the visit and the atmosphere of open academic dialogue: We were sincerely impressed by the attention to the scientific agenda, the interest of students and colleagues, as well as the warm welcome that was felt at every stage of our stay. Such meetings inspire further cooperation and give impetus to joint scientific projects.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: South Africa’s coalition government is at risk of crumbling: why collapse would carry a heavy cost

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Vinothan Naidoo, Associate Professor of Public Policy and Administration, University of Cape Town

    South Africa’s multi-party government of national unity (GNU), which emerged in the wake of the May 2024 elections, marked a turning point in the country’s political history. It took South Africans back to the 1990s, when the country showed that political opponents could find common cause.

    The formation of the government of national unity expressed the hope that the country could do it again.

    But just nine months into its term, the good will and pragmatism which marked its formation have worn thin. A major budget impasse between the two major actors, the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), threatens the coalition.

    South Africans have long been accustomed to viewing the world of politics, governance and bureaucracy through the lens of a top-down “strong” state – a vicious apartheid state, an East Asia style developmental state, or a collusive “predatory state”.

    But as recent analyses we co-authored with others have detailed,
    the vision of a top-down politically cohesive state no longer fits South Africa’s realities.

    The government of national unity promised the hope that the country was embracing an approach that is key to success for almost all inclusive constitutional democracies. That is – abandon “all or nothing” confrontation, and instead pursue pragmatic bargains to achieve mutually agreeable policy outcomes.

    At the most basic level, the government of national unity achieved this, at least for a while. The sharing of cabinet ministries between multiple parties created a diverse platform for executive power-sharing that was not dictated by a single dominant party, and which prevented the risks of parties building institutional fiefdoms.

    In our view, failure to overcome deeply ingrained political differences could set off a downward spiral in the country.

    Achievements on the governance front

    On governance, the government of national unity created the space to pursue two sets of gains.

    The first comprises the potential benefit of bringing together unlikely bedfellows.

    The former opposition parties brought into a power-sharing arrangement were bound to be performance-driven, given the country’s long deteriorating government performance and ethical integrity. They had made “good governance” and criticism of the ANC central to their political brands.

    New “outsider” eyes brought into formerly cloistered and factionalised ANC-run departments created the possibility of a new urgency to perform.

    It’s too soon to tell whether this is happening, but anecdotal evidence suggests there are some green shoots.

    The second governance gain comprises the crucial task of building a capable and professional state bureaucracy. The challenges include being able to pay the public sector wage bill, fostering a culture of delivery, and consolidating the bloated network of government departments.

    Based on their party manifestos and public utterances, members of the government all aim to professionalise the public service.

    Detailed technical work is already happening on issues such as training and competency assessment, transferring powers of appointment from politicians to senior public servants, and instituting checks in the recruitment and selection process. The National Assembly’s recent adoption of the Public Service Commission Bill forms part of this agenda.

    But a prolonged legal dispute between the DA and ANC over the latter’s policy of “deploying” party members into state employment risks scuppering progress. It also leaves a key question unanswered: what role, if any, should political parties have in the recruitment and selection of public servants?

    Policy

    The government of national unity has struggled to create effective mechanisms to translate agreement on a broad agenda of policy priorities into specific outcomes. This came at a higher cost than expected.

    Still, it has made gains in challenging policy areas. These gains have repeatedly been undermined by the perverse determination of sections within both the ANC and the DA to engage in brinkmanship.

    On health, both parties agree on the principle of universalising access. They differ on how to achieve this. But at least one seemingly intractable sticking point has been resolved. Both sides agree that private medical aid schemes need to be retained as part of a broader strategy of pursuing health system reform.

    On basic education, the public spat over the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill overshadows the potential to agree on balancing the autonomy of school governing bodies with the oversight role of provincial departments.



    Read more:
    South Africa has a new education law: some love it, some hate it – education expert explains why

    On land expropriation, the emotive rhetoric which followed the signing of the Expropriation Bill and the unwelcome and toxic intervention of international actors has overshadowed technical concerns which can be resolved.

    On pro-growth policies: Operation Vulindlela, a joint Presidency and National Treasury initiative to unblock constraints in targeted economic sectors, has made significant strides. It has laid the groundwork for new rounds of growth-supporting infrastructural reforms and has the potential to build cohesion in the government of national unity. However, the DA’s attempt to lobby for a greater role in the strategic oversight of Operation Vulindlela in exchange for supporting the budget risks souring relations with the ANC.

    What now?

    A thriving inclusive society depends on powerful actors visibly committed to co-operation.

    For all of the challenges confronting the government of national unity, it was built on a foundation of pragmatism. For the sake of South Africa’s future, it remains vital to build on this foundation. Obsolete top-down governing approaches must go. Pathways to performance must be lifted above political grandstanding. Constructive solutions should supersede ideological rigidity. South Africa has done it before. It can do it again.

    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. South Africa’s coalition government is at risk of crumbling: why collapse would carry a heavy cost – https://theconversation.com/south-africas-coalition-government-is-at-risk-of-crumbling-why-collapse-would-carry-a-heavy-cost-254302

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: 16 April 2025 EEF travelling session dedicated to scientific and educational partnership between the Russian Far East and Indonesia was held in Jakarta As part of the Russia–Indonesia Business Forum in Jakarta, the Eastern Economic Forum held a travelling session entitled ‘Expanding Business Interaction through the Mechanisms of Scientific and Educational Partnership between the Russian Far East and Indonesia’. It was devoted to the prospects for cooperation between the Far East and Indonesian regions in the educational sphere.

    Source: Eastern Economic Forum

    16 April 2025

    EEF travelling session dedicated to scientific and educational partnership between the Russian Far East and Indonesia was held in Jakarta

    As part of the Russia–Indonesia Business Forum in Jakarta, the Eastern Economic Forum held a travelling session entitled ‘Expanding Business Interaction through the Mechanisms of Scientific and Educational Partnership between the Russian Far East and Indonesia’. It was devoted to the prospects for cooperation between the Far East and Indonesian regions in the educational sphere.

    The panel discussion was attended by representatives of leading universities and specialized departments from Russia and Indonesia. The speakers included Ahmad Najib Burhani, Director General for Science and Technology at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia; Tatachipta Dirgantara, Rector of the Bandung Institute of Technology; Evgeny Vlasov, Vice-Rector for International Relations of the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU); Tri Andika Kurniawan, Vice-Chancellor of Bakri University; Yury Marfin, Rector of the Pacific State University (PSU);  Hamdi Muluk, Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, University of Indonesia; Elena Kharisova, General Director of the Fund for Development of the Russky Innovation Science and Technology Centre. The moderator was Elvira Nurgalieva, Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic.

    During her speech, Elvira Nurgalieva noted that the scientific and educational partnership between the Far Eastern Federal District as a region of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Indonesia is not just an exchange of knowledge, but a valuable practical tool for expanding business cooperation.

    “Implementing joint training programmes, launching new research projects, working to improve the quality of education – all this can create a basis for long-term economic cooperation. We attribute an important role in this process to the work of the Innovation Science and Technology Centre on Russky Island. We are creating a concentrate of science, technology, education and production at the ISTC, where comprehensive programmes will be implemented with government support to attract the best scientists, engineering teams, and specialists in various fields of science and technology, including world-class ones. ISTC will become an important platform for interaction with scientists from Asia-Pacific countries, in particular Indonesia,” noted Elvira Nurgalieva.

    In turn, Yuri Marfin noted that expert support for the development of the Far East and strengthening Russia’s influence in the Asia–Pacific region are tasks that are part of the PSU development programme.

    ‘That is why we prioritize the development of co-operation with representatives of the academic and business sectors of the Asia–Pacific Region. Universities can and should become a significant entry point to start a meaningful dialogue on cooperation in science and technology. To address these challenges, our university has been increasing the number of international students, including those from Indonesia, year after year. We have developed entrepreneurship training programmes for students and implement them both in Russia and in our partner universities in the Asia–Pacific region. We design joint business missions to exchange topical projects. The joint development of young people through university education in our countries, academic and cultural exchanges is the key to long-term and effective co-operation. We are making the greatest efforts in this direction,’ emphasized Yuri Marfin.

    Boris Korobets noted that FEFU has been a key partner in the development of Russian-Indonesian co-operation in science, education and new technologies for more than a decade.

    ‘We are joining forces with scientists from Indonesia to solve urgent problems in medicine, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology development. Today, FEFU is the largest scientific and educational hub in the Far East with a network of more than 200 partners in APR countries. Our university has 3,500 international students, and we plan to increase this number to 7,500 by 2030. The university has access to unique infrastructure for joint initiatives, including the Russky Island ISTC, which is a special economic zone with attractive tax preferences. Our technologies can make a significant contribution to Indonesia’s ambitious oil and gas targets, while our expertise in biodiversity monitoring will help with environmental projects for ocean conservation. The synergy of science, education and business that we are creating at FEFU will become a powerful platform for developing Russian-Indonesian co-operation and solving the global challenges of our countries,’ said Boris Korobets.

    ‘Bakrie University, part of the Bakrie Group ecosystem, is focused on addressing the challenge of ‘connectivity and alignment’ between industry needs and the higher education system. This is fulfilled through active engagement with industry. Currently 250 Bakrie Group companies support the university in the implementation of apprenticeship programmes. Bakrie University expresses its readiness to cooperate with Russian universities through internship programmes for students from Russia at Bakrie Group enterprises,’ said Vice Chancellor of Bakrie University Tri Andika Kurniawan.

    Igor Pavlov, First Deputy CEO of the Roscongress Foundation and Director of the Eastern Economic Forum, emphasized that international communication platforms are a working tool for establishing interstate cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

    ‘The Eastern Economic Forum demonstrates sustainable development dynamics, consistently strengthening its position as a global discussion platform for developing strategic solutions, including in the sphere of new technologies, education and science. As a new co-operation architecture is being formed, we are concentrating our efforts on deepening the international track. In this regard, we are actively co-operating with the Ministry for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic, demonstrating the EEF’s capabilities at international events. This allows us not only to scale the business agenda, but also to build long-term partnerships with Asia–Pacific countries,’ said Igor Pavlov.

    ‘Today’s meeting was a starting point for meaningful dialogue and joint work. The next session, a large-scale gathering of university rectors from Indonesia and Russia lies ahead. There we will continue to communicate on a more substantive plane, focusing on the development of joint educational and scientific programmes. Our countries have long-standing friendly relations, cultural proximity and mutual aspirations for development. Today, all rectors have demonstrated openness, interest and readiness for co-operation. I take this opportunity to invite all participants to join us at the Eastern Economic Forum, which is held annually in Vladivostok with the participation of the President of the Russian Federation. This is a great opportunity to get a closer look at the economic potential of the Far East, its development programmes, and the region’s key venues – namely, FEFU and the Russky Island Innovation Science and Technology Centre – as part of the Indonesian delegation,’ Elvira Nurgalieva summed up the Eastern Economic Forum’s outgoing session in Jakarta.

    The Russia–Indonesia Business Forum was held on 14 April in Jakarta as part of the 3rd meeting of the Russian-Indonesian Joint Commission on Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation. The organizers were the Roscongress Foundation under the Roscongress International brand and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN).  The Forum was supported by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic, and the Russia–ASEAN Business Council. A multi-sectoral business mission organized by the Russian Export Center was also launched as part of the Business Forum. More than 30 companies from 12 regions are presenting their solutions to potential partners under the national brand ‘Made in Russia’ with the support of the REC.

    The EEF Business Forum session was part of the large-scale cultural and educational project ‘The Word about the Russian Heart’, dedicated to the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Indonesia and the 100th anniversary of Rossotrudnichestvo. The discussion was organized by the Ministry of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic together with the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation (FEDC), the Roscongress Foundation, the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo), and the New City Creative Industries Centre.

     

    Read more

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: South Africa’s domestic workers still battle with echoes of a racist past

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Amy Jo Murray, Social psychologist, University of Johannesburg

    There are 861,000 domestic workers employed in South Africa. They make up about 25% of the informal (non-agricultural) labour sector. By and large, it is still uneducated, black working-class females who clean and care for the country’s middle- to upper-class homes. It’s an eerily familiar scene.

    Paid domestic work provides a microcosm of South Africa’s continuing struggle with its apartheid past. While the slavery of the colonial era and the servitude of black people under apartheid’s white minority rule are now gone, paid domestic work has adapted to post-apartheid realities. A great deal has changed in the country’s legal landscape, but domestic labour preserves racial identities and inequalities.



    Read more:
    What is apartheid? New book for young readers explains South Africa’s racist system

    We have researched domestic labour in South Africa extensively for more than a decade, including the first author’s PhD. We have done in-depth interviews with over 70 employers and workers through a range of studies in the province of KwaZulu-Natal.

    Our research shows that these racial identities and inequalities persist, particularly when domestic employers and workers avoid discussing the racial aspects of their relationships, feeling these are “too close for comfort” and liable to evoke explosive apartheid-era stereotypes.

    It’s clear that the injustices of paid domestic labour cannot be solved through legislation alone. The history, norms, and pain from the country’s past run too deep. They touch people personally, and affect the way they engage each other (or don’t).

    Social change requires innovative solutions to disrupt the status quo, while also facing the country’s haunting past.

    Changes on paper

    The end of apartheid in 1994 brought about a wave of changes, including equal rights for all citizens. Labour laws were extensively reformed. Rights and standards for domestic workers were introduced to address wages, working conditions, and other aspects of employment, theoretically ensuring fair treatment.

    These legal advancements led to some improvements in the minimum wage and the use of employment contracts of domestic workers. But they didn’t stop entrenched practices like payments-in-kind (for example giving groceries or housing instead of cash) and unpaid overtime.



    Read more:
    Why Nigerian women in Oyo state use child domestic workers

    The informal and private nature of domestic work makes it difficult to regulate. Progressive laws cannot reach here to eliminate cultural attitudes and behaviours that echo apartheid.

    In other words…

    In her 1980 book Maids and Madams, South African sociologist Jacklyn Cock was one of the first researchers to treat paid domestic labour as a reflection of broad structures of oppression in the country. She set out how apartheid racial hierarchies were overt, widely acknowledged, and crudely enacted. Domestic workers faced conditions close to slavery, with employers wielding unchecked power over their lives. Domestic work reinforced a rigid racial hierarchy, clearly demarcating the roles and status of the “madam” and the “maid”.

    Through a close analysis of extensive interviews, our research shows how language underpins this relationship today, both through what is said and what isn’t. Domestic workers and employers go to great lengths not to talk about themselves as the “maid” or the “madam”. They focus instead on intimacy, reciprocation, and mutual support, avoiding the need to negotiate their employment relationship or any other topic that might arouse issues relating to race or inequality.



    Read more:
    Household gardeners in South Africa: a survivalist life with little protection

    Middle- to upper-class employers are particularly sensitive to racial stereotypes and avoid language that hints at hierarchy or power. They sometimes say that domestic workers “feel like one of the family”, which obscures the underlying power dynamics.

    This matters because it allows potentially unfair or exploitative labour practices to be carried out under the guise of “familial” relations. For example, we might expect an aunt to go the extra mile for the family, staying late to help out and showing she cares about the household. Outside of these familial boundaries, an “employee” should not have these obligations.

    Polite language can create a veneer of equality that hides ongoing exploitation. To avoid sounding like “the baas” (boss) or “the madam”, with racial overtones, many employers are reluctant to give direct feedback or set clear boundaries for their employees.

    Instead, we found that many give ambiguous instructions, or no instructions at all, avoiding the uncomfortable post-apartheid situation of being a middle-class white woman telling a working-class black woman what to do. This can lead to confusion, frustration, and potentially unfair treatment. As a result, employers may feel that their expectations go unfulfilled and workers don’t know what is required of them.



    Read more:
    Male domestic workers in South Africa – study sheds light on the experiences of Malawian and Zimbabwean migrants

    Calculations based on Quarterly Labour Force Statistics consistently demonstrate that only 20% of domestic workers are registered for the state’s Unemployment Insurance Fund. Instead, work relationships are regulated by informal understandings between parties, a fact that became apparent when domestic workers could not access unemployment insurance benefits during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

    A contract requires negotiations that would make the employment-centred nature of the relationship, with its hierarchy and expectations, undeniable for all involved.

    Perhaps unsurprisingly, these sensitivities and avoidances are apparent in conversations with domestic workers too. Workers prefer to focus on the value of their labour and justify, subvert, and evaluate their place in their employer’s household. Sometimes they talk about themselves as being “the boss” or “the owner” of the house, based on the responsibilities they have, the types of work they do – like caring for children or the elderly in the household – and the amount of time that they spend tending the home.

    However, these assertions have a hollow ring when workers are excluded from big decisions in the household, like their right to have visitors, or small decisions like where to place household furniture. Feeling like part of the family is ruptured by exclusion from intimate moments like family celebrations, creating an all too familiar reminder of race and hierarchy.

    Moving forward

    The very real progress that has been made over the past 30 years of democracy should be celebrated. Legal reforms have achieved basic rights for domestic workers. Nevertheless, the spectre of apartheid still haunts South Africa and it’s clear that much work remains to be done.

    It’s our view that disrupting the patterns that seem so ingrained in this relationship will take fresh thinking. Mutually negotiated employment contracts should be a norm. Professionalising paid domestic labour provides the opportunity to break the informality that has come to define domestic labour relations in South Africa.

    And, with increasing access to the internet in South Africa, the digitisation of domestic labour holds promise for instituting social change through technology.

    This has been successful in the developing world, including the African continent.



    Read more:
    12% of working women in South Africa are domestic workers – yet they don’t receive proper maternity leave or pay

    Workers have greater agency to market themselves, choose where and who to work for, and to rate and regulate employers. Online platforms could also provide the opportunity for vetting each other and for negotiating compliance with regulations.

    Kevin Durrheim receives funding from the National Research Foundation.

    Amy Jo Murray 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. South Africa’s domestic workers still battle with echoes of a racist past – https://theconversation.com/south-africas-domestic-workers-still-battle-with-echoes-of-a-racist-past-250302

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A Book as a Personal Reflection: HSE Publishing House at the non/fictioN Fair

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    At the beginning of April, the International Fair of Intellectual Literature non/fictioN took place in the Central Exhibition Hall “Manezh” in Moscow. Publishing house Vyshki traditionally took part in the event, presenting its new books, including an updated edition of Vadim Radaev’s book “Watching Movies, Understanding Life: 23 Sociological Essays“.

    For several years in a row, the fair has gathered under one roof more than 200 large and small publishing houses, many authors, and readers eager to learn something new. The main goal is to popularize scientific knowledge and introduce new products in the field of scientific and intellectual literature. An important part is made up of meetings with authors, lectures, and master classes offering an in-depth look at current topics in science, culture, and education.

    “Traditionally, at non/fictioN we prepare various new releases, and one of them today is the updated, third edition of Vadim Radaev’s book.”Watching Movies, Understanding Life: 23 Sociological Essays”, which included an analysis of new films,” said Alexander Pavlov, head of publishing projects at the HSE Publishing House. Among the Publishing House’s other new releases are “Conflict, war, revolution» Paula Kelly and «Parliamentary Procedures in Russia: Constitutional Standards» Alexey Koshel.

    Vadim Radaev, First Vice-Rector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, personally presented his book to readers. The first thing he drew attention to was that the book is not about cinema, but about those life questions and problems that worry each of us: about human fears and elusive love, male mythology and women’s games, intergenerational conflicts and professional dilemmas, features of the national character and the painful parting with the Soviet past.

    “Cinema is a visual way to talk about what you consider important. It all started in 2003, when I decided to organize a Christmas Film Seminar (a meeting of HSE researchers and students to watch and discuss a film, which is traditionally held at the university in December. — Ed.). People were surprised then, I had my doubts myself, and now we hold them every year, and two months before the event, people start asking what film we will analyze. 20 years later, I thought about what to give myself for the anniversary of the film seminar, and decided to secretly write a book,” shared Vadim Radaev. In the new edition, the author included an analysis of such films as “Boomer”, “Brother 2”, “Limit”, “Walk”, “What Men Talk About”, “The Train Stopped”, “Acid”, “Elena”, “12”, “Loveless”, “Chaos”, “Terminator” and many others.

    “What is it that draws us to the theme of the gangster subculture?” asks Vadim Radaev, analyzing the films “Boomer”, “Brother 2”, “Brigada”. “This theme does not let us go, through it we try to overcome and play out our fears of violence. These are the situations in which we are afraid to find ourselves. The film “The Word of a Boy” does not leave us either, because it is the same theme.”

    The author also reflects on who can be called the hero of our time, or rather, of several eras – the 80s, 90s and 2000s. “In the 80s, of course, it was “Courier”. And you remember, this guy is very nice, not stupid, but without any life plan, incapable of anything. In the 90s, the film “Limit” comes out, where there is a completely different hero. Instead of an apathetic Muscovite, there appears a motivated provincial guy, inclined to risk, who does not stop at any obstacles. And in the 2000s, Zvyagintsev’s debut – “The Return”. A new hero appears, with an incomprehensible secret past, which is better not to remember, which disappears with him, in the dark waters, “- says Vadim Radaev.

    If viewers want to see what games women play, the author of the book suggests paying attention to the film “Walk” by Alexey Uchitel. “This is a master class in women’s manipulation techniques of the highest level,” he believes.

    Vadim Radaev also examines relationships and conflicts between generations. “There was a film called ‘Acid’, where this topic is particularly acutely traced, children do not conflict with their parents, but there is no understanding between them,” the researcher explained.

    The film “The Truman Show” makes you think about why people put their lives on public display. And the mini-series “The Department” raises questions about how a university should develop: should it keep up with the times and move towards something new, or should it rely on the classics.

    “My book is not entirely scientific. I use the results of my own research and that of others, it contains references to scientific works and quotes from songs. To a large extent, this is a personal reflection,” Vadim Radaev summed up.

    Sergei Filonovich, professor Department of Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management HSE, a regular co-presenter of the Christmas Seminar, gave a short guide on how to use Vadim Radaev’s book. “I would not recommend reading it straight through, it is pointless to read chapters about films you have not seen, because there is no exact retelling of the plot, there is an analysis of impressions, the thoughts that the author generates. It should be read chapter by chapter after watching a specific film,” the professor is sure. Sergei Filonovich believes that Vadim Radaev’s readers will be able to evaluate the films they have watched from a different angle: “That is why I would say that this book is not only for young viewers, but also for fairly experienced ones.” In his opinion, this publication is a kind of dialogue between readers and the author: “Sometimes you want to discuss a film with an intelligent person, but where can you find one? He is not always at hand, and here is a book by an intelligent person, where his impressions are told.”

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Multinationals fast-track localization to leverage China NEV boom

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

    SHANGHAI, April 16 — The rapid evolution of China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) sector is driving multinational corporations to restructure their China strategies, prompting some to scale up local investments across R&D, production and supply chains.

    German chemical giant BASF earlier this week announced a 500-million-yuan (about 69.3 million U.S. dollars) investment for the expansion of its Shanghai Cellasto plant, which provides noise, vibration and harshness reduction solutions for automobiles.

    To capitalize on China’s booming NEV market, the new facility will feature advanced mold lines and is scheduled to be operational in 2027, with a nearly 70-percent capacity increase.

    As a leading chemical supplier to the automotive industry, BASF strives to accelerate business growth in China’s automotive sector, said Jeffrey Lou, president and chairman of BASF Greater China.

    “BASF has made substantial investments in China since entering the Chinese market 140 years ago. Today’s expansion is another strong testament to BASF’s commitment to staying close to the local market and our customers,” Lou remarked.

    To deepen ties to China’s NEV ecosystem, some foreign automakers are shifting from traditional manufacturing partnerships to localized R&D.

    In March, German carmaker BMW partnered with Chinese tech giant Huawei to develop a China-specific in-car digital ecosystem, set to debut on BMW’s locally produced next-generation electric models in 2026.

    Before that, Japanese auto behemoth Toyota announced the establishment of a new company in Shanghai for the R&D and production of all-electric Lexus vehicles and batteries, with plans to start production in 2027.

    The new plant marked a significant investment in enhancing Toyota’s R&D and production capabilities specifically tailored for the EV sector in China, the world’s largest auto exporter.

    In January, Chinese NEV maker XPENG and German giant Volkswagen announced that they had signed a memorandum of understanding for strategic collaboration on a superfast charging network in China.

    Behind these localization initiatives is China’s supportive environment for the NEV market through measures like vehicle purchase subsidies, investment in charging infrastructure, and development of intelligent connected vehicles.

    Industry insiders believe that Chinese consumers’ openness to new technologies and demand for smart connectivity are unlocking fresh business opportunities for multinationals.

    Official data showed that China’s NEV production and sales both exceeded 3 million units in the first quarter of 2025, with each rocketing around 50 percent year on year. The country’s measures to stimulate consumption, including large-scale trade-in programs, are expected to provide a strong boost for NEV production and sales.

    “China’s NEV market holds huge potential, with a constantly improving business environment and well-developed, efficient industrial and supply chains,” said Gao Yuning, deputy dean of the School of Public Policy and Management at Tsinghua University. “These are key reasons why foreign automakers are stepping up investment and deepening their footprint in China.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Kashi Ringing the Bells of Progress

    Source: Government of India

    Kashi Ringing the Bells of Progress

    Building Modern India

    Posted On: 16 APR 2025 2:28PM by PIB Delhi

    “Today, Kashi stands not only as a symbol of antiquity but also as a beacon of progress.”

    ~ Prime Minister Narendra Modi

    Introduction

    On April 11, PM Modi launched development projects worth ₹3,880 crore in Kashi. The ancient city is getting a modern makeover. Roads are being widened; schools are being upgraded and new power stations are coming up. Kashi is growing while keeping its roots alive. From 2014 to March 2025, 580 projects were taken up under Kashi Development with a total investment of ₹48,459 crore. The aim is to improve infrastructure, preserve heritage and support tourism in Varanasi.

    Kashi’s Development Journey: Key Milestones

    🗓️ November 7, 2014: The Powerloom Service Centre was inaugurated and a ₹2,375 crore revival package was announced for district cooperative banks.

    🗓️ September 18, 2015: ₹572 crore was announced for Kashi’s upgrade, along with ₹11,000 crore for roads connecting nearby districts.

    🗓️ December 22, 2016: Projects worth ₹2,100 crore were inaugurated, including foundation stones of various projects.

    🗓️ September 22, 2017: PM Modi dedicated the Deendayal Hastkala Sankul, a trade facilitation centre for handicrafts.

    🗓️ July 14, 2018: Foundation stone of key projects worth over ₹900 crore was laid.

    🗓️ March 8, 2019: The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor.

    🗓️ November 30, 2020: The 73 km six-lane NH19 built at ₹2,447 crore was inaugurated to ease travel between Prayagraj and Varanasi. The Maha Kaal Express India’s first overnight private train was also launched.

    🗓️December 13-14, 2021: Phase 1 of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham, constructed at a cost of around Rs 339 crores inaugurated.

    🗓️ July 7, 2022: PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of development projects worth over ₹1,800 crore. This includes ₹590 crore under Varanasi Smart City and Urban Projects.

    🗓️ January 13, 2023: PM Modi flagged off the world’s longest river cruise ‘MV Ganga Vilas.’ 🗓️ December 18, 2023: The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation several development projects worth over ₹19,150 crore in Varanasi.

    🗓️ October 10, 2024: The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple development projects worth Rs 6,100 crores.

    From Pilgrimage to Premium Experiences

    Tourism in Varanasi is more than just travel, it’s a journey through history, faith and vibrant culture. Below are key initiatives that are reshaping the tourism experience in the city:

    1. MV Ganga Vilas: World’s Longest River Cruise

    Launched by PM Narendra Modi on January 13, 2023, the MV Ganga Vilas is the world’s longest river cruise, starting from Varanasi and culminating in Dibrugarh on 28th February 2023.

     

    2. Tent City: Riverside Luxury Experience

    The Tent City was inaugurated on January 13, 2023 on the opposite bank of the Ganga from the city ghats. Open from October to June annually, the Tent City helps manage the increasing tourist flow by providing a unique and peaceful riverside stay experience.

     

    3. Shri Kashi Vishwanath Corridor

    Inaugurated on December 13, 2021, the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor is a transformative ₹355-crore project that spans an area of 5.5 acres. It connects the Kashi Vishwanath Temple directly to the Ganges River via a four-lane pathway, making the temple more accessible to pilgrims.

     

    4. Monument Illumination Projects

    To enhance the visual appeal of Varanasi’s historic monuments, several illumination projects have been undertaken: In 2015, ₹5.12 crore was sanctioned for lighting up monuments like Dhamekh Stupa, Chaukhandi Stupa, Tomb of Lalkan, and Man Mahal. In 2017, ₹2.93 crore were sanctioned to illuminate Dashashwamedh to Darbhanga Ghat, Tulsi Manas Mandir, and the Sarnath Museum.

     

    Kashi’s Infrastructure Boost

    Kashi’s infrastructure development has seen major progress from 2021 to 2025. The Varanasi-Gorakhpur NH-20 (Package-2), a 72.16 km road was inaugurated on October 25, 2021. The project cost was ₹3,509 crore. The redevelopment of Namo Ghat (Khidkiya Ghat) was completed on November 15, 2024. The cost of the redevelopment was ₹95.2 crore. The ghat now features a cafeteria, viewing platforms and heritage murals. The construction of the jetty at Rajghat costed approximately Rs.10 crore. Each cruise boat was procured at a cost of Rs.20 crore. Furthermore, the tourism circuit along the riverfront will feature the construction of a walkway, a viewing deck, and a food court. The operation of cruise boats started in March, 2023.  Additionally, over ₹980 crore is allocated for flyovers, road bridges, and an airport underpass on April 11, 2025.

    Urban Transformation in Kashi

    Varanasi is undergoing a major urban makeover with focus on sustainability and civic upgrades. To reduce pollution in the Ganga, diesel/petrol boats were converted to CNG. This project, worth ₹29.7 crore, was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on July 7, 2022. It is being executed by Varanasi Smart City Ltd. and GAIL. The Goitha Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), with a capacity of 120 million litres per day (MLD), was inaugurated on February 19, 2019. Built at a cost of ₹217.57 crore, it was aimed at treating sewage and reducing pollution in the Ganga. Under the Namami Gange scheme, a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) with a capacity of 55 million litres per day (MLD) is also being built at a cost of ₹300 crore. On April 11, 2025, ₹345 crore has been allocated under Jal Jeevan Mission for rural drinking water schemes. Varanasi connected 55,000 houses to sewer lines under AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation), using ₹105 crore, by March 2017. For better parking and traffic flow, the Godowlia Multilevel Two-wheeler Parking, a four-storey facility for 375 vehicles, was built for ₹19.55 crore and operates 24/7 with full security.

    Varanasi’s Handloom and Handicraft Revival

    Varanasi is renowned not just for its spiritual aura, but also for its rich tradition of handlooms and handicrafts. Generations of artisans have mastered the art of silk weaving, wood and stone carving, metalwork, pottery and jewellery making. Their creations reflect incredible skill and cultural heritage. Many of these crafts, like Banarasi sarees, Soft Stone Jali work, Banaras Gulabi Meenakari and Wooden Lacquerware & Toys etc, have received Geographical Indication (GI) tags, marking their authenticity and excellence.

    To support and promote these traditional arts the government announced the establishment of a Trade Facilitation Centre and Crafts Museum in the 2014-15 Union Budget. This initiative aimed to help weavers, artisans, and entrepreneurs market their products. The complex was built over 7.93 acres with a total cost of ₹300 crore, providing a space for showcasing, training and selling local crafts. The Centre was inaugurated on September 22, 2017 and today stands as a key step in preserving Varanasi’s artistic legacy.

    Kashi’s Education and Health Drive

    Kashi is witnessing rapid growth through major investments in research, healthcare, energy, and education. The Inter-University Teacher Education Center (IUTEC) at BHU, Varanasi, was inaugurated on December 23, 2021. Built at a cost of ₹107.36 crore, it will offer a two-year M.Ed. program for 1,000 students. In February 2019, PM inaugurated the PARAM Shivay Supercomputing Center at BHU, with a peak performance of 3.3 petaflops and a cost of ₹32.5 crore. In agriculture, ₹105 crore bonus was transferred to Banas Dairy milk suppliers in April 11, 2025. In the power sector, ₹1,820 crore has been allocated for new substations and transmission upgrades. The redevelopment of Sports Stadium in Sigra is an ambitious project with a total budget of ₹180.03 crore (Phase 1: ₹90.01 crore, Phase 2: ₹90.02 crore). It was designed as a world-class hub for sports. It was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on October 20, 2024.

    Conclusion

    Kashi stands today as a shining example of how heritage and modernity can thrive together. With transformative projects in infrastructure, tourism, health, education, and culture, the city is not just preserving its spiritual essence but also creating a vibrant, future-ready identity. From ghats to gateways of development, Kashi is truly ringing the bells of progress.

    References

    Click here to see PDF.

    *****

    Santosh Kumar/ Sarla Meena/ Kamna Lakaria/ Kritika Rane

    (Release ID: 2122058) Visitor Counter : 54

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: AGAFILI TOMAIMANŌ SHEM LEO RE-APPOINTED AS CEO OF THE MINISTRY OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

    Source:

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    [GOVT PRESS SECRETARIAT – Thursday, 03rd April 2025] – Cabinet has approved the reappointment of Agafili Tomaimanō Shem Leo to the position of Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (MPMC), and Secretary to Cabinet.

    Agafili was initially appointed to this position in late 2015 and officially commenced his duties in 2016. He began his career as a teacher at Samoa College in 2001 and was promoted to the role of Principal Policy Analyst for the MPMC in 2007. He has remained with the Ministry for 18 years including nine years as CEO.

    Agafili holds a Master of Arts in Governance, a Postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies and a Bachelor of Education in Geography. He is a former student of Samoa College and an alumni of the University of the South Pacific in Suva.

    He is an Assistant Pastor and a Bible teacher for the Laloanea Bible Fellowship. He is married with two children. He is from the villages of Tufulele, Amaile, Samusu, and Sala’ilua.

    END.

    TOFIAINA O AGAFILI TOMAIMANŌ SHEM LEO I LE TOFIGA OFISA SILI O PULEGA O LE MATĀGALUEGA A LE PALEMIA MA LE KAPENETA

    [SO’O’UPU A LE MALO – Aso Tofi, 03 Aperila 2025] – Ua fa’amaonia e le Kapeneta le toe tofia o le tōfā iā Agafili Tomaimanō Shem Leo i le tofiga o le Ofisa Sili o Pulega o le Matāgaluega a le Palemia ma le Kapeneta, faapea le tofiga Failautusi o le Kapeneta mo le isi tolu tausaga.

    Na muai tofia Agafili Tomaimanō i lenei tofiga i le faaiuga o le 2015 ma amata aloaia ai i le 2016. Na amata lana tautua i le Malo i le 2001 o se faiaoga faauuina i le Kolisi o Samoa, ona tofia lea e galue i le Matagaluega o le Palemia ma le Kapeneta i le 2007 e oo mai i le asō.

    O loo umiaina e Agafili Faailoga Tau Aoaoga o le Matuaofaiva o Fa’atufugaga i Tulaga Tau Pulega [Master of Arts in Governance], Tipiloma Mauāluga i Suesuega Tau Atina’e [Postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies], ma le Tikeri o Tulaga tau Aoaoga (Bachelor of Education in Geography). Sa aoaoina o ia i le Kolisi o Samoa, ma agai atu ai i le Iunivesete o le Pasefika i Saute i Fiti.

    O ia o se tasi o Taitai mo le Mafutaga Faale Tusi Paia i Laloanea.

    E toalua o la alo, ma o se tama fanau a afioaga o Tufulele, Amaile, Samusu, ma Sala’ilua.

    MAEA.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Treatments Continues in Kona

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Treatments Continues in Kona

    Posted on Apr 15, 2025 in Main

    April 15, 2025
    NR25-08

    HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA), with the assistance of the County of Hawai‘i Public Works Department, have been working collaboratively since January 2025 to combat the coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) after detections in the Kona area. The HDOA and Hawai‘i County crews completed the latest round of treatments on palm trees last week at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport in the continuing effort to protect the island from CRB infestations.

    “The staff of the Department of Agriculture remains dedicated to stopping the further spread of the coconut rhinoceros beetle, with emphasis in areas that are not known to be infested,” said Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture. “We truly appreciate the concern and assistance of Mayor Kimo Alameda and the county’s public works crew in providing the resources to prevent CRB from taking hold on Hawai‘i Island. We also appreciate all the various agencies and organizations that work tirelessly in the fight against invasive species.”

    Mayor Alameda emphasized the importance of the state and county working collaboratively to protect the island from the invasive species. “The introduction of the coconut rhinoceros beetle is a major concern, and we are committed to doing everything we can—alongside HDOA and our other partners—to stop its spread,” he said.

    In September 2024, HDOA Plant Pest Control (PPC) personnel found a single CRB in a trap during routine monitoring in Waikoloa. This was the first detection of CRB on the island since October 2023 when a Waikoloa resident found six grubs (larvae) in a decaying palm tree stump. Increased surveillance continued throughout the island and more intensely on the Kona side.

    In January 2025, Mayor Alameda and the County of Hawai‘i offered their resources and assistance to HDOA, including the use of their 75-foot boom truck to treat the crowns of palm trees. On January 14, the team treated a total of 38 trees in the Waikoloa area via crown treatments and 24 trees were treated via an injection system which provides systemic protection against CRB. HDOA’s Pesticides Branch was also at the site to assist. So far, there have been no further detections of CRB in Waikoloa.

    On March 3, 2025, the Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) reported one adult CRB in a detection trap along the boundary of the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport. A day later, two more adult CRBs were found in traps at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai‘i (NELHA).

    After the detections, HDOA, county crews and airport staff targeted treatments at the airport over a period of three days in March. The county provided the use of two boom trucks and the team treated 128 trees on the airport grounds and injected 12 more trees that were inaccessible to the boom trucks. So far, there have been no further detections at the airport.

    Last week, on April 7 and 8, crews began work at NELHA and treated 58 trees via crown treatments with about 14 trees treated via injections due to their close proximity to water.

    All palms that were treated were tagged and surrounded with yellow tape to indicate treatment. Coconuts from treated trees should not be consumed. Questions regarding pesticide use may be addressed to HDOA’s Pesticides Branch at 808-973-9402.

    Surveillance for CRB continues around Hawai‘i Island by HDOA, BIISC, University of Hawai‘i, the County of Hawai‘i and the state Department of Health Vector Control Branch.

    Residents on all islands are asked to be vigilant when purchasing mulch, compost and soil products, and to inspect bags for evidence of entry holes. CRB grubs breed in decomposing plant and animal waste. An adult beetle is about 2-inches long, all black and has a single horn on its head.

    Residents may go to the CRB Response website at:  https://www.crbhawaii.org/  to learn more about how to detect the signs of CRB damage and how to identify CRB life stages. Reports of possible CRB infestation may also be made to the state’s toll-free Pest Hotline at 808-643-PEST (7378).

    # # #

    CRB treatment at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport

    CRB treatment at Kona Airport

    Waikoloa tree injection treatment

    Waikoloa CRB treatment using boom truck

    Tagging of treated trees – do not consume coconuts

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: University of the Philippines Diliman

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    The University of the Philippines Diliman, also referred to as UP Diliman or simply University of the Philippines, is a public, coeducational, research university located in Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.

    It was established on February 12, 1949, as the flagship campus and seat of administration of the University of the Philippines System, the national university of the Philippines.

    As a member of the University of the Philippines System, it is the fourth oldest and is the largest constituent campus in terms of the number of degree-granting academic units, student population, faculty, and library resources.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Could CT scans be fuelling a future rise in cancer cases, as a new study suggests?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Justin Stebbing, Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University

    CT scans are a vital part of modern medicine. Found in every hospital and many clinics, they give doctors a fast and detailed look inside the body – helping to diagnose everything from cancer and strokes to internal injuries. But a new study suggests there may be a hidden cost to our growing reliance on this technology.

    The study, published in Jama Internal Medicine, warns that CT scans performed in the US in 2023 alone could eventually lead to over 100,000 extra cancer cases. If the current rate of scanning continues, the researchers say CT scans could be responsible for around 5% of all new cancers diagnosed each year.

    That figure has raised concerns. Especially when you consider that the number of CT scans done in the US has jumped by 30% in just over a decade. In 2023, there were an estimated 93 million CT exams carried out on 62 million people.

    The risk from a single scan is low – but not zero. And the younger the patient, the greater the risk. Children and teenagers are especially vulnerable because their bodies are still developing, and any damage caused by ionising radiation may not show up until many years later.

    That said, over 90% of CT scans are performed on adults, so it’s this group that faces the largest overall impact. The most common cancers linked to CT exposure are lung, colon, bladder and leukaemia. For women, breast cancer is also a significant concern.

    What makes this latest estimate so striking is how much it has grown. In 2009, a similar analysis projected around 29,000 future cancers linked to CT scans. The new number is over three times higher – not just because of more scans, but because newer research allows for a more detailed analysis of radiation exposure to specific organs.

    The study also makes an eye-catching comparison: if things stay as they are, CT-related cancers could match the number of cancers caused by alcohol or excess weight – two well-known risk factors.

    Not all scans carry the same level of risk. In adults, scans of the abdomen and pelvis are thought to contribute the most to future cancer cases. In children, it’s head CTs that pose the biggest concern – especially for babies under the age of one.

    Often life-saving

    Despite all this, doctors stress that CT scans are often life-saving and remain essential in many cases. They help catch conditions early, guide treatment and are crucial in emergencies. The challenge is making sure they’re only used when really needed.

    Newer technologies could help reduce the risk. Photon-counting CT scanners, for example, deliver lower doses of radiation, and MRI scans don’t use radiation at all. The researchers suggest that better use of diagnostic checklists could also help doctors decide when a scan is necessary, and when a safer alternative like MRI or ultrasound might do the job.

    It’s worth noting that this study doesn’t prove CT scans cause cancer in individual people. The estimates are based on “risk models” – not direct evidence. In fact, the American College of Radiology points out that no study has yet linked CT scans directly to cancer in humans, even after multiple scans.

    Still, the idea that radiation can cause cancer isn’t new. It’s scientifically sound. And with the huge number of scans being done, even small risks can add up.

    CT scans save lives, but they’re not risk-free. As medical technology evolves, so too should the way we use it. By cutting down on unnecessary scans, using safer alternatives where possible, and keeping radiation doses as low as practical, we can ensure CT scans continue to help more than they harm.

    Justin Stebbing 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. Could CT scans be fuelling a future rise in cancer cases, as a new study suggests? – https://theconversation.com/could-ct-scans-be-fuelling-a-future-rise-in-cancer-cases-as-a-new-study-suggests-254633

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Make way for the young! Polytechnicians awarded for participation in the project “Contract Manager of St. Petersburg”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The first stream of the project “Contract Manager of St. Petersburg. Make Way for the Young”, aimed at training young specialists in the field of procurement, has ended. The award ceremony for the best participants took place in the Nevskaya Town Hall. The project was implemented by the Committee for State Order of St. Petersburg together with the Committee for Civil Service and Personnel Policy of St. Petersburg, as well as the electronic platform “RTS-tender”.

    Participants were given the opportunity to master the sought-after profession of contract manager for free. More than 400 people from three universities of St. Petersburg took part in the project. 172 specialists reached the final, who were awarded certificates and memorable prizes. Teachers and students of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade of SPbPU took an active part in the project.

    The absolute winner, who scored the maximum number of points, was Ekaterina Minina, a student majoring in Economic Security at the Higher School of Public Administration at IPMET.

    Chairman of the Committee on State Procurement of St. Petersburg Denis Tolstykh, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on State Service and Personnel Policy Igor Murashev and Director of the North-West Branch of RTS-tender Nikita Avvakumov expressed their gratitude for participation in the first stream. They noted that a specialist in state procurement is a sought-after profession that requires unique skills and a creative approach, thanks to which the project participants now have a competitive advantage in the labor market.

    I congratulate all the participants and organizers on the successful completion of the first stream of the project. This is an important event for all the participants who invested their efforts, ideas and desire in development and created a solid foundation for their future careers. I can say that the project is already attracting the attention of other authorities interested in students and graduates of universities, – noted the Vice-Rector for Additional and Pre-University Education of SPbPU Dmitry Tikhonov.

    Our university has become the most representative in terms of the number of participants. The project attracted students from a wide range of fields and levels of study. It is very important that the participants receive not only theoretical training, but also practical experience in city government bodies, a chance to get into the personnel reserve, which will increase their chances of employment. Our final goal was, of course, to help graduates find work in the field of public procurement in St. Petersburg — noted the project coordinator from SPbPU and the head of the educational program “State and Municipal Administration”, associate professor of the Higher School of Public Administration IPMEiT Marina Ivanova.

    Participants will be assessed by the Committee for Civil Service and Personnel Policy of the Government of St. Petersburg within the framework of the city’s youth personnel reserve. The best students will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in practice, working in contract services or representing suppliers at tenders. The project “Contract Manager of St. Petersburg. Make Way for the Young” became not only a launching pad, but also a source of inspiration for further achievements.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Today, the 63rd International Scientific Student Conference opened at NSU — MNSC

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Today, the 63rd International Scientific Student Conference started at Novosibirsk State University. This year, more than 3,100 participants registered for the largest such event beyond the Urals, more than 2,800 of them passed the scientific selection. More than half of the participants are representatives of NSU, the number of participants in school sections increased to 453, which is 16% of the total. 40% of students and young scientists represent other universities in Russia.

    The MNSC has a wide geography of participants. Thus, this year, schoolchildren, students and young scientists from 40 regions of Russia, as well as participants from abroad – Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Belarus – will present their reports at the conference.

    Sergey Golovin, director Advanced Engineering School of NSU, delivering a welcoming speech, drew attention to the interest of out-of-town students in the university and the opportunities provided by the Akademgorodok ecosystem:

    — I am very glad to see that half of the guys are not from NSU, and this is very good, because you consider the university and our conference as a platform where you can come and discuss many interesting things. We are located in a unique place — in the Akademgorodok of Novosibirsk. In this relatively small area there are more than 30 research institutes and more than 5,000 research staff work on a variety of topics. It is also very important: there is a Technopark on our territory, it is one of the most successful in Russia, because it was created on the initiative of those innovators, those companies that wanted this technopark to appear. Now it has more than 350 residents who earn more than 50 billion rubles a year. Being in such an ecosystem, of course, everyone who studies here and everyone who comes here has very great opportunities to develop themselves and implement their projects through this ecosystem.

    The conference will be held in 46 sections and 143 subsections. This year, two new sections have appeared: “Intercultural Communication and Translation” and “Romano-Germanic Philology and Theory of Language”.

    It is important that in recent years, not only schoolchildren, students and young scientists, but also representatives of companies, partners of the university, have taken part in the events of the MNSC. And this is no coincidence, since NSU does a lot to build closer cooperation with the real sector. The university is integrating into the socio-economic agenda and is more actively working on solving industrial problems, replicating the experience of many years of successful interaction with research institutes to high-tech companies.

    This transformation in the university’s strategy was noted by Igor Marchuk, Dean Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics of NSU:

    — Now the country faces the task of achieving technological leadership, it is impossible to solve this task without science. I am sure that your reports, many of the results that will be presented, will serve to achieve this goal. Now it is important to link science and production, to work in closer connection with the real sector. Thus, at the NSU Mathematical Center, we are just beginning to work in such a product logic, although for mathematicians it is not so easy, since we mainly have theorems, proofs, algorithms. Nevertheless, we know many examples when the results of scientific research have a significant impact on the development of industries. Thus, we are now in the auditorium of the NSU Faculty of Economics — the Leonid Vitalyevich Kantorovich auditorium. He is an outstanding mathematician, who is a Nobel laureate in economics. The results of his work have had a huge impact on technology.

    The MNSC will be held from April 16 to 22. You can find the detailed conference program on the website.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Daily summary of the Berlin offensive operation

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Exactly 80 years ago, on April 16, 1945, the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation began, ending the Great Patriotic War with the complete and unconditional victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany.

    The Guinness Book of Records lists this operation as the largest-scale battle in world history. About 3.5 million people, 52 thousand guns and mortars, 7,750 tanks and 11 thousand aircraft took part in it on both sides. The German capital was attacked by forces from three fronts: the 1st Belorussian under the command of Georgy Zhukov, the 2nd Belorussian under the command of Konstantin Rokossovsky and the 1st Ukrainian under the command of Ivan Konev.

    The scale of the operation is clearly described by Zhukov in his book “Memories and Reflections”: “On the first day, 1,197,000 shots were planned for artillery alone, but in fact 1,236,000 shots were fired. Think about these numbers! 2,450 train cars of shells, that is, almost 98 thousand tons of metal fell on the enemy’s head.”

    On April 16, at exactly 4 a.m., the final chord of retribution for Germany’s treacherous attack sounded – the code signal “Rodina” swept through the communication lines and the battle began. Having recovered from the first artillery barrage, the Germans put up serious resistance, the Soviet tanks got bogged down in heavy fighting and were unable to outpace the infantry.

    On April 17, as a result of bloody battles, the Seelow Heights, 50-60 kilometers from Berlin, were taken; they were considered by the German command to be the most reliable line of defense.

    On April 18, the Red Army began to cross the Ost-Oder.

    On April 19, the breakthrough of the entire Oder defensive line was completed.

    On April 20, Soviet long-range artillery began shelling Berlin.

    On April 21, troops of the 1st Belorussian and 1st Ukrainian Fronts reached the eastern and southern outskirts of the city, respectively. The first street battles began.

    On April 22, the German command transferred troops of the Frankfurt-Guben group from the Western Front to stop the envelopment of Berlin from the north. This attack was repelled by Soviet troops with the help of the 2nd Polish Army.

    On April 23, during particularly fierce battles, the 9th Rifle Corps of Major General Ivan Roslov captured the Karlshorst and Kölönig areas, and immediately crossed the Spree River, where the Dnieper military flotilla was already operating.

    On April 24, in the southeast of Berlin, in the Bonsdorf area, troops of the 1st Belorussian and 1st Ukrainian fronts met, encircling the German Frankfurt-Guben group.

    On April 25, the troops of the same fronts united in the Ketzin area, encircling the enemy’s Berlin group. At the same time, the famous meeting on the Elbe with the troops of the 1st US Army took place.

    On April 26, the two-day air operation “Salute” ended, during which 1,222 tons of bombs were dropped on the central districts of Berlin to suppress the enemy – 70 tons per square kilometer.

    On April 27, the assault on the central districts of the German capital began – the city front stretched from the southeast to the northwest in a narrow strip 16 km long and 2-3 km wide. The Red Army seemed to be plunging into the capital of Germany with a bayonet.

    On April 28, the commander of Army Group Vistula, Gotthard Heinrici, ordered his troops to retreat, for which he was removed from command and later surrendered to British troops. Meanwhile, the Russians reached the Reichstag area.

    On April 29, the Moltke Bridge leading to the Government Quarter of Berlin was captured.

    April 30 – German Fuhrer Adolf Hitler committed suicide. On the same day, the Frankfurt-Guben group, the largest German unit at the time, numbering about 200 thousand soldiers, was liquidated. The Ministry of Internal Affairs building next to the Reichstag was captured. Red flags also began to rise over the Reichstag itself. There was more than one Victory Banner; a total of nine special flags were prepared for the Red Army assault groups.

    On May 1, the German government announced Hitler’s death and offered to conclude a truce, but did not agree to an unconditional surrender. The storming of the Government Quarter resumed.

    On May 2, still at night, a radio message in Russian arrived at the headquarters of the 1st Belorussian Front asking for a ceasefire. At 6 a.m., after brief negotiations, the commander of the Berlin defense, Helmut Weidling, surrendered and signed the capitulation order. The units that refused to surrender were destroyed by the end of the day.

    Thus ended the Berlin offensive operation. And although the capitulation of all of Germany was still ahead, it was already a matter of time. The main result of the battle was the destruction of the last large forces of Germany and the capture of its top leadership, as well as the liberation from captivity of hundreds of thousands of civilians of the Soviet Union and many European countries. About 1 million Red Army servicemen were awarded the Medal “For the Capture of Berlin”. Among them were employees and graduates of the Moscow Engineering and Economics Institute, heroes of the Scientific Regiment of the State University of Management: – Georgy Bryansky – Dean of the Faculty of Organizers of Industrial Production and Construction, Candidate of Economic Sciences, Professor, during the war assistant to the division commander for political affairs; – Boris Ionas – Head of the Department of Construction Economics, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor, twice Knight of the Order of the Red Star; – Alexey Kozhin – Professor of the Department of Management in Automobile Transport, Candidate of Economic Sciences, during the war commander of a control platoon, and later a battery of a howitzer-artillery regiment; — Arkady Pashenin – 1941 graduate of the Moscow Institute of Power Engineering, retired lieutenant colonel, during the war a major in the headquarters of the 5th Shock Army, standard-bearer at the signing ceremony of the act of surrender of Germany; — Alexey Strigin – associate professor, candidate of historical sciences, retired lieutenant, during the war served as a tank platoon commander.

    #Scientific regiment

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/16/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Are we really capable of resurrecting extinct animals?

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    An illustration of a woolly mammoth

    By Timothy Hearn, Anglia Ruskin University

    From dire wolves to woolly mammoths, the idea of resurrecting extinct species has captured the public imagination. Colossal Biosciences, the Dallas-based biotech company leading the charge, has made headlines for ambitious efforts to bring back long-lost animals using cutting edge genetic engineering.

    It recently announced the birth of pups with key traits of dire wolves, an iconic predator last seen roaming North America more than 10,000 years ago. This followed on the heels of earlier project announcements focused on the woolly mammoth and the thylacine. This all fuels a sense that de-extinction is not only possible but imminent.

    But as the science advances, a deeper question lingers: how close must the result be to count as a true return? If we can only recover fragments of an extinct creature’s genome – and must build the rest with modern substitutes – is that really de-extinction, or are we simply creating lookalikes?

    To the public, de-extinction often evokes images of Jurassic Park-style resurrection: a recreation of a lost animal, reborn into the modern world. In scientific circles, however, the term encompasses a variety of techniques: selective breeding, cloning, and increasingly, synthetic biology through genome editing. Synthetic biology is a field that involves redesigning systems found in nature.

    Scientists have used selective breeding of modern cattle in attempts to recreate an animal that resembles the auroch, the wild ancestor of today’s breeds. Cloning has been used to briefly bring back the pyrenean ibex, which went extinct in 2000. In 2003, a Spanish team brought a cloned calf to term, but the animal died a few minutes after birth.

    This is often cited as the first example of de-extinction. However, the only preserved tissue was from one female animal, meaning it could not have been used to bring back a viable population. Colossal’s work falls into the synthetic biology category.

    These approaches differ in method but share a common goal: to restore a species that has been lost. In most cases, what emerges is not an exact genetic copy of the extinct species, but a proxy: a modern organism engineered to resemble its ancestor in function or appearance.

    Take the case of the woolly mammoth. Colossal’s project aims to create a cold-adapted Asian elephant that can fulfil the mammoth’s former ecological role. But mammoths and Asian elephants diverged hundreds of thousands of years ago and differ by an estimated 1.5 million genetic variants. Editing all of these is, for now, impossible. Instead, scientists are targeting a few dozen genes linked to key traits like cold resistance, fat storage and hair growth.

    Compare that to humans and chimpanzees. Despite a genetic similarity of around 98.8%, the behavioural and physical differences between the two are huge. If comparatively small genetic gaps can produce such major differences, what can we expect when editing only a tiny fraction of the differences between two species? It’s a useful rule of thumb when assessing recent claims.

    As discussed in a previous article, Colossal’s dire wolf project involved just 20 genetic edits. These were introduced into the genome of a gray wolf to mimic key traits of the extinct dire wolf. The resulting animals may look the part, but with so few changes, they are genetically much closer to modern wolves than their prehistoric namesake.

    Colossal’s ambitions extend beyond mammoths and dire wolves. The company is also working to revive the thylacine (Tasmanian tiger), a carnivorous marsupial that was once native to mainland Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea. The last example died at Hobart Zoo in 1936. Colossal is using a genetic relative called the fat-tailed dunnart – a tiny marsupial – as the foundation. The goal is to engineer the dunnart’s genome to express traits found in thylacines. The team says it is developing an artificial uterus device to carry the engineered foetus.

    Colossal also has a project to revive the dodo, a flightless bird that roamed Mauritius until the 1600s. That project will use the Nicobar pigeon, one of the dodo’s closest living relatives, as a basis for genetic reconstruction.

    In each case, the company relies on a partial blueprint: incomplete ancient DNA, and then uses the powerful genome editing tool Crispr to edit specific differences into the genome of a closely related living species. The finished animals, if born, may resemble their extinct counterparts in outward appearance and some behaviour – but they will not be genetically identical. Rather, they will be hybrids, mosaics or functional stand-ins.

    That doesn’t negate the value of these projects. In fact, it might be time to update our expectations. If the goal is to restore ecological roles, not to perfectly recreate extinct genomes, then these animals may still serve important functions. But it also means we must be precise in our language. These are synthetic creations, not true returns.

    Technology to prevent extinction

    There are more grounded examples of near-de-extinction work – most notably the northern white rhinoceros. Only two females remain alive today, and both are infertile. Scientists are working to create viable embryos using preserved genetic material and surrogate mothers from closely related rhino species. This effort involves cloning and assisted reproduction, with the aim of restoring a population genetically identical to the original.

    Unlike the mammoth or the thylacine, the northern white rhino still has living representatives and preserved cells. That makes it a fundamentally different case – more conservation biology than synthetic biology. But it shows the potential of this technology when deployed toward preservation, not reconstruction.

    Gene editing also holds promise for helping endangered species by using it to introduce genetic diversity into a population, eliminate harmful mutations from species or enhance resilience to disease or climate change. In this sense, the tools of de-extinction may ultimately serve to prevent extinctions, rather than reverse them.

    So where does that leave us? Perhaps we need new terms: synthetic proxies, ecological analogues or engineered restorations. These phrases might lack the drama of “de-extinction” but they are closer to the scientific reality.

    After all, these animals are not coming back from the dead – they are being invented, piece by piece, from what the past left behind. In the end, it may not matter whether we call them mammoths or woolly elephants, dire wolves or designer dogs. What matters is how we use this power – whether to heal broken ecosystems, to preserve the genetic legacy of vanishing species or simply to prove that we can.

    But we should at least be honest: what we’re witnessing isn’t resurrection. It’s reimagination.

    Timothy Hearn, Senior Lecturer in Bioinformatics, Anglia Ruskin University

    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

    The opinions expressed in VIEWPOINT articles are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARU.

    If you wish to republish this article, please follow these guidelines: https://theconversation.com/uk/republishing-guidelines

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Getting to know the partners of the State University of Management: wide opportunities for internships and employment prospects

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The admission campaign of the State University of Management is approaching its hottest stage. For many far-sighted applicants, one of the main questions is the issue of subsequent employment. In this regard, we decided to introduce them to a small part of the university’s partners, who will have the opportunity to do an internship, and perhaps even find a permanent job in these companies.

    Kept. Head of the Kept brand development group Maria Uchaeva.

    Briefly describe your company’s place in the market.

    — Kept has been present in Russia for 35 years and is one of the largest audit and consulting firms on the market. The company has offices in 10 cities in Russia. Kept has an extensive technology practice that helps clients become more efficient with the help of digital products and solutions.

    How do young specialists adapt? Is there a mentoring/coaching system, what does it include? — All new employees undergo a two-day onboarding, during which they learn more about the main divisions and areas of the company’s activities. Young specialists work with a manager-coach on their professional goals, improving their performance. And a buddy mentor helps them get used to the team faster – introduces them to corporate activities and traditions.

    How fast is career growth in your company?

    — Kept has a transparent career ladder: an internship usually lasts from 3 to 6 months. If the employee is then ready to work full time, he is promoted to the next grade. It is important that in our company, an internship implies further employment.

    DIDENOK TEAM. Agency co-founder, GUU graduate Peyzulla Magomedov.

    Briefly describe your company’s place in the market.

    — DIDENOK TEAM is a communications agency – No. 1 in the Adindex rating in the influence marketing category. We develop creative ideas, strategies, positioning and visual identity for global and personal brands, and also manage our clients’ social networks on a turnkey basis.

    Over seven years of work, we have assembled a strong team of professionals with over 2,000 strong cases. Our clients include: Yandex, Zolotoe Yabloko, Samokat, Samsung, Alfa Bank, Ingosstrakh, L’Oreal, Alpen Gold, VTB, Megafon and others. We manage celebrities such as: Anton Shastun, Mash Milash, Dima Pozov, Yana Churikova, Nikita Nagorny, Andrey Bebureshvili, Dania Kraster and others. The total number of subscribers of our stars is already 600 million people.

    Describe a short step-by-step instruction on how to get a job at your company and why a job seeker should choose you?

    — Our company is constantly looking for new promising specialists in the areas of customer service, creativity, strategy, design, and back office. For guys without practical experience, but with a desire to gain real skills in advertising, we have a cool internship program. You can always find out more on our website in the “Work with us” section.

    What skills and knowledge do you need to have to apply for a position in your company?

    — To join our team, you need to have expert knowledge in the field of marketing, have a portfolio of completed projects, understand the effectiveness of key tools in digital advertising. In addition, it is important to be well-versed and have a broad outlook. If you follow trends, we are waiting for your resume at hr@didenokteam.com.

    AKAR. PR manager of AKAR Daria Ezhova.

    Briefly describe your company’s place in the market.

    — The Association of Communication Agencies of Russia (ACAR) is a leading industry association representing the interests of the Russian advertising and marketing communications market. The Association unites the largest players, which makes it a significant regulator and a platform for dialogue between business and the state.

    How do young specialists adapt? Is there a mentoring/coaching system, what does it provide? — A system of internships has been built within AKAR, allowing it to train personnel for its structure, which unites three more associations: ARIR, RAMU, GIPP and the commercial structure CRBC, thanks to which large-scale industrial conferences, festivals and competitions are held, media projects are developed, research is implemented and useful industry content is generated. Many students who have completed an internship at AKAR currently occupy key management positions within the structure. We provide structured adaptation through mentoring, practice in real projects and training. Each intern is assigned a curator who helps them integrate into the team, consults on work issues, and provides feedback on completed tasks. More details on the AKAR internship website.

    What are the main problems of modern job seekers, what mistakes should be avoided at the very beginning of a career?

    — In our opinion, one of the main problems of modern job seekers is inflated expectations at the initial stage. Often, new specialists immediately want a high salary, interesting tasks and fast career growth, not realizing that the first months (and sometimes years) are an investment in skills and gaining experience. It is important to show initiative; interns who themselves offer ideas, ask for feedback and take on additional tasks are more likely to receive an offer for their first job.

    “Rosselkhozbank”. Head of the HR Department of JSC “Rosselkhozbank” Anastasia Kalanchina.

    How does your company usually recruit interns?

    — We have a large database of partner universities, among which we regularly post open internship positions. In addition, we cooperate with the career agency FutureToday: we also publish and talk about RSHB on their platforms. We also participate in career events, where we look for candidates for our team. The main flow of potential candidates comes from these platforms.

    What specialists are most in demand in your industry at the moment and in your company in particular?

    — Our biggest demand is for economists, financiers and analysts, whom we are considering for various departments. Here we can note such areas as large business, financial risks, work with problem assets and retail business. We are also looking for guys in other areas: HR, marketing, journalism and so on.

    Does your company provide any special working conditions for interns and young professionals?

    — Yes, Rosselkhozbank has a flexible schedule for interns so that students can combine their studies and internships. Therefore, every student from the 3rd year can work from 20 to 40 hours a week. We have VHI (voluntary medical insurance) with dentistry for interns, as well as loyalty programs that are valid from the first day of employment.

    Audit and consulting company “Pacioli”. HR Director Marina Emelyanova.

    Briefly describe your company’s place in the market.

    — We have two legal entities, one is engaged in audit, the other in consulting. If we talk about audit, we are in the top 10 largest companies according to the rankings of the year before last (the last one is not ready yet). If we talk about consulting, there are four blocks and, for example, in terms of business assessment, we are in 5th place among all Russian companies. In the blocks of engineering consulting and non-financial reporting, we work with very large companies at the level of state corporations.

    What skills and knowledge do you need to have to apply for a position in your company?

    — Nothing supernatural is required, only a good basic education in the relevant fields and knowledge of English. Personal qualities are important. People with a certain mindset and character work in consulting: erudite, striving for development, ready to solve various problems, responsible, self-confident enough to negotiate with very high-level clients.

    Does your company have any training programs for interns and young professionals?

    — There are two programs: “Pacioli University Consulting” and “Pacioli University Audit”. The first one lasts about a month, is aimed at 3rd-4th year students, and is highly practice-oriented. The “Pacioli University Audit” program is held twice a year, in April and August for a week and a half. In the first week we give in-depth theory, in the second – practical tasks and a large final work, based on the results of which the students receive offers. The level of demand for these programs is growing noticeably. Last year, we had 12 people studying consulting, and this year we have already received 40 applications.

    Systeme Electric. Recruitment Administration Specialist Yulia Shepelova.

    What specialists are most in demand in your industry and in your company in particular at the moment?

    — Systeme Electric is constantly recruiting personnel, as the company is developing, new products and projects appear. The most in-demand positions now are: design engineer, software engineer, technical support engineer, service engineer. We also have vacancies at production sites. The full list of vacancies is available on our website.

    Describe a short step-by-step instruction on how to get a job at your company and why a job seeker should choose you?

    — How to get a job with us? Go to the official website of Systeme Electric or to the company page on hh.ru. The selection process consists of 3-4 interview stages: a conversation with a recruiter, an interview with a potential manager, an interview with an HRBP. We have our own educational platform with more than 100 courses, external trainings and mentoring and career guidance programs, as well as separate programs for managers. The company has sports communities and three clubs of interest, there are volunteer programs, and family holidays are organized. Open communication is important to us not only at work, but also outside of it.

    Does your company provide any special working conditions for interns and young professionals?

    — We are pleased to offer: competitive income; flexible working hours and partial work from home; mobile communications and a laptop for productive work; internal training and career growth prospects. Summer internships and permanent trainee positions, positions of young specialists and department assistants are available for students. The rate is from 30 hours per week, a hybrid work format is possible.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/16/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic students prepare Leningrad-style treats

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The Institute of Secondary Vocational Education of SPbPU held the defense of a student research paper, “Leningrad Lunch,” which became part of the St. Petersburg government project, “St. Petersburg Cuisine.”

    The event began with the opening of the updated exhibition of the Museum of the History of the Development of Public Catering in St. Petersburg. Visitors were presented with exhibits telling about the development of culinary art in the 18th–19th centuries: coronation and restaurant menus, kitchen utensils used to create culinary masterpieces in the homes of the Russian aristocracy, etc. One of the museum’s rarities is an ice cream maker used to make ice cream for Catherine II herself.

    Then, students of the 1st–4th years of study of the public catering, low-temperature and food technologies department, under the guidance of a teacher Tatyana Tsvetkova told about the peculiarities of the history of Leningrad cuisine, the traditions of city restaurants and outstanding chefs who hosted the top officials of the USSR, Europe and the USA. The guys also prepared a “Leningrad Lunch” using recipes from a collection of USSR recipes and 19th century cookbooks by Ignatius Radetsky and Pelageya Aleksandrova-Ignatyeva, thereby emphasizing the peculiarity of Leningrad cuisine, which has preserved the culinary traditions of St. Petersburg cuisine. The guests were served Leningrad-style fish, Novinka cutlets, herring forshmak, Ladoga salad, Leningrad cake, Yeralash multilayer jelly and ice cream.

    The event was attended by the First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg, head of the “St. Petersburg Cuisine” project, Sergei Markov.

    It is important that students study the history of St. Petersburg cuisine and participate in such projects, where they not only demonstrate deep knowledge, but also prepare historical dishes of our region. This inspires optimism and faith that in the city’s restaurants in the future there will be more and more chefs who are familiar with our local gastronomic specialties, – noted Sergey Markov.

    Photo archive

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The final stage of the Siberian Geological Olympiad was held at NSU

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    On March 30, the final stage of the Siberian Geological Olympiad ended at Novosibirsk State University, bringing together schoolchildren from all over Siberia and the Urals. Participants demonstrated their knowledge of geology, exchanged mineralogical findings and visited Scientific and educational center “Evolution of the Earth”, taking a step towards a future career in science and geological exploration.

    How the Olympiad was held: first, schoolchildren sent their own research on one of the proposed topics. For example, in 2024, the children were asked to complete work related to “mineralogy and petrography”, “the evolution of the organic world and climate in the history of the Earth” and other topics. The author’s personal contribution, the originality of the topic and presentation of the material, the degree of fulfillment of the goals and objectives set in the work, as well as literacy were assessed. After summing up the results of the correspondence round, for three days, the invited schoolchildren from the 5th to the 11th grades immersed themselves in the study of geology. In addition to the Olympiad tasks, which consisted of the oral and written rounds, the children participated in master classes and seminars. During master classes with NSU teachers, the children observed the extraction of gold from ore, examined all stages of 3D printing and much more, and the seminars allowed them to apply the knowledge they had gained in practice.

    — At first, we introduced only popular science lectures: we took schoolchildren to geological laboratories of scientific institutes of Akademgorodok, to various museums. This year, master classes and popular science seminars for schoolchildren appeared. At first, the children did not really understand what it was. We tried to reconstruct a simplified seminar, but intended for schoolchildren, so that they would feel a little like students and understand what it is like to study with us. This is an open dialogue: in the master class, we simply show – they repeat, and at the seminar we show how scientists, teachers and students of the Faculty of Geology and Geology obtain this knowledge. We helped the children master a piece of knowledge that is not yet available to them in geological clubs, — said Olga Khokhryakova, candidate of geological and mineralogical sciences, senior lecturer Faculty of Geology and Geophysics of NSU.

    The Olympiad is special in that the priority for evaluation is not so much knowledge as the ability to think logically, the ability to build a sequence of conclusions from ignorance with the help of erudition and horizons in order to arrive at a final answer, even if it is incomplete or not entirely correct.

    — I learned about the Olympiad through my geology tutors. I was motivated by the fact that I had been studying it for about a year and wanted to participate. The skills I acquired during field work came in very handy. Most of all, I liked the tasks in the oral round; they were in the question-and-answer format, — shared his impressions Alexander Yarson, one of the Olympiad participants.

    The Olympiad has traditionally been held at NSU for 52 years. Its main goal is to popularize geology as a science in order to broaden the horizons of schoolchildren. First, participants complete tasks in the correspondence round, then the best are selected and invited to the final stage at the university.

    A diploma from the Siberian Geological Olympiad for the 3 years preceding the year of admission gives from 3 to 10 additional points for applicants to NSU in the field 05.03.01 “Geology”.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Two NSU Master’s students became winners of the Alpha-Chance grant competition

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    This year, 82 applications were submitted to the NSU Alpha Chance program, two of which were approved. The grant recipients were Veronika Komlyagina, a second-year master’s student Faculty of Natural Sciences, and Maxim Yemelyanov, a first-year master’s student Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics of NSU.

    Here’s what students have to say about winning and participating in the program:

    — Two years ago I already tried my hand at this competition, but it didn’t work out then. That failure became valuable for me — I analyzed my mistakes and purposefully worked to make my application stronger this time. I decided to try again because I believe in the importance of my scientific work.

    I plan to use the grant to purchase a powerful computer for quantum chemical calculations. The new equipment will allow me to perform more complex and resource-intensive calculations and will significantly speed up my work, – Veronika Komlyagina shared her experience.

    As the student says, the selection for Alpha Chance consisted of one stage. It was necessary to prepare a detailed motivation letter, where Veronika talked about her scientific interests, goals and principles. A separate letter about hobbies was also required, in which the student shared information about her sports achievements, additional education received and other various life activities. In addition, it was necessary to provide documents confirming achievements – scientific publications, diplomas from conferences and competitions, sports awards. The student paid special attention to significant publications.

    — I am incredibly happy with this victory! It proves that persistence and working on mistakes really do lead to success. My advice to future participants:

    1. Don’t be afraid to apply to this and any other competitions, even if it seems like the competition is high.

    2. Pay special attention to motivation letters – they should reveal your personality and can bring a significant number of points to your grant application.

    3. Systematize the grant application – divide all the files into folders, give clear names to each file, so it will be easier for experts to evaluate the application, – Veronica shared her emotions and advice.

    Maxim Yemelyanov also persistently pursued his goal – he applied for the Alpha-Chance scholarship for several years in a row and finally achieved a result.

    — For the competition for the Alpha-Chance scholarship, I recorded a video business card, where I spoke in detail about my achievements, goals and hobbies. Receiving the scholarship will help me improve my professional competencies and reach a new level in my work.

    I advise students not to be afraid to apply for interesting competitions – everyone always has their own chance! – Maxim noted.

    On behalf of the university, we congratulate the students and wish them further success in their studies and professional activities!

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Education – Coho Hui conference draws global expertise to Ara

    Source: Ara Institute of Canterbury

    Ara Institute of Canterbury and The Housing Innovation Society (THIS) have partnered to bring the biennial Coho Hui 2025 to Ōtautahi for 2025.
    The conference-dedicated to advancing collective housing in Aotearoa- is being held at Kahukura, Ara’s academic hub for engineering and architecture studies on April 16 and 17.
    With the theme of “The Future of Housing”, Coho Hui 2025 is bringing together academics, industry leaders and housing professionals to discuss solutions aimed at redefining urban living and tackling systemic housing challenges.
    It’s the first time the event has come to Ara thanks to the efforts of conference organiser Irene Boles, a senior academic in engineering and architecture at the institute.
    Boles said she was excited to bring the leading experts together along with 100 delegates, for academic sessions, workshops and site visits.
    “The rich perspectives our guest experts will be sharing, and the conversations our workshops will generate, will bring diverse ideas and new knowledge to Aotearoa, informing the collective housing movement here,” she said.
    Boles said academic research presented at Coho Hui will be considered for a special issue of the Urbanisation, Sustainability and Society (USS) Journal published by Emerald Publishing.
    Opening the conference, Ara’s Dean of Faculty of Applied Technology, Academic, Innovation and Research Division Peter Sauer said Ara’s values aligned with the aims of Coho Hui.
    “As we look to the future, we understand that the needs of our learners, community and industry are changing quicker than we have ever seen before. We are working at pace to understand and meet those needs as we strive for academic excellence,” Sauer said.
    THIS chair James Winter said community housing in New Zealand was still emerging compared to efforts achieved in other parts of the world.
    “Our goal with this fourth Coho Hui is to bring further awareness to the sector and hopefully see more collective housing projects take off in Aotearoa,” he said in his opening remarks.
    The conference features a powerhouse lineup of speakers, each bringing unique expertise to the conversation on housing innovation.
    They include keynotes from Professor Louise Crabtree-Hayes (Western Sydney University, Australia) and Dr Tom Moore (University of Liverpool, UK).
    Crabtree-Hayes will discuss the state of Community Land Trusts (CLTs) in Australia, exploring how these models ensure permanently affordable housing and what policy support they need to thrive.
    Moore will share his research on community-led housing, touching on the challenges black and minority ethnic communities face, as well as policy lessons from Northern Ireland and innovative approaches to neighborhood transformation.
    Delegates will also visit three unique housing developments in Christchurch on Thursday April 17, each showcasing a different approach to community-led living: Papakāinga at Rāpaki, a Māori-led housing initiative; Te Pākau Maru in New Brighton, designed for community sustainability; and Peterborough Village, a central city collective housing neighborhood focused on urban regeneration.
    Boles wanted to acknowledge the event’s sponsors Abodo Wood Ltd, The Urban Advisory, and 26Aroha for helping to make the hui possible.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –