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Category: Universities

  • MIL-Evening Report: Reality check: coral restoration won’t save the world’s reefs

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Matthew Flinders Professor of Global Ecology and Node Leader in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures, Flinders University

    A coral ‘rope’ nursery in the Maldives Luca Saponari/University of Milan, CC BY-ND

    Coral reefs are much more than just a pretty place to visit. They are among the world’s richest ecosystems, hosting about a third of all marine species.

    These reefs also directly benefit more than a billion people, providing livelihoods and food security, as well as protection from storms and coastal erosion.

    Without coral reefs, the world would be a much poorer place. So when corals die or become damaged, many people try to restore them. But the enormity of the task is growing as the climate keeps warming.

    In our new research, we examined the full extent of existing coral restoration projects worldwide. We looked at what drives their success or failure, and how much it would actually cost to restore what’s already been lost. Restoring the reefs we’ve already lost around the world could cost up to A$26 trillion.

    Bleached Acropora corals in the Maldives.
    Davide Seveso/University of Milan

    Global losses

    Sadly, coral reefs are suffering all over the world. Global warming and marine heatwaves are the main culprits. But overfishing and pollution make matters worse.

    When sea temperatures climb above the seasonal average for sustained periods, corals can become bleached. They lose colour as they expel their symbiotic algae when stressed, revealing the white skeleton underneath. Severe bleaching can kill coral.

    Coral bleaching and mass coral deaths are now commonplace. Last month, a massive warm-water plume bleached large areas of Ningaloo Reef on Australia’s northwest coast just as large sections of the northern Great Barrier Reef were bleaching on the northeast coast.

    Since early 2023, mass coral bleaching has occurred in throughout the tropics and parts of the Indian Ocean.

    Over the past 40 years, the extent of coral reefs has halved. As climate change continues, bleaching events and coral deaths will become more common. More than 90% of coral reefs are at risk of long-term degradation by the end of the century.

    Dead corals in the Maldives following a bleaching event.
    Simone Montano/University of Milan

    Direct intervention

    Coral reef restoration can take many forms, including removing coral-eating species such as parrot fish, transferring coral spawn, or even manipulating the local community of microbes to improve coral survival.

    But by far the most common type of restoration is “coral gardening”, where coral fragments grown in nurseries are transplanted back to the reef.

    The problem is scale. Coral restoration can only be done successfully at a small scale. Most projects only operate over several hundred or a few thousand square metres. Compare that with nearly 12,000 square km of loss and degradation between 2009 and 2018. Restoration projects come nowhere near the scale needed to offset losses from climate change and other threats.

    Conservationists work to garden coral and help preserve these unique life forms.

    Sky-high costs

    Coral restoration is expensive, ranging from around $10,000 to $226 million per hectare. The wide range reflects the variable costs of different techniques used, ease of access, and cost of labour. For example, coral gardening (coral fragments grown in nurseries transplanted back to the reef) is relatively cheap (median cost $558,000 per hectare) compared with seeding coral larvae (median $830,000 per hectare). Building artificial reefs can cost up to $226 million per hectare.

    We estimated it would cost more than $1.6 billion to restore just 10% of degraded coral areas globally. This is using the lowest cost per hectare and assuming all restoration projects are successful.

    Even our conservative estimate is four times more than the total investment in coral restoration over the past decade ($410 million).

    But it’s reasonable to use the highest cost per hectare, given high failure rates, the need to use several techniques at the same site, and the great expense of working on remote reefs. Restoring 10% of degraded coral areas globally, at $226 million a hectare, would cost more than $26 trillion – almost ten times Australia’s annual GDP.

    It is therefore financially impossible to tackle the ongoing loss of coral reefs with restoration, even if local projects can still provide some benefits.

    Rope nurseries nurture coral fragments until they’re ready to be planted out.
    Luca Saponari/University of Milan

    Location, location, location

    Our research also looked at what drives the choice of restoration sites. We found it depends mostly on how close a reef is to human settlements.

    By itself, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But we also found restoration actions were more likely to occur in reefs already degraded by human activity and with fewer coral species.

    This means we’re not necessarily targeting sites where restoration is most likely to succeed, or of greatest ecological importance.

    Another limitation is coral gardening normally involves only a few coral species – the easiest to rear and transplant. While this can still increase coral cover, it does not restore coral diversity to the extent necessary for healthy, resilient ecosystems.

    Measuring ‘success’

    Another sad reality is that more than a third of all coral restoration efforts fail. The reasons why can include poor planning, unproven technologies, insufficient monitoring, and subsequent heatwaves.

    Unfortunately, there’s no standard way to collect data or report on restoration projects. This makes it difficult – or impossible – to identify conditions leading to success, and reduces the pace of improvement.

    Succeed now, fail later

    Most coral transplants are monitored for less than 18 months. Even if they survive that period, there’s no guarantee they will last longer. The long-term success rate is unknown.

    When we examined the likelihood of extreme heat events immediately following restoration and in coming decades, we found most restored sites had already experienced severe bleaching shortly after restoration. It will be difficult to find locations that will be spared from future global warming.

    Sometimes the young coral is bleached before the restoration project is complete.
    Davide Seveso/University of Milan

    No substitute for climate action

    Coral restoration has the potential to be a valuable tool in certain circumstances: when it promotes community engagement and addresses local needs. But it is not yet – and might never be – feasible to scale up sufficiently to have meaningful long-term positive effects on coral reef ecosystems.

    This reality check should stimulate constructive debate about when and where restoration is worthwhile. Without stemming the pace and magnitude of climate change, we have little power to save coral reefs from massive losses over the coming century and beyond.

    Other conservation approaches such as establishing, maintaining and enforcing marine protected areas, and improving water quality, could improve the chance a coral restoration project will work. These efforts could also support local human communities with incentives for conservation.

    Reinforcing complementary strategies could therefore bolster ecosystem resilience, extending the reach and success of coral restoration projects.



    Read more:
    Coral restoration is a speculative, feel-good science that won’t save our reefs

    Corey J. A. Bradshaw receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Clelia Mulà receives funding from the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

    Giovanni Strona 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. Reality check: coral restoration won’t save the world’s reefs – https://theconversation.com/reality-check-coral-restoration-wont-save-the-worlds-reefs-251055

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Election Diary: The election’s first debate was disaster-free but passion-free too

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

    The election’s first debate, on Sky News on Tuesday night, was disappointingly dull. Viewers who’d been following the campaign would have learned little. There was minimal spontaneity.

    Among the 100 undecided voters in the room, 44 said Anthony Albanese won, 35 thought Peter Dutton came out ahead and 21 were undecided.

    Both camps will be satisfied, because each leader’s main aim was to avoid disaster. A bad mistake, an undisciplined moment, can sour the following day.

    The Liberals will be especially relieved. After difficult days for Dutton, with Trump wading into the campaign and the fiasco over the work-from-home policy, the opposition leader needed to perform creditably. He did that, with commentators scoring the result variously (in some cases in line with the scorer’s political leaning).

    Dutton was under added pressure – just before the two men faced off he learned his father Bruce had been taken to hospital.

    Both leaders were well prepared, and carefully polite. Questions canvassed the “Trump pandemic”, education, health, cost of living, immigration, Albanese’s tax cuts, Dutton’s fuel excise promise, and Gaza.

    When moderator Kieran Gilbert asked audience members to raise their hands if they were “doing it pretty tough” about half did so.

    Albanese seemed to have more material to work with, and made sure he homed in on Dutton’s nuclear policy and his time as health minister.

    Naturally, we saw Albanese’s well-worn Medicare card again.

    The PM dodged an awkward reference to NSW premier Chris Minns’ returning public servants to the office, pivoting to Dutton’s dumping his working from home policy. “Peter hasn’t been able to stand up for his own policy, so I don’t know how he can stand up for Australia.”

    Albanese had a good zinger countering Dutton’s spiel on gas: “The only gas policy that the Coalition have is the gaslighting of the Australia public.”

    Dutton had a cut-through point on the PM’s promise to subsidise solar batteries. “He’s asking you to provide a subsidy or to support a subsidy for people on higher incomes like me to buy a battery at a subsidised price and I don’t believe that’s fair.”

    Rather bizarrely, the Coalition used the cover of the debate to release its delayed modelling for its gas reservation policy, sending it out just as the debate started, embargoed until its finish.

    “Modelling conducted by Frontier Economics has concluded that the Coalition’s National Gas Plan will see a 23% reduction in wholesale gas prices,” the statement said. This would “progressively mean

    • 15% reduction in retail gas bills for industrial customers
    • 7% reduction in retail gas bills for residential customers
    • 8% reduction in wholesale electricity prices
    • 3% reduction in residential electricity prices.”

    And do the debates matter anyway?

    Australian election debates are punctuation points in the campaign. They don’t necessarily carry much weight, although they can affect a candidate’s immediate momentum.

    Ian McAllister, director of the ANU’s Australian Election Study, says fewer and fewer people are watching these debates. In 1993, about seven in ten voters watched; in 2022 only a third did.

    McAllister also says our debates are low grade compared to some overseas. For example, in France, the two candidates sit across from each other, with two moderators and “go for it”. In Australia, debates are “stylised” and the candidates rely heavily on prepared answers.

    Winning or losing the debates is not necessarily a guide to the election result. As the table shows John Howard performed better in elections than in debates.

    NSW Premier Minns defends a back-to-the-office policy

    Peter Dutton took a serious fall over his now-abandoned plan to force Canberra public servants back to the office. But Chris Minns already has many state bureaucrats back at their desks, and on Tuesday declared firmly he won’t be for turning.

    The Minns policy, announced last year, admittedly has had a bumpy start, including problems with the unions. But Minns’ “sell” is very different from the Coalition’s unsuccessful attempt.

    The federal opposition, which often seems obsessed with Canberra public servants, left the impression these bureaucrats working from home were ripping off the system and needed to be brought into line.

    Contrast the positive spin from Minns on Tuesday. After noting most NSW public servants can’t work from home – they’re on the front line – for the rest: “We believe it’s the only way of mentoring the next generation of people, to come through offices and ensure that they’ve got good modelled behaviour, a sense of shared mission and an idea of where they’re going collectively together.

    “In order for us to fulfil the mission of government and public service, it means that you’ve got to build a team culture. And that can really only be done in the workplace.

    “I think our policy is different to Peter Dutton’s, but I just don’t want to mince words. We’ve got to be clear and consistent and we’re not changing our policy.

    “I don’t want any ambiguity about our position. We made that call last year. It was the right decision. And in terms of the mentoring role that a senior person plays in a workplace, whether they’re a manager or not, if they’ve got years under their belt and they’ve got experience, it’s amazing the positive impact they will have on a junior recruit that we’ve just got into the public service and that doesn’t happen on zoom and it doesn’t happen on YouTube and it doesn’t happen over the phone.”

    Minns has consistently proved himself a strong communicator. He often ran rings around Anthony Albanese in responding to the antisemitism crisis.

    Jim Chalmers does the rounds on the tariff crisis

    Treasurer Jim Chalmers is making the most of incumbency in the wake of the Trump tariff upheaval, undertaking an intense round of official activity.

    Chalmers will convene a meeting on Wednesday of the Council of Financial Regulators to discuss the impact globally and locally. Those attending will include the heads of the Reserve Bank, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, Treasury and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

    He will also meet the heads of the Future Fund and the ASX. On Thursday, he will have talks with major employers.

    Chalmers has already convened and attended a Treasury briefing for the prime minister. He has talked with Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock, and been in touch with the CEOs of the major banks and superannuation funds representatives.

    Chalmers is due to debate shadow treasurer Angus Taylor on Wednesday evening.

    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. Election Diary: The election’s first debate was disaster-free but passion-free too – https://theconversation.com/election-diary-the-elections-first-debate-was-disaster-free-but-passion-free-too-183208

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Graduate Programs Ranked Among the Best in the Nation

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    The University of Connecticut offers graduate programs across a wide variety of fields and disciplines that rank among the very best in the United States, according to rankings released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report.

    Programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the School of Business, the Neag School of Education, and UConn School of Law were all singled out as being among the best among their peers. The recognition highlights UConn’s commitment to student excellence and support generally, as well as the efforts of the schools and colleges measured in the rankings.

    “We are proud to see our graduate programs recognized among the nation’s best in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings,” says Provost and Chief Academic Officer Anne D’Alleva. “This achievement reflects the exceptional dedication of our faculty, the talent of our students, and our continued investment in graduate education.”

    The School of Business’ Flex MBA programs ranked No. 33 in the nation for the second consecutive year, up from 37 two years ago. Executive Director Mia Hawlk credits the program’s commitment to innovation for its continued success.

    “The MBA market is very competitive, and we’ve worked hard to pair the best of a traditional business education with new, relevant, and current course topics. It is a constant cycle of re-examining and updating programs,” she says.

    The MBA program offers optional “MBA Now’’ courses which have included special courses on topics such as sustainability and artificial intelligence for managers.

    “I think our success is testament to the commitment of the University and the School of Business to deliver outstanding business education to our students and to the Connecticut workforce,’’ Hawlk says.

    For the second year in a row, multiple graduate programs within UConn’s Neag School of Education have earned recognition as among the best in the country.

    In addition, the Neag School appears for the tenth consecutive year as one of the top 30 public graduate schools of education in the United States, tied at No. 28. Among all graduate schools of education across the nation, both public and private, the Neag School stands tied at No. 37.

    All of the Neag School’s three departments are represented in the 2025 specialty education program rankings: No. 18 (tie) in Special Education Programs; No. 28 (tie) in Educational Administration Programs; and No. 34 in Curriculum and Instruction programs.

    “For more than a decade, the Neag School has been recognized as one of the preeminent schools of education in the nation,” Dean Jason G. Irizarry says. “The longevity of our impressive national rankings are a direct result of the unwavering dedication of faculty, staff, and students, and I’m proud that several of our individual programs are once again featured in the specialty rankings. This achievement reflects the pride we all share in our collective commitment to excellence and further solidifies our position as a leader in higher education.”

    Among graduate programs within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences ranked by U.S. News, the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences has long been renowned for its education, research, clinical practice, and public outreach missions. The new rankings reflect that, with the Audiology program rising 5 points to No. 14 in the country, and the Speech Language Pathology program rising seven points to No. 32 in the country.

    The UConn School of Public Policy, within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, earned praise for its Public Affairs program, which was ranked No. 36 in the country, up three places from last year. The School’s Public Finance and Budgeting Program was ranked No. 9 in the country.

    UConn School of Law rose 5 points to the rank of 50, up 21 from two years ago, and the school’s part-time Evening Division rose from No. 10 to the seventh best in the country. The overall rank in the magazine’s 2024-25 Best Law Schools list reflects particular strength in bar passage and employment outcomes for UConn Law graduates.

    In addition to U.S. News, in recent years The National Jurist’s preLaw magazine has listed the UConn School of Law among the best value law schools in the nation. It has also recognized UConn Law as a top school in environmental law, tax law, intellectual property, alternative dispute resolution, child and family law, and human rights law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/SENEGAL – International Colloquium on Religious Diplomacy: An impetus for peace amid global crises

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Dakar (Agenzia Fides) – Yesterday, April 7, the International Colloquium on Religious Diplomacy (CIDiR) opened at the Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) in Dakar and will conclude today, April 8. This international event brings together diplomats, researchers, religious authorities, and civil society representatives to discuss the role of religion in resolving today’s conflicts.The opening ceremony was attended by Msgr. Waldemar Stanisław Sommertag, Apostolic Nuncio to Senegal; André Gueye, Archbishop of Dakar; Chief Rabbi of Paris; representatives of the European Union; and leading Muslim religious figures.The CIDiR is part of an initiative led by Thierno Amadou Tidiane Ba, Caliph of Bambilor, and Professor Ahmadou Aly Mbaye, former Rector of UCAD. Together, they are working to strengthen the links between academic knowledge and religious practices to create a more inclusive diplomacy, rooted in local realities while also capable of responding to global challenges.For Thierno Amadou Tidiane Ba, religious diplomacy, long relegated to the background, is an essential response to the tensions in today’s world: “It is not just an alternative, but a necessity,” he emphasizes. “We all have a role to play in building peace. It is not about learning from states and politicians,” the Muslim representative continues.”Instead, we must participate actively, individually, and intellectually to overcome barriers. Peace begins where the will of the people is expressed, where people across borders and institutions decide to forgive one another and reach out.” Both Msgr. André Gueye and Msgr. Waldemar Stanisław Sommertag emphasized that, at a time when geopolitical crises are increasing, religious diplomacy represents an alternative and complementary lever to traditional state-based approaches. Supported by distinguished moral figures, it plays an essential role in mediation, peacemaking, and intercultural dialogue. The conference will address the following topics in plenary sessions and thematic blocks: The Senegalese model of religious coexistence; The contribution of religions to peace in Africa; and issues of immigration and globalization. The aim of the discussions is to formulate concrete ways to better integrate religious actors into decision-making processes at the local and international levels. (A.TS.W) (Agenzia Fides, 8/4/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/COTE D’IVOIRE – Appointment of metropolitan archbishop of Gagnoa

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Tuesday, 8 April 2025

    Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Jean-Jacques Koffi Oi Koffi, until now bishop of San-Pedro-en-Côte d’Ivoire and apostolic administrator of the same archdiocese, as metropolitan archbishop of the archdiocese of Gagnoa, Cote d’Ivoire.Archbishop-elect Jean-Jacques Koffi Oi Koffi was born on 22 March 1962 in Bongouanou. He was ordained a priest on 4 August 1990, for the diocese of Abengourou. He was awarded a licentiate in canon law from the Pontifical Urbaniana University of Rome.He has held the following offices: parish vicar and diocesan head of catechesis for children, parish priest, vicar general and spiritual assistant of the Association of Christian Families, and president of the diocesan ecclesiastical tribunal of first instance.On 21 November 2003 he was elected bishop of Abengourou, and was consecrated on the following 21 December. On 3 January 2009 he was transferred to the diocese of San Pedro-en-Côte-d’Ivoire. Since 4 October 2023 he has been apostolic administrator of the metropolitan archdicoese of Gagnoa. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 8/4/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Two Major Grants for Teen Substance Use Treatment

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Sarah Feldstein Ewing, Vice Chair for Research in UConn School of Medicine’s psychiatry department, is fascinated by teen psychology. Why do teens make the choices they make? What factors influence their decision-making? And how can caregivers and counselors help support them in making healthy decisions? 

    Her research into these questions has spanned an impressive early career across multiple institutions. Now, Feldstein Ewing is the enthusiastic recipient of two major federal grants. 

    Pain and Teen Substance Use

    Feldstein Ewing leads one of two sites receiving a combined $3,355,184 over five years from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) for a project exploring young adult use of cannabis and opioids. As an expert in adolescent substance use, Feldstein Ewing is partnering with Anna C. Wilson, a pediatric pain specialist. Wilson is a colleague at Feldstein Ewing’s former institution, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). 

    The study follows young people in Oregon, where underage cannabis use saw a significant uptick following state legalization of recreational adult cannabis use in 2015. 

    “Kids in Oregon were starting to make choices not to drink, but instead to use cannabis, because they were under the impression that it would not have been legalized if cannabis wasn’t safe,” says Feldstein Ewing.  

    Sarah Feldstein Ewing is the Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Psychiatry at UConn Health. (Courtesy photo)

    At the same time, many teens and young adults are prescribed opioids at some point, whether due to a major injury or a routine procedure like wisdom teeth extraction. This means that co-use of cannabis and opioids is likely occurring for this age group.  

    But little is understood about the potential harms of using these two types of substances simultaneously, especially for young people. It is also unclear how effective and safe cannabis is for relieving pain in this age group, even though many young people report self-medicating pain with cannabis. 

    The research team will be alerted to new opioid prescriptions for emerging adults via local medical record updates. From there, they can follow up with the patients to assess their pain and substance use history, as well as personal risk factors for substance use and related problems. 

    Patients will be monitored closely for two weeks after their initial opioid prescription, and will receive follow-up check-ins at regular intervals over the next two years. Throughout this time, the researchers will track their outcomes in terms of pain, mental health, and substance use. The central hypothesis is that pain experiences, as well as patterns of opioid and cannabis use in the acute pain period (immediately after the inciting medical event), will influence opioid use, cannabis use, and related problems over time. 

    “Often, for people who have opioid addiction later on, they talk about how they started when they got a prescription after a broken bone or some other medical event during their teen years,” Feldstein Ewing says. 

    The team will also explore psychosocial risk factors for substance use and related problems, like loneliness and depression. 

    “We just don’t know what goes into the choice around who uses what [substances],” Feldstein Ewing explains. “We do know that if you’re struggling with sadness and loneliness, you’re more likely to use cannabis and other substances, so we want to know, is that also true for prescription pain medication?” 

    Into the Hyperscanner

    From the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), Feldstein Ewing has received a five-year grant totaling $2,737,888 to help determine the efficacy of group therapy for adolescents who are in counseling for alcohol use. 

    “Most kids get group therapy,” Feldstein Ewing says, “but even though group therapy is widely used, the data on how well it works and why are ambiguous at best.” 

    Part of the problem is that teens are uniquely influenced by what others think and say about them. Socially, this is a gift, Feldstein Ewing points out – it allows them to adapt to a variety of social environments, with greater ease than most adults – but it can be a hindrance in the context of group healing. 

    The research team is looking for iatrogenic effects, meaning effects that occur in the context of treatment.  

    Like an infection picked up at a hospital, harmful statements from peers in group therapy may lead to poorer therapeutic outcomes for teens. On the flip side, though, hearing positive encouragement from peers may provide a healing boost for this age group that is even greater than what adults would experience in the same type of behavioral treatment. 

    To test this hypothesis, the researchers are using a technique called hyperscanning, where MRI units are connected side by side so that two patients can interact with each other and be scanned simultaneously. The equipment is located at the University of Texas at Dallas, where Feldstein Ewing’s longtime neuroimaging collaborator and co-PI, Francesca Filbey, is a neuroscience professor.  

    In the scanner, each patient will hear negative and positive statements about their capacity to reduce or stop their drinking, in the voice of the other patient. These statements will come directly from their group therapy session, which will be recorded. 

    Then, the researchers can observe the real-time changes in the brain as the patients actively select each type of statement for their co-participating peer.

    How does it feel to hear a disparaging remark about your perceived ability to stop drinking – even when it’s something you’ve heard countless times before? How does it feel to be encouraged by someone whose opinion you value? How much does that make you feel like you can change your drinking? Feldstein Ewing will be able to examine how these peer statements impact patients’ brains, as well as how these statements impact patients’ own perceived ability to change their behavior.

    The researchers will also track the participants following their group therapy experiences to see how their drinking behavior changes or stays the same over the course of 12 months. 

    Toward Effective Interventions for Teens

    Both these projects are geared toward designing better interventions for teens who are struggling with alcohol and substance use.  

    Currently, many young people receive the same therapy as adults. But Feldstein Ewing’s research has shown that this may be a “square peg, round hole” approach – what works for adults may be ineffective or even discouraging for adolescents. 

    With the insight gained from these projects, Feldstein Ewing will help pioneer new clinical strategies to revolutionize the field of teen substance use treatment. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Art Festival at the State University of Management: We are waiting for everyone at the Kinosfera Festival

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On April 11, the State University of Management’s Assembly Hall will host the ceremonial part of the VI All-Russian Festival of Student Short Films “KinoSfera”.

    Guests will be able to join the screening of competitive animated and feature films, watch the awards ceremony for the winners and interact with film industry talents.

    In addition, those who come will enjoy a bright photo zone, a buffet and a prize drawing.

    We are waiting for everyone to come to the festival! Guests from outside the State University of Management must fill out the registration form before 10:00 on April 10.

    The festival will take place on April 11 from 12:00 to 17:30 in the Assembly Hall of the State University of Management.

    Subscribe to the tg channel “Our State University” Announcement date: 04/11/2025

    КиноСфера»….” data-yashareImage=”https://guu.ru/wp-content/uploads/2tBj0HAoHEc.jpg” data-yashareLink=”https://guu.ru/%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%b0%d0%b7%d0%b4%d0%bd%d0%b8%d0%ba-%d0%b8%d1%81%d0%ba%d1%83%d1%81%d1%81%d1%82%d0%b2%d0%b0-%d0%b2-%d0%b3%d1%83%d1%83-%d0%b6%d0%b4%d1%91%d0%bc-%d0%b2%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%85-%d0%bd%d0%b0-%d1%84/”>

    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: LPL Financial Welcomes Vaughn Harvey as Chief Data and AI Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LPL Financial LLC, a leading wealth management firm, announces the appointment of Vaughn Harvey as executive vice president and chief data and artificial intelligence (AI) officer. Harvey will lead the company’s data and AI initiatives, driving innovation and digital transformation across the organization.

    Harvey brings over 25 years of experience in AI-driven digital transformations and enterprise-wide data strategies. Most recently, he served as managing director and head of product and transformation for consumer and community bank finance at JP Morgan Chase. Prior to joining JP Morgan Chase, Harvey held a variety of senior analytical roles at Morgan Stanley, PwC and Jefferies.

    “Vaughn’s extensive experience and proven track record in leveraging AI and data to drive business outcomes make him the perfect fit for LPL as we continue to scale our offering and leadership in this space,” said Gary Carrai, chief product officer at LPL Financial. “We look forward to the significant contributions he will bring to our advisors who are looking to AI to streamline and grow their practices in a meaningful way.”

    “Joining LPL Financial is a unique opportunity to lead the next wave of innovation in wealth management,” said Harvey. “I am eager to work with the talented tech team here to drive digital transformation and deliver sophisticated solutions that enhance our clients’ experiences.”

    Harvey holds an MBA in finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Sydney. He is based in New York City.

    LPL has already made significant strides in helping advisors implement AI effectively and compliantly. In Q4 2024, LPL launched AI Advisor Solutions, a curated program designed to help advisors maximize their days, deliver bespoke client experiences, and leverage data to provide more sophisticated and personalized financial advice.

    Additionally, LPL’s AI Accelerator program supports the firm’s goal to incorporate and deliver AI solutions that have a tangible and immediate impact on advisors’ businesses. LPL is also actively piloting a program that applies AI to generate customized insights for personalized financial planning and a streamlined new client onboarding process powered by AI.

    About LPL Financial

    LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: LPLA) is among the fastest growing wealth management firms in the U.S. As a leader in the financial advisor-mediated marketplace, LPL supports nearly 29,000 financial advisors and the wealth management practices of approximately 1,200 financial institutions, servicing and custodying approximately $1.7 trillion in brokerage and advisory assets on behalf of approximately 6 million Americans. The firm provides a wide range of advisor affiliation models, investment solutions, fintech tools and practice management services, ensuring that advisors and institutions have the flexibility to choose the business model, services, and technology resources they need to run thriving businesses. For further information about LPL, please visit www.lpl.com.

    Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial LLC (“LPL Financial”), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer, member FINRA/SIPC.

    Throughout this communication, the terms “financial advisors” and “advisors” are used to refer to registered representatives and/or investment advisor representatives affiliated with LPL Financial.

    We routinely disclose information that may be important to shareholders in the “Investor Relations” or “Press Releases” section of our website.

    Media Contact: 
    Media.relations@LPLFinancial.com
    (402) 740-2047 

    Tracking #: 719808

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Jennifer Hua Brings Deep Transaction Expertise to Monarch Private Capital’s #BestInClass Renewable Energy Team

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ATLANTA, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Monarch Private Capital (Monarch), a nationally recognized impact investment firm that develops, finances, and manages a diversified portfolio of projects generating both federal and state tax credits, is pleased to welcome Jennifer Hua as Manager, Renewable Energy.

    In this role, Hua will be responsible for identifying and executing on renewable energy opportunities that generate solid and de-risked returns for Monarch’s investors. Her focus includes sourcing, negotiating, structuring, and executing complex tax equity and credit transfer transactions across a diverse portfolio of renewable energy assets.

    Hua brings a decade of energy sector experience to Monarch. Most recently, she served as Associate Vice President at Foss & Company, where she led due diligence and underwriting for a wide range of projects including solar, battery energy storage systems (BESS), renewable natural gas (RNG), fuel cells, and advanced manufacturing. Prior to that, Hua spent seven years at Williams Companies, where she held various roles, culminating in Business Development within the company’s New Energy Ventures division. Her experience includes behind-the-meter solar and storage development, M&A support, and counterparty risk management.

    “Jennifer brings the right mix of experience, leadership, and creativity to help further develop Monarch’s #bestinclass processes,” said Bryan Didier, Partner and Managing Director at Monarch Private Capital. “We are building a team that’s not only highly skilled, but collaborative and forward-thinking—and Jennifer is exactly the kind of leader who will elevate the work we’re doing and help us scale with excellence.”

    In addition to her transaction responsibilities, Hua will contribute to the #everbetter of Monarch’s #bestinclass processes, supporting efforts to ensure the highest quality in underwriting, risk analysis, and investor outcomes. As part of the Renewable Energy leadership team, she will collaborate on key initiatives to strengthen internal systems, improve cross-functional coordination, and advance consistency and quality for Monach’s clients across the transaction lifecycle.

    “Monarch is doing the kind of work that moves the needle in clean energy, and I’m excited to join a team so committed to excellence and impact,” said Hua. “I look forward to contributing to a strong culture of collaboration and continuous improvement—particularly in how we close transactions, support investor outcomes, and scale through smart, standardized processes.”

    Hua holds an MBA from the University of Tulsa and a BBA in Finance and International Business from the University of Oklahoma. She is an active member of Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE) and the Junior League of Denver. Outside of work, she enjoys travel, skiing, cycling, and yoga.

    For more information about Monarch Private Capital, visit www.monarchprivate.com.

    About Monarch Private Capital

    Monarch Private Capital manages impact investment funds that positively impact communities by creating clean power, jobs, and homes. The funds provide predictable returns through the generation of federal and state tax credits. The Company offers innovative tax credit equity investments for affordable housing, historic rehabilitations, renewable energy, film, and other qualified projects. Monarch Private Capital has long-term relationships with institutional and individual investors, developers, and lenders participating in these federal and state programs. Headquartered in Atlanta, Monarch has offices and professionals located throughout the United States.

    CONTACT
    Jane Rafeedie
    Monarch Private Capital
    Jrafeedie@monarchprivate.com
    470-283-8431

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/828d8460-ce11-479a-b849-62ffdd26215b

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: No major gaffes and no knockout punch: the first leaders’ debate was a pedestrian affair

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andy Marks, Vice-President, Public Affairs and Partnerships, Western Sydney University

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have faced off in the first leaders’ debate of the 2025 federal election. The debate, hosted by Sky News and The Daily Telegraph, was held at the Wenty Leagues Club in Sydney’s western suburbs, where an audience of 100 undecided voters asked questions of both leaders.

    All the expected topics were canvassed, including the cost of living, the economy, housing, health and education, immigration, the war in Gaza, and of course US President Donald Trump. So how did the two leaders shape up? Three expert authors give their analysis.

    Andy Marks, Western Sydney University

    A funny thing happened on the way to the “people’s forum”. It reverted to a festival of rhetoric. The first federal election leaders’ debate between Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton began personably.

    The Sky News debate saw Anthony and Peter – yes, first names only – take questions from the floor. It could have been the local sports team’s AGM. It wasn’t.

    “Who’s doing it tough?” Sky News host Kieren Gilbert asked the audience. A sprinkle of hands, some reluctant, some defiant, rose.

    “That was a very confronting scene,” Dutton remarked. “To see that many hands go up”, he added, reflected what he had seen throughout the government’s term: “people in tears” because they couldn’t cope with rising costs.

    Albanese took a different approach. “Wages are up. Unemployment is low,” he said. The election, he argued, is about “what happens next”. The road ahead, he commented, was uncertain. “The world has thrown a lot of challenges at us. We’ve responded the Australian way.”

    The focus was on ideal versus experience. “All you need is your Medicare card, not your credit card,” Albanese assured a questioner of his commitment to lift bulk-billed healthcare.

    Dutton turned that proposition around, asking the questioner, “What’s your experience? Do you use your Medicare card, or your credit card too?” It was his most effective moment.

    Albanese went full-Rudd zinger on energy. “The only gas policy the Coalition has is the gaslighting of the Australian public.”

    When Albanese and Dutton were unleashed on each other, the debate descended into the usual contest over conflicting accounts of surplus records.

    When it mattered, however – when audience members had the floor – it was a forum on what voters were experiencing, and which leader proved the better listener. That won’t be answered until polling day.

    Andrea Carson, La Trobe University

    Dutton faced a tough start to the first televised leaders’ debate of the 2025 federal election campaign, with reports his father had been rushed to hospital shortly before the cameras rolled.

    But if he was rattled, he didn’t show it. Dutton wasted no time speaking to what he saw as Labor’s weaknesses, beginning with cost of living: power bills up, businesses going bust, grocery prices climbing.

    Meanwhile, Albanese began with a few stammers, but quickly dispelled memories of his 2022 gaffes by confidently rattling off numbers that told a story of economic recovery amid the COVID-induced cost-of-living crisis.

    With the primary vote share at record lows for both major parties, and with more Australians voting for minor parties and independent candidates, this is a crucial time to capture Australian’s attention before early voting opens next Tuesday.

    Whether this debate reaches enough voters behind the News Corp paywall is questionable, but the debate’s soundbites will likely have a longer life than the 60-minute broadcast.

    Using the tricks of the trade, Albanese repeated questioner’s names and thanked them for their service as school teachers and truckies, for caring for children, and for keeping Australia moving. He came ready with a well-worn prop – waving his green and gold Medicare card to spruik his plans to increase bulk billing for GP visits.

    But Dutton wasn’t having a bar of it, stating he had seen the stunt before and that “the Mediscare campaign” continues. Albanese retorted by pointing to Dutton’s track record as health minister, claiming bulk billing was then in freefall. Women in the audience nodded in agreement. It was a little win for Albanese.

    Predictably, both leaders kept to their areas of perceived strength: healthcare and education for Labor; the economy and keeping a lid on immigration for the Coalition. Both skirted the tricky question on the Gaza war – and avoided direct criticism of Trump.

    The debate covered plenty of ground – solar power, fuel excise, cuts to universities’ foreign student numbers – but featured little mention of regional Australia or global security.

    Albanese finished his pitch on a message of “staying the course”. Dutton returned to where he started: the economy, promising the Coalition could do it better, weaving in the threat of a Labor/Greens coalition government.

    There were no fatal blows. Just like the polls, it was too close to call an outright winner. But not to worry. There will be another debate next week, this time on the ABC.

    Emma Shortis, RMIT University

    As someone who spends far too much time focused on US politics, it was a little bit refreshing to watch a debate that was a little bit … boring. Two blokes in suits, badly lit, talking about actual policy. In quite a bit of detail!

    We often worry, with good reason, that Australian politics is being Americanised. Tonight showed that isn’t necessarily the case – in fact, the Trump administration’s dismantling of US democracy didn’t feature much this evening.

    And there certainly weren’t many of the outrageous features of US politics – there was some bluster, of course, and some pretty concerning rhetoric around “immigration” – but this wasn’t anything like the corrosive, paranoid politics of America today.

    Albanese opened the debate by noting that “the world has thrown a lot of challenges at Australia”, without mentioning the United States. That’s despite the fact the second Trump administration has effectively set the agenda of Australian politics for the past week at least.

    But the very first question was about the “Trump pandemic”. Albanese was right to say in his response that Trump’s tariffs are an act of “economic self-harm” by the US. It does seem a stretch to suggest Australia got “a better deal” on tariffs because of representations made by the Australian government. Given what we know about the second Trump administration and its treatment of traditional allies, that seems unlikely.

    Dutton once again made the argument that he would be better placed to negotiate with Trump because of his experience with Trump mark 1. But again, given how the Trump administration is treating America’s traditional allies, that’s not particularly convincing.

    Surprisingly, the AUKUS submarine pact only got a mention right at the end. Albanese affirmed Labor’s support for the deal and said the government wouldn’t link the tariff issue to defence. That might be politically desirable, but it will be increasingly difficult as Trump continues to put pressure on the alliance. If Trump places no value in Australia’s free trade agreement with the US, what reason is there to believe he places any value in any other agreements?

    As more and more attention is focused on what “security” actually means, those arbitrary dividing lines to which Australian politics has been so accustomed – such as the one between our defence and trade relationship with the US – might be becoming a little bit blurrier.

    Emma Shortis is also Director of the Australia Institute’s International & Security Affairs Program.

    Andrea Carson and Andy Marks 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. No major gaffes and no knockout punch: the first leaders’ debate was a pedestrian affair – https://theconversation.com/no-major-gaffes-and-no-knockout-punch-the-first-leaders-debate-was-a-pedestrian-affair-253711

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Dundee Uni taskforce must centre staff and students

    Source: Scottish Greens

    08 Apr 2025 Education

    Staff and students can be at the heart of solutions for Dundee University.

    More in Education

    The new Strategic Advisory Taskforce set up by the Scottish Government to aid Dundee University must centre the voice of staff and students, who have been made virtually voiceless throughout the ongoing crisis, says Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman.

    Ms Chapman, who was elected Rector of Dundee University by students who supported her anti-cuts stance, has urged openness and transparency throughout the process and answers for the many questions that staff and students have.

    Last week it was announced that 700 jobs are under threat at the institution.

    Ms Chapman said:

    “Many of the answers to the crisis at the University lie with the staff and students. They are the ones who make the University work and make it what it is. Their voices have been largely ignored until now.

    “The scale of cuts being talked about would be disastrous for the University and for the city.

    “While expert advice is welcome, and shows that the Scottish Government is taking the crisis seriously, we must see staff and students included in the process. Their voices must be heard, their questions must be answered and their concerns must be addressed.

    “For the last five months we have seen a bunker mentality from senior management. 

    “We have seen mismanagement, poor governance and very poor communications from the University’s executive group. That has to change if the University is to have a successful and prosperous future.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Great Depression trends on social media amid rising US tariff fears, reveals GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Great Depression trends on social media amid rising US tariff fears, reveals GlobalData

    Posted in Business Fundamentals

    The concept of the “Great Depression” has gained traction among the social media influencers in first week of April 2025, largely driven by discussions surrounding the US tariff turmoil and concerns about potential economic downturns. The surge in discussion is closely tied to comparisons being drawn between the current economic policies, particularly tariffs, and those enacted during the lead-up to the Great Depression, specifically the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, reveals the Social Media Analytics Platform of GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    The increased tariffs have become a central point of discussion, triggering concerns about potential trade wars, slower GDP growth, and overall economic instability.

    Shreyasee Majumder, Social Media Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Influencers, largely concerned and apprehensive, are using the historical context of the Great Depression to frame their analysis of current economic trends and policies, drawing direct parallels to the events preceding the depression and sparking wider conversations about potential consequences.

    “Certain influencers express grave concern that tariffs, with the US rates potentially escalating and surpassing the peak of the Smoot-Hawley era, may precipitate a global trade war and inflict substantial damage upon the economy. They also point out that the implementation of tariffs could result in higher prices for consumers, reduced global competitiveness for the US companies, and, consequently, a broader economic downturn.”

    Below are a few popular influencer opinions captured by GlobalData’s Social Media Analytics Platform:

    1. Ben Carlson, Director of Institutional Asset Management at Ritholtz Wealth Management:

    “This was a historic week We just witnessed the biggest economic policy mistake since the Great Depression And they don’t even care”

    1. Phillips P. OBrien, Professor of Strategic Studies at University of St Andrews:

    “Amazing that Trump talked about the Great Depression and forgot the Smoot-Hawley Tariff–which he seems to be emulating pretty closely….”

    1. Jason Goepfert, Consultant at White Oak Consultancy LLC:

    “Futures indicate another loss in the Dow Industrials greater than -3%. Futures are finicky, but that’d be its 3rd consecutive loss greater than -3%. Since 1896 – 129 years of history – this only occurred during the Great Depression.”

    1. Steve Hanke, Professor of Applied Economics at Johns Hopkins University:

    “The US economy has developed some tell-tale signs of the Great Depression. The money supply has contracted. That means an economic slowdown is BAKED IN THE CAKE. Like the Smoot-Hawley Tariffs of 1930, Trump’s tariffs are putting massive downward pressure on the economy.”

    1. Shane Wright, National Economics Correspondent:

    “Trump re-writing the history of the Great Depression, saying wouldn’t have happened if the US had stayed with tariffs. Of course, the Smoot-Hawley tariffs made worse the depression which wasn’t caused by tariffs…”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: University Road to close for resurfacing work

    Source: City of Leicester

    A well-used Leicester road is being resurfaced as part of the city council’s ongoing programme of highway maintenance and repairs.

    University Road – between its junctions with Welford Road and Lancaster Road – will be resurfaced in a £130,000 scheme due to start on Saturday 12 April.

    The stretch of road will be closed to traffic, with parking restrictions in place, for the duration of the work that is expected to take up to seven days to complete.

    Well signposted diversions will be in place via Welford Road, Victoria Park Road, London Road, Granville Road and Regent Road.

    The work is being carried out due to the road surface becoming pitted, cracked and broken over time, due to wear and tear caused by traffic and the effects of winter weather. In total, over 4,100m2 of the main carriageway will be resurfaced.

    Leicester City Council’s director of highways, Martin Fletcher, said: “Traffic and weather have a huge impact on the city’s road surfaces, and that is evident University Road. As part of our ongoing programme of maintenance and repairs, this work will help ensure the road remains able to handle the demands that are placed on it for years to come.

    “We always aim to keep disruption to a minimum while resurfacing work is carried out and thank people for their patience and understanding while we do so.”

    The work has been programmed to take place during the school holidays when traffic levels are reduced.

    The scheme is being funded through the city council’s annual highway maintenance capital budget.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Opening of the Space for collective work in the Advanced Engineering School of NSU

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    On April 8, NSU opened a Collaborative Work Space for staff and students of the Advanced Engineering School. The new complex, located in the university building, will become a unique platform for scientific and educational initiatives that promote the development of engineering competencies.

    The key element of the Space are two fab labs: “Space Instrumentation” and “Chemical Synthesis”. The fab lab “Space Instrumentation” provides students with the opportunity to participate in the development and testing of small spacecraft for the federal project “Sphere” of the state corporation “Roscosmos”. It uses modern equipment for balancing and adjusting space devices.

    The Chemical Synthesis FabLab is aimed at student practice in the field of oligonucleotide synthesis and bioengineering. These modern opportunities give NSU undergraduates and students a chance to participate in solving real problems presented by industrial partners and gain valuable practical experience.

    The Space has a VR studio designed to visualize geological and geophysical research. Here, students will be able to test, debug projects, and practice their skills in controlling unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) using modern equipment.

    — All competence centers — there are six of them in our Advanced Engineering School today — they are aimed specifically at forming teams that are capable of developing, implementing, and realizing advanced tasks. And this is, in fact, the exclusivity of this Advanced Engineering School — this is the merit of the team that works here. The team that has assembled united employees of Novosibirsk University, representatives of scientific organizations of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, our industrial partners, including the largest corporations — Roscosmos, Rostec, Rosatom, Sibur Holding, Gazprom Neft and a number of other regional partners. All of them really closely monitor what is happening, but they do not just observe — they give specific tasks, and students of Novosibirsk University and students of other universities who have become participants in the Advanced Engineering School program successfully cope with their solution, — noted Vice-Governor of the Novosibirsk Region Irina Manuilova.

    In addition, the Deputy Governor of the Novosibirsk Region spoke about some figures of the project:

    — Over the three years of work, 46 educational programs have been developed within the framework of the PIS, under which 648 students are currently studying. 830 specialists have received unique competencies in six areas of the NSU PIS within the framework of additional education. During this time, 2936 schoolchildren from the Novosibirsk Region and other regions who come here have gone through a variety of pre-professional project-based events — Olympiad tasks and tournaments. Over three years, more than a billion rubles of extra-budgetary funds have been attracted to scientific developments. The opening of new spaces once again confirms the desire to create an environment that facilitates the training of qualified engineering personnel.

    Director of NSU PIS Sergey Golovin spoke about the projects being implemented, additional education for schoolchildren and the current structure of NSU PIS and shared his impressions:

    — The space we are opening today is a very important step for us. We finally have our own home — a place where students can do their project work, where we can bring our partners and work here with pleasure ourselves.

    The demand for the PIS is very high, since two events took place before the opening: a delegation from the Sibur company arrived, and a meeting with a representative of the Roscosmos company took place. I really hope that the number of such events will increase. And through these events, we will involve more and more industrial partners in our interaction, – shared the director of the PIS NSU Sergey Golovin.

    The NSU PISH initiative is supported by the Novosibirsk Region Government, which promotes the development of youth engineering education and the creation of laboratories for talented students. Partnership with leading companies such as Rosatom, Roscosmos, Rostec, Sibur Holding and Gazprom Neft opens up broad prospects for professional growth and employment for NSU PISH students and postgraduates.

    The Advanced Engineering Schools Program, of which NSU PISH is a part, is aimed at implementing the Decree of the President of Russia and strategic initiatives for the development of engineering education in the country. By 2030, it is planned to increase the number of such schools to 100, transmitting the successful experience of existing schools and ensuring the continuity of educational activities, support for young talents.

    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 USA: Connected Learning Ecosystems: Educators Gather to Empower Learners and Themselves

    Source: NASA

    Many educators would agree that despite working and communicating with dozens, even hundreds, of people each year, the role can feel isolating. Learners come and go, leaving educators to question: Was anything retained? Will they take this knowledge home? Will they share it at their after-school activities? How will it ultimately impact their lives and perspectives? What some educators may not fully realize is that they are not alone in their efforts. Their classroom or alternate education space is but one step along a learning pathway that winds through an entire network of educators. Learning pathways take many forms, but are most effective when each stop along the path builds upon what a learner has experienced during previous stops. These networks of educators, known as Connected Learning Ecosystems (CLEs), exist wherever learning takes place. Simply put, CLEs are made up of all the people involved at any point in a youth’s learning journey.
    With this in mind, the NASA Science Activation Program’s Learning Ecosystems Northeast (LENE) project has been working to connect and support the regional networks found throughout Maine and the Northeastern United States, with a shared focus on Science, Technology, Education, and Mathematics (STEM) education. This inspiring community includes classroom teachers, librarians, 4-H staff, and land trust educators, to name a few, all collaborating to advance education about our changing planet and improve data literacy across a variety of learning environments.
    In support of these regional networks, LENE hosts a Connected Learning Ecosystems Gathering twice each year, a multi-day event designed to unite educators who have these shared STEM education goals. These gatherings provide opportunities to reflect on past successes and plan future projects, ultimately benefiting not just the educators, but every learner they reach. They also help strengthen and amplify the lasting and positive impact these educators have on the lives of the youth they support.
    This year’s Gathering took place in late February in Orono, ME at the University of Maine (a LENE project partner). The event featured hands-on science activities adaptable to various learning spaces, dedicated reflection time for educators, and collaborative planning sessions to design cross-context learning opportunities for local youth. Participants engaged with NASA’s Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program, supported by Jen Bourgeault (GLOBE US Country Coordinator) and Haley Wicklein (GLOBE Assistant US Country Coordinator), who facilitated field data collection and program exploration. NASA Subject Matter Expert Shawn Laatsch from UMaine’s Versant Planetarium led an immersive evening show on the molecular world inside the human body and also previewed other potential field trip shows for students. One highlight of the Gathering was a presentation on climate science and ice core collection by experts Sean Birkel and Daniel Dixon from UMaine’s Climate Change Institute. Educators also participated in a hands-on activity using model ice cores designed by project partner UMaine 4-H. Rounding out the two-day event were deep-dive sessions into various connected learning projects, where educators shared their insights, from idea formation to project execution and reflection.
    One educator shared about their experience: “I just want the leadership team to know how grateful I am to be part of this community. As a veteran teacher of 28 years, this is by far the BEST workshop I have ever attended. The passion for evidence-based science among this group is incredible. I feel seen and connected in ways that other workshops have never made possible. I will definitely be a lifelong member and will be bringing more people to CLE workshops. Thank you for making this meaningful and valuable.”
    Another educator shared, “During the gathering, I had the opportunity to strengthen existing relationships and make new connections within [my region]. I engaged in insightful conversations with several individuals, discussing shared interests in environmental education, science literacy, and place-based learning…. From these connections, I hope to foster new collaborations that enhance environmental literacy opportunities for students and communities. By working together, I believe we can create interdisciplinary programs that bridge science, sustainability, and civic engagement in meaningful ways.”
    Despite the support of regional groups, feelings of isolation persist, particularly in rural areas. These biannual gatherings serve as powerful reminders that this work is happening statewide, and that Connected Learning Ecosystems help establish and strengthen a network to bridge the distance between educators.
    These Gatherings are part of ongoing programming organized by Learning Ecosystems Northeast, based at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, that fosters peer communities across the Northeast through which teachers, librarians, and out-of-school educators can collaborate to expand opportunities for youth to engage in data-driven climate investigations and integrate in- and out-of-school learning.
    The Learning Ecosystems Northeast project is supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AB94A and is part of NASA’s Science Activation Portfolio. Learn more about Learning Ecosystems Northeast: https://www.learningecosystemsnortheast.org/

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DHHL AWARDS NEARLY 100 TURNKEY HOMES IN WAIKAPŪ, MAUI

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DHHL AWARDS NEARLY 100 TURNKEY HOMES IN WAIKAPŪ, MAUI

    Posted on Apr 7, 2025 in Featured, Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI 

    DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS

    KA ʻOIHANA ʻĀINA HOʻOPULAPULA HAWAIʻI

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
    GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA 

    KALI WATSON

    DIRECTOR

    KA LUNA HOʻOKELE 

    KATIE L. LAMBERT

    DEPUTY DIRECTOR

    KA HOPE LUNA HOʻOKELE

    DHHL AWARDS NEARLY 100 TURNKEY HOMES IN WAIKAPŪ, MAUI

    Development of Phase II to Start in May 2025; Families to Move In Early 2026

     

    Governor Josh Green, M.D., state and county leaders greet and congratulate Puʻuhona Phase II awardees.

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    April 7, 2025

    KAHULUI, MAUI – Within the Pilina Building at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College, tables decked with vibrant purple orchid lei lay at the ready, while the melodic sounds of leo kiʻekiʻe and the distinct chatter of excitement signaled the start of a transformational day for which many have waited decades.

    On Saturday, April 5, 2025, nearly 300 beneficiaries and their ʻohana eagerly awaited the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands’ (DHHL) Puʻuhona Phase II lot selection where 91 turnkey homes were awarded for Maui’s newest homestead community in Waikapū.

    “The wait for a home should never be measured in decades and these 91 families have endured against all odds,” said Governor Josh Green, M.D. “We have a responsibility to them, and to every Native Hawaiian on the waitlist to move faster, build smarter and deliver on the promise of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.”

    For almost four hours, applicants’ names were announced in the order they applied; starting with those from the late 1980s. As awardees took their places in line to select their lots, some considered the number of bedrooms they’d need for their growing families; others considered the lots’ locations.

    Regardless of their selection, everyone was grateful for a piece of land to call home.

    “This project is not just about building homes, it’s about rebuilding ancestral connections, creating opportunities, and empowering generations to thrive on the ʻāina,” said DHHL Director Kali Watson. “Prince Kūhiō’s vision was clear – to empower Native Hawaiians through land. Through the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, he worked to return the lands to Native Hawaiians, fostering a sense of pride, identity, and belonging. We walk that same path today, guided by his vision.”

    The awarding of homes marks progress in the development of the department’s first Act 279 project. Act 279 allocated a historic $600 million in general funds to the DHHL in 2022 to specifically tackle its long-standing waitlist.

    In June of 2024, 52 homes were offered as part of Puʻuhona Phase I making it the first such award on the Valley Isle in 17 years. Phase I families are expected to move into their homes this summer.

    Construction on Phase II is set to begin in May of this year. The first homes are scheduled for completion in February 2026.

    Phase II offered 91 homes of two- to five bedrooms. Homes range in price from $411,422 to $699,000.

    Puʻuhona: Maui’s Newest Homestead Community

    Puʻuhona is the name of the first of four puʻu, or hills, that travel up to Hanaʻula, Waikapū’s highest peak. Named in likely reference to the native tree, hona was highly valued for the fibers found in its inner bark, which were used to craft rope and cordage for fishnets. The creation and intertwining of these materials represent the unity and growth of a community as individual strands come together to form a stronger bond.

    “Every day we strive to build balanced, resilient communities, and Puʻuhona is no exception,” said Dowling Company president and developer, Everett Dowling. “The needs of our Native Hawaiian community are at the forefront in the development of each homestead community, and we will continue to build until everyone on the waitlist has a house of their own.”

    The department acquired the roughly 47-acre parcel through a land transfer with the Dowling Company, Inc. in exchange for affordable housing credits from the county of Maui.

    Puʻuhona will comprise 137 turnkey homes and 24 improved vacant lots: each lot averaging 7,500 square feet in size. Groundwork on the project began in May 2023.

    More to Come on Maui

    The DHHL has six homestead projects in development on the island of Maui.

    This includes:

    • Honokōwai: 50 lots
    • Leialiʻi 1B: 181 lots
    • Wailuku single-family: 207 lots
    • Waiehu mauka: 404 lots
    • Kamalani: 400 lots
    • Kēōkea-Waiohuli: 404 lots

    “To our ‘ohana: please don’t lose hope. The department has more than 1,600 units coming to the island of Maui and we look forward to the opportunity to award leases later this year,” Watson added. “With the backing of Governor Green, our department will explore innovative ways to get our people into the homes they rightfully deserve.”

    To learn more about DHHL’s upcoming Maui projects, click here.

    Click here to download visuals, soundbites.

    B-ROLL (3:53)

    SOUNDBITES

    Tina Leikaha, Puʻuhona awardee, Kahului resident

    (:08 seconds)

    “I’m so excited, I was nervous, being patient, but when they called my name, I was like, oh my gosh, I just said chee hoo.” 

    (:12 seconds)

    “At least my kids can come home now, we have them in the mainland, some of them live in Vegas, Washington, Oregon, so now they can come home, whenever they like, we have a home for them.” 

    Sheldean Dudoit, Puʻuhona awardee, Makawao resident

    (:19 seconds)

    “I feel relieved now being able to call a place home, not only for me but for my kids, knowing that I’ve been through a lot of obstacles in my life but now I see the end and there’s the bright light at the end of the tunnel.”

    (:18 seconds)

    “I really thought like aww man, I was giving up hope, and my sister was like, no, you’re going to get something, you’re going to get something, just hang in there, so I just had to keep the faith, and it all paid off.”

    # # #

     

    About the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands:

    The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands carries out Prince Jonah Kūhiō  Kalanianaʻole’s vision of rehabilitating native Hawaiians by returning them to the land. Established by U.S. Congress in 1921 with the passage of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, the Hawaiian homesteading program run by DHHL includes management of more than 200,000 acres of land statewide with the specific purpose of developing and delivering homesteading.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Protecting and respecting Europe’s cultural identity within the EU institutions – P-001372/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-001372/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Luis-Vicențiu Lazarus (NI)

    The Commission, Parliament and Council of the European Union have only observer status in the High Council of the European University Institute (EUI) (Rules of Procedure of the High Council of the EUI, Article 1(1)(b)). Funding for the EUI comes from contributions paid by the Member States by virtue of their belonging to the European Union, as well as from the EU budget, which is allocated via a range of educational and research programmes.

    In light of these considerations:

    • 1.How does the Commission intend to protect Europe’s cultural identity within the EU institutions?
    • 2.Does it not feel it would be appropriate to change the observer status of the Commission, Parliament and the Council of the European Union in the EUI High Council (Rules of Procedure of the High Council of the EUI, Article 1(1)(b)) in such a way as to ensure that Christmas, which is one of European’s most important celebrations, is not deemed to be offensive or exclusionary?

    Submitted: 2.4.2025

    Last updated: 8 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “VuzEcoFest” at GUU: join the ecological festival

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The State University of Management invites students to join the events of the XI annual youth festival in the field of sustainable development “VuzEcoFest”, which is held within the walls of our university from April 7 to 27.

    This year the theme of the festival is adaptation to the consequences of climate change at the level of companies and regions.

    Students will enjoy a scientific seminar, a team quiz, a campaign to collect felt-tip pens and pens, film screenings, an environmental game library, a poster exhibition, a museum tour, and a video relay race. You can learn more about the events in the community of the Vernadsky Ecoclub of the State University of Management.

    In addition, the VK.Zvonki platform will host open webinars for anyone who wants to understand the topic of climate change and adaptation to it from the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Sakhalin Region, the Agency for Strategic Initiatives and others. The webinar schedule is available at the link.

    “VuzEcoFest” is held by the ANO “Territory of Sustainable Development” with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia and the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia. Information partners of the festival are the Nature Conservation Embassy, Helpingver, EcoDao, ESG World, ESG Media, the Agency for Social Information, Typical Moscow, Youngspace and AGN “Moscow”.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/08/2025

    «ВузЭкоФест»,…” data-yashareImage=”https://guu.ru/wp-content/uploads/IMG_5996.png” data-yashareLink=”https://guu.ru/%d0%b2%d1%83%d0%b7%d1%8d%d0%ba%d0%be%d1%84%d0%b5%d1%81%d1%82-%d0%b2-%d0%b3%d1%83%d1%83-%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%b8%d1%81%d0%be%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%b8%d0%bd%d1%8f%d0%b9%d1%81%d1%8f/”>

    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 Asia-Pac: LCSD’s “Hong Kong Artists” Series to present cross-genre arts performance “Soundscape Impressions” in May (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCSD’s “Hong Kong Artists” Series to present cross-genre arts performance “Soundscape Impressions” in May       
         The first half of the programme opens with Debussy’s “Sonata in G minor, L. 140” and Saint-Saëns’s “Suite for Cello and Piano, Op.16”, paired with the paintings of small animals and natural scenery of the four seasons respectively to highlight the resonance between music and painting. It is followed by Ravel’s piano four-hand work “‘Ma Mère l’Oye’ (The Mother Goose) Suite”, inviting audiences into a whimsical fairytale world through the interplay of melodies and painting images. The second half features Ravel’s “Piano Trio in A minor” accompanied by paintings depicting the Hong Kong cityscape, which further explores the boundless possibilities of cross-genre artistic inspiration. This fusion also allows audiences to appreciate and interpret classical music and paintings from multiple perspectives.
          
         Lee is currently the Honorary Artist-in-Residence of the Education University of Hong Kong and a tutor at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) and the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU). Lee has performed worldwide in solo recitals and with numerous renowned orchestras, such as Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, China Philharmonic Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. She has appeared in major festivals, including the Duszniki Festival Poland, Musicus Fest in Espoo, Finland and Shanghai New Music Week.
          
         Fu currently engages in painting and art education. He is a tutor in watercolour painting courses at the School of Continuing and Professional Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. His works centre on everyday scenes of life and people and have been exhibited in more than 20 countries in Europe, America and Asia. He has also received numerous awards, including the Honorable Mention Award in the 2nd International Watercolor Society India Biennale in 2017, the Special Prize in the Poland International Watercolor Competition in 2019 and the Silver Award at the third Asia Pacific Art Biennial Exhibition the following year.
          
         Chan is a violinist sought after as a soloist and chamber player around the globe. He is a two-time Sylva Gelber Music Foundation Award recipient in Canada. In 2023, Chan won the Musicus Society’s Young Artist Audition and was selected to join the roster of Musicus Soloists Hong Kong.
          
         Poon now serves as the Artistic Director of the Hong Kong International Cello Association and teaches at the HKAPA and the HKBU. Poon’s performance engagements with various organisations have taken her to China, Thailand, Japan, Italy, France, Spain, and more, in addition to her regular concert appearances in Hong Kong. 
          
         Young pianist Wong has given solo recitals in the United States, Europe and Asia and has performed at venues, such as the National Concert Hall in Dublin and Carnegie Hall in New York. She is a prize winner in the 2022 Steinway Förderpreis Münster and gained first prizes in the Karlovac International Piano Competition, the Valletta International Piano Competition, and more.
     
    The “Hong Kong Artists” Series: “Soundscape Impressions” will be staged at 8pm on May 10 (Saturday) at the Studio Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $240 and $320 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk 
    The programme will also feature an open rehearsal at 4pm on May 9 (Friday) at the Studio Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, with free admission specially for local primary and secondary school students, giving students a chance to appreciate the unique cross-genre arts performance. Interested schools can call 2268 7321 for details.
     
    The “Hong Kong Artists” Series of the LCSD aims to provide a platform for local artists to showcase their remarkable talents. In addition to individual performances, it also encourages cross-genre works to highlight their unique styles. This year’s series will introduce 10 distinguished musicians in six stunning programmes, featuring violin, piano, cello, guzheng and vocal arts. Among them, a cross-genre performance of music and painting will be staged to showcase Hong Kong’s unique cultural character, embracing diversity and innovation. For more information, please visit     www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/groups_1823.htmlIssued at HKT 14:30

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Business of Innovation and Technology Week in April to showcase Hong Kong’s innovation and technology strengths

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Business of Innovation and Technology Week in April to showcase Hong Kong’s innovation and technology strengths 
         The third InnoEX, co-organised by the ITIB and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will occur from April 13 to 16 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). This annual event brings together I&T elites, enterprises and buyers from the Mainland and overseas to jointly promote I&T advancements and applications and explore global collaboration opportunities. Themed “Innovation • Automate • Elevate”, this year’s InnoEX will showcase cutting-edge technology solutions across five key areas: low-altitude economy, artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity and smart mobility. A highlight of the event is the Smart Hong Kong Pavilion set up by the Digital Policy Office, which will showcase over 100 I&T solutions, including those developed by different government departments in relation to citizens’ daily lives, as well as award-winning I&T projects by local innovators and students, demonstrating Hong Kong’s achievements in I&T and smart city development. 
     
         The second Hong Kong World Youth Science Conference and the Xiangjiang Nobel Forum 2025 will also take place from April 13 to 16 at the HKCEC. Organised by the Hong Kong Alumni Association of Beijing Universities with the full support of the ITIB, the event will gather top-notch I&T talent and renowned scientists, including laureates of the Nobel Prize and Turing Award, in Hong Kong. Through keynote speeches, roundtable forums and other formats, participants will tap into global wisdom on cutting-edge topics in the areas of big data, AI, biotechnology, new materials and large models, thereby enhancing Hong Kong’s status in the international scientific arena.  
     
         Meanwhile, another major I&T highlight this April – the World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit – a high-level global Internet conference, will take place on April 14 and 15 at the HKCEC. Under the theme “Integration of AI and Digital Technologies Shaping the Future – Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace”, the Summit will focus on forward-looking discussions in large AI models, digital finance, and digital government and smart life, attracting around 1 000 participants from the Mainland and overseas, including representatives from governments and enterprises, international organisations, internet giants, experts and scholars to attend in person.
     
         The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, said, “This April, Hong Kong’s BIT Week will bring together I&T elites from 29 countries and regions and over 2 800 exhibitors. Through a series of exhibitions, forums, seminars, business networking, talent matching and industry events, we will showcase Hong Kong’s I&T strengths and unique edge to the world. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is particularly delighted to co-organise the Asia-Pacific Summit with the World Internet Conference for the first time in Hong Kong, creating a top-notch platform for exchanges, dialogue and co-operation in I&T, and further strengthening Hong Kong’s position as an international I&T centre.”
     
         Other major industry events during the BIT Week include the HKTDC’s Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) and Smart Lighting Expo, as well as the Hong Kong Web3 Festival cohosted by Wanxiang Blockchain Labs and HashKey Group and organised by W3ME, all contributing to the prosperous development of Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem and greater synergies. 
     
         Details of the BIT Week events can be found at bitweek.hktdc.com/enIssued at HKT 17:33

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Honorary Professor of the Polytechnic University Serikbay Bisekeyev gave a lecture to students of the IPMEiT

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Honorary Professor of the Polytechnic University Serikbay Bisekeyev held an open lecture for students of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade.

    Mr. Bisekeyev is an international entrepreneur. He is the President of Arman Holding, a leading international company in telecommunications, energy and robotics. In addition, Serikbay Zholdybayevich is a co-founder of the Family Development Center in Kazakhstan, a co-founder of the Bolashak Engineer charity project aimed at creating an accessible and high-quality environment for additional education in the field of engineering competencies for schoolchildren in small towns and villages in Kazakhstan, and the author of the books Do It Yourself and Diary of Success. Serikbay Bisekeyev won the Entrepreneur of the Year nomination in Russia according to Ernst Honorary Professor of SPbPU.

    The colossal experience of international entrepreneurship, building and running a business is especially relevant for IPMEiT students, so the open lecture was a sell-out. The event was also attended by teachers and postgraduate students of the institute. The lecture was held in a free discussion format.

    Find ten minutes for a free career guidance test to determine your purpose for a happy life! – this is the advice Serikbai Zholdybaevich gave to students. The speaker presented his books to the most active participants of the discussion.

    After the lecture, Serikbay Bisekeyev met with the director of IPMET Vladimir Shchepinin. Vladimir Engelevich spoke about the institute, plans for the development of educational activities and campus infrastructure.

    Director of the Higher School of Industrial Management Olga Kalinina briefly presented the events implemented in cooperation with the Arman holding company on educational programs in energy and strategic management:

    creation of a joint course of additional professional education “Cooperation: business competence of a modern professional”; creation of joint educational cases in the disciplines “Management” and “Production Management” based on the results of internships of teachers in the company; participation of an expert from the company in the development of educational courses for the master’s degree “Human Resources Management and Organizational Development”; organization and holding of open guest lectures and excursions by Arman employees.

    After the working meeting, Vladimir Shchepinin, together with the IPMEiT teachers, gave Serikbay Bisekeyev a tour of the institute’s new classrooms and laboratories.

    We are grateful to Mr. Bisekeyev for holding a lecture for our students. It is very important when the students have the opportunity to communicate in person and ask questions of interest to a representative of international business of the highest level. With Serikbay Zholdybaevich, we discussed the possibilities of cooperation and areas of further work with his company, – noted the director of IPMEiT Vladimir Shchepinin.

    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 Submissions: Economy – Great Depression trends on social media amid rising US tariff fears, reveals GlobalData

    Source: Global Data

    The concept of the “Great Depression” has gained traction among the social media influencers in first week of April 2025, largely driven by discussions surrounding the US tariff turmoil and concerns about potential economic downturns.

    The surge in discussion is closely tied to comparisons being drawn between the current economic policies, particularly tariffs, and those enacted during the lead-up to the Great Depression, specifically the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, reveals the Social Media Analytics Platform of GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    The increased tariffs have become a central point of discussion, triggering concerns about potential trade wars, slower GDP growth, and overall economic instability.

    Shreyasee Majumder, Social Media Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Influencers, largely concerned and apprehensive, are using the historical context of the Great Depression to frame their analysis of current economic trends and policies, drawing direct parallels to the events preceding the depression and sparking wider conversations about potential consequences.

    “Certain influencers express grave concern that tariffs, with the US rates potentially escalating and surpassing the peak of the Smoot-Hawley era, may precipitate a global trade war and inflict substantial damage upon the economy. They also point out that the implementation of tariffs could result in higher prices for consumers, reduced global competitiveness for the US companies, and, consequently, a broader economic downturn.”

    Below are a few popular influencer opinions captured by GlobalData’s Social Media Analytics Platform:

    Ben Carlson, Director of Institutional Asset Management at Ritholtz Wealth Management:

    “This was a historic week We just witnessed the biggest economic policy mistake since the Great Depression And they don’t even care”

    Phillips P. OBrien, Professor of Strategic Studies at University of St Andrews:

    “Amazing that Trump talked about the Great Depression and forgot the Smoot-Hawley Tariff–which he seems to be emulating pretty closely….”

    Jason Goepfert, Consultant at White Oak Consultancy LLC:

    “Futures indicate another loss in the Dow Industrials greater than -3%. Futures are finicky, but that’d be its 3rd consecutive loss greater than -3%. Since 1896 – 129 years of history – this only occurred during the Great Depression.”

    Steve Hanke, Professor of Applied Economics at Johns Hopkins University:

    “The US economy has developed some tell-tale signs of the Great Depression. The money supply has contracted. That means an economic slowdown is BAKED IN THE CAKE. Like the Smoot-Hawley Tariffs of 1930, Trump’s tariffs are putting massive downward pressure on the economy.”

    Shane Wright, National Economics Correspondent:

    “Trump re-writing the history of the Great Depression, saying wouldn’t have happened if the US had stayed with tariffs. Of course, the Smoot-Hawley tariffs made worse the depression which wasn’t caused by tariffs…”

    Notes

    Quotes are provided by Shreyasee Majumder, Social Media Analyst at GlobalData
    The information is based on GlobalData Social Media Analytics Platform, which tracks most relevant activity among the selected Influencers on ‘X’ platform
    This article was written using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research, and in-house analysis conducted by GlobalData’s team of industry experts

    About GlobalData Social Media Analytics Platform

    GlobalData’s Social Media Analytics Platform allows businesses to understand brand sentiments, product led conversations, buzzing trends among the selected influencers on ‘X’ platform tracked by GlobalData, using a combination of AI and human based analysis that curate content and displays only what matters to you. It helps monitor competitor strategies, predict emerging trends, monetize disruptive innovation, decode smart money, mine thought leadership, and capture digital consumers.

    About GlobalData

    4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make timelier and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Total Dictation at the Polytechnic University – “It’s Something Special”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The Total Dictation, an annual cultural and educational event that grew from an initiative by students of Novosibirsk State University into a global event, was held for the sixth time at the Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University.

    For the first time, Polytechnic became the site of the Total Dictation in 2018. At that time, the text was read by SPbPU teacher Svetlana Ulyanova. The following year, the university’s guest and reader was the Honored Artist of Russia Anastasia Melnikova.

    In 2020, St. Petersburg was declared the capital of the Total Dictation, and although the event was postponed twice due to the pandemic, it still took place, including at the Polytechnic University.

    In 2023, the Total Dictation at SPbPU was attended by A record number of literacy enthusiasts – 222. The head of the SPbPU news portal department, journalist Evgeny Gusev, dictated. That year marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of Far East explorer Vladimir Arsenyev, and it was to him that Vladivostok writer Vasily Avchenko dedicated the text of the dictation.

    And last Saturday, the 22nd Total Dictation took place, with over 1.3 million people around the world joining in. In 57 countries, venues were organized for those wishing to test their literacy, including in 1,134 Russian cities. In St. Petersburg, 7,839 people wrote the dictation, 166 of whom were at the Polytechnic University.

    This year, the guests were received in auditorium #235, the very same one where the history of the Total Dictation at our university began. Each person who came was given gifts: a postcard, a bookmark, a fridge magnet, a branded pen, and a form reminiscent of an exam form. The sight of it evoked a slight excitement, already forgotten by those who had long since graduated from school or university. And there were about a third of such participants.

    The guests were greeted by the host of the event, the head of the SPbPU Public Relations Department Marianna Dyakova. She told about the features of this year’s dictation, reminded them of the rules and introduced the announcer, a popular St. Petersburg actor, TV presenter and blogger. Andrey Zaitsev. By the way, Andrey is reading the dictation text at SPbPU for the second time – in 2020 heshared this role with journalist and TV presenter of the program “Open Studio” Roman Gerasimov.

    The texts for the 2025 dictation were written by Marina Moskvina, a writer, screenwriter, finalist of the Yasnaya Polyana Prize, and laureate of the honorary diploma of the International Hans Christian Andersen Prize.

    After the dictation was over, many stayed to take photos and get an autograph from Andrey Zaitsev, and some participants shared their impressions.

    Olga and Yulia: This is our second time participating in the Total Dictation. The last time we didn’t really like the result – a C for punctuation. We were confident in spelling, but there were problems with punctuation marks. And now it’s the same! But overall, everything is great – we wrote with pleasure, the announcer was good, and Marina Moskvina herself also read her text expressively.

    Egor: My girlfriend and I are writing the dictation for the third time and the second time at the Polytechnic. We like this venue. Last year we got a B. No, we didn’t prepare specifically this year, how can you prepare here – the texts are always different, there are always some new tricks.

    Kirill: It was my first time participating, it was exciting. Writing a dictation at an educational institution is something special, especially with such narrators. The hardest thing was writing by hand, I don’t do it often, now I’ll need to rest for a week! It’s scary to imagine what grade I’ll get, a C, probably. But it doesn’t matter, the main thing is the process itself.

    Daniil: I am writing the Total Dictation for the first time. For me, it is a very interesting experience when people of different ages sit together and write a dictation. Grammar did not raise any questions, but punctuation is a more unpleasant moment. I think it is worth coming here, it is not scary to make a mistake, it is interesting to see the result.

    Kirill Stanovenko: I came to the dictation today for the first time and I am very impressed. I graduated from the Polytechnic University four years ago, spent many hours in this auditorium – we had higher mathematics here. I came – and memories came flooding back, I met the teachers, plus such an event, organized at the highest level, in general, I am delighted. I believe that people who doubt their knowledge of the Russian language are doubly obliged to come here to try their hand and learn something new. I hope for an A.

    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 Global: Trump’s tariff hikes and South Africa: hunt for new agricultural markets must begin now

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Wandile Sihlobo, Senior Fellow, Department of Agricultural Economics, Stellenbosch University

    The South African government has underscored the urgent need to diversify the country’s agricultural exports in the wake of the US decision to increase tariffs on its trading partners.

    The progress of South Africa’s agricultural sector has relied partly on exports, which now account for roughly half of the production in value terms. South Africa’s agricultural exports reached a new record of US$13.7 billion in 2024, up 3% from the previous year, according to data from Trade Map. South Africa also imports various agricultural products. In 2024, South Africa’s agricultural imports amounted to US$7.6 billion.

    The US accounts for 4% of South Africa’s agricultural exports. The biggest agricultural exports to the US are citrus, wine, grapes and nuts. These typically entered the US market duty free, and now fall under the tariff level of between 10% and 31% which Washington has levied on South Africa.

    The ministers of International Relations and Cooperation and of Trade, Industry and Competition said in a statement after Washington’s move:

    Efforts will intensify to diversify export destinations, targeting markets across Africa, as well as in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. Moreover, where deemed appropriate, such efforts will also involve bilateral arrangements that allow for the pursuance of our national interest.

    As a medium to longer term strategy this makes sense in the context of the trade friction with the US and the overall growth of South Africa’s agricultural sector. But export diversification will take time to achieve. New markets take time to open up because negotiations with countries, especially in agricultural products, are complex. For example, it took 16 years for South Africa to reopen Thailand for apple exports.

    Moreover, trade agreements typically take a minimum of five years to conclude.

    This means that, in the short term, the South African government will urgently be seeking to engage with Washington to maintain critical access to the US market. In their joint statement, the two departments managing the fallout said they would be seeking “additional exemptions and favourable quota agreements”.

    So what does the long-term strategy look like? And what are the building blocks that need to be put in place to secure diversified destinations for South Africa’s agricultural products in the future?

    As an agricultural economist who has looked at these issues for some time, I would recommend these three areas of focus.

    Firstly, South Africa trade authorities should put resources into understanding the opportunities in dynamic markets in the Gulf and Asia. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar are some of the key markets in the Gulf. In Asia, China, India and Vietnam should remain priorities.

    Secondly, the agricultural sector and government need to develop better ways of working together. This will help ensure business relationships are cultivated in the countries that the government is engaging, and that there’s alignment between the commercial and political interests of the country.

    Thirdly, South Africa’s agricultural sector – government and organised agriculture – must get its house in order. For example, promoting livestock products won’t work unless the necessary disease controls are in place.

    Opportunities

    The African continent accounts for the biggest share of South African exports at 38%. The EU accounted for a 19% share in 2023. Asia and the Middle East accounted for a quarter of South Africa’s agricultural exports in the same year.

    Asia and the Far East, in particular China, have already been identified as key growth areas. Even though Asia and the Middle East are strong destination points, huge pockets of opportunity remain in terms of products and countries.

    The Brics grouping remains crucial in this endeavour. Here, the South African government must have a sharper focus on lowering import tariffs and phytosanitary barriers in countries such as China, India and Saudi Arabia.

    China is the biggest opportunity, largely because of its population and economic size. China, the world’s second largest economy after the US, must feed 1.4 billion people. To do this, China is a huge importer, resulting in an agricultural trade deficit with the rest of the world of about US$117 billion. This suggests there’s a gap for countries with good agricultural offerings.

    Vietnam and India also have sizeable populations. Importantly, South Africa remains a small participant in their agricultural markets.

    The sectors worth targeting include horticulture and wine producers. Expanding exports in these sectors has been a long-running talking point. Now there’s a need for renewed energy and urgency from the government officials’ side.

    The livestock industry is also geared to promote its exports.

    In the short term

    Agricultural stakeholders can play a constructive role in supporting the government’s efforts to engage the US. Stakeholders can assess the impact of the increased US tariff on their exports, mainly citrus, grapes, wine, and nuts, among other products, as well as the impact on jobs in their regions.

    There is also scope to provide more flexibility for American products in the South African market to ease current trade tensions. For example, South Africa currently allows US exporters to sell over 70,000 tonnes of poultry products into the country without any tariff. However, US poultry producers have only used less than 60% of this quota. One reason for this is the low-quality products that have not met the South African specifications. Hence the need to seek negotiating points.

    Next steps

    Trade is about trade-offs and backing the correct winners.

    Both organised agriculture – commodity associations – and business must work together to define new priorities for the country and how these can be pursued internationally.

    Negotiating free trade agreements should be the mainstay of trade policy. South Africa has excelled in opening up new markets in the past 20 years, by concluding several free trade agreements with critical regional and international markets. These include deals with the Southern African Development Community countries as well as the region’s agreement with the European Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area.

    It needs to expand this list.

    But free trade agreements require hard choices over which industries a country is prepared to place on the table for possible trade-offs while building long-term competitiveness in sectors that can be major drivers for growth.

    Government must engage the various agricultural sectors about their key priorities and what trade-offs they’re prepared to consider.

    Wandile Sihlobo is the Chief Economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) and a member of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC).

    – ref. Trump’s tariff hikes and South Africa: hunt for new agricultural markets must begin now – https://theconversation.com/trumps-tariff-hikes-and-south-africa-hunt-for-new-agricultural-markets-must-begin-now-253984

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Trump’s tariff hikes and South Africa: hunt for new agricultural markets must begin now

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Wandile Sihlobo, Senior Fellow, Department of Agricultural Economics, Stellenbosch University

    The South African government has underscored the urgent need to diversify the country’s agricultural exports in the wake of the US decision to increase tariffs on its trading partners.

    The progress of South Africa’s agricultural sector has relied partly on exports, which now account for roughly half of the production in value terms. South Africa’s agricultural exports reached a new record of US$13.7 billion in 2024, up 3% from the previous year, according to data from Trade Map. South Africa also imports various agricultural products. In 2024, South Africa’s agricultural imports amounted to US$7.6 billion.

    The US accounts for 4% of South Africa’s agricultural exports. The biggest agricultural exports to the US are citrus, wine, grapes and nuts. These typically entered the US market duty free, and now fall under the tariff level of between 10% and 31% which Washington has levied on South Africa.

    The ministers of International Relations and Cooperation and of Trade, Industry and Competition said in a statement after Washington’s move:

    Efforts will intensify to diversify export destinations, targeting markets across Africa, as well as in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. Moreover, where deemed appropriate, such efforts will also involve bilateral arrangements that allow for the pursuance of our national interest.

    As a medium to longer term strategy this makes sense in the context of the trade friction with the US and the overall growth of South Africa’s agricultural sector. But export diversification will take time to achieve. New markets take time to open up because negotiations with countries, especially in agricultural products, are complex. For example, it took 16 years for South Africa to reopen Thailand for apple exports.

    Moreover, trade agreements typically take a minimum of five years to conclude.

    This means that, in the short term, the South African government will urgently be seeking to engage with Washington to maintain critical access to the US market. In their joint statement, the two departments managing the fallout said they would be seeking “additional exemptions and favourable quota agreements”.

    So what does the long-term strategy look like? And what are the building blocks that need to be put in place to secure diversified destinations for South Africa’s agricultural products in the future?

    As an agricultural economist who has looked at these issues for some time, I would recommend these three areas of focus.

    Firstly, South Africa trade authorities should put resources into understanding the opportunities in dynamic markets in the Gulf and Asia. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar are some of the key markets in the Gulf. In Asia, China, India and Vietnam should remain priorities.

    Secondly, the agricultural sector and government need to develop better ways of working together. This will help ensure business relationships are cultivated in the countries that the government is engaging, and that there’s alignment between the commercial and political interests of the country.

    Thirdly, South Africa’s agricultural sector – government and organised agriculture – must get its house in order. For example, promoting livestock products won’t work unless the necessary disease controls are in place.

    Opportunities

    The African continent accounts for the biggest share of South African exports at 38%. The EU accounted for a 19% share in 2023. Asia and the Middle East accounted for a quarter of South Africa’s agricultural exports in the same year.

    Asia and the Far East, in particular China, have already been identified as key growth areas. Even though Asia and the Middle East are strong destination points, huge pockets of opportunity remain in terms of products and countries.

    The Brics grouping remains crucial in this endeavour. Here, the South African government must have a sharper focus on lowering import tariffs and phytosanitary barriers in countries such as China, India and Saudi Arabia.

    China is the biggest opportunity, largely because of its population and economic size. China, the world’s second largest economy after the US, must feed 1.4 billion people. To do this, China is a huge importer, resulting in an agricultural trade deficit with the rest of the world of about US$117 billion. This suggests there’s a gap for countries with good agricultural offerings.

    Vietnam and India also have sizeable populations. Importantly, South Africa remains a small participant in their agricultural markets.

    The sectors worth targeting include horticulture and wine producers. Expanding exports in these sectors has been a long-running talking point. Now there’s a need for renewed energy and urgency from the government officials’ side.

    The livestock industry is also geared to promote its exports.

    In the short term

    Agricultural stakeholders can play a constructive role in supporting the government’s efforts to engage the US. Stakeholders can assess the impact of the increased US tariff on their exports, mainly citrus, grapes, wine, and nuts, among other products, as well as the impact on jobs in their regions.

    There is also scope to provide more flexibility for American products in the South African market to ease current trade tensions. For example, South Africa currently allows US exporters to sell over 70,000 tonnes of poultry products into the country without any tariff. However, US poultry producers have only used less than 60% of this quota. One reason for this is the low-quality products that have not met the South African specifications. Hence the need to seek negotiating points.

    Next steps

    Trade is about trade-offs and backing the correct winners.

    Both organised agriculture – commodity associations – and business must work together to define new priorities for the country and how these can be pursued internationally.

    Negotiating free trade agreements should be the mainstay of trade policy. South Africa has excelled in opening up new markets in the past 20 years, by concluding several free trade agreements with critical regional and international markets. These include deals with the Southern African Development Community countries as well as the region’s agreement with the European Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area.

    It needs to expand this list.

    But free trade agreements require hard choices over which industries a country is prepared to place on the table for possible trade-offs while building long-term competitiveness in sectors that can be major drivers for growth.

    Government must engage the various agricultural sectors about their key priorities and what trade-offs they’re prepared to consider.

    – Trump’s tariff hikes and South Africa: hunt for new agricultural markets must begin now
    – https://theconversation.com/trumps-tariff-hikes-and-south-africa-hunt-for-new-agricultural-markets-must-begin-now-253984

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Rwanda’s image abroad: how western countries are beginning to turn their backs

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By David E Kiwuwa, Associate Professor of International Studies, University of Nottingham

    Rwanda enjoyed good relations with the western world for many years. This was due to systematic and intentional efforts to build its profile as a constructive regional actor, especially through the UN peacekeeping framework.

    It also set out to improve its national brand through sports sponsorships of some of the biggest football clubs in the world. These include Arsenal (England), PSG (France) and Bayern Munich (Germany).

    Since the end of the 1994 genocide, countries such as the UK, the US and France were willing to give Rwanda a less than critical pass when it was accused of destabilising its bigger neighbour, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). They averted their gaze from its domestic heavy handedness, particularly its constraining of democratic space and human rights.

    But there has been a sharp turn in sentiment. For the first time, the western powers, as well as China, have begun to call out Rwanda on its behaviour.

    Read more: Rwanda and Belgium are at odds over the DRC: what’s led to the latest low point

    Western actors have grown exasperated with Rwanda’s impunity and have been forced to change tack. Quiet shuttle diplomacy, notably by the Biden administration and the EU, has failed to achieve Rwandan restraint. And as a humanitarian crisis grew, they saw more forceful and overt actions as necessary.

    Concerned about the rising level of violence and humanitarian catastrophe in the DRC, western powers through the UN general assembly and security council called for restraint, dialogue and de-escalation. France, Belgium, Germany, the US, Canada and the EU also condemned the escalating violence and Rwanda’s role. The growing consensus culminated in firmer and direct sanctions against individual Rwandan actors and entities and suspension of economic and trade cooperation.

    I have been a long time scholar of and commentator on African regime types, political governance and conflict, with a focus on Rwanda. It’s my view that Rwanda’s escapades in eastern DRC have had a detrimental impact on the goodwill long extended to the Kigali regime. What happens next will depend on its response.

    Rwanda’s role in the DRC

    There is little doubt about Rwanda’s involvement in conflict and instability in the eastern DRC. The reports from the security council and UN bodies have provided sufficient evidence of this.

    Since 2012, Rwanda has been accused of being the patron behind the Movement of March 23 (M23) rebel group. The M23 and its associated alliances have been fighting the DRC government, purportedly to protect the rights of Congolese Tutsis.

    For its part, Rwanda has pointed to the danger posed by remnants of security forces involved in the 1994 genocide. The forces fled into the DRC and are still hell bent on causing instability in Rwanda, Kigali claims. The other grievance is that the forces are backed by the DRC regime and have been responsible for persecuting Congolese Tutsis.

    Between 2012 and 2018, the M23 group had a limited level of military success. In 2012 it captured the eastern DRC city of Goma but was forced to relinquish it after just 10 days.

    In the latest escalation of fighting the group has made significant gains, recapturing Goma and capturing the bigger Bukavu and other areas.

    M23’s success has been attributed to the sustained and systematic support Rwanda has given the group, according to the UN report and security council resolution 2773.

    Support has included sophisticated weaponry and boots on the ground, conservatively estimated at over 4,000 soldiers. Faced with demotivated, ill-trained and poorly coordinated DRC military capabilities, the M23 success was almost inevitable.

    Read more: DRC conflict: talks have failed to bring peace. Is it time to try sanctions?

    The turnaround

    In August 2023 and again on 20 February 2025, the US slapped sanctions on key players in Rwanda and the M23 Alliance. The EU and the UK then paused some economic support for Rwanda. This was a strategic signal from the big powers.

    Germany then froze aid, Belgium’s rebuked the country and the EU called for stronger penalties, among them a ban on Rwanda’s mineral industry. This was to force Rwanda to rein in or rethink its activities in the DRC and be a constructive rather than disruptive partner.

    Belgium has had historical relations with both Rwanda and the DRC, having been the last colonial authority. Rwanda took specific exception to Belgium’s action by cutting diplomatic relations. It also took a more belligerent posture in the UN security council.

    Read more: M23: Four things you should know about the rebel group’s campaign in Rwanda-DRC conflict

    While this is seen as a non-compromising stance, it is against a lesser western power than the US or the UK. This could be taken as Rwanda saving face while working out an exit strategy to avoid escalating tensions with western powers or provoking far reaching coordinated action.

    It is notable that Qatar (and not a western or African power) has taken a lead in chaperoning talks between the conflict parties. This couldn’t have been without the blessing of the US, given the close relationship Qatar enjoys with the US as conflict resolution partners. Qatar is also an investor in Rwanda. This allows Rwanda to avoid being dragged to the negotiating table by critical western powers.

    Next steps

    The intensity of the conflict has slowed down somewhat, with the M23 rebel alliance having announced a ceasefire and unilateral action to “withdraw” from some of the areas they have recently captured.

    Whether this is a strategic compromise in response to the now forceful demand for Rwanda to cease its active support and intervention is unclear. It is notable that Qatar has now directly invited the rebels to the table.

    Once known as the darling of the west, most notable for clean and efficient government, a good business environment and unquestioned security and stability, Rwanda may have reached an inflection point with its flagrant DRC intervention. The change in western attitude may mark a more critical epoch in relations.

    – Rwanda’s image abroad: how western countries are beginning to turn their backs
    – https://theconversation.com/rwandas-image-abroad-how-western-countries-are-beginning-to-turn-their-backs-253663

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic University held an international conference on construction

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The Civil Engineering Institute of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University held the II International Scientific Conference “Civil, Industrial and Urban Construction – 2025” as part of the All-Russian Scientific Conference “Science Week of the Civil Engineering Institute 2025”. The conference was held in person with the possibility of remote connection for foreign participants.

    The event was attended by the Director of the Civil Engineering Institute Marina Petrochenko, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Water Management and Engineering and Communication Systems of the Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Civil Engineering Elgiz Hasanov, Rector of Segu University Yizhai Dau, Rector of Tahri University Mohammed Bujema Bezzazi, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Urban Development and Modern Transport of Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology Li Xiaolong, Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Belarusian-Russian University Olga Golushkova, heads and faculty of the ICI, as well as researchers, design engineers and representatives of design and construction organizations from Russia and foreign countries, including Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Cuba, China, Mali, Guinea, Niger, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and other countries. The conference became a significant platform for exchanging experiences and discussing current issues in the development of modern construction, engineering technologies and sustainable development of the industry.

    The opening of the conference began with a welcoming speech by the Director of the Institute of Civil Engineering Marina Petrochenko, who emphasized the importance of organizing such events: The Institute of Civil Engineering has been organizing the international conference “Civil, Industrial and Urban Construction — 2025” for the second year in a row. We are very pleased that representatives from 12 countries are taking part in the conference today. I hope that this event will become a platform for exchanging professional and scientific results and, of course, a way to expand your professional contacts.

    The conference featured 27 reports on such topical issues as:

    digital transformation of the construction industry; innovative construction materials and technologies; problems of integrating natural elements into the urban environment in accordance with the principles of sustainable development; ways to improve the quality of construction documentation and the level of training of specialists.

    Participants also discussed such important issues as reservoir management and wastewater treatment, extreme precipitation modeling, development of new building materials and technologies, including concrete with modifier additives for 3D printing, and the use of secondary materials to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. Particular attention was paid to the safety of hydraulic structures, seismic resistance of bridges, autonomous life support systems and innovative waterproofing solutions. Participants presented research on the use of renewable energy sources, environmental modeling, bioclimatic analysis of premises and the implementation of modern irrigation systems.

    The conference became a unique international platform for the presentation of advanced research and technologies from around the world. Among the reports presented, research related to the use of modern materials and technologies attracted special attention. Elgiz Hasanov (Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction) presented a report on new materials for creating the stability and durability of reinforced concrete structures used in coastal marine defense structures. Scientists study the features of using these structures in difficult operating conditions, which is key to ensuring the safety and reliability of hydraulic structures. Also of considerable interest was the report by Nabil Bella (Tahri Mohamed University), dedicated to geotechnical and environmental modeling of the use of coal waste in road construction. The author explores the possibilities of using these materials to improve construction efficiency and reduce the negative impact on the environment. Luo Pingping (School of Water Resources and Environmental Management, Chang’an University) presented a paper on GPU-based urban 2D hydrodynamic modeling of extreme precipitation events. This approach can help to more accurately predict the impact of natural disasters and develop effective environmental protection measures.

    Conference participants noted that such events not only facilitate the exchange of experience, but also the development of new approaches to solving current problems in the construction industry.

    Today’s conference touches upon truly important and topical issues that will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the development of the construction industry and scientific research in general. Our cooperation with the Civil Engineering Institute is of particular joy. This partnership opens up new horizons and opportunities for all participants, Elgiz Gasanov emphasized.

    At the end of the conference, guests were given a tour of the campus of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.

    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: Rwanda’s image abroad: how western countries are beginning to turn their backs

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By David E Kiwuwa, Associate Professor of International Studies, University of Nottingham

    Rwanda enjoyed good relations with the western world for many years. This was due to systematic and intentional efforts to build its profile as a constructive regional actor, especially through the UN peacekeeping framework.

    It also set out to improve its national brand through sports sponsorships of some of the biggest football clubs in the world. These include Arsenal (England), PSG (France) and Bayern Munich (Germany).

    Since the end of the 1994 genocide, countries such as the UK, the US and France were willing to give Rwanda a less than critical pass when it was accused of destabilising its bigger neighbour, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). They averted their gaze from its domestic heavy handedness, particularly its constraining of democratic space and human rights.

    But there has been a sharp turn in sentiment. For the first time, the western powers, as well as China, have begun to call out Rwanda on its behaviour.



    Read more:
    Rwanda and Belgium are at odds over the DRC: what’s led to the latest low point

    Western actors have grown exasperated with Rwanda’s impunity and have been forced to change tack. Quiet shuttle diplomacy, notably by the Biden administration and the EU, has failed to achieve Rwandan restraint. And as a humanitarian crisis grew, they saw more forceful and overt actions as necessary.

    Concerned about the rising level of violence and humanitarian catastrophe in the DRC, western powers through the UN general assembly and security council called for restraint, dialogue and de-escalation. France, Belgium, Germany, the US, Canada and the EU also condemned the escalating violence and Rwanda’s role. The growing consensus culminated in firmer and direct sanctions against individual Rwandan actors and entities and suspension of economic and trade cooperation.

    I have been a long time scholar of and commentator on African regime types, political governance and conflict, with a focus on Rwanda. It’s my view that Rwanda’s escapades in eastern DRC have had a detrimental impact on the goodwill long extended to the Kigali regime. What happens next will depend on its response.

    Rwanda’s role in the DRC

    There is little doubt about Rwanda’s involvement in conflict and instability in the eastern DRC. The reports from the security council and UN bodies have provided sufficient evidence of this.

    Since 2012, Rwanda has been accused of being the patron behind the Movement of March 23 (M23) rebel group. The M23 and its associated alliances have been fighting the DRC government, purportedly to protect the rights of Congolese Tutsis.

    For its part, Rwanda has pointed to the danger posed by remnants of security forces involved in the 1994 genocide. The forces fled into the DRC and are still hell bent on causing instability in Rwanda, Kigali claims. The other grievance is that the forces are backed by the DRC regime and have been responsible for persecuting Congolese Tutsis.

    Between 2012 and 2018, the M23 group had a limited level of military success. In 2012 it captured the eastern DRC city of Goma but was forced to relinquish it after just 10 days.

    In the latest escalation of fighting the group has made significant gains, recapturing Goma and capturing the bigger Bukavu and other areas.

    M23’s success has been attributed to the sustained and systematic support Rwanda has given the group, according to the UN report and security council resolution 2773.

    Support has included sophisticated weaponry and boots on the ground, conservatively estimated at over 4,000 soldiers. Faced with demotivated, ill-trained and poorly coordinated DRC military capabilities, the M23 success was almost inevitable.



    Read more:
    DRC conflict: talks have failed to bring peace. Is it time to try sanctions?

    The turnaround

    In August 2023 and again on 20 February 2025, the US slapped sanctions on key players in Rwanda and the M23 Alliance. The EU and the UK then paused some economic support for Rwanda. This was a strategic signal from the big powers.

    Germany then froze aid, Belgium’s rebuked the country and the EU called for stronger penalties, among them a ban on Rwanda’s mineral industry. This was to force Rwanda to rein in or rethink its activities in the DRC and be a constructive rather than disruptive partner.

    Belgium has had historical relations with both Rwanda and the DRC, having been the last colonial authority. Rwanda took specific exception to Belgium’s action by cutting diplomatic relations. It also took a more belligerent posture in the UN security council.



    Read more:
    M23: Four things you should know about the rebel group’s campaign in Rwanda-DRC conflict

    While this is seen as a non-compromising stance, it is against a lesser western power than the US or the UK. This could be taken as Rwanda saving face while working out an exit strategy to avoid escalating tensions with western powers or provoking far reaching coordinated action.

    It is notable that Qatar (and not a western or African power) has taken a lead in chaperoning talks between the conflict parties. This couldn’t have been without the blessing of the US, given the close relationship Qatar enjoys with the US as conflict resolution partners. Qatar is also an investor in Rwanda. This allows Rwanda to avoid being dragged to the negotiating table by critical western powers.

    Next steps

    The intensity of the conflict has slowed down somewhat, with the M23 rebel alliance having announced a ceasefire and unilateral action to “withdraw” from some of the areas they have recently captured.

    Whether this is a strategic compromise in response to the now forceful demand for Rwanda to cease its active support and intervention is unclear. It is notable that Qatar has now directly invited the rebels to the table.

    Once known as the darling of the west, most notable for clean and efficient government, a good business environment and unquestioned security and stability, Rwanda may have reached an inflection point with its flagrant DRC intervention. The change in western attitude may mark a more critical epoch in relations.

    David E Kiwuwa 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. Rwanda’s image abroad: how western countries are beginning to turn their backs – https://theconversation.com/rwandas-image-abroad-how-western-countries-are-beginning-to-turn-their-backs-253663

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “I am a happy person – my work was and remains my main passion in life”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Today, the outstanding scientist and teacher, head of the Department of Solid State Chemistry, celebrates his birthday Faculty of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Academician Vladimir Vyacheslavovich Boldyrev. He turns 98 years old.

    One of the founding fathers of mechanochemistry, the founder of the first department of solid state chemistry in the USSR, a man of amazingly sharp mind – these are just a few strokes to his portrait. Vladimir Vyacheslavovich himself tells about how his childhood passion for chemistry grew into a life’s work, what real research should be like, how to find your way in science.

    — When did you first become interested in chemistry and who was your first teacher?

    — I started studying chemistry in the 4th grade of school. My first teacher was my father. He was not a chemist himself, but he knew well what books I needed to start with. He turned out to be a good teacher, he knew how to direct a child in the right direction, support, teach the general principles of studying any science. This is much more important than giving specific knowledge.

    — Who do you consider your main teachers?

    — First of all, Professor Alexander Pavlovich Buntin of Tomsk State University. He was one of the first in our country to study the reactivity of solids; in 1941 he defended his doctoral dissertation “Reactivity of Solids and Kinetics of Topochemical Reactions.” It was he who introduced me to this field of science. Initially, I wanted to study coal chemistry, and I had never even heard of topochemical reactions. Then, of course, Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences Simon Zalmanovich Roginsky, the creator of the electron theory of catalysis and the theory of active states.

    — Why did you decide to go into science?

    — My childhood coincided with the time when the country sang: “Hello, country of heroes, country of dreamers, country of scientists.” Many people dreamed of going into science, and in our family this also coincided with our parents’ ideas about what the most wonderful occupation in life was. Since childhood, I was surrounded by books, I saw my father looking at minerals through a microscope right at home in our common room crowded with people, the children’s technical station was actively working, which I actively visited. At the age of 13, as a fifth-grader, I participated in the All-Union Chemistry Olympiad for grades 8-10 and, as a winner, was awarded a trip to Artek, where I celebrated the New Year of 1941.

    — What teaching difficulties did you encounter when you came to work at the university?

    — At Tomsk State University, my work involved both teaching and research. From my first days as a student, I worked in the lab at the same time. I started teaching right after finishing my postgraduate studies at TSU — I was assigned to teach a general chemistry course to the streams of geologists, biologists, physicists, and students from the special departments. I also taught a practical course for chemists on inorganic synthesis. My workload was the same as that of university teachers: 1-2 pairs of lectures and 6 hours of practical training every day. So the hardest part was finding time not only to teach classes and prepare for them, but also to do my own research and supervise the research work of students and postgraduates. But it was even harder for my wife — she also worked at the university, and no less than I did, but she also had a small child on her hands, and she also took on all the everyday problems, which were immeasurably more difficult than today. If it weren’t for my wife, I would never have succeeded as a scientist. She, being no less capable of scientific work, loving science and teaching no less than me, having at our meeting no less “initial achievements”, sacrificed her scientific career for her family. Of course, she herself achieved a lot in science, and educated many students, but this was far from her “ceiling” in terms of her abilities.

    — Have you ever experienced fear of public speaking? If so, how did you cope with it?

    – No, I didn’t. I had no time for that. I needed to convey the subject to the audience, and there was no time for self-reflection.

    — What techniques for activating students’ cognitive activity do you use during lectures, seminars or practical classes?

    — I always tried to talk to the audience, to have a dialogue, not to avoid difficult questions, on the contrary — I provoked them myself. I always started classes by getting to know the audience, to understand what background and expectations the students brought to my classes. The assignments for practical classes were selected in such a way that as a result of their completion, joint scientific articles were obtained, many of which are still relevant. It is a great joy for me that I still meet very old people who tell me that they listened to and remember my lectures. I guess I really managed to read interestingly.

    — Have you had any “difficult” students? How did you deal with them?

    — Over more than 70 years of teaching, of course, there were. Whenever possible, I tried to part with them. I didn’t part with some in time, felt sorry for them, for which I later had to pay dearly.

    — Do you have a teaching motto? If so, what is it?

    — You can’t say it better than Academician Budker: “Teacher, educate a student so that he has someone to learn from.”

    — What advice would you give to a beginning teacher?

    – Never stop learning yourself and don’t give up when faced with difficulties.

    — How, in your opinion, should one approach the choice of topic for scientific work?

    — And again, you couldn’t say it better than Academician Budker: “Choose not what to do, but who to work with.”

    — What should real scientific research be like?

    — Unpredictable in advance in terms of the result. A real researcher will not pass by a strange observation, an unexpected result, and will not rest until he finds an explanation for them, perhaps by setting up a whole series of new experiments for this purpose.

    — What advice could you give to a chemistry student who is just choosing his path in science?

    — As the creator of the first department of solid state chemistry in the USSR and still its head, of course, I consider it the best, and our science the most interesting. But seriously, when choosing a path in science, as with any other choice, I advise you to try, analyze and, most importantly, think with your own head.

    — Do you have a hobby?

    “I am a happy person – my work was and remains my main hobby in life.

    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 invites you to the festival “Graduates to students”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On April 16, the traditional festival “Graduates to Students” will be held in the “Polytech Tower” space.

    You will hear speeches from Polytechnic University graduates from well-known companies and organizations.

    JSC Positive Technologies (IT) LLC Gazpromneft Information Technology Operator (IT and communications) JSC Kronstadt Marine Plant (shipbuilding) The State Hermitage Museum LLC Setl Group (development) PJSC Severnaya Verf Shipyard (shipbuilding) LLC Titan-Project (design and construction of nuclear power facilities) LLC BorisHof Holding (car dealerships) LLC Volts Group (production of energy storage devices)

    There will also be entrepreneurs at the meeting who will tell you about the most striking aspects of their professional activities, share their experience, secrets and non-obvious patterns of career growth in a specific field of activity, and invite you to practice and internships.

    The festival consists of short speeches by graduates with presentations and answers to questions from the audience. The most active participants of the festival will receive gifts from graduates and the Polytechnic University.

    Starts at 18:00.

    To participate in the festival registration is required.

    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 –